Ice, ice baby...

I travelled home to the beautiful Prince Edward Island after working Christmas to see my family and my friends over the holiday season. I have had a lovely visit and will soon be making the three and a half hour trek back home to Halifax. When I arrived on the island, I was shocked by the amount of snow that could be found lining the streets, buildings and every other square inch of Charlottetown. In some places the snow was as tall as I am and the city workers were struggling to compensate. It continued to snow and rain for the remainder of my trip and the results were beautiful (even if it did make roads a little dangerous!). Everything looks so fresh and crisp when it is blanketed by new fallen snow ! Safe travels to anyone who is braving highways over the next few days !

-m

Maybe Christmas....

"Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store, maybe Christmas is just a little bit more.."
-Dr. Seuss (The Grinch who stole Christmas)

Today I spent the day at work, surrounded by wonderful co-workers, families and a slew of wonderful children at the IWK Health Centre. People always ask me if it is hard to work on Christmas and my reply is always the same; I say no, the children's hospital is a wonderful place to be at Christmas time.

 As nurses, we do many things for patients that they are unable to do for themselves when they are hospitalized. And although those do include stereotypical things such as bathing and providing medications, we also support them on their hardest days and advocate for them when they are unable to do so for themselves. We keep them company when they are alone and often titrate the very medications and mechanical devices that are keeping their vital signs stable and those that are sometimes even keeping them alive. We sit at their bedside with worried, furrowed brows and we lose sleep over shifts that don't end as well as we hoped. We become entwined very quickly in a person and their families lives and often get a glimpse into their private world. If we are good at our job, we do all of the above with dignity and respect.

In a hospital, a holiday is just like every other day. Infections do not rest, cancer doesn't magically go away for a couple of days and the sick don't get to go home in the hopes that Santa snuck down their chimney while they were snug in their beds. That is why as nurses and health care professionals, we do our very best to make Christmas as special and as normal as it can be. In children's hospital's we go above and beyond to keep the mood upbeat. We try in our own ways to make the day special and make sure everyone is surrounded by love and support. That is why when people ask me if it is hard to work on Christmas, my reply is always the same; I say no, the hospital is a wonderful place to be during the holidays and I am honoured to be able to do all of the things that I do during such a special time of year.

 Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you were all able to spend the holiday surrounded by the people and traditions that you love!  Sending special warm wishes to all health care professionals and public servants that spent the day keeping the world safe and bright!
-m

Look how cute this guy is ! Thanks Alex ! Loving you diy !!

Partying...

"Partying is such sweet sorrow.."- Robert Byrne

With Christmas around the corner, there are always numerous social functions cropping up. Some of these functions one knows about well in advance and some are last minute. I never like to go anywhere empty handed, I think my mom must have subconsciously drilled that into my head from a very young young age. Last minute engagements require a quick recipe that can be made last minute as well. Enter my "four-minute-brownie-pie" recipe. Just because you are crunched for time doesn't mean you can't wow people with a simple recipe that gives you just enough time to paint your nails or pluck your eyebrow (tee-hee).

This recipe belonged to a friend's great-aunt. I have jazzed it up with the addition of a pinch of coffee liquor and a pinch of espresso powder. I can't stress the awesome-ness of espresso powder enough. I know what you are thinking "but what if I hate coffee, blah, blah and blah". Well in my opinion there is nothing to hate about coffee, frankly it is nectar of gods. That said, espresso powder in small doses can go virtually un-detected by even the most persnickety of palates. It enhances the cocoa, leaving the baker and the taste-tester with an intense chocolate flavor that can not be achieved with classic dutch process cocoa on it's own. You can omit the Kahlua and espresso powder if you want but I urge you to live on the edge!

When I made this I chose not to frost it. Instead I pulled a quickie and put some snowflakes cut from cardboard down on the top of the cooled brownie. I then dusted with powdered sugar and removed the snow-flakes leaving a reverse print in the sugar. Looks great and takes thirty seconds!

Happy baking, partying and recovering the next day!
-m 

Four-Minute Brownie Pie

You will need...

• 2 eggs
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1/2 cup of softened butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup of flour
• 1/4 cup dutch process cocoa
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tbs Kahlua
• 1/2- 1 tsp espresso powder (I used a full tsp)

Pre-heat oven to 350. Grease a pie pan or a spring form pan (9 inch), I used spring form because you can plate it for a party! In a mixer or with a hand mixer, combine all ingredients and mix with the paddle attachment for four whole minutes. Yep all ingredients, four minutes. No creaming of butter and sugar. Just slap it all in there and beat on med-high for four minutes. Pour into pan and bake 20-30 minutes- until centre doesn't jiggle when pan is moved. Allow to cool, expect it to sink in the middle. Powder with sugar and slice and serve. It will be chewy, rich and an instant hit!

Behind Every Cloud Is...

"Behind every cloud, there is another cloud.."-Judy Garland

So I had a hankering, a hankering to rig up a craft with some pine cones. I scoured the park and found a handful, took them home and tried to dry them out in front of my cast iron rads. Of course, they are still damp and soft which sure makes it hard to drill a hole in them! Needless to say, I ended up buying a big bag of very dry cones.

After brain storming, I decided I wanted to use them in a warm, rustic way. I have also been in the market for some garlands to string in my doorways. Ta-dahhhh, inspiration!! Here is what I did.....

• I picked up a little hand drill, the kind you use for bead and leather work; easily found at craft stores for less than five dollars. I also picked up some twine and some jump rings (also found in the bead aisle at most craft stores).
• Using the little drill, I drilled small holes in the tops of my pine cones (some in the leaflets, some in the stems...what ever seemed the sturdiest!).
• I then looped the jump rings through the holes and closed them tight with needle-nose pliers.
• For my own ease, I used cheap metal ornament hooks attached to the jump rings. This allowed me to dip them in the paint of my choice. I used trim paint from my house because it was the perfect creamy white I was dreaming of (not to mention I had a gallon of it laying around). If dipping 'cones is not your thang, the ornament hooks may be a good place to stop...you will have rustic ornaments for your mantle and tree without the mess. You can also skip the dipping and continue along to make garland!
• Next, I dipped those cones and tried my best to let all of the excess run off before I hooked them onto an old dish rack I had in my basement (I knew it would come in handy some day!).
• I let them dry for almost 48 hours. At the 24 hour mark they were still just a little damp.
• When dry and hardened, I removed the hooks and cut a piece of twine two feet longer then the length I wanted the garland to be. 
• Next I threaded the cones on one at a time, knotting the twine at the jump ring so they didn't slide around on the twine. I left two and a half inches between my cones. 

• Ta-dahhhh!!! Your garland is finished and ready to be hung! I strung mine up in both of the entry ways in my living room . I finished them off with some gold berries and I must say, I am thrilled with how they turned out! 

Happy Crafting all!
-m

I Really Don't Like That Wreath...

"I really don't like that wreath, it is not in my taste.."- My next door neighbour

Now that my new door is as pink as Barbie Corvette I have started to contemplating Christmas decorations. I had planned on buying a simple grapevine wreath and spraying it within an inch of it's life with paint and glitter but that idea totally went out the window when I happened upon a wreath at Home Sense. Yes, It is not DIY but in my defence, my door is fuchsia which can make Christmas decor difficult as all traditional decor generally has a lot of red involved. I love red, just not with my bright door. This wreath was white and sparkly and made up of plastic snowflakes that were sure to be able to survive the harsh and windy winters we tend to experience here on the best coast. For nineteen dollars I could hardly pass it up.

I took the pretty wreath home and decided to hang it with florist wire draped over the door and fixed to a command-strip hook on the inside of my door (upside down of course). No offence to anyone who loves them but I HATE wreath hangers. They always stand out like a sore thumb not to mention they have a tendency to scrape door paint which totally grinds my gears. When the wreath was hung at what I felt was to be the "perfect height" I ran across the street to admire my handiwork and thrifty shopping. My next door neighbour was pulling in at the same time  (I can always count on him for an honest opinion and a helping hand) and the first thing out of his mouth was "I really don't like that wreath...". I was quite taken a back and when I asked him what was wrong with it he said "It's not in my taste...needs something else, too bland". Then my neighbour across the street started to chime in, stating she LOVED the wreath and we all had a great debate in my driveway hahaha. The neighbour who happens to not like my wreath also happens to be a wonderful person who has been nothing short of helpful since I moved in. He plows my driveway after heavy snows and always offers a helpful opinion on the best way to go about renovations or projects around the house. To appease him I bought some pink plastic balls and with my handy florist wire, I sporadically affixed them to my wreath to "jazz it up" and prevent further blandness. Pics below, happy start of decorating everyone!
-m

Pink...

"Pink is the navy blue of Inida."- Diana Vreeland

Lets travel back in time, just a little tiny bit...

Remember this door? The door that belonged to my house when I moved in? It was black and all of the trim had also been painted black (gag). It also had an epically heavy and even more epically bent storm door that kept catching my heels as it apparently swung faster than I can walk. No matter how you slice it, it was a sad little door that needed a little tlc. I wish I had a pic of it for you, I have been searching my archives with no luck..

Now do you also remember this door? My DREAM door, on sale and then priced wrong for an even bigger discount? I felt like I was robbing Home Depot!

After it living in my living room for about a month and a half, I finally got it installed and can you guess what happened next? It rained and it rained. It even rained on the days it wasn't supposed to rain! I waited and I waited, each day hating the white door more and more. It was just so...bland. Then my neighbors started asking me about it, concerned that I was choosing to leave it white (for a group that was hesitant about my initial color choice, they sure seemed to love the pink now!). All this waiting gave me lots of time to dwell and of course, I even started to debate painting it yellow or light turquoise.

It was sunny yesterday; foggy as all get out but sunny and five degrees (burr). I cranked the heater behind the door and placed my infra-red infront of it to aid the drying process (my neigbours must think I am insane). I ended up with three good coats on that bad boy before dark. Even though I hmmed and hawwed about whether I should piant the window grill or not, I am more than happy with my choice. She's punchy and doesn't let the rain, snow and wind into my living room like my old door! I also love how it is more modern but mimics the windows, in keeping a little more with the era of the home ! Win- win my friends !

Happy do-it-yourself-ing,
-m

Life Is Full Of Banana Peels....

"Life is full of banana peels; you slip and then you carry on."- Daphne Guiness

This post is coming to you all the way from deep within a very sleep deprived haze. I am post night shift and am trying to stay awake for the day so I can get up and go about my busy week tomorrow morning without feeling like I belong on the set of The Walking Dead. Sounds simple enough doesn't it? If you have ever worked a night shift or if you have ever been a new parent of a screaming child, you may be able to empathise. If not lets just chalk it up to epically horrific. That will be my general excuse for poor punctuation and run on sentences, it is also my excuse for the egg I just smashed all over my kitchen floor....sigh.

This week past, I invited my grandparents over for tea. I am lucky to have them in my city and always (as I have mentioned before ), thoroughly enjoy my time with them. I am generally fond of entertaining but it counts most when it is for the people I love! So what did I do? I baked a cake! I had a few bananas kicking around in my freezer and decided that even though banana bread is great (and my Aunt Dot's is the BEST), that a cake may seem a little more special (because they totally deserve it!). Turns out banana cake is delicious, it has a soft crumb and just the right amount of banana flavor. My co-workers seemed to enjoy the left overs as well. Recipe follows, happy baking and even happier tea-party throwing!
-m

Banana Cake
 

·         2c cake flour

·         1 ½ c sugar

·         ½ c butter

·         3 lg bananas

·         2 eggs

·         1 tsp baking soda

·         1 tsp vanilla

·         1tsp cinnamon

·         Pinch of salt

**Tip ; the night before I mash up my bananas and let them sit in the fridge over night, they become very brown and very sweet. You can use freshly mashed bananas too…your choice!

 In a bowl combine mashed bananas and baking soda. Mix and set aside for later.  In another bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well between. Add cinnamon, salt and vanilla. Slowly add flour mixing between each addition- batter will be thick! Add banana mix and stir until just combined (don’t over do it!). Bake at 350 in a buttered 9x13 pan or in two 9” cake pans (buttered!)  for ~25 minutes- or until toothpick comes clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool!

Cream Cheese Frosting!

·         Small tub of cream cheese

·         1 tbs milk

·         2 tsp vanilla

·         1 tsp cinnamon

·         2 ½ c of icing sugar

Combine cheese, milk, vanilla and cinnamon in mixer. Slowly add sugar ½ c at a time and beat until fluffy! Frost cooled cake and enjoy! Nom nom nom….

"I Am So Glad..."

"I am so glad we get to live in a world where there are Octobers!"- Anne of Green Gables

As I was scrambling to put together a costume last week for a party, I was a little shocked at how fast Christmas pops up everywhere in stores, some as early as the 20th of October.  I know I shouldn't be surprised, it happens every year but it aways takes me aback. Last week I also found myself at a Christmas craft fair. I am convinced they are happening earlier and earlier! A week before Halloween and I was wandering by booth after booth of Christmas crafts, cider in hand and Christmas music filling the air. I enjoyed myself and even picked up a rustic craft for my home but it still seems just a little craaaaazzzzyyyyyy.

Last weekend there was a Halloween blow down. Below you can find pics of  my decor, costume and some treats. I know I haven't had many DIY posts lately, I suppose I am feeling a little un-motivated but not to worry, I just reviewed my "to-do list" which is easily as long as I am tall. Lots is on the horizon!

Have a wonderful crisp, fall week everyone!
-m

C'est Halloween !

Happy Halloween all ! Hope you have a safe and fun day dressing up as anything you want to be ! Me as a flapper and some Halloween pics below! 

"I'm Doomed...."

"I'm doomed, one little slip like that could cause the Great Pumpkin to pass you by!"
-Linus from Charlie Brown after exclaiming you should never kill a pumpkin

Halloween is two days away. I unfortunately am working and am bummed about not getting to see all the neighbourhood kids dressed up in their finest. It is such a treat when you are so used to apartment living. Just another reason I love being a home owner!

Last night we carved pumpkins, I LOVE carving pumpkins. The smell takes me back to my childhood and it's always fun to get a little creative. I also love pumpkin seeds roasted in the oven. If fall had a "taste" I am convinced it would taste like salted, oven-roasted pumpkin seeds. Growing up we tossed them with a little bit of salt and roasted them until they were just crispy and lightly browned but this year I decided to try something different. Below you can find two recipes for pumpkin seeds two ways- spicy and sweet. Happy haunting all!
-m

Sweet Seeds
  

• 1.5 cups of pumpkin seeds (patted dry with a paper towel)
• 1 tbs of melted butter (to help them brown!)
• ~2 tbs brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp of cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp of cocoa powder

Toss seeds with above ingredients and mix till well coated. Place on pan covered with parchment paper and place in oven pre-heated to 350. Roasted for 10 minutes, remove, stir and roast for another 10-15 minutes or until seeds are brown. They will crisp up as they cool!

Spicy Seeds

• 1.5 cups of pumpkin seeds (patted dry with paper towel)
• 1 tbs olive oil (to help them brown and spices to stick!)
• 1/2 tsp siracha chili sauce
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• Good sprinkle of salt!

Toss seeds with above ingredients and mix till well coated. Place on parchment covered pan and place in pre-heated oven at 350. Roast for 10 minutes, remove and stir (sprinkle with a little more salt if you so choose). Roast for another 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. They will crisp as they cool!