Christmas in February?????

I've been thinking a lot about wreaths since last week, Brenda was whipping up some lovely ones at the store and I think wreaths need to be more of a year round decorating item rather than being dusted off and hung for Christmas.
I found some lovely ones on line and after picking up some used books on the side of the road yesterday, I now have the materials to make my own.

Here's a few I found already that I think are close to what I have in mind.

I think I like the first one the best and feel like it's in my skill level.

Watch this space for the finished product and maybe even a tutorial.

Kiddo cakes

Every year our little elementary school here in Lavington is host to a "Fun Fair" complete with face painting, games, balloons, popcorn and our favourite THE CAKE WALK.
It's a little something to shake off the winter blah's and let the kids go wild and have some fun.
The kids get to enter a cake into the decorating competition and later on in the day the cakes become prizes in the cake walk. There's usually a pretty good chance that one of your kids will come home with a fantastic one of a kind, kiddo decorated cake. Granted, with Marley being in kindergarten this year mommy had a little control situation with letting her do the whole cake on her own....and by little I mean major melt down....I tried to not help but it's IMPOSSIBLE.
I'm one of THOSE mommies who just can't keep her hands to herself when it comes to creating..I may need to seek help at some point but for now my kids haven't noticed how much of a freak mommy is. So, we'll just leave it at that for now.

Here's what we came up with.

Zoe's garden of earthly delights.

Complete with wild life.

And My Marley's cute owl. I love him.

I was super impressed with the powdered food coloring I picked up at the Oriental Supermarket in Kelowna, love how bright the red turned out, that for sure is going to stain something!!!

Hope to see all you Lavington folks out and about at the fair to support our wee little school.

DIY candles.

I just have to get my butt off to Kelowna sometime soon and go visit some of my favourite stores. There are so many craft projects I want to tackle but am seriously lacking in supplies.
A quick stop at Michael's would be nice, followed by a shopping trip to the Oriental supermarket.....and sushi for lunch of course.

I spied these cute candles on the Martha website and have decided I absolutely must make some. They look so easy but what a great way to personalise a cake without(hopefully) spending too much moula.

I'm picturing them on cupcakes for a little tea party with the girls, or maybe something spring themed. So not only do I need beeswax sheets but also now I have an excuse to go buy some cute cookie cutters.

The hubby enjoyed his yummy lemon meringue birthday pie...thanks for asking. Nothing like feeding your children sugar at 8pm and then telling them to go to bed.  There's a lesson in there somewhere.tootles
kj

Happy Birthday oh hubbie of mine.

Today is the day that I am no longer a cradle snatcher, my hubby is now officially the same age as me. No more cougar jokes.....not until October.

So happy birthday to you my love......here's to many more.

I baked a little extra love into his favourite birthday cake pie, no it's not arsenic!!! He doesn't need to know that it's there.....but I know and that's all that matters.

I really put my heart and soul into his lemon meringue pie.

 

We are having quiet night tonight, just the family as I'm sure the phone will be ringing with birthday wishes for the big fella.

I picked him up a well deserved GC for a full body massage at the health spa at the Okanagan Valley College of massage therapy. 

$30 for 1 hr of touchy feely massage....... I'll let you know how his experience was.

On a completely separate topic...I worked my first shift today at Simply baskets ( I still think I should be paying Brenda to let me come hang out there). It was fabulous, I really feel at home there and can't wait to sink my teeth into the workings of the store. Met some lovely regulars, the coffee was great as was the company and I'm looking forward to another day at the shop tomorrow.

Hi ho hi ho..it's off to work I go.

I'm so excited to be rejoining the work force, even if it is only a few hours a week, it's perfect for me.

I had my first job interview yesterday and was hired on the spot by the most wonderful lady Brenda at Simply baskets home and gift.

I just knew we would hit it off after meeting her, my interview ended up being two hours long and I could have stayed longer and chatted if it had not been for me booking myself in at the school for winter fun day.

The thought of going back to work after being a homemaker for the last ten years has been nerve wracking to say the least, not knowing if your whole world will fall apart without you there to sweep the floors and fold the laundry.

I think I have found the perfect balance for me, casual employment, in an environment I feel at home in, with a wonderful boss.

Check out some of the wonderful displays from the store, or even better pop in and say hi! I'm sure a familiar face or two will help ease the soul and the nerves! 

Thanks again to all my wonderful friends and family for your support and the kick in the butt I needed to put myself out there.

Love you all.

Wine bags

I know the snow is still on the ground and the days are still dark and cold but my mind is already in a place where the sun is shining and the spritzers are flowing. I'm still loving winter, don't get me wrong...I just tried cross country skiing for the first time yesterday and LOOOOVVVEEED it......but I'm planning ahead this year and trying to be budget conscious at the same time.

Hence my new found love for the ladies at Monashee U-brew.

I'm trying my hand at fruit wines this year, U-brew style!!! I joined the Snickerdoodles wine club with a bunch of fantastic ladies and we are going to mix and match our creations so that we come home with an "allsort" of flavours.

I used to be a purist and make my own wine from the fresh fruit of the season, stirring and stirring and waiting and draining and cleaning and bottling.

Too much work....cheap.....but tooo much work.

Which leads me to my next snippet, and how the world works in funny ways.

So after talking to Laree at MUB we tossed around the idea of my jams at her store.....can't do it legally yet BUT I can do wine bags!!!!!!

These little summer cuties are going to be in the MUB gift store, a new addition to their business. Don't they just make you want a spritzer???

The gift that keeps on giving, a reusable and reversible summery wine bag....handle included!!!!!

I hope my local readers can take the time to go check out this exciting little business, Laree and June are doing an amazing job of getting the word out there and making their products appeal to everyone.

U-brews are not just for grumpy old men anymore....come on and join the fun!!! I'm looking forward to hanging out with my girlfriends and bottling up our creations, if all goes well, I'm thinking wine making could be a fun date night out with the hubby too!

Meat pie #2

The search continues for the perfect auusie meat pie recipe to keep the home sickness at bay. Why is it so hard???? Anyone out there with a kick ass authentic recipe?

The hubbie did an amazing job on the filling, but not quite authentic enough for my fine tastebuds. Zoe was my little pastry helper and did a fantastic job, she said she felt like snow white making pies for the dwarfs????????

 Here's a few pics to make you all salivate and want to make a meat pie of your very own.....remember to pass on the recipe if its a good one.

Happy baking y'all.