Stitch Fix #1

Many exciting things happened this month (mainly, the return of the Sing-Off) but there was one thing I was particularly looking forward to:  the arrival of my first Stitch Fix box.  I first heard about Stitch Fix on Facebook and I decided to treat myself to a box for my birthday.  What is Stitch Fix?  Let's let the people speak for themselves: 

"Stitch Fix is a personal styling service. You tell us your style, size, and budget preferences, and we send you a package of stylish goodies to try on at home. Each Fix is unique and hand-picked just for you."

It costs $20 for them to put together a box, but they credit that toward anything you buy.  The style/sizing profile they have you fill out is quite extensive, and they show you a bunch of different styles so you can choose which ones suit you best, and which styles you'd like to incorporate more of into your wardrobe.  For me, that means less Gap clearance and more... well, anything else.  (I found it funny that they ask if you're a mom.  Cue the 'wah wahhhh...'  I almost wanted to pull an Amy Poehler from Mean Girls - "I'm not like a regular mom, I'm a cool mom!") 


Props to my dear friend Sara for coming over to document the occasion and being excited about Stitch Fix with me.  And mostly for putting up with my awkward poses...

Let's get down to it.

1) Three Dots cowl neck knit shirt, $58

This was the first top I tried on, and overall I really liked it.  The fit was good, the color was good, and it was versatile enough to go with a lot of things.  But note the price -> ouch.  Couldn't justify spending this much on such a basic top.  Verdict:  PASS.

2) Tart henley thermal, $78

This shirt was just okay.  I'm trying to step up my game here, and it reminded me of something I might have worn in high school.  It fit well and I liked that the thread had a little sparkle.  But mostly it was just meh.  With a high price tag.  Verdict:  PASS. 

3.  Bat Wings

I really wanted to like you, Bat Wings.  You were so soft.  And I looove me a grey cardigan.  But my husband could not get over the sleeves on this one.  So back you went.  Verdict:  PASS.  (I think the real name for this one was Natural Life Mariposa cardigan, and it was $48)

4. Liverpool straight leg jean, $78

I had requested a pair of jeans, and this pair was amazing.  Super soft, well-fitting, and versatile.  But I already have a pair of black skinnies, so I couldn't justify buying a new one.  Verdict:  really wanted to keep but sadly had to PASS.

5. 41 Hawthorn infinity scarf, $38

This is the face of a scarf addict who has just fallen in love.  You can't tell from these photos but there is glittery thread woven through so it's "perfect for the holiday season!"  Oh Stitch Fix.  You know my heart already.  Verdict:  KEEPER.

So all in all, I loved three of the pieces and ended up keeping one.  Here's what I liked about Stitch Fix:

-The fit was great.  They really pay close attention to what you put on your sizing profile (i.e. your body shape, what size you usually wear, how you like your clothes to fit). This takes a lot of the guesswork and time out of trying clothes on in a store
-The quality was good.  Everything was comfortable and well-made
-If you live in a clothing desert like I do, this is a great way to find new pieces without having to drive an hour to go shopping
-It's fun to see what they put in the box for you!  And they give you a styling guide with pictures of each item with a few different ways to wear it

What I didn't like so much:
-I think they played it kind of safe.  Granted, I did say I was a jeans-and-T-shirt kind of girl, but I was hoping to add some more interesting pieces to the mix.  I made a note of this for the stylist so I'm hoping they'll change that for next time
-The prices were a little high.  Ain't no clearance items in this box.  If I found something I was crazy about I would be willing to pay more, but there wasn't anything that really blew my mind.  Maybe next time!

My next fix is coming in February (wait times are longer than usual, according to the website) and since I received a referral credit my next box will be free.  I asked for a few nicer date night/girls' night pieces, so we'll see what they send.  All in all I would recommend this!  It's also fun to look at other peoples' blogs and see what kinds of things they get - I'd love to peek at yours if you sign up!

Kale Chips (yeah, I went there.)

I picked up a Rachael Ray magazine the other day and noticed an article comparing homemade vs. store-bought kale chips...  And my first thought was, are people really eating kale chips?  And why.  I just imagine someone sitting alone at their dining room table, a big ol' bowl of crusty kale chips in front of them, crying silent tears that their life has come to this.  I'm all for healthy eating, but it just doesn't seem like a thing people should be forcing themselves to eat, you know?

So naturally, when I saw kale for 98 cents at Wal-Mart (gah, I know.  I was there with my mom OK, and we've practically recovered from our pesticide poisoning) I had to try it.  I used an impossibly simple recipe which I will kindly type out for you now:

Kale Chips

1 bunch kale
1 tablespoon olive oil
sea salt

Rinse and dry kale (unless it's the pre-washed bagged kind).  Tear leaves (not ribs) into 1-2 inch pieces in a bowl with olive oil until coated.  Spread onto a baking sheet and sprinkle with sea salt.  Bake at 325 degrees for 10-15 minutes until crispy, making sure not to brown or burn the chips.

The initial rave reviews:

Sister:  "It reminds me of eating leaves.  I kind of don't understand it."

Dad:  "I'm not hungry."

(upon further prodding) 

Mom:  "Mmm.  Very light and airy!"

Dad:  "Like a gourmet potato chip."

Here is the thing:  We could.  not.  stop.  eating.  them.  I'm not even a potato chip person, and I found these to be strangely addicting. Call me a believer!  You just have to ignore the haters (namely: former me) try them yourself.  

Baptism and Carnitas. And Costco cake. Amen.

Our little snowflake got baptized!  It was a blessed, wonderful day.  Family, a few friends, and a small little service at our church.

Smiling at the camera?  The Spirit was with her

Since we were hosting family and anticipating feeding about 20 people after the service, I contemplated catering for about one single second before I thought, hold the phone, I can do it myself.  Upside:  Saving money!  Downside:  Doing it myself.


But no matter, Epicurious.com never lets me down.  And since I'm more of a novice cook I've found that life in the kitchen is easier if I stick to the following rules:

1) Choose dishes that can be made the night before 
2) Enlist the help of others 
3) Crock.  Pot.

The super-tasty, fuss-free menu:

Carnitas tacos with cilantro, cheese, red onion, and avocado

Mexican Chopped Salad with Jicama and Honey-Lime Dressing

Black Beans with Garlic, Cumin, and Cilantro

Costco Cake (duh.)

It was my first time cooking with jicama, and I'll definitely make it again.  Tastes like a cross between a water chestnut and an apple.  And I didn't have to go to a fancy grocery store to find it.  Who knew?  (Probably you.)

I would have taken a picture of the spread but I was probably too busy salivating over the Costco cake.  I mean, for $17 that delicious mousse-filled confection feeds 48 people (it says.  pay no mind to how big we cut our slices around here).  Last year when I was 9 months pregnant my dear sweet husband bought me an ENTIRE cake for my birthday.  Let's just say that the excitement about put me into labor right there.  My love for cake runs deep, and I'm obsessed with Costco, so the two together... it's just... I almost can't.  I cut off a tiny chunk to share at work and froze the rest but I was still eating a piece of cake every day until the baby was abouuuut 3 months old.  And even though I'm still huffing and puffing through the 30 Day Shred to work off the damage caused by that cake --> worth it.

(Almost as exciting as Costco cake?  The delivery of my first Stitch Fix box.  Have you heard of Stitch Fix??  Let's get fancy together.  Coming in December.)

Savory Butternut Squash Soup

Let's talk pureed soups.  What's not to love?  You just chop a bunch of stuff up, throw it in a pot, forget about it, and blend it to perfection.  It's a great way to get your veggies in, and there are tons of possibilities.

I used to ignore Butternut in the produce aisle but now we have kind of a Thing going on, seeing as how it costs less than $2 and lends itself really well to whatever spice you pair it with.  I've tried a few different recipes and came up with this one after a few tweaks.  (Some people like to roast their squash in the oven first, but I just prefer to cook mine in the pot because it's a little quicker.)  I try to make a big batch and freeze smaller portions in 1-quart bags for quick lunches and side dishes later in the month.

Savory Butternut Squash Soup

1 large butternut squash, peeled and cubed* 
1 onion, roughly chopped 
3-4 garlic cloves, smashed
1 tsp of dried thyme or sage 
1 tsp salt
2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1/3 cup half and half (or heavy cream, or milk, whatever you have in the fridge.  Or you can forgo this, but why?)

*Remember, the smaller the chunks, the faster it will cook.  But it doesn't have to be pretty!  Everything is getting blended so hack that thing up and forget about it

Heat 1 tbs of butter or olive oil in a heavy pot over medium heat.  Add the onion first and cook until softened, about 4 minutes, then add the garlic.  Cook for just 1 minute more (so the garlic doesn't burn).  Add the thyme or sage along with the butternut squash and cook a few more minutes, until the squash is coated with the herbs and onions.  Maybe yours will look something like this

Next add the chicken stock, cover, and simmer about 20 minutes.  (Clean the rest of the kitchen.  Facebook something.  Intercept baby from making a beeline to dog's water bowl for 349th time.)  After 20 minutes, remove from heat and cool for a few moments.  Pour into the blender and just blend that sheet up.  Return to pot and add the cream for maximal swirly effect.

This pairs excellently with a rotisserie chicken and a loaf of rosemary bread (both from Costco, obvi).  It also gets raves reviews from my husband and the bebe, who slurps this up even when I throw in a dash of cayenne (the Free Range Fam likes it spicy!).  Even the chickens love some butternut scraps.  Win win win. 

So I took a blawg break

I'm sure you did not notice, but it's been a few months since my last post here at the Free Range Fam. While it is true that I've been busier than normal at work, and that we were away on a few trips, I also needed some time to get my blog mojo back on.  To re-focus on why I started this blog in the first place and re-direct where I want it to go, especially in the face of so many awesome-r blogs that have way better pictures of families who do more Fun Stuff than we do.

So that brings me to:  What do I want to share in this tiny corner of the interwebs?  What am I passionate about? 

Simple.

Well if it isn't the old chin-in-hand, circa 1994

Home cooking.

My faith.

Nutella.

Parenting.

(Not in that order, but you know, I'm just typing freely here.)

 So know that nothing you see on this site will be worthy of a Pinterest board (if you haven't figured that out already.  We keep it Real).  But my love for healthy* home cooking, among other things, runs deep, and it really excites me to share some of the better recipes I've tried/tweaked to make delicious and do-able for our family.  

Did not get the memo that this meal was delicious and do-able for her family

 

I hope to start crankin out the recipes soon, but in the meantime please excuse me while we dine on leftover Halloween candy and Nutella sandwiches.  Happy Fall.

*please disregard the Nutella sandwich comment

Homemade Pita Chips

I always seem to have baggies of leftover pita bread at the bottom of my fridge.  I get Trader Joe's pack of 8 Whole Wheat pitas, which are nice and soft and perfect for egg salad, but then they get a little hard after a few days and I tend to ignore them.   Now, the chickens will practically stab each other's eyes for a nibble of some leftover pita, but it feels a little wasteful so I turned to the interwebs to see what I could morph them into.  The answer?  Pita chips (...mind-blowing, I know.  Stick with me).  The thing with making homemade pita chips is that they are SO STINKING EASY and more delicious than bagged pita chips.  Every time I make these I slap my forehead and think, oh my gosh these are so good and why do I not make these all the time??  

Homemade Pita Chips

2-4 pitas, cut into wedges
olive oil
Trader Joe's Garlic Salt*

*Unlike the usual powdered garlic salt, this is a grinder of sea salt, garlic, onion, and parsley.  Saves you from having to season with salt and garlic separately, and is delicious on, oh I don't know, everything.

Preheat oven to 375.  Cut pitas into wedges (about 8 pieces per pita), brush with olive oil, sprinkle with garlic salt, and bake on baking sheet or pizza stone for 13-15 minutes.  


While they are delicious alone, these are perfect for dips and in soups.  They also tend to fill you up and spruce up whatever you've thrown together for dinner.  Like, 'we were going to just have broccoli soup for dinner, which is a side dish.  But now that I've added these homemade pita chips, it's a Meal.'  Bam.

Couponing Wannabe

I am such a couponing wannabe.  I've watched Extreme Couponing with my jaw on the floor ($600 of groceries for less than $10?!) and I've read blogs where moms talk about how they use coupons to save hundreds of dollars per year on their families' grocery bill.  Who doesn't like to save money?  Sign me up, I say.  Why haven't I gotten into this sooner?

Well, Sara, because to be a successful couponer you need to be 1) disciplined 2) organized and 3) good at Excel, and I am none of those.  For the ultimate grand supreme couponers, sifting through coupon mail-outs and plotting each purchase is practically a part-time job.  And, well, I have a part-time job.  But it's not the end!  There is help.  And it comes in the form of Totally Target.  

This wonderful website spells things out for the organizationally-challenged among us.  It tells you when things are on sale and provides the links (when applicable) to each item.  Like today, it tells you how to get free Lindt candy bars.  Or a one-year subscription to Elle magazine for $4.50 with the promo code "totallytarget" (Isn't that what a single magazine would cost?  I'm sold).  

My other can't-live-without coupon fave is Coupon Sherpa, the Best App in the History of the World.  Because it saves you actual money.  If you are an outlet mall junkie like me (Banana Republic Factory Store, anyone??), you need to download this right now.  Stores like Kohl's, Gap Outlet, Carter's, Hobby Lobby, and countless others almost always have some sort of 10-30% off coupon on any given day.  They're always adding new stores, and a lot of the coupons can be used online as well.

I'll admit that most of my coupons are for "wants" rather than "needs" (I'm still waiting for broccoli coupons), so using coupons does not really make or break our family's grocery budget.  But I really feel like I'm Sticking it To the Man when I whip out my Coupon Sherpa and save $0.18 on that piece of felt at JoAnn Fabrics.  It turns out that you CAN use coupons while also not turning into a person who hides toilet paper under your kid's bed.  No spreadsheet required.  

3 Ingredient Pancakes

I love me some breakfast food.  When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I think about is what I'm going to have for breakfast.  Since I'm not much of a snacker it's got to hold me over until lunch.  And some mornings, the Kashi just doesn't cut it in the delicious department.  So I started tinkering with pancake recipes and settled on this as my weekday go-to:

3 Ingredient Pancakes

1 banana

2 eggs

1/4 cup oatmeal

optional but encouraged:

*splash vanilla

*dash cinnamon

(*the addition of which would technically make these 5 ingredient pancakes, but just.  go with it.)

Combine all ingredients in the blender and puree until smooth. Pour onto greased griddle on medium-low (careful!  they'll burn at any higher temp) until bubbles form.  Flip and cook about 1-2 minutes more or to desired doneness.  Serve with peanut butter (a banana's best friend) and/or syrup.

I make these abouuuut every other day.  No joke.  They are that good.  And super healthy unless you are like me and go overboard on the melted peanut butter syrup.  This makes enough for about 5-6 smallish pancakes, and you can easily double/triple the recipe and freeze the rest for a week's worth of breakfasts.  Also a good way to use up overripe bananas!  Nom.

6 Month Update

Ohhh to have a 6-month old.  

I'd heard from a couple parents that the 6-month mark really starts the golden age of babyhood, and so far it has proven to be 100% true.  (Warning:  Super mushy baby love post, just so you know what you're in for.)  

Newborns are sweet and cuddly and wonderful in their own way, but it's SO much fun to see what makes her laugh and start to see her little personality coming through.  Is there anything better than having your little one squeal with excitement simply because you walked into the room?  

 

Not sure what I did to deserve this little snowflake.  People are always telling me, "enjoy this time.  It goes by so fast."  So if you come to my house during the day, you'll probably see the evidence of me trying to do just that (dishes in the sink.  Laundry in the bedroom.  Clutter in the bathroom).  Because the days are long but the years are short, and I want to savor every precious minute with her while she still thinks her parents are the Coolest, Funniest People on Earth.

 And did I mention the gloriousness of chubby baby CHEEKS?  (OK I'm done.  But sometimes I just can't handle it.)

We love you, sweet pea.  Happy 6 months.

You can raise backyard chickens. Yes, YOU.

Let's talk chickins.  

 

I said chickens, Dino.  

That's better.  Hey ladies.

Early in our marriage, hubs and I both had a dream of someday raising chickens, but we (mistakenly) thought we needed a big yard, warm weather, and lots of free time to care for them.  So we put our chicken dream on the back burner.  It wasn't until I heard this story on NPR about the rise of backyard chickens that I started to realize that we could make our chicken dream a reality.  I believe it was in this interview that the author said, 

"If you can care for a cat, you can raise chickens."

Hmm.   

Now let's get this out there right now:  I am a child of the suburbs.  Before the chicks, the closest would I get to agriculture was if my husband dragged me to Fleet Farm, and even then I would hide in the aisle with the giant gummy worms and circus peanuts.  Farming is not in my nature.  But after seeing them in Normal People's homes and doing a little more research, raising chickens started to seem less intimidating.  We could do this.  Now, over a year later, we can't imagine not being able to walk out our porch and grab fresh eggs every morning.  Eventually we'd like to have 10 chickens.  Maybe a goat.  Maybe two.  A cow.  (A cow?  Who are we?)  

Now to the biggest questions we get asked, in case you're considering getting chickens yourself (do it, do it!):

1)  Isn't it a lot of work?

Nope!  It only takes a few minutes per day to grab their eggs, make sure they have water and food, and toss them whatever kitchen scraps you need to get rid of.  You can even go out of town and leave them to their own egg-laying devices, and chances are they will be just fine.  Some days we just peek at them from the kitchen window, and if they aren't holding up a sign that says, "need food"  we just wave and finish our omelets. 

Dominating a leftover pita pocket.

  2)  Don't they make a lot of noise?  What if the neighbors complain?  

Once upon a time we bought three hens from our local hatchery.  Their names were Ginny, Hermione, and Mrs. Weasley.  They were the best of friends, until Mrs. Weasley developed a deep voice and put on a lot of weight and started to wake us up at 5 am.  Turns out that Mrs. Weasley was actually a Mr. Weasley, so back he went.  The end.  It's true that roosters will crow at the crack of dawn, which is why our chicken license (oh yes, we have a chicken license) limits us to no more than 3 non-roosters, who may squawk a little bit but for the most part don't make a peep.  We haven't had anyone complain, and we live within very close proximity to our neighbors.  

One of these birds is not like the others

3)  Aren't they dirty?  I don't want to have to clean up after them.

Neither do I.  Which is why my husband built an awesome chicken tractor that we can move to different spots in the yard.  The great part is that the chicken poop fertilizes the grass and gets washed away in the rain = minimal clean-up.  The most we do is brush off the poop from the laying boxes, about once every few weeks.  

4) How many eggs do you get?

Our chickens lay about 1-2 eggs per day in peak laying season.  And since they are fresh and naturally coated with an antimicrobial layer, they last a lot longer than the [sanitized, bleached] eggs you buy from the supermarket. 

5) What do you do with them in the winter?

Our chickadees are tough little ladies who laugh in the face of sub-zero temps.  But we struggled with this thought, too.  Would their little beaks freeze?  Would their feeties get frostbitten in the snow??  Then we came to our senses and reminded ourselves that chickens have been living outside for thousands of years.  Like, without the help of humans.  We made sure that their coop protected them from the snow and wind and had plenty of insulation in the nesting box.  The biggest hassle was probably making sure their water didn't freeze (hubs put a heat lamp under it, which stayed on all day).  But other than that, they had their down feathers to keep them nice and warm, and they did just fine.


6) What kind of chickens do you have?  How did you know what kind to get?

It pretty much like this - "hey coworker, what kind of chickens do you have?  Ok sweet.  I'll take three of those."  We have Buff Orpingtons, which I kind of view as the yellow lab of the chicken world.  Friendly, easy temperaments, winter-hardy, good layers.  Next we'd like to branch out to more interesting-looking breeds, like Silkies, because, well just look at them.

Chickens or muppets?  Want.

Basically, they are awesome creatures who will enrich your lives and make you appreciate where your food comes from.  And they will eat your leftovers.  Win-win.

Back to Work

Been back to work for a full month.  Consensus?  Pretty awesome.  I never in a million years thought I would say that, because I always thought I would stay at home full time after the babies came.  There were even a few moments, when I was working in an ER in Chicago and having a less than amazing time, when I would text the hubs things like, “can we start having kids right now?  Cuz I need to get out of here.”  Hindsight:  When you are thinking like this, it is time to Look for A New Job. 

But here I am a few years later, loving being back at work.  I attribute it to the fact that I have an amazing job (caring for little people), amazing co-workers (they threw me a baby shower after I got back from maternity leave), and an amazing schedule, as far as nursing goes (1-2 days per week, no evenings or weekends).  And being able to get out of baby prison for a couple days per week has been niiiiice.  It breaks up the monotony of staying at home and makes me truly appreciate the days when I get to have her all to myself (read: eat her chubby cheeks). 

Not so awesome?  The runny noses from daycare.  Good thing there is a solution, and it is called the Nose Frida Snotsucker.  It is a glorious, glorious invention from the land of Ikea that sounds gross but is actually a lot less gross than having your baby drip snot all day.  Imma buy you one and you’ll see.

So that's the story about work.  I have a ton of respect mamas who work full time, and for those who are at home full time.  Both have their own set of challenges, and I think in the end, women have to do what is best for themselves and for their families.  

Speaking of families, here are a few pics of ours (minus the chickens, who are happily munching on strawberry tops out in the yard, and the dog, who is actively shedding on every square inch of the carpet thank you very much):

Besties with Aunt Leah

Nom nom nom cheeks

Auntie Jess came to visit!

Come back soon, friend

Love for papa

Stuff Newborns Like

Let's be real.  Newborns don't need much, no matter what the lady behind the registry counter at Babies R Us tries to tell you.  Aside from a milk source, diapers, a few blankets and onesies, and a place to sleep, they are creatures of basic needs.  Less is more.  At least that's what I'm trying to tell myself as we leave the newborn stage behind and enter the next phase of parental consumerism (read:  toys/jumpers/exersaucers/things with batteries.  Apparently we American parents are obsessed with over-stimulating our children).  That said, there were some real life-savers during those first few months, so let's discuss our seven faves. 

1) Moby wrap:  A blessing and a curse, really.  The blessing is that it's like holding your baby all the time -> happy baby.  The curse is that you now have two free hands and no excuse for why yesterday's dishes are still in the sink.  So beware:  Your baby might love this.  Mine did, which is why our house was spotless.  

Notcleaning

Evidence

2) Moses basket and rocking stand:  Loved that I could take the basket off the stand and carry her around the house if I needed to take a shower or get on the treadmill, which happened approximately once (the treadmill, not the shower.  Although some days it may have been hard to tell).  And transitioning her to a crib was easy - put basket in crib.  Done.

Baby in a basket.  Precious, no?

3) Chicco car seat and stroller frame:  If I could keep her in this car seat/stroller forever, I would.  It is lightweight, collapsable with one hand, and rides very smoothly.  I take it everywhere and have been known to push the limits of the under-basket storage at Target (who needs a shopping cart?  Maybe the lady with three gallons of milk schlepping down the aisle in her stroller frame).

4) Bebe Au Lait nursing cover:  All nursing covers are not created equal, my friends.  This one has a cute print, an adjustable wire neckline for peeking at baby, and pockets!  (Friend:  "What are the pockets for?"  "Me: ...")

5) Those long newborn nightgowns with the foldover hand cuffs:  I applaud any parent who could keep those teeny hand mitts on their child for more than 4 seconds, because I could not.  And since I could not have my baby's mug looking all scratched for her newborn photos, these gowns were great (also good for quick nighttime changes).  Just make sure to pull their hands out every once in awhile to remove the massive amounts of lint that they will hoard in their tiny fingers (Husband:  "her hand kinda smells like a belly button").

6) Snugabunny swing:  Oh my word, the swing.  Magic.  She spent pretty much every nap in this.  In fact, she's in it now...  You hear that?  Three hours of delicious silence, which I intend to make the most of by researching all 18 uses for Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps in between reading Sephora reviews.

Please unwrap my hands so I can explore my face with my tiny talons.

7) Boppy pillow:  A million moms have sung the Boppy's praises, so I'll keep this short.  It accompanied us during every single feeding for the first three months.  A good tummy time trainer.  Your baby will like it.  If not, it doubles as a neck pillow on long flights. 

Hold that head up, gurl.