Crush: Blog Love

I discovered a new blog.  Not so much a new blog, but new to me. Creature Comforts has all sorts of beautiful, yummy things.  Check it out.

In Good Company: Caitlin Hinshelwood

I love the gorgeous art and home goods made by Caitlin Hinshelwood — available in her etsy shop of the same name. Her work reminds me of the sort of handcrafted treasures you might find and the world's most awesome antique store/thrift market. I just can't get enough! Her art portfolio is also brimming with inspiration...so be sure not to miss it. xo Ez

Fresh Art: Mini Faded Memory Flowers on Wood

What's For Dinner: Bean and Ham Soup

I found this recipe over at Fabulous Foods and modified it slightly.

What You Need:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 carrots, diced
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, minced
2 teaspoons thyme, minced
black pepper and salt to taste
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
3 bay leaves
1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes
32 oz chicken broth 
1 meaty ham bone
4 cups chopped ham
1 can black eyed peas

1 large 48 oz can white northern beans
1 can butter beans
1/3 cup half and half
1 tablespoon corn starch

Sauté onion, garlic, carrot in olive oil adding rosemary, thyme, sage, and basil with salt and pepper when onion is softened.

Add vinegar, tomatoes, stock, ham bone, and bay leaves. Simmer about 2 hours and add the beans and continue to simmer about 20 minutes.

Remove the ham bone and fat from ham adding any meat back to the pot. Whisk in corn starch and cream. Reheat and serve.

What You Get:

Photo

Photo:me taken with with Retro Camera Android App
Word Art: Rae Dunn
Teal Leather Journal: Barnes and Nobel
Mosaic Art Tile: Studio Vertu

Rituals and Routine

I have been thinking quite a bit about the rituals and routines that we have in our daily lives and the roles that they play and how as we get busy, they change, are put aside or ignored.  As a child, a bedtime routine is of the utmost importance.  It can be a time to teach love, story, acceptance.  It serves as a transition from busy, community, play to reflection, imagination and rest.  So why is it as adults we don't practice self love and give this same sort of time to ourselves?  I am horrible at this.  I often crash out of sheer exhaustion at the end of the day, sometimes in bed, other times in a chair, the couch or some other place not meant for sleeping that almost always results in a neck cramp. 

I have been trying to introduce a nighttime ritual into my day.  I need that transition, that time to reflect, relax and imagine.  A time to let the day melt away, be thankful and hopeful for what the next day will offer.  I need to give myself the time to engage my senses, breath deeply and relax.  A time to rest and rejuvenate my mind as my body prepares to rest.

In learning to incorporate a bedtime routine, here are a few things that I have found that I am really enjoying.  Trust me, this is a work in progress.  I hope to have it become more important to me than my morning coffee.  I think there is a lot of importance in beginnings and endings, attention should be paid.

 

Tea - This is a great way to engage your sense of smell and taste while relaxing.  Tazo has a new line of wellbeing teas. Rest is a great tea for evening.  It has hints of mint, orange, lavender, licorice and other soothing herbs. Tea can serve as a great transition between busy and rest.  Try to focus on tasting the herbs and flavors, really enjoy the tea, be present in the moment. 



Smell - I am in love with the Caldrea Linen Spray in Sea Salt Neroli. Inspired by bright, clear mornings at the shore, this watery composition opens with sparkling essential oils of Lemon Verbena and warm spice from Cardamon. An exquisite white floral heart is supplied by Neroli, the blossom of a bitter orange tree native to Tunisia. Unique mineral notes enhance the fresh sea experience, seemingly adding salt to the air. Lovely woods and sophisticated musk ground this aquatic delight to the land, and provide a home cleaning experience unlike any other.  Great scent description from Caldrea.  A few spritzes on my quilt before bed really helps make the room feel cozy.  After a few nights this triggers happy sleepy feelings for me.  October Moon in Old Town is m favorite place locally to explore and by the entire caldrea line.

Gratitude- Keeping a journal where you record your gratitude for the day is a great way to keep perspective.  We get so bogged down by where we feel small, insignificant or not enough.  It is important to remember, reflect and record what we are thankful, the successes for the day, a time to remember to celebrate life, right where we are. No exceptions.  Inspirational artist Kelly Rae Roberts has a great book full of inspiration and directions for making a beautiful journal.  Below is a piece of her work.  This is my goal,  to celebrate gratitude more than I think about falling short.



The Price of Invulnerability

The Gifts of Imperfection

I am reading an amazing book right now: The Gifts of Imperfection: Let go of who you think you are supposed to be and embrace who you are by Brene Brown.  I am only a few chapters in and it is already really impacting my thinking of others and myself and my story.  One of my favorite quotes so far can also be found on an art badge on her site http://www.brenebrown.com/badge. I am moved by these words.

Fresh Art: More Faded Memory Flowers

These still all need a thick coat of wax, but are nearing completion.

Fresh Art: Faded Memory Flowers

New Series: Faded Memory Flowers

What's for Snack: Beer Cheese Dip

What You Need

2 cup shredded smoked gouda

1 block cream cheese

1 cup shredded monetary jack

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 cloves finely minced or grated garlic

¼ cup finely diced red pepper

¼ cup finely diced onion

1 1/2 cup of beer (I prefer 1/3 cup Founders Red’s Rye and 1/3 cup Centennial IPA.  You want dry hop and a bit of malt. Do not skimp and use cheap beer.  You will get a dip that tastes of alcohol and not hoppy-malty goodness. Visit Founders Brewing Company to get an idea of the two brews listed above, so you can find an equivalent microbrew in your neck of the woods)

Bring beer to a rolling boil for 1 min and let cool slightly. Return to very low heat.  Add garlic and onion. Cook for a few min and then add all of the cheeses, Worcestershire and red pepper.  Stir until melted.  Once mixed let set for 30 min for flavors to distribute.  Reheat and served with crisped baked French bread or tortilla chips.

If desired, one cup of fresh spinach may be added to mixture while cooking.

What's For Dinner: Spinach Lasagna….Red or White….pasta or veggie

What You Need

3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 15 oz container ricotta cheese
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 egg
2 minced garlic cloves

Jar of pasta sauce and small can of tomato sauce OR one jar of alfredo sauce mixed with a cup of milk if making white lasagna
9 no-boil lasagna noodles or one eggplant thinly sliced
1 bag fresh spinach

2 cups fresh sliced Portobello mushrooms

1/2 teaspoon black pepper, cracked

2 teaspoons basil
pinch of red pepper flakes

Preheat oven to 375° F.

1. Combine 2 cups of mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese and garlic, chopped parsley, egg, basil and red and black pepper. Set aside.

2. In a 9x13 inch baking dish pour 3/4 cup marinara sauce or alfredo sauce. Place 3 pieces of noboil lasagna on the sauce or a layer of thinly sliced eggplant, covering with another 1/2 cup of the sauce.

3. Layer with half of the spinach and mushrooms, then a layer spreading half of the cheese mixture over the spinach. Repeat layers. Finish with 3 more lasagna strips or eggplant and cover with remaining sauce.

4. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for one hour. Uncover and top with 1 cup mozzarella cheese during last 15 minutes of baking.

Allow to sit 20 minutes before serving.

If you would like a version with meat, add browned ground sirloin to the marina sauce or grilled sliced chicken to the alfredo version.

What You Get
A yummy white or red lasagna....that I don't have a photo of!

New CB2 Catalog Goodness

I think that one of my favorite parts of wedding planning was getting to register at Crate and Barrel for fun household items.  Today the new CB2 catalog arrived and has a great mix of things that have a modern sensibility with a hit of whimsy.  I lucked out and married a guy who likes my artsy cottage style...as long as the items still have good function.  Here are a few finds from www.cb2.com that caught my eye.

Floor Display Wine Rack

Wood Birds Pillow

Oliver Snack Plates

Fabric Wall Art

I love Hobby Lobby, especially their fabric section.  Every month, for one week they have 30% off all fabrics which makes this project uber affordable.  You will need 1/5 of a yard of at least 5 fabrics to make your wall art collage.  Look for prints in the same color family, or that have a singular color in common.  Here I was looking for cool tones with a hint of green or blue in a bright hue.  Cut the fabric into squares, wrap around a embroidery hoop, secure and trim the excess.  This can also be great decor for a kids room.  You can attach the fabric rounds to the wall with velcro, they can be used as stacking toys, and one of my favorite 1 years olds discovered that you can play a mean game of peek-a-boo with them as well.

What's For Dinner: Spicy Shrimp & Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing

What You Need

4 slices of crispy cooked bacon, reserve drippings
1 red pepper thinly sliced
Sliced almonds
Organic baby spinach
1 lb large cooked shrimp, tails removed
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion thinly sliced
1 tablespoon sugar
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
crushed red pepper, cayenne pepper, cumin, garlic salt, pepper

1. In bacon drippings saute onion and red pepper briefly until they begin to soften.  Add olive oil, vinegar, sugar and crumbled bacon strips.  Stir and remove from heat.

2. Heat pan with olive oil, add shrimp and sprinkle with spices to taste.  Saute until warm.

3. bacon dressing with onions and red pepper over spinach and toss.  Add warm shrimp and sprinkle with almonds. Garnish with fresh lime.

What You Get

What's For Dinner: Beef Barley Soup

Best served with a crusty bread and a glass of malbec, merlot or a very hoppy beer.

What You Need

1lb cubed stew beef
fresh ground black pepper
extra virgin olive oil
1 medium chopped onion
3 chopped celery stalks
2 cloves smashed and chopped garlic
1 small can tomato paste without sugar
6 cups fresh spinach
2 cups fresh sliced mushrooms
10 cups low sodium beef broth
2 cups quick cooking barley
2 cups water
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
pinch of red pepper flakes
4 tablespoons thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper.  Brown in soup pot over high heat with 2 teaspoons olive oil for 2 min. Remove and set aside.
2. Add celery, mushrooms, garlic, onion, pepper and remaining olive oil. Lower heat to medium and cook until translucent.  Add  tomato paste and stir until mixture is covered.
3. Add broth, vinegar, barley, water, salt and thyme to mixture. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 min.
4. Place beef and juices into pot, turn off heat, cover and let set for 5 min.

What You Get