DIY Archives - Page 2 of 7 - Carmen Johnston Gardens

4 Recipes for a Healthy Heart: Snacks

Sometimes eating three meals a day is simply not enough. That’s why some extremely smart individual invented snacks.

Sneaking snacks doesn’t have to make you feel guilty, though. Here are some heart-healthy solutions for spontaneous snack cravings throughout your day.

Images via Food Network

1. Hummus Dip

2. Pizzettes with Caramelized Onions, Goat Cheese, and Prosciutto

Images via Food Network

3. Kale Slaw

4. Whole-Grain Biscuits

For more heart-healthy recipes, check out my previous posts for dinner and dessert ideas now. Be sure to visit Food Network for a complete list of their heart-healthy recipes too.

Enjoy!

July 8, 2015/0 Comments/by Carmen Johnston

DIY

6 Recipes for a Healthy Heart: Desserts

Yesterday I shared 4 Recipes for a Healthy Heart with all of you. I hope that the post proved that heart-healthy eating doesn’t have to be one flavorless meal after another. If anything, taking the time to choose ingredients that are better for your heart makes eating the meals you prepare that much more enjoyable because you know you won’t regret it later.

That being said, which part of a meal should always be enjoyed and never regretted? Desserts, of course! Here are a few recipes I found at Health.com for some heart-healthy desserts.

Images via Health.com

1. Mocha Phyllo Cups

2. Vanilla Bean Angel Food Cake

Images via Health.com

3. Quick Baked Pears

4. Cinnamon Streusel Crisps

Images via Health.com

5. Cantaloupe Sherbert

6. Frozen Peanut Butter Pie

Check out the full list of heart-healthy dessert recipes at Health.com, and then meet me back here tomorrow!

Have a sweet week!

July 7, 2015/0 Comments/by Carmen Johnston

DIY

4 Recipes for a Healthy Heart

Gardening has and always will be my passion, however, even stronger than my love for gardening is the love I have for this man right here.

Recent events concerning my husband’s health have inspired me to share some heart healthy recipes instead of my usual garden-related posts. The last few weeks have been difficult, to say the least, but Tommy’s recovery has been nothing short of miraculous. A healthy heart is so important, which is why we want to start taking better care of ours.

Real Simple has an amazing list of heart-healthy recipes that I can’t wait to try. I just had to share some of my soon-to-be favorites.

Images via Real Simple

1. Vegetarian Tacos with Goat Cheese

2. Pork Tenderloin with Cabbage and Apple Slaw

Images via Real Simple

3. Salmon and Peppers with Caper Vinaigrette

4. Pasta with Bacon and Cauliflower

I hope our story–(which I plan to share in full detail later on)–will inspire you to evaluate your own health. Simply changing your diet can make all the difference. Be sure to visit Real Simple for their complete list of heart-healthy meals, and then check back here tomorrow for even more recipes as well.

Have a great week!

July 6, 2015/0 Comments/by Carmen Johnston

DIY

4 Products for Sun-Kissed Skin

Happy June, everyone!

Spring has already sprung, summer is about to begin, and this green thumb gal is ready to spend some quality time in the sun. Today I am sharing with you my secret for healthy skin that is sun-kissed skin, but not burnt or blemished.

1. This pore perfecting facial polish by bliss is a must-have! End of story.

2. If brown spots are a girl’s worst enemy, then this skin brightening complex by Lytera is definitely her best friend.

3. When I told my friend Nicole, who just started her own dermatology practice in Columbus, that I was in need of some good sunscreen she recommended EltaMD. You can’t get a better endorsement than that!

4. Every now and then I like to make my own products as well. When your face needs a little extra moisture after a few hours in the sun, try this mask: 4 tablespoons of honey, 4 tablespoons of brown sugar, and half of a freshly squeezed lemon.

Enjoy the soon-to-be summer, everyone. Go out and get some sun, but not too much!

June 3, 2015/0 Comments/by Carmen Johnston

DIY, Garden

5 Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day

I would like to take a moment to wish all the mothers out there a Happy Mother’s Day weekend! I hope you enjoy your day. Be sure to soak up all that special love! Here are a few gift ideas for that wonderful woman you love.

1. You can’t go wrong with a Rifle Paper Company Mother’s Day card! There prints are always beautiful, which your one and only mother definitely deserves.

2. I am sure you have heard of TOMS by now, but did you know that they now sell bags? I adore this Chevron Straw Islander Tote! I think this is a fantastic gift for Mother’s Day because the proceeds from every bag purchased goes towards helping a mother gift birth to her baby with a safe delivery. Amazing, right?

3. How great are these boots? The print, the height–absolutely everything! With summer right around the corner these Hunter Floral Garden Boots are a must-have. And they are available at Terrain! I so want to add them to my boot collection, and I’m betting your mother will too.

4. If you have been keeping up with my blog, then you know that I recently did a post on “Heirloom Fruits and Vegetables” because it is one of my favorite gardening books. If your mother is inspired by edible gardens and is interested in starting her own, this will be a fantastic gift for her.

5. I cannot recommend this body balm by bliss enough! It is absolutely amazing for your skin, especially if you spend a lot of time working with your hands like me. If you are feeling crafty, you might even try making this DIY Honey, Lemon, and Salt Scrub as an added gift for your mom (and her hands!)

P.S. Be sure to follow #SaksGlamGardens on Twitter for lots of fun garden inspirations!

May 8, 2015/0 Comments/by Carmen Johnston

DIY, Garden

The Best Gardening Books: “Heirloom Fruits & Vegetables” by Toby Musgrave and Clay Perry

It has been a long while since I shared one of my favorite gardening books with all of you and I thought today was the perfect day to post the next one on my list.

I already shared with you my nostalgic connection to Bunny Williams’s “On Garden Style” and about my coffee table classic, “Flowers” by Carolyne Roehm. Today I want to talk about another “classic” of mine, a kitchen counter classic: “Heirloom Fruits & Vegetables” by Tony Musgrave and Clay Perry.

I just love how these photographs pop right off the page. (Of course, we did help out a little bit with some raspberries of our own.) I am so inspired to grow my own fruits and vegetables every time I flip through these delicious-looking pages.

“The Raspberry . . . produces agreeable eatable fruit . . . in estimation both as a decent fruit to eat raw, and for making tarts, sauces, raspberry jam, and other culinary preparations and therefore highly demands culture in every garden.”

The raspberry is also great for garnishing drinks and adding a subtle twist to the overall taste. Last year we made some raspberry mimosas to celebrate the beginning of summer. They were so yummy!

We planted some raspberries last year and (fingers crossed!) we will be enjoying them soon. What are some of your favorite fruits and vegetables to grow for good summer eats?

Photos: The Photography of Haley Sheffield

Check out my entire Great Gardening Books series…

May 4, 2015/0 Comments/by Carmen Johnston

DIY, Garden

DIY Succulent Garden

My dear friend, Andrea Crawford of Couture House Interiors, created this incredible piece and I just had to share it with all of you. Such an inspiring idea! Seriously, I fall more in love with gardening every day! Just take a look at this fountain full of succulents and you will be smitten too.

Materials Needed:
Tiered fountain (Andrea found this one at Home Decorators)
Sand/soil mixture
Drill
Succulents

Directions:
1. Give your plants plenty of breathing room by drilling holes for drainage. Air is just as important as water for helping your plants grow.
2. Mix one part potting soil with one part play yard sand to create the perfect environment for your succulents to live in.
3. Stuff ‘n’ Shove! Mix various colors and shapes throughout the fountain for a big, bold look!

4. If you want to take it to the next level, you can always add some sedum around the base of your fountain. You can never go wrong with chartreuse in spring!

So simple, so chic! God has truly blessed me with such talented friends and I am beyond thankful for how they continue to inspire me. Thank you, Andrea, for your beautiful work.

April 26, 2015/4 Comments/by Carmen Johnston

DIY, Garden, Home

Gardening 101: Fresh Cut Arrangements

One of the best things about spring and summer is bringing all those fresh blooms indoors! Today I want to show you how to make a stunning centerpiece for your kitchen table using some snips ‘n’ clips from your spring garden.

Materials Needed:
Bucket of water
Hydrangeas

Fresh mint
Hosta leaves
Lady Banks
3 glass containers

Directions:
1. Build a foundation of blooms! Cut the stem of your hydrangeas at an angle and then simply place on top of your container.
2. Add mint! Place the mint directly into the hydrangea blooms.
3. Add hosta leaves and lady banks next.
4. Group all three containers together at the center of your kitchen table.

So simple and so chic–spring chic, that is! There is nothing quite like the smell of flesh flowers and herbs mingling with your morning coffee. Enjoy!

For more fresh cut arrangement ideas be sure to check out this gorgeous tablesetting idea.

April 24, 2015/0 Comments/by Carmen Johnston

DIY, Garden

DIY Herb Garden and Patio Table

This is one of my favorite gardening projects. This DIY herb garden is both beautiful and practical. It is an herb garden and patio table in one! And it is super easy to make!

Make your own herb garden and patio table in one with these super simple directions with Carmen Johnston Gardens

Snip and clip fresh herbs.

Materials Needed:
Iron table top
Strawberry jar
2 bags of bark
2 bags of soil
Rosemary and Thyme
Bubblegum Petunia and Creeping Jenny

Directions:
1. Make a layer of bark in the bottom of the strawberry jar. This will prevent you from having to use a ton of soil.
2. Choose soil with a time release fertilizer. Then use it to create another layer on top of the bark. Stop adding soil just 2″ inches below the top of the jar.
3. Remove about half of the root ball on all of your herbs and then begin planting on the outside of the jar.
4. Use only one 4″ plant per cup on the outside of the jar.
5. Add creeping jenny to the top of your strawberry jar. This plant fills a space out nicely so you will only need three.
6. Add your table top and a few chairs to complete the look.

I love this mix of decorative plants and herbs. Both work so well in the strawberry jar too! Also, I don’t think you can find a better table for your patio anywhere. Like I said before, this DIY herb garden is both beautiful and practical and that is what gardening is all about!

Be sure to check out this delicious cocktail herb garden.

April 22, 2015/0 Comments/by Carmen Johnston

DIY, Garden, Home

10 Minute Tablescape for Easter

Today is Good Friday, which means that this Sunday is Easter! It is almost time for that special day spent with family and friends. While a kid on Easter looks forward to scavenging the yard in hopes of finding that one special egg, an adult on Easter mostly just looks forward to sitting down and enjoying some food. The time spent around the table with loved ones is invaluable, which is why I want to show you how to set the stage for this year’s Easter dinner. And it only takes 10 minutes!