Saturday, March 26, 2011
New blog! Update your bookmarks.
We've decided that the "envirostudent" blog address may be a little dated, so we're changing things up. This has become mostly a photo blog, so we're going to give Tumblr a try. Come visit us and post your comments at our new blog:
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
Snowman
Building her first snowman, with Grandma.
Where we live, generally it's too cold, too windy, or the snow is too dry to have much fun in the snow. :) Paisley loved the mild temperatures so she could go out and play.
Where we live, generally it's too cold, too windy, or the snow is too dry to have much fun in the snow. :) Paisley loved the mild temperatures so she could go out and play.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Skating with the Hurricanes
Remember Paisley's first time skating? We propped her up on the Lethbridge Hurricanes' bench for a photo (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jdschroeder/4165359958)
Yesterday was the Hurricanes' family skate, so we got another bench shot, this time posing with Hurricane defenceman Reid Jackson. It's not as fun an angle on the shot, but there were a lot more people milling about this time.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Paisley's Valentine's Outfit
Paisley asked me for a new skirt for heart day. One she could twirl in. So I took her to the fabric store, and we picked out some fabric. Of course I procrastinated til the night before, but I got it done in time for her v-day party with her friends:
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Paisley's first card
Paisley loves crafting... usually I set her up in my craft room with markers and her stamps and lots of paper... (we go through A LOT of paper at our house).
This morning I was making a card for her friend who's turning 2 (party this afternoon) and she decided she wanted to make Libby a card too. I'm impressed with her card making skills. I only helped her with a bit of writing, and a bit of glueing.
We did get a fat lip in the process though.
This morning I was making a card for her friend who's turning 2 (party this afternoon) and she decided she wanted to make Libby a card too. I'm impressed with her card making skills. I only helped her with a bit of writing, and a bit of glueing.
We did get a fat lip in the process though.
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Paisley's Room
I totally keep forgetting to take pictures of Paisley's room. She loves her room.. and asks every night if she gets to sleep under the tree. :) Here's a few shots of her room.. still have a few things I need to finish in it (her quilt, some canvas paintings, a button bouquet and a bird... a birdhouse with no bird is just wrong.. so I'm told).
Here you can see the tree, and the grass that goes the perimeter of the room:
Here you can see some of the flowers.. I think there was 18 or 19 in total:
Close up of the tree, and the birdhouse, and the carving in the tree:
Close up of some of the flowers:
A few of her friends:
A majority of the time she has her table set, and a whole bunch of friends sitting around it... constantly have tea and deserts with her stuffed animals and princess dolls.
Here you can see the tree, and the grass that goes the perimeter of the room:
Here you can see some of the flowers.. I think there was 18 or 19 in total:
Close up of the tree, and the birdhouse, and the carving in the tree:
Close up of some of the flowers:
A few of her friends:
A majority of the time she has her table set, and a whole bunch of friends sitting around it... constantly have tea and deserts with her stuffed animals and princess dolls.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Sneak Peek
Since I've shut down Barefoot Creations for the holidays, I've had all this wonderful free time! I've been baking like crazy, my house is actually STAYING clean, and I'm finding time for other projects! When you consider I spend 6-12 hours/day on Barefoot Creations stuff, it's a huge amount of time I have, and I'm thoroughly enjoying the break.
With the baby on the way, I gave Paisley a choice between staying in her room.. or moving to the room across the hall (a little smaller). She didn't hesitate and said the baby can have her room, and she'll have the other room. :) She even started hauling her stuff over there (but I had to tell her "not yet").
Since she's so eager, I thought I'd get on prepping it for her. I decided I was going to paint an accent wall in it before she moved in... so I set out to do that on Sunday. But once I started, I decided to paint all the walls. Then Sunday night I decided I wanted to paint a very small mural, just below he built in bookcase. I got a little carried away..... here's a sneak peek:
I'm REALLY enjoying this project. I forgot how much I loved painting, drawing, etc. I miss art... sewing, papercrafting and crocheting have become my arts.. but I miss the other parts of it.
I painted for 5 hours tonight, got A LOT more done than I thought I would.... and I just kept adding more and more. There's a few more things I'd like to add tomorrow, plus a little more detail.
I will take more pictures once Paisley is moved into her room.... which won't be til after Christmas.
I'll finish painting tomorrow night, and then we have guests coming on Wednesday until after Christmas. Then she can move in there. She's going to be so excited!
With the baby on the way, I gave Paisley a choice between staying in her room.. or moving to the room across the hall (a little smaller). She didn't hesitate and said the baby can have her room, and she'll have the other room. :) She even started hauling her stuff over there (but I had to tell her "not yet").
Since she's so eager, I thought I'd get on prepping it for her. I decided I was going to paint an accent wall in it before she moved in... so I set out to do that on Sunday. But once I started, I decided to paint all the walls. Then Sunday night I decided I wanted to paint a very small mural, just below he built in bookcase. I got a little carried away..... here's a sneak peek:
I'm REALLY enjoying this project. I forgot how much I loved painting, drawing, etc. I miss art... sewing, papercrafting and crocheting have become my arts.. but I miss the other parts of it.
I painted for 5 hours tonight, got A LOT more done than I thought I would.... and I just kept adding more and more. There's a few more things I'd like to add tomorrow, plus a little more detail.
I will take more pictures once Paisley is moved into her room.... which won't be til after Christmas.
I'll finish painting tomorrow night, and then we have guests coming on Wednesday until after Christmas. Then she can move in there. She's going to be so excited!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Saltine Toffee
This is one everyone knows.. but I've had a few requests for it this year. It's an old old recipe.
Saltine Crackers
1 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
..................
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Line cookie tray (jelly roll type... with edges) with tin foil, and spray with non-stick spray
Lay the bottom of the tray with saltine crackers... closely together, as few gaps as possible.
Melt butter and sugar together over medium heat on the stovetop.
When mixture comes to a rolling boil let boil for 2 minutes, stirring.
Pour mixture over crackers.
Bake in oven for 10 minutes (it will bubble up all nicely)
Remove from oven... let stand for 2 minutes.. then sprinkle chocolate chips over the top. Spread the chocolate evenly over the top as they melt.
Sprinkle peanuts, or crushed up saltines on the top.
Put pan in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
Break it up and enjoy!
(I might try to get a picture of these as well).
Saltine Crackers
1 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
..................
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Line cookie tray (jelly roll type... with edges) with tin foil, and spray with non-stick spray
Lay the bottom of the tray with saltine crackers... closely together, as few gaps as possible.
Melt butter and sugar together over medium heat on the stovetop.
When mixture comes to a rolling boil let boil for 2 minutes, stirring.
Pour mixture over crackers.
Bake in oven for 10 minutes (it will bubble up all nicely)
Remove from oven... let stand for 2 minutes.. then sprinkle chocolate chips over the top. Spread the chocolate evenly over the top as they melt.
Sprinkle peanuts, or crushed up saltines on the top.
Put pan in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
Break it up and enjoy!
(I might try to get a picture of these as well).
Cappuccino Crinkles
This was a new recipe this year... and I think it's a winner:
1/3 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup cocoa
1 Tbsp instant coffee crystals
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
2 egg whites
1/3 low fat vanilla yogurt
1.5 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
................
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat butter on high speed for 30 secs.
Add brown sugar, cocoa and coffee, baking soda, cinnamon.
Beat until combined.
Beat in eggs and yogurt until combined.
Mix in as much flour as you can with the mixer (might have to do the rest by hand.... my mixer managed to mix it all though).
Place sugar in small bowl.
Shape dough into 1 inch balls, roll in sugar, place on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 8-10 minutes, til edges are firm. Cool on cooling rack.
Makes about 32 cookies.
Recipe from 100 Best Cookie Recipes 2009
I may get around to posting a picture of these...
1/3 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup cocoa
1 Tbsp instant coffee crystals
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
2 egg whites
1/3 low fat vanilla yogurt
1.5 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
................
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat butter on high speed for 30 secs.
Add brown sugar, cocoa and coffee, baking soda, cinnamon.
Beat until combined.
Beat in eggs and yogurt until combined.
Mix in as much flour as you can with the mixer (might have to do the rest by hand.... my mixer managed to mix it all though).
Place sugar in small bowl.
Shape dough into 1 inch balls, roll in sugar, place on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 8-10 minutes, til edges are firm. Cool on cooling rack.
Makes about 32 cookies.
Recipe from 100 Best Cookie Recipes 2009
I may get around to posting a picture of these...
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Christmas Baking
Following the gingerbread house on Saturday, we decided to do a little Christmas baking. Paisley was anxious to help.
Her job: roll the cookies in crushed candy cane and place them on the trays.
At one point she combined several balls of dough to make a GIANT cookie.
... and then made a snowman.
Once all that was done, we watched the cookies bake.
We're saving some for friends and family, but we also sampled them (including Paisley's giant cookie).
Tamara will share the recipe for these cookies in the next few days.
Her job: roll the cookies in crushed candy cane and place them on the trays.
At one point she combined several balls of dough to make a GIANT cookie.
... and then made a snowman.
Once all that was done, we watched the cookies bake.
We're saving some for friends and family, but we also sampled them (including Paisley's giant cookie).
Tamara will share the recipe for these cookies in the next few days.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Gingerbread House Building and Decorating
We decided this year was the year to start making gingerbread houses. :) Paisley's really into helping with baking and decorating (and building and fixing), and pretty much everything. She's also very into posing and saying "CHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE"
She was very good about using the candies as building materials rather than eating them, too. We snacked on leftovers when construction was complete.
She was very good about using the candies as building materials rather than eating them, too. We snacked on leftovers when construction was complete.
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Skating party
Today was the annual U of L skating party at the Enmax Centre. This was our second year going; you may remember seeing photos of Paisley crying while skating, sitting, and visiting Santa last year.
Plenty more smiles this year. I'm convinced it's the skates:
We continue to work on the finer points of skating:
She's showing improvement with her balance and comfort on the ice every week. Of course it always ends up with "carry me ... go fast":
No crying for Santa this time around, but she was still pretty tentative:
And for good measure, Tamara took a nice photo of Mark and I, the CanesCast guys, at centre ice by the Hurricanes logos:
Plenty more smiles this year. I'm convinced it's the skates:
We continue to work on the finer points of skating:
She's showing improvement with her balance and comfort on the ice every week. Of course it always ends up with "carry me ... go fast":
No crying for Santa this time around, but she was still pretty tentative:
And for good measure, Tamara took a nice photo of Mark and I, the CanesCast guys, at centre ice by the Hurricanes logos:
Monday, November 29, 2010
Date Pinwheel Cookies
A family favourite at Christmas is Date Pinwheels. We all love them, and they're great to keep in the fridge, and slice and bake as you need them!!
Date Filling:
Combine in a saucepan
2 cups chopped dates
2/3 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup water
Cook over medium heat until mixture thickens to spreading consistency. Stir constantly.
Remove from heat and stir in
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Chill.
Cookie Dough:
Cream thoroughly
1 cup margarine
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
Add
2 well beaten eggs
1 tsp vanilla
Beat until light and fluffy.
Blend or sift together
2 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
Add dry ingredient to the creamed mixture and combine thoroughly. CHill dough until firm.
Divide chilled dough into three balls. Roll each to a 8 x 12 inch rectangle. Spread with date filling. Beginning at the narrow edge o each, roll up like jelly rolls. Wrap securely in waxed paper. Chill overnight or until needed.
To bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Slice off desired number of cookies, making each about 1;4 inch thick. (tip: roll the cookie roll as you cut, to avoid a flattened side) Place on greased baking sheets and bake in oven for 10-12 minutes.
Wrap remaining cookie dough and return to fridge. Because of date filling, all cookies should be baked within a week or 10 days, but you can throw the rolls in the freezer, and pull them out later (great for prepping well before Christmas, just pull out of freezer, and put in fridge for the week of Christmas).
Date Pinwheels
Date Filling:
Combine in a saucepan
2 cups chopped dates
2/3 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup water
Cook over medium heat until mixture thickens to spreading consistency. Stir constantly.
Remove from heat and stir in
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Chill.
Cookie Dough:
Cream thoroughly
1 cup margarine
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
Add
2 well beaten eggs
1 tsp vanilla
Beat until light and fluffy.
Blend or sift together
2 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
Add dry ingredient to the creamed mixture and combine thoroughly. CHill dough until firm.
Divide chilled dough into three balls. Roll each to a 8 x 12 inch rectangle. Spread with date filling. Beginning at the narrow edge o each, roll up like jelly rolls. Wrap securely in waxed paper. Chill overnight or until needed.
To bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Slice off desired number of cookies, making each about 1;4 inch thick. (tip: roll the cookie roll as you cut, to avoid a flattened side) Place on greased baking sheets and bake in oven for 10-12 minutes.
Wrap remaining cookie dough and return to fridge. Because of date filling, all cookies should be baked within a week or 10 days, but you can throw the rolls in the freezer, and pull them out later (great for prepping well before Christmas, just pull out of freezer, and put in fridge for the week of Christmas).
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
Dressing up
Paisley loves to play dress up. I think it's probably daily that she wears her tutu, as well as various hats, etc. One day about 2 months ago, I left Paisley playing downstairs while I was cleaning the bathrooms... about 10 minutes later she came up to find me, and asked me to put her wings on....
I came down about 5 minutes later to her declaring "I'm a FAIRY OWL PRINCESS, mommy!" As she was running around "flying." She cracks me up.
I came down about 5 minutes later to her declaring "I'm a FAIRY OWL PRINCESS, mommy!" As she was running around "flying." She cracks me up.
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