I have been learning a lot about the benefits of spontaneity recently, so I thought it would make a great focus this week! Welcome to the Hearth and Soul Link Party.
The Hearth and Soul Link Party welcomes family friendly blog posts about anything to feed the soul. Things that feed the soul may include (but are not limited to) recipes, decorating, crafts, family, home, DIY, organization, travel, book reviews, the arts and self improvement.
What’s Been Happening?
First of all, thank you for the birthday wishes. I had a wonderful day, made even more special by being able to spend time with my family. Dinners at Nino’s Trattoria and The Wellington Arms and a visit to our club, Phyllis Court, were the icing on the cake, if you will forgive the pun! Here we are enjoying Sunday lunch at our local pub, The Greyhound. That’s my son, Alexander, on the left next to me. My son’s partner, Hannah is beside me and my husband is on the right.
I really did feel the benefits of spontaneity, as aside from the Sunday lunch and dinners out, very little had been scheduled. As a planner, it made me nervous at the time, but I would definitely do it again!
We all had a lot of fun at the Vintage Summer Afternoon Tea Workshop yesterday evening. I’ve had some very positive feedback from those who joined in. I’m just struggling to resist the Snow Bars and Orange and Raisin Scones I baked at the class. If you would like a taster of the recipes I share at my classes, the Snow Bar recipe is available as part of the free 5 Vintage Recipes ebook I offer to subscribers
Opportunity – One of the Benefits of Spontaneity
This week I was contacted by an incredible group of women known as Wavemakers. These women are not satisfied with making only ripples but desire to create waves of hope in the world. Each month, they offer FREE events with a variety of experts to share tools of hope. I have been invited to share in their June event Experiencing Joy in the Journey.
I had an online meeting with Sherril Weiss on Thursday afternoon. Imagine my surprise when she asked to interview me then and there after only a few minutes. Thank goodness I had put on some makeup before our call!
I was really nervous about doing an interview at such short notice and with only a little knowledge of the group, but I had a blast chatting with Sherril about home, family and how cooking can help bring joy into your life. I’m not sure of exactly when my interview will run yet, but I’d love for you to see it. They are also chatting to a lot of other wonderful women about how to experience more joy as well.
I would love to invite you as my guest to join the FREE event: Experience Joy in your Journey from 7:00-8:00 PM Central on each evening from June 7-19, 2021. And if you do see my interview, please let me know what you thought of it. I would really value your feedback.
An Easy Dessert For Last Minute Entertaining
This week’s featured recipe is my No Bake Orange Cheesecake recipe. You won’t believe how easy this deliciously rich yet light, refreshing and elegant dessert is to make!
Thank you all for sharing your wonderful blog posts!
Benefits of Spontaneity Featured Posts
Benefits of Spontaneity featured posts (from top left, clockwise):-
It’s really easy to be spontaneous about dessert with this deliciously quick and easy recipe for Blueberry Crumble from Jean at Delightful Repast.
A spontaneous decision to send a letter to a friend is always a good thing. Meg of I Teach Stamping shares a Simple Handmade Note Card that will brighten anyone’s day.
Allyson of Southern Sunflowers has breathed beautiful new life into a thrift store find in the Step Stool Makeover Using Stencil and Stain.
I so enjoyed reading this heartwarming piece by Lisa of Lisa Notes about A Jewelry Box, A Button Jar and a Writing Change.
Without further ado, it’s time for the link up!
The Hearth and Soul Link Party
- Please share the permalink to your blog post, and not to the home page of your blog. Please do not link to anything except blog posts.
- Linking your blog posts here means you consent to me sharing as many of them as I can on Pinterest, Twitter, and both my own Facebook page and The Hearth and Soul Facebook Page and featuring them on my blog with photographs from the post.
- By submitting a post to the link party here, you assert that you own the content and photographs and give me permission to share.
- It’s easier for me to publicise your posts if you have social media share buttons on your blog.
- There are buttons at the top and bottom of this post to help you bring Hearth and Soul to the attention of your friends and followers. I really appreciate it when you do!
I’m looking forward to seeing what you share this week. You always inspire me with your posts. Have a wonderful week, my friends!
Comments & Reviews
Estelle Forrest says
Thanks so much for hosting this link-up. Today I added a few recipes from Homemade on a Weeknight – enjoy!
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Estelle! Have a lovely week 🙂
Morsels of Life | CJ Huang says
Glad to hear you had a wonderful birthday! Thank you for hosting us all again! I brought by some Lemony Pasta with Capers and Greens this week – it’s a quick, light, and refreshing pasta. 🙂
April Harris says
Thank you so much, CJ! Your pasta sounds lovely. I have just shared your Balsamic Strawberry Gelato on the H&S Facebook page. Have a great week!
Barbara Harper says
So glad you had a nice birthday and were able to meet with your son and his partner. Your son looks a lot like his dad. I’m not the most spontaneous person–I like to know what’s ahead. But I am trying to learn to “go with the flow” more. That’s great your interview went well!
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Barbara! Alexander really does look like his Dad – they are a lot alike in their personalities in many ways as well. I’m working on trying to “go with the flow” as well. It’s a work in progress! 🙂 Take care and I hope you have a lovely week.
Michele Morin says
Oh, happy Sunday, April!
April Harris says
Thank you, Michele! I hope your week is going well!
Leslie says
How exciting to be interviewed April, I would love to hear it!
April Harris says
Thank you, Leslie!
Lisa notes says
I’m a huge planner too, but like you, I discover now and again that spontaneity is good for me! 🙂 Thanks for featuring my post this week about the jewelry box and button jar! I appreciate you hosting us each week, April.
April Harris says
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful content, Lisa! I hope your week is going well.
Miz Helen says
Hi April,
What a very special gift to be able to celebrate your birthday with family at long last! It looks like you’al had a fabulous birthday party! I am sharing my Sheet Pan Lemon Herb Chicken, and then with the left over chicken my Lemon Herb Chicken with Feta Dressing, hope you enjoy the recipes! Hope you have a great week and thanks so much for the party!
April Harris says
It really was a very special gift indeed, Miz Helen! I always enjoy your recipes. Thank you so much for sharing them. I hope your week is going well.
Pat says
Glad to see that you had a wonderful birthday, April! I also recently had a birthday and enjoyed every moment. I hope to hear your podcast with Wavemakers. Thye sound like an interesting group.
April Harris says
Thank you, Pat! I’m so glad you enjoyed your birthday too! Thank you for your support. I hope you are having a wonderful week!
Julie says
It sounds like you had a nice birthday going out to eat at all of those places. Thanks for hosting and enjoy the week.
April Harris says
It really was lovely, Julie, thank you! I hope your week is going well.
Allyson says
Thank you so much for featuring my step stool makeover ~ much appreciated! Have a wonderful week 🙂
April Harris says
it’s a pleasure, Allyson. I hope you are having a wonderful week too.
Melynda Brown says
Hello April, sharing a lovely Creamy Butterscotch Meringue Pie, have a great week ahead, take care.
April Harris says
Oh, I love butterscotch, Melynda! I hope your week is going well.
Alexandra says
Happiest birthday wishes to you! So nice you were able to spend some time with family.
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Alexandra. I hope you are having a lovely week!
Jean | Delightful Repast says
April, thank you so much for the feature, as well as hosting every week. So glad you had a lovely time with your family. Wishing you all a lovely summer!
April Harris says
It’s a pleasure, Jean, and thank you so much! I hope you are having a lovely summer too!
Helen Reynolds says
You have been busy! Glad you had a wonderful birthday! I, too, love the idea of spontaneity, but struggle with it when it comes right down to it. I am a planner. I have had some awesome spontaneous moments though and would love to allow myself to have more of them. Have a great week, April!
Nancy Andres says
Thanks April for hosting. Blue ifs definitely one of the most flattering colors for you. Love that dress too. My shares this week are 121 and 122. Hope you and your readers enjoy.
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Nancy. I do love blue! In fact, there is a specific shade that my stylist has named “April blue”! I look forward to your posts 🙂
Joanne says
I am so happy to hear that you had a wonderful birthday! I too am a real planner but have found that (just in the last couple of years or so) that it really can be fun to just go with the flow a bit more.
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Joanne! And I totally agree – I have found the same thing!
Teediddlydee says
Sound like you had a wonderful birthday, April, complete with your favorite people! Thank you for hosting again! I always appreciate being able to visit! Have a wonderful week!
Hugs,
Tee xo
April Harris says
It really was, Tee, thank you! And thank you also for your support of Hearth and Soul! Hugs xo
Lauren Renee Sparks says
That no bake cheesecake looks fantastic!
April Harris says
Thank you, Lauren! It’s especially nice on a hot day!
Patrick Weseman says
Someone has been busy and that pub looks great. Very nice.
Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week
April Harris says
I have, Patrick! The pub is wonderful.They grow a lot of their own vegetables and even raise their own lamb and beef. We are going again next week and I can’t wait! I hope you have a wonderful week too 🙂
Priyam says
Thank you so much for hosting! Have a wonderful day!
April Harris says
Thank you for visiting, Priyam! I hope your week is going well.
Angie says
As I watched (and plan to re-watch) your interview with Sherril, I thought, “Wow! I have so much in common with this lady!” I’m so glad I connected with you through Hearth and Soul and that you joined our Wavemaker Mission!
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Angie! I really do believe we have a lot in common too and I’m so grateful you found Hearth and Soul. I so enjoyed my interview with Sherril. I’m really grateful to you and all the Wavemakers for the opportunity to share a little bit of what I do in the hopes of helping you make waves of joy!