if you’re new to this space, welcome to the “in the garden” series! during the spring & summer months, in celebration of gardening, i share a monthly garden overview of what our garden looks like along with garden happenings! welcome!
i am absolutely giddy for september. we’ve been moving at such a rapid speed all summer. it’s nice to sit on the sidelines for a bit of a breather this month. we’re still steadily working in both the garden & the kitchen, but we’re feeling a bit of a break in our schedules outside of the home.
in the garden – september 2015
we’re spending late evenings in the garden weeding & harvesting. i sometimes wonder if we need a cherry tomato pickin’ intern. with twenty sungold cherry tomato plants, it seems nearly impossible to harvest them all. needless to say, we’ve been thoroughly enjoying handfuls of them with every snack, salad & meal.
the cucumbers are already producing. we waited to plant our cucumbers & i am so happy we did. it’s nice to harvest these in-between late summer & early fall garden goodies.
the green beans are flowering & soon we will have fresh beans with every dinner! we always freeze bags full for winter. i simply chop the ends off & throw them in a freezer bag; no blanching necessary.
other garden news:
+ we believe our tomatoes have late blight so we’re harvesting enough to make into tomato sauce. soon we’ll be removing the plants for the season. the end of tomato season is always a hard one. nothing compares to a fresh summer tomato, my friends!
+ speaking of tomatoes, i tried roasting tomatoes & they’re absolutely delicious. i used this recipe & love it!
+ we are planting salad greens, radishes & salad turnips this month. i love salad season!
+ i have a big basket of bell peppers waiting on me in the kitchen to process. i chop them up & throw them in a freezer bag for winter fajitas & veggie enchiladas.
what’s happening in your september garden?
love,
natalie
in 2014, i started the #dressinhappinessdaily project & i have never looked back. as i’ve shared hundreds of times in this space, i am no fashion blogger, but this personal project has been life-changing.
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| jeans from the loft // top thrifted by a friend // purse thrifted // sandals saltwater sandals |
i went from yoga pants & a tee to an inspiring wardrobe that makes me feel good. i didn’t spend a ton of money. i simply got up & got dressed, took risks, experimented & shared my outfits along the way. who knew what you wear could be so empowering?
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| dress tj maxx // sandals old navy // clutch the barefoot seamstress |
after learning what felt good & made me happy, i started the capsule wardrobe project. i curated a well-rounded closet of about thirty pieces that made me feel amazing. i have been doing this for almost three seasons & i am thrilled with the results. it makes getting dressed each morning super easy because i’m excited about everything in my closet. if you’d like more info on the capsule wardrobe concept, click here.
at the recommendation of a handful of friends, i decided to try out Stitch Fix
. i absolutely love it, y’all!
i wasn’t quite sure how stitch fix would fit in with my capsule wardrobe project, but i’ve been so pleased. i chose the every two months shipping option, which is frequent enough for me to plan my upcoming capsule wardrobe while also saving money/shopping less when i am not expecting a fix.
i was also worried about the prices. they’re more than i usually spend ($80 was my most expensive piece), but i have learned that the quality of a piece often matches it’s price tag.
as with every stitch fix, the recipient always receives five pieces. in my first stitch fix, i received two tops, one necklace, a pair of jeans & a maxi dress. here’s what i kept…
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| evys tree hoodie // lace tank from a local boutique // stitch fix jeans // country outfitter boots // the barefoot seamstress clutch |
the perfect pair of jeans: hands to the heavens, these jeans are perfection. when i first pulled them out of the box, i was very hesitant. a stretchy band around the waist?! i am not elderly & i am not pregnant. thankfully, my stylist informed me that these jeans were one of their best sellers among ladies of all ages.
i now know why! y’all, i’ve owned these pants for less than a month & i have already decided i need about 15 more pairs. i wear them nearly every day. the waist band never shows, they’re high waisted so your privates don’t hang out, they keep the muffin top contained & you don’t have that weird bunching at the waist because the denim lays flat against your tummy. the jean legs also fit into cowboy boots & look super cute with flats.
i’m a stitch fix believer, y’all! give me all the magical jeans!
the boho maxi: i would have never chosen this maxi, but stitch fix is all about challenging your comfort zone & encouraging you to try new things. this dress is so flattering & so versatile! i even wear it with a knotted tea for a maxi skirt look. i’ve worn it to church & to work. i love it paired with neon accessories like my fun old navy flats!
my two biggest stitch fix takeaways:
1. you can feel good no matter your size. i often fall into the rabbit hole of “if only i lost twenty pounds, i would feel & look great.” my good people, you can rock a fun outfit & feel great no matter your size. when i tried on my stitch fix pieces, i was once again reminded that well-made clothing can make you feel like a million bucks at your heaviest & your lightest.
2. professionals are awesome & they save you time. instead of spending endless hours online searching for key pieces for my capsule wardrobe, i am leaving it to my stylist! i requested a classic jean jacket for my next stitch coming in october & i absolutely cannot wait to see what she sends me!
friends, join me for some Stitch Fixfun! fyi: your first shipment costs $20 to pay for your stylist’s time, but that fee goes toward whatever you purchase from your fix.
love,
natalie
in an effort to meet my health goals, i have been very intentional about what we eat for dinner.
we cook & eat at home most nights of the week so having a well-rounded list of recipes & meal ideas keeps me motivated & excited!
skinnytaste, a healthy eating blog, is one of my go-to places for healthy & wholesome meal ideas. i love her approach to eating well (cooking lighter – but an encourager of good fats) & her love for vegetables.
she recently posted this stuffed portobello mushroom recipe that looked delicious! after surveying our freezer, garden & pantry, i realized i had most of the ingredients for our tuesday night dinner already on hand. with a quick list, i headed to the store. once at the grocery, i realized the large portobello mushrooms were about $12 for the quantity i needed – well over my allotted budget. i revised & quickly grabbed the carton of small chopped portobellos for just $3.
at home, i made skinnytaste’s recipe, but i revised it to make it more affordable without skimping on health. instead of stuffing each mushroom, i created a mushroom casserole with mushrooms on the bottom followed by the layer of vegetables, marinara & cheese.
it was absolutely delicious & approved by the family! consider this a little nudge to eat well within your budget & add this recipe to your menu plan this week!
friends, what’s on your menu plan this week? please share your healthy ideas! include links to your favorite recipes in the comments section!
love,
natalie