Crafty and Creative

This past weekend was a wonderful weekend for showcasing the many talents of the women of Kingston.  On Saturday, there was the Kingston's Women's Expo, an indoor event held at the Invista Centre. The KWE main goal is to bring together local businesses that are run by women, or that offer services to women. It was a day filled with exhibits, samplings, entertainment, interactive demonstrations, and shopping opportunities.  Then, on the Sunday, held outdoors at City Park, was the Women's Art Festival. The WAF was originally started in the late 70's by a group of women who were interested in promoting the work of women artists. Offering another opportunity to enjoy entertainment, samplings and more shopping!

At the WAF there was one particular vendor that stood out for me.  365 Lucky Days.  Now, I have done a little background check, and I seem to be the last person in the blogosphere to know about her.  Almost a year ago, Lucky Jackson set out to embroider something everyday for a year. And, to hold herself accountable, she has created a blog where she posts each piece she makes.  This is not your typical embroidery either. These pieces are fun, whimsical and colourful. The great thing about these hoop embroideries is in the details. Not only does she use super cool vintage prints for the background, but there are also touches of lace, beads and other playful fabrics.  They are all so cool that I am still trying to decide which one I want to buy!

I could go on and on about her and her work, but I will let the embroidery do the talking! Check it out for yourself. http://www.luckyjackson.bigcartel.com

I wonder what I'd look like if I was LUCKY enough to be embroidered?!

Spiral into Control

Having a functional wardrobe means more than just having items in your closet that you love, that fit your lifestyle, and that suit your body type.  It is also crucial to have a system. An organizational system.  Some of my clients like to colour coordinate, some separate into tops/skirts/pants, while others keep their work clothes and casual clothes separated. Which ever method you choose, being able to see what you have and knowing what you have is key.

If you don't have the time or the know-how, Karyn can help.  Karyn Beacock is a trained professional organizer and owner of Spiral into Control.  The following are tips she has shared in order to help you take control of your closet.

Did you know that we only wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time?

Spring is just around the corner and the perfect time to tackle organization of your closet. But before you can organize you must PURGE! But you say to yourself, “there are so many clothes-how do I know what to get rid of?”

To start, clear your schedule for the day, and set a goal to work through your closet until your spring purge is complete.

STEP 1- Clear out your entire closet, find a good space to work in. Look at each piece individually. Really look at it. Try it on if you need to. And then answer these questions. If the answer if yes, it is time for the piece to go!

· Is it ripped, torn or stained?

· Does it the not fit the way that you want it to right NOW?

· Do you feel less that fantastic in it?

· Have you been holding on to it since 1989?

STEP 2- Sort into categories. Be ruthless as you go through your clothes and in what you decide to do with them. It is important at this point to think about what your image is, what image do you want to project? Now is the time to make choices on your clothes which enforce this.

· Keep- These are the pieces that you feel amazing in, they are the classic pieces. These are the clothes that flatter & complement your figure and that you LOVE!

· Mend- These are the pieces that, if they were not ripped, you would be worn rather than sitting in a pile at the bottom of your closet. If they make the cut bring them in to be repaired. Every girl needs a good seamstress.

Donate/Give Away -Do you have a favourite charity. Do you have a cause close to your heart. There are not for profit organizations throughout Cananda who would be very greatful for the clothes you no longer wear (from 1989 or otherwise).Checkout www.canadahelps.org for a charity near you. Alternatively, do you have a sibling, a younger cousin who would benefit from your hand me downs?

· Sell It- For those who have the patience and talent, Ebay and Kijiji are great places to make money for quality pieces. Also, consignment stores are another great alternative, and they do the work for you.

· Throw Away-These are the pieces that are non salvageable. These are the pieces that are too far gone that it would be tacky to send them to donations. Make them into rags, if you are handy make a quilt but put them out of their misery now and do not pass them onto someone to have to deal with.

**Anything that you love and meets the “keep” criteria but it is out of season put away in storage for the appropriate season**

Once you have sorted through your closet there is one more trick to help with the closet purge. It is called the “Reverse Hanger Trick”

· As you place your clothes turn all hangers in the closet backwards

· When you wear something, wash it and then put the hanger forward

· After 6 months, anything left reversed is donated!

Spiral into Control - Professional Organizing Services focuses on Home, Office & Lifestyle organizing. Spiral into Control works with clients to provide and implement solutions for organized living. Working together to create order from chaos gives my clients more time to do the things they want to do!

Spiral Into Control is a member of the Professional Organizers in Canada. For more information or to get in touch with Karyn, check out www.spiralintocontrol.org

Sorting through and organizing your wardrobe shouldn't be stressful or time consuming.  It is a process that will leave your closet looking clean and fresh, not to mention your clothes will hang properly, look great and will be ready to wear.

Thanks for the tips Karyn!

Please leave your comments or share any other tips or tricks that you might have.

the colours of curry

Curry. There are so many reasons why I love curry. The flavours, the colours, the smells, the taste!  And now thanks to my wonderful neighbour and friend, I love the process of creating it.

Friday morning, while the fluffy white snow fell, Wendy and I started our first creative exchange.  As I have mentioned before, I love to make things. Experiment. Step out of my comfort zone and try new things. To grow and learn.  So when Wendy asked me if I'd be interested in doing an exchange
(read about Wendy's experience here)  - my styling expertise for her cooking expertise - I was all over it!

Indian food is a staple in our house.  Most families have pizza night, well, we have curry night.  Most of the time we order it. Simple, quick and delicious, and our restaurant of choice is Darbar. However, on the rare occasion that I decide to make it, it usually comes out of a jar.  I have tried making my own from scratch too, but it never seemed to turn out the way I expected it to, or liked.  Plus, I am terrible at following recipes!  I prefer to just "wing" it and add whatever I like and whatever I have on hand (one reason why I love to make soups).

Enter Wendy.  We first got a taste of Wendy's cooking prowess after our daughter Ryan was born.  She made us quinoa, curried beets along with a vegetable curry. Needless to say, it was delicious! Lucky for us, since she lives two doors up, we get to sample some of her cooking on a fairly regular basis.

 Cooking with Wendy was a fun and relaxing experience.  There was no pressure for perfection.  Just guidance. And laughs. Lots of laughs.  Wendy is a joyful person. She loves to cook. Loves to be around people. And she is one beautiful singer - check it out for yourself. 

The three dishes that we made were: 

Butternut squash curry with coconut milk

Cabbage curry

Lentil curry with carrots

& Peach chutney

The ingredients were fresh. The recipes were easy. And the final products were amazing.  

our spice selection

adding canned tomatoes to each dish

butternut squash curry with coconut milk

cabbage curry

adding grated beets to the cabbage curry

lentil & carrot curry

our creations

what I got to take home!!

I had such a great time cooking with Wendy. I feel more empowered and I am still amazed at how easy it all was.  My husband was thrilled when I came home with jars full of this yumminess. And I am now looking forward to our next curry night when I attempt it all by myself. Wish me luck!

Declaring my love

I love soup.  It's warm and nourishing.  Delicious and comforting.  Easy to make, and a great way to use up any leftover fruits or veggies.  Best of all, you can always put your own spin on any recipe.  What's not to love?

My affinity for soup is one of the things that helps me get through the cold winter months - that and my collection of chunky knit sweaters.  Once the temperature drops, I grab my trusty soup pot and start whipping up a batch of heart-warming, belly-filling deliciousness.

Of course this love affair has not gone unnoticed.  For Christmas, I received a thoughtful gift from my brother. A cooking course at Liaison College, here in Kingston, for soups and breads.  Needless to say, I was thrilled.  More soup recipes to add to my repertoire.  YUM!

The menu for the evening was:

Pear & Parsnip soup

French Onion soup

Black Bean soup

Chicken & Coconut soup

Seafood Chowder

Smoked Paprika & Cheddar Scones

Thyme Scented Apple Foccaccia

Cinnamon Buns

Our soup buffet

The menu excited me. The process aroused me. The Black Bean Soup, knocked me off my feet!  The texture, the seasoning, the garnish. Divine, hearty, comforting.  I am all about sharing what I love (with a few exceptions), so here is the recipe.

Black Bean Soup

(courtesy of Liaison College)

Ingredients:

3 cups cooked black beans

8 cups of ham stock (or chicken)

3 stalks of celery

2 onions, minced

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 red pepper, diced

1 carrot, minced

1 can (48oz) diced tomatoes

1 lime, juice & rind

2 bay leaves

2tsp thyme

4tsp ground cumin

salt & pepper

cilantro, sour cream, avocado, tomato - for garnish

Method: 

1. Sweat celery, onion, garlic, carrots, pepper in oil

2. Add tomatoes, beans, herbs & spices, lime juice & rind

3. Add stock and simmer until vegetables are el dente

4. Adjust seasoning.

5. Devour

6. Share with someone you love

7. Store leftovers (if any)

8. Repeat steps 5 to 7!

"Soup puts the heart at ease, calms down the violence of hunger, eliminates the tension of the day, and awakens and refines the appetite." Auguste Escoffier

I would love to hear about your favourite soup, and please feel free to share your recipes!

Being connected

We do lots of travelling. Not necessarily to far away destinations, but we like to be on the move. Short trips to Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto. Or longer trips states side or exploring the county (PEC that is). We do this partly because I'm a stay at home mom, and, well, I get fed up of being home, and partly to spend quality time as a family.  (At least that's how I sell it to my husband).

Of course most of these trips are wonderful.  Showing the girls where we grew up.  Discovering new places together.  But naturally, some of these trips are terrible. The kind that you know the second you leave the house it was a mistake.  BIG mistake.  But you keep driving anyway. Screaming all the way - you and the kids. Threatening to pull over. To throw the dvd player out the window. To leave them at the next rest stop. And to vow NEVER to travel again - and yet we will. Because amidst the chaos, there are memories and traditions being made.

The beauty of family vacations is that you learn about one another, good or bad. As a parent, you have more time to spend really being there with your kids.  No distractions. No household chores looming.  Nothing to divert our attention.  Ah, the joys of being connected.

A glimpse into our future.

Tweeting: family vacation = epic fail!

Another online shopping purchase completed!

Now if we could just get our girls to do the same.

Dress it up!

Easy. Comfortable. Simple. These are usually the 3 things my clients want when it comes to their wardrobe.  Not surprisingly, the majority of my clientele are mothers.  If given the choice between more sleep or more style, sleep would win hands down.

So here is my number one tip to looking put-together without putting in a lot of time or effort. Trust me, it's doable... grab a dress!  It's not as crazy as it sounds. I promise.  Really, there is nothing easier than throwing on a dress in the morning.  It can be worn loose fitting or belted. For a night out with friends or picking up the kids from school.  It can be worn with jeans, leggings or tights. Heels, flats or boots.  Add a necklace or scarf and you are good to go!

     Night Out

Mix it up

Everyday Style

Easy. Comfortable. Simple. Chic!

say yippie!

I am constantly amazed by how many mom bloggers are out there!  All working hard to find balance between family life, work life, the pushes and pulls of being a mom, friend, daughter and wife.  I am also extremely impressed with how creative moms are. Definitely putting my crafting abilities to shame!  But it does inspire me to do more. Try more. Learn more. Create more.

One of these mom blogger extraordinaire happens to be a good friend of mine and the source of inspiration for me to start blogging.  Jillian Murphy is a mom of two, wife, Naturopathic Doctor, artist, foodie, crafter, health enthusiast, DIY'er and business owner.  Yes, she does it all!

I have no doubt that Jill's blog, say yippie, will also inspire you. So what are you waiting for? Go grab a cup of coffee and check it out.

         

Tie one on!

I love scarves.  They can be worn all year long. Indoors and outdoors. Come in a variety of fabrics, colours, styles, lengths, patterns. Are inexpensive. And best of all, will always fit you no matter what! Now let's hear it for the scarf!! 

Many people are afraid to experiment with them since finding ways to wear scarves creatively can actually be a bit intimidating.  We have all been there. Standing in front of the mirror, trying to figure out how to toss it, wrap it, drape it or tie it, puzzling over it like it was game of Tetris, yes, Tetris - surprisingly simple, yet surprisingly difficult!


Lucky for us, there are several websites that demonstrate the art of scarf wearing.  One of my favourites is www.scarves.net  All scarves, all the time.  Who knew there are so many cool ways to tie a scarf?!

Love this one!

Now excuse me while I go tie one on!

The Owl and the Peacock

Welcome to the Owl and the Peacock, a blog about life as a mother & entrepreneur, and the struggle to find balance!  I am a mother of two very busy girls and when time allows, I focus my attention on my business as a wardrobe consultant in Kingston, Ontario.  This blog will cover just about anything and everything that I manage to accomplish from day to day - family wise or work wise.  So stay tuned if you're interested in mediocre crafts, easy recipes, and frugal fashions.

As far as the Owl and the Peacock goes, the owl is a symbol of independence, protection and wisdom, which are all things that I strive for. The peacock is a symbol of integrity and beauty - when we show our true colours.  Both are extremely important when it comes to what we choose to wear in order to present our authentic selves.

Please feel free to leave comments, feedback or suggestions.