The View from Where I Sit | Our Summer "Break"

I'm sorry I've been gone for a little while - almost two weeks now.  In reality, I haven't been far.  I've just taken a little break.  We haven't been on a lavish vacation (unless you count vacation bible school...?), and we haven't been doing that much.  And it has been perfect.  Emma's been on school break for the last couple of weeks, with a couple of more to go.  While we've been in a sort of "summer" mode for most of summer (pool, early walks, donut breakfasts, golf, tennis, lounging, etc.) there has still been work and we haven't had a real break until now.



When Emma was just two(ish) months old, I did a post about "The View from Where I Sit"- it was just a snapshot of what a normal day looked like to us at that point in our life.  A newborn baby, puppy and cozy house.  It was beautiful - snuggle moments, our bulletin board of cards and photos, Emma taking a nap, Darcy taking a nap...  The only way it would've been better is if I were actually taking a nap, too ;)   For the last two weeks I've taken a nap almost every day.  You really do learn more about being a Mom as time goes by.



Documenting these "everydays" was something I was going to try to do more often for the blog, because I love taking a moment to stop and appreciate the everyday, the beautiful pauses between the big moments that make up a "normal" day.  It probably comes to no surprise given the name of this blog, that I love "normal" days - everydays

Her favorite spot in the kitchen.

I love routine, being at home, keeping a home and the rhythms of everyday.  I think it is just as important to document those times in our lives as I do the big moments.  After all, it is these normal, everyday moments that actually make up our lives. 

Just like most (all?) of you, I have my everyday moments of frustrations, too.  Sometimes I think if I have to pick up one more puzzle, clean crumbs out of my sheets again or sweep up another spilled bowl of dog food I might go bonkers.  Taking a second to browse around the house with my camera and document these moments of "messes" adds perspective and beauty to these un-produced moments that make up our everydays. 

Welcome to our home any given day of the week.

If you've lived with a toddler, you know that floors are rarely tidy, and laundry is rarely put away.

 Watercolors on the mantle... hopefully to be framed for Emma's room this week.

Has been on my list all summer, of course.  I sort of like them here, though, for now.  Little easy displays like this are good reminders not to take our home, our things or our "displays" too seriously.

 

Test burning a new custom candle scent for the store.  I'm obsessed - you'll love it.

New backpack and lunch box ready for school!

 

By the time I get up the stairs...

Layers of frames and loose snapshots. 

We've never really officially settled in here, with the impending construction starting next month, so nothing really has a place that has been contemplated - mostly just where everything ends up it stays.  The silhouette?  Also to be framed this week. 

I stumbled upon some Pixie Dust in the guest room...

Smiling Emma is enjoying crumbing my bed : )

Our evening reading materials.

Sweet little summer shoes.

 Did I mention we're potty training? 

Happy Birthday, Mr. Darcy! | An Everyday Occasion

This blog is all about "everyday" occasions.  For me, that means trying to make everyday special in some way or another - a yummy dinner, creative play after school, a special candle with morning coffee, cute baked treats for friends, picnic lunches or impromptu parties.  These are the little things, that add up to a lot for our life.

And, yes, these sort of things to take some time and effort - on which we're all short, I know.  I always chuckle when people that say they're soooo busy - too busy.  Everyone is busy.  Period.  Everyone has a full plate - hopefully.  Being busy is the blessing of a full life.  But I attempt not to let that busy-ness get overwhelming... sometimes it is a losing battle, but I do try none-the-less.

It can be easy to forget to be in control of our lives - we do all have choices.  We all have the ability to make each day what we want it to be.  Everyday.  Being in control of our lives and taking responsibility for the satisfaction we are getting out of our lives, is, well... up to us.  Everyday.  For me, it is creating little everyday opportunities like these impromptu celebrations that remind me to put down my phone, get to that email later, let the bedtime routine go for a night and take some time to have fun. 

I know most of the "occasions" I post here are particularly planned and photographed with perfection in mind, but I wanted to show you what a normal everyday occasion looks like at our house, too.  I try to give myself a break sometimes and just to something easy and fun.  It might not be magazine worthy - but it doesn't have to be.  Not all of the time, anyway ; )




Look at that smile.   My Mr.

I don't talk about Mr. Darcy on here as much as I should, or as much as I used to, but take comfort that he is still such a big part of our everyday - mine especially. 

Many people joked that he would take back seat when we had kids, but for us that hasn't been true.  It is true that my time is more divided than it used to be, but he's still my special boy - and is slowly becoming the same for Emma.  He and I go on walks every morning, and he is my sounding board during the day... my only full-time employee.  Mike always says he'd love for me to record our "conversations"... 

I love how excited Emma was to throw Darcy a party and shower him with gifts and love.  We took a special shopping trip after school to pick out his treats and a new toy.  She picked out a shark - thought he'd love it.  And some "bubble-bites."  If you get that reference, you are also the Mom or Grandma of a toddler.  I love giving gifts and I love instilling that joy in Emma, too. 

I like to think that I can always make something out of nothing.  Besides the treats and gift for D, we didn't spend any extra money on the party.  Just a little digging around in my ribbon scraps and the freezer...

Each time I make cupcakes, I throw a couple in a freezer bag- we never need an entire batch of cupcakes sitting around this house... somebody (like me) is always willing to eat them.  It is nice to have them for a late night snack (just a couple of seconds in the microwave), or moments like this when you need a last minute dessert.

So, in about 10 minutes we made some icing (Emma thought Darcy would like red with sprinkles) and we had a festive birthday dessert.  It was refreshing for a dessert project to only take 10 minutes and only one bowl to wash... besides cleaning the sprinkles off of the floor.  As, you can see, we used leftover candles from Mimi's birthday.  Mr. didn't mind a bit.   

And just so you know, I had planned to make homemade doggy treats for him, but my day got crazy, and instead of trying to fit it in, I just let it go and went out and bought him a doggy cupcake.  Sometimes it is about knowing when to surrender that can keep you sane... and not "soooo" busy all of the time.

We also had another very special treat for D's birthday...

It is Morel Mushroom season again - well, at least it was last week.  My parents found a ton at their farm this year.

Around here, the classic way to serve these is fried in a heavy batter.  The last couple of years, I've made Cream of Morel Soup, and the Chicken and Morels. 




This year, I tried a little something different and fried them in a tempura beer batter and served them with a creamy horseradish dip. 






They turned out really great.   I used the same tempura recipe that I used for these Onion Rings a couple of years ago - a little spice, a little beer and a little flour.














We still have some left over, but I'll need to use them in the next day or two... anyone have a good recipe?  I've seen a crostini with leeks and ricotta cheese that looked great. 


Here's Emma getting in on some of the battering action.  She's really becoming an active helper in the kitchen.  Still a huge mess-maker, but so am I.  We call that being "creative" in the kitchen around here : )

Vanilla Sugar - Baking Pantry Essential

As I've mentioned, I have a tradition of getting up early every morning to take our dog, Mr. Darcy, on a walk for a little "Me & Mr." time before Mike leaves for work... funny, I always wanted to be that 'type' of person that got up early for a morning walk- little did I know that I all I had to be to become an early riser was to have a baby!

I love this time of day when the air is a little chilly and crisp.  Before we head out the door, I prepare a thermos of coffee to take along.  A scoop of this vanilla sugar makes my day (...or coffee, at least).   As I sip that hot coffee with a subtle hint of real vanilla, it seems like the flowers smile as we walk by and the birds sing a little sweeter.  It is a great way to start the day.



My favorite projects are simple tasks with minimal effort that have huge rewards.  We all remember the saying from when we were young, “A little effort can go a long way.”  Never has it been more true than with Vanilla Sugar and Vanilla Bean Syrup.  The best example of this is putting a vanilla bean that has been scraped of its bean in a jar of sugar.  Simple.  From then on, when you use that special sugar (that took you seconds to put together) in your baking or your morning coffee, it will be extra special. 



With only a couple vanilla beans and some sugar, you can create vanilla sugar that will bring the authentic vanilla bean aromatic to cookies, scones or creamy custards.  Use it in place of regular sugar in recipes that call for both sugar and vanilla extract.

List of Ingredients:
   
    1 vanilla beans
    5 cups of sugar
    1 medium airtight canister
   
Directions:

For the Vanilla Sugar, begin by scraping the seeds from one vanilla bean.  To do this, slice the vanilla bean in half, length wise.  Using your knife, run the blade down the center of half of the bean, scraping out the dark brown seeds from the pod.  Set the vanilla bean pod aside. Add the seeds to a food processor along with 2 cups of sugar.  Process the seeds and the sugar until you can see the small seeds evenly distributed.  Add the processed seeds and sugar to a medium canister.  Add 3 more cups of sugar and the scraped vanilla bean pods to the canister.  Place the airtight lid on, then shake the canister to mix the vanilla sugar with the regular sugar until well mixed. 




For the Vanilla Syrup directions, click here!

For more baking pantry inspiration - see my mini Baking Pantry Upgrade... it will make you want to head to The Container Store!

Everyday | Living Well Everyday | Mr. Darcy

If you are a regular follower or you've read the "About" section of this blog, then you know that I write about Occasions- more specifically, Everyday Occasions. 

What does exactly does this mean?



It means not waiting for 'special occasions' to celebrate life.   Everyday we have the opportunity to live well.



It means not waiting for the next period in your life to live thoughtfully and purposefully.  It means enjoying and recognizing little moments on a daily and sometimes hourly basis. 

It means that instead of sleeping in, getting up early for a sunrise walk.  Or instead of getting up early, sleeping in and stopping for an extra large latte and scone and not feeling guilty about it. 

It means opening a bottle of wine on a weeknight and staying up past your (self-instated) bedtime to chat like you used to when you were dating.  It means using real vanilla beans in your morning coffee or in the whipped cream on the apple crostada you whipped up on a Wednesday night. 



It means whipping up an apple crostada on a Wednesday night.  It means folding your towels just right so they fit in the linen closet neatly. 



Sometimes living well takes extra effort. 

 Sometimes it takes less effort.



It means making the bed not because it will make your room look tidy, but because it will feel good to get into that night.



It means having seasonal flowers planted in pots on your front steps and a wreath on your front door that makes the house look cheery when you come home from the grocery store everyday. 



It means putting a single flower on your bedside table (or beside the rocking chair in the nursery) so you can smell it when you wake up.



I believe the art of living well is found in between the big moments- those little opportunities we have to make life special.

Happy 4th of July from Mr. Darcy!

 

 Mr. Darcy wishes everyone a happy 4th of July!

 Mr. Darcy loved his Brookside Barkery & Bath cookie...

 He loved watching all of the kids in the Concord bicycle parade.

Valentine's Day Flowers | DIY | DIY Valentine's Day Flowers

I like a nice store-bought gift, but I LOVE a homemade gift.  I also LOVE to make homemade gifts.  Valentine's Day is one of those holidays that the thought really does count.  The holiday is right after The Holidays and I still haven't come down from our over-indulgent Christmas season.  I am in the mood for simple and sweet.  These two projects are beautiful and inexpensive.  I think anyone would be thrilled to receive either one... or both.  Me?  I would like both.



Burlap wrapped tulip bouquet with homemade Valentine's Day label.

 You'll Need :

1 bouquet of 6-12 tulips ($6 at the store)
1 square foot piece of burlap
1 yard of satin ribbon (paper-source)
1 valentine's day label/card
1 piece of double stick tape (or zot)

TIP : When you pick up your bouquet at the grocery store florist, ask them for some water tubes.  It will help to keep the bouquet fresh.  It is not absolutely necessary, but it will help if they will be out of water for more than an hour.

"Have a LOVELY Day" Label :

You can print the Lovely Day label template here!  


TIP : I like to print of ivory textured cardstock from Paper-Source.  It is an automatic upgrade for a homemade card.



More Homemade Valentine's Day Ideas : 

  

Valentine's Day Cupcakes & Flowers - Get the step-by-step directions here!

Valentine's Day Boxed Cupcakes - Get the step-by-step directions here!

 Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies - Get the step-by-step directions here!