Supernatural Botanicals

Backyard dinner dates….one of my very favorite things!  You don’t need to find a sitter for the kids and spend a ton of money in order to have a dinner date with your man….or entire family. Create a beautiful place in your yard or on your balcony to dine outside.  I created my secret spot under a huge tree in my yard, and designed a seating area, lined with Brassfield Chips (pebble ground cover seen above.)

Beautiful linens/tablecloths can create so many different looks.  The picture above happens to be a Saturday morning breakfast date with the newspaper and fresh papaya juice (coffee being brewed).  It’s a beautiful way to start the day or end an evening.

A backyard dinner date just takes creativity.  It can be breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner; the backyard dates are especially beneficial when you feel like you haven’t been on a real date in 100 years.  Create a romantic dinner for two (don’t forget candles), or serve dinner for the entire family there.   Have coffee and bagels in the morning, or gourmet cheeses and a bottle of wine in the evening.

Get creative and surprise your guy with a backyard dinner date.

Lawn-care giants, Scotts Miracle-Gro Co., says it will close its Smith and Hawken stores by the end of the year.  Smith and Hawken sells upscale lawn, garden, and outdoor lifestyle products.  The recession and weak economy are to blame, Scotts says. 

Store-wide sales start today in all stores.  All 56 Smith and Hawken locations will be closed by year’s end. 

It didn’t take a recession for smart girls to know that the library is the most valuable free resource on the market!  Go take advantage of your local library for books, DVDs, (workout DVDs are my favorite…especially new releases), magazines, books on tape, etc.  There’s so much to love….and best of all, it’s so recession-friendly.  Free!

Did you know that the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County was voted the busiest library in the nation for four years running?  I’m proud to say, I think I single-handedly have helped improve our numbers!  I adore the library.  Take the whole family, and have a free night out at the library…and get smarter in the process. 

   There’s no doubt that lots of us are worried about our financial futures.  No one is here to bail you out.  It can feel all too overwhelming and daunting at times.  But did you ever stop to think of the benefits of this forced recession?  I think we can see tremendous benefit beyond our recession pain.  Here’s why:

*  We are more cognizant of our spending and saving.  Cognizance brings bigger thinking to the table, forces you to set goals and to take ownership of your actions. 

*  We are eating at home more.  Because we are eating at home more, we are eating healthier.  For great healthy, fast recipes, see Sam The Cooking Guy.

*  Gym memberships are on the decline according to studies, but this doesn’t mean that you have to stop exercising.  People are finally discovering their sidewalks outside their own door and are exercising outside…where it’s free. 

*  We are watching less TV:  According to reports from cable companies, they are losing customers in droves.  It forces you to do something free…like go to the library, reacquaint yourself with that sidewalk out in front of your house, reorganize your closets, or just take some zen time. 

*  The recession is helping us to focus on what’s important in life, helping us to reevaluate our goals, like…relationships, family, God, happiness, being kind and helping one another. 

Perhaps those are the good things we can take away from the recession.  After all, just because you’ve been doing something the same way for a long time doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right way.  Step back, look at things from 1000 feet, and re-think your life and all the people and things in it.  Start to focus in, keep your chin up, and remain happy.   That’s what will get you through.