MommyCoddle

ONE simple question, no. 6

This weather has me all confused. This morning as I put on jeans and a pair of long sleeves, I actually thought about starting a small fire in the woodstove and wondered where my knitting bag was. What?! It's June 18th! Hardly time to be thinking about sticky, hot wool and kindling for the woodstove.

But before I know it, I'll be dripping in sweat, swearing at our lack of air-conditioning and feeling faint at the idea of turning on a stove or standing over a bubbling pot.

Over the past few months I've become quite attached to the idea of preparing dinner ahead of time–whether it be in the slow cooker, or my lovely red dutch oven, a Christmas gift from my mother. Nothing makes me feel more organized and in control of my afternoons than having dinner slowly cooking away, with just a few last-minute preps to get dinner on the table. Some of my least-glamorous parenting moments come in that wacky hour or so before Dan gets home from work, and I'm scrambling to get dinner on the table.

So in the spirit of keeping the temperatures low in the kitchen, and freeing up more time to enjoy the perks of summer, I'd love it if you'd share your favorite go-to "make ahead" meal. It can be a slow-cooker recipe. A dutch oven recipe. A freeze ahead of time, bake later recipe. Anything to keep the temperatures low and savor the summer, which seems to be slipping through my fingers. (Sandy, I hope you'll share some of the recipes you sent me in your email!)

But before I know it, I'll be dripping in sweat, swearing at our lack of air-conditioning and feeling faint at the idea of turning on a stove or standing over a bubbling pot.

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Show & Tell: Lotta Jansdotter Simple Sewing for Baby

I was so excited to get a copy of Lotta Jansdotter's most recent book called, Simple Sewing for Baby
. If you've seen anything by Lotta Jansdotter–her other books, her website, you know her work has a simple, practical and stylish aesthetic. I have always been inspired by her simple designs and straight-forward approach to making things.

In the foreward, Lotta talks about the reasons that drove her to put together this craft book–the same reasons that I believe drive most of us to create handmade toys and clothes for our own children, and others:

I realized that there isn't all that much cool or original stuff for somebody who doesn't like pink or light blue and doesn't want bows or duckies plastered on everything. Okay, there are some things….but they will set you back an arm and a leg, and I just can't let myself spend that kind of money on something that will be used for only a few months."

Let me just say, the book is everything you'd expect it to be. Amazing projects, clear directions, beautiful photographs and illustrations. I often find myself picking up craft books, only to find that I'm interested in maybe two or three projects inside. But this is a book where I find myself wanting to try each project.

Whether you're expecting a baby, wishing for a baby, have a baby, have a friend with a baby, want to convince a friend to have a baby, or need a great shower gift–this book is lovely and inspired.

And you can pretty much guarantee that the first project on my sewing table, will be a pair of the simple bloomers. Maybe, if I can't convince a certain toddler to wear diapers and clothes, I can at least talk her into a cute pair of bloomers.

*The book has 24 projects for toddlers to newborns. Patterns are included in a front pocket inside the book.

And guess what? I have TWO copies to giveaway. Thank you, Chronicle Books! You know the drill–leave a comment, I'll pick the two random winners on Friday!

*The book has 24 projects for toddlers to newborns. Patterns are included in a front pocket inside the book.

And guess what? I have TWO copies to giveaway. Thank you, Chronicle Books! You know the drill–leave a comment, I'll pick the two random winners on Friday!

225 Comments

animal kingdom

Ruby is home.

Ruby is home. A little skinny. A little squirmy. A little medicated. But very happy. And very loved. In fact, if possible, I think we might love her more now, for all she's been through.

Thank you for your outpouring of concern and care for Ruby and our family. It warmed our hearts.

(photo by katie pertiet)

Now if someone could just explain how you keep an 11 week old puppy quiet and sedentary for two weeks while she recovers……

Ruby is home. A little skinny. A little squirmy. A little medicated. But very happy. And very loved. In fact, if possible, I think we might love her more now, for all she's been through.

Thank you for your outpouring of concern and care for Ruby and our family. It warmed our hearts.

(photo by katie pertiet)

Now if someone could just explain how you keep an 11 week old puppy quiet and sedentary for two weeks while she recovers……

44 Comments