Starting the New Year off right with HelloFresh

Come dinnertime each evening, especially in the winter, I feel as though I just don't have it in me.

Trying to be creative in the kitchen is tough enough with 3 picky eaters let alone having to do it after you've gotten up in the dark. 

Worked all day.

 And come home after dusk.

When our first Family Plan box from HelloFresh was delivered, and we were able to lift said box to the kitchen, I was intrigued.

Inside, we found 3 smaller boxes each containing all of the pre-measured, farm fresh ingredients necessary to create 3 different recipes. And I mean all of the ingredients.

From vegetables to all necessary spices and everything in between.

Where possible to maintain freshness, produce was ALREADY cut up including onions...yay! and ready for use. Garlic? Already cleaned and separated it's own little baggie.

One of the recipes called for honey - it came along in packages not unlike to-go ketchup. 

#cutestthingyouveeverseen

Underneath, in an ice-packed filled area, were any perishable items including chicken, steak and dairy products.

Ava and I decided to try the seared steak first as she and her brother are big red meat lovers.

I had to share a photo of the sustainable beef contained.

In my own mothers words, "so beautiful, you could practically eat it raw".

All recipes are low to moderate in difficulty - and very detailed.

Ava read the instructions aloud while I prepped the dish - reserving some of the steak minus all of the fixings in case anyone felt like being difficult on this particular evening. Ahem.

Not bad for this unseasoned chef, huh?

Honestly, I've learned to use items in combinations I would never have thought of including, a sour cream, lime juice and cilantro combination which makes THE most incredible fajita topping.

We loved the fact that there was little to no waste.

And, NO LEFTOVERS.

#winwin

I shared my experience including a guided tour of a few of the boxes with my girlfriends all of whom thought the idea was absolutely brilliant! 

A fun way to break up the monotony of the same old, same old dinners.

Check out all of the details on how the program works here.

If you agree, I highly recommend giving HelloFresh a try - use code AVAGRACE60 to get $30 off each of your first 2 boxes.

Delivery is always free.

Happy Cooking! 

Facing the Mall with the RBC Avion Holiday Boutique

I'll admit it, I have been procrastinating just a wee bit when it comes to my Christmas shopping this year.

Not sure if it's the warmer temps or lack of snow but I just haven't been in the spirit.

Until now.

Isabella and I went to Yorkdale to try to get started and had the pleasure of visiting the RBC Avion Holiday Boutique once we had valet parked ahem our car. This alone made the visit so convenient and stress-free.(if you have ever tried to self-park at Yorkdale during the holidays, you will know what I mean) 

Located centrally in the mall, the RBC Avion Holiday Boutique is perfectly located as a spot to drop off your coats, parcels or just rest tired feet. 

They've literally thought of everything - from refreshments, to large screen tv's throughout and even have a nice selection of children's books to keep little ones entertained if you have them in tow.

Santa's elves are busy wrapping your purchases {seriously, great} and all the while, you are being serenaded by the pianist pictured above who was only too happy to be photographed.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.

Additional RBC Avion Holiday experiences are available at the following locations across the country:

Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby, BC

Halifax Shopping Centre in Halifax, NS

St. Laurent Centre in Ottawa, ON

Visit the RBC site here to learn more about the program and how you can take advantage of this special holiday experience. 

Disclosure: I am part of the RBC® Avion Holiday Boutique Influencer Campaign and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Summer Favourites : Panera Bread

The day Panera Bread came to Canada was a good one for us.
Made even better when a location opened up, literally, around the corner.

We've frequented the West Palm Beach, Florida location for as long as I can remember - daily trips to buy a french baguette and a frozen lemonade have always been a part of our daily routine.

In recent years, we began sneaking out for dinner occasionally as well. 

The cozy atmosphere, good wholesome food and beyond delicious baked goods are perfect for evenings where I don't feel like cooking and the kids don't feel like going out for a "formal" dinner.
Also, the mac and cheese? To die for.

They love it. We get to steal bites of their cookies when they're not looking.

We're all happy.

New Year, New Me

As the New Year 2015 begins, As the new year 2015 begins, I think it's safe to say we all look back over the last year and see where we landed.

I planned to do a lot of things in 2014 and while I didn't meet all of my goals, I am feeling pretty good about where I am at - mostly because I was able to accomplish a lot of things that weren't even on my radar at the beginning of last year.

After what I now refer to as the worst December I have ever had, I began to re-evaluate what is truly important - and while some things are indeed a necessity (read: working full time) others are not. I need to make sure that I not only take care of my family and those around me but also make time for me. 

Something that has been lacking over the past few years - I blame it on my blog's cutie-pie namesake. 

source

Dear...

Dear Izzy,

Though I love you with all my heart...your 16th birthday party planning is surely going to drive me to drink. Partly because I can't believe you are going to be 16. When did that happen?

A Better Shopping Experience with Yellow Pages

If you're like me, then you are always on the hunt for something.

Maybe it's just me but I feel like my children's shoe size changes weekly {I need shoes for gym class! Tomorrow!} and my son particularly, has a growth spurt every time we have a family event. {what do you mean you have NO shirts that fit?}

With that said, I spend a lot of time running around, sometimes unnecessarily. 

And often, I think back to a particular shopping experience and think, I should have checked if they were open on Sundays. Or, exactly where a particular store was before I headed out.

Enter the YP.ca application available on both the Android and Apple store. 
The app has quickly become one of my most used because it's just so helpful.
I can check out where the closest gas station is + who has the lowest price. always Costco.

Losing a Mother

source

Isabella and I attended the funeral of her best friend's mother on Saturday.

I have been in and out of a strange daze ever since. Here but not really here.

For moments, I forget that she was only 49.

That she was such a big personality.

So beautiful.

And leaving behind 2 equally beautiful children and such a loving husband.

I'm trying to forget that we never did get to have that solo coffee we texted back and forth about for weeks.

Trying to forget that during our last conversation, less than a week ago, we talked about a whole lot of nothing, like why our daughter's couldn't come home first and then go back out to their friend's houses.

Mom stuff.

She was such a mom. Always worrying.

Her best friend spoke at her eulogy and mentioned the fact that even from her hospital bed, she called to check up on homework. 

I remember this. 

I remember thinking I don't know if I would have cared to do the same if I were in her condition.

Life isn't fair. It's really not.

And while I try to focus on the end of her seemingly endless suffering, her being in a "better place", I still somehow cannot agree that this is it.

Ever few hours I say out loud to no one in particular, I can't believe she's gone.

Because I just can't.

Grief is a funny thing.

It comes in waves.

Her sweet daughter struggled so much during the days of visitation. She felt like she was being watched. 
Watched to see if she would cry.

Watched to see why she was wasn't.

And all along, I cried like it was my mother lying there so beautifully peaceful.

Finally free of pain and looking like she was in a restful sleep.

It's all just so overwhelmingly sad.

And now? Now what happens to this family?

No mother.

No one to worry about whether her daughter will come to my house when she gets off the bus before going home first.

No one to worry about whether she will make bad choices at parties.

No one to tell her that her skirt may be a little short.

No one to tell her that boys can be jerks.

Yes, she still has a father.

But there are some things that only a mother can do.

source

I spoke to a guidance counsellor at the girl's school this week who told me she too lost her mother at an early age. 

And that the pain never truly goes away.

Felt most on Mother's Day.

But that in time, the love for her own children helped her get past what felt like inconsolable grief.

I hope the same one day for sweet L. 

And in the meantime, I will step in and let her know if her skirt is a little short and what jerks boys can be.

When that happens, I hope her mama will smile down on me from heaven.

Because I know we would agree.

Always in our hearts + never, ever forgotten sweet K. 

source

That time my Iphone died

Yesterday morning, we had to drive Isabella to school for her second last exam. 

Quite uneventful.

From there, Ava and I planned ot stop at the mall to do a few Christmas exchanges. I know, I know. On the way, I needed to make a quick call to a girlfriend. I dialed her number.

The phone never rang.

And then, it went dark.

I tried to power it back on with no success. 

I wondered if I had perhaps forgot to fully charge it? No matter.

We arrived at the mall and I left the phone in the car since obviously, it would be of no use to me. We stopped in at Winners {aka TJ Maxx} first. While strolling through the shoe aisles, I spied a fantastic pair of printed Coach ballet flats. On super sale, and in a size too small for me, I reached for my phone to quickly snap a photo and send it to a few gals who I knew might love these. 

Except. 

I had NO PHONE. 

source

With the exchange complete, we walked out into the mall.

A few steps in the distance, I noticed a few little amusement park type rides in the centre of the mall. I knew what would happen next since it always goes the same way. 

Ava ran towards them.

She tried each one out and decided to finally brave the usually dreaded "horsie". 

Up she climbed and I popped in a loonie.

It was a Kodak moment.

Except.

I had NO PHONE.

We shopped around, completed errands and I absent-mindedly reached for my phone on at least two different occasions to text one person or the other and once more to check an email that contained a J. Crew coupon code. Le sigh.

We were hungry.

I decided to sit down in a casual restaurant rather than brave the food court. We were seated and I said to Ava "we should call daddy to join us!"

Except. You guessed it. 

I had NO PHONE.

I seriously contemplated asking the folks at a neighbouring table to borrow their's. 

When is the last time you looked for a pay phone? Because I did that to and let me tell you, THERE ISN'T ANY. Anywhere!

source

The moment we got home, I quickly called my husband.

"Were you trying to reach me?? Because my phone DIED." dramatic pause.

He wasn't.

And I'm pretty sure that no one else was either.

This evening, as I sat finishing my dinner, I realized I couldn't live without my phone. 

I also realized that today was rather peaceful. 

source

Celebrating 58

Ah, marriage.

I read an amazing article here last week and have since shared it with many of my girlfriends.

I think we all go in thinking it will be all sunshine + roses but the reality is, marriage is hard. It is about 2 people doing everything together and having little time for one another.

It's about raising new lives.

It's about compromise.

And mostly, it's about realizing that the one who gave you butterflies will one day become less of that but more.

Your closest friend.
Confidante.
And somehow, you will learn to like this just as much as you once liked those butterflies.
My parent's are celebrating 58 years of marriage today.

fifty.eight

Was it always easy? No.

Sunshine and roses? Some days.

But mostly, they are their own best friends. And sometime worse enemies.

The kind that couldn't live without each other. 

My father is at the head of the table with the crazy cool Elvis 'do. My mom is to his left. //  1960ish

My parents with my older brother Brian // 1962

There's the hair again. My mom on his right + my brother up front // 1964

I asked my mom to pull a few photos of the two of them. She sent me this. I think she likes the way her hair looks.
And yes, that would be me // 1970.

Julian's Baptism // 2002

Happy Anniversary nana + papa! 
We love you guys. 
xox

And seriously, is my dad the cutest thing ever or what? 

I will forever be a daddy's girl. 

Lately

Ava "cleaned" the mantle of Christmas decor by pulling on the cord that plugged in the lights.

It all came crashing down.

Thankfully, not on top of her. Lesson learned.

We've been working on getting this finished.

Tell me you remember DoodleArt? 

I'm not sure we can be friends otherwise.

I have the kids have had so much fun with it. 

We got ours here and want to do this one next.

The kids are back at school.

Honestly, I found it easier with all of them home.

No lunches required. No rushing. And no pick ups.

It was so nice.

I started my twice.a.year cleanse today.

The first few days are so hard. But so worth it in the end.

I always use this one. 

Once done, we'll continue trying to eat our way through this.
That's 5kg right there folks.

Can you say NUTELLA?!

Shabby Apple giveaway ends at midnight tomorrow!
Happy Monday.