Life Lately: November

Scoops and sand, I adore the simplicity of her joy.

My little garden helper :).

Mid-day sunny hikes, I love November!

Is into wearing my beanie, and good thing cause her head is big enough to fit, haha, this girl!

Will be saving this image forever. Such a little monkey.

Sharing stickers at story time at the back bay. And yes, we are matching! My dream come true. Les Gamins sweatshirts are so cozy.

Such little buds, so cute how they push the stroller together, haha.

Likes to smell mama’s hot peppermint tea.

Enjoying the small bit of halloween magic I would allow into the house (haha) thank goodness we are in the proper holiday season now ;).

Such a little picture taker. Just like mom and dad. Melts me.

She now says “bakery” and “sourdough” - her vocabulary is complete :).

Where dad sets her - hah! Trying to get to the beach more in the fall.

Fall time really is the best time at the beach, I think.

Loves to say “ocean!” and “crash!”. Chases seagulls, tells us how she wants to hug them, and tries with all her might to swim in freezing water.

Testing cozy things for fall/winter.

Didn’t buy it, but worth putting it on for this picture!

Fall bike rides are also the best!

Currently reading a chapter or two every night to wind down my mind for sleep, still one of my favorite stories from childhood.

We got Riley a rain suit (!) and it’s the cutest thing. Get ready for a few photos. Her boots hadn't arrived and it wasn't very cold, so don’t worry about her feet too much!

I just cannot. This sweet face.

The yellow flowers are her favorites and she always has to pick about twenty before bringing just one home.

New thing around here, breakfast at the table with this girl. Oatmeal with rain and candlelight this day.

A mom who is so psyched for rain and cold and bundling!

Wearing her Wilding shoes for the first time on the next rainy day (they sent them to her last winter and they just now fit!).

Riley’s sleep has improved and my morning walks are a thing once more, this sunrise with rain was too beautiful.

This play room is always evolving and has taken many forms over the past 18 months. This is probably one of my favorite/most fun set ups. Aside from the time it was filled with a birthing tub and Riley entered the world :).

Cue also the best season for Ecology center trips, fall and winter are some sort of magic in southern CA.

My little farm bud.

Wanted to read her book at the table while I made us lunch.

Lunching together with sourdough, avocado, herby tempeh, and steamed Brussels (blueberries for Riley too).

The most beautiful white sunflowers from the farm-stand.

Adore these fall/winter inspired Swedish dish clothes as well.

I cannot. Her rain boots arrives (Stonz) and she is obsessed with wearing them at all times.

It’s the bedhead mohawk. Best best best.

Fall walks to the parks, gathering leaves on the way.

Now how about a food recap! I made s’mores bars without a recipe.

Baking without recipes is my jam this past year and these turned out sooooooooo good…!

Enjoying a red lentil and russet/carrot Dahl with broccoli for dinner.

She now is very into carrying her snack bowl around the house and taking bites in different places by her “self” as she says.

Little tip for cooking yummy lentils (these were brown lentils): 1 part lentils to 3 parts vegetable stock, until all absorbed.

We used the lentils in a spaghetti dinner with Community Grains pasta, steamed greens (kale and chard), a jar of store-bought marinara (Lucini tomato basil is my favorite), and a swirl of homemade cashew/sunflower seed aioli (recipe here). Favorite spaghetti!

Early, early breakfast (I wake 2 hours before Riley and Scott for my personal time to coffee/breakfast/walk/workout). Chocolate overnight oats with banana, hooked on this lately!

Forever a tofu scramble with steamed greens on sourdough avocado toast eater, this is from my spring/summer ebook too.

Still in love with a roasted sweet potato topped with tahini and berries as an afternoon snack.

Made a kabocha, cauliflower, and black bean chili that we enjoyed for a few nights with toasted corn tortillas and cashew cream. So simple and really hit the spot.

A frothy spiced soy milk to sip on one afternoon for something sweet: soy milk, dates, cinnamon, vanilla, blended till smooth and heated on the stove. So delicious!