Tis the Season… of deliciousness!

Tis the season, it is said. The season of laughter, love, and giving. The season of festive music and merry-making. The season of muted silence with thick snow falling gently over the world, blanketing us in a wondrous white which covers all dirt and grime. It makes our fields, our cities, our towns, and our streets look white-washed and clean, if but for only a moment. Tis also the season of rushing around, stress, and sickness, but let's not dwell on that side of it… at least not today ;)

Tis the season…. of baking! This is what brings me here today. With Christmas fast approaching many ovens are heating up, baking the most delectable cookies, cakes and desserts, ready for the consumption of the masses as families join together in celebration of the Christmas season and Jesus' birth. I must admit, this is one of my favourite parts of this season. The home baked goodies. Since getting married I have endeavoured to join the mass of bakers, and have proved myself to make some delicious, and edible I might add, desserts. My attempts at whipped shortbread have been praised by even the most seasoned of bakers, my gingerbread cookies have been chewed slowly as they've been savoured, but this year, I decided to try something a little bit different.

As we have recently moved into a new house, and November was filled with preparing for an art market, we have only recently began settling into our new home. I had no desire, whatsoever, to even attempt any baking, knowing my house was an absolute gong-show. However, in the past week or so, the house has become considerably more settled, thus, the other night, the whim of baking overcame me. As I perused my book of tried and true recipes, I felt neither inclined, nor inspired, to re-do that which I have done many times. Plus, my husband is not a cookie eater and I knew, therefore, to make cookies would result in my consumption of almost every single one. My mouth would enjoy this venture, as would my little latte growing in my womb, however, my hips, thighs, and other parts would sigh with discontentment at the shared room with the added flab that would inevitably come to rest there. Thus I turned to a new book and ventured out to try something new and exciting…. with quinoa!

As I flipped through the scrumptious desserts through this amazing cook book, my eyes came to rest upon one recipe that I couldn't seem to tear myself away from. Chocolate Truffle Brownies. I read the list of ingredients and was delighted to discover that I had all that was needed. Thank goodness for my random shopping and recent purchase of quinoa flour! My pregnancy craving of something sweet was about to be met, with the added goodness of an amazing superfood. Could life get any better? I submit that it could not. :)

Before I lay out the recipe for you, please remember that quinoa has a very distinct, almost nutty, flavour. This does not appeal to all, so you could always split your quinoa flour with some regular flour as well, to help mute the nutty tones. I prefer the quinoa taste, and myself did not find the brownies overwhelming with nutty quinoa flavour at all. In fact, for a first time brownie, I found them moist and absolutely delectable! I hope you will enjoy as well.

Chocolate Truffle Brownies

4 oz (115g) unsweetened chocolate (4 squares)

3/4 cup butter 

(I used margarine as butter is much more expensive)

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 large eggs

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups quinoa flour

1/4 cup milk

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

(I used pecans)

Preheat the oven to 350*. Lightly spray or grease a 9-inch square baking pan and lightly sprinkle with

flour or line with parchment paper.

In a small saucepan, melt the chocolate and the butter together over low heat. Add the sugar, stirring constantly. When the mixture is thoroughly blended, pour into a large bowl. Add the eggs and vanilla to the chocolate mixture and blend well. Stir in the flour and milk. Mix in the nuts. Pour evenly into the baking pan.

Bake on the center oven rack for 20-22 minutes (I had to bake mine for about 25 min). To keep these brownies chewy, be careful not to overbake. Cool for 15 minutes in the pan before cutting into 16 squares (or larger ones if you do so choose :) )…(ok, or smaller ones ;) )

If you do not have this amazing quinoa recipe book, I highly recommend it. It can be found at Costco for the best price. 

yummy!!! They are extremely delicious!

For the purchase of golden quinoa, you can get a bag of Organic True Roots quinoa at Costco. If you have a Bulk Barn in your city, they carry the golden and red quinoa in bulk, as well as the quinoa flour in bulk. If you can't find quinoa flour, you can also grind the quinoa yourself in a coffee grinder or magic bullet or flour grinder if you have one. 

I hope that as we enter this final week before Christmas, this season finds you with much joy. Enjoy time with loved ones, rest and put your feet up, and of course, enjoy all that scrumptious baking you've pre-made for the occasion! Hope you enjoy these tasty little treats, knowing it has a good-for-you superfood in it!

Merry Baking!

Till next time...

Dear little Latte...

Dear little Latte,

It's been a while since I wrote. I must say, you've certainly grown leaps and bounds since last time. You're almost 33 weeks old now and are quickly growing out of your current residence. Space has become limited. Instead of feeling hard kicks and punches, I feel knees and elbows, shoulders and head move and roll and press out hard as you manoeuvre in your cramped quarters . You've had the hick-ups quite a few times now too. At least hick-ups that I can identify. You also let daddy know you didn't like your limited space crowded even more one night. He put his hand on my belly to feel you and pressed a little harder then usual. You booted him good that time. It made me laugh out loud for a long time. You already bring me such pleasure, and I love laying in bed, teasing you, playing with you, talking to you, and just watching you roll around. It makes mommy feel a bit nauseas at times, but I know it will all be worth it.

I've also discovered that you like baths! It seems whenever I have a nice warm bath, you calm down for a time and enjoy it too. We've shared lots of baths together since we've moved into our new home, and we will share many, many more before you arrive as well. Especially because the weather has finally started getting colder and there's nothing like a nice, warm bath to warm me up.

I took you to your first musical as well! Thanks to our friend Tawny, we went to see The Sound of Music. You were quiet and still until the production started and the nuns starting singing. Then you went crazy, punching and kicking at the same time! I'm not sure if it's because you liked the music and were enthralled… or because you absolutely hated it and were trying to cover your ears. When you're born I'll put on the soundtrack and see how you react to the music. :)

Now that mommy and daddy's Christmas market is over, we can finally settle into our new home and start setting up your room. Right now it's full of boxes, so we need to get those cleared out, and find you a bed and a dresser. Don't come too soon ok my little Latte? Mommy still needs some time to get ready for your arrival and have the house organized :)

You are sure getting heavy now too. Mommy has tried not to waddle as long as possible, but your weight and that of your home comforts now make it near impossible for me not to waddle! Everyone thinks it's cute, but it's a lot of weight to carry around all day at work. We have just 3 weeks left till Christmas holidays and then I can put my feet up and let you grow and move and wiggle for two whole weeks! That will be nice indeed. Then I just have 3 days back at work and then I'm off and waiting for you to arrive! It's going to come so quickly.

Well my dear little Latte, we are on home stretch now and are getting very close to meeting you. We are so excited to hold you in our arms and cover you with kisses and give you plenty of snuggles. There are so many people who are excited to meet you as well! Take care, keep growing strong and healthy, and we will meet you very soon.

mommy and daddy love you!

Dear Little Latte...

November 10, 2011

Dear Little Latte,

You are growing so big and strong! I no longer just feel little kicks anymore, but elbows, knees and other limbs moving across my belly. I can sometimes feel around your feet when you push them upwards. I love to sit back and watch my belly contort and move in crazy patterns as you roll and move and dance and squirm. In fact, you do it so much that you make mommy feel a little nauseas these days. That's ok though, because I want you to use those new forming muscles and developing motor skills to continue growing stronger and healthier. I often speculate if these movements are an indication of what you may love to do when you come into the world. Maybe you'll be a kick boxer, or a dancer, or a soccer player, or a swimmer. Or maybe you just hate being confined and are looking forward to having some space. Or maybe it's none of the above and you're just a baby in the womb who loves to squirm and move and you'll be the most content and peaceful individual. I just have no idea, hence the beauty and wonder of who you are and the excitement and anticipation of finally meeting you. I look forward to discovering your personality, your quirks, your likes and dislikes, and your mannerisms. Will you take after daddy in this or mommy in that?

We had our first bubble bath together tonight too and one thing I discovered, is that you seem to like baths. You were moving like crazy as normal, until I settled into the soothing waters enhanced with relaxing bubbles and fragrance. You stopped moving and relaxed with mommy the entire time. Once I was out you started your routine again, but you loved bath time. Daddy was so sweet and cleaned the tub for us first too, as it's getting harder for mommy to bend over. We shall have more bath times together in the near future.

Another little tid-bit. Your cousin Brenna was just born yesterday. She is beautiful, just like your cousin Lucy and they are both waiting to meet you! After you are born, then you will have to wait just a few more weeks until your other new cousin, Little Bean Sprout, is born as well. The whole family is so excited for all 4 of you to join us. You got to meet Little Bean on Thanksgiving weekend. Mommy and Auntie Rachelle had buried a time capsule 4 years ago and we were digging it up to see what we had predicted about this year. You and your cousin, Little Bean, were both predicted, much to our amazement and joy. :)

Little Latte and Little Bean Sprout meet for the first time :)

Last week we went to Calgary and Sylvan Lake. Grandma W. had some time loving on you and can't wait to meet you! Grandma and Grandpa C. also enjoyed feeling you roll around and can't wait to meet you as well. At one point, when we were sitting at the table, you were bumping and kicking and rolling, and Grandpa put his hand on my tummy to feel you, but you stopped moving. You were probably wondering about this new hand and what it was doing on your home. Then out of no where you kicked Grandpa's hand. We all enjoyed that. You also got some loving from your Aunties' Shauna, Dora and Lori! Know you are already well loved by everyone and your arrival is highly anticipated by all.

I love you Little Latte and we have only 11 weeks left till you are due to arrive! Maybe you will come early, or maybe you'll come a little later, but it won't be too long now till I get to hold you in my arms and not just in my belly!

Love Mommy.

29 weeks + 1 day

Little Latte moving. Watch closely :)

Change is in the air

Leaves fall in hues of red, orange, yellow and all mixes inbetween. The air has a crispness to it bringing on such lovely things as scarves, jackets, boots, and even mittens. It's not so cold that one dreads venturing outside, but rather, looks forward to the wave of freshness that ensues. The crunch underfoot emits aromas of sweetness into the air which is most pleasing to the nose. This is always most appreciated by one whose sense of smell is significantly heightened due to pregnancy.

It is in this glorious time that we find ourselves in the process of change. With winter fast approaching, as well as the birth of our little Latte, we felt it was time to look for another place to live, one with a bit more space. This would be helpful before the house becomes buzzing with friends and family. Thus, the quest began to search out a place that would suit our needs and not break our bank account. I looked at 7 different places and one stood out above the rest. As it turns out, it is a mere hop, skip and a jump from where we live now. However, this new place, which is a newer half duplex, has 3 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms (with tubs!!!), a living room, family room, storage, and larger kitchen with cupboards! Also, we are blessed to have a single car garage, in which we can use for storage, but we can also park a vehicle in there! What a wonderful thing this will be for the winter months, especially being pregnant and then having little Latte. No more cleaning snow off my car!

With finding a new place, however, comes packing and cleaning the place you currently reside in. We gave our notice and then realized rather quickly that this house was going to be shown to others who are searching for a new home. Our house, though not dirty, was definitely cluttered and in disarray. We needed to get this house show ready, and fast! We were heading away for the Thanksgiving weekend, and the first showings were going to be Tuesday evening. Hayden was leaving again for work Tuesday morning, thus that left Monday to get our place ready. We left Calgary at 8am and shortly after we arrived home we buckled down and began tackling the daunting task of cleaning our entire house and yard. We started at 11am, and as I started inside, room by room, Hayden began the outside clean-up. We didn't finish until 7:30pm! 8 1/2 hours later! What a long day that became, but our house looked amazing. So amazing I was sad to be leaving it!

As it turned out, our clean sweep was a success and many people came through the house, one being the next renters. We also had people interested in our art, which we had hanging up all over the place. Thus, we now can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that there is someone taking over this house for Nov 1st and it is out of our hands in just a mere couple of weeks. I still haven't been able to bring myself to begin packing, though I know I need to. It's hard when I'm tired most days and my man is away with work. I don't have the same drive. But I know it will get done. It has to!

The only thing left to do is find a washer and dryer for a good price, as the new place doesn't come with them. I'm positive God will provide that as well.

Thus, this is where we are at the moment. It's exciting and stressful all at the same time! So much to do, so little time to do it in. Change is good and I'm ready to settle into our new home, nest and prepare for the arrival of our little one. Maybe even do some baking in there :) On a cool, crisp day, there's nothing better then walking into a house that smells of cinnamon and apples.

Hope you are enjoying the fall and breathing in the fresh scents that accompany it.

Till next time.

Book Review: J.R.R. Tolkien by Mark Horne

The rolling hills of The Shire, the smoke-filled gloom of Mordor, the epic tales of selfless heroism, a vast history of a fantasy world called Middle Earth, and a hobbit. All born in the mind of one man, influenced by life's unexpected twists and turns, ups and downs and a steadfast faith in God.

From his birth in South Africa till his death in England, Mark Horne takes us on a compelling journey through the life of beloved author, J.R.R. Tolkien. The tragedies and triumphs, the hardships and good times, the friends and loved ones, and his growing faith in the Catholic Church, all of which shaped, not only the course of Tolkien's life, but also greatly influenced his works of writing; most notably the well-known and popular "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings".

As I began reading this biography, which is part of the Christian Encounter Series, I found myself pulled into the pages within mere moments. Mark Horne has a beautiful way of enticing a reader with language that is concise, easily read and understood.

As a fond lover of Tolkien's writing, there was an excitement to learn more about this man and his life, however I also had a slight fear my view of him could be tainted by what I read. This book, however, caused my appreciation of Tolkien to deepen, to feel inspired to reach higher for seemingly unattainable goals, and to count my blessings everyday. I appreciated how Mark Horne continually reminds the reader of Tolkien's faith through-out his life's journey, but doesn't bombard the reader with it either. This helps make it a good read for anyone interested in Tolkien's life, whether Christian or not.

All said and done, I was absolutely delighted with this book and looked forward to every moment I was able to sit down and read it. If you are interested in knowing more about J.R.R Tolkien, then this book is a great start to getting acquainted with this renowned author.

Aryn

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Dear Little Latte...

Dear little Latte,

My you are growing so big and strong! Your movements are ever felt. I can't believe you are now 23 weeks old! The weeks are going by quickly. Last night you woke mommy up at 2am with what felt like a rave dance party, only I couldn't hear the music :) It was sure hard for mommy to get up this morning for work because of your dance moves keeping me up all night. I'm glad you're having fun my little one.
This week was also daddy and mommy's 2nd Anniversary. We had a picnic where we got married and mommy took a picture with you there. Such a special memory and I'm glad you could be a part of it. One day, after you're born, I'll take you for a walk there so you can see what a beautiful place it is.
Mommy and daddy also have decided that we are staying in Medicine Hat for now, so you'll get to meet all our wonderful friends here when you arrive. Everyone is really excited to meet you :) You are very loved. We are just looking to see if we can find a house that's a little bigger and a little warmer, so you won't be so cold when you come home. We want you to be nice and snuggly warm during our cold winter. It would also be nice to have an extra room for when Grandma and Grandpa or friends come to visit.
Well, mommy needs to go now, as I have a head cold and don't feel very good. I can't take much to help it go away, because I want to keep you safe and healthy, so sleep is the best thing I can get right now.
I love you so much, my dear little Latte, and as we get nearer and nearer to meeting you I get more and more excited.

Love,
Mommy

Dear little Latte….

September 1, 2011

Dear little Latte,

Today daddy and I went for our ultrasound. For the first time we got to see you while you were in mommy's tummy. We saw a perfect profile of your beautiful little face, your body and your very longs legs that you seem to love to stretch out and cross at the ankles, just like your daddy does. You were moving and kicking and even flipped completely at one point. And you are a little stubborn as well, just like mommy (according to daddy). You wouldn't hold still long enough for the technician so she could get a measurement of your little head. You would roll onto your tummy and tuck your head down. I definitely got a bit misty eyed while watching you and fell in love with you all over again. We don't know if you are our little prince or princess, but we will find out soon enough when you are born. I'm so glad that you are ours and we look forward to meeting you in just a few months now.

love you our little Latte,
mommy

side profile of little Latte

close up of little Latte's head, where you can see his/her cute little button nose.

September 8, 2011

Dear little Latte,

We are now just past the half way mark and you are growing like crazy. I feel your kicks and punches much more strongly now and daddy feels them too! The other night, as I laid in bed, I could see my belly move up and down wherever you kicked. It was fun to watch. We ordered your stroller for you and you are going to love it. When you're a bit older mommy will take you for jogs in it and we will have heaps of fun. Daddy and I have also been looking at other essentials that will make your room nice and cozy for your arrival. We don't know if we will be living in Medicine Hat still or if we will be moving closer to Grandma and Grandpa yet, but soon enough we will have that figured out, don't you worry. Mommy also signed up for our prenatal classes, where daddy and I can learn a lot about you and how to properly take care of you so you'll grow big and strong. I think that will be a lot of fun. I'll write to you soon again my beautiful little Latte. I love you.

mommy

20 weeks: half baked

As I reflect back on the past 20 weeks, the changes, the hormones, the firsts, a lot has transpired. Everyday I'm more amazed at how God has created the female body, what it can take, how it is stretched and moulded to become the growing place of a new life. I've already experienced a plethora of new pains, sensations, and symptoms that I've never known up until this point. I've experienced such lows as shortness of breath, light-headedness, incredible back pain, and a constant achy, stretchy and sometimes sharp pain in the abdomen as my body grows to accommodate this new life. Amazingly enough, knowing that our child is in there makes experiencing all those symptoms more bearable and completely worth it. It's not all bad, however, as I also have experienced such highs as feeling our little Latte move, kick and punch. That right there causes all other discomforts to fade into the background and diminish greatly.

I've embraced my belly, rubbing it almost constantly, loving it and being completely at ease with it. I confess, maybe even perhaps milking it a bit and allowing others to help me more often because of it. :) But as I approach the half-way mark, there are other thoughts stirring, provoking me to look inwards more often. I wonder, do I love our baby enough? Am I bonding properly? Am I giving our baby enough attention, singing enough, talking to him/her enough? I feel detached still from the reality that I have a baby growing inside of me, and thus feel guilty for not embracing it more. Is this how every woman feels or am I the only one? I fear getting too caught up in what our little Latte needs for their arrival then actually thinking about the fact that little Latte will be arriving very soon. Am I doing what I need to do to ensure that I will be able to deliver and mother this child the way he/she deserve?

Part of me feels completely at peace at the prospect of going through labour and delivery, then this other part of me creeps up, uninvited, and I'm wondering what I've gotten myself into and will I really be able to handle it? My desire is for a natural birth, but I know that this is not always possible. Every circumstance is as unique as we are. Will I be able to take the hours of pain if all is progressing normally or succumb to the invitation of drugs? What will my personal threshold be? All these questions are such that cannot be answered until the time arrives, making them no less daunting each time they surface. However, then God's peace overpowers and I know that with Christ I can do all things….including child birth, however that pans out. The constant battle of wills rages within me, and I feel like a mere observer, waiting to see which side will prevail.

Thus here I wait, as patiently as I can, embracing each day as it comes. I know that as already 20 weeks have flown by, the next 18-22 weeks will be equally swift. Every time I hold a baby or even observe one from a distance at a store or in church, I'm struck with the amazing reality that soon I'll be holding my own beautiful baby. It brings tears to the eyes just thinking about it. And thus I go, to love on our little one, relax, and rest in the knowledge that God has all circumstances surrounding me, my body, our baby, and this pregnancy, protected in His hands.

Till next time

Dear Latte....

Saturday, August 20th, 2011

Dear little Latte,

I've been waiting very patiently to feel you move my little one. Tonight, Auntie Karlee was over and we were watching Ever After, one of Mommy's favorite movies. Daddy left for Whispering Pines today, but we will join him tomorrow. While we were watching the movie, I felt you kick, very distinctly! You continued to dance around for most of the night, much to my delight. I realized then, that I think I'd felt you before tonight, but it was fainter and only one kick at a time, so I didn't know what I was feeling because you didn't continue. Auntie Karlee prayed for you and Mommy before she left. You are very lucky to have such amazing people in your life that already love you very much. Later tonight, as I was laying down in bed, I felt your kick in my hands that were covering my tummy. You must be very strong. I look forward to meeting you, my sweet little Latte.

Love Mommy



Monday, August 22, 2011

Dear Little Latte,

You've been moving around a lot more these past few days, especially when Mommy has something to eat. It's been amazing getting to know your movements and feel you more each day. Today, when Daddy came in for lunch, you started moving, and he put his hand on Mommy's tummy and felt a little kick! He was very excited. You kicked hard enough just one time for him to feel it. Thank you for doing that. We both look forward to you getting stronger and then Daddy can feel you move around even more. We are looking forward to seeing you at our ultrasound next week. Then we will go visit Grandma and Grandpa and maybe they can feel you move too!

I love you my little Latte. I look forward to holding you in my arms.

Love Mommy

Week 17 dawns

Having had many friends have babies in recent times, I'm surprised how little I know about this thing called pregnancy. I always thought, what's there to it? You're belly gets big and then one day, out pops a baby. I'm fast discovering that there is more to this mystery of growing a child within the womb.

First of all, there's the unmistakable feeling of stretching that continues from the inside out, as your uterus grows to accommodate a quickly growing child. It's not painful, only remotely uncomfortable, mainly due to the fact that it's a new feeling. It fastly becomes familiar, however. Then there's the ligament pains. Sneeze or cough too hard, move too suddenly or roll over wrong, and you can be caught off guard with a sudden stab of sharp pain along the side and under the little growing belly. Who knew? Also, there's the crazy increasing appetite. I easily compete with Hayden these days, and sometimes even exceed him (which isn't too hard as he's a relatively light eater anyway).

As I hit week 15, Hayden and I hit the road and headed out West. Along with the refreshing feeling of adventure and family times to come, was the new sense of non-nauseasousness. For the first time I felt a little more "normal". What a relief. The entire week and a half of being gone was blissful, and the day after we arrived back home….nausea again. Ugh! Not as bad as before, but prevalent to be sure. We have since concluded that the heat of Medicine Hat is the main culprit.

Our travels took us on a ride out to Langley where we were blessed to stay with and hang out with our friends, Mark and Katy Hersey and their little munchkin, Charlotte. She is a perfect kid to hang around when you're on your way to having your own. She lights up the room with her presence and smile, not to mention her amazing sense of style (thanks to her stylish momma). They were a delight to spend time with and a great start to our trip.

The next morning we headed out to Horseshoe Bay to catch a ferry to the Island. We were blessed to not hit any construction delays or major traffic jams, but made great time and ended up catching one ferry earlier then expected. No waiting necessary as we drove right on, being one of about the last 5 cars to load. Being a beautiful day, the trip passed by quickly and pleasantly and before we knew it we were coming in to Nanaimo. We took off and drove leisurely up the old island highway, which follows the coastline. We stopped in Qualicum for some lunch at a seaside pub. Of course, one cannot help but order seafood, especially when you know it's been caught fresh and has never been frozen. I had the most delicious crab burger I've ever tasted.

We then took a nice walk up the beach for a ways and then headed back and decided to go in search of coffee for Hayden and ice cream for me. :) Plus, we were waiting for my parents to arrive, as they were spending the night in Qualicum. All 4 of us were heading to Courtenay as a surprise to the family, with only one Auntie knowing of our arrival.

After scouring the town centre, we found what we were looking for. A cafe called "Baily's". We ordered our delicacies and waited just a few minutes longer for the parentals to arrive. We enjoyed about an hour or so together and also meandered through the mansion they were staying at. It was like walking into the grand 1950's. We then said good-bye and continued on out way up the coast. We had a delightful 2 days in Courtenay and seeing the surprised looks on the family's face as each one saw us, and then again when mom and dad mysteriously walked through the door, was priceless. And of course, little latte was showing more now and thus got many a belly rub.

We then headed for Victoria in an entourage with my parents. They were driving a silver Dodge Charger and looking like a couple going through their mid-life crisis, and dad was driving like it! Mr. Speedy Gonzolas :) It was delightful to watch. They made a break from us at one point when dad raced through a yellow light. They then proceeded to catch every continuing light at a green, while we hit every single red light, one right after the other. We felt like we were in Medicine Hat again.

Victoria offered more sights and delights, one of which was the ever abundant black berry bushes that grew wild wherever the eye gazed. Our first day, however, eluded us of blackberries as we went to the hotel and got ready for the event in which brought us there, my cousins wedding. This would be little latte's first wedding and wedding feast. It was held at a state winery, the award-winning fruit of which I had to forgo this visit, but will be back to try again in the future. The evening ended with bellies full of an exquisite dinner, delectable dessert, and scrumptious wedding cake made into little squares that were decorated like gift boxes.

The next day brought some fun visiting with some dear friends of ours, Yusuf and Karina, and their little munchkin, Ishaya. It consisted of hours of talking and walking and viewing the beautiful island. Yusuf also showed us their favorite blackberry bush, because it's easy to access and there was always ripe blackberries, just waiting for the picking.

After our lovely endeavours and adventures, it was time for the family BBQ. This brought some good catching up time, along with a wasp or two trying to interfere with our delicious supper. Then it was off to Jes' for the night, which it turned out, she lived just one street up from Yusuf and Karina! I had a most relaxing bath in the best soaker tub ever! It was just what my soar back prescribed.

The next morning we were up and at it pretty early. We packed up, said our good-bye to Jes and headed out, but not before stopping to pick a giant ziplock bag full of blackberries :) We then headed to the ferry and caught the one just loading. We sure had some good luck with ferries on this trip. It was a shorter jaunt from Victoria and before we knew it, we were off and heading towards Clint, Laura and our niece, Lucy. But not before getting caught in some seriously backed up traffic, moving like snails in thick mud. Really, what is the perk for living in large cities again? I have still to find one. Ok, ok, besides the fact that there are amazing stores to shop in with usually easy access, beautiful parks to explore with massive trees (in Vancouver anyway), and quaint little Jewish bagel shops with tasty treats and eats. Other then that I can't see the point. :)

We finally arrived, the door opened, and I beheld my little niece for the first time in person. She was so beautiful and before long she was in my arms and I got a smile almost immediately! My heart was stolen from that moment on. The next two and a half days were utter bliss as I got snuggle after snuggle with this cute little peanut as well as watching Hayden become fully smitten with her and get some snuggles of his own. Words cannot even begin to express the love I felt for her. The power of the bond and the strength with which I felt it, was almost startling. We had a great time visiting with Clint and Laura as well. It was nice to have just "us" time, just the four of us. To see them in their element, their "neck of the woods....er....city" was delightful. I loved the walks we took, the exploring we did, the food we ate, and the laughs we shared. It was time well spent and a perfect ending to our adventures out West. To leave was one of the hardest things I've encountered in a very long time. The thought of not watching my little niece grow up, tore at my heart strings. Plus the fact that my preggo hormones were raging didn't help either. I cried almost the whole drive from their house to Langley, cried whilst in Langley and then cried myself to sleep later that night. That's a lot of crying :P

The next day dawned and we were off for home. Our travels were almost finished, but not before a stop at the Enchanted Forest was made! I've always passed it whilst growing up, but never had we been able to stop. So, Hayden said we could and boy was I excited! It was a fantastic little stop. I enjoyed the set up, the little houses, the giant tree house, all the nursery rhymes and figures in the forest to correlate. It was fairytale heaven....besides the fact that the figures looked as though they were made by people who had little to no artistic ability. :) It was delightful, nonetheless, and I look forward to bringing my children there one day. I'm sure little latte enjoyed it too. Even though they couldn't see anything this time, I'm sure they felt the joy that mommy felt while we were there.

Finally Calgary was in sight. The night was spent and home was just around the corner. But not before stopping at a baby store in Calgary and checking out the stroller that we are wanting, among other items. :) Then, home we came at long last. It was a grand trip that we are both glad we had the opportunity to take.

A few days later I had my second appointment, to which Hayden came along. This time he got to hear our little latte's heartbeat and it all became that much more real for him too. No movement, that I could perceive anyway, was happening just yet, but I was waiting patiently, as each new day dawned, and with it the possibility of feeling our little munchkin. Once that begins, and then seeing him/her with the ultrasound, a new wave of reality will hit I'm sure.

Well, this has been long enough to catch up to week 17 and all the fun that was had inbetween. As I'm away from my computer at the moment, there are no photos on this post just yet, but once I'm home, I will add them to this post, to help make the read a little more enjoyable.

Till next time!

Little latte - week 14 1/2

As my journey continues I'm amazed to discover that not everything goes by the book, not every day is predictable, and my pregnancy is definitely as different and unique as I am. Really, one would think this wouldn't be extraordinarily amazing but common sense, however, once pregnant, most common sense flies out the window. As the days pass I expect to wake up and feel, well, normal. But what is normal? Unfortunately, what's been known as normal will never be again.

As the second trimester dawned, my middle of the night bathroom interludes subsided, only to be replaced with an almost constant sore back and an abundance of tossing and turning throughout the night, in a hopes of discovering at least one comfortable position. And this is only the fourth month. Each morning rises to tell it's own tale. Will my stomach churn causing a rush to the bathroom? Will I have a fit of nausea that sits with me all day and does nothing more but annoy me? What food will be safe for me to consume today? For what was safe and yummy yesterday could cause a gag reflux today. Will my emotions carry me away on a flood of tears over such monumental things as, no pulled chicken on the chicken BBQ wrap or sadness for the latest chef to be sent home in the tv show "Chopped". There is no end to the vast amount of trials one must endure during this time. If you've been pregnant, then reading the above list probably made you nod your head in camaraderie and understanding. If you've never been pregnant, then you're reading that list, smiling, maybe even chuckling to yourself and saying, "come on…for reals?" Just you wait my female friend, just you wait. The hormones pumping through my body, well, let's just say, it's PMS on steroids :) I can't remember if I said that in an earlier blog, but no difference, it's worth repeating. One item that's been a HUGE relief during this time are Preggie Pops! All natural candies made for pregnant women to help fight nausea. They have become my best friend and I highly recommend them for any of my friends who become pregnant and need something to help ease that yucky tummy feeling. Although they do nothing for emotions haha.

A true life-saver :)

On the flip side, each day brings a growth, if even slightly, to my belly. Another mystery of how every woman is different. I seem to be showing more then some friends who are already sitting at 17-21 weeks. Different bodies :) It's fun seeing my belly swell and knowing it's not from gas or bloating, but from a tiny living being growing inside of me.

14 weeks + 1 day. Little latte's first visit to Glacier National Park in Montana.

As I come up on week 15 in just a couple of days, my anticipation of soon being able to feel our little latte moving around in there almost sends me through the roof with excitement. Hearing the heartbeat made this more real, but I bet there's nothing like feeling your baby move within your womb. I'm excited for Hayden to be able to finally feel the movements as well.

I've been, I can't really say "nesting", as we don't have any place for me to start nesting in this teensy, little house. But I've been starting to "collect" items for baby's arrival. Gender neutral of course :) I got little winter booties for our latte's winter arrival. One of the pairs is colourful and knitted with a soft fuzzy bottom and the other ones are brown with fleece lining. So cute! To settle my mind, if for no other reason, I made my list, which turned out to be quite an extensive list, but now I can breathe and just look at it to see what else we can look for in small bits and pieces.

Well, that's all for now. I need to go and eat something or suck on a preggie pop :P
Enjoy the sun.
Till next time...

little latte - week 13

Much happened between week 6 and week 13. My little latte grew from the size of a seed to the size of a peach, for one. And with that growth (although small) comes a bit of a belly. Myself, being quite excited to get pregnant, have been looking forward to having a preggo belly. So each little growth spurt and the slightest of swelling of my belly was exciting for me….but still presented it's issues emotionally as well. Perhaps it was more pride then anything. I had just finished a crazy diet in January where I lost 19lbs and was trim, flat, and loving my new body. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't sad that I had a baby growing in me now, but it was the fact that I couldn't tell anyone, and as far as anyone knew who saw me, I was just gaining all that hard lost weight back. And I couldn't defend myself. I had become so proud of my achievement that I didn't want anyone to think I had failed. Dealing with that, in my head and my heart, was a difficult hurdle, but I knew I just needed to get past the 3 month mark, and all would become clear.

I started showing abnormally early, 6 or 7 weeks actually, when for a first pregnancy, as well as being in good shape, one doesn't normally show until close to week 20. Well, there's just more proof that every woman and every pregnancy is different. For one, I have no body at all. I'm all legs. So baby has no where to go but out :) By week 10 I felt I was very noticeably protruding wondering how I was going to hide it for 2-3 more weeks before we spilled the beans!

Week 10 - little bump :)

I soon realized that no one even noticed yet. I was the one who looked at my belly everyday and could see the difference. I gave myself away too, not by the bump, but by the fact that I'm always absentmindedly cradling my tummy and rubbing it. Many a suspicion arose from such actions, so I'm now told. One really cool sensation I have been experiencing as of late, however, has been intense heat inside my belly. We will be driving, or I'll be walking and all of a sudden, this heat kicks on, from the inside! Like I have a little sauna or furnace and baby flicked on the switch. But not only is the heat crazy on the inside (but not uncomfortable in the least), when you touch my tummy, it's hot hot hot! it's so fascinating how our bodies are created to accommodate these little, growing beings. I love being a part of this miracle.

Besides the outward, physical changes, so were the inward. Emotionally and motionally. Emotionally speaking, I became more weepy, more confrontational (which if you know me, I'm not a confrontational person) and a bit anxious. The anxiety stemmed more from the fact that, other than not feeling super great and looking like a gained some mid-section weight, I didn't feel pregnant. Nor did I have my first appointment till almost 13 weeks. That's a long time to go, not knowing how baby is doing, how they're growing, if they're really and truly in there…you get the picture. I wasn't a wreck, which is good, but I could've easily become a wreck. Thanks God He helped me through that.

Now, motionally speaking, the nausea settled for a little bit, only coming to bother me once in a while, which was nice. Then I got a nice 24 hour flu bug or some such which threw me out of commission and that was followed shortly by a wicked head cold which progressed to an unpleasant chest cold! Here was one point of pregnancy that hit hard when I was hacking my lungs out, couldn't breathe, could barely sleep, etc….is that if you're pregnant you can't take ANYTHING! Or very little anyway. I went to the Safeway pharmacy, on the point of feeling like I was going to die if this cough didn't ease up. I walked up to the counter and spoke the words with hope "What can I take for a horrible cough/cold if I'm pregnant", to which the pharmacist looked casually at me and said simply, "nothing." I almost broke down and wept right there. But instead I pleaded "There's got to be SOMETHING, this cough is killing me," She offered some advice of something I could take, not saying the name of the product, just what was in it. At this point I was getting agitated with her non-helpfulness, but calmly was able to persuade her to come and show what that specifically would be. And I thought pharmacists were supposed to be helpful!

Well, I finally got through that and all was well….till about week 9 or 10. I can't say I had horrible morning sickness in the way of having to throw up all the time, but the queasiness became almost unbearable at times, as did the occasional heartburn. The slightest smell or sight or thought of certain foods would send me into a gaging reflux. Only now have I had a few days straight where I've felt pretty good. Hopefully we are onward and upward now! And boy I sure do love my garlic stuffed olives and pickles :) Speaking of which…...

Through the weeks Hayden has become quite attached to our growing little latte as well. It's been fun for me to see him welcome the role of daddy. He will gently rub my belly or talk to the baby (even though we know they can't hear just yet). It makes it so much more wonderful knowing he's all for this as well and just as happy and excited and nervous as I am. Periodically, throughout the first trimester, he would say to me "How much longer do we have to wait?" in reference to telling people our news. He was just as excited as I was to spread the word. At least our immediate family knew and we could talk about it with them. But Hayden is already protective of our little one and he makes sure I'm taking care of myself and therefore baby is being taken care of.

As we neared the 11-12 week mark we decided we could start telling some of our closest friends, and of course once we started telling them, we just started telling everyone because it felt so good to finally let it out! For me, though, it wasn't all quite real until I had my first maternity appointment. It seemed like July 19th was forever away and never going to get here. I wanted so badly to hear my baby's heartbeat and know there was something truly alive inside of me. I also knew the chances of hearing the heartbeat so early was also low and not to be discouraged or worried if we couldn't. But still, a mom-to-be can hope. 

Finally the 19th dawned, bright, sunny, and promising to be extremely hot. I wore a light dress to help stay cool, especially with my random hot flashes I get now and then. I arrived early, just to be sure I'd know where to go and how to find the maternity clinic at the hospital. My stomach was a knot of butterflies, and it wasn't baby moving butterflies either. Today would solidify that this is really happening. It's not imagined, there's no turning back, this is for real. Also, I had absolutely NO idea what to expect or what they were going to do, and of course was nervous about that as well.

The routine begins; pee in a cup, take your weight and height, check your blood pressure. Then comes the first appointment onslaught of questions about everything from marital status to health history, not just mine, not just my family's, but Hayden's as well. The nurse was pleasantly surprised at how healthy I was and the fact that I didn't smoke, drink or do drugs :) I aim to please. Of course, I had questions to ask. Many in fact, but could I remember any of them once I was there?….nope. I need to start making a list for my next appointment. That pregnancy brain can really get you. 

Then the Dr. came in. He was really nice and friendly and made me feel a bit more at ease, considering I'm sitting on the table in nothing but a gown, almost jumping with nervousness. He checked out the size of my uterus, which was good and then brought out……THE DOPPLER. A fun little machine that he uses to try to pick up the baby's heartbeat. Now my heart began pumping. I laid there, waiting and waiting. He moved the machine around my belly, here and there, trying to listen for a fast, small heartbeat. For the longest time all we could hear was my own heart and I wished I could turn it off, even for just a moment, if only to hear my baby. Then, there it was. A split second of baby heartbeat, and then baby moved, so the search continued. I'm glad the Dr. was persistent. He found baby's hiding spot again and then, for a glorious 5-6 seconds I heard the beautiful music of our little latte's heartbeat. I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face in that moment. It was real, baby was alive and well, and all this wasn't my imagination at all. The Dr. then checked me out to see if my date was accurate and I was basically right on schedule….13 weeks and counting.

Even after the appointment, when I had to go get blood samples taken, it didn't matter, because it was all for baby. I was floating on cloud 9.

So, we are week 13 + 1 day today and doing great. I think I'm going to go and have a few pickles now (my garlic stuffed olives are gone :( need to pick up some more) and get on with my day.

13 weeks, a definite bump is present already and I love it :)

Remember to enjoy this beautiful weather, no matter how hot (just remember the horrid winter we endured), and always stop to hear the whisper and taste the sun.

till next time!

A new journey begins

This was written many weeks ago, but due to the secrecy of the first 3 months, I'm only able to post it now. Here's a look back….


There comes a point in life when priorities change and those things that mattered, don't, and those things that didn't, do. It's different for everyone and can happen over time or change in the blink of an eye. I don't know exactly when the change happened for me, but one day I realized that I was ready for the next stage of life…..to start a family. Now, just because I was ready didn't mean my husband was. Therefore, patience is still key. I was on the pill and even had ppl tell me I should just go off and not say anything, but that didn't sit right in my heart. I couldn't do that to Hayden. It felt like it would be deceptive. So instead I took it one month at a time, approaching the subject before getting my next pack. I wanted Hayden to feel ready as well, and not just me. After all, it does take two to make and raise a baby!

We were getting ready for our trip to Hawaii and a few days beforehand I asked Hayden If I should get another pack or if I can go off the pill now. It was out of the blue that I asked and I think I caught him a bit off guard. But we were leaving in 3 days and I was heading to Costco that day and figured if I needed to, I would pick up another pack. He was silent for a while and then he spoke the words that caused my heart to race, "I think it's ok if you go off the pill." WHAT??? YES!!!! I had to ask him afterwards if he was completely sure, and he was. So off we went on vacation, not knowing what would happen now that we were playing with fire, so to speak. I didn't know how my body would react and if it would take me months to get pregnant or if it would happen right away. That's all part of the risk when you take away your only defence, and we weren't going to use other methods to hinder our chances. We weren't "trying" to get pregnant, we were just living life without a safety net, so to speak. I would have been happy to come home from Hawaii pregnant. I had this romantic idea of how splendid it would be, as we were engaged in Hawaii, to conceive our first child there. Well, this idea didn't pan out as my period came as soon as we got home. I was a little disappointed, but it was ok. I wanted to enjoy this stage of life still and not worry about what's to come just yet.

So the month continued on. It wasn't too much later that I started to get really bad bloating and cramps, unlike anything I've ever felt before. It was out of the ordinary and the first thought to pop into my head was "is this a symptom?". I asked a girlfriend who assured me it couldn't possibly be, as it was way too early for any symptoms to occur. So, I took that as I must have ate something that just didn't agree with me. Well, that soon led to me feeling nauseated…..day after day…..after day. Then my hopes started rising but I was still keeping silent on my thoughts. Then, one night I told Hayden, "I think I might be pregnant" and then held my breath for his response. He looked at me and say "oh yeah?" There was nothing for it but to do a test a couple days later, so I did. I could barely sleep the night before knowing that the next day could change my life forever.

I arose extra early and went to take the test. After it was over I crawled back into bed and looked at Hayden and said "Guess what?" and he said "What?" to which I replied…."You're going to be a daddy!!!"

it's a little blurry, but you can see the + :)

He smiled and said "Congratulations mommy." So, not even a month after going off the pill I was pregnant :)

The surrealness of this situation still hasn't hit most days. To think there's a living being that is forming in my womb is almost too amazing to comprehend. You always think about the day you'll be pregnant, but it's sure strange when it finally happens. The sense of nausea has not left me since that day. I feel nauseated almost all day from morning till night, but I feel, if this is the worst of morning sickness, I can deal with it. Fingers crossed. But I'm not that far along yet, so it could get worse.

I haven't had any cravings, but I'm definitely more moody now and more tired as well. I'm easily brought to tears and am agitated more easily as well. I'm doing my best to control the moods as they come, but sometimes that's easier said then done :P Being pregnant is like having PMS…on steroids. Plus, the upset stomach and constant tiredness doesn't help either haha.

So, that's the news for now. I'm six weeks along and looking forward to sharing my journey with you. Stay tuned!

Spring has Sprung!

There's a smell that hangs in the air once Spring has finally sprung. It's the smell that confirms that winter's grasp has finally slipped into the frigid past. It's the smell of freshly cut lawn, campfire smoke, an immense, sweet, freshness after the rain has fallen. It's all of these individually and mixed together. It reminds me of campouts, laughing with friends, sitting around the fire making smores, and bug spray…lots and lots of bug spray. For those that don't live in Alberta, let me tell you, if you don't put on that bug spray, you're getting eaten ALIVE! We have mosquitoes big enough to carry you off! Ok, that's a slight exaggeration, but I'm not far off the truth. The bugs in Alberta are all on steroids and not wearing bug spray here and like not wearing sunscreen in the Sahara Desert. You're tempting fate. Already I've captured an oversized wasp in my house. It was at least an inch long if not more. I was not impressed to find such a insect inhabiting my home. The next day a giant bumblebee found it's way into our house. It was the size of a cotton ball! And not the little ones either!

But of course, along with the bugs come all the pleasantries of Summer. The warmth, lazy days at the lake, running outside, picnics, ice cream and roadtrips. Here's hoping to a warm and lovely Summer this year, unlike last year. As I look ahead, I realize that I don't have much time left at the school where I work. I'm quite saddened at the prospect of saying good-bye to my kids. I love them all. Working at the school has been a most amazing experience, and one I am truly grateful for. We've hit the middle of May and are fast approaching the release of worries to care-free ways. Summer is the key to unlock the bonds of Winter…and here it comes! Adventure and change await and I look forward to seeing how that all turns out.

So, along with the beauty of the outside world, I've jumped on the Spring bandwagon in the food department as well. I always feel more inspired in the Spring, in my art and in life. So what better time then now to play around with some meals! A couple of lovely Spring meals I've created are as follows….

ALMOND CRUSTED CHICKEN STIR FRY 


Chicken breasts - thawed and cubed
mayan squash
eggplant
bell peppers
broccoli
almonds
agave nectar
sea salt

First, I cooked the chicken chunks and as it was cooking I drizzled the chicken with agave nectar and some sea salt.
I copped up the almonds really fine and when the chicken was cooked through I coated the chicken with the almond bits.

Then I chopped up the squash and eggplant

I put the broccoli in first to steam a bit, then added the peppers to let them cook 

I added the squash and eggplant last as they take less time to cook. 

I then mixed it all together and served it over rice.

Yummy!!!

The next dish is one of my favourites. I grew up absolutely LOVING sloppy joes. yum yum yum! I also changed the recipe to make it my own and I'm not going to say it's healthier, as it's probably not, but boy it sure tastes amazing! My only healthy switch was what I put the sloppy joe mix onto. Normally one uses buns or bread of sorts. Well, I wanted to keep the carbs down a bit for myself, so instead, I used eggplant as it has a bread sort of texture. 

SLOPPY JOES

extra lean ground beef

1 can of beans in molasses sauce (depends on how much ground beef you use. May need more)

1 can of Alphagetti (depends on how much ground beef you use. May need more)

Sloppy Joe seasoning

I sliced the eggplant a put it in the oven at 350 degrees for a few minutes to brown it up

My eggplant bread replacement 

With the Sloppy Joe mix on top. It was very yummy.

This is an extremely easy meal for those families on the go and it goes great with the Spring feeling :)

Well, I hope you're enjoying this Spring as much as I am. It's always a time of joy and love and everything and everyone are twitterpated! It's lovely. :) Get outside, savour the sun, breathe the warm, fresh air, and stay healthy!

till next time!

Baking: From Glitches to Glory

There are times in life when I'm so very glad to have the opportunity for do-overs. As much as one may like to think they can master anything the first time, it rarely happens. Thus was my experience this past weekend and also today. But thankfully, in both circumstances, my 2nd round went above and beyond and so redeemed the disaster of the first attempt.

We shall start with this past weekend.

Mission: Pancakes

Now, let me first tell you that those who have tasted my pancakes know that I make absolutely delicious pancakes. They are fluffy, delicate, melt in your mouth amazing. On Saturday, Hayden and I woke up early to take both our vehicles in to Fountain Tire for the summer tire exchange. My car was finished first, so I decided to treat my lovely husband to some Saturday morning pancakes. I raced home to get a head start so to be almost finished by the time he walked through the door. I was out of white flour (which I don't like using anymore anyway) and hadn't replaced it with any new baking flour, thus I went to my container of coconut flour, intending to mix some of it with a little bit of whole wheat flour, thinking it would do the trick. I started whisking my ingredients together with glee, as I too was craving some yummy pancakes. That is when disaster hit. May I just say right now, NEVER ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever (I think that's a good amount of "ever's") use coconut flour to make pancakes! Horrible disastrous mistake. The flour sucked up the liquids so fast, and that was only using half the amount the recipe called for! I attempted to try and fry them anyway, determined as I was, but the result was the bottoms cooking, but not cooking right through the pancake. When I tried to flip them, they fell apart into a heap of crumbly goo. Many things don't mix well together in my DNA, and today the recipe for disaster was…early mornings, mixed with emotional time of the month, mixed with crushed hopes of presenting a delicious breaky for my hubby, mixed with not getting that which I craved….all equals TEARS! Yes, that's right, I had a mini melt-down right there at the stove and there was nothing stopping it. Looking back it all seems quite silly really, but in the moment, those feelings are real. Those pancakes were a nuclear bomb on my heart in that moment. The world was ending.

Well, I knew I had to redeem  myself. I needed to find another alternative so that I wasn't forced to go back to using white flour. When one is trying to remain healthy, good choices are harder to find. Hayden has been in Calgary for a couple days with work, so I thought, perfect opportunity to try out something new! If it's a flop, only I will know. If you recall from a couple posts ago, I mentioned that little diner I ate at which inspired my maple squash butter. Well, that squash butter came served upon some buckwheat pancakes! So, that's what I looked for. I headed over to my rapidly rising favourite store, Bulk Barn. I found buckwheat and read that it was ideal for…you guessed it! Pancakes! Done and done. I left the store with my new flour and a light bounce in my step.

Tonight was the night. I decided to try, not just changing up the flour, but being inspired by that little diner, making my pancakes a filling and healthy dish. I want people to be full after eating only 2 small pancakes. Thus I gathered some extra ingredients and gave it a go!

On top of my normal ingredients (I don't use pancake mixes, I make it from scratch :)) I used the buckwheat flour and added some organic granola, hulled sunflower seeds and some blueberry flavoured craisins. Even the batter looked healthy. I also substituted normal white, refined sugar for organic palm sugar. It's a much healthier choice.

The consistency of the batter was much gooier then normal, stringy even, but it cooked faster then normal pancake batter and the best part, it cooked all the way through! I was delighted when I discovered I could flip with ease. They tasted amazing and were the very thing I hoped they would be….filling.

they smelled absolutely heavenly! 

Taking my first bite! 

Success! Yummy!!!

I have redeemed this one…phew! Now I just need to make them for my hunny upon his arrival.

The second do-over I had to worry about was this evening.

Mission:Chocolate Caramel Peanut Butter Cups

I follow a wonderful blog called Cotter Crunch and she has some of the most lovely recipes! I'm always trying out new recipes from her blog, and tonight was no different. I tried the Chocolate Caramel Peanut Butter Cups. Not only did they promise to taste good, but are healthier and a good after-run recovery snack. Done and done!

What you need….

1 cup sugar (I use the organic palm sugar. All natural, better for you)

1 cup organic peanut butter (I used natural chunky, but smooth would work too)

1 egg

1/4 cup caramel chips (couldn't find any, so I used butterscotch chips)

dark chocolate peanut butter (anyone living in Canada will have to forego this item as it's not available here. I opted for some Nutella)

preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease muffin cups. You can make regular sized ones or mini ones. I made the mini's.

In a medium bowl, stir together sugar, peanut butter, butterscotch chips and egg.

Roll the  mixture into balls. Press and flatten the balls into each muffin cup.

Then take the Nutella (or if you can find it, the dark chocolate peanut butter. And if you find it, please let me know where!) and place it in a ziplock bag, cut the corner and use as a decorating tube.

Bake for approx 15 minutes or until the edges are set and the bottoms and edges are lightly brown.

I took this 15 minutes literally and my first batch (yes, I had to make two) came out way too dark….ok, they were burnt, and tasted not so nice. The centres were ok, but to get to those centres was not a lovely experience. The fragrance, however, which wafted throughout my home was mouth-watering. Like peanut butter cookies, only better.

the first batch looking quite sad.

Thus, thankfully, I had time to try again and hopefully improve on this treat. Tomorrow is run day, so I wanted to have a little snack upon my return. On the 2nd round, I skipped the little paper cups and just greased the pan itself. I then only baked the cups for 10 minutes. This batch was much MUCH better. I don't have a good "after" picture of those ones, but trust me, they were almost perfect. :) I was so zealous in wanting them out of the pan, however, that I crushed a couple of them. I then took a breath, told myself to chill, let it sit, and the last few popped out with little effort. I'm definitely looking forward to my recovery snack tomorrow!

Feel free to give it a try. Obviously if you have allergy's, this is not the snack for you. Unless you want to try the No Nutz peanut butter. That would work too! 

Well, I do hope that you've been given the chance for do-overs in baking glitches and mishaps in your home. Feel free to share those moments if you dare. I hope this post finds you well and enjoying the sun which is finally turning our world green.

Till next time!

looking forward and thinking back

Today is Mothers Day. A grand day when we remember the amazing woman who raised us, loved us, and helped shape us into the person we are today. I love my momma and am sure glad she's mine. Of course one always has their ups and downs, who doesn't? But our friendship outweighs it all. I love spending time with my mom and savour the moments we share.

As I think on today I realize how ready I am to become a mom and to raise my own little latte kiddies (my husband is mocha, so our children will, naturally, be latte). Every time I see a little munchkin, I'm completely overwhelmed with the maternity tug. Especially today in church. We had a team go to Haiti and a guy go to Malawi. Both presented on their trips today, showing pictures and video of the beautiful children in those places. I was moved to tears with a longing, not just to have my own family, but to go to those places, to hold those precious kids and love on them. My heart strings were definitely tugged with full force. Family is a powerful thing and it's always fun being together and having each other.

Looking back just last month, Hayden and I were blessed to go on a trip with my family, spend some quality time reconnecting, laughing, making memories, and of course, sleeping on the beach. For those who don't know, my parents and my youngest brother, Bryan, live just outside of Sylvan Lake. Hayden and I live in Medicine Hat, about 4 hours away and my other brother, CJ, and his wife, Heidi, live way up in Fort Nelson, B.C., so family times have become more rare over the past few years. so, this year we said goodbye to the cold Spring and flew to Hawaii for a blissful 12 days. There we encountered sea life, enjoyed the ocean, ate good food, went snorkelling, toured around, shopped till no end….and just had some good quality fun.

in the limo on our way to the hotel. Let the good times commence! 

the siblings + 1 (Dustin was adopted for the trip :)) 

the boys went deep sea fishing. CJ spent the time on one side of the boat (in the striped tank) and Bryan spent the time on the other side…..chumming the waters. Dustin, Dad and Hayden are finding this funny. 

Hayden, snorkelling at Hanama Bay

me snorkelling 

Mr. Sea Turtle that we swam with 

enjoying the day! 

mom and dad at dinner at Tanaka of Tokyo  

Hayden and I went on a tour with the Samoans. The backdrop here is home to several movies, including Jurassic Park, George of the Jungle, Tears of the Sun, Mighty Joe Young, 50 First Dates…among others.

The last night together 

view of the ocean from our hotel

One of the most amazing discoveries of the trip, however, were these delightful things called "BUBBIES!!!!" Mochi Ice Cream to be more specific. They are absolutely amazingly delicious! Heidi and I discovered them half way through our trip and were addicted instantly! I had them almost everyday thereafter. Good thing I didn't discover them the first day! They are balls of flavoured ice cream wrapped in a sweetened rice confection which is chewy. A lovely combination. For anyone heading to Oahu, check them out! They are made locally!

 You can't go wrong with the amazing flavours they offer. yum yum yum!!!! Chocolate-coconut was my favourite and Lychee was Hayden's fav.

All in all, in a was a fantastic trip that was restful indeed. Much needed and honestly, it was just fun to be with the family for that time. Life becomes so busy and crazy these days, that to have these moments, these memories, is a breath of fresh air. So, take time with your family. Don't take them for granted or wish them away. Love every moment you have with them and savour those moments.

And especially today, give your mom a hug and let her know just how much she means to you.

till next time!