A couple of weeks ago...before the vegetables from the fields were quite ready...our CSA box included a jar canned beets. Feta seems like the perfect compliment to beets...so I put some feta into a container I brought from home at the grocery store salad bar. This meal utilizes lots of the goodness available at the beginning of the growing season + it's really tasty (and pretty) as well! Use what's available...this is what is on this plate. :)
Beets + Feta Bowl 1 jar of canned beets (or roasted beets) spring onion greens brown rice feta chickpeas olive oil lemon salt + pepper flakes Whisk together a dressing from 1 part olive oil, 2 parts lemon juice, salt + pepper flakes to taste (I use a fork to mix...no mini whisk necessary). Combine + enjoy! Love, Jane Above is one iteration of what I thought my simple summer wardrobe could look like. My thoughts were: comfy shapes...comfy shoes. Layer the tanks over the short jumpsuits + wear those same tanks with the sarouelles. That or one + done dressing with a jumpsuit. Enough. I've been searching thrift stores + resale sites + using sales to assemble the pieces...but it hasn't all worked out quite like I planned. There were some fit issues...some is-that-really-what-I-want-to-wear reconsiderations...and now I'm back to trying to figure it out. I was all set for this post to be about having my magical simple summer wardrobe all set, but decided that this space is as much about the figuring it out...the process...as anything. I don't have tons of money...and I don't have sponsors throwing stuff at me. (I've never wanted this space to be an advertisement...rather a resource. If I couldn't/wouldn't buy it with my own money, it's not real.) I'm trying to wear what I have, but I can (responsibly) switch out a piece or three a couple of times per year. I don't have tons of stellar, well-curated, local thrift stores to shop. I'm not a size 0, who fits into anything + everything. I'm not complaining...just saying that I'm pretty regular (?). :) A few things that I have learned/am trying to deepen my understanding of: -I'm happy wearing a few pieces that I love over + over. For me, this is desirable because it means I am using less resources + will get closer to using pieces up before moving on to something new. -I can keep shopping to about twice per year (spring + autumn). I want to have rest periods where I am just content with what I have + not searching for more. -I want my clothing to be proportioned + colored to flatter me. I'm not personally interested in less simply for the sake of less. -There is nothing simpler than one-piece dressing. -I value comfort and want to look put together in public. -Keeping the numbers of my clothes few can present the challenge of needing everything to mix with everything else...on my body...and for all situations. -Uniform dressing is appealing, but I'm afraid I would get tired of a true uniform quickly. My sort of uniform dressing seems to be choosing a silhouette or two or three + wearing them on repeat. Explore further. -A benefit of buying name brand clothing is that it can be sold (responsibly passed on) + usually retains much of its value (but it is usually expensive)...vs. the benefit of buying thrifted pieces is that I am reusing (but it may be hard to resell)...vs. the benefit of making my own clothing is that I know someone in a sweat-shop didn't make it (but it may not turn out to fit/flatter). The best is being lucky enough to find a used, brand name piece of clothing in my size (unicorn!). Under the utmost of consideration at the moment: -Could I simply wear a couple/few pieces that I love on repeat? A couple to wear out of the house + a couple of older ones to wear more as loungewear? Could this be a clothing "system" to implement? All photos via links (unlinked photo: mine). Love,
Jane Strawberry season is not around for long, but while it's here...it is glorious! We have one 4 x 8 foot garden bed dedicated to strawberries. Once planted, they come up every year (for about 7 years, we were told) without much extra care. Freshly picked strawberries in my breakfast granola + yogurt is about as good as it gets. Once the strawberries really start rolling in, there are enough that I need to freeze some in order to keep up. This fact makes me feel rich, because...this means strawberry smoothies for later...and...this year...ice-cream! I don't buy cream very often...pretty much only at Thanksgiving for the pumpkin pie...but zero-waste ice-cream seemed like a good enough reason to indulge. 2 cups frozen strawberries + 3/4 cup cream + a bit of honey or sugar (very rough measurements) blended = amazing! I don't have a fancy blender, but mine worked just fine with a little coaxing + stirring. Save some for later, if possible!
Love, Jane The way to be happy-
keep your heart free from hate, your mind free from worry, live simply, expect little, give much. Scatter sunshine, forget self, think of others. ~Norman Vincent Peale |
on a journey toward zero-waste, simplicity, + compassion :: daring to choose fair one choice at a time
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