Thursday, May 30, 2013

.fancy giveaway: red shoe crawl edmonton.

photo via heiko waechter
oh, my! you guys!! am i ever excited about this! the kind folks over at the red shoe society, a group who raises money for the ronald mcdonald house, sent me an email about sharing the word on this awesome charity event! 

on june 9th come join us on whyte avenue for the 3rd annual red shoe crawl all in support of the ronald mcdonald house. 

if you haven't heard about the red shoe crawl before, it really is an outstanding event and such an awesome way to spend the day on whyte ave! getting the full 'avenue' experience, at registration you receive a passport to visit various participating stores, which give you the opportunity to sample an array of signature appetizers and drinks [here is just a sample of some of the awesome vendors this year: tin box, ten thousand villages, mkt, the keg, naanolicious, food fighter, plaid giraffe, sabzy, famoso, marble slab, tutti frutti, crave cupcakes, cha island tea company, chianti's, and planet organic just to name a few!]. so fun, right?!?! tickets are $40 each and the best part - proceeds support the ronald mcdonald house.

i think it would make for a perfect unique family outing or even an afternoon date!

also - red shoes are optional, but i mean, in my opinion that's almost a must!
*now for the fun part! a giveaway!! the red shoe society has kindly donated 2 tickets to the red shoe crawl for one lucky fancy napkin reader! 
to enter:
**all you have to do is leave a comment below telling me your favourite daytime family outing or favourite daytime date outing!
extra entries:
***for an extra entry follow fancy napkin on facebook, twitter, or gfc [my blog] and leave a separate comment for each.
giveaway closes wednesday, june 5th and the winner will be chosen via random number generator.
good luck and hope to you see there!  

for more information or to pre-purchase tickets, visit here.
date: sunday, june 9th.
time: 1 -5 pm.
tix: $40 each.
location: mcintyre park whyte avenue

**also, in the giving mood yourself? the red shoe society are looking for volunteers to help with this event. if you're interested, please contact them at community@rmhnorthernalberta.org 

from edmonton? you seriously do not want to miss this! i know pete, jack and i will definitely be attending, red shoes and all :)

now, don't forget to leave a comment below to enter the giveaway!

Saturday, May 25, 2013

.product review: mustache baby.

the wee man, pete, and i were lucky enough to be sent a copy of the new children's book, mustache baby by bridget heos, for a read and a review. from the very first page, we were all smitten. i mean, a baby who is born with a moustache! how can that not be a hit with both youngsters and parents??? a perfect book to read together as a family. 

so basically this adorable little babe is born with a moustache. he grows it into all sorts of styles, changing his looks from everything like 'the artist' to 'the cowboy' to 'the spanish painter". one day, the mustache grows into a bad sort of mustache and the story continues from there....

seriously, the story is adorable. the illustrations are ridiculously cute. and we have read it multiple times since receiving it. i highly recommend for your next book purchase.

**hometown side-note: i was thrilled to learn that the illustrator, joy ang, lives in my hometown of edmonton, alberta, canada. she has drawn some of the best modern cartoon illustrations i've seen in a while and i was just so proud of some local talent hitting the semi-big league!! wicked awesome if you ask me! can't wait to see what else you have coming joy!!
*special thanks to canadian family for sending our family a copy of this book to review and enjoy. while we were asked to review it, all opinions are our own. this really is a wonderful little book for all to enjoy. happy reading!

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

.mightee kids.

see that shirt up there that my little mr is wearing? 
cute, right?! 
it's from a company called mightee kids and i just have to spread the word about these pretty wonderful people. so let me break it down with three points about that shirt:

one: it's part of a monthly subscription that i signed the little bugg man up for. each month he gets sent a cool new shirt delivered right to our door. you pick your size and can change it at any time. so when your baby grows, his shirt can grow with him. 

two: the shirts are just simply adorable. plain and simple. great quality and a truly cool + unique design. 

three: each shirt represents a non-profit charity for that month. each month is a different non-profit and a different designed shirt [jacks particular design above supports 'children with autism']. and $5 from each shirt goes to helping that specific non-profit. pretty cool right? also! you get these awesome info cards to read with your child, filled with helpful hints to explain to them what each charity is all about. i think this is such an awesome way to teach your kids a little about the differences in the world, a little about compassion, and a little about giving + helping.

so basically, your children look cool while helping others. win-win in my books.
february, march and april designs.
*this post is not sponsored in any way. i just truly believe that mightee kids are trying to make a difference in a persons life who truly need the help. whether it be children, animals, or a community. and that, my friends, just needs to be shared.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

.my very first mother's day.

holy dyna. i sure have one hell of a little family. 
to sum it up, my husband rocks. my baby rocks. and my first mama's day was the best i could have ever dreamed of. it was one of those days that i will remember for the test of time and just thank the heavens for the wonderful people who made me feel so darn special. not to sound overly dramatic, but i must  have pinched myself a dozen times to see if i was dreaming.

when i woke up on mother's day, i was excited! what did those boys have planned? i really had no idea! i mean, i am one hard woman to surprise and it being a day completely about being a mother, i was pretty pumped. i also felt a little like 'darn it, i deserve it'! see, being a momma is one of the hardest jobs ever. the most rewarding, but damn it can be hard. 

so to start things off and being the sweet little gentlemen that his is, jack decided it was a morning to let momma sleep in [we started sleep training last weekend and well things have been rather interesting on that subject, but i digress...].
i felt like singing "hallelujah!". oh, glorious sweet sleep! after awhile, my momma-sense kicked in and i could tell jack needed a morning nap, so he crawled into bed with me and we continued a little snuggle together, and like seriously, how perfect is that?
when it was officially time to get up, poppa served us breakfast in bed. yep, that handsome man of mine is incredible. we chowed on some delicious cinnamon buns, scones and coffee while i got kisses in between bites from my littlest fella. then the gifts started pouring in. and i got positively spoiled! i also got a homemade card, complete with some artwork from jack and daddy. probably my most cherished of the entire pile :)

then we got dressed to meet grammy, grandpa and auntie + uncle for a picnic in the park. and what a afternoon that was! it was hot, the sun decided to shine, the blankets were put out, our shoes were tossed aside, hot dogs + salads + quiches were served, a mad game of bocce was played [ps. the girls won!], and we snapped about a million pictures. it was such a perfect time.

afterwards, jack, peter and myself drove over to the new gelato store that opened up near our house. and boy, was that every tasty! blackcurrent, kiwi and mango were devoured. then another glorious nap was had together as a family. 
for dinner, we headed on over to peter's mama + tata's place for some steaks and wine. as usual, jack got cuddled with love and i got to relax on the patio. always a great time had when we head over to their place. always.

my mother's day was exactly as i envisioned.....actually, it was better.  
thank you to my husband and to my son, for making me the luckiest woman alive.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

.being a mom and a happy mothers day too!

today is a big one. 
today, i get to celebrate mother's day with new meaning. 
today, i can say with a full full heart, that i am a mother. 
and the luckiest momma, ever.

being a mom has changed me for the better. every second of the day, i am filled to the brim with love.
i often find myself wondering what my heart was doing before winning the baby lottery by being jack's momma. i guess my lazy heart was just preparing for the workout it was about to get. the workout that i now need and crave every single second of the day. the way jack has filled our lives with happiness, it blows my mind.
because, my friends, this boy. he is just something else. he doesn't just give my heart a workout;
he is my heart.

so happy mother's day to all you wonderful ladies out there. today is to celebrate all that we do and all that we become. today is for the"heart-filled-to-the-brim-with-love" mother's, who simply can't get enough.

*thank you to my momma for just being the best that you are. you are wonderful and beautiful and i couldn't ask for a more lovely momma. you make the most amazing grammy as well and jack is so lucky. we love you so.
*thank you to my mother-in-law for always welcoming me with open arms. for raising her son right and for being one of the most loving human beings i've ever met. you've always been there for us with advice, support, and most importantly, love. you make such a wonderful babcia. we love you so.

Friday, May 10, 2013

.mother's day treats.

i've been meaning to post this mother's day treats post all week long, but with this busy little man, it's amazing that i even get a shower in some days. i can't even imagine what it's going to be like once he's mobile!
so that being said, let get to some mother's day treats! probably a little late in the game considering it's 2 days away, but darn it, it's my first mother's day and i thought i'd share what i think would be extra cool to receive from your little bambinos. well, other than perhaps a sweet homemade craft, a chance to sleep in, and maybe some extra kisses and snuggles in bed :)

sources.
one || diy flower bouquet via piece of cake piece of mind [because flowers are always nice].
two || name necklace via anna bee jewelry [just perfect. i need this with 'jack bugg' on it].
three || the smitten kitchen cookbook via chapters indigo [everything looks so tasty in this delicious book from one of my fav food blogs].
four || lemon lime twist cupcake via crave cupcakes [or any flavour really!].
five || pave chevron cuff via madewell [just beautiful!].
six || juniper statement necklace via stella & dot [next on my to buy list from s&d].
seven || custom family portrait via henry james paper goods [my absolute personal favourite and a must have!]

Thursday, May 9, 2013

.pink lemonade party.

almost to the day, one year ago [gosh time flies! i'm about to head out to her 2nd birthday party in a couple hours....sheesh!], i helped celebrate a 1st birthday for one sweet little girl, miss presley.
and i have to tell you, her crafty momma threw one of the cutest parties i've attended yet! complete with a pink lemonade theme!
i'll let the pictures do the talking, but as you can see, it was pretty darn rad.
i'm pretty pumped and excited to see what her momma has in store for this year....no pressure, meag's ;)

Monday, May 6, 2013

.the ultimate juicing guide.

it's official! i boarded the juicing train! toot toot! and i am loving it!

i have been juicing like mad lately and it's all i can think about. it's as if my body is now craving the sweet nectar that comes from all those fresh fruits and veggies, that simply eating an apple just doesn't provide. and i mean, it's crazy to think about how much goodness goes into a simple glass of juice! seriously when would you actually eat 5 carrots + 2 apples + 2 oranges + a handful of kale in one sitting?!?!

and i have to tell you, it's doing wonders for my body!! i just feel better. i have more energy. and even my hair is getting full again [damn baby hormones were threatening it's thickness :( ].
it's as though my body is saying, "finally! thank you!!"

another benefit that i can see coming from my juicer is the fun we'll have once jack is old enough to help [yep, i'm a total mother now!]. it's a great way to get your kids in the kitchen, helping out by putting the fresh produce in the tube then squishing them all down, and watching them sample all the different concoctions. super awesome and super fun way of sneaking in all those healthy and nutritious nutrients that some may have trouble getting in those little people!

so to entice you all to try it for yourself, i've gathered a few [more like a ton!] tested and truly delicious combo's that we've loved over at casa d'trebaczkiewicz. hopefully it makes it a little easier, and perhaps a little less intimidating, to board your own juicing train as well!
one || kale, spinach  + pear smoothie: 1 healing cup spinach leaves, 1 heaping cup kale leaves [chopped, and ribs removed],  1/2 pear, 1 frozen banana, 1 1/2 cups cold almond milk [or soy milk or orange juice], 1 tbsp honey. in a blender add kale, spinach and almond milk. blend until no kale bits remain, then add pear, banana, and honey. blend until smooth. **picture and recipe via joy the baker.
two || orange, spinach, basil + hemp seed smoothie: 1/2 litre fresh squeezed orange juice [roughly 12 oranges], 1 cup spinach, 1/2 cup basil, 2 tbsp hemp seeds. blend all ingredients. **picture and recipe via urban organics.
three || peach, kale, + coconut smoothie: 1 cup frozen peach slices [if you use fresh peaches, just add ice cubes], 1 cup packed kale [torn into pieces and stems discarded], 1/2 frozen banana, 3/4 cup coconut water [may need more or less, depending], 1/2 tsp freshly grated ginger, 1 tsp raw honey, [you could also add a big scoop of greek yogurt or a glug of almond milk for added creaminess]. combine all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth **picture and recipe via camille styles.
four || lean green power smoothie: 1/2 pineapple [peeled, cored and chopped], 1/2 english cucumber [peeled and chopped], 1/2 ripe pear [peeled, cored and chopped], juice from 1 lime, 1 cup baby spinach leaves, 10 mint leaves [chopped], 1 tsp agave nectar, crushed ice. puree ingredients in a blender until smooth. **picture and recipe via camille styles.
five || earth day smoothie: 2 cups kale [ribs removed], 2 1/2 cups coconut milk, 1 cup filtered water, 2 medjool dates, 1 cup frozen banana [cut up], 1 cup frozen mango, 1/2 avocado, 1 tbsp spirulina, 1/2 tsp maca, 1 tbsp flax seeds, 1/4 tsp bee pollen. combine all ingredients in a blender to mix. sprinkle with pee pollen.  **picture and recipe via urban organics.
**other tasty combo's: green goblin smoothie: 4 - 6 kale leaves [ribs removed], 1 frozen banana, a handful of strawberries [yes, add the stems even! the more green the better!], a handful of blueberries, 1 large orange [peeled], 1 cup unsweetened almond milk. blend everything together. - adapted via reboot with joelemon-lime juice: 1 lemon, 1 lime, 2 asian pears, 2 green apples, 2 carrots, 1 thumb-size piece of ginger, 2 cups purple cabbage. combine in a blender - via reboot your life. kiwi spinach chia seed smoothie: 1 ripe kiwi [cut into chunks], 1 frozen banana [cut into chunks], 10 cups packed baby spinach, 2 tbsp chia seeds, 10 cups coconut milk. add all to blender - via urban organics. pineapple kale mango smoothie: 1 banana, 1/2 cup diced pineapple, 1/2 cup freshly juiced pineapple, 1 cup chopped kale, 1/2 cup diced mango, 1 cup almond milk or coconut milk, 1 tbsp cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil. blend everything together - via urban organics.

one || beet, carrot + apple juice: 3 raw beets [peeled], 8 carrots, 1 cucumber, 2 granny smith apples, 2 lemons [peeled], 1-inch piece fresh ginger. juice, stir and enjoy. **picture and recipe via urban organics.
two || strawberry, pear + coconut water juice: 3 cups strawberries, 1 pear [core removed], 1 lime, 1 small piece of ginger, 1/2 cup coconut water. juice, stir and enjoy. **picture and recipe via urban organics.
three || beetroot juice: 2-3 beetroots [medium size, ends trimmed], 5 big carrots, 1/4 lemon [peeled], 2 apples, 2 cm fresh ginger. add everything to your juicer. **picture and recipe via a tasty love story.
four || blackberry, pear + grapefruit juice: 8 ounces [250g] thawed blackberries, 3 ripe pears, 2 grapefruits [peeled]. add everything to your juice and enjoy. **picture and recipe via food thinkers.
five || strawberry + cucumber smoothie: a heaping 1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries,  1 cup cold almond milk, 1/2 english cucumber [chopped and de-seeded], 1 to 2 tbsp honey, a squeeze of lemon if you'd like. combine all ingredients into a blender. **picture and recipe via joy the baker.
*other tasty combos: beet juice: 1 beet, 2 apples, 4 carrots, 1 pear, handful of spinach - via small fry blog; red juice: 1/2 cup fresh watermelon, 1/2 cup frozen raspberries, 1/2 cup frozen sour cherries, 1/4 cup water. mix all together - via heather christo;  rhubarb apple carrot: 2 - 3 stalks rhubarb, 2 carrots, 3 apples, 1 inch knob ginger - via urban organics.
**other tasty combo's: cinnaberry smoothie: 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1/2 cup strawberries, 1/2 mango, 1/2 cup frozen blueberries, 1/2 cup frozen raspberries, 1/2 cup cantaloupe, 1 banana, 1 large carrot, dash of cinnamon. add all ingredients into a blender and top with cinnamon - via reboot your life. strawberry pineapple mint juice: 1/2 large pineapple [peeled, cored and cut into chunks], 1 cup strawberries, 1 pear, 30 mint leaves. blend everything together - adapted via reboot your life. pineapple, blackberry, kiwi juice: 1/4 large pineapple [peeled, cored and cut into chunks], 1 cup blackberries, 1 kiwi, 1 pear, 30 mint leaves. blend everything together - adapted via reboot your life.

one || good morning juice: 2 sweet potatoes, 6 carrots, 4 oranges. cut up everything and add to juicer. **picture and recipe via reboot with joe.
two || cara cara orange pineapple: 1/2 cup fresh pineapple [cut into chunks], 1/2 banana, 1/2 cara cara orange [peeled and cut into chunks], 1/4 cup mango [peeled and cut into chunks], 1/4 cup coconut milk [or milk of your choice], 1 tbsp kefir, 1/2 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp ground flax seed, 1/4 tsp cinnamon. **picture and recipe via urban organics.
three || carrot lemonade: 1 qt freshly squeezed carrots [about 3 lbs], 6 medium lemons [freshly juiced], 2 - 3 cups water, stevia to taste, 1-inch knob ginger [optional]. juice everything and mix together. **picture and recipe via marcus samuelsson.
four || orange sunrise: 2 orange bell peppers [seeded], 1 navel orange [peeled], 4 carrots, 1 large handful of fresh pineapple chunks, 1 lemon [peeled]. add all to juice and stir. **picture and recipe via reboot with joe.
five || pomegranate citrus juice: 2 small grapefruits, 2 oranges, 2 tangerines, 1/2 lime, 2 pomegranates. juice everything together and mix. **picture and recipe via whole living.
**other tasty combo's: the melon smoothie: 1 cup cantaloupe, 1 frozen banana, 1/2 cup coconut water, 1/2 cup ice. add all to blender - via reboot with joe. strawberry, grapefruit, orange, and raspberry juice: 2 cups strawberries, 2 grapefruits [peeled], 1 orange [peeled], handful of raspberries. juice all together - via urban organics. carrot, orange and mango juice: 8 carrots, 1 mango [pitted], 1 large strip of orange peel, 1/2 peeled blood orange. juice, stir and enjoy - via urban organics.

one || orange cream: 4 valencia oranges [peeled], 2 cups date water [soaked in water for an hour]. peel the oranges and place them in a blender. soak dates in 2 cups of water, then pour the liquid into the blender. mix all together. **picture and recipe via kris carr.
two || lime-coconut smoothie: 1 thai coconut [meat and water], 1 lime [juiced], 2 frozen bananas, 1 tbsp of coconut oil, 1 tbsp of raw coconut flakes. mix all together and enjoy. **picture and recipe via kris carr.
three || almond joy smoothie: 3/4 cup greek style yogurt, 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, 1 1/4 cup chocolate soy milk, 3/4 cup almond butter. mix in a blender and enjoy.**picture and recipe via sweet potato chronicles.
four || strawberry cashew milkshake: 1/2 cup cashews [or blanched almonds], 1 cup water, 1 tsp agave nectar, 1/2 tsp vanilla paste, pinch cinnamon, 3 strawberries, handful of ice cubes. **picture and recipe via heather christo.
five || raspberry coconut smoothie: 1 cup frozen raspberries, 1 1/2 cups filtered water, 1/2 cup coconut milk, 1 banana, 3 tbsp ground flax seeds, 1 tbsp honey. mix all together in a blender.  **picture and recipe via urban organics.
six || sexy shamrock shake: 1/2 frozen banana, 1 cup baby spinach leaves, 1 cup coconut milk [or other nut milk], 2 drops vanilla extract [good quality], 2 - 3 drops peppermint extract. blend all together and enjoy. **picture and recipe via kris carr.
**other tasty combo's: funky monkey shake: 2 frozen bananas [peeled and cut into chunks], 2 cups milk, 2 tbsp natural almond or peanut butter, 1 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tbsp flax meal, 1/2 cup greek yogurt. mis everything in a blender - via sweet potato chronicles; spiced peach pear juice: 2 peaches, 1 large pear, 2 carrots, 1 cup of green grapes [optional, for sweeter juice], 1-inch piece of ginger, pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove powder. juice and sprinkle top with spices - via reboot with joe. peach pie juice: 3 large sweet potatoes [peeled], 4 ripe peaches [pitted], 2 golden delicious apples [pitted], dash of cinnamon. juice all in juicer, then sprinkle with cinnamon on top - via reboot with joe.

So friends, I'm curious...what's your favourite combinations?