How Does Your Garden Grow Tuesdays - wk 3

It's Tuesday!! Which can only mean it's time for me to update you on my garden and hear all about yours!

My spinach is growing and growing and growing. I'm not too sure what it is supposed to look like at this stage of it's life cycle, but at week 3 it looks like grass.  Check out how small they were last week!

Everyone I spoke to told me cilantro would be the hardest thing to grow... Well, that doesn't seem to be the case. It is getting tall and gorgeous! Which is good because I use it in so many of my recipes! {cilantro lime rice} {chicken chili} {fish tacos} {guacamole} {corn salsa} {garlic cilantro aioli}

My pepper plant is becoming tall and strong too! Last year I grew two green bell pepper plants, but really wanted a yellow or red plant this year since they are sweeter! Hopefully this bad boy grows some good ones!

I have bad news though! 

My strawberry plants are being invaded by bugs. I have had to pick and throw away a good amount of my strawberries because they are eating the actual berries and they are rotting!

Does anyone have any good solutions? 

Ideally I would love to try something I can make myself without any chemicals, but if worse comes to worse I will make my way to Home Depot and pick something up! 4 strawberry plants, and I only got to enjoy 2 berries!

What can you plant in June?

Plant heat and sun-loving herbs like basil, oregano, thyme and sage.

What bugs are eating my strawberries and what prevents it?

I have seen slater or pill bugs! You know the ones that roll up into little balls! But I read they do not eat live matter. I am going to mix a little liquid dish soap with water in a spray bottle and spray the plants, including the underside of the leaves. If this doesn't work I am going to grab straw to put in the pot beneath the leaves and fruit!

What do you want to know? What works for you?

Picnic Menu

hello lovers!

In all honesty, this week has not been going very fast at all, but i can't believe tomorrow is friday! I have been waiting for this weekend for months! why??

It is one of the busiest weekends of the spring/summer season for me - packed with fun and exciting things!

My little sister graduates from University of Maryland tomorrow! I can't explain how amazing she is ... she is graduating with honors from UMD in three years and is on to Ohio State Vet School later this summer.

When you are little you wish and hope and pray to the moon and back that you were born an only child.

I couldn't imagine my life without her though. Living an hour away we only see each other once or twice a month, but her moving away is going to be hard!

She was the first person I called crying to when Princeton passed away. We are so different, but I couldn't ask for a better sissy ... even when she is grumpy!

Us on my graduation day from college last year!

okay, okay... enough sappiness. you want picnic menu ideas!

This Saturday we are heading over to Wine in the Woods, a huge wine festival that I have been wanting to go to for years - but college and working stopped me. {Not this year!}

For five hours I will be picnicking with friends, sipping on 385374 different types of wines, laying out on a blanket soaking up the sun {it's been raining all week} and listening to live music.

perfect day. but what should i bring?

I have been searching and thinking of healthy things I could pack for lunch. We are headed out to Kent Island Saturday night for dinner and dancing and have an "adventure" 5k on Sunday so I don't want to be uncomfortable at all. I want something light, filling and delicious!

Here is what I am thinking along with the links to the recipes:

Lemon Orzo Salad with Asparagus, Spinach and Feta
Pulled Pork Sandwiches {not so light, but a summer staple}
Cranberry, Almond Chicken Salad with Greek Yogurt instead of Mayo
Fruit Salad
Mint Lemonade
Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake {low fat}

What I love to wear to outdoor picnics:

I love maxi dresses for spring outdoor events. It takes less time putting together an outfit that might look cute, but isn't designed for sitting in the grass all day. Maxi dresses are flattering on everyone and thankfully they are still in style this Spring!

Of course a spring floral dress with a brown belt would work perfectly fine too!

have any good picnic menu ideas? send them my way!!

today at 10 is the last time you can enter my giveaway! if you are a runner/athlete this is a great thing to use! it works wonders on my sore muscles after running! enter here!