the comfort score

Competition is a funny thing.  For some, it's a driving factor to succeed, no matter where you're positioned within the game. For others, it's a validation of your greatness...or weakness.

Our son recently competed at the regional level for track and field.  Although he performed very well for his first event, he strived to exceed his own personal record set during the qualifying rounds at school, and was disappointed.  As much as it would have made ME feel better to wrap my arms around him with reassurance, instead we gave him space and freedom to be consoled by his amazing group of buddies, whom with their support, gave him just the amount of encouragement he needed to re-group, bringing his determination back to excel on the next round of competition.  It also gave him the gratitude of having such friends by his side, and in turn, he became their biggest supporter during their events.

Although individually, each of these boys can be competitive and strive for excellence, witnessing their camaraderie on track and field day to me, validated their greatness not in the sport itself, but their sportsmanship.

As we wind down during the final weeks of school, it feels like we need just a little more encouragement to complete final assignments and tests that seem to compete with the lure of warm weather and summer vacations looming around the corner.  After a year's worth of work, it's like the last leg of the race when you feel like you're starting to lose steam but can see the finish line right in front of you.  Once the kids cross the finish line, I hope they don't just reflect on their academic achievements, but take comfort knowing that they achieved far more personal accomplishments with their friendships than any score could ever give.

Potato Leek with Cod Chowder

Adapted from Epicurious

Makes 4-6 full servings

Nothing beats fresh corn and seafood in the summer.  Although most people think of chowders as comfort food during cold weather climates, this chowder is surprisingly fresh...perfect for cool summer evenings.

Ingredients

• 6 slices bacon, sliced.
• 2 tbsp of butter (instead of using bacon fat to cook leek)
• 1 large leek, whites and greens separated 
• 2 cloves (teaspoons) finely chopped garlic
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 4 medium Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut in 1/2-inch dice
• 4 cups milk (2%...I used 3% homogenized)
• 4 cups reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable broth (I used organic low sodium chicken stock)
• 4 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme (or 2 tsp. dried)
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 ½  pound cod, skin removed, cubed (I used 400g package of frozen Wild Pacific Cod Fillets)
• 2 1/2 cups cups fresh or frozen corn kernels (or one 12oz can of peaches and cream corn--omit salt if using canned corn as it already has a high sodium content)

Preparation

• While dicing potatoes and leeks, cook bacon in a cast iron skillet in the oven for 20 minutes at 400 degrees. (or brown over medium heat until crisp, 6 minutes on the stovetop)
• Transfer to a paper towel–lined plate; slice. 
• In a large stock pot, sauté leek and garlic (white part) for 2 minutes with butter until softened.
• Add flour; cook, stirring frequently, 2 minutes. 
• Stir in potatoes, milk, broth, thyme, salt and pepper; bring to a boil. 
• Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 10 minutes. 
• Stir in fish, corn and bacon; simmer 10 minutes or until fish is cooked and flakes.
• Garnish with extra bacon or chopped scallion.

Serve.

little miss sunshine

"It looks like our tree just dyed it's hair pink last night!"

Our daughter has the funniest way of looking at things.  Her imagination is so vivid that often we feel like we're cartoon characters living out a fantasy script.  

Every year for a brief week or so, our cherry blossom tree suddenly blooms almost overnight to this vibrantly pink hue. Then the pretty pink petals make a mess are blown in the wind as a sign that warm weather has finally arrived. It's amazing how time flies...it was only ten weeks ago when this tree was snow covered during March Break.

Shortly after March Break, we received a wonderful package of non-toxic nail polish from Suncoat to review, and inspired by nature's beauty, our daughter finally wanted to try out the pink nail polish this past weekend.

I think her initial hesitation came from her experience with "makeup" when she had the princess makeover at Disney.  Although she enjoys all the whimsical magic of playing dress up, she really is true to who she is and would rather wear a superhero costume accessorized with sparkles in her hair and cool nail polish, instead of being just a princess.

One of the few cosmetic related products that she is willing to try (and that I will allow at her young age) is nail polish.  Nail polish doesn't "transform" or "makeover" her existing, beautifully natural look and is not a lot different than putting on a bracelet or hair clip...it's an accessory that highlights and compliments your beauty. However, finding nail polish that is safe and non toxic was a task in itself.

Knowing what dangerous chemicals are in regular nail polish, not only was my daughter thrilled that there were no strong scents (that have turned her off in the past), but I finally felt comfortable letting her wear it, knowing that Suncoat (Girl) natural nail polish is water-based, odourless, 100% VOC free (chemical solvent free: no toluene, formaldehyde, phthalate plasticizer, acetates, alcohol, acetone) and peels off when ready.  (which is great for travel...no remover is needed). Eco-friendly and not tested on animals too!

I always tell her that she is beautiful on the inside, so it's best to not mask that with unnatural makeup, and just let the natural shine of her still come through. After she put on the Suncoat nail polish, she smiled and modelled her pink nails in front of our window overlooking our pink tree.

The sun shined brightly that afternoon, showing the beautiful pink hues of our tree...

...and showing the natural beauty of our little girl.




{Disclaimer} Thank you to Suncoat Girl for providing the nail polishes for review. Opinions and images are my own. For more information please visit http://suncoatproducts.com.

recover

When we first acquired our dining room set, it was a beautiful antique piece bought with the money gifted to us as wedding gifts.  Gorgeous mahogany pieces with beautiful white jacquard satin striped fabric for our dining chairs. Yes, white.  It was simple and classic, and at the time, suited our needs.  But clearly it was bought before children were in our home.

My painting projects went into hibernation during our cold winter months (painting in the garage + subzero temperatures = cracks!), so I was itching to do a small DIY project that can be done inside.  Since I had some left over fabric from a previous project (just enough to recover about 4 chairs), this was a quick afternoon project.

Here's how that afternoon went.  I removed the cushioned seat top by unscrewing it from the bottom of the seat.

Then the fabric was cut (approximately 1-2 inches larger than the cushion).  With the patterned side down, using a staple gun (and upholstery staples), I began stapling the centre of each of the four sides, working my way from the centre towards the corners.

Like wrapping a present, the corners were tucked in.  Then the chair seat was re-attached to the chair.

Here's the before and after:

It was a cost effective, quick way to freshen up the look of our dining room chairs.  Now that the weather is starting to improve, I might be ready to tackle the pile of painting projects waiting in my garage.

Now I can officially say I've started to recover from the long winter break. 

kid at heart

I recently read an article of a parent's account of how it feels to have a grown child begin their first foray to university or college. 

There have been a lot of articles about this actually.  Feelings of nostalgia, heart in the throat, bittersweet heartache as they watch their babies become adults right before their eyes.

Although my children are still quite young, it won't be long before I too, will personally empathize with that same feeling of those parents kissing their kids off to college.  I already can relate to that feeling as I watch my kids go through the final stretch of yet another school year, finishing yet one more grade.

As I think about the summer holidays ahead, it's just another reminder that this childhood story, although fleeting, never really ends.  It just evolves and becomes more sophisticated, more challenging, and equally rewarding as our kids remain child-like at heart while approaching ever so slowly into adulthood.  Yes, they might rather just surf the waves instead of playing in the sand.  Or they'd rather see a movie with their friends instead of just watching a family movie.  Although their tastes may become more adult like, no matter what, they'll always be our little kids in our hearts.

Grown Up Grilled Cheese 
(Blue Cheese & Fig Jam) Sandwich Pockets
(makes approx. 5 sandwiches)

Ingredients:

• 8-10 slices of bread
• ½ cup of crumbled blue cheese (to taste)
• ¼ cup of fig jam (to taste)

Preparation:

• Heat your panini press, waffle maker or sandwich maker (I used the sandwich pocket maker for this)
• Place a piece of bread on the press or sandwich maker
• Add the blue cheese and jam.  
• Place another piece of bread on top, and press with the sandwich maker.

Note:  A panini press or sandwich maker isn't required.  You can grill this like a grill cheese sandwich, on a cast iron skillet.

Enjoy!

mother's day

As a writer of a blog, I've published many stories, recipes, DIY and crafts that have been tested, tried and true in my home.  My own cathartic way to express my creativity.

Creative expression is very important, and as a mother (or any parent or guardian), one of the most rewarding things to see is our children's creativity.  It reflects how much they have progressed, what they've learned, and their view of the world.  It's also a sneak peek at understanding how we've  influenced them...answering which trait, which part of us has been passed on to them.  

For Mother's Day, I thought I'd sit back and show the results of my kid's creative juices...art and crafts made by the KIDS.  The recipes, the creative juices that flowed, the results of their creative juices.  It's a window into their world.  Those funny, insane, creative little moments...displayed in the hall of their school...

...or a drawing for a book report...

...or just silly dress up play with the toys...

...or a family craft, done yearly for the holidays...

Now it's my turn to really shine...with pride.

Happy Mother's Day!

enjoy being mom

On Mother's Day, the part of the day that I enjoy the most...more than the flowers and handmade cards and crafts...is the annual tradition of breakfast in bed.

Although that quiet meal time usually lasts a mere few minutes, as I end up finishing my meal with my family, it's in those few minutes alone that I realize that breakfast, although lovingly made by my kids and husband, tastes much better when I can enjoy it with them.

The joy of this day filled with love, hugs and kisses is just a reminder for the reason of this special day.  It's a day to really enjoy being a Mom without excuses, guilt, self doubt or measurement of how we rank (in our minds) as parents.  It's just a guilt free day to spoil our kids back with love, hugs and kisses....being everything that being a Mom should really be all about.

Cheers to all the beautiful mothers in the world, especially my own, who've wrapped their children with pure love.  May you all receive the same love, hugs and kisses...for Mother's Day and everyday.

Sweet Crepes

Makes approx. 24 crepes (or 8 servings)

These are sweet "dessert" type crepes.  Removing the sugar and vanilla will make these more savoury, and can be filled with scrambled eggs, bacon or whatever you prefer for brunch or any meal.

Ingredients

• 4 eggs
• 1 ⅓ cup milk
• 2 tbsp. butter, melted
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• ¼ tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

Preparation

• Heat the cast iron skillet.
• In a glass mixing bowl, melt the butter.
• Whisk in eggs.
• Add the vanilla extra, salt and sugar.
• Add the milk.   Whisk vigorously.
• Slowly add the flour, ⅓ cup at a time and continue to whisk vigorously until mixture is very watery and there are no lumps.
• Place a little butter on the skillet and spread with brush.
• Spoon about 3 tbsp. of batter onto the hot pan.
• Quickly tilt the pan to spread the batter thinly on the skillet.
• As soon the edges cook, flip (approx. 2 minutes).
• Serve with whipped cream, berries or maple syrup.

Enjoy!

bringing curly back

When my daughter was just a toddler, I let her hair grow long…it was unspoiled, natural and so beautiful.  So when she had that “first haircut” just before starting school, although it was a cherished "first" memory, we lost a little something that day...her glorious, long spiral curls! (we see hints of it’s return every time we go to a beach...she naturally gets those gorgeous "beach wave curls" ~ lucky girl!).

These are her natural spiral curls (pre-first haircut)

In preparation for a school performance last week, while other girls in her class were brushing their hair straight, my daughter was curling hers around her fingers. She said she wished her hair looked like it did while we were in St. Lucia. (I think she misses the beach!)

When I used to work on film sets, I learned a few hair tricks from celebrity stylists on ways to create curls or volume without damaging the hair with hot curling irons. So I was eager to "bring curly back" for my daughter, without damaging her hair.   I went to my local Beauty Supply Outlet, a one-stop beauty supply store with employees who offer expert advice, for some some guidance and tools of the trade.

I wanted to ensure my daughter’s hair was protected, even if I was going to use very little heat, and conveniently there were lots of top brands to choose from for heat protectants (CHI, Rusk and Biosilk make the best ones in the market, according to top beauty magazines).  Another customer overheard my concern and said she swears by the CHI Silk Infusion and remarked that she found the best prices in the city right in this store, especially during their Red Hot Deals specials (good to know for my next beauty haul!)

BEFORE:  Her current silky hair in it's natural state.

When I got home, my daughter was eager to try out these new rollers, so we started with the Velcro ones (the salon quality ones by Dannyco), since it is recommended for use in dry hair.  I lightly massaged some heat protectant in the palms of my hands, coated my daughter’s hair, and then began our experiment.

AFTER:  VOLUMINOUS HAIR
Instructions:  1.  Brush the hair and separate into 2 inch wide sections. 2.  Coat the hair with a heat protectant.  (CHI, RUSK or Biosilk make good ones).  3.  From the bottom of the hair, gently roll the Velcro roller to the scalp.  4.  Using a blow dryer, heat the Velcro rollers (I used the cool/warm setting as I was afraid to burn her scalp.  However, you can also use hair spray and the hot temperature to make the curl last longer). The heat allows the hair follicles to expand which helps the curl last longer.  5.  Let the hair cool, then remove the rollers.

Although the Velcro rollers didn’t give her spiral curls, when brushed out, it created a lot of volume (I think I’ve found something that is good for me!).

That evening, after her shower, I put heat protectant in her hair again, and this time we tried the sponge rollers (by Dannyco, they look like those long rods you see in the salons).

AFTER:  SPIRAL CURLS
Instructions:  1.  Have your hair washed and dried so the hair is slightly damp.  2.  Brush out the hair.  2.  Section 2” of hair and place the sponge rod half way from the head.  3.   Wind the bottom of the hair around the rod.  4.  Roll the rod towards the scalp.  5.  Once you reach the roots, fold the two ends of the together. 6.  Dry the hair (with a diffuser) or sleep with it over night. (hairspray before drying if you’re going out afterwards). 7.  Gently unroll to remove the sponge rollers/rods.  

I think we found our solution.  The sponge rods created beautiful spiral curls without damaging her hair.  When my daughter saw the results, her face lit up.  As I watched her smile and pose in front of the mirror, for a brief moment it seemed like she was transported back to the beach with her “beach wave curls”.

And for a brief moment, I too, was transported back to when she first had those baby curls, and I smiled knowing that she is still that little girl…unspoiled, natural and so beautiful.



This post was brought to you by The Beauty Supply Outlet. The opinions and images expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the Beauty Supply Outlet. For more information, sign up for their eNewsletter to hear about the latest Red Hot Deals and new products at thebso.com .

connect

In an increasingly digital world where it often feels like we're actually not connecting, adding to the challenges like financial restraints, demanding work schedules and conflicting educational objectives can often make it difficult to find the time and energy to continue developing our personal relationships.

Time to connect is very important to me.  Although around this time of year, sometimes that slight feeling of panic washes over me as I wonder if I've planned, booked or scheduled enough travel activities for the summer, amazingly enough, owning a dog has helped us by circumstance, to slow down and disconnect from crazy schedules instead of each other.  More than I had ever imagined, having a dog as part of our family has given us so many beautiful moments together.

Here are 5 ways our dog has given us opportunities to slow down and connect (although owning a dog is not required to do any of these):

1)  Observing the little creatures around us.  So often our dog would run to the door and bark at a squirrel or a bird that is in our backyard.  Although we all get a good laugh to see our dog become overprotective of our family against any critter outside, often it has made us actually stop and look outside and see what is really just at our doorstep...right under our noses.

2)  Going for a walk.  Although we may not be very diligent (especially in snow or rain weather) with our daily walks, we try to highlight it's importance to our daily routine.  We strive to incorporate  physical activity in our daily lives, even if it's just for 10 minutes, to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This brief time gives us a little break, a reprieve from our daily schedule to just collect our thoughts at the end of the day.

3)  Running free.  When we visit our local leash-free dog park, it's amazing the things we discover in our neighbourhood on our way there. Running free without care at the park is just enough to invigorate us and when we breathe that fresh air, the oxygen clears our minds, de-stresses us so we can be open to listen and converse with each other, without anxiety or pent up emotions (and gets our creative juices flowing).

4) Learning new tricks.  I often say the best way to learn is to teach.  It forces you to see from another person's perspective (or in this case, a little animal) what facts are important to know, how to communicate those facts, and patience with teaching and explanation.  Having a dog has given us compassion, not just for our pup who is behaving more and more like a well-mannered dog, but for us as humans, learning to behave and treat each other with kindness and respect.  We all have our own story.

5)  Unconditional love.  No matter what kind of day we've had, our pup is there by our side.  No matter how long we've been out doing our own activities without our dog, whenever we get home, our pup is there patiently waiting without judgement or anger...just waiting to give all the kisses and attention in the world, because we're family.  We can all learn from this pup.

As we plan for the summer season that will arrive in just a few short months, this time, I'm less inclined to worry too much about scheduling activities. We'll still have plenty of summer memories visiting friends and family, cottage activities and BBQ's...and now we'll also have memories of spending lazy days with our pup, just observing the little things around us...and enjoying our quiet moments together.

transition

No season represents transition better than early spring.  Remnants of winter still hover on the ground as newly melted snow reveals hibernated brown grass from last autumn.  A hint of warm weather, even if it's for a brief mid-day moment, teasing us to shed those warm winter layers in hopes of rising temperatures to come.

Around this time every year, I look at our front garden which desperately yearns for floral pastels to brighten the landscape, and realize that it's still just a little too early to do any planting.  I start to store the winter clothes, most but not all, and carefully choose what spring time clothes can be worn only to resort to wearing a hybrid season wardrobe of winter coats over spring shirts.

I anxiously await the summer, counting down the weeks (only eight!) until it's sunscreen season and we are able to spend more and more time outdoors, without rigid schedules.  But until then, much like the landscape of our front gardens, we'll have to just to wait patiently for brighter days ahead.

Maybe this is nature's way of reminding us to be patient.  Just as Easter is symbolic of resurrection and renewal, early Spring is the season to see what's been hibernating under the snow for all these months, to evaluate where we left off last autumn, and where we need to plant the seeds to grow.  It's symbolic of how we should re-examine what we need to change or improve and discover the opportunity for growth in our personal lives.  If we're patient and plant our seeds carefully, we'll be rewarded with beautiful blooms of spring.

Ham and Cheese Potato Soup

Makes 4 servings

This is a great recipe to use up any left over ham and potatoes from Easter dinner.  It has all the tastes of a Spring holiday meal, but also has the comfort and warmth of a hearty soup enjoyed in the chilly air of winter.  This soup has a thick consistency and can make a light meal if served with salad.  After holiday celebrations, I love using leftovers to make either a soup (if I have ham leftovers) or a pie (if I have turkey left overs...I use this recipe: link).

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of cooked ham, finely diced (I used left over spiral ham...you can use bacon)
• 1 green onion, very finely chopped (or 1 small onion)
• 3 tbsp. olive oil or butter.
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth (organic)
• 2 cups leftover mashed potatoes (I used these herb mashed potatoes, here:  link)
• 1½ cups of half and half (whatever you have on hand...I had milk)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, for serving (I used whatever aged cheese I had on hand...smoked applewood worked really well here!)
• Croutons for topping (optional...green onions and chives work too)

Directions:

• Heat olive oil or butter over medium-high heat and add the chopped onion and cooked ham. 
• Saute until the onion is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. 
• Add flour and whisk in cook for 1 minute while stirring. 
• Add broth and mashed potatoes and bring to a boil, while continuously whisking.
• Add shredded cheddar, and mix vigorously until cheese has melted and blended into the soup.
• Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
• Stir in the milk and simmer (for approximately 5 minutes more).
• Add salt and pepper to taste. 
• Top with croutons.

Enjoy!!!

fly the nest

When you've lived in a house long enough to go through life stages like a marriage, birth, graduations and family holiday gatherings, you start to notice physical elements of the house, like a door or a chip in the wall, that hold special memories, a part of your personal history...sentimental objects that you'd wish you could take with you wherever you go.

In our hallway along the doorway trim to our kitchen, we've marked through the years, the growth of our children.  Every so often the kids would want to see how much taller they've become, and they'd stand with the world's most perfect posture, almost on their tippy toes, in hopes that a new pencil mark will be drawn just a notch above the last one.

As Easter approaches, I am reminded yet again, on how life has many little "pencil" marks as indicators of how far we've come, showing the notches of our history.  Every year, during this sweet season of Easter, I empty a dozen eggs (I use this germ free method so we can actually eat them) and rally the kids around the table, with little cups filled with dyes, to colour them.  It's a magical process- the kids watching with intense patience as each egg becomes more vibrant as they sit in those little cups of dye.  Colours and patterns are planned out, stickers are placed and at the end, their creations are displayed as souvenirs of our time together.  But as the years pass I've found this activity, which once would occupy their interest for at least a full morning, would be done quicker and quicker every year, now being completed within a few mere minutes.

However, as we sat around the table with finished projects, I realized that the time that was once filled with childhood activities are now just replaced with time filled with more meaningful discussions instead (and in this case, a deeper understanding of what Easter really means to us).  Although I will continue to prepare the eggs for our yearly ritual, I will cherish these family traditions, not just as another holiday activity, but as another opportunity to spend precious time together, filling these kids with vibrant confidence so when they're ready to fly the nest, they'll become beautiful contributors to this world we live in.

Wishing you a Happy Easter 

filled with rejuvenation and love!

Easter Egg Nest Cupcakes
(makes approximately 1 dozen)

There are a few ways to make these cupcakes.  The easiest way to make them (for those who do minimal baking) is to buy pre-iced cupcakes, a bag of shredded coconut, and candy coated chocolate eggs.  Bake the coconut as directed below.  Remove the icing from the centre of the cupcake, add the coconut to the perimeter of the cupcake and add the chocolate eggs.  If you like to bake from scratch, the directions are below.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups shredded coconut (about 5 ounces)
• Chocolate Cupcakes (recipe below)
• Chocolate Frosting/Icing (recipe below)
• Candy Covered Egg Shaped chocolates

Assembly/Preparations

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
• Spread coconut on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until light brown, 8 to 10 minutes, rotating pan once. Set aside to cool.
• Lightly frost cupcakes with 1 cup chocolate frosting; set aside. 
• Form each nest with 2 tablespoons toasted coconut. (I also piped a small amount along the perimeter of the cupcake, so the coconut has something to adhere to
• Using candy covered chocolate eggs, place in the middle of the nest.

Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 3 cups sugar
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for pans
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 cups milk, room temperature
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
• Line standard muffin cups with paper liner. 
• In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. 
• Add milk, vegetable oil, and 1 1/2 cups warm water; whisk to combine. 
• Add eggs and vanilla extract and whisk until smooth.
• Divide batter among muffin cups (filling each about 2/3 full) and bake until a toothpick inserted in comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 20 to 25 minutes. 
• Let cool in pans on wire racks, 5 minutes, then transfer cupcakes to racks and let cool completely. 

Chocolate Frosting (for 12 cupcakes)

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter
• 1 cup icing sugar
• 4 tbsp. cocoa powder
• 2 tsp. milk (or 35% whipping cream for creamier texture)

Preparation

• Combine butter, sugar and cocoa powder and blend with an electric beater, until well combined.
• Add milk and beat on high until smooth and creamy.

Enjoy!