Grover House Photography and Design

01/02/2026

Fantastic photo. Props to the photographer.

11/26/2025

🍁 As Thanksgiving draws near, many of us are thinking about hosting, gathering, and relaxing, and let’s be honest, using paper plates or napkins can feel like such a blessing when you're already stretched thin. It’s absolutely okay to want convenience! But if you're open to a few simple swaps, you can still enjoy your holiday, with a little extra heart for the planet. Here is some "food for thought" to help reduce the holiday-waste footprint and why those little changes matter:

During the holidays, the amount of waste Americans throw away goes up by about 25%. Even if you're just switching out plates or napkins, cumulative impact adds up: fewer disposables means less trash heading to landfills.

It’s totally understandable to reach for paper plates, especially when you’re hosting and want to minimize sink time. But disposable plates are a major contributor to single-use waste: the Green Restaurant Association notes that the U.S. now generates millions of tons of disposable food packaging every year, and only a tiny fraction is recycled.

By using your real dishes, you help reduce that load. (I know not everyone loves them, but they save so much more in landfill waste.) And, YOLO! No better time to use the China gifted to you over the years than for gatherings with those you love.

Many of us grab paper napkins out of ease, but switching to cloth is one of the simplest things you can do to cut waste. According to community estimates, people can go through thousands of disposable napkins per year. But with cloth, you can reuse again and again, dramatically reducing that waste.

If you need to use paper for some parts, that’s okay. The holiday season can be overwhelming, and time is precious. What matters is thoughtful intention: even doing some of the swaps (some plates, some napkins, recycling your pans) is a win.

This isn’t about perfection, it’s about caring enough to try, in a way that makes sense for you and your gathering.

Let’s give thanks, not just for our loved ones, but for the planet, too. 🌎✨



📸 credit: Grover House Photography and Design

03/02/2024

Just a taste. Full shoot coming later.

02/26/2024

Food doesn't just sustain our bodies; it sustains our minds and hearts, too. I picked this recipe today for two reasons. First, as an homage to one of my most favorite people ever, my Grandma. She was an excellent cook and baker. I cooked with her, and for her, often. I am the baker today in no small part due to her.

Secondly, she made this cake for me every year for my birthday. It has always been one of my favorites and brings back wonderful memories of time spent with her celebrating. I am hoping that it will bring me as much good luck in this endeavor as it brought me joy every time I received it.

02/26/2024

Just a taste. Full shoot coming later.

02/26/2024

02/22/2024

to National Tequila Day when I did margaritas. Happy

02/22/2024

to National Tequila Day when I did margaritas. Hey, "Smoke 'em if you got 'em." I always say. (OK, that isn't true; I hate smoking. But why not reuse these great pics?!)

02/20/2024

Making great things over on the Grover House Photography & Design Instagram page. Check it out and give a follow, if you aren't already.

02/09/2024

What are we drinking for SBLVIII? Bloody Marys perhaps?