:: happy new year - words & wishes ::

via (original source)

I have so much to be excited about in 2012, and so much to share with you in the coming weeks.

I've started the year with a big purge of our basement and I'm dreaming of how we'll organize the space and create a play area for H and a crafty/DIY area for moi. I'm sure I'll be wasting researching many hours on Pinterest for ideas on how to beautify an unfinished basement on a dime. I'm going to live vicariously through Jen as she embarks on her basement reno!

Do you find that organizing begets more organizing? I was on such a high after purging and organizing our basement that I couldn't wait to tackle my wardrobe and our home office. I love getting in these "Morganization" moods :)

My new mantra for our home is:

I hope that 2012 has been off to a good start at chez vous. Any big projects on the go with your January resolution energy?

:: see kai run smaller shoes - winner! ::

I can't believe I forgot to announce the See Kai Run winner on Saturday! My brain must have been extra scattered because of the birthday party. 

Without further ado....

Winner is commenter #5 - Leanne B!

Congratulations! I will put you in touch with Fulton Sales to collect your prize!

:: hunter's eric carle themed 2nd birthday ::

Brown Bear cake toppers by Canadian Etsy shop Frost & Fete

Rainbow fruit skewers being swiped by the birthday boy.

my Pinterest inspired photo collage

blowing out the candles.

playing with his Schleich animals - his favourite toys!

Eating with his animals.

Loot bags with crayola wood free pencil crayons and sketchpads, felt bows for the girls and a racecar for the boys.

My Eric Carle inspired letters.

He'll really turn 2 on Monday, but we celebrated our sweet little boy today with friends and family with a colourful Eric Carle themed party. I had so much fun decorating....especially using the library books as decor (yay for being a teacher librarian!)

Hunter enjoyed the rainbow fruit skewers, red velvet cupcakes and our breakfast themed meal with quiche, sausages and bacon and a waffle station stocked with nutella, strawberries, bananas, whipped cream and maple syrup. 

Hope you are having a great weekend! I'm off to finish up my cookies for a cookie swap this evening....looks to be a very sugar filled day for moi!

:: see kai run review ::

Hunter is a bit obsessed with shoes. He loves to try on my high heels as I get ready for work in the morning (which makes for great videos to play at his future wedding) and he has recently mastered putting on his own boots in order to entice me to take him outside!

We were sent a pair of See Kai Run shoes a while back, and I think they look so cute with his skinny jeans. They are a black leather/suede combo (Rafael) and I think they will get a lot of wear this Christmas season.....they will look great with his bow tie!

I love See Kai Run shoes because the designs are so fashion forward without being too busy. The boys shoes mirror what we see out there for Daddy, and the minimalistic designs mean they will match with lots of outfits. Nothing makes me more crazy than busy clothing or shoes....especially for boys. If it has dinosaurs or trucks all over it, we aren't buying it :P

Fulton Sales is the distributor for a number of fabulous baby brands and they will be giving away of See Kai Run smaller shoes to one lucky Mon Petit Amour reader.

All you have to do is:

1. Like Fulton Sales on Facebook

2. Leave a comment on this post telling me your favourite brand that they represent 

*hint: their welcome page has them all listed underneath the cute baby picture!

Contest closes Friday, December 2nd at midnight. I will announce the winner on Saturday. Best of luck!

:: canvaspop and printstagram - bringing your instagram pictures off your phone and into your home ::

If you are an Instagram addict like me, you probably have a bunch of great vintage-y looking pictures of your littles stuck in your iphone. 

I read on twitter today that CanvasPop (proudly Canadian company) is now able to print your Instagram photos onto square canvas. If you follow me on there (@monpetitamour) be warned that I am about to go on a filter kick getting some of my favourite photos instagrammed so I can order a few ($29.95 for a 12x12)

I also found a U.S based website that ships internationally (yay!) called Printstagram, where you can print matte cardstock prints, make tiny photobooks, and create large posters of your Instagram pictures. I think I might order a few prints to create this display at Hunter's birthday. We are going to make a big 2 on the wall with all the cutest pics of him from the last year (inspiration via pinterest)

Are you good at printing out your pictures? Or do you live in fear of your computer dying and losing 20 000 + precious shots like I do? 

The Littlest Mammoth - whimsical art prints for children

Accordion Sea by Brooke Weber

Flower Pattern by Carolyn Loebbert

Cupcake Tree by Yu Hsuan Huang

Hunter was up at 4:30 am this morning (thanks time change!) and I really should be napping while he sleeps, but instead I am browsing The Littlest Mammoth, a beautiful and Canadian-based website featuring some of the most gorgeous art prints for babies and children. These whimsical prints would be right at home in your nursery, toddler room, play room.....or really any room where your children play. 

Watch for a giveaway from The Littlest Mammoth soon!

:: things i love friday ::

{dangerously simple dessert alert} 

2 minute chocolate mug brownies with your toddler's leftover halloween bars 

via Babble/Julie Van Rosendaal

These quick microwave brownie cakes may not be healthy, but they are definitely delicious. I highly recommend the Reese Peanut Butter cup version for the perfect late night snack:)

 To balance out treats like these, I have been trying new recipes from Julie van Rosendaal's newest cookbook Spilling the Beans. If you have ever made her famous Breakfast Bean Cookies, you know that beans can find an unlikely home in many of your favourite dishes. I have tabbed many recipes to try over the next few weeks, including lots of baked goods, grainy salads and pastas.

I have all of her books and read her blog faithfully. Love this local Calgary chef/author/radio personality. I have already made a few recipes....my favourite being the roasted beet salad (with wild rice, toasted pecans, goat's cheese & kale) which was the perfect lunch last week!

A few other things I love this week:

- Movember goods on Etsy. Is your husband growing a stache? I bought this necklace from Canadian shop Buysomelove to support the teachers at school raising money for Movember. I'm a mo'sister :) You can see all my Movember favourites here.

- Posterjack large poster prints. Ours looks so good in our huge Odby frame from Ikea! Yay for great Canadian companies!

A few great reads around the web:

- Suri's Burn Book. Funniest blog ever for those that read the celeb mags.

- A refreshingly different take on Halloween candy consumption from one of my favourite blogs - It's Not about Nutrition

- are you planning next year's costumes and Halloween decor already. Take a peek at Pink Sugar Photography's amazing decorations and sweet Lila's costume this year.

- If you are ready to start your Christmas shopping and DIY decorating, you have to check out The Holiday Guide by Emily Henderson (thanks Shannon for posting about this on Facebook!). It features the best of the best from your favourite bloggers and web-based businesses, and some great free printables too! I spotted an ad in there from my friend Lindsay of Penny Paper Co and Little House Blog!