Wonder where I’ve been this week? I’ve moved!

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www.saltandpineblog.com

(Be sure to change your links and feeds…I don’t want to lose you!)

xo-k

 

i went a little crazy with the playlists.

Finally getting the chance to share some of the music I put together in this post. I’m only sharing two of the playlists so I don’t inundate you with music. Seriously, I think I have about 5-6 playlists of material! So many great female singers and musicians. Thanks for all of your wonderful suggestions! I tried to limit the music to what I already owned and I also tried to limit the NSFkids language.  And Michelle, please don’t kill me…Liz Phair alert on the first playlist. :)

Disclaimer:

I’m totally old school and grew up in the age of the mixed tape, so I’m a little annoyed that by using the 8 tracks playlists you all may get a different lineup of the music. So if it is jarring from one song to the next, try to ignore that. ;)

This was so much fun to put together! Anyone else up for the challenge and want to share a playlist?

a halloween parade

One of the things that makes living in our little town special is the sense of community I feel almost every day.

When we moved here from a larger city, it was a little unnerving. People recognize you and want to talk with you. There is no such thing as a quick trip to the grocery store; you will see at least five people you know. Something to do downtown? Schedule at least a half an hour more for socialization.

There is no cloak of anonymity, so either embrace the fact that people will see you (at your best and at your worst) or move somewhere else. We stayed…and realized that people checking on you and the people you love through daily interactions is not a bad thing. In fact, it is a very good thing.

The annual Halloween parade through downtown is one of those community events that celebrates the connections we have made.

For a few hours each year on Halloween night, the city closes the main drag and kids march down the street in a 10 minute parade and then trick or treat through every shop downtown. The store owners appropriately fawn over them, hand out candy and offer hot chocolate and cookies to the adults. Families catch up with each other. Cameras click at rapid speed. Kids race off to gain a little independence with their candy. Plans are made for celebratory dinners at houses nearby.

I know it sounds like I am making up some Andy Griffith or Waltons moment, but I swear it is true.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Such a fun night for everybody. Although Miss I probably had the most fun since she was able to work over her brother in the name of medicine.

But now for the hard part. How do I stay away from all this candy?!

some wise words from the playroom

Last night, Iris was an art-creating maniac. I found this drawing this morning.

Motivating words for her mama, I think.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! We have some major social activities on the agenda, so wish me luck. (Says the closeted introvert who everyone thinks is an extrovert…)  Actually, it really will be a great time catching up with friends who we haven’t seen for some time, my sister and her family will be in town and I also will get little date time with my husband. Pretty good stuff. And one soccer season is over! Yes! One down, one to go…

For those of you who asked, I added the Cook’s Illustrated bread recipe to the mellow days post and I will get the Girls Who Rock playlist up next week.

As a side note to that, thank you so much for your comments. I love that this blog is a space where we can do random things like analyze recipes and suggest awesome music for our girls. Makes the Internet feel less vast and more like having a day out with friends.

Take care and see you next week!

what’s on my iPod wednesday

I haven’t done a Wednesday music post in quite some time, so I decided it was time to get back to it!

As you read this, I most likely will be on a hours-long car ride with a gaggle of girls to see a production Robin Hood. Since it is a class field trip, I feel it is my duty to do a little educating in the car on the way over to Seattle. ;)

I just saw Miss Representation this weekend (If you haven’t seen it yet, please, please do so. Especially if you have children.) and it bluntly reminded me how women’s accomplishments, creativity and intellect are still systematically marginalized by the media. Even we women buy into it.

So, in my subversive “plant a seed of empowerment” way, I’m currently brainstorming a playlist of some fantastically creative ladies. Ones who will make these little girls feel like they can conquer the world with their brains and creativity when they hear their music.

Requirements: No dumb lyrics. No music industry pop “singers.” The real deal…as long as the lyrics are clean.  (So, Liz Phair will need to wait until their ears and hearts are more seasoned in college because I definitely do not want to explain some of those words.)

I want to include a diverse list of talent. Women such as Aimee Mann, Koko Taylor, Sleater Kinney, Bonnie Raitt, Aretha Franklin, Brandi Carlile, Chrissie Hynde, Feist… This list could actually be very long. And that, my friends, is awesome. Who would you add?

A singer I’m definitely including is Florence Welch. I just love the power in her voice.

                                                                                                                                                                                    Source: Uploaded by user via James on Pinterest

Cosmic Love is one of my favorites. Hope you enjoy this KEXP live version as much as I do!

mellow days

This weekend…

Talking and (really) listening to the kids, baking (two loaves…olive, rosemary and parmesan AND rustic. YES!), polishing thrift finds, and rediscovering this gorgeous little town of ours.

 

Edited to add: Here’s the bread recipe…pretty darn easy and very good! If you don’t have a Cook’s Illustrated membership and don’t want to sign up for one, looks like the recipe is posted here, too. Bon Appetit!

happy friday!

I’m planning on tromping around in the woods with the people I love sometime over the weekend. Do me a favor and keep your fingers crossed for no rain, will you?

(Well even if it does rain, probably won’t stop us. We do live near a rainforest after all…we will try to be hearty souls.)

Have a wonderful weekend!

when I get older losing my hair, many years from now…

(Do you now have that Beatles song stuck in your head, too?)

I’ve been thinking about my style a lot over the past year. Inspired by Joslyn and her side blog, Operation Simplicity, I’m focusing on thoughtful purchases that resonate with me and stay true to how I want to dress. Items that I will want to wear 20 years or even 30 years from now. A tall order, but it really makes you think before you buy.

Someone I always envision when I am either on the fence about a purchase or feeling a little buying frenzy coming on is my 90-year-old grandmother. That lady has serious style. As a teenager, I raided her closet and came out with vintage Coach bags, a leopard print cape, wool pedal pushers and amazing shoes. All things that I am kicking myself for losing over the years because I would still wear them now. Gran has a way of just knowing what is a classic and then keeping it forever. She has a fashion confidence of her own and has stayed true to it for generations. I want that staying power.

Even dressed as a farmer for Halloween, Gran looks awesome.

 

I love looking at mature women and their clothing. They often have a self-assured way of expressing themselves through what they wear. They know what they like and they wear it. It doesn’t need to be a new item; in fact I often see the same item worn over and over again. It is something that looks great so there is no need to wear the latest trend or have a ton of “stuff” in the closet.

One of my latest blog finds is Advanced Style. Do you know about it? It is a treasure trove, I tell you. Those women work it just like Gran.

All Photos: Advanced Style, Ari Seth Cohen

I’m obsessed with the freedom of expression on this blog, not to mention the great advice that is also doled out. (I recently lost a few hours pouring over the photos.) It is such a wealth of greatness. It makes me feel inspired to grow older and continue to wear what makes me feel good and not fall victim to trends that don’t work for me. Thanks, ladies!

And Gran, may I have your style and grace when I’m 90…

the weekend

It seems like this time of year, our family falls into familiar patterns that give us comfortable routines for our weekends. A little puttering around the house, some baking, hikes in the mountains, pumpkin scavenging and MAJOR soccer are chief among them.

A Little Tangential Soccer Rant: I absolutely hate the term “soccer mom”. Having my identity wrapped up in a sport that my kids play? Depressing, annoying and just plain wrong. Do not label me based on what my kid does. I will, in fact, kick your ass if you do.

But back to pleasantries! Our weekend was full of gorgeous sunny, crisp weather. Two soccer games in which both Ben and Iris scored goals. They were both so elated and proud of themselves, it made me smile. I may not be a soccer mom, but I am a mom who is happy that her kids get such joy out of a sport. It has taken me about seven years to fully accept that my life is ruled by the soccer schedule in the fall, but I do believe I have ventured into that territory.

 

 

We also went on our annual trek to local pumpkin farm to load up on pumpkins and kettle corn. I think I end up eating my husband’s weight in kettle corn whenever we go. There’s no calories as long as you eat it at a pumpkin farm in the fall, right?

Because we have gone to this farm for so long now, I sometimes see it as something to check off the list of activities and if I am honest with myself, I’m not really present in the moment. But seeing Iris so incredibly excited and just plain happy to experience everything from feeding the chickens to saying hi to the nursing piglets, it made it such a different experience for all of us. The joy in that girl is just infectious.

 

 

Does anyone want to help carve the 92 pounds of pumpkins we bought?

 

 

save me from myself…

 

I’m a little obsessed with this vintage leather bag from Etsy shop Peter Best. Somebody please buy it before I do!