Big Birthday Card

It seems like months ago but a friend of mine had a significant birthday and I couldn't let it pass without sending her a card. I chose bright colours and she loved it! It's an easel card.

Not so pretty smoothie

I am finding it so hard to take a picture in the early morning. This smoothie has more of a fruit base but the colour leaves a lot to be desired...but still tasty.
handful of carrots
handful of spinach
kiwi
slice of pineapple
half an apple
half an orange
bit of banana
protein powder
chia and flax seeds
ice cubes

Pretty in Pink

This morning I decided to try a different coloured smoothie!                       

Green seems to be easy but pink?
1/2 c water
1/4 avocado
celery stalk
1/2c strawberries
1 beet
a slice of lemon
1/2 apple
protein powder, chia and flax seeds
handful of ice cubes
This smoothie has a bit of an earthy taste. You could add
more apple to sweeten if necessary.It was good!

To peel or not to peel....

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I do try to live by this but there are times when life gets in the way and I need a quick get me out of the house something. I started making smoothies two years ago and in the last six months really started to invent new liquid breakfasts that get the blood flowing. I have had a Magic Bullet for years but in December, broke down and bought the ultimate in blenders...a Vitamix. For the last month, I have been creating many different combinations for a healthy breakfast. I know I wasn't eating enough veggies but I think I am getting better. I will try to share some of my concoctions and if anyone who also loves a smoothie and would like to share recipes, please comment. Today's special goes like this and I must admit I am not a measuring kind of gal....
water to cover the blades
handful of kale, spinach and mini carrots
chunk of cucumber (unpeeled)
1/2 orange peeled
some frozen mango
slice of lime peeled
protein powder
chia and flax seeds
ice

It does need a title and I must keep track of the ingredients I use...lol It tasted great, not sweet and loaded with good things! I forgot to take a picture but will attempt another one another day. It was a bright green....

Jumping in with both feet....

Last week I broke down and bought a Silhouette Cameo. I had had huge problems using the Cricut Craftroom and needed a change. I began watching all the videos I could lay my eyes on, read the Cameo manual, begged help from a scrappy friend and eurika!! I think I got it! My biggest obstacle was  journaling on to a tag. I had some Simple Stories 6x6 paper packs that had a few tags, perfect for journaling on. They are all 4x3 perfect to add to a page. I could not get the text to print on to the tag. I began by scanning the tag into the program, I didn't have to resize, I then typed ( do people still use that work?) my text onto the tag with the size I thought appropriate. (12). I then selected the image and went to the Line Style  option and checked the box labelled Print Lines of Selected Images. I did not group the two together but before I started I did position the tag in the upper left corner so I didn't have to move the tag, thus the text. Select Print and voila! I didn't have to cut this image in the Cameo as it was a rectangle. I will try this again using the cut feature and registration marks but not today. I am feeling really excited. I could have used a word document and tried to place the tag in the right position in the printer but I find that I waste time and paper going that route. Being able to see where I add text and being able to size, change font, colour, is a great a asset for owning a Cameo! Special thanks to AT for all her help!! :)

World Card Making Day

I was looking through some blogs this morning and realized that I

hadn't planned anything for today...oops! But, with some encouragement from Scrapbook Generation,  Debbie Sanders showed a cute way to make a beautiful Christmas tree out of strips and scraps. It was easy and fun, a technique I hadn't tried before. The paper used is from the Paper Studio - Santa & friends.

 

A Grand Catch

We were surprised when our son Matt texted this picture to us! Fishing season had just opened  May 5, 2013 when he and Vanessa took their friends from Australia down to the Grand River to show them the Canadian ropes of fishing. Within minutes, Matt had a catch! Carp!! It was a good size and after "posing" with his goofy grin, threw the fish back where it belonged.
I couldn't wait to  scrapbook the silly picture and used Simple Stories I heart Summer paper, MME dots, AC dots, and lots of stitching.  A fun start to summer!

Empty Nester

We were away three weeks in May to return to two robins building nests around the outside of the house. The one was in a forsythia bush, high off the ground, the other near the patio right beside the clothes line. As I sat under the sunshade, I began to watch the robin protect her one and only egg in the nest. She talked to me and didn't like that I hung my clothes up to dry almost daily. It became a game, a way to peek into the nest and watch the proceedings. Two weeks ago, the baby hatched. Now the mother was most protective. She sat on the clothes line, one eye on the nest and one eye on me. When I was in the house, off she went in search of food. When I got too close, she tried to distract me and keep me away from the nest. I watched the baby grow and climb in and out of the nest. This morning, the baby was gone. Did it fly away? Did a cat find it on the ground? Perhaps a bigger bird swooped in ....it is all a mystery to me. I have been sad all day. It's like the day when my youngest left home. This was my baby too. I hope it found its wings and flew off to be with other robins. Such is nature.

Canada Day....proud to be Canadian!

Canada is now 145 years young! I hope everyone is having a great day celebrating with family and friends. What a great start to July!!

Mmm..mmmm.good!

It must be the heat but I just had to make some sticky buns for the weekend! I haven't used my bread maker in ages and hauled it up from the basement. I found an easy recipe that you mix the day before, cover, and leave it overnight in the fridge and bake in the morning. I was afraid I had lost my touch but I think they will sell!!

Niagara Wine Tasting Tour

Now that the LPGA is over with, maybe I can move on to some regular routines! Before I do, I must tell you about my day on Saturday. The Wilfrid Laurier Alumni takes a wine tour every year and visits three different wineries in the Niagara area. This year we left Waterloo around 9:00 and our first stop was Penisula Ridge. Love my 10:30 nip! From there we went into Niagara-on-the-Lake and had lunch at Bistro 61 and took a half an hour to wander the streets and I was able to buy a new pair of sunglasses (an annual event). Next stop, Riverview Estates and lastly, Stoney Ridge where had a catered dinner on the terrace. They have a gorgeous garden!  We had a wonderful time and look forward to next year...already!! I couldn't resist buying a jar of jam. Look carefully at the label!

Day 5....still at it!

Today, I had to leave the house at 5:20 to be at my post at 6:00 AM!! It was a snap to drive at that hour and only hit one stoplight. I like to think I beat the rush hour! lol I did discover that at that ungodly hour, my hair stands at attention! I think it grows.....out! The humidity really plays havoc and so when I was requested outside to help security at the 18th hole, I jumped at it and donned my big straw hat! No one knew about my hidden curse. As the week progresses, there have been fewer and fewer requests with the players. We continue to make sure they have everything they need in their locker rooms and always greet them with a friendly smile. After today, many of them will be leaving for their next tournament. I believe the top 70 will continue on with competition tomorrow and then the finals will be held on Sunday. Today, our committee was requested to go out to help the security at the 18th hole. The crowds were becoming thick and it was becoming more and more difficult for the players and their caddies to walk from one green to the next tee. Our job was to prepare a pathway and get the group off the green and on to the tee as quickly as possible. Afterwards, I walked the course's trails and watched some of the ladies play. I ended up at the Green Zone, a spot for volunteers to sit and relax with a cold drink and watch the play on the 14th tee. Sadly, there were no treats of the day for me to post! Tomorrow, a group of ten are travelling with the Laurier Alumni to the Niagara wine district for a day of wine tasting, lunch, dinner and a whole lot of socializing.  I will return Sunday!