Brunch for a Group

This weekend we are heading to a friend's cottage with five other couples (no kids!). We are all splitting up the meal prep and I picked brunch to contribute.  Here is my menu for a perfect brunch:

Bagels of various varieties
Cream cheese (regular, not light or fat free)
Smoked Salmon
Capers
Chopped red onion
Lemon and Dill
Scrambled eggs
Assorted berries
Mimosas

Photo Credit

I think this is the perfect meal for this weekend because we will likely all be getting up at different times and this is something where people can help themselves.  It also requires no advance preparation other that buying everything and washing the berries.  I love smoked salmon but I know it's not everyone's favourite, but this meal offers enough alternatives I think.   I love making breakfast casseroles for a group too, but those are better for when family is visiting and we are all going to sit down together to eat.  I also think that it's okay to splurge on the smoked salmon because it is a treat and breakfast is otherwise a relatively cheap meal to prepare.

We get our bagels at Hot Oven Bakery in Bloor West Village and I will pick up the smoked salmon at De La Mer on Roncesvalles.  I know other places have it, but I always like their selection.  The trick may be finding fresh dill, but often De La Mer will have some and throw a sprig into your smoked salmon order.

Workin' it Wednesday

Linking up with Shay and Erika for Workin' it Wednesday.

Today's topic is transitioning your wardrobe to fall.  

I have a couple of nice blazers that work well for a jacket both at the office and on the weekend with jeans.  One is from the Gap, it's blue, and the other is from J. Crew and it's orange.  I try to find them on sale and at the outlets.  I'd like to find a grey one and a black one which would be even more versatile.  I like blazers in the winter too but since they are hard to fit under my winter jacket, then I tend to wear them more in fall and spring.

I also love a good button up shirt and bonus for ones that work with jeans and with a skirt for work.  My favourite are the boyfriend fit shirts from the Gap.

I have a lot of ballet flats which are perfect for work and for the weekend, but I also like casual sneakers and Toms. 

Of course a scarf is a huge part of my wardrobe for the fall.  I have them in all colours so I have something that matches everything. 

For the kids, we love sweatshirts and sweaters over jackets.  This will still keep them warm outside but it's also appropriate to wear inside if required.  I don't mind splurging every once on this because we do get a lot of wear out of them. 

E has an Abercrombie hoodie, sort of like this one with a fuzzy hood.

Q is wearing E's old clothes but we love these sweaters from the Gap.  We have the 2012 version of this sweater in red.

Show and Tell Tuesday

Linking up with Andrea for Show and Tell Tuesday.

Today's topic is What's In Your Bag?

I carry a purse/workbag most days, but I will usually empty them out each night and fill it up again so things don't really build up in there.

I snapped this photo of my bag on Sunday after church:

Most of the stuff is for Q - diapers, wipes, change of clothes, water cup, and snack wrapper.  The only things that are for me is the church bulletin and my small wallet.  Of course my phone was in there before I took it out to snap this photo.  

I use two wallets - a large one that carries everything, and then a small one that just holds my driver's license, debit card, credit card, and whatever else I need (library card, Presto card for the subway, health card, etc.).  And then I bring this little pouch from lululemon to carry my cash.  

When I go to work, I can of course leave out the diapers, and then I just add my lunch, a scarf in case my office is cold, heels, and any work I may have brought home.  

Weekend Recap

Today is September 11 and I still think about this day in 2001 like it was yesterday.  I know lots of terrible things have happened since then but this one still makes me so sad.  Dave and I went to the memorial with we went to New York a few years ago, but the museum wasn't open yet.  I am looking forward to visiting the museum on my upcoming trip.  I posted about where I was on this day here.

Photo Credit

Now onto our weekend recap:

Our first weekend of September was filled with lots of fun.  I had the day off on Friday so I met a friend for lunch downtown.  I was able to walk through the TIFF festivities but I was sort of preoccupied with a work matter so I didn't really appreciate it, but let's face it, the celebrities aren't walking with the peasants on King Street so I don't think I missed anything.  We had lunch at Earls and I enjoyed my usual order of the Santa Fe Chicken Salad (no dates).

Q and I scurried home after lunch so he could have his nap.  While he napped I folded laundry and watched Downton Abbey.  Around 4:00 we walked up to pick up E from school.  We played in the school yard for a few minutes and then walked over to Queen Margherita Pizza to meet Dave for supper.

Q is such a good eater so we were able to just order him the gnocchi for his supper and he shared some of E's pizza (and the banana and crackers I brought for home).

After supper we walked home and through the park with the ping pong table.  Someone had left some old paddles and balls so we played for a bit.

When we got home, E played in the backyard where our landscapers had been all day.  It looked like a reenactment of World War I trench warfare (there was even a dead squirrel in the tree house, although no rats).

After the kids went to bed we watched The Big Sick.  It's a very cute movie, and based on the true story of how comedian/actor Kumail Nanjiani met his wife.  He's from the show Silicon Valley and always has good political tweets so I follow him on Twitter and because of that have only seen the positive reviews of this movie that he has retweeted, but it did live up the hype.  It is exactly the type of movie I love.

On Saturday I did a few errands up the street after breakfast and then had a mini dance party in the basement where E was working on his lego.

Then we all went to E's last soccer day at High Park.  He had a good game, scored a few goals, and then enjoyed the free pizza.

Coach Q

After we got home, Dave and E biked to E's friend's house for a playdate.  We then hooked up the bike trailer and fixed my bike tire so we could all go and pick him up.  This was Q's first ride in the bike trailer and although he wasn't a huge fan of the helmet, he did seem to enjoy the ride.

On Sunday morning Dave went for a long 35 km run and E and Q and I returned to church for the start of Sunday School.

Dave's view

My view

In the afternoon, Dave ran down to Henderson's Brewery to fill up some growlers and I made some pancakes for Q.  Q was napping of course, and one of E's friends (and our neighbour) came over to get him and E went there for a few hours.

We went to another neighbours' for supper and playtime.  

I had to leave early to I could go to the Nas and Lauryn Hill concert.  I'm not usually one for a concert but I have always liked Lauryn Hill and when my friend Janna asked if I wanted to go, I was in!  A nice night out by the lake enjoying some good tunes and good company. 

Friday Favourites

Linking up with Andrea, Erika, and Narci for Friday Favourites.

I was a fan of Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole when they had their original podcast in Canada about 5 years ago. I was a loyal listener.  Then they went down to the US to work at Fox Sports 1 and they continued their podcast.  Well, the job in LA didn't work out, and after 4 years down there, they came back and their new show started this week.  Their podcast is set to resume soon and I'm excited to hear from the boys again.

Speaking of podcasts, former Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe has a podcast called Off the Vine. I hadn't listened to it yet, but she had Jillian Harris on this week so I downloaded it to listen to in the car.  They are funny and reveal a few good secrets about the Bachelorette.  

I have always been very interested in the Toronto International Film Festival but this year it snuck up on me and I wasn't able to check out the selections.  I did find this article about what everyone is buzzing about. Often movies shown here will go on to win the Oscar for Best Picture.  I am meeting a friend for lunch downtown today so I may have to wander around and see if I can spot any celebs.

We finished off our summer camping.  It's so much work to get ready and pack up, but I'm always so happy when we are there. 

E's first day of school was a success.  He was glad to be back.

One of my sweet friends gave me this bag last week.  Here it is packed with library books ready to go back.

Q and I went to the park after supper this week.  He was tired but loved swinging with no socks. 

I made these cookies this week and we have all be enjoying them!

September is a busy month for us and this weekend is no exception, bring it on!

Apple Cinnamon Cookies

I don't want to jump the gun on summer but now that school has started, I know fall is right around the corner and I want to start making apple and pumpkin recipes.  This week I made some apple cinnamon cookies.  They are perfect to have with your coffee in the morning and to stick in a lunch box.

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla (I used vanilla bean paste this time)
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 cup grated apple
3 cups oatmeal (quick oats or regular)

Cream butter and sugar together with electric mixer.  Beat in the eggs.  Add vanilla and stir to combine.

Stir in flour, baking soda, and cinnamon to wet ingredients.  Fold in apple and oatmeal.

Drop by spoonful onto a cookie sheet.  Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in a preheated 350 degree F oven.  I let them cool on the pan for 5 minutes before moving them to a cooling rack.   Makes about 4 dozen.

If you make them small enough, you can justify having three at a time!