Best Buds...

Sweet innocence.....the simple pleasure of sharing Hawkins Cheezies with a buddy...I watched these two lick their cheesy fingers, and giggle at each other while shouting "go red go, go red go!" (we were at the SFU Clan Hockey Game). It makes me smile that Noah has a true "buddy" one he looks up to, one that makes his eyes smile when they rough around together...a buddy he has shared his first year of Preschool with....

I was just going to post about the picture above, and then I remembered all the great pictures I had of these two together....photos I will cherish forever, and hopefully a friendship these two little men will cherish forever!

To Noah and Ben!!

xoxo

Noah & Benjamin waiting for Santa at Preschool

Hanging out after Preschool

Playing soccer at the cabin in Shuswap Lake

The week ahead...food wise...

MONDAY- Gnocci with Green Salad

TUESDAY- Risotto with Arugula and Oyster Mushroom Salad

WEDNESDAY- Smoky Corn Chowder with Bacon and Garlic Crostini

THURSDAY- Cajun Penne with Green Salad

FRIDAY- Cashew Chicken with Rice

SATURDAY- Orechiette with Swiss Chard and Chick Peas

SUNDAY- Salmon Steaks with Lemon and Dill and Roast Potatoes

I put this together while watching last week's Bachelor that Fredo PVR'd for me! Some of the recipes are new! I am excited to try them....I did get a few from the February issue of Chatelaine. There are some great looking recipes in there! Especially the Tom Yum Thai soup, with Chicken and Shrimp (Fredo is not a big Thai fan), so I will make that for me one day...

Grocery shopping tomorrow!

K

Advice From A Caterpillar.....

I visited a lovely baby store today....my sisters friends opened Advice From A Caterpillar a while ago in Rosedale, here in Toronto, I had the pleasure of taking it all in this afternoon. Upon arrival, I made a mad dash to the bathroom, I really had to pee, and Anabelle needed a new diaper...the back of the store housed an amazingly lovely washroom, adorned with gorgeous framed silhouettes, photos, dress forms, pretty dolls and the most beautiful christening gown and bonnet hanging just so on the back of the door. I knew this would be a fancy shopping experience!

www.advicefromacaterpillar.ca

The clothes were gorgeous, toys that I have never seen before, and a lovely display of Astier de Villate candles, and ceramics! You know I love a sale, so we hit this store at the right time, clearing out end of season sweaters, tops, pants and onesies.... Although, I still couldn't buy the most beautiful cashmere dress for Anabelle, even if it was 60% off of $280. I settled for a slate grey eyelet top, she is going to look so cute in it!!!!

A great place to get something special. Beautiful quality, with many items from Europe. A great selection of Petit Bateau, my all time favorite undershirts!!

K

Black Skirt

I have come to Toronto to visit my new nephew! Today, my sister (the new mommy), and Everett, the new little man ventured outside for the first time since his January 19th birthday..it was a mild afternoon, so we all bundled up and walked down the street to College, met a lovely friend, and had lunch at a new place called Black Skirt.

This place got a thumbs up from me right away, they have prosecco by the glass on the menu! This is rare.....so we all had a glass and toasted the new family member! It went down awfully smooth...gotta love prosecco! Along with our bubbly, we had rice balls, mushroom crostini, arugula salad, tomato and fennel soup.....everything was fabulous! (Anabelle loved the rice balls!)

Like a little Sicilian deli, they carried all sorts of italian grocery items, fruit nectars, espresso....great dessert menu, including a warm nutella sandwich! A must try for next time.

A warm atmosphere; industrial lighting fixtures, wooden planked floors, old school chairs...would be a great place to go in the evening to have a glass of wine. I think my sister will be soon be known by name, as its right at the end of her block!

The coolest thing, were the wooden crates, stacked on their sides on top of one another in the bathroom, held together by wood clamps, housing the paper towels and extra toilet paper...a great design idea!

Another great place to go, while visiting T.O!

Fresh Canoli....

So, when I was in Toronto a few months ago, for my sisters baby shower (she had a little boy by the way, Everett!), her girlfriend brought these Canoli's...they were tremendous!! Thank goodness I grabbed one off the plate before it went into the living room, because they were gone in 2 seconds! It was, by far, the best canoli I had ever eaten! The shell was crunchy, the filling was creamy....they were LOVELY!!

It was on the top of my list to get some while I was visiting this time....to my surprise, I found out they were from a place called Longo's, a family run market, sort of resembling Whole Foods. Turns out there was one right near the apartment we were staying in! I made a trip one night, for half a dozen canoli.....

The key to these tasting so fresh, and still being so crunchy, is they are filled upon ordering, I watched the lady as she piped in the creamy ricotta cheese, and sprinkled them with sugar...I intended to get them for coffee that evening...somehow, one made it into my mouth as we were making dinner!

www.longos.com

I have three left in the fridge....they may just be my breakfast :-)

K

Joyfolie...

My sister sent me a link.....wow, so glad she found it, and so glad she forwarded it onto me! My heart fluttered as I searched through the pages of shoes for little girls.....take a look! I am going to buy the "Piper" shoes for Miss Anabelles Baptism!

www.joyfolie.com

Please read their philosophy, I think it's lovely...

"10% of the profits of Joyfolie go to Giving Children Hope, a non-profit organization that refurbishes medical equipment that would otherwise go in a landfill for use in impoverished areas and for disaster relief"

10 things that make me smile...

Told you this would come up soon....here are my top 10 things that make me smile, what are yours?

1. the sound of brewing coffee in the morning

2. a perfect pink lip gloss

3. crawling into a bed with freshly washed sheets

4. looking at photographs of my kids

5. a good meal

6. laughing

7. a genuine hug (no back patting)

8. hearing "mommy, your so beautiful" from my 3 year old son...

9. playing footsie with my husband after we have both snuggled into bed

10. the sound of my moms bracelets clanging together, makes me feel at home..

Gosh there could be many more...

Would love to read yours.......

K