Our grandson arrived on January 12th! If you follow me on facebook, you’re thinking, “we know already!“. I must confess to over-sharing photos (just call me Grammarazzi!), but I can’t help it. It’s either the baby or the cat, and the baby is definitely cuter!

He is a lovely, healthy wee boy, and weighed in at 7lbs 15oz and was 20.5″ in length. His first name is Brian, after my dad. I probably shouldn’t share his last name as he isn’t mine to share (well, not all mine). Although, I wouldn’t mind keeping him. Just saying!

Is there anything sweeter than newborn feet?

Well, maybe a newborn face! He’s just a few hours old here.

I’ve been terrible about my resolutions too! I’ve managed to take a photo a day, except the one day that I didn’t see wee Brian and well there just wasn’t any point. I’ve lapsed with the green smoothies and the week-day blogging, but not all is lost. Today, I made a smoothie today AND wrote a post!

I still haven’t come up with a great ‘G-word’ substitute! I’ll keep you posted.

MK xo

I never make resolutions, but 2012 is going to be different!

This year I’ve made not one, but three promises to myself.

I’m going to have a green smoothie every day.

So far, so good.

I’m going to take photo everyday in 2012 and publish to my Flickr account.

So far, so good.

I’m going to blog every week day in 2012.

If this post goes up in the next 8 minutes … so far, so good!

What are your new year’s resolutions?

I love a challenge, so when offered the opportunity to participate in the Black & Decker Ultimate Sandwich Contest using the Black & Decker Convection Countertop Oven I said, “yes, please!” and put together my favourite sandwich.

Curried Chicken Salad Sandwich with Green Apple & Pine Nuts

(Serves 4)

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast (I used 3 halves)
2 TBSP Olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the Black & Decker Countertop oven to 350 degrees. Cut chicken into long one inch strips, place on a baking pan, brush with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste and bake for 35 minutes or until fully cooked.

Once cooked let the chicken cool and dice into bite-size pieces.

While the chicken is cooking and cooling, work on the dressing. Combine the following ingredients in medium sized bowl (except the pine nuts, add them just before serving), then add the previously made cooled and diced chicken.

3/4 cups olive oil mayonnaise
1 tsp Patak’s Hot Curry Paste (this is a must)
3/4 cup medium-diced celery (2 medium stalks)
2 chopped green onions, white and green parts (2 scallions)
1/4 cup chopped granny smith apple
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup of pine nuts (add to mixture just before serving)

It is a good idea to let your chicken salad mixture rest in the refrigerator for an hour or more to allow the flavours to blend.

French baguette
2 TBSP Olive oil
1/4 – 1/2 cup Major Grey’s chutney
4 leaves of green leaf lettuce.

Cut a french baguette into four 5″ pieces and slice open length wise. Brush with olive oil and toast in Black & Decker Countertop Oven.

Spread each piece with a thin layer of mango chutney and add one leaf of lettuce to each sandwich.

Add chicken salad mixture (add pine nuts now) to toasted loaves.

Enjoy!

MK xo

Disclosure: I created this post as part of the Black & Decker Ultimate Sandwich contest as part of a Mom Central Canada program. I received a Convection Countertop Oven Courtesy of Applica Canada Corporation, exclusive licensee of Black & Decker Home. The opinions on this blog are my own.

We’ve been hanging out in the Canadian Rockies (not Chicago … regardless of the title)!

Six black bears and one grizzly in one day! Woot … LOVE it!

They never stick around all that long after we pull up. I’m sure it’s not my kids yelling and screaming and fighting each other for the window. NO … that wouldn’t be it. Right?

I love to get a great wild animal shot, but I’ve never quite captured a great bear shot. I love this one of the ‘Western Canadian Monkey’ though!

Oops! Sorry Georgia.

It’s definitely a little easier getting up close and personal with these little cuties.

I need a bigger lens!

I’d love to see some of your ‘wild-life’ photos or just a few shots of the kids. Share your links in the comments :) Or just say, “hello!”

MK xo

The kids have been out of school just over a week. We’ve definitely enjoyed the time off. I so don’t miss the morning chaos. It doesn’t matter how organized we are there is still a last minute rush getting everyone out the door in the morning. September stay away.

We just spent a few days out at the farm. Here are a few snapshots of our trip …

I call this one ‘Georgie get your gun!’

‘Come on, make my day!’ The grass is so green and the fields look amazing.

My moms flowers are beautiful.

Especially the peonies.

This is Gus. He mostly hangs out in barn.

He sure was curious about my camera, and stepped up to get a closer look.

We took a drive out to this very cool western store called the Ponderosa. If you’re a cowboy or a cowgirl (or even if you’re not), they’ve got the western gear you’re looking for. From horse-tack to these amazing Heartland appliances they’ve got it covered. It’s a great place, but it’s in the middle of nowhere! I can’t imagine that they’ll get any traffic, but I’ve got my fingers crossed for them. Maybe if I built them a new website?

Georgia ended up in the Houscow. You’re not surprised are you?

We visited a friends ranch, it’s got a log cabin right next to the creek. I want to camp there. I love the little cloud in the sky. I looks perfectly lovely and fake.

We ended our little trip with a day at the lake. It was gloriously hot, the water was warm …

I forgot my swimsuit, so I had to enjoy the lake from they shore, but not quite as hands on as the kid.

So much fun!

How’s your summer going?

MK xo

This fox pup (kit?), parents and three other pups!

I wish I had a better lense, or that they’d let me get a little closer.

The photos aren’t all that :(

Such cute faces!

This guy was braver than all the rest.

They’re so much fun to watch.

MK xo

Make sure to check out my latest Mom-on-the-go post over at LifeMadeDelicious.ca

I’m cooking up a rainbow …

MK xo

Unless you are living in a cave, you are probably know all about Bakerella and cake pops. My friend Gloria (a cake making genius) and I decided to make a Mother’s Day version with a mature twist (tsk … tsk … not THAT kind of mature!).

As you can see these are NOT your kids cake pops! From the filling to the display these are cake pops are for grown ups, especially mom.

What you’ll need:

1 Boxed Caked Mix (Chocolate)
1 Can of Frosting (I used vanilla)
1/3 cup of Raspberry Jam

Candy Melts (white, pink and yellow)
Fondant (green, pink and yellow)
Lollipop sticks (longer is better)

Tulle rounds (pastel colours)
Ribbon (green)

How-to:

Bakerella’s basic recipe calls for one boxed cake mix and a can of frosting. I substituted 1/3 cup of the frosting for 1/3 cup of raspberry jam.

Bake the cake as per the instructions on the box and let it cool. Crumble the cake in a large bowl, and mix it with the frosting and 1/3 cup of raspberry jam. Mix until frosting and jam are fully incorporated. Form the mixture into 1″ balls, place on a large cookie sheet and place in the freezer to cool (10-20 minutes if plenty).

This is a great time to make the flowers for the top of the cake pops.

Roll out fondant, and cut using floral and leaf shaped cutters. I made many of the flower centers by hand (rolling out a small ball and texturing with a knife). Use candy melt as glue to attached centers to flowers etc.

The next step is to insert lollipop sticks into the cooled cake pops. First melt your candy melts as per manufacturers instructions. Dip the tip of the lollipop sticks in the candy melt and then insert into the cake pops. Letting them cool again in the freezer for about 5 minutes is a good idea.

Dip the cake pops into the candy melts. Shake lightly (holding pop end down) to remove excess candy melt and then quickly attach the fondant flowers on top (they will affix to the candy melt). Place cake pops in a large piece of Styrofoam to dry/set.

Once the cake pops have set, place them in tulle rounds and then tie a ribbon below that. Fill a small vase with while sugar and arrange your floral candy pops in an attractive bouquet.

HAPPY MOTHER’s DAY!

MK xo

As well as spending very little time online this winter, I’ve spent very little time taking photos as well. That’s not to say I don’t drag it around with me almost everywhere I go, because I do. I just don’t bother taking it out of the case. I’m lazy that way.

A couple of weeks ago I hiked it up a mountain side at to watch Elizabeth race her first ever Ski Cross race in Lake Louise. I set the camera case on the ground and forgot about it as I took in the fun of the race. Georgia and Sam have spent many, many hours this winter on sides of race courses waiting for their sister’s turn to zoom down the mountain. Probably too many hours, but what can you do?

When Sam (he’s ten now!) asked repeatedly to take photo’s I finally relented and let him play with my b’zillion dollar camera. He promised to keep the strap around his neck and not to drop it. Today, I downloaded those images for the the first time. So many of them are wonderful and funny.

I think these three give you a great idea how glorious and sunny it was and of course a what a ‘ham’ Georgia is.

It was a balmy 50f! Can you feel it?

I can’t be sure, but I’d bet the farm she pretending to be a dog of some sort.

I wonder if she was having a good time?

Thanks Sam :)

MK xo

A matching set:

Georgia

Sam

Elizabeth (you’ve seen this one before)

These are from the fall photo shoot I did with the kids in September. There was tons of goofing around at the end … as you can see.

MK xo