The Secret to Creativity....

" The secret to creativity is hiding your sources."- Einstein

For the last couple of years my dear friend Josee and I have been attending  a drop in pottery class in the north end of Halifax . It was an awesome hour and a half of messing about with the pottery wheel and sculpting with a little instruction if you so wished. We became half masters of throwing clay, I have many ash trays, catch-all dishes and little bowls to prove that. Sadly Turnstyle Pottery co-op closed their doors this winter and my Thursdays have never been the same. There is something so great about a creative outlet no matter how bad you are at it (refer to above note about ash trays).

Almost two years ago I started making little button earrings with rolled clay and fondant cutters used for cake decorating. I also made little clay bows which when painted bright made beautiful punches of colour on my winter jackets. I set the buttons aside and recently discovered them while cleaning. I went to a craft store and purchased Goop, a magical glue that makes everything stick. I glued posts onto my buttons and a few purchased buttons. They are so cute ! Happy crafting, happy Sunday and happy summer!

-m

A Vacation Is....

"A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it."-Robert Orben

My vacation started yesterday morning with a trip to the market followed by a one of my very best friend's weddings. It couldn't have started any better! Today I woke up with a very full head and a very sore throat. Although today could have started a little better I am still on vacation and am going to make the very best of it. Isn't it amazing, you never know how badly you are in need of a break 'till you finally get one!

The summer is coming to a close and I plan on making the best of it right until the bitter end! I have two weddings left in the "summer of weddings", six down, I had a ball at everyone so far and am looking very much foward to the final two!! I head home to the beautiful Prince Edward Island this week AND I turn 28. I feel like the last five years have just zipped by! When I am home I hope to indulge in some lobster, ingest a few (...dozen) bottles of wine, do some back-roads antiquing and visit what has been recently coined as one of the best beaches in the world! I also plan to catch up with old (and the best of ) friends! What are you doing with the rest of your summer? Happy end of August everyone!
-m

Check out some of the summer pics I snapped below!

Crystal Cressent beach ! Blue ocean, white sand!

Chester basin for the day!

Busker fest on the Halifax waterfront!

A foggy night on Halifax harbour

Blueberries for days at the market!

Fog burning off on an early morning market run!

I Told My Dentist My Teeth Were Yellowing....

"I told my dentist my teeth were yellowing...he told me to wear a brown tie"- Rodney Dangerfield

Have you ever searched in vain for the perfect piece of furniture? Been to every possible store, hunted at Homesense weekly for a year? I have. It is almost as if I have this picture in my mind of how I want something to look and no matter how hard I search I keep coming up empty handed.

I have been suffering over end tables. It sounds dramatic but I have yet to find a piece I love at a price I even remotely like. I hate country kitchen style which can easily be acquired anywhere. Modern is cool but doesn't suit my house and is really not my personal taste. I have been looking since last April, sixteen months with zero luck. I am also on the hunt for the perfect sofa...but that is a whole 'nother fish to fry. It's a hard knock life.

When my mother sold the family home and downsized to the perfect little abode, she was getting rid of an end table that was my grandmothers. It was a vintage step table that I hadn't even looked sideways at. When I saw it going to goodwill I decided to rescue it figuring I could find a use for it someday. It travelled to my house and lived in my basement housing my dehumidifier for the last year.

I was doing laundry last week and I noticed the table, damp with the over-run of the dehumidifier and I was struck with an idea. I went to Home Depot and spoke with my paint expert/ personal guru Carmel. We decided on a colour called "squash" and I purchased one small tester pot for six dollars.

Next I sanded it down in my backyard, and taped off the leather top. I popped open the brightest mustard paint I have ever seen and went to it much to my neighbour's dismay (he was saying things like "you are not going to paint that beautiful wooden table are you?! ). When two coats were dry I sanded the edges with my handy palm sander (well technically dads...he forgot it here..) and I distressed it for a "vintage-worn" look. My final step was a quick coat of varnish.

I am so pleased with the outcome and am silently lamenting not having the second table! Total cost of project was about $10. Happy do-it-yourself-ing everyone! Remember a little paint can go a long way!
-m

It's Ok To Eat Fish

"It's OK to eat fish, they don't have any feelings."- Kurt Cobain

In summer meals should be simple, quickly prepared with fresh ingredients that are easily enjoyed. No one wants to spend sunny days cooped up in the kitchen. Barbecues, local produce and cold beers on the deck are where it is at. Lazy is as summer does.

Last week I purchased the most beautiful haddock fillets at the Seaport Market. I whipped up a little tartar sauce and made fish burgers with fresh cukes and tomatoes. It tasted like summer though and through. Best part? Hardly any clean up! Find the most simple recipes below, go out and enjoy the sun! Happy Natal day!
-m

Easy Lemon-y Fishy Burgers

You will need...
- 1-2 fresh haddock fillets (more of you want to feed for people!)
- 1 lemon
- olive oil
- basil pesto
- tin foil
- soft and squishy buns (kaiser work!)
- lettuce and tomato to dress your burger up! 

Pre-heat your BBQ to a medium-low heat (300-ish). On a large piece of tin foil brushed with olive oil,  place 1-2 haddock fillets (more fillets more tin foil!). Generously salt and pepper them and drizzle with some lemon juice. Top each fillet with a good dollop of basil pesto (from the market, grocery store or homemade if you want to be fancy!) and spread. Slice a lemon and place on top of pesto and fold up your tin foil into a neat package . Cook on medium-low heat for 5 mins, flip and then cook for another five or so, until fish is white and falls apart with a fork. Cut into burger sized portions and place on buns. Dress 'em up with what ever fresh stuff you choose (no one likes a naked burger!) and serve with a salad or veg. Find a tartar sauce recipe below!

Probably not-good -for-you Tartar Sauce (..that is sure to impress!)

You will need...

- 1 Cup of mayo
- 2 tbs of lemon juice (I put that shit on everything!)
- 2 tbs finely chopped dill pickle
- 2 tsp finely chopped dill
- a good few spins with the pepper mill

Combine all ingredients in a small mixing bowl and mix thoroughly. Serve with fish (or on delicious fish burgers!). If you want to get extra fancy, toss in a few diced capers!