Create a masterpiece! Paint by Sticker + Win a copy!

I know there are a bajillion other blogs you could be reading right now besides mine, so when somebody tells you yours is one of their favourites and they’ve discovered all kinds of things from it, well it makes you feel pretty great. Thank you Paméla! B, and thanks to all of you making try small things part of your day. Quite a few of you like to craft and colour, either by yourself or with your kids, so I think Paint by Sticker (out just last week!) is something you’d really enjoy. Just like paint-by-number, each of the pictures is divided into spaces, only instead of colouring them in with paint you fill them with the corresponding sticker. There’s a version for kids too, but I thought my almost-nine-year-old daughter could totally tackle the more detailed grown-up version so we put that one to the test. 

Five things + A giveaway!

School’s out and summer’s officially here! What’s in store for the weekend, everybody? My kiddos are away visiting family for a couple of days so I’m catching up on some reading, doing a lot of cleaning (it’s really the only time I feel like I can make some headway) and going out to dinner tonight with girlfriends from the neighbourhood. Here’s a look at some of the goings-on in the past week or two.

The Sweetapolita Bakebook + A Giveaway!

Random House Canada sent me a complimentary copy to review, however all opinions are my own. 

If I slept with a book under my pillow like my kids, The Sweetapolita Bakebook would be the one I’d tuck under my head and dream about each night. Baker, blogger and photographer extraordinaire Rosie Alyea invites readers to a magical land where playing with your food is not only allowed, it’s encouraged. Colour and paint on decadent cookies and cakes with edible paint and chalk, make your own sprinkles and candy clay, and top your cupcakes with toasted marshmallow frosting — Alyea shows you how in step-by-step instructions even the newest (and littlest!) bakers will want to try. And if you have a few flops along the way, she’s there to remind you she’s had her share of failures too. The teenager who fell in love with the world of cake and confection working at a bakery grew into a multi-talented entrepreneur, mother of two, and author of this most endearing first book where decorating takes the cake.