cinnamon & post

cheers

2011-12-29T06:56:00.000-05:00

It has been a lovely holiday, albeit too short for me who headed back into the office yesterday where I must admit I spent much of the day staring out the window and day dreaming. Although I didn't accomplish what I had hoped to this year (handmade gifts, cookie baking) it was a special Christmas in our new house which is really starting to feel like home. Slowly we are finding a place for things and settling in and I'm looking forward to sharing it. Our project list is very short, thank goodness, and includes painting one wall and hanging a chandelier. The only thing holding us back is time and the pull of my children who would rather have my attention than a finished house. The house, like so many other things, may have to wait.

thank you house

2011-12-14T07:17:00.000-05:00

The moving in has kind of stalled as the day to day has taken over along with a sprinkling of holiday activities. I don't know when the pile in our living room will disperse and for now I'm deciding not to notice it. It is the tree instead that draws my attention as well as the fire in our modern fireplace - just one of the many things I absolutely love about our new place.

Another would be the bath. Court shares in my affection and is happy to spend time splashing around. He has even slept through the night consistently for the past week which has resulted in better moods all around and my clearer complexion. Thank you Court. Thank you house.

Moving pictures

2011-12-06T07:06:00.000-05:00

While we moved houses, Court coloured a really big picture. He drew our new house and our old one, some friends, the school, the library. We visited our new library on Saturday which is a block away and around a corner. It is small but delightful. The librarian Jackie told me how she moved into the neighbourhood 15 years ago and how much she loves it. I already love it. So much.

If you get up on a drizzly Monday morning, realize you have almost nothing to fill the lunch bags, this is what you will see as you walk to the bakery for fresh bagels. And it will make you happy.

most loved

2011-11-18T19:47:00.000-05:00

The house is quiet except for my ipod that continues to play in the kitchen. It is because the children are with grandparents and the tv is blessedly off. I should be packing boxes or sweeping the dust balls that I keep kicking around but it feels so good to just be still for a minute. I found this picture on the camera - it's a present from Court. He wrapped up a stuffed bunny for me after dinner and gave it to me at bedtime. I had just fallen in his bed, reading book in hand and was thinking that I couldn't possibly take one more second of...anything. He asked me to close my eyes and that nearly put me over the edge. In fact, I think I even told him that I was tired and wanted only to read the book and go to bed when he presented me with his gift wrapped in craft paper and embellished with a painters tape pouf.

This quiet moment has allowed me to remember that moment. A moment where a Mommy most tired remembered she was a Mommy most loved.

letting go

2011-11-09T07:38:00.000-05:00

We are in the midst of a purge of sorts. I'm surprised at how easily I can let go of some things and not others. We didn't do very well with the books. I'm afraid that most will be making the move with us. Today when I got home from work, Court came running over to me before I could even step.out.of.the.car. He was so excited about some old books he had just found...ones that he hadn't seen in a while...he was literally jumping up and down. He also made sure to tell me not to sell any of the paint brushes because he would need the little ones to make outlines - go figure.

This past weekend I hung my sheets outside for the last time to dry. I will make room at the new place for the clothespins that belonged to Kevin's grandmother as I think of her each time I pick one up. That seems to be the trend of our letting go. We are keeping only those things that are useful or loved. Those clothespins are both.

The third floor balcony of what will be our new home in a couple of weeks!

it was a Halloweeny weekend

2011-11-02T06:54:00.000-04:00

Now that we are moving into the city I've become a little obsessed with bloggers who live in the city. If they can do it, so can I! I found Sharon through Joanna who linked to this post about 3 kids 1 room! Adorable.

And then when I lurked around Sharon's blog a little more, I found this little tidbit...

What is a balanced life anyway? I think it's a life that gives ample time and effort to things that really matter.

Yes, I do too! And that's why we are moving in a nutshell. I want to have time for what really matters.

I think our Realtor was surprised when I asked to see our new home. She said it wasn't really a "family home" but maybe I would see different. I did. And when she said, as we were walking out of it..." you know this is a place that you can just enjoy"...I knew it was the ONE. So we are getting rid of stuff we don't really need, keeping only what we love and what makes us happy, and in turn hopefully finding time for what matters.

Some pictures from our crazy birthday & Halloween weekend which found us pumpkin hiding, decorating and carving...

A change of a dress

2011-10-29T08:53:00.000-04:00

We are moving. It has been in the works for some time. It was two summers ago in fact that we decided this big, old, rambling house was just too much for us. We worked hard turning it into something that someone else would love and someone has finally fallen. Head over heels, thank goodness, for my house with the nooks and crannies and the big old maple tree.

We are trading suburbia for the city.

A two car garage for a parking pad.

A wide house for a skinny one.

And a big back yard for a park across the street.

It is exciting and terrifying at the same time. Kind of like the birthday party I'm throwing today for Court and a bunch of his 6 year old friends. I'm doing it out of love but I really have no idea what to expect.

Wish me luck...

thoughts for a Wednesday morning

2011-10-19T07:04:00.001-04:00

Charlotte likes hair accessories

It has been windy lately which causes the windows in this old house to rattle. It's like someone is begging to come in. It could be kind of creepy but it isn't because it is home and I'm used to it. Just like the shadows coming off the porch from the hanging lights that are swinging back and forth. I'm sitting in the dark in the wee hours of the morning like I usually do, finding inspiration online and catching up with friends. Sometimes the online world can be a daunting place but I find myself more grateful for it than overwhelmed most of the time. In many ways it has made my life more full over these past two years. I have found my style so to speak and as such can narrow down my one fall purchase to a little sweater and shop my closet for everything else. It allowed this craft idea to pop in my head, which the always inspiring Jennifer pinned on Pinterest, when Court brought out the paints. It pushed me to make this butternut squash soup on the weekend, instead of staring at the big gourd any longer. And it brought me the most simple recipe for pizza dough that nourishes my kids and makes them feel proud of their own culinary creation...

trees

2011-10-15T07:55:00.001-04:00

The pendulum is swinging high on both sides lately...we are feeling either great sadness or joy...relief or anxiety. Somethings never change however and that includes our annual apple pick. This year it was HOT and unseasonable so. Charlotte had her head in a book the entire time and Court spent most of it in the tops of trees. I drank cold cider instead of hot and didn't know whether to be happy or sad about it. I settled on being unsettled.

There is so much change happening and I relish in it but I'm not quite ready to share it. It has something to do with our big old red maple and how much I am going to miss it.

This weekend we will make our pile of leaves even bigger and may find our cheeks turn rosy too.

there is the smell of wood smoke in the air

2011-10-03T23:24:00.000-04:00

It was a tea sipping and apple cake eating kind of day where we dug in the basement bins to find last years mittens. I also realized today that I brought a school book back to the town library and the only thing that surprised me about the whole thing was that it was the first time I have done so.

I picked up this Hudson's Bay blanket while thrifting during the heat wave of July and it was almost painful bringing it home but I have longed for one and simply couldn't pass it by. It is by far my best ever f i n d.

We've traded barbecue for braising and are letting the oven warm the kitchen. I find we're lingering there too. There is company during the clean-up and Court asks me to dance as soon as Patty Griffin comes on...and so we do.

autumn I adore

2011-09-23T07:03:00.001-04:00

The simple things that make me happy. An old fashioned whistling kettle after my electric one kicked the bucket. Puzzles. And I did it. I made bread. I baked it on a Sunday and it was lunch bag bound all week. It was then and there that I decided I would do this each and every Sunday. But of course that was 4 weeks ago and it's been store bought ever since. This weekend I have hopes for more bread making, apple picking and soup stirring. Hello autumn - I adore you.

The whole wheat honey oat bread recipe was found here. It's a sweet little book...

summer saturday

2011-09-15T20:51:00.000-04:00

When back to school week started I was feeling like a rock star. Then I unravelled. Now I am somewhere in between. There have been small significant joys amongst the up and down. Isn't there always? Making Emma's best pancakes and serving them with bacon from a local farm. It has become a weekly tradition to hit the Farmer's Market, housed in the building where I work, every Friday for fresh eggs and bacon and berries. The makings for a perfect Saturday morning breakfast.

We have to back track because I am now weeks behind in posts and I don't want to let the moments slip away. There was the Saturday we drove the back roads to a spot where we hoped the rain wouldn't find us. The drive ended at a small town fair and we pretended to fit in. I realize now it would be the last hot day of the summer and the last time we craved lemonade.

it turned colder - that's where it ends

2011-09-07T20:27:00.000-04:00

Before the hot and humid Saturday and the chilly Labour day Monday and way before the back-to-school Tuesday, there was a Thursday. The last date night of the summer was spent sipping cheap wine and reading online. Husbandmade margherita pizza. Buffalo mozzarella picked up that day from the farmer's market, tomato and basil. Simple. Slow. And finally a beer and a bit of Trivial Pursuit at the bar where we laughed and laughed.

summer's end

2011-08-29T22:31:00.000-04:00

N. Michigan Ave., Chicago

It feels like I haven't seen very much of the children these last couple of weeks what with camp and a weekend trip to Chicago so I'm telling them I love them every few minutes. Everything they say seems so dear to me...I want to write it down so I don't forget. Because I will. Just last night as we played our version of baseball in the backyard - Court said something so witty I wanted to make sure to record it. But of course I didn't and now it is gone. Tonight Charlotte said as she finished sweeping the kitchen floor after dinner, "I think the floor must feel good about itself now."

So many moments today are bittersweet. I'm playing them over in my mind like a slow record...not wanting the day to end. Today is the last of my Mondays...the last official mommy day. Different from what we call family days which come knocking at the end of the week. In one week I will have both children in school full time and I will also return to work full time.

Today we checked on the twig forts Court's been building in the park forest and added a stick or two. I swung beside him on the swing set as he pumped his legs to go higher, no longer needing my push. We picked up Charlotte and went for a poutine lunch in the sunshine with The Pop Shoppe orange to wash it down. There were new back packs and pencil cases bought along with thick socks and sweatshirts. We hoped for fresh picked new apples but settled on sweet corn instead. And after licking the sugar and cinnamon from our fingers we declared cider donuts to be our new favourite fall treat. I carried Court around the house on my back as we listened to Charlotte belting out a tune to her reflection in the kitchen window and the sky turned inky blue.

I just didn't want to let him down.

Good

2011-08-10T22:50:00.000-04:00

Why it is August now isn't it and so far it has been what I would have wanted it to be. Fresher than our sticky July. Summer. But not quite.

Today on my lunch break I walked the city streets and felt the mid day sun on my face and smiled at perfect strangers. Knowing that I am now just steps away from this place...

and a treat of good coffee served with steamed almond milk feels good. Wading finally into the first two seasons of Mad Men after a year on the library waiting list feels good too.

As does my closet with it's line up of freshly hand-laundered shirts. Which only goes to remind me of the Fieldguided photograph hanging in my powder room.

Picked up along with the mini meow tote which hangs in said closet waiting to be gifted to its rightful owner, my cat-loving dear friend JP.

I'm almost giddy with excitement over The Beehive Summer Craft Fair this weekend and sharing it with a spirit most kindred.

And it's market day.

the day is finally here

2011-07-30T08:01:00.000-04:00

We're done.

We finished late Wednesday night, in fact it was more early Thursday morning, Kevin and I waxing and buffing the wood floors that had taken a beating.

While the kids sat fireside at camp we treated ourselves Thursday night with a cold glass of Sauvingon Blanc (me) and a vodka tonic (him) and a bowl of poutine with two forks (both).

What we have accomplished:

-replaced all knob and tube wiring in our house

-patched and repaired all walls and ceiling damaged by above

-replaced floor and fixtures in our powder room

-knocked down wall in kitchen

-replaced floor in mudroom and kitchen

-new cupboard in kitchen where wall was

-moved the light fixture that was in our mudroom to the powder room

-moved the chandelier that used to hang in the powder room to the dining room

-attempted to do all of this on a very limited budget

Here is a reminder of how the kitchen looked before...

And here it is today...

All the new furniture (kitchen table & chairs, pink couch, pink chair, round mirror) was generously gifted to us by Kevin's grandfather who is moving into some swanky new digs. I love them and the fact that they were used and loved by family makes them extra special.

Kevin and I are thinking modern for a coffee table and perhaps rug in the living area but that will have to wait. I also would have loved to have laid the new kitchen tiles brick like but simply couldn't justify the cost.

I'm off to enjoy a bit of my summer. I'm finishing at my present office in one week and will immediately start at a new one. There will be no room for a long summer holiday this year...but I promise not to whine...I have done enough of that. I will simply enjoy all of the free time that I do have, and make the most of it...starting now.

remembering reality bites

2011-07-24T18:50:00.000-04:00

The sticky air and my freshly laundered sheets have me thinking of Italy in August. It was hot and I was 22. The stairwell looked out onto a courtyard full of clotheslines. I hopped into a true roman shower and then laid down on the bed still damp and fell asleep - it was the only way to do so.

There are moments that I have at times taken for granted that I am now so very grateful to have had. The three weeks of summer that I spent Europe bound was one of them. My friend and I carried our clothes on our back and ate dried sausage and baguette on park benches. We rented bicycles in France and rode a bus around Florence. It was the first cool night of the trip and I remember laying in the dark on the top bunk in a hostel outside of Paris, grateful for the scratchy blanket folded at my feet. In my hands was a Walkman and over my ears were the headphones. Inside a mixed tape playing Stay by Lisa Loeb.

I've already made a Summer of 2011 playlist. It will remind me later of the seemingly endless home renovations and also the hope that accompanied them. Change. A new job. Free Sunday Swims at the public pool. The heat. The perpetual feeling of being almost done.

Finding Kevin's Old Spice deodorant in the oddest places.

little peas and other things

2011-07-13T14:05:00.000-04:00

This week has found me swimming in a sea of uncertainty. There are big changes happening both at home and with work and I am drained. I want to muster up the energy to finish the last of the painting so that I can reveal* my newish kitchen but I am still not quite there. It is all I can do keep up with the kitchen mess and hang clothes on the line - and to wonder why oh why can't hanging the toilet paper holder become a priority.

I need a weekend free from almost everything so that I can power through these last bits. I am hopeful that will happen in a few days. I only need to look back at the last of my pictures to see where the extra time has been spent...

good fortune by Charlotte...

dinosaur habitat idea all Courtland...homemade play dough found through Pinterest here.

Fresh peas worth every bit of effort. The fact that they were enjoyed by the entire family after I sauteed them in a little olive oil and finely chopped onion and tossed them in some quinoa was an added bonus and made the so far summer diet of ice cream and hamburgers a little more bearable.

*word that makes me realize I am a blogger

Picked out

2011-07-07T23:19:00.000-04:00

I'm sitting here listening to the Friday Night Lights TV Soundtrack Vol. 2 that I serendipitously found waiting for me at the library tonight and lamenting the ending of the series. Never have I felt so strongly about a TV show unless you count my obsession with Little House as a child. I watched the series finale last night and today I am mourning. I have pulled apart the inside of the CD case and find myself reading the words of Jason Katims, Executive Producer...If you are reading this it means you either have a lot of time on your hands or more likely you are a die hard fan of the show. Yes, Jason, I am a die hard fan because I really, truly do not have ANY time on my hands. Sniff, sniff.

On the weekend I found myself with an hour between a drop off and a pick up and I was hoping to do some picking myself. Strawberries. But when Charlotte and I pulled up to the farm the sign said Picked Out.

Disappointing...yes. Instead we continued on to the local orchard for a peanut butter cookie and a little hanging out.

It won't be long until the raspberries will be ready and we'll try again.

more summer please

2011-07-02T20:14:00.000-04:00

There wasn't a school night in sight so we splurged on real cream cones once the sun went down. We tasted the first sweet sign that summer was finally here and loved every lick.

The next day found us lake side with freezies and found friends. It was a perfect start to July.

The perfect start to summer. Only a couple more days and this room will finally be finished.

Well, almost finished. We'll still be waiting on a counter install but that will involve just waiting. No more filling, sanding, painting...

just more summer.

Little things

2011-06-22T17:35:00.000-04:00

Yesterday morning while showering I placed a scrub sponge under my foot and cleaned the tub while I washed my hair. That pretty much sums up my life right now.

It's the little things that mean so much at the moment. The mom that comes and rescues my kid from a day of watching me sand plaster and wears him out enough that bedtime comes before dark and sleep comes right after prayers are said.

It's a trip to the farmer's market on foot...

with the Hulk.

Where we found a new furry friend.

And an old one.

There is also the almost finished powder room that has me sighing. Here's a sneak peak...

...oh and those mock orange blossoms are the bomb.

And this girl...

and her 8 friends that showered her with love and presents at her 10th birthday party...I adore.

Marcel the shell

2011-06-15T06:38:00.000-04:00

I have my camera back but the only pictures I have taken are of the inside of my car.

I have had no access to my kitchen for three days now as our new tile floor is being laid...by professionals thank heavens.

I practically knocked myself out on the weekend by hitting my head on a low lying galvanized pipe in the basement...only to do it again moments later. Brilliant I am.

There have been beautiful moments amongst the bedlam...a parade and $1 hot dogs in our little village, wine on the porch, take out dinners under the trees. As the little boy and I watched balloons floating up, slipping from the grip of tiny hands, he declared that the astronauts would now be able to enjoy the parade themselves up in outer space. Of course they would, I said.

And this little video. Adorable.

Life with Kevin...

2011-06-10T07:10:00.001-04:00

we now have lights working upstairs...yipee!

Life with Kevin. That sounds like an After-School Special...do they even do those anymore??

Life with Kevin isn't always easy.

In a perhaps you should discuss tearing out walls in your house with your wife kind of way. In a maybe you should think of the consequences before going ahead and doing kind of way.

It has been hard and exhausting living at my house lately. I just can't keep up with the reno mess. I'm tired. I just want to lie down here...

but you will likely find me with mop and broom in hand at 10 pm.

Yesterday morning, I arrived at work to a voice message. It was Kevin. He had left it the night before. Probably when I was either sweeping up or trying desperately not to fall asleep beside my son. He just wanted to tell me that he loved me. That's all.

So life with Kevin isn't easy. No. But it is something else that makes me feel like the luckiest person in the world sometimes.

I managed to take a little time on Monday to make something special for my now 10 year old Charlotte. I unplugged the shop vac and plugged in my sewing machine and made this...

and filled it with presents - a National Geographic Kids magazine...a DS game...new knitting needles and wool...skorts and shorts. Charlotte...10.years.old.

Into the archives...

2011-06-04T08:24:00.001-04:00

This Saturday morning has me feeling a little misty and melancholy.

Perhaps it is the fact that Charlotte will be hitting the double digits in a couple of days...

or maybe my still-being-fixed camera...

that has me digging into the archives.

March 2006 at the old house on the hill

I'm kinda missing those rolled up jeans and plethora of pink days. Charlotte has recently declared that "pinky is stinky" and has requested a makeover of her room. She still adores her daddy who I'm kinda missing as well as he kicks it up with friends for the weekend.

I do know I was affected by this beautiful 'lil bee post this week. Do me a favour and go read it now so we can be misty together.

pretty posies

2011-05-31T07:00:00.000-04:00

Our days have been spent working on the house - there is the ongoing kitchen renovation...the filling and patching of holes from the electrical update...and of course the wee powder room reno. I have been trying really hard to remain sane. I admit it hasn't been easy.

I am missing my camera. The iPod is a poor substitute. I was inspired by the Coriander Girl article in Pure Green Living online magazine to make a couple of posies for two favourite friends on Saturday...

I needed an excuse to get outside and away from the chaos inside and this was it.

In one week we will celebrate Charlotte's 10th birthday. She has requested the same cake I surprised her with last year...

Cake inspiration was found here.

and this year I am hoping to surprise her with a version of the bag Jade made for her daughter here.

But first I have to sweep the plaster dust from my fabric scraps...

A post where I use the words unsettled, unravel and frazzled mess

2011-05-25T14:15:00.001-04:00

There is nothing like spending some time in the ER on a Thursday afternoon....

total awesomeness.

I'm feeling unsettled and this almost made me completely unravel.

I just happened to be at the school when it occurred...the accident that caused Court to need two staples in his head. I was in the gym looking forward to hearing Charlotte sing. A student ran in saying that there was a bleeder on the playground. I hoped it wasn't my bleeder.

It was my bleeder.

The staples are now out. I extracted them last night and both Court and I decided that I wasn't very good at it. I was a frazzled mess when the ER Dr. explained how to do it so this is not surprising.

Last night I felt like I did that first night in the hospital after Charlotte was born. Charlotte was full of mucous. Aren't you glad you are still reading? Anyhoo...Charlotte brought up all over her little newborn self. I looked around. There was only me...and her. It was then that I realized that I was the only one that was going to have to deal with this. I was the mother. Mother's clean up their puky babies...and extract staples. The end.

Kevin and I got a date night on Sunday after both kids were invited to sleepovers. Such a gift. I pretended I was Miss James and Kevin captured me with his iphone.

Ridiculous. That's what happens when wine is $1 an ounce. Thank you Earth to Table.

if you don't know where I am...look on pinterest

2011-05-19T07:21:00.001-04:00

I'm getting lost in Pinterest. Are you?

This morning I found the perfect inspiration for our kitchen renovation in a pin by Staci Edwards...

Kitchenlab-Chicago via pinterest/staci edwards

which incorporates what we already have ie. white cupboards, subway tile...

with what we will be building ie. a contrasting cupboard with marble top.

I was so happy to see the dark wood trim! Seriously jumping up and down happy. Because as much as I would love to paint all the trim in our dining room/living room I don't have the time, energy or money to do it.

I am also jumping up and down for the toilet that was re-installed in my powder room this past weekend.

I'm hoping it will stop Court from peeing off the back stoop. Jumpy claps all around for that.

Here he is before dashing off to a Super Spy birthday party on Sunday...

and here he is on the stoop...not peeing.

I pulled out a size 2 blazer from storage and made a bow tie out of black felt to transform him into James Bond. It worked.

Detour

2011-05-15T09:25:00.000-04:00

My camera is not behaving...again.

I don't have pictures of my rainy walk at sundown with the kids yesterday. We had spent almost the entire day inside working on our myriad of projects. After Court earned $4.80 pulling out staples in the now wooden sub floor that is my kitchen, I decided we just needed to get out.

We arrived home an hour later soaking wet but happy with bright yellow forsythia branches in hand.

I don't have pictures of our powder room renovation that is nearing completion. We are waiting for the sink to arrive and I can hardly wait. Keeping up with the kids hand washing has been difficult and probably the reason for our spring colds.

I do have pictures of mother's day.

Just a couple of years ago, as I left the home of friends whose house was on the yearly Christmas tour, I was handed a cup of delicious coffee. They had dreams of opening up a roastery and cafe. They have accomplished their dream. It is where I met my mom on mother's day...

I love the stripes and the blackboard made from an old screen door. I love the metal chairs and the grey walls.

I love the black trim and wood banquets.

I loved the carrot cake...

and the time with my beautiful mom.

That morning I found solace in her and some much needed inspiration for our kitchen renovation.

Detour Coffee
Located at:

41 King St. West
DUNDAS ON
(289) 238-8360

Oh no he didn't...

2011-05-08T08:27:00.000-04:00

oh yes...yes, he did.

This is what I saw when I walked in the door on Thursday after work. It was dinner time. There was an open house at the school. I was ready to turn around and walk out...

and keep walking.

Did I tell you my husband is a spontaneous sort of person? Did I tell you I'm not really a spontaneous sort of person?

We had talked about one day opening up our kitchen to the dining room beyond...but in a one day sort of way.

I guess for Kevin...

that one day was Thursday.

It didn't really matter that our little powder room renovation was still ongoing. Or that the electrical updating we have been doing, we were still in the middle of. I rationalize that because we were already being inconvenienced by those projects he thought why not be inconvenienced a little more.

Here's what it looks like this morning...

you don't want to see what I look like this morning.

But it will get better.

In the mean time I'm happy that my branches are finally flowering...

the branches that I found covered with a drop cloth and inches of dust on Thursday have been rescued and placed in my dressing room/office. My little refuge from the chaos and commotion of the rest of my home.

I will also find refuge in my mom this morning...and a shared pot of tea.

Happy mother's day.

P.S. We have a plan...sort of. I would love to hear your ideas for my new open space:)

pop up pillow

2011-05-04T06:57:00.000-04:00

What do you do when your house is covered in plaster dust, laundry is piled waist high and you still have tile to grout? You make a pillow cover.

That's what I did on Sunday when I found myself alone in the house for one whole hour.

I rescued this remnant of a bed spread from the drop cloth pile and turned it into a little pillow. Don't look closely as it was nearly impossible to find a big enough piece without some paint splatter.

I feel a bit of a cold coming on. It's hard to avoid when your kids hand you their snotty tissues. There is nothing I would like to do more at this very moment than lay my head down on my new nubby cushion and rest up. I am however off to a very long day of work which will find me coming home in the dark. Perhaps tomorrow...

Dinos and a recipe...

2011-05-02T07:07:00.001-04:00

My boy is busy. On Saturday evening, after I insisted that 8:30 pm was not the time to start sewing stuffed dogs, Court gave me a detailed account of what we would be doing the following day. He did add in a couple of moments where he would "let me clean up". How thoughtful of him.

One of the things he has been asking to do for some time is to make wire dinosaurs. This is because we had started a project like this some time ago and had abandoned it, for lack of a better word. On Sunday, after he had let me clean up, I agreed to start the project...

which involves making a dinosaur shape out of wire...I used picture hanging wire...

and then building upon the wire frame with newspaper, bits of tissue...

and then papier mache.

Once the dino is dry, you can paint it. I am told that is what we are doing today.

And since we are speaking of papier mache...there is an inspiring children's online magazine of the same name.

Go here to check it out.

~
For the lovely girls who requested my french lemon tart recipe, it is below...

Lemon Tart Filling recipe

the weekend

2011-04-25T08:37:00.001-04:00

On good Friday I walked in the woods near our home with the children. It was cold. I wore a wool coat and missed my hat. Court asked if we could go apple picking...appropriate because it felt just like fall.

Spring was no where to be found.

On Saturday I yelled up to Charlotte to wear shorts and packed the kids a backyard picnic lunch.

Hello spring.

Yesterday was a bit of both. Crisp but not cold. We ate the last of the french lemon tart I made in honour of Kevin's big birthday and hunted for Easter eggs. Charlotte asked me what a bunny had to do with Jesus...my thoughts exactly.

In between picking up bits of coloured foil, I will be working on a little project today. It started when Kevin, without warning, tore out our powder room sink. Here's a sneak peek...

and some inspiration.

Scanned from Canadian House and Home December 2010
Photo by Angus Fergusson

he is forty

2011-04-19T22:59:00.000-04:00

Yesterday my love turned 40.

I had imagined that when he turned the big 4-0, I would have surprised him with a little get away to New York or maybe even a gathering of friends...

but he got breakfast in bed and homemade cards.

I did arrange for the kids to go next door and I took him for a romantic dinner.

We sat in the window.

I wore a bra...highly unusual.

We ordered mushroom bruschetta, beet salad and fried chicken. It was delicious.

I did surprise Kevin and pulled a little candle out of my purse and stuck it in our strawberry rhubarb pie...a la mode.

He made a wish.

We ate the pie...

one slice...

two forks.

I love pie. And Kevin.

She and him

2011-04-15T21:59:00.000-04:00

Court has a new girlfriend. Her name is Reese and she's a blonde.

She told him he was cute...

he told her she was pretty.

They sit beside each other on the carpet during circle time.

She may get to hold his hand...

but I have a feeling I will have his heart. Always.

I ♥ Moomah

2011-04-13T11:53:00.001-04:00

I just got an email about Moomah the journal!

source

More Moomah to love and we don’t even have to make the trip to Tribeca.

source

Here’s what caught me first thing…

B e i n s p i r e d, a n d k n o w y o u a r e d o i n g e n o u g h.

This is what I contend with every.single.day.

I’m always inspired...I’ll blame blogs.

And I usually feel like I can do so much more than I am...again, I’ll blame blogs.

Today I will know that I am doing enough.

And here is one thing I do do…

source

The Family Blackboard.

If it isn’t on there it doesn’t get done. Like the car tune-up we missed last Monday…right honey?

Now if only I had those Tolix chairs…

there was some sewing...

2011-04-11T22:55:00.000-04:00

As I peeked in and around the web today I took in all the happy vibes as the sun shone on so many faces this weekend. Although the sun didn't make a strong appearance around here, the warm air did and we were glad to have it. Court is now proudly exclaiming that he can ride a bike with two wheels and without a coat too.

Today I pulled out my sewing machine - it was my mother's and the only machine I've ever used. We are attached and I refuse to give up on her. She's been all tuned up and didn't let me down today when I managed to finish a little pillow cover...

and those wee crocheted flowers made an appearance too.

On Saturday we rushed into the library just minutes before closing so that Charlotte could grab a book she had put on hold. Court managed to grab a couple of books during the mad dash and I didn't see what he had picked until just last night. I expected some Superfriends and got Felicity instead.

I didn't hesitate when he asked me to read it again...and again. Adorable illustrations and a perfect message. Surprise...surprise.

life and e-cards

2011-04-07T22:44:00.000-04:00

Photograph of Jenna Lyons by Melanie Acevedo from Domino Magazine through Habitually Chic

I love the photo above for many reasons. I am posting it because I found it on my hard drive and I have no photos of my own...the camera is out.of.commission. Let's pretend that's me...OK?

My birthday was filled with lots of little niceties, including all the thoughtful wishes from my readers, and so I thank you.

When we walked into the Bread Bar that night for my sweet treat, I wondered if I had made a bad decision.

The place was packed...

and Courtland looked like he was preparing to jump off one of the benches...

with his jacket out behind him...

superhero styles.

Thankfully the library book that I shoved into my bag before we ran out the door settled him down and we were able to enjoy every minute...and every crumb.

I'm having a pie moment and so it was a slice of pecan for both Kevin and myself while the kids had brownies and ice cream. I took in the simple tulips in green glass bud vases on the tables and the pretty candles in mason jars while we devoured our dessert and was so grateful for the moment.

I was also grateful for this note, which arrived in my inbox that morning under the guise of "romantic e-card"...

Tara,

When I walk upstairs to see you curled in bed at night i am left breathless (Partly because of the stair climb).

When the alarm goes off in the morning to Springsteen or Kenny G, I am excited to see you (it's usually only you or Court in the room)

When I'm cold you warm me when I stick my feet under your butt on the couch (that can't feel good).

You make my Mondays happy. You make the best banana bread and lemon tart in the world (get the lemon fluff recipe from my Mom).

Today you're 38 (not a real popular number). But you look sexier than ever. I mean it.

Today is your day. I am going to enjoy you. I promise.

Happy Birthday,
All my love,
Nooche

It really was all I needed from him that day.

Yesterday was harder...

the car wouldn't start..

the computer has a virus...

and my camera is getting fixed.

So I made some molten chocolate cakes and called it a day. Recipe here.

Monday birthday

2011-04-04T08:01:00.000-04:00

My camera isn't co-operating and so these are the only two pictures I manged to take before it kind of pooped out this weekend. Court doing some hand sewing of an egg. Charlotte and I were trying our hand at some crochet and he wanted to be a part and didn't stop until he was done. I wish I had been able to document my attempt at those little poppy flowers...I am amazed that after 4 attempts I finally have one. I hope to now say that I am on a roll but we will have to wait and see.

Today is my birthday. It is raining and I do love the rain so...nature's gift after all this snow. I am spending the day with my handsome little man and we will do everything that he loves to do and that I love too - walking in the rain, the library and something creative. At the end of the day my family is taking me out for dessert at my favourite sweet spot and I can hardly wait.

Spring flowers?

2011-04-01T07:35:00.000-04:00

This is what it looked like when I woke up yesterday morning. No freakin' way I said to myself...

actually, I said something much worse...but you get the idea.

Snow. More freakin' snow.

It is now April and I have had enough of the snow. Where are the freakin' crocuses?

To make myself feel better I put on my new birthday present...

the portrait perfect tee. It made me feel springy. Crocuses or no crocuses.

This is what I ate for lunch almost all week. I think it was Dr. Oz who has suggested that in trying to eat healthy one should keep.it.simple. Eat the same thing over again. Take the thinking out of the equation. I'm all for that.

So everyday I've had some vegetable soup (this one is cashew, carrot and ginger) and sourdough gluten free toast with goat cheese, spinach and tomato. I'm eating these bliss balls as a treat. So yummy.

While I made those bliss balls, I had the kids busy with Meg's chameleons...

we love Meg's craft Thursdays.

This weekend I'm going to try my hand at my own craft...

I'm picking up a crochet hook and starting on this pillow...

The Yvestown Blog

I figure if I can't have some wee flowers outside...

I'll have them inside.

March and maple syrup

2011-03-29T21:28:00.000-04:00

I've been eating less refined. It's been a gradual process. Of course I haven't given up sugar completely. If someone offers me a piece of cake at a party...

or I feel like making some chocolate chip banana bread...

I'm cutting myself the first slice.

This weekend we found ourselves at the Maple Syrup Festival at a local heritage village. It is what you do in March...

when there is still tons of snow on the ground and you are longing to spend some time outside.

Or at least its what girls like me do.

Luckily this year I had some partners in crime to convince Kevin to come..

and here are our dear friends on the proverbial wagon ride. Kevin got off the ride and asked for directions to the saloon...

so we took him to the Blacksmith Shop instead.

There was some kissing to convince him to stick around...

so that we all could learn a thing or two about life in the olden days.

The olden days is also the term Charlotte recently used to describe the time when I was her age.

Before the internet...

and cell phones.

I did however know someone with a Commodore 64 and someone else with a car phone.

Simple times.

Hello yellow...

2011-03-25T07:01:00.000-04:00

Tuesday we arrived home from our getaway and Court and I played baseball in the evening in our backyard. The evening that seemed to last forever.

Wednesday morning I woke up to snow. So much snow. Too much snow. Enough snow for a snow-day snow...

only I didn't know it was a snow-day. So poor Charlotte went off to school, walking through the drifts (thankfully with my mom) to a deserted school. And so started my life post-holiday...

a life which had already on the first day felt out. of. control.

I lit my new Anthro candle last night as I cleaned the out. of. control messiness of my kitchen and felt a tad bit better. I had to step over the adult sized costume of an Easter egg that Court had coloured on the back of some wrapping paper that was being substituted for actual paper, paper since we are all out of that. Kevin was the lucky recipient of the giant Easter egg - lucky duck.

I've dragged these thrifted chairs up from my basement where they have been awaiting some recovering and I've decided to just use them as they are for now. I don't know why but I'm digging their golden colour and the fact that I can, at least temporarily, take them off my to do list. Hello yellow.

We're on holiday...

2011-03-21T09:09:00.000-04:00

We are nearing the end of our holiday...

I am typing outside...OUTSIDE people!

Did you know the outside is not the best place to view a computer screen?

The sun is now halfway up in the sky and each time I look up I'm blinded for a moment...

totally worth it.

Oh the sun.

It's been beautiful here every. single. day.

Oh the moon.

It's been big. And I've had the time to notice it.

Yesterday we went shopping. Thanks to Kevin's generous and loving parents I had some early birthday money to spend...

at Anthropologie. What.a.treat. The fact that I received the lovely gift IN Anthro...

and had no time to spend it on groceries...

or the hydro bill...

was the best part of the present. Thank you...THANK YOU!

I haven't felt much like writing on this trip...

it has been so indulgent and lovely. Our days have been spent in and out of the water, either here at the pool or down at the beach.

I've finished a book. I've ran in the sand. I've kissed the brown skin of my kids and my husband. We've made paper castles and paper swords.

And with everything happening all over the world...the suffering...the conflict

my life has felt a little frivolous.

Next week it will be back to reality. The small difficulties of my everyday will again surface...

and I'll draw on this sweet filled week in paradise and feel so blessed.

what a week...

2011-03-12T23:00:00.002-05:00

Wednesday, 6:20 pm
Cheering my pretty little ninja on as she got her green belt. You can see that Court wasn't too far away...he is never very far away from me. I wasn't sure if Charlotte was red faced because of the sit-ups or because she was so mad at him for being so close to her.

Thursday was also a busy day as I raced home from work to take the kids bowling. Now I really don't like bowling...but it was a work thing...and the kids look forward to it. I don't like sticking my feet into shoes worn by other people or sticking my fingers into holes where other fingers have been. Ugh.

I'm going to blame the bowling ball for the eye infection I then woke up with on Friday morning. Lovely. Seriously couldn't open my left eyelid. But I got myself to work knowing that this would be my last day for a little while...

that we were getting to Florida this year...

that a break from the daily grind was almost at hand.

As I pulled into the house on Friday, this is what greeted me...

Court's Fort.

He made it from an umbrella, some sticks, the recycling bin, a couple of shovels and toys. It made me smile.

On Saturday morning he showed me around...

this was right before I went for my spray tan.

Oh yes...yes I did.

It wasn't that bad...

but they said it wouldn't smell.

And of course it does.

So although I'm feeling a little more confident about donning a bathing suit...

Court told me I smelled like farts when I lied down with him tonight.

So if you are in Marco Island, Florida next week and you see a one-eyed lady who smells farty...

well, that would be me. But don't worry...

I'll be happy.

Stillness

2011-03-08T22:37:00.000-05:00

We have been going non-stop. In and out the door...

with no time for stillness.

That was until we found ourselves snowed in with the best of friends on the weekend.

On Saturday we had left the house in our rain boots, wading through deep puddles to get to the car. It rained all day and I thought of a quote from a Judy Blume book I read a loooong time ago...

" Who says March is supposed to come in like a lion and go out like a lamb? That's a lot of bull. All it's done this March is rain. "

I think of that each and every March. Quotations have a tendency to pepper my thoughts at times...and I can thank Anne Shirley for many of them.

On Sunday, however, we returned home to this...

the snow blanketing our yard yet again.

It didn't stop Court from playing some baseball...

or even some Frisbee...

but our cold fingers and toes forced us back inside in no time.

I can't wait to pack our swimsuits and say good-bye to our hats and mitts...if only for a little while.

This week I'll be organizing for our trip...

applying self tanner...

and searching for some stillness. What are you doing?

I'm eating kale...

2011-03-02T07:22:00.001-05:00

If you think I may be inspired by this daily picture blog...you would be right.

I want to add each and every shot to my Pinterest.

On the last day of February I had a couple of hours to myself. I had a looooong list of things I wanted to accomplish. I did only two of them.

Some of the things I didn't do...

make pillows
sew a skirt for Charlotte like this one
make a hanging pendant like this one
put away all the laundry

I did make these kale chips. Because I'm going to Florida in 2 weeks and I need to be eating only kale chips. But of course I'm not eating ONLY kale chips...because if I were the scale would be going down instead of up.

I did eat them at work yesterday and realized they are probably not really appropriate for eating at work...because one might find themselves with green bits in between ones teeth...and co-workers who don't tell you when you have green bits between ones teeth...and you find another reason to hate ones job.

I love bath time.

It is the only time when my little guy stays in one place for a little while. And I do too.

junk

2011-02-26T19:46:00.001-05:00

Today was a cleaning day. After having such a busy weekend before this...

which ran right smack into a busy work week....

an absolutely dreadful work week...

a not even able to take a quick lunch break work week...

my house was a wreck.

All week I ignored the spit marks in the bathroom sinks, pulled clean clothes from a bucket of unfolded laundry to dress the kids, and tossed, literally, Lego men, stuffed animals and transformer pieces into the play room and shut the door.

I tackled it all today while Kevin and the kids dropped donations off to our local food drive and went bowling. Court must have been pleased with that.

When they arrived home this afternoon Court insisted on making these...

courtesy of chickaDEE magazine circa 2009.

He was so excited about them...my little fruitarian.

Far too excited to wait the THREE hours it was going to take to produce one of these.

So after chopping up some fruit into teeny tiny pieces...

and demanding Charlotte eat some yogurt to free up a container...

we filled the container with the fruit, topped it up with some juice and waited only ONE hour.

While Court slurped his 'sicle, I, in need of a reward for all my hard work, slipped out the door.

I headed off to a local junk store in search of some treasure.

I walked away from a vintage school blackboard with wood frame and ledge for chalk that I am starting to regret...

it was $40...

and instead bought these four bowls for $7.

Because I need bowls.

I don't need another chalkboard.

Or do I?

They might be open tomorrow...

the art of play

2011-02-23T22:17:00.000-05:00

Tonight I abandoned the dirty dishes as soon as I heard his Boston accent...

and sat my but down.

I remember convincing Kevin to take me to see Good Will Hunting...

thinking it was a movie he would love. That was long ago. We didn't need a babysitter. Our car had a stick shift. I probably wore perfume.

I'm still in awe at the writing...some of the best quotes ever.

~

Monday was the Family Day holiday and as I was looking up public swim times at the local pool, Kevin planned a surprise trip to the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, NY...

Charlotte loved the "science room"...

they both loved working at Wegmans...

and exploring...everything.

The mail room.

Tinker toys!

Life aboard a ship.

Superhero strength.

~

It was a fabulous day...

made possible by my spontaneous and munificent husband ♥

happy

2011-02-20T13:05:00.000-05:00

A long run.

Bright morning sun.

A blustery walk to the book shop.

Happy.

pish posh

2011-02-17T20:36:00.000-05:00

As I write this the five year old is downstairs and he keeps screaming about something. I just can't respond.

I am no longer the miserable person I was a couple of days ago...

however there is an uneasiness I am feeling and I can't quite shake it.

I think Court just threw something.

I don't think Court is helping my mood.

Can you believe that Court wrote out 23 valentines with first and last names?

And he was the only one to do that.

I am a fool.

All those other parents said pish posh.

Not I.

No...

not I.

But Court and I kind of had fun...

writing those valentines...

in the four person tent...

in my living room.

We actually laughed at the absurdity. But of course we kept going.

That is what we do.

We just keep going. And we laugh.

one and only...

2011-02-14T20:20:00.000-05:00

Today I got a valentine from my love and it was just like him...

funny & surprising & sweet ♥.

If I were to give him a valentine that was like me...

the way I have been the last couple of days...

it would have been ugly...

with absolutely no sense of humour.

Ugh. I have been horrible. And I am so very sorry.

There is a 4 person tent in my living room?

Court still has 7 valentines to finish "to-ing" and "from-ing"...
complete with first and last names as suggested by his teacher.

And all I want to do is slow dance with Kevin in the kitchen...

to this song.

My dearest love...

meet. me. there.

oxo

kindness

2011-02-11T08:24:00.001-05:00

The start of this week found me in bed for twenty-four hours with two sick kiddos by my side and a husband on his way to Montreal. The virus was so very un-kind.

But Laura wrote a sweet post on Wednesday on acts of kindness which pulled me up from my depths of puking despair and I found myself in receipt of such acts of kindness from all around.

♥ A colleague who, for no apparent reason, felt the need to come up mid-day and tell me how much I meant to her.

♥ Two valentines, complete with surprise gift cards, arriving in the mailbox for my two recovering kids to distract and inspire them. Thank you D.

I am determined to find ways to do something this weekend to reciprocate on these sweet acts as Laura suggested. I will also be making some Valentines with my crafty Court.

We have decided on a version of these.

pirate valentines and photo from mer mag

Court would like to make them bigger...

and the felt eye-patches removable, to be worn by the recipient...

and I think that might actually be possible.

craving comfort

2011-02-07T20:24:00.000-05:00

I made the mistake last night of going to bed in a little tank instead of my usual long sleeves and I found it nearly impossible to rise this morning from beneath my warm duvet.

The cold has me craving comfort. Wool sweaters. Thick socks. Corduroy. Oatmeal.

I have now made this Blackberry Farm granola twice and realize I just may never buy store bought again.

I decreased the amount of sugar for my taste and added just a hint of cinnamon. I have also added apples, both fresh and dried, and occasionally throw in pecans. Court shares in my love of oats and he usually takes his plain, right before bed.

The pumpkin loaf from last week is long gone.

I was surprised at the kids affection for it...pleased to think they were getting such a super food...albeit in a sweet package. They must be craving comfort too.

reptiles and electronics

2011-02-04T19:47:00.000-05:00

I have never felt more together on a Friday.

I am usually done...spent...exhausted...
but not this week.

And I have the snow day to thank for it.

It happened right in the middle of the week...like the surprise caramel you find in the centre of a cupcake.

So sweet.

The kids woke up on Wednesday and stayed in their inside out PJ's all morning. While they ate overnight popcorn and pancakes with bacon, they created books.

Court's is called Reptiles and Electronics. Of course it is.

You will find an iguana next to an iPod...a snake next to a television set...a baby triceratops next to a remote control.

That's the baby triceratops above...just in case you were confusing it with something else...like an adult triceratops.

While the kids made books and played in the snow I did lots of fun stuff...

like organizing LEGO.

Like I said, I've never felt so together...♥

hello February...

2011-02-01T21:16:00.000-05:00

January you were a blur.

And to be honest...

I hope you are too February. I have had just about enough of winter.

We are bracing for a big storm by popping corn and loading up on movies. Yesterday I baked macaroni & cheese and loaves of pumpkin bread to warm my kitchen. The wind is whistling around the door and windows that surround me so that even my woolliest of woolly socks cannot keep my feet warm.

But February has a sweet side too...

and so does my husband.

Yesterday as I bustled about the kitchen amidst the post baking mess, he walked up with a serious face and asked me to look at something...

was it a note from the teacher? An overdue bill that had gotten lost in the shuffle?

Nope.

I looked at it and then up at him and we both burst out laughing. It was just so corny.

But so sweet. And that's why I love him so.

Monday night wine

2011-01-31T13:34:00.000-05:00

Kevin and I enjoy wine. He is Italian and comes by this naturally.

Where I saw a milk jug on the table growing up...

he probably saw a carafe.

And since we like to have wine almost every day, we are most nights relegated to drink what my chef friend recently described as cooking wine.

So when Inniskillin asked me to try their East West Series over the holidays, I simply couldn't help myself and said...

yes.

We were saving it for a weekend, when we would take our time shopping for ingredients, cooking a fabulous meal and sipping the wine.

Last Sunday, Charlotte took one look at this cover of Chatelaine magazine...

and decided that she was craving pasta. I was too...only I hoped to be wearing a big woolen scarf... as I ate it out of a pretty bowl...that I held in my hand...using a linen tea towel.

I made the two-step lasagna for her on Monday night after martial arts class.

As I browned the sausage and tossed in the mushrooms, I realized that the Inniskillin East West Merlot-Cabernet that we were holding onto, would be perfect. So we cracked open that Saturday night wine on Monday evening and it was delicious.

Different. Or as our friend who had popped in later that night said...

that's good vino.

Interior Design Show Gala 2011

2011-01-28T21:03:00.002-05:00

The witty introduction that I had in my head earlier today at work has now left.

I am too tired to try and pull it out. Or perhaps it wasn't as witty as I thought. Forgive me.

Instead, I will post some pictures from my night at the Interior Design Show Gala and let them speak for themselves.

It was a treat to attend with Grace of Sense & Simplicity who kindly invited me after she won the tickets at the Design Bloggers Meetup. Thank you Grace.

Jennifer at Rambling Renovators was behind the prize and Grace and I were both thrilled to spend a little time with her and her Handyman last night. Jennifer said we would love the Sibling Revelry exhibit featuring sister Sarah Richardson and brother Theo Richardson, among others, and she was right.

Sarah Richardson

Tommy Smythe

The charming Adrew Metrick from Elte proudly explained their new Second Life rug collection which I LOVED so much...

along with this hanging light in their exhibit.

I was drawn to the industrial at Metropolis Living...of course.

The Style at Home booth was just so....

Alanna Cavanagh Artwork

pretty with a capital P. Check out the painted floor...and the light fixture made with paint cans.

UpCountry is going across the pond...

and ohhhh how much do I ♥ Montauk.

Awesome.

sniffles

2011-01-25T07:09:00.000-05:00

Is it possible to drink too much ginger tea?

Because I can't stop sipping it, in between sniffles...

from a cup and saucer, thank you very much.

Yesterday, I was grateful for the time to heal. And also for my toasty wool sweater that I found lying on one of our hot radiators.

What a gift it was to be able to snuggle in here...

and not have to dash off to work.

I may have folded some laundry.

Or cut out some hearts.

A $15 Starbucks gift card to the first person who can tell me whose little heart project I am working on.

It appears that Ashley Ann may be working on it too. ♥

Five things

2011-01-23T08:47:00.000-05:00

1. It's cold. I can barely see outside what with all the frost. I'm also fighting a bit of a cold, Charlotte has just gotten over one and Court is completely wrapped up in the middle of one. So...anyone want to come over?

2. Court discovered Charlotte's long lost Barbie castle and has set up shop in my front hallway. At one point I saw a Bionicle riding a pink horse. It was all worth it for the forty minutes of peace it afforded me.

3. It is no wonder the Barbie castle ended up in the hallway. The playroom looked like this...

up until yesterday, when I spent almost the entire day cleaning house. I managed to keep going knowing that when it was all done we would go and check out the place I read about here. As we walked into the shop, a man leaving said to us "It is amazing." and it was.

4. Charlotte is blogging. Kind of. She asked for a vintage typewriter for Christmas and I'm finding these little notes everywhere...

5. Weekends mean waffles. My waffle maker makes 3 little round waffles. I make a big batch and all the leftovers are frozen for the week ahead when they become toaster waffles.

Today I will enjoy my clean and shiny house while I can. Court has assured me he is well enough to attend a birthday party, thank goodness, so Charlotte and I will hit the library just the two of us as she hasn't been in a while. I am always surprised at how much my kids love the library and a little special time with my girl is definitely in order. ♥

This little light of mine...

2011-01-19T19:33:00.000-05:00

Kevin is driving us all crazy looking for the television remote. I just walked by Charlotte and told her as much and she responded by saying "I know! Boys are so weird." Ummm...yes...yes they are.

Last week when I checked into Ikea during my lunch break to peruse the as-is section, I decided that I couldn't wait any longer to change this light in my kitchen...

(do not be distracted by the spring blossoms people) and bring it out of the 1980's.

Although I will continue to look for something a little more industrial or vintage this makes me so much happier and only set me back $15.

Now I'm itching to replace those chairs. Because I've realized my $3 garage sale chairs are worth...well...just about $3. I'm thinking some modern chairs that are easy to wipe down and that may, just may, entice Court to sit his but down during dinner would be perfect.

I love that shot of Charlotte above...memorizing all the provinces, territories and capitals of Canada.

And I love this shot of Shirley MacLaine...

Source

which makes me want to go and be silly with my kids. And makes me wish that someone would be around to take our picture.

What I was wearing when I...

2011-01-16T16:15:00.000-05:00

Hat: Julie Sinden - bought at the One of a Kind Show 2009
Coat: Mackage - surprise! gift from Kevin 2008
Mittens: made from recycled sweaters by Annie Clifford - bought at the One of a Kind Show 2010 - Annie hails from Kingston where I went to University, plays in a band called the Gertrudes and sold her wares on a sliding scale asking us to pay what we could afford - brilliant.
Grey Leggings: bought in Wicker Park, Chicago, 2008
Socks: men's, Joe Fresh instead of these that were sold out
Boots: Bean

~

I'm finding irritation with everything today (crumbs under couch, the realization that immediately after cleaning the kitchen of the breakfast mess, it is lunch time) and it is no ones fault but my own.

My decision to remain wrapped up in a tatty quilt whilst watching the BBC production of Emma these past couple of wintry mornings, as lovely as it was, was wrong. The skipping of Booty camp or even a morning run has proven to be ill-advised.

Even the oh so supportive husband can do nothing right and I am certain to feel badly for my treatment of him later. I am hoping some take out Vietnamese food and a cuddle on the couch while watching the Golden Globes will set me right....and I'm sure he is too.

My hood...

2011-01-13T06:55:00.000-05:00

Ugh.

Yesterday was a rough one.

I think the worst part of it was the fact that I just kept trying to save it...

to make it into a good day.

I should have just let myself fall into the roughness and wallow around in it.

At one point last night Court was halfway down our long driveway...crying and running away (thank you Ramona and Beezus).

Every time we would pretend to walk towards the house he would get scared and start coming back up the driveway...

and then we would want to make sure we could see him so we would walk toward the driveway....

and he would see us and start back down again.

This went on for a little while.

Finally he just came running to me and I picked him up. He was so heavy and I realized he isn't such a little guy any...

more. Sigh.

~

One year ago, I had recently returned from a lovely little jaunt to New York City.

somewhere on Waverly

Soho

a playground somewhere in the West Village...I think

And it seemed everywhere I looked...I loved. The storefronts...the restaurants...the streets.

On Saturday I ran out of the house and decided to find a little New York in my own backyard. I ventured out to a neighbourhood nearby that I had read about and wanted to check out.

The street was tree lined...

with pretty lamp posts.

There was a coffee shop...

with yummy carrot cupcakes.

Where I sat and nibbled...

and wrote...

and drank delicious hot coffee.

It was my little hour getaway.

And it was sweet.

field notes

2011-01-10T23:01:00.000-05:00

I got up early on Saturday morning...

which isn't that unusual...

except that I decided to try a two hour boot camp being offered free to parents at Charlotte's martial arts academy instead of my usual run.

I looked outside and saw fresh snow.

Our house is surrounded by evergreen trees and that morning I looked outside...

and decided to really see those beautiful trees. I wanted to be so grateful for the view.

And then I got my but in the car and drove to boot camp...

and I haven't been able to sit that but down without wincing ever since.

Sunday evening I thought a nice hot bath was in order.

Am I the only one who is unable to take a bath without interruption?

Because it wasn't long before Court was at the side of the tub...

and he proceeded to tell me that I did "have a big booty" as I got out.

So needless to say I will be returning to booty camp next Saturday.

~

In order to keep up with my goal of more frequent blog posts, I realized I needed somewhere to jot down all of the projects, thoughts and ideas that come into my head.

I found this old sketch book amongst some things during a post-holiday purge but wasn't too inspired by the cover.

So a couple of coats of leftover blackboard paint and a hot glue gunned ribbon later and I have myself a little notebook...

just waiting to be filled up.

I am so not cool...

2011-01-07T19:46:00.000-05:00

I have walked upstairs 4 times to get my teapot and forgot it each time.

That is what happens by the end of the week and I'm running on empty.

Yesterday Kevin walked into the kitchen as the kids and I were hopping around and singing Frog Song by Charlie Hope at the top of our lungs and he shook his head and asked me to please not turn un-cool.

Now Charlie Hope sings beautiful songs for children (the lullaby Little One is also a fave) that are VERY cool however I guess no one ever bothered to tell Kevin that I have never been cool. I don't know how I've managed to trick him so far ♥.

Court and I have been enjoying the book I got him for Christmas...

we snuggle up at night and follow along to the tune. Peter Yarrow was the Peter in Peter, Paul & Mary and I remember them on my parents television as a child singing Leaving on a Jet Plane and my mom humming along. The TV was black and white and you had to get up and turn the dial to change the channel - so cool. Peter's book is sweet and the illustrations are beautiful.

Charlotte's Christmas book was...

due to our mutual love of Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee.

My delight over this fabulous book was most definitely un-cool. How much do I love Gollie's modernist tree house and Bink's garden of carrots and her galoshes I simply cannot express...

"I have brought you half of my pancakes, " said Gollie.

"And I've removed one of my outrageous socks," said Bink. "It's a compromise bonanza!"

What is a bonanza?

Whatever it is...I adore it:)

sleepyhead

2011-01-05T20:25:00.000-05:00

time for bed sleepyhead

I've cut up oranges and cantaloupes for the kids as a bed time snack and they are oohing and ahhhhing.

You know the holidays are over when even the kids are ready to detox.

I have vowed to hit the sack early tonight after the bath and books.

I am a small goal type of gal so getting more sleep is one of my un-official resolutions.

So is to stop being a small goal type of gal. I need to get some guts. Guts, guts, guts. (Did anyone else watch Ramona and Beezus over and over during the holidays?)

Another resolution is to post a little more frequently on this little space...

I'm going for 4 days a week and I hope I don't bore anyone.

This post is about oranges and cantaloupes so things aren't looking too hot...

vivre l'hiver!

2011-01-03T20:51:00.000-05:00

I really shouldn't wait sooooo long to post because now I don't really know where to begin.

Actually, I do...

I want to thank Jennifer at Rambling Renovators who asked me to take part in their year-end Great Reads Blog Tour. There are quite of few of my favourite blogs highlighted and also some wonderful new-to-me blogs that I can add to my list.

Now if I had a laptop...

or even a smart phone...

or an iPod touch like my 9 year old daughter...

I could have posted about this from our little get away in the belle province. But I do not.

I have returned from my vacation and find myself lost in all those Great Reads and I hope you will find yourself there too...if you haven't already:)

The holiday was at times lazy like a hibernating bear and also exhilarating like a run away train. And speaking of trains, we found ourselves on a couple of them during our trip. We also rode skis and skates and tubes. The kiddos learned a wee bit of french and I gazed at stars I haven't seen in forever. And it was all because of this guy...

Kevin's 87 year old grandfather. He treated his family, of which I can gratefully say I am a part, to this wonderful holiday. Thank you Papa.

Did I mention it was cold?

Happy New Year!

xoxo

simply lovely day

2010-12-24T07:34:00.000-05:00

It is Christmas Eve and I will be heading into the office in a wee bit.

Yuck.

Those office days however make me appreciate the days where I don't go into work even more.

Here's how Court and I spent one of those days recently. He calls them Mommy days...

and I call them simply lovely days.
We went tobogganing in the park with a couple of his friends until his cheeks were bright red and then walked home for some hot chocolate.

We hit the library for books...

and maybe a movie...or two.

We dragged our big bag of books across the street to the bakery...

where we admired the decorations...

Court ordered his favourite monkey bread...

and he asked me if I got a picture of him "eating the boob".

We read some of the books we had picked out. I drank my pot of tea.

Simply...

lovely...

day.

We are going on a little holiday...a little french get-away...with family! We will be spending our time after Christmas in a cabin in Quebec...and I do imagine a few more simply lovely days there will do this mommy good! I will be off-line until then...

Merry Christmas my sweet friends. What a blessing you have been to me this year!

Hugs and kisses...or should I say grosses bises!

10 things

2010-12-20T18:17:00.000-05:00

1. I've lost 7 pounds.

2. It only took 24 hours and it was ugly.

3. It is impossible to enjoy TV, books or blogs when you have the stomach flu.

4. Today my Christmas postcards were for the most part finished and mailed. And it isn't even Christmas yet. This is HUGE.

5. Date night tonight. I will be a cheap date because I am not eating much of anything or drinking wine. Nor will I be ordering popcorn at the movie theatre which is such a pity. I can't decide between seeing The Fighter...or Black Swan. At first I was surprised that Kevin was willing to see the later...and then I wasn't...wink, wink.

6. We rented the movie The Town and I realized that the thing I find so hot about Ben Affleck is the fact that he co-wrote and directed it. It is that good.

7. I have four more days of work to get through before the big day. Which means I am really jealous of all of you who are now enjoying the holidays.

8. I am missing ballet. This beautiful little movie I found here doesn't help. Or this amazing project. Or this picture of Natalie Portman...

image

9. I can't, for the life of me, get a good picture in the school auditorium but I do love my little reindeer.

10. Date night begins right NOW...

oh happy day today

2010-12-16T10:56:00.000-05:00

I am off work today.

I have just kissed some red cheeks at morning school send off, which I normally only get to do ONCE a week, walked home and I just don't know where to start.

There is soooooo much I want to pack in today...

before I head back to the school for the holiday assembly.

I want to visit a favourite book shop to pick special books for the kids, pick up the mirror that I had installed in this frame...

that will hopefully bring some much needed sparkle into my dining room.

I want to make this granola.

And wear this wonderful shirt, in navy, that somehow managed to get packed in a box with some gifts I ordered....

it was on sale at the time and allowed me to take 25% off my order...so technically it was FREE.

I have been trying to get away with layering my summer T's under my nubby sweaters but to be honest it's been hard to put on those summer tees now that the snow is here. Putting on this longer sleeve shirt was heavenly this morning.

I will first off start working on my Christmas cards...better late than never. Of course I didn't give myself enough time to order them so I'll be winging it homestyle this year.

I'm trying some post cards...made with a picture I took on Saturday...

when I shoved the kiddos outside and asked for some cooperation. It went surprisingly well although the snow that finally arrived on Sunday, would have been nice.

Here are a few outtakes...

And here I go...

off to enjoy my delicious day! I hope everyone has a happy day too...

I don't bowl...

2010-12-13T19:57:00.000-05:00

Recently I did something I rarely get to do...

have dinner with a friend whose friendship I cherish at a swanky restaurant in a big city.

We squeezed ourselves into the restaurant as it was, as so many hip places are, packed to the rafters. I read her pretty lips to understand her over the myriad of conversations going on around us.

There were other girls there, just like us, catching up over a half litre of a big dry red.

There were corporate groups and younger couples.

I looked at those young couples and was reminded of my life BC…Before Children.

This was Kevin and I over 12 years ago.

We lived in the big city. We took the subway to work. We worked in big office towers with white twinkle lights outside. We worked late…because we could.

We would meet after work under the twinkle lights. We would decide where we would go for dinner. We would order a bottle of wine…not a glass. We would try new things. We would share dessert. We took our time.

On Saturday Kevin and I were offered 3 children free hours mid afternoon while the Sensei at Charlotte's martial arts academy watched over our kids and let them eat pizza and chips and...ring pops.

I thought briefly of using that time to clean my toilets...

or shop for a few more presents.

But instead we were us 12 years ago...for three short hours...and it was nice.

Then we picked the kids up and went off to get our tree...

Court with purple ring pop mouth

and it was a good thing we didn't cut down our own. We barely made it through the 5 minute jaunt around the orchard...

before Court crashed from his sugar high...

and we picked up a nice pre-cut pine. On the way home Court told me the reason behind his meltdown...

he explained that it was because he really hasn't gone bowling very much. Only once or twice. That was why he completely lost it at the apple orchard?

I am a horrible mother. I don't bowl.

sunlight...starlight

2010-12-10T10:34:00.000-05:00

I feel like I may be channelling a bit of my high school self what with the bangs and having recently busted out the hot rollers. Yes, I rolled my hair everyday that final high school year. I had little hair...and it needed to be BIG. I’m afraid I may look like those women who rocked the Farrah Fawcett feathers in their prime and have just refused to give it up. The fact that hot rollers are mentioned in the new issue of InStyle mag gives me some hope...

The weekend is almost here, thank goodness. It will give me some time to turn my face toward the sun which can be found outside, I'm told. My days have been spent in an office with no window to the outside world which is enough to drive, even this die hard optimist...down.

This year I put twinkle lights up in the little tree in our side yard...they cannot be seen from the road...but are for my little family to enjoy instead. This is the weekend for our tree too, which will hopefully shine some more light into this house. I just can't decide if we will do the usual...or perhaps have a try at cutting down our own? Whatever we do, I will be happy to have it up and will no doubt be decorating it as the Elf soundtrack plays in the background...

phew

2010-12-04T20:30:00.000-05:00

Winter outdoor decor 2010

Court and I were half way through our third puzzle when an Ikea soft soccer ball whizzed past my head.

I then suggested perhaps that the balls should be basement bound along with the two kiddos...

and I'm just wondering how long that will last.

Perhaps long enough to bust out a post...

or not.

Movie and hot buttered popcorn now to the rescue and I'm giving myself 15 minutes before I must meet Kevin on the couch.

Phew...where did the week go.

There was the One of a Kind show where I did my best to spend more and buy less as Ellen suggested here.

Since I couldn't leave Kessa Laxton's booth Patouche empty handed, I purchased a pretty alpaca crocheted head band for Charlotte...and my mum bought one for me. My mum will wrap mine up for me to open and pretend surprise on Christmas day...

and at the same time Court will open this...

and will be thrilled. If ever there was a gift made for him...this would be it. Thank you Fancy Pants Kids.

I will share the screen printed napkins I purchased from the sweet Genevieve at her booth Ollie Golightly in a later post. She had the most beautiful linen and organic cotton fabric.

Today I finally got a start on the winter/holiday decor, both inside and out.

I'm still not thrilled with my urns but the wreaths will have to do for now...3 are hanging leaving 3 more for tomorrow.

Kevin has missed me because I've been completely lost...

in this book.

I didn't want it to end...but it has...and I'm back.

♥

Dear Santa...

2010-11-29T20:35:00.000-05:00

all I want for Christmas is a new pair of running shoes...

and maybe something special from the One of a Kind Show.

As we did last year, my mum and I are heading off to the show tomorrow.

I didn't think we'd make it this year...

until I got a free ticket in my Canadian Design Bloggers Meetup swag bag (thank you ladies!)...

and until I realized that the sweet things that were purchased last year are just about my favourite pieces...

of this past year.

I can't wait to be inspired.

~

As the snow fell on Saturday morning and Court escaped outside to catch it, I served up breakfast to three sleepy girls.

Although we said we would never do it again...we hosted a sleepover.

Watching Nanny McPhee Returns (♥ it so much) and getting Court to bed early made it somewhat bearable.

Charlotte likes to whine about the fact that she doesn't have many Nintendo DS games and since I respond to it by telling her to be proud of that fact, I made her everything she and her friends asked for at breakfast instead.

She will thank me later.

almost there

2010-11-22T20:44:00.000-05:00

I may have had just a touch of the spirit this weekend.

It started, as it usually does, with the first snow.

Central Park - NYC snow last winter

Early Sunday morning as I walked hand in mittened hand with Court to grab my morning coffee, the snow flakes started to fall.

We woke up in a downtown Toronto hotel and mommy desperately needed a Starbucks red cup. I had been to the Canadian Design Bloggers Meetup the previous night and there had been some wine.

I had the red, thank you very much.

Jennifer did a fabulous job, as usual, summing up the night. There were so many talented, thoughtful women! I'm still feeling a little overwhelmed to have been a part of it.

~

If your fall mums are looking like this...

but you aren't quite ready...

or perhaps you lack the time, energy, and drive to do this...

do this...

♥

just not ready...

2010-11-19T21:45:00.000-05:00

Mudroom welcome December 2009

I am not ready for Christmas. The holiday magazines are piling up and I just can't open them.

Not yet.

I've loved this fall...

and I'm going to squeeze every last crisp, crunchy, brown, leaf out of it...

before I hang my stockings.

~

Today I drove around in the town where Kevin and I started our married life.

I kind of got choked up when I passed our first house which we bought shortly after we married.

And where we had Charlotte.

We sold it when Charlotte was just a year old.

That year of getting to know my little girl in that cozy english cottage in the beautiful lakeside town was sweet.

I found this picture of her nursery and was surprised at how much I still love it...

I mean that was over 9 years ago and I think I would still do the periwinkle and the gauzy drapes with the embossed bumble bees.

That C on the shelf came from my first visit to Anthropologie...the gem of a store I "found" during a fun trip with friends to Chicago over 11 years ago. The start of my Anthro love affair. Sigh...

I miss that house. I miss the window hardware and the shiny pine floors. I miss walking Charlotte in the stroller down to the lake, to the library...

and to Starbucks where total strangers would comment on her chubby kissable cheeks.

Now Charlotte is asking Santa for an iPod touch.

No...I'm just not ready.

♥

give and take

2010-11-17T06:22:00.000-05:00

these pictures will have nothing to do with this post

I am having one of those working mom moments...

I just feel like it is simply impossible to fit it all in.

Although it is almost light during my morning run...it is pitch black when I pull in at the end of the day.

There is no light for pictures.

Dinner needs to be made and cleaned up. Homework needs to be done and put away. The kids need to be played with and cuddled.

The hubby needs...

some attention.

My mind races all day long of things I want to share...

and make...

and do.

But there is simply no time.

I am going to blame the nap I took on Sunday.

Such an indulgence that I simply can't remember the last time I did that. Of course I really wasn't completely asleep...because there was still lots going on. I just chose NOT to respond and kept my eyes closed.

My life is a big give and take. I will manage to get one thing done...but will have to leave another.

Yesterday, dinner was homemade and served by candle light...but the clean clothes piled up and are still not folded.

The beds got changed...but the tub did not get scrubbed.

I played the memory game AND tinker-toys with Court after dinner...but the kitchen floor remains a sticky mess.

The fridge got cleaned out...but I missed my morning run.

This morning I will RUN...but the puzzles will stay scattered in the hallway...

and this is how it will go on. And on... ♥

remembering

2010-11-11T07:13:00.000-05:00

Today I am remembering as we all should...

I am remembering especially my grandma Evelyn, who served as a dietitian with the Medical Corps of the Royal Canadian Army in Canada and England during WWII.

She, like myself, obtained a Bachelor of Science degree.

She, like myself, loved to bake.

She, like myself, liked to have a pretty home.

She, like myself, loved her boy.

So much a part of me and so very missed.

oh happy day

2010-11-10T22:03:00.001-05:00

Charlotte has been singing this song today....Oh happy day, oh HAPpy DAY, oh happy DAy...

She has been singing it because she has heard her teacher sing bits of it in class. Her teacher simply can't help herself...and neither can my Charlotte.

Charlotte's singing and her fantabulous teacher, some new songs on my ipod, a toasty warm and clean house, a run at dawn, kisses from a five year old boy...

and a 39 year old...

boy...

also made me happy today.

I bought this lipstick and I'll pretend I'm Jenna Lyons and I'm cool enough to wear it. But I think I need to wait for spring. (It was really so silly of me...I haven't bought a lipstick in, like, 10 years...)

I'm in love with these boots my hubby got me last year and I know I will love for-eva.

Yes, he picked them out. Yes, they were a surprise. Yes, this is why I don't mind taking out the garbage.

I'm going to remember all the things that make me happy and throw out all the rest today. Because I realize that my Kevin is right when he says that just as soon as one worry goes away I manage to find another one to replace it.

I worry...all...the...time.

I'm sensitive.

I get stressed.

Today I'll be thankful.

Speaking of thanks...

here are the cookie magazine recipes for the small scale thanksgiving I did last month. The cranberries and pears were really delish and worked just as well the next day tossed in a salad with some pecans and some chevre.

The individual gratins were a nice thought but a total pain to clean up. I also made them with regular potatoes instead and did my mother-in-law's famous sweet potato pie as another side.

So how will GOOPY do tonight on the CMA's? Well, I'm off to find out my dear friends...

d is for dessert

2010-11-04T22:08:00.000-04:00

Hello my name is Tara and I am a dessert-a-holic...

I think the mini candy bars have done me in. I have no control.

I mean, they aren't even very good and yet I can't...help...myself.

I need to stop the insanity and ~~quit sugar~~ go back to treating myself with only the good stuff...

like the chocolate chip bread pudding above that I had a couple of weeks ago.

It was at a new bakery I'd been dying to try where the mantra is good ingredients matter. We watched Charlotte karate kick her way towards a new belt and stopped in on the way home.

I, in an unusual state of together-ness, even brought along the homework...

that got finished along with each crumb of the brownie.

I think I just might try the handmade challenge this year...at least when it comes to sweets and treats.

I'm eating from scratch people...or at least I'm going to try.

Halloween is so totally over...

2010-11-02T22:37:00.000-04:00

ready for trick or treating

I am so done.

I should be more tired and cranky except my delicious daughter just cleaned my entire kitchen of the post dinner mess...and then some.

She decided to organize the napkin drawer.

She is divine.

Here she is in her awesome closet Halloween morning working on Court's birthday gift from me...

some yarn art for my crafty kid. I just couldn't resist.

With the candy still in a big pile on the coffee table and the costumes willy nilly on the floor, I ran out to host Court's 5th birthday party on Monday morning at the local indoor playground...

and I survived.

Just barely.

bingo

2010-10-30T21:11:00.001-04:00

It's a new record...we actually managed to carve pumpkins before Halloween this year.

I'm feeling so with-it. This doesn't happen very often.

Court's pumpkin is on the left...it has 5 eyes. Charlotte's is on the right...it is a traditional jackolantern. That just about sums them up. And the funny thing is I love both pumpkins the same...just a bit differently.

We've been playing lots of family bingo. I picked the game up at Anthro on-sale last year and I love the styling so much I just leave it out. The thing is Court NEVER wins. He never gets to yell out BINGO! So the other night Kevin thought he had won...but he was mistaken, and then I thought I had won...but again was wrong, and even Charlotte, she thought she had it at first...but then no...it took some time but Court finally yelled out B I N G O!!!

He talked about it for days.

I'm not really so with-it because it is 9 pm and there are still pumpkin bits on the floor in the kitchen and the kids are holed up in Charlotte's room playing stuffy town. I'm off to put those kiddos to bed and meet the mr. on the couch...

happy halloween ♥

He's five...

2010-10-28T13:20:00.000-04:00

Courtland 2 days old

I have been off-line.

Just when I had some new friends to impress...my computer kicked-it. The computer on which I download my photos decided it had just had enough. The dreaded blue screen. Although my head and camera filled up, there was no where for us to go.

Perhaps it was the years worth of photos that I have yet to print. Yes, it could be that...

but I was determined to have it back by today. I couldn't let today go by.

Five years ago today, I was doing this...

Charlotte & I with our new babies

and yes...I cried last night.

The eve of my baby boy's 5th birthday. I looked at his big feet and just started to weep. He asked me why I was crying and I told him it was because I loved him so much.

He hugged me tight and kissed my cheek. Two minutes later he was telling me that he didn't like me when I asked him to get into the bath. That is how we roll him and I...

and thankfully I get more of the first part. By the time we were picking out a bedtime book he was saying sorry for bad-talking, we cuddled up and he picked out a book that I had given him.

I pick out special books for each of the kids at Christmas and their birthdays.

When I read these books, it takes me right back to the time at which it was given. Charlotte received this book when she was five...

Stella Queen of the Snow

when we were really into the Stella books. Charlotte was finishing Junior Kindergarten and was helpful with her baby brother. We had just moved into this house and I was busy painting during nap time.

Today I gave Court this book...

and when we read it I will think of the beautiful October we had and baseball games in the backyard.

And the day I cried over Court's big feet.

happy birthday my sweet, sweet boy ♥

Steven & Chris and a blemish...

2010-10-20T20:48:00.001-04:00

Steven & Chris

Yesterday was a blur. It was a whole bunch of bloggy fun...and then some.

I was invited, along with many other local bloggers, to attend a taping of the Steven and Chris Show in downtown Toronto at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). I grew up listening to CBC on the radio and watching their television shows. Steven and Chris have clearly found a home there and it shows. They were natural and very, very funny and made us all feel special.

Jenny McCarthy was a guest on the show and Chris did a fun interview...

Jenny McCarthy

They served us the delicious pulled pork sandwiches that they made with chef Rodney Bowers and invited us back into the studio for an informal Q and A.

It was then that I was able to meet up with Liz and Jennifer for the first time in person and they were kind and lovely. There were bloggers too that I saw but was too shy to approach and more still that are new to me and I look forward to checking out.

Except for the huge blemish that appeared on my face and I discovered at the end of the day, like a piece of lettuce in one's teeth, it was altogether fabulous. And fun.

I have a swag bag to giveaway which includes 4 tickets to the Steven & Chris show...I think they are free anyway but I'm going with it! Just leave a comment if you want it.

a small-scale thanksgiving...

2010-10-11T23:23:00.000-04:00

Today is Thanksgiving here in Canada and I am grateful...

certainly for the sweetest, most considerate comments from my bloggy friends on my anniversary post. Your friendship has been a blessing this past year.

And for the acts of kindness that have come my way when I have needed it the most.

When Court woke up on Sunday morning, squashed between Kevin and I, and said "what are we going to do first today?" I told him to get dressed because we were going OUT for coffee. My dear friend had given me a gift card and we were going to use it.

He made sure to bring a magazine for me to read although I never got the chance. We simply dunked our biscotti in my coffee and talked about the day ahead. My boy is at his loveliest first thing in the morning when, I am afraid, I am not. I took the time to drink this special little person in along with my pumpkin spice coffee misto...and to kiss his cheeks.

Later that day I fixed a small-scale thanksgiving following the recipes found in the November 2009 issue of Cookie magazine which folded like so many last year. Missing Cookie magazine.

The roasted cranberries and pears were yummy...

and I made my first pumpkin pie at Kevin's request.

Now I just hope to have the opportunity this week to give back to those that have been so lovely to me...

and show how thankful I really am.

♥

me...one year later

2010-10-08T07:15:00.000-04:00

Me

I don’t have a profile. I mean there is a wee picture of me...and of course you can see I am from Canada…because Canada rocks.

But when it comes to who I am I have some difficulty finding the words.

When I started this blog one year ago today I didn’t know if anyone would read it…it was almost presumptuous of me to describe myself…to myself. Oh and to Kevin my only other blog reader. It may have helped however as sometimes I wonder if he really understands what I’m all about.

To be honest every time I would try and come up with something I would think it sounds just like someone else’s profile…I love vintage, tea in a pot, and my two gorgeous kids…oh and rain, lets not forget about the rain…oh and Kevin too, MUSTN’T forget the hubby…

I wouldn’t have wanted to have another blogger think I was copying her...which after lurking around I understand is not really the most sincerest form of flattery.

So I just put it off.

But I LOVE reading profiles.

It is the first place I go when I discover a new blog…that and house tours.

I want to know a little more about the woman behind the writing…the pictures…the adorable children.

Part of the problem I have describing myself is that my life does not always reflect who I am…

I have a career but I am not driven at work.

I celebrate the domestic arts and yet consider myself a feminist.

I have a Life Science degree but I also took courses in Home Economics…and Art History.

I work in Finance yet I don’t like anything financial...(this might have something to do with the not being driven characteristic).

I like to create and surround myself with the things I love. These loves include my precious children, my hilarious and handsome hubby, handmade and hand-me-down, beautiful designer shoes that my husband has given me, baking in the oven, red maple trees, running in the rain, line dried cotton sheets, rooibos tea in a pot at bedtime, coffee with milk in the morning, newspaper clippings from my dear mom, the farmers market, folky music on my ipod, un-perfect hair, stacks of books from the library, period movies, hard work, afternoon naps, ballet, hugs and kisses....

a bit of me.

But not all of me.

I'm still figuring that out...♥

Fall is here...

2010-10-05T20:26:00.000-04:00

my balcony

Just off this balcony is where I sit now, blogging in the dark.

My hands are cold and they hesitate on the keyboard. My nose feels rosy.

The heat has not yet kicked in today but perhaps it will tonight as it did last night...the kitchen surprising me with a warm floor this morning.

On Saturday night, with Charlotte away at a sleepover, Court and I busied ourselves with some sewing...

continuing our collection of Halloween ornaments that we started last year. He kept it up until bedtime and it was the first thing he wanted to do on Sunday morning.

At first he requested a castle, complete with moat, but I convinced him to go with the pumpkin...

he's sensible like that.

~

The oh-so-stylish Liz at Wallpaper blog asked me to open up my beauty bag and let her readers know what's in it. I know those who know me in real life will be surprised at this...but please go and check out Liz's inspiring blog...it's smashing.