Category Archives: Sustainable living

Braised tofu… my taste buds have been titillated

22 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by in Entertaining, Gardening, Recipes, Sustainable living

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Today (Sunday) I was about to work in the garden when it started pouring outside, so I did the next best things on a Sunday:  buy a couple of plant pots, try a new recipe, paint my nails, and watch Julie and Julia!

I had seen this recipe for braised tofu on Pinterest last week because I had a package of tofu I was needing to use.  I don’t normally cook with tofu because almost every time I’ve made it I haven’t been too impressed, but… YUM.  It’s such a simple meal to prepare, but the flavors altogether are something to be savored.  The ingredients are some that every mildly serious cook should have on hand.

Once it started merely sprinkling out, I threw on my galoshes, seeded some eggplant and poppies, and harvested some green onion. My next cooking adventure? I’m having a successful and creative new friend over for brunch on Wednesday and fully intend on impressing her with a soufflé… Julia Child’s soufflé.

Braised tofu from kirantarun.com

Braised tofu from kirantarun.com

Amish caramel corn recipe for May Day

20 Monday May 2013

Posted by in Holidays, Home, Recipes, Sustainable living

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The last time I celebrated May Day was probably in grade school, so I had to look up exactly what people did to celebrate the day. I learned that people usually give a mixture of flowers and candy.  I wanted something simple to make for the neighbors and I didn’t have time to buy anything, so I made caramel corn from this Amish recipe.  It’s one of the best corns I’ve ever eaten that I audibly commanded myself a few times to stop sampling it.

I didn’t make enough popcorn to fill 8 paper lunch bags, so I made a food cone out of cardstock (harder than it seems, folks) and stuck that in the paper bag. I also found free May Day printables online and cut those out, and voila! A happy little May Day basket for both friendly and irritating neighbors.  I knocked on doors and walked away, and only got found out by one neighbor who yelled “thank you!” to which I responded, “Happy May Day!”

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The last summer sandal you will ever buy: Salt Water sandals

15 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by in fashion, Sustainable living

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I was poring over photographer Jose Villa’s photo blog a couple of weeks ago and wanted the little girl’s leather “little girl sandals.” I searched a few websites and  stores to find the perfect summer sandal that was 1) durable 2) affordable 3) comfortable to walk all around town in 4) the little girl sandal which is trendy yet classic, but to no avail.  Finally, I was at Gateway Church last Sunday, looked down at fashionista blogger Erin’s feet and, lo and behold, I found it.  She told me all about Salt Water sandals, and they check off every point in my aforementioned list! They’re also water resistant so now your friends will have less reason to call you high-maintenance when it rains.

Now, to decide between the red or the gold…

From Nordstrom.com

From Nordstrom.com

From Zappos.com

From Zappos.com

Alexa Chung in Salt Water Sandals from alexloves.com

TV presenter and model Alexa Chung in Salt Water Sandals from alexloves.com

My first skinny ties for a wedding

08 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by in fashion, Sewing & crafts, Sustainable living

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I walked into a client’s apartment today and found a compilation of the greatest hipster clichés: on a side table was a french press, a copy of The Great Gatsby, Natural American Spirits cigs, a bottle of nondescript beer, a long board, bike, collection of old records, and he was wearing a Charity:water t-shirt. Oh, and I was bringing him a package of bowties and skinny ties. Hipsterville.

The interesting thing is that I knew it was genuinely who he was. He’s a journalist, and persons of that persuasion usually live in context, appreciating components of a simpler time. A prime example is fashion photographer Bill Cunningham, one of the most fascinating people, in my book. A documentary of him can currently be seen on Netflix streaming. “We all get dressed for Bill.” -Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue magazine

Below are some photos of the ties we dyed, cut, and sewed in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

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Fashion Friday: Wiksten… Jenny Gordy in Iowa

03 Friday May 2013

Posted by in fashion, Sewing & crafts, Sustainable living

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One of my favorite designers to follow is Jenny Gordy out of Iowa City by way of New York. I first read about her blog years ago in Lucky Magazine and tore it out to look at later.  A year ago my friend Kate told me to look at her sibling’s friend’s website, Wiksten, and lo and behold, it’s the same person. Jenny studied at F.I.T. in New York, and creates clothing, patterns, and knits out of her home studio in Iowa City.  Her patterns are classic silhouettes that work on many body types, and her products are carefully crafted with quality construction.  She also has beautiful photos on her blog. Some of my favorites:

Gordy in a knit hat

Gordy in a knit hat

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new dresses

Candy bar recipe (gluten free dairy free from Gwyneth Paltrow’s new cookbook)

02 Thursday May 2013

Posted by in Recipes, Sustainable living

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I have a sweet tooth, but I’ve been a little sad lately in my transition of switching over to healthy dessert recipes.  Desserts that I can eat daily after a meal or for a snack and not feel a gluten coma afterwards. I can’t make my tried-and-true chocolate chip cookies anymore, but thanks to Gwyneth Paltrow, my new hero, I have a new favorite easy recipe! Candy bars… gluten and dairy free. I didn’t have coconut flour so I put extra coconut flakes and ground it up in my processor, used peanut butter instead of almond butter, and vanilla extract instead of almond.  I also substituted peanuts for the cashews since I didn’t have any on hand. It’s one of the easiest dessert recipes I’ve ever made!

I wrapped one up in wax paper and twine as a gift for a friend. She didn’t know I had made it myself! (recipe here)

It was delicious!

It was delicious!

I couldn't resist eating some before I took a photo

I couldn’t resist eating some before I took a photo

Homademade chai oatmeal: Healthy and quick breakfast

15 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Recipes, Sustainable living

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I’ve been looking up new recipes that are quick, cheap, and gluten and dairy free.  I’ve been wanting to eat more steel-cut oats because they are so good for you, but it takes 30 minutes to make! Who has that kind of time in the morning?

I just made this no-cook overnight chai oatmeal, and I love it! You just stir it together in a cup the night before, grab it out of the fridge before you head out the door in the morning, and voilá! Instant and very filling healthy breakfast.

From This Homemade Life

From This Homemade Life

Overnight Chai Steel-Cut Oats (from This Homemade Life)

makes 2 servings

adapted from Vegetarian Times 

1 cup steel-cut oats

1 cup almond milk

2 tablespoons ground flax

1/4 teaspoon cardamon or cloves

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 tablespoon maple syrup

Optional toppings–shredded coconut, pecans, almonds, toasted hazelnuts

An easy handmade birthday gift- Letter throw pillow

01 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in fashion, Gardening, Sewing & crafts, Sustainable living

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letter initial throw pillow

We were celebrating my friend Haley’s birthday, and I thought a cute and personalized gift idea would be to make her a letter pillow. She had a big “H” on her bedroom door, so I figured I’d match it up with some more letters. Her bedding color scheme is grey and purple, and thankfully, I had some quilting fabric in those exact colors. The “H” is appliqued on there using Heat-N-Bond’s sewable iron-on adhesive, and stitched with a zigzag stitch. This took me about 45 minutes to make (the hand-sewing to close up the opening is the least-fun part, to me.)

Also, it’s seed-sowing time! I started some seeds indoors yesterday while I caught up on NBC’s Fashion Star online. (Planted: sweet peppers, kale, snapdragons, shasta daisies, garden herb mix, zucchini, forget-me-not, eggplant).
planting seeds indoors

Banana bread brings sense of community

18 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by in Home, Recipes, Sustainable living

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I have a new neighbor, and ashamedly, I have not brought over a welcoming gift since they moved in 6 months ago…

Yes, I am that neighbor that brings you a May basket.  Not because I want to but because I want to create good and safe neighborhoods for kids to live in.  Enter my favorite banana bread recipe.  Thanks, Betty Crocker for helping foster worldwide neighborliness and sense of community.

Naturally, I made some for me to eat.

Banana bread Betty Crocker

From fit to fat

11 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by in Gardening, Sustainable living

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I feel like all of my friends have been talking about training for a half marathon, 5k, or doing Farrell’s every single morning even whilst on a missions trip to El Salvador.  While they’re talking, I envision myself signing up and working out hardcore, and by the end of my reverie I think “no” and find a thrill in planning my next meal.  My younger sports self tells my older sedate self that I’ve lived out my sporty years and that it’s time to rest the knees and garden, make myself a cute dress, and read a Redbook magazine (just spent 2 hours this Sunday afternoon reading the entire issue).  My 2-a-day team workout days (with subsequent icing of knees and shins) may be over but life’s adventures continue with my new must-have floral seed picks for my garden.  Also, stay tuned for a photo of a dress I will hopefully finish tonight!

(Note: Lest you find me gluttonous and self-indulging, I do work out, I have not completely let myself go. I also 1) use my flowers as gifts to people and 2) use my garden produce to help feed family, friends, and neighbors. Who is my neighbor?)

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