rain, bee stings and birthdays

This is the view from my deck.  As I stand by the window washing dishes I love discovering what's new with the trees.  It's amazing how the new leaves are such an electric green!  

 This is try number 2.  Bee Sting Buns from this recipe.  I found the actual baking time much shorter than the recipe said and definitely think these are a great brioche recipe but not so much an authentic Bee Sting, for that, I would go back to using this one and instead of the vanilla pudding centre make the real vanilla bean pastry cream from this one.  Now that that's clear:)  I am glad I made a few different ones so that we could compare.  

On Friday evening we headed out to my niece's 1st birthday party.  My sister in law did a milk and cookies theme and it was, as always, an amazing spread!  She made Amelie a birthday dress and as I dressed her in it I was in awe of all that Shannon does:)  Wow, I have so much respect and love for her talents and gifts.  

I'm excited for May!  I look forward to planting my garden, getting a haircut that is long overdue, going to a wedding, and celebrating our ten year wedding anniversary!  Happy Monday, make some soup and get cozy.

kinfolk

 I'm feeling cozy indoors as the rain falls on the fruit trees and flowers outdoors.  This weekend we have shared time with family and friends and as I gaze on these wonderful photos I really feel like they totally encapsulate what I love most about life.  

kinfolk

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do 

with your one wild and precious life?” 

― Mary Oliver

reading, baking and celebrating life

Sarah Pekkanen's book "The Opposite of Me" is as great as her book "Skippping A Beat" I am stoked that I have one more of hers to read after this one!  I'm in my bliss when after the dishes are washed and the kids are napping I can curl up with my book and read. (The dishes don't always have to be washed, it just feels that much better:)

 So, here is try number 1 for the Bee Stings.  I went off of this recipe for the cake and the glaze but not for the pastry cream instead I used this one.  All in all I loved the making of this cake.  The dough came together beautifully and the vanilla bean pastry cream was devine.  The baking time was off for me only 12 min instead of 25 so check it often, I was really surprised when the toothpick came out clean after such a short time.  Today is Bee Sting bun day.  We'll see how it goes:)

 Our little big Nora who loves nothing more than to stand holding onto things, lots of drool and big smiles these days.

 I had some fun playing around with Instagram and found some cool new features or at least new to me:)  Nala's eyes always get me, straight to the heart!

 Neka had such an open face, she's softening and asking for more cuddles I love it!  There's nothing like being a mama.  I have so much love in my life, I'm so grateful!  To think in my early twenties I didn't even want to have kids, so much has changed.  Ten extra pounds, a soft round belly and a heart full of precious memories.  Oh how I wouldn't trade it!

This weekend has two special birthdays.  My gorgeous niece is turning 1 and some friends who had a baby two months before us are celebrating their sons 1st birthday as well.  I'm looking forward to celebrating these milestones.  Way to go Mamas!

granola and lego breakfast

This was our breakfast on Saturday morning, we had lego, yogourt, granola and lots of stories at the table that morning.  Everyone was having so much fun I wanted to capture the spirit!  Oooo...the granola was the yummiest (from COSTCO) and the KREMA yogourt is sooo delicious.  

I'm going to attempt to make bee stings later today.  I've got three different recipes I'm going to try.  Yesterday I spent some time reading about making a good brioche dough and of course the vanilla bean pastry creme must be mastered as well so I've got lots to try out and learn.  I think baking is the first really keen interest I've had in becoming a great homemaker.  I kind of laugh as I write this because just yesterday I thought about this idea of being a homemaker as I was washing the dishes.  I'm grateful to be able to be home with my babies even though some days it seems so mundane and thankless.  I am naturally a person that wants to take care of people and when my family is happily eating a meal that I enjoyed making I couldn't be happier.  

 I wanted to give you a look at this amazing granola!  It's packed with nuts, fruit and seeds.

 These bagels are the best!  We have a Silver Hills here in Abbotsford and they also have the most AMAZING carrots from Fountain View.  

 Neka brought me these blossoms from the garden.  I love how everything is in bloom right now:)  As soon as the rain stops for more than five minutes I'm going out to mow the lawn and revel in the beauty of the backyard.  

dream with me

Today I thought I'd share some of my faves from Pinterest.  I've made the ntuella meringue torte and it's to die for!  This June I plan to build the girls a play house and this is a fun one I've been looking at.  In my kitchen I'd love to see these bowls filled with homemade granola, fruit and yogurt.  The next photo is a place I'd really like to be eating this granola.  You get the picture!  Enjoy and dream with me.

nutella meringue tort

modern treehouse

squaremeal-tumblr

pachadesignjournal

apartment therapy

llhdesigns

vintagemodernquilts

anthropologie

taza-and-husband

This last photo is not a personal dream of mine just an interest:)

moments in the light

 My dad sent these photos to me.  It is rare to have a photo of me with Nora and I find it quite precious.  Thanks Dad!

 I just finished reading "Skipping A Beat" by Sarah Pekkanen and I've already ordered her other two books.  What a great author, I'm sad to finish this book!  

May your weekend be lovely!

living fully

Kinfolk Dinner-Brooklyn, New York

I love how the hall where the dinner is set is so rustic and simple.  The essence of these dinners resonates so beautifully with how I wish to live my life.  Sharing simple and delicious food with old and new friends.
A few days ago I received my first Taproot magazine.  Created in part by Amanda Soule from SouleMama As I read the introduction my eyes filled with happy tears.  My heart is being filled with what I read in its pages.  Taproot is about living fully, digging deeper.  I crave this philosophy and am striving for it in my life.  

I'm looking at the way that I am raising my girls, I read a great children's book by Carol Mcloud called "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?" It's a great, fun way of talking about how we nurture and help each other grow by using kind words and actions to "fill up" each others "buckets."  I want more of that in my house:)  

I'm in spring cleaning mode and feel a deep need to clear out, really clear out all the pockets of stuff so that I can breath.  I really feel like I'm in a new phase of my life, I don't have any yearnings for another baby like I did before around this time and because of that  I feel like I'm entering a different phase of my life.  I feel unexpectedly light and curious about what comes next.  I see a dinner for old and new friends in the near future.  Let me know if you'd like to not only attend but join me in creating this outlet for living life more fully.

Big Wave Goodbye and artistic moments

Said The Whale has come out with their new album "Little Mountain" and this song "Big Wave Goodbye" is really cool because the video is shot with the Vancouver skyline in the background.  In a funny way it makes me feel more at home here.

Nala said to me "I'm captain Nala" and later she built me this airplane.  I was totally impressed, she's two!  I love it when the kids do something that is totally out there:)

I'm totally showing my kids off right now:)  Neka drew this picture for me, I'm totally in love with it.  She gave it to Tey to give me and when I looked at it I asked him where Nora was and he pointed to my belly. He said that he asked Neka the same question and she said that is was our history when Nora was still in mommy's tummy.  How cool is that!  I love how all three of us girls have funky curls and daddy's hair is straight, so fun:)

homebirth

Born at Home

This video is so amazing!  I love the family all around and the caregivers assisting and supporting in quiet ways.  This book is featured in the film and I can't wait to get a copy. It will be in my Doula handbag as a resource for mothers!  For those considering a homebirth this one will inspire you.

reading, cooking and playing

I couldn't put this book down!  Orentstein's story is so poignant that I felt as though I was living her life with her.  I feel for women who are having fertility challenges.  I feel as though we need to create a safe environment for telling our stories, empowering empathy and deep listening.  If I feel heard I feel safe to explore how I really feel and then I can begin healing.  I think the culture of sisterhood would look so different if we felt secure enough to hear each others stories and offer listening instead of judgement.  

This morning I began reading Real Women Real Faith and something really stood out to me.  "Don't you just love authentic people?  Aren't you drawn to women who are transparent and real?...Real Faith calls a women to be honest about who she is  The truth is, God knows everything about us and he loves us beyond description...When we get this truth, and this truth gets a grip on our hearts, everything changes.  Like the Velveteen Rabbit in the classic children's story, we slowly become "Real."  I love this!

 In my kitchen I've been trying some new dishes.  In my goals I have "Create one new dish every month"  It just so happens that I've had a few ideas that all came out together:)  The first is  vegetarian French Onion Soup.  I used this recipe as my base and then after checking out a few others I made some additions such as 1/2 tsp. dry mustard, 1 tsp. thyme, 2 Tbsp. soy sauce, and 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar.  I will definitely make this again, probably around Easter as I had a  bunch of peeled onions because I used their skins when I was making natural color pots for the Easter eggs.  I found some lovely oven safe bowls at Home Sense that are a perfect for my adventures in the kitchen!

 The next morning I saw the French Bread and thought how perfect is this!  So, French toast for breakfast it was with some sliced oranges on top it was light and fresh tasting.

 We were invited over for lunch at our fabulous friends' house, lunch was sooooo yummy! The day before when I was at Home Sense I found some creme brulee ramekins and since I've been excited to try making my own (It's my all time favorite dessert) I brought them home along with a kitchen sized blow torch from Canadian Tire:)  I found it fun and easy to make and when it came time to fire the tops I was in love!  I can't wait to make some coffee and chocolate flavored ones as well.

 Later that afternoon Nala and Neka put together their first Mr. Potato head.  Nala said, "he looks gorgeous!"  I quite agree:)

Nice work girls!

easter moments

This Easter we spent lots of time with family and friends, I liked how spread out all the festivities were.  Each day had something special to look forward to.  I took lots of photos of my "tribe" and felt so many moments of sheer joy watching gleeful faces appear as easter eggs were found and enjoyed.

 Neka prepared a little picnic for Nala and then she told me that she had to call Beckie because it was for her too:)  I love the care and attention to detail   that Neka put into it!

 I was excited to make a New York Cheesecake and after some fiddling with the baking time it came out beautifully.  With some raspberry and chocolate sauce and of course a dollop of whipped cream the cake was ready to eat, and  boy was it tasty.

 Next came the natural egg dying.  I boiled four different concoctions together.  Tumeric and onion peels to make yellow, cranberries and red cabbage to make a pinky red, beets and blueberries to make a deep red and lastly, spinach and beet tops to make green.  

 Then we found leaves, flowers, and other fun things found in the garden to make designs on the eggs.  After we tied them up with nylon stockings we put them in the color to soak.  I could hardly wait until the morning to see how they turned out.  A little after seven Nora woke up and after feeding her I  opened them up.  Each one was a surprise:)

 I revelled in the simple and beautiful way that love is expressed.  We jumped rope, told jokes, colored pictures and ate yummy food.  As I watched those that I love have fun I felt relaxed, present and very in love with my life.