whole foods

sometimes i am at whole foods daily (we grocery shop for one or two meals at a time).  i love that it's clean, aisles are wide, super friendly staff that go out of their way to help you find a product (organic products, that is!), and just a nice place to spend time.  it makes grocery shopping tolerable. 

this video made me laugh.  you may have seen it already but it's new to me.  enjoy.

 

 

oh, and i like going to this place too (thanks sam for taking me on your outings there); stefan recently got us a membership and i'm super excited... you can buy chai in bulk!  and this market will always be a favourite. 

 

i will be back tomorrow (hopefully!) with my long weekend pics... a little late i know.

whip it

i baked a cake.  from scratch.  those that know me will know that it is the first time that i baked a cake.  crazy, right?  i thought so too and did something about it. 

the current issue of martha stewart living described this cake as "the simplest layer cake ever".  however, i had to look up exactly how much a stick of butter was (4 ounces if you are wondering) and which kitchen aid mixer attachment was best to use (the beater).  otherwise it was pretty straight forward.  

i really enjoyed the process which was a huge surprise to me.  i was giddy with anticipation for how it would turn out.  and excited to present my cake to stefan and kai.  no one knew that i was baking; i wanted to delve right in all on my own with absolutely no advise.  i enjoyed being in the kitchen whipping something up for my boys.

the result?  dense and too sweet.  i was disappointed; there was no explosion of deliciousness. it was just alright.

stefan concurred; he said it wasn't "too bad" and over the next few days ate no more than three teeny tiny thin slices (or he fed them to the cats, not sure).  kai said he loved it and thought it was "perfect" but in a tone that suggested maybe he didn't.  but then he proceeded to eat nice big slices (so maybe he really did like my cake).  i ate many slices despite the denseness and sweetness; it was my first real cake :) 

will i attempt to bake again?  i think so.  apparently i need to spend more time mixing the batter to fluff and lighten it up and lessen the sugar in the frosting.  i can do that... maybe.



beating the batter... i didn't spend enough time on this step





the best part?  i didn't have to share the batter... so good.



this is when i knew something was wrong; they look like pancakes



the very sweet frosting is applied







the end result







kai enjoying a slice of my cake :)



 

have a lovely weekend.  eat cake!

totes!

totes are so. very. practical.  and so very easy to make!  a few weeks ago i took a beginners sewing class with spool of thread and i chose their tote class.  i used to dabble in sewing a very long time ago.... i mostly made skirts but i did make a pair of pants once! 

 

the refresher class was exactly what i hoped for :) the instructor explained the steps clearly, was enthusiastic about sewing, helpful, and i appreciated that she made the rounds to ensure everyone was on track.  the most difficult part was choosing the fabric.  although a bit pricey, spool of thread has many lovely fabrics to choose from.  i spent half an hour (or maybe a bit more?) trying to choose between the purple chevron print you see above and a pretty ikat print!

 

i have already signed up for their other 101 sewing class - i think that ikat fabric will do perfectly on the throw cushion covers... can't wait!

 

if you don't sew your own, there are so many lovely totes around (remember this one?).  i really like these ones; so much nicer than the totes you inevitably collect from the shops:



i saw this the other day when i was at west elm





 





a sweet tote from here





coffee molecule tote



 





love this kitty one; so adorable



a simple and cute monogrammed bag





this made me smile; i know who someone that likes his naptime :)









love this elephant tote; so colourful and pretty

i'm curious, do you sew?  if not, and you live in vancouver, i highly recommend taking a class from spool of thread!  my goal, eventually, is to take their beginner's quilting class... one day.



weekend pics, mother's day

my happy, light, fun weekend was muddled by housework (laundry and dishes in particular), a nine year old with big attitude, and a martial spat.  these things happen of course and i'm fine, but why this weekend?  i have thought about this question a lot but for this post i will concentrate on the good things... 

breakfast in bed... frittata with cheese and prosciutto + scones and strawberries was yummy.  and my new scooter is going to be so much fun to ride.  we had some scooter races in the garage (rain!) - i came in third but just wait until i have some practise under my belt :) 

it was an active weekend which involved running two 5km runs; the warm weather allowed for some really fun water balloon fighting twice (which got me running again!) and our little neighbour friend joined in too; and i tended to my little garden planting lettuce (i know this is something i can grow, basil on the other hand, not a chance).

 

 

 

 

these lillies, my bleeding hearts, hydrangea, maple, and hosta come back year after year.

 

i also lounged quite a bit; reading. a. book.  there are so many books on my to read list so it was nice to have a few hours to just read.  the happiness project is what i am reading right now and i am devouring it; such good reminders in those pages. 

 

i have a little crush on robert downey jr so spending some of mother's day watching iron man three was lots of fun.  if you haven't seen it, do so - i enjoyed the humor, loved that pepper potts got in on the action, and ben kingsley's character was so funny and well done.

 



despite the big attitude coming from my little guy he is also a cuddle monster who still loves to cuddle up with me on my lap (i know, i might just have one or two more years of this left).





i adore this face!



favourite furniture + favourite little boy

the bedroom is the best room in the house.  and in particular?  the bed is the best feature.  it's the perfect platform for lounging - get yourself under the covers and read, cozy up with the ipad for an episode of homeland, or hanging out with the family.  perfection.

of course, bedrooms are the best during weekend mornings when lounging is in full force; kai and i are pretty good at it.  one of my greatest pleasures is when kai climbs in under the covers with me for a chat or to read a chapter of a book or a wrestling match (lounging ultimately ends up in the latter).  these mornings are the best. 

i am so lucky to be his mama.



blurry iphone pic but i love his smile here.

to the mothers reading this little blog of mine, happy mother's day!  have a most lovely and sweet weekend.

 



 

swedish hasbeens

i have been scouring shoe shops, online and in the city, but i can't find a red sandal that i love.  this search has been going on for a couple of years and then i recently found swedish hasbeens.  i had not heard of them before and love the red peep toe pictured just below.  but of course, i haven't had any luck in finding a pair in my size.  so, if you happen by these lovelies in a size 7, do send me a note :) 

 

in the meantime i will keep looking...  there are a couple of vancouver shops that carry this new to me brand.  fingers crossed!







peep toe





here are more styles by swedish hasbeens.  they are all so very nice... the papillon is a close second.

ornament





slip

savannah





papillon



i love my stuff

there is often quite a bit of writing in blog world about stuff... the premise is something like this... live with less, live lighter, stuff is overrated, stuff causes stress, own less stuff and be happier, the joy of less, etc.

i just want to shout out, please stop.  since when is owning stuff wrong?
 
don't get me wrong - i can spend countless hours reorganizing and de-cluttering the trinkets around the house.   i find those quiet moments puttering about my home very satisfying.  but i also love stuff - especially having my favourite things in their place - the things i have gathered over time, mementos, gifts from friends and family.  they tell stories, conjure memories, and inspire.  they breathe personality into a home.  i love being home surrounded by my stuff...

  

 

       

...the way in which stefan acquired the sculpture of an african man reminds me of his kindness; the trio of miniature tagines make me smile because i remember the hospitality of the moroccan man that sold them to me; i see kai's proud face whenever i happen a glance at the paper mache jar that he made for me; the sculpture of the jamaican woman reminds me of our time in jamaica and how much kai loved the water; the yellow and red lamp, a gift from the lovely melanie, warms my heart so much to know that she travelled with it from hong kong to vancouver one christmas long ago; and the toronto print reminds me of home and my family and friends who live there.  my stuff instantly picks me up. 
 

i love it when new friends come over and ask questions about my stuff - it allows me to tell my stories and i think they get to know me and my family a little bit better too.  they, those trinkets we surround ourselves with, are an extension of us.  the same holds true when i visit friends.  i do love being a voyeur in other peoples' homes, seeing their things, how they display them, but especially the stories they tell.

so when i came across nate berkus' new book, the things that matter, it was a breath of fresh air.  i remember sitting in the bookstore devouring his book; this is why:

 

"the things that matter convincingly lays out nate berkus' philosophy that things do matter.  our homes tell our stories, they reflect the places we have been and the people we loved along the way - and there can be no more beautiful design for living than that."

 
and here is another lovely quote about stuff,

 

"decoration is really about creating a quality of life, and a beauty in that life that nourishes the soul, that makes life beautiful.  that's what all this is about, not just what's in and what's out."  albert hadley

stuff has a place in our lives; there is nothing wrong with that.