Donna Hay

I love cookbooks. I love cooking from them (clearly) but I also love just looking through them, like a good magazine.

Donna Hay's books are some of my all time favourites. Her recipes are absolutely delicious, and the style  of her books is always beautiful. She crafts incredible food, and even the simplest of recipes make your mouth water. She has a way of making you look like a master chef with five ingredients and 45 minutes.

One of my all time favourites of hers is called 'Seasons' - in this she divides recipes into the four seasons depending on ingredients at different times of the year. This book is like a little art book to me - the pictures are so lovely that I want to frame them. I won't, but I want too...

Check out her website:

www.donnahay.com.au

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butter...

As a child I had a fondness for butter. I'm talking dipping my chubby little fingers in the container kind of fondness. But, thankfully, as an adult I've come to love a whole other, healthier, kind of butter. It's nail polish and it's fantastic.

Beyond having no formaldehyde, no toluene, no DBP nor carcinogens, this nail polish ACTUALLY STAYS ON MY NAILS. Shocker. This stuff is awesome. Much better than any other kind I've ever tried.

My current colour love is called Jaffa. Look it up, then go find it in a store near you.

www.butterlondon.ca

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Cereal

Oh yes, a post dedicated to cereal.

I could live on cereal, and at times I admittedly have.

Some people window shop clothes, shoes, furniture - I window shop the cereal aisle.

My current love is for the Kashi Toasted Berry Crisp. It's so very good. It gets me out of bed in the morning. Yum.

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pure grace...

I know that I said my favourite scent is verbena in a post a while back, but, have you not noticed I have a lot of favourites? Because, my other absolute favourite scent is found in Sephora and it is called 'pure grace'. I buy it in the foaming bath/shower cream version and I LOVE IT.

The best way to describe this scent is clean. It literally smells like clean cotton sheets drying on the line. It smells like soap and water. It smells fresh. It smells AMAZING.

I love getting out of the bath and having this scent lingering.

Try it...especially on a day when you are yearning for those warm summer afternoons.

www.sephora.com/browse/section.jhtml?categoryId=C13461

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Travelling to the West Coast?

Of Newfoundland?

If so, Rocky Harbour is A MUST. I think this is my favourite town in all of Newfoundland and Labrador (which probably isn't fair because I've never actually been to Labrador...but anyway). Rocky Harbour is so quaint, and so beautiful, and well, just this perfect piece of home.

In writing on Rocky Harbour I have to mention Java Jacks. I love it here. Love it. Love it. Love it.

Java Jacks is this restaurant that, from the outside, looks like somebody's house. On the website it says 'feeding travellers to Gros Morne National Park with fresh, local food', and that is pretty much it. Simple yet very mentionable.

I remember having the Caribou Lasagne. I remember it being incredible.

I need to take another trip to the West Coast - any takers?

www.javajacksnl.wordpress.com

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The Manx

Sorry, another Ottawa post. For all those not living in Ottawa, just visit already and try all these places. For those that live here...mmmmmmm, let's talk about The Manx.

The Manx is a little pub that is hidden in the side of a building down a set of steps, easily looked over if you don't know what you are missing. Located at 370 Elgin Street, it is well known by the regulars, and loved for its' tiny, but perfect, menu and beer selection.

My absolute favourite thing on the menu are the tofu tacos. They are DELICIOUS. Honestly. I dream about these. I had them yesterday for dinner and could easily go again tomorrow - I'm not kidding.

They also have Strongbow on tap, which makes this girl very happy.

I hear brunch is great here as well but have yet to check that out.

Eat here once and you will become a regular too (just be forewarned about lining up, you most always will).

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beige.

There is a store in my favourite area of Ottawa, Westboro, called beige. This store originated in Montreal and, much to my delight, decided to share itself with Ottawa. It reminds me of my favourite store back home in St. John's called Home (more about that in another post!) and it really makes me want to spend my money on pretty, homey things that I probably don't need but could convince myself otherwise.

beige has everything from furniture to bedding to dishes and candles. Anything you can think to make a home that much more lovely this store offers. I love the style and always need to stop in when I'm in the area.

Check it out www.beigestyle.com

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Happy Endings

I'm not good at keeping up with TV shows - I forget when they are on, I don't have PVR, and, truth be told, I only found out I had Rogers on Demand this past April, though I've been paying for it for three years.

My sister was here in April visiting and filled me in about the world of Rogers on Demand (how good is that!?). That day she introduced me to my new favourite TV show - Happy Endings.

It's ridiculous, hilarious and loveable. It's given me some new great slang words that no doubt drive my friends crazy, and I could probably watch every episode all over again the minute they end.

I can't stop telling people about this show. It will definitely make you laugh, and who couldn't use a good laugh.

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lululemon...

OK, really, this store does not need my help in promotion but I just have to write about my favourite pants because, well, they are my absolute favourite.

The 'Still Pant'. Perfect. I could live in these. I want to wear them everyday. To work, to dinner, to exercise, to everything. I wish all pants fit like the Still Pant.

I suggest you buy a couple of pairs because you will always want to wear them so that way when one pair are in the washer you can have the clean ones on. Yes, I love them that much.

www.lululemon.com

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Bobby Bazini

I downloaded 'I Wonder' by Bobby Bazini a couple of months ago and have definitely had it on replay since that day. It's so lovely. I never tire of this, or any other songs I've since found by this Quebec born singer/songwriter.

His voice is so sweet and his words are so simple. Nothing complicated here, just extremely easy to listen and fall in love.

Check him out already.

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J-T add on...

So, just a few days ago I wrote about the Jean-Talon market in Montreal. Then, when I was there on Saturday I headed to one of my favourite food stands and realized I forgot to mention it.

The nuts. Yes, nuts. Cashews, almonds, walnuts, etc. And not just any nuts, not just roasted nuts, but flavoured roasted nuts. Mmmmmmmm.

So, my favourite mix right now is the rosemary. It's delicious. Then there are the vanilla almonds, which taste like cereal (my obsession with cereal is for another post altogether), and then try the sweet and salty cashews. The list goes on and on.

Have I not convinced you to head to the Jean-Talon marketplace yet? Did the promise of nuts work? Seriously, go find this food stand.

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The Best Sammie - DiRienzo's

I mentioned just a few posts ago about the vietnamese subs that I love in Calgary. When I first moved to Ottawa I went to a vietnamese restaurant in search of a similar thing. I didn't find it, but instead the young guy working there sent me to Little Italy for, what I was told, the best sandwich in all of Ottawa.

To this young guy, whoever and wherever you are, THANK YOU.

DiRienzo's is by far the best sammie in Ottawa...make that Ontario. It's delicious and it's cheap. Plus the man that makes it calls me (and every other female) senorita in his Italian accent and I just love that too.

What makes this sandwich so special? Hard to say. All the ingredients just fit together perfectly (make sure to add the spicy eggplant).

Head to DiRienzo's at 111 Beech Street, but prepare to line up!

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Lush

I love Lush products. I especially love that the products have a date that they were made and the name of the actual person (not machine) that made them stamped right on the container.

I really love the soap and bath bombs here. I try them all and love each one depending on my mood. But right now my favourite thing at this store is my new facial cleanser, called coalface.

It doesn't look like something you would put on your face, being it's a jet black bar of soap, but it's great. Depending on skin type this can really work for you. My face is squeaky clean and feels great after using coalface, but definitely ask for the opinion of someone working there as it really can depend on skin type.

www.lush.ca/shop/products/face/cleansers/coalface

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If you live near Kingston...

You must go to the Pan Chancho. Just do it.

Have breakfast, brunch or lunch. Or have none of that and just pick up odds and ends from the bakery/deli. I love this space. In a perfect world (where I live in Kingston, professionally bake and have tons of cash) I own the Pan Chancho.

It has a very sweet, and kind of sad, story of origin. Look it up. Just adds to the overall feel of this place.

The other day I got a ridiculous (RIDICULOUS) speeding ticket in the Kingston area. The Pan Chancho makes the drive to the courthouse (clearly to fight said ticket) bearable.

www.panchancho.com

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Pumpkin Spice Latte

It's getting cooler and my favourite time of year is pretty much here - Fall.

A part of why I love Fall so much is my beloved pumpkin spice latte. Seriously, how can anyone not love these. Have you had one? If you live in North America I'm not sure how you've gotten through a Starbucks without one but nonetheless, I'm here to tell you to order this delightful treat on a nice chilly morning and your day will be off to a perfect start.

Or, let's be honest, get one at any time of day, regardless of the weather, and you'll be a happy camper.

I think I'll go get one right now actually.

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If you live in Calgary...

...and haven't had a vietnamese sub from Kim Ahn Subs then you must go there today. I lived in Calgary for a short stint (for those that remember this time in my life, let's take a minute to laugh) and I think I must have eaten here multiple times a week. Sometimes I would finish a veggie sub for lunch and wonder when I would be hungry for dinner because I just wanted another.

They have all kinds of subs, but the veggie was by far my most favourite. And from what I can remember it cost like $3.50. Ridiculous. I don't even want to say what's on the sub because it will no doubt sound so simple and plain that you won't want to try it. So I'll stay mum and make you curious.

Go splurg the $3.50 and try it for yourself.

Kim Ahn Vietnamese Subs is located at 626 17th Ave SW.

I wish I could go to Calgary today. To see my brother's family, but selfishly to also eat here. He understands!

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hey rosetta!

Seriously. Have you not heard of this band yet?

They come from St. John's, NL.

They are incredible.

Their songs are beautifully written, the music gets under your skin and pulses through your veins.

Dramatic? Yes.

Deserved? Hell yes.

Support local (my hometown local) and buy a song. But just try and stop at one.

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Tuesdays With Morrie

A friend recently asked me what was my favourite book. Without hesitation I answered 'Tuesdays With Morrie' by Mitch Albom.

I was given this book by my brother on my 21st birthday. I thought it was such a great gift to be given at that time in life. But now I understand that this is a perfect book no matter what stage of life. The lessons are invaluable. 

I love the idea of this book. I love how it came about nearly by accident. I love how happy the message though in a very sad context. 

I love being reminded how precious life is, it pushes me to live it to the fullest.

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Allium

One of my favourite restaurants in Ottawa is called Allium.

The best mushroom toast. Mmmmm. Mushroom toast. Wish I had some right now.

The only thing I want more than mushroom toast right now is banoffee pie.

When I lived in Ireland I tried banoffee pie for the first time (big step as I hate pie, but this isn't a blog about what I hate so we'll stop there). I fell in love. To my surprise. With a pie.

I haven't seen banoffee pie since my Ireland days many years ago. I was beyond excited to see it on this menu and, oh my, I almost wish I didn't know it was there. I like it so very much. I like to say the name. I like to look at it. I very much like to eat it.

Take someone on a date to Allium already. But let them order their own banoffee pie. No sharing on this one.

www.alliumrestaurant.com

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pyrrha

I wear the same necklace pretty much daily. It has two birds on it and it symbolizes two rare birds finding each other. I love it. I love it. I love it.

It's from pyrrha.

The Vancouver designers use 19th century wax seals to create pendants, necklaces, rings, bracelets, etc.

Check out the website, I guarantee you will find something that you will have a hard time taking off as well.

www.pyrrha.com

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Dead Man's Bones

Ryan Gosling is in a band.

I'm not joking.

And it's good.

I'm honestly not joking.

Download the song 'My Body's a Zombie for You' by Dead Man's Bones.

I.N.C.R.E.D.I.B.L.E.

I've probably listened to this song a million times since stumbling on it. One of my all time favourites. Love.

www.deadmansbones.net

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underwear.

I have to write about underwear. I just have to.

A friend introduced me to 'hanky panky' underwear last year and I swear I've tried to turn every girl on to them since that very day.

They are one sized, come in a gazillion colours (yes, that's a number), and will make you throw out every other pair you've ever owned. I promise. Try a pair.

In Ottawa (and the rest of Canada) you can find them at Holt Renfrew but I also found them at Anthropologie in the States.

www.hankypanky.com

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cartography...

One of my nearest, dearest, oldest friends is so incredibly talented in so many ways it's hard to tell you about one thing. But, here it is...his baby.

www.cartography40n74w.com

Through countless planes, trains and automobiles, he has picked up pieces for his jewelry from more places then I can hope to see in a lifetime. He scouts antique markets around the world for unique items that capture his heart and vision. He documents them, takes them back to NYC and waits to find other pieces that will join them at the end of a chain.

A rare piece of jewelry that hangs around just one neck in the entire world. Yours if you're lucky.

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Black Labrador

My dog.

Big surprise there.

I cannot possibly have a blog about things I love and not mention dogs. Specifically my dog.

My boy is a Black Labrador (sort of mix but mostly anyway) and I'm sold for life. The best personality. Great for exercise - runs, hikes, swims, and quite possibly will ride on the end of an SUP with me next year if I can master the balance.

Great family dogs. Super kid friendly. Adorable. Loveable. Perfection.

Adopt one already...but not from a stupid pet store that my have used puppy mills (don't get me started, I'm getting angry just typing that).

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Banana Cake

I used to go to NYC and head straight to Billy's bakery for banana cake. That was until I started making my own and I swear it's better.

That may sound conceded but it's not so much my cake, it's actually from Art Smith's restaurant in Chicago, so all I do is follow directions!

It's called Hummingbird Cake. It's beyond incredible. I can't say enough. Make it for a loved one, or someone you hate and want to fatten up. Even your enemy would eat this cake out of your hands. It's that good.

www.oprah.com/food/Art-Smiths-Hummingbird-Cake

(If that link stops working let me know, I'm just too lazy to type out the recipe I have saved).

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Jean-Talon Market

There are many markets throughout Ottawa and surrounding areas, but, for some reason, my favourite outdoor food market happens to be the Jean-Talon market in Montreal.

One of my absolute favourite things to do in this city is drive out of it and straight to this market. I love to walk up and down the aisles bursting with the colours of seasonal veggies and fruit. I love the bread shop, which I could spend hours in. I adore the cheese store, though I don't speak French or 'cheese' and rely heavily on a good friend to guide me through (I'm never disappointed with her/my choices!). I get lost in the store that basically stocks only oils (olive and truffle being my obsessions) and appreciate that they let you taste test the different kinds as if they were wine.

Last, and certainly not least, I LOVE the calamari. I don't know why it's so good here. The drive? The anticipation? How you have to stand and eat it sometimes because it's so busy? Damn, it's good.  (OK, some times I go just for the calamari).

Take a Sunday drive to Jean-Talon - www.marchespublics-mtl.com/English/Jean-Talon

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Eggs Benedict

I love breakfast. It is sometimes my absolute favorite meal of the day - especially on weekends when I have time to just sit and really relax and enjoy it. My most favorite breakfast? Mmmmm, eggs benedict, how I love you.

About a year ago a friend took me to the Fraser Cafe and ordered eggs benedict. I turned my nose up at the thoughts and ordered my usual granola (loooove granola...another post, another time). When her meal arrived she made me try it. I experienced regret immediately.

Since that moment I've scoured cities I'm visiting for good eggs benedict. I've found great versions, but nothing compares to the Fraser Cafe in Ottawa.

www.frasercafe.ca

Make a reservation or you'll be disappointed.

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dancing

I said it. Dancing.

Random, I know. But I can't help it. I just love dancing. I think as adults we do less and less, but should do more and more. So I'm blogging about it to remind you how amazing you feel when you just let music take you and you dance your little heart out.

A friend told me she asked her mother "where do adults go to dance?". Her mother thought about this for a while and said, "I don't know...weddings?".

I hadn't thought about that before but it's true. Once you get out of the bar stage, where do people go to dance? Lesson here - never get too old to go to a bar and let go.

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Buddakan

I like food.

Let me re-phrase.

I love good food.

From simple appreciation for a good avocado, to savouring a fantastic meal at a restaurant. I'm not picky, I just love what I love. I cannot stand to eat crappy food and will search out wholesome meals whenever I can get my way...which, OK, I fight to do!

New York City. Full of amazing food. But one thing stands out in all my visits here.

Buddakan. Go here. Order the Edamame Dumplings and eat slowly, consciously, and love me for telling you about this. Probably one of the most amazing things I've ever tasted. The rest of the menu is great, but honestly all I remember are these dumplings. And being in heaven.

The atmosphere is pretty incredible as well. The grand room is unlike anywhere else I've dined - try to get a corner table. You'll see what I mean.

www.buddakannyc.com

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Mascara

This is a bit of a bizarre post. I'm not a big make-up lover, I have some key things that I like to use and that's that. Every now and then I venture into Sephora to try and learn something new, but I've been pretty much doing the same thing with my make-up for years.

Having said all that...I love my mascara. It's the one thing I feel naked without. Mascara is to me what lipstick is to most females. I love it. But I love just one, and I've tried many.

Clinique high definition lashes. Try it just once and I swear you'll stick with it.

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