Spring Inspiration
Hi there! I'm starting to get back to normal, whatever that means, but still not feeling super inspired. So I'm looking to others! I used to do monthly inspiration posts and I'm trying to get back into browsing for inspiration again. (I spend a lot less time on the internet these days with Peanut.) I have to remember to honor my filters to avoid unnecessary shopping or comparing. Here are some things that caught my attention this month:
1. A simply curated nursery from Wit & Delight. Some things look familiar: the same Ikea crib! And hex wood shelves! I'm also super inspired by their train trundle. I see one in our future. ;)
2. From Unclutterer: a good reminder that I need to strengthen some passwords. Does anyone else struggle a little with 1Password? (Although I'm grateful it exists.)
3. I've finally started working on this season's Lean Closet. Although I don't think a trip to Stockholm is in the plans, that striped dress and these jeans might be! In addition to the usual white, black, and grey, I'm feeling accents of royal blue, kelly green and soft pink. Of course, knowing me, I might not add anything new... maybe my first post-baby pair of jeans?
4. "Using our time, money, energy, etc. in ways that aren’t in alignment with our life priorities ends up carrying some strong negative baggage after a while." Yep, that's where most of the friction in my life comes from. Trent at The Simple Dollar does such a great job writing about priorities. "This same exact phenomenon – your life priorities shaping how you use the resources available to you – pops up regarding every resource you have in life: your time, your money, your focus, your energy, your skills, and so on."
5. How do you figure out those priorities? Gretchen Rubin's interview with Tasha Eurich: "One of the things I hope people learn from my new book Insight is that self-awareness allows you to acknowledge the things that are important to you, not what you think should be important but what actually is, and design your life and, by extension, your habits around them."
6. I'm looking forward to reading Adina Grigore's book Just the Essentials. Maybe it will answer some of my Lean Cleaning questions about essential oils. Wit & Delight reminded me of her company and her products at SW Basics. It seems like I should just buy and use them as they are basically what I make at home... but better? (And I might throw a Glossier lip balm in there too. ;)
7. We're starting to plan a trip to Spain in the fall so I'm bookmarking these Barcelona suggestions from Atelier Doré. Ooh, plus Petite Passport's.
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8. More for this Lean Closet: I have loved Adidas Adilette slides for almost 30 years and I'm considering a pastel neutral, but fun, pair for this soccer season! Or these pink ones.
9. I talked about my intense and urgent breakfast needs when I wake up and shocker: Peanut is the same. He wants to eat right away and that includes nursing plus two breakfast servings, ie: a full serving of veggie frittata plus kiwis with yogurt! Breakfast is a passion around here. I wish I could find the financial and logistical resources to make sure every child starts the day with a good breakfast but I will start here.
10. And speaking of eating, we've done our own interpretation of baby-led weaning which means that Peanut mostly just eats what we do. I like to have something to supplement him with when (a) he wants more than an adult serving! (been known to happen), (b) I'm eating fries or pizza or something else I don't feed him (eat as I say, not as I do?!), or (c) all he wants is bread or cheese and I'd like to get some produce into him. So I've been making all sorts of muffins and balls around here inspired by Sprouted Kitchen's Broccoli Balls and Black Bean + Green Bites. Recipe below!
Mine is shaping up to be a warm, colorful, sports-filled spring. Yours?
+ Here's what I've been baking:
4-6 ounces tender greens like baby kale or even broccoli (leftovers work!), barely steamed
1 egg
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup grated cheese like parmesan (or fontina)
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
2 Tbsp. oats
1 cup cooked and drained beans (black beans or chickpeas)
1 clove garlic
pinch of salt and pepper
Preheat the oven to 375°. Let the steamed green cool and squeeze out the excess water. Into a food processor, add the squeezed greens, egg, olive oil, cheese, breadcrumbs, oats, beans and garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Pulse a few times to combine. The batter is sticky and wet. Line your baking tray with parchment. With 1/2" scoop, create small balls and place them on the baking tray. Bake for 12-15 minutes until slightly firm to the touch and remove to cool. Makes 2 dozen. We keep them in the fridge for a few days and like them dipped in yogurt.
