Easter Bunny Time

I want to wish you all a Happy Easter. Easter is a beautiful time of year. It's a time to remember Love!

A little religious moment...a time when we remember that Jesus died and ressurected. Celebrate! It's Spring, it's renewal, it's bunnies?

Here's a little something I found out from http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/132091/

'Easter bunnies have their beginnings traced back to pagan festivals, as symbols of fertility and life. Sometime later, in the 1500's, Germans incorporated the bunny into their celebration of the Easter season. They were also the first ones to eat Easter bunnies, which were made out of pastry and sugar. The tradition traveled with them to America, though it really didn't catch on until after the Civil War, when Easter became more widely celebrated.'

Ok, that helps a bit... but what about the eggs?

Here's what I found, again from http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/132091/

'The exchange of eggs actually predates Easter by centuries. Originally they were painted with bright colors to symbolize the sunlight of spring.
Eventually, they became associated with spring's most celebrated holiday, Easter. It's commonly believed that the shell represents the tomb in which Christ was buried and the chick that hatches from the egg represents Christ rising from the dead.
While pastels are usually the color of choice for dying eggs here in this part of the world, other countries use different colors. In Greece, for instance, Easter eggs were traditionally colored red to symbolize the blood of Christ. It turns out the Easter egg is a commercial staple today, but it does have some ties to the religious meaning of the holiday.'

So now you have it! Go in peace and celebrate Spring and Love ... don't eat too much chocolate either!

Amazing Adventure- Burlington's Spencer Smith Park

...or as the cool kids from there call it... Burlngton.

A beautiful Saturday a few weeks ago, my mom and daughter and I enjoyed a gorgeous, cool, end of winter walk along the lake in Burlington. We visited the Spencer Smith Park.

How exciting... walking around the fancy Spencer's restaurant, you could even see a waiter setting up for an event!

People were skating around the restaurant.

But if you didn't have it in your budget to eat at Spencer's you could have a 'Bite'!

Gorgeous, right?

Here's a couple of babes!

And the mom all responsible for them!

Here's the other side, where Burlington beach is... we walked over there and I know we will be back in the summer for a visit.

OMG, look at this girl, she's almost as tall as her mom... when did that happen?

Oh, Canada Geese!

Checking out the sites.

Peace, love and calm.

North!

This is my closeup 'artsy' shot... wounder what it is?

... back it up a bit and there you have, the big chains safely keeping you from jumping into the lake. LOL

 

We paused for a moment of 'remembering'. It was a Memorial for all the fallen ships and crews in the wars. Very lovely. Makes you appreciate this beautiful park even more!

 

Melanie's shadow studying the names and all the dates.

We ended our visit with a seat on a concrete couch from the citizens of Apeldoorn, which, thanks to Google, I know is a city in the Netherlands. Well, Mom and Melanie, I will always remember the special walk we took in the park, it will always warm my heart!

... sweet treats for the little monkey!

Now for the sweet moment we have all been waiting for.... Stephanie's first cake/cupcake smooshing party. That is, after all, the privilege a one year old gets to have on her birthday!

 

Big, Beautiful Chocolate Cake- note the accent aigue, Julie was very proud!

Some sweet macarons and fine cakes brought by Grand-maman. They were so pretty, but let me tell you, SWEET with a capital S. I could only have 2 bites of that pretty turquoise one, and then had to give it to my mom to finish. Which one would you have chosen?

We sang happy birthday with our Monkey Gear on!

Isn

 I bet your wondering, how did Stephanie do? Well, she sat quietly and watched everyone around her. Just look at that photo, so funny right? I didn't want to crop it so you could see the hilarious shot. Stephanie, 'overwhelmed' and the grandpa's and uncle in the back... so funny!

When it came to tasting her first birthday cupcake, she was shy.. she didn't jump in and squish her hands all up in the icing... her parents had to rip the cake part on the side and she then started to nibble!

She did finally get her 'groove on' and started picking it up, see fingers and face and she even kept her little chapeau on. We were all so lucky and proud to share in your First Birthday Celebration Stephanie! You are loved indeed!!!!

Look who's 1

My little angel niece... she is now 1 and we celebrated 'family style'! Although, not sure when to celebrate it because her actual birth date is February 29th.... this year my sister and b.i.l. had a big party in early March.  Here's a little snipit of what we did...

Grand-maman holding her little gem in her party dress.

Ahhh, she really is an angel, I told you!

Opening some presents and so excited (inside I am sure), that Grand-maman gave her her first 'dolly'.

Her other little cousins were there as well, here you see Stephanie running away from big cousin Mani.

...again in Grand-maman's arms, one of her favourites that day.

ummm, let me see what kinda trouble I can get myself into now... can't you just hear that thought?

All day, she was walking around her house, going from room to room, eating her finger, visiting her relatives...

There was a lovely spread of little party sandwiches, veggies and dip and some delicious monkeys everywhere. My sister's favourite little animal and now Stephanie's for sure!

More Monkey Mania over here! How cute eh!

More monkeys over there... LOL couldn't resist!

Lovely banner and perfectly placed (by a double-accountant team) streamers all over the house. It was quite festive!

What a tricky sister hiding behind the decorations, camouflage at it's best!

Loo at the happy cute monkeys celebrating with their daughter. What a great family photo!

Running from chair to chair...

...touching baby cousin Gill on the head...

...then holding his head in her hand... (cool effect)!...

... then taking a moment to love her big cousin Melanie... OMG this is one of my all time favourite pictures ever!

...wait... so was this moment... when my sister opened up the present I made for her daughter, her eyes welled-up with tears of gratitude, my heart burst with love! I was so happy that she was so touched by the thought.

The Monkey Stool and matching trinket box were a hit! I love you Monkeys!

Big Salad Time

Remember the Seinfeld episode about Elaine always ordering the 'Big Salad' at coffee shop all the time. Well this is what I made for my family one night not too long ago.

My daughter doesn't like Feta/Greek salad because of the olives... so I made her a Ceasar salad. I have these great dollar store bowls - 3 of them - and I cut up some romaine for all of us. Had my dressing ready, veggies, feta, olives for the Greek salad for my husband and I. I cooked up some chicken breast and cut it up as well...

...et voila, 3 Big Salads made to everyone's desires and they were delicious and nutritious and filling!

Arts and Crafts for a Special Girl's Special Birthday

I love being crafty, because I get to use lots and lots of colours to express the colours of my soul!!!!
I had to think of a special present for Stephanie, my niece, who was turning 1, something she might use for a while and that was unique and thoughtful. On a research mission at my local Michael's I came up with this idea. A wooden stool covered in beautiful paper with a monkey in the middle!

I just love how the scrapbooking papers and the monkey all match.

When I was younger I always wanted to host my own craft show on TV- but I am way too messy and don't follow the rules... I am a rebel crafter you could say.... but anyways... this little picture demo is sort of making those dreams come true!
So I used my scrapbooking tools to cut out ovals of coordinating papers and I was going to podge the paper onto the bench.

 As for the bottom, I thought I would paint it and the legs a coordinating colour. I even put little fuzzy felt protectors on the legs.

I also thought I would buy a little trinket box and cover it all up with the same paper and monkey motif.

Here's the sweet little box, with the monkey in the middle and little coordinating flowers on the side. This was a little trickier to do, I also did the inside. It came out a bit sticky... perhaps it can be just a show piece.