DAILY LIFE

homemade christmas ornament

A tradition I love in my aunt’s house and a book that might spark one in yours

December 7, 2015

Snowflakes have come along way since I was little.  I remember when I first learned that there were sites that have snowflake patterns so I didn’t end up with my usual square with little holes cut out.  This year I’m excited to make paper Star Wars snowflakes with my guys and I’m so thankful people […]

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cutting down a tree at christmas creek near seattle

A few Seattle weekend ideas if you need some festive plans

December 5, 2015

Last weekend we got our Christmas tree at Christmas Creek, a tradition we only broke once (last year when we had to buy our tree somewhere else that was still lovely) and still even went there just to see Santa.  I’ve been asked a lot about Christmas Creek lately and it will probably forever be […]

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make your own advent calendar project

December 1st: let the advent-ure begin

December 3, 2015

Can I tell you how overjoyed I am with this advent calendar project some lovelies in my life are making for me?  I never could have anticipated how much these beautiful words could fill a heart more than all the stuff you can buy. But oh, how magical it’s been so far. My kids have […]

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farmer browns christmas tree ucut near seattle

An advent calendar made with love on a Monday

November 16, 2015

Amidst the dreary Seattle weather, the daily election dramas, the red cup battles and sadness over horrific world events I’m not ready to lose my holiday spirit.  There is so much in life to be thankful for, to be happy for and to spread joy for-I think that’s what drives me to live and I’m […]

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la jolla with kids for one day

One sweet day in La Jolla with kids

November 11, 2015

I’m not used to being the one who goes away for business, so when I was invited to an event in San Diego a little while back, I brought my family along and gave them strict orders to leave me alone while the conference was on and we would all hang out together for one […]

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cracking eggs with kids and they end up in the shape of a happy facep

Travel wants on a Monday

November 9, 2015

Oh if we could only curl up like pigs in a blanket and drink coffee all day in front of a fire today is the kind of Monday in Seattle that would warrant that.  The rain is pouring, the heater is on and I just want to burrow somewhere toasty and not come out until […]

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a remote control car delivers your order at Blue C sushi in Uvillage and kids love it

A new bookstore and robata robotized at Uvillage (with Amazon Books and Blue C Sushi

November 5, 2015

I’m more of a coffee cup half full type of girl so when my little guy ended up home because of a fever the night before (and a 24 hour rule at school where you can’t come back until fever has been over for 24 hours) on a day when Amazon opens its first book […]

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rancho bernardo inn at sunset

Because we all need an excuse to go to San Diego in the Fall (#myprintlymoms)

November 3, 2015

How thankful am I to MomSelect and Maria Bailey?  I was invited to come to a Print and Pamper Retreat for HP to learn about HP and My Printly for a group called MyPrintlymoms and hang out with some fantastic ladies at a place called  Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego and it was delightful. It was […]

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these costumes did not come with the light sabers but it was fun to wear them at boo at the zoo

Hiding the candy and trying not to shop on a Monday

November 2, 2015

Oh, what a weekend!  Are you also buried under a pile of candy today too?  My guys had a great time this Halloween and were so proud of their Star Wars costumes and I think the light sabres were their favorite part. We were going to go as a family costume again this year, but […]

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dahlia bakery cookbook from Tom Douglas in Seattle

How to be invited to a private dinner with Tom Douglas at Seattle Macy’s 

October 30, 2015

This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own: Do you have a copy of this book, the Dahlia Bakery Cookbook? It’s one of my favorites and so is its namesake bakery, the Dahlia Bakery in Seattle, Washington, where you can find many of the recipes from the […]

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yuzu and ponkan kochi products from Japan at Uwajimaya

A plea for icecrin on a Monday (Uwajimaya, Seattle)

October 26, 2015

Sometimes you just end up somewhere for a reason. Did you have a weekend like this too? I found the most awesome elliptical trainer the other day because I use Classpass and it led me to Emerald City Athletics where I tried a Life Fitness elliptical that had an awesome ‘course’ mode that let me […]

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these costumes did not come with the light sabers but it was fun to wear them at boo at the zoo

What I’m gifting the little Star Wars fans in my life so they can share the Force

October 23, 2015

My world is currently a strange place where the two hurricane forces that control it are always quizzing me on my Star Wars knowledge, making me read everything they can get their hands on about Star Wars and cutting and turning any paper/boxes/washi tape I’ve left on low shelves into Star Wars creations that litter […]

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waiting for the water taxi

A suite hotel with breakfast and a great location (Victoria, BC)

October 21, 2015

Every time I hear the song “Under the Boardwalk” I’m whisked back to the steps along the water in front of the Empress hotel where the buskers seem to play this song over and over through the summers of my memories in Victoria BC as a child. So this summer when we returned to Vancouver […]

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sign outside of cafe medina vancouver

When it feels like time cheats you a little on a Monday

October 19, 2015

Last night we groggily unloaded our kids from the car after a trip up north for my sis-in-law’s baby shower.  And just like the trips we’ve gone on before, I carried one of my sleeping babies from the car and up the stairs and tried to put him into his bunk.  But when I got […]

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shades of autumn

If your car drives in auto-pilot in Seattle on a Friday

October 16, 2015

The hubby’s vehicle got an update the other day that makes it pretty much drive on its own and it freaks me out.  There is a small part of me that thinks one day Elon Musk is going to call all his vehicles back to their mother ship and we will all be whisked away […]

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view of a roller coaster near San Diego

Car2Go Electric Car envy in San Diego

October 14, 2015

It isn’t hard to find good things to say about Car2Go in Seattle. I think they are the main reason my husband has been able to bike to work for the past couple years because they are so easy to use that they provide a great backup for when he needs a car in the […]

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orange leaves in seattle

Eye opening things to be thankful for on a Monday

October 12, 2015

First of all, happy thanksgiving lovelies! I’m so thankful that having Canadian roots lets my family celebrate a holiday full of thanks not only once but twice every year!   Are you celebrating today too?  We just got back literally a few hours ago from a weekend conference in San Diego (that I’ll definitely catch […]

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family rides with kids on bikes

Looking for fall leaves on a family ride (Marymoor Park to Woodinville)

October 8, 2015

As a mom of boys there really is no point asking if we can go get family pictures in the beautiful autumn leaves. This is what will happen: “Awww….mom!” Boy #1 “Awww…mom!!!!” Boy #2 “Do we have too?” Boy #3.  The husband. So instead I ask if we want to bike ride and then I […]

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family bike rides with kids in seattle

Getting ready for an October Monday in Seattle

October 5, 2015

I can totally get used to these no-umbrella, sunny fall weekends in Seattle especially now that it’s soccer season.  We spent the weekend tidying the house, playing soccer and bike-riding through gorgeous fall leaves (and I’ll update you on our big bike ride later this week!) but it’s perfectly autumn in Seattle right now so […]

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ifly seattle with kids

Indoor skydiving with the family (Ifly Seattle)

October 2, 2015

For birthdays in our family we like to do experience gifts.  The kids have really enjoyed going to the Space Needle for Dinner for their birthday and I was thinking about what to do for my husband for his birthday. I thought a fun birthday gift might be a sight-seeing trip in a small plane […]

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