september snow

*aaaaahhh* Snow - perfect and unique little crystals, as delicate as your foggy breath on a cold morning. Decorating trees and rooftops more gracefully than any other thing or living being could. Prompting the unpacking of snuggly things like scarves and mittens, and warm fuzzy boots. Bringing pink to our cheeks and wet to our noses. Making hot chocolate seem like it was heaven sent, and tea the most beloved beverage on the planet. You make candles seem brighter, and fires seem warmer. You make staying in feel like a treat, and still let us watch you from our frosty windows. You are cold, but you bring warmth to our hearts.

I loooooove you snow. I hope you don't take it personally that when February rolls around I wish you had never came. But right now, I'm so happy you're here!

my new favourite thing

With the ever increasing stress levels that even just everyday life can bring, I've been searching for more ways to wind down and relax. Things like yoga, reading books, watching recorded episodes of Oprah or not working in the evenings (FYI - it's past 9pm...I just finished working) are some things I like to consider relaxing.

But my favourite new compliment to associate with relaxing and reading a book for example, is tea with milk! (I know right? Welcome to planet earth Hilary...) I've been enjoying Starbuck's London Fog Latte for about a year now, but only a couple weeks ago had I tried making it at home for the first time. It doesn't even have to be Earl grey, any darkish tea will work (can you tell how much I know about tea?) and it's equally as delicious for a fraction of the price. All you need is hot tea and a splash of milk, and you're good to go!

There have been studies done on milk decreasing the health benefits of tea...but seriously people. Drinking tea with milk is hardly going to affect you as much as not eating properly, smoking or not exercising. So keep drinking! I don't know how much is too much though...I feel like this is healthier than coffee, though I can't be sure and I'm not interested in figuring that out right now - so I have maybe 2 a day, plus 1 coffee. I don't add sugar to anything, so it can't be that bad. It's the best before I start teaching - nothing makes an evening more pleasant then a hot cuppa tea to accompany my lessons...mmm...

subscribe by email ...and tea post?

In a rash decision to create a blog for the Peredo/Amante family so that we can all keep in touch easily, I thought I'd check first if I could get an email subscription working for the blog, the easiest way for everyone to receive updates and family event information. So I put it on my page first to see if it works...and here it is! This should arrive in my email, and after I press 'Publish' I'll promptly go and check to see how it turns out.

We'll see if I continue with the idea for a family blog...we were thinking that chances are I might be the only one using it. Well...maybe me and our techno-savvy Uncle Glenn. So we're probably going to put that on hold until we've breifed everyone on the idea and have their OK on participation. In the meantime, it's easier for you to subscribe to my blog.

Oh dear. Hello teapots. How did you get here? Well the truth is, I was really just randomly searching for a picture to place in this post to see how it turns out in the email subscription update, and I love teapots so I searched that first. Somehow I ended up on these ones...which also reveal a secret 'thing' I have for everyday real things that have been re-created with stuffing for insides. What a lucky find!! See more from Jodie at Ric-Rac.

keeping me company

With everything that's happening around here these days, all the stress and worrying about my business, it makes me so happy to know that people are making a living by just simply being creative. Seeing these hand made pieces of art make me absolutely warm and squishy inside - exactly what I need before getting under the covers to keep my mind off of other things. All of the photos below are taken from Udessi, an online gallery showcasing Australian artists and their creative output - how did I end up here, you might ask? It was a "Blog of Note" recently. For very good reasons. I highly recommend you take time for a visit!

This gorgeous pillow reminds me of the redecorating Noel and I just did in our master bedroom. How absolutely perfect it would be to sit this atop our new, fresh white bed linens, to compliment the other dusty/pale blue, grey and wooden accents we've chosen for our room. And it's just the perfect mix of the sweet, contemporary, retro, vintage style that we're going for too...I want this pillow. Badly. And lots of others just like it (cushion cover designed and made by hand by artist Carmel Killin from Feed the Dog).

These sweetie little bunnies are exactly my weakness. There are few things that I love more than stuffed animal friends that are brand new, but look like they have been well loved. They're so simple these tiny stuffed creatures, there's nothing over the top about them, they aren't fancy or pretentious - they just....I can't quite think of the word right now. Something about them reminds me of children's books like, "The Velveteen Rabbit". They remind me of growing up...maybe not me specifically. But in those classic tales there always seems to be a stuffed bunny who looks just like these guys. These "Biscuit Bunnies" are made by Florence Forrest from Flying Star Toys. Can't you imagine your future babies, wearing one piece pyjama's (with booties, of course) waddling around holding Mr. Biscuit by one ear with the other hand's thumb in their mouth? This is too sweet.

I love you biscuit bunny. I wish I could take you home with me.

fluffies

It just seems to be getting colder. It's a shame that my husband is away, and unable to pre-warm the bed for me. I miss him when he's gone. Hello soft, cuddly, but sadly cold, pillowy goodness. Goodnight World.

flurries

What a gloomy day. But first, a reflection: as of recently, we've had a few glorious days of warmish weather and heavenly sunshine, you could sit on the deck with the sun in your face, wearing dark colours to soak up the heat, feeling it close to your skin, breathing in the crisp, clean air. The best was having the late afternoon sun shine in through your front windows and fill the house with warmth and light...oh how I miss the sun when it's gone! I should be thankful though, I complain about the weather too much...

We're currently sitting at -13C, with a nasty windchill of -25C, which we haven't seen in a few weeks if I'm remembering correctly. Where (oh where!) did the sunshine go? I woke up early this morning to wait for a visit, and the sun never came. I don't think it will today, instead we're left with windy, biting flurries. I'm thankful that I don't have to leave the house. My errands can be left until tomorrow - at least they're forcasting sunshine, with the cold.

I've already got the fireplace going, warming up the main floor. It's time I make myself some yummy brunch and a warm coffee. I plan to enjoy it sitting close to the fire with cozy clothes and a good TV show. I wonder what's on at 11 o'clock in the morning...