Flowers Can't..

"Flowers can't solve all problems, but they're a great start"-Justina Blakeney

A couple of weeks ago I was browsing through Chapters bookstore, which I do frequently. I had a coffee in hand and was admiring all of the beautiful housewares that I can't afford but that I continue to lust after. I had made it past all of the new released books, past the greeting cards and past the decadent rows of soy candles. I was turning the corner to inspect some tableware when something caught my eye and made me (almost) spit out a mouthful of coffee. It was a small box labelled "DIY Flower-Pot" and it said it contained everything you would need to paint your very own flower pot. On inspection it included a very small terracotta pot, some paint and a brush, all for the remarkably high price of $19.99.

I grew up painting flower pots, my mom sold them at craft fairs and both my sister and I had all of our pencils, markers and stationary on display in our own, hand-painted terracotta pots on our desks. I knew it was an inexpensive feat but didn't realise how ridiculous the price was for that DIY kit until my sister and I decided to get back to our "roots" and spend one of her first nights back in the city (she was away at university learning law and stuff) drinking wine and crafting some flower pots.

After securing some full-bodied red wine at the liquor store, our next stop was at the dollar store where we picked up sponge brushes (5 for $1), small terracotta pots (3 for $1.25), small saucers for said pots (3 for $1), a large bottle of white acrylic paint ($1) and a bag of sour candies ($1).  Unfortunately the dollar store didn't have the array of paint colours we were hoping for so we bombed across the street to an actual craft store where we bought neon pink and robin's egg blue acrylic paint ($1.25/ bottle) and a sealer/glaze for the pots to make sure they were both water-proof and that the paint stayed where we put it ($3.00).

We came home, covered the dining table in newspaper and got down to business. We each painted three pots, each pot got three coats of paint (FYI if using a light colour or a neon colour, paint a coat of white under where you intend to use it, this will make it more dramatic and will allow it to cover better). The sponge brushes worked surprisingly well and it took about an hour including a little drinking and devouring of sour candies to complete all three coats (they dried remarkably fast!). I let them cure for a couple of hours before I finished both the inside and the outside of each pot with one coat of the sealing glaze. The next day they were ready to be put to good use.

Shall we do a tally?
       $1.25 for three pots
       $1.25 for three pots
       $1.00 for three saucers
       $1.00 for three saucers
       $3.50 for paint
       $1.00 for brushes
    + $3.00 for glaze     
       $12.00+tax  (~$13.80)

So without including the wine and candies, it cost $13.80 to paint six pots...that is $2.30/pot which makes the DIY kit a real rip-off. Happy pot painting all, enjoy getting your hands a little dirty!
-m

Happy nurses week !

To the nurses and health care providers that I have had the privilege to work with,

You are a remarkable group. Your adaptability, passion and empathy are exceptional. Nursing has afforded me many opportunities and as my career and knowledge continue to grow so does my admiration and respect for the people I work with.

To many families and patients you are a tour guide through the abyss of medical terminology, procedures and tests. You share in the hope and promise that comes with good news and you share in the disappointment and fear that bad news and sometimes even devastating news brings. You tour them through this uncharted territory with dignity and respect.  This safari ride has stops they never thought they would see and has taken them places they never knew existed. And as their tour guide you help them cope, you teach them adaptability and you show them compassion. 

I have seen the delight you share as a new father sees his baby for the first time. I have also seen you celebrate with genuine pride when a premature baby finally meets the milestone their family has been wishing for. 

I have seen you shed tears of joy when a patient finally leaves the icu after you worked so hard to make sure they had a future. And I have seen you band together and rally when things fall apart. They do fall apart and they will fall apart but you know that and you face it every day.

I have seen you hold the hands of families when they learn there is nothing more that can be done and I have seen you hug a stranger like they were part of your own family.

I have seen you advocate, persist and demand for your patients especially when they could not do so for themselves. And I have seen you go above and beyond your job description even in the small confines of a helicopter. 

I know you lose sleep sometimes and I know you go home and wrack your brain looking for something you may have missed. 

I know you go home and cry sometimes for the lives lost and suffering you have seen endured. I know you sometimes have to step away and that is ok.

What is the most remarkable thing about all of this is that you go home to your families where you are a parent, a partner, a sister or a brother.  You care for them, love them and lead full lives and then you get up and do it all again because you love your job. You are passionate about your job and you are good at your job. Your job is important even when you are sometimes made to feel like it's not and even when you feel like no one sees how much you give to so many people.

You are selfless. You are strong and you are brave. You don't just save lives, you save the future.

So to the medical professionals that I work with, that I have worked with and the ones that I will work with, I am so proud to have seen you don all of the many hats required of you with such grace. My respect and admiration for you grows every day and I hope you know how important you each are to so many people. Happy nurses week. 

Spring Is...

"Spring is nature's way of saying 'Let's party!' "-Robin Williams

It is ever-so-slowly starting to feel like spring and the snow is finally starting to melt. Where there was once an eleven foot, gleaming-white glacier in my front yard, there now stands a three foot tall, dirt covered, pile of old snow. There are little patches of grass to be found and on every block or so you can spot crocuses starting to sprout up through the soft mud. It was eight degrees today. Last week there was frost and snow on my car in the early morning, I will take eight degrees with a smile.

Find pictures of my spring-inspired bouquets and flowers around the house ('cause we all know I LOVE fresh flowers) below. Also find a recipe for the tastiest, most decadent and inspired thumb-print cookies courtesy of Ms. Martha herself. Happy Spring!
-m

Don't these coconut thumb-print cookies with sea-salt and caramel look divine? Find the recipe and tricks of the trade from Martha Stewart here. Martha made me do it, I swear.

  

The best not-so-secret, secret ingredient courtesy of Presidents choice black label. 

Saturday Mornings are for....

"Saturday mornings are for mimosa's and brunch."-unknown

Brunch, everyone's favourite meal and the perfect way to wrap up a weekend (if you happen to have weekends off)! What is better than the luxury of getting out of bed late and enjoying company over a mimosa and a hot cup of joe. In Halifax you can find weekend brunch offered at pretty much every place that has evening dinner service. There is something for everyone and recently my favourite brunch spot was pushed, with a great big shove into second place (sorry Coastal Cafe, I still love you, just a little less on the weekends). My new go-to is EDNA, which also happens to be my favourite place to eat in the city. It never lets you down! The service and atmosphere are superb and with an ever-changing menu it's like a new dining experience every time you go. I don't know why I waited so long to try their brunch menu. Like the dinner menu it changes frequently, but a couple of signature dishes remain the same. Creative food, competitive prices, not to mention great coffee, and fresh grapefruit mimosas. I was sold from my first bite. You will not be disappointed with the chewy, coconut-y french toast made from local baguette or by the perfectly poached eggs and the duck fat smashed potatoes will leave you wishing brunch was available seven days a week. Find the menu, hours and everything else you may want to know about your new favourite haunt here.

However, if you would prefer to stay home, lounge in your PJ's and drink coffee out of your favourite mug. Or if you remain in hibernation because the snow banks are still as tall as I am, here is a recipe to enjoy brunch from the comfort of your own home made with ingredients I guarantee you already have on hand. I am calling them mile-high pancakes because they puff up to be almost an inch thick. They are tender and fluffy and will literally take five minutes to make. They are potentially the best I have ever had. Honestly, try em' and tell me what you think! Happy brunching all!

-m

Mile High Pancakes

You will need...

• 1.5 cups of all-purpose flour
• 3.5 tsp of baking powder
• 1tsp of salt
• 2 tbs of white sugar
• 1.5 cups of milk
• 1 egg
• 3tbs of melted butter

Sift dry ingredients together and make sure they are all mixed well. Form a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and place egg, butter and milk in the hole. Mix until all is just incorporated and smooth. Try not to over-mix (or they won't be fluffy!). Heat frying pan or griddle to medium and give a quick coat of oil or butter. When the pan is hot pour about 1/4 cup of batter onto the pan for each pancake (this will make about 8 good sized pancakes!). Flip when the top starts to bubble or when bottom is golden brown and cook second side until golden and toasty.

Oh Me? I'm not 80% Water..

"Oh me? I'm not 80% water, I'm 80% coffee and a little bit of sass."-Zoey Deschanel

I will be entirely honest with all of you, if my life had a flavour, it would be coffee. Coffee gives me a false sense of productivity,  makes me feel more alert than I probably am and it is a deliciously aromatic alternative to full-on hating mornings. Let me be real with you, I am not a morning person, I am a coffee person.

If I had to pick a pass-time or hobby that I am most skilled and proficient at, it would  be drinking coffee. I am not talking about just drinking coffee; I am talking about cinnamon sprinkling, two-hands on the mug, devouring the perfect french press that's sometimes so strong it wakes up the neighbours, kind of coffee drinking.

Because I love coffee so much, I also shamelessly take pictures (and I mean lots of pictures) of the coffee I am enjoying at any given time. Embarrassing for those around me? Probably. A little excessive? Yes, for certain. Does it lump me into a weird crowd of people who take way too many pictures with their handheld devices? Yeah... Am I embarrassed? No. Should I be? Maybe.

See a small (yes...small) sample of some of the coffee shots on my phone below, as well as directions to make the perfect cup of french press coffee! Happy brewing all!
-m

How to make the perfect cup of French press coffee (ever).
You will need:

• A French press (I use a bodum, press coffee in general lets you enjoy the oils that are naturally found in the coffee bean that are often filtered out by coffee filters, this is why it tastes so good!).
• Four tablespoons of fresh, coarsely ground coffee 
• Sprinkle of cinnamon (optional but I strongly suggest trying!)
• Boiling water
• A wooden or rubber spoon
• Your favourite mug
• Whatever you dress your coffee with (milk, cream, sugar etc.)

Directions:
Boil water and remove the plunger from your press. Place coffee and cinnamon in bottom of the press. When water is boiled, pour directly on top of coffee grounds and fill to about an inch from the top of your press. Stir with wooden/rubber spoon (metal may risk smashing the glass!) and place plunger on top of the coffee, resting near the top of the carafe. Wait 3-4 minutes and when the time is up gently and slowly press the plunger down, this will push all of the grounds to the bottom of the carafe and trap them there. Pour into your favourite mug and enjoy naked or dressed the way you normally enjoy a cup of coffee!