Cabin in the City

Books, cats and midwestern charm.

Oh Baby! Sewing Projects for Pregnancy

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A Baby Is Brewing!

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The Best Scary Podcasts for October and Beyond

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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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A Real Treat // My Recipes on TasteofHome.com

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You probably know by now that I spend my days working for Taste of Home. Consequently, I spend a lot of time cooking and baking. Occasionally I share some of my recipes online there, and it’s a real joy.

Recently, though, some of my recipes went through the Test Kitchen’s official tests (not just casual coworker testing) and were approved to add to the official Taste of Home library and got some fabulous new photography. I’m absolutely and incredibly thrilled.

You can check out all my Taste of Home work here.

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If You Like Piña Coladas (and Zucchini Bread)

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If I’m being totally honest, I’m not huge on zucchini bread. I always think this bread would be good if only it didn’t have all these zucchini bits in it. But once in a while, a good recipe changes my mind. For me, it’s this one from Taste of Home – with a few adjustments of my own.

I’m big into this recipe because it’s full of just as much good stuff – AKA pineapple and coconut – as it is zucchini. I’m also a fan because in the hottest days of summer is when I’m craving tropical flavors the most. And I’ve got a bumper crop of squash.

Piña Colada Zucchini Bread Ingredients

OK, let’s cut to the chase. Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:

  • 4 cups flour
  • 2½ cups sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1½ teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 4 eggs
  • 1½ cups vegetable oil (you can sub in some coconut oil if you want)
  • 2 tablespoons rum
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups shredded zucchini
  • 20-ounce can crushed pineapple, drained
  • 1 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut, divided

Mixing It All Up (+ Baking)

Mixing this bread up is easy. Start by whisking together the flour, sugar, soda, baking powder and salt in a very large bowl. Then in another bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, rum and vanilla extract. If you have coconut extract, feel free to add a teaspoon. If you have rum extract, use a teaspoon in place of the rum in this recipe (it’ll be more potent).

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, along with the pineapple and stir until just combined. Then fold in the zucchini and three-quarters of a cup of coconut.

For baking, you can use just about any loaf pan you like, but this recipe divides perfectly into three 8×4″ loaf pans. Or two of those and two mini loaf pans. You get the idea. Just grease the pans and line with parchment. Fill them about three-quarters full and top with the remaining quarter cup of unsweetened coconut. Pop in a 350ºF oven for 50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

How’s It Taste?

The result is pretty darn tasty. You get a little kick of rum but plenty of sweetness from the pineapple. Also, I’m a big fan of crunchy coconut on the top.

Personally, I’d eat this just for breakfast, but it’s got enough charm to bring to a party. Cheers!

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5 Years of Homeownership

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Exactly five years ago today I bought our home. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that I jumped into a big purchase like that at 25 and that I did it solo. But I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. So here’s a little story about where I’ve been with this home, what’s been absolutely maddening and why I love my house so much.

Let’s Flashback First

Before I get into what I’ve learned and loved about my home, let me give you a bit of background for any new readers (though it’s mostly just my mom who reads this).

My tiny house belonged to my great-aunt Mary who lived there for 40+ years. It was the closest thing to Grandma’s House that I knew, and I always loved visiting. Even when I was young, I dreamed of living there. I was just so drawn to the cone fireplace, the rock garden, the open staircase – all of it. Not to mention, that my aunt knew how to entertain, so the house always felt warm and welcoming.

When my aunt passed away, I moved in to keep an eye on things. The first few weeks were difficult. I lived without internet or cable in a home filled with my loved one’s things. It was isolating. But I moved my cat in, got internet installed and never looked back.

After living there for seven months (and some negotiations with my family), I signed on the dotted line. 10 months later, Michael and Mukki moved in.

The Highs

Our house is one of our greatest sources of joy (besides the cats). It’s been so satisfying over the years to put our stamp on this house while still retaining some of its original funky charm. I love bringing home new-to-me-vintage pieces and seeing them look totally at home alongside our families’ own relics and our own. I love how all of Michael’s favorite artwork fits in seamlessly with the decor. These sorts of things totally reaffirm our choice to live in this home. Not to mention all these additions serve to make our home more comfortable.

And that’s huge for us. Our home is definitely our retreat. It’s a great atmosphere for us both to settle in with our creative projects (Michael has music, I’ve got too many crafts). It’s also a great space for just relaxing. At night with the string lights on and the record player going, it’s an oasis from the world, and I’m certain I couldn’t get that exact feeling anywhere else.

Of course, we love to share our home as well. It’s a great place to entertain and a wonderful place to just relax and hang with some friends. The house, while small overall, is perfect for entertaining with the large living room that’s open to the kitchen. I absolutely love hosting people, especially around the holidays. It’s all these feelings that make me feel secure and happy to own our home.

The Lows (AKA #HomeownerProbs)

Of course, owning a home is more than nights in and decorating. Since moving in, I’ve experienced my share of #homeownerprobs, the kind that were uninteresting five years ago, but now are a staple of party convos with other 30-somethings.

My homeowner problems have been many, including needing to install a new roof just a month after buying the house and totally digging up everything to repair the foundation. These improvements have been absolute and utter drags. And there are many more to come. Owning a home is nothing but signing up for a never-ending and expensive to-do list.

Despite all these repairs and inconvenient projects, I never seriously regretted jumping in with both feet with this house. To me, all these improvements are an act of love for our home, the people that lived there and ourselves.

Looking Back

Looking back at the past five years of this house, I regret nothing (nothing major anyway). It’s been a heartwarming and eyeopening experience moving into a family home and making it our home for years to come. I hope that when I’m old, I’ll have young relatives that look at our space with such fond memories.

Anyways, cheers to five years! I love you, you Cabin in the City.

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I Can Pickle That [Bread + Butter Refrigerator Pickles]

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One of my goals for the month was to can or pickle something. Pickling feels very on-brand for me in that Portlandia-adjacent way.

via GIPHY

But let’s be real, pickling and canning seemed like a bit too much for a first-timer like myself, so I decided to try a refrigerator pickle first. I modified a recipe from The New Midwestern Table (one of my favorite cookbooks) and I have to say, the pickles turned out pretty tasty! And making them was way simpler than I ever thought.

What You Need for Easy Refrigerator Bread + Butter Pickles

This is a great recipe because everything you need is easy to find and the bulk of it can be found in your own garden (or farmers market). Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 4 pounds pickling cucumbers
  • 5 tablespoons pickling salt
  • 4 cups vinegar
  • 1¼ cups sugar
  • Half sweet or Vidalia onion, sliced thinly
  • 6 cloves garlic, slightly crushed
  • 2 tablespoons mustard seeds
  • 1 teaspoon dill seed
  • 1 teaspoon celery seed
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric

How to Make Refrigerator Pickles

Making refrigerator pickles is so simple. Start by washing your cucumbers and getting rid of any spines (that’s more for any garden-picked cucumbers). Then slice the cucumbers thinly — about an eighth inch thick.

Toss together with the pickling salt and let stand for 30 minutes. A word on the pickling salt: It sounds kind of archaic or like it would be hard to find, but most grocers have it tucked in an unexpected corner. Just ask for it!

When the 30 minutes are up, rinse the pickles in ice-cold water and blot dry with a clean towel. Place them inside a large, dry bowl. Toss in the thinly sliced sweet onion.

Then add all the rest of the ingredients – vinegar, sugar, garlic, mustard seed, dill seed, celery seed and turmeric – to a saucepan. Heat on the stove until boiling, giving the mix an occasional stir. Once this is boiling, pour it over you sliced cucumbers and onions. All you have to do then is just let it hang out until the mixture is room temp.

How to Store Refrigerator Pickles

Once the pickles are up to room temp, put them into jars. I found the simplest way to do this was to pack jars full of cucumbers and onions first, then I came back through and filled the jars with the liquid. This batch made about 10 half-pint jars.

After that, just screw on the tops and pop in the fridge. Eat them within a few months. Trust me, they are so good you won’t have any problem polishing them off (I made my first batch a week ago and the first jar is almost gone).

These bread and butter pickles aren’t precisely bread and butter, but I don’t mind. They’re a touch sweet but plenty salty and flavorful thanks to all the add-ins. I will be making everyone I know try these until they’re all gone (and then I’ll make even more).

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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

Filed Under: Life

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!

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KonMari Part 3: Crafting Komono

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It’s been a while since I’ve tidied up, but in April, I decided it was time to recommit to the process after taking a month or so off after tidying up paperwork (I’ll leave that undocumented because it was very boring). It was time to tackle the category I was dreading most: komono or miscellaneous items.

This is a huge category, so I decided to focus on one subcategory: craft suppplies. To me, this was the komono that was really standing in the way of my original intention, which was to make my hobbies and everyday chores easier and more joyful. 

Despite loving embroidery and most every other craft, I just wasn’t finding those hobbies so joyful wading through old papers, overstuffed baskets and disorganized threads. So in the midst of prepping for all my spring fairs, I decided that I had to clean up my act Kondo-style.

And, yes, this is what it looked like before. I was in full craft fair production mode but it’s still hugely shameful. However, for the sake of a good before and after, there it is.

Prepping for a KonMari Craft Closet

The first step of the KonMari method is to gather all like items together. Then after going through them all, you organize. However, since I started with almost no organization and zero suitable containers, I broke one of Marie’s rules and bought containers in advance. For a project like this, I recommend it. I’m also not an organizing guru, so take that with a grain of salt.

I also bought a label maker. It is my new best friend, and it makes me feel very put together.

Onto the Purge

OK, so I broke a rule by buying containers in advance, but I did follow through with Marie’s grab-everything-and-put-it-in-one-spot rule.

Hauling out my fabric, floss, paper and all the rest was pretty overwhelming and incredibly messy. Michael, of course, came home right in the middle of this process. He was kind enough to ignore it.

Going through crafting supplies was relatively easy. It wasn’t emotionally draining the way clothing was and it wasn’t as tricky as books. To me, craft supplies are mostly about utility. Is that pattern the right size? Do I use those pens? Is that pincushion the most functional? Questions like that helped me power through fairly quickly.

Because I was dealing with a lot of small odds and ends, I decided to start to organize as I went along. Yes, this is not very Kondo-like, but the way I saw it, if I had all of my thread in one spot, I may as well box it, label it and get it out of the way of the mess. Seeing what I thought would be an untameable pile turn into a small stack was encouragement enough to keep me going.

In the end, I got rid of about three shopping bags full of supplies and miscellaneous tchotchkes. Not a major dent, but still a lightening of the load.

The Perpetual Hiccup

The only hangups with this session of getting my sh*t together was coming across a lot of mementos. I’d pull out a box and find it was full of recipes or old photos. After the memory pile reached a small but critical mass, I decided just to put all those family history bits into one box. And then I labeled that box with the label maker, of course.

Having a dedicated and conveniently located home for these photos and papers is actually really nice. Now, whenever I come across something meaningful, I know where to stash it. And when my family wants to see something or reminisce, I can just grab one box.

I ended up doing this for modern-day mementos, too (though they are in another closet). It’s good to have a home for nice letters, photo booth pictures and the like.

The (Almost) Finished Product

It turns out that actually putting away my junk made a huge impact on this space – who knew? My desk looks clean, the closet drawer closes and I only have one basket of miscellany to deal with (this will likely sit in the den for too long because, as always, I’m the worst).

But really, the place looks pretty good. The closet is pretty well transformed in my opinion. Everything in there has a home and is tucked away inside a labeled container (the organization inside the floss container is not great, but it’s finally all in one place). The only thing I really want to change is to build some shelves so I don’t need to unstack every container to get to the things on the bottom.

The unexpected bonus of Kondo-ing this space was that I got my desk back. It was previously home to my sewing machine and the drawer was filled with random stationary and manuals. Now the sewing machine is in the closet, which makes me kind of sad because it reminds me that my regular sewing days are gone. But it also gave me plenty of room for my computer and a nice empty drawer to hold my light table and stitching papers.

Overall, I’d say that my hobbies are more joyful now and putting things away a bit easier, which was my original intent. So I’m going to call this one a win and definitely on par with my closet transformation-wise.