The Busy Bee

Take one look at the calendar and you’ll likely find an array of activities meant to be shared with others. From birthday celebrations to team sports and weekday lunch dates to scheduled date nights, your social calendar is designed to help you connect with those you love. ✨ While scheduled time together is part of the human condition to nurture relationships, what we’ve learned is it’s often in our daily routines where we find our deepest connections.​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ It’s the bagel we share at the coffee table every morning before school drop off and the jam session in the car on the way to the store. It’s the weeknight dinner seated around the table eating the family’s favorite meal and rocking the littlest one before bed while giggling about something silly. It’s the nightly bowl of popcorn shared on the couch in front of the next episode of your latest show and the family camp outs in the living room when you’ve decided to keep the weekend low key. It’s the littlest moments that have the biggest impact. 💛​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ ICYMI, yesterday on www.thebusybee.co, we shared how we prioritize time with family and oursleves throughout the day in order to develop intentional family routines that strengthen our bonds. → Head to the blog now to read more about our daily routines and what’s helped us connect as a family. Link in bio.

One of the most common questions we get asked is where all the food goes when you set a full tablescape, and the answer is simple. ✨ The corners of the table! (And sometimes in between place settings.) Also, if you have a large centerpiece, you can remove it just before serving the main course. A few other options for where to set the food when you need more space to seat guests around the table 👇🏻 ✨ on an adjacent buffet table ✨ on an adjacent folding or card table (#HostfulHack: cover with a table linen to elevate the look) ✨ on a nearby kitchen peninsula or island *A special thank you to @orderheirloom for providing this delicious spread, so we didn’t have to spend any time and the kitchen and could spend more time with loved ones.

There's nothing quite like a warm welcome when you enter someone's home. 💛 Set the tone and offer a place to retreat from the moment guests arrive until the time they have to leave. A few thoughtful pieces we like to keep in the entryway to welcome guests: ✨ A pre-lit candle to draw them in ✨ A vase filled with fresh or dried floral to emanate a sense of calm ✨ A basket filled with cozy textiles to offer up as an extra layer of comfort → Shop all of these pieces and more at www.shoppeapiary.co

The time has come, and before we know it, we’ll be in the throes of school drop offs, pickups, homework, and after-school practice. What we’ve learned over the years is if we don’t prepare our hearts and our homes before the annual transition, we will inevitably be met with an internal chaos that reflects our environment. → Today, on www.thebusybee.co, we’re sharing simple ways to make the transition easier for your whole family with a reset that creates a few key systems to keep you (and your home!) organized before school begins. Head to there now to begin preparing before the school year kicks off. Link in bio.

Today’s Agenda: Celebrate the last days of summer the best way we know how 🍦🍫🥜 THE FROZEN NUTTY BUDDY Ingredients: ✨Choose from these @eschocolate flavors: - Fudgy Peanut Butter + Milk Chocolate - Salted Peanuts + Dark Chocolate - Oat Milk Coconut & Almonds + Dark Chocolate ✨ 1 waffle bowl or cone ✨ scoops of vanilla ice cream ✨ 10-12 mini mallows ✨ 1 Tbsp chopped nuts ✨ 6-8 honey graham cereal squares Directions: 1. Add scoops of vanilla ice cream to waffle bowl or cone. 2. Select one of the chocolate bars above, break into bite-size pieces and place on top of ice cream. 3. Sprinkle on mini mallows, chopped nuts and honey graham squares on top. 4. Enjoy!

If your August is looking anything like ours, you’re busy! With the school year starting back up, extracurriculars being added to the calendar and the holidays on the horizon, the days quickly fill up and next thing you know, you're scrambling to figure out what's for dinner. 🍽️ But there's a way to reclaim your nights and dinner with the family, and we promise, it’s going to make your days and nights much easier. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ → Today, on www.thebusybee.co, we're sharing 5 of our favorite techniques to make family meal planning and prep super simple. Head to the blog now to learn how to maximize those small windows of quality time together in the evenings (dinner ideas included!). Link in bio. #hostfulatheart

Everyday Dining Table Look Take 2 ✨ These deconstructed looks (as we like to call them) provide both form and function to your dining space. Each piece adds a touch of charm and interest while offering a sense of casual ease. Keeping items centralized further provides space to facilitate daily activities taking place around the table. A few notes on the pieces we chose: ✨ The wooden pedestal is a one-of-a-kind vintage piece (each one will vary) ✨ The matte chalk bowls are handcrafted and ethically sourced ✨ The water glasses read "water" on one side and "aqua" on the other (we also offer another set that reads "wine" and "vino") ✨ The hand-forged taper candle holders and pleated taper candles are both best sellers ✨ The lavender is natural and dried ✨ The natural cotton tea towels come as a set of two → Shop all of these pieces by visiting www.shoppeapiary.co (link in bio).

We’re all about incorporating thoughtful, seasonal pieces throughout our homes to keep things feeling fresh and inviting. ✨ This summer has been no different! We are loving the limitless options of a decor trend that’s simultaneously of-the-moment and a classic staple you’ll have for years.​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ Today, on www.thebusybee.co, we’re sharing our favorite ways to incorporate these timeless classics made from raw materials using a 5,000 year old process. Head to the blog now to learn all about it! (Link in bio)