On Valentine’s Day 2009 I was about 6 months pregnant with Hanna, and secretly pissed off that Syx hadn’t proposed to me yet. So I decided to jump the gun and just ask him. I mean – we were both adults, both loved eachother and were about to start a family together. I didn’t see a problem with me asking him the big question. So I did. I should also mention I was a great big pile of sobby sweaty pregnant lady hormones and I just wanted us to be a real family. I figured since we were already sharing our finances, I didn’t want him to waste a bunch of money on a ring with a baby coming, I didn’t need any of that fancy stuff. Plus our whole relationship has been very unromantic in a way (but that’s a story for another day).

Anyway, the proposal was sweet and we both cried and held mittened hands on that Febuary morning. Shortly after, I sort of expected we would start planning something short and sweet. My parents eloped and I had always thought that if I ever got married, it would be Vegas or city hall. But weeks passed and he didn’t mention it. Then months. I kept trying to bring it up, agressively at times but he always managed to side step it, wiggle out of the conversation. I found myself pissed off again. Plus we were broke and I was mad about that too.

I DIDN’T KNOW HE HAD BEEN PLANNING TO ASK ME.
I don’t believe in astrology but Syx likes to tell me that I’m a Taurus through and through- bull headed and impatient. Everyone around me knew he had been planning to ask me. Like BIG DEAL asking me, with a real ring he had been designing with our friend Dustin, with a real proposal, planning for months kind of big deal. He knew I was mad but he was mad at me for asking him first- so he kept his mouth shut and let me be mad. I had the art of passive agression mastered by the time he asked me, four months later.

It was worth being pissed off over.

Because let me tell you- there was nothing more romantic than seeing him down on his knees, ring in hand, asking me to be his wife.

Did I mention he tattooed his proposal on his knuckles?

So happy valentine’s day to my best friend and husband who loves me even when I’m angry. I can’t imagine my life without you in, I’m so glad we decided to choose eachother.

The idea was you could take penny off of the branches for good luck (we were married on Friday the 13th) and in exchange you would leave a wish for the couple. They were so beautiful and the wishes were such a nice gift to read a few days after all the wedding excitement died down.

In all the craziness of cleaning up after the wedding and our friends and family pushing us out the door (to make sure we didn’t stay to help clean the venue) only two branches from the centerpieces got saved. I wish we had saved a few more because we’ve ended up decorating them around the holidays to brighten our space and our day.

Here is our centerpiece decorated for Valentine’s Day! The heart tree!

Maybe I’ll have to ask Pam and Clint to harvest and paint a few more branches for me as an anniversary gift. Hmmmm…

I wish I was more of a sewer, my fabric bag was a little bare and I mostly had sheer, flimsy fabric scraps- it seems to look best with a nice thick cotton or stiffer fabric.

We drew hearts on the fabric scraps with a silver sharpie and cut them out. We weren’t concerned about perfection because a) Hanna helped with cutting them out and b) the sheer fabric was a bit tricky to cut.

We used paint brushes to paint modge podge directly onto the rocks, then stuck on our hearts and painted over them.

They are so sweet, and look so pretty in clusters around the house. We’re going to give them to people we love as Valentine’s gifts. But they’re a great idea for any time! I can’t wait to try this with other designs. Birds? Flowers? Letters? The possibilities are endless! AND Hanna has been playing with them all week. Yesterday she was building with them and today they were characters interacting with eachother. I LOVE this idea.

A better photo of Hanna’s diy rings.

We took a family walk up Main St today so I popped into Urban Source to pick up some more valentine’s themed craft supplies. I couldn’t resist these ring bases and magnifying glass bubbles to make these sweet rings for Hanu. All it took was a dab of hot glue.

26/365
(Jan 30)
Big and Little

27/365
(Jan 31)
Marmalade only likes her when she’s sleeping.

28/365
(Feb 1)
Brow wax.

29/365
(Feb 2)
A drink for Syx.

30/365
(Feb 3)
Beautiful flowers from Tamar.

31/365
(Feb 4)
My brother’s first apartment.

32/365
(Feb 5)
It’s ALWAYS a pajama party round here.

I NEED A REAL CAMERA!!!!!!!!!!!

Ingredients

2 c. GF flour blend (I use Bob’s Red Mill for convenience but also use a self mixed rice/potato/tapioca blend)
3/4 c. sugar
1 tbs. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. xanthan gum
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. mini chocolate chips
1 thin skinned orange, seeded and cut into chunks
1 large egg
1 c. milk
1/4 c. oil

How to make it

Place oven rack in the top 1/3 of the oven and preheat to 400F. Spray 12 muffin cups with baking spray.
In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients, including the chocolate chips. Set aside.
In the bowl of a food processor, process the orange chunks (peel and all) until pureed. Small chunks are o.k., but you want it to be fairly smooth. Add the egg, milk and oil to the food processor and pulse 4 or 5 times, until combined.

Pour the orange mixture into the dry ingredients and stir just until moistened. Don’t over beat.
Divide the batter among the 12 muffin cups. Bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes. In my oven, they come out perfect at 17 minutes.

DELISH.

All I can say is that my heart is with my family in Ontario as my mother in law is in surgery right now, in another round of her fight against cancer.

All our love from the westcoast.
We’re all with you in mind and spirit.

XOX

I really missed these sunny days.