summer collection: camping in owen sound, ontario

Mom and I after a few kilometer hike :)

grandma's coleslaw

You know, there are not a lot of foods that I just don't like.
I'll eat almost anything and I'll try almost anything.
{Needless to say, perhaps, I will not be trying balut when we arrive in Manila.}
One thing I really do not like, though, is coleslaw.
It's too green and mushy for me.
It's vinegar-y and tangy in all the wrong ways.

Last week we had a turkey dinner with the family.
{Since we live overseas, we tend to have whole trimmed holiday dinners in the summer.}
Jeff's grandma always makes awesome food, but this time she made an awesome coleslaw.
I didn't even know this was possible!
I think I'm a coleslaw convert.

Grandma's Coleslaw

1 bag cabbage or broccoli slaw {or chop your own}
1 c Miracle Whip
1/4 c white sugar
2 Tbsp white vinegar
raisins
pecans

Mix 'em up good and throw in as many raisins and pecans as your heart desires. We had this as a side with ribs and it was a perfect summer meal. Yum!

- Amanda

summer collection: toronto

This is our cat with a short tail. She won't be joining us in Manila - it's a pretty long and I'm sure stressful flight for a cat!

Basil: summer favourite. 

Every season favourite, who am I kidding?

 Love that little smile!

{Jeff took this one.}

Toronto pride parade - amazing energy!

Leaving Stout after some board-gaming.

Dinner at the so-delicious Playa Cabana. This place has gotten crazy popular since we first stumbled upon it  on Dupont; great tacos and giant burritos!

We also went a Jays game, which are always fun! We lost...but still.

Winners!

Congratulations to

I'll be in touch so you can let me know which two items you'd like me to send along.

We've just spent the weekend in the city {Toronto for all non-Ontario readers}...
So I'll be back with a few photos to share.

Have a beautiful day!
- Amanda

bloglovin' giveaway

I'd love if you want to travel along with me through bloglovin'

Two winners will get to choose any two items from my TpT shop as a big thanks.

Thanks to those two Collaboration Cuties for the linky and for making this a smooth transition for all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

summer collection: home in canada

I have the most beautiful niece.

She has a hilarious sassy attitude.

{I'm sure this is not so hilarious to her mother or Nana...}

She's rather independent.

And she brings me flowers :)

board game review: pandemic

I'm the kind of person that is not fun to play board games with.
I know because I've been told.
Anything based on luck or chance, I hate.
Anything super competitive makes me a grouch.
I can never roll the number I need or turn up the card I'm looking for.
Never bring out Risk around me.
It may make me hate you.

My husband is a bit of a nerd, which is awesome.
{For the record, he claims I am a nerd, too... As if.}
Since he prefers to keep me around {yay!}, he's been looking into cooperative board games.
We have a couple now, and I'm much more fun to be with when we play those games together.

The other night we brought Pandemic to our friends' place.

Basically each person in the group is given different abilities and works together to find a cure for four diseases that are threatening to wipe out humanity.
Strategizing {not a word apparently?} is fun because everyone thinks of or notices different things on the board.
It's really difficult!
But working together, you feel like you're accomplishing something at least.
And I'm happy to announce that today...we won!
Yes, we've only been playing on the "Easy" level, but hey.
I think it would even be a fun game if you have older kids.
If you're interested, you can watch a pretty good run-through of the game. 

Another one we've been playing is an iPad app called Forbidden Island.

Of the six or so times we've tried, we've won only once.
So also a difficult game!
You are trying to collect four monuments on an island and fly them (and yourself!) to safety before it sinks.
You have limited movement abilities and only three actions to make.
The "water rises" quickly!
Spaces are sinking constantly.
That time we won was so satisfying...
But it's fun and it's only five bucks so it's worth a shot.

Happy game night!
- Amanda

bloglovin'

Bye bye, Google Reader...
Hello, bloglovin'!

summer collection: home sweet home

Just got back to Canada for the summer (a short month and a half) so we're soaking it all in right now.

Happy summer!

Etsy. It's a Problem.

Seriously, who let me on Etsy?
It's a problem.
The sort of problem that I love, though.
It's like Pinterest, but for buying things!
And do I ever love buying things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giveaway!

Just stopping in to send you over to the lovely Sara from Miss V`s Busy Bees. She`s having a week-long celebration where you can win yourself some awesome stuff! (Including something from me!)

Goooood luck.

3 Day Weekend!

You know what's awesome?
A long weekend right before the last week of school!
Even though there are a total of 21 kids currently attending...
21 kids in grades 2-6 altogether...
So we've pooled the kids in one room and we all rotate through fun lessons.

Today is the perfect day to get a few things started for next year, and to get started on cards for my kids.

They're pretty simple, but I've written a personalized message inside each one.

I think the kids will love reading them.

I'll just add them in with their report cards and then we'll be outta here!

If you'd like a copy, I uploaded them to Google Docs, so feel free...

Since it's the crazy-hot summertime here in Kuwait, I've been keeping cool with these two yummy treats:

Starbucks Iced Green Tea at home
It's super easy to make and just as delicious as the real thing

and Breakfast Strawberry Ice Cream

Yep, ice cream for breakfast :)

June's photo header

This month's header comes from Amsterdam.
Since we'll be packing our bags to leave Kuwait in the next week, the photo seems fitting!
That thought makes me smile :)
It's also one we snapped on our way to enjoy a frothy cup of pumpkin ale.
We'll be looking forward to relaxing on the deck with something frosty alongside...
(You know, since it's not allowed in this country...)
Another thought that makes me smile!
- Amanda