testing out the canon 50 mm

We had a little photo shoot test driving the new Canon 50mm 1.8 lens ... My good friend, Chelsea at Chelsea Dawn Photography hooked me up with one of her old lenses.  Since she is a professional she has upgraded to some much nicer gear.  (She is good... please check out her work!) I'm of course stoked to get a hold of this! It takes a little getting used to since its a prime lens.  In order to focus you have to manually turn the lens.  And if you want to zoom in and out you literally walk toward or away from your target.  It takes great photos though!  Anna is so busy its hard to get a focused image but we are working on it.

Look at me sticking to my New Year's Resolutions, eh? Happy Wednesday Everyone!

^ her daddy's blue eyes ^

^ getting sleepy ^

^ easily distracted ^

^ the ceiling fan caught her eye ^

^ love her ^

{photos by sixteen sunbuckles. Anna at 8 months}

shanks household {a trip to the zoo}

A gorgeous weekend means a sunny trip to the zoo.  Maximus was less than thrilled he had to stay home.

: all pictures taken by sixteen sunbuckles :

{shanks household} cold all the way around

It hasn't been the greatest of weeks here at the Shanks household.  Only one word to describe it - cold.
We had the best weekend full of giggles.  Anna really is getting to a fun age where her little personality is shining through.  However, Monday morning I woke up to her not holding anything down and a fever of 100.4.  Our first stomach bug!  As any new mom knows, I panicked and worried all day long.  I of course rushed her to our doctor.  Our doctor just reassured me she would be fine and kids bounce back rather quickly.  I know I was just having "new mom anxiety" but it never hurts to go, right? All we have been doing is snuggling and I so wish I could tell her it'll be over soon and everything will be ok.  I am enjoying all these snuggles even if it is with a whimpering and fussy 8 month old. 

^ I walked in to find her STANDING up in her crib Monday morning - that's a first! *proud momma* ^

 ^ But then I noticed she wasn't feeling that great. Thought maybe she was just hungry? ^

 (Definitely not the answer)

 ^ and then the day just got more and more miserable... poor baby ^

 ^ thank God for technology and getting our mind off our fever for a few minutes ^

 ^ mickey mouse clubhouse definitely saved the day ... along with sesame street ^

^ Kind of amazing how our furry friends sense we don't feel good.  Maximus has been staying extra close. ^

And then I looked outside and realized it has finally stopped snowing after three days straight.  (these pictures I took this weekend) I am so looking forward to warmer weather and getting over colds and being able to finally embrace sunshine and long walks at the park.  I know Maximus is too.  He is so over being couped up inside.

{all pictures taken by sixteen sunbuckles / Anna at 8 months / Anna's monkey onesie is by Carters, past season}

read of the month { the berlin kitchen }

Read of the week has officially become read of the month (or maybe of the season, ha!) because I don't have any time anymore to read.  Ok, scratch that, I do have some time to read.  However, I have also committed to the Bible in a year (I'm currently 55% done, go me!).  So if I do have a few minutes its usually reading on my YouVersion App. 

I did (finally) get this little gem read.  And believe me, it was worth it.  If you loved Eat, Pray, Love and Julie & Julia then you'll love this book.  And if you are a cook like me there area few recipes in here that are worth writing down!  Some of my favorite quotes from the book:

Distance means nothing when your kitchen smells like home.

I guess, dear reader, I want to tell you that even when you have found your person in this world, the person who you know, deep down in your mitochondrial DNA, is meant to be by your side in this life, it is no guarantee that this person will not also drive you completely batshit insane at some moments along the way.  It is unfair to expect your sweetheart to be a perfect person or to consider yourself above reproach just because you love each other.  Even if you have found your one true love, you will still have exact ideas about how to clean a floor, whether your family is nuts or simply lovable, and just what, exactly, are the requirements for being a good driver.  But I knew we were on the right path when we managed to agree on potato salad.

That's the funny thing about good friends.  You can never remember what life was like before they came along.

My Berlin Kitchen: A Love Story (With Recipes)

in a nutshell (from Amazon)
It takes courage to turn your life upside down, especially when everyone is telling you how lucky you are. But sometimes what seems right can feel deeply wrong. My Berlin Kitchen tells the story of how one thoroughly confused, kitchen-mad perfectionist broke off her engagement to a handsome New Yorker, quit her dream job, and found her way to a new life, a new man, and a new home in Berlin—one recipe at a time.

Luisa Weiss grew up with a divided heart, shuttling back and forth between her father in Boston and her Italian mother in Berlin. She was always yearning for home—until she found a new home in the kitchen. Luisa started clipping recipes in college and was a cookbook editor in New York when she decided to bake, roast, and stew her way through her by then unwieldy collection over the course of one tumultuous year. The blog she wrote to document her adventures in (and out) of the kitchen, The Wednesday Chef, soon became a sensation. But she never stopped hankering for Berlin.

Luisa will seduce you with her stories of foraging for plums in abandoned orchards, battling with white asparagus at the tail end of the season, orchestrating a three-family Thanksgiving in Berlin, and mending her broken heart with batches (and batches) of impossible German Christmas cookies. Fans of her award-winning blog will know the happy ending, but anyone who enjoyed Julie and Julia will laugh and cheer and cook alongside Luisa as she takes us into her heart and tells us how she gave up everything only to find love waiting where she least expected it.

**I'm also updating my Shelfari bookshelf (bottom of blog) after many months of neglect.  Apologies!

spring is in the air

Just thought I'd share the beautiful tulips my hubby brought home for me on Valentine's Day.  There will be several more months of winter here in Canada but for a few days it'll feel like Spring in our house.

xo

fall in alberta

Just thought I'd share one of the best parts about living in Alberta.  Its gorgeous in the fall.

its getting chilly so anna is always bundled up on our afternoon walks

read of the week: one thousand gifts

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare To Live Rightfully Where You are by Ann Voskamp IS A MUST READ!  So refreshing and thoroughly inspiring.  "One Thousand Gifts is a celebration of grace and a recognition of the power of gratitude" (the website).  I wish I had her strength, motivation, patience, and thirst for such a close relationship with the One and only.  She did offer much insight about finding the joy in the little things everyday.  Not to lose your head when the laundry is overflowing, dinner is burning in the stove and your dog won't stop barking.  A great self reflection for myself as a struggle with 7 week old and colic.  Ann writes out a thousand gifts/joys/things she is most thankful for.  Her "eucharisteo". Eucharisteo – life-filling gratitude – the practice of which is exercised in recording blessings, one by one. I was so inspired by this book that I would also like to write out my thousand.  So for the new few days (or as I find time!) you'll see me post my eucharisteo.

{in no particular order}
1.   a sleeping baby
2.   an empty sink - clean dishes
3.   the wag of my pup's tail
4.   cuddling in bed with my hubs
5.   the smell of fresh cut grass
6.   the smell of rain
7.   the smell of chocolate chip cookies
8.   receiving a hand written letter in the mail from a friend
9.   talking to my grandma on the phone ... miles away
10. the sound of the washing machine (means i'm getting things done around here!)
11. my babies coos
12. the precious minutes (or seconds) i get each day doing a devotion
13. the beautiful pansies on my doorstep (that i have managed to keep alive)
14.  my babies big blue eyes
15.  my husbands laugh
16.  skype
17.  homemade chocolate chip cookies right of the oven
18.  big fluffy snowflakes
19.  cowboy boots
20.  that song on the radio that fits that perfect moment
21.  a good roadtrip with a friend
22.  a long and much needed catch up phone call with a close friend
23.  that wonderful happiness a bride has on her wedding day
24.  my babies little toes that wiggle constantly
25.  the christian lullabies playing in my babies nursery that put her to sleep
26.  a day at the spa
27.  being able to kiss those chubby cheeks of hers
28.  the way my husband dances and how it makes me laugh
29.  the feeling of contentment
30.  fireflies
31.  the sound of my nephew saying "hi aunt lauren" on the phone
32.  my baby's long and beautiful eyelashes
33.  text messaging
34.  that refreshing feeling you have after getting a much needed pedicure
35.  the time i'm able to find to actually write down prayers and thankfulness
36.  my "starting to wear out" bible look
37.  new friends at a new church in canada
39.  ice cream shops that are only open during the summer
40.  hot dogs outside at the park by mrs. curl in greenwood
41.  a good sprinkler run
42.  the smell of stationary paper
43.  organization
44.  still being able to hear my grandpa's voice in my head even though he passed away a year ago
45.  still being able to remember his smile and laugh even though he passed away a year ago
46.  a great yoga class on a saturday morning
47.  an evening walk with my husband and pup
48.  watching my dog prance around at the dog park in utter bliss
49.  the ergo baby carrier my baby loves to cuddle up in while i wear it
50.  fresh tomatoes from the garden

Baby Nursery

Finally we have put the finishing touches on the nursery.  We are officially READY for her arrival.  So, as of next week we are considered full term (37 weeks) ... so you are welcome to come anytime baby shanks!

 

this will have to wait

I was going to sit down and blog today but then this little face plopped down next to me on the sectional.

Clearly he is not impressed that we are sitting indoors.  The weather has been gorgeous this week.  I think we will take the day off and go for a walk.  Happy Friday everyone!

happy mother's day

 
well I'm not quite a mother, according to my husband.  But he did bring home some happy "mother to be" flowers.  They are beautiful!  The lilies are just starting to pop open and are so cheery.  Its nice to see something blooming since nobody has planted any flowers yet in Alberta.  We did have great weather this weekend though.  Pup and I were able to sit outside and enjoy some sun on our faces.  (Well I sat in the sun, pup thought I was crazy and sat in the shade).  It should get up to 80 on Tuesday.  I know that probably isn't exciting to all my viewers that have enjoyed spring for the last month or so but it is to us Canadians!  Our first day of 80 deg. weather.  I'll take it.

I hope all the mothers out there had a wonderful Mother's Day with their families.  I'm wishing my mom and my grandma's a very special one!

embracing canada

Three new things I learned this week while embracing "being a canadian".

1. Ukranians love ginger ale.  I live in a very Ukranian area.  Sometimes I help a friend out at her sandwich place in town.  Canada Dry  flies off the shelf there.  So weird.

2.  Spray butter does not exist at the grocery.  You know what I'm talking about.  That 0 calorie Parkay spray butter.  Well it doesn't exist.  Actually, it creeps Canadians out.

3.  Easy Cheese does not exist at the grocery.  This also creeps Canadians out.  Processed cheese that comes from a can can't be good for anyone.  I agree.  But its delicious!

boiler up - bear down

We are finally representing our true pride all the way up in central Alberta.  We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of football season.

easter weekend getaway

The hubs and I were able to get away this past weekend for an overnight stay at a nearby lake.  Grant it, there is still snow on the ground so we didn't any boating... or fishing... or basking on the beach.  But it was a nice relaxing weekend.  Well, relaxing except for the momma moose and baby moose we met on one of the trails!  We were walking in the afternoon on one of the trails.  We were the only ones in the park so it was very quiet.  All of a sudden I noticed a small moose in front of us on the trail.  We stopped and I took a picture.

Then out of nowhere momma moose emerged from the woods and stood guard in front of baby.  It was a scary moment because she really startled us.  If you have never seen a moose up close they are huge!  At least 3 times the size of a horse.  I wish these pictures were zoomed in a little more but we were testing our new SLR camera this weekend and I am of course a beginner.

Luckily, everything was ok.  We were kind of worried about the pup and what he would do but he was just as frozen as us.  We stepped off the trail and moved around mom and babe and everything was fine.  The rest of the weekend was much less eventful.

just a typical snowy day at the shanks household

We are still trying to get our almost 3 year old airedale used to having a backyard.  Of the 5 places he has lived he has never had a backyard.  We thought he'd love it and we would love it as well.  We could just push him out there and he'd keep himself occupied for hours on end.  WRONG!  Well for now at least.  There is still snow on the ground and he is a muddy mess if he is out there for more than 20 minutes.  I also feel bad pushing him out there when its only 30 degrees outside.

So here we are... longingly looking outside.  Maybe I'll let him out.  Looks like he wants to go out.  (Note the large tote of toys behind him.  Spoiled much?)

5 minutes later I come back to the door and see his little face all covered with snow.  He isn't thrilled to be outside.  He is even less thrilled that he is outside alone.  I decide to see if he'll give up begging to come in and hang outside for a few more minutes.

 

One minute later I hear excessive barking and tapping on the door.  He is clearly not happy to be outside and is now demanding to come in.  

 

This will continue all day everyday.  Welcome to our lives at the Shanks house.

DIY Painted Rug

We just moved in to this duplex and it has all hard wood floors on the first floor.  I was in desperate need of a large area rug for under the sectional and coffee table.  So I started scouring the internet looking for an option.

I loved these ...

{west elm}

{west elm}

{west elm}

Unfortunately, for the size we need the cost of one of these rugs was going to be $500+.  Yowza!  I'm not paying that for a rug in a rental house.  So... I started looking up some other ideas.  I found an idea where you can paint the Erslev flat woven white rug from IKEA.  Cost of this rug (in Canada) $70.  Bingo!  Now we are talking.  So I found all of these amazing people out there that have created something brilliant out of a $70 rug.

 

{a little bit of everything}

{the house of smiths}

{designsponge}

{sarah wandering}

{charm home}

{diddle dumpling}

I love the dhurrie patterns above but I have no patience for stenciling.  And I'm pregnant so I knew I was just setting myself up for failure if I tried anything like that.  I used the instructions from Oh Sweet Escape to get me off the ground and running.  For complete instructions I would reference her site.  You'll need plenty of FROG painters tape, 2 quarts of latex paint, 1 large bottle of fabric medium, paint roller, paint pan, large 4 qt bucket, plastic sheeting, and a yard stick/tape measure.  In a nutshell,  lay out your pattern with painters tape over the rug.  This took me about 4 1/2 hours (I'm also 26 weeks pregnant so I had to take some breaks).

Then mix the fabric medium and latex paint together in a large bucket.   I used 3 quarts and 3/4 of the bottle.  Note, Oh Sweet Escape says her paint lightened two shades when she applied the medium.  So I went with a darker than desired shade to start with.  My paint really didn't lighten so the rug turned out a little darker than expected.  Once pattern is laid out roll paint over rug.  Be careful not to roll too heavy or the paint will seep under tape.  This takes about one hour.

Wait one day and then pull off the painters tape.  The FROG tape works really well.  I had a few minor bleeds but it doesn't look too bad for a handmade item.  You can touch up if needed with a small brush.

And here is our end result.  I think we spent less than $200 on all the supplies.  Much better than $600!  It took some time and a little patience but I think it was an overall success.  I would do this again.