seven quick(ish) takes: life lately

Ooooh, I've missed this space! But maybe I needed to miss it to feel energized about writing here again? Maybe? I don't know. Still lots of not knowing on my end. Some things may never change. Other things, however, continue to change way too fast, namely...

1. My boys! Two whole kiddos that I somehow have the great blessing of caring for each day. Toby will be one in November, and Caleb will be three. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?!?

2. I started homeschooling Caleb a few weeks ago, if you can call it that. Basically, on Monday and Wednesday mornings we do projects and explore together while Toby naps, and on Fridays we have field trips. Tuesdays the boys go to a multi-age music class at Old Town (which they LOVE), and on Thursdays my dad watches them so that I can get some work done & have a break. So far it's a beautiful system. Just enough structure to keep things sane yet flexible.

3. Speaking of structure, Caleb has also started doing a few chores, and it feels like a glorious glimpse of what's to come. So far his main job is to feed the cats, which he can do completely independently. He also puts his dishes in the sink and wipes his spot at the table after meals, helps dust the furniture and baseboards, and waters the garden. All of which take a lot longer than if I were to do it myself, but hey, teach a man to fish and all that. I'm already waiting in joyful hope for the day he is able to do his own laundry.

{washing his own hands}

4. I started running again, and I'm in love. Last week my "long run" was four miles, which may not seem like much, but it's the farthest I've ever run in my life. Pretty dang proud of myself. On Sunday I'm upping it to five, and the following weekend I'll run my first 5K in two years!

{view from one of my runs earlier this summer}

 {on a hike, not a run, but uh... it's still active?}

5. I'm also getting into modern cross-stitch. Who knew? I love that it's simple and repetitive enough to keep my mind calm & my hands busy without requiring complete focus (meaning: I can listen to a podcast or marathon Gilmore Girls in the background without losing my concentration). My stitches ain't perfect, and that's OK. Perfect isn't the point.

6. A few weeks ago I realized that, in order to make all of the above possible, I really needed to get some quality sleep. I've decided this in the past, but it never stuck. Until! I kicked my phone out the bedroom and bought a simple alarm clock. All it does is tell time and sound an alarm. You flip it over to turn it on or off, and it's been a total game-changer. Now I switch my phone to airplane mode after we put the boys to sleep (around 8), unwind with a show/project/book, get myself ready for bed, and am out by 10 most nights. Makes the mornings (and morning runs) a LOT easier to handle!

7. And now for the final, totally random take: Three Fictional Characters to Describe Me. This "game" has been floating around Facebook, and I couldn't help myself. Except I chose four, because Matilda and Anne are tied ;)

{the top two: YES. the bottom two: kind-of-almost-depends-on-the-day}

Linking up over here, because why not? CHEERS to the weekend, and to getting back in the good ol' fashioned blogging swing of things.

making room

I cleaned out my closet this week.

This may not sound earth-shattering. In many ways, it isn't. And yet...

It was the first time I've ever (ever) successfully cleaned out my closet. I didn't stop halfway through, defeated, or shove what I was too tired to hang back into a hamper in the corner of the room to deal with later.

It also felt a lot more like therapy than cleaning.

A couple weeks ago, I started reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. The author, a Japanese organizational expert, is eccentric, unconventional, and exactly what I needed. Clearly, there is a reason she has a three-month wait list for her services. I'm so glad I gave her a chance! Here's how magic went down...

On Tuesday morning, while Caleb was napping, I brought every single piece of clothing I owned into the living room. I emptied every closet, dragged in every hamper, took all the coats off the hooks, grabbed my shoes from their shelves, and made a big ol' mountain. It was a ridiculous amount of stuff.

I stared at the pile for a little while and sipped my coffee, then finally worked up the courage to start. One at a time, I took each item in my hands and asked if it "sparked joy" in my heart and soul. I didn't ask if I'd worn it recently. Or if it was functional or trendy or new or old or WHATEVER. I did what the KonMari Method told me to do and asked ONLY if the thing in my hands sparked joy.

And I was AMAZED, people. One ratty shirt could leave me feeling deeply loved and cherished (a faded blue Coldplay T-shirt, from their 2005 tour--Andy surprised me with tickets as a "welcome home" present when I first moved back from Germany); another might contain deep feelings of shame and vulnerability (the high school hoodie I pretty much lived in at the age of 16. And by "lived," I think I mean "hid"). There were "classic" pieces my heart wanted no part of but that I'd held on to for years, because they'd always be in style. (Never mind that they'd never be my style.) I was surprised by what ended up as toss or keep, and I was shocked by the emotions I'd been storing up via my closet.

It makes sense. I've spent the better part of the last decade trying to find my footing, bouncing from one classroom, apartment, and country to the next. My closet told the story of my first teaching job in Berlin, followed by my return home less then six months later, when I lived with my parents for a year and spent way more than I saved, usually on cute clothes. There were long skirts and wide-brimmed hats from Abu Dhabi next to tank tops and short dresses I purchased when we first moved back. And in each of those impulsive indulgences I sensed a pang of guilt: I was only able to wear them a handful of times before discovering I was pregnant.

My life and body have been in a state of constant flux for over five years. There was so much upheaval. It's only now, after three consecutive years Stateside, that I can say I finally feel like I'm settling back into myself. Andy and I are much more focused on thriving right where we are, rather than striving to figure out where we'd like to be. Becoming parents definitely has something to do with it: We're in a season of establishing roots. It's time for our home--and my closet--to reflect that.

In the end, I packed up three trash bags to haul to Goodwill, and I have a fourth of newer, name-brand items that I'm planning to sell. The clothes I put back in my closet have room to breathe again (an apt metaphor). I also have a much better sense of my personal style: Tomboy with a feminine twist, folksy with a bit of polish or edge.

In lieu of a big family vacation this spring, we're setting aside some dollars to rebuild our wardrobes with quality pieces that suit the place we're at in our lives right now, in line with the slow fashion philosophy. My biggest priority? New socks, underwear, bras, and tank tops. Yes, I held each of these in my hands one at a time as well, and let me just say: Not a whole lotta joy going on in that department. But really, these are the things I'd like to feel best about. They're the items of clothing I wear closest to my body, every day. Same goes for pajamas. I'm going to choose just a few sets I feel GREAT about, then cherish them.

It probably all sounds so nutty and privileged, and I guess it kind of is. But I've been on such a high this week! There is so much FREEDOM in letting go of both the physical items and the emotional baggage they represent. As I say, therapy--some of the cheapest, most satisfying therapy I've ever had. Who knew?

And now... time to tackle the books!

at the orchard

A few weekends ago we spent Sunday afternoon at the apple orchard. I love that Andy has regular weekends now. (Before going full time in his current position last July, he pretty much worked nonstop. Days off were sometimes months apart and often midweek. It sucked, frankly. It's great to have space to just live, breathe, and be as a family. Sacred, really. Anyway.)

Caleb was getting over a cold (not to mention Molarmageddon just two days prior), so he looks a little rough around the edges in most of the photos. Still, the day yielded some great memories, in addition to the apples, pumpkins, and cider doughnuts we brought home. It was the first apple picking experience for both Caleb and Andy, which made it that much more special. A new family tradition, to be sure.

regenerated green onions

Did you know? Green onions can be regenerated quickly and easily. Just put the bulbs in a jar with water up to the light green part of the stem. Place in a decently sunny spot (ours is on our east-facing kitchen window sill), and switch out the water every few days. That's it! I've never been very successful at keeping plants alive or growing much of anything, but this trick has worked beautifully. I purchased these green onions several weeks ago, and we've been enjoying them in dishes ever since.

(PS - I came across this tip in a recent issue of Vegetarian Times. The article includes a few other bits of "kitchen magic" I have yet to try.)

grateful/lately

We had an overcast morning yesterday following some intense storms during the night. Every now and then I love a grey day--there's no pressure to go outside or do much of anything. Caleb took an early nap, and I watched a show in bed while I drank my morning coffee. I can't remember the last time I stopped and just sat like that. It felt good.

Eventually the sun did come out. We ran a few errands, and Caleb played in his travel crib outside while I mowed the lawn. He went down for the night around 6:30 (!). Andy got home shortly after, so I was able to go to yoga. It was my first time back since probably May. The class was a tough one, absolutely sweltering, but it felt amazing. I didn't take any breaks, and afterwards I ponied up the cash for a month of unlimited classes. Guess I'm tired of waiting for the "right" or "perfect" conditions. I'll be going back tonight. First, though, Caleb and I are off to meet Andy at his boss's house for a pool day. No complaints here. Really, truly. I'm glad I listened to my heart and left my job. Being home is so good, for all of us. 

My in-progress office. A clean slate.

New sneaks! So incredibly comfortable.

Fruits of the Summer salad. Perfection.

And my son, cuddler of cardboard babies and self-feeding machine. 

Caleb, you are the best blessing I have ever known.

feed thyself (thy family, too)

Since moving we've been doing a lot more cooking at home, and it's such a relaxing way to unwind in the evenings. Our kitchen is easily my favorite room in the house--bright and light, with plenty of room for everyone.

When I lived in Germany, we ate all three meals together as a family every day. Breakfast was simple, usually some sort of spread/bread combo and coffee. Lunch was the big meal of the day and almost always hot. Around 4pm we'd have an espresso break, sometimes with a small piece of chocolate or a cookie. In the evenings we'd have our abendsbrot (bread with cheese or a savory spread) accompanied by soup or salad. (When there was a good mystery show on we'd eat dinner in front of the TV, which is about the only similarity to my American upbringing.) If we'd gone out for kaffee und kuchen (coffee and cake) earlier in the afternoon we'd skip dinner altogether. I loved the simplicity, routine, and ritual of it all. I'd like to raise Caleb with a version of this German approach to mealtimes.

Today was a success, and the more I meal plan, food shop, and recipe hunt, the easier it all becomes. I also enjoy it so much. I find having a routine to be really freeing, actually.

This morning Caleb enjoyed a banana while I drank a smoothie based on one served at our local juice bar. Their version uses dates, coconut, and vanilla almond milk with lots of ice. I subbed coconut almond milk for the vanilla, skipped the ice, kept the dates, and added banana, frozen spinach, and flax meal. It was SO GOOD! Extremely filling and energizing.

For lunch, I made a cauliflower soup adapted from a slew of recipes I cobbled together. I started with a mirepoix, added an entire head of cauliflower (cut into florets), and used vegetable stock for the liquid (hence the orange-y color). Before serving I stirred in a spoonful of Greek yogurt for a little creaminess, then topped it off with crumbled goat cheese and chives. Satisfying without being overly hearty. Caleb gobbled it up, too. On the side I had a pretzel roll with avocado and havarti.

Once dinner rolled around I wasn't that hungry. A small serving of hot salt-and-vinegar potatoes was plenty (and delicious!). I followed the recipe in the link but subbed tricolor potatoes, since I already had them on hand. And once again, Caleb was a major fan :) We all especially loved the purple potatoes.

I've got a few more recipes already chosen for the week centered on ingredients we already have. I'd also like to try something unlike anything I've done before (not hard, as what you see here is pretty much my first real and consistent foray into cooking). Garlic scape tempura, anyone?

good vibrations

Well, it's official: I'll be leaving my job at the end of June. Part of me is sad to say goodbye, but the kiddos I've been with for two years will all be heading off to Kindergarten in the fall, so in that sense the timing is good. And I absolutely can't WAIT to have summer with my baby! :) :) :) In addition to spending lots of time outdoors (so excited for farmers' markets, hikes, and the beach with Caleb in tow!), I have a handful of projects I'd like to tackle. First on the list is giving our worn out wooden dining chairs new life with a coat of paint.

I'm leaning towards this bright "Tanager Red" from the West Elm for Sherwin Williams line (the swatch I found online looks kinda dingy, but look how that table from House of Earnest vibrates! I love it.). This new IKEA fabric also has a relaxed, summery vibe (it's actually vintage-looking botanical/insect prints); I'd like to make some cushions out of it.

The dining chairs in question are in storage at the moment--we packed them up to make way for my art area when Caleb came along. They belonged to my grandma, and I was initially thinking I'd just sell them when we move in August. Guess we'll see if a little tanager does the trick first ;)

I feel like there are lots of good things coming our way . . . Fingers crossed and full steam ahead! x

al fresco

We’ll dine . . .

. . . on the balcony, seated at this cheerful table, which folds up for easy storage. Mostly likely we'll have homemade pizza and a simple mache salad and drink our latest wallet-friendly favorite, refilling our glasses 'til the bottle is gone. Or maybe we'll sip my favorite summer sparkler right from the can. We'll use our dishes from Poland and casual flatware.

I’ll wear . . .

. . . this easy dress and some simple sandals, plus a ring featuring a trio of elephants, since for some reason they've been on my mind. We'll set a vase of fresh peonies on the table and pipe Anita through the window to set the mood.

Sunny days are here again, and I can't help but dream . . . just like last year ;)

return stamp

We used a rubber return stamp on our wedding invitations, and I have wanted another one ever since. (The one I ordered for our wedding used my parents' address, since we were moving to Abu Dhabi.) With Caleb's baptism coming up, I finally decided to go ahead and order one. Since I designed my own to be made directly by a manufacturer, it really wasn't that expensive. Our lease is up at the end of August, but I love the look, ease, and efficiency of a stamp enough that it feels worth it. Also, "ease" and "efficiency" are major plusses when you have a new baby around! I only wish I'd done it sooner!

currently

Hanging out in our in-progress nursery, contemplating it all. So far it's just an area rug and bookshelf (full of, yes, mostly my books...but hopefully someday our son will read and appreciate them!). I had to take all the books down to move the shelf so the rug would fit, and of course I decided to sort and dust them all while I was at it. My dad is on his way over with the crib now, wahoo! I'm so excited to keep this nesting party going. Love an empty room and fresh start. (OK, it's only empty because I moved the entire contents to the living room for sorting, but nevermind. I shall continue relaxing in here, pretending minimalism and cleanliness is my life.)

The bump continues to expand nicely. This is from a couple days ago; I'm nearly 35 weeks along! Strange to think that in a maximum of seven weeks we'll have a new little human in our lives. Crazy amazing! Maybe I'll be forced to eat my words, but so far becoming a mama feels like I'm becoming myself.

The cats are troopers amidst all this chaos. I wish I could perfect the art of the chill-out, cat-style. This was Abby a few weeks ago, right before we disassembled the dining table for storage. Since my former art space is now our nursery, we decided to move my desk into the living room and store the dining table and chairs. While we love the idea of family meals around the table, it's one of those things that will have to wait a year or two. It's been good for me to go through all my craft stuff, too, as we move it into more communal space or storage. I've been loving getting rid of things lately, trading my usual clinging sentimentality for the freedom of the goodwill pile. Is that part of nesting? I don't know, but in any case, I suppose it's time to get back to it.

at dusk

These are from over a month ago now, but seeing as it's been awhile, I thought I'd go ahead and share.

bits & pieces . . .

. . . mostly from last weekend. But I lost track; this week was kind of a blur. In any case, a glimpse of the little things from the past week.

From top to bottom: Cheese for breakfast | Lazy morning ritual | Kitty at the window | Mini messages (an idea in progress) | Zen pencils (coming soon to my shop!) | Best and easiest reminder list ever | Framed string (another little something in-progress) | Textures | Sleepy kitties | Primary laundry | Stack of whites | Brie burger on brioche (OK, so I admit to eating this for dinner for five days straight. SO satisfying.) | Watching the Oscars | Making part of my springtime dreams a reality | Everything's coming up positive ;)