Monday Madness Giveaway Linky June 30

Welcome to the Summer is here Monday Madness giveaway linky!

DIY Fruit and Veggie Garden

Last year I decided I wanted to grow some of my own food. Tomatoes and Strawberries is what I started with.  I didn't have a garden, so I used some containers and kept them on our deck.

This year, I convinced hubby that he needed to build me a garden.  I started some strawberries and watermelon in the house in the spring, and bought some tomatoes at the garden center last week.

When hubby was picking up the supplies for the garden, he also bought 2 more tomato plants and 2 more strawberry plants.

He and Mr. K came home and got to work building the garden beside our deck.  The watermelon has started to flower, and some of the tomatoes have started to grow as well. I cannot wait until everything is ripe and we can enjoy the food!

Do you garden? What is your favourite thing to grow?

Strawberry Picking 2014

Strawberries are by far my favourite fruit.  I eat them on their own, in smoothies, with ice cream, cake, served with whipped cream or dipped in chocolate....I just love them.

Buying them at the grocery store is ok, but there is nothing quite like berries picked fresh from the plant.  We are growing a few plants in the back yard garden, but going to the fields with our friends to pick them is such a fun outing.  Sunday we headed out with friends to Shouldice Berry Farms on Woodroffe Avenue to gather baskets of the yummy fruit.

We finished it off with a swim and lunch at their house afterwards.  Do you like strawberries? Have you ever gone to pick your own?

CASL (Canadian Anti-Spam Law) Comes Into Effect July 1st

If you have subscribed to receive Tales of Mommyhood in your inbox, THANK YOU!  I truly appreciate the support that I receive from my wonderful readers.

This post is to let you know that as of June 30, the feed will be deleted.  I am on the search for a new service to send update emails, but for the moment I will be stopping to remain in compliance with the CASL.

Don't forget to check back in here for new posts, reviews and giveaways.

Wordless Wednesday - Sick Kid

Mr J resting on the couch with a fever and a tummy ache

Tasty Tuesday - Delicious Mocha Cupcakes with Mocha Butter-Cream Frosting

I am not a huge lover of coffee, but I do enjoy mocha flavoured treats.  I had a major chocolate cupcake craving a few weeks ago, and decided to make some mocha cupcakes.

I used a chocolate cake mix, made to direction except for the liquid.  I made a shot of espresso, and added enough water to make 1/3 cup (the total liquid the mix called for)

Once the cupcakes were ready, I went ahead and made the frosting:

Mocha Butter-Cream Frosting
1 cup softened butter
1/3 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips (melted and cooled down)
1 tbsp of brewed espresso
1 tbsp milk
3 1/3 cup icing sugar

Using your stand mixer, whip the butter.  Add in the cooled chocolate and room temperature espresso. Once combined, add in milk and slowly add in icing sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing as you go.

Fill a decorators bag with the frosting and decorate as you like. I use the 1M tip, and made some with roses on top, and others swirled.

Enjoy!

Monday June 23 Giveaway Linky

Welcome to the  Monday Madness giveaway linky!