Dana Banana Week

 

Yesterday we welcomed "Auntie" Dana to Canada and the Okanagan, after 10 years of me asking her to come visit she has finally made it to my side of the world. It's always so exciting for me to do the drive to Kelowna and pick up new visitors, I do miss Australia very, very much but I'm also proud to live in the Okanagan and show it's great qualities and beauty to everyone.

My kids were just as excited as me, making signs and banners for banana's arrival.

We're planning to do some fun stuff this week, zip lining in Oyama, paragliding in Lavington, lying on the beach at Mara Lake (if it ever stops raining) and water slides in Vernon.

The time always goes by so fast and before you know it banana's trip will be just a memory. Squeezing lots of fun stuff in is always a priority but sitting up last night just chatting and having some Dana time all to myself was lovely, catching up and reminiscing about the good old days.

I just love it when my ozzies come visit, there's not a whole lot of culture shock, it's just the little things that make me giggle and remind me of my impressions the first time here.

We snuck out last night to the neighbours house and grabbed a few cherries for munching, right now the fruit is spectacular, so I guess I should be grateful for the rain!!!

Zoe is making crepes with fresh raspberries, drizzled with real maple syrup for our aussie, now all we need is for the aussie to get out of bed and go pick those raspberries!!!!!!

Someone was thinking.

You know when you see an idea that's so simple, so necessary and just plain using you're noggin that you wonder....now why didn't I think of that? Check this out...freezie sleeves!!
I have the jumbo box of freezies chilling in my freezer just waiting for the warm weather to kick in. The problem is with kids and freezies 1. Brain freeze and 2. cold fingers.

The brilliant creator and domestic goddess of Delia creates shared this fabulous craft she did with her kids on her blog. Here are her boys enjoying the fruits of their labour.
My 10 year old was given a sewing machine by her gramma for Xmas last year and this is a perfect intro craft for her.
I was at a ladies gathering last night and the birthday girl received a sewing machine also, Kerry I'm thinking this could be a good place to start. I know you're savvy with a hot glue gun so you're already part way there!!!!
I had a great night out last night with friends, good food and lots of laughs. Will share my new simple appy recipe later today over at Coolabah tree.

This one's for you Stacy

So, it's a busy week here at the Simpson Ponderosa.
My wonderful friend Dana Banana from Australia is coming to visit on Sunday so my house needs to be gutted and put back together all sparkly and clean, I really need to go to the dump, the raspberries are almost ripe which means jammin is in my near future.
But priorities my friends, I have a ladies night to attend tonight and an appy that needs to be made in order for me to put my feet up, wine glass in hand and get some time with my lady friends.

I happened across a website, I made that,  the other day and I'm yet to take the time to look the whole thing over, but on page one......my heart skipped a beat when I saw this..................

Stacy........do you see this????? PORK BUNS!!!!

I have already rushed out and purchased a pork shoulder, but did not take into consideration the marinating, chilling, mixing, roasting, rising, re roasting, glazing time factor.

So sorry ladies...NO PORK BUNS FOR YOU!

Mmmmmm, my mouth is watering just looking at them. OK, back to work, I will let you know how they tasted when I get around to making them, or if you're lucky you might get an invite to come eat them with me.

Father's day.

It always sneaks up on me.

With the end of the school year looming, yard work in full swing. It never fails.........Father's Day. Hmmmmm, what to get the big fella???

This year I'm pleasantly amazed and somewhat stunned that I'm organised, even working two new jobs and struggling to keep up with domestic life I managed to not stress out over Father's Day. I'm just going to give myself a big pat on the back.....don't mind if I do.

Want to see what he's getting??????

It's a bamboo tea box with hand selected tea and customised labels.

I got the labels here. So quick and easy to print to jazz up a pressie for dad.

Now whenever he has a cuppa he gets reminded that he has wee little admirers that love him so.

If I won the lottery though....to show hubby how much we appreciate all his hard work, I'd much rather be giving him one of these...maybe next year daddy'o.

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Wishing all the special daddy's out there a wonderful weekend.

My little monkeys.

Sewing bee anyone?

I made some time for myself today to venture back into the blogging world and found what looks like a super cute and easy shorts pattern for my girls by Meg from Elsie Marley.  Take a peek, she has a free tutorial on the grosgrain blog.

Here is another blogger's take on her pattern.

This one is by Jessica at craftiness is not optional..another fantastic sewing site that I highly recommend if you have little girls.

The girls have both grown like weeds over the winter and are desperately in need of some summer clothing.

Now this is highly theoretical but..... is anyone out there wanting to get together and have a sewing bee, share fabrics and do a day of sewing? All that you would need is to bring your machine, your fabric scraps (obviously big enough for a pair of shorts) and a "can do " attitiude.

Once we have masteres the knot shorts then we can tackle some of this fantastic stuff over at Heidi and Finn.

Just incase you need an excuse to eat chocolate.

I had a long day of training today for my new summer job, so thought I might as well reward myself with a little lolly fix on the way home.

And lookie lookie at what I found.......

             ........it's the Cadbury Bike Factory!!!!

I supported this cause last year....( believe me, someone has to do it!!! I'll take one for the team).

All you have to do is buy cadbury products, go to the website and enter your barcodes. You can join my team if you like so that we can build a bike even faster....it's called babes on bikes!!!! Just enter "babes on bikes" when prompted to enter a team name.
It takes 100 bar codes to build a bike...c'mon ladies and gents...I know we can do it!!

The aim is up to 5,000 bikes this year for African families, I believe last year 2,000 bikes were delivered to African school children.
If you want to do your part and help out someone less fortunate in this world of ours with the added perk of a chocolate kick then check it out. It really is a win/win situation.