Monthly Archives: May 2011

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csa 2011: share 1

May 31, 2011 7:48 pm \ Leave a Comment \

csa 2011: share 1

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to summer, they say. And when our CSA starts, you know that’s true! Oh, how I missed my bi-weekly bounty of fresh, local, organic vegetables last year. And this first share did not disappoint me.

Considering how wet the spring was, combined with the crazy heat of the last few days, I am really impressed with these greens. We got 2 heads of lettuce, 1 bok choy, 1 lb. spinach, 1 bunch of radishes, and 1 bunch of salad turnips. Instead of the turnips I could have chosen 1/2 lb. of mixed greens (arugula, tat soi, etc.), but I really enjoy those little turnips and between the lettuces and the spinach we have more than enough.

I’m already planning on making myself eggs Florentine tomorrow morning, perhaps with a little Swiss cheese. The bok choy? Sigh… I will dutifully search for some recipes and give it another try. There has got to be a way to prepare it that I will find enjoyable. If you have a favorite way to make it, I am all ears.

Posted in: CSA, Food & Wine \ Tagged: , , , ,

last minute lists

May 27, 2011 10:36 am \ 1 Comment \

DSC_0012

So, I think I am pretty set for the party on Sunday. There are a few items I’ll buy tomorrow (mostly produce), but I think I have everything I need. The thing I’ve learned in all of my years of hosting birthdays and holidays is that no one ever eats at parties. I have way too much food, which means way too much leftover food taking up my precious refrigerator space. I tried to trim things down this time, so we’ll see how I did. I guess a lot of the time I just feel guilty since  our family members drive anywhere from 1-2 hours to get here, so I overcompensate by trying to stuff them full of pasta salad, LOL.

I still have to wrap Lulu’s gifts, though. Since we live in horse country, maybe someday she’ll ask for riding lessons and equestrian helmets, but for now I’m very glad she’s happy with things of a much simpler (and less expensive!) nature.

Posted in: This & That

has it been that long?

May 25, 2011 9:44 pm \ Leave a Comment \

This week marks the 13th anniversary of when Drew and I met. Crazy! We celebrate our 10th anniversary next week, and I have a special gift all ready to go. Nothing as fancy as something from Diamonds International, but I think it’s something that will surprise him. We don’t really have any anniversary plans yet. We’ll go out to dinner at some point when we can unload all the kids. On our actual anniversary we’ll probably keep it simple — maybe some creme brulee and champagne after the munchkins are in bed. This time of year always makes me yearn for France (we went to Paris and Bordeaux on our honeymoon), so it’s only fitting to go with a French dessert!

Posted in: This & That

red and blue vintage circus bunting tutorial (sort of)

May 25, 2011 1:41 pm \ 1 Comment \

fabric bunting

Yesterday I completed the one project I wasn’t sure I’d complete in time for Laura’s birthday party — a fabric pennant/bunting/whatever you want to call it. These have been all over the web for a while now, and on my “to do” list since spring. I kind of made up the instructions as I went along. All I knew was it had to meet these requirements:

  • Easy to do. I do not have the time right now to be all fussy with things like this.
  • Look old and vintage-y. Fraying? No problem. Uneven lines? Hey, that’s okay! It just makes it look more handmade.
  • Be multi-purpose. I need to use this for more than just one event.

So, the color scheme I’m using, as you know, is turquoise and red. Well, it’s lapsed into various shades of blue and red which is perfect since the party is also Memorial Day weekend. I will be able to use this bunting for years on the 4th of July as well, so I will definitely get a lot of use out of it.

First, I chose my fabrics. I just bought a bunch of fat quarters in patterns that I liked. Then I ironed them flat, then folded each in half the long way (with right sides facing each other) and ironed it again. I used this template from Cicada Daydream to trace triangles on the wrong side of the fabric. Because I wasn’t going to be turning my triangles inside-out, I cut out my triangle pattern on the dotted (sew) line. I used pinking shears because I like that look. It looks old. It also makes me think of my grandmother :-) Then, I sewed a straight stitch around the two long sides of each triangle. I didn’t go across the top.

fabric bunting

Then I took some navy blue bias tape that I had in my stash, snugged a triangle up inside, and sewed it. Repeat until you run out of triangles or the bunting is as long as you want it. And let me warn you: if you decide to have a little glass of Tia Maria and milk while you sew up your second bunting, chances are you will mess up a few triangles and then your husband will ask why you’re cursing so much. ;-)

In hindsight, a smarter thing to do would have been to take fabric glue (personally, I like Fabri-Tac) and glue each triangle into place on the bias tape, and then sew one single line across. It would look a lot neater and save some time. But I’m still happy with the way this came out. I’ll be sure to take a photo of it “in action” at the party on Sunday!

Posted in: Crafting, Holidays & Entertaining, House & Home, Sewing \ Tagged: , , ,

menu plan monday

May 23, 2011 4:32 pm \ 1 Comment \

Is it really May? Then why is it weirdly chilly and so rainy? Eh… oh well. At least the weather makes for cozy days, right? This week is going to be so crazy. We have Drew’s dad & stepmom coming up from Miami on Thurs. We have various school activities. And I am doing all the prep work for Laura’s 2nd birthday party, which we are having on Sunday. So I am trying to keep things super simple because I don’t need to be more stressed out! I am also not doing much grocery shopping because I need to clean out the fridge for the party. (Have I told you how much I hate having a side-by-side fridge? It makes it very challenging when you have party platters and whatnot.)

  • Sunday: Grilled chicken salads
  • Monday: Sausage parm sandwiches, broccoli cheese soup
  • Tuesday: Dinner out
  • Wednesday: Grilled chicken, whatever I can find in the fridge for sides, LOL.
  • Thursday: Sandwiches, chips (In-laws are getting in from Miami, so I need something I can make the kids and us earlier and have for them later)
  • Friday: Grilled London Broil, grilled chicken with Piri-Piri Sauce, baked potatoes, tossed salad
  • Saturday: Whatever you can find in the fridge or freezer ;-)

If I make it through this week with my sanity in check, then I will most definitely have earned that big slice of cake I am looking forward to on Sunday.

(Side note: while I have not been as diligent with exercising as I’d hoped to be this month, I am still down  2.5 lbs, which is awesome since I am really only trying for about 7 lbs. And really, this is just by cutting down on sugar. If I could eliminate carbs I’d be doing much better, but I have a Celiac panel later this month along with my routine thyroid bloodwork, so I have to continue eating bread and pasta, etc. at least until then. All in all, I’m pretty happy with my progress!)
For more menu ideas, visit Organizing Junkie’s Menu Plan Monday feature.

Posted in: Food & Wine \ Tagged: , , , ,

just an observation

May 21, 2011 8:56 pm \ Leave a Comment \

innisfree garden

Well, 6 pm has come and gone on the East Coast with nary a hint of Rapture. No earthquake. No one flying up into the sky. Not even a slight rain shower. Life just continued on as my husband, my friend and I enjoyed a glass of wine while all of our kids played together. Of course, I never expected anything to happen, but clearly there is a group of people who did. And as it becomes clearer and clearer to everyone that Harold Camping is a fraud, I’ve noticed how people love to make fun of these people who believed it would happen.

Don’t get me wrong — they’re idiotic. Even if you believe in a Biblical Rapture, the idea of a rolling global earthquake just sounds silly. But what happens to them now? And please don’t say “Who cares?” That seems to be what a lot of people are saying, unfortunately. Because I am a sap, I feel sorry for these people who have lost so much: homes, savings, family… it’s more than I can personally imagine doing for my faith. I hope they’ll get help if they need it. Their disappointment must be great. But instead of making fun of them, I think we really need to show them compassion.

Of course, there is still the click here to donate button on the radio station’s website, and there’s no message stating “We were wrong, sorry” or anything like that, so I can only imagine what the future is for this man. I would hope that he’ll take responsibility. While he does not believe in churches, per se, like it or not, he is the leader of an ersatz church. He is the leader of a flock of sheep (and you can take that metaphor as far as you want to go). He needs a better excuse this time than “miscalculation.”

Posted in: Newsy

rainy friday

May 20, 2011 2:16 pm \ 1 Comment \

rainy day

Oh where, oh where has the sun gone? It was out earlier this morning, but now the rain is pouring down. I’m actually having a rather cozy day at home. I have my friend Rachel’s recipe for Indian meatballs simmering away in the Crock Pot. They smell so delicious and I will definitely be sharing the recipe with you. Lulu has been happily playing (mostly) independently today, so I’ve been able to get a few things done.

Later I need to make a hair bow for a little girl in Noah’s class. He’s going to her birthday party tomorrow and a while back (when I was still selling on Etsy), I ordered these adorable Strawberry Shortcake bottlecaps to use as bow centers. He thought she’d like one, and it goes along with the gift we picked out for her. I haven’t played with my ribbons in quite a while. I hope I didn’t forget how to make bows, LOL!

Yes, despite all the doomsday predictions, I am still planning on tee-ball and a birthday party tomorrow. Although I haven’t actually seen any of the people proclaiming “The End Is Nigh” (do you think they paid their motorhome insurance for the RVs they’re travelling in?), there is a “May 21″ billboard close by. This one is on Rt. 9G in Hyde Park (I haven’t been out that way in a while, but last time it was still there). I snapped this photo back in March:

rt. 9G, hyde park

I could write on and on about this, so I’ll spare you. (My poor husband, on the other hand…) Chances are we’ll all still be here Sunday morning and I just hope that the “Camping-ites” somehow find comfort because I’m sure many will be disappointed. I feel very sorry for them and if/when this is a non-event,  I hope their faith won’t be completely shattered. Maybe they’ll turn to a religion that isn’t quite as… apocalyptic? Anyway, I’m sure you are all bored to death with this stuff, so I’ll stop, LOL.

Anyway, I have a lot to do over the next few days getting ready for a visit from my in-laws and for Lulu’s birthday party. I am so excited about all of it! Hope you are having a great Friday!

 

Posted in: This & That