Tuesday, December 19

A Nursery for Margaux


It's hard to believe that we moved to Michigan almost two months ago! The days have been busy with settling in, adjusting to our new surroundings, and exploring this cute little town. Our housing situation is pretty temporary as we figure out our next step (to rent or to buy, that is the question!) but we're doing our best to make things feel cozy and like home.

I knew that the first room I wanted to tackle was Margaux's nursery. She's 14 months now, that age where she's definitely not a baby anymore but also not a full blown toddler either. I wanted her room to inspire creative play and foster independence while still channeling calm and peaceful vibes. I took a lot of cues from the typical Montessori-style room and sprinkled in our own sweet bohemian style.


Margaux loves loves books! She likes being read to but she's also exploring sitting quietly by herself, flipping through pages, and "reading" to her dolls. I created a cozy nook that is devoted solely to story time. The shelves are just the right height for her to choose the book she wants to read and having a chair of her own to rock in definitely makes her feel like a big kid (this vintage rocking chair sat in my nursery long long ago!)




This cubby shelf makes organizing toys so simple. Staying in line with Montessori philosophy, we only keep a few toys out for Margaux to play with at any given time and everything is within her reach. Extra toys are stored in baskets and we switch out and rotate play things every couple days. This has worked really great for us. Margaux never gets bored or over stimulated and my minimalist heart loves that there's not toy clutter everywhere!

The 'Live Wild, Flower Child' window painting is from our baby shower. I love that it hangs in her room now. I think about the sweetest memories whenever I look at it!





Hands down, my favorite piece in the room is this woven rug from Armadillo & Co (you can find the exact rug here)! It's made of the softest jute so not only is it way comfy to sit and play on, but it's extra sturdy and durable. The perfect combo for a kiddo room. It also happens to be, like, the most beautiful rug I've ever laid eyes on, don't you agree!?

The nursery is forever a work in progress as Margaux grows and her needs change but for now we really love spending time in this room. Now if we could just convince her to sleep in her crib through the night! What do y'all think? Have questions about sources or about Montessori style toddler rooms? Leave me a comment below!

Wednesday, May 24

Clean Eating // Earl Grey + Strawberry Granola by YumUniverse

Source: YumUniverse

And now for the latest installment in the never ending back and forth saga that is me and clean healthy eating. I'm trying, y'all! I really truly am but lately I'm just kind of failing miserably. I start my days with the best intentions of consuming only healthy nutritious things, but then life kind of gets in the way and more often than not, my day ends up looking like this... a green smoothie for breakfast, my 2nd or 3rd cup of coffee and a handful of almonds for lunch, and a Little Caesar's Hot N' Ready for dinner. Yikes. Clearly balance is not my strong suit right now.

So it couldn't have come at a better time, when I recently received a copy of Pantry to Plate, the new cookbook by Heather Crosby of YumUniverse. Heather is somewhat of a clean eating guru and I've long admired her style and the seemingly effortless way she embraces a completely plant based diet. I'm currently cooking my way through Pantry to Plate and it's seriously changing my mindset about what I'm putting in my body. I love that the recipes are simple, flexible, and accessible, proving that while clean eating is definitely a journey to a lifestyle change, it doesn't have to be a struggle! I thought I might share some of my favorite Pantry to Plate meals here on the blog. Why not start with one that's the perfect way to kick off your day!




When I first cracked open the book, I was immediately drawn to this granola recipe for a couple of reasons. First of all, granola is my go to for a quick and filling breakfast or sweet snack. Secondly, this recipe is suuuper simple and it makes a big ol' batch. And last but not least, I love the way the citrus and vanilla notes from the black tea combine with the berries for a seriously unique twist on an old standard. Serve with Coconut Yogurt, homemade Dairy-Free Milk, or a scoop of Nice Cream (all recipes you can find in the book)!

Earl Grey & Strawberry Granola

Serves 8+

Ingredients

3 cups (240 g) rolled oats
1 cup (240 ml) raw, unpasteurized honey
¾ cup (105 g) raw, unsalted almonds, chopped
½ cup (70 g) raw, unsalted sunflower seeds
¼ cup (30 g) raw, unsalted pepitas
¼ cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon Earl Grey tea leaves, ground in coffee/spice grinder
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
¾ teaspoon sea salt

1 cup (20 g) dried strawberries

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). In a large bowl, combine the oats, honey, almonds, sunflower seeds, pepitas, olive oil, tea, zest, and salt. Spread the mixture on a rimmed baking sheet in an even layer roughly 1⁄4 inch (6 mm) thick. Give it a light press and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, stirring every 
10 minutes, until toasty, golden brown. 


Once cooled, transfer the granola to a large bowl and break apart; fold in the strawberries. Store in an airtight container in the pantry or fridge for 4 to 8 weeks. 


Get your copy of Pantry to Plate here!


Recipe from YumUniverse Pantry to Plate © Heather Crosby, 2017. Photographs copyright © Heather Crosby, 2017. Reprinted by permission of the publisher, The Experiment. Available wherever books are sold. theexperimentpublishing.com

Friday, January 6

NEW INTENTIONS FOR A NEW YEAR


The first week of 2017 has passed. It was a quiet and cold one around here. I spent most of my time hanging around home, cleaning the apartment top to bottom (there's nothing like starting a new year with a sparkling clean house!) and getting in lots of baby snuggles to stay warm. I also spent some time reflecting on a few intentions for the coming months. My intentions for the new year are far from lofty. I have a feeling this year is going to be full of changes for my little family so I'm already channeling all the chill vibes I can muster. This year, my goal is to keep it sweet and simple with a focus on slowing things down and living more mindfully. Check out my resolutions for 2017 below.



Learn // More about plants! I recently found out that the Garfield Park Conservatory here in Chicago offers horticulture classes through their volunteer sessions (there's also a composting and bee keeping program) How cool is that!? I'm so ready to take this crazy plant lady thing to the next level!

Make // With a new baby around, we're trying our best to eliminate products in our home that contain chemicals, perfumes, and dyes and make the transition to all natural. I've always wanted to try my hand at home made cleaning products so now seems like the perfect opportunity. Send your favorite recipes my way!

Do // Carve out half an hour in the morning just for me. Sounds like such an effortless goal, but I think it might be the trickiest to stay consistent with. As a mama, it's hard to find time to do the little things that I love so much- take a bath, read a book, practice yoga, even just sip a cup of coffee and stare off into space. Heck, I think any of us are hard pressed to find time for those little things these days! I'm making a promise to myself to wake up just half an hour earlier for a little alone time so I can be my best and most present self for the rest of the day! #selfcare2017

Explore // The city's museums, parks, and forest preserves. Free and baby friendly is the name of the game in 2017 and I'm so lucky that I live somewhere with so much to offer!

Do you do the resolutions thing? Have you set any intentions for 2017? Hope your new year is off to a lovely (and productive) start!

Shop my look: Oversized Knit Kimono + Floral Dress c/o Pink Blush  // Dolce Vita Booties sold out but shop similar here!