Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween!!!
Hoping everyone has a safe and happy Halloween!
MUAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHA!!!
What's everyone giving their trick or treaters tonight? We're giving out some chocolates (nut free) and chips (nut and gluten free), as well as Halloween pencils and erasers. I love Halloween!!! I love seeing all the costumes! In case you're wondering why we can give out pencils, erasers and lots of goodies to our trick or treaters, this is why...
We only get about a dozen or so kids in our neighbourhood!! It's a far cry from the 300 and something kids we always had in the city!!! Hubby doesn't mind. This way he gets to have all the goodies that weren't given out!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Ooooooohhh...Alfie!!!
Okay, maybe you were thinking more along the lines of Alfie, the British womanizer/limousine driver in NY who spends his time having one night stands.This dish is even more divine than Jude Law (Alfie 2004) and Michael Caine (in the original 'Alfie' in 1966) put together.
I'm talkin' Fettuccine Alfredo here.
You will need:
*1 cup heavy cream (I don't have heavy cream in our house, so I substitute it with milk)
*4 Tbsp. butter
*4 Tbsp. flour (to thicken)
*1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
*1 cup grated Mozzarella cheese (or any other Italian cheese. We just always have Mozzarella in the fridge, so this is what I use)
*4 cloves of garlic, crushed (I love garlic, so I usually put quite a bit of it)
*1/4 cup white wine
*1 cup chicken broth
*parsley, a handful (chopped)
*black pepper to taste (the original recipe calls for salt too, but with the broth and the cheeses, I find it's already salty enough)
First, melt the butter in a saucepan and add the flour. Stir constantly for a few minutes to make sure the butter and flour mixture is creamy. Next, add your cream (or milk) and broth. Blend well. Add all your other ingredients and keep stirring until the cheese has melted and you've got a really creamy, smooth sauce. Serve on top of fettuccine noodles with cooked chicken or shrimp. This dish goes well with a fresh spinach salad. This recipe can be easily modified to suit vegetarians as well. Just omit the chicken and shrimp...and use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.
Confessions:
1. In case you hadn't noticed, this is not the most figure friendly dish, but it tastes sooooooooooooo good! This is why I only make it once in a blue moon!
2. I guess you saw from the photo, those weren't fettuccine noodles! I didn't have any in the house at the time, but the sauce went well with the spaghettini noodles!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Awwwwwww!!!
Karen at A Day in the Life awarded me with the BFF award. Karen's a wonderful writer, she's super funny, has a really great attitude and is just a wonderful person to know. Thank you, Karen!!! I 'met' Karen through some friends of mine in Toronto. Gavie's Gal and Nathanial's Mom were my friends and roomies when I lived in TO. They know Karen from a Mommy group they belong to. Now we're all blogging and I even got to meet Karen in person at NM's house a few weeks ago.
There are so many blogs that I read and enjoy. It's come to the point where I actually try not to discover new blogs because I get so wrapped up in the ones I already frequent! I would like to pass this award onto some of my BFFs:
Karen already passed the award to Curiosity Killer, Fancy Pantsy, Gavie's Gal, Nathanial's Mom, Beachmama and Cherry Extract. I wasn't sure if I could give the award to you ladies since you were already awarded it. Karen, can I give it to you too? LOL! You're definitely one of my BFFs! :) xoxo
What I think you're supposed to do is to pass this award onto your BFFs. I guess that would be people whose blogs you check out regularly and who check yours out. In essence, give it to people who have become your blogging buddies.
************************************************************************************
In case you're wondering why I'm not in bed yet and it's after midnight, I've still got that awful cough and it's keeping me up at night. Actually, it's been keeping Hubby up! I went to the doc's a week ago because this horrible dry cough (soooooo annoying) has lasted 17 days and doesn't seem to want to go away. I feel like I'm hacking up a lung, I can't sleep, I see white sparks every time I cough (seriously, it's kind of scary). The weird thing is that I'm not sick. No fever, it's not a cold, it's not a bronchial infection, it's not pneumonia...It's just a really persistent, stubborn cough. Okay, sometimes it prevents me from breathing properly. The result? I was prescribed Advair. Apparently it's asthma.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
For Canine
Canine Cologne and I were chatting about some of the dolls I collected, growing up in the 80's. I am a true product of the 80's. I still remember all the words to Michael Jackson's tunes and I remember wearing fluorescent clothes like Cyndi Lauper did! Tight 'almost painted on your skin' jeans were 'in', and blue eye liner and fire engine red lipstick were 'cool'. Madonna was my idol and I once thought I'd marry Jon Bon Jovi (or even Richie Sambora). The Slippery When Wet album was the very first album I bought with my own money. I had it on cassette and vinyl!!! I even thought Boy George was cool once upon a time.Anyway, Canine didn't remember Sea Wees or Charmkins at all. This post is just for you, Canine! Oh, and I don't think you missed too much not knowing that these things existed!
I'm embarrassed to say that I collected:
Sea Wees, Charmkins, Starwberry Shortcake, and My Little Pony figures. I honestly don't think it was by choice though. I was never a girlie girl, though my mom and aunts tried to make me one.
I much preferred the toys Middle Bro and my cousins played with:
I asked Hubby if he remembered any of these things. He said no. He's just a few years older than I am. While I was still an elementary school student collecting stupid dolls, Hubby was already working after school!
Photo borrowed from: members.tripod.com/~seawee/seawees.html
Check out http://www.retrojunk.com/ for a walk down memory lane! TV shows, commercials...all the things you loved about the 80's!
I-G-N-O-R-A-N-T
If there's one thing in the world I can't stand, it's IGNORANCE. I have some pretty strong opinions and I don't mind standing up for things that matter to me. I just cannot stand stupid people. I don't mean people who are unintelligent. I mean people who are just ridiculously closed minded and just plain oblivious that there's a world outside of the one they know.
My student has never experienced Halloween before, as they don't celebrate it in her country. A girlfriend suggested going to a few Halloween parties tonight to show my student some "Canadian" culture. Lots of people dressed up and there were prizes for the best costumes. There were beverages and refreshments, and the music was great to dance to.
Here's where the ignorance comes in. We were all having an amazing time. My student was enjoying herself tremendously, just minding her own business and having fun, when this girl dancing next to her just out right starts talking about my student with her friends and giving her these looks! She was totally being a little "bee with an itch" (okay, this is a G-Rated blog and I don't like to use the word 'beeeeeeotch'). I was soooooo mad! Thankfully, one of the girls we were with told the girl off (J, you are my hero, by the way!). After a bit of threatening looks from J across the dance floor, the girl and her friend sort of got the hint and stopped being witchy.
Here we are, being total goofballs in our costumes.
Tonight, we had an AMAZING time. It was a girls' night out. I don't usually go out anymore, since I'm married and don't really enjoy going out late and frequenting bars, nightclubs or pubs anymore. That's just me. It's not that I'm boring or that I'm an old married woman. It's not that. I don't know. I just don't have the desire or stamina to be out so late. I've got things to do in the morning and can't sleep in.
My student has never experienced Halloween before, as they don't celebrate it in her country. A girlfriend suggested going to a few Halloween parties tonight to show my student some "Canadian" culture. Lots of people dressed up and there were prizes for the best costumes. There were beverages and refreshments, and the music was great to dance to.Here's where the ignorance comes in. We were all having an amazing time. My student was enjoying herself tremendously, just minding her own business and having fun, when this girl dancing next to her just out right starts talking about my student with her friends and giving her these looks! She was totally being a little "bee with an itch" (okay, this is a G-Rated blog and I don't like to use the word 'beeeeeeotch'). I was soooooo mad! Thankfully, one of the girls we were with told the girl off (J, you are my hero, by the way!). After a bit of threatening looks from J across the dance floor, the girl and her friend sort of got the hint and stopped being witchy. It bothers me that the girls were being witchy when my student wasn't even doing anything. J said that the girls were either:
A) Totally small town, have never seen an Asian person before and were just plain racist.
OR
B) They were totally jealous that my student was way prettier than them and felt threatened by her.
Either way, it really ticked me off. If they were so racist and trash talked her because she was Asian, then they need to get a life and learn that the world is full of people from different places. Maybe it's because I'm from a big city and multiculturalism is something I'm accustomed to. Maybe it's because I've traveled all over the world and know that there are so many wonderful countries and cultures out there. I just don't understand why anyone would treat someone badly just because they're not the same culture, skin colour, religion, or whatever. I grew up knowing that we should treat people fairly, regardless of our differences. If someone has never done anything horrible to you, then why treat them with anything less than the respect and kindness they deserve? So far, my student has been a hit with everyone she's met. She is a really sweet, intelligent, and fun person. Up until this incident, everyone has really liked her. I know I can't shelter her from ignorance and that ignorance is part of life.
Even if those girls were feeling threatened by my student, why would they blatantly and so obviously talk about her while she was standing right next to them? It baffles me how stupid some girls can be. Just have fun, enjoy your time with your friends and stop ruining a perfectly good time.
I told my student what had happened while we were driving home. She was laughing hysterically because she had absolutely no clue that all this was going on! I love that! She's in her own little world :) She still loves the island and she still loves Halloween! She actually said this was one of the best times she's had in Canada! She's got such a wonderful attitude and approach to life! She's lovely.
Here we are, being total goofballs in our costumes. Thursday, October 25, 2007
Throwback Thursday #16
I'm a bit behind on my Throwback Thursday posts since I've been away from home the past two weeks. I just love the Pinks and Blues Girls' Throwback posts so much, that I enjoy posting my own whenever I can.
Back in the day, Middle Bro and I used to be inseparable. We used to hang out together and play together. We thoroughly enjoyed each other's company...until adolescence hit and then we were didn't hang out together so much. This pic is one of my faves. I love how cute Middle Bro is here. He was always the sweetest, kindest, most generous and gentle kid ever. I wasn't the nicest older sister. I wish I had more patience and understanding back then. I miss those days where Middle Bro and I used to be really close. Little Kenny (Middle Bro's son) has the same adorable cheeks as Middle Bro had when he was little. Kenny's also got Middle Bro's quiet disposition, curiosity and agreeable personality.
This photo was taken in the mid 1980's in Lachute, Quebec. Our neighbour's grandparents had a farm there and we used to go visit them sometimes. I don't know where Middle Bro was, because the little boy in the pic is actually my younger cousin, Married Winkle (who was married in Montreal in August). *sigh* Look how skinny I was!!! Oh, and check out my 80's signature "Asian girl" haircut. It's shoulder length with straight bangs. It's also known as "the bowl cut". Nice! Not.
Here I am, striking a pose. Remember when short shorts were in? LOL! Those sunglasses? They were actually "Charmkins" sunglasses. Remember those 'scented jewelry playmates'. I had the entire collection. Being the only girl in a family of all boys, I was given tons and tons of dolls and girly things. Funny, because I'm actually scared of dolls. I used to have dreams that the dolls would come alive. I especially hated those dolls with the glass eyes that opened and closed. Creepy! Why on earth would anyone ever give a little girl a doll like that? LOL!Wednesday, October 24, 2007
For Your Viewing Pleasure
Please forgive me. I just had to post these cute videos of the little cuddle bunny! He's got the cutest smile and the sweetest cheeks ever! I just want to hug him!!! Can you tell I'm a doting aunt? LOL!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Toronto-Kingston-Ottawa-Montreal: Part Deux
Toronto, Ontario:
We kicked off our trip with our first stop being in Toronto. We did a little shopping and spent the rest of our time visiting with friends and family. I had a chance to see Nathanial's Mommy and her newest addition to her family. I can't believe Nathanial's Mommy's little girl is already a month old! I also spent some time with KarenMEG and Gavie's Girl.
I noticed that while in Toronto, I started wheezing and I even had an asthma attack. I haven't had an asthma attack since I was thirteen years old!!! Is it possible for a person to be allergic to the city??? Perhaps it's the change in air quality or the smog and car fumes (though Toronto isn't that polluted). I don't know. It's just odd that I reacted the way I did, considering I used to live in Toronto!
We also spent some time with some good friends from college and university. It was great hanging out again.
Montreal, Quebec:
@ Segafredo Zanetti's. If you're in Montreal, you MUST drop by. We were impressed with the menu and atmosphere.
British Lion's trip had come to an end. The time to bid adieu had come.
We also got to spend some quality time con mi familia. Eleven days away from home, lots of fun and good times, and many hours spent on the road.
We kicked off our trip with our first stop being in Toronto. We did a little shopping and spent the rest of our time visiting with friends and family. I had a chance to see Nathanial's Mommy and her newest addition to her family. I can't believe Nathanial's Mommy's little girl is already a month old! I also spent some time with KarenMEG and Gavie's Girl.
I noticed that while in Toronto, I started wheezing and I even had an asthma attack. I haven't had an asthma attack since I was thirteen years old!!! Is it possible for a person to be allergic to the city??? Perhaps it's the change in air quality or the smog and car fumes (though Toronto isn't that polluted). I don't know. It's just odd that I reacted the way I did, considering I used to live in Toronto!
We also spent some time with some good friends from college and university. It was great hanging out again.
Montreal, Quebec:
I cannot stress how much I love Montreal! Walking along the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal just gives you the feeling that you're in a quaint little town somewhere in Europe. All the old buildings, the art, the architecture...It all just blows me away each time I go there. Having grown up in Montreal, I guess I am somewhat biased. J'aime Montreal!
@ Segafredo Zanetti's. If you're in Montreal, you MUST drop by. We were impressed with the menu and atmosphere.
British Lion's trip had come to an end. The time to bid adieu had come.
We also got to spend some quality time con mi familia. Eleven days away from home, lots of fun and good times, and many hours spent on the road.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Toronto-Kingston-Ottawa-Montreal (and everywhere in between) PART 1
Ottawa, Ontario: A must see for my student from South Korea. Ottawa's our nation's capital, there are lots of beautiful buildings, you can go on a tour of the parliament buildings, it's a really pretty city. Yadda, yadda, yadda.
Okay, I'm certain I'm not doing Ottawa much justice here. Ottawa was actually our last city on our whirlwind tour. We just thought it would be a great idea to show my student our capital since we were in the area. It wasn't scheduled on our itinerary. All of my friends from Ottawa who are reading this, please know that I do love Ottawa and that I know that there are a lot of wonderful shops, art galleries, museums, and neat places to check out. I was just being cranky because it was day 11 of our trip and I was really eager to just get home to Hubby :)
Kingston, Ontario: Our nation's first capital city. Queen's University is located in Kingston. For me the main attraction to this ever-growing city is...
As cute as can be in his tub. At 7 months old, this little cuddle bunny is such a water baby! Pics and videos of his swimming lessons will be posted soon-ish.
I love the pic of Kenny touching my face. Middle Bro (Kenny's dad) told me that he was watching a TV program and they said that if a baby touches your face or holds your face, it means they love you. Awwwww!
Love the pic of Kenny eating. "Are you looking at me???"
Another reason for me to visit K-town? Baby Bro and his lovely girlfriend. I love you guys!
Okay, I'm certain I'm not doing Ottawa much justice here. Ottawa was actually our last city on our whirlwind tour. We just thought it would be a great idea to show my student our capital since we were in the area. It wasn't scheduled on our itinerary. All of my friends from Ottawa who are reading this, please know that I do love Ottawa and that I know that there are a lot of wonderful shops, art galleries, museums, and neat places to check out. I was just being cranky because it was day 11 of our trip and I was really eager to just get home to Hubby :)
Kingston, Ontario: Our nation's first capital city. Queen's University is located in Kingston. For me the main attraction to this ever-growing city is...
K E N N Y ! ! !
As cute as can be in his tub. At 7 months old, this little cuddle bunny is such a water baby! Pics and videos of his swimming lessons will be posted soon-ish.
I love the pic of Kenny touching my face. Middle Bro (Kenny's dad) told me that he was watching a TV program and they said that if a baby touches your face or holds your face, it means they love you. Awwwww!
Love the pic of Kenny eating. "Are you looking at me???"
Another reason for me to visit K-town? Baby Bro and his lovely girlfriend. I love you guys!I'll be posting photos of the Toronto and Montreal portion of our trip soon.
Where to Eat in Montreal
Before I write a proper post and upload photos of our Toronto-Kingston-Montreal-Ottawa trip, I must share some of my cool new Montreal finds! Some may say I'm a Montreal snob since I refuse to eat bagels, smoked meat or poutine if they're not from Montreal. I can't help it. Montreal...C'est ma ville! CK makes a point of listing her fave restaurants, giving food reviews and uploading photos from these restaurants. CK, this is for you :)
Montreal is such a wonderful city. It's full of history, rich in culture and the arts...and it home to so many different types of restaurants, bistros, cafes...You name it and Montreal has it!
Segafredo Zanetti is by far one of the coolest places to hang out with friends over an espresso and a mouthwatering dessert. Segafredo's is very cool, posh, has great decor and a warm atmosphere. The service is friendly and the coffee and dessert menu is excellent. Located on St. Catherine Street, between Metcalf and Mansfield, it's in the middle of all the main shopping locations and sightseeing spots.
We ordered:
Espresso with a shot of Amaretto, apple cake, Smirnoff Ice, Caffe Latte, Naacanzo Desereno Cocoa, and the Mascapone cheese w/mango and grape, strawberry and chocolate, and pineapple. All coffee drinks are served on a silver tray with a sliver of dark chocolate and a glass of water.
Prices: Affordable.
Kanda Sushi is now one of my favourite Japanese restaurants in Montreal. I was impressed with the quick service and the great ambiance. Kanda Sushi is located on Bishop St. and is just a hop, skip and a jump away from Concordia University. Their "All You Can Eat Sushi" is a great deal for $13.99 (lunch)/ $18.99 (dinner). The sushi and maki selections are superb.
We ordered:
Kanda Roll, Spicy Roll, Tuna, Salmon, Cucumber, Vegetable Tempura, Seafood Tempura, BBQ eel (JEY's fave), and Udon.
Prices: Good Value.
Man-na is also located on Bishop St. (Bishop and de Maisonneuve). At first glance, Man-na didn't strike me as being overly impressive. There was only one waitress working that night and they ran out of several items on the menu that we were thinking of ordering.
The food was tasty and we thoroughly enjoyed the side dishes. Typical in Korean dining, there were plenty of side dishes from different types of kimchi, to bean sprouts and a potato dish. The main dish servings were very generous. Korean music played in the background and the clientele was mainly university students, professors and businessmen.
We ordered:
Bulgogi, Kalbi, Jjamppong, and Kalbitang.
Prices: Okay.
Will I dine at Man-na again? Perhaps. The food was good. However, one member of our party said that he had tasted better bulgogi elsewhere in Montreal. I enjoyed my dining experience at Man-na, but didn't use their 'facilities', as my student said, "Ummm...I don't think you would like to use the washroom here." She obviously remembered my quirky public toilet phobia.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
The 'Everyone's Weird' Meme
I'm still away from home right now. We just dropped British Lion off so he could catch his flight back to the UK today. Booo hoo! British Lion has been with us for nearly a month! I'm going to miss that Brummie friend of mine and his crazy British humour!
Highlights of our trip so far:
* Seeing Nathanial's Mom (and her two adorable kiddies!), Gavie's Gal, and KarenMEG and her adorable Little G in TO. So sad I didn't get to see Fancy Pantsy Momma, but next time I'm in TO, we'll get together :)
* Having supper with my aunt, my uncle, my maid of honour and her hubby in TO.
* Meeting up with my two college/university friends in TO.
* Visiting my grandmother :)
* Hanging out with my cousins and family
* Downtown Montreal and really good sushi!!!
* Montreal at night. This city is gorgeous! Montreal...c'est ma ville!
* Shopping, shopping, shopping. Did I mention shopping yet?
* Cool cafes and restaurants.
Our next stop before returning to the island is Kingston. I can't wait to see my little nephew. He is growing way too fast!!!
Before I sign off, Curiosity Killer tagged me for the 'Everyone's Weird' meme.
1. What kind of SOAP is in your bathtub right now? Olay Body Wash, Kiwi-Passionfruit body wash from Gavie's Gal, oatmeal-milk-honey soap from the Manitoulin Soap Factory and lemongrass soap also from the Soap Factory.
2. Do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator? Not at the moment. It's out of season.
3. What would you change about your living room? I'd get hardwood floors and maybe a new window.
4. Are the dishes in your dishwasher clean or dirty? We don't have a dishwasher (unless you count me as the dishwasher! LOL!) Oh, and since I am currently out of town and Hubby's at home alone this week, I have a feeling there are dishes in the sink...and they're probably dirty. LOL!
5. What is in your fridge? Uhhh...leftovers from Thanksgiving, milk, spinach salad, pomegranate-blueberry juice, leftover birthday cake from Hubby's surprise party last week, brie, camembert, Korean hot pepper paste, kefir, homemade jams and pickes...need I go on?
6. White or wheat bread? Cracked wheat.
7. What is on top of your refrigerator? My chocolate orchid (yay! It's in full bloom right now and the house smells chocolatey!) and a ceramic aromatherapy thingy with cranberry scented oil in it.
8. What color or design is on your shower curtain? Tee hee! Everyone always comments on this one. My shower curtain has frogs and lilypads on it. My bathroom has a frog motif.
9. How many plants are in your home? Hmmm. 1 ivy, 2 aloe, 1 gigantic spider plant, 1 palm, 1 huge Buddha bamboo (a few feet high), 2 African violet plants, 1 miniature geranium plant, 1 chocolate orchid, 2 cacti, 1 Christmas cactus, 1 Easter cactus, 1 amaryllis (in the dark for the winter). I lost count! I've got about 20 house plants.
10. Is your bed made right now? Hahaha! I have no idea, since I'm out of town. It probably is though, since Hubby always makes the bed in the morning :)
11. Comet or Soft Scrub? Neither.
12. Is your closet organized? Yes.
13. Can you describe your flashlight? It's sort of a transparent blue thingy. It's the type of flashlight that has reusable energy. I love that I don't need batteries! You have to shake it to generate power/light. It's kinda neat, especially since I never seem to know where I leave the spare batteries! Hubby's flashlight is a super duper powerful one. Mine looks like a toy next to his.
14. Do you drink out of glass or plastic most of the time at home? Glass.
15. Do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now? Nope.
16. If you have a garage, is it cluttered? Hubby keeps the garage pretty tidy. He's organized with his tools and such.
17. Curtains or blinds? Curtains...the light, billowy, airy, flowing type.
18. How many pillows do you sleep with? 5. Don't laugh at me, but Hubby calls me 'The Princess and the Pea' because I sleep with so many pillows.
19. Do you sleep with any lights on at night? No way. Must have complete darkness to fall asleep.
20. How often do you vacuum? As needed. Once or twice a week.
21. Standard toothbrush or electric? Totally old school--standard. I don't know why I'm scared of electric toothbrushes! LOL!
22. What color is your toothbrush? Fuschia. I wanted blue, but the dentist gave us a blue one and a fuschia one during our recent visit, and Hubby refused to take the fuschia one! Grrr.
23. Do you have a welcome mat on your front porch? Yes, and the barn kittens have started sleeping there. They are no longer 'barn kittens'. They are now 'front step kittens'. *sigh*
24. What is in your oven right now? Nada.
25. Is there anything under your bed? Nope. My bed is on the floor.
26. Chore you hate doing the most? Laundry, laundry laundry.
27. What retro items are in your home? The curtains in the kitchen, a few light fixtures...
28. Do you have a separate room that you use as an office? Yes.
29. How many mirrors are in your home? 4.
30. Do you have any hidden emergency money around your home? No. I've got a jar that reads 'inheritance fund', but I've only got pennies and a few American dollars in there. Boo hoo!
31. What color are your walls? Most of the house is wood, but I've painted the living room "Vanilla Ice Cream", the bathroom "Jack Frost", and the foyer a sort of textured grey. It's got sand granules in the paint. It's really cool.
32. Do you keep any kind of protection weapons in your home? I'm not sure. Do kittens, two mama cats, and a dog count as weapons?
33. What does your home smell like right now? I'm hoping it still smells like my chocolate orchid.
34. Favorite candle scent? Cranberry.
35. What kind of pickles (if any) are in your refrigerator right now? My homemade dill pickles, homemade bread and butter pickles, and homemade pickled beets.
36. What color is your favorite Bible? I'm not sure.
37. Ever been on your roof? Yes! Hubby and I did some roofing work last fall. Actually, he did the roofing work and I passed him the shingles and tried not to faint (I'm scared of heights)!
38. Do you own a stereo? Yes.
39. How many TVs do you have? Two. Our flat screen was a bridal shower gift. My wonderful maid of honour gathered up all the girls and they all pitched in to get us a new TV!!! D, you are the BEST! The other TV is in our games room. We use it to play games on our PS2. LOL!
40. How many house phones? 3
41. Do you have a housekeeper? Uhhh...I think that would be me.
42. What style do you decorate in? Hmmm...rustic, natural, country/cottage...lots of wood and cream colours.
43. Do you like solid colors in furniture or prints? Solid colours.
44. Is there a smoke detector in your home? Ummmm...hello...Hubby's a firefighter, so yes.
45. In case of fire, what are the items in your house which you’d grab if you only could make one quick trip? The kittens, the cats, the dog...I'm assuming Hubby wouldn't need to be retrieved and that he'd be putting out the fire! The animals and Hubby are all that really matter. If I had some time, I'd try to rescue my photo albums, books, and art.
I'm going to tag Karen because I'm curious to see what she'll answer (and because she's doing that NoBloPoMo thingy and might need this should she ever run out of something to post). I'm also going to tag Jimmy just to see what kind of quirks he's got. Louann, Mama Doggy Love, and Cherry are also being tagged. If anyone else wants to do this meme, please leave me a note in my comments to I can check out your answers :)
Highlights of our trip so far:
* Seeing Nathanial's Mom (and her two adorable kiddies!), Gavie's Gal, and KarenMEG and her adorable Little G in TO. So sad I didn't get to see Fancy Pantsy Momma, but next time I'm in TO, we'll get together :)
* Having supper with my aunt, my uncle, my maid of honour and her hubby in TO.
* Meeting up with my two college/university friends in TO.
* Visiting my grandmother :)
* Hanging out with my cousins and family
* Downtown Montreal and really good sushi!!!
* Montreal at night. This city is gorgeous! Montreal...c'est ma ville!
* Shopping, shopping, shopping. Did I mention shopping yet?
* Cool cafes and restaurants.
Our next stop before returning to the island is Kingston. I can't wait to see my little nephew. He is growing way too fast!!!
Before I sign off, Curiosity Killer tagged me for the 'Everyone's Weird' meme.
1. What kind of SOAP is in your bathtub right now? Olay Body Wash, Kiwi-Passionfruit body wash from Gavie's Gal, oatmeal-milk-honey soap from the Manitoulin Soap Factory and lemongrass soap also from the Soap Factory.
2. Do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator? Not at the moment. It's out of season.
3. What would you change about your living room? I'd get hardwood floors and maybe a new window.
4. Are the dishes in your dishwasher clean or dirty? We don't have a dishwasher (unless you count me as the dishwasher! LOL!) Oh, and since I am currently out of town and Hubby's at home alone this week, I have a feeling there are dishes in the sink...and they're probably dirty. LOL!
5. What is in your fridge? Uhhh...leftovers from Thanksgiving, milk, spinach salad, pomegranate-blueberry juice, leftover birthday cake from Hubby's surprise party last week, brie, camembert, Korean hot pepper paste, kefir, homemade jams and pickes...need I go on?
6. White or wheat bread? Cracked wheat.
7. What is on top of your refrigerator? My chocolate orchid (yay! It's in full bloom right now and the house smells chocolatey!) and a ceramic aromatherapy thingy with cranberry scented oil in it.
8. What color or design is on your shower curtain? Tee hee! Everyone always comments on this one. My shower curtain has frogs and lilypads on it. My bathroom has a frog motif.
9. How many plants are in your home? Hmmm. 1 ivy, 2 aloe, 1 gigantic spider plant, 1 palm, 1 huge Buddha bamboo (a few feet high), 2 African violet plants, 1 miniature geranium plant, 1 chocolate orchid, 2 cacti, 1 Christmas cactus, 1 Easter cactus, 1 amaryllis (in the dark for the winter). I lost count! I've got about 20 house plants.
10. Is your bed made right now? Hahaha! I have no idea, since I'm out of town. It probably is though, since Hubby always makes the bed in the morning :)
11. Comet or Soft Scrub? Neither.
12. Is your closet organized? Yes.
13. Can you describe your flashlight? It's sort of a transparent blue thingy. It's the type of flashlight that has reusable energy. I love that I don't need batteries! You have to shake it to generate power/light. It's kinda neat, especially since I never seem to know where I leave the spare batteries! Hubby's flashlight is a super duper powerful one. Mine looks like a toy next to his.
14. Do you drink out of glass or plastic most of the time at home? Glass.
15. Do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now? Nope.
16. If you have a garage, is it cluttered? Hubby keeps the garage pretty tidy. He's organized with his tools and such.
17. Curtains or blinds? Curtains...the light, billowy, airy, flowing type.
18. How many pillows do you sleep with? 5. Don't laugh at me, but Hubby calls me 'The Princess and the Pea' because I sleep with so many pillows.
19. Do you sleep with any lights on at night? No way. Must have complete darkness to fall asleep.
20. How often do you vacuum? As needed. Once or twice a week.
21. Standard toothbrush or electric? Totally old school--standard. I don't know why I'm scared of electric toothbrushes! LOL!
22. What color is your toothbrush? Fuschia. I wanted blue, but the dentist gave us a blue one and a fuschia one during our recent visit, and Hubby refused to take the fuschia one! Grrr.
23. Do you have a welcome mat on your front porch? Yes, and the barn kittens have started sleeping there. They are no longer 'barn kittens'. They are now 'front step kittens'. *sigh*
24. What is in your oven right now? Nada.
25. Is there anything under your bed? Nope. My bed is on the floor.
26. Chore you hate doing the most? Laundry, laundry laundry.
27. What retro items are in your home? The curtains in the kitchen, a few light fixtures...
28. Do you have a separate room that you use as an office? Yes.
29. How many mirrors are in your home? 4.
30. Do you have any hidden emergency money around your home? No. I've got a jar that reads 'inheritance fund', but I've only got pennies and a few American dollars in there. Boo hoo!
31. What color are your walls? Most of the house is wood, but I've painted the living room "Vanilla Ice Cream", the bathroom "Jack Frost", and the foyer a sort of textured grey. It's got sand granules in the paint. It's really cool.
32. Do you keep any kind of protection weapons in your home? I'm not sure. Do kittens, two mama cats, and a dog count as weapons?
33. What does your home smell like right now? I'm hoping it still smells like my chocolate orchid.
34. Favorite candle scent? Cranberry.
35. What kind of pickles (if any) are in your refrigerator right now? My homemade dill pickles, homemade bread and butter pickles, and homemade pickled beets.
36. What color is your favorite Bible? I'm not sure.
37. Ever been on your roof? Yes! Hubby and I did some roofing work last fall. Actually, he did the roofing work and I passed him the shingles and tried not to faint (I'm scared of heights)!
38. Do you own a stereo? Yes.
39. How many TVs do you have? Two. Our flat screen was a bridal shower gift. My wonderful maid of honour gathered up all the girls and they all pitched in to get us a new TV!!! D, you are the BEST! The other TV is in our games room. We use it to play games on our PS2. LOL!
40. How many house phones? 3
41. Do you have a housekeeper? Uhhh...I think that would be me.
42. What style do you decorate in? Hmmm...rustic, natural, country/cottage...lots of wood and cream colours.
43. Do you like solid colors in furniture or prints? Solid colours.
44. Is there a smoke detector in your home? Ummmm...hello...Hubby's a firefighter, so yes.
45. In case of fire, what are the items in your house which you’d grab if you only could make one quick trip? The kittens, the cats, the dog...I'm assuming Hubby wouldn't need to be retrieved and that he'd be putting out the fire! The animals and Hubby are all that really matter. If I had some time, I'd try to rescue my photo albums, books, and art.
I'm going to tag Karen because I'm curious to see what she'll answer (and because she's doing that NoBloPoMo thingy and might need this should she ever run out of something to post). I'm also going to tag Jimmy just to see what kind of quirks he's got. Louann, Mama Doggy Love, and Cherry are also being tagged. If anyone else wants to do this meme, please leave me a note in my comments to I can check out your answers :)
Thursday, October 11, 2007
On the Road Again
No matter how wonderful home is, sometimes it's nice to get away and do some road trippin'. Great tunes, the open highway, and good company can make any road trip into a memorable adventure. Don't forget your digital camera, because you never know what you'll come across! It's a great way to capture funny moments, crazy mishaps, and to just document your trip so you can be reminded of all the fun you had.I'm leaving Hubby for 10 days and heading to Toronto, Kingston and Montreal with my friend from Montreal, my friend from England and my student from South Korea. It will be a whirlwind tour with many people and places to visit in such a short time. This will be the longest time Hubby and I will have spent apart. What a bad wife I am. It's Hubby's birthday on Friday and I'll be out of town :( Good thing I had a surprise party for him tonight with two (yes, TWO) birthday cakes!
I'm excited because:
1) I'm going to see my friends Gavie's Gal, Nathanial's Mommy, and KarenMEG.
2) I'm going to have dinner with two of my college/university buddies. Last time I saw T & D was at my bridal shower last year!
3) I'm going to spend time with my adorable little nephew, Kenny! He's my cuddle bunny!
4) I'm going to see my family in Montreal.
5) I'm going to be able to spend time with my grandmother before she goes to the Philippines for the winter!!!
Since I'll be on the road in the next week and a bit, I'm not sure if I'll be able to blog. I'll try to pop by, but will post and add photos when I return.
Monday, October 08, 2007
Today I'm Thankful for...
On Thanksgiving, we have a tradition of having each person at the dinner table say something that they are thankful for. I am thankful for many things and among them are the following:
1) I'm thankful for having such a wonderful, caring, loving, understanding, patient, hardworking husband.
2) I'm thankful for having an amazing family.
3) I'm thankful for having fantastic friends (some of whom have traveled a long way to spend Thanksgiving weekend with us).
4) I'm thankful for great students and having the opportunity to teach some brilliant, talented, warm, and inquisitive students.
5) I'm thankful for my pup, Chance. He'll be turning 5 yrs old on Saturday (Hubby's b-day is on Friday).
6) I'm thankful for being able to live on a beautiful island.
7) I'm thankful for having a roof over our heads and food on our plates.
8) Most of all, I'm just thankful to be happy and healthy and able to enjoy the life that I have :)
1) I'm thankful for having such a wonderful, caring, loving, understanding, patient, hardworking husband.
2) I'm thankful for having an amazing family.
3) I'm thankful for having fantastic friends (some of whom have traveled a long way to spend Thanksgiving weekend with us).
4) I'm thankful for great students and having the opportunity to teach some brilliant, talented, warm, and inquisitive students.
5) I'm thankful for my pup, Chance. He'll be turning 5 yrs old on Saturday (Hubby's b-day is on Friday).
6) I'm thankful for being able to live on a beautiful island.
7) I'm thankful for having a roof over our heads and food on our plates.
8) Most of all, I'm just thankful to be happy and healthy and able to enjoy the life that I have :)
Friday, October 05, 2007
'Tis the Season...
To all my Canadian friends out there, have a Happy Thanksgiving weekend!!!This will be my first time hosting Thanksgiving dinner on my own. Usually, we go over to my mom's, Hubby's mom's, one of my aunts' houses or Hubby's sister's. This year, since I've got a lot of visitors and students, I'll be hosting Thanksgiving. Phew! I knew it was a lot of work since I've always helped out in the preparations, but I didn't know hosting the dinner would be such a huge undertaking! I'm excited and hope all turns out well!
On the menu:
*Turkey (of course!) with stuffing on the side and homemade cranberry sauce
* Sweet potato casserole
* Zucchini pie
* Cucumber salad
* Ham (my mom's making this dish--especially for my husband. He likes it with pineapple and maraschino cherries)
*Fruit salad (my mom's making this too)
*
*
*(recently added to the menu) spinach salad w/ balsamic vinaigrette dressing
*(also just added to the list) hot potato salad
Well, I guess I'd better stop blogging and start preparing for Thanksgiving supper for tomorrow! Friends from out of town will be arriving in a few hours! Have a great weekend, everyone!
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
Combine and place into greased casserole dish:
8 baked sweet potatoes
1 c. + 2 tbsp. sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. butter, cut into pieces
Sprinkle with topping (below) and bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
TOPPING:
1 c. brown sugar (I omit this because the sweet potato is sweet enough)
1 c. pecans, chopped (I omit the nuts and cornflakes though...and I just sprinkle on a bit of brown sugar)
2/3 c. crushed cornflakes
Serve.
ZUCCHINI PIE
INGREDIENTS
3 cups zucchini, sliced thinly and quartered
1 onion, chopped
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup buttermilk baking mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram (I use oregano)
parsley
ground black pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10x6 inch pan or a 12 inch pie plate.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine zucchini, onion, eggs, buttermilk baking mix, vegetable oil, Parmesan cheese, marjoram, parsley and pepper; mix well. Spread into the prepared baking dish.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until lightly brown.
This zucchini pie recipe is deeeeeeeeeelish and so easy to make. It is a great dish for any vegetarian guests you might have at your home for Thanksgiving dinner.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
From Our Farm to Your Table
Farmers Feed Cities
You Can Find Me Here!
Affiliates
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
Brand Ambassador for
For Fellow Bloggers
|
|
 |
 |
Proud Recipient
About the Blog Author
City girl moves to the country, falls in love, and marries a farmer. She tries to incorporate her city ways with her new country lifestyle and blogs to keep in touch with friends, family & students who live far, far away :) Can this city girl go country? Watch as she learns all sorts of exciting things about life on the farm and in a small rural community. *UPDATE* We are now parents! Our baby girl was born on Nov. 11, 2008 (at 28 weeks gestation- 12 weeks premature, but she's quite the trooper)!!!
Les Boutons!
Let's Connect
Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments
Support
