Just a little round-up of cozy pastimes to pass the time in winter! Knitting in the New Year I've been on rather a knitting spree since Christmas, with a renewed interest in the hobby since I successfully learned some new stitches, like this pretty simple seed stitch. Until now, I had been stuck in a habit of just rectangles, stockinette or garter stitch only. Learning how to increase and decrease stitches has also created new possibilities! :) Cranberry Orange Muffins These were a recent recipe revamping success... so pleased with how they turned out. I used my favorite zucchini muffin recipe ..read more

Between the dreary weather and the news lately, I think we could all use some comfort. (Well, to be fair, yesterday was quite glorious. However the majority of this spring has been cool and/or rainy.) In today's post, I'm sharing a couple of recipes- one easy, one a bit more involved- but both guaranteed to conjure warm, fuzzy feelings and make us forget the unpleasant goings-on outside. ,Tuna Casserole This is the simpler one, and has been my favorite since I was a little kid. Here's what you'll need... Ingredients 1 box mac & cheese 1 can tuna 1 can cream of mushroom 1 can sweet peas 1 ..read more

Gosh, have I missed skating since last winter! It was so wonderful to get back on the ice and brush up the few skills I had learned. Figure skating has always been my favorite event to watch on the Winter Olympics (which start in Beijing on February 4th, by the way! Who else is watching?) Though I'm light-years away from performing a triple axel... or any kind of axel for that matter, I still value the chance to test myself a bit each time I lace up my skates. It's fun to observe the progress I make with each practice. Because I've reached a certain level with piano, the improvements aren't a ..read more

Merry Christmas Eve! This year I had a fun idea to feature my holiday snowglobes in a series, where I play their music box tunes on piano. Christmas got here a bit quicker than I was anticipating, but I had the chance to record two of them! First was "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," which always makes me feel nostalgic because it's played during the closing credits of A Christmas Story. Click this link to listen. The other features "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." I just love this Lorie Line arrangement.. It's grand and delicate in equal measure. (Linked here.) Wishing you all the v ..read more

I caught the holiday decor bug early this year. The first of November, I really wanted to put up the Christmas tree, though I knew it was far too soon. As a compromise, I made it a "Thanksgiving Tree," which satisfied my longing for greenery and twinkly lights, but was more seasonally appropriate. Laden with pumpkins, pinecones, and pheasant feathers, I think it makes a lovely and unique transition towards a Christmas tree. I also jotted down some of the things I'm thankful for and tucked these among the branches. Before I sign off, I'd like to share some music with you. Music is always at t ..read more

A little over a month ago, I began this crazy endeavor called the "100 Day Dress Challenge." It was started by a small company called Wool& to demonstrate the sustainability of wool clothing, as well as to make a point about simplifying your wardrobe needs. Wool& challenges customers to wear one of their dresses for 100 days straight. As a reward, they offer $100 of store credit upon completion. I was intrigued (dress fanatic that I am) and decided to give it a try. I bet you're already wondering, are you allowed to wash the dress? And yes, you absolutely are! One of the great things ..read more

Wrapping up the zucchini challenge in today's post. I saved some of the best for last! Cranberry Walnut Zucchini Muffins These have earned a place as runner-up to my favorite muffin of all time (number 1 being these raspberry chocolate chip beauties) This Taste of Home recipe makes a really tiny batch, so I ended up tripling it. Using just 1 measly cup of zucchini hardly qualifies as a worthy contribution in the "we-have-to-use-it-all-up-now-or-it's-going-to-rot" campaign. (If you have a big garden too, you know what I mean. Ha!) Another thing that I like about this recipe is that it's easy ..read more

Happy Friday, all! Well, it's officially autumn as of September 22nd. The air is crisper and mums are dotting porch steps everywhere. Other years I tended to jump the gun, but I think I'm justified in my fall mania at this point. :) Here's a roundup of favorite autumnal activites, along with a smattering of quotes. Hope you enjoy! Take Fido for a woodland walk. Beautiful any time of year, but especially recommended in fall. And no danger of your furry friend overheating like there is in summer. I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees. ~Henry David Thoreau Open up your ..read more

I'll admit these next recipes I tried for the Great Zucchini Challenge are a bit on the zany side (thus the title) but are nevertheless good and worth baking again. The best thing about a challenge of course is pushing yourself to think outside the box. So bear with me here for these creatively crazy bakes... Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cookies Perhaps not the most beautiful cookie that ever there was, but like I said, still worth trying. I'd suggest baking these more time rather than less so that they get that lovely, crisp, florentine-like edge. These are a fun, little 2-bite cookie that are per ..read more

Another installment of the Great Zucchini Challenge coming your way! In this post, I'm sharing an option for both dessert and dinner. Let's start with the dessert, since life is short, ya know? :) Ginger Zucchini Bread with Lemon Glaze I used this Bon Appetit recipe. They always have some creative and cutting-edge flavor ideas, right up there with Epicurious. As you know, I can't just leave a recipe as it's written. (Like music.. I just have to embellish!) Instead of the spiced streusel topping they suggested, I made a simple glaze with lemon and powdered sugar. Also left out the cardamom; th ..read more