Cabin in the City

Books, cats and midwestern charm.

30 Days of Thanks 2025 // Week 4

11.30.25 | Life

30 Days of Thanks 2025 // Week 3

11.21.25 | Life

30 Days of Thanks 2025 // Week 2

11.14.25 | Life
30 Days of Thanks 2025

30 Days of Thanks 2025 // Week 1

11.07.25 | Life

What I Read // May 2025

06.04.25 | Books
Vinyl records

Unsolicited Advice: Make a Baby Playlist

05.20.25 | Life

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The Season of the Witch // My Visit to Salem

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At long last, I’ve visited one of my must-see spooky destinations: Salem, Massachusets. It was absolutely bewitching (and I had a lot of fun).

This jaunt to Salem was part of a bigger trip my mom and I took to New England (more on that later), but I figured I’d share all about this stop while the mood is right.

What to Do

My primary goal for visiting Salem was to learn more about its history (you know, beyond Hocus Pocus). So before we even made it to Massachusetts, I booked my mom and myself a tour.

I chose Witch City Walking Tours (though there are lots of tour companies). I was really impressed by how thorough the tour guide was and how she was able to blend history with ghost stories and pretty astute commentary (shoutout to Paige!). What I appreciated most was how Page dispelled a lot of common misconceptions. I felt like I got the real history.

I’d definitely recommend a tour like this. It helped me appreciate the sights more and learn all about what spurred the witch trials.

What to See

Outside of our tour, we spent most of our time just wandering the streets of Salem. Fortunately, a lot of the historical sights are right downtown, so we found many of them just by making our rounds. This was pretty nice since I like a good walkable destination.

The Witch House

I was really excited to bump into the witch house as we were walking. It’s really haunting to look at all dressed in black. It’s a real mood and I love it.

This is the only edifice still standing that was actually used during the trials. It was home to Jonathan Corwin, a judge in the trials. Perhaps it doesn’t deserve the term Witch House as Judge House, but that’s alright.

Inside is a museum, which wasn’t really much to see if you ask me, but I’m glad we did it anyway.

Hocus Pocus Haunts

Now, there are Hocus Pocus-focused tours in Salem if you’re serious about the movie, but we didn’t opt for one of those. But we still got to see a few locations where the movie was filmed.

Above is the Town Hall where the big party is held (you know, the one where Winifred sings “I Put a Spell on You”) and below is Allison’s House (it’s actually a museum).

Salem Witch Trials Memorial

Our tour ended at the Salem Witch Trials Memorial and it was honestly really moving. The tour guide did a great job conveying the meaning of the place and how the trials still weigh heavily on Salem and how a lot of people feel conflicted over its fame, which is very fair.

Where to Shop

Part of what was so fun about Salem was walking into little shops that were full of all the strange, creepy and metaphysical-style things I love. We went into a lot of stores but these four were my favorites.

HausWitch

Visiting HausWitch was a big deal to me—so much so that I listed it on my monthly goals.

I’ll admit that my expectations were just too damn high for this shop. I was fully expecting it to be a treasure trove overflowing with wonderfully modern witchy home essentials. The store in actuality was not jam-packed full of must-haves. Instead, it was light and airy (if a bit sparse). I snagged a pretty moon necklace and a mug. They had lots of other great resources for modern witches, too.

So while I was a bit let down by the experience (thanks to my own unrealistic expectations), I would still recommend stopping here. It was a pretty shop that didn’t feel hokey or touristy.

Emporium 32

I’ll admit it: I visited this store based on a recommendation from a BuzzFeed article. It didn’t disappoint.

Emporium 32 was equal parts witchy and Victorian. It was full of wonderful hats, Stevie Nicks-style capes, art, stationary and jewelry. I snagged an Edwardian-esque necklace and grabbed a wax seal for Michael.

Die with Your Boots On

Die with Your Boots On was such a fun surprise. My mom and I wandered in here on a whim since it was close to our hotel and we had some time to kill. It was so much fun.

This is the place to go for wonderfully kitschy, witchy clothing. I’m talking jack o’ lantern flats, Ouija board jackets and crushed velvet everything. I’m having serious regrets about not buying a goth Dolly Parton tee I saw there.

Circle of Stitches

Perhaps my favorite shop in Salem was Circle of Stitches. This was right by our hotel and I walked in thinking it was just a nice yarn shop. It was so much more!

Yes, of course, there was a lot of beautiful yarn (shame I don’t knit or crochet), but Circle of Stitches was also full of other crafty items like embroidery kits as well as tarot decks, books and some other local goods. I only snagged an enamel pin here, but it was really fun looking around.

• • •

Overall, Salem was a really fun part of this trip. It was fun to embrace the silly, touristy side of the town and the serious, historical side as well. I feel like we got a good balance. And in the end, it also helped me reconnect a bit with all the scary, strange things I love.

Anyways, I’ll be back with more about Maine soon!

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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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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!