{ this moment }

a friday ritual - a single photo - no words - a moment I want to pause - savor - and remember

inspired by soulemama

More Fab Fabric!

The vintage gods must be smiling on me because this vintage fabric showed up yesterday via my BFF Danielle. She picked it up at an antique outing a few years back and never did anything with it and thought it might have better luck in my hands. She was right.

 Thanks Danielle!

I'm not exactly sure what kind of fabric it is but my Mom is coming to visit today and she can probably tell me with better accuracy.

Too Much Anthony Bourdain?

I love Anthony Bourdain. I read every book he wrote when I was pregnant except Medium Raw (it wasn't out yet). I still have yet to read it but at the moment I'm working my way through Keith Richards' Life and it's thicker than a phone book. But you're next Anthony!

Anyway, I just love when Anthony travels to Asian countries with people cooking street food in large woks right on the side of the road. "I want to go to there."

Since I won't be traveling to any of these countries anytime soon I decided to fulfill my own wok adventures with some creative use of leftovers and an open fire.

G.'s been on a fried rice kick so this was a perfect pairing. I cooked up some brown basmati in my rice cooker (best $15 I ever spent), cubed up some leftover pork loin, chopped up some vegetables and drug a few choice bottles of this and that (Mirin, Soy Sauce, Fish Sauce, Siracha, etc.) down to the fire.

After the wok was good and hot I added a little sesame oil and started sauteing the veg (bell pepper, onion, shitakes). Then the pork but only for a few seconds because it was already cooked and I didn't want it to dry out. Finally, the rice and the wet ingredients (see above). I don't measure the wet ingredients I just do it to taste. 

There's the little nugget being a good girl and paying with her blocks.

Final touches and...

dinner is served.

Grab a couple of cold ones and you're all set. I think Anthony would agree!

Pillow Case Dresses

So here's what I've done with some of the pillowcases from the box of vintage sheets I scored. I always wanted to make these but never had quite the right pillow cases. These prints are charming. I found a tutorial online and combined several different methods so I'll let you do your own research in that department.

First I cut a portion of fabric straight across from the top to get my desired length (you'll see what I did with the extra fabric further down) and then cut the armholes and neckline. Super easy.

Next I sealed the edges of the arms with bias tape to give it a more polished look. I used a darker gray tape which I thought contrasted nicely with the vintage prints to give them a bit of a modern twist. It's hard to see in the photo above but be patient a better view is coming up.

I even had enough fabric from the top portion (mentioned above) to make a pair of matching bloomers! This is a project I'd been wanting to do for a while. It's from Heather Ross's Weekend Sewing and this provided a perfect opportunity to try it out. It could not have been easier. Literally took me 20 minutes to crank out 1 pair ( I made 2). I haven't gotten a picture of them yet but I promise they'll show up in a later post.

I used ribbon I had on hand for the shoulder ties.

One is for Iris's BFF Vivian and I can't wait to get a shot of the two of them playing together wearing there dresses.

{ this moment }

a friday ritual - a single photo - no words - a moment I want to pause - savor - and remember

inspired by soulemama

Weekend(s) in review.

The past few weekends were pretty special. It was our first official BBQ and pool party of the season, Big Daddy G's birthday (and grandpa W's), our 5th Wedding Anniversary and our first time celebrating all of this with Iris. It was fun to bring Iris in the pool for the first time. She likes the water but it was definitely the most cautious I'd ever seen this mostly fearless baby. I swam alot when I was pregnant and she used to wriggle and flip in my belly. 

I also scored a box of impeccably cared for vintage sheets for $20 at a yard sale. This should keep me in sewing projects for years. There are already pillow case dresses in the works and pajamas are on deck. This will also keep me in step with #24 on my 2011 TDL.

A new favorite recipe was discovered by my co-conspirator and partner in crime Danielle. A green bean salad that was, seriously, out of this world. I'll share this recipe at a later date when I can tie her down to a chair and make her write it down for me.

Iris has also decided this would be the week to start full on crawling and pulling herself up on anything making me a bit of a nervous wreck. I've been cleaning the house like a maniac. Especially floors and anything from the floor to about 2 feet up. 

It's no secret that being a mother is challenging and that's putting it mildy. These milestones make me proud but also create new worries and concerns not to mention some new bumps and bruises along the way. 

I read something that really encapsulated what I feel as I travel down this long and winding road called motherhood. Here.

Enjoy.

{ this moment }

a friday ritual - a single photo - no words - a moment I want to pause - savor - and remember

inspired by soulemama

A moment from the past. Married 5 years today!

Happy Anniversary my love!