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Here's our breakfast invention this morning. Chickpea didn't think Mommy could make a green smoothie. It was actually much greener than the photo shows. Did I mention it was totally yummy with no spinach taste?
The Green Dinosaur Smoothie
1 banana
1 cup frozen mango
1/2 plain yogurt
1/2 cup almond milk
1 1/2 cup fresh packed spinach
I adore vintage linens and I have a whole stash of beautiful tablecloths that I've picked up over the years. The problem is that they are all sitting in my closet - folded and unused. They aren't that kid friendly and who needs more laundry. What we do use a whole lot of around here are cloth napkins. We'll go through a whole set during breakfast, lunch and dinner. The ones that we've been using the most we're looking really mangy. So I think I spotted this idea in Betz White's book while browsing the book store a few weeks back. I cut up a well worn tablecloth with great colors and lovely soft linen and trimmed it with bias tape. Each one has a different slice of the overall pattern which I love. I have just 2 more to sew up tonight for a nice new set of 6. Very pleased. Let the wiping of fingers begin.
Salted caramel hot chocolate and apple brie pastry. I hear they have hot chocolate flights in San Francisco. Be still my heart.
Here are a few books that I'm eager to get my hands on or have just arrived at my door. Any books that are motivating you into action?
Practically Green: Your Guide to Ecofriendly Decision-Making
The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated
(Read the first edition and it was completely eye opening)
Check it out, yet another new pillow. I've been wanting to finish this one up for a long time. It's actually a large vintage quilt block that I got a long time ago. It's mostly silk and linen. I backed it with a cute red and white polka dot (similar to the blue on the front) and put in a successful invisible zipper. It's large at 22" and makes a great place for reading books in Chickpea's cozy bed.
I've got more sewing planned this weekend, if I'm lucky to steal a moment to myself. Plus a trip here with a friend for what has been touted as amazing hot chocolate. Now that I've been dabbling with giving up lattes, hot chocolate is my new cafe buddy. Yummers.
Happy weekend to all!
The other day Chickpea was having a hard day. She skinned both knees and then promptly did it again. And you know grown-ups just have those days too, ones where you are just waiting to go to sleep so you can get a fresh start.
I just love this print set from Rifle Paper Co. I'm not sure where I spotted it but soon it will have a place in our house as a gentle reminder that tomorrow is always a new day full of opportunity.
A generous friend of mine surprised me with a little gift of this cookbook after telling me she used it to bake a classic white cake for her daughter's half birthday. We quickly made the carrot cake which was wonderful. What I like about this book is first, it has every cake you could possibly want but secondly, and more importantly, the proportions are smaller. You're not making a giant cake (obviously) and it's just the right amount. There is no running to the neighbors to unload half of your baked goods because you know your family wont finish them. Uh, yeah I do that all the time... "knock-knock, hot cookies?" Not that I hear them complain but I like to remind myself that sugar and tasty treat are just that, a small treat to enjoy.
A few weeks back I was walking home and came upon an estate sale at a house in my neighborhood. This house always seemed really odd to me, a cheery turquoise color with white gravel rocks instead of a front or back yard and tons of security gates and large fences. The kind of place that screams "go away, don't come here!" So I jumped at the chance to go poke around and satisfy my curiosity. I walked away with this vintage Czech glass bead necklace in a lovely green. Dazzled by something sparkly at a good price I didn't even bother to try it on and found it was too short when I got home, then it promptly broke. So I restrung it and added a few more glass beads on the ends and it has a whole new life!
What does your art space look like? Back before motherhood I used to be lucky enough to have a whole bedroom devoted to my studio space. I could work in there all day and then just leave my mess and close the door - creative bliss contained. Now it's a different story. Without the time and space to create as much art as I want, I look in on my supplies now and then and realize my taste have changed. I've purged the giant tubs of papers I used to use for my collage work and just saved the best for someday. Oh, so many unfinished projects hanging around too.
We're in the works cleaning out our garage and converting it into a better office space. I'll be selling my light table and again cleaning out more supplies to make a succinct and focused space. It's hard work letting things go but I'm looking forward to a new space to call my own. The Hubby has already done his share reorganizing his space in our dingy depths, selling bike equipment and organizing tools. Our motto is "if it doesn't make your life better now, ditch it".
I'm on a roll with hearts this week. Here is a garland I made with pre-cut felt stickers and some vintage paper simply cut out and sewn up.
When you've been puked on by your child before 7am you know you're in for a day of patience, compassion and just plain rolling with it. I found out late this evening that there were 5 kids out of her preschool with the stomach flu - poor kiddos. They were so looking forward to their V-day celebrations.
Inspired by the orange heart garland we bought at the art supply store yesterday, Chickpea and I set off to make some Valentine's Day decor (above) - that and veg out with some Pedialyte and Curious George.
We started out with plain old construction paper but then I though we should dig into some special papers I had stashed away for my collages. And the results were beautiful and so much more fun than I had expected. Here's to a better day tomorrow.
Oh dear clean house, how I love you - however brief the sighting may be....
Check out that limited edition hand silk-screened posters I found on Etsy from local artist Looky-Loo Design, "Let what you love be what
you do."
Seriously, it's February, how did that happen? The plum tree out in front of my house is almost in full pink bloom and the dafodils are pushing their way up and even starting to bloom too. Spring has just begun here in California and I've been too busy to notice. Wait, it's still winter?
So I've just remembered that I need to think about Valentine's Day. The husband and I have never been big on celebrating this comercial holiday. It always seems like such a forced day - pressure is on. If you need a special day to say "I love you" and do something nice for your sweetie then just pick any day of the week. But none the less we'll be heading to this restaurant over the weekend. We've been wanting to go and had an offer for babysitting - excellent plan.
Dona Tomas: Discovering Authentic Mexican Cooking
But I remember as a kid waking up in the morning and finding a special treat at my place at the table on Valentine's Day. My parents started a tradition of giving me a heart shaped box each year. I still have many of them wrapped up tight somewhere.... Then there was the exchanging of cards at school. Ah, the adventure has just begun for me on the parent side. What do I do for Valentine's Day cards?
I spotted these downloadable cards over at Bunny Cakes. She has a bunch of adorable cards available for free you should check out. I may use these cuties if I don't get my act together this week to make our own. Plus here is a great link for 30 Printable Valentines from the long thread.
This was so perfect and cozy for a wet, rainy morning. Adapted from this recipe at Smitten Kitchen.
Chickpea and I made this ice heart a few weeks back. We went on a walk and gathered up little bits of nature that we found. We took them back home and talked about them all and then put them in a little cake pan, filled it with water and a looped string and popped it all into the freezer. The next day we hung it outside and watched it melt, revealing more layers and changing shape as we played outside.
I think these could be really fabulous if you lived in a colder climate than us where they stayed frozen for a longer amount of time - you could decorate whole trees with different ornaments. I even thought a garland of them made in a fun shaped cupcake pan like hearts or stars would be cool too.
