Meal Plan:: 8-22

As stressful as it can be to come home after a long trip and have SO much to do, it can be equally thrilling (yes thrilling) to have the chance to revamp and restart, in the food department too of course.  After a solid week of eating yummy indulgent food I wanted nothing to do with my rich comfort food standbys...soooo, now what?  After scouring a few of my favorite "healthy" websites and magazines I'm excited for a week filled with some amazing fresh meals.  Ah, end of summer bounty...you are good to us.

Breakfasts::
Oatmeal with maple pumpkin butter, raisins and cinnamon
Liberte yogurt (if you haven't tried this stuff you simply must, it's divine)
Eggs! (for Louise's birthday of course!)

Lunches::
TJs Organic Creamy Tomato Soup
Lentil Vegetable Soup
Hummus with Late July Tortilla Chips (the best!) and cherry tomatoes

Dinners::
Asian Chicken Dumpling Soup with Ginger and Spinach
Chicken Sausage and Summer Squash saute
TJs mini pizzas
Ina Garten's Mac and Cheese and Hebrew National hot dogs (Louise's birthday dinner request)

I only planned 4 night because, well, it's already Wednesday and you KNOW there's going to be lots of birthday leftovers. I'm really excited about the treats we're making for Louise's birthday!

grocery total :: $185

LOTS of pantry staples needed to be replenished after our trip as well as all those party goodies.  Not too shabby!

Tiny Treasures

Summer has turned into a bit of a treasure hunt around here.  It's been incredible.

After the start of sale season and the BIG find, things tapered a bit.  We had no real need for much.  I felt set with most gifts needed immeditately and the girls are swimming in summer clothes.

Then the annual book fair commenced and well, we just can't pass that up.

We went with both girls in tow, a feat in itself.  But our little bookworms made theselves right at home amongst the overflowing boxes and excited patrons.  We left when the girls had had enough, got ice cream and came home.  But I was just getting started.  I couldn't NOT go back knowing all the treasures that still had to be found.  So I left the girls with Ian and did a little late night scouring.  Oh boy.

I found so many amazing paperbacks, which I actually prefer to hardback in most cases, those little house ones are the new favorites

Elisa Kleven treasures, far and away my favorite illustrator and on the top of my children's author list, I was THRILLED with these finds, especially that hardback of the Paper Princess, Ainsley spilled water on her copy and it was rather devastating.  Her book B is for Bethlehem is my FAVORITE Christmas book.  Check her out.

Helme Heine, Mem Fox, Roxaboxen, Grandfather Twilight and Mary Ann Hoberman.  Hoberman's beautifully rhymed books are some of our new favorites.  Her book The Seven Silly Eaters is high on  Ainsley's birthday list.

books for Ainsley, three Angelina's, two Jesse Bear's and Dance, Tanya

Holiday reading finds...Bear Noel and Room on the Broom are the BEST!  Oh, and the Jolly Christmas postman too.

Some scores for Louise's birthday, we have the Little Duck book and it's one of her favorites.

I put one bag of books right on the shelves and saved the rest for gifts.  I can't wait!

This week I also did a bit of traditional birthday shopping.  After our wonderful afternoon at the beach in Winnetka my Aunt drove me by the cute local toy store and I lept out to browse while the girls snoozed in the back.  I am so excited about what I found for Louise!

Funshine, a cooperative game I've never heard  of but it looks wonderful and games are her favorites! Puzzles too so I got a jumbo floor puzzle of the earth by Mud Puppy, they make wonderful toys, and of course some new blocks, these ones are to enhance all that train town play that goes on in our house.  Very very exciting.

So after all this bounty and the thrill of the find I was ready to be done, a bit tuckered to be honest.  Then, when packing for Minnesota yesterday I decided to have Ainsley try on all her long sleeves and pants to see what still fit for winter.  Um, NOTHING! save for two pairs of pants.  NOTHING!!!! I nervously chuckled "oh boy Ainsley, we're in big trouble."  She of course was thrilled.  "I'm growing so big mama! I'm SO BIG!!!!!"  Oh goodness yes, but now what?  So we spent the next hour scouring the basement for fabric for new pants for Ainsley.  While the girls napped I made her two new pairs out of old yoga pants of mine.  Then this morning I rushed down the block to hit a big block sale and stumbled upon a woman getting rid of boxes and boxes of her daughters' 4T clothes.  Two bags and $8 later my girl is stocked for fall.  Ah, the beauty of treasure hunting.

while the footie jammies, fun shirts and leggings were much appreciated she hasn't taken this 25 cent dress off all day.  I had to.  I knew it had Ainsley written all over it. (we'd just gotten back from the pool and she was playing her preschool game on the ipad, clearly miffed mom wanted a photo, ah my girl)

Perhaps it's a good thing sale season is winding down.  This treasure hunting is a bit addicting.  Any great finds of yours this summer?  Happy hunting!

To Be Simple

I'm up before the brood this morning, loving waking up at my own time lately.  This morning is cooler and dark and rainy.  I love it.

Really I've loved this week.  The only real pressing to dos have been fun, sewing and scheming for Louise's second birthday, laundering in preparation for our last summer hurrah up at the cabin next week.  All good things.

I'm really trying to savor these last weeks of summer, for as much as I love fall it can be a tricky time of year.  There is always so much CHANGE in fall.  In schedules, in rhythm, in weather.  I realize this year that school and activity changes are what really fuel that tricky fire and I've been anxious about it for some time now, but focusing on all the good and growth it's going to bring for us all has helped immensely.  I'm ready and excited.

It helps so much to have the girls in programs I'm ecstatic about.  Louise will be away from me for the first time two small mornings a week, cared for by Miss Sheila herself at the cute park district schoolhouse just up the road from us.  I attended her orientation last night and all the admins remembered me, asked after Ainsley, were delighted that little Louise would be joining them this fall. So strange and wonderful to be a veteran this year.

And Ainsley?  Well, we all know how much I hoped and yearned after Pilgrim and she's in and so excited.  Every farmer's market Saturday we wave hello to her school and she's already planning out her first day outfit and packing her backpack (she's like her mama that way, always prepared).

And me?  Why, I'm already salivating over the brief free time.  At first perhaps just to linger outside playschool, out of sight but close.  Then I may just go for a jogging stroller free run in the MIDDLE of the day.  Perhaps I'll meet other child-free friends for coffee. Perhaps I'll bring my knitting and a homemade latte and sit in the sun on a  bench, quietly.  Ah.

It is in these preparations for life that I find so much simple joy.  In the stacking of clean summer duds for lake fun, in the scheming of my little one's second birthday (eggs and elephants it is this year, her two favorites in the whole world), in the easy pattern and yarn choices for fall sweaters for the the girls and me (yes me, it's time I have my own new handmade sweater), in the stocking of the freezer for my boy (because one can only live off of cereal and hamburgers for so long).

This morning I am thankful for this quiet house.  For STRONG french press coffee (whoops!) and clouds and rain.  I am thankful for the steady comforting work of home, for my sweet helpful girls, my hardworking boy, and that I'm here, enjoying it all.

A happy Wednesday to you all!

Meal Plan:: August Sixth

Oh goodness summer.  I feel done with you in so many ways but cooking and you?  Oh boy, we're struggling.  Thankfully this week is finally comfortable without the AC, windows are wide open and I don't mind turning on that old gas stove every now and again.  I'll conquer you yet!

Breakfasts::
Oatmeal with brown sugar, cream and berries
Cracklin' Oat Bran (I forgot how much I love this stuff, brings me back to college)

Lunches::
Ham (or Turkey) with monteray jack, heirloom tomatoes and red leaf lettuce
Greek Pasta Salad (leftover from dinner)
Minestrone, (leftover from dinner)


Dinners::
Greek Pasta Salad with Cheddar Wursts (for as much as I steer clear of over processed foods, I will never be without a good cheddar wurst a few times a summer...MMMMM!)
Minestrone, baguette and goat cheese

Ham and Cheese Omlettes with fruit salad
TJs pepperoni pizza and summer salad
Chicken Spaghetti and summer salad (leftover from this weekend, SOOOO good)
Black Bean and Pork Tenderloin chili (with corn and tortilla chips)
Chicken Tikka Masala with Basmati Rice and Peas (leftover from last weekend, frozen)

Desserts::
Summer Peach Cake with Whipped Cream (and yes, it's TOTALLY worth the effort)
Berry Cream Cheese Pie (I've made this with frozen mixed berries, and fresh black and blueberries, any way you slice it :o) it's DELICIOUS)
you know I had to with all that fresh picked orchard goodness

So the name of the game this week was stock up and freeze.  Making big whole casseroles, large pasta salads and buckets of soup.  Even in the summer heat it's the most economical way to cook and will stock Ian up for our week away next week.  There's enough "summer" stuff in there to remind me of   the season, but enough of my old standbys to keep it comfortable and easy in the kitchen.  Ahhh, FINALLY!

Oh, total budget:: about $120 (I say about because we bought the produce at the orchard in addition to all those perennials and some of the extras at Target with a few other things and I have yet to do the exact math...still good!)

Life Lately

I've been avoiding writing this past week.  I've felt pretty scattered and harried what with the imminent end of summer and all that that entails.  For me?  It entails crossing all those oh my gosh I forgot to do this before fall! things off our list and oh goodness both girls are in school this fall, SO much to prepare for list and finally the sweet Louise is turning two and I've vowed to make her every gift (and all those other end of summer birthdays) list.  Oh my.

But this is how I work.  Sometimes I need a day of two "off".  To just play with the girls and immerse myself in the simple hard life of mamahood, then I can gear back up.  Have 4 loads of laundry going while a peach cake is baking in the oven while 4 separate sewing projects are cut and sprawled on our tiny dining table while the girls are upstairs raucously giggling over the latest antics and pretend scheme.  Ah.  It's getting done.

Last week among all this fluster and flurry the girls and I found ourselves at the local movie theater for a $1 showing of Winnie the Pooh.  It was delightful.

Well, not the movie so much.  I fear those directors took a few too many artistic liberties with the classic characters, but the free refill popcorn and my girls close and snug and cool on a hot summer morning?  That was pretty much perfect.

As hot and icky as this summer has been my stand out favorite memories are going to be picnic lunches with Ian.  We almost never visit Ian at work.  He works at the VA, kind of a lock down situation and it's not a very kid friendly place.  I've run by a forgotten lunch or laptop occasionally, but save for that work is a very private place for Ian.  With him sleeping at work every other night the girls and I miss him extra the next day.  The girls ALWAYS beg for daddy all morning and it helps to have an occasion to look forward to.  We pick up a fun lunch, we meet, we eat.  The girls get their daddy fix and we all end the day satisfied.  For all the turmoil this PhD has brought, daddy picnic lunches are surely a high point.

Then, perhaps from all this worry and fluster of mine, I got sick.  A kind of silly cold that turned into something ickier.  I was down and out for a night and a morning while my boy took over.  Apparently all I really needed was a bunch of ginger ale and a 3 hour nap.  By Sunday morning I was back and ready for some fun.

Ian and I decided to take a new weekend route.  After the success (and expense!) of the book fair on Friday night...oh boy I should do a whole post on that!), we let the garage sales be and focused our energy on Sunday morning fun.  Ian wanted a solo downtown date with Louise, just like he used to have with Ainsley and I was desperate for some orchard picking and Ainsley seemed the perfect companion.  So we went our separate ways and I must say, we all 4 had a blast.

Ainsley and I ventured to Garden Patch Farms in Homer Glen.  We'd been twice last year, once for raspberry picking and another for apples.  This time we hit up blackberry and peach season and it was by far my favorite trip.

We had the berry rows to ourselves, even had to hold off on picking because the ripe juicy buggers were so abundant.  Ainsley's face was purple with delight by the end of our trip.  It was heaven.

I remember seeing the peach trees last year, after their harvest was over, SO bummed out that we'd missed it.  This year?  We capitalized and picked tons of juicy ripe now peaches and some others to mature on the counter.  I made peach cake last night that was divine and am looking forward to another peach concoction in our very near future.

Ah. What a morning.

Then Ainsley slept on the way home so Ian took her to a friend's house for coffee in the afternoon while I gardened and Louise napped.  Well, she didn't nap, so I brought my little garden helper down and she dug and dumped and watered until we were both spent.  We showered and headed downstairs for a little calm time.  Louise crawled up on the couch and I went into the kitchen to get us some water.  When I walked back out, I found this.

So I turned on some Brahms and let my sleeping babe be.  Later when she awoke too soon I cuddled her and we dozed together for the first time in months and months, with a cool summer breeze blowing through the quiet house.

This weekend was just what we all needed.

This morning woke a bit flustered and I realized Ainsley stashed all of our pool passes somewhere in the house and after retrieving three, the last is no where to be found.  But we rallied as we tend to do, got errands done, even found the time to Mr Clean the fridge and splash in the backyard pool before lunch.

Deck lunches with fresh food are the best.  Heirloom tomato and turkey sandwiches with those handpicked peaches and berries.  We made smoothie popsicles with the leftover cut up fruit.  What a treat for the afternoon.

Ah and the garden.  Finally a bit tended to and revived after all that heat and sun.  I'd completely let it go when the weeds kept growing and the sun kept beating and baking.  I bought 8 new perennial plants at the orchard, actually READ up on how to care for them and am doing my darndest.  I was tired of all that weedy green back there.  It feels happy again, definitely a space we want to linger in and enjoy while we can.

For I know and have learned that while I feel SO done with summer, fall will be here all too soon and I'll wish I was where I am right now all over again.

Hoping for a wonderful Monday for you all!

Things Loved...Lately.

It's been a while, so I thought I'd share some favorites of late.

Panzanella

I have been hankering after a good tomato and bread salad for ages and now that tomatoes are ripe and abundant I was eager to take the plunge.  In quite a stroke of serendipity I came across an American's Test Kitchen featering their own "best" of this classic summer salad.  I made it.  We LOVED it.  The girls helped me make it, it's that simple, and I ate the leftovers from dinner for dessert last night.

Babble Wine

This TJs 6.99 bottle is my new favorite, this was even BEFORE I read the description in the store that informed me it has "afternotes of bacon fat".  Umm, YES!

iPlay Swim Diaper

This is my second year using one of these instead of the disposables and I continue to be in absolute love.  Especially for a family like us who's either at a splash pad or pool or sprinkler most every day this is far and away a more economical way to go.  I simply rinse and line dry the diaper and throw it in with the wash at the end of the week.  It's amazing!

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

I read this book last month at the cabin and it kind of changed my life.  If you run AT ALL I can't imagine this book not doing the same for you.  Fascinating, inspiring, amazing.

Zeitoun by Dave Eggers

This nonfiction book was lent to me by a friend and I devoured it in about 3 days.  Once I got over how embarrassed I was that I knew so little of the details of hurricane Katrina I was absolutely entranced.  It was such a powerful story and I'm so glad I read it.

French Press Coffee

Ian and I have officially crossed over.  After our tried and true Krups machine started making weird hissing noises and taking over 10 minutes to brew a half pot of coffee we decided it was time to make a switch.  Having worked in a really good coffee shop in college we'd both gotten spoiled by the fresh amazing espresso and brew and it's been hard to find a good substiute at home.  We both drink coffee black and grind our beans at home so the next natural step was roasting at home and a french press, right?

Well, the roasting is all Ian.  A new coworker of his is quite the coffee aficionado  and has introduced him to this "other side" of coffee making.  I must say, the french press is definitely better than anything I've made in a conventional coffee maker.  We got the $12 model from IKEA and have no complaints so far!

TJs cookies

Perhaps the thing I miss most during the summer months is the lack of slow roasting and baking.  It's just too dang hot to have that oven on, period!  But while I miss the process, I REALLY miss the product.  It's been fun to have a seasonal excuse to peruse the store bought options out there.  My current fave?  TJs mini almond biscotti 2 (ok, maybe 3 or 4) of these and a cup of french press is my new naptime treat.  Delicious.

Coffee Berry eye and lip balm by SKIN Organics

I've been on the search for a good eye cream lately that's not crazy expensive and mostly natural.  I just wanted something kind of basic that would help with these lovely dark circles that motherhood has given me.  I grabbed this stuff at whole foods a few months back and love it.  I use it every night under my eyes and then swipe it across my lips.  I love that it's multi purpose, smells great and leaves my eyes feeling refreshed and soft.  Oh, and it's vegan, which I like too (in my products, not my diet :o).


Hmm, thisis fun. I have lots of things I've liked lately.


Teeny Tiny Tales by Sarah Hayes

This book is our latest library find and we're hooked.  Louise, Ainlsye and I adore it equally, which is quite the feat these days.  5 cute short stories about 5 little woodland nymph friends.  Love it.

Minnetonka Moccasins

I'm sure I've told you already but I LOVE these shoes.  I look forward to buying the girls a new pair each summer for their fall slip on shoes.  I know TOMS are big and I think they're adorable too, but a part of me is reluctant to buy into the trenc when I already face SO many wardrobe opinions and struggles with Ainsley.  As long as she lets me put her in adorable well made minnesota mocassion leather?  I'm going to do it.  Oh, Louise too.

I was even willing to let her go this year but she chose the "beautiful pretty brown"  that's my girl!

So many fun things lately.

THE Find

Let me start by admitting wholeheartedly that my thrifting itch has gotten way out of control.  This is not to say it's a bad thing, but when sale prices at Target look WAY TOO CRAZY EXPENSIVE you know you've crossed over to the other side.

Oh but the other side? it's good.  It's filled with cheap dollar bin searching finding thrills, and all those empty handed trips are overwhelmingly made up for with the finds.

Today?  I may have found THE find.

This particular find was found at a nice large moving sale.  I'd seen an add in the local paper and figured any sale willing to spend money to advertise must have some goods, so we went.  When I go to sales I am mostly looking for things for the girls and other little ones in our lives.  Mint condition toys for gifts, good quality clothes and books.  I of course keep my eyes out for nice household items and vintage linens, but these seem harder to come by.  Oh but I'm getting away from myself.  Back to the dolls.

A wonderful friend gave Ainsley two of these dolls about a year and a half ago.  The dolls are the 8"
Madeline dolls, made by Eden.  These dolls were only in production for a few years in the mid 90s and were then discontinued.  Why?  I have no clue.  These dolls are adorable, SO well made and cute and a wonderful substitute for the more buxom barbie dolls.  I was delighted with this gift and Ainsley plays with those two dolls and the clothes and accessories endlessly.

So when I walked into this sale and saw all five dolls (the two we own plus three I never knew existed) lined up neatly with stands sitting a top a tupperware box of clothes and accessories I honed in.  I grabbed them immediately and searched for the seller to start negotiations.  The seller went to get her daughter whose dolls they were "um, $5 for the clothes and a buck a doll?"  I was all set with my $10 bill when the mom swooped in "oh no, you have to ask a bit more for those."  Shoot!  She knows what she has!  Keep cool Becky, keep cool. "Ok, um $3 a doll?  and $10 for the box?  I only have a $20 and I was hoping to get those felt boards too...could I get them all for $20?  "Sure! And we'll throw in the Madeline CD"  Thanks, amazing!  I'm so thrilled.

          
'
The girl went on to talk about her dolls.  How she was so glad they were going to two new little girls.  I nodded and smiled, happy too, and handed the loot off to Ian to hide them in the car before Ainsley saw them.  Nothing like stocking up for Christmas in July!

But aside from the fact that these dolls are adorable and desirable to my girls and myself, they are really quite valuable.  I had never looked up the worth of these dolls when we first got the two, but my friend kept reiterating "these are NICE.  REALLY NICE.  Take good care of them!"  Turns out?  ONE of these dolls, not mint, not in the box, is worth just under $100.  We have the whole set of 5 and about 80% of the clothes and accessories that go with them.  Ian about pooped his pants when I told him.  He rushed out the door to go back and try and nab the last two dolls standing but of course they'd already found new homes.

Much to Ian's chagrin I reminded him that these dolls aren't for sale.  These dolls are for Christmas morning for my two girls, for hours upon hours of imaginative play and delight.  I simply cannot wait to see Ainsley's face, Louise's too.  Now to find a spot in our house safe from both the girls AND Ian. Ahh, I love a good find.