Blueberry muffins from Mother Goose

1 1/4 cups flour

1 cup rolled oats

1/3 packed brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup buttermilk

1/3 cup veg. oil

2 tbsp molasses (or honey)

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries (or frozen)

Preheat oven to 375, in a large bowl combine flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and baking soda. In another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, oil, molasses (or honey) egg and vanilla; pour over dry ingredients, combine. Add blueberries and gently stir until mixed in.

Spoon into greased muffin tins (or muffin papers) filling 3/4 full. Bake for about 20 minutes or until tops are firm to touch. Makes 12 large muffins.

:-)

P.I.N.K

Put on your pink today and take a stand against bullying! Show your support!!

http://www.pinkshirtday.ca/

February 23rd: Pink Shirt Day

The Origin of Pink Day:
Pink Day started in 2007 when two Nova Scotia high school students decided to create a “Sea of Pink” to support of a grade 9 boy who was called homophobic names when he wore a pink shirt to school. The original day was a huge success with people at their school wearing all kinds of pink clothing, face painting, even a pink bike! This day is now celebrated right across Canada and helps to demonstrate and remind students that:

Colours, sports, etc don’t belong to any gender.
Homophobia, gender teasing and name-calling are not OK.
Speaking up to meanness and bullying does make a difference.
Students have the power to inspire meaningful change.

And in honor of that day, Point Grey GSA will be selling pink shirts for five dollars. Wear a pink shirt on February the 23rd along with schools across Canada to take a stand against bullying.

http://pointgreysecondary.ca/node/1411

sweet jesus....

After watching The Bachelor last night, my mind was full of unrealistic ideas of life and reality....my heart was full of unimaginable date possibilities of being whisked away to tropical islands....this brought me back to my desire of visiting the Maldives one day......I remember seeing photos of a friends trip, I think it made me more sad to see that these photos actually existed and they weren't just enhanced for the internet, to draw people like me into fantasizing about laying on those beaches one day, or sipping something fancy on the deck of a grass hut that stood above crystal blue water...it pained me to know this was a REAL place....out there, right now, there are people laying on those beaches, and someone is drinking my drink!!

I can't explain to you how badly I want to visit this place.......I know I would fit right in sitting at this table.....as I write this I can almost feel the breeze that would rustle through my hair, and the warmth of the sun on my skin..I can taste the heat, and feel the cool water dripping off my white string bikini (this is my imagination!) I can see my freckled cheeks, and golden tan....sun bleached hair, I can smell a vacation....that is never going to happen. Thank goodness for a vivid imagination, and these photos on the internet.....

Why do these silly shows get to me....how can I even think things like this actually happen! Until next week Brad..........

K

Just for fun....

The other day while I was home with the kids, I wasn't into venturing outside, so I thought about something we could do at home....I thought about the next holiday that was coming up...which was St.Patricks Day, and googled an easy preschool shamrock craft..this is what I found...

We cut out green hearts, decorated them with markers and glitter glue, and taped the points together to make a shamrock! Easy peasy, and Noah was able to help with every step! A fun afternoon of crafting while listening to him sing to the Wiggles....

K

OMG!

Chocolate Cake with Mocha Frosting......4 layers of frosting to be exact!! I tried this recipe for a dessert to bring to my sisters place for dinner tonight.....I can't wait to slice into it! The recipe is from the February 2011 issue of Chatelaine, super easy, but a little time consuming....you just have to prioritize, do the cakes in advance and ice them later! I baked my cakes while Anabelle napped in the morning, and then iced them while she was busy eating lunch....nothing like the sun shining through your windows, and licking chocolate frosting from a spoon :-)

http://food.chatelaine.com/recipes/view/chocolate-cake-with-mocha-frosting/23324

Click the link above for the recipe......

No Betty Crocker just add eggs and water here! A real home made chocolate cake! I should buy vanilla ice cream on the way over! I will be sure to let you know just how delicious it really is.

K

Thank you for being a friend.....

Last night was girls night, for a friends birthday, we all went out to grab a drink..does the sound of ordering a "Wu-tangtini" sound as ridiculous to you, as it does to me!? Thank goodness they are yummy! Its a lychee martini, I love lychee, when we went to Indonesia when I was small, I can't tell you how many fresh lychee I ate!

My ride pulled up, and I said good bye to my brother in law like I was saying "see you later, I won't be late" to my dad...I opened the car door, to a full fleet of girls...yup, this felt just like high school (a good part of high school!). No car seats, no kids, no diaper bags......just us girls, looking all prettied up!

It was nice to eat my dinner hot, talk about clothes, and furniture, and our relationships....laugh, and laugh, and laugh some more. Geez, laughter is the best medicine! A cold martini slips down your throat way too easy....I think I had 3! It was nice to all share common stories, about our kids, illnesses, triumphs...stories of attitude and preschool...we all were moms...all 6 of us! Sure the conversations have changed a bit from high school, but it was so nice to still be able to have a drink with some girlfriends....sweet girlfriends, that even though we don't see each other all the time, can still come right back to where we left off....

Heres to girlfriends, cheers, have a WU-TANGTINI!! :-)

K

rainy day cupcakes...

Yesterday, while walking home from preschool with Noah, he asked me if we could make cupcakes...I love that he is getting old enough to understand what it takes to make something, and then enjoy eating the final product :-) Last week we made banana bread, he told me "mom, I like the things you cook for me" that made my heart smile....by the way, I don't know where "mom" came from, I think I prefer "mommy".

Whenever we cook pasta, he always asks to try one to see if its done, and he prefers his chicken on a stick (bamboo skewer), he likes bow pasta (with laughing cow cheese melted in), and rice with butter (I do too, lots of butter!). I am trying to learn tricks to get him to eat what we are eating, I tell him I am not a restaurant, he eats what we eat, or he eats nothing at all....mean?? I think I remember my mom telling me that? Another thing I am trying to teach him, is to ask to be excused from the table. I vividly remember having to ask my dad, or my mom, if we could be excused and couldn't leave the table without their permission..and I want him to learn to take his dishes to the sink when he is done :-).

There must have been a full moon or something, because he continues to ask for apple slices and grapes....he likes Spartan apples, like the ones from the Pumpkin Patch, hey, whatever works!! I make sure he knows they are Spartan apples....from the Pumpkin Patch, every time I bring apples home...."mom, I want the skin off, and no apple seeds!".........again with the "mom" thing....

I watch adoringly as he fills the cupcake papers, being oh so careful not to drip any batter along the way...he scoops, and waits.....then slowly fills it up...I only allow him to fill three, if I let him do all twelve we would be there for hours!!

He asked me who was coming over for a cupcake, I told him no one, I want him to also learn that sometimes you can just make treats for yourself!! Especially on a rainy day :-)

K

xo

absolutely fabulous!

This was by far my favorite dinner on the menu two weeks ago....a basic risotto with parmesan oyster mushrooms on arugula...absolutely fabulous! I wish I had a recipe for the risotto, I started with a few tablespoons of olive oil in the pan, then added minced onion, cooked until translucent, then added two cups of aborio rice, stirred until it was coated with oil and onion, then started to add my broth, a cup at a time, and about 1/2 cup of white wine....(I used a large tetra pack of chicken broth)....I think the best part, was at the end, when the risotto was all creamy, I added the juice from my mushrooms I had in the oven! I did what I usually do with my mushrooms. Drizzled them with olive oil, salt and pepper, dots of butter, 2 cloves of crushed garlic, but this time I added about a 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese and put in a 350 oven for about 1/2 hour....stirring them throughout. I made a salad of mixed spring greens and lots of arugula, I LOVE the peppery taste!! Here is my usual dressing...

3 tbsp olive oil

1-2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

shake of salt

crack of pepper

tsp of sugar or honey

(and sometimes a tsp of dijon mustard)

I tossed this on with greens, then took the mushrooms out of the juice in the pan and added them to the top of the salad....this is when I poured the juice from the mushrooms into the risotto, gave it a good stir, and another few shakes of parmesan cheese, and dug in!

It was seriously so yummy! If you aren't feeling confident to wing the risotto, just google a basic risotto recipe!

crumbs on the floor.....

I have crumbs on my floor.....dishes in the sink....toys in the living room and laundry overflowing in my bedroom....maybe somewhere in this mess I can find the motivation to clean it all up!? I think I need some sunshine to kick me in the ass..give me the umph to make things neat and tidy.

Today, I tried to sleep in...I rolled out of bed after Noah came to my bedside and asked for breakfast...I told him to keep Anabelle busy for a minute, he made her cry...I could tell this was going to be a long day...after a night of Alfredo and I both taking a turn hugging white porcelain, all I wanted was to flashback to no kids, just for a few hours, I just wanted some more rest!! I couldn't bare the smell of eggs and toast, like Noah asked to have for breakfast, we all had toast with butter, that I think I could stomach....a fight about not wanting to go to swimming lessons because his buddy wasn't going to be there was next on the menu, 10am was approaching, Anabelle would be taking a nap soon..yes!!!!!! I left the mess from breakfast, plunked her in her crib, and crawled into my still rustled up bed...the fan was still on..this was one morning I thanked Fredo for leaving it on, as normally I get annoyed when he leaves it running (this meant I didn't have to get out of bed to turn it on). My bed still isn't made, as I write this...this usually isn't the way it goes.....I didn't even shut my bedroom door...I am allowed to have a messy house, once in a while....and today, I really don't care who sees it!

The forecast calls for more rain and possibly snow...doesn't look like I am having Martha Stewart over anytime soon......thank goodness, because she probably wouldn't be happy with the chicken tenders I am putting in the oven for dinner either!

K

Cupids arrow....right in the wallet....

Valentines Day is really lovely...but why does it have to be so expensive!? I always tell Fredo I would kill him if he bought me roses for Valentines Day...roses that on any other day are $14.99 at Safeway, and for today, they triple in price....any flowers for that matter...such a rip off....Is it awful that I plan to go to Purdy's today and get chocolate on sale? HA....at least I am being honest!

Happy Valentines Day everyone! I hope you all get a good hug and a kiss!!

xoxo

K

my morning friends.....

I have two favorite friends I like to play with in the morning....one is my Bialetti stovetop espresso maker and the other is my Fresco Frother...in my opinion these two make THE best latte ever! I can make it nice and strong, just the way I like it!

The espresso makers you can buy at Bosa Foods, they have them in all sizes, I typically use the 6 cup one, and stainless steel is the best quality...worth it to pay a bit more, but the aluminum ones make just as good coffee....

The frother is from London Drugs, the brand name is Fresco, and I think they are usually like $19.99?? Although they often go on sale! I think the last one I bought for my mother in law was $12.99.

When my espresso is almost done brewing I pour my milk in my mug, usually around 3/4 full, stick in the microwave, or heat it up on the stove if you don't have a microwave, then zap it with the frother when your milk is hot, your result should be creamy milk with a nice frothy top! I pour my espresso down the side of my milk, then squiggle my hand when the foam gets to the top to make a nice design, voila!

Even better when made with Illy Espresso......

:-)

K

talk about a self esteem booster!

Its not a secret that I did a boudoir photo shoot a couple weeks ago...I am not embarrassed to say it out loud. I did it for Fredo for Valentines Day, but I must say, I think it was a better present for myself! I can't tell you how many times I have looked at the photos since I got them last Friday...situated in a nice little book, I browse through them, sometimes catching myself thinking, "who is this hottie?". The wonders that good hair and make-up do to ones self, and especially when its caught on camera, WOWZA!

Anita Alberto of AG Photography was my lovely photographer, and did a fantastic job catching some great shots. The tunes were thumping in her studio, and although I have never done a photo shoot like this before (or have rocked lingerie and high heels), I quickly felt comfortable with her reassurance and guidance through the whole hour! Just like that, my insecurities of my soft folded tummy were forgotten...

My cousin Melissa from Polished did my hair, and Jenn Etherington at M.A.C Cosmetics in Metrotown did my kick ass makeup! Im not going to lie, I felt, and looked amazing! It was a great opportunity to lift my self esteem....an amazing experience to see yourself in a different light...

There is something about doing this kind of shoot after having children...it makes me proud to look at my body and know that it has worked hard to house two human beings, it shows that even the most ordinary are beautiful. We aren't all swimsuit models, and we aren't all fit for the Victoria Secret runway, I think its these pictures that tell real stories, and real beauty..

These pictures I will cherish for a lifetime. I would love for you all to have the same experience I did...book your boudoir session today, you will thank me!!!

www.anitaginaphotography.com

www.portraitsbyanita.com

K

xoxo

makes me feel better....

I can't tell you how often I say this to myself..."this too shall pass..." The event that got this saying started was during the H1N1 hype, I was lying in bed pregnant with Anabelle, watching the news about the vaccine, hearing them tell me to "get vaccinated" especially if you are pregnant! I was very uneasy about this vaccine, and really waved back and forth, deciding if this was something I was going to do or not.....my sister was pregnant at the same time...we exchanged information often, pro's and con's, and we both decided to go against what every news station was telling us...our hearts were pulling us in the opposite direction....I cried often, wondering if this was the right decision for me and my baby, I will admit I was terrified to get sick...sometimes I just wanted to crawl into my closet and not come out until Anabelle was born. Slowly, the news subsided, the pressure lifted, things become calmer, and the whole H1N1 "pandemic" disappeared...I do not judge those who received the vaccine, nor look down upon them, this was just simply a choice I had made for myself, but was sure glad my sister was along with me...through out, what seemed to be unbearable pressure, I recited in my head, "this too shall pass..." and it did....

Again, during my labour with Anabelle, when I thought I could no longer continue, besides my mom telling me "you can do it, you are doing great!" I said to myself, "this too shall pass...." I can't tell you how many times I said it! But the pain did pass, and it left me with a beautiful healthy baby girl!

Even in everyday life activities, when I get really sad about going back to work, or when the kids are sick, or when I am just feeling down, I know that it will pass, and I know those feelings will probably come back again, but they definitely pass...that I know for sure...even when things feel unbearable, I know, "this too shall pass..." The other day, when things were feeling a bit rough, I grabbed my chalk, and instead of writing my menu for the night, I wrote something that makes me feel better :-)

K

l.o.v.e

This is Noah's first year participating in Valentines Day with peers. His next day at school is his Valentines Day party!! I headed out today to get some supplies for us to make cards for his friends...

I remember making Valentine bags for our classroom parties...and hoping to get a Valentine from that special someone...hoping it said something mushy...I remember getting ready for the high school Valentines dance....and dancing to the song "Always" by Bon Jovi...I clearly remember my red velour baby doll dress from the GAP, I wore that in grade 8, to my very first high school dance (and some random guy telling me that Alfredo Valente wanted to dance with me, to which we probably danced to Always by Bon Jovi)...I remember receiving a white and red teddy bear, and a Valentines balloon from who would be my future husband...I remember my trip to Edmonton to visit Alfredo over Valentines Day...I remember the best Valentines Day ever, eating a fantastic dinner right in front of the Beluga tank at the Aquarium (I planned that year, I might add!), two years in a row, eating Valentines dinner at the White Spot Drive In....this is when kids came into the picture.........nothing like eating a Legendary burger, and breastfeeding your 2.5 month old son...

I only hope that Noah will have memorable Valentines Day's, and one day, along with Anabelle, have someone that they will love sitting at the White Spot Drive In with!

I told Noah one day, that when he gets a girlfriend that he has to treat her special, and be very romantic and loving, his reply to me was...."I don't need a girlfriend!" I am afraid that answer will change....

Happy Valentines Day!!

xoxo

K

addicted??

I sold yet another thing on Craigslist today....I think it has become an addiction! Some nights I find myself searching the house, or trying to remember what is in the garage, thinking of something else I can sell....so far, it has been very successful, and I always feel good when I like the people who purchase my things, especially my baby things, that have some sort of sentimental value :-)

You gotta love a quick sale, like when you have a new sideboard coming the next afternoon, and you sell the original one the next morning, just in time to make room!

I first heard about Craigslist through a girlfriend, she told me she purchased everything on there for her wedding!! I can't say I have purchased anything other than a new Blackberry battery...but I have made some great coin! It has been a great way to sell things that are in excellent condition, but have run there course in our household, or baby things that are still like new, just no use for them anymore..

After we tackle our garage this Spring, I will have a huge list of items for sale I'm sure...I always feel like I have accomplished something really big after I have sold something, strange, I guess, but it's true. There are people out there who want to buy my things! I take pride in looking after my belongings, only to be sold a few years later, still looking brand new!

If you choose to sell something on Craigslist, please do so responsibly! If possible, try and meet the buyer in a public place...or keep the item out of your house when they come...and of course, never do it alone, always have someone with you, xo.

K

Vintage Faerie....photo charms..

For my birthday, I received a Links of London charm bracelet. To this bracelet I wanted to add photo charms of my two kids....I stumbled across this website a few weeks ago, and ordered my charms right away! The process was easy, inexpensive, and lovely. I am eager to receive my charms in the mail, I know they are on their way!!

http://www.vintagefaerie.com/customorders.htm

www.vintagefaerie.com

My Girlfriend's Closet

Us girls, we all love to shop....and what a better way to do it, then in your own living room! I first attended a "My Girlfriend's Closet" party a few years ago at my friends place. It was a bunch of girls/women that came together for a night of wine, and nibbles, and SHOPPING!

Tammy Daly, a girlfriend of mine, founded this business in 2005, she has representatives throughout the Lower Mainland, that come to your house and give you a personalized at home shopping experience! They bring the racks, they bring the clothes! You just supply the shoppers!

I had so much fun that night! A group of mixed girls, some that had just met, some that have known each other for a long time. Who knew that trying on clothes would bring us all together! I remember laughing so hard, and getting to know things about these girls that I never knew, it was a blast!! Since then, I have hosted a party, and have been to a few more!

The spring line is out...and I am thinking of hosting another party! Definitely check this out, it's a great time had by all. Even if you don't find anything that suits you to buy, it's still a great time!

Check out their website www.mygirlfriendscloset.ca to see an online gallery, meet the consultants, book a party, even see how you can fundraise with My Girlfriend's Closet!

Happy Shopping!!

K

doughnuts in deep cove....

The sun was shining, and I didn't want to miss an afternoon out in the warm rays...so we headed to Deep Cove for a coffee and a Honey's Doughnut....

They are sooooooooooo good! The original are my favorite. I even had to let the kids taste....they were so fresh they were WARM!

Honey's Doughnuts and Goodies

4373 Gallant Avenue, North Vancouver 604-929-4988

K