threaded basil

some things i'm diggin'

2012-02-15T15:02:00.000-06:00

1. these paper snowflakes.
2. these candy apples.
3. this idea for cakes.
4. this fun idea.
5. this pretty [expensive] dress.
6. this wedding.
7. this tutorial.
8. this idea.
9. this photo.
10. and this photo.
11. this doll.
12. this kitchen.
13. these scones.
14. this Tolkien quote.
15. this print.
16. and this print.
17. this tumbler feed.
18. this blog.

project 52: emotion

2012-02-12T12:37:00.000-06:00

Lately my emotions are dictated by my children, whether I like it or not. Minutes before there was high drama and a battle of wills, and then there was this: this moment that smote my heart and made me fall in love again.

inspire me

2012-02-08T16:43:00.000-06:00

1. a simple plate of fruit.
2. ms. katie, using all her knitting skillz.
3. the best.crayons.ever.
4. old cookbooks.
5. vintage fabric from a giveaway I won.
6. dreams of sitting outside, eating treats from patisserie 46.

caged birds

2012-02-06T17:24:00.000-06:00

Maybe it was symbolic we crafted caged birds - pneumonia, colds, fevers and the blues kept us in for almost two weeks. We have been feeling spring fever early, and my own little bird managed to sneak past me today and out the door, yelling to the sky and clouds 'oh fresh air! it feels so good!' I understood and raced around with her, happy for wind and warm sun on my face.

[The birds are by La La Laurie and the how-to is here.]

project 52: simplicity

2012-02-03T08:06:00.000-06:00

'Remember this, that very little is needed to make a happy life.' -Aurelius

Tiny feet. So simple, so sweet. Even on the worst of days, seeing thempeek out at me makes my heart glad.

hello

2012-02-02T09:41:00.000-06:00

It's been quiet here this week. My little ones came down with pneumonia, and we've been parked on the couch, resting and recovering. Things are slowly looking up.

But here are a few of things you might be interested in! I know it's been list-city around here, and I'll try to bring you something exciting next week. But for now...

*I've been diggin' the new Polica album. It's fantastic.

*I'm very excited that Rosie Thomas is on tour! She will be in Minneapolis March 23 at the Turf Club.

*The Aveda Institute in Minneapolis is offering $25 facials this month! I had one several years ago there and it was *amazing*. I'm going to splurge on another [you need to mention their 'facebook facial' to get the special price].

project 52: inspiration

2012-01-27T13:16:00.000-06:00

But inspiration? - That's when you come home from abroad and are asked: Well, have you found inspiration? - and fortunately you haven't. But the impressions sink in, of course, and may emerge later: None of us has invented the house; that was done many thousands of years ago. -Arne Jacobsen

A small red apple says much to me. It's long stem is reaching upward, imitating it's former attachment. I gaze as it waits in my fruit bowl, so unadorned and simple. The calling is straightforward: to bring good things to my body; sweetness to my mouth. To give itself over, to let me shape it, cut it, use it: whole, in parts, in another form. I may keep it to myself, or I may pass it's segments out; apple pie to feed a multitude, piece by piece.

some things i'm diggin'

2012-01-25T13:21:00.000-06:00

1. this pretty paper bunting
2. this little owl
3. this elegant yet perfectly geeky cake
4. this free print
5. this blog
6. this cute craft for Valentine's day
7. these children's books
8. this tasty treat
9. this photo
10. and this photo
11. this beautiful sweater
12. this red + pink outfit
13. these DIY pajama pants
14. this amazing cardboard dollhouse
15. this pretty tree
16. these pillows
17. this scarf
18. these pretty braids

homemade playdough

2012-01-20T15:15:00.001-06:00

It was a cold, snowy day here, which made it the perfect afternoon for making homemade playdough. We spent hours making snakes and baby bumblebees, cupcakes and piles of pretend cookies for 'the children of the world' [my little ones stun me with their beautiful hearts]. This playdough is super easy to make, and can be colored any color your heart desires. The recipe is after the jump.

inspire me

2012-01-17T20:00:00.001-06:00

1.Swiss Chard. Just put it in everything.
2. The Innocence Mission 'We Walked In Song'.
3. Books about snow. 'Josie and the Snow' by Helen E. Buckley
4. My dad's vintage Kit Kat Clock.
5. Fancy paper.
6. One of my favorite faces.
7. Snowflakes on a string.
8. Books I am baking from most these days. Handheld Pies by Rachel Wharton and Sarah Billingsley, Martha Stewart's Pies and Tarts, Good To The Grain by Kim Boyce, and Sarabeth's Bakery by Sarabeth Levine.

project 52: life

2012-01-14T18:17:00.000-06:00

I had a really hard time with this week's theme, 'Life'. My first thought was trying to capture the 'bittersweet', as the past few years have held this to be true about my own life, and many dear to me. So much beauty and so much heartache, both walking the same road. But this photo was elusive, so I stopped trying.

Tonight it snowed. My two little ones spent the evening dancing among snowflakes, embracing the small, cold beauty. It was lovely, watching them, and I held the moment dear. We only have this time, this present. This is Life.

sun in snow country

2012-01-12T21:39:00.000-06:00

inspired

2012-01-10T17:51:00.000-06:00

1.Used Bookstore Treasure: The Complete Sherlock Holmes.
2. Blood Oranges. I think they are so beautiful.
3. Kinfolk Volume II. A Guide For Small Gatherings.
4. An old photo of my {W}, re-edited.
5. Louis Armstrong and his All-Stars record from Grandpa Van Dyke.
6. Vintage sewing machine from Grandma Van Dyke.
7. Lemon Chamomile Soap by Mirasol Farm.
8. Old sewing patterns.
9. Silhouette.

some things i'm diggin'

2012-01-08T22:18:00.000-06:00

1. this Valentine's cheesecake
2. this photo
3. this blog
4. this magazine/journal
5. these braids
6. this petticoat tutorial
7. this swimsuit
8. this little New Years song
9. this way to jazz up a t-shirt
10. and this way
11. this sassy drink
12. this print
13. this dinner
14. these
15. this lace scarf
16. this mobile
17. this costume/dress
18. these homemade envelopes

a winter's day: scenes from the backyard

2012-01-05T14:05:00.000-06:00

resolution

2012-01-03T15:58:00.001-06:00

'[T]ry to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.' -Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters To A Young Poet

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I am taking part in My4Hens Photography's Project 52, which is a themed photo a week [you can read more about it here]. I will be posting mine here, as well as in the Project 52 Flickr group. If you are interested, sign up! And, if you haven't been to My4Hens blog yet, please head over. She is an amazing photographer and the community she has helped grow is lovely. I especially love her latest post, What Motherhood Really Looks Like.

scenes of Christmas

2012-01-01T21:55:00.000-06:00

some things i'm diggin'

2011-12-27T17:32:00.001-06:00

1. this cookbook.
2. this chocolate bar.
3. this blog.
4. this sweater.
5. this photo.
6. this print.
7. this idea.
8. this record player.
9. this dinner.
10. these songs.
11. these peg dolls.
12. this lens {my merry christmas present from my sweetie + my family!}
13. this simple skirt.
14. this rad kid's coat.
15. this memory keeper idea
16. this photography project {I signed up! Join me!}
17. this quilt.
18. these paper dolls.

simple christmas tree pancakes

2011-12-24T11:50:00.001-06:00

*I used this pancake recipe, but omitted the strawberries and vanilla bean sugar {I just used regular sugar}.

*You can, of course, get very creative with these pancakes - add food coloring, different sprinkles or sugars, cut into various shapes.
*And, check out these fun Holiday Hot Cakes and Waffles from Bev Cooks.

this is my week

2011-12-23T20:42:00.000-06:00

Holiday Gift Baskets

2011-12-18T22:10:00.001-06:00

{Recipe links after the jump!}

Read more »

Some Things To Check Out!

2011-12-15T22:17:00.000-06:00

I was very surprised to find myself on Matt Armendariz's blog Matt Bites yesterday - I had replied to a tweet he sent out about music and all of a sudden there I was, giving my thoughts on music and cooking and dinner party playlists. You can check out the post here, and if you haven't been to Mr. Armendariz's blog before, please check it out! He's fantastic.

Speaking of music, I updated my yearly Christmas mix here, if you're interested. Coming up with a new Christmas playlist is one of my favorite things to do during the Holiday season, and it's a fun little something to stick in with gifts and treats.

And, my Kieffer Bros have a new game out in the Itunes App store! It's called Blockwick, and it is another wonderful brain teaser-puzzler. The first 60 puzzles are free, so what are you waiting for?

some things i'm diggin': holiday edition

2011-12-14T08:57:00.000-06:00

1. these free holiday printables
2. this nativity set
3. this snow angel
4. this peppermint bark
5. this holiday kid's table
6. this beautiful print
7. these tiny trees
8. this holiday ep
9. these paper stars
10. this holiday sweater
11. these holiday cards
12. these pretty cookies
13. this glitter banner
14. this word garland
15. this gorgeous light wreath
16. these snowflake marshmallows
17. this christmas song

happy birthday

2011-12-13T06:00:00.002-06:00

super easy turtle candies

2011-12-12T06:00:00.001-06:00