tender tootsies

My heels are so sore....I can envision them splitting if I take one more step....It seems I have been run off my feet over the past two months, maybe sitting down to take a bite of supper, or when I go to bed, otherwise it has been go go go! After attending the re-opening of BeautyMark in Yaletown the other night, I came home and rummaged through my 'swag bag', in there was a little pot of Mega Moisturizer by Deserving Thyme. It smelled delish, so I slathered it on my heels and feet and put some socks on....

I think I will need a few more treatments, but it sure felt good!! Here is what to look for, they also offer a moisturizes that is specifically for your feet, with peppermint, gotta love that burn!

www.deservingthyme.com

The new BeautyMark location looks absolutely amazing! With service stalls and rooms upstairs, it has truly been re-vamped!! Also combined is their kid store Eio! Somewhere you can go, with your kiddies, take some time choosing a new blush, lipgloss or moisturizer, and bribe them with a new little toy if they show good behavior! Noah loved the Chatimals! A plush version of 'Talking Tom Cat'.

Take a trip down there, everything looks fabulous! We had fun in the Photo Booth that was setup outside! Take a look!

BeautyMark

1268 Pacific Blvd Yaletown

604-642-2294

www.beautymark.ca

K

chickadee dee dee dee

It is so nice to have a little fashion boutique here in Burnaby Heights! So refreshing! I have visited Chickadee Boutique many times, and have browsed through their beautiful things. I found a necklace there to wear with my dress for Anabelle's Baptism, at $26 it was an amazing price! Goes to show that even a little boutique can offer fabulous prices on unique brands that aren't spotted everywhere.

Chickadee Boutique

4347 Hastings Street, Burnaby, BC

Mon-Thurs 11am-6pm

Fri 11am-7pm

Sat 10:30am-5:30pm

604-569-1116

www.chickadeeboutiquebc.blogspot.com

chickadeeboutique@hotmail.com

Also check them out on FaceBook! They post pictures of their newest items!!

K

APPLE PIE

I have been staring at this huge vase of apples.....granny smith's are not the kind I like to grab and take a bite out of. I am more of a gala apple fan.....my mom suggested I make a crisp or an apple pie. I knew I had some pastry in the freezer, so yesterday, I made a pie!!

Pilsbury Pie Crusts are the yummiest of pre-made pastry! They often go on sale at Safeway, 2 packages for $6.00 which gives you 4 crusts. I have used them to make chicken pot pie as well, delicious!!

I just used the recipe that was on the back of the pie crust box. Simple, and seriously yummy!!

Perfect Apple Pie

1 package Pilsbury Pie Crusts

6 cups thinly sliced, peeled apples

3/4 cup white sugar

2 tbsp flour

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp nutmeg

1 tbsp lemon juice

Heat oven to 400, place crust in the bottom of your pan, fill with apples, top with second crust, pinch around the edges. Take a sharp knife and make slits on the top. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Enjoy a slice with some vanilla ice cream, vanilla yogurt or a piece of cheddar cheese!

back in the groove..

Phew, parties are over....I sat down this morning, with my coffee, after bringing Noah to school and wrote my menu for the week...something I have missed...

I look forward to preparing regular meals again, and having a stocked fridge, I was beginning to feel awfully frazzled!! I also look forward to the two bottles of Prosecco that were left over from our Easter brunch, thanks Aunty Patty!

What are you having for dinner this week!?

K

The auntie's host mommy and baby e

My sister and I had the pleasure of hosting a baby shower for baby Everett this past weekend! It was a beautiful afternoon to get together with all the ladies and kiddies! It has been such a pleasure having our sister here from Toronto for the last month, we will be sad to see the two of them go, but we know that daddy misses them both and will be thrilled to see how much little e has grown over the past while!!

With a theme of green apples, my sister Megan made the invitations (sorry no picture!!) we filled vases with apples, jars of apple ring gummies, and favor boxes filled with apple green treats! Gotta love a theme for a party!

We love you Auntie Erin and baby Everett!!

xo

K

who likes tutu's? i do!

The magic of a tutu....they are so whimsical and fun! These are two I made for a little girl who is turning 1 next week! I made a few for Anabelle's birthday, and have used them numerous times since! Including a photo shoot with Anita Alberto www.portraitsbyanita.com or www.anitaginaphotography.com They seem to make every moment magical!

I would be honored to make you one! LovelyLittles tutu's start at $25.

K

PIZZELLE

As a bridal shower gift, I received a Pizzelle waffle maker. A special little waffle iron that makes yummy crispy cookies! I know they sell them at Bosa Foods...

My mother in law always makes them, and so tonight, I decided to take a stab at them again, with my mom.....I have a recipe from my mother in law, but its for such a large quantity of cookies....I wanted to just try a batch, so instead of dissecting the recipe, I googled 'pizzelle recipe' this is what I got......

PIZZELLE

3 eggs

3/4 cup white sugar

1/2 cup melted butter

1 tbsp vanilla (or anise)

1 3/4 cup flour

2 tsp baking powder

Whisk eggs and sugar until creamy. Add melted butter and vanilla. Sift together the flour and baking powder. Combine with the wet ingredients. Mix until you have a creamy batter. Drop batter by teaspoon onto the hot greased iron. The cooking time was tricky, took us a few cookies to get it right....it seemed like 60 seconds for a nicely colored waffle.

Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

I know that the waffle iron's usually come with a recipe book...I have misplaced mine! A great addition to have in your cupboard, even if you only use it once in a blue moon!! Next time I mak them, I want to attempt waffle ice cream bowls!!

K

"back in the day when I was young, I'm not a kid anymore"

"but some days I sit and wish I was a kid again...."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0WMSovOboY

It started when I was at a family members 16th birthday...showing me the renovations to their new house, we came to her bedroom. Man, remember when you only had to worry about your bedroom. What duvet cover you would get, what lamp would go on your bedside table, what clothes hung in your closet, and where your homework was piled.....when your mom would call you for dinner, and what to wear the next day to school, or losing sleep over an exam.....now its losing sleep because you can't sleep, because you have a baby that wont sleep, therefor you have to be awake!

I worked at Cascade Heights Elementary School today, as I walked into the office, out of the principals door came a rush from my past....infront of me stood my grade 6 teacher...now the principal of this school where I have come to work...instantly I was transported back to Gilmore Elementary School, 6th grade, we were having a class party, playing music and eating treats....I am sure I was wearing some sort of plaid skirt with knee high socks and some hideous shoes, my hair, what I thought was straight at the time...but looking back was nothing but kinked and fried by the iron...I can remember so many faces.

The feeling of nostalgia as I walked down the hallways, smelling of construction paper took over my senses. What I would give to be back in elementary school again...having someone pack my lunch, put out my clothes and make me dinner (even just for a little while). Where the biggest problem at lunch time is someone won't share a swing, or complete and udder devastation because you have lost and earring and your mom is going to be so mad! What these kids don't know is what it is that lies ahead of them, they are so safe and protected within these walls...something I envy. The simplicity. Time.

This is one thing that I love about Facebook, it has given me to opportunity to reconnect with people from my childhood, to share memories, and share new experiences....

This is a hideous picture of me....but I think this was the summer of grade 6 or maybe grade 7??? I remember the feeling of this sweater on my skin, it was my sisters, I brought it with me on this trip with my girlfriend Marissa, her brother DJ and their mom Diane. I remember buying the Dangerous Minds soundtrack, and listening to it non-stop, reciting all the lyrics to Gangta's Paradise...wearing shorts! I don't think I have worn shorts since this picture! The feeling of summer, knowing that you had 2 months to RELAX.....I don't even know the definition of 'relax' anymore.

Not saying I would ever give up what I have. A wonderful husband that still tells me I am beautiful after 14 years, two beautiful children, a lovely home, an amazing family and extended family, two gorgeous nephews, delightful friends..I will never pass up the memories of my wedding, dancing the night away, wasted on Sambuca, bare feet with bandaides on every toe...the sound of my babies first cries...or the exhilaration of buying a home...but a taste of the past was sure nice, a place I could make a visit too some days.

K

mothers day..

Sometimes you get discouraged

Because I am so small

And always leave my fingerprints

On furniture and walls.

But every day I'm growing -

I'll be grown some day

And all those tiny handprints

Will surely fade away.

So here's a little handprint

Just so you can recall

Exactly how my fingers looked

When I was very small.

I remember doing a handprint craft with this poem for my mom for mothers day when I was in Kindergarten...I hope one day I get this poem from my kids, with their precious little handprints...

K

cozy food

Yesterday I went to work at University Highlands Elementary School...while out on the playground at lunch hour, it started to SNOW! It is the middle of April for peats sake! When my shift was over, I needed to quickly get something to make for dinner (my menu's have been on hiatus for the last few weeks due to all the functions!) and Nester's Market was across the way. I had a craving for roast chicken. Chicken breasts with the bone in and skin still on....makes for a juicier meal!! I wanted some vegetables, so I opted for root veggies, seeing as it seemed like a wintery day!! I grabbed some yams, sweet potatoes and carrots and an onion for flavor!

I threw it all in a baking dish, cut up all the vegetables of course, drizzled with some olive oil, and greek seasoning, and plunked it in the oven!

Oh dinner was tasty! And to top it off, I had a nice piece of white bread slathered in butter, and a glass of milk!!

Cozy goodness, I love it how food can do that....the scale is proof of that!

K

Easter is coming!

I love Easter....the Easter Bunny, the lovely colours, the egg decorating! We are hosting an Easter brunch for our family, and an egg hunt for the kids! I will hang a carrot on our front door like we did last year (thanks Auntie Megan for the suggestion), and I will take a few bites, while the kids are sleeping, to show them that Mr. Cottontail was indeed here, hiding chocolate and goodies for them to find!

Check out my new Easter egg wreath, from Superstore :-) and my paper mache eggs from William Sanoma that were a gift last year from my parents, LOVE THEM! I also got some lovely coloured place mats at Liquidation World to top my table, along with Schwarties, and sausages, and egss, fruit and baking! Yummmmm...can't wait until Easter Monday!

I was hoping to plant some grass in one of my white dishes to hide some coloured eggs in as my center piece...I think I am running out of 'growing' time! Can you buy super speed grass??

Although Anabelle would love to devour some chocolate, I don't think that would be responsible parenting (I might let her have a taste!) so instead, I plan to fill hollow eggs with puffs and stars that Anabelle, along with her cousin Ronan can search for and enjoy!

What kind of things are you doing for Easter??

K

Mouth watering Wednesday

Chocolate biscotti just came out of my oven......they are delicious and super easy!!

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

2 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1/3 cup butter

1/2 cup cocoa

1 tbsp instant coffee

2 tsp baking powder

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg white

In a little bowl dissolve the instant coffee in the vanilla. In a larger bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add your two eggs, cocoa, flour and baking powder...mix well, add chocolate chips if using, combine until dough is soft and sticky. Transfer onto a floured surface and divide into two balls. Press each ball into a rectangle (the recipe says 12" but I can never get it that long??). Place on an un-greased cookie sheet and brush the tops with the egg white. Bake at 325 for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 1o minutes. Cut diagonally into slices, stand them upright on another cookie sheet and bake again for another 20 minutes. Voila!!

K

easy cake solution..

If you are ever in need of a fairly large cake to serve to guests, Costo is your place! For $20 they offer a delicious slab cake, chocolate or vanilla, with a bavarian cream center and white or chocolate frosting! I always ask for them to make it blank, no design and no writing, so that I can decorate it myself! I did this for Noah's 3rd Birthday and just yesterday for Anabelle's baptism. With the help of Jessica Boffo from Kardz Kouture www.kardzkouture.com, I use the stationary theme from the invitations and tags she does for me, and I put in on my cake!

A great solution for a lovely cake, that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Add some candies, your own piped icing, or go to Michael's Craft store for great additions like these paper flowers!

K

my favorite

Every time I pick up Noah from preschool, I want to see what he has made that day. The smile on his face, as he shows me his projects is priceless! The other day he came home with my favorite project thus far.....

An egg carton caterpillar! Isn't it cute!! They do such great projects with the kids, no wonder Noah loves preschool!!

My next home project with Noah is a paper bag owl...I saw them on an episode of Barney, believe it or not! I will post when we have done them.

K

marshmallow growth...

This was our attempt at making rice krispie squares on the fly.....something to have with our coffee, I know, I know, I didn't have anything ready before, shame on me right? Well, in my cupboard I had some marshmallows, and just shy of the 6 cups of rice krispies....the problem, was the marshmallows weren't melting in the pot...I think they were expired or something!? So my mom thought we could microwave them to see if that helped with the melting process.....this is what happened in the microwave......a marshmallow goiter! We laughed so hard! So much for the rice krispie squares...

K

nicest garage sale ever!

My dad is having a garage sale this Saturday April 9th from 9am-3pm at the following address;

3746 Eton Street, Burnaby BC

BACK ALLEY!!

Take a look at some of the stuff thats up for grabs...only my dads garage sales are this good!!

PLUS A LOT OF OTHER STUFF:

VINTAGE STEREO GEAR AND RECORDS - SORRY NO TURNTABLES

TOYS - SOME TOOLS - CAR STUFF

HOME DECOR ITEMS - PICTURES , FRAMES, VASES, LAMPS, RUGS, ETC ETC ETC.

AND MUCH MUCH MORE

3746 ETON STREET - BACK ALLEY

BURNABY, BC.

THIS SATURDAY - APRIL 9 - 9 TO 3

Hope you can make it!!

K

stumbled....

I stumbled across a great site the other night......KLUTCH Photography www.klutchphotography.com by visiting the blog of 'All Things Bliss' by Kassie Doucet http://blissdesigns.ca/blog/, (also, her lovely website www.blissdesigns.ca). I fell in love with the beautiful photographs and the heart touching music that was playing along with the photos....this was one of my favorite photos....it made me just want to hold this little hand, or dig for worms with this little babe!

Dina Ferrierra Stoddard for KLUTCH Photography

The song that opened the site was this.......

Written by Ingrid Michaelson

If you were falling, then I would catch you
You need a light, I'd find a match

Cuz I love the way you say good morning
And you take me the way I am

If you are chilly, here take my sweater
Your head is aching; I'll make it better

Cuz I love the way you call me baby
And you take me the way I am

I'd buy you Rogaine when you start losing all your hair
Sew on patches to all you tear

Cuz I love you more than I could ever promise
And you take me the way I am
You take me the way I am
You take me the way I am

Photos to music.....just an emotional disaster in my books.....but you gotta love it, tugs at your heart strings. Music is a powerful thing.

xo

K

puddle jumping

Do you ever feel like you have an enormous elephant sitting on your shoulders? Maybe its sadness, maybe its nerves.....yesterday I had that enormous elephant sitting on my shoulders. For numerous reasons, some probably really silly, I was feeling sad. Unfortunately the day doesn't come to a stand still because you are feeling a little sad...I had errands to run, thank goodness without the kids! It was pouring rain...I had completed my grocery shopping, and had to make a stop at Costco. With the rain still slopping down, I got out of the car. Ahead of me were puddles, upon puddles, upon puddles.....I got a sudden urge to jump in one....without hesitation, I took a running jump, and SPLASH!! Thank goodness I had my rain boots on!! Like a curious 4 year old, I wanted to do it again, so I did....SPLASH.....I laughed out loud. This was the best relief for my enormous elephant. It lightened the mood for the rest of the day. No wonder our kids always want to jump in the puddles :-)

K

"mommy, may I please be excused?"

Noah has turned into the biggest procrastinator, especially at meal time.....so on this day I was not letting him leave the table without eating his dinner! I told him, you may not be excused until you are finished, you are not leaving your chair.....

Well, he didn't leave his chair.......but he did fall asleep on it! I got busy with the dishes, then the phone rang...things got awfully quiet so I peeked my head around to check....he was fast asleep, feet dangling in the air! Little bugger knows how to get out of everything!

I love to hear his little voice ask "mommy, may I please be excused?"....my reply usually is, "no, no until you finish your supper!". Why can't he enjoy his food like his mom does!

K

Great gift idea!

We got this for Noah for Christmas. Its a magnetic type of puzzle, that shows you how to make a match, and copy the complete picture of whichever character you choose...

Here, Noah chose the astronaut. He has to find the helmet, the jacket, the pants and the boots the match the picture on the right! It also has a cowboy, a scuba diver, a viking.....there was a cool 'funny faces' one too...

You can find the French line JANOD at Toys R Us, I remember this puzzle being about $14.99. Check out the website www.janod.com They also do great puzzles that come in great a little luggage carrier! Noah got a Space themed one for his birthday!

A great gift for a child's party, great price point, and great quality!

K

Zutano score at Liquidation World!!

I received some gifts with a tag that read 'LW your outlet store'. With some investigating, I found out they were from Liquidation World. Again, while running errands, we happened to be in the area of the Liquidation World in Coquitlam off of United Boulevard. Fredo stayed in the car with the kids, and I made a quick dash up and down the aisles....I came to the infant clothing section...........this is when things went into lightning speed....I knew I had told Fredo I would be just a few minutes, as we needed to be somewhere...I started to grab, and grab and grab.....I had come across racks of Zutano infant clothing...Zutano has the cutest patterns in the most brightest fun colours, and the cotton is oh so soft!! The price tag read, $2.50!!! I filled my arms, and decided I would come back the next day to cover what I had not seen during this whirlwind of minutes! This was a time to get things for any baby I knew, or babies that haven't even been born yet! Who can go wrong for $2.50! To my surprise, when the items were put through the till, they were an additional 30% off, now I really felt like I had won the jackpot! These items retail for around $20 a piece! $2.50-30%=$1.75!!!!! I even got a dress that was $1.05, come on!

I can't say you will find any if you go...I think I purchased everything!! HA. But check Liquidation World out online http://www.lwstores.com/ for a store nearest you! and check out Zutano, they have great things! www.zutano.com not for $1.75 though :-)

K

LovelyLittles has NEW fabrics!!

I made a pit stop into the fabric store while running some other errands....with the rest of the family in the car, I ran through collecting what caught my eye....turns out, A LOT caught my eye, and thank god Noah had to pee, or else I would have been in there forever!!! I can't wait to sew these up into drool scarves! Great patterns for the Spring!!

Place an order for drool scarves today!! $10 each or 3 for $25! They make great gifts, and not only are they a drool collector but they are a great stylish addition to your little ones outfit!

Check us put on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/LovelyLittles/136973936322019?ref=ts

Or contact me at lovelylittles@shaw.ca

K