Thursday, June 30, 2011

Happy Canada Day, Eh!

Ahhh, finally sunshine and warm temps after months of water, flooding, and rain!

July 1st is Canada Day and I am off to celebrate with the whole fam damily! We are headed out to the lake for the long weekend to camp and party, Canadian-style!


We'll be drinking beer...


Playing horseshoes...


And we'll end each day with s'mores and a campfire!


Have a wonderful July 1st!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Delish - Marvelous Mini Meatloaves

I love the Kraft website for quick and easy meals. Today's meal was just that...quick, easy and yummy!


Marvelous Mini Meatloaves

1 lb. extra lean ground beef
1 pkg Stove Top stuffing mix
1 cup water
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 cup pasta sauce
1/2 cup shredded cheese (I used Kraft Italiano)

Preheat oven to 375F. Mix meat, stuffing mix, water and Italian seasoning until well blended. Press evenly into 8 muffin cups sprayed with cooking spray; make an indentation in centre of each with back of spoon.

Spoon pasta sauce evenly into indentations in meatloaves.

Bake 30 min. or until meatloaves are cooked through (160F). Top with cheese; continue baking 5 min. or until cheese is melted. Let stand 10 min. before serving.



Delish - Strawberry Salsa

Mr. Mel and I like to eat well. Too well sometimes. I suppose that might explain the 20-some pounds we've both packed on since we got married eight years ago. I like to think of it as love pudge...ok, yuck.

Anyhoooooo.....a few years ago, in an attempt to be more organized, I started to plan our dinners. First, I planned a week at a time, then a few weeks, now I plan a whole month's dinners at one go! It's been great for Mr. Mel and I. I get to indugle my obssessive need for organization, we try tons of new recipes, and it's helped Mr. Mel learn to cook! Squeeeee!

Some of the recipes we try are just too good not to share. I'll be posting some of our favs, and any that we've really enjoyed, with the recipe and photos! C'mon, who doesn't love pictures of food?!
 
A co-worker shared this recipe with me and I am so glad she did! It's the perfect treat for summer and a refreshing twist on a traditional salsa. I made this batch for a co-workers birthday, but I had to sneek a cup for Mr. Mel and I to do some quality control testing first!


Strawberry Salsa

3 cups diced strawberries
1 cup diced yellow pepper
1 tbsp finely chopped cilantro
3 finely chopped green onions
1/2 cup Catalina salad dressing
a dash (or two) of Tobasco

Toss all ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate overnight. Serve with tortilla chips/scoops.


Saturday, June 11, 2011

More Floors

I hope I didn't have you believing that I was having even more work done on my floors! ::wink wink:: Nope, these floors belong to my parents, and it's about time they get updated!

Let me give you the skinny on the 'rents. They are, quite possibly, the hardest working people I know. Mom grew up the eldest of seven kids on a farm just outside of town. She was always hustling us three kids off to various activities and classes, attended university classes in the evening, all while working a full time job! She painstakingly hand stitched thousands of sequins on countless numbers of my dance costumes, noting that only lazy moms put them through the sewing machine! She taught me to read, to sew, and how to french braid. All valuable skills, right? 

In the past few years, mom has experienced a decline in her health but, always stubborn and self-sufficient, hates to accept help and would much prefer to do things on her own. Gotta respect that!


Daddio is a real character! There is no doubt that I inherited my pigheadedness and goofy sense of humour from him. He's one of those men that appear rough and tough on the outside, but is really just a big softy. My dad believes that women can and should do anything a man can, especially his daughters! From the time I was a wee one he taught me how to do everything from change a tire to build a shed. And thank goodness he did because I married a man who doesn't know how to do any of those things! He helped me buy my first car, and still comes with me when I negotiate on a vehicle...if only now to lend moral support, because he taught me well in the art of the deal! Dad is still working hard at a job he loves and takes alot of pride in, I honestly can't imagine the day he'd seriously consider retirement.


My parent's home was built in 1995. Right at the time when brass, white kitchens, and berber were all the rage. Well, now it's 2011 and the house is looking a bit dated. First thing to go? The black vinyl and blonde laminate flooring in the main floor! The floor long ago lost it's lustre and I never real did care for the laminate.


The main floor is open concept so the idea is to lay one floor throughout. Given that my parents have debated selling the house so weren't keen on spening money that they wouldn't get a healthy return on, we elected to go with another laminate, only a much higher end one than is there right now! Enter Vienna Laminate from Beaulieu Canada in Acacia.


I love that this laminate comes in a variety of widths. The 'rents chose to go with 5 1/2" wide planks, and the colour they chose is my absolute fave! I cannot tell you how impressed I am with the finished product, it looks amazing! Wowie wow, I cannot say enough about how far laminate products have come! Take a look for yourself...


The powder room still needs a new toilet, and the furniture needs to be put back, but it looks so awesome!

Mom and dad want to make some other improvements to the house, starting with paint. I can't wait to show you their projects!

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Saturday Somethin' Somethin'

I've been a bad blogger. I know, I know. But I'm back now and have a lot of projects on the go so I am hoping to get back to updating the ol' blog much more regularly. I'm gonna start by getting back to my Saturday features. These are an opportunity to do a little daydreaming and have some fun without ever having to commit! Ha ha. So, bing, bang, boom...here we go!

Today's feature had me smiling from ear to ear. I love anything that takes me back to the simplicity of childhood. How many of us remember playing with Lego when we were kids? Me! Me! Me! I played with them all of the time. I usually built luxury houses for my Barbies, and my brother would come along and smash them with his G.I Joes! Ah, the memories.

These days, creative thinkers (who are just big kids at heart) are coming up with some super fun ways of incorporating Lego into all sorts of design.

First up is such a simple idea. A ho-hum torch light gets topped with a Lego shade. Easy peasy and super cute!


Next up? GIANT Lego blocks as transitional furniture pieces. I don't want to sit on these (they'd be so uncomfortable) but I do like looking at them.


Check out this kitchen island by Munchhausen Design. I see me and my nephews, in our jammies, having bowls of Cheerios at this island! How could you ever have a bad day when you have your morning coffee sitting here?! Tell me! How?! It's so perfect for a lighthearted family and grown ups with a sense of humour! There are...wait for it...20,000 pieces of Lego in this island!


Bored during the monthly staff meeting? I doubt you'd nod off sitting at this board table!


Run out of stacked stone? Retaining wall chipped? Plaster missing? No worries, just grab the bucket of Lego and get to work! 


And finally, while not actually made of Lego, Staffan Holm (the designer of this Rococo desk) says, "We created the desk bound by the structural laws of LEGO-building bricks...". What a great twist on an old classic!



Have a fantabulous Saturday!


Friday, April 29, 2011

Royal Fever

You may not be aware but there's a Royal wedding today! I rose promptly at 1:00 a.m., yes, A.M., to watch it live. I am Canadian, after all, and the Queen is our Sovereign. It's only proper that I watch her grandson get a ring on his hitchin' finger, right?

Out came the teacup (Royal Albert of course) and teapot. It goes without saying that I had to dress for the occassion, and have a bit of fun with it (what you don't see are my Pooh pj bottoms).


And we officially have a new Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge, how delightful!

Congrats Wills and Kate!

Sincerely,

(a Royal junkie)

Monday, April 25, 2011

Birthday Party Fun

As I mentioned last week, Mr. Mel's Granny turned 75 years young over the weekend. Her family hosted a come and go tea, which was so much fun!

In keeping with the theme of her party, I used teapots and teacups in the centrepieces. Everything was so hectic that day, and I was so busy running around like a loon, that I didn't get many pictures of the tables, but here are a few I managed to snap.


BONUS! Not only was it a 75th birthday party but the evening was spent celebrating my mother and father in-law's 40th wedding anniversary! Yep, two parties in one!

It was so much fun celebrating with Mr. Mel's family They are such a lively bunch and there is never a dull moment.

Mr. Mel's awesome family (minus his big bro who couldn't make it)

Time for birthday cake!
Granny's 12 kids + their spouses + grandchildren + great-grandchildren  = alot of people to share cake!

Granny, Mr. Mel...amd me (looking not too glamourous after a whole day on my feet).
She loved her corsage!