Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy

{lemon debutante cake}

I had a great chat with my oldest friend tonight and, like usual, our conversation drifted toward food. Her partner is a chef and we all used to work together (with my other besties) in Calgary. Such fun times. Anyway, the conversation got me thinking about food and how I wish I had a restaurant (only the fun parts of course) and how I totally miss working in restaurants (again, only the fun parts...and the fast cash!).

One of my favourite things about this blog is getting to share the food I love to make with you all, but it seems I haven't done a lot of that lately. It isn't that I haven't been cooking and baking and it certainly isn't that we haven't been eating (I have a hungry husband and daughter to keep happy), but it is safe to say we are in a bit of a food rut. Given the fact I make almost all our meals I think it is safe to say I am in a food rut.

As I have mentioned a million and one times we head to the market on Saturday. We visit the same vendors -- we love their products, but we love them even more. I would almost feel like I was cheating if I bought sausage anywhere but Sweet William. Our love of certain vendors and my propensity to fall into (and in love with) routines has lead to us eating the same 7-10 dishes on repeat. They are all really yummy (if I do say so myself), but even pizza gets old. While, that actually isn't true. I could eat pizza everyday! Everything else gets old!

The last interesting thing I prepared was the Lemon Debutante Cake pictured above. I volunteered to bake for a friend's wedding so we are currently trying things out. I love a challenge and an excuse to try new things. I probably wouldn't be doing it without the motivation of her impending nuptials.

I have heaps of cookbooks, and access to a loads of great food blogs -- there is no excuse for my behaviour. Even our preferred vendors have lots of products we never try, I just have to snap out of it, get off auto-pilot (very difficult on Saturday morning) and be more creative.

Thanks Ajie for the reminder that even though I have limited time, skills and resources, I am still a foodie at heart.

xo

Em

ps -- ever been in a food rut? any suggestions on how to get out of it?

warm summer nights

{any excuse to have a picnic}

I am still in denial that my vacation is over so in an attempt to feel "vacation-esque" we decided to dine al fresco this evening. Okay it was just an ordinary picnic, but al fresco sounds so continental I couldn't resist! We dined at a local playground, which is not very continental at all, but Violet had fun running through the sprinkler while Jeff and I hung out in the shade.

I picked up a new picnic blanket while I was in PEI. My mum, Violet and I stopped by a yard sale in an old log cabin on our way to the ferry -- it cost a whopping five dollars! Just another reason I love that little island.

The breeze was refreshing, supper tasted better because we ate outside and Violet went to sleep so easily because she had skipped, galloped and run out all her giggles at the playground. If I must work (gosh I wish I was a member of the aristocracy), then this is not a bad way to pretend like I am on an extended holiday. There really are a lot of hours after work, I just never know where they go!

xo

Em

{so easily pumped about almost anything: awesome}

{mixed prints}

{pretty cute for five bucks, huh?}

{dinner conversation -- don't mind the quinoa!}

I wanna go back

{beach bum}

The smell of sunscreen and sweat, messy hair made crunchy by salt water, worn pages from hours of uninterrupted reading, watermelon juice running down a sun-kissed chin -- there is nothing quite like a summer holiday. A holiday is like a good night sleep on steroids. I feel better, I look better, I think I am even a better mum and a better wife. All it took was a week on a beach. I'll take one a month please and thank you. 

Wanna see some pictures?

Come on, you're bored at work, indulge me!

{the littlest jam maker}

The first day of our vacation we made strawberry jam, all four generations of Harris women lent a hand. Don't get too excited, Violet was the only one to go topless ;)

{she's still got those cheeks}

{private beach}

The cottage we stayed at was so sweet. We had a huge grassy lawn that overlooked this beach. Violet loved running in the clover. My mum, who is allergic to bees, not so much. Excitement with every step!

{action shot}

{how I spent a lot of the week}

{best nana ever}

{best papa ever}

{kindred spirits}

{mama's shades and lip gloss}

{fast friends}

Violet met a friend at the Murray River parade. I love small town parades. Lots of vintage cars, princesses in fishing boats and every under-12 hockey team that plays on our end of the island! We were in Brad Richards country remember. Hockey is king.

{break it down}

{fantasy land}

{this cracks me up!}

{not as fun as I remembered}

Fantasy Land is a playground my parents and my sweet great-uncle Keith used to take me to when I was a little girl. I loved it. It was magical. There were lots of nursery rhyme characters scattered in the woods. It was the best playground I'd ever been to. Walt Disney apparently made Fantasy Land change its name (it is now known as King's Castle) -- can't you see how people would mistake this awesome airplane ride for Disneyland? The park is in need of a major facelift and the mosquitos seemed worse than ever. Maybe you can't ever really go home...

{Lobster Supper}

Lobster suppers are the best deal going. I've been quite a few times growing up but I really wanted Jeff to experience it. The good folks of Murray Harbour prepared a delicious spread including lobster (duh), potato salad, biscuits, coleslaw, jello salad (yuck), rolls, various squares and strawberry shortcake. Everyone eats together at long tables in the rink. Everyone drinks copious amounts of very strong tea. It is awesome. After we bought our tickets I left Jeff for a minute to visit the ladies room, but I overheard someone say, "is she a Harris?". Jeff said I was and that I was Ron's granddaughter and Mark's daughter. The person didn't know my dad or my grandfather and he still knew I was a Harris! I think that deserves a yikes!!

{pretty canola}

{the way they are looking at each other melts my heart}

{profile picture}

{I am so lucky to have such great parents}

{feel the love!}

Back to reality this week. It is always nice to sleep in your own bed isn't it?

Did you miss me? I sure missed you!

xoxox

Em

holidays

{excited, but a little nervous at the movies}

I am on vacation!

As I sit and write this it is the middle of the day and a cool breeze is blowing in our living room window. Sweet Violet is sound asleep on the couch beside me. We brought Jeff a picnic lunch and checked out the tall ships. Holy crowds. The ships are breathtaking; Violet was particularly taken with the Halifax-Dartmouth ferry ;) In her defence it did have festive flags festooning its upper-deck. In a matter of hours we will be off to PEI for a week. A whole week. I haven't had a summer vacation in years! I am very excited. I have my fingers crossed for sun, sun and more sun.

The great thing about PEI beaches is how warm the water is. If you are a member of the Harris clan, another great thing is that you get to go home to a fabulous meal prepared by Nanny and Pop -- they live in PEI and they never go to the beach. I don't get it! But, I will eat that lobster roll ;)

Given the number of emoticons in this post, can you tell I am just a little excited.

Cute Violet story before I leave you for a whole week. (Whatever will you do ;) She and I went to see the new Madagascar movie last night. It was our first time at the theatre together. Jeff has taken Violet to a few matinees, but this was her first evening show. She liked it, but assured me she wouldn't watch the scary parts again. (There were no scary parts.)

On our way out of the movie Violet saw a Spiderman poster and said, "there is Spiderman." I have no idea how she knows who Spiderman is. Does that make me a bad mum!? Anyway, there was a huge line up of teenagers waiting to see the new Batman movie, as we were walking past them Violet said, "look mum, "Black-man". I was obviously mortified. Thankfully she was pointing at the Batman poster. Then she looked and me and said, "I love Black-man." Oh Violet.

I explained to her that the superhero is called Batman, but she refused to believe me. "No mum, it is Black-man, just like, you know, Purple-Girl. I love Black-man and Purple-Girl".

Whatever floats your boat Vi.

Have a great week. Hopefully when I check in again I will be a much browner version of myself.

xo

Em

real life

{Violet added the sprinkles -- obviously}

I read an article recently that lamented the fact that since the advent of facebook, blogs and other social media everyone seems to be portraying a highly stylized version of their life. The author begged everyone to please stop being so awesome. Isn't it a little exhausting living your life and running a full time PR campaign? Lower the bar people! Life is not a magazine photo shoot.

It is natural to want to make sure your house, your kids or even your own face look their best before you publish a photo for all the world to see. It is not like people didn't care about these things before facebook; the news cycle has just gotten shorter.

I am just as guilty of this as the next person. I love all pictures of Violet, but I am even more thrilled if she happens to be wearing a particularly cute outfit. I love sharing ideas about recipes with you , but I would never take a picture on the nights we have KD. But we do occasionally eat KD and Violet is occasionally wearing a mismatched outfit and that is okay. The world will continue if my coffee table books are out of place. No one cares.

Tonight Violet and I made rice krispie squares; they did not look perfect. She decorated them herself with gratuitous amounts of garishly coloured sprinkles. Her hair was wet from playing outside at Susie Q's and flat in the back from sitting in a dentist chair. She was wearing a hand-me-down dress that she adorned with a huge strawberry shortcake sticker. Even her smile was kooky because she was trying really hard to say cheese.  I know I am biased, but she is every bit as cute as the days where I painstakingly choose her outfit and comb her hair and ask her to pose in perfect lighting. She definitely enjoyed those rice krispie squares more than something fancy. Especially since she decorated them herself, by the fist full!

This is what our life really looks like. Not too bad, huh?

xo

Em

{unstyled but so cute}

worrywart

Do you ever wish your future self could visit your present self and say, "relax present self, everything is going to be fine, and I know this because I am the future you and I am alright"?

Please tell me that you have those thoughts too or I will have another thing to worry about...my sanity.

I think it is safe to say that I can, on occasion, be a bit of a worrier. I prefer to call it scenario-planning -- tomayto, tomahto. The problem is that scenario-planning can be exhausting, especially when there are so many unknowns.

I am really trying to be the type of gal who lives in the moment. I try to focus on the things I am grateful for, and there are so many of those things, but I can't help think, but what if this happens or what if that doesn't happen. Trust is not my strong suit. I find it hard to trust that everything will be okay, or at least work out as it should. I want to trust God and the people around me who love me, but I find myself worrying.

Worrying is a teeny bit narcissistic isn't it? I can't trust that the God who created the universe? I can't trust that my sweet husband who always comes through for our family will come through again? I can't trust that I have friends and family who love me and who will support us no matter what happens? Who do I think I am to question these things?

It gets worse. When I don't trust that things will be okay and when I am feeling overwhelmed I try to control everything -- because obviously I am amazing and if I am in control everything will be fine? When I say it like that, it doesn't reflect how I feel. But that is ostensibly what I am saying isn't it? I don't trust anyone but me. I must be quite something...

You know what the funny thing is? I don't even have anything in particular to worry about. We have a beautiful daughter, our health, great family and friends and jobs in the city we love. Imagine the state of my stomach if a legitimate concern arises.

I am going to try to work on being more trusting. Hopefully that will have a cascading effect and I won't feel so worried and thus won't feel a propensity to control everything. Three birds with one stone sort of thing.

Does that sound like a good plan?

Who needs a therapist when I have you? Thanks for listening.

xo

Em

al fresco

{lunch out of doors}

Yesterday was not a "classic beach day". A classic beach day is Harris speak for a sunny day, no hotter than 30, no cooler than 25. Saturday was a classic beach day, Sunday, not so much. After an overcast, but fun morning with friends on Summerville beach we decided to meander along the coast instead of heading right back into the city. The coastline between Liverpool and Halifax is so pretty. There were approximately one million properties I fantasized about one day owning.

We stopped for lunch at the LaHave Bakery. We eat their bread sometimes, but I didn't realize they had a full service cafe. The place was hopping. It was a very " Halifax Seaport Market scene" -- a lot of hipsters and a few young families. We grabbed a seat a an outdoor table that overlooked the LaHave River. So so pretty.

Doesn't eating outside makes food taste better? It doesn't make sense, but it is true.

I would definitely make the trip to LaHave again, in fact it is the perfect distance for a mini-road trip. Just an idea for any free "not so classic beach days" you may have on your vacation. Or better yet, if you get too hot at a nearby beach (Rissers, Crescent and Hirtle Beach are all a stones throw from the cafe) pop over for a bite to eat. Call us if you go, I can still taste my sandwich --that sounds gross but I mean it in a good way!

If you go, get the eggs benny (that is Jeff's addition!)

xo

Em

{yummy Greek pizza}

{veggie panini with feta and olive tapenade -- I love salt!}

{just cheese and sauce pizza for the wee one}

{a man who loves his eggs benny}

{chocolate milk}

{this picture is so my dad -- I love him!}