May 27, 2009

Part of a Treasury!

How exciting! Gingham Skies' Lola has been featured in a beautiful Treasury alongside the beautiful leg warmers created by my fav ladies who are not only the most fabulous in-laws a girl could hope for but also the owners of the Eterknity! Pop over to leave a comment and maybe it will make front page!

I'm stoked that the super sweet bow necklace from Lime Green Modern's shop that I have been eying for a long while now is also featured. Loveliness all over the place. Be sure to visit the treasury to see all of the beautiful work featured.

Thanks to Bella's Sweet Boutique for including me!

May 26, 2009

This One's for Suz!

Before you watch the video below you have to read this post by the fabulous Suzanne Broughton of Alive in Wonderland. I spotted this video over at Gin & Gossip today and immediately thought of Suz. A fabulous little film that makes me crave Converse.

May 24, 2009

Sew Jaime Sew

I keep losing the link to this super sweet tutorial so I'm posting to avoid wasting a ridiculous amount of time hunting for it for the 8 millionth time.

SewMamaSew is where I originally found this fab top compliments of the very talented Made by Rae. I love the green fabric she chose for this number... I think this will be my first piece of clothing i make for moi! Fabric store here I come.

Making My Ears Smile



Check out Vampire Weekend's MySpace page for more sweet sounds.

May 23, 2009

RIP Jeremy

Some of my regulars might remember meeting Jeremy the creepy head last year. This pic is from the first gardening post of '08 - a post worth revisiting just for the comments.

I spent yesterday on my knees; the garden is in and Jeremy isn't speaking in class or anywhere else this year. The head is dead. I left him in the garden over the winter and the winter killed Jeremy, he was busted into a zillion pieces.

In memory of the head I will continue to label my gardening posts with his name. If you spot a Jeremy post be prepared to be bored by veggie chatter.

I planted tomatoes, carrots, snap peas, red onions, green onions and broccoli this year. I'm skipping the peppers since they took up a lot of space and didn't produce much. Lettuce will be going in too but our fav, Butter Crunch, wasn't available so it hasn't been planted yet. Oh and a strawberry bush will be going in the corner garden once I get over to my mom's to dig one out. Yum!

May 21, 2009

Me Me Me!

I haven't updated you on what's up in my world lately so here's a quick look into the land of Jaime. I had a stupendous weekend filled with absolute silliness. It was a May 2-4 to remember thanks to lots of laughs with friends, good wine, fabulous food and a late night fire cracker session (no I did not shoot off any bottle rockets or smoke bombs, I wimped out and watched from the side lines).

I returned to work on Tuesday to finish the year off as an EA/braillist for the vision department at the school board I worked for before I began teacher's college. I have mixed emotions returning to work. It's fantastic to be working with my awesome colleague and friend Lori, it's good to be back in the schools and into a semi-familiar routine (I was an intervenor with children who are deafblind before while I'm working with children with 'just' visual impairments now) but sitting in the back of a classroom makes me itch to be standing at the front instead. I miss teaching and can't wait to get going with my new career come September (whether it be as a supply teacher, a classroom teacher, a spec ed teacher or some other teacher role).

The weather here was crap for the long weekend as it usually is BUT it has been absolutely mind boggling beautiful since Tuesday! I spent Wednesday afternoon at a track meet and earned myself a burnt nose and a ridiculous farmer's tan. Bliss! After being burnt I locked my keys in the car - thank you dad for rescuing me (again).

I'm sure I'm forgetting things but that's the gist of what's new with me. Tonight I chose to sew instead of completing an assignment - did I mention I'm taking an Additional Qualifications course in Special Ed so that I can apply for Spec. Ed positions? I know, I just can't seem to get enough of school. The result of my procrastinating can be found below. I love her! This chiquita is a pink version of Jessy Seeing Stars, of course she has a different lining and I added an additional star to her butt - very cute. Check her out in the shop.

What's new and exciting in your lives?

May 17, 2009

A Must Listen

When was the last time someone made you a mixed tape? Lucky me was handed a gem of a CD by one of my all time fav girls - thanks Jessy! Jess handpicked a stash of sweet sounds for my ears to enjoy and Spoon's Don't You Evah was the first track to stroke my ear drums. Yep it's true, I've been thwacked with cupid's arrow: I ♥ Spoon.


May 16, 2009

Thanks Born 2 Impress!

This is a very late THANK YOU to Born 2 Impress' owner Jen. You might remember I was picked as a winner over at Grosgrain for the Born 2 Impress gift certificate giveaway - lucky me! I received the barrettes that I ordered in the mail last week (or maybe it was the week before?) and was waiting to snap a pic of my niece wearing the one I chose for her before posting my thank you. I think Neve looks Hawaiian with this pretty clip holding back her locks.

I ended up giving Princess Neve the choice of which clip she wanted (pink flowers or a deeper red/orange colour) and as I suspected, pink was her choice. The only camera I had on me was my cell phone so it's not the best pic of the clip but let me assure you these are some quality hair clips - very sweet to look at and well made!

The second clip is heading to Vancouver for little Miss. Rosie, I'll post a pic of her wearing it when her mommy sends me one. A super humongous thank you to Jen for the beautiful giveaway.

Fab Pick of Last Week

I wish I was a gold loving girl; I appreciate the allure but it just doesn't do it for me. When it comes to jewelry silver is my true love and there is some sexy silver bits to be found in the Etsy shop Ali Bali Jewellery! It wasn't easy picking one piece to feature this week so be sure to slip over to Ali Bali Jewellery to see more beautiful earrings, necklaces and bracelets.

May 15, 2009

Blue Skies

I found the perfect umbrella at the MomMA Store. Even on a rainy day you can look up and see fluffy white clouds in a clear blue sky.


May 14, 2009

May 13, 2009

Good Score: P-E-R-F-E-C-T

A perfectly perfect afternoon spent with my mom. The clouds waited until I headed home to roll in.

An afternoon filled with Scrabble, good conversation and the sweet smell of Lilacs which always make me think of my mom.

What scent reminds you of your mom?

What the?!

This picture makes me laugh.

Apparently we don't eat enough carrots in our house.

May 11, 2009

Happy Belated Mother's Day!!

My mom is famous! Check it out, she was featured on the news. She's so fabulous even America considers her a national icon.

I love you Mom!! I can only hope that one day my children will adore me as much as I do you, you truly are the most amazing woman I know. xox

Stupendous Asian Broccoli Salad

In recent weeks I've had a few requests for a recipe I often make: an Asian salad with chicken. The salad is slightly adapted recipe that my super awesome friend Jessy shared with me a couple years ago; the dressing is taken from Eat, Shrink and Be Merry's 'Feast from the East' noodle salad. It's mega yum and hearty enough to make as your main course.

What You Need for the Dressing
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/3 cup hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger (I omit this)
2 teaspoons grated orange zest (I often omit this)
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt

What You Do
Mix it all together and refrigerate if not using immediately.

What You Need for the Salad
1/2 cup slice almonds
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
2 tbsp sesame seeds

1 large broccoli chopped
3/4 lb bean sprouts (a heavy handful)
All of the following ingredients are optional but I highly recommend using all of them:
sliced mushrooms
red peppers sliced
red onion sliced
stir fried or roasted chicken cut into chunks

What You Do
Toast the nuts and seeds on a cookie sheet (broil but watch carefully, they'll burn easily. My oven takes 5 minutes, any longer and they'll be burnt)
Mix all other ingredients together. Add dressing and mix well!

Enjoy!

May 8, 2009

First Taste of Cotton Candy '09

I spent two evenings this week with fabulous friends, my Tribes course finished today which means I have a week of holidays ahead of me, I'm about to yank the cork out of a bottle of yummy shiraz, Mike arrives home from his business trip tonight and oh I nearly forgot... I'm a TEACHER. I didn't think this week could get any better and then I glanced up as I pulled the patio doors shut and noticed this stunning cotton candy sky. (insert ginormous sigh here) Life is good.

Fab Pick of Last Week

I don't know what has come over me but I have a serious love on for bits with birds right now. Must be Spring fever because those who know me well know that pointy beaks and sharp claws freak me out. This bird vase designed by Catherine Reece is one of the many adorable birdie designs that have caught my eye in recent weeks. Check out more lovely ceramics and pottery at Reece's Etsy shop.

May 7, 2009

A Simple Pleasure

When I arrived home today I couldn't stop myself from eating the fantabulous chocolate cupcake sitting on my counter. Silly me forgot to snap a picture of it before stuffing it in my mouth which is really too bad considering it was one of the best cupcakes I have ever eaten in my LIFE and not only did it taste delish but it looked it. Thanks Miranda for the delicious cream cheese filled chocolate cupcakes you brought to the Fab 4 hook-up last night. Y-U-M! I need that recipe and when I get my paws on it I'll pass it along to all of you super cool readers.

In honour of Miranda's amazing cupcakes I went on a minor mission to find some yummy recipes. Not only did I find some great recipes thanks to TasteSpotting but I also found some new food blogs! Here are just a few of my fav finds from today.

Quick & Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Cupcakes from The Chocolate Peanut Butter Gallery (how is it possible I had never heard of this site until today?! Chocolate peanut butter is my fav combo in the whole wide world!!)

Margarita Cupcakes by RecipeGirl A definite party cupcake which I can't wait to make!
S'mores Cupcakes via A Homemaker's Habitat. Chocolate and marshmallow in a cupcake?! Mmm.

Cuttaloosa Carrot Cupcakes by A Yankee in a Southern Kitchen. These sounds delish: super moist and extra yummy thanks to the cream cheese topping.