Today on Weekend Meanderings a sweet sneaker collaboration, oatmeal muffins for breakfast, a fun way to display photos and a few new books I’m excited about.
Happy Weekend Friends!
It’s time for the weekend post with Kim and Elizabeth.
Our weekly roundup of inspiration and goings on.
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It’s been a crazy busy week around here.
Our re-landscaping project is underway.
I’m a little irked to be landscaping for the second time in less than four years.
Irritating as it is, it must be done.
By the way, the photo above is our front path three years ago.
If I showed you what it looks like now you’d faint.
Can you believe it’s Easter weekend?
I hope you have a fun plans with family and friends.
And the joy of watching littles hunting for eggs.
This is favorite picture of my older nieces, Sam and Soph, on Easter many moons ago.
Sitting in front of the best tulips I’ve ever grown.
They came back year after year after year.
I haven’t had the same luck since.
If you have tulip tips, please share.
SNEAK CHIC
Earlier this week I got together with a few blogging friends to style our favorite sneakers. Mine are Adidas Superstars and I wear them with … everything.
If you missed the post, you can catch up here. And be sure to follow the links to all my friends who have some really fun styling ideas.
Several readers commented that Ked’s are their favorite sneaker. They’re a classic and I’ve owned my fair share. That said, I can’t keep them clean or master the art of the machine wash (I turn them yellow). You’re more skilled than me so I’d better mention the new Keds x Magnolia Bakery collaboration. Magnolia Bakery in New York, made famous on Sex and the City, not the Chip and Joanna Gaines, Magnolia. Anyway, the collab produced three Ked pastel confections ideal for spring and summer.
The Mixed Glitter Lace-Up …with “Carrie Cupcake” removable charm.
The Triple Decker Pink Flowers Slip On … this one has a platform. I likie, as Carrie would say.
The Triple Up Piping … also with platform, removable “Carrie Cupcake’ charm and my personal favorite
OATMEAL RAISIN MUFFINS
I’m in an era of use-up-what’s-in-the-pantry – and freezer. Things back up or I forget about them in the far reaches of the cupboards. For some reason I have a plethora of oats. So I baked Oatmeal Muffins using a recipe from the Preppy Kitchen – with a few modifications. They’ve been my breakfast all week. Yum. Who doesn’t love muffins in the morning?
My modifications were based on preference AND not having a particular ingredient on hand.
- This is a habit I picked up from Jane Brody in the 80’s, and that is to substitute half the all-purpose flour for whole wheat flour in muffins and quick breads. In this case, because the muffins are already packed with oats, I used a 3/4 all-purpose, 1/4 whole wheat ratio. You might find the results a little dry, but I’m used to it and it makes me feel healthier. Please don’t disabuse me of this notion.
- Because I like them, I added raisins. About a half cup. A mix of golden raisins (to finish up a box) and regular.
- I was out of milk. What? How can a morning cocoa drinker be out of milk? But, I had cream in the fridge so I used that and thinned it with water. About half cream and half water.
PHOTO BOWL IDEA
A couple of months ago I saw an idea on Lidey Heuck’s Instagram page. An idea she got from her mother-in-law. Lidey, the Barefoot Contessa’s protege, just published her first cookbook which I shared last week after making her delicious Banana Cake with Chocolate Frosting. This week I made her Sausage & White Bean Soup with Swiss Chard. So good!
So the idea is to fill a big bowl with photos – actual, printed photographs – and placing it out where it can be seen and be enjoyed by all. It’s much less effort than putting together a photo album (does anyone still do that?) and offers you, friends and family the pleasure of picking up and looking at a real live, non-digital photos. Imagine that. It’s simple to upload images for print at a local pharmacy, Shutterfly and so many similar services. You can even order photo stock to print at home. I’m going to start printing photos more often.
I didn’t spend a lot of time going through my photos and more curation is needed. But I love the idea so much and I thought you might too. In fact, wouldn’t it be fun to have something like this out on display for family gatherings … like this Easter weekend! Maybe photos from the past year or two so for family and friends to enjoy. Or maybe older family photos from when the kids were growing up, or further back to vintage photos and family history … a walk down memory lane. It could also be an interesting way to contain and display holiday cards. Scour your cupboards for a large bowl with a wide, flat bottom.
HOUSE TOUR
We’ve been watching a house in our neighborhood undergo a complete transformation over the past couple of years. Last weekend the house finally hit the market and we made a mad dash for the open house. I didn’t take a lot of pictures, but I get the important one … the poolside cabana. This is living.
The cabana is part of a garage structure on the far side of the pool. On the other side is a one-bedroom guest house and the main house is across a creek on the hill. I love the little bar situation in the guest house kitchenette. Let this be a lesson to us all to paint the undersides of our cupboards.
You can see the full house tour at the listing site here.
PRE-ORDERED BOOK UPDATE
Periodically I share a run down of books I have on pre-order. I know you’re fascinated. And I was alarmed to see that my list is down to just two books.
The Paris Novel, by Ruth Reichl is arriving April 23 (that’s next month!) and I’m super excited for this one.
A Happier Life, the latest from Design Chic blogger Kirsty Woodson Harvey is coming June 25, just in time for summer vacations.
The Paris Novel | A Happier Life
Since my queue is so sparse, there’s only one thing to do … pre-order more books.
Forever Beautiful by Mark D. Sides, the third in his Beautiful series and you know it’s going to be … beautiful. September 3 is the release date which seems forever away but time flies.
Artful Home by Josh Young, his first book! Remember a couple of weeks ago I set my dining table with books? Well, the inspiration came from Josh Young. You better believe I knocked over chairs running through the house to my laptop to pre-order. We have to wait until September 3 for this one too. Sigh.
Forever Beautiful | Artful Home
Odds & Socks ~
Another reminder that tickets for the annual Lafayette Juniors Lifestyle Tour – Saturday, May 4th – are on sale now. I got a tip off about a couple of the homes on this year’s tour and they are NOT to be missed!
I just ordered these sunny summer sandals … say that three times fast!
Traveling for Spring break? You’ll appreciate these travel-light packing tips.
If this isn’t the most gorgeous salmon platter ever I don’t know what is … just in time for Easter weekend!
Summer is coming … get prepared with this spring garden checklist.
Current Favorites ~
And that’s what I have for you today.
Let’s visit Kim and Elizabeth to see what’s inspiring them.
If you missed last weekend’s post, you can catch up here.
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Happy Easter weekend from Snowberry!
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