Mrs. Maverick

Worth Sharing: Kid Gift Shopping

The thrill of the great Black Friday gift hunt is lost on me. A friend of mine posted the following on Facebook today: online shopping = introvert's bliss. I heartily "hear, hear" that sentiment as I would rather do many other things (i.e. eat a mega size bottle of Tums in one sitting, stick needles in my eyes, sell Scotch tape door-to-door, etc.) than brave the crazy crowds storming the gates of Target today. Black Friday may be the best day of the year to get a deal, but I was affirmed in my suspicion of the madness when I heard this report on the radio. 

All of that being said, I very much enjoy searching for that perfect gift and if I had the time I would browse every enchanting storefront in Fairfield County looking for something special for each person on my list. The conflict here is that while I do enjoy browsing, I prefer the efficiency and convenience of online shopping. Since becoming a mom, Amazon Prime is pretty much my best friend. Diapers, goji berries and party balloons delivered to my door within two days and no shipping costs? Yes. Please. 

While Amazon is my go-to for many items, it can be truly overwhelming as far as browsing goes. When I shop for Christmas I prefer a narrower selection of items that are specifically curated for my tastes. Now that there is a kiddo in the mix, we are considering not only the kinds of toys that are in our house but the quantity of toys. Shawn and I have decided to get Eleanor a couple of special books and a small toy or two. And seeing as just the other day she played with an empty baby food jar for, oh, 45 minutes or so, I think that she'll be happy as a clam with whatever is under the tree. 

...

Here is a small list of some "mom and pop" online toy shops that I will be visiting in search for some little goodies for my sweet girl:

• Romp- Originally a brick-and-mortar store in Brooklyn, this now exclusively online store is owned by actress Kellie Martin (aka Christy Huddleston).
• Brimful- A new online store with a limited and lovely selection of toys and books
• Giggle- A high-end baby store that has a surprisingly approachable selection of toys for the "under four" set
• Fat Brain Toys- A wonderful educational toy site that has an awesome "shop by age" feature. 
• Land of Nod- A well-known, larger retailer that has truly outdone itself in the toy department this year. The unique selection is extensive yet not overwhelming and just so cute. Plush-a-saurs anyone? 
• As far as literary gifts go, the free 2013 Kid Lit Guide (brought to you by Modern Mrs. Darcy, but discovered through Camp Patton) is amazing! I subscribed to Modern Mrs. Darcy in order to gain access to this thoughtfully compiled list and I am so glad that I did. 

I'm curious: how do you shop for your kiddos at Christmas time? Do you have any favorite stores? As always, I love suggestions! 

 The best kind of toy: handmade with love. A felted rattle made for baby Eleanor by my good friend, Jen. 

Scenes from our kitchen + the day before Thanksgiving

First, let's start here. With a recipe for gravy.  

Adjustments...

apple juice instead of cider (it's what I had)

subbed parsley for rosemary (although I wouldn't necessarily recommend it) 

pre-made the gravy with drippings from our early Thanksgiving with my sister last weekend. Will add additional turkey drippings tomorrow before the feast commences

There. That's better. 

Now...

This day was the most normal, uneventful day I have had in a very long time time and perhaps ever. Eleanor and I hid inside from the dreary November weather and warmed ourselves by the oven while the stuffing croutons toasted. There were naps. There were occasional tears of frustration from the smaller of the two of us--the one who is learning to walk. We listened to a dozen different Pandora stations and unintentionally stretched Eleanor's musical tastes all the way from Gillian Welch to the Beatles. Laundry stood still. Cleaning took a back seat. It was a strange and somehow very hard day for me. It was all in-betweeness and I will admit that I am not very good at being in between.

Which is why I feel even more compelled to write down thanksgivings. 

I am thankful for my Savior and for the hope that life beyond this world is going to be more satisfying than any Thanksgiving meal and filled with more joy than any earthly Christmas celebration. It will be perfect beyond my understanding of perfection (which right now would include a baby in my arms, another toddling happily without getting any bumps or bruises, no more pregnancy belly, the middle of July, sitting by a lake with my husband on my right and glass of lemonade on my left...). Yes, heaven will be even better than that.

I am thankful for a husband who makes me so proud. He is the most diligent, honest worker and is so understated about his accomplishments. And even though he does not think so, he is way smarter than I am. 

I am thankful for my children. Eleanor has this ability to make me smile like no other. She cuddles and kisses and has the lovliest little one year old personality. Baby Two is guaranteed to be different, but I know he will bring me just as much joy. 

I am thankful for my family. My mom, dad and sister are my constant encouragers and have always taken an interest in my myriad endeavours. Shawn's family is also unfailingly supportive of us. 

I am thankful for our church family. Some of my very best friends are in this circle and I cannot imagine life without them. 

I am thankful for God's provision for us in every way. Provision of health and a roof over our heads and even creature comforts that we do not need. I do not know what tomorrow brings, for it will bring worries of its own, I hear. What I do know is that what He has given me for today is more than enough. 

Well, if that is the result of a normal day, then sign me up for more. Happy, happy Thanksgiving, all!

My (Basic) Cookbook Library

 I have enjoyed cooking ever since I was a little girl, but my skills were put to the test in my first year of marriage. My goal as a new wife was to try and put a healthy, homecooked meal on the table seven nights a week. Shawn's goal was to eat. We both accomplished what we set out to in that first year and now, six and a half years later, here are the tried-and-true everyday cookbooks, blogs and websites that helped both of us along the way.

Background: Our eating philosophy in a nutshell is the 80/20 rule: truly healthy meals 80 percent of the time and anything that tastes good- whether healthy or not particularly so--20 percent of the time. Also, I have quite a few more cookbooks in my arsenal than those mentioned below, but they are my so-called "pretty books" and are either referenced for a recipe or two here and there or are primarily for reading pleasure. The books on this list are the ones that have broth splashes and butter smears on the pages. The blogs listed would too, if cooking smudges showed up in cyberspace.

BOOKS

The best cookbook for someone who wants to know the back story/chemistry behind a recipe. What makes a great macaroni and cheese? Why do I need to brown meat before braising it? How do I get my corn muffins to have a perfect, moist crumb? When I was first learning to cook, this book was my life line. Now I use it more as a reference for solid, basic recipes. For example, if you have never made a pot roast before and want to know how to make an awesome one the first time around, this is your book.

This cookbook helped me learn how to cook using alternative ingredients. Cybele Pascal, a food historian and professed lover of all food, wrote this book in response to her two sons' struggles with food allergies. The recipes in this book are free of all major food allergens including wheat, gluten, beef, fish, soy, dairy and nuts. Sounds like fun, right? Actually, even though the recipes in this book are on the lighter side, flavor is never sacrificed. The vegetarian section is extensive and many of the recipes are in our regular rotation--the Lady of Naples red sauce, Black Bean and Spinach Burritos, Four Bean Stew and Falafel--to name a few. 

          

I am just going to say it, Gwyneth Paltrow is an awesome cook and I wish we were friends. Think what you will, she has got chops when it comes to cooking and entertaining. Her first book, My Father's Daughter, includes basic recipes that are yummy first, healthy second. The pizza dough comes out perfect every time and I make the white bean and fennel soup at least once a month. Her second book, It's All Good, will transform the way you think about clean eating. Similar to The Whole Foods Allergy Cookbook, It's All Good excludes all major food allergens (with the exception of animal proteins). I would say, however, that Paltrow's book actually elevates the concept of clean eating from "only for health nuts" to "fit for the foodiest of foodies"--which is something at which Pascal's book does not quite succeed.

 An aside- here's an interview with the co-author of It's All Good, Julia Turshen, on my new favorite food blog, The Yellow Table. 

BLOGS/WEBSITES

Smitten Kitchen is where I go for variations on a theme. When I don't want to make plain risotto, I go to Smitten Kitchen and discover a recipe like Tomato and Sausage Risotto. Which you should will make tomorrow night for dinner, by the way. 

The Pioneer Woman (which I am certain many, many of you are familiar with) is the blog to visit for filling and flavorful recipes that will please any hungry husband. One of our favorites? The Grilled Chicken and Pineapple Quesadillas. When I say "our favorites" I am including Baby Two in the party. He seems to really like quesadillas. 

Epicurious is an online library of recipes from Bon Appetit and Gourmet magazines. I go to this site to browse for inspiration and also to read recipe reviews. Often reviewers leave really helpful tips or adjustments that they made to the recipes. 

Happy cooking...and eating! 

 

 

Nesting Projects

"Nesting" as a phenomenon exclusive to pregnancy does not really apply to me. Much to Shawn's (occasional) chagrin, I am always nesting. 89 percent of the time he is a completely willing helper when I suggest that we paint our popcorn ceiling really quickly before we leave for a weekend trip. (So really, there is very little chagrin involved--he's a good egg, my husband). But if I were Shawn, I might be less forgiving of my wife's constant need to change, rearrange, clean and freshen our abode.

The fact that a new human is going to be arriving on the scene in about six weeks, just gives me another deadline for some projects I have been meaning to tackle. Here's what we have accomplished/hope to accomplish before D-day:

Paint the master bedroom

Paint popcorn ceiling

Touch up paint in nursery

Purchase crib sheets + quilt

Purchase newborn/size 1 diapers

Reorganize my bureau of clothing

Wash the duvet cover

Frame pictures for master bedroom walls

Deep clean bathrooms

Make 3-4 frozen meals

Baby proof everything. Everything.

Purchase another humidifier

Wash/set up swing, infant car seat, bouncy seat, etc.

Assemble crib

Hang mobile

Decide on a name

Just typing all of that out really excites me. Anyone with me? Anyone? 

Here are some in-process photos of the master bedroom being painting. I promise I actually painted and did not merely play the part of resident photographer. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ladies' Lunch at Terrain

 

 

My sister, Olivia, currently resides in the Toronto area with her new husband, but she is in Connecticut for a long weekend to celebrate what she thought was American Thanksgiving. (Our family had a temporary mix up and thought that the 21st was Thanksgiving). Anyhow, Olivia is pretty much the best daughter, sister and auntie ever and being that it was her birthday on the 17th, my very generous mom decided that she would treat her, me and Eleanor to lunch at Terrain in Wesport. 

Terrain is unlike any store I have ever been in. It boasts a beautiful and very carefully curated selection of home, kitchen, garden, clothing and beauty items. It also houses a lunch cafe and full service restaurant, the offerings of which are both local and seasonal. Honestly, neither of the latter really matter to me all that much as long as the food is good. And it is good.

I could probably spend hours browsing the store and still not discover every little artfully arranged bauble. It is a wonderful place to wander and an even better place to pick up a special gift. "Special" is the operative word here because the merchandise at Terrain is certainly on the precious side. Oh, but everything is just so delightful...

 

Eleanor waiting for the other half of our party. And, yes, Eleanor is sporting the remains of a shiner above her right eye. :( Sharp shelf corner- 1, Eleanor's eyelid- 0.

 

 

If nothing else on the menu was any good (which it most definitely is), the sweet, soft bread in that pot would be enough to satisfy me. The butter changes, but today's flavor was poppyseed and pink peppercorn. Delicious. 

Happy Birthday, Auntie Livie!

The clear winner at today's meal was dessert. A not-too-sweet pumpkin bread pudding under caramel ice cream and over caramel sauce. I am in the process of coming up with a homemade Saturday morning breakfast adaptation because I want an excuse to eat it again as soon as possible. 

 

 

Even cleaning supplies look pretty at Terrain. 

A glimpse of the bump + boots

A small display

A grand display

Terrain has two store locations, one in Westport, CT and the other in Glen Mills, PA. If you live within an hour of either place the trip will be well worth your while. If not, Terrain's online store is a lovely browse. I forsee many additions to Pinterest this coming weekend! 

 

Cool moms cry

Two days into being a mom. Two in the morning. A little bundle snuggled up in front of me and my husband lying by my side and I am sobbing as quietly as I can. 

She was so small and so pretty and so helpless. I was so tired, yet so happy and just as helpless in many ways. I am sure I could have chocked up the tears to being overwhelmed and moody and it certainly would not have been untrue. But the real reason I was crying was because I just loved her so incredibly much in that moment. For the first time I realized that despite physically hurting and being tired that I would limp to the ends of the earth for this tiny life.

A strange progression has happened in me since becoming a wife and a mother--more tears, more often. You may have heard of that cliche phrase which compares having a child to "having one's heart walk outside of one's body"? My heart has wispy hair, big blue eyes, a roundy face and five teeny teeth. Its gait is wobbly yet fearless and, at this stage, it takes frequent tumbles. 

It has taken my collected, schedule-bound, practical self a while to embrace this new state of being. One in which I might break down in the car while listening to a news interview or when the baby in my belly starts hiccupping just as Eleanor collapses in my lap. Or when Shawn calls his daughter "sweetie" or "sugar bean". Or when I am, at no particular time, struck by the fact that the intense love I have for my family is dwarfed by Jesus' love for me. 

I am not sure where I picked it up, but when I was younger I had this distinct sense that allowing oneself to be emotionally overcome in any way was not proper. No one wants to be in the company of a sap, I would tell myself.

Here's the thing though. I have found that in succumbing to the tears I have experienced a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the profound place that "this day" has in the scheme of eternity. It's not in every mundane moment that I get a heart-altering glimpse into God's plan --but when I do, I want to embrace it fully. And any attempt at being cool or calm or collected has absolutely no right of getting in the way of that.

Here are some challenging and inspiring links that brought tears to my eyes this week. 

A story of commitment  in the face of  potentially devestating circumstances, here is the story of Katherine & Jay. Here is their house tour featured on Design Mom, too.

Kate's interview with Joanna Goddard about celebrating and mourning the all too brief life of her baby boy. 

 

 

Scenes from our kitchen: Cranberry Orange Scones

 

 

 

 

I made these scones last week and, fresh out of the oven, they were amazing. As is true with all scones, they are not as good the next day or even the next hour, so let them cool just a little, add the glaze and serve right away. This recipe is adapted from Ina Garten's recipe for cream scones and was featured on the lovely entertaining blog, Everyday Occasions. 

Shopping at Trader Joe's

This post is part of a little series on how our family grocery shops. I am always fascinated by how and where moms shop for their families and thought that it might help someone out there to know how we do it. Either that or it will just be an interesting anthropological sort of study for you. For some facts about our philosophy and budget to set the context, please see the top of this post. 

I fully intended to write this post last night after driving home from work, fresh from a short, pop pump-up session courtesy of my (least) favorite radio station, WEBE 108. (I may feign 100% loyalty to alternative/folk/bluegrass and everything not Katy Perry, but then "Roar" comes on and I turn into Rocky and I will win this thing, whatever it is, as long as that song is playing).

Then I was confronted by the one set of stairs from our garage to the living room and pregnancy fatigue won. I didn't even put up a fight. I just changed into pajamas and collapsed on the couch.

...

Trader Joe's is like the great equalizer of grocery stores. If Whole Foods feels a bit stuffy and alienating, Trader Joe's is like an all-inclusive foodie commune. I believe I have seen a greater diversity of people shopping at Trader's than at any other store. Adorable older couples, college students, young families pouring out of small cars, middle-aged moms climbing out of hybrid SUVs, bachelors purchasing craft beer and corn puffs. What draws so many types to this one little store? Well, I'll at least tell you why we go:

There are some products that are just out of this world. Powerberries (chocolate covered fruit juice snack things), salsa verde, frozen veggies, sponges from France, the frozen Chinese "take out" that my friend prompted me to try (dumplings, Mandarin chicken, beef and broccoli). These things really can't be beat. 

There are other products/items that might not be superior to any other brand, but they are way less expensive. Goat cheese ($3-6 depending on the size), olive oil (if you're not picky about it being a mix of oils--$5.99 for about 32 oz.), almond butter ($6.99), rice and balsamic vinegars, some spices, dried fruit, some protein bars, a lot of the fruit (bananas especially!) and eggs.

When you're shopping on a budget at Trader's...

Beware the infinite variety of snack and convenience foods. Sometimes these sneaky things jump into your cart without your knowing. You fully intend on getting just what you need and you end up exiting with enough goodies for a Super Bowl party. I am totally guilty. 

Some products are just not that good. This is, of course, more of a trial-and-error type of thing, but I have found that Trader's bread goes stale very quickly, the jam is just okay and some of the bagged vegetables are slimy before you even get them home. The latter is typical of prepackaged, pre-washed veggies--but I've found it more common of Trader's than any other grocery store. 

Do leverage the afforability of pantry items like oils, vinegars, nut butters and spices. We go every 2-3 weeks to stock up on this stuff. 

Oh, and ocassionally buy yourself some flowers. :) 

Does your family shop at Trader's? What are your favorite products? I'm always up for new suggestions!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Worth Sharing: Massage Schools

My parents met at a weekend graduate school seminar on group dynamics. My mom's hair was long and dark and thick; she was a dancer getting her degree in movement therapy. My dad's hair was also dark and thick, though not quite as long, and he was studying for a seemingly nebulous (but also infinitely applicable) degree in social services. 

The first instruction of the weekend was given. The professor asked the 75+ students to split themselves into smaller groups. There were no further criteria. Several minutes later my parents ended up in the smallest of three groups. Two black sheep herded into each others' company by kismet. 

Dad, in his late 20s

Mom, late 20s. And such a stunning picture. 

Although my parents are admittedly more conservative in all respects now than they were in their late twenties, they have always maintained alternative streaks. I have very early memories of going to the little health food store to pick up henna for my mom's hair and brown rice for my dad. And that heavenly health food store smell of hemp and grains and wood and dried fruit and who knows what else...it was part of my childhood. My dad would run and my mom would swim and they would both get massages and acupuncture, but this was all back in a day when these health maintenance practices were not "boutique" in any way. Instead, they were utilized by a minority to increase their quality of life and not as an escape or as a means of being pampered. 

Today, at over $100 per hour, massages are a luxury for certain, especially those of the prenatal variety. Imagine my surprise and delight then when I discovered that our local massage school runs frequent clinics during the fall, spring and summer semesters for $38 per 50-minute session! I was a bit skeptical in the beginning, but after ten or so massages over the course of my last two pregnancies I can say with surety that it is one of the best finds. Ever. 

Here's what you can expect:

• A bit of range in experience. Some students are closer to their 1,000 hour requirement and are more confident because of it. Overall, however, I've found each student to be capable and professional. Pregnant women are paired with more experienced female students. 
• Minimal settings: Dimmed lighting, relaxing music, curtain partitions. 
• No tips. Because it is a school, patrons are not allowed to tip.
• Occasional "specials". On days or weeks when there are not as many people booking massages, the school will run specials with up to $15 off. An almost hour long massage for $23!? Yes, it's true!

Here's how to book a massage:

This is the link for the CT Massage School (part of the Steiner Education group). You click on the "public clinic" link at the top of the page and then create an account to book the massage online. It is one more username/password combo--but it is so worth it. Also, the fall semester is winding down so appointments might be scarce. Sign ups for the spring semester start in January.  

If you don't live in CT, here's the link to the Steiner Education group as a whole. Just scroll down to the bottom of the first page and select your location. They have schools in many states across the country. (I also did several Google searches for massage school clinics in various cities and found tons of other options). 

Enjoy the rest of your Saturday evening and thanks for indulging in a little family history with me...

 

 

Follow Up: One Day Instagram Project

All of these photos were taken on a normal day in our house. I'll let them do the talking, save the brief descriptions beneath each collage.

Because I am completely inept when it comes to using Instagram, I resorted to snapping pictures on my phone all day and then creating a few collages of them at night. This is the "as-low-fi-as-it-gets" version of a link up/Instagram project/whatevayawannacallit. 

Before I forget, thank you for reading our unlikely love story on Wednesday. It was a joy to finally write it down and even better--albeit a little nervewracking--to share it with so many of you who have known Shawn and me personally over the course of our relationship. Interestingly enough, Shawn had a really long day at work today and he looks like an absentee husband and father in these One Day collages. Maybe I'll make up for his absence with my very own Instagram project: One Day, The Shawn Edition. 

Or not. 

And now...11-13-13:

Left column, top to bottom- A load of laundry + my belly//war paint//Eleanor chatting in her crib after her AM nap

Middle column- Hers & Mine: California Baby & Jason Lavender soap//Filling in my brows//Hers & Mine: Bellies & Shoes

Right column- It's our dog, not a rodent//Bag ladies ready for any contingency//Hers & Mine: Mortin & Tums//Sweet E

Top row, left to right- Kisses before work//I made a green light in Bridgeport = miraculous//The hospital where E was born

Middle row- Reading Mary Poppins aloud (aka just some light 2nd grade reading)//Eleanor's homeschooled "siblings"//lunch time

Bottom row- Art class: Paul Klee//leftovers//dishes

Top row, left to right: Picking Eleanor up after she spent the late afternoon with my parents//Grandfather and E//That says 5:56pm, we're on our way home

Bottom row: autumn moon//Jamberry for story time with my dearest girl//my Fairfield County house wife slippers (and before you look it up, there is no such show...)

That was good fun! This project made me very grateful for  two things: my current job as a tutor/nanny/housekeeper for the dearest family and having my family so close so that they can spend time with Eleanor. Has anyone else ever attempted to capture the little moments, from morning to night, that comprise your day? 

The link to the original post about One Day: http://www.hollywoodhousewife.com/2013/11/one-day-2013.html