CURRENTLY LOVING: THIS HOUSE

I am smitten with homes designed by California-based Disc Interiors. Take a look at this house to see why I could happily move in with just a box or two of our personal treasures and call it home...

HAPPY FRIDAY!

The sun is shining and the weekend is close at hand! This weekend is going to be a relaxing one as we all try to recuperate and recover from an awful week of bad colds. Beach time and fresh sea air should make us all happy again.

Let's start the weekend off with a fun pop song by an old favourite of mine. Here's Starz In Their Eyes by Just Jack.

Happy Friday!

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A TRIP TO COPENHAGEN

The four of us recently spent 10 days in Copenhagen. It was glorious. The city is perfect for exploring by foot or bike (we rented a 'family bike' and the kids had a front row seat for our adventures).

Monkey and Little Bean were captivated by the imaginative playgrounds, diverse animals at the Zoo, interactive games at Experimentarium City, sea creatures at the aquarium, a castle with not one, but two moats, and of course the yummy Danish treats.

I was enamoured with the picturesque architecture, fresh nordic cuisine, an impressive modern art gallery, embracing chilly temperatures with blankets on sidewalk cafes and absolutely everything that made up Danish style and design. And, Tivoli, the second oldest amusement park in the world, sits in the heart of the city and enchanted us all with its bold colours, thrilling rides, carnival games and live band music that marched throughout the park.

There is so much to adore about this progressive city, and country, that it is no wonder the Danes are considered to be the happiest people in the world.

Here are a few snapshots of our trip if you'd like to see ...

RECIPE: BANANA OATMEAL COOKIES

These are the most simplistic cookies ever. Monkey made our first batch with just a little help from me to find and measure out the ingredients. You start with two ingredients -- bananas and oatmeal -- and from there the cookie is up to you. We added dark chocolate chips, cranberries and cinnamon for a yummy cookie that the kids devoured.

Ingredients:

2 ripe bananas
1 1/2 cup of large flake oats
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
1/4 cup cranberries
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350◦F. In a medium bowl, mash bananas and add the oats. Add any additional ingredients you crave (dried cherries, nuts, etc.).

Using a tablespoon, scoop out the batter and place the balls on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 15 minutes, until the cookies are firm and turning golden brown around the edges.

Enjoy!

The original recipe was found here on GlobeandMail.com.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Mama bird flew the nest! I recently took a trip to New York City with my friend. No husband, no kids. It was the first time I had left the kiddos for more than a few hours with my husband. This was a big deal, in fact, this was a huge milestone for us all. Happily, everyone survived. I missed my family like crazy, but I so enjoyed strolling the city streets, eating at a leisurely pace, exploring bustling neighbourhoods and shopping with no distraction (and no stroller!). It was a surreal experience to have no schedule and to do as I wished -- a true luxury. 

Now let's kick off this weekend with an ode to NYC. Here's Empire State of Mind, one of my favourite songs about the vibrant city that is New York City. 

Happy Friday!  

CURRENTLY LOVING: PEPITO BY CHUS

 

I'm smitten with Pepito by Chus, a children's clothing brand from Barcelona. The clothes are classic, comfortable and extremely stylish -- it was nearly impossible for me to narrow down the styles to share. Take a look ...

A FUN GAME

Monkey is addicted to playing board games. His current favourite is Orchard: the card game. The concept is simple -- try to collect all the fruit cards before the raven reaches the orchard -- so it was easy for him to grasp the game. It is also portable, which makes it a great game to take along on family trips. Now, if only Little Bean would stop picking up cards when it's not her turn!

HAPPY WEEKEND!

Do you have any fun plans for the weekend? After our trip last week, we're going to have a relaxing weekend catching up with friends, bike riding and spending time in the garden with the weeds. I find that no matter how thrilling, beautiful or serene a vacation can be, I always enjoy settling at home and falling back in to our daily routines. 

Let's start the weekend with a song by a fellow Canadian -- this is Infamous by Basia Bulat. 

Happy weekend!  

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OUR FIRST SKI TRIP

Our family ventured away from the mild temperatures of Bermuda to wintery Mont Tremblant, Quebec for our first ski trip.

The kiddos loved everything about winter. From bundling up in hats, mitts and snowsuits to rolling, sliding and licking the fresh falling snow. Monkey learnt to ski, making it from the top of the mountain to the bottom all by himself, and Iris tried hard to stay upright between my legs. When we weren't skiing, we trekked through the woods with a team of 10 husky dogs and painted a few masterpieces at a creative studio. 

Here are a few photos if you'd like to see ...

A BIRTHDAY MONKEY

This kiddo is now 5 years old! His earnest stories delight me, his compassion warms my heart, his budding sense of humour makes me laugh and his new-found creativity inspires me. Needless to say, this little Monkey means the world to me.

We celebrated his birthday this weekend with a bowling party with his friends. Here are a few pictures of the fun times ...