Summer Wedding Outfit

Laurel and I and our hubbies, of course, are going to our cousin’s wedding next weekend.  It will be a full circle moment for me as my cousin was one of the flower girls at my wedding 16 years ago!  Crazy!!

I was debating about wearing one of the dresses I already have, but I decided to get a new one special for the occasion.  Bluefly is one of my fave places to look for designer wear at discount prices.  It’s totally worth signing up to receive the emails.  You often get “invited” to special sales and are offered special discounts and free shipping.  Before putting through an online order through any retailer, I always Google to check for additional promo or discount codes.  You’d be amazed how many are out there!

From the wedding invitation, I got the feel that the wedding is going to have a summer garden feel with lanterns and vintage light strings.

Vintage light strings. Photo courtesy of Restoration Hardware.

I decided to go for a romantic somewhat vintage look.  I honed in on a Sue Wong Dress.  Here’s the look I’m going for with the new dress and items from my closet….

So, the dress is new. I have shoes similar to these already. I have had them for several years.  A  simple, snake skin heeled sandal reads as a neutral and is very classic.  The purse is similar to one that I purchased at a Michael Kors outlet.  I usually carry a large tote style handbag for everyday use, but it’s a nicer, more formal look to have a smaller clutch.  If you purchase one in a neutral color or a metallic, you will be able to use it for most formal occasions.

The necklace from Alex Woo was a gift from Jason many years ago.  He had the necklace made up with “p&j”.  I get asked all the time…does that stand for peanut butter and jelly??  No…that’s pb&j…but I think it’s kind of cute!  I always feel kind of sentimental when I wear the necklace so that makes it even more apropo to wear to the wedding!

I’m really loving wrap bracelets right now.  The ones pictured are by Chan Luu. They are greatly discounted on Bluefly, but the ones that I own are handmade by a vendor on Etsy and are a fraction of the cost.  I love wearing more than one at a time for a layered look.

I received earrings very similar to these from a friend for my birthday.  They are going to look fantastic with this dress!  I love that you can mix silver and gold!

I’m looking forward to celebrating the start of a new life together for the couple and what better way than with a new dress!  Cheers!

Pam’s 40th ~ the Details

Planning a party is one of my favorite things! In fact, dare i say, i might even enjoy the pre-amble more than the party itself?
It’s the creative in me…to try to come up with something that might just reflect the honored guest. Not to mention that working with our 2 close friends, Denise and Andrea, was a boatload of fun …boy, we felt like we were betraying Pam with the amount of times we got together to visit, ahem, i mean “plan”.
We wanted to keep things clean and modern..just like Pam..but of course, you’ve heard us harping about color this spring. And true to that, we wanted COLOR! Here’s what we came up with:

We loved this idea for bringing warmth to the outside…and so easy to do! From the Forge

Painted jars lined the walkway to our front door...

Treats for the guests…

Goody bags filled with nailpolish, homemade chocolate dipped toffee cookies, a teabag filled with DavidS Organic Skinny, handsanitzer and hand creme

Sanafir was the perfect fit for food. Their appetizers were delish!

Vegetable Pakora..one of my favorites of the night!

Special drink created for Pam: the Moroccan Sunset

Moroccan tables were inspired by Camille Styles.

The hubby's created these low lying tables. Cushions piled around made for casual Moroccan seating.

The watchdog...awaiting Pam's arrival

The Birthday Girl!

So much fun planning a party! So much more fun that Pam’s hubby provided his credit card:) Thanks, Jason, for giving us full reign to create a night that Pam would remember! And for giving us a reason to get all the “to do” things around our house actually DONE. Why oh why do i need a deadline to get things done?

Next week, we’ll highlight some of the people that added special elements to complete our Moroccan Soiree….Stickpeople Press, the Pink Spatula, Sanafir and Baking it Real… from graphics to gourmet marshallows, we feel lucky to be surrounded by such talent!

Lastly, Pam, you make 40 look pretty darn great! Even though you said you didn’t want a party, did down you did….right?? Happy Birthday and much love from your sis!! xo

Yogurt Bar

We have a group of moms that get together on Tuesday mornings for what we call a good butt-kicking!  That’s right…Miss Jocelyn, one of our girls’ dance teachers,  comes to my house and we gather in the basement and she gets us to work muscles that we didn’t even know that we had for an hour!  We all endure through it, not only because we know that it’s good for us, but because our reward after is coffee, a healthy breakfast, and of course a good visit!  One of our favorite things to have post-workout is yogurt parfaits and over the past few months, everyone has taken turns bringing things and we’ve come up with some pretty tasty and healthy options.

For Easter brunch last month, I included a yogurt bar….make your own parfait!

For my yogurt bar I included three different kinds of yogurt, two different kinds of granola, dried fruit, pumpkin seeds, coconut ribbons and Skinny B Cereal.

I love Greek yogurt and my favorite flavor is coconut by Liberte. It really tastes almost like a dessert. President’s Choice has a really good honey Greek yogurt as well. Can’t have yogurt?  So Delicious has a coconut cultured milk that’s dairy, gluten and soy free that you can use in place of yogurt.

I buy my pumpkin seeds and coconut ribbons locally at Silver Hills, but check out stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joes. They are super inexpensive when you buy in bulk. I especially love the coconut ribbons. That on top of the coconut Greek yogurt and fresh berries is all you need (and lower carb without the granola).

This large bag of pumpkin seeds was only $8.06 and the coconut ribbons were $2.46

I love a really good granola and I especially like one by Terra Breads. It has whole cashews and flax and I love the chewy texture. Skinny B Cereal is great for some added crunch!  It’s gluten and lactose free, vegan, and high in iron and fibre.  Skinny B is made right here in British Columbia.

One of the best things for a yogurt bar is fresh berries…I love it when one of the moms brings in a big bowl of fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. It’s such a treat and so healthy!!

Sometimes we can get so wound up about entertaining and stress ourselves out so we don’t bother doing it. Why not simplify? Have a few friends over for coffee…set out some fresh ingredients for make your own yogurt parfaits. No stress…just healthy, yummy good and great conversation!

40th Birthday Surprise

image found on weheartit

P-H-E-W!!! Can you hear my relief?? I have to say i’ve been feeling somewhat dry in the blogging world as of late…because i’ve had PARTY on the mind! Planning Pam’s 40th birthday along with some friends has been a ton of fun, but when you have cake and flowers and food and about 10 decor projects floating around in your head, it was hard to find the time to get inspired to blog about anything else!!! So here’s my apology if you’ve sensed i’ve been distant..ha! Well, maybe i should be apologizing to Pam about that. How do you keep a huge secret from your sister/ BFF???? Alot of ridiculous white lies (did i mention i am a horrible liar??) and alot of sneakin around!
Can’t wait to see the pics that were taken, but here are the Cole’s notes on Pam’s 40th Soiree…inspired by two of my all-time favorite event planners, Amy Atlas and Camille Styles…more details and pics to come!!!

THE ELEMENTS:
Theme: Pam’s 40th Moroccan Soiree
Caterer: Sanafir, part of the Glowbal Collection
Cake: Shannon of Baking it Real
Flowers: Esther Froese
Photographer: RaeChelle Koop raechelle_c@yahoo.ca
Decor: Andrea, Denise and Laurel
Invitations/Menus/Graphics – Becky of Stickpeople Press

Swizzle sticks for the evening's drinks were adorned with relic pics of Pam

The dessert buffet stayed true to our chosen colors: teal, orange and white. We made different desserts to compliment the beautiful cake..more info on these to come!

Goody bags included Pam's "Picks"....some of her fave, can't-be-without items

Amazing cake by Shannon of Baking it Real

Twas a wonderful night to celebrate my sissy!

Appetizer Salads

Now is the time of year that the kids activities start to wind down and you start to think of summer entertaining!  When invited out, I like to ask what I can bring.  Often it’s an appie and lately, I’ve been trying to cut down on my carb intake.  I’ve learned that carbs unfortunately are my enemy and stick to me like glue!!  So, I’ve been trying to find carb-less appies and I’ve found that you can make some of your favorite salads into appies that are SO yummy and good for you too!

I LOVE tomato and bocconcini salad.   Recently I brought these skewers to a baby shower.  I love finding tomatoes in a variety of colors…it just makes it more interesting.  And the yellow tomatoes are SO sweet.  Just alternate tomatoes, cocktail size bocconcini, and basil leaves.  A great finishing touch to this is drizzle of balsamic glaze with truffles (I found some at HomeSense).

There are many ways to make caprese salad (that is the Italian salad with bocconcini, tomatoes and basil) appie style.  I love the idea of incorporating more protein with this Prosciutto-Wrapped Caprese Salad

Photo courtesy of www.savoringtoday.com

I love these Caprese Salad Bites.  All the flavors of this iconic salad in one bite!

Photo courtesy of InStyle

Greek salad is always a fave around my house.  Here’s a way to make it appie style!  http://www.yumsugar.com/Easy-Greek-Salad-Appetizer-Recipe-8174824  The only thing I might change to this recipe is to add a drizzle of Greek salad dressing (preferably homemade) instead of just the olive oil.  Use a variety of tomatoes here too!

Photo courtesy of www.yumsugar.com

I’ve also made these Chicken and Caper Caesar Salad Spears.  If you are in a huge rush, you can use a ready made Caesar salad dressing.  I prefer Renee’s Mighty Caesar dressing!  Love that this appie packs a lot of protein and I love the saltiness of the capers!

Photo courtesy of InStyle

If you have a favorite salad-appie, please let us know via a comment!  We’d love to add to our repertoire!

Grilled Tuna and Baby Arugula Wraps

Last night it was only Mac and I home for dinner and Jason needed something he could grab as he was running out to a hockey meeting.  This is a perfect quick meal and it works when you are on the go!  Berkeley, my oldest daughter, loves the tuna wraps from Booster Juice, so I came up with this recipe to try to mimic them.

4 cans solid white tuna

¾ cup finely chopped celery

1 ½ cups grated mozzarella

¾ cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Salt

Pepper

8 spinach flavour flour tortillas (wraps) or multigrain flax tortillas (a very healthy option)

Baby arugula

Spray grill pan (eg. Le Creuset  http://www.lecreuset.ca/Cookware/Enameled-Cast-Iron/Skillets–Grills/Square-Skillet-Grill-26cm/ , but any will do) with nonstick cooking spray and preheat on medium high heat.  You could also use a panini maker.

Drain the tuna and mix together with celery, mozzarella, mayonnaise,Dijon, and add salt and pepper to taste.

Lay out flour tortillas.  Mound some baby arugula in a line down the center.  Add tuna mixture on top, following the center line.  Wrap the tortilla.  Complete with all 8 tortillas.

Put as many wraps as will fit in the grill pan and top with a heavy pot or fry pan.  Once grill marks have developed on the bottom (about 3 min.), turn the wrap and grill the other side (again, about 3 min.).  Move to cutting board and slice in half on the diagonal.  Grill remaining wraps and enjoy with a green salad!

I know it seems weird, but put a heavy pan on top of the wraps and press down

Turn the wraps over once grill marks have developed

Cut the grilled wrap on the diagonal (fancy pants!) and serve with a fresh green salad! Yum!

PS  Next time I’m going to try adding fresh basil or cilantro to the tuna mixture!

What is your favorite quick meal?  Go to our contact page and send us the recipe of your fave quick meal.  You and your recipe could be featured in an upcoming post!

Hardwood Floors, 3 Ways!

When Laurel and I built our first homes back about 15 years ago, hardwood was considered a luxury.  Certainly not in a first time home owner’s budget!!!  I remember scrubbing  the “not-so-easy-care” vinyl flooring in my kitchen and wondering why there were divots in it that collected all the dirt.  After being in our home for about 4 years, hardwood floors became more and more popular.  We ripped out our carpet and replaced it with shiny, bleached birch hardwood floors.

I fell in love with hardwood floors and have been in love with them ever since.  But I will admit that hardwood floors do show their wear and tear over time.  Laurel and I always tell our clients who are building homes….”We love hardwood floors, but wood is a natural product and it will dent and scratch, but that’s part of its beauty.”  Yes, hardwood floors can be resanded and refinished, but be prepared to find a thin layer of dust over your entire home for months to come.

Recently, we have found a couple of hardwood floors that are more durable and look fantastic.

Our good friends Doug and Andrea recently hired us to help pick out the finishes for their brand new home.  We were honoured and up for the challenge as their home is a nod to 1950’s architecture and design.  Andrea loved the look of hardwood floors but she didn’t want the nicks and scratches that come along with it.  On a trip to Tierra Sol, one of our tile distributors, Andrea fell in love with a porcelain tile that looks like hardwood but is hard as nails.  This floor is virtually indestructible.  This floor comes in 3 different sizes and can be laid in a modular pattern that mimics the look of real wood.

Porcelain tile flooring Impronta No. 4 "Patchouli "from Tierra Sol

A view of the tile floor in the great room. Supply cost of the tile is approx. $15.50/square foot.

I recently put in a, horror of horror, vinyl product in my basement.  We have had so many issues with flooding in our basement (we’ve replaced the carpet twice already), so I wanted a water resistant product.  This vinyl plank flooring looks great, is super durable, feels great on the feet and can be relaid if, heaven forbid, we have another flood.  Cost for supply and installation is approximately $7.00 per square foot.

Centura "Durplank" flooring in Chestnut

This vinyl plank flooring's variation in colour mimics really wood

Back to Doug and Andrea’s house….Andrea is the biggest J Crew fan around and she found the inspiration for her master bedroom floor from one of their showrooms.

Flooring in the J Crew Store at 79th and Madison in New York. Photo from J Crew

http://www.style.com/stylefile/2008/10/jcrew-opens-at-79th-and-madison/  She really wanted to find a wood that could be laid in a chevron pattern.  We found a walnut with an oiled finish on it.  Oiled floors tend to wear better over time as they are not stained and nicks and scratches can be somewhat camouflaged by applying the correct oil.  These floors can be re-oiled as necessary.  We had to find an engineered wood for them as there is in floor water heating. This is not an easy product to manufacture because of the pattern, but it was so worth the splurge!

Oiled walnut floor....love!

Laying this beautiful wood in a chevron pattern was SO worth the splurge!

The vinyl strip flooring and the walnut flooring were supplied and installed by Kingston Flooring Brokers in Abbotsford, B.C.  (604) 852-0951http://www.kingstonfloors.com/  The tile was purchased directly through our wholesaler, Tierra Sol, but it can also be purchased through Kingston Flooring Brokers.

Jewels of the Forest- Chanterelle Mushrooms

Can’t ever say that I envisioned blogging about mushrooms…but here I am!! I have been experimenting a bit with Chanterelles and have found that they are pretty special! Why? Their distinct appearance, flavor and aroma give them a boost into the exotic category. And, taking it a step further, I found that my initial assumption that mushrooms were kinda a zero on the nutrition scale was completely wrong!

Golden Chanterelles provided by Champs Mushrooms

The chanterelle is loaded with vitamins B, E, D, and K. They also contain more protein than most vegetables and have trace elements of selenium, potassium and iron. Who knew??? Plus..they’re in season NOW!

Chanterelles have both a distinctive shape and apricot color

If you happen to cross paths with these tasty little jewels, here’s a recipe you need to try. Perfect for entertaining..and easy, easy, easy!!

Chanterelle Mushroom Soup Shooters with Parmasan Crisps— recipe by www.Eatertainment.com

Ingredients

4oz finely diced onion

1 clove garlic, chopped

10 oz chanterelle mushrooms

1 medium potato, peeled and diced

3 cups chicken stock

Salt and pepper to taste

12 tsp freshly grated Parmesan

Method

In a medium pan, melt 1.5 oz vegetable, oil, add onion and garlic, cook until transluscent, add chanterelles, and cook for 3 more minutes.  Add potato and stock, cook until potatoes are very tender. ** You can add some cooking sherry for more flavor if you like! Puree the mixture and adjust the seasoning (I use my hand blender). Pour into shot glasses.

Parmesan Crisps–place spoonful of parmesan on parchment paper, bake in 350 degree oven until golden brown. Cool and use as a garnish on the soup

Making the Parmesan Crisp...cheese, parchment paper and you're set!

Ready to Serve!

Apparently we aren’t the only ones enamored by these little jewels.  Rob Feenie, the Food Concept Architect for the Cactus Club chain, appeared on CTV on the Marilyn Denis show and gave his take on Chanterelle Mushroom Rigatoni with Goat Cheese and Arugula…delicious! http://www.marilyn.ca/Cooking/segment.aspx/Daily/October2011/10_17_2011/MushroomPasta

Hope this has inspired you to embrace those ‘shrooms!!

Blog Launch Party- Sneak Peek

The night has finally arrived! Cheers!

We used quince in many of our arrangements..didn't even know what quince was until a friend brought a ton of it over from her backyard!

This arrangement is proof that (minus the mercury glass mushrooms) you can make an arrangment from items foraged in your backyard! Even the runner...created by weaving iris grasses

Rose trio to go with Pam's new glam master bedroom closet

Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese flat breads in process..

The food is ready...dig in!

We wanted a full house..so this picture makes me happy!

A shout out to some pretty cool dudes who also worked the party for us: Scott, Jason, Shawn and Matt…you had the bar, the cars and everything else “manly” covered! Watch for upcoming posts where we will break down the elements of our launch party in more detail…food, decor, drinks, interior design. And it’s all “do it yourself” so start planning your next soiree…FUN!

Top 10 (ok … too difficult) TOP 12 Gifts Under $10

1.  Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer http://www.burtsbees.ca/natural-products/lips-lip-color/lip-shimmer.html $5.99  We like “Radiance” a clear balm with a slight shimmer.  Love the minty flavor and zing it gives to your lips.  I recently received one as a hostess gift and I am hooked!

2.  Hand tattoos.  Your kids will have fun with these! http://www.zgallerie.com/p-11092-robot-dino-hand-tattoos.aspx $8.95

3.  Bedside Carafe http://www.zgallerie.com/p-11160-pill-carafes.aspx $7.95  These compact versions are too cute!

4.  Bliss Lemon+Sage Body Butter 1.7 oz size is the perfect size for your purse $6

The 1.7 oz size is only $6

http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P258625&categoryId=B70 The scent is so fresh!!  This is one of my faves!  You can often find Bliss products at Winners and Marshalls.  I’ve purchased Bliss Lemon+Sage Shampoo, Conditioner and Soapy Sap for $9.99 each.

5.  Cell phone charging platform http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1644245&categoryId=cat1710046 $8

6.  Straw glasses $8…not just for kids!

http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1531096&categoryId=cat1710046 

7. Cozy socks that moisturize!

http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11884000&cp=12195129.12312405.12320348 $7.50

8. Seche Vite Top Coat – the best one out there!  Dries super fast $9

http://www.spaboutique.ca/product/4111/86/196/Brands/Seche-Vite/Seche-Vite-Top-Coat-2-sizes.html

9.  Candle in a tin. $5.60  Volupspa candles have the best scents and are so pretty! http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/gifts/Truffle-White-Cocoa-Mini-Tin/806644656128-item.html?ikwid=volupspa&ikwsec=Home

10.  Truffle oil $9.99 http://www.amazon.com/Black-Truffle-Oil-1-86-oz/dp/B0002NYNYO/ref=sr_1_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1320737722&sr=1-1 Look for this item at HomeSense, Marshall and TJ Maxx as well.  Add it to mashed potatoes homemade mac and cheese, cauliflower mash.  This is the perfect hostess gift!

11.  Hoops from American Eagle Outfitters on sale for $9.99

12.  Personalized note pad $7.50 http://www.stickpeoplepress.com/#!product  With over 350 characters to choose from, this makes a very personalized gift.  This is the perfect gift for teachers, coaches, babysitters, and of course, families!

This is the pad that I ordered for my family…yes, that’s me texting!

Favorite Eats

We’ve been asked a number of times, Where are your favorite dinner haunts stretching from Abby to Vancouver?  So…here they are. Plus, we’ve added a couple of “Next on our list” eateries, as well as one restaurant off the beaten path.  Our current favorite eats!

#1- Chambar 562 Beatty Street  Vancouver (Crosstown) http://www.chambar.com/

 Why we love it: This Belgian gem serves some amazing food!! With their motto of “An unpretentious fling with fine dining!”,  we think this restie scores high in fresh and flavorful cuisine, a warm and glowing vibe, and attentive service. Don’t let the menu entry titles scare you….

Go on…try it! Moules Frites ~~Mussels and fries! There are 3 different ways they are prepared and each one is just as good as the next. If you’re with a group, order all 3 as appetizers. With ingredients such as white wine cream, tomato coconut cream and smoked bacon, you won’t regret it~

Chambar's Moule Frites

#2.  Trattoria Italian Kitchen- 1850 West 4^th Ave (Kitsilano) http://www.glowbalgroup.com/trattoria

Why we love it: Super casual vibe…can go with adults or kids…and food that gives “flavorful” new meaning! A full restaurant speaks volumes..and good service, in spite of being a full house, seals the deal. If you’re looking for good Italian food, you’re at the right place.

Go on…try it! Start out by sharing one of the Mozzarella Bar selections. My favorite: the Burrata, with prosciutto, olive oil and sea salt. This mozza is the best! For dinner: their pizzas are rustic and delicious!

#3. Vij’s –1480 West 11^th Ave (Kitsilano) http://www.vijs.ca/

Why we love it: Our first disclaimer..be prepared to wait! But if you are craving Indian food with a modern twist, it’s well
worth it. Spices and ingredients I have never before tasted and wow… party in my mouth!

Go on…try it! Lamb popsicles in fenugreek cream curry ..seriously amazing! **Try next door Vij’s Rangoli for shorter waits but equally as delicious food. Their Cauliflower, Spinach, Onion and Potato Pakoras are yummy!

Vij's Lamb Popsicles

#4. Gotham Steak House- 615 Seymour Street, Vancouver  http://www.gothamsteakhouse.com/

Why we love it: Sometimes a good steak is in order, and we think that Gotham has cornered this market in Vancouver.
Think moody, masculine vibe…the dark warmth gets you ready to enjoy the rich meal that’s ahead. When my husband gets to pick, this is where we are headed!

Go on…try it! Their garlic sautéed prawns or jumbo shrimp cocktail are delish appetizers. For dinner, it’s a toss up between the Porterhouse and the Bone In Rib Eye…portions are big, so prepare to share!

#5.  Pearl Urban Bistro – 14955 Marine Drive  Whiterock http://www.pearlurbanbistro.ca/

Why we love it: Their use of fresh, local ingredients. Flavorful food in a relaxed atmosphere right next to the ocean…sound tempting to you? Delicious seafood!

Go on…try it! Start with their Prawn Bisque and follow it with the Seared Halibut

The urban dining room at Pearl

#6.  Bacchus Bistro at Domaine De Chaberton – 1064  216 Street, Langley http://www.domainedechaberton.com/Bacchus%20Bistro.html

Why we love it: Love the rustic, unpretentious feel of this bistro. Perfect for both lunching with the ladies, or a quiet date! During the summer months, enjoy the patio which overlooks the vineyards. The menu changes according to what is seasonally available with local ingredients.

Go on..try it!  The Tomato and Brie Tart or Stuffed Crepes will start your dinner off on a good note. Look for their delicious daily specials to enjoy

#7. Restaurant 62 – 2001 McCallum Road, Abbotsford http://www.restaurant62.ca/

Why we love it: The cozy, intimate vibe transports you out of Abbotsford. Known for getting much of their ingredients from local farmers, you’re guaranteed to be served fresh food that features seasonal specialities.  Great selection of wines to pair with your meal.

Go on…try it! Abbotsford heirloom tomato and Québec buffalo mozzarella caprese or the Roasted Yarrow pumpkin and cream soup..love the local twist!

Chef Jeff Massey at Restaurant 62

And if you’re heading off the beaten path..and travelling east, you’ll be glad you stopped at:

#7. Bravo – 46224 Yale Road East, Chilliwack http://www.bravorestaurant.ca/

Why we love it: It’s unexpected! A warm, yet lively atmosphere with delicious urban food. There commitment to fresh ingredients…these former Vancouverites have brought some of the big city to the country.

Go on…try it! Love their port braised bison short-rib with truffled mash potatoes. AND…you cannot go without trying one of their martinis! An extensive list to choose from and they are soo good!

***Restaurants we can’t wait to try:

~Campagnolo – 1020 Main Street Vancouver http://www.campagnolorestaurant.ca/

The talk: don’t let the location scare you off…go for authentic, rustic Italian food

~ Salt Tasting Room – 45 Blood Alley, Vancouver (Gastown) http://salttastingroom.com/

The talk: Choose from 10 meats, 10 cheeses, and 10 condiments for your own custom tasting plate

~ Maenam – 1938 West 4^th Ave, Vancouver (Kitsilano) http://maenam.ca/main.html

The talk: Authentic Thai food with twists on centuries old recipes

Can I tell you how hungry I am after writing this?????? Melba toast ain’t gonna cut it..

Our Favorite Christmas Ornaments

It’s that time of year again.  Time to deck out the house for Christmas!!  I love this time of year, but I admit that I’m cutting back my decorating and putting up only the decorations that I really love.  We’ve scoured the internet and checked out some local shops for our favorite ornaments this year.

1. Double glass ornaments from West Elm $12.83  Super colourful or go with the metallic hues.  For a modern, funky tree. http://www.westelm.com/products/double-sphere-ornament-a870/?pkey=cchristmas-ornaments

2.  West Elm glass ornament with white feather inside $9.63  These would look fabulous with a lot of crystal.  I want them for my black,  yes, black Christmas tree! http://www.westelm.com/products/glass-ball-with-feather-ornament-c432/?pkey=cchristmas-ornaments

3. Who doesn’t like a mini chandelier? Look at these ornaments from West Elm $17.11 http://www.westelm.com/products/elaborate-chandelier-a872/?pkey=cchristmas-ornaments

4.  Love this bronze coloured mercury glass.  These ornaments from Crate and Barrel would look great paired with orange or apple green. And they are a great price at $2.95 http://www.crateandbarrel.com/holidays/christmas-ornaments/antique-glass-bronze-grooved-onion-ornament/s664921   Mix them up on a tree with these from Crate and Barrel http://www.crateandbarrel.com/holidays/christmas-ornaments/antique-glass-copper-textured-dot-ball-ornament/s249117 Also $2.95 each!

5.  Ok, I have a thing for feathers, so I absolutely adore this collection from Crate and Barrel.  There are three different sizes and they range in price from $2.95 to $3.95 http://www.crateandbarrel.com/holidays/christmas-ornaments/teardrop-ornament-small-with-peacock-feather/s675485   I would put these on a white, flocked tree with silver and Tiffany blue ornaments.  Stunning!!

Antique glass turquoise grooved onion ornament $2.95

Antique glass silver ribbed glitter ball, Crate and Barrel $5.99

6.  Set of three polka dot vintage looking ornaments $8.95 http://www.crateandbarrel.com/holidays/christmas-ornaments/set-of-3-antique-glass-polka-dot-ornaments/s391037  Love the dots!

7.  Glitter frame ornament. http://www.potterybarn.com/products/german-glitter-frame-ornament/?pkey=cornaments-trim-holiday $16.18 This is a bit of a splurge for an ornament, but maybe you just hang a select few in your tree.  Update the frames yearly with new pics.  Love the glitter!

8.  I love sparkle on a tree!  http://www.potterybarn.com/products/teardrop-jewel-snowflake-ornament/?pkey=cornaments-trim-holiday $11 This snowflake will shine!

9.  Flock up your tree with these owl ornaments! http://www.westelm.com/products/owl-ornament-white-c584/?pkey=cchristmas-ornaments $6.42  There’s something calming about owls and these ornaments will give your tree an organic feel.  But don’t hesitate to add in some sparkle.

10..These are completely different owl ornaments http://www.zgallerie.com/p-8319-white-owl-ornament.aspx   $12 Love the sparkle on the beak and eyes.  Would look fantastic on a white tree!  Note that they are 10” tall, so you really only need a few.

11.  Mini glass ornament set – 6 for $24 http://www.zgallerie.com/p-11499-mini-glass-ornaments-set-of-6.aspx Comes in silver, red or turquoise.

12.  These glittery, sparkly ornaments make a huge statement, ranging in size from 7” to 11”  The antique silver hangers are stunning! $16  http://www.zgallerie.com/p-11399-abigail-ornaments.aspx     I found two fairly similar ornaments at HomeSense recently

Ornate mercury glass ornaments from HomeSense $4.99 to $5.99

Mercury glass & crystal ornament from HomeSense $5.99

13.  It’s for the birds…I don’t know what I love about birds, but maybe because you may actually find them in a tree!!!  Here are a couple that I found locally at HomeSense and at Hudson Madison http://hudsonmadison.com/

Set of 3 bird glass ornaments filled with feathers from HomeSense $7.99

Sparkly glass bird from Hudson Madison $4

Two of my favorite things...mercury glass $& feathers. HomeSense $3.99

Grey and brown feather bird clip from Hudson Madison $8

Glitter bird clip from Hudson Madison $3

Not-So-Clunky Combat Boots

Recently, a friend of ours asked where to find her daughter some not-so-clunky combat books.  This really struck a cord with me as I searched for about 3 months to find Berkeley, my 12 year old daughter, a pair of combat boots that wouldn’t overwhelm her small frame.  Combat boots are one of the biggest trends this fall and winter and do look so cute with leggings and even skinny jeans.  But for those who are small, short or petite, some of these boots are just too much and way too masculine.

Here are some that we like….

1. Preview Metal Boots by Dirty Laundry $79.99 http://www.chineselaundry.com/dirtylaundry/boots/preview-metal-was  I bought these for my daughter in the champagne colour.  What I like is that they don’t go too high up the leg….great choice if you are vertically challenged.  You can also order them through Amazon (that’s what I did!) in four different colours starting from $55 http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Laundry-Womens-Preview-Boot/dp/B00421JV6W

2.  Boutique 9 Rutt Bootie $99.94 (on sale from $198).  I just bought these for myself.  They do come up the leg more than the Preview Boots, but they are not a heavy looking boot.  I love the pewter colour…goes with anything! http://www.dsw.com/shoe/boutique+9+rutt+bootie+?prodId=dsw12prod3290021&productRef=SEARCH  Note that these do fit a bit on the big size…but if you are planning on wearing them with heavy socks that peak out of the top, you’re good to go!

3.  Troopa Boots by Steve Madden $99.95 http://www.stevemadden.com/Item.aspx?id=52468&np=261_781  I’ve had my eye on these for a while!  They come in four different colours, but I like them best in Stone Leather.  Lighter colours also make the boots appear lighter.  They are cute in Cognac too!  Love that there is a zipper so you can easily get them on and off.  You can wear them only laced part way to the top too!

4.  Indigo by Clarks Women’s Olive Mary Ankle Boots $140 http://www.endless.com/s/ref=topnav_sk__s/192-0536535-0109224/?onsale=&showDesigner=&node=242169011&keywords=olive+mary+ankle+boot&x=0&y=0#__ie%3DUTF8%26cAsin%3DB004OT4MHA%26fromPage%3Dsearch%26sr%3D1-1%26qid%3D1321143657151%26asinTitle%3DIndigo~~20By~~20Clarks~~20Olive~~20Mary~~20Ankle~~20Boot%26contextTitle%3Dsearch~~20results%26clientPageSize%3D100%26node%3D242169011%26sort%3Drelevance-fs-rank%26keywords%3Dolive%2Bmary%2Bankle%2Bboot%26asin%3DB004OT4HBG%26ref%3Dsr_1_1%26pageCode%3Dd  Love them in both black and nutmeg.  Not a huge heavy sole.  Love the zipper up the side!  Start at size 5, so a good option for those with smaller feet!

5.  Miz Mooz Women’s Hiro Ankle Boot $129.95 http://www.endless.com/s/ref=topnav_sk__s/192-0536535-0109224/?onsale=&showDesigner=&node=242169011&keywords=olive+mary+ankle+boot&x=0&y=0#__asin%3DB004V7E4V4%26ref%3Ddp_sbs_1%26pageCode%3Dd  I have a pair of Miz Mooz boots and they are incredibly comfortable!!!  I love these in Camel and really like the faux sheepskin lining that looks cool and casual folded down.  These are perfect for those with a petite frame!

6.  Steve Madden Flannel on sale for $104.98 http://www.stevemadden.com/Item.aspx?id=52766&green=D03D71CA-84AC-5BC2-08AC-7850E3600364  We love the plaid liner and that they are meant to be worn folded own.  Also love the back zipper for ease.

7.  H & M Lace up boots in Cognac Brown $49.95 http://www.hm.com/ca/product/95374?article=95374-B These are imitation leather, but a great option for tween and teens with growing feet.   Come in a good range of sizes 5-10.

8.  Zara Brogue Boot for Kids $55.90 http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/ca/en/zara-W2011/118209/484077/BROGUE%2BBOOT  Made in real leather, those don’t break the bank!  Love the side zipper and the brown-gray colour.

My Black, Yes Black, Christmas Tree!

A couple of years ago, I purchased this prelit tree from HomeSense.  Our house does not have great, large spaces for Christmas trees, so this narrow version was perfect and I loved the uniqueness of the black.  As you can see it goes well with the décor in my living room.

I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that after the Christmas season, we just carry the tree, fully decorated, to the basement and leave it there until we bring it back upstairs for the next Christmas.  Sometimes efficiency rules over creativity!

This tree needed some help!

When we brought it up this year, I knew it was time for some changes.  That boa had to go!!!!

I spent just $80 on some additional ornaments to kick this tree up a notch!

The tree after I tweaked it.

I've never found a tree topper that I've liked. But I really love this bird is from Hudson Madison $20. I like that you can curve the feathers to suit your tree.

I used three different birds on the tree.

Mercury glass and feather bird from HomeSense $3.99

White clip on bird from Hudson Madison $3

"Glass" birds with feathers inside from HomeSense, set of 3 for $7.99

What to buy the Woman in Your Life

Ok men….pay attention….this will make your life so much easier.  We have combed through all of the gift guides to bring you our faves.  And we are confident that your significant other will be thrilled to open up any of these items from under your tree!  This can avoid that awkward moment of when you knew you really blew it!   Some of these items are a splurge, but I’m going to let you guys in on a secret….most women prefer quality over quantity….so one nice item will surely get you in the good books!

1.  Allegro Scarf from Lululemon $88 http://shop.lululemon.com/products/clothes-accessories/women-seasonal-accessories/Allegro-Scarf?cc=3537&skuId=3425647&catId=women-seasonal-accessories  This is one of the softest scarves ever, made from a blend of cashmere, cotton and rayon.  We love the little ruffle detail knitted on the edges.  This can be worn more formally as a shawl too.  Hubbies, you wives will love you for this one!

The allegro scarf from Lululemon can be worn like a shawl

A completely different look

2.  We LOVE Uggs!  They may not be the most flattering piece of footwear, but they are the most comfortable.  Bottom line, Uggs are much cheaper to buy in the States, seriously, they are about 2/3 the cost!!!  So we recommend you get them at Nordstrom. Here are a few that we like.. http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ugg-australia-bailey-button-triplet-boot-women/3093279?origin=PredictiveSearch&resultback=1100$199.95

Jason bought these for me in black. They are SOOOO cozy!

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ugg-australia-tularosa-route-detachable-boot-with-removable-knit-overlay/3167819?origin=PredictiveSearch&resultback=100 $249.95  The knit overlay is removable…you can wear it as shown, remove it or wear it up like a sock peaking out over your boot.

3.  Michael Kors HamiltonTote – Large.  $348  Go big or go home!  My hubby spoiled me with this bag this past summer and I’ve never looked back.  I love that I can easily fit my iPad in it and it’s amazing for travelling.  You can carry everything but the kitchen sink and still look stylish.  Michael Kors Black Large Hamilton Tote  It does come in a variety of colours and finishes (prices do vary).

This bag can carry hold everything but the kitchen sink and is so chic!

4.  Tory Burch flats are the perfect transition shoe for between the seasons. When it’s not quite warm enough for gladiators or flip flops, ballet flats are perfect!!!  Tory Burch is known for her Reva flats. They are super cute and comfortable! We love the tumbled leather Reva flats in this great caramel colour $195 http://www.toryburch.com/TUMBLED-LEATHER-REVA-BALLET-FLAT/50008668,default,pd.html?dwvar_50008668_color=252&start=12&cgid=shoes-reva-ballerina-flats

Tory Burch tumbled leather Reva ballet flat

We also really love a metallic ballet flat…so versatile.  They can go with anything and we love these distressed gold ones http://www.toryburch.com/Distressed-Leather-Reva-Ballet-Flat/50008619,default,pd.html?dwvar_50008619_color=721&start=15&cgid=shoes-reva-ballerina-flats $195

5.  If the woman in your life is a chef, this knife block by Lee Valley Tools is ingenious http://www.leevalley.com/en/gifts/page.aspx?p=60774&cat=4,104,53214&ap=5 $36.50  It has  polypropylene rods instead of slots so it will accomodate many sizes and combinations of knives and other tools.

6.  If a watch is on your lady’s list, we love this rose gold watch http://www.nixonnow.com/za/NXN?PAGE=WOMENS_MATRIX20&WATCHREFID=A037&COLORID=897&TYPE=LOAD_PRODUCT_DETAIL  The Nixon 42-20 Watch is a splurge at $450, but she will wear it everyday, and because it’s rose gold it goes with anything!  Laurel recently tried it on and it looks fantastic.

7.  Sunglasses are always a great gift!  We love these Hinder aviators from Oakley and they are on sale on Amazon starting at $102 http://www.amazon.com/Oakley-Womens-Hinder-Aviator-Sunglasses/dp/B0036B87VY/ref=pd_sbs_a_1  Laurel has these and always gets compliments on them.

8.  I am in love with my iPad2.  It has replaced my laptop and is so much fun to read magazines on (People is my guilty pleasure).  I love that I can catch up on shows that I’ve missed and can rent movies when I travel.  The camera on it is great too!  For work, I throw it in my purse to take notes, take pics, look up websites.  I don’t need anything else!  http://store.apple.com/ca/browse/home/shop_ipad/family/ipad starts at $519  I especially like it in white.

9. Kindle Fire $199  This is ONLY available in the US right now http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Color-Multi-touch-Display-Wi-Fi/dp/B0051VVOB2/ref=sr_tr_sr_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1322117963&sr=8-3  You can do so much more on this new Kindle…music, movies, internet, apps, email…and it’s a nice size with a 7″ screen.  Canadians, this is worth the trip across the border!  My mother-in-law received a Kindle for her birthday and she absolutely loves it.

10.  Stila Lip Glaze Set $33  You can purchase this set at Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques or Sephora in the US for $25.  We love the great colours and the glaze is not sticky.

11.  How many ladies do you see pull out a tattered, overfull wallet from their handbags?  I’ve been guilty of it!  Wallets are usually one of the last things ladies spend money on, but a good wallet is worth it.  We love these zippered versions because you can carry them as a clutch and you are forced to empty out your receipts regularly!

This Metallic Robinson Zip Continental Tory Burch wallet comes in both silver and gold and is on sale for $157.50 (down from $225).  Silver and gold go with most any handbag! http://www.toryburch.com/METALLIC-ROBINSON-ZIP-CONTINENTAL/12119147,default,pd.html?dwvar_12119147_size=OS&dwvar_12119147_color=040&start=43&cgid=accessories-wallets-wristlets

Any women would like this Michael Kors Jet Set Continental Wallet in Dark Sand Python $128 http://www.michaelkors.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod9780005&parentId=cat34702&masterId=cat144&index=12&cmCat=cat000000cat144cat34702&isEditorial=false

I personally have this wallet and love it! It looks great on its own

12.  These are Laurel’s favorite slippers…Lux Faux Fur Bootie from Restoration Hardware on sale for $19 (regularly $39).  They come in four colours.  http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1730012&categoryId=search

13.  This last one I was selfishly debating whether I should share or not….some of my friends will be receiving these for Christmas!!  American Eagle has come up with texting gloves!  Brilliant!!  I am addicted to my iPhone, but you can’t use it if you’re wearing gloves.  Problem solved http://www.ae.com/web/browse/product.jsp?productId=0426_5752_300&catId=cat5180104&bundleCatId=cat5200016 $16.24  And…they are NOT fingerless!

Sock Bun Curls ~ Who Knew??

The supplies needed: a sock…and some hair! My girls, 12 and 10, were willing participants to try it out (plus I do believe there was a certain amount of satisfaction they got from cutting old school uniform socks up!).

Here’s how it went!

All you need is a sock!

Cut the toe off the sock...then roll the sock into a "doughnut" shape

Put your hair into a ponytail on the top of your head...

Pull the ponytail through the doughnut

Starting at the top, pull the hair ends over the sock and start rolling down. Each time you roll, you will have more hair collected. If pieces fall out, just push them into the roll with your finger

All done for the night! It actually makes a beautiful bun that you could wear out!!

Alexis sporting her bun...next step: go to bed and sleep on it! Because the bun is so high, it's not uncomfortable!

And…….the next morning, just roll the sock out!

Beautiful curls!

Not bad for an old sock, hey??

 

Master Bedroom and Ensuite Addition

We built our home almost ten years ago and at the time the kids were very young so we wanted our bedroom to be on the second floor close to them.  The plan was always to add a master bedroom and ensuite on the main floor.  We embarked on our addition a year ago in September and we completed it last April.  We took our time as we were contracting it ourselves and I was on the hunt for good deals.  Here are some of our saves and some of our splurges…..

I really wanted to put marble on our entire fireplace wall on the bedroom side as there was no good place to cut it off.  It also contributes to a much more modern vibe.  I also really wanted to put marble on all of the walls in the bathroom.  I called Olympia Tile (located in Burnaby, BC) and they had some “damaged” 12″ x 24″ Bianco Carrera marble that was honed (not shiny) for about $5/square foot.  That’s half price.  I went down to take a look at it.  One edge on each tile looked slighting scuffed and I was willing to live with it.  No one even notices!

The marble was a save and the floating cabinet in the master was a splurge, but not much more than a dresser would have cost. We have a small fridge in there for water.

The Barcelona-style chairs came from Eternity Modern   Their Pavilion chair and ottoman are a reproduction of an iconic design, but I am ok with that.  At $699 each, not a bad price, as each chair comes with an ottoman.  The ottomans are used at the end of my bed so I didn’t have to buy a bench!

The Eileen Gray reproduction table was also from Eternity Modern from $149

We had the bed made by Van Gogh Designs and it was much less expensive than similar ones from Crate and Barrel or Restoration Hardware.  I purchased the fabric at a steal from the Robert Allen Outlet store online.  I had the pillows made through Tonic Living in Toronto, so I didn’t have to pay any duty.  Tonic Living can also make custom pillows from any of the fabrics they carry.  Pillows are extremely reasonable ranging from approximately $25 to $50.

Pillows from Tonic Living, bed from Van Gogh Designs

The light above the bed was a splurge from http://www.et2online.com

Tonic Living is offering our readers a 10% coupon with no minimum purchase (on ready to go products, fabric or custom projects) which will be SUGARPLUM (enter in coupon code box on first page of checkout).   Offer expires December 31, 2011.  Throw cushions make a great Christmas gift and custom orders usually ship within a few days!

We saved a large amount of money on the freestanding tub.  I asked our plumber to keep his eye out for any damaged floor models.  Our tub has an imperfection of the back right corner, but no one will ever see it!  The chandelier is from ET2 Lighting

For the blog launch party, we created a floating arrangement for the tub

The see through fireplace was a splurge. We thought of going down a size, but it would have looked too small.

We splurged on the bathroom cabinety…floating cabinets, a his and hers, made out of African mahogany.  I especially love the towel storage.  JMV Woodworks did an outstanding job on all of the cabinetry.

No regrets here!! This is my cabinet!

Jason likes to shower, so this is another area that we didn’t skimp on.  We splurged on the marble mosaic tiles and the plumbing fixtures (rain head and 3 body sprays from Riobel).

We saved on the benches. They are from HomeSense. Pillow from Tonic Living

My last, and probably favorite, splurge was my closet.  Originally we were going to wait and just put in some wire shelving, but Jason encouraged me to go for it!  I’m a lucky lady!  I really enjoy my closet and find that I wear more of my clothes because I can actually see them.  JMV Woodworks designed and built the cabinets.  It sounds so vain, but it is my happy place.  If you ever can’t find me….look for me in my closet!

We saved some money in the closet by only using a single marble slab on the island without thicker edging and we just used cabinetry for the back cabinet top instead of marble

Shoe racks flank the double french doors

I feel extremely fortunate, even spoiled, that we were able to add these rooms to our home.  But I do believe that your master bedroom should be an oasis…a place of rest and an escape from the busyness of life.  Look for ways to make your bedroom special, whether it’s a scented candle, a comfy blanket, or even a toss cushion in your favorite colour.  It’s the little touches that make it an retreat.

Sweet Deals

On a recent trip to the states, the Sugarplum Sisters found some pretty sweet deals… It renewed our belief that you can find high quality, unique pieces without having to pay the full sticker price…or, in some cases, even half! You just gotta muster up your resolve to be patient and brave the racks of “mumbo jumbo” merchandising…a small price for some big finds!!

Here’s a sampling….You can find treats in every size!

Bliss Rollerball Perfume- from Marshalls $5.50 (reg $18)

Girl's Splendid Wrap - Loehmanns $16.99

Splendid long sleeve tees- Nordstrom Rack $24.97 (reg $50)

Girls 7 For all Mankind "Dojo" jeans Nordstrom Santa Monica $48.90 (Reg $99)

ABS Allen Schwartz Vintage Vamp Mixed Rhinestone and Pearl Necklace- Nordstrom Rack $74.95 (Reg$275)

Michael Kors tortoise watch from Loehmanns $119.99 (Reg $180)

Michael Kors Hamilton tote TJ Maxx Santa monica $199.99 (Reg $348)

Stunner of a discount!:

Pour La Victoire "Kyler" Boots- Marshalls $199 (Reg $557)

So…gather up your mental fortitude and start hunting for the deals..they are out there! We love Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off Fifth Avenue, and Loehmanns for smashing deals! And….for all you UGG lovers out there: Buy them south of the border! Time and time again, we have been shocked at the price difference! Nordstrom carries a huge selection.  Our favorite new boot:

UGGS "Lynnea" $199 US vs $345 CDN!! Wear them rolled down to expose the sheepskin lining or pull up for a more streamlined look..Nordstrom

Christmas is coming!!! Have fun shopping!

Before and After, Home Renovation

So, if you’ve been following our posts, you know that our parents bought a home in Huntingdon Beach back in April and they asked Laurel and I to help them renovate it.  They wanted it done fairly quickly so that they could enjoy some of the fall season down there.  Ok…confession time….the first time we saw that house, Laurel and I were wondering what my parents had gotten themselves into!  My dad has been in construction since 1971 and he had always built his homes.  Now, we were dealing with a 20 year old  home with a pretty hideous interior.  But dad said it had “good bones”  and they were satisfied with the layout, so the renovation would be cosmetic in nature only.

We must admit that it was difficult at times to deal with a renovation from such a great distance…I’m sure it was much more frustrating for dad than it was for us.  But we are very pleased with the results.  And we enjoyed the fruits of our labour and our parents hard work in getting the house ready for us to enjoy a quick vacation in the middle of November!

Here are the befores and afters!

The stairway

Before - the white, turned spindles and the red stained oak needed to be updated

After - we updated the railing with wrought iron spindles. We reused the handrail and had it stained dark brown

The living room

Before - those curtains had to go!! The spindles all around the living room made it feel a bit like a jail.

Before - the living room felt very segregated from the rest of the house

After - we took out all of the railing and added a shallow stair around the room. We replaced the carpet with travertine.

After - we removed all of the curtains and put in blinds. We also replaced the fireplace surround with travertine.

Dining room

Before - the light, carpet, drapes and wallpaper all had to go!

After - all of the flooring on the main floor was replaced with 12" x 24" travertine. The furniture and chandelier are from Restoration Hardware.

Kitchen

Before - the kitchen was extremely dark with the low, red oak beams and the cabinets screamed 1980!

Before - the appliances were in desperate need of updating.

After - the basic layout of the kitchen remained the same. We replaced the cabinet doors, and painted the frames white. Countertops were replaced with Caesarstone and the backsplash was updated with a modern marble mosaic. Just painting the ceiling beams white opened up the space tremendously.

After - the eating area was so small and encroached on the french doors to the pool, so we bought these two yellow chairs from Crate and Barrel and created a "Starbucks-like" lounge in the nook.

After - all of the appliances were replaced including double wall ovens, a gas cooktop, fridge, compactor, and dishwasher. We also converted a cabinet to include a bar fridge.

Family Room

Before - the family room was a scary peach colour. The maple hardwood floors were badly damaged.

After - we created a focal point around the fireplace. The light is from Restoration Hardwood. We have two leather couches and two recliners from Crate and Barrel in it. The coffee table is from Z Gallerie.

After - The entertainment unit was built out of zebra wood and makes a dramatic statement. We had built in shelves created on both sides to house all of the AV equipment.

Guest Bedrooms – I wish I had before pics, but I don’t!  Here are the afters….

We call this the second master because it's a good size & has a desk area and tv area. Bed from HauteLook. End tables, bench, bedding and lamps from Crate and Barrel.

We call this the charcoal room. The bed, night tables, lamps and bedding are from West Elm.

Master Ensuite

Before - the curtains were once again brutal! The tray ceiling was wallpapered.

After - We replaced the carpet with an engineered white-washed wood floor. The benches at the end of the bed are from Restoration Hardware, the chairs are from West Elm.

After - the bed was purchased from HauteLook. The bedding is from Restoration Hardware.

After - we panelled the tray ceiling to create a beachy feel. It's hard to find a stylish ceiling fan, but we really like this one.

Master Ensuite

Before - this ensuite lacked any style. The dark cabinets dated the space.

After - we replaced the flooring with travertine, added white cabinets doors and painted the existing frames. We also kept the original marble countertops.

Before - I have NEVER seen a tub like this before. Super dicey! The contractor called it a baptismal tank!

After - we removed the large step up and added this beautiful freestanding tub. The shower is to the left. All of the walls in the "wet" area are tiled with travertine. This is now an oasis!

Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Flatbread

I have long been on the hunt to find a flatbread recipe that compares to the flatbread served at Cactus Club. Simply put…their flatbread is darn good! When it comes to food, I’m a follower..of recipes, that is! Don’t ask me to come up with something on my own, but this flatbread took me beyond my borders! This is what I’ve come up with…we served it at our blog launch party and it seemed to be a crowd favorite. Try it and let me know what you think!

The best thing: no measurements! (well, except for the pesto)…add as much or as little of the individual ingredients to suit your taste!

Ingredients:

~Caramelized Onions

~Pesto..see homemade recipe below

~Caramelized goat cheese and feta cheese

~Grape tomatoes

~Sea Salt

~ Chopped Greens…arugula is the best

~Balsamic Glaze…the thicker variety

~Fresh naan bread

Just follow these easy steps:

#1 Caramelize the onions– my husband LOVES coming home to this smell…I have to admit, it’s pretty ok!

Melt butter and add sliced onions...cook on low until golden brown and caramelized, about 15 min

#2 Homemade Pesto:

2 cups fresh basil

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan Cheese

1/2 extra virgion olive oil

1/3 cup pinenuts

3 garlic cloves, minced

Salt and Pepper

Mix basil, parmesan cheese, pinenuts, garlic, salt and pepper in food processor. Add olive oil and process until mixed. Add more salt and pepper if needed

**any leftover pesto can be frozen!

#3. Caramelize Cheeses: Goat and Feta

Combine both cheeses in a saute pan and heat til they soften and combine. While heating, stir them as you would scrambled eggs, if that makes sense! Once they have melted and combined, turn the heat off and let them cool. They will firm up as they cool which is what you want

Sauteing the cheese...trust me..it works!

#4. Lightly brush the naan with olive oil and heat in oven until warm and crispy.

#5 Now, just assemble all your ingredients and you’re SET!! The order I place the ingredients on the naan is: pesto, caramelized onions, salt, cheese, onions, chopped greens and lastly, the balsamic vinegar glaze.

Clockwise from top left: Pesto, Balsamic Glaze, Caramelized Cheese, Sea Salt, Naan, Caramelized Onions, Chopped Greens, Chopped Grape Tomatoes

Ready to serve!

Serve as an appetizer, or if you are like me and you want it for dinner (YUM!), add some grilled chicken and a chilled glass of white wine..delish!

Apparently Scott's chicken recipe is top-secret...he won't even tell me! But is sure was delicious with the flatbread:)

Jewelry with Whimsy

If you haven’t picked up on it yet , let me tell you how much I love jewelry! My husband would probably tell you to look in my drawers and you’d get the picture VERY quickly!!! I love the sparkle, the different textures and shapes, and the statement that jewelry can make…it can literally “make-over” your outfit in seconds!  So coming upon KV Bijou was like unearthing a new gem, right here in the Fraser Valley!

KV BIJOU is the home of designer Kelsey Vanderhorst’s both whimsical and unique jewelry collection. All of her pieces are handcrafted in her studio, right here in Abbotsford, BC. We love her creativity and use of materials and colors that pay homage to her West Coast roots…

Kelsey Vanderhorst

Look for jewelry that spans styles, budgets, tastes and ages…. I love that! It would be hard to look at her website and not find something that would catch your fancy…. from bold color, to understated classic designs, Kelsey has managed to create quite the following! She was chosen to provide the jewelry for Ali Fedowtowsky on the sixth season of “The Bachelorette”..a fair achievement I’d say! Her audience has not been limited to that… Look for her pieces on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Hart of Dixie, 90210, Dancing With the Stars, and Pretty Little Liars. And that’s just the start…

Here are some of my favorites:

the "Addison" $89 ..features a rare prehnite gemstone mined in Brazil...each pendant is one of a kind

"Ashley" Necklace $69. Adds a little bling, while still being delicate with it's prism like stone

"Serendipity" Hoops $50 A go-to pair of earrings that will look good with anything! Plus, they're super lightweight..

"Boho Stackable: Tigers Eye" $35...buy these in multiples to get a cool cuff look

"Glam Rock" Ring $99...Instant bling with Sterling silver, chinese crystal, hematite

"Madison Necklace" $125..Personalize it with your favorite gemstone: Rainbow Moonstone, Smoky Quartz, Aquamarine, Blue Quartz, Green Jasper, Lemon Quartz"Madison"

"Madison" Earrings. $145 Love the delicate leaf design of these earrings. Pair with the personalized necklace ...

And right now is the time to shop! For both the friends on your list or the Christmas party outfits you’re planning, you will have fun looking through the KV BIJOU Collection! Visit her website http://kvbijou.com  **And a bonus RIGHT NOW! Save 10% on all your purchases until Dec 4th 11:59 pm  Just enter “Christmas” in the gift certificate field upon checkout…here’s the link: http://www.kvbijou.com/item/kv-bijou-coupon-code-save-on-your-christmas-gifts-when-you-shop-now

**A big thank you to Kelsey for designing both a necklace and earrings for me to wear at our blog launch party…the beautiful pieces will always remind me of a great night, celebrating a new journey!

Work Appropriate Jeans for Ladies in their 30s and 40s

We recently received this question from some of our readers…

“We have been having this discussion at work about what style of jeans are appropriate for 30-ish to 40-ish women. So we thought let’s ask you gals….”

Well ladies, the Sugarplumsisters are all over it! We LOVE jeans but you are so right…not all jeans are appropriate for the office!

Here’s a list of what is definitely taboo for the workplace…

• Faded jeans
• Ripped jeans
• Distressed jeans
• Too tight jeans
• Too short or Capri jeans
• Rolled up jeans
• Mom jeans
• Blinged out jeans (that’s right…leave these for Vegas!)

For work, there are three types of jeans that are appropriate…

1. Trouser Jeans – these are essentially trousers made out of denim. Always go for a super dark wash. Not only is this dressier, but will also make you look thinner! Trouser jeans look best with heels, whether they are pumps, wedges or boots. Trousers look great with a blouse tucked in and a cute cardi.

Try these from Madewell

http://www.madewell.com/madewell_category/DENIM/widelegger/PRDOVR~39456/39456.jsp  on sale for $79.50 down from $125

Try these Paper, Denim & Cloth trouser jeans sold by Bluefly

http://www.bluefly.com/Paper-Denim-Cloth-rinse-wash-Sophia-trouser-jeans/SEARCH/305908401/detail.fly $63.99, regularly $160

You can do this!!

Here's an outfit from my closet. Trouser jeans, a blouse, a sparkly cardigan, and platform pumps

2. Bootcut Jeans – You can’t go wrong with a great pair of bootcut jeans. They are perfect for the office, going out for dinner and even just everyday wear. The only issue that comes up is hem length. For everyday wear, you’ll probably want them hemmed for flats which means you may need a longer pair to wear with heels. Bootcut jeans can be worn with most anything, but watch proportions….tops should not be too long to avoid looking frumpy. Once again, go with a plain dark wash.

Try these from Bluefly by Seven for All Mankind

http://www.bluefly.com/7-for-All-Mankind-soho-rise-stretch-denim-bootcut-jeans/cat290024/315030201/detail.fly on sale for $94.99 from $198  They also have a bit of stretch.

Laurel favors Hudson jeans because their denim is super soft and comfortable.  Try these bootcuts from Hudson

http://www.hudsonjeans.com/Signature_Bootcut/pd/c/1009/np/1009/p/1465.html $198

You can do this!

A funky wrap blouse looks great with bootcut jeans. Don't be afraid of colour for the office

3. Skinny/Straight Leg Jeans – these aren’t a true skinny or a true straight leg jean. Skinnies are too casual and too tight for office. But you need a skinnier straight leg that will work with ballet flats. These need to be hemmed for flats and aren’t appropriate with heels for the office…too sexy. Pair these jeans with a boyfriend blazer. You could even tuck them into a pair of riding boots. Go for a plain, dark wash as well. Do NOT wear them rolled up with ballet flats for the office!!

Try these from Hudson – the back pockets don’t work for everyone, so trying on is a must!

http://www.hudsonjeans.com/Carly_Flap_Pocket_Straight_Leg/pd/c/1010/np/1010/p/1359.html $167

Try these from James Jeans, sold by Bluefly http://www.bluefly.com/James-Jeans-nassau-stretch-Hunter-straight-leg-jeans/cat540030/317116401/detail.fly $85.99 down from $185.  The pintucked pockets are extremely flattering.  They also have a bit of stretch.

You can do this!

Straight jeans look great with ballet flats and a boyfriend blazer. Wow...my jeans look big! I'll work on that in January

Bling up your office outfits with costume jewelry. Rhinestones and some sparkle are ok for the office.

Keep your eyes out for designer jeans at discount outlets. My friends get sick of me running into TJ Maxx and Nordstrom Racks, but after diving through piles of messy clothes I usually emerge with a great pair of heavily discounted designer jeans!!

My favorite places to score great jeans deals are…
Nordstrom Rack, Marshalls, Saks Off Fifth, Joes Jeans Outlet Stores, www.Bluefly.com , and London Drugs (yes, it’s true!).
And I usually pay no more than 50% of the regular price!

Men’s Christmas Gift Guide

1. Beardo Beanie Hats- http://www.beardowear.ca/ $35.99-$45.99  My hubby would think this was pretty cool. Functional, because it actually provides some face protection from the elements, but definitely a conversation piece. I have to admit..it’s rubbed off on me. Bonus: it’s made in Canada. It’s inception took place on the slopes of Whistler. No longer limited to snowboarders, these hats are selling at breakneck speed. Bonus Bonus: the beard is detachable!

Beardo Beard Hat $39.99

2.  Nixon Watch- The 51-30 Tide http://ca.nixonnow.com/watches/mens/the-51-30-tide-A057.html  $600.. One of the largest face watches you’ll find…apparently, that makes it super cool…to most men! The black on black is striking…this one’s a thumbs up.

3.  The Golf Buddy GPS Rangefinder http://www.golfbuddyglobal.com/products/products05.asp $ 349.99    If your husband golfs and he likes gadgets, he needs this!!!

4. McManus Swiss Bread Bag http://shop.mcmanus.la/products.php?product=Swiss-Bread-Bag $89US  Say what?? What exactly is a bread bag? We love this because it’s a catchall for the guy who’s carrying his ipad, phone, wallet, etc… not to be confused with a “Murse”, this is what i’d call a smartened up backpack! These bags are made from materials used in the WW11..deconstructed and put back together..own a piece of history.

5. Bose Quiet Comfort Noise Cancelling Earphones $349.99 http://www.bose.ca/controllerurl=/shop_online/headphones/noise_cancelling_headphones/quietcomfort_15/index.jsp .. I can say that i wasn’t a believer until i tried them…they are awesome! Whether on a plane, or watching a movie while your spouse is trying to sleep (not that i would know..ok, yes, this is me!)  they both knock out any unwanted noise and provide extra clarity to what you’re listening to!

6. Jack Spade Leather Bill Holder $145 http://www.jackspade.com/mens-wallets/billfolds/matchbook-leather-bill-holder/NYRU1074,default,pd.html?dwvar_NYRU1074_color=100&start=2&cgid=gift-guide Kate Spade’s husband has brought the same element of fun and cheer that she is known for, to his new line. We love the fun element of this wallet…for the guy that likes to be different!

Cool bill holder that covers as matchbox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.  Choose an Iphone case…have fun with it! Here are some of our picks:

Jack Spade Woody Iphone 4 Case $40 http://www.jackspade.com/designer-phone-cases-and-covers/contour-woody-iphone-4-case/PYRU0185,default,pd.html?dwvar_PYRU0185_color=200&start=8&cgid=stocking-stuffers&prefn1=material&prefv1=plastic%7cWood

Jack Spade

 

Quicksilver 4 G Iphone Case $30 http://www.quiksilver.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11195761

Quicksilver $30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lifeproof’s Iphone 4 Case for those who need the ultimate protection for their phone $79.99 The LifeProof Case’s claim to fame is that they are brutally tough (waterproof, shockproof, dirtproof, and snowproof) http://www.lifeproof.com/lifeproof-store/apple-cases/iphone-4-g2

Lifeproof cases withstand the elements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.  Cashmere Sweater   $160-$228 http://www.jcrew.com/mens_category/sweaters/JCrewcashmere/PRDOVR~78795/99102511147/ENE~1+2+3+22+4294967294+20~~~0~15~all~mode+matchallany~~~~~cashmere%20sweaters%20men/78795.jsp  Men love cashmere too..treat them with one of these sweaters!

Choose from 8 colors..

9. Mind-bending wine holder  $20.99 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00400OLK6/?tag=047-20 Check out this very cool wine holder…

Chain is locked into place!

10. Frye Boots…hey, a guy deserves a good pair of boots, too!! Here are our 2 picks:

Fulton Chelsea  $218 US http://www.thefryecompany.com/mens-boots/view-all/87381/fulton-chelsea#/mens-boots/view-all/87381/fulton-chelsea?color=DBN We love the distressed finish!

Available in brown or black

Or the traditional Harness 8 Boot  $228 US  http://www.thefryecompany.com/mens-boots/view-all/87400/harness-8r#/mens-boots/view-all/87400/harness-8r?color=GAU  These boots are an investment…they will be worn for years!!

Black and Brown available

A couple great stocking stuffer ideas:

Luggage Scale http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/category/products.jsp?categoryId=cat1710046 $12  Your $12 will be well spent when you don’t have to pay the overweight baggage charge!!

Whiskey Stones $24.99   http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/gifts/Whiskey-Rocks/837654927410-item.html?cookieCheck=1 Keep your drink undiluted and chilled with these soapstones.

Blog Launch Party Tasting Menu

For our blog launch party, we wanted to have a bit of a tasting menu….lots of little things to try.  We are all about minis right now.  We even sourced out mini clear plastic disposable party wear.  I looked forever for small, square plates and ended up ordering them online from http://www.catersupplydirect.com/  You can view their line of disposable tasting dishes here  The really great thing is that my sister-in-law Jana surprised me and took away the bin of dirty dishes when I wasn’t looking an washed them all, so I can use them again!

We also ordered bamboo leaf cones for the fries from Bio and Chic.  They were super inexpensive and looked great.  Both of these companies only shipped within the US, but the easy clean up was worth the drive across the border!

We used disposable shooter cups from Dollarama for the soups and the aioli for the fries.

We also used small stainless steel dipping sauce bowls from Dollarama to bake the mini lava cakes in.  Don’t discount what you might find at your local dollar store!

If you are having smaller group for your party, you may wish to use “real” dishes.  Both Bed, Bath and Beyond and Pier 1 have cute tasting sets available right now.

We did want real glasses for the cocktails, so Laurel and I both bought three boxes of Entertain All Purpose Goblets from Bed, Bath and Beyond…12 glasses for $14.99!!  A friend of ours also had three boxes, so we had 108 glasses in total!  We’ve decided that we can always borrow each others, so there’s no need to rent!

We did use clear plastic square mugs from Cater Supply Direct for the specialty coffee drinks.

If you are going to do this, make sure that the plastic is thick enough so that no one burns themselves.  We were fortunate enough to have AfterThoughts here making custom drinks!!!  AfterThoughts has been coming to our events since…well, since Jason and my wedding back in 1996!!  There’s nothing like being a guest and ordering your favorite coffee drink for free!  AfterThoughts is a great restaurant in Abbotsford that specializes in dessert, specialty coffees and light lunches, 32500 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford, B.C. (604)850-1014

We are talking seriously customized coffees!

A couple of rules of thumb for a tasting party….

• consider the time…will your guests have had dinner?  If so, maybe plan on about 4 pieces per person, if not plan on about 8 pieces per person
• make sure that you have a bit of everything in terms of fruit, veggie, sweet, savory, protein
• if men will be present, make sure that you have enough protein
• consider your oven space…instead of making all items that take 20-30 min. in the oven, you may want to make some things that can be heated on the stove or quickly broiled
• stagger when you bring the food out.  Don’t have everything ready at once as your guests will prefer to take their time eating.  If you bring out all of the hot food at once it will get cold before your guests have a chance to try it all
• think of recipes and  foods that you love and think how you can make them into minis (such as sliders, grilled cheese on cocktail breads, mini lava cakes, mini pavlovas)

Mini pavlovettes

Laurel's flatbread was SO good. Here's a tip....food always looks more appealing when served on white platters!

Crudites are a great healthy option for a tasting party. You can make them more appealing by arranging them in square vases and serving them with assorted dips and hummus. I used a leftover marble tile from my ensuite addition as the tray. I just added felt floor protectors to the bottom.

Denise's pumpkin whoopie pies

Andrea's cupcakes

Photos courtesy of Pinball Photography

Setting up a Bar

Laurel and I have planned two events in the last month where we have set up at bar. We’ve found it’s a great way to literally break the ice with your guests, especially if you have someone outgoing behind the bar!  With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, we thought we’d share a few tips with you on setting up a bar for your party.

At our blog launch party, Laurel’s husband Scott and her brother-in-law Shawn tended the bar. They surprised us by getting shirts made up to help us celebrate our new endeavour! My hubby Jason wore one too! Thanks guys for the support!

For our blog launch, we converted my den into the bar. I was concerned that we might be tight on space in my house for the party, so why not use the den for the bar and turn a a usually non-entertaining space into something useable!! I cleared off our glass bookshelves and used them for glasses. We used halogen puck light kits just placed on the ground to light up the glass shelves. Our electrician made up a light bar to go under the desk. Jason and Scott zap-strapped it to the underside of the desk and we covered the desk with a somewhat sheer fabric. The effect was to create a cool glow. Thanks so much to our friend Ernie the electrician for his help and expertise on the lighting!! We have learned that having an electrician on board is super helpful when putting a big event together!

We did want real glasses for the cocktails, so Laurel and I both bought three boxes of Entertain All Purpose Goblets from Bed, Bath and Beyond…12 glasses for $14.99!! A friend of ours also had three boxes, so we had 108 glasses in total! We’ve decided that we can always borrow each others, so there’s no need to rent!

Friends of ours mentioned that when they host a party, they put a twist on one of their favorite drinks and name it for the special event. What a fantastic idea! I wish that we would have created a “Sugarplum” for the event, but we’ll save that for next time…

We did offer two mixed cocktails, Barefoot in the Park and Lemon Rose Bellini, red and white wine from Mt. Lehman Winery, a local winery, and sparkling water with limes.

We also included some munchies at the bar….praline nuts from Walmart and cheese straws.

At the Christmas in New York party that we just put on, we set up at bar using my parents dining room. This event was a cocktail party with an abundance of appies and desserts and we’ve found in the past that people rarely sit at the dining room table. So once again,we decided to convert this space to a bar to make it useable. Mom and Dad have a unusually large glass dining room table and at first thought it seemed way too big, but it actually worked out very well, giving our two bar tenders lots of space to work it.

We used the light bar again under the table and just covered it with rented table cloths. It created a really funky effect.

To go with the theme we served Cosmopolitans, that was my drink of choice!! We also served Manhattans, red and white wine and Pellegrino and limes.

Here are some bar essentials you should have…
Shot glasses
A good corkscrew
Muddler
Bamboo picks
Coolers and lots of ice (to keep ingredients cold if you are using a space other than your kitchen for the bar)
Martini shaker

If you are setting up a bar for a party, big or small, use a space or a piece of furniture you have in a different way. You can always cover a sofa table or side table with a piece of fabric or a tablecloth. Use light interesting ways. Don’t feel you have to offer every drink under the sun. Have a signature cocktail or two, wine, maybe beer and water (bubbly or not). And have some munchies too!! Have fun with it!

Christmas in New York

Laurel and I were asked to plan the Christmas party for my dad and my husband’s company party. Several years ago we changed the format of the Christmas party from a formal, sit down type banquet to a more informal cocktail party. My parents have been willing to host the party the last number of years at their home. People seem more relaxed in a home environment versus a stuffy, sterile banquet room or hall.

The night after our blog launch party we decided we needed to come up with a theme…it was only a month until this party!!! Scott came up with Christmas in Mexico…Lo and I loved it but Dad doesn’t like Mexican food, so that wasn’t going to work! Lo suggested Christmas in New York…we both absolutely love New York and it’s a magical city at Christmas, so we ran with it!

It was extremely challenging at times to bring New York to Abbotsford….who knew that you can’t rent a pretzel warmer anywhere from West Vancouver to Hope!!! Dealing with US companies that don’t accept Canadian credit cards (seriously!?!?) and trying to find a chestnut roaster (thanks to Renee for walking around her neighborhood and finding one!) was so frustrating but we refused to give up.

Here are some elements that we used to bring New York to town…

The Statue of Liberty with a wreath in the front yard

We rented the Statue of Liberty from Canam Importique. They rent out movie props.

The Statue of Liberty at night

Lots of extra mini lights

New York style lamp post at the front door

Rockettes!

Jocelyn and Alexis did a great job of greeting the guests

A tourist map of New York doubled as the programme

Here's a closer look....

Food….gourmet hot dog bar, pizzas, pastrami melts and we included favorites from past parties such as grilled veggies, breads with olive tapenade

We set up a 30′ x 20′ tent in the backyard with heaters and park benches to mimic Central Park complete with food vendors (our daughters!) selling roasted chestnuts kept warm in a popcorn maker, garlic roasted almonds and pistachios in a nacho warmer and soft pretzels in a hot dog cooker!!! Yes, we had to think outside the box!

We had two torch heaters in the tent, so the temperature was comfortable

Alexis did a great job of "selling" the soft pretzels from a hot dog warmer!

At the bar, we served Cosmopolitans and Manhattans, along with red and white wine and Pellegrino.

The centrepieces were mini Empire State Buildings that we filled with mini ornaments and battery operated lights.

I ordered the Empire State Buildings online

Entertainment…we wanted to have “street performers” that you might see on the streets of New York. We had a sax player from a local high school playing carols, a b-boy popping on a small dance floor in the tent, and a mime dressed up like a Nutcracker!

Henry, aka "Lux" wowed everyone with his popping

Mom enjoyed Neezar, the mime, dressed as a nutcracker

Door prizes…Dad likes to give out big ones! We gave away a trip for 2 to New York, an iconic Tiffany heart locket necklace and an iPad2 (nothing to do with New York, but who doesn’t want an iPad?)
Dylan’s Candy Bar…it’s one of my favorite places in New York…not only for the candy, but because my daughter’s name is Dylan.

Frozen Hot Chocolate….AfterThoughts not only made specialty coffees but they recreated the amazing frozen hot chocolate from Serendipity3 in New York covered in lots of real whipped cream and shaved chocolate!

Dessert….New York cheesecake of course!! AfterThoughts also created the Empire State Building out of cream puffs, a.k.a. The M-Puffer!!

Jason's Uncle Ron, from AfterThoughts, and Jason, putting the cream puffs on the Empire State Building

All of the preparations were done, so let's enjoy a cream puff and get this party started!

Blog Launch Party ~ Makin it pretty with flowers

Pam and I have become fans of what we call “organic modern”… clean, simple and contemporary, but with the hard edge knocked off. Modern taken to an extreme length can sometimes come off looking sterile and cold. We love to inject the “organic” vibe into it.. the warmth, some color and some natural materials that we are surrounded with here on the West Coast.

So here was our take on organic modern flowers for our Blog Launch Party. The other idea we wanted to demonstrate was that there is an abundance of supplies that can be used for free. Start looking around your yard, and you’ll be surprised at what can be picked, snipped and and trimmed. Bonus!

The elements: Grasses, Moss, Quince, Birch, Roses and Kermit Mums

GRASSES ~ For a striking base, we made a grass runner by weaving the blades together!

Cut grasses from a friend's iris plants...drying them out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denise and I squabbling, er..I mean "bonding" over our weaving project

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The finished product

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We had a friend help us make the centerpiece for our food table…no flowers, just grass. You won’t get a much more budget friendly option out there!

Cut grass put into a block of oasis. Pour in white rice and voila!

Simple and clean...A simple arrangement that allowed the food to be the focus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

QUINCE ~ A friend had scads of these little fruits from a tree in her backyard. I personally had never heard of quince before, and thinking that many others would also be stumped by this little gem, we considered briefly calling them Sugarplums… alas, truth prevailed but wow, did we have fun using them here, there and everywhere!

Quince are covered in an almost "peach-like" fuzz....wiped clean, their color became more punchy

Vases filled with vibrant yellow quince

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOSS ~ with the bribe of Lego, I had a little friend of mine collect a huge garbage bag of moss! Thank you Justin! We used the moss to make decorative spheres, as well as a base for our floating arrangement.

We shaped the moss into balls and then wrapped green thread around them several times to preserve the shape

Pam working on our moss spheres...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trimming the moss of its "flyaways"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The floating arrangement in Pam’s bathtub

Moss-covered oasis, with alternating roses and votives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also made some unique box arrangments…simple to assemble

Cover box, both lid and bottom in 2 layers of ribbon. We put shot glasses inside filled with water and then poked a hole for the rose stems through the top. We added a bow to pretty the arrangement as it was being used in a pretty and feminine space..Pam's closet!

The trio of three rose boxes lent an elegant feel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A current fave of ours is the use of birch, with its light color and earthy texture.

Glue gun birch bark to a regular box

We turned the box upside down and topped it with some spheres and candles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love the color of kermit mums…the green is so fresh and “alive”…

Using an oasis ball, the kermit mums were cut short and poked in..easy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking for a unique way to display candles, we opted to cut some birch into 6 inch heights. Pam’s husband, Jason, drilled out the top so we could place votives in. This was one of my favorites…in fact, I have some on my mantle right now as part of my Christmas decor.

We had a ton of fun making these arrangements and could not have done it without our friend, Denise…as well as our phantom “florist”, a friend who prefers sticking behind the scenes!

Pictures courtesty of Pinball Photography as well as me:)

You Really Don’t Need to Make this from Scratch!

So, I’m a big believer in fresh ingredients and making things from scratch…well almost everything! There are a few products that I’ve come across that are just as good as from scratch or even better!!! Trust me, no one will ever know and this will save you a ton of time this Christmas season….

1. Caesar dressing – ok, I’ve tried so many recipes including a copycat of Earl’s recipe. Honestly, Renee’s Mighty Caesar is the best creamy Caesar salad dressing out there, and better than I can make. I’ll admit that I’ve even emptied the contents into my own container when I’ve been asked to bring a Caesar salad!!! Here’s little hint. The dressing is quite thick, so you can thin it down with a bit of milk. Make sure to buy the “Mighty Caesar” dressing. The regular one doesn’t have the same punch!

2. Hummus – Laurel discovered Tribe Hummus at the Westcoast Women’s Show. Laurel especially likes the Tribe Hummus with toppings…it comes in 7 different varieties. They make their hummus from only natural ingredients. Carefully scoop it out of the package and put in your own dish. No one will ever know. Serve with warmed up naan bread or raw veggies!

Tribe Hummus can be purchased at most grocery stores

3. Balsamic Reduction – this is called for as a finishing touch in a lot of recipes. It’s awesome on Laurel’s flatbread and I also use it on roasted beets with feta. But you don’t need to make your own. Italissima makes an awesome one called Crema di Balsamico. They also make a white one.

I

4. Shortbread Cookies – you don’t have to make these from scratch!!! Dessertco sells their batter by the bucket or already in preformed pucks! Laurel is VERY particular about shortbread and her expectations weren’t very high, but she was shocked in a good way!

5. Tomato Soup – I have tried several recipes and have never had good success making tomato soup from scratch… it’s always too acidic. But, Safeway’s Select Tuscan Tomato and Basil Bisque is so good and it tastes homemade. I usually warm it up on the stove and thin down with a bit of cream.

6. Cinnamon Straws – My kids LOVE the Cinnamon Straws from Starbucks. I’ve attempted to make them at home, but honestly, Save on Foods makes them just like Starbucks for a fraction of the price! I usually buy two boxes at once and freeze one. I seriously drive across town for these babies! For entertaining they look really cool displayed in a square vase…if your vase is lower, just cut them in half.

This 15 pack of cinnamon straws sells for $4.99, which comes to just over 33 cents each. They sell for about $1.25 each at Starbucks

7. Tzatziki – I’ve made this from scratch too, but it’s a lot of working peeling, seeding and shredding the cucumbers, salting them, draining them….all for a dip! And sometimes it doesn’t turn out the best. I really like the President’s Choice Blue Menu Tzatziki from Superstore. It’s awesome with a Greek meal or serve with salted pita chips for an appie.

8. Candied Nuts – Walmart carries a variety of Praline Nuts by Joe’s Tasty Travels. I’ve tried most of the different varieties and they are really good. Serve on their own or use in recipes such as salads that call for candied nuts!

This bag of candied mixed nuts is only $4 at Walmart

9. Almond toffee – The Milsean Shoppe here in Aldergrove makes the best Demerara Butter Crunch ever! They make it locally here in their Aldergrove shop and ship it all over Canada. They mix almonds into their toffee and cover it with a thin layer of white chocolate. You can purchase it online at http://milsean.com/cubecart/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=2

Photo courtesy of the Milsean Shoppe

Our Favourite Christmas Morning Brunch Recipes

So, I’m not the kind of mom who regularly gets up and makes the kids a hearty, homemade breakfast.  It’s usually toast or cereal around here!  But Christmas morning, I love to make a special breakfast that we enjoy as a family after opening up gifts around the tree.  I know that Laurel feels the same way!

It’s only 9 sleeps until Christmas morning, so we thought we’d share a few of our favourite Christmas brunch recipes so you can start planning your menu and do your grocery shopping!

I do prefer to make things that I can do a lot of the prep the day before so that I’m not in the kitchen the whole morning and you can do that with many of these recipes.

1.  I love an egg dish and I’ve made this Sausage and Egg Casserole with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Mozzarella and everyone goes crazy for it.  The great thing is you cook up the sausage mixture the day before, so it’s very quick to finish up and get into the oven in the morning.  It’s not a dry egg dish either and not full of bread.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Sausage-and-Egg-Casserole-with-Sun-Dried-Tomatoes-and-Mozzarella-106411

Photo courtesy of Epicurious

2.  German Pancake with Buttermilk Syrup - this sometimes is our dinner when Jason’s not home.  The kids absolutely love this!  This is not the best recipe for a large group as you have to blend up the ingredients just before you bake it and you need to bake it in 9″ x 13″ pans, so oven space can be challenging.  While I am blending the pancake ingredients, I put the pan with about 1 tablespoon of butter in the oven and let it get hot before I add the pancake batter.  This helps it to come out of the pan easier.

The buttermilk syrup can be made a couple of days in advance.  BE CAREFUL WHEN BOILING IT….it will boil over unless you watch it carefully and put it a much larger pan than you think you’ll need.  The syrup can be reheated in the microwave before serving.  This syrup is great on waffles, pancakes and ice cream as well!

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/german-pancake/

Photo courtesy of AllRecipes

3.  Land of Nod Cinnamon Buns – these are a long time favorite!  A staple at Jason’s parents for Christmas brunch.  The great thing is all of the prep is done the night before.  You just pop them into the oven in the morning.  It’s a really good idea to place a cookie sheet under the Bundt pan to catch the drippings or you may end up with burnt sugar on the bottom of your oven!  I also prefer to use pecans instead of the raisins.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/land-of-nod-cinnamon-buns/

Photo courtesy of AllRecipes

4.  Last year I made Apple Butter Pancakes with Cherry Sauce for Boxing Day Brunch.  I loved that I could doctor up a pancake mix….I fooled everyone.  I loved the cherry sauce for on top!

http://www.bhg.com/recipe/pancakes-waffles/apple-butter-hotcakes/

Photo courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

5.  Eggnog French Toast with Cranberry Apple Compote – we want to try this one…maybe for our brunch in Hawaii.  We love that you can prep it the night before and highly rated recipes on Epicurious have never disappointed us.   I would be tempted to serve it with the Buttermilk Syrup from the German Pancake recipe above.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Eggnog-French-Toast-with-Cranberry-Apple-Compote-105976

Photo courtesy of Epicurious

6.  One of our family faves is this recipe that I was introduced to when I married Jason.  His mom, Loraine, has been making this for the last 18 years for either Christmas or Boxing Day brunch.  Once again, you can make the sauce the day before, so it takes just minutes to assemble in the morning before you bake it.  This recipe is awesome for large groups!  Here’s a tip…..split the English muffins apart, butter them, place them on a cookie sheet and then put them under the broiler for a couple of minutes (don’t leave them too long!).  This is a super quick way to toast them for a crowd!  This recipe has been passed down from friends and family, so I cannot give credit as the originator is not known!!

Morning Egg Bake 

• 6 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 can cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup (use both kinds if doubling the recipe)
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon prepared mustard
• 3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
• Pepper to taste
• 10 eggs

Saute onion in reserved bacon drippings.  Add soup, milk and mustard.  Cook until smooth.  Add cheese, parsley and pepper and cook until heated through (this can be done the day before and then cooled and stored in fridge).

Pour 1 cup sauce into baking dish (I use a 9″ x 13″ coated with nonstick spray).  Break eggs into sauce.  Spoon remaining sauce around eggs and spinkle bacon on top.  Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes or until set.  Spoon over toasted English muffins or toasted bread slices.

7.  Ina’s Maple Scones – ok, so these you need to make the day of, but they are SO good.  Laurel made these for the first time about 12 years ago, and I love them just as much today!  The glaze for these makes them taste divine!

http://www.marthastewart.com/343720/inas-maple-scones

Photo courtesy of www.marthastewart.com

8.  Eggnog Muffins – I just made these for our bootcamp brunch (yes, workout and then eat!) and I got great reviews!!  I multiplied the recipe by 1 and 1/2 and I added 1 cup of dried cranberries.  Use freshly grated nutmeg…it makes a big difference.  I was worried they might be dry, but they weren’t.  And you can really taste the rum!

https://docs.google.com/a/sugarplumsisters.com/document/d/1m7XWbfytqVYhlPa6gSJGfAJXvKf-xCsnUFm7dEbmzC0/edit?hl=en_US

It always nice to add a few special touches to your Christmas brunch.

Fresh squeezed orange juice is a favorite here…but I do buy it.

Hot apple cider – I combine about 2/3 apple juice and 1/3 cranberry juice.  Add in a bit of brown sugar, some cinnamon stick and a few cloves.  Add in a sliced up orange (rind on) and bring to a simmer.  Simmer for about 20 min.  Strain and it’s ready!!  To make it even more special, top with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel!

I also love eggnog lattes.  If you are making them at home, use 1/2 milk and 1/2 eggnog, otherwise it is was too rich and thick.

You don’t need to go crazy with too many dishes….pick maybe an egg dish and serve it with a baked good and some fresh fruit, or opt for a carb dish such as the German Pancake, fry up some bacon and serve with fruit!  Enjoy!

Enter to Win!

So, today after I dropped off the kids at school, I decided I would check out the MTF Warehouse in Aldergrove.  My brother-in-law told me last night about some great deals that he got there, so I thought I’d be there for when it opened at 9am…maybe they put out fresh merchandise??

Well, I was pleasantly surprised…..they carry everything from clothing to housewares to appliances to groceries and much more!

You can also shop MTF online and they are offering free shipping on all Canadian orders over $25 until December 15!  You can shop online at http://www.pricematters.ca/

Here are a few of the deals that I found….

This Stila makeup palette was a steal (no pun intended!) at $16.49

I paid $45 for these Hunter Boots. They retail for $125 in the US

These Paper Denim Cloth jeans ended up costing only about $18

We are holding a contest for our readers who subscribe to our mailing list.  Everyone who signs up for our mailing list will be entered to receive this Ashlin Black Leather Tote , that has been generously donated by MTF  Contest closes on Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 12noon.

Contest open to residents of Canada only.  One entry per email address.  Current subscribers will also be entered.

Ashlin Black Leather Tote donated by MTF

Don’t forget to check your local MTF store….check back often as new merchandise arrives often!

Chambray: It’s Baaaack!!

I have to admit, when i hear the word “chambray” a little tingle goes down my spine. Visions of me in grade 9 with my chambray balloon pants, my peach Daniel Hechter sweatshirt and the matching chambray shirt underneath are still all too fresh. uggg

So when i heard chambray was making a comeback, i was leery to say the least. But after seeing some twists on the old school denim of years past, i’ve jumped on board. And what i’ve found, is that a good chambray shirt can be one of your favorite pieces, especially this time of year. Here’s my take on it:

I found my shirt at Anthropologie…what attracted me to it was the light, soft fabric (it’s tencel, which gives it a silk-like feel). I’m not into bulky, heavy button downs. I also loved the sleeve detail…i can roll it up and button it to the tab or roll it down for a full sleeve look. Another feature was the vent in the back..it’s all in the details! http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=23698038&catId=CLOTHES-BLOUSES&pushId=CLOTHES-BLOUSES&popId=CLOTHES&navCount=216&color=045&isProduct=true&fromCategoryPage=true&isSubcategory=true&subCategoryId=CLOTHES-BLOUSES&templateType=subCategory

Washed Chambray Buttondown $88 Anthropologie .

Love the back vent

THINK: CHRISTMAS FAMILY CELEBRATION

Layered with a long sleeved tee, I paired the shirt with a fun skirt and high black boots. I also threw on layered pearls to add a bit of "pretty

THINK: CHRISTMAS PARTY

Because of the silky fabric, the shirt can be dressed up with a blazer, bootcut jeans and a statement pair of heels. And of course, the bling factor...a necklace with twisted crystals, pearls and rhinestones!

Pair a dressy necklace with the chambray shirt for an instant "wow"

THINK: WEEKEND AT THE CHALET

Throw on some skinny jeans, your chambray shirt and a warm and cozy sweater. I added my sheepskin boots, a long necklace and a punchy scarf to finish the look

I love LOVE when you can find a piece that can be dressed up, down and in between! A lightweight chambray button down can be that piece for you!! Just make sure you don’t wear it too much…that’s my struggle:) And maybe, just maybe, stay away from the chambray pants..haha!

Our Favorite iPhone and iPad Apps

How many of you received an iPhone or iPad for Christmas? Laurel and I are huge fans of both!

Shockingly, Jason has accused me of cheating on him…..with my iPhone. He says I’m having an app-affair! I really do love my iPhone (is there even any other phone out there??) and my love for my iPad is almost equal!

I love all of the apps that are available for Apple devices. Here are some of Laurel and my favorites.

1. Epicurious – If you are looking for a recipe on the go, this is your app!! You can access shopping lists and we have found the comments and ratings to be very accurate. This app is available for iPhone and iPad and is free.

http://www.epicurious.com/services/mobile

2. Magazines – I buy very few magazines any more as you can download so many of them for much less than the newstand price. Also, you can bookmark pages for future reference for many of them.

What we download….
People – it’s my guilty pleasure when I travel! http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/people-magazine/id384298160?mt=8 Each issue is $3.99 You can download trailers to movies and access picture archives and more. Nothing like getting your gossip interactively!

House and Home – Each issue is $3.99 or you can subscribe for a year for $19.99 (they will send you a notification when a new issue is available to be downloaded). I love that you can bookmark pages for future reference – this is so helpful for design jobs!

A yearly subscription on the iPad for House and Home is less expensive than a yearly print subscription

Trends – This is a fantastic interior design magazine that often costs around $12 in bookstores. Each issue online is $0.99 or you can get a 12 month subscription for $7.99 (10 issues). This app is designed for iPad and iPhone. The app itself costs $0.99. It’s well worth it if you are looking for interior design ideas!

http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/trends-magazine-usa-design/id366958928?mt=8

3. TripAdvisor – my pet peeve is being in a new place and having no idea where to eat, picking a place and having a marginal meal at best. TripAdvisor to the rescue! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used this app to check out nearby restaurants. When I read the review on restaurants, I check for which specific dishes are recommended. On our recent trip to Huntingdon Beach, TripAdvisor rated Cucina Alessa as the #1 restaurant. We decided to check it out and, wow…we will be back!! The pasta was amazing!

TripAdvisor is available for free for the iPhone

It

4. Did you forget to set the PVR for your favorite show?? No worries…the CityTV Video app has many of your favorite shows and the app for iPhone and iPad is free! This is extremeley helpful as Canadians cannot watch episodes on US networks online. Of course, you can only watch the shows that are broadcast on CityTV, such as Modern Family, Community, Private Practice, Biggest Lower and more.

http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/citytv-video/id390492092?mt=8

Global and CTV also have apps.

5. Coffee lovers…here are two great apps

Starbucks – You can check the calorie counts of your favourite foods (or maybe you don’t want to….you’ll be shocked!), you can check the balance on your Starbucks card, reload it and even use your phone to pay with your card. You can also locate the closest Starbucks to you!

http://www.starbucks.com/coffeehouse/mobile-apps

Tim Hortons – an app very similar to the Starbucks one. You can find a restaurant, check your balance on your card, looks up nutritional info and it even has an order pad if you are picking up for a bunch of friends!

http://www.timhortons.com/ca/en/tools/timmyme.html

6. You probably know that I’m an avid online shopper. The deals in the US are so much better, but a lot of US retailers either do not ship to Canada or the cost to ship to Canada is crazy!! What I don’t like is waiting on line at the border. So, I use BorderWait – it lists all of the crossings into the US and shows wait times going in both directions. It does cost $0.99, but it can save you SO much time!

http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/borderwait/id327066480?mt=8

7. We live in a farm…a pepper farm. We grow red, orange and yellow bell peppers. Laurel’s hubby, Scott, had this game created. If you like Bejeweled, you’ll like the Peppers (Greenhouse Delight Edition) game. The app includes pepper recipes and nutritional information and its free.

http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/peppers-greenhouse-delight/id447726068?mt=8

I love the shades on the green peppers!

We also asked Scott and Jason what their favorite apps are….quite a different list from ours but we’ve heard that we have some male followers so we thought it would helpful for us to list them.  Funny thing…I texted Scott to ask him what his favorite apps are.  His response…pinwheels, Boursin cheese with red pepper jelly, meatballs….Dude I’m not asking about appies, I’m talking iPhone apps!!

1. Shazam – you hear a song playing somewhere and think…what is this song called? I’d like to download it. Open up the app, press touch to let is have a listen and Shazam, and it will tell you what the song is called and it will even link you to iTunes to download it if you want! http://www.shazam.com/iphone

2. PluggedIn – want to take your kids to a movie but not sure if it’s appropriate? PluggedIn rates movies, videos, music, TV and games and we’ve found the reviews to be very accurate.  http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pluggedin/id406041276?mt=8

3. Flight Seat Guide – when you are 6 feet plus you want to get the seat with the most room on a plane. This app helps you find the most roomy seats! Costs $0.99 http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flight-seat-guide/id338743182?mt=8

4. Keep forgetting your passwords? I like PassWordAll.  Costs $0.99

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/passwordall/id368418519?mt=8

 Jason likes KeeperPassword and it’s free

http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/keeper-password-data-vault/id287170072?mt=8

5. Scott regularly checks the Oakley Surf Report,  TMZ,  Fox Sports, CNN and ScoreMobile (for the scores on all the latest sporting events).

6. Whatsapp – have your friends sign up on this for free texting with each other when you are on wifi.  Costs $0.99   Whatsapp is available for iPhone, BlackBerry, Android and Nokia and you can message between all of these.

http://www.whatsapp.com/

7. One of Jason’s favorites is TeamSnap – he manages Maguire’s, our 8 year old’s, hockey team. This can be used for many sports teams. It’s an excellent way to communicate with the team, update the schedule, track each player’s account and more. http://www.teamsnap.com/iphone.php The app is free and you can interface with a website you can setup on your computer.

Chocolate Mini Lava Cakes

Photo courtesy of http://savorysweetlife.com

We are loving minis right now when it comes to food.  That was a theme we worked off of for the food for our blog launch party.  Laurel made mini chocolate lava cakes, but we failed to take any pics.  I recently made them for a family gathering and took pics along the way.  It’s so easy!!!  They are such a rich dessert that the minis are the perfect portion (although my 13 year old nephew had 4….I loved it!).

This is the recipe that Laurel used

http://savorysweetlife.com/2010/02/molten-lava-cakes-recipe/

It is actually surprisingly easy, and the great thing is you can make up the batter a couple of hours in advance of baking them.  Just keep it in the fridge!

For our family due, I used a combination of ramekins for the adults and small stainless steel side cups from the dollar store for minis for the kids

Don't fill the containers to the top! These were a bit too full and make the cooking time a bit tricky. Fill to just over half

I washed some raspberries and mint for garnish. The lava cakes are ready to go in the oven

Dylan, my daughter, helped me plate the lava cakes. We dusted them with icing sugar, added a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, a few raspberries and a spring of mint. Tada!!

Be very careful not to overcook them!  You want the chocolate to ooze out when you take the first bite!

Favorite Reads of 2011

I don’t consider myself a accomplished book critic in the least, but i am an avid reader. I love few things more than sinking my teeth into a good story… i suppose it serves as a little escape from the daily grind. Pair the book with sunshine, palm trees and a starbucks and wow, my poor family begins to feel neglect!

Here are a few of my favorite reads from this past year…and some of the ones I’m looking forward to delving into:

1.  The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom– i’ve recommended it before and I will again! I loved this book. A book set in the 1800s sheds light on the days of slavery and proves that family often runs thicker than blood. Find it on Amazon.ca http://www.amazon.ca/Kitchen-House-Novel-Kathleen-Grissom/dp/1439153663

When a white servant girl violates the order of plantation society, she unleashes a tragedy that exposes the worst and best in the people she has come to call her family.Orphaned while onboard ship from Ireland, seven-year-old Lavinia arrives on the steps of a tobacco plantation where she is to live and work with the slaves of the kitchen house. Under the care of Belle, the master’s illegitimate daughter, Lavinia becomes deeply bonded to her adopted family, though she is set apart from them by her white skin.

Eventually, Lavinia is accepted into the world of the big house, where the master is absent and the mistress battles opium addiction. Lavinia finds herself perilously straddling two very different worlds. When she is forced to make a choice, loyalties are brought into question, dangerous truths are laid bare, and lives are put at risk.

2.  Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah — it’s like a puzzle that is slowly put together…gotta admit, i ended up in tears. One of those books that you will think of long after you’ve finished it. It’s been carried at Costco, but Amazon will be selling it indefinitley http://www.amazon.ca/Winter-Garden-Kristin-Hannah/dp/0312364121

Meredith and Nina Whitson are as different as sisters can be. One stayed at home to raise her children and manage the family apple orchard; the other followed a dream and traveled the world to become a famous photojournalist. But when their beloved father falls ill, Meredith and Nina find themselves together again, standing alongside their cold, disapproving mother, Anya, who even now, offers no comfort to her daughters. As children, the only connection between them was the Russian fairy tale Anya sometimes told the girls at night. On his deathbed, their father extracts a promise from the women in his life: the fairy tale will be told one last time—and all the way to the end. Thus begins an unexpected journey into the truth of Anya’s life in war-torn Leningrad, more than five decades ago. Alternating between the past and present, Meredith and Nina will finally hear the singular, harrowing story of their mother’s life, and what they learn is a secret so terrible and terrifying that it will shake the very foundation of their family and change who they believe they are.

3.  Secret Daughter by Shilpi Smaya Gowda – this story brings together 2 families..one in India and one in America. A glimpse inside a different culture where motherhood and love prove just as powerful no matter the geography. http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/9780061974304/9780061974304-item.html?s_campaign=goo-Books%20By%20Title-E&gclid=CK7vkvDyha0CFRBphwodcV6cUg&cookieCheck=1

On the eve of the monsoons, in a remote Indian village, Kavita gives birth to Asha. But in a culture that favours sons, the only way for Kavita to save her newborn daughter’s life is to give her away. It is a decision that will haunt her and her husband for the rest of their lives, even after the arrival of their cherished son. Halfway around the globe, Somer, an American doctor, decides to adopt a child after making the wrenching discovery that she will never have one of her own. When she and her husband Krishnan see a photo of baby Asha from a Mumbai orphanage, they are overwhelmed with emotion for her. Somer knows life will change with the adoption, but is convinced that the love they already feel will overcome all obstacles. Interweaving the stories of Kavita, Somer, and Asha, “Secret Daughter” poignantly explores issues of culture and belonging. Moving between two worlds and two families, one struggling to survive in the fetid slums of Mumbai, the other grappling to forge a cohesive family despite their diverging cultural identities, this powerful debut novel marks the arrival of a fresh talent poised for great success.

4.  Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese- a story rich in the history of Ethiopia, I found myself engrossed in the plot..  http://www.amazon.ca/Cutting-Stone-Abraham-Verghese/dp/0307357783

Marion and Shiva Stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful Indian nun and a brash British surgeon at a mission hospital in Addis Ababa. Orphaned by their mother’s death in childbirth and their father’s disappearance, bound together by a preternatural connection and a shared fascination with medicine, the twins come of age as Ethiopia hovers on the brink of revolution. Yet it will be love, not politics — their passion for the same woman — that will tear them apart and force Marion, fresh out of medical school, to flee his homeland. He makes his way to America, finding refuge in his work as an intern at an underfunded, overcrowded New York City hospital. When the past catches up to him — nearly destroying him — Marion must entrust his life to the two men he thought he trusted least in the world: the surgeon father who abandoned him and the brother who betrayed him.
An unforgettable journey into one man’s remarkable life, and an epic story about the power, intimacy, and curious beauty of the work of healing others.

5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collings. I’m taking a chance at putting this out there, but any book that has me staying up way past my bedtime deserves mention! Though written more for the tween/teen age groups, it nonethless pulled me in as i found the main characters means of  survival brilliant. (ps. i havent decided if my tween is allowed to read this…yet) http://www.amazon.ca/Hunger-Games-Suzanne-Collins/dp/0439023483

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the other districts in line by forcing them to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the-death on live TV.

One boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and sixteen are selected by lottery to play. The winner brings riches and favor tohis or her district. But that is nothing compared to what the Capitol wins: one more year of fearful compliance with its rule. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her impoverished district in the Games.

But Katniss has been close to dead before — and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

6. Mark of the Lion : A Voice in the Wind, An Echo in the Darkness, As Sure As the Dawn (Vol 1-3) by Francine Rivers. Ok…these books had me HOOKED. I happened to be reading them on a weekend away with my husband so….let’s just say that his loss was my gain…yikes I don’t know that i was great company!!! Be prepared that it will take some time to get into the first book…the author takes this time to set the stage. It’s worth the continued read! http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Lion-Voice-Wind-Darkness/dp/0842339523

#1 A Voice in the Wind: Torn by her love for a handsome aristocrat, a young slave girl clings to her faith in the living God for deliverance from the forces of decadent Rome.

A young boy emerges from life-saving surgery with remarkable  stories of his visit to heaven. Heaven Is for Real is the  true story of Colton Burpo, the four-year old son of a small town  Nebraska pastor who, during emergency surgery, slips from  consciousness and enters heaven. He survives and begins talking  about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his  dad praying in the waiting room. Colton said he met his miscarried  sister, whom no one had told him about, and his great grandfather  who died 30 years before Colton was born, then shared  impossible-to-know details about each. Told by his father, but  often in Colton”s own words, the disarmingly simple message is:  heaven is a real place, Jesus really loves children, and be ready,  there is a coming last battle.

2.  Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas My sister in law, Jana, has lent this book to me and i can’t wait to start it…the biography of a man who stood against Hitler. http://www.amazon.ca/Bonhoeffer-Pastor-Martyr-Prophet-Spy/dp/1595551387

From the New York Times bestselling author of Amazing Grace, a groundbreaking biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, one of the greatest heroes of the twentieth century, the man who stood up to Hitler.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to you all! I have to admit, i’m not a huge New Years person….maybe i’m still coming off of the Christmas hoopla, but New Year’s has always seemed to be a signal to me…maybe that the break is coming to an end and the routine is about to start up again?? If you know me well, you know i cherish family “downtime”. It’s the oil that keeps this family well greased and truckin along..ok, now i’m going a little overboard. Spend a day here and you’ll pick up the chaotic vibe fairly quick!

What else do i take issue with when we’re talking New Years? Obviously, the whole resolution thing. You know what i’m talking about…gym memberships skyrocket and lululemon clears out its inventory. Weight Watchers enrollment triples while Big Macs grow cold. This lasts for about 2, maybe 3 weeks yes? So, i won’t be running to the gym…i will be maintaining my workout schedule, with the hopes that consistency will be easier now that routine has once again been established. But, I do admit that this time of year does give pause to reflect certain tweaks and changes that might be beneficial.

So..i’m putting it out there…not a huge list, but rather, 2 things that I am fully aware of that i might (just might) be ready to tackle

1. Less of this

and more of this

More family….less technology… Somewhat ironic as Pam and i have just embarked on this blog/website journey. But red eyeballs are not attractive and neither is shoo-ing the kids out of my den…. How am i going to accomplish this? Good question! I think this schedule-shunning self, is going to need to become more efficient and start sticking to a more structured working time frame. The one downside of working in the home, yes? I am up for the challenge, though!

Secondly…ugggg…this is a tough one… I do want to quit being late (GASP!) That means stop blaming the traffic lights (even though they do always turn red when i approach them), bad drivers (but there are so many of them!) and my children (how many times do i get in the car and see that Lincoln has no jacket and is wearing his shoes that Ozzy just ate for breakfast?). Time to factor in “c’est la vie” time..a buffer of sorts…let’s be honest, i need to start accounting for the random suff that interrupts me. I’m asking for baby steps here. Nothing flashy…you’re not going to see me arriving early…i just don’t want to be late!

What are the tweaks you’re needing to make? Or rather, what has you anticipating the end of 2011 and greeting 2012 as a fresh start? Here’s wishing everyone the best year ever! A year of adventure, taking chances, and meeting life’s curve balls with grace, determination and strength..

Merry Christmas to All!

Today we find ourselves in a tropical paradise celebrating Christmas!!!  Some say it’s not Christmas without snow, but I disagree.  For most of my life growing up, I celebrated Christmas in the traditional way….Christmas Eve programmes at church, opening gifts around the tree Christmas morning, extended family gatherings and I loved it. But now that I have my own family, we are building new traditions and Christmas to me is about spending it with the people I love, celebrating the most incredible gift of Jesus coming to earth. To me it’s also about the gift of time…time spent together as a family.  Christmas can be celebrated anywhere and in many different ways.  This morning, we are going to church on a beach!!  Now, that’s a new tradition I could get used to.

Laurel and Iwould like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas with your family and friends…and take some time to remember the real reason for Christmas!

Here are a few of our memories from Christmases past!

The girls loved their American Girls. Awesome, wholesome dolls with good values!

I think this was Jason's all time favourite gift. A camo, fleece "sleeper". He wore it all Christmas Day!

Cousins at Grammie and Pappa's house

Jason explaining the lengths he went to to get me these fabulous red shoes. Told you he's a great shopper!

Skating on our pond when it freezes....once about every 5 years!

Adorable!

Dylan and Melina in matching princess outfits. These matched the outfits they got for their Bitty Baby Dolls....and yes, that's Scott in the background with a Flames jersey on. Booooooo!

One of our best Christmases was our missions trip to Thailand in December 2008….

The kids performed at malls around Bangkok on Christmas Day!

Riding elephants in Thailand....a priceless memory!

The girls made a makeshift "tree" out of the clothes butler in the hotel room!

We found one Nativity Scene in Bangkok

Friends!

Cousins!

Extended Family - Great Grandparents!

Cookie decorating- its an annual thing!

One tradition that we have at our home is having a group of kids over for Christmas cookie decorating once the holidays have begun. I love it, but i suppose i didn’t realize how much my kids did too, until i asked them what makes them feel like Christmas. They all said the cookie decorating day!! Phew…cuz i wasn’t wanting to give it up!

Today was the day and it didn’t disappoint! We always have some sort of contest associated with it…this year, you had to decorate your entire family (including your dog!) and 2 awards were given: one for most visually appealing cookie family, the second for the best individual cookie! Scott had to step in and make the final decision as i was feeling bad that not everyone could be a winner…i know, i know, winning and losing..one of life’s lessons…

Here’s a little peak into our fun…and i have discovered, there is great joy in letting the kids use their creativity!

Pre- Mayhem!!

The hot item this year was the icing "Scribblers"...the best way to get detail in personalizing the cookies

Everything down to the hair accessories..

Loved the detail the kids went to!

And the winning “look-a-like” cookie:

We especially loved the pink smartie bikini!

The  winning “Most Visually Pleasing Cookie Family”

Feel happy to just look at it:)

To use a Martha Stewart-ism: Traditions are a GOOD THING! The cookie design crew takes a break for a picture around the Christmas tree..

Christmas can be such a schedule crazy time of year…but making time for annual traditions is always so rewarding. What are your favorite traditions?? We’d love to hear!

Searching for Color!

This time of year is lacking seriously in the color department… gray skies, gray sweaters, gray moods! Don’t get me wrong…i love gray! But, what better pick me up than a pop of color? And what a delightful way to express a positive attitude and some “life” through some brilliant hues? The easiest way to do it? Keep your staples and more “investment” pieces in the neutrals…boots, jackets, etc…and infuse life into your accessories! Here’s my take:

~~WEAR IT!

Choose something with both whimsy and bold color

Add simple bracelets for a more chunky look

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stack vibrant colored bangles...sure to match with your neutrals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~~WRAP YOURSELF IN IT!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kate Spade Prize Ball Scarf~ On sale $56.25 (reg $125)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~~WALK ON IT!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Been eyeing this..they are even prettier in person! Kate Spade Latrice now on sale for $133.50 (reg $298)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~~CARRY IT!!

Go out of your comfort zone and tote a bright handbag!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kate Spade Sorbonne Square Evangeline Purse ~ on sale $155.25 (reg $355!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You’ll notice i’ve shown some Kate Spade items…if you wanna get happy in a hurry, check out www.katespade.com  Her take on colors, fabrics and designs bring a smile to my face every time. As one of her emblemed wallets encourages: Live Life Colorfully. Good advice… And right now, she is having a worthwhile sale. Right now, take 25% off all sale items. As well,  ground shipping in the USA is free. Can’t beat that.

Color. It’s a feast for the eyes…and for the soul, dare i say. Give it a try and you’ll agree i’m sure!

 

 

 

 

How to Shop for your Tween

The girls are laughing and always do when we put them back to back. Lexi (on the left) is 6 months younger than Berkeley (on the right)!

Unfortunately, the girls often look like what we've called "shrubs"! They love dancing and spend most of their time at the dance studio, but that means that they don't really know how to put a nice outfit together!

We both have 12 year old daughters, but they are on the opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of height and how mature they look. Berkeley is Pam’s daughter.  She is actually 6 months older than Alexis, who is Laurel’s daughter. Berkeley is 4’9” and Alexis is 5’5”..that’s an 8″ difference!  The challenge comes in how to dress both girls age appropriately.  What fits Berkeley are clothes that she feels are “too baby-ish”, and what Alexis can nicely fit into makes her look much too mature.

We are always up for a challenge and recently, we took the girls shopping to find them clothes that are age appropriate, but still on trend.

Berkeley cringes when I suggest we go into the kids section of stores, but the fact of the matter is that what fits her best.  She still can wear a size 9-10, so clothes at many of the stores geared to tweens and teens just don’t fit her.  So the challenge for Berkeley is to find her clothes in the kids’ section of stores that have more mature styles or junior stores that carry size XXS. Recently, we had really good luck at Zara Kids.  I loved that they had the clothes merchandised by colour groupings.  Most styles were “mature” enough for Berkeley….I think that I only heard her say, “That’s too baby-ish!” once.  Also, because the cuts are European she actually fit into an 11-12 in most styles. Unfortunately, you cannot purchase Zara Kids online, but you can view their styles and prices online at http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category/ca/en/zara-W2011/118197/Kids

Another place that we found styles that suited and fit Berkeley was H&M Kids.  Again, you cannot purchase online, but you can view what is available at http://www.hm.com/ca/department/KIDS  They have a lot of good basics as well.  Crewcuts (by J Crew) also has some great stuff for tweens, but some of the styles are a bit too juvenile.  They ship to Canada and  shipping is $9.95.  I do wait and shop their sales.

Artizia and TNA work well for both Berkeley and Alexis.  They carry size XXS and their sizes are on the small side.  TNA has great basics like tanks, T’s, and leggings.  Aritizia is a lot more expensive, but you can find the odd piece that works and is fairly reasonable.  We paid $40 for a stretchy black skirt with a floral pattern for Berkeley.  I love it that she can wear black leggings under it….leggings are a mom’s best friend!  Neither of these stores has a great website and they both don’t offer online shopping.

I also love Ella Moss Girl and Splendid for tweens.  It’s not easy to come by in Canada, but they do have great websites.  They are on the pricier side, but the quality is great and the styles are very appropriate. The Cabazon Outlets just west of Palm Springs has a Splendid and it sometimes has Ella Moss items as well (Splendid, Ella Moss and Seven for All Mankind are all related brands). Nordstrom and Bloomingdales also carry some Ella Moss Girl and Splendid.

We also just took the girls to Target and we were pleasantly surprised at what we found them there.  The best surprise is that some of their junior lines (Mossimo) start at size 1.  Perfect for Berkeley!  Both Berkeley and Lexi scored coloured jeans …one of the hottest trends for this spring, for $22.99 http://www.target.com/p/Mossimo-Supply-Co-Juniors-Skinny-Denim-Assorted-Colors/-/A-13778875#?lnk=sc_qi_detaillink

Mossimo Supply Co. coloured denim for $22.99

Shoes are another story!  Berkeley is a size 3.5 in children’s and a 5.5 in womens.  Children’s shoes are generally not mature enough style wise, but it’s not easy to find a lot of women’s shoes in a size 5.5.  For casual wear, TOMS are great and they are becoming more and more readily available.  In fact, TOMS are about the same price in Canada as they are in the US…bonus!!  You can order TOMS online and they ship very quickly.

Here are a few outfits that WE helped put together for the girls!

Alexis is wearing a cardi from Target, jeans from the Boathouse (Abby) and scarf from Ripcurl

Cream cardi by Ella Moss, dress from Target, Roxy boots and hat from American Eagle

Jeans and sweater are from Target, toque from Forever 21 and boots by Steve Madden

Vest by Zara Kids, jeans by Seven for All Mankind, boots by Dirty Laundry. Berkeley unfortunately did not like this outfit when I laid it out for her the first time and changed immediately. But today she actually liked it!

Berkeley in a boyfriend blazer from Children's Place, skirt from Aritzia, tights from H&M, shirt from The Bay and boots by Steve Madden

Berks is wearing a tunic and leggings from H&M, boots from Steve Madden

Berkeley in a jean dress from Crewcuts, tights from Ivivva and shoes by Dirty Laundy

Thai…Simple yet high on flavor!

Here are the 2 dishes Pam and I made…combine them and you have a flavorful, healthful and colorful dinner!

THAI GREEN PAPAYA SALAD

Don’t mistake this papaya for the pink, perfumed variety. Green papaya is…well, green. It also has a much different, firmer texture, which allows it to be grated into a coleslaw-type form.  Make friends with your local Vietnamese/Asian grocer. I asked mine to shred the papaya for me…which they were happy to do… they also did the carrots…bonus! They will also be able to help you pick the best ingredients!

This reciped is a compilation of many different recipes I found that featured my favorite ingredients.  The final result was a recipe that was made to taste so don’t get worried about the lack of measurements for the salad… adjust as you like!

Dressing:

• 6 tablespoons fresh lime  juice
• 3 tablespoons golden brown sugar..palm sugar (packed) can also be used.
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 4 garlic cloves,  minced

Salad:

Shredded green papaya and carrots. The carrots were added on top for color..

Add a handful of chopped cilantro

Roast peanuts. Coarsely chop and add to salad

Thai chili pepper chopped fine...found at your local Vietnamese grocery. I only used one, but adjust the number to the heat you fancy!

Add halved grape tomatoes

Mix all ingredients together and you've got a beautiful and delicious salad!

Pair it with these CHICKEN SATAYS AND PEANUT SAUCE

Recipe from cooks.com  http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1618,128180-255195,00.html

Pam altered it slightly…no green onions…..save yourself time and purchase the chicken fillets so you don’t have to pound them out or cut them….and lastly, she added 3 tablespoons to the peanut sauce instead of just 1.

Mainate chicken... at least 30 minutes

Soak skewers in water for as long as possible..Pam did for a number of hours

Prepping the peanut sauce

BBQ'd chicken satays

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...and the accompanying peanut sauce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thai chili sauce can also be served as a dipping sauce for the satays. Yum!

Planning Your Spring Vacation!

Mac, my 8 year old son, loved the beach in Kailua, on the east side of Oahu.

I know it seems like we just barely got through Christmas, but I’m already looking ahead to Spring Break.  The kids are off school in about 9 weeks, so if you are planning to get away, you need to book something very soon!  Thank goodness school districts, provinces and countries have staggered their spring breaks.  When we were growing up, it seemed like all of Canada and the US were off for the same one week and consequently,  prices for flights and hotels skyrocketed!  Now,  many school districts also have two weeks off allowing you some wiggle room for travel dates, especially if you are trying to get away for say, about 10-12 days.  You can leave on a weekday and potentially get a lower fare.

Laurel and I love to travel and we feel the need to get away from our gray weather as much as we can.  But in order to do that, we need to get great deals.

Here are our top 5 travel tips!

1.  If you know where you want to go, check out flights on Hotwire and mark the box that says “Watch this Trip” or “Notify Me When Price Drops”.  They will send you alerts when prices are going up and when they are going down.  Flights are generally inexpensive the first week in January, but they change quickly!  I waited about 4 hours after finding great flights to Hawaii and I ended up paying $20/ticket more!  When you find a good deal, be prepared to “pull the trigger”.

Some discount airlines do not show on up Hotwire searches.  These you need to check out separately on their websites, such as

Allegiant Air

Frontier Airlines

JetBlue

With these discount airlines be aware of extra costs  like seat selection, priority boarding (I recommend that you DON’T go with this), transfers and, of course, baggage fees.

For Canadians, it can be much less expensive to fly out of US airports, such as Bellingham and Seattle because the taxes are SO much lower.  We recently booked very inexpensive flights to Hawaii out of Seattle.  We usually stay the night before at the Hilton Seattle Airport Hotel because they offer stay and park packages.  Parking at the Seattle airport is quite expensive, so if you have a morning flight, you can stay and leave your car at the hotel for the duration of your trip.  They have shuttles to and from the airport.  Don’t forget to give them your BCAA number if you are a member as this may get you a discount.  Ok….I use all of the potential angles!

2.  Don’t forget about travel points you may have.  Maybe you can rent a car with your Airmiles?  If you like the destinations that Alaska Airlines flies to (Palm Springs, LA, Hawaii, Mexico), it’s worth getting an Alaska Airlines VISA card.  You get one companion fare per year (one ticket for $100 when another is booked) and you can redeem points for a full flight or if you don’t have enough, you can use them to reduce the cost of your ticket.

Photo courtesy of http://palmspringswebsitedesign.com/

Royal Bank also has an RBC Avion Visa Card that has an excellent points system for travel.

3.  Because Laurel and I travel most of the time with our kids, we prefer to stay in condos or homes so we have more space and more privacy.  Here are some great sites to check out for private rentals.

http://www.vrbo.com/

http://www.findvacationrentals.com/

http://www.homeaway.ca/

Laurel recently booked our Spring Break home in the North Shore and was able to negotiate with the owner.  He threw in the taxes and the cleaning for free.  In Hawaii, that’s a sizeable discount!!  Don’t be afraid to email owners and ask for a discount…all they can say is no.  I manage my parents’ home in Palm Desert and I will tell you, getting some rental income is better than none!  You can check out our rental at http://www.findvacationrentals.com/california/palm-desert-condo-rentals-5551.html

This is the great room of the Palm Desert home I manage for my parents. Don't be afraid to ask owners for a discount...some rental income is better than none!

If you are unsure of a property that you are considering Trip Advisor has reviews on almost everything.  For example, if you know the name of the condominium complex, you could find some information.

4.  Check for packages.  Allegiant Air has some great hotel and flight packages, especially to Las Vegas.  Allegiant Air is definitely a no frills airline, but they do offer some great rates….but you need to check back often and you need to be prepared to buy when you see a great rate.  Rates change often!!  I’ve heard of people getting a fantastic package to Vegas staying at the Wynn, a 5-star hotel.  And Laurel booked a last minute get away at the Venetian and they got a suite for their family for a steal.

Photo courtesy of http://www.tripadvisor.com

Here's the suite that Laurel had at the Venetian with their package from Allegiant. Keep in mind that they booked and departed the same day!

The suite at the Venetian

Alaska Airlines also offers packages.

5.  When booking a rental car, check out http://www.carrentals.com/  I have booked a rental car in Palm Springs for $10/day…really!  And be aware of extra insurance costs.  Many credit cards cover you for the extra insurance, but check this out before you get to the rental car counter.  This can save you a lot of money.  I heard of someone recently that was going to be charged an additional $600 for insurance  (for a 10 day rental) that their credit card had coverage for!

Don’t be intimidated to book your trip online.  You can save yourself a lot of money.  It will definitely take time.  Laurel and I have said that we feel “car sick” looking online too long!!  But the result will be a fantastic trip and great memories for your family.  And with the money you save, maybe you can squeeze in an extra trip!

Snacks for Kids on the Go!

I’m sure I’m not the only one that feels like I’m constantly packing food for the kids.  Never mind the lunches, the girls dance four days a week and Mac is often playing hockey over the dinner hour, so I try to pack them healthy snacks to fill them up as they often don’t have much time to eat the dinner I’ve packed them!  Here are a few of their favourites and some new ones we will try very soon!

1.  Pepperoni Muffin Bites – these have a bit of everything!  Carbs, cheese, meat…..they are a mini meal in a muffin!  The great thing is that your kids can make them.  Berks baked up a batch yesterday morning (yes, it was a snow day!)

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/appetizers-snacks/hearty-snacks/pepperoni-muffin-bites-683660/

Berkeley puts the cornmeal mixture in the muffin cups.

Next Berks spoons on the Marinara and cheese mixture

Add chopped up pepperoni on top

The finished product....good job, Berkeley!

2.  Brookside Farms has individual packets of their dark chocolate acai & blueberry and their dark chocolate pomegrate. A variety package of 40 at Costco costs $9.99 (that’s 25 cents a package!).  Each package is 90 calories.  Kids love them because they are chocolate, but they are so much better than a chocolate bar!  See Brookside Farms for additional information.

3.  Ice cream – ok, this might not be the healthiest choice, but kids do need some fat and calcium.  I love the minis you can buy at the grocery store by Nestle Real Dairy and Haagen Dazs.  The mini size is perfect!  The Nestle Real Dairy in White and Dark Chocolate is 170 calories for 157ml.  Berkeley’s favourite is the cappuccino flavour!  Haagen Dazs runs about 260 calories (cream, baby!) and even has a little spoon under the lid.

4.  Boursin cheese and red pepper jelly – this is a great way to get protein into your kids.  I take a garlic and fine herb Boursin, cut it into quarters, put each quarter into a disposable bowl, put a dollop of red pepper jelly on top and add some healthy crackers  like rice thins or Food Should Taste Good Multigrain Tortilla Chips.

I bought this bag at Costco. The great thing about this chip-cracker hybrid is that it's gluten free and really does taste great!

5.  Smoothies – are a great snack for on the go.  You can make them just before you pick up your kids!  I’ve made my kids the traditional fruit smoothies with yogurt, fruit juice, frozen fruit and ice.  I’ve been on Herbalife and I’ve been experimenting with different flavours and Berkeley asked to have a sip of the one I made the other day and she loved it.

Chocolate, coffee, coconut smoothie

12 oz.  2% milk or almond milk (I use almond milk in mine!)

1 or 2 scoops of chocolate protein powder

2 tablespoons shredded coconut

ice

1 shot of espresso

Blend all ingredients together including the ice and then add the espresso shot.  Berkeley says this reminds her of a Tim Horton’s Iced Capp, but it’s so much better for her!  If your kids don’t like coconut, you can leave it out and add one tablespoon of smooth peanut butter.

A good friend of ours recommends green smoothies.  She said that they used to scare her and sound so unappealing, but she has tried this tropical one and her family asks for seconds!

Tropical Cream Green Drink

1/2 C. fresh OJ

1/2 C.-1 C. coconut milk

1 C. spinach

1 C. kale

1 frozen banana

1/2 c. frozen pineapple, mango, or peaches

1 tsp. vanilla

2 tablespoons coconut flakes

ice

This is from http://thediva-dish.com/uncategorized/all-about-green-drinks-101/ You can purchase coconut milk in plastic jugs from Save On Foods.

One thing that can be frustrating is trying to suck up that thick smoothly through a regular straw.  Here’s a sweet tip….buy bubble tea straws from your local Asian grocery food store.  I bought a package of 28 straws for $1.99

DIY Vases

Spring isn’t quite here, but the instinct to purge my house of anything extraneous is! And included on the “i haven’t used this in a year, so i’m never going to use it” list was a bunch of vases i had accumulated over the years. Not particularly pretty (ummm..actually ugly) , i had no use for them…until i read a blog post on  Centsational Girl. I was inspired by a her “do it yourself” painted dessert dishes (which i still plan on doing!!). Here’s the transformation:

your standard vase....boring!

Spray your vases with Frosted Glass Spray Paint, available at many stores. I found mine at Walmart. This paint has me thinking of lots of other projects i could tackle!

choose a paint that gives you the pop of color you're in search of...i couldn't decide so i bought all three!

my primitive "paint booth", but hey, it does the job! One coat of frosted paint...it dries in 10 minutes!

Today i opted for orange...painted and given new life!

I chose a monochromatic punch of color in my master ensuite

A little bit of SPRING on this cold wintery day...

Thanks, Centsational Girl, for reminding me that even this “craft impaired” girl can transform some old glass into art armed with nothing more than a can of spray paint!

Quinoa. It’s the Grain that’s Good for you!

Since coming home from Hawaii, Laurel and I and our hubbies have been trying to get healthier and shed our Christmas layer with Herbalife.  The plan allows for a “reasonable” dinner consisting of a palm-sized portion of lean protein, about two cups of colourful veggies and about 1 cup of a whole grain…quinoa was suggested as a good option.  I had used quinoa a bit before, but I’ve looked into it more and have tried using it in different ways.  The great thing about quinoa is that is acts a bit like a chameleon…it’s great at taking on flavours and can be used for sweet or savory.

The quinoa on the left is raw and on the right is cooked

Quinoa is known to be an “ancient grain” or a “superfood”.  Quinoa is high in protein, it’s gluten-free, it’s high in fibre and vitamins and contains all 8 essential amino acids.  For more information on the nutritional value of quinoa, go to http://www.quinoa365.com/whyquinoa.html

Most recipes call for cooked quinoa.  Follow the package instructions, but usually you need to rinse the quinoa first, then add two parts water to one part quinoa in a pot, cover, bring to a boil, then simmer covered for about 15 min.  Fluff with a forks and you are good to go.

Here are some of our fave quinoa recipes and here’s to getting healthier while eating great tasting food!

1.  Almond- Cranberry Quinoa Cookies http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2012/01/almond-cranberry-quinoa-cookies

Almond-Cranberry Quinoa Cookies and tea....ok, I only actually had one but that would have looked too sad on the plate!

I made these yesterday and they were REALLY good.  Had to say that my expectations were not too high and I was pleasantly surprised.  My daughter, Dylan, loved them too which is a bonus.  She doesn’t love eating meat and these cookies have protein in them!

What a great, healthy snack for kids. To send them to school, leave out the almonds and add shredded coconut. Also just add a bit more vanilla and leave out the almond extract.

A couple of notes for the recipe…I baked them at 350 degrees and not 375.  I also baked them for 5 minutes, turned the pan, and then let them bake another 5 minutes.  I prefer a chewier cookie.  Also, when you form them on the pan, you need to pat them down like this….

or they will end up being quinoa balls, like my first attempt!  Epic fail!

Vicki saw our tweet about this recipe.  She made them with dried cherries and loved them.  Great idea!

2.  Quinoa Tabouli – this is a light, fresh tasting side to most any dinner

TABOULI from http://www.quinoa.net/181.html

2 cups quinoa, cooked                                   1/2 tsp basil
1 cup chopped parsley                                   1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped scallions                               1/4 cup olive oil
2 TBL fresh mint or 1 TBL dried mint           salt and pepper to taste
1 garlic clove, pressed                                 lettuce leaves, whole
1/4 cup olives, sliced

Place all ingredients except lettuce and olives in a mixing bowl and toss together lightly. Chill for 1 hour or more to allow flavors to blend. Wash and dry lettuce leaves and use them to line a salad bowl. Add tabooli and garnish with olives. Serves 4

Sometimes my local grocery store does not carry basil in the winter. I used this Gourmet Garden Basil from the produce section.

This is a little trick that I learned from Rachel Ray...squeeze the lemon upside down and seeds won't escape!

The finished product!! I left out the lettuce leaves.

3.  The first time I ever had quinoa was when my friend, Andrea, made this salad.  I’m not sure of the exact recipe that she used, but here’s one that I’ve found that is very good.   http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/COPYCAT-EARLS-WEST-COAST-PRAWN-SALAD-WITH-CITRUS-HONEY-VINAIGRETTE-50072117

This salad is REALLY good!  And if you don’t want to make it, you can order it at Earl’s, however, it is only available seasonally (spring/summer).

Earl's West Coast Prawn Salad photo courtesy of http://citystyleandliving.blogspot.com/2011/05/earls-kitchen-and-bar-introduces-chefs.html

4.  Quinoa Greek Salad – ok, this is an easy one!!  Mix cooked quinoa with diced up cucumbers, grape tomatoes, cut up bell peppers, olives, crumble in a bit of feta and add your favorite Greek dressing!  So good!  Thanks to our reader Candice for the tip!

Ready to be tossed up with Greek dressing

Quinoa Greek Salad....serve with a grilled chicken breast and you have a healthy meal!

Here’s what our readers had to say about quinoa…

Libby said, “One of my favorite things to add to quinoa is edamame, and a greek quinoa salad is always good!”~adding edamame increases the protein…great idea!

Rachel added, “This one is delicious: http://www.justataste.com/2011/07/quinoa-with-corn-and-scallions/ ”~this sounds soooo good…love that the dressing has some sweet and sour to balance the flavours!

Kathie said, “This tasted excellent. Next time I am going to add some asian spice, soya sauce and bean sprouts for a different take! http://allrecipes.com/recipe/shrimp-quinoa/detail.aspx ”~great idea to cook the quinoa in chicken broth to add even more flavour!

Beauty Products I Use Everyday

Last week I realized that most of the products I use on a daily basis come in “Tiffany” blue packaging.  Am I drawn to them because I love that colour?  Or because they work well?  BOTH!

1.  EOS Lip Sphere in Sweet Mint $3.99 at London Drugs.  Available at most drugstores.

2. Moroccan Oil $41 at salons and Chatters

3. Bliss Lemon+Sage Supershine Shampoo $18 at http://www.blissworld.com, Sephora ($9.99 at Winners when available)

4.  Bliss Lemon+Sage Conditioning Rinse $18 at http://www.blissworld.com, Sephora ($9.99 at Winners when available)

5.  Degree Ultra Clear at drugstores

6.  Bliss Super Minty Soap ‘N Scrub $30 at http://www.blissworld.com, Sephora

7. Benefit Foamingly Clean Facial Wash $21 at http://www.benefitcosmetics.com, Sephora, Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutique

Please note that prices may vary in Canada and the US.

Bow Trends

Anyone who knows me, knows that i have a secret obsession with bows. I don’t know why or when it started, but let’s just say, they had me at “Hello”! Maybe it’s the sweet factor, or the homage to Jackie O but well-placed, a bow can take the simple and make it a stand out. Who’s on my team?

Favorite Chapstick

Sometimes i ask myself just how much personal info i want to put out there…lest i be judged forever for sharing some of my quirks, which there are all too many of.  But seeing as i find myself in good company, i’m puttin it out there. i am addicted to chapstick. In fact, i am known to get a little freaky if i can’t find some in arms distance…which is hard to believe, as i have these little tubes of “gold” hidden in most purses, pockets, glove compartments, drawers, jackets… i actually have a cosmetic bag, that is dedicated strictly to “lip care” and oh, if i forget this bag? Well, let’s just say it’s a “situation”!!

Here are some of my favorites:

Aveda Lip Saver– ever since my friend, Andrea, introduced me to Aveda Products, i’ve been a convert! And their lip balm does not disappoint. You’ll spend around $8.50 for a tube, which is up there, but, this balm really is the bomb! It lasts for hours and has a fragrance that will delight!

Eos- the new Smooth Sphere can be seen advertised all over. My sister-in-law, Jana, told me about it and it sounded appealing: 95% organic, 100% nautral…we’re all looking to keep the bad stuff out of our bodies, so it was definitely on my list. I found it at Safeway (for around $4) and now i’m fighting to keep it in my possession. My girls love it and lather it on at every opportunity..the summertime flavors are fresh and well…addicting! Thumbs up for Eos!

Burts Bees Wax Lip Balm–loaded with coconut and sunflower oils, this balm provides instant relief for dry, chapped lips. Love the peppermint tingle you get when you apply! $4.49 is a reasonable price, in both the tube and tin format. Word on the street is that this is a guy’s chapstick?!? Apparently, ”Burt” has given the male species the ok on this product!

Aveeno Lip Conditioner, Essential Moisture SPF 15–  one of the main ingredients in this balm is oatmeal, which we all know is is a natural soothing agent for the skin. The added SPF helps prevent your lips from chapping…this is one that i always pack on tropical holidays! $3.79 at drugstores.

Bliss Fabulips Softening Lip Balm– The packaging insists: it’s the simplest way to get a super-soft smooch! And i am a bit of a sucker for packaging! It does cost a bit more than I’d regularly spend, $16, but i do like the feel it gave as well as the aroma. Jojoba, shea and grapeseed oils give this lip balm a non-waxy coverage.

Chapstick- the classic lip balm that doesn’t have any gimmicks or pretenses, can still be great in a pinch. The offerings are many- the nighttime formula, sand or snow lip shield with SPF50, the classic, the moisturizer..and the list goes on. For $1.80, you can afford to stock all those purses and pockets!

And not to be left off the list…the tried and true, old stand by, never-fail Vaseline. Gotta be honest, one of my chapstick quirks is that i wear lip balms during the day, but i only wear Vaseline at night. I wish i could tell you why, but it’s just a “thing” with me. I cannot go to sleep unless i have the right consistency of Vaseline applied! And, when i wake up in the morning, i still feel like Angelina Jolie..ok, that’s going too far, but it works! A note to the wise: don’t wear Vaseline out into the sun. It doesn’t have SPF in it, and actually, works for the opposite effect. And blistered lips are not what we’re going for!

So…during these cold, winter months…have fun and pucker up!

What to Pack for Your Tropical Vacation!

Spring Break is quickly approaching and with the awful weather that hits most of Canada and at least half of the US at this time of year, many people desperately book vacations in the hope of finding some sun and a warmer climate. Right now I’m listening to the wind howling, shaking the French doors, and rain pelting the side of the house. A tropical vacation can’t come soon enough!

So, you’ve booked your vacation and now, what to pack! In Laurel and my experience, we tend to pack WAY TOO MUCH when we go to a tropical location. Jason always looks at my suitcase with bewilderment… “Are you really taking ALL of that!?!” And, I often come home having only worm about half of what I packed. Really…there’s only a few things that you need. And most tropical places are just more casual in nature.

Jessica Alba looks positively chic!!! This is the perfect warm weather ensemble! Photo courtesy of www.my.pclady.com.cn

So, to take a cue from Jessica Alba, here are a few warm weather essentials..

1.  Gladiators – they look great with most anything and are just a step up from flip flops.  Jessica Alba is wearing Matt Bernson KM Gladiators which are a bit of a splurge.  We love the pop of colour!  Steve Madden has just come out with some colourful gladiators….I’m super tempted.   Endless  has them for $60.  I love the turquoise!  They also come in coral.

2.  Light weight scarf – tropical locale’s can have a breeze, so it’s a great idea to pack a scarf that you can throw over your shoulders.  It’s also a great way to a bit of colour to your outfit.

Joe Fresh at the Real Canadian Superstore has these colourful scarves for $14. I picked up one in green, but I tempted to get a few more!

3.  Dresses – Laurel and I are big fans of what we like to call “easy breezy” summer dresses.  Whether they are shorter like Jessica’s or longer, dresses are comfortable, easy to pack and look a bit dressier than shorts.  If you pack about 3-4 dresses, and mix up the lengths, you should be good to go!  We are big fans of Ella Moss and Splendid .  Just a little tip – Splendid and Ella Moss have  been on Haute Look a few times and last time I snagged a Splendid tank style maxidress.  J Crew has a “Vacation Shop” which we LOVE.  You can buy swimsuits and shorts, year round!  We love this maxidress from their vacation shop!

Amie maxidress from J Crew comes in 3 colours

This is a great knee length dress from Ella Moss on on sale now on Revolve Clothing for $111

Revolve Clothing has free international shipping. Check their website for the deets!

4.  Hats – ok, I don’t do hats….but Jessica’s straw fedora has inspired me to maybe try!!  It looks pretty chic.  I might try this one from Nordstrom.

Hinge fedora. It's available in three different colours. $28

5.  Swim Suits and Cover Ups – how many you’ll need will depend on how long you are gone.  I like to switch up the styles that I wear to reduce tan lines, so it’s probably optimal to have about three suits and one or two cover ups.  Where can you buy suits at this time of year?  Joe Fresh has some in stores right now.  You can also check out the J Crew Vacation Shop, American Eagle, Roxy and of course, Nordstrom.  Winners has a good selection in their stores as well.

I don’t love to spend a ton of money of coverups so I often look to Roxy and Billabong for something fun, like this great coverup on sale for $36.80

Roxy Beach Blanket Coverup

5.  Flip flops – this is really my go to on vacation.  I do really love Havaianas.  I never really understood the hype until I actually tried them.  They are super comfy!  My fave are the Havaianas Slim and they run about $26.   But, I have found them at Winners and at Nordstrom Rack!  My girlies love them too…I’ve found them theirs on sale on AE Kids.

Havaianas Slim in Grey Silver go with almost anything!

It’s kind of fun to have a pair of flip flops with some bling.  So cute with a sundress or maxidress and you’re not sacrificing comfort.  I love the graphic pattern on these Tory Burch flip flops $50

I also love these jeweled flip flops from J Crew $ 30.50

Look for our upcoming post on “how” to pack featuring beach bags, carry ons, and luggage.

Valentine’s Day Decor

Valentine’s Day was celebrated early in our household…one of the quirks of blogging…you gotta have your material in advance!  The upside? I was able to completely surprise Scott…i mean, you’re not really thinking Valentines on Jan 22!

I decided to keep things close to home and focus on a making a relaxing, yet romantic dinner. I chose to use our bedroom, because, let’s be honest, it’s good to change things up and 2 people sitting at a big dining room table can feel a little less than intimate. I also wanted to focus on re-purposing items in my house. You don’t need to spend a ton of money to create a dining experience in y0ur own home. Look around your house with a different set of eyes…you might be surprised to find that there are ways to creatively re-use what you have already!

Here’s what i came up with:

cushions & throws make for comfy seating

These pink plates, along with the flowers, were my only purchases. Clearanced at $8 (Homesense) they added a splash of color without being too "girly"

The Elements: CLEAR GLASS TABLES and CUSHIONS taken from my living room. ~ RUG from my daughter's bedroom. ~SILVER PEDESTAL TABLE from my master ensuite. Be creative and use what you have!

Lights dimmed, candles lit and music playing helped to make our bedroom feel more like...well..not our regular bedroom!!

The silver pedestal table served as my beverage station...a candle and silver bud vase filled with tulips and mums completed the area

Gotta say...minus the kids poking their heads into the room to take pictures or ask how us "lovebirds" were doing...having an unrushed dinner in an usual setting felt like a huge treat!

Time for one picture, just as i heard Scott driving up to the house... SURPRISE!!

Look for my Valentine’s Dinner menu and pictures coming on Sunday!! Think seafod and fire…hmmm…interesting combination??? Check back to see all the deets which i hope will be a culinary inspiration to you!

Valentine’s Dinner Menu

My last post detailed how i set the scene for a romantic Valentine’s dinner…now onto the menu. In thinking what i wanted to prepare, the famously Spanish “paella” kept coming to mind. I’ve never made it, but have been intrigued by the flavors, the colors and the plethora of different ingredients that could be used. I also liked the idea of making a one dish dinner!

I looked long and hard for a paella recipe that appealed to me…and found one by Jamie Oliver that not only looked divine, but had fantastic reviews…so here’s my take on paella:

Fresh clams and mussels, scrubbed clean and left to soak in salt water (to get rid of any extra grit)

Sauteed chicken... be prepared to use multiple saute pans for this dish!

Sauteed chorizo sausage and pancetta...these were a standout, flavor-wise,  in the dish!

Infusing the chicken broth with the saffron... yes, saffron is quite expensive, but the flavor and color that it imparts are hard to duplicate. The smoked paprika is also essential in paella.

Specific varieties of paella rice can be difficult to find, but after researching it, many suggested using Arborio rice. i think it worked great! And can be found at most any grocery store

The finished product!! Scott is a protein lover, so i chose to add chicken, chorizo sausage, pancetta, clams, mussels, scallops and prawns. Paella ready to serve is a beautiful dish!

Served with fresh sourdough and a rosemary olive oil, the paella doesn’t require any other sides…this is a full, robust and flavorful meal! We also paired a Spanish wine with the paella..it was recommended by a friend, Debra, a number of years ago and we love it! Menguante, a dry Spanish red.

For dessert, i had to get creative….Scott is not a “sweets” guy, but, really, you can’t have a Valentine’s meal without chocolate, can you? I decided to do a take on s’mores…indoor, of course!

The S’more elements: freshly baked Peanut Butter Cookies, bittersweet chocolate, marshmallows and caramel sauce. Easy, yes?

I plated the warm cookies, bittersweet chocolate shavings, marshmallows and warmed caramel sauce..

For fire?? Had to become resourceful and used the bottom of my fondue pot!

Messy, but delicious!

The kids couldn't help themselves...a pretty yummy bedtime snack!

We had a simply wonderful evening…far more enjoyable than a fancy night on the town. A dinner with food made from the heart and wonderful company is a treasure! And we decided, it’s good for our kids to see their mom and dad taking time to be with one another…though there were many giggles and random flashing lights (as they tried to sneak pictures), i think they were secretly delighted.  I can’t wait to see some of your ideas and pics!! Do share..

Valentine’s Dinner Party for Two Decor

As Laurel has mentioned, one of the quirky parts of being a blogger is that you celebrate the holidays well in advance in order to have material to hopefully inspire your readers.  Well, Valentine’s came early to our household last Friday night.  I had the idea to put on an elegant dinner in our bedroom with some of Jason’s favourite dishes (the menu will be featured later this week!).

My inspiration for the decor came from Chanel’s Paris to Bombay Fall 2011 Fashion Show (thanks Miss Amanda and Miss Robin!).  I’ve never seen anything like it and I wanted to bring some of the elements into the decor.

Like Laurel, I also wanted to repurpose items used from around my house to keep the budget down.  I love white and silver and added the odd touch of antique pink.

I really enjoyed getting creative and it was fun to put in the effort for a dinner for just Jason and I.  I wanted to create an atmosphere to show him that I love and appreciated him.  I hope he felt it!

Having dinner by a fireplace just makes the setting more romantic! Candles help too! I have a collection of mercury glass voltives that I have used for countless different events!

I used the two Aurora transparent chairs from Urban Barn http://www.urbanbarn.com/products/Furniture/Dining-Room/Chairs-and-Stools/aurora-transparent-chair/559 that I already had in my bedroom. The table is just a card table that I borrowed from Jason's parents. The candelabra was from my dining room.

I created arrangements using silver mint julep cups that I already had (Michael's has them in their wedding section for about $14). I bought some off white roses, antique pink tulips and white freesia. I went to ChocolaTas and picked out 3 chocolates that had pink on them and they wrapped them up for me!

I used the side table from our bedroom to hold additional flowers, candles and the tiered silver tray which was filled with goodies for the lavender chocolate fondue. The shot glass had pink Hershey's kisses in it...just another way to add a pop of colour!

I strung some of my pearl necklaces on the chandelier and added crystal garland from my black Christmas tree. I also added two mercury glass bird ornaments with feathers from my Christmas tree (I dropped one in the process...dang, I now down a bird!).

Cheers!! I think Jason enjoyed the meal....I sure did! And the ambiance played a huge part!

Make Up Tips for Every Age

 This past fall, Pam and i had the good fortune of being introduced to Renee Bruinsma of Stila Cosmetics. My makeup routine definitely needed some updating…and Renee gave me a new “fresh and dewy” look that i loved. Simple and quick, Renee’s tips transformed my everyday routine. We were excited to sit down and ask some of the questions we’ve had as well as you, our viewers!

About the Author – Renee Bruinsma

Renee has been bringing out the best in the women of Vancouver with 10 years of prestige brand professional artistry experience under her make up belt.  Frequently sought for her advice on the latest cosmetic trends, she is a guest contributor to this blog and also manages the Western Region for Stila Cosmetics.

What is the biggest mistake women make when applying their makeup?

Close your eyes and imagine. Its a warm summer night a couple of decades ago.  A little girl peers around the corner into her mom’s bedroom to watch her put on her makeup for a night out with her dad.  She gets a glimpse of the magical powder her mom puts on her face…the pencil that makes her eyes look so beautiful and the red lipstick that makes her so glamourous.   If only she could be like her mom one day…

Does this take you down memory lane?…the thick powders our moms used to wear, the heavy lipsticks that smelled so strong…and the eye pencils that could scratch your eye out!

But it didn’t matter…because they were so beautiful – or so we thought!

Fast forward to today – 30 years later, we can achieve the same idolized look that our mother’s wore without the “mask like” powders, drying lipsticks and hard eyeliners.   Technology has come so far that we can look fresh, radiant and modern with less product that does so much more, than ever.   Why? Because the make up ingredients and composition have improved so much in the times since we were little girls, that we can do far more, with far less – resulting in a truly “less is more” look.

Today, the biggest mistake women still make is wearing too much.  There is a big misconception that if you wear more its going to look better…Not so – in fact the opposite is true.

Anytime a woman wears something that is too heavy it ages her, no matter if she’s 20, or 60 and who wants to look older?!  That goes for complexion products, lips, eyes…everything.

The key to looking young, fresh and modern is fresh makeup with a modern technique.

Natalie Portman...modern, fresh & clean makeup

This is very easy to create with the proper products and the right tips.

A really good example is foundation.  Complexion is what people see the most. Your skin should always look like your skin, not like you have thick mask on.

A great product to try is a tinted moisturizer. This type of product can actually make you look younger because it adds extra radiance, especially if you tend to have a more dry skin.

Tinted moisturizer doesn’t settle into any ‘crevices’ (you ladies know what I’m talking about), it stays looking fresh and radiant all day long, you can layer it if you need more coverage in certain areas and it has an SPF!  What more could you possibly want out of one product?!

A favorite tinted moisturizer of the professionals is Stila sheer color tinted moisturizer, hydrant, oil-free, SPF 20. There is a wide range of colors to match every skin tone.

The great thing about Stila complexion products is that no matter what range you chose, your skin will always look radiant, fresh and polished. The products are virtually undetectable on the skin which is fantastic.

If you had to leave the house with only 3 products, what would they be?

1.  Stila sheer tinted moisturizer in light – because my skin needs a little coverage and evening out before I start my day.

2.  Stila stay all day brow in light – because brows are what shape and sculpt your entire face.

3.  Dior lip Glow – I love this product because instantly moisturizes my lips, adds the perfect amount of a flushed pink shade and has an SPF 10.

What is the quickest way to take your makeup from day to night?

The quickest way I take my makeup from day to night is adding a little eye liner or lipstick.

The easiest way to sizzle up your eyes for a night out is to smudge a little liner on your lid, close to the eyelashes. The key is that the liner has to be really soft in texture, otherwise the product just won’t go on properly and you will not get the proper depth in shade.  Best way to do it is to take your soft liner (Stila smudge stick in Stingray or Purple tang is the my top pick of late)  and draw a line close to the lash line and smudge it a little with a small shadow brush, Stila #28 works perfect.  This will add some depth to the eyes without looking harsh or trampy.

Another great way to add a little definition is to add some liquid liner! Black works perfect and looks polished and modern.

If you’re not into adding anything on your eyes for the evening then add a little color to the lips. Red lips (or a more intense shade) are a great way to take your look from natural, to a little more edgy.  They will always draw attention and it keeps the rest of your makeup looking fresh.

If you could recommend one product for each of these age groups, what would they be?

20′s – A bright lip.  At 20 years old the skin is still even and radiant so there isn’t a lot to even out, which would require a complexion product, so I like to focus on the lips.  A bright shade lip gloss or lipstick (for the more daring) is a perfect way to complete a natural look.  My favorite lipgloss in a bright shade would be Stila Lip glaze in Raspberry.

 30′s – Tinted Moisturizer.  At this age, the skin is still beautiful and plump but a lot of the time, the days of sun worshiping and past picking zits, start to show.  As these things were satisfying at the time…but thank goodness we have something to enhance and actually treat the skin.  Tinted moisturizer is a great way to even out the complexion and really customize your look.  You can add more coverage in the places that need a little more love and leave the areas that are untouched, more sheer.

40′s – Eyeliner.  A lot of women in their 40′s often complain to me that no matter what they apply to their face, they still feel tired.  Best way to waken things up, even if you’re still tired, is to add a soft textured – waterproof liner to the upper eyelid. You will be surprised how your eyes look much more awake and defined.  This tip can even give the illusion of longer lashes.

50′s – Creme Blush.  Blush alone, on any woman can bring life to their face.  A beautiful, flushed, natural shade just brightens up the entire complexion.  A lot of women tell me, “oh I just wear bronzer to add a little color”.  Sorry, bronzer is great but its not going to brighten the complexion like blush does.  The other key at this age is choosing creme.  The great thing about a creme instead of a powder is that it looks like its part of the skin and not sitting on top.  A lot of women at 50 do not have that glow to their skin any longer and creme blush is a great way to bring that illusion back of a young, healthy, glowing skin.  My absolute favorite, Stila Convertible cheek & lip in Peony.  This is really the perfect shade for every woman.

60′s – Brows, brows, brows.  At this age, women tend to loose thickness and even shape to their brows.  I find when brows start to go, so does the complete structure of your face.  Brows can really sculpt your face / look. Even if just your brows are done and you leave the house you still look put together and sculpted.

The number one complaint I get from women is “my brows are always gone half way through the day”.  This is true for most people, of all ages actually, because there are the oily skins, the face touchers, the athletes, etc… Well ladies hang on to your make up – there’s is now a solution!

Introducing the new “Stila Stay all day brow”.  This product is revolutionary in today’s market as there is nothing like it in from any other brand. It comes in 2 shades, light and medium and…….drum roll……….is WATERPROOF!!  Finally a brow product that stays on even if you go swimming!  I am so thrilled with this product as you can actually draw little hairs that look exactly like natural hairs.  The tip is so fine that lets you create your own shape looking natural every time.  I love how it takes me back to the glamour and beauty of the first time I saw that radiant woman applying her make up as a little girl.

Beautiful fresh faced makeup

Thank you, Renee, for sharing your beauty secrets with us! And we love LOVE the Stila product line. Even better? For those of you close to home, it’s now available locally! Look for the Stila section at the Shoppers Drug Mart at Whatcom Road. Also available online at Sephora

Pam’s Valentine’s Dinner Menu

When planning the menu for our dinner, I focused on things that I knew were Jason’s favourites.  I didn’t want to be in the kitchen for a long time between courses, so I had to be able to do a lot of the prep in advance.  And also, Berkeley, our 12 year old, was my sous chef and helped to get things going as we were eating each course!

So, this is the menu I settled on…

Onion Soup with Loads of Thyme and Giant Gruyere Crostini

Onion soup is not normally my fave, but I really enjoyed the flavour of this one because of the thyme. Make sure you use the Swiss Gruyere...it makes a big difference!

Rack of Lamb with Rosemary with Truffled Mac and Cheese Orzo and Roasted Baby Beets

Lamb is so easy to prepare! Just buy a rack of lamb, cut it into chops, sprinkle with a mixture of kosher salt, fresh ground pepper and chopped up fresh rosemary. Broil in the oven and turn over once it starts to brown and crisp up!

Lavender Chocolate Fondue

I warmed up whipping cream with food grade lavender to infuse the cream with the flavour. I melted a mixture of about half dark chocolate and half milk chocolate over a double boiler and added the lavendar infused cream.

Here’s what we dipped into the lavender chocolate fondue….raspberries, pineapple, strawberries, mango, Milsean artisanal marshmallows in vanilla bean and mayan chocolate, “Dusty Rusty” almond Notti Biscotti, toasted fingers of pound cake, pretzel rods, cranberry crisps, and coconut macaroons. Just be creative as it’s fun to have dippers for your fondue that are a little out of the ordinary…you can find awesome things for this at gourmet food stores.

I tweeted Robert Stelmachuk @ChambarWine to find out what he would recommend pairing with lamb.  He suggested D’Arenberg “Love Grass” Shiraz.  Unforunately, Liberty Wine Merchants did not have it available, but their super helpful staff recommended D’Arenberg “The Galvo Garage” 2007 and it was divine.

Yes, the dinner and planning took a bit of time and effort, but Jason and I both really enjoyed the meal. It was fun to have the kids help us prepare, serve and clean up too! It was a much more relaxed, romantic and meaningful dinner than being in an overcrowded restaurant for Valentine’s Day!

Let us know if you decide to celebrate Valentine’s at home and let us know what you did and send us your pics! Hubbies, boyfriends…feel free to take the lead on this one too! If you’re not much of a cook, a romantic dessert works or cocktails and appies!

Valentines Paper Goods

I found this saying, and thought Yes, Yes, YES! It goes like this: ”If ever there were a day to revive the lost art of the handwritten note, Feb 14th is it.” (San Diego, City Beat)  I couldn’t agree more…save the emails for another day..tell the ones you love with ink!!!

Here are a couple of our favorite places to buy cards that you can lovingly fill with your words, or hunt down crafts to do with your kiddies, or search wrapping paper to adorn your goodies…

The Paper Source is a website filled with Valentine’s love…cards, gifts tags, craft sets and gifts. For kids, adults and everyone between!

Zing Paperie and Design houses some serious paper couture! Located in North Vancouver (the Village in Park Royal), this stationary store is filled with beautiful treasures…and even better, they are are a business committed to bettering their community. Active participants in conserving the environment, as well as donating their design services to charities make Zing special! Shop online or instore and treat yourself to paperie heaven…

you + me = us Zing Paperie-North Vancouver

If you have been following us, you’ll know that we love Poppies for Grace and their papergoods line. Check out their newest additions:

And don’t forget….put your own personal stamp on every Valentine’s note you give: your own handwriting! The recipient will be delighted, I’m sure.

Spring is Coming!

There’s usually a week in February where I start to get spring fever!  It’s a bit odd, but we usually have one week of warm weather in the Vancouver area each February and you often see people pulling out the shorts and flip flops.  That week was last week, when temperatures hit 14 degrees Celsius.  Ok people…that’s not flip flop weather, but I loved that you could leave the house without a jacket and just a sweater.

I was so inspired by the weather that I had to bring “some spring” inside the house.  The potted daffs from the grocery store and the cheerful napkins from Superstore fit the bill for me!

I will admit that I have a love-hate relationship with Superstore.  I am not a fan of packing my own groceries and massively long lines at the till.  I am usually in a sweat by the time I’ve packed all of my groceries, racing to get them all back in my cart before the next order starts coming down the belt!  But you can find some really well priced, fun, seasonal items there, so sometimes it’s worth the stress!   I love these colourful, graphic napkins ($5 each).

Nothing says “spring” better than fresh flowers, so I indulged when I saw these orchids at Wal-Mart for $12.97.

Orchids can apparently last for a very long time but I’m NO greenthumb, so they usually last a month or two at my house, but $12.97 for a month or two is a lot less expensive than buying cut flowers weekly!

How do you “springterize” your home?  What little touches do you bring in because you know spring is coming?  We’d love to hear from you!

Spring Scarves

I remember travelling to Italy about 4 years ago…we were struck by a very new trend: wearing scarves….in the heat of summer! Scott thought i was crazy, but i brought scarves home for my friends and families and told them this was the “European” thing. I fell in love with the trend…though i doubt it’s longevitiy in the fashion scene allows it to be called a trend any longer. It’s a mainstay…scarves year round. And though i love the warm, chunky varieties that we’ve been wearing these winter months, i always pause and let a contented sigh escape when i see the brightly colored, lighter versions arriving for spring.

Here are some of my favorites (and shhhh…Scott doesn’t need to know that 2 of these made their way into my closet this week… i couldn’t resist!!)

You've seen us tweet about these! Joe Fresh at the Real Canadian Superstore. $14

Neon Stripe Scarf~~the Gap $29.95 The Green stripe is truly neon and looks fabulous over a crisp white tee!

Chrysanthemum Sprigs Scarf~~ Anthropologie $58 Shades of green would look great with denim

Microspun stripe scarf~~ J Crew $33.50 I LOVE this scarf..made from jersey cotton, it acts as wrap as well! Perfect for travelling...keep it in your carry-on for use on a flight or a cool evening! Comes in a variety of colors..

This last scarf is a splurge but serves double duty…wear it as is, or as a sleeveless wrap!

Diane von Furstenberg "Hanover" Pink Landscape Scarf ~~ Nordstrom $204.38 CDN ...Love the brilliant hues in a colorblocked pattern!

Shown in the Linescape Green...belted and worn as a wrap..love it!!

Pair these scarves with some of your wardrobe basics: a neutral sweater, a crisp white tshirt, a pair of skinny jeans, your favorite ballet flats and you’re ready for Spring to blossom!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Laurel and I already posted our Valentine’s dinners that we prepared for our hubbies, so today will be a bit lower key for both of us.  Truth to be told, we will be running the kids from dance competition to dance class, rushing home to make the boys and our hubbies dinner, and then back to dance!   Good thing we celebrated early!

If you are short on time today, there are still ways that you can show your love to your hubby, your boyfriend, your kids, your girlfriends, and anyone else in your life that you value and appreciate!  Valentines is not just a romantic holiday!

Recently, I went to David’s Tea to buy the “Organic Skinny” tea that I’ve been drinking in my quest to slim down a bit!  They were promoting their “Organic Hot Lips” tea and I politely said, “No thanks!”  But the clerk opened the lid and once I smelled it, I had to give it a try.  If you like cinnamon, you’ll love this tea!  This green tea also has peppercorns and chili pepper.  I love it!

Last week a friend brought me a bag of loose leaf Rooibos Vanilla tea to try. What a treat!  Tea makes a great gift!

Don’t have time to go shopping?  You can send  your love and appreciation with a Starbucks E-Card  You can chose your own design and amount and it will show up in their inbox!  Love it!  I would pick the heart design.  It’s the same adorable one that’s on their cups right now.

Another great idea that kids LOVE is an iTunes card. I know that my kids love to be able to buy their newest favourite song or save up to buy a movie.  You can buy iTunes cards almost anywhere, but you can also purchase gift certificates online and email them to the recipient.

Valentine’s Day really isn’t about the gifts….it’s just letting the people that matter most to you know that they are loved and appreciated.  Pack your kids a treat in their lunch, bring your friend a coffee, or show up and take your hubby for lunch….these things are small but make the other person feel special!

Thai Tacos

Since January, I’ve been putting a concerted effort into cooking fresher, healthier meals. But they still have to be full of flavour! Often, I find myself running into the house after dropping off the girls at dance and I have about a half an hour to get dinner on the table before Mac leaves for hockey. Recently, I came up with my version of Thai tacos. They are fresh, quick and so tasty!

Here’s what we all use for our Thai Tacos:

• Whole wheat tortilla
• Thai ground chicken or turkey
• Thai coleslaw
• Cucumber salad
• Peanut satay (can be store bought)
• Sweet Thai chili sauce (we like the one by Thai Kitchen)

Thai Ground Chicken or Turkey

2-3 teaspoons sesame oil
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon minced ginger
1 to 1 1/2 pounds ground chicken or turkey
crushed chiles
salt and pepper

Heat up the sesame oil in a wok or frying pan over medium high heat. Add the garlic and the ginger and stir for about 30 seconds. Add the ground chicken and turkey and cook until done, breaking up with a wooden spoon. Add the chiles (just a scant sprinkling if you don’t like it too spicy!) and season with salt and pepper.

For the Thai Coleslaw I use this recipe http://allrecipes.com/recipe/quick-and-easy-thai-style-coleslaw/ with a few modifications. I mix all of the dressing ingredients together in a shaker cup. For the dressing, I add salt and pepper and a few crushed chiles. To the package of coleslaw I add about 3 tablespoons of fresh cilantro, 3 tablespoons of chopped green onions, and one diced up red, orange or yellow pepper. Honey roasted peanuts taste really good in this slaw!

The Cucumber Salad adds another layer of flavour. I modify this recipe too!! Big surprise, hey? I omit the red onion and the peanuts. I love the mint flavour…sooo fresh!

Once everything is made, you are ready to go to town and customize your Thai Taco!!! I like to start with a thin layer of the peanut satay sauce on the tortilla, load up with the coleslaw, add some cucumber salad, and then the ground chicken and top of with a dollop of sweet Thai chili sauce! Soooo good!!!! Here’s how Dylan made her’s….

Enjoy!!! Sawadee ka!!!

Spring Must-Haves

As the days get longer and the temperature rises ever so slightly, i start getting what i call closet “cabin fever”! You know that blank stare you have as you look around your closet trying to decide what to wear? Quite frankly, my clothes are boring me right now and i’m ready to start pulling out the stuff i haven’t seen in about 6 months! Every season, i like to add a couple new pieces that both fit in with what i already have, but add some injected life and a new jump off point for the upcoming months.
Here are my must-haves for spring…

The Elements:
COLORED SKINNY JEANS, in bright tones, are everywhere! Start wearing them now, and you’ll find yourself getting appreciative smiles from those around you! Check out Roxy‘s Skinny Floods or commit fully to the trend with Joe’s Jeans.
CRISP WHITE TEE (and Michael Stars tees REALLY are the best!) is perfect for layering…under a sweater or on its own (paired with a statement necklace), invest in a couple of good quality tees that will carry you through til fall. Other options include Piperlime.com or James Perse.
STRIPED SWEATER or CARDIGAN We are loving stripes! Look for a striped sweater, that can be paired with your colored skinnies and you’re set! Shopbop and Old Navy both have a great ones.
BALLET FLATS (can’t wait to try the Toms ones) are a staple for us women on the go! Look chic and polished while still being functional! There are tons to choose from..invest in a pair of Tory Burch or go midroad with Guess or more trendy with American Eagle.
ACCESSORIES Lastly, don’t forget to accessorize!! To me it’s like adding a painting to your wall…you can have a beautiful room, but the art just brings it all together and gives it personality! Look for a metallic handbag that can be worn with just about anything. Lucky and H&M  offer great options!

All of these pieces will serve as basics from which you can build scads of outfits! I’m loving the combination of brights for the upcoming season…don’t be afraid to layer couple of colors, but stop short of looking like a pack of Skittles!

The Best Luggage and Carry Ons for Your Trip

Spring Break will be here soon and I know that many of you have planned to fly to warm destinations.  The airlines have very strict weight restrictions on bags, so packing is tricky.  I remember back to when Jason and I were first married and we got our first set of hard case luggage.  It was awesome because nothing would get damaged inside.  But with most airlines now having a 50 pound weight restriction, that luggage just doesn’t fit the bill anymore as the suitcase itself weighs about 10 to 15 pounds.

We now prefer soft, rolling bags that on their own weigh very little.  When we travel as a family, each child is responsible to deal with their own bag!

Sierra Trading Post and Backcountry.com both carry many brands of soft, rolling bags at discount prices.  We especially like the ones from Oakley and DaKine.  I have ordered from both companies and have been super happy with the product and quick delivery times.  Both companies do offer shipping to Canada.  Backcountry.com offers free shipping on orders over $50 to the US.

This large DaKine split roller bag is available at Sierra Trading Post.

Berkeley has a bag very similar to this DaKine one. This bag is available for $124.59

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/dakine-split-roller-suitcase-large~p~2803n/?filterString=rolling-luggage~d~4872%2F&colorFamily=17

This bag is available for $131.96.

DAKINE Wheeled 90L Duffel Bag - Women's

http://www.backcountry.com/dakine-wheeled-duffle-bag-large-womens-5480cu-in

Laurel has this Oakley rolling bag. You'd be amazed at what she can all fit into it!

This Oakley Women’s Miss Thing Roller Luggage is available for $195 at http://www.altrec.com/oakley/womens-miss-thing-roller-luggage-100194?cm_mmc=Mercent-_-NexTag-_-Oakley-_-100194&mr:referralID=32dcf92c-5b75-11e1-ac63-001b2166c2c0

My go to bag for on the plane is one that I bought at Lululemon a couple of years ago.  Their current Flow and Go Tote is similar and not only works for the gym but for travel too.  Lots of pockets and zippers work great for boarding passes, passports and your phone.  We love that it can be worn messenger style.  It will hold your wallet, all of your travel documents, magazines, iPad, snacks and a bottle of water!  You’ll be good to go!  And Lululemon offers free shipping in Canada and the US and if you live in the Lower Mainland, you usually get your package within 1 to 2 days!

Lululemon Flow and Go Tote $128

I also really love this Mosey Life Weekender Tote available on Endless.com I recently put an order in and I received it to my door in two days! That’s what I’m talkin’ about!  They offer free shipping on orders over $100, but do expect to pay duties.

Mosey Life Weekender Tote $152, available in 5 colours.

When travelling, it’s key to have light weight luggage and a great carry on bag that’s super functional!

Beach Bags!

In the past, I used to forget to pack a beach bag and always had to buy the overpriced touristy one at the resort gift shop that I would NEVER use again! Last Valentine’s, Jason bought me a Trina Turk beach bag and I love it and never forget to pack it!  Retire the reuseable Lululemon bags  ladies (sorry Laurel!).  Yes they are great bags and it’s smart to recycle, but amp it up a notch and get yourself a great beach bag that you’ll use for years to come!

Exhibit A - the point of this pic is not Berkeley, even though I think she's pretty cute! Look at the top right corner...my beach bag is the pink one, Jana's (our sister in law's) is the cute tie dye one, and Laurel's is the Lululemon shopping bag!

Here are some of my fave beach bags out this season!

So, Laurel…I’m putting out a challenge. No Lululemon shopping bag at Spring Break. You need a real, bonafide beach bag!!! And I expect a report back on what you picked!!!! Wow…I’m sounding like a bossy, older sister! Yah..I’m the older one!

Our Weekly Grind…

The past 6 weeks, have marked a time where the bad habits have needed to be broken and new ones formed! Challenging, yes..an ongoing process? Yes! But working towards a goal of being more healthy is the best thing…not just for me…but for my family as well.

So…here’s the lowdown on what I’m doing physically. And don’t kid yourselves…there’s a social benefit to some of it too!! Coffee twice a week with friends after our workouts is some of the best motivation out there!

Tuesdays: BOOTCAMP  Seven of us friends meet Tuesday mornings in Pam’s basement to get “worked” by Jocelyn! A grueling hour filled with burpees, pushups, jumping jacks, seal jumps, sit ups and oh so many  more fun and delightful exercises! This workout is what makes me walk funny on occasion and makes everyday routines, such as walking up the stairs, a painful task. But, it’s worth it..we do it all together…the faces we make at Jocelyn, as well as the exercises!

Jocelyn's famous lunges...10 minutes and counting

Thursdays: HIP HOP WORKOUT CLASS   Both Pam and I have been in Miss Mary-Anne’s hiphop class for the past 6+ years. Technically, i suppose we should be crumpin’, locking, popping and breaking..well,my knees and other body parts are doing some popping and locking but not in the way, i’d hope! Hey, we’re there for the workout..and it’s just plain fun. Being with your friends and dancing to LMFAO..where else can you do that???

Mary-Anne keeps us moving, even if she has to explain the choreography to us literally step by step, time and time again!

Monday, Wednesday and Friday– HOME WORKOUTS. I am focusing more on weights these days as the other two have alot of cardio! I do still start with 20 minutes on the Elliptical but then spend the rest of the time trying to get some definition on this non-defined body of mine!! Arm curls, leg lifts and squats (darn those squats!) are exercises that i’m currently enduring…i do love when Scott joins me. He gets the music pumping..actually thumping, and well, something just feels extremely healthy working out with your guy..ha!

4 more weeks til Spring Break… and i’m committed. How bout you? Tell us what keeps you moving…

Spring Planting

February and March mark the time of year where the patios get pressure washed, gutters get cleaned and we start to plan how we will accessorize the exterior of our houses with plantings. Our sis-in-law, Jana, has always had a knack for putting together beautiful pots and then…continuing to care for them until fall gets its grip on all things summery (insert: this is one of my self-admitted failures…maintaining!).

Jana spends much of her time researching the latest trends and her yard always sports new and interesting features. Here is what she says is coming for Spring!

This year, its all about growing veggies and herbs in containers and coloured pots. This is a change from the past, where pots in muted undertones were filled with brightly colored flowers.

Love these ornamental peppers..but they aren't just for looks...they taste great too!

Here is a great combination of two fun trends for this year:colored pots, as well as planting veggies in them!

They have shown smaller pots with one or two tiny plants but you can actually do this in a giant pot as well…take your pick!

Red makes a striking appearance and filled with cherry tomatoes on the vine makes it functional too!

The consensus is in: Plant your herbs and veggies in pots this year. Leave the herb garden behind. What to do with your existing herb garden? Jana has suggested covering it in top soil (or rocks for a more permanent change) and set some groupings of vibrant pots in this area! I’m liking the idea as i’m thinking it will be easier to maintain.

Adding herbs to some pots with other plant varieties (not veggies) also give great fragrance…especially if planted in a taller pot so as people walk by they get the delightful smell.

Four of my favorite herbs to pot are:  Lavender, Rosemary, Thyme, and Mint. For a great hostess gift: plant the purple lavendar in a purple pot. Simple, fragrant and stunning!

White geraniums and blue/purple petunias. Jana's suggestion: add some lavendar to this combination for some fragrance and it's complete! Planted in a silver pot, this arrangement would make a dramatic statement.

For those of you just not ready to commit to bold color, try going with a more muted, monochromatic scheme. Here are some suggestions:

For simple clean lines this is a great piece. Make sure if you are using just one colour (green) to use a variety of green hues and textures to give depth. Add additional interest with plants that trail, grow in height and grow in width.

A grouping of pots like this green one above would be perfect if you already have lots of colour from another source, such as your outdoor living furniture and  pillows. If you tend to go for a clean aesthetic, keep things more monochromatic and simple. For this look, remember to choose flowers and grasses and leaves all being in the same colour tones. Monochramatic schemes work well housing Reds, Greens, Purples and even Blacks. You can now find black grasses, called Mondo Grass, as well as black petunias, black dahlias, pansies and much more. Black Plants is a great reference for oodles of these beautiful varieties!

For information on the plant varieties in the above arrangment , named aptly “Verdant Tapestry”, check out the Canadian Gardening website

More muted colour for a base. These wooden boxes also offer an alternative for those that don't want ceramic or plastic pots.

Another big trend this year is the use of metals in your pots…Silver, Bronze and Black.

photo courtesty of Better Homes and Gardens

photo courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

Jana’s last tip is for those of you who don’t consider yourselves to have a greenthumb! You can do this: Plant just one ornamental grass in a pot… for a look that is modern and clean and..? Super easy to maintain!
Thanks, so much, Jana for sharing your faves with us! Dare i say that you’ve got me a little excited to get spring planting? Look for pics of Jana’s potted masterpieces coming soon!

Gardening photos courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens and Canadian Gardening.

Amp Up Your Eyelashes!

I LOVE long and full eyelashes. They just look SO glamorous to me! Last year, just before Christmas, I tried lash extensions. I was enamored by the thought of thick lashes and the ability to go a few weeks without mascara. Unfortunately, I had a bad reaction to the glue! I was sitting at a family gathering and my eyes were getting more and more red. My relatives started asking my what was wrong with my eyes….needless to say, it was a little embarrassing. I tried to get into a clinic two days later because my eyes were getting worse and worse!!! Eventually I just ended up steaming the extensions off in the shower and using Polysporin drops to clear my eyes up!! Epic fail!

So, extensions are not for me, but I’ve been on the hunt to find products to help thicken and lengthen my natural lashes. I’ve found two products that really help to amp up my lashes!

1. RapidLash – You hear a lot about different serums that promise thicker, longer lashes, but I have to say, this stuff REALLY works! Not only can you use it on your lashes….have you overplucked your eyebrows???? This product can help with that too! RapidLash is a bit pricey….you can purchase it online for about $49.99 and many retailer stores in Canada (London Drugs, Shoppers Drug Mart) sell it for about $59.99. But recently, London Drugs had RapidLash on sale for $39.99. I’ve also purchased it on HauteLook for about $25.00 + shipping. I’ve even bought it at Nordstrom Rack!! You need to use it nightly for about 4 weeks to see results!! My mom is currently using it to amp up her brows and lashes. Be warned…a beauty consultant once convinced me to buy another brand that promised the same results and it didn’t do close to what RapidLash does!

2. Mascara – I’ve tried a lot of mascaras in my day from drug store brands to high end mascaras that promise you the world! Well, my stand by is Maybelline Great Lash. It’s been around forever, but it is my fave and it’s inexpensive! Recently, they have introduced a twist on this brand called “Lots of Lashes” and I LOVE the shape of this brush. The thin end allows you to get the smaller lashes at the inner corner of your eye. I like it best in “Blackest Black”. Seriously, you don’t need to spend a fortune on your mascara to get a great result! This mascara sells for about $6.99!! I use an eyelash curler before I put on the mascara.

Here’s the before mascara and after (and ok, some eyeshadow and liner too!)

Grilled Steak with Melon Chutney

I have a hubby who loves his steak, so every once in a while, i indulge his tastes and put steak on the table! Normally, i shy away from this meat because it tends to be a heavy meal..most often i opt for chicken or turkey. But…. i found this recipe today on Epicurious and wow…SO good! It’s a keeper!

Grilled Lime-Curry-Rubbed Hanger Steak with Fresh Melon-Cucumber Chutney

Steaks are marinated in a sauce of lime juice, vegetable oil, curry powder, salt and pepper..the longer you let the steak marinate, the better.

Choose a ripe honeydew...you will need 2 cups, chopped finely

Fresh lime juice, chopped cilantro and minced fresh jalapeno

The addition of chopped cucumbers, diced red onion, ground coriander and cumin give this chutney delicious flavor..

Grill your steak on the barbie to the doneness of your liking…my husband tends to think that anything more cooked than medium rare is a crime!!

To accompany the steak, i made Sauteed Parsnips and Carrots with Honey and Rosemary Only difference?? My local grocer was out of parsnips, so i substituted turnips. Truthfully, i’ve never been a fan of turnips, but this recipe changed my mind! The combination of rosemary and honey with the sauteed carrots and turnips is so-o-o good! And….it’s quick to prepare..bonus!

Chop both the turnips and carrots into thin matchstics and season with kosher salt and pepper.

After about 12 minutes, the carrots and turnips are starting to carmelize...add the fresh rosemary and honey. The honey glazes the veggies, adding a hint of sweetness.

To finish off the menu, i made some basmati rice… even though i was just serving my family, it’s fun to plate the meal and put some effort into the presentation! This would also be a great “guests over” meal!

Mound some basmati rice on the plate, and lay the steak overtop. Spoon the fresh chutney overtop. Make sure to keep the extra chutney on hand...your family/guests will be wanting second helpings!

I love it when my family eats themselves silly over a meal i’ve prepared…and this one was a hit! We all decided that the chutney could be served as a salad in and of itself. So fresh and so flavorful!

Ice Cream Cakes Kicked Up a Notch

Last week was Jason’s birthday and we were having a few friends over for dessert.  Problem…Jason doesn’t like dessert…the only dessert he likes is an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen.  I know it’s hard to resist that fudgy, chocolatey, yet crunchy layer between the ice milk and the chocolate ice cream.  But I wasn’t going to have friends over for a DQ cake, so I decided to search Epicurious for ice cream cake recipes that are  kicked up a notch!

My search came back with 910 recipes!!!  I zoned in on two different cakes….

S’mores Coffee and Fudge Ice Cream Cake

Just before serving the S'mores ice cream cake you brulee a layer of marshmallows on top. That's what I'm talkin' about!

Chocolate-Peppermint Ice Cream Cake

That doesn't look like Peppermint. I put my own twist on this one!

If you look at the recipes, you’ll notice that they both have a fudge sauce. The recipes for the fudge sauce are only slightly different, so I split the difference and made a double batch and used it for both cakes. There was plenty left over, so I put it in a microwaveable jug and heated it up and poured some on each slice and added some whipped cream.

Homemade Fudge Sauce...I used this for both cakes!

One of my favourite things about the s’mores cake was the crust.  Instead of just graham crackers, the crust also had ground up toasted almonds.  It just added another layer of flavour.

If you’ve been reading our recipe posts, you know that I can’t just follow a recipe without putting my own spin on it!  Instead of using peppermint in the Chocolate-Peppermint Ice Cream Cake, I used crushed up Milsean Dark Chocolate & Almond Demerara Butter Crunch .  I pushed the toffee pieces into the layer of vanilla ice cream and added some on the very top.  The centre of this cake is very similar to a DQ ice cream cake…homemade fudge mixed with crunchy chocolate wafer crumbs (if you don’t want to crush them yourselves, just use Oreo crumbs!).

See that lovely layer of fudge and crunchy chocolate wafer crumbs in the middle?? Divine!

One other tip….when making ice cream cakes, I don’t buy the most expensive, highest quality ice cream because you have so many other flavours and textures in the cake.  I buy the 2 litre ice cream in the carton.  The bonus about this is you can open up the carton and “slice” up the ice cream making it much easier to make the layers for these cakes.  You also don’t need as much freezing time between assembling the layers because the ice cream hasn’t been melted to spread it.

Verdict…the kids liked the S’mores Cake the best and the adults opted for the Chocolate Demerara Buttercrunch Cake. Glad I made both!

Colored Denim

Everywhere you look this spring there’s colored denim. This trend can seem a bit daunting….I’ve asked myself, “Am I too old for this?” Well, I’ve decided to jump in! I’m ready for some color after all of the black and gray of this past season! Here are a few of our fave colored jeans out there…

There are a few “rules” that should be followed when wearing colored denim…

1.  You do have to be somewhat cautious with this trend or, as Laurel says, you could end up looking like a bowl of Skittles.  Maybe add a colourful scarf, but your top and shoes should be neutral.  I don’t agree with doing colour top to bottom unless you are say, in your 20′s or younger.

I love all of these looks, except Sarah Jessica Parker is doing TOO much color! Photo courtesy of http://endlessinspiration4u.blogspot.com/2011/11/say-yes-to-colored-denim.html

2. We prefer colored denim with a skinnier fit, not a boot cut leg. Cropped is good too as long a the opening is skinny. Rolled up with ballet flats is cute too!

These ladies all look so cute, except Kylie Minogue's (on the far right) jeans are too wide at the bottom! Photo courtesy of http://endlessinspiration4u.blogspot.com/2011/11/say-yes-to-colored-denim.html

Portraits as Art in Your Home

Darcie Brown of Revival Arts partners with her husband, Jason, to provide innovative, artsy portraiture and beautiful home décor displays. They capture life from an original perspective and enjoy creating art that their clients will enjoy for many years.

Jason and Darcie Brown have photographed both Laurel’s and my family over the years.  We’ve fallen in love with the pics that they taken of our kids and recently we asked Darcie how to best use these portraits as art in our homes.

Here's modern photo display of Darcie and her beautiful family

Why portraits as art?

There’s something about surrounding yourself with photographs of the people you love the most that changes a house into a home. I know some days, walking by a portrait of our family is the nudge I need to refocus and regain perspective on what’s important in my life. Also, when children are surrounded by photographs of their family, they feel a sense of stability and develop a stronger sense of self.

How do I choose photographs for my walls?

Trust your instincts. Follow your heart. Sometimes the best photographs we take are when people aren’t expecting to be captured. Other times, the portrait that speaks to our clients are the perfectly posed and planned out ones. You don’t have to over analyze the choice. Just look for something that has an emotional connection for you and trust the advice of your photographer.

My walls are blank. Where should I start?

Walk around your home and decide where you could display portraits. Common areas are over the mantle, behind a couch, in an entrance and down a hall.

Think of what the sight lines are from key areas that you spend time. What is the first thing you see when you walk in your home? What can you see from your table? It should be something you love.

What size will work?

I am someone who thinks bigger is better when it comes to displaying portraits. It’s always disappointing when a photograph is too small and is underwhelming when displayed. A general rule of thumb is that you want an art piece to take up two-thirds to three-quarters of the space it’s in.

What if I want to hang a group of photographs?

Hanging a collection of images to tell a visual story is quite popular. Images hung in a cluster are often smaller which means you need to choose a location that people can walk up to the photographs and spend time taking them in. Halls are great for this. A collection over a bed is not as effective.

Two things to be aware of when creating a cluster of portraits is:

1. Have a center of interest – Choose some larger images to draw the viewers eye and allow it to rest before taking in the rest of the smaller photographs.
2. Plan your layout – Start with the center images and work your way out to the edges. Keep the frames an equal distance apart.

I personally enjoy a simple portrait display with fewer images. Less is more. Our montages don’t have more than five photographs.

I recognize these precious kids...Laurel, your kids look stunning!

Is there anything else to consider when displaying photographs?

Portraits are generally hung at eye level. Use your common sense when hanging them as different spaces may look better with the art at a non-standard height.

The main thing is to have fun and try something new! By using photographs of the people you love, you can take the art in your home to a new level.

Natural Skincare

As my daughters enter the “tween” world, and begin the lifelong regime of womanhood…you know…washing, moisturing, exfoliating, grooming, tweezing, plucking (if you’re a man, you’ve probably tuned out by now!), i have been thinking more and more about providing them with some natural choices. I’m by no means a “green” type person… i wish i were, and i have many green friends, so really, it may just be rubbing off on me little by little! Harsh chemicals are something that i don’t want my girls, or me for that matter, slathering on my face….which got me to thinking…and, consequently, researching!!
So…this weekend, we did a little experimenting. And i have to say, i surprised myself!
Here are some of the delightful finds we came across and experimented with:

NATURAL EXFOLIATOR/FACIAL -Skinsational Honey-Almond-Lime Exfoliator (found on Lauren Conrad‘s website).

3 tbsp. of honey
•2 tbsp. of ground almond
• 1/2 lime (squeezed for juice)

Steps
1. Mix the honey and ground almond, squeezing in 1/2 a lime as you mix. This mix will keep in fridge for 3-5 days
2. Rub gently on your face…then rinse and pat dry.

This exfoliator requires only 3 ingredients: honey, ground almonds and a fresh lime!

Why these ingredients? Well the ground almonds provide the abrasive properties, as well as containing Vit A & E and iron. Honey has been used as a natural cure for wounds, burns and cuts as it is able to absorb moisture from the air and promote healing. Its antibacterial properties prevent infection and functions as an anti-inflammatory agent, reducing both swelling and pain, and even scarring. The Lime functions as an antioxidant. Need i say more? My skin is calling out to these!
Best of all? It took less than 5 minutes to make! My girls and i all tried it and the verdict was unanimous: we loved the smell, as well as the fresh feel of our skin afterwards. This scrub can be used as a full body scrub as well. The remainder is now sitting in my girl’s bathroom…and there’s an argument as to who it belongs to!

HANDMADE LOTION
Another fabulous website i came across was A Sonoma Garden  The natural approach to many of the items we don’t even consider is refreshing…as well as super economical! We started by whipping up a batch of her Homemade Hand Lotion  I can honestly say I’ve never EVER made a lotion from scratch, but this may just be the start of something new! With the help of a local soap-making supply business, whom i discovered just this weekend, i was able to find everything on my list and more! The call for Emuslifying Wax threw me a little off, but once i discovered Tanna of Suds’n Scents, i was in business! She also offered a myriad of different essential oils. My love for Thailand took over and i honed in on the Lemongrass oil. I LOVE this fragrance!

 

Three ingredients: Emulsifying Wax, Olive Oil, Essential Oil...oops one more: hot water! I did use a thermometer to make sure i had heated the wax and olive oil enough (though i ditched it already by the second batch!). Doing the heating in the micro makes this speedy..like literally 5 minutes speedy!

I did play around with the recipe slightly and made some adjustments to the measurements. I used:
~1 cup of hot water
~1/2 cup emulsifying wax
~1/4 cup olive oil
~20 drops of the essential oil of your choice (I used Lemongrass)

Once you’ve melted the wax and olive oil, add the drops of essential oil. Next, add 1 cup of hot water and it turns a milky white color. Pour into your containers and let it set over night! I then took a whisk and whipped the concotion to get rid of any lumps…Simple! This lotion will last about 6 months! At less than $2 a jar, you’ll never beat the cost. Plus, no harsh chemicals. It’s all natural. Suds’n Scents did recommend using a minimal amount of preservative if you make a larger batch..giving it a shelf life of 1 year. I did buy some, but opted not to use it this time around. We were going for au natural!

Lemongrass Hand and Body Lotion

WHIPPED SHEA BUTTER
Once my lotion was made, i got a little alchemy crazy and decided to try the whipped shea butter recipe i found as well! For dry, chapped skin, nothing beats shea butter! The recipe was also on A Sonoma Garden. Check out her recipe…i followed it exactly!

Can you tell i'm loving recipes with 3 ingredients?? Avocado oil, shea butter and vitamin E gel capsules

To be able to "whip" the shea butter, you need to set the bowl with the cooled mixture into a larger bowl with ICED water. If you don't do this, the mixture will not whip up to a meringue-like consistency.

Keep the whipped shea butter in the fridge. It will harden, but you'll see that once you scrape a little off with your finger, it will melt almost instantly. A little goes a long way! Cracked heels be gone!

So, you ask? Will i be ditching my delicious visits to Sephora, Bath and Body Works and Ulta? Honestly, no! There are too many prettily packaged bottles of this and that!! But….i WILL continue to make the exfoliating scrub and lotions for my girls and me. I do truly want them using products that are fresh and chemical free. And now that i’ve made the batches of lotion, they’re good to go for up to 6 months. The lemongrass hand lotion might just become a favorite gift to give. Find a pretty container to package it in and you’re set!

Have fun experimenting with ingredients already in your home! My girls and i decided to make a face mask tonight.. we blended:
~half an avocado (contains Vitamins A & E)
~half an over-ripe banana (good for acne prone skin)
~ 1 tbsp chopped cucumber (a natural toner)
~ 1 tbsp yoghurt (hydrates skin)
~ 1 tbsp olive oil (antioxidant)

Blend these ingredients for a quick facial mask...

We slathered it over our faces and let it sit for about 20 minutes (we were warned it might itch a bit, and indeed, it did…it was like we could feel it cleaning out our skin!) Rinsed and then patted with a cool cloth to close the pores. The purpose was to bring impurities to the surface, which it did almost immediately. Crazy! We’re going to keep experimenting with items in our kitchen! Strawberries are next (they contain alpha-hydroxy acid which clears up acne)
Where are the pics of me with my face covered in green goop? A girl has her limits, call me vain!!!

Now that we’ve covered some natural homemade skin remedies, we’re hunting for household rememdies that will make the everyday, just a little easier! Watch for a blog post coming SOON!

iPhone Cases for Women, A Must Have Accessory!

It used to be that your handbag or your shoes were the must have accessory.  They are still important, but how many of you feel naked without your phone?  More than once I have turned around and returned home upon realizing I have left my phone at home.  We just can’t seem to go without being connected!  What if I miss that text or email I’ve been waiting for?  And, heaven forbid, I can’t check Facebook!

Since most of us carry our phones around with us 24-7, I say we treat them like an accessory!  They should be just as chic as our last handbag or our new shoes for spring.  I am partial to the  iPhone, ok, that’s putting it mildly…I LOVE my iPhone so here are my plum picks for iPhone cases!

Ok, I’ll admit that I have a thing for iPhone cases!  I just ordered the Tory Burch raspberry, navy and white one!  I love the graphic pattern and it will look great for spring!

Look, your phone is something you carry around with your everyday, probably all day, so don’t be afraid to splurge a bit on the case. It’s a bonafide accessory! It’s a way to own a piece from one of maybe your favorite designers that you’ve been drooling over and can’t afford!  Be bold…be graphic (in a good way of course!).

iPhone Cases for Men

Ok…we didn’t want to leave out our Sugarplumbrothas, so guys, this is for you.  I know that Scott, Laurel’s husband, and Jason, my husband, LOVE their iPhones just as much as we do.  They would never admit that they love them, but if you judge love by how much time you spend….it’s clear.

Here are our plum picks for iPhone cases for men…hey men need accessories too!

I thought these were all pretty “geek chic” but I did pass them by Jason. He made me delete one so the rest of these are “Sugarplumbrotha” approved!

To be completely honest, though, Jason does NOT like to carry a case.  He prefers to keep his phone unencumbered and slim lined as he usually has it in his pocket.  For Valentines, I ordered him a customized skin from Fusion of Ideas called Stealth Armor.  It’s a damage resistant film that protects the phone.  I ordered him “Tungsten” from the Metal Series with  the “Brushed Aluminum” bezel.  The price with shipping was $41.50.  Check them out…there are THOUSANDS of options!

Tungsten protective skin from Stealth Armor by Fusion of Ideas

Cake Boss Birthday Party!

For Dylan’s  birthday party, she wanted to have a party where her dance friends could come over and decorate cakes with fondant. She did this at her cousin’s birthday and loved it. All three of my kids love watching “Cake Boss”, so we decided to have a Cake Boss birthday party!

For the invites, I made up my own digital version and sent them out via email and Facebook. I used these images from Google Images…

Cake photo courtesy of http://www.sugarcraftemporium.com

Laurel and I picked up all of the girls at the studio after a 2 hour tap rehearsal.  I knew that they would be hungry, so I had a tray of Italian pastries complete with cannolis just like you’d find at Buddy’s bakery.  They literally DEVOURED them!

Shannon, from Baking it Real brought everything that the girls needed to decorate mini cakes.  All I had to do was provide a table that they could all sit around.  She took them through a step by step process to decorate their mini cakes.

The supplies were set out for everyone. Shannon was SO organized! Dylan putting the crumb coat on her cake, rolling out the fondant, putting the fondant on the cake and then decorating! The cost was $18 per person. Well worth it! No goody bag necessary!

Here are Lo’s girls and my girls with their finished products. Pretty darn cute, hey?

After the cake decorating, we had dinner. True to Buddy and his heritage, we had to have Italian…spaghetti, garlic bread, caesar salad and pizza!  The table was set in black, red and white to keep with the Cake Boss theme.

We have a tradition that the birthday girl or boy in the family gets to eat dinner off the special red plate!

We finished off the evening with birthday cake, of course! Dylan insisted upon a DQ ice cream cake! They did a great job and the girls actually ate the cake!

Happy 11th Birthday Dilly Bar!

Office Inspiration!

So, we are part of a family business…construction and farming, greenhouse peppers, that is. Jason, my hubby, is going to be making a move from the construction business to running the family investment company and that means his office is moving out to the farm office. The farm office was built about 8 years ago and my dad has encouraged the guys to each really make their office personal…a place that they enjoy working in. Not bad advice! Jason prefers a modern and clean aesthetic so he asked me if I could help him come up with some ideas to renovate the space. Here’s the inspiration board that I’ve come up with!

So, this is a starting point! Renovations are under way and we will post the finished product!

Look for our upcoming service called iDesign by Sugarplumsisters where you can send us a pic and we’ll create an inspiration board like this for you. You could even be featured on our blog! And we’ll post pics of this office reno once it’s complete!

Toss Cushions, the Best Way to Add Color and Pattern!

Recently, a client asked for some help to add some color to her townhome.  It had been recently built and the builder had used a lot of great, high quality finishes, but the space lacked color and character.  The walls are beige and the furnishings as largely beige and brown.

On a trip to HomeSense, my fave discount home accessory store, I put together three different color schemes of pillows that will work with my clients current furnishing, but just add some color, some pattern….they will bring the space to life!!  I make myself at home at HomeSense, no pun intended, and I start pulling cushions for the shelves and arranging them together on the ground to see how the patterns and colors work together.  Don’t be afraid to do that!

Which do you like the best?

Here is the RED collection. I love that the patterned pillows have a touch of Tiffany blue as well as the brown to tie my client's furniture together!

This is the GREEN collection. I love the ikat pattern on the middle pillow. It also has some brown which ties in the right pillow set.

Last, but not least, this is the ORANGE collection. The crewel pillow in the back is more traditional in design, but I love that it will add life and color to the room. The front pillow is made of cut felt. LOVE!

I love to mix up colors and pattern, but there are a few things to consider…

1. In each collection, there is one pillow that is predominately the main colour.

2. Each grouping has at least one geometric pattern. If you are scared that you have too much going on, find a stripe for one of your patterns. Stripes can be combined with almost anything.

3. Geometric patterns are more modern and floral patterns are more traditional. Ikat and damask type patterns can go either way depending upon what you pair them with.

4. Have fun and don’t be scared to step out and try something. It’s not a huge investment piece…we’re talking pillows and most of these in the pics about are $30 and less!

Braids!

How much fun can you have with braids? Tons! The age old method of braiding your hair is EVERYWHERE right now…and no longer is it just for the young’uns.
I’ve been experimenting with some different braids…thanks to my daughters’ long hair…and their patience! Because honestly, it’s easier to practice on someone else’s head!

Here are 3 of my favorites:
1. The Reverse French Braid

Flip your head upside, take a wide section and start frenchbraiding from the neck towards the top of your head. It doesn't have to be super neat or perfect!

Attach a ponytail holder and then incorporate it into your sock bun...DONE!!

2. Braided Headband

Take a section behind each ear and make a regular braid.

Take each braid, one at a time, and pull it up and over the crown of your head. Bobby pin into place...don't worry, your hair will cover it!

Sweep the hair in front of the braids to cover the pins and pull into a polished pony!

or incorporate into a bun...

Fun, hey? And the great thing with this style, is you can do any number of different takes on it…add more braids, vary the size, etc.
 
 

3. The Side Fishtail
This braid is actually super easy to do. Once you have the hang of it, you’re golden!
Sweep all of your hair to the right side of your head. Next, separate into two sections. If you are worried that your hair isn’t going to be long enough, a little trick is to take a chunk of hair that’s on your left side (the hair that would have to stretch the longest, if you will) and pull it over your head and add to the piece in your right hand. It really works!

I've taken a chunk of hair and added it to my right hand, so it won't slip out

Once you have the 2 sections, you’re ready to get going. So, you’ve got a piece in your right hand, and a piece in your left hand. You with me? Now take a little chunk from the outermost part of your right hand piece and add it to your left hand. Next, take a little chunk from the outermost part of your left hand piece and add it to the right hand. Make sense? And then just repeat!

Here are my 2 sections..

Here I've taken a little chunk off of the right hand section and will be adding it to my left hand piece.

It takes a little longer than traditional braiding, but i love the look!

The finished product!

This looks great for casual as well as dressy too. Pull a couple pieces out on your left side by your ear to make is look softer, if you choose.

What are your favorite ways to braid? Do tell!

Travel Outfit!

So, you’re flying to a warm destination…what to wear??  Trust me, I’ve made many mistakes in the past.  Like the time I was flying alone with all three kids, the flight was delayed about 3 hours and all I was wearing was a cardi.  I didn’t have any blankets with me and the airline had none to offer.  We all four froze all the way home!  It’s a bit tricky when you’re flying from a colder climate to a warmer climate, but there are a few tricks…

1.  Wear a scarf that can double as a blanket.  Some with snaps like the one from Lululemon below can even be worn as a vest!

2.  Uggs are THE BEST for travelling.  They keep your feel warm and cosy, you don’t need to wear socks, and knit Uggs are easy to pack and lightweight.  Don’t forget to throw some socks in your carry on for walking through security, though.  And remember, NEVER buy Uggs at retail price in Canada.   They are a rip off….unless you find them at somewhere like MTF or Costco, then fill your boots…pardon the pun!

3.  I prefer a short sleeved tee under a wrap or jacket.  Often the plane can get very warm before take off, and it’s better to have a short sleeved shirt than just a tank if you feel your temp rising and you need to take off your jacket.

4.  Keep jewelry to a minimum!  Otherwise, you’ll be beeping though security!

5.  Don’t forget a great travel bag to hold everything you’ll need for the flight, including some flip flops for when you land!  Make sure it has enough room to accommodate your jacket when you get to your tropical locale!

Part of a well thought out travel outfit is a smartly packed carry on. Here’s what I pack in mine:

Beyond the scarf, socks and flipflops that Pam talked about, I never step foot on a plane without:
~A bottle of water…the air on planes leaves you dehydrated so water is paramount (it also helps keep you cool, pre take-off)
~snack packs of nuts…these protein rich snacks will keep you away from spending lots of money on sub-par airplane snacks.
~mags…I’m a reader, so ’nuff said!
~my IPad…download your favorite book or movie and the time will literally “fly” by
~my Bose sound cancelling headphones…I wasn’t a believer until I tried them. They truly cancel all noise, making for easier sleeping or reading.
~lip balm…well, i’m never without it, so why would flying be any different?
~hand lotion…to combat the dry air…and to add a pleasant scent to my personal space!
~sunglasses…because i’m hopin wherever i get off this plane will be a whole lot sunnier than home!
~anti-bacterial wipes…for wiping down the tray table, hands or my Starbucks that spills EVERY time I bring it on a plane
~a woman’s survival kit…with 24 different tools to help the woman on the go. Items, such as a folding hair brush with mirror, hair spray, clear elastics, earring backs, emery board, clear nail polish, nail polish remover, mending kit, double-sided tape, lint remover, shoe shine wipes, stain remover, breath freshener, dental floss, pain reliever, deodorant wipes, tampon, adhesive bandages, facial tissues.
~passport holder…which also holds my accomodation & rental car info and foreign currency.

Once I’ve got all that packed into my Lululemon carry-on, I’m pretty sure I can handle most any flight, long or short!

My Humble Ode to St. Paddy

Admittedly, St. Paddy’s Day is just a regular day around our place…with the exception of some random pinches, it comes and goes without much fanfare.

This year, though, i thought it might be fun to “engage” myself…but without a bunch of work. Could it be done? Yes!!! I threw together a quirky breakfast in about 1/2 an hour! With the help of Thoughtfully Simple and their idea for green pancakes, i was set! It’s almost embarassing to admit how simple the pancakes were….throw in some green food coloring to your batter and BAM! Hello, St. Paddy!

The decor was fast and simple, but fit the bill! Chickabug has these uber cute free printables on their site, designed by HowDoesShe.com for St. Paddy’s Day!! Love them! There are circles, straw flags, water bottle labels and printed papers. Literally, you print them out, cut them and your decor is DONE!

St. Patrick's Day printables...for free!

Pretty easy crowd to please...pancakes and milk? Nirvana!

Loved these labels for water bottles. Something for the kids to tote for the day and know that their mom was thinking of them!

 

 

Simple Green

 

 

 

The coveted "No pinching" flag

 

 

Ok...after i took a few "posed" pics, they cut me off...time to eat!

 

 

Half an hour? Yup…pretty short amount of time to throw together a mini celebration of sorts! Might just become a tradition…

The Grass is Greener…

I’ve got green on the mind…maybe it’s the St. Paddy’s Day way of thinking, but i’m figuring deep down, it’s my subconscious telling me that the buds are coming out on the bushes, fresh new leaves are peeking their way out of the cold gray branches and spring is truly becoming within arms reach! Green is one of those colors, i just have an emotional connection with…i think of health, re-growth, freshness, vitality and energy.
So indulge me for a moment and let me share some things that have put a smile on my face this very day: