« May 2011 | Main | July 2011 »
to celebrate our independence
to bask in sun and read trashy books
to laugh, eat snack food all day long and pop the champagne corks in the am
to celebrate an engagement!!!
to play in the water and ride jet skies
to party at the sand bar and blast country on the boat
to make s'mors and more memories to cherish
Happy fourth of July!
For the second year I've looked forward to the Rose Garden blooming. Kate and I went for a walk through on Monday. The blossoms weren't outrageous yet, but many were blooming already. It is such a beautiful place!
I know this seems sort of random, but it looks like some of these were taken with film, at least to my eye. What do you think? I would love to get into film processing, maybe a goal for next year? The black and white below really feels film like to me.
And yes, you should recognize Kate's dress. We share clothes all the time :) And a little announcement of sorts: Kate accepted a fantastic job in South Dakota and will be moving in a few weeks. It's been a myriad of emotions as we've lived under the same roof for four years.
Still, nearly twenty years later Martha Stewart Living is beautiful, classic and just so good. I was recently gifted some issues that range from 1992-1997 (thank you Aunt Mary Hosier!) A few covers I actually remembered which is pretty good considering I was between kindergarten and fifth grade during those years. Our family loved Martha Stewart and I still do. Her magazine is a vacation. I'm guarding these dramatically with with my life!
Don't they look good? What, you've never had kale chips? You are missing out! And the bonus is they are much better for you than the other kind of chip :)
Ingredients:
2 bunches of kale
Olive oil
Sea salt
Method:
Pull off kale from stem and rip into bite sized pieces
Arrange on a heavily sprayed cookie sheet
Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt (to your taste)
Bake at 350 for 10 minutes
My philosophy about laundry used to be to throw everything into one load and pray nothing ran on each other. I didn't care and I never line dried anything. Putting on jeans after they had been in the dryer was just a sad part of life. If something shrunk, c'est la vie.
Then I realized that I have some nice clothes and I would like them to last. So I taught myself how to wash my clothing and I'm not just talking about separating the darks from the lights.
Granted I only do my own laundry (and sometimes my dad's at his house if I'm feeling up to it) so this process will probably change when I have to do more for more people someday. Or I can just get a maid. Just kidding.
I bleach my whites with regular clorox, although I'd like to learn more about bleach alternatives. Then I wash delicates (underwear, sweaters, dresses) with the Target detergent above and finally everything else gets washed with Ecos. I know it says on the bottle "magnolia and lily" but it smells like nothing and that's fine by me. Finally, I line dry about 80 percent of my stuff. I don't line dry a lot of cotton basics, any kitchen linens or pajamas. The trick to line drying is to not live in a humid environment, which I do, because then it takes about two days for a pair of jeans to dry.
But, seriously, we don't have it so bad these days, right? At least I don't have to use a wash board or dry clothes on the line in freezing weather.
Knock on wood but it has been an uncharacteristically long time since I have been sick. I am grateful for having good health but like everyone else I fall victim to the occasional cold, even in summer months. When I look back on the past year the last time I remember being sick with a cold was probably in February. I did get very sick for about 24 hours during one of our blizzards (fun!) but it has been a long time nonetheless.
I think it has to do with food. I am a big believer in what you put in you affects your health, mood, energy level. When I eat a produce rich diet I am more alert, happier and of course I feel good. I try to eat organic when it matters, another perk of living with a Registered Dietitian (the lovely Kate) is that now I know which foods you should try to purchase organic. The rest of it is marketing and that's fine. I'd still do all my shopping at Whole Foods if I could (read: was rich.)
On the largest level all of my meat and milk is now organic. I was used to trying to purchase most of my produce organic but didn't think much about meat really until one of my 24 goals pushed me to cook with it a little more. Most women, especially younger women don't get as much red meat as they really should. This has to do with costs and honestly I don't think there's much education on how to cook quick, easy and economical meat based recipes out there. Also, so many of us are on vegetarian or vegan diets. I tend to teeter on the edge of low iron and would rather get what I need from food instead of a pill so more red meat it is. That's not to say I'm ordering a steak everyday, but about every two weeks or sometimes once a week I'm eating more red meat.
Having an organized and clean home is another thing I am passionate about and I sincerely believe affects people. Think about it: if your home is clean and organized you are probably happy and able to concentrate not on the mess in front of you but your to-do list, friends and leisure. My paternal grandma who raised four children in a modest 1950s home always said "soap and water costs nothing." Economics are not an excuse to be dirty.
I think the moral for me here is this: organized and organic (noticed how those two words share the first five letters- it's a sign!) make for a healthy and happier person. Try it.
I decided to make this because I am secretly obsessed with butter and all the fun you can have with it.
Ingredients:
-1/2 cup of unsalted butter
-1/2 tsp kosher salt
-End of lemon
-Small hand full of chives (or whatever herb you prefer)
Method:
-Chop herbs and squeeze juice from lemon
-Mix together with cubed butter
-I like to mix with a spoon because it's easier than using a fork
You're butter will look like this. One thing you'll notice is that the lemon juice will sweat off the butter a bit, but it's fine, no one will die. I'm not Julia. Serve with this easy and delicious whole wheat bread.
Yes, I am taking inspiration from an extremely country song, but I do wish to write a little bit about the power of a father and how a father's love literal carries you through life.
Once upon a time in Toledo, Ohio my dad was a little boy:
That's him on the far right with brother Vincent and sister Barbara
He grew up to be a good man. Dad endured segregated movie theaters while spending annual summers in Savannah, GA and turned around and ended up at Harvard Business School. In 1986 he became a father. He was the most incredible dad to his girl. We had some great times including: trips to France, panting, learning how to BBQ and of course, the father-daughter dances in high school.
Dad at the Louvre on one of our trips to Europe
As I have grown up to become an adult one of the things I am most grateful for is the fact that I had not only a present, but also incredible father. He's not perfect, but that's fine because in the eyes of this girl he's pretty close. As a woman a present and loving father makes all the difference. I would not be nearly as hard working, confident or independent if it were not for my amazing father.
Dad and I. My hair looks like $%#&. Please disregard.
On that very same note I would also like to honor my sweet step father Loren. Loren married my mom when I was thirteen. He's also been a force of love and dedication in my life, too. Loren would honestly do anything for me. He bates the hook because I refuse to touch worms, lets me sing loudly in the boat (it lures the big fish) and puts up with general craziness from my mother and I. He insists on moving me without complaint every hot August. Not to mention he fills my tires with air and checks the oil. He picks up vintage dressers from estate sales when I want to re-do them and is always there to pour me a good glass of wine :)
Loren and my pretty mom on Easter
I feel quite lucky to have these incredible men in my life. I am grateful for their influence and dedication to my all out quirkiness. Happy Father's Day!
I went here:
Then came home with this little striped* number:
Rose Mille is a delectable boutique full of pretty, vintage craft supplies and fine clothing. Every time I go to Stillwater I have to stop by. They are the kind of shop you might think of when planning a decorating project, or contemplating what Heaven might be like.
They don't permit photography inside, but the outside window gives you an idea:
Sometimes I wish I lived in Stillwater simply for the photo ops and shopping, but then I am grateful because I would inevitably spend too much money.
*Yes I know the whole sordid tale about horizontal stripes. I love them and do not care. As you can see, I have hips right out of the 1950s. So what!? Probably will not have to have a c-section someday. I think you have to break certain fashion rules because a few (like this one) are stupid.
For summery, sparkly nails just paint one coat of your favorite colored polish, sprinkle on some Martha Stewart glitter and finish off with Nail Tek top coat (the absolute best.) It's fun, feminine and you might feel like a Vegas show girl.
