So Thankful

This week, but today especially, I am So Thankful for the central air conditioning that we have. I think if we didn't have it, I'd just fill up the tub with cold water and sit there for a few hours, much like I did in Japan. However, I should note that the weather today is not unlike the weather we had in middle-to-late September in Japan. (Read: it's not actually *that* hot out this week. I have survived hotter, and sworn I would never complain about Ontario heat & humidity again.)

Anyhow, a day like today calls for summery drinks and food: Thus, I made some iced tea this morning and it is presently cooling down in the fridge. I'm sad that I used up my last lemon last week so I had to use lemon juice instead of lemons to give it a bit of flavour, but I'm sure that it will still be delicious and I look forward to it being ready to drink. I also have a container of my banana 'ice cream' in the freezer that I do not feel guilty about eating in the middle of the day all by myself. de-lish.

Beauty

Last night when driving to Wal-Mart, I was admiring the beautiful sky. Then I conveniently had a red light, so I got to take a photo with my phone. What did I ever do before I carried a camera around with me everywhere?

What My Feet are Wearing Today

Because I know you're all dying to know:

Plaid and Paisley

I decided that today is a plaid and paisley day today. I'm pretty sure it's not fashionable, but that's the beauty of being a mom - you're not supposed to be fashionable. ;)

Garden: 2011 Edition

This year, I was slow on the get-go with my garden - I didn't have the soil turned over and ready for planting until the beginning of June, and then when we became a 1 car family, it was tough to get out to get plants and seeds to put into the garden. I also didn't want the over crowded mess that I had last year, but I think I under-did it a bit this year. Oh well, I'll just plant some more beans or something. In this years garden, you'll find gladiolas (I know, not a veggie, but I bought a package of bulbs really cheap! And I didn't have anywhere else to put them!), green beans, red beets, green peppers, cherry tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, mystery tomatoes (I pulled two rouge tomato plants from the yard and planted them in the garden - I believe that they're yellow cherry tomatoes, though), zucchini, spaghetti squash, grapes, blueberries, and asparagus. I'm excited to start harvesting the fruits of my labour, and even more excited to cook with them. :)

Monkey See, Monkey Do: Hendrik Tries to Whistle

It's hard to tell in this video, but Hendrik tries several times to imitate the sound that I'm making - he purses his lips together, opens them up a bit, and then blows. He has also started eating the bottom of his face, as is also apparent during this video.

Today's Style

The Story of my Sandals

I have a new pair of sandals that I love. They come in parts, and can be tied up in many different ways. I discovered these sandals through a link that somebody pinned on Pinterest.com, and fell in love with the concept. These are the sandal bases and the straps that a group of us ordered, they arrived this past Friday!

The idea is awesome: you buy a pair of sandal bases in your size, and then you choose 1 pair of straps for your sandals. Before checking out, you can add more straps to your order for $8-$13 each, making your sandals extremely versatile for summer fashion! Each base has 5 loops, and there are almost countless ways of tying up your sandals. When I first tried mine on, I went to the website to learn how to do it the 'proper' way. However, within 5 minutes I was already inventing my own ways to wear the sandals!

One of the 'suggested' ways to tie your sandals (and my new home-made skirt).

The perfect end to the story of my sandals is that they're made by women in Matuga, Uganda.

Sseko \say-ko\ Designs was created to help these bright young women continue their education. The Ugandan school system is designed with a nine month gap between secondary school and university. These nine months are intended to allow time for students to earn money for tuition before continuing on to university. However, in an impoverished and male dominated society, many of these young women struggle to find fair work during this time.

One of the women who made my sandals and straps.

Sseko Designs hires recent secondary school graduates for this nine month period to live and work together, while earning money that will go directly towards their university education. These women will not make sandals forever. They will go on to be doctors, lawyers, politicians, writers and teachers that will bring change and unification to a country divided and ravished by a 22 year-long war.

Check out the story and the sandals at: www.ssekodesigns.com

Hendrik and Naomi, Sittin' in a Chair....

Hendrik Investigates Gingerale

Hendrik hearts Canada

Happy Canada Day!