a new home!

*update: new posts added if you scroll back to may 2018, i like to keep things in order! 

it's been quiet over here on the blog... 

a month of sunshine has me outdoors as much as possible... summer in the spring, in stockholm!  the swedes and my boys & i are enjoying every bit of it.  i post photos on instagram, if you are curious about a sunny and warm stockholm.

and, we were house hunting, bidding, packing (still packing) and all that comes with it... sorting, donating, throwing out, etc.  these tasks have consumed most of my free time when i am not working or parenting. i'm loving it but now, towards the end, it's taking its toll and i just want to be moved already.

yes, we bought our very own place in stockholm!  and it's almost time to move in, just a few days away. actually, stefan just picked up the keys this afternoon. i am quite excited to organize a new home for us. so, so excited :)

once we are in the new place and done with summer travel plans, i will get back to filling up this blog with content for you and for me.  i love that i created this space and so grateful that you choose to visit. 

please be patient with me as i slowly cull and edit summer and travel photos, i'll be back. 

happy summer,

connie

xo

slowing down

 

i'm sure you have noticed how little i blog these days. it's actually been a pleasure to step away from the computer and be present with my family, especially my little guy.  our minds are soaking up what is to come... our move to sweden.  i am also hopelessly trying to sort the contents of my house, readying them for the movers, while keeping the disarray to a minimum.  during this transition, i want to keep our house looking like a home as best as i can.

 

so, although i have posts that i want to write and share, i leave you with this photo i took over the weekend... watching this couple with their dog was a reminder to breathe a bit deeper and soak up the moment.  in the next few weeks you can picture me knee deep in sorting, organizing and purging... preparing for the move.  it will be nice to take time to reevaluate what matters most.

 

i will continue to blog... just at a slower pace.  you can expect my weekend pics and 52 weeks posts to continue these next few weeks with the hope of a third weekly post too :) 

 

take care.

 

photo: taken during a walk along the seawall



looking back, 2013 recap

february is well on its way.  how did that happen?  i have wanted to look back and highlight some 2013 favourites so i thought i should do it now otherwise march will be here before we know it...





vancouver and bc posts such as hanging out on snowy mountains, drinking our way through the hot chocolate festival, crocuses in february, fun with family in victoria (click here, here and here), fish and chips in steveston, the beautiful ruby lake on the sunshine coast, yurting and glacier waters in whistler, food festivals, okanagan with friends (part 1 and part 2),  kitsilano beach, chinatown market, celebrating on mayne island (part 1 and part 2), eating locally and shopping locally. 



spending time with (big, small, or furry) friends - eating, laughing, celebrating - is an all time favourite thing to do.  our beautiful family of friends here, here, here, or just click on any of my "weekend pics" post for more.  



 

 

 

style posts like coats, advanced style, perfect spring outfit, totes, shoes like these clogs, these summer ones and birkenstocks, swimsuits, lovely purses and a pouch obsession!





 



posts about kai, such as his keen observation skills, favourite book, just hanging out, drumming, under cover, summer play, family scootering, in the kitchen, trampoline fun, passionately playing soccer, turning ten (!), chopping down a tree, and mountain biking.

 

the start of recipe posts by stefan, delicious curry, pizza love, dropje, nicoise salad gone indonesian, shepard's pie, pea puree, and caramel chicken goodness.

 

parenting posts such as making mistakes, fathering love and spending quality time.

 

 

entertainment posts such as downton abbey, attending plays like this one, saying goodbye to cable, bill and sarah, celebrity crush, and bard on the beach.

 

 



design posts such as a photo wall, a happy room, colour, black and white, bubble lamps, the knitted home, loving my stuff, and this pretty décor item.







travel posts such as hanging out in the palm springs (part 1, part 2, part 3), with my family in toronto, and one day i'll get to india. 

 



food and beverage posts such as eating kale, coconut goodness, soups, ambrosia apples, blueberry tea,  and the tomato sandwich :)



relationship posts such as celebrating 16 years and these seniors.





and, i had a bunch of firsts such as baking a cake, getting braces, "braving" water sports, glamming my nails and scootering! 

i hope you enjoyed 2013 here at tiramisu!  i know i have enjoyed putting it together :)

happy valentine's day and have a lovely (+ romantic) weekend.

yawn!







a note of apology for missing in action last week.  see that cat up there?  well, i have felt like that for the last couple of weeks.  if i could i would easily fall asleep by 7pm.  i have very little energy by the end of my work day... the last i want to do is grocery shop, attend to this blog (even though i love it), stay awake to watch some homeland with the hubby, and even have a good wrestle with kai.

 

maybe i need to check my thyroid?  maybe i need to re-start my b12 injections and/or iron pills? maybe i need to run again?  whatever is going on, i hope to figure it out sooner than later.

 

in the meantime, i will try to remedy my lack of posting.  if you like, check back tomorrow for my weekend pics.

 

(cute photo from here)



the new year...

it's really 2013. crazy how time flies bye... 2013, please don't go by too quickly.
 



photo taken by maya, my lovely and creative neice





and now, if you will indulge me, here are a few moments to recap my 2012... it's fun to remember.  a warning, it may take more than a few minutes to scroll through the pics!

 

we started our year on the mountain...



kai snowboarded, played soccer and joined the circus...



we said goodbye to our dear lovely neighbours...

at home, we played and relaxed...

and outdoors, we explored our beautiful city... so much goodness to be had.

we visited many coffee shops; maybe 2013 is the year for an at-home espresso maker?

 



early in the year kai had a fever that lasted longer than 24 hours (a first!) and i was freaked out.

i attended a photography class.



i introduced you to jude, our mischievous cat...

and the cats continued to amuse us...






our little cookie passed away.

we hung out with seals and bears...

and family too... on the island and in vancouver... throughout the year.

we discovered cartems dounterie and kumato tomatoes...





i visited seattle with a girlfriend (sans boys)...

with the boys, we traveled to tulum...

and santa monica...

i was possessive of my new comfy armchair (but am sharing it now... i especially like it when kai is squeezed in beside me).

the farmer's market became a staple (but we never abandoned granville island)...

 



and chocolate was a staple for my boys (as always)...

as are video games (much to my chagrin).

stefan and i attended many foodie events, indoor and out...

 

but i enjoyed his home cooked meals the most...



and the few times that i cooked, my boys ate it up. 

when summer came... i spent lovely days with kai...

 

 

 

 

 

 

my in-laws visited and we explored and played and relaxed...

 

 

and we visited my family in toronto too... 

and we went on our annual okanagan vacation.

 

we sailed for the first time.

 

  

september came and my little guy became nine years old and a fourth grader little man (who, thankfully, still likes a teddy bear)...





kai developed a love of music and started drum lessons.

with the fall came my birthday and a trip to galiano island...

 

i gave thanks to family and friends with whom we partied, dined, and adventured with...

and we had ourselves some halloween fun and visited a not so fun haunted house.

 

we loved whiling away hours playing board games...





and seeking out fun cultural activities like attending the cirque de soliel, the symphony, and the play the lion, the witch and wardrobe.

and then the cocoon of christmas.



i reflect on this year and give thanks. my resolution for 2013? letting go of hope and fear to be more present in the moment. 

thank you much and much for visiting and reading this little blog of mine...

wishing you all a happy new year!