MAPLE SYRUP SALAD SENSATIONS!

Hello lovelies!! It's been a little while and good to be back! At the end of February our baby girl broke her leg tobogganing. It was awful. Her femur. Brutal. But, she's amazing AND we just got back from an awesome family vacation in Mexico. Yesterday, I spent the entire day doing laundry and my kiddies woke up at 10:30am! They were zonked from arriving back in Ottawa so late. In any event, I totally indulged on vacation. TOTALLY! It's the sign of a good vacation, however when I got on the scale and saw that the numbers were up by 9 pounds. YUP, nine!! I wanted to die. I've been working on getting back to the gym and eating clean since Jan and lost a bunch of pounders but 9 pounds up in one week? Oh Lordy. So much food, so much beer. However...sign of a good vacay and back on track today, right? Right. I have a yummy salad recipe to share with you today in case you're looking for a spring kick start. Shorts and tank season is quickly approaching! Easter is also around the corner and this would be a great addition to your menu. Speaking of Easter, I'm crushing on this buffet. The colour is gorg! These beauty Wayfair dishes and I'm going to order this adorable banner for the mantel. 

March is maple syrup season. Who doesn't love Canadian made syrup? Heaven. A local farmer at the cottage taps some of the trees on our road for the sugary goodness. It's really cool for the kids to see where the syrup on their pancakes begins.

The thing about this salad is that using real maple syrup is a must! 

The dressing will knock your socks off. Here's what you need....

- 1/4 cup of real maple syrup
- 2 tablespoon of dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup of good olive oil
- salt and pepper

Mix the ingredients (except the oil) and then whisk in the oil. I shake everything up in a little mason jar. It's the perfect size.

For the salad, I added mixed greens, sliced pears, black berries and mini tomatoes. It's simple and delicious. You could add some toasted pecans on there too. Yum!

Pour on your dressing and VOILA! Maple syrup deliciousness!! 

Now that we're back from vacation and the snow is melting, it's time to start on our baby girl's big girl room. As per usual, I have my eye on all things pretty from Wayfair.ca. Shocker.  We're besties. I'm gathering up some furniture ideas for there that I'll share with you soon. Now, go find yourself some Canadian made maple syrup and whip up this salad. Yum!

Keep it Beautiful.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Wayfair.ca. As always, thank you for supporting the brands that support this blog. Love you!

Al Fresco At Last! Summer Dining

Hey guys! Thanks for giving me a little grace while I've started up my new gig. I've been working hard, listening, learning and rockin' those heels. Last weekend was a welcomed break and the holiday on Monday was a sweet treat. My American friends, your long weekend is coming up. Woot! 

Can we talk patio season? It's officially here! Heaven. My parents took the kids up to the cottage for a couple days last weekend while Mr. Fix-It and I did some gardening and got the yard ready for this fab warm weather. It's always a sweet treat to be alone together. We get so much done and get to hang out...just the two of us. 

I've let you know about my love affair with Wayfair.ca before and thrilled to be partnering with them to bring you inspiration to kick up your patio love and dine al fresco. Finally, outdoor eating has arrived. 

So, with the kids being away, we took full advantage of the warm weather.

Creating a beautiful table is really easy in the summer with all the fresh flowers and greenery around you.

While I was at the garden centre buying flowers, I picked up a few loose floral stems they were selling by the cash. A little water, a couple of my Nana's glass milk containers and a mini blue vase for a pop of colour = centrepiece!

The hostas in the backyard are already massive. Holy cow those plants are hearty. I clipped off a couple of the leaves, and wrote our names with a gold pen for an easy place setting. Cute eh? 

I really like the idea of mixing plastic with your regular dishes. Why not? I like how the gold paired with the green. So fresh. You can find similar cutlery and shop Wayfair's dinnerware for gorg dishes and glasses. 

It's also a good idea to pick up a couple packages of napkins and why not add some matching straws. That way you'll have them on hand to whip up a beautiful and quick outdoor table in a pinch. A delicious gin & tonic is always good too :)

As your gardens continue to bloom over the summer, use those gorgeous flowers to create your centrepieces.

I'm so thrilled that Wayfair.ca has come to Canada. They sell pretty much everything, have insanely good prices, are right on trend, amazing customer service and free shipping to Canada. Yes! 

I hope this inspires you to dine al fresco this weekend! Cheers to long days and warm summer nights. 

Keep it Beautiful.

This post was sponsored by Wayfair.ca Everything you've read are my words. I'm in love with Wayfair.ca and want to spread the love with you.

Wednesday Yummies: Yogurt-Spiced Chicken with Grilled Tomato Kabobs

Hey everyone!
 

Thank you for being so understanding the past few weeks. I know I’ve been MIA. With returning back to the office full-time, training for a marathon and losing my girlfriend Robyn, I’ve been totally consumed emotionally and physically.  However, I'm ready to get back into it and looking forward to chatting with you all again. This weekend is a busy one. We have the Great Glebe Garage Sale on Saturday (always super fun!) and I’m running the Ottawa Marathon on Sunday. Yikes! As you know, I love to run, but training for a marathon is a job in itself. So, I’m looking forward on scaling it back a bit after this weekend. Phew!

I do have a yummy recipe to share with you today. It's from Canadian Living. I haven’t made it yet, but HELLO…doesn’t it look good? My girlfriend Lisa made it and she said it was oh-so-yummy  and really great for a weeknight meal. I’m thinking it also looks great to serve up to friends for a casual barbecue.  Thanks for sharing Lisa!

 

Yogurt-Spiced Chicken with Grilled Tomato Kabobs

Source: Canadian Living
 
 

What You Need:

1/4 cup 2% plain yogurt

2 tbsp. lemon juice

1 tbsp. grated fresh ginger

1 tbsp. tomato paste

2 cloves garlic, grated

2 tsp garam masala

1/2 tsp salt

1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs

1 tbsp olive oil

2 cups cherry tomatoes

1/2 red onion cut in 3/4-inch chunks

 What You Need to Do:

In shallow dish, combine yogurt, 1 tbsp of the lemon juice, ginger, tomato paste, garlic, 1-1/2 tsp of the garam masala and 1/4 tsp of the salt. Add chicken and toss to coat; let stand for 15 minutes. (Make-ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.)

Meanwhile, combine oil and remaining lemon juice, garam masala and salt; set aside.

Alternately thread tomatoes and onion onto metal skewers.

Place chicken on greased grill over medium-high heat; close lid and grill, turning halfway through, until juices run clear when chicken is pierced, about 4 minutes.

Meanwhile, add skewers; grill, turning 4 times and brushing with oil mixture, until onion is slightly softened and tomatoes are slightly charred, about 4 minutes. Serve with chicken.

Definitely let me know if you like it!

Keep it Beautiful.

Fresh.Fabulous.Sophisticated for Spring!

Hey everyone,
TGIF!  Spring is here. Yes.it.is! I’m declaring it. I’ve been browsing through the Wicker Emporium website and looking for some great ways to freshen up my house. I’m a guest blogger Wicker Emporium and have created a post on ways to freshen up your home. Adding touches here and there is a great way to get rid of the winter blues and add some oh-so fabulous looks.

All the items that you see here on my mood board are from the Wicker Emporium and you can find them on their website or by heading into their stores.

1.      Baskets

Baskets are one of my go-to items for not only keeping things organized but I also use them to finish off a space in a room that needs “something”. For example, the space underneath a hall table is fabulous for baskets. It allows you to store items such as hats and the dog leash, as well as, gives the space dimension and texture. 

Baskets also work beautifully in your linen closet. Instead of stacking your folded sheet sets on top of one another, place them in a basket. They’ll stay organized and the clean lines of the basket will make your drab linen closet look great.

I also love using baskets in kids’ rooms for storage. Often times there is a lot going on in kids’ rooms so if you want to use multi-coloured baskets, I suggest staying with the same textures. This will create cohesion.

2.     Mirrors

Mirror, mirror on the wall. Mirrors aren’t just for checking out your outfit before you leave the door. Mirrors are a great way to freshen up your space, create depth and bring light in.  Oversized mirrors in a small space are one of my favourite ways to freshen a space….total impact!  Grouping a number of small mirrors on a wall is also a great way to add character to a space.

3.     Rugs

Rugs are a great way to freshen a space.  It is amazing what a fresh new rug can do to a room when you’re used to looking at a wooden floor. Rugs add depth and when done properly, can make your room look larger. Tip: if you are looking for an area rug, make sure all your furniture is touching a piece of it.

Rugs can also add impact in small spaces.  Try adding a bright new rug to your front hallway or in the kitchen under the sink area. This is a great way to add colour and bring spring indoors.

4.     Lighting

One of the things I tell my clients, is to plan for fabulous lighting. Lighting is like jewelry on a fabulous outfit. The jewelry either makes the outfit stand out or ties it all together. Your lighting can define and set the stage for the room or it can bring the elements of décor together. 

5.     Trays

I love a beautiful tray. Gone are the days where trays were only used for serving your guests or if you’re really lucky, getting breakfast-in-bed. Think about placing a gorgeous tray on your coffee table and stacking a few fabulous “coffee table” books and a small bud vase filled with tulips. Trays also look really great for creating a “coffee bar”. Keep your sugar and mugs on a tray. I guarantee you’ll love the extra dimension.

Spring is here and it’s time to open those windows and add some easy, fresh dimensions to your home to create a fresh.fabulous.sophisticated space.

Keep it Beautiful.

**Yes, this post has been sponsored, but as you know, I only talk about things I love and think you would love to**

5 Ways to Welcome Spring To Your Front Steps

Hey everyone,

So just when we thought Spring was here, Mother Nature decided to throw us another wintery blast. What? How can it be mid-April and snowing? Total craziness. Fingers crossed that my kids will be hunting for their Easter eggs in short sleeves this weekend, not snow suits!!

Even if there is a bit of white stuff on the ground I’m ready to ditch the winter décor and bring out the colour and lighter textures.  Here are 5 ways to welcome Spring to your door step.

1.       Replace your winter urn décor with fresh new love

I really like the layers of this urn

Serendipity Refined

 

2.       Good bye winter wreath, hello Spring cheer

SheKnows

3.       Decorate your front hall.

Common Ground

 

4.       Tulips.Tulips.Tulips.

Censational Girl

 

5.       Clear out the winter boot tray.
April showers, brings May flowers. Put away those winter, salty boots and get out those Wellys. I love this river rock boot tray. I'm thinking a DIY is on the radar.

SavvySugar

 

Have you decorated your entry way for Spring yet?

Keep it Beautiful.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all you beautiful Mommies. I'm wearing my orange paper mache bracelet that Carter made me with such pride today. My heart is beaming.
Have a beautiful day.

xoxo