this past week, while {tori} was visiting, we made a few trips to my favorite thrift shops.
i really love thrifting. with everything that i pick up, i wonder…

what is the story behind this? who was the previous owner? where was this placed in their home? how did they use this?

& sometimes my thrift finds speak back to me… revealing little bits of their character:
faded red stains on a table cloth, worn edges of a handbag, a small crack on a teapot.

so, here are a few of the treasures i found:

a vintage wallet complete with old photographs + a pearl white pen.
“love, charles” is written on the top left photograph. my heart leaped when i saw it!
25 cents.

a vintage tie that i hope to screen print for luke.
50 cents.

vintage linens that will be made into bread bags, a quilt {hopefully!} & other projects.
25 cents each.

enjoy your day!
we are leaving for brazil in six days {!!!} & there are many things to check off the list before leaving. if you haven’t yet, head on over to {him + her}. i especially like our entry for this week.

last week’s {this moment}
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a photo project by the lovely, {soulemama}…a single photo – no words – capturing a moment. a simple, special, extraordinary moment. a moment that makes you want to pause, savor and remember.
i was very much inspired by her idea & will continue to post a “moment” every friday. if you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your “moment” in the comments for all to find and see.

*** this week i am posting three moments that make me pause, savor & remember.
we’ve had a busy, busy week. it is nice to pause for a bit more.

i purchased these radishes at the beginning of the farmer’s market season & looking back on these photos- i am amazed by their individual uniqueness & inspired by their quirkiness.
we are harvesting radishes & lettuce later on this afternoon. i was so excited to go to the market this morning & find that we were growing & harvesting the same produce as real farmers. i only purchased eggs!

——–
i’ve had a lot of ideas lately to spruce up our home, make it more functional & de-clutter. we are on a very limited budget {like twenty bucks?!}, but i have confidence that we can this space feel more like ‘home.’

also, i’ve been in a meal plan rut these past couple of months. i’ve lost the inspiration to make our meals both healthy & fun. lunch is by far the most difficult meal for me to plan. i always stick with hummus sandwiches & fruit. but- after flipping through my all-time favorite {cookbook}, i was amazed to come across page 50 & its lunch time potential!
we made this on monday morning & by 11:30, i couldn’t wait any longer! i had two bowls full of this delicious couscous goodness!

so, without delay- here’s the recipe with a bit of adaptions by us.

sesame chicken couscous salad
serves 4.

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1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil {olive oil works, too}
combine & bring to boil.

1 cup uncooked whole wheat couscous
place in large bowl & stir in boiling broth. cover & let stand for 5 minutes. fluff with a fork.

2 green onions {chopped}
1 large red or green pepper {chopped}
stir in. cover & refrigerate until chilled.

1 1/2 cups snow peas {sugar snap peas are a nice alternative}
1 cup broccoli florets
steam peas for 1 minute. add broccoli & steam for another 2 minutes. rinse in cold water & drain.

1/2 cup cooked free-range chicken {chopped}
add to couscous with broccoli & peas.

1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tblsp olive oil
2 tsp soy sauce
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp sesame oil
combine & mix into couscous mixture.

1/4 cup slivered almonds {toasted}
2 tblsp sesame seeds {toasted}
mix in immediately before serving. serve chilled or at room temperature.

{this recipe could also be made vegetarian. use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth & replace the chicken with other vegetables that are in your fridge.}

happy eating!