hello weekend

(image via The Daily Muse)

Another laid back weekend is ahead, perfect for another fire in the backyard - as long as the weather holds up, that is. I also want to get a massage but I don't know if I'll be able to get on the schedule on such short notice. Fingers crossed!

- had this smoothie for breakfast this week and it was goooood
- aren't these just the sweetest newborn photos?
- naturally decorated eggs are so simple and pretty
- love these little boy styles for Easter
- Easter in a box: one for adults and one for kids
- some tips that may interest my friends who blog
- got this stripey sweater from Banana this week for only $15!
- these mini cakes are adorable but I might have to have two or three
- enjoyed reading this interview with Sarah Vickers on classic New England style
- definitely making myself a set of glittery neon notecards
- shortbread cookies that look like tea bags? yes, please!
- more shortbread, but this time as a chocolate ganache tart

tea with Rose // Coffee Exchange

It's our second stop on the tea tour around Rhode Island, and while a place called Coffee Exchange doesn't sound like it belongs, I can assure you that it does. 

Hillary and I met up on a Thursday morning and sipped our tea slowly as we talked and I tried to keep Ezra contained. (There was only one highchair and it was already in use.)

I enjoyed a cup of echinacea sunshine tea, an organic herbal blend of echinacea, lemon, lemon verbena, ginkgo leaf, rosehips, and spearmint. It was a refreshing start to my day and I know I reaped the psychological benefits of drinking an immune booster. I felt healthy all day! They were all out of Hillary's favorite, peony white, so she ordered a green tea instead, jasmine amber.

I've been to Coffee Exchange lots of times in the past, but this was the first time I had been in the morning. The shop was pleasantly busy and the service was good in spite of the hustle and bustle at the counter. Ezra loved the music and ended up grooving with a little girl at the next table. Another successful tea drinking adventure in our tiny state. Read Hillary's account of the morning here. 

what to read: new baby

Lots of my friends are expecting for the first time and their due dates are fast approaching. In fact, one just had her baby, a sweet little girl, on Tuesday! Throughout their pregnancies they've asked me every now and then for recommendations on what to read. While I am by no one's definition an expert, I wanted to share some books I've read that have helped me with this thing called parenting as well as the nine month preparation for it.

(image via Lola's Room)

I've divided the list into categories because as you'll see, there are lots of recommendations here -

general:
The New Basics by Dr. Michael Cohen - simple and practical advice that makes you wonder what all the fuss is about
The Baby Book by Dr. William and Martha Sears - this book covers everything from bonding with your newborn to toilet training
The Attachment Parenting Book by Dr. William and Martha Sears - when I worried that some parenting practices that felt right to me were unusual, the information presented here helped me trust my instincts

on breastfeeding:
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by Diane Wiessinger, Diana West, and Teresa Pitman - the ultimate guide from La Leche League International, this book contains scientific data, tips from real moms, and various strategies for all aspects of breastfeeding
The Nursing Mother's Companion by Kathleen Huggins - a handy book that I turn to again and again, as it covers everything from nursing your newborn to your toddler and any bumps in the road along the way
So That's What They're For by Janet Tamaro - recommended to me by my friend Kate, this book is packed with research, tips, and funny stories from real moms that helped prepare me for breastfeeding (it was the only breastfeeding book I read while pregnant)
Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding by Ina May Gaskin - this book delves into the health benefits of breastfeeding as well as the ways it promotes bonding between mother and child
The Breastfeeding Book by Martha and Dr. William Sears - I found tips here that weren't in any other book (and clearly I've read a lot of them), and I liked the consistency displayed throughout the Sears library - they're all comforting, reassuring, and encouraging
Fresh Milk by Fiona Giles - a funny resource that will have you laughing even as you struggle with leaking and other breastfeeding woes, the stories you read here remind you that you're not alone
Healthy Babies, Happy Moms - Not a book, but if you're in RI and struggling with breastfeeding I highly recommend giving Kathy a call. She is a miracle worker. Really, she is.

on sleep:
Good Nights by Dr. Jay Gordon - the best book I've read on sleep, this book explains the benefits of co-sleeping, bed sharing, or the family bed - whatever you want to call it. After reading Good Nights I successfully night weaned Ezra the only way I felt comfortable.
Sweet Dreams by Dr. Paul Fleiss - lots of good information on baby's natural sleep patterns
The Baby Sleep Book by Dr. William and Martha Sears - very detailed resource that will help you decide the best sleeping arrangement for your family
The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley - gentle ways to help your baby sleep better and longer, including sleep tips for you, too!

on introducing food:
Real Food for Mother and Baby by Nina Planck - good, solid advice on what to feed yourself when you're pregnant and nursing and what to feed your baby when he's ready to start eating food. If you read Real Food and loved it, you'll love this book, too.
Baby-Led Weaning by Gill Rapley - explains how self feeding for babies works, including how to experiment with flavors and textures, the development of hand eye coordination, and enjoying meals as a family

on sign language:
Baby Signs by Drs. Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn - the original baby sign language book. I loved being able to communicate with Ezra before he was verbal, and he still uses all the signs he knows. Keep in mind - he only says about seven or eight words though :)

on elimination communication:
The Diaper Free Baby by Christine Gross-Loh - great book on elimination communication and how to tune in to your baby's bathroom needs before they can talk
Diaper-Free Before 3 by Dr. Jill Lekovic - discusses the benefits of introducing the toilet (or potty) into your child's routine early

on vaccinations:
The Vaccine Book by Dr. Robert Sears - Dr. Sears sets you straight, educating you on the pros and cons of each vaccine, and suggests an alternate schedule if that's what you choose to do

Thanks for letting me share these resources and for enduring this abnormally long post! What are some of your favorite baby-related books?

menu of the week

(image by David Loftus for Jamie Oliver)

Our weekend was much cooler than last week which was kind of a disappointment. I'm sitting huddled under a blanket right now, and hoping the sun comes out this afternoon. As for our dinners last week, I think they were all pretty good. Especially the salmon. Check that one out for sure.

roasted butternut squash quesadillas - Very similar to the sweet potato tacos I made back in January and equally delicious. In fact, Matt didn't even know they were squash, but he tends to get sweet potatoes and squash mixed up often. We used corn tortillas from Trader Joe's and piled on the toppings. Ezra devoured lots of black beans and pepper jack cheese. He was signing 'more' before he had even finished.

17 bean and barley soup - I bought a package of mixed beans, lentils, and other miscellaneous small edible type things (like split peas, chickpeas, and lima beans... the list goes on) at Trader Joe's a while back and decided it was finally time to do something with them. I just made the recipe on the back of the bag, but I added some mezze rigatoni. Note: the recipe I linked to is similar to the one on the bag, but the blog author made some changes.

baked wild salmon with almond lime sauce, basmati rice, and steamed broccoli - This recipe is from the April issue of Whole Living magazine and I bookmarked it immediately because we love salmon around here. As I've said before, I usually prepare it with barbecue sauce and I made it once with an Asian flair, but this version with the almond lime sauce was incredible. Matt and I were both licking our plates. Definitely making this again, and soon!

asparagus and ricotta pizzas - Pizza is always a good thing if you ask me, and spring veggie toppings made  our dinner on Thursday feel quite season appropriate. I added some sliced shallots leftover from the previous night's dinner and grated more than half a cup of Parmigianno over the top of the pizza because I felt like it needed a little more saltiness. They turned out really well, not quite crisp in the center so they slices were a little floppy but still really tasty. Ezra enjoyed the dollops of ricotta best of all. Oh, and like last time we had pizza on the menu, Matt made the dough but he used bread flour instead of all purpose. The flavor was so much better! I couldn't stop exclaiming over the taste. Tonight's dinner wins the award for most improved.

cheeseburgers with oven fries - I had borrowed Jamie's Food Revolution from the library and this was one of the recipes I was dying to try. I had never made my own hamburger patties before and this recipe seemed like a simple classic. Matt and I loved them, especially topped with a heap of monterey jack. Next time I would try to make them a little flatter because they puffed up a bit once they were cooked. As for the oven fries, I just cut a bunch of potatoes into wedges, spread them onto a baking sheet, drizzled them with olive oil, sprinkled them with salt, and baked them in a 450° oven for about 40 minutes. Toss them and turn the pan about half way through. We also had the leftover arugula from the night before as a salad, dressed with a simple lemon and olive oil dressing. 


P.S. This is only semi related to food, but remember last week when I cleaned my cast iron pan? Well, after I cooked in it and washed it some of the rust came back! I'm going to try the same method but this time with more elbow grease and hopefully it will be gone for good. Anyone else try it? Did it happen to you?

hello weekend

(images by Emilie Griottes for fricote)

No post yesterday because it was too beautiful outside to spend time any time typing. Ezra and I took full advantage of the warm weather and inspected every pebble and blade of grass in the yard. That boy absolutely loves being outdoors. This weekend we're keeping it low key... the first fire of the year in the backyard tonight, a manicure and pedicure for me tomorrow, and that's basically it! Well, other than church on Sunday, which is standard. I'm hoping to do lots of spring cleaning and work outside in the flower beds. Maybe we'll get even get a yard of mulch. I surprise myself by feeling genuine excitement at the prospect of such things as washing windows and pulling weeds. Have you been outside a lot this week?

- these bright and cheery modern centerpieces could be adapted to fit any theme or color palette
- I made a bunch of these knit produce bags this week and I'm in love with them
- lots of inspiration on how to dress a baby bump
- these business cards are so much fun
- tips for taking photos on vacation
- my friends' responses to this question are always amusing... what do you do?
- these naturally dyed wooden beads are so pretty
- make your own metallic and natural sack on the cheap
- on how to make planning dinner for your family work for you

Oooh, this weekend is going to be amazing, I can tell already...