Do you remember the Tasty Tuesday challenge I gave about creating ambiance at meal time?
Candlelight is one of my favorite and easy ways to create ambiance, but often it’s just about changing locations or “finding your spontaneous place.”
Last week, my girls and I were able to soak in some of the last rays before the approaching cold front. It warmed my heart to see them light up with excitement merely from the anticipation of eating outside. How many times have I said, “No” when they have asked to venture outside?
Why? I wonder that now as I type this post. There’s something about eating outside that is so relaxing and peaceful.
Why would I deny them the opportunity to change from the mundane to the magical?
OH YEA, now I remember! It was a really “peaceful and relaxing” meal. 
This photo was captured ten minutes after all three dogs tried to snag our lunch. One finally gave up.
Note to self: next time you want to change a mundane meal into sheer magic, kennel the dogs before you bring out the simmeringly scrumptious taco soup.
What about your family? Do you have a special spot where you like to eat?
Looking forward to perusing your kitchen magic this week.
Please link up directly to your Tasty Tuesday post and link back to my new URL location.
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Eating outside…ahhhh. We too have been in the midst of a cold front…maybe next week’s temps will be good for eating lunch outside!
Thank you so very much for hosting…
Robin
All things Heart and Home
We mostly eat in the kitchen. Our deck is too small and confined to eat out there, but in my old house, we used to eat out on the deck often. I hope to do that again someday!
I love that photo of your little girls and you eating outside. lovely.
I know! I love eating outside, and now that we’ve put away the outdoor stuff (we’re in Michigan, it’s freezing up here!), I’m mourning the fact that I didn’t do it enough all summer. Ah, hindsight.
You have a lot of great recipes and photos – please accept the invitation to share one at the October Fest Carnival of Super Foods this Thursday at KS. The theme is Un-Processed Foods, for stuff you can buy in the store but choose to make at home. (See more here: http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2009/09/29/october-fest-carnival-of-super-foods-guidelines/)
Hope to see you Thursday! (The new site is beautiful, by the way. Inspiring me to make some big changes at my own…)
Blessings, Katie
Good for you being spontaneous and creating the magical. I’m sure the dogs thought it was magical too. What a beautiful setting to sit down and enjoy a meal.
By the way…I love that shirt you’re wearing!
You know, our favorite place in just around our kitchen table, too. Of course, when the kids were younger, they loved to take a picnic to the park!
Thanks for hosting! Many blessings!
My kids love to eat outside, especially my 10 year old daughter. Our dog doesn’t bother us, but we had such a problem with yellow jackets this summer that we really didn’t eat outside much this year.
Thanks for the linkup!
Looks like happy times to me!
We have a beautiful view of the mountains from the breakfast nook. It is mesmerizing, especially when they are covered with snow!
It is so much fun to “mix it up” when it comes to meals. Having meals in different places, serving something in a different way. It takes very little effort and is free and fun!
Eating outside is such an easy way to make a fun change. I’ll admit that we don’t do that nearly enoughQ
Our littles LOVE to eat outside!! It sometimes is a little more work but completely worth it to see their joy!
We have the exact same patio set!!!
I think outside is usually our favorite spot. My husband loves the back deck … and I love the front porch.
But your idea about kenneling the dogs is a very good one for those really special dinners that shouldn’t be spoiled. 
So, so funny, Jen. Your puppies are absolutely gorgeous dogs. . . but it looks like their table manners are about like my dogs’!
I love your thought about changing the “mundane into the magical” (even if the doggies did bring you right back to mundane this time). I really need to work on this. Really, why not be magical if you have the chance?
By the way, your dogs are gorgeous, but so are your daughters–in a very different way, of course! I love to see a blonde mama with blonde children. In a world where so many people would do anything to be blonde, it’s nice to see people who were just made that way by God!
We don’t have a good spot to eat outside, but I remember doing it as a kid and LOVED it!!
Great idea!
~TidyMom
Great post! It’s been so cold here for over a week and a half, so our favorite meal spot has been the breakfast nook in front of a fire.
Thanks for hosting Tasty Tuesday!
Jane
We love eating on our porch. When the weather is nice, we are there almost every day.
I attempted my first link to Tasty Tuesday! Forgive me if I didn’t do it right! Thanks!
Ginger
We eat on the back porch often. Even through the winter months, I leave the table out and even dress it up for the seasons. It gets cold but every now and then there is a nice day and we can go out and enjoy (even if it is just a cup of hot chocolate). Our dog enjoys being out with us, but he knows he has to be nice in order to get something after the meal is over.
Christi
Your children & puppies are beautiful. We love to eat outdoors when the weather will allow.
Blessings!
Gail
We try to eat at the dinner table with the TV off as much as possible but my 3 yo always tries to make a break for a little desk in his room to watch TV while he eats.
I looooove eating outside!
Unfortunately, the mosquitoes and bugs were so bad this Spring and Summer that we always had to go back in. 
I’ve tried the Glade citronella candles, tiki torches, you name. I think next year we’ll just get the yard bombed. 
Love the ambiance of eating outdoors…maybe next year my little one will be old enough to sit and eat and not be distracted by everything.
Your dogs are awesome! Even if they did treat to steal your lunch.
Thanks for hosting!
~Liz
We have two rescued dogs and although they try to sneak food it’s hard for them because they’re so short! When our parents visit, we’ll eat out on our 3-seasons porch. When it’s just the two of us, we like to drive to a local lake with the dogs. The dogs are so fascinated by the new scenery they forget to beg
Thanks for letting me join in on your Tasty Tuesday – I love it!
Oh wow, and I thought we had trouble with two dogs (and one of them only weighs 4 lbs), lol!
We don’t eat outside as much as we could either. Just never think about it and my kids don’t either.
When the kids were little we used to have picnics on the living room floor and the kids loved it!
I went ahead and linked up, and hope I did it right! I just sort of copied what another link did. Hopefully next time I can get your button. I don’t know how to get it on my hubby’s computer (his is different from mine).
Hi Miss Jen! Your lunch dates look a bit like mine…hehe
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