Preserve Your Memories With A Photo Canvas Print (With A Giveaway)

If you're like me, you don't get around to printing your photos very often. Like almost never. It's really the downside of digital photography. Before the advent of digital photos (not so long ago) we were forced to print all of our pictures if we actually wanted to see them. There are, of course, many upsides to digital photography too - a key benefit being you can print only the photos you really like. Like this photo from our summer trip to New York City four years ago.

What I Ate Wednesday (A Day of Vegan Eats)

I don't have any exciting new meal ideas to offer this week. I'm afraid it's just been one of those weeks. We are eating a lot of the same old same old. If you follow me on Instagram, you might know that both of my kids injured their ankles in the past week. My dancer is in a boot for several weeks while my basketball player is limping through his days. It means a bit (okay maybe a lot) more of me waiting on them (hand and foot) and a few more appointments and drives to and fro. Which leaves little inspiration for crafting new and exciting meals and recipes. But we have been eating. That's an achievement, right? As I didn't do a What I Ate Wednesday post last week, I'm starting this post with Easter, above. Well that's our Easter breakfast anyway. After the egg hunt, we enjoyed blueberry pancakes, vegan sausage and a fruit salad. The kids also had loads of chocolate.

Lettuce Eat Plants T-Shirt (With The New Cricut Patterned Iron On)

As I mentioned in this post in which I made some pretty adorable iron-on mini totes (if I do say so myself), I've become a real iron-on enthusiast. Besides the sheer fun of personalizing all the things - tees, totes, towels and totally lots of other things, haha, iron-on is just plain addictive as a process. Once you figure it out (mirror the image before cutting and place the correct side of the material down on the mat) it's completely easy too.

My iron-on addiction means that I was beyond excited to try out Cricut's new patterned iron-on, which comes in nine incredible sampler packs with three different 12" x 17" iron-on sheets in each. All of the designs are beautiful and I plan on making all sorts of things with them, including some personalized hand towels. For my first project, I settled on a veg-friendly "lettuce eat plants" iron-on tee, perfect for your plant-based and/or vegan pals (like me!).

Simple Acts To Save Our Planet & How To Celebrate Earth Day As A Family

When I think about the environment and all of the damaging effects that humans have had on our world, it feels pretty overwhelming. Visions of plastics swirling through the ocean spin through my mind. It seems impossible to overcome. But, with Earth Day coming up on April 22nd, it's a fitting time to take a deep breath and think about the simple steps that we ordinary people can take to make things better.

Just released today, One Green Planet writer Michelle Neff's new book Simple Acts to Save Our Planet: 500 Ways to Make a Difference outlines easy ways for us to perform simple acts of kindness for our earth, with manageable activities that range from simple home updates, to gardening basics, to supporting the local community. The book's publishers, Adams Media (a division of Simon & Schuster), were kind enough to share some excerpts so that we can all get started today. But first I want to share some ideas for celebrating Earth Day as a family.

Why Take Pictures of Food? & What I Ate Wednesday (A Day of Vegan Eats)

It's What I Ate Wednesday once again. Sometimes I hear people (on TV and in life) make fun of others who share photographs of their food on their blogs and social media. And I get it. It's not the most thought-provoking content. But food is important. It nourishes and sustains us, and it gives us pleasure too.

As a plant-based eater, I guess a lot of the reason I share photos of my food is to show people just how easy vegan food can be to prepare. For those who are new to a vegan or vegetarian diet, the change can be daunting. It's really quite simple though and it's only a matter of developing a solid routine, but it can take time. That's why I'm here to show that even the lazy cook (that's me) can eat a well-rounded, plant-based diet with minimal effort. I'm certainly not perfect - I would benefit from more fruits and veggies in my diet on many days - but I've got a few years (two decades) of vegetarian eating under my belt.

Books For Makers From DK (With A Giveaway)

There are so many creative pursuits I'd like to try for the first time or get back into - sewing, crocheting, knitting, embroidering, weaving. I feel like I'd make a great retired person. Or lottery winner. But then I probably wouldn't do much beyond eating pasta on my patio in Tuscany. I digress.

DK Canada knows that March is an ideal time to get out your craft and activity books, for kids and adults alike. DK offers a wealth of fine books for makers of all ages. While we're technically out of hibernation, we're not quite into the really nice weather, so it's a good time to hang indoors with a hot beverage and explore our creative sides. Hopefully we can crack open a window or two and craft while fresh breezes flow.

What I Ate Wednesday, March Break Edition (With A Day of Vegan Eats)

Last week was March Break for my kids so I took the week off from work. I didn't do any freelance writing or updates here on the blog. I barely even took any photos of my food. Well I did, but I used my phone...and I took the pics quickly, because food. My daughter and I travelled a bit to visit family and we ate lots of delicious restaurant meals.

Because I didn't do a What I Ate Wednesday post last week, I am sharing some highlights from the last two weeks. My many restaurant meals started with an amazing vegan spread at Vegan Danish Bakery (above). I met Lisa, The Viet Vegan, to have a chat and sample vegan goodies. We split two sandwiches - the Danish pâté sandwich and a vegan tuna sandwich. They were both very tasty. I also had blueberry cheesecake and a decaf soy latte. I definitely feel the need to go back there soon.