It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's...Super Sassy!

What a fun summertime picture to do.  Draw a city scape on the road have child lay sideways a la super hero flying and voila really sweet picture.  I found this fun idea on Pinterest.  When I started on Pinterest a few weeks ago I vowed to myself I wasn't just going to "PIN" ideas and never do them.  So...so far I've done this art with Sass, my niece and a couple of neighbourhood girlies and it was a lot of fun,  I've done 4 recipes that I "Pinned"  and I ordered 2 really great lunchboxes for the kids that I "Pinned".  Safe to say I am a "Pinspert" (Pinning expert) now.  If you have trouble with any type of addiction I strongly suggest you stay away.  It is that good.  Every "hit" of Pintesest is just as potent as the first.  You know what?  It is just good clean fun.  When my hubby is on Night shift it is a nice way to spend a couple of hours. It has everything from Homeschooling ideas, to travel, to tattoos, wardrobe...it has EVERYTHING all rolled up into one great site. I love it.  So check it woulda already.  Follow me and I will follow you.

Have a Pinteresting Weekend,

Love

Marcia

The Lone Ranger Rides Again

Our lovable American Bulldog Trixie thinks she is super stealth, as soon as someone leaves the livingroomshe slithers up on the sofa and curls up in a ball.  Well the other day she did it again.  I was in the kitchen baking and Sasha wandered into the livingroom and exclaimed "Moooooom Trixies on the sofa again", Me "Can you get her off please?"

S - "Trixie get off the sofa"
No movement
S - Hands on hips, louder voice, very firm. "Trixie...GET of the sofa."
Nothing
S - She looks over at me "I know what will get her off the sofa"
Sasha leaves the room.  Saunters back to the livingroom.  Positions herself firmly, shoulders back and lifts her right arm slowly and points a Lone Ranger Gun at Trixie and very calmly says "Trixie get off the sofa", as she starts pulling the trigger in a flurry of shots. Whaaaaat!!!!  Now that is clever and funny as hell.
Trixie was unharmed but I killed myself laughing.  Sasha looks over at me wondering what is so funny.  I cleaned my hands off from my baking and got Trixie off the sofa.  Seriously one of the funniest kid moments ever.
Don't you wish you had a video camera going at all times just to capture the hilarity that kids and parents experience on a daily basis'.  It is impossible to remember all the funny, smart, dramatic, shit that goes on.  I would give anything to capture my kids spontaneous characters and songs that are sung and the lyrics are so good but there is no documentation.  I try to jot down moments when I can.  (Notice I left out the tantrums, yelling and crying.  Those things are just fine to forget and do not need to be filmed.  Those are the character building moments for kids and parents that are done in private.)
I hope you are having as good as summer as us.  We are so gifted as to where we live (seconds from a sandy beach), We have good health, Are spirits are in check, Creativity is flowing, Grandparents down the street, visits from friends and family, Auntie has a new pool, the weather has been stellar, a damn good husband/father that makes our life triumphant.  Life is freakin' good.

Trixie

One funny little girl

The Lone Ranger Gun


Have a lovely hot day
Marcia

Hello My Name is Marcia and...

...I am addicted to MLS and HOUZZ.  I cannot look away.  It is starting to feel really dirty with every click drawing me in more and more,  oh just one more image of kitchen tiles, click, click, that floor is stunning, click, click,click, I wonder if Dalton could make that, click, click...oh my word it's 2:00 a.m. 

marseeya's ideas

Houzz- Kitchen Remodels, Bathroom Remodels and More»

Browse Furniture on Houzz- For Example:

Rocking Chairs · Chairs · Sofas · Ottomans And Cubes · Side Tables And Accent Tables · Benches · Armchairs · Love Seats ·

Click on the tiny dots to see the kitchen porn I've bean jonesing after. 

Have a great day,
Love
Marcia

Today you are youer than you.

My littlest love in my life Sasha turned 6 on Mother's Day.  She was born on Mother's Day too and truly was the best gift ever. 

Today you:

*Love to suck your thumb when you are tired or need a calming moment, you do this while tapping the dirtiest, oldest, softest blankies on your forehead or arms.

*You draw and doodle on anything you can get your hands on, I'll look in my agenda and there is always a special little drawing.
*Little Pet Shops and Small animal figures are your "go to" toys.
*You love to use the words boobie, bum, bumbum, poo, booty a lot, and try to fit them into every sentence you use.  (We are looking forward to this phase being over)
*You adore your brother and always want to play with him
*Except when you don't and you call him an "Idiot"
*You are really into hugs and kisses and love to give me and Daddy big juicy smooches
*You have a really lovely bond with Trixie, I'll often watch you sitting and snuggling with her and you are almost always whispering something to her.
*You LOVE Mango's.  When you eat them they drip down your arms, you get juice on your face, you take no notice and you always have a smile on your face.
*You make up really silly accents.
*You can do up a good crazy face that always makes me laugh.
*You love to be "spooned" and tuck your feet between my knees.
*You gulp a tonne of water before bed.
*You have a stutter, especially when you have a lot to say.
*Sometimes it sounds like you have a "New York" accent with certain words.
*You love to dress-up in animal costumes.
*You cry really loud when a sad song is on or there is a sad part in a movie or book.
*You like to play "Big Plant" and "Loco Coco" on your purple PSP.
*Getting dirty and messy is part of you, you never seem to notice or be bothered by dirt.
*You are a major bug collector.
*You have a purple Norco two wheeler that you are still getting used to.
*You can run really fast.  But when you are not running you can be very sloth like.
*You are a homebody.
*You don't like being cold.
*You love to tell jokes.
*You prefer to where skinny jeans and tee shirts.
*You get really angry if I don't use the right brush.
*You are long and lean, pants never fit you in the waist.
*You love fruit and candy.
*You are the messiest eater I know.
*You have a kind heart.
*You are loved.

Have a lovely day,
Marcia

I feel I have a "Morrel" obligation to report about my dinner....

See what I did there?  Clever huh?
While out for a walk with my devastingly handsome husband and curious dog we stumble across a treasure trove of Morrels!  Actually, it was Trixie that found them.  We were walking along a trail, Trixie was eagerly sniffing and tasting anything is sight, she had this black little lump in her mouth and we thought is was poo, as Dalton leaned over to shew it out of her mouth with a stick he was relieved to annouce it was a Morrel, we looked down the trail and there they were popped up everywhere.  We gathered 19 in total.  We dropped a few off for Head Chef and Owner of Harbour St. Braissiere, Derek.  :Sidenote:  If you live in Kincardine OR ever in Kincardine make it a point to eat at Harbour St.  Derek and his lovely wife Diane set the atmosphere and the food to pitch perfection, and serve a full menu of local food.  Delightful. :Sidenote over: Derek showed me how to clean them properly and how to cook them, so nice, thank you Derek.  And we shared a couple with a friend who was curious about the taste.  The rest we kept for ourselves and thought they would go lovely with our roast chicken we were having tonight.  Hope you enjoy the picture extravanganza of....fancy mushrooms....and our dinner.

Dirty Morrels

 Sliced in half to clean out the bugs.  ewww.

 Water bath to clear out dirt and bugs

 Drying only to discover tiny wormie bugs! eww and eww.

 Back in the bath you go Dirty Morrels.

 Type of Broth I used to simmer.  No garlic and butter fry for these tender morsels.

 Simmering to perfection.  (and finalizing any bug killing.  ha ha ha)

 The finished product delicate little bites of mushrooms.

 The roast chicken prep.  Okay we all know how easy roast chicken is, right?  Well this is even easier than easy and it is a no fail "recipe" preheat oven to 400, cut using kitchen scissors down the back of the chicken.  Spread that bird open and press her down in the roasting pan.  Throw the bird some butter, season if you wish and put her in the oven till the skin is super crispy.  It's easier than easy because it cooks faster because we flattened the cheekon.

 Sweat Potatoes with grated ginger and cayanne baby.  So yummy.

 Sweet Potatoes

 The grand finally that is now in its final resting place, my belly!

Now I am on the hunt for wild leeks and perhaps some more morrels. 
Have a lovely day,
Marcia

Mama got a new 'Do

My new blond pixie cut.  It's fun, it's versitile and it is a refreshing change.

Revamping the ol' fridgerator

After a few months of not a great appetite it's returned. When I do want or crave something it happens to be starchy and white or something citrus...so before this turns into a bad habit I thought I better get busy and revamp our pantry and fridge with our By Design foods, that means, fruits and veggies, nuts and seeds, meat and eggs, oils, coconuts and coconut products.  (If possible Organic and local, next best provincial, next best Canadian, next best USA etc. you get the picture)  So yesterday I did a big grocery shop and this what I got.  (plus a stack of meat that is in the fridge and freezer)

Then this is what I did next...

Prepared some protein for the week.  Ground beef (for taco dinner) hard boiled eggs for snacks and a turkey breast for salads.  Plus today I am cooking a pork tenderloin for dinner (left overs used in salads or for snacking), tomorrow I will roast a whole organic chicken, to be for dinner and salads.
If I take the time and prep a few things for the week, it truly makes life easier and way more healthier.  The alternative to not taking that little bit of time is wasting even more time during the week wondering what to make, going to the grocery store a few more times, or waiting at a restaurant or for pizza take-out.  Also, the kids lunches are so much faster and more fun to pack when I have healthy options for 'grab n'go'.


Now cutting out dairy and grains may sound difficult maybe even scary, I assure you it isn't, although it may take some time to adjust, old habits die hard, when I have eaten mostly "By Design" my skin clears up, eczema completely disappears, zero bloating and no other tummy issues, plus my hormone freak outs almost disappear and I have more energy and less brain fog.


My most favorite websites to keep me motivated and inspired:
http://www.primaleatingmoderntable.com/

http://www.cafeoflifelondon.com/index.html

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/

http://nourishedkitchen.com/

http://cookingupastory.com/nicolette-hahn-niman-champions-seismic-change-of-our-industrial-food-system?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CookingUpAStory+%28Cooking+Up+A+Story%29

http://hbfser.wordpress.com/

http://thisprimallife.com/

http://www.godairyfree.org/

I love all of these sites and find them very informative.  I assure you I am not perfect and fo'shizzle eat none Design foods from time to time (celebrations or a friends house for dinner) and I do find it a challenge sometimes to pack the kids lunches with only By Design foods, not so much with Sass, but my Rolie is more of a "selective eater" and I have had to go "Deceptively Delicious" on him for many foods.  I have noticed that as he gets older (he just turned 8) he is more open to trying foods, for example he ate 2 peas the other night at dinner.  Next time he said he'll eat 3.  All I can do is encourage and offer the foods.  I will not make or force foods on my kids, food is to be enjoyed, I keep it light and positive and with a health attitude towards food and I know it will pay off.


Have a lovely foodie week,


Marcia

Day Dreaming

Just a few short months my fellow Kincardinites until our glorious beach is ready for us to soak up the sun, sand and wind.

ommmmmm,

Bathing Suit Season?

Normally I would NEVER think about buying a new swimsuit in January, you know right after the gorging of Christmas and New Years, however, if I'm going to look on the bright side of being ill for almost 2 months, no gorging or drinking booze has taken place. And therefore, a great sale and Limericki swimsuit buying enshoed. I love these tankinis for their style and modesty. These suits are wonderful for ladies who have just had babies or any mother that may have not got back to that teenie waistline before kids (that you happened to think was ponchy back than and now you realize how delusional you were and would give your first born to have that tummy back...jeesh what a mouthful) Also, wonderful for actually playing at the beach or waterpark with your kids and not worry about your 'love handles' being exposed. These are the 2 suits I purchased. How freakin' chic are they.


Have a lovely day

I am not a handy person...and that's okay.

Our main bathroom...is ugly. We have done a couple of things to make her feel pretty but when I go in there is just no covering up the ugly. One of her biggest flaws is the bath tiles. No matter how much I clean them the grout is still nasty looking and really warn down. So me being the brainiack I am thought I would re grout the "mutha ucker". Well holy hell I did a terrible job. Luckily I only did one wall before my hubby got home and the look of pity said it all. He felt so bad for me, wasting 2 hours on it when now I have to spend even more time scraping the grout off. He then shows me and "voila" easy, neat, tidy, no mess. This is one of those moments when you learn from your mistakes...I guess. But now I totally don't feel like doing the rest. ugh. These delicate hands were not made for grouting.

******************************************************************************

On a completely off topic note. The board is talking about CLOSING our over populated Elgin Market Public School and busing ALL our Children to KTTPS. There will be a meeting of concerned parents/guardians January 26th at 7pm, in the multi media room at Huron Heights, in collaboration with the Home & School.

We will be working together to make a proposal to present to ARC on March 3rd (it needs to be well researched and will not be ready by the 7th, March 3rd is the ONLY other date they are taking ideas).

We need everyone's input!!
See you then, bring a friend.


Bye for now
Marcia

Happy New Year...First Day of The Rest of Your Life. Rejoice!

My first entry into the new year. Why the wait? Well the end of 2010 was a bit glum and I really wanted to start out this fresh new year on a bright, cheery and healthy note and while I feel like I am moving forward and on the mend, today seemed a good day to write...I'M Still Here! woopie! yahoo! Life is GOOD.

I will ever so quickly touch on the subject of the glum. I got really ill with menegitis and was hospitalized for a week before Christmas. A few of those days I was in hospital I thought they may have been my last on earth. (hence the glum part) But through the power of love, family, friends, prayers, meditations, nurses and Doctors. I have pulled through. And let me tell you this "Reset button" in my life has not been lost on me. I am grateful for the many 'gifts' I recieved through this time. So much love to the people around me.

I have had a lot of time to sit with my thoughts and my dreams these past few weeks and I have some fun plans for my blog and my life in the next few weeks so please check back at your leisure or even a little sooner than that. One thing that came up is my son has asked that I not share anymore stories to do with him, especially when they are about behaviour stuff. I must respect his wishes and have decided to switch up the content a little. Both of my kids are a bit older now and I do not want there privacy disturbed so if anything is posted about them I will ask there permission.

My true passion is anything to do with home design, home decorating, home staging, furniture, wallpaper, colours, repurposing. Walking through the doors of Homesense and likes of gives me such a sense of peace it can only be discribed as home to me. I can stay up until the wee hours going through my design magazines, tearing and making notes and drawing. I lay awake in bed coming up with house plans big and small...mostly small to medium homes. I drive by homes and think up curb appeal changes for the homes I drive by, I love going on mls.ca and dream about going into the homes for sale and staging and rephotographing them for the agents. (come on people take the knicknacks down off the shelves, and would it kill you to strip the 1980's boarders off your walls or have someone do it for you. Many buyers cannot see past the decor)

Don't worry i'll still be writing about a bunch of other stuff I love and purhaps you do too, like food, health, kids, family etc.

I'm just so happy my heart was ready to start writing again and my fingers were thrilled too.

See you soon,
Marcia
xoxoxo