Showing posts with label dinosaur. Show all posts

Cozy Games Wish List

What's cozy gaming? It's just that - gaming that provides a cozy atmosphere; relaxing, comforting, not stressful. After learning about this newer gaming genre, I realized cozy gaming has always been what I've been interested in and played. Probably one of the most popular cozy games? The Animal Crossing series, and well, I've put in hundreds of hours into Animal Crossing New Horizons and New Leaf. I've explored this genre with Stardew Valley, My Time at Portia, Disney Dreamlight Valley and Story of Seasons as well. I love these cozy farming-type games. 

In September, two new cozy games are being released and they have topped my wish list!

Makers North: The Spring Show

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


Dinosaur Brownies

In the spirit of Jurassic World being released this month, I decided to make another dinosaur-themed recipe. Not long ago I spotted adorable dinosaur sprinkles at The Bulk Barn and I knew they had chocolate rocks there too.

So for something different than cake or cookies, I decided to make a pan of brownies. The recipe I used turned out OK but honestly, brownie box mix is always so good in comparison to from scratch recipes. I was actually planning on buying a brownie mix to achieve the ooey-gooey brownies they make but I forgot to buy a box while at the store. So I made brownies from scratch, which Adam calls chocolate brownie-cake because it's very cakey.

I whipped up some easy chocolate buttercream - butter, cocoa powder, icing sugar and a bit of water. Then onto the decorations! I'm not going to lie, these brownies are almost gone. They've been the perfect sweet treat this week.




I hope you're having a great weekend!
xo Jen

Jurassic World Dino Bone Cookies

When I was brainstorming recipe ideas at the beginning of the month, a recipe I had seen years ago popped into my head while thinking about a themed recipe for Jurassic World - meringue bone cookies from a Martha Stewart Halloween magazine. I've made meringue cookies before so I knew they were easy enough to make. 


A quick search online and I found the Martha Stewart recipe, which you can find here.

Martha's Cookies:


Jurassic World Dino Bone Cookies (Recipe):

The meringue was easy enough to make, though it took me an entire tray of cookies to finally get the 'bone' shape right. Even then, Martha's cookies look much better. 


The little hearts were to use up the meringue.  



The only adjustment I made with the cookies is I baked them for 2 hours instead of 1 hour. I had two trays in the oven at the same time and after an hour they still didn't feel hard enough. 

I decided to place the bones in some dirt (aka cocoa powder) for pictures and the bits of cocoa powder that stuck to the cookies added a nice taste. 


We haven't seen Jurassic World yet, but as soon as we have a free evening we'll be heading to the theatre!

Have you seen Jurassic World yet? I'm hearing mixed reviews but it doesn't matter because I'm excited to see it. 

xo Jen