Friday 31 May 2013

A Friday Ritual


One photo without explanation. A moment captured- a time to be still, to breathe and remember.

Happy Friday!


Thursday 30 May 2013

Our Dad's Dhal

Our dad is from Alberta, which makes him a natural meat lover. He was born in the land of Beef and that is his first love. We are grateful though, that our dad didn't balk when we told him we loved dhal.  When our mom became a huge fan of dhal, he decided to make his own creation. We love him and we love it when he makes dhal! When dad cooks it means there is lots of leftovers, and that means food for lunches.
So today we are sharing with you our Dad's Dhal! It's delicious and a perfect way to bring lentils into your diet.





























Ingredients:

1/2 cup coconut oil (or butter)
2 ribs of celery chopped 1/2 inch pieces
3 medium carrots chopped 1/2 inch
2 white onions chopped 1/2 inch
4 cloves garlic coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons cumin ground
2 tablespoons curry powder
2 tablespoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper ( optional for heat)
6 cups water
2 cups red lentils rinsed and drained
2 teaspoons sea salt
Instructions:
Place lentils in strainer and rinse for a minute in cold water, then let them drain.
Place sauce pot on stove over medium heat and add coconut oil. When oil is shimmering in pot, (this is when the oil gets nice and shiny) add celery, carrots, onions and garlic. Stir while letting them sweat for a couple of minutes then add spices. Stir all ingredients for a minute or two. This will bring out the aromatics of the spices. Add the water and lentils, stir gently and bring to a slow boil. Once the dhal starts to boil, reduce heat to simmer and cook for 20 minutes, stirring often. When finished remove from heat and serve with Jasmine Rice.






























Enjoy!

Wednesday 29 May 2013

Letting your Hair Go

Following the trend of the No Poo Movement we thought we would share our favourite way of letting our go a long time without washing.
The secret is: French Braids!





























Channel yourselves back to your eight year old self, to a time when your mother used to braid your hair so tight, and then to when you started braiding your Barbie's blonde locks. Now remember how healthy your little eight year old hair was!

Even though the look of sleek, straight hair is lovely, it does damage and dry out your locks. We only like to straighten ours once in a while, and definitely not in the summer. We find the hot weather is perfect for romantic looking, natural wavy hair.






























To get the waves:
Wash your hair and French braid it as tight as you can. Try to do in the evening and sleep with it braided. If you aren't good at braiding, get a friend or your mom to do it for you. We still love it when our mom can braid our hair, she is the Queen of super tight braids!
To relearn your French Braiding skills check out this video





























If the braids aren't your thing, try washing your hair and then twisting it into tiny buns. This way works too, but we find it more uncomfortable to sleep in. In the morning, undo your hair and let it go!
Voila the beachy hair!

What are your secrets to letting your hair go? Share with us! : )





Tuesday 28 May 2013

So Thankful!...

"Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience the world"  John Milton




























Amen John Milton! During the middle of a bad day, a sad moment or a stressful work hour, it is so easy to let the overwhelming feelings of pain take over and rule. Cultivating a spirit of gratitude is hard, but helps fight those bad days and keeps us smiling. It is a life lesson our mother always taught us and one we will remember forever. Be grateful. When life seems horrible you can either let it be like that, or look at the bright side. We agree with you mom and choose to look at the Sunny Side of Life :)
And so we give you..




























A List of Thankfulness

we are thankful for...
After a busy weekend of family events, we are grateful for the opportunity to sit around the dinner table Sunday evening with our family, eat our mom's delicious pizza and just talk. Share about our week, our lives, our plans, our summer vacation. No one was in a rush, and everyone enjoyed the other.

we are thankful for...
Our beautiful city Ottawa and all who made Race Weekend a success.It is a gift for us to live in the most boring city of Canada ! We love our city and are grateful!

we are thankful for...
The Companions of the Cross  and their Yes to the Lord. We  love our priests and are so thankful to be members of their parish. After an inspiring homily this Sunday that left us all thinking about the Trinity and Dante together, we realized (again) that we are all SO grateful for the Companions.

we are thankful for...
This interview featuring our dear friend Father Simon Lobo, take a few minutes and watch it! His openness to the Holy Spirit and to the Lord makes you just want to smile.

we are thankful for...
Being able to read and watch the story of Zach Sobeich. We are grateful to Soulpancake for recording his story and sharing it with the world. It will make you cry but also make you think about living your own life.

we are thankful for...
Physicians Formula Fake Out Very Black Mascara. Our sensitive lashes have never looked or felt so naturally great!

we are thankful for...
Our almost new brother Shaun and being able to get to know his family more. Only 39 days until their wedding!

we are thankful for...
Walking the dogs and smelling the sweet fragrances of  lilacs, irises, lilies of the valley, cherry trees..oh Spring we love you!


we are thankful for...
This weekend we looked through old photos for a certain wedding slideshow and we laughed, ohhh-ed, ahhed and said lots of 'remember that'? We realized how thankful we are for our family, and the relationships our parents worked hard at instilling.

What are you thankful for? 



Monday 27 May 2013

Race Day and Creamy Cheese-less Pasta!

This past weekend was the Ottawa Capital Marathon. A very exciting time for the running community, as runners from all over the world come out for a weekend of races in our lovely city.




























In our family the running trend began with our dad. He has been running since he was a little boy in Alberta. He ran track in high school, ran in the mountains, and continued running while raising six kids. Our dad has blazed the trial for us and hooked us all in one way or another into the running world.
Along with our mom and sister Elese, we took running clinics at the Running Room and then started teaching and Group Leading clinics. Running was contagious and thanks to our dad, we now all  love the running world. Even Leah who isn't a huge fan of running, loves handing out the medals and cheering loudly.






























For the past ten years, our family has participated in this weekend event from volunteering to running. The positive energy of thousands of people coming out to run in our down town core is Out.Of.This.World. Young, old, families, Kenyans, running clinics, more Kenyans, Cheer squads, people crying, people laughing, hugs, high fives are just some of what goes on Race Weekend. Not to mention the joy. Pure joy! If you are a runner and interested, check out: Run Ottawa

Why do we run? SO WE CAN EAT! : )
haha that and for the healthy endorphins.





























Our favourite pre race dinner is pasta and we thought today we would share our favourite, high protein, cheese-less but so creamy pasta! Enjoy!

The Easy Run for it Pasta!





























Ingredients
(serves 6)

2 large Tomatoes
3 cups of your favourite Tomato Sauce. We love the White Linen Marina from Costco
2 cups of Cashews
4 tbs of Tomato Paste
1 cup of Water
3 Tbs of Olive Oil
6 Cloves of Garlic, minced.
1 tsp of Salt
1/4 Cup of Wine or Water (optional)
2 tsp Freshly Cracked Pepper
1 Handful of Basil
1lb of Spinach

Pasta of your choice: We love Kamut : )

How to make this delicious dish:

Step 1: Boil a large pot of water and cook pasta according to your own liking
Step 2: Core and chop tomatoes. Add it to your blender, don't worry about seeds skin. Throw it all in. Add cashews, tomato sauce, tomato paste and the cup of water. Blend until very smooth
Step 3: Add olive oil to a pan and sauté the garlic over medium high. Be careful not to burn! Once it is golden, add the blended sauce and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 min, stirring often.
(If sauce is too thick, add wine or water to thin it out)
Step 4: In a medium sauce pan, steam the spinach until dark green. Add a bit of water.
Step 5: Mix the sauce into your prepared pasta and add the chopped basil, pepper and spinach. Enjoy!





























Enjoy!!



Friday 24 May 2013

A Friday Ritual


One photo without explanation. A moment captured- a time to be still, to breathe and remember.

Happy Friday!





Thursday 23 May 2013

Charlotte's Strawberry and Rhubarb Muffins..

Our neighbour has a healthy patch of rhubarb that she so very nicely lets us use. Charlotte has created a fabulous strawberry and rhubarb muffin recipe that makes us want to devour them all in one sitting. They are just so delicious!

Charlotte's Strawberry and Rhubarb Muffins ( wheat and dairy free)
(adapted from Muffin Mania)




























Ingredients

1-1/2 cups of spelt flour
1-1/2 tsp of baking powder
1 tsp of salt
1/4 cup of white sugar
1/4 cup of brown sugar plus 1/4 cup of brown sugar for topping
1 large egg
1/2 cup of soya milk
1/4 cup of virgin oil, or coconut oil works well.
1 tsp of almond flavouring
1 cup of diced strawberries
1/2 cup of diced rhubarb

Preheat oven to 375'F

Step 1: Mix all dry ingredients together.
Step 2: Beat egg, add milk, oil and almond flavouring.
Step 3: Pour egg mixture over dry ingredients and combine.
Step 4: Fold in rhubarb. Sprinkle muffin tops with brown sugar before putting in oven.
Bake for 20 min.
Makes 8 large muffins or 12 medium ones.






























Enjoy!

Wednesday 22 May 2013

Inspirational Quotes

We love quotes as they inspire us, dare us and cause us to stop, think and then think some more. They are little bits of wisdom. Tiny reminders to keep us going through this Crazy Art Explosive World.




























Here are some of our favourites:

"Receiving is an art. It means daring to become dependent on the other. It asks for the inner freedom to say: "Without you I wouldn't be who I am." Receiving with the heart is therefore a gesture of humility and love." Fr. Henri Nouven

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Dr Maya Angelou

"In these days of waiting for the feast of the Holy Spirit, we ask: Come Holy Spirit, come and give me this big heart, this heart capable of loving with humility, with meekness, an open heart that is capable of loving."
Our beloved Pope Francis

"As my artist's statement explains, my work is utterly incomprehensible and is therefore full of deep significance." Calvin and Hobbes

"We don't make mistakes, just happy little accidents" Bob Ross





























"What you do matters-but not much, what you are matters tremendously" Servant of God Catherine Doherty

"I am a little pencil, in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world." Blessed Mother Theresa

..and one more from her because we LOVE our Blessed Mama Theresa!

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten we belong to each other." Blessed Mother Theresa


Tuesday 21 May 2013

Dirty Hair=Healthy Luscious Locks

Last night our blog counter hit 10,000 views!!!! We just want to first thank all of you dear readers! We started this blog in January, during a particular sad time for our family. The goal was to do something fun, creative and to do it together. We were hesitant at first to start a blog, what with all the worries of cyber stalkers and creepies..but decided to trust and give it a shot. Life is all about taking a risk, and so we did it. The Crazy Daisies was born! We have learned alot, grown closer, and so far have had so much fun! We are grateful to our God for the gift of creativity and are oh so thankful for all the support you all have given us girls. Keep on reading, we have lots more ideas to come! 

Now..what's with all that dirty hair??



























Have you heard of the No Poo Movement?

What on earth?? When I heard Leah say the No Poo Movement, I had her say it twice. Yes dear readers there is a hair trend called the the No Poo Movement. Our friend Sarah mentioned it to Leah this past weekend. Sarah's lovely  curly locks looked amazing and she only uses baking soda. We were curious and so decided to check out what this whole No Poo thing is all about.

The No Poo Movement  is when you stop washing your hair with shampoo and conditioner. Movie stars such as Jessica Simpson and Robert Pattinson have joined the No Poo Movement

Why? Well we all know that a healthy head of hair are locks that aren't washed everyday and over processed. Did you know though that shampoos are also made with chemicals like:  Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, a foaming agent that can irritate your scalp and hair. Apparently a few people claim that chemicals such as  Methylisothiazolinone and Diethanolamine (also found in shampoo) can cause cancer and lead to Alzheimers.

How do you make the switch? 

If you are brave and want to go clean off of shampoo, check out The Hair Pin. It has great advice on how to start using baking soda and vinegar.

If you are like us and haven't had the guts yet to go completely off of shampoo..try using Organic shampoo. we like to use: Live Clean and we like to stock up when it's on sale at the Superstore, Walmart and Shoppers.

We also like to only wash our hair once a week.
Leah and Charlotte are in and out of the swimming pool and the chlorine can really do havoc on hair.
They like to use Coconut oil, and Charlotte likes an Anti Snap treatment that is great for distressed hair.

How do you mask that slightly slick but getting- so- healthy- mane?





























Try a super easy updo like 5 min sock bun without a sock!
Updo's, braids etc actually look better in hair that is not shampooed.

If you have bangs, like me (Renee) I  wet and wash them with out touching the rest of my hair.
Scarves, Hats, Headbands, and other hair accessories are fabulous at hiding that slick hair.

or try the Bow Bun if you have straight hair like Charlotte's































If ever you read about doing a banana hair mask, think twice. Leah knows from experience it does not work. Period. You will be stuck in front of a mirror combing bits of banana flakes out of your hair for days. It doesn't work at all, despite what Dr. Oz says. At least in our opinion. : )

Have fun! Try letting that hair of yours go a day, or two or more. Your healthy luscious locks will thank you.





























Braids work the best in unwashed hair! Give the Milkmaid Braid a try


Do you have any hair tips on how to keep your mane healthy and chemical free? Let us know!

Monday 20 May 2013

Let's Shower Elese with Love

Our lovely sister Elese is getting married this July and this past weekend we threw her a wedding shower. We are so grateful for all the ladies who came, for the laughter, the fellowship and all the love.





























Our shower theme was pink, as our sister Elese used to be called 'Pinky' from all the pink clothing she wears.





























We went all out with pink decorations, pink cupcakes, pink candies etc..and of course we played all the classic shower games.






























To get inspired we spent hours on Pinterest (Which we now LOVE!)
and found these links:

Mustaches and Tiaras  This game is a great way to share and learn about the Bride and Groom-and it makes for great pics!

Bridal Mad Libs  We typed up our own version of the mad libs, and guests filled them out during the shower. We read them all after it was over, and had a great laugh. They also make a great keepsake for the bride.

Great Shower Ideas  This blog was a great big help!

Pink Shower Ideas  We made a sign: 49 Days Until She is Hitched! and it was such a cute decoration.

Tissue Paper Pom Poms  Charlotte and Leah spent hours making these pretty flowers, and they were a nice alternative to balloons.































All in all we are so grateful for such a beautiful day! Elese was glowing with lots of love.






























If you are planning a shower/party and need some ideas, ask away.
The Crazy Daisies love planning parties!! Next up on our party list: Father's Day, Dad's B-day, and Bachelorette Party..and of course the BIG WEDDING!



Friday 17 May 2013

A Friday Ritual


One photo without explanation. A moment captured- a time to be still, to breathe and remember.

Happy Friday!


Thursday 16 May 2013

Charlotte's Dairy Free Delightful Ranch Dressing....

 
In our house we had a big love for ranch dressing until half of the family developed strong dairy allergies and no longer could eat the delicious, creamy, buttermilk filled dressing. Until.......superwomen Charlotte saved the day!! She came up with a very yummy ranch dressing and would like to share it with all of you. :)


Mmmmmmmm... So creamy and delicious!

































Ingredients:

1 cup low fat mayonnaise or vegan mayonnaise

2/3 cup soy milk

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp dried dill


Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well with a wire whisk. Chill for ten minutes in the fridge before serving. If you would like the dressing to be thicker for veggie dip, simply add more mayonnaise until desired thickness.


Enjoy!





Wednesday 15 May 2013

Bunting..lemon cake..goodness

This past weekend was Mother's Day and our mom requested her favourite Lemon Glazed Cake. We made it for her of course, but added a special touch. Charlotte made a mini bunting! We realized it's also a fun way to decorate a cake without using candles. The best part is that you can add a tiny personalized message!! Fun Fun Fun!





























Easy Cake Bunting...

You will need:

Two shishkebab skewers
Pretty paper- we found ours in the Michael's scrapbook section
Yarn
Double sided tape
Glue

Instructions:

Step 1: Fold the paper in half, and on the fold, cut a triangle. Open the paper and it should look like a diamond. Cut out as many as you would like.

Step 2: Cut the yarn into your desired length. Lay out your diamonds and fold them over the yarn. Glue the triangles together.

Step 3: Write your message if you are using one. Next cut a small piece of double sided tape and wrap it around the top of the skewer. Wrap the end of the yarn, making a little knot to secure in place, hiding the tape. Repeat on the other skewer.

Step 4: Trim the ends of the skewers and position on your cake.
































 Be creative! PS keep your eyes out..our fabulous lemon, wheat and dairy free cake recipe, coming soon!


Tuesday 14 May 2013

Lovely lids

Eye liner can be tricky, and often intimidates alot of women. Charlotte is our in house make up artist, and has perfected the liquid liner. Our favourite one is an eye liner pen from Physicians Formula and is a bit pricey,  but worth every penny. This liner doesn't smear over your eyelids, is easy to touch up, and is comfortable for our sensitive eyelids.






















































Here are Charlotte's Tricks for using liquid liner:
Tip #1: If you are using eye shadow  apply it first. You can also brush on a light powder over your lids to make the eye liner nice and smooth.
































Tip#2: Make sure you tilt your face back, if you are doing it on yourself, tilt it back until your eyes are half opened. 



































Tip #3: Either hold your eyelid taught, or relax it and starting at the inner eye, draw a line as close to your eyelashes as you can. If you find this hard, break it up and do little lines. Rest the pen on the inner part of your eye, lift it up and repeat this until you get to the end. 

































Tip #4: To get a nice winged look, open your eye and angle your line towards your eyebrow

















































































Have fun and experiment with what looks best for your lovely lids! 

Monday 13 May 2013

How to Wear a Brilliant Hair Bow

It's Monday and after a busy weekend we are hitting a hair blah..what to do that's kinda fun and a bit different?


How about a Brilliant Hair Bow?






























It's super easy and can be done in minutes. No skill required : ) Even Charlotte and I can master it.































Step 1: Take two sections of hair near your face, and put them in a half up ponytail bun..as seen in photo

Step 2: Split the bun in half

Step 3: Wrap the end of the ponytail through the middle of the bun and tuck into the elastic or bobby pin it into place.

Step 4: You should have a brilliant bow by now. If you have any loose strands, bobby pin them out of site.
To hide those bobby pins, check out: Bobby Pins and Bronzer































There you go! A creative way to jazz up that Monday hair. Have fun.

Sunday 12 May 2013

To all you Mama's...


Happy Mother's day to all you beautiful Mothers!

May Our Lady who is the greatest mother of all wrap you in Her Mantle of peace and love, and carry you as a child to the throne of Her Son.












This is really cool:







Thank you Mom for enduring the pain of childbirth to bring us forth into this world! :)

We love you with all our hearts! :)
 



Friday 10 May 2013

A Friday Ritual


One photo without explanation. A moment captured- a time to be still, to breathe and remember.

Happy Friday!



Thursday 9 May 2013

Every life deserves a lifetime..

Today is the March for Life here in Ottawa. It is a time to reflect, to pray and to promote that we believe every life, whether young or old, deserves a lifetime.



Rocking out to the beat of momma's heart. By Charlotte Timinski





There is a  lovely movie  that just came out this past fall. We have all watched it a few times in our home. Yes it's not a huge Hollywood film, it doesn't have Brad Pitt in it, but it is worth watching. The message of October Baby is one our world needs reminding: Every Life is Beautiful. The creators of October Baby have a ministry that promotes life, it's beauty and richness in all forms. The videos are worth watching and amazing to share. They also have great resources and helpful links. Check out: Every Life is Beautiful! : ) 

The following documentary is worth watching too..




 
The ever talented Charlotte has come up with the most beautiful pro-life t-shirts. They are hand painted, and will be on sale at the The New Art Festival