Home Baking

Yesterday I was fairly productive. That always makes me smile.

I baked lots of yummy things, made a big pot of chili for Dan, among other things.

And in the end, the kitchen was clean as a whistle !! That always makes me smile too.

Sugar Rush

Breakfast this morning was cinny-sugar toast - so yummy !!

A treat I have been enjoying for as long as I remember : )

The sugar rush kicked started my fairly busy day of errands & groceries, followed up with baking & cooking & cleaning & laundry !! I am happy to being crashing onto the couch now.

Fancy Hair

Last week I got my hair cut - it was long over due. I had about 4 inches cut off the length, and got my bangs trimmed to they are "wearable" again. It feels so much better !!

I always love the post haircut feeling ... which makes me wonder why I always wait so long between cuts ??? Hmmm ...

Odds & Ends

The past few days have been all about the odds & ends - doing random tasks, finishing up forgotten about projects, trying to stay organized & keep the apartment tidy.

I only have a few tasks left now ... so close, yet so far from done !!

Patch Job

Our couch is D's from roughly forever ago. It is beyond faded, and since it's been very well loved, the material is starting to rip in places. Given that once upon a time it was a denim blue colour, I thought it might work to patch it with various denim scraps. In the process of patching one large rip today, I made a secondary rip - oops - hense the over lapping patches.

I think that one day, the entire couch cushion covers may be a big patch job.

It'll look even more loved then !!

Handmade Scarf

I got a new scarf !! Handmade !! I am in love !!

Thank you Cheryl - what a perfect gift : )

Snowday !!

It's a snowday today !! Buses cancelled & Schools closed all over the place !!

I'm not a student or a teacher. Regardless, I still get excited about snow days : )

Photos will come later ... and may or may not be snow related ...

YAY SPRING !!!

YAY SPRING !!!

Taken via my iPhone, altered via Instagram app ... so handy !!

You're Old(er)

Happy Birthday to Dan !!

It's your God-Damn-Birthday ; )

Yay Spring !

Ok, I know Spring doesn't offically start until Sunday evening but yesterday was beautiful & there were signs of Spring everywhere I looked !! I makes me smile !!

Bright Lights

I am looking forward to warmer weather so we can have fireworks again !!

They are one of my all time favourite things !!

Belated Birthday Dinners

This weekend is all about belated-birthday celebrations for me.

Friday night I had dinner with Candice & Christina - who both have birthdays only a few days before me.

Tonight is my family dinner at my Gramma's for not only my birthday, but my Aunt Brenda & Aunt Nikki's birthday too !!

Breakfast

I have been craving these lately ... Eggo waffles with chocolate chips !!

Zero nutritional values ... but too tasty to pass up !!

My Baby !!

Look how pretty she is !! She arrived on Tuesday all new and shiney with all her tape & protective plastic still on ... she waited all night & all day for me to get home Wednesday to help her get settled in !!

BAHAHAHA

I am over the top I know. But I love new things, especially when they are going to work perfectly !!

I love the big window into the oven. I love the timer that works, the digital clock, the easy to use everything !! I love that she's so clean & new & shiney !!

LOVE HER !!

An Unusual Smile

If you know me at all, you know that normally a pile of cook & bakeware on the kitchen floor would cause the exact opposite of a smile ... However, when it means that the new stove is being delievered - it causes a gigantic smile !! The new stove will be here today ... I won't be home until tomorrow evening, but rest assured I will post a photo ASAP : )

Back At It !!

I admit I have been a terrible slacker lately. I'm sorry, but as you *should* know - I've had a lot going on.

Between surgery, an ER visit, lots of recovery time, a wacky sleep schedule thanks to my antibiotics, and all around exhaustion - this blog has been near the bottom of the list.

I must admit, I didn't think anyone would really notice (or care) ... so I was pleasently surprised when my Aunt Shelly told me that she misses my daily photos !!

But as of today I vow to get back in the saddle !! Stay on track !! And dazzle you all with my photos & stories : )

Below is a photo I took today - of under my kitchen sink. Now I'm sure you are wondering why in the world this is a photo that would make me smile ... But I assure you, it has me glowing with excitement !!

You see, our apartment building has been having a new garbage disposal system installed over the past week - one of the first in Burlington to include a GREEN BIN option !! And today when I arrived home from work, outside my door there was a new recycling bin & green bin, along with lots of complimentary dispoable bags & the appropriate informative paperwork !!

I am an admitted enviromental junkie - I love to reduce, reuse & recycle - and have been over the moon since December when we first heard about our new disposale system ... and today it is finally here !! Laugh at me if you want, but I can hardly wait to empty the green bin for the first time !!

We've got it all ... garbage, green bin, metal & plastic, paper, and glass !! I am in heaven !!

Back on the couch

On Wednesday night I hit up the ER due to some post surgery complications.

And now I am back no the couch for a few days.

I am kind of bored out of my mind, but know that I need to rest up in order to feel better.

Today I am going to venture to the grocery store - woohoo ; )

Needless to say, I am being a slacker again ...

But I promise a photo tomorrow to celebrate my 28th Birthday !!

Longing For These Days

It is that time of year. Where I long for warm weather.

I want to wear skirts and tanks and sandles.

I hope we have an early spring, as I am going stir crazy in winter.

Family Day Long Weekend

I am loving this long weekend. I have been productive - cleaning, baking, groceries, cooking.
And the rest of the time has been spent watching movies, playing games, and just relaxing.

Above is some of my family, ironically I won't see anyone this weekend...

But they are always on my mind !!

Wonky Weather

The weather this week is kind of wonky in Ontario. It's been extremely cold, and will soon be unseasonably mild - 11 degrees with rain on Friday. Weather like this makes my head hurt, with the pressure systems moving in & out so quickly, and changing so much.

Dear Mother Nature, please make the weather settle down. xo

Nanner Bread

Above is my new Banana Bread recipie result ... it is heavy, and smells heavenly !! I cannot wait for it to cool so I can try it !!

Photo taken with my new iPhone 4 - awesome !!

Slacking again

I have been slacking again. Sorry.
I had surgery last week and have been couch bound ever since.
Tomorrow I re-enter the real world, so I will try to post again.
Thanks for userstanding. xo

Poor Sick Dan

Dan has been sick the past few days. Poor fellow. I am not even at home to take care of him. Hopefully he gets better ... so he can take care of me later this week.

Wandering

Out wandering around with Dan & snowshoes a few weeks ago.

Hockey Mom for the Day

Today I played Hockey Mom for the day. I had a trial run yesterday with Lu, so I more or less knew where to go and what to do. Ty got his tournament trophy today, and was really excited to go home & show Lu. Ty is super cute !!

Vaca ?

Moving into Lu's today until next week sometime !! I will only be 15 minutes from home, but I feel like I am going on a real trip - too funny. Maybe because I packed my suitcase ; )

Snow Day (2) - aka Cake & Birthday photos

Above - preparing to bake the famous cocoa-banana-cake !!

Below - sifted dry ingredients

Above - two beautiful & perfect 9" cakes

Below - stacked & iced ... but not with cocoa-banana-frosting, that was a fail.

Above - Gramma blowing out the comical candles on her cake

Below - Most of the family gathered round after singing happy birthday

Snow Day (1)

I am sorry for the lack of posts these past few days. I have been slacking, for a few reasons.

But I will edit and post more today ... so enjoy these three to start !!

HAPPY SNOW DAY

This Girl

Seriously, who let this girl out of the house ?

Little Red Dots

I am off to give my blood to the lab for testing this morning - which is probably one of my least favourite things to do. Wish me luck.

Quite The Pair

 

Last Saturday we finally got out to snowshoe. It was beyond cold outside, but it was so fun to be out there. We went to a park near by, and explored the path & trails and enjoyed watching the wildlife and checking out the views.

Chili

I made some chili for Dan today, divided it up and froze it. The apartment smells so yummy.

Waiting game

I am playing the waiting game. I am not a good waiter. I don't like this.

I want to know now. Please!

Lets Go Shoeing

Dan & I are hoping to go snow shoeing later today or tomorrow. Last year we didn't make it out once. Or snow shoes are crying for attention. Plus I want to take more winter photos - so it seems like a good combo !!

Little Steps

Today has been a day full of little steps, like all the little scales on this tree trunk.

The first, and probably hardest step, was to get out of bed this morning. With no where to go and not much on the to-do list, it was no easy task.

Roughly six hours after getting out of bed, I have only just showered now ... oh boy.

LuLu !!

Today Luanne made me smile. And laugh. And almost pee my pants.

Thanks for a great visit Lu ! I am so glad my dinner was good ; ) SOCKS

Pack Rat Perks

I am a pack rat. There is no way around it. I am aware of this, and try not to keep everything ... but I often find myself coming across things and wondering why in the world I hung on to it. Luckily, I still find lots of "hidden gems" in the mix ... like this little quote:

You're speaking from your heart. There are no rules.

Grammer doesn't matter ... No rough drafts ...

No Limits ... No Judgements ...

It's love. Just write.

I was so excited to see that quote. I had forgotten all about it, but as soon as I started reading it, my heart smiled and a slew of memories came rushing back. And that is why I truly believe that being a pack rat has it's perks.

Main Loop

Here's to hoping I find my way back onto the "main loop" today !!

Monday Morning

Apparently it is quite cold outside. I am not looking forward to going out there.

The cold makes Monday mornings that much harder.

I would much rather be curled up in bed for the day - all warm & cozy !!

Rock, Meet Hard Place.

This is where I am - stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Migraine day number 3 today.

Do I medicate & feel loopy? Or tough it out?

Toughing it out failed miserably yesterday, so medicate it is.

Wishing & Hoping

Here's hoping ... that the weekend is filled with fun & adventure !!

And wishing my Mom & Laurie a nice get-away from the cold & snow, and a wonderful, warm & sunny trip to Jamaica !!

Fancy Mother Nature

Dan & I saw this on our hike on Christmas Eve.

We both admired just how fancy Mother Nature can be.

Get Out And Ride

Get Out And Ride. Move. Walk. Be Active !!