Apple Picking, a Dollhouse That’s Better Than My Real Home, Gift Idea: 5 Quick Things

Arlyn HernandezOctober 22, 20218 Comments

We did it! We made it! I came to the realization this week that Halloween is nearly here and I haven’t indulged in fun or spooky movies nearly as much as I feel like I should have. Last year around this time, I was spending a lot of time in bed (and not blogging every day…or at all), so I got in tons and tons of movies, but I have some catching up to do in the next week or so. I also stumbled upon a list of places in LA to go apple picking and to get fresh cider and donuts, so Charles doesn’t know this yet but I may suggest heading to one on Sunday. Everything is at least two hours away, so it’ll be a trek, but we’re trying to take advantage of the next few months when it’s just me and him still and do more things while I can. SO GET READY FOR SOME APPLES, CHUCK!

Here’s what I caught my interest this week I wanted to share:

Quick Thing #1

My best friend Alicia gifted me this beautiful keepsake journal after I told her I was having a baby. It’s wrapped in an emerald green linen-like fabric with gold foil detailing and I’ve really enjoyed keeping up with it. If you know anyone who is expecting and you’re looking for a nice gesture to send along to them in the beginning stages, I’d recommend this!

Quick Thing #2

THIS IS A DOLLHOUSE. I REPEAT, THIS IS A DOLLHOUSE.

Quick Thing #3

This article is a few years old (and I wish it had more photos for visual reference), but it’s a great timeline of important moments in design over the past 100 years. For anyone here who has seemed to be very interested in design history as of late, it’s a nice little crash course!

Quick Thing #4

I haven’t made this myself, so I can’t properly recommend it, but OMG does butternut squash lasagna not sound so heavenly? I’d want to pair it with a fresh, crisp lemony kale salad to cut through the richness and finish with a cranberry apple crisp. Glorious, no?

Quick Thing #5

No link to share but a thought to ponder: When you cook at home and it turns out great, it’s considered “restaurant quality,” but when you go to restaurants (possibly with the exception of fine dining), you’re looking for something that tastes and feels “homemade.” What gives? Discuss…

See you Monday, FOAS!

5 quick things Project 365

Rusty 🥰 says:

October 22, 2021 at 6:46 am

Oh….you made me laugh so hard!!😅🤣🤣 “to go apple pickle …”🥒
1. The journal your friend gave you is so lovely. What a horgeous keepsake! Perfect. 💞
2. The doll’s house?!? Honestly, WTF!?!? That’s out of this world!
My numb hands could never do anything like that!🙃
3. Thanks for the design article. Me thinks Susan likely knows this stuff already?😎
4. The lasagne sounds wonderful, but probably a bit too many steps and fussiness for me.
I made up my own vegetarian lasagne recipe using butternut (we just say butternut in Aussie, drop the squash), chick peas and a garlicky, rustic tomato sauce. I “smash” the chick peas rather than mash them, so you still get a few whole ones for texture. I slice the butternut into thinish slices and microwave it. Layer, layer, layer. Cheese once in the layering and once on top. I’ve had die-hard meat eaters gasp when I told them this dish is vegetarian. Yes, really! Yummmmmmmmm.😜
5. I much, much, much prefer ‘cafe rustic’ (home cooked) to fancy schmanzy restaurant food. I like to feel physically comfortable in my casual clothes and relax eating good, rustic dishes, rather than be dressed up and uncomfy, eating fluffy food. Just me?🤔
.
Guess wot?! I have all the furniture for the Safe House Room Makeover now 😀 …except the mattress.
Tick, tick, tick…⏰
Have a lovely weekend FOAS. I’m guerilla gardening tomorrow and writing a job application and CV for my IKEA team member on Sunday. Amazingly, there are 5 people who’ve connected synergistically through me doing the makeover project… and we’re going to link up to do a women’s refuge early next year!!!
Now … I just need a car! ……🚙………………. 🤞
1. Arlyn Hernandez says:
  
  October 22, 2021 at 8:48 am
  
  You don’t know what apple pickle is?? Must be an American thing… 😂 (kidding)
  1. Rusty 🥰 says:
    
    October 23, 2021 at 7:12 am
    
    😅🤣😂
2. Susan says:
  
  October 22, 2021 at 5:22 pm
  
  You are amazing! Almost all of the furniture for your Safe House Makeover and another Safe House/Refuge project coming up. Talk about talking lemons and making lemonade! Have a great weekend!
  1. Rusty 🥰 says:
    
    October 23, 2021 at 7:13 am
    
    🥰😁💥
Rusty 🥰 says:

October 22, 2021 at 6:48 am

What, even, is “horgeous”???LOL 🤣🤣 Told ya I couldn’t build a doll house!
Debbie says:

October 22, 2021 at 2:36 pm

Been pondering #5…
When I eat out I have a certain expectation for a chef to create something better than I could do myself at home. But when I am at home trying to cook, and I actually succeed, I feel like I accomplished something worthy of a good restaurant. I don’t know why that is. Maybe we like to feel the comforts of home even when we’re out? And feel fancy while we’re at home?
Susan says:

October 22, 2021 at 6:10 pm

Thanks for the design timeline; it’s fun to read.

That dollhouse is amazing! Love it. I think dollhouses are in your future with your daughter. I designed one for my daughter’s fourth Christmas. My husband built it, my mother flew out from NH to shop with me for dollhouse furniture and I made the dolls, rugs, curtains, quilts, etc. for it. It was so fun. When she was older she/we did a re-design to make it more grown-up. By that time my father had found some antique dollhouse furniture to contribute. She still has it in storage. You asked for our secrets a while ago – here’s one of mine: I have a dollhouse, too! Also in storage at the moment, but so fun. I think of it being in New Orleans, so that’s the style – french-ish, but not totally.

I am spoiled re: restaurant food. I raised Dear Daughter in Berkeley, within blocks of Chez Panisse and several dozen excellent restaurants at a time when Berkeley did not allow fast food restaurants. So a real hamburger joint, the best Thai food, pizza, Mexican food, Jewish deli, a Charcuterie, a Thai bar-be- que and the original Peet’s coffee all within walking distance. Also the original cook at Chez Panisse, Jeremiah Tower, had two small restaurants of his own in town before he moved to the big time in SF.

I want two different things from restaurants – wonderful and easy food to go or to eat in that is within my budget. And on occasion, spectacular food that is a splurge and totally worth it. Leila and I were just talking the other day about the now defunct Thai Bar-be-que place, which was just a few blocks from our home. Often when I invited friends to dinner I served wine and appetizers at home and then we walked to the Thai place for dinner. It was easy and fun.

I also want two different things when I cook – quick and easy dinners that are fresh and healthy, and favorite recipes that take longer and feel like home. i made a cookbook of favorite recipes when Leila moved to her apartment, but she asked me yesterday to add my chicken soup recipe to it. Of course I had soup bubbling on the stove and perfuming the house on our second rainy day in a row. !!! for two rainy days in a row. I think I’ll have to buy a crock pot so that Leila can cook the soup herself next time.

Another Insta favorite: Cheap Old Houses which posts vintage and antique homes in need of renovation. I love to see the houses and dream. Not that I don’t have my own old house to love, but the sheer amount of space in so many of the old houses seems like a luxury to me and it really calls my name at times….

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