Cinnamon Rolls

The other week I desperately wanted cinnamon rolls & having injured myself making the Cinabon ones from the can (who knew that you didn't have to open them with a can opener?) I figured that there must be a way to make them from scratch. Turns out there is. I used this recipe because it didn't use yeast & you don't have to leave them overnight. 

 I didn't have any icing sugar so I tried to use drinking chocolate. It didn't really work. I'd recommend getting the icing sugar. I also only had brown sugar, but that worked perfectly. 

The recipe was really easy, give it a go!

Frockin' up - Ultrasound Edition

 Monday we were scheduled for the ultrasound & afterwoulds I was going to hit up Anthropologie to return a dress I bought in July (amazing that they will give you a full refund even though it was purchased more than a month ago, I did still have the tags on & the receipt) so it was the perfect time to get out of pjs/gym clothes uniform I have been sporting lately.

Cardigan: Banana Republic
Top: H&M
Jeans: American Eagle
Shoes: Tony Bianco

Overnight Adventure - Nanaimo

Nanaimo has been on our to do list since we arrived in Vancouver. Last Wednesday we finally made the big ferry ride out there. 

 The big ferry (as opposed to the tiny Granville Island ferry) leaves from Horseshoe Bay and takes about 1.5hrs to make it's way to Nanaimo. Plenty of time for iPad reading.  

 Exploring the town in the late afternoon, we came across this laneway with cute mexican bunting, along with the lovely Wesley Street Restaurant. It was far too early for dinner so we kept walking & returned later that night for the most delicious dinner. A foodie paradise.

 Nanaimo has a few old buildings left standing, including the old garage below. Opposite it was a lovely old pub, reminiscent of old Melbourne pubs, same architecture, including tiles on the bottom third of the outside walls. Unfortunately it was a strip joint & we didn't go inside to see if they'd retained original fixtures & mouldings. 

  Nanaimo has a frequent seaplane service to Vancouver. Late afternoon is perfect for seeing the planes returning.

The following day we had brunch at Mon Petit Choux, the cutest french bakery, bathed in sunlight. We sat for a long time savouring our tea & coffee, before we explored the rest of the downtown area. It wasn't long before we were starting to get hungry again, calling for yet another ferry ride, this time a small one, to the Dingy Dock Pub on Protection Island, a tiny Island of the coast of Nanaimo. The pub had everything you'd expect from a floating pirate themed pub, including a 100 year old skull found on the island. It also had great fish & chips. 

Me on the Ferry

 But all too soon it was time to head back to Nanaimo & catch the big ferry back to Vancouver.

Porteau Cove

A few weeks ago we were lucky enough to get a last minute spot at Porteau Cove. The Porteau Cove campsite is a government site & is booked out sold for months in advance. Somehow we snagged a free site, just back from the water. In the photo below you can see the waterfront sites. So pretty. 

 A late afternoon spent reading on the beach. Nick cooked up a a yummy sausage appetizer on our tiny BBQ. The Rocky Mountaineer roared past & I managed to snap a photo as it disappeared around the bend (I nearly called it the Ghan, what country am I in now?). 

 A quick steak dinner back at the campsite 

 Then back to the beach to watch the sunset.

 A cozy campfire & neighbours with marshmellows made us realise that the next time we go camping we have to have marshmellows. It's non negotiable. 

The next morning was another bright sunny day. You can just spot the snow still at the top of the mountain. I guess the snow isn't going anywhere as it's only going to get colder from now on. 

Salty & Sweet

For the first few weeks I was pregnant could eat nothing but salty, savory food. Each day I woke up with that terrible nauseous feeling, like being hungover but without the fabulous memories from a great night out. Vegemite on Wholemeal English Muffins was the only thing that got me through. I had them at least two or three times a day.    

 Now that I'm well past the ten weeks mark, I've moved onto other tastes. Mainly for sweet things like pastries, which I don't normally go for, I'm way more of a savoury person. I have not stopped wanting Cinnamon rolls. These ones were made using a can from the supermarket. 

 I have also been making a lot of muffins for breakfast. With so many fresh berries in Vancouver this time of year, it's a crime not to! These muffins have a lot less sugar than cinnamon rolls, using less than half a cup of sugar & substituting yogurt for the rest of the sugar. The muffins below are blackberry ginger. Just get a plain muffin recipe off the internet & add a teaspoon of powdered ginger. Yum!

You you have any weird food cravings? 

Big News

After much thought & deliberation we have decided to move back to Australia. I've been unable to find a job in my field to even apply for, let alone feel the sting of rejection. I really miss all our Aussie friends and our fluffy cat Sir Elton. It has been a fabulous holiday but it's time to head home. 

On a bigger note, we're expecting a baby at the beginning of March! We're so excited and very apprehensive, lest anything should happen. I was feeling fairly sick up to about week 10 and now that I'm not feeling sick it kind of doesn't feel like I'm pregnant any more. Which is silly. Yesterday was the beginning of the second trimester and this morning I had an ultrasound. It was awesome seeing the baby for the first time. This really is happening folks! 

Warning signs

We were camping up at Squamish a few weeks ago and on an afternoon walk we came across this river flowing quite rapidly. I had wanted to go swimming but the river looked like it could easily carry you away, plus the water was like ice. 

 We waded our feet for a little while & then kept walking unitl we came across this other little river. This one had a clear warning about the strong flowing water, however the water was still. So still you could see the reflection of the trees & the banks in it. Thank goodness they sign posted it, otherwise we would have been swept away! 

  

Elements of our house

Back in February I gave a little tour of our apartment in Revelstoke and I thought it was about time I showed a few photos of our place in Vancouver. 

My favourite elements by far are the blue chair and the dressing room lights in the bathroom. I also love that I can grow herbs here, having failed terribly at it in Alice Springs.

Frockin' up - New duds

Big news in the fashion blog world over the past week has been the release of the new Mad Men collection at Banana Republic. Designed in collaboration with the Mad Men costume designer, Janie Bryant, the collection is a celebration of the 60s female silhouette. 

I popped into Banana Republic last Thursday & picked myself up this cute leopard print cardigan:

See it styled on Cheetah is the New Black here & on Could I have that here.

I also thought it was high time that I treated myself to a new bikini, having been the proud owner of my old one for well over two years now. While at Whistler the other Wednesday I checked out the offerings in the Billabong store. To my dismay they'd already started to stock winter clothes, but their limited swimwear stock was discounted, which was a bonus. I chose this one or rather it chose me as it was the one that fit the best. 

Pretty, don't ya think?

One way to relax

A relaxing use of the sculpture at English Bay...

Just a Minute in August

Reading...... In the Woods by Tana French. Unfortunately I've come to the end of the Diane Fallon series by Beverly Connor. The last book was so good, but I'm at a bit of a loss now. Hopefully there will be a new one, however Connor has released two books a year for the past two years, so I think she deserves a little bit of a break.

Listening....... Trampled by Turtles live recording from the Newport Folk Festival. Thanks to Timber & Steel for sharing the link.

Making....... Cinnamon buns

Watching...... CSI. Just finished season 9. 

Trying........ out the SLR. We've lost a few cameras here, so the only one with a memory card & a battery that we have is the SLR. I should have tried it out more a long time ago. Better late than never.