I was recently struck by just how fresh the new Lulu Dk line of childrens textiles is! Designed for, and in collaboration with, Schumacher fabrics, the line is both bright and muted; bold and beautiful. These are a few that I'm currently coveting, but you can view the entire collection here.
I'm still tripping on this new baby o' mine. Totally on a trip - high as the hills when I look, and I mean really look at her sweet face. Though, to be quite honest, it's not nearly as often as I'd like to believe it is. I'm slowly getting stuck in the grind of the "second child" thing... It's not so much that it's hard to have two, but that I'm finding it difficult to remember she's even here! I'm totally embarrassed to say that, but it's the straight-up truth. Whilst Freida is in middle of learning how to be 3 and a half (i.e. whining and defying the daylight out of me), and taking up so much of my attention and energy (I feel like I'm constantly trying to avoid a meltdown - it's like tiptoeing around mines!), it's hard to remember there's a sweet little babe who needs some face-time as well...
Of course, thankfully (since my SIL Esther is the greatest!!) I have a whole morning with Freida in school, at which point I should be intensely bonding with my consecutive daughter - and I would be! - if it weren't for her 9am nap. And so, life goes about, and while I know she is getting heaps of loving tender care and attention (I do nurse and cuddle her every 3 hours after all!), it's the feeling of bonding with just her alone that I feel I'm missing out on. It's just hard when you can feed a baby and put them down to play (peacefully!), and your 3 year old is trying desperately to captivate you with her genius discoveries of tea parties, toadstools, and elbow scabs... I feel forced to veer toward the genius, and leave the baby - to swat at toys solo.
But boy, do I miss her! As the day winds down; dinner has been served, baths administered, jammies are on, and story books are being bartered for, I find myself wishing I could keep Hudi up just a little bit longer after Freida is down. Just a little while longer, anyway. To smile at and sing with, and squeeze and tickle, and gaze at and gobble - without worrying a nary little bit about making Freida jealous or sparking a tantrum. Just for a little while...
After all the talk about cold cocktails, I ended up making none of the ones I posted for Shavuos - but something far yummier! Blackberry Sage Coolers - blackberry juice + sage simple syrup + vodka + club soda.
I found it pretty last minute on Pinterest, and just couldn't leave it be! I had already picked up heaps of fresh plump blackberries, so I just had my husband (thanks love!) grab some fresh sage on a last-minute market run. I completely forgot to print up the recipe, and since it was only online it left me with a wee bit of holiday/technology-age frustration... I had to make do with what I retained from memory. I had already squeezed the black berry juice (this recipe says to puree it, but (since I have an odd fondness for sensory activities) I hand squeezed the berries through a cheesecloth (wear plastic gloves - it stains skin!!). I forgot the part about crushing the leaves, and simply cooked sage leaves in a pot with water and sugar, making a fragrant sage syrup. I mixed the juice with the syrup, added vodka, and let it sit overnight. Before the meal I filled the pitcher up with seltzer and added fresh whole berries and extra sage leaves as garnish. Plus, heaps of ice. The result was a light spiked soda with an earthy fragrance and a bright aftertaste. Try it!!
In the case that you are still putting the final touches on your Shavuot menu, here are two summer-y cocktails I'm currently considering for my outdoor dairy luncheon:
Blackberry Gin Fizz
Puree berries and sugar in a food processor. Strain, and discard seeds. Put 1/3 cup puree, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 2 ounces gin, and 1/3 of the torn mint leaves into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, and shake until cold. Pour into two 8-ounce glasses, and add 1/4 cup seltzer to each. Repeat twice. Garnish with berries and mint sprigs.
Strawberry-Peach Sangria
Mix white wine, Essensia, strawberries, peach liqueur, peaches, orange slices, lemon slices, and strawberry syrup in large pitcher, smashing citrus slices slightly. Let stand at room temperature at least 2 hours or chill up to 4 hours. Serve sangria over ice.
L'Chaim!
Happened upon the most fresh and summer-y take on strawberry shortcake, and I think these would be a perfect Shavuot dessert (especially if made with dairy whip cream!), great for a leisurely lunch outdoors with friends. Or even as an afternoon Holiday treat, while lounging out back with a glass of white wine...
Plus, the whole dish seems pretty easy to execute. Check it out over at Oh Joy!
