Tuesday

by Kelsi in ,

 

A few things making my day this Tuesday...

 

My new shoes for DANCE CLASS! (which clearly makes me even happier than the shoes).

This sweatshirt Linda D has been wearing. I also love this one.

This legitimately hot but amazingly tasty and delicious hot sauce out of Portland. You can find it locally at PCC.

I made a big Rancho Gordo order last week and made a big pot of these perfect thin skinned cannellinis. Of course they are delicious on their own but I subsequently made this recipe (yep, another one from Melissa Clark) which was fantastic. It isn't the most photogenic dish so don't let that deter you...

The only change I made is sautéing the kale rather than keeping it raw. Make sure you save any dressing you don't use. A spoonful will liven up a bowl of any remaining beans you have.

Is it Spring yet?

by Kelsi in

 

Yesterday was rather glorious in Seattle for early March. We opened up all the windows and aired out the house and got busy prepping our garden beds. 

Shockingly I was wearing shorts and a tank top which reminded me to order some sunscreen.  The warmer temp had me dreaming about sandals and spring clothes. I have a great white linen blazer from Madewell similar to this one that I'd like to style like this... 

After months of wearing my usual black and gray uniform, I'm gravitating toward the other end of the spectrum. I'd love to add this silk tee from Cuyana in blush to my spring wardrobe.

And this lightweight cashmere cardigan...

I would love a pair of these shoes. Sort of like a cross between a ballet flat and a men's shoe, they look super cool and crazy comfortable. 

I love the neutral "beach" color but the silver ones are kind of irresistible. 

RMS nail polish in Luminizer (named after RMS cult product Living Luminizer) would also be a perfect spring-time shade.

 

February 22

by Kelsi in , , ,

 

My husband was traveling this weekend and my son and I had a wonderfully lazy Sunday together that began with a little Kung Fu Panda (viewed through a Batman mask)...

We spent three hours playing at his cousins' house and then came home and built train tracks all over the living room. I got nothing accomplished and it was perfect. I feel like as my son nears four years old, I am finally getting the hang of just being present especially on weekends. We rarely have any commitments on the calendar and have no plans other than to hang out. Clean laundry sits in a pile on the floor waiting to be folded longer than it should and the couch cushions are in perpetual disarray having been used to create a fort, a ship, an airplane or some such thing. 

My son loves helping in the kitchen and we got him his own set of nylon knives so he can help chop which he loves. Speaking of kids in the kitchen, I love Molly's recent post. 

Not just for small hands, I am constantly reaching for one of these mini spatulas. (The "ultimate" size is great too.)

A few other favorites this week...

What is it about watching people in the kitchen that is so engrossing? Chef's Table, Michael Pollan's Cooked and my recent favorite, binge watching The Mind of a Chef episodes on Netflix. Watch David Chang, Gabrielle Hamilton, April Bloomfield and others in action. Bonus, each episode is only 20 minutes long...

I love lemon oil and use a lot of it around the house and am equally in love with these little lemon oil cleansing wipes. I always keep a few in my bag for wiping down little hands and they would be really fantastic for travel. 

I've still been cutting out my morning coffee and to my surprise I've found another hot beverage that I am just as excited to wake up for. Chaga is satisfyingly bitter like coffee and comes with more than a few health benefits to boot. I like mine mixed with a spoonful of maca topped with some homemade almond milk.

Still our favorite granola...

 

I am always hoping this is the book my son with pick for his bedtime story. It is my favorite.

Wouldn't you know I've found yet another Clare V bag to lust after.

Also, these are ridiculous. I would have shown you a photo but I ate them all already...

We're off to enjoy a few days with family in the snow. But when we return I am sure my little rhubarb plant will be 6" tall and I'll start thinking about digging in the dirt and planting peas. Spring is on the way!

 

A Few Favorites...

by Kelsi in , ,

 

My most favorite pair of jeans just busted a hole in the knee so I had to order a new pair. They are the best slim boyfriend style I have found. Baggy in just the right places but not sloppy. I wear them slightly rolled at the top of my high tops, ankle boots, heels, you name it.

This sweater from Uniqlo is a good one. It is super affordable (and super warm with the Heattech blended right in). I wanted it to fit slightly loose so I ordered it one size up.

I drink a lot of GT's ginger kombucha but just tried this limited edition flavor with carrot and turmeric and cannot get enough...

I am a beer lover through and through but am also someone that does much better when I limit the amount of gluten I consume. Thankfully, there are some mighty fine gluten-free beers being brewed out there and this one from Ground Breaker in Portland is my current favorite.

Now that my son is in preschool, it seems like some kind of cold or flu is on constant rotation so I'm all about extra immune support. This is my current favorite. You can also find it at Thrive Market.

I've also started using these infused salts from Baraka with my NeilMed that I really love. They stock them locally at PCC (and I'd imagine at Whole Foods as well). 


 

Shopping for My Three Year Old

by Kelsi in ,

 

I love buying clothes for that little guy sitting above. I know that in a few years time I will no longer have domain over how he dresses. So until then, I will enjoy selecting every tiny pair of corduroy pants and striped shirt that finds its way into his dresser.

Tea Collection has been one of my favorites since D was a baby. They are also my go to gift for friends and family welcoming new babes. The cotton is thick and soft and their prints are always a little more sophisticated. Plus, the sizing is generous and it seems like we get the most mileage out of all the Tea stuff we've had over the last few years. They have a Friends & Family sale going on right now with 25% off everything. A few of my favorites...

These cords, these knit pants, these twill moto pants and these Herringbone cargos. I also picked up this Patagonia vest. And I couldn't resist a few pairs of pajamas for my soon-to-be-born niece.

I also find a lot of great things at Zara, I especially love their jeans.

And Uniqlo. Dev has his own Heattech underlayers for the cooler, damp months ahead as well as this jacket and many of their t-shirts.

We are a Vans family through and through. We all wear them. I love these, these and these for Dev. And these Hunter rain boots have paid for themselves with use. They are a bit lower profile and not as stiff as most of the other kid rain boots available. They are light and slim, rather than big and clunky, and easy to walk in so they get a lot of use not just on rainy days but on our many days doing some serious dirt digging out in the garden.

 

Mid October?!

by Kelsi in , ,

 

How did we get here already? It's only two weeks until Halloween with the holidays seemingly right around the corner...

We spent the last week of September in Maui with our extended family. Eight adults and four kiddos three and under. It was a rather magical trip for us and a huge milestone for me as a parent. Up until now, to be honest, travel with a toddler wasn't very fun. Having to constantly entertain on the airplane, trying to "reason" with a two year old why they can't walk down the aisle when the seatbelt sign is on, managing security...and then once you finally make it, there are the usual routines you have to stick to, nap times...it is not a vacation no matter what tropical island you find yourself on. 

But this trip, this trip! There were no nap times, no battles, no negotiating. Just pure joy. And I saw my son in an entirely new light. He's a boy, not a toddler. My boy that I just wanted to hang with day after day. For six days, we woke up, went to the same quiet beach to play in the waves and swim with turtles until midday, returned to the house to eat lunch, and then swam in the pool all afternoon until bedtime. D was in bed by 7:30pm and us at 8:00pm. There were no phones, no computers, no book reading even. It was heaven and I'm still feeling high from it all. 

Now we're back at home in the groove, attending preschool and enjoying our finished(!) basement...

I've taken our Maui experience and applied it to our every day life, namely me letting go of my never-ending to-do list and embracing more time at the park and watching construction sites for longer than I would have previously allowed...

And though it doesn't really feel like fall yet with our still-warm temperatures, I've been happily pulling out the boots and jackets anyway with a few new additions to the closet...

I just bought these Sorels that have long been on my wishlist (sizing tip, I had to order a half size up).

And a new favorite pair of jeans from Madewell (shown above with this really great oversized cotton/linen top and my beloved Dicker boots). I also picked up this jacket from the Uniqlo + IDLF collaboration that I mentioned here and it is so good.

Life After Life has been on my reading list for a long time and I finally had a chance to read it and I loved it. Now I want to read everything Kate Atkinson has ever written.

On the cooking front, I've been wild for this super easy roast chicken and potato dish. I love Melissa Clark and trust her taste implicitly and this one really impresses. I've made it a handful of times in recent weeks and have been sharing it with everyone I know. (Cook it on a sheet of parchment and the clean-up is practically nothing.)

Lastly, I've been inspired by this Ted Talk...

I first watched it a month or so ago when a client shared it with me (thanks Sharon!) and I've thought a lot about it since. Given what I do, posture and the power of posture is always at the forefront of my mind. Take a few minutes out of your day and watch her inspiring talk.

 

 

Happy Birthday! (A Gift Guide For the Girls)

by Kelsi in , ,

 

All three of my sister-in-laws (and my mother) celebrated their birthdays in August. They are some of my favorite people to shop for. Here are a few gifts worthy of a special sister-in-law or dear friend...

A canvas tote from My Other Bag. I love mine (pictured below) and have both the classic and carry-all sizes.

Or a beautiful leather one from Cuyana whose motto is "fewer, better things." Can't argue with that.

A universally flattering lip sheer from Beautycounter in Nude or Twig. I'm personally sort of obsessed with their whole line of non-toxic but high performing products.

A good cookbook.

A wallet clutch from Clare V.

Or this military jacket (another gem from the Uniqlo + IDLF collaboration).