This past weekend was the Cathedral Village Arts Festival. It's one of my favourite events in the city and a great opportunity to shop some local vendors. We actually went twice this year: once in the morning and again in the afternoon with a friend. It is a nice walk from our house and we can always use the fresh air!
This was the third year for Rowyn and the bazillionth for me. It was our first without Daddio though, but we made a day of it, just us ladies. We shopped, we ate, we sipped lemonade. We walked all the way home for a nap Rowyn didn't think she needed but really could have used. And the weather was gorgeous, minus some wind gusts and a little rainy fake out.
It was actually quite bizarre. The rain came on and it seemed like a downpour was imminent. We had walked over, so this was especially bad news for us. As I was trying to find a covered area to take shelter, the sky cleared right up and it was instant summer. In the meantime, we had come across the Blue Sky Cultural Connections booth with all their percussion instruments to try. This was definitely Rowyn's favourite stop of the day.
I usually do a lot of looking and not a lot of buying, but this year I found so many great things. My favourite silk-screening shop, Salgado Fenwick, was there this year so it was t-shirts and tanks for everyone!
I am not a big wearer of jewelry but I am in love with bubble studs. I found some fun pairs at Acacia Accessories that I just had to take home. They had a great deal when you purchased three, so obviously I took advantage. Ice cream cones?!? How could I not?! Pop over to their site and grab 20% off when you shop online with the code RE20 until January 1, 2018!
Last year we bought my daughter her first little dolly from Lucalou Crafts. We had selected the last little ginger they had and Rowyn still loves her. This year I let her pick out a new friend and she clearly has only eyes for red-heads because now she has another. This one was rocking matching pigtails.
I noticed this adorable romper hanging on the outside of Rinnie Apparel's booth. It was the only one and is sized to fit Rowyn next summer. I have a slight obsession with toddler clothing. Why is everything so darn cute!?!
Our last stop on the big loop was to say hi to my art teacher, Carla Lorence. She also makes and sells her ceramic wares at local festivals and I was lucky to scoop up this beautiful pot before the wind took out her tent. I wish I would have taken a picture of the inside before filling it, but it has bands of colour similar to the flower I chose to live in it.
What a great weekend! We were both exhausted at the end of the day but it was such a delightful time. I love that this is just another tradition that we get to enjoy together as a family. If you have never been, you must go next year; it is such a kid-friendly event. Plus, there are mini-donuts if you need one more reason!
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The teacher in me is so overjoyed by my daughter's love of reading. Since she could communicate, books have been her number one request. Nothing is more adorable than a wee babe signing "more" and pointing to her bookshelf. Swoon.
My first blog post was all about how I choose good books from the library or bookstore. Illustrations are the first thing I notice and the ones in Lane Smith's, A Perfect Day, immediately caught my eye. Smith is an award-winning author and illustrator, and served as both in this wonderful book. His use of mixed media to beautifully portray the simple pleasures of four—er, five—creatures, provides the perfect visual accompaniment to this precarious tale. The text is simple and repetitive, making it a captivating choice for a read aloud, and the storyline features a comedic twist that will delight your little ones. My daughter is still requesting this book, even long after we'd returned it to the library. If you're looking for something fresh to read, Rowyn and I both recommend this gem!
We have a pretty vibrant city, especially after the snow melts. Since Rowyn was born, we've made attending the weekly Farmer's Market a family thing. It started as a way to get out of the house but now I use the market as a way to gather local ingredients for our menu for the week. This year, we've morphed our ritual into a Saturday lunch date. We get up and enjoy breakfast en route so we don't miss out on our favourite delights.
These scrumptious rings from Do-Si Donut are one of our top picks if we can get there early enough. These bad boys usually sell out early. I thought we were in good shape this morning, but we snapped up the last single - Seabuckthorn Berry & White Chocolate - just before 10am. Totally worth it. It's actually taking all of my willpower not to eat the last bite my toddler saved for after her nap.
Another vendor we frequent is Glow Juicery. I normally neglect to bring my own breakfast on market mornings, so grabbing a juice from Glow often hits the spot. And my daughter enjoys partaking in a freshly pressed beverage as well. This morning we shared a Citrus Glow. It has a delightful zip from the ginger that we dig.
Our final stop today was at our new BFF, Best Food Forward. We've enjoyed a variety of items off of their menu and today was no exception. Their offerings change from market to market, so we grab what suits our mood of the day and take it to enjoy at home. Today we went with their Roast Beef Beast with its tender beef piled on a parmesan pepper sourdough with mixed greens, white cheddar, yorkshire pudding, and pickled red onions, and then drizzled with an au jus reduction. Amaze.
These three vendors all happen to be new to the market this year. I highly recommend stopping by any one (or all) of these booths at the next market this Wednesday!
I finally had the opportunity to attend one of the handmade markets put on by The Wren this weekend. The sister-duo have been bringing together local artisans in their seasonal pop-ups for the past three years and I was so delighted by my first shopping experience. I have attended my fair share of craft/trade shows in the past and I always find they lack variety. This weekend's market was fresh with over 40 unique vendors showcasing their handmade goods.
I used to find it difficult when my husband was working away from home. Leaving the house with a baby was a life-altering event that took hours of preplanning and pep talks. In hindsight it seems silly, but I really had to force myself out of my comfort zone every time we went somewhere. Eventually it became our new normal and now I just pack her up and away we go. Being home alone with a toddler for weeks on end can be tough, so when my best lady friend asked if I wanted to meet at The Wren's Spring Handmade Market, I jumped at the chance. I brought Rowyn along, strapped to my back to keep her contained while we shopped.
My friend found a charming pair of earrings at Fern & Sparrow, and while I claimed to be "just looking", I also found a sweet new pair of studs courtesy of FourSquared Designs. Their eclectic pieces are designed and crafted by a foursome of friends. Most items are one-of-a-kind, which made it hard to choose only one pair. Just look at these whimsical rainclouds!
I love attending these events and love that I can take Rowyn along with me. She loves looking at all the beautiful creations as much as I do. I left feeling inspired to try making something of my own. There are so many new things I want to try and I know exactly where I am going to start. More details on that later!
Shout out to Michelle Austin Photography via The Wren, g.a.s. art, and FourSquared Designs for sharing their photos with me!
Before I settled into my role of mother, I was an elementary school teacher here in the city. My teaching experience was primarily in the early years and, although I am not utilizing my degree in the classroom, I am finding my skills transferable to motherhood. Choosing quality books was always something I loved doing for my students and it's something I'm enjoying doing with my daughter. Every week we check out new books after our Mainly Mother Goose program at our local library branch. Rowyn loves picking out books to take home and it has introduced us to some new faves we can add to our collection.
There is no shortage of picture books to read but not all books are created equal. I studied children's literature in university and learned a lot about what to look for in a quality book. If I had to narrow it down, these would be my top three criteria to look for when selecting books for little ones:
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