Friday, May 29, 2015

Five cheers for Friday


Hello Friday… and hello friends! Here's a list of my five favourites this week.

Best Customer Service EVER.

So, last week it was Nordstrom and this week, it's Bed, Bath and Beyond. i've spoken of my intense love for my Vitamix. Well stupid silly clumsy me accidentally dropped a steel spoon in it while pouring chia seeds into my morning smoothie (let's just say sleep deprivation, morning rush and a crying two year old were involved). THe spoon instantly flew out but the Vitamix stopped working. I troubleshooted it but nothing. When I called Vitamix, they said it would be $243 plus shipping and handling to replace the motor. I didn't commit though as I remember the cashier at Bed Bath and Beyond telling me that they had the best customer service and to bring back anything. So that I did, without the box but with the receipt from two years ago. Guess what? A brand new one is being shipped to me. The manager there told me that it totally makes sense to buy small appliances there with their price matching, 20% off and long exchange/return period! I certainly will from now on!


Basement clean up

Part 1 of my basement clean-up is complete aka New Year's Resolution…. I seriously feel 5 pounds lighter! Part two and some shelves are coming soon.


Quinoa love

I've been a bit obsessed with quinoa these days. My friend Dani made a quinoa salad from some very simple veggies and dressing and I've become so obsessed I made it at home after the leftovers she gave me finished. It is so clean but quite tasty as well! I had it 4 out the 5 days this week. Recipe coming soon!

NYC visit

It's booked! Visiting my family for NYC in June. This visit is fast becoming a summer tradition that was a favourite of mine when I was growing up!

Evening walk

A favourite moment this week for sure. C had violin lessons and D was working late so A and I took a little walk around the violin teacher's neighbourhood for about twenty. We had the most wonderful time walking and chatting about every.little.thing including puppies and plants.



Have a wonderful weekend!

Linking up with:
AndreaErika and Narci for Favourites on Friday
Amy for Hey Friday
Amanda for Friday Favourites

post signature

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Simplicity or abundance lover… oh and life lately

When are you happiest? When you have lots or little? According to Gretchen Reuben (amazing podcasts) , some people thrive on simplicity. They love less: minimal objects, no clutter, not too many choices and require very few material objects to make them happy. Others, called abundance lovers adore overflow, lots of choices in their pantry and wardrobe, variety, collecting things and love full days and bustle.

Now I know D is a simplicity lover. He loves clean empty unadorned surfaces. Gift giving is last on his love languages and he doesn't care for variety too much. He loves downtime and weekends that aren't too busy. My six year old on the other hand: I can see that she is an abundance lover. She collects tchotchkes like it's her job and I can get stressed out by her very cluttered room with stuff strewn everywhere. The kid even collects rocks and seeds. And she loves full days, lots of friends and weekends that are packed. 

And then there's me. I think I fall somewhere in the middle. I loved clean and uncluttered surfaces but I also love some visual interest in a room. I don't like running out of stuff so I do have a full pantry/fridge but at the same time, I don't like wastage . I love choices in my closet as well (who doesn't) but it makes me very happy to have a purged closet!  I like having a few things to do on the weekend but at least one day or night when it's just me and my three. 

What about you? What do you thrive on?

And while we're at it, take a look at my abundance of everyday pictures all focusing on the simple things (hahaha)

Day #137
D's birthday celebration. You know kids are going to too many parties when at the end of his very simple celebration, they asked me if there were loot bags. 


Day #138
My parents were still here and we headed out (after a very heavy meal, thanks Dad) for some fro-yo
My six year old looks so grown up, no?

#139
Board games on our day off



And a little dance party. A dances like no one's watching!

No pictures on Day 140 but on day #141 was D's actual birthday


#142
Again, I might have lapsed on the pics but my mom sent this pic of her with my adorable nephew. This is the only shot I have of him not smiling. #grandmaisnothisfave #mykidsadoreher

Day #143
Teaching Bike riding. Stuff is getting so grown up in these parts.


#144
Date night with my favourite!

#145
Cooling off with some watermelon. 

Before D's third (and fourth) set of cakes. #popular


#146
Raven was all about giving A snuggles but it looks like she's attacking her #besties


#147 
On the way home from school, she fell asleep. Nothing warms my heart more.
 #alwaysbemybaby

Happy Thursday. Don't fall asleep on yourself!

Linking up with:
Annie and Nat for Thoughts on Thursday.
and Extremely V and Penny for Thank Goodness It's Thursday




post signature

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Bubble Gum Excitement

My kids are officially obsessed with gum. We don't let the kids have gum too often. Well, A isn't allowed at all  since she's two(she gets another treat to tide her over) but C was introduced to gum when her dad took her skating on Saturdays. She thinks it is the best thing in the entire WORLD. She chews and ches and chews for hours. I don't get it. Even as a kid, I got sick of all the chewing especially when the gum lost its flavour. She is always asking for gum as a treat when we go to the store. 

Now, I don't let her get it ordinarily-- the regular gum is sugar free so I don't want her to get all that aspartame into her 6 year old body. And the gum with sugar has corn syrup in it so that's no bueno either. However, last Friday I did get her one as a treat. 

Then Dad grabbed a piece. Bubble blowing ensued. And then the giggles began.

Sheer joy!!



Pure captivation!


Can I touch it?


I'll pop it.


Bubble blowing is a skill that my six year old could not fully master despite her most valiant efforts. 


And more bubbles.



And popping and giggles!! The shrieks of laughter from popping these bubbles were INSANE!


So very much fun for less than $1.

(and guess who's officially the more fun parent now?!)

Linking up with Jess  for It's The Little Things.





post signature

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Rhubarb Streudel Bread

I just love rhubarb. Well in a pie, a crisp or a muffin or this bread specifically. I mean, even with all it's many benefits, it's kind of sour by itself really. To me rhubarb screams spring. It's hardly ever available so when I find it in the grocery or the market, I snap it up instantly to make this bread, a recipe that my friend Kathryn passed along to me a couple years back. 

 Rhubarb Streudel Bread



Ingredients:


1 cup of milk
1 tbsp lemon juice/vinegar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 ¼ cups brown sugar
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2 and 1/2 cups  flour (I either mix mine half wheat and white or use the ‘wheat but tastes like white’ flour)
1 tsp baking soda
1 ½ cups chopped rhubarb
½ cup chopped nuts (I usually use pecans/walnuts or sliced almonds)

Topping:
¼ cup brown sugar
½ tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp butter melted


Method:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and grease 2 loaf pans or muffin tins

Combine the milk, lemon juice/vinegar and vanilla and let stand for 10 minutes. Alternatively, I’ve used a cup of plain yogurt instead and it’s done the trick.

Stir the flour and baking soda in another bowl

Mix together  sugar, oil and egg. Combine the flour mix, sugar mixture and milk mixture until just combined.


Your kids can even make a mess help with this step.


Fold in rhubarb and nuts. Pour batter into loaf pans/muffin tins


Mix the sugar, cinnamon and butter together and sprinkle atop the unbaked loaves.

Bake in oven for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into  center comes out clean. For muffins, it should take 20 minutes.


This time we made it as muffins (which freeze really well) but I prefer the bread as it's so much more moist. 


 Delicious and not too bad for you either!

Happy Spring, everyone!

Linking up with:

 Kristen for Handmade TuesdaySusan for Love From the Kitchenand Beth and some other lovely ladies for Tuesday Talk
post signature 
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...