New Chocolate and falafel

Last week we took a road trip to Canada and I have so many pictures to show, but I will start with the most recent thing that is still fresh on my mind: Terra Nostra organic Ricemilk chocolate bar with almonds.

We stopped in Michigan to spend a few hours with the grandparents which was so much fun for Kai and Bella (plus we got to rest while Grandma Mack played with Kai- Thanks Mom!).

Well, as you know we always stop into Joe's Produce when we are in town for their huge grapes and butter pretzels! I noticed a new chocolate bar while I was waiting to check out; I debated for a bit because Jimmy was just at the Callebaut Chocolate Academy for class and brought home four boxes of chocolates for us. I reasoned that 1) It is non-dairy 2) gluten free, 3) organic and 4) it was made with rice milk! All of which is not common and something that Jimmy does not make so it would be good for research and I'm really the ultimate consumer!

I am not a fan of milk chocolate, but I could have finished the whole bar myself if I didn't have to share it with my hubby (who also enjoyed it by the way)! Yes, it really is that good! Jimmy says that he can taste the rice milk, but me the not-so-chocolate-expert-as-Jimmy didn't notice; besides if you normally drink milk alternatives then you wouldn't notice. I now want to try their other varieties. I have some friends who would love this because they have dairy and gluten allergies. They make regular chocolate too. I was just pleasantly surprised and wanted to share my new discovery.

We also stopped in Ann Arbor for falafel sandwiches at Jerusalem Gardens. Jimmy frequented this restaurant when he lived there and has made me a huge fan. I have to say that they make the BEST baklava and falafel! Well, they make the best Middle Eastern food! Everything that I've had is the best, I think that I have dined at enough Middle Eastern restaurants to say that. Back to the baklava, it is the crispiest, butteriest, tastiest ever! It's not too sweet and if you are like us and buy a dozen at a time, you will find that even three days later they are still crispy!
If you are in Ann Arbor, you have to give this place a try, and the best part it is very affordable!

Kai's party

Kai's party was a blast! Everyone had a great time and Kai received lots of fun toys! His party started at Build-A-Bear where all the children got to choose, stuff, clothes, and name their bears. Baby got to choose her bear and she picked out a pink leopard! After the bear building, we headed outdoors for the cupcakes and some sunshine. The party ended with everyone getting train rides!
I'm so glad we did the party out of the house, no mess = no stress and everyone had a wonderful time. We got reports that the little party guests crashed hard when they got home, which is a good thing for parents of toddlers!

Even though I expressed my annoyance of Kai's current favorite character, we used it as his party theme and we even bought him a collection of Thomas trains, bed sheets and more books! It's what he likes and we love him!




Kai is stepping on a peddle to fill his bear with fluff.

The group photo.

Cupcake time!





Kai blowing out his birthday train candle.

All aboard! Choo, choo!

Bella with mommy and new plush "Cupcake".

t-shirt Bags!

I am a fanatic of bags, paper, pens and chocolate! So earlier this week when I got my daily craft email from Martha Stewart about turning shirts into shopping bags I just had to make some. I made one and it turned out great, so I made another and another. I let Kai decorate one and he did a good job of tracing his hands (I drew the cupcake at his request).

I am hooked! I am going to have to dig up all my favorite old t-shirts that I have been holding on to and turn them into bags! By the time I'm done, this family will no longer have to answer the question of, "paper or plastic?" we have cotton!

warning about comments

This is a notice for those of you who post comments on my blog asking me to click 'here'; I will not click 'here' there or anywhere. I am not trying to load viruses or let you into my system by doing so.

For my family, please do not click on those posts either. I try to delete them as they appear, but sometimes I am not on the computer everyday.