Book Nook - Throw Out Fifty Things

Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life by Gail Blanke:




I usually have a good memory for how I discovered or heard about a book, but for this one, I am at a complete loss.  I suppose it was kismet that this book found me: it was way beyond time that I did a de-clutter.

The first part of the book challenges the reader to clean out their physical stuff: all the papers, clothes, books, toys, etc. that pile up and accumulate over time.  Boy, do we have a lot of this around here!  Since I have this thing against throwing stuff away (the equivalent of an eye twitch), I tend to just let it pile up.  Our author encourages us to just let it go, and gives us permission to throw stuff away (as well as giving lots of great tips on how to get rid of your old stuff in an environmentally friendly way).  Blanke walks us through every room in the house, telling us what she's getting rid of, sharing lots of personal stories, and helping us unload.  After that, we head to our office to ditch all the junk from our professional lives.

The next part of the book deals with mental junk that also needs to get thrown out.  Here, she helps us let go of thinking the worst, waiting for the right moment, needing to feel secure, among others.  I enjoyed reading this section, but I think some of these things are much more difficult to let go of, and will take a lot more work than just writing it down on our list of 50 things.

Here are a couple of quotes that really stood out for me:

"When we throw out the physical clutter, we clear our minds.  When we throw out the mental clutter, we clear our souls."

And this one (in the chapter entitled Letting Go of the Need to Have Everyone Like You):

"The truth is, the world belongs not to the one who fits in, but to the one who stands out.  In music, art, architecture, entertainment, politics, and life, it's the maverick, the one who gets carried away, who wins the day.  Every time."

So, I've been working on getting rid of the clutter.  My focus has been the physical junk, but I hope to attack the mental mess too - Gail Blanke has inspired me.  Here's a shot of our front porch, full of clothes and toys and other stuff we just don't need anymore - waiting for pick up by a local charity.  And guess what?  After this picture was taken, I kept adding stuff.  And even better, after it was picked up, I continued to add stuff.  Now, we need a second pick up!

-Cheryl

Sunday Brunch - {portobello mushroom gratins}

If you've read through a few of my blog posts, you probably know that I just love Martha Stewart.  I subscribed to her magazine for a few years, and saved all my issues.  Lately, I've been thinking that I should just get rid of them because all the recipes are online, right?  Well, unfortunately, not this one: individual portobello mushroom gratins.  It comes from Martha's October 2004 issue, which is my favorite one of all (seriously, I keep it with my cookbooks, or on our desk.  A magazine from 2004!). 

Big portobello mushrooms are stuffed with white mushrooms cooked with white wine, parsley, chives, shallots and cream.  Then, they are topped with a cheesy breadcrumb mixture.  So delicious!

I was a little nervous making these for the Bachsters.  Even though they've been wanting to try portobello mushrooms, I was worried this recipe might be a little too grown up for them.  To my surprise, they really liked them.  And so did DH, but I knew he would because he's a portobello guy.

If you do track down the October 2004 issue and make this recipe (sorry I can't link it!), try to get the roundest, most bowl-like portobellos you can.  The flat ones are just uncooperative with the mushroom mixture (but still tasty).

Thank you for another great recipe, Martha! 

-Cheryl

Book Nook - Martha Stewart's Favorite Crafts for Kids

Martha Stewart's Favorite Crafts for Kids: 175 projects for kids of all ages to create, build, design, explore, and share by the editors of Martha Stewart Living:




Right around the time our first Bachster was born, I discovered Martha Stewart Babies and Martha Stewart Kids magazines.  And I started collecting them - any time a new one was on the grocery store shelf, I purchased it.  And then, sadly, they stopped the magazines.  But, I still collected any that I could find at garage sales, e-bay, used book stores and such.  I never did collect them all, but the ones that I have are still sitting in my bookcase and get perused through from time to time.

As you can imagine, I was thrilled when I discovered this book, Martha Stewart's Favorite Crafts for Kids.  Inside are all sorts of crafty craft projects found in the pages of the magazines, like Stickville, meringue mice and felted finger puppets.  Even though the magazines no longer run, there are always new craft projects for kids on marthastewart.com - and some of those projects can be found in the book, like cross-stitch family portraits.  No matter where they originated from, it's wonderful to have so many neat projects in one book.

The projects that I'd like to try with the Bachsters: water fireworks, glass jar xylophone, those adorable cross-stitch family portraits, tie-dye t-shirts, paper bead necklaces, beach board games........the list goes on and on.  I need to make sure the Bachsters all have a chance to look through the book and pick out their favorite projects.  I wonder if we could do all 175?

-Cheryl

Sunday Brunch - {lemon-poppy seed pancakes}

I'm always a little nervous to introduce a new pancake recipe to the Bachsters - they have some pretty strong opinions about pancakes, and are true pancake connoisseurs.  So I was pleasantly surprised when I made the recipe for lemon-poppy seed pancakes from the Wheat Belly Cookbook and they actually liked them.  You never know how it's going to be with this bunch.

The Bachsters insisted that I leave out the poppy seeds, so I did.  But the pancakes were just as good without them, and the Bachsters gobbled them up. They are so unlike our favorite buttermilk pancakes, but in a way, better for you because they use almond flour and stevia instead of flour and sugar.  DD told me that even though she preferred buttermilk pancakes, she liked these too.   Believe me, that's a big compliment.

I didn't set out to make my picture so similar to the cover shot of the pancakes from the cookbook, but I guess I did.  This shot pays homage to the Wheat Belly Cookbook (cover, top half):

-Cheryl

Book Nook - The Inn at Lake Devine

The Inn at Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman:





I read Elinor Lipman's Then She Found Me years and years ago, and even after all that time, I was able to see big similarities between that book and this one.  The style is definitely Elinor Lipman, the plot quietly moved along, there is a romance in both books, and strong mother figures.  Based on the two books of hers that I've read, I would say that these are simple, enjoyable stories, great for a quick, easy, lighthearted read.  Lipman achieves what her books set out to do: entertain us.

The Inn at Lake Devine begins with our protagonist, Natalie Marx, as a young girl struggling to understand the Inn at Lake Devine's refusal to allow her family to stay there because they are Jewish.  Natalie's parents brush off the snub, but Natalie persists, and in some very humorous ways, confronts the mean owner of the inn.  She eventually gets an opportunity to tag along with a friend on her family's vacation at the inn.  What she doesn't realize, is that the people she spends time with that summer will return back into her life years down the road, in most unexpected ways.

I found this book on the 50 great books that will change your life list that I seem to be working my way down.  Will this book change your life?  I doubt it.  It's light and frothy, nothing to sink your teeth into.  But it's a fun read, and the author has an enjoyable writing style.  Actually, if you've never read any of Lipman's books, I'd start with Then She Found Me - I think I liked that one a little better.  If you find yourself heading to the pool, the beach - or even an inn on a beautiful lake in Vermont - on these last few days of summer, these books would be a good companion.

-Cheryl 

Sunday Brunch - {herbed focaccia}

Earlier this year, I went a little crazy over the Wheat Belly Cookbook and tried tons of the recipes.  I found some good ones, but this herbed focaccia was my favorite by far.

There is no flour in the recipe (which goes the same for all the recipes in the book).  Almond flour and ground flaxseeds make up the bulk of the bread.  The addition of egg whites fluffs it up just a bit.  And the sun-dried tomatoes and my own contribution, chopped up fresh rosemary sprinkled on top, makes it irresistible.  Seriously, I am the only one who eats it whenever I make it - not because my family doesn't like it, but rather because I am usually standing at the counter, snarfing it all down myself.  My poor family, they can't even get in to get a nibble.

Good thing I was able to get a shot last time I made the recipe, before everybody (ahem) gobbled it up!

-Cheryl

1st Place (x2)

I have such good news to share: 2 of our Bachsters won 1st place in the local Graeter's Ice Cream coloring contest!  I'm such a proud Mama!

When the manager called to tell us about DD's first place win for ages 6-9, she probably didn't see that her brother had won in his age group.  So, when we all went to Graeter's to collect her prize and enjoy a celebratory cone, we were all pleasantly surprised that we had not 1 but 2 winners!

Actually, we have 3 little winners, because our 8-year-old was incredibly supportive of her siblings (even though she must have been very upset that she didn't win).  She gave them hugs and told them great job and showed no signs of jealousy.  That's a commendable accomplishment in itself, and another proud Mama moment.

Our oldest DD did a drawing of zombies eating ice cream at the cemetery!  Our 8-year-old did hills and trees and a fancy person in the truck.  And Little Dude drew a tree with a bug jumping out of it beside the Graeter's truck.  Here are their entries:

And here are our little artists enjoying the fruits of their labor (or in this case, the cotton candy ice cream in a chocolate waffle cone with sprinkles of their labor: 

And yes, they can eat those gigantic cones, no problem.  They're Bachs after all.  And they do their Mama proud.

-Cheryl