Categories
Reflections & Lifestyle

What’s In My (Blind) Bag?

This is not your typical, “What’s In My Bag” feature; now that bird hunting season is here I’ll be ditching my Kate Spade tote and carrying around my blind bag.

My blind bag is a Cabela’s Shell n Bird Belt. I love it because it has three zippered compartments and I can have easy access to my ammunition. Plus, there is room for a water bottle and a small thermos of coffee. I can also clip a heavier pair of winter gloves to it for those snowy hunts. It may look small but it is not!



So, what is hiding in those zippered compartments???…

-Hunting wallet; with my ID, licenses and permits
-Pack of Kleenex
-Hot Hands
-Knife
-Snack
-Gloves (thin)
-Head lamp
-Gun lock/keys (stowed in there during the hunt)

In addition to the blind bag; I also carry with me my lanyard (of course). Compared to my husband’s, mine is rather scarce. My attachments include…

-Whistle for the dog
-Duck Call (Miss. Priss Single Reed Duck Call by Duck Commander)
-Goose Call (Buck Gardner’s Canada Hammer II Performance Series Goose Call)
-Three Finishers by Adrenal Line

Categories
Current Addictions

Current Addictions

Ad·dic·tion
/əˈdikSH(ə)n/
noun

  1. the fact or condition of being dependent or “hooked” to a particular substance, thing, or activity.

Book: Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
App: Likewise
Activity: Colouring
Song/Album: Folklore by Taylor Swift
Food: Deglet Noor Dates (Terra Delyssa)
Drink: Chai Latte (Starbucks)
Show: Dead To Me (Netflix)
Cosmetic/Beauty Product: Amethyst Roller (Mount Lai)
Clothing/Attire: Pony Scrunchie (Belvaria)
Jewellery: Petite Moonstone Ring (Moon Magic)
Product/Service: Teachers Pay Teachers

Categories
Health & Beauty

Beauty Products Under $10

Beauty products can be hella expensive; however, there are some really great products that don’t come with a hefty price tag…here are a few of our favourite ones that are under $10…

Make-Up: Sephora Collection #lipstories
“A high-pigment, lightweight lipstick that provides full-coverage color in one swipe. Available in 40 shades and three finishes: matte, cream, and metal”

Skin Care: Shea Butter Hand Cream
“Ultra-moisturizing, non-greasy hand cream glides on like cashmere on skin. It quickly soothes and nourishes skin to leave your hands feeling soft, smooth & lightly fragranced with an irresistible blend of almond blossom, vanilla & creamy sandalwood.”

Hair: Invisibobble Sprunchie Scrunchie
“The famous scrunchie is back again with a new design and improved wearing comfort. This super elastic hair tool is the perfect eye-catcher for every day and every updo.”

Tools & Brushes: Morphe Highlight & Contour Beauty Sponge
“The chiseled edge delivers the ultimate control for contouring, highlighting, and baking. Just add water and give it a good squeeze, then pair it with your favorite makeup and blend the rules.”

Fragrance: Clean Reserve Air Mini Rollerball
“CLEAN Air is a woody floral aldehydic fragrance that is sparkling and feminine and can be layered with other fragrances.”

Bath & Body: Level Naturals Shower Bombs Organic Menthol + Cucumber“What this little bomb lacks in size it makes up for in airway-clearing, spa-steaming, aromatherapy goodness. Menthol and cucumber extract help to open your sinuses and pamper your skin, surrounding you with a cooling and refreshing fog as you shower.”

What beauty products or tools do you use that are a bargain? Leave us a comment!

Categories
Design & Decor

Teapot Collection

“Home is where your teapots are!” That is what famed British novelist, Helen Oyeyemi says. Our home most definitely has a lot of teapots, each with its own significance. I’ll be sharing with you a few of my favourite ones. 

1. Vintage Japan Redware Brown Betty Teapot
Brown Betty teapots are considered special because their shape allows the brewer to make a superb cup of tea. However, this particular one is special to me because it belonged to my maternal Grandmother (given to her as a gift from my Aunt, or so my Mother tells me). I remember exactly where it sat on the shelf in my Grandma’s apartment and when I look up at it in my own kitchen I am fondly reminded of her.

2. Tea for Me Set
My Mother gave this to me before I went off to university. I brewed many a comforting cup of tea for myself while reading endless chapters, cramming for exams and writing essays. It is such a cute little set.

3. Parrot Teapot
I bought this for myself at The Jammery in Kelowna on a girl’s trip with Megan about four years ago. It was a memento of our time together. The second I saw it, I knew I had to have it. It is cheery and unique.

4. TeapotsTeapot
Fresh off of reading Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland after watching the Tim Burton motion picture adaptation (2010) I found this in Chapters in the bargain section. I love the tea party scene with the Mad Hatter and his riddles. The teapot reminds me of the whimsy of the novel and film.

5. Yellow Modern Teapot
This sleek and bright teapot caught my eye at Teavana. I often enjoy a nice lemon-chamomile tea steeped in this one. I feel this captures my “city-side.” 

6. Blue Dragonfly Teapot
My aunt and I used to go CrossIron Mills A LOT. On one of these trips she bought me this teapot after I remarked about it. Such a sweet reminder of our road trips together. The colour is incredible and the wicker handle is a neat detail.

7. Brown Mouse Teapot
How adorable is this teapot? I think it is easy to see why this is one of my favourites….Need I say more?

8. Purple Floral Teapot
My Mother-in-Law gave this to me and my husband as part of a set when we moved into our house. The shape and design are super pretty and the fact that she passed it on to us is wonderful. 

9. Copper Kettle with Delft Porcelain Handle
Okay; so this isn’t a teapot but it is a fixture in our home on top of the kitchen cabinet. My mother has one just like it and this one too came from my Mother-In-Law. It’s antique and rustic and I love it!

There are MANY more, but I figured I should save some for later 🙂

Categories
Reflections & Lifestyle

Teacher Plan Book Feature

The importance of planning to the teaching profession is EVERYTHING. We plan for: lessons, units, assessments, which resources to use, student needs where we adapt, modify and accommodate varying levels of student abilities, classroom management strategies and communication with stakeholders; just to name a few. There are a tremendous amount of ways and schools of thought on how planning should be done.

Much of what we do is done digitally, for example there are e-plan books, marks are all live online, students complete and submit work on Google Classroom, preferred communication by a lot of stakeholders is via email, Individualized Student Profiles (ISP) are living documents completed by all those teachers working with identified students and updated each term on Google Documents; need I go on?? However, personally I just need a traditional, old school teacher planbook.

It is not that I am old school and anti-technology in terms of my teaching but since I spend so much time PLUGGED IN during the day; it is nice to go back to basics…back to pen and paper. Sometimes I find technology alienating though. As much as we are a connected society we are very isolated behind our screens. Plus, it is ALWAYS good to have a back up!

I had a beloved plan book but the publishing company discontinued it and when I did find something similar; it was WAY too expensive. I spent the past two years making and formating my own on Google Docs and then printing them out and keeping them in a binder; but a binder was just too cumbersome to bring home all the time. I was in Education Station shopping for resources this past summer and I found my new perfect coil bound plan book and it was only $20! The only thing I have to do is add tabs to separate the sections.

What does my plan book look like this year? It has…
Monthly Calendars
Daily Plan Pages
Seating Plan Pages (with space to write comments)
Timetable
Meeting Notes Page
Parent Communication Tracker
Record Keeping Scoresheet
Resource List Tracker
Directory

Categories
Food & Drink

Side Dish Sensations

So far on this blog I have shared a number of recipes but I have neglected SIDE DISHES! Side dishes should enhance your entree and they play a part in balanced eating; especially considering that according to the Canada Food Guide; proteins should only account for 1/4 of your plates and grain only 1/4 of your plates –the remaining half should be composed of fruits and vegetables. Today, I’ll be sharing with you some side dish sensations so you can give your plating some much needed attention!

Fruit & Vegetables Forward…

Roasted Spaghetti Squash & Kale (Pioneer Woman)
10 Minute Sugar Snap Peas With Lemon (A Sweet Pea Chef)
Mediterreanean Baked Sweet Potatoes (Minimalist Baker)
Mango-Avocado & Cucumber Salad (Elizabeth Rider)
Heirloom Tomato Salad With Pomegranate-Sumac Dressing (Kitchn)

Grain Forward…

Quinoa Stuffed Peppers (Damn Delicious)
Brussel Sprouts & Basil (Whole Wheat) Bowties (Good Housekeeping)
Pearl Couscous Salad With Cherries & Arugula (Kitchn)
Brown Rice With Minted Peas & Feta (Eating Well)
Mushroom Wild Rice (Taste Of Home)

Categories
Gifts

Back To School Teacher Product Box

You have probably heard about the many subscription boxes that exist from FabFitFun to CauseBox and many more. I thought it would be neat to design a version of one of those boxes just for teachers…just in time for them to head back into the classroom this September. The result is a collection of items that are: essential in every teacher’s drawer, fun to enjoy and practical for self-care. 

Pencil Case: “Teaching Is A Work Of The Heart”
Marking Pens: Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pens
Hair Products: Invisibobble’s Clicky Bun, Scrunchie & Waver Clip

Chapstick: Bite Beauty Agave+ Daytime Vegan Lip Balm
Gum: Simply Gum (Mint Lovers -Peppermint & Spearmint)

Hand Sanitizer: Art Naturals Hand Sanitizer Set (Coconut, Tea Tree, Lavender & Scent Free)
Supplement: Gaia Herbs Echinacea Supreme
Foot Care: Cloud 7 Foot Pads
Agenda: Teacher Lesson by Erin Condren Planner
Chocolate: Raaka Three Bar Gift Set (Pink Sea Salt, Coconut Milk, Green Tea Crunch)
Desk Ornament: Mint Marble Geo Planter (plant not included)

Categories
Food & Drink

University Nostalgia: Food Edition

It has been 16 years since I moved into 5 Henday in Lister Hall at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. I met my best friend there and in my third year we moved off campus together into an apartment and we spent LOTS of time cooking together and sharing our “go-to” recipes.

So, as many are heading off to post-secondary I wanted to share some delicious recipes to cure homesickness and provide comfort at this stressful time. (Collecting these also gave us a chance to reminisce about the good old days). 

From my recipe book….

Pörkölt (Hungarian Chicken Stew)
Ingredients….
2 tablespoons oil
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon paprika
2 pounds chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
1 large tomato, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup water
1-2 teaspoons sea salt
2 (6 ounce) packages wide egg noodles

Directions…
In a deep pan, heat the oil; add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened.
Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Remove the pot from heat and stir in the paprika.
Add the chicken pieces and cook on medium heat until the edges of the chicken are browned. Mix in the tomato, bell pepper, and 1/2 cup water.
Season with salt.
Once the liquid comes to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for an hour, until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
Serve over egg noodles.

Pizza
I brought a Black and Decker bread maker into the friendship and pizza was always on the menu for Friday night SATC binge watching sessions. There are tons of easy pizza dough recipes on line you can use if you don’t have access to a bread machine; but in all honesty…they take up minimal space even in a cramped dorm room closet. If you are at all interested in making an epic vegetarian pizza; here is what we have ALWAYS top ours with….
-tomato sauce
-mushrooms
-black olives
-onions
-yellow pepper
-artichoke hearts
-spinach
-pineapple
-tomatoes

Skor-Peach Dessert
Ingredients…
Canned peach halves (drained)
Vanilla ice cream
Crushed Skor Toffee Bits

Directions…
In a bowl, put a peach half (inside up)
Fill indent with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
Sprinkle liberally with Skor Toffee Bits

From my bestie’s cookbook…

Curry Rice & Pea Salad
Ingredients…
2 cups rice
1 ½ cup peas
⅓ cup canola oil
1 tsp curry powder
2 tsp vinegar
½ tsp celery seed
½ tsp salt
1 tsp sugar

Directions…

Cook rice as directed on package; let cool
Cook peas; let cool
Combine rice and peas
Combine oil, curry powder, vinegar, celery seed, salt and sugar; mix well
Pour over the rice and rice

Ramen Noodle & Cabbage Salad
Ingredients…
1 green Cabbage
1 package Mr. Noodle (chicken or vegetable)  + seasoning.1 bunch green onions
1 cup slivered almonds
¾ cup vegetable Oil
¼ cup white vinegar
1 tbsp sugar

Directions…
Chop the cabbage into bite sized pieces
Thinly slice the green onions
Break up the noodles
Mix the cabbage, green onions, almonds together
Combine the vegetable oil, white vinegar, noodle seasoning package and sugar; mix well.
Pour over the cabbage
Refrigerate overnight

Dutch Baby Pancake
Ingredients…
3 Tbsp butter
2 eggs
½ cup flour
½ cup milk
1 tsp sugar
¼ tsp salt
Icing sugar
Lemon juice

Directions…
Preheat oven to 425F
In a pre-heated skillet melt the butter
Whisk the first 6 ingredients together
Pour batter into hot skillet
Bake for 18-20 minutes
Sprinkle with icing sugar and lemon juice

Categories
Design & Decor

Kitchen Reno On The Cheap

We have a ridiculously large kitchen… including the dining area it takes up a fair chunk of our 1620 square foot main floor. The cabinets are oak and cost wise it isn’t feasible to redo all of our cabinetry; considering some of our other renovation plans. We thought that a great way to save money and update the aesthetic was to simply change the hardware –from brass to bronze. The flooring, appliances and paint will be coming over the next year.

I have been doing some window-shopping online and I have narrowed down the choices for my country kitchen to the following…

1. Liberty 3 Half Round Foot Pull

2. Richelieu Traditional Metal Pull (Teramo Collection)

3. Richelieu Traditional Metal Pull (Drummondville Collection)

4. Amerock Extensity Pull – Oil-Rubbed Bronze

5. Amerock Inspirations Pull Oil-Rubbed Bronze

What do you think? Leave a comment!

Categories
Food & Drink

Veggie Sandwich Supreme

Throughout my life I spent time as a vegetarian. Although I no longer am one, I still frequently enjoy vegetarian and even vegan cuisine. My best friend and I spent a summer trying out vegetarian restaurants in our cities. As you know from some of my previous posts I am trying to eat better in general and to shave off some of my ‘quarantine weight’. One way to do that is to reduce consumption of processed food; in particular processed meats have been linked to increased risk of cancers, diabetes and heart disease. Chatelaine featured a really good article about choosing healthier lunch meat, check it out! With that in mind I thought it would be neat to create my own “Vegetarian Sandwich Supreme”…

2 slices marble rye bread (toasted then lightly cooled)
1 handful of butter lettuce or spinach
1 slice Swiss cheese
1/2 an avocado (mashed)
1 mini cucumber, thinly sliced
1 Roma tomato, thinly sliced
Several slices of red onion
2 Bick’s sandwich saver dill pickle slices
1 handful of alfalfa sprouts
1 ½ Tbsp Philadelphia garlic & onion cream cheese spread