This and That

When I can't put my finger on a theme that would make a good blog post, but have various and sundry photos and ideas worth sharing (that's key), I think I'll post them under "This and That".  Maybe it will become a regular feature, and we can have those link-up parties like all the other blogs do.

In the meantime...

1. Much inspired by Leila's posts over at Like Mother, Like Daughter, I've started serious menu planning. So far, very good! Our grocery bill this week was just cents over $138, and that's enough to feed four of us for about two weeks. I might have to do some orchard runs for more apples, milk, and eggs (through which we run at a prodigious rate, even for boys - I mean, two of the three are less than four feet tall!), but that's okay!

The main point is that I've started to pay more attention to the circular, dinners are veritable events (everyone heading to the table with enthusiasm instead of groans), and there's peace in my heart come 4:30.

It's been very helpful to really think about the entire meal, so that my calendar reads something like, "breaded chicken filets, steamed broccoli, rolls" instead of just "chicken", which has always been my tendency  and which doesn't inspire at all.

2. Has this ever happened to you? Someone runs the dishwasher, and then before that someone has a chance to unload it, one or the other of you pops in a dirty fork or just-used coffee mug. And then you have to wait for everything all over again.

That was becoming a somewhat regular occurrence in our home. It's embarrassing to think about how many times we let this happen until we chanced upon this oh-so-obvious solution (have you noticed that this is a theme in my life?). 

I'd read about magnets before, but usually they look like this, and I just didn't have any hanging around. 

There is, however, the one pictured above, a gift from my Aunt Alice at the baby shower for our first son. It's so lovely, and Kevin and I decided that it's what we'd use to signify that the machine's contents are clean.

So far, it has worked like a charm. Which it is. I love it so.

3. I am going to be very honest. I love cooking with my children. I also don't love cooking with my children. They fling as much as they whisk/stir, take a long time to do things, and ask lots of questions when they should be frying it up in a pan (not really - I don't let them near the stove, but I like that expression so much. Old Salt 'N Peppa - holla!)

But, oh, it's so worth it to have those little hands rolling out the dough! And honestly, it's a nice use of time on a rainy or cold day. And they do such a great job.

Witness this apple pie, the crust which was made solely by this guy here.

He is so good at measuring out that ice water (the main thing in dough, don't you think?)!

We packed up two slices for our friends down the street. They called five minutes later to say how delicious it was. Score!

4. Do you have a child like mine? Too old to wear a traditional bib (says he), we've taken to dressing him in napkins. These red gingham ones have a cowboy feel (squint and use your imagination), and with a safety pin in the back, I feel very retro and Ma Ingalls-like. I do so love channeling Caroline.

5. Finally, fall outfits. Please try to look past the dirty, smudgy mirrors. I promise to get to them today.

For apple-picking and school trips to the orchard: slim-fit jeans over ankle boots, a longer tunic to cover the low-rise of said jeans (I am so over low-rise; very uncomfortable; I hope to accidentally make an irreparable hole in all of them), and a nice chunky sweater.

And for work: black heels, stockings (thank you Kate Middleton, for making them cool again!), a sleeveless sheath dress from TJ Maxx - one day I'll show it in all its glory, as it is amazing - and a white cardigan to keep it parochial-school appropriate.

That's it, darlings! Enjoy your weekend! Link up in the comments if you have a similar "This and That" post!