“we’re going to have to let truth scream louder to our souls than the lies that have infected us.”
this morning i am boarding a plane to meet a bunch of women i have never met before. through online conversations, photos shared of everyday life & packages mailed across state lines, we have all created such deep friendships. sara emailed us out of the blue one day in february & suggested we all meet at her home for a weekend of art making, yoga, thrifting, coffee & good conversation. of course i said yes!
my online life is only a small piece of our everyday happenings (both beautiful & really ugly). it’s terrifying to imagine revealing the not so blog-worthy quirks of my personality & identity to these precious women i dearly admire. of course, just like close dear friends, they’re all imperfect & incredibly loving & tell you how amazing you are just when you need those kind words. so, this weekend we are going to let truth scream louder in our souls than any insecurity ever could.
love,
natalie
it seems like every week there is a new baby among our dear friends. i love this spring season of new life – so much sweetness & new baby cuddles. we have a tradition of bringing our sweet mamas & papas a meal in their first few weeks of parenthood. we find so much joy in loving our friends in this way & it’s the perfect excuse to hold that new baby!
i want to share with you a meal that i made for our friends this week. it might just be the inspiration you need for getting a yummy dinner on the table this evening or on your meal plan next week!
my good food pinterest board serves as my place for inspiration when the cookbooks just aren’t doing it. i found this winter roasted kale recipe a few months ago, and i am hooked. it is absolutely delicious & perfect in any season that kale is abundantly growing. i substituted the tempeh for heirloom purple sweet potatoes from the farm last fall. i’m not a big soy fan, but i wanted a bit more substance to the salad so the sweet potatoes were a perfect substitute.
i also made salmon cakes, a go-to favorite around our home.
simply beat one egg in a bowl. add chopped parsley and chopped green onions. you can add bread crumbs if you would like, but i prefer my cakes gluten-free. add a can of sustainably-harvested salmon (pick out the bones first in a separate bowl). mix well. heat up a bit of olive oil in a skillet on medium high heat. scoop a handful of the salmon mixture from the bowl & lightly squeeze to remove any extra liquid. form into a patty shape & add to hot skillet. cook for 4 minutes & flip to other side, cooking for another 4 minutes. serve warm alongside the kale salad.
for dessert, we served up some strawberries from the farm. i cannot believe my luck in that my husband now works with organic fruit!
package up your meal sweetly & add a bouquet. your friends will be thankful, i promise.
love,
natalie
i love a good day at home. a day for resting, a day for family, a day for just being.
we spend a lot of time giving our living space that homey feel, decorating it just the way we like & making it feel like “us,” but so often we don’t spend enough time enjoying it. we check little things off our home improvement list, but we don’t allow ourselves the time to spread out & really live in our space. we keep going & going without taking time to slow down & invest a bit of time in a hobby or sip hot tea on the front porch.
so on sunday, after a busy saturday out & about, we stayed at home. we made waffles & enjoyed conversation at the table. we let our chicks run free in the backyard as we watched & laughed at their awkward ways. we got our hands dirty, planting peas & potting herbs. i sipped on tea & relaxed with a book. i dusted off my sewing machine once more & slowly began a new project. luke added to our garden beds & soaked beans for planting.
this spring, we hope to do more living within our home. we hope to eat more meals outdoors, tend to our gardens, read books in our sun room & give thanks for having a home to truly enjoy.
love,
natalie