Oh, friends. Where do we even begin?
This little catalogue I hold has been a dream of ours for so, so long. To see it all come to life makes my heart absolutely sing!
A year ago, Luke & I sat down with the 1canoe2 team to share our ideas. We wanted to create a wholesale line of thoughtfully-made goods that were accessible, beautiful & useful. We wanted to create a line of seeds that could be grown by a beginning gardener & trusted by our fellow small farmers.
We wanted to bring together my love for beautiful things & Luke’s knowledge of gardening to create products that really inspired & equipped folks to dig in the dirt, lead a simpler life, grow their own food & slow down just a little more.
1canoe2 believed in our big dreams & partnered with us to create an entire line of goods that do just that! And they’re far more beautiful than I could have ever imagined!
We are so proud of this collection. Every variety of seed is grown by us on the farm each year. Our meal planners include features that I love & use daily. Our planting calendars are sure to make garden upkeep that much easier. There are so many more surprises that I cannot wait to share with you!
The Freckled Hen Collection by 1canoe2 will be available to wholesale customers right after the New Year & to retail customers on January 3rd at 1canoe2.com. I will be visiting shops & shows around the country this year to share this collection & our passion for simpler living. Stay tuned for more details & product sneak peeks to come in the next days & weeks.
Until then, thank you so much for following along. It is such a gift to share our lives, our farm & our business with you!
love,
natalie
Supper time is sacred time at the farmhouse.
Almost a decade ago, Luke & I began our family dinnertime ritual. With the hustle & bustle of everyday life, we knew setting aside an hour to eat a meal together & talk about our day was time well-spent. Whether we’re eating a feast on fine china or pizza on paper plates, it’s intentional, uninterrupted time we look forward to each day.
Today I want to share a handful of tips for creating your own dinnertime traditions! I’ve teamed up with Red Diamond – my favorite source for unsweetened tea served at suppertime – to share how we carve out time in our day to reconnect around the dinner table.
1. KEEP A CLEAN SPACE: I know this sounds simple, but it’s hard to enjoy dinner at the table when bills, backpacks & clutter fill the space. I always make a point to put everything away right when I get home to eliminate having to throw it to the side just as I am serving supper. Bonus – Create a “command station” in your entryway, a closet or right by the front door to place bills, backpacks & more so you can keep the kitchen table clean & clear.
2. CREATE A BEAUTIFUL TABLE: Light candles, treat yourself to a beautiful bouquet of flowers, get out your wedding china, & use cloth napkins. This is time to slow down & enjoy each other’s company & conversation so make it count.
If it’s an extra full day & you can’t quite swing an elaborate tablescape, make paper plates special by serving camp-inspired food like hotdogs & kettle chips. Turn out all of the lights & eat by candlelight – this is sure to make extra special family memories!
3. MEAL PLAN: Create a meal plan that aligns with your weekly responsibilities & commitments. If it’s sure to be a busy day, make your family’s favorite crockpot meal. I love to serve up delicious chili on nights when I can’t quite swing an elaborate meal.
4. THE LITTLE DETAILS MATTER: Every Monday night, we always go over to my husband’s childhood home for Family Dinner. I always know my mother-in-law will have something special to drink – she never serves just water.
This little detail never goes unnoticed to me so I am working hard to bring this small but special tradition into our home. I love Red Diamond’s Unsweet Tea because it’s simple (just grab it at the store & serve) & it’s made with the real stuff (no weird additives – just tea leaves & water).
5. ELIMINATE DISCTRACTIONS: A big tip for a successful dinnertime ritual is to eliminate distraction. Remove your phones & set a rule that no one can answer a call, respond to a text, or scroll Instagram while at the table. This is sure to inspire richer conversation & thoughtful time together as a family.
6. SHARE RESPONSIBILITY: In our family, the rule is simple – If one cooks, the other cleans. It allows not just one family member to be burdened by the task of dinnertime.
I’d love to know your tips & tricks for dinnertime & if you’ve tried Red Diamond! Share your thoughts in the comments below!
love,
natalie
This post is in partnership with Red Diamond.
Hello, friends! Let’s talk about breakfast…
The busyness of the morning often makes it difficult for me to sit down & enjoy a balanced, healthy breakfast. I feel the pull to get to the office & usually grab an on-the-go breakfast, such as a boiled egg, but by 11am I am starving!
Today I want to share with you my new favorite on-the-go breakfast – Overnight Chia Seed Oats – that can be prepared ahead & enjoyed on the road if you so please.
It’s simple, really.
– Grab a wide-mouth mason jar & add 1/2 cup rolled oats.
– Pour 3/4 cup Bolthouse Farms B Strong™ Protein Shake in Vanilla. I prefer Bolthouse Farms‘ shake to others because it has 16 grams of protein, is lower in sugar & makes the oatmeal extra creamy!
– Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract & 1 teaspoon chia seeds.
– Screw on your mason jar lid & shake well to combine! Add to the refrigerator & allow to sit overnight.
I often make 5-6 jars on Sunday afternoon for the week ahead. It’s a simple way to have a delicious breakfast that I can grab & go all week long!
In the morning, I grab whatever ingredients or toppings I have on hand & add to my jar.
Some ideas include:
– blueberry crumble: frozen blueberries & granola
– peaches & cream: frozen or fresh peaches with fresh whipped cream
– coconut banana: sliced banana & coconut shreds
– fresh fruit & cinnamon: sliced nectarines & cinnamon are quite delicious!
Once I’ve added my toppings of choice to my jar, I screw on my mason jar & head out the door – the perfect balanced & delicious breakfast for those extra busy mornings!
Let me know if you whip up this recipe. I’d love to know your favorite toppings! Please share below.
love,
natalie
This post is in partnership with Bolthouse Farms.