Thursday, July 26, 2018

Friday Favourites (on Thursday)



I'm checking in with my Friday Favourites on a Thursday this week because we are on holidays starting tonight!

E enjoyed a golf camp this week.  With his Under Armour golf shirt and Nike clubs he looked ready for the Tour.  They spent each morning at the driving range and then the afternoons swimming and playing sports.  Next year we'd like to try a camp at a golf course so he can get a bit more instruction.  He's got a few friends in this camp and they have enjoyed their week together.


Q had a bit of an upset stomach this week with resulting diaper rash, so he was a little sooky and I had to leave him crying at the day care twice this week.  He would eventually perk up and have a good day, but they did send this photo of him spending some quiet time with his baby. So cute.


I met my friend Janna for dinner on Tuesday night.  We went to Hemingway's in Yorkville and sat on the covered patio during a huge thunderstorm.  It was Extreme Patio, Yorkville Edition.  I haven't gone to Hemingway's for awhile, it's simple, but reliable.  I forgot to take my own photo, but picture this with the roof closed and grey skies.

I got a kick out of the tweets for the hashtag #LittleKnownCanadianLaws.  Some were cliched and some were ignorant, but these two cracked me up.  I totally say both of these thing. 



In case you missed it, I blogged about E's cupcakes that he made on the weekend.  He's ready to be a contestant on Sugar Rush. 


I will be taking a blogging break while we are away, back with you on August 7! 
Follow along with our travels on my Instagram @smacto.

Linking up with AndreaErika, and Narci for Friday Favourites
and The Blended Blog for Friday Loves. 




Wednesday, July 25, 2018

What's up Wednesday


What we're eating this week...
Sunday - Vietnamese delivery.  E wanted to order it again the next day!
Monday - Taco Salad
Tuesday - Macaroni and Cheese with Broccoli
Wednesday - Leftover vegetable curry
Thursday - not sure
Friday - Tacos (at the campsite)
Saturday - Cheeseburgers

What I'm reminiscing about...
Next week I will have been blogging for four years.  I can't believe it has been that long.  I was thinking about when I started, E was only 2, we lived in our old house, and Dave was still in a cast healing his ruptured achilles tendon.  I'm happy to have this record of our lives. 

What I'm loving...
Our backyard.  We are so happy to have this green space to hang out, play washer toss, set up the pool, and kick or throw a ball around.  We all love to be outside and rather than having to always go to the park or for a walk, we are glad to be able to hang out at home. 

What we've been up to...
  Enjoying the nice weather.  We love this Southern Ontario weather, even the humidity (well Dave doesn't like it as much as me).  Q's hair loves the humidity.

What I'm dreading...
Travelling next week.  I'm sure it will be fine but we have a flight to Halifax and then a 4 to 5 hour drive to Cape Breton. 

What I'm working on...
We just booked a trip for October so there will be lots of planning to go along with that.

What I'm excited about...
Apparently I should be excited about Kawhi Leonard coming to the Toronto Raptors next season, but right now I am sad to see Demar Derozan go.  I always get very attached to the team (and Demar especially since he's been here for so long and was happy to be here) but when the season starts I'm usually okay with the roster.  Also sad to see Casey leave but I've always liked Nick Nurse so good luck to him this year.

What I'm watching/reading...
We just finished Manhunt: Unabomber on Netflix.  Still working through Homeland and Anthony Bourdain shows.  Next up The Affair and I will definitely be tuning into Bachelor in Paradise.

I am reading this book.  I have two books to take with me on holiday, both from my reading list.  


What I'm listening to...
My new summer playlist.  I put together a collection of songs that have a summer/sun/California theme.  

What I'm wearing...
A few new tank tops from the Gap and some new stuff from Under Armor.  There are some factory stores near my office (not exactly outlets but some good deals) and I went there at lunch the other day and picked up a few things.  I don't like paying full price for clothes so I'll take the deals when I can get them.

What I'm doing this weekend...
Camping at Algonquin Park.  We are going with two our families from our neighbourhood, each with two kids so it should be fun!

What I'm looking forward to next month...
Our time in Nova Scotia, family wedding, and the last days of summer vacation.

What else is new...
I've never been good at posting videos here but I'll try it again.  Recently I drew out a hopscotch on the driveway and it is cute to see Q "hop" through it.   

What is your favourite summer memory?
A collection of childhood memories of swimming out back, riding bikes, picking berries, getting ice cream, reading on my deck, etc.  We had it good on McGill Point!


Linking up with ShaySheaffer, and Mel.

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Weekend Recap

E had a t-ball game on Friday night so after a quick supper, he and Dave headed to the game, while Q and I picked up our grocery order from Loblaws.  He is pointing at the train going by while we sat in the parking lot.

Then we split a popsicle when we got home. 


After the boys got back from the game and the kids were in bed, Dave and I watched A Quiet Place and part of Blockers.  

I got up early to go to my workout class and after a quick breakfast and shower I walked up to get my haircut and do a few errands.   I just got a trim so not much difference, but it felt good to get the ends cleaned up.

My haul

When I got back E had a friend over to play and then we had lunch.  E had another t-ball game so off he went again.  While Q napped I tided the kitchen, folded laundry, watched some golf and baseball, and then vacuumed.  When everyone was back and awake, we played in the backyard.
My yoga mat drying became a tent.





I made a salad with arugula, nectarine, snow peas and a lemon-mint vinaigrette and we just grilled some chicken and potatoes to go with it. 

Frozen treats for dessert.

Yes that's ketchup above his eye.

We were supposed to go to the beach at Centre Island on Sunday but we woke up to a rainy day.  Fortunately The Open was on so we tuned into that.  

We took a little walk in the rain just to get outside.

We enjoyed our picnic lunch at home instead of at the beach.

Nice

He deconstructed his sandwich to get the cheese out.

We made some cupcakes and then E, being inspired by the Netflix show Sugar Rush, decorated them with a campfire theme.  It's hard to know what little details were actually suggested by Dave and I, but the main idea was his and he was right into the decorating. 


The inspiration

The cupcake was a carrot cake, representing the flames of the fire.  The topping included brown frosting and crushed chocolate chips as the coals and wood of the fire.  The orange frosting and red sprinkles are the fire.  This is topped by toasted marshmallows (mini ones rolled in cocoa) on a toothpick.  He did a great job and had fun! I am not one for crafts/projects so Dave helped him with the execution and they made a good team.  I have a hard time letting E do his own thing even if it is not perfect and I don't like messes, so I took Q for another walk to the park and still got to enjoy the fruits of their labour.


After supper I went to yoga and then we ended our night with the Quebec episode of Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown (I think the first time he went there). 


Monday, July 23, 2018

4 year Blogiversary

At the end of this month I will have been blogging for four years!! I want to thank you, my loyal readers, for checking in with me each day.  With the odd break here and there for a holiday, I have posted something each day Monday to Friday.  Sometimes I have a prompt like a link up on Fridays or Wednesdays, and my usual weekend recaps, and usually I don't have a problem thinking of post ideas and getting them written, but there are times when I have to make something up on the fly.


I am constantly trying to think of ideas, take enough photos, and then take the right photos (not just all Q or all E, getting photos of Dave and me, etc.).  I use this blog as a way to remember our days, especially the small things, and also keep friends and family updated on our lives, but I also like to speak about things that are important to me and share my opinions.  I sometimes use this place as a way to think through big complicated things where I'm trying to work out what I think. 

Thanks for stopping in whenever you can!


Friday, July 20, 2018

Friday Favourites





Another beautiful summer week.  Let's kick off today's post with this silly guy.  E has enjoyed two full weeks at Humriva Eco Camp (a city camp held on the banks of the Humber River).  They did two field trips, swam three times at an outdoor pool, had a campfire, learned archery, played Capture the Flag, sang songs, and made crafts.  

I had lunch with a colleague at Reds this week (the Square One location) and we both designed our own Gin and Tonics.  I picked the raspberries, cacao nibs, and cardamon pods to accompany my Tanqueray Rangpur gin.  So refreshing.

I had a meeting downtown on Wednesday morning so I took the opportunity to meet a friend for coffee before heading back to the office.  We met at Pilot Coffee Roasters at First Canadian Place.  I love a good Americano. I also picked up a delicious vegan Caesar salad to take with me for lunch.  Plus had a nice visit with a friend of course!

If you're looking for a fun beach read, get this one. 

Q had costume day at school this week.  I gave him the fire fighter jacket and hat to wear.  He wasn't too keen on it at home but when he got to school, he decided to try them on.



I ordered some new sneakers for the boys from The Shoe Company this week.  I usually find what I want here, and they often have good deals (like two pairs for Q and one for E for $90).  And if you need to return them, you can easily go to any retail store and do it. 


New haircut for E, inspired by a kid at his camp this week. 



Dave suggested one of our favourite spots for supper on Thursday night and I could not say no.  We love QMP



Happy Friday!