Photo Friday! Spring has Sprung!

Normally I wouldn't post this late in the day but I've spent all day spring cleaning.... 

Clearing out closets and bagging up things for donations, doing laundry and moving around furniture! (don't worry I wasn't moving furniture alone I had the help of my strong hubby...)

So I thought that I would share a Spring Photo today, since everywhere you look spring seems to be sprouting up!

Both of these shots are of what I believe will be Tulips, they are sprouting  up on Water Street here in St. John's and are the most beautiful green right now! 

I can't wait to see them bloom. 

It seems like our whole city is coming alive again! 

It's so exciting to see after what feels like a long Winter!

Have you captured any great shots of Spring doing it's thing lately? 

Happy Friday hope get a great shot or two of some Spring time too!

Mother's Day Flowers! Kid Craft!

We Love Nanny and we love to give Nanny flowers. 

We don't love that flowers don't last, and can get kinda pricey this time of year...

So we thought that Nanny might like some homemade flowers for Mother's Day this year! (which really means Momma is so excited that Delaney is old enough and interested enough to make her own gifts for her Nanny!

Here's how we did it!

First I cut down an egg carton into the individual cups.

Then I trimmed them down and cut down the sides to create the "peddles"

Then I let Delaney paint them on one side

 We let them dry over night and the next day painted the other side.

Once they were dry I put pipe cleaners through the bottoms to make a stem. (I did that by putting a straight pin through the bottom of the flower and threaded the pipe cleaner through it.)

Then we placed them in their vase... a toilet roll... (to be painted or colored today!)

And there you have it an easy Mother's Day project for the kids!

Have you made anything with your kids for Mother's Day yet? I'd love to hear about them and see them too!

Tell the Truth Thursday! The Feed Me Stage!

Delaney is at an awful stage..  

The Feed Me Stage...

Its awful because she seems just too lazy, or disinterested to eat her food.

If you feed her, her meal she will eat till she bursts but if you leave her to it, she would sit there for a month of Sundays. 

I like to blame Nanny, (sorry if your reading this Mom) as she will feed Delaney any time she asks her to.. 

But in TRUTH as much as I know that this is just another stage in the life of a toddler I am a little worried that this is a little bit of a regression... and that when the baby comes she is going to regress even further and want to be a baby again. 

She is (and has been for the last year almost) very excited that she is a big girl and even when I call her my baby she says "No I'm a GIRL Momma!" but I still think that maybe just maybe I will have to deal with a new born and a 3 year old who is trying to get momma's attention and acting like a baby....

I am hoping that this will pass before the baby comes.

Has this happened with your toddlers? Is this just a stage? What do you think?

May the 4th be with you!

Yes I'm a dork.... I know and accept it... 

Image borrowed from HERE

Knit Leggings for Delaney!

I am still crossing things off my Christmas to-do list... I know I know its not even summer yet but it must be done!

So after planning that I would Knit a few gifts I came across this pattern from Smashed Peas and Carrots!

So I thought Id give it a try. 

It is super easy! 

Cast on 34 stitches.  

Knit 10 rows of 1 x 1 ribbing (knit one, purl one) 

Next you will knit one row and purl one row (stockinette stitch) for the next 50 rows.  

The last 10 rows you will do 1 x 1 ribbing again (knit one, purl one)

Cast off loosely in knit stitch

Use your scissors to cut off an 8-10 inch tail.  Then with your tapestry needle, weave in the end of your yarn for a few stitches before cutting off your tail completely.  

 

And here are how Maggie's looked!

When I made mine I chose a yarn that wasn't exactly the same as what the pattern called for I wanted something a bit smoother and a bit more dainty, and because of that I added 10 stitches when I cast on so I started with 44 stitches (I then measured my work and Delaney's leg to be sure it wouldn't be too small... it was just right)

Here are mine!

I also don't have round knitting needles so I just followed the pattern on regular needles and left a longer tail at the end to sew a seam up the back... 

I also preferred the look of having the smooth flat side of the stockinette stitch on the outside rather then the bumpy...but that is personal preference I think.

It took me a bit longer to get them done then it took Maggie over at Smashed Peas and Carrots... Like a week longer.... I did each of the leg warmers in between other projects and as you know if you have a two year old it's not always easy to get a project finished on time.... 

Delaney isn't in Ballet and she can't even start until next year because she is too young but i thought she would love these as all the characters in her favorite show, Strawberry Shortcake, wear them when they dance at Plum Puddings dance studio! Plus I thought to myself... Remember when you were little and you wore a dress to a party or to school or anywhere really and it was even a little cold out.... well in those instances my mom (please let me know if it was only her or if all mom's thought this the best solution) would make me wear pants over my tights so that I wouldn't get cold... Yeah not exactly comfortable... sooo here is my solution to cold legs in the winter!

One more thing to cross off the Christmas List! And one more to add because now I want to add them to my list of all the little girls I have to give gifts to!

Give them a try, if you knit they are fun, easy and I'm sure any little girl would love them!

Cross anything off your to-do list lately? Or did you find a great pattern that you are planning on making? I'd love to see or hear all about it in the comments!

PS. Check out Smashed Peas and Carrots if you haven't already! Maggie has amazing recipes, including one for homemade Twix bars... as well as some great sewing projects and some family/kiddo projects too!

Thanks for letting us vote!

It's election time again here in Canada! 

Feels like just 2 years ago I voted for the first time... Oh wait... it was! Our previous government was a minority one so when the Federal Budget was released in March and was defeated it caused us to have another election...

I am so proud to say...

It puts a smile on my face to know that while my vote may not be for the candidate that wins at least I can say that I voted! 

I had my say!

Plus I like giving my child a role model that she (and some day they) can look back and remember oh yeah Momma voted! She may not remember this year but I know that some day she will look back and say hey I remember when we were little and we would walk to the poling station and Momma would vote!

Today I told her we were going out to vote and she said "Oh Momma can I go to the voting store with you?" I corrected her of course and then she said "Lets go to the poling station"! She was a hit with everyone she met as usual! She introduced her self to the ladies running the registration table and shook hands with them and everything! (she even went as far as to ask one lady what her favorite color was!) and then as we were walking out after voting she said "Thanks for letting us vote!"

What a great way to put it... Thanks for letting us vote!

If your Canadian get out and vote! 

If your not make sure your vote counts where you are next time around!

Make it Monday! Honey Garlic Suace from Scratch!

My family loves Honey Garlic Sauce! 

Something about the balance of the sweet and the tangy is just divine to me!

But I hate paying money for things that I know I can make for less money, and that will be better for my family... Now I'm not one of those organic mom's or one who doesn't allow processed foods into my home(not that there is a thing wrong with that if it's how you choose to live...) but I do like to limit the amount of canned and bottled food my family eats... 

So in search of a good Honey Garlic sauce recipe I hunted one down on the internet.... I know I know that is where most of my recipes come from and most of the time I do use them the way they are written and they are good but this one while good was missing something... It just didn't have that tang that jar sauce had or enough garlic for my liking either so I switched it up some... ok a lot!

So here you go My Honey Garlic Sauce 

3/4 Cup Brown Sugar

2 Tbsp Cornstarch

3/4 Cup Water

3 Tbsp Soya Sauce

1 Tbsp Honey

2-4 Cloves of Fresh Grated or Minced Garlic 

1-2 Tsp Fresh Grated Ginger

Combine Sugar, Water and Cornstarch in a medium sauce pan. Add Soya Sauce, honey, Garlic and Ginger bring to boil stirring constantly once thickened pour over cooked meat, and serve!

This isn't as fast as opening a jar but its pretty close... and it tastes better. 

This recipe is good for one meal, maybe two but that is stretching it a bit...  it tastes great on meat balls, fried pork, pork chops or chicken but my personal favorite is on slow roasted ribs...

See... Yummy hey!

Robyn was actually told at work the other night that he was hated for bringing in food that smelled and looked that good... Yup HATED! 

It's that good!

Give it a try your family is sure to love it! 

Do you have any go to sauces that your family loves? Or that your hated for not sharing? I'd love to hear all about it!