it's my girls' world

Some of my favourite blog buds did this Little Letters link up last month with Kristin so I thought I'd give it a try! 

Dear C,

Thank you for waiting until my birthday was over to begin talking about your birthday. But let's not keep a revolving list of guests please. Let's also keep it to 12 friends this time. And let's decide on a theme-- just dance, pajamas and pancake party? Seems a lot to put on an invitation, no? 

Dear A,

I'm SO proud of you for working so hard this week and getting the hundred board done AND beginning home readers. You are a superstar! Also, maybe it's all the learning you're doing but I don't know why you are so hungry all the time lately. If it's 10 minutes after dinner and you proclaim to be hungry and 'not for food', you're most likely bored or dehydrated (a word you busted out recently) and you aren't getting a snack! 

Dear Bachelor Team,

This has got to be the most asinine, mind numbing season ever. I was happy Nick was the bachelor but now I'm rethinking things. And the women-- yikes! I'm fast-forwarding, deleting and not even bothering to see who has the 'most amazing connection.'

Dear Warm Leather Mittens,

My hands have never been this warm and cosy. It's the combination of the warmth of mittens (way better than gloves since your fingers are together) and leather to block off the wind. I thank you, I thank D for buying them for me and Priya for the suggestion in the first place.

Dear 30's Metabolic Rate,

Please rewind to 10 years past... Please. ..I'm working my butt off and results are few and far between.

Dear Clients,

Parking Tickets aren't business expenses. Neither are a plethora of Uber and Lyft expenses. 

Dear NYC,

The girls and I so excited to be coming to see  you in March for a few days. 5 days of fun, shopping and some family time. Please cooperate with weather and everything else.

Dear Farmboy,

Thank you for all.those.samples. I'm loving the deli selections, dips, fancy cheeses and fruit you provide for my eating pleasure. Grocery shopping has never been this fun!

Dear Husband,

Sometimes I think that though I've never personally bought a lotto ticket, I am the winner here. You made me laugh so hard with that dance video and I keep watching it over and over again. It's like youtube funny-- pity you won't let me share it. 

Happy Weekending, loves!

Oh my word! We went to  a PC cooking class (highly recommend for the Canadians) recently and they made a version of this brownie. We came home and amended it a bit... the result-- chocolatey gooey, gluten free goodness!

1 1/2 cups drained and rinsed canned black beans (preferably no/low sodium)

1/2 cup of quick cooking rolled oats

1 tablespoon of sugar

2 large eggs

1/4 cup oil ( I used canola)

2 tbsp cocoa/hot chocolate mix

1 tbsp of vanilla extract

1/2 tsp of baking powder

1/2 cup of milk chocolate chips

1/4 cup of chopped walnuts (optional)

1- Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2- Spray 8 inch square pan lightly with cooking spray and line with parchment paper after, leaving an inch overhang.

3- Combine all ingredients except for the chocolate chips and walnuts in a food processor/blender ( I used my Vitamix) and blend/process until smooth.

4- In a bowl, mix the batter with the chocolate chips and walnuts. Place into prepared baking pan. 

5- Bake for 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Let it cool for 30 minutes. 

Makes 16 squares.

This one will definitely be on repeat in this house especially with the clean eating being ramped up but the desperate need for an occasional treat.

Today I'm linking up with Natalie for Thoughts for Thursday!

Also known as the one time for the month the kids sit and contemplate questions and the meaning of life. 

Here are their answers to all things love... As a reminder, C is almost eight and A is four and a half (the half is very important)

C- Ummm (looking incredibly uncomfortable)... like you have a feeling for someone.

A- Ammmmm.... heart 

C- making cookies and valentines

A- maybe give Julia something as she gives me timbits everyday. 

Girlfriend's first knitting master-piece! Better than I could do!

C- (another confused look)--- Ummm Anjali!

A- Do we celebrate Valentines? Do we celebrate everything? Whyyy?   What's a Valentine / Oh, Julian.... I mean Julia

(Julia is this girl in her dance class who shares her timbits/donut holes--- aka-- her new bestie)

C- 28!

A- Ummmmmmm none as it's February already... how many more days until Valentines?

C- hug and kiss them

A- I like Julia. 

(yeah the timbits are the key to her heart)

Linking up with Beth and some other lovelies for the kids behind the blog!

As a total side note, A brought her first home reading book home this week. A huge milestone in her little school and this Mama's heart is so, so proud!

Happy Monday! Is it just me, or should this weekend have been two hours longer? Just  enough for me to get two more hours of sleep?! 

Here's the Cole's notes:

On Friday:

- we chilled out at home and had turkey burgers

- tried a black bean brownie recipe 

- did some Just Dance with the kiddos

- I caught up on Grey's and Scandal.

I can't get over how big my four year old is... my heart breaks a little.

On Saturday:

- C had skiing lessons in the am

- I babysat for my friend Dani who has three kids, three and under, is moving to the US, has a newborn AND is starting a new business (I'm tired even writing all those things)

- I did about 7 loads of laundry-- yay me

- I made muffins for the kids with my little helper and butter chicken and rice for Dani and another friend

- we headed out in the night with some friends to Toronto for some Winterlicious dinner, drinks at a whiskey bar and a night cap at an Irish pub

At the whiskey lounge. Not ours but so pretty, I had to take a pic.

On Sunday:

- I woke up at 10:30 and totally lounged around ALL day doing little household chores, watching He's Just Not That Into You and spending time with my kids.

- we made BOTH kids nap as we were heading to....

- our friends' Alex and Jenn's Superbowl Soiree where they go all out-- think friendly bets, kids' fun and tons of amazing food. A mix of healthy and junkie! Think cauliflower bites, turkey chili, vegan nachos, wings, chicken and waffles, potato chip chicken fingers, chips and dip and so much more!

And just like that it turned into Monday again. I'm hoping for a snow day this week!

Linking up with sweet Biana today.