Happy Halloween!

Baby Z and I wanted to wish you all a Happy Halloween! Enjoy yourselves :-)

In the Kitchen: Apple Parmesan Salad

These days almost all my time is spent caring for Baby Z and sleeping. This means I have no time for intricate meals, but that doesn't mean my food shouldn't be tasty. In comes this delicious recipe partially concocted by my mom. It's healthy and soooooo good. Here's what you'll need to create it:

• Spinach
• Diced granny apple marinated in red wine vinaigrette dressing for at least 2 hours
• Shredded parmesan cheese
• Red wine vinaigrette dressing (if this is a little tart add a little extra sugar and some grenadine syrup to it)

Enjoy!

Sale Alert & Free Stuff!

Hello fellow Baltimoreans. I thought I'd share a few sales and upcoming free things with you. This weekend TOTSWAP a children's consignment pop-up shop is in Timonium at the state fair grounds. They have good deals on baby and kids clothing, as well as baby equipment. Also, This month BGE is hosting FREE FALL BALTIMORE. A month long event featuring FREE entertainment for both adults and kids (I'm kinda late posting about this sorry). Lastly, next weekend with be the first annual VEGAN SOUL FESTIVAL, sponsored by local restaurant LAND OF KUSH. The event will feature free food and admission, as well as healthy eating cooking classes. Have a lovely weekend folks!

Around Town: David's on the Avenue

DAVID'S ON THE AVENUE is a consignment shop that represents quintessential Baltimore. It's charming, a little quirky, affordable, and filled with several hidden gems. The furniture selection ranges in era greatly. They have everything from Victorian to Mid-century Modern. I think they're a great place to look if you're hunting for a strong statement piece that won't break the budget. Don't let the shabby outside of the building fool you. This place is definitely worth going into......again and again.

 

 

A Letter to Baby Z (#1)

Dear Baby Z,

Thank you for putting up with us while we forced you to play dress up and take a million pictures the other day. We know you are a person and not a doll, and that you probably had better things to do that day, like lay on mommy's chest. From the looks of a few of your pictures you did not have the greatest time during our little photo shoot. We apologize for putting you through it, it's just that grandparents and other loved ones are suckers for this sort of thing and we hope to appease them from time to time. We promise we won't let it happen too often. We love you, even if you may have felt like we didn't as we forced your little body into this outfit. Please forgive us.

Love,

Mum and Dad

Craftsman Bungalows

(photo: Bungalow in Baltimore's Lake Walker neighborhood)

If you can't already tell I'm a huge fan of craftsman style bungalows. Craftsman homes were primarily built from 1905 to 1930, making many of today's bungalows at least 100 years old. This style of house grew out of the broader Arts and Crafts Movement, an attempt by artisans to bring simplicity and design integrity back into the mainstream. The movement rejected prevailing trends of the day that centered around heavy ornateness and mass produced cheaply made homes. It emphasized the importance of structural integrity, beauty, function, and making things by hand.

Here in Baltimore there are multiple neighborhoods that feature craftsman homes, Lake Walker of course being one of them.

Across the nation we are seeing a resurgence in the popularity of these homes amongst many buyers who value quality over quantity. Though typically much smaller than newly built suburban homes, craftsman bungalows offer a level of workmanship uncommon in the new homes of today. Because of this, many homeowners and developers are purchasing and restoring these older homes.

Figuring out how to improve a historic property, while keeping its integrity and character can sometimes be difficult. So I’ve decided to write a series about how to best do this, and where you can find helpful resources. For those of you who have an interest in restoring bungalows, stay tuned for more!

"Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of intelligent effort." ~John Ruskin

The Greatest Push Gift in the World!

Introducing.......Baby Z. Isn't she lovely :-)

"I thank you for choosin' me to come through unto life to be, a beautiful reflection of his grace. See I know that a gift so great is only one God could create and I'm reminded every time I see your face, that the joy of my world is in Zion." ~Lauryn Hill