Ten years ago Danny and I tied the knot in an apple orchard with about 120 friends and family looking on. We were young, just 23, full of hopes and plans for the future.
The years since have blessed us with far more that we could have ever dreamed -three healthy children, a little urban farm, careers that we enjoy, and most of all, a love for each other that grows stronger by the day.
On Saturday (our actual anniversary) we returned to the very same orchard with our three little ones in tow. We picnicked on the grass, played tag among the trees, and reminisced over our wedding day.
Later that evening, Danny and I slipped away without the kids for a dinner on the town where we sipped champagne, slurped a dozen oysters, and speculated on what the next ten years might possibly hold. Good things, we are sure of that.
Here are a few iPhone photos from the day.
Clara gave us the very best anniversary present ever - she slept through the whole night in her own bed. This was the morning after, when she was all smiles.
We all were.
PSST! In honour of my 10th wedding anniversary, I'm giving away a KitchenAid 7 Qt Bowl Lift Commercial Stand Mixer valued at $900. Head on over to Simple Bites to enter and good luck!
(Giveaway is sponsored by KitchenAid USA and only open to US residents.)
Monday, May 21, 2012
Ten Years Married
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Family Cook Off on Food Network Canada
I really should have mentioned this upcoming event earlier, but my head hasn't exactly been in the game lately. Unless the game is B-A-B-Y. We're anticipating her arrival literally any day.
But let's backtrack in the pregnancy a bit, say, all the way to last August, where I was just two months along and exhausted as heck.
My sister, Miranda and I were flown out to Vancouver to meet up with my mother and older sister Haidi at the very posh Hotel Fairmount Vancouver.
We were there to film an episode for an fun new show called Family Cook Off for Food Network Canada.
Just being together was a incredibly special. We laughed, we cried, we goofed, we ATE fabulously around town, and oh yeah, we filmed a reality cooking show. It was a gas.
So this is a head's up to tune in! Family Cook Off airs this Thursday, March 1st at both 4PM and 9PM on Food Network Canada. It is also supposed to be available online a day or two after it airs.
Watch the promo! And yes, that is my huge mouth at a mere 33 seconds in...
Hope you tune in and in the meantime, go like Family Cook Off on Facebook for all the updates.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Hello 2012
We're 23 days into the new year and I finally feel like I've found my footing after the holidays.
Our Christmas break was a bit brutal as our household got slammed with sickness that left us housebound for the first week of 2012. Ear aches, flu, strep throat, pink eye - you name it, someone had it. Even the cats were sick, each of them making a trip to the vet for mysterious ailments. Good grief.
We were in survival mode, but fortunately Danny was home to pick up the slack, make pharmacy runs, administer the pills to the cats, and the eye drops to the kids. The man is a keeper.
On top of everything, I turned the corner into my third trimester, and with that milestone came a bundle of classic side effects. I'll spare you those details, save to say they spurred me into action. We have reason to believe this little girl may come earlier than intended (I'm 33 weeks now), so over the last few weeks I've given full rein to my nesting compulsions and preparations for baby are well underway.
There's a handmade cradle by my bed now, looking so inviting that both boys insisted they could still fit in it and would have tried, had I let them. A dresser drawer holds a handful of white infant garments, a few unisex items I saved from the boys. There's now a shelf just for baby in the bathroom, with some of my favorite baby skin care products from Graham Gardens, and teeny newborn diapers.
Despite being housebound and hoarse, Danny and I teamed up in the kitchen to get some meals in the freezer. While the snow fell, we sliced and diced our way to build a little storehouse of lasagna, lamb & lentil stew, chicken soup, coconut chicken curry, chili and more meals for those early weeks with baby.
Just knowing little things like that are in place give me peace of mind. Let this tiny one come early; we can't wait to meet her.
Oh and 2012? I'm ready for you too.
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
More Business of Being Born (Giveaway!)
**This giveaway has ended. Thank you to all who entered -nearly 100 of you!- and I really hope you all get to see the film at some point.
Congratulations to the winner, Amber! Woot! Amber please contact me with your mailing address and we'll get your prize shipped out.**
I'm six months into my third pregnancy and at this point, 'baby talk' is an equally passionate subject as food. My girlfriends can attest to the fact that I could talk birth and babies for hours at a time.
The third time around is every bit as exciting for me as the first pregnancy and although I have less (far less) time for reading and research, it is still a priority.
Imagine my delight when a PR rep for Ricki Lake contacted me recently and asked if I would be interested in reviewing her latest documentary series, More Business of Being Born.
Like millions of other women, I had watched The Business of Being Born, Ricki's breakout documentary on the birthing crisis in America, and really enjoyed it. In fact, Danny and I had just recently watched it together and I gleaned even more from the film the second time around.
The timing couldn't have been better for me to be introduced to the film's follow-up series. It was as if all the research I was wishing I had time to do was already done for me and condensed into a tidy 4-DVD package. All I had to do was pop the corn and put my feet up.
I watched all four DVD's last weekend. I cried. I laughed. I took notes. I formulated questions for my doctor. I booked an appointment to interview a doula.
This film touched on so many topics that I needed to learn about. For the first time, the term VBAC is in my vocabulary, as Mateo (my second) was a breech baby and delivered by scheduled C-section. I am an advocate of natural birth (Noah was an all-natural, drug-free delivery) and sincerely hope to avoid surgery this time around. MBOBB answered a lot of my questions regarding VBAC's.
I'm incredibly thankful for this new, eye opening documentary on modern birth made by women for women.
Today 'More Business of Being Born' premieres in L.A. and around North America (find a screening) and I'm here to tell you that it is a MUST SEE for expecting parents or future parents.
I'm giving away More Business of Being Born: The Complete Box Set at the bottom of the post, but first, read a little about what each film contains!
DVD #1: Down on The Farm: Conversations with Legendary Midwife Ina May Gaskin
Follow Executive Producer Ricki Lake and Director Abby Epstein to The Farm Community in Summertown, Tennessee, where pioneer midwife Ina May Gaskin talks candidly about the latest birth trends and the art of midwifery. Gaskin, who was featured in the original The Business of Being Born, sparked Lake’s initial interest in natural birth and has continued to inspire the filmmaking duo’s advocacy efforts.
DVD #2 - Special Deliveries: Celebrity Mothers Talk Straight on Birth
Featuring celebrity moms Laila Ali, Gisele Bundchen, Cindy Crawford, Alyson Hannigan, Melissa Joan Hart, Kellie Martin, Alanis Morissette, Christy Turlington-Burns and Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Special Deliveries is a collection of intimate birth stories from a diverse group of mothers. Whether they chose to deliver at a hospital, home or birthing center, these heartfelt and humorous testimonies speak to the lasting power of the birth experience.
True inspiration for any mother-to-be, this group of women trusted their bodies and intuitions, taking responsibility for their birth decisions even when things didn’t go according to plan. None of these courageous women has ever spoken on the record in such compelling detail, and, on this DVD, the filmmakers weave together their passionate narratives as a celebration of the journey to motherhood that will leave viewers with a renewed sense of amazement about the power of women.
DVD # 3 - Explore Your Options: Doulas, Birth Centers & C-Sections
The most comprehensive and educational DVD in the series, Explore Your Options offers birth-planning guidance around key topics such as the role of doulas (labor support specialists,) the advantages of birth centers and the alarming escalation of cesarean sections in the United States and Brazil.
Epstein and Lake talk to doulas about why their profession is currently booming and uncover why having a good doula can make-or-break the entire birth experience. They look at the ever-growing rates of inductions and c-sections, which have reached 50% in many US hospitals and more than 99% in some private hospitals in Brazil.
How “safe” are these cesarean surgeries, and what are the health implications for the mothers and babies? Explore Your Options examines the pros and cons of birth centers, described as a perfect middle ground between home and hospital.
DVD #4 - The VBAC Dilemma: What Your Options Really Are
The VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) has become a hot-button issue in the modern maternity care system, as one in three new mothers will give birth via cesarean section. Are all of these mothers then forced to undergo a repeat cesarean the next time around? Epstein and Lake posed that question to dozens of experts, determining the surprising truth about VBACs.
Giveaway!
Thanks to our friends at MBOBB, I have the complete DVD set to giveaway.
Giveaway Prize: 1 copy of More Business of Being Born: The Complete Box Set (4 DVD's) Value: $59.99
To Enter the Giveaway: Leave a comment on this post. That's it.
** This giveaway is now closed. A big thank you to all who entered!**
Giveaway will end in one week, on November 15 at 11:59. Good luck to all!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Third Time's a Charm
Yesterday brought about the sweet, sweet discovery that I'm carrying a baby girl. She'll be joining big brothers, Noah and Mateo, in our growing brood and will probably rule the roost someday if she's half as charming as most little girls I know. I hope she likes cars and Legos, otherwise, we've got some catching up to do around the home as far as little girls are concerned.
When the technician gently shared the news with all of us - yes, my 20 week ultrasound was a family outing - an incredulous "Really?" exploded out of me in a sob that seemed to stem from my long past days as a six-year-old doll-loving girl. Although a healthy baby was our main desire, apparently, deep down, I ardently wanted a little girl. I was weeping on and off for at least an hour afterward.
We never expected a girl. A family of strapping boys was predicted and presumed as there hadn't been a girl fathered by a Bourque in over 4o years. Danny has seven brothers. They just don't do girls. Until now.
So Danny is walking very tall; I'm emotional, yet at peace; the boys are delighted. Noah reached for his sketchbook the minute we got home and documented the family news in the artwork photographed above.
We're feeling incredibly blessed, and are tremendously excited to meet this little flower.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Homesick
This photo puts both a smile on my face and a weight on my heart at the same time. It's my mother's Thanksgiving table set from last Monday. She told me she spent an hour putting it together.
I love the mismatched chairs, the light coming in, the antique water glasses, and colorful Denby dishes. Most of all I love that she is there in the kitchen, slicing homemade pies (made with fruit from her own plum tree) before the guests arrive.
I'm sad that I wasn't there. I can't remember the last time we celebrated Thanksgiving together. It's easily been ten years. Sure we celebrated the holiday here in Montreal (twice, actually), but there is nothing like being with your own family and knowing you are loved. Despite everything.
I love you, Mom. Don't ever change.
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
Five Years
The children have been asleep for a few hours, all the house lights are dark save for a lamp by my bed. My body has turned in for the night (this happens a lot earlier since I'm pregnant again), but I couldn't go to sleep without giving this date a nod.
Five years ago, with absolutely no idea what I was getting into, I started this blog. With a batch of (horribly photographed) mini lemon tarts, I began this journey as a food blogger.
Ironically, today Simple Bites subscribers topped 10,000 and monthly pageviews tipped 300,000. I don't often share hard and fast numbers, but both of those milestones - on today of all days - are rather pretty.
This won't be a long trip down memory lane recounting all the places food blogging has brought me and wonderful people I have met, because, well, although they are many, it really would take me all night.
Instead, I'd love to look ahead. What will the next five years hold? Well, we know there's a baby in there, right around March. A third child to toss my cooking under the high chair. Ah well, it was getting a little too clean under there.
There are also things that I'm not at liberty do discuss - don't you just hate that? I do. That small TV thing, which I've signed all sorts of NDA's for and we won't hear about until spring...There's also that somewhat larger print project-thing, which is still in progress and more or less 'hush-hush'... An upcoming, but-not-yet-announced speaking engagement at a pretty legit blogging conference...
Gee, what can we talk about? Bloggers without Borders. Now there's a blogging related project I'm proud about. My fantastic contributors on Simple Bites; love those ladies (and one man, obvi, as I'm married to him).
Well, public knowledge or not, there's plenty of exciting things happening, and they all stem from this little space that I started five years ago. I couldn't be happier.
Thank you to each and every one for reading, for following on Twitter, for joining me over at Simple Bites...FOR YOUR SUPPORT. A blog is nothing without readers, so the full credit, the true acknowledgment, goes out to you.
Merci.
Monday, August 08, 2011
Goodbye July
July sped by in a blur of pool parties, potlucks, weddings, and long afternoons spent keeping cool. I dedicated a series to frozen treats over on Simple Bites and, for the most part we survived the heat wave.
We started the month with a perfect three-day camping trip, followed by a most memorable U2 concert under warm Montreal skies. Best. Show. Ever.
The month was punctuated by our baby news! It was a thrilling discovery, but one that plunged me into exhaustion so deep I felt --and still do-- that every day was Moving Day. ‘Moving day fatigue’ is the best way I can describe to Danny how my body feels in the morning as I lie pinned to the mattress.
Fortunately, he's been off work for the last 2 weeks and has gallantly risen every morning to prepare breakfast and coffee for us, and keep the kids quiet until I can rouse myself.
I think my strength is slowly returning; hopefully my appetite is not far behind.
So yes we are expecting again, anticipating the new arrival in early March. Danny is hoping for a leap year baby again, which could easily happen. I for one, won't truly relax until the first ultrasound and they tell me there's just one baby.
As twins run in my family, the chances of doubling the number of our children with this pregnancy is definitely a possibility. I'm not sure if I'm ready for that kind of an adventure!
Central Park
At the end of July, I hopped on a plane to Jersey for Big Summer Potluck. I cemented some online friendships, made new ones, laughed myself silly, and spent a day eating New York City. It was the best of times.
In an update on our urban homestead, our backyard project of the month was finally completed and I now have 4 raised garden beds. They terrace down the hill toward the forest, framed by a massive weeping willow. I love them.
I planted a little fall garden -- lettuce, spinach, watercress and arugula-- and little sprouts are already peeking up from the earth. My herb garden is thriving, thanks to bedding plants I was able to find at a local nursery.
Next year I will plant a complete garden; it's reassuring to know that as soon as the snow melts the spring I'll have a garden space ready to plant.
August holds some canning projects, a visit from long-time friends, my birthday, back to school for Noah, and at the end of the month, a trip out to Vancouver to film a little project for TV...
But that story is for a another post.
Goodbye July.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Sour Cream Snickerdoodles and the Latest News
Trying to remember the order in which recent events took place is about as futile as attempting to list all of Liz Taylor's husbands - in order. So I'll just relate the happenings as they come to mind, and that will have to do. It's been a Monday, and this week looks busy, again.
Sugaring Off.
This has been the sole thing keeping me from joining the ranks of all other Montrealers in their pining for spring. March has been cold and snowy, warming up only in the afternoons. Fortunately this fickle weather is good for something: sugaring off.
Once again we spent the day in the forest of our uncle's maple farm, collecting sap, hanging out by the fire and eating. The blueberry cornbread pictured above stayed warm on the wood stove alongside a pot of lentil stew, and they both nourished us for lunch.
I managed to shoot a bit of video, so if you want to see a super cute recap of Noah's day in the sugar bush, head over to Simple Bites for the vlog.
Photos and Portraits.
Good friends and superstar Montreal photographers, Tim & Angela, stopped by recently for lunch and to take a few shots of me in my kitchen. I needed some professional portraits for a few things coming up and they were so kind to turn it into a full-on photo shoot.
They're quite the professionals, and had this frumpy WAHM feeling like a star in no time. The boys and I broke out the wooden rolling pins and tart dough and proceeded to get flour everywhere - except on the cameras, thankfully.
Tim & Angela captured the sweetest images of the boys and I, which I'm going to treasure for a long time. You can check a few of their favorites out on their blog.
Urban Expressions.
The main English paper in town featured Mateo and I in their quarterly magazine, Urban Expressions. Subscribers to The Gazette who received the mag at home can read the article on my blogging career and family life.
Gazette columnist, Susan Schwartz, aptly captured the simple joys of my work-at-home existence and my journey to get where I am now.
Virtual Baby Shower
Spring seems like a natural time to celebrate a birth, and that's just what I did recently with a group of talented food bloggers when we threw a virtual baby shower for a dear friend.
If you're planning a shower -wedding or baby- soon and are looking for menu ideas, here's the round-up of recipes. Be warned. You WILL leave hungry.
Babble Top 100
Last but not least, Babble.com included Under the High Chair in their Top 100 Mom Food Blogs of 2011. I have no idea what the numbering means, but I'm #42.
Thanks Babble! I'm honored to make the list, again. And thank you to the sweetie who wrote up 'Why we love her' in the profile. She knows how to get a girl choked up!
PS. Can I steal that part about 'lyrical' for my About page?
Check out the complete list of food blogs from other mama's in the trenches. You'll probably recognize a lot of names.
Recipe: Sour Cream Snickerdoodles
Apparently running out of chocolate chip can be a good thing, because it forces one to be creative when cookie baking with two little helpers.
We loved these sour cream snickerdoodles from Julie's cookbook, One Smart Cookie. She's right to say that sometimes the simplest things can be the most delicious. These are soft, with a tender biscuit-like crumb, and completely addicting.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon (I used fresh ground)
- 1/4 cup sugar, for rolling
Preheat oven to 350F
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until soft and well combined. Beat in egg and vanilla until smooth.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
Add half the flour to the butter mixture, stirring gently to combine. Add the sour cream, stirring slowly, and then the rest of the flour. Combine only until just blended.
Stir together remaining 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/4 cup of sugar. Drop teaspoonfuls of cookie dough into the sugar and lightly roll into balls with your hands.
Place on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes until set, but not golden.
Cool on a wire rack. Makes 24 cookies.
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