From the category archives:

Motherhood & Family

Less Worry, More Joy, and Orange Rind Tiaras

by Corinne on March 14, 2012

Life has been a whirlwind of editing, mothering, cooking, and occasional sleeping lately. Even though days seem to pass in a blur, each one unfolds in a rich, heart-pounding, soul-quenching kind of way.

I’m not sure if I would have embraced this pace a year ago. I might not have adjusted to its challenges, twists, and quirks with as many shrugs and smiles. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a planner and I probably always will be. But slowly, I’m letting go of the things I can’t control (the smaller ones at least), so that I can savor the moments at hand. Like tonight, when waiting for a delayed train turned into a twilight walk with my little girl.

From morning until late at night, I find blocks of time to work on editing projects. Currently, I’m thrilled to be the in-house editor for Kris Carr’s upcoming book, Crazy Sexy Kitchen. Not only is this book packed with whole food, veggie-strong education, it’s also chock full of phenomenal recipes (believe me, I’ve been testing them and my husband agrees). I kind of feel like I’m cheating when I work with Kris because no matter how much time and effort it takes to create something like a kick-ass cookbook, it’s enriching, challenging, and a whole lotta fun at the same time.

As I walked through the front doors of Penn Station with Audrey this evening, I remembered the train ride I took five years ago to meet Kris in NYC for the first time. I felt it in my bones even then. When you’re on the right path, it resonates through your whole being. I remind myself of how lucky I am to be in this position, as a writer, editor, wife, and mother, whenever I’m tired and my brain just wants to zone out with a box set of Gilmore Girls DVDs. You know what else helps on the more challenging days?

Orange rind tiaras.

Tagged as: career, Crazy Sexy Kitchen, editing, family, following your bliss, Kris Carr, motherhood

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Co-op Crush, Workspace Revolution & More Kitchen Love

by Corinne on February 28, 2012

The past week has been filled with little blessings that bring big happiness.

We joined the Baltimore Food Co-op! Minutes from our home, easy to park, local produce, bulk foods & spices, lots of veg-friendly products, chilled out atmosphere, and a 10% member discount. It’s our own little urban neighborhood market. I’m already starting to feel like it’s a home away from home. (The fact that I’ve been there 3 out of the past 5 days might have something to do with that.) Frankly, I have a crush on my co-op. Some ladies shop for shoes, I shop for veggies. If you live in Charm City, check it out. The one-time membership fee is only $100. Well worth it!

Tripling my time in the kitchen…and not just while cooking. My workstation (now sporting dual monitor action-score!) has been moved from the living room couch to the one empty corner of our kitchen. I have a desk and a chair (my back is thankful)! I have a dedicated workspace! This has seriously changed my life over the past three days. Separating my workspace from the living room (and bedroom) means that I am focused on family, reading, TV, or whatever, when I’m away from my desk. I’m not aimlessly opening Facebook or Twitter or email just because my computer is sitting on the coffee table. I’ve even mounted some art and photos on my “office” walls. These may not be revolutionary ideas, but they are revolutionizing my life.

Cooking is growing more dear to me each day. The mindfulness of soaking some chickpeas for my curry, chopping up a clove of garlic, or just flipping through a cookbook, sit nicely in my heart. I never got it before. I’ll admit that I didn’t buy it when friends talked about their love of preparing daily meals. For some reason, in the past few months, something clicked.

When we eventually move out of this house, I’ll miss the kitchen most. It’s in this room that Audrey keeps me company while cooking meals, babbling in her high chair or wiggling around on the floor. It’s in this room that I work with my change-making, life-altering, mind-bending clients on my favorite thing in the world–words. It’s in this room that I share meals and conversation with my husband. It’s in this room that our little family spent so many hours those first couple weeks, brand new Audrey in her cradle, Steve and I sipping coffee in reverent, blissful, exhaustion.

We’ve lived here for five years, but I’m just now starting to feel truly connected to these walls and truly connected to myself.

Psst! One more thing. My Vegging Out Philadelphia piece was just posted at Vegetarian Times!

Tagged as: baltimore, Baltimore Food Co-op, cooking, editing, kitchen, vegan, Writing & Editing

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The time, the money, the dishes. It’s all worth it.

by Corinne on February 16, 2012

This week’s vegan kitchen highlights…

First and foremost, Audrey drank her first green juice. Romaine, cucumber, and pear. I am one proud mama.

Audrey's First Green Juice

Also, last night’s Vegetarian Times Chile-Lime Glass Noodles (with Baby Bok Choy & Tempeh) and tonight’s Vegetarian Times Lemongrass Curry with Broccoli & Tofu were huge hits.

Chile-Lime Glass Noodles

Lemongrass Curry with Broccoli & Tofu

The time, the money, the dishes–all worth it.

Why?

When our little family returns from picking up Steve at the train station, we walk into a wall of gorgeous aromas coming from the kitchen.

Steve feeds Audrey while I put the finishing touches on dinner. We sit down and eat together at the kitchen table. Sometimes we even light a candle.

We talk about our days, we marvel at our baby girl, we discuss the meal. Each night matters and becomes a new memory. (Take-out and TV watching, while mindlessly eating in silence, doesn’t have the same affect.)

Another score for the vegan kitchen this week–Valentine’s Day Knives!

New Chef's Knife

Happy cooking,
Corinne

Tagged as: baby, baby bok choy, cooking, dinner, family, Green Juice, kitchen, tempeh, tofu, vegan, Vegetarian Times

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Welcome, Thirties

by Corinne on February 11, 2012

In about four months, I turn thirty.

This next decade looks pretty promising.

Mostly, because I’m quickly discovering what makes me happy. Not the extreme kind of happiness that is only sustainable for a few hours. This is a subtle, content, solid happiness that has become part of daily life. It fades into the background sometimes, but it’s always there.

I used to do a lot of things because I thought I should do them, not because they brought true joy or fulfillment. There was an end goal in mind or something that I had to prove. I’ve noticed lately that I’m enjoying everyday experiences as they’re happening, rather than worrying about whether the activity is accomplished perfectly or what others will think of me for it.

Five years ago, I approached yoga as something to conquer. I had to do a certain amount of yoga everyday in order for it to be worth something. I had to master certain poses. I wanted to be seen as an exemplary teacher. This past week, I started doing yoga again for the first time since Audrey was born. My back hurt from taking care of her and from sitting at my computer for hours everyday. After putting Audrey down for her morning nap, I would go into my room and do a 15 minute yoga practice. My goals were simple. I wanted to feel better. I wanted to take time to care for myself so that I could enjoy my day more. I wanted to care for my mind and body so that I didn’t feel resentful later in the day. I like this yoga. This is the yoga of my thirties.

The same goes for the kitchen. I can’t get enough of my kitchen lately. I cook a couple times a day. I love feeding my family. I try a new recipe for every meal. I’m learning more about the health benefits of my food. I daydream about showing Audrey how to cook and bake, while teaching her about the power of whole foods. This is the kitchen of my thirties.

I’ve started reading again. After my husband and Audrey have gone to bed and I’ve worked for an hour or two, I crawl into bed, switch on my book light and read until I can’t keep my eyes open. I read what I want to read and it enriches the rest of my life. It feels indulgent and all mine. This mindset has made its way into my writing. I write what I want to write. I’m not thinking about how others will view my books. Instead, I’m writing a book that I can’t wait to return to each day. That’s how I know I’m on the right track. This is the reading and writing of my thirties.

Now that my voice is clearer, I’m interacting with people who I adore, more and more. They’re jumping out of the woodwork. They’re inspiring me and their company lifts me up. I’m finding them in my neighborhood, online, and even in my own family. More often than not, I lay in bed at night and give thanks for these people. These are the friends and colleagues of my thirties.

So bring it, thirties. I’m glad you’re finally here.

PS- This was inspired by Emily P-P’s blog post, On Looking Forward.

Photo credit: colemama

Tagged as: cooking, kitchen, motherhood, Writing & Editing, Yoga

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Feeding My Family, Nourishing My Life

by Corinne on January 19, 2012

Who knew that meal planning and cooking regular meals for my family would bring joy and organization to the rest of my life? Here's why.

1. No Facebook, email, phone calls, or work while making dinner. It's just cooking and hanging out with Audrey in the kitchen time. No screens. Just cookbooks, fresh food, and my little girl.

2. Easy lunches. Most of the time, there's enough leftover dinner for our lunches the next day (saved time and money!).

3. More confidence in the kitchen. I've never fancied myself to be much of a cook. But now that I've been making a new dish almost every night for the past month, I'm proud of my culinary skills. It just feels good to make a meal that you and your family enjoys (and you know is healthy). That happiness seeps into the rest of my life.

4. Take-out detox. We've only ordered take-out once or twice in the past month. More cash saved, plus I know what ingredients are going into my meals.

5. More time for the good stuff. Cooking and cleaning takes time, but so does 3-4 trips a week to the grocery store and restaurants due to last-minute dinners. Steve used to go alone to the grocery store with a short list. Now we go together once a week and Audrey rides in the cart while we shop. On weeknights, once Steve is home from work, we stay in (in the warmer months, I imagine we'll take neighborhood walks). We can savor the time we have together.

After a month of cooking, I know I'll never turn back to last minute, zero effort meals. Cooking is creative, joyful, and fulfilling. The house smells amazing every night and when we do order take-out or go to a restaurant it's a special occasion.

The only bad part? Dishes. But, they're worth it.

I've posted a bunch of food pictures at Pinterest in case you're curious.

Tagged as: cooking, family, home

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Six Months Later

by Corinne on December 13, 2011

It’s been over six months since Audrey was born and I can finally wrap my mind around family, home, and work again (although probably not at the same time). I also found my way back to my novel. Hooray!

By organizing my home life to support my creative life, I’m propelling my passions forward. Being a mom rocks, but to be the best mom possible, I had to revive certain parts of myself that had gotten buried under diapers, teething toys, and burp cloths.

These simple acts helped me find the time to do that:

1. Happy House = Happy Brain. I don’t feel relaxed or focused unless my house is in pretty good shape. It doesn’t have to be perfectly clean and organized, but a general sense of order puts me at ease. Since I work from home, this is a must. Getting clear with my hubs on who does what around the house has been super helpful. No more gray area means that I nag him a lot less and get my own “chores” done without dragging my feet. Also, trashing or donating clutter means less fuss and more physical/mental space. I’ve said this before, but time and time again I learn its enormous value.

2. Meal Planning = $ & Time Saved. I never thought I’d be a meal planner, but I started to despise the “what are we having for dinner?” question every evening. Once a week, I search for vegan recipes online, print them out, make a shopping list, and head to Whole Foods with the fam. We stock up for the entire week and I make something new almost every night. All of the meals take less than 1 hour to prepare and provide leftovers for lunch. We (aka my hubs) used to go to the store 3-4 times/week. Time, food, and money were all wasted. No more!

3. Erika Lyremark. Participating in Erika‘s Morning Whip program has revitalized my determination to achieve and live one of my ultimate goals–seeing my books on shelves. Erika called me out the first time we talked. Over the past 6 months, my novel had been tucked away in a file on my computer. I was hesitant, scared even, to return to it. Through the Morning Whip I’ve connected with 40 phenomenal, like-minded women, found inspiration to seize the day on work that is closest to my heart, and stopped making excuses. PS- #1 and #2 on the list happened because of Erika.

A couple other things I’ve done to help with time management include hiring a babysitter for a couple afternoons a week and finding a sleep schedule for Audrey that works for both of us (two naps a day = happy, rested baby & two hours of daytime work windows for me!). I also stopped eating dessert every day. Cutting down on sugar does wonders for my mood and energy.

All of these habits, efforts, and steps add up to a noticeable lifestyle makeover. It feels really good to be taking care of my home, my family, my work, and myself. I don’t do any of these things perfectly, but that’s okay. I’m doing my best each day and I’m learning that my best is a whole lot better than I thought.

Happy Holidays!

From Corinne & Audrey