Fresh Roots Living

Fresh Roots Living celebrates the art of creating beauty without burden, connection without complication, and homes that nourish the soul without demanding perfection.

Fresh Roots Living is our new Substack and newsletter where we’ll dive deeper into creating homes that truly reflect who you are—without the overwhelm that often comes with “picture perfect” home design.

Two months ago, I hit publish on the first Fresh Roots Living newsletter, and honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect. Since then, something beautiful has happened—you've shown up. You've subscribed, shared your stories, and proven that there's a real hunger for homes that feel authentic rather than aspirational.

We found this wonderful lemonade at the Farmer's Market and wanted to share the recipe with you, along with some other refreshing variations that are great for summer.

Flavor Combo: In a saucepan, combine 1 cup water, ¾ cup sugar, ½ cup fresh lemon balm leaves, and ½ cup fresh mint leaves; simmer for 5 minutes to make a syrup, strain, and mix with 1 cup lemon juice and 3 cups cold water.

We love spending the early morning or evening hours tending to the garden. The gentle sound of water cascading over leaves, the fresh scent of damp earth, and the satisfaction of nurturing life from the ground up. Yet for many gardeners, this therapeutic experience gets overshadowed by one frustrating reality: dragging heavy hoses around the yard.

Gardening often involves a bit of rearranging to help plants thrive, and transplanting is a key skill for any gardener. In the video, we moved vibrant nasturtiums from a crowded salad garden to a decorative trellis. This post provides a universal guide to transplanting plants. If you're making space for other crops or giving a plant a better spot to flourish, these steps will ensure a smooth transition for your greenery.

We’re so grateful to share that Fresh Roots Living has crossed the milestone of 100 subscribers on Substack! Your support means the world to us as we build a community dedicated to creating beauty without burden, connection without complication, and homes that nourish the soul without demanding perfection.

Tired of the same old routine? You don’t need a far-flung vacation to find joy and connection. By weaving nearby destinations like state parks, regional trails, and local hangouts into your daily life, you can turn ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences.

Here's what the wellness industry doesn't want you to know: the most transformative recipe in your kitchen probably uses six ingredients you already have. No superfoods. No expensive equipment. No 47-step process that requires three different apps to track.

Just rhubarb, oats, butter, and the kind of simplicity that feels revolutionary in our over-complicated world.

Last night was the perfect date night—no kids, just a cozy evening with a fabulous, savory dinner that came together in under an hour.

I whipped up sautéed pork chops, one of Steve’s favorites, finished in the oven with fragrant sage and oregano. Paired them with sautéed shallots and shiitake mushrooms for that rich, earthy flavor.

Modern homes serve multiple functions simultaneously. They house families, facilitate remote work, accommodate hobbies, and provide entertainment space. This convergence of purposes creates invisible stress as different activities compete for the same physical and mental space. The solution lies not in expanding existing rooms but in creating intentional separation through dedicated backyard structures.

Summer cooking is about using fresh, seasonal ingredients with minimal effort to let their natural flavors shine. The warmth of the season encourages lighter meals, often prepared with vegetables straight from the garden or farmers market. Asparagus, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers, and yellow squash are abundant and at their peak, offering vibrant tastes and textures that need little enhancement.

Leather furniture has this particular way of grounding a space. It's not flashy or demanding attention, but it carries weight—both literally and figuratively. When you walk into a room anchored by a well-chosen leather piece, there's an immediate sense of substance, like the space has been lived in and loved. Leather is about the long view, about choosing pieces that will develop character alongside your life.

Father's Day is the perfect time to celebrate the dads who fill our lives with love, strength, and joy. At Fresh Roots Living, we've created a gift guide that speaks to what matters most to him—whether he's passionate about the garden, loves to cook, enjoys entertaining, prioritizes healthy living, or has an eye for home design. Discover meaningful gifts that match his interests and make his everyday moments even better. These are our favorites of 2025.

There’s a certain magic that happens when friends gather around a beautiful table. But beautiful doesn’t have to mean laborious. I’m championing what I lovingly call “Quick Tables in Under and Hour”—inviting, elegant settings you can create, leaving you free to enjoy what matters most: the company. This week's newsletter is about Spring entertaining.

When life gets hectic but your body deserves better than a drive-thru, this simple 3 minute scramble becomes your culinary ally. I discovered this method years ago and it's transformed my mornings ever since.

Picture this: you step into a house that feels like a museum of bad decisions – light blue tiles gleaming like a community pool, cherry wood trim screaming 1990s excess, and walls coated in a shade I can only describe as “depressed beige.” That was our dream home, or so I hoped, if I could look past the decor shouting “turn back now!” My heart sank, but my designer’s eye sparked with possibility.

Picture yourself in a kitchen that stops you in your tracks—where every surface gleams with elegance, every meal feels like a celebration, and every moment inspires awe. I’m Cari Ann, your guide to creating spaces that spark joy, and I’m spilling all the secrets behind the jaw-dropping kitchen renovation at my personal home, the DIY Designer Homestead. We transformed a dated 90s relic into a gourmet masterpiece, starring the daring choice of Italian marble countertops—gorgeous, yet famously tricky due to its porous nature.

Yesterday, I embarked on what might be my most practical gardening project yet—one that I'm genuinely excited to share with you all. I created an entire salad garden in a single oversized pot, and I'm already convinced this approach will revolutionize weeknight cooking for many of you.

There’s nothing quite like stepping into my garden in the early morning, when the dew is still clinging to the leaves and the air is filled with the intoxicating scent of fresh basil. This is where my love affair with cooking truly begins – not in the kitchen, but right here among the tomato vines heavy with fruit and the herb beds that seem to whisper promises of the meals to come.

I’ve learned that size doesn’t dictate success, intention does. As a realtor, I’ve seen how plants transform homes of all sizes into happier, healthier spaces. From tiny studio apartments with a single sunny window to sprawling suburban yards, every space can benefit from the strategic selection of plants that enhance both your space’s aesthetics and your emotional well-being

Every morning, I begin my day with a simple ritual that nourishes my body from within. It's quick and effective: one heaping teaspoon of Green For Life powder mixed into a tall glass of water, combined with a scoop of collagen. This drink delivers antioxidants, hydrating nutrients, and age-supporting benefits. Here's why this combination aligns with my Fresh Roots Living approach and can enhance your daily wellness.