Take your Mimosa Bar to the Next Level with this easy Woodruff Syrup Recipe!

Some flavors instantly transport you back to childhood. For me, woodruff syrup is one of them. Growing up in Germany, Waldmeister (woodruff) was everywhere — a nostalgic, sweet herbal flavor that felt as common there as blue raspberry flavors are here in the United States. Whether it was in candies, sodas, desserts, or traditional drinks, that unmistakable green flavor was part of everyday life.

Now living in southern Arkansas, I wanted to bring a little piece of that nostalgia into my own kitchen. The best part? I grew the woodruff myself right in my garden. You can, too! Find seedsfor less than $8 HERE!

Bringing a Favorite Childhood Flavor from Germany to Southern Arkansas!

Woodruff is surprisingly easy to grow and care for. It thrives in shady areas, prefers moist soil, and practically takes care of itself once established. It spreads gently, making it a beautiful ground cover while also providing fresh leaves for recipes like this syrup.

Making homemade woodruff syrup turned out to be much easier than I expected. The process is mostly hands-off, letting time do the work while the flavors slowly infuse into the syrup. The result is a vibrant, fragrant syrup that captures the fresh herbal sweetness of Waldmeister perfectly.

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas She’ll Love (Without Breaking the Budget)

Mother’s Day is just around the corner on May 10th, and it’s the perfect time to celebrate the amazing moms, grandmas, and mother figures in our lives. 

Finding a thoughtful gift doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune, so I’ve put together a list of beautiful and meaningful present ideas that feel special without stretching your budget. Whether you’re shopping for something cozy, sentimental, practical, or a little indulgent, these affordable picks are sure to make her feel loved and appreciated.

I have gifted this cute tree coaster set a few times already, and everyone loves it! It doesn't matter if you have a rustic, farm house, or clean kitchen design - it will fit anything!

Marc Jacobs The Tote Bag! I have the black one for well over a year now. Perfect size, timeless design.

Are you using Rakuten? If so, you can get the bag for $158.99 instead of $210! Use my link and you will get $50!
(see Rakuten website for details)

Let her join the Pickle Ball craze with this super cute set form Jonathan Adler! They have several designs available, and I'm sure you'll find something that will stick out on the court!

Can't go wrong with this "Love You More" necklace from Jennifer Zeuner! Such a cute design!

This gift set from MONDAY! I love everything Monday. 

My current favorite is THIS body wash. It smells so wonrdeful - fresh & clean!

Find all these gifts and many more in my Amazon Store! I have collected ideas for craftsy people, the outdoorsy type,  beauty items, fashion, and must haves for pet owners.

 

The Blanket That Holds a Year of Grief

I know some of you follow me on Instagram for a while now, and witnessed a project I as working on every single day in 2023.…since I’ve just entered said project into an art competition (I hope it gets selected) - it dawned on me that I have NEVER shared the finished blanket! 3 years later, voila!
When people ask me how I’ve made it through the first year after losing Justin to suicide, my answer is always: therapy and tons of yarn. SO HERE IT IS! 11ft by 4.5ft of one of the hardest years of my life.

 

This crocheted blanket is a year-long record of daily temperatures in El Dorado, Arkansas during 2023, translated into color through yarn. Each row represents a single day, creating a visual timeline where shifting hues reflect the natural rhythms of the seasons—subtle transitions, sudden extremes, and the passage of time made tangible.

Beyond its function as a temperature record, this piece is deeply personal. I began this project in the aftermath of losing my partner in 2022, using the steady, repetitive motion of crochet as a way to stay grounded and move forward one day at a time. The structure of the blanket mirrors that process: each row is small on its own, but together they form something whole, resilient, and enduring.

Among the rows is a single black line that breaks the pattern. This marks the day I lost my cat, Coco, who had been by my side for 22 years and lived to the age of 24. That row stands apart as a moment of pause and remembrance—an acknowledgment of love, loss, and the quiet spaces they leave behind.

This piece weaves together data and memory, routine and emotion. It is both a record of a year in temperature and a reflection of a year of healing, where each stitch carries not just time, but meaning.

 

Find some of the materials I've used HERE