Mock-Suede Rocks

Midnight iPhone case, $30

Magenta iPhone Case, $30

So different yet so alike.

One last post before Diana and I head out to the Green Bean for a brainstorming session.

I'm very fond of the Magenta iPhone case. It's puuurdy.

Out of energy. Can't think anymore.

::: Nathalie

Treats for your tummy and a good cause.

Last week I mentioned that I would be partaking in the bake sale at work. Funds raised went to The Cancer Society's Relay for Life. With some advanced prep work, I baked a mini army of Sugar Cookie bunnies and my infamous Banana Cupcakes with Honey Cinnamon Butter Cream frosting. Both recipes can be found on good old Martha's website.

I'm happy to say that my goods sold out (along with almost all the others, but ya know).

::: Nathalie

Banana Cupcakes

Makes 12

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (about 4 ripe bananas), plus 1 whole banana, for garnish (optional)
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Honey-Cinnamon Frosting

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a standard 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2. Make a well in center of flour mixture. In well, mix together butter, mashed bananas, eggs, and vanilla. Stir to incorporate flour mixture (do not overmix). Dividing evenly, spoon batter into muffin cups.
3. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a cupcake comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan; cool completely on a wire rack. Spread tops with Honey-Cinnamon Frosting. Just before serving, peel and slice banana into rounds, and place one on each cupcake, if desired.

Honey Cinnamon Frosting

• 1 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat confectioners' sugar, unsalted butter, honey, and ground cinnamon until smooth, 4 to 5 minutes

With A Little Love

I got my Little City order yesterday of Yulanda Yee's Cinnamon Hearts.

I remember instantly falling for the simplicity of this photograph. Yulanda always had a way of capturing inanimate objects and making them absolutely beautiful by breathing life into them.

Anyway, I'd intended on buying this piece when Yulanda was still with us and it broke my heart to purchase them the day after she passed.

The Little City folks okay'ed it with her family first, and once approved, I was notified and told that proceeds would go to the Lymphoma Foundation of Canada.

I bought 2 pieces, one for myself and one for Diana, who had known Yulanda for years from their younger blogger years.

I'm glad to have this piece to always remember her by. Even if, I don't think I could forget her. She was an amazing, talented, good person. I miss our dear friend a lot.

::: Nathalie

Bronze and Black Bracelets

Deep Pink / Bronze Friendship Bracelet Set, $16

Blue / Black Friendship Bracelet Set, $16

Braided Hemp Friendship Bracelet with Glass Bronze Beads, $15

Busy busy! I just loaded 3 new bracelets on our Etsy shop. My favorite pick is the Braided Hemp bracelet, which is perfect for spring/ summer with it's organic fabric and light colors.

There are more bracelets and new iPhone cases to load, but that will have to be done bit by bit through out the week.

There's too much going on with researching designs for new products and preparing for the bake sale at my work. This bake sale is very important since 100% of the proceeds are going towards The Cancer Society's Relay for Life. I plan on baking lots in order to raise more money. I'll let you all know what sort of baked goods I come up with.

In the meanwhile, I have to move onto the next project.

::: Nathalie

Picture Blog: Aprons, Bracelets, Cake Fail and Diana

Busy weekend with 2 birthdays for the in-laws, hosting Sunday lunch at our house, baking, and making aprons and bracelets. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

My niece Mackenzie with her Moomin apron. I made it for her 6th birthday. That's me trying to hide behind her.

An array of new bracelets coming soon to The Lime Shop.

Diana modeling some of her favorite picks.

Cake Fail! I cut corners and bought Duncan Hines cake mix and frosting. It was the worst cake I've ever had to work with. Crumbs galore and it was on the brink on falling apart. Yes, those are Reese's Peanut Butter Cups heaped on top.

More cake fail. Cupcakes were also Duncan Hines. They didn't rise well and were kinda greasy. They tasted decent though.

Diana making faces.

The End

::: Nathalie

Good Egg

Last weekend, I dragged Diana to the Good Egg, "a shop dedicated to those who like to eat" (according to their website), located at 267 Augusta Ave in Kensington. Since I'm a sucker for cute one-of-a-kind shops, I couldn't resist.

The Good Egg is filled with lots of wonderful cook books, kitchenware's from Le Creuset, pretty tea towels that any girl would proudly display in her kitchen, and all sorts of adorable odds and ends. It has a warm, homey vibe that makes you want to stick around and check out everything they have to offer. This is the kind of place that's perfect when you're looking for unique gift ideas.

I knew I'd end up finding something neat and I did. I got a beautiful pink tulip bowl and a birdie rubber stamp set, that I'll use for a future project.

Check out this shop the next time you're in Kensington or even make it a special point to stop by. I know I'll be frequenting often.

::: Nathalie

Store picture: goodegg.ca

Featured on Etsy Site of the Day

Lots of thanks to Jackie at EtsyToday for featuring our iPhone cases on the Etsy Item of the Day website! We're super excited!

Today has been pretty busy. We spent a good chunk of the evening brainstorming for ads that we're putting in crafty/local publications and made some friendship bracelets.

Now off to bed.

XO,

N & D

Graffiti Houndstooth

Still super sick. Boo.

Anyway, new iPhone case on our etsy shop. Check it out.

: D

Days Off

I've been battling a cold for a few days now. At this point I can't tell if it's getting better or worse.... Here's a quick post on my weekend escapades. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Chocolate Crackle Cookies from Martha Stewart

Weekend breakfast, Dutch Baby with Strawberries

My bracelet collection from The Lime Shop

New Copper/ Leather Friendship Bracelet

Next edition of iPhone Cases

Now, off to bed.

::: Nathalie

Friendship Bracelets for You, Me and Everyone We Know

Hmm... no cooking tonight. I came home from the office sick (I swear there's something going around) and got to work. I've updated our Etsy shop with three new friendship bracelets. Check it out when you have a chance.

Went to Winners at lunch to pick up Martha Stewart Cookies. Came home and got my Amazon order - 1 cook book and 1 book on printing. But more on that another day... I need food.

::: Nathalie

Pan Seared Steak, Glazed Heirloom Carrots and Butter Lemon Asparagus

I've been on a mad kick of vegetarian meals and soups lately and Geoff, my meat loving husband, hasn't complained once. So today, I made a dinner just for him. I picked up fresh steaks at the local Sobeys, asparagus and heirloom carrots, which I've read are delicious, but have never actually tried, let alone cooked.

I jumped online when I got home and googled "cooking heirloom carrots" and came across Ginger Rose's blog. I didn't have the shallots and fresh thyme leaves from her recipe, so I made do with thinly sliced onions and ground thyme. Adding my own twist, I peeled my carrots and cut them on a diagonal. Otherwise, I stuck to her directions. The results where delicious and wonderfully colorful.

The steaks where cooked on a hot pan of med-high heat with a simple seasoning of sea salt and coarsly ground black pepper. The asparagus was done in my favorite way, cooked in butter with a splash of lemon juice.

When all was done, we sat down to a delicious simple meal, with Le Vieille Ferme red and served JELL-O Chocolate pudding for dessert. Geoff appreciated the gesture and both our bellies where happy.

::: Nathalie

Good Deals and Some Organization

For someone who loves designer handbags, I can be pretty thrifty. I also get stupid happy when I come across a good bargain. This weekend, I picked up the Martha Stewart Cupcakes book, that I've been wanting forever, for about half the cost. (Oh happy day!) Of course this meant I had to go home and get baking.

I picked a recipe for something simple, yet different, where all of the ingredients were at hand - Brown-Sugar Pound Cakes with Brown-Butter Glaze. (Or as Geoff likes to call them, "butter and sugar cakes with butter and sugar icing".) These cupcakes are rich, delicious, dense, and yet surprisingly fluffy at the same time. YUM! I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who loves cupcakes, or anyone who just enjoys baking.

The next day Diana and I went to Ikea for some organizing tools. Diana focused on her bedroom, buying a dresser drawer and shelving unit. I bought kitchen stuff: jars, a bookshelf for my cookbooks, and the 3 tiered serving platter that was sold out back in December. The kitchen shelf looks so cute, that I now have plans to paint the cabinets white, put in subway tiles and redo the floors. Spring cleaning has begun!


::: Nathalie