Farm & Craft Swap

Debbie Roney Smith on

Mid-South Lumber Co of Northwest Florida invites you to visit their Farm, Garden, Craft & Animal Swap next Saturday, January 14th! The FREE event will run from 8am to 2pm. The Swap will feature plenty of local vendors with fresh produce, baked items, canned goods, hand-made arts & crafts, plants, small animals, and more. The January Farm & Craft Swap will be held at Mid-South Lumber at 12904 Highway 231 in Youngstown. Visit the Facebook event page here for more information. 

2023 New Year’s Resolutions

Debbie Roney Smith on

Happy New Year! May your next year bring you happiness, lessons, and good memories. Did you know that people have been creating New Year’s resolutions for approximately 4,000 years?! The tradition has been traced back to the ancient Babylonians. They made promises to gain the favor of their gods in order to start the year off right. Reportedly, they vowed to do things such as paying off debts and returning borrowed farm equipment. It’s likely that the age-old custom of breaking one’s resolutions – a custom that befalls the majority of resolution makers, according to statistics – originated a few months later. New Year’s Resolutions often create nothing but a cycle of shame, embarrassment, and feelings of inadequacy.

Instead of creating a list of resolutions, create SMART goals. SMART is an acronym that stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based. These elements help create a goal that is planned, clear, and trackable. This increases the likelihood of success because the goals become manageable and understandable. Visit Develop Good Habit’s website here to view downloadable SMART goal templates to help guide you into the future you want. 

Happy New Year’s Eve!

Debbie Roney Smith on
Janus, Roman god

Happy New Year’s Eve everyone! Do you know why January 1st is the beginning of a new calendar year? The answer can be traced back to ancient Rome around the eighth century B.C. In those ancient times, the calendar was only 10 months long with the beginning of the year falling on the vernal equinox. However, the calendar fell out of sync with the sun over many centuries.

So in 46 B.C., Julius Caesar gathered prominent astronomers and mathematicians to solve the problem. From their efforts came the Julian calendar, a precursor to the modern Gregorian calendar most of the world uses today. The Julian calendar established January 1st as the first day of the year. This choice was made to honor the month’s namesake Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, who had two faces that allowed him to look towards the past and future simultaneously. While there were likely many reasons for choosing January 1st, this is the only reason that can be supported with historical references: 

Falling (Pine) Needles Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is a national day created to remind families to recycle their Christmas trees rather than burning them or tossing them on the curb. One way is to search Earth911’s recycling solution to see where you can recycle a tree near you. You can also be sure to make use of each part of the tree. Strip the pine needles to use the wood after allowing it to thoroughly dry out; you can use the wood for fires, carving, and more crafts. Even the pine needles themselves can be utilized! Collect the needles, place them in a large bowl filled with cold water, and gently rub the needles to wash off dust and other debris. You can then use the needles to make sprite-flavored natural soda or tea! Visit Ms Shi & Mr He’s pine needle recipe page here for details, warnings, and recipes! 

Salty Oaks: White Lie New Year Party

Debbie Roney Smith on

Salty Oak Brewing Co. is bringing a fun New Year’s tradition to their December 31st party: a little White Lie Party! Starting at 6pm, join the Salty Oak family for beer, a free champagne toast at midnight, food from KB Cooks (the chicken man), and fun! The White Lie Party Rules are as follows:

  • All attendees must wear a white shirt with a white life written on it with a permanent marker.
  • A white lie is a small lie/confession; something along the lines of “I’m always on time.” White lies SHOULD NOT be serious lies or deceptions that would insult or hurt others.
  • Take turns telling the stories behind your lies. The more embarrassing or amusing, the better!
  • Have fun, be kind, and get to know your friends/part attendees better. 

    New Year’s Eve at Wakulla Springs

    Debbie Roney Smith on

    Ring in the New Year with pizzaz at The Lodge at Wakulla Springs this Saturday! From 5:30 PM – 12 AM, The Lodge will be hosting an exclusive New Year’s Eve celebration. There will be live music by Hot Tamale and Garnet & Soul. Additionally, a delectable menu will be offered including firecracker shrimp, filet au poivre, chocolate lava cake, and more!

    The price is $70 per person (plus tax & gratuities) to enjoy the entirety of the event including the full menu. However, there is also a $25 option that includes the music, ambiance, and small bites. Call 855-632-4559 to RSVP today! Visit the Facebook event page here for more information. 

    Countdown Downtown

    Debbie Roney Smith on

    Looking for some family fun to ring in the new year? Come to Cascades Park Amphitheater for Countdown Downtown! Starting at 6pm on December 31st, the festival has TWO separate fireworks shows. The 7pm showing is perfect for families with young children. The 9:45pm show is perfect for all ages. There will also be live music, food trucks, activities, a photo booth, and more. Beverages are allowed but please note the event is BYOB. The event is FREE to everyone but bring cash/card for the food trucks and activities. Visit the event website HERE for more information. 

    30A Farmers’ Market

    Debbie Roney Smith on

    The last 30A Farmers’ Market will be next Thursday, December 29th. Come by Rosemary Beach for an end-of-the-year holiday market. It will run from 9 am to 1 pm. Please note that the market will be CLOSED on December 25th and January 1st. Follow the Facebook market page here for more information on 30A in 2023. 

    Peppermint Bark Recipe

    Debbie Roney Smith on

    Looking for a kid-friendly Christmas treat to make this holiday? Try Peppermint Bark! It contains only three ingredients and is fun to prepare for little hands.

    Ingredients include:

    • 16 oz. white OR dark chocolate, chopped
    • 4 drops of food-grade peppermint oil
    • 3/4 c. crushed candy canes or peppermint candies

    Instructions:

    1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    2. Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Set the bowl over a saucepan with a few inches of simmering water over low heat (do not let the bottom of the bowl touch the water). Gently melt the chocolate: stir occasionally, only a few lumps should remain by the end, about 3 minutes.
    3. Remove from the heat and stir until completely smooth. Slowly stir in the peppermint oil. 
    4. Pour the chocolate mix onto the lined baking sheet. Smooth it into an even layer with a spatula. 
    5. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes. You can buy pre-crushed peppermint OR allow your kids to crush handfuls to their hearts’ content. 
    6. Let the baking sheet set at room temperature or in the refrigerator (1-2 hours). 
    7. Once the bark is completely hardened, break it into pieces and serve or pack.