Things I Like

Just Call Me Mrs.

2009-11-19T12:06:00.000-08:00

You're probably wondering where I have been lately. Well, I've had some excitement in my life and I'm ready to tell you all about it. This little Miss is becoming Mrs. Yup, it's official, I'm a grown up.

To explain the context : I love doing the Saturday morning crossword. It makes me so very happy to have a coffee and the crossword in front of me. Sometimes I even pretend to let B help. So on Saturday morning, my 27th birthday, B set me all up on the couch with the crossword and hid in the kitchen. I thought he was just cooking breakfast. Little did I know that this was a crossword that I would never ever forget. Enjoy the video!

I'm sure someday I'll be able to watch this without crying. And while I am a little embarrassed of the pajamas, greasy hair and majorly squeaky voice, I'm so happy to have this video forever.

Photos to come soon!

Paragliding just got better...

2009-11-05T08:39:00.000-08:00

I stumbled across these photos taken by George Steinmetz, paraglider and photographer extraordinaire and I had an intense urge to sing out, "I don't think I can han-dle it, wooooo!" all Beyoncé style. They were taken from a motorized paraglider, and the photographer was able to capture images that are inaccessible by traditional aircraft and therefore generally unseen. A regular contributor to National Geographic and GEO Magazines, he has explored subjects ranging from the remotest stretches of Arabia’s Empty Quarter to the unknown tree people of Irian Jaya.

And how did his career in photography start in the first place? Oh, hitchhiking through Africa for 28 months. Bad. Ass. If you have time to spare, check out his website.
And if you don't have time, make time because it is amazing and worth the effort of clicking around. Lazy-bones.

Top Chef

2009-11-03T13:33:00.000-08:00

Is anyone else watching this show? It is the best thing that has happened to me since Project Runway. I can't cook to save myself but man do I love to watch other people do it. From the high stakes challenges to the group efforts, every week for one full hour this show owns me.

Do I have any desire to become a chef? Hell no.

Do I want to eat most everything they cook? Hellloooooo yes!

From quails eggs to beef cheeks to consommés to billi-bi I am along for the delicious ride. And the food isn't the only delicious thing - well hellloooo Tom Colicchio! And Padma's ok too.

If you haven't seen it yet and you want to spend an hour salivating and then having a bowl of cereal for dinner, come on over!

Top Chef airs on Monday nights at 9pm on the Food Network.

Best Ottawa Food Blog

2009-10-26T12:31:00.000-07:00

Nooschi is an Ottawa-based food diary that boldly tackles my favourite topic of all time: food. Restaurant reviews, recipes, and beautiful photos make this blog a must-see for any self-proclaimed foodie like myself. I could come home from a giant buffet dinner and still get hunger pangs when checking out the latest post on Nooschi.

Chicken Enchiladas with Salsa Verde (click here for the recipe)

Cinnamon Apple Chips (click here for the recipe)

Banana Pumpkin Pancakes ( click here for the recipe)

**I don't even really like pancakes, but I am pretty sure that these pancakes are my soul mates. I will be making them on Saturday morning if you want to come by!

Happy Weekend!

2009-10-23T18:14:00.000-07:00

I hope you all have a great weekend filled with bunny rabbits, lemon drops and kisses from rainbows!

Denmark, I Think I Love You.

2009-10-21T14:05:00.000-07:00

Sometimes Oprah has great shows, and sometimes it makes me want to pull out my eyelashes one by one. Today, she featured AMAZING Denmark. I didn't even know how much I loved Denmark until I learned every little detail. If I could open mouth kiss this country, I wouldn't hesitate. Among the list of things that makes me want to sell everything and hop on the next flight to Copenhagen:

the Danes have been named the happiest people on the earth
it was the first European country to legalize same-sex marriages and provide same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples, in 1989
their government has nearly no debt (gasp, my brain cannot understand..)
1 in 3 Danes use bicycles as their main mode of transportation
it is one of the prime contributors of official aid and founds to developing countries
the education system offers free and equal schooling for all
a common expression is "Jeg er en heldig kartoffel! (I am a lucky potato!)
Cheese.

So, when do we go??

Where It's At

2009-10-16T18:03:00.001-07:00

I know you are all wondering why I have been so lazy lately and haven't been making regular posts. Well I'm here to tell you, it's not laziness, it's trying to keep up with a busy life that just seems to be getting busier and busier.
Excuses, excuses right? Well at least I can share some photos of what I've been doing so that you know that I haven't been sitting at home watching Maury Povich and eating cheetos.

First up, St. John's, NL - aka my new favourite Canadian destination. Tales of East coast hospitality are not exaggerated, I had an amazing time there, made new friends and partied until the sun came up. George St, I take my hat off to you.
Of course, my little raincloud followed me across the country, so the photos aren't great, but you get the idea...

(Awesome dorky photo, this is what happens when you travel alone. I eventually figured out the right distance to stand from the camera-on-rock setup, but this photo is far more entertaining.)

Next up? Thanksgiving in Pennsylvania with B's family which was awesome and action-packed. The best part? Visiting the Martin Guitar factory - words cannot explain how amazing it was to see these beautiful guitars being made - often by hand - and the smell of the factory was nothing short of heavenly. You know you're in a pretty great place when the CEO is giving tours. I equate the experience to an adult version of visiting Santa's workshop and seeing the elves at work. And it goes without saying that B was over the moon.
This photo is of a soundproof room with some of Martin's best guitars that you can pick up and play. It's pretty surreal to play a guitar that you know you will never ever be able to afford..

I'm trying to be cool here, but this is Tom Petty's guitar. Enough said..

Is It Too Late For Broadway?

2009-10-16T06:39:00.000-07:00

My best cousin L and I went to see A Chorus Line last night and all I have wanted to do since is sing and dance. Getting dressed in the morning is kind of a drag... you know what would be better? A musical number.

Sitting at work on a Friday pretending to work sucks...you know what would make it better? A group dance-off.

Our seats were four rows in and you could literally see the sweat fly off the dancers. We were actually the perfect distance because you could see the sweat but you weren't in the row that actually got sprayed with it.

So if you see someone skipping down the street today, doing that side kick thing and singing "I hope I get it, god I hope I get it!" you'll know it's me....

St. John's

2009-10-03T03:40:00.000-07:00

Well I finally made it to St. John's, Newfoundland after a very long and very frustrating day. Spending an entire day in airports is not my idea of a good time. And Ottawa isn't exactly the kind of place where you imagine getting fogged in.
And just for the record, I'm all for getting ID'ed at the liquor store, but when the Air Canada rep calls me Sweetie and asks if I'm traveling alone, I'm starting to question what is happening here.
My flight eventually made it out, albeit four hours later and I sure did miss my connection flight by about two hours. No problem, I'll just spend two billion more hours killing time in the Toronto airport.
Sigh.
The beacon of light through all of this was that on both flights I ended up sitting beside some very friendly people, Dan from Windsor on the first and Tom from St. John's on the second. Both had interesting stories to tell and although I usually shy away from having to make small talk with strangers, after a day in airport hell I was eager to have some human interaction that extended beyond pretending not to stare at weird strangers.
I finally arrived in St. John's, happy as a clam to be here, but I guess my luggage had other thoughts, it apparently wasn't ready to make the cross-province journey.
Add pouring rain and shitty directions to the hotel to the list, and you'll figure out how my day ended.

But I'm here now, and I'm sure things will be turning around! My day of conferences is about to begin, followed by a banquet dinner and something called being "Screeched In" which involves everyone's least favorite booze, so I'm sure I will have stories to tell.
More to come soon!

Camouflage art

2009-10-01T13:41:00.000-07:00

(images via Accidental Mysteries - a new and amazing discovery...)

Buffalos vs. Lions vs. Crocodiles

2009-09-29T13:38:00.000-07:00

If you have time to spare you have got to check it this video! Even if you fast forward it in places, it is amazing and rivals anything from National Geographic. Dumb old buffalos, but better late than never!

100 Best Novels

2009-09-29T12:34:00.000-07:00

Today I stumbled upon (literally, check out stumbling here) a list of the 100 Best Novels, as chosen by Random House and Modern Library. I'm embarrassed to say that I had read pathetically few out of the list - that being said, there were a lot of classics. Among the ones that I have read:

THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald

BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley

SONS AND LOVERS by D.H. Lawrence

1984 by George Orwell

SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE by Kurt Vonnegut
A PASSAGE TO INDIA by E.M. Forster
AS I LAY DYING by William Faulkner
LORD OF THE FLIES by William Golding
PALE FIRE by Vladimir Nabokov
ON THE ROAD by Jack Kerouac
THE CATCHER IN THE RYE by J.D. Salinger
HEART OF DARKNESS by Joseph Conrad
A HOUSE FOR MR BISWAS by V.S. Naipaul
A FAREWELL TO ARMS by Ernest Hemingway
THE CALL OF THE WILD by Jack London

15 out of 100. I'm embarrassed. But then I checked out the Reader's List - and I fared much better, I'm happy to say. Because seriously, how many D.H. Lawrence novels can one person read? So here are my reads from a list of books that didn't all get originally published while the dinosaurs still roamed the earth:

ATLAS SHRUGGED by Ayn Rand
THE LORD OF THE RINGS by J.R.R. Tolkien
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee
1984 by George Orwell
ULYSSES by James Joyce (ok, sort of..)
THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald
BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley
THE CATCHER IN THE RYE by J.D. Salinger
SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE by Kurt Vonnegut
LORD OF THE FLIES by William Golding
A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY by John Irving
THE STAND by Stephen King
BELOVED by Toni Morrison
ON THE ROAD by Jack Keouac
HEART OF DARKNESS by Joseph Conrad
THE HANDMAID'S TALE by Margaret Atwood
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP by John Irving
SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES by Ray Bradbury
AS I LAY DYING by William Faulkner
THE CALL OF THE WILD by Jack London
FARENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury
WATERSHIP DOWN by Richard Adams
IT by Stephen King
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST by Ken Kesey
A FAREWELL TO ARMS by Ernest Hemingway

A respectable 25 - click here to see how many you've read...

Chapeau

2009-09-29T06:13:00.001-07:00

Maybe I just have winter on the brain right now - my feet have already become frozen blocks of ice, to defreeze sometime in the spring - and all I can think about is keeping warm. That is why I think I need this hat. And my hat, I mean Beard Head Mustache. Amaaaaaazing!

Ugghhhhhhh.

2009-09-28T10:40:00.000-07:00

Today, something I don't like.

Is anyone else dreading winter as much as I am???

Brashley Estates

2009-09-23T09:00:00.001-07:00

We moved into our first home two years ago this October (!) and even though I feel like we have done quite a bit to the house, there always seems to be something new that needs work and attention. I guess that's what happens when you buy a house that is 60+ years old.

So here are some of my plans, in no particular order:

A bright yellow front door, or maybe a mustard color. I love red brick and yellow together! I think it might add a little curbside appeal, but do you think it might look weird because we are in a semi-detached home?

This is something I have been working on for the bedroom. So far I've only managed to paint half the bedroom white, but once I get motivation and finish it, I would like to have a plate display on the back wall. I'm slowly collecting plates, but need about 10 more colorful ones...

I like this look too, but would need to find some really nice plates if I'm only putting up a few. So far my plates have a) a cow, b)green beans, c)carrots and d) an apple pie recipe. I need more!

We have the kitchen floor from hell. Small and very cracked white tiles cover the space, with dirt-stained grout for a finishing touch. I hate them. No matter how clean you get them, they always look gross. But look at these pretty floors! White, clean, shiny and easy to keep looking good! My mouth is watering...

Same floor look, but awesome color - I would love to do this, but only if we take down the wall between the kitchen and living room and have the grey be the main color. Don't you think this light tuquoise would be so pretty with grey walls, and white and black accents?

Again, easy to keep clean and again, mouth watering.

This one we wanted to get done this past summer but time and money but greatly underestimated. The good news is we have a plan, and we will hopefully get our new deck up next spring. Oh, and our backyard looks just like this one. Only less trees (none actually), less delicious mountain air, more weird street people, and more weeds. Ahhh home.

Yes please.

2009-09-22T08:57:00.000-07:00

On a very gray, very gloomy and very uneventful Tuesday, there is only one place I want to be. In this bed-fort of love. And if I could get B and F there too it would be pure bliss. As long as B was quiet and F didn't bedhog.

(image via Erin Ever After)

What's your idea of bliss?

That's Hideous

2009-09-18T09:42:00.000-07:00

I found a hilarious website called That's Hideous and it's the complete opposite of this one. While I spend time posting things that are amazing, this website is all about the ugly, weird and hideous.

Because both of our sites are somewhat objective, I thought I would share some of the things that they think are hideous, but that I like. (See what I did there?)

Velvet shoes via freshness:

Fruit Loops t-shirt via fashionably geek:

Map Dress from freshness:

I actually had a hard time finding things that I liked on their site, because everything was... hideous. Weird.

Almonds, yum yum

2009-09-18T05:32:00.000-07:00

Almonds are delicious. They're good for you and taste good and that's all I really care about. But even better than almonds are what can be created when you get creative with them.

Almond Breeze, be still my heart. Anyone who knows me knows that I looooove my almond milk to an extent that is probably unnatural. A bowl of cereal and some almond milk and I'm the happiest kid on the block. Most people don't seem all that receptive when I tell them how fantastic it is, but they are missing out! It doesn't have that gritty texture that you find in rice and soy milk, and it's gd delicious. Just try it, you can thank me later.

Almond tea. Two words: life changing. Again, people don't seem to get it when I tell them, but this tea is what dreams are made of. It is delicious and the best tea I've ever tried. So just stop fighting it and try it already.

Almonds = good.

Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling

2009-09-16T18:32:00.000-07:00

This story obviously caught my eye because it involved cheese. Then I saw the photos and I couldn't not share, they are that amazing.

May 25th of this year marked the annual Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake near Gloucester, England. In a tradition that dates back at least 200 years, groups of faceless competitors chase an 8 pound round of Double Gloucester Cheese down an extremely steep and uneven hill, with a gradient of 1:1 in some spots. Thousands of spectators gather to watch the 9 races, and to celebrate the winners and console the losers afterwards. Injuries such as broken bones and concussions are commonplace, but the event continues to grow in popularity. The prize for the winner of each race? The round of cheese they were chasing, of course.

iPhoning it in....

2009-09-16T18:11:00.000-07:00

Because I love Etsy more than most things, I'm always dying for an excuse to troll the site and find new and exciting handmade goods. These iPhone cozies are no exception, and they *almost* make me happy to have a phone that I have to answer every time it rings. Almost...

(via Chuka)

(via yummypocket)

(via onaroll)

(via TrackandFieldDesigns)

(via yummypocket - this one's definitely my fave!)

Love It.

2009-09-16T16:27:00.000-07:00

How have I never seen this video before??

Oeuf

2009-09-16T15:11:00.000-07:00

In my perfect world, everyone would wear these amazing mask and tail sets from Oeuf. I think the racoon one is my favourite.. which one would you wear if I forced you to?

Facebook Fools

2009-09-10T07:59:00.001-07:00

A great discovery from my new favourite website, Passive Aggressive Notes.

Let this serve as a warning to everyone - be careful, Big Brother and all his friends are watching!

Signage

2009-09-10T07:23:00.001-07:00

After this note appeared on the toilet seat at work, I got to thinking about the notes and signs that people make to avoid having awkward conversations. Obviously, the fact that someone would tape a sign to the bottom of a public toilet seat is amazing in itself, however I understand the desire to avoid confrontation in the workplace. So I trolled around looking for photos of similar signage, and I realized that this toilet seat was nothing in comparison to the ones I found... and that scares me...

(This one is from a hospital...you would be amazed by the number of booger notes I found, this one being my favourite because it was a whole wall, and not an isolated incident. And having a good friend who dated a serial booger wiper, I can appreciate the trauma and the necessity to leave a passive aggressive note.)

(Ok so a lot of this is disturbing, but boils??? EAR DISCHARGE??? Blecccchhhh)

(Uhmmmm.....)

(8:42, the perfect time for non-banana pastries....)

(Wow, really? Really people??!!)

(Umm, check, check, is this thing on? Anyone? Anyone?)

(images via passive aggressive notes)

10000 Views!

2009-09-09T10:34:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who has viewed, and continues to view my blog!

And a special thanks to those who comment, it's nice to get the feedback and know that there are people out there!!

I like you!

Twitter

2009-09-09T05:45:00.001-07:00

I don't pretend to understand Twitter. I'm still trying to come to terms with cell phones and having people reach you all the time, let alone people knowing when you're drinking coffee or taking a crap. That being said, this is brilliant.

Justin is 28 and lives with his 73 year old dad. Justin Twitters the everyday stuff that his dad says. It's funny and worth checking out if you need a laugh today.

http://twitter.com/shitmydadsays

Ummm...

2009-09-08T13:19:00.000-07:00

Must. Watch. This. It's only 41 seconds so you have no excuse. I'm all at once amazed, bewildered, confused, scared, and trying not to laugh.

(It's been pointed out to me that some of you don't understand what's going on, so I will just tell you. The man singing gets his mic stand knocked into him and he swallows the mic. True story. Now watch it!)

Where I Will Not Be Trick or Treating...

2009-09-05T14:53:00.000-07:00

This house is down the street from ours. They say that a picture's worth a thousand words, so I will say no more. Except that it's even scarier at night cause it's all lit up. That's it.

In Da Hood

2009-09-05T13:07:00.000-07:00

I love my neighborhood. There are so many interesting people, places and I'm always finding new and often bizarre things that make me smile. I've been wanting to take photos of my favorite neighborhood sights for a while, and today was the perfect day.

I knew it was meant to be when I walked past a house that has a lawnmower in the driveway with a sign on it that said "R.I.P. 1977 - 2009". I love it! Sadly, the mower was gone when I returned a few hours later with my camera, but I did get some other great shots. Enjoy!

I've always wanted to go to a Garag Sale!

I loooooove this house! The photo doesn't bring justice to the great bright blue color, and the gorgeous red flowers, but you get the idea...

I am in awe of the people who did this. No yard? No problem! I love a makeshift garden! Totally random and totally awesome.

Everyone's favorite is the "Color Tats, Pro $25" - not a great photo and definitely something you have to see to fully appreciate. I really hope no one is actually getting inked there, based entirely on the artwork of the sign.

And lastly, the musical fence. Should we do a white picket, chainlink or wooden slats? No, scrap that - let's do music instead!

I loooooooove this neighborhood!

Toronto Life

2009-09-04T10:28:00.001-07:00

How much do I love the cover of Toronto Life? It's my poster! And the article is great so it's a double bonus - definitely worth the price at the grocery store.

The Baltic States

2009-09-03T09:24:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to check out the Baltic States for a long time. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, located in Northern Europe have always drawn me in as a special place to visit. Not exactly the kind of place to visit if you're hoping to work on your tan, but loads of culture, history and great architecture. I want to go there!

Passive Agressive Painting

2009-08-31T12:10:00.001-07:00

I should be at work today with the rest of the poor suckers I know, but after 10 days of regatta fun in Kingston, I am in need of some serious home time. After doing laundry, cleaning, putting clean sheets on the bed and reorganizing the kitchen cupboards, the fun of being home was starting to dwindle. So I thought, why not paint?

Here are the reasons I normally don't paint:

I don't know how.
I don't have good paints.
I don't have good paintbrushes.
I only have a couple of very small canvases.
See #1.

But the sun was shining and god help me if I had to do anymore house chores, so I forgot the list and started painting. Now Picasso I am not, but I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. I think I shall call it passive aggressive painting.

Book It

2009-08-23T17:40:00.001-07:00

As most anyone who has ever met me knows, I love books.

I love them so much I would eat them if I could.

And as any of my close friends and family members know, I hate to pass on a book I loved. I want them to read it, but I have such a hard time parting with it. A good book is more satisfying than a brownie, warmer than your snuggliest duvet and more soothing than the best bubble bath. Of course, it's natural to want to share the love. I do want to share the love, I do!

But then - you end up losing track of what book went with whom, and the next time you turn around, you bookshelf is empty. EMPTY. Shudder.

I'm smart enough to know that we all go through this feeling sometimes and that is why the odds of you getting your favorite book returned to you really aren't great.

This is why I need the personal library kit from Knock Knock at Fred Flare. The kit comes with everything you need to be a stern librarian including self-adhesive pockets, insert cards, and an old-fashioned date stamp (cat eye glasses and nubby sweater not included). At $20, it's all I need for peace of mind.

I'm not weird.

Mysterious Letters

2009-08-19T05:53:00.000-07:00

In April 2009, Lenka Clayton and Michael Crowe sent personal, handwritten letters to each of the 467 households in the small village of Cushendall, Ireland. Their aim was to promote neighbourly discussions spreading across town, and to create community curiosity.

I love love love these letters - can you imagine getting one in the mail?

Wow.

2009-08-19T05:42:00.000-07:00

let yourself feel. from Esteban Diácono on Vimeo. Amazing.

(via Black Eiffel)

Four Cheese Macaroni With Curry Crumbs

2009-08-18T16:52:00.000-07:00

Dinner time! Yum yum yum! This recipe comes courtesy of Chatelaine Magazine (don't judge me) and it makes for the perfect comfort-food dinner. Recipe below, give it a try - it's easy, delicious, and worth the time and effort.

(Ahem, notice the tomatoes from our make-shift garden - also delicious..)

Four Cheese Macaroni With Curry Crumbs

Curry Crumbs

3 tbsp butter
1 cup diced onion
1-2 garlic clove, minced
2 tbsp curry powder
1 cup bread crumbs *I used ones that had rosemary mixed in and it was heavenly

Macaroni

3 cups of macaroni
1/2 cup mild cream chevre or any soft goat's cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar
1 cup shredded gouda
1 cup shredded provolone * or substitute any cheeses you like better
1/2 cup of flour
4-5 green onions, sliced
1 1/2 tsp salt
4 cups of milk *I use unsweetened almond milk
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 bay leaf

1. Heat butter in a large pan over medium heat until bubbly. Add onion and let soften in butter for 2 mins. Stir in garlic and curry, let cook for 2 more mins, stirring often. Remove from heat and stir in bread crumbs.

2. Cook pasta al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water, drain, and rinse again.

3. Shred cheeses and toss in a big bowl with flour and salt. Pour milk into a large saucepan, add thyme and bay leaf and heat on medium. When the milk begins to bubble, add cheese slowly, stirring as you go. Heat on med-low, stirring often for 8-10 mins. Remove bay leaf, stir in some black pepper and the green onions. Stir in the cooked macaroni.

4. Coat a large oven-safe dish with cooking spray and pour in macaroni mix. Smooth top and evenly sprinkle with curry crumbs. Bake at 400F for 20-25 mins or until the top is a golden brown. If the crumbs brown too quickly, cover the top loosely with foil.

Feeds 6.

Dear Santa

2009-08-18T16:40:00.000-07:00

I found this note in an old photo album at the B&B I stayed at in Prince Edward County in July and have been meaning to share it. I was amazed to find so many neat old photos just gathering dust in the room we stayed in, and then I felt like I had won the lottery when I found this note.
In case you can't quite make it out, it says:

"December 24, 1925

Dear Santa,
My mother told me that a person was supposed to hang up the stocking that he had on, and I had a specially long stocking on and I don't want to be greedy so please forgive me if I hang it up. You don't have to fill it.
Love, Shirley"

Along with the note were a bunch of photos of a little girl with Shirley Temple-style curls, standing in front of the big old house that we were staying in. I wonder what ever happened to the little girl - where is Shirley now?

And just for the record, I took a photo of the note, but left it in the album for other visitors to find and enjoy.

Wedding-goodness

2009-08-15T05:56:00.001-07:00

Well another Saturday means another wedding for us this summer.
I'm really looking forward to this one, and hope to take lots of pictures of the beautiful bride and the reception site, which I have a feeling is going to be amazing. So because today's theme is wedding and I only have time for one post, I've been creeping around on various wedding themed blogs and have copied some of my favorite photos. Enjoy!

Leftie Day!

2009-08-13T17:50:00.001-07:00

I can't believe I almost missed the holiday that celebrates my people! Lefties of the world, unite!
It's time to celebrate the official 18th Left Handers Day. I have been telling people for years how superior we are - despite the weird handwriting and the inability to use scissors properly.

Want some interesting and totally useless facts about how awesome lefties are?

lefties adjust more readily to seeing underwater
four out of the five original designers of the Mac were lefties
1 in 4 Apollo astronauts were left-handed - 250% more than the normal level
Some researchers claim that we are more intelligent and eloquent that our right-handed counterparts. In tests conducted by Dr. Alan Searleman from St Lawrence University in New York, he found that left-handers can be considerably more intellectually gifted. There were more left-handed people with IQs over 140 than right-handed people - which is the "genius" bracket. This is perhaps why there are more "lefties" in creative professions - such as music, art and writing - and more left-handed astronauts and leaders than would be expected.
Lefties are 90% smarter, better looking and better smelling than righties.

Ok, so I made that last one up.... but it's probably true even if research doesn't support it.

My left-handed peeps, let us celebrate!

Baby, I'm Back in Business!

2009-08-13T05:23:00.000-07:00

I feel like I've been too busy to accomplish anything lately, including new postings!

That being said, I'm really going to start trying to post more often and not let days go by without posting anything.

So I'll leave you with some images and try to focus on some more meaty posts for the future!

Work.

2009-08-06T12:43:00.000-07:00

This series called Sisyphus Office by David Fullarton is hilarious!

I Want To Go There.

2009-08-05T07:33:00.001-07:00

This house was featured on Apartment Therapy today as part of their House Tour 2009:

Name: Jason Thompson

Profession: Founder & Owner, Rag & Bone Bindery

Location: Pawtucket, Rhode Island

Size: 3,000 square feet

Years lived in: 2 years, owned

Jason Thompson converted the cavernous warehouse space above his bookbinding studio into an art-filled, family-friendly loft in a mere six months and on a tight budget — proof of what some creative ingenuity and a lot of elbow grease (he performed the demolition and much of the installation himself) can accomplish.

My style: Loft style — although I don't think we have a particular style really, except that we like handmade and fun objects, books, and art in our space. Our budget confines us to artwork created by friends and ourselves — and our children.

Inspiration: Friends lofts, loft books and blogs such as Decor8 and Apartment Therapy.

Favorite Element: Our kitchen. The kitchen was designed to our specifications and we strived to create a space where we can cook with our two small children. The kitchen is built on a platform which allowed us to save on plumbing costs as the drains, PVC and gas lines run beneath the platform. The platform kitchen also allows us to watch our children play in the open loft space.

Biggest Challenge: Budget. The complete renovation from raw space to move-in was completed within a budget of $30,000. Additionally, the large space meant we could design just about any layout. Nailing down the final design was a challenge, especially with our desire to create intimate spaces while retaining the open layout.

What Friends Say: Most visitors comment on the amount of room and the lovely light, especially in the mornings and afternoon. There are two full walls of windows facing both east and west.

Biggest Embarrassment: We have yet to install trim in the kitchen, bathroom or bedrooms and one knee wall is faced with cardboard … corrugated cardboard.

Biggest Indulgence: Countertops! More than ten percent of our budget was spent on the Silestone countertops.

Best advice: You can do it! Whatever your dream is — a funky home, a loft, green space — you can do it. Not every project requires an unlimited budget, especially if you take it one step at a time. Our loft is half completed, the second half of the renovation, which will take place “someday,” includes a master bedroom, office, second bathroom and a media room. We wish we could complete this second phase of the renovation, but we're patient! It's all part of the process. We don't ever feel the space will be "done,” there's always something else to work on!

Have you ever seen anything so amazing? This definitely sums up my dream house - large open loft style, old hardwood, exposed brick, crafts adorning every wall and books everywhere!

But why stop there? The stainless steel master chef applicances in the kitchen, the antique church pew, the big wooden barn doors and the rooftop greenspace??

Phew, deep breaths.

I wonder if he would be willing to sell his house to me for $76.85? (Not a random number, just the total amount in my chequing account.)

I really really like this house.

Seafood Feast!

2009-08-04T08:11:00.000-07:00

Our friends S & S had us over on Monday - woo hoo Civic Holiday - for an amazing seafood dinner. We were spoiled with the most delicious food, and a dessert that would change your life. But my favourite part might have been the homemade touches that made the dinner even more fun. Check out the seafood themed napkin holders with our names on them:

Our feast included proscciuto-wrapped scallops (to die for), lobster tails, corn on the cob, giant shrimps, fried haddock, caesar salad and homemade bread. With some red wine thrown in for good measure (ahem blurry photos), I think I might have been the happiest person on earth.

Also on the table were homemade lanterns with photos of under the sea creatures!

Unfortunately I didn't get any photos of dessert, but suffice to say it was mind-alterning. BBQ grilled angel food cake and pineapple with vanilla ice cream, chocolate coated strawberries and oven roasted coconut complete with some sort of boozy sauce drizzled overtop.

I probably won't be able to fit into any of my pants this week but it was well worth it.

On the Porch...

2009-08-04T08:02:00.000-07:00

Check out the great barrel B and I discovered at a "yard sale" a couple of weeks ago. I love it!

And even though we don't have much of a yard, we are trying out the urban garden feel - so far so good!

Porch Swings

2009-07-31T07:35:00.000-07:00

Ever since our neighbours cut down their trees and as a result robbed us of any privacy we had from the sketchy triplex next door - and taking down part of our deck with them - I have been dreaming about living in an old home in the country. To be fair, it wasn't just the loss of the trees that made me think about this change. It's been slowly building for a while, the dream of having a big yard, lots of flowers and no neighbours that can see into your house when you're having a shower.

Again, the fact that we can hear the domestic disturbances next door doesn't help, nor does "Hey Buddy", the nosy and overbearing man who lives across the street who seems to know more about the goings-on in our house than we do. But I digress...

It's summer, and I would love to be sitting in a big porch swing on the big wrap around porch of an old home, with a cup of freshly made lemonade and a good book. And I would like to hear the birds in our yard, feel the warm summer breeze as it blows by and not hear a police siren in the background. So with that little rant out of the way, here is an ode to porch swings:

I like porch swings.

Holding Hands

2009-07-30T18:42:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't though?

Len

2009-07-29T20:42:00.000-07:00

Len wants a post about him. Here it is. Isn't he cute? Sorry, I meant to write she. Frankie, that is. Len's just ok.

Sleepy Time

2009-07-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

Because it's pissing rain outside and I'm feeling sleepy after a big lunch, all I want to do is crawl into bed, snuggle up with a cup of almond tea and watch a cheesy movie. But there are a few things getting in the way of that dream right now:

a) I'm at work, and thus should really be actually doing some work

b) in order to feel 100% perfect, I would need to put clean sheets on my bed and I'm feeling waaay to lazy for that

c) if I went home I would be stuck thinking of all the things that I should be doing, and probably wouldn't be able to relax at all.

So, I'm fantasizing about other people's beds, and have compiled a list of my favourites below:

1. The Beach Bed. No explanation is necessary

2. The LOMME Bed. Created by designer Günther Thöny, this LOMME egg shaped "sleeping pod" comes equipped with built in lights, a sound system, and an iPod dock so you can drift off to sleep with your favorite music. Sold!

3. The Nook Bed. Not hard to recreate if your house has some odd shapes, this bed looks like the perfect way to escape all other distractions. Cosy! (Probably not recommended for the sleep-walkers out there...)

5. The Suspended Bed. It's hammock meets interior design and I think I could definitely rock myself to sleep in it. The Suspended Bed is made with a sturdy machined aluminum platform and stainless steel tension cables to keep the bed stable and free from movement. Available in bare aluminum, powder-coated in any custom color, or veneered in any type of wood. Costs more than you want to imagine.

6. The Grand Piano. Designed by Mario Bellini, the Grand Piano bed has a built in side table with your choice of straight or curved lines with glass tops available for drinks and accessories. Bellini included cut in areas on the sides for easy movement getting in and out of bed. I really love this bed, although again I wouldn't think it would be recommended for pregnant women or anyone with back problems.

7. Bunk beds. Bunk beds are awesome and everyone knows it. Those of you who had them when you were kids were cool, and those of us who didn't are still suffering from the long term effects of bed-envy. These ones are especially cool because of the windows, but really - bunk beds are awesome and anyone who disagrees is a fool.

8. Random Bed I Like.

9. The Indoor/Outdoor Bed. I have no idea who made this bed, but what I do know is that it's an indoor/outdoor bed, one that you can push out when the weather's nice and reign it in when it's raining. It's amazing, brilliant and I need one. I also need a view like that from my bedroom window, but I'll work on that next.

10. The Outdoor Boat Bed. Again, what can I say? It's heaven in a bed.

I like beds.

Which one is your favourite?

I'm Baaaaaaaaaack...

2009-07-29T06:55:00.000-07:00

I'm back from one of the best weekends I've ever had. Family, friends, and strangers alike all helped to make this weekend away a memorable one. It was a whirlwind affair as B and I travelled to Port Hope, Wellington & Bloomfield, Lake on the Mountain, Sandbanks, Bowmanville, Toronto, and Missisauga over the five day period. We drank more wine than you would think possible and had some amazing meals.

Here are a few photos that I took with my IPhone, with more to come when I find a cable for my camera!

Wine Tours!

2009-07-24T06:03:00.000-07:00

We're leaving today for a long weekend of fun fun fun! Prince Edward County here we come! For those who haven't heard, Prince Edward County is Ontario`s newest wine region. The growing season is as long as the Niagara Region, but the winters are colder. In 2000 they had one winery. Today they have more than a dozen. They also have a ton of gorgeous restaurants, galleries, artisans, and beautiful inns.

For anyone who knows us is aware of our love for wine and food. I have been looking forward to this trip for months and I can't wait to post all the pictures of our adventure!

This is a photo of the place we are staying, Fields on the Lake. It's a beautiful old home and barn that hosts weddings, concerts and festivals. We're told that there is a wedding on the Saturday night in the barn so we might have to become real life wedding crashers!

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend! xxxx

Photoshop

2009-07-23T12:36:00.000-07:00

Photoshop is cool! I'm playing around with my favourite photos, more to come! (I'm noticing that I use favourite a lot - I can't help it, there's so much out there to love!)

(Can we talk about how much of a hunk B is in this photo?)

Sewing

2009-07-23T10:46:00.000-07:00

I want to learn to sew. I have a newly acquired sewing machine, and lots of great ideas. I'm overambitious, over-confident, and I'm sure you'll see me on the next season of Project Runway Canada. Winning, obviously.

Pillows, curtains, baby dolls, clothes, purses, weird costumes for Frankie, the opportunities are endless!!!!!!

Choreographed Aisle Walking

2009-07-23T10:35:00.000-07:00

This is amazing. I know everyone hates watching videos, but you have have have to check this out. I laughed and cried and snotted and snorted. Absolutely brilliant.

Thanks to Cara, for sending it to me via Lake Jane, one of my favourite blogs.

And yes, I could definitely see us doing something like this - I'll add it to one of the main reasons to get married - dance party. Seems totally reasonable.

Shake your Head Feather!

2009-07-22T16:37:00.000-07:00

Call me crazy, but I am really starting to fall in lust with flowery and feathery headbands. I know what you're thinking - silly girl, those are for brides - but I'm taking a stand here.

Don't you think summer would be so much better with one of these tucked into your hair? Wedding or not, it's young, fun and it's calling out to me!

The handmade headbands and combs below are amazing and for sale on Etsy by intothelookingglass. Check them out here:

I'm such a girl today - headbands and braids??

Tomorrow I will try to focus on more gender-neutral stuff! Maybe....

Braids

2009-07-22T07:09:00.001-07:00

I've always loved braids, which seems like a cruel joke because long hair looks like ass on me so I rarely keep my hair long enough for pretty braids.
A casual messy braid down the back makes me think of living in an old home in the country, hanging clean white laundry on the line in the sunshine and making homemade iced tea.

Oh well maybe in my next life.

Who doesn't like braids?

Who You Callin' Tart?

2009-07-22T06:48:00.000-07:00

Is anyone jealous that this is what I'm having for dinner tonight? I'm so excited for delicious veggie tart I can barely contain myself! I'm on the email distribution list for the 20 Minute Supper Club and the pictures alone make me want to turn myself into Gilbert's Mom.

Ingredients:
1 Sheet - 10- x 10-inch butter puff pastry, thawed
2 Cloves garlic
1 Cup each fresh basil, parsley, mint
1/4 Cup pine nuts
1/2 Cup goat cheese
1/3 Cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus 1 tbsp
12 asparagus , trimmed to 4 inches
5 small zucchini, quartered lengthwise, trimmed to 4 inches
6-8 cherry tomatoes, halved

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 425 F. Unroll puff pastry, remove paper, cut in half and transfer to a parchment paper-lined sheet pan. Set aside.
2. In a food processor, chop garlic, scraping down sides of bowl. Add fresh herbs, pine nuts, goat cheese and 1/3 cup oil and process until combined. Spread mixture evenly over pastry, leaving a 1/2-inch border on all sides.
3. In a bowl, combine vegetables with remaining oil and season with salt and pepper. Arrange vegetables like this on pastry: 4 asparagus pieces, 3 zucchini quarters and a row of cherry tomatoes. Repeat three times for each tart.
4. Bake 20 minutes or until golden. Remove from oven and cut each tart into three servings (in between zucchini and asparagus). Serve with green salad.

I like tarts.

Murder in the City

2009-07-21T11:39:00.000-07:00

I bet you think this video's gonna be crazy! It's actually the name of the song from my new favorite band, the Avett Brothers. They are from North Carolina and I like them.

Check out the video - you won't regret it! And if you do you should go back to listening Nickelback and Mariah Carey. Fool.

Ray Lamontagne look - check

Amazing lyrics - check

Acoustic guitars - check

Low-key video - check

They might be my new favorites.

The Sealpelt

2009-07-21T06:55:00.000-07:00

Just in case the Snuggie and the Slanket were not enough, a Danish designer has created the Sealpelt.

Feeling bloated? Can't decide what to wear? Then the Sealpelt is for you!

In the Icelandic myths, seals are believed to be condemned by humans. One ancient story from the south of Iceland is about a farmer who early one morning finds a sealpelt lying on the beach. In a cave nearby, he hears voices and music. He takes the sealpelt home and hides it in a wooden chest. Few days later he returns to the beach and finds a crying, naked, young woman sitting on a rock. He brings her to his house where she stays, but he never tells her about the pelt. As time goes by they get married and have children. But the young woman is restless and often stares quietly out of the window at the ocean. One day when the farmer goes fishing, his wife accidentally finds the key of the chest, opens it and discovers the missing pelt. She takes leave of her children, puts the pelt on and before she dives into the ocean she says: "I am vary anxious, with seven children on land an seven in the sea." She never comes back but the farmer misses her terribly. Later when he goes fishing there often is a seal near his boat and its eyes are filled with tears. It is said that the farmer becomes a very lucky fisherman. And when his children play at the beach there often is a seal swimming close to land. Sometimes it brings them beautiful stones and colorful fishes. But their mother never returned.

None of this explains the need for a Sealpelt, of course, but what would a Tuesday be without a little Icelandic mythology? And yes, they are ridiculous, and yes they are obscenely expensive ($399US!!!), but I'm pretty sure I would have a lot of fun ripping around in one of those.

Get your Sealpelt here: http://www.birkiland.com/en/store/show/1236625540

Weddings

2009-07-20T17:24:00.001-07:00

I caught the bouquet with the most minimal amount of effort possible.

It practically landed at my feet - which I should point out, were the feet at the very back of the throng of unmarried women. Ok, so I snatched it up pretty fast but I assure you it was pure reaction. They are pretty though, aren't they?

2009-07-20T06:36:00.000-07:00

I'm still feeling tired out from the weekend, so I'm posting pics only today!

Keeping Calm

2009-07-17T12:49:00.001-07:00

I came across these posters in a couple of blogs that I read and I can't stop thinking about them! There's something about the slogan "Keep Calm and Carry On" that I find so enticing. I want to just keep repeating it over and over. Maybe it should be my new mantra. Or maybe I'm having a mental breakdown.

This is what I found on the keep calm website (http://www.keepcalmgallery.com/)

Upon the outbreak of World War Two the British Government's Ministry of Information commissioned posters to be distributed throughout the country as a means of allaying public fear. Three different posters were produced and while the first two designs were widely distributed the third poster, simply bearing the words 'Keep Calm and Carry On' along with the royal crown, was held in reserve intended for use only in times of extreme crisis.
Although hundreds of thousands of these posters were produced, only a handful ever saw the light of day. Even now 'Keep Calm and Carry On' is a phrase which perfectly encapsulates the traditional British 'stiff upper lip'.

I like these posters.

Summer food and booze!

2009-07-17T08:00:00.001-07:00

There are a couple things that I just love about summer. Ok, maybe more than a couple. But one of my favorite things is just sitting outside, with some food, some booze and some good company. (Or a book...)

One of the best summer salads, in my opinion, is a simple tomato, basil and bocconcini cheese salad. Add some freshly cracked salt and pepper and you're in heaven. Unless you hate tomatoes, in which case you're weird.

Another heavenly piece of summer is the Gin & Tonic (or Soda). It's fresh, light and delicious. But don't forget the lemons and limes! As you can see from the photo above, I was so enamored by it that I didn't think to take a photo until I had almost polished it all off.

And what really makes all this food and booze perfect is the perfect companion.

I like summer. I like it alot.

Weekend plans anyone?

2009-07-17T07:58:00.000-07:00

This is where I'm going.

Jooooost kidding. But would you come visit me if I were?

This I Love.

2009-07-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

Is there anyone who can say that they don't like cards? At all?
Poker, Euchre, Crib, War, Solitaire, Hearts, Hand & Foot, Blackjack, I could go on all day.
I love cards! And the thought of having them on my wall makes me very happy.
It's colourful and fun and an easy homemade craft. Hmmm hearts, clubs, spades or diamonds for my house?

I never met a deck of cards I didn't like.

Awkward Family Photos

2009-07-16T12:50:00.000-07:00

Websites I shouldn't visit when I'm at work because it will be incredibly obvious that I'm not working. Some of them make me howl, where do these people come from????

These last two are for Jesse, because I know how much he loooooooooves clowns.

I like awkard family photos. Especially ones that I'm not in. Because there are plenty of those.

House pics!

2009-07-16T05:40:00.000-07:00

B and I bought our first house two years ago this month. Built sometime in the 1930-40s, it's an older home with plenty of projects to keep us busy. Sadly, my ideas are many and our funds are few, so we're learning to pace ourselves and not feel like everything has to be perfect right now.

Some projects involve little more than a can of paint, and it's amazing to see what a great change a fresh bright color can bring.

First up, the kitchen - originally with white walls and only one window, it was a dark and somewhat dreary room:

I looooooove this blue color!

Also awesome is this frame (below) that I scored at a garage sale for $10. It had a hideous (and I think homemade) painting in it, which I spray painted over with black chalkboard paint, and we now use it as a calendar/organizer.

But even before painting the kitchen, we knew we had to deal with the front entrance way.

You might have never seen carpet that was as disgusting as what lived in our front entrance. Old, stained, ripped up and smelly, the carpet has been through a lot and we were very happy to say goodbye to it.

You see, the trick is inviting your parents over for a fun, relaxing weekend and then putting them to work laying tiles. It took a day and a half and the results are amazing. I'm not sure how we'll ever convince them to visit again, but hey it's a small price to pay.

And lastly the stairs. They are pretty self explanatory. Same dirty, disgusting carpet and an overall grossness. So we yanked up the carpet dreaming of the beautiful hardwood staircase that was waiting for us underneath.

We held our breath, and found:

Hmph. Not quite what we were hoping for. But to be honest, I kind of dig the ridiculous barnlike feel they have. B spent an entire day sanding and discovered about 6 layers of different colored paint throughout and we realized that this was a much bigger job than we had anticipated.

But I have the perfect solution. "Hey Dad, wanna come visit in September?"

I'll post more pics as we continue to fix up the house - next up will be the master bedroom!

I really do like our house.

Camping!

2009-07-14T19:38:00.001-07:00

I like camping. Sometimes I even love it. Especially when the sun comes out! Our annual camping trip this year did not disappoint. Great spot, great weather (mostly), great food, great company and great times. Four people, two dogs and one fetus = awesomeness.

Oh camping, guess what? I like you.

Cheap Flights!

2009-07-14T12:50:00.001-07:00

Today only, Westjet is offering flights between Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto for $9!!!!!

Check it out - and come visit meeeeeeeeee!

www.westjet.ca

Burger Bed

2009-07-14T05:59:00.000-07:00

Can we talk about this?

This burger bed is being auctioned off on eBay and although I have no idea where I would put it, I'm pretty sure it would be a great addition to my home.

I have a feeling that sleeping in the burger bed would bring only the very best dreams.

The person who created this bed is a genius, I wonder if there are any other beds like this?

This I love.

2009-07-13T15:55:00.000-07:00

I tried this tinted moisturizer after my friend Cara told me how much she loved Boots products.
Anyone who knows me knows I could blow an entire paycheck at Shopper's Drug Mart, and I have more body lotions than I know what to do with. That being said, I have been on the hunt for an affordable and light tinted moisturizer for a long time.

I can't recommend this stuff enough, get it at Shopper's Drug Mart!

Hair cut

2009-07-07T12:28:00.000-07:00

I need a haircut. Badly. I'm trying to decide if this cut would work with my hair. I think somehow I'm convincing myself that I could look like Charlize with it.

Hmph.

One Week

2009-07-05T18:06:00.000-07:00

I'm watching the movie One Week right now. I am loving Joshua Jackson all over again and this movie is brilliant. One minute I'm laughing, the next I feel like crying my eyes out.

Ben Tyler has been diagnosed with cancer. With a grim chance of survival in the best case scenario even if he immediately begins treatment, he instead decides to take a motorcycle trip from Toronto through the Canadian prairies to British Columbia. Along the way, he makes new friends, reevaluates his relationship with his fiancée Samantha, his job, and his dream of becoming a writer, and, after suffering some near-death experiences, learns to appreciate life.
Fitting squarely in the tradition of "road trip" movies, the film features classic Canadian scenery, roadside attractions and Canadian icons: even the Stanley Cup makes a cameo appearance.

Best Canadian movie ever.
Rent it!

We're here!

2009-06-28T05:30:00.000-07:00

Well I finally made it to Cochrane after a 9 hour drive. The drive was actually a lot of fun, we blasted music, drove with all the windows down and sang and danced the entire way.
We looked like crazy people (curly hair + windows down = the opposite of pretty) but we had a lot of fun and it finally felt like summer.

So we went to visit my grandma and spent 20 minutes or so talking with her at the hospital. As we went to leave she said to my sister, "Honey, aren't you going to introduce your friend?"

Hmph.

For the weekend...

2009-06-26T12:22:00.000-07:00

This is the dreamy, hazy filter I would put on life if I could.

Make Me Some Pie, B*!$%#!

2009-06-26T11:14:00.000-07:00

Does anyone else's mouth start salivating the second they pick up the Food & Drink magazine from the LCBO? Everything looks so delicious and some of the recipes are even easy! Some. Some are like trying to do a Rubik's cube.

But this pie. Pretty, pretty pie. I want to eat you.

Chicken Phyllo Pie with Fresh Peaches and Pesto Cream

By: Marilyn Bentz-Crowley

This savoury pie is simple yet sophisticated with layers of ingredients that require little cooking. Slowly defrost phyllo overnight in refrigerator if possible. Divide remaining phyllo into useable portions of four to eight sheets. Wrap in waxed paper. Tightly over-wrap with foil; refreeze until needed again.

Pie

3⁄4 cup (175 mL) chicken broth
1⁄2 cup (125 mL) bulgur
4 sheets phyllo dough
2 to 3 tbsp (25 to 45 mL) butter, melted
1 green onion, thinly sliced
1 large or 2 small peaches, peeled and diced (see TIP below)
1⁄2 cup (125 mL) toasted slivered or sliced almonds
1 1⁄2 to 2 cups (375 to 500 mL) bite-sized cooked chicken pieces
Freshly ground sea salt and pepper
2 tbsp (25 mL) basil pesto

Sauce

1⁄2 cup (125 mL) basil pesto
1⁄2 cup (125 mL) whipping cream

1. Arrange oven rack below oven centre; preheat to 400°F (200°C).

2. Heat broth in 2-cup (500-mL) measure in microwave or in a very small saucepan until boiling. Remove from heat; stir in bulgur. Set aside to soak.

3. Line a 9-inch (23-cm) cake tin with foil by turning it upside down to shape foil. Turn upright; fit foil into pan. Lightly brush 1 sheet of dough with butter. Lay in pan in a manner that 1 side overhangs much more than the other. Repeat with remaining sheets, placing at a quarter turn of pan so that the long overhangs circle pan.

4. Spread soaked bulgur in pan. Evenly sprinkle with green onion; then peaches and almonds. Top with chicken. Lightly season chicken with pinches or grindings of sea salt and black pepper. Drizzle chicken with pesto.

5. In turn, pick up and drop overhanging sheets on top of pie. Top is rough. Bake for 25 minutes or until pastry is golden and pie is hot. If top seems too brown before end of baking time, loosely place a piece of foil overtop and continue baking.

6. Meanwhile, for sauce, stir pesto with cream. Use foil to lift hot pie out of cake tin. Cut into quarters. Spread 1 tbsp (15 mL) of pesto cream on centre of each warm plate. Top with pie. Serve right away with remaining pesto cream. On the side, offer warm pita or cornbread and tossed green salad.TIP: Fresh peaches brown quite quickly when cut. If making this pie a few hours ahead of baking, in place of fresh peaches use 3⁄4 cup (175 mL) well-drained canned peaches or diced soft dried apricots. Cover pie with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed.

Add 5 minutes to baking time.

Serves 4

I like pie.

Baby Showers

2009-06-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

There are many reasons that I'm excited about my friends' soon to be popped out babies.
Mostly though, it has to do with how cute baby clothes are and my desire to turn their children into my own personal dolls. Or monsters. Whatever.
This bathrobe is adorable, affordable and is reminiscent of Where the Wild Things Are.
It's being sold by SDK Designs on Etsy - here

I wonder if they do adult sizes? I just know I like the monster look.

Anthropologie

2009-06-26T10:29:00.000-07:00

Oh baby do I ever like this dress. You can find it, along with about a million other things that I need to own, here

Love

2009-06-26T10:27:00.000-07:00

I love Love.

Favorville!

2009-06-26T10:17:00.000-07:00

Amazing.

My new favorite website of all time. Favorville.

http://www.favorville.com/

"Favorville.com is a social networking tool which provides members with the opportunity to help and be helped by others. With Favorville, members can post help requests, offer help and help grow the community. Favorville makes it easy to get in touch and build lasting connections with helpful neighbors, both in your locale or across the global village."

Have you ever heard of anything so fantastic? Is there anything better than this????
You have got to check it out!

I don't just like Favorville. I love it.

Killer Treehouses

2009-06-26T09:09:00.000-07:00

Remember treehouses?

Ours were always made out of leftover lumber we scavenged, and they usually had rusty nails sticking out of them. But they were great! And even though my brothers didn't always let me actually come inside the treehouse, just knowing it was there was pretty great.

Now feast your eyes on this piece of heaven:

I want to go there. (30 Rock, anyone? anyone?)
I want to sell my house and live like an ewok. Is that so wrong?

Here are some more awesome - and a tad ridiculous - treehouses:

Oh tree houses. I want to climb up and live in you. I like you.

Going to Cochrane!

2009-06-26T08:33:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to pump myself up for the loooong drive (9 hrs...eek!) to Cochrane by thinking about all the great things I will see on the drive up. No seriously, there is some weird stuff along that desolate highway.

I'm entirely sure why, but people in Northern Ontario love their giant statues of animals.
I don't know why they're there, but I love them and it makes for some much needed visual stimulation.

So first up, the New Liskeard Cow!

And the big fish in Martens River:

And the buffalo in Earlton:

(Why, yes I did make my mom stop and take a photo of me at every stop along the way...)

And lastly, Chimo the friendly polar bear in Cochrane:

It's worth noting that although I'm stopping in Cochrane, the animal statue carnage continues into the north, with a giant goose in Wawa, a moose in Hearst, Dryden and about ten other places, a muskie and a dream-haunting spider in Kenora and a sheep in Minnitaki.
(Really, a sheep? Really?)

Off I go into the Great White North!

Oh big weird animal statues, you're pretty neat, I think I like you.

Jam!

2009-06-26T06:54:00.000-07:00

Every year around this time, I talk about how I want to make jam. Raspberry preferably, strawberry yes please, and blueberry most definitely. Have I ever actually attempted it?

Weeelllllllllllllllllllll, what can I say, summer is a busy time of year! But I'm putting my food down this year! I'm making jam and no one can stop me!!

I'll take my berry picking bum to Ovens Berry Farm located in Osgoode, about 40 minutes away from Ottawa. I will choose this farm based entirely on the fact that I know one of the Ovens and he is fabulous. So it would only make sense that berries from his family's farm will make fabulous jam, right?

And then if I'm feeling really crafty, I could make pretty little gift labels or lid covers and give them away to all my favorite people! And maybe even bake little loaves of bread to go with them! Ok, deep breath, I'm getting ahead of myself here. First, berry picking.

Oh Jam, anyone who doesn't like you is just crazy.

Doing the Robot

2009-06-26T06:06:00.000-07:00

Those who know me know that if there is one thing I do really, really well, it's the robot.

It's fun and I like it and that is reason enough to do it all the time. And don't be discouraged if your robot skills are not quite where you would like them to be, practice makes perfect.

For instance, why not practice the robot on the top of a mountain in Waterton Lakes, AB?

Or at a hippo pool in Mikumi, Tanzania?

Or how about in Times Square, NYC?

Or hey, why not give it a shot at the ROM in Toronto?

You're right, that last one isn't really the robot at all. But it's kind of close, and really funny so it counts.

I like you Mr. Roboto-Man. You can stay.

I Like Turtles

2009-06-26T05:17:00.000-07:00

This lamp is one of the best things that has ever come into my life. No one seems to get it, but this lamp is AWESOME. Because really, what is more comforting than grabbing your book on a rainy day, wrapping yourself up in a warm blanket, and reading beside a turtle lamp.
I rest my case.

And the fact that I paid $5 for it at the Great Glebe Garage sale just sweetens the deal.

Also, this video shows that I am not the only person who likes turtles.

Turtle lamp, I like you. Let's be friends.

Togo! Yes please!

2009-06-25T19:40:00.000-07:00

I really like you, Togo couches. You look like you would be the perfect thing to fall into after a long day at work, and I'm pretty sure you wouldn't mind I happened to drool a little when I fall asleep.
I would like to own you and make you mine, but sadly you are for fancy people only.
See you in my dreams!

Oh Togo, I've never even seen you in real life but I'm pretty sure we'd be lovers.

RIP Michael Jackson

2009-06-25T19:33:00.000-07:00

Wow this one I did not see coming.
Michael Jackson dead at 50. So surreal.

Not that he's been in the public eye for a long time, but I am absolutely blown away.
And all I can think about is my friend Sandra, who has loved his music over the years, regardless of what might have been playing out in the media.

I hope he has an easier time in the afterlife than he did on earth. RIP MJ.

Coin Jewelery

2009-06-25T16:15:00.000-07:00

It might be because my mom has a gorgeous ring and pendant that are old coins - they are without a doubt the most beautiful pieces of jewelery I have ever seen. It helps that they are family heirlooms, I'm a sucker for sentimentality. Unfortunately I have had very little luck persuading her to give them to me, but I'm sure I'll wear her down one of these days.

In the meantime, similar jewelery can be found all over the place!

These amazing earrings are available on one of my favorite sites, Etsy, which features handmade goods from artists.

Check them out here at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7955866&ref=sr_gallery_19&&ga_search_query=coin+jewellery&ga_search_type=all&ga_page=1&order=date_desc&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title

Because my birthday is coming up! Seriously, November is not that far away!

I really do like you coin jewellery.

Ray Lamontagne

2009-06-25T15:27:00.000-07:00

If I didn't already have the love of my life - I'm pretty sure I would have quit my job, sold everything I own, and have followed Ray Lamontagne around from venue to venue begging him to be my Valentine. Will you be my boyfriend? Check yes or no.
But in all seriousness, this man's music is more amazing that anything I can possibly put into words. And unlike the celebrities who have been discovering him lately (back of ladies, he's MINE!), I have known him and loved him for years.

I want to snuggle him, feed him and make him write songs about me.

http://raylamontagne.com/

Oh Ray Ray, I know I like you. It might even be love, but don't tell B.

People Getting Hurt

2009-06-25T15:20:00.000-07:00

That sounds really insensitive but who can say that they have never laughed at people get hurt on AFV. But I try not to make a habit of it. But seriously check out this Stride Gum commercial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojgi16des-U&feature=fvst

I've never heard B laugh so hard, AND I'm pretty sure he made us rewind it (PVR I love you) at least 30 times. That was the first time we saw it. We've subsequently rewound it again and again and even made our friends watch.

Finally we made the decision. That poor guy is actually getting hit in the balls by that ram.
I bet if you weren't gonna watch it before you will now. Sucker.

Vino!

2009-06-25T14:44:00.000-07:00

Well just like any good Italian, I love indulging in a glass - or bottle - of red wine.
Ok, so I'm only 25% Italian, but what can I say, it's in my blood.
I like to pick up a bottle of wine from a different area every time and tell whoever I'm sharing it with (I'm a good sharer) that we are visiting that area for the evening.
I've very well traveled when it comes to wine. Argentina, France, Italy, California, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Chile, I could go on all day.

But if I had to narrow it down to my three favorite wines......hmmmmmmm it makes me thirsty.

1. Casillero Del Diablo - originally I fell in love with the Cabarnet Sauvignon, but they recently released a Carmenere that it delightful. And it's called Cellar of the Devil so that's pretty bad ass.

http://www.conchaytorousa.com/wines/diablo.html

2. Liberty School - I don't usually go for the American wines, because it doesn't seem as exotic for my travel-tastes, but my friend Amy introduced me to this wine and I love her a little more for it.

-http://libertyschoolwinery.com\

3. Gato Negro - Ok, this wine is cheap - it's definitely not a snotty-type wine but hey times can be tight and I don't always want to spend a lot on wine. Especially because I drink it more than I would like to admit. And sometimes you don't feel like sitting around sniffing your glass, sometimes you want to drink some wine, play some cards and talk about religion, politics, oh who am I kidding, I mean have a dance party and act like an idiot.

Ahhh wine I really do like you.

My First Post!

2009-06-25T13:01:00.001-07:00

Well here it is, my very first post!

Hmmmm awkward?

I guess the best way to ease in is to show what the blog says, Things I Like. There are so many things to choose from but there are a couple of things that I even love.

So without further ado....

This is Frankie - or Frankenstein, Frank&Beans, Frankford, I could go on all day. I do quite like her. Despite the occasional poops on the carpet, barking at squirrels, eating out of the garbage and about a million other irritants, she is a pretty good girl. Her wagging tail is a registered weapon and she can lick the skin clean off you - I like her. Ok, I love her.