🙂 happy sunday.
Tags: americano, coffee, comfort, creme, drinks, espresso, food and foto, iphoneography, shake-it app, winter
my kitty callee loves laying on my yoga mat…and why wouldn’t she?! — cats can get into some pretty contorted positions, dude!
and since injuring my neck/shoulder last week {i’ll give all the details soon}, i am actually told by my physical therapist to NOT do too much stretching… so callee is taking my place on the magenta mat until a couple weeks pass 😉
have a great weekend, friends!
i mean, seriously. the temps have been beyond frigid lately and i’m wearing more layers and socks than any one person probably should… but we’re due for a heat-wave this week – we’re going to hit 32 degrees!!!
😉
brrrr… {but pretty!}
bbrrrrrr…. {but cool!}
bbbrrrrrrrrr…… {but happy!}
brr. {and it’s true!}
hope you’re staying warm out there. have a great weekend! haha, and my wearing-of-many-layers makes me think of this :
i heart coconut water… and not just after a good workout or to help cure a hangover {yep, it’s good for that!} although, coconut water will replenish you better than 10 gatorades {i don’t drink that stuff, but it’s fun to exaggerate sometimes} or a gallon of water alone. seriously this stuff is amazing! it’s almost identical to human plasma, and is extremely high in potassium and antioxidants.
there are lots of different coconut water brands out there… and many of them are good.
this one is THE BEST.
i mean, really… it’s THE best coconut water on the planet. harmless harvest coconut water has figured out the best formula {and philosophy}… and can you just guess what it is?! KEEP IT SIMPLE 🙂 i dig these guys and their minimalist approach to things.
it’s like sticking a straw straight into a coconut that has been gathered in southeast asia. Continue reading
hey friends.
{i just want to preface this by taking a moment to express my gratitude to the Universe for being ALIVE and well. i had quite a scare last week and it has given me a whole new perspective on life…}
as you may have noticed, i haven’t been writing as much over the last few weeks. i plan to update you on my life very soon… there have been even more changes 😉 but i haven’t been creating as many recipes lately. for a few reasons, really… but fret not, creating and cooking and fotographing will recommence very soon.
part of it is becoming acclimated in my new mini kitchen. as a reminder, this is what i’m working with :
i LOVE my tiny home, don’t get me wrong… i’m just trying to find my niche and the best way to cook as i fotograph… it is somewhat of a challenge right now. a few final changes are coming together in the kitchen, i just need to start coming up with recipes again. Continue reading
i am way overdue for a tiny home update. i have had a lot of personal things going on lately, so i haven’t been taking as many fotos or blogging as much.
plus, the holidays kind of make me want to hibernate… and so does my adorable tiny house… especially when i come home one day and it has been surprisingly decorated… like this :
it’s like living in a snowglobe right now… for real. especially with this fun little wordpress snow falling all over the blog 😉
{and i have the coolest landlords/neighbours ever!}
the holidays are officially here!
here are a few of my favourite recipes from 2013… any and all of which celebrate the true meaning of this season – EATING! 😀
—
buffalo chicken wraps {perfect for the game!}
pasta primavera with fresh-grated parmigiano reggiano
grilled leek and shitake mushroom risotto

pomegranate smoothie {it IS pomegranate season!}
egg nog… please.
to YOU!
that’s right, you. the reader reading this blogpost right now.
—
the lady with the latte in one hand while her nails dry…
the guy with the messy hair who just woke up and has his dog nipping at his leg, begging to be taken outside…
the teenager who thinks i’m cool because i keep it real…
the mom who wandered over to my blog and was inspired to create something different for dinner…
the girl who’s my age and who takes comfort knowing she’s not the only 30-something without a husband or kids…
the athlete who loves my smoothie recipes…
the family who wants to hire me to take their portrait. {just email me! :)}
the fellow blogger who appreciates artistry…
YOU!
—
all of you.
i wanted to shout out to all of my 700-plus readers who take time to stop in and give validation to the things i say and the things i share. as an introverted artist, it takes a lot for me to “put myself out there” {ugh, i even don’t like the term} however, it gives my heart so much comfort and joy every time someone clicks that “follow” button. i appreciate you all following my blog, taking time to read the wacky things i say, and taking time to comment and share. this wordpress blog forum has really been an amazing outlet for me and i feel such a strong sense of community among bloggers i’ve met.
i am just so grateful to each of you – words won’t really be able to express {remember my natal mercury retrograde?! ;)} but i had to do something to show my appreciation.
this thanksgiving, i’m thankful for so much, as usual… but today i want to focus on being thankful for support. THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart! you inspire and encourage me, just by reading and engaging.
🙂
my goodness do i love scallops!
pan-seared in some amazing butter… click here to see the best and only cooking method one should use to make these decadent sea-dwellers. like most good things in life, it should be done low and slow.
and i also love asparagus!
i usually do my best to eat with the seasons… which means i wouldn’t normally be eating asparagus right now, but hey – i’m the birthday girl, i can do whatever i want, right?! 😉
my birthday {which is tomorrow, actually} is always so close to thanksgiving {it was ON thanksgiving last year and the year i was born}, but i admit i’m happy that it falls in an entirely different week this year! i haven’t really been thinking of the holidays as much this year since i switched jobs {that’s a whole big, long blogpost or BOOK waiting to happen} so it’s been nice to really focus my energy on ME. i do have to work tomorrow, which is kind of a bummer – but i’m celebrating today and tonight with this amazing food and drink.
i like to spoil myself on my birthday. i started this morning with my favourite americano from my favourite coffee shop and a sinful pastry they call an “apple jesus” – can’t wait to try that! and i plan to have peach-wood-smoked salmon for lunch, followed by the above amazing meal for dinner… swallowed down gently with this :
la fin du monde – french, which translates to “the end of the world”
it is a triple-fermented golden ale that is high in alcohol content {9% : i tried to finish the whole bottle once – not a good idea for this 110-pound lass} la fin du monde is full of wonderful champagne-like bubbles which deliver hints of honey and fruit, accompanied by floral notes that linger pleasantly and round-out with a smooth, dry finish.
i have one every year on my birthday… and i always cook myself a super nice meal, usually consisting of seafood, since it’s my ultimate fav. i am already salivating, just thinking about my day full of amazing food…
happy birthday to me! 🙂
my cat is kind of quirky and kind of ridiculous…
ridiculously cute, i mean…
she’s always getting into things… just like her mama. 😉 Continue reading
hey friends! a while back i wrote about hilary’s eat well veggie burgers… they have quickly become a staple in my tiny home. i love the burgers, but i must admit that after trying the bites, they are definitely my favourite. i like “bite-sized” things anyway and hilary’s doesn’t disappoint.
you can read all about the company in my last blogpost – here. hilary’s eat well foods is a transparent company that is locally-owned and operated and they are also part of the non-gmo project – those are two of my favourite things about them. i’m such a fan and supporter and since i’ve collaborated with hilary’s eat well, i now have the fun opportunity of offering a giveaway!
all you have to do is go to hilary’s eat well facebook page and “like” them. then comment below telling me you did so, and i’ll enter your name in the drawing! Continue reading
green is good!
we all know how much i love kale. i’ve also been known to eat copious amounts of swiss chard. and i never turn away spinach, especially in a smoothie… and sometimes, nothing satisfies like a gigantic bowl of fresh-chopped salad mix…
i know we are heading into winter, but don’t forget to eat a lot of colour during this season!
a simple salad is a fantastic and delicious way to get raw, dense nutrients into your system. while i do find myself “craving” salad a little less during the winter months, i recognize how important it is to eat a salad as often as possible. in the summer i have one every day, but in the colder months, i typically want warm food {like most of us.} salads are a great way to absorb nutrients through healthy fats {add avocado, for example} and to get extra fiber in your diet. Continue reading
not quite broccoli, not quite cabbage, not quite cauliflower… romanesco is in a category all its own.
i’ve written a few times about romanesco… it’s one of my favourite things ever. you can probably still find romanesco at some supermarkets and specialty produce departments…
when i found this super awesome-looking and wonderfully-coloured one, i nabbed it up just so i could have a foto-session with it. i just find their fractal-nature so fascinating!!! “roman” and i had a lot of fun with the camera… i talk to my food – so what! and i hadn’t really seen one like this before – with the variation in colour. i am of the mentality that anything with natural colour is good for you… and the more, the better.
i just like to saute my romanesco in some yummy EVOO or butter and eat it up! it’s also really good just raw in a salad. the flavour is amazing, and i don’t know what it is about eating a “fractal”, but it just makes me happy.
hey friends!
how’s your week going so far? mine has been nice, the weather has been so beautiful up here!
i’m so excited to share some news with you! — a few weeks ago, i reached out to tinyhouseblog.com about doing a guest-post. i had been following tinyhouseblog for a while, since i knew i was going to be moving into this tiny home. i became somewhat obsessed with tiny living spaces… it’s so fascinating to me how many people live this lifestyle and it’s awesome to see what different people do with different living spaces.
i was so thrilled when kent agreed to let me write about my tiny home. i have been eagerly waiting to see it posted, and today is the magic day! i wanted to share the link, and share my pride a little 🙂 i will have another update on the tiny home very soon.. i’ve been making a few adjustments so it’s totally foto-ready!
thank you again for the opportunity, kent!
i miss new york.
and according to wikipedia – this is the approximate location of batman’s hideout… give or take a few blocks… we were practically next door neighbours! {as all of us superheros are ;)}
can you guess what this is a fotograph of?! when i saw it, i just HAD to run and get my camera and capture these images…
the only manipulating i did to these fotos was in post-production, and the only thing i did was add contrast… and if someone can figure out what i actually fotographed, i will be so completely shocked. i think it will also be fun to see what kind of responses i can get!
😀
below is a close-up….
please comment!
pssssttt, hey – have fun! now, today, tomorrow, this week, next week, all month, the rest of this year… 2014… and beyond! 😀
i had never seen anything like this and i was so happy to get immersed right in the middle of it!
remember last friday i wrote about the coolest cattle?! well, as i was fotographing them that day, i inadvertently got stuck behind the twice-a-year cattle round-up that takes place here in town. i was pretty much cracking-up the entire time and also felt so privileged to have witnessed this event, camera-in-hand.
it was the day of the eclipse, too… and the sunset was unbelievable!
i know they’re “just cows”, but i love them. and what i want to know is…
how the heck did they round up all these cows without me noticing? one can’t get off this road, so-to-speak, and i had just turned around to head back down the hill when i saw this… Continue reading