Time for an installment of Weekend Things:
1. We’re moving in the next couple weeks. We’ve lived in this small urban condo (the photo makes it look spacious – it’s not) for over two years and while it’s been fine, we’ve outgrown it and are ready for a change.
There’s a ton of street noise and sirens because we’re near a hospital, there’s thin walls and noisy neighbors, and a gym moved into the building and I’m sick of feeling my walls shake every time someone slams a stack of weights.
I developed all the recipes for my blog since May 2011 in this kitchen, and all the recipes in my cookbook.
I’ve washed thousands of dishes in that sink and I will not miss it one bit!
My new kitchen is lighter, brighter, and airier. Although it’s not more spacious, and has less storage space if that’s even possible. Yikes.
However, it’s much more open and I think I will like the layout better. If nothing else, I can look out the window while I’m in it. In my current kitchen, I’ve had a view of 3 walls.
Our new place is still urban, it’s still small, it’s still near my daughter’s school, it’s still a rental, but it’s new to us, and we are really excited.
It’s the lightest, brightest, most open and airy place I’ve lived in in ages, and the fabulous lighting for photography is a huge score.
2. But moving means packing, endless bags of trash and clutter being pitched, donations and trips to Goodwill, and the overall exhausting, seemingly never-ending task that is packing.
I keep telling myself it will be worth it when I’m unpacked. That’s the fun part. Getting my stuff in it’s new spot. But the boxing it all up part. Not so fun.
3. Embrace Your Dirty Hair – Five reasons why we all need to embrace our dirty hair (It’s a slide-show and you have to click on the red arrow on the right).
I’m personally a big fan of not washing more than every third day or so, and wash mine twice a week, give or take. In high school and college I would have died at the thought, but there are so many reasons why washing less, is more. It saves so much time first and foremost, it’s healthier for your hair, and I’m not blowing through expensive bottles of shampoo and conditioner nearly as quickly.
4. This walk-in pantry, and how organized it is. I’d kill for a pantry of that size. I have cupboards and shelves, and not a pantry but I’d love one.
And one I can walk into with 20 pastel-colored cake stands and glass jars to keep my dry goods? No words.
5. DIY Cro-Nots. What’s a cro-not? A pastry with the flakiness of a croissant, but the fluffiness of a doughnut. I’ll take two dozen.
6. These plates from Anthro, $24 each. I want them all.
7. A Day in the Life of a Food Blogger – A list of 20 things that no one tells you about food blogging and I have read lots of similar type lists over the years, but Russel’s list takes the cake as the most accurate, most hilarious, and most spot-on of any. A must read.
8. Beehive Cake Pan, $39 at World Market
9. I want to make this Peanut Butter Honey Buttermilk Cake with Chocolate-Peanut Butter Streusel as beehive and play up the honey theme.
10. Do yourself a favor and make a Malibu Sunset. It’s the perfect summery drink for a warm weekend afternoon. They go down ridiculously easy. You’ll thank me later.
What are your Weekend Things? Fan of dirty hair? (I am!)
If you’ve made anything, done, seen, or bought anything fabulous recently, feel free to link it up in the comments.
When was the last time you moved? Plans to move soon? When you’re looking at places to live, what’s most important to you – floorplan, square footage, neighborhood, noise level, proximity to your work/school, how close it is to the stores and places you go, etc.?
I’d rather live in a smaller urban place than live in a larger place in the burbs, and I’d rather compromise slightly on the neighborhood and am willing to deal with some noise or parking challenges if it means I get a kitchen that’s light and bright. So many pros/cons to think of. I’ll take that Malibu Sunset now.
Congrats on the move! I am so ready to move, now I just have to make it happen – easier said than done. So nice to have windows in the kitchen. We have a hummingbird feeder on our kitchen window and the little guys visit while baking and doing dishes. We do have a big pantry like that and I can’t imagine life without it, but the pantry can never be big enough!
My mom is always bugging me to skip washing my hair but I just can’t do it. Maybe I’ll try one day!
Stop washing it. You will LOVE the extra time you have and how healthy your hair will be (not that it looks unhealthy now – it always looks awesome!) but yeah, a nice little break to give yourself :)
And moving – making it happen. That’s what this one is. Just doing it and dealing with it. Oh, the work.
We just moved this summer so I feel your pain. But I agree—getting all of your stuff in a new space is so fun! Good luck. :)
Congrats on your new place!
Congrats on the move! Moving is so exciting, but also so daunting at the same time! We rent too, so I have done my fair share of packing boxes. Ugh. Sounds so not fun! But I cannot wait to see your new places and most importantly your kitchen!
Okay and the walk in pantry? I love that! So amazing!
And with a large family, you guys must have extra boxes to pack and unpack :)
Good luck with your move! As I’ve followed your blog over the years, I know you’ve done this before (and I remember reading about the Arizona move too). Packing everything up has to be a bit overwhelming. I’ve been in my house 20 yrs and just moving things around 10 yrs ago to have our hardwood floors installed was enough…and I’m a bit of a minimalist when it comes to stuff and decor. Loved the link to a day in the life of a food blogger–a good laugh is the best way to start the day. I think I will make some dehydrated veggie chips–jicama and eggplant with smoked paprika. I hope I still have chutney left for dipping!!
jicama and eggplant with smoked paprika <-- you know what's funny is when I wrote back to you yesterday about the chutney and said to use root veggies like carrots or whatever you have, jicama was on the tip of my tongue and I was spacing out on the name! Kohlrabi, jicama, rutebage, all those forgotten about veggies that no one seems to use much, I bet they be great in the chutney. Or as dehydrated chips! And wow, you have been following me a long time. 4+ yrs or so if you remember the AZ move. That was what I call post-partum bad decision making :) We were only there 9 mos and I couldn't take it any longer. Lol But yeah I have done this all before and it's just time to get in a new space but it's so daunting!
I would love not to have to wash everyday but with running or any exercise, how can you. Especially with curly/wavy hair like me.
Good luck on your move. I would love to move but the houses are still not selling here. I am a one day unpacker. I will not sleep at all on the day I move until everything is put in its place and I can start living the new place. I know kind of crazy but have always done it in my numerous moves.
Good luck with the move.
I am a one day unpacker. I will not sleep at all on the day I move until everything is put in its place and I can start living the new place. <--- I AM THE SAME I cannot live until it's all done. I will work, round the clock, til it is. I get energy out of thin air I think. Just looking at those boxes and all that crap makes me keep on working til my interior is in calm, clean, working order :) Working out and wavy hair and getting all hot...yes, I know. My hair is naturally wavy and there are times when it just feels...dirty. Sometimes I break down and wash every other day but your hair gets used to it after awhile and it'll produce less oil as you 'train' it :)
I’m the same way. Hate that unsettled feeling. I have a best friend who’s still unpacking after nearly a year and I don’t get it. Of course she doesn’t get how I can unpack a whole house in one day either!
I try my hardest to.not.rest until my house is unpacked and everything is settled. Looking at boxes when I’m in the new place is just not happening since I’ve already been looking at them and living out of them for weeks leading up!
I’m a big fan of not washing my hair everyday. I wash usually every 3 days and then often condition every-other day to every 3 days or so as well. It helps my hair hold it’s curl better. I love it!
Good luck with the move! The packing may not be fun but I LOVE moving and getting myself organized in a new, clean space! :)
Your hair sounds so healthy just reading your comment :)
Good luck with the move. Ugh. I hate moving, haven’t done it in seven years, don’t care to do it again.
I’m so with you on the minimal hair washing. I shampoo twice a week, once with shampoo then once with a tablespoon of baking soda diluted in a cup of warm water. Since I started this routine, my hair has never been better. I didn’t think I would like shampooing with baking soda because I really like a good strong lather but I really don’t mind it.
Ive read so much about the no-shampooing method and using baking soda and I know some ppl it works for. For me, when I do wash, I love those good smelling chemicals in real shampoo :) I figure I’m doing enough already just not washing more than 2x a week or so!
I am moving next summer and am actually looking forward to it. Usually, I hate moving and the packing and boxes but this time: I’m pumped! :) Sounds like your new place is going to be pretty cool too!
You already know your plans for next summer? I wish I knew mine for like 2 weeks away :) I used to be such a planner, too! good luck with your move!
We’ve lived in our current home for six years today. It’s two stories with a basement, so there are a lot of stairs. My hubby and I often discuss downsizing, since when we bought it we expected more kids, but now know it will just be one. I would LOVE a large pantry/mud room/laundry area and would happily give up square footage for a more convenient layout in that department. A window at the sink is a must for me…I bet you’ll really appreciate that! Oh, and a dishwasher. Mine died two days ago and it will be over a week until the new one can be installed, so let’s say there won’t be much baking going on here until it arrives! Best of luck on the move; you gotta love a fresh start!
Simple things like a window over the sink….YES! I cannot wait for things like that. It’s the little touches that just make 6 hours in the kitchen seem pleasant or dark and closed-off! And not having a DW. Mine in this place is so bad that I do more handwashing than running it. I will be happy to have one that works again :)
Good Luck with your move. The new place sounds like it’s going to be so much better for you.
I’m making 2 of your recipes today. The PB cheesecake bars from the other day and the Malibu sunset drink. Super excited but nervous-the pressure of having them look like yours…eeek. I’ll let you know how they turn out.
Please do LMK how they turn out! And there’s no pressure! How ever they turn out, they turn out. How they taste will be more important :) Keep me posted!
LOVE that baking pantry, and I can’t wait to see pics of your new kitchen!
I am moving in mid-September. I am excited and scared all at the same time. My husband is obsessed with the cro-nut. I will be looking at that link soon.
I wash my hair maybe once a week! Def a fan.
I just updated the post. I forgot to chime in as much about my own hair. Yeah, 2x a week for me.
We moved yesterday from a small 2 bed house to a 4 bed house with a much bigger kitchen, so exciting! I hate the packing as well, so stressful. But unpacking is good, particularly deciding where to put stuff in our new kitchen :-) good luck with your own move Averie!
You just moved yesterday and you’re already blog reading, well, that just means you’re feeling settled and life is good. CONGRATS! Deciding where to put stuff in the kitchen is like the BIGGEST thing for me! More so than any other decision related to the move!
Good luck with the moving! I really hate unpacking stuff too, which is terrible because I’m also moving house in September :(( But in the end, it’ll be worth it!
All those plates are amazing, I wish I had them all. So so beautiful!
Have a lovely weekend! xx
Oh good luck with your move, too! Hope it goes smoothly for you!
First of all, good luck with the moving! I haven’t for over a decade, however I had to madly pack and throw away a lot of things two years ago when we fumigated, so I feel your pain.
I am a huge fan of dirty hair. My hairdresser says you shouldn’t wash it more frequently than every other at most, or every third or fourth day anyway – strips away the natural protective oils. (Washing your hair less frequently also leaves more energy for cardio, hah!)
I bought the holy grail of leopard print high-heeled boots this evening as a treat to myself for making two huge pans of blondies for the Relay For Life fundraiser tomorrow in National City – and used your cornstarch trick for both to great success. My sister – my baked goods litmus test, staunch Extraordinary Desserts fan – was over here doing laundry, and she kept going back for more. Happy weekend!
I just updated the post a bit about my own hair. Forgot to chime in what I do. I wash 2x a week, every 3rd day or so. Totally agree with your hairdresser on everything!
Glad your blondies and the cornstarch trick worked and impressed even your staunchest critic! And your boots sound AMAZING! Good luck with your fundraiser!