This is a no-brainer zero-waste meal...veggies plopped right into a shopping bag (no silly plastic, produce bags)...rice, peanuts, spices + honey from the bulk bins...chives from the garden...and tamari + vinegar from recyclable glass bottles. The veggies can be different every time. It's a great fridge clean-out meal just before grocery day. Add more protein...chickpeas...chicken? Adjust your spice level. These meals are all just inspiration...zero-waste ideas. Mix it up...use what you have...make it yours.

This is one of those meals that I feel like I could eat every night. It is so colorful, filling + tasty with no guilt.

Zero-waste Stir fry

2 large carrots, sliced 
1 red pepper, chopped
1/3 cabbage, chopped
brown rice, cooked
peanuts
chives
(we had some leeks, so I threw them in too)

sauce:
2 Tbsp. tamari
2 Tbsp. white or cider vinegar 
1 Tbsp. honey
1 tsp. cayenne
1 tsp. chili powder

Saute carrots, pepper, + cabbage over medium heat in a skillet with a bit of coconut oil. (Or steam the veggies, if you like.) Meanwhile cook rice and assemble sauce. Layer and enjoy!

Love,
Jane

There are also some lovely independently designed sewing patterns for jumpsuits...and, of course, there are vintage sewing patterns out there as well!
​
All photos via links.

Love,
Jane

Julia is my sous chef. Every evening as soon as I start rattling pots or pans, she appears, ready to help. I love the time we spend together in anticipation of the good things we are about to eat.

In thinking about these summer months and trying to come up with ways for us to pass the time in fun ways...I thought that maybe I could find a cookbook to provide some inspiration. I don't currently own any cookbooks, because usually there are 0-2 recipes per book that I really want to make again and again.  :) Most of the time I just use cookbooks as inspiration, so the library is the perfect source.

When my turn to check this book out finally came...I started recording which recipes I'd like to try...and soon the list was long enough to warrant the purchase. Feeding a Family by Sarah Waldman will be Julia's and my activity book of sorts...for the summer...and I'm guessing...beyond. 

What I look for in a recipe:
​-taste
-nutrition
-zero-waste potential (a few substitutes can be made)
-whole food ingredients
-vegetarian options or adaptation possibilities

Feeding a Family checks all of the boxes...maybe not every recipe...but a lot!

I suggested that maybe Julia would like to choose a recipe from this book each week to make together. She asked, "When? Tomorrow?" So...that was yesterday...and these pictures are from today! :) Yum...Leek, Red Potato, + Feta Galette. We will definitely be making this again...next time with our own potatoes! We sincerely recommend this cookbook...from the library or otherwise!  :)

Love,
Jane + Julia

The recent resimplifying of my wardrobe focused not only on my transitional wardrobe, but also looked forward toward my warm weather wardrobe. We are well into the warm weather here now. Fireflies light up the backyard each evening, and tomatoes are ripening in the garden. Sleeveless tops feel best...pants only in air-conditioned spaces...walks early in the morning to avoid the heat. Summer has arrived.

This season in my wardrobe, I decided to focus only on two silhouettes rather than my usual three. After a few seasons of not wearing shorts...I'm wearing them often.

Silhouettes ::
-Jumpsuit + pact tank
-tank + shorts 

If I worked in a casual office setting, I would probably adapt this to include a work silhouette of cropped, straight pants + top...and/or dresses.

My color scheme focuses on ::
-white
-clay
-pale denim
-indian block prints

While my current stack does not really show this focus...the pieces that I add will. I want my tops to be able to mix with as many pairs of shorts as possible...but, I also want to use what I have. So here's the plan:

tops ::
-white linen tanks x2
-black linen tank
-block print tank (made out of a top I had)
-pajama tank :)
-block print*

shorts ::
-olive
-denim tencel* 
-block print*

jumpsuits ::
-clay
-navy
-black

dress ::
​-stripe

layers ::
-indigo long-sleeved tee
-another*

footwear ::
-clog sandals
-vejas
-flip flops

total pieces :: 14  (possibly 18*)

* = Planned sewing projects.  I have a lovely indian block print fabric just waiting to become something special (pressure to choose the right something). I have the denim tencel as well.

I haven't put my tees away just yet, but don't often like the extra fabric at the arm in the summer months. I'm always trying to keep the air-conditioning going as little as possible...so every little bit helps.

These pieces are a good mix of handmade + thrifted + fair buys. I do love that the warm weather wardrobe can be quite small and totally feel like enough!

Love,
Jane

let's make origins a priority.

The day arrived to pull up the rest of the radishes from the garden. I have to admit that there were less left than I'd thought. We really enjoyed grabbing a handful of these each evening to top pretty much every dinner we've eaten since they were first ready to pick.

I decided to add a few chives, since we have lots of them in the garden as well.

I wanted to preserve these radishes, so that they will be tasty for a few days rather than fading fast. The Easiest Pickle recipe was used as a sort of guide...substituting what sounded good with the radishes.

Easiest Pickled Radishes

radishes, sliced
chives, chopped
salt
sugar
cayenne
vinegar

I simply packed the jar tight with radishes + chives, sprinkled the seasonings on top, poured the jar full of vinegar and screwed the top on. Shake well before refrigerating. These will taste best after a few hours and will keep up to a week. Yum.

Love,
Jane

Just in case you are in the market for a pair of fair roller-skates. And these are convertible too! 

You're welcome.
Jane ;)

As I put the transitional wardrobe rest, I foresee it's autumn iteration focusing on::

comfy (but cute) pants:
-olive
-jeans (with a bit of stretch, cut-off cropped + slightly tapered leg)
-elastic waisted sewn pants 

simple tees + box top:
-white tee
-black tees x2
-navy tee
-rose tee
-sewn flowered box top

a few comfy layers:
-black sweatshirt
-cream sweatshirt
​-tan cardigan
-indigo long-sleeved tee
-striped 3/4 sleeve tee
-button-down
-denim jacket

a jumpsuit that can be layered + dressed up or down:
-black

dresses:
-navy
-striped

footwear that I love:
-clogs
-vejas
-flats

These are all pieces that I already own. There is no wish list for new pieces. I know that I would have been quite happy with just these pieces this spring!

​There. That feels better!

Love,
Jane

I read recently about roasted radishes. Since we have radishes growing right in our backyard...and we've been eating them as a crunchy + spicy addition to almost every meal lately...we had to try them roasted! Ours lost their spicy edge in the oven, but we did like them. They resemble roasted golden beets or turnips in flavor + consistency, when roasted. Radishes make a colorful addition to any dish + this is no exception.

Zero-waste Roasted Radish Bowl

potatoes
carrots
onion 
radishes
olive oil
salt + pepper flakes
quinoa, cooked
eggs, boiled

Chop the vegetables + toss with a little olive oil + salt. Roast at 425F until edges brown. Meanwhile cook quinoa + boil eggs. Top with a bit of cheese, if you have a cheese lover like Julia in the house. :)  Enjoy!

Love, 
Jane

Friday's post usually goes under the category of simply said, so I'll try to keep this as simple as possible. Yesterday our (American) president withdrew our nation from the Paris Climate Agreement. My head is spinning. I'm so angry... and sad... and angry... and sad.

Coral reefs are dying, melting glaciers warp the earth's surface, heatwaves rage, record temperatures soar (53.5 C / 128F!!), coastlines erode, cyclones and landslides cause massive flooding, devastating drought threatens farmland and water supplies...and those are just stories from the last two weeks! People on every continent are affected by these events. 

The United States is the biggest carbon polluter in history. We the (majority of) American people agree that we want to be a part of the effort to slow climate change. 

Solar + wind create jobs. Coal and fracking are silly investments.

It's time to get to work. Hawaii, California, and Atlanta have made their own climate commitments. We can influence our own cities and states. 

Places to get connected to your local chapter (or start one!):
350.org
Sierra Club
Greenpeace

See you in the trenches.

Love, 
Jane