AND WE'RE OFF!

Sunshine and warmth here we come! It is time for us to take our annual trip south to Florida to visit my parents. Monkey is eager to go on the airplane, listen to his new headphones (in his very own seat!), ride his scooter and build sandcastles at the beach. I have never been so excited to go to Florida. Ever since Little Bean was born, it has been so cold that any outside time has been hurried and limited. It will be a welcome change for us all.

My posts will be few and far between while we're away, but I do intend to keep my 52 Weeks project on track. 

If you are in the land of winter, stay warm and let's meet back here in a few weeks! 

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STREET STYLE: COZY & FEMININE

A cable-knit sweater paired with a sophisticated pencil skirt and  heels make for winter outfit that is cozy yet feminine. This would be perfect for work when the thermometer dips. Here's my take on this outfit ...

skirt / sweater / heels / clutch / sunglasses / bracelet

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RECIPE: HERBED BALSAMIC PORK ROAST

The picture does not do this recipe justice. In fact, I hesitated posting a picture at all because who wants to look at a pork roast? Trust me though, it is easy to make and delicious to eat. This recipe makes me love my slow cooker all the more.

Ingredients:
One pork roast, 3-5 lbs
1 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons dried rosemary
5-10 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:
Place pork roast in slow cooker and top with ingredients. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 4-6 hours (depending on the size of the roast).

Remove the cooked roast, cover and keep warm. Pour the accumulated liquid into a saucepan and bring to a boil, letting it reduce by half. Slice the roast and serve with the sauce.

Enjoy!

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"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Monkey: Frigid temperatures are keeping us inside this week. Monkey is not happy.
Little Bean: She's a happy baby!

FAMILY LITERACY DAY

Monkey adores reading. It is one of our favourite activities to do on these bitter cold winter days. When we're stuck inside, we like to stay in our pajamas just a little bit longer, curl up under a cozy blanket and read. So, in honour of Family Literacy Day, I surveyed my little household for our favourite books of all time...

My husband John's favourite is Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell. I'm actually surprised it wasn't a Stephen King book so I guess you learn something new about your partner every day! Monkey's favourite is Just One More Goal! by Robert Munsch. I think if I ask him tomorrow I'll get a different answer, but we'll go with this one since it nicely captures his current hockey obsession. Little Bean isn't quite sure what her favourite book is yet, so Monkey picked Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kundhardt, a cute book that helps little ones learn and understand simple instructions. And, The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood is my favourite book. It's on my reading pile to read again -- it's been far too long since I've been enchanted by this story.

What are your family's favourite books?

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CURRENTLY LOVING: THESE SLIPPERS

I have turned in to a slipper addict. I blame it on the frigid winter temperatures that leave me chilled to the bone and yearning for warmth and cozy comfort. From Denmark, Glerups felt slippers are made from 100% natural wool and are just the remedy to fight the cold. The best part? Wool has a natural ability to clean itself so have no fear of sweaty feet. My personal favourite are the purple boots.

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"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Monkey: He has already discovered the joy of a good phone conversation
Little Bean: It's tough to lift up those cheeks

DESIGN INSPIRATION: BOOKSHELF ART

Art hanging on a bookshelf is unexpected. I like it. A lot. I adore collecting books, so this idea makes for an interesting floor-to-ceiling bookshelf. What do you think?

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HAPPY FRIDAY!

It has been a while since I've posted a song to kick off the weekend. Mushaboom by Feist has been playing in my head lately as I get the kiddos in and out of their coats and bundles for each outing. This song never grows old for me.

What are you up to this weekend? I see skating, delicious hot chocolate from Nadège, a family dinner date and a potluck brunch in my future.

Happy weekend to you!

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DOCUMENTARY: BLACKFISH

Have you seen the documentary Blackfish by Gabriela Cowperthwaite? It is an alarming look at the distress endured by killer whales held in captivity. I learned that killer whales (also known as orcas) are incredibly social mammals, living in family units with mothers protecting and caring for their young their entire lifetime. I was intrigued to learn that orcas have heightened emotional capabilities that surpass even humans, and they are believed to be able to communicate with their own form of language. 

In the wild, these are truly majestic creatures. In captivity at amusement parks such as SeaWorld, these are desperate and sad creatures. This is an emotional and worthwhile film to watch.

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"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Monkey: Loves being outside even on the coldest of days
Little Bean: She has such beautiful and expressive eyes

MINI RODINI

Mini Rodini makes incredibly comfortable clothes for babies and kids using the most fun and playful patterns. The Fall/Winter 2013 collection is filled with winter animals -- think penguins, fox and snow leopards. Our littlest kiddo has a pair of leggings with flamingos and one with colourful toucans -- they are adorable on her!

RECIPE: GRANOLA BARS

My family loves a good granola bar. My husband takes one to work every day, and Monkey asks for one every time he gets buckled in his stroller. Baking my own granola bars seemed like a daunting task, but the chilly weather has kept us indoors for far too many days and Monkey and I were up for a new challenge.

I stumbled upon this recipe and I'm happy to report it's straightforward, yields a very tasty treat and now reduces the amount of ready-made foods in our cupboard. We added dark chocolate chips and pumpkin seeds so feel free to add the bits you like.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup oat flour (or pulse 1/3 cup oats in a food processor until ground to a fine powder)
1/2 cup brown sugar (next time I will only use 1/4 cup as the bars are sweet)
1/4 cup flax meal
1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup pecans, finely chopped
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 canola oil
2 tablespoons corn syrup
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, combine oats, oat flour, brown sugar, flax meal, fruit and nuts; mix to distribute evenly.

In a small bowl, combine maple syrup, oil and corn syrup; mix well, pour onto dry ingredients and mix well.

Line 8-inch square cake pan with parchment paper so it extends a few inches over the rim. Press oat mixture into the pan, using the back of a spoon to smooth out the top. 

Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the top is evenly golden. Let cool for 30 minutes before lifting out of the pan. Let them cool even more before cutting into 24 bars (they'll be hard to cut if you don't wait). 

Enjoy!

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This year, one of my goals is to take individual photos of my children that best capture their development each week. I think it will be incredible to look back at year end on all the photos that document their growth, interests and budding personalities. So, here goes ...

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Monkey: adores puzzles and space missions
Little Bean: chatting with Sophie the Giraffe

MY WINTER UNIFORM

Sweater / Jeans / Socks / Boots / Jacket / Earrings / Hat / Scarf / Glittens

Every season I tend to gravitate towards a uniform of sorts that I wear day in and day out. This outfit is the uniform that is keeping me warm inside and out this winter. I rotate similar grey and navy sweaters in for some [very minimal] variation.

IT'S A NEW YEAR!

The New Year has arrived, and with it comes a chance to reflect back on accomplishments of the last year and a chance to set new goals for the year ahead. 

Was 2013 kind to you? It was a special year for me. Our little family prepared for, and welcomed, a baby girl. She has brought such joy to us all. My heart swells at how Monkey has embraced his new sibling, showering her with his endless and enthusiastic love each day. 

My goals for the year ahead will be simple. Here goes my 2014 resolutions ... 

Photograph my kiddos. Inspired by this blog series, I'm challenging myself to take weekly photos to document my children as they grow up right before my eyes.

Spend money responsibly. Fiscal restraint is not one of my finer qualities. My husband manages our household finances because in my mind, he likes numbers and I do not. At the coaxing of John, it is time that I learn about our family finances and be more responsible about spending.

Exercise. This is one resolution from 2013 that I failed at miserably. I would like to blame my pregnancy for derailing my exercise plans, but unfortunately I am just hopeless at exercise. So, I'm going to start out small by setting a goal of getting to the swimming pool or to a yoga class at least once a week. 

Be patient. Interrupted and little sleep has left me with little patience, and it is my loved ones that feel it most. I need to do better plain and simple.

Do you have any goals you'd like to share for 2014?

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