Image courtesy of www.keeperofthehome.org

After our wonderful family vacation in France, it’s business as usual here in Indiana and we’re busy getting the factory ready for Fall & Holiday. Aside from all the wonderful goings-on and delicious new scents in the works at the office, I have been indulging in some of my favorite pastimes: going for a walk in the neighborhood, gardening and, recently, teaching the kids the importance of living green.

Since Linnea’s Lights is an environmentally mindful company, I felt it an important lesson to imprint on those precious young minds. Last night, we picked all of our bountiful tomatoes, summer squash and cucumbers from our home garden. We had the most wonderful salad with heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil from the garden with a drizzle of olive oil from our to trip to Mausanne les Alpilles and a sprinkling of sea salt from Camargue. It was heavenly!

Lately we’ve also enjoyed shopping at the local farmers market together. It’s a great way to spend some productive quality time together, see our neighbors and shop locally. When we can’t get it from our own garden, we know we’ll find fresh fruits and vegetables there, and the vibrant colors are almost hypnotizing. Nothing beats biting into a juicy piece of watermelon on these hot August days, plus it’s the perfect destination for fresh scent inspiration; it’s all about the multi-tasking, after all!

What hobbies have you picked up this summer?

My dears, it’s been so lovely spending some much needed quality time with the family here in France but I couldn’t stay away from the blog too long!

From antiquing in Marseille at Le Grenier des Puces, the fabulous Les Deux Marc and Massilia Toy Village Antiquaire for the kids, to the poppy fields and lavender of Provence, I’m feeling refreshed and inspired. Surrounded by so much history, indulging in fresh baguettes, rich pastries, regional cheeses and of course the finest wine, to say I’m enjoying myself is an understatement!

I’m taking in all the purest scents of the summer while I’m here and know our Lavender, Mimosa and of course the Cote d’Azur gift set will all bring me back to this special time.

I hope you’re all enjoying the long summer days and keeping cool!

Memorial Day weekend is here again, which means sunshine and sundresses, watermelon and, of course, barbecue! This weekend throw the perfect barbecue for all your friends to start off the summer.

image courtesy of Breakfast At Toast

For ideas on what to eat and drink, check out the Huffington Posts’ hunger-inducing slide-show of Memorial Day recipes. Of course we all know that it’s not all about the food. Create a lovely picnic tabletop with Linnea’s Light’s Magnolia scented candles – they’re perfect for an early summer weekend – and some fresh flowers.

Happy barbecuing!