round'em up

Just a little Easter round up to get me through this week with a very sick little boy.

Source: piccsy.com via Krista on Pinterest

1. I can imagine Ava cuddled up reading with one of these, these or these adorable bunnies!

2. Check out these Birdʼs Nest Cookies– they look super easy and delicious.

3. Cadbury Creme Egg cupcakes! I have a sister who would just go crazy over these cupcakes from My Baking Addiction… hmm, but does she deserve them?

4. Silk tie dyed eggs, chalkboard eggs and cross-stitched eggs. Yup! All on my list!

5. Would your kids enjoy and Easter egg hunt in the dark? Check out these glow-in-the-dark eggs. GENIUS!

6. Break open the stamp pads to make these adorable fingerprint bunny and chick Easter cards. I just know that my kids are going to love making these!

I hope this short roundup gives you some crafting inspirations for this Easter. I truly am hoping to get to ALL of these projects, but let’s be realistic, we may only get as far as making and EATING the Cadbury creme cupcakes. And that is OK!

I AM the early bird!

For the first time in the history of Ava's life I have finished a dress for her prior to the night before the event she needs it for.
                  
                         I am pleased to introduce Ava in her new Easter dress!

I thought Ava standing in front of this old garage door would be artsy but instead it looks like she is standing in front of a dilapidated building (not to mention the sun in her eyes).

Professional photographer, I am not!

This is currently Ava's favourite pose.... Ava, you are the running to becoming Canada's next top model!

 I used the Oliver +S jump rope dress pattern (pdf version) and an old Tommy Hilfiger sheet that I had in my stash.  I love the way it turned out, but of course Ava felt that "it just wasn't her style".  I plan on making more of these for her whether they are her style or not because I think she looks super adorable in it. 

the real right nows

following Tanya in the "real right nows"

right now...

... I am posting without pictures because all of the pictures I took today turned out blurry without me noticing until I uploaded them....grrrr!

... I have a sink (and countertop) full of dishes and NO desire to do them...any takers?

... I am grateful to have gotten my phone fixed but am a little annoyed that the backing that the man put on my phone had a huge scratch across the lens..... hence BLURRY pictures

.... I am sunburned despite putting on sunscreen.  My children however looked sunkissed and adorable

... I am trying to figure out a cute way to take pictures of all of the bonnets that I am putting on etsy....any suggestions?  I think Anthony is getting a bit old and guido looking to pull off the bonnet model look this year.

... I am praying that my kids sleep through the night tonight

.... I am trying to figure out what kind of lunch I am going to pull together for Ava tomorrow

.... I am regretting cancelling cable

.... I am sad about the loss of my rice cooker tonight.  That is 3 appliances that have broken on me in the last 2 days....sewing machine, phone and rice cooker.  I think my luck will start to turn now...right?

...  I am going to spend an obscene amount of time on pinterest

....  I am hoping that I have a better attitude tomorrow.  I am pretty sure the kids hope so too.

....  I am wondering if we have any jujubes left downstairs

.... I am on my way downstairs to investigate ....wish me luck!

spring equinox

We welcomed spring today in the best way that we know how.  With friends, with bare feet, with snacks and all on the most delightful slice of heaven that I can imagine.... a simpler thyme organic farm.  The kids bounced, we all soaked in the sun, hiked, explored, found green little buds everywhere and just enjoyed.  Today actually felt so much like the first day of summer that the kids spent the afternoon trying on summer clothes and running around the house in ill fitting swimsuits from last year (the pictures were too much to post).  I do hope that spring weather makes an appearance and we don't just bounce into summer.  Bring on the showers, bring on the fog, the crisp days and most importantly bring on ASPARAGUS!  The kids put their heads down on their pillows tonight exhausted after a day of playing outdoors and a much needed bath.  That, I would say, is the perfect way to start off spring!

If you are interested in visiting a simpler thyme organic farm, check out  all the details along with contact information in this post over at the eclectic kitchen.  Let me know when you go...we could meet you there!

{this moment}

Joining amanda and friends in "this moment"...capturing a moment from the week that I want to cherish and hold onto.

Have a great weekend!

march madness

This week we....

:: rode this horse at the arcade a few too many times

:: until it started going out of control. Notice I chose to take pictures rather than rescue my son....shame on me!

:: went bowling

:: and looked adorable doing it

:: took advantage of the fantastic weather and went hiking

:: went to a rock concert?

:: nope... just the Toronto Zoo.  We waited 1hr 45 min just to get in

:: wrestled a komodo dragon

:: melted down

:: located the most important part of the zoo

:: really?  I don't think this needs a caption!

:: let Anthony have control of the camera for a half hour and this was the best pic of the bunch

::overdosed on jolly ranchers and NEVER got tired of taking pictures of our stained tongues

I have had so much fun this March break...can't we have just one more week?

winner winner chicken dinner

We have been going crazy in this house making our own scratch tickets.  Check out my guest post on how to create your own.  It is so easy, fun and makes you feel like you have won the lottery each time you scratch!

my two new friends

I would like to introduce you to two of my new best friends.  They are the kind of friends that you are instantly attracted to but when you get together you just know you are not going to be on your best behaviour.   They are from South Africa and were introduced to me by my friend Yvette.

Friend #1                                   KOEKSISTERS

These are like bready, sweet, syrupy, coconutty, DELISH donuts.  I am not kidding you when I tell you that Sri and I are already anticipating a huge fight for the last one....I am pretty sure I'm going to win that one.  I am going to eat this one with some warm ginger water....PERFECT!

Friend #2                                               MELKTERT

 This tart is as simple as a handmade pastry filled with custard and topped with cinnamon but let me assure you the taste is amazing.  The custard just melts in your mouth and the pastry tastes sweet and savoury at the same time.  Didn't I tell you that my new friends were bad influences... not a good situation over here!

This is Yvette, the baker of these decadent treats.  She says that baking is her hobby, but if I were her and had 2 small babes running around I think that I would have chosen sleep as my hobby!   You can tell that love and care are put into every batch made and Yvette claims that the desserts are so authentic that just smelling them transports her back to South Africa.
We are so grateful that Yvette shares her baking with us and because she bakes more than she can eat (oh how I wish I had that problem) she is willing to share with others.  The cost of Koeksisters are 12 for $10 and a whole Melktert is only $8 (both exceptional deals!!!).  If you are interested in buying locally, exploring something new, and eating something delicious, then I suggest contacting Yvette through Facebook  and picking yourself up some new friends.

the three miracles

This past week I have witnessed 3 true miracles in this house.

MIRACLE #1

 :: remember this green smoothie (banana, spinach, frozen strawberries, almond milk, ginger and hemp hearts) from a couple of weeks ago?  The kids only make a small groan now when I put a very very small amount if front of them.  This is a huge improvement from the tears, gagging noises and in once case a full on tantrum including collapsing to the ground and writhing around.


MIRACLE #2

















:: Our dear sweet Captain Hook was found Wednesday morning floating upside down at the top of his tank.  When we opened the tank to scoop him out he started fluttering around and spent the whole day swimming around on his back with only partial movement of his fins.  At first I diagnosed him with a stroke and then after some intensive internet research we discovered that he in fact was suffering from swim bladder....who knew?  Ava suggested we pray for him (thank you Catholic School) and low and behold the next morning he had made a full recovery!    He seems a little more aggressive than I remember him....maybe it was a stroke after all!




MIRACLE #3

:: these delightful children have been playing with each other relatively fight free for the past 2 hours.  This is the most magical miracle of them all!  I was able to sit and read, look through flyers, make a grocery list, TALK ON THE PHONE without having to stop the conversation to tend to a crisis.  HALLELUJAH!


Let's hope next week is full of miracles as well... or maybe just a bit of quiet time.

green isn't always a good colour on me

                                                               Source: jackrogersusa.tumblr.com via Krista on Pinterest

i’m jealous

i’m jealous of people out there who are able to pull off living “simply”.  You know the people/blogs I’m talking about. The people who un-school their children, make all 3 meals from scratch (i’m talking right down to slaughtering livestock), knit a sweater a day, don’t own a t.v, hand make fresh bread each morning, have time to read, go on hikes, tap some trees, watch their children play NICELY with eco-friendly toys and then tuck everyone in under their handmade quilts after some sort of gratitude ceremony... oh and I forgot that the house ALWAYS looks neat, tidy and uncluttered.

Yes, I know that blogs are like reality tv, its all in the editing but that doesn’t stop me from  flying into a jealous rage at least once a day (only a minor exaggeration).  Sri would at this point mention to me that the above person has actually complicated their lives by not taking advantage of modern conveniences and is probably running around like a maniac trying to get everything done and making everything look “perfect”.   

We like think that we are living simply and then we look around our house and at our lifestlye and re-think “EPIC FAIL”.  We have way too much, spend way too much on nothing really, spend a lot of time watching TV (ahem, hello Netflix) and don’t spend enough of our dollars locally.

So in conjunction with 2012 being my year for organization it is also going to be a year to simplify.  buy less, make more, shop locally, watch less tv and get rid of excess.  

We are going to start with small steps and not my usual "okay thats it...throw out all plastic toys, any food that comes in a box and cancel the T.V".  We are thinking about starting with fermenting our own gingerale.  Is that starting small? 

{this moment}

Joining amanda and friends in "this moment"...capturing a moment from the week that I want to cherish and hold onto.

Have a great weekend!

hint hint

I don't know about you, but everytime my husband says he is going to cook dinner I get so bombarded with questions and confusion that I end up taking over (I think that is his intention!) and making the dinner myself.  In my attempt at getting better organized I have made up this sort of cheat sheet for the common meals and baking that goes on in my kitchen.   This sheet is also going to be a wonderful resource for those in the house that wish to make a meal without my help YAY!!!! Without saying anything to Sri I am going to put this on the front of the fridge and see if it encourages him to make a meal.... how long do you think it will take?  

Hello Monday!

hello MONDAY!
hello family day!

hello fancy hair styles

hello art gallery of hamilton and your wonderful family day program
hello art class where the kids learned to paint self portraits (whoa...you should see the end product!)
















hello lovely weather in February

hello bike riding at the pier

















hello MEX -I- CAN.... it was a VERY long wait but VERY well worth it
hello thumb-wrestling... thank you for occupying my super impatient children















hello green monster spinach smoothies , thank you for giving me illusion of health

hello dominos.... you are not fun enough to warrant all the fighting between children over your tiles
hello lazy and short week ahead.....I am so looking forward to you!


I am linking up with Lisa today for Hello Monday.
What are you saying hello to today?

{this moment}

Joining amanda and friends in "this moment"...capturing a moment from the week that I want to cherish and hold onto.

Have a great weekend!

not original but certainly adorable!

I hijacked the kid’s valentines this year. I have been wanting to make this style since last February and come hell or high water, this year, it was getting done.  While it should have been as easy as 1-2-3-4

1.  taking a photo of each child with an outstretched fist, 

2.  overlaying some font in photoshop 

3.  printing them off,

4.  cutting a little slit above and below the outstretched fist to fit the sucker through

...it just didn’t work out that way.  

I really complicated things with my over the top ideas.  Since Anthony is really into super heros I thought I would make his card look like a comic strip.  Ava’s was a lot simpler because all she wanted was PINK.  Despite my constant battles with photoshop, I think that the cards ended up looking super adorable.    These cards would be a great idea for so many different occasions.... thank yous, get well soon, sorry (holding a little white flag), and congratulations.  I see many many more versions of this card in my future.....I may even let the kids have a little input!

My day is going to be spent showering these two with kisses and hugs, hand delivering valentine's cards, making a cake for Ava's school raffle, receiving gifts (hopefully) and enjoying a MEAL COOKED BY SRI.  

I hope everyone has a wonderful day today!

she had moves like jaggar

This past Friday night Ava went to her first school family dance.  We have been planning for this dance for weeks... picking outfits, making dresses, finding accessories and practicing dance moves.    

 It took a while for Ava to come out of her shell but once she did...WATCH OUT!  She was all over that dance floor (mostly just jumping up and down...which I did not participate in for a number of fairly obvious reasons!). 

 You could tell that Sri and I haven't been out in quite a while because we were really into it....actually dancing like it was OUR school dance! 

Anthony was more the creep around the edges of the dance floor kind of guy but had quite a swagger and was seen wiggling with the ladies at times.

To complete the whole dance experience we had to stop by McDonalds for happy meals...what is a dance without an unhealthy late night (8pm) snack right?  

We spent the weekend recovering from our wild Friday night...getting ready for this event really took it out of us.  

green thimble update

Just in case you forgot that I actually DO make children's clothing and accessories (I will have to start posting more about my sewing!) I thought I would share 2 adorable pictures that I received from some happy apron customers.

This picture is from Giuliana (who takes breathtaking  birth photos.... check it out here)

and

This picture was sent to me by my friend Tanya who has just started an amazing blog called the Brown Bunch... check it out, it is an inspiring read.

Thanks to both of you for sending me these pictures... I love seeing my work in action. Your daughters are adorable and I am so glad you are getting use out of your aprons!