If you live here in the Okanagan, or if you come to visit our area in the summer, you’ll know that it’s a pretty sweet place to be. We’re surrounded by orchards and vineyards … and BEACHES!!! It’s really a place where you can soak up all that Mother Nature has to offer.
This year more than ANY other year I have been taking advantage of the local fruit stands and markets right here in the Okanagan, I’ve been loving getting out and exploring what everyone has to offer. In fact, I’ve barely stepped foot in a grocery store (which is AMAZING!) but when I do, I always make sure to go for the items that are local and in season. That’s key to grocery shopping here in BC!
This year we even planted our very first veggie garden at the house!! Even though we planted it quite late in the season it still seems to be doing pretty well and we’ve certainly enjoyed spending time out there together, checking on our plants, weeding, and watering (aka Leo chasing us with the hose! LOL!) and learning as we go. It’s pretty amazing to be in an area where you can pretty much plant anything at any time and it will grow!!
We also have a few fruit trees in our yard and this year our peach tree is literally EXPLODING!!! The other night Justin, Leo, and I picked so many peaches right from the tree and we’ve been eating them pretty much every single day since then. They are the most tender, juicy peaches we’ve ever had and Leo is obsessed with them.
We’ve basically been eating peaches for breakfast every single day and while they are delish as is, it’s also fun to get a little creative with them. Recently I made these adorable heart-shaped waffles (I got my heart shaped waffle maker from Urban Outfitters!) and I topped them off with some coconut whip cream and sliced peaches (and Justin and I indulged in some coffee from the French press for a nice change!!!) and they were TO DIE FOR.
You can do so many different things with peaches … you can freeze them, grill them, turn them into a jam or a coulis. I once made a grilled peach and brie sandwich and it was SO GOOD!! It’s also an added perk that they are insanely pretty to photograph too!! Needless to say, our team has been raving over them lately. I mean, how adorable do they look with my cute new pink dish set?? These adorable pink dishes are also from Urban Outfitters … and I HAD to get the matching “Babe” coffee mug as a joke because Leo has started calling Justin “babe” lately after hearing me refer to him as babe. LOL!!!
Another great fruit that we have exploding in our yard and all over the Okanagan is CHERRIES … I scooped this cute little cell phone case up recently that totally reminds me of summers here in BC!! Can you tell I’m a little fruit obsessed this year?? I even bought a peach bath mat for our ensuite! LOL!!! I might have a problem!!
Anyway, we have been having such an amazing time hanging out at home between the pool and the garden and exploring our little city this year. It’s been the perfect summer so far and we can’t wait to see what it’s like next year with TWO little munchkins to explore with.
How is your summer going so far??
xo
Jilly
Thank you Urban Outfitters for sponsoring this post. All comments and opinions are my own.
Too funny. I’ve been blessed with 40 pounds of Okanagan peaches from my brothers tree. I’ve been trying to eat them daily but now looking for ways to use them. Yesterday I made a summer quinoa salad with peaches?, today I made a peach cobbler ?(recipe adapted from Mississippi Vegan), tomorrow I’m making chilled tomato and stone fruit soup with peaches ? and I’m going to try to make a Thai peach “chicken” dish using Gardein chick’n??. We are a plantfocused family…. me more so than my husband but he is slowly coming around?
When you are able to drink again, try grilling your peaches. Once cooled, make grilled peach margaritas… the flavour is amazing!!
DROOL!!!!!
Your Changes at home thinking of enviroment in using less plastic bags, red meat, products of animal based , is really nice.We recycle and use own bags for groceries. We have decided to rise of using a vegetarian food, using less meat. I changes a milk to wheatmilk as well. Vegetarian beefs are our success.We use batat potatoes, carrots, onion, almonds, peppers etc.basicly everyone can use their favourite vegetables in.it. Jillian, I am exited your new baby.How’ll Leo react.I guess well.Loving her! You are so good mom, wife, everything.
Hello, Jillian
Your changes are pretty same, than we do.We use own bag, recycle, eat less meat.I changed milk to wheatmilk.
This heat remainded us to change our behavings.Are we late? This earth is getting warmer so fast.
Hello, Jillian
Your changes are pretty same, than we do.We use own bag, recycle, eat less meat.I changed milk to wheatmilk.
This heat remainded us to change our behavings.Are we late? This earth is getting warmer so fast.