Cabin in the City

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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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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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Small Goals // October 2018

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September last for about five days, I swear. Let’s see how I did on what I thought were pretty relaxed goals.

  1. Get some California-cool pieces. Fail on this one! I ordered a Stitch Fix box but it was a flop. I ordered a few things from Mata Traders but they didn’t come in time! But I did get a Kindle for the trip and it made all the difference.
  2. Check out Cedarburg’s Wine & Harvest Fest. Done! I went with my mom and we had a great time.
  3. Host my Tupperware party like a pro. Done! We had a lot of fun!
  4. Hit the gym six times (or more). Ugh! I went five times. So close.
  5. Finish up all my stitching to-dos. I’ve still got two in the queue. Drat.

2/5. I feel like September was more stressful than I anticipated it to be! My goal was to be productive, but instead, I was overwhelmed a lot of the time. I need to chill out! So for October, I’m going to focus on some more relaxed goals. Yes, I still want to go to the gym and stay on top of my stitching, but I need space for fun stuff just as much.

Plus, October is one of my favorite months of the year. It’s 31 days where I get to embrace all the weird occult stuff I love. That means scary movies, creepy podcasts, wearing head-to-toe black and enjoying staying inside while the winds howl. So let’s get moving on October and Halloween-adjacent goals!

  1. List my Halloween hoops. I’ve got one productive goal on here. I’ve got two new Halloween hoops. Got to list them now!
  2. Start a new spooky series. Picnic at Hanging Rock popped up as a recommendation on Amazon for me, and I’m intrigued. Also, there’s a lighthouse-centric Ghost Adventures coming to the Travel Channel. It’s going to be awful but I will watch it. Also a scary Sabrina reboot is coming to Netflix. It’s a dream come true!
  3. Read something scary, creepy or thrilling (and finish it). I’m in the middle of Affinity by Sarah Waters right now (it’s a slow start), but I’ve really got my eye on The Witches of New York by Ami McKay and The End of Temperance Dare by Wendy Webb.
  4. Do something scary or spine-tingling. My friends and I visited Shakers (a haunted cigar bar in Milwaukee) for a quick drink one night. The waitress tipped us off to some regular tarot readings there. Maybe that’s in the future (or a ghost tour or a trip to Old World Wisconsin).
  5. Think of a fun and easy Halloween costume. I’m really angling for Bob and Linda from Bob’s Burgers right now. Let’s see if Michael will agree. (Also very open to being Gayle and Linda!)

Well, here’s to easy, seasonal goals this month! If you’ve got goals, let me know! I love to see what everyone else is up to.

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It Turns Out I Love My Kindle

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I never thought I’d be an e-reader person. I own plenty of books, I visit the library all the time. What need would I have for a Kindle?

But as I prepared for my trip to California, I looked at my carryon and thought there’s no way I can fit enough books in here. I’m not an over-packer, but the thought of shoving three paperbacks into a small bag full of essentials seemed like too much. And in retrospect, bringing a milk crate full of books up north every year for my marathon read was too much. So after much deliberation, I dove in and bought a Kindle.

And I love it. Sometimes I surprise myself.

What I ordered

After exhausting all my friends and coworkers, I decided to opt for the Kindle Paperwhite (the ad-free version). The $150 price tag gave me some serious pause, but some Amazon Rewards and $50 in lottery winnings (thanks, Aunt Debby!) made clicking “buy now” a bit easier. At the end of the day, I only had to kick in about $40.

The Paperwhite is the Kindle with the nice backlit screen for reading in low or no light. I opted for the ad-free version – even though it was $20 more – because I didn’t want to be distracted.

Initial thoughts

I’ll admit, I opened up the box telling myself if it’s not for you, you can just return it. When took it out of the package I was honestly shocked at how small it was – about 6½ x 4½”. It was also surprisingly thin and lightweight.

Once I booted it up and connected it to the internet, I downloaded my first book with the credit Amazon provided. I pulled it up, and my first thought was oh wow, the pages seem so small. And they are compared to a normal hardcover book, but really they aren’t that much different than a paperback. After a few pages, I was used to the quicker page turning and was loving the lightness!

After poking around for another 20 minutes, I downloaded a handful of books from the library and connected my Goodreads account (my new favorite thing!).

Really getting into it

I, of course, downloaded even more library books – gotta have options – and wrapped up my new toy in a case. I tossed my Kindle in my purse and headed to the airport. On my 5:30AM flight to Chicago, I fired it up with the backlight. The folks around me got to sleep without the annoying overhead light and I got to enjoy the second novel from Paula Hawkins – win-win!

I kept up the momentum on my layover and next flight, too. But what I really loved was being able to stash it in my bag and walk around San Francisco with it. It weighs almost nothing, so there wasn’t that bookbag shoulder strain. Instead, I got to carry a nice, little purse while also being ready to read whenever I found a café with a decent bakery selection.

The verdict

I think you know this one: I love it. Having the ability to bring dozens of books anywhere is a big deal to me! It saves space at home and on the go. And I can still rent plenty of books, too!

Also, I notice that it’s changed my reading habits a bit. I’m reading more often. Sure, this could be the novelty – I mean, who doesn’t love a new toy – but I think just being able to carry it anywhere means that books are just more available at any given moment.

So, to all you e-reader skeptics out there, I say definitely give one a try. You might surprise yourself!

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Vacation Reads 2018 // AKA the Bulk of My Reading for 2018

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When it comes down to it, I fancy myself a reader. I’ve always got a book on my nightstand and I’ve got a pretty good relationship with my local library (and the fines to prove it). That being said, I can’t say I read every day. Instead, I go in spurts, like this January when I read a book a week (almost) or like when I go vacation up north and read six books over the course of seven days.

This year I thought I’d write up a quick review of my vacation reads. There are some good ones and not so good ones, so hopefully, this helps if you’re standing in the thriller section wondering which novel is going to make your flight, lunch hour or long hours of tech-free vacation go quickly.

 

The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ll be honest, on vacation, I like a good thriller, something suspenseful, something that makes me a little bit scared to walk from one cabin to another. But I made an exception for The Book of Essie. I saw this pop up somewhere online (or maybe the Girls Night In newsletter) and it sounded interesting. Basically, a girl from a Duggar-esque family (TV show and all) finds herself pregnant a 17. She suddenly has to figure out how to deal with that, her family, the show, the press and how to make it all work (or not work). I really enjoyed this one, plus it was a nice change of pace.

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am a sucker for Ruth Ware. I first listened to In a Dark, Dark Wood a few years back and it totally struck a chord with me. I’ve since devoured all the rest of her books. While that first novel and The Woman in Cabin 10 are likely still my favorites of hers, I still heartily recommend her newest.

A poor tarot reader inherits an unexpected fortune – doesn’t that make you want to read more instantly? It fit the bill for me: thrilling, tarot-inspired, kind of spooky. An A+ vacation read.

Blood Sisters by Jane Corry • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I read My Husband’s Wife (Corry’s other book) earlier this year and really enjoyed it, so grabbing her second novel was only natural. The premise of the book is fairly simple: three girls walk to school one day and one doesn’t make it. The book takes place about 20 years later and is told from the point of view of the two survivors. There were lots of great reveals in this book, so it was a pretty satisfying read!

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full admission: This is not a typical vacation read for me. Rather, it’s what my book club chose for our September meeting. Overall, I found it pretty readable for a memoir (especially a memoir from someone who’s not traditionally famous – no offense to J.D. Vance). My book club chose it to help us get a different perspective on the world and to kind of understand Trump voters? I feel like this book is often held up to be some sort of representation of that lifestyle.

Vance is a decent writer and I had sympathy for so many of the people he wrote about. I think he did a nice job of representing that Appalachian life. However, I think it’s unfair to think that working-class problems start and stop in that region. I think it’s also unfair to not discuss race with this book. But I have to remind myself that this is a memoir; it’s not on Vance to represent all of those perspectives (though I feel like much of the book begged those questions).

Our House by Louise Candlish • ⭐️⭐️

The premise of this novel sounded great: A woman goes home only to find that her family and possessions are gone and a new couple is moving in. Right away that grabs you (or it grabbed me). However, I kept wishing for this one to be over. This book could have easily been 100 pages shorter and came to the same conclusion.

Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

OK, this one is an old one, but I’d never read it! It was on a shelf in our cabin and I blitzed through it in a day. It was good. That’s what everyone said three years ago when it came out. That’s all you need to know!

Also, new development in my life: Goodreads! I never used this site before because I didn’t want to sign up for one more damn thing, but it turns out that it’s super helpful. So now I don’t need to keep checking out the same book thinking maybe I read this? again!

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Small Goals // September 2018

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Can anyone else believe August has come and gone? I definitely can’t. Let’s dive in and see how my small goals look.

  1. Pick up an astrology book. Nope! Maybe it was all the retrogrades that made this month difficult to get much done.
  2. Make my up north reading list. Done! I read six books!
  3. Bring a new game up north. Well, I brought up Unstable Unicorns, but my family couldn’t get the hang of it. But I tried!
  4. Brush up on my composting knowledge. Well, we started composting! It’s not perfect, but we’re working on it!
  5. Host (or at least plan) a party. Michael and I had a long chat about this one. We decided to skip a big summer blow-out and save the party for spring since the yard still needs a bit of work and Michael’s schedule isn’t party-friendly right now. I’m disappointed in this one, but I know that it wouldn’t be a party without a proper Jart field (a highlight for a lot of our friends). So I’ll save it for spring. However, I’ve got a Tupperware party slated for later this month, so at least all my mom’s friends will see my nice perennials! For that reason, I’ll check this one off the list.

4/5. That’s not too bad. I’m disappointed that our party got the boot (after three months of being on this list!), but onto new goals and a new season. Summer has been a lot of work this year, so I’m looking forward to settling into fall and focusing on smaller projects (and just relaxing).

  1. Get some California-cool pieces. I’ve got a super fun business trip to California wine country coming up fast! Can I find some fall transitional pieces that don’t make me look like a Midwestern simpleton in time? Let’s see!
  2. Check out Cedarburg’s Wine & Harvest Fest. I love this fest. Crafts, art and wine all wrapped up in a fall day? Sign me up!
  3. Host my Tupperware party like a pro. I’ve got my party scheduled for this month. Time for a good deep clean. And time to try out some party-friendly apps, too! I might be taking some tips from Taste of Home for this one!
  4. Hit the gym six times (or more). I’ve fallen off the regular workout wagon. I chalk that up to a chaotic August. Let’s see if I can get to the gym a half dozen times (though I’d love to hit ten!).
  5. Finish up all my stitching to-dos. I’ve got three custom hoops to complete plus a handful of new designs to finish up. I need to clear out my stitching queue so I can get moving and grooving for my next show (more about that soon!).

Honestly, I’ve got a lot more to-dos on my mind than these five, but let’s just start with these! Here’s to a productive (and chill) fall!