it's my girls' world

Love me some long weekends! Victoria Day has to be one of my very favourites here in Canada. Maybe it's the anticipation of summer, maybe it's D's birthday, maybe it's that school is almost out! Whatever the reason, we love it!!

This Victoria Day:

- On Friday, after getting fresh highlights and a cut and an eye appointment for the kids, we BBQ'd and made scallops, hung out with the kids and Facetimed our very favourite cousin.

- We woke up bright and early Saturday for some tea and the Royal Wedding--- okay two hours later than it started but still early for a Saturday.

- Lots of laundry and cooking.

- Early birthday dinner with our family at this tapas place in town.

- Sunday was filled with birthday cheer, a long walk by the river, a BBQ with some of our favourite people, cake and conversation almost until the birthday was finished.

- Low key Monday

- C and I took a long walk, D did some gardening, I did some reading and house stuff and we all headed out for a simple low key dinner to finish off the weekend!!

 Wedding china was brought out!

Cheers to an awesome week ahead!!

Especially when we have the Friday before a Canadian long weekend! Friyay indeed!! Here are five favourite things going on this week.

1- Happy Birthday, D!

We are celebrating a very special someone this weekend with lots of laughs and family time. Happy Birthday to the keeper of my flame and the owner of my heart, the person I chose to make my family! Thanks for the love and laughter! Here's hoping the day and the year that follows is an epic one.

2- All the sports

This week we started soccer (C)and lacrosse (A). It's going to be a busy few weeks until violin, piano, dance and swimming are done but the weather is warm and the kids are  having fun so chug along we will! 

3- Royal Wedding Mania

Who here is watching the Royal Wedding tomorrow? I'll confess that I'm not getting up at 4 am but I'll certainly record it and watch it at 7 :-). I may not be into all of the mania and yes, there are lots of other serious issues going on in the world but I think the wedding is a delightful respite from it all and I can't wait to watch and maybe also watch the Lifetime movie that you know is coming about their relationship! 

4- Mama's girl

These little  hands won't always be this tiny!

5- Leith Love

My very favourite Leith dress is on sale for the first time ever at under $30!!! Check it out! It is wonderful both dressed up and down. 

And finally, just because we always need a chuckle.

All.the.time. It's like the person who did this pie chart is in my house.

 I heard Yanny and D heard Laurel

Also my life!

Linking up with

One of our cousins posted this on Instagram and I knew we'd have to try it... It's the most easy cookie to whip a quick batch up and it is one of the very best chocolate chip cookies I've ever had.... and I'd consider myself a cookie connoisseur of sorts. It's also gluten free and can be made vegan if you omit or switch out the chocolate chips out. 

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

1 and 1/4 cup of almond flour

1/4 cup of maple syrup (the real stuff)

1 teaspoon of vanilla

pinch of salt

pinch of baking soda (like 1/8 teaspoon)

5 tablespoons of coconut oil

1/2 cup of chocolate chip cookies. 

Method:

1- Combine dry ingredients together 

2- Combine wet ingredients

3- Mix it all up! (told you it was simple)

4- Using a tablespoon,  drop the mixture about two inches apart on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

5- Bake at 350 for 7-10 minutes.

Super simple and incredibly delicious! Try it-- you'll thank me later.

Thanks Div for sharing this awesome recipe. 

Happy Monday, friends! I had such an amazing weekend with the family. Here are some highlights:

On Friday, I made yummy tuna poke, salmon ceviche and two types of almond flour cookies! I also did some laundry as I knew we would be busy for the rest of the weekend.

On Saturday, after breakfast, we headed to Buffalo to update D's passport and well as it was Mother's Day weekend, I figured we would go shopping at some of my very favourite places (read: Target, Trader Joe's and Nordstrom Rack)

I love the Sugarfix Bauble Bar Collection at Target! I'm also into their new Hearth and Hand line by Joanna Gaines. 

Once more, TJ's flower selection knocked it out of the park. Picked up a few kid lunch box snacks- like freeze dried okra--- let's see what the verdict is on that one LOL. My kids love real okra so I figured I would give it a shot.

We stopped in one of D's favourite wineries in Vineland on our way back.

 A little family squinty selfie before we came home to yep more laundry, packing away our purchases and an early night.

My family gave me a Mother's Day massage and beautiful presents. C did an iMovie which made me quite weepy :-). Good violin and piano playing by your kid does that. A also gave me a "bag of tea" and a book of coupons. A minute I cashed in the coupon for her to be cheerful that day, it was null and void. 

D made these delicious sugar free cream cheese pancakes for us all.

I did yoga at home, D took A to skating and then we headed to brunch. 

Linking up with Biana for weekending.