Category: Featured

Off to College! | Leslie Smith

College can be an exciting time. It can also be full of stress and the unknown. Leslie Smith offers 5 Tips for College students to help direct you as you wet your feet in this new adventure. READ MORE…

Tasty Tuesday: Let’s Talk Tomatoes 2

Anni Schenk: Easiest Pasta Recipe Ever!

Go check out this recipe and more on Anni’s blog, Grapefruit Princess.

Anita Stafford: Vegetable Tian

This Vegetable Tian is a great way to use the bounty of summer squash and tomatoes, and it is such a colorful and delicious dish. The roasted vegetables are sitting on a layer of caramelized onions, and they are topped with Parmesan cheese. Vegetables just don’t get any better than this! READ MORE

Pat Downs: The Ultimate BLT

One of my favorite sandwiches is a BLT. However, I like to add the addition of a good fluffy egg and cheddar cheese. What makes this sandwich so ultimate? They key is to preseason your fresh garden tomatoes and use living lettuce. These preseason tomatoes make a great snack all alone. I started doing this to my tomatoes when I make sandwiches, pizza’s and wraps. The flavors will soak in and add a new life to your meals. READ MORE

Great Gender Reveal Playlist | Brittney Lee

Music is one of my passions. I have been singing and dancing my whole life. Because of this, every special life event has to have its own special playlist. My husband and I spent days picking out the perfect music for our wedding ceremony and reception, so naturally, we wanted a special playlist for our gender reveal party. After spending HOURS pouring over music, I decided to share the playlist, and it’s become one of my most popular blog posts.

Even if you aren’t planning a gender reveal, it’s a great mix of fun music about boys, girls and babies. Read more to see the full list! And check out our gender reveal if you want to see how the party turned out.

Tasty Tuesday: Let’s Talk Tomatoes!

Katherine Trauger: Tomatoes. Wow. Not!

This year, it seems either you HAVE enough tomatoes, thank you…

…or else you don’t.

This year, we don’t. We planted 40 Bradleys and Brandywines and got about ten quarts of tomato juice, total.

She sighs.

However, she DOES have tomato recipes and for those of you who have been blessed, she is willing to share and bless you even more! READ MORE

Jamie Smith: Eggplant Vegetable Tian

We discovered tian a couple of years ago and we make it pretty frequently from Spring through early Fall. The original variation has potato instead of eggplant in it, which is also delicious. We started making this version because my husband loves eggplant and neither one of us really need the carbs from the potato.

We now prefer this version of tian that is filled with tasty summer vegetables and is easy to make. The eggplant does add a step, but it’s worth the extra work. READ MORE

Gina Knuppenburg: Balsamic Tomato Salad

This delicious tomato salad has all my favorite summer ingredients: red onions, fresh garlic, basil and mozzarella. I’m new to the tomato game. Did you know I wouldn’t touch them when I was a kid? I really do believe that giving up meat had opened my pallet and enabled me to experience vegetables in a whole new way. Now, mushrooms, on the other hand. No way. Still. ha! READ MORE

Debbie Arnold: Tomato, Peach and Basil Salad with Balsamic Drizzle

This easy, easy salad is just one of those impromptu things that came about just because…well, I had a bunch of tomatoes and several peaches that needed to be eaten. I had often made a tomato and watermelon salad and just figured tomatoes would work well with peaches as well. And they certainly did! READ MORE

Give Me All The Stripes | Amy Gramlich

by Amy Gramlich

Today I’m sharing a handful of outfits which reveal my fondness for styling stripes. But first, here’s a little Amy secret that will probably surprise you. I used to hate stripes.

And…I used to hate all things black-and-white.

But don’t kick me to the curb just yet! I’ve changed.

Promise!

Isn’t it funny how our tastes evolve around the trends around us? It’s almost scary when you really think about it!

Being 5 foot tall, I’m not saying horizontal stripes are the best ever decision for my closet. But, I just can’t turn away. The more stripes I see, the more I buy.

The ease of putting together a polished outfit is almost laughable when it comes to stripes. Just check out some of these outfits below. Surely, you can put some together quite easily with items from your own closet.

Tasty Tuesday: Pasta Take 3

Katherine Trauger: My Spaghetti Farm

My first lesson in pasta-making came right after I married. My brand new in-laws considered pot roast served with egg noodles cooked in the broth a necessary skill and my husband’s mother, bless her, made sure I knew how to make the noodles. READ MORE

Ricci Alexis: Cajun Chicken Pasta

If you know me at all then you know I love cajun seasoning on everything!! I made Skinny Taste’s Cajun Chicken Pasta a few weeks ago and have since then put my own spin on it and unfortunately it’s not so skinny anymore. But it’s not as bad as it could be so I am calling it a win! READ MORE

Tasty Tuesday: Pasta Please Take 2

Amy Gramlich: Cheesey Chicken Spaghetti

This chicken spaghetti recipe post is written with bittersweet sentiments. One of the first friends I made when I moved to Little Rock was my friend B. I have some fine memories of our times together – like the time he poured a shot or two of Jagermeister into my chocolate chip cookie batter. The cookies turned out fine…maybe a little chewier than I would have liked. I opted not to take them to the school potluck. READ MORE

Ricci Alexis: Chicken Fajita Pasta

Chicken and Fajitas are two of my favorite things. I could seriously eat Mexican food all day every day. So combining that idea into a pasta? YES PLEASE!! I am a pasta-holic from way back when. I have been trying to cut back but sometimes you just need something hot and warm and this recipe fits that bill perfectly! It may just be my new go-to comfort food. Plus it’s a one pot meal and you just can’t beat that! READ MORE

Debbie Arnold: Pappardelle Bolognese

I love a a deep, rich, almost intoxicating Bolognese. The joy of gathering the ingredients, mincing, dicing — I enjoy all of it. And I especially like the all-day cooking of it about as much as I love, love the way it makes my kitchen smell all homey and welcoming. And the taste? Oh my goodness. READ MORE

Gina Knuppenburg: Cheese Tortellini with Garlic Sauce

Thom’s back in the kitchen! And, that means my taste buds are happy again {not to mention-the poor guy has lost ten + pounds having to eat my dinners over the last two months}. For his first real-thrown-together meal he’s prepared post surgery-he knocked it outta the park. Or, off the stove. READ MORE

Anita Stafford: Lemon Basil Pasta Salad

This colorful salad is quick to make, but it tastes like a dish that takes hours to prepare. The wonderful fresh taste makes it a favorite of mine. Any type of tomato can be substituted for the cherry tomatoes. READ MORE

Ricci Alexis: Bang Bang Pasta

For this recipe I just sautéed my shrimp in a little Rice Bran Oil, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder and then I mixed them with my pasta and sauce. For the pasta I actually used a brown rice penne pasta that I picked up at Trader Joe’s when I was in Dallas. I have professed my love of brown rice many times here on this blog and I love brown rice pasta just as much! What can I say, I love brown rice! READ MORE

ESSE Purse Museum

by Sarah Conley of Rascal Honey

Although it’s easy to think that the fashion capitals of the world are the center of the style universe, it’s important to remember that style exists everywhere. One such unexpected place is the ESSE Purse Museum in the SOMA neighborhood in Little Rock, Arkansas. ESSE is only one of three handbag museums in the world, the only one in North America, and the only independently owned museum.

The collection, focusing on the 20th century, is divided into vignettes by decade. Each decade not only includes popular handbag silhouettes and designers of the time, but also the contents that might have been included in handbags during that period.

READ MORE to find out more about the ESSE Purse Museum.

Wild River Country

Wild River Country in North Little Rock is Arkansas’s largest waterpark and has been a mecca of summer fun since 1985. The 26-acre park offers a sun-filled day of non-stop fun with thirteen attractions, party decks, three pavilions and a volleyball court.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to posts that were written by bloggers who selected due to their connection with Arkansas Women Bloggers. Each blogger was compensated for their opinion.

Recently, several of our Arkansas Women Bloggers had the opportunity to check out the park with their families. We’ve rounded up a collection of some of their posts. If you’ve always wondered what Wild River Country was like, these ladies have all the nitty-gritty details and advice for getting the most out of your day.

9 Tips to Demystifying Wild River Country

Keisha has a lot of great tips but also some really great advice on attending a waterpark with an infant. The fun isn’t just for the big kids!

Summer Fun in Central Arkansas at Wild River Country

My family and I recently took the short drive to Wild River Country on a weekday afternoon for some family fun and we had a blast. We stayed at the park for about two and a half hours, which wasn’t nearly enough time to get to do all of the things that we wanted to do. READ MORE…

Hot Fun in the Summertime

Let’s face it.

Keeping kids happy when it’s hot outside can be difficult.

With the age ranges in my kids- early twenties to pre-school age- it’s almost impossible!We were very happy to participate in a blogging event by Wild River Country as a family to see what they had to offer. READ MORE…

It’s a Wet and Wild Summer

Parents of special needs children, unite! I have an activity that ALL your kids can do together. If your kids are anything like mine, then you know how stressful choosing a summer activity can be, especially when you have to factor in a wheelchair. One kid wants to do something, while the others say no. It’s hard to get them all to agree on one thing. Well, stress no more. I have the perfect activity to add to your summer repertoire. READ MORE…

Arkansas’ Summer Fun Place

As a new teacher, I’ve relished in my first summer break since I was in college (long, long ago). My kids and I have just been hanging out, having playdates, visiting family, and enjoying lots of pool time. So for my last week of freedom (my school starts mid-July), we decided to go to Wild River Country again. Quinn, Maya, Lucy (Maya’s friend) and I hurried out the door, and we were the first in line to get in when the gates opened at 10 a.m. READ MORE…

Summer Fun at Wild River Country

I had hopes of summer being filled with fun days with a slower pace of eating popsicles on the porch and laying by the pool in the afternoons. But, that is not the case with our family. Our life has actually sped up this summer while trying to balance some extra responsibilities on our plates in addition to just “normal life crazy”, so we are dropping the ball in some areas, letting people down, and just trying to survive and do the best we can with the 24 hours we have each day. I know that this is not unique to us and that all of you have those same seasons as well during the year, so you know what I’m talking about. Those times stink, but you are always a little better on the other end.

But the point is, There is no leisurely summer happening over here. We only get about 18 summers with our kids at home and that number just doesn’t seem like enough to me.

Even though we are super busy this summer I wanted to prioritize and get some time alone with each of my kids doing something fun. So I decided that I am going to take each one to Wild River Country alone! READ MORE…

A Place For Moms and Kids

Summer is one of the dreaded seasons in our house. My daughter is an only child and summer makes her miss her friends and seeing other people besides us and family. Vacations are limited because of the nature of Hubby’s job. Instead, we hit up places right here in Arkansas.

Wild River Country water park is one of our go to places. I remember going to this way back when I was in high school with our church group (Y’all, this was way back in the day). Now that Glitter is older she enjoys hanging around other people. This works out for me since it also means I get to hang with other moms. READ MORE…

Crystal Bridges Makes Art Accessible (to Dogs)

by Denise Holmes of Travel Tails

Crystal Bridges is situated on 120 acres and boasts over 3.5 miles of trails that include natural and landscaped environments, clear running creeks that are easily accessed for a quick dip of the paw, outdoor sculptures, and artist James Turrell’s Skyspace structure, The Way of Color.

From time to time, there are also featured exhibits and acitivies in the outdoor space- installations such as The Four Seasons by American artist and filmmaker, Phillip Haas, and family events like Artosphere– that allow well-behaved art-lovin’ canines.

It’s a wonderful way to exercise your pup, as well as, all of your senses.

READ MORE for some tips on taking your dog and getting to enjoy all that Crystal Bridges has to offer.