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March 5, 2018

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2 Girls and Their Dolls – American Girl Review

Since Ezra was born, her and her cousin Maisie have been inseparable. At the beginning it was an un-dyeing love that Maisie had for this new little baby girl that was all hers. This love then it grew and grew as Ezra began to crawl, babble and say ‘MAIZEE’ with the biggest smile. Even though there is almost four years difference, they still find ways to play together, laugh and connect on the same crazy level!

We are very fortunate to live so close to Ezra’s cousins and that she is able to see them at the very minimum, once a week. In a sense she is growing up with her cousins more as siblings, the bond they all share is so strong. Ez will go through all of her cousins names, and her aunts and uncles at LEAST 5 times a day, wether we be in the car and she hopes were driving to their house, or just at home sitting on the couch.

Ez is so funny with her eldest cousin Maisie, she will see her and instantly start to vibrate, run up to her and give her the biggest hug while chanting MAISIE! MAISIE! MAISIE! Maisie will run over to Ez, swoop her up in her arms and twirl her. There is such a look of pure joy and love when they see each other, you can’t help but smile along with them.

When I first started working with American Girl, I was thrilled to be able to give Ezra one of their beautiful dolls. Not only did I just find out that I was pregnant and that this would be so fun to gift her a ‘practice’ sibling, but to watch her grow and change and show the same love and care that we pour in to her each day. I then started thinking of that same love that she exudes when Maisie is around and how fun it would be if they each had their own American Girl to play with on their playdates!

I knew that Maisie loved her dolls and barbies and that she would love her Camille Doll and the Garden Party Table and Chairs accessories. She loves fairy gardens and dresses, so this was the prefect fit for her! As for Ezra, I found the Bitty Baby that looked the most like her when she was born, very dark features, a head of hair and in her jammies! Along with Ez, we received the Bitty Better Kit, a doctor kit for her Baby, Ez is so compassionate and caring that this was such a good addition for her, and plus, it came in a ‘purse'(doctors kit), Ez’ favourite thing to carry around right now haha!

When the girls first opened their dolls, they were both shocked, and instantly in awe of these beautiful little girls, all dressed up and all theirs! They could barely keep it together while we unpackaged them for them. (Note to self: Prep and un-package all tags next time I am gifting an item to a toddler!). As they started to play with their new American Girls, I brought out the other items for them and it happened all over again! the OO’s the AHH’s and the ‘I Love It!’ was all over the place. It was a little bit of a rough start, as the girls both received brand new toys at the same time and wanted to play with each others gifts.

They worked it out in the end and played for a couple hours going back and forth and obviously ending the playdate with a dance party!

Thank you so much again to American Girl Dolls for these gifts for my favourite girls! They will enjoy them for years to come and we are excited for Ezra to have her very own baby doll to take care of in a quick six months!

XOX,

Cass

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December 5, 2017

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SG Holiday Gift Guide | 2017

One of my favourite things to do is talk about things I am passionate about. Activities I love, dreams I hold dear and products and shops I believe in and am proud to support. I’m sure I am not the only one who boasts about something when they try a new shampoo and their hair is the most radiant and full it’s ever been or find an oversized bib that has extendable straps to grow with them – UHM. HELLO! You gotta share the love and spread the word!

Here is a list of some of tried&true favourites and a couple new! I hope you find something you’ll enjoy as well, or spark ideas for a loved one!

XO – Cass

_________________________

HIM

Men’s Gift Box – B Natural Skincare

FREE Coffee&Tea Refill Tumbler – Starbucks

Growler Carrier – Perpetual Motion Creative Works

Whitecaps Tickets – Whitecaps FC

Bottle Opener – Brand + Iron

Craft Beer – Mariner | Four Winds | Parkside | Yellow Dog | Twin Sails | Moody Ales

You may also like Father’s Day Gift Guide

_________________________

HER

Bath Soak+Bath Bombs+Sitz Bath – So Luxury

Customized Gold Bar Necklace – Mint+Birch

Hair Repair Kit – Nezza Naturals

Calendar – V SHOP

Soy Candles – Luxurious Bath + Relaxation

Trinket Dish & Golden Indigo Ornament – Three Corners Artisan

Glass Jewellery – Sweet Caroline Creative

_________________________

LITTLES

Doll Carrier – Beluga Baby

Clip Message Clipboard – A Little Love Creative

Fire Pit Play Set + Teddy Bear Pullover – Nixi Lauroo

Personalized Backpack/Diaper Bag Tag – Ava to Zoe

Vinklar Apron Bib – SKÅGFÄ

Crochet Holders (Pencil/Collections/Etc) – 12 Little Things

You may also like ‘Mat Leave Ends, Another Adventure Begins’

_________________________

FAMILY

DIY Adventure Jar – A jar to store away extra funds for a day out with the family!

Sledding/Tubing – Cypress Mountain

Family Photos – Olivia Ann Photography |Kaptured by Kay| Cait Kennedy Photography | Alyssa Kellert Photography+Film (check out our family film here)

Stumbling Grace Holiday Gift Guide

Letter Board – Letter Peddler

Hemlock Himmeli Air Plant – Aloe Yucca

Stamped Hot CoaCoa Spoons – And Then Again

Handmade Wall Decor – Rusticly Reclaimed Signs

You may also enjoy Berry Pickin’ Finger Lickin’

Hopefully you were able to find something for everyone on your list this holiday and if you’ve got your own favourites I should add to my list this year, leave me a note! I would love to hear your own recommendations and holiday cheer!

Take Care!

x0x Cass

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November 28, 2017

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personal, Shop Local, Styled Shoots, Uncategorized

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SG Harvest Feast – When you have all that you need, build a longer table.

View More: http://tallyadphotography.pass.us/stumblinggrace

From the bottom and top of my heart I want to thank each and every one of these ladies for being apart of the Harvest Feast. It was such a perfect night, an evening one could only dream of. I left there in pure bliss, unsure of if I just walked out of a day dream, because that couldn’t have been reality. The amount of raw emotion, pure community and utmost vulnerability overwhelmed me. This was the whole reason I wanted to host the event, this was the passion and driving force behind it all. I firmly believe that there is always time to rest, no matter how busy. Let it be cherished and sought after! We seem to be so busy with our lives, blogging, business’ and networking it’s hard to find these face to face times, and it needs to happen more!

Thankful. Thankful for a foundation of trust, community, leadership, guidance, perseverance and the love that embodied that Saturday night. The women who attended, the dreams that were dreamt and the goals that were set.

One evening I thought to myself, what brings me joy? Community. Getting to know people. Experiencing life together. This is how I chose to continue and build off leading and living a joy filled life.

The Harvest Feast has been a dream of mine that I didn’t think was attainable. I was nervous, I was a bit lost and frankly, I was scared. What if I do all this work, time in to contacting companies and they all say no, or it doesn’t work out, or no one wants to come. Stop it, I told myself. I want to do this, I need to do this and I am going to do this. And as I reached out, I found myself empowered with the encouragement and guidance from companies, partnerships, and many boss ladies out there, Saturday, October 7th, came.

We laughed, tears fell, and we dug deep into each other’s roots and grew so much closer because of it. I am BEYOND proud to say that this is just the beginning. Evenings like that need to happen more. I would be honoured to explore and conquer this journey of bringing the women we so often see on social media, up on the stage at events, and selling their pride and joy in their product at markets, together. To rest in community, be vulnerable in our fears and discomforts, and be strengthened in joy and love.

I could try for hours to put in to detail of how the evening went, what the vibe and overall feel in the room was, but I wouldn’t be able to bring it justice. How GOOD it felt to just rest and be with each other. To let all the walls of ‘looking our best’ and ‘best version of us’ in front of everyone, down, and to simply just BE. As the evening went on, I discovered that there were all sorts of women gathered at the table. There were Entrepreneurs, Mothers, Hikers, Artists, Photographers, Writers, Bakers, and so many more amazing qualities to discover, that you would never have stumbled upon if you hadn’t taken the time to sit and just be with each other. Face to face and heart on our sleeves. There was an overwhelming sense of comfort that embodied and surrounded the room that evening, whispering, it’s okay to share, it’s okay to let them in, it’s okay to feel sadness and joy. It’s okay.

“Eucharisteo: Thanksgiving, to be thankful. ⠀
I opened the door to the Secret Garden and my eyes were placed upon a setting that was delicately set up with love and passion. A passion for a night where women could gather together intimately and share our hearts. We were created for connection. That longing that you feel was put there on purpose. It was placed just as delicately, passionately and purposeful like that table before us. I didn’t want it to end. My soul thirsts for truer, deep-rooted connection. Sharing our hearts and our dreams, our struggles, and fears. How can we shift our priorities to ones that matter most without being deceived by the things that don’t? To be thankful right where we are but also with a vision of moving forward? ⠀
Refinement. Sanctification. This continuing of being molded by the potter’s hand and being thankful for the process. Humbly let go. Let go of trying to do, let go of my own fears. Let God blow His wind, His trails, oxygen for joy’s fire. Leave the hand open and be. Be at peace. Bend the knee and be small and let God give what God chooses to give because He only gives love and whispers surprised thanks.“⠀- Shannon – Adventurous Mama

Here’s to the first annual Harvest Feast and the many more that are to come!

VENDOR/SHOP LIST

Styled & Curated – Stumbling Grace Blog

Photographer : Tallya D Photography

Decor

Autumn wispy wreath – Bloom Bloom Room

Letter Board – Letter Peddler

The Flores Towel/Blanket – Tofino Towel

Window Pane, Chalkboard, China Plates, Golden Frame – Stumbling Grace

Floral décor on golden frame – Vintage Meadows

Chalkboard lettering & Window Pane lettering – Hand Lettered by Bev

Decor & Furniture – Jubilee Collection

Dessert Table, Silver Platters, Copper stand, Copper Chandelier , Menu stand, Large gold chalkboard stand , Rugs , Tea light candle holders , Glass Terrariums (on dessert table)

HYGGE Wooden Cut – Paper Heart Calligraphy

Sweet

Salted Caramel Popcorn & Pretzels – Batch Sweets

Macaroon’s & Cake Pops – Cakes’nSweets

Earl Grey/Lavender Cookie & Blueberry Scone – Crème de la Crumb

Savoury

Mennonite Sausage Ring, Kolbassa Sausage Ring, Capicolla Toppers, Cervelat Toppers, Original Pepperoni Bites, Festive Ham – Grimm’s Fine Foods

Maple Smoked Indian Candy Salmon , Beef Jerky , Smoked Salmon Lox – West Coast Salmon

Bread & Dips – A Bread Affair

Sweetheart Loaf , Three’s Company Loaf , Marquee Loaf , Sourdough , Baguettes, Roasted Carrot Dip , Beet Dip , Cranberry & Pecan Dip, Chocolate Croissants

Sip

Fortunello & Oat Porter – Four Winds Brewery

Growlers of Cream Ale & Sour Weisse, MB glasses – Mariner Brewing

Homemade Apple Cider – Stumbling Grace

Table Setting

Invitations, Name Cards, Menus – AylaPena Calligraphy

Table Greenery & Greenery on dessert table – Maple Ridge Florist

Candles – Wood Lot

Live Edge Wooden Table – Gilbert Built (Jubilee Collection) Instagram : @gilbertbuilt

Stop Buggin’ Spray – K’Pure

Lavender Bouquets & Gather Tags – Grow & Gather Farms

Table Settings & Decor – Pretty Things Rentals

Wine Glasses , Moscow Mules , White Cloth Napkins , Curtain Backdrop , Eggplant Table Runner, Golden Candle Stick holders, String lights

Wooden cutlery – Joonie&Joe

Takeaway

Pumpkin spice cookie jars – Jars by Jodi

Woodlot Soap Bars – Wood Lot

Venue Location : ‘The Secret Garden’ at Woodbridge Ponds

If you yourself are looking to put together your own event or even would like to partner together in making something magical come together please send me a message, I would LOVE to create a unique space with you! Let’s chat! You can find my contact information above ^^

GUESTS

Cassandra – Stumbling Grace Blog

Chalie – GOLDNgrasses

Diana – Happy Bees Events

Jen – Little Sprout Creations

Kayla – The Jubilee Collection

Natalia – The Venture Creative

Samantha Lenz – Oh Samantha! Blog

Shannon – Shannon Lee Blog

Tallya – Tallya D Photography

If there was anything that was used in this party you fancy and would like to inquire for yourself, I have listed all the links you will need to find the local and creative community that poured in to this event.

Cheers loves! and here’s to many more.

XOX – Cass

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November 10, 2017

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10 Tips to start a Capsule Wardrobe

I’ve been hearing more and more about these ‘capsule wardrobes’ and the challenge to live a minimal lifestyle, and I’m intrigued. I’ve done my ‘research’ and have compiled a list and pictures of what my capsule will include and the various ways I am going to style it throughout the month!

A Capsule wardrobe consists of 30 or less pieces of clothing, including shoes, accessories etc. But this time around I started with 30 pieces of clothing and then add ons – it’s my first time okay! The biggest thing that really attracted me to trying out my own capsule was the amount of time I waste trying to figure out what I am going to wear every morning and then I always come back to the same old thing.

REASONS TO START A CAPSULE WARDROBE:

De-clutter your closet and say goodbye to what doesn’t bring you joy!
Minimize the ever-daunting question ‘what should i wear today’
Be ready 10x faster

HERE ARE 10 TIPS TO GET STARTED!

1// IT’S NOT HARD : It really is that simple. Make sure you start in a month that would be ‘easier'(where you don’t have 6 weddings to attend!) for you so you do not get discouraged. Remember, it’s only a month, make sure you’ve grabbed your favourites and MUST HAVES and try! Next time I do a capsule wardrobe, I’m going to take the plunge and do the complete 30 piece wardrobe, clothes, shoes, accessories and all.

2// YOU’RE PROBABLY ALREADY DOING IT : Most likely, you already have a list of your favourites tucked away in your mind. If you’re having a lazy day, you have those tights and shirt you like to wear. If you’re going out, you have that little black dress and long dangly necklace you love so much. Lastly, if you’re going to a soccer game you’ve got those nice pair of jeans that make your butt look good and that fitted tee to be game ready! So putting together a 30 piece capsule shouldn’t be too hard!

This grey sweater below is one of my top 5 items – I HAD to include a pic of the back!

3// DECLUTTER : Are you (like me) one of those people who have a closet that is BURSTING at the seems and has found it’s way to under your bed, down the hall and in your husband’s dresser? If you have been looking for a way to kind of kick-start a purge, then I would highly suggest a capsule wardrobe!

4// BE SEASONAL : When putting together your capsule, keep in mind the season and the weather. Will it be changing? Will you be needing to layer up at all? Especially if you are branching out and decide to do a 3 month capsule, this is a MUST!

5// KEEP IT NEUTRAL : I chose not to have many prints in my capsule, unless they were black and white. I find patterns and more eccentric prints aren’t that forgiving when trying to pair with the rest of the wardrobe. Maybe next time, if I am feeling more daring, I’ll throw a bright print in! This time I stuck to black, white, grey’s, neutrals and jean.

6// HAVE A BASE : You’ll find as you thread through all the different capsules out there, there is always an underlying base colour. I found the most popular are either BLACK OR NAVY. My capsule had a base of black pieces.

You may also like : Beach Ready From Head to Tote

7// THE 3 PIECE RULE : Can I wear this item with at least 3 other pieces in my capsule. For example, I included my long black tank because I love to wear it with my tights and a hoodie but also wear it with my leather leggings, brown booties and a necklace. TADA – Transformed!

8// FITS YOUR LIFESTYLE : As I started my capsule wardrobe, I began with what do I love as the driving force to start choosing what to include. I love playing with Ez so I checked off items one and two with a long slinky tank and tights combo! Then just go from there!

You may also like : Apple Cider Sippin’

9// SWITCH IT OUT : I kind of made this up, but it really helped me along the way when deciding what I was going to include. I made my capsule and had the full intention of sticking to it, but then I was about a week and a half in and there was a shirt I just didn’t see myself wearing. PLUS the Whitecaps were in the playoffs and I had forgotten to put my jersey in – so SWITCH!

10// SPREAD THE LOVE : Why just keep it to yourself? Challenge your family to do just the same! Next season around or even in the midst, try it out. I’ve noticed that a lot of the time when I am dressing Ez, I am constantly looking for my favourites and dressing her in the same 10 outfits every week. (yes I realize there’s only 7 days in a week, but, #toddlerlife). Try it out, test it and see if it’s a good fit for your family, it may be a fun ‘challenge’ to see who can do it and stick to it!

BONUS : MY TOP 5 PIECES TO START YOUR CAPSULE

Black maxi dress
Light jean jacket
White runners
Black ripped jeans
Grey slouchy t shirt

BONUS #2 : TIPS FOR CHILDS CAPSULE WARDROBE

Stick to solid colours / black&white prints
5 piece ‘Rule’ – choose 5 of each (pants&tights / shirts / long sleeve / dress / shorts, depending on season)
Don’t include accessories/under garments/outerwear
By starting a capsule for your children you are also limiting their options and therefor encouraging and making it easier for them to start dressing themselves!

In review: At the beginning of the ‘challenge’ I was feeling a bit intimidated and felt like I wasn’t going to be able to do it, but then I got to about number 23 for pieces of clothing and I was done. There was no more pieces I would LOVE to include, so I threw in a few extra tanks and a pair of SWEATS! Lol Something that also made it easier for me to stick to the capsule was separating it from my own closet. I went out and purchased a clothing rack from IKEA ($16!) and had it just against the wall for the month.

I do have to admit though, when I was about halfway through I totally forgot about some family photos we had done with Kaptured.by.Kay and had to break the 30 piece wardrobe and wear a long slinky white knitted sweater I had at the back of my closet, oh no!(eye roll) So here’s a couple photos to justify the add-on!

Thanks for reading through my personal experience with the capsule wardrobe and I hope you’re feeling encouraged to try it out yourself! It’s amazing coming to the realization that I really only wear about 20 different pieces of clothing out of what I have! Makes me more consciously aware of buying items and encouraged to get rid of them!

LEAVE A NOTE – I would love to hear from you and your own experience in creating and wearing a capsule wardrobe! It was such a fun challenge, and would love any extra tips or tricks on staying faithful to the one rack!

XOX Cass

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October 31, 2017

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Apple Cider Sippin’ – Recipe

WELCOME! to THE best apple cider you will ever make. I honestly cannot believe how YUMMY this was! I am also not one to declare to the world that something is THE BEST, unless it really is. so here you go!

Now this was the one that intimidated me. When I first set out to put this post together of my favourites for the fall, one staple for me is apple cider, and yes, the powdered ones. This time though, I wanted to try and actually MAKE the cider. So here we are!

You may also enjoy : Homemade Apple Pie – Recipe

I am embarrassed to admit this, but I am quite the snob when it comes to apple and orange juices. I love the raw, pulpy, hand squeezed taste. My absolute favourites are ‘Simply Brand – Apple Juice’ and ‘Tropicana , Some pulp, Orange Juice” LOL! If you love cider as much as I do well then this will be a treat! Here is the full recipe to this delicious Apple Cider, Enjoy!

You may also like : 1-2-3-ROLL your easiest pie crust yet!

Ingredients:

Serves 10-12

• 1 orange

• 1 lemon

• 10 apples (a mixture is good — we used Jazz apples and Granny Smiths)

• 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

• 1 small piece ginger, peeled and sliced

• 1 teaspoon all spice

• 12 cloves

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 3/4 cup brown sugar

You may also like :Homemade Apple Pie – Recipe

Instructions:

1. Peel the zest off the orange and lemon, being careful not to peel off the white pith (as this is very bitter). Cut all of the white pith off and discard, then cut the orange and lemon into slices (don’t worry about the seeds — they’ll be sieved out later).

2. Cut the apples into quarters.

3. Place the orange and lemon slices and peels into the slow-cooker pot along with the apples, cinnamon, ginger, all spice, cloves, vanilla extract and sugar. Pour in enough cold water to cover everything.

4. Turn the slow cooker to high, place the lid on and cook for three hours.

5. After three hours, use a potato masher to mash the fruit into the water, then place the lid back on and cook for a further 30-60 minutes.

6. Strain the liquid through a sieve into a large jug and serve immediately.

7. Alternatively you can cool, cover and refrigerate until needed. Simply reheat in a pan when ready to serve.

Have a recipe you’d like to share? or maybe your very own spin on Apple Cider? I would love to hear about it and add to my recipe book!

XOX

You may also like :The BEST Butter Chicken Sauce

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October 23, 2017

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5 Ways to enjoy apples this fall!

I know, I know, kind of late on getting the ball rolling this fall. Teething, working and a busy-body toddler got first in line for the last couple months! Finally here we are, Apple season is just at the end, but hopefully you will still be able to enjoy some of these festive fall treats and recipes when the colder days roll in!

You may also enjoy 10 Great Gifts for the Mother who does it all!

Apples are one of my favourite fruit, and I know for a fact that it is my husbands favourite fruit, so with that being said, fall always fills our house with these wonderful multi-used fruits! I love the sweeter apples, like Granny Smith, yum! My husband loves the Honey Crisp apples, which are also delicious I must admit, and Ez, well she just loves to have a whole apple in her hand to munch and crunch!

As I started to embark on which pastries and activities I would be putting together for our family this fall, I thought I’d share the love and let you all in on our secret home recipes for a few of our favourites! Enjoy!

APPLE PICKING – TAVES FAMILY FARM

Now to start off apple season, you’ve got to go collect them! This year is super exciting for us because our little miss is walking and almost running, I’ve been waiting for a few months now to go apple picking with her. Just like her dad, she LOVES apples, so going to Taves Family Farm, she was on cloud 9 and could barely contain herself.

She was running up and down the rows of ‘Papple’ trees, picking up all the (gross) apples and trying to take a bite. We had her up on our shoulders, picking the ones at the tippy top and walking alongside the trees, reaching some of her very own. (and then when she would go to pull them off, she would yell at us, “TUCK mama, papple TUCK!”)

Ezra’s outfit : Fox Knit Hat : Home Grown Knot Co. / Cranberry Bow : Little Olive Designs/ Mustard Dress : Jax & Lennon

APPLE PIE – Homemade is the Best-made

Lets just start this portion of this entry by saying, I am very blessed to have a husband who supports, and eats, everything I do and bake. Lol

The first thing you’ll want to do is make a fresh batch (or two if you’d like to criss cross the top) of some homemade pie crust! Check out the full recipe for 1-2-3-ROLL! Your easiest pie crust yet! for my favourite starter.

The classic homemade Apple Pie. Today I am going to share with you how to make this Holiday Staple. To start, I would suggest definitely picking up some hard, tart apples, Granny Smith or maybe Honey Crisp are great! The best part about this recipe is that there are only 7 steps and you will only need TEN ingredients, and most of these are already sitting on your shelves!

Head on over to [1-2-3-ROLL, your easiest pie crust yet] to find step by step instructions and everything you will need to make this homemade classic!

I wish, I wish, I wish I had a food processor. you’ll see why when you look into the pie crust making above lol! But low and behold I had my trusty pastry blender to bring it all home at the end of the day. One thing to look out for when you are choosing your apples is how juicy they are. Unfortunately when I was making my pie, I overlooked this part and my pie ended up coming out a little more juicy this time. Nothing that a few extra minutes in the over couldn’t help though!

Head on over to Homemade Apple Pie FULL RECIPE to find out what you’ll need to bake your very own Apple Pie. (Make sure you scroll all the way to the bottom for an extra little treat!)

PB & Apples : A classic and a staple in this household!

Honestly, one of my go-to snacks from since I can remember, is just cut up apple and peanut butter. Here’s a picture? But I’m sure you know what it looks like lol!

You may also enjoy : The Best Butter Chicken Sauce

Apple Cider

I cannot believe how YUMMY this was! Now this was the one that intimidated me. When I first set out to put this post together of my favourites for the fall, one staple for me is apple cider, and yes, the powdered ones. This time though, I wanted to try and actually MAKE the cider. So here we are!

I cannot believe how delicious this cider was. I am embarrased to admit this, but I am quite the snob when it comes to apple and orange juices. I love the raw, pulpy, hand squeezed taste. My absolute favourites are ‘Simply Brand – Apple Juice’ and ‘Tropicana , Some pulp, Orange Juice” LOL! If you love cider as much as I do well then this will be a treat! Here you can find the full recipe to Apple Cider Sippin, Enjoy!

I ended up storing mine in one of our growlers we had and it worked out so well!

You may also like : Canadiana Styled Shoot

Apple Chips

When I was growing up, my parents had an awesome food dehydrator (now being an adult and mother myself, I am extremely envious of this and wish I had one!). When I was thinking of making my own apple chips for my daughter, I was kind of bummed because I didn’t think I would be able to make them without a machine. I then stumbled across a couple recipes that only called for a pan, knife, apples and 200 degrees for 3 hours.

HELLO simple and HELLO delicious! I was quite hesitant and unsure that these little slices would turn out, but low and behold, 3 hours passed and there they were, delicious, crispy and full of crunch!

I am still in awe of how easy and delicious these were! Highly recommend these delicious chips. The only part that was a bit daunting was slicing the apples, but if you’ve got a super sharp knife, or better yet, a mandolin then you’ll be fine!

Here’s what you’ll need:

3 apples (larger size and either granny smith or honey crisp)
sharp knife
2 baking sheets
parchment paper

Start by slicing your apples into very thin slices and placing on the baking sheet. The parchment paper will make it easier to flip your apples when you are halfway through baking. I overlapped my apples and it turned out okay, so don’t be afraid to get more on your baking sheet.

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees. When the oven is ready, place your baking sheet in for 1 hour, remove and flip apples to other side and cook again for 1-1.5 hours. I found that mine were still a bit ‘soggy’ when I took them out after 2 hours so I kept them in and checked every 15 minutes to make sure they weren’t burning. 3 hours was perfect for my oven!

ENJOY!

During this whole process there was a few times that I had to put Ez in her high chair and try and make do with what we had around the house, some of this included using the wooden spoons I was baking with to whack her tray with, paw patrol, eating an entire apple and the saviour of them all, a wagon wheel. This kid will pick off every last bit of the CHOCOLATE and then eat the marsh mellow! Who’s kid is this?!?!

After the first few items on this list, not that this is some grand realization, but I can confirm that apples are amazing. You can pick them, bake them, juice them, jar them, dry them and the list goes on.

Tried any of these recipes out? I would LOVE to see how you did and your spin on these Holiday Classics! Please tag me on your instagram @stumbling grace, Stumbling Grace Blog on facebook or sending me a message on here! Good luck and have fun ❤

XOX Cass

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Posted on

October 23, 2017

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1-2-3 – Roll! Your easiest pie crust yet!

Homemade Pie Crust? WHO has time for that?! Why you do of corse. With this simple recipe, you’ll be making this pie crust in your sleep, especially after you bite in to it! When I first started thinking about making my first pie a few years back I assumed I would just pick up a ready made pie crust from the grocery store. Nope. Apparently I married in to a connoisseur of all things baked/cooked from scratch.

You may also enjoy : Top ten gifts for the mom who does it all

To get started here, always remember to wash your hands and take off your rings! Does any one else have a small trinket dish that they use when baking/washing hands/doing chores that they use to keep their treasures? Below you will see my place of choice. It is called the ‘Trinket Dish” from Three Corners Artisan.

You can find the Trinket Dish HERE.

Having a husband who avidly searches to cook new things is definitely not a problem for me! My husband is constantly showing and teaching me new ways to cook things, how to tell if something is done (or overdone, whoops!) and that sometimes it really is easier to just make it from scratch! Hence, this simple 3 step pie crust recipe. Don’t be intimidated! If I can do this, you can do this!

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4 Step Homemade Pie Crust

Ingredients:

1-3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1-1/2 sticks butter (12 tablespoons), cut into slices
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp ice water

1) Mix flour and sugar in bowl.

2) Add about half of the butter. Add the rest of the butter. Blend until the mixture turns into coarse crumbs (small pea size).

3) Slowly add the ice water and pulse until the dough gathers up into a ball. If it doesn’t after a few seconds, add a few more drops of ice water until it does.

4) Take the dough and flatten it into a disc and place it on a sheet of floured plastic wrap. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes before rolling. Remember to use the plastic wrap trick from below!

If you’ve got any tricks up your sleeves on how to make pie crust, different designs or just want to share your experience with this recipe, let me know below in the comments! I would love to hear from you, and get new ideas!

Happy Baking!

XOX – Cass

(Check out my 3 extra tips below to easier pie dough making!)

3 Tips to the easiest pie crust!

Tip #1 : One thing that I did see online, that I did not have but would love to try one day, is someone suggested using a food processor to mix and blend the butter into your flour mixture. I took the rustic path of the pastry blender.

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Tip #2 : When rolling out the dough to get it ready for the pan, place a piece of saran wrap overtop and underneath of the dough before pressing the rolling pin down. This will make your life, and washing time, so much easier! The dough will not stick to the rolling pin and will be a nice quick wrap up and toss when done.

Tip #3 : Once you have refrigerated and rolled out your pie crust, you can decide how you would like to form it. I always love the classic look of pinched edges and a lattice crust, but you can be creative! Remember, rustic is okay here: you want your pie to look homemade!

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Posted on

October 21, 2017

Posted under

Shop Local, Uncategorized

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Keeping comfy, no matter what ‘hat’ I’m wearing

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Oiy Vey. I feel that this past month has hit me like a rock. I recently upped my hours at work and have been going almost all in with 35-40 hours a week. It’s been killing me. The last few days Ez and I have been taking a bit of a break from the rest of the world. Yes the weather has implemented this, and yes, it was a dream. Having these last couple days with her and just the two of us has been good to my mama soul. Not being around this little bean is tearing me apart. So this weather, even though it has force-cancelled exciting plans, it has filled my cup with love and cuddles.

Being a busy mom on the go I often am running around in joggers, tanks and sports bras. (I know you I’m not the only one! Right?) I recently received the Gleaming Bralette from @ethona.casey and am in love! The fun design on the front, criss cross support in the back and extra padding in the front (Mama likey!). This easily brings this bralette to the top of my list of go-to’s for a day at home, on the run for errands or simply going for shoppi… for a run.

I feel like maybe I’ve just never found a sports bras/bralette that fit me just right, thus steering me away from them. Even when I was in high school, I would wear my regular bras during gym / sports (Ew. now that I think of it haha!). When I came across Ethona Active wear and their Gleaming Bralette I was super impressed with not only the quality and modern appeal they brought to their pieces, but the heart and passion behind their company and each and every purchase.

Ethona’s mission statement says it all, “To Inspire Women to Strive for More and Fight for Those Who Can’t.” How does that not make your heart beat right out of your chest?! Their core values are to Inspire, Connect and to Give. Working around the clock to give back to those in need. Ethona has partnered with Saving Innocence to help survivors of human trafficking around the globe. If you would like to support their mission and get your own Ethona Bralette, click here to find out more !

XOX – Cass

Discover more about Ethona here : Instagram | Facebook | Website

Posted by

Stumbling Grace Blog

Posted on

September 27, 2017

Posted under

DIY, Styled Shoots, Uncategorized

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LEGO of your DIY fears!

Here are 3 DIY’s that will make sure, EVERYTHING IS AWESOME, at your Lego party!

A few weeks back, I had the privilege of working along side Chalie from Gold’n’Grasses for a very special birthday party for her son. Being an avid lego collector and enthusiast, he wanted to have nothing more than a party that was completely ENGULFED in the LEGO world!

Now, having a small flash back to when I was a child, my brother, sister and I loved and adored all things Lego, we would want nothing more, for any occasion, than to sit and build, create and imagine for hours on end. When I was first approached for this project, my 6-year-old-Cassandra-heart was jumping for joy and waiting in anticipation for the day this party would come! Just listening to Chalie talk about all she had planned made my heart pitter patter, dreaming alongside her and envisioning what she was about to achieve! And boy, oh boy did his mama deliver!

Continue reading on for FREE printable’s, created by yours truly, and more DIY projects to make your very own LEGO party for your little (or grown up) super fan. I absolutely LOVED being apart of this event with Chalie and being able to help bring her vision to life. I am always looking to collaborate for my next event, whether it be creating or partnering with creators, so don’t be shy! Let’s Chat.

DIY #1 – Lego Building Activity Cards (FREE Printable)

[Click here for LEGO Activity Cards]

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DIY #2 City Line Photo Booth Backdrop

This DIY was a 3-part task, now I chose to paint the pieces after I had measured and cut them. I also decided to use spray paint so that made it a lot easier as well! Here is a rough break down of how I made these beautiful, simple but dramatic party decor come to life!

Step 1 : Materials

Find what you are going to use as your base for this project. My hubs went to Costco and grabbed a couple of the pieces of cardboard that sit in-between the giant pallets and brought them home to cut up! (I used 3 pieces of 3ft x 5ft) You can also use cardboard boxes, diaper boxes, or even head over to Michaels or Staples and pick up black poster board.

Step 2: Trace/Sketch

Sketch out the exact shapes that you would like to cut out – here it is not really a big deal if you mess up or have pencil everywhere. You are going to be painting over it soon, but if you are really unsure, take a sharpie or marker and trace the exact lines so you dont make a mistake while cutting!

Step 3: Cutting

This was the most grueling task for this whole project. I used a cutting board underneath while I used my exacto knife and then later on realized that using scissors would be much easier. Just make sure it’s not the cheap-o version!

Step 4: Painting

The paint I found the easiest and quickest to use was spray paint, I placed a large piece of plastic on the ground and did 2 coats of black matte spray paint. You could totally do this with a paint brush, I just imagine it taking 5 times longer!

Step 5: Dry & Set up!

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DIY #3 Gift Bag Tags (FREE Printable)

Don’t forget to tag the bag and to say thanks for celebrating the girl/boy of the hour! I designed these awesome tags for Chalie & Tristan to attach to their iconic ‘Money Bag’ goody bags. What an awesome idea, because, well, a bag full of money is a pretty awesome goodie! lol. Follow a long and grab your very own gift tags to use for your next Lego party!

Below is a link to your FREE PRINTABLE for your own gift tags the next time you throw a Lego Party!

[Click here for Lego Favor Bag Tags]

Even MORE Lego DIY’s to keep the party going!

Lego Twister – Created & Crafted by Chalie at GOLDNgrasses
Diamond Pinata – Created & Crafted by Chalie at GOLDNgrasses

If you haven’t had a chance yet, head on over to Gold’n’Grasses and get the FULL layout and run down here of all the shops involved, other DIY’s you won’t want to miss and photos of her big 5 year old boy!! It was such an enormous joy to not only celebrate Tristan in turning 5, but to work alongside someone who is just as passionate and goal driven to see their dream come to fruition. Chalie my girl, you are a true Gem! And not just because you made an awesome Diamond Pinata! ❤

Happy Birthday Tristan, I hope it was a blast and that EVERYTHING WAS AWESOME!!

Xo Cass

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If there was anything that Chalie had or used in this party and are worried about finding out where she found the perfect pieces for this Lego theme, look no further! Below are all the links you will need to find the local and creative community that poured in to this event.

Styled & Curated by : Chalie at GoldnGrasses

Photographer : Creative Wife & Joyful Worker

Photo editing: GOLDNgrasses

Venue :  High Street Community Room
Food :  Memphis Blues BBQ
Custom cake & macarons :   Super Sweet Sheep
Mini mango cheesecakes & white chocolate ganache pudding: The Wooden Whisk
Night out sprinkle mix : Dainty Sprinkle co.
Sugar cookies : Sweeter with a Cookie
Popsicles : Tubify
Cake toppers : Glitter Paper Scissors
Lego printables : Swirl Creative
Lego head printables : Creative Wife and Joyful Worker (link coming soon)
Lego activity cards & cityscape & gift tags : Stumbling Grace
Art school speckle large plate & tissue diamonds: Bash Party Goods
Canapé grid plate paper ware :  Heather & Gem
Paper straws & candles :Joonie and Joe
Cups & napkins :EZ party
Confetti & small ballons : Oh Happy Day! Party Shop
Customized wooden pendant banner :Sprig West
Lego cutlery & party favors : Oriental trading
High five shirt :Lucky Bum Clothing
Kids tables and chairs :Turkey Party Makers Ltd.
Lego twister DIY : GOLDNgrasses
Diamond piñata DIY : GOLDNgrasses
Lego cop printable : GOLDNgrasses

Posted by

Stumbling Grace Blog

Posted on

September 15, 2017

Posted under

our story, Uncategorized

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Creeks, Lakes & Rivers, OH MY! 5 places to stop for a quick bite or mountain dip.

This summer we packed up our teeny tiny KIA Spectra and went on a two and a half week road trip through the interior and made some pre-planned stops and some impromptu stops at some amazing lakes, waterfalls and creeks. Here are my top five that we visited and hope you one day have a chance to experience these same beautiful spots!

1. Cayoosh Creek – the perfect picnic spot with an amazing view!

When we stopped off at this beautiful spot, we were travelling from Kelowna to Pemberton. We decided to drive through the Pemberton Canyon, merely for site-seeing and having a little bit of change in scenery on this long drive. While we were going down a long windy road I yelled STOP! Kenz was quite confused, but I just said turn around and away we went. We had passed this beautiful opening of the forest with the mountains and the bridge, it was perfect. (When I was going through my photos, I realized the two middle photos matched up completely – how could I not use them? lol)

Tofino Towel – Lightweight – Flores

Ez’ Dress – Geema Sews

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2. Lilooet Lake – Light walk, Family friendly, Camping available

This was the most eery/creepy/horror movie scene lake I have ever been to! Because of the smoke it created a very different look then what I was expecting to see. Either way it was so cool and we will definitely be going back. My poor husband was so excited and kept telling me, ‘If it was cleared you’d be able to see this. this, and this.’ We made the most of it and Ezra tried out her water shoes for the very first time – she is definitely a water baby!

Tofino Towel – Long Beach – Volume 2

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3. Joffre Lake – Family/Dog friendly, hiking/rock climbing, Camping available

A dream come true! and a HUGE parent bucket list checked off! I have always wanted to go to this lake and do the hike, visit all the stops and for some reason it was always in my head that it just wouldn’t happen, or that it would be a HUGE trip to do it. Alas, when we were planning our route and the stops we’d be taking, Kenz turns to me and says, “You know where we can stop?” with a big goofy grin on his face, “Joffre Lake” OH MAN. was I seeing stars I was so excited!! This big blue beautiful lake did not disappoint! Nor did Mackenzie, as we passed other hikers along the way, they almost all cheered him on for carrying Ezra and saying hello to her. Meanwhile Ezra was yelling at every single ‘DOE-DOE’ (Dog) she saw; there was a lot. She was such a champ, she was so happy the whole way up (all 3 Lakes) and then slept the whole way down, all in the hiking carrier! I am very proud to announce that we did the entire three lakes in 1.5 Hours. I couldn’t believe the sense of accomplishment and empowerment I felt as we stood a the bottom of the glacier. We did it. Having a baby does NOT mean you scale back your passions and adventure, it means you adjust your mind and plans to make it work and thrive in parenthood! We will definitely be returning.

Side note: in the first picture below, yes, that is Ez pointing to the sky because we asked her where the birds were. I love her.

Ez Bonnet – Fawn&Lace

Ez Dress – Geema Sews

Ez Mocs – Wild Ones Mocs

Ez Stripped Shortie – Jax&Lennon

Ez long sleeve ‘Mountain Baby’ – LiveLoveNorth

Tofino Towel – The Flores

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4. Nairn Falls – Light walk & Family friendly

This has to be one of the coolest waterfalls I’ve been to. The size, the power, the closeness of the viewing landing, it was all so good. It’s a small hike up to the falls and I would suggest wearing closed toed and hiking shoes as there was a lot of debris that would not be good for sandals. There is also a large rock face that you have to climb up to get to the viewing spot, you can definitely walk up it – it is no rock climbing by any means, just be prepared with the proper footwear. (The last picture in the group below is what Ez looked like on every hike! She was so curious and full of wonder, holding tight to her bear and sousou, my brave little bean!)

Ez Bonnet – Fawn&Lace

Ez Dress – Geema Sews

Ez Mocs – Wild Ones Mocs

Ez Teal Shortie – Jax&Lennon

Chew Accessory – Baby Bear Design

Tofino Towel – The Flores

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5. Okanagan Lake – Family Friendly/Boat friendly

This lake has to be the one that we spent the most time at, it is the lake that the camp we worked at visits every year a couple times during the week. Unfortunately, the smoke was very thick so I think we only ended up going once so that we could try and keep Ez indoors. While we were there though, Ez had some fun in the water with daddy and they took out her little flamingo floatie and had some time around the corner on the shore where it was a bit more toddler-friendly.

Ez Bathing Suit – Mosie’s Cozies

Tofino Towel – The Flores