Book-A-Week: Rachel Cusk, A Life's Work

A room of one's own... what would one do? Me, I would languish all day, nestled in a chair, surrounded by sunlit walls and words, and devour book after book. Let's start with our latest...

Rachel Cusk's A Life's Work: On Becoming a Mother. A true and truly touching memoir of Ms. Cusk's becoming a mother and the emotional, physical and relationship changes that it brings. Her metamorphosis is clear, but painful to witness, and brings back many a memory we otherwise would choose to forget. The excerpt that drew me in: "it is when the baby sleeps that I liaise, as if it were a lover, with my former life".

Ms. Cusk brings an honest approach to the major challenge of motherhood: autonomy. How you become something new - but yearn to be what you were (which you cannot go back to). How to reconcile the two?

Relaxation 101

Ahhh, searching for relaxation amidst all the stress. I post this more to remind myself to do this. every. day. than for anything else.

- Rejuvenation Lounge's 100 ways to feel better fast

- Coping with Stress - seems to be a rational thinker's guide. So it may or may not work!

- Dr. Winner's life maintenance: learn patience with others

- Relax your mind, whether through meditation, or a simple quiet time

- Baths

- Only watch funnies. Funny movies, funny sitcoms. Laughing out Loud (that's LOL for my nieces). Let the positive flow in.

- Sunshine, sunshine, sunshine.

- Get to more social events/get to know more neighbors (when they're here in their 2d homes!)

- Follow Ms. Goldie Hawn on twitter.

- Accentuate the Positive: Meditate on/sing out our favorite Bing Crosby over and over again:

You've got to accentuate the positive

Eliminate the negative

Latch on to the affirmative

Don't mess with Mister In-Between

You've got to spread joy up to the maximum

Bring gloom down to the minimum

Have faith or pandemonium's

Liable to walk upon the scene.

Healthy New Year!

Change is a long-time coming. But we am finding more and more ways how to change our health patterns for the better amidst all the stress and chaos in our lives. We are growing tomatoes, we are going to CSA up this summer, and are looking for easy ways to make changes in our routines. The most challenging? Getting adequate Vitamin D when it's freezing cold or not sunny. What a difference it makes!

With bambino's eating difficulties, I am learning that it is our job as parents to model what our children will eat, as they want to grow and be like us. Ellyn Satter's books, including my new favorite: Child of Mine, instructs that we need not cater to our youngsters's taste buds (which has brought exhaustion, frustration and fatigue), as they want to model our good eating. It has good suggestions for toddler grazing, as well as Your Child's Weight having answers to common dining table struggles. Mayo Clinic also offers suggestions for "picky" eaters.

For more inspiration, Word of Widsom Living has some good ideas for the new year, and I love the idea that Foods can promote Happiness. What about Six Stress-Busting foods?

Healthy New Year, y'all, whenever it happens!

Snow & Sew Crazy

I love these pants by Joah Love.

Another snow day. It's freezing. I am looking to warm up my fingers. After making a few projects on my new sewing machine, and cleaning out my closets, I am looking to make a few things for the boy with my new stash of recyclable clothes. I'll peruse Sew Mama Sew's tutorials, but what I really want to do is this:

First up: Pants. Ever on my mind, as bambino has about a 15 month waist with 2 year length. I am sick of sewing in pants. Maybe some customs in order? And inspired by those Joah Loves, here's some to try, someday (hopefully soon):

Celebrate the Boy's Let's make PANTS! :

1. Simple gathered pants. Try out the Knee Pad Pants Tutorial:
2. Add POCKETs to the front. Try out the Flat Front Pants POCKETS Tutorial:
3. A Flat Front look. Awesome. Try out the Slim Slacks Tutorial from This Mama Makes Stuff:
4. A Faux Zippered Fly. Try out the Faux Fly and Pocket Tutorial from Handmade Con Amor:

And, buttom up bottom Tutorial from Ikat Bag:

Smoothies

Mmm.. smoothies. Who doesn't want to start their day with one? Here are some easy recipes I'm hoping to try soon.

Spiced Pumpkin Smoothie

Place 1 cup ice, 1/2 cup whole milk, 1/3 cup pure pumpkin puree, 1 Tablespoon honey, and a pinch of ground nutmeg in a blender. Blend until smooth and frothy. Per serving: 165 cal; 4 g fat (2g sat); 12 mg chol; 53 mg sod; 5g protein, 29g carb, 26g sugar, 3g fiber, 1 mg iron, 153 mg calcium.

Strawberry Flax Smoothie

Place 1 cup frozen strawberries, 3/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt, 1/2 cup fresh orange juice, 1 Tablespoon honey, and 1 Tablespoon flaxseed meal in a blender. Blend until smooth and frothy. Per serving: 334 cal; 7g fat (2g sat); 11mg chol; 134 mg sodium; 14g protein; 58g carb; 49g sugar, 6g fiber; 2mg iron; 391 mg calcium.

Carrot Pineapple Smoothie

Place 3/4 cup chopped fresh pineapple, 1/2 cup ice, 1/3 cup fresh orange juice, 1/4 cup chopped carrots, and 1/2 banana in a blender. Blend until smooth and frothy. Per serving: 159 cal; 1g fat (0g sat); 0mg chol; 25mg sodium; 2g protein; 40g carb; 26g sugar, 4g fiber; 1mg iron; 38 mg calcium.

Enjoy!

Image & recipe courtesy of Real Simple.

Update: And Goldie Hawn's Green Juice:

Place 1 apple, a bunch of kale, spinach, celery, cucumber and parsley. Juice!

New Project: bonne maman lamp!

Aha! A solution to my bare-lamp--in-my-closets-touching-my-clothes-so-I-can't-hang-them. At-all. Courtesy of this site.

Kids' Bookends

Bambino loves to spread his books out all over the room. And no matter how often I try to put them back on the side table, to no avail they will be on the floor. So I am looking for creative ideas for bookends for us and the wee one.

-How about these license plate bookends?

- Maybe I will DIY and get some wood and glue and model it on Green Goods:

- Or of course Old CD cases... I think I have some lying around... or cassettes... or vinyl. At least we could design over the end so it's not clear and obnoxious.

- Or how about multipurpose items. A girl's best friend. Awesome storage and tape dispenser bookends. If you live in europe (sigh) or abroad, from ideaco:

Growth Chart Stick

Aha!

We finished our growth chart stick a few months ago. It wasn't until many of my firends asked us, over Christmas, what on earth is that stick in the corner! And then... how cool!

We downloaded the template, I sketched it onto a 6'4" piece of siding/trim and went to painting, varnishing and finishing. I also added the heights of Mama, Dada, Nana, Papa and the Uncles.

Enjoy!

(original blog post here)

Shoebox Dwelling

Ever since I lived in a little studio apartment, I've fallen in love with multi-functional pieces. A now this blog, aptly called- Shoebox Dwelling. Efficient, fashionable, and design-savvy, it's inspirational and fun! I still believe in the virtue of tiny homes.

Check out the Rewrite Desk by GamFratesi for Ligne Roset, above. I also love their Unfold Table, and so many many more. This is how I wanted to live for so, so long.

And the Trick (surprise!) by Sakura Adachi, designed for Campeggi, below:

The Sartorialist

I am loving the Sartorialist's fashion photos - real, everyday people on the streets of New York, Milan, Florence, and every fabulous place he gets to travel. What an eye, wouldn't you agree?

Local CSAs

Don't forget to call now to join a local CSA! It's time. We've talked to Abundant Life to see what could be in store for us this summer.

Find your own Community Supported Agriculture ("CSA") at Green People.

Radical Homemaking & Radical Living

I've stumbled across an interesting phenomenon called Radical Homemaking. Just like my new resolutions (can I borrow? make? or rent? instead of buy?), the idea of Radical Homemaking is a switch to making family, community, social justice, organic farming, and green living the center of their lives. Based on principles of Shannon Hayes' book Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture, it is full of back-to-basics homemaking ideas.

Yet I find it difficult in our local community to enact some of these ideals. Our soil proved too much to plant - only weeds found a local home. All else died on the vine. We do try to do our part, more for our local ease of life rather than any "green"-driven motive. We mend socks and shirts, try to fix appliances (although recently our cuisinart and the waffle iron gave it on up), and grow tomatoes, basil and anything else we can (A's hydroponic veggies this summer were delish).

I keep going back to this switch from consumption to production. My previous career as an attorney, as a non-profit manager, all focused on asking for deals, asking for grants, asking for money. I didn't feel that I was able to produce anything tangible. The closest thing was the local Art Walk, but even that wasn't necessarily physical in its actuality.

A on the other hand, is an architect. Plans, homes, additions. There is a physical end to his creations. Our friends (also architects) make new pieces out of reclaimed wood.

I used to think that most of the work we did at home was a side-note to our other, more important job - that of being "out" there in society - a "real" job. But now I am seeing more of the importance of the home front. Not to say that my JD won't come in handy. But that we can slow down and have a more fulfilling life, even if it's not by the societal standards of simply working in another building.

Perhaps all has been leading me here - from a bambino who is the pickiest eater ever (how to get nutrition in that kid!) to my own health issues and the overall concern about our consumption and limiting plastics in our environment and home. I suppose time will tell.

What are your radical living ideas?

MODified Originals

We love it when people take something and turn it into something new. We love it even more when it's our friends who have done this. And turned it into a business.

MODified Originals is their brainchild - taking reclaimed wood and vintage pieces of furniture and giving it a modern (get it?) twist. Clean and well-designed, it's worth looking into. Check out their tangerine-steel desk, above.

Perpetual Calendar

I am constantly on the hunt for a perpetual calendar. One that tracks birthdays, anniversaries, and special events. For some reason I've lost track of it once I switched from my paper address book (one that had everyone's address and helped you track Christmas cards, like this one on Etsy) to my e-mail address book. The electronic tracking devices are simply lost on me.

I'm still searching for that great calendar, but in the meantime have been happy to be inspired by some others... enjoy!

Caelled "Dorogaya", it's a magnetic calendar that is simple and straightforward. Except that the instructions are in Russian.

A handy on-the-wall chalkboard calendar by who else? Martha Stewart.

A fruit basket perpetual calendar (noting significant and not-so-significant events) from Design Sponge.

A perpetual rotating calendar also from Design Sponge.

A totally awesome photo calendar from PhotoJojo.

I need one that would fit in my pocketbook though. Would they come in a smaller size?

Upcycling in 2011!

How about reusing much of what you would otherwise throw away in 2011? Called "upcycling", it is recycling taken to a much, much cooler, hipper, level. What about these wine bottle tiki torches from Design Sponge?

Creations

One thing I like to try to do is create something new. This year I'd like to learn a new skill. Last year I wanted to learn how to knit a sweater. So I made one for bambino. And he hates wearing it. Hates it. So I put a turtleneck underneath it. Still hates it. Scratches at it to pull it off.

You ever make something for someone and they despise it!? Ha!

Resolutions & Reflections

New Years - a time to reflect, and to make those darned resolutions for the new year. But that's a time of excitement, of change, and most importantly, of hope. For hope is what gets us through those dark or difficult times, which we've all experienced in the last few years.

So we now resolve to go forward and start a new chapter of our lives - not with reckless abandon or steely determination - but with the quiet confidence that we know will weather storms and support us constantly. I heard JK Rowling say (I'm paraphrasing, of course) that failure is just the elimination of all that is wrong in your life - leaving you at a place with a solid foundation to focus on yourself and your life's mission. Eliminate all that doesn't work for you and let your true self blossom.

So switch your attention from that which fosters uncertainty, anxiety and fear; and put your will towards that which gives back and feeds you in a healthy way. Happy New Year- what are your resolutions?

Let it Snow

December 2010 Blizzard Timelapse from Michael Black on Vimeo.

Did you guys see this time-lapse of the east coast blizzard on your news? I am always fascinated by time lapse photography.

Here, we didn't get much. Doesn't make for good skiing or backyard sledding. Although we tried. And the little guy just had to hold on to his bottle.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Here's our favorite brunch recipe: blueberry crumb cake. We call it that because you will want to eat every last crumb.

Blueberry Crumb Cake:

Yield: 9 servings... or so

Prep time: 15-20 minutes. Use the cuisinart or hand mixer!

Cook time: 45-50 minutes at 350

(High Altitude: bake 50 minutes)

4 Tbsp (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, @ room temp

3/4 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground allspice

1/4 c buttermilk, or yogurt (or milk with lemon juice added)

1 1/2 c blueberries, rinsed, dried, and tossed with 1 tsp flour

-preheat oven to 350. spray a 9-inch square pan with nonstick cooking spray

- Cream butter & sugar. Add egg and mix well.

- Mix flour, bak pdr, bak soda, salt and allspice. Add to wet mix, alternating with buttermilk. Mix until combined - it will be very stiff. Use the cuisinart!

- Fold in blueberries and put mix in pan. Spread with streusel topping, bake 45-50 minutes.

Streusel:

4 Tbsp (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cold, cut

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/8 tsp salt

Mix until crumbs/"flakes" appear. Sprinkle over top of cake and bake.

Adapted from: Everyday Food