What's better than my morning cup of coffee??

Making crave worthy food to share with the ones I love! Cheesy I know but these are the things that fill up my cup. Get it? :)
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When a long weekend approaches that involves friends or family I am always planning what snacks to bring. If you are like me you need food every few hours to remain happy......no one likes to be hangry! Below is a roundup of some of my favorite snacks & heavy apps to bring to any small gathering. Most are travel worthy & can be brought on-the-go to any gathering. 

These are so versatile! So many options to customize based on your needs.
- Swap green or black olives for kalamata
- Add peppers, artichokes, or marinated mushrooms
- Use turkey, ham, or pepperoni instead of salami
- Make them into caprese skewers with balsamic glaze
- Drizzle with pesto
​- Ditch the cheese for dairy free version or ditch the meat for vegetarian version

Truffled Italian Walnuts &
Spicy Lime Cashews
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Learn how to make these delicious spiced nuts by watching the video above! Such an easy snack to share & bring on the go!

Cheese boards are always a hit! They are so easy to put together & can be transported in containers to go anywhere. I always include a few specialty items (spiced nuts, different dried fruits, or jam. Along with various cheeses, raw veggies, gluten-free & regular crackers, Italian meats, & fresh fruit. You can even make a kid's version with rolled up turkey or ham, carrots, mild cheese like cheddar or havarti & their favorite fruit!

To be honest I am lazy at times and buy this but it isn't too hard to make. Plus it has less preservatives if you make it at home! This stores well in the fridge for a few days.

Recipe from Designer Bags & Dirty Diapers- The best pimento cheese I have had!

And some of my favorite snacks & sides from Pinterest & beyond...

Buffalo Chicken Dip from Real Girl's Kitchen- extra chicken & less "dip" makes it the BEST buffalo dip

Truffle Deviled Eggs from Real Girl's Kitchen- I could eat a dozen of these deviled eggs, perfect for a crowd but make extra!!

​Jalapeno Popper Dip- YUM

BLT Pasta Salad- such a crowd pleaser, also a great weeknight meal. I sub spinach for romaine.

Tuscan Tortellini Salad- easy to prep ahead of time!




Well I am thoroughly hungry now.......I guess I am off to make one of these delights instead of simply talking about them!

Have you ever wondered..."How could I quickly give ____ an update without putting forth max effort or cash?"

I have this thought ALL the time. Ha! Luckily, I have become quite skilled in the area of mini-makeovers or as I like to call it "mini refresh." 

I wanted to spruce up my fireplace in the living room to add a lighter/brighter feel. It's current state was not inspiring! Let's be honest, the before picture in this refresh is post-Christmas defeat + quarantine boredom! After Christmas, I usually am so worn out that whatever I see first ends up replacing the stockings! As long as it doesn't resemble Christmas I feel satisfied for a few months. Couple that with quarantine later on and you have the before! At one point in the spring I added a few different things but I never finished (hence quarantine boredom & lack of outside sources). So I needed a plan I could stick to......

It is a difficult area because it is...
- shallow
- dominated by a t.v. & speaker
​- surrounded by various textures that can become very manly
- dark

My goals for this area were:​
+ light colors, mostly white
+ add in different textures of glass 
+ use 90% pre-owned items (modify if necessary)
+ use Pinterest for inspo.....of course!

I did a tiny DIY with some random glass vases from around the house. I used spray paint with a matte "chalk" finish. I wasn't sure which shapes or textures I wanted yet so I grabbed a few. I will use the other items somewhere else in the house. I am in no way an expert in this area but it was fairly easy & affordable!

I am loving this mini refresh! I think it will get me through until early fall. I like to keep things for 3-4 months if possible. It keeps me sane & inspired! The only new thing I purchased for this refresh (other than the spray paint) was the basket on the hearth. It will function as storage for magazines & small books. Every other item was something I already had, painted or moved from another space/storage. I only had to rummage through my glass recycling once for the wine bottle. :) The random books were stripped of their covers & turned backwards to add height for the vase. The picture frame is one I purchased earlier in the year. Which happened to come with the orange background picture & I never wanted to change it!

The final result incorporated:
+ Lots of white (matte & shiny)
+ Various textures (glass, concrete, basket, greenery, books)
+ Function (basket)
+ Homey touches (candles, Joanna Gaines??)


​I have my eyes on our half bath downstairs next.....

I hope this inspires you to do a mini refresh in some area of your home! Send me pictures or tag me in your stories on Instagram or Facebook!
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With everything going on lately, I am constantly wondering what I can do in my world to help, spread positivity, or simply share understanding . It is so difficult to see our world in such pain & feel helpless or confused in the process. BUT, I do have this platform and a small group of individuals that will listen to me! THANK YOU!!

I am committed to sharing & growing
in this together. My first attempts at
change will begin within our home.

Everyone has their own sphere of
influence which typically begins within
the home. My husband & children are
my immediate group. Beyond them,
the family outside my home &
friends. Then you! If each of us
simply strives to begin in small ways in our own homes & within our
sphere of influence real change can occur over time. 

One way I can promote acceptance is continuing to incorporate books that teach diversity in our home. Books are truly a way of speaking into someone's mind & transforming their thoughts. Picture books can be extremely powerful for young children. Within a story they are exposed to different worlds, people, & ways of thinking.

Below are some of my favorites from my days of teaching and some new titles that I have recently added to our shelves at home. All books are appropriate for children preschool - grade school age. The books present varying degrees of complexity, children of all ages will be able to pull their own understanding from them regardless of this.

1. Because I'm You're Dad- Explores the relationship between son & father. This monster is one cool dad! Sweet bedtime story or Father's Day gift. Promotes different family structures, traditions, & lifestyles. 

​2. The Umbrella- A spin off of Jan Brett's story "The Mitten." The story follows a boy through the Costa Rican cloud forest as he searches for animals among the lush forest. Readers are introduced to various animals native to the cloud forest & are exposed to Spanish throughout the story. 

​3. Kalamata's Kitchen- An adventure in food that is playful & imaginative. Kalamata learns the traditions of her family while trying new things. Children will learn to become adventurous eaters & notice variations in food across cultures.

4. Marisole McDonald Doesn't Match- A story about what it means to come from a mixed ethnic background. Marisol is like any other kid but her family makeup makes her extra unique. She learns to embrace her uniqueness in the end with the help from her teacher!

5. A Tiger Tail- What if you woke up with a tiger tail on the first day of school? This cute story follows Anya as she begins school. She is seemingly different looking than the other students in her class. Readers can understand the importance of embracing differences among one another.

6. The Doorbell Rang- A classic story of a family that loves to share their cookies with the whole neighborhood. Children love the suspense of the dwindling cookies each time the doorbell rings. The illustrations promote a diverse community. 

7. Strictly No Elephants- Have you ever felt unwanted somewhere? This story follows a young boy & his pet elephant. They can never seem to fit in among a certain group of friends. They find a new friend & set out to create a place that welcomes all children and their unusual pets. This creates a great conversation about inclusion in any sense.

8. The Snowy Day - A fun story about a boy named Peter and how he spends his snowy day. This classic includes varied family structure, home, & time period. Children love this simple story because they can easily relate to it!

One Love - A simple book based on the Bob Marley song. Comes in board book format perfect for little hands.

​The Name Jar- Why do some people have different names? Explores the cultural importance of names. 

​Just Ask- Why are some kids different? Focuses on the differences among children with disabilities. 

​Fry Bread- A Native American (poem style) story about a favorite staple... fry bread. Recipe in the back! Beautiful watercolor & pencil illustrations.

Think Big, Little One- A collection of famous women around the world known for their achievements. Visually stunning!

Hair Love- What happens when daddy is in charge of styling princess like hair?


If you have any other favorites you want to share comment on my latest Instagram post. I am always adding new books to our growing shelves! I will be sure to share them with others.    @JenkinsHouseOnTheHill

As trends come and go I tend to grab onto ones that fit my lifestyle and go beyond fads. I am currently loving anything linen & gold!

I have always loved the look & feel of linen. It usually gets a bad reputation because it wrinkles....badly. But, if you go into it knowing the second you iron linen it will be back to it's original self then you won't be disappointed! 

Here are a few home finds that I have incorporated into our space recently. I personally love the rich texture it gives any room. It can also be extremely comfortable if you get the right type! I stray away from the looser or heavier knits. They tend to be scratchy. 
 
​* All products will be linked in the scrolls below!
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​I also find linen to be so comfortable to wear in the summer. It breathes easily, it's light, & can be worn in so many ways! Here are a few ways linen bottoms can be styled...

Another "trend" I am loving lately is gold accessories. The 90's are coming back & I'm here for it! Plus, gold looks good with anything black which is half of my wardrobe!

​Why not add a little gold into the home as well?? I am working on a face lift at our office & came across these drool worthy gold hardware pieces. They are a great mix of feminine & masculine. It will be hard to choose!!

​What trends are you loving lately?? Leave a comment below! 
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I am always looking for something new to try out!