An oldie but a goodie

I picked up the little gem above on Craigslist a few weeks ago.  I was looking for a record player for the kids to mess around with, so when this Fisher Price one came up I was thrilled.  The kids can be very rough with it but it just keeps going.  I can't say the same for the records which are scratched and on repeat mode most of the time.  It's all part of the fun though. The kids love picking out records at the thrift store and because they are so cheap, I let them go crazy.You can imagine some of the stuff we come home with.  Nothing as ridiculous yet as the albums I came across on Bizarre records.com.  These are my favourites so far...

I actually had this record when I was a kid.

I ♥ my neighbourhood

We spent a lovely Sunday afternoon at our monthly neighbourhood festival.  It was the last one of the summer and unfortunately the only one we attended.  I actually had no idea that this amazing thing was happening right up the street from us every month!  I will definitely be more on it next year.  The drum circle was organized by a group called rhythmic by nature.  I was never really a drum circle kinda gal but I have to tell you, I had a great time and I was able to keep up.  This probably had a little bit to do with the fact that it was mostly people under five drumming and the rhythms were super simple.  O.K a lot a bit.  I also had my cards read which was a downer because apparently I have some systemic health concern that only acupuncture can cure.  who knew?  The best part of the afternoon was watching the kids do Yoga.  The instructor was fantastic and had the kids engaged for 45 minutes!  Even Asher lasted the entire time.  My little yogi.

Music Monday

Once in a while someone like Regina Spektor comes along and restores my faith in new music. Her voice is lovely but what I really enjoy is her original, quirky lyrics and delivery.  There is a playfulness in her songs that I find so refreshing. The whole album is wonderful so if you have a chance, pick it up. For now though, sit back, get comfy and enjoy two of my favourite songs from the album Far.

Mjölk

Oh my goodness, I just discovered the store mjölk! I am swooning over their website and blog, Kitka design . They sell beautiful, simple, Scandinavian and Japanese objects. My kind of heaven. This adorable couple has stolen the life I have dreamed of ever since we went to Finland and Sweden for our honeymoon seven years ago. Not to say that my life isn't lovely and wonderful but owning a store full of gorgeous items and renovating a cottage with painted white floors and amazing vintage finds...well I think I might be sick with jealousy. I was born and lived in Finland for three years before we moved to Toronto and my parents went back with us every summer to our small Island near Kemia. I grew up with Aalto, Aarikka, Marimekko, Arabia and Iittala and only as an adult knew how lucky I was to be surrounded by such iconic design. Every once in a while I will ask nicely and my mom will "lend" me an Aalto vase or an Iittala candle stick and it just transforms my entire house. I will walk into the room just to peek at it's loveliness and then walk away only to walk right back again and look at it one more time. I do this with tulips as well. I know I sound a little cuckoo but it really brings me so much pleasure. Although I probably will not be able to afford anything in their store, I want to go just to be around it all. There will be some squealing so you might want to avoid it the day I visit.

Lasagna garden revisted

Remember a while back My friend Linda and I planted a Lasagna garden? Here is the link if you want to see how it all began. Anyways, our garden is all grown up now and bears gifts for us everyday. Cucumbers, zucchini, rainbow Swiss chard, peppers and tomatoes. Lots and lots of tomatoes. It was a great success and the best part was that it barely needed any maintenance at all. It helped that it rained consistently this summer and it retained all that water beautifully. Today I made a sweet and healthy zucchini bread from one of the huge zucchinis that Ezra picked. It's all very exciting and I am so proud of our garden. We have plans to plant another one soon.

Dufferin Grove

Hands down the best park in Toronto! This place has it all; Farmer's market, wading pool, shaded wooden playground, incredible sand pit area with real shovels, logs and running water, basketball court, ice skating/skateboard area, cafe with organic, kid friendly, inexpensive food, wood burning oven, amazing volunteers and activities all year long. Phew! That was a mouthful but I can't say enough about this wonderful place. It's the mecca of playgrounds everywhere.

Music monday

CBC radio has always been a great place for me to discover new music. One afternoon Last week while I was driving home from a friend's house, I heard Hanna Georgas singing Deep end. I really like her sound and love how empowering the song feels. It also features some banjo which I'm a sucker for. Check it out....

Vintage goodness

When I came across Vintage Love on Free People's website today via simple song, my heart skipped a beat. The clothes, the accessories, the shoes....I want it all. With a little bit of searching you could find similar pieces for much cheaper elsewhere. But when they put the pieces together like that looking so adorable and stylish, well a hippie girl like me might just do something rash and buy this shirt for a ridiculous amount of money. Might!

Adventuring

With the sky darkening and the low grumble of thunder in the distant the kids and I decided that it was the perfect time to go for a walk in the woods. We were getting restless at home and we thought a small adventure was in order. There is a wooded area close to where we live that has a short hike perfect for small children. They even have a vegetable patch where kids of all ages can help garden every Wednesday throughout the growing year. We took the camera and I let Ezra and Asher take some pictures. Here are the results...

Back to school

I know, I know it's a little early for back to school but a mother can dream...can't she? Click on the pics for more info.

Sandbanks

We took the kids camping this weekend near Sandbanks provincial park about two and half hours east of Toronto. It has become one of our favourite places ever to spend the day. Warm, soft sand and clear, shallow water makes it the perfect beach for families. They spent hours and hours playing with sand, water, sticks, shells and rocks. It was a magical day for them and one I think will stand out as the best of this summer.

gone fishing..

We were packing for a camping trip this morning when all of a sudden I heard a primal scream. Ezra had found the fishing rod and decided to "go fishing". Well needless to say he caught a little brother...right in the hand. It was pretty horrific how deep the hook went in but I kept my head, cut off the string and rushed them to the doctor's office. The nurse quickly and efficiently froze the hand and slipped out the hook. No stitches! There was some screaming but all in all we did really well. Nothing a lollipop, chocolate chips, a movie and some new lego guys couldn't cure. I would do anything for him right now. My poor sweet boy. I think I am more shaken up then he is.