Optimism

I love this


Seen at D.Sharp Journal

I think I need this

It is just silly cute and it will be happy here

Available at Williams & Sonoma

Lemon Curd marbled Cheesecake

I made this and it was awesome!




Seriously, awesome!

recipe from here

Oh Canada

I have found myself increasingly drawn to Canada of late. All the things I have been reading or watching have invariably been produced in Canada. House & Home magazine and Style at Home magazine are on my top 5 list of magazines of late. I seem to be addicted to Sarah Richardson and Design Inc and Room Service have been making me happy for some time. I just found her show Sarah's house and it is also on my DVR must record list! Divine Design never disappoints even though I could live without some of the skits! The rooms are always stunning but also immensely livable.

Last year I was all about Sweden and I seem to have an ongoing thing with Australia but this Canadian obsession seems to be the real thing!

What I did this fine Sunday!

For reasons I cannot explain, my husband and I spent the best part of our Sunday reenacting the recent Pirate drama off the coast of Somalia! It was a ridiculous amount of fun and further proof I may need a hobby!

For your viewing pleasure, here is the original.
Our son decided he has a little film maker inside him and here is his entry!
Enjoy!

Paper Toys

I need this for Owen. I love the idea of making and crafting the toys yourself. Just the coolest!



Originally seen on Nesting and available here

Martha Stewart Living - May 2009

I just received this issue in the mail today. For the first time ever, the cover was met with an ick from me. It is not up to par in my humble opinion. I am not sure why I object to it so strongly but it just looks cheap and cobbled together. Sorry!

Oh my! I sure need this!

My life will be so much better if I have this out in the garden. Just seeing it sitting out there would make me smile. The spires, oh the spires!

Available here

Bakerella Rules!

I love this woman and I love everything she does. These are going in the file for next year.


Details here

Easter time at school!

Time to break out the Easter crafts! My planning took a huge hit as I have spent most of this week nursing an invalid daughter but I had to come up with something! For my sons class, I wanted something simple but a little personal. There are 24 kids in his class so I bought little muslin bags and some stamps e voila! Inside is some candy and a little card.

For my daughters Kindergarten class, I can get a little more funky as there are only 8 children. I planted grass in some little buckets I got at Target and then just filled with chocolate eggs, a chick and a lollipop. They look so pretty and Spring like! So now I must go to sleep as tomorrow I have two egg hunts at school plus a few errands to run!

A Sunday Sigh

A field of Ranunculus in Carlsbad

image here

Martha Stewart Weddings - Spring 2009

I love this magazine but for some reason, I always look forward to the Spring edition more than any others. I think it is the light bright colors that seem to sweep away the long rigors of winter. It has been a long winter here in the Pacific Northwest so this edition was a true breath of fresh air. I have been married 12 years so I know I am not the desired demographic but I find I use many of the ideas for childrens parties, events I may be involved in and just everyday things.

The highlights for me this issue are all things I can do at home and things I WILL do at home. I love parasols so this is a no brainer



And I love giving homemade goodies away so this will be used



That was after just a quick browse!! The issue is on newsstands now

Martha Stewart Encyclopedia of Crafts

Well worth the wait. I am in love with this book. It is all that I thought it would be and then some. Beautiful photography, beautiful layout and beautiful projects. My only beef is that I do not think it is comprehensive enough to be complete. This should be called volume 1 and I will wait patiently for the next volume. Have to go buy glass etching tools now. Highly recommend this book.

Chandeliers

I have a yucky chandelier in my dining room but, as I rent this house, I have not given it too much thought. However, I now know we will be here for another 3 years so the ugly fixture has been plaguing me! Great Chandeliers is a great little website with some amazing chandeliers at amazing prices.

I want this one for my dining room



and this one for Alexandras room



Literally thousands of others to choose from at Great Chandeliers

Coconut cupcakes

This recipe from Ina Garten makes the best cupcakes - every time! The recipe says it makes 18-20 cupcakes but I get about 30 or more each time.
I made them last night and it actually made 36 of the little buggers. I will be sending many to work with my husband and the neighbors will get the rest. It would not be good to have them hanging around the house!

Hey Starburst Jelly Bean People...

What the eff? I realise the very fact that I sort my jelly beans by color makes me odd but the fact that the yellow and orange beans are so lacking makes me a little mad!


Yellow and Orange are my favorites!

Things to Do - Friday edition

sort bookshelves - remove books no longer loved
go through closets - remove all that no longer fit or flatter
make lemon curd
make bread
distribute coconut cupcakes to neighbors!
steam clean carpets
make list for weekend ventures

Pretty Easter Download

I love these tag/stickers from Pumpkin Petunia. They can used as stickers or tags or cupcake picks. I will be using them as the latter for the many cupcakes I need to bake this Easter, They are just beautiful.



Check them out here

Pretty Bouquet

Love this Bouquet

from Martha Stewart Weddings

Autism Awareness Day

Today is World Autism Awareness Day. My daughter was diagnosed with Autism 4 years ago and there is still a part of me that mourns. I mourn the loss of what I thought raising a daughter would be like. I mourn the loss of normal. I mainly mourn the loss of complete interaction with that beautiful girl I created. We have come such a long way in those 4 years and I take such pride and joy in my little girls victories. She is smart and happy and full of curiosity. She has made the challenges of autism seem surmountable. Someone once told me "oh poor Alex, she suffers so from her autism" to which my husband replied "of all the people in our family, Alexandra is the one person who does not suffer from Autism". I think that is so very true. She is usually the happiest person in the room and for that, I am truly grateful.

For more information on the signs of autism, go here and remember that early intervention is the key.

Now tell me she does not look happy!!

Ahh Sleeping Boy

It there anything sweeter?!

Pretty Swedish

Love the Swedish National Heritage Boards Photostream I saw on Flickr today. Lots of beautiful dreamy images.

Found Here

Easter is coming

Lots of projects to get finished! I have about 50 little pots of grass growing on my dining room table. They will become gifts for my childrens' classmates. I also need to make baskets for those people who live on the other coast. They will need to be mailed in the next few days. Then I have to organise an egg hunt at Alexandras school. I usually make cupcakes and some sort of snack so I need to get on that. I also have been enlisted as cupcake maker for the little neighborhood egg hunt we are having. That will be another 100 or so cupcakes. I think I will go with the mini cupcakes for that - it is just easier! I also promised my son I would make him a cookie cake (think Donna Hay cover) and that I would take him on a nature walk. So away I go