Bailey Van Tassel

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04 Dec 2017
Cooking, motherhood

Adult Mac ‘N Cheese

I was the queen of raffle ticket sales at the American Cancer Society Jazz Festival of 1995. I rocked my bright yellow cotton bike shorts (those were so in), my converse sneakers, and my commemorative t-shirt, which was an adult small, so basically wore like a tent. I didn’t tie the shirt at the bottom or do anything cute, I just rocked that tent shirt loose with my 90s shorts and asked every single person in the park to buy a raffle ticket. I distinctly remember going back to families more than twice and saying, “do you think you’re ready to give to a good cause?”. I laid it on thick.

Walking up to Casa Teresa today for Boyd’s first act of giving was based on a lot more than just the spirit of the season. Most of the time I honestly don’t feel like I do enough. I don’t feel like I am deeply compassionate enough or giving enough, especially since we have so much. I even have a business that helps other companies create community outreach programs, but it still feels like it’s not the right amount of giving back.

I think it’s a “me problem”. It’s just my own issue – my obsession with doing the right amount of everything.

My mother raised me volunteering alongside her, and it stuck with me. She took me to the fundraisers, had me there for people’s wig fittings and head shaving parties at her salon, and drug me into morning Rotary meetings at 7am. She got me fully immersed in all community activities, whether kids were welcome or not. I doubt she asked permission, and I worked so hard at any assigned task that no one cared.

I learned years later, after we had moved away from the town we cared so much for, that my mom used to help abused women get career counselling and get cleaned up and back in to the work force. I think it was the only giving she excluded me from, trying to keep a little distance between me and the harshness of some realities.

She didn’t know then that she set me onto a path, and neither did I. Now, regardless of the right amount of good or giving, I get to help people every day. I get to teach my son about giving when you have more than enough. Note: you always have more than enough of something.

As we came home today from Old Town Orange with the sweet little antique shops and holiday boughs strung from lamp to lamp above the streets, I felt that old time feeling from when I was a kid. A sign of contentment. Boyd won’t remember the day, but it still felt good to honor the tradition, to go the extra 12 miles out of town, and to give from our overflowing cup.

Today, it felt like enough. 


In honor of my childhood nostalgia, I whipped up some mac n’ cheese with a twist. Recipe courtesy of dear friend, Robyn Holland of Sweetish. 

Recipe here.

TAGS:cookingmac 'n cheesemotherhood
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Teaching you how to grow veggies in any space while show you how to live a garden-inspired life.

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Bold move, right? One of my girlfriends told me to do this and raved about the benefits (she always knows the good stuff - she’s that girl). But, I did some research too. 

One clove of raw garlic a day has myriad health benefits. Yes it has to be raw. You cut it and let it sit out a minute so the allacin can form which is the healing component in garlic. Then just take with water. 

It’s not just amazing for cooking, but also repairing us from the inside out and boosting immunity.

So, are you game for a clove a day?? I know, it seems cringey but you don’t even taste it - the upside is just too good!
•
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Bold move, right? One of my girlfriends told me to do this and raved about the benefits (she always knows the good stuff – she’s that girl). But, I did some research too.

One clove of raw garlic a day has myriad health benefits. Yes it has to be raw. You cut it and let it sit out a minute so the allacin can form which is the healing component in garlic. Then just take with water.

It’s not just amazing for cooking, but also repairing us from the inside out and boosting immunity.

So, are you game for a clove a day?? I know, it seems cringey but you don’t even taste it – the upside is just too good!

21 hours ago
View on Instagram |
1/4
I took this advice seriously 🌸 

But “for real life” as my four-year-old says, the more I focused on turning my life into a heaven on earth, creating happiness with my own hands, the more I just felt so at home with myself. 

Growing food is so poetic to me (as you can probably tell) because it truly takes our hands and fills our hearts - our lives - with joy, resilience, and confidence. 

It’s also fun to see progress! This started out as an in-ground garden and has evolved immensely. 

Any garden design questions - leave them here 👇🏼
•
Follow

I took this advice seriously 🌸

But “for real life” as my four-year-old says, the more I focused on turning my life into a heaven on earth, creating happiness with my own hands, the more I just felt so at home with myself.

Growing food is so poetic to me (as you can probably tell) because it truly takes our hands and fills our hearts – our lives – with joy, resilience, and confidence.

It’s also fun to see progress! This started out as an in-ground garden and has evolved immensely.

Any garden design questions – leave them here 👇🏼

3 days ago
View on Instagram |
2/4
This is MY list of top 4 must-know things. It doesn’t have to be yours. But after years of guiding people through hardiness zones 3 through 10, I can tell you there’s a difference in each one when it comes to timing and temperament. 

And then your very own microclimate will determine a ton. This is a personal thing that no one can really deeply help you with. Not even your neighbor. Every outdoor space has nooks and crannies that behave uniquely. And altitude and valleys and hillsides and salty ocean air versus humid tropical air, etc etc will determine a lot. So just pay attention. Be curious. 

Then we need to know the purpose of it all. Mine mixes function, health, beauty, and adding magic to my children’s lives all wrapped up in one. 

Of course then the sun you get is crucial. We all dance around the fireball in this crazy solar system, and we can’t change our positioning to it. 

The list goes on, but this is where I start. 

Are your top 4 different?
•
Follow

This is MY list of top 4 must-know things. It doesn’t have to be yours. But after years of guiding people through hardiness zones 3 through 10, I can tell you there’s a difference in each one when it comes to timing and temperament.

And then your very own microclimate will determine a ton. This is a personal thing that no one can really deeply help you with. Not even your neighbor. Every outdoor space has nooks and crannies that behave uniquely. And altitude and valleys and hillsides and salty ocean air versus humid tropical air, etc etc will determine a lot. So just pay attention. Be curious.

Then we need to know the purpose of it all. Mine mixes function, health, beauty, and adding magic to my children’s lives all wrapped up in one.

Of course then the sun you get is crucial. We all dance around the fireball in this crazy solar system, and we can’t change our positioning to it.

The list goes on, but this is where I start.

Are your top 4 different?

4 days ago
View on Instagram |
3/4
Turns out I just needed to let what I had be enough. 

Many of you have watched this journey unfold from day one. I am so grateful to have gotten to prove to myself and others that you can make whatever you have, bring joy and connection and contentment. 

Along the way you may just uncover a passion, career, purpose, and dreams that you never realize would come to manifest. 

If you have ANY garden limitations, share them here. We’ll troubleshoot ‘em together!
•
Follow

Turns out I just needed to let what I had be enough.

Many of you have watched this journey unfold from day one. I am so grateful to have gotten to prove to myself and others that you can make whatever you have, bring joy and connection and contentment.

Along the way you may just uncover a passion, career, purpose, and dreams that you never realize would come to manifest.

If you have ANY garden limitations, share them here. We’ll troubleshoot ‘em together!

6 days ago
View on Instagram |
4/4

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