Long time, No see!

Wow! It has been soooo long since I have last posted! Not that I haven't wanted to post, but as you know, life seems to get in the way sometimes...

I have been inspired to restart this blog due to my sister. She has a great blog - ourlighterfootsteps.blogspot.com where she is sharing her journey on the path to better health. Have a read - it is a great blog with lots of helpful info!

I am going to try something new with this blog. I am going to share with you my cooking and recipe reviews. I won't be posting the full recipe on my blog posts because they are not my recipes and I don't want to steal any one's ideas! I will share with you where I got the recipes from and what my reviews of it are.

So without further hesitation, here is what we had for dinner tonight -

Thai Poached Salmon with Noodles

-From Best of Bridge - Fan Fare

Here is all the ingredients needed for this recipe. Fairly simply to get at any grocery store. This recipe was fairly easy to make and very quick. I would recommend you have everything out on the counter, ready to go, because once you have started it all comes together REALLY fast.

This recipe was really good. I like Asian flavors and this definitely had them. Coconut milk and Red Thai curry paste - Yum! This dish is paired with egg noodles. Both husband and I agreed it would be better with rice. We found it a little heavy with the noodles. I really liked the freshness of this recipe. As I said, it would be good with rice, but also on top of a salad in the summer. We will be making this one again!

Out of 10, I would say this one is a 7.

Tonight we paired our dinner with a green salad. Now, anyone who knows me knows I LOVE beets. This salad has all my faves - Avocado, beets, dried cranberries, and sunflower seeds. Delish!

Till next time and I promise it will be sooner than later,

Mrs. Harty

Embellish Magazine Color Challenge Using Background Stamping

Hey everyone -

Well, it is that time again! Time for another Embellish Magazine challenge. I am really starting to like going to their website every second Thursday and seeing what new challenges they are going to throw our way. For this challenge, the colors required were black, white, grey, and light yellow. The technique used was background stamping. When I first saw this challenge, I was having a little bit of trouble trying to figure out what type of card to make. Well, I didn't have to think too hard about it because on the Sunday following the new challenge announcement my great friend got engaged to the love of her life. So here is my card to them. Make sure you click on the card to see all the BLING!





Supplies used included Cricut cartridges George and Sweet Hearts. Paper by KC and Co. Glitter was Martha Stewart Crafts.

I can't wait until tomorrow and Embelish announces the next challenge!

I have also been thinking I should really be writing more in my blog. I said this was going to be a blog about our life in Edmonton, but so far I have only written one post about Edmonton. I will try and get more to you about our lives in Edmonton soon!

Take care,

Mrs. Harty

Embellish Magazine Color Challenge Using Paper Piecing

Hi Everyone-

With having time off to dedicate to my crafts, I am glad I have challenges like this one from Embellish Magazine to keep my creative juices flowing. This challenge used the colors listed above and a technique called paper piecing. Paper piecing is basically putting different paper pieces together like a jigsaw puzzle. The flower on my card is a great example of paper piecing. Unfortunately, I did not write down any of the supplies which were used. I can definitely credit Cricut with the use of their Home Decor cartridge.

Till next time,

Mrs. Harty

Embellish Magazine Color Challenge Using Squares

Hi Everyone -

Part of being a successful crafter is sharing ideas and talents on the web with other artists. I follow several other bloggers who scrapbook and make cards. One of the blogs I follow is Sarah's Scrap Shack. Funny thing is, Sarah and I used to work together in our teens and we have reconnected through the magical world of Facebook.

Sarah's work is gorgeous! I noted during reading her blog, she submits her projects to other blogs. I thought, I should do that!!! What a fun thing to do while I am off work?

Soooo, my first piece I am submitting is for Embellish Magazine's blog. I have quickly fallen in love with Embellish's blog. I am pretty sure once I am working again, I will sign up for their online publication.

The challenge for this entry was to use squares and the colors purple, green, and black.

With Halloween is coming up, what a perfect inspiration for a card.

Supplies Used:

Paper - K&C Co, SEI, The Paper Co

Cricut- George and Basic Shapes, Stretch Your Imagination

Ink-Hampton Art Stamps, Color Box

Pens- Jelly Roll

Pizazz- Stickles

Thank you Sarah, for introducing me to Embellish Magazine and other blog's which run challenges. I feel my creative juices flowing!

Till next time,

Mrs. Harty

We made it!

Hi everyone -

Guess what? The blog's name is finally a reality. We have made it to Edmonton and are starting our life in Alberta.
It has been quite a journey for us, both stressful and exciting. We left Richmond on July 30th and headed up to Kamloops. We have friends up there who graciously hosted us and our cats for the night. It was nice to have somewhere to chill out for a little bit before we did our second day of driving.
I should go back a little bit further in our journey. As some of you know, Mr. Harty was already in Edmonton when we decided to move. I am in NO way complaining (yeah, right), but basically all the packing and organizing was left up to me, as the Mr. wasn't in town. It was a little bit too stressful for me and I did have numerous break downs. Oh, I forgot something else! A month before our move, Mr. Harty hurt himself at work. He tore his bicep from the bone in his left arm. So guess what??? All the lifting and pushing and any other physical labor was done by moi. To be fair, we did have amazing movers on both sides who helped us move out and move in. Those boys really know what they were doing. Both companies had our place either moved out or in, in less than two hours. Great work!!!
Now, I can understand it was an accident and totally not Mr. Harty's fault, but when I have had to do EVERYTHING (!!!!!) it gets a little draining. We have had numerous "discussions" about where the furniture should go, or how this was not packed properly, etc, etc. I am hoping things are going to be getting back to normal quickly.
Anyways, back to getting to Edmonton. After our night in Kamloops, we did our LONG day of driving. We drove from Kamloops to Edson, Alberta. It was about an 6 hour drive. Not too bad, you say? Well, when you have two yowling cats in the back seat, it makes a not too bad drive a nightmare. I knew the cats would be upset with being in the car and the movement, but come on! Enough is enough! I had to tune my speakers to the front of the car and turn it up to drown out their horrible noises. I love my kitties and all, but they seriously pushed my limits. I know they were just scared, but it is so hard when cats don't speak human and I don't speak cat!
The night of the 31st, we stayed in Edson. On the morning of August 1st, we headed out to our new home in Edmonton. It is about a 2 hour drive between the two places. The morning of the first didn't start without some major drama. The hotel we stayed at in Edson allowed pets, so we brought the cats up to our room. I brought them up one at a time, just carrying them in my arms. No problems at all. Well, the next morning we had to bring them back down to the car and put them into their crate. This is where the drama began. Mr.Harty asked which cat I wanted to take downstairs. I picked Cobalt, who is normally the better one of the two. I guessed wrong that morning. We took the cats down the stairs and when we got the bottom of the stairs in the lobby, a worker was using the vacuum. This absolutely set Cobalt off. He squirmed and I tried to hold on to him. Then he bit me!!! The F'ing cat bit me!!!! Once he had done that, I had to drop him because it hurt like hell. I don't know if you have ever been bit by an animal, but it HURTS!!! Anyways, we managed to corale Cobalt and put him in the crate with his brother.
So, now Mr. Harty and I make a great pair. Him with his arm and me with my cat bitten thumb, which is now so swollen I can't bend it. But, you know what? Thinking back on it now, I know we can get through things that stand in our way! Got to think positive right?
As I drove into Edmonton, I was very excited to see our new home. That excitement soon turned to fear and anger, as I took the wrong turn off to our street and got myself lost. I somehow made it into an industrial area where there are no connecting streets to where I needed to go. I had to call Mr. Harty and ask him where to go. OK, so I didn't really ask him where to go, more like I swore and cursed at him to try and direct me to our new house. Eventually, I did make it. I was tired, cranky, and sore and we still had all the moving in to do. All I wanted to do was to lie down and take a nap. But no one said moving was fun right?
This is just a little overview of our drive to Edmonton from Richmond. I will be sure to fill you in on our numerous adventures we have had in our first three weeks in our new home.

Till next time,

Mrs. Harty

Yummy Sunday Review

Hey Everyone -

Today's Sunday review is about local Farmer's Markets. I love going to Farmer's Markets and picking up homemade and locally produced items. I am going to find more time on the weekends during the summer to try to get out to more markets in both the lower mainland and in our new home, Edmonton. I only have about a month left to get to all the local markets around town. I still want to visit the Steveston market and hit Granville Island one last time (sniff, sniff...).

As I stated above, I love Farmer's Markets for the freshness and the uniqueness of the items they sell. Today I went to the Ladner Farmer's Market with my best bud and her family. I had never been to this market and didn't know what to expect. Let's say it did not disappoint. There was a good mix of vendors selling everything from baking and produce to artisans selling paintings and jewelery. I wish I had of brought my camera to take some pics of the market itself, but I left it at home. Boo....

Anyways, I am going to leave a few links below for some Farmer's Markets I will be checking out this summer. Hope you will too!

Till next time,

Mrs. Harty

http://www.ladnervillagemarket.com/

http://www.sfam.ca/

http://www.granvilleisland.com/public-market

http://www.osfm.ca/ - This is going to be one of the first places I explore when I get to Edmonton! Can't wait!!!

Here are some pics of the goodies I picked up today from the Ladner Market:

I am going to have this granola

tomorrow morning over some

yogurt. Yummy!
Anyone who knows me, knows I love

beets. I had some of these tonight and

they were pretty good. Not as good

as Grandma's though...

Mini Blackberry Pie
Yum Yum in my Tum Tum!!!!

Sunday Review

This week I thought I would do something a little different with the Sunday Review. I am going to be reviewing a wonderful book I have just finished reading.

Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill (the following plot summary is courtesy of Wikipedia)

The novel revolves around the twelve-year-old protagonist named Baby and follows her for two years. Baby lives with her father Jules, who has a worsening heroin addiction. The two move frequently, to various places around Montreal and across Canada, where they encounter many other characters, among them junkies, bums, pimps, and abused children.

Baby was born while Jules was in high school with her mother, who died soon after Baby was born, though the cause of death is not given.

Jules often leaves young Baby by herself wherever they may be living, for anywhere from a week to over a month at a time. Baby becomes distraught and finds herself wandering the streets of Montreal on her own. She is eventually taken away by Child Protective Services and put into a foster home while Jules goes through rehab. When Jules finally picks her up, he promises that everything will return to normal.

As Jules and Baby begin to settle down again, Jules' addiction gets the best of him and he begins to lash out at Baby, often for no reason. Baby eventually runs away and finds a semblance of security with a pimp named Alphonse. Alphonse develops an intimate relationship with Baby, taking her virginity, and forcing her to become a prostitute. She becomes one of his "girls" and is fearful of leaving him. She attempts to return to the apartment she had shared with Jules, but it is locked from the inside and nobody is there, so she assumes Jules has abandoned her. Alphonse also exposes her to heroin, making her addicted to it.

Baby goes back to school while still prostituting herself and meets an odd boy named Xavier. Xavier and Baby slowly but surely become closer and begin to date. As their relationship grows, they become very intimate, and have sex at Alphonse's hotel room, the only place they can be alone. When Alphonse returns to find them there, he beats Xavier and sends him home. Alphonse then beats Baby and takes all of her heroin. When Baby wakes up the next morning, she finds Alphonse dead of a drug overdose.

Baby leaves Alphonse's room and is left with nowhere to go. She decides to go to a nearby homeless shelter where she had heard that Jules was staying. They embrace, and Jules explains that he has set up a place to stay with his cousin. They pack up and walk to the local bus station. On the bus, Jules explains that Baby's mother died in a car crash while Jules was driving.

Upon arrival at Jules' cousin's house, the story ends.

This award winning novel is one which I could not put down. I think I had it read in about 3 nights.

Baby's life and story is so far removed from my life and I was intrigued to see what adventures the author had in store for her lead character. I enjoyed that this book was set in Montreal. It is great to see a Canadian city in an award winning book.

This story is told from Baby's point of view. While she is only 12, she has had to grow up very fast. This novel has believable characters and story lines where the reader feels like they are in the same room as Baby and watching the events of her life take place.

This novel is not for the faint of heart. It deals with drugs, child prostitution, and child abuse. Although, it deals with all of these tough subjects, Baby makes the reader believe she is going to be ok.

The only thing I didn't like about this novel was the ending. I felt like it left the story a little short. When the novel ends Jules and Baby are going to live with Jules' cousin. This cousin character is only brought to life in the last few paragraphs of the story. The way the author has left the book is disappointing because you want to know who this cousin is. From my standpoint, I think the cousin is actually Baby's mother and Jules' and her have reconciled and are now going to live together as a family. That is my view point. If you read the novel and have another opinion on who this cousin character is, please comment on my post.

That is if for now.

Mrs. Harty

Creativity

I got a little creative last weekend. It was my Grandfather's birthday and a friend of mine went in for surgery. The occasion called for some card making.

Hope you like,

Mrs. Harty

Sunday Review

Hi everyone -

Sorry about not posting last week's Sunday review. I was away on a girls trip to Galiano and I was a little pooped by the time we got home.
PS - there will be more to come about the wonderful time I had on Galiano in a future post.

Lush's Godiva Solid Shampoo -

When I first was introduced to Lush's solid shampoo line, I wasn't too keen on the idea of a solid shampoo. I have been a liquid shampoo kinda gal for my whole life, so I was a little skeptical when I received a solid shampoo bar in Lush's special promotion package. Let me tell you, I will NEVER EVER go back to liquid shampoo again. I love this shampoo bar!!!
Lush first started making shampoo bars because when they were starting out they could not afford bottles and packaging. They had to figure out a way to make a shampoo which could be solid and preservative free. I am so glad they did!
Godiva is a jasmine scented shampoo and conditioner bar, which is loaded with cocoa and Shea butters. I still use a conditioner afterwards just because I like my hair to be really soft. When I first received this bar, I was like 'whoa, that smells really strong'. But I have gotten used to the smell and actually crave to wash my hair with it. When you wash your hair with any of the solid shampoo bars, you take the same steps you would as if you were using liquid shampoo. I like to wet my hair, run the bar over my scalp a couple of times, rub it in a bit, rinse, then run the bar over my hair again and get a really good lather going. The lather these bars have is wonderful. Again, it is the soft lather with lots of little bubbles.
Another great feature of these bars is they last for 50 - 80 shampoos, depending on the length of your hair and how much is used. Not too shabby for $9.95.
If you are looking for something new in hair care definitely try out a solid shampoo bar from Lush. They have many different varieties for all hair types and scalp conditions.

Maybelline's Lash Stiletto Voluptuous Ultimate Length and Volume Mascara-

For most of my makeup wearing life, I have been a religious fan of Maybellines's Great Lash mascara. You know the one with the pink and green packaging. It is a cult classic. On a whim, I decided to try Maybelline's new mascaras, the Lash Stiletto line. I have puny little eyelashes with no thickness or length, so I really need a product that can build upon itself and give me both volume and length. Lash Stiletto does this. I have to say it does an even better job than Great Lash. This is my go to mascara. It builds nice shiny lashes which are super full. I really like that this mascara does not run, flake, or smudge. Another plus about this mascara is that it comes off super easily with just soap and water. Even with the Great Lash, I had to use a bit of makeup remover, not Lash Stiletto. A great tube of mascara for under $10!

So, maybe I'm born with it, maybe it's Maybelline!

Chat soon,

Mrs. Harty

Sunday Review

What is a Sunday Review? Well, I am going to be reviewing one or two of my favorite things every Sunday. Simple as that! I have been wanting to do this for awhile now and today seemed like a great day to start. I will be reviewing everything from bath products to restaurants. Basically, everything that I really, really like or love.

So, here goes for this week:

For those who know me well, know that j'adore Lush Cosmetics. I absolutely love everything about the company from their values and ethics to their funky named products. When Lush first came out, I tried a few things and wasn't really a fan, but a decade or so later, they have really improved on their stuff! There are still a few things which I am iffy about, but most of their line I love. I have been using Lush so regularly that when I went into Bath and Body Works the other day, it was way to chemically smelling for me. Some people get this reaction when they walk into Lush, but not me. I go in there, inhale a big breath and brace myself (and my wallet) for the delights I soon will be taking home to enjoy.

The Comforter Bubble Bar

Lush Description - Fruity black currant bubbles to soften you up.

My description - Comforter is one of my all time faves! The smell is sweet like candy, with a hint of wicked fruitfulness. The feel is soft,cozy, densely produced bubbles, not like those big, crappy bubbles you get from cheap bubble bath. Comforter will not dry out your skin. This point is especially important to me, as I have eczema and need all the moisture I can get. I love this product because underneath the mountain of white bubbles, you have a pink sea. Yep, turns the water pink. Don't worry, it won't stain the bath tub or leave a ring.

The cost in Canada for this product is 8.95. That might seem like alot for one bubble bar, but it is totally worth every penny. Lush claims there is enough of The Comforter to have 2 baths. Umm, let's try 6-8 baths. If you were to add half of The Comforter to your bath, watch out for bubble explosion! I take about a walnut sized amount and that is just perfect for me, and I like alot of bubbles. Just make sure you toss it under running water, this is what produces those lovely, cozy Comforter bubbles.

Heavanilli Massage Bar

Lush Description - A sexy vanilla massage bar you'll want to rub all over - absolutely heavenly!

My Description - A sweetly smelling massage bar that smells like pure vanilla with a bit of a kick. Like smelling a freshly opened vanilla pod. Does not smell like artificial vanilla one bit. At first I was leery about using a massage bar, but then I found out about is secret use. I don't use it for massages, but for wonderful body moisturizing. I get out of the shower and even before I towel dry off, I rub Heavanilli all over, like you would for a body lotion. The sweet smell lingers all day. I have had alot of complements that I smell good! Because Heavanilli is a massage bar, it is loaded with all sorts of good stuff like cocoa butter, coconut oil, and shea butter. Not too bad for 9.95! It does leave a bit of a film on your skin, but it is not heavy and greasy. It is soft and smooth. You will not find yourself having to find a towel to rub off some of the excess! If you have dry skin like mine, give Heavanilli a try. You will love it!

That's it for today. Hope you enjoyed my Sunday Review.

Mrs. Harty