FRIDAY READ + NEW CARRYALLS

Happy (almost) friday! I've added some new carryalls to the shop. Lots of bright canvas that can be customized if you would like a different color. Stripes and satin arrows are also making an appearance. I'm having so much fun dreaming up new color/texture combinations.

We are off to the woods and so excited about it. Hope you all have a very beautiful, relaxing weekend and check out pugly pixel for my friday reads. The lovely Katrina taught me how to make pictures move and lots of other things about photoshop. That lady is my hero.

TOSS IT IN SMOOTHIE

Sam got me a Vitamix for Christmas the year before last and it is something I use every day. It is definitely an investment and I have a lot of friends who've splurged on one as well. Any high powered blender will do the job, but I highly recommend treating yourself to one of these bad boys.

My body has been craving raw produce and smoothies are one of the best ways to sneak it in. I worry so much about Matilda getting all of the nutrients that her growing body needs and most of the time the girl does not want to eat. Lately, unless it's bread, she's not touching it. However... she will crush a smoothie. Woohoo! This smoothie in particular is a "everything but the kitchen sink" recipe, with the coconut milk making it nice and creamy. The color was the prettiest mint green. It was awesome.

"Toss it in" Smoothie - 1/2 c coconut milk
- 1/2 a lemon
-1 carrot
- ginger
- 1/2 cup raw brocolli
- handful of kale
- 1 orange peeled
- 1 green apple
- 1 cup of frozen berries
- 1/2 a frozen banana
- ice


I am working so hard to keep up healthy habits. Matilda and I did sun salutations outside yesterday in the warm sun. Oh how I have missed the sun. We also snuck in a walk and coffee date with friends. I'm really trying to find a life/work balance. It has been a little crazy 'round here. I feel like I'm hitting the pillow harder than ever. Downtime mostly consists of tv (this and this in case you want to chat about that) and I'm craving God-rich solitude. Luckily, we are heading to the woods this weekend. Couldn't have come at a better time.

PARTY GIRL

I was recently commissioned by the lovely Tiffany to create a dress for her daughter's first birthday. I am always incredibly honored to be able to create a garment that will be a part of such a special day. Those photos from a first birthday are so special. Love birthday parties! This dress was inspired by a picture Tiffany found on pinterest (thanks pinterest) of some dresses I made for two little cuties a while back. This dress (the Ava dress) is now in the shop. Tiffany wanted something bright and colorful and I am happy to work with you if you would like more options than the swatches I have listed. Just convo me!

RAINY MORNINGS

The mornings have been so quiet around here. Mostly because our house is dark and still with the incessant rainy, grey days. I sort of love having the house to myself in the mornings when everyone else is still asleep (including our dog, Guinness). I get up and read (I'm currently reading this, this, and this) and have my morning cup of coffee in peace and then I'll hear this little voice talking about her "satchel" (a frying pan that she thinks is a satchel, which she picked up from Tangled) and reading her variations on her favorite books. Yesterday it was Angelina and Alice, which I must admit I love just as much as Matilda. It's these little moments that I'm trying so hard not to miss in the midst of our chaotic days.

Also, I wanted to mention that we had the best veggie tacos here. Give this little gem a chance.

FRIDAY READS: THE BEAUTY DEPARTMENT

As far as beauty blogs go, The Beauty Department deserves to stand alone. Created by Lauren Conrad's team of beautifiers: Kristen Ess (hair) and Amy Nadine (makeup), the site is FULL of info from how to create your own Missoni-inspired nails to how to calm frizzy hair during the winter. Seriously, you name it, they cover it. They also preach the importance of what you put in to your body and how that affects your skin/hair/everything. Have fun! Hope you all have a relaxing weekend. It's raining all weekend here, so that means pajama day at our house! - Lesley

WINTER ROOT VEGETABLE SOUP

This soup is the perfect compliment to the gray, cold weather we've been having in the south. This is the time of year where I start to get the winter blues and good soup is usually a pretty great cure. It's also a lovely way to get in your vegetables. You can also puree this soup for those who don't like to look at the vegetables they're about to eat cough-Sam-cough.

Winter Root Vegetable Soup
based on the winter soup recipe in The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook (thanks Mom!)

1 medium yellow onion

3 cloves garlic

4 t ginger (I grate mine with a microplane)

4 carrots

1 medium turnip

1 small head of green cabbage

32 oz chicken stock

2 t tomato paste

salt and pepper to taste

Chop the onion, mince the garlic and ginger and add to 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter in a large pot. Stir frequently and let cook until the onions are translucent (about 10 minutes) then add the carrots and turnips (both diced as chunky as you like them) and cook until they are "firm tender" another 7 minutes or so. Then coat with tomato paste and add the cabbage (cut in to strips about 1" thick) and chicken stock. Salt to taste and let come to a boil. Then let simmer for 20 minutes. Add more salt and pepper to taste and finish off with fresh squeezed lemon juice if you like! Enjoy. - Lesley

WRAP IT UP

Finally all of my packaging for Tiny Fete has arrived and I was able to put it to good use for a recent order. I am so thankful to have orders. I've been busy! Yay! Last week was surely a test of insecurity, but I'm feeling better. It's amazing the power that insecurity can have. I was all kinds of doubting myself in all areas of my life. This video was a nice little nudge to keep pushing forward (thanks Lindsay!).

Matilda had her first morning at a really sweet mother's morning out program that I found. It killed me. She was so excited to get out the door to go to "school." She was skipping down the hall with her backpack on. She said, "Mama, I'm gonna be a real kid." Tearing up as I write this. Sheesh. Parenting is not for the faint of heart.

I also had my first meeting with Rachel at the shop and it felt great to be out and have a little time to get things done. Then we got home and a nap was not happening. Just rolling with the punches and doing what I can to keep calm and be kind and firm at the same time. Tricky business. Napping and parenting aside, something else that has really been troubling me is people in my life who I thought would be really supportive but aren't (just to clarify I do NOT mean supportive monetarily). I have so many awesome people cheering me on that I shouldn't care, right? I wish that were true. Gotta keep loving people anyway. God is teaching me that daily. Hardest lesson in life is learning how to not focus on ourselves and to forgive always. 70 x 7. - Lesley