Runs on Coffee and Cream

One of the things I love about being off work? I can attend all those weekend events that happen around the city. Working retail typically means you work all weekend, every weekend. There's always local craft shows I want to check out but I'm at work.

Not anymore!

A couple of Saturdays ago I did errands in the city with Emma. We made our way downtown and hit up the Makers North: The Spring Show late in the afternoon. Going to the event with a stroller made me realize I'd probably be a pain in the butt taking over a lot of space. So I figured going later in the day made the most sense since craft shows die off towards the end. There'd be more space for me!


I wanted to buy from pretty much every vendor. I think if it was closer to Christmas and I had gifts to buy for, I would have walked out with a lot more than I did. There were amazing smelling soy candles, personalized wine glasses and wool socks, adorable prints for the wall, handmade jewelry, and baby clothes.


The items I bought were ones I was eyeing up prior to the event. Things that I spotted on Instagram and Facebook.

The first was a pillow from Penny Goods. I had been eyeing up the dinosaur pillow before the event but after seeing pictures of their set up from the start of The Spring Show, I'm kicking myself I didn't go earlier. I clearly needed to buy Emma the big orange cat pillow. But luckily, I can just watch for them to do another local craft show and buy her another pillow!




I also bought a couple of hair bows from Alfie + Iris. I completely fell in love with them when I found their Instagram. Their bows are so pretty. And the material... ugh! As a fellow fabric addict, I want all the hair bows because of the fabric! They use gorgeous vintage-looking fabrics. I'm a little mad I didn't pick up their new Malibu Barbie-looking print bow. But again, maybe at their next show.


And because I was hungry and they actually had product left, I went home with 2 donuts from Beards Bakery! We try to visit their bakery regularly to try new things and they were set up at the show across from a friend's booth, so it was fate!


Whether I apply for future Makers North shows this year or not, I'll definitely attend them to do some shopping and to check out the local vendors. The feeling at these shows is so energetic and they inspire the crap out of me. I leave them with creativity bursting from me. It helps keep me in check when preparing for my own craft shows that I'm vending at.

Speaking of which, I'm off to cut out some new projects for my next show!

xo Jen

I ended 2016 in a donut onesie, playing Sushi Go with Adam, and joking around with him and my Instax camera. It was a great way to start the new year.
 

Over the holidays I was able to try the eggnog and gingerbread frozen yogurt at our local froyo place. The eggnog one was incredible!

We have been getting snow regularly since 2017 started. Living in this city really is like being inside a snow globe.

I received a ton of tea for Christmas but I'm not complaining. I've been having a cup of something new every night and I've already found a few new favourites.

It's been cold but it hasn't stopped us from venturing out for walks to local coffee shops and catching Pokemon.

How's 2017 been treating you so far?
xo Jen

Since upgrading to a new phone (the LG G4) I've been taking more photos than normal since I now have a phone with a better camera than my previous Galaxy S4. So please forgive my photo spamming this Summer.

With that being said, here are my photos from the last few weeks...

I squeezed in a last minute trip to Canada's Wonderland with a friend last week. It was so much fun, though I forgot how nauseous rollercoasters can make me. It was still a great day though and it ended with an amazing funnel cake and a drive home filled with singing in the car.


So this picture happened because I didn't realize my camera was in 'selfie' mode. I thought I was taking photos of the lake. I was super confused on our drive home looking through photos. It was too sunny to see the screen when I was taking the photos so I had no idea I was getting pictures of myself.


We hit up Silver Bullet for burgers and fries after our beach day and it was delicious. It's easily one of my favourite places to grab food in the Summer.


Logan looking especially cute.


Seymore being a dork 'hiding' in his tent.


After rewatching the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie I had to find green nail polish like Megan Fox's in that movie. I found the perfect shade and I'm obsessed!


Trades I'm reading right now. I picked up the Black Widow book at Graphic-Con earlier in the month.


Speaking of s'mores, Mighty Canadian Doughnuts had s'mores as their flavour of the month and it was so good! The doughnut was cut in half, marshmallow spread was put in between, then Hershey chocolate is melted on top with a marshmallow in the middle. Yum!


How was June for you? I'm pretty excited for upcoming plans for the rest of the Summer. It's turning out to be a pretty great couple of months.

xo Jen

So February is over, huh? I'm not going to lie, I'm excited for March. Why? Because Spring is around the corner! Yes, we have a 5' snow fortress surrounding our house and we're hitting -30 degrees tonight but we're coming to the end of Winter!

This is how I spent February.


Logan loves the turtles. I keep catching him hanging out with them and being super adorable.



Seymore being Seymore.


 I made some super yummy cinnamon rolls for IGGPPC in February. You can find the recipe here.



A new gourmet doughnut shop opened near us and we've been twice! We've tried the Maple Bacon, Cookies and Cream, Coconut Lime, and Maple French Toast. They are incredible! Super fluffy and so tasty. If you're ever in the area, check out Mighty Canadian Doughnuts.


One of my favourite glasses. I got it for Christmas in a 2-pack. Wait until you see the other cup!


We spent an evening building the Lego Ghostbusters set. I absolutely love the minifigures of the guys.


February was a month of staying indoors and being snuggly. I'm looking forward to heading outside more in March though.


xo Jen

I love baking. I took cake decorating classes a few years ago and I'm always up for baking a batch of cookies or frosting some pretty cupcakes. It's one of my top passions in life.

This year I want to grow and challenge myself as a baker. I want to try new recipes and techniques. I want to experiment more with flavours and decorating styles. Lately I've found myself getting lost on Instagram and Pinterest looking at cake and cookie photos.

Inspired by the return of The Walking Dead tonight and the fact that I've been donut-obsessed lately, I decided to make some blood-splattered donuts to eat while we watch The Walking Dead.


I used the recipe I shared last week on the blog. And when looking at these photos I'm sure you'll realize the 'blood' looks more pink than red. I used SO MUCH red food dye and I could not achieve a dark red colour. So let's pretend it's more red, OK? Thanks!

I used Cherry Chip cake mix this time and used the same vanilla glaze recipe as last time. Once the glaze had hardened, I dyed the leftover glaze red and had fun splattering the donuts using a butter knife.





 
The mid-season finale of The Walking Dead back in November was intense and left me wanting so much more. I can't wait to see how the story progresses.

  


After these little donuts were in the house for a couple of days, we both decided that these really did taste like cake donuts. The glaze kept them moist and added just enough sweetness.

I highly recommend giving this recipe a try! I know I'm going to try this recipe again and use a different cake mix. I may have a themed-donut idea in my head...

xo Jen