Happy Leap Day

“I’m about to do something pretty crazy.” — Liz
“You should. It’s Leap Day. Real life is for March.” — Criss

Edible Wednesdays: Red Lentil Curry Soup

I have been feeling like absolute crap for the last 5 days...it is insane how long this is lasting. My daughter is finally feeling better except for a lingering runny nose and cough, my son had his worst day today - was attached to my boob almost the entire day - which I actually didn't mind too much since that meant I had to rest on the couch all day. Sinus congestion can really do you in I say! So when it came to dinner tonight, it had to be really easy and really delicious since I hadn't eaten much all day. I had my lovely husband running across town for a craigslist score so it was on me to make something appetizing. Luckily, I found this great recipe from Scaling Back and it did not disappoint. Exactly what this tired sick soul needed to end her day. 

The Oscars...

Monday Memos: Bangs

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So I used to have bangs and then I decided they were too much work for a mama so I grew them out. Well...I want them back. I keep seeing pictures of myself with them and they look so good...keep in mind that the pictures were taken pre-children but still - I have a few minutes in the morning to fuss over bangs right? I mean, I need to try a little harder cause throwing my hair up in a top bun every day is getting a little old.

So I cut them. In my bathroom. While my kids were napping. And...not so good. So I cut a little more, maybe making them a little shorter would do the trick...nope, still not cool. Oh well, pin them back, grow them out again and call it a day. Until...

A Few of My Favorite Things

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summer camping in the VW -- crepe nutella street-side -- backyard chickens -- yoga -- red hair

Family Fridays: Perfect Madness - Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety

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Oh My Gawd. This book is so amazing and I am only on page 30. Judith Warner started motherhood in France and then moved back to America when her youngest was 6 months old only to find that motherhood here was frighteningly different. I have wanted to highlight all over this book - but have to sustain since it is from the library - it is just that good. It hits on so many facets of motherhood that I have experienced so far and, like I said, I am only on page 30!

She touches on the anxieties we, as mothers everywhere but I guess much more so in the States, have - and remember, this was published pre-Pinterest where the super-moms have the platform to share their crazy wonderful birthday party themes and DIY projects. Seriously, it is insanely intimidating.

Right off the bat, she talks about a sensitive subject that I think many women would get in a tizzy about one way or the other - "(In America) I found the pressure to breastfeed for at least a year, to endure natural childbirth, and to tolerate the boundary breakdowns of "attachment parenting" - baby-wearing, co-sleeping, long-term breastfeeding and the rest of it - cruelly insensitive to mothers' needs as adult women."

Thursday DIY: Art

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1) Paint the canvas in any which way 2) Use painter's tape to create a herringbone pattern or any other pattern with some missing 3) Paint over the canvas in white 4) Remove tape and voila!

So, I think I am in need of an artwork fix and because I cannot actually go out and purchase said artwork, I am going to have to make it. The artwork currently on our walls are all done by myself or my daughter so we are not straying too far form the tree here. Here are some inspirational pieces to get my creativity flowing...

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Edible Wednesdays: Marshmallows

You will Need:
1 TB confectioners sugar
1 TB plain cornstarch
1 packet gelatin powder
canola oil for oiling pan and knife
2 egg whites
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup water

candy thermometer

1. Sift the sugar and cornflour together into a small bowl. Rub the tin (shallow cake pan about 8 inches square) lightly with just a few drops of oil and shake a little of the icing sugar mix around the tin to coat the base and sides. Set the tin to one side.

Interior Tuesdays: Clean Slate

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I have been in a total white mood. Which, if you know me or my house, is very out of character. We like a lot of color in our household so this very strong urge for a clean, crisp white - everywhere - is sort of dramatic. Maybe it is the constant clutter of toys that seem to appear all over our house all the time or the darker days of winter but I am craving white - flowy and simple. Clean.

My favorite room in our house right now is the bathroom - white subway tiles, black trim on the sink cabinet, white fixtures and light blue walls. It is refreshingly light and empty and calming. Everything fits in a cabinet or on a hook and voila - a clutter-free area. It seems that as soon as I reallocate stuff around the house to a more organized way, chaos shortly follows and all is lost. So maybe if I just add a little more white (what?!? More white with two kids under 3!??! Are you kidding me!?) it will make it seem a little more together...

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February Instagram Challenge

 phone

 heart

 closet

 time

blue 

makes me happy

Turns out taking a picture everyday IS a challenge - some days I play catch-up. Well, we are off to the island then to the farm then skiing...here's to adventure! Have a lovely weekend everyone (and long week if you are taking school break off).

Honest Logos

This is a funny list of what the logos should really say.

DIY Thursday: TeePee

I finally did it. After pinning a million and one TeePees, I finally found the free time to make my own - I made it for my daughter's 3rd birthday this week and she totally digs it. Added a "sheepskin" rug, some throw pillows, a llama poncho for a blanket and a "fire" light for effect...

Edible Wednesdays: Making your own Butter

Butter is very easy to make yourself and is a fun project for any kids needing something to do in the kitchen.

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You will need:
Heavy cream
Mason jar

Interior Tuesdays: Remodeling and Redesigning

Three years and 9 months ago I found out I was pregnant. We also started our house remodel. Not two things you normally would like to coincide but it gave us some pretty intense motivation to finish everything up in time for our first kid's arrival. We didn't just remodel either...we basically reBUILT. We gutted our house down to the studs and added about 8 feet to the backend and basically started over. The house was built in 1918 and didn't have insulation. This is sort of a big deal when in snows in the winter. And I wanted a dining area. So we decided to go big or go home. Here are some "during" photos...eeeks. I cannot believe we did this - we were living at various friend's houses and homesat all around town that summer. It was NOT the way you would like your pregnancy to be but so be it. I had a beautiful home afterwards.
During:

 We did a lot of the work ourselves - especially the demo cause that's fun

 tearing the backend off

 we found layers upon layers of crazy wallpaper all over the house

Happy Happy

We had a busy weekend...I went out on the town with the ladies and the next day hosted a birthday party for 11 babies/toddlers. It was a blast of a time...but we are still recovering. Tired souls in our home today.

A Few of My Favorite Things

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Love Story

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Fresh bread and cheese

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Winter Wonderland

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Train Adventures

February Instagram Challenge

 Dinner

 Button

 Sun

Front Door

 Self Portrait