Little Missy

I think everyone has a little bit of creativity in them waiting to be unleashed onto the world. For me right now it seems to be blogging and baking, both of which I enjoy immensely and would be quite happy to do forever. However, I am very fortunate to be surrounded by family and friends who have tapped into their creative talent and actually turned it into a business for themselves. So with this being said I hope to be able to showcase these amazing people and what they have to offer, in the hopes of not only promoting them, but perhaps to get you thinking about your own talent. The first person and their business are very near and dear to my heart. My big sister, in collaboration with her friend, has a business called Little Missy. Little Missy is evidence of what happens when two mothers with young children get together and get creative. They started out by making hair clips and now the business has grown in leaps and bounds to include the likes of hair clip holders, headbands, boards and cushions.

Examples of what Little Missy can do

All items are individually created by hand with love and care. Custom orders are definitely an option and one to consider for the little missy in your life. So check them out online and if you like what you see then send the lovely ladies an email. Creativity is good for the soul and, if you're lucky, for the bank account too.

Little Missy logo (image courtesy of Little Missy)

Brownies and cupcakes, oh my!

Anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I love to bake and that I love cupcakes, so much so that one friend even gifted me a Pandora cupcake charm. You might ask how brownies fit into all of this, well originally this weekend I was going to just make brownies. I had some frozen raspberries I had been meaning to use for a while and thought they would go well to put on top of the brownie mixture just before I popped the pan in the oven to bake. I used the brownie recipe from here, a previously tried and tested recipe that turns out well. Again I wasn’t disappointed in the result and the raspberries added that little extra something.

The inspiration behind the cupcakes was a colleague’s birthday. We always make an effort to take a little time out of the workday and come together to celebrate a birthday in the office. Usually we pay it forward with the birthday treat, but due to summer vacations and what not I decided to take it upon myself and bake some cupcakes instead. I found a recipe for vanilla cupcakes here. They turned out really well, minus a mishap with my frosting decorating tools. For this project, I revelled in the opportunity to use some pretty butterfly sprinkles I had gotten from Michaels and some gorgeous cupcake cases I had received as part of a Christmas present from my best friend.  

All in all I would have to say that it was another fun and successful attempt at Sunday afternoon baking!

Wardrobe of fragrances

One of my first jobs was working in a community pharmacy. It was through this job that I acquired a sizable wardrobe of fragrances, as I like to call it. Although quite a few years have passed and my wardrobe has gotten a little barer, I have not forgotten about the days when I had quite a few fragrances at my disposal. These days I afford myself a few varieties on rotation, sometimes mood and weather dependent and sometimes whichever bottle I instinctively reach for first. I love the way an old favourite or newly discovered scent can make you feel vibrant and alive with just a few sprays. In my case, the old favourite is Calvin Klein eternity moment and the more recent discoveries are DKNY be delicious fresh blossom and Marc Jacobs daisy. However, the one scent that really adds a spark to the start of my day and alludes freshness is the aptly named Fresh brown sugar with what may just be the right mix of lemon and brown sugar. The first time I smelt it I was surprised at how much I liked the scent and, to be honest, it really cant steer you wrong as the finishing touch on a summer’s day. So it seems the scents of the moment for me are either floral or sweet. However, as my fragrance bottles get emptier one spray at a time (I already need to replenish my supply of Fresh brown sugar) I wonder what my next trip to Sephora will bring.

My wardrobe of fragrances

Freshly popped popcorn, hold the butter please

Going to the cinema is by far one of my favourite pastimes so I feel quite spoilt with a cinema on my doorstep, well less than 100 metres down the street. I not only go to the Cineplex chain because of its proximity, but also for its loyalty program. The Scene program gives you discount at the refreshment counter, as well as after approximately 10 visits you get enough points to redeem for a free ticket. I try to go to the cinema at least 2 to 3 times a month, sometimes more depending on how many movies are out that I want to see. Not much makes me happier than sitting in a comfy cinema chair looking up at the big screen to watch one of the latest feature films. It is not often that I walk away from the cinema disappointed in the movie selection, but it does happen on occasion. I’m not the type of person who can name my favourite movie or top 10 at the drop of a hat, but I do know my favourite genre and it is that of the romantic comedy or romcom for short. A romcom’s typical formula is that of boy meets girl, they fall for each other, some act or secret drives a wedge between them before they realise life isn’t worth living without each other and they reunite. We are led to believe they live happily ever after and with that thought I find that Hollywood may have possibly ruined my love life forever. I mean where exactly can you find a prince charming that can compete with that kind of unrealistic ideal. Maybe it helps if you think about what probably happens when the cameras stop rolling and reality does kick in. Romantic comedies may be my favourite genre and usually my failsafe, but I am also a big fan of the action blockbuster, the likes of which showcase heroes and villains at their battling best. In my eyes, if you want to watch a blockbuster, they can only be watched one way and that is on the big screen where you can fully appreciate the special and visual effects. A movie to mention that I saw last week was Crazy, Stupid, Love starring Ryan Gosling’s abs. I couldn’t resist that comment, but the movie is definitely worth watching both for the storyline and the cast including the always funny Steve Carell and Emma Stone with Julianne Moore and Ryan Gosling in tow. There are too many other stars to mention, but it is a funny and engaging, light-hearted movie delving into serious topics of separation, adultery and first loves just to name a few. If this movie doesn’t ring a bell then a good way to keep your finger on the pulse of new releases and coming features is to regularly check out web pages such as Yahoo! Movies or iTunes Trailers.

Crazy, Stupid, Love movie poster (image courtesy of IMDb)

When the sun is shining the face is smiling

My weekend involved sunshine and lots of it. So in honour of this I took the time to do some of the things that really bring a smile to my face. This is something I recommend that everyone do when the sun is out. On Saturday I went for an afternoon walk and along the way I indulged in some of my favourite things:

• Iced passion tea from Starbucks
•  Browsing in the Book Warehouse contemplating my next read
•  Picking up some delectable sweet scones from Cobs Bread
•  Strolling through the Robson Square Artisan Markets
• Purchasing a pint of Ben & Jerry’s chocolate chip cookie dough

As lovely as all this was, my day of capitalising on the sunshine was not over as I proceeded to spend a few glorious hours down by the seawall. With me were the essentials – a blanket, good book and the sweet sounds of Kings of Leon humming gently in my ears. At the time I didn’t realise that my afternoon could get any better, but low and behold on my leisurely walk home I spotted a seal in False Creek and with that my lovely Saturday was complete. I guess I have a fondness for walking because my Sunday evening also involved a laid-back walk. One that skirted the edge of downtown Vancouver and which continued onto the beach to just enjoy the peacefulness of it all before beginning the scenic walk home. I don’t know if it was the tranquillity or the gorgeous landscape of my route, but, as I often am even after all this time, I became quite appreciative of my surroundings and philosophical about what the opportunity of living in this amazing city could mean.

Part of the view from Burrard Bridge

A little purchase can go a long way

It seems like ever since I entered the work force I have been saving, sometimes with a particular target in mind and sometimes just saving for a rainy day. As somewhat of a perpetual nomad, since I got the travel bug several years ago, the concept of saving is cyclical; I save to go somewhere, empty out said savings and then start again. This time around it is because I am going home to Australia for 3 weeks at Christmas time. The thought of seeing all things familiar and missed i.e. family, friends, places and even food has me bursting with excitement. The fact that I get 3 weeks of bonus summer is not lost on me either. So back to saving, the responsible and adult thing to do if you want to make a purchase, big or small, or create lifetime memories by going to a destination or participating in an activity or even just paying those pesky bills. Saving can be tough, requiring discipline and self control. To help me get through the tough times I like to indulge in a little purchase every now and again, to make me feel better about being a responsible adult. These little purchases probably aren’t going to go the distance when it comes to becoming a family heirloom or keepsake, but they do bring a smile to my face and allow me to indulge in the sheer pleasure I get when buying something new. This purchase may be a fashion item, cosmetics, a book or even a piece of bake ware. It really just depends on what I want because lets face it, it isn’t really about what I need. A friend and I used to joke about needing to join Shopaholics Anonymous (if it doesn’t exist then maybe it should), but I know my limit, however little it may be, and I stay within it. So with this said my latest little purchase was from one of my favourite stores Forever 21. The store rarely disappoints and this time I walked out with a light and breezy floral dress suitable to wear on a summer’s day whether it is to a bbq or even a stroll in the park. And with this purchase, my need to shop has been satisfied temporarily without any guilt and I have a new cute addition to my wardrobe, so it is a win-win situation all round.

My little purchase from Forever 21

When I grow up I want to be able to sing

The idea of singing like there is nobody listening seemed very appropriate for my current musings. If I had had a say in the matter I would without a doubt have wanted the ability to sing and by sing I mean actually carry a tune. There seems to be no problem with my ability to remember song lyrics and to somewhat quietly burst into said lyrics whenever I deem appropriate. What I lack in talent I make up for with my enthusiasm for just listening to the music I love, whether it be mainstream chart toppers, the somewhat unknown alternative music or songs wrapped up in my own nostalgia. Having a soundtrack through life is a wonderful notion and one I fully endorse. When it comes to owning a copy of the songs that would feature in my life's soundtrack I either make cd purchases from my local HMV store or obtain them via iTunes. I love creating a music wish list and adding to it as I hear a new song that I like and that causes a stirring of emotion. Taking my appreciation of music and the artist a step further, it is great to be able to see them live and in the flesh at a concert, sometimes unleashing my inner screaming groupie for the night. It is such a thrill to be able to see the singer or band this way and watch them put on a production, even more so when you see how their vocal abilities are transferred from the recording to the live performance. One such performance of late was a Katy Perry concert as part of her California Dreams tour. Now this may not be to everyone’s taste, but she put on a great show and the girl can definitely sing live. She was both charismatic and a wonderful entertainer who seemed to have the crowd eating out of the palm of her hand. She was definitely worth the face value of the ticket purchase. I hope that the future concerts I have tickets to, so far Kings of Leon and the Kooks, can put on just as good a show in their own style. In relation to concerts, they are still very much a hot commodity and sell out quite quickly. I stay in the loop by getting email alerts from Ticketmaster and any relevant affiliates, which in my case is Live Nation. The added bonus here is that I get access to any pre-sales there may be for upcoming concerts.

Images from the Katy Perry concert

Cake pops = a little pop of delight

I am a self-confessed cupcake addict, no doubt about it! So imagine the joy several months ago when I stumbled across cake pops in my local Starbucks store. I was immediately drawn to the pretty pink one with white sprinkles aptly named birthday cake. From the first bite I was hooked. I have never looked back having at least one birthday cake pop on a weekly basis with whatever cup of Starbucks I might be craving that day. As the weeks past and the cake pop consumption continued I thought to myself why not give it a go and make my own (baking is after all one of my favourite pastimes). So a few weeks ago I did just that, firstly I trawled the Internet for a suitable recipe. It seemed a lot of recipes use a box cake mix and frosting in a can. Don’t get me wrong as I know how reliable and consistent this can be, but for me I am always keen to make recipes from scratch. As a result I combined a vanilla cake recipe found here and the frosting recipe from here. The first attempt was a success in the eyes of my colleagues and housemates so I made my second attempt this weekend, which I wanted to share. I used the same cake and frosting recipe, as it didn’t steer me wrong the first time around. I got the additional supplies that I needed i.e. the candy melts, lollipop sticks, foam (for putting the cake pops in to set) and sprinkles from my local Michaels store. 

The cake was made the night before to allow it to cool enough to be mixed with the frosting.

Once the frosting was made it was mixed with the crumbled cake to a play dough consistency ensuring it was not too dry or too wet. 

It was then rolled into balls, placed on a foil-lined tray and put in the freezer for 45 minutes to chill.

Next the candy melts were melted in the microwave according to the directions on the packet. Note: there are a few ways to melt them so do whatever method suits you.

The chilled cake balls were removed from the freezer and the lollipop sticks were dipped about half an inch into the melted candy melts then pushed halfway into the cake ball.

The cake pops were then dipped into the melted candy melts and any excess delicately removed so as to avoid the cake falling off the stick. Lastly the sprinkles of choice were lightly shaken onto the cake pop as the finishing touch before they were placed into the foam to set.

And there we have it, a batch of cake pops ready to be consumed. I can’t wait to keep improving on my technique and exploring all the possibilities that the world of cake pops has to offer.

My favourite natural skin care range

It feels like everyone has his or her favourite skin care product or products that they use on a daily basis and probably cannot live without, well at least I know I do. For me, it is my Jurlique and it makes me proud to say that not only is the company environmentally aware, but also they are Australian just like I am. As to how I became a big fan, well my best friend is responsible for that. Having worked with them for a few years, it was her enthusiasm and product knowledge that won me over and I have never looked back. Jurlique has a vast array of products on offer by skin type or even skin concern. There are products for women, men and babies. Step into one of their stores, close your eyes and you envision being in a beautiful garden filled with lavender, jasmine, citrus and rose. Furthermore, if you are lucky enough to have access to a store that offers a spa experience I recommend you check it out. When it comes to Jurlique, the one product that I truly cannot live without is their rose hand cream. It has a lovely creamy texture that leaves your hands feeling soft and moisturised without any greasy residue. The smell of it is simply heavenly. I make sure I never run out, whether it is through a much anticipated and appreciated care package from home or a trip to Holt Renfrew. I must confess I have a moment of happiness walking out of the luxurious Holt Renfrew with my purchase snugly tucked into their signature bag. For my part, I have already gotten one friend hooked and hopefully others will now follow suit so give it a try then spread the word.

Jurlique rose hand cream (image courtesy of Jurlique)

Once upon a time there was a library

Technology has come a long way since I was a kid, but for me nothing can compare to the printed word and the smell of a freshly opened book, new or old. This is part of the reason why I have recently embraced my local public library and really re-ignited my childhood/early adult passion for reading. At the moment, I love nothing more then spending part of my weekend soaking up the sunshine and diving into whatever adventure awaits me on the pages of the current book I am reading. Books allow you to block out reality and your day whether it is for a few minutes or a few hours. Maybe your favourite genre consists of the romantic classics such as Jane Austen or crime and mystery such as James Patterson (my own personal favourite, who I will touch on in future musings), regardless just remember you are only limited by the words on the page and your own imagination. Backtracking to my mention of technology, I guess the technological element of the library that I do appreciate is the ability to go onto their website and place an item on hold or extend the return date of an item with just a few clicks of a button. However, if the thought of venturing into your local public library feels you with dread rather than excitement then the next best thing is borrowing books from friends or purchasing them from your local bookstore. The staff there are allows happy to help with friendly reading suggestions and can point you in the direction of what might just be the best book you ever read. Book reviews in magazines have also prompted me to read a particular book and so far the reviewer has not been wrong. Besides finishing a book and feeling really satisfied, nothing makes me happier then to in turn recommend that book to a friend and see what they think. I guess it almost seems like I should start a book club, but who doesn’t love sharing something that has touched them in some way. Something to ponder when you think about the last part of the previous sentence is that I guess it doesn’t just apply to books. 

Public art outside of the Vancouver library

A summer day by the seaside

On a day brimming with sunshine we went to the seaside to see what the little village of Steveston had to offer. Just an FYI, but Steveston has popped up in a few feature films of late, notably Charlie St. Cloud. I would be lying if I said this was not part of my reasoning for the trip, but I did also want to explore a new destination and partake in the always-satisfying activity of eating fish and chips by the seaside. The weather, the scenery and the food did not disappoint. The fish and chips supplied by Pajos were consumed on the wharf and with full bellies we went for a walk through Steveston. The array of shops were interesting, ranging from cute gift boutiques to fishing supply stores happily residing next to each other. There was even a very rustic Romania country bread store. My one purchase of the day – a bag of warheads candy allowed me to take a trip down memory lane and return to the times of my childhood when my sister, brother and I used to challenge each other to see who could last the longest without pulling a sour-taste induced face or removing the candy altogether from our mouths. It seems I have come a long way from this time as this is no longer a challenge, but they still left me with that same satisfyingly coloured tongue. The last stop of the trip was a stroll along the boardwalk that led further into history and at the doorstep of the Richmond Maritime Festival. The festival had something to delight all ages and was an interesting way to end the day. So why not spend an afternoon away from the hustle and bustle of city living by finding your seaside and enjoying some fish and chips too.

Steveston Wharf

                                          

And so the kaleidoscope spins...

Life is full of trinkets and treasures! Whether it is the stuff you can hold in your hand or the not so tangible. Places you discover provide you with lasting memories while the next possible destination leaves you giddy with excitement and anticipation. The little moments in life that make you happy, whether it be the recipe you tried that turned out resulting in friends and family singing your praises, or the must-have fashion item you found at a fraction of a price. Come on a journey with me as I show you my kaleidoscope of treasure!