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Wednesday, November 30, 2011

If They're Angels, Then Why Do They Make Me Feel So Bad About Myself

I’m totally kidding. I’m definitely not one of those girls, full of jealousy and rage, who sits down once a year to watch the Victoria Secret Fashion Show only to b**ch about it the entire time.  Instead, I take it for what it is; a 1 hour lingerie commercial filled with the most beautiful women you have ever seen. It may be over the top and ridiculous, but it is what it is. It’s a one hour special for teenage boys to drool over (ok and grown men) and to make women everywhere want to buy their product. I will be the first to admit that I get mildly disappointed every time I go shopping there and don’t see Miranda Kerr’s body in my reflection in the mirror. But I do shop there, so mission accomplished. But hey, we can’t all be blessed with the same gift… I got… ummm… the ability to… well I’m really good at Jeopardy :).  Let’s give them some credit because, even though they were blessed with good genes, they do work hard for those bodies and do have to claw their way to the top to become the most coveted kind model in the world… the ‘Angel’.  They spend months preparing for this one night, and even admitted to being on a liquid only diet for weeks before. Let me be honest, if I had a body like them, I would wanna rock it onstage in front of millions to show it off too! I’m sorry, but I need my carbs.


*Picture curtosy of CBS

 Speaking of which, while watching said fashion show last night, I decided that I would make homemade Focaccia. I don’t know what enticed me to do this, because part of me wanted to start a crash diet or never eat again, but I thought it would be a nice surprise for E when he got home. Even though I am not Italian, I am getting quite good at making Italian dishes and had heard that Focaccia was a relatively easy bread to make.  So I got out E’s cook book, all of the ingredients and a glass of red wine and I started to make my Focaccia. What I hadn’t thought of, was the fact that it takes an hour to rise and E was going to be home in less than that, so my plan was foiled. He was, however, pleasantly surprised to see the dough rising on the counter when he got home.


Before I could get it in the oven, I got a text from Miss D asking E and I to join her and a friend for dinner/drinks. And even though I was in sweats, hands covered in flour and pretty tired, I decided to be spontaneous and go. E was down so we quickly threw on some nicer clothes and headed out the door and I’m really glad we did! We had such a great time. We laughed a lot, had a delicious meal and it was so nice seeing them. Sometimes, it’s the last minute ‘join us’ texts that can turn a boring Tuesday night into a great night. Even though we got home quite late, I decided to cook the Focaccia so it would be ready for me to bring some to the office today. It turned out pretty good and I plan on making some more this evening. I will follow the same recipe, but may try a caramelized onion or olive bread to spice it up a little. I’ll let you know how it goes.

 *Finished product!

Happy Wednesday everyone! One day closer to Friday  :)

With Love,

S

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Ho Ho Holy Innapropriate

*WARNING: Mature Content*


 


Morning all- so despite the fact that it is another 12 degrees outside, the holidays are swiftly approaching!!! In the spirit of the times, I added to my mini-tree decor and routed through all of my Christmas paraphenilia this weekend and came across a lovely gift that was given to me last year, curtosy of my dear coworkers...

Background: As those of you who read my "Holiday Ready Already?" post, I have awkward feelings towards the holiday tune "Baby, it's cold outside"           Exhibit A: "say what's in this drink (no cabs to be had out there)"               roofies anyone?!?!?

Actually, forget the examples, the entire song is a tale of a young woman trying to find excuse after excuse to escape this man who is using every reason under the sun to keep her in his living room- odd... especially for the holiday season!?!?!

After explaining my feelings to 3 of my coworkers- I recieved the following, framed & festively decorated:

"K's Guide to Christmas Carols"


Song: Frosty the Snowman  
Analysis: Song about pedophilia & pushing drugs


Song: White Christmas


Analysis: Cocaine Use


 


Song: Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer


Analysis: Alcoholism


 


Song: Run run Rudolph


Analysis: Stealing


 


Song: Chestnuts roasting on an open fire


Analysis: Feminism


 


Song: Santa Claus is coming to town


Analysis: Stalking- he sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake


 


Song: I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus


Analysis: Adultery


 


Song: Grandma got run over by a reindeer


Analysis: Drunk driving, hit & run


 


Song: Here comes Santa Claus


Analysis: He he he he he


 


Song: Jingle Bells


Analysis: Enough said!!!


 


Song: O Christmas Tree


Analysis: Sexual harassment


 


Song: Little Drummer Boy


Analysis: Masturbation


 


Song: Baby, its cold outside


Analysis: After a FULL examination of this song, it has been decided that there are no questionable lyrics…


 


Quite frankly... I think THEY are nuts... but I love 'em :)


Happy Tuesday everyone


 



 

Monday, November 28, 2011

Love Actually Is All Around

Good (?) Monday morning everyone! Though I am sure you know how much I hate Mondays, the weather this morning continues to be mild for this time of year and that makes me happy. Nervous, but happy. Nervous because this is definitely the calm before the storm… and not a metaphorical storm, but an actual one.  I hope that we aren’t going to pay for all this nice weather, but I have a feeling we might. They are calling for a cold winter with lots of snow, otherwise known as winter in Montreal, and I fear that they are right.

Despite the inevitable impending doom, I am still in a great mood. I had a great weekend, though not a quiet one, and I feel rested and ready for the week. As I had anticipated, my weekend was full of shopping, baking and dinners, mixed in with a little relaxation; the perfect combination. After a morning of shopping on Saturday, I made a second round of Challah bread and a big batch of homemade chicken noodle soup. Sunday I slept in a little, and then had the best morning. I sat watching Love Actually*, which is one of my favorite movies to watch around the Holidays, with a hot bowl of chicken soup and some warm Challah Bread. Pure happiness :).



I am sure that many would agree with me, when I say that there is something very special about that movie. Maybe it's because I have a soft spot for the arrival gate at the airport (my sisters, mom and I caused quite the scene when I arrived home after being away for 8 months, but that's a story for another day), maybe it's because I love the holidays and how everyone seems a little happier at this time of year, or maybe it's just because I love love, but I cry every time I watch it. It makes me so happy. And the best line is the opening one 'Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - love actually is all around.'

 LOVE :)

*Side note: If this were to go into the grid, it would go in as ‘Acceptable’. The reason being it is NOT YET ACCEPTABLE to watch Holiday Movies, but Love Actually is not a Holiday Movie… but a romantic comedy that just happens to take place during the Christmas Holidays. There is a BIG difference… I promise. The Holiday, another favorite, also falls into this category.

Something else that I managed to check off my ‘to-do’ list for the holidays this weekend was planning my Christmas Party outfits. Though I am sure I will change my mind at least twice, I wanted to make sure I at least had SOME options for outfits to wear so I wouldn’t be stressed out the day before an event. As I have mentioned, I now have 5 parties that I must attend and at least 8 others that I need to consider. Even though most of the guests won’t overlap from one party to another, I still don’t want to be stuck wearing the same thing to all of them. After ripping my closet apart, and throwing all my dresses all over my room, I have narrowed it down to a few options. I may have to repeat an outfit, but I’m off to a good start.



As I said in my earlier holiday outfit post, I love a LBD with a twist. The black dress has a gorgeous lace overlay which sets it apart from the usual classic black dress. It is perfect with a pair of tights and black pumps.



The one shoulder dress is a little different, but still very holiday. It has silver and white flowers, and pockets which I LOVE.



Then comes the glitter!!! I promised myself that I wouldn't buy a sparkly dress unless it was perfect. I hate when I get blinded by the bling, and buy something too over the top. But this dress is perfect. It has different shades of sparkles, ranging from gold to a dark brown, and it is the perfect length for an office party or for New Years Eve. I came accross it this weekend, and knew I had to have it.



I paired them all with necklaces, but am not sure if I like the combinations... so we'll see. What I do know is that I will be bringing this bag to all the parties:




It is by far one of my favorite bags and one of the best purchases I have ever made. Though it rarely gets to come out other than during the holidays, I absolutely love it. It is black satin and has a 'bow shape' making it perfect for Christmas time and the perfect accent for a holiday outfit. 



So all in all, my weekend was awesome. I got a lot done, but still got to relax and spend time with family. It's the begining of a new week, and November 28th, making it less than a month away from Christmas. I guess I know what I'll be doing on my lunch hours from now on! Have a great day and an awesome week :)

With love,

S

Friday, November 25, 2011

I'm glad we can agree S- Rules are made to be broken... & I broke so many of yours :P

Apparently I am over my holiday-ready-rant which I posted a week or so ago...

How do I know this? Because I just reviewed S & D's "Ho ho hold your horses Christmas Grid" and ALL of my recent activities have fallen into the "UNACCEPTABLE" category! (Except for the one which states that you cannot hint about what you want for Christmas... does it count if I flat out just SAID I want shoes/gift certificates for shoes for Christmas??? A) I wasn't hinting and B) it comes to no surprise for any of my friends or family)  

Now let's review- my Christmas tree, though a mini version, was put up last Saturday (Nov. 19th) follwed by a craft filled night on the evening of the 20th. Now, before you scroll down and gasp at the child-like pieces I produced, REMEMBER, I am the creative sister in the kitchen,  nowhere else! (T & S- if you follow up this post with photographic evidence of your lovely, talent-filled creations, I'm going to be displeased... let my "creative moment" shine!!!)


 

[caption id="attachment_263" align="alignright" width="162" caption="My Tree"][/caption]




[caption id="attachment_264" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="My Wreath"][/caption]

 

On the left, you will find a store bought wreath adorned with homemade ornaments including the sweet white bear which was brought to life by none other than yours truly... and friend, MP. Actually, truth be told, MP made the little guy, I merely accessorized him with a killer pipecleaner scarf & hat. The other decos include a close relative of my/MP's creation, the brown bear as well as a pipecleaner candy cane, a green & red "xmas ball," a lady bug and I think a green & white "dog."

 

N.B. All of these ornaments were created by individuals aged 29+ years, obviously none of us were blessed with the "crafty" gene!!!

 

 

 

 

 

I would post my other S & D faux-pas(s) but that would include purchasing xmas presents prior to December, which I have done but it was for T & S so I doubt they'll care too much if I broke that rule :P

 

So I'm NOT good at art and this post may leave you feeling one of many emotions... sad(for me), disturbed(that anyone could lack such artistic abilities), frustrated(that my friends and I would even call these decorations) or maybe even a little proud (thar I was brave enough to post these for the cyberworld to see.) Who knows?

 

Don't shy away from my further posts however because something special is in the horizon...

 yes, the Sister-Friend Christmas Cookie Decorating Extrordinaire!!! (This is when S & T will showcase their artistic abilities...)

Stay tunned

 

HAPPY FRIDAY 

XOXO

 

K   


I am so brain-dead right now I can't even come up with a witty title...

Laying Down the Law: Because Somebody's Got To Do It

I think I speak for most of us when I say TGI freakin F! I am so so so happy it is finally Friday and that my day is halfway over. It’s not that I don’t enjoy my work as a research analyst; it’s just that I have been putting in more hours than usual and it’s starting to wear me down. I could use a break and I hope I get one this weekend. Besides family dinner tonight, I have no other plans for the weekend and I hope to keep it that way. But who am I kidding? I know that by the end of the day, I will probably have crammed shopping trips, coffee dates and dinner plans into my ‘quiet’ weekend and that it won’t end up being so quiet. It gets kind of hard to relax at this time of year; I always feel like there is something more productive I could be doing than relaxing. Oh well… I’ll have to wait to catch up on my sleep in 2012!

After yesterdays post, I had a lot of remarks from the people in my office asking if I actually have ‘Christmas Rules’. Well, the answer is no. I’m not THAT crazy. Following a conversation with my good friend D, however, we decided that there shouldn’t necessarily be rules, per se, but guidelines for people to follow. And we have decided to create those guidelines!

I present to you:



Of course, there are many gray areas that we encountered when coming up with these rules... but we think it's a pretty darn good start. Maybe we should publish them :)

With Love,

S & D

The Countdown Is On




So T is getting married on the beautiful island of Great Exuma in the Bahamas and the departure date is now less than two weeks away! As many of you know, soooooo much planning and countless decisions go into planning a wedding. Months of sweat and tears and it all comes down to one day… well 7 days in our case (plus a 120 person reception when we get back, no biggie) but the countdown is on. My sister receives daily e-mails from friends and family saying ‘Only 18 days left!!!’, ‘Only 12 days left!!!’ …. As if she doesn’t already know! If you’ve ever been involved in a destination wedding, then you know that almost all of the planning is done over the internet. Now, this may appear to some to be easier because your choices are limited but, let me tell you, it isn’t. When you haven’t seen the location, or the flowers, or even tasted the food you have chosen… you tend to get a little stressed. You have to have faith in your choices and trust that the strangers who are helping you plan your wedding from miles away are going to help you make it the day you have always dreamed of. Letting go and letting others have the control is not easy for any bride. I have to say though, my sister has in no way been difficult or a ‘Bridezilla’ like the ones I see watching endless hours of wedding TV at home. As Maid of Honor, I feel my big sister’s stress as if it were my own. We have reviewed every detail and gone over every choice but, with less than two weeks to go, it’s time to just try to relax and concentrate on what’s important: what shoes and what dresses are going to make the cut (the airline’s one bag limit is causing us more stress than the actual wedding planning). Haha just kidding. Most importantly, it’s time to focus on enjoying yourself. I try and tell my sister to sit back and soak it all in… take some time to appreciate that this is a time to be happy and celebrate the love you and your fiancée share. This is easier said than done believe me, but she does make the effort. Everyone is excited to get away, enjoy good food & wine, and relax in the sun… but they are also excited for the big day. We all love my sister and her fiancée very much and are genuinely happy about the life they are about to start together. So big sisters, let’s try and relax and have fun, but most of all… Let’s try not to fight

With Love,

S

In Memory Of

I hate to start this Friday morning off on a negative note, but I would like to write a quick post in memory of my aunt who lost her fight to ovarian cancer yesterday afternoon. The past few years have not been easy for her, and she fought as hard as she could. We will remember her for her strength and great love for all animals. We love you very much Aunt Maggie.


With love,


K,T & S


Thursday, November 24, 2011

Breaking the Rules… Because Rules Are Meant to be Broken

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post about our yearly girls trip and how we each have ‘rules’ and ‘non-negotiables’ regarding booking. Well, we are booked and I’m very happy to report that we have broken some of the key rules. We will be returning to the Bahamas (though not to the same island) and will not be flying direct, but will be making a stop in Toronto. But hey, what can I say? We’re wild girls who just won’t live by the rules; even the rules that we, ourselves, have made. We will be staying at the other Sandals in the Bahamas and I couldn’t be more excited about it. It is, however, with great sadness that I say that I don’t think K will be able to make it this year. She works at a school and won’t have the same break that corresponds to the week we are going. It won’t be the same without her, so hopefully she can work something out. Because we wouldn't want her to miss this:

 Or this:



It seems I’ve been breaking lots of rules these days… because yesterday I broke one of my own ‘Christmas Rules’. Rule #5: don’t start Christmas Shopping until December 1st as to avoid forgetting bought gifts and, as a result, overbuying. ….. I bought my first Christmas present yesterday, November 23rd. I broke a key Christmas rule. BUT, in my defense, I have started a new, highly organized system for remembering gifts. This year I have set up a wrapping station complete with a list of all the gifts I have bought and for whom. Hopefully this will last and I won’t give up on said list by December 5th. Here’s to hoping. I am a little hyper when it comes to Christmas (in case you haven’t noticed) and sometimes get wrapped up (no pun intended… ok pun intended) in all the shopping. With the fake Canadian Dark Grey Thursday (sales aren’t good enough to warrant the coveted ‘black’ title) I have started some shopping. I’ll try and stay under control this year though… I promise!



 

Before I go, I want to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to our American friends and wish everyone Happy Shopping!

With love,

S

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Launched

Like it or not, winter has arrived in Montreal.  I didn’t think it would arrive in such full force (usually we get a couple of light snow falls before a one heavy enough to leave a trace) but I guess being near the end of November this is what we should have expected and be grateful for the extended fall we had.

I have a love-hate relationship with winter.  There is nothing that I enjoy about the cold.  But I do enjoy the little things that this season brings.  Here are a couple simple things (I say simple because as we get closer to the holiday season, the things get more intense) that I am liking today.

The view outside my window.  I love being cozy inside my condo and looking out to this...



Clementines.  I love them so much I wish I could get them all year round.  It would also be nice because I wouldn't over do it like I do when they are available (that bowl will last a couple of days)



Fun festive sprinkles.  Anything I make these days I add a little sprinkle to.  I mean - who doesn't like a jazzed up cookie or banana bread?

                                                                                 

Finally, online holiday sales.  I don't even have to leave my house.  Today was the kick off for many stores and my inbox is filled with specials from all of my favorite.  I ordered my first Christmas gift today!

                                                                                 

Wishing you all a good day!

T

Contagious

I’ve had my coffee and some time to think about it, and I’ve come to the decision that (for now anyway) I am going to be happy about our newly fallen snow.




Ok, so this morning may have been a bit early for me to jump on the ‘I hate winter’ train. BUT, in my defense, I leave the house at 6:30 in the morning and wasn’t expecting the ground to be covered in a blanket of snow. It was cold, and windy, and I just wasn’t in the mood for it. HOWEVER, after having met D for coffee this morning I have changed my attitude. I realized that I was on the wrong train, and have gotten off that one, and on the right one. The reason: D LOVES WINTER. Not only does she love winter, but she is one of those cheery, happy people whose eyes light up when they look outside and see the snow coming down and her cheer is downright contagious. Where I see cold, wet, pain-in-the-butt snow, D sees romantic, beautiful and full of possibilities snow and I love her for it. Instead of waking up in a bad mood, she woke up happy and jumped out of bed to grab a coffee with me at the cozy ‘Christmas on Crack’ Starbucks near my office. She was so happy and giddy that I couldn’t help but get on the train with her. Sometimes, all it takes is someone to point out all the positives to get rid of your negatives. As I have written in past posts, I promise to not b**ch and wine this winter and though I MAY have a teeny tiny bit this morning, I have since snapped out of it. I promise to try my hardest to make the best of it. All of this positivity may be a little premature, as it is the first of dozens of snowfalls, but I may as well get an early start. I will replace my negative attitude with positive thoughts and think of D whenever I am feeling down about the snow. I will laugh at how many times she said snow bunny this morning, and remember how the snow coming down reminded me of Christmas. We agreed this morning, however, that Christmas should be in the end of February so that we could have something to look forward to all winter. On the other hand, those poor Starbucks employees are only on day ten of the all day Christmas music and are probably about to lose it… so I guess it’s better that it’s in December. Also, I already have dozens of Christmas parties lined up for the next few weeks and there is only so much Champagne a girl can drink!

 When I arrived at work, I had a few emails from people in my office saying they weren’t going to be coming in. As is common at this time of year, a cold is going around and has spread to a few of them. I hope not to get it because, when I get a cold, I get it bad! So the few of us who are in have been liberally applying hand sanitizer and giving bad looks to anyone who dares to sneeze or cough. I guess nobody wants to be sick so close to the holidays! I was trying to decide what to make for dinner this evening, and I think it may have to be a good chicken noodle soup… just in case.

 I better get back to work, but before I go I want to wish everyone a happy first snow fall (in the words of Miss D) and tell you all to drive safely. The roads are slippery and a lot of people still don’t have their winter tires on. It’s a good thing I never got the time to take mine off from last winter :)

With Love,

S

Winter.... Wonderland?

This is the scene outside my window this morning. It's too early to decide how I feel about it yet.




With Love,

S

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Weddings: worries, woes & Weight Watchers

Despite the fact that one of the most important weddings (for myself/my family has come and gone... obviously T's) it does not mean I am in the clear! Nope, being in my late 20s (like, really late 20s) means that every few weeks another friend's Facebook profile is changed from "in a relationship" to "engaged." SERIOUSLY!!! Now, don't get me wrong, I am absolutely over-the-moon thrilled for these couples (KE/SC & MP/AS- whoop whoop!!!) but it also means that I have to revert back to my pre-T's wedding, get my a** into a dress form- not an easy task!!! 

I do have a few months before this is a reality BUT smack in the middle is Christmas... a trying time for all those who wish to maintain a decent BMI! So here we go again- Saturday morning began with me ripping through my closet, hating everything I own and savagely throwing articles of clothing into various bags- some "give away" others, just straight up trash.

DB (my salvation, my savior, my rock... a tale for another post) sat on the bed, confused (and probably a little scared) watching this explosion of sheer insanity. "What can I do?" He managed to ask, at this point I had moved on to the various boxes that are haphazardly stacked in his apartment and was aggressively sifting through those in a mad hunt for my tried, trusted and true Weight Watchers books, magazines, cook books etc. I didn’t answer so he quietly and stealthy slipped out of the apartment while I continued to wage war on my belongings. Next thing I knew, he reappeared in the apartment, arms FULL of WW gear- I’m talking “points guide” books, 2 cookbooks, a “points calculator,” an “eating out” guide, WW bread… you name it, he bought it!

So here I am… 4 points down (yup, 2 for my WW bread, 2 for a tbs of PB and zip zero for the ½ banana- black coffee also 0 points) and so very grateful to have someone in my life who doesn’t need to be TOLD what I need but rather knows me better than I know myself and puts me back together after each weight/insanity induces fall!!!  



Best part… what does he get in exchange? Tofu & broccoli stir fry ----> 5 points!!!

Yup- he’s doing WW with me!!!  Hee hee

Happy Tuesday All!!!

Monday, November 21, 2011

The Gods Need A Hero

Happy Monday Morning! I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend and that you all got to relax a little bit. I definitely did! I decided to take some time to myself this weekend as I was recovering from a week of little sleep. As I mentioned last week, I wasn’t feeling great, so when I felt awful Thursday night I decided I would take a sick day on Friday to recover. I did, and it was the best decision I could have made. I slept in (sleeping in for me is until 8AM) and spent most of the day in bed. Saturday morning I had a visit, but not until 11 so I had my coffee and relaxed for the first half of the morning before taking off to show a condo. Unfortunately, I was not aware that it was the Santa Clause Parade on Saturday which turned my 10 minute drive into a 40 minute drive. Needless to say this caused me quite a bit of stress, a stress that only increased with my afternoon visit to IKEA. I know, I know… never go to IKEA when you’re already in a bad mood, but E needed a coffee table and there is something about that place that keeps sucking me back in. I don’t know if it’s the inviting staged bedrooms, or the cheap chocolate bars, but IKEA and I are officially in a destructive relationship. Every time I go I get angry, but then there I am, two weeks later, back in the IKEA parking lot, heading towards the doors. It’s like I keep telling myself it will change; I keep hoping that THIS time will be different, THIS time they won’t be out of stock on the only item E and I came to get. But, alas, once again I leave with 5 items, none of them the thing I came to get. I have been to IKEA 5 times in the past couple of months and, as E can tell you, I never leave in a good mood. He keeps saying ‘why do you keep coming back when you know you are only going to get upset?’ I never have an answer, and I know in my heart that I will be back. See? Destructive relationship.


On top of all of that, I had promised E that we would go see Immortals on Saturday but with all the chaos caused by the parade, I was in no mood to venture downtown. So on top of all of my anger, now E was also upset that we wouldn’t be seeing the movie I had been promising to see with him for weeks. I decided to make it up to him in the only way I know; with food. When I got home I decided to whip up a few delicious loaves of Challah bread. Though I had never made it before, I was in the mood for a challenge and got out my cookbook (ok, iphone with cooking app) and started making my bread. Despite the fact that the dough was quite sticky and hard to kneed, it was a relatively easy bread to make. I imagine if you had a standing mixer it would be a snap, but I like a challenge ;)



Then you wait… and wait. The ideal rising time is an hour and a half and, even though I thought I wouldn’t be able to wait, I did. I checked on the dough halfway through the required time and it looked like this:



 It was coming along quite nicely, so I punched it down and flipped it over (recommended for best results) and let it do its thing. When I came back however, the thing was taking over the kitchen! It looked like something out of a Ghostbusters movie.



I decided at this point that it was ready. There was enough for 3 large loaves, so I separated the batch into 3 and then each batch into six. I then rolled them out to make 6 long pieces and attached them at one end. You then braid 3 and 3 and put them together at each end. It was my first time making Challah so it definitely wasn’t perfect, but I have to say I am pretty proud of how well it turned out. It didn’t only look pretty, but it was delicious. Tasted almost identical to the Challah you find in stores. E liked it too :)



Saturday night we stayed in to watch a movie and have dinner just the two of us. We settled on steak frites and the movie ‘Ned Kelly’ which is a story I love.



 For anyone who doesn’t know the story, I would recommend seeing the movie. It stars some hotties and a lot of fight scenes, so it’s perfect for a date night. The saying I have tattooed on my rip cage also happens to be a famous quote from the real Ned Kelly. Speaking of hotties, E and I did end up seeing Immortals this weekend, and even though I don’t think it comes close to 300, it is definitely worth seeing. The blood and goriness are not for everyone, but the story is good and the actors are… well… think 300.


We woke up Sunday morning and relaxed a little more and then I decided to make some hazelnut chocolate pancakes and espresso.



 It was the perfect wake up and shortly after finishing we headed off to the movie. Afterwards, we went to get some stuff at Loblaws for dinner, where we ran into T and B, who were there getting ingredients for their chilly. We had another quiet night that was a great end to a great weekend. It was EXACTLY the kind of weekend I needed. I got to relax and take the time I needed to feel better. This morning I woke up feeling healthy and rejuvenated, ready for another week of work. Speaking of which, I better get back. So happy Monday and happy week!


With Love,

S

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Home away from Home

B and I headed to Oakville/Toronto this weekend for a hockey tournament and visit with his family.  We had a great time and as usual, it results in a car ride home debating if ever we would leave Montreal and head back to Oakville.  We both love what we have in Montreal – my family, our jobs, our friends and our lives so close to such a vibrant city.  In Oakville, we have his family and the white picket fence communities that I have always pictured raising my family in (I especially love the downtown area).   Too hard of a decision to make – I wish we could just split our time...


 My sister-in-law kindly invited us to join her at the Wine and Food Festival in Toronto while we were visiting and I am so glad she did.  In Montreal, I attend the annual Beer Festival but we do not have anything for winos like me.  This was such a fun event.  There were dozens of booths set up with hundreds of wines from all around the world to sample.  I tried some really great (and some not so great) wines, spirits and bubbly.  Although I don’t think I was such a great judge of flavour after number 6 and on...


 



After such a busy, lovely weekend, B and I decided to stay in tonight and cook.  I made vegetarian chilli and he made a meat pie (to compensate for the lack of meat in my chilli).  Then together we made cookies.  


                                     


We used the recipe from the back of Chipits bag.  This was a first and boy are they delicious! 


Good evening.

T

Thursday, November 17, 2011

All That Glitters

Good morning everyone! I hope your Thursday morning is going well and that the weather where you are isn’t as chilly as it is here in the MTL. They are calling for colder weather, unfortunately, but I guess we just have to be thankful that we aren’t yet knee deep in snow. I wasn’t feeling great for the past few days, which is why I haven’t blogged, but am feeling much better today and am in a much better mood.

While having coffee at a Starbucks with a friend yesterday morning, we couldn’t help but notice that it looked like a Christmas explosion had gone off in there. The cups are already covered in winter scenes, the cookies have gone from flowers to snowflakes and there is even some of the fake snow on the windows. Which, by the way, is a little odd since it hasn’t even snowed yet so who do they think they are fooling? But I digress. As K and I have mentioned, like it or not the Christmas season is in full swing… and I LIKE IT! You know who may not like it however? The 6 staff members at the Starbucks who are stuck listening to Jingle Bell Rock and Frosty the Snowman on repeat for their entire shift, that’s who! And it was only November 16th! If I worked there, I think I would go a little nuts. I guess they learn to tune it out. Or at least, for their sake, I hope they do!
*The building where the Starbucks is... they are in the Holiday Spirit as well :)

One of my favorite things about the Holidays is most definitely all of the parties.  I know that by the end of the holiday season my feet will be sore from countless hours of wearing high heels, I won’t have any stockings left that don’t have runs in them, I will be tired of blow-drying my hair and putting on makeup, and I won’t have any more party dresses to wear. But for now, I’m pumped! I love walking by the window displays on my way to work and seeing all the party scenes featuring sparkly dresses and glasses of champagne. I love picturing myself in all of the fancy dresses, toasting with my friends. I love that even though the mannequins don’t have faces, you can just tell that they are having an awesome time. I love it all! There is one particular window nearby that features a Christmas Eve scene that melts my heart and almost makes me tear up. I know I sound a little crazy… but the holidays really make me happy. Opening my email  in the morning and having a new Holiday party invitation makes me so excited. But after going through my party invites, and comparing them to the holiday dresses hanging in my closet, I have decided that I may need to buy 1 (or 2) new holiday dresses this season but am having trouble deciding which look to go for. I thought about it for a while and have decided on three different looks. Of course, I will gear my outfits to the type of party I will be attending as well as who will be attending it… but for now, these are my choices:
 I will go with one LBD with a twist. Maybe some sparkle or a cutout, just to add a little something. I have a few black dresses that I can keep as backups or emergencies (T ripped a dress at a Holiday party a couple years ago.. thank goodness we were on our way out!) but they are kind of plain and not really what I am looking for.


 Then I will go with a bold color; most probably a red or deep maroon. I have light blond hair and fair skin, so red is probably better than the deep maroon. I just loved the detail on the back of the first dress.



 Then, for the most special party… I will go ALL OUT! I absolutely love sparkly things, especially sparkly dresses. I love how I feel when I put them on;  like I'm glowing. Few occasions are special enough to warrant a sparkly dress, but the holidays are a time when you can totally pull this look off (ok and on your birthday). I just love all that glitters and  the holidays wouldn’t be the holidays without some bling!



 I love this one. I think the amount of sparkle is perfect and, paired with black tights, it is an appropriate length for an office Holiday party.



 What can I say? I'm a sucker for dark blue... and shine. It may be a little short (even with tights) but it is still a great dress for the Holidays.



This is BY FAR my favorite dress. I love how it has both gold and silver and is textured to look like fish scales. I love the neckline as well as the hem and I think it is the perfect amount of sparkle without being too loud. The length is appropriate and it is some and girly without being overdone. Perfection!

*All dresses are from asos.com

Needless to say, I won’t be wearing any of those dresses if I don’t get back to the gym. I really have been slacking recently. I was so disciplined before the wedding, and went to the gym almost every day. But now, with work and the cold weather coming, I haven’t felt much like working out. I am in ‘bundle’ mode and for me that usually includes adding a few pounds to keep warm. This year though, I would like to try and avoid the extra pounds and stay on track at the gym. This is why I forced myself to go last night. Well that, and the fact that this was the scene on my desk yesterday afternoon:



ANYWAY! My friend D and I not only made it to the gym, but we killed it. We did our workouts to the end and I am very proud of both of us. We were rewarded with a very delicious, but healthy, dinner afterwards and I may have had a glass (or 2) of wine as well.



 Along with all of the other promises I have made for this winter, I promise to eat, drink and hit the gym.  I better get going, but I wish everyone a very happy Thursday!

With love,

S

Monday, November 14, 2011

Holiday-ready??? Already!!!

I was enjoying my early-morning, leisurely cruise into work this morning when I decided to shuffle the station to some easy-listening. To my utter shock I wound up listening to bells jing-jingling... on NOVEMBER 14th!?!?!?

Yes, I have adjusted to the fact that stores whip out their Holiday bells and whistles before the kids are half way done Trick-or-Treating but generally, radio stations hold off on the Holiday cheer tunes until at least American Thanksgiving!!! So yup, I was fairly taken aback when "Baby, it's cold outside" rang through my car this morning.... P.S. Baby, it's 17 degrees outside today- hardly a temperature for xmas music!!!

Of course, I race into my office, this post already composed in my head and what do you know... Ms. S has already gotten herself caught up in the early-holiday-nonesense!!! FRIDAY, Friday November 11th, S posted a holiday related post! Although I may have been accused of in it my younger (b*itchy teenage) years, I am NOT a grinch... I am a die-hard white-Christmas kinda girl so forgive me if I have difficulties with Carols, Xmas decos & Holiday posts when I'm still wearing flip-flops to work!!!

P.S. "Baby, it's cold outside," questionable holiday lyrics if you ask me!!! 

Just saying...

K



Picture from Snibel Blog

Birthdays, Babies and Brides

Good Monday Morning everyone! I hope everyone had a nice weekend and got to enjoy the milder-than-usual weather. Once again, E and I had a busy weekend. And once again, it flew by in a flash. I am always happy to be busy in the fall; I find it makes you forget about the colder weather and lack of sunshine… at least for a little while. It’s also nice to take advantage of this time considering the snow is coming and we will all be in hibernation mood soon and very reluctant to leave our cozy beds. But this weekend, I was in full party mode. I got home from work on Friday and gave myself a pep talk about my upcoming busy weekend. I knew it was going to be a bit hectic, so I needed to brace myself for it . The best way for me to prep for this kind of thing is to clear my head and get rid of all the stress from the work week. So, despite the fact that Friday evening was quite cold, I bundled up and went for a jog. The air was brisk, and I couldn’t stop for more than a couple seconds without freezing, but it was awesome. Most of the leaves in the park near my house have fallen off the trees and they make a lovely crunching sound as you run over them. I love how running makes me feel, and even though I’m not a great runner (thanks to my extremely flat feet) I find it helps me calm down and see everything more clearly. People in their cars looked at me like I was crazy... but I didn't care, I just kept running!



After my run, I jumped in the shower and got ready for Friday night family dinner. Our family meets at the same restaurant every Friday night and it is such a nice tradition. I just love it. We had a great time and the pizza was delicious. After dinner my best friend L, who was in from out of town, stopped by to have a glass of wine with E and I. She had a packed weekend, as did I, so I knew our visit would be short and sweet. I always love to see her though so I was happy that she could squeeze me in.

Saturday we met for our weekly brunch with our grandparents and then went and did a bit of shopping. I was hoping to find something for the engagement party I had that evening, but since all the holiday party dresses were out, I found everything too sparkly or Christmasy (I know that’s not a word, but oh well). I got a couple cute sweaters though, which always come in handy this time of year. After that I went home to ‘relax’ and get ready for the two parties I had that night. One of my best friend’s brothers got engaged and came in from New York with his new fiancée for an engagement party. It was a lovely party with amazing smelling food.



I say smelling because I could only stay for a short period before running off to T’s birthday dinner. She had her dinner at a Sushi restaurant that we were trying for the first time. T & I don’t eat sushi, but really enjoyed the meals we had and it was an overall great time. We laughed a lot, as usual.



 Sunday I got to take the morning to myself to relax a little and do some laundry. In the afternoon, I went to get some groceries for E since he was making both a meat and vegetarian lasagna for his brothers birthday dinner that night. His brother shares a birthday with T and they both chose to do their family birthdays on Sunday night. We zipped around and got everything he needed. I wrapped presents while he cooked, and then we headed out the door to our separate parties. We had an amazing time at my mom’s for T’s birthday. She always makes it so nice; especially for our birthdays. We had delicious chicken fajitas(sorry K… you’re going to be all chickened out!) with salads and a big chocolate birthday cake MADE COMPLETELY FROM SCRATCH with ice cream for dessert. We had such a nice time and I hope T enjoyed her birthday :).





After our dinner, I went off to E’s brothers just in time to enjoy a glass of wine and see the babies. They are too cute and I can’t help but smile when I’m around them.



Needless to say, I fell asleep last night as soon as my head hit the pillow.  Despite the exhaustion I am feeling this morning, I am lucky to have such good friends and family to spend my weekends with and I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. It was a great weekend full of celebrations and I am happy I got to make it to everything. Sometimes you can have your cake and eat it too!

Have a great week everyone! Next weekend I'll be recovering!

 

With love,

S