An Urban Quest: A Girls Night in K-Town

2 weekends ago we had a girls night here in Kingston. We pretty much do the same thing when we go out, have some drinks at home and then head out to the pubs. This time we decided to make the trip down to the pub a bit more of an adventure, and try our hands (minds) at an Urban Quest. 

So we downloaded our handy dandy clues book from the site and set out. It was great fun running around the city like crazy people and learning about about the places we walk by everyday. Doing it at night was a bit of a challenge as you can't see all the landmarks, but we had home court advantage and could figure it out. I would love to try it again in a city I didn't know so well, as a way to discover places that are maybe off the beaten path :) Ottawa/Toronto I am looking at you!

When you reach the end - and figure out the final answer, you go online and find out where your restaurant reservation is - How fun is that? It was a nice twist on a night out and a good time was had by all - and maybe too much fun for those who stayed out way past bed time and danced it up at the griz...full circle from where the quest started.

(side note you can win a free quest on Friday's on Urban Quest's fb page - I am trying to win our next one!) 

Getting ready to head out!

First Page

Looks like we found it!

There's the Next spot!

We think we have the right window - but Michelle and Megan thinks it's the other side - see ya later ladies!

Playing tourist in your own city is always fun!

Emily! there is no anarchy allowed on this adventure!!!

figuring out our final answer! (FIY there is math involved )

We did it!!  Now let's keep drinking ....and maybe we should go dancing...I bet some of our new found Kingston facts would make for some good pick up lines... "did you know LaCross was invented in 1608?" That would totally impress :) 

> Jessi 

ERMAHGERD HALERWEEN

I laugh out loud any time I see an ER MAH GERD meme.... Actually I laughing now just thinking about them 
Anyway! Seriously - it's coming up really fast - we have a our annual party next weekend and I haven't really done much to prepare yet..unless pinning counts. I also have not started the kids costumes, so I guess that's what this weekend will be about. Are you dressing up? Or dressing your kids up?

This years we are having a story book/fairy tale theme. It's always exciting to see the costumes people come up with! Here is some of our inspiration.

source/source/source/source

> Jessi 

The Case of the Missing Bloggers

Long time no see. What was going to be a short break - turned into a long one, you know when it stops being fun and becomes work? Yeah that's what happened. And Instagram makes me feel connected to the blog world - so that didn't help.

What's been happening 

- We went to Fan Expo in Toronto and had a fab time

- Reading alot 

- Made a family cookbook for my grandma's 75th

- Put in a new sink (are you old when this is exciting and news worthy???)

- Getting ready for Halloween (what are you being??)

- Sleeping better now that R-Patz and K-Stew are back on (ok I'm joking about the loosing sleep part - not joking about how weirdly obsessed I got about this story)

- Got crafty and made a jewellery display thingy 

- Turned 31 - and am going through some weird hair/wardrobe midlife crisis, I'm branching out of my normal comfort zone - buying jewellery , leather pants - animal prints... 

- Games nights, games nights, games nights - we need to start tweeting about them so Will Wheaton will invite us to play against him!

Overall really I have just been simplifying life and spending time with family and friends. 

- Jessi 

Easiest Eggs Benedict

I have heard that egg benedict is hard to make. But since I have been feeling kinda ballsy in the kitchen I figured I could handle it. 


Uber confident and ready to start, Clifford comes in and says - you know those are really hard right? (He went to cooking school he knows the complicated way to make everything). He then starts asking how I am doing the sauce - where is my double broiler set up...ummm...confidence is wavering but determined to remain a kitchen goddess in training I proceed - ok so maybe it was after I showed him the recipe and he deemed it to be a good way to make it. But details, details , I  made them and they were perfection. Kitchen goddess title still in tack.




I have heard lots about the Pioneer Woman, but have never really gone to her blog until pinterest lead me there - I think I found another love :)


Check out the recipe here!

> Jessi

What's up Tom Hanks?

Do you remember when there was no such thing as the internet, and if you wanted to know who was born on your birthday you had to make sure you were near a TV on the day so Entertainment Tonight would tell you? You didn't do that? Apparently my celeb stalking started young. I was stressed that no one cool would have my b-day, how shameful would that be? Luckily Tom Hanks saved the day (what 9 year old wouldn't be excited to share her b-day with the guy from Big, The Burbs and Joe vs the Volcano - that was my vast repertoire of Hanks films then) 

So now every year on my b-day I always wonder... What is Tom Hanks doing today? This year with my new mad twitter skills maybe I will actually know. 

Anyway it's not the 9th yet so who cares what Tom is up to ( I can call him Tom cause we share a birthday) What are my plans. Normally I would be in the midst of planning a ridiculous theme party - which was going to happen (and it was going to be vintage circus and would have been awesome) but I was not feeling up to it and decided I just wanted to get away, sit on a beach and then hit the town. So that's what I am doing. We booked a schmancy hotel in Toronto and are having a ladies weekend - cause we are definitely ladies (Little Britain anyone?) and I plan to just enjoy a little break in the big city with some friends who are also all about some kid free shenanigans  

Wow that was rambley...  Coles note version:  I'm spending my b-day in Toronto, probably with Tom Hanks.

Toronto Skyline

Distillery District 

> Jessi 

A Long Weekend

Canada Day has come and gone.. As we walked home from the fireworks, sleepy kids in tow, we could hear the youngins' partying it up. When did we get all old?? Not to be outdone by the college kids,  I went home cracked a beer - and  fell asleep... 


That's not to say we didn't have some celebratory drinks - there were lots, just not all night every night  - so we aren't old...just responsible right? and by responsible I mean I didn't have to cancel movie plans because I was in no condition to drive...that didn't happen at all, and by didn't happen I mean did. but hey it was the long weekend and when trying not to feel old theses things happen

> Jessi 

A Little Change of Plans = A Big Adventure

So remember that country wedding I was in...well the bride to be Aminah  made a slight adjustment - and now we are heading to Ireland! I am pretty excited I have travelled a bunch within Canada and the USA I have never left the continent.  


The wedding isn't until October 2013, but that doesn't mean I can't research the crap out of it  now : ) 


Fun facts I am learning - did you know the Titanic was build in Belfast? and that Liam Neeson used to be a boxer? and that most of Braveheart was filmed there? (Obviously I know the important things to research) 


We are saving out pennies now and am hoping to convince Clifford that you can't actually fly from Canada to Ireland - that you have to fly to Paris first :P

Giant's Causeway Northern Ireland 

Blarney Castle 

somewhere in Ireland

> Jessi

Happy Canada Weekend

Happy Canada Weekend to all our fellow Canadians :)
And Happy 3rd Birthday to Lily!

Lazy Days of Summer

Lazy being the key word there. I feel a bit of my blog motivation coming back, so we'll see lol. It's good to take a break sometimes.


I have been cooking and reading alot, and pretty much just enjoying the weather. School is out and I am uber excited to be done making lunches for a few months - it's one of my most dreaded tasks. 


These are a few pics from our evening at the Sandbanks , I have decided I much prefer the quietness of the beach in the evening vs the busy touristy day time. 

> Jessi

From my bookshelf>Nice Girls

Title: Nice Girls/Jane Jameson Series
Author: Molly Harper

Yes. I read this. In fact, I read four of these...and loved every minute of it. No shame.

 Jane Jameson is a straight laced librarian who, once turned into a vampire, gets into all sorts of saucy shenanigans, some of which take place in a restaurant called Shenanigans. This series was absolute fluff but carried with it a great sense of humour and some pretty fun naughty bits. Jane is a great character; she is snarky and sarcastic but also lovable. Molly Harper does a great job creating believable dialogue that made me laugh. I kept thinking "this sounds me and my friends". Plus did you see that cover? It's gloriously hilarious. 

My husband made fun of me so much over these. He's reading Game of Thrones and would say "I can't believe so and so died" and I'd say (minor spoiler alert) "yeah well, Jane is trying on bridesmaid dresses for a werewolf wedding"...cue husbandly eyeroll.

I would classify these as better written than the Sookie Stackhouse books with a more likable heroine and much better dialogue, but with less serious and less complicated story lines. 

Will I read more Molly Harper? Probably. But only if her next series has equally embarrassing titles and covers.

>Cassie

Summer Time

Our weather has definitely turned to summer here! Most of days lately have been spent outside enjoying it - we even went to the beach already, probably the earliest we have ever gone!


Here are a few pics from our trip to a little breakfast crepes restaurant - it was the best thing ever and made me feel a little like we were sitting in Paris (hint, hint Clifford!)


What is new in your neck of the woods? Any big summer adventures planned?

New Fakey Blythe!

Look what came in the mail this week! 

my new fakey Blythe

She looks SO good and she is way better quality then my last fakey. Her arms are made of much sturdier stuff than my other doll and have a lot more articulation.

my custom fakey, still working on those lips :)

Here`s my first custom fakey!

>Cassie

Edit: By fakey I mean they are knock offs I got on ebay :P For the purpose of customization, it's a lot less stressful to learn on one of these than it is to start out on an expenive Blythe doll.

Gan Flea Market

Went to my fave flea market last weekend! Here's what I didn't buy (but should have!)

Fire king mugs 10 for $20

Huge box of Little Golden Books. I wonder what I could have offered for the whole thing?

The cutest cocktail shaker (with matching glasses!!!) ever!

Ceramic cookware in the gravel floored 50% off room. It would have been $10 for the set.

I should have bought this!!!!

Next post, what I actually DID buy :)

>Cassie

How Does Your Garden Grow

I am attempting gardens again this year - something I never have had much luck with. Mainly I get busy and let them go, but this year will be different ...right? 


3 gardens have been put in so far, a lavender one along our fence line, a flower one at the front of our house and  an herb one out back. 


I can't find my pics of the first 2 so here is the herb garden before and after.

BEFORE

a naked little helper!

AFTER

So far it's doing well - the plants are much bigger then were in these pics - and the cats have only dug up and killed one dill plant :)


> Jessi

Happy Monday!


How were your weekends? The crazy warm weather here is making it impossible to stay inside. There is alot of this going on:

I have a bunch of things I need to share including some yard sale finds and the gardens I put in this year :) 

Artist

Why paint on paper when you have skin?? I was pretty desperate to keep her awake so she wouldn't nap at 6pm and then be up all night. Getting paint out worked, but I am  not always sure the mess is worth it! 
* Note: after the bath I found her drawing "tattoos" on her arms with black sharpie - they are never clean for long!


Hope you are having a great week! I hope to finally get caught up on work, but I probably will time waste on pinterest checking out possible hair options for tomorrow's salon visit!

>  Jessi

Vintage Finds

Happy Tuesday! We are just finished a long weekend here in Canada. Although I didn't make it out to any yard sales this weekend, here's some finds from the past few weekends :)

> Jessi