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Life on Red Oak

A lifestyle blog by Kelly Daniel

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Simple Postnatal Care Must-Haves

March 1, 2021

Keep postnatal care simple with these basic must-haves + the free items the hospital can provide you before going home! | www.lifeonredoak.com

Affiliate links are used within this post. You can read my full disclosure here.

Now that I’m officially in the fourth trimester (aka the postnatal period) with baby number two, there have been a number of go-to items in my home care kit that I haven’t been able to do without. Luckily, a lot of what I stocked up on came from the hospital before we were discharged.

Having a second baby has definitely given me the foresight to know what I’d need during recovery and those beginning months of breastfeeding. Prior to leaving the hospital I made sure to ask my nurses for various items I knew I’d need like those fancy hospital-grade mesh underwear and pads as well as tap into the resource that was the lactation specialist for my breastfeeding/pumping needs. There’s a ton of postnatal guides out there, and I suppose I’m adding one more to the conversation, but in my experience I never needed as much as I thought I did – just a few basics.

Today I’m sharing exactly what I’m using for my home postnatal care and the products I swear by!

Keep postnatal care simple with these basic must-haves + the free items the hospital can provide you before going home! | www.lifeonredoak.com
  1. Ingrid & Isabel Afterband Support Belt | Target
    Any kind of support/compression band is going to be your friend during this time – especially if you delivered via c-section. There’s a ton on the market (and I used the Belly Bandit with Greyson and didn’t much care for it), but this simple one from Target has been great so far!

  2. Ingrid & Isabel Compression Cami | Target
    I bought this cami when I was still pregnant and needed to support my third trimester belly. Although it’s designed as a maternity support cami, it’s continued to be a great top.

  3. Maternity Joggers | Amazon
    I pretty much wore these nonstop during my pregnancy and am considering on stocking up even now. These joggers are lightweight, comfortable, and affordable! Just like the cami, they are great for wearing at the hospital after delivery and continue to be useful now that we’re home.

  4. Stool Softeners
    That first post-delivery poop is terrifying, but a necessary thing your nurses and doctors want to see as a part of your recovery from delivery. Stool softeners are great in loosening up things down there and makes it much more comfortable – use your peri bottle with warm water, too.

    * Not sure if every hospital does this, but I didn’t realize that I was being charged $2/pill when my nurses came around with Motrin, a prenatal vitamin, and stool softeners for the 3 days I was in the hospital. I thought it was included…so, I highly recommend you purchase your own and add it to your hospital bag – or check with the hospital to see what they charge for!

  5. Buck Naked Women’s Mesh Underwear | Duluth Trading Co
    My husband introduced me to this brand because their underwear is great for traveling with. Simply pack a few and hand-wash them! They air dry so quickly and are just an overall great pair of underwear! Now, these are pulling double duty as being a great option now that my bleeding has begun to slow down – and the pads fit perfectly.

  6. Medela Hands-free Nursing Bra
    I didn’t have one of these nursing bras when I had Greyson and I’m kind of kicking myself. This time around I made sure to pick a pair up and I’ve loved the convenience of being hands-free when pumping. In fact, I’m able to write this post, drink my coffee, and pump all at the same time.

  7. Up & Up Nursing Pads | Target
    Don’t buy into the idea that you need name brand things for something that’s disposable – like nursing pads. I’m not rich enough to own the Willow pump which collects milk that these pads would absorb (ensuring you never waste a drop of the liquid gold). So, it’s disposable pads for me…and this target brand is the more affordable option.

Free from the Hospital

Prior to being discharged be sure to request a restock of the items you’re using the most for your postnatal care. Nurses are aware that you’re going to snag these to take home, so just be open about what your needs are – I’ve never been turned away from asking for more pads, underwear, or samples.

Some items you can take home with you are:

  • Mesh Underwear
  • Peri Bottle
  • Pads/Cooling Pads – these have great absorbency so stock up!
  • Anti-Itch Spray/Witch Hazel, etc.
  • Disposable Bed Pads – these are great for laying on your bed at home if you’re worried about bleeding. I also recommend purchasing a waterproof mattress cover.
  • Nipple Shield – my lactation specialist gave me one when I had difficulty getting Olivia to latch on. So, ask yours if they have one for you to use during your stay!
  • Nipple Cream Samples – be sure to snag a few of these before heading home. A little goes a long way!

Additional items to ask about…

  • Either apply for your insurance-covered breast pump early so it arrives before your due date or inquire about the hospital providing you one before you leave. My lactation specialist was on it and was able to secure me a pump via my insurance when the one I requested never showed up.
  • Additional pump bottles or accessories.
  • Medela Micro-Steam Bags – these have been great for sterilizing my pump parts, bottles, and nipple guard. The NICU provided us with a box to use (we also gave birth during a snowstorm that knocked out the power/water which made washing these things difficult).
Keep postnatal care simple with these basic must-haves + the free items the hospital can provide you before going home! | www.lifeonredoak.com

Introducing Olivia Pierce | A Birth Story

February 26, 2021

She’s finally here, you guys! I can’t believe we’ve made it to this moment where our sweet girl has finally made it earth side and as a family we couldn’t be more excited. I’m writing this having had her a little over a week ago and she’s been home now for five days.

We’re currently in the middle of navigating these first few days as a family of four – getting adjusted to newborn life once again, helping Greyson adjust to having a baby sister, pumping/nursing around the clock, and just simply taking it all in.

There’s so much wrapped up in her birth story, and like many, it came with its fair shake of twists and turns. Today I’m excited to share our experience as it’s, for sure, one for the books. Between a random, but intense, Texas snowstorm to Olivia spending time in the NICU, we’re just in a state of gratitude for how everything ended up.

Here is Olivia’s birth story.

A freak winter storm

As all are pretty much aware, Texas has experienced some pretty intense (and un-seasonal) winter weather this last week and what first began as excitement over the fact that we’d be getting snow, quickly turned to panic and dire living conditions for so many.

On Sunday night the weather began to turn and that’s when the snow first started to fall. It was a beautiful sight and so magical. Living in California for so long, and now Texas, snow was just something I’d come to accept that I’d rarely get to see (I’m a Northern Virginia native who’s used to having actual winters). However, it was so much fun seeing Greyson wake up on Monday with a fresh blanket of snow to explore and play in.

The night prior our power started to flicker on and off throughout the night. It wasn’t anything too out of the ordinary and something we kind of expected. However, on Monday the power would be off for longer stretches at a time and eventually wouldn’t ever come back on. Again, nothing terribly alarming, but the house began to inch more and more towards being unbearably cold. Without power there’s no heat, food (storage or ability to make it – we have electric appliances), and generally…a way to keep a four year old busy. Thankfully, my husband’s parents’ neighborhood never lost power so we decided that we would hunker down at their house overnight just to stay warm and be together.

On Tuesday morning we had an OB appointment on the books. Because the weather continued to snow, then turn to freezing rain, then frigid temperatures…everything began to shut down around us. Freeways were closed, then businesses and gas stations were closed due to the power blackouts. So, when I called to see if my OBs office was open – and got kicked to their voicemail – I was certain they were also closed.

…the only issue for me was that I was heading into my 41st week with Olivia and we had discussed inducing me on Wednesday should my labor not start on its own before our OB appointment. Needless to say, I wasn’t going to miss that appointment.

Heading to the hospital

Since we couldn’t get a hold of anyone at the doctor’s office, my husband and I decided to brave the roads and head there regardless. We figured that: worst case scenario we would find that the office was closed and head to the hospital where they could examine me and contact my OB. Upon arriving it was obvious the office was closed so we went across the way to the hospital to triage on the labor and delivery floor. This would be where we would go should my water have broken, so naturally I thought we would try there first.

Upon entering the hospital I was prepared for one of two things:

  1. They would examine me and determine that without my OBs orders they couldn’t admit me unless labor has started…and therefore send me home.
  2. They would examine me, I would fit the criteria, and admit me to start labor.

Triage

Went entered triage where we were given a bed and I was hooked up to the routine monitors. The nurses were really nice and asked general questions about my care, who my OB was, and what brought me in. I explained my situation and that I hadn’t heard from my OB – hoping they would be able to contact her.

Come to find, my OB actually scheduled me for an induction for Wednesday. I had no idea as it was more of a verbal discussion at our last appointment, but I was happy to see that she had already planned for it. Because the weather turned and roads were dangerous, I would be seen by the hospital OB who would review my situation and examine me. It took a little bit of waiting on the doctor and paperwork (go figure) but she eventually arrived. She was so pleasant and even though she wasn’t my doctor, I felt really comfortable being in her care.

After discussing things with her she decided that she would admit me and we would begin the induction process and have our baby! She didn’t want to risk sending me home in the weather conditions and I’m so grateful to her for that. So, within moments we were moved from triage and officially admitted and given a room in labor and delivery.

Labor & Delivery

After getting settled into our room the nurses began my IVs and Pitocin – as I began what would become a marathon of Chopped and Real Housewives. After some time I was able to receive my epidural and catheter and be able to rest more comfortably. The first sensation I remember from my epidural was losing feeling in my legs and feet. It felt like my legs were asleep (that my-legs-are-buried-in-the-sand feeling) and that I needed to shake them awake – but, of course, I couldn’t. My husband was a great birthing partner because he was there to rub them and pretty much be at my beck-and-call.

One side effect that NO ONE talks about when it comes to epidurals is that in losing the ability to feel/control your lower body comes flatulence. So, just be prepared to toot without being able to control it – it’s a little embarrassing at first, but it’s just one of many things one cares less about after an experience childbirth. 😉

A little later on they broke my water and continued laboring. At this point I had been in labor for almost 14 hours, but surprisingly with not much progress in dilation. It got to the point where we had to start discussing the possibility of a c-section. But then it was as if she heard us talking because within the hour she went from 3cm to 10cm! By the time my nurse checked me she was amazed to see that I was at 10cm and ready to start pushing.

However, during one of my examinations my nurse discovered meconium, baby’s first bowel movement in utero. Although normal, especially in a 41 week delivery, it does pose an infection risk because Olivia ingests it while in the amniotic fluid.

This would become the reason she would later become admitted to the NICU.

Welcome, Olivia Pierce

When the time came I ended up pushing for 1 hour then she was finally here!

At 1:15am on February 17, 2021 miss Olivia Pierce was born.

The moment she came out I was alarmed because she wasn’t crying. My husband had to keep affirming to me that she was completely healthy – and that she came out just looking around and observing. I had never seen anything like it! She eventually started crying as she was being checked and cleaned off.

During her routine newborn screening they detected that her temperature was a little elevated, but otherwise checked out okay (I did not have a temperature). After an hour or so we were moved to our recovery room where we got settled and continued our skin-to-skin bonding and attempts at nursing. I tried breastfeeding but she had zero interest in eating at all. I didn’t really have concerns because many of our nurses just said she may need more time to transition from the womb to life on the outside and to not give up trying to nurse.

The beginning of our NICU Journey

Later that morning our baby nurse popped in for Olivia’s routine check-ups and told us that her initial blood work came back and that the doctor would like to re-test her blood. In addition, when they checked her temperature again it had dropped (41 week old healthy babies shouldn’t be cold) and paired with a no interest in nursing gave them a cause to be concerned. So, she was taken once more for a blood draw and additional tests to rule things out. Thankfully my husband accompanied her every step of the way (while I rested and recovered in our room) and I’m appreciative to the hospital for allowing him to do so.

Unfortunately her tests detected a possible infection and that was the cause of her temperature and lack of wanting to eat. At that point she would be admitted to the NICU and would begin antibiotics via IV while additional screenings and tests were done to figure out what exactly was causing the infection.

Although this wasn’t the birth story we had anticipated, or wanted, it’s our journey and being home with our baby girl has us looking back with grace and gratitude surrounding our whole birthing experience. I look forward to sharing our NICU story here soon and continue to thank all of our family and friends who rallied around us during an unsure time.

Welcome to the world, miss Olivia Pierce!

Linking up with Andrea.

Raising a Child on the Autism Spectrum

February 10, 2021

Follow us on our journey as parents to a child on the Autism Spectrum. See what's helped us in our first year at www.lifeonredoak.com

In October of 2019 we had our three year old evaluated and eventually diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. It was one of the most challenging years in my experience as a mom because it hit me in a multitude of ways. The “threes” are known to be a tough age and we had our fair shake of outbursts and tantrums, not knowing how to discipline him, reach him, or even understand him. It stretched us as a family and when all hope was seemingly lost, his diagnosis became a source of support and a gateway to understanding what his needs are.

…it’s not about the diagnosis, it’s about having an understanding of what’s going on with your child. 

Leslie Hayden (pediatric physical therapist & mother of a child on the spectrum)

Further Reading: A Story of Raising and Working with Children with Autism

Looking back on that early year since his diagnosis I am so proud of Greyson’s hard work that has made his progress so tangible and rewarding. He continues to make strides and my heart leaps when I see him beginning to connect the dots on his own.

Today I’m sharing not only a look back, but a reflection on where we are today and the exciting future this year holds for us as a family.

Early Intervention

One of the biggest reasons, in my opinion, Greyson has had the opportunity to make the progress he has is due to early intervention. For any parent with a child with a neurological disorder like ASD, early intervention is key. Once we embarked on the journey of having him evaluated we began to follow the breadcrumbs that eventually lead us to the people and organizations who could help him (and us as his parents) navigate these new and uncharted waters.

Our Early Steps:

  • discussions with our pediatrician lead us to his behavior either being caused by ADHD or ASD.
  • we had him evaluated by our local school district’s Special Education Department where they recommended him as having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). (Note: school districts do not provide medical evaluations).
  • from there we established an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) and enrolled him in a public SpEd preschool near our home where he would learn in a specialized environment and begin receiving speech and OT services – as outlined in his IEP.
  • we then had him medically evaluated by a child psychologist for ASD so we could begin looking for services such as ABA (which requires a medical diagnosis). She came back having evaluated him having high intelligence and therefore on the high functioning end of the Autism Spectrum.
  • we took this medical diagnosis and submitted it for services for ABA therapy in our home.

* Covid did impact the types of services we could receive. In-home sessions were the only option whereas ABA typically provides the options for in-home, at-school, and in-facility therapy sessions with other children.

These steps were emotional ones to take and often had us yo-yoing our feelings about Greyson. My husband and I had bouts of frustration, guilt, sadness, and anger over what it meant for our son to be on the spectrum. I also went through these motions of guilt, frustration, and hope. However, the steps we took allowed us to process all of these emotions with the help and support of professionals as well as friendly interactions with fellow parents who have experienced something similar.

Where we are a year later

Follow us on our journey as parents to a child on the Autism Spectrum. See what's helped us in our first year at www.lifeonredoak.com

Greyson absolutely loved his new preschool where he attended and as his parents we were excited to see him so engaged again. School had been a source of anxiety for us the previous year – as every preschool we tried always gave us the same feedback: that Grey was struggling to fit in and that it may not be a good fit due to his behavior. It was reassuring that he was being accepted and learning alongside his peers who were were facing similar learning and social challenges.

2020 and beyond

Then, 2020 happened. Covid hit and he was sent home along with every child across the nation to continue on a virtual learning platform.

I adore his teaching team for the efforts they continually put in for him and his classmates because virtual learning is hard – especially for kids with special needs. Although it was difficult to balance this new normal, Grey continued to do his best. It was a struggle some days whereas others he was happy to participate. We decided that since he wasn’t receiving his speech and OT services through the school we would push forward with ABA therapy in our home.

Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)

Behavior analysis is a scientifically validated approach to understanding behavior and how it is affected by the environment.

Autism Speaks

ABA has had one of the biggest impacts on Greyson (and us!) within his first year since being diagnosed because everyday he worked with a therapist who focused on a variety of behavioral and life skill goals. With our newfound time at home (thanks, Covid) he was able to receive 2 hours of services every day where he worked on things like: eye contact, accepting no, developing self-regulation skills, and more. Furthermore, us parents received some training to help us best meet his needs as well as support and apply what he was learning during his therapy sessions.

Through ABA we, along with Greyson, learned more about the cause (antecedent) of his tantrums and how to best respond (consequences). We learned about what triggers him, how to get ahead of those triggers, and what to do as a response if he’s already triggered. Such mind-blowing stuff! We also learned the importance of following through on our consequences, even if it causes a slight inconvenience to us.

Another helpful nugget of information we received was understanding his functions of behavior.

Functions of Behavior

  • sensory: provides stimulation input to the brain
  • escape: removes unpreferred activities, people, interactions or situations
  • attention: provides access or awareness to/away from people or interactions
  • tangible: provides access to preferred person/people or items

Just this alone has helped us understand the cause of some of Greyson’s behavior (good or bad) and be able to best meet his need in that moment (or have a consequence that best matches the function).

Punishment vs Consequence

function (cause) + behavior (outward action) = consequence (the model to teach proper behavior)

We also learned that punishments don’t help teach a child about proper behavior. Discipline should be a learning process with meaningful actions that help a child understand their behavior and guide them to making better choices when faced with a similar trigger. Consequences on the other hand do just that – they teach – and are followed up with a short discussion about what happened, why, and what should happen next time.

Greyson’s tantrums and outburst have all but disappeared (with an occasional drop to the floor crying bit), which tells me some of what we’re implementing is working.

Greyson’s Gains

Follow us on our journey as parents to a child on the Autism Spectrum. See what's helped us in our first year at www.lifeonredoak.com

Although Covid was a huge setback for Grey, he adapted as best he could under these new circumstances. With that being said, some of the gains we’ve really taken notice of this last year have been:

Social

  • better eye contact when interacting with others
  • a desire to play and communicate with others – especially kids
  • a MAJOR improvement in his speech and ability to communicate in complete sentences
  • others can begin to understand him
  • learning to use his words when frustrated by interactions with other kids (i.e. sharing toys, imaginative play, etc.)

Behavioral

  • self-regulation (i.e. identifying emotions, appropriate responses…)
  • he’s now telling us he “needs a minute” or “I need a break” when something becomes overwhelming for him and goes to another room to calm down!
  • his ability to transition from one activity to the next (with the use of timers and a heads up about the transition)
  • learning to use his words to communicate when he’s sad, angry, or frustrated

Life Skills

  • can dress himself with little to no assistance (buttoning, zippering, etc.)
  • washing his hands, brushing his teeth, potty routines, etc. and understanding why hygiene is necessary
  • learning his address and our cell phone numbers

Safety

  • walking with us and not running ahead (impulse control)
  • continuing to learn appropriate personal space with others
  • asking permission to open the door
  • we were beginning social circles to help teach Greyson about social boundaries and relationships

Our Gains as Parents

Follow us on our journey as parents to a child on the Autism Spectrum. See what's helped us in our first year at www.lifeonredoak.com

Greyson isn’t the only one with goals and measurable progress. As his parents we strive to do our best to learn alongside him and do what we can to meet him where he needs us. As he matures and those needs change, we’ve been equipped to best meet them – knowing there’s still so much to learn.

Here are a few ways we’ve made gains (and continuously work on…) this last year:

  • always learning and being open to new approaches to parenting
  • communicating as spouses about the days’ struggles with Grey
  • learning to tag-team as parents as a means of our own self-regulation
  • communicating with Grey about our feelings (i.e. being honest about feeling sad, frustrated, or even happy) – we don’t need to pretend we’re happy all the time!
  • providing ourselves with extra time for transitions
  • awareness of what could be potential triggers for Grey in public settings and having a game-plan for when plans change spontaneously

…and here’s to another great year ahead of us!

Follow us on our journey as parents to a child on the Autism Spectrum. See what's helped us in our first year at www.lifeonredoak.com

Are you a parent or teacher of a child(ren) with ASD? What have you found to be the most helpful in your journey?

Galentine’s Day Finds That Aren’t Lame

February 8, 2021

Galentine's Day is coming up which means it's the perfect time to brunch and love on your favorite girlfriends. Here's a quick gift guide that is more than just a scented candle! | lifeonredoak

Affiliate links are used within this post. You can read my full disclosure here.

Every February 13th, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home and we just come and kick it, breakfast-style – ladies celebrating ladies.

Leslie Knope, inventor of Galentine’s Day

via GIPHY

Did you know that Galentine’s Day was technically invented by Leslie Knope, beloved character from Parks & Rec? Me neither! I’d always heard of it but never really knew where it came from – mystery solved. For those who don’t know, Galentine’s Day refers to the day before Valentine’s Day where women get together to celebrate each other and their friendship. It’s a great alternative for girlfriends without valentines or looking to break with tradition and celebrate each other instead.

So, with that in mind I wanted to share a number of galentine gifts that are sure to make any girlfriend feel special.

Galentine's Day is coming up which means it's the perfect time to brunch and love on your favorite girlfriends. Here's a quick gift guide that is more than just a scented candle! | lifeonredoak

Personalized Gifts

Nothing says intentional like a personalized gift. Luckily, my shop specializes in just that and if you’re looking to gift a girlfriend (or other loved one) this holiday you’re looking in the right place!

I specialize in modern calligraphy and offer design services for such things like custom illustrations. The most popular items in my shop are by far the lettered gift bags – there are so many styles and sizes to choose from. Step up your gift-giving game with handlettered bags!

  • NEW Bouquet Flower Sleeves
  • Personalized Gift Bags
  • Custom House Portrait

Tiled Margot Monogram Mugs | Anthropologie

Who doesn’t love a good mug…especially one that’s monogrammed? I just love these French bistro-inspired mugs and couldn’t help but add them to this list.

If you’re so inclined, I’ll take one with the letter “K” 😉

Minimalist Jewelry

Heart Stud Earrings | Kate Spade

These rose gold heart-shaped earrings from Kate Spade just ooze cute for your favorite galentine. And get extra points because they’re heart shaped!

Kitchen & Drinks

Easy gift ideas often start in the kitchen or bar. So, if you have lady friends who enjoy gathering, hosting, or having the latest or trendy item, these products are sure to delight their fancy.

Madewell x Corkcicle Tumbler | Madewell

Corkcicle is known for exceptional barware that will last you the ages – and keep your drinks nice and cold. I’m personally a big fan of Madewell and when I saw they partnered with Corkcicle to create these limited edition insulated tumblers I had to include it on my list. I mean, it combines my two favorite things: Madewell and wine (although you can put any hot or cold beverage of your choosing in these tumblers…I recommend wine, though). 😉

Hedley & Bennett Smock Apron | Madewell

While on the subject of my affinity for Madewell, I also couldn’t help but add this smock-style apron! I love baking in the kitchen and if you have a fellow girlfriend who shares this same passion, a quality apron is a must-gift and staple in any kitchen.

Home Decor

Who doesn’t love a unique gift that adds something special to the home? If you’re looking for something beyond a scented candle (although I personally believe they make pretty fabulous gifts) these are my favorite finds!

Credit: Pink Lavender Farms

32″ White Letterboard | Pink Lavender Farms

A girlfriend of mine just launched a new business, Pink Lavender Farms, and I love supporting her shop which is full of a variety of handpicked home goods. I’ve snagged a few items myself, but one that caught my eye is this large white letterboard!

White Marble Frame | World Market

Picture frames are always a great gift, especially when you include a special photo with it! I love frames that are made from quality natural materials and this marble frame with gold accents is perfect for any home or decor style.

4oz Scented Candles | Lustre & Bloom

Okay, so if you love a good scented candle skip the mass produced (and toxic) type and opt to support small and female-owned business like Lustre & Bloom. I discovered this shop through Instagram and I just adore Mandy’s soy candles. Each one is hand-poured and ships from Denver, CO. These 4 oz tins come in a bundle of 3, too!

Galentine's Day is coming up which means it's the perfect time to brunch and love on your favorite girlfriends. Here's a quick gift guide that is more than just a scented candle! | www.lifeonredoak.com

What are you gifting your girlfriends this year? What cute finds did you stumble upon?

An Easy Game-day Meat & Cheese Board

February 5, 2021

Meat and cheese boards are an easy appetizer to contribute for your next gathering. See the steps to building one at www.lifeonredoak.com

Affiliate links are used within this post. You can read my full disclosure here.

Superbowl Sunday is coming up this weekend and our family is set to get together with our Covid-bubble to watch the game. Naturally, the Superbowl is a great time to graze on everything from chips and dip to grilling hot dogs and hamburgers.

One way I love contributing to our gatherings have been creating these meat and cheese plates! They’re so easy to assemble and take minimal effort to create beautiful displays. I personally love a charcuterie (shar-cute-ah-ree) plate because it combines everything I love – cured meats, an assortment of cheese, dried fruits and nuts, honey and/or chutney, and carbs!

Today I’m sharing the elements of a basic meat and cheese board for you to make for any gathering – whether you’re hosting yourself or heading out with friends and family!

The Basic Elements

Great meat and cheese boards consist of the same basic elements that aim to target our flavor profiles such as salty, sweet, savory, etc.:

  • assortment of cured meats
  • assortment of cheeses (soft, hard, etc.)
  • crackers or other type of bread to dip or spread with
  • fresh or dried fruits
  • assortment of nuts
  • marinated olives, pickles (cornichons), pickled veggies (spicy are great!)
  • spreads like: honey, chutney, marmalade, tempenade, etc.

Gathering your ingredients

It’s all about the quality of ingredients in our house and that goes for our meat and cheese boards, too! Skip those pre-packaged sets at your local grocery store and venture to either a specialty market or get to know the guy at the butcher, who will help guide you on this new journey.

In Texas, we have discovered Central Market (owned by HEB) for all of our meat and cheese needs and couldn’t recommend it more – although they don’t have locations everywhere. Other great markets to find your ingredients include:

  • Whole Foods
  • Wegman’s
  • a general search for local butchers and meat markets in your city
  • and if you’ve got time, this list from Bon Appetit for where to buy charcuterie online

Cured Meats

Cured meat refers to cuts of meat that has been preserved (or, “cured”) through processes of aging, drying, salting, canning, or smoking.

There are a ton of varieties to choose from, but you’re local grocery store or market is going to carry the most common ones such as: prosciutto, soppressata, speck, pancetta, and if you’re lucky jamon iberico (which is the holy grail of cured meat in my opinion). You’ll also find salamis and sausages like saucisson d’arles that come pre-packaged.

Source

I couldn’t recommend more to expand a little and search out a meat market or butcher for your meats. This is where you’re going to discover a whole new world of flavor and find the best quality meats when building your board. Yes, it’s going to be a little bit of an investment, but you’re not going to be disappointed (nor your friends).

Cheese

The next important component, and second largest, will be your cheese selection. This is just like your meats in that you will want to skip the pre-packaged cheese at your local grocery store. There are so many cheeses to discover and play with and the fun of a meat and cheese board is getting to try a variety flavors (especially if you’re drinking wine, too).

Now, people tend to be pickier when it comes to their preference of cheese simply because it spans a broad flavor profile. There’s soft, semi-hard, and hard. Within those, you’ll find cheeses to also be stinky, creamy, acidic, buttery, mild, etc. So, I recommend taste-testing an assortment and picking cheeses that will compliment the meats and other goodies on your board.

Remember: cheese is best paired with other flavors from your board – like the dried fruits and honey, for example.

Meat and cheese boards are an easy appetizer to contribute for your next gathering. See the steps to building one at www.lifeonredoak.com

Simple cheeses to include on your board can include:

  • round or triangle of brie
  • assortment of hard parmesan blocks
  • a spreadable goat cheese or bleu cheese
  • a soft cheese like camembert
  • aged cheddar (perhaps white)

The fillers

Meat and cheese boards are an easy appetizer to contribute for your next gathering. See the steps to building one at www.lifeonredoak.com

These are the other accoutrements to your board that bring it all together. Items like:

  • fresh or dried fruits
  • a variety of nuts
  • spreadables like honey
  • salty goodies like olives or pickled veggies
  • and of course breads, crackers, or toasts.

I love filling in the spaces between the meats and cheeses with these goodies and it’s what gives your board that pop of color and just makes it all look gorgeous.

Basic Board Must-Haves

Meat and cheese boards are an easy appetizer to contribute for your next gathering. See the steps to building one at www.lifeonredoak.com

Acacia Serving Tray | Slate Cheese Board | Serving Plates

Now that you have your ingredients you just need a way to present it all. I highly recommend investing in a few of these things just so you have them for your next gathering. Of course, your board is going to vary in size depending on the number of people you’re gathering with (so keep that in mind). I personally love Crate & Barrel for serving-ware, but you can practically find these anywhere…

  • a board or platter
  • cheese knives
  • ramekins or dishes

And now you’re ready to begin assembling your board! There’s no real science to it, just space them all out, fill with your fillers, add your crackers, sprinkle with some fresh herbs for presentation points, and have fun with it! Creating these boards have been a lot of fun for me and a great way to contribute something everyone is sure to enjoy.

Linking up with Andrea for Friday Favorites.

Meat and cheese boards are an easy appetizer to contribute for your next gathering. See the steps to building one at www.lifeonredoak.com
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Hi there and welcome to Red Oak! I'm a Virginia native making a life in Texas and answer the call to wife, mama, teacher, and small business owner.

My hope for this space is to inspire a life cultivated by simple living and the enjoyment of the little moments.

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