Back to it

...After a hectic week!

I made it through the baby shower and totally held it together, phew. My friend loved the quilt :)

On Saturday we drove up to Algonquin Park with my husband's brother and his wife. We did some awesome hikes and ended the day with dinner at Bartlett Lodge. It's a cottagey restaurant right on Cache Lake inside the park, you have to take a boat to get there, which is fun. The restaurant is pretty casual; the food is anything but. We have eaten there three times now and never been disappointed. For $55 you get a five-course meal that is absolutely gourmet. And they always have awesome vegetarian options which is really nice for me... sometimes eating out at restaurants is simply disappointing with the only offerings being pasta or salad. Here's my menu from Bartlett Lodge on Saturday:

Amuse-bouche: a baby pattipan squash with red onion and pomegranate confit, and steamed arugula
Appetizer: oh my gosh, I can't believe I have forgotten this!
Soup: Cream of roasted parsnip
Entree: Fresh spinach tagliatelle with a white bean puree and roasted peppers (amazing)
Dessert: Chocolate orange creme brulee with biscotti

The breads with the meal were delicious, too - a caramelized onion focaccia, pine nut loaf, and tiny multigrain buns.

And we took a bottle of Amarone della Valpolicella (a gorgeous red) - which went perfectly with the meal. They don't have a liquor license, but if you bring your own wine they are happy to open it for you (no charge). After about 6 months of no drinking those two glasses of wine hit me like a Mack truck :)

On the way home we saw countless raccoons, a deer, a fox, an owl that swooped low across the road, lots of frogs and a massive house fire - the fire was huge, about 4 storeys high, and had taken the bungalow down so fast that as the fire engines were pulling up, only the 2x4 framing was still standing. Wow.

Unfortunately with the 3 hour drive, DH was trying to cut it a little shorter and managed to hook us up with a speeding ticket on the way back! Oops. Luckily the officer was very nice and reduced the ticket... My hubby's first ticket ever!

Okay, now what you have probably all skimmed past the text to get to! Some giveaways :)

For baby:

• Win a $30 gift certificate to Sophie's Chic Boutique at My Mom's View. Ends August 3rd.
• Win a Keiki Kuddlerz ring sling at MomStart. Ends August 12th.
• Win a Sleepy Wrap at {Natural} Mommie. Ends August 3rd.
• Win an organic Moby Wrap at Mkokopelli. Ends July 31st.
• Win a diaper Daypack or Wallet by My Royal Heinie at Mom's Most Wanted. Ends August 3rd.
• Win Sophie le Giraffe at Canadian Natural Mama. I'm sure you've seen this at Chapters and in the hands of lucky babies everywhere. Ends August 6th.
• Win a nursing cover and diaper clutch by Sweet Wee Bairn at Just For Me And You. Ends July 29th.
• Win a Kumquat baby outfit at Frugal Mommy of 2 Girls. Ends tonight at 9 EST (July 27)!
  

For anyone:

• Win a $30 gift certificate to Skin Free at Cheapskate Mom! Ends tomorrow, July 28th.
• Win a $30 gift certificate to Skin Free at tout-est-des-roses as well! Ends August 16th.