what's leftover

I think I may have had a slight epiphany these past few weeks.

I have always been a firm believer that preparation is half the battle to success.  And when you plan, prepare and do everything that you can to ensure that everything goes "according to plan", I've realized that there needs to be a point of realization where you need to say, "I'm done, I'm ready, just go". To accept that I've done all the research, preparations, planning and organizing that I can possibly do up to this point, and now it's no longer up to me to determine the end result.

Whether it's inhibitions or predetermined ideals, it is the story that we tell ourselves in our head that paralyzes us to move forward, and I think I've finally come to understand that although we will continue to plan and prepare for life events ahead of us, we will also have to remember to step back and let nature take it's course and see where the path takes us...and start enjoying the fruits of our labour.

With many (many) preparations for overnight trips and parties these past few weeks, I noticed a common thread,  a running "theme" perhaps.  No matter how prepared and organized we were, there were always surprises that made us adjust our plans as we went along, and because we had all the tools necessary, both logistically and mentally, we were able to be flexible with those plans.  And the outcome still turned out great.

At the end of it all...after checking off all those lists and making sure we were "ready to go", what was leftover to do, was just to enjoy.

This Thanksgiving, we have so much to be thankful for...amazing children, a wonderful love and support of family and friends, and this thrilling journey called life. And if there is still anything leftover to do, we'll embrace that new path and have the confidence that everything will turn out alright.  Actually, better than alright.

It will turn out beautiful.

Happy Thanksgiving

Crustless Leftover Turkey Quiche

(6-8 Servings)

This is a great way to use leftover Thanksgiving dinner, especially for a light brunch the next day.  It's not labour intensive, so it gives you a break from cooking and helps clear your fridge with items you already have on hand...or whatever is leftover.  

Ingredients

• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 6 eggs, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup milk (I used what I had on hand...3% homogenized milk...you can use heavy whipping cream for a thicker consistency)
• 1 1/2 - 2 cups cubed cooked turkey
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup peas
• 5 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled (optional)

Directions

• Preheat the oven at 375°
• In a cast iron skillet, saute onion and garlic in oil until tender. 
• In large bowl, combine eggs and milk. 
• Stir in the cooked turkey, cheese, peas and bacon.
• Pour egg mixture on top of the onion/garlic mixture in the skillet. (if you don't have a cast iron skillet, mix both the egg and onion mixture in the bowl and pour into greased 9-in. deep-dish pie plate.)
• Bake at  35-45 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. 
• Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

Enjoy.

having a ball

As we start to begin what is known to our family as "party season" with birthdays and Thanksgiving, it's a time of year where it's easy to get caught up with the preparation of guests, food, gifts...and lose sight of how special this time of year really is.

Since one child is going on a school camping trip smack dab in the middle of all these parties, it's just one more thing to pack, organize and be prepared for.  With so much going on, I was hoping I'd take a more simpler route this year and just book a pre-packaged party.  But as I begin booking venues, I realize sometimes what appears to be simple isn't really that simple after all.  One venue only accepted complicated online reservations and couldn't guarantee a party room until mere days before the event.  Another venue  couldn't guarantee there would be a place to store gifts while the children are enjoying the venue's activities (so I'd have to shuttle gifts to the car before they played!). What a circus!

Maybe I'm worried what really will be missing, is the element of the personal touch.  Because at the end of the day, I just want to create happy, memorable moments, and I hope it doesn't get lost in the busyness of logistics.

I suspect that I feel this way because I am watching my older child go off independently on a camping trip, and part of me misses that time when they were really young.  An age before they were old enough to dress themselves.  An age when they had sweet little birthdays with a few select friends and family were invited to eat cake, do a small craft or activity, and enjoy opening presents.  A time that seemed slower, where I  actually got to capture little moments.

As the kids get bigger, maybe I just need to be faster to catch up with them. With all the giggling, smiles and "It was the best trip EVER!" or "I had the loudest, most outrageously awesome birthday party ever!"...I will capture a different, more bigger moment.  When they'll still enjoying being a kid and the world seems like one big circus...and they're just having a ball.

Quick Party Cheese Ball

Ingredients

• 1 cup (8 ounces) Cream Cheese
• ¼ cups Sour Cream
• 1 cup Finely Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• ¼ cups grated Parmesan Cheese
• ¼ cups Finely Chopped shallot (or red onion)
• ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1 teaspoon Lemon Juice
• ¼ teaspoons Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Directions

• Place all ingredients in a large bowl. 
• Beat with a hand mixer on medium-low speed until well combined.
• Scrape the mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap. Cover with the plastic wrap and shape into a ball or log. 
• Put the cheese ball on a plate and place in the refrigerator to harden, at least 30 minutes (it's best if it is 1 hour).

Place on a serving plate. Allow to sit for approximately 15 minutes before serving.  Serve with crackers.

walk the walk

As a family who loves an adventure, we are very fortunate to have happy healthy children who can participate in many active outdoor activities.  As my kids jump and play, so very often as parents, we worry if they'll land on their two feet...or fall.

I think it's the "fall" part that worries most parents.  As much as we do everything that we can to give our children the best we can afford...provide lots of healthy meals, give them opportunities to explore the world, and provide a warm and loving home to rest or express their dreams and worries, often that isn't enough to ensure our children will aways be happy, safe or healthy forever.

Sometimes I think of those parents, who've relied on medical staff and resources to help their own children (as I've written in my post, here), as they go through many emotional, physical and financial struggles that are companions to their children's dire medical needs. How do they do it?

This Saturday September 28, our family along with my husband's company, Delvinia & Asking Canadians, will be participating in The Great Camp Adventure, a 20km camp-themed challenge-by-choice adventure walk to help raise money and awareness to support the SickKids hospital's most urgent needs and support those parents who rely on them.

Although we've never had to use the services of SickKids Hospital, to be honest, it's comforting to know that they're there.  We have been long supporters of the Sick Kids Foundation and it means a lot to us to contribute to the efforts that strive to provide better, healthier lives for kids everywhere.  I'm grateful that our kids are healthy and strong right now, however one never knows what lies ahead, and making sure the SickKids Hospital has all the necessary resources is just one more way I feel ensured that our children will be supported in case they don't "land on their two feet".

I can't wait for our family to experience our first family walkathon.  I can't wait for the kids to experience first hand, that no matter who falls, we're there to support and encourage, to help each other stay or get back up on two feet...so together, we can walk the walk.

SickKids Foundation

To donate to our family's walkathon team, click here:  The Great Camp Adventure

building blocks

As the kids have started to settle into school for another year, I still think back on the learning experiences of this past summer. I feel that learning is not just confined to a classroom and can occur all year long from real life experiences (whether it is observing the tides on the beach or picking up rocks when on a bike trail).  However, let's face it, kids enjoy being online on their down time, and sometimes I worry about those  times when the kids are not unplugged...when they're too connected to the games that can distract them from discovering what's in the real world.

Our "unplugged" basement.

Earlier this past summer, my son and I had an interesting conversation about one of his buildings in his Minecraft game (for those who don't know, it's an online game that builds virtual worlds with virtual building blocks).  He was animated in his description, and explained that the "cornerstone blocks are always the strongest, because they are the pillars of the foundation of which you can build something strong".  (yes, his words).

I liked how that sounded.  Cornerstone. Pillars of strength.  I'm always astounded with the mature insight this young boy (so often) has and I was intrigued with what he was building in his virtual world.

A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for an old corner fireplace. We used
Benjamin Moore "Cloud White" #OC-130 for the brick, trim and lower half of
the wall, and Benjamin Moore "La Paloma Gray" #1551 for the upper wall.

I asked him how he chose what materials to use to create his "buildings".  What determines his choices? As I listen to him, so much is revealed about what he learns...not only about how to build like an engineer, but how his choices also relates to building character.   He chooses material based on strength and durability and knows that a good strong neutral floor is the foundation that makes a solid base and provides the ability to stand tall and the confidence to be flexible and add depth or "character" with details.

There were so many flooring options to choose from....it could be overwhelming,
but choosing the most classic styles and colours was the route to go for us.

It's amazing how much more upscale a room can look with a simple
update in flooring...we went from linoleum to marble-style porcelain.

He learned that the colour of the wall can play an important part of attracting visitors into the room and knows at his tender age that soft serene colours make people feel restful and peaceful while darker hues brings warmth and comfort.  A comforting space for family and friends to feel welcome.  How little decorative elements can make a plain house look "phenomenal" (his words), and you don't need a lot...sometimes it only takes a few simple details.

We wanted to choose a chair rail with a simple but detailed profile.  By painting the chair rail,
baseboard and lower wall all the same colour, the room now looks more sophisticated
for the adults but still comfortable and durable for the kids.  The room also looks larger too!

It was amazing how our "Minecraft" conversation was a foreshadow of events to come.  A few days later, our basement was flooded during a torrential rain storm.  Luckily our good friend, who owns a commercial building and renovation company, was able to fit us into their busy schedule (they don't normally do residential projects), and we had our own "pillar of strength" to help us through this unexpected situation.  They did a beautiful and professional job with our basement renovation.  Coincidentally enough, their company name is...Cornerstone.

Now we can return to our playroom, and enjoy the family activities we once enjoyed before the flood...and play some games, both old and new ones like Chess or Minecraft, and build more foundations, more pillars of strength for our family...building blocks of lifetime memories, learning and good times.


Please note:  The opinion in this post is unpaid and unsolicited, and is solely based on the quality of workmanship and service we received.  A great big thank you to our friends...Jim, Adam and the rest of the team at Cornerstone.

the big apple

It's been a few years since we've been to New York.  There is something about that city that stands so vividly in my mind.  Maybe it's the energy and the perseverance of the people that draws me to that city.

On this particular day, there is not much for me to say, other than what I had already written about after our last trip to New York, which included a visit to the 9/11 Memorial site.  Many wrote to tell me how much that post really touched them...so to honour those who lost their lives, without further adieu, here is my post again.

a hole in the heart

(originally published October 5, 2011)

After a whirlwind weekend of indulgent window shopping, seeing the bright and dazzling Times Square, admiring the million dollar architecture and enjoying the scrumptious culinary delights in NYC a few weeks ago…we felt we needed to end our weekend trip by visiting a special place to bring us back to reality and reflect how fortunate we really all are.

{Above photo, courtesy of CNN}

You see, ten years ago, we had planned to be right here in New York.  Before going on a London/Paris excursion on Sept. 12^th, we were planning on stopping by as a post birthday celebration, before heading to London.  But circumstances led to us to stay home instead. Now, not a September goes by when I don’t think about what could have been. It’s amazing how many stories you hear, of someone missing their flight, and someone else taking their place.  How one person was saved because of someone else’s sacrifice. 

Ten years later, looking at the void where the towers were, the enormity of it, the place where monumental heartache took place…I realized that for every hole that is created, somewhere else, another hole is filled.

And even though life seems unfair on the surface, we are guided to fulfill a destiny, a purpose.  And for some reason, all our lives are intertwined in some form or another, with meaningful adjacencies.  (to read a beautiful article about how meaningful adjacencies relate to this memorial, please read Paula Grant Berry's CNN article)

I hope I fulfill my purpose in life…to help create a simple world of love, kindness, and appreciation for our beautiful world and those who fill it.  And especially, during this upcoming Thanksgiving season...to remember to be grateful, and thankful for all we have.

To simply…fill the holes.

Heart Shaped Jam Filled cookies 

(makes approx. 30-40 cookies)

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter
• 1 cup of granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar plus 4 tbsp extra for dusting.
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda

Preparation

• Beat butter and sugar together in a large bowl.
• Add the egg and vanilla.  
• Add the vanilla and 1/2 tsp of baking soda
• Slowly mix the flour into the mixture until dough consistency.
• Refrigerate for approximately 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350degrees
• Roll out the dough into desired shapes, creating enough for a solid bottom and one with a cut-out on the top.
• Bake for approximately 10 minutes, or until the edges are golden.
• Top one solid cookie with your favourite jam, and sandwich with a cookie with a cut out.
• Dust the cookies with powdered sugar.

Enjoy...with all your heart.

step by step

On the first day of school, I attended the school's "first day" assembly.  As the principal spoke, I could feel this tug-of-war within me...wanting to sit around the campfire with my children for just one more week longer, but also wanting them to spread their wings and join their school friends once again, learning to adapt to new teachers, new schedules, and new rules.

I started to think about the many articles I've read recently, about how some parents are feeling as they send their adult children for the first time to post secondary school, and I realized that what I'm feeling today is just the first step towards that "mixed feeling" moment of the future, when my kids will someday move on to college or university.   Today is just a preparatory step.

I started to look around the school gymnasium...paying attention to little details like how the lights reflected on the ceiling, the smell of freshly washed floors, and the nervous excitement I could feel in the air. For some reason I wanted to pay attention to all of this, as if for a brief moment, time felt frozen because I'm staying in the moment, not planning ahead for what I'm going to do for the rest of the day.  Maybe one day, I will remember this moment as a special memory where I once remembered the smell, the light, the feeling of elementary school and wonder where the time went?

Just as this moment is only one step in my journey as a parent to prepare my children (and myself) to grow and spread their wings, I hope my kids will realize how each of their steps are important foundations toward becoming adults that (I believe) will change the world.

I want to remember that moment when they took their very first step, and how it must have felt like trying to climb mountains but with every courageous attempt, I want them to realize after conquering it, that those mountains were really just large rocks after all.

The kids, particularly our son, loves to "parkour", which is overcoming obstacles in his environment
 as quickly and efficiently, using only his body and his surroundings to propel himself.  Both kids loved
these Reebok* shoes, which were light but had a strong grip to give them speed and momentum. 

I want to remember when they first rode their bikes without training wheels...how worried they were to go too fast or they'd fall and scrape their knee, and I want them to look back as they ride their two-wheeled bikes today, and realize the freedom they now have because they kept trying and kept moving forward.

I want to remember when they were little, how they tried with all their might and frustration to catch every ball, and I want them to realize that sometimes they may miss a few throws, but with persistence and practice, they will catch more and more every time.

In each stage I hope they will rise to the challenge of new experiences, and we'll be there to support and guide, whether in person or in spirit.  We will do our best to give them the tools they need.  Books, running shoes, bikes...anything that will help equip them so they can take each step, so as parents we can savour in the memory, and the kids can look back and learn from it.

With all these steps, maybe as parents we too will learn...and be better prepared when we reach that "mixed feeling" moment in the future as we send our kids to college or university.

Mmm...well...we'll see.  We'll just have to take it one step at a time.

*A big thank you to Michelle for providing the ATV19 Reebok shoes for each step of our kid's outdoor adventures this past summer.  Reebok Kids ATV19 footwear is available at Foot Locker, Sears, Sport Chek and through www.Reebok.ca.

fifteen

When staying at a nice hotel, it's the refined touches that turn it from a 3 star to a 5 star experience.  The friendliness of the people that greet you...not making you feel like a customer but a welcomed VIP guest.  The quality of those little soaps and shampoos (they do say a lot), and the little extras that define a hotel as more than just a bed to sleep in...it's a luxurious getaway.

This year is a special year.  Both my husband's company Delvinia, as well as our marriage, is celebrating it's 15th anniversary, and enjoying luxurious getaways played a large part in how we celebrated those milestones.  There are so many similarities between marriage and business, and I've often joked that his business partner is similar to having a spouse. There is a careful balance of personalities, building on each other's strengths, supporting each other's weaknesses and respecting each other's differences.  Most importantly, it is being determined to stick together through thick and thin...a testament to committing to a common goal which ultimately helps both a marriage and a business thrive through the best as well as endure the most difficult times.

A few weeks ago,  Delvinia hosted a 1950's Havana Style Summer Soiree and staged a "luxury hotel" to celebrate this monumental anniversary.  At this event, I couldn't help but see the similarities of this hotel themed party to having a business and marriage...both with goals of building the best experience, whether it's a customer experience in business or a beautiful experience in our personal life journey.

There were symbolic elements at the party that reflect the parallels of what makes both a business and a marriage solid and long lasting....elements that have helped both Delvinia and our marriage last fifteen years.

It's in the details

The event planners paid extreme attention to little details...thoughtful touches that turned this from a generic, just-go-through-the-motions event to something more personal. From the realistic projection of the ocean at the windows which felt like we were in paradise, not in the middle of the city (the screen image changed from daylight to sunset as the evening progressed), hair and makeup touch-up stations (how thoughtful!), Cuban cigar rolling stations (very cool!) and of course, the subtle "D" (for the Delvinia logo) unobtrusively placed in various locations...small but meaningful touches that is a constant reminder of their presence.  It shows that thought and care went into even the littlest of details....like little kisses that greet you in the morning or a brief touch on the shoulder to indicate you're right there within reach.

{source}

Something just for you

There was a delicious, customized signature drink, "La Delvinia Franbruesa", made especially for the guests.   Although this drink may seem like a small detail, I likened it to a little diamond wedding ring, symbolizing something more special...a personal, customized memento to show the importance of commitment to the relationship. Something just between us...that no uninvited guest or bystander can experience.

We're in this together

I was amazed at how many guests participated and dressed according to the theme of the party. Everyone seemed to relish in dressing the part, dressed in white linen and/or lime (the party's signature colours) or 1950's Havana style, and you can feel the energy in the room...like everyone was part of one big family.  Like employees of a company with the same vision, or a family united in love and respect, sharing the same life morals and ideals...it is this common goal, the significant glue, the bond...that keeps both a business and marriage intact.  Knowing that we're together, whether in person or in spirit.

Fifteen years is a testament to the longevity, the vision and staying power to drive through both prosperous and difficult times.  This is my anniversary wish, for my husband both personally and professionally...to continue this beautiful, most wonderful and amazing journey together...for many more years to come.

no s'more

Every summer, we try to explore new experiences, discover new places and learn what our beautiful world has to offer.  Although we had the freedom to reconnect as a family, with a new dog, this year we had to adapt our family activities. Day trips became "half day trips", as leaving a puppy with separation anxiety can leave us with more than we've bargained for.  The search for pet friendly accommodations, restaurants and general activities also changed our vacation plans from tickets for four...to four plus one.  

With signs of summer nearing it's end...back to school commercials filling the airwaves and the CNE now open (the largest annual fair leading up to labour day, a sign that summer is almost over), the restrictions of trying to accommodate the newest member of our household (along with a basement reno) has made summer go by way too fast. It feels like there is still so much more to enjoy.  Now it feels like we're trying to make up for lost time and try to rush all the things we never got around to do.

Early this morning, I peeked into the kids' rooms.  They were still sleeping in late, and they looked so peaceful and well rested.  They weren't groggily trying to wake up to rush out the door.  I started to realize that although there are signs to hurry up and rush back to school, work or whatever, maybe I should look at these signs differently...as signs of upcoming quiet moments.  

Now that it gets darker a little sooner, we can enjoy the sunsets earlier and longer.  As bed times start earlier, we can enjoy roasting s'mores by the fire as a dessert, instead of the sugar rush before we sleep.  As the feeling in the air gets crisper, the air isn't as heavy now and we can enjoy biking on the trails a little longer.  As the breeze gets just a few degrees cooler, we can enjoy walking our dog longer, without the a posse of sticky mosquitoes surrounding us.  

As more signs appear...a few colourful leaves peaking through the trees, the signs for local fall fairs standing by the roadside....

...I'll look at them not as a sign of the busy rush of fall schedules, but as a quiet hint of what is around the corner....more little opportunities to enjoy those beautiful special moments.

S'moreo

(makes 12)

For a last minute gathering, I wanted to bring a dessert that is representative of summer.  Nothing says summer like a s'more.  I didn't have any graham crackers left, so I altered this recipe and mixed peanut butter with the chocolate and used an oreo-like cookie wafer instead of the graham crackers.  The kids loved it...and I loved that it took less than 20 minutes to make.


Ingredients

• 1 cup of chocolate chips (or butterscotch chips)
• 1/2 cup of smooth peanut butter (optional)
• 1/4 cup of butter
• 1 cup of miniature marshmallows
• 12 cookie wafers (I used oreo ones...graham crackers work make this a more traditional s'more)

Directions

• Heat the chocolate, peanut butter and butter slowly on low heat in a saucepan.
• Remove from heat when the chocolate is almost melted. Stir until melted.
• Let cool for about 15 minutes.
• In the meantime, put liners in a muffin tin, and place the cookie wafers on the bottom.  
• Lightly toss marshmallows in the chocolate mixture until coated.
• Scoop approximately 1 tablespoon or so into the muffin tins.
• Chill until firm.  (I had to make this quickly for a last minute gathering, so I put these in the freezer for about 15 minutes until we were ready to leave.  They were refrigerated upon arrival until ready to serve).  

Enjoy.