The Most Colorful Boy

Posted on April 19, 2013 by lauren

It has been raining cats and dogs around here, which makes for a mostly muddy mess in our back yard (especially in the unfenced soon-to-be veggie garden area- yikes!). But along with all that rain comes a whole lot of lush, green grass and clover, and the prettiest spring flowers.

Oliver notices beauty. He sees colors maybe more vividly than any of us. He points out the smallest pops of color as we are driving by a field or yard and yells in excited tones for the rest of us to notice, by golly! Look at that! He paints at preschool every day, coming home covered in splatters of bright blue, orange, pink, and yellow. And we all know about his fashion sense. There is nothing bland about this kid.One day this week, Oliver came to me with a fistful of purple violets from our yard. Alone, the little flowers are sweet and subtle, but all bunched up like that, they are vividly beautiful. And my handsome little guy thrusting them toward me, “Mama, I picked dees for you!!!” made me smile the biggest smile. And then Emil got in on the action. Because vase-holder is a very important job for a little brother.Happy Friday! We have a jam-packed weekend ahead of us, and I’m not quite sure we can do all that we have planned (sometimes there simply aren’t enough hours in the day, you know?), but we’re sure as heck going to try!

DIY Fun: “Cool” Pants

Posted on April 18, 2013 by lauren

Our Oliver is quite the character. He is so particular about what he wears that recently, asking him to get dressed in the morning has gotten kind of ugly. It ends with clothing strewn about his room, and one very unhappy 3-year-old rolling around on the floor, crying “These pants aren’t COOOOOOL!”

Recently, in an attempt to understand exactly what “cool” is to Oliver, I discovered that plain anything (pants, shirts, socks, underwear) is uncool. Lightening strike pants, loud zippy colors, crazy patterns, bright orange dinosaur leggings, skeleton pajamas, or space-themed anything is cool. Which is a problem. Because nearly all of the hand-me-downs from Milo are simple, plain basics that I bought because of their plain-ness.

The solution? Fabric paint and a bit of creativity. A while back, I spotted these cool pants but absolutely could not justify their price tag (holy cow, they were expensive!), I decided to make them. Here’s how:

Materials Needed:

White fabric spray paint (I used Tulip brand, found at Michael’s)- be careful NOT to get puffy fabric paint!
Black sweatpants (these are Apaman from a couple of years back)
Scissors
Cardstock large enough to cut a pattern into, or you could even use a piece of fabric as long as you are careful to cut straight lines

First, carefully cut the shape you want into the card stock. Make sure your pants are flat on the area you are going to spray, then place the pattern on top of the area you want to paint.

Hold the pattern in place while you spray the paint on, then carefully remove the pattern. Wipe excess paint off with a paper towel (be sure to wipe underneath too!), and repeat on the other side. Allow to dry for 4 hours, and avoid washing for 72 hours. For best results, wash pants inside-out. And voila! Cool pants!

Once ~~the king~~ Oliver approved of the coolness, I made another pair, this one with O’s to match the X’s. He insisted on wearing them both on the same day. Success!

Now, let’s hope the third little guy is not quite so picky once these make it down the line to him!

Dress That Mama: Spring Flow

Posted on April 17, 2013 by lauren

Hello sunshines! I am seriously coming alive with this spring weather! I hate to admit, but my mood is so influenced by the weather, you may as well check the forecast before you stop by if you want to be sure I’m in a reasonably good mood! And with the sunshine, I have been working hard on living and enjoying my family.

This is what I wore last Sunday to our little gathering. We had a few friends over for some good food and drinks, and the weather was absolutely perfect.

Shirt: Anthropologie (on sale)

Jeans: Pilcro (also found at Anthropologie, also on sale )

Holepunch flats: Madewell

Circle necklace: Anthropologie, 3 years ago, and my most-warn necklace (I own exactly 4 necklaces, if you were wondering– not really a jewelry kind of gal, so I stick to what I really really love).

I hope you are finding happiness in whatever weather you have. Happy Wednesday!

On Fatherhood in These Times

Posted on April 16, 2013 by lauren

There is something so interesting happening in our society. At least within our social circle (and certainly in my male cousins’ and many of our extended families’ households), fathers are even more present and crucial in child-rearing roles than they were in the previous generation. I speak to my family and friends about the changing culture often: people from my parents’ generation tend to assume that I worry when leaving my children alone with my husband (!) and/or assume it is somehow a burden on him to do so. Really! I get comments constantly about leaving my children to go to the grocery store or coffee shop by myself. One gentleman who works in a coffee shop I frequent actually said, “And you left them alone?!!” when I told him my husband and kids were waiting in the car for me. Yes, I know it was a joke, but my response of “Oh, yeah. He’s much more patient than I am!” was met with a glazed look in the eyes.

These snap judgements are just crazytown to me. When I went away for a three-day trip a little over a week ago, there was not one thought in my mind to, say, leave a list of how-to’s in regard to childcare, or even to stock the refrigerator with food before I left. Because Andrew is a more-than-capable parent; equal-to, if not greater than I. We are parenting equals, and to say that I trust him would be to negate the fact that I admire and learn from him. He is a father. He is the other half of the equation. I know that I am lucky, but I am also critically aware of the change fathers in general have undergone in the past 20 years. In talking to my closest girlfriends who also have children, I know that I am not alone. Something has shifted, and it is such a beautiful change. Gone are the macho stereotypes of the father-as-sole-provider-but-emotionally-distant-male-role-model. A father is no longer a clueless, distant, financial and strict figure-head in the family. The father figure I have grown to know is strong in an even greater way: he is not hesitant to teach his children love and affection as well as discipline and integrity. He is capable and nurturing and fun and goofy and wonderful.

Have your views of fatherhood changed since you were a child? What is the greatest gift your partner brings to your family?

Weekend Shenanigans: A Feast With Friends

Posted on April 15, 2013 by lauren

My heart is so full as I write this… it seems that with a few good sunny warm days of working in the garden and the kitchen, and sharing good food with close friends, life is really really good. I am grateful for an abundance of beautiful local produce and the means with which to cook it and the money to buy it (and soon to grow it!). I am grateful for healthy, happy children who share space and toys and laughter with other joyful, loving children. I am grateful for the comfort and peace-of-mind that a clean and cared-for home provides. I am grateful for a partner who happily asks, “What can I do to help?” not only in the middle of the night with a screaming toddler, but also during the day with chores and childcare and everything in-between. I am grateful for friends who let me “borrow” their delicious baby girl so that I can satisfy my baby fix without… you know, going there. I am grateful that we found these baby bunnies before our dog did! And they are looking even cuter, if that is possible, since opening their eyes yesterday!

Don’t do it, Emil

I am grateful for good, strong immune systems. Because he did it.

I am grateful for simple. Because roasting baby carrots in their skins with olive oil, salt, and rosemary makes for a delightful treat.

I am grateful for this life. I am not worthy of it, and I cherish it.

15/52

Posted on April 13, 2013 by lauren

“A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2013″

Emil: Reading “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Suess, of course.

Oliver: Has to stay in the tub until ALL of the water has drained.

Milo: Enjoying some rest after a late night in the ER.

***Linking up with Jodi and her 52 Project***

Milo’s Stitches

Posted on April 12, 2013 by lauren

Yesterday afternoon, Milo, Oliver, Emil and I were just beginning to pot some flowers on the back deck. I asked Milo to hand me a small tray of flowers, only he tripped walking over to them and fell hard onto an empty flowerpot. Flowerpot 1, eyebrow 0.

5 hours in an ER with 3 children by myself was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life. But we got to eat peanut butter M&M’s and cherry popsicles for dinner! And made a fort in the triage room! And blow up extra large hospital gloves like balloons! We made it (Emil barely), and Milo was actually pretty proud of the new four stitches he would be able to show off to his classmates this morning.

Plus, now he and Oliver will have matching scars. Same eyebrow and everything. They really do everything together.

Have a wonderful weekend.

P.s.- I’m really hoping to never have to title a blog post “Emil’s Stitches,” but it’s not looking good at this rate…

Garden Expansion… Take One

Posted on April 11, 2013 by lauren

Oh, look who decided to show up?

We are well into April and I am grateful to report that spring has finally come. It feels like we are playing catch-up in a major way, as we look back at our vegetable garden this time of year last year and can’t help but feel a pang of sadness that not only all of our planting was done, but our veggies had already done a whole lot of growing! We have nothing planted yet, and won’t for at least another week, as we are still in need of topsoil, more compost, and maybe even manure this year. Oh. And a fence. Yes, a fence would be good.

After 10 days (with 3 days off thanks to my Kansas City trip) of hard work in the veggie garden: pulling, digging, hauling and dumping; and the flower gardens: weeding, raking, lifting, mulching, mulching, mulching!!! my arms and lower back ache. Even my abs, which haven’t seen action in a full year, are remembering their purpose. And something has happened to me. The missing piece in the balance that equals happiness falls back into place. I eat right, try to get a decent night’s sleep, keep my home tidy and kitchen tidier, see friends and have a pretty good social life. But all of those pieces float around above my foggy mind until… I remember. I kick my ass with hard physical labor, sometimes in the sunshine, sometimes in the near dark and pouring rain, and suddenly, I can exhale. Oh. This is what I’ve been needing.

And all that is just the bonus before we get to enjoy it: we are expanding our garden to double the size it was last year and putting in a proper fence. We are garden people. We love the work it takes, the patience, the beauty, what it teaches our children about food and the earth and their ability to nurture things into ripeness, then reap the bounty of their hard work. Gardening is kind of a metaphor for life to us.

But right now is the hard part. Right now we have to add and add and add before we can take anything away. We have to deal with ugly and slow and messy before we can even chart out what we want to grow. We do this work with thoughts of years to come and mouths to feed and the joy that the garden will bring us. But you know what? That slow, messy process is healing me. And so…

Patience.

Dress That Mama: A Dress and Boots

Posted on April 10, 2013 by lauren

If you recognize this dress, that is because I wore it all 9 months during my pregnancy with Emil (and during my pregnancy with Oliver, come to think of it!). And you know what? I’m still not tired of it! Also? It’s not a maternity dress, just a little more forgiving of the old waistline, so it stays.

My favorite part is the back, which is an interesting shape and open to the skirt part, while the rest of the dress is pretty modest. I will wear this thing until it is full of holes. Unfortunately, as you may imagine, I bought it many years ago while living in Baltimore when Milo was just a wee babe, so I’m pretty sure it’s long gone. However, if you like the brand, it’s Velvet. Here is a link to some of their more current styles, though sadly I don’t care for most of it.

Do you ever feel disappointed when a designer you love changes course to follow trends you would rather not? I think I may always love some sort of boots-and-dress combination, but lately I have been choosing a style that is far from “current.” Oh, well. If I keep finding vintage Frye boots, I will keep wearin’ em!

P.s.- They’re really comfortable!

Yummy Stuff: Kale Salad with Maple Tahini Vinaigrette

Posted on April 9, 2013 by lauren

Inspired by a side my friend ordered at Westside Local in Kansas City this past weekend, I decided to try to recreate the dish. Here is my attempt! I think it would go well with many dishes, including grilled salmon or a veggie burger, but it is also very filling and can hold its own. The sweetness of the maple syrup is tempered by the bite of red wine vinegar and dijon mustard and creamy earthiness of the tahini. The slivered almonds bring a really nice crunch to an otherwise softer salad. And if you don’t care for brussels sprouts, halve the suggested portion below, but please oh please try them in this salad– you may find that you actually love them prepared this way!

Ingredients

3 cups curly kale, rinsed, tough stems removed, and chopped finely
2 cups finely shredded brussels sprout leaves (do this with a very sharp knife)
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup crumbled bacon (optional)
2 Tbsp olive oil
salt & pepper to taste
tahini maple dressing (see below)

Tahini Maple Dressing

2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
1 Tbsp sesame tahini
1/2 tsp dijon mustard

Place shaved brussels sprout leaves in a baking dish with olive oil and salt & pepper and toss until coated. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes, or until brussels sprouts look like this (some crispy pieces; some tender):

While they are baking, make the vinaigrette. Whisk together the red wine vinegar, olive oil, maple syrup, tahini, and mustard until smooth.

Remove brussels sprouts from oven and immediately place kale on top to steam slightly:

Toss sprouts and kale together, then top with vinaigrette and toss again. Top salad with bacon, slivered almonds, and parmesan and serve warm or at room temperature (or just throw all ingredients into a big bowl, mix, and serve). Enjoy!

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