kale

truth be told, i didn't think i would like kale.  and i have no idea how i came to form this idea.  so, a few weeks ago when i asked stefan to pick me up some spinach and he came home with kale i was not happy.  how did he mistaken a box that screams "i heart baby kale" for spinach?!  and more importantly what would i eat for lunch?  not inspired by anything in the kitchen i decided to endure the kale.

well... after a few bites i realized i wasn't enduring my kale salad but enjoying it!  now i buy kale all of the time (and yes, i sheepishly apologized to stefan).  loaded with calcium and vitamin k, kale is ridiculously good for us.  and it makes the perfect yummy and satisfying meal.

last night, without any other greens in the house stefan used the kale as a base for the. most. delicious. nicoise salad ever.  the best part was watching kai eat up every single morsel... i believe, getting smarter and stronger with every bite.



 

now i am on the look out for more ways to inject kale into my/our diet.  if you have any recipes you love, please do send them my way.

crocuses in february

what a sight!  in the fifteen years that i have been living in vancouver, the sight of the crocus in february always puts a smile on my face.  not only are they pretty flowers and one of the first to bloom during our winter but they are also a lovely reminder that spring is not far behind.  i am pretty sure i have written about the crocus each february that i have been blogging... and i probably will keep doing so.

weekend pics

in between a lot of laziness this weekend, there were some bright spots... watching kai play soccer (that kid of mine is fast) and roaming the farmer's market in the sun was one of them.  in the sun, folks!  it has been typical vancouver weather with a lot of rain lately.  the sun was so. very. lovely.



 

 



 

 

 







a gigantic brussel sprout!





post soccer game sugary treat... maple syrup!



attending the first ever street eats and beats: festival under the bridge was a really awesome evening out with the boys.  organized by edible canada, food carts and drinks and music assembled under the granville street bridge for a party.  of the popular food carts in attendance my favourite was le tigre which served a sampling of their brussel sprouts and cauliflower salad... so good (and this is coming from someone who does not even like brussel sprouts!).  and the music, lots from the 80's decade... love!  it was pretty much a cool place to be saturday night.



 

 

and that's not all, i received a gift from the husband... he bought me the little mobile i was coveting and it is even more awesome in person. technically, he didn't give it to me this weekend but since it was given i find myself staring at the simplicity and beauty of it's design. it is pure loveliness.





lastly, there was a quick trip to buy kai some shoes (he owns one pair + rain boots... that's it!).  he chose a pair of black, orange, and green nikes and wait for it... i said nothing.  i bit my tongue and didn't offer my opinion which would have been to go with something a little less colourful and really how could i when he enthusiastically proclaimed, "these are so cool." i was proud of myself (and as a reward i bought myself a pair of non-colourful black canvas slipper shoes!).

inspiring seniors

image from here

have you heard about the vancouver couple who climbed mount kilimanjaro back in september of 2012? 

well, according to the guinness world record they have recently become the oldest couple to successfully climb the mountain.  inspired by his sister who suffers from dementia, the couple took part in the climb to help raise money for the alzheimer's society of british columbia.

martin kafer, 85, and his wife, esther, 84, are life-long mountaineers.  they met on a mountain, honeymooned on a mountain, and climbed mountains all over the world. they will celebrate sixty years of marriage this year.  sixty years!  martin says, "a couple who do things together stay together."  quote from here

for the sedentary folks, they offer, "be active all of the time, eat well, use your arms your legs and your head. most of all your head. take every day as a bonus day."  quote from here

on living life, he says, "i feel great.  you gotta keep going, you know... if you're going to keep yourself alive, you have to do the things you like."  quote from here

about the climb itself, the couple are very modest, "it’s just another mountain, but it’s a bit higher than some." quote from here

i can only hope to age as well as esther... in mind, spirit and body.  so amazing!

the trumpet of the swan

 

kai and i finished reading the trumpet of the swan.  it’s one of those books that you don’t want to ever end.  kai confessed that he would read ahead because he couldn’t stand waiting for our next reading session yet not wanting it to end all at the same time.  we think it’s one of the best books we have ever read.

 

louis, a trumpeter swan, is born without the ability to trumpet and such begins the story of his courage, determination, and honesty.  it’s also a fabulous story about friendship and love.

 

here is the last paragraph, beautifully written:

 

On the pond where the swans were, Louis put his trumpet away. The cygnets crept under their mother’s wings. Darkness settled on woods and field and marsh. A loon called its wild night cry. As Louis relaxed and prepared for sleep, all his thoughts were of how lucky he was to inhabit such a beautiful earth, how lucky he had been to solve his problems with music, and how pleasant it was to look forward to another night of sleep and another day tomorrow, and the fresh morning, and the light that returns with the day.

 

i love giving books as gifts and this will be one that i definitely give.

 

iphone case

i need a new case since i lost mine... twice!  right now i am using one that i bought on a whim at anthropology (so my iphone isn't naked and vulnerable to dings) but i am not sure i love it.  the two that i lost were sleeves which i did love but i do realize i need a case that is attached to the iphone so i won't loose it anymore! 

 

my anthropology iphone case

there is such a plethora of choice i am having a hard time choosing just one but the cases from society 6 are some of the prettiest i have found and these are real contenders: 

 

 



 

and this one from kate spade:



oh boy, how do i choose just one? 

 



18 years ago

yesterday was the day i met stefan... eighteen years ago!  he has been in my heart ever since and i think i have been in his for just as long.  stefan, if you are reading this, i do wish for another eighteen plus years... filled with travel, good food, cozy home days, and laughter.  looking forward to our date. 

 

happy anniversary.



does anyone know where this awesome print came from?

 

weekend pics

it was curry-o-rama this weekend.  first, we had the most flavourful curry at our friend's home; think black cardamom, cinnamon, and all spice.  loved it.  actually, it was so delicious that i ate way too much and had to secretly undo my pant button!  at said dinner, we also drank the most lovely port.  i am not much of a drinker but i do enjoy a good port from time to time. 

our second curry dinner was eaten up at our neighbourhood restaurant.  each of the curries, i went with a potato and pea curry, kai had the butter chicken, and stefan had the mango chicken, was so delicious we mopped up our bowls clean.  we have been coming to the same indian restaurant for over a decade and we love that they don't tone down their spicing and heat.  if you want spicy they will serve spicy.  we told kai tales of his visits to said restaurant which mostly ended in him covered with curry...  i love that he loves curry as much as i do.

the rest of the weekend was spent close to home.  while kai had play time with friends i tinkered around the house getting to things that i have been putting off... piles of paper to be put away, rearranging the art on the walls, editing trinkets, and three loads of laundry.  we did however eke out some outdoor time at granville island for groceries and longboarding.

 

 



saturday play date



sunday play date



 

 



it may not photograph well, especially on the iphone, but boy it sure was a lovely curry



dessert made by stefan, a tiramisu, was divine