red letter year

 

(everything worn here is either vintage or thrifted)

  Home has been the place for me lately. I've been spending roughly all my daytime hours besides class inside of it. I suppose there is something about Fall right before the chill of winter that it rains and pours, and all you want to do is decorate and read your literature class books on your most comfy couch. I have redecorated my apartment quite a bit, although these pictures don't do it justice (the lighting in my apartment is horrible besides the earliest of morning). 

  With starting a part-time seasonal job for the holidays/my winter break, my daylight hours are often rushed and unnoticed. I'm starting to count down to my seasonal break from school.. although I will probably be working most of it. It's still crazy to me how as college students, we receive over a month break for winter. I am hoping to fully use that by hosting a pop-up shop for my shop somewhere local, possibly think about that book I wanted to create a few months ago, and start sewing again. Readers, have you already begun plans for your holiday time-off? 

wild palms

(everything worn here is either vintage or thrifted) 

  I have kinda been a homebody these past few days. Not the kind that curls up with book and watches Netflix all evening (although that does happen quite often), but that all of my work consist of me being home. All the homework, online class I'm taking, editing/submitting photographs, trying to re-photograph/organize my shop, more homework... whenever I'm not at class during the weekdays, home is where the rest of my work lies. I'm starting to see why coffee houses are filled with people, we just need an area designated for work besides home (because I tend to get distracted with cooking.) 

  I pulled out my fall leave tights for the first time this season the other day when my boyfriend and I were browsing some artists workshop sales in the Crossroads. We only ended up with fancy ashtrays, a few items of clothing, and a sea fishing pole... which were the opposite of what i was expecting to come home with. I'm also beginning to get excited for winter, and to bring out woolly sweaters and giant furry coats... I already sense a change in the season.

made at home: squash carrot spinach soup

Squash Carrot Spinach Soup

• 2 medium squashes, diced
• 4 carrots, diced
• 1 cup of spinach
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 5 cups of vegetable broth
• 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon of cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground colander 
• 1.4 teaspoon of rosemary
• salt and pepper to taste
• *heavy whipping cream optional to taste on finished product 

  After cutting the vegetables  warm a large sauce pan with olive oil to add the squash and carrots to. Steam over medium heat for 5 minutes  then add the spinach and spices for another 2 minutes  Combine the vegetable broth with the veggies, and bring to a boil. Let the mixture shimmer for another 25-30 minutes  After shimmering, let the soup cool slightly  then add half to a blender to blend until smooth. Add the blended mixture back into the sauce pan to bring to a slight boil, then serve with cream. 

  Fall soups are the best of soups. So much warmth, so hearty, full of squash, perfectly colorful... I had to make a concoction of my own this year. Soup making is quite a long process, but completely worth every vegetable you chop and all of the stirring. This soup is delightfully rich, creamy, and the perfect fall color. So grab a good read, a cozy sweater, and make some soup the next chilly fall day you may have. 

made at home: apple juice & sauce

Apple Juice and Sauce 

• 5 lbs of apples (about 12) 
• Cinnamon (optional, to taste)
• Sugar (optional, to taste)
• Water

   (First Step) Juice: Start with coring and slicing all of the apples. After finishing, place the apples into a large pot and cover with water (until just covered, the less water the better). Boil the apple slices for 25-30 minutes on the stove-top. After boiling, press the soft apples through a filter into a large bowl. Can add cinnamon and sugar for optional sweetness. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week. 

   (Second Step) Sauce: After preparing the juice, take the remainders of the pressed apples and place into a bowl. Remove the skins of the apple pieces and place into a blender. Add sugar and cinnamon to taste and refrigerate for up to one week. 

   I had thoughts about placing this recipe on my blog, because everyone knows how to make simple juices and applesauce, but I am always looking for recipes that create two dishes within them. I mean, maybe I just never thought about making juice and sauce out of the leftovers and everyone else already does that?! I hope this is some new information. With the fall session right ahead, I would suggest using this recipe to get the fullest of your apples and have a delicious afternoon snack. It's a great feeling when you use everything you are cooking with.

june hymn

(homemade salsa from produce bought today.) 

(everything worn here is either thrifted or vintage) 

   If you would have asked me to predict my Sunday before this date, I could have assumed this is how I would have spent it. Maybe not the exact recipes I would make from my produce picked up, or the flavor of bubble tea I would purchase in the afternoon, but I would have known the general basis of the activities  I have been spending the majority of my Sundays browsing the City Market and exploring the River Market area for some time now. I hope I can continue to be able to capture new aspects of my "almost" Sunday tradition (I can call it that now, right?!)

   This Sunday was actually a bit chilly, which had me missing my cardigans at home while I was out and about. I am wishing that this is a sign this summer will not be as frightening warm as the last one. I am also currently planning out my week (since I will be off work), which are including finishing re-decorating my house, making banana bread and basil lemonade, sewing some new items, and taking a trip to a few museums. I had the plan in my mind to try and make this the "week of free" activities around Kansas City, so we'll see if I can find enough of those to fill my time.

common people

 (easy breakfast of banana, soy yogurt, peanuts, honey bunches of oats, and coffee.) 

 (homemade kale chips, from the recipe here.) 

(the ceilings at Ameristar Casino.) 

(knitted sweater: forever 21, turtle-neck sweater: from mom's closet, skirt: atc, sweater tights/flower headband: h&m, flats: thrifted, choker: waldo flea market.) 

   Have you ever had an extremely random day when things are all flip-flopped, but still turn out great in the end? Yes, this Tuesday of my spring break was exactly as I described. I planned to spend my morning/afternoon finishing up some projects, then my boyfriend had a last minute day off work and we figured we would go to an early lunch and things. I later became obsessed with cleaning,  he slept in late.. you get the picture. 

   We ended up, in the evening, at a casino in the northern part of the city. It was actually rather nice (compared to the one I went to on my birthday), but I am honestly no fan of gambling (which my boyfriend isn't either, hints why the day is so random) so my boyfriend offer to pay for a machine for me to play on. I ended up winning $60 and we played arcade games for the rest of the evening. Sometimes, planning is not necessary.