Years of disrespect to the Earth we are now living in an age where we have to choose wisely the products we use on both ourselves and our children.
The same goes for the food we consume on a daily basis. Commonsense tells us that what's good for the land is good for our health.
Food additives, preservatives, pesticides and petroleum based -fertilizers are just a few of the things we need to be careful of.
Weather it be a beautiful soap, lotion, a great glass of wine, fresh meat, veggies, wonderful chocolate, hand picked lavender or clothing for kids.
Today I would like to share with you Canadian companies that are making an effort to bring you great products, that you may find useful in your everyday lives.
Natural Hand-Crafted Soaps & More
www.soapstones.ca
www.simplybyamanda.com
www.rainforestorganics.ca
Home Decor, Giftware & Organic Flowers
www.imforreal.com
Distributor of Fine Organic & Natural Products
www.nealbrothersfoods.com
Organic Food Delivery in the GTA
www.cleanfoodconnection.com
Organic Wine
www.frogpondfarm.ca
Peaceful Nights
www.stoneyhollowherbaltreasures.com
Organic Kids Fashion
www.figkids.com
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
The Entertainers.
This piece is dedicated to Ms. N Stone aka Cosmo Girl. If she had Colin Cowie's funds she would give him a run for his money...
She is always having a Get-Together / Party at her home. She can have a Party for anything.
Birthdays, Christams, New Year's, Promotions, Movie Premier, Girls Night Out, you name it she will have a Party.
A new Coach Bag I'm surprised she does not close down her street for that...........lol
Bottom line she was born to entertain. And if you look around in your circle of friends I am sure you all have a Ms. Stone in yours.
So when I saw Mr. Cowie site I knew I had to inform her of it. She is going to have sleepless nights, let me tell you. I can only imagine what she is thinking, hummmmm this is cool, what Party can I throw using some of these ideas?
http://www.colincowie.com/article/a-celebration-of-friendship
She is always having a Get-Together / Party at her home. She can have a Party for anything.
Birthdays, Christams, New Year's, Promotions, Movie Premier, Girls Night Out, you name it she will have a Party.
A new Coach Bag I'm surprised she does not close down her street for that...........lol
Bottom line she was born to entertain. And if you look around in your circle of friends I am sure you all have a Ms. Stone in yours.
So when I saw Mr. Cowie site I knew I had to inform her of it. She is going to have sleepless nights, let me tell you. I can only imagine what she is thinking, hummmmm this is cool, what Party can I throw using some of these ideas?
http://www.colincowie.com/article/a-celebration-of-friendship
Black Dress Find A Style & Work It
Today our economy is such a mess, no matter who we are or where we come from or how much we have or don't have, it has an effect on all of us.
If we think about it too much we will certainly loose what little sanity we have left.
We cannot stop living, we have to think positive and move forward.
Here is a savvy site that shows us, how to put together that Little Black Dress, there is a look for everyone here.
Their look is High End, we can get the similar look with budget friendly pieces, Office, Afternoon Tea, Dinner, Vacation or Running errands.
So take a look and work it ladies, work it.
http://fashiontribes.typepad.com/fashion/2009/01/1-little-black.html#
If we think about it too much we will certainly loose what little sanity we have left.
We cannot stop living, we have to think positive and move forward.
Here is a savvy site that shows us, how to put together that Little Black Dress, there is a look for everyone here.
Their look is High End, we can get the similar look with budget friendly pieces, Office, Afternoon Tea, Dinner, Vacation or Running errands.
So take a look and work it ladies, work it.
http://fashiontribes.typepad.com/fashion/2009/01/1-little-black.html#
Wedding Cake Cold Sweats!!
July 2009 I will be making a Wedding Cake for a friend of mine, I am elated that she came to me to do this important job, for such an important day. I am confident that I will be able to pull it off, and the cake will be as stunning as the bride. But somewhere deep deep deep down I have moments of intrepidation, I am so confident, I can rule the world, so why am I feeling this?
I want the cake to be perfect, I want the weather to be perfect and I want the bride and guest to say "Perfect Best Tasting Cake" ever.
And then I came across one of my Fav Blogs, and here was someone who was felt a bit of what I am feeling,when she took on the task of making a Wedding Cake herself, so I was able to relax a bit...just a bit.
http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/06/project-wedding-cake-an-introduction/
When the big day arrives and ends, I will come back to you with play by play details. I will do just fine and the cake will be fabulous...
I want the cake to be perfect, I want the weather to be perfect and I want the bride and guest to say "Perfect Best Tasting Cake" ever.
And then I came across one of my Fav Blogs, and here was someone who was felt a bit of what I am feeling,when she took on the task of making a Wedding Cake herself, so I was able to relax a bit...just a bit.
http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/06/project-wedding-cake-an-introduction/
When the big day arrives and ends, I will come back to you with play by play details. I will do just fine and the cake will be fabulous...
Gingerbread House Bed and Breakfast
Today the weather outside is icky, and my mind went wandering to a place I just love. Trinidad & Tobago a Cosmopolitan island beautiful beaches, wonderful people, yummy dishes and home. I call Canada home, but Trinidad will always be close to my heart, for many reasons.
I wanted to go back home for a break, and I searched online for accomodations, I came up with many Hotels , Guest Houses and Bed & Breakfast spots.
A lot of times everything onlines looks fab, but in person it's such a disappointment. Is it the Chef in my bones that made me choose the Gingerbread House....lol :)
Happy to inform you that when I pulled up to the House I was able to breathe easily, and once inside boy I was able to Exhale.
It was a dream, the room was not only clean, but huge, the bathroom was amazing. The owners exceptional Host, each day the linens were changed, each morning breakfast was served, I mean breakfast. Location was beautiful and safe and quiet.
So if ever you feel for some sun, sand, birds in the trees waft to the breeze, land of fairest beauty, Trinidad is the place to visit.
http://rentalo.com/26817/trinidadgingerbread.html
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Sunday Brunch
Just say Sunday Brunch to anyone that knows me and they will automatically say Windsor Arms.
This is my fav spot in the city of Toronto for Brunch. Life is hectic for most of us, kids, husbands, jobs, our lives feels like we are on speed dial, grab a bite here a bite there.
So why not put on a dressy-casual outfit and head out to Brunch one Sunday with your husband if you can, or one of your best pals or more...some fortunate folks have more than one best friend, and go to Windsor Arms. The setting is beautiful, the food amazing, and @ $40 per person buffet, trust me...trust me I say it's worth every penny...every penny, so start saving.This is a place worth going to, and a passport is not required.
www.windsorarmshotel.com
This is my fav spot in the city of Toronto for Brunch. Life is hectic for most of us, kids, husbands, jobs, our lives feels like we are on speed dial, grab a bite here a bite there.
So why not put on a dressy-casual outfit and head out to Brunch one Sunday with your husband if you can, or one of your best pals or more...some fortunate folks have more than one best friend, and go to Windsor Arms. The setting is beautiful, the food amazing, and @ $40 per person buffet, trust me...trust me I say it's worth every penny...every penny, so start saving.This is a place worth going to, and a passport is not required.
www.windsorarmshotel.com
Friday, April 3, 2009
Love this cake
A chocolate cake with a twist, I wanted this cake to be diffirent. I used a truffle filling between the layers, which is not too sweet and complements the cake. I also used the filling to frost the cake, and once that was set.I made little meringue kisses to finish it off, and finished it off with a dusting of cocoa powder.
This cake was made for my son Mason 3rd birthday. I decided to experiment with it. All my products I put my all into them, but let me tell you this cake was a job all on it's own, I should of been paid for this effort :) The cake was due April 1st...seriously, Mason was born April 1st. Production started on March 31st, trust me it was a production. Cake layers were baked and cooling, then I started on the Citrus Curd, I was unable to move from the stove, I had to stand there and stir, and stir and stir and stir
did I say STIR? the curd finally thickened, finallyyyy.
Pour it into a glass bowl, with saran wrap on the surface to prevent a skin from forming, stuck it into the fridge to cool and firm up. Now to the Cream, took some blackberries I had in the freezer, boiled it on the stove till I got the reduction I wanted. Once that was done, I passed it through a sieve to get rid of the seeds. That was set aside to cool, in the meantime I started to whip the whipping cream. The texture I wanted was achieved and I took the balckberry reduction and folded it into the whipped cream.
Classic vanilla buttrecream was made, the time has come to put the cake together.
To the assembly line we go, lol...took the first cake layer and spread the curd on it, put it in the freezer to set, once that was achieved, I then spread the Blackberry Cream on top of the curd, took the next cake layer and set it on top, finished the cake with the buttercream, Mason said he wanted dots on the cake, so dots he got.
The day of his birthday cake was cut and let me tell you it was delicious, fabulous,
cake was nice and moist, and the combination of curd and cream was a hit...yea yea yea yea. But hear this, after all that time, effort and work, Mason did not even want any cake, all he was interested in was blowing out his candle. Three days later he had a tiny bite of his cake, yes it was still tasty and moist..
April 19 is my Birthday...I wonder who will be making my cake? hummmmmmmm
did I say STIR? the curd finally thickened, finallyyyy.Pour it into a glass bowl, with saran wrap on the surface to prevent a skin from forming, stuck it into the fridge to cool and firm up. Now to the Cream, took some blackberries I had in the freezer, boiled it on the stove till I got the reduction I wanted. Once that was done, I passed it through a sieve to get rid of the seeds. That was set aside to cool, in the meantime I started to whip the whipping cream. The texture I wanted was achieved and I took the balckberry reduction and folded it into the whipped cream.
Classic vanilla buttrecream was made, the time has come to put the cake together.
To the assembly line we go, lol...took the first cake layer and spread the curd on it, put it in the freezer to set, once that was achieved, I then spread the Blackberry Cream on top of the curd, took the next cake layer and set it on top, finished the cake with the buttercream, Mason said he wanted dots on the cake, so dots he got.
The day of his birthday cake was cut and let me tell you it was delicious, fabulous,
cake was nice and moist, and the combination of curd and cream was a hit...yea yea yea yea. But hear this, after all that time, effort and work, Mason did not even want any cake, all he was interested in was blowing out his candle. Three days later he had a tiny bite of his cake, yes it was still tasty and moist..
April 19 is my Birthday...I wonder who will be making my cake? hummmmmmmm
The best Macaroon in the world are made by Pierre Hermes, well that is my opinion, you may not agree. Ten plus years of baking, I have come to realise, that the fewer ingredients a receipe calls for, the harder it is to make. I first made the Passion Fruit Filling.
Then took on the task of making my Macaroons.
Followed the receipe to a T, carefully spooned the batter into my pastry bag, and away I went. I treated these macaroon like a new born baby " with such tenderness and care" there was no popping it into the oven, it was placed gently, and the door was closed with such ease.
After 20mins I removed my baby..I mean the macaroons from the oven, and whalahhhhhh. Of course they do not come close to the perfect Hermes little jewels, but I was still proud of my first try.
Schelle Sweets?????????????
Forgive me soon I will get the hang of Blogging. I came back to take a look and realise that some may not know much about Schelle Sweets.
I should be relaxing, but let me school you then I will go back and relax.
Where did the name come from?
My name is Michelle.
And years ago my grandmother Ada went to the island Seychelle which lies between the east coast of Africa in the western Indian Ocean.
My grandmother passed away, before I started my company.
When the time came to start the company I knew exactly what I wanted to do, naming the company I went through a lot of names, it's like naming your child.
The name has to be a strong and something you can live with.
Gran came to mind and the island Seychelle, I had my "aha moment"
Michelle - Seychelle .. I played around with the letters in both names.
BAMMMMM....Schelle Sweets was born.
The love of myself and the love of my grandmother.
What does the company make?
We make from scratch, and I mean from scratch, nothing is pulled from the freezer, or scooped from pails.
All our cakes, cupcakes, cookies, cheesecakes, brownies, are made to order using organic ingredients.
There are NO preservatives in our products, if you cannot pronounce it, you should not eat it.
The ingredients in my products a two year old child can pronounce :)
You can find some of our products @:
Pusateri on Avenue Road
We are working on having Schelle Sweets at some other Retail spots.
Will keep you informed regarding that.
Rain Rain Go Away!
I was up late lastnight baking and packaging Samples I had to take to a business meeting today. I am smart & ambitious and trying to juggle marriage, motherhood and friendships. Yes friendships, without my friends, I would go BONKERS.
And still today folks think, that ''SAHM'' aka stay at home mothers life is a breeze. Yes it was a choice made by us, and yes some days are an ocean breeze, but others days, you are so busy, you say to yourself, it's 5pm already..wow.
Had about 3hrs sleep, which is criminal...lol..for those that know me, understands why it is a crime, I love sleep, or is it, that sleep lovesss me?
I'm up dress and ready to head to my meeting @ Holt Renfrew check the weather, and low and below, it's raining cats, dogs and I think sheep too.
I'm a jeans & t-shirt kind of gal, but days like today, I'm looking hot as hot can be, in my dress pants, beautiful top and sexy till you drop shoes, and make-up on point.
Now how do I get to my meeting looking great and not like a wet fowl, let me tell you it was a doozy.
Happy to report meeting went well, so now the waiting game begins.
Now it's off to meeting number two, I got to this meeting, looking a hot mess, let me repeat it, a hot mess.
There were no cabs or buses to take, I had to walk. With umbrella in hand I walked, and walked. And my umbrella fell apart, and my bag fell into a puddle, wha wha wha wha. And remember my sexy shoes, not so sexy now..
So now I am at Sage Cafe, meeting Yvonne of Hey Do You. What a quaint little spot and the food was really good. Meeting her was wonderful, she had a lot of info that as a Small Business owner will come in handy.
Yvonne made a statement that will stay with me for life. Of course we all want to look good all the times, and we would like to have a great Louis Vitton Bag, a well made dress by Valentino, and shoes from Manola.
But hello hello, some of us cannot have them, and I am not going to go out and Rent, yes I did say Rent a designer bag for a week, give me a nutcracker break.
Forget all the brands and think of yourself first, what do I mean by that?
You are a Brand, I am a Brand, we are our own Brands. Sure we are not a Designer brand, and some people may not care for us. You know your worth and you are Priceless.
It's Friday and I am off to relax, so have a good one.
And still today folks think, that ''SAHM'' aka stay at home mothers life is a breeze. Yes it was a choice made by us, and yes some days are an ocean breeze, but others days, you are so busy, you say to yourself, it's 5pm already..wow.
Had about 3hrs sleep, which is criminal...lol..for those that know me, understands why it is a crime, I love sleep, or is it, that sleep lovesss me?
I'm up dress and ready to head to my meeting @ Holt Renfrew check the weather, and low and below, it's raining cats, dogs and I think sheep too.
I'm a jeans & t-shirt kind of gal, but days like today, I'm looking hot as hot can be, in my dress pants, beautiful top and sexy till you drop shoes, and make-up on point.
Now how do I get to my meeting looking great and not like a wet fowl, let me tell you it was a doozy.
Happy to report meeting went well, so now the waiting game begins.
Now it's off to meeting number two, I got to this meeting, looking a hot mess, let me repeat it, a hot mess.
There were no cabs or buses to take, I had to walk. With umbrella in hand I walked, and walked. And my umbrella fell apart, and my bag fell into a puddle, wha wha wha wha. And remember my sexy shoes, not so sexy now..
So now I am at Sage Cafe, meeting Yvonne of Hey Do You. What a quaint little spot and the food was really good. Meeting her was wonderful, she had a lot of info that as a Small Business owner will come in handy.
Yvonne made a statement that will stay with me for life. Of course we all want to look good all the times, and we would like to have a great Louis Vitton Bag, a well made dress by Valentino, and shoes from Manola.
But hello hello, some of us cannot have them, and I am not going to go out and Rent, yes I did say Rent a designer bag for a week, give me a nutcracker break.
Forget all the brands and think of yourself first, what do I mean by that?
You are a Brand, I am a Brand, we are our own Brands. Sure we are not a Designer brand, and some people may not care for us. You know your worth and you are Priceless.
It's Friday and I am off to relax, so have a good one.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Finally I am here!
As a mother, wife and up and coming successful entrepreneur, my life has been hectic to say the least.
I am trying to be a fantastic mother and get my son Mason prepared for Princeton University....lol. I laugh because he just turned three yesterday. Hey why not dream big, because that is how I roll, I dream big and I dream in colour.
Some dream of shoes, bags, clothing, vacations I dream of cakes and cookies and how I can make them a tad more yummylicious, is that a word? anyway...and adding a twist to all my treats.
Why is that you may ask? Let me inform you at this time. I have two great sons, you hear so much about mothers & daughters. And not much about mothers & sons. And when you do hear about mothers & sons, it comes down to them being mummy's boy. Daniel my first son who is 19yr is an amazing young-man, and treats me with respect, because I in turn always did respect him from day one.
I am not in the mind set, I am the parent and you do as I say else! I am not into that. I parent the way my grandmother raised me, communicating, boundaries, laughter, manners, please and thank you, trust and listening.
So I truly believe that is why Daniel has grown into a wonderful human.
And then is the second son Mason, who is 3yr, I know, I think I was smoking and drinking to have a 16yr age diffirence with my sons........lol...but guess what? I don't smoke, drink socially.
After the birth of Mason, I wanted to be able to stay at home with him, so Schelle Sweets was born. I have been baking for over ten years, but Schelle Sweets became official as of May 2007.
I have been working for years out side the home, but nothing has made me more happier, than having my own company, and doing what I love.
Remember I told you earlier I dream in colour, Schelle Sweets is the reason why.
S
I am trying to be a fantastic mother and get my son Mason prepared for Princeton University....lol. I laugh because he just turned three yesterday. Hey why not dream big, because that is how I roll, I dream big and I dream in colour.
Some dream of shoes, bags, clothing, vacations I dream of cakes and cookies and how I can make them a tad more yummylicious, is that a word? anyway...and adding a twist to all my treats.
Why is that you may ask? Let me inform you at this time. I have two great sons, you hear so much about mothers & daughters. And not much about mothers & sons. And when you do hear about mothers & sons, it comes down to them being mummy's boy. Daniel my first son who is 19yr is an amazing young-man, and treats me with respect, because I in turn always did respect him from day one.
I am not in the mind set, I am the parent and you do as I say else! I am not into that. I parent the way my grandmother raised me, communicating, boundaries, laughter, manners, please and thank you, trust and listening.
So I truly believe that is why Daniel has grown into a wonderful human.
And then is the second son Mason, who is 3yr, I know, I think I was smoking and drinking to have a 16yr age diffirence with my sons........lol...but guess what? I don't smoke, drink socially.
After the birth of Mason, I wanted to be able to stay at home with him, so Schelle Sweets was born. I have been baking for over ten years, but Schelle Sweets became official as of May 2007.
I have been working for years out side the home, but nothing has made me more happier, than having my own company, and doing what I love.
Remember I told you earlier I dream in colour, Schelle Sweets is the reason why.
S
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