violet

i thought squirrels were cute creatures but baby squirrels are ridiculously cute. thank you patrycja for passing it along.



image and full story here



have a lovely weekend!

eye candy

...but functional items for the kitchen. loving the bottle opener.
 

salt and pepper bowls from here



sorry, i don't have a source







bottle opener from here



cork jars from here

trivets from here

seasoning bowl from here



spice jars from here



salt and pepper shakers from here

weekend pics (seattle)

sorry my weekend pics are arriving late; i won't let it become a habit :)

seattle was brilliant.  patrycja and i spent our days wandering, shopping, and eating.  so fun!  nordstrom and macys's were visited (we didn't leave empty-handed!) but we also came across some great lifestyle/design shops in the neighbourhoods of queen anne and ballard; charming areas.  for dining, we loved oddfellows for breakfast and how to cook a wolf for dinner.  patrycja knows how to pick a delicious cocktail and we indulged in one (or two but i am not saying) each evening.  the spa was incredibly nurturing; my skin still feels super soft from all that coconut oil and butter.  wandering and enjoying whatever the city has to offer is my kind of travel. 

the most delightful part of this little trip was to experience it with patrycja. she is all sorts of amazing - genuine, warm, smart and funny. i don’t think she realizes just how awesome she is which makes her all the more awesome! never mind that she is also gorgeous and always knows the perfect accessory to wear with her outfits. suffice it to say, i am lucky to have this lady in my life. 

patryjca loves taking photos as much as i do (hers are displayed here too)!  most photos taken with the iphone:

view from kerry park in the queen anne neighbourhood

 

 

 

 

  

 

the booties i let get away

shopped out but not really :)

 

  



spring is here!

we stopped by the outlets on our way home and after a shopping extravaganza we ate at this little hole in the wall restaurant, taqueria, with the most delicious mexican food.

 

by the way, i am no longer ashamed to admit needing a motherhood vacation. it's a good thing. i am certain i came back more patient and relaxed. 

travelling solo

if you have children, have you ever taken a vacation by yourself or with a friend? i have taken two mini ones with a girlfriend when kai was 3 and 5 years old. then again (with stefan, so it doesn't really count) when we went to marrakesh and left a 4 year old kai with my in-laws. stefan takes a mini vacation every year - just him, his car, and the road. he always comes back refreshed and with a big smile on his face. i want that. so, when you read this i will already be in seattle.

i have wanted a break for a while now, but not just a regular kind of break. the thing is i have wanted a little break from motherhood. for a long time i felt ashamed for thinking this. i thought that i shouldn't need a break considering that i am parenting one child instead of four (like my mom did and she never took a vacation).  and that child i am parenting is awesome, i feel very lucky to have him.  anyway, once the hotel was booked and it was definite, instead of feeling badly i immediately felt okay; like a weight had been lifted.  the fact that it was supported helped immensely - thank you stefan and kai.
 
i was prepared to go by myself but instead i am travelling with a wonderful friend, patrycja (it will definitely be more fun!). i am excited. i love that i don't have to overly plan, i get to pack for one, and i probably can take as many pictures as i like! patrycja and i have the same goal for this trip; shopping (just a little bit), eating well, and being pampered (we are already booked with a spa!). and yes, i do feel a twinge of guilt in my excitement.

image from here

have a lovely weekend.  i will be back with my weekend pics on tuesday.

donuterie

i planned on a different post for today but then kai and i had the most delicious breakfast yesterday and i want to share it with you.  if you live in vancouver you have probably already heard of cartems donuterie. 

they have vegan, gluten-free, and baked types too! image from cartems website.

flour (from chilliwack) + eggs (from richmond) + butter (from maple ridge) + milk (from abbostford) + spices (from cortes island) = a delicious locally sourced donut.

i am no expert on the topic of donuts as i eat them seldomly (maybe once every few years).  but these were melt in your mouth, fresh, delicious donuts.  i think the key is their locally sourced ingredients.  kai and i shared the classic, the earl grey, and the cinnamon sugar.  all were wonderful but we did have a favourite; the earl grey.  i am having the sweet snow donut (coconut!) next time.

i love their mission statement: cartems is all about quality ingredients, creative flavours, and making people smile, one donut at a time. and they deliver by bicycle if you live in the downtown core. how awesome is that?

if you haven't tried them, do so.  they are on the look-out for a permanent retail space but right now they can be found in their pop-up shop at the corner of carroll and hastings (the guys behind the counter are super sweet) or at their bakery on commercial drive.

 

 

date night + more

image from here

you know the saying, that a weekly date night keeps your marriage in the honeymoon phase.  i think it's true but i also believe it's the simple gestures that sustain a love relationship: a hidden post-it note message you find in your wallet, laughing out loud together, an impromptu massage. the little things done around the house without the need to announce it help too: sweeping up the floor (with the new dyson), emptying the dishwasher, cleaning out the cat litter. 

don't get me wrong, i enjoy date nights.  stefan and i did reinstate them back in september of last year.  i have loved hanging out with him, just the two of us.  i look forward to creating more date nights.  they are an important way to connect and have fun.  

our last date happened just last week.  we went to a piano concert at the spectacular orpheum.  it was sweet to watch how giddy stefan became when he first learned murray perahia would be playing there.  i love that he listens to classical music (he thanks to his dad for introducing him to it). i love it when he remembers to play it on weekend mornings  (and i can now request bach because i learned at the concert that he's my favourite composer). i love it that kai is exposed to it (although he says he doesn't like it!).  and i didn't mind that the average age of the audience was 70.  it made it all the more sweet that stefan was so giddy about it.

date nights or simple gestures? which do you value most in your love relationship?

weekend pics, part 2 (soccer)

it was kai's soccer tournament this past saturday. he played two games - won one and lost one. but he knows not to be too heartbroken when the team looses; they have to let another team win sometimes. right?

kai has been playing for about 3 years.  he has loved the sport since the beginning. it is amazing how much he has progressed in that time. i can't help but smile when i see him enjoying the sport and working hard on the field. kai is fast and his coach says a natural forward player.  see a short video clip of what his coach calls "kai power" on youtube.

the soccer season runs for about 7 months.  this means one evening of practise each week and every saturday morning there is a game.  in my books, that is alot of soccer.  both stefan and i were secretly ecstatic that soccer ended (well, for a short while anyway).  our saturday mornings were ruled by soccer so it will be nice to have them back for the three of us.