tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60565326271788900682024-03-13T08:17:10.762-07:00Kids Playing with Skullsart. design. food. lifeCara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-80857195665292040242013-01-06T21:54:00.001-08:002013-01-06T22:24:38.525-08:00Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Cookies (Vegan & Gluten Free)Kirk's naturopath recently put him on an anti-inflammatory, hypoallergenic diet. It's very restrictive, but super-healthy, so we've been trying our best to stick to it. It's going pretty well, and I'll have some new food posts for you soon. But in the meantime, I just have to talk about these cookies...<br />
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There's no sugar allowed on this diet, and my sweet tooth has been suffering. So tonight I made it my mission to find a cookie recipe that would be both healthy and satisfying. I found <a href="http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/05/skinny-chunky-monkey-cookies-recipe.html">this one</a>. I made some adjustments based on what I have on hand, and the fact that several of the comments complained that they were bland.<br />
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My version did not turn out bland. Just the opposite. They are SO good! And only 40 caories each!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WVR2t3dYd8o/UOpiwwrZXTI/AAAAAAAABEQ/Scy7t_OihqY/s1600/vegan_banana_cookies_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WVR2t3dYd8o/UOpiwwrZXTI/AAAAAAAABEQ/Scy7t_OihqY/s400/vegan_banana_cookies_2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b>Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Cookies</b><br />
(adapted from <a href="http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/05/skinny-chunky-monkey-cookies-recipe.html">Skinny Chunky Monkey Cookies</a>)<br />
makes 46 small cookies<br />
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3 ripe bananas, mashed<br />
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats<br />
1/4 cup almond butter<br />
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder<br />
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes<br />
1/3 cup carob chips<br />
1/2 cup pumpkin puree<br />
1-1/2 tbsp agave nectar<br />
pinch of salt<br />
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a medium sized bowl, mix all the ingredients together. Let stand 10-20 minutes to soften oats. Drop batter by the teaspoon onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 12-14 minutes.<br />
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These are my new favourite cookies!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iogAKsOEjKA/UOpiw419VDI/AAAAAAAABEM/mz6c9aXVEQg/s1600/vegan_banana_cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iogAKsOEjKA/UOpiw419VDI/AAAAAAAABEM/mz6c9aXVEQg/s400/vegan_banana_cookies.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-43912809043094360072012-11-04T02:00:00.000-08:002012-11-04T02:00:01.044-08:00Veg Eats Vancouver: FrayI've been meaning to check out <a href="http://fray.me/">Fray</a> for a while, especially since I can walk there from my house. Kirk and I finally decided to try it one Sunday because there was no line up for brunch. That's a rare thing in Vancouver.<br />
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Firstly, I like the decor. It's a little hipster, but light and airy and it feels clean in there. And there are crayons on every table and the placemats have fun activities for adults.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-acFrvFPxK2w/UJHpotuuthI/AAAAAAAABBI/iKTFtj20as4/s1600/2012-09-16+11.12.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-acFrvFPxK2w/UJHpotuuthI/AAAAAAAABBI/iKTFtj20as4/s400/2012-09-16+11.12.20.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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I started out with a pot of green tea. I was impressed with the tea pot. The tea was okay.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--GWrsF9vF6E/UJHp0_h5cKI/AAAAAAAABBQ/k7YNU6GvIaM/s1600/2012-09-16+11.14.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--GWrsF9vF6E/UJHp0_h5cKI/AAAAAAAABBQ/k7YNU6GvIaM/s400/2012-09-16+11.14.19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I had the Superfoods Salad. I was a little put off by the $12 price tag ($12 dollars for a salad at brunch?), but it sounded like the thing on the menu I wanted to try the most. It's quinoa, beets. crispy chickpeas (where have you been all my life?), beans, fennel, dried cranberries, kale, herbs and a little bit of raspberry vinaigrette. I understood the price tag as soon as I saw it - it's figgin' huge! I got three full meals out of one bowl, and $12 is a bargain, really. It was good, and I'd get it again.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SGJinDfbpjk/UJHqCu-mA2I/AAAAAAAABBY/_1MgWBbEQqY/s1600/2012-09-16+11.25.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SGJinDfbpjk/UJHqCu-mA2I/AAAAAAAABBY/_1MgWBbEQqY/s400/2012-09-16+11.25.05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I am now a fan of Fray. Honestly, it's nothing super special. But it's good food, good prices, good service, and no line up for Sunday brunch. Works for me.<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/14/1616482/restaurant/Kensington/Fray-Vancouver"><img alt="Fray on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1616482/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-58510974418992322532012-11-01T11:06:00.000-07:002012-11-01T11:06:36.486-07:00Veg Eats Vancouver: The AcornIt was mine and Kirk's sixth wedding anniversary last week. Now that we're parents, we don't get to have romantic weekends at B&Bs anymore, but we did have my Mum babysit so we could go out for a nice dinner.<br />
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I've been wanting to try <a href="http://www.theacornrestaurant.ca/">The Acorn</a> since it opened. Finally, a <i>nice</i> vegetarian restaurant in Vancouver! Don't get me wrong, I like <a href="http://thenaam.com/">The Naam</a> and <a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/14/180661/restaurant/Mount-Pleasant-Main-Street/The-Foundation-Vancouver">Foundation</a>, but I'm not a hippie or a hipster, and bad service is not really my thing. And it's nice to have somewhere vegetarian to go for a special occasion.<br />
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So anyway, they don't take reservations and we went early. I don't like waiting for a table, and luckily we got one right away.<br />
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Now, I had a cold, so I can't reliably comment on flavours, but I'm going to anyway. Take my comments with a grain of salt, as it were. Also, sorry about the crappy iPhone photos. I should have used my flash, but I have it turned off so I'm not blinding Odin with it all the time.<br />
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We shared a potato and parsnip croquette appetizer. I found it a little bland, and I said as much to Kirk. He pointed out the pieces of sharp cheese in the sauce. I hadn't gotten any cheese on my portion, and I think if I had it would have made all the difference in the world. With the appetizer I had a glass of the Kettle Valley Gewurztraminer, and I didn't like it. Normally I'm a Gewurztraminer fan, but I found it a little musky for my taste. The server recommended the Pentage Reisling, which was better, though very fruity. It could have been my snotty nose ruining the wine, though.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D_lZWI0iIMU/UJHyzMgAqFI/AAAAAAAABCo/Lvp-8vjMbxs/s1600/appetizer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D_lZWI0iIMU/UJHyzMgAqFI/AAAAAAAABCo/Lvp-8vjMbxs/s400/appetizer.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
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They didn't clear our plates after the appetizer, and we had to use the same cutlery for our entrees. I wasn't impressed by that, and it seemed inconsistent with the rest of the service, which was pretty attentive.<br />
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I chose the beer battered halloumi entree. It came with a zucchini pancake, smashed peas and a yogourt sauce. It was honestly one of the best things I've ever eaten. The halloumi was salty and somehow light, for fried cheese anyway. The pancake was all zucchini, not a bunch of filler, and the peas were delicious and a little minty. It seemed to me like a spring dish, rather than autumn, but I enjoyed it very much.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xgwtWTeAm0M/UJHy0b8u-YI/AAAAAAAABCw/DOn655vk6z4/s1600/halloumi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xgwtWTeAm0M/UJHy0b8u-YI/AAAAAAAABCw/DOn655vk6z4/s400/halloumi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Kirk had the king oyster mushroom medallions with spelt and a peppercorn sauce. He said it was really good, although other than the peppercorn sauce, it seemed like something we would make at home. If he could choose again, he would have gotten the halloumi too.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DfQpfp8gT5E/UJHy1eZQ4SI/AAAAAAAABC4/aMtEEAZiBsQ/s1600/mushrooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DfQpfp8gT5E/UJHy1eZQ4SI/AAAAAAAABC4/aMtEEAZiBsQ/s400/mushrooms.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I ordered the pumpkin semifreddo dessert. It was good, but not spectacular. It tasted really nice, and was surprisingly light, but was frozen a bit too hard and was difficult to cut into with the big, clunky spoon they gave me. The plate wasn't chilled, so it melted a bit on the bottom and I ended up chasing it around on the plate.<br />
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Overall, I enjoyed The Acorn, and I would definitely go back given the opportunity.<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/14/1677214/restaurant/Riley-Park-Little-Mountain/The-Acorn-Vancouver"><img alt="The Acorn on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1677214/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-55038392055140100602012-10-31T16:09:00.000-07:002012-10-31T16:09:13.887-07:00Baby FoodI started feeding Odin solid foods a few weeks ago, and it's been quite the adventure for both of us.<br />
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Even just knowing where to start is confusing. There is <i>way</i> too much information out there. Purees, baby led weaning, cereals or no cereals, fruits or no fruits, juice or no juice, water or no water, the connection between starting solids and skin troubles, and just as we were starting out all the news articles about iron and breast fed babies... It seems like everyone has an opinion. I decided to keep it simple. I asked our GP, and she said 5.5 months is a fine time to start as long as he's showing interest. She said to stay away from sweetened juices and water and to make sure I don't wait too long to try iron-rich foods like meat or tofu. I did a little research and found a nice, simple chart of what foods are fine when from <a href="http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/solidfoodchartbyfood.htm">Wholesome Baby Food</a> that made sense to me. Then we went for it.<br />
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We started off with mashed yams at Thanksgiving dinner. Not a big hit. He wasn't sure what to think, really. Then I tried avocado. He didn't like it straight up, but loved it thinned out with a bit of breast milk. Same with carrots.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cocf5ChFxOg/UJGuVdCoUfI/AAAAAAAAA_8/H-xyUPJAGx8/s1600/baby-yams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cocf5ChFxOg/UJGuVdCoUfI/AAAAAAAAA_8/H-xyUPJAGx8/s400/baby-yams.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>adventures in yams</i></div>
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So far he's tried apples, avocados, pears, carrots, peas, butternut squash, yams, oatmeal and rice, all purees, some homemade, some prepared. No bad reactions, not even gas or constipation. Rice cereal is by far his favourite. He likes jarred peas better than oatmeal. What a weirdo.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T2qPwfwsE5k/UJGuSKyT6eI/AAAAAAAAA_s/bylXUPK6EjI/s1600/baby-avocado.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T2qPwfwsE5k/UJGuSKyT6eI/AAAAAAAAA_s/bylXUPK6EjI/s400/baby-avocado.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>avocado - yuck!</i></div>
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Overall, this whole solid food thing has been fun so far. I love watching his reactions to new things. It does make me a little sad too. He's growing up so quickly!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZkCa9gRYX8c/UJGuUCAPMMI/AAAAAAAAA_0/7VSzWNABXR0/s1600/baby-rice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZkCa9gRYX8c/UJGuUCAPMMI/AAAAAAAAA_0/7VSzWNABXR0/s400/baby-rice.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>rice cereal is serious business</i></div>
<br />Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-19885237462624907642012-10-31T15:23:00.000-07:002012-10-31T15:23:10.197-07:00Rawwwwr!Happy Hallowe'en from the cutest monster ever!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M7pH6safpHM/UJGkb9kBWEI/AAAAAAAAA-g/zjZK-q1IekY/s1600/rawwwr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M7pH6safpHM/UJGkb9kBWEI/AAAAAAAAA-g/zjZK-q1IekY/s400/rawwwr.jpg" width="347" /></a></div>
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He's too little to trick-or-treat and it's pouring rain outside, so he's just dressed up to hang around the house. But costumes are fun no matter what!</div>
<br />Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-9475042714646327822012-10-28T21:13:00.001-07:002012-10-28T21:13:24.894-07:00In the meantime...I have a couple of restaurant reviews that I need to write up for you guys, but in the meantime, here are some recent photos of my 6-month-old cutie...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zdMLPUpuI0w/UI4BPRNALdI/AAAAAAAAA8w/NGq6FHyKBW4/s1600/2012-10-02+16.01.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zdMLPUpuI0w/UI4BPRNALdI/AAAAAAAAA8w/NGq6FHyKBW4/s400/2012-10-02+16.01.01.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IcBZBr7_UoY/UI4BSV6h9XI/AAAAAAAAA84/oYjORfGi_ok/s1600/2012-10-04+14.45.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IcBZBr7_UoY/UI4BSV6h9XI/AAAAAAAAA84/oYjORfGi_ok/s400/2012-10-04+14.45.22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8SJFQJsFNRY/UI4BhU5t13I/AAAAAAAAA9A/euU0UcVhcU4/s1600/2012-10-08+08.43.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8SJFQJsFNRY/UI4BhU5t13I/AAAAAAAAA9A/euU0UcVhcU4/s400/2012-10-08+08.43.37.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cHDeYYD_jsk/UI4CRykpLSI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/mgUtzvl2c4Y/s1600/2012-10-11+14.47.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cHDeYYD_jsk/UI4CRykpLSI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/mgUtzvl2c4Y/s400/2012-10-11+14.47.33.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<br />Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-14043185483037336382012-10-05T12:18:00.000-07:002012-10-05T12:24:18.422-07:00Veg Eats Vancouver: Lucky's DoughnutsJust a quick post to sing the praises of <a href="http://luckysdoughnuts.com/">Lucky's Doughnuts</a>, a new-ish doughnut place inside <a href="http://www.49thparallelroasters.com/">49th Parallel Coffee</a> on Main St. This place has been all over the blogosphere (did I just use that word?) and I finally got to try it out. I had the Salted Caramel Old Fashioned, and oh my god, it may just be the best thing I've ever eaten. It's definitely the best doughnut I've ever had.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DkT4OXpyCGM/UGz63zj9X-I/AAAAAAAAA8c/6HVNcPCSNN8/s1600/luckys_doughnuts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DkT4OXpyCGM/UGz63zj9X-I/AAAAAAAAA8c/6HVNcPCSNN8/s400/luckys_doughnuts.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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It's so nice that there are artisan doughnut shops opening up (and let's not forget <a href="http://www.granvilleisland.com/directory/lees-donuts-0">Lee's</a> on Granvile Island), especially since our national doughnut chain, which shall remain unnamed, reheats frozen doughnuts rather than making them fresh. I once heard that Canadians eat more doughnuts per capita than any other people in the world. I don't know if that's true, but I know frozen doughnuts should be a crime.<br />
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Diet be damned! I will eat at <a href="http://luckysdoughnuts.com/">Lucky's Doughnuts</a> again!<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/14/1683694/restaurant/Mount-Pleasant-Main-Street/Luckys-Doughnuts-Vancouver"><img alt="Lucky's Doughnuts on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1683694/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-5659324069098587572012-10-03T19:34:00.000-07:002012-10-03T20:04:23.908-07:00This Week in My Kitchen: Local Food ProductsI'm dog/cat-sitting for my mom this month, and she lives near a fancy gourmet grocery store called <a href="http://www.meinhardt.com/">Meinhardt Fine Foods</a>. Tonight I decided to treat myself to dinner from there. I don't have a lot of time to cook since I have to get Odin to bed around 6:30, so it had to be something fast and easy. I found some great foods from local Vancouver companies to make a quick, healthy, yummy dinner. Here's what I had:<br />
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<a href="http://soups.happyplanet.com/soups/?soup=6">Happy Planet Thai Coconut Soup</a> with <a href="http://www.sunrise-soya.com/soy-products/sunrise-tofu.php">Sunrise Firm Tofu</a><br />
I've wanted to try Happy Planet soups for a while, but they aren't cheap and I usually end up passing them by for something cheaper, if less healthy and delicious. The Thai Coconut Soup was SO worth it! I love red coconut curry, and this had just the right amount of hot and sweet. I added some local tofu for a filling, balanced meal and even after dessert I'm already thinking about seconds.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tO5VGUAO4QY/UGz1Q9bhgtI/AAAAAAAAA7w/tY6T6l05Y4U/s1600/sunrise_tofu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tO5VGUAO4QY/UGz1Q9bhgtI/AAAAAAAAA7w/tY6T6l05Y4U/s320/sunrise_tofu.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://riconlalo.com/flavours.html">Rico n' Lalo Frozen Fruit Bars</a><br />
I noticed these fruit bars because of the fantastic packaging, then saw that they are local and all natural. The fact that they're low-calorie is a bonus! I chose lime flavour as a perfect ending for the red curry soup. It was so good! Sweet and tart and refreshing! I'm excited that there are three bars left in the package...<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jEoaFAX8PB0/UGz1caCZdfI/AAAAAAAAA8A/Sf5EXaJw6Fg/s1600/lime_pop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jEoaFAX8PB0/UGz1caCZdfI/AAAAAAAAA8A/Sf5EXaJw6Fg/s400/lime_pop.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<br />Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-87512803777097669002012-09-24T11:30:00.002-07:002012-12-03T20:56:25.944-08:00This Week in My Kitchen: Lactation Cookies Part 2<a href="http://kidsplayingwithskulls.blogspot.ca/2012/09/this-week-in-my-kitchen-lactation.html">The last time I made Lactation Cookies</a> they were super high in calories (and delicious!). I decided this week to make them again and see if I could lower the calorie content without sacrificing taste and nutrition.<br />
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Success!<br />
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I used stevia powder instead of sugar, 0% Greek yogourt instead of oil, and 1 cup of carob chips instead of 2 of chocolate. They are still delicious, and I cut the calories by more than half. I still have about 12 pounds to lose, so that's pretty important to me at this point.<br />
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Here's my recipe, adapted from <a href="http://www.drmomma.org/2010/08/lactation-cookies-recipe-increasing.html">Major Milk Makin' Cookies from Peaceful Parenting</a>.<br />
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<b>Cara's Low-Cal Lactation Cookies</b><br />
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1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour<br />
1 1/2 cups oats (I used a mix of oats, flax and bran)<br />
1 tsp baking soda<br />
1 tsp cinnamon<br />
1 tsp salt<br />
3/4 cup almond butter<br />
3/4 cup Greek yogourt<br />
3 tbsp brewer's yeast<br />
2 tbsp egg replacer<br />
2/3 cup water<br />
1 tsp stevia powder<br />
2 tsp vanilla<br />
1 cup carob chips<br />
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees.<br />
In a medium bowl combine flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.<br />
In a large bowl beat together almond butter, yogourt, brewer's yeast, egg replacer, water, stevia and vanilla until creamy and well blended.<br />
Gradually mix in flour mixture. Add in carob chips.<br />
Place flattened balls of dough on a cookie sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes. Makes about 24 cookies.<br />
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<br />Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-22839739902695445022012-09-08T20:11:00.002-07:002012-09-08T20:11:54.672-07:00This Week in My Kitchen: Lactation Cookies, Peach Crumble, Zucchini-Noodle LasagnaNow that Odin is getting old enough to amuse himself for periods of time, I can get back in the kitchen and get cooking again! I'm watching my caloric intake at the moment, so I've been trying to make healthier options. Here's some of what I made this week:<br />
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<b>Lactation Cookies</b><br />
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My sweet tooth (which didn't exist before my pregnancy) was hitting me hard this week. I decided to justify baking by making these <a href="http://www.drmomma.org/2010/08/lactation-cookies-recipe-increasing.html">Major Milk Makin' Cookies</a> from the <a href="http://www.drmomma.org/">Peaceful Parenting blog</a>. The brewer's yeast, oats and flax in them are supposed to increase your milk supply. I don't know if they increased my milk, but they were delicious! I used almond butter, Bob's Red Mill egg replacer, half & half dark chocolate and butterscotch chips, and no nuts. These are pretty high in calories, but fairly healthy.<br />
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<b>Peach Crisp</b><br />
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Kirk and I took Odin to the Okanagan recently to meet his great-grandparents. I took the opportunity to stock up on some juicy ripe fruits and veggies, including a bunch of peaches. I peeled and sliced them all and used 6 cups of them to make a delicious crumble. For the topping I used rolled oats, whole wheat flour, ground flax seeds (and some whole ones too), demerara sugar and coconut flakes with a bit of vegetable oil. Odin started fussing as I was making the crumble and I forgot the seasoning, but I would have included nutmeg, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Either way, it still turned out pretty great.<br />
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<b>Zucchini-Noodle Lasagna</b><br />
While in the Okanagan we also got a <i>huge</i> zucchini from Kirk's Gramma's organic garden. I decided to slice it thin (about 1/4") lengthwise and use the slices as lasagna noodles. Here's the step-by-step on how I made it.<br />
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1. First layers: Cover the bottom of the casserole dish with slices of zucchini. Pour some tomato sauce over top, then layer a half head of cauliflower, steamed lightly and mashed. Sprinkle seasoning - I used oregano and garlic salt.<br />
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2. Add a layer of baby spinach (or regular spinach chopped roughly), then one container of cottage cheese or ricotta (for vegan option, use <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/cashew-ricotta-284547">cashew ricotta</a> or other vegan cheese).<br />
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3. Add a layer or mushrooms (any kind), then more tomato sauce.<br />
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4. Cover with more zucchini slices and oregano and red pepper flakes to taste.<br />
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5. Top with mozzarella cheese (Daiya is a good vegan option), then bake at 375 degrees for 50 minutes, or until the veggies are fork tender an the cheese is melty and browned. Let cool and serve warm. Mine was pretty soupy since it's just vegetables and they let out water as they cook, but it was delicious nonetheless.Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com0Vancouver, BC, Canada49.261226 -123.113926849.1778775 -123.2718553 49.3445745 -122.9559983tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-40266203773031136272012-09-01T18:44:00.000-07:002012-09-01T18:44:13.570-07:00Four Months Old!Odin turned four months old on Monday. I can't believe how time is flying by!<br />
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He's such a little person now. He is a squirmy-wormy, who loves to stand up (with assistance) and has been rolling over for a while now. He sucks his thumb and makes all sorts of cooing and gooing sounds. He blows raspberries and drools like nobody's business. He's getting better at going to sleep. He's a big flirt and loves when people pay lots of attention to him. He likes reading books, especially "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Peekaboo-Kisses-Barney-Saltzberg/dp/015216541X">Peekaboo Kisses</a>" and "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thats-Not-My-Penguin/dp/B0027PDIPU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346550006&sr=1-1&keywords=That%27s+Not+My+Penguin">That's Not My Penguin</a>". He loves his toys, particularly his rattle ball and <a href="http://sophiegiraffeusa.com/">Sophie Giraffe</a>. He's sensitive and temperamental and likes things a certain way.<br />
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I love him more every day. I don't even know how that's possible...<br />
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Here are some recent photos:<br />
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<br />Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-23217352382157449782012-08-07T09:28:00.001-07:002012-08-07T09:28:07.541-07:00Interview at Yes and Yes!Check out <a href="http://www.yesandyes.org/2012/08/true-story-i-struggled-to-get-pregnant.html">the interview I did</a> for <a href="http://www.yesandyes.org/">Yes and Yes!</a>, one of my favourite blogs.Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-86420824308879872012-07-21T07:17:00.000-07:002012-07-21T07:20:16.479-07:00The War Upon WakefulnessSome parents are blessed with babies who sleep when they are tired. Others have babies who insist on being awake for everything, despite how tired and cranky they become. We land squarely in the second camp. Odin is a non-sleeper.<br />
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At this very moment I am listening to him fuss in his crib over the monitor. It's 7:00am. He's been awake since 5:30. This is typical, and better than a few nights ago, when he decided to start his day at 2:30am.<br />
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Daytime is the same. I hear legends of babies who, at 12 weeks, still sleep all the time. Books tell me he should be napping for at least an hour and a half three times a day. People tell me he should be sleeping through the night.<br />
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My baby is the type who fights sleep, literally. Just as he's starting to fall asleep he starts kicking and thrashing about, despite being swaddled into a compact little burrito. I take a kind of masochistic pride in the fact that he can escape any swaddle, including the expensive velcro swaddle blankets. I spend countless hours rocking and bouncing and patting his bum. I put him into his crib asleep, ever so gently so as not to wake him. He wakes up 10 minutes later. I put him into his crib awake but drowsy. He immediately starts crying. I let him cry in his crib for a while. He goes into hysterics and will not be consoled. We develop elaborate sleep rituals that work for three days in a row, giving me hope, then fail miserably on the fourth day and we have to start all over again. I have cried on the floor beside his crib. I have told him to shut up, then apologised. I have unapologetically yelled profanities at the monitor. I worry about the development of his brain.<br />
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All of this is hard to admit. There is enormous pressure to be the perfect parent with the perfect baby. Well, he is perfect, he just doesn't sleep.<br />
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<br />Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-26901991077665476762012-07-07T18:57:00.000-07:002012-07-07T18:57:41.339-07:00Handmade Home: Baby WipesAfter seeing how many baby wipes we were going through, I started looking for a better solution. Baby wipes aren't cheap, aren't environmentally friendly, and we go through an awful lot of them.<br />
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I looked through a bunch of recipes for homemade wipes and put together my own version with stuff I already had on hand. We've been using them for about two weeks and are loving them so far.<br />
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<b>Handmade Baby Wipes</b><br />
Boiled or distilled water<br />
Pure castile soap (I use Dr. Bronner's)<br />
Baby oil (you could use any non-mineral oil, like almond or vegetable)<br />
Tea tree oil<br />
Cloth wipes<br />
I don't have exact proportions because I just guessed, but it's about teaspoon of soap, half a teaspoon of baby oil, and three drops of tea tree oil to a cup and a half of water. I just put it all in a spray bottle (I got a pretty one from the dollar store) and gave it a good shake. For wipes I just use baby facecloths, since we have a ton of those. You could use cut up pieces of flannel or prefold diapers or receiving blankets that are past their prime. At each diaper change I spray one corner of a wipe three or four times, wipe him down, and dry him with the opposite corner. The soiled wipe goes in the wet bag with dirty diapers, which are washed every two days.<br />
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We still have disposable wipes on hand for the diaper bag and for super messy poops, but we've cut down on our use drastically. Plus I feel good about using something natural and super cheap to make.Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-87049500404949790972012-07-03T15:22:00.001-07:002012-07-04T12:02:11.847-07:00Handmade Home: Natural DeodorantLast year I went on a quest to find a natural deodorant I like. I'd tried the crystal kind years ago and didn't like it and had been using regular commercial deodorant ever since.<br />
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I tried all different natural brands and the result was the same with all of them: by three in the afternoon I was stinky. I started to feel sorry for my office mates! I was ready to give up and start smearing chemicals on my underarms every day again when I stumbled across a stupid simple recipe for natural deodorant you can make at home. I was a bit skeptical, but since I had the ingredients on hand anyway, I gave it a shot.<br />
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Holy cow!! I love it! I love it so much I made some for everyone for Christmas. It was kind of a weird gift, but my family loved it after they tried it.<br />
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<b>Handmade Deodorant Recipe</b><br />
2 parts coconut oil<br />
1 part aluminum-free baking soda<br />
1 part arrowroot powder (you can also use cornstarch)<br />
essential oil (optional) (I used tea tree oil)<br />
Just blend all the ingredients together and store in a jar. Apply a small amount under your arms.<br />
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If you don't like the smell of coconut, use refined coconut oil.<br />
Aluminum-free baking soda is important - It defeats the purpose of making it yourself if you're going to smear aluminum under your arms. The jury is still out on the effects of aluminum in antiperspirants, but I'd rather not take the chance. I get mine at a natural foods store near my house.<br />
I used cornstarch the first time, but had a slight skin reaction, so used arrowroot powder for the second batch.<br />
Tea tree oil is antibacterial and smells great, so that's why I used it, but you can use any oil you like the smell of, or just leave it out.<br />
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The best thing is, after using this for a couple of months, I discovered that I didn't even need it every day. The antibacterial properties of the coconut oil and tea tree oil created a less-stinky environment in my armpits! Yay!<br />
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So try this stuff. It costs very little to make, lasts forever, and works better (at least for me) than commercial deodorants!<br />
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<i>I have one jar in my bedroom and one in my bathroom so it's easily on hand at all times!</i></div>Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-72392999989144003072012-06-16T17:16:00.000-07:002012-06-16T17:17:19.117-07:00Our birth story...<br />
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I wasn't originally going to post my birth story here, but reading a friend's eerily similar story on her blog made me want to share mine as well...</div>
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Odin Kirk Sheppard was born on April 27th at 5:38am at 41 weeks and 6 days. He had presented head-down and anterior for over month, then turned posterior about a week before birth.</div>
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I went for a Cervadil induction on Wednesday afternoon, and by that evening I was in full-blown back labour. I laboured at home until about 1am, when I was sure I was in active labour. Kirk paged our midwives and we went to the hospital to meet one of them. She examined me and told me I wasn't quite in active labour yet and that I wasn't yet dilated enough (I had asked that they not tell me dilation numbers). It was probably better to go home, as we live about 10 minutes from the hospital. So I continued labouring at home for another 12 hours with no real change. The back labour was pretty difficult, but I was breathing through the contractions and taking baths and coping pretty well. Kirk was doing an amazing job of taking care of me, even though I'm sure he was scared!</div>
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A midwife came to our house around 1:30 pm and did an internal exam. I was finally dilating! We went to the hospital again, and things really felt like they were progressing. I felt great, and even though my back was killing me and I couldn't get comfortable even between contractions, I was dealing with it. But by 6pm it became obvious that the baby was not turning, despite us trying every trick in the book - different positions, heat and cold, homeopathics... I also hadn't made any progress dilating since entering the hospital. We decided that we would try a synthetic oxytocin drip to strengthen contractions and hopefully turn the baby. The baby's heart rate dropped a bit when they first administered the oxytocin, but he quickly recovered and we carried on.</div>
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After about 6 or 7 hours of labouring, drug-free, on oxytocin, I was getting exhausted. It had been 45 hours since I'd had any sleep, and I'd been in labour for about 38 hours so far. I agreed to an epidural, hoping to get some sleep while they upped my dose of oxytocin. Unfortunately, as soon as the epidural went in (I couldn't even feel the effect yet), the baby's heart rate dropped again and was slow to recover. The OB on call gave me the choice of a forceps delivery where she would use the forceps to turn the baby, or a cesarean section. In the meantime, the baby's heart rate dropped again and failed to recover, and she called for an emergency c-section.</div>
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<i>My midwife Annie took photos for us.</i></div>
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From there everything happened so quickly! The epidural hadn't even fully taken effect yet, so the anesthesiologist came in and decided he'd up the dose for the operation. All sorts of people came rushing in and I totally lost track of what was happening. It all felt very surreal. They wheeled me into the OR while Kirk got changed, and the anesthesiologist checked the epidural. It still hadn't taken effect yet, so he gave me a spinal block. Kirk came and sat by my head, and a few minutes later we heard Odin's gurgly cry. It seemed like an eternity before they let my midwife bring him to us.</div>
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It turns out I had developed a <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pathologic+retraction+ring">Bandl's Ring</a>, which obstructed the baby and was putting enormous pressure on his head with each contraction. The cord was also wrapped around his neck twice. The Bandl's Ring could very likely have led to a uterine rupture had they tried forceps or had I continued labouring, and Odin and I would have been in very grave danger. As it was, we both recovered very well and were discharged home on Sunday. My recovery from the cesarian section was difficult, but I had great help from Kirk, who took 10 days off from work, and my mother and mother-in-law. I don't know what I would have done without the three of them.</div>
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Nothing in my labour went the way I had hoped and I'm a little sad that I didn't get a natural delivery, especially after labouring naturally for so long. But the end result is the same, and I wouldn't change anything since it all led to meeting our precious little Odin.</div>
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<br /></div>Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-12653552862683806912012-06-03T18:26:00.000-07:002012-06-16T18:21:41.223-07:00Odin's NurseryYou know those people who post nothing but baby stuff online? It used to annoy me, but now I am one of those people. I get it now. My whole life is wrapped up in this little guy. I don't <b>do</b> anything else. So what else am I going to post about?<br />
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And in that vein, here are some photos of Odin's nursery. It's easily my favourite room in the house, and I'm just about done with it. I just have to make a bed skirt and some curtains for the windows, as the matchstick blinds don't block enough of the light for when he starts sleeping in there (he's currently still in our room in a bassinet, but I'd like to start transitioning him to his crib in the next few weeks). But sewing things involves clearing off my desk, which is a whole other task in itself, one that I just don't have time for at the moment. Right now all my time is taken up by nursing, changing diapers and rocking in the rocking chair, and that's just fine by me...<br />
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Kirk's stepmother, Donna, made the beautiful quilt.<br />
Mum and I made the <a href="http://kidsplayingwithskulls.blogspot.ca/2012/03/crafty-time-owl-mobile.html">awesome owl mobile</a>.<br />
I got the rocking chair/glider used on <a href="http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/">craigslist</a>.</div>
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The crib is the Mod II by <a href="http://www.statusfurniture.com/category/products/convertible-cribs/">Status</a>. My father made the toy box when I was a kid.</div>
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My sister-in-law, Angela, knitted <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleipnir">Sleipnir the 8-legged horse</a>. </div>
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I made the birdcage mobile by taking birdcages from <a href="http://www.wonderbucks.com/">Wonderbucks</a> & <a href="http://www.michaels.com/">Michaels</a>,<br />
spray painting them white, putting birds in them and hanging them with wire.</div>
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I got the pillow on clearance at <a href="http://www.jcpenney.com/dotcom/index.jsp">JC Penney</a>.</div>
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The owl in a suit print is by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/berkleyillustration">Ryan Berkley</a>.<br />
The chickadee painting is by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/michelemaule">Michele Maule</a>.</div>
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Mum had the Odin wall hanging made with letters she took months to source.</div>
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Of course I couldn't resist sneaking in a baby picture!</div>
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Odin absolutely LOVES his owl mobile.</div>
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The small owl rattle is from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/babybomb?ref=seller_info">Baby Bomb</a> and the large bird is by <a href="http://www.seestuf.com/">Stuf</a>.</div>
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The penguin print on the left is by Michelle of <a href="http://www.myzoetrope.com/">My Zoetrope</a>.</div>
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The centre print is from <a href="http://thehaitiposterproject.com/">The Haiti Poster Project</a>.</div>
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I made the two prints on the right.</div>
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The top of the IKEA dresser folds down to make a change table.</div>
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I think I got this bird hook from <a href="http://www.wonderbucks.com/">Wonderbucks</a>, but I could be mistaken.<br />
It holds our wet bag for diapers I got from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/PaddleandQuack">Puddle & Quack</a>.</div>
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The square prints are by <a href="http://trishgrantham.com/home.html">Trish Grantham</a>.</div>
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I made the felt name banner on the door.<br />
The bookshelf is Leksvik from IKEA. </div>
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A lot of these books are my own collection. I hope I'm okay with sharing!</div>
<br />Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-54136502565912441702012-05-04T20:21:00.000-07:002012-05-04T20:21:14.756-07:00He's finally here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After 38 hours of unmedicated labour and an emergency cesarean section, Odin finally made his appearance. <a href="http://www.kirksheppardtattoos.blogspot.com/">Kirk</a> and I couldn't be more thrilled to welcome our perfect little son into the world!Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-56723413687196051732012-03-23T21:07:00.002-07:002012-07-03T15:22:44.985-07:00Crafty Time! Owl MobileI finally finished the felt owl mobile for Odin's room. It was a lot of work but fun to make. Mum helped out by making the brown owl, so it was a multi-generational project! I love it!<br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fXrPpEROvbY/T21I6JD52bI/AAAAAAAAA2E/3aRvrXg6xRY/s640/blogger-image-58739760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fXrPpEROvbY/T21I6JD52bI/AAAAAAAAA2E/3aRvrXg6xRY/s640/blogger-image-58739760.jpg" /></a></div>Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-24400856348618610912012-02-22T16:53:00.001-08:002012-07-03T15:22:58.833-07:00Crafty Time! Felt Baby NameOkay, here come the baby crafts. It was inevitable, you know...<br />
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This week I made felt letters spelling out the baby's name for his door. I used to have a very similar one (actually, I still have it in a box somewhere) and I love the continuity of making one for my little guy.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5lE5XlQXVJw/T0WNAnG9H7I/AAAAAAAAA1g/e3QzF-ACFc4/s1600/odin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5lE5XlQXVJw/T0WNAnG9H7I/AAAAAAAAA1g/e3QzF-ACFc4/s400/odin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I do wish the felt for the O was a little darker, but these are the blue and aqua shades they had at Michaels. I added the owl because his room has a bird theme and I'll be making an owl mobile very soon (and I'll be sure to post it when it's done).</div>
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I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Not professional level by any means, but I like that it looks home made. And it makes me happy when I walk past his door!</div>Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-64195086477050491602012-01-01T12:33:00.000-08:002012-01-16T20:28:03.851-08:00Holy crap, it's 2012!<i>"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art - write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself."</i> - Neil Gaiman<br />
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Well, Neil, I plan on surprising myself all over the place this year. And I'm hoping the madness will all be good.<br />
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It's been hard for me to get back into blogging. I've been considering it for a while, but couldn't come up with a story or "script" to get the ball rolling again. I haven't been doing much of the things that I would normally blog about (cooking, crafting, art making) for various reasons, and my self-imposed exile from all things social that began last spring/summer has been difficult to break. I only recently re-activated my facebook profile, and even that was a big step.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">But New Years Day seems to bring a good excuse to do some public reflection, and I think I'm up for it...</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">So, what's changed in the last year?</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I'm no longer vegan. I'm still largely vegan, but choose to eat some dairy. It started out as a way to get some extra protein and calcium after learning I shouldn't be eating soy, and it turns out I kinda like it. I still prefer my pizza & nachos cheeseless, and don't like lattes made with dairy, but I do eat organic yoghurt pretty much every day and don't always ask for "no cheese" while eating out. I even had ice cream cake at Kirk's last birthday. Honestly, I was afraid to say this online, as I know some people read this blog because it's a vegan blog, but I'm not ashamed of doing what I think is right for myself and hope that most won't judge too harshly. I'm still a committed vegetarian and have been for 2/3 of my life.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I found out, after four surgical procedures and a lot of tears, that I <i>can</i> in fact get pregnant. And then I miscarried, twice. This whole roller coaster fertility journey has taught me a lot, about myself and about life in general. I learned that I can be very fragile yet very strong all at the same time. I learned all too well that, as we've always heard, life is not fair. I learned who I can count on when the shit really hits the fan. I learned that people with good intentions sometimes say the wrong thing, and you can't hold a grudge. I learned that life is short and tenuous and we should never, ever forget that.<br />
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I am not the kind of person who believes that everything happens for a reason. I believe that it's a good idea to search for a positive outcome, no matter how tiny, when things are bleak, but I also believe that we're mostly out here flailing about on our own with no "plan" from some god or universal force. That's not a negative to me, but a very strong argument for keeping ourselves grounded, making the best choices we can, and not beating ourselves up for things that are out of our control. I do believe, however, that everything that has led me to this point in my life has helped prepare me for what lies ahead. More specifically, the ups and downs of trying to become a mother have helped prepare me, in whatever small way, for the joys and heartbreaks that come with motherhood.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I am currently 25 weeks pregnant with a little boy. I believe he is the one we will finally meet and share a life with. Kirk and I are both joyous and terrified to meet our son, and after everything that's happened it still seems very surreal.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">My only New Years resolution this year is a vague one:<br />
I plan on keeping my head up and facing whatever life throws at me with strength and dignity. 2012, I'm ready for you.</div>Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-74888213800783151512011-07-29T20:56:00.000-07:002011-07-29T20:57:01.672-07:00Some Reflections<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">So 2011 is more than halfway done, and it's not been what I had envisioned at all. When I <a href="http://kidsplayingwithskulls.blogspot.com/2010/12/2010-looking-back.html">made my list of resolutions</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> last winter I didn't anticipate having two miscarriages within 5 months. It's really throwing me for a loop, and it's hard not to just lay on the couch and feel sorry for myself. That accomplishes nothing, so I've decided to revisit my goals and see what I can do to salvage some of them...</span><br />
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<b>1. Lose 10 more pounds and stay at a healthy weight.</b><br />
Well, I'm an emotional eater, so I am nowhere near accomplishing this goal. Quite the opposite, in fact.<br />
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<b>2. Exercise more regularly. Find an activity I <i>like</i> doing, other than yoga.</b><br />
Yeah, not so much. But this can be fixed quite easily and would help with #1.<br />
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<b>3. Raise at least $5000 for <a href="http://www.savethebrains.com/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Save the Brains</a>.</b><br />
<a href="http://www.savethebrains.com/">Save the Brains</a> is happening on August 26th this year at the Biltmore. I had a really hard time getting into planning it, as my head has been elsewhere. Thank goodness to my friend Stephanie, who has been an enormous help. Thanks Steph - xo.<br />
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<b>4. Get our finances under control. We won't be able to pay off all our debt this year, but we can come up with a plan and stick to it. This will alleviate an enormous amount of stress.</b><br />
Not at all...<br />
<br />
<b>5. Take the time to paint and craft more, and sell some stuff. I'd really like to actually get a viable online business going by next fall.</b><br />
I'm working on this. I'm currently refinishing a chair for the bedroom, and have a bunch of other home decor projects planned. No online business in the works, but that can happen next year and I'm fine with it.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Cook more. I got <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Great-Chefs-Cook-Vegan-pb/dp/1423623274?ie=UTF8&tag=kidsplaywiths-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Great Chefs Cook Vegan</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=kidsplaywiths-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1423623274" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> from my brother and sister-in-law for Christmas, and I already have <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Artful-Vegan-Flavors-Millennium-Restaurant/dp/1580082076?ie=UTF8&tag=kidsplaywiths-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Artful-Vegan-Flavors-Millennium-Restaurant/dp/1580082076?ie=UTF8&tag=kidsplaywiths-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Artful Vegan</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=kidsplaywiths-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1580082076" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=kidsplaywiths-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1580082076" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: medium !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: medium !important; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: medium !important; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: medium !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, so I plan on making some new fancy dishes. I'm also planning on taking advantage of my slow cooker and making regular hearty dishes on the cheap.</b><br />
Not really.<br />
<br />
<b>7. Blog more. I totally shit the bed on the last 10 days <a href="http://kidsplayingwithskulls.blogspot.com/search/label/vegan%20mofo%202010">Vegan MoFo 2010</a>. I tried my best, I really did, but work and school just killed it.</b><br />
Kinda. There's still room for improvement, but it's getting there.<br />
<br />
<b>8. Join some classes and meet some new people. Maybe I'll start a meet-up of my own. I went to a Knit n' Sip at a pub in Nanaimo last year that was a lot of fun...</b><br />
Well, I tried doing a knit & sip, and only two people showed up and spent quite a bit of time complaining about the location. I went to a vegan meet-up and had a great time and had some fabulous food. Maybe I'll look into a class for September.<br />
<br />
So it's not as bad as I thought. I just need to put my mind to getting out of this funk and moving on.Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-84050589015808086352011-07-27T22:03:00.000-07:002011-07-27T22:03:58.122-07:00Flowers!If people are going to keep giving me flowers, I'm going to have to buy a vase...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--eGyQesgOzI/TjDs57bklgI/AAAAAAAAA1c/74HTL3abm40/s1600/flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--eGyQesgOzI/TjDs57bklgI/AAAAAAAAA1c/74HTL3abm40/s400/flowers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Flowers from Shaunna in a Bodum carafe,<br />
and from <a href="http://twowheeltattoo.blogspot.com/">Jessy</a> in a Hurricane glass from <a href="http://www.patobriens.com/patobriens/neworleans/">Pat O'Brien's</a> in New Orleans.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Thanks guys!</i></div>Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-29299933181745708372011-07-11T20:11:00.001-07:002011-07-11T20:11:51.620-07:00Lost another oneWell, we lost another pregnancy this past weekend. I am heart-broken, and not sure what to do now.Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6056532627178890068.post-76294834396128254982011-06-24T08:00:00.000-07:002011-06-24T08:00:12.978-07:00This Week in My Kitchen: Stuffed Peppers and Chocolate Chai Cookies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Stuffed Peppers Two Ways</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love stuffed peppers. So much so, that one day I had it twice, for breakfast and lunch!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hiqzAffWRFY/Tfv7qchdNQI/AAAAAAAAA0o/N09XI1mPZXw/s1600/vegan_stuffed_pepper_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hiqzAffWRFY/Tfv7qchdNQI/AAAAAAAAA0o/N09XI1mPZXw/s400/vegan_stuffed_pepper_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>For this one I used a poblano pepper stuffed with <a href="http://yvesveggie.ca/index.php/products/product/veggie_ground_round_chicken/">Yves Ground Chicken</a> and taco seasoning, baked it in the toasted oven and topped with melted <a href="http://www.daiyafoods.com/index.html">Daiya cheese</a> and salsa. I had some leftover rice, so I served it with that. Fantastic breakfast, if I do say so myself.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fv16Ivv7odk/Tfv7q6-zdaI/AAAAAAAAA0s/6ITJCKKoEmQ/s1600/vegan_stuffed_pepper_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fv16Ivv7odk/Tfv7q6-zdaI/AAAAAAAAA0s/6ITJCKKoEmQ/s400/vegan_stuffed_pepper_2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>For lunch I stuffed a red bell pepper with a bit of ground chicken and a bunch of sauteed mushrooms and onions. I baked it in the toaster oven and melted some daiya cheese on it. Served with salsa, it was a delicious lunch.<br />
<br />
<b>Chai Chocolate Chip Cookies</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iTMCU27CJu4/Tfv7p5SwPWI/AAAAAAAAA0k/8rJ_jPBoQXQ/s1600/vegan_chai_cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iTMCU27CJu4/Tfv7p5SwPWI/AAAAAAAAA0k/8rJ_jPBoQXQ/s400/vegan_chai_cookies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>These are the the Chocolate Chai Shortbread Cookies from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Cookies-Invade-Your-Cookie/dp/160094048X?ie=UTF8&tag=kidsplaywiths-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Vegan Cookies Take Over Your Cookie Jar</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=kidsplaywiths-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=160094048X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />. I had trouble slicing them because they're so crumbly, so I shaped them into little pucks and baked them that way. Despite the trouble forming them, they were really tasty. Recommended.Cara Sheppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10617288911080134392noreply@blogger.com2Vancouver, BC, Canada49.261226 -123.113926849.2016675 -123.2147628 49.3207845 -123.0130908