What makes a house a home? I’m not sure exactly, but I know what DOESN’T. Not cleaning out the litter box on a regular basis, for example. I do know that there are things that make me happier in my home; for instance:
1. Picking flowers
Even just a single wildflower in a vase next to my bed makes me feel special in the morning. I don’t ever buy them–I cut them from my garden or pick them straight up out of the ground. Even if all I can find is a dandelion and a jelly jar, it still works to energize me.
2. Spraying the linens
The linens that won’t fit in my cedar chest (I LOVE the smell of cedar when I’m cozying up for the night) sometimes get special attention, when I think to spray them. Here’s how to make your own linen spray. [Thanks for the link, Megan!]
3. Always having a pie handy
Well, not a pie necessarily, but something sweet and shareable. Currently, I’m enjoying this Blackberry Oatmeal Pie. I know you’re jealous.
4. Keeping reading material accessible
Okay, maybe this is me justifying the piles of books that consume any available space that might make itself known in my house. (But I USE them! All of them!) I still hold my ground–books make my house more inviting and more “me”. On my reading list now: The Minimalist Cooks Dinner
5. Turning on the reading lamps
Lighting is a big thing for me. In fact, some of my friends have been known to ask “is there a REASON you don’t turn the overhead lights on?” Well yes, there is. First, the overhead light in my kitchen is flourescent. It’s harsh and blueish. Icky. I love the soft lighting that lamps give. They practically give my house a hug. (Oh, and I love the lamps at the right by ABC carpet & home.) A bit of indulgence never hurt a person, right? Ummm…don’t answer that.
6. Wearing a fun apron when I cook
I love aprons. They not only keep my clothes clean (who am I kidding…I have a 6 month old and a 2 year old. My clothes are NEVER clean), but they give me a feeling of belonging in some earlier, kinder time. And my apron hanging on its little hook in the kitchen corner? Definitely adds to the “homeyness” quotient.
7. Piling on the pillows
Pillows are the essence of comfort. I wish I had more, in fact. Floor pillows, neck pillows, overstuffed pillows…that is the dream I have for my living room. Of course, then I might succumb to the temptation of the couch more often in the middle of the day, but who’s to say that’s a bad thing? (I love this whimsical Petal Pillow by twolefthands.)
8. Using pitchers for beverages during mealtimes
Sure, it might be an extra step, but pouring the milk into its shiny blue pitcher in the morning gives me a sense of luxury and purpose. It adds importance to the humble routine of taking a break for a meal.
9. Keeping fresh fruit and veggies all around
This is another instance of bringing nature inside. My hanging basket of zucchini and my bowlful of cherry tomatoes makes me feel better somehow. It’s good therapy.
10. Cutting a rug or two
This is the one I need to work on in my house. We have hardwood floors and no rugs! Can you imagine? That is why the playroom is practically cavernous in its ability to produce echoes. (The Tibetan Argyle Silk/Wool Area Rug at the right sets my heart aflutter). Does this count as “easy”? Hmmm…guess not. So I guess I’ll add one more for good measure.
11. Adorning my walls (and other things) with artwork that is meaningful to me
The Koi paintings by John’s dad, the driftwood watercolor John did a couple of years back, my first drawing…of my shoe. These are things that bring me joy on a regular basis, just by being around them. Anything can be artwork, really. My mom sends me hand-made cards on a regular basis, and I’m trying to dream up a way to display them because they make me feel loved. My son has this huge piece of paper that the whole family has scribbled all over…his first piece of collaborative art. It’s probably 3 feet squared, and I would love to decoupage it to the wall. Anything goes, as long as it evokes feelings that you would like repeated daily.
Archive for August, 2007
But this…this book
Second, I made this blackberry oatmeal pie, and might I say, it was fantastic. Except for the fact that I have no common sense and made it when there was an absence of vanilla bean ice cream in the house, it was the perfect dessert. It’s kind of like a cobbler in a pie. More tart than sweet, it would be the perfect centerpiece for a big old heavenly scoop of some vanilla ice cream.
But the biggest reason I need to purchase this book? Jeremy Jackson is hilarious. Take his view on recipe selection, for instance:
“Who are these people who write cookbooks with 700 recipes in them? Or 1,000 recipes? Or 1,500 recipes? What amphetamines are these people on? Do they truly develop and test all these recipes? Are all these recipes sensational? I don’t think so.
Which is why this book only has “sixty-something fantastic recipes in it”. And here are the ones I cannot wait to try next:
- Banana Smoothies
- Three-Lemon Cheesecake
- Strawberry Creme Brulee
- Hanging-Crust Rhubarb Cobbler
- Grapefruit Lime Tart with Honey Poppy Seed Whipped Cream
- Extra Cinnamon Bubble Bread
Now I bet you’re wondering, oh where can I get the recipe for this delicious pie? Well…I don’t have permission to reprint it at the moment. (Here’s me, without much clout currently…but ONE day!) BUT, here is a very similar recipe…just subtract pecans. And as for the crust? (Delicious, flaky, and buttery, just as it should be). Try this. If you’re in a hurry, you can also use Aunt Sherry’s Pie Crust (which I just happen to sell in my store…hehe), which takes about 5 minutes to prepare, as opposed to the 20 this one took me. I will admit, however, that I’m a bit of a slowpoke when it comes to baking. For the record, this pie took me 40 minutes to prepare, before sticking it in the oven for 55 minutes. I see you laughing at my slowness! Stop at once!
Oh man. I have been working on this ribs article for weeks. And finally, I am finished.
To celebrate, John and I ordered a king-sized rack of ribs and a barbecued chicken from our favorite rib place–Frankie’s Place for Ribs. The website may be messed up and a bit corny, but the food…man, the food. There is nothing like it. Best $30 we ever spent. Because it would be just plain mean for me to spend two weeks reading about ribs, writing about ribs, and dreaming about ribs without ever actually HAVING some. Mmmm…oh yes.
I’ve been hearing about these shopping bags everywhere, it seems, and they are just so cute. I can just see myself strutting my stuff down at The Fresh Market, my adorable little shopping bag smartly looped over my shoulder. Oh yes.
But let’s fast-forward to the interesting part, shall we? The part where I get to the checkout and the bagger says “paper or plastic?” and I say “Neither. I have my own special bags that I want you to use, please.” Or actually, I stammer it out. And I feel stupid and guilty and up-on-my-high-horse while the poor bagger has to figure out how to hold my bag that’s two times bigger than its evil, earth-killing plastic cousin with one hand and actually put the groceries in with the other.
And then…when he’s filled up the first bag, I dole out whichever fashionable bag is next in my handy-dandy pouch. “Oh, she’s got a pouch of these things! Well isn’t that great for the environment!” he’s thinking, right? Umm…no. Actually, he’s thinking “Can we say ‘high-maintenance’?”. Of course, this one doesn’t fit onto his little bag-holder either, so he clumsily packs it full. And we could do this all day! What fun!
So I probably won’t get the bags. Nope, I just don’t think I could pull it off without some major therapy afterward. They’d probably end up stashed in the floor of my car while my usual plastic bags get ready for their future life as diaper-stashers. (Wow. Disposable diapers AND plastic bags. My environmental footprint is probably be larger than Bigfoot’s!)
One of my only complaints about my experience with Site Build It (and, okay, there are 3 total…maybe 4) is that they set out to convince you that design doesn’t matter. It’s all about creating a brand via your unique voice, and content is the only thing that counts.
I agree wholeheartedly that quality content is the MOST important thing, but I know that it is not the only thing that goes into your “brand”. Design is important. It might even be the SECOND most important thing.
And so while I initially succumbed to the “do a quick, simple design so you can focus on your content” mantra, I am now facing reality. Design is important to ME, so it is important to my site and to my product offerings. It is important to getting me writing, in fact. Maybe it shouldn’t be, but there really aren’t any “shouldn’ts” when it comes to how you are inspired and how you work best.
So…starting with the product line, I’m facing the challenge to make TodaysHomemaker.com into something that compellingly makes a statement about who I am and what I stand for. Yes, I realize I still have a lot of content to write. But frankly, it’s going to bug the crap out of me until I do something. So I’m doing it. You may not “see” it right away because a lot of it is going on behind the scenes right now (as 90% of the web development process is, I’m finding). But I’ll keep you posted.
Here is the first little step in that direction–all of The Gourmet Cupboard products that we stock in our store have been completely redesigned. I hope you like the new look. (I do! I do! I’m practically giddy sharing this with you.) Next up? Redesigning the store itself. Yeeha!
The gray background of my previous theme has been getting on my nerves since…forever. It was a bit depressing for me. (Goodbye, Field of Dreams).
I only wish I’d realized my trepidation before plunging in. This one is a bit more complex, navigation-wise, but I think I can get used to it. What do you think?
Uggh. I have been under the weather all week. First, just a general feeling of yuckiness…then full-on mastitis, which is the beast currently keeping me firmly in place on the couch.
So…this is me, popping in to say hello. Also, I am so jealous of you who are not sick at the moment.
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