Tiny Little Life

Over Inspired

2012-02-09T22:17:00.003-05:00

There are a dozen wedding blogs that I've read religiously for a-hem three years a-hem. All that "reading" set me up for what I thought would be the easiest wedding planning. Not true. Instead I'm stuffed to the brim with all the inspiration I have squirreled away. Of course what I want is a simple rustic wedding, or I mean a frilly vintage wedding, or maybe what I'm trying to say is a classy but modern wedding...

Ugh

So a couple weeks ago I decided to stop avoiding the wedding, which I found was the easiest way to deal, and make a decision. Mark and I have an old childrens fairy tale book with fantastic illustrations. Our save the dates were based on an illustration from the book and it made the most sense to base everything else off of it as well. I went fabric shopping for one of my big DIY wedding projects and found the perfect blue printed cotton.

I'm starting to get really excited.

Florida - Part II

2012-01-27T19:32:00.000-05:00

Sarasota is home to The Ringling Family, which means that they have the fantastic Ringling Museum of Art, The Ringling College of Art and Design, and The Ringling Mansion. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't jealous. We spent the afternoon walking through the extensive exhibits and kind of spooky gardens. I fell head over heals for that place. Everywhere I looked there was something unique and charming that you just do not usually get at an art museum. And maybe something magical too.

Cotton & Brass on The Wedding Chicks!

2012-01-26T15:06:00.005-05:00

Our most recent Cotton & Brass photoshoot was featured today on one of our favorite blogs - The Wedding Chicks.

This photoshoot was so much fun to prepare for. My living room is still all shimmery with glitter. I debated between doing real flowers or paper. I'm usually the first person to roll my eyes when I even hear those words together. But it just felt right for this theme and I'm really happy with how they turned out. Keep your eyes pealed on our blog for the paper flower tutorial coming next week!

This photo is property of Cotton & Brass and Christa Kimble Photography. If you would like to share these, please credit Cotton & Brass.

Florida - Part I

2012-01-23T19:00:00.005-05:00

You know what the middle of January needs? A trip to Florida. I'm a big advocate for four seasons fully experienced. But who can say no to a future mother-in-law with a lovely condo just minutes from the beach. Not me.

We flew into Tampa and spent the first day in St. Petersburg on the Pier. I helped drag the boys out of bed bright and early on the second day. By afternoon we had seen several alligators, survived a boat crash, enjoyed a canopy walk, and climbed a million stairs up past the tree line.

What a life

2012-01-10T13:27:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I came home to a spic and span house (not at all how I left it), a hot delicious dinner, and a beautiful sunset.

Thanks Mark!

Some cool ladies

2012-01-10T13:11:00.006-05:00

Last weekend was spent cozied up in a cabin with 16 other awesome ladies. There was cave hiking, and hot tub confessions, and night time zip lining. Also talents shows, arm wrestling tournaments, and large quantities of fried eggs.

I can't recommend enough schlepping your friends into a cabin in the middle of winter for Girl Camp. My sense of feminine-awesomeness was rejuvenated. Never underestimate us.

Christmas Eve Dinner

2012-01-08T23:36:00.004-05:00

Christmas was wonderful. We were spoiled with delicious food, thoughtful gifts, and most importantly - time with our loved ones.

Mark has taken every chance to make the incredibly simple and ridiculously rich recipes from Fergus Henderson's The Whole Beast. For Christmas Eve it was suppose to be Rabbit and Garlic. But apparently Rabbit fly's off the shelves faster than Tickle Me Elmo's on December 23rd. So we "settled" for beef shanks.

The recipe calls for 60 to 80 cloves of garlic. Nope, not a typo. My favorite part of the recipe is the last part: "Serve hot straight from the pot, encouraging your fellow diners to suck the flesh from the unpeeled garlic cloves, which will now be sweet and delicious. For the juices you will need both bread and napkins."

Christmas at Cotton & Brass

2011-12-22T22:46:00.005-05:00

Thankfully the three other ladies of Cotton & Brass fully indulge my holiday love. Including decorating ornaments, overnighting them to my house, and photographing them over freshly baked cookies.

*Photo via Christa Kimble

Tip of the Hat

2011-12-22T22:28:00.003-05:00

The hat contest was fierce this year at the Corgi Christmas Cocktail Party. Good job ladies.

'Tis the Season

2011-12-22T22:25:00.001-05:00

The tree is up and trimmed, presents are wrapped, and there is even a little mistletoe. I'm unapologetic about my enthusiasm for the holidays. I must be insufferable with my Maria Carey Christmas blaring, our dining room table bursting with Holiday crafts, and the constant chatter of what to get whom. I don't care.

Maybe it has something to do with Ohio winters and needing to cling to every good thing we have once winter hits. That could also be why I have never been able to hate Valentines Day.

Thanksgiving

2011-12-05T14:41:00.004-05:00

Yesterday concluded with yet another amazing dinner by Mark and a table of friends to help eat it. The dinners have been consistent over the past several months. Sometimes they are at others houses and sometimes it's just us two while other times it's 20. No matter the setting though it's always wonderful to sit down with people you care about and polish off a roast.

Sometimes in the quiet of the meal, when our mouths are too full for conversation, I think about how lucky I am. How did I get this lucky? Despite the dim economy and our own struggles with finding sustainable jobs we have a thriving community.

Cracks

2011-11-14T22:39:00.007-05:00

There were cracks in the clouds the whole way to West Chester for dinner with Mark's family. The sky was a pillow of gray except for a few beautiful sheets of light that pierced through. I couldn't stop staring.

A rusty, Thanksgiving inspired bouquet also managed to happen over the weekend. You can see more photo's of it on Cotton & Brass.

To plan a wedding

2011-11-14T11:27:00.011-05:00

My job is to convince brides that an all inclusive package where "we" take care of everything (i.e. the linens, the set-up, the food, the bar, the lighting, the tear down) is the bee's knees. You even get an event coordinator to walk you through everything. And it's easy for me to sell because I really believe that it's the best way to go.

And then there is my wedding. It could not be more opposite. I had to talk myself off the Do-Your-Own-Catering Cliff, but besides that we are really doing pretty much everything. In the beginning I felt like a bride-champion quickly knocking out the major elements without a second thought (inspired by Evie). But now it's getting down to the details. What exactly do we want our invitations to say? How am I going to actually alter my dress? Where do we really want our guests to stay?

I was once among the niave brides that actually spewed the words "laid back, diy wedding" together. It only took a couple of my dearest friends and their DIY weddings to bring me out of that denial coma. DIY weddings are laborious, mind-numbing, undertakings. But I honestly can not imagine doing it any other way. And so I spent my weekend tediously drawing out blades of grass on my Wacom tablet for our save-the-dates.

It turned out beautiful and is exactly what we wanted.

some things have happened

2011-10-08T19:10:00.010-04:00

•I finally visited Columbus Commons, our newest park (it has a carousel!)
•Evie stole me away for a secret mission.
•Ed & Sue came to visit
•the power went out
•we went to Franklin Park Conservatory,
•we visited Nanny and Poppy and met some cute puppies as well,
•and my parents dropped in.
•Evie and Nick had their joint switch-your-gender-sing-kareoke-and-confuse-Bourbon-Streets-swell-patrons Bachelor/Bachelorette party. It was amazing.
•Tasha birthday was celebrated at Camelot Cellars.
•The Country Living Fair continued to live up to the hype.
•Bouquet's were arranged,
•and friends were married.

•••

2011-08-14T22:19:00.003-04:00

• introducing our new friend, Miss Fish
• twenty dollars well spent at the farmers market
• kitten print! on a cute dress! yes!
• kitten kisses
• lay on the couch and what do I see? a tree!

Camp 2011

2011-08-14T22:09:00.007-04:00

Another highly successful family gathering filled with laughter, memory-making, intriguing conversations, and lots of very full bellies.

Anything for pizza

2011-08-14T11:40:00.004-04:00

Do you think Kate Middleton assembled her invitations with her besties? ...I hope so.

We gathered around pizza boxes and paper cutters and set to work on Evie's invitations. Creating a DIY Wedding is so much easier with a posse.

Oma and Enkel

2011-08-14T11:23:00.003-04:00

In an instant, with the birth of her grandson, my mothers world turned on it's side. It's heart aching to watch the love that flows between these two very independent personalities. My nephew is already very much his own person. The chaos of his four older cousins doting over him doesn't even phase him. And if his doesn't want to do something he just aggressively shakes his head no and that is that.

And my mother has always been my role model as an independent no-nonsense women.

But when these two get together, which is quite often despite the distance, they are like childhood best friends.

Peach hand pies and google

2011-08-09T20:43:00.003-04:00

I whipped up these AMAZING peach hand pies for Evie's shower. They are to. die. for. I can't stop dreaming about the pie dough, so buttery and flaky and shockingly resilient.

Where did the recipe come from?

Well it's very simple, I googled "peach hand pies" and not surprisingly the fabulous smitten kitchen blog topped the list. So go steal her recipe (www.smittenkitchen.com) and while you are there scroll around because you are sure to find a bagillion other recipes. Just don't blame me when your social life goes to phooey (kids read this blog) because you haven't left the kitchen in a week.

NO BOYS ALLOWED

2011-07-13T00:23:00.004-04:00

A marvelous "Girl Fort" has taken residence in the living room while Mark is away on tour (more about that later). There is ice cream, girl talk, and movies such as "Girls Just Want to have Fun". Best of all there are incredibly intelligent ladies that make me laugh almost-crash-the-car hard (Evie, I'm still chuckling about the bike peg story).

There was a time in my life where I was surrounded by boys. Both at home and in my High School clique. Then I chose a major in college that was 95% male. I always assumed that it was better that way, less drama right? Feelings of anxiety even began to creep up as more and more girls replaced my guy friends.

And at my birthday party this year I was completely surrounded by ladies. We were all eating fantastic food and talking about toe puss and laughing our faces off. Maybe girls aren't so bad. Maybe I was really missing out on something. Who else is going to enable my girly yard sale purchases, or swap canning recipes, or tediously search through pantone swatches to come up with the perfect color palette for my wedding?

Stair Garden

2011-07-13T00:10:00.003-04:00

There is a lot happening on our stairs right now. Tomatoes are turning red. Flower are blooming. Green beans are sprouting. The herbs have been going strong for months now. And the sun tea is a crowd pleaser.

Didn't agriculture come about from the need of humans to settle in one place? My portable stair garden would seam so insane to those garden pioneers, but so would house cats.

The 4th

2011-07-12T23:02:00.002-04:00

This is what the 4th of July looks like in Columbus. It's pretty much the best.

!!!

2011-06-26T11:06:00.010-04:00

Oh my. It's been almost a month. Well I have some updating to do:

My wisdom teeth were surgically removed after the move and before anything was put away. The pain meds and my stomach did not get along and in the end the stomach won. Luckily the paint wasn't that bad. Mark made me gourmet mashed potatoes. I loafed on the couch staring at all the stuff that needed put away and that I wasn't allowed to lift.

Then my Aunt, Uncle, and Grandma came in from upstate New York to celebrate my Cousin's Graduation. Almost every summer of my life has been spent at their homes and it was nice to have the tables turn. And if forced Mark and I to finally unpack. My mom came to visit as well and we went to the Whetstone Park of Roses peak season showing. We took a million pictures of damp, slightly browning roses. Apparently peak season came early this year. But it didn't stop my mom from falling in love with the place and continuing to ask me if I want to get married there.

Mark made a crazy good Brussels sprout, bacon, mushroom medley. And we added Brussels sprout medley to our tentative wedding menu.

Our friend Brigit got a puppy. Everyone is jealous.

I went to visit my 10 month old nephew. He is the cutest 10 month old that ever existed. He is starting to walk and his favorite toy continues to be my mom's camera bag. To encourage his interest in photography I "taught" him how to use my camera. He took this picture of me (it has crazy aunt written all over it).

Friends were invited over for 2011 Pride Cake and a whole rack of ribs.

This summer's first pitcher of fresh mint mojitos was schlepped to dinner club only to realize that their was no dinner club and so we had mojito club instead. After several mojitos Ana and I decided it would be a good idea to fix my hair cut. It turned out great and I think it will be my new formula for hair cutting.

Our friend Sjanneke got a dog and all I have are these lazy cats.

one long sigh

2011-05-30T22:05:00.004-04:00

I. am. so. exhausted.

Moving is hard.

Our last load of goods was delivered to the new place with the help of my parents. My excitement to decorate our lovely new place is now overwhelmed with piles and piles of boxes. It will all get done in good time. Tonight though will be just for sleeping.

California Boy

2011-05-14T00:03:00.006-04:00

Sara and I use to nickname boys. Usually boys we had crushes on. There was glasses boy, and bicycle boy, and afro boy. Lots of boys. We had a whole system really. When Jason came along I think he started out as "that mean guy who works in the ceramics lab". Then we actually got to know him and he was California boy (because he's from Cali) and Sara was smitten.

Last weekend he became Sara's husband and my heart is still swollen with all the love from their wedding.

(photo's via Christa Kimble Photography)

4 Season Room

2011-05-04T12:44:00.007-04:00

My body has a constant case of the excitement shivers these days. My bestest is getting married this weekend!!, I'm starting my new job, and Mark and I just signed a lease on our awesome new abode.

I've been searching for a two bedroom on Craigslist for WEEKS now, and finally stumbled upon this gorgeous place when I lowered my expectation to a one bedroom. The "3 season room", called that because it doesn't technically have a heat vent for winter, is going to make the most amazing office. And it will be furnished with a space heater for extra chilly days, therefore rendering it our 4 season room. To make the place even cuter. our bedroom is up a windy set of stairs in the attic. I'm too excited to not post these terrible photo's. Nicer photo's to come.

Also this poem by Evie is so lovely that it hurts.

A weekly arrangement - week 6

2011-05-03T09:49:00.004-04:00

A tiny arrangement straight from my front yard. Every spring our tree burst's open with dainty white clusters that smell a little funny and then quickly fills the yard with white confetti. The parrot tulip is from our front flower bed. I've never been a big fan of tulips, but parrot tulips seam like a whole different flower to me. I am drawn to things that are rough around the edges.

Big Huge Ambitions

2011-05-02T02:24:00.002-04:00

So maybe it debuted a few hours past the first. But it is here. An eternal work in progress. My new blog: Big Huge Ambitions.

Of course I will still be posting as usual on this blog as well.

Easter Dinner

2011-04-26T10:58:00.003-04:00

Impromptu holiday celebrations are my favorite kind. Mark and I whipped up an Easter dinner on a whim and invited some friends over. The menu:

• BBQ Pork Ribs (with sweet baby ray's bbq sauce)
• Mashed red potato's with olive oil and basil
• Green beans with bacon bits (Mark's homemade bacon)
• Garlic bread
• Apple pie

Just like Vegas

2011-04-25T10:41:00.002-04:00

What happens at a bachelorette party stays at a bachelorette party.

Luckily for Jason, we're a pretty tame bunch.

Goodbye Tully

2011-04-20T21:03:00.003-04:00

Yesterday the best dog in the world passed away. I have a long history with dogs. Mostly with them biting me and me being afraid of them. So afraid that I would cross to the other side of the street when I saw one. Tully is a big part of the reason that I was able to get over that fear.

I will miss his exciting hop as he welcomes you into his home. I will miss him climbing onto my lap as if he were a tiny kitten. I will miss the way he shows you his toys and does not want you to actually touch them. Mostly I will miss how he made everyone around him feel loved.

(not my photo. I believe it belongs to his owner Erin.)

so much good news

2011-04-19T10:48:00.003-04:00

My lovely little ring that Mark got me along with more news.

The time has come to move out of our quaint house and downsize into a hopefully quainter apartment. Just the thought of editing our possessions and decorating a new home makes me giddy. I'm turning in an application on a place today (fingers crossed).

I also received an amazing new position at the hotel where I work and I feel like my career is headed in an exciting new direction.

So to top off all this wonderful news, I am starting a new blog. This one will continue as is but I have felt for a while that this is very much a personal blog and I don't want to weigh it down with tutorials and art endeavors. The new blog will be dedicated to those things and it will debut on May 1st.

•

2011-04-12T11:48:00.002-04:00

11:15am - Top secret projects with Temper Trap on repeat.

...finally

2011-04-11T10:42:00.003-04:00

Ohio Roller Derby

2011-04-08T09:11:00.005-04:00

Completely unplanned, Sarah scheduled her birthday party at the same roller derby tournament as Jason's bachelor party. There were plans to embarrass the boys but by the time they arrived we had turned into such die-hard, kazoo blowing, screaming fans that we couldn't peal ourselves away from the game. Typically I would rather watch my cats for an hour than watch a game of any sport but roller derby really does it for me. Maybe partly because I know that these gnarly ladies have full time lives and jobs outside of the rink.

I wonder if they offer season passes?

The Tone Shoppe in 614

2011-04-05T09:58:00.003-04:00

More awesome news. The Tone Shoppe was featured in the April issue of 614 Magazine. Here is the article:

Behind the Music
Three innovative studios go beyond the board
By Erin Norris

I moved to Columbus five years ago, and if there is anything I regret, it was spending the first two years in an underage vacuum of local music awareness. It wasn’t until I received that coveted piece of plastic that declared I could legally experience local nightlife that I began to scratch the surface of the incredibly active and diverse music scene that has long been a cultural staple of the city.

The sheer amount of local talent warrants an equally passionate community of recording studios, sound mixers, and mastering engineers to immortalize this music in permanent form, and they work hard to keep up with Columbus’ growing soundscape. Central City Recording has made their mark on the city this past year, and Musicol’s reputation among local and regional bands is stellar – but several other studios around town are garnering a name for themselves and the C-bus scene.

The Up-and-Comer
Eric Cronstein lives where he works, a convenience he generously extends to all of the artists he records with.

“Anything that is here is usable by anyone who is here,” he says with a sweeping gesture from the studio to the domestic space. “When you are recording here, everything is available 24 hours a day. This is your home, there are no boundaries.”

Cronstein’s studio residence, the Tone Shoppe, is a humble monument to the artistic process. Nestled in the outskirts of the city, it serves as a retreat for artists who want to record in a professional but comfortable environment. “Most people say that when they’re here, they forget that they’re at a studio, because we’re really away from everything,” he said.

As a staff engineer in Cleveland, Cronstein began to feel disenchanted with the industry’s focus on finances and competition. “In Cleveland the studios would advertise ‘We are the premiere studio!’ or ‘We have the biggest console!’ but no one ever just said ‘We make really good recordings’ – which is what it is really about.” Interested in starting his own project, Cronstein decided to relocate to Columbus, an opportune area due to its thriving music scene. He and his business partner, George Chase, opened the studio in May 2010.

Since then, Cronstein and sound engineer Mark Parsons have recorded with local bands such as Tin Armor and Churches Burn, as well as out-of-town guests like The Sidekicks and Reverse the Curse. Cronstein says albums have taken anywhere from several days to several months to record. “We like to talk to people about their project before we do it, and we don’t like to work on an hourly basis. I feel like the focus on time stifles creativity,” he explained. “I know that musicians are not the wealthiest of folks, and I want to be able to give them something regardless of what they have.”

If anything, the Tone Shoppe team has a genuine respect for music, and a dedication to making the recording process a creative endeavor, rather than a business transaction. Whether clients want to come in for a few hours per day, or spend the summer playing baseball in the backyard, the satisfaction with their time spent and their final product is all that matters.

“Essentially, an artist is coming to a place to have somebody help them make their art, and they should have an environment that is conducive to that.”

www.thetoneshoppe.com

Read the entire article HERE
(photo credit: Chris Casella)

We're getting hitched!!

2011-04-04T13:20:00.003-04:00

It's official. Our tiny little family starts with our wedding, fall of 2012.

Mark proposed last wednesday with flowers, chocolates, a vintage ring, and lots of sweet words.

First BBQ of 2011

2011-03-28T10:46:00.002-04:00

My favorite meal as a little girl was my mom's grilled chicken and corn on the cob with big wedges of watermelon. Oh and sun-made ice tea.

There is something completely fantastic about cooking food outside. The charcoal undertones, BBQ sauce dripping from everything, the possibility of smores, and the smoky smell that lingers in your hair. It's my favorite.

Sara's Shower

2011-03-21T12:48:00.006-04:00

I didn't expect to be so nervous. In a strange way it felt like a coming of age to throw my first shower. And of course I wanted it to be perfect since it was for my bestest friend.

I chose to have it at The Cambridge Tea House so that I wouldn't have to be stressed out about the food and seating. Phew, what a great choice! We got all hopped up on tea, made Sara completely inappropriate collages, and cracked up as she opened set after set of alcohol specific glassware.

Fun times.

(first and last picture were taken by Molly Burke)

A Weekly Arrangement - week five

2011-03-21T12:41:00.005-04:00

These darling arrangements were made for Sara's shower (more on that later). It was the first time that I allowed myself to buy as many different types of flowers and fillers that I wanted. Boy, does that make a difference. I had originally planned on making just four table bouquets but I had so many flowers that I just kept filling jars. I was able to send four arrangements home with the bride and her mother and still have these to shoot.

I still have a lot of learning and practice to do before Sara's big day but I'm starting to feel a little less panicked.

O hello.

2011-03-21T12:36:00.003-04:00

So many things to update you on. First of all, Happy Spring! My tulips are finally peeping out of the ground.

Have I told you about my neighbor? She has the most amazing front yard flower garden. Her house seems truly magical with her little girls prancing around the flowers in their dresses. I know that all of the neighbors secretly compete with her. Her tulip are a good five inches taller than mine right now. I'm going to blame it on not enough sunlight on my side of the street.

A real bed

2011-03-16T14:14:00.003-04:00

Our new bed frame was a much appreciated gift. With an actual footboard and headboard! The days of sleeping on a mattress on the floor are over (for good I hope). I did not expect to feel so excited about my mattress being propped up. I was fine with it on the floor, I suppose an outcome of my humble upbringing. But now that I have spent three whole nights in a "real" bed I can't imagine going back.

Mary on the other hand is easier to please. Any mattress in the sun will always be her favorite spot.

Sprouts

2011-03-12T17:28:00.003-05:00

I began some of my seeds this week. I sort of forgot to label what I planted where. Oops. So here are some sprouts, not sure what they are. Hopefully I'll figure it out before I have to transplant them (fingers crossed).

Speaking of transplanting, Mark and I are transplanting as well this summer. More about that later.

Also there will be no weekly arrangement this week. Don't worry though cause next weeks will be extra amazing.

Swoon

2011-03-12T17:11:00.003-05:00

My best friend is an incredibly talented illustrator and maybe I'm biased but she has impeccable taste. So of course her wedding invitations are amazing. How cute is that little string?!

My song request was Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order, the only song that Mark has ever danced with me to.

Vegan chocolate whisky cake

2011-03-08T14:10:00.002-05:00

Vegan baking scares me. I'm so use to adding extra butter to make something more moist, or fluffing the eggs longer to create more body. So I was shocked that I made a vegan cake and it actually worked and tasted good.

I got the recipe here and followed it exactly with the exception of putting raspberry jam in the middle.

A Weekly Arrangement - week 4

2011-03-07T14:27:00.002-05:00

I've been thrilled recently by the selection of flowers back in the grocery stores (still looking for a better supplier). This week's arrangement was for Erin's celebration and it called for big orange bursts of color.

Friday night celebration

2011-03-06T12:47:00.004-05:00

of Erin completing The Bar. Something that is necessary to celebrate, not just because it's a huge accomplishment, but also because no one has seen her for the last three months.

a completely vegan menu:
• vegan balls (consisting of bread, tofu, nuts, and garlic) dipped in tomato sauce
• mushroom salsa (mushrooms, roasted nuts, garlic) paired with wheat crackers
• cherry tomato's stuffed with pesto (these are amazing!!)
• vegan whisky chocolate cake (recipe coming soon)
• a handsome bottle of whisky

Thursday night crafting...

2011-03-06T12:39:00.005-05:00

.../stuffing our faces with cheese, wine and the above tart while talking about life and other completely inappropriate topics.

Hopefully the beginning of a tradition.

Destination Birthday

2011-03-03T15:48:00.004-05:00

I spent the better part of my morning researching and planning a birthday trip that Mark and I later agreed would be too expensive to take. So slightly depressed and defeated I searched for an interesting hotel in Ohio that accepted my employee discount.

And really I have not spent more than a few hours in Cleveland so it's just as new to me as the smoky mountains, right? And how gorgeous is their indoor pool atrium? And they have tons of fabulous restaurants and interesting galleries. So it's settled (as soon I run it past Mark), I will have a destination birthday to Cleveland.

So exotic, right?
(photos via Renaissance Cleveland

•

2011-03-02T12:27:00.002-05:00

11:04 am - some mornings call for a healthy start. This was not one of them.

Tea Cup Invitations

2011-02-28T10:52:00.002-05:00

I made these little invitations for Sara's shower.

The Wurst

2011-02-23T14:16:00.002-05:00

Mark has taken a sudden interest to cured meats. There was bacon which was amazing and has ruined all store bought bacon for me. Then there are the sausages. They are his first which means the ones to follow will be even better. Hard for me to imagine. Maybe these were beginners luck.

Of course Rick always has the cleverest things to say:

"The best wurst burst first"

A Weekly Arrangement - week 3

2011-02-22T11:42:00.003-05:00

I'm still hunting for a reliable flower source. I headed to Flowerama this week hoping to leave with an arm-full of different varieties to work from. Not so much. So I had to get creative with the display instead.

I hear rumors though of a new flower shop opening that might be just the place.

Madeleines

2011-02-17T10:46:00.003-05:00

These homemade valentine madeleines were left on my porch by my bestest friend.

And quickly devoured with coffee.

V-day dinner

2011-02-16T09:45:00.004-05:00

Have I told you yet that Mark is an amazing cook? And not even in a "makes a mean steak" kind of way. More in a "I live with a gourmet chef" kind of way. Lucky for me he decided a cooking career would probably ruin his love for cooking and so he continues to express his art on my dinner plate.

Valentines dinner came in two courses (we were too stuffed for the third).

Course 1: Apple and bacon (that he made, like actually made the bacon from a piece of pork belly) on top of a brie smeared baguette drizzled with maple syrup. This blew my mind.

Course 2: Homemade pasta sauteed in wine, garlic, and mussel juice and sprinkled with ricotta cheese and basil. Then topped with scallops for him and mussels for me.

Course 3: To be continued...

Dancing Queen

2011-02-15T11:34:00.002-05:00

I never got to be a flower girl. I'm still a little sore about it. They get to where miniature wedding dresses (and we know everything is cuter in miniature form), they usher in the bride, and it is completely appropriate for them to twirl around the dance floor without a partner.

They really have it made.

p.s. happy valentines day

2011-02-14T14:34:00.003-05:00

A few images and a song from my "inspiration" folder. Hopefully it will add a little happiness to your Valentines day.

(unfortunately I can't remember where these images came from, sorry :( )

Snow Country

2011-02-14T11:05:00.003-05:00

The pictures do not do the snow justice.

Will be back on Monday.

2011-02-10T13:09:00.004-05:00

We are leaving tomorrow morning, even before the early bird gets the worm, to travel to upstate New York for my cousins wedding.

I am packing my warmest sweaters.
Even my dress is wool.

My garden in envelopes

2011-02-09T11:14:00.009-05:00

I really love all the seasons (including the coldest darkest winters). I really do. No really, I do. I even wrote about it here, remember?

Ok, you caught me.

I'm secretly dreaming of spring every time I look out the window. Maybe it's the lack of fluffy snow this year, or maybe it's my lack of snow boots. Whichever, it's racking me with guilt for not enjoying each day and instead drifting off to a land of breezy windows and sprouting gardens.

So instead of sloshing through the snow, or cozying up to the fire I am planning my garden. Tasha and I went in together on seeds (great idea, Tasha), because who needs 1,000 seeds of anything? And in only a week it will be time to begin some of the plants so that I can feel I am forcing spring to come.

Birthday gifts

2011-02-08T11:57:00.006-05:00

A couple of handmade gifts for Sara: a little cat pillow & bunting to fill a vintage blue jar.

Happy Birthday!!

2011-02-08T11:19:00.005-05:00

Ok, so Sara's birthday isn't technically for a few days but with me heading to upstate New York, and Tasha going to Belise (*sigh of jealousy) we celebrated a little early. Things to keep in mind when throwing a birthday brunch: champagne is completely appropriate at any hour when mixed with juice, using nutella as cinnamon roll filling is awesome (thanks Tasha!), and you should plan a nap afterwards (especially if you are a cat).

Weekly Arrangement - week 3

2011-02-07T12:44:00.002-05:00

My goal for this week was to break out of the "straight out of the vase" look. The tulips worked really well for that because their stems bend. This stem thing is a whole new concept to me. I had never before thought about the flower stems, just the explosions at the end of them. Now I find myself picking up the rubber banded bundles to get a feeling for their flexibility. I'm sure the Giant Eagle clerks think I'm cuckoo.

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2011-02-05T10:27:00.003-05:00

12:21 am - sewing, chocolate milk (if you're not using whole milk you're missing out), and these guys.

Wild Nights

2011-02-04T12:07:00.004-05:00

Last weekend was Tin Armor's 5 year anniversary. The milestone was celebrated as it should be, in a small, dimly lit basement packed with their closest friends and fans. Mark sang Wild Nights with them. It was amazing.

(photo via the amazing Rachael Barbash)

Oy vey

2011-02-03T13:36:00.005-05:00

Dear J Crew,

I received your spring catalog yesterday. I am writing because I think there are a few changes you should make. First, stop making such amazing clothes that pull at my heartstrings and hurt my feelings. Secondly, if you are going to continue making such lovely ensembles please send me a lofty stack of coupons so that I can stop trying to recreate them in thrift store fitting rooms. And lastly, please send your spring catalog after all the ice in Ohio has melted so I am not tortured with popsicle colors and adorable swim-wear while piled in layers and layers of sweaters.

Will always love you despite,
Michelle

An enchanted orchid forest

2011-02-02T11:07:00.005-05:00

My mother came for a short visit last Saturday. The day was quickly filled with art galleries, conservatories, sharing photo's, and starting huge endeavors.

The Franklin Park Conservatory was hosting their enchanting Orchid Forest Exhibit. It's undeniably the best place to escape all the snow. The flowers hang and shoot from every corner. Many of them looking like foreign insect strung together. They even creating an intricate spinning castle with a train that runs around it and of course their are orchids growing all over it.

I'm considering a membership. According to Sara, a current holder of one, it entitles free visits with a visitor and is good for other cities conservatories as well!

City of Brass

2011-02-01T11:10:00.004-05:00

Mark locked himself up in The Tone Shoppe this past weekend to record City of Brass. I let him take my camera into the trenches in hopes for a glimpse of all the rock-awesomeness. I got back some fuzzy orange pictures, I guess that counts. I also heard unmixed tracks which sound completely huge and amazing.

**In semi-related news: The Churches Burn music that mark recorded will be done soon so prepare yourself.

A Weekly Arrangement - week 2

2011-01-30T21:16:00.004-05:00

A simple (and budget friendly) arrangement. And the beginning of my succulent collection. Let's keep our fingers crossed that this cute little guy will survive my not so consistant waterings and not one, not two, but three curious cats.

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2011-01-27T12:27:00.002-05:00

Rustic pear pie

2011-01-26T11:59:00.000-05:00

I'm a baker. And I have baked some pretty amazing things. But this tops them all. The flavor explosions of lemon, pear, and almond will make you... well explode. Oh and the crust, that amazing sweet flaky crust, with sugar crystals, to. die. for. Good thing pears are plentiful at the grocer right now cause you are going to want to make this right away. I promise. And you should probably invite some friends over because otherwise you will eat this whole thing yourself.

Rustic Pear Pie (10 servings)

Ingredients
• 1&1/3 Cups flour
• 3 Tbls sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 7 Tbls cold butter, cubed
• 3 to 4 Tbls cold water (or cold milk, or in my case cold butter milk)

Filling
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1&1/2 tsp grated lemon peal
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 4 medium ripe pears, pealed and sliced
• 1 Tbsp butter

Topping
• 1 egg white
• 1 tsp water
• 1 Tbls coarse sugar

Glaze (optional)
• 1/4 cup powder sugar
• 1&1/2 tsp milk
• 1/4 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted.

Directions
• In a small bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt: cut in butter until crumbly. Gradually add water tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Roll out to a 14 in circle. Transfer pastry to a 14in or 12in pizza pan.
• Set oven at 375 degrees
• In a large bowl, combine the sugar, almonds, flour, lemon peal and cinnamon. Add pears; toss to coat. Spoon over the pastry to within 2 in. of edges; dot with butter. Fold edges of pastry in.
• For topping, beat egg white and water. Brush over pastry and sprinkle course sugar over top.
• Bake for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown
• For glaze, combine the powder sugar, milk and vanilla. Pour over warm pie. Sprinkle with almonds. Cool on a wire rack. Store in the refrigerator (if you don't eat it all first).

(this recipe is from Taste of Home and I slightly modified it)

Simple pasta from scratch

2011-01-25T16:08:00.003-05:00

10 Simple and easy steps. Also time consuming.

1. Pile 3 cups flour and 3 tsp salt into a big heap.
2. Make a well in the center and crack 3 eggs in it.
3. With a fork slowly mix the flour into the egg. **Do not let the sides cave in or your egg will run everywhere!!!
4. Once the egg is incorporated sprinkle about 3 Tbls cold water into the mixture. Just enough so that all the flour is incorporated.
5.Knead the dough until is is smooth and shiny (about 5 minutes in a kitchen-aid mixer and about 20 minutes if you're doing it by hand).
6. Roll out the dough until it is at desired thickness. This takes a long time so be prepared.
7. Cut pasta with a knife or pasta cutter.
8. Allow the pasta to dry on clean towels for at least 20 minutes.
9. Bowl pasta with a little olive oil until desired texture.
10. ENJOY!

A weekly arrangement

2011-01-24T20:13:00.000-05:00

I'm thrilled to be doing the flowers for two of my dear friend's weddings this year. Also incredibly nervous, not something I want to mess up. So starting this week I'll be practicing a weekly arrangement. I apologize for the lower quality image this week, that will improve along with the arrangements.

Just like great great grandma did

2011-01-22T10:51:00.000-05:00

I feel good about the handmade, homespun movement. It's invigorating to put elbow greese into the things that I usually get through convenience. Dinner club often takes several elbows, working together to satisfy one of our most basic needs. Food is easy. We can get whatever we desire with a simple trip to the grocery store or local restaurant. But what if we had to work for it, the way our great great grandparents did? What if we only had the most basic ingredients and our own two hands to prepare it? Would/did food taste better? I'm sure that we would at least appreciate it more. Anyway...here was the menu:

• Homemade pasta and tomato sauce (recipe for pasta coming soon)
• Tasha's Vegetarian meatballs
• Skillet roasted vegetables
• Evie's roasted beets
• Garden salad
• Kristen's garlic bread
• Rustic Pear Pie (recipe coming soon)
• Tasha's almost vegan strawberry cheesecake
• Christen's peach cobler
• Brenda's mexican hot chocolate

The goodness of butter

2011-01-21T11:51:00.000-05:00

This past week I took a yogurt and butter making class (a.k.a. Columbus hippie gathering) with Snowville's owner Warren Taylor. Whoa was it awesome! He taught us yogurt making with Kefir (not sure yet if my body agrees with this stuff) and butter making which is shockingly simple.

• The whipping cream just needs about 5-10 minutes in a mixer (medium speed) until it turns to curds.
• Scoop up balls of the good stuff and gently squeeze out the liquid over a colander and bowl (the liquid is buttermilk so don't disregard it!)
• I went through the squeezing process twice because the more liquid you remove he longer it will keep.

• Then store the butter and buttermilk in the fridge until your ready to use.

The best part of making your own butter is that you can experiment with flavoring it. You could infuse it with herbs, garlic, honey, whatever strikes you.

The perfect ending to a bad week

2011-01-18T10:29:00.005-05:00

This was a crappy week. I won't get into the gritty details cause I'm not really into pity parties. But it sucked. And the best way to end one of those weeks is with a haircut. Like a deep breath and a fresh start.

Snuggly cats help too.

I heart winter

2011-01-13T21:09:00.001-05:00

I keep expecting to hate the snow. I accepted my love for it last winter as simply a honey moon period from being back in Ohio. Even after slipping and falling hard on my tush and even after an extra long commute home and even after the endless snow removal, I still don't feel annoyed. Maybe I have come to peace with it's flaws in exchange for it's beauty.

A game of cat & squirrel

2011-01-12T16:21:00.005-05:00

The squirrels always start it, running ferociously up and down the tree and thumping onto the roof. Then the balls of fur that clutter my office leap without warning onto my desk (this is great for productivity) and begin to chirp (yes chirp) at the tree. This does not phase the squirrels as they always win at this game.

Andy Cook & Wander Loons

2011-01-05T13:45:00.003-05:00

I just can't stop listening to this. (you can listen here)

Of course I am slightly biased since our friend Eric (the owner of The Tone Shoppe) recorded them. But this is seriously good, like really really good.

Handmade gifts exposed 2

2011-01-04T14:02:00.005-05:00

and a few more...
an african violet pin cushion for Grandma

a painting for Mark's Grandma

a rose pillow and...

and a succulent pillow for Sara

Handmade gifts exposed

2011-01-03T12:57:00.008-05:00

A few of my handmade gifts...

a gardening apron for my grandma.

a gardening apron for Ali.

embroidered corgi napkins for the corgi owners

and these silly photo's of the corgi's as Victorian babies.

Waffles... round 3

2011-01-02T14:09:00.006-05:00

My usual "best ever" search did not work for an authentic belgian waffle and so I had to sift through an endless sea of google results to find a good one. They turned out good even though I had to forgo the pearl sugar this time. Once I have the crunchy crystals I'm sure these waffles will become my new staple. I'm going to tweak the recipe a bit before I share it. And of course my dear old recipe will not be forgotten and will be saved for the mornings when waffles need to happen fast and there is no time to wait for the yeast to do it's magic.

Happy New Years!!

2011-01-01T10:11:00.003-05:00

I hope that everyone had a fabulous New Years. I watched a ball of "glitter and doom" drop from the back of a friends house while everyone cheered with noise makers and sparklers.

More Sneak Peaks

2010-12-23T14:56:00.002-05:00

Just the edges of the final handmade gifts. I'm pretty proud (and shocked) to have made 16 out of my 26 gifts with 0 meltdowns.

The full pictures will be up around the New Year.

Miniature Personality Pies

2010-12-21T00:09:00.003-05:00

Little pies are a perfect last minute handmade gift and creating the ingredients based on the recipients personality adds extra charm.

I used regular recipes and cut the ingredients by 1/3-ish to make 3 miniature jar pies.

Corgi Christmas Party - 2010

2010-12-20T23:29:00.004-05:00

The Corgi Christmas Party is by far the fanciest shmanciest party of the year and anyone who is anyone in Columbus is there. The girls where festive handmade hats while the boys are adorned in ugly Christmas sweaters. Pretty fancy, huh?

And so we all cram our outrageous hats into Allen and Tasha's bungalow and stuff ourselves with cake pops, spinach artichoke dip, and of course gem shaped "holiday" jello. Everyone quarantine's themselves to the kitchen, which is a cultural phenomena that I do not understand. This year Mark impressed by opening two (not one, two) bottles of champagne with a knife. Then Sarah always wins first place for her amazing head creation and we party the nights away.* The corgi's make fantastic hosts and keep us all very entertained.

*in actuality we are becoming painfully old and leave soon after midnight because we are so tired.

Four Years

2010-12-17T18:10:00.004-05:00

of hanging out with this guy.

p.s. This picture was taken four years ago. Don't we look like yougins?!

A few down

2010-12-16T20:20:00.001-05:00

and only a few more handmade gifts to go. I can only show tidbits of the gifts for obvious reasons ;) The full pictures will be up after the holidays. Making gifts has gone surprisingly well. No major meltdowns...yet.

Check the mailbox

2010-12-15T12:50:00.002-05:00

Letters and packages are on their way!

2010 Holiday Photo

2010-12-14T11:33:00.003-05:00

The finer things...

2010-12-13T10:05:00.006-05:00

Pizza, wine, and crafting. Who needs spa weekends with your best friend when you've got this? (Not that I would say no to that)

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2010-12-13T10:00:00.002-05:00

* winter wonderland outside
* all snuggled up inside

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2010-12-07T20:23:00.005-05:00

Check out this super cute blog, The Purl Bee, that Sara sent me. This gives me so many ideas! It looks like I'll be making my Christmas gifts next year too.

(pictures are from their blog)

The Invitation Bandit

2010-12-05T20:56:00.004-05:00

WARNING!!
There have been several reports of a mysterious bandit leaving adorable Corgi Christmas Invitations on Columbus' residents homes. Their signature move is to tape the invitation to the front door and knock loudly before running away.

Do not approach these individuals as they may be dangerous.

a tiny little tree

2010-12-03T17:38:00.004-05:00

When Christmas tree shopping these are the things I look at: how prickly are the needles (I like my tree's to be the prickliest), which tree looks the loneliest, which one will fit into our little house and not swallow the room with Christmas cheer, and finally but most important which one has the tallest top branch.

Also why do cats refuse to drink out of their water bowl but then slurpe down the Christmas tree water as if they are neglected.

A Crafty Christmas

2010-11-28T13:41:00.003-05:00

Hours were spent at the breakfast nook as a little girl creating gifts for my family out of odds and ends found around the house. One year I creating a village for mom out of a gift box lid and McDonald's Happy Meal toys. My father still has all of his gifts filed away in his study.

This year I'm skipping the malls in exchange for crafting on our big table to the tune of Mariah Carey's "Merry Christmas". It's not easy. Fashioning meaningful gifts that aren't too reminiscent of the ones I created as a child is a challenge. But an enjoyable one.

Best Ever Pecan Pie

2010-11-24T10:05:00.004-05:00

I'm always giving away my best kept secrets. I'm a sharer, what can I say. This pecan pie is good, and I mean really really good. It's sans the weird jelly filling and incredibly simple to make. Even the non-baker can easily whip this together and surprise the family tomorrow.

Ingredients

1 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs (the ones from free range chickens are the best cause they add more body)
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
• In a large bowl, beat eggs until foamy, and stir in melted butter. Stir in the brown sugar, white sugar and the flour; mix well.
• Last add the milk, vanilla and nuts.
• Pour into an unbaked 9-in pie shell. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes at 400 degrees, then reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until done.

(recipe and photo via allrecipes)

Mix Master Mark

2010-11-22T11:42:00.006-05:00

It's astonishing how many bands have recorded at The Tone Shoppe in the few months that it's existed. Mark is adding our friend Alyssa's band, Churches Burn, to the list this week. I was only half awake yesterday when Mark was explaining something about recording a microphone attached to a drill. Point being, it will sound crazy and amazing and I can't for you to hear it.

Tiny Vegan Pies

2010-11-22T11:36:00.001-05:00

Tiny pies are back! This time in vegan form. Flavors include Lemon Blueberry, Maple Pecan, and Rosemary Apple, all for my favorite vegan's birthday.

Check (sort of)

2010-11-21T12:55:00.001-05:00

I successfully finished the headwrap from the lovilee wool yarn but I did not so successfully learn the "plait" stitch. I poured through youtube tutorials for hours knitting the yarn into a big mass of tangles and eventually admitting defeat. I relearned that valuable lesson that you can't become an expert overnight, it only comes with experience.