Garages Sales and (more) Cupcakes

We had a garage sale last weekend. We had it at Josh's house, out on the lawn, and Aloka, Beth, Emily, their mom Naomi, Josh and I were all there. It was a great shindig and I made a whopping $70 but it was worth it to just get rid of tons of stuff. I couldn't believe how fast a gigantic box full of OLD and expired vitamins and other misc. bathroom junk went as soon as i put it out with "FREE" written on it! It was crazy!
One that gave me a Josh a enormous belly laugh was the fact that someone took the used enema bag from that box. People are so funny!
Here's a video that's almost too much to post, and I can't figure out how to edit the end (literally and figuratively), but it was a funny sight so I'm putting it up anyway. It might come down very shortly, but at least family can see it for now!

After the garage sale Naomi took the rest of our stuff to the thrift store, and believe it or not, we only had 2 small boxes of stuff left, it was great.
Then Beth and Emily came over to my house with Aloka and I, and we hung out for the rest of the day. The girls all played with the "photo booth" software on the computer, and then Beth and I made cupcakes while Emily and Aloka played.
The cupcakes we made were a double chocolate cupcake (chocolate cake with chocolate chips) filled with a raspberry ganache, dipped in chocolate ganache, iced with chocolate buttercream and topped with a fondant decoration. I let Beth at it as far as rolling and making the fondant shapes and icing and decorating, so these are all her work.
This one that I'm holding I did.
Beth and Emily took home about 24 cupcakes, and I was told that they were all gone within a couple days, eek! It makes my teeth hurt just thinking about it. Oh, to be 16 again!
Aloka has such a great time with them, and they all adore each other.
Below are some of the 150 (yes, it crashed my computer!) photos the girls took:

























































And there were also a bunch of silly ones they did with all the different effects the Mac has to offer.

Here's one Aloka took of herself:

Salmon "spying" at the park

Last week Josh and Aloka went to Kokanee Creek Provincial Park and watched the salmon spawn. They are starting to taper off in these movies and pics. I guess a week earlier and it was fin to fin with salmon!

More cupcakes...

Brought these to a little cafe in Crescent Valley (20 minutes outside of town) These are a rich chocolate cupcake with a butter pecan truffle filling and a chocolate ganache icing (vegan):

And I'm also starting to do cookies, because believe it or not, i actually make more per cookie than i do per truffle and not much less than a truffle cake. crazy.

Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (vegan):

Also, some other good news is that I got a job at a toy and children's gear store in town called Mountain Baby.

I'll be working around 30 hours a week and I start on October 1st. I'll be doing web orders and inventory, receiving, and front desk clerk (working the floor). There are only 3 other employees, and it's a lovely place to work. They are looking for someone with the same passion I have for running a toy store business, and are hoping to do profit sharing and collaborative work down the road, so it's something I feel lucky to have gotten into. Pay is very low, but lots of room to grow! The woman that owns it is an amazing business woman, and also, coincidentally, the La Leche League leader who helped me with weaning a la hamster.

Shaheeda and Tara are here!

Our good friend and midwife Shaheeda came out to visit a couple days ago and is staying for two weeks. She is working on her immigration papers and we can't wait for her to move up here. She is telling people she is trying to go somewhere warmer than Vashon for vacation right now, so why not Canada!? Yes, warm it *is* here. September is many folks' favorite month in Nelson. It's not too hot, but still warm enough to be on the beaches, around 75 to 80F, or 25 to 30C. Simply beautiful! We went to a pretty waterfall yesterday. In the spring, it's deafening from all the snowmelt, but right now it's a gentle trickle.
Aloka is naked under the big boulder and Tara (8 yrs) is the one in red:

And here are a couple cute photos of Aloka and I from tonight!

And a few of Richard (wearing my sunglasses in the second two) for all you friends and family who've been wondering.

A new pet and an sneaky visitor

Firstly, I'm happy to announce that Aloka and I have finally weaned!!! I've been really wanting this for a while now. I went to consult our local La Leche League leader (breastfeeding support all over the world), and she said simply, "Sabrina, at this age they understand a whole lot more and it might sound horrible, but.... bribery". It was such a relief hearing this from a woman who is the senior attachment parenting consultant in the entire Kootenay's practically. So, armed with this advice, I told Aloka that if we could stop nursing I'd get her a hamster.
Guess what? She stopped nursing.
It of course wasn't quite this simple and easy, but still it was about two weeks and we're done. And there wasn't much crying at all. There was one night where she was completely over-tired and i was putting her to bed. She had an absolute meltdown, and I would venture to say, also her first temper tantrum. She was so upset and angry and all she wanted to do was nurse. So I finally conceded.
But that was really our only big set back and she remembered the hamster. We went to the pet store, bought a cage and filler and food, and picked out the hamster. Then they put the hamster on hold for us, and I told Aloka if she could go 4 days without nursing we'd come back. She named it Princess before we even bought it. She talked about Princess a lot.
Finally yesterday we brought Princess home. Her name is now Strawberry Princess by the way.
So we now have a new member of the household, and I have my boobs back.











But speaking of members of the household, we apparently have another one we weren't so aware of. We have a stray cat we feed outside named Mr. Grey, and tonight my new house mate called me downstairs and told me to look outside. There on the back porch was a skunk eating Mr. Grey's cat food!
Luckily I had my camera nearby and got some "skunk footage" just in the nick of time!

Aloka, Beth and Emily

A cute picture of Aloka with Richard's two daughters, Beth (left) and Emily (right). Aloka loves them both, but has a very special connection with Beth!
It's incredible to see the two girls take such sweet care of Aloka. She always begs to go over to their house to play. They also have a pool, trampoline, and bunnies. Hard to beat.
In this photo, Beth had dressed her up in her clothes complete with some fairy wings!

Cupcakes

I've started selling at the outdoor market on Saturday's. I am selling toys (also starting my own online website soon!) and I'm selling cupcakes and chai too. These do really well! I made some cupcakes tonight and decided to take a picture. I have some chocolate hazelnut "gianduja", total decadence. It tastes like a really high quality "Nutella". These aren't my prettiest work, but i'm posting it nevertheless!By the way, there are some more cute videos on Melissa's blog, of Nile and Aloka!

Is this love of chocolate genetic?

Aloka has been practicing her letters a lot. It's not that Josh and I necessarily encouraged her to start this activity, but she started showing a real curiosity and desire to learn so we've each been showing her little bits here and there. She mostly copies what she sees in books I think too.
Here is a picture of a "letter" she wrote to me. She folded it up neatly and hid it in the mailbox in front of our house. I found it later that day when I checked the mail! This is completely from her own mind, and doesn't this first word look strangely like "chocolate"??

This is also her 'lemonade' letter she wrote. She asked me to write lemonade, and she copied it. I think she was practicing for her lemonade stand that she wants to do. It's on a City of Nelson envelope because I was at the Govt. Building getting my toy store registered as a sole proprietorship that day. She was entertaining herself quite well as you can tell.By the way, just one more thing I love about Nelson is that you go to the Government Building, talk to one teller, and do just about anything with the one interaction. You get your drivers license, pay parking tickets, pay utility bills, register your business, and a zillion other things.
The only thing you can't do is register your car there. That's a different place, and when you register your car, you get your insurance at the same time, all in one shot. It's a little weird though, that your registration and your title are the same document, and you're required by law to present it if you get pulled over. So essentially, you have to carry your vehicle title in your car, which makes me a little uncomfortable. Why I am thinking about this at midnight whilst typing my blog, I have no idea.

Next I'm putting up some pictures of a fun hike Aloka and I did with some friends. It was a hike in one of the old growth forests here in the mountains. It was so beautiful, and Aloka did amazing.
We hiked for 2 hours, and not only did she not ask to be carried once, but she was running ahead and 'leading' us the whole time! The young lady pictured with Aloka is Jenny. Aloka took an immediate liking to her and they held hands for a good portion of the hike.
And here are some photos of the fun 'expedition'!

Huge tree!

Aloka liked leading the way

Juergen and Eric checking out the girth

Jenny and Aloka

Eric, Karl, Aloka and Jenny having a snack

Presenting the new "do"

Aloka is holding up the freshly cut hair. She saved it, and has been taping it to her baby dolls head.

This all started with Aloka picking up the scissors and deciding she felt like cutting something different than her usual paper projects. Like, how about her hair she says. This isn't the first time this has happened, but she cut enough off that it had to be completely cut.
This was her intention anyway, because the whole time she was doing the cutting, she was saying "mama, i need a summer haircut". So she cut some, and I finished it off. It is super cute, and I think she had great timing. She needed a change, and the weather is perfect for it!

A pretty cheesecake

I was happy with how this turned out so I decide to post a photo. I made this for a potluck/birthday party that Richard and I went to. I saved a huge piece each for Aloka and Josh! Everyone gave it the thumbs up!
Can you tell it was raspberry season based on the last two cakes I made? (one in each post!) The berries here are amazing!
And speaking of cakes, check out Melissa's blog to see her latest gorgeous creations!

Birthday Girl - 4 years old!

Well, as promised here are some pictures and videos of Aloka's birthday party. This party took place one week after her actual birthday, because we were having a cold and rainy spell, and all the birthday plans for the party were outdoors, pool, sandbox, scavenger hunt.
It turned out great! I had put a lot of planning into it, and made little rhymes for the treasure hunt. it was a blast and all the kids loved it.
The party started off with a crown making craft, which was a great way to start a birthday party. It got all the children busy and having fun in a cooperative way, and then by the time the treasure hunt came, everyone was decked out in their cute creations.
I was happy with how my cake turned out, and Melissa donated a fondant "princess crown" as requested by the birthday girl. I decided against icing, and opted for the way less sweet whipped cream option, which the kids loved!
I'm just going to put all these vids in one big long blob for you all to view, and likewise with the photos:

Mama and Aloka eating birthday cake, Aloka is feeling shy in this photo

In order: Claire, Aloka, Ani, Avi, and Sophie

Cutie pie Claire

Aloka and Claire; I have no idea how they can fit in this teeny car! When you look at the empty car you'd think "no way can even one 4 year old fit in that thing"

Aloka and Sophie, very excited about cake!

Birthday cake! I was happy with how this turned out, so yummy! Thanks to Melissa for the pink princess crown and thanks to Dena for the whipped creme idea!

Aloka multi-tasking playing with a balloon and about to blow out candles

Nile in the new sandbox! Aloka LOVES her new sandbox!

Watching me cut the cake

Aloka having lots of fun!

Two hilarious facial expressions caught on film!

Aloka and below, Aloka and Sophie, very excited for cake!

Eating

More eating and a cute Nile

Treasure hunt

Playing silly games

Some water balloon play!

Here's Aloka opening up her cool ukulele from Kara and Sophie. Kara is the one sitting next to Josh. Aloka LOVES her ukulele!