Thanksgiving DIY centrepiece

Hey London, long time no blog!

So sorry for the EXTREME lack of blogging, but you guys have been keeping me busy on my Facebook page!  

I was picking up some pumpkins from this amazing local pumpkin patch on Sarnia and Hyde Park. GO THERE if you live in Northwest London. They are such a great little farm, literally sandwiched in the middle of the tracks and a busy intersection! Here's a link to their Facebook page.  I grabbed a couple of small ones to make my annual pumpkin centerpiece and then I thought I'd share how I make them with you!  It's definitely a "local" thing, since I picked up the pumpkins at Phillips' farms. Sadly, I was in a rush so the flowers I grabbed from my "local" grocery store.  I bought a bunch of different mixes so I could create a unique bouquet for each centerpiece. 

Here's what you need: 

Pumpkins! Preferably round enough to fit a small mason jar/vase/old jam jar. Any colour will do! I LOVE white ones, warty ones, but the smooth orange ones are just as pretty :) 

Mason jars (small enough to fit in the pumpkin, reason being is that water leaks right through the pumpkin skin if you just put water in them.) OR a florists green cube OR a small vase OR an upcycled glass jam jar.

Flowers! Berries! Greenery! Your choice for what you put in there :) 

Here's how I made them:

I cut the pumpkin and dug out the seeds, as if you were making a jack'o'lantern, but I made the top big enough to fit a small mason jar. I also kept the seeds to bake after.

Then I picked over the flowers and found suitable ones for a "fall-ish" colour scheme.  I also went out to my backyard and picked some of my long grass tips - they're so pretty and harvest-y (yes, I'm making that a word). 

I filled a mason jar half way with water and created my bouquet in the mason jar before putting it in the pumpkin, making sure that I had a few longer stems around the edges which would hide the pumpkin hole nicely.  I kept the hardier mums and berries shorter and in the middle.  Play with height for interest.





Plunk your mason jar into your pumpkin and voila! You have a lovely, fun and festive centrepiece! Guaranteed to make YOU smile or any hostess as a lovely gift! 

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, wherever you are and with whomever you are celebrating. 

Have a great day, London :) 

Feature Friday: Growing Chefs!

(Image from www.growingchefs.ca)

As a strong advocate of healthy, whole-food living, I was very happy to find this little gem of a place quite by accident, as I was driving one day to a playgroup with my son.  Located on the corner of King and Maitland Streets, "Growing Chefs!" of London is in a beautiful old building (formerly Auberge du Petit Prince Restaurant), and they cater to educating the public (particularly our youth) about garden-to-table food, as well as how to create whole-food, easy meals that taste amazing. Their vision was to create a place and a platform that would encourage chefs, growers, and people in our community to get excited about healthy eating and growing food - together.    

Growing Chefs! started in Vancouver B.C, and was founded in 2006 by Merri Schwartz, a professional pastry chef.  She was tired of seeing a disconnect between professional chefs and the community when it came to food appreciation.  These talented chefs held so much knowledge about wonderful, wholesome ingredients - why not share this untapped resource and start educating others about how to connect with local, seasonal, healthy ingredients?  And Growing Chefs! was born. 

Current executive director and founder of the London chapter, Andrew Fleet, got involved with the Growing Chefs! program and decided to bring it here to London, his hometown. According to their mission statement, Growing Chefs! "wants to get kids excited about wholesome, healthy food!" And boy, have they done a great job!  Over the past decade or so, this company has provided classes to schools and the community that focus on certain themes, depending on the season that the classes are offered in.  School-based educational programs teach students about where food comes from, how to grow their own food, how to take care of their produce and what they can make with their bounty.  Community-based programs focus on creating different meals while highlighting certain vegetables or fruits (particularly if they are in season, and focusing on locally-sourced ingredients - yay!). There are evening cooking classes (a French-inspired class is coming up soon), meal-prep classes, family activity nights, and there is even a summer camp offered to youth ages 7-14. They provide the meals for hot lunch programs in various local schools (including a Locally Urban Mom fave: "Preschool of the Arts"). Also, if you want to give back to our community (and if you know this blogger, you'll know that I'm a BIG fan of giving back) they readily accept volunteers for various positions.  To apply, and check out more info, click here. 

What better way to teach your kids about healthy, delicious food than to show them how it's done by a professional in the business? Inspirational and motivational: Growing Chefs! is not just a tool to educate others, it is also a Movement.  Get to know your produce, London.  Health and fun awaits at Growing Chefs! 

Have a great day, London. 

For more information about Growing Chefs! (as well as TONS of resources and recipes). Please check out their website as well as their social media links below:

Website: http://growingchefsontario.ca/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/growingchefsontario/

Twitter: @GrowingChefsON
Instagram: @GrowingChefsOntario

Step into a wonder-filled world

(Photo courtesy of Facebook)

As a big supporter of all things local, and well-crafted I always keep my eye out for products that not only match these requirements but catch my eye and interest as well.  While at the Preschool of the Arts last week, I noticed that they supported a few local, small businesses, one of which creates wooden toys.  These toys weren't just your average "blocks" or stackable toys, however.  They were colourful and very whimsical in nature. Having a son who LOVES puzzles and blocks, I had to find out more about this product. 

Turns out these wooden toys are made by a small company called "Family Tree Woodworking" and this particular line of toys is under their "Twigs" branch (see what I did there?!).  The company specializes in all things wood.  You can find them on Facebook and see the many products that they have to offer.  From cutting boards, to custom name puzzles, to centrepieces, this little woodworking shop makes everything from locally sourced wood, and the attention to detail makes every single product unique.  I was lucky enough to pick up two of their stackable, inlaid puzzles and had a chance to really take a look at the quality and craftsmanship up close.  

(Photo by Locally Urban Mom)

The first thing that caught my eye was the packaging.  A small detail, but so crucial to making the whole product all that more lovely for the buyer.  The toys come in individual boxes that are tied with jute, and evoke an old-world, whimsical feel.  The particular puzzles that I got were a rainbow and a polar bear in an aurora borealis background.  Upon opening the box, the fresh scent of cedar filled the room and the colours of the toys just popped.  I was immediately drawn to the organic shapes. Hand-carved and sanded, the curves of each piece are soft and child-friendly (no sharp edges).  They are surprisingly light and just scream "play with me." The adult in me, however, wants to display these on a shelf, they are so pretty to look at.  Each puzzle piece is unique, and can either be stacked back into their original shapes or used for other creations. 

(Photo by Locally Urban Mom)

I gave the polar bear puzzle to my son (who is almost three) to see what he would do with it, and he played "cave" with the bear, created new outlines with the pieces, and even chewed on one.  I wasn't worried since the toys are made with natural, non-toxic paints and wax finishes.  I found that the puzzles encouraged my son to use his imagination - although each puzzle is a specific type (rainbow, polar bear), the individual pieces allowed for him to create other things and even add to his toy collection (he used one of the pieces as a bridge for his train set).

Overall, I was impressed with this product.  I have been looking for unique gifts to buy for the little ones in my life and this is definitely going on my list.  Locally sourced, locally made and a quality product.  You can't beat that.  Their products can be found at the Been Garden, as well as a few other local shops, or you can contact Family Tree Woodworking directly via Facebook.  I highly recommend you put them on your things-to-buy-for-Christmas list this year.  You won't regret it and the lucky recipient of such craftsmanship will appreciate the lovely, local gesture. 

Have a great day, London. 

Feature Friday: Preschool of the Arts

(Copyright: Locally Urban Mom)

If you head to Wortley Village in London, Ontario, you'll find yourself in a quaint little part of the city with local shops, small bistro-style restaurants, and lovely little small businesses like the one I am featuring today.  Located on the corner of  Byron Ave and Wortley Road, The Preschool of the Arts can be found in an old church that has been beautifully restored.  It is a preschool and junior kindergarten dedicated to exposing children to music and art, as well as offering parent and tot music classes, through their Family Tree Program. 

(Copyright: Locally Urban Mom)

My initial feeling walking into this building was one of comfort, and peace.  Sounds kind of bizarre when you think that this is a preschool filled with busy little ones, but there was something about the atmosphere that made me feel this way. To give you a better sense of this peaceful feeling, let me describe the center. The main door leads to a small vestibule, that allows you to go up to the preschool area, or down to the music room and another preschool room.  Upon going up, you enter into a general cloakroom where tiny hooks and cubbies are waiting for coats and boots.  You proceed down a short hallway that opens into a lovely, airy main room. This was once the main area of the church, so your eye is immediately drawn to the vaulted ceiling, loft area and gorgeous wooden details. Not to mention the huge windows and french doors leading out into their backyard.  The whole space is fresh, inviting and just waiting to be played in.  The preschool is divided into various areas (toy stations, art centers, make-believe station, craft centers, reading carpet and a reception area for administration) and there is a main stage at one end of the room where performances as well as plays can happen.  If you head downstairs, there is a full-functioning kitchen, large room for more centers and play, and another room for the music lessons that parents and their little ones can attend.  The whole space invokes a sense of care and well-being for the children that attend this school. 

Established in 1986, their philosophy is that "through experiences of movement, rhythm and song, the child acquires a deeper feeling for music and knowledge of musical terms." This school offers half day and full day programming. Preschool can be attended for a full week, or a few days of the week, depending on what is preferable for your child. You can choose to send your child to the preschool portion, or sign up for the music classes offered as six-week sessions.  The focus is on music and art, but as I was told by Heather Turnbull, the director of the school, "children are encouraged to explore what interests them, and we gear our teaching towards their curiosity." There is a schedule that is followed, but the general idea is for children to expand their knowledge through play, learning, and their own natural curiosity of the world around them. 

(Copyright: Locally Urban Mom)

Yet another reason why this school is a win for me is that they partner with various local businesses, such as Growing Chefs, and Family Tree Woodworking. to showcase local products and support our local economy.  Yes please to that! 

All in all, this little gem is a must-see for parents looking to put their child in an inclusive, warm and fun environment.  Check out the links throughout the blog to get more information on the Preschool of the Arts or find their contact information below.  

Have a great, musical day, London. 

Preschool of the Arts
111 Wortley Rd.
London Ontario N6C 3P2
Phone: (519) 657-3342
Email: info@preschoolofthearts.ca

Feature Friday: Forked River Brewing Co.

Our Feature Friday blog is back with a vengeance! I thought I would pick a place more for the moms and dads this time around, and feature a great business that takes craft beer to a local and unique level. Being somewhat of a beer connoisseur myself, I love exploring small-batch brews and preferably as local as possible. For me, Forked River Brewing Company was a winner, both in taste and
originality. Also for its home-grown London awesomeness. 

Over the past decade or so, there has been a rise in appreciation for craft beers. So, what exactly entails a "craft beer?" According to craftbeer.com, "a craft beer is difficult to define...and can be a very subjective and personal experience."  Honestly, to me a craft beer means a small-batch brewed beer, that is unique both in flavour and in name (I mean, with names like "Hans and Franz " (Oktoberfest awesomeness) and "Holy Hand Grenade" you can't just find these anywhere), and is featured during certain times of the year.  The key is the small batch.  You can't just go to the LCBO, Beer Store or select grocery stores and pick these beers up whenever you want. Yes, there are main stream lines that are brewed and offered year-round, but the key to the ultimate "craft beer" experience is to taste AND savour these special brews in all their small-batch glory. 

All that being said, I'd like to introduce to you Forked River.  Founded right here in London, this company was started by three guys who had an appreciation for craft beer, plenty of smarts and a passion for bringing their love of craft beer to the local masses. These three London dads (Dave Reed, Andrew Peters, and Steve Nazarian) started the ball rolling on this brewing business in 2012 and haven't looked back since.  Focusing on very local, and very Canadian taste - they have come up with some amazing brews. Since my blog requires that I have background knowledge on my featured businesses, I did my due diligence, and tried out a few of their beers (although I have to say, I've  been buying this brand for many years now). Here are some of my favourites:

Capital Blonde: Named after the fact that London was supposed to be the capital of Canada (way back in 1793) this beer is light, not too hoppy and lovely to drink with pretty much anything. It has a hint of citrus which makes it refreshing.  Highly recommend if you like a lighter, versatile beer. 

Photo Courtesy of Facebook

Flanders Red: Just the name alone made me want to buy this beer.  It's a limited edition beer brought out around Remembrance Day. It's a barrel aged Flemish red ale - hearty and perfect for this time of  year.  The beauty of the beer isn't just that it's really good, but proceeds from this beer also goes to a veteran's charity.  Be still my heart. I'm a HUGE advocate of Remembrance Day and honouring our lost soldiers and our war veterans made this a GIANT win for me. I think I only left like, two bottles at my local LCBO. Sorry, neighbours.  


Riptide: I can find this one pretty much all the time, which is a bonus for me, since it's become a go-to brew for me this fall. It's a stronger taste, with bold hoppy flavours.  I like it as my Friday beer. So you know what I'll be enjoying this evening. 

There are so many other great choices from this brewing company.  The one thing I recommend is going to visit them, and check out the brews for yourself. You can book a tour on Saturdays at 1pm, 3pm or 5pm. It's free, so bring a few of your friends (up to 10 people per tour).  I also encourage you to check out their website where they have a list of all their beers. Find it here.  They also have events posted throughout the year - like the Forked Fest they held this past summer, honouring their 4 year anniversary. You can keep up with their event listings on their website or Facebook page. 

I salute these three London dads, as well as their awesome staff for creating a truly Canadian, truly "London" craft beer experience.  Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go stock up so I can enjoy my evening with my Forked River beverage(s). 

Have a great weekend, London.

Cheers! 

Forked River Brewing Company Contact Info:

Website: 
http://www.forkedriverbrewing.com/

Address:
45 Pacific Court, Unit 4
London, ON N5V 3N4

Retail Store Phone No: 519-913-2337

Sick? Make this, quick!

Hey London,

Here we are in the beginning of April, and I swear, the flu and cold season is at IT'S PEAK right now.  The bugs have decided to become superbugs and everything is dragging on and on, including a terrible cough that my daughter has had for the past two weeks, which reached a final, awful climax yesterday.  Hence me not posting on facebook the Costco deals of the week.

Photo Courtesy of: Google

Coming from a pretty traditional family background, I find that when it comes to a cold, or just being sick in general, there is usually a barrage of  (ahem) "medicine" that is offered to you by your mother, grandmother, aunts, the old lady at church...you get the idea.  It doesn't involve Windex (if you've seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding, you'll know what I'm referring to.. if not then you NEED to go see this movie!) but it does involve a giant pot of good old fashioned chicken soup.  There are other traditional remedies that are suggested to alleviate colds and flus, (some involving honey and garlic - unless that is a chicken wing flavour, I'll stay away, thanks) but this tried and true chicken soup is my go-to and cure-all for when my family gets sick (alongside trusty Tylenol and Advil).  My husband came down with a pretty nasty flu a few months back, and this helped keep him hydrated, helped him sleep and (according to him) helped him get back on his feet faster.  My son drinks this soup as a meal - he thinks it's amazing (he's 2, so clearly a gourmand at this age).  My daughter, however, doesn't particularly like it.  So I literally give it to her as medicine.  This seems to work.  Yesterday she was coughing up a storm, she drank her chicken soup "medicine" three times and BAM, we are back at school today, people. 

Knowing all of this, I highly suggest you take an hour (not even) and make this soup.  Make a giant batch and freeze it in smaller, one-portion packages to defrost when needed.  This saves me, since I don't necessarily feel like standing over a stovetop every time my kiddos get sick.  And it also makes a great base for other soups, since it is basically chicken broth.  I also add noodles to it and serve it as a meal on cold, winter nights. Use the chicken for sandwiches or salad.. there are endless possibilities with this soup! So go ahead, grab the ingredients next time you're at the grocery store, whip this up and enjoy some traditional, hearty and feel-good "medicine." Even if you're not sick.

Have a great (and healthy) day, London

Easy Peasy Chicken Bouillon

One whole fresh chicken (Substitutes: Whole frozen chicken, chicken breast (bone-in), or chicken thighs/legs (bone - in)

Carrots (two or three) chopped into large pieces (if organic, don't even bother peeling)

One whole onion, quartered

Two celery ribs chopped into large pieces

Salt

Water

To a large stockpot, add your fresh or frozen whole chicken (take out any inner parts, if there are, and cut the string off), or add your chicken pieces (minimum two pieces, maximum 4).  Add all the vegetables. Add enough water to cover the chicken (if your stockpot is too small, make sure your chicken is atleast 90% covered).  Add about a teaspoon of salt (really to taste). Turn the stovetop onto high heat, and let the water start to simmer.  Skim any froth (impurities) from the soup.  Do this until the soup is at a boil.  Once you have skimmed all the impurities, cover the stockpot with a lid and turn it down to low.  Let simmer for an hour or even two.  IF your chicken was frozen, be sure to simmer for two hours minimum.  Turn off the heat and let sit for 1/2 hour or so.  Take out the chicken, being careful not to let any broth spill out, and remove the meat from the bones.  Discard bones/carcass.  Chop up the meat, and either add it back to the soup or keep in a separate container (this also freezes well).  Chop up the vegetables and either add back to the soup or you can discard the vegetables. 
To serve: Best to serve hot, with some chicken.  Add noodles of your choice (pre-boiled in a separate pot).  Also, add greens (parsley, dill, kale, spinach), or add some more veg (broccoli, cauliflower). This soup is SO versatile - anything your family loves can pretty much go in this soup.
Freeze the liquid broth for later use. 

Feature Friday: The business of London

Technically, this Feature Friday isn't actually featuring a business at all, but I figured why not feature the place where all these lovely businesses stem from (for the most part). Good old London. 
Ah, London.  You are a city unlike any other.  Some people may say you're not really a "tourist destination" while others will scoff at the fact that you have a "party" atmosphere due to your college and university (ahem) reputations.  But if you are a true Londoner (third generation right here!) and have been born and raised here, or moved here and adopted this city as your own, then you understand that this city is so much more than "the other London" or "the city between Windsor and Toronto."

As a blogger who strictly blogs about local London awesomeness, I have to say I am a bit biased.  But being born here, raised here, educated here, and working here as well as choosing to raise my family here, has made me realize that this is home for me.  And I love every inch of it. Of course it's nice to get away (absence does make the heart grow fonder), and even move away for a while. I moved away from the city when I first got married and actually ended up back here by pure accident.  My husband and I were SURE we were going to live elsewhere and providence led us right back to my hometown. He is originally a Montrealer, so for my husband it was a little bit hard to get used to the very Southwestern Ontario mid-city feel but he eventually came around and now knows even more about this city than I do in some cases. 

This blog post isn't necessarily about all the great stuff that London has to offer.  My entire blog is all about that! It's more

about highlighting the fact that London is a great, livable, family-oriented place.  Western University and Fanshawe College are two wonderful educational institutions (despite said rumours).  Our plethora of neighbourhoods, little villages within the city, are unique all in their own right.  Our parks are teeming with nature, fun and lots of activity.  Our local London businesses are proud, strong and supported by an amazing local population that believes in our homemade, homegrown ideal. 

On the flip side, there are of course, always things this city could improve  on.  Traffic is, well, sub-par here.  Walking score is usually poor to sucky unless you live right in the heart of downtown or in the centre of your neighbourhood village.  Public transportation needs a serious overhaul for London to become less car-dependent. Hopefully something good and efficient will come out of London's Rapid Transit idea.  London could also use some fine-tuning when it comes to preservation and restoration.  Beautiful areas around London have been levelled or replaced whereas some compassion and respect for history could be shown to preserve what London used to be, rather than just wiping out areas and building anew.   Speaking of building anew - that's another thing London needs to work on: inviting more people HERE.  New businesses could thrive in this city; there are so many opportunities for people here!

All in all, London is my main city squeeze.  Being born here (anyone else born at St. Joes? Cool fact: my mom, myself AND my first born were all born there), being educated here (Westdale and Riverside PS, STA and Western shoutout!) working here and raising a family here has made me all that much more aware of how much I appreciate this city.  And also how much more I want to be involved with this city.  Hence, my blog.

OH, and I need to give a shout out to Tourism London, which is doing a fabulous job of promoting our city.  I get a lot of info from their website and they have a great Facebook page as well that promotes tons of awesome neighbourhood fun. Check them out here! So I guess you could say, the Feature Friday is about these guys too, because they truly epitomize what London is and showcase what London has to offer. Kind of like myself, in my own teeny-tiny London Mom way ;)  Great job, guys.

Have a great day, London