Hello Weekend

Another busy week wraps up. Thanks for popping by!

Have a lovely weekend, all!

Back soon,
Janis

Computer Crash and a Good Book

Hope your week is going well so far!

I've had a day of my computer crashing before I've hit "save", while working in my boiling hot office (at home). I had to take a break, before I did something rash, so I poured my coffee into a jar, grabbed a blanket, my new book, and headed to the park. Best thing I've done all day ;)

I wanted to share this fantastic new book by Tereasa Surratt, with you. Tereasa is a creative director at ad agency Ogilvy, and owner, along with her husband, of Camp Wandawega located in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. The entire book is shot at the camp. It's a place I definitely plan to check out very soon!

They purchased the old camp, renovated the crumbling and very old cabins, and filled them with "found, free and flea" objects, spending no more than $150 per room. Amazing.  It's beautifully shot by a load of talented photographers. Here are a few snippets from the book...

This book is filled with inspiring images, tips and hints on navigating flea markets, collecting, and d.i.y's. For more on the multi-talented Ms. Surratt, check out her blog. Click here for a little more info on the book, and a very cute trailer.  

 Back soon!

Janis

I just checked out Marche St. George, a little neighbourhood grocery near my home, with my friend Caroline. She said I'd love it and she was right. Holy cute and cozy.  The decor and all the little details are perfect. They just opened 2 months ago, and have since become hugely popular in the 'hood and one of Vancouver's best kept secrets.

The coffee and croissants were so delicious. They also carry a fantastic array of deli meats, cheeses, and assorted gourmet products. You'll find non-edible treats here too: ceramics, scarves from Mexico, soaps and linen towels.

I had to pick up a jar of Mission Hill Oculus Cherries, a combination of organic cherries, Oculus wine, and balsamic vinegar. Klee, one of the owners of the shop, suggested I pour them over chocolate ice cream. I didn't have ice cream at home, so I ate them right out of the jar. Oh God, they are incredible.

 These really did bring tears to my eyes.

If you find yourself at the corner of St. George and East 28th, in Vancouver, check out Marche St. George. Delicious treats and cute decor....what more could you want?

Have a great day! Back soon.

Baked On Monday - Short Black Cupcakes

Hope you all had a good weekend. Did you partake in Halloween festivities? Candy corn?

I've made Short Black Cupcakes today. A nice mix of chocolate with coffee icing. Even if you don't love coffee, I think you'll love this mocha combo. Mmmmm.

Short Black Cupcakes - makes about 48 mini cupcakes

4 1/2 oz/ 125g softened unsalted butter
3/4 cup berry (caster) sugar
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 cup milk
3 1/2 oz/100g dark chocolate, melted

Coffee icing

1 cup berry (caster) sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 tablespoons instant coffee
3 egg whites

Preheat oven to 320f/160c. Place the butter and sugar in a bowl and mix with an electric mixer until creamy.  Gradually add the eggs and beat well. Sift over the flour, baking powder, and cocoa and beat until combined. Fold through the milk and melted chocolate. Spoon the batter into two 24 hole cupcake tins either greased or lined with mini cupcake papers (I didn't have those on hand today!).  Bake for 10-12 minutes or until skewer, placed in centre of cupcake, comes out clean. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
For the icing, place the sugar, water, cream of tartar and coffee in a saucepan over high heat, and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer for 3 minutes. Place the egg whites in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. While still beating, add the sugar mixture and beat until thick and glossy. Spread the icing over the cupcakes with a palette knife.
Serve with coffee and eat up!

That's it for today. Enjoy the day! Back soon.
Janis

Baked on Monday - Coffee Cake

Good Morning everyone! Hope you all had great weekends.

I'm in a rush this morning, as I have a shoot to go to. Today I offer up Coffee Cake, as it was pretty easy and fast.  For this particular morning, I also call it "breakfast".

Coffee Cake

Batter:
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/4 melted butter
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk

Filling:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon melted butter
1/4 chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350f/180c.  Grease and flour a 20cm round cake tin.
To make batter, beat eggs until light in colour. Add sugar slowly, one tablespoon at a time, and beat well. Stir in melted butter.
In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Add 1/3 to the batter mix. Continue adding dry ingredients and milk alternately until all ingredients are combined.

For filling, combine brown sugar, sifted flour, cinnamon, melted butter and chopped walnuts.
Pour half the batter in cake tin, then sprinkle half the filling over the top. Pour remaining half of batter on top, followed by the remaining filling. Bake for about 40 minutes. Serve warm!

 It went quite nicely with an iced coffee this morning.

Have a lovely day!

Rainy Weekends

Really, I think we can turn the switch on to "summer" now, can't we? Oh well, we're used to rain here on the west coast of Canada, so you can always float some paper boats in puddles.....

and drink lots of this......

or this (especially great if you can have someone draw a face on top)....

This coffee was made at Lakhoum in Richmond, Victoria Australia. Not sure if it's still the same owners. The coffee was perfect, not just cute!

I plan to catch up on some of my favourite blogs, work on a few craft projects, and go for walks in the rain. I'm kind of happy it's raining. What will you do this weekend?

Have a lovely weekend everyone. To all of you that live in the U.S., have a fantastic Memorial Day weekend. See you Monday for Baked on Monday 7!

I'm a little bit country

Well, Kyneton has proved to be a pretty fabulous little town. Love it. No big box anything here, just great independently owned shops, cafes and restaurants. Piper Street is where it's at.

Newly opened Kabinett is owned by Melissa MacFarlane and Frank Moylan, previous owners of the Royal George Hotel in Kyneton. Incredible mix of vintage pieces sourced mostly from Eastern Europe and Australia. I adore this shop. I have my eyes on a vintage map of Australia, and two happy blue enamel light fixtures (not pictured unfortunately).

 
Little Swallow Cafe has quickly become our spot for coffee and delicious breakfasts. Love the decor, so simple.

If you visit Kyneton, and you should, check out no. 2 sweetheart for pretty organic fashion and beauty products (I'm wearing a sweet little bamboo top right now!), Slow Living is a great restaurant that uses local organic produce and meats and makes a fab coffee too.

Have to dash. Off to Tahbilk to sample a few wines today. 

Weekend in Vancouver

It's been a happy weekend. Lots of sunshine, lovely design, photography, coffee and Prosecco.

Checked out the IDSwest show. Lots of great design. I've included a couple of images of the Cross Design Media Lounge, House and Home event. Lynda Reeves, the publisher, was there along with Mark Challen, v.p. of communications. I shoot for that magazine often, in fact the November issue will feature Darci's (The Cross) home, festooned with Christmas decor. Looking forward to seeing how it all came together.

I also had a chance to catch up with Janette Ewen, from Cityline, and Danny Sinopoli from Globe and Mail.  I started working with Janette and Danny when they were both with House and Home.  So nice to see them in my town.

  
One last mention... I'm deeply intrigued by the upcoming exhibit at the Vancouver Museum. How could you resist a show called "Ravishing Beasts", the strangely alluring world of taxidermy? I can't. I love the story of "Lucky" the dog (picture below). His owner loved him so much, that he had him stuffed when he died. He couldn't take him to the old age home, so he donated him. Awww.
 
For all of you that live in Vancouver, check out the Museum some time.  It really is a beautiful building too.   

I'll be working on a few more images to put up on Etsy, later this week.  Keep you posted.  

Take a real coffee break

Just have to wonder....
Why do some people rush around with take away coffee, take that coffee into change rooms, spill that coffee, leave it there so the next person can come in slip and splash around in it? Why?
Why do some people actually go through a drive-thru to get their coffee? I've never understood this. Could someone explain this to me? Am I missing out on something?
I love coffee. I love cafe culture. We do have a little of that here in Vancouver, but not quite like some cities. Drinking coffee out of paper cups tastes terrible, in my opinion. Take a 15 minute coffee break in a cafe. A real cafe. You know what I mean. You would love it.
I've attached some fun and relaxing coffee breaks of the past.....