4 Reasons to Attend a Local Farm to Table Dinner

If you have never attended a farm to table dinner before or have been on the fence about whether or not you should attend one, then be sure to check out these 4 Reasons to Attend a Local Farm to Table Dinner...

This post was created in partnership with Taste of Blue Ridge. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

Through my work as a food & travel blogger and my involvement with the local food & culinary scene in my area, I have been fortunate to have been able to attend a handful of farm to table dinners over the past few years. Although each featured a different venue & highlighted different local chefs & farms, one theme remained the same- a love for & focus on locally sourced, grown, & raised ingredients. 

If you have never attended a farm to table dinner before or have been on the fence about whether or not you should snag a ticket to your next local food event, then today's post is for you! :) Below I am sharing my 4 top reasons why a local farm to table dinner is well worth your time & the price of admission...

3 Reasons Why You Need a DreamCloud Mattress ASAP

Luxurious sleep awaits you with a DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid Mattress! Check out my 3 Reasons Why You Need a DreamCloud Mattress ASAP below...

This post was created in partnership with DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid Mattresses. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

Some of you all who have been reading & following along with me for a while have probably already heard about my struggles with insomnia in the past. I used to be that person who took 30+ minutes to fall asleep every night & then found it next to impossible to get back to sleep if I happened to wake up in the middle of the night. Notice how I just spoke about my life as an insomniac in the past tense there? ;) 

That's right, folks. Insomnia no longer plagues me on a nightly basis. In fact, I can go entire weeks without suffering from it now and that is thanks in large part to my new secret weapon against the sleeplessness- my DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid Mattress! 

If you have been struggling with insomnia or often find yourself waking up not feeling rested, then today's post is for you. I am sharing my top 3 reasons why you need a DreamCloud Mattress ASAP below...

Drink Like a Local in Charlottesville, Virginia with Cville Hop On Tours

Offering guided winery, brewery, cidery, & distillery tours, Cville Hop On Tours takes the guesswork out of planning your next boozy tour of the Charlottesville, Virginia area...

This post was created in partnership with Visit Charlottesville & Cville Hop On Tours. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

Oops, I did it again... ;) I planned, hosted, & attended my second ever local bloggers retreat in Charlottesville, Virginia last month. Some of you all may recall my first Sip, Dine, & Shine retreat in Charles Town, West Virginia back in 2016. This year's venue may have changed, but it was awesome to get the ole gang back together again (Erin from Delightful E Made, Brianne from Cupcakes & Kale Chips, & Karyn from Pint Sized Baker). Nicole from Mediavine & Or Whatever You Do joined us as well on this year's retreat, and boy we were glad to have her!

We all stayed in a restored 1790 cabin tucked away at the end of a long gravel driveway about 45 minutes outside of Charlottesville. And while we certainly loved the seclusion & peacefulness of our rental home, it definitely made us all appreciate the fact that we had decided to book a winery tour with Cville Hop On Tours even more! It was definitely a much better choice than trying to pile all of us into one of our cars & winging it on our own to try & explore the local winery scene. ;)

Blackberries & Cream Biscuits

Sweet summer berries are the star of the show in these simple & easy to make Blackberries & Cream Biscuits...

My youngest just may have started the first grade last week. And my oldest may have moved into his dorm room this past weekend to start his sophomore year of college, but I am not throwing in the towel on summer just quite yet, folks. I mean, technically it is still summer until September 22nd- am I right? ;)

I am sure you all have already seen the pumpkin recipes starting to creep in all over Facebook lately. And while I am probably the biggest fan of fall that you will ever meet, I am not quite ready for all the pumpkin things just yet. I most definitely will be, but not in mid AUGUST, you all. 

So, let's enjoy summertime just a little bit longer with these easy to make Blackberries & Cream Biscuits, shall we?

Strawberry Explosion French Toast Roll-Ups

Packed with not just one but two types of yogurt, these Strawberry Explosion French Toast Roll-Ups are sure to keep the kiddos fueled & focused right up until that lunch bell rings...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Dannon® Oikos® Greek Yogurt and Danimals® Kids Smoothies. The opinions and text are all mine.

Well, folks... it's that time of the year again! The kiddos are heading back to school soon or maybe have already started back like my youngest has this past week. And while there are definitely crazy busy school mornings where I end up sending my daughter out the door to catch the bus with a breakfast bar in hand, most mornings I try to whip up something that will keep her full & fueled until lunch time.

One of my favorite ways to do this is by incorporating calcium rich yogurt into her back to school breakfasts. Yogurt, especially Greek yogurt, is packed with protein that stays with my daughter right through until the lunch bell rings.

10 Pickling Recipes You Need to Try This Summer

Savor that fresh garden goodness just a little bit longer with these 10 Pickling Recipes You Need to Try This Summer...

Can you all believe that summer is already starting to wind down? My daughter starts back to school next week, and I am just flabbergasted that this coming weekend is our last full weekend of summer break. I mean, where does the time go anyways? I wish I could preserve those last little bits of summertime & save them for later when the cold months of winter come around. 

While I may not be able to make the warm days of summer last any longer, I can stretch out the fresh yummy goodness from those backyard gardens & local farmers markets with these 10 pickling recipes that I am sharing with you all today.  From tried & true homemade pickle recipes to pickled peppers & even peaches, there is a recipe below that will help you savor that summer goodness just a little longer. Maybe even right up until the leaves start to change color & fall off of the trees. ;)

If you are hesitant about canning your pickled creations, no worries. Most of the recipes I am sharing with you all below are refrigerator recipes, meaning no canning is necessary. But if you would like to try your hand at canning any of these pickling recipes, then be sure to check out my canning tips for beginners & snag a basic canning set by CLICKING HERE. 

Summer Veggie Stuffed Poblano Peppers

Put all of those fresh garden & farmers market veggies to tasty use with this recipe for Summer Veggie Stuffed Poblano Peppers...

This recipe first appeared on the Bridgeport Farmers Market Let's Get Fresh site.

I am on a mission once again this outdoor farmers market season to show you all how you can create a delicious recipe purchasing mostly locally grown & raised produce and meats at your local farmers market. I started this locally inspired recipe series last summer, and I am thrilled to be continuing the series this year as well. Each month I will be sharing a recipe here to the blog inspired by and featuring some of my own personal favorite fresh & local finds from my local market. 

For the month of August, I am sharing the recipe for these Summer Veggie Stuffed Poblano Peppers. I spotted some gorgeous poblano peppers at the market, and I knew I had use them in my next farmers market inspired recipe for you all. Poblanos happen to be perfect for stuffing, & what better to stuff them with than a bunch of fresh veggies from the other farmers at the market? ;)