I hope you had an oh-so-fulfilling Thanksgiving!

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The cool weather has finally reached us in the South and it is fabulous! I love wearing cozy clothes and staying warm by the hum of my sewing machine inside 😉

Read on to hear all about what I’ve been lovin’ this month!

1. Hot Cocoa + Sewing Quilt Blocks

This one is a double whammy! 😉

While I still love the smell of fresh coffee, this pregnancy has totally thwarted my taste for it. As you know from my Pregnancy Tips & Tricks post, I have been enjoying ginger turmeric tea, but sometimes you want something a little…creamier. I’ve been lovin’ this hot-cocoa-for-one recipe. I make it with almond milk and it is totally delightful – particularly when paired with sewing!

Speaking of sewing: I took a skills building class a few weekends ago with one of the quilt guilds I’m a part of locally and learned how to construct the Hanging Gardens quilt pattern. I think it’s the perfectionist in me, but I am so methodical with how I do things that I never even unpacked my machine during class – I spent the whole time cutting (despite having my strips meticulously cut weeks ahead in preparation for class…). One of my fellow class-goers pointed out that at least by the time I get home I have the least fun part out of the way and can actually start sewing.

Honestly, I learned so much in this class! Lots of tips and tricks that will save me time {which in my case is invaluable since everything takes me forever!}.

The blocks are coming together quickly now and I’m lovin’ constructing them! I’m using fabric from Rifle Paper Company‘s Les Fleurs collection with Cotton + Steel for my quilt and I can’t wait to see how it all comes together! I’m kind of ashamed to admit that I had more than enough fabric in my stash for a queen size quilt… “Hiiiii! My name is Jordan and I have a fabric hoarding problem.”

2. All the handmade baby goodies

Baby M is so spoiled. She has received so many handmade gifts already! My boss has knit her several hats {see 2 of them here!} and TWO blankets. The mother-in-law of a friend I’ve worked out with for years at our local YMCA made the most beautiful pink blanket for her {see it under the taggie below!}. And my dear friend Kristy made her the perfect quilt and the most perfect taggie! Fingers crossed this is an accurate representation of Baby M in a few years #FutureSewist

3. Knitting Progress

As I admitted in last month’s post, I made myself a knit project bag in hopes it would inspire me to work on the shawl I’ve been trying to knit since last year…

Well, I’m happy to report I’ve been making progress!

Since the photo above was taken, I’ve added the FOURTH ball of yarn and am plugging along. It’s far from perfect, but maybe one day it’ll be done and I can proudly wear my flawed shawl everywhere!

4. Nurture by Erica Chidi Cohen

I saw Laura Miller’s shout-out about this book and immediately jumped onto Amazon to order my copy.

It arrived just in time for my 29-week appointment where I had the pleasure (ha) of indulging in the most sugary of drinks for my glucose test and traffic court the day before. So, it was good company that week 😉

I’ve been really enjoying the message Erica shares. She takes a very non-judgmental approach to pregnancy, birth, and motherhood in a way that encourages you (as the reader) to practice more self-love and to open yourself up to the reality that nothing will likely go as planned {a hard pill to swallow for a Type A like myself!}. The book is so informative and [as a public health grad with a soft spot for nutrition] I really love how she has woven recipes into the book that incorporate foods your body will benefit from most during the differing months of your pregnancy.

If you have a preggo on your holiday list, get her a copy of the Nurture book!

PS: As is obvious in the photo – I’m lovin’ my new Birkenstock’s. Slip-on shoes that can loosen as needed when/if your feet swell during pregnancy = win!

5. I planned a Bake Off!

Staff in our building have been hosting monthly events for employee morale and this month was our turn! I was on the planning committee so I took the lead for my department. I kind of love planning events like this because I get to nerd out on organizing everything (and I got to see all the sweet treats being submitted – yum!).

One of the best parts about the Bake Off was that even our Superintendent participated! I had heard he’s a great baker so when he walked in with his cake, I was over the moon!

It says a lot when someone as busy as the man leading a district of 4,000+ employees & 24,000 students takes the time to bake a cake for the employee Bake Off…he’s great!

6. Chili

This weather is perfect for chili and I think there is nothing better than coming home to chili in the crockpot after a long, cold day! I was getting bored with the chili recipes I’ve relied on in past years so I found a new one to try – this vegetarian chili recipe is a winner! It’s smoky sweet and pairs perfectly with a spicy cornbread (try tossing 1/4 cup of jarred diced jalapenos into your usual cornbread recipe).

{Photo credit: Genius Kitchen}

7. The Nursery is coming together

If Baby M sticks to her due date, we’ve got 8 weeks left which I know will fly by! The Hubs and I are huge planners so he had the crib assembled months ago, but we only recently finished some of the final touches.

During our trip to Canada, I was 9-ish weeks pregnant. She was still our little secret since we hadn’t told family and friends yet. At the time we weren’t sure of the gender, but we both love animals so we were sure she would too. While in Ottawa, we stumbled upon Maker House Co.’s Craft Fest and picked up the bear and beaver prints for the nursery. They’re finally hung and I love all the memories they stir up from our way early #babymoon.

PS: If you ever visit Ottawa, you must stop by the Maker House Co. It is such a neat shop – filled with goods from local makers. You’re sure to find the perfect, unique souvenirs there.

8. my sister!

This month she threw a shower for Baby M and it was absolutely perfect. She spent a ton of time, money, and energy on this and I really appreciated it! We had a small group which was perfect – I had time to mingle with all of our guests.

After the party, my sister declared “Now Baby M’s closet has more than just blue in it!”

She has been my biggest supporter – constantly hand-me-down’ing clothes and baby equipment from Little Guy, sharing her maternity wardrobe, and calming all my fears. Without her, I don’t know what I’d do.

PS: My adorable sister greeted me at her door wearing a Canny tunic I made! She’s the cutest.

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What have you been lovin’ this month? Let me know in the comments so I can jump on your bandwagon!

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{Catch up on all of my monthly What I’m Lovin’ posts here.}

October is one of my favorite months! My birthday falls on the 11th and it [usually] brings more fall-like weather which I love.

Read on to hear all about what I’ve been lovin’ this month!

1. These tips on decluttering from Motherly

I love to declutter. Maybe it’s the “nesting” everyone talks about with pregnancy but lately I’ve been feeling a little extra overwhelmed with the stuff in my house. I feel like I’m always decluttering and purging, but sometimes I go through bigger spells where I make a more conscious effort to organize and let go of some excess stuff. I found the tips from this post really helpful and plan to put them to use very soon as I prepare for all the baby clutter coming our way.

The best part about the post is how it breaks your decluttering down by space and gives you sample items in each room/space that are an easy place to start with tossing/donating.

2. Chocolate Covered Katie’s Gooey Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Blondie recipe

I have always had a pretty intense sweet tooth and I think pregnancy has definitely amplified that. Since I have been baking almost weekly (it’s become a productive creative outlet for me 😉 ), I’ve been searching for “healthy” [or at least “healthier“] recipes to enjoy.

October makes me crave all-things-pumpkin-flavored so I’ve been lusting over every pumpkin-inspired treat I’ve come across. The most recent success was Chocolate Covered Katie’s Gooey Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Blondie recipe.

I’ve tried many of Chocolate Covered Katie’s recipes over the years and am never disappointed. This one is a gem! The Hubs declared it “probably the best thing you’ve made lately” so I’ll say it’s pretty tasty!

I’ve found that when baking with beans (something I love to do 😀 ), using canned white beans [like these] creates a much smoother consistency – I don’t think you can even tell they’re there!

PS: My sister has gone dairy free which is pretty common during breastfeeding if your little one is having a tummy issues. Most chocolate chips have milk products in them, but not Trader Joe’s chocolate chips! (But their chocolate chunks do so beware.) If you are making sweet treats for a dairy-free friend, try TJ’s chocolate chips out!

3. Breakfast at College Grounds

Try the seasonal pumpkin butter with your biscuits!

Our Sundays lately have included a big walk around downtown and breakfast at College Grounds. The Hubs and I have been frequenting the place for the past 2+ years after we discovered how delicious their breakfast is. We mourn every summer when they close for the weekends (since they’re right on campus following the student schedule makes sense but it’s still so tragic).

If you live in or are planning a visit to Columbia, stop by College Grounds for breakfast and a stroll around USC.

4. Apartment Therapy’s advice to Stop Trying to Change Your Habits: Change Your Habitat Instead

I know, I know! I’m still on this decluttering/nesting kick. But I really liked the perspective of this post. There are tons of great organization ideas out there, but my take-away was if the placement of where the thing goes makes it less useful to you, it’s not the right place.

We have a place in our living room where the Hubs keeps his shoes that has worked quite well for us. Reading the perspective in the post felt like a little bit of relief mixed with forgiveness for keeping our things (in this case shoes) where they make sense and not just where they “should” go according to someone with a much neater house than mine 😉

Photo from the post – a lovely & practical space for your “stuff”

5. DIY Drawstring Bags

I found this free tutorial from Very Shannon on how to make a reversible knit project bag and knew I wanted to give it a shot. It was so easy – I actually assembly-line’d and made 3 at a time. I think they’ll make great gifts even for someone who doesn’t knit – who can’t use another bag?!

TBH, I really made the bag to hold the shawl I’ve been attempting to knit since last year in hopes it would inspire me pick the needles back up. I’ve made a lot of mistakes with the shawl which makes my perfectionist heart very sad, but I’m trying to let that go/worry less and finish it!

I used some upholstery-weight fabric scraps for the bags which made them really sturdy. However, it does make the drawstring top a little harder to “glide.” Maybe next time I’ll try a quilting cotton on the interior to lighten it up, make the casing a little larger or use cording for the drawstring which would definitely glide easy.

6. Getting my sewjo back

During the first trimester of this pregnancy my sewing room basically collected dust. As the 2nd trimester approached I started feeling much more energetic. Finally my sewjo has returned!

I’ve been slowly working on a few projects here and there. One of those is the Almada kimono from Seamwork. I’m making it from a beautiful, super soft vintage sheet. I thought it would be nice to have after the baby arrives to throw over whatever I’m wearing to feel a little fancier [without a lot of effort] if visitors stop by.

BUT…I’m an over-pinner (#perfectionistprobz) and one of the pins slid under my finger nail while I was working on the sleeve cuff last weekend. I didn’t even notice until there was blood all over my machine! Somehow it didn’t get on the fabric {YAY}.

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What have you been lovin’ this month? Let me know in the comments so I can jump on your bandwagon!

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{Catch up on all of my monthly What I’m Lovin’ posts here.}

Perhaps we should call these “when Jordan remembers to post” posts instead of “monthly” 😉 I’m behind again, but here are a few things I’ve been lovin’ this September!

1. A big announcement!

I announced last month on social media, but have been delayed in announcing here {I blame it on the fact that my energy was completely zapped for that first trimester 😉 } – we’re expecting a baby girl in January! It’s our first baby and though the journey has been nerve-wracking, we’re thrilled.

PS: I made those booties {using the same pattern I used for the booties in this post} with some coveted Liberty of London fabric.

2.  hey, girl podcast

I am loving this podcast so.so.so much! I saw Laura Miller post about her interview on the hey, girl podcast and immediately downloaded it to listen to at the gym the following morning {look for episode 15 to hear Laura’s story}. Obviously it did not disappoint because I have now binge listened to the entire first season. If you have ever (or do currently) struggle with anxiety, depression, balancing self-care and life demands, etc. hey, girl is for you! With every episode, I feel like they are speaking directly to me. I love hearing about other women’s journeys.

3. Taking time for myself

{Source: Rose Hill Designs by Heather Stillufsen on Facebook}

With a baby on the way, I’m trying hard to slow.down. This was a good reminder.

4. Mr. Bunny is done!

When I started Mr. Bunny at QuiltCon in the spring, I didn’t know exactly what adventures were ahead of him. After sharing him with my quilt guild, they suggested submitting him in the upcoming two-color challenge [since he’s only one color: green]. The challenge entries will be displayed in an exhibit at our local library in the coming weeks.

This was my first wall-hanging and once he’s completed his time at the library, he’ll be hanging in a very special little girl’s nursery 🙂

5. This quote…

{Source: becoming minimalist on Facebook}

I saw this on Facebook and it hit me. Sometimes my anxiety can take over and make everything feel like an emergency. Truth is…it’s not! I’m trying to take this to heart.

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I’m hoping to have more makes to share with you soon – I’m finally feeling more energetic and have been getting back to my sewing machine. I even took a free motion quilting workshop with my local guild last weekend – the wishbone pattern was my favorite!

One thing I whipped up recently was a changing pad – I didn’t take a picture, but here’s one I made previously. These are so easy to whip up as gifts – I used the tutorial in this post from Sew In Love {a great post to check out if you have any baby sewing to do!}.

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{Catch up on all of my monthly What I’m Lovin’ posts here.}

Oops. I missed June’s what I’m lovin’ post so I’m combining it with July for a post packed full of summer lovin’!

Did you just start singing “Summer Nights” from Grease? Me too…

Ok now that we’ve got our singing out of the way, read on to see what I’ve been lovin’ this summer!

1. Kimberly of Straight Stitch Designs just released this free swing dress pattern that made it onto my summer sewing list!

I whipped up a version before vacation. I had to take it in a few inches after I finished but once I did I fell in love! I hemmed it [which I should not have & I don’t think Kimberly does] which made it too short for work but I’ve been wearing it steadily on the weekends 😉

{source}

I really like the gathers on the back – they add such a sweet touch. And the neckline is the same from her Montlake Tee pattern which I love!

2. This post with 3 Reasons Kids Should Never Open Gifts During Their Birthday Party. The author raises some really interesting points. I think this concept goes beyond children’s birthdays and could extend to baby/wedding/engagement showers too. I always feel so incredibly awkward opening gifts in front of people and I’ve been on the other end of that – feeling insecure about the gift I brought as the recipient opens all of the other far more fabulous gifts.

3. This beautiful post from Little Lamb Studio appropriately titled How Sewing Helped Me Find a Home in my Body.

The more I sewed for myself, the more time I spent unfazed by trends or the fast fashion market, the more myself I felt when I looked in the mirror. I would look at myself and see a girl whose clothes fit, a girl who could express herself, and a girl who had a million possibilities.” – Mary Ethel

Abby Glassenberg shared the article in her newsletter and my heart just exploded as I read it. Mary Ethel is a lovely writer and so perfectly captures why sewing your own garments can be so life changing.

4. becoming minimalist’s post To Declutter Any Room, Ask These Two Questions.

We just relocated my sewing room and in the process I gained work space but lost some storage. I knew I had a lot of sewing stuff but there’s nothing like moving it around to realize how very much I’ve collected (even since our recent move..). It was embarrassing! I started to pare down the fabric & sewing stuff during the transition. It was so tough!

Luckily I have a friend who appreciates fabric hand-me-downs so I was able to send some of my excess to a loving home.

I feel like I do a pretty decent job avoiding hoarder status in most aspects of our home, but when it comes to sewing and crafting I can’t say the same. After the first round of “paring down” [and filling 10 bags with fabric & other sewing/crafting supplies for donation], I put these 2 questions into practice. Very helpful!

5. This article about Toddler Grandma Style is so perfect. I found the post linked in Seamstress Erin‘s newsletter and loved it!

{source}

I feel like Toddler Grandma might accurately represent my style and certainly after reading the article I do feel like it “set me free”!

6. This Vegan Chilaquiles Recipe is super tasty and easy to prepare. A nice summer recipe!

{source}

We got tomatillos in our CSA basket early in July and I whipped up this recipe. I’ve never had chilaquiles and didn’t know what to expect. Upon tasting, the Hubs proclaimed they’re basically soggy chips but actually really delicious! This recipe will likely be on repeat this summer especially if the tomatillos keep coming through our CSA!

PS: CSA is “Community Supported Agriculture” – basically you buy a “share” from a local farmer to receive weekly boxes or baskets throughout the season. If you have the option in your area, give it a try! It’s a great opportunity to support a local farmer while receiving high quality, in-season produce. It’s also a great way to add variety to your diet – last year our farmer grew Jerusalem Artichokes which I had never even heard of. With a quick google I found an easy recipe & discovered I really liked them!

Find more information about CSAs here!

7. Homemade salsa

PSA: Trader Joe’s sells unsalted tortilla chips & they’re delicious!

Summer + homemade salsa go together, right? We got a giant bunch of teeny tomatoes (differing varieties, but cherry-sized) with our CSA recently and I used them to make this salsa recipe. Delicious!

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I hope you’re all having a lovely summer! xoxo

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{Catch up on all of my monthly What I’m Lovin’ posts here.}

Read on to hear all about what I’ve been lovin’ this month!

1. Me-Made-May

Have you noticed? The recaps have basically taken over the blog this month! 😉

In case you missed them, you can read my #MMMay17 recaps here: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3 – stay tuned for Week 4!

2. Avocado Dye

Somehow I ran across the photo below from Ute on Instagram and fell head over heels for the hues created by Avocado dye.

Top to bottom: cotton gauze, linen, raw silk, raw silk 2x, stretch cotton. {source}

Ute recommends Rebecca Desnos’ eBook and I’ve since found a few other sources:

• Dyeing with Natural Dyes | Avocado Pits from Kathryn Davey
• Natural Shades of Pink: Dyeing Fabric with Avocado Skins – this post actually contains instructions from Rebecca Desnos herself!

Have you ever used natural dyes? What was your experience like? Any tips?

My friend Shanika uses natural dyes quite often so I’m hoping maybe I can talk her into holding my hand for some avocado dyeing 😉

3. Trailer Stash Fabrics visited my local quilt guild!

A vintage trailer full of fabric, sewing notions & patterns is my idea of heaven. Gina and her trailer visited the Devine Quilters of SC (a local guild I’m a member of) for our May meeting. I purchased a new pattern and 3 colorways of Essex Linen along with some other sewing goodies – stay tuned for my Me-Made-May Week 4 recap to see what I got 😉

I wish I had more photos of the inside of the trailer – it was fabulous! You can read all about Trailer Stash Fabric here and follow along on Instagram here.

4. The ability to “hide” old embarrassing Instagram posts

I was an early adopter of Instagram so there are some photos from way back when that don’t necessarily mesh with my aesthetic now. I haven’t put this into practice yet {so if you want to see those embarrassing photos, better go search now 😉 }, but I’m planning to!

If you want to learn how to hide photos from your profile on Instagram without losing them forever, check out this post from Refinery 29.

5. The Hubs

He’s pretty cool! And this week we celebrated our 5th anniversary!

Five years later, I still don’t regret not having a wedding {read more about that in this post}. I know some people love all the pomp and circumstance [I’m lookin’ at you Mr. President!], but the idea of everyone staring at us during such an intimate moment makes my skin crawl.

Instead we’ve invested in experiences together. Traveling with your partner to a totally unfamiliar place is something I strongly recommend. Better yet, go somewhere that you can’t rely on your phone’s GPS to bail you out {like that time we got off the plane in London and the Hubs thought I had researched how we’d get from the airport to our airbnb…HAHAHA. Seriously not funny at the time, but it taught us a lot about we’d navigate tough situations together}.

low quality vacation selfie because formal photos are not our thing 😉

We’ve got a trip back to Canada planned next month so follow along on Instagram for road-trip photos!

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{Catch up on all of my monthly What I’m Lovin’ posts here.}