Right Now

Right now, I'm loving...

...letting the kitties roam

...the stories brought to us in bed for morning snuggling

...the warmth and glow that draws us all together in this spot, perhaps for the last time this season?

...a chilly, rainy weekend, filled with things we wanted to do, and nothing more... reading, little projects, lounging, snuggling, planning, talking, eating, playing, resting... the kinds of things that reconnect, recharge, and refocus us. Funny how it's always the little things that do that, don't you think? Here's to a week filled with the little things, too.

Last Year

This morning, the cats are outside, the kiddos are still in their beds, the first cup of coffee is down, and the sky is threatening rain. I woke up feeling like I had words in me wanting to get out, but when I sat down here, my mind wanted to wander. Upon glancing up at the baby monitor, fingers hovering over the keys, I found myself thinking sentimentally about the recent past, and just how recent it truly feels (a thought I ruminate over frequently, it seems).

 

My mind keeps wandering back to last year when, at this time (to the day), Audrey had completed one whole month in the 'Big Girl Room'- no more crib- Baby Brother was due to make his appearance in less than two weeks (ha), Audrey still had both of her front teeth (d'oh), and she was still in diapers! What a far away reality that simultaneously seems like yesterday.

This morning, there are two babes upstairs, both quite comfortably settled in their respective rooms, slowly waking up and charging for the weekends' activities. What will we do today that will carve out a memorable soft spot and conjure up sweet sentimentality in another year? Probably something mundane, usual, and completely precious... and we'd have it no other way.

It's Here...

I think that part of living within the beat of a natural rhythm, in tune with your surroundings and with senses wide open, is taking in to account what the calendar dictates only in certain circumstances, and in others, completely disregarding it. With that being said, we're calling it... iiiiiiiiiiit's heeeeeeeeeeeree!

 

 

And Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.
~Percy Bysshe Shelley, "The Sensitive Plant"

Red Chicken

I've said it once, and I'll say it again: this is not a food blog. Granted, there are a lot of photos of us all cooking and eating, but hey, it's what we do. No, when a recipe finds its way on here, it's mostly because this is a handy-dandy outlet for me to jot down something I've tried, so I don't forget it and can repeat it.

Like this Red Chicken "Rub" I worked up yesterday (and I'm calling it a rub because I rubbed it all over the bird- inside and out- though I don't know if it would actually be technically classified as a rub, hence the quotations, so there you go).

It's pretty amazing. I made it last night, and it turned out so good that I intended to get on here real quick and share it, but I never got the chance... though I woke up still thinking about it, so that says something about the impression it makes, now doesn't it?

So here it is (and the carcass is already saved back for stock, which I think will also be amazing):

Red Chicken "Rub"

1/4 C brown sugar

1 TBS soy sauce

2 TBS white vinegar 

1 TBS smoked paprika

1 tsp chili powder

2 TBS onion powder

1 TBS garlic powder

~2 TBS kosher salt

~1/4 C olive oil, or enough to make a thin paste

Combine and rub all over thawed, rinsed whole chicken. Allow to sit in rub for at least one hour (which is all the time I had when I did it, but I think it would be amazing overnight). Roast.

I gotta remember to do this again, for everyone loved it, and it was really easy!

Going For It: The Oil Cleansing Method

Lately, I've found myself drawn to do-it-yourself, enviro-friendly, sustainable, and generally green blogs and websites. I've found several that I've really come to enjoy, my latest fav being this one. Among other posts, a few that she's written on eliminating the chemical-based, harsh, problem-creating cleansers most of us use in our daily hygienic routines have struck my fancy (especially after doing a little research outside her blog and confirming the facts and pros/cons behind the ones that interest me the most). So much so, in fact, that I'm going for it... I'm going to give the oil cleansing method a try.

Throughout middle school, I struggled with my complexion. At that time, I just figured my options were tough it out and tough it out. Eventually, things evened out, and everything was basically fine. To be honest, I've never really had a skin care routine, so I had that going for me, too... anyho, then during my last pregnancy, my issues came back with a vengeance, and I started using astringent cleansers and- eventually- a prescription treatment. Somewhere during the third trimester, things once again cleared up, and everything seemed back to 'normal.' Well, lo and behold, I'm about to turn 30, and guess what I get for it? Skin problems. Again. I mean, honestly, if I have to be 30, I should at least get decent, clear, stable skin. Buh.

Yesterday, I called my Doc and started the ball rolling to get back on that prescription treatment... then I read about the oil cleansing method, and the logic behind it. Well, hmmm... could this potentially work for me? It all seems to make sense... "Like dissolves like," she says, and you know what? I think I'm gonna put that to the test. So here we go.

Within the how-to post, there is a list of oils, the types of skin they should be used on, and the ratios in which one should use them. I've chosen castor oil, olive oil, and avocado oil (actually, I would have preferred jojoba oil instead of avocado, but my local health foods store didn't have it, so I settled on the runner up). I'm starting out with the ratio for 'normal' skin, and if I need to, I'll tweak it towards the 'oily' combo if my problem areas need it.

 
My first 'wash' will be tonight, and I've decided I'm going to use this treatment once a day, at night, with no other interventions, supplemental washes, or other products. When deciding to go for it, I set a $25 budget for getting started (the cost of the prescription I was going to start using again), and even with some liquid vitamin E for around my eyes, I did pretty good...

Forgive the wrinkles in the receipt, Henry tried to eat it.

This particular blog suggests giving this cleansing method one to two weeks for your skin to adjust from the astringent chemical cleansers you might be using to it's natural, balanced state. I've decided I'll use the 1:1 ratio for one week before I start tweaking it, and commit to two weeks before I decide if it's for me or not.

So here we go... here's my 'before' shot:

Notice all the blemishes on forehead and temples... sigh.

SO... let's go for it! Wanna join me? Visit the how-to blog, see if it's for you, and if you go for it, too, lemme know here in the comments OR on our facebook page (though I would totally understand if no one joins in until there is an 'after' post)!

Coming soon... I will also attempt to go shampooless! Just waiting on a haircut....

And on a final note, here is a pic Audrey drew of me taking a pic of myself (above), as she apparently is always watching. Enjoy.

Right Now

Right now, I'm loving...

...a blissfully full, fast-flown weekend, perfect weather, and the chance to have a few meals out by the garden on our picnic table, carried there carefully in my new garden basket bag! This week promises to be just as full as the weekend was, and with any luck, we'll also find just as many opportunities to slow down and appreciate what we love the most. (some of the plans for our week have come from the impending first birthday of our littlest, and the crafty goodness of the new Spring issue of Rhythm of the Home... have you checked it out yet? you really must!) Happy Monday!

Weekending

So far this weekend, we have...

...enjoyed the quiet of morning before sister and her energy have joined us.
...ventured out (after bedtime!) for a night with good friends, amazing food, and refreshing conversation.
...cooked, mixed, baked, and eaten. Also, indulged in a little takeout here and there.
...cleaned, straightened, polished, and fled the house for an evening family field trip.
...played in dirt, sand, mud, gravel, and grass every spare minute between breakfast and dinner.
...taken many necessary impromptu baths in those non-bath time hours between breakfast and dinner.
...planted seeds meant for a much later month now, and saw other seeds planted even earlier sprouting.
...awoken each night to the sounds of coyotes, babies, cats, owls, and wind.

And we still have one more day to go! Happy weekending, friends!