How to Make Hearty Blueberry Breakfast Muffins {or The Cure for a Grumbling Tummy}

If you haven't noticed, I have a thing for blueberries, especially Maine Wild Blueberries. Earlier this week, with a nearly empty refrigerator on my hands and a grumbling emptiness in my stomach, I pulled together what ingredients I did have and created these Hearty Blueberry Breakfast Muffins.

Muffins in our household generally aren't sweet, dessert concoctions, at least not if we make them ourselves. We like them hearty and filling with just a hint of sweetness. Part of that sweetness here, comes from the blueberries. I used Wild Maine blueberries I had in my freezer. Feel free to use whatever is most easily available in your area.

Hearty Blueberry Breakfast Muffins

Ingredients

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 3 TB unsalted butter, melted 
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar, extra for sprinkling 
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries, extra for sprinkling 

Directions 

1) Grease a muffin tin. Powder lightly with flour. Shake off excess. Recipe will make 6 large muffins or 12 small. Preheat oven to 350 for large muffins or 375 for small muffins.

2) Mix oats and buttermilk in large bowl. Let sit for 10-15 minutes. Add melted butter, egg, 2/3 cup sugar, and vanilla. Mix well.

3) Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a small bowl. Add to wet mixture. Gently fold in 1 cup blueberries, reserving the extra for the top.

4) Divide blueberries among muffin tins. Sprinkle extra blueberries on top. Top that with a sprinkling of sugar.

5) Bake large muffins in a 350 oven for 25-30 minutes or small muffins in a 375 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.

The 7-Year Refashion {or That 70's Dress Becomes a Skirt}

About 7 years ago, my best friend and I were in the middle of one of our favorite activities  (thrifting) when I found the perfect dress. It was long and vintage with an ivory bodice and a green patterned skirt (two of my favorite colors). We were at one of those dirt cheap charity shops where everything sells for 50 cents and there are no changing rooms. So I bought the dress and hoped for the best.

When I got the dress home, though, I discovered, to my distress, that I couldn't zip it. It fit over my hips and waist, but there was nothing I could do to make the ribcage fit. The fabric was too pretty to lose, though. So I put it away and dreamed of someday making something out of it. 

Fast-forward 7 years and several sewing classes. Last week, we were at my parents house. We slept in my old bedroom. I opened a drawer and discovered the dress. Time for a refashion!

This refashion was 7 years in the making but took about 7 minutes to make (ok, that is an exaggeration for the sake of parallelism). Basically, I cut off the bodice, folded down the ruched waistline, and slip-stitched it into place. I didn't even replace the zipper. I just gave it a new top-stop and made sure it was securely folded down. Now, I have a cute new skirt! 

Outfit Details

Glasses: Rivet & Sway

Headband: unkown

Bow clip: H&M

Cardigan: Very old. Target

T-shirt: Target

Skirt: Vintaged. Refashioned by me.

A Warby Parker Home Try-On Review

As I've mentioned before, I wasn't much of a glasses girl until last December when I made my first glasses purchase in years. Now, I'm digging specs for everyday wear!

I thought I'd take another glasses company out for a spin. Here's my experience with the  
Warby Parker Home Try-On Program.

How it Works

1) Select 5 frames from Warby Parker to try out.
2) Wait for your trial frames to come in the mail.
3) Try out the frames for 5 days.
4) Ship the frames back for free with the handy dandy return label.

Frames start at $95 a piece, including prescription lenses. One awesome bonus? For every frame you buy, Warby Parker donates one to someone in need.

So without further ado, here are the frames I tried.

Lyle in English Oak

Sims in Violet Magnolia

Nedwin in Summer Green

Nedwin in Cedar Tortoise

Quimby in Aurora

I think I like the Lyle and Sims frames the most. What do you think? 

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. All opinions, however, are my own.

Spring/Summer Sewing Wishlist {or If Wishes were Horses}

Spring is in the air. Or at least it's in my thoughts, despite the freezing temps. I can't help but plan out my springtime sewing. Of course, knowing me, I'll be lucky to finish even one of these projects.

Here's hoping this year will be different!

1) Simple Blouse

Colette Pattern's Sencha and Grainline Studio's Scout Woven Tee

2) Simple Button-Up With Peter Pan Collar

Colette Pattern's Violet

3) Summer Shift

Vintage Simplicity Pattern from my personal stash (it was my Aunt's!) and Colette Patterns Laurel

4) Cigarette Pant

Brigitte Bardot in the perfect cigarette pants and a vintage cigarette pattern I've been longing for. It's a hard one to find at an affordable price!

5) Basic Dress

I love, love Carey Mulligan's dress. Hoping to create something similar with the Emery pattern from Christine Haynes.

6) Spring Suit

Still figuring this one out, but I'd love a cute matching spring suit like this one from Ruche.

The Poetic Wardrobe {Exiled}

I live by the ocean. But I live in a city by the ocean. There's barely a beach. Mainly, it's a busy wharf filled with touristy stores and restaurants. Except for the seagulls, you sometimes forget how close by the turbulent ocean you are. 

Last Winter and Spring, we spent several months living by the sea in a more rustic environment. Lately, I've been missing those months, and I've dreamed of living in an even more rustic oceanside community. As usual, Edna St. Vincent Millay (one of my favorite lyric poets and a fellow Mainer) sums up my feelings quite well.

Exiled

by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Searching my heart for its true sorrow,

This is the thing I find to be:

That I am weary of words and people,

Sick of the city, wanting the sea;

Wanting the stick, salty sweetness

Of the strong wind and shattered spray,

Wanting the loud sound and the soft sound

Of the big surf that breaks all day.

Always before about my dooryard,

Marking the reach of the winter sea,

Rooted in sand and dragging driftwood,

Straggled the purple wild sweet pea.

Always I climbed the wave at morning,

Shook the sand from my shoes at night,

That now am caught beneath big buildings,

Stricken with noise, confused with light.

If I could hear the green piles groaning.

Under the windy, wooden piers, 

See once again the bobbing barrels,

And the black sticks that fence the weirs;

If I could see the weedy mussels

Crusting the wrecked and rotting hulls,

Hear once again the hungry crying

Overhead, of the wheeling gulls;

Feel once again the shanty straining

Under the turning of the tide,

Fear once again the rising freshet,

Dread the bell in the fog outside,

I should be happy!--that was happy

All day long on the coast of Maine.

I have a need to hold and handle

Shells and anchors and ships again.

I should be happy, that am happy.

Never at all since I came here.

I am too long away from water;

I have a need of water near. 

Outfit Details

Dress: Handmade by Me - Colette Patterns Peony

Sweater: Gap

Glasses: Unkown

Belt: Thrifted 

Oh, and yes, that is Winnie the Pooh on my dress. And no, Winnie the Pooh has nothing to do with the poem. 

Wardrobe Architect: Defining Silhouettes {or What Your Clothing Says About You}

In working through Colette Pattern’s Wardrobe Architect Series, I've noticed I veer toward structured basics with a touch of whimsy. These fashion choices actually say a lot about my personality. 

I’m a goofy, eccentric person, but I’m a private person as well. My love of structure parallels my reserve. It reigns me in.

I’m reserved for many reasons. There’s my similarity to my dad’s family, a seemingly open and gregarious but fiercely private bunch. There’s my natural shyness and my fear of getting hurt. Most importantly, though, there’s a realization I came to years ago.

At 11-years-old, I wrote a very poor poem. I remember only one line now, “There is a wall, a barrier, separating me from the rest of the world.” I realized even then that I was different. My thought processes and actions weren’t what others considered “normal.” I also realized that I wasn’t interested in advertising my weirdness. It’s not that I’m afraid of being different. I simply don’t want to shout it from the rooftops. Sticking out is outside my comfort zone.

My clothing showcases that personality trait. I show my eccentricities in my odd color combinations, vintage pieces, and love of texture. But I also show my reserve in my love of pencil skirts, tailored pants, and blazers. In so many ways, my clothing is my armor. 

To be perfectly honest. I do love freewheeling, bohemian styles, especially in the summer months. That’s when I break out the flowing midi-length skirts, palazzo pants, and loose button-ups. I find, though, that I still seek restraint in those outfits. I wear loose skirts and pants with fitted Ts and my loose tops with slim pants or skirts. 

Bohemian styles are often associated with freedom. My tendency toward control might seem the antithesis of freedom. I’m actually passionate, to a fault, about my personal freedom. I bristle at containment from an outside force. In my intentional control, however, I think I find freedom. I have the freedom to be myself, private and alone, soaring through the skies (in my mind at least) or mulling over a flower. It’s when I declare my freedom and independence through my actions or dress that I feel self-aware, awkward, and imprisoned. Restraint allows me to forget myself and fly. 

In our world of rampant social media sharing, restraint is sometimes viewed, I think, as being untrue to yourself. We are taught be be proudly unique. Let me say at the outset, that I think this idea can cause more harm than good. It often connotes the idea that you never need to change and grow because who you are is OK. In contrast, I believe growth is a necessary part of life.

That said, I would never advocate being someone you’re not. In my case, there’s room for growth. I’m learning to let people in, even when it’s uncomfortable, simply because it's so often the right thing to do. Still, while I hope to change as needed, I’ll always be reserved. It’s part of who I am. In the end, to stop being reserved would be to lie about myself.

Image Source: Ruche

But enough about me. What about you? What do your personal style choices say about your personality? 

Weekly Inspirations a Week Late

Last week, I had a whole series of blogposts planned out. Then, things fell apart. Busy work schedules, sickness, and an ill cat have all added up to one crazy week. At least one good thing came out of the experience, though. I remembered exactly how glad I am to have married my husband. How could I not love a man who works hard then comes home to wash dishes, sing to a distressed kitten (his voice soothes her), and love and support me in my emotional roller coaster?

On a different note, here are some lovely links to start the week off.

• I'm still working on planning out my spring sewing schedule, but these patterns are definitely in the running! 
• Such a cute little dress pattern!
• One more adorable dress pattern!
• I'm getting really interested in this making your own cosmetics thing. Anyone tried it? I have really sensitive eyes and definitely want to try DIY mascara. 

Finally, to add a little smile to your day, here's a picture of my nephew Cedar in his Valentine's Day finest. His mum made the patches with the heart brooch template!