The Avid Pen

These little ballerinas enjoyed their ballet camp so much they’re officially starting lessons. As someone who always wanted to take ballet growing up, it’s so exciting to see my beautiful niece embracing such an artistic and elegant form of dance.

The bumblebees haves been loving our alliums this year. So many blooms!

https://theavidpen.com/a-certain-kind-of-starlight-with-author-heather-webber/

A Certain Kind of Starlight with Author Heather Webber Heather Webber’s latest novel, A Certain Kind of Starlight, which releases today, is everything you’d hope for in one of her novels. She really is the ‘queen of small-town charm’ and this book is f…

Making memories with Auntie C, watching the three baby deer out the window.
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If you’re looking for something to do in Charlotte this Saturday, why not check out what the Charlotte art scene has to offer? The Shain Gallery’s latest solo show features former Charlotte native Josh Brown. Brown has a long history with the Shain Gallery, who first started showing his work when the artist was just 18 years old. The now New York City based artist is treating lovers of his animal centric work to a collection of paintings that feature a variety of wildlife from giraffes and zebras to foxes and rabbits.
Read the post over on the blog to see some of my favorite pieces from the show.
https://theavidpen.com/josh-brown-goes-solo-at-the-shain-gallery/

as seen at the We always take any chance to see his newest pieces in person.

I can’t even with this little ‘Rey of Sunshine’ Miss Charlotte Rey Jenkins…

When you see artwork that really ‘speaks’ to you at a local weekend brunch spot.

I found the most amazing English muffin bread at our local bakery (Breadsmith). It was one of their newer Saturday daily breads, and it couldn’t have been more perfect for these open-face sandwiches. Just lightly toast it, spread with your peanut butter, and top with berries. I went with raspberries and blueberries for a patriotic theme.

It was especially difficult to rate this months list of recommendations, because I truly enjoyed each and everyone of the them. So let’s get started in the first book of the month, Tourist Season, we meet Ismay Chambers who is traveled to her fiancee’s family summer home in search of RNR and finds something she never expected. Next, we have a endearing (and incredibly down on her luck) heroine in Jenny James is Not a Disaster. The clues are in the title with this one, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Next we have A Certain Kind of Starlight. If you find reading novels set in small towns with characters you love to love or love to hate, Heather Webber’s latest will not disappoint. Finally, we have Rachel Hawkins latest novel that was released earlier this year, The Heiress. This novel takes family secrets to a whole new level, and you’re not going to want to miss any of the big reveals in this one!
Read the full post via the link in bio!

Now we all know what G.O.A.T stands for (greatest of all time), however, in the case of our latest charcuterie board I’ve named it the G.O.A.T because it features all goat cheeses. From the most amazing goat brie from my favorite chèvre cheese maker to my go-to goat mozzarella that I like to enjoy in a variety of different ways, and finally, the Drunk goat cheese that has such a lovely elevated flavor.
Read the post:
https://theavidpen.com/the-g-o-a-t-charcuterie-board/

Little details. Full reveal of the newly renovated dining room coming soon.

https://theavidpen.com/a-summertime-lemonade-soiree-with-littles/

A Summertime Lemonade Soiree with Littles What better way to celebrate the arrival of summer than an impromptu lemonade party? The girls have recently had an obsession with lemonade, so it was the perfect way to welcome the summer season. …

https://theavidpen.com/beyond-summerland-with-author-jenny-lecoat/

Beyond Summerland with Author Jenny Lecoat Jenny Lecoat’s latest novel, Beyond Summerland, is set on the Island of Jersey off the coast of England, known as Summerland to the N**i forces who invaded it. The story begins in 1945 following th…

https://theavidpen.com/the-year-of-what-if-with-author-phaedra-patrick/

The Year of What If with Author Phaedra Patrick Carla Carter’s family is known for being unlucky in love. With the exception of her grandmother all of the women in the family have failed relationships, marriages, etc and when Carla prepare…

https://theavidpen.com/a-mediterranean-spread-with-heraclea/

A Mediterranean Spread with Heraclea Quality olive oil adds an extra touch of flavor, to any dish, whether you’re serving it as an accompaniment (for dipping), mixing it with freshly made pasta, drizzling it on pizza (as a base …

What better time to share about our little lemonade soirée we had with the girls over the weekend, than on the first day of summer?!

The most precious littles that ever lived.

However you choose to display your Positano print from it really makes a statement.
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Finally captured a photo of a sleeping bee on the lavender in our side garden. The bumblebees have just been loving our lavender this year.

The romantic in me instantly fell in love with this minimalist one line print, and while it goes by ‘Two People’ on it will always be known as ‘The Lovers’ to me.
Stay tuned for a code to save on your first order from

Have you read the Q&A with author over on The Avid Pen. It was so amazing catching up with her about the upcoming release of her latest novel, The Year of What If.
https://theavidpen.com/the-year-of-what-if-with-author-phaedra-patrick/

Quality olive oil adds an extra touch of flavor, to any dish, whether you’re serving it as an accompaniment (for dipping), mixing it with freshly made pasta, drizzling it on pizza (as a base instead of sauce), or creating a last minute vinaigrette for a salad. There are endless possibilities for enjoying it.
I recently tried the early harvest/cold pressed extra virgin olive oil from Heraclea, a Turkish olive oil brand. Creating a Mediterranean-inspired board, was something that had been on my mind for the past few summers, and after I found the other items for my board, everything came together.
Read the post via the link in bio!

I just can’t with these curls…

This Strawberry & Spinach was a spur of the moment creation for yesterday’s lunch. So fresh and refreshing!
— Strawberry & Spinach Salad —

Ingredients —

Fresh Spinach (washed)
Strawberries (washed and sliced)
Pulled Chicken (or grilled chicken fingers)
Laura Chenel Original Goat Cheese
Walnuts

Directions —

Wash spinach and strawberries throughly. Add spinach to bowls followed by sliced strawberries. Add chicken, goat cheese and top with walnuts. While this salad is quite delicious on its own, you can add a champagne or blackberry vinaigrette for a nice finish.

https://theavidpen.com/strawberry-picking-with-littles/

Strawberry Picking with Littles “I have only to break into the tightness of a strawberry, and I see summer – its dust and lowering skies.” — Toni Morrison On an unseasonably cool morning a few weekends ago…

https://theavidpen.com/afternoon-tea-with-littles-at-the-ballantyne/

Afternoon Tea with Littles at the Ballantyne During my nieces last visit to us, they couldn’t have been more excited about the Sunday afternoon ‘Tea Party’. It was a belated Mother’s Day gift to my mom from my sister, …

https://theavidpen.com/writing-haven-reveal/

Writing Haven Reveal Christie Younger (original) // Renee Mueller (prints) I’ve been waiting several years to share my little writing haven where I create content for the blog, write, where attended Clemson to ge…

Writing Haven Reveal over on the blog today. It’s been years in the making, but the room is finally just the way I’d always dreamed it could be.
Check out the post over on theavidpen.com