What’s New in Food + Life
Hi friends!!
I have a monster of a lifestyle post for you from a backlog of photos of my phone!! Going all the way back to ….my birthday!
Septenary Vineyards Bday Fun
I found these pics stashed in my “blog” folder – Digital Clutter systems would not approve! A few weeks ago my wine-tasting group threw me a little cheese board and cake party at a new-to-me vineyard: Septenary. It’s a STUNNING property, and we had a gorgeous, warm day!
Rosé bubbles to start!
These gals know how to create a cheese board!
Cheers!
Cake
Emily brought cake from Cake Bloom, a new shop in town.
Never leave your phone unattended with this girl….!
Sunshine day with friends!
Our last warm days
I found this pic of the boys in shorts….
And then this was the next pic! Hat szn is here. Karen made this shark hat for Mazen, and now it fits Birch!
Teacher Work Week
We had several teacher workdays around Halloween/Election Day PLUS Birch had a little cold, so we spent lots of time playing at home last week. Even Gus! We organized Mazen’s Lego shelf and played with the vintage Fisher Price toys Grammie left here!
And here’s how we felt at the end of the day
Although most nights end like this <3
Skateboarding
The church across the street has a great parking lot for skateboarding. Mazen and our neighbors have taken it up. Thomas loves to join them on his board!
Although they spend more time like this than they do standing up…
Birch keeps everyone in line with his GoGo Car.
My Pet Roach
See that? That is a fake roach on wheels. I had a little situation the other week with a giant one of these Palmetto bugs in my kitchen. I texted my “neighbor moms” thread and no one was free to come help. As a joke, they got me this lovely pet roach for Halloween. I swear this thing has scared me more than the real ones!
I tried to store it with the Halloween décor but it scared me again!
So now it’s packed inside a nice baggie until next year. (I am sure it will still scare me then – I hate these things!)
New Find: Earth Breeze Laundry Sheets
New product alert! I just discovered Earth Breeze, a sustainable laundry detergent by a company that fights plastic waste. Instead of giant, heavy tubs of detergent or pods that could be a poison hazard, Earth Breeze detergent comes in sheets that you toss in with your load. The sheets look just like a dryer sheet but they dissolve in water.
The sheets are HE washer compatible, Leaping Bunny Certified, and the company donates 10 loads of detergent to non-profits, shelters and charities for each pack sold. Choose between Fragrance Free or Fresh Scent. So far I am a fan of Earth Breeze’s clean-ability!! And I really really like how small and portable they are. You can bury the packaging of Earth Breeze as compost 🙂
Each pack is $20 for up to 60 loads (you use more sheets for heavy loads, so base your order on your laundry style). And you can cut that price almost in half to $12 a pack by doing the subscribe and save program.
Real Food!
Breakfast Roundup
Pumpkin Siggi’s with Pumpkin Spice Cheerios, peanut butter and pear!
Bodos Bagel with Lox Spread
My new favorite cream cheese is mixed with smoked salmon – so delish!
Plain on Cinnamon Raisin
Yogurt, Granola Bar Crumble, Banana, Cranberry Sauce!
Peanut Butter Fluff Yogurt
Remember this mix of Greek yogurt and PB2?
with granola and pear on the side.
Lunches
Lunch is now my least formal meal of the day, and I often do snack plates or eat a mix of little things. Hence why I have the least number of meals to share!
Sesame Bagel + Lox Spread with Veg
Chopt!
My favorite “I really need a Hugh Jass salad” spot.
Daily Harvest Harvest Bowl
These harvest bowls from Daily Harvest are great for days when I need something quick. I love that they’re all real food, and they come in a paper bowl that I feel comfortable microwaving (plastic containers make me nervous). You can also heat them in a sauce pan on the stove top.
Not the most beautiful food, but this millet and veg bowl is good. I always add sriracha and sometimes add more protein if we have leftovers.
Leftover Beltmont Pizza + Spinach Salad
Salad With Kale Chips!
This salad had a little of everything – including these kale chip toppers from Thomas’s cousin’s company Love Force! They come in a handful of flavors and are great crumbled into all kinds of dishes, from salads to soups. Check out their raw energy bars too.
Dinners
Blue Apron Tilapia with Capers, Orzo, and Zucchini
Blue Apron Salmon with roasted potatoes + Brussels and Mustard Sauce
LOVED this meal!!
Survivor Girls Night Out to Zocalo!!
Gotta devour that pepper 😉
Blue Apron Pesto Pasta with Shrimp
And finally….
Mazen enjoying a tin of sardines!!
Have a great rest of your week!
Anne says
So much about this post makes me miss Cville…wineries, bodos, zocalo! Fall is magical there. What skateboard does Mazen have? A skateboard (and helmet and all the pads) are at the top of my six-year old’s birthday wish list this year!
Kath Younger says
He has a National Geographic one (I think Thomas bought it locally?) sort of like this but it’s bright green: https://amzn.to/3DgcXwU
Daria says
I have used those laundry sheets and they don’t seem to do a good job. Instead I’m going to go to the shop (near Great Harvest!) where you can refill your own containers with laundry detergent, dish soap (they have Dawn on tap!) shampoo, hand soap, cleaners, etc.
Kath Younger says
How have I not heard of this shop?! What’s it called?
Daria says
It’s called Cville Refill Renew on Allied Street!
Kath Younger says
Thanks! Will check it out! I HATE buying things like Dawn.
Christine Whittington says
We had one of those huge palmetto/water bugs strolling across our living room floor when we lived in Winston-Salem. When our quarterly pest management guy came, I told him about it and he said, “Oh, you don’t need to worry about those. They are harmless and don’t infest. It’s just a water bug. You don’t need to kill it. Just put it outside.” I liked that the pest guy did not approve of killing any harmless creature, even a giant roach. Next time one appeared, I just ushered it outdoors.
Kath Younger says
I wish I could tell my brain it was a harmless water bug! Brain does not agree.
Katnryn says
I take the palmettos outside too. Keep a plastic cup w/ paper under the kitchen sink, it works for all bugs. Thanks Christine
K~
Maria Alcus says
Tru Earth is another laundry sheet company whose products are manufactured in Canada – in case you want to try
Kath Younger says
Thanks!
Tracy says
Does Mazen really eat sardines straight from the tin?? Amazed and impressed!
Kath Younger says
Yes I was also impressed! I think it’s because he loves fishing!
Poly M says
That roach in a bag gave me a good laugh!! Neat strategy for avoiding surprises next year 😛