by Laurie May on October 26, 2011
My new favorite book is a cookbook. What’s happening to the non-fiction and self-help books that are piled by my bedside? I tend to fall asleep whenever I think about reading one of those these days. And, well, I’m a mama, trying to make healthy food for me and my family, that is also delicious and easy to prepare. Is that so much to ask?
Enter “Super Natural Everyday“. Thank you, Heidi Swanson, for making the book I didn’t know I was looking for. Gorgeous photos of yummy food, easy to follow recipes with a mix of my standby ingredients and a few new things I’m nervous to try. Everything (really, every single thing) I have made from this book is delicious. And seriously easy to make, entering our weekly and monthly meal roatation.
I’ve already made the Miso-Curry Delicata Squash (my photo of it above) twice already, and I just got the book from the library a few weeks ago, finally purchasing my own copy this week. YUM.
by Laurie May on October 8, 2011
I know I pretty much do this every year, but it’s time for some reminiscing. Five years ago today yesterday (who thought I would finish a blog post in a day? Not me!), John and I were married. It was a warm fall day, with amazing foliage all around, and we were surrounded by so many of the people we love; it really was one of the best days ever!
It feels a little more special this year, I guess the five-year-mark is a milestone, and also to be sharing this day with Natalie. She’s napping now (of course, how else would I do this?) — but we have lots of fun planned for the day, also including a toddler-less dinner out for mommy and daddy (rev: we did this! It was awesome! We went to Nudel — YUM!), but she’ll have fun with her Grammy so she won’t even notice!
So here’s to love, marriage, babies, all the fun and awesome stuff, plus they yuck in-between that makes us appreciate these love-soaked days, and to all the people who help hold up a couple’s love and convince us to share it with the world. Happy Anniversary, darlin’, I love you so much!
by Laurie May on October 3, 2011
by Laurie May on September 5, 2011
Don't you just love this IT'S OK handmade affirmation banner by ashleyannabrown on Etsy?
my whole self, my true self. It’s coming through, I can feel it. I love Martha Beck and how she puts it — if you quiet the mind, you will see it all come out. Spilling, rushing, floating to the top, waiting to be freed from the confines you have put it in. Why do we have to be practical in our dreams? Oh we so totally don’t. That’s the beauty of it. The beauty of this messed up crazy world we live in. I’m choosing to not wait until I find myself with a terminal disease or some kind of tragedy to wake up. I’m starting to EAT RIGHT, to lessen stress, to listen to my real innate desires and longings, to be myself. It’s awesome. I highly recommend it.
So here we are. Another month gone and “Laurie Coyle Designs” isn’t doing much designing at all. But that’s ok. I think I’m designing my life, trying to figure out what the ideal version of that might be. Isn’t that the most important kind of work? If you don’t agree, I think you best be moving on and stop reading this blog, because I think, as they say, shit’s about to get REAL around here. That’s ok, right? Isn’t that what you’re looking for? Some kind of reality-TV glimpse into my life? I’m pretty sure that’s what I’m looking for on other people’s blogs. And I’m not going to bother to censor myself in case someone “important” is reading. You are ALL important, and those of you who agree with me or at least are intrigued by me and the realness, you are the ones I’m writing for anyway. So there. And I love you for coming back again and again. Or not. Whatevs. It is what it is.
And I think “the Real World” was a really good show. At least back in 1995 or whenever Puck was on it.
xo L
by Laurie May on August 14, 2011
I was going to reopen my Etsy shop this weekend.
But instead, I’m going to cook, and clean, and sort baby clothes. Do yoga, share photos, send presents to new babies and friends. Buy wedding gifts and eat brownies. Pet the cat. Try to be nicer to my amazing husband. Plan a beach vacation. And maybe even watch some “Master Chef” on hulu. I am keeping busy and learning to live a little simpler and enjoy spending time with Nat and John and friends and our dog. I have been mending toys and clothes, but I haven’t made anything in over a moth. And I’m ok with that.
It’s some sort of transition and I’m embracing it.
If you had told me a few years ago, or even one year ago, that I’d be leaning away from owning a small artistic/creative business to be a “homemaker” with a part-time job in someone else’s business, I would have probably said you were crazy. But here we are. I’m trying to go on a low-stress diet, and I think it’s working. More-or-less, of course.
For now, it’s a wait-and-see, and that’s really ok. Isn’t it? I still have big things up my sleeves, and I’m not abandoning the creating or the business I’ve built, but I’m pushing it a little farther back on the shelf I put it on last month. I hope it doesn’t get too dusty up there, but I think I know how to clean it up if it does.
by Laurie May on August 7, 2011
a whole lotta living going on around here these days. The trees are humming with cicadas and we are swimming and grilling and laughing and sweating and picking flowers and enjoying being together. Singing along to “Baby Signing Time” and loving it. At least for the first 15 or so times each day. hehe.
by Laurie May on July 22, 2011
There’s something in the air these days.
and no, it’s not just pollen or humidity
I’m talking about the idea of stepping back, unplugging and slowing down.
I mentioned the idea of re-evaluating a few weeks ago, and the idea has been growing and growing in my mind. I need some time to think, to breathe, to make space. I need space in my house, both my physical/literal house, but also my metaphorical/sipritual house. Things are getting pretty jumbled up in there. It’s been over a year now since Natalie joined our family, and I need to take stock of how we’re living. What we’re spending our days on, how we move and grow in our home, how we take care of ourselves and each other, and seemingly less important these days (but really something I’d like to become more important again) how we make money and how we work, what we DO. Because really, how we spend our days is how we spend our lives, right? I think I read that on an inspirational magnet somewhere…. but it’s so true!
here are a few of the blog posts that resound with me lately:
Christine at Lavendar & Limes went on vacation
&
Maeg at Edison Rex went on walkabout (and won’t be back at her blog/business till September — inspiring!)
So… I’m thinking of following in their footsteps. I already closed my Etsy shop for my staycation, and I think it might have to stay closed until I either have new work to add to it, or have a new brand/business to reopen it with. I’m not making any promises or grand statements or creating any self-imposed time limits on this one. I think I’ve learned my lesson with that. But I think I will be back, and I imagine I will be looking for more accountability from y’all. This isn’t even another I’m-not-going-to-blog post, but it is something of a “get out of blogging free” card, if you catch my meaning. I’m unplugging, and we’ll see where it goes from there. I feel better already. Don’t you?
Does this idea make sense to you? Does it call to you? Then do it! Unplug! Make art! Make space! Play and create and lounge and read and do yoga and garden and cook and nap and go to bed early and stop comparing yourself with bloggers/facebook friends/famous people — just be you and enjoy your life, today. Have an average day!
by Laurie May on July 15, 2011
This baby of ours is quickly turning into a KID. She is blowing us away by learning new words every day (and repeating everything we say!). She is also a master walker/runner and working on her climbing skills.
Over the 4th of July weekend we spent lots of time with family members she’d either never met or hadn’t seen in a while, but she learned everyone’s name! Some are truncated versions (”Julee” for Juliet, but it’ll do!), but they are all adorable versions of the names — “sah-rah” might be my favorite. And she knows a lot of Sarah/Saras so it’s a good one to learn!
She has also started taking our hands and dragging us where she wants to go. She’s very clear about what she wants. And takes after her mama and gets SUPER mad when she doesn’t get what it is she’s asking for. hehe.
by Laurie May on July 7, 2011
by Laurie May on June 28, 2011
It’s finally (finally!) truly, really, actually summer here in the Berkshires!
Everything is green and lush and buzzing and blooming and chirping, and we are swimming as much as possible and we are enjoying the company of friends and family, and sitting on the deck, and watching fireflies.
This summer is different than other summers, though. We are also going to bed early and chasing a little girl who desperately wants to run everywhere, but really isn’t quite able to. She gets to frustrated when we slow her down! But of course with running-when-you-really-don’t-know-how comes falling, and crying, and new bumps and bruises. Her knees are bruised and she has another one on her cheek, but she doesn’t care! The girl has practically no fear! Unless, of course, you are a stranger, who your mother might leave you with. Then you are scary and horrible and how-dare-you. But that’s just the way it goes. If you are within mom’s reach, everything must be safe. Ah, if only it were so, little one!
But we are also enjoying seeing the excitement of summer through her eyes. She was so little last summer that she didn’t really get to experience much of it, except being really hot all the time (it was so hot!). But this year is different. She is walking and running and talking and experiencing all there is to experience! The world is so exciting to her! And I want to keep it that way.
So we are retreating this week, going to pretend we are also on vacation! This was a little idea I had the other night — we live in a place where thousands of people come for vacations every summer. Why not join them? And we have some family coming in from the west coast, some of whom have never been here, so I’ve decided Natalie and I are going to join them on some of their vacation! (I hope they don’t mind if we tag along?!) This might include, but is not limited to, swimming a lot, hiking and canoeing (ok babies might not come canoeing!), visiting our local museums and galleries, shopping and maybe eating too much, but definitely lolling around, chatting, drinking lemonade and resting. Oh and of course not working. That’s the part I really like. Lately I have been in a constant feeling-guilty-if-I’m-not-working-but-not-having-time-to-work mode, and it’s getting a little exhausting. So here’s to letting myself off the hook and going on staycation! Have a happy 4th, y’all!
