Lovely Lavender with Girly Obsessions

We're partnering with our friends over at Girly Obsessions again! This time around, Ashley from GO is posting on my blog and I'm posting on hers. Make sure to take a peek here!

I feel so lucky to have recently spent two wonderful weeks in France, celebrating my five year wedding anniversary. My husband and I took a five-stop road trip from the Loire Valley to Nice. Since our anniversary fell right in the middle of lavender season, my mission while in Provence was to find the perfect, most picturesque lavender field. Of course, I didn’t realize this would take three days of driving down very small back roads, while testing my husband’s patience and facing my fear of bees. But...I’m slightly obsessive and was in search of this vision I had in my mind.

We actually found an abundance of lavender, lovely fragrant fields of vibrant purple, each one more beautiful than the next. Throughout Provence, lavender and lavender scented products were everywhere, in the form of everything from bath salts and soaps, to ice cream and home decor. If it weren’t for my already too heavy suitcase, it would have all come home with me.

But since it couldn’t, the first thing we did when we got home was planted lavender in our garden. Not only will it serve as a reminder of our trip, but there is so much you can do with the fragrant herb and I thought I’d share some of those ideas!

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To dry the lavender (if you can part with the purple blooms), prune the flowers just as they open. Combine long cut stems into 3-4" bundles and hang in a well-ventilated place, out of direct sunlight. The flowers should dry in about 10 days. The bundles themselves work well as a beautiful, rustic table decoration, simply placed on a surface or put in a vase.

To use the buds for cooking or other various crafts, when completely dry, strip the flowers off the stems and store in a tightly sealed container like a jar or plastic bag. The dried flowers can be placed in organza sachets and used around the house for fragrance, in drawers to keep clothes smelling fresh, or can be tucked into your pillow for a restful nights sleep. They can also be put in a tea bag and used to scent a warm, relaxing bath.

For cooking, lavender has a sweet, floral taste, with a citrus undertone. It can be used in many dishes, and works well in place of rosemary in many recipes. I prefer it in baked goods and sweets, including one of my favorites: honey lavender ice cream. You can also make a simple lavender sugar by blending one cup of sugar and two tablespoons of dried lavender bugs until the sugar is tinted purple with no signs of buds. Keep this sugar on hand to add to lemonade, tea or baking sweets.

And here is a very simply recipe for Lavender Lemonade, perfect for hot summer days! This refreshing drink would taste even better if served in Rosanna's Pressed Glass Highball!

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 3 heaping tablespoons dried culinary lavender
• 2 cups fresh lemon juice
• 4 cups water (plus more to your taste)

Directions

In a medium post over medium heat, combine 2 cups water and sugar. Bring to a boil and stir until sugar is dissolved.

Remove from heat. Stir in honey and lavender. Cover and let steep for 10-15 minutes. Strain out lavender and pressed buds into the bottom of the strainer to release any syrup left behind.

In a large pitcher, combine lemon juice, lavender syrup, and water. Stir and chill. Serve cold, over ice.

Enjoy!

GirlyObsessions was founded by Ashley and Sara. Besties. Lipgloss addicts. Cupcake fanatics. Their site is devoted to sharing their love (well, let's be honest, obsession) for all things girly, from makeup and baking, to shoes, fashion, and celebrity gossip. Find us online at www.girlyobsessions.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GirlyObsessions, or follow us on Twitter @girlyobsessions.

Fourth of July Celebration Tips with Alexandra Hedin!

I'm partnering with my friend Alexandra Hedin this month for posts on celebrating Independence Day in style! Stop by her blog here to see my post on blending cultures to create your own very special 4th of July. Below you will find her stylish ideas.

The Fourth of July is by far my favorite holiday to celebrate. There is none of the pressure of the Christmas season, with just as much fun, family - and occasionally sun! I absolutely adore it. Add to that a killer color combo and I'm positively swooning. It's no wonder that every year we gather together a huge group of family and friends, fire off the cannon (yes, we have a cannon), and party through to the next morning. We've even been known to karaoke.

Creating the perfect party every year is not hard - even when we know it's for more than fifty people - because we make the most of the food ahead, make all the drinks D.I.Y., and kick off our shoes. Here's what I would make, if I were you, with recipes gathered out of my book, Entertaining at Home.

Menu

Spiced Popcorn

Herbed Goat Cheese Spread (recipe below!)

Steamed Clams and Mussels

Roasted Potato Salad

Baked Fried Chicken

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

For a cocktail, I'm making a version of an Arnold Palmer that's delightfully refreshing and very much grown up. We're calling it Mr. Palmer's Punch.

Herbed Goat Cheese Spread

8 ounces goat cheese

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons lemon zest

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon tabasco

1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley

1/4 cup fresh chopped dill

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Mix all ingredients together with a fork. Refrigerate at least one hour or up to one week. Serve with crackers, vegetables, or a loaf of bread!

I hope you have a fabulous holiday and celebrate the Fourth of July surrounded by people who make you smile. Don't forget, life is a party!

Alexandra Hedin is a Lifestyle and Entertaining Expert based in the Pacific Northwest. Her simple approach to making every day lovely has made her an admired contributor to magazines and television across the west coast.

In Winter 2010, Alexandra's debut book was released. Entertaining at Home features ten complete parties including menus, simple recipes, crafts, and helpful tips for hosting your own event. The beautifully photographed book includes hundreds of photos to inspire and tempt any hostess-to-be to take her next even to the next level.

Alexandra has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens magazine, Design*Sponge, and on the Seattle affiliates of CBS, ABC, and FOX. Her parties, recipes, and crafts can be found in every issue of 425 Magazine.

Alexandra grew up in the bustling kitchen of a home economics teacher helping to feed a large extended family for holidays and regular weekends together. She still spends her free time cooking in her Seattle kitchen for her husband and three young children.

Find Alexandra online at www.alexandrahedin.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AlexandraHedin, and follow her on Twitter @alexandrahedin.

Sixth Annual Tablescape Contest

It's that time again! The Sixth Annual Tablescape Contest is on for another year and the theme is all about dressing up your home-cooked meal. What does your meal look like? Whether it's breakfast, lunch, dinner, even dessert - I want to know!

Everyone is so busy nowadays that they often don't have time to sit down to a home-cooked meal, let alone prepare one. I have always felt that sitting down and eating a wholesome meal with your loved ones is one of the most important aspects of life. Not only does it provide you with the chance to reconnect to those you hold dearest, it is much healthier and more nutritious than the prepared food to go you might pick up on the way home from a busy workday.

In addition to the health advantages of sitting down to eat a home-cooking meal, there are many other added benefits. Columbia University's Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse has conducted the same study since 2001 to determine these benefits:

• Teens from families who didn't eat dinner together on a consistent basis were more likely to experiment with drugs.
• Increased family dinners have shown a positive link with improved academic performance.
• Families that eat together regularly show higher rates of discussion about all aspects of their childrens' lives, including sports, current events, school, and their friends and social lives.
• 70% of teens who eat dinner with their families at least 5 times a week reported that their parents were proud of them.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics:

• 3 or more family meals per week are associated with a 12% reduction in the likelihood of being overweight, a 20% drop in the odds of eating unhealthy food  on a regular basis, and a 35% reduction in disordered eating.
• Kids are 24% likelier to eat healthy food like fruits and vegetables, breakfast, and take a multivitamin.

Use your creativity, mixed with Rosanna collections, and remember that home-cooked meals don't necessarily have to take place inside! Share with us the story behind your tablescape design. What does your favorite, go-to meal look like? Birthday cake for a special someone? What about Sunday breakfast or an easy weekday meal? Winners will be chosen by me personally. So join in for your chance to win a $500 Rosanna gift certificate, and be featured on Rosanna's Table Talk blog!

Get Setting!
Our Sixth Annual Tablescape Contest will start on June 18th, 2012 and end on August 31, 2012. Winners will be announced shortly after. For a little inspiration, take a look at the photographs from our last few contests:

2011
2010
2009
2008
2007

The Prizes
1st Place: $500 Rosanna gift certificate
2nd Place: $200 Rosanna gift certificate
3rd Place: $100 Rosanna gift certificate

Official Rules
1. Anyone with a passion for Rosanna-ware and tablescape design is welcome to compete, regardless of age.
2. Set the table for at least two. No actual food or Rosanna products are required.
3. Contest begins on June 18th, 2012 at 12:00am PST and ends August 31st, 2012 at 11:59pm PST.
4. Submit up to 2 photos of your tablescape and the story behind each design. Digital submissions must come as jpegs, around 4x5 inches, no less than 72 dpi and no more than 180 dpi.
5. When entering, make sure to include your name, city, and an email or phone number where we can reach you. We respect your privacy and will not give out any of your information.
6. Photos in hard copy will not be returned.
7. Rosanna, Inc. reserves the right to use and/or publish photos of your tablescape submissions however we see fit. Photos may be published on social media sites. Publishing does not necessarily constitute a winning entry. By submitting your photo, you agree to these terms.
8. Please email all entries to info@rosannainc.com.
9. Mailed entries should be sent to:
    Rosanna, Inc.
    Attn: Tablescape Contest
    6755 East Marginal Way S.
    Seattle, WA, 98108

Good luck!

With love,

www.rosannainc.com

Free Shipping at Rosanna.com!

June is a time for celebration! From weddings to baby announcements, graduations to Father's Day - celebrate those you hold dearest with a fabulous gift from Rosanna! All month long, enjoy free shopping on all U.S. retail orders at http://www.rosannainc.com! Click the photo above for more.

www.rosannainc.com

Rosanna Warehouse Sale This Weekend!

Enjoy huge savings on Rosanna classics, discontinued, and overstock tableware items, in addition to one-of-a-kind pieces, antique furnishings, and collectibles!

There will be three gift baskets and three chances to win!

• Gift basket 1: Bring a non-perishable food item or clothing article(s) to be entered to win this gift basket worth over $200 in Rosanna products! Proceeds benefit the Regina House in Seattle's South Park neighborhood.
• Gift basket 2: Spend $100 or more at our outlet sale and be entered to win this gift basket filled with over $250 in Rosanna products!
• Gift basket 3: Shop both the Rosanna Outlet sale on Packaging Specialties sale (our neighbor around the corner) for a chance to win this gift basket worth over $300 in both Rosanna & Packaging Specialties products!

Friendly reminders:

• Cash and credit cards accepted only. NO CHECKS PLEASE.
• Parking is limited.
• Must be present to shop; orders will not be accepted via phone or email.
• For safety reasons, we kindly ask that you do not bring small children.
• ALL SALES FINAL. No refunds or exchanges. Please check all items for any defects before purchase.

See you there!

www.rosannainc.com

Make a Place Your Own

I'm partnering with my friends over at Family Eats again! Be sure to check out their post on creating delicious, healthy meals and snacks while on the road this summer here.

All of us want a "home away from home," like a great cafe, restaurant, or bar, where we can go on a regular basis and be recognized and appreciated - and of course, enjoy fabulous food and drink! Here are some tips for finding your own special spot.

• Find a place relatively close to home. Easy access is the key to frequent visits and quick bonding with the waiters and owners.
• Pick a place that makes something you simply love to eat, something you couldn't replicate at home. When you pick a place, choose somewhere that offers an experience that is truly special and unique.

• Select a place that makes you feel instantly at home. Seek out a space with an ambiance that invites you in and soothes your psyche, a place that makes you feel calm, safe, and welcome. You'll know when you've found the right place because it will feel like sinking into a big overstuffed club chair with a relived "ahhhhh."
• Finally, and most importantly, pick a place that makes you feel special and appreciated as soon as you walk through the door. Make sure the waiters and chefs take notice of you, and show them your appreciate with a warm greeting. Reaching out yourself does wonders for inspiring a welcome filled with warmth and hospitality.

Enjoy!

With love,

www.rosannainc.com

Staying close to home for Memorial Day and summer break

With the economy the way it is now, expensive vacations can seem like unnecessary luxuries. There's no need to sacrifice a fun break, though! My favorite vacations growing up were the ones where we stayed close to home and spent a week at the Oregon coast. The weather wasn't always great, but we made up for it by cooking and eating fresh fish from the Pacific, playing board games, and catching up on our pleasure reading. For us, Memorial Day and summer break was a special time - a time to be together as a family. We took long walks along the vast shoreline, hunted for shells, and had hot dog roasts on the beach, with s'mores for dessert. Simplifying a family holiday by stripping away the glitz associated with an exotic destination can allow you to focus on being together in the moment. Here are some of my favorite ideas for break activities that are low in cost and high in fun:

• Find a place to go that's close to home. Locate state parks, historic landmarks, and places of great beauty that are nearby.
• If you do decide to go away, find a house to rent, if possible. It will be more comfortable than a hotel and may end up being less expensive!
• If the weather isn't great, look for inexpensive matinees at local theatres.
• Wander through local museums and learn about your city's culture.
• Go to some local tourist spots or on a tour and see what all the fuss is about! Many times we ignore our town's tourist activities and hotspots - these are gems waiting to be explored.
• Host a potluck or outdoor BBQ at your home.
• Weather permitting, have a campout in your backyard with the kids.
• Be on the look out for local festivals and fairs.
• Attend an outdoor concert and bring a picnic.
• Invite grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins along for the fun, too!

To make your "staycations" feel more like the real thing, try sipping your tea or coffee out of one of my Travel mugs! I also offer matching plates. The Travel mugs and dishes celebrate some of the most intriguing cultures the world over and are reasonably priced. They're great for gifts, too!

Have a safe and fun-filled break!

www.rosannainc.com