Weekend Recap - Picnics!

I had a long week at work last week so I was happy when Dave suggested we go to Queen Margherita Pizza for supper on Friday night.  We were lucky not to have to wait for a table and sat right down. We take E out to restaurants a lot and have done since he was a baby.  It has paid off, although he isn't always the best behaved, he is relatively quiet and still. The nice thing about Queen Margherita is that it is filled with families, it's loud, and the food is simple and tasty. 

First E and Dave worked on the word search. 

Then we ordered some calamari.  I actually didn't love it, but E thought it was great and helped himself.

We enjoyed our pizzas and packed up our leftovers for lunch the next day.  Then since we were in our new neighbourhood we went to what will be our new playground to see what it was like.  It has some fancy new equipment, a sand pit, and a big field to run around in. 

On Saturday we had a very full day.  A friend of E's invited him to go to Sportplay with him, it was a bring a friend day.  We had enough time to go there and then to E's Sportball, so we said sure!  We dropped the kids off and enjoyed some good coffee and a visit with E's friend's mom.  We were on Roncesvalles Ave. and it was lovely being there as the neighbourhood was getting ready for the day.  While E was at Sportball I drove Dave to get his haircut and then back to get E.  Then we went back to pick up E and had some Chippy's Fish and Chips takeout in the park.  There was a lot of traffic in Toronto this weekend because of the Gardiner being closed, but we survived.

Yummy fish and chips after a morning of activity.

 

Then we headed out to Oakville for a birthday party.  The kids had a great time playing in the backyard and eating the goodies.

Helping the birthday girl with her gifts.

Enjoying all the toys. He asked specifically for the hat while riding the horse.

Shocking, someone was tired!  E fell asleep about 10 minutes from home so we stayed in the car when we got home and I had a little rest too. Dave didn't miss us, as he was watching the Ryder Cup (go Europe!).

 

On Sunday we had two picnics.  After church E and I got McDonalds and ate it in the park.

 

Bad picture of E but he was chowing down on his nuggets.

Amidst swatting at the hoard of wasps trying to get our food, I managed to snap a picture of us.

 

Late afternoon we went to the park by our new house and ordered Mad Mexican.  I walked over to get it and we enjoyed another picnic.

 

 

Enjoying a taco.





 

A lovely evening to end a busy but happy weekend.

 

 



He For She

For those of you who have not seen Emma Watson's speech at the UN this week, click here and watch it.  It is about 10 minutes but worth watching.  It's worth watching because of what she says, and the "he for she" movement, but also because I am always inspired by watching intelligent people speak.  When people are poised and gracious, it makes what they say have more of an impact.  Emma is a professional performer, but it is also clear that she has a good head on her shoulders and that says something since she has been in the film business since she was very young.  I am proud of her even though I had absolutely nothing to do with it.

With respect to the he for she movement, I am personally not afraid of the word "feminist" but I do know it carries a lot of weight, connotation and responsibility. I remember learning in undergrad that there is radical feminism and liberal feminism.  I think some people think radical feminism and that's why they are afraid of the term, but really, we can be feminists without making a distinction, so let's not.  I am an educated professional woman. I am a mother and a wife. I would not call myself a radical or an activist, but I do want all women and men, everywhere in the world, to be treated equally for education, jobs, and respect. I am a feminist.

I also know it is more complicated than that. I say this word, this label, also carries with it a great responsibility.  After the Ray Rice incident (and I don't feel like "incident" is enough of a word but I'll use it for now), some people said we should boycott the NFL because to support that organization would be akin to supporting violence against women.  I like the NFL, and even if I don't watch the games every week, I don't intend to boycott it.  But even if I was going to boycott the NFL, wouldn't I then have to boycott most of the songs on the radio (most of which I enjoy), and many of the stores at the mall, and a lot of the shows I watch on TV (and considering the show I watch most often is The Bachelor/Bachelorette/Bachelor in Paradise, that could be a problem)? 

I think some people think they can't be labelled a feminist and carry the responsibility that goes along with that word without giving up things they enjoy.  I think part of being a feminist and calling for equality for women is being "allowed" to enjoy the things you like without being questioned for it.  The world isn't going to stop going around, and there will always be inequalities, but it doesn't mean we can't stand up for what we believe in.  Our beliefs are nuanced and we can't all be the same, but we can stand up for simple human decency and demand equal treatment for all - here in Canada and around the world.  I think that I can watch The Bachelor and also want women to all feel safe going to school.  That's my opinion, others may disagree.

As a boy mom, I have a responsibility to raise a feminist, and to me, that also means someone who will treat everyone with respect, empathy, and kindness.  I need to show him how to love, and how to be loved.  How to listen to people, to understand feelings, how to react appropriate to other peoples' feelings, and how to show his own feelings.  It is not an easy job, but it is something I've been conscious of since E was born.  In my opinion, if you can be kind, everything else will fall into place.   

No, #heforshe isn't going to solve all of the problems in the world, but it creates another avenue for discussion, and it will reach people who may not otherwise have cared much.  For some, if Emma Watson says it is okay to be called a feminist, then they will open up to the concept. 

As I have said in previous opinion posts, I know this is a complicated issue, and I don't have all of the answers. 

#heforshe

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Speaking of supporting women...(see what I did there?) Don't forget to sign up and place an order for Arbonne and take advantage of my special offer.  Tomorrow is the LAST DAY to qualify for the draw, so if you've been thinking of getting something, now is the time!!  I can place the order for you if you wish, just let me know what you're interested in.

Here is what you need to do. 

 

Step 1: Go to arbonne.ca.

Step 2: Click on "Join Arbonne" at the top right hand corner.

Step 3: Select "Client" or "Preferred Client".  There is a fee of $24 to join as a Preferred Client but you get a 20% discount on all purchases and have access to many special promotions.  Then scroll to the bottom

Step 4: Select your country and language, and then enter my Arbonne ID number: 116201315.

Step 5: Fill in your contact information.

Step 6: Browse the site and find your favourite products or new things to try.

 

I will get a notification that you've signed up and ordered, but send me an email or leave a comment to let me know so I can make sure you are entered in the draw for the Stella and Dot bracelet.

 

There is a special offer to those signing up as Preferred Clients: if you accumulate 250 PVQ points then you get your sign up fee for free.  (PVQ points are displayed by each product, they don't necessarily match the price). 

Friday Favourites

I am deviating from my normal Flashback Friday posts to link up with some of my favourite bloggers - Andrea and Erika - to share some of my favourite things from the end of this week.  But of course since I am in Canada I am sharing my Friday Favourites, so excuse the graphic :)  I've never linked up with anyone before, so fingers crossed this works.

 

 

1. I got this darling leather case at Chapters on sale this week.  I have been using these coloured pens to write in my paper agenda (I'm kicking it old school now), and was using a beautiful brown elastic band to keep them together. Now I've classed it up with this case.

2. I sent out party invitations for E's 3rd birthday party.  We will be in our house less than a week when we hold this party but Dave's parents will be here and it is really the best weekend.  Kids don't care if you don't have furniture in every room or pictures on the wall, so I'm sure it will be fine!

3. Sometimes Thursday is my new Friday, and I crack open a beer while making supper.  This is the glass we got in Ireland at the Guinness Brewery.  This is what a Guinness should look like when you're pouring it, contrary to natural intuition. 

4. I placed an Arbonne order for some girls at work and of course had to get some things for myself!  I have never used these products before but I'm excited to try them:  Pure Vibrance Hair Serum and CC Cream. 

 

5. I love my House of Moda bracelet.  My nana was a good customer and stand in "Canadian grandmother" to the owner and designer of this store, Ozlem.  Our family has many of her pieces and this is just one of them. 

If you're a new reader from the link up today, welcome!  Look around, I'm just getting started in this blogging world, but am enjoying it so much.

Recipes



I really enjoy cooking, it is something I can do pretty well.  I like planning out menus, buying ingredients and putting them altogether for my family or for guests.  I love trying new recipes I find on Pinterest, and on blogs, but I also have a few cookbooks, old and new, that I use for some favourites.  I thought I'd share them here.

 

When we designed our kitchen at our current house, we made sure to include shelves for cookbooks (these pictures didn't turn out that well with the sun coming in through the back window):

 My Papa gave me this Julia Child cookbook.  I was interested after seeing the movie Julie & Julia. I always make her French Onion Soup recipe. 

 

Basically the instructions are "add butter" at every step.

 

I am a Jamie Oliver fan, I know not everyone likes him, but he has hit a chord with me.  I love his Meals in Minutes.  They became a staple of our house when I was on mat leave, and we have continued to make them.  Not only do they provide step by step directions for a full meal, they also give you some good ideas for making simple potatoes, garlic bread, or salads.  

This is one of my favourites - steak sandwich, cheesy mushrooms, beet salad, and potatoes.

 

This one is for a full roast beef dinner in 30 minutes (let's be honest, it's slightly longer than 30 minutes, but it is doable).  The popovers are really Yorkshire puddings, although nothing like my Nana's.  

Clearly a well used cookbook - stains and falling out pages.

Notes in the book that I left for Dave or my mom to get dinner ready before I came home from work.

 

This recipe is from Jamie's 15 Minute Meals.  It is something I never would have thought worked together but it is so tasty I would make this for dinner guest.  Cajun Chicken with sweet potatoes, okra, and corn salsa.

This was one of the very first cookbooks I received when I moved out of university residence. You can see it is well loved. Although I don't make too many of the recipes out of it on a regular basis, it is a great resource for how to select, prepare and serve everything.

This is one of those cookbooks that I got at Winners many years ago for like $6, but it is well used.  It has great recipes for ribs, lamb skewers, chicken pieces, and rubs and sauces that I use every summer. 

I am also a fan of Michael Smith.  We make his recipe for pancakes just about every weekend.  The pages are covered with grease, dried flour, etc.  You'd think I would know this recipe off by heart by now but I still get it out every time I make them. E knows the ingredients that we need and he likes to mix the batter.

This book is a collection of recipes I've gathered over the years.  There are muffins, chili, macaroni and cheese, and other things I've torn out of magazines and newspapers.  I even have the recipe for fish chowder that we made in Grade 7 Home Ec. 



I am the type of person of thinks about what I'm going to eat all day long so planning our weekly menus works well for me. If I know what to expect for preparation and eating, then I am definitely more organized and happier. 

Want it Wednesday - New House

We move into our new house next month.  We want to get a few things, twin bed for E, dining room table, desk, armoires, and maybe a ping pong table.  These will be gradual purchases, and we aren't exactly sure what we want, but here are some accessories that I'm already looking at for the finishing touches.

Lantern

Throw Pillows

Placemats

 

Star Wars Sheets for E

 

 



 

Let's be honest, I may be browsing the Pottery Barn and Crate + Barrel sites, but a great place is Homesense, so that will be my first stop.

Weekend Recap - Sportball

When I came downstairs on Saturday morning, I found my boys making pancakes.  (I'll try to ignore the fact that E was on the counter.)

E started Sportball on Saturday.  For those of you who don't know about Sportball, it is sports instruction program for kids.  We enrolled E in the 3-5 year old program.  Each week they do a different sport and this week it was golf, one of E's favourites!  I had thought we were doing a parent and child session so I showed up in my yoga pants and sneakers.

 
I wondered why everyone else was wearing jeans and flip flops, I dismissed them as being unprepared.  We started off with everyone in the gym kicking the balls around. 

Then I found out it was a drop off program, no parents, just kids.  E was not fazed at being left alone to play with new kids, so I went for a walk.   When I came back, E was having a great time.

That afternoon E and went for a walk to the park. 

Enjoying a snack.

On the bridge.

Dave was packing some boxes and found this little toolbox to build with E.

On Friday and Saturday night we watched Wolf of Wall Street (you know you're getting old when you need to watch a movie over two nights).  I have always been a Leonardo Dicaprio fan (LEO!), but I don't think I am too far off base when I say he deserved an Oscar for this performance. So many great scenes.

On Sunday afternoon, E and I cooked up some food for the week:

 

Sausage and Broccoli Soup and Taco Chili (with my own modifications)

Cheesy garlic Zucchini Bread and Carrot Pineapple Muffins

Then we went to the park. 

Our shadows

Great view of Toronto.

 

Busy weekend, got a lot done, enjoyed ourselves, and got back into a routine of sorts.

Happy Fall!

This past weekend, we welcomed a new season.  I truly appreciate living in the climate that I do where we have all four seasons.  Don't get me wrong, I love summer, it is my favourite, but there are so many redeeming qualities about the other seasons. 

In the fall I love:

Wearing a sweater in the evenings.
Putting an extra blanket on our bed.
Pumpkin Spice Lattes!

Pumpkin Spice anything.
Thanksgiving (can we also get a hell yeah for a Thanksgiving that actually takes place in the fall, and not early winter, go Canada)
More scarves
Decorating with leaves, pumpkins, and harvest themed items

My Thomas pumpkin last year.

Apples and cranberries at the market
Crunchy leaves underfoot

That smell of fall in the air
Colourful foliage
Football
Making soups and other things in my slow cooker

E's Birthday

What do you love about fall?  Are you sad to see summer go?

This is us last year at a pumpkin farm in Woodstock.

 

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Don't forget to sign up and place an order for Arbonne and take advantage of my special offer.  I am placing an order today so if you want me to include something for you, just let me know what you're interested in.

You can also sign up and order things yourself.  Here is what you need to do. 

 

Step 1: Go to arbonne.ca.

Step 2: Click on "Join Arbonne" at the top right hand corner.

Step 3: Select "Client" or "Preferred Client".  There is a fee of $24 to join as a Preferred Client but you get a 20% discount on all purchases and have access to many special promotions.  Then scroll to the bottom

Step 4: Select your country and language, and then enter my Arbonne ID number: 116201315.

Step 5: Fill in your contact information.

Step 6: Browse the site and find your favourite products or new things to try.

I will get a notification that you've signed up and ordered, but send me an email or leave a comment to let me know so I can make sure you are entered in the draw for the Stella and Dot bracelet.

There is a special offer to those signing up as Preferred Clients: if you accumulate 250 PVQ points then you get your sign up fee for free.  (PVQ points are displayed by each product, they don't necessarily match the price).