What Gardening Has Taught Me About Slowing Down

This year, I made a promise to take better care of me.

Well… it wasn’t so quiet.

I let my friends and family know I was having a really rough time last year, dealing with anxiety, wrestling with perfectionism, and feeling the weight of burnout. Saying it out loud wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. And from that space, I began to rebuild something softer, steadier, and far more sustainable.

And surprisingly or maybe not…gardening became a main part of that care.

There’s something healing about stepping outside and placing your hands in the dirt. The scent of basil or thyme as your fingers brush past. The steady rhythm of watering, weeding, watching. It's all so beautifully unrushed, a pace that reminds me it's okay to slow down.

In the Garden, There Are No Shortcuts

Plants take time. You can’t rush a tomato to ripen or a bloom to unfurl. But with care, sun, water, patience they show up. Gloriously. And that’s the same reminder I’ve needed for myself: that growth isn’t immediate, but it does come when nurtured.

Little Rituals That Ground Me

It might be snipping herbs in the morning light, then immediately texting the group chat to ask if anyone needs some. Or checking the raised beds at dusk when the air is soft and golden. These small moments have become rituals—quiet acts of care that tether me to something deeper than a to-do list.

My cousin Michael and I summering in Long Island.

We Deserve to Be Nurtured, Too

I’ve spent years pouring into others (work, home, family), and I’m proud of that. But this year, I learned that in order to bloom, I have to pour into myself too. Gardening has been that gentle nudge, a reminder that tending to something with love makes all the difference. And yes, that includes tending to me.

So if you’ve been moving fast, I hope this encourages you to step outside. Feel the sun on your back. Smell the rosemary and that’s coming from someone who never even liked the smell of it… but this year, it grew on me. Funny how that works, isn’t it?

Dig with your bare hands. Breathe a little deeper. And remember: slow and steady isn’t just for plants…it’s for people, too.

🌱
With love,
Meg
Maison Des McAlarney

Inspired by Pomeroy: My Take on a Summer Heirloom Tomato Salad

Last weekend, my husband and I celebrated his birthday with dinner at one of our favorite neighborhood spots, Pomeroy in Winnetka. This cozy French bistro always scratches the itch for that unmistakable French flair, the kind that instantly takes us back to our seven amazing years living in France.

While there, we had a simple side dish that completely stole the show: an heirloom tomato salad so fresh and flavorful, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Naturally, I came home determined to recreate it and I’m happy to report, it was every bit as good.

Since my own heirlooms in the garden aren’t quite ripe yet, I picked up a few beauties at the Northbrook Farmer’s Market , they were plump, vibrant, and practically bursting with flavor. To get the most bang for your heirloom tomatoes, I recommend dicing them and giving them a generous sprinkle of salt (Do it you won’t be disappointed.) I used Maldon. It draws out the juices and makes the tomato flavor truly shine.

Then I layered them with crumbled goat cheese, toasted pine nuts, a drizzle of pesto, and just a touch of balsamic glaze. That’s it. So simple, yet somehow magic.

It’s the kind of dish that feels at home on a summer lunch table or served alongside grilled chicken on a weeknight. And best of all…it tastes like summer in every bite.

What you'll need:
– Heirloom tomatoes, diced and salted. I used 5 heirloom tomatoes to serve 8.
– Crumbled goat cheese
– Toasted pine nuts
– A spoonful or two of pesto
– Balsamic glaze to drizzle

Toss gently or layer beautifully in a low ceramic bowl, and serve immediately.

Inspired by a perfect night out, reimagined at home—with love, from the Maison Des McAlarney kitchen.

Coming Soon: The Late Summer Drop

Coming Soon: The Late Summer Drop
A little cozy, a little crisp, and entirely full of charm.

As the golden days of August begin to stretch a little longer and the evenings cool just enough for a sweater, something shifts. There’s that quiet excitement in the air…the kind that makes you want to bake something from scratch, curl up with a good book, or restyle a corner of your home just because.

Our upcoming vintage drop is all about capturing that feeling.

This collection leans into the early glimmers of fall with pieces that feel both nostalgic and new-to-you. Think:
🍂 Well-loved vintage cookbooks ready to inspire your next weekend bake
🧺 Cozy plaid throws and wool scarves in earthy tones
🧶 Vintage sweaters with character, think classic, soft, and story-filled

Each item is handpicked to help you ease into the season with a little more comfort and a lot more charm.

Stay tuned—the drop arrives late August. Local pickup and shipping will be available, and as always, each piece is styled (and scribbled) with love at Maison Des McAlarney.

The Timeless Allure of Milk Glass: A Little History of a Big Classic

With its creamy glow and delicate charm, milk glass has long held a special place in the world of vintage collecting—and in my own heart, too. From ruffled edge compotes to dainty bud vases, each piece feels like a little whisper from the past. But where did this timeless beauty begin?

A Brief History
Milk glass dates back as early as the 16th century in Venice, where glassmakers experimented with opaque glass in hues of white, blue, and pink. But the version we know and love today, the snowy, opaline, and glowing when held to the light, rose to popularity in the Victorian era. It was especially prized in the late 1800s and early 1900s, when it became a more affordable alternative to porcelain and was often gifted for weddings and celebrations.

Vintage Milk Glass Compote Dish

The Golden Age
In the mid-20th century, American companies like Westmoreland, Fenton, and Imperial Glass helped milk glass have a major comeback. Hobnail patterns, scalloped edges, and pedestal bases became design signatures and they remain beloved by collectors and decorators to this day.

Why We Love It
There’s something so nostalgic, so quietly elegant about milk glass. It’s versatile just as perfect on a vanity holding your favorite jewelry as it is on a kitchen shelf full of herbs or blooms. And when styled in a sun-drenched corner or at the center of a dinner table, it catches the light in the most magical way.

At Maison Des McAlarney, I carefully source pieces that feel both classic and fresh. Some have original maker’s marks or labels, others just the charm of time well passed but all are styled with love.

- Meg at Maison

From Nervous to Nourished

I’ll be honest, I was intimidated by baking, especially bread. Sourdough starters bubbling away on countertops made me feel like I wasn’t cut out for it. But then I found this four-ingredient bread recipe, and it gave me the confidence to try. And now I’m sharing it with you because it’s 99.9% foolproof and a beautiful way to feed your friends and family.

Here’s what you’ll need:
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon Fleischmann’s active dry yeast
• 1 ½ cups warm water

How to make it:
In a large bowl, mix your dry ingredients first. Then stir in the warm water until just combined. Cover with a clean cloth and let it rest at room temperature for one hour.

You’ll know it’s ready when the dough has risen, tiny bubbles have formed, and it feels sticky to the touch, alive and full of promise.

When there’s about 30 minutes left, preheat your oven to 450°F. With 10 minutes to go, place your Dutch oven (or heavy pot with a lid) inside to get nice and hot.

Once your dough is ready, gently shape it into a round (or divide it into six large rolls) and place into the hot pot. I love to finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt right on top, it adds just the right touch of yum.

Bake covered for 30 minutes, then uncovered for another 10–15, until golden, crackly, and deeply satisfying.

✨ One last tip: let your bread rest before slicing in, if you cut it too soon, the inside can become gummy. Give it time to settle and steam, then slice and serve with butter, jam, or just as it is.

Whether you make one big loaf or six hearty rolls, this recipe is a little bit of comfort made by hand and meant to be shared.

Old school like me and love a printed recipe? I’ve got you covered.
You can print this 5×7 Maison des McAlarney-style recipe card—pretty enough to pin on the fridge, tuck into a recipe box, or share with a friend over coffee.

The Quiet Joy of Letting Go

There’s a certain kind of magic in wrapping up a vintage treasure—something once forgotten or tucked away—and preparing it for a new chapter in someone else’s story.

I’ve always loved the thrill of the hunt: wandering antique markets, peeking under tablecloths at estate sales, spotting that one piece that makes my heart skip. But just as special as the discovery is the moment I send it off to be loved all over again.

Each item from Maison des McAlarney is carefully chosen, lovingly styled, and thoughtfully packed. And in that ritual—folding tissue, writing a note, tying the ribbon—there’s a quiet pause where I feel it: the glimmer.

It’s the glimmer of knowing that what once sat quietly on a shelf will soon be cherished again. A hobnail vase catching sunlight on a windowsill. A scalloped milk glass bowl holding lemons on a kitchen counter. A pressed glass dish passed between friends at dessert.

These objects carry stories—and sending them off, I feel a part of that continuity. A little joy tucked into a box, ready to bring beauty to a new space, a new season, a new soul who sees the charm I once did.

And so, as I pack each order, I pause and smile. Because this is the kind of work that sparkles quietly: full of memory, meaning, and the glimmer of something lovely being passed along.

—Meg

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