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.

Feelin' Fine

April is ending on a high note!

With just three days to go until I am officially finished my Bachelor of Education degree I have been notified that I am now employed by one of my local school boards. It's official, I'm a supply teacher!

I'm thrilled, this news means I am now able to apply for long-term contracts as well as permanent positions posted by this board. Fingers crossed that I get a call for an interview with the other local school board; the more options I have the better!

I can't wait to see what May has in store for me!

Fab Pick of Last Week

I've fallen head over heels for Harold, the little man with the big mustache. The designs found in Allover Art's Etsy shop are super sweet, pop by the shop and see for yourself!

Birthday Wishes!

This is a double Happy Birthday post!!

Thanks Schooled_in_rock for the flikr pic

First of all I want to send out a belated Happy Birthday to the best dad in the world: my dad of course! No, I'm not a bad daughter, I didn't forget his birthday, I just didn't post on his special day. Sorry dad! Our dinner and to a movie date needs to be scheduled for sometime VERY soon so that we can celebrate another year of fabulousness. Love you, dad! xo

The second Happy Birthday is being sent to the most important woman in my world: my mom!! It's her big day tomorrow and I hope it's a wonderful one. Love you, mom! xo

Thanks to flickr in New York

A Visit from the Ladies

Photo by SophieG

I've been posting random bits here and there but haven't said much about me and my world lately so here's a quick update. More coming soon...

Tanya the great - who has decide to abandon her friends for another whole year and remain in Moscow teaching - came home for a quick visit a few weeks ago. Her lovely sis Kim is very pregnant and since T can't be here for the actual delivery she decided to slip home and see Kim's beautiful belly prior to baby's arrival. Lucky for me there was a random snowstorm on the day Kim had planned to snag Tanya so I managed to keep her to myself for an extra day.

It was soooo good to see you Tanya! I miss you like crazy and am counting down the days to our next visit - July can't come soon enough.

Tanya left to spend the week in the Kink with her sis and Rebecca arrived from Vancouver! Two of my best far away girls visiting in the same week; that never happens. Yay for me! Of course Reebs also had a zillion people to visit while she was here but we did manage to get in a few good hours of 'us' time.

Oh how I wish flights were mega-cheap or that someone would just go ahead and invent a reliable teleporter already.

Ultra Sweet!

How About Orange never disappoints. Another fabulous download and another beautiful blog have been added to my collection thanks to a trip to the ultimate Orange blog. Check out doe-c-doe and prepare to fall hard.

These vintage trim tags are available as a free download, thanks Gina!

Loving the Jing Bang Show

Mike & I hit up the Boathouse last night; our friend Brad brought us out to hear his buddy's band play and WOW! The Jing Bang Show have definitely made my new music loves list. Check our their My Space page to listen to I'm What's Wrong with the World - their best song according to Jaime.

This is another one of my favs, enjoy!

Fab Pick of Last Week

The Dandelion Abstract by Contemplative Cajun is is one of my all time favourite shots. The listing I've linked to is for a 5x7 print matted to 8x10 size but it is available in larger sizes as well. One day it will be mine. So simple and elegant! Check out Contemplative Cajun's Etsy shop for more beautiful photos.

Unicorn Ralph

About ten years ago a friend of mine named Lisa had a weird dating experience involving unicorns. She had gone out on a few dates with this seemingly normal guy before he took her back to his apartment to 'hang out' one night. She walked into the apartment where he lived alone and was instantly weirded out. There were unicorns EVERYWHERE: statues in the kitchen and living room, posters and cheesy gold framed 80's mirrors featuring unicorns and sunsets hanging on the walls. No doubt the guy had unicorns on his bedsheets too but Lisa didn't stick around long enough to find out. She said it was a total twilight zone experience, she fully expected someone to pop out and yell, "You're on Candid Camera." Unicorns?! Seriously? Weird.

The story was much funnier told over cocktails a couple weeks after it happened, I can still picture my other girlfriends' faces: hilarious.

What's my point? If the guy had displayed kickass unicorns like the ralphing unicorn found on this super cool stationary, maybe my stellar girlfriend wouldn't have ran screaming from his house. His loss.

Nut and Bee has Barfing Unicorns and a tonne of other fab designs for sale, be sure to check them out! Thanks to Love It A Lot for posting the unicorn shot, I forgot this design existed.

Naked in a flash

Can you tell what this dress is made of? Look closely at the skirt...

Lindt chocolate, baby. Yep, 1000 chocolate balls make up the skirt of this little number. The only issue I would have with this crazy expensive dress designed by Lindka Cierach is not the cost of £3,500, my issue is that I would be naked in no time. That and the fact that my husband would be slightly uncomfortable with random people tearing at my clothes with the hope of killing their chocolate cravings.

I heard the news today that a Lindt Lindor outlet has opened up 20 minutes from my house: less than a buck for one of those little chocolate bunnies that usually cost six. You would think I would be rejoicing considering Lindor is by far my fav chocolate, but instead I found myself rocking back and forth trying to calm the evil FEED ME thoughts racing through my mind.

Why can't I crave carrots?

Hot Spring Colours by Eterknity

It's too early for me to swap my pick of the week but I can't hold off on posting pics of Eterknity's newest arm warmers.

I can't decide which is my favourite colour of the two colours, they're both FAB!

Stop by Bargain Boutique & Eterknity on Etsy to check out all of their beautiful designs!

On a roll...

I think I should buy a lotto ticket, I was chosen as the winner of not one but TWO giveaways on
Grosgrain Fabulous. Woot woot!

Lucky me won a gift certificate from Born 2 Impress and two of my favourite little ladies will be receiving some adorable clips, like the one seen below, in the not so distant future.


My number was also chosen as the winner in the Cinnamon Sticks giveaway! I have yet to decide what I'll use my gift certificate on but I'm leaning towards a graduation gift for myself since my long journey has nearly come to its end. What do you think I should get?



Let's hope my luck keeps up, there's a giveaway over at Patterns and Perspective for some sweet designs from Sarah Jane Studios - pop over and leave a comment on this fab blog and you'll be entered for a chance to win!

A big thanks to Grosgrain Fabulous, Born 2 Impress and Cinnamon Sticks!

Thank You Daydream Lily!

Oh my. This is late. VERY late. Boo to me.

thanks to B a r c a <3>

I won a giveaway on Daydream Lily ages ago; do you remember? My prize was a copy of the Aussie mag FRANKIE. This is my very delayed THANK YOU for the fabulous magazine. I ♥ Frankie and wish I could get my paws on it here in Ontario. Then again, maybe I can?! Chapters here I come. Frankie is certainly the prettiest mag I've ever read. If you have the chance get your paws on a copy be sure to snatch it, you won't be sorry.

Fab Pick of Last Week

Think it's impossible to fall in love with a duvet cover? Well, you're wrong because I've fallen for this stunning design found over at India Rose. Fabulous products to add a little umph to your digs and to your bod, for reasonable prices. Oh and by the way, if you check out my India Rose post you'll find a 20% off discount code!

Killer Cute

I'm seriously considering learning to embroider thanks to Sublime Stitching's adorable designs.

I love wings, stars and hearts so this design caught my eye immediately! The little flyaway feather on the bird is super sweet. If there was a flying donkey in the mix I think this would be over the top cute.
The Chinese take-out box kills me! Love it.

I don't know what I would stitch these puppies on but the trailer is hilarious and the hot dog? Seriously fabulous!A-d-o-r-a-b-l-e.

Surviving Grade 1

I should clarify: this is for the teacher, not for the kids and is to be consumed after the bell rings. Definitely one of those beer and chocolate kind of days.

New Girl In The Shop

Check out Peek-a-Boo Blue Tess in the shop.

Baaaaad Ass Shepherds

We have Joanne to thank for this laugh, who would have thought LED lights and sheep could be such a fab combo. Enjoy!

Sigh worthy

Thanks to How About Orange I have a lovely new site to share with you. Kindred has beautiful wallpaper designs for your desktop, I can't wait to see what the future holds for this lovely site. With wallpaper this beautiful I imagine that down the road there will be many sigh evoking surprises available thanks to Kindred.The teacups remind me of my mom.



I'm loving the birds... I think this would look gorgeous framed.

Buttons!! Need I say more?

More Grade One Giggles

Can you believe I've had to say the following words approximately 25 times in the last 48 hours? Are you ready for it? Here goes: Stop eating your sock.

I've decided that six and seven year olds are like lemmings. One coughs, four more cough. One gets up to snag a tissue and at least three more do -- and it's safe to say that 90% of the time none of them, including the original tissue snagger actually need the Kleenex. One asks a question totally unrelated to the lesson and ten more hands shoot up. One starts eating the elastic from their sock while holding their foot 2 inches away from their face and three more decide they're hungry for socks too. I cannot imagine what my little crew was like in kindergarten.

Me pointing at the words 'I'm during.' written by a six year old: "Hmmm, I'm not sure I understand this sentence."
Kid: I'm drunk.
Me (sure I heard wrong): Pardon? I'm during?
Kid: No, I'm drunk. That says drunk, right?
Me: No sweetheart, the bonus word this week is 'during' not 'drunk'.
I admit, prior to the last line I laughed, how could I not? The conversation that followed included the little nut asking me, "What does drunk mean anyways?"

India Rose Discount!

The duvet cover (note the ruffles that continue to suck me in) I've featured as this week's Fab Pick of the Week is just one of India Rose's many beautifully designed home furnishings. Suz from Alive in Wonderland wrangled a 20% discount for her readers and asked Suzie, the owner of India Rose, if I could share the code with you here at Gingham Skies. A big thanks to Suzie and to Suz! The discount code is daily25. Happy shopping!

By the way I L-O-V-E the croc cubes but couldn't get the picture to post without the colours going all wonky... these pillars are definitely a closer runner up for my luv. Fabulous!

It's Giving Me Cavities GIVEAWAY!!!!

Seriously, can you find a dress any sweeter than this? I wish it was big enough for me... or I was small enough for it BUT I do have a little lady in my world who (or is it whom? Tanya? Kim?) it would fit perfectly!

Come on Grosgrain, pick me, pick ME, PICK ME! Hop over to Grosgrain's Modern Pirate Frock GIVEAWAY!!!! Leave a comment and post a link and you'll have a chance to win this adorable frock.

Fab Pick a Few Weeks Ago

Sylwia's funky bracelets are what first caught my eye ages ago but these earrings are my new fav! I definitely want to get my paws on a pair of these. The question is, what colour do I choose?!

Growling Kids and Hungry Caterpillars

Grade 1 is exhausting: 4 days down, 10 to go. 26 seven year old children in one room is crazy... C-R-A-Z-Y.

Photo from Coco Cake Cupcakes

If I didn't have so many peanut and lactose allergies in the room I would definitely make this fabulous Very Hungry Caterpillar for my kiddies on my last day... I might make it for myself anyways, I could use a zillion caterpillar cupcakes to renew the energy that the little monsters have zapped from me.

Left Without a Word

The past few weeks have been insane! I've finished all of my university classes, that means no more assignments for this chiquita. Now I'm down to my final practicum: six weeks of teaching the little monkeys and then my BEd will be complete! I can't believe the year is almost over, it certainly has been an interesting journey...

With the chaos of the final few weeks of school absorbing my time and thoughts I failed to mention the fact that I was heading to Mexico for March break. Whoops.

Mike's parents treated us to a fabulous week at the Dreams, Huatulco. We are so appreciative of this wonderful gift, it was an amazing break from reality for all of us.


Both of these shots were taken from our balcony. In the one below you can see that I was stalking Mike while he took his morning walk, he's the being on the beach (bottom right corner).

The resort was beautiful, food was great, service was outstanding: we were pleasantly surprised to find that the Dreams resorts are pretty close to Sandals when it comes to quality. Definitely a five star resort.

The three infinity pools are stellar and we spent a good chunk of every day with our chins perched on the edge of the pool gazing out at the ocean. Mike and his mom - neither of whom would be considered water babies - spent more time in the water this vacation then they ever have.


Huatulco is located on the Pacific coast and is south of Acapulco which meant the weather was phenomenal but the ocean was intense. A few beaches down from us people were surfing...

There were three days when going in the ocean was not an option - although Dave (Mike's dad) decided to give swimming a go despite the red flags, much to the delight of his audience. The ocean looked innocent enough, at times the ten foot plus waves would calm down but the undertow was insane. You can see the boys running from the waves in the shot below, that was right after they had been pummeled by a huge wave.
It really was an awesome trip. We enjoyed every moment of it, the quality time with Bridie and Dave was wonderful and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts for an amazing week of relaxation!

Now it's time to return to reality: lesson planning here I come.

And Another...

Here's another chance at winning a gift certificate. This one is for a $20 gift certificate for Born 2 Impress' shop - loads of cute accessories for your fav girl.

Just visit Grosgrain for a chance to win: Born 2 Impress GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Cinnamon Sticks Giveaway at Grosgrain

Cinnamon Sticks is a sweet little shop that sells handmade personalized handstamped jewellry. There are so many lovely options, be sure to pop over and see for yourself! If you would like a chance to win a gift certificate for Cinnamon Sticks then visit Grosgrain and enter the draw before March 18th.

More Ruffles!

How flippen adorable are these pettiskirts?! Thanks mom for posting the link to giveaway - I'm too late to enter BUT Kathleen over at Grostrain was kind enough to include the link to Martha Stewart's tutorial AND some extra fab tips for those who decide to make one of their own. I know one little lady who would die for one of these... actully I know two or three little nuts who would appreciate this perfect twirling skirt. Guess what all of my little girls will be getting for Christmas?! That's assuming I can pull them off... stay tuned!

A Taste of My Weekend

Any given Saturday or Sunday morning this is what you'll find Mike and I sipping.

Just a splash of Bailey's does the weekend good.

I Confess...

While rotting on the couch feeling sorry for my flu-infected self this week I realized something: I love ruffles. I'm sure my dad is reading this shaking his head. I was an anti-pink anti-ruffle girl growing up and now I'm all about pink AND ruffles? What the?

Here are a few of the lovely bits I've fallen for while searching for ruffles.

My all-time favourite 'grown-up' bikini is a Victoria Secret suit. Buying a bathing suit on-line made me super nervous but it ended up being a perfect fit thanks to the excellent sizing thingo on the VS website. I think this ruffled number in black is fab and might actually convince me to wear a bikini in public this summer... I said MIGHT.


I heart not only this super sweet bag MadeByHank has created, but the name too: a roundy-bottomed tough ruffles zipper purse in pale seafoam and dark olive. Perfection.

Our sheets and duvet cover are a crisp pure white and I doubt I'll ever stray far from this look because I LOVE it. These ruffled pillows by Hettle would look fab on our bed... hmmm maybe I'll have to make some new pillow cases.


Eventually I'll get around to making myself one of these adorable ruffled aprons with the free tutorial found over at One More Moore.

Thanks to Orange Beautiful for the discovery of the bikini and pillow case.

Are you pro or anti-ruffles?

He's Got My Vote!

AUD $150,000

Cast your vote for Mitchell here.

Lucky Me!

What a fab surprise I had last week!


Stargazers are one of my absolute favourite flowers and this beautiful bouquet was delivered a few days after my birthday...

Thanks Tanya for the gorgeous birthday flowers!

See it in the shadows

Very cool performance by Pilobolus on Conan O'Brien. Enjoy!