HAPPY WEEKEND!

 

Happy weekend! This is the sand mountain. It's a huge pile of sand in Trinity Bellwoods Park that is absolute heaven for kids to climb, dig and slide. We will no doubt be spending time at the sand mountain this weekend.

Time will also be spent finishing up Monkey's big boy bedroom. Last weekend we painted the walls, so now we just have to put up his map mural and install his 'big boy' bed. This is a big transition for our little Monkey. He loves his crib dearly. I wish we could keep him in it for a little while longer, but I'd like to make sure there's ample time before he sees it set up in another room for our second baby. We've made a really big deal of his new bed to help him make the transition -- his papa built the bed frame especially for him and he picked out new dinosaur sheets. 

If you're looking for something (free) to do this weekend with your little one, Horse Day is taking place at the Horse Palace, Exhibition Place. It's sure to be a hit with interactive exhibits, story time, crafts and even a tour of the Toronto Police Mounted Unit stables.

Here's a song to start your weekend off -- it's Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke, featuring T.1. and Pharrell. I have a weakness for Pharrell and can't seem to get this one out of my head (apologies if you've heard it ad nauseam on the radio).

RECIPE: A PERFECT TODDLER SNACK (OR BREAKFAST)

Fruit, veggies and dip, crackers and cheese ... I was suffering from snack fatigue when I found this recipe on Oh Joy! for banana peanut butter pancakes. So good, so easy and protein-rich. This is Monkey's new favourite snack, and these pancakes make for a good breakfast too!

Ingredients:

1 ripe banana

1 egg

1 tablespoon peanut butter

1/2 tablespoon flour

Directions:

Mix together all ingredients. Heat a non-stick skillet evenly over medium heat. Spoon out desired amount of mixture for each pancake, cook until little bubbles form on surface and then flip just like a regular pancake.

Here's a tip: Make sure you heat your skillet before adding the batter otherwise you might end up with a sticking issue (I had that the first time I made this, but the second go-around worked).

SYTLE INSPIRATION: WORK UNIFORM

If I went to an office every day, this would be my go-to work uniform. It's a simple outfit with a flattering midi skirt and practical layers to ease office air conditioning. Here's my take on this outfit ...


Sweater / Skirt / T-shirt / Sunglasses / Clutch / Heels / Lipstick

I adore the pattern of this skirt by Marni, but ASOS has great midi skirts (like this navy one) that are much more friendly on the wallet.

(Street style image)



ONE KID, TWO KIDS, THREE KIDS, FOUR KIDS ...

Do you know have many kids you want to have, if any? I find this question so hard to answer. I'm an only child and I've grown to like the dynamic of a small family of three. Sure, there were times growing up where I begged and pleaded for a sibling. To me, a sibling meant an eager playmate, a partner in crime and a confidante ... I even longed to play fight with someone. Now, I appreciate the one-on-one time I have with my parents although there is a little part of me that craves the chaos associated with a large family.

My friend recently went to the funeral of his high school basketball coach. He was a teacher who made a significant impact on those he coached and those he taught. He also had a family of eight children. When asked about his big family, the coach simply said that his one regret in life was to not have more children. 

Last year, I walked past a mom with her three kids huddled together on the sidewalk. They were excitedly looking at photos together and it seemed like a moment of pure and easy joy.

I'm always taken back to the basketball coach and the mom on the sidewalk when I try to figure out the right number of kids for me. Right now, my husband, Monkey and me make three, but come this Fall there will be a new addition to our family -- a brother or a sister for Monkey. I've asked him if he'd like a sibling and his answer is: "I want a doggie named Pluto." It's just that simple from his perspective.

(Image)

RECIPE: SWEET POTATO QUESADILLAS

Sweet potato quesadillas are a go-to meal in our house because they're easy to make and please everyone, including Monkey. In fact, we're having them tonight with a big green salad. This recipe originally comes from The Rebar: Modern Food Cookbook, but I've modified it quite a bit over the years.

Ingredients:
2 medium-sized sweet potatoes, sliced lengthwise in 1-inch thick strips
2 tablespoons vegetable oil 
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
2 avocadoes
2 limes
2 bunches green onions, finely sliced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
Pinch of sea salt 
Pinch of fresh ground pepper
6 large tortilla shells
Sour cream, for serving
Salsa, for serving

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400◦F. Toss sweet potato slices with vegetable oil, spread on a baking sheet in one layer, sprinkle with salt and bake for 30-35 minutes.

Add tomato paste and juice from one lime to a sauce pan and heat over medium heat. This won't take long -- you just want to heat up the mixture.

Mash avocadoes in a bowl, add juice from the second lime and stir. Add fresh ground pepper to taste.

Spread one spoonful of tomato paste mixture evenly on half of a tortilla shell and one spoonful of avocado mixture to the other half. Then, place approximately 5-6 baked sweet potato slices on the tomato paste mixture side, sprinkle green onions, sprinkle cheese and fold tortilla in half (bringing the half with the avocado mixture over). Repeat for all 6 tortilla shells.

Place the folded tortilla in a skillet and cook for approximately 2-3 minutes per side, or until lightly browned and the cheese melted.

Serve with sour cream and/or salsa. Enjoy!

SPRING TREND: FLORAL DENIM

Spring is finally blooming! This week I've noticed gardens with tulips, daffodils and crocuses in full bloom. I've also noticed a Spring trend that's carried over from last year -- floral denim. Will you be sporting this pretty, bold trend?

(Denim clockwise from top left: primary colours / vintage / romantic / bright)