bluegrass does big mountains.

September 14, 2015September 14, 2015 / bluegrassbackyard / Leave a comment

I was born in Central New York, and all of my family still resides there- so I make an effort to venture up north at least a few times a year. New York is really one of the most beautiful and versatile states, you have beaches, mountains, lakes, islands, and cities. A far cry from the bustling and crowded New York City everyone envisions when you tell them you’re a Yankee. On my visits, we usually stick close to my home town of East Syracuse, NY- but this time we made the time to vacation in the Catskill Mountains. Specifically- Phoenicia, New York.

Nestled in the heart of the Catskill Mountains, Phoenicia is a small town-with a serious small town feel and dripping with nostalgia. The scenery is beautiful, the shops are as local as they get and we found some amazing eats.

We were lucky enough to stay at the Phoenicia Lodge, a beautifully maintained, simple cabin style accommodation that fit our needs perfectly. We rented Cabin 3– and could not have been happier.

We were surrounded by mountains, and the hiking and scenery were great (but the company was better). The first day we hiked up the Terrace Mountain trail, and upon leaving the trailhead stumbled onto 3 bear cubs (don’t worry we were in the car already) The second day we conquered Slide Mountain the highest peak in the Catskills, coming in at 4,180′.

With all the hiking and fishing we did- we definitely worked up strong appetites. My absolute favorite spot was Tavern 214. This was a local farm to table restaurant, close to town but with a big city feel in the way it is run. The food was thoughtfully prepared, expertly served and absolutely delicious. I didn’t get any pictures of our meals-we ate them too fast, but if you’re ever in the area or looking for a spot to dine out after a scenic drive, that’s your place. You will not be disappointed.

We also stopped into Mama’s Boy Coffee Shop for some much needed caffeine and dined at Brio’s Restaurant

If you’re looking for a town with great views, fantastic hiking and a small town vibe- Phoenicia is it. A few hour drive from Central New York and you will feel like you’ve reached a whole new world.

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art of organics.

July 23, 2015July 23, 2015 / bluegrassbackyard / 2 Comments

Trying to find new organic and natural products can be challenging and overwhelming, especially when you first decide to make the switch from their chemically laden counterparts. There are hundreds of fabulous small batch shops that create beautiful, safe and effective products- but unless you know where to look, they can be tough to find. Art of Organics offers a solution, curating beautiful monthly theme based product boxes, and delivering them right to your door!

Every month you’re sent an email, going over the products offered in that months box and giving you the option to opt out. The boxes are $58 a month with a subscription and $68 for a one time purchase (if they don’t sell out- they’re becoming quite the hot item)! Both prices include shipping. Each box comes with an outline of each brand and suggestions on using each product included, which is extremely helpful- and familiarizes you with the brands.

In the three months I have gotten boxes, I have NEVER been disappointed. One month I did receive a broken Jade Roller, and within days of emailing their Customer Service department a new one arrived at my door! The customer service is phenomenal!

This months box has to be my favorite, the theme was “Sea” and it did not disappoint! The box description pulled from the Art Of Organics website:

Inspired by sunshine filled days at the beach and the warm nights that follow. SEA provides everything you need to create a blissfully low maintenance beauty routine that makes you feel like a sun-goddess. Our collection of essentials will keep you hydrated, glowing and refreshed all summer long.

The Clean Beauty Box is a thoughtfully curated assortment of green beauty products, carefully nestled in biodegradable aspen excelsior and presented in a recyclable gift box featuring premium gift wrap and a natural cotton ribbon.

The first product I want to talk about is the Coconut + Mint Cooling Spray from Little Barn Apothecary. I am familiar with this brand and have been using their Simple Face Oil for the past couple of months and love it. (I want to mention I just tried to link the Simple Face Oil and couldn’t find it on their site-I will riot in the streets if I can’t buy it any longer and you can’t try it-it is divine!) First, this product smells so clean and instantly cools your skin. Second positive- I’ve found it nicely moisturizing, and really enjoy using it on my face and neck as a refresher. This product is a total win, especially in the Kentucky heat.

The next two products came from Leahlani, a brand I had never tried before-but boy I am glad I’ve discovered them. The Mermaid Mask is my new goto, it is nice and thick which means it will last a while and it really works to brighten and moisturize your skin. It smells great and feels nice going on. I can see this working its way into my routine a few times a week because it is so enjoyable to use and beautifully packaged. The second product that came from Leahlani was the Mahana Coco Infusion Oil. This is a use anywhere oil, with sexy gold shimmer built in perfect to enhance that summer glow! Oh, and it smells AMAZING.

I have to say I was really hesitant to try the Soul Sunday Seacliff Wage Spray, with 2C/3A Curly hair I didn’t think this would work for me. I was so wrong. I tried this on a Saturday morning-spritzed it on my hair after the shower and let it air dry-the result was a great soft and easy curl. I was so happy with it. I have used it to liven up my hair after work, or give it a little more texture before I step out the door. If you’re a curly girl (or guy!) like me, you should really give this a try, the price is super reasonable, and it smells like summer!

I look forward to the release of each and every Art of Organics box-it’s like celebrating your birthday each month. I just love this company-they really, really get it! There is no cutting corners, no skimping on packaging, and each box oozes care and thoughtfulness. I hope you get the chance to check out all of these great companies, I guarantee you’ll love them as much as I do!

Beautiful Packaging

It’s all in the details.

See what I mean-details..

So much Love

Soul Sunday Seacliff Wave Spray

Leahlani Mermaid Mask

Leahlani Mahana Coco Infusion

Little Barn Apothecary Coconut + Mint Cooling Mist

Baudelaire- Wool Sponge

woodford reserve.

July 11, 2015July 11, 2015 / bluegrassbackyard / Leave a comment

I’ve lived in Kentucky for about five years, and there are still times I feel like a tourist- running around exploring new places and revisiting some of my favorites. Central Kentucky is constantly growing and developing with new fun spots to visit popping up all around- it’s a great time to live and explore here. Some of my favorite places to visit are oldies but goodies, rich in Kentucky history.

Woodford Reserve is my absolute favorite place to bring family and friends from out of town. Located in Versailles, Woodford Reserve oozes Kentucky culture and history. This bourbon distillery is the oldest in Kentucky, but like a good wine (or bourbon?) seems to get better with age. Woodford’s history dates back to the late 1700s.

The distillery offers tours 7 days a week Monday through Saturday: 10AM-3PM EST and Sundays 1PM-3PM EST. The tours take you around the meticulously maintained property, fill you in on the history and end with a tasting. If you haven’t been, I strongly recommend taking the drive through the worlds most beautiful horse country.