Scraps of Me - Pretty Cake Bunting!

A new trend that I've seen making its way around blog-land is bunting.  I adored this Ten Minute Bunting Card that I saw at Trendy Treehouse, and whipped up several this week in festive fall colours.  Many posts on fall decorating have featured bunting on mantles, shelves, and windows, another idea I can't wait to try.  But one of my absolute favorite uses for bunting without a doubt, is Cake Bunting.

I've seen a lot of examples of cake bunting over the last few weeks.  You can purchase bunting ready made, but honestly, it couldn't be easier to make.  All you need are two bamboo skewers, some twine, and a few scraps of pretty paper.  Cut triangles out of your paper (they don't have to be perfect; bunting should have a sort of homespun charm to it), tie either end of your twine to a bamboo skewer, and glue the triangles to the twine.  I made two sets and arranged them so they were a little offset:

How cute is that?  I apologize for the picture; normally I try to avoid plugs, jacks, and empty frosting containers but I had to snap this picture quickly before the cake got consumed!  

This project literally took me ten minutes.  The great thing about the mini bunting projects (such as the card and the cake bunting) is that they are the perfect opportunity to use up leftover scraps of paper.  I used a few scraps of double sided Stampin' Up paper; what I really loved about this is that the bunting is pretty from any angle since the paper is double sided.  I had bamboo skewers, twine, and glue on hand so this project literally cost me nothing to make!

When I go to our local scrapbooking shop next week I am going to pick up some fun Fall and Halloween papers and make some garland bunting for my mantle.  Then I'll save the scraps and make some cake bunting for our Halloween celebrations! I can think of countless Christmas decorating ideas incorporating bunting...oh, the possibilities!

The next time you have something to celebrate (a birthday, a baby shower, or just a really great day!) fetch your stash and whip up some cake bunting!  It's fast and (practically) free Happy!

Blogland Creations - Bender Cake

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Another new post series that I am excited about launching is called "Blogland Creations."  This series will feature projects (recipes, crafts, etc) that I discovered on a blog and then attempted myself.  As most of you have probably noticed, there is some GREAT stuff out there, especially if you make the rounds of the blog hops! I've tried out quite a few ideas now, and I've been wanting to post about them.  However, I feel quite strongly about giving credit where it is due so I will be linking to the blog where I originally saw the project.  I know that some projects have been making the rounds of Blogland for a long time, and their origins are long forgotten, but I am going to do my part to acknowledge the truly talented people who create and blog about it!

The first project I'm featuring knocked my socks off in terms of how absolutely perfect it was.  A few weeks ago (OK, I think it's actually months now!) I was "hopping" one day and in the middle of all the thumbnails I saw a familiar face - Bender from Futurama!  Intrigued, I clicked on the link and was promptly led to the blog I Design.  Jackie, the author of this blog, had decided to host a "Booze and Cigar Party - Bender Style" for her boyfriend's birthday.  (Those of you familiar with Futurama will understand; for those of you who are not, Bender is a cigar and booze loving robot.  He's a hoot.)  The shape, detail, colour, everything about this cake was absolutely perfect.  In fact, it could be a model from the show.  Since my husband is a huge Futurama fan, I thought that I would like to attempt this cake for his upcoming birthday.  Luckily, this post appeared a few weeks prior to his birthday, so I had plenty of time to plan.

This was my first attempt at using rolled fondant, and I will admit that gave me pause.  Was this really the cake to start with?  Not only was it my first try at fondant, the fondant would need to be tinted silver, and the cake was quite big.  I hemmed and hawed; I didn't want to end up with a very expensive disaster on my hands, and no birthday cake to boot.  However, reasoning that fortune favours the brave, I plunged forward and made my plans.

Jackie gives some really good instructions (both in her post and in the related comments) about how she constructed her cake.  I decided to forgo having a perfectly shaped head and instead of making several little cakes as she did, I made four layer cakes (orange and chocolate) and layered them together with chocolate-orange buttercream to make a base.  Then, I took a small mixing bowl that was about the same size as my top layer and filled it with rice krispie treat mix.  This formed the dome of Bender's head.  I followed Jackie's technique of using Rice Krispie Treats to form Bender's eyes.  Rice Krispie treats are incredibly versatile!  Truth be told, I wasn't overly concerned about construction the actual cake; I had enough confidence in my abilities to pull that off.  What really had me concerned was the fondant...

After much deliberation, and consultation with actual cake decorators, I decided to use homemade marshmallow fondant.  All my worries had been in vain; this recipe was a dream and so fun to work with!  Mixing and colouring it was like Play-doh for grown-ups, except that it was DELICIOUS when you ate it!  I made a double batch and tinted one grey.  I discovered that there is no such thing as grey food colouring; I was advised to use a small bit of black paste food colouring, mix it well, and build from there.  Soon, I had perfect grey fondant.  I had been trying to figure out how to make it look like metal, so I picked up a tube of Wilton's Elegant Shimmer Dust in Silver.  Once I had my grey fondant draped over Bender's head, I took a clean artist's brush (only used for food) and lightly brushed the dust all over the cake.  I attached the eyes using bamboo skewers (next time I'll use the suggested lollypop sticks).  For the black detail, I just made a very thin black icing, kind of an edible paint.  I wanted one of those food dye markers but couldn't find one in time.  I found the suggested silver candles for his antenna, with a fondant detail.

Here is my completed interpretation of the I Design Bender cake:

Not too shabby, eh?  Not perfect, but all things considered, I was quite pleased with myself!  I am going to do a tutorial on making marshmallow fondant; I was so impressed with this recipe that I just have to share.  If you've eaten (or spent a fortune) on store bought fondant and been turned off by it, this just may be the recipe to change your mind!

Be sure to check out I Design to see the original (and perfectly amazing) version of this cake!  Thanks to Jackie, and all the other fabulously creative bloggers out there, for making Blogland such a fun place to hang out!

Have a wonderful weekend!  See you on Monday!

Retro Recipes - Rice Krispie Squares

Happy Friday, Everyone!  Whether you went back to school, sent kids back to school, or just dealt with everyone else going back to school (thanks to Facebook and Twitter) it's been a long, hard week!  And after a long hard week, you deserve a treat!  A Rice Krispie Treat, to be exact!

Rice Krispie Treats were invented in 1939 by Kellogg's employee Mildred Day. Day, a Campfire Girls leader, was looking for an inexpensive fundraiser for the organization. She adapted the treat we know today from another recipe known as "puffed rice brittle," substituting Campfire Marshmallows for the molasses and vinegar the brittle recipe called for.  The sweeter treat was a huge success, and it wasn't long before Kellogg's began printing the recipe on Rice Krispie boxes.  (Source: e-how.com)

Part of the real beauty of Rice Krispie squares is their simplicity. (If you've never made them read the official recipe for Rice Krispie Squares; you'll be amazed.)    I take it one step further and melt the butter, marshmallows and vanilla in the microwave (just keep an eye on it; as I discovered the other day it makes a fabulous mess if it overflows).  So for busy "back to school" households, this is a tasty treat that can be whipped up in a jiffy!  And yet, despite how easy they are to make, this humble treat still receives a hero's welcome any time it makes an appearance.  

A few "field notes" if you will.  I have discovered over the years that it is best to use a good quality marshmallow so I use Jet-Puffed by Kraft as a general rule.  After reading an article recently that said that generic "Krispie" and "O" cereals are just as good as brand name versions, I decided to purchase generic krispies for a batch of squares that I made last week.  My verdict is that you should spring for the actual Kellogg's Rice Krispie's.  The generic brand I used were really, really sharp and were somewhat unpleasant to eat at times; treats shouldn't be painful, in my opinion!).  That being said, if you have a generic brand of marshmallows and krispies that are working for you, by all means, keep using them! And finally, you can add more cereal if you want a firmer square (I do this).

Have a wonderful weekend full of happy memories and lots of treats (Krispie or otherwise!)

Cranberry Pecan Cookies

Do you find that your taste for certain foods changes with the seasons?  I do.  Winter is all about stews and other slow cooked delights. Spring puts me in the mood for crisp, light salads.  Summer, and it's endless social events, makes me crave barbecues and camp fire goodies like charred wieners and 'smores.  And then there's fall, which the weather here is feeling more and more like, despite what the calendar says!  Fall is all about "harvest;" artisan cheese and bread, preserves, caramel apples and squash.  I could go on forever about the culinary delight that is autumn, but instead I will focus on one fall treat that is as synonymous with the season as back to school and falling leaves.  Oatmeal raisin cookies, or rather, my take on them...

Many people are chocolate chip cookies fans, and indeed, I love them too.  But I prefer my cookies a bit chewier.  And so I make a lot of oatmeal raisin cookies.  I like to think they are more wholesome than other oat-less cookies.  Today, however, I wanted something a little different.  And so, I made a little adaptation by adding cranberries and pecans.  This is a little something I do from time to time, and it's a flavour combination that I'm always pleased with.  A friend introduced me to a similar, but giant, version of this cookie that the bakery of our local grocery store makes.  It got me through my cookie cravings during those weeks in the summer when it was just too hot to turn on the oven.

Is there any simple, but delicious, change that you make to a basic cookie recipe?  If so, please share in the comments.  

Have a wonderful weekend!

Simple, Sweet Mocha Cupcakes

Cupcakes.  Is there any food more adorable than a cupcake?  More adorable, versatile, or...simple?

The idea that cupcakes are simple may raise some eyebrows among those of you who don't enjoy baking or find baking difficult.  And, yes, there are many cupcake creations that are intricate affairs best left to those who truly enjoy the pastry arts.  But here's a little secret...you can make cupcakes that look almost as gourmet as those found at your favorite bakery, without all the fuss.  You just need to use...

A mix.

I know, I know, "Shhhh, don't tell anyone!"  And you don't have to.  But here's another little secret; even those of us who adore baking sometimes rely on mixes and pre-made frostings.  So, if you'd like to impress your friends at book club, a baby shower, or coffee break, why not whip up a batch of delightful Mocha Cupcakes?

Here's all you need:

• Chocolate Cake Mix
• Pre-made Cream Cheese Frosting (buy 2 if you want to do big swirls of frosting)
• Instant coffee or instant espresso granules
• Coffee beans (for garnish, optional, but looks great!)
• Muffin liners

Follow the instructions on the cake mix package for preparing cupcakes.  While the cupcakes are baking, prepare the frosting.  Mix the instant coffee granules, to taste, into the frosting.  Add a bit at a time as too much will taste bitter.  I used about half of a Starbucks VIA instant coffee packet to a regular size can of  frosting and that was perfect.  When your frosting is well mixed, insert a large tip (such as Wilton's 1M) into a decorator bag and fill the bag with frosting.  Pipe large swirls or rosettes onto the top of the cooled cupcakes.  Garnish with coffee beans (if you can find chocolate covered coffee beans, even better!).  Share with all your favorite people!

I love to bake, and I am a huge fan of making things from scratch.  However, sometimes you need something that you can whip together quickly and cake mixes are perfect for times like these!

Have a wonderful weekend!

My Arts & Crafts Supplies!

In our town, the flyers are always delivered on Fridays. Last week, as I finished perusing them, I remarked to my husband that this was probably the last batch of flyers that wouldn't be advertising school supplies.  Like Christmas and, to a smaller extent, Halloween and Easter, Back To School is big business and the advertising starts early.  This makes me feel bad for all the kids who are still firmly entrenched in vacation mode, which of course they should be seeing as there is still as much break ahead of them as behind.  I can remember being in my childhood kitchen on August 1rst, many summers ago, and hearing the radio announcer proclaim that summer was half over. I was devastated!  And yet, for all that I wished that summer could last forever, there was one Back To School ritual that almost made it worth while to see summer coming to an end.

School supplies.

Shopping for the supplies was fun, of course, but there was something so wonderful about having that pile of new stuff just sitting in my closet, waiting.  I would tidy my room and closet in anticipation of my new things, and, once I had it all home, I would spend many hours arranging and rearranging.  Even better if it was a new school bag year as well; I loved arranging my supplies to see how it would all fit.  Careful consideration went into which subject got which colour folder.  Sometimes I tried a little reverse psychology and would assign a hated subject (MATHMATHMATH!!!) my very prettiest folder (one year it was pink!) One year we were allowed to have "Finder Binders" which housed all your subject in one handy, velcro'd binder.  Another year the thrill of my new school bag became a horror story, as all my subjects had extra heavy, oversized texts and I tore through four book bags in quick succession.  That my parent's didn't send me to school with a haversack was a miracle.  I also remember the first year we were allowed to write with ink instead of pencil (Grade 6) and how unbelievably horrible correction fluid smells at 3:00 in the afternoon in a hot classroom.  


The very best supplies were for art.  Not surprisingly, this class required the most supplies, and yet we barely ever used any of them. It was wonderful stuff though, and we got to keep it all in an shoe box art box; glue, scissors, crayons, markers, pencils, and oil pastels.   Every year those pastels showed up on our art list, and every year I would head to school excited that this would be the year we would actually use them.  You see, I was positive I was a great artist, and that those pastels would be the medium to release my talent.  Except...we never used them.  Once, once we used them, to learn about smudging.  And that was it.  I think I had the same box of unopened pastels for three years. 


Ah, memory lane!  I miss that annual ritual, and so sometimes I indulge in a little supply shopping of my own.  I've posted before about my love of notebooks and pens, and how much more organized they make me.  And now, instead of a shoe box  an art box, I have my very own craft room, full of all my wonderful stuff!  Wednesday we went to Terrace, and I picked up a few new supplies to add to my collection.  I think they're pretty great!

First up was a trip to the yarn shop, to see if I could get a spool of charcoal grey angora to finish my mitts.  I was very disappointed that they were out of it, and the search continues.  I did, however, get some beautiful new yarn that I think will make the most lovely mittens for someone on my Christmas list; Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo in Rinky Dinky Pink!  In addition to being pink and soft and pretty, this yarn has the nicest washing instructions I've ever read "Reshape whilst wet."  Any company that uses the word "whilst" is good by me!  And yes, this time I purchased two spools, just to be on the safe side!

We were doing some shopping in a large department store and I decided to pop into the craft department to pick up a crochet hook for Housewife Bliss' Housewife 101 tutorial on crocheting, which is being taught by Tehlia (Little T) of Raw Adventures of an Army Wife.  This took me a little while, as I was mesmerized by all the pretty hooks.  I was holding onto a very nice bamboo hook when I spotted the beautiful shiny plastic ones.  I have no idea if plastic crochet hooks are considered good or bad, but the colours, like old school toothbrushes, were just so pretty, I couldn't resist!  I picked one that looks like it's made of lemon drops.  Admittedly, I hadn't written down which size to buy and so I let colour guide me.  It was hard to take a picture of this that didn't have a glare in it, so I have decided that my hook clearly must have magical powers.  Do YOU have a magical crystal crochet hook??


And finally, an impulse buy!  As we were leaving the craft department, my eye spotted something familiar - Aleene's Original Tacky Glue!  I've had the same large bottle for years and it was only recently that I noticed it was getting low.  I was wondering if I would be able to find it, and then there it was!  Only it wasn't just one bottle of Aleene's...

 It was five!  Three regular, one washable, and one "Jewel -It," for gluing "plastic, metal, glass, beads; rhinestones; pearls and sequins to fabric."  Because you know, I might.  I would've given my eye teeth to have had this stuff back in junior high, when we were customizing NKOTB shirts!  All joking aside, I have a few Christmas projects that I will put my "Jewel-It" glue to use on. Ah Christmas, what would we do if we didn't have the Christmas holidays with which to indulge our secret, hidden love of glitter and other shiny things? 


And that, my friends, will be a Nesty for another day!  Have a wonderful weekend!  And hide those Back To School flyers from the kids; the glass is still half full!!!!

Retro Recipes - Can YOU Bake a Cherry Pie?

A few days ago, my neighbor dropped off a wonderful gift - a bag of freshly picked cherries!  I was thrilled, and I knew immediately what I wanted to make.  Cherry Pie!!  Cherry pie is my husband's favorite, and it isn't very often that we get a chance to make it with fresh cherries.

Making cherry pie from scratch requires a bit more work than just opening a can of filling!  In addition to making the pastry, there are all those cherries to pit!  I had forgotten to heed the advice of my cousin Ainsley (of Pattycake Manners) to purchase a cherry pitter, and I found myself staring into a bowl of cherries with a paring knife as my tool.  Well, the paring knife got the job done, but it took a while and my hands are now very stained.  However, I had the 5 1/2 cups of fruit required for my recipe, and I was ready to begin.


I decided to use a recipe from one of my favorite cookbooks.  I have made their pie crust several times, and I really like it.  It's a funny thing about me and pie crust.  I come from a long line of excellent bakers, and I consider myself to be a really good baker.  However, pie crust stumped me.  No matter how many times I tried, my crusts tore, were tough, and just plain unappetizing.  I continued to try on occasion, but I had access to lots of great pies at home, so it wasn't a big deal.  However, once we moved to Kitimat, I decided that once and for all, I was going to master pastry, starting with pie crust.  I'm not sure what changed, but now I make crusts with no problem at all, and I'm looking forward to branching out into other types of pastry.

But back to the pie!  I've had good luck using recipes from this cookbook, so I was confident starting my pie.  The recipe called for me to combine sugar and cornstarch in a large bowl, stir in the fruit, and allow it all to sit for at least 15 minutes to make a syrup.  I followed this process, assembled the pie, and popped it into the oven.  I like to follow the technique of covering the edge of the crust with foil for the first 30 minutes of baking so that it doesn't get too brown.  When I took the pie out after 30 minutes, it looked lovely and wonderful smells were wafting from it.  I popped it back into the oven and set the timer for an additional 30 minutes, as the recipe said to bake it for another 20 to 30 minutes, or until the crust was golden and the filling was bubbling.  After about 15 minutes, I heard a most unwelcome sound; the hiss and sizzle of pie filling hitting an oven floor.  My pie was boiling over!!  I quickly grabbed a cookie sheet to slide under the pie (to reduce the amount of mess in my oven) and as I was doing so, I saw that the crust was golden and the filling was indeed bubbling.  So, I took the pie out of the oven and gave it a good inspection.  I was using a glass pie plate, so I could get a good look at the entire crust.  It was completely baked, well ahead of schedule.  So, I turned off the oven and let the pie cool for a few hours.


We were very excited to cut into the pie.  I had an image of the cherries being surrounded by a sweet-tart sauce of perfect consistency; thick enough to stay inside the crust when cut, but not gelatinous.  Well, my filling was definitely not gelatinous!  When I cut into the pie and lifted away the first slice, the recess left quickly filled with juice.  Definitely not what I was aiming for!

It wasn't awful.  In fact, some people who tried it said it was delicious, and just like any other "from scratch" homemade cherry pie they'd had.  But, that wasn't good enough for me, and now I'm on a mission to figure out what went wrong, and to perfect my recipe!


One of my first thoughts was that perhaps I should prepare a cooked pie filling first, thus ensuring that it thickens, and then add it to the crust the same way I would if I was using a store bought filling.  I have found several recipes online and they all sound great.  I also checked out a few that use the method I did; mixing raw fruit with sugar and a thickening agent.  The one thing I noticed about the second kind of recipe is that they called for much more cornstarch or tapioca than I used.


And so, dear readers, I'm throwing it to you!  Can YOU bake a cherry pie, and, if so, what are your tips?  Which method do you use?  In the meantime, I'll be continuing my research; I'll let you know how it all turns out!


Have a great weekend!

Simple Pleasures

I try to keep my mind open to the secret messages my world is trying to send me.  Sometimes the messages come in more obvious forms, such as television commercials, news stories, or Facebook posts.  Sometimes, the messages come from cookies.

Cookies, you say?  Could the Nestygirl have finally gone crazy up there in the mountains of the North?  Do we need to send a search party up there with a pair of heels, some Clinique and a copy of Instyle?  Does she need a filing system in need of alphabetizing and colour coding?  WAS IT THE CUPCAKES????  No, dear readers, I'm fine. No cabin fever yet. But I am telling you the truth, the cookies are speaking to me.

She's mad!!  Send help anon!!!

I'm not even talking about fortune cookies.  I love fortune cookies, but I tend to always get the generic, boring "Peace is found in nature" ones.  My husband, now, the cookies love him.  It's always, "You will receive money in the mail" and "You will protect many people" and "Adventure awaits you on the water."  But like I said, I'm not talking about fortune cookies.  I'm talking about "Simple Pleasures" cookies.  You know the ones, thin, plain little cookies that are actually much more delicious than their simple form suggests?  I picked up a box of lemon ones last weekend to go with the Strawberry Mousse I made for dessert, and ever since, the phrase "simple pleasures" has been floating through my head.  So, now you understand, the cookies are speaking to me.

Suddenly, mood related messages seemed to be everywhere.  This month, one of my favorite magazines, Real Simple, is offering up suggestions on how to "energize your life."  The cover of this month's edition of another favorite magazine, Everyday with Rachel Ray contains the following phrases:

• "Cook With Love, Not Guilt"
• "No-Sweat Party Package"
• "Stress Free Ways to Feed Your Friends"

The message is loud and clear; people are stressing out!  And why?  For Pete's sake, it's summer!  The livin's  supposed to be easy, remember?  So when I got to my cousin Ainsley's Pattycake Manner's post We Need to Chill I raised my hand and said "I second that!"

And then I got some cookies.  Simple Pleasures, eh?  If only cookies could get everyone to chill, how much better off would we all be?  

Part of my new life philosophy is to try my very hardest not to sweat the small stuff; I made a career out of that, and, while it served me well professionally, I really don't feel the need to be so detail oriented in our home life. And life is good!  We put our energies and, when necessary, concern into things that really require it and we move on.  So it makes me sad to see that people are at the point where things that should be pleasures, such as cooking, crafting, entertaining, even, as Ainsley pointed out, blogging, have become sources of stress. 

Cooking? Not feeling inspired in the kitchen?  Here's a little secret; to the best of my knowledge, no one has ever died from eating instant mac & cheese every once in a while.  I have a flat of it stashed in our pantry, and you all know how much I love to cook.  Just pour everyone a glass of juice to go with it.  They'll survive.

Crafting?  Unless it's your income source, crafting is supposed to be fun, so if it's stressing you out, put it away.  I have a pile a scrap-booking projects awaiting completion, but you know what?  I'm not in the mood right now. I can't scrapbook on the patio with a glass of wine, and summer won't last forever so I'm going to enjoy my patio while I can.  My paper and pictures aren't going anywhere, and I'll feel like doing it again soon, but in the meantime, I'll read, or knit, or play with my dogs.  And drink wine on the patio.

Entertaining?  I'll give you that one, it can stress out even the most seasoned party planner.  I love to throw a party, but I've been known to whimper "Martha didn't cover this" as my grill won't heat or the temperature drops to near freezing in July.  If it stresses you out badly, don't entertain.  You don't have to.  Really.  Invite people to a restaurant, or have a campfire.  But seriously, if big parties aren't your thing, don't throw them. 

Blogging? I agree with Ains, we need to chill out.  Again, as with crafts, if your blog is your income source, then yes, it could be a source of stress if you have requirements to meet.  But for those of us who blog for ourselves, for fun, and to be a part of a community, don't let it become work to the point that you dread blogging.  Take a vacation, simplify your posts, scale back the "hops" and "blog parties" you participate in, and enjoy your summer.

To that end, here's some of the "Simple Pleasures" I've been enjoying:

• Knitting - I finally finished my Fireside Red boot socks!  My friend Tasha of Fibre Rox stopped by to help me with my Kitchener Stitch, and they are awesome!  I've started some charcoal grey angora wristlets; the yarn is so soft and pretty, you can feel your blood pressure just loooooowering down!
• Reading - I just finished The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb.  I have my two new magazines, and I'll be starting Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin for book club soon (although I am really liking Mrs. Bliss's idea about starting a Wine Club, too!)
• My dogs - Regular readers of my blog will know by now how in love I am with my pups Molly and Tinkywink.  I know not everyone is a dog person, but I tend to agree with Bernard Williams that "There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face."
• Cooking - My kitchen is my happy place.  When I watched Julie & Julia and heard Julie Powell say "I love that after a day when nothing is sure, and when I say "nothing" I mean nothing, you can come home and absolutely know that if you add egg yolks to chocolate and sugar and milk, it will get thick.  It's such a comfort,"  I understood. Last night I made a glazed lemon cake, and the sight of it in my cake safe makes me happy.  Tonight, I made primavera-ish pasta sauce and added some fresh basil leaves that I grew myself.  That made me happy.
• Naps - One of the really nice things about not working is that, if I want to, I can take a mid-day nap.  They are wonderful!!!

 These are just a few of the things I'm doing to live my life well. As we head into the weekend, I encourage you to listen to the cookies in your life, and embrace simple pleasures.  Summer is short, so enjoy it!!!

Today I am linking to Housewife Bliss' Fabulous Nest Friday, as well as New Friend Friday, which is co-hosted by The Girl Creative and Trendy Treehouse. 

 

A Fun Bit of Canadiana!

Hello again!  I hope that all my Canadian readers had a wonderful Canada Day, and that my American friends are having a great time getting ready for the big Fourth of July holiday weekend!  I had a very nice Canada Day.  We attended the local parade and later in the evening watched the fireworks display with some friends.  In between the events, however, we spent a nice amount of time just relaxing on the patio with good books and cups of coffee.  It was pleasant to take a few hours to relax and do nothing, since we have been working on a project that has been keeping us busy and, for the most part, indoors.

We have been purging.


Our belongings, that is.  This isn't the first time we've done this; I did a major purge before we moved out West over a year ago.  But this time, we're being really, really ruthless.  We've tossed stuff we swore we'd never get rid of!  We have several boxes ready to go to the thrift store, in addition to a large box of garbage and a bankers box of papers to destroy.  In addition to discarding items, we are also re-organizing and properly storing items that we are keeping, but won't be using on a regular basis.  I'll post more on that later.

One of the really fun things about purging your stuff is that it's a bit like treasure hunting.  We've recovered a lot of items that we thought were gone forever, as well as lots of stuff we are scratching our heads about.  Do you ever stop to wonder why some of the stuff in your house ever got in in the first place?  We discovered a collection of Pez dispensers.  Pez dispensers!  We're placing a lot of blame on Christmas stockings, those beloved dispensaries of "stuff".


Another discovery has actually made us $5.00 richer.  That may not seem like a lot, but those familiar with what we found will appreciate that it could take quite a while to get $5.00 worth of it.

 Canadian Tire Money is a cash bonus rewards program run by the Canadian Tire company.  Every time you make a purchase at a Canadian Tire store, gas bar, or online store, you earn Canadian Tire money.  You can read more about it here.


I enjoyed reading the facts listed in the article posted above.  I could definitely relate to the point that, since it feels like real money (the coupons are produced using the same materials and processes as legal tender) customers don't throw it away.  This is exactly how I came to be in possession of $5.00 worth.


Our collection began simply enough. Since moving to Northwestern BC, we shop at Canadian Tire a lot more than we did at home, so our cache of "money" built up fairly quickly.  As we began to purge our belongings, we discovered more and more of the coupons.  It got to be kind of funny; we would open an old wallet, or a book, or an envelope and there it would be.  We even discovered a more unusual fifty cent coupon, which was a bit of a thrill.  Apparently there are $1.00 and $2.00 coupons as well, but we haven't received one of those yet.

Watching our little pile of "money" grow made me happy and brought back other Canadian Tire money memories.  I can remember that as a little girl with her first bright purple Cabbage Patch Kids purse, a note or two of Canadian Tire money made me feel very grown up indeed!  Even as I got older, there was something about those brightly coloured, yet somewhat official looking bills that kept me from tossing them.  Perhaps it was that "legal tender" feel, or maybe it was Sandy McTire's smiling eyes and jaunty tam-o-shanter, but something kept me stashing the notes away, only to be discovered many years later.


We're keeping our cash, at least for the time being.  Right now we're making a game out of it; earlier today my husband noted that we were five cents short of $5.00.  A few hours later, I triumphantly held up a ten cent note.  We are going to build our pile for now, and then put the collected coupons toward a purchase.  


Canadian Tire money is one of those uniquely Canadian things that warms my heart.  And since yesterday was Canada Day, it seemed like the perfect time to share one of the quirkier pieces of Canadiana with you!


Today I am linking to New Friend Friday, which is co-hosted by The Girl Creative and Trendy Treehouse.

I am also participating in the Canada Day Blog Party which is hosted by Canadian Mom Blogger.


 
Have a wonderful weekend!  And a very happy Fourth of July to my American readers!