Five Things I’m Thankful for This Year
Felicity, Asher, and Arya making homemade pizza!
#1 Our Kids!
Yes, we are all in that stage of life - Chloe, Sid, and I have all have little kiddos. With that comes a whole lot of love, a whole lotta mess, and a whole lot of screaming, “Mom, I’m hungry!” One thing we all share as siblings is a love of cooking, and cooking with our kids is something we try to do when we get together. We grew up cooking with our mom and dad, and we’ve passed that on to them. That’s why we fell in LOVE with this children’s cooking set. It’s the perfect gift for those little chefs in your life.
#2 Christmas stockings that go both ways!
Beautiful Sand and Pine Co. Stockings that can hang in either direction! (vs. the stockings that I got from Michaels below that can’t hang both ways).
You might be thinking… Maddie, what are you talking about? That was my sister’s response when I told her I was tired of buying stocking that only worked in one direction. Then, I had to show her the stocking that I bought from Michaels last season - it only hangs in one direction!! That’s why I was thrilled when Sand and Pine Co. came out with beautiful stockings that can turn either way to hang on your mantle. Now I can frame my mantle in both directions!!
#3 Citrus Reamers
Have you ever tried to squeeze a lemon or lime without a juicer? Not easy. Let me tell ya, Citrus Reamers are awesome and easy to clean. I tried one from Amazon and I loved it, but it wasn’t the prettiest thing to look at. I have also used the regular citrus juicers and 2 in 1 style juicers with a cup, but they can be harder to clean. That’s why I love the citrus reamer sold by Sand and Pine Co. It is simple, looks beautiful, and is easy to clean. I like reamers because you can really get all the juice out of a lemon, lime, orange, or grapefruit.
#4 Charcutes!!!!
O man, I might be a little embarrassed to say what we talk about at our girls’ nights and “book clubs” over champs and charcutes, but boy do we have a good time! My family loves to get together to gab over some good charcutes. One of my favorite Tik Tok videos called it a “board of love and friendship.” Heck yes! Spot on! That’s why we had to stock plenty of charcuterie boards and accessories at Sand and Pine Co. I love the size and scale of the boards and the weight and size of the cheese knives! I bought both knife sets the night we opened the business!
Cheers from the Stevens Fam!
#5 New Beginnings, Opening a Family Business
Nothing has brought more joy into my life than starting off 2022 with a fresh outlook and going into business with my family. I’ve never spent so much quality time with my brother, sisters, and parents, and I’m cherishing every moment. I am a Family Physician, and working through the COVID-19 pandemic in the office and hospital has been emotionally and physically tough, to put it mildly. Having the creative outlet of going into business with my family and getting to think, write, and create in a nonmedical space has been so important for my mental and physical health. I’ve connected with my husband, Jon, on a deeper level, getting to ask him questions about running a business (I’m sure he loves that! lol). He’s also the connection that we have with Solace Brewing Company in Virginia - check them out, they sell great beer! Jon and I also share a love for everything Christmas, so creating the first ornament for his business and decorating all the Solace locations was something special that I got to do for him.
The First Solace Brewing Company Ornament!
I hope you all find your new beginnings this Holiday Season. Here’s to loving and living life to the fullest! YOLO!
Cheers and Charcutes!
