Thrifted Thursday

          This Thrifted Thursday item will be familiar to a few folks already as it has quickly become my favourite item to throw on this winter. A long-woven - wool vest- I suspect it is handmade as there are no tags and it is quite rustic- it just has that made by hand feel to it. One day last month I was hustling up Carroll St to get over to the school for child pick up and as I was speed walking past Community Thrift I noticed this gem in the window- I didn't stop. I obsessed all the way to the school in the pouring rain and decided that if it wasn't there on my way home then it simply wasn't meant to be- thats just how I shop.

         Well clearly the vest was still hanging in the window upon our return- had it not been such a miserable day out and the streets deserted I am sure this would not have been the case. Luck and the Thrifting Gods were on my side that day and I walked away with this beauty- truly a thrifting score! To me this vest evokes a totally 60's art teacher vibe- I can just imagine some complicated housewife sipping gin and tonics while perhaps spinning ceramics on the wheal or rushing off to a life drawing class.

        Lately my style has been described as cozy- more specifically like a tea cozy- and I do feel this to be the case. This fall and winter has been all about the layers of wool- the more layers to keep me warm and cozy the better. This vest fits that bill perfectly- keeping my back warm and my arms free- for anyone who works with their hands will tell you this is a key issue when wearing sweaters. At any rate as mentioned this is one of my favourite pieces to wear this season!

PS- also my super cute shoes are thrifted from the Salvation Army- they were brand new- handmade in South Africa- another mega score for this fall!

PSS- yes I know that is coffee in my cup- this is an older picture from over Christmas- the super cute mug was handmade by my friend Andrea- the tea challenge is still on!

PSSS- why yes that is a glorious tassel hanging from my neck! It was gifted to me by my secret Santa- Portia who makes all sorts of glorious tassels!

More Knitting For My Small Being

         So much making went on in this past month- it was difficult to show much of it off as most went off as gifts- secrecy was paramount- and so a modicum of online silence was necessary. One small bit of knitting that I was desperate to finish was for my Girly- I had visions of a snuggly warm vest covering her back as we iced through the forest of Christmas day- but it just didn't happen. I knitted on our way to the Okanagan- I knitted through out our holiday and then I knitted on the way home in the car as well- super simple garter stitch- just knitting back and forth. Still this small bit of snugness was left in pieces until just last night.

          Once stitched together and the ties added on my first hand knit garment was complete- this is almost but not quite a sweater- that is next onto the needles for the Boy! Miss Lo was so pleased to wake up this morning to one last Christmas gift- it fit perfectly and nicely matched her new Holiday dress from Mabo Kids. My little city elf is all set for a chilly winter in an old school- which tens to be either overheated or crafty- depending on which room you find yourself in- layers are important in Vancouver!

          With this small garment I have gotten a bit more  confidence in my knitting ability- I feel confident to cast on that sweater I have been dreaming of- Ok well I have two sweaters I'm itching to knit- but one thing at a time! I here by declare 2015 the year of the sweater!

P.S- also how is my little Miss getting so darn grown up? Every time I turn around she has grown another inch!

5% More Simple

      A little over a year ago our family started out on a bit of a mission- to live our life just 5% more simpler- the idea of course was to make our lives easier- to live with less and enjoy what we all ready had. Environmentalism of course goes hand in hand with living a simpler life- our level of consumption was about to go down- a more mindful existence was on the horizon.

     Today a year into this journey it has become evident that a life that is 5% simpler is just not feasible- once started there was no way to stop at just 5%- simple living or minimalism is addicting and we are all hooked! Life with less is good- it is easy- it is cleaner by far! There is nothing I love more than a good de-cluttering session but today I just watched the final bag of "stuff" head off to the thrift store- mostly clothes outgrown by our kiddos- or old work clothes that were just taking up space in my closet- all gone. We are slowly learning that it is better to have the space than the stuff.

    Often necessity truly is the mother of invention- and while our family is not really reinventing the wheal or anything I feel what we are doing is pretty revolutionary- choosing to stay longer in the city- in a small space and live with less. We love our lifestyle and right now are not willing to trade that for any amount of space in the suburbs- learning to exist in our small space as a growing family of four can be tricky- especially when there is SO much cool Lego to be bought and played with and SO much amazing fabric that needs to come home with me! So learning to comfortably live with in our space feels like a revolutionary move.

    Recently I read a really interesting truth that I just can't shake "Living with less trumps organizing because organizing is temporary"- this concept really resonated with me. As I am the main stay at home parent I am the man on the ground constantly fighting the battle to keep clutter at bay- I feel like I am always "organizing" our home. Living with less frees up amounts of time that would otherwise be spent chasing down clutter back into it's home. Getting rid of all the "stuff" is permanent- there is no way for things that no longer exist in your life to filter back into the collective space!

    I'm feeling so good about where we are as a family now- we have a somewhat clean slate- we have what we need- we can now chose to mindfully let things that we need and love into our home on an item per item basis. We have a lovely tidy living room- we have our books and music- movies and drawing materials- we have what is important to our family right now. Anything that doesn't serve our purpose is gone and our closets are so easy to navigate!

      A year out our goal is no longer 5% more simplicity- we have been there and said no thank you to the t-shirt. Living just that little bit more simple has shifted our entire mindset. Once a more is more kind of gal I now firmly place myself in the minimalist camp- if they even have one- probably not. Learning to say No to stuff has been like a weight lifting off my shoulders- my turtle shell of stuff is no longer there and in it's place rests an amazing being of lightness and space!


ps- I found this great image over at the blog Becoming Minimalist- click on over to get more inspiration!

Late February

           Wednesday night saw found us getting very little sleep- The Boy had a cough that would just not be stopped and subsequently everyone was kept awake. So yesterday morning when I woke up so tiered I thought my eyes were made of sandpaper I made the decision to keep both Littles home from school- while this may seem counterintuitive ( I could have napped while they were both away) I knew neither of them would be at their best for the school day- so home they stayed. Looking at a full day with two tiered and cranky children I steeled myself against the inevitable terrible day it was sure to be.

          Then something miraculous occurred- once several cups of coffee worked their magic I noticed that the day was not too grey- the clouds were breaking- no rain. With my two favourite Littles at home this meant only one thing- beach day! We grabbed the scooters and threw together a hastily assembled picnic and headed out for adventure. Our favourite neighbourhood beach was of course mostly deserted- really only busy during lunch when near by offices empty out- and so we had the place to our selves- peace prevailed through out the land.

          Sometimes when we are at our most vulnerable things just have a way of working out- what was sure to be a very hard day became an easy day once I threw any additional expectations out the door. We were fed and clothed and we played- some days that is all anyone really needs to be happy- to fix a terrible night- well play and a tonne of coffee for me!

       Walking through our neighbourhood I noticed so many promising signs of Spring- late February is like that- it all happens very suddenly- the trees start blooming- the birds start freaking out- crocuses are blooming and best of all the days are noticeably longer. I need Spring so badly- I need longer- brighter- warmer days- I am so over Winter(which yes I know could have been much worse). Looking back to a post about January it's hard to believe how much things change yet stay exactly the same in such a short span of time.

              My Littles are growing- maturing- they still squabble but the times that they get along and play or at least work out their own disputes is starting to outweigh the times I need to intervene. Seeing the physical manifestation of their growth and maturing can be compared in a handy metaphor to the buds on the trees- just waiting to bloom. I wont do that though- no metaphors- no pushing them to grow- just sitting back and enjoying both my children and the trees in late February.

     Friends it is Friday- this week we are sticking close to home- although I so wish to be with my family in the Okanagan the roads are just too nasty right now- my heart is with them- with my Mom. May you all be surrounded by love and family- with sunshine in your hearts if it is not on your shoulders- Happy Friday!

Weekend Adventure

           Every weekend we try and go on at least one family adventure- our adventures don't need to be big or even cost a lot of money- in fact the best adventures are often close to home and cost roughly the same as a cup of coffee- or are an actual cup of coffee! This weekend was no exception- we stuck close to home but paid a visit to one of our favourite beaches- English Bay- usually we find it far too crowded with tourists but this weekend snow was gently falling and the beach was abandoned save for the Surfrider Foundation doing beach clean up- and of course us!

     With our coffees in hand - the Mr and I guided our Littles through the deserted streets of Vancouver's West End- once at the beach we turned them loose to do what kids do best- mostly roll in the sand. There was a fair amount of beach combing, some races and lots of digging. Yeah this is why we love the West Coast- deserted beaches all to our selves in the middle of winter!

        I love the sound of the city when it snows- a quiet descends as folks chose to stay indoors, the falling snow muffling the traffic- the normal hustle and bustle seems to slow right down. This is balm to my soul as one of the most challenging aspects of city living is the noise- I think anyways- I need peace and quiet every once in a while. We have little secret spots all over our dear city where our family seeks  out solitude- English Bay is not usually one of them- which is why it was such a treat to have the beach essentially all to ourselves!

         I find that winter is the season for tucking in and resting- healing ourselves for the coming time of longer days and sunshine- fun and constant activity. I am spending this time right now sorting out our lives so when those longer days hit our life won't be so disorganized. I am also spending so much time this winter pursuing things I love to do- knitting, painting- cooking of course! Filling up my soul with little domestic pursuits that make me happy- filling my soul with quiet and reflection- visiting places that give me that feeling of contentment. This is what our family weekend adventures are becoming more and more- simple and quiet- finding laughter and fun in easy living!

Happy Valentine's Day

       Happy Valentine's Day! I love- love. There really is nothing like good old fashioned treats and heart shaped paper sweet nothings- you know easy love- before it became complicated and expensive. The need to out do one another on Valentine's day has unfortunately soured a lot of people towards what can be a very fun holiday- I say lets reclaim Valentine's day and keep it simple folks!  Lets cut out paper hearts and bust out the stickers and markers- lets tell our loved ones how much we care by the trail of glitter that follows our card!

       Today's post is short & sweet folks- I have heart shaped scones to bake for breakfast and little ones to get out the door with a waterproofed bag of glue laden cards. It is Friday dear Friends and Thank Goodness for that! Every Friday an impromptu  play date erupts in our building- on our floor in particular- the parent's open up our doors and let the kids run up and down the hall- slipping in and out of each other's apartments- toys get traded- cats run by with a paranoid stare- kids dress up- strange games involving Indiana Jones & Ballerinas play out in the halls of a Gastown apartment building. It's like a 70's block party only inside- who ever says that community can't be found in a busy city is wrong.

     We have tried to live in so many parts of this city- we have accidentally found a home in the most unlikely of spots- and right now for this very moment in time we are blessed to have amazing neighbours who care about each other- a village- a village that happens to enjoy a fine boxed wine just as much as I do! Sometimes when you least expect it what you need is right under your nose- and it is simple just like construction paper valentines.

     Anyways I promised I would keep this short and sweet- I have a busy day- to be followed by yet another chill weekend- we have very few plans beyond recycling the old car seats! Happy Friday Friends!

ps- there have been rumours that our floor is the most fun floor in the building- and I can totally confirm that!

Simple Family Friday:Stocking Stuffers

         In our family we love Christmas- but for us the best part about the whole day has always been about the stockings. My sister and I loved to get up early and dive into our stockings before breakfast- and we still do- our parents have always done really good stocking- that's where the good stuff like packs of gum and candy were to be found! So it is with this fond childhood memory of thoughtful goodies stuffed down into the toes of our stockings that I am turning my thoughts towards my own children's Christmas stockings- as well as their boots- which will be put out tonight for St. Nicolas of course!

          Trying to be mindful of what we bring into our home while still providing the Littles with the goodies they crave can be challenging- so I thought I would share my list of favourite stocking stuffers for the Littles- although I feel like almost anyone would enjoy any number of these treats! I'm keeping it simple as per usual- but simple doesn't mean thoughtless- a great deal of thought goes into keeping things simple!


- small edible goodies- this seems like a no-brainer but keep it local- hit the Farmer's Market for some yummy, sustainable chocolates, beef jerky or peperoni- or cave aged Greyer- cause who doesn't like cheese in their stocking!

- small pots of honey, jams or Nutella- yumm and perfect to eat immediately with breakfast!

- art supplies- a fresh pack of soy crayons, glue sticks, fancy pencil sharpener- tape- OK this might be a bit weird but The Boy is getting a roll of his own masking tape in his stocking- he is really into building stuff right now and keeps stealing my tape- so he's getting his own!

- colouring books and other creative activity books- our favourites are from a local company called Draw Me A Lion- this year they have come out with a DIY flag book- so fun!

- socks- this is my Mom's tradition- we always get socks in our stockings

-  seeds! Visit your local gardening centre and pick up some seeds to start in the window come March- we like Strathcona 1890 Urban Seeds or West Coast Seeds- keeping an eye out for Heritage, non- GMO seeds is key!

- beads- OK the parents may not like this but I don't know a gal who doesn't enjoy getting some new beads to make beautiful jewelry with!

- of course we always have a traditional orange in the toe

- books- we read chapter books as a family together and these fit nicely into stockings- this year Jacob Two Two and the Hooded Fang is going into the Boy's stocking!

- Hair pretties- new elastics, hair clips or hair bands are always good

- a tin mug for camping- hot chocolate packs snug inside- tea would also be good



      These are just some of my most recent ideas of what might go into our Little's stockings and boots- realistically there will also probably be Lego and stickers- but I think like most things in life a little balance is needed. I would love to hear some of your ideas for stocking stuffers! Does anyone else celebrate St. Nicolas? What's going in your child's boot?

      Friends it is Friday once again- this weekend will be filled with family and fun for us- my parents are on their way here right now- we will be gathering to celebrate the arrival of Lovely Cousin Laura's new baby- showering her with love. I hope your weekend is filled with warmth and joy- Happy Friday Friends!

Simple Family Friday

          To me nothing says winter like strapping on a pair of skates - I am instantly transported back to being a child as soon as my skates hit the fresh ice. When I'm skating there is nothing that can bother me- it's just me- with the cold wind on my cheeks- going around in circles- occasionally trying out some fancy moves- totally blissed out- it's a Zen state of mind.

        When we were kids our neighbourhood had a rink at the top of our street- at the Peachland Riding Club- conditions had to be just right for the rink to open as it was outdoors. We would hurry home from the bus, grab our skates and run up the street to skate until dinner- the ice rink was like the unofficial club house for the neighbourhood kids in winter- hot chocolate that instantly burned your tongue could be had for fifty cents- red licorice for a nickel.

          It was on the ice that my sister and learned what our Mom must have been like as a girl- she was in our eyes a figure skater- she did a fancy cross over with her feet when cornering and could skate back wards. To us she was the best skater ever in her puffy kelly green winter coat- glasses slightly figged up- Beret just askew a tad- Kleenex tucked up her sleeve if we needed one.

          I don't remember ever being hurried off the ice ever- often we could extend our skating time way past dinner time- walking home in the dark through patches of street light. Coming inside with our hands and feet so cold they hurt- our cheeks burning as we pealed off the layers and hung them to dry by the wood stove. We liked to pick off the chunks of snow from our wool mitts and put them on the stove to sizzle- watching the snow melt and then the puddles evaporate.

       As an adult living on the coast I have often sought out the closest ice rink over the years- it wasn't until last year though that skating started to make a regular occurrence in our lives. The Littles discovered how much fun it is to power yourself over the smooth ice- around and round in circles to the tune of rink music. As a family this is one of the most affordable outings we can participate in- our local rink is free if you have your own skates.

      So my simple family Friday suggestion for this week is to spend some time on the ice this coming week- skate rentals are so inexpensive- grab a helmet if you haven't skated in a while. Forget about making a fool of yourself and just skate- it is ever so magical! Friends as mentioned it's Friday - I hope your heart is warm and your cheeks are frosty- head outside and have some fun! Happy Friday!

Simple Family Friday

          It really is starting to be the most wonderful time of the year- my favourite time in fact- between St. Nicholas Day, Winter Solstice, Christmas and New Years there is no shortage of light and celebration in the midst of our darkest days. Of course like with everything I do we like to keep our Holiday season simple- easy homemade fun- sprinkled with lots of glitter!

         It's so important to develop traditions that are important and special to your own specific family- events and outings that hold special meaning and will make unique memories for the entire family. With the advent of Social Media, blogs and Pinterest it is so easy to get overwhelmed by the onslaught of cute projects or "must do" Holiday events that this time of year can easily start to feel like a marathon. It's also very easy to start to feel like you are "less" than "perfect"- I find there is just so inspiration that its easy to feel like your not measuring up.

     So my point is this- first off what is the "perfect" Holiday? I say the perfect Holiday is whatever makes you happy- be it a fully packed month of events or hitting the beach for a nature walk in the stillness. It could be a four course dinner or pizza. While our kids are small these memories we are making are not for their benefit- they are for ourselves- looking back on my own childhood Christmas' I don't remember much- other than lots of snow and love.

     My simple family Friday suggestion is this- make unique traditions that are for you and your family- stop worrying about what everyone else is doing- it's not a race- no parenting prizes will be given out. So Friends keep it simple and thrive this Holiday season instead of just surviving- this is a time for celebration and letting the light in not running yourself and your family ragged.

     Friends it is Friday again- I am happy to say we have big plans for just tucking in and being with family- I'm super excited to meet our new cousin- Lovely Cousin Laura and her husband welcomed their first child into the world this week- I can't wait to soak up some of that new baby goodness! Happy Friday Friends!

Simple Family Friday

Ditch The Disposibles

         I know, I know- some times paper towels are so easy to have on hand and I get that those cute packages of paper napkins from Ikea are just so inexpensive and well- cute! But consider for a moment how much time, effort and money is wasted thinking about and stocking those items in your home pantry- not to even mention the environmental impact of all that single use paper. Today's Simple Family Friday Tip is to think outside the single use paper box and consider ditching the disposables!

       Many folks are super resistant to using cloth napkins- all that extra laundry to consider- because you know napkins take up so much room in the laundry hamper which is all ready over flowing anyways! I'm not sure if it is hygiene thing or is our society is just used to using paper napkins and paper towels that the alternatives are considered extravagant like bringing out the "good china". Once- not too many years ago there was a time where cloth napkins could be seen at every table- people actually sat at a table and dined- dinner was an experience not just a meal and food was heartily given thanks for.

     Those days disappeared when a marketing department started convincing us all that this wonderful quilted four ply paper was cleaner than our fabric tea towels, that it was such an inconvenience to use fabric napkins when you could just throw these paper ones away after each use. Yes a marketing department told us this was modern and hygienic and all the upwardly mobile family's were doing it- so the cloth napkins went back in the china cabinet along with the good china- only to come out at the Holidays.

          I am going to go out on a limb here and suggest that not only are fabric napkins and tea towels easier to use they make life more pleasant! Fabric- if washed regularly, in hot water does not harbour germs- we don't throw away our underwear after each wear do we? If hung too dry in the bright sunshine there is no need for bleach or heavy cleaning agents- or even ironing! By making the switch to fabric napkins we save money- we rarely even hit that isle at the grocery store there for saving time- and most importantly we keep paper out of the landfill.

        My suggestion for you this weekend is to visit Ikea or any of your favourite stores where you would normally buy disposable paper products- I bet you will find cloth tea towels and fabric napkins! Pick a set up and try them out- set the table and hearken back to a day when people dined- or sit on the couch and eat pizza- doesn't matter just give fabric a try!

       I am so happy it is Friday again! The sun is actually shining- the world is beautiful- life is full of blessings and coffee! I hope you- my Friends- find love in your heart and sunshine on your face this weekend- Happy Friday!

Simple Family Friday:Walking

      One of the best pieces of "advice" I have to give on keeping life simple is to walk- just walk. Why wait for a bus when you could walk? Have a problem? Go for a walk and participate in some simple meditation! Too many carbs (ahem) making your jeans tight? Ditch the car and walk! A walk can be so peaceful and connecting.

     There are so many discoveries to be made on a daily walk- on our walks to an from school we are witnessing the changing of the seasons- the leaves are starting to turn colour and fall, the light is changing- when one walks one has the time to luxuriate in these changes. Even in the city nature is everywhere- waking is a great way to connect with it.

     We have all heard or more recently read that French women don't get fat- now I have never been to France but from what I hear the French female figure can be partially contributed to all the walking that the French do. To the schools, markets, grocery shops- the French walk everywhere and then they can eat all those delicious little croissant!

      I find that if life is getting too hectic or I am just feeling overwhelmed a good walk puts everything back in it's place. Nothing beats trying to work out a sewing pattern or project problem like a good solitary walk does.

       Of course I would be remiss if I didn't mention the obvious environmental benefits of walking- leaving the car at home forces us to do a few things- first of all when on foot we tend to stay more localized- a little closer to home means we are spending money in our communities. We also tend to buy less- when on foot I always consider a large scale purchase- how would I get this giant mirror home for example- which inevitably leads to the question- do I really need it- not so much as it often turns out! Saving the gas and miles on the car for when we really need it not only benefits the environment but our waistlines as well!

     Friends it is Friday yet again! I am super excited to do not much of anything this weekend- waffles and coffee are a possibility and a trip to Bird on a Wire over on Main Street to visit with the creator of Rice Babies is a most definite! If you are in the Main St area Kellie will be the artist in the window from 11- 4 on Saturday! Friends I hope you all have a wonderful weekend- may some magic land in your path and if not there is always more coffee! Happy Friday!

Simple Family Friday

         This time last week was my first Simple Family Friday- I shared how we keep our diet as well as our grocery shopping simple- or we at least try anyways. Food does not need to be complicated but often becomes so- we try and eat whole food from scratch. I had several requests to share my meal planning here- everyone can always use a fresh perspective on what's for dinner! So today I present our meal plan for the week of September 15- September 21.

Sunday September 15

Roasted Chicken- we always get a big one so we have leftovers

New potatoes

Roasted Carrots

Sliced Cucumber

Monday September 16

leftover chicken in wraps- fajita style

sliced veggies- throw in any leftover carrots

salsa

yogurt for dipping

Tuesday September 17

Quinoa penne with meat sauce

garden salad for adults

sliced cucumber & peppers for kids

Wednesday September 18

Pork Kabobs- marinated pork cubes

cubed veggies-mushrooms, zucchini and peppers

sliced cucumbers for the kids

Thursday September 19

Lentil Soup

homemade biscuits 

garden salad for adults

Friday September 20

pizza night!

homemade pizza- recipe here

toppings- ham, pineapple, peppers, zucchini,black olives

mozzarella, feta

Saturday September 21

Sausages- from the Farmer's Market

red cabbage, apple and bacon hash

sliced cucumber and pepper for the kids

       For our other meals- breakfast and lunch we again keep things pretty simple- most days we all have giant smoothies for breakfast- they are fast and easy and the kids like to help make them. Lunches are leftovers for us all in some form- just packaged into lunch form- occasionally I will send a sandwich. If you wish to share any great simple meal ideas please do so in the comments! Like y'all I am always looking for new meal ideas- easy food that came be served in a pinch.

      Friends it is Friday again- by the time you are reading this I will be over at Opus Framing and Art Supplies shooting a "How To" video on block printing- I can't wait to share it with you all! If you are a local and are looking for something to do this weekend you can find me in Cloverdale at the Agriplex for the Fall Into Craft market- come on out and say Hi- I would love to see you in real life! Happy Friday Friends!

Simple Family Fridays

        Last week I touched on the topic of keeping life simple- or K.I.S.S.- keep it simple stupid- and while the name stupid is not a word I would regularly use- the acronym still sticks in my mind. I was asked by a few readers to elaborate on some of the things we utilize while striving for a simpler life. Now that school is in session I feel like I need these reminders as much as anyone- so I thought I would try something new here- Simple Family Fridays- where I will share some of my tips and techniques in creating a simple family life!

     Simple Tips #1- Eating Sustainably

        We made the switch from more conventional eating to striving for a sustainable diet in Ernest about a year ago- this is not to say that a grocery store threshold never shall be crossed- quite the opposite. What eating sustainably means eating locally, seasonally and organically- planning while staying flexible at the same time. Let me explain this contradictory statement further- we shop a great deal at our local farmer's markets which means that we need to be flexible to substitute one item for another if a particular vendor is not at a market- working from a master grocery list but making substitutions if needed.

      We shop what is in season at the farmer's market- right now tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and corn and then flush out the remainder of our list at grocery stores- carefully. For example we shop at Costco quite a bit- I mean what growing family doesn't? Costco has great deals on chia seeds, organic ground beef, walnuts and organic milk- plus toilet paper- obviously!

       We shop the farmer's market for eggs, sausages and the Bean Boy's Hummus- but hit Whole Foods for dry bulk items like black beans, lentils, oats and bananas- cause bananas* don't grow on trees around here and are a vital part of our morning smoothies! We try and stay away from the interior isles of the store as this is typically where all the packaged goods reside in any grocery store- and at Whole Foods that can be dangerous!

      Shopping at the farmer's markets is so much more fun that shopping a conventional grocery store- in fact mock me if you will- but I get anxiety in grocery stores- I panic and end up with only half the items I came for. Farmer's market shopping can be much more relaxing once you get over the fear of the crowds and sticker shock. Shop wisely and with a list- shop on a full stomach.

     To balance out the cost of local and organic foods as well as do the environment a solid we try and go meatless at least once a week. By choosing to go meatless we are reducing the stress on the land- plus it is heart healthy. Opt for a hearty lentil soup and baguette or bean burritos- with lots of cheese of course!

     In order to keep this whole grocery shopping situation simple I make sure to meal plan for the coming weeks- from the meal plan I can look in our pantry and decide what items we need to stock up on. Now that school is back in meal planning is key- it means at 4 pm I am not scrambling to defrost something- I already know what's for dinner- simple. Needless to say we try and make much of our food from scratch- I have a handful of recipes that are family favourites that rotate with the season- that doesn't mean that we never eat a frozen pizza or take out- cause we do- just very occasionally!

        I hope you like my first post on simplicity- I chose the topic of food and eating as it is always on my mind- feeding my family- planning- being healthy- if you are a regular reader you will I am sure have noticed my food obsession by now. FYI it runs in the family. My final thoughts on food and simplicity are this- food doesn't need to be complicated- it doesn't need to come from a lab- food should be nourishing, tasty and simple.

* I know that bananas aren't local or seasonal but hey we are human and we like bananas- at least the ones we buy are organic!

PS- wow- I almost forgot it's Friday again- you would think by the name of the post I would be aware- duh! Clearly I need more coffee- always more coffee! We are packing up for the last hurrah of this summer- camping in the Okanagan with some dear old friends- yes they really are old- my age at least! Friends I hope where ever you are in this fine world of ours you are surrounded by light and love this weekend- Happy Friday!

In The Garden :Garlic

     My parents have the most amazing garden or perhaps they have the greenest of thumbs- whatever they plant here in Peachland seems to grow to epic proportions! These past few days we have been enjoying the spoils from the garden- cucumbers, beans, kale and now giant heads of garlic. This garlic really puts the stuff I have grown to shame- it is the biggest garlic I have ever seen! Most definitely to be enjoyed in a variety of ways-  but mostly with cheese.

       The Boy has been his Poppa's shadow since we got here- super involved in all the construction happening next door and now following Poppa into the garden to harvest the end of that giant garlic. Our family loves garlic- it is sort of hoarded a bit like treasure at our house because once it's gone- it's gone! There are many months in between growing season and even the Farmer's Market often runs out mid Spring.

        The benefits of this garden are two fold- not only do we enjoy healthy and "free" fruits and vegetables but my Littles are strengthening their bond with their Grandparents and the earth. These city kids know exactly where their food is coming from- how tomatoes are pollinated, how to dig up garlic and potatoes and who makes honey. They know the feeling of good earth between their fingers and how to turn the hose on someone unsuspecting at a moments notice! This is something that can't be bought in a grocery store- this is a learned connection.

" I believe that every child in this world needs to have a relationship with the land... to know how to nourish themselves...and how to connect with the community around them"

Alice Waters    

5% More Simple

     I read this awesome blog- it's called Bliss Beyond Naptime- Kathy Stowell is the awesomesauce Momma behind this often times humerus take on Motherhood and life- she definitely keeps it real. Recently one of her blog posts really struck home- to quickly summarize the post talked about simplifying your life and what that actually means- how by even just simplifying 5% life becomes easier and more Blissful!

    This idea totally resonated with me- I thought "Dude! I can simplify  my life 5%!" - yes I often refer to myself as Dude when I am thinking out loud. 5% is nothing- 5% is cutting back on the amount of magazines I have lurking around waiting to be read, 5% is moving the kids plates & cutlery down so they can access these at snack time, 5% is getting rid of all the sticks off the deck- except for the really special ones- we "need" to keep those!

      When I commented on how excited this 5% idea made me Kathy responded that a fun way to simplify is to pack like you are moving- pack a few boxes of "extra stuff" up and just stash it away for a while. I thought this is excellent- summer is coming and I have some very clear ideas of how I want those days to be spent- definitely not battling the clutter of dolly strollers trying to open the window in the kid's room!

   Our vision for this summer is one of creativity, peace, relaxing- we have our bucket list started and most of the things on the list involve one beach or another, lots of bike riding and berry picking. When our home is cleared of clutter my mind works better- I can find things easily (shocking) to get us out the door faster.

    With fun as our motivation my Littles (who might think we actually are moving) eagerly got in on the action- we boxed up old puzzles and books we don't play with, winter boots that won't fit next fall and moved the swim suits and shorts to the for front of the dresser for easy access. They each picked out a handful of books and stuffies as well as their favourite toys- everything else went into the closet to wait patiently for a rainy day or next fall. What you see above is what they are left with and I think it is still pretty generous- the wooden kitchen is still out as well- you just cant see it.

    In my mind Summer is about Simple- our daily life is all ready pretty slow and easy- lots of walking and outdoor play- now our home will hopefully reflect that as well- a slow home! Thanks Kathy for the inspiration- I'm thinking if things are 5% simpler then I will be 5% a more connected Momma- it's that simple.