Pretty little things

On my list of New Year's To-Do's:

Make Lace Cookies:

via here.

Dress cake with almond sliver petals and berries:

via here.

Simple. Gorgeous.

Adventures in Baking (kind of)

Unlike some, being a domestic goddess does not come naturally to me.

When Sadie and I attempted to make cupcakes from scratch, they came out looking like space rocks with the density of a shotput.

But they tasted not bad, and it was all about the decoration anyway, oink oink.

For our second attempt a week later, I picked up some confetti cup mix at the grocery store and decided that I would leave the true baking to the pros, at least for now.

Afterall, as long as they're pink, she's happy....

Wonderful Winter Woolies and Westcoast Waffles

This is how January feels on the Westcoast:

(collage by ZukZuk)

But luckily, I have found some not-so-dreary Westcoast creations that will warm the body and soul.

My friend Beatriz makes gorgeous hand-knit cowls in Vancouver, BC. I practically live in mine.

To see the entire lucky-14 collection, go here.

Ahhhhh, behold my latest obsession. Also Vancouver-based, Granted Clothing has taken the chunky sweater to new heights. I was doing REALLY well with a new personal conviction to stick to a meager clothing budget. That is, until Granted came into my life. I haven't actually leapt off the deep end yet, but I am oh so tempted....

And finally, to warm the soul:

Strawberry and Banana Buckwheat waffle with Okanagan apple maple syrup

Westcoast Waffles

p.s. That waffle was my lunch today. Special occasion, you ask? A pick-me-up for a case of the Monday/January blahs? No and no.

I will tell you how it came to be my lunch.

A certain kind of hunger has taken over my usually tame appetite. An insatiable hunger that causes even the dormant carnivore in my vegetarian self to emerge, desperate to chow down on some meat! The kind that causes cravings that cannot - MUST NOT - be ignored!! Today it was waffles. Tomorrow it might be Chimichangas. Who's to say? And after all of that topping and syrup.....I was still hungry....

So perhaps the "big news" I alluded to last year now comes as no surprise....

I am expecting a baby!

FEED ME!!!!

Enchanté!

One of my dearest friends, Roxanne, is getting married in August. We celebrated with a Parisian-themed bridal shower on Father's Day, complete with small dogs (Barclay, Montana and Maddy who donned cable-knit), haute couture and french toast with a twist!

Seven years ago Rox and I were backpacking in Europe and eating banana-nutella crepes was part of our daily routine in France (actually, in every country - who am I kidding). Come to think of it, I believe we once stooped so low that we bought a jar of nutella from a grocery store. A jar of nutella and a spoon, that is. 

But that's besides the point. We are much classier now.

To pay homage to our favourite Parisian snack, while keeping it appropriate to serve at a bridal shower, I came up with a most delicious alternative. I made some french toast, cut it into small square pieces and topped them with a smear of nutella and a slice of banana. Then poked a toothpick through the trio and, voila! Bite-size bliss. You really have to try it.

(There's a photo halfway down the page...)

So cute.