After poring over this seasonal produce grid for the best way to order fruit and vegetable features, it's sort of awesome that it worked out to kick off the Eat Seasonal series with scallions. Also known as spring onions, this vegetable is a permanent fixture in my mom's kitchen. I can almost hear her chopping them as I type this! Scallions are in season in Massachusetts from May to September; stock up and try and or all of these six recipes:
After recently sharing about 5 ways to eat local on a budget, I started thinking a lot about tip #2: shopping seasonally. And it inspired me to start a new editorial series! Via Eat Seasonal I’ll share roundups of simple recipes to help you figure out what to do with seasonal produce. I know that every year that we’ve signed up for CSAs, I’ve scoured around for just this sort of thing -- I hope you love the series!
Today, Hillary from Mass Audubon shares a helpful baby bird season primer:
Now is the time of year that migratory breeding birds have returned from the south to nest, and each bird has a unique nesting technique. For example, robins fill their sometimes eye-level nests with bright blue eggs. Bluebirds prefer a “cavity” (i.e., a hole in a tree or box). Killdeer camouflage their nests on the ground in gravel areas near soccer fields (so keep an eye out!). Baltimore orioles create a delicate, hanging nest that somehow manages to support several eggs at a time.
Happy May everyone! Among many random holidays (seriously, there are a lot this month!), it’s National Salad Month. And I'm totally on board with NSM for many reasons (hello seasonal produce! yay, roughage!). I thought I would use this holiday to round up 18 awesome salads from the archives. And now I'm hungry and want to make them all right now (I enjoyed #18 yesterday). Enjoy!
So, as crafty as I am, one area that has intimidated me is DIY decor and furniture. But my friend Paige (who has issued her interior design brilliance on our home...let me know if you want her contact info, she is AMAZING) gave me the push I needed. After prowling around Pinterest, I decided to try this chair reupholstery tutorial by Live Love DIY and I am simply over the moon about the results!
It's been a while since I've posted a Dear Boston Mamas query and I'm thrilled to do so today! Reader Debbie (mom of two, ages 4 and 6) wrote in to ask about chores; specifically, how to get her kids to do them, whether there should be allowance tied to chores, and what kinds of special privileges seem appropriate and will make doing chores feel like a positive milestone. Here are my thoughts; thanks for writing in Debbie!:
I know it's tough to fathom since it's 12 degrees out right now, but remember how balmy it was last weekend? The rapidly melting snow banks coupled with the Marimekko event left me hungry for spring! If you're ever in a grouchy mood, just walk into Marimekko and your happy neurons will start firing; it's pure rainbow awesomeness. Don’t believe me? Check out the evidence below:
Does your fruit and veggie intake plummet during the cold months? Yeah, me too! And I find that this time of year I especially need veggies to counterbalance the uptick in comfort foods and sweet treats. After finding myself in a state of culinary sloth post-holiday, I was determined to up my veggie intake and have found bliss in warm winter salads. When I served this salad (which I now eat daily, sometimes twice daily!) during a recent design consult with Paige, she said, “YOU MUST POST THIS RECIPE!” So here goes.
Though I certainly like my share of stuff (hello, shiny objects) I believe in acquisition as a mindful curator rather than simply a consumer. I also loathe holiday related excess and clutter. Subsequently, I routinely do two things this time of year: 1) collect and donate clothing and other goods to people in need (big load done last week and I want to do another round this weekend) and 2) keep my eye focused on clutter-free gifts. I wanted to share my 12 favorite clutter-free gift ideas with you today:
Today, Katy shares a tasty family-friendly recipe:
Last summer, two amazing, unusual things happened. First, while visiting my in-laws, I actually had time to relax and read a magazine. Second, I clipped a recipe out of said magazine. I typically don't like to follow recipes and find that many "quick" magazine recipes are heavy on overly processed ingredients. But the enchiladas verde recipe I clipped looked tasty, healthy, gluten-free, and also easy to make vegetarian. Here's my modification (read: simplification) of the recipe, morphed into our new family favorite: Magic Mexican Casserole.
Today, Paige shares 15 easy holiday decorating ideas (perfect for those who, like me, are a little last minute in this department!):
Holiday decorating can seem overwhelming, but you don't need to stock up on Christmas figurines and giant elves or spend hours and hours of precious time in order to make your house feel festive. Get holiday-ready by picking a few of the tips below!
I had such fun pulling together the 12 chocolate cupcake recipes post last week (research, right?) that I decided to round up another dozen incredible looking cookie recipes in these fleeting days of October (which, apparently, is Cookie Month). Whoever is making up these holidays, I love you! I'm super excited to try all of these recipes -- perfect for fall/winter baking inspiration! Which recipe will you try first?
I'm a huge fan of slow cookers (aka crockpots). In fact, I think crockpots are downright sexy. Well, perhaps we won't agree on that, but what we likely will align on is how incredibly handy slow cookers are for simplifying mealtimes. When faced with a slew of CSA tomatoes (that we were told were best for sauces), I recently whipped up a batch of slow cooker marinara that made the whole family insanely happy. Here's the how-to (awesome spoiler: no blender required!):
In honor of Improve Your Office Day tomorrow (who knew?), today, Paige (also of Mudroom Boston) shares four easy ways to upgrade your office:
Have you ever had a moment when you look up from your dusty computer after a long day, turn off your company-issued brass lamp, glance at the framed snapshots that you haven't changed since your first child was born nine years ago, grab a leaky pen from your "Team Building 1999" mug to write a quick note, and think "how did my office get like this?" Yeah, me too.
Has the duct tape craze hit your house? It's been sticky craft madness around here ever since Laurel discovered it! We've got duct tape flowers, wallets, bookmarks, coasters, and more around the house. The other day when Laurel asked about ideas for a new project I -- ever the proponent of usable items -- suggested we make some cute belts. It's such an easy and cute project and I wanted to share the DIY with you today.
OK, friends, here's the last in my trio of birthday simplification blog posts! Today I want to address some new general thoughts I had on simplifying birthday parties, continuing the theme of last year's minimalist birthday parties post (where I address motivation, timing, gifts, decoration, and task management). Here are 7 ways to simplify birthday parties; even the small tweaks help enormously!
I know party favor bags are well-intentioned but I will be plain and share that they make me crazy. The little plastic knick-knacks usually inspire fighting between the girls and then the items are quickly forgotten and become clutter. Which I throw away. And then feel guilty about throwing away (hello, landfill). Subsequently, I'm all about tchotchke-free party favors (if you want to do favors at all) to simplify birthday parties. Here are my five favorites: