“Shady Business”

Sunglasses are a frustrating accessory, no? We lose and break them all the time and it’s always heart breaking when they were an expensive pair.

My personal favorites from my collection are my Ray-Ban aviators. However, they are my favorites for several reasons, the most important being they were an anniversary gift from the Mr. (so I am extra careful with these puppies). I also have several pairs of  “cheap” sunglasses that I keep as back-ups. Also, when they are cheaper I don’t mind picking styles that I won’t nescessarily like next season.

Here are a few of my picks for eye-wear you can afford to lose. These are all under $20.00, so they won’t break the bank if they need replacing:

 Stay cool folks!

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Incident

I love cookies, I love chocolate, I don’t however love your generic ‘Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookie.’ Personally, I find the cookie too crunchy and bland. Don’t get me wrong, I will probably eat them if they are there, but, I wanted to attempt an improved version (even if it was only improved to me).

I took a “Sugar Cookie Cut Outs” recipe from “Better Homes and Gardens The New Cook Book” (given to me by my parents years ago) but, instead of chilling the dough I blended in the chocolate chips and spooned it out as drop cookies onto a parchment covered baking sheet.

When I whipped up the batch of cookies the intention was that we could enjoy just a few last night, the rest would go to work to share with the office. Well, that rapidly backfired; we ate the whole batch ourselves (hence, the title of this post it was indeed an “incident”). Perhaps not the smartest decison we have ever made!

Coveting Etsy

Hope you all had a terrific long weekend!

  We spent a lovely night in Stratford, Ontario; then the rest of it was spent with family and setting up our new BBQ. Sadly, the rain kept us indoors for much of Sunday and Monday so, we finished Season 3 of ‘The Sopranos’.

Lately, I have been back in “nesting mode” regarding our apartment. You know, fixing it up and decorating, adding finishing touches that I will probably later redo (I change my mind alot), day dreaming about my next home purchases that will  “make the room”. In all this I have found myself on Etsy constantly, it’s addictive! You can find anything (seriously) and they have some of the best houseware items, prints, the cutest stationnary and honestly my list goes on.

Here are some of my favorite things today:

Best Eyelash Curler

Lately, I have been trying really hard to not spend much money and save up a bit, but every once in awhile I can’t fight the urge to just have something new. This weeks purchase was an eyelash curler (sounds boring I know):

“Tweezerman Deluxe Metal Eyelash Curler” $9.99 at Shoppers Drugmart.

It is the best eyelash curler I have ever used and it was only ten bucks! My lashes are curled to perfection. Seriously, people have asked me if I have been wearing false eyelashes (which I take as a complement)!

Onto something much more exciting (than eyelash curlers…puhhh-lease as if you didn’t enjoy that), check out “Fitz and the Tantrums.” If you enjoy a Motown, neo-soul sound these guys will get you moving! They are playing a show here in Toronto at the Opera House in June. Give em a listen!

Bar Carts On The Brain

I have been interested in the idea of purchasing a bar cart for our apartment for awhile now. I have these lovely daydreams about cocktail hour in my living room, listening to records, sipping on gin and tonics (which I am aware will never happen unless Don Draper finds my address).

The other day our upstairs neighbor found this cart disguarded on the curb and  scooped it up for herself only to find she had no use for it, so she offered it to us. The cart is an older Ikea model but the great thing about ikea is how many multi-purposes an item can have and for the amazing price of free-ninety-nine we got ourselves a steal!

It is in a little bit of rough shape; I think it may have been used in someone’s garden before but, now it is going to be my bar cart (after I clean it up of course). I am very excited to pull this project together.

My only issue now is…what do I actually stock my bar cart with? Whiskey, Gin, Tequila….? So many options!

I found these amazing cocktail stirrers online which are sooooooo unbelievably out of my price range but still inspire my vision – D.L. & Co. $195 each (money from this purchase goes to women’s cancer research)

What would you stock your bar cart with?

Mother’s Day Cards DIY

   There are four very special mother figures in my life that I wanted to recognize individually yesterday though, I hope that I show them how appreciated they are all year round as well. 

  This year I made ‘Mother’s Day’ cards for the special women in my life. I was very pleased with how they turned out and I had such a wonderful time personalizing each one that now I am afraid I may be making all my own cards from here on!

  I purchased the cardstock from “Essence du Papier” and then went and raided the dollarstore’s craft aisle! It was a fun project that I highly recommend trying.

Hope you had a fabulous “Mother’s Day” and treated those special ladies in your life a little extra special! 

The Trench Coat

Well, yesterday we had a lovely sunny spring day but, now its back to rain again (which is apparently going to last us the whole weekend).

     Though you won’t see me doing this anytime soon;

 (unless of course that is Gene Kelly “screaming at the rain” and not singin’ in it)

  It has made me realized how pleased I am that I finally purchased a trench coat last fall that is now transitioning into spring with me also . I don’t know how I got by all these years without this wardrobe essential?

Here are a few affordable trench coats that I think would make great essentials in any woman’s wadrobe:

Happy Friday Folks! Stay Dry!

Bright, Bold Dresses to Cheer Up a Gloomy Week

The weather here in Toronto is still cold, rainy, gloomy and depressing. It’s spring; but we are still wearing winter coats around here! I just want to put on some bright colors and enjoy a lovely sunny day in the fresh spring air.

Here are a few dresses that I would be wearing right now if the weather would just co-operate *shaking fist in the air*. Though this is Canada, so, I would probably still need a nice cardigan or jean jacket, but, that still beats a parka anyday! I need to move to a warmer climate…*sigh

Pan – Greek Mediterranean Cuisine

 

      

    On our last date night my boyfriend took me to the Danforth (an area of the city we rarely explore, but know we should visit more frequently). We went to this little restaurant called ‘Pan’ on the suggestion of good friends who said we “needed to try it!” so, we did, clearly.  

    When we got to the restuarant they were holding what they call ‘Pan Fest!’ for the entire months of March and April. ‘Pan Fest’ is a $25 dinner off a prixe fix menu which includes and appetizer, entree and a dessert! (deals, deals, deals! you know this makes me giddy with delight!)  

 

  

    Everything we ordered was delicious, above and beyond what we expected. To be honest, there were a lot of weird noises coming from our table as every bite was a new taste explosion.

What I Love About ‘Pan’:

- Impecable service

-Lovely atmosphere, cosy and contemporary

-’Pan Fest’ is a great way to save a few bucks on a meal worth so much more

-The food was cooked to perfection and the desserts were outstanding

- The wine selection

 You must try this restaurant! 

So Simple Strawberry Shortcake

   

Strawberry Shotcake

     When I think of classic summer desserts Strawberry Shortcake is always the first to come to mind. Now, I know it isn’t summer yet but, sometimes you gotta “fake it to make it” and that is just what I did the other night.

   I cut this recipe to make for just two people because I didn’t want leftovers in the house (that is too dangerous). I also completely revamped the original recipe substituting with things in my pantry I thought may make this cake more of a “taste explosion!” – if you will.

My Recipe: (Note: if you are making for more people this is easy to double)

1 C. Flour (I used whole wheat because it was what I had but white will do) 

1/4 C. Sugar

1 Tsp. Baking soda

Pinch of salt

1 Egg white

2 Tbs. Butter/Margarine (basically the same thing)

Splash of skim milk

1 Tsp. Cinnamon

1 Tsp. vanilla extract

2 Tbs. ground almonds

2 C.  stemmed and sliced strawberries

   Wash your strawberries stem them and slice them, sprinkle some sugar on them and place them in the refridgerator for a few hours (this step makes the strawberries syrupy, however, I don’t do this step because we prefer them without syrup so, this step is optional)

   I blended everything in one bowl, mixing dry ingredients first then adding the wet.

   Grease a baking pan and place your dallops of mixture on them (try to keep the dallops separate).

   Bake for 20 min aprox at 375 degrees.

Enjoy! 

 

   Do you remember this Strawberry Shortcake? I used to have thses toys when I was young and I remember that they smelled so good!