Hey, it's the Weekend!

The sun is shining, the temperatures are slowly creeping up past zero, and almost all of the snow has melted.  

There's a subtle shift, as spring arrives.

Tulips spotted in stores.

The end of hockey season.

Longer days.

Omelettes, sushi nights, and green cupcakes.

With the nicer weather coming, here's some motivation to get out and walk.

And with Easter just around the corner, how about some centrepiece and tablescape inspiration.

You could make some spotted Easter eggs, and some mini egg fudge.

Or maybe a batch of bunny cookie bark.

And your Easter breakfast needs these caramel egg stuffed croissants.

Happy weekend!

Tweet

Hey, it's the Weekend!

Last week's cold temperatures gave way to rain and above zero days this week.  I'm hoping not to see this again anytime soon.

It was encouraging to see the sun setting later - a sure sign that spring is just around the corner.

A shiny new kettle to perk up my stovetop.

The dog, making himself comfortable in the clean towels I dumped on the sofa for folding.  Did he think I wouldn't see him in his camouflage jacket?

Spinach salad.

Making a mess of the kitchen.

Helping a friend turn 50.  It was hard work :)

Cadbury's Mini Eggs are in the stores.  How about some Mini Egg Fudge?

This food tour of Toronto's Little Italy looks like something I want to do!

These Raw Hemp Chocolates look incredible.  Healthy candy!

How amazing is this Instagram Gallery Wall?

Maple Vanilla Nut Latte Protein Bites - yes please!

And this has to be the coolest thing I've seen all week.


One last thing.  Do you use Steller?  I tried it.  I think I liked it.

Thoughts?

Leave me your user name in the comments so I can follow you :)

Happy Weekend!

Tweet

Friday, it's Friday!

Oh... hey February!

Wasn't it just January, like yesterday?

It was -43°C this morning.

The sun is setting later.
Snow squalls have rolled through a few times this week.
Cafe Mocha is a beautiful thing, so are Rocky Road Brownies.
Hockey playoffs mean the season is winding up.
Sweet potato fries rock.
Buttermilk pancakes with buttermilk caramel syrup...dessert for dinner.
Teenage boys that aren't too old to hit the bookstore for a Lord of the Rings colouring book.
Post-hockey pizza.
Star Wars Lego figures.  The youngest boy is collecting an army of them.

Other random bits...

Potato Chip Cookies.  We all need these in our lives.

Did you have pancakes on Pancake Tuesday?

I'm loving these walk-in shower ideas.

I tried making sushi at home once.  It was a nightmare.  But these I think I can manage!

And is brown rice really better than white rice?

I want to visit Winnipeg.  But not in the winter.  They don't call it Winterpeg for nothing.

This Almond Cherry Loaf is perfect for Valentine's Day.

And there's a bunch of Valentine's Day inspiration right here.

Happy Friday, happy weekend!

Tweet

Friday, it's Friday!

How is it posssible that we're almost through the entire month of January?  

And how is it that the relentless march of time still suprises me?

Despite a bit of rain during the week, it's still pretty snowy around here.  I love when the snow sits fat and heavy on tree branches.  I love seeing kids that are never to old to be IN the snow.  I love the pattern of last summer's corn stalks in the snow.

Fresh colouring pencils and a fresh colouring page.

Laughing at the car sensors going berserk in the car wash.  It was like they were screaming WHERE DID YOU LEARN TO DRIVE??!.

Smoothie love.  Banana chocolate peanut butter is all kinds of amazing.

Puzzles.  Disney princess puzzles to be exact.

Kids cleaning out their rooms, and deciding they really don't need all of their trophies anymore.  Looking at the box full of discarded awards almost made me cry.  So many years of hard work and commitment.  So much pride in their accomplishments.  So much driving - soccer fields, ice rinks, baseball diamonds, football fields - so many different cities.  So much money spent.  I found an old bookshelf and squeezed in as many as I could.  It's in the hallway outside of their rooms, and I'm just waiting for (daring?) someone to say something.

Costco.  The dilemma of finding room in the cupboards for all of the oversize boxes, and evidence that a certain 13 yr old was shopping with us.  Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Ritz Cheese Snacks, and Instant Hot Chocolate.  Is any of that even real food?

And speaking of food... hello Creamy Spinach Artichoke Chicken Thighs.

Did you know that you can make your own Mayonnaise?  As well as your own Sweetened Condensed Milk?

My favourite dessert, in cake form!

Farmhouse Rice Pudding, Banana and Chocolate Chia Cream Pie Parfaits, and Salted Caramel Sticky Buns.  There are not enough hours in a day for the number of desserts I dream about making.

Happy Friday, Happy Weekend!

Tweet

Hey, It's The Weekend!

The sun is shining!  We haven't seen blue skies for weeks it seems - it's nice to have a break from back-to-back snowfalls.  It makes me want to go outside!

For exactly one and half minutes.

Because it might be sunny, but damn it's cold.

The dogs have been loving the snow.  When they're not running around in it, they're at the back door staring at it.

This week there has been snow shovelling, coffee dates, slow cooker failures, muffin successes, and super smoothies.

And mail that makes my stomach do flip flops at the thought that one of my kids may be going away to school in the fall.

I bought a bag of red lentils, and I have no idea what to do with them.  I thought I might try this and this.

These Sweet Potato Tacos look really good.  So does this Power Veggie Sandwich.

We've been trying to eat less meat.  It's hard.  The kids like their meat, and don't always love their veggies.  But I think it's important that we try.

And contrary to some entertaining memes that have been making the rounds on the internet, milk is perfectly safe and wholesome.  Phew.  We use a lot of milk.

Remember how I was using up leftover egg nog from Christmas?  Here's another good recipe to try, it'll clear the egg nog and the cranberries out of your fridge!

These Toasted Sesame & Cranberry Black Rice Bars look amazing.

These bean dips look easy, tasty, and healthy.

And this brought tears to my eyes.  A gentle reminder to remember how great our kids really are.

Happy Weekend!

Tweet

Friday, it's Friday!

This was the week that winter finally appeared.

Two snow days, pancakes, homemade protein bars, and a few oh-so satisfying nutrition bowls that make me wonder why I don't make them more often.

And while the kids were shoveling, I was pinning recipes for cold weather comfort food, like Beef Barley Soup and Maple Roasted Blueberry Almond Oatmeal.

There was Homemade Hot Chocolate and another batch of Chocolate Chip Cookies.

These No Sew Fleece Blankets would be perfect right now, and so easy!

People Are Tweeting Their Most Awkward Moments And It Is Cringingly Hilarious

23 Things You’ll Understand If You’re Obsessed With Chapters/Indigo (think Barnes and Noble if you're stateside)

Crashing Waves on Lake Erie Look Like Liquid Mountains

I made a cake on the weekend, which was a ridiculous amount of work.  I like the look of this one much better.  Throw-It-Together Texas Sheet Cake - I'll be trying it this weekend!

And now that most of the Christmas decorations have come down (OK, except for one tree...and the outdoor lights, but they're buried so they don't count), the house feels bare.  Hello Winter Decor Ideas!

Happy Friday, Happy Weekend!

Tweet

Friday, it's Friday!

Credit to my son for the photo.  Credit to Emily Dickinson for the words.  I just smooshed them together.

The fall colours are actually coming to an end around here.  All it takes is a few windy days and the branches are suddenly bare.

Other random bits.

Nutrition bowls from Freshii.  Love these.
Our newest dog, in a coat.
New reading.
Lusting after the all the mugs.
More autumn scenery.
Crispy garlic kale.
Most excellent roofing truck signage.
Hot, fresh, biscuits
Coffee outside, enjoying lingering warm fall days.

Speaking of all those leaves on the ground, here's three good reasons why you shouldn't rake your leaves.

I want to have a Harry Potter party just like this one.  Every little detail.  Wow.

S'mores Mini Dippers just became a possibility around here, thanks to hubby bringing me wee marshmallow bits from the US this week.

Did you know that the thread count of your sheets doesn't matter as much as these three other things?

Make your own Pumpkin Spice Latte -with real pumpkin, molasses, and whipped cream.  Heaven.

And whoever thought of making Stuffing in a Bundt Pan is a genius.

We observed Remembrance Day this week, so we're all clear to start Christmas decorating this weekend.

Happy Friday, happy weekend!

Tweet

Friday, it's Friday!

I found these wise words on Tumblr this week.  

They reminded of an article I read a while back.  We really need to stop the glorification of busy.

I sometimes forget about my Tumblr account, but this week I've been happily reading inspirational snippets and re-blogging all the pretty autumn things.

This was amusing.  Can Men Really Have It All?

And this dad's Hilarious Letters to excuse his kids for being late for school are priceless!

These gorgeous Espresso Shortbread Cookies caught my eye.   So did these Chocolate Pretzel Caramel Crumb Bars.  Dangerous baked goods, that's what they are.

I love this Felt Leaf Wreath.  

And this Bat Chandelier would be an easy and amazing Halloween Decoration.  Wonder if my kids are up to it?

Halloween Colouring Pages, for grown-ups.

And a quick and easy Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole to add to our weeknight dinner rotation.

Did you see the dog photos I shared this week?

Happy Friday, happy weekend!

Tweet

Friday, it's Friday!

In keeping with my focus on gratitude for the rest of the year...

Grateful for a new puppy that is smart and surprisingly well behaved.  And now as tall as our six year old Cockapoo.

Irish pubs and amazing pub food.  Perfect for celebrating a 50th birthday.

Colourful, windy, autumn.

Monkey bread.

Our son's creative girlfriend, who made us an amazing Thanksgiving centrepiece, and a wonderful batch of cupcakes.

Kids that will eat a cheese platter for dinner, when dinner ended up taking four hours more than I thought it would.  Hello, who knew butter chicken needs to marinate first?

Discovering that acorn squash seeds taste just as good as pumpkin seeds.

We're getting ready to re-create our annual Halloween Window Display.

We're excited to be able to cheer on our Toronto Blue Jays for another series.  Cue all of the game foods, like Spinach Dip and Buffalo Chicken Dip.

 

I'm still looking for ways to use up all of the apples after our apple orchard outing.  I'm thinking about Slow Cooker Bourbon Apple Butter.  Yep, bourbon :)

And I found these Spiced Almond Butter Chocolate Cups.  Like Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, but for grown ups.

Show your dog some love with these Cheesy Sweet Potato Treats.

Show yourself some love with No-churn Pumpkin Gingersnap Ice Cream.

You know how all those awesome casserole dishes always call for canned soup?  We all need this Homemade Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup recipe in our lives.

These Oreo Truffle Bats are the coolest Halloween treat I've seen.

And this Deathly Hallows Cheese Board blew me away.  I have never seen anything like it.  Wow. just wow.

In other news, we're under a snow squall warning for tonight and tomorrow... AND we turned on the fireplace for the first time last night.  Maybe it really is time to put my flip flops away.  It's all downhill once that happens.

And hey, did you like my Facebook page yet?

Happy Friday, happy weekend!

Tweet

Friday, it's Friday!

In keeping with my focus on gratitude for the rest of the year...

I'm grateful for lakes on beautiful fall days.

New books.

Growing kids, even if it means more new clothes.

Time in my kitchen to try new recipes.

Apples, fresh and crisp, right off the tree.

Puppies.

Hockey.

Time for coffee with friends.

I'm also thankful for my hard working husband, who's turning 50 today :)

We went apple picking last weekend, and we've already eaten our way through almost one bag of apples.  There's nothing like a freshly picked apple, and I've got a few ideas on how to put them to good use.

I made this Buffalo Chicken Dip again, I think we're addicted.

I think my cabbage roll loving hubby might like this dish.

I love hard boiled eggs, I hate peeling them.  Easy to Peel Eggs - thank you.

I love these DIY Fabric and Burlap Pumpkins!

THIS twisty pumpkin pastry, awesome!

Our daughter wants to go to Ireland.  I think I need to go with her.

How cool is this Black and White Halloween Topiary?  And how is it that Halloween is only three weeks away??

This is Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada.  I haven't planned or prepared a thing, so tomorrow will be a busy day for me.  See my old Thanksgiving posts here.

And I've created a Facebook page for this blog.  I tried resisting the commitment to more social media, but what can I say, I gave in to peer pressure.  

*Sigh*  

Likes appreciated.

Happy Friday, Happy Weekend, Happy Thanksgiving!!

Tweet

Friday, it's Friday!

Gratitude.  The simple act of being thankful can change ones entire outlook.  I came across a blog post this week that asked the question "can you be happy for the last 100 days of the year?"  

Good question.

Being thankful, a week before we celebrate Thanksgiving is something worth doing.  Being thankful for a hundred days will be a worthwhile challenge.

I'm thankful for sister-in-laws, who texted me photos of two recipes made from my blog this week.  Sticky Toffee Pudding and Jalapeno Cheddar Biscuits.  How awesome is that?

Hockey.  I love watching our boy play.

Weekends.  Until recently, I worked most weekends.  Simple things, like a trip to a flea market weren't things I could typically do.

Fall planters.  To replace the dismal looking summer planters that never seemed to get enough water.

Saturday morning trips to Costco.  Again, weekends :)

Our eldest son's recent engagement.  We are over the moon for them both!

Driving at dusk.  We've had some gorgeous sunsets lately.

And I'm thankful for the internet.

It makes me want to collect acorns, so I can paint them.

It shows me how to make this cute Polaroid frame.

It inspires me to paint our front door.

It validates my love for potatoes.

And shows me some of the best pumpkin recipes, like this, this, this, this, and this.

Happy Friday, happy weekend!

Tweet

Week In The Life | It's Friday!

I'm working hard to clear my desk.  I'm off next week.  I can't remember when I last had an entire week off work.  Tomorrow will be all about shopping and packing for a week up north, enjoying the solitude of a cottage on a lake, surrounded by a lot of nature.

As I knew would happen, my commitment to a Week In The Life has fizzled.  I haven't given up, and I expect the weekend will provide new motivation, but my real camera hasn't been picked up since Monday, and there's only so many phone pictures I can take of my desk and my kitchen.  Life is dull when I'm at work.  Period.

Monday and Tuesday here.

Wednesday and Thursday more or less:

Fast food at my desk.

Smoothies to compensate.

Garbage day.  Yes neighbours, I take photos of my garbage.  I'm cool like that.

School uniform shopping.

New puppy.

Late night reading and cereal.  Cereal with marshmallows to be exact.

Pizza.

Laundry.

Super salad.  To make up for the marshmallows.

Of course, there was time for the wonders of the internet:

This letter, the one I wish I'd written my kids this summer.

Beautiful Quebec City.  I'd like to plan a weekend there this fall.

This Tofino Gooey Butter Cake.  Like the St. Louis version, but not.

This Bourbon Walnut Pound Cake.  Holy moly.

And these Cinnamon Glazed Zucchini Bars.  You know how I love to sneak healthy things into baked goods :)

Happy Friday, happy weekend!

Tweet

Friday, it's Friday!

I feel giddy with excitement.  We're on our way to Boston.  Road trip, baby.

I've been itching to do this for SO long.  But there's always work, school...life.

Not this weekend though.  My camera is ready :)


Life lately:

Beach time.
Lego time.
Baking.
Coffee-ing.
British chocolate.

Internet lately:

Click on this map to discover worthwhile field trips anywhere in North America.

Change up chicken dinner with this Honey Buttermilk Roast Chicken or this Chicken in Creamy Parmesan and Sun Dried Tomato Sauce.

Everything Bagel Breakfast Waffles.  Whoa.

All about potatoes.

This mixed media travel journal.

National Geographic has the BEST photos.

Raspberry Almond Blondies.  Yum.

Shakespeare's plays as comic strips.  Cute.

And once you've spent enough time on the internet, go check out the outernet.

Happy Friday, happy weekend!

Tweet

Friday, it's Friday!

Instagram this week.

Wasaga Beach.  My feet are really white.

Dusk and storm clouds at the lake.

Dessert at our new Coffee Culture.

Puppies.

Quinoa salad from Freshii...another new spot in town.

On our way to the beach we stopped at Walmart, hoping to pick up some shovels and buckets.  Our beach stash is in sad shape, thanks to most of it being tossed at the end of last summer.

Buckets and shovels were nowhere to be found.  It was August 3rd.  Instead we were greeted with shelf after shelf of books, paper, pencils and backpacks.  Seriously, the kids don't go back to school until September 8th, and summer technically doesn't end until September 23rd.

What the ....?  I love (I mean really love) back to school supplies.  I'm a sucker for new notebooks and fresh pens, and I'll get excited about back-to-school shopping in due time, but we're still in the middle of summer here.

Ugh.  Why does the world conspire to move ahead so fast?  We still have four weeks before school starts, and I'm not ready to give up enjoying this summer season.  Not by a long shot.

Because winter is coming.

Ali Edwards is doing A Week in the Life this month.  Have you ever done this?  I tried it last fall, and I tried A Day in the Life in the spring.  I love the idea of the whole project - I just haven't been very good at it.  

But that won't stop me from giving it another go.

Also, I want these Peanut Butter Cookie Bars.

And these Zucchini Blondies.

My to-read list is ridiculous, but that didn't stop me from checking out this collection of 53 Books You Won't Be Able To Put Down.

And what is up with everyone picking up and traipsing over to Italy?  Now I want to go to Florence and Positano.  Sigh.

Happy Friday, happy weekend!

Tweet

Friday, it's Friday!

July is winding down.  August is just around the corner.

There will be a German Shorthaired Pointer joining our family in about a month's time.  The puppies are unbelievably cute!

Dryland training has started, in preparation for the hockey season that will be starting in September.

Painting has finally begun in one of the boys rooms.  It was the only room we didn't have time to paint when we moved in over two years ago, and I couldn't stand looking at the yellow and teal walls any longer.

It's still really hot.  Lawns are beginning to brown, and potted plants are withering.  

Tonight there will be a blue moon, the second full moon during the calendar month.  It won't really be blue, and it's not even that rare an occurrence, but it sounds cool.

Discovered in my travels around the world wide web this week:

A series of photos guaranteed to annoy anyone that's even slightly OCD.

This virtual tour of Sorrento, Italy.  I want to go there.

Amazing wire sculptures.  I can picture one of these in my dream garden.

Lego photography.  I could totally get my kids on board with doing this.

Butternut Squash & Spinach Risotto.  Sounds delicious, looks easy.

Ham and Brie Pop Tarts.  Yes please!

And finally, rating sunscreens.  The great, and the not so great, because right now there's no escaping the sun.


Happy Friday!  Happy weekend!

Tweet

Friday, it's Friday!

This was an I-need-a-bucket-of-coffee-every-morning kind of week.  I think the heat (which I love, and will never complain about) is making me tired.

It's been gloriously hot, but it would seem that the warm weather hasn't yet reached every corner of this country, as the Newfoundland police have issued a nation wide search for summer.

It would also seem that there is such a thing as National Cheesecake Day, coming up on July 30th.  I love cheesecake, specifically this authentic New York Style Cheesecake.

These business hours.  Yes :)

Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins.  Wow.  I think this is how we should eat all of our veggies.

You sunk my pirate ship!  Printable Battleship a la Jack Sparrow.  Awesome.

Love Everything Bagels?  This post is for you.

If you're a mushroom pizza lover, come with me to Funghitown.

Seed Brittle.  Like peanut brittle, or sesame snaps, but without peanuts or sesame seeds.  I bet you could add sesame seeds though.  Maybe even peanuts.  Healthy candy, that's what this is.

And this week's (not quite) photo a day:

Happy Friday, and happy weekend!

Tweet

Friday, it's Friday!

My continuing quest to capture a photo a day, more or less...

New gate, finally.

Stormy weather.

Kale salad.

Wasaga Beach.

More perusing of furniture.

Ripley's Aquarium.

Costco.

This week I shared a recipe for Pancakes Bananas Foster, and more photos from our trip to the African Lion Safari.

We've been trying different cheeses from the farmer's market.  Smoked gouda and goat's milk asiago are a couple of our new favourites.  I've learned that there are a lot of things about cheese that I didn't know.

Potato salad is perfect with a grilled steak.  Specifically, this potato salad.

I want gardens that look like these gardens.

I love cinnamon rolls, or any type of sweet roll for that matter.  So, these Peach Brown Butter Sweet Rolls need to happen in my kitchen.

I also love pies.  But I hate making them.  Actually it's the making of the crust that I hate.  So three cheers for free form pies... like hand pies, rustic tarts and galettes.  How about a savoury onion tart with bacon, kale, and feta?  Or maybe a peach galette with bourbon and honey?

I have slept in almost every morning this week, hitting the snooze button way too many times.  I'm tired and unorganised.  This weekend I'm going to try and reset for the week ahead.

If you've read The Girl On The Train, and loved it,  here are twelve other books you might like.

And because it's summer, and because I'm itching for a road trip, I leave you with a quote.

Happy Friday, and happy weekend!

Tweet

Friday, it's Friday!

Instagram lately.

Internet lately.

Banana splits are the ultimate summer ice cream treat.  These Pan Fried Banana Splits need to happen.  With maraschino cherries.

How about some Free Coffee Printables?  Love coffee.  Love free printables.

We went strawberry picking last week, and plan to go again before they're finished, so I can make this Berry Cherry Custard Pie.

I think blueberries will be in season soon.  Blueberry Chia Pancakes with Blueberry Sauce!

We finally had a gate installed to finish the new fence that was put up last summer.  Now I'm thinking of corner gardens, and perennials.  Some great plans here for those of us that aren't good at that kind of thing.

S'mores this, s'mores that...everywhere I look. So, why not some S'mores Banana Bread?

There will be a new puppy in the house later this summer.  One of the boys managed to talk us into it, despite the two dogs we already have.  Crazy, I know.  This is even crazier - How to Train your Dog to Ring a Bell to Potty - seriously?  I wonder if we can teach our old dogs new tricks.

One Pot Zucchini Mushroom Pasta.  Because there can never be enough one pot recipes.

Picked up some smoked cheese at the Farmer's Market last night, so this Spicy Pasta Salad might happen this weekend.  I love you Pioneer Woman.

Dear People Who Live in Tiny Fancy Houses.  Hilarious!

And The World Needs More Love Letters.  Beautiful, I love everything about this.

Happy Friday!  Happy weekend!

Tweet