Cabin in the City

Books, cats and midwestern charm.

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30 Days of Thanks // Week 1 + Some

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Last year, I participated in the @positivelypresent Gratitude Challenge, and I want to do the same this year. I think it’s a good way to count my blessings and generally not be such a humbug.

So I’ll be posting Fridays here for the rest of the month (yes, even though it’s technically an Instagram challenge). I hope this inspires you to reflect on all the good stuff in your lives, too.

Day 1: Growth

I’ll say it now: 2019 has been a year! But in the end, I think I grew into at least a slightly better version of myself, so I’m thankful for that! But I don’t want to get too heavy right off the bat.

So I’ll say I’m thankful for the literal growth of my garden this year. Getting back into growing after a two-year hiatus was so satisfying and joyful. I’m hoping to improve for 2020.

Day 2: Knowledge

I love to learn new things. This year I’ve tried to brush up on a lot of new kitchen techniques like pickling. I’m thankful to have the time to dive into new ideas and projects.

Day 3: Love

I’m so thankful for this darling man and his love. Michael is so wonderfully warm-hearted and he is accepting of me and all my good and aggravating traits (like leaving embroidery floss everywhere but also being pretty good at embroidery).

Day 4: Music

Eight years ago, Michael and I flew to Montreal to see Beirut at a music festival. This was very much on a whim and very much an over-the-top way to start a relationship. But it was a wonderful and beautiful time (and the show was great).

Earlier this year, we got to see the band again right in Milwaukee, and I’m so thankful we got to do it! It was a great way to rekindle some of those fond memories.

(Psst… that’s us eight years ago at the show in Montreal.)

Day 5: Nature

The Great Lakes are such a special place. I’m thankful I live, work and vacation right on these lakes (particularly Lake Michigan, though shoutout to Superior!).

This shot is from Cave Point Park in Door County. It’s always been one of my favorite spots. Door County has such a special place in my heart.

Day 6: Creativity

I’m so happy that creativity plays such a big role in my life. I get to be creative at work and when I come home, I’ve got a creative outlet with my many, many crafty hobbies. I’m thankful that I get to express myself and create.

Day 7: Memory

Lots of great memories this year! I’ll say that turning 30 was a highlight and I’m thankful to all my friends and family who celebrated with me.

Day 8: Work

I can’t say how thankful I am to have a job I really enjoy and some really fun and creative coworkers. Working for Taste of Home challenges me in all the right ways. This year I’m really proud of making this chocolate babka. I’ll have some big news on this soon, but for now, enjoy this video!

• • •

See you next week for more on this gratitude challenge (which isn’t much of a challenge because I’m lucky enough to have lots to be thankful for).

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Small Goals // November 2019

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I’m sad to see October go. At least it was a good one!

  1. Turn my house into Comfy in the City. It’s on its way. I got a few new throw pillows and I finally ordered my new chair from Joybird. I’m hoping to get it in early November.
  2. Visit HausWitch. Done. You can read about it and my trip to Salem here.
  3. Do something scary or bewitching. Done! I went to a screening of Hocus Pocus with a few gal pals.
  4. Finish and list my zodiac hoops. Done. I finished stitching all 12, but I’ve decided not to list anything new until my fairs are done (more on that soon).
  5. Upgrade my iPhone. I did it. I opted for the lavender one. I’m still getting used to the larger size, but loving the nicer camera.

5/5. What a month! This October was great. I kicked it off with a trip to New England and rounded it out with lots of scary shows, ghost stories and Halloween vibes. I could use a few more weeks of this (so I might keep on my spooky kick for a few more weeks).

For November, my primary goal is to be prepared for the two craft fairs I’ve got coming up. So my goals here are going to be pretty low key. I’ll be honest, I’m ready to spend some nights in doing nothing but stitching.

  1. Bump up my inventory to 75 hoops. I might be pushing it here, but I really want to be prepared.
  2. Create 5 new designs. I don’t want my product getting stale. Let’s see if I can make five totally new hoops.
  3. Host my inaugural Craft Club. I’d been wanting to have a craft club for a long time, and there’s no time like the present. Let’s see how the first meeting goes!
  4. Schedule my last days of PTO. I’ve got a few to spare. Time to get them on the calendar.
  5. Try a new podcast. I need something besides old episodes of 30 Rock to keep my busy while I stitch.

Alright, November, let’s see if I can do another five out of five!

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A Sweet + Silly Halloween

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As you know, I love all the scary, spooky parts of Halloween, but sometimes it’s fun to be sweet (and to be a part of a theme). That’s why this year I dressed up as pastry chef extraordinaire Christina Tosi.

Christina is the founder of Milk Bar, a judge on Master Chef Junior, author of some amazing cookbooks (pictured) and the subject of a great episode of Chef’s Table.

I’m a big fan. I made her signature birthday cake for work earlier this year and I regularly mix up this riff on her compost cake (actually made some to accompany this costume).

This costume was my favorite kind. Mostly out of my own closet plus some handmade elements (I embroidered my apron to match the Milk Bar logo). And I honestly had so much fun wearing it. It’s a bit niche, but if you can’t dress up as a famous baker at a food magazine, where can you?

Also, a major shoutout to my friends and coworkers at Taste of Home. We’ve got angel food cake, the Starbucks mermaid, Ina Garten, the Guinness toucan, Bastet, Guy Fieri (the best), a barista and Mermaid Man. Look at this crazy creativity!

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Small Goals // October 2019

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Is it just me or did September just fly by? Despite the month going so quickly, I managed to squeeze a lot in—way more than just these goals. But let’s start with the goals:

  1. Treat myself. I did end up buying that Fossil backpack. It’s handy.
  2. Tackle Taste of Home’s first-ever Bakeable bake-along. Done! I made this amazing layer cake for my dad’s birthday.
  3. Stitch up a new project. I started a zodiac series and I really love it.
  4. Check out Cedarburg’s Wine + Harvest Fest. Done! I had a lot of fun and bought a lot of delightful and unnecessary things like a velvet headband and a puzzle.
  5. Hit 3 weightlifting classes. Swing and a miss. I made it to just two.

4/5. I’m looking at my calendar right now and I can’t believe how full this month was. Outside of tackling most of my goals, I managed to fit in a ghost tour, a night out seeing Rachel Bloom, a press trip to Texas and our first-ever Stocktoberfest party. That’s a lot!

With that in mind, I’m hoping to slow down a bit in October (of course, I write this knowing that I kick off the month with a big trip). But I am hoping to spend more time inside with candles, books and scary shows and a little time out doing more creepy, seasonal things.

  1. Turn my house into Comfy in the City. After a warm September, it’s time to switch over to cozy mode. This entails a lot of odds and ends: switching to winter linens, breaking out the fall candles, getting a few new throws for the living room and replacing our string lights. I feel like our home needs a bit of a refresh.
  2. Visit HausWitch. I’m going to Salem, Massachusets this month!!! I am deeply, deeply excited. There’s a lot I want to see there, but this is one shop I definitely want to check out after following their A+ Instagram for so long.
  3. Do something scary or bewitching. I’m sure I’ll get my fill of bewitching haunts in Salem, but I’m hoping to squeeze in another spooky outing at home. As always, I’m hoping to revisit Legends & Lore at Old World Wisconsin, but I’m open to new scares.
  4. Finish and list my zodiac hoops. I’m loving these. Yes, of course, because they are new, but I feel like I’m onto something. Let’s hope folks like them!
  5. Upgrade my iPhone. iPhone 6, you’ve had a good run. It’s time for an upgrade and a better camera. Plus the new iPhone 11 comes in purple (my favorite color). Yes, it’s stupidly expensive, but may as well do it now before the next version costs even more.

Of course, I’ll be filling in the gaps this month with plenty of scary movies, creepy reads and spine-tingling podcasts. Here’s hoping I can get it all done!

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What I Read // August 2019

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My goal for August was to add four books to my yearly tally. I managed to do it and most of it poolside. How great is that?

The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is the definition of a summer read: light, easy-going, with a vacation-worthy setting. In this case, that setting’s a small island off the East Coast. Toss in the fact that it’s set in the ’30s-’60s, involves a movie star and a lighthouse—you’ve got a winner.

This is the first book I’ve read by Williams and I’m excited to read more (but maybe not until next summer).

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ruth Ware reliably writes entertaining and thrilling reads, so it’s not a surprise to me that I enjoyed The Turn of the Key so much.

Ware manages to create, time and time again, these capsule-like worlds. In this case, it’s a manor in a remote part of Scotland (in The Woman in Cabin 10 it was a small ship, in In a Dark, Dark Wood, it was a country house). The remoteness of these locales always amps up the intensity to me.

What I really loved about this book, though, was how Ware wove paranoia about the supernatural plus the uneasiness that comes with new technology (the home where this is set is a smart home that’s fully wired with cameras) together to create a thriller that really kept me wondering.

 The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Goodreads kept trying to sell me on this book. It’s the release of the year! It’s a lot like all these other books you’ve read! Wow! Look at all these positive reviews! But I don’t know about it.

This pageturner focuses on a woman accused of killing her husband and her therapist. The thing is, the woman hasn’t spoken since the murder. Her therapist is hell-bent on getting to the bottom it so he can reveal the truth.

It sounds intriguing, right? I won’t steer you away from this book by any means, but I did feel a bit frustrated with the characters throughout. Take my review with a grain of salt, of course.

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is outside my typical reading realm: It’s fantasy and it’s YA (did not realize the latter when I first checked it out from the library).

At any rate, I really enjoyed the twisting together of folklore and reality in this book. I particularly loved how the fictional source material in this novel was fairytale-like, but the kind of fairytales that have no moral (I love that sort of thing; it brings Baba Yaga to mind for me). But in the end, this book just reminded me how fantasy and YA, in particular, are not my things. But if they are for you, definitely give this a read.

• • •

Now that summer is gone, I’m looking forward to some moodier and spookier reads. I’ve got three on deck: The Poison Thread by Lauren Purcell (loved her other book: The Silent Companions), The Toll by Cherie Priest and Dead Lake by Darcy Coates. Gotta pace myself so I’ve got some spooky reads left for October, though! And, as always, you can follow me and my reading on Goodreads.

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Small Goals // September 2019

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Boy, did I pack August full this year! Don’t worry—still had time for goals.

  1. Go on Gothic Milwaukee’s shipwreck tour. Done! I had so much fun with my friends and coworkers (see below). Highly recommend any tour from Gothic Milwaukee. I also went on the La Crosse Library’s ghost tour. Two spooky tours and it’s not even October!
  2. Try two new spiralizer recipes. I tried this chipotle sweet potato dish but didn’t get to stirring up a second. Half a point?
  3. Pickle or can something. Done! I made refrigerator bread and butter pickles and I think they turned out pretty good!
  4. Order new glasses. Yes! My new frames feel very fancy. They’re taking some getting used to, but I love them.
  5. Read four books. Done. Find out which ones and what I thought very soon.

4.5/5. After an abysmal month of goals in July, I feel like I’m back on track. I ticked off most of my goals for the month and I managed to have very few summertime regrets. (I mean, I could have always squeezed in something else, but I’m OK.)

As for September and fall, I’m ready. Summer is pressure-filled when it comes to having fun. I find fall is just easier and a bit slower paced. Of course, as I write this, my calendar is pretty full. Still, I’m going to try and appreciate the change of pace and embrace the slow spots.

  1. Treat myself. I’m heading to Texas for a press trip this month. I’d like to treat myself to something new to take with me. I’ve got my eyes on this Fossil backpack.
  2. Tackle Taste of Home’s first-ever Bakeable bake-along.Taste of Home has a new baking club! (Join here!) Every month, we’re challenging people to make a new recipe. Here’s this month’s challenge. This is pretty rich cake, but I’m down to bake it!
  3. Stitch up a new project. I’ve got some non-text-based designs in my head. Let’s see if I can stitch one up before the month is over.
  4. Check out Cedarburg’s Wine + Harvest Fest. I make this a goal every year, but it’s worth prioritizing. I love this street festival. It makes me feel like fall has arrived.
  5. Hit 3 weightlifting classes. This summer I dropped my weights habit. I was having some troubles with my knee and the classes just didn’t fit as well into my schedule. Time to get back on track with just a few classes this month.

Wish me luck on these! Good luck on your fall goals.

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What I Read // July 2019

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Welcome to what I hope will become a regular series! I’m going to break down what I read each month (or season) and let you know what was good, what was bad and how reading is helping me – because it is in a big way.

The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

How could I not love a historical thriller? This novel weaves courtroom intrigue and the personal account of a servant and former slave accused of murdering her employers.

This was an emotional read, but thrilling and unexpected all at once. This is one I’ve been recommending to friends lately. Also worth checking out is this interview with the author, Sara Collins.

Girl in the Rearview Mirror by Kelsey Rae Dimberg • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Girl in the Rearview Mirror was written by Taste of Home alum. The entire office was looking forward to the release of this thriller. And I’m so happy to say that it was a totally satisfying read.

Basics here: A nanny is drawn into the goings-ons of the high power political family for which she works, only to find it’s not all flashy fundraisers and handshakes. There were plenty of surprising twists in this one and I can’t recommend it enough.

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager • ⭐️⭐️

I was so excited to get this book from the library. I had pitched it to my book club (who wisely selected Girl in the Rearview Mirror instead) and it generated significant interest.

But it was kind of a flop for me. The characters were woefully boring. And the plot lacked the sort of shocking twists that I’d expect from this sort of book. I found it unoriginal and kind of a dud.

The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott • ⭐️⭐️

I rented this book as an audiobook to fill some time on a long drive. It was an impulse rental, but historical fiction about a dressmaker aboard the Titanic checked enough boxes for me.

But it didn’t deliver. The characters felt flat. There were so many familiar tropes. Also, some of the details were off for me. At one point there’s a scene where the titular dressmaker stitches together an entire coat by hand in an afternoon. Yes, by hand. I just can’t get over the fact that this book is about a dressmaker but all the sewing details were imprecise.

All of this on top of a voice actor I just didn’t gel with.

• • •

With these four under my belt, I’ve moved onto The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams. Spoiler: I’m really liking a relaxing summer read like this.

In all, reading a bit more than usual (usual being over lunch and occasionally before bed) has really helped tame some of my anxious energy. A little extra quiet, some slower activities and less screen time is getting me to a better place.

But enough about that. You can follow me on Goodreads and see what’s on my list.

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Small Goals // August 2019

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Don’t even talk to me about my July goals. Just look at this.

  1. Polish off my custom orders ASAP. Almost done, but not quite.
  2. Make another dress. Didn’t do this.
  3. Replace our recliner. Nope. I love to agonize over decisions like this. Maybe by the time I’m 31 I’ll have decided.
  4. Actually ride my bike (bonus points if it’s to the farmers market). Why can’t I get this done?
  5. Get to the gym six times. No. I made it five times.

0/5. If you asked me what my July goals were at any point this month, I couldn’t tell you a single one. Usually, I’ve got a pretty good grasp on my monthly goals and my progress, but this month I didn’t really internalize them. In truth, July was a needlessly rough month. I felt like I had a hard time getting traction with anything. #blameitontheretrograde

So I’m just going to start fresh for August – no repeat goals, no dwelling on the past. Instead, I just want to focus on bettering myself and enjoying everything the last full month of summer has to offer, including my family’s annual unplugged vacation.

  1. Go on Gothic Milwaukee’s shipwreck tour. I am lucky enough to work with a good number of people that also like weird, spooky stuff. We’re going to try and catch a tour with Gothic Milwaukee.
  2. Try two new spiralizer recipes. Spiralizers are so 2016, but I don’t care. I finally got a decent spiralizer, so it’s time to take it for a test drive.
  3. Pickle or can something. My garden has been a big source of joy for me. My biggest goal now that it’s harvest time is to can some of what I’ve grown. Or just do a quick refrigerator pickle. I’m happy with either!
  4. Order new glasses. I got my glasses five years ago. That’s a long time between pairs. I want to get some new frames on the books this month.
  5. Read four books. August is my big reading month. Let’s see if I can knock out a few books on my trip up north.

I feel really good about the month ahead. I’ve got some good weekend plans figured out, some wiggle room in my schedule and some new goals to focus on. Hoping to knock a few, if not all, of these out!

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Setting Sail on the USS Butterscotch

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Like everyone else, I spent 4th of July inhaling Stranger Things. I was, of course, absolutely tickled by the Scoops Troop. A nautical-themed ice cream shop is what I’m all about. If only it wasn’t fiction…

Well, praise be to Don’s Diner – my perpetual favorite – for hosting a Scoops Ahoy popup so I could live my fantasies.

Now, Don’s didn’t entirely transform their lounge into an ’80s mall ice cream shop, but they got what was really important: sailor-suited servers, Stranger Things playing in the background, an aggressively ’80s playlist and some dynamite ice cream drinks.

I love this menu so much. If I didn’t have to work the next day, I might have ordered Stupid Teenagers for the Night, which was a combo of red wine, Korbel and Coke. Red wine + Coke is good, Korbel + Coke is good, so it stands to reason to me that that’d be an alright drink. But I didn’t want to fall off my barstool.

Instead, I ordered the Jack + Coke Float. I thought it was a good time. Michael opted for the USS Caramel, and that was equally delicious.

Don’s Scoops Ahoy popup is done after its short run, but I’m crossing my fingers for another themed crossover soon!

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Small Goals // July 2019

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How is June gone already? It went quick, but I still got stuff done.

  1. Finish up the garden and yard. Definitely overworked myself to get this one done (what else is new?) the first weekend of the month. But now we’ve got tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, gherkins, peppers, carrots, kohlrabi, radishes, lettuce, beets and blueberries growing. Are there a few more projects I’d like done? Always. But we did a lot and I think it’s time to take a break.
  2. Ride my bike. Did not do this. And it was the easiest goal by far. 🤷🏻‍♀️
  3. Enjoy anniversary eats + another outside date. Ishnala in the Dells was really phenomenal. As for outside dates, Michael’s travel schedule and the weather (June was mostly chilly or rainy) didn’t leave us with a lot of options, so we made it to the movies instead. I’m still going to count this as a win.
  4. Make something out of Gertie Sews Jiffy Dresses. Done! I made the Popover Dress and I really love it. It felt really good to stretch my sewing muscles again.
  5. Up my reading count by two. Yes! I finished up three books this month and started another. It honestly feels really good to sit outside and read instead of staying in with more Netflix. Also investing some $$$ in some good books is never a bad idea.

4/5. Honestly, what a month. June was packed pretty full when it came to goals and my social calendar. Toss in getting sick two separate times (yay for the stomach flu and a summer cold) and it’s truly a wonder I did all of this stuff.

Now that July is here, I feel like I need to recalibrate. I need to get healthy and level out emotionally and energetically. It’s sort of counterintuitive to me because summer should be nonstop fun, but I know that slowing down will help me in the long run. So here’s what I’m looking at for July:

  1. Polish off my custom orders ASAP. A very sweet family has ordered three hoops from me (plus I’ve got another gal on hold with a Bowie-inspired hoop). I need to get these designs out the door.
  2. Make another dress. Sewing feels good! I felt totally in my element working on my last dress. I think that’s a sign.
  3. Replace our recliner. My parents offered to buy me a new chair for a 30th birthday gift. I foolishly haven’t picked one out yet.
  4. Actually ride my bike (bonus points if it’s to the farmers market). I am very basic, but this brings me a lot of joy.
  5. Get to the gym six times. Summer schedules are wacky and I find making it to the gym for regular workouts is kind of difficult. If I can go six times this month, I’ll be happy (thought eight would be better and ten would be ideal).

Alright, everyone. That’s all for me for now. If you have monthly goals, lay ’em on me!