pinned it. did it. {with meg}

Meg is back with another delicious recipe this week. It is totally soup weather here in my corner and this one will be fun to try.

Read on for Meg's Pinterest inspiration. And read all our Pinned it. Did it. posts here.

*****

We woke up here in Colorado today with gloomy skies and dreary rain, with a little snow on the way. I absolutely love autumn for the cool temperatures and the colorful scenery. But my favorite thing about this season is that it always makes me hungry for soup. And when a friend brought this version of Zuppa Toscana over for lunch last week, I knew I’d be making it again soon.

So I decided that today’s weather warranted a slow cooker full of bubbling soup. I declared about a month ago that I wanted to use my slow cooker as many times as possible between now and the end of the year. Nothing makes me happier than to have dinner prep finished and the kitchen clean by lunch time. I love to sit back at dinner time and enjoy opening the lid and scooping a bowl of soup rather than spending an hour standing in the kitchen cooking. It’s not that I don’t love to cook, because I do. But opening the lid to the slow cooker is such a peaceful way to end our day. And this soup was the perfect way to do just that today. 

The recipe is easy to follow for both the slow cooker and the stove top. I love how hearty and filling it is yet it still has a lightness to it and doesn’t feel heavy. I used sweet italian turkey sausage and lots of kale. I also used half and half instead of heavy whipping cream. I also added a teaspoon of salt. 

I love how comforting soup is on a cold day. I have been busy pinning recipes to my soup board and my slow cooker board on Pinterest so that I have plenty of new recipes to try this season. A few recent favorites are:

Mexican Lime Chicken Soup
Beef Rice Noodle Soup
Asian Chicken Noodle Soup

I’d love to hear about what soups or meals you are cooking up lately that you’ve enjoyed. Tell us about it or share a link in the comments below. 

Meg Brothers is an artist, photographer, mama, and dreamer. She loves cooking, tattoos, and sporadic dance parties in the kitchen. She prefers dark chocolate, black coffee, and flip flops when weather permits. She is a lover of Pinterest and truly believes in integrating ideas and inspiration - big or small - into normal life. Meg lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, Dustin and son, Julian. Meg writes about photography, family, and creative inspiration at megbrothers.com. Find her on Pinterest here and on Twitter here. 

***

Note from Liz: Over here in my corner, I'm trying to "use Pinterest for good." I really see it as a community of people trying to see the beauty and possibility in their lives. I'm adding a few new features here on my blog inspired by or directly about Pinterest as a way to invite others to look for this beauty within a social media community. Connect with me on Pinterest here. Read other "Pinned it. Did it." columns here.

pinned it. did it. {with meg}

I wasn't kidding when I wrote that Meg and I are Pinterest penpals. I've been wanting to make something like this for a long time. Love this scarf. Seriously. Even if you are just learning to use your sewing machine, you should put this one on your weekend crafting list this month!

*****

One thing I really love about the seasons changing from summer to autumn, is the wardrobe shift. I really love autumn clothing: sweaters, boots, scarves, wrist warmers, and hats. So when I pinned this DIY scarf, I knew I would want to make one (or ten!) to add to my autumn spread.  

The first time I read through the tutorial, I knew it was a good fit for me. I love to sew. And I am really deeply creative. So basic instructions and rule-breaking are two things that I really loved about the process for making this scarf. I love that I could feel creative control and I could bend rules and explore the process myself.

 

I cut two strips of jersey fabric that I had tucked away in my fabric stash. I don’t use jersey cotton often because I don’t have a serger and am always intimidated with jersey’s stretch. However, with this project, you actually tug on the fabric the whole way through the presser foot on your machine and the act of tugging at it while you sew creates the cute ruffled edge. That was a challenge I could easily take on! I never measured the fabric. I honestly eyeballed it and stretched it to match at the edges while I was sewing. If you need more order than that, feel free to measure and pin. 

 

As I was tugging away at the fabric and sewing, I was thinking about how great this type of scarf would be for making many and giving them as gifts. Or making many for myself! I was thinking about the possibility of using a different fabric on top versus on bottom for a fun pattern/print/solid mix. But then I had another idea. I could make one in black or white or gray fabric and I could buy some neon thread. I have been wanting to work the neon trend into my wardrobe in very small doses and this could be a great way to get it! So now I’m planning my next few scarves for the fall. 

 

One thing I really love about the jersey cotton is how soft it is. I tend to only wear scarves that are light weight around my neck and super soft and this fabric fits both of those bills. It’s also a great amount of ruffle for me. A touch of ruffle without being too much. Are you a fan of autumn wardrobe pieces? What are your favorite items to bring out with the chill in the air? 

Additional Autumn DIY Project Ideas:

Hot Water Bottle Cozy

Hand Knit Herringbone Cowl

Mittens Made from Old Sweaters

DIY Leg Warmers

Wrist Warmers from Old Sweaters

Meg Brothers is an artist, photographer, mama, and dreamer. She loves cooking, tattoos, and sporadic dance parties in the kitchen. She prefers dark chocolate, black coffee, and flip flops when weather permits. She is a lover of Pinterest and truly believes in integrating ideas and inspiration - big or small - into normal life. Meg lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, Dustin and son, Julian. Meg writes about photography, family, and creative inspiration at megbrothers.com. Find her on Pinterest here and on Twitter here. 

***

Note from Liz: Over here in my corner, I'm trying to "use Pinterest for good." I really see it as a community of people trying to see the beauty and possibility in their lives. I'm adding a few new features here on my blog inspired by or directly about Pinterest as a way to invite others to look for this beauty within a social media community. Connect with me on Pinterest here. Read other "Pinned it. Did it." columns here.

pinned it. did it. {with meg}

Meg is back with another Pinned it. Did it. post. And I LOVE that she's sharing another quickbread. Making breads like this one really is an easy way to feel grounded in the kitchen + fill the house with that something good is coming out of the oven soon smell + indulge just a bit. This time Meg's sharing about how Pinterest inspired her to slightly tweak her family's pumpkin bread recipe. 

Our intention with these posts is to spotlight the real, everyday ways we are using Pinterest to fill our lives with a little more beauty. Read on and then let us know how you are using Pinterest these days. And if you share your own Pinned it. Did it. post, come back and tell us all about it in the comments.

*****

This time of year, pumpkin recipes and products are every where you look. Pinterest is filled with them (in fact I have a whole board dedicated to pumpkin - yum!), people are buzzing about Pumpkin Spice Lattes from famous coffee shops, candle shops are filled with the fragrance of pumpkin desserts... And I will admit that I happily participate in the pumpkin frenzy each year.  

Every year of my childhood, I would get really excited when I could smell pumpkin bread baking in the oven. Still to this day, when I smell it, I am immediately overcome with a sense of holiday excitement. The cinnamon and cloves, the pumpkin, and all of the warm goodness that comes with them... It smells like Thanksgiving and Christmas and it’s one of my favorite things ever. My family has always used a Betty Crocker recipe and in my whole adult life, I’ve only ever eaten one other version of pumpkin bread that comes close to being as wonderful (from the famous coffee chain previously mentioned). But I want our family recipe if I’m going to indulge. And with nearly 3 cups of sugar in the recipe and white flour I rarely eat, it’s a huge indulgence. 

So when I started pinning other pumpkin bread recipes, I always pinned them thinking “yeah, those look nice, but I’ll never sway from the one recipe that I truly love...” Until it hit me this weekend. I could use the recipe I love and modify it or add to it from others that I’ve seen that look good. I didn’t need to reinvent the wheel, I could improve upon it! So I scrolled through my list and found a recipe that adds a streusel topping and I was sold. (I also have hopes of trying a recipe that adds chocolate chips and one that adds a ribbon of cream cheese and oh my gosh one that has pumpkin buttercream frosting, but one indulgence at a time). 

So I used my family recipe (which you can find here), made my loaves of delicious pumpkin bread, and used a pin from Pinterest as my inspiration for adding to something I already love. I added streusel topping to a couple of the loaves. And I am so glad I tried it. I kept a couple loaves au naturale because I do love it that way too. But it was so fun to realize I could just use simple tweaks or ideas to add upon things I already like. 

As I sat and enjoyed a slice warm from the oven, I smiled at how even a tiny bit of inspiration from a Pinterest pin has opened up so many ideas to try with something that is near and dear to me. Big or small, Pinterest is constantly bringing good to my world and I am having so much fun sharing these bits of good with you. 

Are you a pumpkin lover? Leave a link in the comments or tell us about your favorite pumpkin recipes. I am always on the hunt for new favorite pumpkin ideas! 

Meg Brothers is an artist, photographer, mama, and dreamer. She loves cooking, tattoos, and sporadic dance parties in the kitchen. She prefers dark chocolate, black coffee, and flip flops when weather permits. She is a lover of Pinterest and truly believes in integrating ideas and inspiration - big or small - into normal life. Meg lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, Dustin and son, Julian. Meg writes about photography, family, and creative inspiration at megbrothers.com. Find her on Pinterest here and on Twitter here. 

***

Note from Liz: Over here in my corner, I'm trying to "use Pinterest for good." I really see it as a community of people trying to see the beauty and possibility in their lives. I'm adding a few new features here on my blog inspired by or directly about Pinterest as a way to invite others to look for this beauty within a social media community. Connect with me on Pinterest here. Read other "Pinned it. Did it." columns here.

pinned it. did it. {with liz}

Ellie and I made banana bread this weekend, and I loved it so much I knew I had to come and tell you all about it and add my own "Pinned It. Did It." column this week. (Meg will be back with another one next week. Read past columns here.)

Ellie is a bit obsessed with making banana bread. At some point last spring, we made some from a mix and now she tells me about every three weeks, "I think it's time to make more banana bread." And we do. But often from a mix while changing things up (like using peanut oil or adding our own bananas etc).

But in my quest to do things a wee bit healthier around here and cook from scratch more, I went to Pinterest to find a recipe.

my "sweet things" pinboard 
(thinking I might want this from Pottery Barn as I do more Pinterest-inspired cooking)

But first I got very distracted by this. (Because wouldn't you?)

And then refocused on bread and found this recipe: Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

This one was also a contender: Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

But the idea of swirling cinnamon won out, so I went with that first one. We followed the recipe but I also added 1 cup of chocolate chips.

Here's a glimpse into our adventure. One thing I love about baking is that, overall, it is often "toddler helper" friendly.

Clearly sampling the chocolate chips is a very good idea.

We used the Kitchenaid Mixer with paddle attachment for this recipe, being careful not to overmix the flour and baking soda. I like the way it mashed the bananas so well. And Ellie liked turning it off and on. But the batter photos were not appetizing, so I skipped those for this cute blue bowl filled with cinnamon sugar photo below.

Ellie wanted to try little tiny tastes of everything. She wasn't too fond of the flour (as predicted) but the cinnamon and sugar was a hit. After we mixed everything together, we stirred in the chocolate chips, and then it was time for the cinnamon + sugar mixture. Ellie was able to easily stir them together and then add 1/2 of it on top of 1/2 the batter, which became the middle of the loaf, and then the other half on the top of all the batter.

Next time I make this bread, here is what I will do differently: I would put about three-fourths of the cinnamon + sugar mixture into the middle of the bread. We put in about 1/2 (as Ellie is doing above), but this meant that we put a lot on the top. And all of it didn't absorb (as you can see in the top photo of this post). So we had that "too much cinnamon sugar on your cinnamon toast effect," and when I flipped it out of the pan, it went everywhere. BUT it did make a crust that was so darn yummy. I would also add only 2/3 (or even 1/2) cup of chocolate chips next time.

And, I learned that the melted chocolate chips plus all that cinnamon goodness on the top and inside made it harder to tell when the bread was done using the toothpick method. So I used the impromptu "might as well put a whole knife tip in there and see if it comes out clean" method, which was surprisingly effective.

It was so good. Like the best. Like you should take it to every party where you need to bring something because oh my goodness it is easy and people are going to love it.

This bread will be heavy in rotation now whenever bananas are starting to "go bad." I'd like to explore adding some new kinds of flours (like oat flour), but that is a whole new adventure and I'm still finding my map for that one.

One thing I know for sure: Pinterest is helping me get excited about cooking more. And now that it is cooling off in the afternoons, I'm starting to actually cook instead of just pin ideas. So stay tuned for more stories from the kitchen.

*****

A quick note about Pinterest: Over here in my corner, I'm one of the top 50 pinners in the world (seriously) and I'm trying to "use Pinterest for good." I really see it as a community of people trying to see the beauty and possibility in their lives. I'm adding a few new features here on my blog inspired by or directly about Pinterest as a way to invite others to look for this beauty within a social media community. I look forward to seeing how it all unfolds. Connect with me on Pinterest here. Read other "Pinned it. Did it." columns here.

pinned it. did it. {with meg}

So excited about today's Pinned It. Did It. post from Meg. Quick, easy to do smart ideas that you just might need. Love using Pinterest to find ideas like this.

Read on for Meg's post...

*****

It’s been a few months now since Liz and I started to really focus on using Pinterest for good, and I’ve been thinking about how sometimes Pinterest can feel overwhelming. I often hear people say that Pinterest makes them feel inadequate or like they aren’t doing enough. But I think the beauty of Pinterest lies in the ability to tuck ideas away for the right time when there is a project that I’m ready to tackle or the recipe I have been meaning to try. I like to look at it through the lens of each idea, recipe, pin as a bonus. Something I can add to the life I am already living. Sometimes those are big things like tutorials for making a new headboard or reorganizing entire rooms of the house. But sometimes they are small little things that just fit into the category of “smart ideas.” Not everything on Pinterest has to be a big production or needs its own tutorial.

Here are a few simple “smart ideas” I’ve recently tried from my pins.  

Instantly hang a second curtain panel behind existing rods with a bungee cord  

I tried this a couple of weeks ago after I made new curtains for my son’s room. They were not as light-blocking as I’d hoped they’d be so I bought two bungee cords and hung the previous tan ones behind the new polka dot ones to help block out more light. This idea is brilliant. It was literally a $3 solution to my curtain problems. The second curtains were hung in about 5 minutes. I purchased a 2 pack of bungee cords at Target and I would say that the only draw-back to this solution was that I hadn’t thought about the bungee cords showing when the curtains are open. So when I pull them open, you can see the green bungee cords. It doesn’t bother me much but if I use this trick anywhere else in my home, I’ll spend the extra money for the black bungee cords that will be less noticeable.

 

Cover a letter with an old map (or sheet music or comic books or...)

We traveled to Ireland a year ago in May and I’ve had our map laying around ever since. It’s the actual map we used while driving through the narrow streets on the wrong side of the road and in the wrong side of the car so needless to say - it has a little sentimental value to us. I decided to try covering our last name initial with the map so we could display it on our mantle. I purchased the cardboard letter “B” from Joann Fabric for about $3 and used Mod Podge to glue it on. I managed to get all of our important stops somewhere on the front or back of the letter. I had to get creative and piece together bits of the map for the insides of the hole but this ended up being about a 30-minute project. I am so happy to look up and see that memory displayed on our mantle. And it’s fun when people pull it down and ask us about our trip. I love preserving memories through those stories over and over again. 

Hem your pants and keep the original hem

This is brilliant. I am 5’ 3” and I end up needing to hem nearly every pair of pants I purchase. It was never the same to try to recreate a hem line because it always looked homemade. Now, with this super simple way of hemming pants, I can finally keep the original hem. I have used this method for three pairs of pants now, and it’s nearly impossible to tell that the pants have even been hemmed when I am wearing them. I love that I can customize my wardrobe to be a more tailored fit now.   

Pool Noodle Car Door Guard

We bought a new car in April. The second day I had it, I opened the car door and hit the the cement garage wall and left a tiny little scratch on the door. I remembered seeing this pin on Pinterest and my husband installed our own pool noodles on the side wall of the garage the next day. Maybe they seem a little silly, but with a 2 year old, we’re in and out of the back doors a lot and it is so nice not to worry about the car doors scraping anymore. This was a $5 solution.  

Rubber Band Seam Allowances

The best thing I’ve ever done for sewing in a straight line, was adding rubber band seam allowances to my sewing machine (I used hair ties because rubber bands are few and far between in our house). A simple little addition to my machine and I now have very nice, straight seams on my sewing. It’s easy to adjust them for the project I’m doing. I also like that they are different colors so I can keep two seam allowances handy for any given project. Such an easy, simple idea.

I’m curious about how you’re using and liking Pinterest. Have you done any big projects or used any smart ideas lately? Link to it or tell us about it. I really enjoy hearing from you and how you’re using new ideas in your world. 

Meg Brothers is an artist, photographer, mama, and dreamer. She loves cooking, tattoos, and sporadic dance parties in the kitchen. She prefers dark chocolate, black coffee, and flip flops when weather permits. She is a lover of Pinterest and truly believes in integrating ideas and inspiration - big or small - into normal life. Meg lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, Dustin and son, Julian. Meg writes about photography, family, and creative inspiration at megbrothers.com. Find her on Pinterest here and on Twitter here. 

***

Note from Liz: Over here in my corner, I'm trying to "use Pinterest for good." I really see it as a community of people trying to see the beauty and possibility in their lives. I'm adding a few new features here on my blog inspired by or directly about Pinterest as a way to invite others to look for this beauty within a social media community. I look forward to seeing how it all unfolds. Connect with me on Pinterest here. Read other "Pinned it. Did it." columns here.