Category: hygge

A Few Whimsical Halloween Picks

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn autumn, holiday, hygge23 Comments

Booooo! It’s no secret around here that I love fall and Halloween. I also love things that are whimsical and fun. And when I can get whimsical and Halloween together – it is almost perfection, like that perfect ratio of whipped cream to pumpkin pie!

I have found a few things on Etsy that just spoke to my fun loving yet spooky side and wanted to share. When I do these posts I usually try to mix up mediums, but this time, I just followed my heart, and if there is an abundance of pottery, I apologize. I love a good handcrafted potted piece though, maybe because my MIL is a potter and I know the level of work and love that goes into each piece. Anyway, without further ado, my picks!

This post contains affiliate links.

Little Ghosts || Mini Ceramic Voodoo Doll || Mini Solid Ceramic Pumpkin

These are all from the same shop, ClayHiveCo on Etsy. The potter, Shandi McConnell, handmakes everything in her backyard studio in North Carolina. I really loved everything in her shop, and not just her Halloween items. She has a wonderful aesthetic that speaks to my heart! — Just a note — In the time since I created this post (last Friday) and then when it went live (this morning) some items have already sold out! So act fast if you like them! I know I am!

The Dogs of Halloween || Cat Bat Mug || Funky Frogs

First up is the Janet Hill print. My friends and I have adored Janet Hill for a while now. She is a gifted artist with a studio in Canada, and her artwork all tells a story. There are multiple storylines that flow through her art, like the Kidnapping of Edward Pink, Miss Moon and her dogs. I just love them all. She also has books to go with her art! The print listed above is from her Miss Moon collection and I just love the lighthearted feel of it.

This fun cat vampire mug is from the store Bread and Badger on Etsy, and artist Amanda Siska says on her website that she started her business  “to nourish the soul, and remind you of special events while you sip your favorite beverages”. I have had a few of her pieces on my wishlist for a while now, and this one is just too cute. The cat on it reminds me of my Maggie who we lost two years ago, right before Halloween.

These frogs just made me smile!! They are so cute in a Beetlejuice sort of way, and I feel like they are perfect for the Halloween season. I could see them sitting next to my kitchen sink, guarding the handsoap! The artist Iva, from IvasPottery on Etsy, does live in Bulgaria so if you want one of these guys before Halloween you might need to order quickly!

Haunted by My TBR || Cats Embroidery || Macrame Ghost

This sweatshirt caught my eye and made me laugh, particularly as a reader with a huge tbr looming over me! Plus, embroidery. I actually have one of those embroidery machines and I don’t know how to use it. My grandmother gave it to me before she passed away, and it would be nice to figure out how to use.

Speaking of embroidery… I love pretty much everything that Marion (ohmygosh that was my grandma’s name!) has in her shop Tales from the Hoop. She sells her designs as kits and as pdf patterns so if you are a more experienced embroiderer then you could skip the kit and buy the pattern instead!

I love this macrame ghost as well. Nhan from the shop BeanDaikon has an array of macrame items for Halloween, from ghosts to skeletons to bats, including a unique bat bookshelf that would be perfect for holding your spooky books! However, I am sharing this ghost because I just love how it looks a bit like it is singing!

Trench Coat Costume

I mean, guys. Look at this cat!!! It’s cute little face, so serious, I just can’t. This little costume outfit is adorable. Miso would hate me forever if I even tried something like this, but maybe someone out there has a furry friend that would be willing to try this on. And then later solve a few mysteries and eat cat food crumpets with a side of a saucer of tea. (can cats have tea? probably not) If anyone buys this and manages to get their cat in it, I need to see the photos.

And with that, I think I will end here! (and go peruse that Etsy shop more, because this cat is a fantastic model and is so adorable!) Be sure to check out Etsy’s Fall Decor Collection and Halloween Guide!

Hello September!

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn autumn, Hello, hygge15 Comments

It’s September! The first of the “ber” months, my favorite months of the year (except for March, Wyatt’s birth month)

September is fall to me. Back to school, fall clothes, comfort meals, cozy mornings and evenings, jeans and sweaters and boots, leaves crunching under foot, cooler nights, crisp air that makes me feel more alive, bonfires, cider… so many good things!

Except..it is not these things immediately, at least not here in Michigan. We are still in shorts, eating our warm weather meals of salads and tomato cheese sandwiches and hamburgers (I love hamburgers, not going to lie), but some things are beginning to seem more like fall. The nights have been cooler, and we are going back to school, so two things on my list! I will take it as a start!

I saw a reel I saw this morning about how in the 90s we would all truck off to school on the first day in boots and jeans and giant sweaters, because they were our “new back to school” clothes and we would all just die and sweat all day from the heat. It made me laugh because I definitely remember doing that!

I love fall and how as nature starts to slow down and rest, we do too. The days are getting shorter, the darkness settles in much earlier, almost whispering to us to settle in as well. To find that cozy blanket and book, and relax and not run around trying to get everything done until you fall exhausted into bed. It’s our reminder that we need to restore ourselves as well. To fill back up after a long summer of doing and going. To play that autumn playlist full of rich songs while we make a flavorful soup or homemade bread on a weekend morning, to indulge in mugs of hot drinks that warm us body and soul, to hole up for a few hours on the couch surrounded by our little comfort piles. It’s time to dim those lights in the evening, and leave the harsh glow of the day behind. To take walks in the crisp air, crunching leaves underfoot, never minding the soft rain that may fall on you. To have warm apple pie for breakfast one day, just for fun.

My squirrel friends have been visiting more often these days, looking for the treats I leave them outside. I watch them eat some, then scurry off with other bits, stashing it somewhere only they know where. Sometimes we have an opossum friend too, who visits wanting apples. Over the summer mama possum was hanging out in our yard with her babies, and while I know they wouldn’t all stay I wish they could have. Like Jerome Kildee is Kildee House (a kids book I read for the first time this year and I wish everyone would read), I would share my space with all the little animals too. Although maybe not in my house. Outside is fine.

We are slowing down, and I try to remember that when making plans for the fall. I want to do so much too, to take Wyatt to all the festivals and camping and Halloween events, but I am mindful to not do too much. I try to pick and choose carefully, to make space between the events for slow days too. Enough to enjoy but not so much as to overwhelm, where everything runs into another thing and dulls the excitement and joy. We are taking a short trip to Cuyahoga Valley National Park this fall, and riding the train which I think will be a lot of fun. Wyatt loves trains and this will be his longest train ride to date – plus I bought tickets for the train car that has a glass ceiling so that we can get huge views of the outdoors as well. I have a few other things planned as well, but also plan to spend some fun days here too, at home.

I made a little graphic to frame and put on my desk, to remind myself to slow down and rest this season. I will link it here in case you want to print it out too, or just save it to your phone or computer.

treat-yourself-slow-down (1)Download

I hope that you all enjoy fall (or spring if you are in the southern hemisphere!) and do some things that are restful for your soul.

Hello July!

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn hygge11 Comments

“Summer was our best season: it was sleeping on the back screened porch in cots, or trying to sleep in the tree house; summer was everything good to eat; it was a thousand colors in a parched landscape…”
― Harper Lee

Summer should be whimsy. Summer should be about these small things that stick with you forever, and feel like those endless lazy days, filled with what you love, surrounded by all the life and color that summer brings. Listening to the songs of crickets on hot nights, watching the fireflies perform their flickering dance in the twilight, the sweetness of a strawberry straight from the garden… these are summertime thoughts. I was watching the YouTuber Desi last night, and she talked about how we all have glimmers, which are small little things that make us happy, that give us joys, that glimmer in our soul. The sound of a storm rolling in with the distant thunder booming, picnics in the park with my family spread out on our blankets with books in the shade of the trees, butterflies flitting here and there in my yard, landing on the flowers I have planted for them. The scent of my lavender, the buzzing of the bees, watermelon, walking barefoot, taking Wyatt on his bike rides. Summer road trips and northern Michigan. Planting sunflower seeds and watching how tall they grow. Iced cold tea, that has been brewed by the sun.

I try to make sure that Wyatt has all these experiences that will become his glimmers. I try to expose him to the world, to nature, to different places and people and things and sights. I know some things that he loves, like seeing and hearing a blue jay call outside, riding his bike, drawing with sidewalk chalk, playing in his little play house while I garden around him, picking peaches, going to the library, spotting the moon, playing with his cousin Mermaid Girl around a backyard fire, swimming in his grandma’s pool.

One summer when I was a little kid, my mom and dad set up a giant tent one year in our yard. I loved taking my books and notebooks and pencils out there and just spending hours in there reading and writing and drawing, like my own little hideaway. I am actually going to have Billy put one up today in our yard, so that Wyatt and I can hang out in there reading and playing games and drawing, building new memories for Wyatt while I live out old ones.

I often wonder about what will stick with Wyatt as he grows older, become a core memory, those memories that are forever memories; will it be our moon parties we have with his cousin? Those nights around the fire? Watching our butterflies emerge from chrysalis and the tadpoles turn to frogs? Ice cream dinners or movie nights at home with popcorn his dad made?

Desi also made something I thought was sort of cool – a summertime mood board, filled with these glimmers. So I made mine. It is sort of neat and wild to think about how these small things that fill people up, these little shimmery glimmers, will be different for everyone. As soon as I post this, I am off to the other room where my husband is drinking his coffee and Wyatt is watching cartoons, to ask Billy what are his small things of summer that make him smile.

What about you? Any you want to share?

(And If you make a mood board and want to share, let me know! I am so curious and intrigued!)

Yoga, Cats, and Fancy Pants Plants

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn hygge, mom life17 Comments

It can be hard as a parent, whether you are a stay at home parent or a working one, to find time for your own pursuits and friendships. So yesterday when I had two opportunities (thanks Grandmas!) to take a little time away I took them.

My original plan was to go to a free yoga class in a nearby park. My mom lives fairly close, so I could drop Wyatt off, go to yoga, and even grab a coffee and read afterwards for a bit. However, I totally chickened out on the class part of that plan. It is has been so long since I have practiced yoga that I chose to skip the class and instead dropped Wyatt off, and went back home for yoga time in my den.

However, I soon remembered why practicing yoga at home is sometimes difficult too…

…Miso and Marlow like to join me. However, I prevailed and pushed on and Miso eventually lost interest and wandered off somewhere to dream in a pile of fluffy cuteness. Marlow stuck around though, and really liked it whenever I had a pose on the mat, like child’s pose. Stinker. Before the pandemic I was considering attending a goat yoga class – after this experience I think I will skip the goat yoga and just go to a goat happy hour instead.

A lot of people had recommended Yoga with Adriene to me and so I gave her channel a whirl. The video I chose was Morning Fresh Yoga and it was actually perfect for what I needed yesterday; it was just challenging enough, yet also familiar enough that I could relax as well. Lots of warrior, forward folds, downward dog, etc.

Afterward I enjoyed a nice cup of coffee at home, in the quiet, petting those cats who were so interested in yoga and doing a little reading before heading back to pick up the kiddo. He had been having his own fun playing with grandma and his cousin Mermaid Girl and was actually tired out! We both took a little rest when we got home (I listened to a podcast while he caught some z’ss) and then had a normal afternoon after he woke up.

It was going to be a special night though, because one of his other grandmas (Wyatt has 3) was coming over to hang out with him while I went to my friend Kelly’s house for a few hours. Billy had to work a little later so we had grandma to the rescue!

It was just Kelly and I last night, we were two buddies down as Jill’s bonus daughter starts college today and they had all sorts of things to finish up, and Chrissy has out of town family visiting. Kelly and I settled in on her deck, poured the wine, and started catching up. It’s been more than a month since I have seen her in person (we actually both had COVID at the same time but we hadn’t seen each other so it wasn’t like one of us got the other sick, just a weird coincidence) Her oldest daughter starts high school this year, which is unbelievable to me. I remember when she was little and would show me all of her dolls when I went over to visit. We talked about the upcoming school year, laughed about some crazy stuff that has happened to us lately, and then went on the plant tour of Kelly’s house. High School Daughter was all Mom, don’t take her on a plant tour! and warned me not to start a plant journey ~ Kelly had to break the news that I have already started one. In fact, the tour had a purpose. We were gathering cuttings so I could take them home to propagate! If you are a plant person, you know how exciting this is!

Kelly has a beautiful home and I couldn’t resist taking some photos of it while we were getting the cuttings. We actually decided I am going to come over and take photos for a blog post one day – she is proud of her house and she should be!

So, the plant cuttings I took home included a Silver Sword, A Baltic Blue Pothos, a Global Green, a Cebu Blue, a Golden Pothos, and a Horse Head Philodendron. The Silver Sword is one I am super excited about, it is beautiful and hard to find. They are all now currently hanging out in my baby plant/ propagation area. I also included a photo of my baby Brasil I picked up for $4.00.

The cutest thing though. When Kelly’s youngest saw that Kelly had given me cuttings, she gathered some marigold seeds from her garden and gave them to me in a little baggie, which was adorable. Kids are always watching and listening and learning. I love it.

Today I feel more refreshed and very grateful for having had that time yesterday! I think I am going to drop Wyatt off at my mom’s once a week so I can go to yoga, whether it is at home or in class, and let her teach Wyatt geography. I think it will be good for all us!

Wolfenoote, Baking, and Christmas Homeschool

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn family friendly, hygge11 Comments

Wolfenoote! A totally 100% made up holiday, dreamed up by a child in New Zealand, and whose parents in a random online story shared that dream. And of course, people like me read it and were like, I’m in! Wolfenoote ” is about celebrating our pack – human and animal – helping where we can, and making the world a better, kinder place.” I love that! It is suggested that to celebrate, you enjoy roast meat, a cake hat looks like a full moon, and if you have a dog, give that dog a present! Human pack members can also receive a gift, but we haven’t done that part as of yet.

We spent the week in our homeschool reading stories that exemplified kindness, we talked about kindness and ways we could show our families and friends and communities kindness. Then on the evening of the 23rd we had roast beef and blue cheese sandwiches on toasted bread, and meatballs. Billy had that brilliant idea, and I love him for it. Thanksgiving was just a few days out and it seemed a little crazy to have two big meals in one week like that. And it was perfect. We had a picnic (inside) since wolves do not sit at tables, ate our sandwiches and meatballs, then it was time for cake! And frankly, that cake was awesome. I am not a baker so I just made a box cake (Aldi yellow) but it was delicious! It had to be that Wolfenoot magic. I also stuck a little wolf silhouette in it. We followed up dinner with some wolfy and nature readings, and voted whether we were going to symbolically adopt a wolf from the Wolf Conservation Center or donate to a local animal shelter. We decided since we usually do the wolf thing for the wolf moon in January, that this time we would donate to an animal shelter. After making this big decision, we listened to Wyatt’s favorite Okee Dokee Brother’s song, Howl. Twice. Loudly. With howling. And then it was time for little wolf cubs to get a bath and go to bed. It was a good Wolfnoote.

For not being a baker, I have been doing a lot of it! The cake on Wolfnoote, and then a Cranberry Pie for Thanksgiving. This is hands down my favorite pie to make. It is fast and easy, and tastes delicious.

I probably could have taken a photo of it after it was finished, and the lid top was on. I blame that wine for this bad photo decision.

Then it was December before I knew it! One thing I love about homeschooling is taking the month of December and trying to theme a lot of our month around Christmas type themes. I mean, I can’t with all of it, but I can quite a bit. It’s a little more work since I go off road from our curriculum and pull it all together myself (my weekends have hours filled with planning) but it is all worth it.

This week was all about gingerbread! We read multiple versions of the gingerbread man story, created gingerbread men from paper, and finished up with a “Gingerbread Cafe” and made our own gingerbread! Well, I did. I lost my helper quickly. Gingerbread takes a long time! He did resurface for the eating of it. As did my husband who was working from home. The gingerbread was a big hit. I didn’t think I liked gingerbread, but it turns out, I do. A lot! I used a recipe from @ofbeeandbear on Instagram, subbing out the spelt flour with just regular flour, and they are delicious.

We made gingerbread girls, boys, and of course, foxes. I need to make sure to copy this recipe down, as it is a winner and will be made every Christmas from here on out.

I feel like our Christmas homeschool is off to a fun (and tasty) start!

Have you done any baking yet? Do you like to bake? Gingerbread – yay or nay?

Getting cozy

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn day in the life, hygge, Uncategorized9 Comments

The weather is finally turning here after having almost summer like temperatures persisting well past their season. The mornings are colder, the evenings have a bite, and it all makes me want to get all snuggly and cozy in my home, like some little squirrel. I see our neighborhood squirrels hopping and digging and searching out their food stores, getting ready to snug down for the winter. And I am getting us all ready too, maybe not quite for winter yet, but definitely for autumn coziness.

Drinking: My husband remarked the other night as we were settling down for the evening that it was getting to be tea season, and he is totally right. Our iced teas become hot teas this time of year, and I usually start placing our tea orders to have a ready supply on hand for these chilly nights. I will pick stuff up when I am at the store of course, but we have some favorites that I like to keep around. I love the Breakfast in Paris tea with its lavender notes and the refreshing mint of Moroccan Mint from Stash, while Billy is all about the Earl Greyer from Republic of Tea. I think Wyatt is going to try tea this year too. My grandma used to give my cousin and I weak tea heaped with milk and sugar and I felt so special. Maybe I will try that too with him this year, just a little taste of tea. If we are out and about on the weekends, we like to treat ourselves to London Fog Lattes at Starbucks. So worth keeping as a treat! We splurged last weekend and picked two up before we went to the bat festival.

Wearing: Sweaters of course!! I usually hit up the thrift stores looking for their softest, most comfortable looking sweaters to lounge about in, but Target has a cardigan that looks super comfy that I plan on picking up on one of my next Target runs (embarrassingly I usually hit up Target once a week..) and Modcloth has a fox sweater that I absolutely need.. Although I do need help with leggings – I don’t really own any and maybe I need to get a pair? Any suggestions?

Using: Blankets! I have had to pull all of our extra blankets out of storage and get them ready to throw on when needed. We have our heirloom quilts that my great-grandmother and my friend’s great-grandmother made, in our bedroom for those afternoon naps, and a few random throw blankets we have picked up as the years have passed. We are such throw blanket people though that we are thinking of splurging on a blanket from Sackcloth and Ashes – although we are undecided between Camp Forest and Camp Lake. We still have our quilt that we use as a picnic blanket but I am thinking about getting one that is more all weather since the ground is a bit colder and I want to continue with some picnics into fall. We are also burning candles again. I don’t usually burn candles in spring and summer, but fall and winter call for candles. The glow of their light is as warming as the heat from the flame, and add to the ambiance of coziness. (and so very hygge, remember hygge? I still swear by its principles) I don’t have any particular brands that I stick with, I just pick them up as we are shopping (probably at Target! lol) but I go for woodsy or apple, cinnamon, or pumpkin scented ones. Yum! Wyatt loves to help me pick them and smells them all, wrinkling his little nose so cutely.

Reading: I am such a seasonal reader. It is so hard for me to read a book that doesn’t fit my mood or the season. So this time of year I read cozy mysteries like Barbara Michaels and the one I just read by Eva Gates, thrillers and scary books, non-fiction that feels like autumn to me. I also turn to comfort reads, like the Little House series and Harry Potter. I read to Wyatt Halloween and fall books, we talk about the leaves and pumpkins and animals and how they get cozy just like us, all snug in a bug and safe and sound.

Because isn’t that how cozy feels? Safe and sound and like being wrapped in a hug.

Saying goodbye to Summertime Snippets…

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn day in the life, family, garden, hygge, Michigan, mom life, nature, Uncategorized9 Comments

As summer is ending and falling into fall, school is back in session, and the easy breezy summer days are no more for this year. And that is ok, there is a season for everything. I can see the change of seasons in my photos, as summer images give way to autumn.

Late summer meant trips to the aquarium, summer music class, visits to Greenfield Village with grandparents. ..

Family nature hikes, surrounded by a canopy of green, the last of the water lilies dotting the water (they were gone the very next week!), Sandhill Cranes before they leave for warmer climates..even a woolly bear caterpillar spotted on a little leaf. Don’t worry though if you are not a fan of snow, this woolly bear says we are in for a mild winter!

Playing in the dirt everyday all day, ice cream on the lawn, ground cherries that we found growing in our back garden, and spontaneous hugs from my kiddo.. (those aren’t seasonal though!)

This week we are getting ready for the harvest moon! I feel we have officially reached fall!

Hello, August!

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn day in the life, family, hygge, Uncategorized6 Comments

Hello August

Goodbye July, hello August!

We are heading into our final month of summer already! I have really been enjoying having my kiddo home everyday with me, it has been so much fun! Even though I can’t get very much done, like cleaning or reading or blogging, hanging out with him is better than all that, hands down. We have little adventures all the time. One thing we have been doing this summer is breakfasting outside in the morning, and it has become my favorite part of the day. I spread out the blanket, take some books and toys and our food, and just sit there until the heat and sun drive us inside. It is a very nice start to our day, one the just works for us. Once the sun starts beating down on us too hard, we go in and go about our business of the day – for me at least.

I am not ready to let go of summer yet, although fall is my favorite season of the year.  We have so much planned still for this month, bonfires and bike rides and birthday parties; we are planning on a “late night” outside too, to observe the night sky and just the nighttime itself. One thing I want to start this month too, is a family art night every Thursday if possible. We will work on art projects together, and some individually too. Next week is our first attempt, and we are all going to paint our version of the night sky. It will be interesting – I am not an artist and my husband is! But, that is not the point really anyway. It is about doing it together. I don’t want Wyatt to not try things or do things because he doesn’t think he is good at them. I remember reading a long time ago, in a Robert Fulghum book, that when we are kids we love to sing, and draw and color and dance, and when we become adults, we are too self-conscious or judgmental of our selves to do it anymore. That is so sad to me! Let’s live, and remember to play. That’s been my whole goal this summer anyway, to let go and have fun, and play with my son and my husband. And it has been a great summer so far!

August feels so abundant, wild, overflowing – gardens are full, blooms on flowers are bursting from their beds. The sun is shining high in the sky, and the world is so lush and full. Our apple tree is heavy with fruit, the weight pulling the branches down so far you would think they would snap, but they don’t. Trees can teach us a lesson in flexibility – strongly rooted, but able to bend as needed. The apples on our tree are starting to show a little red, and will be ready in the next month or two. I love how our whole neighborhood enjoys them – it is an apple summer here! Next month we will all begin to harvest, to get ready for the fall and winter, but for now, we can all just enjoy the fruits of the summer.

 

Little Things

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn hygge, marriage, mom life6 Comments
My mornings begin with a tiny gesture, a small offering left on the table outside our bedroom: a mug of hot coffee.
This sounds weird, I know.
Lately, my mornings have been beginning earlier than I would have ever contemplated. I’m not an early bird by any stretch. Too early, I even feel slightly ill. But I have learned to take my opportunities where I can these days, and early mornings can belong to me. Before little man, I would get up, not too early mind you, and wake up slowly, reading the interwebs, all the blogs, news, while slowly sipping my coffee and rejoining the world again. I haven’t had that for a while. Quite a while. And I kind of miss a little morning time to myself. So, when my husband gets up for work, I get up too. Kind of, since I don’t actually get out of bed.
That makes me sound lazy, that I stay there. But W. has usually wormed his way in by that point, snugged down between us. I know there are many opinions on this, but for us, it works. He wakes often, trapped against the side of his crib, unable to turn over to the left due to his weaknesses on one side of his body. It has to be scary, to awaken in the dark, alone, unable to move. During the day, he compensates for this. He’s like an acrobat really, for all his limited mobility. He has ingeniously devised his own system of movement, graceful and effective. But, eventually, he winds up with us. Sleep is important, any way that you can get it. Yet that means in the mornings I am tethered, as I have not managed to move him back to his bed without waking him. He always knows.
So I use this time instead, that I am awake and he is asleep. The room slowly grows brighter and sunnier, following that pre-dawn grayness, tinged with pinks and yellows. There is usually some book or another next to me.  I hear a slight clink as my husband sets a coffee down on the table outside our room. Sometimes I hear him quietly making his way down the hall, before the clink. Other times I hear nothing until I hear the sound of the front door closing as he leaves. Those mornings I slip out from under the covers, bare feet on the cool wooden floors, everything cool now really, these early spring mornings, and open the door just a crack and spot my gift right there, waiting for me. I tiptoe back, making sure not to wake W. and plan and read and dream and yes, read the internet too, while I wait for him to wake.
It’s kind of like a secret, but not.