Turboscan

We've been using this TurboScan app for the last year or so and it is amazing. It is fast and incredibly easy to use just like taking a photo on your iphone. It does not matter if there is a glare, a wrinkle in the page or the corners aren't lined up - it adjusts for all of it. Email the pdf to yourself, someone else, print it or upload it to Dropbox.

I've been using it a lot lately sending documents to our amazing accountant (Hi Mom!) but I often use it just to send recipes to a friend or capture something (again a recipe from a book or an article) that I want to print out. 

As for printers, after growing up with HP printers (having to buy extra printer cables and installing drivers that never seem to work properly on the first go) we have loved using this printer the last several years. Set up is a piece of cake and it never gives us any trouble.

The days go by...

I remember writing this around this same time last year:

"Then all of a sudden it's like there isn't five minutes of extra time for anything. We become busy with the tasks of daily living,  the days go by, the weeks go by and suddenly it's almost April. I've realized that writing a blog keeps you accountable. It documents the days, the time spent away. The silence."

I've found myself in the same place, and feeling in a bit of a slump. Things are busy; juggling schedules, childcare and just the day to day stuff. And usually during D's nap time, I relish in some solo time to cook, clean up a bit and get things done. But this last week I've just been sitting, blank. Sitting at the dining table feeling unmotivated to do anything.

It wasn't until I was doing my daily meditation with the help of Headspace (which I mentioned a few weeks ago) when Andy addressed the "boredom" that some experience when starting a meditation practice, when I realized that that was exactly what I was feeling, not just in meditation but in life. He went on to explain that the boredom we experience, the feeling of wanting to be somewhere else or doing something else, comes from a lack of curiosity about the process and that we're not really present with what’s happening.

“The more we can be present and genuinely curious in each and every moment that’s happening, the less likely we are to experience boredom.”

"If we’re only interested in getting a result from the exercise and we’re not really interested in the journey and the process of it, then we’re never really going to find the answer we’re looking for. Because the journey and the process is the answer. It’s learning to observe with a soft focus. It is with a curious mind, with an open mind, that we start to experience a greater sense of calm and clarity in everyday life."

I didn't realize how much I was looking ahead until Andy mentioned it. Maybe it happens to all parents of small children. Maybe we do it in the interest of self-preservation - a reminder that these tough times are fleeting and it won’t always be like this. No matter how wonderful your kid is, these formative years are really tough. The demanding, near constant attention required of you as a parent, setting boundaries, battles over diaper changing and lots of "I want to do it all by myself!" make it not always easy to be fully present.

I felt instant relief when I could recognize it and wouldn't you know I came out of my boredom and got up from the dining table. It's an ongoing challenge, to be present. But it's something I work on every day and happy to say, am getting better at. Having a kid has certainly changed me in expected ways. But I do love being surprised by the unforeseen changes as well. I don't think I would have held the goal of "be more present" as highly as I do now had I not had a child. And working on that ultimately makes me a happier, well-balanced human being and it's a skill I can carry throughout my life.

And now here we are. It is already the second week of April. And there are other important things to discuss. Like rhubarb.

I am a complete sucker for rhubarb and those bright red stalks find their way into my shopping cart pretty much every time I go to the market. As Nigel Slater says, "How could anyone not love something known as the pie plant?" I'd love to make this rhubarb-almond cake from this month's Bon Appetit...

Molly's Roasted Rhubarb (which I too will happily eat straight from the fridge, no bowl required) is stellar. Or just make a simple compote to put over pretty much everything. 

This sparkly top just arrived in the mail this week which I love and first saw on Le Catch. Now I just need a pair of black wide leg trousers to go with it (and a party to attend).

Historically, I am not a lipstick wearer. I love a good lip balm, or sometimes a nude gloss, but Ilia has made me change my ways. They wear like a lip balm with sheer but rich color with a semi-matte finish. I like Strike it Up and Ink Pot.  

I'm also really enjoying Sarah Britton's new cookbook. I've been a huge fan of hers (you can read about her lentil salad here) and her book does not disappoint.

Now I'm going to go work on being present as I await the premiere of Game of Thrones.

Weekly Roundup

A few things I've been inspired by this week...

This whole look. I think everything about it is perfect and it reminds me of the minimally made-up, casually cool French-woman idea of beauty. "In each country, I think there is an idea of what beauty is, but for the French, it's very particular: What we want is to be ourselves-not a better version of ourselves." From here.

Since Aaron doesn't drink coffee, I usually just prepare a single cup for myself. But I just added this Hario server to my pour-over set up for when I have company (or for those days when I want to enjoy more than one cup).

This parka from Zara is rather perfect for spring in Seattle. I also have my eye on a lightweight scarf.

I put this beautiful little rhubarb into the dirt yesterday which  makes me think only of making pie. 

Speaking of "pie", this Pai face oil is ridiculous. I've been using it every night for less than two weeks and can already see and feel a difference. It feels amazing and I've been finding myself washing my face as soon as I get home from work since I can't wait to use it. Totally worthy of the hype.

With an almost three year old in the house, I honestly haven't picked up (or rather finished) a book since before D was born. I feel lucky that All the Light You Cannot See is the first book to welcome me back to the world of reading. As an added bonus, since I am still firmly rooted in the reality of having a toddler where time for leisurely reading is scarce, each chapter is only a handful of pages (or less) as the story switches back and forth between characters making it easy to sneak in a few pages between the recurring "Mama, watch this!"

And lastly, but most importantly for me this week is the discovery of Headspace. Thanks Liz! I am sure I will write more about Headspace later but this app is exactly what I needed right now. As much as I tried and wanted to find a few minutes each day to practice meditation, I struggled on my own to keep it up. But Andy Puddicombe's guiding voice makes it all so easy and I look forward to starting my day with it.

Lunch On The Go

I have a few years left before I start packing school lunches for my son, but I have been working on my skills packing food for long days of teaching at the studio. A few things I'm really loving for lunches on the go...

This beautifully designed water bottle from Swell. It looks great, is leak-proof and is insulated so it keeps things hot or cold. I have the 17oz one for general use and a 25oz one filled with hot water for tea throughout the day.

LunchBots are really great. I use the bento containers which are lightweight and easy for packing, but now that the cold weather has arrived, I really love the thermal container,  perfect for soups, stews or oatmeal.

And Neatos are my new favorite. I learned about them from Pamela Salzman. I have them in the sandwich and gallon size and they have replaced Ziplocs at our house. I throw them in the washing machine with the dishtowels. It's pretty slick. They are great for organizing all the produce in the fridge, keeping baked goods fresh and even rounding up the handful of Matchbox cars that I have floating around in my purse at any given time. 

Around the Dinner Table

If you don't already know about Dinner a Love Story, check it out immediately. Especially if you have kids at home. Jenny and Andy know how to write, and cook and have created a "website devoted (mostly) to helping parents figure out how to get family dinner on the table." It is a great site providing inspiration and more than a few strategies to help make regular family dinner a reality.

I love cooking their recipes but I especially love their commentary, always delivered with a healthy dose of humor. 100 Rules of Dinner is one of my favorites.

They also write a column for Bon Appetit, called The Providers. (Speaking of Bon Appetit, did you see that beautiful Ottolenghi spread in the latest issue?! More on that later.)

And they've also put together a stellar e-book, 121 Books: A Very Subjective Guide to the Greatest Kid Books of All Time, which you can download right now for free here. Do it. Taken from Andy's funny and moving introduction:

“A minute spent reading
to your kids now will repay
itself a million-fold later, not
only because they love you
for reading to them, but also
because, years later, when
they’re miles away, those
quiet evenings, when you
were tucked in with them,
everything quiet but the sound
of the page-turns, will seem to
you, I promise, sacred.”

They also have a new eagerly awaited book, Dinner: The Playbook, out later this month.

Spring

It's interesting how life goes in cycles; sometimes we find extra time to read a new book, try a new recipe or watch an episode or two of House of Cards. Then all of a sudden it's like there isn't five minutes of extra time for anything.  We become busy with the tasks of daily living,  the days go by, the weeks go by and suddenly it's almost April. 

I've realized that writing a blog keeps you accountable. It documents the days, the time spent away. The silence. 

Over the last few weeks, this transitional time between winter and spring, I feel like I've been hibernating. Recharging with the last few weeks of winter. Taking time to sleep longer, rest up and eat well. 

I've been thinking about the sun and looking out at the bare dirt in my garden beds but not yet motivated to get out there and dig around getting things ready to plant.

But now, with restored energy it feels like time and I am back to making my usual to do lists. There are windows to clean, patio furniture to bring out, spring clothes to haul up from the basement, new recipes to try and dirt to dig in.

Okay Spring, ready when you are. 

Make Your Mark

Since I just wrote about some really beautiful stationary, I thought I'd mention my two favorite pens for handwriting...

This gel ink pen in the fine point size is a great all purpose, list making, thank you card writing pen.

And this one is perfect for writing a very special card with small delicate font.

Finding Home

photo by Aran Goyoaga

Aran's incredibly beautiful blog and book are two of my favorites. Reading her post this morning about finding home in Seattle really struck a chord. Especially this...

---

“I think what lies under this sentiment is also a sense of growing up. Realizing that I am the only one who can create my community that I was craving so much, to find the jobs I want or to surround myself with beauty. It is all up to me. And it only took about 20 years for me to finally realize this.”

---

Read her entire post here.

Solitude and Resolutions

photo of my son D at Kerry Park

I am reading this amazing book - Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, it is a fantastic read.

You can listen to the author, Susan Cain give her Ted Talk here (which has been viewed more than five million times).

In the chapter "When Collaboration Kills Creativity" she writes on the now-famous study conducted by Anders Ericsson. Regarding the value of solitary practice among the elite in their fields (violinists, chess players and athletes):

What's so magical about solitude? In many fields, Ericsson told me, it’s only when you’re alone that you can engage in Deliberate Practice, which he identified as the key to exceptional achievement. When you practice deliberately, you identify the tasks or knowledge that are just out of your reach, strive to upgrade your performance, monitor your progress, and revise accordingly. Practice sessions that fall short of this standard are not only less useful--they’re counterproductive. They reinforce existing cognitive mechanisms instead of improving them.

Deliberate Practice is best conducted alone for several reasons. It takes intense concentration, and other people can be distracting. It requires deep motivation, often self-generated. But most important, it involves working on a task that’s most challenging to you personally. Only when you’re alone, Ericsson told me, can you “go directly to the part that’s challenging to you. If you want to improve what you’re doing, you have to the be the one who generates the move. Imagine a group class-you’re the one generating the move only a small percentage of the time.”

You can read a fantastic summary on the study's findings here.

Reading about this at the same moment I've been slowing down and thinking about my life and my goals for the new year feels very apropos. I've been cleaning house both literally and mindfully, and working to, in the words of my very wise mother-in-law, "clear out of your mind that which has outgrown its usefulness" to make space for the new. As life picks up speed next week as we settle in to 2014, I will continue to make time for the Quiet; to recharge, be inspired and appreciate all that is around me.

Playing Host, Holiday Edition

I've long followed Remodelista, a "sourcebook for considered living" and I love their tips for being a good host during the holidays. Two of my favorites: 1. Declutter, declutter, declutter. Reining in chaos around the house is never a bad idea. Before your guests arrive, vanquish piles of clutter: if it’s useful or beautiful, keep; otherwise, toss. You and your visitors will be more comfortable.

and

10. Allow plenty of time for holiday decompression. Remember that a good host allows space for the guests to do as they please. For your visitors, as well as for yourself, take time this holiday to simply relax, restore, and renew.

You can read all ten here.

They also have a beautiful new book.