New Years Cake?

January is always a funny month. Working in coffee, I see the classic New Years' patterns. Pastries are avoided for the first week after the New Year is rung in, sugar is cut back, people switch from large lattes to black coffee... it's a little predictable. I like to be a little unpredictable. Making decadent chocolate cake in January is how I start new habits!

My husband got me a wonderful cookbook for Christmas: Flourless by Nicole Spiridakas. I have been eating gluten free for almost one year (since finding out I am celiac), and Jordon has been very gracious in eating all sorts of gluten-free fails (and successes). This book has a neat philosophy that goes against trying to make all desserts taste 'normal' by replacing them with gluten free flours. This book is all about keeping it simple, natural, and delicious. It uses lots of nut and seed flours, and who doesn't love almonds and pistachios, really? 

This pear chocolate cake is a delicious, moist, and beautiful dessert. Check out the full post on the Farminista Blog! 

7 Handmade Gifts from Saskatoon Makers

This is maybe a little late in coming as the amount of time to order online in time for Christmas is dwindling! But we thought we'd put together some small gift guides from a few Canadian cities for all of you locals that would like to support handmade. Today, we're starting with Saskatoon! We both love Saskatoon and love to support the artists living in and around the area. Here are seven small gifts of varying price ranges that can be found within the city of bridges. 

1. Mint Modern Light Print from Gawky Osmosis 2. Anchor Necklace from Vinta Bella 3. Cinnamon + Oatmeal Soap from Bison Charlie 4. Chunky Knit Cowl from Anahareo Seasonal 5. Striped Newborn Shorties from Cattura Imagery Shop 6. Matryoshka Doll Embroidered Ornament from Cee Stitchery 7. Bon Matin Mug from The Local Kingdom

I Spy Our DIY

Ah the end of November is coming up and while it's kind of hard to believe, Christmas is creeping up, too! But I know some of you American readers are still gearing up for Thanksgiving. So I thought I'd just share a couple places that we've found our Thanksgiving place cards popping up. It's always fun to see when your work is featured around the internet!

Brit + Co has this lovely roundup of 17 DIY Place Cards. All of these look lovely- it would be hard to choose just one! Thanks Brit + Co!

We also found our place card in this post on CraftGossip's Scrapbooking page. It looks like they have all kinds of ideas for both Thanksgiving and Christmas- be sure to check it out for ways to liven up your holiday decor. 

We're always looking for new ways to decorate. Do you have any fun ideas you've seen around lately?

A Common Creative: Veronika from By the Shore

We are very excited to have a fellow blogger come join us today! Veronika runs a fashion and lifestyle blog, By the Shore, from her home near Vancouver here on the west coast. Kristen was actually the one to introduce me to her blog, but we've both been reading and following along for a few years now. Veronika is seriously inspiring. She has an impeccable, timeless style. And she is fearless when it comes to trying new ideas and putting forth new business ventures. Not only does she run a full time blog, she also owns an online jewelry and accessory shop, creates blog templates for her Etsy shop and shoots photos for clients! This is one busy lady, but we are so thankful that she was able to take some time out of her day to chat. So without further ado, here's Veronika!

How did you get into blogging?
Honestly?! On a total whim. I stumbled on a few bloggers. Kendi Everyday, Selective Potential, Orchid Grey and Jen Loves Kev and I was totally hooked as well as inspired. So naturally, I decided to jump on the band wagon and I'm so happy I did. I feel so fortunate to have worked with amazing brands, travel for conferences, appear in magazines, and to have met so many of the bloggers I admire. This community is without a doubt my absolute favourite!

What is the best part about running your own business?

Knowing I have full creative control and the freedom to change something if I'm not happy. Definitely awesome and incredibly liberating!!

Where do you find inspiration for your posts?

Either from my favourite bloggers, my own brainstorming sessions... or I love to draw on a few of my favourite magazines. The last one is probably my favourite - such a wealth of ideas! Honestly, try it! You'll be amazed to see what you come up with!

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your blogging journey so far?

Be yourself, blog about what you love and don't sweat the small stuff. Blogging isn't about being perfect, it's about being real and building a community with like minded people!

Can you name your greatest success?

In blogging, I had the opportunity to do a collaboration with Selective Potential and Modcloth it was such a huge honour and something I look back on fondly! I also feel pretty darn thankful I can make a living doing what I love. Granted, there is struggle in having your own business, but I'm darn proud of being able to make it work. Also, my husband is without a doubt my biggest cheerleader!!

What is your favourite thing about the blogging community?

The creativity... getting to see personal style, gorgeous photography... oh my goodness, gets me totally revved up! Oh and definitely the friendships. I have been soooo lucky to find true, kindred spirits through this community. Such a blessing!!

What does a day in your life look like?

Each day is a little different. But generally, I'm up at 6am and working shortly there after. I typically work until about 7pm. I start my day with blogging, creating content for sponsors & clients, emailing plus updating my social media portals. Then I'll work on design work for clients, edit photos for clients or pop out for a quick meeting. I work from a home office or my favourite coffee shop. Always nice to add a little variety to my day!

How do you keep your creative mind going? What do you do to rejuvenate?

When I need to rejuvenate...I take a day off and shut it all down. No social media and no computer. I typically head into nature, walk, take photos, stop off for yummy food and then meet friends for drinks in the evening. Also, there's nothing like quiet time with my husband... he knows the way to my soul! 

What advice do you have for new businesses starting out?

Write out a business plan. I know it sounds a little boring, but it's a must! It's so important to know where you're going and the steps you'll need to take to get there. Also, meeting with a business coach is a fabulous way to tweak your plan and make sure you're starting off on the strongest foot possible!

Ok, that's a wrap. Thank you so much for reading my interview everyone!! Hope you enjoyed it and I'd absolutely love to meet you... be sure to pop by my blog, By The Shore and say hello! xo

Stationery Obsessions.

Have you seen the new shop from A Beautiful Mess? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't waiting for this. The happy mail subscription looks so fun! Jenni and I have our own version of happy mail, so far consisting of shared recipes, but who knows, maybe we could be convinced to start sending pretty paper-y things to others. 

I have a few things I always keep around in my crafty space. Currently, it's a second bedroom we use for music and crafty things, but that will be changing shortly. (Did I mention I'm moving one province closer to my creative sister Jenni? Details soon!) I'm excited to set up a new creative space for paper crafts. 

A good roll of string is always useful. Tying bows, stringing packets of paper together, and collecting bundles of flowers are in the realm of this essential's repertoire. 

I use washi tape like it's going out of style. (Is it? I hope not). I have collected a few from Etsy, from craft stores, and as gifts. Those pretty patterned tapes are a trend I will gladly buy into for quite some time. 

What do I do with all that washi tape? Glad you asked. 

My creative outlet lately has been paper crafts. There's always an occasion for a card, and washi tape comes in handy for these constantly. 

Here, I used it to create a faux banner on the front of the card. The washi tape holds a mystery name in place, while the drawn-on string hoists it high. 

I'm all about layers. This teal washi tape gives a nice solid layer to the busy chevron background. And is that old-fashioned camera stamp not the cutest? I got a lovely set of tiny stamps from The Regional Assembly of Text that have also come in handy. 

Layers of stamps, paper, and washi tape. This combination makes this creator happy. 

Do you have any washi tape or other paper craft obsessions? 

5 Podcasts Worth Listening To

I've discovered a new fondness for podcasts. I'm an artist and what I love about my work is that often I can throw on a movie or show while I do my planning for paintings, but when it comes down to actually producing a piece, I need to focus into what I'm doing visually. And this is where I find the perfect opportunity to listen to something interesting while I'm working. I'll usually either throw on some music or delve into a new episode of my running list of podcasts. There's something about radio, too, that just feels old and nostalgic. The lack of visuals allows my imagination to run just a bit further which, in turn, adds to the creative process. These are my absolute go-to's for interesting or amusing listening:

1. Grownups Read Things They Wrote As Kids- I discovered this and listened to all the episodes of this entertaining show within a week. It's an actual laugh-out-loud program that brings back all the hilarious (and embarrassing) moments of childhood. Each show focuses on a different city in Canada where a live program was held for readers to read anything and everything they wrote as children. Diaries, stories, letters, notes, and speeches are all included during each 30 minute episode. I found myself relating to most journal entries and thinking, "Wow. Everyone really is the same at 13..."!

2. Artisan Church Podcast- I have to throw this one on the list because this is our home church! It's very rare that we miss a sunday because we really do love going. But on days when we do have to miss, it's nice to catch up during the week and listen to a sermon while doing chores. We're part of the Mount Pleasant parish, so Lance is our pastor, but really any speaker embodies the core of what Artisan believes which often includes a lot of storytelling.   

3. Vinyl Cafe Stories- You'll probably find a lot of CBC podcasts on my list (as I'm a bit of a CBC nut when it comes to radio). Vinyl Cafe Stories is one for the list. The host, Stuart McLean, tells amusing, but heartwarming stories of Dave and his wife, Morley whose interactions with friends and neighbours make relatable tales for all ages. This one is good for any activity, but you can most often find it playing in our car on road trips. 

4. After the Jump- This is a great podcast for all you design/blogger/maker nerds out there hosted by the lovely Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge. Every episode has something to learn whether it be about business, social media or meeting new people, programs and product. I've found it to be incredibly inspiring as a creative individual working from home. And it's all about finding inspiration when you're not physically working alongside others!

5. Honest Home Podcast- As my most recently discovered podcast, I haven't had too much of a chance to listen to it. But I can already tell from the episodes that I have listened to that it is quality! One of those was an interview with a blogger, Erin Boyle, whose posts on small-space living have always intrigued me. And all of Honest Home podcast focuses around content on living simply and sustainably- something that I am also quite drawn to. I believe that it's important to think about how we're living and you'll find so much inspiration for that here. 

I hope this inspires you to expand your listening horizons and try something new as you go about your daily activity!  

Autumn Pear + Ginger Jam with Cinnamon

I've finally embraced all things autumn just in time for everything to change to holiday mode...but our house has been filled with spicy scents and warm food. And I may be a bit late on the preserve season, but I've been making big batches of anything and everything lately. I don't generally can things (yet), but when I do have a bigger-than-a-postage-stamp kitchen, I plan to. Until then, I'm ok to stick to freezer preserves and this is a great jam to can or throw into the freezer for later.

Now, I don't know if this was all that much cheaper than buying a jar of jam in the store, but I'm sure it could be if you put effort into finding a good price on pears. I happen to live down the road from a Safeway and don't often have a car to drive elsewhere, so sometimes buying expensive is my only choice! I'm ok with that, though, because this was tastier than any pre-canned item I could have bought. In fact, I may have eaten a little by the spoonful. So warm, so spicy, so sweet, so delicious. 

Autumn Pear + Ginger Jam

with Cinnamon

adapted slightly from A Baker's House

3 lbs pears, peeled and cut into small cubes (about 8-10)

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

1 cup brown or golden sugar

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2-1 teaspoon cinnamon

In a large pot or crockpot combine the pears, ginger, sugar lemon juice and cinnamon. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to medium. Cook the jam for 15-20 minutes until thickened (If using a slow cooker, cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours). Mash with potato masher or puree with immersion blender for a smoother texture. If the mixture looks thin, keep in mind that it will thicken upon cooling. 

Using a ladle, spoon into 3 small jars leaving 1/4"head room, cover and place in the freezer. (Or eat a jar by the spoonful!)

Imaginary House: Strolling Through Connecticut

Do you ever imagine living somewhere else? I've been known to imagine a lot and my most vivid imaginations begin with looking at a house. Houses have so much character. I feel that each one has a story to tell, especially if it's had years worth of history. So when I go on walks, I like to walk through neighbourhoods. I like to see the places where people have lived or are living and imagine what life inside them must be like. The mysterious going-on's inside a place intrigue me and entice me to dream. 

This house is not one I've seen on any of my walks, but I was intrigued nonetheless, especially with the surrounding fall colours. I imagine this to be on the east coast where the beauty of autumn must overwhelm. If I lived here, I would stroll through these grounds, maybe jump in a pile of leaves when no one is watching. And this is how I would live in my home: 

1. I'd invite the ladies over and we'd drink tea and chat on my plush lavender couch. 2. For larger social gatherings, we'd make sure to set the table with our finest gold silverware. 3. Our home would be adorned with the loveliest of paintings to look at. This one would go well with my purple settee. And of course, I'd have a whole collection of art, because that's what I would do- collect art. 4. My wardrobe would be filled with fine and dainty pieces of clothing including this perfectly pressed bow shirt.

A New Gardener

I wouldn't saw I'm an avid gardener. But if my mom passed on one thing to me (or twenty), it would be the love for growing things. 

This year, I did a little 'apartment' gardening. I grew one pot of various herbs, a giant pot of cherry tomatoes, and a few flower pots. 

It's a little bittersweet to rip out all these plants at the end of the year. The ones I've struggled to keep from dying for the four and a half months that growing season is. But, I got a tiny little harvest, and I'm here to share my successes! And a few of the failures too. 

I tried to keep all the tags in the pots when I planted them, because that's way more helpful to remember my favourites at the end of the season. Of course, I lost all the flower tags, but the herb pot tags stayed put! Here's how growing went:

1. Lemon Cherry Tomatoes: If you want a super sweet and delicious fast growing tomato, go for this one! They turn a beautiful golden colour, and literally taste like candy. I was a little lenient in my watering diligence, but overall, it was a healthy plant, and got me about 20-30 tiny, sweet tomatoes.

2. Mint and Basil: Both grew really well beside each other in a pot! I used the basil the most, picking it as I needed for pesto, seasoning, and baking. Both of these grew back really quickly after being picked. 

3. Dill and Cilantro: I love both of these herbs, and they grew super quickly. And super tall! I first used these herbs early in the year, and they died shortly after. But were nice while they lasted! 

4. Rosemary: My lovely little rosemary plant also didn't really grow, but it was sparingly used. And stayed alive! 

 5. Lavender: I saw this at the greenhouse and decided to try and grow it, inspired by Jenni (It was one of her wedding flowers! So pretty). I'm sorry to report that it didn't really grow...at all. But it stayed alive!

As much as I don't remember which blooms I half-kept alive this year, I do know that my dusty miller leafy green flourished! I had it in two different pots, and it always looked healthy. This pretty leaf was in my wedding bouquet last year, so I was happy to see it grow well. Jenni, maybe lavender will grow for you instead?

My favourite bloom was this little guy. Name that flower? Mom?

How does your garden grow?

 Hope you all are having a wonderful thanksgiving weekend! 

Free Printable: Thanksgiving Placecards

For those of us here in Canada, Thanksgiving comes quickly once Autumn rolls around. In fact, I already celebrated with M's family this past weekend. But this coming weekend marks the official day and I thought I'd put a little something together for you to be prepared. And if you're American, well, you'll be REALLY prepared. If you're into setting place cards for everyone around the Thanksgiving table, then you'll want to take advantage of this little freebie- hand painted and autumn inspired. Just click on the link below to download a PDF template ready for printing.

Kristen, the table's set for you. Come and celebrate with me, please? I'll be waiting...Oh. And click below to make one for me.

Curated By: Vol. 10

This week, I've been pinning like crazy. I don't know what it is...maybe the rain? It's been raining cats and dogs over here which sure doesn't make me want to go outside! And so, I pin and am inspired. I hope that life is a little sunnier for you, but in case you are stuck indoors, try making and baking these. And in case you need a pick-me-up, I've included a couple fun things to buy, as well!

1. This homemade funfetti cake post from My Name is Yeh is a very comprehensive guide to making a perfect looking funfetti cake, including what works and what doesn't. 

2. These almond buns from Hungry Brownie would be the perfect start to a cozy day inside.

3. Embracing fall means embracing candles and warm scents around the house. I would love to make my own and Oh Happy Day gives a fantastic tutorial.

4. Painting with watercolours is my current art form, but I have yet to master painting watercolour text. I love this tutorial of the process that Melissa Esplin demonstrates. 

5. Ok. I think that this would brighten up anybody's day. How fun is this Confetti Push-Pop?? This would be so delightful at any type of party or gathering!

6. I've been looking for a ring holder ever since my beloved elephant one broke. I love the look of this white and gold giraffe and for $16 you really can't go wrong!

Now go. Go create something magical!

City to City: Sweet Revenge Patisserie

This summer, M and I spent a lot of time in the city. Because he's a teacher and there was a massive strike on for the past few months, when it came to summer plans, we were in a tight situation financially. Which meant less vacations and more stay-cations! One stay-cation we enjoyed was spending the day in Deep Cove to celebrate our 1 year anniversary. At the end of the day, we came back to Vancouver to enjoy a little dessert trip to our very favourite dessert cafe...Sweet Revenge! Not only does this place have AMAZING desserts and coffee/tea, it is also special to us because we've gone there to celebrate every significant milestone in our relationship. We are "welcomed back" by the same waiter almost every time and they treat us like we're royalty. 

Now, Sweet Revenge is definitely not the most trendy place to frequent in the city. In fact, their decor and atmosphere are more reminiscent of a 90's New York romantic comedy movie set...but perhaps that's why we like it so much. The nostalgia of it allures us, not to mention we are always swooned by the sweet sounds of 1940's jazz. Which, coincidentally, we had as a music theme for our wedding!

The space is looking pretty empty in my pictures because we happened to go there on a hot summer weekend and were let in a little bit before it opened to get out of the blazing heat. But my warning to you is if you decide to go, get there early! It's a tiny little space that fills up so fast. We enjoyed the quiet of the cafe for a few minutes before the whole place was full and there was a line up out the door! 

For some reason, the apple pie just felt right for the mid-summer evening. I normally choose anything chocolate, but this pie was incredible! I don't think I've ever had such a delicious (and HUGE) piece of pie. (Except for, of course, our Grandma's pies which she is known for!). M had a delightful slice of cheesecake and a press of London Fog while I opted for an espresso. Now, if you are a chocolate lover and not in the mood for pie, I strongly recommend the Sweet Revenge or Chocolate Gateau- both incredibly rich with chocolatey goodness.

Sweet Revenge is only open in the evenings, but if you are in the Vancouver area be sure to make it a mandatory way to end your day. And they're open really late, so perhaps it could be a late night romantic rendezvous...No matter the occasion, there's a little something to satisfy every sweet tooth!

Sweet Revenge Patisserie

4160 Main Street

604-879-7933

Hours: 7pm-12am, Open until 1am on weekends.

Website: Sweet Revenge

Facebook: Sweet Revenge Patisserie

A Common Creative: Roxanne from Tonic

Creatives are everywhere. We love meeting them! Roxanne is someone I (Kristen) have been seeing around for years, shopping in her stores, but only recently gotten to know. Roxanne is a wonderfully talented lady who owns a fashion boutique with two locations in Saskatoon called Tonic, as well as the online store Farminista. Jenni and I both love Tonic, and the true prairie spirit it brings to fashion. I was happy to bring some of the beautifully curated prairie fashion back to Jenni when we visited Vancouver in August. We loved the pieces Roxanne picked, see our post on the Farminista blog for details on the fashion end of things!

We love hearing how other common creatives get their inspiration, and we were happy to have Roxanne tell us a little bit about her world! 

What brought you to the fashion world of Tonic and Farminista?

I've always been interested in being an entrepreneur. My grandpa had a general store back in the good old days, so I grew up playing store and reading small business magazines. I always had extra racks and displays around, so when I found a small space on broadway, I sold vintage furniture and accessores as well as bags I made. That was called the stuff store. I outgrew my first location and ended up moving behind Lydia's on Broadway and adding vintage clothing and locally made items. I slowly added new clothing until we outgrew that space and ended up moving to a huge space downtown and called it Tonic! So now we have 2 locations ( the 2nd being back on broadway).

What is the best part about running your own shop?

I like the creative process. I like to see something I love in a store in Europe (or any other place) and finding that style to bring back home. Now with farminista, our online store, it's a little reversed at times. We have local styles or designs that we send to our regular customers who have moved away and can't shop regularly at tonic like they used to.

Where do you find inspiration for fashion trends?

Every where!! I always notice something different and that's what we order for Tonic and Farminista. We do like to get a lot of our brands from Europe. We think they are just a little bit ahead of us in the risk taking fashion- so it's always unique and special!

What is the biggest lesson you've learned in running your shop, thus far?  

It's a ton of work. Fashion is always changing and so are we. We change all of our stock every season as well as the layout and decor of the shops- new paint and wallpaper to match the trends. 

Can you name your greatest success?

Staying open and having a family. It's a shock to have a baby and even more shocking to keep running a demanding business- nevermind not getting maternity leave! I feel very blessed to have staff who went above and beyond their job requirements to run the store so I could have 4 babies!

What is a day in the life of your job?

Well, I like to start at the Broadway location to see what they need restocked ( and to have a latte with the manager who happens to be my sister). That location is small, so we restock almost everyday. Then, I go downtown and go through the stock. We have to be careful not to take out items we just loaded online. Our downtown Tonic is our warehouse for our online store, so we keep those items online downtown. After we load up boxes for broadway, we go over new items to put online. We also go over social media, like Instagram and Facebook, to show our customers whats new. Then, I go over what's sold out and order more items if we need. In between all of that, we help girls find outfits or assist with the never ending search for the perfect dress!

What advice do you have to new businesses starting out?

It's a lot of work! 

How do you keep your creative mind going? What do you do to rejuvenate?

My family and friends. It's good to just be silly and do fun things for a few days. Then I find I'm full of new ideas!

Thanks Roxanne for letting us prairie sisters indulge in some prairie fashion on the west coast! And thanks so much for a glimpse into the Tonic and Farminista lifestyle. We love what you do! If you are in need of the perfect dress, or beautiful clothes for everyday, check out Farminista online! See our blog post there for outfit details. And now, just because, here are some silly shots. Because we can never stay serious for too long.

Curated By: Vol. 9

Well look at that. The whole summer has gone by without me doing one of these! I hope you were inspired to create just the same. I know I've been inspired all summer by the wonderful projects and ideas going around the blog world- so many great things! People are just so darn creative these days. This week, especially, I've been pinning a whole lot more and finding all sorts of goodies. Here are the things that have particularly inspired me this past week: 

1. I made this recipe for plum crumble last year when I received a bounty of plums. I enjoyed it so much that I knew I had to make it again just to use up the plums in my fridge that were going bad. It was once again enjoyed with fervour! 

2. I went on a grilled cheese binge this summer but I wish I had come across this recipe sooner before I was all grilled cheesed out. I don't know, somehow Romesco Grilled Cheese with Gruyere + Watercress may make me revisit the obsession once more...

3. M and I recently went to the beach and gathered as much driftwood as we could carry. I'm finding all sorts of creative projects to use it for including this beautiful bedroom clothes hanger! (original source unknown).

4. Mandi recently posted on A Beautiful Mess showcasing her DIY cake dome and cloche jars. I've never used a cake dome before, but kind of want to just because it looks so pretty! 

5. Bridget from Deer Circus posted this incredible tribute to her grandmother today. I am always in awe of writers and Bridget is no exception. This piece is particularly beautiful and I felt compelled to share it. Grief is a very familiar thing for me (and Kristen, I'm sure) and the picture Bridget paints of the physicality of emotion pinpoints it perfectly. 

6. And just because we've now entered September (even though I'm not ready to give up summer), a really gorgeous shot of autumnal trees on a lake. The one picture this week that made me think, "hmm, maybe I can do this Fall thing...". 

I hope you feel inspired and encouraged as you enter your weekends!

-Jenni