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Sunday, 22 November 2015
Sunday, 15 November 2015
Master Cheese Cooking Class
This past weekend I had the opportunity to do an online cooking class with Christine Cushing and Chick Advisor. It was a Master Cheese Cooking Class, which is perfect for me because I am a firm believer that cheese makes anything better!
I wanted to share the recipes today because they are so simple, delicious, and impressive!
First up was Swiss Cheese Fondue. I tried to take picture as I went, but it was pretty fast paced trying to keep up with the live class, so I unfortunately only have a few! You can watch the recording from the class here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EKiYKXRirk
It's totally worth it to watch as you're cooking, as Christine offers a lot of tips and tricks along the way
Creamy Canadian Swiss Fondue
12 ounces grated Canadian Swiss or Raclette cheese
2 Tbsp all purpose flour
3/4 cup dry white wine (175 ml)
Chopped fresh chives
12 mini new potatoes, boiled until tender and cut in half
4 thick slices crusty bread, cut into cubes
1 head broccoli florets, blanched for 2 minutes and drained
1/2 cup cornichons (125 ml)
In a medium bowl toss together the grated cheese and flour until well coated.
Meanwhile in a medium heavy bottom saucepan over medium heat bring white wine to a boil. Reduce to low heat and very gradually add the grated cheese mixture while stirring with wooden spoon. Make sure to melt all cheese before adding more to ensure a creamy smooth consistency.
Add more wine to adjust consistency of fondue if it's too thick.
Transfer immediately to fondue warmer and sprinkle with chives. Dip with potatoes, bread and broccoli or ingredients of your choice on skewers. Cornichons are to be eaten alongside, not dipped in fondue.
Next up was my very first souffle! I'm no stranger in the kitchen, but this was seriously intimidating to me. I didn't get as much height as Christine did, but it looked pretty good.
Canadian Aged Cheddar Souffle
4 Tbsp Butter, divided (45 ml)
Parmesan cheese, grated for baking dish
1/4 cup flour (50 ml)
2 cups milk (500 ml)
3 egg yolks
1/2 cup grated Canadian Aged Cheddar (125 ml)
Pinch of salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Pinch of nutmeg
Several sprigs fresh thyme, chopped
2 Tbsp fresh chives, chopped
4 egg whites
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Brush large round baking dish, at least 3” deep, with one tablespoon butter and dust with grated parmesan to create rough surface for souffle to climb up sides of dish while baking.
In a medium saucepan, heat rest of butter until melted.
Add flour and cook over medium heat until just golden and smooth, stirring with wooden spoon. Remove from heat.
Add milk slowly while whisking until smooth. Return to heat and cook over medium heat until boiling and thickened, for about 4 to 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and add egg yolks, one at a time, stirring well after each addition.
Add grated aged cheddar cheese, seasonings and herbs. Stir well to blend.
Whip egg whites in a clean bowl until light and fluffy. Continue to whip until stiff peaks hold, but are not grainy. Fold into cheese mixture and pour into large round baking dish at least 3” deep and fill only 2/3 full.
Bake at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden and puffed. Serve immediately.
Finally, we moved on to making ricotta gnudi, which is little gnocchi-like pasta. What I loved about the gnudi is that it can be frozen and used later, which is like hitting the meal jackpot for busy families.
Canadian Ricotta Gnudi with Parsley Butter
Ricotta Gnudi
2 eggs, lightly beaten
500 g Canadian Ricotta, drained
1-1 ½ cup all-purpose flour (250 -325ml)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Nutmeg Parsley Butter
2 Tbsp butter (25 ml)
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/3 cup fresh chopped parsley (80 ml)
¼ cup grated Canadian Parmesan cheese (50 ml)
Cracked black pepper
In a medium bowl combine the eggs and ricotta.
Sprinkle with flour, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Stir until mixture holds together but is still sticky to touch.
Turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead gently. Mixture must hold well together or they will fall apart during boiling. It will be slightly sticky. Shape with 2 spoons dipped in cold water. This will be softer than a traditional potato gnocchi.
At this point gnudi may be frozen in plastic, well-sealed bags, generously dusted in flour, or they must be boiled. Bring a large pot of water to boil over high heat. Add the gnudi and boil for 5-7 minutes or until dumplings just hold their texture and float to top. With a large slotted spoon or spider scoop out gnudi and add directly to parsley butter.
Parsley Butter: combine the butter and garlic in a large skillet and sauté for 1 minute until garlic is just golden. Remove from heat and add parsley. Add the cooked gnudi and sprinkle with grated cheese and cracked black pepper. Serve family style.
If you plan on making the gnudi, I would highly recommend watching the video while you make it. Pasta can be notoriously fussy to make it, and it was really helpful watching the demo.
I think what I love most about all these recipes is that they're quick and delicious. You could easily come home from work and whip up the souffle or pull out some frozen gnudi.
Let me know how the recipes turn out for you!
 |
| Chick Advisor sent me a cute little package with an adorable apron, recipe cards and cheese picks! |
I wanted to share the recipes today because they are so simple, delicious, and impressive!
First up was Swiss Cheese Fondue. I tried to take picture as I went, but it was pretty fast paced trying to keep up with the live class, so I unfortunately only have a few! You can watch the recording from the class here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EKiYKXRirk
It's totally worth it to watch as you're cooking, as Christine offers a lot of tips and tricks along the way
Creamy Canadian Swiss Fondue
12 ounces grated Canadian Swiss or Raclette cheese
2 Tbsp all purpose flour
3/4 cup dry white wine (175 ml)
Chopped fresh chives
12 mini new potatoes, boiled until tender and cut in half
4 thick slices crusty bread, cut into cubes
1 head broccoli florets, blanched for 2 minutes and drained
1/2 cup cornichons (125 ml)
In a medium bowl toss together the grated cheese and flour until well coated.
Meanwhile in a medium heavy bottom saucepan over medium heat bring white wine to a boil. Reduce to low heat and very gradually add the grated cheese mixture while stirring with wooden spoon. Make sure to melt all cheese before adding more to ensure a creamy smooth consistency.
Add more wine to adjust consistency of fondue if it's too thick.
Transfer immediately to fondue warmer and sprinkle with chives. Dip with potatoes, bread and broccoli or ingredients of your choice on skewers. Cornichons are to be eaten alongside, not dipped in fondue.
 |
| My completed fondue - it may not be pretty, but it was delicious! |
Next up was my very first souffle! I'm no stranger in the kitchen, but this was seriously intimidating to me. I didn't get as much height as Christine did, but it looked pretty good.
Canadian Aged Cheddar Souffle
4 Tbsp Butter, divided (45 ml)
Parmesan cheese, grated for baking dish
1/4 cup flour (50 ml)
2 cups milk (500 ml)
3 egg yolks
1/2 cup grated Canadian Aged Cheddar (125 ml)
Pinch of salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Pinch of nutmeg
Several sprigs fresh thyme, chopped
2 Tbsp fresh chives, chopped
4 egg whites
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Brush large round baking dish, at least 3” deep, with one tablespoon butter and dust with grated parmesan to create rough surface for souffle to climb up sides of dish while baking.
In a medium saucepan, heat rest of butter until melted.
Add flour and cook over medium heat until just golden and smooth, stirring with wooden spoon. Remove from heat.
Add milk slowly while whisking until smooth. Return to heat and cook over medium heat until boiling and thickened, for about 4 to 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and add egg yolks, one at a time, stirring well after each addition.
Add grated aged cheddar cheese, seasonings and herbs. Stir well to blend.
Whip egg whites in a clean bowl until light and fluffy. Continue to whip until stiff peaks hold, but are not grainy. Fold into cheese mixture and pour into large round baking dish at least 3” deep and fill only 2/3 full.
Bake at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden and puffed. Serve immediately.
 |
| My oven-ready souffle! |
Finally, we moved on to making ricotta gnudi, which is little gnocchi-like pasta. What I loved about the gnudi is that it can be frozen and used later, which is like hitting the meal jackpot for busy families.
Canadian Ricotta Gnudi with Parsley Butter
Ricotta Gnudi
2 eggs, lightly beaten
500 g Canadian Ricotta, drained
1-1 ½ cup all-purpose flour (250 -325ml)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Nutmeg Parsley Butter
2 Tbsp butter (25 ml)
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/3 cup fresh chopped parsley (80 ml)
¼ cup grated Canadian Parmesan cheese (50 ml)
Cracked black pepper
In a medium bowl combine the eggs and ricotta.
Sprinkle with flour, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Stir until mixture holds together but is still sticky to touch.
Turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead gently. Mixture must hold well together or they will fall apart during boiling. It will be slightly sticky. Shape with 2 spoons dipped in cold water. This will be softer than a traditional potato gnocchi.
At this point gnudi may be frozen in plastic, well-sealed bags, generously dusted in flour, or they must be boiled. Bring a large pot of water to boil over high heat. Add the gnudi and boil for 5-7 minutes or until dumplings just hold their texture and float to top. With a large slotted spoon or spider scoop out gnudi and add directly to parsley butter.
Parsley Butter: combine the butter and garlic in a large skillet and sauté for 1 minute until garlic is just golden. Remove from heat and add parsley. Add the cooked gnudi and sprinkle with grated cheese and cracked black pepper. Serve family style.
If you plan on making the gnudi, I would highly recommend watching the video while you make it. Pasta can be notoriously fussy to make it, and it was really helpful watching the demo.
I think what I love most about all these recipes is that they're quick and delicious. You could easily come home from work and whip up the souffle or pull out some frozen gnudi.
Let me know how the recipes turn out for you!
Thursday, 5 November 2015
Baby wearing
One thing that really surprised me when I had Andrew was just how much I loved baby wearing. (if you're not familiar with the term, it refers to baby carriers). When I first heard about baby wearing, it became clear that the benefits of baby wearing were plentiful. But there was still a part of me that thought baby-wearing was for crunchy, Birkenstock-wearing tree-hugger types. Boy was I wrong.
When I registered for baby items when I was pregnant with Andrew, I registered for a Baby Bjorn without really thinking about it or researching into different carriers. If you are even the tiniest bit interested in baby wearing, I urge you to research - look around online, talk to other mommas, join baby wearing groups online (Durham Region Baby Wearing Group was a huge help for me). It pays to be educated. Not to be all preachy, but there are serious health risks for bebe if you choose a carrier that is not ergonomically correct (such as the Baby Bjorn that I unwittingly chose). On baby wearing forums you may hear these affectionately called "crotch danglers." Not only are these not so awesome for baby, but it makes a huge difference for you too - in my experience, when carriers are better for baby, they are better for momma. Meaning that you can wear your little one with no pain or discomfort.
Now, I don't mean to bash Baby Bjorn at all - apparently they do have some revamped carriers that are great, I just personally haven't tried them - I am by no means a baby wearing expert.
What I love the most about baby-wearing is always having my babies close to me. Being able to get stuff done while snuggling and kissing the top of their heads...doesn't get much better than that!
After I realized how much I enjoyed 'wearing' Andrew, I upgraded to a pocket sling from Seven Slings - it was a definite upgrade but still not the comfiest for me. It worked for the remainder of my baby wearing days with A - as an energetic, crazy boy, he was born to run wild.
When I was pregnant again, I knew that I would be relying on baby wearing as a way to keep my new baby close while keeping up with an active 3-year old. So my research began - I spent hours on the internet learning all the lingo (I could not figure out for the longest time what SSC was - for the newbies like me, it means soft structured carrier. You're welcome!) and brand names surrounding baby wearing. I picked the brains of the wonderful ladies on the Durham Region Baby Wearing Group on Facebook. Seriously, these women are wonderfully helpful and full of knowledge. If you live in Durham Region and are interested in baby wearing, join the group, you won't regret it! They even have meet-ups to offer support and give newbies a chance to try different carriers. If you live outside the area, look around online for groups in your region, as I am sure they are there! Finally, after months of reading and asking questions, I came to a conclusion. I wanted to get a soft-structured carrier. And I wanted it to be a Tula. I loved the look and the feel of wraps, but I seriously do not trust the safety of my baby to how well I twist and knot a wrap. I have serious admiration for 'wrappers.' I get baby wearing envy when I see their photos posted all over Facebook!
Now, the downfall - Tulas do not come cheap. Even used, they will still run you close to $200. But I finally bit the bullet and bought myself a beautiful brand new Tula!
When I registered for baby items when I was pregnant with Andrew, I registered for a Baby Bjorn without really thinking about it or researching into different carriers. If you are even the tiniest bit interested in baby wearing, I urge you to research - look around online, talk to other mommas, join baby wearing groups online (Durham Region Baby Wearing Group was a huge help for me). It pays to be educated. Not to be all preachy, but there are serious health risks for bebe if you choose a carrier that is not ergonomically correct (such as the Baby Bjorn that I unwittingly chose). On baby wearing forums you may hear these affectionately called "crotch danglers." Not only are these not so awesome for baby, but it makes a huge difference for you too - in my experience, when carriers are better for baby, they are better for momma. Meaning that you can wear your little one with no pain or discomfort.
 |
| My love for baby wearing started with the Original Baby Bjorn |
Now, I don't mean to bash Baby Bjorn at all - apparently they do have some revamped carriers that are great, I just personally haven't tried them - I am by no means a baby wearing expert.
What I love the most about baby-wearing is always having my babies close to me. Being able to get stuff done while snuggling and kissing the top of their heads...doesn't get much better than that!
After I realized how much I enjoyed 'wearing' Andrew, I upgraded to a pocket sling from Seven Slings - it was a definite upgrade but still not the comfiest for me. It worked for the remainder of my baby wearing days with A - as an energetic, crazy boy, he was born to run wild.
 |
| Eventually I moved to a pocket sling |
Now, the downfall - Tulas do not come cheap. Even used, they will still run you close to $200. But I finally bit the bullet and bought myself a beautiful brand new Tula!
One of the main reasons I chose a Tula was for the weight limit - it can go from newborn all the way up to 40lbs - talk about getting bang for your buck! As you can see in the photo, A was 2.5yrs and I carried him comfortably at 4 months pregnant! (Note: Tula also has a toddler-sized version that gives them a little more support through the legs). I also love that as baby gets older, you can switch to a back carry, like a piggy back without all the work!
I also have to give a shout out to a local business, Take a Walk on the Green Side, where I ordered my Tula. Take a Walk on the Green Side focuses on providing greener alternatives for your home, with a heavy focus on products for babies. They had competitive pricing, and fabulous customer service. The owner, Amy, always responds to messages quickly, and ships items promptly. I can't say enough good things about them! If you are interested in a Tula (or green alternatives for your household), please check them out: http://takeawalkonthegreenside.com/
Right after L was born, I decided that I wanted something to baby wear that was quicker than my Tula (and also because buying carriers is slightly addictive - I now understand why some women have entire stashes!). I didn't really feel comfortable having a newborn in the Tula (just me being crazy!), and so I went back to asking questions, and reading on the Facebook group. I quickly decided that I wanted a ring sling, and I received a beautiful ring sling from Say It Ain't Sew, a local business. The ring sling is as beautiful as it is functional! Sorry for the crappy Iphone shot - I can't believe I haven't gotten a better shot of it! Check out everything that Say it Ain't Sew has to offer here: https://www.facebook.com/shopsayitaintsew/
I find now that Lily is four months old, I reach for the ring sling and Tula equally, depending on what I'm doing. I have developed a serious love for babywearing, although I'm still a newbie. Maybe one of these days, I'll get up the nerve to try wrapping!
What's your favourite carrier? Do you have multiple carriers in your collection or do you stay true to one?
Sunday, 25 October 2015
The Mamas and Chicks Show + Ticket Giveaway
One of my favourite shopping events for the little ones is coming up in November! Since A was born three years ago, I have been going to the Mamas and Chicks Show. The big difference with this show is that almost all the vendors feature local and handmade items - seriously, the stuff is absolutely gorgeous. I wish I had a fraction of the crafty talent that these vendors have! It's a great place to stock up on gifts for Christmas too!
The show will be taking place on Friday, November 20th at the Quality Hotel in Oshawa. The venue is stroller friendly and there are tons of amazing vendors. Some of my favourite small businesses will be there, such as :
For a full list of vendors, check them out here: http://www.mamasandchicks.com/exhibitors.html
Congratulations to the winners - Laura Sanint, Julie Strazzeri, Lauren Smart-Kennedy, and Courtney Evans. I will be contacting you shortly to arrange delivery of your tickets!
The show will be taking place on Friday, November 20th at the Quality Hotel in Oshawa. The venue is stroller friendly and there are tons of amazing vendors. Some of my favourite small businesses will be there, such as :
- Eva + Dell: Anne makes beautiful handmade accessories for boys and girls - I will do a post at a later time showing off her beautiful items!
- Bearly Used: One of my favourite used clothing stores for kiddies
- Brunchkins: An awesome non-profit
- The Cupcake Place: I love baking and am pretty particular about buying baked goods. The Cupcake Place does not disappoint. I MAYuse their cake pops at every show to bribe A into taking nice photos.
- Little Miss Bows and Bands: Super sweet and girly girls headbands and accessories. When I found out I was pregnant with a girl, she was my first stop to stock up on pretty headbands for photoshoots.
- Sarita Baby: handmade baby accessories and clothing. Bibs, paci clips, toy straps, teethers. You name it, she makes it. And it is awesome quality.
- Say It Ain't Sew: She makes beautiful and functional baby carriers. I have a ring sling from her and it is as pretty as it is comfy!
- Tara Graham Photography: She is on hand at every show to take holiday photos of kids. Beware, she gets busy so be prepared to stand in line if you come at a busy time. She is well worth the wait, and every photo I've gotten of A from her is fantastic!
For a full list of vendors, check them out here: http://www.mamasandchicks.com/exhibitors.html
Admission to the show is $5, but if you bring a sleeve of juice boxes to donate to Brunchkins, you will get $2 off! BUT - you can win a pair of tickets by entering below! It's easy-peasy, all you have to do is visit the brand-spankin' new Facebook page for Bawlers and Crawlers!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Congratulations to the winners - Laura Sanint, Julie Strazzeri, Lauren Smart-Kennedy, and Courtney Evans. I will be contacting you shortly to arrange delivery of your tickets!
Saturday, 17 October 2015
Miscarriage and Conception Challenges - Part 2
When A was around 2.5, we decided we were ready for our
little family to grow. We picked what we thought was the “perfect” time to try
to get pregnant, assuming that it would happen the first month we tried, as it
had with the first two pregnancies. We tried…and tried…and tried. And then it
wasn’t fun anymore.
I began furiously searching the internet, figuring there had
to be a quick fix somewhere…something we weren’t thinking of. It happened twice
before with us barely even thinking about it, so what the heck was going on?
Eventually, I began using ovulation tests to try to pinpoint
the best times to try – and found out that some months I wasn’t even ovulating
(which sure wasn’t helping in the baby-making department!). Although it was frustrating, using the tests
gave me some peace of mind – at the very least, I had a possible reason why we
had not gotten pregnant yet…and also gave me a tool that could help better our
odds.
Those months of trying to get pregnant really took a toll on
me emotionally. Being the eternal optimist, I would get excited every month,
thinking “This is the month!”, only to be let down again and again. I was
frustrated, angry, sad and confused. But eventually – it did happen. And I
couldn’t have been happier.
I have been trying to be a strong voice to women I know to share my story, to let women know that they are not alone. That it can happen. That it is normal to feel sad, angry, or embarrassed. I even became a part of First Response’s Conception Success Stories Campaign (and no, they are not paying me to write this…I just feel that strongly about sharing my story!). When they contacted me about becoming part of their campaign, I jumped at the chance.
If you are interested, you can check out my conception story
with First Response here: http://firstresponsestories.ca/en/
and click down until you get to “Baby Girl” – little Miss L didn’t have a name
yet, as I was 9 months pregnant when this was filmed.
 |
| One of my favourite moments of all time - When A came to meet his little sister for the first time |
And so – for better or worse, that was my conception journey. And you want to know what? I ended up with two of the most amazing little beings in the world. Well worth all the heartache. I wouldn’t change it for a thing.
If you are struggling with getting pregnant and want to try First Response Digital Ovulation Tests, click here for a coupon: http://www.save.ca/firstresponse
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| Photo by Shannon Nicole Photography |
If you are feeling brave and open, why not share your story? I would love to feature some other journeys to help women on all different paths feel a little more supported. If you are interested in sharing, please feel free to comment or shoot me an email!
Thursday, 15 October 2015
Miscarriage and Conception Challenges - Part 1
I wrote this post long time ago, and have been debating
whether or not to share it, as it is of a very personal nature, and contains
personal information…but thought that if I helped one person feel normal, or
less ashamed, that it was worth the risk.
This post is going to be a serious one – and a lot more
personal than normal. I am going to share the journey I went on to become a mom.
I think it is important for people to share the difficulties and challenges
they have encountered in growing their families, because the challenges are not
talked about enough.
Miscarriages and challenges conceiving are SO common. But,
unfortunately, in my experience, women do not hear about them until after they
have experienced loss or challenges. In my opinion – it’s too late by then.
Women need to know that it IS common, it HAS happened to others, and it IS
possible to have perfectly healthy babies afterwards.
The first time I got pregnant, Ryan and I were overjoyed.
Unfortunately, I miscarried at 7 weeks. To say I was heartbroken was an
understatement. In my ‘first pregnancy’ bubble, miscarriage wasn’t even in my
vocabulary. In very simple terms, I was sad, confused, felt hopeless and felt
like I got completely blindsided. Not only was I physically drained –
emotionally I was a wreck. I wanted to talk about it, but I did not even know
where to start.
After I felt ready to try for a baby again, we got pregnant
the first month of trying – we were completely overjoyed! Yet I never had that
same freewheeling giddiness I had the first pregnancy. We were thrilled, but
kept matters private, holding back from telling people or investing too much
into it – just in case. Nine months
later, baby A came along, completely healthy and happy!
Next up – how Little Miss L joined us!
Monday, 12 October 2015
Flash Contest!
It's Thanksgiving - and to say thank you for dropping by to have a read, I am offering up two tickets to the National Women's Show this weekend! And to make it even better, there will be TWO winners!
The show is a great excuse for a girls day out - it is being held this weekend (Friday-Sunday) at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre - check it out for more info here: http://www.nationalwomenshow.com/en/toronto/visitor/. The only catch is that you have to be able to pick up the tickets in Durham Region this week!
It's easy to enter - all you have to do is shoot me an email at steph.lue@gmail.com or leave a comment letting me know about what parenting or baby topics or questions you would like to read about!
Thanks for dropping by!
The show is a great excuse for a girls day out - it is being held this weekend (Friday-Sunday) at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre - check it out for more info here: http://www.nationalwomenshow.com/en/toronto/visitor/. The only catch is that you have to be able to pick up the tickets in Durham Region this week!
It's easy to enter - all you have to do is shoot me an email at steph.lue@gmail.com or leave a comment letting me know about what parenting or baby topics or questions you would like to read about!
Thanks for dropping by!
Monday, 5 October 2015
Bright Bean Toys
Hey mommas,
Just wanted to take a quick minute to share a sweet little find with you!
I heard about a new online toy store that will be opening later this month, called Bright Bean Toys.
I was intrigued, and contacted them for more information about the company and what makes them different from other toy stores. I absolutely love their philosophy - that play is vital to a child's education and development (because I obviously need more reasons to buy toys). They are structuring their website to help parents find the best toys for their kids at each stage, from birth to age 12. The big difference in their store? Every single toy they sell is attached to a specific developmental category, and you will be able to shop by age and developmental category.
They will be carrying some of my personal favourite brands, such as Hape, Melissa & Doug, Boon, Crazy Forts, Lego, and Lamaze. There are lots of brands that I'm looking forward to exploring such as Janod, Seedlings, Tegu and Uncle Goose. Have any of you tried them?
Just to get you even more excited, they're offering some special perks to people who register before the launch. Head to their website (http://www.brightbeantoys.com) to register and you will receive:
Just wanted to take a quick minute to share a sweet little find with you!
I heard about a new online toy store that will be opening later this month, called Bright Bean Toys.
I was intrigued, and contacted them for more information about the company and what makes them different from other toy stores. I absolutely love their philosophy - that play is vital to a child's education and development (because I obviously need more reasons to buy toys). They are structuring their website to help parents find the best toys for their kids at each stage, from birth to age 12. The big difference in their store? Every single toy they sell is attached to a specific developmental category, and you will be able to shop by age and developmental category.
They will be carrying some of my personal favourite brands, such as Hape, Melissa & Doug, Boon, Crazy Forts, Lego, and Lamaze. There are lots of brands that I'm looking forward to exploring such as Janod, Seedlings, Tegu and Uncle Goose. Have any of you tried them?
Just to get you even more excited, they're offering some special perks to people who register before the launch. Head to their website (http://www.brightbeantoys.com) to register and you will receive:
- 6 months of free shipping
- $10 store credit
- 20% off for one month
- 1 year's subscription to Today's Parent magazine
Uhh, yeah. Kind of awesome. Once they have launched and you've done your shopping, drop me a line and let me know what you bought!
Thursday, 1 October 2015
Bringing Home Baby...the Sequel.
Three months ago, we welcomed little lady Lily to the family! With two little ones, life can be hectic. I was mentally prepared to be exhausted and feel torn with two little humans vying for attention, but nothing could have prepared me for the heartbreak and sadness I felt at some moments.
 |
| Photo by Shannon Nicole Photography |
We took time while I was pregnant to prepare A to become a big brother. We read books about being a big brother, he helped me set up parts of Lily's nursery, and spent many bedtimes talking about what he wanted to do with baby "Monkeyhead" (as he affectionately named her in the womb) when she was out of my belly.
When Andrew came to the hospital, he was surprised with a present from baby Lily, and he was thrilled to finally meet the baby that was growing in mommy's belly. From the start, he was a proud big brother, telling everyone we saw that this was 'his baby.' I felt like such a proud mom, what a smooth transition to two kids this was! We were doing awesome! A wasn't acting out at all!
And then.....the honeymoon ended. A started to realize he didn't have my full attention and could not have me at times when he usually did. I still remember in the first few weeks the first moment that brought me to tears. Bedtime was usually me and A reading, snuggling, and talking in bed before he went to sleep. This particular night, newborn Lily needed to feed right at bedtime, so hubs stepped in to put Andrew to bed. I promised A I would come see him as soon as I finished feeding Lily (which as we all know, can be a pretty long time with newborns). I was sitting there, rocking Lily and enjoying that quiet and bliss that comes with a sleepy newborn, when in comes my three-year old with tears running down his face.
"Mommy, you say you come see me. You forgot about me Mommy."
My heart broke. In that moment, it was the first time that both of us realized that I couldn't always be there when he needed me.
I scooped him up with my other arm and assured him that I could never forget about him, that I was still taking care of Lily and was coming to see him soon.
That is the absolute worst mommy guilt I have felt in my three years as a mom...and I'm sure that is just mild training compared to what is to come in the future. But right at that moment, I felt guilt that I couldn't be there when he needed a hug, that I had turned his world upside down by bringing another baby home, and guilt that I couldn't focus all my energy on Lily like I had when I brought A home. I think guilt is one of those things that is just part of being a mom.
Three months in and we're all getting used to things being done a little different, but A loves his little sister, and I'm sure he will enjoy having her around as she gets to be a little more exciting to him!
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| Photo by Shannon Nicole Photography |
How do other moms balance having more than one little kid at home? Especially moms with more than two! How do you keep that balance between each child?
Tuesday, 17 September 2013
The newest member of the Momtourage
I remember back in the winter, hanging out at Beans when momma Sharon told all of us that she was pregnant again - immediately following the shock of it (her first son Brody was under a year), we were all thrilled and excited to meet the newest member of the Momtourage.
On August 8, the littlest member of the Momtourage came into the world, a beautiful baby boy named Blake Aayden. He is just so sweet! Sharon sure does have her hands full with a toddler and a newborn, but she is handling it incredibly, and has a sweet little boy to snuggle all day long!
A few of us moms went to visit her when Blake was a couple weeks old, and it felt just like old times, but there were lots of arms to hold the only newborn, as all the babies from last year are cruising around on their own now. There's nothing quite like that newborn baby smell! I couldn't get enough of him! It was funny, all of us being around a newborn again....it seems so much easier the second time. I know I am infinitely more at ease with wee ones again - I'm pretty sure those first few days alone with A I was pretty shell-shocked. I hope if we ever have another baby I'm as cool, calm, and collected as Sharon is!
Just as I feel so lucky to have such an amazing momma support group, I feel lucky that Andrew has this wonderful group of kidlets to grow up with.
I can't wait to watch Blake grow up as I did with the other babes! Congratulations to Sharon, Andy and Brody on the newest addition!
Sharon had these photos done with Natalie Higgins of Logan's Photography. Check out her website for more info: http://www.logansphotography.ca/about-me.html
On August 8, the littlest member of the Momtourage came into the world, a beautiful baby boy named Blake Aayden. He is just so sweet! Sharon sure does have her hands full with a toddler and a newborn, but she is handling it incredibly, and has a sweet little boy to snuggle all day long!
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| Sweet baby Blake |
A few of us moms went to visit her when Blake was a couple weeks old, and it felt just like old times, but there were lots of arms to hold the only newborn, as all the babies from last year are cruising around on their own now. There's nothing quite like that newborn baby smell! I couldn't get enough of him! It was funny, all of us being around a newborn again....it seems so much easier the second time. I know I am infinitely more at ease with wee ones again - I'm pretty sure those first few days alone with A I was pretty shell-shocked. I hope if we ever have another baby I'm as cool, calm, and collected as Sharon is!
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| Can't wait to snuggle him again! |
Just as I feel so lucky to have such an amazing momma support group, I feel lucky that Andrew has this wonderful group of kidlets to grow up with.
I can't wait to watch Blake grow up as I did with the other babes! Congratulations to Sharon, Andy and Brody on the newest addition!
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| The Frustaci Family - Sharon and her boys |
Tuesday, 20 August 2013
Batterfingers
After the success of our cooking afternoon with Chef Deb, I decided to do a kitchen get-together more suited to me. I am a decent cook, but...baking is really my forte. So I decided to organize something baking-related for the next outing. Like any resourceful momma, I hit Google for ideas, and came onto a company called Batterfingers, who offered cupcake decorating classes in your home.
I contacted Julia at Batterfingers and we set up a date - we were her first mom & baby group! Hosting with Batterfingers was so easy - All I did was cover the table with a plastic tablecloth, lay out aprons for all the moms, and set out some punch and finger foods to nibble on, she did the rest!
The lesson covered how to colour, shape, and mold fondant, as well as how to roll and decorate with it. Julia brought 3 cupcakes per person, delicious buttercream frosting, colouring, edible ink, rolling pins, and all the other tools necessary to decorate the cupcakes. We also each got a copy of the cupcake and fondant recipe, and she came prepared with boxes for us to take our cupcakes home.
Julia was so patient with all the babies. We set up a playroom in my living room so they could hang out and we just left the table periodically to feed, soothe, or play with a fussy baby.
I bought a disposable plastic tablecloth to put down and I was SO happy that I did. If any of you choose to do something like this, it cut down on cleaning time so much, and it was so easy to decorate the cupcakes. No one had to worry about getting fondant or dye on the table. Once we got all Julia's tools into the sink to clean and packaged up our creations, I just folded up the tablecloth and dumped it. Easy peasy!
If you're interested in having a cupcake class with Julia, get in touch with her here: http://www.batterfingers.com/index.html
I contacted Julia at Batterfingers and we set up a date - we were her first mom & baby group! Hosting with Batterfingers was so easy - All I did was cover the table with a plastic tablecloth, lay out aprons for all the moms, and set out some punch and finger foods to nibble on, she did the rest!
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| Julia getting Sharon and Julie started on their cupcakes |
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| Melinda & Jen |
Julia was so patient with all the babies. We set up a playroom in my living room so they could hang out and we just left the table periodically to feed, soothe, or play with a fussy baby.
I bought a disposable plastic tablecloth to put down and I was SO happy that I did. If any of you choose to do something like this, it cut down on cleaning time so much, and it was so easy to decorate the cupcakes. No one had to worry about getting fondant or dye on the table. Once we got all Julia's tools into the sink to clean and packaged up our creations, I just folded up the tablecloth and dumped it. Easy peasy!
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| My finished products - they tasted as pretty as they look! |
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| Jen's finished cupcakes - I love her sparkly cupcake with the daisy! |
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
Happy 1st Birthday Andrew!
A year ago today, Ryan and I welcomed a tiny new man into our life, and experienced a love that I never knew even existed before that day. After a relatively short natural labour, Andrew was born as a 7 lb, 9 oz bundle of endless energy. He has grown so much...but the endless energy hasn't changed! Instead of bouncing him for hours at night, I spend my days chasing him around the house.
What a journey this past year has been - after MANY sleepless nights (I won't lie, I still occasionally have them), bouncing a screaming colicky baby, I feel like all three of us have come so far. A has a little more patience with us, and we have learned so much about taking care of a baby, ourselves, and even about taking care of each other. I truly believe that having a baby is a delicate balancing act, and is a struggle for most moms - you invest every ounce of your being into this tiny new life, but I eventually came to realize that it is just as important to invest in my relationship with Ryan, and into myself. Sometimes that means having a spa day, and sometimes it just means walking around Target by myself after A goes to sleep for the night. With that being said, I am so incredibly happy with my little family. I feel so blessed.
I can't believe that a year has flown by already - I feel like it was just yesterday that I was at the hospital meeting A for the first time. In my mind, he is still this big:
On the weekend, we had Andrew's 1st birthday party in the middle of the heat wave, and despite the heat, it was a wonderful time. We had a Very Hungry Caterpillar theme, and I tried to incorporate it wherever I could.
Here are the invitations and the little envelope seals we had made:
I think that the star of the show (other than A, of course) was the cake, which was made by a friend of our family, Maria. I just told her what the theme was and she let her imagination run wild, and did a FANTASTIC job. I was completely blown away when she brought it in!
For decor, I happened to find wrapping paper at Chapters that was reminiscent of the Hungry Caterpillar dots, so I used that as a backdrop...it didn't work out so great, as the room was so hot (even with AC!) that the tape didn't seem to be holding it too well!
The birthday boy even had a decorated highchair, with a banner that I made:
Here are some close-up shots of the cake - can you tell I am still in awe of it a few days later???
Another exciting moment of the party was getting the Momtourage together for a picture with all the babies. Well, I guess I have to say toddlers now, as they are almost all over a year. Just for comparison, here is a shot of the babies the first time we all got together. In this shot, A is only three weeks old, and is second from the right.
We're missing one of the babies in the first shot and have another addition in the second, but the other five pretty much hung out every week for the first year of their lives!
And here is the rowdy crew, at A's birthday! They have all changed so much, and I am so lucky to call these incredible women my friends. They have been such a source of support, entertainment, and laughter over the past year and I look forward to watching our kidlets grow up together.
After pictures and lunch, it was present time! A only opened a few gifts and then got sidetracked by toys!
The Bubble Guppies microphone was a huge hit - Char even came crawling over to get in on the action!
As A has been cruising around constantly lately, we brought his walker so he could cruise on his own and not get cranky. It ended up being perfect, as he zipped around and visited all the tables while burning off energy!
One of the funniest moments of the day was A's first taste of cake. It was delicious, as you can tell from the photos. He couldn't get enough of it!
Andrew was surrounded by love and laughter at his party, and got spoiled rotten! It makes me feel all mushy and sentimental knowing that he is surrounded by such love in his life. What a lucky little man he is. Huge thanks go out to all of our friends and family who love him, encourage him, and support us in this journey.
NOTE: I have had a lot of comments about his little man-tie. I bought it from an awesome local vendor called Eva + Dell. She has tons of adorable clothes and accessories for girls and boys. She is at many mom and baby shows, but you can find her on Etsy and Facebook as well. Her products are very high-quality, and cute as can be. Please take a moment to check her out :)
https://www.facebook.com/evaanddell?fref=ts
http://www.etsy.com/shop/EvaandDell
Any plans for your little one's birthday? What was the most memorable kids' party that you have been to or thrown? Let me know in the comments below!
What a journey this past year has been - after MANY sleepless nights (I won't lie, I still occasionally have them), bouncing a screaming colicky baby, I feel like all three of us have come so far. A has a little more patience with us, and we have learned so much about taking care of a baby, ourselves, and even about taking care of each other. I truly believe that having a baby is a delicate balancing act, and is a struggle for most moms - you invest every ounce of your being into this tiny new life, but I eventually came to realize that it is just as important to invest in my relationship with Ryan, and into myself. Sometimes that means having a spa day, and sometimes it just means walking around Target by myself after A goes to sleep for the night. With that being said, I am so incredibly happy with my little family. I feel so blessed.
I can't believe that a year has flown by already - I feel like it was just yesterday that I was at the hospital meeting A for the first time. In my mind, he is still this big:
On the weekend, we had Andrew's 1st birthday party in the middle of the heat wave, and despite the heat, it was a wonderful time. We had a Very Hungry Caterpillar theme, and I tried to incorporate it wherever I could.
Here are the invitations and the little envelope seals we had made:
I think that the star of the show (other than A, of course) was the cake, which was made by a friend of our family, Maria. I just told her what the theme was and she let her imagination run wild, and did a FANTASTIC job. I was completely blown away when she brought it in!
The level of detail was amazing - the leaves on top (under the caterpillar), the strawberries and pickle even had tiny little detailing on it! There's even a little piece of fondant Swiss cheese on the back that is so perfect but you can't see it in the pictures!
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| A found the polka dots on the cake fascinating! |
For decor, I happened to find wrapping paper at Chapters that was reminiscent of the Hungry Caterpillar dots, so I used that as a backdrop...it didn't work out so great, as the room was so hot (even with AC!) that the tape didn't seem to be holding it too well!
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| Table Centerpieces |
For favours, I decided to make chocolate chip cookies with mini M&M's instead of chocolate chips to give it the same colourful polka dot look, and had labels made to stick on the bags:
The birthday boy even had a decorated highchair, with a banner that I made:
Here are some close-up shots of the cake - can you tell I am still in awe of it a few days later???
Another exciting moment of the party was getting the Momtourage together for a picture with all the babies. Well, I guess I have to say toddlers now, as they are almost all over a year. Just for comparison, here is a shot of the babies the first time we all got together. In this shot, A is only three weeks old, and is second from the right.
We're missing one of the babies in the first shot and have another addition in the second, but the other five pretty much hung out every week for the first year of their lives!
And here is the rowdy crew, at A's birthday! They have all changed so much, and I am so lucky to call these incredible women my friends. They have been such a source of support, entertainment, and laughter over the past year and I look forward to watching our kidlets grow up together.
After pictures and lunch, it was present time! A only opened a few gifts and then got sidetracked by toys!
The Bubble Guppies microphone was a huge hit - Char even came crawling over to get in on the action!
As A has been cruising around constantly lately, we brought his walker so he could cruise on his own and not get cranky. It ended up being perfect, as he zipped around and visited all the tables while burning off energy!
One of the funniest moments of the day was A's first taste of cake. It was delicious, as you can tell from the photos. He couldn't get enough of it!
Andrew was surrounded by love and laughter at his party, and got spoiled rotten! It makes me feel all mushy and sentimental knowing that he is surrounded by such love in his life. What a lucky little man he is. Huge thanks go out to all of our friends and family who love him, encourage him, and support us in this journey.
NOTE: I have had a lot of comments about his little man-tie. I bought it from an awesome local vendor called Eva + Dell. She has tons of adorable clothes and accessories for girls and boys. She is at many mom and baby shows, but you can find her on Etsy and Facebook as well. Her products are very high-quality, and cute as can be. Please take a moment to check her out :)
https://www.facebook.com/evaanddell?fref=ts
http://www.etsy.com/shop/EvaandDell
Any plans for your little one's birthday? What was the most memorable kids' party that you have been to or thrown? Let me know in the comments below!
Saturday, 15 June 2013
Happy Father's Day!
This post is a day early, as tomorrow will be spent showering my wonderful hubby with love, affection, and appreciation for everything that he does around here! I have to give him a little Father's Day shout-out today.
One of the most amazing things in our marriage so far has been watching Ryan grow into the wonderful father that he is. Just when you think you couldn't love a man anymore than you already do, watching him love, play, and protect A just makes me fall in love with him all over again. Watching your husband become a dad really is an incredible thing, isn't it?
I know we both had many fears and apprehensions about becoming parents (who doesn't!?!?) but he has become an awesome daddy. Right from the beginning, he jumped right into fatherhood full-force. From cutting the cord, changing the first diapers in the hospital and staying up many nights rocking and bouncing a colicky baby, he has been amazing with A from the start. Nowadays, I love how the highlight of A's day is seeing Ryan come home, and watching the two of them play and bond, as A babbles away, trying to tell Ryan all about his day.
For Father's Day, Ryan got celebrated with a week of gifts, a little gift each day (homemade cookies, PJ pants, framed photo of him and A, etc). Tomorrow is the best one, and I can't wait to give it him! I know lots of you are celebrating your husbands' first Fathers Day - any special plans? What have you gotten your dads/husbands for Father's Day? I'm always in need of ideas! Let me know in the comments below.
Here's a photo I snapped of the two of them reading bedtime stories last week - A is so much like his daddy in so many ways already:
Happy Father's Day Ryan, A and I are so lucky to have you in our lives!
Happy Father's Day to all the daddies out there, hope you get spoiled rotten and have an amazing day! What are all of you doing to celebrate Father's Day?
One of the most amazing things in our marriage so far has been watching Ryan grow into the wonderful father that he is. Just when you think you couldn't love a man anymore than you already do, watching him love, play, and protect A just makes me fall in love with him all over again. Watching your husband become a dad really is an incredible thing, isn't it?
I know we both had many fears and apprehensions about becoming parents (who doesn't!?!?) but he has become an awesome daddy. Right from the beginning, he jumped right into fatherhood full-force. From cutting the cord, changing the first diapers in the hospital and staying up many nights rocking and bouncing a colicky baby, he has been amazing with A from the start. Nowadays, I love how the highlight of A's day is seeing Ryan come home, and watching the two of them play and bond, as A babbles away, trying to tell Ryan all about his day.
For Father's Day, Ryan got celebrated with a week of gifts, a little gift each day (homemade cookies, PJ pants, framed photo of him and A, etc). Tomorrow is the best one, and I can't wait to give it him! I know lots of you are celebrating your husbands' first Fathers Day - any special plans? What have you gotten your dads/husbands for Father's Day? I'm always in need of ideas! Let me know in the comments below.
Here's a photo I snapped of the two of them reading bedtime stories last week - A is so much like his daddy in so many ways already:
Happy Father's Day Ryan, A and I are so lucky to have you in our lives!
Happy Father's Day to all the daddies out there, hope you get spoiled rotten and have an amazing day! What are all of you doing to celebrate Father's Day?
Thursday, 30 May 2013
An Afternoon with Chef Deb
One of the default outings for the Momtourage was lunch out - we didn't have to cook and got to spend a few hours together...perfect! The only downside to that as the babies got a bit older is that it gets a bit trickier. It got to the point where we needed 5 highchairs (couldn't keep them sleeping in the strollers anymore!) and after awhile they wanted to move and explore - in other words, our lunch outings became shorter unless we were at a playplace.
I started trying to think of activities we could do together, and ended up getting in touch with Chef Deb. I have known Chef Deb for a few years, and she has catered a few events for us, including our rehearsal dinner and showers. She is fantastic, and cooks so many different cuisines. My personal favourite is her Greek dinner - chicken souvlaki, homemade tzatziki, yum!!! But I digress - I called Chef Deb and asked her whether she would be willing to host an afternoon cooking class for a few moms at my place. To my delight, she agreed :) We settled on an asian theme, learning to cook a proper stir-fry, and then we could sit down and enjoy our work!
We got so much more than we bargained for - to start off, Chef Deb taught us proper knife skills. Apparently none of us even knew how to use a knife properly. It takes some practice to get comfortable using knives the way chefs do, but when you get the hang of it, you can chop pretty fast...plus I kinda feel like a contestant on Masterchef...a contestant that Gordon, Joe and Elliott would promptly swear at and throw out of the kitchen.
First up was learning to make General Tao's chicken. I'll be honest, I'm not a very adventurous eater, so I had never actually tried it before. However, I did try it this time and it was delicious! Flavour was amazing, chicken was crispy and perfectly cooked. Hard to believe it came out of my kitchen and not a restaurant!
Next up was tackling a proper chicken stir-fry. I know we all know how to essentially throw together a stir-fry, but let me tell you...doing it properly makes a HUGE difference. First was learning to cut up vegetables the correct way - doing matchstick veggies makes it look nice and makes it a whole lot easier to cook!
Both of the recipes were deceptively simple, and I have made them numerous times on my own since then. I haven't quite mastered the General Tao chicken, I don't usually get it quite as crispy, but the stir-fry turns out perfect every time, no fail. I've done it with chicken and beef, and they are both yummy. If you like doing a stir-fry at home, check out Chef Deb's blog (details below), as she has a video on stir-frying. There are some really simple techniques and tricks that make a world of difference in stir-frying.
As always with the Momtourage, it was a fantastic afternoon! We all learned a lot, had a great meal, and spent time with one fantastic chef! A few of us even took cookbooks by Chef Deb home!
Take a few minutes to check out everything Chef Deb has to offer - her blog is witty and entertaining, her cookbooks offer lots of weekday meal ideas, and her catering is phenomenal!
Catering site: http://www.culinarycaravan.com/
Blog: http://thefridgewhisperer.com/fridge/
I started trying to think of activities we could do together, and ended up getting in touch with Chef Deb. I have known Chef Deb for a few years, and she has catered a few events for us, including our rehearsal dinner and showers. She is fantastic, and cooks so many different cuisines. My personal favourite is her Greek dinner - chicken souvlaki, homemade tzatziki, yum!!! But I digress - I called Chef Deb and asked her whether she would be willing to host an afternoon cooking class for a few moms at my place. To my delight, she agreed :) We settled on an asian theme, learning to cook a proper stir-fry, and then we could sit down and enjoy our work!
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| Chef Deb |
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| Mandy working on her knife skills |
We got so much more than we bargained for - to start off, Chef Deb taught us proper knife skills. Apparently none of us even knew how to use a knife properly. It takes some practice to get comfortable using knives the way chefs do, but when you get the hang of it, you can chop pretty fast...plus I kinda feel like a contestant on Masterchef...a contestant that Gordon, Joe and Elliott would promptly swear at and throw out of the kitchen.
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| Jen and Char taking in all the action |
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| Sharon and Brody taking a break from the kitchen |
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| General Tao's Chicken |
First up was learning to make General Tao's chicken. I'll be honest, I'm not a very adventurous eater, so I had never actually tried it before. However, I did try it this time and it was delicious! Flavour was amazing, chicken was crispy and perfectly cooked. Hard to believe it came out of my kitchen and not a restaurant!
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| London taking in the sights from the floor |
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| A look at our work in progress |
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| Stir-fry in action! |
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| Cooking with Chef Deb |
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| Chef Deb and A |
Take a few minutes to check out everything Chef Deb has to offer - her blog is witty and entertaining, her cookbooks offer lots of weekday meal ideas, and her catering is phenomenal!
Catering site: http://www.culinarycaravan.com/
Blog: http://thefridgewhisperer.com/fridge/
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