Five On Friday - Pictures From Positano

Here we are - mid-January. Monday was "Blue Monday" - supposedly the yuckiest day of the year. I survived that particular day pretty easily, but I'll admit that I am starting to feel the winter in my bones.

My youngest son asked me this week what my favourite season is.  I had to think long and hard because I love all four seasons for different reasons.  However, the snow and  cold winds that had arrived that  day had obviously got to me and I quickly replied, "Summer!" 

 

It's true. I could use summer right about now.

Picture it- the beach, camping, flowers, flip-flops, BBQs.  Couldn't you get into that right now?

 

And how about summer vacations?  Those are pretty awesome, too.

How about a beach in Italy? Cold drinks on a patio? Sailboats and tropical flowers?

Sound good, don't they?

 

So without further ado, here is my "Five on Friday" for Amy at Love Made My Home.  This week I share with you five photos from our recent trip to Italy and our day-out in Positano.

 

Number One:  The Amalfi Coast from above.

Boats, crystal clear water, leafy green vegetation - sure signs of summer!

Number Two:   Art on the Sand 

Positano had so much artistic beauty including several artists at work on the sand and art installations right on the beach. This jolly looking woman caught my eye!

 

 

Number Three:  Look Up! The Beauty Continues

Between the sandy beach and the well-populated boardwalk lay an area of  natural growth that spread shade on all of the over-heated visitors.  I like this photo because of the juxtaposition of the branches of the tree and arms on the streetlamp. 

Number Four:  A View Backwards

Stand on the beach and look up, way up, and see the town built on the side of the Amalfi coast terrain.  Each layer of buildings is built on top of the row below, balancing each other and holding each other up like puzzle pieces.  Pull one out and they'd all fall down!

 

Number Five: Mojitos on the Beach

After a dip in  the water, one needs to step out of the sun and cool off.  Under the protection of a bamboo ceiling, we sipped mojitos and ate prosciutto and melon, slowly bringing our heightened body temperatures back into the "normal" range. 

 

 

Are you all "warmed-up" now?

Are you dreaming of a tropical clime?

 

I wish I could whisk myself back to Italy, summer 2015....

 

Oh - to have a time machine........

 

 

I shouldn't complain  too much though.  We are off to Florida in a few weeks time.  It won't be quite as lovely as Positano,

but I am sure some "warm-weather" memories will be made there, too!

 

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

 

 

XOXOXO

 

Bronwyn

Outfit of the Day - What I Wore Wednesday

It's that time again - Wednesday, and I am ready to share a few more outfits along with Lindsey over at The Pleated Poppy Blog.

 

All of these outfits are ones I put together for work where the dress code is "dress casual."  I teach kindergarten and spend my day with twenty-nine 4,5 and 6 year olds so my clothing needs to comfortable, colourful and machine washable!

 

I've experimented a bit more with pattern this time around and I've learned a few things about plaid.  Like maybe it isn't really all that flattering. :(  I've also learned that pockets on my hip-bones don't work either. I guess that is where taking photos of oneself is beneficial.  All the little things that you can't catch in the mirror become very clear.  But to balance this, there are lots of things I like seeing.  For instance, I really like my glasses. They aren't new, but everyday I am pleased with how they look on my face.  AND - I think I accessorize pretty well.  Scarves and necklaces definitely finish off an outfit, adding detail and colour. 

 

So without further ado......

 

 

Black and White and Turquoise All Over

 

 Nautical Stripes and a Flash of Red

 

Mad About Plaid

Silver with a Pink Streak

Grey with Glitzy Stripes

 

Red Roses

 

 

School Colours for Spirit Day!

Blue, Berry and a Bunch of Buttons

 

 

If you want to see my earlier forays into "What I Wore Wednesday," check my other posts HERE  and HERE.

 

 

Thanks for popping by.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on these outfits and my self-portraits. 

 

And....

 

What do you think of my new blog layout and colour theme?  I needed something new for 2016 and though this new "pinkness" was perfect!

 

 

Much love to all,

 

XOXOXO

 

Bronwyn

 

 

Pottering - At Home, and Out and About

Well, there goes another weekend. They just speed by, don't they ?

No worries. We filled our time just enough to feel we had accomplished a few things and had just the right amount of downtime. 

 

How did our weekend shape-up?

Here are a few pictures to illustrate.....

 

 

We finally checked out the Danish Bakery in a nearby town.  OMG.  I wish I had known about this sooner.  Breads, pastries, and sweets all created from traditional Danish recipes.  Amazing. 

 

I had a bag of rhubarb in my fridge-freezer taking up far too much space.  So thawed it out and made a big batch of strawberry-rhubarb jam. 

Homemade jam always tastes better than the store-bought kind!!

 

 

 

Now we had fresh Danish bread and several jars of newly made jam. Can you guess what we had for lunch?? 

 

After a quiet afternoon at home, watching the snowflakes fly outside our windows, I decided we needed some cosy comfort food for dinner.  The Tuna Casserole was a huge hit with  the whole family probably because I had made it using 4 kinds of cheese - cottage, cream, parmesan and cheddar. Yum.  

  

 

After dinner, our oldest son wanted to teach us how to play one of the new board games he received for Christmas.  I'll be honest, I'll join in because my kids ask me to but I really don't like to play games.  However, once we began playing "Ticket to Ride," I was hooked!! I don't know if its the travel element, the train-building or the strategies needed, but I really liked it!  And I won!  I wonder if the boys (and my hubby) will play with me again tonight......?

 

Sunday morning was spent doing laundry and cleaning bathrooms, but after lunch we visited the local library.  We came home with three huge bags of books that will hopefully last us until next weekend!  Our youngest son is an excellent reader and can read novels on his own.  However, being only 7 , he still adores having picture books read to him.  That's fine with me.  I don't need him growing up any quicker these days!

 

 

We made a quick stop at the market to grab few things and came across these in the floral centre.  SO many blooms in so many colours.  Spring is still AGES away here, but it is wonderful to see reminders that it will come soon enough!

 

 I have a little bit of school work to get done in the next few hours, and I should probably hit the gym. Another weekend in the books. 

 

We're more than halfway through January already.

 Can you believe it?

 

Wishing you all a wonderful week. 

Stay warm and keep smiling. 

 

 

XOXOXO

 

Bronwyn

 

Cold & Wintr'y Outside, Warm & Cosy Inside (Five on Friday)

Up until this week, we've pretty much avoided  all signs of a real Canadian winter.  It's been cool, rainy and wet and we definitely did not have a white Christmas.

However, the snow never stays away for long around here and sure enough, winter has arrived full force here near Toronto. 

 

The boots have come out, the woolly scarves are wrapped and knotted  and the dog no longer wants to go on his early morning walk.  It's mid-January and it finally feels like winter.

 

So while the snow and wind rages outside, my family and I have been enjoying all the cosi-ness of home.

 

Joining in once again with Amy's "Five on Friday," I would love to share five photos that illustrate the week that has been.

 

Number One:  Quiet Book Time

Every night at about 7pm, the whole family sits down quietly in the family room and enjoys an hour of  reading time all together.  Snacks are allowed but they have to be prepared before 7pm so that food prep does not cut into the time meant for books.  We sometimes have complaints because the kids would rather be on the Wii or building with Lego, but usually we can count on all three children to be cuddled up on the sofa with blankets, books and the dog. It's the perfect way to wind down before bed. 



 

 

Number Two: Flowers "Just Because"

Kevin brought these roses home one day this past week.  He said it was for "no reason" but I am sure he realized I was having a grumpy day and that I could really use something beautiful to brighten my spirit.  He knows me so well!

 

 

Number Three: Strawberry Macarons

My daughter received a macaron baking kit for Christmas from Santa Claus.  This past weekend we finally put it to use.  Our first attempt was about a 5 out of 10.  Half the biscuits stuck to the non-stick silicon baking liner or cracked upon removal.  However, they did taste good, had a marvellous texture and were especially delicious sandwiched together with strawberry jam.

 

 

Number Four:  A New Mug

One can never have too many cute mugs.  My hubby might argue otherwise,  but really, would you have left this "knitted" mug at the store??

 

 

Number Five:  Redecorating

Now that the Christmas décor has been put away for over 2 weeks, I am slowly trying to add in some little décor items that will add some pizazz back to the house during these cold and grey days.

I had forgotten that I bought this cute little guy last winter and was pleased as punch to put him out again  on my simple winter mantel. 

Do you have plans for your weekend?

How are you staying warm during these cold, wintr'y days?

 

 

I just heard about a Danish bakery in a nearby town and we'll be heading there for brunch on the weekend.  Other than that, we'll stay close to home, perhaps wear our pajamas all day.

 

We've also planned an "Alan Rickman" movie party.  So sad to hear of his death today.  Our first 2 films will be "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" and then "Sense and Sensibility." If time allows we'll also view at least one Harry Potter film, too.

 

 

 

Wishing you the loveliest of weekends!

 

XOXOXO

 

Bronwyn



The Tea Room Experiment OR... Should I Take My 7 Year Old Son to a Quiet and Elegant Tearoom??

In my previous post I spoke of how I really wanted to visit a nearby tearoom for the first time this weekend but my typical "tea room partner," my 9 year old daughter, was busy with other plans. 

 

So my dilemma was this:  Do I cancel my visit to said tea room because daughter could not attend

or

try out a new "tea room partner" in the form of a 7 or 11 year old boy??

 

Several of you emailed and told me to take a boy. 

 

Honestly, my boys are pretty well behaved in most social situations and in the tea room they would be well fed and able to enjoy one-on-one time with Mommy which hardly EVER happens.

So decision made.......

 

.... I brought a boy with me to Taylor's Tea Room in Dundas, Ontario, not 30 minutes away from our home. 

 

 

Thus begins the Tea Room Experiment. 

 

My older son received a playdate invite for the afternoon of the experiment, so my sweet 7-year-old, Camden, was the one I dragged along. 

 

He was mad that it would take a "WHOLE HALF AN HOUR" to get there and was glad that he had packed a drink for the car  "cause otherwise he would have died of thirst on the way there!!"

Oh the drama.

 

Luckily, once we arrived and parked the car, Camden was in a far better mood knowing that our food experience was right around the corner. 

 

We were seated immediately right in front of a big sunny window, and Camden got right into "killing time" while we waited for our menus. 

 

It's amazing what a kid can build with 25 little pieces of Lego and a bit of free time!

First we ordered our tea.  Camden was shocked that he could pick a whole pot for himself.   He went with a peach blend and I chose "Buckingham Palace" - a blend of jasmine and orange. 

I showed Camden how to the use the tea strainer to avoid leaves  in his drink and the explained to him about having your "tea leaves read"  to tell your future. He thought I was nuts, but I caught him several times staring deeply into his leaves afterwards:

 



 

We drink a lot of tea at home so Camden knows how he likes it. However, he is not very good at preparing his cuppa very quietly.

 

We practised taking small spoon-fuls of sugar and stirring our tea with as little spoon-to-cup clanging as possible!



 

 

Camden ordered his own food off of the menu.  He's a pretty simple guy  so he chose a big fruit salad. When it arrived he was kind of put off by the blood oranges (too red and sweet!) but managed to eat through the rest of the big bowl of juicy goodness. 

 

 

What did I order? 

I chose the cheese plate.  Lots of fresh fruit here, too, crostini crackers and 4 types of soft and hard cheese.
Delicious!!

 

The tea room had a huge selection of freshly-made cakes in the glass cabinet nearby, but instead, Camden and I opted for a huge scone with cream and jam.  I am glad I snapped this picture as quick as |I did cause the scone was gone in a flash!!

 



Not sure about clotted cream at first, but he came around rather quickly as he munched away on the scone.

 



 

By the time our bill was delivered, my quiet, patient and well-fed boy had completed this project out of his Lego.

 

 He called it a "Mec"- something he had seen before on a Lego TV show.

 

As we finished up, 2 lovely older ladies stopped by our table to compliment Camden on his behaviour.

"Handsome and well-behaved - what a combination!" one said.

 

Well,  I guess we know the results of the Tea Room Experiment.

 I really can dress my boy up and take him somewhere -- even a quiet and elegant tearoom surrounded by ladies who lunch and high expectations. 

 

Actually, I knew all along he could handle it.  As long as the food comes quickly and he can keep his hands busy, Camden can sit for hours.  He really does love the time with his Mommy and I adore my time with him. 

 

And...he says he'll go out with me again soon.  Well not too soon.  First I have to take Bryn (my 11 year old) and then my daughter.  And then when his turn comes up again, he'll probably want to be my date again. :)

 

 

I hope this post has brought a smile to your face on this Monday morning!

 

 

XOXOXOXO

 

Bronwyn

 

Five on Friday - Photos From My Phone

Image - Sparkle My Day

 

Whew! I have made it through the first week back to school/work after the holidays.  It has gone pretty smoothly, but man am I tired! I've got to get myself back onto a sleeping/eating/living schedule really quick so that week two doesn't feel quite as exhausting!

 

Thank-you so much for all your comments on my "resolutions" in my last post.  It feels wonderful to have so many supporters!

 

Speaking of resolutions, I came across this list of  New Year's goals and I found it very realistic:

 

 

Borrowed from the Simplified Bee

 

 

Amen to all of that, wouldn't you agree?

 

I am joining again this week with Amy's Five On Friday.  Here are five photos from my phone that illustrate the week that has been.

 

Number One:  My daughter wanted to spend some of her Christmas money on a new stuffed animal.  I suggested we visit "Build-a-Bear Workshop" where she could create her own stuffed animal.

She quickly chose a rainbow-hearted bear that she scented with strawberries and dressed in glittery pants and a sequinned top.  "Valerie" is the perfect bear for her!

Number Two:  In order to cut down a bit on my cookie/cake/muffin consumption, I have switched to enjoying a low-calorie hot chocolate as a dessert after my meals.  It satisfies my sweets craving and adds some milk/calcium to my diet!  A cute mug helps, too!

 



Number Three:  I took a week to un-Christmas and unclutter the house.  I am gradually adding back in the things I love and the items that will bring joy during this un-exciting month of January. 

 

(Those oranges were gone in 2 days by the way.  They are just SO GOOD this time of year!)

 



 

Number Four:  On the last day of holidays I was up before the sun worried about the lesson-planning I hadn't done for school the next day.  So, I was in my kitchen by 6am, lesson books and coffee in hand. By 7:30 I had done enough prep and I decided to drag the family out of bed too, and take them out for breakfast.

Everyone grumbled and complained until their meals arrived at the table.  Then, all of a sudden, smiles abounded and no one regretted the early rising time.  Here's my breakfast - a cinnamon swirl brioche bun covered in bananas, pecans and caramel sauce.  It was more like a dessert than a breakfast,  but I didn't mind!  :)

 

 

 

Number Five:  Now that all of my Christmas crafts are done (or not done and packed away!) I've gone back to some unfinished projects that I was working on back in October.  This patchwork quilt made up of circles appliqued onto squares is now mostly done after a enjoyable sewing session one night this week.  I need to pick up some backing fabric and binding ASAP and I hope to get the whole project done in the next week.  Watch this space.  I'll let you know how it's going......

 



Got any plans for the weekend?

So far nothing is in stone here, but I really want to check out a tea-shop or café somewhere near by.  My usual date, my daughter, is unavailable due to another "date" with her grandparents. So I may have to give her brothers a try.  I think my 7 year old would be adorable in a tearoom, but I am not sure how long he would last.  It definitely wouldn't be a slow and relaxing tea time.

My older son (11) would enjoy the cake and sweets but will be wondering when the meat and potatoes will arrive at the table. 

 

Hmm......I guess it might be a "tea room experiment." 

 

(Daisy Tea Rooms)

 

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

XOXOXO

 

Bronwyn



This Year I Will Be.....

I am not really into resolutions as they have traditionally gone - make some promises to oneself as New Year's Day arrives, live by them faithfully for a few weeks, then gradually have them fizzle out as days get busier and your body and mind get more and more tired.

I guess I am more about setting goals that can be met relatively easily. You know - guaranteed success with a little planning and prioritizing.

 

I have also picked a "word of the year" as so many people do this time of the year.  Mine is:

 

CALM

 

 

Without going into too much detail, the end of 2015 was far from calm - in fact it was manic-ly uncalm and full of way too much  stress at my my job. So to ensure that I don't lose my mind over the next 6 months, my plan is to search out the calm everywhere, even in the most stressful of situations. I will stop for a cup of tea, I will take my dog for a 10 minute walk, I will breathe deeply and place a smile on my face even when I am far from happy.  I can choose how I react to each stressful situation, and in 2016, I will choose calmness over anger, tears, stress or guilt.

 

Now onto less heavy goals!!

1.  I will keep my craft area tidy so that I can retire there each day for a few minutes of crafty me time without the stress of looking at the mess I quite often leave there.  

(Not my craft room, just perfect images off the internet!)

2.  Reconnect and spend more time with my extended family and faraway friends.  No one is more than a car-ride away (except my sister in Costa Rica!) so there is no excuse to not to meet up more often for coffee, craft time or simply a stroll around the park. 

 

 



 

 

3.  Shop more smartly.  I began a bit of this in the fall, and I am finding it is really working for me.  I used to buy tons of stuff because it was cheap and trendy.  Now, I shop around for the perfect items - I think about colour, fit, quality and whether it expands my wardrobe and works well with the pieces I already own. Needless to say, I have bought less lately, but I adore every piece.  I am looking forward to using these strategies with the new spring lines arriving in stores now. 

4.  Fill my life with PRETTY.

This aesthetic really does bring joy to my heart.  Flowers, home decor, fabrics, patterns, art, clothing - I will surround myself in all of these things throughout 2016.

 

 5.  Try a new class at the gym. 

I attend my local gym faithfully about 4 times a week.  I usually do Zumba and use the machines.  However, I think it is time to shake up my workout a little more. I think I may give Spinning a try. Maybe this week.  I'll let you know how it goes.



6.  Explore Toronto

We live so close to one of the most amazing cities in the world.  However, I have to admit that I take very little advantage of it.  It's wonderful to drool over gorgeous pictures of London, Paris and Prague, but I am sure there are just as many photograph-worthy gems in TO and I am going to seek them out!

 



I think these goals sounds reasonable, don't you think?

 

Nothing earth-shattering, but real and attainable.

 

I am planning my first day out in Toronto already and I've got my shoes packed for my first spinning class. 

 

Tune in here to see how it all comes into fruition!

 

XOXOXO

 

Bronwyn