The Domestic Nest Blog

When we moved into our house, we were super excited about all the fabulous fruit trees & vines growing in our yard. Only in San Diego is it no surprise to have a citrus tree sprouting clear out of your patio.

We harvested the oranges and we’ve been making marmalade and drying them in a food dehydrator. Yum. And yum.

This is a great tutorial, if you’re interested in trying out homemade marmalade.

OR, you can just ask me for a jar. We have more than we’ll eat in our lifetime.

I love citrus season!

photo courtesy of Cindy Horovitz Wilson Photography

If a wet knot is harder to untie than a dry one, these two newlyweds will surely be blessed with an unbreakable bond. They ‘tied the knot’ last summer during a monsoonal month in Rhode Island. The precipitation held off just long enough for photos and the fog provided not only the perfect New England backdrop, but nodded to Rip’s serene nature and Kelly’s flare for the dramatic. Kelly is known in her circle of friends as the empathetic optimist who could talk to a wall, gravitates to all things that glitter, and invariably adds some form of animal print to every outfit. She’s also known for her passion for teaching. Rip is known for his impressive ability to listen. I mean really listen to people. Though he may be of few words, he conveys thoughtfulness, wit and valuable information when it’s his turn to talk. If you were to stake out Kelly & Rip’s house on any given weekend (not that I have), you’d be drawn in by their yin-&-yang, pb-&-j, Oreos-&-milk kind of balance that makes everything seem just right in the world. I’m loving learning about how Kelly and Rip are making their nest in Rip’s childhood home.

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A few months ago, Matty built a fence in our backyard. It was testoterone city for a few weeks as power tools, cement & wood scraps took over the garden. It was fun to watch his creativity in action. It’s been even more fun to see what his no-waste mindset has made of the wood scraps. He made me this beautiful desk from the discarded chunks that didn’t make the final cut when it came to the fence. I just love it!

THANKS   MATTY !!!

I was hoping to post much more exciting news about completing our February nesting resolution to make our bedroom a sanctuary. What I thought would be our after photo is actually a new before photo, and just the beginning of what will be a much longer process than I’d imagined. Thanks to some wall hooks, a little discipline, and purging like crazy, this is our bedroom without the clutter. It took us a whole month to get used to a system to keep our room from being taken over by laundry, handbags, and stray shoes. 

I have this irrational fear of drilling permanent holes in the wall and find any excuse to delay the use of power tools. But, it’s time. It’s time to bust out the Ryobi and add some spice to our dull space. Yes, we want it to be serene, but this green on green on green palate needs some improvement. I’m thinking about replacing the ceiling fan with a more appropriate light fixture. Yikes, the options for light fixtures are innumerable and overwhelming. I’m also thinking some new bedding in a contrasting color would make a huge difference. And we really need to add more personal touches to our room. Maybe photos, a plant, or some artwork will do the trick.

Nesting resolution for March:  Our bedroom will reflect the things we like and value.

What an honor it is to create a gift for someone’s new baby. Our dear family friend in Virginia recently added a sweet baby girl to her growing family. My mom asked me to make some baby moccasins just for her. They looked so cute with this reversible pinafore that I decided they must be given together. Thanks, Mom, for the fun order! It’s on the way.

Matty & I have pretty hum-drum weekends most of the time. So when guests come to visit, we often rely on the San Diego Zoo to entertain and inspire. It never fails to enamor even the most cultured, well-traveled visitors. And every time their jaw drops at the scope and beauty of this place, I say, “I know.” Like I own the zoo or am personally responsible for any part of its grandeur. Each time we go I see something I never forget.

Peacocks freely roam the grounds and will pop up behind you and spread their feathers unexpectedly. We went with a friend who is fearful of birds, so this creepy habit had her swiftly walking in the opposite direction. I, however, need to be coerced away from these beauties. Their sparkle and swagger mesmerize me.

The new exhibit, Elephant Odyssey, is like Jurassic Park meets Alcatraz. The aura of the area is very prehistoric, but the enclosures look like they’re on steroids. You can get ridiculously close to the animals without worrying one bit that even a stampede could penetrate the pen.

Glad the king of the jungle was content on the other side of that wire mesh. Also glad the zoo warned us that though he is contained, his spray is not. Wish I had a video of the crowd backing up and taking a quick gasp of air every time he but fluttered his tail. I have a feeling Mufasa here likes striking a little terror into the hearts of his oglers. Even if they are just backing away from his spray.

Someone come visit us so we have an excuse to go back to the zoo.

Summer:  So do you want to exchange v-day gifts?

Matt: I got you a a little something. And i’ll buy you flowers and something else.

Summer:  Something like chocolate?

Matt: No.

Summer:  Why not chocolate?

Matt: You said you wanted me to help you make better decisions regarding your health.

Summer:  Chocolate fights cancer.

Matt:  It’s self-defeating to try to help you to be healthy and then hear you complain about how it’s not working. I’ll get you some pretty earrings.

Summer:  That’s really sweet. i’m getting you chocolate.

I sponsor a girls’ club at a local High School called the beKind Club. Operation Nice inspired our mission to perform random acts of kindness on campus. Today, the girls passed out candy-stuffed valentines to the teachers and staff. You’d think our gestures were much more grandiose than they were, based on the reaction. People really appreciate little reminders that others care about them. And goodness knows teachers deserve WAY more thanks than they receive. Whats better than getting a valentine, or even giving a valentine, is watching how the girls beam and shine as they experience the intrinsic reward that comes from showing gratitude. It was a good day.

If you read blogs on a regular basis, then of course you’re familiar with The Pioneer Woman. I mean, she’s taken the world wide web by storm with her butter-packed, you-can-do-it-too cooking tutorials. Any day now I expect to see her on Oprah, explaining exactly how she wrangles cattle before the sun rises, feeds and educates her punks, and then somehow has time to teach us all how to cook via the Internet. I’ve tried many of her recipes and let me tell you, she never disappoints. On Superbowl Sunday, I knew just who to go to for the perfect appetizer. Of course, even dog biscuits would probably taste like a delicacy if you wrapped ‘em up in bacon. But these stuffed & wrapped peppers are a real winner. They turn out just like she says they will and they make the man-folk smile. Matty thanks The Pioneer Woman for all her wisdom. I thank her too. And sometimes I curse her, as I do an extra 30 minutes on the elliptical and my arteries scream, “No more butter, please!” Sigh…if only I had the genetics to try all of her recipes without having to worry about the consequences. I’d have Matty do the shopping, I’d plop the laptop down next to the oven, and I’d never leave my kitchen.

Thanks to all those who stopped by unannounced in January! You kept us on our toes and we’re sticking to our goal to have a house tidy enough for surprise visitors.

We appreciate your help, but friends and family are not invited along for February’s nesting goal. We’re making our bedroom a place of refuge. If I’m to be honest, our bedroom is often the last priority when cleaning. It’s a room rarely seen by visitors and we have a pretty small boudoir, making it a challenge to organize and declutter. But no more excuses, February’s all about the bedroom. Got any tips or strategies for how to make your bedroom a place of zen? Please share!