MAKE: PEPPER WREATH RISTRAS

i was walking around the sunday farmer's market yesterday morning in our old beloved town to pick up some leeks to make vichyssoise  and a few other things for this week when i happened upon a dried wreath booth that truly took my breath away. among some of the wreaths were strands of chili peppers and garlic, or "ristras" as they're known in mexico. while beautiful, the price tag was a bit steep ($60+) and i figured i could just make them my own for ninety percent less and perhaps make a bunch as gifts this christmas.

honestly, it doesn't take much to inspire me. yesterday, it just so happened to be garlic and peppers.

afterwards, i headed to a mexican market to get my peppers + garlic, and let me tell you - a giant bag of chili peppers costs less than two dollars! and fresh garlic cloves were less than a dollar a pound! you can't beat those prices, especially when using them to make a beautiful craft that will last for practically ever.

i have made three strands so far. one with red chili peppers + garlic. one with large dark purple chili peppers, garlic + eucalyptus (which i found on our walk around the neighborhood). and one with chili peppers + dried flowers (hydrangeas, mums, and purple stock) + wheat. i love the dried flower and pepper one the most because it

anyways, on to the tutorial! i didn't google how to make these, and i am sure there a million ways that are far more professional, but i just did what came naturally and made the most sense.

supplies:

a bag of chili peppers (found at any mexican market)

garlic cloves 

dried flowers

wheat

eucalyptus 

bay leaves (optional)

twine

scissors

needle (large enough for twine to go through)

corn husk (i just took it off of some indian corn i had already)

directions:

*warning: make sure you do this project away from children. the chili peppers break easily and their seeds can disperse all over the place. and they are hot! and make sure not to touch your eyes (i made that mistake a few times).

start by cutting your twine in the length that you prefer. tie a sturdy knot at the end and start "sewing" in your ingredients in whatever order you like. i started with garlic on the bottom (simply insert needle on the side, your needle may not be large enough to go to the center) and then "sew" in your peppers (i like to stack them on the needle then gently pull them down). the peppers will naturally go every which way which makes it really beautiful once all together. after you have about forty or so peppers, add in either another piece of garlic or dried flower and then continue with more peppers. 

at the end, add your corn husks as a pretty topper. you can even tie it into a bow! after the husks, make a sturdy knotted loop so it can hang.

that's it! 

AUTUMN AT HOME // A PLAYLIST FOR YOU

i have gotten many requests for this, so i finally sat down and taught myself a way to embed this here for you all. i had so much fun making it and putting together an easy listening mix of some of my current favorite songs that get played in our home. i think i will make this a regular thing and base each playlist on the season and my current moods. i think my next playlist will be titled "early morning alone" or perhaps "cooking at sunset" or maybe even "late night after the children are asleep."

 enjoy dear friends.

 xo

 

HOME / A FEW GLIMPSES.

it is the second of november and there is something so magical about this month, something unlike any other, really. the light shines in this mercurial glow and i find myself chasing its story in my home, trying to be a part of it, bask in it, take it all in like a good book or a perfect cup of coffee before your children rise.

we are working on small projects in our home and while the list is vast, there is something deeply romantic about working on small things together. while steve works on tiling or building me ledges to place my tiny collections of things, i work on scrubbing and simplifying and making a hundred year old structure into a home. my husband's five o'clock shadow on his face show signs of the day's hard work, and at night i run my hands across it as he puts on a record and drinks his cabernet. it is rough and prickly and beautiful.  i think it makes his eyes stand out even more. i beg him not shave, but he laughs and assures me it will grow back each time.

the kids are settling into a new rhythm here. our nap times happen at the same time each day and their lavender baths before bed is something of a ritual we have all grown excited about. gus turns on the water, strips himself down to nothing, and hops on in. while the spout is still running, i undress fiorella, who waits ever so excitedly - joyfully -  at the edge of the tub and screams with glee as she waits for her turn to be plopped on in.  i usually sit against the wall and play music and watch as they enjoy themselves, brother and sister, and stare in utter amazement that i made those two beautiful souls unabashedly laughing.

after a tough and long search, we finally found a preschool for our augustus and it is actually sweeter than i could have imagined. in our search, it was essential for us that when we walked in, we would have this feeling that yes, our boy will be loved here and yes, our beautiful boy will thrive here. so, so many did not have that feeling and it was becoming so daunting for us. but finally, we found one that means everything to us already, and it is actually not too far from our door. i am so excited to have him in a place he will love and will be loved, and i am so excited to watch him bloom even further.

this evening we have plans to go for a walk in the painted green wagon and to light a fire right before their bedtime so they get to enjoy it for a bit before we enjoy the rest just as a couple ;) it is such an important and quiet time for us and i am already counting down the hours for it to happen. we decided to host thanksgiving here this year, so we are already planning where everyone will go in our tiny home and it's been such hopeful conversation in the evening talking about our menu, steve's famous mashed potatoes (he uses roasted garlic and cream cheese in his!) and i have been scheming up the table decor. i'm thinking woodland forest this year!

anyways, i hope you are all having a wonderful start to your november. i am compiling a playlist to share on here (it may be my most requested message lately!) so i can't wait to share it hopefully tomorrow.

be well friends xxxo

HALLOWEEN 2016

happy day after halloween, dear friends. i hope yours was safe and darling and cozy.

ours was quiet and simple and kind of just how we intended it to be. gus was dressed up as a pilot and fiorella was a garden gnome. both were kind of last minute ideas, using what we already had, and i must say, it really does pay to have vintage baby clothes on hand!

we went trick-or-treating in a quiet neighborhood nearby and laughed hysterically at gus going up to the doors (which was much different than last year when he was too afraid). he would knock on the doors WHILE simulatenously yelling TRICK-OR-TREAT and when they didn't answer within .2 seconds, he would then yell "can you please open the door please?"

i texted my mom a video of him going up to a house, and her response was "this is the good stuff sweetheart!"

yes, i totally, completely, agree.

xxo