Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Wednesday on Wednesday

I know this is a little late but it has been a busy day here! I do have a couple pictures to share though. Wednesday is big on avoiding the camera lately (I think it is a form of rebellion.) But, when she isn't looking at me she is usually being super cute with Daddy!

For our fifth anniversary The Mister took us for a gorgeous fall drive to Ottawa. You do not get prettier than Ontario in the fall and this trip was no exception. I haven't the pics I wanted due to only having a point and shoot and a sleeping  babe but the memories are there forever. Here are a few pics I did manage to take of Wednesday at some of the places we visited.



throwing rocks bw
Throwing rocks in the Ottawa River at Brittania Beach.

Dinosaurs

Hanging out with some Dinosaurs at the Canadian Museum of Nature.

Cute bunny!
Dressing up as a bunny in one of the kids areas at the museum.
Wednesday's favourite thing about the trip naturally was the dinosaurs. She loves dinosaurs, plays with hers daily so I was so happy as a parent to be able to do that for her. I can't wait to take her back again or even to another science museum with super fun interactive exhibits. For more pictures of our trip that include some great scenery, fabulous dinosaur skeletons (even a blue whale skeleton) and random family schmoopiness click here to be taken to the Flickr photoset.

Pink Purse Tutorial at Every Day Mom Ideas

Pink Purse

Remember this purse from the Pretty in Pink giveaway? Well if you liked it so much you want to make a version of it yourself you can! I made up a tutorial and am sharing it over at Everyday Mom Ideas. You have to scroll down past some sticky posts but it is there in all it's pink glory! In this version I traded the bows for some fun trim and a couple small flowers and the bamboo for gold toned bangles. But the purse construction is indeed the same! Be sure to stop by and check it out and leave those comments we all love!

Wednesday on Wednesday will return this afternoon, I have yet to upload the photos from our trip, but I am excited to share them with you!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Canadian Thanksgiving!

trees
Just a taste of the colours outside our doors right now.
Today is a Thanksgiving here in the Great White North and so My Crafty Weekend will return next Monday (October 18th).

We are taking off for a day or two. This is the most brilliant time to be Canadian. The autumnal landscape is breath taking. We'll be driving the Algonquin route for a day and ending up in Ottawa. It will most likely be a two day trip. I will do my best to keep things running but if not, I'll power play catch up when we get back.

Slugzilla
We are thankful for the time and opportunity to do things like chat with slugs. Of course I amthankful for Wednesday and all her gifts, my incredible partner in life and my super human health but really I just can't believe  I get to spend every day doing things like hanging out with Wednesday and slugs (or worms or grasshoppers). What are you thankful for this year?

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Sew What! Holidays Challenge One Reveal!

Challenge One : Gift For Him
So, true to form I made this one right before all my time was up. Cynthia emailed me asking what time I was going to make this post and I hadn't even made the project yet! But, I got down to business and thanks to both nap time and Daddy distractions I got it done!

Finshed rolled tied 1
It started off as an idea for the spring when I was doing my Denim-Stravaganza. But because The Mister kept forgetting ot bring me home the wrenches for proper measurement it never did get made. Well, when Cynthia suggested a "gift for him" as the first idea I thought she was a genius. But I also thought that now was the time to make the tool roll. Again I waited and waited for the wrenches. Finally two days before the reveal I just went ahead and made it. I even took process photos for a tutorial this Tuesday.

Denim Tool Roll

I made the roll from two legs of jeans and a chunk of upcycled canvas. (I bought it at a charity shop and I am pretty sure it was a curtain panel in it's former life.) With no real plan except the basic dimensions (Which I gleaned from a tool catalogue.) I made this in about two hours. I love it. I will be making more. Just think of all the paint brushes, art pencils, knitting needles and crochet hooks that need storing! Also, scissors I have a nice scissor collection and I think this is a great way to both store them and have (all of) them ready when I need them.


To see what Cynthia The Sewing Dork made for a man in her life click on the button below!">Sewing Dork Button
If you are playing along, all you need to do to submit your creations is one of the following:
  1. Upload a picture to your flickr account and add it to The Sewing Dork Showcase
  2. Leave a link in a comment on this blog or at The Sewing Dork's
  3. Email (I have a button on my sidebar) us with the photos or a link to the photos or blog post.
We will be doing reader submission posts through the next month and a half. And please Do Not Fret if you can't make a deadline, we are happy to share your work whenever you finish it. I think I showed a readers work a full month after the last edition.

Okay, now to reveal this week's challenge! A Holiday Outfit!

This outfit can be for anyone! You, your little one or your mister, it is up to you to whom you dedicate your time to.
Also, as a reader asked me earlier, it can also be for Halloween. We are not rule crazy here. If making a costume fits better into your schedule than something sparkly for Christmas or New Years by all means have at 'er!
I do believe that is all she wrote folks! So tune in on Tuesday to find out how to make the Denim Tool Roll pictured above, and come back on Thursday for the first Reader Submission Showcase! And, if you don;t have one, would like one, and feel like sporting one on your blog here is a button just for those purposes! (Well that and they are just fun to make!)


Thursday, October 7, 2010

Recipe : Fabulous Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin Bread (5)
Starbucks eat your hearts out!

October has arrived, and you know what that means? Pumpkin bread at Starbucks! That is good stuff yes? Heck yes! Now, some of you know how truly awesome this bread is have also been super saddened to find it gone to make room for more seasonal goodies like gingerbread. Also good but not nearly as amazing. Well, it took me two years but I finally came up with a recipe that rivals Starbucks. And not like oh it is better because it is homemade but because it tastes just like it! Want some? I thought so!

Ingredients
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 cups pumpkin puree (I LOVE E.D. Smith's)
1 tbs vanilla
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
2 tbsp pumpkin pie spice

Modus Operandi
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit 
  2. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
  3. Add eggs and beat.
  4. Add 2 cups pumpkin and beat until well mixed.
  5. Add vanilla and beat.
  6. In a separate bowl whisk remaining dry ingredients.
  7. Add to wet ingredients and mix until well combined (But do not over beat)
  8. Pour into greased loaf pans.
  9. bake for 50-60 minutes checking after 50 minutes.
Yields: Two regular loaves or eight mini loaves 
Some notes:
  • I like to top this with pepitas (Uncooked pumpkin seeds) but I ran out for this batch. If you choose to be sure to add them before baking.
  • The loaves pictured are mini loafs and I pulled them out after twenty one minutes in silicone pans.
  • You can substitute three large very ripe bananas for the pumpkin to make banana bread.
  • Wrapped in plastic wrap it stays moist longer than wax paper.
  • Homemade Pumpkin Bread
    Bon Appetit!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Wednesday on Wednesday

Wednesday and I recently baked up a batch of the most delicious pumpkin bread. So tasty. I love to bake with Wednesday and everytime I do I learn a little bit more about what she loves most about the process.
Baking with Wednesday
I am not sure if you can see, but she is looking at me out of the side of her eyes, knowing full well I am trying to take a picture. For all the hamming she does for an audience she is incredibly camera shy!
Baking with Wednesday
And here is the smile we have grown to love and adore! You may notice her apron has someone else's name on it (Debbie) and that is because I am a bad mom and have not yet sewn Wednesday one of her own. Christmas? Maybe even this year! For now she wears my mom's because it is pretty small.
Baking with Wednesday
This is really what she loves to do. Mix stuff! She is genuinely upset when it is time to mix the dry with the wet ingredients, she is not yet ready for this kind of closure.
Baking with Wednesday
"Really Mom? Have we not taken enough pictures? It is just some flour and pumkin puree." Well, that is what I am sure she would have said could she articulate it that way. Instead, I get this look.
Baking with Wednesday
And finally, I clue give in and give her her own bowl, spoon and flour.
Homemade Pumpkin Bread
This is the final product (not of the flour lump in the above photo.) Pretty tasty looking yes? Come back tomorrow for the recipe! Also, for those of you who have toddlers and pre-schoolers just itching to bake with you I have a post here with some great tips and tricks for making it fun for everyone.

Monday, October 4, 2010

My Crafty Weekend : Sew What Holidays Edition!

Because I dropped the ball yesterday I am using My crafty Weekend today to announce the commencement of Sew What Holidays!

sew what holiday button large


Week one project is : A gift for HIM! And bonus holiday garland if you have the time!

Once your project is done, upload your photos to the Flickr Sewing Dork Showcase group to show them off. It is super fun to browse through all the great ideas and submissions!




OK! Now with that being said how about you show me all the super duper things you have been working on? This counts for recipes, sewing, scrapbooking, gluing, building and so on and so forth! Remember, the golden rule: visit the link before you and leave a note of encouragement! And with that I am off to catch a bus to mail out all the great giveaway prizes from September! Happy Monday folks!
     
          

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Winner! Giveaway #4 Pretty in Pink Accessories!

winnerwk4
Drumroll please!

random19
The winner of the fourth and final (for now) giveaway of the Pretty in Pink accessory pack is #19, Ramirez who said "I linked through oneprettything and became a follower today. I'll be visiting often, you have great ideas! I'd love to win the pretty in pink giveaway for my daughter who started Kindergarten this year. She has long dark brown curly hair and those lovelies would look very lovely in her hair. :)"

Congratulations I'll be contacting you today for your mailing particulars!

This has just been so much fun! I want to give out a sincere thanks to all the participants! My follower numbers soared upwards meaning I have met a lot of new people! I can't wait to do this again! Cheers and happy Saturday!

Friday, October 1, 2010

New Feature...Fabulous Five!

So the other day I says to my parents I says:

"You know what you guys need if you insist on keeping your table there? A drop leaf table."
"Yeah, we know." Says they.
"Oh." Says I. (See I thought I was being clever, but apparently I was the last one on the Feng Shui Boat.)
"The problem is we need one that seats eight to ten people."They informed me.
"Oh, wouldn't it be great if they made drop leaf tables with removable centre leaves?" Says I, thinking again how clever I was.
"They do." They says.
"But they cost around three grand." They continue.
"Oh."Says I again. Again, my cleverness dims.
"Well, what if you got a nice little one and just kept a foldable party table for the few big dinners you host?" This has to be it.
"Yeah, we thought of that to. We just haven't actually committed time or budget to the shopping for said table." Says they, again one step ahead of me.

True story folks. But it got me to thinking, what are their options. Maybe I can do some window shopping for them, or me! I love a drop leaf table. They work everywhere, hallways, as sofa tables, breakfast nooks and offices. But I couldn't figure out how to bring it up here as I've never really 'gone shopping' with you guys. Then, I was looking through my think  pad and I found my scribbles for a new feature day. Fabulous Five on Friday. This is where I take whatever I have been obsessing about this week and share with you my top five favourite links and pictures from my searches.

That being said, here are five absolutely fabulous drop leaf tables, ranging from IKEA minimialast to fabulous opulance.


I think this is the Muddus table from IKEA perfect example of industrial chic. Small enough for the foyer in your loft, but big enough to be a workspace or dining space. I think my parents would think it belongs in my dad's workshop though.

Image found via an Ebay listing
This is most likely what my parents would love. A Leopold Stickley original. I usually don't much dig their taste but you have to respect anyone who enjoys Stickley furniture.
Photo found via Studio Annetta
This absolutely gorgeous piece of art deco designed by Tommi Parzinger is exactly what would have me drooling. I would probably drive The Mister batty until I had it in my possession. And if I caught a single person not using a coaster "Heads would rolllllll!". Seriously though, how sexy are those legs?! I love how they are more than straight and less than oranate. Love them.

Arde Dropleaf Table from Remodelista.com

Tell me that this pretty little girl would not fit perfectly in a modern home but as equally fine in a farmhouse breakfast nook? I don't know what I like mroe the bleached wood finish or the to-the-floor-lengthed leaves.

Stanley Serafina La Scala Leg Table from Diningroomsdirect.com

And of course, how could we wrap up without finding the fanciest eight person drop leaf table ever! Although it will definitely not fit in my parents dining area, it sure is pretty yes?!

This was fun! Next week we'll go surfing for something super fun and quirky! (It is actually what inspired Fabulous Five Friday!)

Cheers! Oh yes, don't forget to enter the Pretty in Pink drawing and be sure to come back tomorrow to see if you won! Happy Friday everyone!
 

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Wednesday on Wednesday

Apple Orchard (41)Apple Orchard (47)Apple Orchard (83)

If I was in denial before today, I think it is safe to say that Autumn is here. As if to drive the point further home we visited a local orchard today with friend's preschool class. It was wonderful, the fresh air, the puddles, the pumpkins and maize. I bought a half bushel of Spy apples and I cannot wait to start baking them! For more photos of our feild trip visit the Flickr photoset here.