SCENES FROM A WEEK, WEEK 7

We've now been semi-quarantined for 50 days. I've been listening to the podcast Staying in with Emily and Kumail and they talked about how we're in a place in society right now that is a little numb to everything. How when people were first being quarantined they were setting up routines that helped them through the work week and to feel their healthiest, but those routines aren't working quite as well right now. That makes a lot of sense to me. I was really trying to keep a daily photo journal but at some point I kind of stopped? Because it just all feels the same? I don't know guys. I think I need a nap and a new book and maybe a cookie.

The girls came to see what we were cooking for dinner. Not chicken, thankfully. 

Ava made matcha chocolate scones the other evening. SUPER simple and so delicious. Recipe is from Tokyo Kitchen. 

I was reading the latest Lady Darby book and Ava finished up the Harry Potter series this week.

BABY BUNNY SWEETNESS.

I did a home Lego coding virtual lesson for students this week. 

Ava's art teacher sent postcards out to all her students to send on smiles to others! Such a fun project.

Another virtual Scout Camp out this weekend. Dylan was able to participate with a couple other boys and still practice social distancing.

My current project. Stay tuned for the finished project.

SCENES FROM A WEEK

We've been at home now for six weeks. We're lucky: everyone is healthy, our neighborhood is nice for walking, both Neal and I are still working, we have internet access for the kids to do their work, we live in a state where our governor made quick, educated choices. We like each other, and the military has us prepared for things like missed vacations, not being there for someones birthday, endlessly changing orders and plans, being aware that you are indeed living through history.

But still. We're restless.We missed family visits and a long planned for trip. We miss our friends. And the library. I miss my students and co-workers and the kids miss their teachers.  It's an odd time. A slow time.

I have always loved being home. And I still do; even through the restlessness, the boredom, the worry.

Scenes from our week: 

I'm reading The Land of Stories series out loud to Ava. We are absolutely loving it.

Dylan is working on his Cooking Merit Badge for scouts, so he has been making dinners about once a week and using different techniques. This week he wanted to work on frying, so we made tonkatsu (Japanese fried pork chops). He used this video tutorial from Tokyo Kitchen. 

 YUM.

Working from home. I've been making a lot of anchor charts, which now won't be used until next year. 😢 We're out until the end of the year. I knew it was coming, but it was still very upsetting.

We did a backyard campout. It was fun, but cold!

 Campout dinner was chicken pot pie with biscuits. I found the recipe on this list; I'm working through all of them.

Ava is working on learning to braid her own hair. We've been looking at lots of braiding tutorials. Turns out I don't know how to do a traditional braid? Evidently, I always do "dutch braids" instead of traditional braids.

Ava's Earth Day art.

WHEN THINGS FALL INTO PLACE

hip hip hooray, we had (another) great day

Sometimes, things fall into place. Sometimes, you're in a house, in a neighborhood, taking your kids to school, doing a job you love and your husband is home for dinner every single night. And you find yourself not having to remind yourself, "Be present" because you just are. You're not telling yourself "the days are long but the years are short" through gritted teeth because you're just enjoying the days.
Part of this falling into place is just the place we are at in general. My kids are big, but not too big. They can put on their own shoes, they can buckle their own seat belts, we never ever need a stroller (PRAISE THE LORD), we can take them places and not have it be a huge production. They still like to hang out with us and we don't embarrass them yet. It's spring time-where the days are warmer and longer and that alone can make things feel better. You could say we're in a good season-in both life and nature.

But there is a little more right now: we love our home (not always the case when you move every few years), we love our neighborhood (same), and the school the kids are attending is fantastic (also: same). Both Neal and I like our jobs and work decent hours. We love this duty station and the town we live in-which is always a blessing because we don't get to chose. And while there are issues, like any where or place (a move in the middle of the school year is not easy), we are so content here.

It feels like home, in a way the last three years did not. It feels like everything has fallen into place for the time being, and I am grateful for it every day.

PINS + LINKS

Happy Friday! It's been an interesting week around here. I lots of new ideas I'm floating and we're settling into our spring schedule which means baseball, baseball, and more baseball. Even though it was a busy week, it was a MUCH better week than last week. Last weekend I did all the things I said I wanted to and it made a huge difference in this week.

Wine + nap + prayer & meditation + a good book = a much better me.

Let's hope this weekend is as restorative!

Here are some of the things I pinned this week:

1. Shrimp and Whole 30 grits? Yes, please. 2. I think I might want to add a floral skirt to my wardrobe. 3. I've been daydreaming about cabins again. 4. I think I want to go full on Southern and paint my porch ceiling blue.

Links I'm Loving:

I'm listening to The Practical Minimalists podcast and it's so good.

I want a recipe box to organize all the random recipes I have laying around, but it's so hard to chose because I like them all.

I just ordered Joy the Baker's new brunch cookbook.

We're starting to plan a camping trip here with some of our best friends and I CANNOT WAIT.

So tempting!

Just ordered my second clean out kit from ThredUp.

This is a great piece about moving by one of my favorite bloggers.

I've been trying to find the perfect crossbody bag.

I think I'm going to try the gluten free bread recipe from my Against All Grain cookbook this weekend.

My favorite city written up in my new favorite magazine.

Have a fabulous weekend, ya'll!

ALMOND & APPLE CHICKEN SALAD

Sometimes, life gets crazy. Sometimes, you and your hubs get home from work and have homework to help with, plus both baseball and Girl Scouts on the same night (WHY WHY WHY), plus dogs to feed...oh and yourself and all the people who live in your house who expect to eat every single day. And that's when you need to have a ton of this chicken salad in your fridge so you have something to scarf down before you run out the door. (Again.) It's great on it's own, with crackers, on bread, or on top of greens!

Also, it's, like, the easiest thing ever to make.

These measurements are good for two very large servings, so feel free to double or triple it for mega food prep. (Make during your weekly meal prep and you're golden!) Most weeks, I throw a couple pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts in my slow cooker for 4 hours and then shred it all to have on hand during the week, and that works perfectly here. I also make my own mayo, because...I'm crazy (Just in case you would like to try this, I double the Whole 30 recipe) but you can use regular mayonnaise, of course (I suggest Hellmann's for traditional mayo or Primal Kitchen Avocado mayo if you're paleo/Whole 30). I also sometimes top it with Danielle Walker's Against All Grain Thai Almond Dressing and it is DIVINE.

Alright, let's make chicken salad!

Almond & Apple Chicken Salad

2 cups of cooked, shredded chicken 

4-6 Tbsp of mayonnaise of your choice

1 small apple, cored and chopped 

1 stalk of celery, chopped

2 Tbsp of roasted or raw almonds

Salt and pepper to taste

Optional: Against All Grain Almond Dressing

Mix all ingredients together and salt and pepper to taste. Top with almond dressing, if desired. Can be stored in fridge up to three days.

Enjoy!

PINS + LINKS

Happy Friday! I've decided to bring back Pins + Links on Fridays.


Do you ever come to the end of a week and find yourself focusing on all your shortcomings? It doesn't happen often to me, but this week has been a struggle. Some weeks are hard, you know? I'm hoping this weekend clears my mind and sets me on the right path for the coming week. The kids are off of school Monday, so it's a three day weekend for us, which already puts things in a positive light. I need a little downtime, some meditation, a little prayer, and maybe a nap and a glass of wine.

Here are some Pins I found this week:

1. Have you read about how people are choosing to wear a "uniform' everyday? This is my uniform. 2. I'll be making this drink station as soon as it warms up (hopefully this weekend!). 3. I just shopped at Aldi for the first time this week-and I really liked it. 4. Happy St. Patrick's Day! I think a Guinness float sound fantastic. 5. We're looking at new dining room sets and this is the look I'm going for.

Link Love:

Since one of my springtime goals is more gluten free baking, I've been making these Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies from Livin Paleo and they are SO GOOD.

I watched and loved The Crown, but this news of season two is HIGHLY ANNOYING. The Go Fug Yourself Girls break it down for you.

I'm moving toward ALL all natural cleaning products in our home and am finding lots of ideas/inspiration from the blogs From Faye and Clean Mama.

I just bought these Converse and I love them. My capsule wardrobe is pretty much complete!

This stuff is just the cutest. Even though Ava has been extra sassy this week, I want to buy it all for her.

That's it for me! I hope you have a great weekend.

HOME TOUR: LIVING ROOM

As you may know, we recently moved to a new state. And when we moved here, we bought a house. A house that I absolutely love! So I thought that it would be fun to do a Home Tour.

Let's start with the living room:

 When you walk in to the house, the living room is to your left. We get a lot of light here! No curtains for us; I like the clean lines of the wooden white blinds. Everything in this room is stuff we already had, but a lot of it was re-purposed into new uses!

 My all time favorite photo of the kids.

When we moved in, we painted the walls. We used Behr White Metal and are really happy with how it turned out-we went with the Premium Plus Ultra in Eggshell finish and it was worth it, in my opinion. 

The television sits on a hope chest that my great-grandfather bought for grandmother when she got married. He owned a furniture store in 1930's in Arbuckle, CA and it came from there. The gallery wall is full of our favorite photos, which we actually need to update since Ava has been walking for a few years now :).

Family Photos are by Amy Shuman Photography

Silhouettes are from Disneyland.

Initial is from Anthropologie. 

 This is the first time we've ever had a (working) fireplace in a home and we love it!

Detail of the right hand side of the mantle.

On the other side of that wall is the kitchen and dining area. The chair is vintage via Neal's grandmother. The poster on the wall is a printing press copy of the Declaration of Independence that we got on a trip to Philadelphia. 

Lots of sunlight! And sleeping dogs (Ryder the Lab is lying on the rug just below Dakota).

Doggie and blanket corner

Flea market green glass (from Alabama), fresh flowers, and door coasters (a gift from Ireland from Neal's parents).

Coffee table, The coffee table, sofa table, and end tables were all handmade by Neal's grandfather. Their color just happens to be spot on with the wood floors in this house!


So that's our light filled living room! Come back soon to see more of the Home Tour.

MINIMALIST MEAL PLAN

Meal planning is essential to my week running smoothly. I've been meal planning for years, but recently I started feeling overwhelmed by it all. Which is the exact opposite reason I meal plan! Feeling even more overwhelmed at 5pm, while two children repeatedly say, "I'm hungry. What's for dinner? Is it time for dinner yet? I forgot, what's for dinner?" is no bueno. That's how you end up ordering pizza two times a week.

All my meal planning in the past has required quite a bit of creativity, time, and energy. Every week, I'd be searching through cookbooks and Pinterest recipes, planning out all the meals and writing down all the ingredients, and then shopping for all of that, list in tow-including the actual meal plan to make sure I didn't forget anything. And while I love cooking and meals at home with my family, and enjoy grocery shopping, and get real satisfaction out of meal planning it was turning into something that was complicated and...hard.

So I decided to reassess. To simplify. (That is basically my life motto right now: More simplicity. In all the things.) Inspired by this blog post, I decided to assign a meal to each week night. I've always thought that I needed to change things up or everyone-including me-would be bored, but turns out everyone likes these meals best anyway, and are happy to eat them. Plus, I do change them up, but only in the most simplest of ways.

Here's my weekly minimalist meal plan:

Monday: pasta, salad, veggie 

Change ups: marinara + ground beef OR meatballs OR Italian sausage, pesto + chicken, Alfredo. We usually have some sort of squash as the veggie to keep it Whole 30ish for me and the hubs (spaghetti or zucchini are favorites) plus the pasta for the kids. 

Tuesday: stir fry, rice

Change ups: chicken, pork, or steak plus any veggies. I do either Asian seasoning or fajita. Same process, totally different flavors.

Wednesday: burgers, fries, salad

Change ups: turkey burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, BLTs. I sometimes switch out the salad for raw carrots, celery, and radishes. We have both lettuce wrapped and buns. 

Thursday: soup or salad

Fave Soups: split pea, chicken and rice stew, tomato, beef stew, chicken enchilada

Fave Salads: chicken Cesar, taco, salmon BLT

Friday: leftovers or out

Saturday: Slow Cooker

A variety of things, but my default is pot roast or buffalo chicken

Sunday: Sunday Supper

We take turns picking out "fancy" meal each week.

Sunday supper is always a big meal for us, I usually plan it out from cook books and it takes a bit longer to cook, and we all work together. I also take this time to give the kids basic cooking lessons. I love Sunday Suppers and I can truly enjoy the work that goes into them now that the rest of the week has been simplified. 

So, how can you start minimalist meal planning? Think about the foods and meals your family love and actually eat, and things that are simple to prepare. Take into account evenings that you know will be busier and make those the simplest to prepare meals. Go from there, and the rest will all fall into place.

This is hands down one of the best changes I've made this year. Making a minimalist meal plan has made a big difference in my kitchen. Knowing exactly what I'm going to make AND that it will take minimal time, not to mention that I know everyone will eat it without complaining (PRAISE HANDS) takes the stress out of the equation. It also has helped me to enjoy cooking even more, and to try new flavors and more complicated recipes on the weekends and it leaves me less stressed to enjoy our weekday evenings together. And the best part of all? Teaching my children that home cooked meals and eating together doesn't have to be hard or stressful.

B+ GOALS: SPRINGTIME 2017

It's starting to feel a little like spring here in Kentucky. The days are a little warmer, robins are building nests, and blossoms are tentatively appearing on our trees. Spring is a perfect time to air out new ideas and goals, and, especially since we're in a new place, that's just what I'm going to do. I'm working toward my B+ goals to being more seasonal instead of monthly, out of convenience mostly, but also because I'm all about minimal pressure these days.

Here's what I want to accomplish this spring:

Use my camera more, and look into purchasing a new one.

Spring cleaning!

More baking, with a focus on gluten free treats.

Learn more about our new town and meet new people.

Get a library card!

New deck furniture and grill.

Derby Week!

Plan and plant a container garden.

Start running again.

Finish up our guest room.

What are your plans for spring? Any ideas for me to add to the list?

FOR THE LOVE OF FRIDAY

Hello! I know, it's been forever  awhile. I was doing things like...moving.

But! We're all settled in, and I'm planning (hoping?) to be writing and reflecting more here. Let's do a  For The Love Of Friday post, to get back in the saddle, yes? Let's ease in.

Reading: I've been reading the Chief Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny and am currently on number 9. I love these books, but especially how the author's story telling has sharpened over the series. The first books are good, solid story telling, but the last couple are amazingly well written.

I'm cooking out of Run Fast, Eat Slow. EVERY SINGLE RECIPE so far has been delicious.

Current Favorite: Flu Fighter Chicken and Rice Stew

I'm also browsing my trusty copy of McGee & Stuckey's Bountiful Container book. It's my all time favorite gardening book and I cannot wait for spring to get here!

(It slowed last night. This followed: 78 degree temperatures, high winds, rain, and tornado warnings. All in the past week.)

Listening: The Minimalists Podcast. I'll be writing about it more (hopefully), but we've been on a huge get-rid-of-all-the-things kick, so I've been drawn to this podcast. It can be a little...wordy?...but the overall theme is enjoyable. And I do love the home tour on their website!

Wearing: Neal got me a new Kate Spade watch for my birthday (because I may or may not have dropped my other one in a gardening box, which he then found a week later) It's the horoscope line (Capricorn for the win!). It's no longer available on the Kate Spade website, but you can get one-half off!-at Nordstrom Rack. Despite normally having my phone with me, I love wearing a watch.

Want List: Le Creuset Skillet, & new converse. 

Come back Monday, and I'll have some B+ Goals for you (hopefully)!

LESS AND MORE

Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were filled with happiness. Last year was a good year for me, personally. While I know that many people are filled with concern and worry over the world, and I share those feelings, personally for me the year was lovely. I'm at peace with things I've been struggling with for the past couple years-truly at peace. I'm healthier than ever- I eat well, I exercise regularly, I drink less. I'm just...happy. And positive. And thankful. So very thankful.

I'm ready for this new year and new chapter of my life. Because lots of things are happening! 

Like...a move to a new state. Which in turn means: a new house, new schools for the kids, and finding a new job for me. So there's all that.

(Luckily, I'm a total pro at moving now. This will be our our fifth duty station and our seventh move.)

There are lots of other things too. Smaller things, to work on, to think about, to cook, to read, to try, to write. A new year is always a lovely time for both reflecting on the past and looking toward new goals for the future.

I'm focusing on both Less & More this year:

And maybe a little more writing-here and other places- but a little less sharing. I made my Instagram private and deleted people who aren't on my actual radar. Because...for me...it's not necessary to share with the world right now. So Less people, but More sharing with those that I truly know and care for. That's a less/more that's definitely worth considering. 

Dream big this New Year, guys. Check back and see what we're up too here!

SCENES FROM A WEEKEND

I'm back, ya'll.
It was a long weekend, bless it, and we took it so super easy and it was fantastic.

There was pie baking.

The kids helped me make name cards. It was just the four of us for Thanksgiving, but that's no reason not to have a fancy table.

My Nana's china. It made me miss her.

After our big meal, we went down to the pond where Dylan floated a boat he made.

And my children found a snake skin and picked it up and brought it home because they hope that their mother will die from a heart attack because this nastiness is in her home. (Secretly, I'm glad I have a daughter who is not scared of things like this but STILL.)

There has been A LOT of TV and iPads and video games around here lately and Neal and I threw up our hands and said ENOUGH this weekend. The hubs hauled the kids out into the woods.

There were naps involved too.

And a handwritten letter to Santa.

Also, I still do not understand Snapchat. But this flower crown is pretty.