How is it that summer was in fact here the other day, and now I am in my hunters with a cup of tea, kinda freezin? A little blue in fact. So, in spite of this I find some inspiration in some of my favourite types of plants- succulents. Potting up some summer arrangements of these for clients this week which is always a pleasure. There is something so fascinating to me about "blue plants" as if nature is trying to bend the rules.
May 29, 2012
May 23, 2012
aloe's web gets a refresh
It has been a long time in the works. Years of saying "we really need to update" and then one day, we finally got our act together and did it. We are really happy to have a refreshed new look at Aloe. The major changes were the copy- thanks to miss andrea at heavy petal. And then some graphic elements in services, and finally a more refined and selective portfolio. Just in time for our busy season. Head on over to aloe designs. Let us know what you think. Easy to navigate? Too much white space? Give it to us. We want the goods! Here's a few screen shots.
May 15, 2012
edible wilds workshop
Aloe Designs is excited to host workshop #3- an edible wilds walk! Ian Lai at The Richmond Schoolyard Society will be teaching us about the wacky world of edible wild greens that grow all around us.
The deets:
Edible Wilds Workshop
June Sat 2nd 10:00am-12:00am
Aloe Studio-1443 E Pender st
$35.00 + hst adults/ $10.00 + hst kids
Join chef Ian Lai on a walk to discover edible wild foods that grow all around us and understand the philosophy behind foraging. Collect wild greens such as dandelion and nettle that will be incorporated into a communal light lunch. Participants will leave with a recipe and jar of ingredients for homemade wild bread. Class runs rain or shine so come prepared. Registration & payment is due 24 hours before workshop. Kids must be 5 & up. Limit of two children per adult. Workshop is held at the Terra Nova Rural Park Farm Centre with free parking in the area.
May 09, 2012
happy mama's day
A happy and rested mothers day to all you ladies out there. It is craziness how much mama’s do in the day- for their kids, their careers, their partners, and themselves. And I’m ashamed to say, it has taken me 30+ years to realize how much my mom must have done (and still does) for me. The sacrifices, the worries, the joys, the tears and all those moments in between.There really are places in the heart you don't know exist until you love a child.
To all those moms that I follow in the blogosphere, I feel like I know you even though we have never met. I so enjoy your weekly posts, thoughts and advice on all this crazy stuff, they call being a parent. And a little tribute to all those special moms in my life. You have not only been angels to your kiddies, but have helped this “new mom” in more ways than words can express. I honor you all.
Nikki & Amelia & Grace
You are the It mom. Your unconditional patience and overwhelming dedication to your girls is something I look up to on a daily basis. Without you I could not have made it through the rollercoaster thus far. May we never be more far than a few blocks from one another. As a mom you inspire me to be better.
Sarah & Maia & Fraser
How you manage to still smile, laugh and make every single kid related thing so carefree and fun, is beyond me. Your positivity on life, even off 2 hours sleep is always a breath of fresh air. I love that your door is always open and you are game for the park at a moments notice. Thank you for always making us smile.
Regina & Xavi & Sachi
You are hands down the most organized, and best chef-mom out there. Not too mention the 100% devotion to your sweet boys. You wrestle and play rough with the best of them and are always up for anything. I love this about you. When I am in you’re presences I feel taken care of in the best and coziest, most loving way.
Chloe & Avi
You and Avi, although we don’t all play often, have such a special bond. I can see this. He is curious, expressive and creative just like his mama. Like me, you carve out adult time, because you need it, and it makes you that much more present when you have him around. I love how real you are.
Steph & Francesca
Has anyone told you how good you are at all that you do? You make the day- to- day tasks of home life seem effortless. And somehow find time to sew insane outfits for your babe. I have no doubt that work life & home life will be an easy transition for you. I love that our “discover the city play dates” are more fashioned around culture than diapers!
Donniane & Ellie & Jude
Did I mention that without you in those first 3 months of Lucie’s life we would have been a serious mess. You are amazing at what you do. And while you find the work/life balance a challenge, you fail to see how extremely good you are at both of them. I wish you lived closer dear cousin, but cherish our quarterly visits.
Michelle & Liam
I am certain in our 30+ years together, I have never seen you so happy since your little man came into this world. You are so calm, so collected, so intuitive and so nurturing. He is an extension of you. I had no doubt that you would make an amazing mom, but am delighted at how present and content you are with everything around you.
Rach & Cohen
You are the most courageous women I know. Hands down. Your little man is everything that is good in life. One of the sweetest little guys out there. He loves you so much- a bond that not everyone gets with their kids. And although you may doubt this ‘attachment’ it is more special than we may know. Soak it up.
May 05, 2012
happy weekend...sort of
Its been raining all week. I'm feeling uninspired. My iphoto/blog is in need of some major organizing over hours in a coffee shop with many warm cups of london fogs. Our little Lucie is on #7 of cold/flu's for the season, this time- hand foot and mouth. Yes, it's as bad as it sounds. Poor lil lady. And now... I have the flu. But these pink magnolia blooms made me happy.
And so did these folks!
April 19, 2012
home grown hero- the gardener
A writer/blogger chats with us about becoming a garden writer on a national level and the importance of growing local food in our own backyards.
Who: Andrea Bellamy
Where: Vancouver, BC
What: Garden Writer/Blogger
Believes: That everyone can grow their own, and should. That homegrown tastes better. That kids need to get their hands dirty. That change is good.
Q: Heavy Petal was one of my first intro's into the blogosphere; how did you find blogging helps shape you as a garden writer?
A: The most obvious way would be by getting the attention of a publisher. Timber Press discovered me through my blog, which lead to a book deal and the publishing of my book, Sugar Snaps and Strawberries. But aside from that, writing regularly about gardening made me more fluent in the language of horticulture and honed my research skills. Questions from readers also helped with that. Writing Heavy Petal also put me in contact with gardeners around the world, and I've made some fabulous friendships along the way.
Q: Your book, Sugar Snaps and Strawberries, has been a huge success; how on earth did you find time between your day job and having your first child to take on such a feat?
A: I was literally a week overdue with Lila when I got the email from Timber Press that would change my life (you know, the one that asked, "Have you ever thought about writing a book?"). I spent my maternity leave creating the proposal, which for me was at least half the battle. Then figuring out how the book would be structured, who the target audience was... all that stuff. The actual writing was completed in under six months. Let's just say I spent a lot of weekends and evenings at the computer. And I had a ton of help from family and friends in the form of babysitting, advice, and stiff drinks.
Q: A magazine that you would be honored to write for would be...?
A: Sunset. Oh, and Edible Vancouver.
Q: You give a lot of talks around North America. What's the wackiest question you have been asked?
A: In Eugene, Oregon, the first question from the audience was, "Your accent is so cute. Where are you from?"
Q: What is your favourite veg to grow and eat?
A: Probably tomatoes, just because homegrown tomatoes taste SO much better than store bought. And because you can grow so many unusual varieties. I also love to grow lettuce (again, because it tastes so much better, and that way you always have salad on hand. Oh, and potatoes and garlic, because they're so low-effort to grow.
Q: Best guerrilla gardening heist you have heard of?
A: I heard about a guerrilla gardener in Portland, Oregon who decided to modify her local Mercedes dealership’s “landscaping". They had a Mercedes logo created out of a boxwood hedge, and the guerrilla gardener added another couple strategically placed shrubs to transform the Mercedes logo into a peace sign.
Q: Gardening buzzwords you hate?
A: Hmmm."Oasis" is dreadfully overused.
Q: A gardening trend we will never see you partake in?
A: Outdoor kitchens. TVs outdoors. Those creepy child-sized dolls that lean up against a house like they're playing hide-and-seek.
Q: Favourite eco friendly technique in the garden?
A: Composting, and then mulching with compost (which gives veggies such a boost). And just growing organically in general.
Q: Proudest moment in the garden?
I can think of two. First, when the main installation of my back patio was complete and my on-paper design actually looked good. Second, during the harvest of my guerrilla wheat field (grown as part of the Lawns to Loaves project).
April 13, 2012
mason bee house workshop
Aloe Designs is excited to host workshop #2- a DIY mason bee house lesson. Ian Lai at The Richmond Schoolyard Society will be teaching us about these insanely productive creatures and the rest of aloe will be on hand to help you and your little ones build a bee house.
The deets:
Mason Bee House Workshop
April Sun 29th 10:00am-11:00am
Aloe Studio-1443 E Pender st
$35.00 + hst adults/ $10.00 + hst kids
Build your very own mason bee house and learn how to care for your bees. Mason bees are hard working pollinators. They increase the biodiversity of your garden. Attend our Mason Bee Workshop to explore the life cycle of these seasonal “pets” and learn how to care for them and their home. Participants will assemble their very own mason bee house constructed from reclaimed wood. Limit of two children per adult. Workshop is held at the Aloe Studio with free parking out front.
April 07, 2012
happy easter
We have had such a nice weekend so far. And there is still another day to go! The sun has definitely helped. We celebrated this morning with an easter egg hunt and yummy potluck breakfast at our friend's house (or as we like to call ' the english estate'). It was the perfect morning for all of us. Kids got hyped on the hunt & chocolates and grown ups got hyped on mimosas and oyama sausage. Tomorrow we head to our parents for a yummy easter sunday dinner. There is something so rejuvenating about easter to me. A sign that spring is indeed here, and summer isn't that far away. Happy hopping!
art time before breaky.
sunny blooms.
my too little bunny's.
Our insanely yummy meal, care of chef jimmy & reg.
a little gift from the easter bunny.
artistic eggs. step over martha.
the hunt begins.
aha. i got one.
sharing eggs.
the proud bunch of egg hunters.
hey, where are all the chocolates gone.
April 02, 2012
memory box
Before Lucie was born I wanted to make something that would allow us to easily jot down her day to day changes. I came across this memory box idea on a blog a while back and decided to make one of our own.
I picked up a small bamboo box and some index cards at a local dollar store. I then assembled 12 title pages with a stamped month mark and cute image. I left the cards blank as we don't write in it every day. And then one year ends a new one can begin. We tie up the past years index cards with a pretty ribbon and store them in a nice box as a keep sake for Lucie to look at when she is older.
We keep it on the kitchen island so it is at close reach and a reminder to jot down these special moments and milestones- walking (almost), first night away from parents, said the funniest thing, lots of cuddles today etc.
We were also given this beautiful babybook as well. Every so often I take an hour in the afternoon to write more elaborately about Lucie's growth in the babybook. The days are long but the years are short.
March 26, 2012
guerrilla gardening & seed bomb making workshop
A big thanks to all of you who came out on a sunny morning this weekend to partake in the first of aloes workshop series. Andrea Bellamy from Heavy Petal gave a fantastic chat and demo on seed bomb making and guerrilla gardening techniques. The kids and adults seemed so stoked to get out and blast the city with some colorful flowers and edibles.
For those who couldn't make it to the event but want to make some seed bombs at home here's the goods:
2.5 cups dry powdered clay- Redart clay, which you can find at pottery supply stores.
1.5 cups dry organic compost or soil- Screen/ pick out sticks & other larger bits. The finer the better. The compost provides a growing medium for your seeds.
1.5 cups of seeds. Choose your seeds based on the season, location, and desired effect. Tinier seeds are better.
Step 1: Combine clay, compost, and seeds.
Step 2: Slowly add water, and combine.
Step 3: You want the mixture to be moist. Roll mixture into balls 1"-2" in diameter.
Step 4: Set aside to dry (use cookie sheets) for 4-5 days before storing.
Step 5: Launch! Seed balls are great for reclaiming derelict areas with thin or poor soil, making them ideal tools for guerrilla gardening. Especially useful for tossing into empty or neglected lots. Best thrown
just before a rainy spell to ensure germination. Early Spring. Get Throwin!
March 07, 2012
aloe's workshops
We are proud to announce that Aloe Designs is going to be hosting garden related workshops this year. In partnership with Ian Lai at The Richmond Schoolyard Society, Aloe will be hosting 9 workshops in total.
Aloe's 1st workshop will be:
Guerrilla Gardening & Seed Bomb Making Workshop
March Sun 25th 10:00am-11:00am
Aloe Studio-1443 E Pender st
$35.00 + hst
Guerrilla gardening is a playful term used to describe the illicit greening of barren or neglected places. Join Andrea Bellamy, a local garden writer/blogger, and get your hands dirty creating seed bombs. You’ll learn all the ins and outs of this good-natured technique, leaving with a seed bomb and signed copy of Andrea's latest book Sugar Snaps & Strawberries. Children under 12 are free, limit of two children per adult. Bring an apron and prepare to get messy! The workshop is held at the Aloe studio with lots of free parking out front.
Upcoming workshops:
Mason Bee Workshop- April 29th
Edible Containers Workshop- May 5th
Edible Wilds Workshop- June 2nd
Composting 101 Workshop- July 7th
More to Follow
March 05, 2012
tagged
Thank you to Rosa, over at Flutter Flutter for tagging me in a game of blog tag! As part of this game I’ve been asked to answer 10 questions for my readers to gain a bit more insight in the land of nesting. here it goes:
Are you a coffee or tea drinker?
Tea Please. The day doesn't get started until my first cup is done. My favorite these days is Davids Tea- Buttered Rum.
What is your favorite room in your home?
Our nursery. We had so much fun designing it before our bebe was born. I love the playful soft quality to it. The memories of hunting for the goods, decorating the walls and dreaming about who this little creature was inside. And now the time we gather in here at night to play and share stories about our day.
What is your favourite quote?
The days are long but the years are short.- From the book: The Happiness Project
Who is the person you admire the most?
Its going to sound cliche, but my daughter Lucie. Even though she is only a year and a half old I can already see her strength and amazing disposition. She has the most incredible ability to make the best of any situation. Her positivity and resilience is insightful and empowering.
Where is your favorite place to go on holidays?
California. Having lots of family and friends down south we holiday here every year. It is so nice and close with so many great cities and small towns. And you can't beat the climate. Now only if they had that health care sitch worked out a bit better- I'd set up camp permanently.
What is your favorite food?
Currently loving steamed broccoli and cinnamon buns. Not together and not in any particular order.
What is your favorite pastime?
These days- SLEEP.
How do you recharge and energize yourself?
A bath, yoga, a nap, an episode of Parenthood or a weekend getaway with my man to napa's spa solage.
Do you prefer dogs or cats?
Cats. Love the furry cuddles and purrs.
Who is someone you’d like to meet?
Barak Obama.
I’m tagging the following lovely bloggers. Now its your turn to answer the above ten questions!
February 28, 2012
a scary day
Today I am dedicating a post to our lil Lucie.
We had the scariest day of our lives yesterday morning. Luce attempted to swallow 2 fridge plastic magnets at 7:00am while we were all making breakfast. We held her choking in our arms fighting for her breath, while 911 took what-felt-like-hours to get to our house, then rushed in ambulance to hospital. They were able to slap her back at home and get it out but we weren't sure if there was another one lodged in there. After an x-ray and 4 long hours in er, we got to go home. She was such a fighter and has such an amazing "make the best out of the situation attitude" (gets this from her dad for sure). Kinda inspiring really. It was a life flash before your eyes scene that I am still haunted by and can't quite seem to shake or transition into the normality's of the day to day.
Makin another life and taking care of someone so little and helpless is the craziest stuff out there. Never ever hope to experience that type of thing again. Between this, rotating sicknesses and 4 visits to the er since the new year, we are ready for the wave of calm.
My friends say that ongoing illness with wee ones is par for the course for Winter, but I am starting to doubt my intuitive "good mama-ness". Life is so precious. So O and I find ourselves embracing the little moments, slowing down and soaking up her sweet goodness.
February 20, 2012
santa monica
As mentioned a few posts ago, we were just down in so cal for a quick visit. So I thought I'd share some fun picts that were taken on a walk to the beach in sanata monica. A little brightness and inspiration on this glumey monday.Is anyone else in love with the color yellow right now?
February 14, 2012
love transforms
Woke up grumpy...(Its grey and wet out. I'm beyond tired. Miss Lucie has yet another cold. Mr O seems to be in an eternal fog. We are somewhat broke. It is 10:00am and all I want is a bath, and maybe some red wine. Did I mention that it is 10:00 am!)
I know, wrong day of days to be grumpy.
Especially when I have so much to love.
So I remind myself with this below.
Spring is indeed around the corner.
My parents are so unconditionally proud and supportive with everything that i do.
My little bits- a button and a hunk
Happy Valentines Day to all you lovely people. Take comfort and indulge.
hello
Nesting is a blog about all things home and garden. It's my place for sharing tips - and exploring the beauty of well crafted design. It is really about inspiring you to love your home as much as we do ours!
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contact
- info [at] aloedesigns [dot] com
