Treehouse Point

Come holiday and birthday season, I usually fret and fuss over finding the perfect gift for C. The boy is so clever at coming up with thoughtful and unexpected gifts! It's become an unspoken competition. This past year, even though we were spending the holidays with our families in the States, I was determined to make up the ground I lost when he surprised me with a piano the Christmas previous. By October I was browsing Pinterest for ideas; by November I had it booked and paid for!

I knew that after ten days of being away from home and in a full, busy household, we'd both be looking forward to some alone time. Through Pinterest I had found some photos of truly amazing treehouses - I clicked through simply to see what it was all about and was shocked to find it was a small hotel just outside of where we would be visiting my family! I was on the phone booking our stay within seconds.

How can I possibly do justice to the beauty of this place? It was like stepping into a fairytale. I'll let the photos speak for themselves:

Treehouse Point is a collection of five incredibly unique treehouses available for rental year-round. We stayed in Nest - a teeny tiny treehouse accessible by stairs. Inside, there was the most astoundingly comfortable bed and two small chairs for a sitting area.

It was perfect. I was a bit worried about it being cold, but the small in-room heater worked like a charm and we actually had to turn it off a few times because we were overwarm! C and I were giddy with excitement. We dropped out bags and immediately hit the trails for a walk. It was wet out - it's the Pacific Northwest, what more can you expect? - but our walk was lovely. It's amazing how delicious evergreens smell in the rain. We found a small island accessible by plank and discovered dozens of carefully balanced stacks of rocks. Of course we couldn't resist making one of our own...

As you walk through the woods, you may stumble onto one of the two 'secret' treehouses designed to be used by anyone who comes across them: Bird Blind and Hermitage. Bird Blind is built higher than most of the other treehouses, and is entirely screened in. It offers a 360degree view of the river nearby and would be an amazing retreat in the summertime. Hermitage is nearby, and aptly named! The ladder is counterweighted, so once you're up there you can hoist it up and hide away for the day. There's a small desk and a big window overlooking the river. A writers sanctuary.

There's also a small safari tent if you'd prefer to rough it for the night - it's completely screened it and even has a front porch.

I've seen some truly spectacular weddings that took place here. If you're thinking of something a little off the beaten path and unique, I can't think of a better place! Check out Amanda & Liam's wedding on Green Wedding Shoes for ideas and inspiration.

Of course, if you're not the sleeping-high-up-in-a-tree type but still like the idea of being close to nature, there are a couple rooms available in the main lodge on site. It's a wonderfully cozy space that feels like home - the owner makes a fresh, local breakfast every morning for guests! We munched on warm blueberry scones and local granola with yoghurt and fresh fruit. Absolutely divine.

The price varies depending on which treehouse you choose and what time of year you are looking to stay, but in my opinion it is well worth the cost. Some of the larger ones like Upper Pond and Trillium sleep three of four comfortably, so would be perfect for a small getaway with your friends or maybe a bachelorette party!

C agrees: this Christmas, I nailed it!

Check out their website - I can't recommend this place highly enough! Treehouse Point 6922 Preston-Fall City Road SE Issaquah, WA general@treehousepoint.com

Caramel Sin Brownies

Before we get started, a disclaimer: do not bake these sinfully delicious brownies unless you are attending or hosting a party. It is crucial that you are not alone with the entire pan at any point. The temptation may be too much.

That said, I could actually eat an entire tray of these bad boys. They're ooey and gooey and sticky and sweet. They will make you friends anywhere. I have had strangers hug me after a bite of these brownies. A powerful social tool not to be used lightly! So make a double batch.

They're dead simple and only require five ingredients - most of which I bet you already have hiding in your pantry somewhere. I found this recipe originally on ZestyCook and have made a few small changes to it over time.

One thing I've found with the brownie batter for this recipe is that it is crazy sticky! Try using a plastic stir spoon if you have one; there's a magic stirring speed and tenderness that lets you sneak by without making a sticky mess. It's a careful balance.

Caramel Sin Brownies
1 box chocolate cake mix
1 stick of butter, melted
1 1/3 cup evaporated milk
1 bag of caramel chew candies [at least 40 pieces]
Chocolate chips/other chocolate pieces

Combine your cake mix, melted butter and evaporated milk in your mixing bowl. For the mix, I generally use Devil's Food or anything with 'Fudge' in the name. But as long as it's chocolate, you're in the money! I use my KitchenAid for this because the batter has a harder time sticking to the stainless steel.

Once the mix, butter and evaporated milk are all combined, use your trusty plastic spoon or non-stick spatula to section the batter roughly into halves. Scoop one half of the batter into the bottom of a very lightly greased 9x13 pan. The stick of butter in the batter goes a long way in helping it to not stick, but I can't stand losing even the smallest amount of deliciousness to the inside of a pan.

I use the cheap disposable ones you find at the grocery - they come with a lid and I've actually had better luck with the brownies cooking evenly in these pans than in my glass Pyrex lasagna pan. Go figure. Gently prod the batter with your spoon until it's spread over the entire bottom of the pan. It will not be pretty. Try to not leave any holes, but there will absolutely be places where it is very thinly distributed. This is okay! Do not panic. Stop that, right now. It's fine.

Bake for about 12-15 minutes in a 350 degree oven. You'll know it's ready when it only sinks a little when you tap it with your finger. We don't want them cooked completely, because it has to go back in the oven in a few minutes and the last thing you want is dry brownie. Take it out of the oven and let it cool somewhere while you put the caramel goo together. It'll likely have risen in the oven, as well, and now it will drop significantly.

If you, like me, are unable to find caramel chews that are not individually wrapped, find a friend for this part. Unwrap at least forty of them and toss them into a pot. The more surface area, the better, so I use my big copper-bottomed pot.

Add 1/2 cup of evaporated milk and turn the heat on medium-low. Stir the caramels around while they melt slowly. Eventually it will all come together in a melted caramel masterpiece. At this point, feel free to use your discretion as to the rest of the evaporated milk. I prefer to stretch the caramel mixture a bit father, so I add probably about 2/3 of a cup to 1 cup of evaporated milk. I like a runnier consistency so that it covers the entire top of the brownie. Try it a few times and find how you like it best!

Turn the caramel down as low as possible and grab your chocolate chips. This time around I only had mini fudge cups, so that's what I used! I usually measure out about two cups, but this is also at your discretion. If you like extra goo in the middle of your brownies, use two cups. if you prefer a less-messy-more-put-together brownie, use one cup.  I found a dark chocolate Toblerone in the back of my baking supply cupboard and decided to be a bit naughty and throw it in the mix as well. I just chopped it all up and made sure not a single crumb got away!

Spread them evenly over the now-cooled brownie in your pan, and then quickly pour the caramel evenly over top of the them. Grab your trusty spoon or spatula once more and drop the rest of the batter on top of the caramel by the flattened spoonful. It's not a science and it will not be pretty. Trust me on this, the messier-looking, the better. Try not to shake or stir the caramel around - let it lie where it falls. Otherwise you'll mix up the chocolate underneath and we want them to stay layered.

Pop the pan back in your 350 degree oven and bake for 18-22 minutes. Keep an eye on the top layer of brownie and when it starts to do the classic 'brownie crackle' it should be done. Don't even try the toothpick trick - you'll hit a chocolate chip and think it isn't done when it really is. The beauty of cooking half the batter first is that if you prefer your brownies undercooked and gooey, you can undercook the second round and without sacrificing your structural integrity. This means you and I don't end up covered in caramel and chocolate after a few drinks with friends. This. Is. Key.

You can eat them fresh out of the oven if you'd like, but I find that the caramel reaches heretofore unknown levels of hellishly hot that the rest of the brownie does not. Give them an hour to cool. Trust me on this. They're infinitely easier to cut when they've cooled and they lose nothing in flavour.

Pour yourself a tall glass of milk and dig in!

The Moose

If you're in Vancouver looking for a place to grab some delicious food and a pint, I'll admit that the options can be overwhelming. There's an abundance of great food in the city and a thriving craft beer industry, to boot. I won't claim to have tried more than a few of the local joints around here, but C and I did stumble onto a real gem while we were out for a walk.

This is the first thing we saw when we turned onto this block - I very nearly stopped in my tracks to stare at it. An entire menu priced at $5.95? Twenty-five cent wing night? One dollar sliders? Is this a trap?

We made our way inside and were seated at a rustic wooden table already occupied by another couple in hockey jerseys. "On game nights we double-seat our six-top tables," the host explained. I didn't mind in the least - I was too busy taking in the decor. It was cozy without being cramped and full of interesting things to look at in every direction. An entire wall of stacked home audio equipment? Why not! Enormous antlers above the bar? Of course!

The menus are made from old vinyl album covers, each one different. I wasn't expecting much in the way of creative food, but one glance at the menu told me I was dead wrong.

I ordered the Moose Burger; a beef burger with crispy pancetta and sharp cheddar cheese. Obviously I was expecting the bare bones with a price tag of $5.95, but our friendly waitress asked me whether I'd prefer fries, soup, or a Caesar salad for my side. I picked the naughty option and was glad I did, because the french fries were amazing. C went for a blackened chicken sandwich and was raving about it. I've never been a fan of blackened chicken but I had to agree - it was bursting with flavour. We left with full tummies and mostly-full bank accounts.

The most baffling thing to me about this $5.95 menu was that on our outings on later days, I noticed not one or two but three more hole-in-the-wall joints with the same claim - in one block! Turns out it's a bit of a trend here in Vancouver, and one I can get behind fully! If only Toronto would follow suit.

The Moose is one of those uncommon places that just feels like you're surrounded by friends, even when you're 3,000 miles away from home.

Give it a try if you're in the area. The Moose 724 Nelson Street 604-633-1002

If this one's not to your liking, head around the corner to The Factory, another $5.95 menu joint, or down a block to The Famous Warehouse, a $4.95 menu!

Vancouver

This past week I played at being a jet-setting businesswoman - as much of a businesswoman as one can be in steel-toed shoes with a c-wrench in my back pocket, I suppose. A company I contract with flew C and I to Vancouver for a week-long conference for one of their major clients. There's something wonderfully hilarious about nine bedraggled and frozen technicians clambering into a SUV stretch limo at five in the morning. This limousine was clearly meant to serve a different kind of patron entirely, as the twinkling LED lights and up-lit bar made clear. [You'll have to forgive me the poor quality of these photos - I'm limited to my iPhone for the time being and it doesn't like the dark.]

But I'm not one to complain about a warm limo ride to the airport on a freezing January morning! Our client had kindly arranged for a limousine to pick us up in Vancouver as well, so we arrived on site in style :]

We had more than a few long days with the client but as far as corporate work goes, this definitely falls on the 'fun' side of the spectrum. They're friendly and efficient and I always have a good time on these conference tours. Who doesn't like staying in nice hotels, having catered meals and exploring a new city for a week? Nobody, that's who.

This is where I spent 80% of my time in Vancouver: at my messy front of house workstation!

And of course, there were a few nights spent at the bar and seeing the sights around our hotel!

Here's a handy tip for reheating leftovers in your hotel room: pop that Pad Thai on a hot iron and stir it around. Almost all hotel rooms have irons and this works brilliantly. Isn't C clever?

I'm pretty allergic to feathers and down pillows/duvets, but I do look forward to the big comfy sheets in hotels. I don't even mind getting a bit of a scratchy throat - I cocoon myself in those wonderful duvets and wish I never had to leave.

Love Is A War

I am not a particularly artistic gal. Stick figures and smiley faces are generally the full extent of my talents. But every so often I get a creative urge to put pencil to paper - not to draw, but to stencil. Some years ago I stumbled onto MadeByJulene, the blog and portfolio of an incredibly talented woman. Julene creates the most exquisite paper-cuts, all done entirely by hand. I was immediately drawn not only to the beauty of her pieces but to the concept of paper-cutting as art. After trying my hand at tracing a few of her pieces, I started designing my own.

I started small, but quickly started working on more elaborate designs. I have a very technically-driven mind, so the planning and drawing of the stencils delighted me. Obviously, the key to creating a stencil is that it needs to flow - either the positive space or the negative space needs to be continuous. I found the challenge of figuring out how to connect all the pieces to be fun! I became obsessed. On my down time at the bank I worked at I was drafting stencils. Late into the night when I got home I was bent over my desk, carefully slicing them out. In a manner of weeks my fingers developed calluses from the blade, but I could not be stopped. Lines from movies, books, songs, all stuck in my head and I began to see words as stencils and fonts in my head. Insane, I know.

So when I found this poem by Pablo Neruda, I fell absolutely in love and knew I had to make a stencil of it.

And because I'm a tremendous sap of a woman, I backed it with some olive cardstock, framed it and gave it to C.

Carnal Apple, Woman Filled, Burning Moon
Carnal apple, Woman filled, burning moon,
dark smell of seaweed, crush of mud and light,
what secret knowledge is clasped between your pillars?
What primal night does Man touch with his senses?
Ay, Love is a journey through waters and stars, 
through suffocating air, sharp tempests of grain:
Love is a war of lightning,
and two bodies ruined by a single sweetness.
Kiss by kiss I cover your tiny infinity,
your margins, your rivers, your diminutive villages,
and a genital fire, transformed by delight, 
slips through the narrow channels of blood
to precipitate a nocturnal carnation,
to be, and be nothing but light in the dark.

Pablo Neruda

Rosie Posie

I have a special lady in my life. Her full name is Eleanor Roosevelt, but she prefers 'Rosie'. She's sassy and stubborn and occasionally pretty stupid, but she's a stellar companion. On the nights when C is out of the house, she always crawls into bed with me and sleeps under the covers, warming my toes. It's as if she knows that someone has to do it and she steps up in C's absence. How thoughtful!

Some of her favourite things include yoghurt cups, her tiny stuffed giraffe, her sprawling penthouse flat in Kitty Condos, sleeping in the sink during the summertime, and whining about nothing for absolutely no reason. She loves being up high and sneaking onto our dresser at night in order to launch herself onto the storage shelf above. Then she cries until one of us wakes up to help her down, because she is also a tremendous baby.

Rosie loves snuggling in laps that are already occupied. If there's an activity she can get in the way of, oh boy! 'Let me rest my head on your hands while you type! This touchpad looks like a great place to put my paws! You're trying to play videogames, C? Let me some sit in your lap and look indignant every time you move. Ah, yes, this is the life.'

I'm sure all cat owners think their pet is the bees knees, but I'm convinced she's the bees kneesiest.

The cat's pajamas, if you will.