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My kids are the pickiest and my husband is even picker. Actually I lied, my son is like me and will eat almost everything but my daughter on the other hand is exactly like her dad and unless she’s tried it and loved it which is rare she won’t even touch it! Luckily for me I found a few recipes that the WHOLE family loves and this is one of them.

It’s the easiest recipe to follow and it takes only 4 main ingredients plus spices. Plus if you prefer you can substitute almost everything for whatever you prefer. Eg you can sub out the meat for a non meat option or just take it out completely. Well enough babbling you can find the recipe below sorry I didn’t take more photos I’ll add them in the next time I make it – which will probably be sooner rather than later ! Enjoy and let me know in the comments if you try it out!

INGREDIENTS

Filling

3 tablespoons olive oil

I large yellow onion (diced)

1lb Ground turkey (or lean ground beef) whichever you prefer (I used one large pack)

2 teaspoons Italian seasons (or a mix of basil and oregano

1/4 teaspoon salt (to taste)

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Pinch of tumeric (optional)

Pinch of cumin (optional)

2 cups frozen mixed vegetables (carrots, corn and peas)

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon minced ginger

1 pack of any gravy you prefer ( I used the club house sheppards pie mix

Potato topping

4-6 medium sized russet potato’s

Pinch of salt

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup milk

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

Ground turkey (or lean ground beef) whichever you prefer (I used one large pack)

RECIPE

1. add the oil to a skillet on medium high heat, sauté until translucent and add in the garlic and ginger. Sauté for another 5 minutes but ensure to keep stirring to avoid the onion from burning

2. Add in the ground turkey (or beef) and break apart with a wooden spatula. Stir and add in all the spices. Stir well and let cook until the meat is browned 7-9 minutes.

3. Add in the gravy (or sheppards pie packet) along with one cup water.

4. Add in the frozen vegetables and bring mix to a boil for 5 minutes until even tables are cooked through. Summer and set aside mixture.

potato topping

4-6 medium/large sized russet potato’s

Pinch of salt

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup milk

1 cup fresh shredded cheese (*optional* cheddar works best)

RECIPE:

Meat filling

1. add the oil to a skillet on medium high heat, sauté until translucent and add in the garlic and ginger. Sauté for another 5 minutes but ensure to keep stirring to avoid the onion from burning

2. Add in the ground turkey (or beef) and break apart with a wooden spatula. Stir and add in all the spices. Stir well and let cook until the meat is browned 7-9 minutes.

3. Add in the gravy (or sheppards pie packet) along with one cup water.

4. Add in the frozen vegetables and bring mix to a boil for 5 minutes until even tables are cooked through. Summer and set aside mixture.

Potato mixture

1. Put all the potato’s in a large pot. Cover the potato’s in water and bring the water to a boil. Cool until potato’s are tender – I use a fork to test this (approximately 15 minutes)

2. Drain potato’s , peel and mash. Add in the milk and butter and salt to taste. Add in more milk if the potato’s are not smooth enough!

Assemble the pie

Spread the meat mixture evenly onto a large baking dish. (I used 9 by 9). Spread the mixture evenly and add on the potato mixture using a spoon. I also use a spatula to spread the potato’s evenly.

Sprinkle the cheese on top of the pie

Bake uncovered for 30 minutes at 400° F.

Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Serves 5-6.

💫 Tips for taking day trips with your kids this summer 💫 We took a day trip to @ripleysaquaca yesterday wnd it was great! We’ve done the aquarium quite a few times so we knew what to expect. Taking kids anywhere in my opinion is a mission but we can definitely prepare to make it easier and more fun!

Here👇🏽 are my top tips to enjoy day trips with kids ! *SAVE this post for your next trip*

Take them places where they can be active – the aquarium as perfect for this because there were so many hands on activities and spaces where the kids could be kids 🙂

Try to prioritize sleep -if possible plan around naps. We went to the aquarium right after my nieces nap and it was great! The daytime is very busy though so I recommend to visit in the evening for a quiet experience. PS: @ripleysaquaca has extended summer hours – 9am – 11pm.

Bring an umbrella stroller or carrier for your little ones for when they get tired of walking and for on the go naps If necessary! Avoid big bulky strollers and wagons as much as possible especially if your trip is during peak season.

Bring snacks that you can eat on the go/ in the stroller or schedule in time to stop and eat – also make sure to check ahead of time if your venue allows food to be brought in/ if they have an operating cafe or restaurant. The @ripleysaquaca cafe is currently closed however they do have vending machines throughout the building.

BE FLEXIBLE and know that not everything will go as planned! Kids will be kids so be prepared to go with the flow! Have realistic expectations and you won’t be so disappointed!!

Have fun and let me what day trips you have planned this summer ?

#tips #parent #parenting #parentproblems #parentlife #parenthood #kids #kidsactivities #summervibes #aquarium #ripleysaquarium #toronto #kidsdaytrip #momlife #motherhood #summertime #toddlermom #travelblogger #travellingwithkids #kidswhottravel

The thing that sold me on my house, which we bought in 2014 believe it or not- was the kitchen! That’s also the first thing we changed when we decided to renovate in 2020. After having two babies we realized how important and functional an open concept layout was, and I had wanted a huge island forever. So in July of 2020, after what seemed like years of discussing our dream kitchen we finally did it. We completely demolished our old kitchen and custom built a new one. We also broke down a wall between the kitchen and living room to create an open concept space and added built in shelves in our living room and I’m so glad we did. My dream was white, bright and open, and I think we nailed it!

Now let’s talk about where we started. We had a very small island and a wall between the living room and kitchen. We also had red walls which I used to love and realized soon after we moved in, that it actually made the kitchen feel small and a little dark.

Before

For the new space, I opted for white cabinets (chantilly lace), white walls (decorators white) , a ten foot island (with a little Country Inspo on the ends). Finally we went with beautiful blue velvet stools. Stools were the hardest thing to choose, it literally took us months. We found nothing we loved and then my husband custom ordered these ones and although he chose them, I ended up loving them! The process to custom order was very tough though because we were basically ordering without actually being able to see or feel the material or the colours, so we had to trust that the pictures and descriptions we sent were good enough to achieve the look we wanted. It also took months for the stools to arrive and in fact we are still waiting for one more!! If you want more information about the stools and where to order them let me know in the comments below.

After

While designing our dream kitchen, my husband and I honestly didn’t agree on a lot! I love the traditional farmhouse country style kitchens with gold finishes and my husband really wanted a modern look so we compromised and in the end we were both happy. I ended up changing my vision right before we had to choose our finishes which really helped. I ended up liking a more modern style after all, and changed from gold to chrome finishes which is exactly what my husband wanted. The chrome really completed the look and although sometimes I imagine what it would look like if I had gone with gold , I know the chrome is more feasible (I’ve heard the gold can fade) especially in a house with two energetic toddlers! This brings me to the pieces that I love the most in the kitchen. The beautiful lighting and the stunning faucet.

For lighting , we went with Kichler lighting . They have exquisite lighting fixtures and their customer service is exceptional. I changed my mind multiple times and each time Monique (ask for her if you need a hand choosing your fixtures) was so kind and helped me find exactly what I was looking for. I get serious anxiety making decisions and choosing our fixtures was no different, however speaking with them via email truly made the experience enjoyable. For over the island I wanted something modern but light so I opted for the Kichler Linear Chandelier in chrome from the Crosby collection. It’s contemporary look with clean lines and metal accents was perfect for my bright and traditional/modern vision! We also have a little spot at the end of the island where I might eventually add in some benches so I wanted a light fixture for the end as well and for that space we went with the Kichler 5 light chandelier in chrome, also from the Crosby collection and it’s just perfect.

For the faucet we went with Pfister faucets. They have such a great selection and incredible price points ! We went with the The Stellen Touchless Faucet in Stainless Steel (Model: LG529-ESAS). We love the touchless feature especially right now where germs are our biggest concern!

The React^TM touchless technology turns the faucet on and off with a wave of my hand and is the perfect way to reduce germs and create a more hygienic home environment. The faucet is also gorgeous, it combines sleek, simple lines and contemporary curves. I am so happy with our choice.

Last but not least let’s talk floors!! We searched hard and long for the perfect floor and again I am beyond happy with what we chose. We chose Arizona white oak and I highly recommend it. We paid extra to get wider panels and we love how it looks.

Now let’s get to the not so fun stuff! We overall had a good experience with our contractors and I’ve tagged them in my story highlight called “House Reno” if you’re interested ! there were a few small things I wasn’t very happy with which I wish we had known ahead of time but overall I would say they did a good job.

After everything is said and done I love my new kitchen and although I wish I chose different hardware I love everything! Let me know your thoughts below. Have you had a renovation done? Did you have a good or bad experience ? Were you happy with the outcome ?

This year we decided it was finally time to upgrade our house! We took the leap this past summer and renovated our entire main floor. We put in a beautiful new kitchen and oak hardwood throughout the house and now that the renovation is done, we have moved onto upgrading our furniture-my absolute favourite part!

The first thing we wanted to change was our sofa! Our current couch is dark and dingy, and we have had it since we bought the house 6 years ago. As soon as we decided to upgrade our furniture, we headed straight to Direct interiors and that was probably the only decision about the house that both my husband and I agreed on! My husband and I have completely different styles and bumped heads a lot during the renovation but when it came to furniture, we both knew Direct Interiors was the way to go!

Showroom

Firstly, we love their showroom and that you can actually see the furniture in person. I love being able to actually touch and see the furniture and I love how they have so many different styles and all of the furniture is laid out with the perfect rugs and accessories. It really helped me narrow down my choices by seeing the sectional laid out in a way that I could picture in my house. Seeing the furniture lay outs really made choosing the style I love easy, especially since I am a more visual person!

Selection

Their furniture showroom is not only stunning, but it is huge. There are 2 floors with every style of room you could imagine. They have such a wide range looks, from Traditional dreamy bedrooms to the most modern living rooms I have ever seen, to the cutest nurseries around! I love every single set up and love how they offer something for everyone, and the best part is, a lot of it can be customized to what you want!

Quality

As I walked through the showroom, I was literally in awe of not only the look but the feel of each piece of furniture. You can really tell and understand the quality of furniture when you actually touch, feel and test it out, and even with Covid-19 going on, I felt comfortable in the showroom! They have excellent safety protocols in place, and I felt extremely safe and comfortable physically visiting their showroom and looking around. I also feel that when buying something like furniture, it’s basically impossible to actually know what you are going to get unless you see it in person and I highly recommend going in person to truly experience their show room.

Service

Last but not least I cannot say enough about the impeccable service offered by their staff. From the moment you enter you are greeted and helped right away or left to look around if you prefer. I usually have to search for someone whenever I am shopping in a furniture store and when making such a huge purchase it is so reassuring to know that within a minute, I can get someone to help me! Furniture can be a big investment and I want to ensure that I understand everything and with the professionals at Direct Interiors I feel great about my experience and I had every question answered. I cannot say enough about their exquisite interior design services.

We have been working with Katie, one of Direct Interiors highly talented in-house interior-stylists and it has been such an incredible experience. They help with floor plans, room layouts, color coordination and furniture selections and ensure that it suits your lifestyle and your preferences. In our case we wanted something light and airy yet something that would be comfortable and durable for life with two toddlers. Katie was so patient and really took our needs and wants into consideration to help design our dream sectional. She was able to combine my husband’s style with mine and show us options that we both loved. She was even able to design our dream sectional made with a durable and stain resistant material that will fit our space perfectly. Scheduling appointments was easy and so enjoyable. I loved being able to see samples of the materials and designs and even see similar pieces in their showroom. It was also wonderful to be able to call or email her whenever we had ideas and she welcomed changes and feedback without hesitation. Her professionalism made the decision-making process so easy and I am such an indecisive person so that means the world to me.

I can’t say enough about my experience thus far with Design Interiors and I can’t wait to show you our final design. If you are looking to make your dream a reality, then Direct Interiors is the place for you!