I’m going to be real with you - I never used to be domestic. Growing up, my dad attempted to raise me as he would a son. We’d go out fishing, he give me Tonka trucks for Christmas and encouraged me to play sports. (If it wasn’t for my mom, I might have actually thought I was a boy.) Growing up, I became a bit more girly in the way I dressed, but had zero interest in homemaking. I envisioned being a working girl in the city, and while I wanted to find love, it wasn’t my number one priority.
Then I fell in love.
I don’t know what happened, but the moment I said “yes!” while my now-husband was down on one knee, everything changed. I couldn’t stop thinking of how I wanted to decorate our future home, how I could make the tastiest casseroles and even developed a very particular taste in hardwood flooring. I literally ran around like a mad woman with my registry gun, shooting everything in Pottery Barn that had a french provincial vibe.
A few weeks ago, when I was invited to attend a creative retreat on summer entraining, I couldn’t hit the RSVP button fast enough. I attended the day-long class at The Loft at 600 F hosted by The Gathering Project (coordinated by Chelsea Rose More) with my good friend and fellow blogger, Krystin, and we couldn’t have had more fun.
We started off learning to make focaccia bread (check out the recipe on Krystin’s blog) from Leesburg’s Knead and Know. Melissa Friend, our instructor, walked us through how to make the perfect dough (who knew dough wasn’t supposed to be sticky when rolled just right?!) and rewarded us at the end with a fresh baked pan of her own. She also teaches a class on making croissants that I will definitely be taking in the near future.
Next, Rachel Kozlowski of RK Artwork taught us the art of decorative dinner wear and how we could make our own. Rachel actually did a collaboration with West Elm and they sell prints of her plates in their stores, and if you want the hand-painted real deal, check out her online shop (she does commissions too!) You can see how my elephant plate turned out below.
Then we had dinner. And by "had dinner," I mean we enjoyed a feast of homemade perfection with sangria, hor’dourves and a plethora of unique and delicious salads. To say it was glorious would be an understatement.
The last class was by my friend Carlene of Healthfully Ever After, and I was so sad to miss it. She taught everyone how to make the perfect fruit crumble, and luckily she shared the recipe on her blog and you can find it here.
Holy smokes - sorry for the thousand-word essay above but I just got excited! Check out some photos below for some inspiration for your next summer soiree.
