Beans, Boots & Blogs

I am exceptionally excited that tomorrow (!) I’ll have the opportunity to attend an event hosted by P. Allen Smith (the Arkansas-based television host, designer, gardening and lifestyle expert) and the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board.

A handful of bloggers from throughout the state have been invited to this event, known as Bean2Blog, which is an in-depth day of learning about “the miracle bean” along with education and tours at Allen’s Garden Home at Moss Mountain Farm.

Why, yes – I AM rather excited! Allen is known for several television shows such as P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home and P. Allen Smith’s Garden to Table as well as the popular Garden Home series of books published by Clarkson Potter/Random House, including Bringing the Garden Indoors: Container, Crafts and Bouquets for Every Room and Seasonal Recipes from the Garden. I think it will be absolutely incredible to tromp through the grounds and gardens, and then hopefully scrape all the mud off my Country Outfitter boots before checking out the house itself.

The timing couldn’t be better… I spent yesterday working on the various container gardens around our house (potted herbs in the side yard, flowering containers on the front steps, lush succulents to enjoy while I drink my coffee, per above) while Fred worked in the garden. So, I can’t wait to go pick up some fresh gardening, decorating, sustainable living and homekeeping tips from our very own Arkansas expert. After a year or two off (something about a toddler in our lives), I’m excited to get our garden back to the way it looked in its prime (as seen on The Short Tails of Two Ducks):

Even better, I get to take this little road trip adventure down to Roland, Arkansas with some of my very favorite blogger friends from northwest Arkansas: the infamous Lyndi of nwaFoodie, the completely adorable Paige of Approaching Joy and my dear pal Angie of A Growing Season. I anticipate LOTS of coffee, a carful of snacks, much jabbering and many antics.

Best of all, when we arrive at Moss Mountain Farm, we’ll meet up with fifteen of our other favorite bloggers and friends from across the state, including my estranged soulmates Stephanie Buckley (The Park Wife), Julie Kohl (Eggs & Herbs) and a few of my blog crushes (Eclectic Whatnot, Jerusalem Greer and The Dramatic, I’m looking at you!) Yes, a whopping SEVENTEEN of the participating nineteen bloggers on this day of fun are part of the Arkansas Women Bloggers community! And look how fun: P. Allen Smith’s marketing guru extraordinaire, Mimi San Pedro, has set up a fab Bean2Blog Pinterest inspiration board where you can meet the participants and see all sorts of inspiration from Moss Mountain Farm:

In talking to my bloggy buddies, it seems the question of the day is not whether or not we will get up close and personal with some of the heritage poultry breeds or what we’ll eat for lunch (those are MY most burning questions), but what to wear. So, in a perfect world, here’s what I would rock at The Garden Home:

However, back here on planet Earth, I’m going to start concocting something from my closet inspired by the look above plus Mimi’s suggestion of “farm chic.” Whatever I come up with will be made slightly more fabulous by my sort-of-rockstar Dingo Muse boots from Country Outfitter! Maybe I can talk Paige into capturing it and making me look all dreamy and fabulous. And skinny.