suzette roberts

// Abigail Halpin: Finding Wild

'Swooning over this beautiful beautiful children's book: Finding Wild, by Megan Wagner Lloyd with colourful, nature bountiful illustrations by Abigail Halpin. Using bolder blues and greens with pops of sunshine garden colours, Abigail Halpin brings to blissful life, creative simplicity, quiet wildchild celebrations with Mother Nature, and the inspiring message of finding all things lovely as we immerse ourselves 'with the wild' far and near. A delightful read and keeper for both young children and grown-ups...

// Bye bye Winter, You've been Very Gracious. :)

{early edition spring bloom lily; she's a-coming}

Winter sure came (this side North), and even in our tropical Caribbean where many nights lighter blankets were layered on our beds, and usually fully open windows were half-way there or less to break most of the chill from our mountain breeze. We are indeed grateful with experiencing a healthy season, work we continue to enjoy that have also treated us well, and being able to catch up with family and close friends each week, in some way. Our sidewalks were always cleared, and shovelled walk paths created for easy access to board our trains and streetcars. It continues to take a caring hands-on village, and for that we have much to be thankful for... Wrapping up the last official weekend of winter with this lovely, and a few behind-the-scenes, after the jump... Thanks everybody, and have a soothing one. ~xx

// Conte's Gluten-Free Spinach and Cheese Ravioli

Every now and again, we look forward to adding a little more variety to our menu while also eliminating (or at least majorly minimizing on most days) the grains that have no mercy in taking us under the table,-- and without even blinking an eye. Ravioli in all its cheesy and stuffed saucy glories was a loved staple back in those cheap and easy eats school years. After laying off the gluten-ful ravioli for almost two decades, in favour of simple gluten-free pasta on occasion, I was excited to try this new-to-me find: Conte's Gluten Free Spinach and Cheese Ravioli in the veggie freezer section at our local Whole Foods..., while looking for something entirely different a few weeks ago (funny how these meets happen?). We've enjoyed its wholesome all-natural deliciousness twice since, with and without a light sauce, and it's a definite must-try and keeper... Happy early weekend and have a fun and relaxing Mid-Winter Break(!) next week. Music and more after the jump...  ~xx

// The Tuesday Six, Plus...

Recent reads and other loved links and finds from around the web...

 

...  Gradient and geometric designs baked into new pies and tarts. Wow!

...  Meet Première d'Atelier Haute Couture Flou CHANEL, Olivia Douchez.

...  How 20 animals from around the world got their names.

...  Rethinking the amount of technology in the classroom.

...  Currently loving my Spring go-to lipstick.

...  And, impressive-yet-foolproof dinner party mains.

 

>>> Plus... 

...  Freezing weather encases house in a shell of ice.

...  Your March forecast and much, much more....

...  A 95-year-old grandmother and her amazing birthday bash! :)

...  13 Secrets only air traffic controllers know.

...  10 Bizarre documentaries that are stranger than fiction.

...  And, celebrating the good times. #memories :)

 

(Above) A CHANEL favourite from their Gardens-themed Spring 2018 Couture Collection.

 

 

// Cookies and Cream Ice Cream

Hello March! Somewhere in the very early 80's while at my high school graduation, totally clueless as to what the larger than life world had in store for a simple island girl who only wanted to swim in the warm salty sea, fly wide-bodied jets, eat fish and ice cream, and have a really good time, this, always a hit flavour with so many of our young kids, was born... becoming the best-selling flavour in 1983. Years later, deeply buried in classroom teaching, wings clipped and mostly grounded, this indulgent flavour continued to live on, as proof with the gazillion Favourite Ice Cream Flavours pictographs created by my kids at varying grade levels, and many times by-passing any reference to the usual chocolate and strawberry. What happened? It's simple... Cookies and Cream Ice Cream has a no-explanation-needed feel of extra-fun with all the sweet and sandwiched crunchies in the mix for both our younger and older kids. And it's still happening...

Have a refreshing weekend, and thanks so much for all my treats this week. I needed every. single. one. of them. :) Music and more after the jump... ~xx

// Karl Lagerfeld (September 10, 1933 - February 19, 2019)

He did it, and then some, and then quietly disappeared into the shadows (the way he wanted to)... And I was just as shocked as many were last Tuesday a.m. while getting dressed for the day, even with knowing weeks earlier he was not well. Not one for remembrances and over the top fanfare, it was his very luxe and refined creativity, inspiration, attention to the little details, self-discipline, professional drive, and sincere respectful reverence for all who worked with him (especially his models), that caught and held my attention over the years. Every season, I quietly looked forward to his latest-themed CHANEL collection like a kid in a candy store, as I already knew it would be elevating, exhilarating, magical and transformative, with a distinct loyalty to its traditional and timeless classic...