celebrating

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- January 4, 2016
Year in Review: Celebrating 2015

Happy 2016! Do you feel as positive about the new year as I do? Last year was a challenging one for me with many rewarding moments, but many bumps along the road too. Thankfully, I was able to get past those challenging times and learn so much in the proc
- mom-101
- December 22, 2015
Tips for Celebrating Baby’s First Christmas

Adding a new member to your family is exciting. When your baby is born, you have something to celebrate as your family is filled with joy. This is especially true when the holiday season rolls around. It can be fun to celebrate your baby's first Christm
- mom-101
- October 5, 2015
Celebrating Zack’s 8th Birthday Without Him

Zack and Jayden's birthday came and went this year with a quiet sadness. Not as heartbreaking as other years and I'm not sure why. Is it that 5 years has passed since we last
- family-life
- May 27, 2015
Twins: Celebrating Differences

The delicate balance of having twins: celebrating one twin's achievements while being mindful of the other twin's feelings
- food
- April 13, 2015
Cream of Asparagus Soup

Spring really happens for me as soon as asparagus comes out. For a few weeks of the year I eat asparagus at every possible opportunity. It's like I'm trying to fill myself with as much spring as I possibly can. My Gran used to make us Asparagus s
- mom-101
- September 8, 2014
Celebrating Bonus Days of Pregnancy

Last week I reached a milestone that I have been counting down to from the time I found out I was pregnant. 33 weeks. Why is reaching my 33rd week of pregnancy significant?
- food
- July 25, 2014
The Ultimate Breakfast Hotdog

July is Hotdog month and I definitely have a hotdog for you to try out that is worthy of celebrating with! This hotdog is perfect for basically any time of day.
- mom-101
- July 7, 2014
Americana Dinner Party

A few weeks back we were gathering with friends when the idea of a dinner group came up. This isn't the first time the idea has arisen, but it's one of those things that is often easier to talk about than actually do
- home
- July 2, 2014
Celebrating the Last Day of School

Monday was the last day of school for my two oldest boys, and we had a lot of fun marking the special day. Here is how we celebrate the last day of school in our home.
- family-life
- June 30, 2014
Celebrating Two Months!

Colin is two-months-old today, already (see the happy birthday boy above!)! It's been such a good day so far, full of giggles, smiles and delicious coffee. Several times since moving into our house
- home
- June 30, 2014
Celebrating the Last Day of Preschool

Today was my 4 year olds last day of Preschool, and like all milestones, it was a cause for celebration. Here's how we marked the occasion
- food
- March 27, 2014
Chicken Noodle Crumble

Need something really homey? I always seem to want something like that. Crumble is my go to for desserts but I was thinking the other day of a savory crumble. Why not have another excuse to have a dish buttered crumbs on top?
- food
- March 15, 2014
Celebrating Noodles: Lemon Basil Orzo

Ahh, that seems to be my reaction each Friday. A good week but scarily busy is what life is like right now. I make this dish for myself when I'm feeling a little down at the mouth
- food
- March 13, 2014
Curry Meatballs and Veg Noodles

Happy Thursday and I've the fourth of SIX noodle dish for you today. Strictly speaking these aren't noodles. I got to play with my new favourite toy which is a vegetable strimmer. Pop your veg in, turn the crank and you've got really fun
- food
- March 12, 2014
Celebrating Noodles: Favourite Five

Are you loving I think this is the month that DH has been happiest to eat the preparations for. You see for the weeks before and the weeks during the month I sneak in as many recipes as possible
- food
- March 11, 2014
Portobello Stew with Cheddar Dumpling

Yay! More noodles! I've been having a blast (I know, I mentioned that before) and this is a recipe that I want to make again and again. I thought that I was making a recipe that would give me lunches for a couple of days but instead
- food
- March 6, 2014
Celebrating Noodles: Stuffed Baby Eggplant

Another lovely pasta to try today. It's all thanks to these little beauties-baby eggplants. What I like to do is pick one really unique piece of produce a week to play with. How could I say no to these pretties? I decided to stuff them
- food
- March 4, 2014
Celebrating Noodles: Spaetzle

Happy March! Did you know that March is International Noodle Month? Isn't that every month though? Noodles are a fabulous anytime, for any course kind of dish and I've had a ball getting ready for this month and I think that my family has loved it
- food
- February 27, 2014
Coconut Mandarin Quail

Happy Thursday! I'm sneaking in my last couple of real romance recipes before the shortest (longest) month ends. This is a quickie bbq recipe that we had for a big group of folks.
- food
- February 26, 2014
Maple Panna Cotta

Wednesday deserves a nice dessert, doesn't it? Of course. Not many people choose the middle of the week as their favourite but that might change if you make this dessert. I love Panna Cotta, it's basically a fancy version of pudding
- food
- February 25, 2014
Carpaccio

For my DH, Real Life Romance is me making something that I know that he adores. He would walk over broken glass to have carpaccio? He's been known to order two portions of carpaccio
- food
- February 22, 2014
Easy Smashed Potatoes

Easy smashed potatoes recipe! perfect side dish for spring
- food
- February 20, 2014
Lime Meringue Tarts

This week's menu has had fennel breadsticks followed by a spring inspired paparadelle….and now for dessert; Lime Meringue Tarts. I love when recipe turns out to be something totally different from what I thought it was going to be
- food
- February 19, 2014
Spring Paparadelle

Ok, I'm officially desperate for spring. We got another 15 cm of snow last Friday and I could have cried. Alright, a little dramatic but you get the idea. The cure?
- food
- February 19, 2014
Fennel Breadsticks

My third and last real life romance menu for the month. This one is my favourite. Next week though, I have five gorgeous recipes that would make any night romantic. And for today?
- food
- February 15, 2014
Celebrating Real Life Romance: Chocolate Coffee

You made it to Friday and it's time for a treat. It's THAT day. You know, the 14th-a work day, grocery shopping, cleaning…oh and Valentine's Day. No pressure. I know, you likely thought you'd
- home
- February 14, 2014
Celebrating the Olympics With Kids

Our family has really been enjoying the Olympics in Sochi, and today I am sharing 3 simple Olympic crafts that will help you celebrate the games with your kids. I am also sharing a few ideas for fun Olympic treats.
- food
- February 13, 2014
Lime and Cantalope

Do you ever find something that is just so simple that you feel almost guilty about it? This is a dish that my MIL used to make. We'd have a big and rather rich curry and a bit (or more than a bit) of wine
- food
- February 12, 2014
Croque Monsieur Casserole

Second day of my breakfast romance week. Today is a main course (do you actually have a main course with breakfast) that is great anytime of day. Croque Monsieur is my very favourite sandwich but making enough for the whole family means
- food
- February 11, 2014
Celebrating Real Life Romance: Lemon Toddy

Second week of February and the second menu to share of the week. This is my ode to brunch. Long, lazy starts to the day. Don't you wish you could do this all the time? Well, I would save this menu either for the weekend or put on your jammies
- food
- February 9, 2014
Celebrating Romance: Guilded Chocolate

I promise that this month won't be all about chocolate. I've really reigned myself in and limited chocolate to three posts only. This is the second and it is a super treat.
- food
- February 6, 2014
Chocolate Marshmallows

So far this week's menu has included; Maple Bacon Cocktails and Pomegranate Ribs. Yumm! But every great meal needs a little something fabulous at the end. Not necessarily huge just a little something sweet.
- food
- February 5, 2014
Pomegranate Ribs

Did you like yesterday's drink? Wasn't it super yummy? That bacon was just this side of decadent. Do you know what goes really well with it? FULL flavour ribs. You know how you make real life romance ribs?
- food
- February 4, 2014
Celebrating Real Life Romance: Bacon Maple Cocktail

So, I'm a child of the 70′s. This was a bit of a bizarre time to be a kid compared to now when children are carefully monitored and where a helmet for everything. We all remember cars without seat belts.
- food
- January 30, 2014
Celebrating Soup: Kale and Sausage

This is it. It's my last soup of January. I'm a bit sad. This has been so much fun. We've eaten like kings but with a drop in my grocery bill. I actually had a lot more recipes in mind
- food
- January 28, 2014
Lemongrass Ginger Wonton Soup

Don't you love wonton soup? I always have. When I was a little kid it seemed so exotic to me in my suburban '70′s life. Little pillow of chicken filled noodles and lots of vegetables-most of which I didn't even know what they were.
- food
- January 23, 2014
Beef Taco Soup

I can't actually believe that after the whole month I'm still happy to see soup. Our bizarre Artic winter this year has totally helped but the sheer variety of meals you can have with a pot of soup has also helped a tonne.
- food
- January 22, 2014
Roasted Curry Cauliflower Soup

One of the reasons why I love soup is that it's a great way to use leftovers. Vegetables needing a home, meat that you'd like to stretch…soup has been used for a millenium
- food
- January 21, 2014
Celebrating Soup: Five Favourites

Don't worry-soup month still has another week and I've got four more to go but I thought I would have a bit of fun and find past favourites.
- food
- January 16, 2014
Celebrating Soup: Coconut Squash

Ready for another really delicious but super simple soup? (I love alliteration) This is the kind of soup that makes people think that you've been slaving for hours, carefully monitoring the pot-tweaking tastes.
- food
- January 15, 2014
Stilton Potato Soup

I really thought that by now my family would be rebelling against soup but the other night I asked DH what he'd like for dinner the next day and he said (shockingly) a big bowl of soup. Weird but fabulous because I have a bunch
- food
- January 9, 2014
Celebrating Soup: Roasted Red Pepper

t is soup month. I promised lots of soup and this is the second this week. I think that one of the things that made me want to dedicate a month to soup is to dispel the idea that some folks have that soup takes a long time to make
- food
- January 7, 2014
Roasted Onion Soup with Cheese Biscuits

Yesterday we had rain (not a typo) after the temperature went from -23 up to 4 degrees and then we had a flash freeze starting at lunch and had the temp drop to -13 overnight and more snow.
- food
- January 1, 2014
Chicken Meatball Soup

Ok, I loved appetizer month. I totally did. All those treats and all that creativity BUT it's the first day of the new year and I'm ready for something warm and comforting.
- food
- December 26, 2013
Mushroom Pate

Hope that your Christmas day was everything that you wished for. That right now you're cozy and full and getting ready for…New Years! I know, I know. Christmas was yesterday. But I've a whole bunch more appetizers to share before I run ou
- food
- December 10, 2013
Homecured Olives

Friends of ours have been treating us to homecured olives for years and we eat them like candy. It always makes us wanting more and you can only be a mooch for so long
- food
- December 5, 2013
Flavour of the Month: Jardiniere

Ready for another yummy treat to have this holiday season? My strategy this year was to have a lot of things made ahead of time and ready for folks to just drop in
- food
- November 28, 2013
Thanksgiving Burgers

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I have to admit I'm a bit jealous of the holiday that my neighbours to the south are having right now. We got 30 cm of snow yesterday so life got a bit busier and slower all at the same time
- food
- November 14, 2013
Pork Chops with Cranberry Relish

I'm loving cranberry month. All that tart fruit that is lovely in drinks, with meat or in sweets. Fabulous. Pork and apples are great friends but now I've a new favourite pork and cranberries.
- food
- October 17, 2013
Pumpkin Pie Beignet

These are so much fun to make because you get to play with a really pretty dough that is whipped together quickly.
- food
- September 26, 2013
Peach Liqueur

Is anything more fun than making your own hooch?
- food
- September 17, 2013
Peach and Blueberry Jar Pies

Adorable looking and delicious tasting pies in a jar
- food
- September 12, 2013
Peach and Nutella Icecream Pie

Having so much fun with fresh peaches
- food
- September 8, 2013
Peachy Guacamole

I love a fruit guacamole because it is so brightly flavoured
- food
- August 22, 2013
Parmesan Corn

This is a dish that I've heard about for years
- food
- August 16, 2013
Friday Night Treat: Deep Fried Pickles

If it is going to be deep fried, it's likely to be pretty wonderful
- food
- August 14, 2013
Mango, Corn and Chicken Tacos

Eating food when it's in-season makes it so much more enjoyable
- food
- August 6, 2013
Corn and Pepito Muffins

Delicious muffins using corn and pepito
- food
- August 1, 2013
Corn Zucchini Fritters

A great side dish for summer
- food
- July 31, 2013
Fauxshi

Making a veggie version of sushi at home
- food
- July 30, 2013
Fish Tacos

Who said that entertaining had to be expensive?
- food
- July 23, 2013
Sesame Chicken Wraps

Spring onions add such an awesome zing to any dish
- mom-101
- July 16, 2013
Celebrating Eight Years of Marriage

Take-out and tv is a perfect way to celebrate 8 years
- home
- July 5, 2013
Celebrating Graduation

I'm taking a little time away from designing and blogging to celebrate my son Hayden's high school graduation. Here are some highlights.
- food
- June 24, 2013
Strawberry Kirsch Cake

Cake is practically a muffin, isn't it?
- food
- June 20, 2013
Strawberry Mojito

his is one of our favourite summer drinks.
- food
- June 7, 2013
Strawberry Granola Handpies

Their only flaw…they are eaten darn quickly
- mom-101
- May 28, 2013
Eating Healthy Made Easier

It really can be that simple...can it?
- mom-101
- May 19, 2013
My Good Reminder….

It is time to gain some perspective
- mom-101
- May 16, 2013
A new perspective on gratitude

While I can't change history, I can change today
- mom-101
- June 1, 2012
A poop celebration

I celebrate everything, today, is no exception.