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# Life at Cloverhill

Farmhouse Living, Gardening, Recipes, Crafts, and Renovations

## Sitemaps

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## Posts

- [Attending the Chelsea Flower Show 2026: Our Dream Trip from a Canadian Flower Farm](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2026/04/attending-the-chelsea-flower-show-2026-our-dream-trip-from-a-canadian-flower-farm.html) - We’re attending Chelsea Flower Show 2026 from our Canadian flower farm. Follow along as we plan, prepare, and share what to expect
- [Easter Basket Ideas for Kids: A Simple, Practical Formula](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2026/03/easter-basket-ideas-for-kids-a-simple-practical-formula.html) - Simple, practical Easter basket ideas for kids. A mom of 4 shares what to include (without overdoing the candy) plus easy, reusable tips.
- [Leftover Cheese Fondue Broccoli-Cauliflower Bake](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/03/leftover-cheese-fondue-broccoli.html) - On Valentine’s Day, Garrett and I made a Classic Cheese Fondue and happily dipped broccoli, crusty bread, and apples until we were more than full. The fondue was delicious—but even after dinner, there was still over half a pot of cheese left. So what’s a girl to do? Make a Leftover Cheese Fondue Broccoli-Cauliflower Bake,
- [The Best Classic Cheese Fondue Recipe](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/02/cheese-fondue.html) - Looking for an easy Cheese Fondue recipe? This cozy classic comes together quickly and is perfect for date night, dinner parties or winter entertaining.
- [Christmas Morning Survival Kit for a Stress-Free, Joy-Filled Holiday](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/12/christmas-morning-morning-survival-kit.html) - Avoid Christmas morning chaos with this easy Christmas Morning Survival Kit. Here’s exactly what to keep on hand for a smooth, stress-free holiday.
- [Easy Homemade Peppermint Bark - A Family Christmas Tradition](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/mon-28-peppermint-bark.html) - An easy peppermint bark recipe our family makes every Christmas. This no-bake holiday treat is easy, festive, and perfect for gifting.
- [Holly Jolly Times with Family](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/12/holly-jolly-times-family.html) - It's been feeling a little bittersweet now that Christmas is done. On one hand I am happy to be slowly getting everything put away and falling back into routine, but on the other - I'm missing all the music, family time and that magical feeling. I'm having a hard time putting away all the twinkle
- [Our Kitchen Remodel Story: A Renovation, A New Baby, and the Final Reveal](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2025/12/our-kitchen-remodel-story-a-renovation-a-new-baby-and-the-final-reveal.html) - See how we transformed our century home kitchen with custom cabinetry, quartz countertops, a deep peninsula, pantry wall, and cozy dining room bar.
- [How to Upcycle a Wooden Dollhouse into a Custom Christmas Gift](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2025/11/how-to-upcycle-a-wooden-dollhouse-into-a-custom-christmas-gift.html) - Transform a secondhand wooden dollhouse into a personalized Christmas gift with paint, wallpaper, and mini details inspired by your own home!
- [Cranberry Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/11/cranberry-apple-cinnamon-baked-oatmeal.html) - When I woke up on Sunday morning it was 1°C (33°F). Brrrr! I don't do well with cold mornings, so I knew that I needed a nice, hot breakfast to warm me up. My sister was up for the weekend and she is always saying she misses out on the blog recipes, so I pulled
- [Kitchen Renovation Update: Custom Cabinets and Range Hood](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2025/11/kitchen-renovation-update-custom-cabinets-and-range-hood.html) - It’s been a while since I last shared anything about our 1903 farmhouse kitchen renovation — and for good reason. Somewhere between countertop samples, cabinet hardware decisions, and a very dusty house…we welcomed baby number four! He’s five months old now, and I’m finally coming up for air long enough to start catching up on
- [How to Make a Rumi Costume from KPop Demon Hunters (DIY Tutorial)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2025/10/diy-rumi-costume-kpop-demon-hunters-tutorial.html) - Make your own Rumi costume from KPop Demon Hunters! DIY tutorial to create Rumi’s yellow jacket, purple braid, and accessories — perfect for Halloween.
- [DIY Mira Costume from KPop Demon Hunters: “How It’s Done” Outfit Tutorial](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2025/10/diy-mira-costume-kpop-demon-hunters-tutorial.html) - Create your own Mira costume from KPop Demon Hunters! Step-by-step tutorial to make Mira’s cropped T-shirt, sew her yellow skirt, style her pink hair, and add the perfect K-pop accessories
- [Classic Macaroni and Cheese](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/04/moms-infamous-macaroni-and-cheese.html) - As long as I can remember, my mother has been making this Classic Macaroni and Cheese recipe. It is so infamous (and yes, that is the right word because it is devilishly good) amongst family and friends that she is often asked to bring it to events. Just last summer we were at a big
- [Visiting Erin & Ben Napier's 1925 Craftsman in Laurel, Mississippi](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/10/visiting-erin-ben-napier-1925-craftsman-laurel-mississippi.html) - Earlier this Spring, when I was sharing the photos from our Honeymoon Road Trip, I posted about this great town we stopped in to see - Laurel, Mississippi. Since then my inbox has been filled with comments and emails from people all over the US who either have a connection to Laurel or just love
- [Our Renovation Plans for an English Country Inspired Kitchen](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2025/05/our-renovation-plans-for-an-english-country-inspired-kitchen.html) - Our 1903 farmhouse is getting a new kitchen to fit the heritage of the home. It's a dream I've been working on for several years and I'm excited to finally be seeing all the pieces come together. I recently shared the Kitchen Before Pictures of what had been in place for most of the last
- [Making Progress on our Kitchen Renovation](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2025/05/making-progress-on-our-kitchen-renovation.html) - After months of making so many decisions on the new kitchen design for our 1903 farmhouse, it has been exciting to see it all come together over the last month. I've made trips all over to various vendors for everything from appliances and cabinets to countertops and hardware. Last week, I shared a post on
- [Our Kitchen Remodel Before Pictures](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2025/04/our-kitchen-remodel-before-pictures.html) - After years of dreaming and planning, we are FINALLY ready to renovate the kitchen in our 1903 farmhouse. Before we get into the plans and progress, I'm sharing the before pictures of our current kitchen. When we moved into Cloverhill Farmhouse almost ten years ago, it came with a half-finished white shaker kitchen. I'm glad
- [A Surprise for 2025](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2024/12/a-surprise-for-2025.html) - I'm overjoyed to announce that we're expecting BABY #4!! We're about halfway there - 19 weeks now! I'm due mid-May 2025 but with this being the fourth who knows when he'll be here. Garrett and I have always wanted a big family. After we had our third, we both still had this feeling that we
- [Saying Goodbye to our sweet little dog Whiskey](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2025/03/saying-goodbye-to-our-sweet-little-dog-whiskey.html) - It's with an incredibly heavy heart that I share the passing of our dog Whiskey. We are all heartbroken that our pup is gone but so thankful that we had over 15 years with him. He passed away this winter and every time I've tried to write this, I've been a wreck. He will always
- [Loving Our Farmhouse Kitchen](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/06/loving-farmhouse-kitchen.html) - When we moved into the farmhouse, one of the things I was most excited about was having a new bright white kitchen. I know I’ve talked about my love of white kitchens before and you better believe this is one of the things I was most excited about when we bought the house. It’s the
- [Nutella Brownies - the ultimate decadent, fudgy treat!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2025/01/fudgy-nutella-brownies.html) - Deliciously decadent and super fudgy, these Nutella brownies have become a fast favourite in our home. They have a lovely crackled top with swirls of creamy Nutella, chewy edges and a soft fudgy chocolate centre. This one bowl recipe can be done with a stand mixer or hand mixer. You only need 8 ingredients to
- [A Family Friendly Farmhouse Christmas Tree](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/12/family-friendly-farmhouse-christmas-tree-canadian-tire.html) - Disclaimer - This post was generously sponsored by Canadian Tire. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Now that Lucy is a very curious and lively toddler, I knew that I'd need to approach our Christmas decorations a little bit differently this year. Last year we had our tree set up with many of our favourite
- [Peaches and Cream Baked Oatmeal](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/08/peaches-and-cream-baked-oatmeal.html) - Baked Oatmeal is one of my all-time favourite easy breakfast treats., It's a one dish meal that is quick enough to make for a weekday meal yet nice enough to serve at a weekend brunch. I've made many different flavour combinations including Summer Berry Baked Oatmeal and Apple Cranberry Baked Oatmeal. It usually depends on
- [Our Realistic Tree from King of Christmas](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2024/10/our-realistic-tree-from-king-of-christmas.html) - Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by King of Christmas. All thoughts and opinions are my own. With just a couple months until the holiday season starts, I've begun to think about things I can do now to give us more time to enjoy the holidays together. One of those things was finding a replacement for
- [Autumn at the Farmhouse (with a vintage truck!)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2020/10/autumn-at-the-farmhouse-2020-with-a-vintage-truck.html) - There hasn't been much time lately for decorating the farmhouse, but when our friend Kim Balson Photography asked if she could park a 1955 Chevy Pickup Truck on our front lawn for some photoshoots, I couldn't resist heading into town for pumpkins and mums and cutting down some cornstalks from the garden. Kim took some
- [Salem, Massachusetts - A "Hocus Pocus" Self Guided Walking Tour](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/10/salem-massachusetts-20th-anniversary-hocus-pocus-tour.html) - Update: This is a self-guided walking tour that I put together after our trip to Salem in October 2013, which just happened to be the 20th anniversary of Hocus Pocus. You can read more about our trip The Witch City and Historical Town. We are not running a tour (although I would love to spend all
- [Fall Bookcase Mantel](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/09/fall-bookcase-mantel-2013-happy-harvest.html) - Last night, I dug out all the fall decor bins and got busy making the apartment all festive for fall. It's one of my favourite things to do during this time of year. I went with a harvest theme - apples, wheat, a ceramic pumpkin and yummy lightly scented candles. I loaded up some
- [Fall Home Decor in our Tiny Apartment](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/09/fall-home-decor-2014.html) - I love the lighter grey and white fall decor trend that I've seen online the past couple of years, but for me and my home, I always want some rustic fall colours. Bring on the bright oranges, muted greens, natural wood textures and lots of flowers. We've been doing some rearranging of the living room,
- [A Family Trip to Lake George in New York's Adirondacks](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2024/06/a-family-trip-to-lake-george-in-new-yorks-adirondacks.html) - We just got back from a last minute road trip to Lake George in the Adirondacks in New York and it was such a great place to visit with kids. I saw a five day window in our schedule and jumped at the chance to get away as a family before the busy summer schedule
- [Raising Chicks: How to Setup a Brooder](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2024/04/raising-chicks-how-to-setup-a-brooder.html) - Learn how to create a safe and warm brooder space for your baby chicks, until they're ready to go into a chicken coop!
- [8 Ways You Can Help Bees and Other Pollinators in your Community](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/08/ways-to-help-bees-pollinators-community.html) - A couple of years ago, when we were making our Honey Jar Wedding Favours, I started to learn more about bees. What began as a quest to create unique gifts for our guests turned into a passion for helping our endangered pollinators. Over the last decade, beekeepers around the world have been reporting serious hive
- [How I Unexpectedly Became a Flower Farmer](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/07/how-i-unexpectedly-became-a-flower-farmer.html) - A little while ago, I put a call out on Instagram Stories for any questions out there about our Cloverhill Flowers business. The most commonly asked question was how did we end up doing this in the first place. I realized I probably haven't really shared the story for those who haven't been following along
- [5 Easy Flowers Kids Can Grow](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2020/03/5-easy-flowers-kids-can-grow.html) - When I started Cloverhill Flowers with my mother back in 2016, I never expected that one of the greatest joys of this endeavour would be getting to watch my children grow up in the flower field. Our first flowers were planted in the weeks leading up to Lucy's birth and since then we've spent every
- [Edible Flowers: Decorating Cakes & Cupcakes](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2020/05/edible-flowers-decorating-cakes-cupcakes.html) - My favourite way to decorate a cake is with fresh berries and edible flowers. It lends such a beautiful, feminine touch to a simple cake and there couldn't be an easier way to decorate either. I'm a big fan of using edible flowers in cooking and presentation, such as How to Make a Charcuterie Board
- [The Best Way to Store & Organize Garden Seeds](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2023/02/the-best-way-to-store-organize-garden-seeds.html) - This simple and inexpensive photo case method makes storing garden seeds easy. Sort your seeds by type and keep them organized for when you need to plant them!
- [Keeping Backyard Chickens Warm in the Winter](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/03/keeping-backyard-chickens-warm-in-the-winter.html) - A common question I've been getting lately is "how are the chickens doing in the winter?". Considering that this is still our first year with chickens (2016), it's been a bit of a learning curve, but thankfully we've been able to keep all five chickens alive and well. We did have a mishap earlier in
- [January Declutter Detox: 31 Days to Less Stuff & Less Stress in Your Home](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/12/january-decluttering-detox-31-days-to-less-stuff-less-stress-in-your-home.html) - Ready to start the New Year with a cleaner, more organized home? Join me for a 31 Day January Decluttering Detox. First off, I want to say that I have always struggled with clutter in our house. I find it hard to part with things that might be useful or have meaning and I can freeze
- [Jalapeno Popper Pinwheels - An Easy Holiday Appetizer](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/11/jalapeno-popper-pinwheels-easy-holiday-appetizer.html) - I'm officially in the holiday spirit. After Saturday's snowstorm at our town's Santa Claus parade, I couldn't help but feel Christmasy. When we got back home, we put on the Christmas music, made some Perfectly Popped Stovetop Popcorn and cuddled up to watch a movie (with Whiskey snuggled in between Garrett and I, of course).
- [Holiday Sangria - An Easy Christmas Cocktail](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/12/holiday-sangria-christmas-cocktail.html) - We had a little Christmas party at the farmhouse last weekend for some family and friends, to celebrate the season. I used a few recipes from my Holiday Guide, along with a few new ones, including this festive and colourful Holiday Sangria. Loaded with red wine, fresh fruit, juice and a little spice, this Holiday
- [A Gardener's Gift Guide](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2023/12/gardeners-gift-guide.html) - A gift guide with practical, useful and inspiring gifts for the avid gardener on your list. When you love gardening, it is something you truly think about year round - not just when it is sunny and warm! As a flower farmer (almost 8 years now!) and a micro homesteader at our old farmhouse, I
- [15+ DIY Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2023/12/15-diy-handmade-christmas-gift-ideas.html) - Are you looking for fun DIY Christmas gifts for people on your list this year? I have put together a list of some of my favourite ideas for a range of skill levels. Whether it's friends, family or co-workers, there is a gift on this list for everyone. Every year, I like to make a
- [Yoga Bag Tutorial](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/09/yoga-bag-tutorial.html) - As I mentioned last week, my little sister has headed off to law school and I wanted to send a little something with her. She loves yoga, but has always had to tie up her yoga mat with a ribbon and carry it in her hands. I'm always up for a fun craft and making
- [A Quiet Christmas in the Country {Holiday Home Tour 2021}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2021/12/a-quiet-christmas-in-the-country-holiday-home-tour.html) - Decorating our 1903 farmhouse for Christmas is one of my favourite traditions. I love being able to look back on our Holiday Home Tours from previous years. With two excited little girls and a three-month-old in our house this Christmas, there has not been much time for getting creative with the decorations. I’ve put the
- [Getting to Know Our Farmhouse Gardens](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/07/our-farmhouse-gardens.html) - When we first laid our eyes on the farmhouse back in March, I had these ideas of making big gardens, a vegetable patch and a few planters...and just filling the whole place with all the lofty garden dreams from my Pinterest boards. Looking back, I'm sure it was just first homeowners excitement with a touch
- [Making it Feel Like Home with the Minted Art Marketplace](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/06/feel-like-home-with-minted-art-marketplace.html) - We've officially lived in our house for five weeks now and we're still working on getting settled into each room. For the most part we have all the furniture where it should be but it still felt like it was missing something and then it dawned on me - we have nothing on the walls!
- [Our First Father's Day at the Farmhouse {and a recipe fail}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/06/fathers-day-farmhouse.html) - When we first talked about buying the farmhouse, I was a little worried about how much work we would be taking on. I was scared we'd mess it up or it would cost a fortune to turn it into a home, but through it all my dad has been there cheering Garrett and I on.
- [Friday Favourites - House Love, Playing Hooky and What's In a Name](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/06/fridayfavourites-jun5.html) - Happy Friday! I'm writing today's post from the comfort of our front porch! I think I've found my new favourite spot to blog! / / /House Love: Garrett and I are totally in love with our house. I knew we were going to be pretty happy moving from the apartment to a larger space, but
- [The Big Three-Oh (and my birthday surprise)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/05/big-three-oh.html) - This weekend was really one for the books. Not only did we move into our first house, but it was also my 30th birthday! We spent Friday and Saturday moving everything in, and then my mom and sister hosted a big family birthday party on Sunday at the farmhouse. The great thing about having a
- [Friday Favourites - Long Weekend, Garage Sales & Moving Day](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/05/may22.html) - Happy Friday! Last night we picked up the keys to the farmhouse and got to working cleaning it from top to bottom. With all the rooms empty, it was a good time to give everything a deep clean before we start loading it up. Today we're starting to move and we'll continue tomorrow when friends
- [One More Day Until Country Life](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/05/one-day-country-life.html) - Pinch me. I still can't believe it's true. Tomorrow we're going to be homeowners of an old country home. For real. We're moving back to the area I grew up in and word has gotten around town that we bought this old farmhouse. The first thing that everyone asks is if we're getting rid of
- [The Waiting Game](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/04/waiting-game.html) - In the past I've always moved with just 2-4 weeks notice. It's been rushed and full of last minute packing. I thought that this whole 60 days thing would be great because it would give us lots of time to prepare for the move. I didn't factor in one thing - waiting is really really
- [Fall Cleaning Checklist](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/10/fall-cleaning-checklist.html) - Over the weekend Garrett was a total sweetheart and surprised me by cleaning all our baseboard heaters in the apartment while I was still up at my parents' for Thanksgiving weekend. It was so nice to come home to a cozy apartment on Sunday night. It got me thinking about all the seasonal chores we
- [Wax Paper Fish Bowl Kids Craft {Video}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/03/wax-paper-fish-bowl-kids-craft.html) - Wax Paper Fish Bowl Kids Craft is a great activity for kids of all ages and skill levels, using things you most likely already have on hand. On a particularly long cold and dreary week this winter, I was trying to think of a fun craft to do with my toddler when my mom suggested
- [10 Tips for an Organized Move (with Free Printables)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/06/tips-organized-move-free-printables.html) - Back when I worked in Toronto there was a four year span where I moved myself, my boss or our office no less than EIGHT times. Seriously. By the end of it I'd found ways to make moving much easier and reduce the inevitable stress that comes with it. The move from our little apartment
- [Farm Fresh Eggs Carton Tag Template [FREE PRINTABLE]](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/06/farmhouse-farm-fresh-eggs-carton-tag-template-free-printable.html) - The other night, we were heading out to my aunt and uncle's cottage for dinner, and I realized that all the goodies I was taking them sure looked like I'd turned into a bonafide country gal now - a fresh bouquet from Cloverhill Flowers, a pie plate full of homemade chocolate chip cookies and a half
- [FREE Mothers Day Card for COVID-19 {Printable & eCard Versions)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2020/04/free-mothers-day-card-for-covid-19-printable-ecard-versions.html) - With COVID-19, we're missing the chance to be with our moms this year to celebrate Mother's Day. Instead of our usual family dinner and presents, we're dropping off gifts on their porches along with a handmade card. Not the same, but we wanted to make sure our moms feel loved and appreciated, especially when we're
- [Scandinavian Paper Hearts - Valentine's Day Treat Bags](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2023/02/scandinavian-paper-hearts-valentines-day-treat-bags.html) - These adorable paper heart baskets are a simple craft that make the perfect Valentine's Day treat bags Traditionally these "julehjerter" are made in Scandinavian countries to hang on Christmas trees as ornaments, but they are great all year long as a sweet basket weave treat bag. For Valentine's Day, I'm filling these up with little
- [Gingerbread Man Christmas Ornaments](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/12/gingerbread-men-ornaments.html) - While brainstorming for a fun ornament to make this year, I thought back to what my grandparents and great grandparents would have done during tough times, like many people are facing these days. I decided to only use things that I already had and pulled out my box of miscellaneous craft supplies. Within the slew
- [Woodland Christmas Gift Tags with Canon PIXMA Printer {FREE PRINTABLE}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/12/woodland-christmas-gift-tags-with-my-canon-pixma-printer-free-printable.html) - Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Canon Canada. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Wrapping presents is one of my favourite parts of gift giving during the holidays. I really enjoy taking the time to pick a fun paper, add lovely ribbon or bows and tie on a festive tag - making it extra
- [How to Make a Pantry & Freezer Inventory {Free Printable Lists}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2021/01/how-to-make-a-pantry-freezer-inventory-free-printable-lists.html) - Tired of rummaging through the freezer for something for dinner? Or running out of pantry staples because you forgot what you had on hand? Try my Pantry & Freezer Inventory Lists to get your food management under control, saving you time and money. Living out in the country where we get bad winter storms, we've
- [Hot Toddy Gift Basket with Cornishware Mugs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/12/hot-toddy-gift-basket-with-cornishware-mugs.html) - Looking for a fun and unique Christmas present to give this holiday season? Try making a Hot Toddy Gift Basket loaded with all the goodies for this classic winter cocktail, including stunning Cornishware mugs hand painted in the UK. Growing up, my mom had a small Cornishware pitcher and I loved the simple classic design.
- [Christmas Stovetop Simmer Mix - A Great Holiday Hostess Gift Idea!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/12/christmas-simmer-hostess-gift-idea.html) - It's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas! Christmas Stovetop Simmer Mix is a lovely way to make your home smell warm and inviting, especially during the holiday season. It also makes an easy inexpensive gift for friends, neighbors, teachers and co-workers. I printed the instructions directly onto the bag and dressed them up with
- [5 Ways to Make Your Home Cozy & Inviting](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2023/10/5-ways-to-make-your-home-cozy-inviting.html) - Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Comfort Works. All thoughts and opinions are my own. As we head into the cooler months of fall, winter, and the holiday season - many of us are spending more time inside. We start to make our homes more cozy and inviting for our families and visitors. Our life
- [Pumpkin Spice Playdough - Easy No-Cook Method](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2023/09/pumpkin-spice-playdough-easy-no-cook-method.html) - Easy No Cook Pumpkin Spice Playdough is a fun fall inspired sensory activity - and it smells fantastic too! It never ceases to amaze me how much kids LOVE playdough. It can provide hours of fun and lets their creativity come out. Making homemade Pumpkin Spice Playdough is super easy, especially when you use this
- [How to Dry Acorns for Fall Crafts](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/09/how-to-dry-acorns-for-fall-crafts.html) - I have always loved acorns in fall decorating. They look great scattered around centrepieces, nestled amongst candles and used as a vase filler. But I'm not a big of how much they cost in stores. The cheapest I found around here was about $3.50 for about 20 pieces, and the ones at Pottery Barn are about twice as much. Ouch! So
- [Homemade Applesauce](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/11/applesauce.html) - My grandfather gave us a gigantic bushel of apples this year, so I've been trying to make as many apple recipes as I can to use them up. Making your own applesauce is much easier than you would think. It freezes really well, you can control the taste and it's cheaper than store-bought. Ontario
- [Chocolate Zucchini Muffins](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/09/chocolate-zucchini-muffins.html) - With all the great summer produce that is still showing up at farmer's markets, there is plenty of zucchinis out there just looking to be made into something delicious. And what better than adding it to some chocolatey goodness! With the Toronto International Film Festival in full force right now, these muffins are perfect for
- [Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/09/double-chocolate-zucchini-bread.html) - Garrett's parents have a huge vegetable garden in their backyard and we always ended up bring some home when we visit them. Last year I was able to make Homemade Stevia Extract and Tomato Sauce with some of the goodies they gave us. This year they handed us two MASSIVE zucchinis and I just didn't
- [IKEA Couch Makeover with Comfort Works](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2023/08/ikea-couch-makeover-with-comfortworks.html) - Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Comfort Works. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I'm so excited to finally share how our Comfort Works custom slipcover transformed not just our couch, but our whole living room. A few weeks ago I shared on Instagram that I was going through fabric samples from Comfort Works
- [Summer Backyard Dinner with Locally Grown Food](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2023/08/summer-backyard-dinner-with-locally-grown-food.html) - Embrace the bounty of seasonal food and create a beautiful sunset Summer Backyard Dinner using locally grown food from the stops along the Town of Georgina's Field to Table Farm Tour.
- [Travelling with Kids to Niagara Falls Canada](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2023/03/travelling-with-kids-to-niagara-falls-canada.html) - Plan a trip to Niagara Falls, Canada - one of the natural wonders of the world! Tips onwhat to do and where to stay with kids in the Clifton Hill area.
- [Life Lately: Getting Ready for Christmas](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2022/12/life-lately-getting-ready-for-christmas.html) - How is Christmas already just a couple of days away?!? We just started our Christmas vacation today and the house is buzzing with excitement. It's been a long time since I have done one of these "life lately" style blog posts, but it seemed like a good chance to catch up. Capturing Memories: My friend
- [Pumpkin Pie from Scratch](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/11/pumpkin-pie-from-scratch.html) - As much as I love my Crustless Pumpkin Pie with Streusel, I know that there are some family members at our Thanksgiving table who prefer a traditional pumpkin pie - crust and all! For the pumpkin pie filling, my family has always used the recipe on the can of E.D. Smith Pure Pumpkin. It's the perfect balance
- [Everything You Need for a Glamping Getaway at Glen Oro Eco-Retreat](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2022/10/everything-you-need-for-glamping-getaway-bachelorette.html) - Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Glen Oro Eco-Retreat. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Earlier this summer my future sister-in-law and I planned a Glamping Bachelorette Getaway for my sister, Sam. We chose the beautiful Glen Oro Eco-Retreat in Hawkestone, Ontario as the location of our trip and it was the perfect setting
- [Apple Cheddar Soup](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/09/apple-cheddar-soup.html) - Last Saturday we were going to my in-laws for dinner and I was really struggling with what to bring. An appetizer? A side dish? Then I was talking to my mom about how cold the weather was and she mentioned how nice fall soups are - BINGO! That's what I would bring. The question was
- [Moist and Delicious Banana Bread](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/02/moist-delicious-banana-bread.html) - Yesterday I woke up to a car that was buried in snow, in a parking lot that wasn't shovelled, on a street that wasn't plowed. In other words, I wasn't going anywhere anytime soon - SNOW DAY!!! Working from home definitely has it's perks including wearing yoga pants all day, snuggling up with two cute
- [Classic Blueberry Muffins](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/08/moms-blueberry-muffins.html) - If there is one thing that I look forward to most in the Summer it is the incredible fresh produce that we get here in Ontario. Whether it is heirloom tomatoes, juicy peaches or rich green kale, we are lucky ducks when the warm weather arrives. But nothing beats fresh Ontario blueberries. Every year
- [Vintage Inspired Boy Nursery Mood Board](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2022/04/vintage-inspired-boy-nursery-mood-board-one-room-challenge-week-one.html) - It's been a few years since I participated in the One Room Challenge, but I've always found it to be a great motivation for tackling projects in our 1903 farmhouse in rural Ontario. I've been wanting to update our nursery and this is just the push that I needed! In September, we welcomed our third
- [Repainting the Nursery Dresser](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2022/04/repainting-the-nursery-dresser-one-room-challenge-week-two.html) - The first project for the Vintage Boy Nursery Update is repainting the dresser we already had in the nursery. To be fair...this dresser was actually repainted way back in August, about a month before our son was born. Then it sat in the corner of the nursery, hardly used, because our little guy spent all
- [A Secondhand Pine Bed for a Little Boy's Room](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2022/04/a-secondhand-pine-bed-for-a-little-boys-room-one-room-challenge-week-3.html) - Earlier this month, I shared the Vintage Inspired Boy Nursery Mood Board for our nursery refresh, along with Repainting the Nursery Dresser. This week we tackled sourcing a secondhand pine bed for mama to use now and for baby boy to use when he is older. With our second baby, I learned how handy it
- [Nursery Dresser Makeover](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/03/nursery-dresser-makeover.html) - When we first started planning out how we would turn the third bedroom (our storage room for the last 10 months) into a nursery for the baby, I knew I wanted a large dresser. Something that could hold a changing pad and a few bins on the top, while storing all the baby's clothes, diapers,
- [DIY Easter Egg Wreath to Welcome Spring {Video}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2022/04/diy-easter-egg-wreath-spring-flower-video.html) - Make a gorgeous DIY Spring Easter Egg Wreath in less than an hour, with just a few simple materials. It's the perfect way to upgrade your front door for Spring!
- [10 Fun & Easy Easter Crafts and Treats](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/03/10-fun-easy-easter-crafts-treats.html) - On Monday night, I stopped by for dinner with my parents. My mom surprised me with one of these cute little yellow pipe cleaner chicks and it reminded me that Easter is only 24 days away! Time to get decorating and brainstorm some fun treats to share with family and friends. I took a little
- [Robin's Egg Easter Decor](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/03/robins-egg-easter-decor.html) - Yesterday I posted about Growing Cat Grass for my Easter Centrepiece which I filled with sweet little Robin's Eggs and now I'm going to share how I made them. They're not only inexpensive to make, but they can also be used in a variety of Easter projects. I first got the idea for making these
- [Growing Cat Grass for an Easter Centrepiece](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/03/growing-cat-grass-for-easter.html) - Fresh grass and sweet little robin's eggs are lovely reminders that spring is here and there is new life growing outside. Goodbye ugly brown yards and sparse trees - hello foliage! I wanted these elements to be the focus of my Easter centerpiece this year and I found a way to make it for under
- [All Decorated for Easter](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/04/all-decorated-for-easter.html) - After a long and cold winter, I am loving how nice it is to warm up the house with all the soft pastel colours of Spring. A couple of weeks ago I made my little Easter Tree and it made such an improvement to my mood. Every time I see these little bunnies, I smile. I also smile when
- [How to Make an Easter Tree](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/04/how-to-make-easter-tree.html) - This fun and festive Easter Tree is an easy decoration to make with just a few things from the dollar store! Things are finally starting to feel a little like Spring around here, which means that its time to get some Easter decorations out! This year I decided to make a little Easter Tree to
- [Our Christmas in the Countryside {Holiday Front Porch Series}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/11/our-christmas-in-the-countryside-holiday-front-porch-series.html) - We got back from our mini vacation last week and I jumped right into decking the halls of Cloverhill Farmhouse for the holidays. This is our fifth Christmas out here in the country and I love how we really see the seasons changing. You may remember that in October, I teamed up with some lovely
- [Our Journey to Better Sleep: 100 Nights with the Endy Mattress](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2021/12/100-night-review-endy-mattress.html) - Disclaimer: I received an Endy mattress in exchange for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. A few months ago, our family was going through a rough time with sleep. I was nine months pregnant with baby #3 and sleeping horribly. My husband had always struggled with sleep and his back problems were
- [Coconut Macaroons](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/05/coconut-macaroons.html) - Chewy golden Coconut Macaroons feel like a decadent treat but are ridiculously easy to make. Updated December 2021 with video and additional pictures A batch of Coconut Macaroons can be mixed and baked in less than 25 minutes. They are the perfect cookie when you have unexpected company coming over and you need something FAST!
- [How to Host a Virtual Gingerbread House Competition](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2021/12/how-to-host-a-virtual-gingerbread-house-competition.html) - Host a Virtual Gingerbread House Competition with family and friends! It's a festive way to celebrate and spread some Christmas cheer, while putting your decorating skills to the test! Last December, my mom arranged a Virtual Gingerbread House Competion for our family and it was so much fun. She surprised us with the gingerbread dough
- [Classic Gingerbread Cookies - A Family Favourite](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/12/gingerbread-cookies.html) - Gingerbread Cookies are a seasonal favourite in our family and this recipe is a classic that works great for both cookies and making a gingerbread house. It's not too sweet with just the right amount of spice. This is the first year that Lucy has had the chance to try it and she's already hooked,
- [Homemade Peppermint Bark Jars](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/12/homemade-peppermint-bark-jars.html) - Every Christmas my family makes delicious Peppermint Bark. It's something I look forward to every year, so when my sister came up with the idea of giving it away this year on gifts, I was on board. She found small glass jars, decorated them up and made handwritten cards with the recipe inside (with the
- [How to Make a Breakfast Gift Basket](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2021/11/how-to-make-a-breakfast-gift-basket.html) - A do-it-yourself Breakfast Gift Basket is a great gift idea for any foodie on your list! With some staple breakfast goodies wrapped up nicely, a few little touches and a pretty basket - you've got a gift that's ready to give. Makes a great hostess gift or care package too! Making your own Breakfast Gift
- [8 Handmade Christmas Ornaments](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2021/11/handmade-christmas-ornaments.html) - Make these Handmade Christmas Ornaments for yourself or loved ones and spread some Christmas cheer! Perfect for gift giving and ornament exchanges. Gather your friends for a fun night of crafting together! When we are decorating the tree, I love pulling out the handmade ornaments we've made or received. They are some of my most
- [Christmas Ornament Gender Reveal](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/01/christmas-ornament-gender-reveal.html) - I'm still away on vacation in Florida with my family, but I thought I'd pop in and share the big news we got over Christmas. We finally got to learn the gender of our first baby, expected in May 2016... A sweet little baby girl! We're both incredibly excited to think that we're going to
- [How to Make Dried Orange Christmas Ornaments in the Dehydrator or Oven](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/11/dried-orange-slice-ornaments-dehydrator-oven.html) - I started decorating the apartment for Christmas this weekend, which I know is early for some people but I like the idea of taking my time over the next couple of weeks to do it. One evening I might put up my miniature village, while another afternoon I'll clean the windows and string up our
- [Simple Stitched Felt Christmas Ornaments](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/tutorial-simple-felt-ornaments.html) - In generations gone by, in times of struggle and strife, people often made their own ornaments out of old magazine cut outs, leftover pieces of tin and scraps of fabric and wool. As many people face hard times this holiday, there are still many ways that you can add some Christmas cheer to your home
- [Sparkly Clothespin Snowflakes](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/11/sparkly-clothespin-snowflakes-ornament.html) - It's amazing how easily household items can be transformed into something beautiful and festive. It goes to show you that you don't have to spend a fortune on decorations to create the look you're going for. These Sparkly Clothespin Snowflakes use everyday clothespins, craft paint and glitter. We haven't decorated our tree yet, but I
- [Squeeze Santa's Cheeks Ornament](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/12/squeeze-santas-cheeks-ornament.html) - Growing up, there were a few ornaments that I really loved to play with and one in particular was constantly being pulled off the tree by all of us kids. It was a little knitted Santa that when you squeezed his cheeks, revealed a Hershey Kiss tucked inside. After many years of use, the original
- [Hand-Stitched Baby's First Christmas Ornament](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/12/hand-stitched-babys-first-christmas-ornament.html) - It's only a few more days until Christmas folks! If you haven't already been able to tell through my Instagram posts, we're pretty excited over here about it being Lucy's first Christmas. Every year we get a new ornament or two, so of course we needed one for Lucy this year. I was going to
- [Mini Yarn Hat Christmas Ornaments](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2020/12/mini-yarn-hat-christmas-ornament.html) - Adorable and inexpensive Mini Yarn Hat Christmas Ornaments are a great DIY holiday craft for the whole family. I've wanted to make these adorable Mini Yarn Hat Christmas Ornaments for ages. I remember spotting them in an old magazine and thinking they were just the sweetest little things. They are incredibly easy to make and
- [Online Christmas Planner - An Easy Way to Stay Organized this Holiday Season](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2020/10/online-christmas-planner-2020-edition.html) - *UPDATED EDITION* - CLICK FOR FREE DOWNLOAD
- [Online Christmas Planner - An Easy Way to Stay Organized this Holiday Season](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/11/online-christmas-planner-2019-updated-edition.html) - *UPDATED EDITION* - CLICK FOR FREE DOWNLOAD
- [Christmas Planner - Keeping Organized over the Holidays](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/11/christmas-planner-keeping-organized.html) - *UPDATED EDITION* - CLICK FOR FREE DOWNLOAD
- [My Online Holiday Planner - An Easy Way to Stay Organized this Holiday Season](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/11/holiday-planner-digital-version.html) - *UPDATED EDITION* - CLICK FOR FREE DOWNLOAD
- [Handmade Gift Ideas for Mother's Day](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/04/handmade-gift-ideas-mothers-day.html) - Whenever I ask my mom what she'd like for Mother's Day, her response is always "I don't need anything". Which I know isn't true, but rather than go the traditional flowers and card route, I like to find something different to celebrate how awesome she is. What better than a gift that comes from the heart, that
- [Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies with Maple Cream Cheese Filling](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/10/pumpkin-spice-whoopie-pies-with-maple.html) - These Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies with Maple Cream Cheese Filling are a great fall treat! My sister is an awesome baker. You may remember her Peppermint Pattie Brownies, or her Armadillo Cake. Well, this Thanksgiving she really out did herself. She made Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies with Maple Cream Cheese Filling. (Want to make a
- [How to Make a Dog Bat Costume](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/10/tutorial-dog-bat-costume.html) - After the success of Whiskey's Dog Taco Costume last year, I had to think of something new for him this year that was both comfortable for him to wear and easy for me to make. It was those big cute ears of his that made me think of a bat. It was perfect! I made
- [My Handmade Christmas Village](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/12/my-handmade-christmas-village.html) - This post has been a loooong time coming. Five years ago, I bought the Greenleaf Miniature Village Set with the intent to make a cute Christmas village to put up for the holidays. My mom has always put up her ceramic village at Christmas and I loved the idea of having my own. I started this project before I had the
- [An Updated Spring Cleaning Checklist](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/04/updated-spring-cleaning-checklist.html) - We've been having really nice spring weather this week (except for this morning's rain!) and it's got me thinking about spring cleaning. Last weekend it was so nice that we opened up all the windows and doors and aired the house out. It felt so good to get that cool spring breeze going through all
- [Framed Printable Christmas Sheet Music {& more ways to use Sheet Music in your Holiday Decor!}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/12/printable-christmas-sheet-music-ideas.html) - It's a little known fact that when I was in grade school and high school I played my great grandfather's antique silver cornet in the school bands. My favourite time of year to play was during the holidays, whether it was in parades or in concerts - I just loved the festive spirit. It may
- [Our Canadian Thanksgiving Hike & Feast](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/10/canadian-thanksgiving.html) - As I mentioned on Friday's post, this year my family decided to do something different for Thanksgiving - we went for a hike. But this wasn't just any hike, it was a trip back to the original family homestead from after the War of 1812. You may remember that I wrote about this back in
- [Good Medicine Lodge Montana Cookies {The Perfect Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip Cookies}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2021/09/good-medicine-lodge-montana-cookies-the-perfect-oatmeal-raisin-chocolate-chip-cookies.html) - Inspired by the much loved cookies baked at the Good Medicine Lodge in Montana, these Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip Cookies are the perfect cookie for eating as a midday treat, packing in school lunches, making for new mamas or giving as gifts. Ten years ago, one of my good blog friends Rachel sent me this
- [We're Having...](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2021/06/guess-what-were-having-baby3.html) - A BOY!! Thank you for all the kind messages and well-wishes when we shared our news about our family growing this September. I'm 29 weeks now and still can't believe that we will have another little baby in our home soon. Could I Tell It Was a Boy? This is probably the thing that I
- [Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2021/06/chicken-caesar-pasta-salad.html) - This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is perfect for summer gatherings as a side dish or made into a 20 minute meal that can be prepped ahead. Caesar salad might just be my favourite salad...and then you go and make it into a pasta salad? I'm ALL IN. I love a good summer pasta salad with some
- [Summer Snap Pea Pasta Salad](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/07/summer-snap-pea-pasta-salad.html) - Despite the drought that we're having in Ontario this summer, our vegetable patch has been doing quite well! I helped my mom plant it in the back field at the farmhouse in the weeks leading up to Lucy's arrival. Since then we've had radishes, lettuce, herbs and now snap peas, with many more veggies on
- [Greek Orzo Salad](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/greek-orzo-salad.html) - Greek Orzo Salad is the perfect summer make-ahead salad for a barbecue or picnic! Simple orzo pasta is tossed with cucumber, tomatoes, parsley, olives, feta, and drizzled with a homemade greek dressing. For Canada Day weekend, my friend hosted a great backyard BBQ party. It was the perfect summer evening to sit out with friends
- [Mediterranean Pasta Salad](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/08/mediterranean-pasta-salad.html) - With all the backyard barbecues and parties coming up on this long weekend, it seemed like a great time to share one of my favourite potluck dishes - Mediterranean Pasta Salad! This Mediterranean Pasta Salad has a delicious lemon oregano vinaigrette and is loaded with fresh vegetables, some of which you may even be able to find in
- [No Bake Cherry Cheesecake](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/05/easy-no-bake-cherry-cheesecake.html) - When I was growing up, my great aunt always made this No Bake Cherry Cheesecake for special occasions (Easter dinner, graduations, birthdays) and as a special treat when we'd come up to visit her at her farmhouse in the summer. It was always a race to see who could get up earliest in the morning
- [Sour Cream Lemon Cake with Lemon Buttercream Icing {A Lovely Easter Dessert}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/03/sour-cream-lemon-cake-with-lemon-easter-dessert.html) - I was over at my friend's place on Saturday night and she was telling me about this awesome cake that she'd made using lemons and sour cream. It just so happened that I had a container of sour cream at home that I've been trying to use up. Sometimes I just can't find enough recipes
- [Our Family Is Growing!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2021/04/surprise-our-family-is-growing.html) - SURPRISE!!! We are thrilled to share that we are expecting baby #3 this September! We've been keeping the secret for a few months and it finally feels like the right time to share. I've tried to think of all the questions I remember getting asked with both our girls to give an update on where
- [DIY Honey Bee Wildflower Seeds Wedding Favors & a Moss Covered Display Box {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/diy-honey-bee-wildflower-seed-packets-wedding-favors-moss-covered-box-wedding-wednesday.html) - You may have heard, but there is a crisis right now with the honey bee population significantly dropping over the last few years and this poses a major threat to global agriculture. Bees not only give us honey, but they also pollinate many plants that we depend on - as much as one-third of all
- [Iron Pressed Flower Botanical Prints](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/02/iron-pressed-flower-botanical-prints.html) - We’re in the home stretch of winter! One more month (maybe two) to go before the sun becomes a regular occurrence again. Even if you get outside in the winter, chances are there’s still going to be some snow days that you’re cooped up in your house. That’s why now is the perfect time to
- [DIY Brass Wall Lamp IKEA Hack](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/01/diy-brass-wall-lamp-ikea-hack-2.html) - Last spring we gave our farmhouse master bedroom a complete makeover for the One Room Challenge. To make this space our own, without breaking the bank, we did all the work ourselves (with lots of help from my handy father too!), including making over a second-hand headboard into a DIY Wrought Iron Headboard. When I had started
- [DIY Chick Brooder {Video}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/04/diy-chick-brooder-video.html) - Is there anything cuter than baby chicks in the springtime? Raising chickens is such a fun part of country life and now it's becoming even more popular in more urban areas as well. In the three years we've been here, we've had baby chicks twice and I'd do it every year if I could! Last spring
- [How to Make Your Own Cookbook {Bridal Shower Gift}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/07/how-to-make-your-own-cookbook-diy-bridal-shower-gift.html) - Create a memorable bridal shower gift by making your own group cookbook, filled with favourite recipes from family and friends. Earlier this spring I helped host a bridal shower at the farmhouse for my cousin's upcoming wedding. I recently shared the Lavender Sugar Scrub I made for the bridal shower favours, but the other
- [Farmhouse Kitchen Hutch Makeover](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/01/painted-farmhouse-kitchen-hutch-makeover.html) - A few months back, when I was 8 months pregnant with Rosie, I got the idea in my head that we needed a new kitchen hutch. Something that would give us closed storage and add a little colour to our all-white kitchen. We've tried various different storage methods here and it now feels like we've
- [Classic Rhubarb Crisp](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/05/classic-rhubarb-crisp-recipe.html) - Nothing beats a good old-fashioned dessert and this Classic Rhubarb Crisp is just the kind of thing your grandmother would make. With its crunchy golden topping and tart rhubarb filling, it’s the perfect easy dessert idea for summer. Rhubarb is one of the first things to come into season here in Ontario and it always
- [Nut Free Chewy Granola Bars](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/04/nut-free-chewy-granola-bars.html) - This weekend our new standup freezer arrived and I could hardly wait to start loading it up with homemade food in preparation for the baby coming next month. In an effort to keep us from eating fast food while we transition to life with a newborn, I've started making extra portions of our favourite meals
- [Breakfast Porridge - A Scottish Tradition for Robert Burns Day](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/01/breakfast-porridge-a-scottish-tradition-for-robert-burns-day.html) - Today, January 25th is the Scottish holiday for Robert Burns Day (or "Robbie Burns Day") in honour of the famous Scottish poet. Traditionally a dinner is served on the evening of the 25th with haggis, but I thought I'd honour the day with one of my favourite Scottish breakfasts - traditional porridge or "oatmeal". It's been
- [Mini Chocolate Brownie Soufflés](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/02/mini-chocolate-brownie-souffles.html) - Warm and delicious Mini Chocolate Brownie Soufflés are a great dessert to surprise your loved ones with this Valentine's Day. Serve them up with icing sugar, whipped cream, berries or ice cream as a sweet treat that's sure to win their hearts. It's hard to believe that this year will be the seventh Valentine's Day
- [Cannoli Dip](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/06/cannoli-dip.html) - Cannoli Dip is the perfect summer dessert - no need to turn on the oven and you can eat it with fruit. Win Win! I liked it served it up with fresh Ontario strawberries, pineapple and Golden Oreos. Yum!
- [DIY Muslin Valentine's Day Treat Bags](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/02/diy-muslin-valentines-day-treat-bags.html) - There is nothing like seeing the look on someone's face when they get a little unexpected treat. It can be as simple as a little sewn muslin bag full of fun Valentine's Day goodies. This one only took a couple of minutes to whip up, which is more than worth it to brighten someone's day.
- [Braided Apple Puff Pastry](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2021/02/braided-apple-puff-pastry.html) - This Braided Apple Puff Pastry combines buttery puff pastry and a sweet gooey cinnamon apple filling. If you’re looking for an easier upgrade to traditional apple pie, this recipe is definitely it! My family hails from Ontario's Apple Country on Georgian Bay, which means apples are not a fall treat but a year round cold
- [Homemade Cinnamon Raisin Bread French Toast (+ Hamilton Beach Dough & Bread Maker GIVEAWAY!)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/11/cinnamon-raisin-bread-french-toast-hamilton-beach-bread-machine-recipe-giveaway.html) - This post and giveaway are sponsored by Hamilton Beach Canada. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Earlier this month I shared the Hamilton Beach Dough & Bread Maker in my guide on Practical Gifts That They Will Love. I'm so excited to be back again with a great recipe to make Cinnamon Raisin Bread
- [Sausage Parmesan Stuffed Mushrooms](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/12/sausage-parmesan-stuffed-mushrooms.html) - Entertaining during the holidays can be fun, but stressful too, right? I like to keep an arsenal of easy-to-make prep-ahead appetizers and treats at the ready. (Check out my Holiday Recipes for ideas!) By the time our guests arrive, I can have the food served quickly and enjoy the evening with our company. That is
- [Honey & Oats Granola](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2020/04/honey-oats-granola.html) - Honey & Oats Granola is a great nut-free snack and breakfast to have on hand, and can easily be made with a handful of pantry staples. This granola is deliciously sweet and crunchy on it's own or you can add whatever mix-in's you like. A big bowl of creamy greek yogurt with fresh berries and
- [Homemade Buns in the Bread Maker (Great for Hamburgers, Sliders and Dinner Rolls!)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2020/09/homemade-buns-in-the-bread-maker-great-for-hamburgers-sliders-and-dinner-rolls.html) - These soft and fluffy Homemade Buns are a breeze to make in a bread maker and are impossible to resist. Made with just a handful of simple ingredients, they are perfect as a dinner roll, hamburger bun, slider bun or sandwich roll. My journey into making Homemade Buns all started back in March, when we
- [Creamy Mushroom Parmesan Risotto](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2020/01/creamy-mushroom-parmesan-risotto.html) - This Creamy Mushroom Parmesan Risotto is a classic Italian comfort dish, with all the flavour of restaurant-style risotto while being easy enough for a home cook to perfect. I've also put together some tips to help you get the best results and wow everyone at the dinner table. Risotto is a delicious meal that doesn't
- [Homemade Dog Food - Beef Stew](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/05/homemade-dog-food-beef-stew.html) - Due to my peanut/nut allergy, I didn't eat much processed food growing up. That taste for real food has grown into a love of creating healthy, wholesome meals for Garrett and I. A few months ago we started thinking about how we were so conscious of what we ate, but we never really thought about what our
- [Gordon Ramsay's Shepherd's Pie](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/01/gordon-ramsays-shepherds-pie.html) - It is freeeeezing here in Canada. Which means that all that I can think about is comfort food, including this incredibly delicious Shepherd's Pie recipe from Gordon Ramsay. Simple ingredients, but put them together and it's a show stopper. I know that there are many people who don't like Gordon Ramsay and his interesting
- [The Perfect Butternut Squash Soup](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2020/10/the-perfect-butternut-squash-soup.html) - There is nothing quite as comforting as a steaming bowl of creamy Butternut Squash Soup on a crisp fall day. Serve it up with a swirl of cream, seedy crackers or crusty bread. While there are many variations on this classic, I find I'm always drawn back to The Perfect Butternut Squash Soup. It's a
- [Tips & Motivation for Decluttering (PLUS How to Make Your Efforts LAST!!)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2020/01/tips-motivation-for-decluttering-plus-how-to-make-your-efforts-last.html) - If you're following me over on my Instagram Stories lately, you may have seen that every day in January I've been posting about organizing a different area of our home for the January Declutter Detox. We're just about halfway through the month, and I can't believe how good our home feels already with this progress.
- [January Declutter Detox: How to Tackle Decluttering Each Space](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/12/january-declutter-detox-how-to-tackle-decluttering-each-space.html) - Joining in the January Declutter Detox? Here are suggestions on how to declutter every area of your home! Looking to join in the January Declutter Detox and start the year off off with a less cluttered, more organized, cleaner home? Get Started Here and then come back to learn here How to Declutter Each Space
- [Farmhouse Front Porch Update](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/08/farmhouse-front-porch-update.html) - Every year since we moved to the farmhouse in 2015, we've tried to work away at improving the landscaping. I love looking back through the older photos and seeing how far we've come along. It always motivates me to keep going! This summer our two big goals were to fix up the overgrown front flower
- [A Soft & Sweet Farmhouse Nursery](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/08/soft-and-sweet-farmhouse-nursery.html) - When we first found out that we were expecting our little Lucy, I couldn't help but get excited at the idea of decorating a nursery. Back in the winter, I shared my nursery inspiration and it's been an exciting process working together with Garrett to create this space for our baby girl. The room is
- [Farmhouse Master Bedroom Reveal {One Room Challenge Week 6}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/05/one-room-challenge-week-6-farmhouse-master-bedroom-reveal.html) - I am SO excited to share today's reveal for our farmhouse master bedroom. For the last six weeks I've been making over our master bedroom for the One Room Challenge hosted by Calling It Home. Back in April, I shared the plan and it's been a race to make those dreams come true. But wow - was
- [Farmhouse Powder Room Reveal](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/11/farmhouse-powder-room-makeover-reveal.html) - I'm so excited to finally reveal our Farmhouse Powder Room Makeover. Despite a few setbacks and having to change plans more than once (oh the joys of old homes), the room turned out even better than I'd hoped for. I've got all the details in today's post, including a complete source list. A big thank you to
- [Farmhouse Front Entry Reveal {One Room Challenge Week 6}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/05/one-room-challenge-week-6-farmhouse-front-entry-reveal.html) - I am SO excited to finally be able to share the final reveal of our Farmhouse Front Hall Makeover. Ta-da! For the last six weeks, as part of the One Room Challenge, we've been working hard on transforming our entrance into an inviting space for when guests enter our home and I'm so pleased with
- [Farmhouse Bathroom Reveal {One Room Challenge Week 6}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/05/one-room-challenge-week-6-farmhouse-bathroom-reveal.html) - We did it! Woohoo! Another One Room Challenge makeover complete and it feels oh so good. I'd originally set out on this with the idea that it would a temporary update until we could afford to completely gut the bathroom and start over. Garrett and I are both so pleased with how the makeover turned
- [Christmas Coffee Bar with Hamilton Beach FlexBrew (+ GIVEAWAY!)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2020/12/christmas-coffee-bar-hamilton-beach-flexbrew.html) - This post and giveaway are sponsored by Hamilton Beach Canada. All thoughts and opinions are my own. With Christmas looking a little different this year, I've been trying to come up with new ways to make the holidays special within our home. That's how the idea of a Christmas Coffee Bar came about - a
- [Our Cozy Farmhouse Christmas {Holiday Home Tour 2020}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2020/12/our-cozy-farmhouse-christmas-holiday-home-tour-2020.html) - Making our home warm and inviting during the holidays is one of my favourite traditions, especially now that we have two little girls who are very excited about Christmas. It's been a different holiday season this year and even though we don't have company popping by to share it with, I still wanted to make our
- [Refinishing an Antique Christmas Sled](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/11/antique-christmas-sled.html) - Christmas decorating is in full swing at our little apartment. I was baking this weekend, making some new handmade ornaments and finishing up a project that I've been really excited about - refinishing an antique children's sled. When I started talking about looking for a new project to do for the holidays, my mom asked
- [Snowy Farmhouse Christmas Front Porch {Holiday Home Tour 2020}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2020/12/snowy-farmhouse-christmas-front-porch-holiday-home-tour-2020.html) - On the first of December, we woke up to a winter wonderland! Cloverhill, our 1903 farmhouse in rural Ontario was blanketed in snow and it felt like we were living inside a real snow globe. Our two little girls were thrilled! What a magical way to start the month and kick off the Christmas season!
- [How to Make a No Sew Fleece Blanket {Great Homemade Gift Idea!}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2020/11/how-to-make-a-no-sew-fleece-blanket-great-homemade-gift-idea-too.html) - This easy No Sew Fleece Blanket is a fun project to make a cozy and warm throw for snuggling up. These inexpensive blankets make a great gift idea too! When the snow starts falling here in Canada, if I get a minute to myself, you better believe I'm burrowed under a cozy blanket with a
- [Outdoor Christmas Lantern Planter](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2020/11/outdoor-christmas-lantern-planter.html) - Make a DIY Outdoor Christmas Lantern Planter for your front door, using a festive red planter, large lanterns, fresh greenery and LED twinkle lights. Earlier this month, we got an unexpected dose of warm weather (a rarity for November in rural Ontario!) and I took advantage of it to update our front door. My dad
- ["Made in Canada" Etsy Gift Guide](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2020/11/canadian-christmas-etsy-made-in-canada.html) - I'm starting a bit early on my Christmas shopping this holiday season, trying to find special gifts from Canadian small business owners across the country. To keep myself organized and stay on track, I'm using my FREE Online Holiday Planner too. When I started looking at gift ideas I noticed that there were so many
- [DIY Doll Crib from a Magazine Rack](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2020/10/diy-doll-crib-from-a-magazine-rack.html) - With some paint, scrap fabric and a little elbow grease, it was easy and fun to upcycle a magazine rack into a DIY Doll Crib for under $10! It's been a tough year for many people and as the holidays approach I'm sure we're all looking for ways to reduce costs while still having a magical
- [Fall in the Country - Our Front Porch](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/10/fall-in-the-country-our-front-porch.html) - Happy October! This week I've joined some lovely ladies I've met on Instagram and we're all sharing our front porch decor for fall. Be sure to check out Skye Cecilia Design and Pearls & Lattes' posts from earlier this week and Marcy Mussari tomorrow. Decorating our porch is one of my favourite ways to celebrate the
- [Salad Planters {Mother's Day Gift Idea}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/05/salad-planters-mothers-day-gift-idea.html) - With Mother's Day coming up this weekend, many of us are looking for ways to show our mothers how much we appreciate them. Rather than giving them flowers or a card, make some salad planters that will give them a bounty of fresh salad ingredients throughout the season! Full of fresh herbs, lettuces
- [Frayed Gingham Picnic Napkins](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/05/frayed-gingham-picnic-napkins.html) - I love using cloth napkins, especially when we're having a fun lunch outdoors. Traditional fabric napkins are great for the dining room, but a more rustic frayed version is perfect for a laid back picnic or backyard barbecue. Frayed napkins have been making a comeback in decor stores like West Elm and Restoration Hardware. They are easy
- [DIY "Vintage" Glass Milk Bottles](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/06/diy-vintage-glass-milk-bottles.html) - You're probably like me, and you've seen all those cute vintage style milk bottles popping up on Pinterest, wishing that you were that lucky at flea markets.It seems like I'm always reading blogs where people have these amazing finds, but all I see when I go to the flea market is old paperbacks and sequined t-shirts. Doesn't
- [Summer Rainbow Wreath](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/06/summer-rainbow-wreath.html) - I've spruced up the porch a bit with salad and herb planters and a few flowers, but it was still missing some colour this summer. When I got home from crafting at the cottage this weekend I was still in a creative mood, so I whipped up this quick Summer Rainbow Wreath. With the summer
- [Lined Tote Bag](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/07/lined-tote-bag.html) - Last year, I participated in a fun online gift exchange and made Sparkly Clothespin Snowflake Ornaments to mail off to a fellow blogger. It was fun to make something by hand, package it up and mail it out - with the hope that they would open their mailbox and be excited to find a present inside!
- [DIY Painted Cork Coasters](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/07/diy-painted-cork-coasters.html) - On a recent shopping trip with my mom, she mentioned that she was on the look out for new coasters. She hadn't been able to find any that she liked, so I continued the hunt to try and find some to add to her birthday present. I checked in every store I went to for
- [Hand Painted Vintage Striped Linen Tea Towels](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/07/hand-painted-vintage-striped-linen-tea-towels.html) - For my mother's birthday a couple of weeks ago, I wanted to give her something special and handmade. I made her the DIY Painted Cork Coasters because that was something that she needed, but I wanted to give her something fun and classic too. I decided on some soft, hand painted linen tea towels. They have the
- [What's for Dinner? 25+ All-Time Favourites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2020/04/25-quarantine-dinner-ideas.html) - Anyone else getting stumped about what to make for dinner lately? I swear my children have developed hollow legs since we've been social distancing. Keeping everyone fed while being somewhat creative is a stretch most days, so I went back through almost 11 years of blogging archives to pick my 25 All-Time Favourite Dinner Ideas.
- [Classic French Onion Soup](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/01/classic-french-onion-soup.html) - Soup is one of the best comfort foods, especially on cold winter days like we've had this year. Classic French Onion Soup has always been one of my favourites at restaurants and I was surprised how easily you can make it at home using inexpensive ingredients. The hardest part is time - you need to
- [Slow Cooker Tex Mex Shredded Beef](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/02/tex-mex-slow-cooker-shredded-beef.html) - It's the first day of February, which means that tomorrow is Groundhog Day and we'll find out soon if this unseasonably warm winter we've been having will continue into the spring or if we're in for a chilly few final weeks of winter. It also means that for all those football fans out there, it's
- [Loaded Potato & Buffalo Chicken Casserole](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/03/loaded-potato-buffalo-chicken-casserole.html) - As part of the bridal shower that my mom and sister hosted for me, they included recipe cards in the invitations, asking guests to use them to write down some of their favourite recipes. It was such a wonderful surprise to receive a stack of tried-and-true dishes from all these fabulous women. I'm sure that
- [Sizzling Chicken Fajitas](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/02/sizzling-chicken-fajitas.html) - A big skillet of hot, sizzling chicken fajitas is an easy way to liven up a weeknight meal. Set it out with flour tortillas and all your favourite toppings. I even love to load it all up on top of a salad, with a hearty helping of homemade guacamole too. How to Make Sizzling Chicken
- [Yorkshire Pudding](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/10/yorkshire-pudding.html) - One of my favourite meals that my mother makes is roast beef with all the fixin's! Perfectly Sliced Roast Beef. Roasted Ontario Potatoes and Carrots And the best part - Yorkshire Puddings! We have many British friends and family who have given us their recipes to try and make, but none of
- [Chicken Pot Pie](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/01/chicken-pot-pie.html) - We spent the weekend hibernating and working on a couple of house projects, so when Sunday night dinner came around, I was looking for something warm and cozy for a cold winter's night. The food equivalent of a big fluffy blanket. The first thing that came to mind was a hearty Chicken Pot Pie, using
- [Ginger Beef Stir Fry with Mushrooms and Kale](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/06/ginger-beef-stir-fry-with-mushrooms-and-kale.html) - When we first got back from the honeymoon, it was hard to get back into cooking regular meals. I'd make chicken and a vegetable and call it dinner just so that I could have more time in the evening to work on getting our apartment back into some semblance of normal. By Thursday, I was
- [How to Make a Perfect Roast Chicken](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/09/how-to-make-a-perfect-roast-chicken.html) - Roasting a chicken can be intimidating if you've never tried it before, but I swear it's easier than you think. It's an inexpensive way to make a delicious meal that will give you plenty of leftovers for lunches and dinners. This simple recipe will give you the flavourful crisp skin with perfectly moist white and
- [Homemade Perogies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/09/homemade-perogies.html) - I was helping my friend Amy makes some freezer meals for her family a week ago and I was so excited when she said we were going to make perogies. Learning how to make homemade perogies has been something I've wanted to do for a long time. It's important to me that I learn about Garrett's
- [5-Grain Power Salad](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/01/5-grain-power-salad.html) - I've been in a bit of a lunch rut lately. Getting back into a routine after the holidays has proved harder than I thought, and I've been uninspired with packing our lunches. We need to get back into our healthy routine but the thought of another spring salad mix just hasn't been doing it for
- [Dill Bean Salad](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/07/dill-bean-salad.html) - A few weeks ago my boss pulled me into the office kitchen to try this Dill Bean Salad. At first I was hesitant, but one scoop and my eyes rolled into the back of my head. The fresh herbs, crunchy celery and delicious dressing are a wonderful combination. It's cool, crisp and oh so easy,
- [Rustic Rosemary Parmesan No Knead Bread](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/01/rustic-rosemary-parmesan-no-knead-bread.html) - This Rustic Rosemary Parmesan No Knead Bread is ridiculously easy to make and comes out with a perfectly golden crust and soft chewy inside. It goes perfectly with a big bowl of soup or chili, or even on its own, warm out of the oven with butter. While I love baking, I've always been intimidated by
- [Best Pizza Dough](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/04/best-pizza-dough.html) - After I tried to make my first homemade pizza crust with yeast in February, I got the urge to play around with making a true rising pizza dough. While the first recipe was quick to make and delicious, I had heard great things about rising pizza dough and wanted to give it a try. I
- [BBQ Chicken Pizza](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/04/bbq-chicken-pizza.html) - In last week's Best Pizza Dough recipe, I mentioned that I was going to share our new favourite - BBQ Chicken Pizza! When I started making homemade pizzas this year, I knew this was going to be one of the first ones we'd try. There is a pizza place near our house that makes a
- [Healthier Chicken Marsala](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/07/healthier-chicken-marsala.html) - About seven years ago I read a book by Jennifer Crusie, called "Bet Me"...and in this book the heroine is determined to learn how to make Chicken Marsala in a healthy way that still tastes good. In the end the guy she falls for likes her just the way she is so she decides to
- [Perfectly Seasoned Homemade Beef Burgers](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/06/perfectly-seasoned-homemade-beef-burgers.html) - We're in full barbecue season here. At least three nights a week we've been using our grill to cook up chicken, steak and vegetables (eggplant! mushrooms! zucchini! asparagus!)...even pineapple. While going through my recipe page and looking for ideas for dinner (it's handy to have a blog), I realized that I've never shared my Homemade Burger Recipe. How
- [Mushroom Beef Barley Soup](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/11/mushroom-beef-barley-soup.html) - Last night was a very cold and chilly night, so I decided to make a big pot of Mushroom Beef Barley Soup. The smell as it was cooking was so delicious that I could hardly wait for it to be ready. Its the perfect cold weather pick-me-up and is loaded with healthy vegetables, lean meat
- [Family Christmas Carrot Pudding](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/12/family-christmas-carrot-pudding.html) - Every family has their favourite Christmas traditions and in mine it is serving this pudding on Christmas Eve night. Its not a hard dessert to make, but it does take some time to cook. Don't let this fool you though - its worth it! You can even make is up to a week in advance
- [Personalizing a Fortune Cookie](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/03/personalizing-fortune-cookie.html) - It's always nice when you can find a special gift to give someone to brighten their spirits and it doesn't hurt when it is also quick and inexpensive. These personalized fortune cookie make a great Birthday/Get Well/Valentine's Day/"Just Thinking About You" gift and take very little time to make. I packaged up mine in a
- [Back to Laurel, Mississippi {Road Trip 2019}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/05/back-to-laurel-mississippi-road-trip-2019.html) - Now that the bathroom renovation is behind us, I've finally found some time to go through the photos from the last leg of our road trip earlier this year. After leaving Wakulla Springs, Florida in March, we made our way towards one of our favourite stops from our 2014 honeymoon road trip - Laurel, Mississippi.
- [Visiting the Greenville, South Carolina Area {Road Trip 2019}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/03/visiting-the-greenville-south-carolina-area-road-trip-2019.html) - Just last week we got home from a wonderful five week road trip through the Southern US with the kids. We had the time off and it was a great chance to visit our family and friends down south - and avoid as much of the tail end of winter as possible, ha! At first
- [Sunny Southwest Florida & Our First Trip to Disney World {Road Trip 2019}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/04/sunny-southwest-florida-our-first-trip-to-disney-world-road-trip-2019.html) - Last week I blogged about the first part of our five week road trip through the US and visiting family in South Carolina. I'm back with the next installment to one of our favourite places to visit - Florida!! I've been going there since I was Lucy's age, first to visit my grandparents during the
- [The Lodge at Wakulla Springs {Road Trip 2019}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/04/the-lodge-at-wakulla-springs-road-trip-2019.html) - We love travelling and were lucky enough to have the opportunity to spend five weeks on a road trip through the Southern US this spring. I've shared part one in South Carolina and part two in Southwest Florida, and now I'm back today to talk about our special visit to the Lodge at Wakulla Springs
- [10 Ways to Get Stuff Done TODAY to Feel More Organized](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/01/10-ways-to-get-stuff-done-today.html) - This month has really made me feel like humans were meant to hibernate in January. I've been feeling slow and sluggish, with the urge to stay under the covers (with two cozy little dogs) as strong as ever. But life still goes on (even in the bitter cold months) and we all need to find
- [How to Declutter Your Phone and Keep it Organized](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/02/how-to-declutter-your-phone-and-keep-it-organized.html) - I'm always trying to find ways to keep our home organized and there is one seemingly small area that almost all of us can improve - our smart phones! With two businesses to run, keeping in touch with family and friends, and taking a ridiculous number of photos of our kids, my phone gets picked
- [Our Family Christmas Traditions with Little Ones](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/12/our-family-christmas-traditions-with-little-ones.html) - What are some of the traditions you and your family do over the holidays? I grew up in a household where we loved our Christmas traditions. The presents were nice but the lasting memories are the heartwarming feelings, smells and sounds of the holiday season. Rolling out gingerbread with my mom, playing with my siblings
- [Christmas in the Countryside {Holiday Home Tour 2019}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/12/christmas-in-the-countryside-holiday-home-tour-2019.html) - This morning I was sitting in our living room, looking at the Christmas tree with snow falling outside the window and it dawned on me that this will be our FIFTH Christmas in the farmhouse. I can hardly believe that much time has gone by already. You can find all the annual holiday home tours
- [Double Chocolate Chip Mint Cookies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/double-chocolate-chip-mint-cookies.html) - This is a decadent holiday variation on the typical chocolate chip cookie, using cocoa powder, dark chocolate chips and mint extract. These are a great cookie to add to your cookie exchange this year, or to make ahead and freeze for when unexpected company shows up at the door. Or if you're like me, to
- [Finding Christmas Ornaments on Etsy](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/12/finding-christmas-ornaments-on-etsy.html) - Happy December! Over the weekend we finished decorating the inside of the farmhouse and got things feeling might jolly over here. While we were hanging the ornaments on the tree, it got me thinking about how so many of them mark a moment in our lives. They commemorate special milestones such as weddings, births, new
- [How to Create a Christmas Garland with Real & Faux Greenery](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/11/how-to-create-a-christmas-garland-with-real-faux-greenery.html) - There is something festive and old fashioned about decorating with greenery during the holidays. The bright green colour and that fresh evergreen smell are the perfect combo for Christmas decor. I made this long garland for our front porch using real AND faux greenery, and I'm so pleased with how it turned out. Earlier this
- [Practical Gift Ideas That They Will Love](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/11/practical-gifts-ideas-that-they-will-love.html) - Sponsored by Hamilton Beach The holidays are fast approaching and many of us are wracking our brains for gifts that our loved ones will enjoy. We all have a few people on our lists that say they "don't need anything" (I'm guilty of this one too!), which is why I've come up with a gift
- [Christmas Cookie Calendar {And they're all nut free!}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/11/christmas-cookie-calendar-nut-free.html) - I'm celebrating every day of December with 24 of my favourite cookie and bar recipes to get you from now until Christmas Eve. I love baking this time of year and sharing it with our family and friends. And of course you can't forget to leave some out with a glass of milk for Santa on
- [A Fall 1st Birthday Party](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/11/a-fall-1st-birthday-party.html) - Last month our sweet little Rosemary turned one. She went from a chubby wee thing to this fun curious toddler in the blink of an eye. To celebrate her big milestone, we hosted a backyard bonfire party with family and a few friends. The weather ended up being perfect for it! We set up a
- [Wild Blueberry Cheesecake](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/07/wild-blueberry-cheesecake.html) - Wild Ontario blueberries are always one of the highlights of summer. They're oh so tiny and taste the absolute best. So good in fact that I often freeze them to make blueberry muffins in the dead of winter. My sister made up this recipe for our mom’s birthday last week and it’s a real winner.
- [Easy Creamy Chicken Curry](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/04/easy-creamy-chicken-curry.html) - The first time I tried a version of this Easy Creamy Chicken Curry it was about 4 years ago and I had never tasted anything like it. It was creamy and savoury, with a little bit of heat and LOTS of flavour. Since then curry has been one of my absolute favourite dishes, but unfortunately
- [A Decade of Blogging](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/10/a-decade-of-blogging.html) - Over the weekend, while in the middle of setting up for my youngest daughter's first birthday party, I realized that it was the 10th anniversary of when I started this blog. It seemed fitting that here I was getting ready to celebrate her big milestone, and this anniversary quietly passed by. In the last decade,
- [Enjoying the Apple Season - 9 Great Fall Recipes](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/10/enjoying-the-apple-season-9-great-fall-recipes.html) - Growing up in Ontario, apple season is a big deal around here. We're lucky to have beautiful orchards in most townships, full of gorgeous red, green and yellow beauties. My family's hometown is Thornbury, nestled along the shores of Georgian Bay near Blue Mountain - right in the heart of Apple Country. I loved visiting
- [Individual Mini Mason Jar Apple Crisps](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/09/individual-mini-mason-jar-apple-crisps.html) - The apple crisp desserts from my cousin Mark & Lisa's wedding last month inspired me to make some at home for us to have on hand for dessert or toss into our packed lunches as a midday treat. They're perfectly portioned so that you get a nice dessert without overindulging. We mostly use glass jars
- [Friday Favourites - Thornbury](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/08/friday-favourites-aug29.html) - Happy Friday! I'm so excited to be on the cusp of a long weekend. I'm heading to my parents for three days of painting, boating and the annual corn roast. It's chilly this morning, but I'm hoping that it will be a nice hot weekend to end summer with a bang. When I started to
- [Apple Pie Ice Cream with Homemade Caramel Sauce](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/09/apple-pie-ice-cream-with-homemade-caramel-sauce.html) - Oh how we have loved having an ice cream maker. First we made Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream, then Butterscotch Ice Cream and now a new fall favourite - Apple Pie Ice Cream with Homemade Caramel Sauce. Garrett has declared it the all-time best ice cream flavour....for now. I feel like we're just seeing the tip of the
- [Apple Crisp in a Mug](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/10/apple-crisp-mug.html) - We've got our first real cold snap going on, with the threat of snow on the way. What better way to warm up than with a hot mug of apple crisp that only took 2 minutes to make? I love the idea of making a quick dessert to enjoy in the evening, without making a
- [Glazed Apple Pie Bars](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/10/glazed-apple-pie-bars.html) - Earlier this month, my Nana brought me a half bushel of apples and I've been coming up with apple recipe ideas ever since. Homemade Applesauce. Baked Apple. Apple Cranberry Bread. Apple Crisp. Apple Cake. Apples in the Sweet Potato, Sausage and Spinach Hash. Apples everywhere! When I was in university, my grandfather would bring me
- [Roasted Tomato Basil Soup - Fresh from the Garden](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/09/roasted-tomato-basil-soup.html) - On a cool autumn day, there is nothing quite like a big bowl of creamy Roasted Tomato Basil Soup. Made with fresh tomatoes, herbs and vegetables, it's a great way to celebrate the harvest season. This summer we grew Organic San Marzano tomatoes in our vegetable garden for the first time and have had an
- [Dutch Apple Pie](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/09/dutch-apple-pie.html) - Apple season is one of my favourite things about fall. You can make Applesauce, Apple Cheddar Soup, Apple Buttermilk Biscuits, Cranberry Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal...and of course lots of yummy desserts. Some of my favs include Glazed Apple Pie Bars, Apple Crisp and Apple Cake. Can you tell my family grew up in the apple
- [Slow Cooker Spiced Cranberry Apple Cider](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/12/slow-cooker-spiced-cranberry-apple-cider.html) - Earlier this fall, we hosted our first Thanksgiving at the farmhouse with Garrett's family. It felt so good to have our home filled with loved ones to celebrate the holiday. I wanted to make something special to have when they all arrived and this Spiced Cranberry Apple Cider was perfect. It made the whole house smell amazing
- [Building a Craftsman Summer House](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/09/building-a-craftsman-summer-house.html) - If you follow along on Instagram, you may have seen a few sneak peeks of a special project my family has been working on this summer. Last winter my parents sold their home in Canada and decided to build a summer house on a property they already owned. During the winter months, they are down
- [Chocolate Zucchini Sheet Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/09/chocolate-zucchini-sheet-cake-chocolate-buttercream-frosting.html) - This super rich and moist Chocolate Zucchini Sheet Cake is easy to make and feeds a crowd. The cake is great with decadent Chocolate Buttercream Frosting or on it's own with a scoop of ice cream. It wouldn't be September without a bounty of oversized zucchini in the garden. We've cooked with them and given
- [Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/09/goodbye-summer-hello-fall.html) - We've had a great summer and it's been a little bittersweet to see it wrapping up. You may have noticed that I took the month of August off from the blog. Partly to focus on the flower business during our busiest time, but also to enjoy the good weather with our girls. Ever since having
- [Edible Flowers: How to Make a Charcuterie Board with Edible Flowers](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/07/edible-flowers-how-to-make-a-charcuterie-board-with-edible-flowers.html) - Charcuterie Boards have become a popular appetizer these days and with good reason. These mixed cheese and meat platters require minimal effort but are big on flavour. You can combine whatever elements you like - artisan cheeses, cured meats, gourmet crackers, seasonal vegetables - to create the perfect spread to casually serve to your guests
- [Garlic Scape Pesto {Nut Free}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/07/garlic-scape-pesto-nut-free.html) - Summer had a bit of a late start here this year, but our vegetable garden is finally starting to produce. One of the new things were tried this year was growing our own garlic, and with that comes a lovely bonus - garlic scapes! I was eager to find a way to use them up,
- [Edible Flowers: Chive Blossom Butter](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/06/edible-flowers-chive-blossom-butter.html) - Whenever I use flowers in my cooking and baking, people are always surprised that you can incorporate blooms into simple dishes. It has inspired me to write a little blog series this summer, sharing some of my favourite ways to try edible flowers. They are a great way to add colour and flavour - and
- [My Little City Garden](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/06/my-little-city-garden.html) - Remember how earlier this month I cleaned up those hideous front gardens at my apartment? I knew I had to fill them with something, so I sent a few pictures over to my friend Amy and she took them over to her friend, Marlee, at Homestead Garden Growers. I thought Amy was just going to
- [DIY Vent Cover](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/06/diy-vent-cover.html) - When we were renovating our upstairs bathroom at the farmhouse earlier this spring, we'd run into a dilemma of what to do with the two vent covers on the wall. After exhausting my search for one single cover to hide the hole for the exhaust, I came up with the idea to create my own
- [Happy 10th Adoptiversary Whiskey!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/06/happy-10th-adoptiversary-whiskey.html) - Yesterday we celebrated 10 years since I adopted Whiskey. That's a decade of running around the yard, burrowing under the covers, begging for a piece of grated cheese and curling up beside me on the couch. Almost every night he sleeps behind my knees, under the covers, with the "breathing hole" I make for him
- [5 Tips for Hanging Wallpaper for Beginners](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/06/5-tips-for-hanging-wallpaper-for-beginners.html) - Disclaimer: This post was generously sponsored by Wayfair.ca. All thoughts and opinions are my own. When I shared our finished Farmhouse Bathroom Makeover last month, the one thing I got the most questions on was the wallpaper that we did on two accent walls. Wallpaper is having a big moment right now and I was excited
- [One Room Challenge Week 5: Wallpapering the Bathroom](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/05/one-room-challenge-week-5-wallpapering-the-bathroom.html) - I'm back with the LAST update of our bathroom before the big #OneRoomChallenge reveal next week. The time has flown by and it's crazy to think there are only a few days to finish it up. This past week I made progress on the biggest change we've made to date. I can now officially say
- [Stopping by Lucky Luxe Couture Correspondence {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/10/stopping-by-lucky-luxe-stationary-wedding-wednesday.html) - Last week I shared our friend's Erin and Ben Napier's beautiful 1925 craftsman home in Laurel, Mississippi, and today I'm excited to show you around the studio of their letterpress wedding stationery business, Lucky Luxe Couture Correspondence. We stopped by for a tour while on our Honeymoon Road Trip. Before they moved into their house in the
- [Gingersnaps](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/11/gingersnaps.html) - These cookies are a well-loved recipe in my family that is adapted from an old cookbook. Something about this recipe just makes me think of how many generations have been making these cookies. The spices in these make the kitchen smell unbelievably good. No one can resist sticking their head in to see whats cooking.
- [Updating Bathroom Lights with Home Depot](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/05/updating-bathroom-lights-with-home-depot.html) - Disclaimer – This post was sponsored by Home Depot Canada. All opinions and thoughts are my own. Last week I shared the reveal of our farmhouse bathroom renovation as part of the One Room Challenge. Over the course of six weeks, we made some big improvements - painting, hanging wallpaper, removing the glass shower doors
- [Our 5th Wedding Anniversary](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/05/our-5th-wedding-anniversary.html) - Just like that, I blinked and five years flew by. It feels like we just got married and yet in that time we've had lots of change - a new home, new careers and two beautiful little girls. Through it all - the wonderful moments and the trying ones - we've done it side-by-side. I
- [Mother's Day Gift Ideas from Etsy 2019](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/05/mothers-day-gift-ideas-etsy-2019.html) - Happy Sunday! I don't usually post on the weekend but I was on Etsy last night, looking at their Mother's Day gift ideas and I found some cute things that I just had to share, including quite a few from Canadian artisans. With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it's always nice to think of
- [One Room Challenge Week 4: Making Decisions](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/04/one-room-challenge-week-4-making-decisions.html) - It's down to the last two weeks of the One Room Challenge and I'm starting to feel the crunch! In last week's update I shared how we'd built new shelves in the closet, hung closet doors and then painted the closet interior and our bathroom vanity. Over the long weekend, we were focused on spending
- [New Handles for the Dresser](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/06/new-handles-for-dresser.html) - I finally found pulls for our dresser drawers!!! Last fall we found this dresser on the side of the road. It was made of real wood and had great bones but it had seen better days. After a little sanding, some primer and a few coats of paint, it looked good as new! I'd hoped
- [Painting a Dresser from the Side of the Road](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/11/painting-dresser-from-side-of-road.html) - Some of you may remember when earlier this fall, I convinced Garrett to carry home a dresser I found on the side of the road in the middle of this night. Yes, he is amazing and goes along with all my crazy ideas (or at least pretends too). But how could I resist a FREE
- [Our Easter Weekend 2019](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/04/easter-weekend-2019.html) - We're just getting back into our routine today after a lovely four day Easter weekend. It started off cold and rainy but as the days went on it got warmer and sunnier, and by Monday afternoon it was absolutely gorgeous out. This was Rosie's first Easter and the first one that Lucy really knew what
- [One Room Challenge Week 3 : Building Closet Shelves](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/04/one-room-challenge-week-3-building-closet-shelves.html) - We're at the halfway point of the One Room Challenge, which means I have only three weeks left to finish up our bathroom makeover. In case you missed it, in Week One I talked about what the plan is and in Week Two we removed the glass shower door from our tub. This week we
- [One Room Challenge Week 2 : Removing Glass Shower Doors](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/04/one-room-challenge-week-2-removing-glass-shower-doors.html) - Last week I shared that we'll be doing a makeover of the upstairs bathroom in our farmhouse for the One Room Challenge. We got busy right away, but I ended up doing something first that wasn't even a part of the plan. Isn't that always the way it is? A project starts small and then
- [Bringing Character Back to Our Farmhouse with Schlage Custom Door Knobs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/04/farmhouse-vintage-character-schlage-custom-knobs.html) - Disclaimer – This post and giveaway are sponsored by Schlage Canada. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We love the quality and selection of their products and I’m excited to share them with you again. Owning a house that is 116 years old means that we often feel that it's a stewardship. It's our
- [One Room Challenge Week 1 : Bathroom Update on a Budget](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/04/one-room-challenge-week-1-bathroom-update-on-a-budget.html) - It’s that time of year – the One Room Challenge spring edition! For the last fourteen years, bloggers from all over have participated in the bi-annual event by picking one room in their house to finish over the course of six weeks. For those of you who are new here, I’m Amanda and my family
- [Home Again](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/03/home-again.html) - If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you'll know that our family just got home from a five week road trip through the US. Garrett has had time off and it worked out perfectly to pack up the kids and visit family and friends. It also let us skip out on the tail end
- [Our New Exterior Door Hardware + Schlage Giveaway!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/02/schlage-door-hardware-giveaway.html) - Disclaimer - This post and giveaway are sponsored by Schlage Canada. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We love the quality and selection of their products and I'm excited to share them with you. When we started the exterior renovations of our 1903 farmhouse back in 2015, we worked hard to paint the entire
- [His & Hers Valentine's Gift Idea - JORD Wood Watch Giveaway!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/01/jord-watches-review-giveaway.html) - Valentine's Day is just around the corner and I've partnered with JORD Wood Watches to share a unique and special gift idea for your sweetheart. AND...there is a giveaway for one lucky reader to receive a $100 gift code toward the watch of their choice. Everyone who enters gets a 10% off code too! ENTER
- [Our Christmas Holiday and Heading Into 2019 {vlog}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2019/01/our-christmas-holiday-and-heading-into-2019-vlog.html) - Happy New Year! I've taken the last two weeks to enjoy time with family and it's been such a nice break. With it being Rosie's first Christmas and Lucy full of toddler fun, we had a really good holiday. I'm doing a little recap here of our three days of family dinners and there is
- [Simple Tips to Organize Your Inbox](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/09/how-to-organize-your-inbox.html) - Between my full time job, part time job, the blog and everyday life, I have no less than five emails that I check on a regular basis, and I'm sure that there are lots of you out there who do the same. When I first started thinking about this post, I talked to some friends
- [Getting a Head Start on the Holidays](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/10/getting-a-headstart-on-the-holidays.html) - I always have to be so careful around this time of year. If I'm exposed to too much Christmas stuff, I start to get all excited about it and I completely bypass Thanksgiving and Halloween. It means no looking at anything with jingle bells, glitter or candy cane stripes. I can't even glance at the
- [10 Ways to De-Stress During the Holidays](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/12/10-ways-to-de-stress-during-the-holidays.html) - Even planning ahead and with the best of intentions, the holidays can become a busy time of year for everyone. Work parties, family dinners, school plays, decorating, shopping, wrapping, baking - it doesn't take long before you're exhausted and rushing through the season. Our lists and obligations can quickly take over the season and feel overwhelming. Taking
- [40+ Stocking Stuffers Under $20](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/11/stocking-stuffers-under-20-dollars.html) - In the hustle and bustle of the season, stocking stuffers can often be overlooked, while they're actually a great way to give some truly unique and useful gifts. I've put together some of my favourite stocking stuffer ideas for the whole family, and everything is under $20! *Please note - Amazon can change their prices from time to
- [What To Do When Company is Coming in an Hour](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/12/tips-company-coming-in-hour.html) - We all have that moment when company calls to say they'll be stopping by soon and you panic to get the house ready in time. With the holidays here, it’s not uncommon to have folks say they’re in town and would love to see you – but the house is a wreck and you don't
- [Why We Tore Down Our Open Shelves](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/10/why-we-tore-down-our-open-shelves.html) - When we first moved into Cloverhill, I fell in love with our farmhouse kitchen. Unlike the kitchen in our previous apartment, this one was light and bright. Part of what made it feel that way was the open shelves throughout the kitchen. Like many people who switch to open shelves, I was worried about dust on
- [5 Easy Ways to Save in the New Year](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/01/5-easy-ways-to-save-in-the-new-year.html) - Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Pampers. All opinions and thoughts are my own. After the holidays, I'm sure many of us are feeling the pinch and are trying to find ways to tighten our purse strings. January is a great time to reflect on changes you can make to not only save you money, but
- [How to Manage Toy Clutter in the Living Room](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/11/managing-toy-clutter-living-room-wayfair.html) - Life can be funny. Prior to having children, I often thought "when I have kids" I wouldn't have a house full of bright colourful toys. Flash forward almost two and a half years and we have plenty of loud and bright toys, many of which I willingly purchased. You realize children need vibrant, visually stimulating
- [Merry Christmas!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/12/merry-christmas-2018.html) - May your day be filled with sweet treats, joyful surprises and good memories. I hope you and your loved ones have a very Merry Christmas.
- [Yule Log Christmas Centrepiece](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/12/yule-log-christmas-centrepiece.html) - Happy Winter Solstice! It's the longest night of the year and I thought it would be fitting to share a Christmas centrepiece that's inspired by it. Since Medieval times, it has been a tradition in Northern European and Scandinavian countries for a specially selected log to be brought into the home. The "yule log" was
- [Orange Dark Chocolate Shortbread Cookies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/12/orange-dark-chocolate-shortbread-cookies.html) - Orange Dark Chocolate Shortbread Cookies are a great make-ahead Christmas treat made even more delicious when dipped or drizzled in dark chocolate. Buttery shortbreads are a classic Scottish biscuits brought over to North America and a Christmastime staple. We used to always give my late grandfather a tin of shortbreads every Christmas and I always
- [Cloverhill Farmhouse Christmas Tour 2018](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/12/cloverhill-farmhouse-christmas-tour-2018.html) - Ho ho ho! Thanks for stopping by for my 2018 Cloverhill Farmhouse Christmas Home Tour. I wasn't quite sure how much decor I'd get out this Christmas with an 8 week old baby and an active two-and-a-half year old toddler, but I think we've managed to still get things looking quite festive. I look forward
- [37 Weeks Pregnancy Update - Officially Full Term!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/10/37-weeks-officially-full-term.html) - It feels crazy to think that as of this week I'm officially FULL TERM! Woo hoo! I thought I'd share what I hope is the final pregnancy update for our baby girl. Time has really flown by this time. It feels like it was just spring and I was halfway through this pregnancy and now we're
- [What I Packed for the Hospital with Luxury Labour Bags](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/11/what-i-packed-for-the-hospital-with-luxury-labour-bags.html) - It's been six weeks since we welcomed our second daughter, Rosie, into the world and already those early hospital days feel like a blur. Looking back, if there is one thing that I did that really helped me heading into labour and delivery, it was having a well packed hospital bag. The lovely gals at
- [Simple Ways to Plan Ahead for a Memorable Holiday Season](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/11/simple-ways-to-plan-ahead-for-a-memorable-holiday-season.html) - With just over five weeks left until Christmas, many of us are starting to make our plans for the holiday season. It can be an overwhelming time of year, but with a little planning you can focus on how you want to make this year memorable. Pick Christmas Activities Together Every season there are certain
- [Holiday Dinner Slow Cooker Shortcuts](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/11/holiday-dinner-slow-cooker-shortcuts.html) - A couple of years ago, my great aunt gave my mother a triple slower cooker as an early Christmas present. It has turned out to be one of the biggest time savers for our holiday meals. You can use this set of slow cookers to cook three side dishes at once or use it to keep
- [Creating a Pantry in our Basement Stairwell](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/02/creating-a-pantry-in-our-basement-stairwell.html) - When we first moved into the farmhouse, I knew I wanted to turn the stairway to our basement into some functional kitchen storage. I started by taking the old wooden cupboard from my grandfather's basement (previously used as our bar at the old apartment), and using it to store canned goods in the stairwell. It
- [Rosie's Birth Story](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/11/rosie-birth-story.html) - We're coming up to almost four weeks since our sweet little Rosemary was born and time has just flown by. She's already over 9.5 lbs and no longer fits her newborn clothes. Tucking them away in the cupboard was bittersweet because it makes me realize how brief this newborn stage really is. Before time starts
- [5 Ways to Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Hocus Pocus](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/10/5-ways-to-celebrate-the-25th-anniversary-of-hocus-pocus.html) - Did you know that 2018 marks the 25th anniversary of the cult classic Halloween film, Hocus Pocus? It's been a favourite in my family for as long as I can remember and I look forward to it every October. We've been ticking just about everything off on our Family Fall Activities List and have been making the most
- [Salem, Massachusetts - Visiting the Witch City (Part 1)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/10/salem-massachusetts-visiting-witch-city.html) - This past weekend, Garrett and I went on a mini road trip adventure to New England. We hit four states in four days, clocking about twenty hours in the car between the various locations - and we had a blast doing it together. When we first starting planning our trip it was all about going
- [Salem, Massachusetts - A Historical Town (Part 2)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/11/salem-massachusetts-a-historical-town.html) - I've already done a couple of posts on our road trip to Salem, Massachusetts, including all the fun Halloween activities, a tour of the Hocus Pocus filming locations and our jaunt farther north to the Pumpkin Festival in Keene, New Hampshire. As great as all those seasonal activities were, there were lots of awesome historic sites in Salem that
- [Welcome Home Rosie!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/10/welcome-home-rosie.html) - Garrett, Lucy and I are very happy to announce the arrival of... Rosemary "Rosie" Anne She was born just before midnight on Saturday October 13th, ten days before her due date. Rosie came in at 7lb 12oz and 19.5 inches long, smaller than her big sister Lucy, which isn't surprising considering there were 17 days
- [Spooky Halloween Finds](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/10/spooky-halloween-finds-etsy.html) - The countdown is on and there are only a few weeks left until Halloween! I looking forward to it every year - from the fun costumes and spooktacular decorations to the tiny treats and classic movies. I love looking for unique and one-of-a-kind finds on Etsy and I came across some really great ones this year
- [My Third Trimester To-Do List](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/08/my-third-trimester-to-do-list.html) - It feels like I've blinked and suddenly I'm 29 weeks along in this pregnancy and already into my third trimester. So many friends told me that the second time around flies by and they weren't kidding.It seems like just yesterday I posted about being halfway. Since then I've had a busy summer working on the
- [A Beautiful Lakeside Wedding](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/10/lakeside-wedding-late-summer.html) - I love weddings, they're such joyous occasions. Full of memories with family and friends celebrating new beginnings. I find that especially true when it's someone you're close to, like my cousin's wedding last month. It was an absolutely perfect day, she was the most beautiful bride and I felt so honoured that our family was
- [Working Towards a Healthy and Positive Birth Experience](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/09/preparing-labour-delivery-naturopathic-doctor.html) - This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors. All opinions are 100% mine. With less than a month until this baby's arrival, I've started thinking more about what I can do to encourage a healthy labour and delivery. After the scare we had when Lucy was born,
- [Decorating for Fall with Natural Elements](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/09/decorating-for-fall-with-natural-elements.html) - Fall is officially here! I'm loving the cozy sweater weather and watching the leaves start to change. It's an extra special autumn for us as we get the house ready waiting for our second baby's arrival in October. Just as I think about lilacs and peonies from when Lucy was born in late May, this
- [Our Family Fall Activities List - 25 Ways to Celebrate the Season](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/09/our-fall-family-bucket-list.html) - Despite the crazy heatwave we had again this weekend, you can still feel that fall is quickly approaching here in Ontario. The leaves are beginning to change, the days are getting shorter and the birds are starting to fly South. This is our last month or so as a family of three and I put
- [Arrowroot Biscuit Squares - A Canadian Family Favourite](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/09/arrowroot-biscuit-squares-a-canadian-family-favourite.html) - These soft and chocolately Arrowroot Biscuit Squares are an easy no-bake treat that have delighted Canadian families for decades. Earlier this year I surprised my dad and made a batch of these Arrowroot Biscuit Squares for our Father's Day picnic. I hadn't anticipated how nostalgic he would get about this family favourite that my grandmother and great-grandmother
- [Late Summer in the Flower Field and Teaching Workshops](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/09/late-summer-flower-field-workshops.html) - We're starting to get close to the end of our third season running Cloverhill Flowers and I realize I haven't done an update on the flower field since July. It's a long one because I just couldn't resist sharing lots of pictures of the flowers at their peak. I always seem to forget that once
- [Homemade Shake and Bake: Easy Dinner Idea](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/08/homemade-shake-and-bake-easy-dinner-idea.html) - As the summer starts to wind down, it's back into routines and trying to figure out easy weeknight meals. This week I'm over at Kenarry – Ideas for the Home sharing an update on the classic crispy chicken recipe I grew up. This Homemade Shake and Bake recipe is easy to make with pantry staples and is a
- [A Springtime Bridal Shower at the Farmhouse](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/06/farmhouse-springtime-bridal-shower.html) - Earlier this month, we had a bridal shower to celebrate the upcoming wedding of my cousin. I love living in our farmhouse, but I especially enjoy when we get to open the doors and welcome other people here too. We couldn't have asked for better weather and it turned out to be a great spring day.
- [8 Essentials for Backyard Chickens](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/07/8-essentials-for-backyard-chickens.html) - Our journey of having backyard chickens started three years ago when my family surprised me with baby chicks and a chicken coop on my 30th birthday.Then last spring we added three more hens to our flock. Over that time we've figured things out as we've gone along and I've pulled together a list of our top
- [It's All Very Christmasy {Vlog}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/12/its-all-very-christmasy-vlog.html) - With our tree up, it's really feeling like Christmas around here now! You can see just how much Lucy is loving it at the end of this week's vlog (at the bottom of this post). After missing two Christmas parades this year due to rainy weather, we decided to bundle ourselves up and head out to
- [In the Flower Field {July 2018}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/07/in-the-flower-field-july-2018.html) - As some of you may know, over two years ago my mother and I started a specialty cut flower business, Cloverhill Flowers. We're now into our third growing season and we're hoping this one will be our best one yet. We spent a great deal of time prepping for this season, including expanding the field,
- [Lavender Sugar Scrub {Bridal Shower Favour}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/07/lavender-sugar-scrub-bridal-shower-favours-gifts.html) - Lavender Sugar Scrub is an easy DIY beauty product that can be jarred up as a lovely handmade bridal shower favour or wedding favour to give your guests. Last month I wrote about the bridal shower we hosted at the farmhouse for my cousin getting married this summer. When we were trying to come up with
- [Preserving our Summer Herbs and Flowers](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/10/preserving-our-summer-herbs-flowers.html) - It's hard to believe that it was only a couple of months ago since our flower field was in full bloom when I shared a little tour this August. ...and now it looks like this! All the annual plants have been dug up for compost and the perennials have been moved to our new perennial bed. The landscape
- [S'more Cookie Bars](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/06/smore-cookie-bars.html) - S'more Cookie Bars are the perfect blend of thick and chewy graham cracker cookie, gooey marshmallow and semi-sweet chocolate. A great dessert to bring to your summer BBQ or to enjoy all year long. The S'more Cookie Bars are ridiculously easy to make and serve a large group, making them the perfect treat to take
- [DIY Essential Oil Cleaning Products](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/06/diy-essential-oil-cleaning-products.html) - Over the last few years, I've been switching out our commercial cleaning products for more earth-friendly ones or better yet, making my own. Not only are they inexpensive to create with simple household ingredients and essential oils, but they're a great way to limit the number of chemicals we're exposed to in our homes. I'm
- [Exploring Lancaster County {Our Pennsylvania Road Trip}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/06/lancaster-county-area-pennsylvania-roadtrip.html) - Over the last couple of weeks, I've shared part one and part two of our road trip through Pennsylvania last month. We were only gone for five days but were able to fit lots of toddler-friendly fun into it. Sometimes a vacation doesn't need to be long in order to be a nice break. For the last couple
- [A Visit to Dutch Wonderland {Our Pennsylvania Road Trip}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/06/dutch-wonderland-review-pennsylvania-family-road-trip.html) - Disclaimer: We were kindly given tickets by Dutch Wonderland. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We had a great time and would highly recommend it to any families. Last week I shared the first stop of our road trip through Pennsylvania, and today I'm back with another GREAT place for families to visit - Dutch Wonderland!
- [We're halfway there, baby! {20 week pregnancy update}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/06/were-halfway-there-baby-20-week-pregnancy-update.html) - As of yesterday, I'm officially 20 weeks with this pregnancy! It's hard to believe that I'm already halfway there and at the same time it feels like we still have a loooong way to go before this little one's arrival. Last week we got the very exciting news that we're going to be having another little girl. Sisters!! I was thoroughly shocked
- [Getting Creative at the Crayola Experience {Our Pennsylvania Road Trip}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/06/crayola-experience-easton-review.html) - Disclaimer: We were kindly given tickets by Crayola Experience. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We had a great time and would highly recommend it to any families. With all the lovely weather we've been having this spring, Garrett and I planned a little road trip last week from Ontario to Pennsylvania. I'll be
- [The Ultimate Father's Day Gift + Grilled Strawberry Shortcake Kebabs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/05/fathers-day-gift-grilled-strawberry-shortcake-kabobs.html) - Disclaimer – This post was generously sponsored by Wayfair.ca. All thoughts and opinions are my own. When the warmer weather arrives, Garrett loves to get out in the backyard and grill our dinners. This year I surprised him with a very special early Father's Day present - a bigger BBQ to accommodate our growing family. I
- [Grilled Pineapple with Whipped Coconut Cream](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/05/grilled-pineapple-with-whipped-coconut.html) - I wasn't kidding when I said that we're excited about barbecue season. We've been grilling up our dinner almost every day this week! One night, while we already had the barbecue fired up, I decided to try grilling pineapple for a fun seasonal dessert. I've tried other grilled fruits, like peaches, and they've turned out fantastic. Barbecuing
- [Grilled Corn with Cilantro Lemon Butter](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/07/grilled-corn-with-cilantro-lemon-butter.html) - I've always wanted to try grilled corn, but my family are corn-on-the-cob purists - boiled in a big pot on the stove for exactly 7 minutes every time. I love it that way, but trying a smokier grilled version was always in the back of my head. I love the roasted corn that you get
- [Chicken Kebabs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/07/chicken-kebabs.html) - I am loving BBQ season right now. There isn't space for one at the apartment, which means that I just have to make up for it whenever I visit friends, family or go camping (see end of post). It is a great, fast and easy way to make a delicious dinner, especially if you load
- [Disappearing Pork Tenderloin (Its that good!)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/05/disappearing-pork-tenderloin-its-that.html) - This weekend I had access to a BBQ, so I took full advantage of it and dug out the beloved Weber's Big Book of Grilling. This has been a family favourite cookbook for a few years now. Whenever we're looking for a fun BBQ recipe this is the book we reach for. And this recipe
- [Texas Dry Rub](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/07/texas-dry-rub.html) - Last night, something rare and magical happened...I was up at my parents' place enjoying some summer vacation, and I was there all alone. No parents, no siblings, no friends. I had the place to myself...and I loved it. And when dinner time was around there was only one thing I wanted to make... ...BBQ'd Steak!
- [Grilled Zucchini](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/08/grilled-zucchini.html) - Two of the most enticing parts of summer are 1) Fresh Produce and 2) Grilling. Thankfully this recipe for simple Grilled Zucchini hits both marks. Its filling enough to serve to a vegetarian (hey sis!), and at the same time is great as a side to go along grilled chicken or a nice steak. Yum yum
- [Italian Turkey Burgers](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/01/italian-turkey-burgers.html) - I'm always looking for easy healthy dinner ideas and when I saw fitness model Jamie Eason's Italian Turkey Burgers I knew I had to give them a try. They are a leaner version of a burger, but with so much flavour that you won't even miss the beef. I also added some low fat baked
- [Summertime Cooking (or How Not To Turn on the Oven)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/07/summertime-cooking-or-how-not-to-turn.html) - We're starting into another heatwave this week and all I can think about is - what am I going to cook? There is NO WAY I am turning on the oven (our little air conditioner can't keep up!), so I decided to dig up some of my favourite no-cook and BBQ recipes. My go-to summer
- [Grilled Chili-Lime Chicken with Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/05/grilled-chili-lime-chicken-with-cilantro-lime-cauliflower-rice.html) - The weather has been fantastic here the past week - amazing temperatures and no humidity (yet). I've been going outside any chance I get, to enjoy the fresh air and the sun. With the warmer weather, it also means that we're back into grilling season. Yes, you can BBQ in the winter, but it isn't
- [Chili-Lime Chicken Skewers](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/06/chili-lime-chicken-skewers.html) - Summer cooking is all about simple, easy meals that don't require you to turn the oven on and heat the whole place up. As much as I love a good lasagna dinner, this is not the time of year for that. Any chance we get, we've been using the new BBQ this year. These Chili-Lime
- [Grilled Eggplant with Fresh Herbs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/06/grilled-eggplant-with-fresh-herbs.html) - We've been loving the BBQ this summer and I'm always trying to come up with new recipes ideas for us to try out. This week, eggplants were on sale at the grocery store and I thought "why not grill those?". I'm like that with just about everything we buy these days. If I could find
- [Honey Dijon BBQ Chicken Thighs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/06/honey-dijon-bbq-chicken-thighs.html) - For Easter this year, my uncle hosted a big family barbecue full of great grilled meats, salads and desserts. Among the buffet were these delicious moist and tender chicken pieces. When I asked him what they were, he said they were chicken thighs that he just marinated and put on the barbecue. Why had I
- [BBQ'd Nachos](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/07/bbqd-nachos.html) - While packing up for the cottage this past weekend, I started thinking of food to bring. You don't want to spend the whole time in the kitchen, so I look for recipes that can be made quick, easy and preferably on the BBQ. These BBQ'd Nachos were just the ticket and they seemed to be
- [DIY Headband Fascinators for the Royal Wedding {Video}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/05/diy-headband-fascinators-royal-wedding-video.html) - This weekend it's the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and in honour of the big occasion I went on a local TV station and shared a tutorial on how to make your own DIY Headband Fascinators. After so many requests to share the video, I decided to put together a little tutorial
- [One Room Challenge Week 3: Look What We Found](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/04/one-room-challenge-week-3-look-what-we-found.html) - Last week in my One Room Challenge update, I had shown how I'd pulled back our old sheet vinyl floor to see that there was subfloor underneath. My plan had shifted to maybe just putting real tile down on top of the subfloor, instead of the vinyl we'd look at initially. A local contractor came
- [One Room Challenge Week 4: The Transformation Takes Shape](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/04/one-room-challenge-week-4-the-transformation-takes-shape.html) - I'm back with another update for the One Room Challenge. With only one more update left before the big reveal of our Front Hallway makeover, we've made some big progress this week. In Week 2, I shared that I'd picked out the wall colour - a lovely sage green-gray colour called Gray Mirage. Last weekend Garrett
- [One Room Challenge Week 5: The Final Stretch](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/05/one-room-challenge-week-5-the-final-stretch.html) - This week's update for the One Room Challenge is popping up late on a Saturday morning because we had a huge wind storm yesterday that knocked out the power and internet. Thankfully we only had a few small trees and branches fall down and faired much better than most people in Ontario. I'd hoped to
- [One Room Challenge Week 2: Picking Paint Colours with Benjamin Moore](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/04/one-room-challenge-week-picking-paint-colours-benjamin-moore.html) - Last week I shared our plans for making over our Farmhouse Front Entryway for the One Room Challenge this spring, and I started rolling up my sleeves right away. I'm thrilled to finally be tackling this space and I think it'll make such a big impact when we welcome friends and family into our home.
- [One Room Challenge Week 1 : Farmhouse Entryway Inspiration Mood Board](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/04/one-room-challenge-week-1-farmhouse-entryway-inspiration-board-before.html) - It's that time of year - the One Room Challenge spring edition! For the last 13 years, bloggers from all over have participated in the bi-annual event by picking one room in their house to makeover over the course of six weeks. For those of you who are new here, I'm Amanda and my family lives in a
- [Mothers Day Gift Guide 2018](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/05/mothers-day-gift-guide-ideas-2018.html) - With Mother's Day just around the corner, I've put together some gift ideas to spread some love to the special women in your life...or to share with your husband as a hint. I hope it will help you think of little ways to celebrate our mothers, grandmothers, mothers-in-law, moms-to-be and mother figures! essential oil candle
- [Spring Cleaning for Houseplants](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/04/houseplants-spring-cleaning.html) - Spring has finally arrived here in Ontario and it was so nice to open the windows up this weekend to air the farmhouse out. As soon as the warmer weather rolls around we start to think about cleaning up our homes and our cars, but what about sprucing up our houseplants too? Houseplants are a wonderful way to
- [The Everyday Must Have for your Baby Registry](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/04/pampers-diapers-baby-registry-shower.html) - Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Pampers. All opinions and thoughts are my own. After last week’s exciting announcement that we’ll be expecting another little one this fall, I’ve been starting to think more about how I’ll do things this time around. With your first baby, there is so much that is unknown and I can
- [We Have Some Exciting News to Share!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/04/exciting-news-second-baby.html) - I’m so excited to share this good news. We’re expecting another baby this October!! Garrett and I both have siblings and have always known that we wanted Lucy to have that experience too. While we aren’t really talking to her about the baby yet because it’s so far away for a toddler to comprehend, she
- [Homemade Yoga Mat Cleaner](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/06/homemade-yoga-mat-cleaner.html) - When I lived in Toronto, I often went to a yoga studio where they had these great hanging racks for spraying your mat down after class. It was nice to clean it after a sweaty practice (especially hot yoga!) and start off my next class with a fresh mat. Cleaning your mat also restores their
- [Weeks 29-32: Nursery Progress and Picking a Name](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/04/weeks-29-32.html) - I've officially hit the eight month mark! The weeks keep getting closer and closer to when we'll get to meet our baby girl and we can't wait! I've been slowly scratching things off the To Do List and making some progress. Overall I've been feeling pretty good the last few weeks. It's getting more awkward
- [Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken and Vegetables](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/03/honey-garlic-slow-cooker-chicken-and-vegetables.html) - Whether we have busy weeknights or fun-filled weekends, I love being able to count on my slow cooker to create a healthy meal for my family with minimal fuss, like this Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken and Vegetables. It truly is a one pot meal that only takes minutes to prep! Everything cooks in the slow cooker
- [Our Sunny Florida Trip 2018](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/03/florida-trip-2018.html) - It's been a pretty quiet month here on the blog, with winter colds, busy schedules and our trip to Southwest Florida. I finally found some time this week to go through the hundreds of pictures I took and upload a few for a little recap here. I love looking back on these travel posts and
- [Our First Family Vacation](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/11/first-family-vacation.html) - We just got back from Florida late Saturday night and it's been nice to take the time to unpack and settle back into our routine (if you can even call it a "routine" with a six month old). Lucy and I headed down to my parents' house in Southwest Florida in early November and Garrett joined
- [Peeps Cupcakes](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/04/peeps-cupcakes.html) - One of my favourite things about having big family gatherings is getting the chance to make fun desserts that I'd never make for just myself. For Easter weekend, I thought I'd make some fun cupcakes using one of my favourite Easter treats - marshmallow Peeps. Add a little rich buttercream icing on top of perfect
- [Colourful Twine Wrapped Easter Eggs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/03/twine-wrapped-easter-eggs.html) - Last Easter, I had so much fun making the Painted Robins Eggs, but this year I wanted to make something a little more vibrant. Using embroidery floss and some styrofoam eggs, you can make these fun and colourful Twine Wrapped Easter Eggs. They take a little time to wrap, but I found it was a fun project to
- [Fabric Wrapped Easter Eggs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/03/fabric-wrapped-easter-eggs.html) - I've been on a big Easter egg decorating kick. I've never been a fan of dyed eggs, mainly because the dye gets everywhere and I feel like it is a waste of a good egg, but decorating styrofoam eggs or plastic eggs is still plenty of fun and it has the added bonus that you
- [Bunny Bait {Easter Popcorn}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/03/bunny-bait-easter-popcorn.html) - This recipe is similar to the White Chocolate Popcorn I made last fall, but fun and colourful for Easter. Set a bowl of this out at your Easter party, and you'll be surprised at how quickly it goes. You can also fill up a treat bag with this delicious mix, tie it with a bow and hand
- [Classic Deviled Eggs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/03/classic-deviled-eggs.html) - Anyone in my family reading this is probably laughing that I made deviled eggs. It's a known fact that I'm not a fan of them (or egg salad or anything with mayo and yolks), but that doesn't mean that I don't like making them for other people. Garrett could hardly wait for me to take
- [Baby's First Easter Basket](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/04/babys-first-easter-basket-ideas-2.html) - I've looked forward to every holiday this year, with each one being Lucy's first. Holidays have a little extra sparkle to them now and I can't help but get excited. It's less than two weeks until Easter now and I couldn't resist putting together a little Easter basket for her with some goodies. While she is only
- [Easter Egg Cookie Pizza](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/04/easter-egg-cookie-pizza.html) - With Easter only days away now, I thought it would be fun to share a quick and easy dessert idea that is a great activity to do with kids too. I love a good Easter treat and this one is great for a last minute dessert. This Easter Egg Cookie Pizza uses just a couple of
- [Food Processor Buttermilk Scones](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/02/food-processor-buttermilk-scones.html) - Today I'm over at Kenarry - Ideas for the Home sharing my recipe for Food Processor Buttermilk Scones. These classic pastries are perfect for breakfast, brunch or an afternoon tea. Serve them up with butter, homemade jam or clotted cream for a real treat. The food processor really does most of the work and the result
- [How to Turn Diapers into Rewards](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/02/how-to-turn-diapers-into-rewards.html) - Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Pampers. All opinions are my own and I only work with brands I genuinely love. Like most parents, I’ve purchased MANY diapers and wipes over the last 20 months. That’s why I was so excited when a friend told me early on about the Pampers Rewards App. It takes
- [Life Lately](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/02/life-lately-feb-2018.html) - Happy Friday! January was a slow month (mostly spend fighting off colds), but I thought I'd pop in with a little update on what we've been up to lately. We're in the thick of winter here in Ontario and as much as I love the snow, I'm definitely daydreaming about spring days more and more. We've
- [Our Bedtime Routine & Tips for a Good Night's Sleep](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/02/pampers-baby-dry-our-bedtime-routine-tips.html) - Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Pampers. All opinions and thoughts are my own. Sleep is an important part of a child's development and that's why we started a bedtime routine for Lucy from an early age. It has changed over time, as her needs have changed, but we've always tried to keep some consistency
- [Easy Individual Ricotta Tiramisu Jars](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/01/easy-individual-ricotta-tiramisu-jars.html) - Over the holidays, my mom and great aunt went to a fancy cheese shop in the city and there was a promotion where you got a tub of ricotta with your order. Well, it turns out that they bought so much cheese that they came home with FIVE tubs of ricotta. There is only so
- [Southwest Chicken Rice Bake](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/04/southwest-chicken-rice-bake-2.html) - This is one of those meals that came together using a hodge podge of leftovers from the fridge, freezer and pantry. I love it when you can pull together a delicious meal and clean out your fridge at the same time! I used a couple of BBQ chicken breasts and rice from the night before,
- [The Best Rice Krispie Treats](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/05/the-best-rice-krispie-treats.html) - There is something about Rice Krispie Treats that brings back nostalgic childhood memories. I can remember coming home from school to find a batch waiting for us on the counter. They're an easy to make, no-bake treat...and they just taste so dang good. When I was in university, it was one of the few things
- [Hot Pimento Cheese Dip & Baked Naan Bread Chips](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/01/hot-pimento-cheese-dip-baked-naan-bread-chips-appetizer.html) - So apparently there is some big football game happening this weekend? I'm not a sports person, but I can definitely get behind the idea of making good food and celebrating with friends and family. Maybe you've got an upcoming ski trip planned or are having folks over to watch the Olympics next month - you
- [The Story Behind Our Retro Pedal Car](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/01/the-story-behind-our-retro-pedal-car-1960-murray-flat-face.html) - One piece of decor that we get asked about quite a bit is this bright red retro pedal car that sits in our upstairs hallway. It's an interesting piece that both adults and kids gravitate too, especially Lucy. She is big enough now to climb in and out of the car on her own, and
- [Vegetable Pot Pie](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/01/vegetable-pot-pie.html) - In these long cold winter months its not always easy to find new and exciting ways to incorporate vegetables into our meals, so when I came across a photo of a Vegetable Pot Pie in Allergic Living, I just had to experiment with this. Not only is this recipe incredibly delicious, it is also very
- [Nut-Free and Egg-Free Banana Bread](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/01/nut-free-and-egg-free-banana-bread.html) - Last night I got home from work and discovered that I had some very ripe bananas on my counter. I had two options: chuck 'em and use 'em. I'm not one of those people who can just throw them into the freezer and leave them to become petrified black monoliths. Everytime that I do that,
- [Dairy Free Sugar Free Cocoa Coconut Banana Bread](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/01/dairy-free-sugar-free-cocoa-coconut-banana-bread-2.html) - Earlier this month, we decided to cut back on sugar as a family as one of our goals for the New Year and kicked it off with a Sugar Free January. For the most part, we've all been really good but one thing we've really missed is baked goods and chocolate. Last night I whipped
- [Sugar Cookies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/sugar-cookies.html) - I'm actually not a big fan of sugar cookies - I'm more interested in having fun decorating them. But I like this recipe because it has a little bit of zing with some subtle spices. Plus they look fantastic on a cookie tray or set out for Santa on Christmas Eve. You can make them up to
- [Cinnamon Rolls](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/cinnamon-rolls.html) - These super yummy Cinnamon Rolls are a family favourite around here, and the best part is that they have no yeast in them so you don't have to wait for them to rise. We tend to make them for each other on birthdays and holidays has a special treat. This recipe is actually adapted from the
- [Chicken Cordon Bleu](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/chicken-cordon-bleu.html) - Chicken Cordon Bleu is a French-inspired dish of rolled chicken, ham and cheese that is breaded, and typically fried or baked. Cordon Bleu literally means "blue ribbon" in French, which is a reference to the Cordon Bleu awarded to chefs of outstanding quality in France. However, this dish was actually developed in the United States by chefs who were
- [Apple Cake](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/11/apple-cake.html) - This is an easy, simple and delicious cake recipe that my mother's dear friend Rosie shared with us years ago. Since then, its become a classic with our family. The soft sweet apples, dense smooth cake, and crunchy top are a great combination. Apple Cake Recipe Type: Dessert Author: Amanda - Life at Cloverhill Prep
- [Chicken Pasta with White Wine Cream Sauce aka "Adult Mac Cheese"](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/10/chicken-pasta-with-white-wine-cream_28.html) - This is a tried and true recipe around my place. It is affectionately called “Adult Mac & Cheese” because it has all the comfort food feeling of creamy pasta, but it’s a bit more grown up with white wine and shallots in it. Chicken Pasta with White Wine Cream Sauce aka "Adult Mac Cheese" Recipe
- [Pomodoro Sauce](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/11/pomodoro-sauce.html) - Pomodoro sauce is a great Italian tomato sauce that you can serve over cooked pasta, or even as a sauce for your homemade pizza. Made from tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and fresh basil it is like marinara sauce, but somewhat thicker.You can make it chunky like I do here, or even puree it for a creamier sauce.
- [Irish Carrot Soup](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/11/irish-carrot-soup.html) - When the weather starts to get colder, nothing warms you up like a nice bowl of soup at lunch. Soups are easy to make, and you save money making it from scratch rather than buying it from a bistro everyday at lunch. You can also control the sodium, as many canned soups are loaded with it. I like
- [Roasted Pumpkin Seeds](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/11/roasted-pumpkin-seeds.html) - One of my favorite parts about carving a jack-o-lantern is having the pumpkin seeds to roast afterward. There are many different variations on the classic roasted pumpkin seed. This is the one that I use every year, because I love the simple taste of salt and olive oil. It really lets the nutty taste come
- [Nut-Free Nanaimo Bars](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/10/nut-free-nanaimo-bars.html) - Nanaimo Bars are a popular Canadian treat that are absolutely delicious. Creamy and chocolately and coconutty (is that a word?). These are a great thing to made for the upcoming holidays. They are sweet and rich and oh so decadent. And I've yet to meet someone who hasn't love this recipe. Even non-coconut lovers like
- [Welcome to 2018! My Goals and Intentions for the New Year](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/01/welcome-to-2018-my-goals-and-intentions-for-the-new-year.html) - I hope you've all had a great start to 2018! We've been slowly easing back into regular life and trying to get shaped around after the holidays. Just like last year, I've decided to work from a paper planner again to keep track of my work projects and goals every week. I usually only have a
- [Our Family Christmas 2017 {vlog}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2018/01/our-family-christmas-2017-vlog.html) - Happy New Year!!! I hope you've all had a lovely Christmas break and are excited for what's to come in 2018. We had a really nice holiday at home with loved ones this year, and despite all three of us getting week-long colds starting on Christmas morning, we had a chance to rest and recharge.
- [A Visit from Jolly Old St. Nick {Vlog}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/12/a-visit-from-jolly-old-st-nick-vlog.html) - The last couple of weeks have been pretty busy but I found some time last night, between baking cookies and wrapping gifts, to put together a little vlog of the last couple of weeks. I'll be taking a break from the blog over the next week to spend time with family but then I'll be
- [Brass Ring Christmas Wreath {Video}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/12/brass-ring-christmas-wreath.html) - We're in the final days before Christmas and I thought I'd share one of my favourite decorations I've been enjoying this season. Brass Ring Christmas Wreaths are everywhere right now and they're so easy to make yourself. You can decorate them with anything you like. I've put together a little tutorial if you'd like to make one
- [Happy 4th Anniversary Whiskey! {Nut-Free Dog Birthday Cake Recipe)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/06/nut-free-dog-birthday-cake-recipe.html) - Whiskey is a rescue dog, so we don't really know how old he is. I think he was about 1.5 to 2 years old when I got him, but we can't really be sure. So instead of celebrating his birthday, we celebrate the anniversary of when he rescued me. (Year One, Year Two, Year Three) Today marks four
- [Giving the Gift of BarkBox](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/12/christmas-for-dogs-barkbox-review.html) - This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of BarkBox. All opinions are 100% mine. With Christmas fast approaching, I'm looking for something for everyone on our list, including our beloved pooches. This year we're getting Whiskey and Cola a BarkBox subscription to enjoy all year long. Every month, a new BarkBox arrives in
- [The Perfect Gift for Our Little Chef](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/12/sponsored-christmas-present-play-kitchen-wayfair.html) - Our sweet little Lucy is too young to read the blog yet, so I can share her Christmas gift early and tell you all about the exciting gift we found on Wayfair.ca. I've worked with this great retailer on a few projects this year, so I was very excited when they wanted to work together
- [Christmas at Cloverhill Farmhouse 2017](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/12/christmas-farmhouse-tour-2017.html) - With twelve days left until Christmas, I'm excited to share a little home tour of our Christmas decorations at Cloverhill Farmhouse. You can see my Christmas decor from last year and every other year in the Holiday Guide. I've kept things fairly simple and toddler-safe this year, so there are many decorations that I didn't put
- [Holiday Essentials Shopping List](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/12/christmas-essentials-shopping-list.html) - Throughout the holiday season, we have family dinners, get-togethers with friends and festive parties, and there is nothing quite like running out of coffee in the middle of a family brunch or getting to the last piece of clear tape when you're in the middle of wrapping a gift. That's why I come up with
- [Getting into the Holiday Spirit {Vlog}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/11/getting-into-the-holiday-spirit-vlog.html) - It's finally starting to feel like the holidays around here! We celebrated the American Thanksgiving with Garrett's family that was visiting from South Carolina last week. I love celebrating both - we get double the turkey! On the weekend, we kicked off the holiday season with a trip to a pioneer village to see it all decked out
- [Sparkly Chocolate Fudge Cookies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/11/sparkly-chocolate-fudge-cookies.html) - Baking around the holidays is always one of my favourite traditions. I try to make it feel special by playing some Christmas music, making a big mug of tea and putting on my favourite Christmas apron. I have some Christmas cookie recipes in my Holiday Guide and these Sparkly Chocolate Fudge Cookies are sure to become a family favourite
- [Family Birthday Weekend {Vlog}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/11/family-birthday-weekend-vlog.html) - These past couple weeks have been busy, and I haven't remembered to bring my camera along with me very often. I picked it up again this weekend when we had some time with family, celebrating a couple of birthdays. You can see more in the vlog at the end of the post. The snow has come
- [Weeks 17-20: Hitting the Halfway Mark](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/01/weeks-17-20.html) - As I was editing today's post, it dawned on me that the last month has just flown by. I can't believe that I'm already halfway through this pregnancy and that in a few months I'll be a mother. For real. And I don't even feel like an adult half the time. Week 17 The holidays
- [#LittlestFighters - World Prematurity Day with Pampers](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/11/littlestfighters-world-prematurity-day-pampers.html) - Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Pampers. All opinions and thoughts are my own. Before we had Lucy, I had a few friends who had preterm babies that needed to spend time in the NICU. They’d talk about the struggles of going back and forth from the hospital at all hours and the constant worry
- [Picking our Christmas Card with Minted](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/11/picking-christmas-cards-minted.html) - Disclosure - This post is sponsored by Minted. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Over the weekend, we set up the tripod in the backyard and took a few family pictures for our Christmas card this year. Sending out Christmas cards is one of my favourite holiday traditions. In my Holiday Guide every year, I share my
- [Lighting Up Our Front Porch](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/05/sponsored-farmhouse-front-porch-summer-lights.html) - When we moved into Cloverhill Farmhouse two years ago, I'm so glad we took the time to restore the front porch. Using old photos we'd found of the house and inspiration from similar houses, we came up with a clean design that worked with our plans to fix the porch roof with four new posts and
- [The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair {Vlog}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/11/royal-winter-fair-toronto-vlog.html) - This past weekend, we took a trip to Toronto for Lucy's first visit to The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. I've put together a little vlog to share our fun day out and you can catch it at the end of the post. It had been eight years since I had been to The Royal, which was also
- [2016 Holiday Guide is Live!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/11/2016-holiday-gift-guide-is-live.html) - It's that time of year again... The 2016 Holiday Guide is live! It's a collection of my favourite holiday recipes, decor, projects, activities, gift ideas and organizing tips. From my family's traditional holiday meals to easy handmade gifts, there are plenty of ideas of how you can make this Christmas special for your family too.
- [The 2015 Holiday Guide is Live!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/11/holiday-guide-live.html) - I'm excited to announce today that for the second year in a row, I'm sharing my Holiday Guide, with a collection of my blog posts from the last six years, highlighting different projects, family recipes, festive decor, organizing tips, gift ideas and activities for the upcoming holiday season. You'll find the new drop down menu
- [The 2017 Holiday Guide is LIVE!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/11/holiday-guide-2017-live.html) - For the last few years, I've put together a Holiday Guide. Many of you go back every year to read my top Christmas blog posts and I like to put them all in one place to make it easier to find them. I'll be adding to it throughout the holiday season with new posts for you enjoy as
- [A Fun Family Halloween {Vlog}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/11/fun-family-halloween-vlog.html) - Living out in the country has really given me an appreciation of how beautiful each season is. I have loved getting to watch all the leaves change in the distance, and see every field get harvested one-by-one. It won't be long before these are covered in snow! We took a little trip out to a farm's
- [Preparing for Winter](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/10/preparing-for-winter.html) - As I sit here at our dining room table to write, I can hear the wind whistling around the house. It may be a sunny and bright fall day, but the bitter cold has made its return and we're bracing ourselves for what's to come in the next five months. I love that we live in an area
- [A Visit to the Farm {Vlog}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/10/a-visit-to-the-farm-vlog.html) - As our own little flower farm ends for the year, it seemed like a great time to get out and enjoy the harvest season on another farm. The folks at Brooks Farm in Mt. Albert, Ontario kindly gave us some tickets to come enjoy their Fall Fun Festival. I'm so glad I was able to
- [Dried Flower Wreath](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/10/dried-flower-wreath.html) - I'm excited to announce that I'm back for another year with the Creative Team at Kenarry – Ideas for the Home. Every month the Creative Team shares recipes, crafts, DIY projects, home tips, seasonal specialties, decor and more. This month I've put together a fun Dried Flower Wreath that lets you enjoy summer flowers all year-long. Drying flowers is
- [Out & About {Vlog}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/10/out-and-about-vlog.html) - Fall always means lots of outdoor chores for us, but when we had a few rainy days last week, it seemed like the perfect time to get out for a bit, including a little road trip. This week's family vlog is at the end of the post, so be sure to check it out. It
- [Improving Our Well Water with Culligan](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/10/improving-our-well-water-culligan.html) - This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Culligan for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. When we first moved into our farmhouse, we had no idea what to expect with living on a well. Garrett and I both grew up with town water and were unprepared for what we could be
- [Our Canadian Thanksgiving {Vlog}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/10/our-canadian-thanksgiving-vlog.html) - Family-filled holiday weekends like we just had are always my favourite, especially now that we have Lucy. She was right in her element with all the family around..and food, ha! I've put together a vlog of our weekend at the bottom of this post and on my YouTube channel. On Saturday, we went to my aunt
- [Building our Garbage Bin Lean-To Shed {Video}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/10/building-our-garbage-bin-lean-to-shed-video.html) - Disclaimer – This post was sponsored by Home Depot Canada. All opinions and thoughts are my own. After such a cold and wet summer, there was very little free time away from the flower fields to work on outdoor projects about the farmhouse. Thankfully we've been having a lovely warm fall, with many beautiful days for
- [Fall in the Flower Field {Vlog}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/10/fall-in-the-flower-field-vlog.html) - We've had an incredible second season of Cloverhill Flowers and things are finally starting to wind down. I put together a little vlog this week of some of the things we've been up to. (You can find it at the bottom of this post). The bees, butterflies, and birds are trying to get everything out
- [Thanksgiving Dessert Mantel - A Pumpkin Extravaganza!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/11/thanksgiving-dessert-mantel-pumpkin-extravaganza.html) - Earlier this fall, I shared some inspiration photos for a Thanksgiving Dessert Table. My mother and sister ran with the idea and created this great Thanksgiving Dessert Mantel above the fireplace for our Canadian Thanksgiving last month. I know that so many of my American friends are gearing up for your Thanksgiving in a couple
- [Holding Onto Summer {Vlog}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/09/holding-onto-summer-vlog.html) - It's rare for me to post on a Sunday, but we've had issues with our internet all weekend, so when it finally started working early Sunday morning, I could hardly wait to hit 'Publish'! Our second vlog is live on the Life at Cloverhill YouTube Channel now. I'm still trying to get the hang of
- [Road Trip Souvenirs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/09/road-trip-souvenirs.html) - Whenever we all traveling, I love to pick up a few things to remember our trip by. Instead of the usual souvenirs, I try to find things that we can bring into our home and enjoy on a regular basis. I love being about to see little things every day that makes me think of
- [Honeymoon Shopping & Bringing Home Souvenirs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/08/honeymoon-shopping-bringing-home-souvenirs.html) - I'm not usually a big shopper, but before we left on our honeymoon, Garrett and I agreed to pick up some things along the way that we could fill our home with to remember our great road trip. Now that we're back home, I'm so glad that we did it. I can't help but look
- [Summer Road Trip 2017 {Part 1}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/09/summer-road-trip-2017-ontario-vermont-newyork-part1.html) - Garrett and I love a good road trip, so it probably comes as no surprise that when we had a week off this summer, we loaded up the car and headed out. In the past, we've gone to Salem, Massachusetts and our big Honeymoon Road Trip through the Southern US, but this was the first long
- [Summer Road Trip 2017 {Part 2}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/09/summer-road-trip-2017-ontario-vermont-newyork-part2.html) - If you haven't already read about our adventures in Ontario and Vermont at the start of the trip, head over to last week's post on PART 1. After our time in Burlington and Shelburne, Vermont, we headed further south to the quaint town of Middlebury, Vermont. We stayed at the historic Middlebury Inn, right in
- [Our Family Vlog - A New Adventure](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/09/family-vlog-new-adventure.html) - Happy Friday!!! I'm so very excited to announce a secret little project we've been working on the last couple of weeks - we're doing a family vlog series! The plan is to share some little snippets of our family life and behind the scenes footage. At this point, we're not sure how often it will
- [Easy Cherry Tomato Pasta](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/09/easy-cherry-tomato-pasta.html) - It feels like forever and a day since I last posted an everyday recipe. A few weeks back I realized we've been in a bit of a rut lately, eating the same things in a rotation, based on whatever is in season or on sale each week. I felt like we were all starting to
- [Picking Apples at Chudleighs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/09/picking-apples-chudleighs.html) - Fall is such a beautiful time of year here in Ontario and we try to make the most of it. What better way to celebrate the harvest season than picking apples! We had the chance to do just that last month when we visited the famous Chudleigh's Farm in Milton, Ontario. We had an absolute
- [Labour Day Corn Roast + The End of Summer](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/09/labour-day-corn-roast-end-of-summer.html) - It's a chilly morning here today, but it's just the kind of recovery day that we need at home after a busy and fun weekend. On Friday, Garrett, Lucy and I started to make our way back home from our vacation and got in by dinner time. Saturday morning they headed off to his parent's
- [Freezer Peach Pie Filling](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/08/freezer-peach-pie-filling.html) - Last week my uncle brought me a whole bunch of perfect Ontario peaches and I knew I wanted to preserve them in a way that we'd be able to enjoy them on through our long Canadian winter. I turned some of them into a strawberry-peach freezer jam (which I shared about on Instagram Stories) and I called my
- [My Top Tips on How to Use Painter's Mate Painter's Tape](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/08/painters-mate-painting-tape-top-tips.html) - This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Painter’s Mate Green® painter’s tape for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. We are finally back on track with the powder room renovation again and I'm so excited to be at the painting stage. The space is really starting to come together and adding paint
- [A Fun Filled Day at the CNE](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/08/fun-filled-day-cne.html) - Last week, I went with some of my family to the opening day of the CNE - Canada's National Exhibition. I hadn't been in six years, since Garrett and I went when I lived in Toronto. It was the first time Lucy and my youngest cousin had ever been and we made sure to do
- [August in the Flower Field](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/08/august-in-the-flower-field.html) - Our flower field at Cloverhill Flowers is full of blooms! Back in June, I showed you what the field looked like, as well as the new method we've been doing this year. My mom and I are in our second year of running the business and it's been exciting to test out so many new varieties
- [I QUIT my job! Now what...](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/08/i-quit-my-job-now-what.html) - For those of you who follow along on my Instagram Stories, I mentioned a few days ago that I had some news to share today.... I QUIT MY JOB. I guess I better back up first and explain how we got here. In Canada we get a full year maternity leave, meaning I was supposed
- [2017 ASCFG Growers Meeting - New Friends & Flowers](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/08/2017-ascfg-growers-meeting.html) - Earlier this week I had the chance to do something that really pushed me outside of my comfort zone with our Cloverhill Flowers business. As many of you know, this is our second year and I still feel like we have so much to learn. Our friend Janet from Country Cut Flowers couldn't attend the second day of
- [DIY Wrought Iron Headboard](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/07/diy-wrought-iron-headboard.html) - Back when I did the One Room Challenge this spring to makeover our master bedroom, there was one piece I was very excited about creating - our DIY wrought iron headboard. This DIY was one of the fastest projects that we did for the space and it gave the room some nice contrast. After falling
- [Scenes from the Weekend](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/07/scenes-from-the-weekend.html) - We had a busy weekend, with most of the time spent outdoors or out-and-about. It felt like a real summer weekend. The kind that you dream about in the throes of winter. FRIDAY It was my mom's birthday, so we took the day off from the flower field and headed out on an adventure. We
- [Weeks 4-12: I can't believe we're having a baby](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/11/weeks-4-12-i-cant-believe-were-having-a-baby.html) - Thank you so much for everyone's kind words and well wishes yesterday. It's been so hard to keep this secret and now that it's finally out it's such a big relief! After the news yesterday, I'm sure this will explain why I haven't been as active on the blog or social media as much the
- [Classic Sour Cherry Pie](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/07/classic-sour-cherry-pie.html) - Summertime in Ontario means taking advantage of our beautiful fruits and vegetables. Whether it's from a farmers market or your own backyard, using in-season produce is a great way to celebrate the warm weather. This Classic Sour Cherry pie recipe was a big hit at our house and I was able to make it using just
- [Happy Canada Day!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/07/happy-canada-day-150.html) - Today our beautiful, strong and free country turns 150! Despite the rainy weather they're calling for, we plan to celebrate all weekend with family and friends. This little cutie was excited for a break in the rain to hang out in the yard and wear this adorable maple leaf romper she got for her birthday.
- [June in the Flower Field & Farmers Market](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/06/june-in-the-flower-field-farmers-market.html) - I've received many requests for an update on our Cloverhill Flower business, and now that we've gotten seven weeks of our second season under our belts, I feel like we finally have a real update. As you may know, my mom and I started our own flower farm last year on the back quarter acre
- [One Room Challenge Week 4: Bringing Back the Character](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/04/one-room-bringing-back-the-challenge-week-4-adding-the-character.html) - As a quick reminder, over the span of six weeks, I’m making over our master bedroom at the farmhouse as part of the One Room Challenge hosted by Calling It Home. So far I've shared the plan, updated some furniture and figured out our lighting situation. This week we finally got to work on a
- [One Room Challenge Week 1: Farmhouse Master Bedroom Inspiration Board](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/04/one-room-challenge-week-1-farmhouse-master-bedroom-inspiration-board.html) - We've put our powder room renovations on hold for the next few weeks while we wait on a few things, which means it's the perfect time for me to finally jump into the One Room Challenge by Calling it Home. For years I've admired the challenge from afar, always hoping that I could get the right room
- [One Room Challenge Week 2: Furniture Updates](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/04/one-room-challenge-week-2-furniture-updates.html) - Welcome back for week two of the One Room Challenge! Over six weeks, I'm updating our Farmhouse Master Bedroom and sharing my progress throughout the makeover. Last week I showed before shots, as well as the inspiration and plan. This is my first time participating in the challenge and so far I can see why so many
- [One Room Challenge Week 3: Let There Be Light](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/04/one-room-challenge-week-3-let-there-be-light.html) - For those who are just catching up, I'm making over our master bedroom at the farmhouse as part of the One Room Challenge hosted by Calling It Home. We've got six weeks to take the space from a boring box to the beautiful serene oasis that we long for. In week one I shared the plan
- [One Room Challenge Week 5: Spackle and Spray Paint](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/05/one-room-challenge-week-5-spackle-and-spray-paint.html) - As a quick reminder, over the span of six weeks, I’m making over our master bedroom at the farmhouse as part of the One Room Challenge hosted by Calling It Home. So far I've shared the plan, updated some furniture, figured out our lighting situation and started to add new trim. I can hardly type this
- [Lucy's 1st Birthday Party](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/06/lucys-1st-birthday-party.html) - How quickly a year goes by. We tried to recreate Lucy's newborn flower crown photos for her birthday...but quickly realized that keeping it on was much harder with a one-year-old. A couple of weeks ago we had our families over to the farmhouse for a fun bbq lunch to celebrate our girl turning ONE! I love
- [Powder Room Progress](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/06/powder-room-progress.html) - We're slowly getting closer to finishing the powder room and I thought I'd pop in on this rainy day to share an update on how things are going. We took almost a little hiatus from working on this room while we did our Farmhouse Master Bedroom Makeover for the One Room Challenge, but now we're back in
- [Washing & Storing Seasonal Produce](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/07/washing-storing-seasonal-produce.html) - Every week I pick up our organic CSA food share to see what goodies they've harvested. This week we got carrots, beets, three types of kale, swiss chard, garlic scapes, broccoli, onions, rhubarb, parsley and basil. So much good, healthy whole food! We have a relatively short growing season here, which means I need to
- [Pom Pom Trimmed Valance](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/05/pom-pom-trimmed-valance.html) - After a year of spending lots of time in Lucy's Soft and Sweet Farmhouse Nursery, I'm excited to share one of my favourite DIY projects we did - Pom Pom Trimmed Window Valances! As soon as we knew we were putting up roller blinds, I was on the hunt for something to hide their hardware. I started looking
- [Crazy Days of May](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/05/crazy-days-of-may.html) - buHappy Friday friends! It feels like I'm running around like crazy these days, but I thought I'd pop in for a little hello and to tell you what's been going on. I'd always anticipated May being a busy month this year, but so far it's exceeding my expectations. Along with our wedding anniversary, house anniversary, my
- [Updating my Spring Wardrobe #GotItAtSears](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/05/sears-canada-spring-wardrobe-igotitatsears.html) - Last spring I was extremely pregnant and then home all summer with a newborn...so when it came time to pull out my warm weather clothes this year, I realized that the pickings were quite slim. Have you heard about Sears Canada's new off-price division called The Cut @ Sears? With brand name fashion finds (and beautiful
- [Coconut Sugar Butter Tart Squares](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/04/coconut-sugar-butter-tart-squares.html) - This year marks Canada's 150th birthday and it's got me thinking about some of the classic recipes that have been shared from coast to coast. In my family, we’ve all got a real soft spot for mom’s homemade butter tarts. The rich filling in a flaky crust is a Canadian classic, but I've been looking for
- [A Happy Little Bunny](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/04/a-happy-little-bunny.html) - With all the sunshine and time with family, we had a great weekend celebrating Lucy's first Easter. As each holiday has rolled around in this first year, I've loved being able to share the seasons with her. Growing up, holidays were always a big deal in our house and my parents made them feel so
- [Springtime Chicks](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/04/springtime-chicks.html) - If you read this month's newsletter when it came out on Friday morning, you'll know that we have three sweet little new additions to Cloverhill. They're a week old today and we're still working on names. They are two Black Star chicks and one Barred Rock. (Not getting the newsletter yet? Subscribe in the sidebar
- [Finding Inspiration on Vacation](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/03/florida-finding-inspiration.html) - Earlier this month Lucy and I took a trip down to Southwest Florida to visit my parents who are enjoying a lovely "winter" down there. I've taken the last couple of weeks since we've been back home to get caught up (as if that's every really possible). Part of that time has been working on
- [Protecting Our Family From Financial Fraud](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/03/protecting-our-family-from-fraud-checklist.html) - The best way to protect your family’s assets and avoid financial fraud is to take preventative measures. From not sharing passwords/PINs to monitoring your accounts regularly, there are easy things that can have a big impact on how protected your accounts are. It is also your responsibility to protect yourself and be aware of your
- [$10 Faux Succulent Beach Terrarium](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/03/faux-succulent-beach-terrarium.html) - We've been having a great vacation down in Southwest Florida visiting my parents. It's been a welcome break from all the cold and snow. Lucy is turning into quite the little beach baby and I love to take her down to the gulf, walk along the beach and collect shells. Inspired by these beach strolls,
- [My Top Tips for Buying a House](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/03/top-tips-buying-a-house-real-estate.html) - We’ve been at Cloverhill Farmhouse for almost two years now, and I still feel so lucky every day that we get to call this place home. It’s where we plan to raise our family and celebrate the great moments together. I picture Lucy rushing down the stairs on Christmas morning, playing in the backyard with the
- [Revealing Our Home's History - Powder Room Update](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/02/revealing-our-homes-history-powder-room-update.html) - When we first decided to take on renovating our downstairs powder room, we had no idea what we'd find behind the walls of our 1903 century home, Cloverhill. I shared my Farmhouse Powder Room Makeover Mood Board earlier this month, but even then we really had our fingers crossed about what we'd find once we started pulling
- [Life Lately](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/02/life-lately-feb-2017.html) - Happy Tuesday! We had a long weekend here in Ontario for Family Day, so it feels like a Monday...and then every once in awhile I realize it's actually one day closer to Friday. Woohoo! I took a few pictures of Lucy last week when she was all dressed up for Valentine's Day and I can't get over
- [Under the Sea - A Visit to Ripley's Aquarium in Toronto](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/02/ripleys-aquarium-toronto-review.html) - Even with the bitterly cold winter that we've been having, it's been nice to force ourselves to get out of the house with Lucy to see friends and family. A few weeks ago, we met up with a group of friends to visit Ripley's Aquarium of Canada in Toronto and had a blast catching up
- [Slow Cooker Butternut Squash & Parsnip Soup](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/02/slow-cooker-butternut-squash-parsnip-soup.html) - Just when I thought we might be getting an early taste of spring, a wicked winter storm rolled in this weekend and covered us in well over a foot of snow! On days like this, it's nice to get a big pot of soup going to warm us up after a day of playing out in
- [10 Things to do NOW to Get Ready for the Holidays](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/11/10-things-now-get-ready-for-the-holidays.html) - It seemed like as soon as November 1st rolled around this weekend, I couldn't help but start thinking about one of my favourite times of year - the holidays! The last few years I have been determined to get organized leading up to December so that I can actually enjoy that month with all the
- [10 Tips to Organize Your Holiday Dinners for Less Stress and More Time with Family](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/11/ten-tips-organize-holiday-dinners-less-stress-more-family.html) - Whether your family is celebrating Thanksgiving soon or Chanukah or Christmas, you're bound to have some big holiday dinners coming up. Over the years of watching my mom organize our family dinners and helping her, I've learned some great tips to help cut down the stress and focus on what's really important - spending time
- [Salted Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/08/salted-chocolate-chip-oatmeal-cookies.html) - As many of our American friends are sending their kiddos off to school right now, I thought I’d share a fun take on the “oatmeal cookie”. These cookies almost have a granola bar-like texture. They are soft and chewy on the inside with a crisp outside. The little grains of sea salt on the top bring
- [A Beautiful Afternoon in Historic East Aurora, NY](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/02/beautiful-historic-east-aurora-ny.html) - Just thirty minutes south of the Canada/US border lies the beautiful town of East Aurora, NY. For many years, my father had work in East Aurora and would travel there often. On a few occasions, we tagged along for a family adventure. The beautiful town has held a special place in my heart ever since. Just
- [Friday Favourites - Front Porch Swingin' {5 Great Styles of Porches}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/07/front-porch-styles.html) - Last night we went to my parents' house to celebrate my mom's birthday because we won't be able to see them for her real birthday over the weekend. We were sitting out on their back porch enjoying some homemade ice cream (recipe to come soon!) and I realized how much I love just sitting on
- [Honeymoon Road Trip - Part 2: Beautiful Laurel, Mississippi](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/06/honeymoon-road-trip-part-2-beautiful-laurel-mississippi.html) - Over the past week of going through our honeymoon photos, Garrett and I have been reliving some of our favourite moments (and there are lots). When we got to a discussion about Laurel we came to an unanimous decision - it was one of our favourite places we visited on the whole trip. Most of
- [Honeymoon Road Trip - Part 1: Heading out on the Open Road {Nashville & Arriving in Laurel}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/06/honeymoon-road-trip-part-1-heading-open-road-nashville-arriving-laurel.html) - At the beginning of this month we got back from an epic sixteen day road trip through the Southern US for our honeymoon. It is hands down one of the best times we've ever had. So much to see and so much to do. We drove through sixteen states (Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, South
- [My Road Trip Essentials with Etsy Canada](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/my-road-trip-essentials-with-etsy-canada-etsy-road-trip.html) - Starting tomorrow, Etsy Canada is heading out on a road trip - hitting 4 cities in 10 days! They're filling a 30-foot custom AirStream trailer with incredible vintage and handmade goods and making stops in Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston and Toronto. At each city there with be Etsy sellers, musicians, local food trucks and product giveaways!
- [Farmhouse Powder Room Makeover Mood Board](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/02/farmhouse-powder-room-inspiration.html) - As I mentioned last month, we've got some fun interior renovations lined up this year at the farmhouse, including our main floor powder room, and I'm so pumped to be able to give you a sneak peak today. In my Farmhouse Progress Tour, I shared what our powder room currently looks like. It's right off
- [5 Tips for a Clean Kitchen + a Mrs. Meyer's Giveaway!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/01/5-tips-for-a-clean-kitchen-a-mrs-meyers-giveaway.html) - The kitchen is the heart of the home, and as a result it can see the most traffic and mayhem. I've found that there are some easy ways you can combat clutter and have a fresh, clean kitchen! A big part of my clean routine is using good products. I've loved Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day for
- [Top 5 Things To Do in the Sarasota Area](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/01/top-5-must-visit-sarasota-area.html) - We're all battling some kind of a cold this week and as I struggle to make it through each day feeling like my head is in a vice, I can't help daydreaming about our first family vacation back in November. While visiting my parents' place in Southwest Florida, we took a solo road trip along
- [Travel Journal: Mote Marine Laboratory](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/03/travel-journal-mote-marine-laboratory.html) - While we were in Siesta Key, Florida, there is no way that I could miss going to the Mote Marine Laboratory. They are on the forefront of marine research and have one of the best aquariums I've every been to. They let you explore the local and continental marine life through touch pools, high-tech interactive
- [DIY Get Well Soon Gift Basket](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/01/diy-get-well-soon-basket.html) - It's that time of year when we all seem to know someone who has been feeling under the weather lately or is recovering from surgery. It can be a hard time of year with the shorter darker days and winter weather, so what about sending them an unexpected care package to cheer them up? It only
- [Looking Forward to What 2017 Brings](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/01/looking-forward-to-what-2017-brings.html) - The past year has been one of the busiest but most rewarding years of my life. We welcomed Lucy into the world and things have never been the same since. Then with a newborn in tow, my mother and I started a lifelong dream of creating our own business, Cloverhill Flowers. Garrett and I relished
- [Our Cozy Family Christmas](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2017/01/our-cozy-family-christmas.html) - Happy New Year! This was the first year that Garrett has had the holidays off and it's been lovely to have him home for so much time. We've been visiting our families, but we've also spent some good time at home just hanging out together over the last two weeks. Lucy turned seven months old and has
- [Giving Gifts With A Personal Touch](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/12/gifts-personal-touch-staples-canada.html) - One of my favourite parts of the holiday season is picking out gifts for loved ones and this year Staples Canada let me create some personalized photo gifts to give to our families. I gave a sneak peak on Instagram Stories a couple of days ago, but I can finally share them with you here! My family loves doing
- [Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/12/merry-christmas-2016.html) - I'm so thankfully of all of you, my dear friends, who take the time to stop by the blog and follow our story. We'd like to wish a very Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones. I'll be sharing our holiday weekend on Instagram Stories, so be sure to pop in and see what we're
- [Cloverhill Farmhouse Christmas Tour 2016](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/12/cloverhill-farmhouse-christmas-tour-2016.html) - Merry Christmas! I can hardly believe we're only ten days away from Christmas. We've had a busy year, with so much to celebrate and be thankful for. Grab a hot cocoa and come along for a little tour of our farmhouse decorated for Christmas. For the most part, I've arranged things the same way they
- [Festive Frosted Candles](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/12/festive-frosted-candles.html) - It's so easy to get swept up in the busyness of the season and forget to savour and enjoy this time of year. Earlier this month I shared some of the ways I like to destress during the holidays and one of the things I'd mentioned was focusing on the senses. I love to craft and create,
- [Handmade Lavender Sachets](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/11/homemade-lavender-sachets.html) - Back in the summer, I dried some lavender bundles from our Cloverhill Flowers farmers market booth and saved them to make these Handmade Lavender Sachets. They're easy to out together and are great as holiday gifts! All it takes is some dried lavender, rice, essential oils and scrap fabric. They're great for keeping your linen drawers and
- [Northern Italian Bolognese Sauce](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/03/northern-italian-bolognese-sauce.html) - Many of my favourite recipes are those that have been passed down from family and friends. They're the dog-eared pages in your grandmother's recipe books and the butter stained notes of a recipe card written in your mother's writing. Eight years ago a friend taught me how to make a version of this bolognese sauce
- [Christmas in the City](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/12/toronto-christmas-market-christmas-in-the-city.html) - When I lived in Toronto and we'd first started dating, Garrett and I would often go to Christmas activities in the city - Casa Loma, Black Creek Pioneer Village and the Toronto Christmas Market to name a few. Since we've moved out to the country, it's pretty rare that we venture into the city unless
- [An Old Fashioned Christmas at Black Creek Pioneer Village](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/12/old-fashioned-christmas-black-creek-pioneer-village.html) - Earlier this month, Garrett and I went to Black Creek Pioneer Village as part of our Advent Activities Calendar. It had been over two years since our last visit and neither of us had experienced it before during the Christmas season. They have a great calendar of events lined up for the holiday season with
- [How to Make a Holiday Flower Arrangement with Real and Faux Greenery](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/11/sponsored-how-to-make-a-christmas-flower-arrangement-holiday.html) - As we start to get ready for the holidays, there are so many things to think about. From decking the halls and finding the perfect gifts to updating your home with new furniture and linens for guests - there is plenty to do at home, but what about when you're a guest during the holidays?
- [Getting Ready for Christmas with Sears Canada #GotItAtSears](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/11/getting-ready-christmas-sears-canada.html) - With our daughter Lucy’s first Christmas fast approaching, it’s bringing back all the memories Garrett and I have of our own childhood holidays. I usually have all my Christmas shopping done by early December, but this year I'm realising it's a little more complicated with a baby and stroller in tow. Which is why I'm really looking
- [The Ultimate Holiday Card Checklist](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/11/ultimate-holiday-card-christmas-checklist-minted.html) - One of the best parts of the holiday season is sending and receiving Christmas cards. With one month left until Christmas, there is still time to send out beautiful cards that will delight everyone on your list. My favourite are the foil-pressed and letterpress cards from Minted! Not sure where to start? Here is my Ultimate
- [Cheesy Turkey Pasta Bake](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/11/cheesy-turkey-pasta-bake.html) - Happy Thanksgiving to my American family and friends! I'm excited to actually be in Florida this year to celebrate with family. For years, we've celebrated both the Canadian and American holidays because my dad worked in the States and would get both holidays off. He retired this fall, but we couldn't get away from tradition,
- [My 2016 Favourite Things Holiday Gift Guide ($500 in Giveaway Prizes!)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/11/2016-favourite-things-holiday-gift-guide.html) - I am so beyond excited to share my 2016 Favourite Things Holiday Guide! They're all things I use and love, and the really great thing is that if you enter today, you're eligible to win any of the things on this list! We're talking about over $500 worth in giveaway prizes, generously sponsored by each maker. I
- [How to Make Floral Arrangement Ribbon Bows](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/11/how-to-make-floral-arrangement-ribbon-bows.html) - Hi folks! I'm popping in with a special Saturday afternoon tutorial to share how to make your own Floral Arrangement Bows. It's a trick my mom taught me from her days running her own florist shop and it's been really helpful it making my own arrangements look more professional. I featured these bows in yesterday's
- [Kitchen Essentials Holiday Gift Guide](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/11/kitchen-essentials-holiday-gift-guide.html) - Whether you’re new to cooking or have someone on your gift list that is moving into their first home or apartment, I’ve put together a holiday gift guide with my favourite kitchen essentials. These are things I use all the time in my own kitchen and would be a great place to start for holiday
- [The Itty Bitty Kitchen](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/07/itty-bitty-kitchen.html) - The other day I realized that I've shown you guys plenty of pictures of the living room (spring/fall) and bedroom (spring/fall), but I'd yet to show you the most used room in my apartment - my itty bitty kitchen. Considering how much cooking and baking I do, it really is a tight space to work in,
- [Festive Holiday Coasters](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/11/festive-holiday-cork-coasters.html) - Gatherings with friends and family around the holidays are one of my favourite parts of the season. Whether we're attending parties or hosting guests ourselves, it's so nice to see everyone this time of year. For this month's Makeful Challenge, they sent out sets of cork coasters to decorate for the holidays. I came up with
- [My Favorite Christmas Movies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/12/my-favorite-christmas-movies.html) - This weekend, my little 6 year old cousin has been staying with us for her annual Christmas sleepover. We do crafts, drink hot chocolate, decorate the tree and of course watch plenty of Christmas movies. Seeing how excited she gets about Christmas reminds me of how much I LOVED it as a kid (and still
- [Preparing for an Emergency](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/02/preparing-for-an-emergency.html) - Just look at these icicles hanging over our front door. I have to walk under these things to get in/out. I'm constantly afraid of being struck by one of them. And look at how big that one is on the second story of the house! Does anyone else feel like we're living in the movie FROZEN this year?
- [Happy Halloween from a Baby Monkey and a Bunch of Bananas](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/10/baby-monkey-costume-dog-banana-costume.html) - Happy Halloween! We're spending the day visiting friends and family, but I wanted to pop in and share Lucy's and the dogs' Halloween costumes with you all. I had so much fun making them! Pretty early on we knew that Lucy's Halloween costume was going to be a monkey... ...and what monkey wouldn't want a bunch
- [Exciting Things on the Horizon](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/10/exciting-things-on-the-horizon.html) - This month marks seven years of blogging. I can hardly believe I’ve been writing here that long and at the same time it’s hard to remember a time when I didn’t have the blog. It’s been the place I’ve shared my journey from a single girl living in the city with her dog, to moving
- [Sweet Potato Vegetarian Chili {Our 2016 Harvest Bonfire}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/10/sweet-potato-vegetarian-chili-our-2016-harvest-bonfire.html) - This summer was a busy one! Between a newborn and a budding flower business, there was little time left for getting together with friends, so we decided to finish off the season with a good ol' fashioned bonfire and chili dinner! We had a great time hosting our corn roast last summer and were excited
- [Christmas Traditions at Our Pioneer Village](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/11/christmas-traditions-at-our-pioneer-village.html) - When Garrett and I first moved to our town, we joined the local historical society. We would like to eventually do some research on our old farmhouse in their archives and see if we can learn more about the surrounding area. A few times a year they hold special events at the local pioneer village
- [Lucy's First Thanksgiving](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/10/lucys-first-thanksgiving.html) - We had the best Thanksgiving weekend. It was full of family, food, flowers and beautiful fall weather - what more could we ask for! It was Lucy's first big family holiday and although she may not remember it, I know I will! :) The weekend started off with making 50 Cloverhill Flowers pumpkin arrangements. My mom
- [DIY Microwave Popcorn in a Bowl](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/10/diy-microwave-popcorn-in-a-bowl.html) - I'm so excited to announce that I've joined the Creative Team at Kenarry - Ideas for the Home. The first guest post I'm sharing is this easy, healthy DIY Microwave Popcorn recipe that you make in a bowl! It's a healthy and inexpensive alternative to store-bought microwave popcorn, making it the perfect after school snack or
- [My Family's Bacon Wrapped Turkey Tradition {& more Holiday Dinner Recipes}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/11/my-familys-bacon-wrapped-turkey-tradition-holiday-dinner-recipes.html) - For as long as I can remember, my family has always wrapped our turkeys in bacon. No need for basting, because the fat from the bacon does it for you! It makes the skin and meat perfectly seasoned without really much work involved. As we start to think about holiday dinners soon (and American Thanksgiving
- [Pumpkin Flower Arrangement {Thanksgiving Centrepiece}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/10/pumpkin-flower-arrangement-thanksgiving.html) - Before I was born, my mother used to own a cute little florist shop in a small town. After she decided to stay home with us kids, she continued to make beautiful arrangements for family and friends, for every season and occasion. Even when we were young, she would have us up on a stool,
- [Friday Favourites - Fall Walks & Turkey Time](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/10/friday-favourites-busy-week-fall-walks-turkey-time.html) - Happy Friday! It's the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend starting tonight, so that means I'm off to my parents' house with the dogs for some fall festivities. This year we're doing something totally different for Thanksgiving, with the whole family is heading out on an afternoon hike. I really hope that the leaves are still fiery red and
- [Head to the Polls! {Reader Survey to Win a $100 Amazon Gift Card!}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/09/reader-survey.html) - Life at Cloverhill turns seven this year — hooray! I have big plans for this little ol’ blog, but I’d love some feedback from all of you about what you like (and don’t like) so far. It would be great to hear from long-time readers, new readers, friends, family...anyone who has taken the time to
- [Six Week Bran Muffins](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/09/six-week-bran-muffins.html) - These bran muffins are one of my all-time favourite family recipes from my mom. It makes a HUGE batch of muffin batter that will last in your fridge for up to 6 weeks (although it's always gone long before then). You can add in whatever additions you like - raisins, blueberries, chopped apple. They work
- [Sunny Side Up Chicken Apron](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/09/sunny-side-up-chicken-apron.html) - A couple of months ago I shared my DIY Summer Cell Phone Case for the Makeful Challenge and had so much fun getting creative. It was just the push that I needed to throw myself into making something! This time around it was aprons and I took some inspiration from our backyard chickens to put
- [Sending out Good Mail - Lucy's Birth Announcements](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/09/lucy-birth-announcements-minted.html) - In this age of instant communication and technology, there is something to be said for getting real mail...besides bills. It's that tangible piece of good news in your hand that gets you eager to open it all the way from the mailbox to your home. Right before Lucy was born, I was talking to my
- [Home Inspiration from Penney & Co.](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/09/home-inspiration-from-penney-co.html) - Being home on maternity leave this year, I've really started to take stock of the state of the interior of our farmhouse. When you sit inside most of the day with a baby, you notice things that you wouldn't if you were just home in the evenings for a few hours. It's really given me
- [Butternut Squash and Apple Soup](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/10/butternut-squash-and-apple-soup.html) - When I first came across this Butternut Squash and Apple Soup recipe from Taylor at Greens and Chocolate, I wasn't reading about the soup but rather her sweet story of about her Grandfather. Which led me to thinking about my own Poppa. As the oldest of his grandchildren, I have the most memories of
- [Crustless Pumpkin Pie with Streusel Topping](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/10/crustless-pumpkin-pie-with-streusel.html) - I have always been a big fan of pumpkin pie, but I have to be honest that my least favourite part is the crust. It doesn't help that the pie crust is also where most of the work is. So I wondered...can you make pumpkin pie without the crust?Yes you can....and it is delicious.After looking
- [Pumpkin Brownies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/10/pumpkin-brownies.html) - With Thanksgiving coming up this weekend here in Canada, I wanted to share this fun and easy Pumpkin Brownie recipe that is perfect for taking along to get-togethers with friends and family. I recently took these to a friend's house party, serving them on a heaping platter along with my favorite Ooey Gooey Brownies. The whole plate was
- [Maple Cinnamon Granola](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/10/maple-cinnamon-granola.html) - Lately I've just been toasting oats in a pan to make my favourite Baked Apple Breakfast Bowl, but I decided it was about time to try and make my own granola. This recipe was super easy to make and it made plenty of granola to share with friends and family in cute little jars. What
- [Glimpses of Fall (and Baked Apple Breakfast Bowl)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/09/glimpses-of-fall-and-baked-apple.html) - Now that the cooler weather is here, I like to get out as much as I can to enjoy the changing of the season. This week I was asked to help out with an environmental awareness event and I jumped at the chance to spend a morning on the river. The birds were all out
- [Dijon-Herb Roasted Vegetables and Chicken Thighs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/03/dijon-herb-roasted-vegetables-and-chicken-thighs.html) - While I love a good roast dinner, I'm not a big fan of the endless pots and pans that can come along with it. Thankfully this healthy and easy chicken dinner can all be done in one pan! The vegetables and chicken get nice and golden, while they roast in a delicious Dijon-herb mixture. I
- [Pumpkin Spice Raisin Mufffins](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/09/pumpkin-spice-raisin-mufffins.html) - While getting the apartment all spruced up for Fall, I got inspired to make some Pumpkin Spice Raisin Muffins. The warm, spicy pumpkin smell, made the entire place smell amazing. The perfect fall breakfast treat! What you'll need: 2 cups Flour 3/4 cup Brown Sugar 2 tsp Baking Powder 1/2 tsp Baking Soda 1/2 tsp
- [Whole Wheat Pumpkin Bread (And French Toast!)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/10/whole-wheat-pumpkin-bread-and-french.html) - If I had to pinpoint one serious addiction that I have, it would have to be the making and consuming of homemade baked goods. I love the way that they make my apartment smell like home and make my taste buds sing. One of my goals in the Fall Fitness Challenge was to make healthier food choices,
- [A Summer of Firsts](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/09/a-summer-of-firsts.html) - When Lucy was born in May, I was a little worried that it would be a summer spent indoors with a newborn. Little did I know I’d have one of the best summers of my life. We have the sweetest baby who loves to be out doing things. The best days are the ones spent
- [Dr. Seuss First Birthday Party](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/08/dr-seuss-1st-birthday-party.html) - Earlier this month we were invited to a first birthday party for my cousin Mark and his wife Lisa's little girl, Avery. It was a beautiful, hot summer day out in the country, celebrating this sweet little one. Lisa came up with the cutest theme - Dr. Seuss! They had decorations and treats everywhere inspired by
- [Cloverhill Flowers - Fresh from the Farm](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/08/cloverhill-flowers-fresh-from-the-farm.html) - When we first moved into Cloverhill Farmhouse last year, we didn't know what to do with the back quarter acre of plowed farmland. We threw down red clover and the last of the wildflower seeds from our wedding, as a quick ground cover, but now we needed to come up with a real plan. My mom
- [DIY Stuffed Bunny Nursery Mobile](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/08/diy-stuffed-bunny-nursery-mobile.html) - In last week's nursery reveal, I shared the Stuffed Bunny Nursery Mobile I made for Lucy. When I first started planning this space, I was on the hunt for a small, light mobile to put above her crib and couldn't quite find exactly what I was looking for. As is often the case when a
- [How to Flash Freeze Summer Produce and More](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/08/how-to-flash-freeze-summer-produce-and-more.html) - In the middle of winter, there is nothing quite like baking with local produce that you froze in the summer months. From Peaches and Cream Baked Oatmeal and Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble to Blueberry Muffins and Raspberry Lime Bread, there are so many great ways to capture one of the best parts of summer and enjoy it all year
- [St Jacobs Farmers Market {Small Town Ontario}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/08/st-jacobs-farmers-market.html) - I'm having the best summer this year, staying home to be with Lucy. Most days we are hanging out at the farmhouse, visiting with friends or going for a swim or boat ride with my parents, but I've noticed that the days that Lucy is the happiest and gets the best naps are when we're
- [Chocolate Zucchini Cake](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/08/chocolate-zucchini-cake.html) - It's that time of year again when everyone who decided to grow zucchini in their gardens are desperately trying to get rid of them. When you're planting in the spring, it always seems like a great idea to have a few zucchini on hand...but inevitably the plant grows way more than you need and it's
- [A Visit to Creemore {Small Town Ontario}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/07/visit-creemore-ontario-small-town-ontario.html) - Last week, Garrett, Lucy and I decided to take a little afternoon trip to the small town of Creemore, Ontario. I'd driven through there the week before while on a day trip and was excited to go back and walk around. I shared a few Snapchats while we were there. (Come follow me for some
- [DIY Summer Cell Phone Case](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/07/diy-summer-iphone-case.html) - It's been awhile since I did a project that wasn't house related or for the nursery, so it was perfect timing when the folks at Makeful announced their Makeful Challenge. It was just the push I needed to get creative again. This time around they sent out clear cell phone cases for the participants to decorate.
- [Asian Inspired Turkey Burgers](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/06/asian-inspired-turkey-burgers.html) - Nothing says summer quite like backyard BBQs. With Canada Day and the 4th of July this weekend, I'm sure many of you are heading outside to fire up your grills, and I've got a great recipe for you! Usually I find turkey burgers can be quite dry and bland, but a few months ago I
- [Lucy's Birth Story](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/06/lucy-birth-story.html) - Hey folks! I took the last month off of blogging to focus on getting our little family settled in. It has been so nice to take a break but now I'm ready to come back with some new summer recipes and projects. But before all that starts, I wanted to share the birth story of
- [Welcome Home Lucy!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/06/welcome-home-lucy.html) - Garrett and I are so happy to announce the arrival of our baby girl... Lucille “Lucy” Marian She was born on the evening of Friday May 27th, one week overdue. Lucy is a big healthy baby at 8lb 15oz and over 21 inches long. No wonder I was feeling so huge by the end! Needless
- [A Year at Cloverhill](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/05/a-year-at-cloverhill.html) - It's amazing how quickly a year can go by. Last spring I announced we were moving to the country and a year ago yesterday we moved all our belongings from our little apartment into a big old 1903 farmhouse in rural Ontario. I woke up on May 24th to celebrate not only my 30th birthday, but also
- [Weeks 37-39: My Due Date!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/05/weeks-37-39-due-date.html) - I've set this post to go live on Friday morning, but I'm hoping that maybe I'll go into labour before then. Who knows! Today is officially my due date, so this baby is full cooked and I can hardly wait to meet her! For more updates, be sure to follow along on Instagram and Facebook. / /
- [A Beatrix Potter Baby Shower](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/05/beatrix-potter-peter-rabbit-baby-shower.html) - Earlier this month, my sweet mother-in-law and mother hosted a beautiful Beatrix Potter themed baby shower to help Garrett and I celebrate our little girl on the way. They put together such a special party, full of good food and fun. These two are both going to be grandmothers for the first time, so there
- [Lemon Filled Cupcakes](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/01/lemon-filled-cupcakes.html) - Not all dessert recipes need to be complicated to get the attention of your guests. Sometimes they can be made using simple mixes from your pantry and a little bit of creativity. This is a tried and true family recipe that is not only easy to make, but tastes delish! These fun cupcakes are great
- [Our Second Wedding Anniversary](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/05/our-second-wedding-anniversary.html) - It's hard to believe that two years ago today I got to walk down the aisle towards this handsome man and become husband and wife. Since then we've both started new jobs, adopted another dog, bought our first home, became backyard chicken farmers and are now waiting for the arrival of our first child any
- [One Year Later](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/05/one-year-later.html) - Sunday was our first anniversary and I truly can't believe that the year since our wedding has gone by that quickly. In some ways it feels like it just happened and at the same time it's like we've always been married. This year has been mixed with its share of highs and lows, but thankfully
- [Turkey Brie Melt](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/05/turkey-brie-melt.html) - Usually I love making yummy homemade dinners for us. Preparing a healthy, delicious meal at the end of the day can be really satisfying, and I tend to make enough that we have leftovers for the next evening and lunches, to save time in the kitchen. However...as I near the end of this pregnancy, I'm finding myself
- [Weeks 33-36: Getting Ready for Baby](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/04/weeks-33-36.html) - As of tomorrow, I'll be officially 37 weeks and full term! Meaning this baby could potentially come at any time. I just starting having really vivid dreams this week about her being born, and when I pop into the nursery I can already picture her there. I've still got a few things left to check off
- [Just When I Started to Think I Had a Green Thumb](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/04/just-when-i-started-to-think-i-had-a-green-thumb.html) - I've always been one of those people who wished that they were good with plants. I try to remember to give them sun and water, but more often than not I forget about them until it's too late. By the time I come across them, they've shriveled up and died, and it's back to the
- [The Plant Killer](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/11/plant-killer.html) - I love nature, and having plants in my home helps me handle the concrete jungle feeling that the city can have. However, I have a horrible problem...I keep killing plants. When I first moved in, a family friend gave me this tree, and this week he finally bit the dust. I don't know if it
- [Checking Off the Pregnancy To Do List](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/04/checking-off-the-pregnancy-to-do-list.html) - Two months ago I posted about my Pregnancy To Do List. At the time it felt like such a daunting list, but I think that working to get most of it done has helped keep me busy the last couple of months...instead of spending it waiting and worrying. (although I've done my fair share of
- [Creamy Scalloped Potatoes for Two](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/04/creamy-scalloped-potatoes-for-two.html) - Garrett often has to work on Sunday afternoons and I have always tried to make a point of putting together a good meal for when he gets home. Sunday night dinners have always felt special - we set the table, open up all the dining room windows (love the natural light) and talk about our
- [DIY Nut Free Belly Butter](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/04/diy-nut-free-belly-butter.html) - When I first found out I was pregnant, all my mama friends told me to start slathering up my belly with lotion right away to avoid stretch marks. With my nut allergies, I struggle at the best of times to find good quality moisturizers that don't contain nut products, but it proved to be even
- [A Day in the Life](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/04/a-day-in-the-life-volume-1.html) - Things are going to be changing a lot around here in the coming months, so I thought I'd try to capture a day in our lives right now. In one way I figured in would be fun for you to see a little snapshot of what happens around these parts and two, I'd love to
- [Streamlining Your Mornings](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/02/streamlining-your-mornings.html) - I'm more of a night owl than a morning person, so it takes a little extra work to get going in the morning. I'm sure that there are lots of people like me out there, so I thought I'd share some of the tricks that have helped me streamline my mornings. Most days I head off
- [How to Clean Your Sneakers to Look New Again](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/04/how-to-clean-your-sneakers-to-look-new-again.html) - Despite all the snowy cold weather we've been having lately, I'm still getting that itch to do some spring cleaning. Garrett likes to tease me that it's just the start of "nesting", but I think it's that feeling of starting the new season off with a clean slate. My latest mission has been to give all
- [Reorganizing the Kitchen (...again)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/03/reorganizing-the-kitchen-again.html) - We've lived at the farmhouse for over nine months now and in that time I've moved things around in our kitchen at least three times. On the outside it still looks like it did here shortly after we moved in, but I keep reorganizing all the cabinets and drawers trying to find the right location
- [Springtime Ice Storm](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/03/springtime-ice-storm.html) - As I mentioned in Monday's post, we had an unexpected ice storm this past weekend. We woke up on Good Friday to our entire yard covered in ice, with quite a few branches down. It wasn't nearly as bad or widespread as the last one we had before Christmas 2013, but it still left most
- [A Frosty Easter Weekend](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/03/frosty-easter-weekend-2016.html) - What a wild and crazy Easter weekend we had! It started out with a huge ice storm on Thursday night, that left us without power, heat and water until Friday night. Thankfully we already had plans to head out of town on Good Friday for dinner with family, but it was quite the start to
- [Butter Lambs, Glass Cupcakes and Easter Guac](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/04/butter-lambs-glass-cupcakes-and-easter.html) - This weekend was full of mishaps and successes, but most of all its was about having a great time with my family. We tried to spend as much time as possible outside enjoying the phenomenal weather. Friday afternoon I helped my mother put together these adorable potted centerpieces for our family dinner. We used store-bought
- [Carrot Cake Cupcakes](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/04/carrot-cake-cupcakes.html) - I would like to refer to these as the "Easter Dessert That Almost Wasn't". It took three tries to get this right and it had nothing to do with the recipe, and more to do with human error. Perhaps a Comedy of Errors? I can laugh about it now, but at the time it was a
- [Baby Girl Nursery Inspiration](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/02/baby-girl-nursery-inspiration.html) - The last month or so I've been really starting to pull together everything for the baby's nursery. We're hoping to have more kiddos in the future, so the plan was to keep most things pretty neutral, from the wall colour to the crib and furniture, and then add in some delicate more feminine touches. Hopefully
- [Removing Cutlery Scratches from Dishes](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/03/removing-cutlery-scratches-from-dishes.html) - Lately I've been noticing that our nice dishes we got for our wedding, were starting to get scratch marks from our cutlery. We've only used these plates for less than two years, so it was frustrating to already see them looking so worn out. I tried to make a paste out of baking soda and
- [National Pi Day {My Favourite Pie Recipes}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/03/national-pi-day-my-favourite-pie-recipes.html) - March 14th is National Pi Day, and what better way to celebrate the mathematical term than with real pie! Here are some of my favourite pie recipes from the blog archives. I've got some summer strawberries and rhubarb from the freezer thawing to make one myself when I get home tonight. Any excuse for pie
- [Weeks 25-28: Welcome to the Third Trimester](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/03/pregnancy-weeks-25-28.html) - Time is just whizzing by over here. Another month down and we're that much closer to meeting our baby girl. I like having these monthly recaps to look back on. I already find myself forgetting things from the beginning, so it's nice to be able to go back and read them again. Week 25 This
- [Pregnancy To Do List](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/02/pregnancy-to-do-list.html) - Last week a friend gave us four massive garbage bags of gently used baby clothes. There are some really cute stuff in there! I started washing it over the weekend and it got me thinking about what else I need to get done before the baby gets here. It's all been floating around in my
- [Hopeful for Signs of Spring](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/02/hopeful-for-signs-of-spring.html) - All week it has been feeling really nice and spring-like. Every morning I woke up to the sun shining in through the big windows all around the farmhouse, with birds chirping outside and no cool wind making it's way across the field. For a second I almost thought spring had decided to come early... ...and
- [Cheddar and Bacon Twice Baked Potatoes](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/02/cheddar-bacon-twice-baked-potatoes.html) - With the chilly weather and my cold lingering last weekend, we decided to keep Valentine's Day close to home with a homemade dinner - pan-fried steak, tossed caesar salad and my favourite steakhouse side dish, the much loved Twice Baked Potato. You can prepare this earlier in the day and then pop them in the
- [A Long Weekend of Recovery](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/02/long-weekend-of-recovery.html) - For over a week now I've been battling a serious cold. With a lowered immune system from the pregnancy, it seems that I just can't shake this thing! Thankfully we had a long weekend here with Family Day on Monday, which gave me some more time to stay at home and rest. It was a
- [Bringing Life Back to Childhood Toys {Repairing a Teddy Bear}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/02/repairing-a-teddy-bear.html) - Earlier this winter, my mother-in-law stopped by with a surprise - my husband's beloved childhood teddy bear. She had kept it all these years so that he would have it for his own children. When he first showed up, "Bear" was looking a little worse for wear. All his stuffing from his body and head
- [Weeks 21-24: Writing Lists and Making Plans](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/02/weeks-21-24.html) - Another month has gone by and we’re one step closer to baby girl getting here. I’m slowly working away at the to-do list and we’re taking on some house projects in the coming months too. It will be easier to do them now before I start getting too big…or when we have a newborn to
- [Etsy Valentine's Day Finds 2016](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/01/etsy-valentines-day-finds-2016.html) - With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I popped over to Etsy in hunt of some cute decor and gift ideas. With all the snow and cold right now, all this red and pink looks so cheery! 1. Valentine's Day Card by Pine and Papryus // There are hundreds of beautiful Valentine's Day cards on Etsy right
- [Missing the Sun {Southwest Florida Trip – Part 2}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/01/southwest-florida-trip-part-two.html) - I've been home from Florida for just over two weeks, but I've been really missing it the last few days. Mainly just being with my whole family together (and now needing a winter coat!). Maybe it's pregnancy hormones, but it's hard not to miss them. (Part 1 from last week) One of the activities that
- [HGTV "Home Town" Pilot airs this Sunday!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/01/home-town-hgtv-erin-napier-ben-napier.html) - Back in 2012, while visiting one of my favourite home decor blogs, I came across the beautiful home of Erin and Ben Napier, a young couple living and working in Laurel, Mississippi. In the coming months, a friendship formed and by the time Garrett and I started planning our Honeymoon Roadtrip through the Southern US, we knew we
- ["Little Pink House" Beach Sign](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/01/little-pink-house-beach-sign.html) - When my parents' first bought their Florida home back in 2012, we all loved to tease my dad about his "little pink house". Coming from a country where you rarely see people straying from the usual neutral exterior colour palette, it seemed like such a whimsical colour choice. Since then family and friends have all
- [DIY Vintage Wood Sign](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/05/diy-vintage-wood-sign.html) - I've always been a big fan of vintage wooden signs. Original ones are the best, but I've seen some amazing reproductions as well. I decided to take the plunge and make my own. If it didn't turn out, I could just sand it down and start again, right? It turned out to be much easier than I
- [Sunsets and Sand {Southwest Florida Trip - Part 1}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/01/southwest-florida-trip-part-one.html) - For the last couple of years, my parents have wanted us to all have a Christmas vacation to their house in Southwest Florida. It had been nearly three years since we'd all been down there together and with the first grandchild on the way, we weren't sure when this opportunity will come up again! On Boxing
- [Slow Cooker Beef Vegetable Chili](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/01/slow-cooker-beef-vegetable-chili.html) - We're in the middle of a chilly week here. November and December were so unseasonably mild that I think I may have forgot that winter was really going to come at some point. If this means that we're going to potentially have a shorter winter, I'm happy to take all the wind, snow and ice
- [Back to Life, Back to Reality](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2016/01/back-to-life-back-to-reality.html) - As wonderful as it is going on vacation, it sure feels nice to be home too. Yes, even in the middle of the snowstorms we've been getting this week, I'm happy to be back. I missed Garrett, the dogs, the chickens and this old farmhouse. It felt pretty good to walk through that door and
- [Chocolate Chip Cookies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/05/chocolate-chip-cookies.html) - Everyone has a favourite chocolate chip cookie recipe. Maybe its the one their mother or grandmother used to make. Maybe its from a favourite bakery. For me, there is no comparison to the original chocolate chip cookie recipe that my mother has always used and I'm sure that you've all seen it... Its the one
- [Tamale Pie](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/10/tamale-pie.html) - We always seem to be really busy in the fall and as we head into the holiday season in the next couple of months, it's going to get even busier. Meals that I can make ahead or freeze are the big ticket with weeknight dinners. I love this Tamale Pie recipe because it makes enough
- [2015 Christmas Festivities](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/12/2015-christmas-festivities.html) - Despite it not being a white Christmas this year, we had a great holiday. It was full of so much good food, great conversation and Christmas cheer! The biggest surprise we had this year was finding out the gender of our growing baby and sharing it with our families. I can't wait to spill the
- [A Family Christmas Weekend](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/12/family-christmas-weekend.html) - I am oh so close to being ready for Christmas. All our cards have been mailed, the gifts have been wrapped and I just have one last batch of cookies to bake. After being so sick last year and feeling completely unprepared for the holidays, its been nice to get caught up this year and
- [Our First Christmas at Cloverhill Farmhouse](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/12/first-christmas-cloverhill-farmhouse-holiday-home-tour.html) - When we first put an offer on the farmhouse back in March of this year, I couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to spend our first Christmas in our own home. By Christmas Eve, we will have lived here for seven months already. I can hardly believe it's been that much time and
- [Christmas in the City](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/12/christmas-in-the-city.html) - The past two weekends, I've found myself in Toronto for holiday festivities. Christmas always turns the city into a magical place, with window displays, skating rinks and music everywhere you go. There are always great events and activities (I'll include links to my favourites at the bottom of the post), but there is something to
- [Weeks 13-16: Growing a Belly like Old St. Nick](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/12/pregnancy-weeks-13-16.html) - I'm back with my second monthly pregnancy update! Week 13 We had friends visit shortly after I announced the pregnancy and they brought their adorable 9 and 12 month olds with them. It was so fun to play with these two little girls and picture our own baby being in the mix next year. It
- [Mushroom Spinach Strata](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/12/mushroom-spinach-strata.html) - Did you see my good news on Instagram last week??? We finally have eggs! After months of waiting for our chickens to start laying, it was a huge relief. For a minute there I was worried maybe we had five roosters instead of just one! Within a couple of days we had our first dozen
- [How to Build A Holiday Planter {Behr Holiday Home Challenge and Paint Giveaway}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/12/how-to-build-your-own-holiday-planter.html) - Disclosure: I am a member of the Behr DIY Expert program and was provided Behr product for this project. All opinions and ideas are 100% my own. Ever since we bought the farmhouse last spring, I've been daydreaming about how we would decorate it for Christmas. We're still in the middle of renovations here (and
- [Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Birthday Cake](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/11/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-birthday-cake.html) - Baking has always been one of my favourite hobbies and one particular occasion that I look forward to the most is making my husband's birthday cake. Garrett loves to turn it into a kind of baking challenge by coming up with interesting flavour combinations and really specific requests regarding cake density and icing consistency. Over
- [Why I Love Sending Out Christmas Cards](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/11/love-sending-christmas-cards.html) - I first started sending out Christmas cards when I moved into my little apartment in Toronto. I'd just began living on my own and it was a great way to connect with everyone during the busy holiday season. Since then it's become an annual tradition that Garrett and I do together. I look forward to
- [There's Still Time to Send Out Christmas Cards! (Plus 10 Tips to Make it Easier!)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/12/still-time-to-send-christmas-cards-plus-10-tips-make-it-easier.html) - Do you send out Christmas cards? I starting doing them years ago when I lived on my own and I wanted a way to send out a holiday greeting to my family and university friends who lived far away. The idea that the recipient would get a nice card in the mail (when snail mail
- [Roommate Reunion Weekend](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/11/roommate-reunion-weekend.html) - This weekend we had all my former Queen's University roommates and their families at our house for a big reunion weekend. Us five girls all met at university when we were just teenagers, living in our little dorm rooms and eventually moving in together for three years in our big old house in Kingston. In
- [Our Next Adventure](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/11/our-next-adventure.html) - Garrett and I have been keeping a big secret... We're beyond excited to finally be able to share that in May 2016 we'll be welcoming a new addition to our little family. This is something that we've wanted together for a long time and after a summer of renovations on the farmhouse, the timing couldn't
- [Fabric Scrap Garland and our Christmas Mantel 2012](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/12/fabric-scrap-garland-and-our-christmas.html) - When decorating for the holidays, I try to reuse as many things as I can, to help reduce what we have to store in the apartment, and to keep my decorating within budget. Just looking around your own craft supplies, you can be inspired by things you never thought you'd use - like little scraps
- [Advent Calendar Cookie Jar {Sewn Paper Pouches}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/11/advent-calendar-cookie-jar-sewn-paper.html) - With my peanut allergy, it can be really hard to find advent calendars that are peanut-free and safe to eat. This year I decided to make Garrett and I our own homemade advent calendar, using sewn paper pouches in a festive cookie jar. Everyday, we get to reach inside and pull out a little
- [My Favourite Bewitching Film: Practical Magic](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/10/my-favourite-bewitching-film-practical.html) - When October comes around I always get excited for all the Halloween movies coming on TV - witches and werewolves and vampires, oh my! I love it! Even when I was little, I'd sneak out of bed to watch Midnight Monster Madness on the local TV station. Now days I have a folder on my
- [German "Peppernut" Pfeffernusse Cookies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/12/german-pfefferneuse-cookies-peppernuts-recipe.html) - Inspired by all the yummy European cookies at the Toronto Christmas Market, as well as the Christmas treats we saw on display at Black Creek Pioneer Village, I knew I wanted to make a simple spiced cookie this year. Pfeffernusse cookies are a traditional German treat, but there are many versions from Denmark and The Netherlands
- [Gingerbread Cake with Gay Lea Coconut Whipped Cream](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/11/gingerbread-cake-gay-lea-coconut-whipped-cream.html) - This Gingerbread Cake is very similar to one that my mom used to make for us when I was growing up. I can still recall the way it made our home smell like Christmas spices while it baked. She would serve us up a big piece, while it was still warm, with a dusting of icing
- [Our Christmas Trees 2012](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/12/our-christmas-trees-2012.html) - This year we decided to decorate two Christmas trees - a medium sized one in the living room and a smaller one in the foyer. We don't have the space for a large tree, so breaking it up into smaller ones helps us spread around the Christmas cheer! Christmas Tree #1 - Silver Bells
- [Christmas Home Tour 2012](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/12/christmas-home-tour-2012.html) - Decorating our home for Christmas is always my favourite kind of decorating. I love the festive colours, and the fact that you can away with using glitter and glitz where you'd like. Come one, and I'll take you on a tour of our home this year! Outside, I put up the gold ball wreath
- [Warm and Cozy · Our Christmas Tree 2013](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/12/warm-and-cozy-christmas-tree-2013.html) - Yesterday was the first day of our Advent Activities Calendar and to start it off we decorated the tree together. Our tree will be lit up pretty much non-stop whenever we're home between now and the New Year. It makes our little living room feel so warm and cozy. You'll notice that we still
- [Outdoor Christmas Decor 2011](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/12/outdoor-christmas-decor-2011.html) - I think I love decorating the outside of the house for the holidays almost as much as I love decorating the inside. It makes it so inviting and festive when we get home or when we have company visit. I hope that neighbours walking by enjoy it too, just as I enjoy going through the
- [Christmas Home Tour 2011](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/12/christmas-home-tour-2011.html) - Is hard to believe that we moved into this apartment less than two months ago. Its already starting to feel like home and even more so with all the Christmas decorations out now. The Christmas tree is up and I threw my favourite Christmas quilt over the back of the couch. My mother bought
- [The Little Christmas Tree That Could](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/little-christmas-tree-that-could_13.html) - O Tannenbaum was one of my favorite Carols growing up, so it should come as no surprise that I look forward to dressing up the tree every year. Usually I just put a real mix match of ornaments up, but this year I thought I'd stick to a simple red, green and white colour scheme
- [Deck the Halls!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/deck-halls.html) - The weather outside is frightening, but hopefully my little abode is much more inviting. Let me show you what I've been up to decorating my place for Christmas. Its been a busy year with work and life, so I didn't go out to get anything new. Which means that this is decorating on the cheap
- [Holiday Home Tour 2014 {Video}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/12/holiday-home-tour-2014.html) - Back in 2011, before I left my Toronto apartment, I shared a video tour of the itty bitty space. One of the requests I get most often is for a video tour of the "new" apartment. Three years later, I finally got my act together and filmed one this weekend...on one of the dreariest days
- [Spinach and Cheese Puff](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/11/spinach-and-cheese-puff.html) - For the past five years, my sister has been a vegetarian, which means that whenever we have a big family dinner (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, etc) we try to come up with a new vegetarian dish to try out. This year at Thanksgiving we turned to none other than Martha Stewart for this Spinach and Cheese Puff recipe.
- [Turkey and Biscuits (Great for Thanksgiving Leftovers)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/10/turkey-biscuits.html) - Canadian Thanksgiving is this weekend, which means that we'll have plenty of leftover turkey to use up. Rather than just heating it up with some leftover gravy and sides, I like to try and find new ways to use it to create a whole new meal. How about a hot creamy turkey and veggie
- [Roast Turkey Breast](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/11/roast-turkey-breast.html) - With just two of us, sometimes roasting a whole chicken or turkey can be a bit much sometimes. Neither of us are huge dark meat fans, so we're often having to find interesting ways to use up the last of the chicken. A great solution is to roast a turkey breast on it's own. You
- [Turkey Tetrazzini {Thanksgiving Leftovers}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/11/turkey-tetrazzini-thanksgiving-leftovers.html) - To all my American friends who will be celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow, I hope you're having a wonderful time with your families and those near and dear to you. - - - Three years ago, my mother and I found this Turkey Tetrazzini recipe on SimplyRecipes and since then it has become a holiday staple. It's
- [Homemade Cranberry Sauce](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/11/homemade-cranberry-sauce.html) - Every year, my Great Aunt (maker of the beloved Family Christmas Carrot Pudding!) makes Homemade Cranberry Sauce for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is one of my favourite things to look forward to over the holidays. I always thought it was some complicated and secret recipe, but when I asked her about it this year, she
- [Easy Mini Cinnamon Rolls](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/01/easy-mini-cinnamon-rolls.html) - Weekend mornings occasionally call for something special at breakfast. I surprised Garrett on Sunday morning with a big pot of coffee and a plate of these little goodies, which turned out to be the perfect sweet breakfast treat. Usually I made my mother's Cinnamon Rolls, but on a morning where I don't have time to
- [How to Make Perfect Bacon in the Oven](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/04/how-to-make-perfect-bacon-in-oven.html) - Garrett loves bacon and I often keep some cooked in the fridge to have on hand, but I have to admit that it is one of the few things that I do not like to cook. It's always messy (grease everywhere), I have to stand by the stove the whole time or else I'll burn
- [Leftover Cranberry Sauce Muffins](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/10/leftover-cranberry-sauce-muffins.html) - There are plenty of great recipes out there for what to do with leftover turkey from Thanksgiving, but what about all that cranberry sauce? My Great Aunt makes amazing homemade cranberry every year, but there is always some leftover and it seems like a same to throw it out. Thats where this muffin recipe comes
- [Cranberry Clementine Bread](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/12/cranberry-clementine-bread.html) - In the past I have confessed my love of clementines, so you can imagine when I saw a loaf of Cranberry Clementine Bread at a local coffee shop, I had to recreate it at home. What a perfect seasonal breakfast loaf! It's tart and sweet, and is wonderful with delicious butter smoothed on top. Perfect
- [Gingerbread Pancakes](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/11/gingerbread-pancakes.html) - I'm sure that many of you are taking advantage of the Black Friday sales today. I'll be enjoying them myself from the comfort of my computer, away from the crazy lines and crowded stores. Even still, I felt like I needed a little bit of Holiday cheer to get me going, so I whipped up
- [Morton Family Strata from "The Family Stone"](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/12/morton-family-strata-from-family-stone.html) - On Christmas morning we often have a slew of relatives who have stayed over from our Christmas Eve dinner the night before, and we always try to serve up a nice brunch to get everyone started on their day of traveling to other family events. So last year I wanted to try something new for
- [Egg Nog Scones](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/12/egg-nog-scones.html) - I'm working from home today and I knew that I wanted to take a mid-morning break to whip up something fun and festive. These Egg Nog Scones were the perfect holiday treat with a nice cup of tea. I'm a huge fan of Mama Pea from Peas and Thank You and these Egg Nog Scones
- [Easy Salted Chocolate-Covered Caramels](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/12/easy-salted-chocolate-covered-caramels.html) - These salted chocolate-covered caramels are a harmonious blend of rich smooth dark chocolate, sweet chewy caramel and crunchy sea salt. It may sound like an odd combination, but when they're put together they create a treat that is hard to resist. And what If I told you that I was able to make 30 of
- [Chocolate Christmas Treats](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/12/chocolate-christmas-treats_07.html) - For our Holiday Housewarming Party this past weekend, I made a tray of various chocolate goodies that not only tasted great, but were ridiculously easy to make. White Christmas Crunch - like caramel corn with white peppermint chocolate on top. Pretzel Bark - sweet and salty at the same time, with some crunch.
- [Peppermint White Chocolate Cake](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/11/peppermint-white-chocolate-cake.html) - When I asked Garrett what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday last week, he was very specific about wanting the cake to be dense and the icing to be sugary. And he wanted a peppermint white chocolate flavour....which meant I got to be creative in the kitchen, making everything from scratch! And that's
- [Shortbread Holiday Sundaes](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/12/shortbread-holiday-sundaes.html) - This past weekend I had friends over for dinner and I wanted to serve them a simple dessert that had some of the tastes of the season. I'd recently made Martha Stewart's Basic Shortbread recipe and had plenty of cookies and crumbs left over, so I decided to make Shortbread Holiday Sundaes. They were simple to make,
- [Christmastime](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/christmastime.html) - I haven't been blogging the past couple of days because it has been a bit of a crazy week between getting ready for the holidays and my office downtown flooding, but I thought that it would be nice to show you some photos of our family dinner this year on Christmas Eve. Cocktail hour
- [Merry Christmas!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/merry-christmas.html) - I hope that everyone is having a wonderful Christmas full of friends, family and of course good food! Last night we had our big family dinner so I intended to sleep in today, like the rest of my equally overstuffed family, until about 9 or 10 am. Well as fate would have it, that just wasn't
- [Mayhem, Madness and Merriment](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/mayhem-madness-and-merriment.html) - Today is the last day that I can do Christmas shopping, baking and wrapping because tomorrow we have twenty people coming for Christmas Eve. That's right, the whole clan heads on over here for the big dinner so thankfully I don't have the option of waiting for the last minute Dec 24th mall madness. I've
- [Tutorial: Printed Dog Collars](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/tutorial-printed-dog-collars.html) - Christmas is just around the corner and with that comes something dreaded by all our four-legged family members - pet-sized reindeer antlers. You know the ones I'm talking about. At some point they've been placed on the top of you dog or cat's head to embarrass them for the sake of a goofy family photo.
- [It's getting festive in Toronto](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/its-getting-festive-in-toronto.html) - One of the best parts about living in the city around this time of year, is seeing it get all gussied up for the holidays. The traffic and noise seems to melt away when you see the little shops dressing up their window displays, community parks stringing up colourful lights and ornaments being hung on the big
- [Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/12/rockin-around-christmas-tree.html) - One of my favorite things about the season is getting to spent time with friends and family. Whether its dinner and drinks in the evening or even just meeting up to look at Christmas displays, its nice to share this time of year with the ones you love. Last weekend I was invited over to
- [Walking in a Winter Wonderland](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/12/walking-in-winter-wonderland.html) - Earlier this week I mentioned how I got snowed in at my parents' house and couldn't get back in the city for work. But what I didn't mention is that up until that point I had actually been enjoying all the snowy weather on the weekend. My friend Courtney's family has a beautiful property that
- [Snow Day!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/12/snow-day.html) - Yesterday I got snowed in at my parents house. Or more appropriately, "iced in". I was up visiting for the weekend and when I went to leave on Monday morning it wasn't looking for good. It had snowed on and off for most of the previous week and combine that with wet snow on Sunday
- [A Christmas Puppy](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/12/christmas-puppy.html) - This week I stopped by my friend's place to return some tools he lent me and give him some Shortbread Cookies as a thank you, when I saw something adorable, cute and fluffy under his Christmas tree... His new 8 week old Golden Retriever puppy. I tried to take pictures of little Sophie in
- [Look what I just found under the tree...](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/12/look-what-i-just-found-under-tree.html) - I walked into the living room right now to find this under my Christmas tree... I think he may just be the best present under there right now ;) I just couldn't resist sharing my little Pretzel. Now I'm going to go scoop him up and snuggle with him in bed. He's like a live
- [Christmas Eve](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/12/christmas-eve.html) - I can hardly believe that its Christmas Eve today. I just have to finish up some work, throw the last few things in the suitcase and then I'm heading to my parents' for the next few days. I can't wait to see the whole family and celebrate. It feels like this month has just flown
- [Almost Ready for Christmas](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/12/almost-ready-for-christmas.html) - Today is the last day that I have to get stuff done before I head to my parents' home for Christmas. I'm working at home today and have lots of paperwork to do, but I decided I'd rather get up early and get my fun chores done first. I made a batch of White
- [Attempting to Take a Christmas Photo of the Dogs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/12/attempting-to-take-christmas-photo-of.html) - Last Sunday, we were visiting my parents' for dinner, and we tried to take a cute Christmas photo of Whiskey with my family's doberman, Shadow. 52 photos later, we had no photo, but I did get a nice series of two dogs refusing to cooperate... We tried to get their attention, but they were
- [Kraft Paper Wrapping {Reusing Brown Paper Bags}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/12/kraft-paper-wrapping-reusing-brown.html) - Growing up, wrapping gifts was always one of my favourite holiday activities. My parents encouraged it by buying lots of fun paper, ribbons and gift tags to use - and in return my sister and I wrapped almost all their gifts for them. We would put on a favourite Christmas movie (usually Christmas Vacation) and
- [Christmas Vacation Begins!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/12/christmas-vacation-begins.html) - I felt like a kid at the end of school yesterday afternoon, as I quickly dashed out of work. I was so excited to have an entire week off of work, with plenty of great events ahead of us with family and friends. I love getting to see everyone this time of year and catch
- [A Roommates Christmas](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/12/a-roommates-christmas.html) - This weekend we went to a special Christmas dinner with my former roommates from university. We had so much fun last year, and I was looking forward to this all month. We found this hilarious little Santa suit for $6 while we were doing some last minute shopping that morning, so we dressed Whiskey
- [A Holiday Recap](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/12/a-holiday-recap.html) - We had a wonderful Christmas with our family and friends this year. So much quality time spent with our loved ones, appreciating that we get to be together and celebrate with good food and great conversation. After a whirlwind year, this is just the recharge that I've needed. On Sunday night, I headed over to
- [Cookie Swap Ideas](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/12/cookie-swap-ideas.html) - I'm very excited to announce that this year my Double Chocolate Chip Cookies are being featured in the Toronto Star's Cookie Calendar! Look out for them in the paper on Dec 22, or view it online now. I'm so honoured to have my recipe chosen for publication in Canada's highest-circulation paper, but more importantly I
- [Holly Jolly Canvas Christmas Pillows with Felt Letters](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/11/canvas-christmas-pillows-with-felt.html) - Inspired by all the fun Christmas pillow ideas on Pinterest, I decided to make a couple of new canvas pillow covers for our living room couch for the holidays. We haven't decorated the tree yet (this weekend!), but I tested out our new pillow covers with some grey faux fur pillows and a tartan wool
- [Making the Most of Weeknights - How to Make Lunch, Dinner, Dessert and Tomorrow's Breakfast in Under an Hour!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/09/making-the-most-of-weeknights-meals-in-under-an-hour.html) - As the summer draws to an end and school starts to pick up again, I'm sure that many of you are getting back into routines. Even though neither of us are in school and we don't have kids, that "back-to-school" feeling creeps up on me every year. I think it's almost a refresh - back
- [Friday Favourites - Baby Shower, Freezer Meals and Daydream Travelling](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/01/friday-favourites-jan16.html) - Happy Friday! It feels like this week just flew by, which is kind of a good thing because I'm really looking forward to this weekend. We've got a fun DIY project to work on together, some blog recipes to test out (Garrett is always a willing taste tester) and maybe even a movie date in
- [Toronto Christmas Market in the Distillery District](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/12/toronto-christmas-market-distillery-district.html) - For Day 2 of our Advent Activities Calendar we went to the Toronto Christmas Market in the historic Distillery District. We went there three years ago with friends (our first Christmas together!) and had a great time. Thankfully it was a wee bit warmer this year! The Distillery District is one of my favourite areas in Toronto and it's especially
- [Casa Loma at Christmastime](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/12/casa-loma-at-christmastime.html) - Its been months since we've had a weekend free of commitments and Garrett and I were both in need of a little bit of fun, so we headed into the city for a lovely Saturday afternoon date at one of Toronto's greatest landmarks... ...Casa Loma! Built from 1911-1914, this castle is now a famous museum
- [Toronto Christmas Market](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/12/toronto-christmas-market.html) - Living in downtown Toronto, there are always plenty of fun activities to do around the holidays. One particular event that caught my eye this year was the first ever Toronto Christmas Market in the Historical Distillery District. Inspired by traditional Old World Christmas Markets, this free annual event captures all of the heritage and charm of the
- [Our Christmas Date on Main Street Newmarket {Small Town Ontario}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/12/our-christmas-date-on-main-street-newmarket-small-town-ontario.html) - A couple of weeks ago, Garrett and I looked at our calendar and realized that it was filling up pretty quickly with fun events with family and friends, but we wanted to plan something for just the two of us. We picked a weeknight to do some Christmas shopping on Main Street in Newmarket, Ontario
- [A Parade in a Blizzard](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/11/parade-blizzard.html) - We've been pretty lucky so far this fall and there hasn't been too much snow...but it seems that all that changed tonight. Just as we were about to head out to the Santa Claus parade down our street, a huge blizzard started. We decided that it didn't look that bad for walking, and bundled
- [Gift Ideas for Kids: The Gift of Reading & FIRST EVER GIVEAWAY!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/gift-ideas-for-kids-gift-of-reading.html) - Some of my favorite gifts to give to children are books. Toys and stuffed animals may come and go but sharing stories is an essential part of human history. What a better way to share the holidays with the children in your life than to take the time to read some books together? So, instead
- [Gift Ideas for Him 2010](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/11/gift-ideas-for-him-2010.html) - I don't know about you, but I find that men can be the hardest to shop for. If they want something, they just buy it for themselves and when you ask them what they want, their usual reply is "nothing". Maybe that's just the men on my list, but either way, its takes some creativity
- [Holiday Gift Guide: 15 Ideas for the Home Cook](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/11/holiday-gift-guide-home-cook.html) - I hope that all my American friends and family are having an absolutely lovely Thanksgiving today! Garrett's family from the States are up this week and we had a great dinner together last night at his parents' house. Two Thanksgivings in one year works for me! It just means more turkey, pie and all the
- [Gift Ideas for Her](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/gift-ideas-for-her.html) - With just two weeks left until Christmas Eve, I thought I'd share some gift ideas for the ladies on your list this year. I wanted to start of this list with one of my favorite gifts out there this year. The "Water is a Human Right" Faucet Necklace ($79), designed by Linda Loudermilk, is a
- [Gift Ideas for Dogs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/gift-ideas-for-dogs.html) - Dogs are our loyal and faithful companions all year round, so why not show them how much we care with some fun new goodies under the tree? Deck the halls this year with the Orbee-Tuff Holiday Bulbs. This is a fantastic company, and I love all their dog toys. They are non-toxic, recyclable, smell great
- [Gift Ideas for Him](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/gift-ideas-for-him.html) - I find that shopping for men is one of the hardest parts about the holidays. The guys on my list tend to buy themselves what they want, so when the holidays come around I have to get creative. Here are ten gifts that have caught my eye this season and don't require attempting to find
- [Gift Idea - Game Night](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/11/gift-idea-game-night.html) - Every once in a while my friends Eve & Matt throw a game night. The first time I went to one, I thought, "Am I eight years old? Why would I want to play a board game?". Little did I know that I was in for a whopper of a good time. Everyone really got
- [From Sunny to Sophisticated: A Bathroom Makeover](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/11/from-sunny-to-sophisticated-a-bathroom-makeover.html) - Disclosure: I am a member of the Behr DIY Expert program and was provided Behr product for this project. All opinions and ideas are 100% my own. Last Spring, before we moved into the farmhouse, my mother made one request - would I paint her basement bathroom before we started our own renovations. While she
- [Our First Halloween at Cloverhill Farmhouse](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/11/first-halloween-cloverhill-farmhouse.html) - We had a great Halloween weekend here at the farmhouse - making costumes, watching movies and hitting up a party in town. My sister stayed with us for the weekend, which is always fun. It makes this big house feel more cozy when we have guests. I always get into dressing the dogs up for
- [Our Family's Favourite Holiday Recipes](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/12/our-familys-favourite-holiday-recipes.html) - It's hard to believe that there are only 5 days left until all the family starts driving into town for our big Christmas Eve dinner. I can't wait to see them all, exchange presents, laugh (a lot) and of course share lots of great food. I wanted to share with you some of my family's
- [Making the Most of your Holiday Photos](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/12/making-most-of-your-holiday-photos.html) - This past weekend, I was a photographer for a kids' Christmas party, and took some photos of the kids with Santa. It was so much fun seeing the kids all excited about Santa and whispering their Christmas wishes to him. I loved getting the tripod out, playing around with settings and lighting, and it got
- [Holiday Storage](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/holiday-storage.html) - After last Christmas my family picked up a couple of these Gracious Living Holiday Ornament Storage Totes from The Container Store. The large capacity boxes are perfect for packing up our Christmas ornaments and keeping them all separate. There are four layers of ornament dividers, which lets you store up to 96 ornaments. I couldn't
- [Getting Organized for the Holidays](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/11/getting-organized-for-holidays.html) - For the past few years I've been using Organized Christmas to keep everything running smoothly over the holidays. They have great printable sheets to make your own holiday planner and make it super easy to know where everything is. I usually print them out and create a simple planner in a thin binder. There are
- [Eco-Friendly Holiday Cards & Tags](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/11/eco-friendly-holiday-cards-tags.html) - Making your own holiday cards is an easy, eco-friendly, economical and fun craft to do this year. All you need are some used holiday cards, colourful card stock, a simple glue stick and interesting scissors and punches. This is a simple card made with an image of chickadees cut from a used Christmas card, glued
- [Christmas Aprons](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/christmas-aprons.html) - I may not have much of it at my home, but I love vintage. I grew up going for rides in my Dad's vintage cars, playing with my mother's handed-down costume jewelry and searching for captivating frocks in my Great Aunt's closets. So this year I decided to use some of that vintagey love to make something fun
- [Tutorial: Homemade Felt Stockings](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/tutorial-homemade-felt-stockings.html) - One of my favorite traditions growing up, was digging into our stockings on Christmas morning to see what goodies Santa had left us that year. I was lucky that I had two December-born siblings because our stockings were actually the ones that they put the newborns in when they hand them to their mothers. These things can
- [Tutorial: Holiday Flower Arrangement](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/tutorial-holiday-flower-arrangement.html) - Making holiday flower arrangements is a simple, inexpensive way to decorate your home for the holidays and they make great hostess gifts. If you were to buy an arrangement like this in a flower shop, it would be about $35-45, but you can make it for less than $10 each! Unfortunately I didn't take photos
- [Tutorial: Reusable Gift Bags](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/12/tutorial-reusable-gift-bags.html) - I love wrapping gifts every year and look forward to bringing out all the festive paper and bows, but its not always the most environmentally friendly option. Making reusable fabric gifts bags is a great way to reduce the amount of garbage and recycling you have to haul out to the curb after the holidays.
- [Wine Glass Lanterns](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/11/wine-glass-lanterns.html) - The lovely Sherry of Young House Love and Katie of Bower Power are at it again with their latest Pinterest Challenge! Last month's move has left little time for any crafting, but I thought I'd use this as an opportunity to get my butt in gear and actually make one of the things I've been
- [Homemade Hand Warmers](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/12/homemade-hand-warmers.html) - As much as I love Canada, we are known for our bitter cold winters, which is why you can never be too prepared. These homemade hand warmers are perfect for fighting off that chill when you first go outside. They're small, practical and inexpensive to make. Zap it in the microwave for 30 seconds
- [Grapevine and Greenery Christmas Wreath](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/12/grapevine-and-greenery-christmas-wreath.html) - Adding a wreath to our front door is one of my favourite ways to spruce up our home each season. It's a friendly greeting to visitors and is a nice "welcome home" for us. Inspired by the greenery we saw used everywhere at Black Creek Pioneer Village this weekend, I made a simple Christmas
- [Tufted Wool Wreath {Anthropologie-inspired}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/12/tufted-wool-wreath.html) - For the past few days our place has been in the chaos with only have the Christmas decorating done (and bins everywhere). The trees are done and the twinkle lights are up, but there is still a Christmas village to finish, wreaths to hang up in the windows and an outdoor planter that needs some
- [Wooden Christmas Sign with String Art](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/12/wooden-christmas-sign-string-art.html) - Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without listening to the haunting rendition of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Judy Garland. It's message of gathering your loved ones near and looking forward to a brighter future always tugs at my heartstrings. My sister and I used to play this Traditional Christmas Classics CD on repeat
- [Excited for Halloween](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/10/excited-for-halloween.html) - There are only four days left until Halloween! It feels like it really came up fast this year. There is still so much I want to cram into these last few days. I still need to carve our pumpkins, finish up our costumes for a party this weekend and watch at least a couple of
- [A Few Halloween Decorations](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/10/few-halloween-decorations.html) - Last month I dressed the apartment up for Fall, but now that Halloween is getting nearer, I wanted to add a few things before the spooky night arrives. In honour of Whiskey's Halloween costume this year, I added lots of tissue paper bats along the walls. (I'll be posting a tutorial on his costume next
- [Spooky walk in our new Neigbourhood](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/10/spooky-walk-in-our-new-neigbourhood.html) - Yesterday morning was the first time that Garrett and I could take Whiskey on a walk together. We've been working pretty much the opposite hours, so we haven't had much time together. Ironic that our first week living together we saw less of each other than when we lived an hour apart. Thats why we
- [Caramelized Pumpkin & Squash Seeds](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/10/caramelized-pumpkin-squash-seeds.html) - One of my favorite parts about carving pumpkins is getting to eat all the wonderfully nutty seeds! Usually I just roast them with a little olive oil and salt, but this year I wanted to do something different. Then I came across this recipe from Cooking with My Kid. that caramelized them and I knew that I
- [How To Handle All the Halloween Goodies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/10/how-to-handle-all-halloween-goodies.html) - Once the calendar flips to October, it seems that Halloween candy is all around. I'm lucky that I can't eat most of it because of my nut allergy, but that doesn't mean that I'm not tempted by all the great nut-free goodies out there too. I don't know what it is about those pint size
- [Choosing Halloween Costumes](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/10/choosing-halloween-costumes.html) - With Halloween less than two weeks away, I'm starting to think about Halloween costumes. I have always loved Halloween - the spooky movies, getting dressed up, the candy (especially Charleston Chews!). Usually I try to get dressed up and head out somewhere with friends, like the first year Garrett and I did Halloween together. He
- [Dog Dinosaur Costume](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/10/dog-dinosaur-costume.html) - Dressing up for Halloween is one of my favourite parts of the season, but making costumes for Whiskey is just about as fun. Over the years, he has been a taco, a bat, Wile E. Coyote and a business dog. x This year it has been super chilly around here and I wanted to make
- [Enjoying Halloween in our Neighbourhood](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/11/enjoying-halloween-in-our-neighbourhood.html) - The past couple of weeks we have both been crazy at work, so when Halloween rolled around, there was only one thing we wanted to do - stay home and relax. No elaborate costumes or big parties in the city. Just a nice dinner at home, some scary movies/TV shows and a few little Halloween
- [Tutorial: Dog Taco Costume](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/10/tutorial-dog-taco-costume.html) - After much debate, I decided to make Whiskey a Taco Costume this year. He loves to wear anything that has straps like his winter coat (he seriously jumps for joy when I dig out his sweaters.) It was a blast to make, and has been a smash hit around town today. Can't wait for him
- [Seasons Changing at Blue Mountain](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/10/seasons-changing-at-blue-mountain.html) - I took a bit of an unplanned blog hiatus this past week. I had so many ideas whirling in my head after the Blissdom Canada conference last weekend that I decided a little time away from the computer was what I needed. It was so nice to have a little break, especially during a busy
- [Autumn at Cloverhill Farmhouse](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/10/autumn-at-cloverhill-farmhouse.html) - Each season we're experiencing here at Cloverhill brings it's own surprises. We've seen it change in spring, then summer and now we're in the middle of our very first fall. The big silver maple tree out front has turned a beautiful golden colour and you can see the leaves in some of the windows in
- [Navy Mudroom Makeover & Behr Paint 2016 Colour Trends Giveaway](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/09/navy-mudroom-makeover.html) - Disclosure: I am a member of the Behr DIY Expert program and was provided Behr product for this project. All opinions and ideas are 100% my own. When we first moved into the farmhouse, most of the rooms were freshly painted and relatively move-in ready, but there was one room that needed some TLC...the mudroom.
- [Thanksgiving Weekend with Family and Friends](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/10/thanksgiving-weekend-family-friends.html) - I only picked up my camera a few times to take pictures over Thanksgiving weekend, so it was funny when I loaded my pictures last night and realized I'd only taken pictures of empty rooms and tables, haha! I guess I was having such a good time when people were around, that I didn't catch
- [Happy Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/10/happy-canadian-thanksgiving-weekend.html) - I'm so excited for Thanksgiving weekend. My siblings are coming home, we get to see family and we have our first official house guests coming, my grandparents! It feels like a real holiday weekend. I'm sure there will be lots of yard work and renovation work thrown in there too, but I'm ready for a little downtime with family.
- [Indian Butter Chicken](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/10/indian-butter-chicken.html) - I shared my love of Indian food on the blog earlier this summer with my Grilled Tandoori-Style Chicken, but as the cooler weather sets in I've been craving a hearty bowl of my favourite butter chicken. The creamy tomato sauce and perfect blend of Indian spices make it a delicious comfort food dish. We had
- [A Visit to the Pumpkin Patch](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/10/a-visit-to-the-pumpkin-patch.html) - Every year around Labour Day weekend, our favourite roadside stand stops selling their delicious corn and starts preparing for pumpkin season! I've bought my pumpkins from them every year, sometimes making a special Thanksgiving weekend trip just to pick them up. Last weekend my mom and I were out running errands together and decided to
- [A Simple Summer Wreath](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/06/simple-summer-wreath.html) - After getting the porch all fixed up last month and planting some flowers, our apartment was looking much better, but it still could use a little more colour. I took 10 minutes on Sunday morning and put together this little project to spruce the place up a bit. I've never hung up a wreath in the summer (just
- [Natural Tea Bag Dyeing](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/10/natural-tea-bag-dyeing.html) - On Friday's fall decor post, I shared the new fall watercolour pillow covers I'd bought from Craftberry Bush. They were just the pop of colour I was looking for in our living room, but I'll admit that when the pillows first showed up I was really worried about them. They were bright white, which would
- [Farmhouse Fall Decor 2015](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/10/fall-decor-2015.html) - Some years I've really gotten into decorating our old apartment for fall but this year it was a little harder than expected. First of all, we've had such a busy summer with the house restorations outside and second - this is a big house to decorate! The tiny 450 sq ft apartment only had so
- [Chocolate Covered Peppermint Brownie Bites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/12/chocolate-covered-peppermint-brownie.html) - I love brownies. They are the perfect chewy and chocolatey treat. I love them homemade, from the box mix, from a bakery, in any form (as long as they don't have nuts. Don't want to die or anything). But I have to admit that I had never ever ever tried a "brownie bite". I kept
- [Chocolate Coconut Brownie Mug Cake](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/01/chocolate-coconut-brownie-mug-cake.html) - The other night I was catching up on some TV and got the biggest craving for something chocolately - cake, brownie, chewy cookie, you name it. But the reality is that I didn't have the energy for actually making a whole cake or tray of brownies or batch of cookies, and I didn't exactly need
- [Chocolate Raspberry Brownies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/02/chocolate-raspberry-brownies.html) - What is it about Valentine's Day that has me craving chocolate? Maybe it's the huge displays of chocolates at every store? As lovely as those are, I usually try to make Garrett something homemade for his gift, like the Chocolate Covered Brownies & Blondie Bars from two years ago. It also helps me get my
- [Coconut Milk Ice Cream Without a Machine {Dairy Free}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/02/coconut-milk-ice-cream-without-machine.html) - Using coconut milk still gives you all the rich, creamy flavour of traditional ice cream, but with the added benefit of healthy fats. It's a great alternative for people who can't consume dairy, or are trying to cut back. Making it at home also cuts out all the sugar and preservatives that store bought
- [Whipped Coconut Cream {Dairy Free and Vegan Friendly}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/03/whipped-coconut-cream-dairy-free-vegan.html) - There is no denying that I have a bit of a sweet tooth. As much as I would love to eat brownies and cake for dessert every night, that just isn't possible. Lately I've been trying to curb my dessert cravings with a little bowl of yogurt in the evening or a square of dark
- [Dairy Free Chocolate Pudding](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/04/dairy-free-chocolate-pudding.html) - We recently had a guest over who was lactose intolerant and I was trying to brainstorm something I could make them for dessert that wasn't just fruit. I know first hand from my peanut and nut allergy how thoughtful it is when someone goes to the effort of making something that is safe to eat.
- [Chocolate Covered Avocado Fudgesicles {Dairy Free}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/05/chocolate-covered-avocado-fudgesicles-dairy-free.html) - Despite the chilly weather up here in Ontario the past week, it still feels like we're on the cusp of summer starting. It's so close. With summer weather comes cravings for barbecue, crisp salads, juicy watermelon and of course popsicles - the perfect summer treat to cool off. Last year. I made Blackberry Lemon Greek Yogurt Popsicle and
- [Frosted Irish Cream Brownies for My Birthday!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/05/frosted-irish-cream-brownies-for-my.html) - Today is my birthday. The big ol' 2-8. What better way to celebrate your birthday than with a batch of rich, fudgy brownies, topped with thick frosting and kicked up a notch with some Irish cream. I love good spiked dessert for my birthday. Brownies are probably my all-time favourite dessert, especially when they are
- [Butter Tarts {A Canadian Classic}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/04/butter-tarts-recipe.html) - Americans may have Pecan Pie, but Canadians have our own quintessential decadent sugary treat - Butter Tarts. Everyone's grandmother has their own recipe and there are plenty of variations on how firm the filling is, but they all have the same flaky tart shells filled with a wonderful buttery brown sugar filling. Just the smell
- [Coconut Berry Popsicles for Canada Day & 4th of July](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/06/coconut-berry-popsicles-for-canada-day.html) - It's hard to believe that in a week we'll be packing up the car and heading up to our friends' cottage for Canada Day weekend! And all of our friends to the south will be celebrating the 4th of July soon too! In honour of the festivities, I made some colourful popsicles made with crushed
- [Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/06/strawberry-rhubarb-crumble.html) - Strawberries and rhubarb always reminds me of June - when they are in season in Ontario and at their freshest. Every produce booth at the farmers market has them on display and for those who are lucky enough to have backyard gardens, their crops are ready to harvest. My parents have a big lush rhubarb
- [Cherry Pie Bars](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/07/cherry-pie-bars.html) - Last summer, I tested out a big batch of Glazed Apple Pie Bars during a visit to our friends' cottage. They were a huge hit with everyone and I knew I wanted to make something similar to take up for Canada Day this year. After I researched a couple of ideas, I sent a message to
- [Sour Cherry Brown Betty](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/07/sour-cherry-brown-betty.html) - Making desserts out of fresh, seasonal Ontario fruits is one of my favourites things about this time of year. We have to rely on exports through all the colder months, but when the warmer weather comes and we can harvest our own produce it's great to be able to use it. What better way to
- [Butterscotch Ice Cream](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/08/butterscotch-ice-cream.html) - Ever since we bought our Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker we've been on a frozen dessert kick. I've made a few healthy versions with coconut milk and fresh fruit, but I've also made some more indulgent treats like the Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream. When we bought the machine, my mother mentioned that she'd love to
- [Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/07/homemade-chocolate-chip-cookie-dough.html) - I still had a little birthday money leftover and Garrett found $20 in his pocket while washing his jeans, so we pooled our resources together and bought an ICE CREAM MAKER! Say goodbye to jeans that fit! It was a decadent purchase and we know that buying the whole ingredients will be no cheaper than
- [Batty Halloween Cupcakes](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/10/batty-halloween-cupcakes.html) - This weekend we had some friends over for a little impromptu Halloween get together. I made these cute batty Halloween cupcakes to serve our guests. I'm always for using shortcuts like boxed cake mix when you need them, but they never taste quite as good as made-from-scratch cupcakes. I added some orange buttercream frosting and
- [Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/10/pumpkin-pie-ice-cream.html) - What is it about October that has everyone seeking out pumpkin flavoured this and that? I mean, really, we can eat it all year long if we want to, but we don't (at least I don't). I wait until October and then get my entire year's quota done in 31 days. After making this Pumpkin
- [White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies with Truvía® Baking Blend (& a Holiday Baking Giveaway!)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/11/white-chocolate-cranberry-cookies-truvia-baking-blend-holiday-baking-giveaway.html) - I love holiday baking, but sometimes the overload of sugar is just too much. Over the past year, I've really tried to cut down on my sugar intake and I've seen a huge improvement in how I feel, but I knew that it would be hard with the holidays coming up. I try to use
- [Celebrating Mom's Birthday {and a Delicious Summer Strawberry Cake Recipe}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/moms-birthday-summer-strawberry-cake.html) - Last night, we loaded up the car with the dogs and headed to my parents' place for a family dinner to celebrate my mom's birthday. Over the last few years, it's been so rare that we've all been in the same place at the same time to celebrate together, so it felt extra special this
- [Family Dinner and a Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie for a Special Guy's Birthday](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/11/chocolate-chip-skillet-cookie.html) - Today was Garrett's birthday and to celebrate we had his family over for a nice dinner together. It was great to put the leaves in the table, put on a table cloth, set out the good cutlery and have everyone laughing around the table. I found this fun banner from Carrie at Fish Scraps (free printable!)
- [Coconut Macaroon Brownie Bites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/06/coconut-macaroon-brownie-bites.html) - This weekend I got the itch to do some baking. It had been awhile since I baked for fun, not because I needed to bring something somewhere - and it was just as relaxing as I'd hoped it would be. Doesn't hurt that I got to have brownies at the end of it too, which
- [Whipped Coconut Cream Ice Box Cake](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/02/whipped-coconut-cream-ice-box-cake.html) - When brainstorming what to make for our Valentine's Day dessert, I recalled one of my favourite recipes that I'd never shared with Garrett (or here on the blog). It was a much loved cake made by my great grandmother, who passed it down to my mother, who would make this for special family celebrations at
- [Blueberry Pretzel Dark Chocolate Clusters](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/02/blueberry-pretzel-dark-chocolate-clusters.html) - Valentine's Day is only two days away! I feel like this just snuck up on me. Some years I've done lots of treats, crafts and decor for Valentine's Day but this year it totally caught me by surprise. I've got a couple of ideas of what I'd like to do for Garrett (including making a super
- [Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Nut-Free Brownie Cookies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/03/gluten-free-dairy-free-nut-free-brownie-cookies.html) - With my peanut and nut allergy, I know how difficult it can be to find food that is safe to eat, so I try to be extra aware of it whenever I have company over who have a lactose or gluten intolerance. When I was away at university, we had all three in the house
- [Vegan Apple Blackberry Crisp](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/04/vegan-apple-blackberry-crisp.html) - Last night we had friends over for dinner and I was trying to come up with a last minute dairy-free dessert idea. Everything I found online was either really complicated or had ingredients that I'd never even heard of. I just wanted a good old fashioned dessert that would finish off a great night with friends.
- [Etsy Made in Canada, Toronto Cider Fest and a Baby Shower](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/09/etsy-made-in-canada-toronto-ciderfest-and-a-baby-shower.html) - It just dawned on me that we have two days left in September. What?!? How is it going so fast? Canadian Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away and I'm already thinking about desserts and dishes to make. What am I looking forward to most about Thanksgiving? Family, bacon-wrapped turkey and cranberry sauce. In that
- [Pureed Carrot Lentil Soup](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/09/pureed-carrot-lentil-soup.html) - Autumn makes me crave big bowls of thick, hearty soups, like this Pureed Carrot Lentil Soup. Even on the chilliest of days, this is sure to warm me up at lunch time. It's also great for dipping my favourite whole wheat rolls in. Yay for packing warm lunches again! Pureed Carrot Lentil Soup Prep time:
- [Lentil Soup](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/01/lentil-soup.html) - There is nothing that I love more for lunch than a nice big bowl of delicious soup. This week I made a batch of lentil soup to pack for lunches and I've been loving it everyday. Not only is it tasty and healthy (lentils are high in protein!), but its also inexpensive and easy to
- [Favourite Fall Recipes](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/09/favourite-fall-recipes.html) - Last night was the first night that it really started to feel like fall. The temperature dropped as we took an evening walk around the neighbourhood. Leaves are already starting to turn into vibrant reds and oranges, and there are even a few on the ground. I love this time of year. The crisp smell of
- [DIY Fall Planter Under $15](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/09/diy-fall-planter-under-15.html) - I always love seeing the big fall planters start to pop up in shops around this time of year. The vibrant yellows and oranges, with little pops of purple and rust. Although...I'm not a big fan of the prices. A decent sized planter can been $50-90 a pop! I was lamenting about this the other
- [Historical Society, Gilmore Girls and More Painting](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/09/historical-society-gilmore-girls-and-more-painting.html) - Happy Monday! I hope you're getting the week off to a good start. We had a big Sunday night dinner last night of roast beef, roasted potatoes and beets, honey glazed carrots, mom's homemade gravy and a big apple pie. Yum! I forgot how nice it is to start the week off with a nice
- [Advent Activities Calendar](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/11/christmas-advent-activities-calendar.html) - It's hard to believe that it's only a few days away from December. Where on Earth did 2013 go?!? To celebrate this last month of the year and get into the Christmas spirit, I made us an advent calendar full of activities that Garrett and I can do together. Last year I made a cookie
- [Etsy Fall Finds 2015](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/09/etsy-fall-finds.html) - In less than a week it will officially be fall, but I'll admit that I've already dove head first into the season. The days are hot and sunny, but you can feel that cool fall air creeping in at night. There's the smell of wood fires burning in the distance and the leaves are starting
- [The Weekend Drive](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/11/weekend-drive.html) - Yesterday I was up visiting my parents and I took a drive through the local farmland. The sky was the perfect shade of blue, and the air was still, but the barren trees reminded me that winter is fast approaching. A wooly bear caterpillar making his way across the dried grass. By spring
- [Have a great Friday!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/11/have-great-friday.html) - Shadow, our family doberman, looks very happy that its Friday. It means that she has her family home for the weekend. No work. No school. And probably at least one trip to Tim Hortons for coffee and timbits. And the best part about Timbits is that she always gets 1 and 1/2....because Whiskey just can't
- [Whiskey & Jackson](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/11/whiskey-jackson.html) - Is this not one of the cutest wiener dogs you've ever seen? Those floppy ears fall back over his head when he runs (hops?) around the yard. And he has that great puppy skin that is so soft and flabby that you can almost double it over him. Don't even get me started on those
- [Must Read Book: The Birth House by Amy McKay](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2009/10/must-read-book-birth-house-by-amy-mckay.html) - Last year I was taking a trip to Poland for a film festival, and as I was packing to go, a friend stopped by and dropped off this book. I was in a rush, so I thanked her, stuffed it in my carry-on and completely forgot about it. A week later on my flight back
- [Carrot Cake Cookies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/07/carrot-cake-cookies.html) - The other day I was on one of my favorite blogs, Carrots 'n' Cake, and I saw that Tina had posted about making Carrot Cake Cookies. I was instantly intrigued. Raisins + Carrots + Maple Syrup = One Delicious Cookie. I did the cookie tasting test on my date the other night and he loved them. So
- [A Taste of Fall - Kayaking, Harvest Festival and Picking Apples](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/09/taste-of-fall-harvest-festival-picking-apples.html) - They're calling for a hot week here in Southern Ontario, but over the weekend it dipped into cold fall temperatures. We turned our furnace for the first time and were pleasantly surprised that it worked so quickly to get our house nice and toasty. I reluctantly put on socks (although I was happy it meant
- [Blissdom Canada 2013 Recap](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/10/friday-favourites-blissdom-canada-2013.html) - Happy Friday everyone! Today kicks of the Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend, so I'm in a very festive mood. With a weekend full of family dinners, hanging out with my siblings while their home AND our engagement brunch, it's going to be a great one. Plus I have Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream in the freezer -
- [Ellen sends Staff through "Walking Dead" Haunted House](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/10/ellen-walking-dead-haunted-house.html) - I don't do well with haunted houses/forests/anything. I know that it's all supposed to be for fun and it's not real...but I just can't help but scream like a big baby when someone jumps out at me. I tried to put on a brave face when I knew we were going to one with friends
- [Keene Pumpkin Festival {Keene, New Hampshire}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/10/keene-pumpkin-festival-keene-new-hampshire.html) - In honour of all the Halloween jack-o-lanterns out there doing their job tonight, I wanted to share this fun event we went to on our New England road trip the other week. While making our way back from Salem, Massachusetts, we made a quick detour up to Keene, New Hampshire to see the unbelievable Keene
- [My Top 5 Must See Halloween Movies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/10/friday-favourites-top-5-must-see-halloween-movies.html) - I'm a big movie lover, so I often associate holidays and seasons with specific nostalgic movies. I can't get through Christmas without watching It's A Wonderful Life and Christmas Vacation (an odd combination, I know), and summer has to include Now & Then and The Sandlot. So it will come as no surprise that I have a list of
- [Friday Favourites - Decorating with White Pumpkins](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/10/decorating-white-pumpkins.html) - This year I bought some great mini pumpkins from the pumpkin patch and my first large white pumpkin. I've admired them from afar for a long time and was so excited when I found one at our pumpkin patch this year. Now I'm looking forward carving it for Halloween! For this week's Friday Favourites, I'm
- [Cheesy Baked Chicken](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/10/cheesy-baked-chicken.html) - This great weeknight dinner recipe was supposed to go up yesterday, but I've been on the road this week with very poor internet. It makes me realize how dependent I am on technology! I'm sitting in a fast food parking lot right now, using their wi-fi just to get this up. I'll try to answer
- [Our Canadian Thanksgiving](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/10/our-canadian-thanksgiving.html) - This weekend was a whirlwind of family and friends - and it was awesome. We had Thanksgiving with my family on Saturday, then with Garrett's family on Sunday and then finished it off with a family engagement brunch on Monday morning. I ate so much fantastic food and was able to spend lots of time
- [A Thanksgiving Tree](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/10/thanksgiving-tree.html) - This weekend it's Thanksgiving here in Canada and I can't wait! I've already caught myself daydreaming about turkey, Aunt Marian's Cranberry Sauce , Mom's Macaroni & Cheese and my sister's Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies with Maple Cream Cheese Filling. It's going to be a delicious weekend for sure, but it's also a time to reflect on
- [Ham and Gruyere Frittata](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/10/ham-and-gruyere-frittata.html) - Last night I got back from a whirlwind weekend at Blissdom Canada. It was a great conference full of fantastic talks and the chance to meet some truly amazing women. It forced me to think about my game plan for this little ol' blog that I love oh so much, and I'm really excited for
- [Small Town Ontario: Doors Open Newmarket](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/10/small-town-ontario-doors-open-newmarket.html) - Last weekend we went with some friends on a self-guided tour of Newmarket for Open Doors Ontario. We go there often to visit family and friends, but I've never walked around and seen it in such detail before. I couldn't believe how much history there was that I had no idea about. There was a variety of public
- [Creamy Carrot Soup](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/10/creamy-carrot-soup.html) - My mom gave me a huge 5lb bag of local carrots this week and I was wracking my brain on what to do with them all (maybe take up vegetable art?). Then I got thinking about a big warm bowl of smooth and creamy carrot soup. There is something about soup that makes it really
- [Autumn Dining Room Table with Tea Towel Runner](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/10/autumn-dining-room-table-with-tea-towel-fabric-runner.html) - Decorating our home for each season is one of my favourite things to do. I grew up in a house where we celebrated each part of the year and I get so excited to do it in our own home now. Whether it's a bookcase mantel or a new fall wreath, it doesn't take much
- [Lately - Labour Day Weekend, Goodbye Summer and Cleaning Up](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/09/lately-labour-day-weekend-goodbye-summer-and-cleaning-up.html) - I've been dealing with some technical issues today with the blog. If you spot something out of the ordinary, please give me a shout. Thanks! / / / We had a pretty good Labour Day weekend with a healthy mix of work and play. This fall is going to be a very busy one for
- [A Colourful Fall Wreath](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/09/a-colourful-fall-wreath.html) - I finally had a little time this weekend to get some Fall decorations up. Canadian Thanksgiving is less than a month away and I want to have everything all spruced up for friends and family coming to visit. The first thing I did was swap out the Summer Wreath, with something warm and colourful
- [Autumn Berry Wreath](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/09/autumn-berry-wreath.html) - With the bookcase mantel all decorated for fall, I got the itch to spruce up some other areas of the apartment too. I could hardly wait to get home last night to make this wreath before the sun went down. Thankfully it took less than 15 minutes to make AND I was able to do
- [Easy Autumn Candle Holders](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/09/easy-autumn-candle-holders.html) - This is a craft that has been going around the blogging world a lot in the past year or so, but I wanted to share my own version it. It only took a little while, but they look great in the living room and I love to have them lit up in the evening.
- [A Fall Bookcase Mantel](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/09/a-fall-bookcase-mantel.html) - This year is the first time that I have decorated our apartment for Fall. Last year was the big move in October, so I didn't really have time to decorate my old apartment and by the time we got settled into the new one, it was time for Halloween decorations. I'm loving the new Colourful
- [Outdoor Chairs Get Freshened Up with Behr Marquee Exterior Paint](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/09/behr-marquee-outdoor-chairs.html) - First of all, I'm so excited to announce that I'm heading to California this week to meet the fabulous people at Behr Paint. I've had such a great time being a part of the DIY Expert Team for 2014 and it'll be so nice to meet them all in person! I'm heading out on Wednesday
- [Little Home Office Reveal](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/04/home-office-reveal.html) - A month ago I wrote about how I was going to give my little home office an update. At the time I thought that it would be awhile until we bought a house, so I was looking for ways to improve our apartment and make it work better for us. Little did I know that
- [Our Easy Summer Camping Recipes (+ Grocery List)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/08/our-easy-summer-camping-recipes-grocery-list.html) - Be sure to stop on by September Farm today, where I'm doing a little Q&A with Karli! / / / I've shared some camping recipes in the past from trips to Elora Gorge Conservation Area and Bon Echo Provincial Park, but this time I did it a little differently on our trip to Sandbanks Provincial Park.
- [Wilmington, Vermont - Our Stay at The Wilmington Inn & Tavern](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/11/wilmington-vermont-the-wilmington-inn-and-tavern.html) - Last month we went on a whirlwind New England road trip. Four states in four days - New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. After two awesome days in Salem (Parts 1, 2 & 3) we drove to the Keene Pumpkin Festival in New Hampshire, we made our way through the mountains to the adorable
- [A Tale of Six Chairs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/09/a-tale-of-six-chairs.html) - When we first moved to the farmhouse, it became very apparent that the limited furniture we were bringing from the apartment wasn't going to cut it. The rooms looked bare and the scale of the furniture didn't quite work. Slowly we've been replacing them with new pieces like the dining room cabinets (!), sectional couch
- [A Summer Wedding in Ohio](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/09/summer-wedding-ohio.html) - A couple of weeks ago, my family headed out on a road trip over the border to Lancaster, Ohio for the wedding of one of our dear family friends. My dinner date and dance partner (for life!) was able to get off work to come too. It was the only time we left the farmhouse
- [Grilled Naan Flatbreads](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/09/grilled-naan-flatbreads.html) - This summer we've become really good friends with our grill. We're often working outside in the evenings and can fire up the grill to cook meat and veggies while we continue to work away. It also helps keep our kitchen nice and cool on the hot days. I've also gotten into experimenting with different grilled
- [The Chicken Coop {Part 2}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/08/the-chicken-coop-part-2.html) - In yesterday's post (part one), I shared how my family built the chicken coop for me as a surprise for my birthday. Once we got it to the farmhouse, we had to start thinking about where it was going to go and how we wanted to modify it once we started to learn more about
- [Farmhouse Restoration: Salvaged Screen Door and the Big Reveal (for now)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/08/farmhouse-restoration-reveal.html) - I'm so excited to finally share with you two of my favourite pictures of the farmhouse restoration... The day we put an offer on the house... ...and where we're at now. There is so much more to still do (and more on that farther below), but already it feels a thousand times better. I still
- [Farmhouse Restoration - The Spring House](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/08/farmhouse-restoration-spring-house-after.html) - A month ago I shared some before pictures of the spring house, the only original outbuilding that remains from what was once the dairy farm on our property. The concrete building is from the early 20th century, around the same time period as the farmhouse. Spring houses were an older method of refrigeration before ice delivery
- [DIY Custom Board and Batten Shutters](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/08/diy-custom-board-and-batten-shutters.html) - When we first finished painting the farmhouse, it became very apparent that something was missing. The house looked fresh and crisp with the new white stucco paint...but it was also resembling a big white box. I've always loved the look of black shutters on a white house, but when we started looking at custom shutters
- [Farmhouse Restoration - Painting Stucco and Windows](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/08/farmhouse-restoration-painting-stucco-and-windows.html) - When we first bought the farmhouse, one of the biggest tasks we knew we needed to complete this summer was painting the exterior. Not only was it an eyesore, but there were many spots where water could penetrate the window frames and stucco, risking damage when it freezes this winter. We dedicated most of our weekends
- [Farmhouse Progress Tour](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/08/farmhouse-progress-tour.html) - We've been focusing all our energy on improving the outside of the house (which I'll be sharing next week!!!), which means the inside has been just done up enough that we can use it and not have everything in boxes. We've lived here for less than three months but it already feels like home. With the
- [Roasted Raspberry Rhubarb Sauce](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/06/roasted-raspberry-rhubarb-sauce.html) - Rhubarb is one of my favourite seasonal treats and I always look forward to it every spring. We were lucky to get a few stalks in our CSA box last week. In the past I've used it to make baked dishes like Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp and Whole Wheat Rhubarb Cake, but I was looking for something that we
- [Summer Berry Baked Oatmeal](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/summer-berry-baked-oatmeal.html) - With Canada Day this week and us dog sitting for family (more on that tomorrow), it's been kind of chaotic over here on the meal front. We thankfully had plenty of leftovers for lunches/dinners after having company over on this week, but I wanted to think of something I could make ahead of time to
- [Heritage Park - Calgary, Alberta](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/08/heritage-park-calgary-alberta.html) - On our last day in Alberta, my sister and I headed into downtown Calgary to look around the shops and explore Canada's fifth largest city. Of course, we had to stop into a cowboy store to look at boots and hats (and try on a few). The city is home to the world famous Calgary
- [Our Corn Roast Housewarming](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/08/corn-roast-housewarming.html) - After many weeks of working on the farmhouse, we were finally able to put the paint brushes down and celebrate with friends this weekend! Knowing that we were having people showing up this Saturday was motivation to get much of the work done around the yard. I can't wait to share it all oh so
- [The Chicken Coop {Part 1}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/08/chicken-coop-part-one.html) - When I first started to write out this post, it wasn't long before I started to realize it was turning into a novel. Thus today's post will be about how my family built the coop and tomorrow morning I'll share how it looks now that we've got it set up at the farmhouse. We're about
- [The Spring House {The Before Pictures}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/07/spring-house-before.html) - While we keep working away at the exterior of the farmhouse, I'm excited to show you around the other structure on our property. It was built around 1903, the same time that the house and the old barn was built (which unfortunately burned down many years ago). It's a solid concrete building with an updated
- [Banff & Kootenay National Parks](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/08/banff-kootenay-national-parks.html) - After making our way from Calgary to our hike at Lake Louise, the original plan was to camp in Banff National Park, but the poor weather forecast forced us to reconsider. I'm so glad it did or otherwise we would have never gone over the border into British Columbia to stay in a real log
- [Fresh Corn Salad](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/08/fresh-corn-salad.html) - One of the great things about August here in Ontario is the fresh local corn that becomes available at roadside stands and farmers markets. The crisp, sweet cobs are the perfect side dish for any meal. Growing up, we'd have it almost every night when it was in season, especially when we had cousins visiting
- [Freezer Week](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/02/freezer-week.html) - I have a problem... ....my freezer is full. Like out-of-control-full. This isn't my actual freezer in the image above, but it may as well be. Every time I open it, something falls out. Its a very obvious sign that I need to get my butt in gear and do a "Freezer Week". For at least one
- [Lunchtime!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/04/lunchtime.html) - Lately I've been on a real salad kick for lunches. There is so much great produce at the store these days and I just get mesmerized by all the bright colours. I can't wait for the local farmers market to start up next month. Today I had a real medley of veggies from the
- [The Joys of a Roadside Stand](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/08/joys-of-roadside-stand.html) - Summer is a time to enjoy fresh produce at its best, and what better than a good old fashioned roadside stand! I came across this one while driving back from a trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake and I was mesmerized by the selection. Big baskets full of plums, peppers, tomatoes, beans, garlic, cherries, peaches, the list goes
- [Freezing Fresh Herbs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/05/freezing-fresh-herbs.html) - There is nothing like the aroma of cooking with fresh herbs and I love doing it whenever I get a chance. I just can't justify spending so much money on them and then letting them go to waste in the fridge after I've only made one dish with them. Whats my solution? Freezing them! First
- [How to Use Mason Jars With a Blender](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/05/how-to-use-mason-jars-with-blender.html) - After the last post on The Return of the Blue Mason Jar, it reminded me to share this great way to utilize your mason jar in the kitchen! I'm not really a morning person, so over the last few years I've really tried to streamline my mornings. One of my favourite ways to do that
- [Egg-cellent!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/01/egg-cellent.html) - Today I learned a nifty little trick that I just had to share with you. You know when you crack an egg and you accidentally get small bits of the eggshell in the bowl and spend ages trying to fish them out? Next time take the empty shell half and use it to scoop up
- [Recipe Cards](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/01/recipe-cards.html) - One of my dearest friends, Al, gave me an incredibly sweet gift this year - cute, fun AND functional recipe cards. This girl seriously knows what makes my skirt fly up. For years I have kept recipes on scraps of paper or boring index cards. I have a whole box full of computer print
- [An Easy Way to Cook Chicken for Lunches](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/03/an-easy-way-to-cook-chicken-for-lunches.html) - We're always trying to find ways to eat healthier, with a focus on eating whole foods and less processed foods. Rather than buying expensive, processed deli meats, we've both been taking leftovers to work, or better yet, preparing our own meats for lunches. It only takes a little bit of prep work to have delicious
- [Eating Healthy During Busy Times](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/06/eating-healthy-during-busy-times.html) - Its easy to get sidetracked from healthy eating when you're busy, but its important to still keep focused on it. I've been on set most days this past week from 8am until 9pm, which doesn't leave much time for food prep. I don't want to be eating take out or junk food, so I try
- [Farmers Market Favorites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/08/farmers-market-favorites.html) - For me, Farmers Markets are one of the best parts of Ontario Summers. We get to get out and enjoy the best of our local produce and I relish being able to walk around and see all the inspiring goodies. Right away I made a beeline for the big produce displays. Everything was giving me
- [Kitchen Memories](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/03/kitchen-memories.html) - Last weekend I was back in my hometown visiting my parents, when I started rummaging through the shelves of old cookbooks that my mother has. I was on the hunt for her infamous macaroni and cheese recipe (look out for that next week!) and I came across a small stack of very old notebooks. It
- [Friday Favourites - 5 Great Products for Green Packed Lunches](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/08/friday-favourites-5-great-products-for-green-packed-lunches.html) - Happy Friday! After a chilly Summer, we've had warmer weather again this week. I've been trying to get out in the evenings and enjoy it while it is still here. Although I do have to admit that I am excited for Fall too - it's my favourite season! I can't wait for big sweaters, homemade
- [Cooking with Spices](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/08/cooking-with-spices.html) - After showing the kitchen before and after photos yesterday, I thought I'd do a little close up of one of my favorite parts of my kitchen - the spice rack!!! When I first moved in, I loved the IKEA GRUNDTAL system of racks and rods that had already been installed in my kitchen. When my
- [How I Ended Up In The Emergency Room After Cutting Hot Peppers](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/08/how-i-ended-up-in-emergency-room-after.html) - This week we were given a large bounty of homegrown vegetables from Garrett's parents, which I immediately planned to use to make Ratatouille. They gave us eggplants, green peppers, onions and tomatoes. On a visit to our own garden I spotted those little green hot peppers on the bottom of the picture. After taking a
- [How to Make Stevia Extract](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/09/how-to-make-stevia-extract.html) - Despite the fact that I do eat some sugary foods (just wait for the ice cream recipe I'm sharing next week...it's amazing), Garrett and I are both trying to reduce sugar in our diets. Little switches, like using a natural sweetener for your coffee, removing sugary sodas from your diet or using fruit rather than
- [Cooking While Camping](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/07/cooking-while-camping.html) - Before I went camping last weekend, there was plenty of discussion amongst the group over what we needed to bring for food. We would be cooking over a fire for most of it, so we had to stick to easy to cook foods, while staying away from processed foods. We're talking real meat, potatoes and
- [Friday Favourites - Around the Farmhouse](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/08/friday-favourites-aug7.html) - Happy Friday! First off, if you've subscribed to the newsletter and have been getting multiple emails, I'm working on getting it fixed. It's just one of the many lovely glitches that comes with a new website and domain, but I hope it will be resolved shortly. Thank you all for your patience while I work
- [Hiking in Lake Louise, Alberta](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/08/hiking-in-lake-louise-alberta.html) - On our first morning in Alberta, we packed up the car and headed to the Rocky Mountains. Even from an hour away they looked so grand! As we got closer and closer, I could hardly fathom anything being that steep. I've been to the mountains in the Eastern US and even to the Rockies in
- [Sweet Potato Bean Burritos with Spanish Rice](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/08/sweet-potato-bean-burritos-spanish-rice.html) - When my sister and I got to Calgary, there was one meal that we were looking forward to the most - my friends Alison & Dave's Sweet Potato Bean Burritos. They made it the first night we got there as a big welcome to Alberta (along with margaritas!) Alison had shared the recipe with us before
- [Royal Tyrrell Museum {Drumheller, Alberta}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/08/royal-tyrrell-museum.html) - Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be sharing more about the trip my sister and I took out west to visit friends in Calgary, Alberta. It's the farthest west I'd ever been in Canada and we saw so much on our short trip there! On Instagram, I shared lots of pictures of the mountains
- [Swiss Chard, Apple & Feta Salad](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/06/swiss-chard-apple-feta-salad.html) - With all the greens we've been getting in our CSA lately, I've been playing around with different salad recipes. This super simple summer salad has become one of my favourites and I love to change up the recipe depending on what greens we have on hand. I've been using swiss chard or kale, but you
- [Grilled Tandoori-Style Chicken](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/06/grilled-tandoori-style-chicken.html) - Growing up with a severe peanut and tree nut allergy, there were very few foreign foods that I was able to experience safely. It wasn't until I was an adult that allergies become well known and restaurants started preparing food safely. It was about seven years ago that I was first introduced to Indian food
- [Friday Favourites - Wild Afternoon at IKEA](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/07/friday-favourites-jul31.html) - Happy Friday! Today’s post comes a little later than normal because I’ve been on a mission today. Garrett and I were both off early so we decided to make the trek to IKEA. We went with a big list – bookshelves for the dining room, storage solutions for the basement, curtain rods for upstairs and
- [Baked Artichoke Spinach Dip {Cocktail Hour on the Dock}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/05/baked-artichoke-spinach-dip.html) - I spent the long weekend at my parents place and we had just the best weather. It was so warm and sunny, which made for good porch painting weather. Usually we eat most of our meals out on the porch, but with it all torn up to paint, we had to look elsewhere. That's when
- [Freshening Up the Back Porch](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/07/freshening-up-the-back-porch-behr-paint.html) - I'm excited to announce that I'm working with Behr Paint again this year as one of their Behr DIY Experts. Last year I used their awesome products on a number of projects including our DIY window seat storage bench, outdoor chairs and a pool deck makeover at my parents. I'm looking forward to sharing more Behr Paint
- [Pool Deck Transformation with Behr Premium DeckOver](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/pool-deck-makeover-behr-premium-deckover.html) - When Behr asked me to be a part of their DIY Expert Team this year, the first project that came to mind was updating the pool area at my parents' house. When I was younger, it was a hot spot at our house, but over the years it's started to show it's age. I kept
- [Cottage Furniture gets a Big City Makeover with Behr Marquee Paint {+ My Top Five Furniture Painting Tips!}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/08/cottage-furniture-city-apartment-makeover-behr-marquee-paint-top-painting-tips.html) - Last month, my sister moved to Toronto for her new job and with that came a whole new apartment to decorate. As luck would have it, my parents were recently getting rid of some old wooden furniture from their rental cottage, including five chairs, a dresser, nightstand and little side table. They were all great
- [Hanging out in California with Behr Paint and the Sunset Magazine Idea House](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/09/california-behr-paint-sunset-magazine-idea-house.html) - Earlier this month, the folks at Behr invited me and some fellow bloggers and writers to join them out in California to see the Sunset Magazine Idea House, meet some of the great people at Behr and see how they develop and make their paint. I've been working with Behr this year as one of
- [Repainting the Kitchen Stool with Behr Marquee Paint in just ONE COAT!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/10/repainting-kitchen-stool-behr-marquee-paint-one-coat.html) - When I went to California last month to meet with the team at Behr Paint, I was shocked to see that the new Marquee line can completely cover previously painted surfaces with just one coat. I thought I'd put it up to the test by painting over the brightest paint in our little apartment -
- [DIY Window Seat Storage Bench {Behr Paint - New Year, New Look}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/01/diy-window-seat-storage-bench-behr-paint-new-year-new-look.html) - Over the weekend Garrett and I got working on a project that had been on our minds for some time. We've been looking for a bench that would give the dogs a window seat to look out at the street below and give us some much needed storage. When we couldn't find anything that fit
- [Friday Favourites - Summer Nights](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/07/friday-favs-jul24.html) - Happy Friday! I'm writing today from Calgary, Alberta! My sister and I are out here visiting my good friend Alison and her family for a few days. It's my first time this far out west in Canada and I'm so excited to be here. We're heading up to Banff for some hiking today and I can't
- [Friday Favourites - Little Chickens, Couch Hunting and Big News Next Week](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/07/friday-favourites-july17.html) - Happy Friday! It's a dark and rainy day so far but it hasn't kept my spirits down. How can you be sad when it's oh so close to being the weekend? Rain also means that we can take a break from outdoor work and focus on getting the inside sorted out. We've lived at the
- [Welcome to Life at Cloverhill! {new name + new look}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/07/welcome-to-life-at-cloverhill-new-name-new-look.html) - Today marks the first day under my new blog name "Life at Cloverhill"! For five years and nine months, I've wrote under the name "Small Home Big Start" and while it suited my lifestyle when we were apartment dwellers, it just wasn't working for me anymore. Not only were we not living in a small
- [Friday Favourites - Working Away](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/06/friday-favourites-jun19.html) - Happy Friday! Usually I have at least a few pictures or a story or two to share on a Friday, but this week it's been about the same routine every day: Wake up still exhausted, sore and so so happy Feed the chickens Walk the dogs Feed the dogs Make breakfast and pack lunch Leave
- [Friday Favourites - You've Been Lawyered](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/06/friday-favourites-jun26.html) - Happy Friday! Today I headed into downtown Toronto early in the morning to celebrate a huge milestone in my family - my sister was called to the bar and is officially a lawyer! My sister is one of the smartest people I know with an incredible work ethic and a big heart to boot. She
- [A Long Weekend of Painting (and we're not done yet...)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/07/long-weekend-painting.html) - For the last five days our house has been a construction zone. I took the time off work to start on the exterior makeover and I now realize that hard labour is no joke! Going back to the office this morning felt like a break, ha! Wednesday and Thursday was all about gathering materials, finishing
- [Friday Favourites - There's paint in my hair, but I don't care](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/07/friday-favourites-july7.html) - Happy Friday! I wish I had something more exciting to share, but this week it's been all about painting the outside of the house. We get up, go to work, come home, immediately change into painting clothes and work away until it's pitch black and the mosquitoes have eaten us alive. Most nights we've been
- [Happy Canada Day!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/07/happy-canada-day-2015.html) - It's hard to believe that when our farmhouse was built, this great nation of ours was only 36 years old. This home has been through 112 years of change and we're doing our part to put some love into it so that it can be around for at least another hundred. Usually Canada Day means burgers,
- [Spinach Parmesan Dip](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/11/spinach-parmesan-dip.html) - With Holiday parties in full swing these days, I was looking for an easy, yet healthy appetizer that I could easily make ahead and take with me to parties. This spinach dip is loaded with nutrients and uses fat free yogurt, reduced fat cream cheese and parmesan to get that creamy flavour without all the
- [Road Trip to Kingston](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/05/road-trip-to-kingston.html) - This past weekend I went on a road trip with some of my friends from university to attend the 40th anniversary of the Film Department at Queen's University. It was great to be back in Kingston, where we had all lived for four years, and wander around the fantastic downtown. Eve (just back from a
- [I Love Road Trips](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/03/i-love-road-trips.html) - Recently I've been brainstorming vacation ideas for this year. I've been leaning towards doing another great road trip through an area of Canada or the US, which had me going back to look at other road trips I've been to in the past. Once I started looking at them all, it reminded me how much
- [Travel Journal: Siesta Key, Florida](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2011/03/travel-journal-siesta-key-florida.html) - Remember last week when I talked about how much I love road trips? Well that was because I was just setting out on one... My whole family piled into our SUV and started the 25 hour drive to Siesta Key, Florida. Whiskey stayed home for the trip, but Shadow was happy to tag along. She
- [My Memories of the Cannes Film Festival - Part Two](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/05/my-memories-of-cannes-film-festival_15.html) - Here is continuation from yesterday's post on my internship at the Cannes Film Festival four years ago. Looking back at these pictures, I can't believe how much younger I look. This one was taken on my 21st birthday, while we were at the after party for the film Shortbus. Alex (left) and I were celebrating
- [Back on Campus](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/04/back-on-campus.html) - Last month when I was in Kingston working for the Kingston Canadian Film Festival and visiting my sister, I took the time to go for a little stroll through my old alma mater - Queen's University. It was a little bizarre to be there and see all the students heading to class. That was me
- [My Memories of the Cannes Film Festival - Part One](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/05/my-memories-of-cannes-film-festival.html) - It's all over the celeb news this week about the star-studded events at the Cannes Film Festival. Every year that I see these, it brings back memories from the year that I had the opportunity to go to the festival as a student and young filmmaker. It was an absolutely incredible experience and going back
- [Kingston Canadian Film Festival](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2010/04/kingston-canadian-film-festival.html) - Last month I posted about visiting my sister at school, but I forgot to mention the real reason that I was in Kingston. I was there to celebrate the tenth year of the Kingston Canadian Film Festival, which is the largest stand-alone showcase of feature films from across Canada. I've been involved it in for
- [Tarragon Vinegar & Lemon Infused Olive Oil with a Tangy Garlic Parmesan Dressing Recipe](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/03/tarragon-vinegar-lemon-infused-olive-oil-dressing-recipe.html) - When we were in Mississippi last spring, my friend Erin made a lovely homemade salad dressing and when I asked her about it she said there was tarragon vinegar and lemon-infused olive oil in it. I noticed tarragon vinegar at shops when we were traveling around the Southern US and I just assumed it would
- [Easy Garlic Dill Refrigerator Pickles](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/08/easy-garlic-dill-refrigerator-pickles.html) - Saturday mornings usually call for a walk with the dogs down to the farmers market to pick up the week's produce. I just love seeing all the colourful vegetables and letting what's in season dictate the week's menu. A couple of weeks ago, I came across some kirby cucumbers and the idea of making pickles
- [Arugula Basil Pesto {Nut-Free}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/06/nut-free-arugula-basil-pesto.html) - I have to admit that I really don't like arugula. There are lots great greens and herbs that I'm totally cool with, but this isn't one of them. I just find it too strong and bitter. So what do you do when you get it in your CSA box two weeks in a row?
- [DIY Mason Jar Soy Candles {Guest Post with PrettyPaperLove}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/05/diy-mason-jar-soy-candles-guest-post-prettypaperlove.html) - Hey folks! Garrett and I are still touring around the Southern US for our honeymoon, but I'm popping in with a guest post that I'm super excited to share with you. I've had the pleasure of working with both of these lovely ladies during my day job and I was so happy when they started
- [Overlapping Circles Painting](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/06/overlapping-circles-painting.html) - This past weekend, I headed up to my friend Eve's cottage for a lovely girls' weekend. It was a year ago that we all went up there for her bachelorette weekend and had a blast. They are an awesome group of ladies and it was great to get together again and catch up over wine,
- [Garden Plant Markers](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/07/garden-plant-markers.html) - Our little community garden has been going great! I love popping in there every couple of days and seeing how things are going. It'll be awhile until we see any real progress, but I'm hopefully. Originally I was using those little plastic tags that come with the plants to mark each one, but I was
- [Botanical Prints in the Bedroom for $6](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2012/08/botanical-prints-in-bedroom-for-6.html) - After months of talking about putting up artwork above the bed in the bedroom, I finally got around to doing it. Now I wish I'd done it sooner, because it really made the room feels like an (almost) completed room. As an added bonus, I was also able to do it under an hour and
- [Planning the Front Porch Restoration](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/06/front-porch-restoration.html) - When we first put an offer on the house, one of the things that really sold us was what we could do with the outside and in particular the front porch. It was in rough shape with a lattice fence and old posts of varying heights, which had led to a wonky roof. From the
- [Friday Favourites - Settling Into Our New Home](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/06/friday-favourites-jun12.html) - Happy Friday! The weeks are just flying by right now! Everything is kind of revolving around the house these days. We're working on it around the clock and I can't wait to start sharing more photos soon. My big plans for the weekend are lots of yard work (weather permitting), organizing things inside and researching
- [Whiskey the City Dog Goes Country {6th Anniversary!!}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/06/whiskey-city-dog-goes-country-6th-anniversary.html) - It dawned on me last night that today would mark six year since I adopted Whiskey. It was a beautiful evening out back with the dogs, so I thought I'd snap a few pictures of him to mark the occasion. Whiskey has brought so much joy, love and happiness into my life and I just
- [Sautéed Spring Greens & Perogies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/06/sauteed-spring-greens-perogies.html) - This summer my mom and I decided to split a CSA (community supported agriculture) food share from a local organic farm. Every week this summer we'll be picking up a big bag of freshly picked organic produce and I can hardly wait to see what we get! This was our first week and I came
- [A Year with Cola the Pup](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/06/year-cola-pup.html) - A year ago yesterday, we stopped on the honeymoon road trip for our final destination - to pick up our second dog, Cola. At first we were so worried how Whiskey would take it but it's been one of the best decisions we made and definitely an exercise in love and patience. Later this month it
- [Friday Favourites - Living Out of Boxes, Raising Chickens & Manual Labour](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/05/may29.html) - Happy Friday! What a whirlwind week! Between moving and celebrating my birthday (and getting chicks!) it feels like I've hardly taken a breather in a long time but it's all for happy things. It's weeks like this (even the good ones) that make you really appreciate the weekend. I feel like I've been waiting for
- [Friday Favourites - Mother's Day, Our First Anniversary Dinner & Long Weekend Daydreaming](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/05/may15.html) - Happy Long Weekend Friday! It's the Victoria Day weekend here in Canada, which is always one of my favourite summer holidays, partly because Queen Victoria and I share a birthday (May 24th!), but also because it's the official kick off of summer. The weather might not be here yet and kids still have another five
- [Friday Favourites -  Neighbourly Dinner & The Hunt for a Good Summer Read](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/05/may08.html) - Happy Friday! It's been a whirlwind of activity here as the countdown to moving day continues. Today's post is going to be short and sweet as I run around tonight doing errands. The reward at the end of it - a movie date! / / / Neighbourly Dinner: Earlier this week we had our lovely neighbours
- [Crustless Quiche Lorraine {Mother's Day Brunch Ideas}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/05/crustless-quiche-lorraine.html) - In our house, Garrett and I both do the shopping. Usually we're pretty good at communicating what we want to buy, but sometimes the lines get crossed and we end up both buying something...like eggs. Somehow, between the two of us we've bought eggs three times in the last week. That's 36 eggs...for two people...who
- [5 Things I'm Going to Miss and Not Miss About Our Apartment](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/05/5-things-im-going-miss-miss-apartment.html) - As we get down to our final weeks living in our apartment, I'm battling mixed feelings of relief and nostalgia. This was the first home that Garrett and I shared together, and it's full of so many great memories from the last three and a half years. As we get try to enjoy these final
- [Friday Favourites - Visiting the Farmhouse, Good Weekends and Why My Car is a Storage Unit](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/05/friday-favourites-april30.html) - Happy Friday! I hope you've been having a really great week and you've gotten a chance to get out and enjoy the sunshine. I'm heading out for a walk on my lunch break today and I've been looking forward to it all morning. It's just the recharge that I need to tackle a Friday afternoon.
- [Mothers Day Gift Guide 2015 on Etsy](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/04/mothers-day-etsy-gift-guide.html) - With just over a week left until Mother's Day, there is still time to order a really special gift for the mothers in your life. Etsy is always full of great gift ideas and they've got lots of fun finds for Mother's Day. Here are a few of my favourites right now: Organic Heirloom Seed
- [Pacifier Clips](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/04/pacifier-clips.html) - I love creating handmade goodies for my family and friends. All that time and love that I put into making that gift, I hope gets passed onto the recipient. When our friends Jen and Christian were over for dinner last week with their sweet little baby, I gave them one of my latest projects I've
- [Friday Favourites - Spring Flowers, Lunchtime Walks and Dinner Guests](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/04/friday-favourites-apr24.html) - Happy Friday! Thank goodness it's the weekend tomorrow because I could really go for a nap right about now. You see, I haven't been sleeping well lately and I know the culprit. We went mattress shopping recently and tried out a bunch of different ones (plush, firm, foam, etc). The moment we laid on one of
- [Spring Cleaning While Packing](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/04/spring-cleaning-while-packing.html) - I've been making some good progress packing up the apartment and giving away what we don't need. Usually around this time of year I do my spring cleaning, so it seemed like while I'm packing stuff up, I can put all that cleaning to good use too. There is no point in packing things away
- [Friday Favourites - Baby Smiles, Oakville Walk, Renovation Shopping & Doggie Naps](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/04/friday-favourites-apr17.html) - Happy SUNNY Friday! I just can't get over all this awesome weather. It makes you feel so good when you step outside. I've been taking walks on my lunch break almost every day and in the evenings we've been opening up all the windows to get a nice cross breeze. I just love it. It
- [Cleaning Out the Pantry: Using Up All Our Food Before the Move](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/04/cleaning-pantry-using-food-move.html) - We're about five weeks out from the move and I'm in full force purging and packing. Monday night was the first one that I didn't pack at least one box up, but it was the apartment viewing, so it felt a bit odd to be packing up my turkey baster and holiday linens while strangers
- [Friday Favourites - Zoo To You and Easter Feasts](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/04/friday-favourites-apr10.html) - Happy Friday! It feels like this week has just been jam packed with appointments, meetings and get togethers with friends. The week before, we went to my parents' to dogsit/housesit while they took a last minute trip to Florida. It's always a nice break for us too and we usually make the most of the
- [Pizza Night at the Princess Margaret Show Home {Video}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/04/pizza-night-princess-margaret-show-home.html) - A couple of weeks ago I was invited to come out for a pizza night at one of the Princess Margaret Home Lottery's 2015 Show Homes in Kleinburg, Ontario. As soon as they said there would be pizza, you better believe Garrett offered to tag along too. Chef Rocco Agostino from Pizzeria Libretto was on
- [Friday Favourites - One of A Kind Show](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/04/friday-favourites-apr3.html) - Good Friday! So far mine has been a pretty good one. I've been hanging out with the dogs this morning and working on a project I'll share soon. I've got plans to see friends and family later today too. I'm doing my best to savour these quieter weekends before all the DIY action picks up later
- [Apple Bacon Brie Grilled Cheese](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/04/apple-bacon-brie-grilled-cheese.html) - Thank you for all your kind wishes yesterday on this new adventure we're embarking on. Garrett and I are both really excited about our new home and I'm glad that I'll get to share it with all of you. To celebrate last night, we pulled out all the stops on a fun gourmet grilled cheese
- [We're Moving to the Country!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/03/moving-to-the-country.html) - Later this spring, we're moving into our FIRST HOUSE! Seriously, someone needs to pinch me. We'd always talked about moving someday and it's kind of crazy to think that that someday is already here. Not only that, but we're moving into something that has always been a dream for us - an old farmhouse out in the
- [Friday Favourites - A Trip to the City](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/03/friday-favourites-mar27.html) - Three Cheers for Friday! It doesn't matter that this day comes around every week - I still get so excited for it. The idea of the weekend coming up is always a great feeling. This weekend I'm going to be doing some work on a secret project that I'll be able to talk about more
- [One of a Kind Spring Show](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/03/one-of-a-kind-spring-show.html) - One of my favourite events in Toronto is always the One of a Kind Show. Whether it's the holiday market or the spring show, there are always awesome finds and I love getting the chance to meet with the artisans one-on-one. This year I'm extra excited to go because my aunt, Barbara Banfield, will be there
- [Friday Favourites - National Home Show](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/03/friday-favourites-mar20.html) - Happy Friday! This week has turned out to be a pretty busy one because we have some exciting news. We're in the middle of house hunting for our first home! It's something we've talked about for a long time and have finally felt ready to take the leap! It's both exciting and nerve wracking. I've got butterflies in my
- [Little Home Office Update](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/03/little-home-office-update.html) - While I was off for my surgery, I spent plenty of time in this little apartment of ours, thinking about what works and what doesn't. It's hard when you're in this renter's limbo. We know we want to buy a house soon, but for now we're making do with what we have in this space.
- [Lately - PaintNite, IKEA, 2048 & Organizing my iPhone](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/03/friday-favourites-mar13.html) - It's Friday the 13th...again! It was four weeks ago that we had the last one and I can remember it being a very different feeling. It was freezing cold and four days before my surgery. I was nervous and scrambling to get everything ready before I took my break. Now I feel so much better.
- [Friday Favourites - Kindness of Others, Goodbye Target and an Antique Family Scrapbook](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/03/friday-favourites-mar6.html) - Fri-yay! Even though it was a short work week for me, it feels like it's taken forever to get to the weekend. I started off the week with a nasty sinus infection. Just when my foot was starting to feel better, now my head is in a vice. I haven't sleep much all week and
- [Blackberry Muffins](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/03/blackberry-muffins.html) - On Friday's post I talked about my latest baking disaster...and then one that worked out too! These Blackberry Muffins are based on my mom's Blueberry Muffin recipe with just less sugar and more berries. I love this recipe because it kind of resembles pancake batter (so yummy!) and come out of the oven with perfectly
- [Friday Favourites - Baking Disasters, Last Few Days Off & An Idiot Abroad](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/02/friday-favourites-feb27.html) - The last two weeks at home have really flown by. I'm so glad that I had the ability to stay at home for that time and really focus on getting better. I still struggle with some things and it hurts on and off, but it's miles away from what it was only a couple of days
- [On Loss and a Life Well Lived](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/02/on-loss-and-a-life-well-lived.html) - Earlier this week, Garrett's lovely Nana Helen passed away peacefully in her sleep. It's been a sad and trying week for his whole family, but it's also been a great chance for us all to reflect on a life well lived. I'm very lucky to have such a lovely mother-in-law, which I know is in part because
- [Family Favourites - Thank You, Valentine's Day & Ice Sculptures](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/02/family-favourites-feb20.html) - Happy Friday! Thank you sooo much for all your kind comments on Wednesday's post. After a scary couple of months, I feel like I've come out on the other side of this surgery with an even greater appreciation of all the wonderful people in my life, and my good fortune. I've been spending most of my
- [On The Mend {Recovering from Surgery}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/02/recovering-from-surgery.html) - The past few months I've been dealing with something that I never expected in my twenties - a cancer scare. I had surgery yesterday to remove a small tumour on the middle toe of my right foot and thankfully everything went well. I didn’t want to worry anyone until I had a better idea what
- [At My House Survey](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/02/at-my-house-survey.html) - Today is Family Day here in Ontario and I'm spending it relaxing and checking out some local events, but I thought I'd pop in with a quick post and say hi! I've seen this survey on a few blogs lately and I thought it would be fun to share it myself. / / / Household chore
- [Friday Favourites - The Beauty of Winter, Goodbye Target, Medical Marvels](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/02/friday-favourites-feb13.html) - Happy Friday the 13th! We're heading into a nice long weekend for Family Day and I'm looking forward to the break. They're calling for an awfully cold weekend here but I'm hoping that we'll get to go out and do a few things. It's Valentine's Day weekend too...and honestly we haven't figured out yet what we're
- [My Sewing Pattern Travelled 3100 Miles!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/02/an-unexpected-impact-yoga-bags-guatemala.html) - In the five and a half years since I started Small Home Big Start I've had the opportunity to meet some amazing people and have some awesome experiences, but a couple of weeks ago I got an email from a reader that kind of blew my mind away. Madeline lives in California and works for the surf footwear
- [Parliament Hill in Ottawa](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/02/parliament-hill-ottawa.html) - During my family's trip to Ottawa last weekend, we made a visit to Parliament Hill on Sunday morning. It turned out to be a great time to go! Not only is downtown street parking free on Sundays, but it is also less busy inside Parliament so you're able to see more and go into rooms
- [Friday Favourites - Home Sweet Home & Valentine's Day Ideas](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/02/feb6.html) - It's Friday again! Another busy week has gone by and I only got two blog posts out at the beginning of the week before everything got crazy. I barely had time to make dinner let alone write another post. It's always my best intention to get five posts out every week, but sometimes that just
- [Winterlude in Ottawa](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/02/winterlude-ottawa.html) - This weekend my family went on a trip to Ottawa to visit my brother at university and to finally see what Winterlude is all about! It had been a two years since we've all been together away, even just for a weekend. Our trip may have been short, but we still managed to have lots of
- [Friday Favourites - Sleeping Dogs, Locked Out and Italian Dinner with Friends](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/01/friday-favourites-jan30.html) - Happy Friday folks! I'm heading to Ottawa this weekend to see my brother at university, and check out some of the events going on for the annual Winterlude festival. They're calling for a really chilly weekend (-34C / -29.2F with wind chill) which means I'm packing as many layers and warm clothes as I can fit into
- [How to Knit an Infinity Scarf](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/01/how-to-knit-infinity-scarf.html) - Out of all the crafty pursuits out here, there is one that has always eluded me - knitting. I love the idea of it and I can see why people enjoy it, but it was always a source of frustration for me. My Great Aunt and my Nana both would try to teach me whenever
- [Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Skillet](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/01/cheesy-chicken-broccoli-rice-skillet.html) - While trying to figure out what to do for dinner last night I had three stipulations: I wasn't leaving the house to get groceries so it had to be stuff that we already had in the fridge and cupboards. It couldn't take longer than an hour to put together and have on the table. There
- [Honeymoon Road Trip Photo Book from Shutterfly](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/01/honeymoon-road-trip-photo-book-shutterfly.html) - After our Honeymoon Road Trip through the Southern US last spring, I came home with thousands of photos. I went through each day, edited my favourites and eventually put them into a series of blog posts. As great as it is to have this online diary for us to go back and reference, I still
- [Homemade Whipped Coconut Oil Body Butter](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/01/whipped-coconut-oil-body-butter.html) - A few years ago I got my first jar of coconut oil and since then it's become a staple in not only my cooking and baking, but also my beauty routine too! It's naturally antibacterial and antifungal, is an excellent moisturizer, gentle enough for sensitive skin...and smells amazing! I'll share some of the other ways
- [Banana Rolled-Oats Muffins](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/01/banana-rolled-oats-muffins.html) - I was a little overzealous in my banana purchases in the week and we had a few that were getting just too ripe to eat. As much as I hate to see them go bad, it’s also the justification to turn them into one of my favourite morning treats – banana muffins. With a big
- [Friday Favourites - Braving the Cold, Vintage Canadian Winter Pictures & 2015 Colour Trends](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/01/friday-favourites-jan9.html) - Happy Friday Everyone! I hope you've been having a great week...and keeping warm. Our apartment is freezing, which means on any given day you'll find both me and the dogs in at least two sweaters each, under the thickest blanket we have, with the space heater on. Even Garrett, who doesn't normally feel the cold,
- [10 Easy Ways We Save Money](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/01/10-easy-ways-we-save-money.html) - January is a month when many of us find ways to lower our budgets and recuperate from the gift giving, parties and other expenses of the holiday season. I started thinking about all the ways that Garrett and I save money during the year. In general we're pretty careful with our money, but there are
- [Friday Favourites - Here's to a Wonderful 2015!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2015/01/friday-favourites-heres-wonderful-2015.html) - Happy New Year!!! I hope that 2015 has been good to all of you so far! While my family has been off for the holidays, I've been at work most of this week, but it's been so quiet that I've been able to catch up on lots. I love knowing that I'll be starting next
- [Our Very Merry Christmas](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/12/our-very-merry-christmas-2014.html) - I hope you all have been having a wonderful holiday! I've had a great week with family and friends, but it feels good to be back home now too. I'm going to keep the posts light until I'm officially back in action on January 5th, but I thought I'd pop in with a little recap
- [Family Christmas & Birthday Celebrations](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/12/family-christmas-birthday-celebrations.html) - We're down to the final stretch now until Christmas! My to-do list is getting smaller and smaller, and that cozy Christmas feeling is setting in. I had a lovely weekend with my family and it got me excited to be heading back home again this week. On Friday night I finally had time to get
- [Friday Favourites - Unexpected Downtime & Funny Christmas Videos](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/12/friday-favourites-dec19.html) - Happy Friday! Between trying to get better from catching the flu last weekend, juggling the busiest time the of year at both my jobs and finishing up the last few Christmas projects...I'm just spent. I went to look at my camera to see what photos I'd taken to help with today's post...and I hadn't taken
- [Friday Favourites - Christmas Parade & Family Dinners](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/12/friday-favourites-christmas-parade-family-dinners.html) - Happy Friday! Earlier this week I was wishing for a white Christmas and it looks like all this snow may just stay around long enough for that to happen. Fingers crossed! I know there are so many people out there who don't get snow at Christmas, but I just can't picture the holidays without it.
- [Victorian Christmas Traditions at Black Creek Pioneer Village](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/12/victorian-christmas-traditions-black-creek-pioneer-village.html) - Last year, Garrett and I went to the Black Creek Pioneer Village in Toronto as part of our Advent Activities Calendar. Neither of us had ever been there at Christmastime and we fell in love with all the decorations, traditions and exhibits. If you're ever able to go this time of year, I strongly recommend
- [Friday Favourites - Six Months with Cola the Pup, Christmas Shopping & Falling Trees](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/12/friday-favourites-six-months-cola-pup.html) - Happy Friday! My mom got back home a few nights ago after a long eight weeks away and I went over to hang out with her the other night. Of course we stayed up way too late talking and catching up on all the day-to-day stuff you miss when you're apart. That whole "absence makes
- [Friday Favourites - Adventures in Toronto, American Thanksgiving and Family Photos](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/11/friday-favourites-nov-28.html) - Happy (Black) Friday! Are you planning to go out and brave the stores today? I ended up at the mall last night and didn't know the sales had already started. It was thankfully relatively quiet, so I was able to knock a few more things off my list. There are some great holiday markets and
- [Friday Favourites - Blurry Eyes, Garrett's Birthday and Christmas at IKEA](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/11/friday-favourites-blurry-eyes-garretts-birthday-christmas-ikea.html) - Yay for Friday! Thank you for the well wishes on my Instagram pic this week. I've been offline the last few days while I dealt with some blurry eyes. I somehow got an infection in my right eye (not pink eye, thank goodness!) and have been using some drops that make my vision pretty blurry. Combine
- [Friday Favourites - Snowy Cottage Weekend and Christmas Tree Mishaps](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/11/friday-favourites-snowy-cottage-weekend-christmas-tree-mishaps.html) - Happy Friday! I've got some time to myself this weekend, which can only mean one thing - holiday crafting! I tried to resist jumping into Christmas mode for as long as I could, but I started to hear the music in shops and in radio commercials the last couple of days and it's a lost
- [Friday Favourites - First Snowfall, Dundas Shopping & Vintage Finds](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/11/friday-favourites-nov7.html) - Happy Friday! I hope you're all having a great week. Have you had a chance to check out my Online Holiday Planner yet? I've been testing it out the past couple of weeks and I'm already finding it so helpful for my early holiday shopping. My family also has several birthdays this time of year,
- [Turning Our Lunch Break into a Game Time Moment with Mattel GameOn!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/11/mattel-game-time-moment.html) - I work about five minutes away from Garrett's parents house (and about twenty minutes from the apartment), so sometimes Garrett and the dogs meet me there at lunch to hang out. We'll play with the dogs in the backyard, eat lunch and sometimes watch some TV (The Office reruns all the way!). It breaks up
- [Friday Favourites - Happy Halloween!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/10/friday-favourites-happy-halloween.html) - Happy Halloween! I've been looking forward to today all month long. I just love Halloween, although over the years I've realized that I what I love is the pumpkins, goodies, costumes, and the pretty tame movies - I'd be happy to leave the overly scary or frightening bits out. It all boils down to my
- [How to Shorten Your Jeans and Keep the Original Hem {Video}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/10/how-to-shorten-your-jeans-and-keep-original-hem-video.html) - Finding the perfect pair of jeans is no easy task. There are so many things to consider like the fit, the stretch of the fabric, the colour...but there is nothing more frustrating about shopping for jeans than finding them too short or too long. I've found that the easiest solution is to buy them longer
- [Garlic Herb Sirloin Tip Roast](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/10/garlic-herb-sirloin-tip-roast.html) - When I was growing up, Sunday night dinners were a special ritual. My sister, brother and I would eagerly help mom set the table with the real tablecloth (it was a thick grey wool-like material and I still get all warm and fuzzy inside when I see it in the linen cupboard), we'd carefully light
- [Friday Favourites - #OttawaStrong, Fall in Small Towns & Health Food Goodies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/10/friday-favourites-oct24.html) - Fridays' posts are usually saved for my favourite things from each week, but I need to address something today before we can get onto the good things that have happened. With the events that took place this week in Ottawa, my heart has been very heavy. I have family and friends who live there, and
- [Creative Fall Food Ideas from Inspired Cravings](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/10/creative-fall-food.html) - Earlier this year, my friends Courtney and Shauna created a new business, Inspired Cravings, where they create unique edible designs for parties, showers and holidays. I'd seen pictures of their super colourful and fun designs, but it wasn't until I went to our mutual friends' housewarming party this weekend that I got to see them
- [Fa La La La La: The 2014 Holiday Guide is Here!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/10/fa-la-la-la-la-2014-holiday-guide-launched.html) - It's been weeks in the making, but I'm super excited to be sharing my new Holiday Guide. Christmas is always my favourite time of year to be sharing on the blog, and I realized that over the past five years, I've written about Christmas projects, decor, movies, recipes and activities A LOT! Now they're all
- [Friday Favourites - Halloween Necklace, Road Trip Memories, Mini Cleaning Bursts and Technology Fails](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/10/friday-favourites-oct17.html) - Happy Friday!!! With Monday being Canadian Thanksgiving, it was only a four day work week for me - and it feels like this week has just flown by! I still feel like there is so much I need to accomplish. Do you ever have weeks like that? That you feel like you've done a lot
- [Printed Signs - Choose A Seat Not A Side & The Order of Events {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/10/printed-signs-wedding-wednesday.html) - I'm really excited to share today's Wedding Wednesday post because I think that it's one of the things that made our wedding look so "polished" as our guests told us afterwards. Just like the DIY Painted Wedding Directions Signs that I made to help guests find their way to the ceremony and reception, I wanted
- [Friday Favourites - Studio Tour, Wildflowers & Taking Care of Cola](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/10/friday-favourites-studio-tour-cola.html) - Happy Friday! The fall weather we've been having the past two weeks seriously rocks. It's cool enough in the morning for a nice sweater but hot enough in the afternoon to go out for a walk with the dogs in a t-shirt. If it could stay like this right through until March, it would be
- [Celebrating the Oak Ridges Moraine](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/10/celebrating-oak-ridges-moraine.html) - This past Sunday Garrett and I volunteered at a huge celebration of the Oak Ridges Moraine – one of the most important landscapes in southern Ontario. Save the Oak Ridges Moraine (STORM) Coalition, Earthroots, Ontario Nature and EcoSpark invited people from across southern Ontario to Purple Woods Conservation Area in Oshawa, Ontario for a day
- [Bride & Groom Signature Cocktails {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/10/bride-groom-signature-cocktails-wedding-wednesday.html) - When we started planning the wedding, it was really important to us to have a fun cocktail hour with lots of yummy food and some signature cocktails for our guests. We knew that we'd be off getting our pictures with the wedding party and there needed to be something during that time to keep the
- [Friday Favourites - Harvest Time, New TV Shows and Loving Fall](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/09/friday-favourites-harvest-time-new-tv-shows-loving-fall.html) - Happy Friday! Four years ago today, Garrett and I officially started dating. Normally we celebrate this as our anniversary, but now that we're married we're going to start celebrating on our wedding anniversary. Tonight we're just going to have a low key night in - pizza, wine, an action movie snuggled up with the dogs
- [Our Success with the Walk In Sync Humane Dog Walking and Training System {Video}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/09/walk-in-sync-humane-dog-walking-training-system-video-review.html) - I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that improving how we train the dogs has been a one of our big goals this year and I'm really excited to share one of our big successes with you guys today. When it was just Whiskey, his pulling and tugging on the leash during walks didn't phase
- [Kicking Up Our Cowboy Boots at the Wild Wild West Hoedown](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/09/wild-wild-west-hoedown-aurora-ontario.html) - A couple of weeks ago, our good family friend Margaret was so kind to give Garrett and I some much coveted tickets to one of the hottest events of the season - the 26th Annual Wild Wild West Hoedown in Aurora, Ontario. Margaret is running for Mayor where she lives in the Town of Georgina (check
- [Friday Favourites - Pacific Ocean, Autumn Hikes & Comfort Food](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/09/friday-favourites-sept19.html) - I’m writing to you this morning from beautiful California. This is officially the 29th state that I’ve been to in the US and it’s quickly becoming one of my favourites. I am definitely going to need to bring Garrett back with me one day. The trip has been amazing and I can't wait to share
- [Getting Back My Groove at BlogPodium 2014](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/09/blogpodium-2014.html) - Last weekend, I met up with a few hundred of my fellow Canadian bloggers for BlogPodium 2014 at the beautiful Fairmount Royal York in downtown Toronto. At first I was nervous walking into this room with so many people that I only know through their blogs, then I ran into some friends from BlogPodium last
- [Photo Thank You Cards from Wedding Paper Divas {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/09/photo-thank-cards-wedding-paper-divas-wedding-wednesday.html) - Thank you cards are an important part of any wedding. They let your guests know how happy you are that they came to celebrate your big day with you and that their thoughtful gifts were greatly appreciated. When Garrett and I started looking at thank you cards, I went over to Wedding Paper Divas. I’ve
- [Friday Favourites + a delicious and easy Chicken Pot Pie recipe](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/09/friday-favourites-sept12.html) - Woo hoo for Friday! I'm so excited because tomorrow I'm heading to the BlogPodium conference at the Royal York in Toronto. I went last year for my first ever blog conference. It was such an amazing experience that I knew I had to go back this year. Not only am I going to meet up
- [Finding the Perfect Dress {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/09/wedding-dress-wedding-wednesday.html) - The dress...oh the dress. I can honestly say that when we first started planning the wedding last fall, my wedding dress was not something that I thought about much. I was more excited about the flowers, decor, menu and most importantly, marrying the man I love. Thankfully I have a sister with better fashion sense
- [Etsy Road Trip Video + My Fall Favs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/09/etsy-road-trip-video-fall-favs.html) - Last month when I shared my Road Trip Essentials from the honeymoon., I also talked about Etsy Canada embarking on their own road trip to Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston and Toronto with live music, food trucks and handmade wares from local Etsy sellers. I loved this idea and would have been over the moon to head
- [Friday Favourites - New Stove, Grandpa's Cupboard, Website Updates and Camera Upgrades](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/09/friday-favourites-13.html) - Happy Friday, folks! I've been feeling a little under the weather this week and it finally caught up with me last night. Cue the painkillers and copious glasses of water. I had originally planned to put in a solid day's work, then off to dinner with friends, but now I'm laying on the couch typing
- [A Beautiful Rustic Summer Wedding {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/09/beautiful-rustic-summer-wedding-wedding-wednesday.html) - As I mentioned in last week's Friday Favourites post, my family headed up to our hometown for my cousin Mark's wedding. He was marrying his beautiful high school sweetheart Lisa and we were all so happy to be there to celebrate with them! It was an absolutely lovely wedding with awesome food, great decor and
- [Labour Day Weekend {Cramming the Last Moments of Summer into Three Days}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/09/labour-day-weekend-recap.html) - Garrett had to work all weekend, so I loaded up the dogs and the laundry and headed up to my parents’ house for the long weekend. I drove up on Friday night in time for cocktail hour, followed by steaks, salad and fresh corn-on-the-cob out on the back porch. Saturday The dogs were happy to
- [DIY Wedding Flowers - Centerpieces, Cake & Decor {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/08/diy-wedding-flowers-centerpieces-cake-decor-wedding-wednesday.html) - Last week I shared all the bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres my superstar mom made for the wedding, but today we're going to talk about centerpieces, decorating the cake and bringing some fresh flowers into the decor elsewhere. There are lots of things that are optional at a wedding, but for me flowers are such a
- [Summer Lake Getaway](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/08/summer-lake-getaway.html) - A couple weekends ago, Garrett and I loaded up the dogs in the car and headed up to cottage country for a weekend getaway with some of my film school friends. It was such a lovely weekend to disconnect from technology and just hang out with friends. It rained a bit, but we still found
- [Friday Favourites - Cottage Weekend, A City Visit and Music in the Park](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/08/friday-favourites-12.html) - Oh boy, I'm so excited for it to be Friday. It's been one of those weeks where lots of fun stuff happened so it went by fairly quickly...but it also means our home is kinda in chaos. I was still unpacking last night from our visit to a friend's cottage last weekend...and that was only
- [DIY Wedding Flowers - Bouquets, Boutonnieres & Corsages {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/08/diy-wedding-flowers-bouquets-boutonnieres-corsages-wedding-wednesday.html) - Some of you may know this, but before my mom had me she owned a cute little florist shop. Then us kids came along and she sold the shop but was always doing arrangements here and there for family, friends or our own holiday celebrations. While I was growing up, I always loved to make
- [Camping in Prince Edward County {Sandbanks Provincial Park, Picton & Bloomfield}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/08/camping-prince-edward-county.html) - Earlier this summer, I mentioned that we were going camping. You'd think that after the epic honeymoon road trip we'd want to stick around home the rest of the summer, but...we couldn't wait to get back on the road just a month after we were home. After last year's great trip out to Elora Gorge
- [Friday Favourites - Small Town Fair, Lake Life and Dabbling in Website Design](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/08/friday-favourites-aug15.html) - Happy (and Chilly) Friday! It is so cold in Ontario this week. I actually gave in and wore SOCKS last night when we went to dinner with Garrett's family. This doesn't feel like August at all - are you getting crazy weather like this too? There are only a few precious weeks of summer left
- [Our Wedding Video {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/08/our-wedding-video-wedding-wednesday.html) - You have no idea how excited I've been for this day to come. I'm finally able to share our wedding video with you! Yay!!! We're still getting a full length video from them, but I loved that our awesome videographers put together a shorter version for us to share with family and friends (and that
- [30 Years](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/08/30-years.html) - Today my parents are celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary. As a little girl I always loved looking at their wedding photos - mom with her long gown and flowers in her hair and dad with his dashing three piece suit. Thirty years later, they were there with me on my own wedding day looking just
- [Friday Favourites - Trying New Recipes, Boating & Medieval Times](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/08/friday-favourites-aug8.html) - I'm feeling wiped today. I've been staying up way too late this week and now I'm paying the price. My exciting plans for a Friday evening? Taking a nap. Seriously. It's days like this that I wish I liked coffee I've just had lots of fun projects (and some future blog surprises) that I've been
- [Summertime Family Party - with Banners, Popcorn Bar, Flowers & a Layer Cake with Mini Bunting!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/08/summer-time-law-school-grad-party.html) - A couple of weekends ago, we had a family party at my parents' house to celebrate my sister hitting a huge milestone. This beautiful, incredibly smart and funny lady is officially a law school grad, passed the bar (!!!) AND started her articling job this week at a law firm in Toronto! I couldn't be
- [A Simple & Elegant Vintage Frame Seating Chart {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/08/vintage-frame-seating-chart-wedding-wednesday.html) - Planning a wedding can be lots of fun, but it can also get quite expensive. Garrett and I are both budget minded people, so we didn't want to spend a fortune on the wedding, but we also wanted it to look elegant and fun for our guests. Anywhere we could reuse or repurpose things we
- [Tips from a Mud Run Rookie | Warrior Dash Recap](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/08/tips-mud-run-rookie-warrior-dash-recap.html) - For the past couple of years, I've wanted to do a mud run. The idea of running around and tackling obstacles just sounded like a lot of fun. When our friends Courtney and Dave asked about doing the Warrior Dash with them this year, Garrett and I decided that this was the year to do
- [Friday Favourites - Cheers to a Long Weekend!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/08/friday-favourites-aug1.html) - Fridays before a long weekend always feel extra special. I just love the idea of three days ahead of us with a mix of planned fun activities and some much needed downtime. I made a real effort to get things cleaned up and tidy around the apartment this week, so that I didn't have to
- [Carrot Oatmeal Muffins](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/carrot-oatmeal-muffins.html) - Garrett and I live in a large building, with many different tenants from all over. We have these great neighbours just down below us that are just what you hope for in a neighbour - super friendly, always saying hi and asking us how we're doing. Recently (before the wedding) Garrett and I went over
- [Honeymoon Road Trip - Part 10: Visiting Family in South Carolina & Making Our Way Home](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/honeymoon-road-trip-part-10-visiting-family-south-carolina-making-way-home.html) - I can't believe that it's already the last Honeymoon Road Trip post! I've loved going through our photos every week with Garrett, writing up the stories and sharing them with all of you. There has been such an amazing response from readers, new visitors to the blog (hi!) and fellow road trippers out there. Thank
- [Friday Favourites - Christmas in July with Indigo](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/friday-favourites-christmas-july-indigo.html) - Last night, I headed into the city for a media preview of Indigo's new holiday pieces coming out in the fall. My sister (who is moving to Toronto soon) joined me for an evening of Christmas music, mulled cider and festive decor. For Friday Favourites this week, I just had to give you all this
- [Glass Cabinet Makeover with Chalk Paint® Decorative Paint by Annie Sloan](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/glass-cabinet-makeover-annie-sloan-chalk-paint.html) - While I've always been a fan of Chalk Paint® Decorative Paint by Annie Sloan, I'd never had a chance to work with it before. When the nice folks at Annie Sloan Unfolded offered to send me some products to try out, I knew right away that I wanted to make over my beloved glass cabinet.
- [DIY Honey Jar Wedding Favors {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/diy-honey-jar-wedding-favors-wedding-wednesday.html) - When we first started talking about wedding favors there were lots of ideas that came to mind. We wanted something local, that was a treat and allergen-free. That's when the idea of local honey came about. Why not give our guests something that they can take back home and enjoy for a while. We came
- [Honeymoon Road Trip - Part 9: Beautiful Biltmore Estate in North Carolina](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/honeymoon-road-trip-part-9-beautiful-biltmore-estate-north-carolina.html) - Day 14 The night before, we arrived at Garrett's aunt and uncle's home in upstate South Carolina. When we started talking to his aunt about things to do in the area, one of the first places she mentioned was Biltmore Estate. It was only about a 45 minutes drive over state lines to Asheville, North
- [Friday Favourites - Sweets, Flowers and Napping](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/friday-favourites-july18.html) - Who's ready for the weekend? I feel like this week kinda flew by and there is still so much on my to-do list. Do you ever feel like the week just gets away on you? I swear that it was like Tuesday just yesterday. Then I look at the photos below and I think about
- [Italian Turkey Meatballs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/italian-turkey-meatballs.html) - When we were in Laurel, Mississippi my dear friend Erin made us an awesome dinner of spaghetti, meatballs, salad and garlic bread. Since then, Garrett has mentioned no more than 25 times how good it was. When we have a spaghetti dinner I usually make spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles (especially when we were eating
- [How to Make Your Wedding Veil for Under $25 {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/diy-wedding-veil-wedding-wednesday.html) - When we first started planning the wedding, there were some things that we knew we wanted to do ourselves (favours, signs, flowers) and some things that were best left to the professionals (catering, music, dress). Originally I was just going to buy my veil like any other bridal accessory but then I started looking at
- [Honeymoon Road Trip - Part 8: Tybee Island and Charleston](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/honeymoon-road-trip-part-8-tybee-island-charleston.html) - Day 11 (cont'd) Whenever my dad is working in the Savannah area, he goes out to Tybee Island and he insisted we do the same. Couldn't agree with you more, Dad. It had that nice crisp, cool breeze coming off the ocean. After walking along the beach and exploring around town, we headed back towards
- [Friday Favourites - Happy Summertime Thoughts](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/friday-favourites-july11.html) - Happy Friday! I've been playing around with the idea of changing Friday Favourites from sharing my favourites things I find online during the week to posting more about my favourite things going on in our lives during the week. It's all about finding the positive in our own lives, because sometimes it feels like even
- [Honeymoon Road Trip - Part 7: Savannah, Georgia](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/honeymoon-road-trip-part-7-savannah-georgia.html) - Day 9 (con't'd) I can remember going to Savannah once when I was a kid and just loving the city - from the cobblestone streets to the hanging moss to all the parks. During the day it's beautiful and at night it's mysterious. I loved it and I knew that I really wanted to share
- [Honeymoon Road Trip -  Part 6: St. Augustine, Florida](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/honeymoon-road-trip-part-6-st-augustine-florida.html) - Day 8 When we first started planning our road trip through the Southern US, a couple of people mentioned St. Augustine, Florida. Despite the fact that I've driven through Florida many times and my parents own a house there, I'd never heard much about St. Augustine aside from the occasional mention of it when my uncle was
- [Friday Favourites - America, Canada, Camping & The Menagerie](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/friday-favourites-july4-2.html) - First of all - Happy July 4th to all my American friends and family! I've loved seeing all the celebratory pics on Instagram already. I've been lucky enough to travel to 29 of the US States whether it's been with my dad for work, visiting family or meeting new friends - and I've great memories
- [DIY Painted Wedding Direction Signs {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/diy-painted-wedding-direction-signs-wedding-wednesday.html) - Our wedding venue, WaterStone Estate, has the old Toronto North York Hunt Club where we were getting married on one side and an equestrian centre on the other side, so we were worried about guests getting confused about which side to go to and where to park. Then we had to direct them to the
- [Happy Canada Day! {and snapshots from life lately}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/07/happy-canada-day-snapshots-life-lately.html) - I feel all out of sorts. I worked yesterday and even though it was a Monday it felt like Friday and now today feels like a Sunday because I'm off for Canada Day, but it's actually Tuesday. Are you confused yet? We've been watching people walk by the apartment all morning in their red and
- [Honeymoon Road Trip - Part 5: Leaving New Orleans and driving through Alabama to Destin, Florida](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/06/honeymoon-road-trip-part-5-new-orleans-alabama-destin-florida.html) - (Check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4) Day 6 On our last morning in New Orleans, we woke up to a quiet morning on Bourbon Street. It's such a contrast to all the partying that picks up here in the afternoon and continues on through the night. I'm so glad I
- [Friday Favourites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/06/friday-favourites-8.html) - It's Canada Day weekend! Woohoo! Even though it's technically a holiday weekend, the actual holiday falls on Tuesday, which means I have the weekend off, back to work on Monday and then off again Tuesday. It's almost going to be like two weekends in one week. I'm heading up to my parents' tonight with the
- [DIY Moss Covered Letters {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/06/diy-moss-covered-letters-wedding-wednesday.html) - I'm so excited to finally be able to share some of the wedding projects with you! Some of them I started working on almost six months ago, but I didn't want to post about them until after the wedding for fear of spoiling some of the details for our guests. The first project I'm pumped
- [Honeymoon Road Trip – Part 4: New Orleans {The Garden District and the French Quarter}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/06/honeymoon-road-trip-part-4-new-orleans-garden-district-french-quarter.html) - (Check out Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3) Day 5 After breakfast (on our balcony!) we headed out of the French Quarter to catch the streetcar to the Garden District. It was definitely a different way to travel around the city and experience all the sights and sounds of the neighbourhoods we passed. Unfortunately
- [Friday Favourites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/06/friday-favourites-june20.html) - Happy Friday, everyone! Here's to a weekend of sunshine and time with family and friends. I'm really excited for our drive-in date tonight. I've already got all the essentials packed - blankets, pillows, lawn chairs and dog treats. Now we just need to add some popcorn and maybe a few coins for the pinball machine
- [Our Wedding Day {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/06/our-wedding-day-wedding-wednesday.html) - We got the wedding photos from our photographer, Tony DiLorenzo last week - and I love them. I'm so glad we took the time to find a photographer that we liked to work with and who took amazing photographs. It's been like reliving that amazing day all over again. We got married at WaterStone Estate
- [Honeymoon Road Trip - Part 3: Arriving in New Orleans & Visiting Plantations along the Mississippi River](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/06/honeymoon-road-trip-part-3-new-orleans-plantations-mississippi-river.html) - This is another long photo-heavy road trip post (see Part 1 and Part 2), so I recommend making a big cup of coffee and settling in. Day 3 (cont'd) After an awesome time visiting Erin and Ben in Laurel, Mississippi we got back on the road and headed farther south to New Orleans. This is
- [Friday Favourites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/06/friday-favourites-june13.html) - Happy Friday the 13th! Garrett texted me this morning that it's Friday the 13th annnd a full moon, which won't happen again for another 49 years. I don't know what that means - maybe it's an extra superstitious day? I have nothing spooky planned, aside from cleaning out my car tonight - which is pretty
- [My Super Fun Bachelorette Party with Aphrodite Cooks {Wedding Wednesdays}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/06/bachelorette-party-aphrodite-cooks-cooking-class-wedding-wednesdays.html) - When my sister/maid of honour first asked me about what I wanted to do for my bachelorette party, it was hard to come up with something for the time of year that it would be in. Spring can be crazy cold here in Canada, so that took out most outdoor activities, including white water rafting,
- [Five Years with Whiskey the Dog](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/06/five-years-whiskey-dog.html) - It's hard to believe that today marks five years since I first brought Whiskey home. He was just a frail little thing living in a rescue and now he is this vibrant, crazy pup who makes our lives oh so much better. As you can tell, he's a huge part of both of our families
- [Friday Favourites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/06/friday-favourites-13-2.html) - We're easing our way back into routine over here. Last night I bought a bunch of ingredients and let myself get creative in the kitchen again making a big stirfry with a homemade sauce - and it felt so good to be back doing what I love. One of the great things about being on the
- [Meet Cola the Pup](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/06/meet-cola-pup.html) - On Monday's post, I mentioned that we picked up a special last minute souvenir from our trip. We think he is a Miniature Pinscher-Chihuahua mix, about 8lbs and under a year, but we'll find out more on our vet appointment tomorrow. He definitely is young with that puppy playfulness and that feeling that he is
- [Back in Canada](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/06/back-canada.html) - After 16 days on our honeymoon road trip, we made it home last night. We had an amazing time and I can't wait to tell you guys all about it, but for now I'm just glad to be back home. As fun as it is to be on vacation and to explore new places, it felt so good to
- [Tropical Greek Yogurt Creamsicles](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/05/tropical-greek-yogurt-creamsicles.html) - We're continuing on our honeymoon and are in beautiful Savannah, Georgia today! Everywhere we've gone has been very hot and we're loving the warmer weather, but it does mean that we need to find ways to keep cool. Looking at these photos I took before we left, I'm wishing we could have some of these
- [Wedding Day & Honeymoon Emergency Kit {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/05/wedding-day-emergency-kit-honeymoon-emergency-kit-wedding-wednesdays.html) - My dear friend and bridesmaid, Amy, gave me one of the coolest (and most useful) wedding gifts I've ever heard of - an emergency kit for the wedding and for the honeymoon! When Amy first told me that she was making an emergency kit for the wedding, I thought it was just bobby pins, some hairspray
- [30 Minute Chicken Marinade](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/05/30-minute-chicken-marinade.html) - We're in New Orleans now at the next stop of our honeymoon road trip! I had awesome blackened chicken at the Gumbo Shop last night and I can't wait to recreate it at home. In the meantime, I'm sharing a chicken recipe that we've been making a lot lately. A great quick weeknight dinner on
- [The Honeymoon Haircut](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/05/honeymoon-haircut.html) - Hey everyone! I hope that all my Canadian family and friends are having an awesome long weekend. It feels weird to be missing out on the unofficial kick off of summer, but we've been having a great time on the honeymoon so far. Make sure to check out Instagram for more updates as we make our
- [Friday Favourites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/05/friday-favourites-12-2.html) - After an awesome whirlwind wedding weekend, we've been spending this week recuperating (having that much fun can be exhausting!) and getting ready for our epic honeymoon roadtrip we set out on early tomorrow morning. After months of talking about it, it's hard to believe that it's already here! The bags are (almost) packed, the apartment
- [The Rehearsal Dinner {Wedding Wednesdays}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/05/rehearsal-dinner-wedding-wednesdays.html) - On the Thursday night before the wedding, we invited our parents and the wedding party to do a rehearsal out at our venue, followed by a delicious dinner put together by Garrett's family. It ended up being a great chance to us to unwind with drinks and yummy food, while catching up with everyone. We did the dinner at the Windfall Ecology
- [Frozen Greek Yogurt Drops - Great for Snacks and Smoothies!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/05/frozen-greek-yogurt-drops-great-snacks-smoothies.html) - A couple of weeks ago I was cleaning out the fridge and I found a big container of plain greek yogurt that hadn't been opened yet...and it expired the next day. At first I was bummed, because there was no way that I could eat a whole tub of greek yogurt in the next 24
- [We're Married!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/05/married.html) - I'm am incredibly excited to announce that Garrett and I got married! Woo hoo!!!! I'm still floating around on cloud nine after an incredible weekend, but I wanted to pop in with some photos that my cousin took for me while we wait for the ones from the photographer. The weather was perfect and the party
- [The Final Stretch {Wedding Wednesdays}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/05/the-final-stretch-wedding-wednesdays.html) - If you haven't already guessed from my sporatic blog posts lately, we're getting down to the crunch with the wedding this weekend and writing posts, along with things like cooking and cleaning, have fallen to the wayside. It's been an exciting time, with lots of wedding projects filling our time. I'm looking forward to sharing
- [Herbed Couscous Pilaf](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/05/herbed-couscous-pilaf.html) - Most of our weeknight dinners consist of meat and lots of veggies or a big salad, and then maybe a couple of times a week I'll make a side dish to go with it. I only have three requests - that it's quick, easy to whip up and flavouful. Thankfully, this Herbed Couscous Pilaf hits all three points! This is the
- [Watercolour Bridal Shower Thank You Cards {Wedding Wednesdays}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/04/watercolour-bridal-shower-thank-cards-wedding-wednesdays.html) - After the lovely bridal shower that my mother and sister hosted for me earlier this year, I set out to get Thank You Cards. I wanted to send some out that were in soft colours like the shower had been, but everything I found was in neons or dark reds. After the fourth store of finding nothing,
- [Friday Favourites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/04/friday-favourites-11.html) - With Monday being a holiday here, it's been a short week, but that doesn't mean I love Friday any less when it comes around. Garrett isn't working this weekend (woohoo!) and I'm going to see my parents for the first time in almost two months (double woohoo!). It's going to be a good weekend indeed. Now, if
- [Crispy Veal Schnitzel, Made with Rice Krispies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/04/crispy-veal-schnitzel-made-wtih-rice-krispies.html) - Back when I lived alone in a my little apartment, I used to eat cereal for breakfast sometimes. It was cheap, quick and I liked it. Now days, I'm cooking for not just for myself, so I have to come up with real dinners we can both enjoy...which probably is a better idea anyways. Especially when it
- [Planning Our Honeymoon {Wedding Wednesdays}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/04/planning-our-honeymoon-wedding-wednesdays.html) - With all the wedding projects going on, we've been kind of neglecting one of the really fun parts - planning our honeymoon! We've known for a long time that we wanted to take a big roadtrip through the Southern US and what better time to visit than in the spring before the weather gets too
- [Friday Favourites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/04/friday-favourites-10.html) - So...the last couple of weeks we've been under quarantine at our apartment. I got sick last week and spent most of the week laying on the couch whenever I was home and only started to feel human again on Tuesday. Just as I was feeling better, Garrett got the same head and chest cold and
- ["Under the Sea" Candy Bar {"The Little Mermaid" Birthday Party}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/04/under-the-sea-candy-bar-little-mermaid-birthday-party.html) - A couple of weekends ago I went to a birthday party for my friend's 5 year old daughter. As soon as I walked in the door, I was floored by the amazing "Under the Sea" candy bar she'd made to go with the "The Little Mermaid" theme. It looked amazing, with a wide selection of
- [Friday Favourites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/04/friday-favourites-9.html) - Yay for the weekend! Mine will be full of fun DIY wedding projects as we get down to the final month before the big day. I've already got the painted stained yoga pants and an old camp T-shirt dug out for the occasion. It'll be a very stylish weekend indeed. - - - Longing for
- [Our Very Helpful Pup](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/04/helpful-pup.html) - There is nothing that Whiskey loves more than to be in the very middle of everything we're doing. If I'm stretching on the floor, he's right there with me. My own personal cheerleader. If Garrett is going through a box of paperwork for our taxes, Whiskey is looking in the box too. Just in case
- [How NOT to Decorate Easter Eggs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/04/decorate-easter-eggs.html) - Last week I was so excited to decorate some Easter eggs for our mantel. Aside from the Spring Blossom Wreath for the front door, I hadn't done anything else to freshen the place up for the new season. Cute painted eggs on our mantel would be the perfect touch and I could hardly wait to
- [Friday Favourites - Spring at Chapters Indigo](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/04/friday-favourites-8-spring-chapters-indigo.html) - I was going to do a regular Friday Favourites post, but then last night I went with Garrett to an event to celebrate the new Spring Summer 2014 collection at Chapters Indigo. Suddenly I had a whole slew of new favourites that I wanted to share with all of you! It's no secret that I
- [Cleaning Salt Stains off Suede Sneakers and Boots](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/04/cleaning-salt-stains-off-suede-sneakers-and-boots.html) - I am so glad that winter in finally over and that the weather is getting nice and warm again, but there are still some reminders around the house that winter is not that long ago. There are mittens to be washed and tucked away, a winter coat to go to the dry cleaners and some
- [My Favourite Wedding Resources {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/04/favourite-wedding-planning-websites-wedding-wednesday.html) - When Garrett and I first started planning the wedding, we thought we had a good idea of what we'd do. We'd been to lots of great weddings for friends and family over the years and we'd talked about things we'd like to do when it was our turn to get hitched. Then we actually started
- [Spring Blossom Wreath](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/04/spring-blossom-wreath.html) - Not that long ago, my sister pointed out that I tend to make a lot of wreaths. What? No way. But then I started going through my blog archives and I realized that I do tend to make one for almost every season. It's not so much that I'm a big fan of wreaths or
- [Dark Chocolate Banana Bread](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/03/dark-chocolate-banana-bread.html) - When I was making this banana bread on the weekend, it made the whole house smell amazing. It brought back memories of coming home from school and finding a fresh loaf on the kitchen counter. My mom would cut us nice big thick slices and we'd slather them with butter. Garrett and I are pretty
- [Friday Favourites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/03/friday-favourites-7.html) - It's Friday...and it's supposed to be spring but we're dealing with more snow flurries again today. I'm really hoping that we just jump from winter right into summer because someone has a wedding in May that she would love to have great weather for! We had planned to use some fresh lilacs from my parents'
- [How to Clean a Keurig Mini (and other instant coffee makers)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/03/how-to-clean-a-keurig-mini-and-other-instant-coffee-makers.html) - This corner of our dining room is one of the most used areas in our apartment - with the microwave, baking dishes on the shelves below, our pantry in the cabinet, two of my paintings (here and here) and Garrett's beloved Keurig Mini coffee maker. I don't drink coffee, so this little machine that his
- [Bridal Shower Games {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/03/bridal-shower-games-wedding-wednesday.html) - This is the last of the bridal shower posts for Wedding Wednesday and it's a fun one too! Games at bridal showers (or baby showers) are always a great way to get the guests involved and make a blended group of people come together. For my shower last month, my sister came up with a
- [Friday Favourites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/03/friday-favourites-6.html) - Yesterday was the first day of Spring, which should have been cause for celebration, if it hadn't been snowing on and off all day. Despite the chilly weather, I'm determined to open the windows this weekend and air the apartment out while I get started on spring cleaning. Even if it means I do it
- [Bridal Shower Favors - Candleholders and Custom Matchboxes {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/03/bridal-shower-favors-candleholders-custom-matchboxes-wedding-wednesday.html) - For Wedding Wednesday, I have another post from the lovely bridal shower my mother and sister hosted for me last month. They created so many wonderful details and I'm so happy that we remembered to take photos so that I could share it with all of you! When brainstorming ideas for favours, my sister came up
- [Cheddar Kale Breakfast Muffins](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/03/cheddar-kale-breakfast-muffins.html) - I'm a total breakfast person. I know that there are lots of people out there who can get up in the morning and don't need to eat to start their day, but I'm not one of them. If I don't eat within the first hour I'm up, I get those obnoxious loud stomach growls that
- [Friday Favourites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/03/friday-favourites-5.html) - Last Friday ended up being a great day because a dear friend of mine had a baby. So exciting! I got to pop by yesterday to see him for the first time and I was so smitten. The little noises that come out of him are just too sweet. He has the cutest little dimples
- [Bridal Shower Menu {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/03/bridal-shower-menu-wedding-wednesday.html) - Last week I shared a bit about the wonderful bridal shower that my mother and sister hosted for me. They put so much work into it and made it a really special day. I had such a great time visiting with everyone who was there, but I was also really excited about the menu. With
- [Dry Rub Chicken Thighs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/03/dry-rub-chicken-thighs.html) - Prior to last year, I was a total chicken snob and only ate chicken breasts...and chicken fingers if that counts. Then I tried Honey Dijon BBQ Chicken Thighs, followed by one of my all time favourite recipes on the blog, Chicken Snap Pea Skillet. I still love a good grilled chicken breast, but I have
- [How to Replace the Battery in your Key Remote](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/03/replace-battery-key-remote.html) - I grew up in a house where my parents encouraged me to learn how to do things for myself. When I moved out on my own, I was so appreciative that I had some basic handy skills (and a tool box from my dad), which has served me well over the years. I would absolutely
- [Friday Favourites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/03/friday-favourites-4.html) - Who else is super excited for daylight savings this weekend? Yes, we lose an hour of sleep, but we gain another hour of light in the evenings, and that makes a huge difference to my mood. I love to come home from work and start to make dinner with the light streaming in from the
- [Repotting Orchids](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/03/repotting-orchids.html) - If you've been stopping by this blog for awhile, you might know that I have a bit of a black thumb. While I love plants and flowers, I'm not exactly the best at keeping them alive. I've even gone so far as to buy a couple of fake plants so that I don't have to worry about killing them. Despite
- [My Bridal Shower {Wedding Wednesday}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/03/bridal-shower-wedding-wednesday.html) - With our wedding coming up this spring, there are going to be many wedding related posts coming up. I know that it isn't everyone's cup of tea, so I decided to start doing "Wedding Wednesdays"! Every Wednesday I'll be posting anything related to the wedding, that way you can skip it if weddings aren't your
- [Apple Buttermilk Biscuits](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/03/apple-buttermilk-biscuits.html) - Last week my mother gave me half a carton of buttermilk that she wasn't going to use up and my first thought - biscuits! There is nothing quite like fluffy slightly sweet biscuits fresh out of the oven. I love apple in baked goods, so I tossed a chopped up apple in this and they
- [Friday Favourites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/02/friday-favourites-3.html) - Weekend Time!!! Woo to the Hoo! This is the first time Garrett and I have had a weekend off together in awhile, so we're using it to get a bunch of wedding prep done. The big thing we're checking off our list this weekend is the invitations. I have been designing them myself (I'll share
- [Hosting an Oscars Party (Plus a 2014 Oscars Voting Ballot!)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/02/hosting-oscars-party-plus-2014-oscars-voting-ballot.html) - I always love watching the Oscars. For us film industry types, it's our equivalent of the Superbowl. We get pumped up with all the pre-game fun (the dresses! oh, the dresses!), look forward to the opening number (Yay! Ellen!) and eagerly await to see who wins in the top categories (Come On, Bradley Cooper!). Some
- [10 Ways to Save Money in the Kitchen](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/02/how-to-save-money-in-the-kitchen.html) - After posting about 10 Ways to Save Time in the Kitchen, it got me thinking about ways that I've tried to save us money in the kitchen too. We like to eat well, with an emphasis on lean meats, fruits and vegetables (organic when we can), but there are still ways you can improve your grocery bill
- [Friday Favourites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/02/friday-favourites-2.html) - Another Friday means some more Friday Favourites to share with you all! I just took one last scroll through the pics and they are all light, airy and bright. Do you think maybe I've got spring on my mind? Yesterday morning was absolutely gorgeous out (in comparison to what we've been having), so we opened
- [A Weekend of Winter Holidays](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/02/weekend-winter-holidays.html) - With both Valentine's Day and Family Day, it felt like there was lots to celebrate on what would have otherwise been a regular cold winter weekend. Having those three days off really makes a difference when you're in the middle of winter. It felt great to unplug for a bit and spend time with family
- [Friday Favourites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/02/friday-favourites-feb14.html) - Happy Valentine's Day! I hope that you all have a great day, even if you don't celebrate this holiday...because, dude, it's still Friday, which is awesome. Always. And....I'm so excited to have a three day weekend because of Family Day on Monday. It's been a long and cold winter, but having that little holiday weekend in
- [Quick Pizza Crust](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/02/quick-pizza-crust.html) - There are very few things that intimidate me in the kitchen quite like baking with yeast does. What if it doesn't rise? What if it takes way longer to make than I anticipated? I usually make my Cauliflower Pizza Crust recipe, but last weekend I had a major craving for homemade pizza, like my mom used to
- [Friday Favourites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/02/friday-favourites.html) - This week feels like it's flown by...and when did it become February?!? I'm still struggling to remember it's 2014 when I write the date and now we're already into the second month. Crazy. To kick off the weekend, check out my favourite finds from the web this week. - - - DIY Hairdo I'd Love
- [DIY Dog Scarf](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/02/diy-dog-scarf.html) - We've been having a pretty brutal winter this year, and keeping Whiskey warm has been one of my top concerns. He has almost no body fat on him and very short fur, so there isn't much there to help keep him warm. For every walk, we bundle him up in at least one coat (sometimes
- [Jalapeno Popper Dip {and some fun Super Bowl food}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/02/jalapeno-popper-dip-super-bowl-food.html) - I'm usually the one who's making food for other people, so it's a real treat when I get to try something made by someone else. My sister was home from school on the weekend and was making some goodies to take to a Super Bowl party last night, and I was lucky enough to sample
- [Puppies, Horses and Mindful Rest](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/01/puppies-horses-mindful-rest.html) - You may have noticed that January has been a fairly quiet month around here. I've been trying to take the time to focus on wedding planning, keeping up my health (especially warding off any colds!) and generally getting things in order. So I gave myself some slack and took a light month of blogging. Now
- [Making In Through a Cold Winter - Beating Cabin Fever](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/01/making-cold-winter-beating-cabin-fever.html) - We're not even halfway through winter and I'm sure that many of you are starting to get the early signs of cabin fever. Here are some of my favourite ways to beat the winter blues and enjoy the winter months! Freshen the Place Up Now that all the holiday ornaments are away, you have
- [Protecting Your Dog's Paws in the Winter](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/01/protecting-dogs-paws-winter.html) - With the winter weather here, we swap out our front hall closet for big winter coats, thick mittens and warm boots, but what about our pooches? Winter can be a hard time of year for dogs in Northern climates. Exposure to cold weather and toxic chemicals can wreck havoc on your dog’s paw pads
- [A Busy Winter Weekend](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/01/a-busy-winter-weekend.html) - Garrett occasionally has to work on weekends, which means that we often pack those weekends he is home with errands, visits and fun activities together. This one was one for the books. We started with a movie date to see Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit after work on Friday. I had hoped to relax after the
- [Conditioning Wooden Cutting Boards and Utensils](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/01/conditioning-wooden-cutting-boards-and-utensils.html) - When you get a wooden cutting board wet from cutting vegetables and washing it, over time the wet/dry cycle can lead to the wood warping or drying out. With a little care and maintenance you can keep your wooden cutting boards, spoons and rolling pins for years to come. My number one tip with wooden
- [Maple Dijon Chicken](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/01/maple-dijon-chicken.html) - During a particularly uninspired Tuesday night this fall, I had a package of chicken breasts and no idea what to do with them. After a quick online search I found a recipe called "The World's Best Chicken". It had dijon mustard and maple syrup (two of my favourite ingredients), so I thought it sounded good
- [Birthday Candles Kit](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/01/birthday-candles-kit.html) - I've always loved celebrating birthdays - whether they're mine or someone else's, and especially if they're surprise birthdays. It's great to celebrate another year in someone's life, but the real highlight is always the birthday cake. It's the perfect excuse to eat something sweet, delicious and almost always decadent. Over the years, we've had some great birthday cakes like The Armadillo
- [Friday Favourites - Wedding Quilts](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/01/friday-favourites-wedding-quilts.html) - Our to-do list for the wedding is still a mile long and there are so many really important things that we need to do, but I can't help thinking about something I've thought about for a long time. I've always loved the idea of making a quilt before my wedding, to commemorate the occasion and
- [10 Ways to Save Time in the Kitchen](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/01/10-ways-to-save-time-in-the-kitchen.html) - I love to cook, which is pretty obvious when you see my recipe page, but even I know that there are always evenings when I barely have time to get dinner ready. Thankfully, there are many ways that you can reduce your time in the kitchen and make it easier to put together healthy, delicious
- [Creamy Quinoa, Kale & Goat Cheese Pilaf](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/01/creamy-quinoa-kale-goat-cheese-pilaf.html) - Welcome to the first recipe of 2014! It felt great to get back into the kitchen this weekend and start experimenting with some new recipes. The holidays can be an indulgent time of year and I'll admit that I do love all the hearty meals and decadent treats, but it also feels good to get
- [Here's to a Wonderful 2014!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2014/01/heres-wonderful-2014.html) - The fun thing about having a blog is that you can use it almost like a diary, and look back to see where you were at a certain point in time. It's interesting to see what my goals were for 2013 and see how they have changed...and which ones I never completed. Rather than
- [2013 - A Year in Review](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/12/2013-year-review.html) - When I first started to think about 2013, it felt like it'd just flown by. Then I started looking back in the blog archives and saw all the new recipes and projects that I did this year - and it got me inspired about what I want to accomplish in 2014. Here is a quick recap
- [Scenes from a White Christmas](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/12/scene-from-a-white-christmas.html) - As always, I had hoped for a White Christmas this year. I wasn't anticipating all the freezing rain when I made that request. It turned everything into a wonderful frozen winter wonderland across Southern Ontario, until the trees starting coming down in the Toronto area on power lines. Thankfully all of our family and friends
- [An Icy Start to Christmas](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/12/a-icy-start-to-christmas.html) - You may have heard, but we've had a major ice storm across Southern Ontario this weekend. There are trees down everywhere, thousands of homes are without power (and will be until after Christmas) and many without heat too. We were lucky and have only had our power flicker a bit. Everything is covered in
- [Christmas Lights and Hot Chocolate](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/12/christmas-lights-hot-chocolate.html) - As part of our Advent Activities Calendar, Garrett and I went out this week to look at Christmas lights. He got the car warmed up and brushed off all the snow, while I made us hot chocolate and bundled up Whiskey (in his "snow boots" too) How can you not feel like this season
- [Christmas at IKEA](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/12/christmas-ikea.html) - We often like to go to IKEA around Christmas time to admire the displays and pick up some wrapping supplies (great paper and twine). We happened to be in the area earlier this month during our visit to Black Creek Pioneer Village, so I was happy when Garrett suggested we pop in for a bit.
- [One of a Kind Show - 20 Great Canadian Artisans](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/12/one-kind-show-20-great-canadian-artisans.html) - This weekend, I went to the One of a Kind Show in Toronto with my friend Amy. I hadn't been in four years and it was great to go back and see some of my favourite vendors, as well as meet some new ones. It was really hard but I pared down this list to share my top 20
- [A Snowy Afternoon of Games with Friends {Mattel Game On Giveaway}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/11/mattel-game-on-games-night-giveaway.html) - Our friends and family are always playing board games - on cottage weekends, chilly nights and especially during the holidays. When the fine folks at Mattel offered to send us some games and goodies to host a games night, I couldn't turn it down! They had me head over to their Facebook app, Gameology, to determine what kind of gamer I
- [Gift Idea: DIY Rolled Beeswax Candles](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/11/gift-idea-diy-rolled-beeswax-candles.html) - I am so excited that holiday craft season is upon us. Now that the days are getting shorter, the evenings are spent staying in and getting cozy while being creative. I love to pop some Christmas music in, make a big cup of peppermint tea (my fav) and get crafting! I usually like to make
- [Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Appetizer](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/11/bacon-wrapped-water-chestnuts-appetizer.html) - When I was away at university, I was lucky enough to live with four roommates who were just as excited about the holidays as I was. As soon as Halloween was over, we'd get into the Christmas spirit. There would be music playing, cookies baking, stockings hung on the staircase...and of course studying for exams.
- [Slow Cooker Teriyaki Beef and Vegetables](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/11/slow-cooker-teriyaki-beef-and-vegetables.html) - I'm a huge fan of slow cookers. As much as I enjoy cooking, I love the idea of them doing most of the work for me. They are great for weeknight meals, but also recently discovered how awesome they can be on weekends too. I can put everything in the slow cooker and then get
- [Remembering](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/11/remembering.html) - I've written about Remembrance Day in the past. I've talked about taking my grandpa, a World War II veteran, to visit a local military museum. I've shared pictures of Toronto during the wars. This year is different. It's the first year that I won't be able to call my grandpa to thank him for what he sacrificed for
- [Our Family Engagement Brunch](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/11/family-engagement-brunch.html) - To celebrate our engagement and upcoming wedding, my family hosted a lovely engagement brunch during the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. Everyone was home from school and work, so it was a great opportunity to get the two families together for the first time, as well as introduce some of the wedding party. I was kept completely
- [Roasted Buttercup Squash](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/11/roasted-buttercup-squash.html) - I try to buy seasonal produce when I can, which means that right now we're starting to get into squashes and root vegetables. Great seasonal dishes like Cheesy Baked Spaghetti Squash, Savoury Stuffed Acorn Squash and lots of Butternut Squash Soup (including variations with apple and carrot). My favourite way to prepare root vegetables is to roast them,
- [Our Very Happy Halloween](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/11/our-very-happy-halloween.html) - Halloween started with getting up super early to make something to contribute to potluck lunch at work. I made a big batch of chili using Brown Eyed Baker's recipe - a classic beef and bean chili, with just the perfect amount of kick. While it was simmering, I made homemade corn bread muffins using a
- [Princess Margaret Dream Home with Brian Gluckstein](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/09/princess-margaret-dream-home-with-brian-gluckstein.html) - Earlier this week, Garrett and I were invited to tour the Dream Home up for grabs this year through the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre's Welcome Home Sweepstakes. This beautiful $3.7 million home was created in collaboration with the fabulous Canadian designer, Brian Gluckstein, including many pieces from his Gluckstein Home Collection. It was such a
- [Friday Favourites - 5 Things That Made Me Smile This Week](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/09/friday-favourites-5-things-that-made-me-smile-this-week.html) - Happy Friday! We've got a fun weekend lined up that starts with sleeping in on Saturday (yes, I actually had to plan for that to happen), then a birthday party, a little wedding planning, a few DIY projects and crafts (so excited to share them next week) and then finalizing the details of our mini
- [BlogPodium 2013 Recap](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/09/blogpodium-2013-recap.html) - Going to BlogPodium this past weekend was a little surreal. It started out feeling like the first day of school - I didn't know anyone. But that all changed in the first 5 minutes. It turns out that most people were like that. I'm glad I forced myself to go and get out of my
- [Friday Favourites - New Changes to the Ol' Blog](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/09/friday-favourites-new-changes-to-the-ol-blog.html) - In less than a month, I'll have been blogging on Small Home Big Start for four years! It's a little hard to believe that I've documented almost every craft, DIY project and recipe that I've made in that time. It feels like I'm just getting started! There have been many changes to the blog in
- [Cheesy Baked Spaghetti Squash](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/09/cheesy-baked-spaghetti-squash.html) - I love my Mom's Infamous Macaroni and Cheese (and even took some to a friend this weekend), but sometimes I want something with all the cheesy flavour, but less carbs. That is when my good friend spaghetti squash comes into play. It has all the texture of pasta, but is a healthy vegetable instead! I love
- [Wedding Venue Booked!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/09/wedding-venue-booked.html) - We've hardly even been engaged two weeks and we already have our wedding venue booked. Look out May 2014! Neither of us were planning to book a place so soon into this wedding planning process, but we quickly learned that finding a venue that could fit our guest list, be reasonably priced and have the atmosphere
- [Friday Favourites - Fall Dessert Tables (& My Top 5 Fall Dessert Recipes!)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/09/friday-favourites-fall-dessert-tables-my-top-5-fall-dessert-recipes.html) - We're looking at a spring wedding ourselves, but after finding all these awesome fall dessert tables on Pinterest (oh Pinterest), I'm starting to wish we were doing it in the fall. Don't they look awesome and full of yummy treats? It made me realize how many of the recipes I've shared on the blog
- [Fabric Covered Flower Pots](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/09/fabric-covered-flower-pots.html) - Thank you so much for all your well wishes after yesterday's engagement announcement! We're already starting to make some wedding plans and I'm sure that I'll be sharing lots of the details with all of you in the coming months. Any advice is greatly appreciated! - - - As I usually do in the summer
- [The Story I Will Tell Our Grandkids Someday](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/09/the-story-i-will-tell-our-grandkids-someday.html) - Last Wednesday, Garrett and I headed out with Whiskey on a walk through the conservation area near our home. Garrett wanted to walk deeper into the forest, just as it was getting dark. At first it was fine, but after awhile I started to jump at every noise. I had visions of zombies jumping out
- [Friday Favourites - 5 Reasons Why I Love that Fall is Here](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/09/friday-favourites-5-reasons-why-i-love-that-fall-is-here.html) - Happy Friday! Today's post was delayed in getting out there because I've been having a few technical difficulties, but it should be sorted out now. A few hiccups aren't enough to keep me from sharing some of my top reasons why I love that fall is here now! It's my favourite season and I always
- [Tomato Sauce from the Garden](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/09/tomato-sauce-from-the-garden.html) - I've been on a real mission this week to get some food prep done in advance. We've got a busy fall ahead of us and I like to do whatever I can to have meals ready for it. When Garrett came home from his parents' house last week with a bag full of tomatoes
- [The Last Weekend of Summer](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/09/the-last-weekend-of-summer.html) - It's hard to believe that summer is actually over. The weather is supposed to get warm again, but this morning it was definitely chilly out, with the leaves blowing down the street as kids hurried onto the bus for their first day of school. It really didn't feel like we had a summer this year,
- [Friday Favourites - 5 Awesome Bathroom Before and Afters](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/08/friday-favourites-5-awesome-bathroom-before-and-afters.html) - Happy Friday! I'm so excited for the long weekend. We've been away from home almost every weekend in August, so it's nice to have some time to be at home and relax for a change. I'm hoping to get a head start on some food prep for the busy weeks ahead and spruce up the
- [Homemade Hand Salve and Epsom Salts](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/08/homemade-hand-salve-and-epsom-salts.html) - In my post earlier this week about the bachelorette party I went to at the Donkey Sanctuary, I mentioned that my friend Eve taught us all how to make some fun homemade bath and beauty products. It was such a fun activity to do together. Eve is a natural teacher - engaging everyone in
- [A Visit to the Donkey Sanctuary](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/08/a-visit-to-the-donkey-sanctuary.html) - This past Sunday, I met up with some girlfriends for a fun-filled bachelorette party for our friend Fleur. Rather than the usual bar night, it was a day of animals, crafts and games that wrapped up with a lovely dinner out (plus a nut-free gluten-free cake!) We started the day with a drive out
- [The Many Faces of Whiskey](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/08/the-many-faces-of-whiskey.html) - It's been awhile since I've shared some pictures of Whiskey and when I was going through my phone last night, I noticed that I had a ton of photos of him from this summer that I've never shared. Out on the boat for a ride down the river with Shadow. He loves to perch
- [Small Town Ontario: Elora (Part 2)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/08/small-town-ontario-elora-part-2.html) - Yesterday I shared Part One of my tribute to the beautiful town of Elora, Ontario - showing some of the sights we saw during our brief visit to the town on our camping trip last month. Today I'm excited to share my favourite shops that we visited. If you ever make the trip to Elora, I hope
- [Small Town Ontario: Elora (Part 1)](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/08/small-town-ontario-elora-part-1.html) - This started out a a very long post with many photos. So much so, that I had to cut it in half because I didn't want to slow down anyone's computer trying to load it. I tried to pare it down to fit onto one, but I just had to include them all. When you find a
- [Friday Favourites - Great Recent Finds](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/08/friday-favourites-great-recent-finds.html) - Happy Friday! Hope that you've all been having a great week. I feel like I'm starting to get caught up again - on work, blogging, even housework. We've got a busy fall coming up, so I'm going to spend some of this weekend doing projects and making meals I can freeze for the next couple
- [Summer Evening Walk](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/08/summer-evening-walk.html) - As much as I love autumn, it's bittersweet when summer starts to dwindle down. The sun sets sooner and the temperatures drops at night. We've been having a cooler than normal summer anyways, so the past week has felt like fall is right around the corner. I actually had to wear a sweater and socks to
- [Chicken Black Bean Quesadillas](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/08/chicken-black-bean-quesadillas.html) - Easy weeknight meals that I can have on the table in less than 15 minutes are always greatly appreciated in our house. While I was making these for dinner last night, I realized that after years of making them, I've never shared the recipe on the blog! This is one of my favourite quick dishes
- [Easy Cutlery Art for the Dining Room](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/08/fork-spoon-knife-dining-room-art.html) - This weekend, I dug out my acrylic paints, grabbed a cheap canvas and got creative. It was fun, liberating and a much needed chance to relax. There is something about having a paint brush in my hand (or a glue gun, sander or needle and thread) that I find liberating. I think it is about
- [Friday Favourites - Recipes for Grandpa](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/08/friday-favourites-recipes-for-grandpa.html) - Thank you all so much for your kind words this week. It's been a difficult time with the passing of my beloved Grandpa and I appreciate all the support. I spoke at his funeral this week and shared some of my favourite memories of him. It was hard to stand up and say goodbye to
- [Grandpa](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/08/grandpa.html) - You may have noticed that a few changes took place on the blog over the weekend. I'm in the process of transferring everything over from Blogger to a self-hosted Wordpress account. I'd planned to have it all finished by the end of the long weekend, but some unexpected events changed that. Over the weekend,
- [Friday Favourites - Kicking Off the Long Weekend!](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/08/friday-favourites-kicking-off-long.html) - Happy Friday! We're just about ready to kick off the August long weekend here in Canada. For this week's Friday Favourites, I'm sharing some of the long weekend ideas I've got rolling around in my head! 1. Must Try BBQ Recipe: Cheese Filled Zucchini Rolls I love grilled zucchini, especially with a little fresh
- [Chicken Snap Pea Skillet](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/07/chicken-snap-pea-skillet.html) - When we have busy weeks like the one coming up, I like to have a couple of easy, fast weeknight meals lined up. Something that I can put together quickly with minimal work, but still fantastic results.At the end of a long day, there is nothing like having a great flavourful meal that took you
- [Friday Favourites - S'more Treats without the Campfire](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/07/friday-favourites-smore-treats-without.html) - Happy Friday everyone! Friday afternoons in the summertime are always so exciting because you know you're going to get the chance to go outside and enjoy the weather.In yesterday's camping post, I mentioned that we ate many s'mores while we were away. I thought I would have gotten it all out of my system then, but
- [Camping at Elora Gorge](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/07/camping-at-elora-gorge.html) - It's been one of those summers where neither of us can really take much time off, so we've been trying to do more day trips on weekends and find fun things to do that don't require a 10 hour drive. Garrett and I both love to camp (I even worked for Ontario Parks during university),
- [Easy Summer Planter for $4](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/07/easy-summer-planter-for-4.html) - Last summer, we had this awesome whiskey barrel planter that I put together with the advice of my favourite gardening centre. By this time last summer, it had grown even bigger and was tall, lush and gorgeous. I love it and had hoped to create something similar this summer.... ...however time got away on
- [Friday Favourites - 5 Reasons Why House-Sitting for Your Parents Can be Awesome](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/07/friday-favourites-5-reasons-why-house.html) - Happy Friday! This past week we've been house-sitting for my parents while they've been out of the country. They couldn't take the family dog, Shadow, with them so we came and stayed with her. Whiskey was quite happy to have a friend to hang out with for the week while Garrett and I were happy
- [A Garden Wedding - Niki & Tyler](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/07/a-garden-wedding-niki-tyler.html) - This past weekend, we had the pleasure of attending the wedding of our good friends, Niki and Tyler. It was a beautiful event that was full of good laughs and lots of fun - just like these two are.The ceremony and reception took place in a beautiful greenhouse, under a canopy of trees and ferns.
- [Pizza Breakfast Casserole](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/07/pizza-breakfast-casserole.html) - I love breakfast foods - especially breakfast foods that you can eat for lunch or even dinner. This Pizza Breakfast Casserole has all the flavours of your favourite pizza, baked into a cheesy egg casserole. It's low carb and gluten free, as long as you use gluten-free pepperoni. This is one of those meals that
- [DIY Wooden Wedding Cake Stand](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/07/diy-wooden-wedding-cake-stand.html) - Rustic weddings are all the rage right now and I've seen some great DIY projects for crafty brides-to-be, so I wanted to share a project I did for my friends' wedding last summer. There may be some of you who've been eyeing all the wooden wedding cake stands on Pinterest and Etsy, and wanted to
- [Friday Favourites - Summer Drinks](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/07/friday-favourites-summer-drinks.html) - Happy Friday!!! We've got a nice weekend in town planned, including an awesome wedding tonight for some of our dear friends'. I plan to swap out my heels for flip flops and dance the night away.I'm sure that many of you have an awesome weekend planned out with summer BBQs, pool parties and some belated
- [A Weekend of Celebrating](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/07/a-weekend-of-celebrating.html) - Happy Fourth of July to all my American friends and family! I hope that you're all having a great day celebrating!We celebrated Canada Day last weekend with our annual trip up to our friends' cottage. They are tearing it down in a couple of weeks to build a new one, so this was our last
- [Celebrating Canada Day with Yummy Watermelon Slushies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/07/celebrating-canada-day-with-yummy.html) - Happy Canada Day!!!We got back from the cottage late last night after a lovely long weekend with friends. It's always great to get a much needed break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but it is especially awesome to get to do it on a weekend where we celebrate our country!I'm sure that
- [Friday Favourites - Greener Choices for Bath and Beauty Supplies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/06/friday-favourites-greener-choices-for.html) - Happy Friday everyone! It's been a long week of battling colds here but the reward at the end of the tunnel is heading out tonight to our friends' cottage for the Canada Day long weekend.For this week's Friday Favourites, I thought I'd share my top five new "green" bath and beauty products. Over the past
- [Light and Creamy Potato Salad with Balsamic Greek Yogurt Dressing](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/06/light-and-creamy-potato-salad-with-balsamic-greek-yogurt-dressing.html) - I love to make my Cauliflower No Potato Salad, but we picked up some awesome red potatoes from the farmers market recently and I knew they would make a great salad. To keep this dish light, I swapped out a heavy mayo dressing for a tangy balsamic vinegar based dressing that it still incredibly creamy with
- [Small Town Ontario: Thornbury {A Visit to My Family's Hometown}](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/06/small-town-ontario-thornbury-visit-to.html) - Tucked away, on the southern shores of Georgian Bay, is a little town called Thornbury. Its the place where five generations of my family were born and is where I spent summers and weekends when I was growing up. I may have lived in another town, but it is Thornbury that has always felt like
- [I'm Dreaming of a White Kitchen](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/2013/06/im-dreaming-of-white-kitchen.html) - I use Pinterest all the time for projects ideas and recipe inspiration (especially for lazy weeknight meals), but often times I pin a bunch of stuff I like...and then forget about it. So, occasionally I like to look back through my boards and see what's in there. Maybe delete a few duplicates (I must have

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- [Holiday Projects](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/create/holiday-projects) - Grab a big mug of hot cocoa and get ready for some Christmas crafting! I love to create new pieces for our holiday decor and create memories our family can enjoy for years to come.
- [About](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/about) - My name is Amanda and I’m a Canadian blogger who moved back to rural Ontario after spending a few years living in the city. For over 15 years I've blogged about renovations, home decor, recipes, travel, our wedding, having our children, starting a flower farm, raising chickens and so much more. A lot can happen
- [Holiday Activities](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/holiday-guide/holiday-activities) - There are so many great activities that you can do during the holiday season, whether they're out and about or in the comfort of your home. There are great holiday events going on in most major cities, so be sure to check out what is nearby for you.
- [Holiday Gift Ideas](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/holiday-guide/holiday-gift-ideas) - Whether you're giving homemade or store bought gifts this holiday season, check out some ideas below! Handmade Gift Ideas Give from the heart and give handmade! Holiday Gift Guides This is a collection of my Holiday Gift Guides from over the years. I hope they can give you some inspiration on what to give your
- [Holiday Decor](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/holiday-guide/holiday-decor) - Decorating our home for the holidays is something I look forward to all year. The twinkling lights and festive touches make the whole home feel cozy. I love traditional Christmas colours, but every year I try to change it up a bit with new pieces and fun DIY projects.
- [](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/hello) - [Button id="4"] [Button id= "7"] [Button id= "6"] [Button id="3"] [Button id="2"] [Button id="8"] [Button id="1"]
- [Subscribe to Life at Cloverhill](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/subscribe)
- [](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/holiday-guide) - Follow Life at Cloverhill to get all the latest posts: Facebook · Instagram · Pinterest For even more festive posts, check out my Holidays category
- [Home & Garden](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/home-garden)
- [Gardening](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/home-garden/adventures-in-gardening)
- [Holiday Organizing](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/holiday-guide/holiday-organizing) - Staying organized leading up to the holiday season is the only thing that helps me keep my sanity during the busy time of year, and focusing on enjoying it with my loved ones.
- [Privacy Policy](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/privacy-policy) - Updated October 21, 2022 Life at Cloverhill found at https://lifeatcloverhill.com/ (“Website”) is governed by the following privacy policy (“Privacy Policy”). We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting it. The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to inform you what personally identifiable information we may collect and how it may be used. This statement only
- [Cleaning & Organizing](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/home-garden/cleaning-organizing)
- [I Do](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/weddings) - Our Wedding Past Wedding Tutorials Past Wedding Events
- [January Declutter Detox: 31 Days to Less Stuff & Less Stress in Your Home](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/january-decluttering-detox-31-days-to-less-stuff-less-stress-in-your-home) - Ready to start the New Year with a cleaner, more organized home? Join me for a 31 Day January Declutter Detox. First off, I want to say that I have always struggled with clutter in our house. I find it hard to part with things that might be useful or have meaning and I can freeze
- [Everyday Projects](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/create/everyday-projects)
- [Holiday Recipes](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/holiday-guide/holiday-recipes) - Delicious Festive Treats The holiday season wouldn't be complete without some sweet treats to celebrate with. Between desserts to finish off a great meal and simple treats to take to your next bake sale or cookie swap, there is something here for everyone. Holiday Party Appetizers Whether you're bringing an appetizer to a party,
- [Advertise](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/advertise) - I love working with small businesses, bloggers and larger companies in a variety of ways: sidebar advertisements, sponsored posts, product reviews, giveaways and brand ambassadorship. I only work with companies that I feel are a good for the Life at Cloverhill readers and community. We put a great deal of time into each feature I write
- [Copyright & Disclosure](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/copyright-disclosure) - All images and content are copyright Life at Cloverhill / Amanda Gordon unless otherwise noted. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Life at Cloverhill with appropriate and
- [Contact](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/contact) - If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment below or email us: lifeatcloverhill[at]gmail.com. You can connect with Life at Cloverhill on social media too: Instagram · Twitter · Pinterest · Facebook
- [Main Dishes](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/recipes/main-dishes) - Chicken & Turkey 30 Minute Chicken Marinade BBQ Chicken Pizza Cajun Chicken Pasta Cheesy Baked Chicken Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Bake (Low Carb) Cheesy Turkey Pasta Bake Chicken Black Bean Quesadillas Chicken Cordon Bleu Chicken Kebabs Chicken Pasta with White Wine Cream Sauce aka “Adult Mac and Cheese” Chicken Snap Pea Skillet Chicken Souvlaki Chicken Pot
- [Cloverhill Farmhouse](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/home-garden/cloverhill-farmhouse) - In May 2015, my husband and I moved into our first house - Cloverhill, a 1903 farmhouse in rural Ontario. We're on a journey to restore it to it's former glory and will be sharing this on Life at Cloverhill. We began restoring the outside in the Summer of 2015 and are continuing with the
- [Breakfast & Baked Goods](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/recipes/breakfast) - Breads & Muffins Apple Buttermilk Biscuits Apple Cranberry Bread Blueberry Muffins Coconut Banana Bread with Lime Glaze Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread Irish Soda Bread Nut-Free and Egg-Free Banana Bread Raspberry Lime Bread Whole Wheat Pumpkin Bread Apple Cinnamon Butterscotch Muffins Best Pizza Dough Cheesy Garlic Biscuits Cranberry Clementine Bread Egg Nog Scones Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread
- [Family](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/family)
- [Kitchen Tips & Tricks](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/recipes/kitchen-tips-tricks)
- [Create](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/create) - Everyday Projects Seasonal Projects Holiday Projects
- [BlogPodium 2014 Resources](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/bp2014) - Thank you for stopping by my roundtable at BlogPodium 2014! It was so great to meet all of you and hear about your blogs. I hope that you have the chance to take a look around Life at Cloverhill and be sure to say hi on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest! As promised, here are
- [Desserts & Sweets](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/recipes/desserts) - UNDER CONSTRUCTION Pies, Cakes & Crumbles Cookies, Brownies & Bars Chocolates & Candies Frozen Treats & Misc
- [Seasonal Projects](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/create/seasonal-projects-2) - Fall, Halloween & Thanksgiving Spring, Valentine's Day, Easter & Summer
- [Soups & Sauces](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/recipes/sauces-soups) - Butternut Squash Soup Creamy Carrot Soup Irish Carrot Soup Lowfat Broccoli Soup Oven Roasted Mushroom Soup Roasted Eggplant Marinara Butternut Squash and Apple Soup French Onion Soup Kale Soup Low Fat Leek and Potato Soup Pomodoro Sauce Tomato Sauce from the Garden Butternut Squash and Carrot Soup German Potato Sausage Soup Lentil Soup Mushroom Beef
- [Side Dishes](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/recipes/side-dishes) - BBQ Potatoes Cauliflower “No Potato” Salad Cauliflower Rice Cheddar Cabbage Gratin Cheesy Baked Spaghetti Squash Cheesy Garlic Biscuits Cheesy Green Beans Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice Cilantro Lime Rice Creamy Cucumber Dill Salad Creamy Scalloped Potatoes for Two Creamy Quinoa, Kale & Goat Cheese Pilaf Cucumber Bean Salad Dill Bean Salad Easy Garlic Dill Refrigerator Pickles
- [Appetizers & Snacks](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/recipes/appetizers-snacks) - Appetizers Snacks 3 Minute Oatmeal Cookie Banana Soft Serve Caramelized Pumpkin and Squash Seeds Chocolate Protein Granola How to Make Banana Chips in a Dehydrator Martini Night Recipes Plantain Chips Sweet Spiced Roasted Chickpeas Apple and Pear Chips Blackberry-Lemon Greek Yogurt Popsicles Chocolate Covered Avocado Fudgesicles {Dairy Free} Frozen Greek Yogurt Drops Hummus Dip Perfectly
- [Abroad](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/travel) - COMING SOON
- [Previous Apartments](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/home-garden/previous-apartments) - Second Apartment - Our First Home Together October 2011 – May 2015 Holiday Home Video Tour (December 2014) First Apartment - The Bachelorette Pad (February 2008- October 2011) Farewell House Tour Video
- [Dog Friendly](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/recipes/dog-friendly)
- [Recipes](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/recipes)

## Categories

- [Uncategorized](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/uncategorized)
- [Allergy](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/allergy)
- [Apartment](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/apartment)
- [Autumn](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/autumn)
- [Beauty](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/beauty)
- [Birthday](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/birthday)
- [Blog](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/blog)
- [Camping](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/camping)
- [Canada](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/canada)
- [Chickens](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/chickens)
- [Christmas](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/christmas)
- [Cleaning](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/cleaning)
- [Costume](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/costume)
- [Cottage](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/cottage)
- [Country](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/country)
- [Craft Tutorial](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/craft-tutorial)
- [Decor](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/decor)
- [DIY](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/diy)
- [Dogs](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/dogs)
- [Easter](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/easter)
- [Etsy](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/etsy)
- [Family](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/family)
- [Farmhouse](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/farmhouse)
- [Fashion](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/fashion)
- [Film](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/film)
- [Fitness](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/fitness)
- [Florida](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/florida)
- [Flowers](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/flowers)
- [Friday Favourites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/friday-favourites)
- [Friends](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/friends)
- [Garden](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/garden)
- [Gift Ideas](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/gift-ideas)
- [Halloween](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/halloween)
- [Health](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/health)
- [Historic](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/historic)
- [Holidays](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/holidays)
- [Hometown](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/hometown)
- [Honeymoon](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/honeymoon)
- [Kitchen](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/kitchen)
- [Moving](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/moving)
- [New Years](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/new-years)
- [Ontario](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/ontario)
- [Organizing](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/organizing)
- [Outdoors](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/outdoors)
- [Painting](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/painting)
- [Party](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/party)
- [Photography](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/photography)
- [Reading](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/reading)
- [Recipe](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/recipe)
- [Renovation](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/renovation)
- [Road Trip](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/roadtrip)
- [Shopping](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/shopping)
- [Small Town Ontario](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/small-town-ontario)
- [Spring](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/spring)
- [Summer](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/summer)
- [Television](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/television)
- [Thanksgiving](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/thanksgiving)
- [Toronto](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/toronto)
- [Travel](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/travel)
- [University](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/university)
- [Vacation](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/vacation)
- [Valentine's Day](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/valentines-day)
- [Video](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/video)
- [Wedding](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/wedding)
- [Winter](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/winter)
- [Summer Projects](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/craft-tutorial/summer-projects)
- [Summer Recipes](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/recipe/summer-recipes)
- [MR](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/mr)
- [Behr Paint Projects](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/painting/behr-paint-projects)
- [Fun Fall Crafts & Projects](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/craft-tutorial/fall-crafts-projects)
- [Yummy Harvest Recipes](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/recipe/harvest-recipes)
- [Fall Travel](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/travel/fall-travel)
- [Holiday Recipe Highlights](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/recipe/holiday-recipe-highlights)
- [Holiday Project Highlights](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/craft-tutorial/holiday-project-highlights)
- [Baby](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/baby)
- [Comfort Foods](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/recipe/comfort-foods)
- [Vlog](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/vlog)
- [Easter Ideas](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/easter-ideas)
- [Room Reveals](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/farmhouse/room-reveals)
- [Printable](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/printable)
- [Spring Projects](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/diy/spring-projects)
- [Spring Gardening](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/garden/spring-gardening)
- [Fall Favourites](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/category/fall-favourites)

## Tags

- [cookies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/tag/cookies)
- [christmas baking](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/tag/christmas-baking)
- [christmas tree](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/tag/christmas-tree)
- [vlog](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/tag/vlog)
- [gingerbread](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/tag/gingerbread)
- [christmas cookies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/tag/christmas-cookies)
- [summer dinner](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/tag/summer-dinner)
- [field to table](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/tag/field-to-table)
- [town of georgina](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/tag/town-of-georgina)
- [georgina field to table](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/tag/georgina-field-to-table)
- [easter basket ideas](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/tag/easter-basket-ideas)
- [mom hacks](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/tag/mom-hacks)
- [easter basket](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/tag/easter-basket)
- [easter ideas for kids](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/tag/easter-ideas-for-kids)

## Courses

- [Dessert](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/?course=dessert)
- [Dinner](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/?course=dinner)
- [Soup](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/?course=soup)
- [Cookies](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/?course=cookies)
- [Sides](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/?course=sides)
- [Main Courses](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/?course=main-courses)
- [Breakfast](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/?course=breakfast)
- [Desserts](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/?course=desserts)
- [Breads](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/?course=breads)
- [Appetizer](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/?course=appetizer)
- [Craft](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/?course=craft)
- [Sauces](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/?course=sauces)
- [Drinks](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/?course=drinks)

## Cuisines

- [Dessert](https://lifeatcloverhill.com/?cuisine=dessert)