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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>Jackie Reeve</title> <atom:link href="https://www.jackiereeve.com/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://www.jackiereeve.com</link> <description>The Orange Room</description> <lastBuildDate>Sun, 28 Jan 2024 01:51:31 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=5.4.16</generator> <item> <title>Dusting off this blog with a quilt</title> <link>https://www.jackiereeve.com/2024/01/27/dusting-off-this-blog-with-a-quilt/</link> <comments>https://www.jackiereeve.com/2024/01/27/dusting-off-this-blog-with-a-quilt/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[jackie]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 28 Jan 2024 01:17:08 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Quilts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[pnw]]></category> <category><![CDATA[quilt]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.jackiereeve.com/?p=17778</guid> <description><![CDATA[ It’s been almost five years since I’ve touched this blog, so long that I forgot how to log into it. I’ve seen such a surge lately of people who used to blog but kind of abandoned it for the ease of social media, or even newsletter platforms like Substack, who are now returning to a space where they themselves own and control their content. I’ve even seen Pinterest is making a comeback! Truly, what a time. <a href="https://www.jackiereeve.com/2024/01/27/dusting-off-this-blog-with-a-quilt/" class="more-link">Read more on Dusting off this blog with a quilt…</a> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ It’s been almost five years since I’ve touched this blog, so long that I forgot how to log into it. I’ve seen such a surge lately of people who used to blog but kind of abandoned it for the ease of social media, or even newsletter platforms like Substack, who are now returning to a space where they themselves own and control their content. I’ve even seen Pinterest is making a comeback! Truly, what a time. That’s not exactly why I’m here, I just left this blog because after we moved to the PNW in 2018 life got busy and I eventually, slowly, just forgot to come back. Yes, Instagram is easier. But also yes, it’s nice to have these photos and thoughts somewhere that I own. But also also, today out of the blue, I just had an urge to get back to it. To add a post that isn’t just my face stuck at the top from the year I turned 40, sort of permanently pinned like a frozen moment in time. I still write as <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/authors/jackie-reeve/">my full-time day job</a>, and because of what I write and how I write and who I write for, I haven’t had a lot of energy left for this space at the end of the day. It can also get a little confusing about what’s okay to write about, outside my job. But I wrote this guide for work on quilts, which will publish next month, and just getting back in touch with my most favorite textile form sort of gave me this itch to dust off my quilting site here, my posts, and share the things I make? I truly have no idea where to start, 5 years is so long. There was a pandemic? I was diagnosed with ADHD? I’m a chicken keeper now and our house is now a USDA-designated small (family) farm? A timber farm! But we don’t cut down our forest. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/heyjackiereeve">You can meet my chickens on IG</a>, and my garden. I’ve <a href="https://www.instagram.com/orangeroomquilts">made quilts</a>, but not nearly as many as one might think after all this time. I’ve cooked stuff, gone places (but not that many places because, again, there was a whole pandemic). So anyway, I just finished a quilt today that I worked on for a little over a year, so I figured I’d start there. <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0513-426x590.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17782" width="530" height="734" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0513-426x590.jpg 426w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0513-217x300.jpg 217w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0513-768x1063.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0513-1109x1536.jpg 1109w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0513-1479x2048.jpg 1479w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0513-976x1351.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0513-565x782.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0513-scaled.jpg 1849w" sizes="(max-width: 530px) 100vw, 530px" /><figcaption>The whole quilt top.</figcaption></figure></div> I started this quilt in December of 2022, after I did some redecorating in my home office. I’d painted two of the walls and the ceiling peach, got a big new desk, and then earlier in 2022 I covered all of the walls in framed prints that made me happy. I got an armchair and ottoman for the space for Christmas that year, and so I decided the armchair and the office needed a quilt. I’ll post photos of that space someday, hopefully, if I keep this blogging thing up here. Anyway, in addition to becoming obsessed with gardening (and chickens!), I’ve also gotten into houseplants, and I have a bunch of them in my office. Seemed like a good theme to go with for this quilt, so I pulled a bunch of fabrics from my stash and ordered a big assortment as well, and then I started sewing on NYE 2022. I worked on this quilt slowly over the whole year and just finished it today, it’s currently in the washing machine waiting to go in the dryer. I used to be in such a rush to finish things, and a lot of that was to fuel this blog for 11 years before I sort of burned out on it. I really like the process of going slow, taking my time, seeing where a project takes me. I am patient in middle-age! I think it’s just something in the water in the PNW. It took me a long time to slow down after we moved here from NJ, and now I don’t think I could speed up if I tried. Sometimes I do still make things in a hurry, like this quilt I made for a retiring teacher at H’s school. I finished it in a couple of weeks last year. <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/mrben-524x590.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17785" width="575" height="647" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/mrben-524x590.jpg 524w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/mrben-267x300.jpg 267w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/mrben-768x864.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/mrben-1365x1536.jpg 1365w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/mrben-976x1098.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/mrben-565x636.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/mrben.jpg 1395w" sizes="(max-width: 575px) 100vw, 575px" /><figcaption>I did take a break from houseplants last summer to make this.</figcaption></figure> But mostly, these days, I take my time. Here’s the back of the Houseplant Quilt. <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0516-446x590.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17786" width="572" height="757" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0516-446x590.jpg 446w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0516-227x300.jpg 227w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0516-768x1017.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0516-1160x1536.jpg 1160w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0516-1547x2048.jpg 1547w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0516-976x1292.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0516-565x748.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0516-scaled.jpg 1933w" sizes="(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px" /><figcaption>I improvised this with strips of every fabric I had leftover from the front of the quilt.</figcaption></figure> I am really out of practice here, I haven’t said anything about how I actually made this quilt. It’s 60″ x 80″, and the front is entirely 5″ finished blocks. Now I thought these blocks were called frames, but every time I google “frames quilt block” I just get suggestions for putting quilts in picture frames, and chaos reigns. It has been so long since I sketched out this design, or since I even lived a very online quilter life, that I do not even remember what it’s called. But I think you get the idea? <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0519-590x443.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-17780" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0519-590x443.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0519-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0519-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0519-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0519-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0519-976x732.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ACS_0519-565x424.jpg 565w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /><figcaption>It’s all squares that are…framed?</figcaption></figure> I used more than 2 dozen different fabrics. Some of them I had yards of, others just a fat quarter, and the planning and calculating and constructing and arranging to try and keep too many similar fabrics from sitting next to each other was like my own zen garden for the last year. And the quilting! I do love to MEANDER. That was a delight, and just watching the whole thing come together over time. It does mean I haven’t had a blanket to get under in my office chair since I got it, but as I basically write about blankets full-time for a living, it turns out that I always have something I’m testing for work that helps me manage. I got by. Okay, I’m going to wrap this up because now I’m just babbling. And I have to figure out all the changes in WordPress over the last 4 years and 8 months, like how I set a top image and tags and all the things my brain has emptied itself of to make room for the names of our 22 chickens, and all the plants in my garden, and the names of all the Seattle sports teams I’ve had to learn over the last nearly-six-years as a Washingtonian. I might need to figure out all my categories, too, that left column is a fever dream of dropdowns. Maybe I should start fresh and just archive all the old stuff. No idea. So, anyway, this is it for now, but I will (hopefully) be back. ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.jackiereeve.com/2024/01/27/dusting-off-this-blog-with-a-quilt/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>April in One Post: This Blog Turned 11, and We Went Back East</title> <link>https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/05/27/april-this-blog-turned-11-and-we-went-back-east/</link> <comments>https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/05/27/april-this-blog-turned-11-and-we-went-back-east/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[jackie]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 27 May 2019 23:17:44 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Events and Celebrations]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Food]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Movies and TV]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Outings]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Theater]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category> <category><![CDATA[adventures]]></category> <category><![CDATA[nyc]]></category> <category><![CDATA[spring break]]></category> <category><![CDATA[theatre]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.jackiereeve.com/?p=17722</guid> <description><![CDATA[This blog turned 11 back on April 16th! I somehow always miss my blogiversary (does anyone still use that word?), and it’s also been a couple of months <a href="https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/03/21/hs-7th-birthday-weekend/">since I last posted</a>. The week before this blog’s anniversary, we went back east to NJ to visit my mom for H’s spring break, and I got to spend a couple of nights on my own in NYC. The trip was fantastic for so many reasons. Adam gave me a ticket to finally see Hamilton for Christmas, and I just had the most amazing time. And it was great for H to revisit her hometown. She’d been missing NJ a lot, and lately starting to compare what she missed about NJ to what she had in WA. But she came back home to WA with a new appreciation for this new home we’re making in a way I don’t think she would have without a visit back to NJ. After 10 months away, she has changed so much, and I think she was able to enjoy the place where she was born but then get back to her new life out here. <a href="https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/05/27/april-this-blog-turned-11-and-we-went-back-east/" class="more-link">Read more on April in One Post: This Blog Turned 11, and We Went Back East…</a> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[This blog turned 11 back on April 16th! I somehow always miss my blogiversary (does anyone still use that word?), and it’s also been a couple of months <a href="https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/03/21/hs-7th-birthday-weekend/">since I last posted</a>. The week before this blog’s anniversary, we went back east to NJ to visit my mom for H’s spring break, and I got to spend a couple of nights on my own in NYC. The trip was fantastic for so many reasons. Adam gave me a ticket to finally see Hamilton for Christmas, and I just had the most amazing time. And it was great for H to revisit her hometown. She’d been missing NJ a lot, and lately starting to compare what she missed about NJ to what she had in WA. But she came back home to WA with a new appreciation for this new home we’re making in a way I don’t think she would have without a visit back to NJ. After 10 months away, she has changed so much, and I think she was able to enjoy the place where she was born but then get back to her new life out here. One of our first stops with my mom was our old local diner, <a href="https://www.newmonmouthdiner.com/">New Monmouth</a>. These two can’t get enough of each other when they’re together, and it is so nonstop chatter. <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17733" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3071-copy-590x443.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="443" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3071-copy-590x443.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3071-copy-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3071-copy-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3071-copy-976x732.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3071-copy-565x424.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3071-copy.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> I had the best of all NJ sandwiches, the pork roll, egg, and cheese. If you live at the Shore this specialized NJ meat is called pork roll, but in North Jersey, where I grew up, it’s called Taylor Ham. So much strife within our state is about what to call this meat. I don’t care what you call it, it’s delicious. Especially with SPK (salt, pepper, ketchup). <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17727" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3077-copy-590x443.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="443" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3077-copy-590x443.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3077-copy-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3077-copy-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3077-copy-976x732.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3077-copy-565x424.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3077-copy.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> This kiddo ate so many Dunkin’ Donuts on that trip. We don’t have Dunkin’ Donuts in Washington, and it was like a glorious reunion with one of her favorite treats. <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17726" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3026-copy-590x443.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="443" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3026-copy-590x443.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3026-copy-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3026-copy-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3026-copy-976x732.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3026-copy-565x424.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3026-copy.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> She got to spend time with her old friends, too, which was amazing. She had a playdate with these sweet girls at a favorite local park, and another playdate at her old bestie’s house. It was great for her to see them, she’d been missing her NJ friends a lot. <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17723" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ACS_0108-copy-590x443.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="443" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ACS_0108-copy-590x443.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ACS_0108-copy-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ACS_0108-copy-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ACS_0108-copy-976x732.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ACS_0108-copy-565x424.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ACS_0108-copy.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> We also made it back to <a href="https://monmouthmuseum.org/">Monmouth Museum</a>, her favorite hometown spot. <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17728" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3080-copy-590x443.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="443" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3080-copy-590x443.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3080-copy-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3080-copy-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3080-copy-976x732.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3080-copy-565x424.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3080-copy.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> Then I was off to NYC for 2 nights while H and my mom spent that time together. That’s H’s dream, to camp out at my mom’s without me for a couple of nights!聽<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17724" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/BCPZ5203-copy-590x590.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="590" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/BCPZ5203-copy-590x590.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/BCPZ5203-copy-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/BCPZ5203-copy-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/BCPZ5203-copy-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/BCPZ5203-copy-976x976.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/BCPZ5203-copy-565x565.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/BCPZ5203-copy.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> I spent that Tuesday working while I was in NYC, but then I was on my own from Tuesday night till Thursday morning. I actually love being in NYC by myself, it’s one of my favorite ways to enjoy it. Just doing the stuff I like. I sat in restaurants eating good food and reading good books (this was my lasagna from <a href="https://www.tonysnyc.com/">Tony’s di Napoli</a>). <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17732" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/QZGJ0861-copy-590x442.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="442" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/QZGJ0861-copy-590x442.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/QZGJ0861-copy-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/QZGJ0861-copy-768x575.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/QZGJ0861-copy-976x731.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/QZGJ0861-copy-565x423.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/QZGJ0861-copy.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> I went to all the tacky tourist shops in Times Square that you can’t really get away with visiting if you’re local, I saw a very late-night show of Captain Marvel on my own (so excellent), I wandered Kinokuniya alone and drifted through Bryant Park. I went to the New York Public Library because…well, why wouldn’t I?<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17729" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3189-copy-590x443.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="443" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3189-copy-590x443.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3189-copy-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3189-copy-768x577.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3189-copy-976x733.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3189-copy-565x424.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3189-copy.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17730" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3219-copy-590x443.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="443" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3219-copy-590x443.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3219-copy-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3219-copy-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3219-copy-976x732.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3219-copy-565x424.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3219-copy.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> And then I went and saw Hamilton by myself, which was just such an emotional experience. I’ve been trying to get to this show for so long, and the tickets before we moved were just too expensive to justify when we were packing up our lives to move across the country. But I was thrilled to be in the room where it happens, it was better than I could’ve imagined, and just the best way to end the whole trip. I headed back to my mom’s on Thursday and we flew home Thursday night, with our luggage stuffed with souvenirs. <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17731" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3268-copy-590x590.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="590" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3268-copy-590x590.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3268-copy-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3268-copy-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3268-copy-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3268-copy-976x976.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3268-copy-565x565.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_3268-copy.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" />     ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/05/27/april-this-blog-turned-11-and-we-went-back-east/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>H’s 7th Birthday Weekend</title> <link>https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/03/21/hs-7th-birthday-weekend/</link> <comments>https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/03/21/hs-7th-birthday-weekend/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[jackie]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 21 Mar 2019 08:01:51 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Art]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Events and Celebrations]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Outings]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Parties]]></category> <category><![CDATA[adventures]]></category> <category><![CDATA[birthdays]]></category> <category><![CDATA[events]]></category> <category><![CDATA[family]]></category> <category><![CDATA[parties]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Washington]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.jackiereeve.com/?p=17701</guid> <description><![CDATA[Our girl is 7! Her birthday was last Friday the 15th, and we had two full days of celebrating. Everyone here is still recovering, and I’m getting over a bug that left me with a fever upwards of 103 last night. Friday morning we were at school for her class’s birthday circle, then we left school for a day at Ikea (she asked for a new desk for her birthday) and Emerald City ComicCon. Saturday morning was her Wild Kratts-themed birthday party, and Saturday night we went to Monster Jam. <a href="https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/03/21/hs-7th-birthday-weekend/" class="more-link">Read more on H’s 7th Birthday Weekend…</a> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[Our girl is 7! Her birthday was last Friday the 15th, and we had two full days of celebrating. Everyone here is still recovering, and I’m getting over a bug that left me with a fever upwards of 103 last night. Friday morning we were at school for her class’s birthday circle, then we left school for a day at Ikea (she asked for a new desk for her birthday) and Emerald City ComicCon. Saturday morning was her Wild Kratts-themed birthday party, and Saturday night we went to Monster Jam. At <a href="https://www.emeraldcitycomiccon.com/">ECCC</a>聽we mainly stuck to artists’ alley, and the highlight was meeting聽<a href="https://agnesgarbowska.com/">Agnes Garbowska</a>, one of the artists who works on My Little Pony and DC Superhero Girls. H got some signed聽 MLP prints for her room. <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17718" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_2743_edited-1-570x590.jpg" alt="" width="570" height="590" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_2743_edited-1-570x590.jpg 570w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_2743_edited-1-290x300.jpg 290w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_2743_edited-1-768x795.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_2743_edited-1-976x1010.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_2743_edited-1-565x585.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_2743_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px" /> Her birthday party on Saturday was amazing. She wanted a Wild Kratts party, but there aren’t actually a lot of Wild Kratts-themed supplies out there. We’ve been so busy with work that I didn’t have time to make custom goodies and decorations, so I went with a general animal exploration theme. <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17702" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07884_edited-1-590x410.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="410" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07884_edited-1-590x410.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07884_edited-1-300x209.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07884_edited-1-768x534.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07884_edited-1-976x678.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07884_edited-1-565x393.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07884_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17704" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07889_edited-1-590x394.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="394" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07889_edited-1-590x394.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07889_edited-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07889_edited-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07889_edited-1-976x651.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07889_edited-1-565x377.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07889_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> We put out the sturdy <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Resources-Jumbo-Magnifier-Set/dp/B0024WC8HK/ref=sr_1_8?crid=2KKIUQO0X0O4&keywords=learning+resources+magnifying+glasses&qid=1553154222&s=gateway&sprefix=learning+resources+magnifying+%2Caps%2C492&sr=8-8">Learning Resources magnifying glasses</a> I love, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019I6M6I/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1">animal print goody bags</a>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0046EAW36/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1">mini flashlights</a>. <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17703" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07886_edited-1-590x394.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="394" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07886_edited-1-590x394.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07886_edited-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07886_edited-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07886_edited-1-976x651.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07886_edited-1-565x377.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07886_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> H and her dad hid <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KYYKECA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1">little plastic animals</a> all over the yard, and her party guests used the magnifiers and flashlights to go on a scavenger hunt through the yard. Whatever animals they found they could keep, plus the magnifiers and flashlights. Those were the party goody bags. <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17705" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07900_edited-1-590x394.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="394" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07900_edited-1-590x394.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07900_edited-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07900_edited-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07900_edited-1-976x651.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07900_edited-1-565x377.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07900_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> We also brought in <a href="https://www.animalencounters.com/">Animal Encounters</a>, a wonderful family-run company that rescues and raises animals and does mobile petting zoos. Its ethically run, and the kids had the best time meeting all the critters. <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17706" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07910_edited-1-590x437.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="437" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07910_edited-1-590x437.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07910_edited-1-300x222.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07910_edited-1-768x568.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07910_edited-1-976x722.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07910_edited-1-565x418.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07910_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17708" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07920_edited-1-590x394.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="394" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07920_edited-1-590x394.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07920_edited-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07920_edited-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07920_edited-1-976x651.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07920_edited-1-565x377.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07920_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17709" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07933_edited-1-590x404.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="404" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07933_edited-1-590x404.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07933_edited-1-300x206.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07933_edited-1-768x526.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07933_edited-1-976x669.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07933_edited-1-565x387.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07933_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17710" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07934_edited-1-590x394.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="394" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07934_edited-1-590x394.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07934_edited-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07934_edited-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07934_edited-1-976x651.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07934_edited-1-565x377.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07934_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17711" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07945_edited-1-590x394.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="394" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07945_edited-1-590x394.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07945_edited-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07945_edited-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07945_edited-1-976x651.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07945_edited-1-565x377.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07945_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17712" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07952_edited-1-590x423.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="423" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07952_edited-1-590x423.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07952_edited-1-300x215.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07952_edited-1-768x551.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07952_edited-1-976x700.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07952_edited-1-565x405.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07952_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17715" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07957_edited-1-590x394.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="394" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07957_edited-1-590x394.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07957_edited-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07957_edited-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07957_edited-1-976x651.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07957_edited-1-565x377.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC07957_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> And then after the kids went home, we passed out for a few hours, got up, and headed into Seattle for Monster Jam. <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17720" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_2829_edited-1-590x416.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="416" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_2829_edited-1-590x416.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_2829_edited-1-300x212.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_2829_edited-1-768x542.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_2829_edited-1-976x689.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_2829_edited-1-565x399.jpg 565w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> I honestly have no idea what I watched, but there were a lot of trucks making a lot of noise.聽Our seats were so high up at Century Link Field that I could’ve touched Mount Olympus. We didn’t stay the whole time–after about an hour H had had enough, but she still declared it the coolest thing. Sunday we stayed in our pajamas and didn’t leave the house all day so we could recover. It was an exhausting few days, but such a great way to celebrate this kid’s birthday, and her first birthday in Washington.   ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/03/21/hs-7th-birthday-weekend/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Our Mudroom</title> <link>https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/02/24/our-mudroom/</link> <comments>https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/02/24/our-mudroom/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[jackie]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 24 Feb 2019 23:29:22 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Home]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Projects]]></category> <category><![CDATA[decorating]]></category> <category><![CDATA[farmhouse]]></category> <category><![CDATA[farmhouse life]]></category> <category><![CDATA[housekeeping]]></category> <category><![CDATA[mudroom]]></category> <category><![CDATA[organizing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Washington]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.jackiereeve.com/?p=17641</guid> <description><![CDATA[A mudroom! This space is one of my favorite places in our farmhouse. I’ve always wanted a mudroom. I grew up in a small apartment and never lived in a house until we bought the one in NJ that we left last year. Years of looking at design magazines, and my year as an interior design student in college, just left me with this picture in my head of what domestic living should look like. And one of those pictures is having a happy, functional space for the mess of everyday life. Not to hide it away, but to give it its own room to kind of revel in the mess of family life, without destroying the rest of the house. This is also the height of privilege, having an entire room in a home that’s basically for dirty shoes, but as a kid with limited privacy and space it’s just something I dreamed of. And here’s the before and after for ours. <a href="https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/02/24/our-mudroom/" class="more-link">Read more on Our Mudroom…</a> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[A mudroom! This space is one of my favorite places in our farmhouse. I’ve always wanted a mudroom. I grew up in a small apartment and never lived in a house until we bought the one in NJ that we left last year. Years of looking at design magazines, and my year as an interior design student in college, just left me with this picture in my head of what domestic living should look like. And one of those pictures is having a happy, functional space for the mess of everyday life. Not to hide it away, but to give it its own room to kind of revel in the mess of family life, without destroying the rest of the house. This is also the height of privilege, having an entire room in a home that’s basically for dirty shoes, but as a kid with limited privacy and space it’s just something I dreamed of. And here’s the before and after for ours. I didn’t take many photos of the space before we painted, but that’s the only work we did in this room. We took the walls from this yellowy white that was all over the house and painted it <a href="https://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW0041-dard-hunter-green#/0041/?s=coordinatingColors&p=PS0">Dard Hunter Green from Sherwin Williams</a>. We also painted our front door this color, so you can open the front door and look straight through to the mudroom to see the color repeated (one day I will grab a picture of that, but it’s cold out there right now). <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17675" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07606_edited-1-590x422.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="422" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07606_edited-1-590x422.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07606_edited-1-300x215.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07606_edited-1-768x550.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07606_edited-1-976x699.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07606_edited-1-565x405.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07606_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> Everything else in this space, structurally, was already here. The washer and dryer, the sink, and the best feature—a shower by the outside door, which we’ve mainly used for keeping Hamilton clean. But it’ll be great when the kid is outside getting dirty, too. Because this room is narrow and long the space can be hard to organize, so this shower is where his crate lives, and where he spent all of his time when he was recovering from heartworm. He was diagnosed right before we left NJ, and he started a 10-week crate restriction for the worst part of his treatment in early October, about a week after we moved into the house. So until Christmas, basically, he was confined. He didn’t see any of the major unpacking, he just emerged into a house that was ready for the holidays. Poor pupper. <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17683" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07783_edited-1-590x394.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="394" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07783_edited-1-590x394.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07783_edited-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07783_edited-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07783_edited-1-976x651.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07783_edited-1-565x377.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07783_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> Everything else in this space we added for storage and organization. Hooks, carts, a bench. All to make it easy to keep everything by the door outside and the door into the garage when we’re coming and going. H has her own area right by the door, with a boot tray for her shoes, a lower hook for her coats and backpack, and an <a href="https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20271892/">Ikea Raskog cart</a> for all the things we like to grab heading out the door. Also, I can’t get over how long her hair is compared to that before photo from September, and how much more grownup she looks five months later. First grade has been great for her in her new school. <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17678" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07662_edited-1-590x394.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="394" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07662_edited-1-590x394.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07662_edited-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07662_edited-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07662_edited-1-976x651.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07662_edited-1-565x377.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07662_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> Here’s some more detail on her space: <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17682" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07779_edited-1-590x393.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="393" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07779_edited-1-590x393.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07779_edited-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07779_edited-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07779_edited-1-976x651.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07779_edited-1-565x377.jpg 565w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> Her Raskog has six small聽<a href="https://www.target.com/p/sterilite-16228012-small-ultra-plastic-storage-organizer-basket-white-36-pack/-/A-75488487">Sterilite baskets</a> from Target, each labeled for a different purpose. She knows where everything goes. A basket for her gloves and hats, one for all the little toys that gather in here and in the car. A space for her gymnastics leos (I grab them when heading out to school pickup and she changes at the gym). Her soccer cleats, socks, and shinguards have a spot (this part of her kit doesn’t need to live in her room since we always put it on in here). There’s a basket for the random things like sunglasses, sunscreen, and her wallet. Everything has a place, and it’s labeled so she can help keep things neat. She’s great about it, a pure Montessori kid. <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17681" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07777_edited-1-590x393.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="393" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07777_edited-1-590x393.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07777_edited-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07777_edited-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07777_edited-1-976x651.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07777_edited-1-565x377.jpg 565w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> The bench is the <a href="https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30297957/">Ikea Skogsta</a>, and we keep the grownups’ everyday shoes under it. <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17673" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07592_edited-1-590x393.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="393" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07592_edited-1-590x393.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07592_edited-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07592_edited-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07592_edited-1-976x651.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07592_edited-1-565x377.jpg 565w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> And the winter and rain boots live here on another boot tray with the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/DryGuy-Forced-Boot-Dryer-Garment/dp/B010A5J5FU/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1551049763&sr=8-5&keywords=boot+dryer">boot dryer</a>. Adam ordered this when we moved in, and it’s amazing. Perfect for wet snowy boots when you’re going in and out of the house, so they dry quickly and stay warm.聽<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17672" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07588_edited-1-590x394.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="394" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07588_edited-1-590x394.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07588_edited-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07588_edited-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07588_edited-1-976x651.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07588_edited-1-565x377.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07588_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> We’ve got a mail sorter and a chalkboard from Target hanging on the walls, too. <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17670" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07579_edited-1-590x411.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="411" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07579_edited-1-590x411.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07579_edited-1-300x209.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07579_edited-1-768x535.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07579_edited-1-976x679.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07579_edited-1-565x393.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07579_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> The closet is full of more coats, cleaning stuff, other seasonal gear. These two baskets on the floor hold all of our gloves, hates, flip flops, any other seasonal supplies we want to keep out of the way. One for me, one for Adam.聽<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17680" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07682_edited-1-590x394.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="394" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07682_edited-1-590x394.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07682_edited-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07682_edited-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07682_edited-1-976x651.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07682_edited-1-565x377.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07682_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> The sink area has dog treats, food, and another file sorter for forms that come home from school, open mail that needs to be filed away, and things that need to go in the shredder.聽<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17671" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07581_edited-1-590x393.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="393" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07581_edited-1-590x393.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07581_edited-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07581_edited-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07581_edited-1-976x651.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07581_edited-1-565x377.jpg 565w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> The cabinets above have more baskets storing cleaning supplies, dog supplies, dog food and bowls. The other cabinet has the iron, all the laundry detergent, and bottles of water for grabbing when we’re working outside.聽<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17676" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07622_edited-1-590x394.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="394" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07622_edited-1-590x394.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07622_edited-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07622_edited-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07622_edited-1-976x651.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07622_edited-1-565x377.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07622_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> The drawers are sorted, too. We don’t really have a family office space for dealing with mail, paying bills, stuff like that. So the mudroom’s become the de facto office, since this is where all the mail ends up. We’ve got a drawer with stamps, stapler and tape, checkbooks, and envelopes, but it’s also got last-minute supplies for H. Hair ties, clips, headbands, and a brush if H forgets to brush her hair upstairs, or if we’re running late and need to do it quickly on our way out. Middle drawer is all dog stuff—spare poop bags, his medicines, a UV flashlight for spotting his messes if we can smell them but can’t find them (dogs rule). Right drawer is random household stuff. Garage door openers, batteries, flashlights, picture hangers. These are our junk drawers, but even those I keep organized so we can find things.聽<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17677" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07628_edited-1-590x394.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="394" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07628_edited-1-590x394.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07628_edited-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07628_edited-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07628_edited-1-976x651.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07628_edited-1-565x377.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSC07628_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> I’ve tried to give everything a designated place, and we’ve been using it pretty effectively. It still gets messy as shopping bags get thrown on counters, or trash bags make a stop here on their way to the cans in the garage. But it’s easy to keep clean since we know where everything should go. This room helps the rest of the house run more smoothly, and I love it.   ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/02/24/our-mudroom/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Valentine Love Bugs</title> <link>https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/02/21/valentine-love-bugs/</link> <comments>https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/02/21/valentine-love-bugs/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[jackie]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 22 Feb 2019 07:43:42 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crafts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Events and Celebrations]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Projects]]></category> <category><![CDATA[kid crafts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[snow day]]></category> <category><![CDATA[valentine's day]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.jackiereeve.com/?p=17485</guid> <description><![CDATA[Here’s a simple, quick, cute project to make with your kids. We made these googly-eyed love bugs for H’s class Valentines this year, but we’ve made them in the past just for fun. H’s party was postponed a week because of a giant snowstorm <a href="https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/02/10/on-turning-40/">the night of my birthday</a> that, combined with midwinter break, meant school was closed all of last week. It was the <a href="https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/02/09/snowfall-in-washington/">fourth snowstorm</a> we’d had in just over a week, February has been wild around here.聽 So one day while H was home and I was working, I set her up to work on these for school. <a href="https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/02/21/valentine-love-bugs/" class="more-link">Read more on Valentine Love Bugs…</a> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[Here’s a simple, quick, cute project to make with your kids. We made these googly-eyed love bugs for H’s class Valentines this year, but we’ve made them in the past just for fun. H’s party was postponed a week because of a giant snowstorm <a href="https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/02/10/on-turning-40/">the night of my birthday</a> that, combined with midwinter break, meant school was closed all of last week. It was the <a href="https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/02/09/snowfall-in-washington/">fourth snowstorm</a> we’d had in just over a week, February has been wild around here.聽 So one day while H was home and I was working, I set her up to work on these for school. I cut the hearts out ahead of time using a Cricut Maker and some glitter paper, but you can also just trace a heart-shaped cookie cutter (if you can find a 3″ heart that’s perfect) and cut these out by hand. <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17663" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07722_edited-1-590x416.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="416" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07722_edited-1-590x416.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07722_edited-1-300x212.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07722_edited-1-768x541.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07722_edited-1-976x688.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07722_edited-1-565x398.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07722_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17665" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07745_edited-1-590x394.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="394" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07745_edited-1-590x394.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07745_edited-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07745_edited-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07745_edited-1-976x651.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07745_edited-1-565x377.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07745_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> Googly eyes were attached. <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17664" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07734_edited-1-590x440.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="440" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07734_edited-1-590x440.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07734_edited-1-300x224.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07734_edited-1-768x572.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07734_edited-1-976x727.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07734_edited-1-565x421.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07734_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> Her dad took a work break to help her tape the pipe cleaner antennae on. <img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17666" src="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07754_edited-1-590x394.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="394" srcset="https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07754_edited-1-590x394.jpg 590w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07754_edited-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07754_edited-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07754_edited-1-976x651.jpg 976w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07754_edited-1-565x377.jpg 565w, https://www.jackiereeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC07754_edited-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> And a pile of sparkly bug cards for school were born. Simple, sparkly crafts in my new studio. The kiddo stayed busy on one of her endless snow days this month, and I was able to work without feeling like I was neglecting her. I may have taken a break or two to help glue, too. She loved her first Valentine’s Day party at school, when it finally happened. ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.jackiereeve.com/2019/02/21/valentine-love-bugs/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> </channel> </rss>