I was gifted an awesome journal for Christmas last year; Picadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts. I am still working my way through it! I wanted to share my most recent entry with you…
What about you?
Categories
Shakshuka
My new favourite breakfast dish is Shakshuka; it’s such a simple dish to make and it tastes incredible!
Ingredients
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 Onion
1 Red Pepper
5 Cloves of Garlic
1 tsp Paprika
1 tsp Cumin
1/2 tsp Chili Powder
2 cans (14 oz) Aylmer Diced Tomatoes (do not drain!)
Salt
Pepper
5 Eggs
Parsley (fresh or dried)
Directions
1. Dice the onion, red pepper; saute them in the olive oil until softened.
2. Mince the garlic; add it and the spices (paprika, cumin & chili powder) to the pan. Heat for another minute or two.
3. Add the tomatoes, a sprinkle of salt and pepper; then simmer to break down the tomatoes.
4. With a large spoon, create wells in the sauce.
5. Crack an egg into each well.
6. Cover the pan and continue to cook for another 7 minutes.
7. Uncover and sprinkle with parsley.
We all thought that 2021 was going to be better than 2020 –it just had to be. I endeavoured to find the good among all the bad, the calm among the chaos, the happiness among the devastation. Today, as we put 2021 to bed and prepare to wake up to; and welcome 2022, I wanted to share my highlight reel (so to speak) with you.
January 2021
I enjoy ice fishing; however, the frigid temperatures really make it tough to want to leave my cozy home and reading spot by the fire. But, I braved the wintery conditions and landed quite a few chunky Whitefish.
February 2021
Teachers’ Convention; although it was online –I spent a wonderful few days in the city with an incredible friend and colleague soaking up sage teacher advice, strategies and knowledge from educational gurus and a plethora of inspiring presenters, while staying in the lap of luxury.
March 2021
After FOUR months of being kept apart by work and the pandemic; I was able to reunite with my best friend for the ultimate girls’ weekend. Complete with margaritas and movies, breakfast at Pip, a trip down memory lane (walking around the very campus were we became best friends) and of course you guessed it… charcuterie.
April 2021
At this point in time, school was getting pretty tense –numbers were rising province wide; we were all tired and stressed, the kids were getting sick and we were faced with shutting down in the face of personnel shortages. The sweetest standout moment was when my husband came home with “JUST BECAUSE” flowers. I remember the moment vividly.
May 2021
I turned 35! And my husband gave into my obsession with bird watching and built me the ultimate bird condo.
June 2021
5 years of wedded bliss!
July 2021 & August 2021
My summertime freedom/fun was cut VERY short after I fell and broke my ankle –I had to have emergency surgery to have a plate and five screws put in. This is a bittersweet highlight because although it was painful and scary, I got to spend a lot of quality time with my AMAZING family. I don’t think there is anything more special and more important in life than family. Another highlight: THE OLYMPICS!
September 2021
Return to normalcy! We went back to in-person teaching (at first without masks… but that quickly changed) AND I ditched my crutches, my aircast boot and started walking on my own and driving!
October 2021
Fancy AF weekend with my best friend complete with charcuterie, shopping and a six course tasting menu at Butternut Tree. Also, discovered two new wines from Sperling Vineyards (Speritz Pet Nat & Ruby Pet Nat)
November 2021
Midterm break –a well deserved rest after many crises and report cards. A week to myself to focus on self-care. Reading, movie watching, sleeping-in, catching up on much neglected chores (which caused me great anxiety), sipping on wine, and spending time with equally exhausted teacher friends.
December 2021
A return to ‘normal’ Christmas –all the family; feasting, exchanging gifts and simply just appreciating that we were all together once again.
What about you? What were your highlights?
I was gifted this awesome journal for Christmas this year; Picadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts. I thought it would be fun to spend a few moments each Wednesday working through this journal and then sharing them with you.
What about you?
Categories
Book Round Up (2)
Raise your hand if you are a bonafide bookworm!
I spent the last month and a half checking out a new author, Wilbur Smith. My husband is a longtime fan and has been ‘suggesting’ that I read the books. And, I should have known that he was going to be right… I LOVED them!
Smith has several series: The Courtney Series, The Ballantyne Series and the Ancient Egypt Series.
I started with The Courtney Series; there are a couple ways to read these novels. They can be read in order of publishing date or in terms of the historical eras. I chose the historical era route; which is broken down into THREE parts. The order of the parts is as follows: Part 3, Part 1 and Part 2.
Part 1 (1860s-1925)
1. When the Lion Feeds
Twins Sean and Garrick grow up in Natal; their lives forever changed by an unfortunate hunting accident and the Anglo-Zulu War. After a torrid affair brothers are pitted against one another causing Sean to flee North. Striking it rich in the gold fields, Sean and his friend Duff live high on the hog –however, nothing lasts forever; they are ruined and seek adventure and fortune hunting for ivory. Despite falling in love, Sean does not get his happily ever after as when his wife takes her life. His only reason for living is his son, Dirk.
2. The Sound of Thunder
Once again, Sean ends up in the middle of a war; this time between the British and Boers. Enter: Ruth –Sean’s new love interest and mother of his daughter, Storm. Ruth is married to a soldier in the war, who Sean later befriends. Sean finds himself facing off against his brother-in-law Jan Paulus (whom we met in When the Lion Feeds). Ruth reunites with Sean after her husband is killed. Dirk becomes increasingly unhappy as Storm diverts their father’s attention away from him. This bitterness causes him to yearn for bringing down his own family. After many years Sean is able to reconcile with his twin brother Garry.
3. A Sparrow Falls
Sean meets Mark Anders, a soldier hellbent on killing a WW1 German sniper. Once back at home Anders discovers he has nothing (his grandfather; killed, his home; taken). Dirk Courtney is putting his plan into action to bring about the fall of the Courtneys as once again Sean favours someone (Anders) over Dirk. Storm and Anders fall in love while South Africa once again teeters on the brink of war. Sadly, Dirk succeeds in his campaign of revenge by murdering Sean and Ruth. However, they are avenged by Anders who lives happily as a warden with Storm.
Next up, Part 2…
Stay tuned!
Categories
Gold Earring Gallery
My obsession with shiny things continues… in particular with GOLD EARRINGS! And, I found some really pretty ones to boot!
Studs
Signature Spade Mini Studs (Kate Spade)
Drop
Gold Leaf Drop Earrings (Ben Moss)
Cluster
Spheres Cluster Studs (Mejuri)
Dangle
10K Yellow Gold Dangle Earrings (Ben Moss)
Hoop
12 mm Full Diamond Cut Endless Tube Hoops (The Bay)
Huggie
Kodi (Ana Luisa)
Chandelier
Robert Lee Morris Soho Oval Disc Fringe (The Bay)
Threader
Loren Stewart Safety Pin Threaders (Nordstroms)
Jacket
Rhye Jackets (JennyBird)
Ear Climbers
Chevron Ear Climber Stud (Amazon)
*If you are looking for a summary of earring and backing types check out Borsheims blog post.
I was gifted this awesome journal for Christmas this year; Picadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts. I thought it would be fun to spend a few moments each Wednesday working through this journal and then sharing them with you.
What about you?
Categories
Stocking Stuffers: Pet Edition
I know I said that my “Stocking Stuffers” series was finished…
BUT…
We all know that the definition of FAMILY is diverse. Families come in all shapes and sizes. The American Veterinary Medical Association released a stat in which, “85% of dog-owners and 76% of cat-owners think of their pets as family,” (Southern Methodist University, July 16 2021). That being said, our furry family members are deserving of a little treat and extra love at Christmas.
Stocking Stuffers for Dogs
Kong SafeStix Toy
Rollover Meaty Femur Bone Treat
Pedigree Dentastix Adult Treat
Only Natural Pet Bristle Brush
Burt’s Bees Deodorizing Dog Shampoo
PetKit Eversweet Pet Travel Water Bottle
Who’s A Good Dog Photo Ornament
Stocking Stuffers for Cats
Crinkle Balls
Firefly Treat Stuffers
Greenies Feline SmartBites Hairball Control Treats
Catnip Seeds
Whisker City Slicker Brush
Nature’s Miracle Litter Box Wipes
I Ignore Because I Love Photo Ornament
Categories
Dress Like…
AUDREY HEPBURN
She was and continues to be the epitome of style and grace. She is not only my favourite actress but also one of my style icons. She mesmerized me from the first time I saw Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961).
Mock Neck Minimalist Sweater (black) from Simons
High Rise Gingham-Printed Ankle Pants from Reitmans
Amelie Black Patent Crocodile Ballet Flats from London Sole
Lonna & Lilly Pearl Studs from The Bay
Darcy Small Satchel (black) from Kate Spade
I was gifted this awesome journal for Christmas this year; Picadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts. I thought it would be fun to spend a few moments each Wednesday working through this journal and then sharing them with you.
What about you?