It’s been a minute since I posted last – I’ve been too busy enjoying summer and a very busy toddler to spend much time blogging – but I’m back with a few links to share. We have a few home projects in the works (our pantry, powder bathroom, and master bedroom), which I’m excited to post about once they wrap up. In the meantime, here are a few things I’ve been loving.
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Cake Pan Pizza
We’ve been making this pan pizza recipe regularly for the past few months and it is SO good. A few changes we make (because I’m high-maintenance when it comes to pizza): use two 9” cake pans instead of a cast-iron pans, add an extra 10g water to the dough, and use room temp butter and then olive oil to coat the pan. We typically do only a 4hr first rise and 1hr second rise (rather than the 8+ hours the recipe calls for), and it’s been totally fine.
Recent Reads
I just finished reading the Graceling trilogy and really enjoyed it. (One of my top reads so far this year!) It gave me some Priory of the Orange Tree-type feminism/girl power vibes – I also loved that it was good adventure fantasy where the plot was not just a vehicle for a love story. (Not that I don’t love a good romance-in-disguise trashy fantasy. I definitely do.)
I also have been working through a few fairytale retellings (one of my favorite genres!): the Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer, and Flame in the Mist (a Mulan-ish retelling set in Japan which was very good).
Baby Proofing
With a 15-month old that gets into everything, baby proofing has become extremely important. We use these retractable baby gates (which are GREAT) – everyone parent who comes to our house asks about them. We also use these cabinet locks, which I like because they’re easy to install and operate and are totally hidden. Fair warning, though – we’ve already broken 2, so they maybe aren’t the most durable option. Also, Jamie can remove the little white plastic outlet covers, so if you have a suggestion for something MORE baby-proof, I’m all ears.
Recent Buys
I’ve been on the hunt for a nice white linen t-shirt for awhile. Much to my surprise, this one from Old Navy is perfect! It has flattering cap sleeves and a nice cropped fit, and it’s opaque enough that I can wear it without anything underneath. (If I have to wear another shirt underneath a shirt to make it work, it is NOT a shirt I want to buy. Also wearing something underneath linen literally defeats the entire purpose of linen.) It’s good enough that I just bought it in grey, too!
We bought this beautiful leather ottoman from Minda Living (a PA company!) and it is so good and so comfy. The only downside is that it had a STRONG smell when it arrived, which seems to be slowly dissipating. We’d still totally recommend it, though, especially for the price! (We have the Long ottoman in the M size, which is perfect for tucking into our small sectional.)
Life Lately
A quick personal update: we are both still working from home; Jamie is a full-blown toddler now (tantrums and all) who talks ALL the time (he says close to 50 words! and more every day); my garden is growing SO well (see my IG for updates); I am very ready to wander Target without a mask on and feel like I can touch things again (maybe sometime in 2021??).