OMG....the garlic needs cleaning, the yard needs a fall clean up, the dog needs to go to the vet, book club is almost upon me, thanksgiving, birthday parties, Halloween, CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!

I need a tall glass of chardonnay, an hour in the hot tub and 10 extra hours in my day....make it snappy!

Mom-a-razzi

My poor kids are slowly getting used to mommy ramming the camera in their faces every waking minute of the day, so much so that now Zoe follows it up with a snarky.....are you going to put that on you BLOG????

Countered quickly by my usual answer.......maybe......or maybe I'll keep them for you wedding day slide show!! I do feel like the paparazzi some days.

These pics are not pretty, glamorous or well taken, they are simply here to document the disbelief I feel when I see how quickly my girls are growing into little ladies. This is the morning of first day back at school, Zoe starting grade 5 and Marley starting full time, 5 days a week kindergarten.

I've always taken pics of Zoe on the first day of school in front of the little apple tree in our yard, they can both grow old together and now Marley has joined the club.

Boo hoo hoo hoo.

   

Outside their wonderful little school on their first day.

Marley is catching the bus home with her big sis today, I am trying my best to have faith in the bus supervisor to make sure my baby gets on the right bus, maybe I'll have to become stalker mom and drive there to watch from the parking lot......someone slap me now!!!!

Home sweet home.....

........ain't lookin' so sweet right now.

Did you ever start a project thinking it would be quick and easy and then have it turn into the project from hell? Well, as all of my friends have heard more than enough times this summer, we are living through one of the worst reno nightmares to date.

The hubby and I are huge into DIY projects, but there comes a time where some things are a little too big for one couple to handle...like our roof. So we decided to hire this one out, and I'm not naming any one specifically...you know who you are....thinking it would be about two weeks to completion.

We are now into our second month and this is where we are as of yesterday.

Leaking roof, nowhere to park, unprofessional crew cussing and smoking and leaving their garbage everywhere, I promise this is the last you will hear of this...I just needed to vent.

Luckily for us there was a break in the misery yesterday with a new crew on the job..with manners to boot! There were tears of joy and relief!!!

I will post new pics as the roof is completed....fingers crossed.

As for all the perennials under that mess, luckily fall is upon us and they will need to be cut down anyway. That's me trying to make lemonade out of my lemons!!!!!

Bang-a-rama

After much procrastinating I finally decided to go ahead and get the Zooey Deschanel chunky bangs, along with a much needed color to cover the infamous greys.

I'm liking it a lot, although I'm not much into actually DOING my hair, I think I can manage using the hairdryer every once in a while to give those extra chunky bangs some attention.

I may regret it in a week or two when they get a mind of their own and start a mutiny on my head, but for now.....no regrets.

Anyone have any hair horror story's to share? I know I've had my fair share, like the time I was a struggling student and decided to bleach my dark hair without any thought as to how I was going to afford to upkeep. Lets just say the "skunk" look  never did suit me.

Hope you all had a great long weekend. I don't know about all you other parents out there but I am soooo looking forward to back to school.  My sewing machine and I are planning to get reacquainted!!!

Tootles.

Kj

Only in my dreams....

Did you ever see anything more dreamy than this set up?

I was mindlessly surfing today and stumbled across the photography of Ditte Isager.

Bio:

Born and raised in Copenhagen Denmark. Living in NYC since 2006. The style is simple nordic. Working with contrast in materials, light, color and objects. Inspiration comes from the light in the Dutch masters, storytelling and effects from motion pictures and the style, character and layers of NY.

I'm going back for another look in the hopes that the images will follow me to bed tonight and inspire a fairytale like dream or two!

High Altitude Pavlova

I was recently at the local farmers market enjoying all the wonderful local produce and people watching with the kiddies, so sad that market season is almost over and yet again I have not been making the most of it.
The one new addition I noticed and was over the moon, crazy excited about was the aussie meat pie vendor. I was so happy about it, in fact my husband asked me if I "hooked up" with the meat pie man as I was raving about it so much when he got home.......MEN!!!!

At $5 per pie all my aussie readers are more than likely going to tell I was ripped off but seriously, YOU try going years without a good meat pie and see what effect it has on you. I think I would have paid double that for just one bite, this guys recipe was bang on.

My accent may have faded but my love of Vegemite and a good pie never will!

Seeing as that pie is still lingering on my taste buds I thought I'd post a recipe for another of my aussie favourites, however, in doing so may never be invited to another party as all of my friends will have my recipe.

Pavlova was one of those things I found difficult to make here in Canada, I believe its an altitude problem as there are so many eggs. So I stumbled across this recipe one day and have been using it ever since.

If any of my aussie friends try it I would love to know how it turns out for you.

ELIZABETH MANNING'S NEVER FAIL PAVLOVA - By Catherine Manning

6 egg whites

2 cups sugar

4 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch in the US)

6 tbsp boiling water

2 tsp vanilla essence

2 tbsp vinegar (white)

Put all ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat for 15 - 20 minutes or until very stiff. When you pull the beaters out, the mixture should stand up in stiff peaks. (I find at altitude, I usually have to beat the mixture for 30 minutes or more.)

Pile on to baking paper on an oven tray. You can also use aluminium foil on the baking tray. Lightly dust with cornflour so the pav won't stick. Pile it up high and do not spread out, as the pav will spread while cooking. Use a fork to mark ridges up the side.

Put in the middle of a cold oven. Turn the oven on to 250 deg F. Cook for 2 hours. Turn oven off and leave the pav in the oven, with door closed, overnight or until the oven is cold. This takes at least 6 - 8 hours. (Do not open the oven at any point during the cooking or cooling. Not even a quick peak!! This may cause the pav to fall.)
Kinda like this........my oven light was broken so I had to peek, but it still tastes the same!!

Cut around the top of the pav with a sharp knife and allow the top to drop into the pav. This forms a shell for the cream. Fill with whipped cream (NOT THE TYPE IN THE AEROSOL CAN) and decorate with fruit or topping of your choice.

I used a we little can of passion fruit that my friends and relatives bring me on their visits, I treat it like liquid gold as you can't find it here. And a grated up Skor bar. odd combo, next time I would use one or the other but not both, it was a little sweet.