hello spring, let's make it sunny!

Oh hello, I'm still here - on occasion. I figured an update was in order and why not talk about these lovely sandals. They're Worishofer sandals which have always been grandma sandals but because a few celebs have been wearing them - they are now "fashionable". Whatever, I think they're cute and more importantly, I'm hoping, comfortable. I do so much walking and in the past have wrecked my feet by wearing shitty shoes without support. Now, I'm all about the comfort. I got them from Amazon and I was so surprised at how quickly them came – I ordered them in the wee morning hours on Tuesday and they're on my feet today. They do fit small, so if you want a pair, order a full size up!

This is also my birthday week. I'm not too excited but that's because I'll be doing Got Craft? on Sunday, May 8th (my actual birth date - take note). It will be a fun event and I hope to sell a lot of cards - including a bunch of new ones that I have in shop. However, because I'll be shilling, it's not going to be very birthday festive. But that's okay, I'm going to figure out something birthday-fabulous the following weekend. Maybe something involving picnics and cocktails and cake. Yes, that sounds just fine.

I'm not sure what kind of cake I'd like this year, but I did spy a tasty chocolate and peanut butter dacquoise in last month's issue of Bon Appetit. But what I'd really like to try is to decorate a very frilly cake like this one. I love how it looks so much.

Oh, and unlike the title of this post, it is sunny (and thankfully, has been for a few days here and there). But c'mon, we need some serious springtime taking place in Vancouver. Just saying.

birthday month has arrived!

Every year I always wonder what the birthday plan will be. In the past it's been picnics, shuffleboard, and sleepovers. This year, I figured why not a bike gang? My friend suggested a make-out party, and while a teenage macking party sounds kinda appealing it also sounds kinda awful. Bike gang it is!!

So we'll pack up our baskets and panniers with picnic food, cake and beer and head out en masse around the city. We'll stop at beaches and parks and ride around and have fun. I'm excited because the weather looks amazing, finally. It's sunny and warm out today and it looks just as promising for tomorrow. I've got one cake baked and another in the oven (though because I don't have 3 cake pans of identical size, I'm baking in 3 parts. Yeesh.) A good reminder to buy at least one more 8" cake pan next time I see one at the thrift store. I'll talk more about cake on my food blog (surely). But I hope everyone has a great weekend and I hope that you can get in some picnics and bike rides this weekend. Happy birthday to me!!!

birthday weekend wrap up

To say I had a pleasant birthday weekend would be an understatement. It was truly a great, great weekend. So much fun, laughter, friends and good times were had that I will mark the highlights in point format (I know, exciting!):

• Brunch made by the husband. Lovely.
  
• Sexy wooden fenders for my bike (my husband's gift to me). They're handmade in Bend, OR and they are simply beautiful.
  
• Potluck dinner with amazing chocolate cake. Lots of colours, variety and all in all, quite healthy too. And lots of leftovers to snack on.
• Teen movies! Over the Edge + Suburbia = awesome.
• Root beer floats!
• Yummy huge breakfast at Deacon's Corner.
  
• A walk and layabout in the sunny & warm Strathcona community gardens that included smelling lilacs and eyeing the new garden plots for July.
  
• Buying some tasty & tart fresh lemonade from a little girl's lemonade stand.

This weekend, we also checked out Wanted and it was such a lovely shop. Cornelius and I bought 2 tiny little plants, one succulent and one cactus for our office. They're so tiny and cute! I also just received some amazing purple tights from We Love Colors in the mail. As much as I'd like to believe that tight season is over with, the weather looks pretty grey and rainy for most of this week, so these will definitely give my legs another shot of brightness.

birthday week

I should be getting things done today, like shopping for birthday cake ingredients or buying olives and fancy cheeses, or even scrubbing the bathroom, but I'm feeling awful. I'm nauseous, crampy and sleepy and maybe just a slip under some blankets will do me good. Who knows. If someone could make me breakfast that would be nice too (ie. lovely husband is not here).

But despite how awful I feel, I am a bit excited for my birthday (tho I wish I didn't have to do anything to make it awesome). I think I'll make a strawberry-rhubarb pie and possibly Molly's Winning Hearts & Minds Cake. If I make it this afternoon then I can freeze it and it will be perfect for Friday.

go team

It's been a pretty kick ass week. Not only was it my birthday on yesterday, but on Monday, our bowling team The Gravy Frames, came in first place for our league tournament. As one of our competitor's noted, "You guys have a huge handicap, and you caught fire. There's nothing wrong with that!". Nothing, indeed! In other news, I've put up a couple new cards in my etsy shop. I'll also have a few more new things next week, but for now, check them out!