Hey Folks! Happy Wednesday. And you know what time it is, right? It’s time for What I’m Digging Wednesday 10.12, of course!
In this random list, I’ve got just a few of the things I’m digging right now–a “coatigan” for those cooler fall nights, the best everyday dinners cookbook around, the bee hotel that’s hitting my wannabe hippie heart hard, and a local charity doing amazing things for local kids.
As always, it’s just fun here, friends. Nothing serious, nothing life-altering. But just good, clean fun. And I hope this fun list brings a little sunshine to your week.
What I’m Digging Wednesday 10.12
- Everyday Dinners Cookbook by Jessica Merchant: It’s no secret that I love cookbooks. It’s my not-so-hidden bucket list goal to write one before I leave this earth. But, until then I just take a tremendous amount of joy in reading them, cooking from them, and admiring the beautiful pictures and hard work that goes into them. I typically check at least one or two out from the library on every trip, and the last time I went I happened to grab Everyday Dinners by Jessica Merchant. Y’all. This book is incredible. I have already made three recipes (Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Chickpeas, Chili Lime Roasted Shrimp Salad, and Lemony Tuna Pasta) and I’m obsessed. The pictures are beautiful, the recipes are easy enough for every day (thus the name), yet still delicious and satisfying. And I love it so much I’ve already ordered my own. For busy cooks, reluctant cooks, and everyday dinner makers, this is one to have on your shelf. Grab yours HERE.
- The “Coatigan” from LOFT: The LOFT has been one of my favorite stores for a few years now. The quality is great, the prices are reasonable (because they almost always have sales), and the style hits that hard-t0-reach place between Forever21 and Chicos perfectly. Meaning, it’s great for middle-agers who still want to feel cool. I recently pulled in a huge LOFT Fall Haul (a lot of which is featured in my latest Denim Post), but of all of the pieces, this Coatigan is my favorite. What’s a “coatigan”, you ask? Well, I’ll tell you. It’s the perfect combination of a cardigan and a coat. And it’s cozy, style perfection. It’s made of the softest knit, has two deep pockets, and is a generous length (it comes down around mid-thigh on my 5’4″ frame) and looks polished and put-together while still giving off all of the “let’s cuddle on the couch” vibes. I adore this thing and cannot wait until the moment it’s finally chilly enough to wear it. It’s a must-have for fall, so grab it HERE so you can cozy up too!
- The BEE Motel: Another not-so-secret obsession of mine is my garden. I don’t have a ton of space in my yard allocated to growing (hello suburban postage stamp plots and a husband who loves his grass way too much), but what I do have I try to cover with everything I can manage to grow and not kill. Part of not killing plants, especially during the hot summer, is attracting pollinators to keep your flowers and plants producing all season long. This adorable teal Bee Motel is one way to do it. Built for lone-wolf pollinators like Mason Bees and Leaf Cutter Bees (neither of which sting), these little homes attract them and keep them safe while they work their magic in your yard. It’s also super cute, so there’s that. If you really want to attract the bees and pollinators, hang this up near your garden and then add a bee watering station nearby. These stations allow bees to hydrate themselves without drowning (my sweet friend Lori told me about this one!). I know people are afraid of bees, but without bees, we don’t have plants and without plants, well, you know what happens. So treat them kindly. Give them a safe space in your yard. And prepare to be amazed at these little workers. Grab your Bee Hotel HERE.
- Lovepacs: Did you know that 1 in 5 children in North Texas has food insecurities? With all of the prosperity around us, it’s easy to forget this heartbreaking fact. But it’s true. Luckily, Lovepacs is a charity that works to ensure that area children are fed over school breaks. My friend Autumn is the Executive Director for Lovepacs and I’m amazed at how this incredible charity engages within the communities to pack boxes, build meal kits, and feed children in North Texas. As of 2020, Lovepacs has served over 2.5 million meals in over 170 schools in 13 communities. Working with school counselors to identify food-insecure students and community volunteers to gather, pack, and decorate donation boxes, Lovepacs is a miracle in action. We recently volunteered with Autumn and her team to pack 2 boxes and decorate blessing cards for local children and it was an awesome experience for our family. If you have a kid who needs volunteer hours, check out their website and sign-up to do the same. And if you’re local, please consider donating or working with Lovepacs to help them fulfill this worthwhile mission. It is close to our hearts, in our communities, and what we’re called to do. Read more about their mission HERE.
Thank you all so much for hanging out with me on yet another Wednesday. I love how fun this segment is, and I love that you keep showing up for the weird, random, and quirky things I share. I appreciate you so much and am continually humbled that you trust me enough to keep coming back.
Peace, love, and Wednesdays,
Meg
Welcome to BurntToast! My name is Meaghan, and this is my safe space, a place where we can share stories, share recipes and share life. It’s my dream that you can come here, kick your shoes off and pour yourself a glass of wine while you read, laugh, and maybe even hop into the kitchen. This is my heart, for all of you to see. And ALL are welcome here.