Birthday Girl! (and Dad)

Today we had a party for Wrennie...and it was also Kenton's birthday. I can't really say it was a party for him because it was all about her, which he didn't mind at all. Kenton turned 29 (whoa!) and Wren turned 2!

There were lots of treats...

And an Elmo cake!

She blew out the candles...

...and dug in!

We snuck in a family photo with my parents and Cam and Andrea. It only took 40 some shots to get Wren to sit still...you may notice my hand gripping her leg but we were actually tickling her so she would give us a smile :)

Two words: Sugar rush.

Fun day!

Indoor and Outdoor..

Indoors we play with play-doh..the Sesame Street version. It's pretty much dried out now because Wren asked to play with it 20 times a day. 

We make silly lips..

Once we had run all our errands for the month this weekend (not quite, but it felt like it), we went for a walk in the snow. It was the nicest day out today and we pretty much forced Wren to remember how much she loved being pulled in the sled last year. She kept wanting one of us to carry her instead. 

Twice I looked back and she was face down in the snow because I accidentally tipped her over, oops! She took it like a trooper and barely made a peep even though her face was full of snow. I wish she was that easy going when other things in life don't go as planned...such as not being allowed to eat every candy cane off the Christmas tree. As a result, half our Christmas tree is decorated. 

Tomorrow we are having a small party for Wren (and Kenton's) birthdays with a bit of family over. His birthday is actually tomorrow, Wren's was on Friday. If you need cheap Sesame Street decorations, Dollarama has it! I'll post more pics of the part tomorrow :)

Two!

 Happy 2nd Birthday Wrennie!

Expressions...

Winter cozies

A nice fleecy housecoat is just what winter ordered.

Christmas music!

Okay people, it snowed, it looks like Chritmas outside, so let's start decorating, baking and listening to Chritmas music!

We just bought Zooey Deschanel and M.Ward's  She & Him Christmas Album and it's the best. Add it to your collection :)

How to Wear a Scarf Tutorial!

I was going through my list of blogs to read, and found this scarf tutorial on one of them. I was amazed because I am not good at tying a scarf in any style on myself for an outfit. Watch this short video for the perfect lesson in how to wear your scarf 25 different ways:

Happy 3rd Anniversary to Us

This post is coming a little late, but our 3rd (wedding) anniversary was on Tues. Nov. 8! 

We are going out for dinner tonight to celebrate and we are trying somewhere new...should be good :)

P.S. I am not-so-secretly excited about the snow we just got today!

Why buy toys?

I love being at home. I like working too, but today I am home and it's so energizing to have no agenda. Wren and I are baking buns this morning for our neighbours with the new baby. We are both sleepy from broken sleep last night- molars are coming. 

Wren found these pot holder/jar opener rubber things today in the kitchen drawer. I watched her play with them and noticed how this morning she hasn't asked to watch any "moo-ees" yet. I have been learning a lot from my sister who runs a class for pre-school children through Edmonton Catholic Schools. These programs are really unique because they are basing their classes on children playing in much different classrooms with a very different perspective on children's toys and their play.

The premise is that the classrooms are a calming environment instead of being over stimulating. They play with "natural" toys or materials instead of toys with blinking lights and bright colors and annoying sounds. There is mellow music, soft lighting, and lots of materials provided for the kids to use their imagination with. Andrea often asks me for my recyclables as they use them for the kids to work with. 

I have seen one of these classrooms in the school that my office used to be in for work. When I walked by, I couldn't get over how calming, interesting, and fun it looked. 

For example, in Andrea's class they brought in a big cardboard box and the kids turned it into a house, a car, and who knows what else. They played with it for 2 weeks!

What this comes down to is Wren's birthday are Christmas coming up, and I am thinking about what we should get her this year. Etsy seems to have a number of cute, handmade toys! If I come across some good ones I will definitely share them with you :)

Happy

Simple Vanilla and Chocolate Cupcakes with Decadent Icing

Last year for Wren's birthday, I made her cupcakes with vanilla and chocolate icing. I remember people were asking me about the recipe, and I am happy to say I finally remembered/found the time to post it!

Simple Vanilla or Chocolate Cupcakes- where I got the recipe is a mystery to me now. (makes 12)


2/3 c cake flour
2/3 c white sugar
3/4 c softened butter
3 eggs room temp.
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
Optional: sprinkle on shredded coconut on top of icing when finished.
(for chocolate cupcakes, add 2 tbsp cocoa powder with the flour)

Preheat oven to 350 F.
Place butter and sugar into a bowl and cream with electric mixer for about 2 min.
Add in lightly beaten eggs to the mix a little at a time, beating on slow for 15 sec between each addition. Add vanilla, then sift flour and baking powder in and mix for a further minute.
(I literally did sift the dry ingredients into the batter with a sieve and it too forever so I think I dumped it all in. If you have patience to sift it all, good for you. By the way, I think beating everything with the electric mixer is the secret here, not sure, but I have a hunch.)

Spoon batter into muffin pan and place on middle rack in oven. Bake for about 18-20 min or until a toothpick comes out clean. After a couple of minutes, place cupcakes on a wire rack to cool.

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Now you need some delicious icing for these cupcakes. Again, I have no idea where I found the recipes for both the recipes below. I suggest you double the recipes though...there were a few jokes around how little icing was on these cupcakes, although they tasted great! People like their icing piled on, note Flirt Cupcake's success ;)

Butter Cream Icing


3/4 c softened butter
1 c powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt

Beat all ingredients together with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Smack the fingers that try to reach in for a little sampling. Your own fingers dipping in occasionally is fine though.

If you are a chocolate lover...keep reading...

Sour Cream Chocolate Icing


1 c semi- sweet chocolate (not chocolate chips. come.on.now.)
1/4 c butter
1/2 c sour cream (not low fat either...this isn't a time for healthy choices).
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 salt
2 3/4 c icing sugar


Melt chocolate, take care not to burn it. Beat all ingredients together until light and fluffy.

When cupcakes are fully cooled, spread on the icing and eat!

(Cupcake baking cups and bird decorations came as a set from Urban Outfitters last year.)

Mastering the art of make up...

A little silver on the lips...

Nah, let's go for a more natural pink...

Organize the products...

Get a good smattering on the brush...

Apply shadow generously...

Show it off.

Pass me another mini can of ginger ale please.

I am still in disbelief- I have managed to come down with the stomach flu for the second time in two weeks. Having a cold is one thing, but stomach flu?? Come on!

Normally I am fine with missing some work because there really isn't anything you can do about getting sick. But this time I feel so guilty, and like a faker!

I wish I was faking with  my head in the toilet last night like a frat boy freshman. So while I was laying on the couch feeling bummed out, I decided to compile a little list of my favourite things to share with you.
And while you peruse, I will be watching a movie sipping my fizzy ginger ale.

-


cinder & smoke now has men's shirts!


Have you heard Metals? My favourite song is number 10.


I could use a funny read from this actor from The Office. (Immediate laughs from her childhood photo though!)


Jenna Rose on Etsy. The best gift ideas for the female in your life this year (especially me).



How to make your own cool headboard for your bedroom.



This is my next crafty book purchase. How amazing is that quilt??



For all my expecting girl friends this season- Sweet Momma spa.



Ami McKay's The Virgin Cure, is out! We found Wrennie's name in her first book, The Birth House.