Cabin in the City

Books, cats and midwestern charm.

Oh Baby! Sewing Projects for Pregnancy

11.15.24 | Make

30 Days of Thanks 2024 // Week 1

11.08.24 | Life

A Baby Is Brewing!

10.31.24 | Life

The Best Scary Podcasts for October and Beyond

10.20.24 | Life

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Keeping Holiday Burnout at Bay

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@notallgeminis 

It’s the holiday season. We all know what that means – holiday burnout time!

Personally, I’m well on my way. I’m prepping for this Black Friday Market + Pub-Crawl like there’s no tomorrow. And I’ve got pie crusts to make. And stuffing. Plus, a cake. Not to mention a house to clean and errands to run. But you know what, I’m doing OK.

And I think that has a lot to do with budgeting in free time.

Last year as I prepped for my first-ever fair, I was a disaster. I was getting up at 5:30 in the morning to stitch and then stitching the second I got home until I went to bed. Not to mention working my regular 9-5. I was giving myself zero time to relax, zero time just to sit and watch the latest season of Bake Off.

But this year, as we roll into Thanksgiving, I’ve been allowing myself some free moments. I took a break from stitching last night and got my nails done. It was amazing. And this past weekend, I sat down and actually enjoyed some GBBO without any interruption. Total bliss!

And while it’s tempting to just go, go, go (that is my MO after all), I realize that taking a bit of rest – even just an hour at the salon or 30 minutes of TV – can do a world of good when it comes to productivity. When I come back refreshed from these breaks, I’m a lot more focused on the tasks I need to accomplish.

It’s definitely going against my Aries nature (see meme), but it’s working out pretty well so far! So to all you folks out there that have agreed to make one too many Thanksgiving dishes or run a few too many errands, I feel you, but I also encourage you to take a break – even if it’s just a 15-minute coffee run. You’ll come back more refreshed and ready to take the holidays head on!

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#Gratitude30 // Week 2

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Day 10: Music

Several years ago now, my aunt had my vintage hi-fi refurbished (thank you, Mary!). And I use “my” loosely here – this record player was in my mom’s house when she was a child and then made its way to my great-aunt’s home where it served as a nightstand of all things for many years.

At any rate, this hi-fi is a total treasure to me. When I first moved into my house (and had no cable or internet), it kept me company. Now that it’s fixed up, this stereo gets even more use. I love putting on an album while I cook dinner or clean up around the house. I also like to show it off during book clubs and parties – I think people get a kick out of it and how great it sounds after 60+ years! But I have to say, I love this record player most during the holidays when I stack my favorite Christmas albums high and let it fill up the house as we ready for guests.

Day 11: Gift

One of the most touching gifts I’ve ever received was a wooden bead necklace from Michael. On its face, it’s a bit of chunky, funky jewelry (which is great!), but really this necklace is so special. It’s so special because Hillary Clinton owns the same necklace. See, when she was campaigning back in 2016, she stopped by Anthology, one of my favorite shops in Madison. There she bought this red necklace and she was photographed wearing it later that week.

The Christmas following the 2016 election, I opened up that same necklace and I cried. It was such a thoughtful and moving gift, and I’m so thankful that I’m married to someone that would ever put all those pieces together to find the perfect present.

Day 12: Wisdom

As much as I sometimes think I’m with it, that I’ve got a handle on the world (as if), I often get tidbits of wisdom that blow my mind. Most recently I was in a yoga class with a new instructor. As we were bending into our forward folds, she said, “Don’t push this pose to your limits in the first go. By rushing to the end, you can do more harm than good.” This resonated with me in such a huge way.

I am the kind of person that wants to push everything to its end as quickly as possible (I am nothing if not impatient). But those words really set my mind right and encouraged me to exercise a little patience and softness. So to this yoga instructor (a new face to me), a big thanks!

Day 13: Art

I can hardly express how thankful I am to have this piece of art in my home. I first saw this painting hanging up in the world’s craziest and scariest antique shop (R.I.P. Hoarders World). Over the course of several months, that painting moved from room to room there, though I never worked up the nerve to buy it. Eventually, my aunt purchased it for me as the world’s best birthday present.

It wasn’t until years later that I found out this is the most reproduced print in the 20th century and pretty much the kitsch version of the Mona Lisa. I don’t care what it is – I love this piece of art so much. It feels like home.

Day 14: Routine

I’ll be truthful: I’m not huge on routine (it’s the Aries in me). I am, however, big on traditions which are their own kind of routines, right?

Right. So let me say a big thank you to my family and Michael for indulging me when it comes to all the traditions I insist upon, like standing next to the Garfield cutout at the apple orchard (Michael’s favorite).

Day 15: Clothing

One of my most satisfying hobbies is sewing. Being able to take a few yards of fabric and have something to wear a few hours later is pretty cool to me. I’m thankful to my mom for teaching me to sew and for my sewing classes at school. Those were so satisfying! If only I could manage to dedicate an hour a day to a project like that again! Until then, I’ll just make simple stuff like this ridiculous cat skirt.

Day 16: Novelty

As much as I like tradition and dislike change, I sure do like a bit of novelty in life. I’m constantly picking up (and dropping) all sorts of new hobbies, like making paper flowers, latch hooking, building putz houses, making these plastic canvas villages and all sorts of stuff. I love trying my hand at something new and craft-related. I used to think of this as some sort of character flaw, like why can’t you just be into one or two things, but now I see it as a strength of sorts. So I’m thankful that I haven’t run out of weird, novel crafts yet and I’m thankful that I’ve got the personality that makes embracing them fun!

• • •

See you next Friday with another round of #Gratitude30. Also, next Friday is the Madison Makers Black Friday Market + Pub-Crawl. Local folks, I’ll see you there!

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#Gratitude30 // Week 1 (+Some)

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I’ve said it before, Thanksgiving isn’t much my holiday. This has everything to do with the food (not my favorite dishes) and absolutely nothing to do with the sentiment behind the holiday. In fact, that’s the part I love the most about Thanksgiving – being around my family and spending some extra time together. But instead of just being extra thankful for them for one day (I’m truly thankful for them all the time), I figured I’d spend the whole month putting a few more grateful vibes into the world.

I’m following @positivelypresent’s Instagram challenge for this one despite this not being Instagram. I’ll be posting Fridays the rest of the month. Now, on with the show!

Day 1: Home

A cabin in the city

Words cannot express how happy my home makes me. It’s tiny, funky and it manages to contain my greatest loves: my husband, our cats and our cozy life. Truly, there’s nothing better to me than cozying up on the couch with the three of them, a few fluffy blankets and an episode of Bob’s Burgers. It’s how I know things are right in our world.

Day 2: Inspiration

When it comes to my day job (and life, too!), I get unending inspiration from my family. Without my mom, I’d never been able to hack it at Taste of Home. She taught me almost everything I know about cooking and baking. And without my family’s stories and history, I’d never be able to write nice pieces like this one about my great-grandma’s long-lost cookbook.

Day 3: Love

Michael is my true love. Again, words can’t adequately express how wonderful this man is. He makes up for all I lack with his tender heart, incredible patience and boundless talent. He’s also encouraging, thoughtful and generous. I couldn’t ask for anyone better to have as a life partner.

Day 4: Color

OK, this is where the challenge is more suited for Instagram, but hey, I can groove with it. I am grateful for color after all and how it punctuates the best parts of my life. My home’s most prominent feature: decidedly not trendy avocado green carpet (which I love). My bedroom walls: a too-green green that my dad dutifully painted for me – all three coats worth (thank you, Dad!). My garden: full of magentas, ruby reds, violets, indigos and golds.

Day 5: Happiness

Happiness isn’t an all-day, everyday kind of thing, which is why when it comes along in a big way, I try to be thankful for those moments. I have to say seeing the Pacific for the first time this September, was a moment of pure happiness and joy for me, and I’m thankful I got the opportunity to do it!

Day 6: Words

I’m just happy that words play such a huge part in my life. Words are the reason I met Michael (thank you, college newspaper!), they’re how I make a living (hey, Taste of Home!) and how I derive a lot of joy.

Day 7: Memories

In the words of Demetri Martin, “I remember when I was into nostalgia.” It’s totally true, though. I’m a big time reminiscer. And I’m thankful that I’ve got a lot of great memories to look back on after just 29 years. I can’t pick a favorite, because we’d be here all day, but I love the memories that come along with our annual post-Christmas party and I’m so thankful that I get to carry on this tradition that my aunt started years and years ago!

Day 8: Nature

I am so thankful to live in a state with as much natural beauty as Wisconsin. As much as I love the dense forests of northern Wisconsin and the Kettle Moraine, I have to say I love the Great Lakes the most. Sitting on their shores is really centering, most especially alongside Lake Superior. It’s harsh and cold, but it’s also humbling and calming.

Day 9: Laughter

This is my dad telling a very bad joke, but we all still laughed. I’m glad that I’ve got a great dad that likes to shoot the shit, tell stupid jokes and doesn’t mind it when I imitate his distinctive laugh. Thankful to you, Dad!

• • •

I’ll be back next Friday with more #Gratitude30!

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Coming Soon // Black Friday Market + Pub Crawl

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Good news, everyone! Madison Makers Market is back with another makers fair and pub crawl event. And you know Kaminski Handicraft had to be there! I had so much fun at the spring show that it was easy to accept the invitation to be in the Black Friday one. I’ll be back at Old Sugar Distillery, too, which is, in my opinion, the best spot on the pub crawl route. They’ve got some really terrific craft cocktails – perfect for sipping while you shop.

I’m so excited that this event is on Black Friday! I’m not a Black Friday shopper myself – I just can’t handle the chaos. But I really love this alternative for shoppers that want to support small businesses and also take the biggest shopping day of the year just a bit slower. And seriously, what a fun thing to do with family and friends who have come in from out of town!Hope to see you there!

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Small Goals // November 2018

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What’s up, witches! October was quite the productive month!

  1. List my Halloween hoops. Done. I decided to only list one (I wasn’t quite happy with the second). Check it out here.
  2. Start a new spooky series. Done several times over. The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell was probably my favorite! Spooky baking? It’s like the show was made for me. I also started the new Sabrina, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (only 20 years late to the party) and picked up Riverdale again.
  3. Read something scary, creepy or thrilling (and finish it). I finished We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson and The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell. Could not put down the latter!
  4. Do something scary or spine-tingling. Check! My book club took a tour with Gothic Milwaukee. I loved every second.
  5. Think of a fun and easy Halloween costume. Yes! The costumes turned out really great, I think!

5/5. I think a month of fun goals was exactly what I needed! Especially for one of my favorite months of the year. I’m really happy I was able to pack in a lot of spooky Halloween stuff.

For November, I’m going to get a little more serious, though. I’ve got to tee myself up for a successful holiday season and ready myself for another craft fair. I’m really excited to get one in earlier in the shopping season so I can relax and enjoy more of the Christmas season. Honestly, most of my November goals are about setting me up for a meltdown-free December. Holiday burnout happens!

  1. Bulk up my Kaminski Handicraft inventory to 50+ hoops. I’ve got another show coming up and I want to be ready!
  2. Get organized with my stitching. It was Ben Franklin that said, “For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.” I want to put that to the test when it comes to my stitching spreadsheets (and lack thereof). And yes, I know this is a boring goal.
  3. Get at least 50% of my holiday shopping done. I hate the pressure of last-minute gifts. I plan on getting some gifts scouted out early and doing a little damage come Cyber Monday.
  4. Visit my aunt Pat. I haven’t been down to my aunt’s convent for a minute! I hope to see her and catch all the great fall color early on in the month.
  5. Center myself. This one’s pretty personal, but it’s worth tossing out in the world. October has been full of highs and lows. Time to come back down to earth and get my mind right.

These are pretty darn boring, but after a month of nonstop fun goals, it might be exactly what I need. We’ll find out!

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Alriiiiight! // Being Linda Belcher

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You read about it in my Small Goals for October, and then I made it happen. That’s right – I am (or was) Linda Belcher! Alriiiight!

The last few years I’ve been really digging closet costumes – you know, the kind that are 75% things you already own plus 25% add-ons from Goodwill and Amazon. They really take the stress out of Halloween and are just as fun as the entirely original getups I used to sew.

This costume was easy for me. All I did was pull out some jeans and a red shirt I owned and topped it off with big hair, black hairspray and a pair of $8 glasses. Michael committed hard to being Bob – that mustache is the real damn deal. This is why the man is such a gem (and also a Bob). He agreed to this silly costume to make me happy but grumbled a bit about getting rid of his beard. If that’s not a Bob OK, fine. But I’m going to complain the whole time mentality, I don’t know what is.

As for me, I definitely have some Linda in me. Saying stuff like, “Wine helps me drink” or “Sorry we’re late. Bob had diarrhea” (Michael loved that one) comes pretty easily to me. And when you’ve got a glass of wine in your hand or a raccoon lawn ornament playing the part of Little King Trash Mouth, well, those props make it all the better.

My one regret: We didn’t win the costume contest (oh, or get good photos). We haven’t managed to top our Scully and Mulder…yet.

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Apple Cider Jell-O Shots // Wisconsin-Style

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One of the greatest parts of working for Taste of Home is getting to try new recipes all the time. Almost every day there’s something new – a casserole, a dessert bar, a cheesecake – ready for the sampling. Once in a while, though, there’s something special.

A few months ago that was an apple cider Jell-O shot. Very unlike Taste of Home but so so good. The second I tried it, I knew I’d be making them come fall. I just needed to break them out for the right occasion. And when my sister-in-law texted me about her annual Halloween party, I knew I found it.

So I pulled up the recipe on the website and I read it through. Seemed simple enough (I mean, it is Jell-O). But as I rummaged through my liquor cabinet, I realized I didn’t have enough vodka to make the batch. But the ingredients had me thinking that another liquor would do just fine, a very Wisconsin choice of liquor: brandy.

I mean apples, cinnamon, ginger, bitters? Those autumnal flavors are a natural match for brandy. So I went ahead and did it. And it turned out scary good.

You’ll need:

  • 4 packets unflavored gelatin
  • 1½ cups apple cider
  • 1½ cups brandy
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ teaspoon powdered ginger
  • 2 teaspoons bitters + more for garnishing
  • 2 tablespoons cinnamon-sugar

Making these is a cinch. Start by pouring your apple cider into a small saucepan or pot. Then sprinkle all four packets of gelatin on top. Let this hang out for five minutes.

Then stir in the sugar and turn on the heat – just to low. You’ll heat this until all the sugar has dissolved – about ten minutes. Then you can add in your brandy, bitters and ginger. I used ginger here because the original recipe called for ginger-infused vodka and I didn’t want to lose that little kick.

Then pour this into a 11×7 baking pan that’s spritzed with cooking spray. You can also use a 9×9 pan. Heck, an 8×8 pan would be fine too – just cut the squares a little smaller to compensate for the depth.

Let this sit uncovered in the fridge for at least two hours. Once it’s all set, you can scoop it out of your pan and place on a cutting board. I found it easiest to slice the Jello into four smaller sections and scoop them that way. From there you can cut into individual portions. I went for squares that were about 1½”x1½”. Right before serving, brush with more Angostura bitters and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar (though, the bitters are optional here).

The results are really very fall tasting and a bit adult. I think the bitterness and spice cuts down on that super-sweetness that you normally get from a Jell-O shot, so that’s all good by me! I think these are great for a grown-up Halloween, but I could totally see them working for a Friendsgiving (or really casual family Thanksgiving), too.

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Short Story: A Spooky 5-Minute Spiderweb

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When it comes to most crafts, I take it pretty slow. Stitching, latch hook, sewing – all those projects take hours (and hours and hours). That doesn’t mean I don’t like a quick craft once in a while, especially during a busy season. And if that craft is spooky, well, all the better.

That’s where this little spiderweb hoop comes in. I’m sure you can figure this one out just from the photo, but I’ll walk you through it anyways. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Embroidery hoop
  • Fabric doily, about two inches larger than your hoop
  • Black craft paint
  • Plastic spider
  • Ribbon

Assembling this all is pretty easy. But before you start putting it together, give your embroidery hoop (the inner and outer hoops) a quick coat of paint. I chose satin black, but orange, pewter or another metallic would be cool, too.

Once that’s dry (I let it dry overnight), fit the doily into the hoop. I like the center to be a bit off kilter. Nature’s not perfect, ya know. Tighten the hoop up and stretch the doily so there are no wrinkles and it’s not all misshapen.

Then flip the hoop over and trim the doily leaving about a half inch around the perimeter. I’ll be honest, this felt unnatural to me cutting up a perfectly good doily, but I know where I can go for some more.

Anyways, once you’ve got that trimmed, just stick the rough edge down with some hot glue. Regular craft glue would would here too, but hot glue is faster. Also, I know my glue gun looks a mess. It gets a lot of use.

Once it’s all fixed together, all you have to do is stick on that spider and tie a ribbon around the top. I had some black lace stuff laying around and I love it, but I think that some black velvet would be very spooky chic.

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Spooky Podcasts for October Nights

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The second October hits, I’m in full-on spooky mode. Pretty much everything I watch, read or listen to for the whole month will need to be supernatural, otherworldly or generally eerie. Sure, I’m interested in these things all year, but I like having a special occasion excuse.

One of my favorite ways to bask in all the glory of Halloween is to cue up some scary podcats. I’ll put these on as I stitch in the morning or on my way to work. It’s a great way to sneak in some haunted vibes in what would normally be downtime. Here’s what I’m listening to this year (and always):

Lore

Obviously! This is the essential spooky podcast if you ask me. Aaron Mahnke digs up unusual stories from history and tells them in a way that is at times tedious (I find he uses about ten words when one would do) but almost always spinetingling. I love how this podcast has exposed me to some of the lesser known haunts and legends of the world, and I like how they run about 20 to 30 minutes, perfect for a commute.

Here are my essential episodes:

  • Black Stockings: This is as good as Lore gets, in my opinion. A tragic story about an Irish woman and changelings.
  • The King: A story about an island off the coast of Mexico and how it was overthrown by a terrifying lighthouse keeper – and then how women took it back. I find this tale really fascinating. If anyone writes a book based on this story, let me know!
  • On the Farm: There aren’t a lot of concrete details about the Hinterkaifeck murders, but Mahnke doesn’t mind. He made a whole episode about it (and I gobbled it up whole).
  • Mary, Mary: I thought about this one for days.

Stuff You Missed in History Class

This was the first podcast I ever listened to. While it’s not categorically spooky, there are special Halloween-themed episodes every year. This is a great podcast for when you’re in the mood for creepy stuff but don’t necessarily want to be scared out of your wits.

Welcome to Nightvale

A pal of mine recommended this to me years ago. At the time I scoffed at the idea of a fiction podcast. And then I scoffed after listening to the first episode. But then I listened to about a dozen last year and loved it. Definitely weird in that Twilight Zone way (that’s a good way). I don’t have any recommended episodes here. Just start at the beginning and see how far it takes you.

• • •

I think that’s a pretty good start for anyone looking to jump into the scary podcast world! If you have any recommendations, let me know – I’m dying to hear them.

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California Dreaming

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While I truly enjoyed touring the winery, my favorite part of the trip came the following day when our press gang got to unwind a bit. Our day was still full, but it was less note taking and more taking in the scenery. You know I’m going to tell you all about it!

Vintners Inn

But before we dive into my favorite day of the trip, let me just say how gorgeous Vintners Inn, where we stayed for two nights, was. First off, I had the great fortune of being the first-ever person to stay in my room. That was pretty cool to me. A whole room unspoiled by other people’s weird hotel habits? Sign me up! I totally basked in all that glory. I futzed with the electric fireplace (it changed colors!), sat on the patio and happily gobbled down all the cookies that arrived with the turn-down service.

What I loved most though, was the grounds. Vintners Inn, true to its name, had a small vineyard on site with a mile walking path through it. I woke up early one morning and took a stroll around. It was super peaceful. It was a good way to center myself before all the adventure to come.

Bodega Head

Like I said in my last post, I loved the rolling hills and greenery of all the vineyards in Sonoma County; they were absolutely beautiful. This being said, I was honestly surprised by how, well, brown the rest of the countryside looked. This was totally unusual to me. I was starting to think that calling this the Gold Coast was a clever marketing campaign. But then we made our way up to Bodega Head and I changed my mind.

Climbing out of the van, I wasn’t struck by much (outside the wind). Sure, there were some dunes, a few hikers and a couple picnic tables – all normal park stuff. But then I turned the corner and saw the cliffs overlooking the ocean. This was the trip for me. I braved the cold and the wind to stand on the edge of the cliff. I’d never seen the Pacific Ocean before. I had to take it all in.

Eventually, we were all beckoned to the picnic table for a small brunch – charcuterie and wine. With the cold wind whipping around, the Pinot noir went down well. After having my fill of sopresatta, one writer mentioned how there was a path down to the beach. I thought this park was just beautiful cliffs! I made my way down the path, Cuveé in hand, with a few other gals.

Of course, I had to feel the water. I do this no matter where I am. Out at Devils Lake for a hike? Maybe I’ll dip my foot in and see if swimming is out of the question. Lake Michigan in March? Let me just see if I freeze my hand off. The ocean was cold, but in that refreshingly bracing way. I loved it. I felt totally alive, especially when the waves came rolling in faster than I expected.

Hog Island Oyster Co.

After visiting Bodega Bay, we trekked over to Hog Island. This was the part of the trip I was most nervous about. The itinerary noted that we’d be eating oysters all afternoon, and I was not looking forward to it. See, I’m not a fish or a seafood person, and the thought of trying what’s likely the most polarizing kind of seafood around made me really uneasy. Would I look bad if I didn’t try any? What if they were disgusting? What if I got hungry after all the not eating seafood?

But I shoved those questions to the back of my mind. Instead, I hunkered down at the table with the crew and grabbed a knife (and a glove – don’t worry). I watched the tour’s greatest oyster enthusiasts shuck a few and I decided I’d go for it. I surprised myself by prying it open fairly easily (at least for a first-timer, I think). I told myself all you have to do is swallow – it can’t be so bad. But then the winery’s chef piped in: “Try the first one plain and chew it once or twice.” Oh my gosh, whyyyyy? Powered by wine, I did so dutifully. And it wasn’t bad!

I tried the next with a squeeze of lemon and found I liked it even more. It was salty and briny – I could live with that! I spent the rest of the afternoon sipping on that Sonoma-Cutrer Grand Cuveé and trying different oyster combos: raw with lemon, with hot sauce, grilled with garlic-herb butter, grilled with sausage and bacon. All were great. As we slid into the afternoon, I was getting those summer camp feelings. You know, that temporary high, those close temporary friendships. I half expected us to start making bracelets. Instead, we just chatted about pets and secret shame dinners (you know, like tater tots and hot dogs or – my new favorite courtesy of one gal on the trip – Doritos sandwiches). Oh, and we sang on the bus ride back to the hotel – all the classics like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Landslide” and “Jumper.”

The trip wound down with a stunning dinner at John Ash’s restaurant at Vintners Inn. It was absolutely exquisite. My one regret is that I didn’t leave enough room for all of the short ribs. I stand by finishing every bit of my apple tart, though.

Alright, folks, that’s enough of my California adventure. I’m so incredibly grateful for the experience. And now I have a few new favorite wines to boot.