How to Store Your Dinnerware

When looking for a storage solution, the most important thing to me is keeping my dishes protected from damage and these sturdy canvas boxes from Honey-Can-Do are perfect for the job. I especially love the clear windows that allow you to easily see what is stored inside!

To reduce the risk of damaging your dinnerware, use the protective inserts that come with the Honey-Can-Do Storage Boxes between each dish. You can also use felt dividers or even coffee filters as extra cushioning to provide protection from scratches to your dinnerware. If you’re storing super delicate dishes, you may even choose to wrap each individual piece!

Storing Your Glassware

What I love about these storage containers is how simple and straightforward they are to use. Storing your glassware is made easy with the inserts provided to safeguard against chips or scratches.

Once you have placed all your glassware in the storage boxes, simply close the lid and the sturdy handles will help you carefully transport your boxes to the pantry or closet.

We ended up storing our iced tea glasses which are perfect for entertaining and aren’t necessarily used every day. So it goes to show that not everything stored needs to be fancy or expensive. These boxes are also just a really practical solution for items you don’t have room for in your cabinet.

There are so many ways to store your dishes but with these tips you’re off to a great start!

The post Store Your Dinnerware the Right Way appeared first on The Inspired Home.

We are lucky enough to have the most wonderful backyard that we created from scratch (created sounds so gentle…there was hand moving over eight tons of earth and gravel involved). The biggest change we made in our planning during our backyard redo was to add a small potager.

A potager is a traditional kitchen garden, separate from the lawn or ornamental spaces. By the way, we can blame Monty Don for this redirect (if you haven’t fallen into that treasure trove of beautiful garden content, enjoy).

The potager, many argue, is more than just a space that blends flowers, fruit, vegetables, and herbs. It shows us seasonality, the passage of time, and acceptance of change….at least for those of us in temperate climates. Here in Virginia, we have all four seasons in a big way and I love what our garden becomes. Except for in February. We could just skip the weather in February and I’d be okay with that.

Whatever your outdoor space is, or if you have an outdoor space of your own at all, you can still enjoy the shift towards cozy, calm, natural vibes in your space. To me, the easiest way to tell if something fits the potager aesthetic is if it’s functional, can weather or age beautifully, and bring nature to your life in some way.

1. Buy or Thrift Baskets.

Garden trugs, be they wooden or wicker, are especially useful if you do have a garden space since you can add lots to the surface to carry without crushing each other. You can also use any basket to gather, or if you’re outdoor-space-less, add baskets to your living room or entryway to hold shoes, pillows, toys… you name it.

2. Add Living Art.

Bring the outdoors in when possible. Whether it’s a big fallen branch in an umbrella stand, a tiny single crocus in a bud vase, or pressed flowers in a frame, embrace the nature provided each season.

3. Consider Canvas.

Canvas is such a fantastic fabric. It’s useful, durable, and classic. A waxed canvas bag is great for holding garden tools, or even just keys in the mudroom. Standard canvas planter bags are lightweight and perfect for plants if you need to move them around (if you’re renting, or your sunlight moves around your patio!). Canvas can also be excellent for a pad for planting (if that’s not a sign you’ve reached your thirties, I don’t know what is). Not into gardening? Use it as inspiration for big floor cushions for the family that will wash well.

4. Upgrade Your Plant Care Tools.

Classic potager enthusiast or only some orchids? Invest in beautiful, well-made plant scissors, misters, pots and beyond to make the ritual of plant care more enjoyable. I personally keep plant scissors in my kitchen tool drawer so I can run outside and snip edible flowers or herbs while cooking.

5. Picnic More.

Having a beautiful picnic kit makes it easy to grab and go pre-made takeout or a ‘clean out the fridge’ charcuterie from home. You don’t need a standard picnic basket that can be oddly shaped and take up a lot of storage space. A picnic tote like this includes utensils and plates (not-breakable) to make on-the-go outdoor dining a snap.

The post How to Get the Potager Garden Aesthetic At Home appeared first on The Inspired Home.

Carbonated Cocktails That Bring All the Fireworks

Red, white and boozy refreshments anyone? These dazzling Fourth of July-themed drinks are perfect for a sparkling sunset toast.

TNT Cupcakes That Will Blow Your Mind

A party in the U.S.A. is no party without these festive firecracker treats topped with buttercream frosting.

The Perfect Cocktail Pairing for Your Next Seafood Boil

Get your fourth crew to rally around an east coast classic without having to worry about what to serve with hot dogs or steaks. Celebrate America’s Birthday by steaming shellfish, corn, onion, potatoes, and sausage—pair with tarragon cocktails for a sweet-and-salty combination that will have you singing “Oh say can you Sea.”

Fourth of July Cobbler Recipes That Scream America

Simple and sweet, this southern peach-blueberry cobbler is the perfect way to incorporate stars-and-stripes into your holiday weekend menu.

This Blue and White Table Setting Is Perfect for Any Summer Gathering

Make your Independence Day one for the books with Fourth of July tablescape inspiration that will give your dining area and place settings an added patriotic touch.

Looking for more Fourth of July recipes or outdoor party-planning inspiration?

• Beat the heat and make some delicious Watermelon Lemonade or a tropical alcoholic treat with these 4 Ingredient Boozy Watermelon Floats.
• Try Marinated Veggie Skewers and Grilled Watermelon for the sweet-and-salty charred snack everyone craves after a long day in the sun.
• Independence Day isn’t Independence Day without this Homemade Angel Food Cake Trifle Recipe with Fresh Berries.
• For an easy summer recipe, go for anyone of 35 Popular Street Food Recipes To Make at Home.

The post Celebrate the Fourth with a Bang appeared first on The Inspired Home.

This Is How to Throw the Best Father’s Day BBQ

This Sunday, keep celebrations for your dad, uncle, grandpa, brother, or family friend simple with good drinks and wholesome backyard fixings served up on a classic BBQ themed tablescape.

New York Sours Are the Perfect Father’s Day Cocktail

A New York Sour has timeless appeal. Pour up a crafty combination of bourbon sour with a spritz of lemon juice and top it off with a red wine floater to give this classic cocktail a refreshing summer flavor.

Brie Stuffed Burgers with Sweet Chili Mayo & Corn Salsa

Throw these killer compact burgers on the grill and savor the mouthwatering fusion of spicy, charred corn and sweet, creamy brie cheese—we promise they’ll be a new all-time favorite for the entire family, dad included.

Grilled BBQ Beer Can Chicken

Take the idea of beer battered brats to the next level with roasted, beer battered chicken. The flavorful, salty finish makes this main dish versatile and an easy compliment for the rest of your BBQ spread.

Pulled Pork Pancakes with Whiskey Maple Sauce

Be a bold baker and put a spin on the staple sweet-n-salty brunch order that is chicken and waffles with homemade, fluffy buttermilk pancakes layered with seasoned pulled pork drizzled in an edgy whiskey maple sauce. This morning meal is fit for a king.

Baked Beans with Pancetta & Molasses

Ever bring baked beans to a BBQ? These baked beans may take a little more time to make them from scratch, but the hints of citrusy pineapple, rich brown sugar, and tangy mustard flavors are worth every bite.

Looking for more summer recipes or outdoor dining inspiration?

• Make any one of these delicious 35 Popular Street Food Recipes in the comfort of your own home.
• Try these Beef & Shrimp Kebabs—they’ll be an instant summertime meal staple.
• A family BBQ isn’t a true BBQ without these popular BBQ side dishes.
• Grab Everything You Need to Throw an Amazing Al Fresco Summer Fiesta
• Design an inviting outdoor spaces on your deck, patio, or screen-in porch with these Easygoing Entertaining Essentials for the Perfect Backyard Get Together

The post Your Father’s Day BBQ Inspiration appeared first on The Inspired Home.

Beet Cocktails with Tequila & Za’atar

Try this lovely cocktail that combines the aromatic spice blend of Middle Eastern za’atar with peppery tequila and beet’s earthy flavor. We promise this combo is nothing short of splendid.

Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Cooler

Seeing this stunning Southeast Asia drink change from a vibrant blue color to a Pantone-worthy purple is everything and makes the perfect addition to smoothies, juices, cocktails and more.

Cooler Ready Poolside Cocktails

It’s pool season, which means it’s time to start pre-batching delectable cooler-ready cocktails to sip on while you lounge.

These Piña Coladas Are Going to Be Your Drink of the Summer

This frozen papaya pineapple margarita recipe is the perfect tropical elixir to cool off a hot summer night.

Stone Fruit Smash Cocktails

Imagine the creamy combination that makes a creamsicle. This adult milkshake is that, just with swirls of mango, peach, or apricot—a sweet, drinkable confection for the summer season.

11 of the Best Mocktails for Summer

Want to be mindful of your alcohol intake? Savor the flavor of your most beloved summertime beverages by trying one of these mouthwatering mocktail recipes.

Looking for more cocktail recipes?

• Try these fun brunch-worthy blood orange champagne cocktails
• Prepare drinks for cooler temperatures with these winter citrus champagne cordials
• Incorporate this warm wellness drink packed with beetroot powder and coconut sugar to jumpstart healthy morning habits

The post Cocktails to Bring You into Summer appeared first on The Inspired Home.

Honey Floral Iced Tea Pitcher Cocktails

Forget the cocktail shaker, and make these delicious adult iced tea cocktails this Memorial Day.

Strawberry Rhubarb Pitcher Cocktails

Utilize those in-season find, and make these pitcher cocktails ahead of time.

The perfect cheeseburger

Yes, we really do know how to make the perfect cheeseburger.

The perfect plant-based burger

These burgers are beyond amazing.

Angel Food Cake Trifle

Sugar and fruit – it’s red, white and blue.

Grilled Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Who doesn’t love grilled pineapple?

The post You’ll Love These Classic Recipes for Memorial Day 2021 appeared first on The Inspired Home.

Seed Starting Tips to Grow Your Own Veggies This Summer

Growing your own food is easier than you might think! Learn how, even with a little bit of space, to grow things like: lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, rhubarb, artichokes…the list goes on and on!

Plant Spring Seedlings with the Kids for a Fun, Easy Activity

If you’re new to gardening, involving young kids could feel a bit stressful. Learn some of the best tips & tricks to get your seedling /gardening tradition started with your kids.

How to Grow Lettuce, Spinach & Greens

Want to test your green thumb for your kitchen, but don’t know where to start? Learn how to grow things like lettuce, spinach and other greens – they are easy, space conscious crops and a great base for dinner.

Looking for more gardening tips this spring:

• Here are some fun, toddler-friendly gardening tips & ideas
• Learn how to waste less and cut your carbon footprint
• Get your kids involved with this genius gardening project your kids will love

The post All the Tips You Need to Get Your Garden Started appeared first on The Inspired Home.

Elevate Your At-Home Brunch with a Griddle

Combine some sweet, salty, and savory flavors with this delicious one appliance method of cooking brunch for the ones you love. With only a griddle, create a delicious and easy brunch for the whole family.

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Whipped Mascarpone & Roasted Rhubarb

This deliciously sweet brunch recipe is going to change the way you think about pancakes. With roasted rhubarb and whipped mascarpone, there are so many yummy things about this recipe.

Raspberry Rose Baked French Toast

This Raspberry Rose French Toast is one of those winner brunch recipes. It can be prepared the night before, baked the next morning. The combo of raspberries, rose and a hint of honey is pretty much what spring brunch dreams are made of. The rose adds a nice subtle kick that is unexpected but paired with the raspberries is completely magical.

Celebrate Mother’s Day Brunch at Home with This Delicious Strata

Prepped the day before, this kale, rapini, pesto, and browned butter sausage strata is simple and delicious.

A Gorgeous Spring Table That Will Make You Want to Throw a Party

Welcome in spring with a gorgeous, colorful table setting. Use fresh floral and bright colors to find your artsy and creative side to entertain your Mom for Mother’s Day.

22 Fabulous, Sparkling Cocktails to Make for Mom on Mother’s Day

You’re sure to find your new favorite drink for Mother’s Day with one of these 22 sparkling cocktail recipes!

3 One Pan Breakfast Recipes For Your Sunday Brunch

Host the ultimate brunch for Mother’s Day with minimal cleanup with these three one pan breakfast & brunch recipes!

Looking for more brunch recipes for Mother’s Day?

• While homemade cinnamon rolls take a little longer than rolls from a can, they are totally worth it.
• Who doesn’t love a foolproof Eggs Benedict recipe?
• These Nutella stuffed pancakes with Irish whipped cream are seriously to die for!

The post Our Best Mother’s Day Brunch Ideas appeared first on The Inspired Home.

Everything You Need to Throw an Amazing Al Fresco Fiesta

Nothing brings balance like a dinner full of friends and family with Mexican flavors and vibrant colors abound, serving as inspiration for an al fresco evening.

Homemade Churro Ice Cream Sandwiches

The delicious flavors of cinnamon and sugar combined with a crispy outside and soft warm inside makes churros one of the best. Now take all the goodness that is churros and smash ice cream in between them to make Homemade Churro Ice Cream Sandwiches.

Multicooker Chipotle Honey Carnitas Bar

Pull out the piñatas, pop limes in those Coronas. Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner. And it’s the perfect excuse to gather people you love, cozy in with great eats, and crank up Alexa with some mariachi tunes.

Smoky Pineapple Mezcal Margaritas

Get these Smoky Pineapple Mezcal Margaritas flowing for your Cinco de Mayo party, or any fun spring or summer gathering.

The Only Enchilada Casserole Recipe You’ll Ever Need

This Green Enchilada Casserole is creamy, dreamy and layered with chicken, quinoa and green chiles swimming in a vibrant salsa verde sauce.

Margarita Sangria

It’s a little margarita and little sangria… and they are the BEST! It’s the perfect citrus party drink for your Cinco de Mayo celebration!

Looking for more Cinco de Mayo recipes or entertainment ideas?

• Spice Up Your Cinco with Salted Jalapeño Tequila Shots
• Margarita cupcakes are the best dessert to add to your Cinco de Mayo
• These tempeh tacos are seriously to die for – and are perfect for your next Cinco de Mayo party

The post Get Cinco de Mayo Ready with These Ideas appeared first on The Inspired Home.

But when you think harder into the things that make or made your family truly feel special, you’ll likely recall slightly unique (but not necessarily rare or uncommon) experiences. That’s where family magic is made!

One of the traditions I’m actively building with my two young girls is gardening. It’s something I didn’t do very much of growing up, but I enjoy it and feel strongly connected to it now that we are raising our family in Maine.

It’s a nice tradition, no matter how big or small your garden, because every year there is a life-cycle to flow through. And every year it teaches anyone willing to learn some seriously valuable life lessons.

While I love the entire process of gardening, I’m focusing today on just the excitement of seedling season. We live in Northern New England, and it’s not until late March that we begin to see true signs of warmer weather ahead. We know it’s time when we finally see the colorful and resilient crocus’ fighting through the ground. Our planting zone is 5b, so every year feels like a fresh start as the ground and ice thaws around us.

If you’re new to gardening, involving young kids could feel a bit stressful. It certainly can be if you are mess-adverse. Here are a few tips to get your seedling /gardening tradition started and your kids:

1. Pick a starting point.

Maybe you know you’d like some herbs or a few containers of flowers on your deck. Maybe you already have a raised bed and want to assign your kids a certain plant to be responsible for. Whatever it is, pick your limit and plan for just that. Don’t let the excitement of potential flowers and produce get you too carried away, trust me.

2. Order product.

Typically, it’s safe to order any new seeds at the beginning of March and begin indoor sowing by the end of the month until it’s consistently 60 degrees outside. If you live in a warmer climate you’ll likely need to start earlier, or even direct sow starting now. Popular seed catalogs usually drop their spring seeds in late February or early March. We order from Johnny Seeds or a local spot called Pinetree Gardens, but you can also pick some up at your local grocery or plant nursery.

Here’s a checklist of all you’ll need:

• Peat containers — I prefer these because they are more earth-friendly than plastic and completely biodegradable. They can even be planted right into your pots or the ground.

• 1 package gardening soil — either flower or produce depending on what you’re planting.
• Seed packets — you decide! But make sure to read the instructions on when to plant and how to care for the plant while it’s germinating.

• Tools — we love this sweet set of gardening rakes and shovels

• Markers — this package of markers comes ready to customize and has small bags for any leftover seedlings to be stored until you need them next. So handy!
• Watering can or spritz bottle — definitely get a dedicated tool for this — pouring water from a cup or anything else can over-flood the seedlings!

3. Plant and play!

If you are mess-adverse or need to get the wiggles out of the kids before you get started, bring the party outside. This way everyone can play and explore freely without too much stress. Here you’ll want to line up all of your tools, as listed above, and create a type of assembly line:

1. Fill your peat seedling containers with dirt, pack slightly.

2. Write in the names of the plants on the tags.

3. Lightly plant the seeds according to the packaging.

4. Place your marker in the container and water lightly.

5. Repeat until you’ve planting all of your desired seeds.

6. Check back in a day for soil moisture and watch over the next week as the plants begin to sprout!

For the City Dwellers:

Planting seedlings can be a fun tradition, a family science experiment, or a way to try something new. No matter what, it’s a fun activity that can be done no matter where you live. One of the things we tried new this year that could be excellent for the urbanite, is this indoor herb garden with grow lights!

Lila was really interested in how it worked and it was a great opportunity to explain photosynthesis. It comes with pre-planted seeds and clear, easy instructions to get it all set up. It probably took Lila about 5 minutes to get it all up and running. We will update this post with photos as it grows!

The post Plant Spring Seedlings with the Kids for a Fun, Easy Activity appeared first on The Inspired Home.