Holiday: Banff edition

We were on our holiday for 10 days, 10 seriously wonderful days! It was so nice to get away, enjoy each others company and just sit back & relax. Our first stop was Banff, we checked into our campsite, set up and got down to business- roasting hot dogs & making smores! Serious happiness!

 The moon on our first night was so bright you could hardly look at it- it was pretty amazing. We stayed up late, sat by the fire, drank wine and watched the stars. I saw a shooting one and quickly made a "have an amazing holiday" wish. We watched deer cross through the campsite by moon light, it really was kind of cheesy how perfect the night was.

 We drove up to Morraine Lake to climb up rocks, go canoeing and check out the spectacular views! After that we headed over to Lake Lousie to take some photos and dip our toes in the icy water.

We stayed in Banff for two nights, woke up early, headed to Starbucks and then it was off to Nelson.

Lemon Cream Raspberry Cake

At the beginning of August we went out to a local farm and picked raspberries. Row after row as far as you could see. It is really quite beautiful. Cory & I love raspberries and we love to go out and pick but the thing about picking your own is that they do not keep for very long so they need to be used as soon as possible. 

Enter excuse to make cake!

I knew I wanted to make a layered cake and have cream cheese icing and then I thought about the Starbucks' lemon raspberry loaf and knew I had to have lemon in my cake. I made a quick stop at the grocery store and then straight home to get my bake on!

They best part about this cake (other than the delicious factor) is that it is soooo easy!

You need:

1 box vanilla cake mix 

2 round pans

fresh raspberries (other berries would also be perfectly delicious too)

Cream Cheese Icing (recipe here)

zest from one lemon

  

Directions:

- make cake according to directions in two round pans, cool completely

- make icing according to recipe, add the lemon zest into the icing after half of the icing sugar has been used. Blend to combine, add the rest of the icing sugar. For a stronger lemon taste, add in a small amount to the fresh squeezed juice. Tip: If you add too much and your icing is watery- add more icing sugar

- cut each cake in half and set aside until ready to layer

- lay one piece of cake onto your cake stand or plate, top with icing, add berries (20-30)

- repeat until the last piece of cake is put into place

- ice the top and then add a cluster of berries to the top

- step back & admire your mad skills

- cut cake

- eat cake

- Enjoy! 

The Most Wonderful Holiday

Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy. unknown

We are home from the most wonderful holiday. We were on an adventure in British Columbia & saw some of the most beautiful views. We canoed, went kayaking & swam in lakes. We drank wine & ate grapes off the vine. We dodged mountain goats and watched salmon swim up stream. We roasted hot dogs & marshmallows. We relaxed around and floated in a pool. We soaked in a hot tub and watched the stars. We hiked and pretended we were kings of the castle. We picked heart shaped rocks and skipped others. We wandered through an Enchanted Forest. We ate ice cream, lots of ice cream. There are 1oo's! of photos to go through. We are so grateful for each and every moment, even the rain on the way home because it brought the clouds down so low you could reach out and put your hand through them. Magic.

Exploring in the city.

A couple weekends ago we decided to find some new walking paths, we found one that was far too steep for our liking but had a fantastic view. On this stop our paths crossed the loveliest couple who told us about the Fort Edmonton Footbridge.  Off we went and it was so worth it! Neither of us even know this place existed but the views are beautiful. This impressive bridge crosses the North Saskatchewan river and leads to a great trail. We however headed off the trail and down to the river. There was so much sand to walk through, rocks to throw and warm water to wash off your feet. The sun was shining and we completely forgot we were even in the city. It was PERFECT! Here are some of my favourite photos from the day.

(the too steep trail)

Around Here: Summer adventures

A trip to The Edmonton Valley Zoo. 

It was much better than I had anticipated but has a long way to go as far as good zoos go. 

This is Lucy, she is old & beautiful.

Paddle boat adventures at the zoo. 

Our condo court yard got a picnic table so Anna I go sit there, she plays, I read. We have a table in our backyard but for whatever reason she only wants to sit here.

My good friend Annie was here from Nelson and it was so great to see her. 

K-Days! Edmonton's big summer midway, I had not been here for probably 10 years.We wanted to take Anna... and I really wanted mini donuts. The night started out pretty miserable due to a sweet little girl (not going to mention any names) not wanting to do anything but once she realised these rides were for her she was all in.

She wins! Pretty exciting!

We've been spending a lot of time at our local park and when kids wrap the swings up and ruin it for everyone it makes me a little crazy. In fact I was "that mom" at the park telling a couple teen girls not to do that... HA! Eye rolls were a plenty! 

I somehow managed to climb up here to fix the swing, way to go Momma! Can you believe Anna took this photo! My heart raced a little faster when I was going through pictures later that day.

This past weekend was a S'mores themed scrapbooking crop at Treasured Memories and Friday night's photo booth was hilarious. Well... for us four it was. I laughed so hard I think I threw out my back! 

Brunch at Milestones complete with raspberry mimosa and eggs benedict. We eat there often but this was a first for brunch. I swear this is the best brunch I have ever had in a restaurant! Delicious! 

I know, I know! 

Trying on snowsuits at Costco.

Lame! 

Have a wonderful week friends!

xo

Beautiful Jasper

 We packed our car up Friday afternoon and headed off to Jasper to go camping. 

 I'm the girl that packs a real wine glass camping. Keeping it real.

Waking up on Saturday in the tent was cold.... super cold! Fortunately the forecast rain came in short bursts that we managed to avoid for the most part.

Anna & Jasper Bear.

On top of Whistler's mountain after riding up on the Tram. We left as a storm was rolling in, in fact as our car started it's decent the rain came in as.... snow. Brrr.

 It was sunny in town so that's where we headed. 

The beautiful Athabasca Falls.

Maligne Canyon. 

One of my absolute favourite places in Jasper. It truly is amazing!

A giant, beautiful heart boulder. Love.

Hello there!

Miette Hot Springs.

 There is a glacier cold pool (ok, maybe not that cold) that you can go in and then get in the hot pools. I put on my brave pants, counted to three and jumped! 

WHOA! COLD! 

I could not get up the ladder fast enough and practically mowed down a group of strangers to get in the hot water... which stung like a thousand knives because I was so cold.

 Laugh out loud hilarity! 

Sounds like a ridiculous thing to do but it was pretty awesome!

Good Bye Jasper! Thanks for a great weekend! Until next time...

xoxo

Summer 2013: a work in progress

Photo of Japser, Alberta taken from high on the Jasper Tramway.

We got back late last night from a weekend camping trip to Japser Park and it was wonderful. It was seriously cold for July but I dressed like it was winter so I was all good. I thought I'd share a summer manifesto update, we're crossing to do's off left & right! Yeah #wachtersummer2013!

go to the beach

visit the zoo

go camping

trip to BC

visit a winery

float in a lake

go for ice cream- lots! (work in progress, let's just say we're doing a mighty fine job)

go on picnics

collect heart shaped rocks

go fishing with Daddy

go hiking

try 2 new cocktail recipes (one down- mastering the red wine spritzers)

make smores

have a BBQ

go to a football game

visit 3 new parks

farmers market

see a parade

go on amusement park rides

pool party

take a week day off and go on an adventure

fly a kite

build sand castles

pick berries

soak in a hot spring

try 3 new panini recipes

make cake- just because

put paint on canvas

create a bedroom oasis

visit the city festivals

collect drift wood

make inspiration hearts

eats loads of salads (I should have put- eat lots of chip- I could have crossed that off!!)

soak up the sun

stay up late and see the stars

buy fruit on the side of the road

feed the birds

teach Anna a somersault

celebrate Canada Day

watch fireworks (missed Canada Day's- fell asleep at 10pm)

Hello July... how did you get here so fast!

I swear it cannot just be me when it comes to thinking that the months are flying by faster & faster! How the heck is it July!! No "monthly goal" post today, you can see my summer manifesto here. I have plenty of work related goals but that really isn't that interesting. 

July is here and it came in hot hot hot! 

We celebrated the Canada Day long weekend and it was a lot of fun. I typically am not very patriotic but I want Anna to know all about our country and how lucky she is to live here so this year I decided we would do something to celebrate Canada's birthday. And if you know me you know I think that birthday's should be fun, have decorations and when possible should come with a party. 

We got all tattoo'd up, packed up our little flags (which we forgot in the car) and headed down to the Legislature grounds. We played in the water, ate ice cream, watched a Pipe band and got the life scared out of us when the canons went off for the 21 gun salute. We headed home for a hot dog roast and a pool party. None of us made it to the fireworks... we were all fast asleep!

All three of us enjoying Anna's pool. Pool Party!!!

On Sunday we had a few people over for a BBQ, so much yummy food!

On Saturday we took Anna to her first Edmonton Eskimo's football game. The game was pretty terrible but the weather was beautiful and I may have "accidentally" cheered for the wrong team a few times.

It was a pretty great weekend. 

Happy Canada Day to all my fellow Canadians!

xo