[talk: A Frozen Birthday Party.]

Turning five is a BIG deal.  Well - at least we tried to make it feel that way.  KRose turned five last month, and I had failed to put her party together.  So - with a slight panic - I made the necessary arrangements.

She had just one request:  that a REAL-LIVE princess would come.

Oh.  Boy.

Good thing that I know someone who actually does this for a living.  I emailed Alyssa, and within a few short conversations, we had it booked.  BOOM.

Ok - so Katia actually had two requests, now that I'm thinking about it.  She also wanted to have her friends all be in her backyard for a picnic.  Well - that wasn't possible with the weather uncertainty - but, we DO have a tent in the backyard.

Done.

I did a much-needed stop at Party On ... the ONLY place I get my party supplies from.   Balloons, tied to bubbles - for each little girl's party favour.  And all the Frozen things I could manage.

Yes, I got the ladder ... and strung snowflakes from the metal poles LOL.

Olaf, the balloon man, came too.

I wanted the little girls to "walk through icicles" when they came in.  It looks much cooler than it actually was, in this photo.  It wasn't nearly wide enough - as it got stuffy in the tent with the humidity and I had to open the entrance more.

See?

There's the cake ... you can see more on that HERE.

And I made use of some doilies that I thought would be snowflakes - instead, they became placemats.  I liked that a lot better - less ladder-work LOL.

This was an after-school-before-dinner party.  Perfect.  Some snacks of pretzels, marshmallows and candy corn (do you wanna build a snowman??) ... blue popcorn, blue fishy candies, powdered donuts.  Ah yes.  Very healthy.  Oh - and the "blue raspberry" koolaid that wasn't very blue at all.  Boo.

Katia was all dressed - as all the guests would be "princesses" ... and then, I invited her to come and see what I created for her ... 

Please note the Cars Crocs that she put on in her hurriedness ... silly girl LOL.

Oh man.  I hope, I hope, I hope - she always remembers this moment!!  I may have cried a little.

She was ALL about the details.  

Her little friend Zoe was the first guest there and had come to see as well ... 

Zoe liked the cake ... 

And they both immediately began to strategize on how to get the blue rock-candy sticks.

The little girls all began arriving - one by one.  Then ... oh yes, ELSA came

Oh man ... it was so sweet.  Although Zoe wasn't to sure about this "real" Elsa.  She's a smart one, that kid.

Off to the tent ...

And Elsa was just INCREDIBLE.  How she talked and smiled ... 

The boys wanted to be apart of it - but tried to act cool ...

Oh the conversations ... 

Then Elsa asked for some blankets, and outside we went.  It was time for some songs.

... the brothers, watched from a distance.

"Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?"

Some mom's may have fully participated in "Let It Go" ... LOL

Katia received a Snowflake Christmas Ornament for our tree - so she would never forget this day.

... and had her own Coronation Day as Princess Katia of Arendale.

All the little girls got a special necklace ... 

And then?  Story time!

Elsa let Katia make SNOW.  Now - seriously - how do you turn a cup of water into cold, soft, snow ... need to ask my old chemistry teacher about that ... 

Then, each little girl got to make a wish ... 

And our time was almost over ...

... after a few pics, of course.

With just a few minutes left, Elsa stayed to sing "Happy Birthday"  ...

And Elsa told me afterwards, that when Katia went to hug her goodbye, she whispered, "I love you, Elsa."

Oh, my heart.

And Elsa took a few moments to speak Words of Life over Katia.  About how smart and beautiful and funny she was ... Katia held on to every word.

So.  Wow ... it was absolutely my most favourite bday party to date.  The sheer innocence of it all ... the wonder.  I highly, highly recommend Alyssa from As You Wish Princess - who is equipped to be so many different princesses.  She was affordable, and worth every single dime.  I just wish I could do it all over again LOL.

Hope you enjoyed this post!

Have a great one! xx

[cakes: Frozen Cake. Elsa Cake. Hans Cake. Anna Cake. Olaf Cake. How's That For A Title?]

My life has been really busy - my RHP business is keeping me up late ... so when I did a super-quick plan for KRose's fifth birthday party, I was LOST.

I'm going to be posting her party - for those who are interested - soon.  It was a lot of work, but a lot of fun.  The theme?  She's five ... so what else could it be?  FROZEN.

The morning before the party - I got up early and baked three cakes (not from scratch, the lovely white-cake from Duncan Hines or whatever that box said LOL).

I let them "dry out" during the day ... then when 9pm rolled around I sat and stared at them, like I do every time I build a cake.

I totally cheated this time.  I didn't even make the frosting - but rather, I bought a bucket at the cake store where I buy my fondant.  It was a huge time saver for me, because I didn't have any of the ingredients at home to make it.

It was white ... so I added some colour.

I stacked them ... 

And frosted the outside.  I'm never too picky about crumbs and such.  I mean, who cares?  The fondant will cover it all ... 

I rolled out the fondant ... 

Placed it over the cake ... then stared at it for a while.  Then, I cut the square cake to create "steps" to Elsa's castle.

More fondant was added ... and it was snow, right?  So uneven and all that seemed to feel right.  I'm glad - because my cakes are always a little messy.

Just last weekend, one of my "aunts" had given KRose a book that had tiny Frozen characters.  As soon as I saw them, I thought - "perfect.  on the cake they'll go."

I had seen on Pinterest, someone using Rock Candy sticks for Elsa's castle.  Brilliant.  I could stick in those, no problem.

This was a super simple, super easy cake.  Because at this point, all I did was place props on it.  How easy is that??  REALLY easy.

I "frosted" the trees with ... frosting.  

I took a lot of pics, eh?  I'm kinda known for that ... 

The next morning, KRose woke up ... and was greeted by Josiah who thought is was her ACTUAL birthday AGAIN.  So he made her a card LOL.   Her birthday was in August.

Then, like every "cake morning", she sat down and unveiled her cake.

It was a HIT.

And that's it!  DONE.  I'll get on to the Party Post soon ... 

Have a GREAT one!!  xx

[talk: Lying Like A Grown-Up.]

I have to write this.  Like - the angst in the pit of my stomach won't go away until I do.  See, I feel like I need to clarify a recent FB status I made.

See ... 

Today was a day full of ickiness for me.  Right from the get-go.  I should've known ... I should've just stayed home.  But, I didn't.  I headed south to get some much-needed groceries.  I did my usual rounds ... Trader Joes, Costco, the dairy ... 

The Mailbox.  That's where I pick up packages that would charge me too much to ship to Canada.  I don't do it often, but I have definite used it.  It's convenient and I feel super savvy when I pick up my treasures there.

A few weeks ago, I was on a RHP packaging rampage ... meeting with new clients with my old branding seemed wrong.  I ordered a lot of different products online - new business cards, flash drive cases, stickers etc - from both Canada and the US.  If you asked me which products came from where, I couldn't tell you.  Some from here, some from there.

After my route today, I stopped in at The Mailbox to pick up my stuff.  I was a little uneasy to see that there were three packages.  "Eek,"  I thought.  "I hope I don't get asked about that at the border."  I quickly opened one of the three up, curious ... and then checked my watch and decided to open the rest at home.  I was running late.

I put them in the back, along with my groceries, and headed north.  

There was no one in line, and I drove right up.  I was asked the total of goods - and that's when my face must've screamed I was hiding something.   "Did he ask about groceries? Or was he asking about more than that?"  I couldn't think.

I mean, they only ask for groceries - no?

See - if there's one thing about me, if you know me well, I'm a MISERABLE, TERRIBLE liar.  What a great thing for my parents as I was growing up ... I always, always got caught whenever I tried.  It was always such a miserable experience - with harsh punishments - so ... it worked.  I'm completely unable to be dishonest.

Well.  I could try - but you'll know.  And I'll feel horrible.

I guestamated - and told the officer my GROCERY total.  He then started firing questions - what street did I live on, what did I do for a living, did I have this, that or the other.  I started to sweat - I must've looked like I was bringing 100kg of narcotics back.

See ... at that point - only a few seconds into the conversation - I now had the opportunity to say, "Oh - wait - there were some packages too ...".  But I was so frazzled ... and I truthfully felt like if I brought it up, that it would just make them suspicious of me. I evaluated the situation in the fraction of a second.  

And man.  Did I pay for it.

He wrote some stuff down in silence, while my heart beat a million miles a second.  He told me to park, gather up my receipts and see the lady inside.  Oh, and they were going to check my truck.

I got inside and I approached the desk.  Without being questioned, I immediately fumbled some useless reason for why I never mentioned the packages.  In mind I was thinking, "I had bought them weeks ago; I hadn't known the value;  he didn't actually ASK about them ...".  

Aren't I a grown up?  Shouldn't I know better?  I felt like I was four all over again ... 

Most kids are useless at lying.  It's obvious - they create some insane story ... that quickly falls apart.  Adults are much better at it - and have ample reasons to validate WHY they tell half-truths.  To not hurt someone, to get themselves out of a little trouble.  Or worse.

Once inside, she knew by the pale face and bulging vein in my neck - that I was stressed.  Oh, I tried to be calm ... I sincerley hadn't meant to be in this predicament - I mean, he very well could've just told me to go on through and then I would've thought, "no problem."  I hadn't really done anything wrong, right?  

Wrong.

The guard took my keys and searched ... for a half hour or so.   It felt like eternity.  I was calculating costs, trying to figure out how I would be punished, KICKING myself for not correcting myself from the start ... for leaving info out that I quickly realized was important.

When she returned, she had me follow her into a separate room.  I actually almost threw up ... and she was stern.  Like, scary-stern.  I've never had a run-in with a cop before, or a principal or whatever.  I've always had a healthy respect for authority.  I'm feisty but I've never been a trouble-maker.  I just cowered and stayed silent.

She told me about the $2000 fine that is implemented for "commercial use" products - the paper products - being undeclared.  

"What?" I thought.  "My little business is hardly commercial - I hadn't even thought about that!  Oh Lord, oh Lord ..."

She asked me their total, as there were no receipts ... and I honestly, sincerley had no clue.  I wasn't even sure WHAT was in the boxes - as I had only opened one.  I said that if she would allow me to open them, I could tell her.  And that's when she really got rough.

"You don't even understand the magnitude of what you've done here," she said.  "You NEVER bring over packages that are unopened ... what if they had given you the wrong one.  What if there were drugs or something else in there?"

I stood, literally, with my eyes bulging out of my head.  Drugs?

"You would be arrested on the spot.  Done.  And it's worse heading into the US.  You can get up to 25 years in jail."

Jail?  Is she talking to me?  This is insane.  I didn't HAVE drugs.  Paper cd cases, lady, 100 paper cd cases.

"Do you have a commercial number," (or something like that) she asked.

I didn't even know what that was.

At that point - she put her head down, and she softened.  And I was so, so grateful.

See ... what had started out as a "maybe I'll just leave that part out" had grown SO massive in the process of an hour - that I was completely overwhelmed.  I was lost - and I had NO idea of the ramifications that my "leaving info out" had.

It was like the Rumour Weed from Vegetales.  Growing before my eyes.

She told me that she had the authority to fine me the $2000 and confiscate my truck.  I felt the floor give under me.  

"But," she said.

Grace.  She showed me grace.  I hadn't told all the details - I deserved a punishment, because rules are rules.  But instead, she took the time to let me know that she saw my character.  That I honestly hadn't realized the magnitude of it all.  She walked me over to the pamphlets and went through the "dos and don'ts" of border crossing.  She answered every one of my questions, she showed kindness ... and I was so grateful.  

Honestly - it reminded me of very good parenting - as silly as that sounds.  Because, I believe, she saw that the ordeal was punishment enough (and paying the GST and PST on a few small items).  And then she chose to use the opportunity to TEACH me.  Often, we do this as parents.  

I wasn't mad at her - and I think that's why I've written this.  How could I be?  How can we be mad at others for calling us out on our wrong-doings?  So many comments on my FB were, "oh poor YOU.  What an ORDEAL."  And although I am completely and utterly touched by those who were showing me kinds,  I felt that wasn't a fair representation of the story.  She wasn't in the wrong - neither was the dude that pulled me over.  They had rules, I broke them ... and they taught me a VALUABLE lesson.  By not writing this, I feel like I would be letting people interpret it differently than what happened - and THAT would be another half truth.  So I'm nipping that in the bud LOL. 

I will NEVER go through that again.

This is not to say that there have been injustices at the border, or in real life - for that matter.  It happens all the time.  Once I had to throw away 6 eggs from my carton of 18 to make an even dozen.  Those are other stories, and not what happened to me today.

In these few hours since, I have gone over the experience a thousand times.  I have tried to evaluate my heart in it - when did the "lie" start?  Had I planned on it - did it grow earlier than when I had pulled up?  I'm thinking that it may have ... that I may have just thought "fingers crossed" - and then it all backfired.

How many times do we lie by omission?  What does that say about our heart, about our character?  When someone says, "are you ok."  And we're not ... but, being honest is too hard.  Or maybe too much of a bother to lay out there.  Or when someone asks us something directly, "have you done this," and we're too ashamed to admit it.  Or maybe we get away with something - over and over.  "Be sure your sins will find you out," has been going through my head.  Even though some would think that this whole thing has been blown-out-of-porportion,  I think that may just be another way that we push it down - that we let our behaviour get away on us ... that we excuse ourselves.

What did I learn - other than the obvious?  Well - practically speaking - next time I will have my receipts in order.  I will circle the items that are GST + PST applicable (I now have that sheet in the truck).  I will tally up the receipts for an accurate amount.  

Morally speaking - I will ensure that I will not leave out details.

I will not forget her grace.  I'm even tempted to send her a thank you card - with a link to this.  If only I knew who she was.  

As a side note, you may say, "oh - I bring such-and-such back and they always let me though."  I took the time to  ask her about specific things ... you can ONLY bring food items - excluding candy / pop / chips.  No toilet paper or household cleaning items.  No random items from Costco.  It's strictly food - and even then, there are rules.  How many, how much.  If you want to break the rules and get away with it, I will not judge you.  In my opinion, now, the laws are there - and breaking the law is breaking the law.  Even if we think it's stupid.

So, I now have the list in my truck.  I will always check.

And ... I will never be a liar-by-ommission again.

[mealplan: Back At It.]

It's been a while ... I've been busy.

But one way to make my life simpler, is to meal plan.  It just takes the angst out of my daily duties as the "chef" in our home.    Our school is "nut-free" - completely.  So, I try my best to be creative ... although now that I've been doing meal plans for the last year or so, I definitely rotate the same things over and over.  

Like, Wednesdays are ALWAYS "wrap" night ... with jello.  Then, the lunch the next day - is left overs.  Easy peasy.

Maybe this will help you - or if YOU have any great ideas, I'd LOVE to know!!

MONDAY

B ::  crescent rolls with nutella

L ::  leftover pasta, ricotta, cheese string, apple sauce, fruit snack

D ::  Baseball - OUT (tim hortons)        

TUESDAY

B :: pancakes with maple syrup

L ::  ham and cheese buns, cucumber slices, cut melon

D :: crockpot chickencordon-bleu, steamed brown rice, peas    Dessert: fruit salad

WEDNESDAY

B ::  toast with butter, scrambled eggs

L ::  jam or ricotta buns, sticks+stones, apple sauce

D ::  ground turkey wraps with cheese, avocado and tomatoes                            Dessert: jello

THURSDAY

B :: toast with nutella

L :: ground turkey wraps with cheese, avocado and tomatoes

D :: cheese pizzas, veggies+dip

Dessert: pizelle cookies

FRIDAY

B :: Land Of Nod Cinnamon Buns

L :: quesadilla, carrots&ranch dip, pizelle cookies,

D ::  out

Have a great one!