Thrifty Thursday

Any ideas what these are for? Hint-not candles.....

They cost $2.99-$5.99 each at garage sales and second hand stores and I can't wait to paint them fun colours for my next party! I think they are OK in black.

They are sturdy and seem to be made for sweet little treats like cupcakes.This tiered metal stand was in the garden section. It was very rustic looking which was nice for a while but with a fresh coat of paint this stand has a new fresh look. Very versatile and pretty.

Hmmm- now I want to have party!

berry cool treats

This was fun and easy.

We made them on a rainy day so they'd be ready for when we needed them on a hot day.

It’s really easy to make your own. I had a helper too. He was my stick man.

Pick a fruit.

2 cups strawberries in this case. Hull and cut them up.
Throw them in a food processor with 1 Tablespoon super fine sugar, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and a pinch of salt. I love the opportunity to use my magic bullet!

Reminds me of making all the baby food that made my little boy grow so big and smart.

We layered strawberry with yogurt then honey berries from my own bushes in the back.

What did we use for sticks.....cloths pins! 50 (enough for 100 pops!) for a dollar AND the perfect length for small hands.

What fruity combos would you suggest?

future picasso

Painting with a two year old is just about the fun-est thing I have ever done.
He loved it!
Thinking about line, texture, colour, balance.....
He concentrated so hard on the smallest details......

He experimented with different colours and blending......

And only tired to drink the paint brush water a few times.

thrifty thursday

It is not my favorite place (so sorry Ronald!) but there are 2 boys in my house who LOVE it!

For the last 2 months whenever a sassy little 2 year old sneaks into the drivers seat of the VW van he announces we are going to McDonald's!

I was torn when I found this. I know my little Hamburgler would love to drive his cars to the drive through window and order cheeseburgers and french fries but the Mom in me wanted to purchase a miniature fresh fruit stand.

The importance of imagination and creative play won.

I can still decide the "real" meals and my little Hamburgler can have as his hotwheels speed away with their cheeseburgers and milk.

$6.99 includes 5 little trays with pictures of cheeseburgers, fries and drinks. So fun.

honey berry salad

The Chef, my brother, was over the other night and he quickly taught me to make an easy vinaigrette.

I wanted to use the honey berries I grow in the back and this recipe would work well with any berry.
2 parts oil ( I use evoo)
to 1 part vinegar (I used a red wine vinegar)
1 teaspoon honey
pinch of salt and pepper to taste
1 cup honey berries
Puree in a food processor, I happily got to dust off my magic bullet ( my second) from baby food making days as my niece commented- "Wow, you actually have one of those. I've only seen them on TV." Teen translation, "Aunty, you used to be cool and now your kitchen is turning into a TV info-mercial. Please make us more cupcakes and stop watching late night TV".
Point taken. But I cannot live with out my magic bullet the second. He is like family.

The colour of the honey berry vinaigrette was amazing! Really amazing, if you live in town and want to try some I'll gladly share!
Beware-you will be instantly addicted!

reno lesson 1

This had a price tag of $759.99.

I paid $199.99.

The taps were an extra $89.

The selection at the 1st store was not very great and I couldn't find anyone to answer my questions.

At store number 2 (brand new and located at Preston crossing) 2 employees caught me gazing lovingly at the above vanity and asked if I needed assistance. I said I was looking for vanity for a rental property reno but this was was a little out of my price range. Employee #1 jumped on a ladder to check both sides of the price tag while employee #2 ran off to see if they still had the "sale" vanities in another holding area.

BINGO. He found me one. Then he found me taps. And talked me out of a new mirror encouraging me to recycle the old one because this was for a "rental" you know. The mirror I have is flat, the whole wall kind of mirror-simple yet elegant.

I LOVE a good shopping experience and I like deals. Our reno stores in town are all good but today one store really helped me out.

The walls will be white tile, and the new tub and surround will add to the spa feel.

Now flooring.......it has to be vinyl to fit the budget, any suggestions?

chocolate chip cookies

I love to bake bake bake....

I love to help Mommy Mommy Mommy....

Wait a minute.......this is child labour!

Why am I putting these perfect little, delicious mini m & m's on cookies when I could just as easily pop them into my mouth!
Hmmm......they come off just as easily as they went on!
I love to eat eat eat......
I love to bake bake bake.....

our Canada Day

We had a great day!

We joined our fellow Canadians at a huge park for balloons, stickers, giant inflated jumping tents, race cars, speeches and soldiers.

We were even stopped and asked what our favorite thing about Canada was-I said Canada is a great place to raise a family!Then to the wild horse ride! You'll see this picture again in February, I have been planning the Zebra shot for ages and it just so happened he was open for a ride today. All that fun was squeezed into a few hours and we were home by 12:15......just in time for poor Daddy to get called into work.

(and for us to take power naps!)

What is your favoirte thing about Canada?

birthday

A little boy around this house heard there was a birthday. While at Walmart picking up a new toothbrush I asked what he wanted to do when we got home (hoping he would say swim) it was turning into a hot and muggy day.

Swim?

With a birthday so close? Of course not!

We did swim, but only after we made these true north, strong and free sweets.

How could we be so silly to swim when a birthday was just around the corner!

Be sure to keep an eye out for us in our matching shirts !

Hey, Justin posted our celebration of being 2 pics on his blog-check them out and tell him how "awesome" he is!

potential

Look out high school-these gals are reaching for the stars!This potential packed power muffin was the 1st baby I ever held. She was hours old and I knew we'd get along right away. We've painted cherry blossoms in kindergarten, swam at every local pool at least a dozen times, shopped, have done our hair, shopped some more, baked and chatted.

I am so proud!

Words from her principal "...LOTS of potential here!"

Work hard honey and remember that Aunty is always ready to help with homework, boy issues and shopping trips!