Phoenix and the Ocean

Phoenix’s Third Birthday Cake

Raw Birthday Cake
Raw Birthday Cake
Raw Birthday Cake
Raw Birthday Cake
Raw Birthday Cake
Raw Birthday Cake

My baby turned THREE.

I can hardly believe it. Three years with us and it has been the most amazing ride. I’ll call it a ride because it certainly has not come without its challenges. But these are definitely the best days of our lives.

We started the new year off getting back to eating healthier. And so for Phoenix’s Birthday, I decided to give a raw cheesecake a go. And to my surprise, he absolutely loved it! In fact, he had no idea he was eating cashews and maple syrup and not the real deal. It was such a beautiful and simple cake, that I thought, I definitely have to share the recipe with you guys here. It is so easy to whip up, and no baking required. The only thing is that you have to prepare the nuts a day in advance by soaking them overnight and chill in the freezer for a few hours before you ice.

If you want to give the recipe a try, HERE it is! The only thing I did differently, was use white chocolate to make the ganache instead of dark.

signature-blog

You may also enjoy:

Fernie: Our little visit to the Rocky Mountains


Dear Fernie, Winter looks good on you. We drank your coffee, ate your bagels and soaked up your romantic Wonderland. It only took us about a nine-hour-drive to get from Regina, Saskatchewan to this sleepy, little town. Which felt pretty darn long when you’ve got a toddler and a baby in the back seat. We only had to stop about five times each way, change half a dozen nappies and whip out the boobs on the side of the road. The best part about our holiday might have been unplugging and not having any wifi while we were on the road or out and about, only in the condo that we rented. It was a long drive with us just being with each other. When we finally arrived, we stayed at the Silver Rock Condos and had such a positive, cozy experience. The rooms are self contained and include a fireplace and the biggest, comfiest beds, EVER. The complex has a big pool, outdoor hot tub, a steam room and a gym. Waking up to mountain views was definitely the best part.

In town, we snacked on bagels from the Big Bang Bagel, sipped on flat whites at The Valley Social and took Phoenix tobogganing on the dirt mounds just behind the Aquatic centre. We ate all the Japanese at Yamagoya Sushi and brunched at The Loaf. We spotted Moose in the valley and soaked in breathtaking views from the Alpine Ski Resort. I can only imagine how beautiful the hikes would be here in the summer.

Fernie, we will definitely be back!

signature-blog

3 Great Reasons to Collaborate

scandinavian-kids-room3-powerful-reasons-to-collaborate

One of my favourite parts about Instagram is the community of creative women and mothers it has connected me to. Social media certainly has impacted the social elements of our lives. Without a doubt, we aren’t as interactive in person as we used to be. Modern motherhood is isolating and Instagram has created an outlet for us all to connect and unite. One thing that really excites me about creating a personal brand online is collaboration. It is so fun, keeps you on your toes and connects you to amazing people and brands. Georgina from Lal & Nil and I stumbled upon each other through Instagram and quickly realized we love a lot of the same decor. We both saw this as a way to collaborate. She sells beautiful, organic kids quilts and we quickly realized that my art and her quilts would look pretty darn cute in the same space. We also saw this as an opportunity to run a giveaway for our followers together. These photos we took together in her son’s beautifully curated bedroom. Read on below for my three great reasons to collaborate.

It’s Fun.

It’s so cool when you can connect with likeminded peeps across the globe through visual content. You can make real friends here and come up with inspiring content together.

It grows your Audience.

Social sharing is really effective at getting your account in front of a wider audience. Tagging appropriately and being tagged on others’ pages does turn into genuine followers who are interested in seeing your work. Planning a giveaway together is a great way to gain new followers.

It gives you new, fresh content.

Sometimes running your own business feels like such a solo mission. It’s really important to work with other people who have a fresh set of eyes and a helpful opinion. It gives both brands/accounts new content to use and keeps you feeling inspired.

 

Speaking of collaborating, I’m always looking for new ways to collaborate. Feel free to get in touch if you think we could work together.

 

You may also enjoy:

Get the Look – Nautical Kids Bedroom

nautical-kids-bedroom

nautical-kids-bedroom

nautical-kids-bedroom

Get the Look – Nautical Kids Bedroom

Nicola from @momentswithus_ would describe her aesthetic as “Scandinavian, Crisp and Fresh”. We love her recent work, styling her son’s ocean-inspired, bedroom. Nicola says “three-year-old Talan is Whale obsessed. He lives near the beach and loves it!”

We are delighted that our ‘Under the Sea’ whales print was carefully selected to complete this seaside space. As you can see, Nicola loves supporting small business and specializes in product & lifestyle photography.

Find below a detailed list of where you can source all the beautiful brands featured in this space.

BigStuffed whale from @hellolittlebirdie

Bed spread from @adairskids

Whale print from us @phoenixandtheocean

Nautical wall decals @blond.noir

Hanging boat from @dapper_mr_bear

Floor beanbag from @and.the.rest

Personalised wooden name from @hexi_australia

Bunting from @talointeriors

Wooden clock from @clocksicle

Book shelf from @thetimbatrendandfolk

Rug from @myrtleandtwigg

Bed from @fortywinks

Wooden rainbow from @pretty.in.pine

Wooden moon from @agentvalentine.inc

Book from @bookieboobox

Happy Styling!

signature-blog

You may also enjoy:

The Healthiest Brownie Recipe you’ll ever Need.

the-best-healthy-browniethe-best-healthy-brownieThe Healthiest Brownie Recipe you’ll ever Need.

Breastfeeding and craving chocolate daily is the story of my life at the moment. This recipe has saved me from running to the shops to get chocolate all the time. Okay, don’t get me wrong.. I love a good block of Lindt, but this brownie is AMAZING. You’ll thank me later.

Okay, here is what you’ll need.

[Ingredients Brownie]

500g medjool dates

400g rolled oats

1 cup cacao powder

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup warm water

1 tbsp coconut oil

1 tsp vanilla

[Ingredients Icing]

1 cup cacao powder

1/2 cup coconut oil

3/4 cup rice malt syrup

[Recipe]

Blend oats to a fine powder and set aside.

Soak dates in 1 cup of warm water for 5 minutes.

Pour dates and water into processor. Add vanilla, coconut oil and cacao. Blend on medium-high until smooth.

Slowly add in oats and walnuts on medium speed until combined.

Spread and press into a lined baking dish.

Place icing ingredients into processor and blend on medium-high until smooth.

Ice the brownie and chill in the fridge before icing.

Store in the refrigerator.

*For a gluten free option, use almond meal instead of oats.

*For a high protein option, add 2-3 scoops of your favourite protein powder.

*For a tangy twist, add freeze dried strawberries or raspberries.

Enjoy.

signature-blog

toddler-learning-tower

toddler learning tower

Toddler Learning Tower from My Little Giggles.

You may also enjoy:

Where to next?