Wow, it has been awhile since I have been around the blogger verse. My life has had an unfortunate speed bump in which I had to go back to my homeland for the past couple of weeks. I have tried to stay up to date with what's been happening but I'm a little behind. Two weeks away from life will do that to you!
I wanted to share with you my Valentine's day gift to my hubby, which is just so adorable and so us! We got married back in May and wrote our own vows, so when I found this, I couldn't believe it! This small worded poster has so many of our memories, inside jokes, and vows jammed into this frame, that it is just perfect to save for our new house. Yes, we are house shopping for our first home right now! So excited!
I purchased the print on Etsy and it came with a thick white matte for a 8x15 frame. I imagine coloured walls in our new home, so I am sticking with the jet black frame theme. All of my wall frames are black, and this print with the white writing goes perfect in a black frame.
I purchased the frame at Michael's at (YES!) 40% off. What a deal!
...and voila! This is what I am going to give my hubby tonight. xo
Life is way too short. And I realized that recently after I moved to Ottawa in October and started working for myself. I was always one to study hard, work hard, and devote my life to my career (and I am not even 30 yet!). Once I was done school and studied my toosh off and pass all the CPA exams, I finally did it. I achieved all my goals I had and was a pretty dam good accountant. Working 9-5pm in the office Monday thru Friday, life gets pretty boring and the routine kicks in. Funny, because you don't realize it until your life changes. And for me that was having the opportunity to work foy me, myself, and I.
I began to take up new hobbies and doing things that I love, because of course, I had a tad bit more freedom now. Plus, I was (and still am) a newbie in the big Captial of Canada. One of the many things I love is yoga. So I joined the Rama Lotus yoga studio and devoted some time each week to my inner-self and realized that something else has changed. Me! Yoga is like this magical fairy dust, that sweeps you off your feet (and allows you to touch your toes). Practicing the many forms of yoga brings this sensation to your limbs, once a soar back now feels like a million bucks! So I can now say on new years day of 2012 my resolution for this amazing new year! I will study and do what I love, and hopefully be able to teach others by the end of the year, one of the many miricals of life, YOGA!
2012 is almost here. Start thinking about those resolutions. It's important to set goals and be able to stick thru it for the entire year. Last year, my new years resolution was to become a vegetarian and give up meat (forever). Such a simple goal has change my life in so many positive ways. It has never felt so good to be full on veggies!! if I had to describe that feeling in one word, it would be "refreshing". I would love to hear your new years resolution for 2012.
It was so nice to see my family during Christmas, that now I can't believe it is all over already. My mom gave me this snowflake charm for Christmas (amongst the many other gifts my parents spoiled me with) and I have been wearing it since.
It reminds me if my parents everyday, even tho I am 9 hours away. It's funny how the little things in life matter the most, and can make the biggest impact.
In the words of one fabulous power yoga teacher in Ottawa that I tried out for the first time yesterday: "less is more"
It's Christmas eve eve today! All I have been thinking about this past month is Christmas, from gifts to food to what am I going to wear. I was so happy, prepared and excited to drive 8 hours tomorrow to my hometown to see the family. All that excitement and readiness fell down the tube earlier this week when I seriously walked into a pole on the way home from a hot yoga class. Yes...walked into a pole! Now, how does that happen, you ask? Well, it's called a serious case of ADD (getting distracted and not watching where your going). My forehead exploded into a tennis ball (which now has gone down) but I have a serious black eye (actually it's deep purple, blue, green, and yellow now). So... that got me thinking. All of this time I spent preparing for the holidays, and now, well...my black eye has overpowered me.
So I decided to look on the bright side, and maybe I should take this time to chillax, instead of stress and overdo it. Enjoy this week before I go face my family and tell them, yes...I walked into a pole and that is why I have a black eye. (or should I be bad ass, and tell them I fought off a bad guy and won?? I'm still deciding...)
I wanted to share how I spent my fabulous week before Christmas for me, myself and I. Remember, do not forget about yourself this time of year, and just enjoy life!
It all started off with fabulous food of course. My two favourites, sushi and pizza!
Followed by a night of my favourite white wine (chilled of course, and white so your teeth don't stain) and a Woody Allen movie Midnight in Paris
Check out the trailer, Woody Allen never disappoints :)
I also decided to indulge and spend some money on myself this week. And what better way to spend money than on things that make us pretty. Plus, this will spice me up during the holidays and take the eye off my black eye!! Hopefully :)
NEW COLOUR by OPI called Pink Friday
(ps. I will post a pic when I try it out so you can see the true colour on my nails)
Holiday socks from the Gap, aren't they so cute!? And by the way, if you live in a cold winter wonderland (like I do!) they are so cozy and warm. Like a fireplace on your feet, seriously. Plus, I went on a 40% off day!
Finally, on my shopping spree for myself, I splurged on Clinique's Butter Shine Lipstick. My fav colour is called Pink-a-boo, a sheer golden pink. So pretty and let me tell you, my lips are so moist and shiny. Such a healthy looking lipstick, but not overpowering.
And what better way to end my shopping spree day, than with reruns of Sex and the City and Camomile tea.
Oh, and can't forget a little treat for Roxy!
Now my last week before Christmas is ending, and the other day I stayed in and did some last minute shopping on Etsy for my friday who just had a baby in September. It arrived yesterday, check these out!! Leg Warmers for babies up to 12 months.
Make sure to take time to enjoy the sunset!
Hope you all enjoyed this week as much as I did and turned a problem (in my case, a black eye accident) into a positive thing and enjoy life that much more.
Over the weekend, I was craving a good veggie risotto dish, but not the usual creamy, cheesy, mushroom-white-wine risotto that is popular on the menus these days. No, this one has such a kick, a juicy sensational twist. The key ingredient is Red Wine! So good!! I didn't realise how popular in demand my dish was until this morning, when the twitter-verse drooled over it. So... here it is! Please let me know how it turns out.
And an added bonus, this is a no-fuss risotto. Since it is partially baked in the over, there is no need to constantly stir it!
Red Wine Mozza Broccolini Risotto:
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons of unsalted butter (note: I used Earth Balance Soy Free Buttery Spread)
2 large heads of broccoli, chopped (about 2 cups - I love a lot of broccoli)
1/2 chopped medium onion
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1 garlic clove finely chopped
1 cup arborio rice
1/3 cup (or a little more) Red Wine
2 cups or low sodium organic vegetable broth
1 can (14 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a dutch oven or ovenproof pot over high heat. (Or if your like me and don't have anything that can go on both the stove and in the oven, I used a large pot, then transferred everything into a glass oven dish then again back into the pot after it was done baking in the over. Quite a hassle, but does the trick!) Add the chopped broccoli and fry until just tender (about 4 minutes, you don't want it too cooked).
Transfer broccoli to a plate, and add the onion and carrot to the pot and cook for about 5 minutes). Add the rice and garlic and cook for about another minute.
Add the wine to the pot and cook until evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add the veggie broth, tomatoes, and 1 cup of water, then cover and bring it all to a boil. Transfer the pot to the oven and bake until the rice is tender, about 15 minutes.
Remove pot from oven (if the risotto is a a little wet, don' t worry as it thickens when you add the shredded cheese or just let it all sit on the stove for a bit longer, trust me, it thickens!) Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and the cheese until creamy (about 2 minutes). Lastly, stir in the broccoli and bon a petit!
*If you are a meat eater (like my hubby), you might want to grill up some chopped Italian sausage
There is nothing better than the moment December 1st rolls around and it's officially time to buy a Christmas tree. The smell of fresh pine in the cold winter air is so refreshing (there really is nothing better!) The needles are so soft and hang my most delicate and memorable ornaments, and the healthy dark geen branches always seem to give life to my home in the dead of winter. I just love the moment when I can buy a tree and bring it home to decorate (while I sing and dance to xmas tunes). Ya, just accept it, we all do it!
But this year, it's all just a tease as I walk by my local Christmas tree vendor watching all the happy families pick out their favourite tree. This year is all about driving the 9 longest hours of my life down the 401 to see the family, as I left my small town city just over 5 years ago. That is what happens when you are the one to leave the nest, you must sacrifice holidays and vacation to go back to the hometown, since really, it will always be home. So enjoy putting up your tree this year and sing an extra song for me! By the way, what is topping my Christmas charts this year is Zooey Deschanel and her new album A Very She & Him Christmas. Check it out, you will love it, I promise!
I am new to this english environment again. After living in Montreal for the past 5 years, not knowing too much french has made me forget what it is like to live in a community you understand and feeling a part of something is the most amazing feeling in the world when you have been isolated for the past 5 years.
So, to my surprise, the Christmas Farmers Market indoor party was just awesome. To see and meet so many nice people selling their local produce, xmas crafts and goodies just made my weekend. And it also made me miss my family - a 9 hour drive down the long 401 :*(
I just wanted to share some pics of the sense of community this lovely city offers. BTW, I have been so giddy and happy to be back in my English hood again, in Ontario!
The raspberry scones are the best scones I ever had! From Art is In Bakery
