Have a Cool Weekend!

The weather this weekend looks fantastic! Pick your own strawberries are right around the corner and I can not wait to get Ella and Finnian's hands stained red with juicy berries! This weekend (my mama's still here :) we might do some exploring around the city.  We kind of stick to what we know because everything is still so new (after almost a year here) but its always a great excuse when someone comes to visit to try something different.  I think Colum and I just might relax with a few beers. I have been working on a project out of an office this week and such is the reason for the light posts but all being well everything should be finished up in a week or so and I can put some more time in here. Horray! Thank you so much for stopping by!

Have a really Cool weekend!! xo
 
The ferry tickets have gone up in price

cool rucksack

bangs are back

summer shopping list

article

grill like a lady

a little round up

have you read this book

Summer Elements: #1 Tea Tree Oil

credit

I recently discovered Tea Tree Oil.  I was talking to a friend about Ella and Finnian's extremely sensitive skin and she said I should use tea tree oil. And I am hooked! So I'm putting it in my Summer Elements list because I absolutely love it!  The smell is pretty 'earthy' if you know what I mean so it's always used sparingly as a little really does go a really long way.  The way I use it most is for a natural mosquito repellant.  I love the easy feeling when summer starts to roll in but I really can't stand the bugs.  Ella gets the biggest lumps I have ever seen when a bug bites her but the tea tree oil seems to be doing the trick!

If your like me than you like to really pay attention to what goes on your skin (and your babies skin too ;) so I always put this on in the morning and through out the day when we're outside (which in summer is pretty much all the time).  I usually just dab a bit here and there because unlike the chemical repellents it can be applied to uncovered skin.  You can dilute it with some water (2:1 ratio) and put it in a spray bottle too!

Have you ever tried tea tree oil? Do you think you will? I would love to hear your thoughts... xo


ps. possible side effects of chemical mosquito repellent.

'Les Miserables'

Have you seen this trailer yet?  The film isn't set to be released until December 2012 but the trailer looks amazing and I had to share!  Director Tom Hooper looks like he has done an amazing job by the looks of things.  Les Miserables is a based on the 1862 French Novel by Victor Hugo (more about the French here). The film stars Hugh Jackman, Russel Crowe, Anne Hathaway and Sacha Baron Cohen to name a few. The musical is currently the longest running on the West End and recently celebrated its 25th year anniversary.  I always think its incredible how things stand the test of time and really need to be applauded! (like here too!) 

Have you ever seen Les Miserables the musical?  Do you think you'll see the movie? I would love to hear your thoughts...

xo

Have an Exciting Weekend!

     This week I have been a bit light on the posts (sorry).  Have you ever had a couple of sad days right in a row?  It takes me a bit to get back on my feet but here I am! :) It all gets a little overwhelming sometimes but I wouldn't have it any other way.  Thank goodness for a really awesome family! And we got a visitor yesturday! My mum is here to stay with us for a few weeks, ya! I'm really looking forward to the company and the best part is that it was a surprise for the wanes.  Ella and Finnian were so excited when she rang the doorbell it was the cutest thing ever!  I love surprises and I can tell that Ella might be just like her 'mama' because the look on her face was priceless.  I hope everyone has a really exciting weekend!

Here are a couple of links from this week if you are in the blogging mood! Cheers everyone and I'll be back full swing next week ;)

an interesting article

sign dining

would like to be here for a little while

for summer!

next on my reading list

Wow! Have you seen this trailer?

You can find more of my posts here starting next week! ;)


ps. thanks so much for stopping by xo

'Supermodel Pets'

Richard Phibbs

     Ella has been wanting a dog ever since she could say the word 'puppy'.  At this point Colum and I kind of think that there is actually no 'perfect' time for a pet and she has been patiently waiting for (almost 5 years) and well it just might be time to take the leap and add an addition to our mix.

After researching, reading and researching some more I have come across great information and funny stories and then I came across this.  A photographer's work was influencing how often sheltered animals were getting adopted.  The story goes on to talk about how professional portraits changed how people saw the animals entirely and she was encouraging other photographer's to adopt a shelter so their work could help save lives too.
 
Would you consider adopting a pet?  I'd love to hear your thoughts...

xo

ps. Richard Phibbs, an accomplished celebrity and fashion photographer donated his amazing skills to HSNY photographing pets that need homes. Check out the amazing result here!

What's in Season: May Fruits

   Before May ends I wanted to post about the fruit that is ripe and in season this month!  Fruit always pleases a crowd at our house.  I want to enjoy fruit when its ripe, ready and true to taste as this book points out.  Food is a straight shooter to my heart and what better way to celebrate it than with the seasons.

I would like to make sure my kids get the most out of what they eat so learning what's in season is like keeping with my grandmother's tradition of sprinkling our plates with love (she always said that was her most important ingredient). 

Here's fruits that are in season during the month of May (and the vegetables too!).  Again these lists are relative to up here in Toronto and would be appropriate for most of the United States.

Fruits for May

cherries
pineapples
apricots

Cherries rarely ever make it past fresh from the stem for me.  I don't eat many of apricots but might pick up a few next time we are at the market (I tend to only pick them up if they are dried because they are so handy in a trail mix)  Do you have a favorite fruit? (Colum loves pineapple ;)


xo 

ps. I have rhubarb in the oven and it smells beautiful! I can't wait to share the recipe with you!!

Have a Relaxing Weekend!

     Wow! Would you believe its Friday already?  This week has been pretty up and down for me and I'm really looking forward to a few days of winding down.  Things get kind of crazy when its just the two of us and I think I am a bit family and friends homesick.  Living around the world is great but not being able to take everyone with you is not so great ;) Trying to keep some spare time to catch up with Colum is proving challenging these days with the energetic duo and the late nights of catch up work.  So this weekend I think there is a bike ride or two in store and a packed picnic lunch.  Ella and Finnian love picnics! And Colum and I get a chance to get away from the computers ;)  I hope everyone has a relaxing weekend!  

Check out some links from the week

gorgeous dress

how did I not see these until now

interesting article

more pretty halo's here

in case you missed it

more about this next week

not sure what to do with this

xo