Latest creations and shin-digs

You didn't think I'd post pictures of food I've prepared with a glass of wine, did you? Ha! The other night I had a great, delicious and HEALTHY(ish) meal. First, I made a Quinoa salad. Did you know it's pronounced Keen-wah? I didn't. Anyway, the salad contained chopped onion, tomatoes, cucumber, black beans, corn, cilantro and lime juice. It was very good. Then, the really healthy part came from Papa Murphy's: the Chicken Mediterranean deLight pizza. This contained garlic, olive oil, chicken, spinach and sun dried tomatoes. That too tasted quite awesome. All this was accompanied by the ambiance of my little candle in the little lantern (Courtyard Collection) and of course my Easter birdy.





On the left you will see a DEELISH dessert. I call it "Lemon Raspberry Squares." Original, I know. I simply used a box recipe for the lemon squares and then I added about 1/3 cup of Biltmore's Raspberry Syrup to an 8oz tub of Cool Whip. Once the lemon bars were cooled, I topped them with the raspberry whippies and then drizzled a little bit more of the syrup on top.


Now, for my Easter decor I simply had a TON OF FUN! Is there anyway to exaggerate that any more? Once we were done coloring our eggs I put them in my Blue Ridge Pedestal Dish. Then I started adding accents and snapping away with my camera.

 Accompanied by my Vineyard Grape Basket and Courtyard Lanterns, this made my console table ready to welcome the Easter Bunny. Some spring flowers, candles and eggs just made this a joy for my eyes to gaze upon. It might just be me, but I love the colors and feelings that are associated with Spring and Easter.

 Now, for my own touch of creativity (which I am proud of because I hardly feel creative at all), I planned a surprise party for my mother's 60th birthday. As part of her gift I got her the Olmsted Oak dining set and the Acorns. I wrapped the boxes and hot-glued some colorful flowers on instead of using bows. My dad got her the Fleur de Lis Wine Chiller and I filled that with flowers and bottles of wine and cards that our family sent before the party. It was a lot of fun, especially since she had no idea. And of course, she loved the gifts!

New Ideas from our Fall Collections

There's sooooooo much more coming from Biltmore! As for April, below are a couple of informational flyers regarding hosting and starting your own business. The May specials come with a Mother's Day appreciation and deals on some our newest Spring collections! Once I can post the May flyer I will have it up!

 

Did you order wonderful stuff in the Fall only to find we came out with a Spring catalog? No fear! Our home decor items are so versatile you can use them for almost anything you want: Organization in the playroom, kitchen decor, hosting large parties and more!

Lisa Conard wine chiller being used as utensil holder

Vineyard Vase and candle pillar holders with a Spring touch

Don't have any food to bake in this dish, just plant flowers!

Because many of our items are food safe, this allows then to be used for so many things. As for me, I don't really drink a lot of white wine so the need for a wine chiller isn't very pressing. I do love the Lisa Conard collection, and the wine chiller, for me, would make a great vase or as a tool to organize.
Another item I really love, and can't wait to have it the white Vineyard Vase. This vase really does signify all that I desire to have in house as decor. It's classic and traditional, yet you can do so much to give it a modern twist. As a girl born in Texas, I am a little bit country through and through.

Biltmore Estate Gardens

Stroll acres of formal and informal gardens designed by America's foremost landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted. From the formal beauty of the Italian Garden to the breathtaking presence of ancient trees in America's first managed forests, Biltmore's lush landscape is a living tribute to Olmsted's genius. Our horticultural experts continually work to preserve the original vision for the gardens and grounds, including our All America Rose Garden featuring more than 250 varieties.

Annual Bloom Calendar

With Mother Nature's cooperation, you may see the following blooms during the year. In addition to this general list, take a look at our "must–see" list from our gardeners.

Early April

Darwin Hybrid Tulip varieties begin blooming in the Walled Garden, Estate Entry, and Winery beds. Other estate blooms include early flowering shrubs and trees, forsythia, spirea, magnolia, and flowering cherries.

Mid–April

Darwin Hybrids Tulips usually at peak in the Walled Garden, Estate Entry, and Winery beds. Other estate blooms include spring bulbs, dogwoods, and redbuds.

Late April

Single late tulips fill the Walled Garden, Estate Entry, and Winery beds, until the last week when poppies, snapdragons, and pansies are planted. Other estate blooms include hybrid azaleas and various flowering shrubs.

May

Poppies, snapdragons, and pansies in Walled Garden, Estate Entry, and Winery beds. Other estate blooms include native azaleas (first week is usually the peak), and various flowering shrubs.

Late May—Late September

Summer annuals fill the Walled Garden, Estate Entry, and Winery beds. Other estate blooms include roses and perennials.

June—August

In addition to summer annuals, other estate blooms include native rhododendron and perennials.

Mid–September—October

Hundreds of vibrant chrysanthemums and salvias fill the Walled Garden, Estate Entry, and Winery beds.

Mid–Late October

Fall foliage colors.

Easter Came, Easter Went

Easter was super fun! We did all the traditional activities: coloring eggs, a community egg hunt, the Easter Bunny showed up Sunday morning and then we went to Grammy's house for Easter dinner. Below are pictures from all the events, so please enjoy! 

Waiting for Easter

Here is a pic of my newest spring arrangement that makes my cake stand/hurricane look great! I'd have to be honest, I personally don't think I have a knack for flower arrangements. I see them in the stores and think "wow, that's beautiful! I can make that." However, if I were to truly try to redo that arrangement it just wouldn't look right. So, with time on my hands I spent nearly an hour coming up with this one. In the end, I love it! Right now this arrangement is on our dining room table and I really do love looking at it! For a touch of Easter I added a little birdie toting an egg.

 

I also spent some time putting Brooklyn's Easter basket together. A couple years ago I set out on a creative venture to create my kids' own Easter baskets. Yes, I believe some of the prefabricated ones in the stores are wonderful. I just wanted something personal for them to have. Well, after making Ryan's 2 years ago I found a basket just like it a few weeks ago. I bought a few more decorations and started gluing! I think they're adorable!

Spring in my steps

There are many reasons why I love Spring. For one, it marks the end of winter! In Colorado, it still snows up until the summer months, but the days are longer, the sun shines a bit warmer and the flowers start to emerge from their wintery hibernation. 

Another reason I love Spring is because I believe Easter is my favorite holiday. As a child I've always loved Easter, especially he egg hunts! Perhaps I was just born with a "scavenger hunt" type spirit, a seek-and-find style of heart. If you ever read a headline in the newspaper that says "Woman rushes past kids, pushing them down, during egg hunt" - that's me! Ha! Well, I hope not, but sometimes I feel that's just how much I love Easter!

Another great reason for my love of Easter, now as an adult, is because I understand that without Easter, Christmas wouldn't matter at all! The resurrection of Christ on the cross is the "finish" of His sacrifice. Christ was born, yes, and indeed He lived. And then He died. When He rose from the dead He was declaring victory over the rule of sin. With His resurrection we now are not only forgiven of our tainted record of self-attempted righteousness, but are now given a new record of perfect obedience. If Christ had only died and not risen, this would mean that we have the ability to be forgiven but would have to live perfectly from that moment on. This is impossible. When Christ rose, this meant that we now have His record of perfect obedience!

He is Risen! 

As summer approaches I often think of what I will do with all that time and sunshine. Spring and summer bring many birthdays about in my family. Memorial day, 4th of July, and the kids birthday's are all examples of everything I begin to plan for. Water parks, picnics, camping and BBQ's are all part of the fun.  Planning for them can be a hassle, but now that I have ideas given to me from the Biltmore Inspiraitions' catalog, meal plans and plenty of wonderful serving dishes, platters and decor, I am ready! And excited! 

As someone who lives in Colorado, anything that reminds me of mountain living makes me feel, well, at home. The thought of a fireplace makes me go "ahhhhhhhhhhh." Colors of nature usually inspire my home decor. Of course, as the seasons change, so does my inspiration.There really is nothing better than the idea to me than of a warm, cozy cottage home. 

Blue Ridge Pedestal Dish

I just started setting my house up for Spring! So happy to see warm weather. It is March, which usually means a blizzard here and there, so I will enjoy this weather as long as it lends itself to me!

Pictured here is the Blue Ridge Pedestal Dish. Yes, it is oven safe should you decide to bake a square pie right inside it! You could put flowers in there, food, serve bread or even house a small turtle. Well, I wouldn't recommend the latter, but it is possible. One of the reasons I love Biltmore Inspirations' products is because they are so versatile, as well as oven, microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe (almost all dishes). I wouldn't recommend putting the Pedestal dish in the dishwasher though, it could break if something else smashed into it while washing. Add height by putting it on a book or two - this makes a great look of dimension and old fashioned antique look if you use old leather journals.

 Small tea light candles underneath would really bring out the green and blue hues during an evening dinner. You can also tie a nice ribbon around the base and serve a beautiful birthday cake! There are so many ideas I have, I will be sure to post any pictures when these ideas come to fruition!

 Happy Spring and Easter!