The Cellar Door

dessert quick fixes

2011-11-21T17:23:00.001-08:00

Running short on time and need to whip up a delicious dessert? These little chocolate cups are the perfect solution.

Whip up some hazelnut mousse (you can even cheat and use the box mix!)

Add Frangelico liqueur for an extra zing

Melt caramel squares in 2 tablespoons of whip cream to adorn plates

and use as extra topping

Frangelico: good baked into a dessert or to sip on the side

Fruit toppings

The end product!

The short list of ingredients and small amount of time needed

means you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time

with friends.

obsessions this week

2011-11-16T21:54:00.001-08:00

(Wish I Was) Watching: Like Crazy

Listening: to 8tracks.com which streams thousands upon thousands of playlists. My favourites are the French music mixes, such as this one. Perfect for setting a relaxing atmosphere in my office.

Reading:The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

Browsing: Anthropologie's October Catalog -
full of lovely finds & begins with the following poem:

Go he said,
Until rock gives way to sea, gives way to
Salt and air and the elements all -
Until feet touch land that creaks, melts and sighs.
Rippling, crashing, splitting beneath you.
It's tired arms open to the cold of night -
Everything frozen, everything hushed.
And then, with eyes at rest, look closely.
Closer.
Closer still.
And in that moment, you will find me -
Indeed you will see.

the little things

2011-10-20T21:31:00.000-07:00

Soap from "Naked North"

Infused with northern ingredients

sweet keychain from Aerie ($10)

A beautiful braided beaded (how's that for an alliteration?)

I found this image online and must try it myself!

the land before time

2011-10-11T16:55:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love about my job are all of the chances to travel. While exploring different terrains - like the East Arm of Great Slave Lake, Enodah, Prelude and Blachford Lake, I've realized that I always discover more when looking at the ground. Here are a couple shots from around the north. More to come!

fish teeth discovered amongst the pebbles

Juniper

"Indian Paintbrush"

lavender icing

2011-09-21T18:37:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me most likely knows about my obsession with lavender. I used to hate it as a child but last year I came home to find a beautiful bundle of it hanging over my kitchen sink and I've loved it ever since. I make lavender syrup lattes, have lavender infused baths, put dried lavender on my night stand... it's getting quite out of control. Anyway, when I found a recipe for lavender icing in a Martha Stewart cookbook I whipped it up right away (even though dear ol' Martha's recipes never work out for me). Here is the recipe and results:

Boil 1/3 tsp of dried lavender in 1/3 cup of milk. Let steep for 10 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve into a bowl (pillow cases are also a handy replacement). Discard lavender. Whisk in 3 cups of confectioners sugar until smooth. Add a dash of violet food colouring.

romantic sundays

2011-09-18T12:28:00.000-07:00

Today I'm flying to Blachford Lake Lodge for work - the same lodge that Will and Kate, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, visited during their stay in the Northwest Territories. With an outdoor hottub for watching the aurora borealis and a boat ride to Honeymoon Island on the schedule I can't help but think about romantic weekends. I know that with my hectic schedule I typically use weekends for catching up on sleep, laundry and getting my life back in order. Sundays should be reserved for late brunches, black and white movies and afternoon yoga classes. With this in mind, I decided to rejig my weekend plans, and here is some of what I included:

Soak up the spread of Kate Moss' gorgeous wedding

in the September issue of Vogue.

Indulge.

Lemon filled pastries from Lulu's Market in Yellowknife.

Similar to these treats I made.

Get comfy...

In beautiful pyjamas.

(Urban Outfitters $52)

More ideas here.

backyard baking 3

2011-09-17T09:34:00.000-07:00

Rose Hip Syrup
Picked from: Prelude Lake
Recipe from: Wild Roots Herbal Learning Centre
Thoughts: make any meal romantic with this blush-hued syrup

Ingredients:
4 cups rose hips
2 cups water
1 cup sugar

Rose hips are best picked mid to late August when their colour is rich and full.

Wash rose hips thoroughly. Remove stems and flower remnants.

Boil hips and water for 20 minutes in a covered saucepan. Strain through a jelly bag.

Return clear juice to kettle. Add sugar. Stir well and boil five minutes.

Refrigerate until used. This syrup is my absolute favourite and makes for wonderful gifts.

keeping cozy

2011-09-11T12:56:00.000-07:00

With the weather slowly slipping from summer to fall, I know I'll be spending more time indoors. Here are a few things that make my bedroom a bit more cozy.

Favourites: lavender for a calming scent and a tiny tray for favourite pieces of jewellery

A birchbark basket, made in the Northwest Territories, and decorated with dyed porcupine quills. Adding to my mirror by posting beautiful photos taken by my friend Aryn

With a bed this cozy I won't mind hiding out when the temperature plummets

Fresh flowers from the garden... sadly, they won't be there for long!

northern garden party

2011-09-07T20:14:00.000-07:00

I know my blog has been a bit lacking in the last month but it's been an extremely busy couple of weeks - don't worry, there are lots of posts to come! One of the highlights of this month was hosting a garden party for two writers from Canadian Living magazine. The lovely ladies are working on a 5-6 page spread on cuisine in the Northwest Territories and I was lucky enough to do some baking for them. Here are a few snapshots I took before they arrived. I prepared rose petal shortbread, spruce tip shortbread, fireweed syrup, rose hip syrup, and bannock. Recipes to follow!

moccasin cake

2011-08-25T20:21:00.001-07:00

I've been spending a lot of time in the kitchen lately whipping up my favourite recipes, but when a coworker's retirement party came up I decided to try something new. I thought a moccasin shaped cake would be the perfect design for someone leaving the north behind. The piping (for an inexperienced piper like myself) was time consuming but the overall look is worth it. I can't wait to try this one again with more colours and a more intricate design.
Final touches: arrange a few spruce boughs around the cake once it is done to add to the northern look and feel!

almond biscotti

2011-07-27T20:13:00.001-07:00

I used a great recipe from epicurious.com to make these chocolate-dunked almond biscotti. The recipe was actually called for hazelnuts but the switch still tasted great. I couldn't believe how well they turned out: delicious and chewy even after a few days. Now if only I had an espresso machine!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 Cups hazelnuts (7 ounces)
3/4 Cup sugar
2 Cups self-rising cake flour
2 large eggs
1 Teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Method:
1. Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Pulse together sugar and 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts in a food processor until finely ground. Transfer to bowl of mixer along with flour and beat at medium speed until combined well. Add eggs and vanilla and beat just until a dough forms. Reduce speed to low, then add remaining chopped hazelnuts and mix until incorporated. Turn off mixer and knead in any loose hazelnuts with your hands.
3. Halve dough and, with dampened hands, form each half into a roughly 10- by 2- by 1-inch log on lined baking sheet, arranging logs 3 inches apart.
4. Bake until golden and set but still soft to the touch, 25 to 30 minutes. (Leave oven on.) Cool logs on baking sheet on a rack 10 minutes.
5. Transfer logs to a cutting board, discarding parchment, and cut logs with a serrated knife on a slight diagonal into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
6. Arrange slices, cut sides down, in 1 layer on unlined baking sheet. Bake slices, turning over once, until golden and crisp, 20 to 25 minutes more. Cool biscotti completely on sheet on rack, about 30 minutes.
Read More:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Hazelnut-Biscotti-236948#ixzz1TMp70shX

Final touch: I opted to melt milk chocolate over the stove to dunk one side of the biscotti in. While the chocolate was still warm, I sprinkled about 1/2 a teaspoon of hazelnuts on top. Lean them over the edge of a dish to cool and harden then munch away! The chocolate is a tasty addition!

style envy: emma watson

2011-07-23T15:10:00.001-07:00

backyard baking 2

2011-07-12T20:29:00.000-07:00

Here's another wonderful recipe to try! I trekked along Ingraham Trail (near Yellowknife) to pick wild roses, plucked the petals and washed then dried them over two days. Once they were dry I ground them in a medicine bowl (a food processor works too) then combined with sugar. What was left was a delicious wild rose petal sugar that is a great addition to any dessert. I've added a cup to shortbread and topped french toast with it. It adds wonderful colour and flavour!

land of the midnight sun

2011-07-07T20:11:00.000-07:00

Last December I posted some photos of a typical day at -47degrees Celsius in Yellowknife. (Click here to see the chilly pics!)

Well, here's the flip side! I took these photos during an impromptu fishing trip on Prelude Lake between midnight and 3am a few weeks ago. The photos really don't do the scenery justice. I've lived here for years and my jaw still drops on gorgeous nights like this. We didn't see a single boat or hear another person - though a couple curious beavers played alongside us.

necklace rack

2011-07-02T12:53:00.001-07:00

I'm always looking for new ways to display my jewellery that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. On a recent hike I couldn't help but admire all of the birch bark trees. Birch bark is used in a lot of crafts in the Northwest Territories, and my mum once bought me a beautiful heart shaped birch bark basket. Unlike the baskets, the necklace rack I made requires just about zero skill! I simply cut a section of birch tree, hammered nails in and secured it on the wall. Minimal cost, minimal effort...sounds like a great Sunday project.

I love the cabin-feel it gives my room, as well as a hint of enchantment.

backyard baking 1

2011-06-29T11:33:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon this unusual recipe on a great blog (www.borealgourmet.com) by a Yukon-dwelling woman named Michele Genest. There's something charming in cooking with what you find in your backyard and I was out collecting spruce tips immediately. If there are spruce trees in your area, this is a recipe you ought to try.

Ingredients:
1/2 Cup plus 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
2 Tbsp chopped spruce tips
1 Cup unsalted butter at room temp
2 1/4 Cups all-purpose flour
1/4 Tsp salt

Method:
1. Pick a handful of spruce tips

2. Combine sugar with the chopped spruce tips and set aside 1 Tbsp of the mixture for garnish.
Cream the butter until light and fluffy, add the remaining sugar/spruce tip mix and cream together. Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix well.

3. Gather the dough into a ball and press into an 8-inch shortbread mold and bake at 325 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Remove from oven and set on a rack for 10 minutes. Sprinkle the reserved spruce + sugar mixture on top of the shortbread, cut in sections and leave to cool.

Serve with black tea and a small spruce bough!

porcupine quill earrings

2011-06-26T12:26:00.000-07:00

the melt

2011-06-25T10:44:00.000-07:00

play that funky music

2011-06-19T15:59:00.000-07:00

Put on some short shorts, hop in the car, roll down the windows and rock out to Ida Maria's 'I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked" all summer long.

ondine of the sea

2011-06-13T22:02:00.000-07:00

I'm notorious for picking out awful movie (heard of 'Perfume' anyone?) so when I stumbled on this modern myth movie I wasn't expecting too much and was pleasantly surprised. I took a Greek and Roman mythology class in University and have loved myth and lore ever since so 'Ondine' was a perfect pick. Here's a brief synopsis:

"Set in a small fishing village on the Irish coast, the film tells the story of an Irish fisherman named Syracuse (Colin Farrell), who one day brings up a woman (Alicja Bachleda) in his fishing net. She is evasive about herself and will only tell him her name is Ondine, meaning "of the sea". Her songs aboard the boat seem to bring Syracuse unusual luck in his fishing; from this and the way she was found, Syracuse's young daughter Annie (Alison Barry) concludes Ondine must be a selkie, a seal lady creature of Celtic myth who may temporarily become human by removing her seal coat, but must later return to the sea.

Ondine moves in with Syracuse, and though smitten he is cynical enough, through long experience, not to let himself take anything about her for granted. When a mysterious man arrives in town looking for her, it soon becomes apparent that Syracuse's fairy tale run of luck has a price."

summer favourites

2011-06-05T18:58:00.000-07:00

urban outfitters crop tops and jean shorts - ideal for beach days

sheer & silk aritzia top - beautiful with bright lips

aritzia multi-layered silk dress - lovely with a high, messy bun & big rings

mirror mirror...

2011-05-27T19:36:00.000-07:00

I bought a cute set of glasses on my recent vacation in the Okanagan.
Here are a couple fun photos I snapped in my backyard!
Can you spot the raven in the last photo?

sips: blueberry thymes collins

2011-05-27T19:24:00.000-07:00

There was still a heap of snow on the ground when my sister treated me to this amazingly little drink but it's ideal for summer sipping. The thyme offers an unusual pop of taste that makes this concoction stand out among the rest. Shake up a batch for your next garden get-together or poolside soirée!

Ingredients
1 1/3 cups apple-thyme simple syrup, recipe follows
1 cup gin (recommended: Bombay Sapphire)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)
Ice
1/4 cup blueberry jam
Club soda, chilled
Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs

Directions
In a pitcher, combine the syrup, gin and lemon juice. Refrigerate for 2 hours. To serve, add ice and half of the gin mixture to a martini shaker. Add 2 tablespoons of blueberry jam. Shake well and pour into ice-filled Collins glasses. Add a splash of club soda and garnish with fresh thyme sprigs. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Apple-Thyme Simple Syrup
20 (4-inch) long sprigs fresh thyme
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups 100 percent apple juice (recommended: Martinelli's)
Gently crush the thyme sprigs and put them in a small saucepan. Add the sugar and apple juice. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool, about 30 minutes. Strain before using.

elements of style: aryn

2011-05-01T15:49:00.000-07:00

Elements of Aryn's style: big bling, belted silky fabrics, structured blazer, bright polish, bedhead hair and a big smile

french country + northern secret garden

2011-04-25T19:06:00.000-07:00

Well, I've finally completed my degree and returned to the Northwest Territories... which means it's time to decorate a new room! I'm going for a Northern Secret Garden + French Country style. Below are some beautiful, cozy styles I've found online. Hopefully my room will look as good when I'm done with it!

coffee cupcakes

2011-04-25T18:36:00.000-07:00

I've been on dessert overload lately - pumpkin cheesecake pie, chocolate guinness cake, and, one of my favourites coffee cupcakes.

If you're as much of a caffeine-fiend as I am you'll love them!

Method:
8 Tablespoons unsalted butter
2/3 Cup demerara sugar
2/3 Cup packed light brown sugar
2 Large eggs
3/4 Cup, plus 2 Tablespoons self-rising flour
3/4 Cup, plus 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 Teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon instant espresso powder
1/2 Cup 2% milk, room-temperature
Handful of chocolate covered espresso beans

Preheat oven to 350.
In a large mixing bowl cream the butter and sugars until the mixture is pale and smooth, which should take 3-5 minutes using an electric hand mixer. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing for a few minutes after each addition.
Sift the flours together into a separate bowl. Whisk the vanilla extract and espresso powder with the milk. Add one-third of the flours to the creamed mixture and beat well. Pour in one-third of the milk and beat again. Repeat these steps until all the flour and milk have been added.
Carefully spoon the mixture into the cups, filling them about two-thirds full. Bake in the oven for about 20-25 minutes. Let cool then decorate with coffee buttercream frosting and chocolate covered espresso beans.

Coffee Buttercream Frosting:
10 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1 Tablespoon 2% milk
2 Teaspoons instant espresso dissolved in a small amount of hot water, cooled
3 Cups confectioners sugar

In a large mixing bowl beat the butter, milk, espresso mixture, and half the confectioners sugar until smooth - this can take several minutes with an electric hand mixer. Gradually add the remaining confectioners' sugar to produce a buttercream of a creamy and smooth consistency.

a few of my favourite things...

2011-04-07T00:31:00.000-07:00

1) Sea-foam green nail polish
2) Jumbo coffee mugs with owls inside (from The Milkman's Daughter)
3) Homemade heart shortbread cookies filled with jam and chocolate (recipe below!)

Ingredients:
2 Cups all-purpose flour
1/4 Teaspoon salt
1 Cup unsalted butter (room temp)
1/2 Cup powdered sugar
1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 Cup raspberry jam
2 ounces white chocolate

Method:
In a separate bowl whisk the flour with the salt.
In the bowl of your electric mixer, beat the butter until smooth (about 1 minute). Add the sugar and beat until smooth (about 2 minutes). Beat in the vanilla extract.
Gently stir in the flour mixture just until incorporated. Flatten the dough into a disk shape, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill the dough for at least an hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees with the rack in the middle of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper

On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 inch thick. Pick a cookie cutter and cut an even number of cookies - half with the centers removed. Place the unbaked cookies, on the baking sheet, in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes to firm up the dough so the cookies will maintain their shape. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.

Place the cookies with the cut-outs on a wire rack and dust the tops with the confectioners' (powdered or icing) sugar.

On the bottom surface of the full cookie (top of cookie will face out) spread with about a 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon of jam. Sprinkle with a little grated white chocolate. Place the cut-out cookie on top and gently sandwich them together, making sure not to smug the confectioners' sugar. Using a small spoon, fill the cut-out with a little more jam.

Makes about 12 sandwich cookies - recipe courtesy of Joy of Baking.

Enjoy alongside tea and someone you love!

what's your type?

2011-04-05T23:13:00.000-07:00

In honour of my last writing workshop (YES, I'M FINALLY GRADUATING) I put together this typewriter cake. It's an espresso flavoured cake with coffee icing...delicious! I might have to post the recipe...

A classmate showed me this great link of writers with their typewriters. Below are a few of the photos!

William Faulkner

Bob Dylan

Hunky hunk Marlon Brando

pucker up

2011-03-28T12:51:00.001-07:00

In Victoria it's picnic weather. Tulips and cherry blossoms are in bloom and everywhere I look people are once again befriending summer dresses and shades.

Along with peeling off tons of winter layers I love the natural, fresh faces that reappear in spring. No need for cover up and heavy shades. Go wash your face! My spring favourites are sunscreen, mascara and bright lips.

the perfect sunday

2011-03-27T14:32:00.001-07:00

Is there a better way to start the week than with Truman Capote and homemade spinach and feta muffins? I don't think so. And if you're a smart cookie you'll make the muffins the night before so you can have breakfast in bed with Mr. Capote.

Recipe below for my foodie friends:

Ingredients
Canola oil, to grease
2 1/2 Cups self-raising flour
1/2 bunch of spinach,trimmed, washed, dried, shredded
150g feta cheese, crumbled
2 Tablespoons finely grated parmesan
1 1/3 Cups milk
90g butter, melted
1 egg
2 Tablespoons finely grated parmesan to sprinkle on top

Method
Preheat oven to 400. Brush muffin pan with canola oil to lightly grease.

Sift flour into a bowl. Add shredded spinach, feta and parmesan. Stir to combine. Use a fork to whisk together milk, butter, egg and dill until well combined. Add milk mixture to flour mixture and use a metal spoon to stir until just combined (do not over mix).

Spoon mixture into prepared pans. Sprinkle with extra parmesan. Bake for 18 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Turn out onto wire rack to cool. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Serves 12.

rural escape

2011-03-24T00:46:00.001-07:00

My friend Aryn is a wonderful photographer with a keen eye. These are some photos she took around Yellowknife and on a camping trip near Kakisa, NWT.

I love the romance of the rural landscapes Aryn captures in each shot - my apartment walls are covered with her photos!

To see more of her photos check out her Flickr page.

pretty little party

2011-03-22T20:33:00.000-07:00

Cupcakes and Cashmere blog is the perfect balance of food and fashion. These are some pretty party pictures from the site - Enjoy!

indie-rock, dream-pop

2011-03-22T13:11:00.000-07:00

I've been working on writing a children's book for a class and it involves a lot of poetic language and dreamy scenes. To get in the right writing-mood I listen to the Trespassers William album. Below is a clip of the band live in Paris playing "Different Stars". I first heard it on the movie "A Love Song For Bobby Long" (a wonderful movie!) and fell in love with it immediately.

Curious about the name Trespassers William? The duo got it from a Winnie the Pooh tale: Pooh and Piglet Go Hunting and Nearly Catch a Woozle by A.A. Milne.

"Next to [Piglet's] house was a piece of broken board which had: "TRESPASSERS W" on it. When Christopher Robin asked the Piglet what it meant, he said it was his grandfather's name…short for Trespassers Will, which was short for Trespassers William. And his grandfather had had two names in case he lost one—Trespassers after an uncle, and William after Trespassers."

See more at: www.trespasserswilliam.com

flaherty's wake

2011-03-16T14:12:00.001-07:00

Marc Christensen, Megan Cooper, Kels Magill, Jared MacNeil, Aaron Plotner, Andrew Silke
Photos courtesy of Flaherty's Wake Facebook page
Last December in Yellowknife the temperature fell well below -30 degrees. And still, there was a line that wound out the front door of The Raven and around the block. Flaherty’s Wake, a seven person Irish punk band, was enjoying free pints in the green room of the bar more commonly called The Dirty Bird. Through small window slots the band watched the 100-person line up, approximately a third of the bars already packed capacity. The bar that scarcely charges cover was taking ten dollars a head and in the last decade they haven’t seen such lines.

Just after midnight the band crowded on stage, roughly the size of two dumpsters, with a base, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, penny whistle and drum set. The set kicked off with Flogging Molly’s anthem Drunken Lullabies and the bar manager stepped in as impromptu security as fans flocked the stage.

A band that melds punk and Irish music seems out of place in the Yellowknife snow globe but when the band formed in the summer of 2009 Yellowknifers got a taste of something they liked.

“We liked taking the Irish songs we loved and making them more punk,” says manolin player, Andrew Silke. “Some of us are really into punk, others are metalheads, we all love Irish music, so we all bring a different sound to Flaherty’s Wake.”

Halfway through a cover of Against Me’s Pints of Guinness Plotner dove into the crowd.
“Everyone in the crowd was singing so loud that it drowned out everything. I was in the crowd, surrounded by good friends and tons of others and everyone just kept singing. They were so into it. That’s what it’s all about,” lead vocalist Aaron Plotner explains.

When their set finished Flaherty’s Wake stepped down from The Raven’s stage. They cut through the crowd and retreated to the green room for a pint before rejoining the madness. Behind them a sea of roaring fans were left in their wake until next time.

Megan Cooper, Aaron Plotner, Kels Magill, Marc Christensen, Erik Chan, Roger Nendsa, Jared MacNeil
In downtown Yellowknife is a gutted out two-storey building that serves as the groups jam space. It was last a skuzzy bar and flames in the shape of female silhouettes still adorn the walls.

Downstairs is a maze of couches owned by a furniture store across the street. Upstairs amps and speakers sit on top of pool tables and the bar is used for Flaherty’s Wake’s own beer stash. It’s a fitting jam space for a band that formed after several Guinness soaked conversations.

Their performances are mostly covers of bands like Flogging Molly, The Dropkick Murphy’s and The Mahones but Flaherty’s Wake is also working on original material. Their first original Devil In Her Eye can be listened to on their Facebook page.
Their next scheduled show is a St. Patrick’s Day show tomorrow at The Top Knight in Yellowknife. The show starts at 9:00 but you’ll want to show up a few hours early with your dancing shoes and an appetite for green foam Guinness.

raspberry cupcakes

2011-03-15T14:41:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I picked up the "Cupcakes from the Primrose Bakery" recipe book from Anthropologie and since then I've tried about a dozen of the recipes. My absolute favourite (so far!) is the Raspberry cupcake with White Chocolate icing. It's not as difficult as it looks but make sure you use the self-rising flour and not only the all-purpose flour, it makes a huge difference!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners.

Cupcake Ingredients:
8 Tablespoons unsalted butter (room temp)
3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
2 Large eggs
3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons self-rising flour
3/4 cup plus 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 cup 2% milk (room temp)
1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
3 Tablespoons seedless raspberry jam

Icing Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup 2% milk
1 Teaspoon pure vanilla extract
4 1/4 cup icing sugar
3 1/2 oz white chocolate
3 Tablespoons heavy cream
Fresh raspberries

Cupcake Directions:
In a large mixing bowl cream the butter and sugar until pale and smooth, which should take about 3-5 minutes using an electric beater. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing for a few minutes after each addition.

Sift the two flours together into a separate bowl. Mix the milk and vanilla extract together. Add 1/3 of the flours to the creamed mixture and beat well. Pour in 1/3 of the milk and beat again. Repeat these steps until all the flour and milk have been added.

Gently fold in the raspberry jam until most of it is combined. The idea is to have some jam streaks running through the mixture, rather than an evenly coloured batter. Carefully spoon the batter into the cups, filling them about two-thirds full. Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes until slightly raised and golden brown.

Remove from the oven and leave the cupcakes in the pan for about 10 minutes before carefully placing on a wire rack to cool. Once they have cooled, cut a small hole in the center of each cupcake using a sharp knife or teaspoon and carefully place a teaspoon of jam inside.

Icing Directions:
In a large mixing bowl beat the butter, milk, vanilla extract and half the icing sugar until smooth. This can take several minutes using an electric mixer. Gradually add the remaining icing sugar (I usually only use about 3 1/4 cups).

Melt chocolate and alternatively stir in cooled chocolate and heavy cream. It is best to frost immediately so the icing does not harden. Complete the look by plopping a full raspberry on top!

the converted

2011-03-10T17:50:00.000-08:00

(My lovely sister, Erica, showing why the Kindle is so useful)

My dad is a technology junkie. He always seems to have the latest gadget and preached to me about 3G's and bluetooth until it sounded like another language. So when he offered me his Kindle (a device that can hold thousands of books at a time) I was hesitant. I love picking out second hand books with worn pages and comments scribbled in the margins, and leaving my own notes as I flip through.

I decided to give it a chance and read one book on it before making up my mind. Taking another of my dad's recommendations I read The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson. (A decent book, well researched, but the last 1/5 of it was a flop that didn't meet the expectations it established earlier) and I've just started Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. The Kindle actually turned out to be remarkably handy. I could tuck it in the front of my binder when I went to class and slip it into my clutch when I was running around town. I hate being without a book wherever I am or whatever I'm doing so it was perfect... if only I'd had one when I was backpacking through Europe with all seven Harry Potter books!

One day I would still love to have my own little library, but right now the Kindle is a definite help.

juliette hogan designs

2011-03-01T11:51:00.000-08:00

The perfect picnic dress

Check out her winter 2010 collection "the morning after the night before" her website's whimsical description is below to pique your interest!

"For winter 2011 the Juliette Hogan girl lets down her hair… Curfews are broken, hemlines are hiked and caution is blown to the wind.

The Morning After the Night Before sees our traditionally demure muse dip her toes into darker waters - though don’t get me wrong… there’s the inevitable return to the coquettish girl we’ve grown to love but for Winter 2011 the J Ho girl walks a precarious tightrope between naughty and nice with a surprising ease."

www.juliettehogan.com

the moldy peaches

2011-02-17T12:59:00.000-08:00
Now that the awe and romance of V-Day is a thing of the past lets talk about a band named after decomposing fruit :)
Check out the "Lucky Number Nine" video and the review I wrote for class.

Begin with track 10 “Anyone Else But You”. WTF? might be the first thing to cross your mind. Next, you’ll wonder if it was a child’s mother’s day gift gone askew. And then, without realizing it, a smile will seep across your face. Welcome to The Moldy Peaches.

“Anyone Else But You”, the hit made popular by the 2007 “Juno” movie soundtrack is the best entry point into the wacky sound of The Moldy Peaches. The 19-track album is a Russian roulette of sound that refuses to fit compactly in any specific genre. The album dabbles in indie, alternative, hip hop, pop, country and straight noise.

Starting with track 10 ensures that the first four songs you hear will be some of the album’s best. “Little Bunny Foo Foo” has the awkwardly endearing sound found with late '60s band The Shaggs, specifically their song “My Pal Foot Foot”. Despite the lo-fi recording it’s easy to bop along with. The lyrics sound like a child’s bedtime story and in a little over a minute your Foo Foo Bunny experience will be over and you might just want to play it again.

Listening to “Who’s Got The Crack?” is the most fun your ears will have this month. Kimya Dawson and Adam Green’s overlapping vocals provide an anthem-like tune that would sound best at a live show.
Just when you’re really starting to like the album, you’ll stagger over a track like swing-sound inspired “Downloading Porn With Davo” or “What Went Wrong” a cacophony of shouts and whines that sounds more like a murder than music. “These Burgers” sounds like a drug-induced diatribe.
Some songs are charming and others are awful. There is no way to love every song on the album. This is okay. Lyrics are reason enough to invest in the album, from “Lucky Number Nine” (“I’m running out of ethnic friends. But hey, I’m starting to feel okay”) to “Nothing Came Out” (“I’m just a huge crack in the ass of humanity. I’m just a huge manitee”).
Critics have bludgeoned The Moldy Peaches for their nonsensical, occasionally crude lyrics and lack of skill but the sound comes across as something true to the artists, a sound that has not been tampered with. The band has been on a hiatus since 2004, someone tell them its time to get back to work.

style envy: marion cotillard

2011-02-14T20:55:00.000-08:00

I've grown so tired of seeing girls/women out in itty bitty outfits and awful materials. Dresses made of lace? Lovely. Latex? Not so much.

Marion Cotillard is the epitome of grace. God, I'd like to be like her when I grow up! When I think of romantic, classy style I think of Cotillard's photo spread in the July 2010 edition of Vogue. Wouldn't you agree?

Have a wonderful Valentines Day everyone!

intimate nature

2011-02-10T21:43:00.001-08:00

Elle MacPherson Intimates from Harrods

Urban Outfitter bralette $12-20 (It will be the comfiest thing in your underwear drawer!)

Valentines Day is only days away, and for you lucky ducks who get to be with the ones you love (AND those of you who just want to look wonderful for yourself) here is my intimate recommendation: JUXTAPOSE! Mix and match your warm woollies and sweaters with lace and silk skivvies.

saving face

2011-02-07T11:58:00.000-08:00

Isn't she lovely? I stumbled across this image on a photo blog and thought it was amazing. I want to look like this someday (in the distant, distant future). We've all seen cosmetic surgery disasters and the plastic look of too much botox and I can't understand why anyone would ever take such dramatic action to look younger. Our wrinkles tell our stories. Don't be too eager erase them.

room by room by room

2011-02-03T22:41:00.000-08:00
Waking up to fresh flowers always makes my mornings more enjoyable..even if I hit snooze 18 times before chucking my alarm clock against the nearest wall.

(Aryn, I hope you're not looking at this post just yet because the owl pillow cases are a gift for you!)

the milkman's daughter

2011-02-03T22:00:00.000-08:00

I recently went to a new shop called The Milkman's Daughter that is jam packed with beautifully restored furniture. Here is a pic of a chair I picked up, bright blue with a golden wasp stencilled on and a pillow I made. I also found a great $3 chair at a thrift store that I want to renovate. My plan is to have a bunch of unique, mismatched chairs around my kitchen table.

broken english

2011-01-31T20:05:00.000-08:00

It's a lovely Monday night - lovely, because I don't have class tomorrow and have already tackled homework tonight, so after running a hot bath I plan on cozying up on my couch with "Broken English" a 2007 film directed by Zoe R. Cassavetes.

Parker Posey plays the part of Nora Wilder, a 30-something single NYC woman. Completely lost, yet endearing, she searches for something or somebody to validate herself. While Nora's search for love occupies most of the film this is not a Sex and the City wannabe. The film is beautifully crafted and cinematic, the wardrobe selection is casually chic and put together in refreshing ways. I think the trailer below gives too much away, but if you're not sold on it yet take a look.

This film is best watched in bed with your beau, with fresh flowers and wine on the night stand.

meet the replacements

2011-01-24T14:14:00.000-08:00

I have a habit of wearing my clothes until they fall off of me.

I fell in love with a jacket that resembled my grandmother's couch and wore it so often that the material parted like the Red Sea down the back. After countless attempts to stitch it back together I finally accepted that there was nothing else I could do but I still wear it on occasion.

If I love, love, love a piece it's impossible to throw out no matter how ratty it gets. I'll deal with an exposed nail in my favourite pair of heels or a tear in a blouse. My boyfriend even stitched up a pair of my jeans for me! I'm not a hoarder by any means but I think people are overly disposable with their belongings - hold on to your special pieces!

These are the new flats my sister picked up for me to replace the ones that have put up with my rough life style for the past year. This photo really doesn't show the extent of hagardness (yes, I'm making that a word). We've been through a lot, those flats and I... hail storms, trespassing, climbing fences and running for the bus, I'm surprised they lasted as long as they did!

coconut lime shortbread

2011-01-18T12:52:00.000-08:00
I've been on a serious cookie craze lately...and it doesn't look like it'll be ending any time soon! This was the first shortbread recipe I've tried and I was pretty happy with how they turned out. Give them a try - they'll definitely add some zest to your morning with these uber-limey shortbread cookies, they're great alongside a cup of tea.

Prep: 30 minutes
Oven: 325
Bake: 15 minutes per batch
Makes: about 40 cookies

1/2 cup flaked coconut, toasted
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons finely shredded lime peel
1 Teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup cold butter, cut into pieces

Preheat oven to 325. In a food processor combine coconut, sugar, lime peel and vanilla. Cover and process until coconut is finely chopped. Add flour. Add butter and mix until mixture starts to cling (you may have to use your hands for this part!). Knead dough until smooth and divide in half. I found this mixture very dry and crumbly when I tried to roll it out so if you have the same problem try adding a splash of milk.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out one of the dough portions to about 1/4 inch thickness. Pick out your cookie cutters, cut out dough and place it on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 14 minutes or until the bottoms start to brown. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool. Once they cool spread Lime Glaze over top.

LimeGlaze:
In a small bowl stir together powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon finely shredded lime peel and 1 tablespoon of lime juice. Stir in enough water (2-3 tablespoons) to make a glaze of spreading consistency.

Adorn with sweetened coconut flakes and enjoy!

chai moon cookies

2011-01-16T00:18:00.000-08:00

This recipe for chai moon cookies is stellar - not only do the cookies taste fantastic but the recipe doesn't call for anything out of the ordinary like so many recipes tend to do. In fact, when I decided to whip these up (at midnight with class the next day) I had all of the ingredients I needed in my kitchen. It's lovely when life works out the way, isn't it? Give these a try, the recipes makes a large batch so share them with classmates, coworkers, neighbours, even people you don't get along with - these little goodies might be just what you need to put them in better spirits!

Chai Moons:

Prep: 45 minutes
Chill: 1 hour
Oven: 375 degrees
Bake: 8 minutes oer batch
Makes: approximately 48 cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 Tablespoon lead chai tea, finely ground
1 Teaspoon vanilla
1/2 Teaspoon baking soda
1/3 Teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

In a large bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, chai tea, vanilla, baking soda and salt. Beat until light and fluffy, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill dough about 1 hour or until easy to handle.

The following step is important: While dough is in the fridge put Chocolat in your dvd player and daydream of being whisked away with Gypsy-Johnny Depp and spending your days surrounded by scrumptious, mouth-melting chocolate. Also take time to envy Juliette Binoche's graceful style.

This step may be repeated if necessary.

Reluctantly step out of your daydream and retrieve the dough. Preheat oven to 375. On a lightly floured surface, roll half of dough at a time until 1/4 inch thick. Using a 3-inch crescent shape cutter, cut out dough. If, like me, you don't have a crescent shape cutter use a round one to create a circle, then press it in again half way through the circle to get the moon-look. I also found the dough quite dry so when rolling it out I added a splash of milk to make it more manageable. Place cutouts 1 inch apart on a ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 8 minutes or until the edges are firm and light brown. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool. Frost cooled cookies with Butter Frosting. Immediately sprinkle with Demerara sugar.

Butter Frosting:
In a large bowl beat 1/3 cup butter, softened, with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add 1 cup powdered sugar, beating well. If necessary, beat in enough additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time to make a frosting of spreading consistency.

A lovely finishing touch is adding sprigs of lavender to the serving plate.

Enjoy!

original is in

2011-01-15T14:19:00.000-08:00

Isn't this one of the most interesting houses you've ever seen? I love the mix of old, new, industrial and bright splashes of colour. I love how each piece seems to have it's own story! The chest/table below is my favourite piece. Someday I must own a place like this!

Check it out more photos at: http://www.mixr.se/inredning/hemreportage-arild#

gasoline and matches

2011-01-10T12:23:00.000-08:00
Photo by Gasoline and Matches
Ah, one of the things I love most about Victoria is the amazing arts scene and it's uber-supportive community. Need your fill of photography this weekend? Check out the Gasoline and Matches photo exhibit.

Here's what you need to know:
WHO: Gasoline and Matches - aka photographers Troy Schaddelee and Jocelyn Mandryk
WHERE: Union Pacific Coffee Shop, 537 Herald Street, Victoria, BC
WHEN: Saturday, January 15 · 8:00pm - 11:30pm

For more info check out: http://gasolineandmatches.ca/

Photo by Gasoline and Matches

wish you were here

2011-01-05T12:57:00.000-08:00

Well, I flew back to Victoria last night and coming back to an empty (and somewhat messy) apartment made me instantly miss Yellowknife. Take a look at these pics and you'll see why!

And thanks to Kyla (my beautiful big sis) for coming out to take photos with me though it was almost -30 and for looking so stunning in the photos!

(Like her parka? She found it at a garage sale for $20! I think I'll have to hunt for one of my own asap).

This is the ice road that connects Yellowknife to Dettah each winter. And YES, we drive across it.

As we snapped our photos we heard the ice under our feet cracking and hissing each time a vehicle passed.

a hot drink for cold nights

2011-01-04T21:00:00.000-08:00
For New Years I FINALLY made this hot apple cider rum drink and I was pleasantly surprised by the way it turned out. Need some warming up? Give it a try.

Preheat the oven to 350.

Take 3 oranges and make thin cuts all over each one with a knife. In each cut stuff cloves (each orange should have approximately 1 tablespoon of cloves).

Put the stuffed oranges in the oven and set the timer for 40 minutes.

When there's about 5 minutes left on the timer, combine half a gallon of apple cider (or less - I found it a bit too sweet) and 3 sticks of cinnamon. Heat for a few minutes before removing and pouring into a punch bowl.

Remove oranges from oven and add them to the punch bowl. Stir in a cup and a half of rum - the darker the better!

Voila! You now have an amazing hot punch to serve. The stuffed oranges also smell splendid when they're in the oven so your entire kitchen will have a wonderful aroma.

Pair the drink with something like Stacey Kent's intoxicating song Jardin d'hiver.

mmm mmm mousse

2010-12-25T21:22:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone!

I hope you're all having wonderful holidays - and here's a treat that's great for Christmas and New Years! My sister whipped up this eggnog mousse one night and it was the perfect holiday dessert to enjoy with good company by the tree. Thank you Martha Stewart for the recipe!

Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons dark rum
3 Tablespoons brandy
1 envelope unflavoured gelatin
3 large eggs, separated
1 cup sugar
2 cups heavy cream
1 Teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 Teaspoon ground cloves
2 Teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions:
Prepare an ice bath; set aside. Combine spirits in a small bowl. Sprinkle with gelatin; let soften, about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water; whisk until mixture is pale and fluffy, 2 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in gelatin mixture.

Set bowl over pan again; cook, whisking, until the gelatin has dissolved, about 3 minutes. Transfer bowl to the ice bath; scrape down sides of bowl, and whisk until cooled slightly, 1 to 2 minutes

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the remaining 1/2 cup sugar with cream, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and vanilla. Whisk until stiff peaks form. Fold one-third of whipped cream into gelatin mixture, then gently fold gelatin mixture into remaining whipped cream. Refrigerate (no more than 5 minutes) while preparing the egg whites.

In a clean bowl of the electric mixer, whisk egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold into cream mixture. Transfer to a serving dish; cover. Chill until firm, at least 30 minutes or overnight. Serve chilled, garnished with coffee caramel and other recommended toppings.

style envy: zooey dechannel

2010-12-20T20:39:00.000-08:00

Clips from 500 Days of Summer

winter wonderland

2010-12-12T18:34:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm back home in Yellowknife and I have to admit it feels great, chilly but great. This past week the temperature plummeted to -47 with the windchill (that's -52 fahrenheit for my American friends).

Yes, it's painfully cold but I still think snow deserts are beautiful. Don't you?

Yellowknife city life

Remember to bundle up!

beautiful simplicity

2010-12-12T18:10:00.000-08:00

memory lane

2010-12-09T20:09:00.000-08:00
On their first date, my mum and dad went skydiving.

It was 1979 and a friend had set my mum up with a "nice, boring man" (as mum put it). A great fit, her friend must have thought, for a semi-shy, patient woman who spent her childhood in Lisoux, Saskatchewan and would weed the garden and collect smooth stones for fun.

The Airport Chalet in Whitehorse, Yukon was a place where everyone knew your name and which seat at the bar was yours. It was here that mum met her blind date, but instead she was drawn to the charming Scot who had only recently packed his belongings in a Tartan-print suitcase and arrived in northern Canada with 50 pounds in his wallet.

Below the photos of planes and flight legends that decked the walls in Yukon aviation history, airline staff, from pilots to ramp-rats, passed their time. Dad, the cargo manager at that time, was relaxing by the fireplace, getting "rum-dumb" as the night went on.

On their second encounter, dad extended an invite to her for a quick trip south to leap out of a plane. They headed south to Carcross, Yukon in his black '71 Ford Interceptor police car - the car he would later sell to buy her engagement ring.

There's more to the story but I'm working on getting it published so stay tuned!

free falling

2010-12-06T14:45:00.000-08:00
On a quick trip to Seattle a few weeks ago I had the opportunity to go sky diving for the second time in my life and for the first time as a tandem skydive. Over coffee and french toast a couple weeks earlier my Seattle friend Lauren mentioned that her mum was turning 60 and wanted to celebrate the date by leaping from a plane - what an amazing woman, hey? Lauren invited me along, knowing that I have a love of heights and adrenaline and shortly after we were driving an hour north of Seattle for the jump!

We arrived at Skydive Kapowsin - a family owned skydiving company minutes from the heart of Olympia. We walked in, anxiously signed safety waivers, jumped into brightly coloured jumpsuits and within 10 minutes we were in the plane, climbing 13,000 feet. The entire thing was documented with photos and a video (though we all found it difficult to say interesting things while so nervous).

Because we were all doing tandem jumps we were securely tethered to jump maters - meaning they had all the responsibility and we could sit back and enjoy the ride! Kathy (Lauren's mum) was first to jump, she scooted to the open door of the plane and in one fluid motion, whoosh, she was gone. Lauren was next, and I was seated behind her. I blinked and she disappeared out the window. Last but not least was my instructor and I. He held onto the sides of the door as I faced forward into wide open sky, then WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, he launched us forward and I tumbled headfirst out of plane with nothing between me and the ground below. It was AMAZING.

Don't you love the contrast between our faces and body language??

Brave ladies!

this is the first day of my life

2010-11-23T01:14:00.000-08:00
I haven't listened to Bright Eyes in quite a while but once I clicked play I instantly missed them. I could go on and on about how special the music is to me, but just click below and see for yourself.

mrs press obsessed

2010-11-17T21:24:00.001-08:00
Australian designer, Clare Press, has stolen my heart with her sweet designs and appreciation of all things vintage and silk. If I weren't living on a student loan, the Mrs. Press collection would be a staple in my wardrobe.

(About Mrs. Press Clothing, from their website)
Mrs. Press is a thoroughly modern girl to be sure, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t like things to be done properly. That means silk knickers at all times, and the perfect vintage-inspired going out dress to make her look the bee’s knees.

Our girl loves to loll about at home dressed to thrill. She loves parties too, of course. Who doesn’t? Sometimes it feels as if life is one big party. Thank heavens for the divinely scented Mrs. Press candles – we all need to relax sometimes, no?

The Mrs. Press label is stocked in our flagship Sydney boutique as well as chic boutiques throughout Australia. Luxurious finishes, the very best fabrics and posh details have won these impeccably styled pieces a cult following.

quick read

2010-11-17T20:54:00.000-08:00
I had seen the books everywhere - from grocery stores to billboards - and decided to be stubborn and not read the book that everyone seemed to be talking about. (I automatically hold a grudge against any book that has been sold more than a couple million times. I still haven't even read Eat, Pray, Love). Eventually, after having it recommended to me again and again AND again, I gave up and picked up a copy.

If you're looking for a series of books you can't put down and relentlessly turn the pages despite the fact that it's 4 am and you have to get up for class in a few hours, then these are the books for you! Sure, the writing might not be stellar and there is a unnatural amount of coffee being consumed every few pages, but the plot is amazing and characters are addictive. I definitely recommend them. Sadly, the author of the trilogy, Stieg Larsson, died shortly after delivering the manuscripts so he never knew how wildly popular they would be, and his fans have to suffice with these three books when Larsson most likely had more amazing stories up his sleeve.

Here's the description from the first book: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Harriet Vanger, scion of one of Sweden's wealthiest families, disappeared over forty years ago. All these years later, her aged uncle continues to seek the truth. He hires Mikael Blomkvist, a crusading journalist recently trapped by a libel conviction, to investigate. He is aided by the pierced and tattooed punk prodigy Lisbeth Salander. Together they tap into a vein of unfathomable iniquity and astonishing corruption.

some like it hot

2010-11-15T20:40:00.000-08:00
AAAAAGGGHHHHRRRRRAAAAAWWWRRRR.

This is what you would hear from me if the Bikram Hot Yoga Studio wasn't so damn quiet. I was dragged to my first class about a year ago and protested the entire way there. I've never done regular yoga! How can I handle a class done in a room that's 105 degrees? I'm not flexible enough! I have to wax the kitchen floors.... and so on.

The room was stuffy from an earlier class when me and about 40 others filed in - clad in florescent spandex, bikinis and itty bitty shorts. We bent this way and that through 26 postures and in the 90 minutes I dripped more sweat then I knew was possible. It poured into my eyes, ears, and mouth. Each time I attempted the 'head to knee' pose a generous sprinkling of glistening sweat sprinkled onto my towel. Several times I thought I might pass out (note to self: replace coffee with water). 3/4 of the class was painful, ungraceful and downright embarrassing BUT the last 1/4 felt so amazing that it made it all worth it. I stopped holding my breath and my muscles relaxed into some semblance of the intended pose.

The most amazing part was leaving the yoga studio and catching that first breath of crisp night air. Ah! I'm alive! I'm invincible! My body feels incredible! I can do anything! I went home and immediately fell into a deep sleep.

Yes, yes, I realize using a photo of supermodel Gisele Bundchen isn't the best way to portray yoga... but wouldn't you love to be as graceful as this yoga-buff?
Below are some of the health benefits from a Bikram Hot Yoga studio website:

Yoga is not an enigma. It is a 5000 year old science. It is unrivaled as a means of improving body health and suppleness, of creating peace of mind and absence of stress. A regular Bikram Yoga practice will change your life in the most wonderful ways and can help: weight loss, stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, immune deficiencies, skin conditions, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, arthritis, joint pain, chronic back pain, scoliosis, spinal injury, high cholesterol, heart disease, poor circulation, diabetes, hypoglycemia, sciatica, menstrual cycles, menopause, accident recovery, injury & pain, endocrine function, metabolism and emotional healing.

Effects of the HEAT: Fat reduction, weight loss and increased muscle tone, Increased range of movement in joints, muscles, ligaments and other soft tissues, Tissue, muscle, organ and gland oxygenation, Waste product elimination, Improved circulation, Increased metabolism, Willpower, self control, concentration and determination, Increased cardiovascular, Greater flexibility, less chance of injury and improved resolution of injury, Detoxification, Improved immune system functioning, Nervous system function optimized, Enhanced digestive system, Improves athletic performance

rainy day music

2010-11-06T15:50:00.000-07:00
Jack Johnson used to be my go-to guy for rainy day music but when a friend posted this video to Facebook I fell in love. Priscilla Ahn's songs are perfect for life on the west coast! Bundle up in a blanket, put on the kettle, and relax with a book and a few of Ahn's songs.

style envy: georgia may jagger

2010-11-04T14:22:00.001-07:00

a warm space

2010-11-03T19:26:00.001-07:00

Disregard the crooked map :)

arizona

2010-11-02T23:48:00.000-07:00

After a week of steady rain in Victoria, my sister, Erica, and I took our grocery money and booked a flight to Phoenix, Arizona. What was there to do in the sun-kissed state? I had no idea. But +30 degree weather at the end of October sounded perfect.

Our one big splurge - and another thing I can now cross off my bucket list - was going hot air ballooning! At 6am one morning, me and Erica met the balloon experts and a couple we'd be sharing the basket with. Up, up, up we went, approximately 3000 feet and the sun came up with us.

Unfortunately, both the boyfriend and girlfriend were petrified of heights and the entire basket shook with the racking sobs coming from the girlfriend.

Fortunately, the boyfriend distracted her... when he proposed!
Evidently, love was in the air. To celebrate we all drank a bottle of champagne in the desert at 9 am.

The trip encouraged me to add a new goal to my bucket list: walk across a desert. (Although at the moment I'm considering the desert in Carcross, Yukon... the smallest desert in the world).

We were so shocked to see a lime tree that we had to help ourselves to one

Sadly, after only four days of sunshine we came back to the chill of fall and reality. Still, I have a feeling this amazing semester is going to continue.

the marriage game

2010-11-02T23:01:00.000-07:00
Feel like reading books that will crush your vision of marriage? Yates and Updike do just that, but they do it so well.
Both novels circle around themes of adultery, the search for self, marital balance and selfishness, yet the writing is strikingly beautiful and honest.
Below are passages taken from each of the novels - hopefully they will be enough to get you to pick up a copy.

Let's face it, movies are never as good as the books the stories were taken from. I thought the Revolutionary Road movie was extremely well done, but it still doesn't quite compare to the book.

"He rolled heavily upright and groped for his bathrobe, moistening the wrinkled roof of his mouth. Then he went and squinted through the brilliant window. It was April herself, stolidly pushing and hauling the old machine, wearing a man's shirt and loose, flapping slacks, while both children romped behind her with handfuls of cut grass.
In the bathroom he used enough cold water and toothpaste and kleenex to revive the working parts of his head; he restored its ability to gather oxygen and regained a certain muscular control over its features. But nothing could be done about his hands. Bloated and pale, they felt as if all their bones had been painlessly removed. A command to clench them into fists would have sent him whimpering to his knees. Looking at them, and particularly at the bitten-down nails that never in his life had had a chance to grow, he wanted to beat and bruise them against the edge of the sink. He thought then of his father's hands, and this reminded him that his dream just now, just before the lawn mower and the headache and the sun, had been of a dim and tranquil time long ago. Both his parents had been there, and he heard his mother say, 'Oh, don't wake him, Earl; let him sleep.' He tried his best to remember more of it, and couldn't; but the tenderness of it brought him close to tears for a moment until it faded away."

"'Sally!' He was on the sunless side of I Street, hatless, his arm lifted as if for a taxi. In a business suit, he looked disconcertingly like everyone else, and as he waited at the intersection for the electric permission to walk, her stomach dipped as if she had been snapped awake two hundred miles from home. She asked herself, who is this man? The sign said WALK. At the head of the pack, he trotted towards her; her heart thrashed. She hung helplessly on the curb while the distance between them diminished and her body, her whole hollowed body, remembered his twitchy posing hands, his hook nose that never took a tan but burned all summer long, his sad eyes of no certain colour, his crooked jubilant teeth. He grinned proudly but nervously, stood uncertain for a moment, then touched her elbow and kissed her cheek. 'God you look great,' he said, 'rolling along with that farm-girl gait, your big feet wobbling away in heels.'
Her heart relaxed. No one else saw her this way. She came from Seattle and this made her in Jerry's eyes a farm-girl. It was true, she had always felt uneasy in the East. There was a kind of Eastern woman, Ruth [his wife] for example, who never bothered with makeup or conspicuously flirted and beside whom Sally felt clumsy. Richard noticed this and tried to analyze her insecurity. Jerry noticed and called her his girl in calico. Not since before her father had died, on a trip to San Francisco, had she felt, what she supposed all children are supposed to feel, that it was somehow wonderful of her to be, in every detail, herself."

Style Envy: Clemence Poesy

2010-10-23T19:05:00.000-07:00

Seattle dining...

2010-10-14T21:31:00.000-07:00
One of my favourite things about Seattle is the fooooood. You can't walk two blocks without stumbling upon an amazing restaurant, cafe or bar.
For a taste of France check out Le Pichet - my favourite French restaurant in Seattle and just a five minute walk from Pike Place Market. Friendly service, decent prices, live music every Sunday and (of course) scrumptious food!

Lauren, my gracious Seattle host, and I enjoying frites with mayo and sandwich en baguette.

Seattle

2010-10-14T20:30:00.000-07:00
After growing up in a city of 20,000 I wouldn't consider myself a "big city" girl. Crowds make me claustrophobic and traffic jams stress me out. HOWEVER, one city I can't get enough of is Seattle.

The city, just a three hour ferry ride south of Victoria is packed with beautiful architecture, hole in the wall cafes, live music and well kept parks.

Textures of Pike Place Market... that's right, that's a wall of gum

love your walls

2010-10-14T19:47:00.000-07:00
Want a fresh way to display photos? Try this neat idea I got from Black Eiffel Blog. Print 53 of your favourite photos and cut them into squares before mounting them on your wall. Both black & white and colour look great and add drama to any space.

skinny love

2010-10-07T15:20:00.000-07:00
Musical crush of the moment: Bon Iver
Below is the video for Skinny Love - check out Blood Bank too!

Come on skinny love just last the year
Pour a little salt we were never here
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer

I tell my love to wreck it all
Cut out all the ropes and let me fall
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Right in the moment this order's tall

I told you to be patient
I told you to be fine
I told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind
In the morning I'll be with you
But it will be a different "kind"
I'll be holding all the tickets
And you'll be owning all the fines

Come on skinny love what happened here
Suckle on the hope in lite brassiere
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Sullen load is full; so slow on the split

I told you to be patient
I told you to be fine
I told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind
Now all your love is wasted?
Then who the hell was I?
Now I'm breaking at the britches
And at the end of all your lines

Who will love you?
Who will fight?
Who will fall far behind?

stud

the sweetest thing

2010-10-07T14:58:00.001-07:00

French Vanilla cake and cupcakes I made for my friend Aryn's 23rd birthday

Bright and colourful summer cupcakes!

Recipe To Try: Maple Crunch Layer Cake
(ideal for a Thanksgiving treat)

favourite finds

2010-09-30T15:32:00.000-07:00

Lace Doki Geki jacket from Bliss boutique, Victoria

Timberland Boots from Still Life boutique, Victoria

Lulu Bijou necklace from Just Furs, Yellowknife (made with caribou antler)
Thrift store jars

Wolf ring from Decade, Victoria

Cigar box from market in Belgium
Pocket watch from Urban Outfitters
Necklace from market in Belgium

the breakup dress

2010-09-29T22:44:00.000-07:00
The beautiful Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2011 dresses remind me of Grady McNeil, a character in Truman Capote's "Summer Crossing" who exudes effortless confidence and ease. The dresses are stunning and soft and bound to make heads turn. Best of all, they keep the drama in the dress. If I were facing down a break up, these are the types of dresses that would make me feel cool, calm and confident.

Play:

Read:

Wear:

When I get to Warwick Avenue
Meet me by the entrance of the tube
We can talk things over a little time
Promise me you wont step out of line

When I get to Warwick Avenue
Please drop the past and be true
Don't think we're okay just because I'm here
You hurt me bad but I won't shed a tear

I'm leaving you for the last time baby
You think you're loving but you don't love me
I've been confused out of my mind lately
You think you're loving but I want to be free
Baby you've hurt me

When I get to Warwick Avenue
We'll spend an hour but no more than two
Our only chance to speak once more
I showed you the answers, now here's the door...

vintage vibe

2010-09-26T13:15:00.000-07:00
Your outer environment affects your inner environment - best make it comfortable!

My typewriter was a gift from my two best friends - one of the best gifts I've ever received.

My workspace

Inspired by:

Goodbye Yellowknife. Hello Victoria.

2010-09-13T22:44:00.000-07:00

Each April and September I seem to put one life on hold and re-start another. Summers are spent lounging under Yellowknife's midnight sun with friends and family and working a Monday to Friday 9-5 job. Winters are spent in classes and cafes with occasional weekend trips to Seattle and Vancouver.

Though I've been coming back to Victoria each September for the last four years there are some things that still impress me on each return:

1. A second summer! There's frost on windows at home but highs of 20 in Victoria
2. Events, events, events! There's always something going on - my first week back I had a front row seat to cirque du soleil (It was AMAZING)
3. Catching up with the smart cookies in my writing classes
4. The comfort of my cozy apartment...which I'm still decorating
5. Coffee & a Good Read. With so many bookstores around my bookshelf has already become crowded and there's nothing like flipping through a good novel in an eclectic cafe.

Yellowknife:

Victoria:

into the wild

2010-09-05T18:19:00.001-07:00
There's something very soothing and zen about sleeping one hundred feet from a mammoth waterfall, which is exactly what my sisters and I did on our camping trip to Lady Evelyn Falls near Kakisa (about a four hour drive from Yellowknife). After taking full advantage of the beautiful summer we had in the NWT this year, and spending every possible moment outside, this was the perfect end to summer. And as the temperature continuously dropped throughout the night we realized it truly was the end of summer.

Though I was grungy, cold and tired by the time we arrived home, I still felt relaxed and replenished. It was the type of experience that feeds the soul.

We felt like Fern Gully when we walked through the forest - so much to see if you stop and look around!

Despite forgetting half of our supplies, we still managed to eat better than we do at school. Dinner was chicken caesar salad alongside yams, zucchini, and corn on the cob that we cooked over the fire. Breakfast was Greek yogurt with berries, bananas and granola.

Kyla doing yoga as the sun goes down over Lady Evelyn Falls

the closet conundrum

2010-09-01T20:58:00.000-07:00
Ah, the typical dilemna: a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear. Solution? Raid your boyfriend's! Following trends can be more trouble than it's worth but the boyfriend shirt is one I whole-heartedly embrace! Dress it up, dress it down, or dress in only it for lounging around the house.

Ashley Olsen seems to have mastered the casual, yet stylish look of boyfriend t's.

Don't want to splurge on what could be a temporary trend? Sift through your boyfriend's shirts until you find the right one - then stitch a hidden heart in it for him to discover later :)

(photo from Garance Dore's beautiful blog)

domestic bliss

2010-09-01T19:22:00.000-07:00
I have trouble staying in one place for too long - even home - but here's my recipe for domestic bliss in any space.

Listen to: happy, mello, feel-good music
If I Were a Tree, by Forest City Lovers

Bake:
Pumpkin Cookies with Maple Frosting - the perfect treat for fall, alongside a steaming cup of coffee or chai tea. (Bonus: they make your place smell delicious)

1 Cup butter
1/2 Cup brown sugar
1/2 Cup white sugar
1 Cup canned pumpkin
1 egg
1 Tsp vanilla
2 Cups flour
1 Tsp baking soda
1 Tsp baking powder
1 Tsp cinnamon
1/2 Tsp salt

Cream sugar and butter. Add pumpkin, egg, and vanilla. Add remaining ingredients. Drop spoonfuls onto non-greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Frosting:
Boil 3 Tbsp butter and 1/2 Cup brown sugar until mostly smooth (approximately 2-3 minutes). Cool and add 1/4 Cup of milk, 1 Tsp vanilla extract, 1 Tsp maple extract, and 2 Cups powdered sugar or until desired consistency and whip with hand mixer until smooth. Spread onto cookies.

Pick up: a local read
Visiting Hours by Shane L. Koyczan
I've just started Koyczan's collection of poetry but am already in love. Begin a beautiful book.

the lost and found

2010-08-17T23:23:00.000-07:00
Aryn and I went to explore a rundown barn just outside of town. Here are some shots of the things we found.

Slides of someone's Christmas

femme fatale

2010-08-13T14:10:00.000-07:00
A spray of freckles and bashful demeanor are just a few tell-tale signs that I am not a femme fatale - I am the Betty to Veronica, the Mary Ann to Ginger. I've accepted this and there's something to be said of the absolute confidence, swagger of seduction and dash of theatricality captured by femme fatale types. They are the antithesis of damsels in distress. Below are some photos from the vogue website that have the va-va-voom of vixens.

garden variety

2010-08-12T17:44:00.001-07:00
Summer is quickly coming to an end and it's making me nostalgic for optimistic spring days. Just a few short months ago us Yellowknifers were soaking up vitamin D, diving into Great Slave Lake and lounging beneath the midnight sun.

My parents live up north year-round and have learned to make good use of the weather. They spent the long, hot days toiling in the garden - perfecting plants, ensuring the grass is precisely the same length, and enjoying a cold Corona between projects. Here's a sneak peak into their oasis! Below are some photos my sister Kyla took, proving that there are green thumbs on the Canadian Shield.

This shot reminds me of Alice in Wonderland. An entire side of our house has that randomly whimsical feel - vintage window panes, home made birdhouses, plants that creep and crawl in every direction, lanterns and sentimental items of mum and dad's. More photos may have to be posted.

Pour votre plaisir...

2010-08-09T17:58:00.000-07:00
Unfortunately my French hits a wall after bonjour/ca va?/arrivederci... and1/3 of that is Italian. BUT I do love French music. This may be because a sad majority of music to come out of North America have lyrics that are:

a) as deep as Charlie Sheen
b) so cliche you can finish the line before the singer does
c) dirty/derogatory/dumbfounding
d) all of the above

Not being able to understand what is being sung makes the song much more enjoyable. Check out the videos below of Coeur De Pirate's "Comme Des Enfants" - there's the original and the remix, both are wonderful!

To Prison With Love

2010-08-07T14:48:00.000-07:00
Someone asked me why there is so little of my writing on this blog when creative writing is my major. The truth is, putting a personal essay out there for everyone to scrutinize isn't the most comfortable feeling. But, unless I get a pen-name pretty quick it's something I'll have to get used to. So, here's a braided essay I wrote a couple years ago and had published in the Martlet last year. It's about how love letters (perhaps) are becoming a thing of the past, BUT since writing this I actually have received love letters - could they be making a comeback?

TO PRISON WITH LOVE

He says his name is Tron. His cocoa-coloured eyes stare up at me from his online photo while he pleads for me, or any other human with two X chromosomes and an Internet connection, to send him a letter. I can’t write to Tron. This may be because the firm set of his jaw is intimidating, but more likely it’s because our first date would be delayed until 2011. Tron has been incarcerated for the last 19 years for voluntary manslaughter.
~
I have never received a love letter. The closest I came was when my sixth grade crush, Keon Pud, passed me a note. Written in his tiny, perfect print were the words:

I like you. Do you like me?
Circle one: Yes/No.

Maybe it’s my up-chuck reflex to PDA’s and pet names that repels the letter-writing type. Maybe it’s the fact that I responded with “maybe” on Keon Pud’s note. Maybe it has less to do with me and more to do with sentiment-sterilized technology. Why put pen to paper and confess unwavering devotion when you can send instant e-cards or text message ‘I heart ya, babe.’
Whatever the reason, I believed, for the longest time, that the romantic notion of love letters was a thing of the past, reserved for the likes of Elizabeth Barrett Browning and John Keats. I came to realize that I’d never hold a delicate, vulnerable letter in my crinkled, time-weathered hands and re-read words of lost loves from my youth. I had accepted this letter-less fate until I stumbled upon a website brimming with sappy testimonials. Gleeful couples, who corresponded almost exclusively with hand written letters, professing that they had met their soul mates. So it seems that love letters have not completely vanished but have been revived in the most unlikely of places: within prison walls.
Writeaprisoner.com is currently the largest prison pen-pal website and features approximately 5,000 inmate profiles. The site encourages those on “the outside” to write to inmates in an effort “to reduce the likelihood of inmates re-offending upon release.” The website explains: “Your letters of friendship and encouragement can inspire an inmate to improve himself, to seek an education, to find employment upon release.” And the ultimate guilt trip: “Your letters might prevent a suicide or other desperate act born of loneliness. Your letters have the power to impact a human life that has otherwise been disposed of in that vast wasteland known as the prison system.”
~
On September 10, 1939, Canada joined the Second World War. David K. Hazzard was one of the million Canadian soldiers to enlist. Hazzard sent letters home to his two little girls and his wife, Audrey. The Globe and Mail began publishing his letters in the fall of 2008 in a section titled “Dear Sweetheart,” because of the way he began each letter.
Separated by distance and warfare, soldiers wrote in the hopes that one day they could pen the words ‘I’m coming home.’ Hazzard sent words of such sweet devotion they would serenade the most wounded of hearts and embrace the most reluctant lovers.

Dear Sweetheart,
I hope that you don’t think I was being to casual in my goodbye to you at the station. But you know how I hate a scene, and I didn’t feel any too good myself so I had to say cheerio and run. But really and truly this was the worst yet. It was extremely hard to say anything to you or particularly the youngsters, and I am glad they aren’t old enough to realize the uncertainty of this last goodbye.
Before I go any further though, I want you to know that I feel certain that I’ll be back with you for a great many more anniversaries...The one important thing I want you to know is that I love you with all my heart, and that this love will not alter one bit no matter how long I am away.
(David K. Hazzard 1941)

Hazzard and Audrey met one evening in Ontario as they rehearsed lines for a play at Mimico United Church. David walked his would-be wife home, and in that short niche of time their love story began. They were married in 1934 and had their first daughter a year later. From the moment they met until Hazzard left to serve his country, the duo had never been separated for more than a few nights. The letter above is the first he sent and was written before he had even shipped out.
When separated by war, letters were a link into each other’s lives. Similar to love letters sent decades ago, detainee sweethearts also face separation for long periods of time, only now it is the judicial system that parts them.
In the past, love letters were written to keep two people, who knew one another personally and intimately, in touch. Today, prison pen-pals converse and confide through letters alone. Though they are welcome to send photos, they often never physically meet. As I peruse the prison pen-pal site the phrase “Stranger-Danger!” pops into my mind and I wonder if loving a person’s words means loving them.
Writeaprisoner.com launched in 2000 and for $40 a year inmates can post their profiles. Each inmate has his own page that features a photo, a letter to the public, and personal details. The website could pass for MySpace or Lavalife. Feel like connecting with a tall, blue-eyed Buddhist? Looking for chemistry with a fellow Virgo? The site enables you to search by these characteristics. Height, weight, eye colour, religion, hometown, sexual preference, marital status: these are just a few of the personal details available to the public. The obvious difference between WriteAPrisoner.com and Lavalife are the sections for whether the inmate is serving a life sentence, on death row, and what crime they have committed. Profiled inmates have been convicted of offenses that “range from burglary to grand larceny to assault and battery to first degree murder.” It’s not the sweet and simple meeting that the Hazzards had, but judging by the website testimonial board, stranger-danger seems like a risk many are willing to take.
Rose, a pen-pal on “the outside,” writes:
“I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart in helping me to find my other half. I met my angel on July 12 of this year (his birthday) and it has been like a match made in heaven and all those other innuendos we so often hear about. Anyway, I would just again like to thank you. We are getting married in just two short weeks and he is getting out in February. We are both VERY happy… thanks to you."
Oh. There goes my up-chuck reflex.
~
Dear Sweetheart, I like the snaps you sent, particularly the one with you in it. What have you done to your hair? It is a different style than I’ve seen it before and looks lovely. Mrs. Black is right, you don’t look a day over twenty and you grow lovelier all the time. You do remember that I love you? Don’t ever forget it - not that I’ll give you an opportunity to and I hope that I can be close enough soon to whisper that fact directly into your ear.
(David K. Hazzard 1943)

While serving his country overseas, Hazzard wrote more than 200 letters home. Since it wasn’t possible to call or email his wife at that time, he did whatever he could to stay in touch with her, sometimes writing multiple letters each day.
~
My sister and I scan through inmate profiles.
“Oh, this one’s pretty cute,” she says.
“Wait, wait, wait. Let’s see what he did.”
One click and the inmate’s history unfolds before us. “Ooo, armed robbery with a deadly weapon,” we whisper, transfixed by this effortless glimpse into the stranger’s life.
“That’s not that bad...” I reason. It’s true. We had been looking at the site for an hour and this was a decent discovery.
A profile picture catches my eye: an awkwardly tall 21-year-old stands in the centre of the photo, he’s painted the words ‘Pick Me!’ onto his t-shirt. He wouldn’t be out of place at a party or sitting in a study group. He’d be the class clown that all the girls would secretly have a crush on. He says he’s a “fun loving, no worries, kind of guy” but he’ll be behind bars for up to 17 years for attempted murder.
While convictions are intimidating it’s not difficult to understand why so many people ignore possible dangers and write to prisoners. According to Sarah Birke’s article U Mean the World 2 Me fewer than 20 per cent of people have received a love letter in the past year. About 28 per cent have received one in the past five. At the same time, prisoners are willing to pay to be profiled on internet sites that displays their personal information and crimes.
Patrick Cole, an inmate profiled on writeaprisoner.com writes, “Mail is one of the most cherished items in a prisoner's life; he brightens when it arrives, and drops his head when his cell is passed by.” Maybe it takes a few years in the slammer to appreciate what’s out there. Maybe anonymity encourages honesty.
~
Dear Sweetheart,
Two hundred letters, just to say three words - I love you - not to mention all the ones I forgot to number.
(David K. Hazzard 1943)

In 2006, two years after his wife passed away, William Shaw wrote, “We Had the Love But I Long For the Letters.” In their 46 years of marriage, Shaw explains that not once did they exchange love letters. He writes: “The memories that pictures and souvenirs produce are marvelous, and I wouldn’t part with them, but what I don’t have, in black or blue on white, are her thoughts.”
While they were never parted long enough to feel the need to write to one another, Shaw laments that he has no tangible proof of her love for him. A love letter is just that - proof that you once loved and were loved. Shaw writes, “Our lives have changed. That special something in a personal letter has disappeared with the advent of telephones, airplanes and now e-mail - which is impersonal and limited by the lack of what I shall call ‘personal ambience.’”
Shaw was on to something. Type the oxymoron “romantic texts” into Google and nearly five million results pop up. Romantic texts are like those Sweetheart candies you get on Valentines Day. They’re cute and temporarily tasty, but as they dissolve you’re left with a chalky taste on your tongue and nothing tangible. Maybe writer Chuck Klosterman was on the right track when he wrote, “Love letters are like suicide notes -- if someone is in the emotional position to consider writing one, they're generally in the worst psychological position to make any cogent sense.”
One of the Google results, romantictexts.com, encourages text-tyrants to send love texts - or “sext messages” as they’re often called. “Love till it hurts n wen it hurts, luv som mor. And wen it hurts som mor, luv evn mor n wen it hurts evn mor, luv till it hurts no mor” is just one of the hundreds. I can’t decide what is worst: that these can be sent as group-texts while the sender sits on the toilet, the cringe-worthy content or the fact that people have resorted to plagiarizing “sext messages.” Worried that your msg wont b enuf? No problem. Romantictexts.com encourages sending insta-ecards to your sweetie. “Writing a love letter? Use cute email animation that will melt every girl’s heart! It’s free!”
“I heard someone whisper your name 2day, but wen i turned around 2 c who it was, i noticed i was alone, dats wen i realized it was my heart tellin me how much i miss u.” If this line didn’t have me swooning, a cute emoticon smiley face would surely do it.
Cell phones get lost. Computers crash. Calls are screened. Technology and romance repel one another. Families of soldiers today are asked to print off emails they receive from their enlisted loved ones. This precautionary measure is not only for the families but for historic preservation. Recording and understanding what people go through in times of war are not trusted to the fickle nature of technology.
~
We’ve segued into an age where we only feel comfortable pouring our anonymous hearts out to inmates serving 5-10 in Alabama. We’d rather Google “sext messages” for raunchy one-liners than write something worth remembering.
Love letters are barely surviving. So find a piece of paper, a sheet of music, even a napkin and start writing.
‘Dear Sweetheart’ is always a good start.

Vs.

Beauty & The Budget

2010-08-07T14:38:00.000-07:00
If, like me, your not willing to shell out mega-bucks for guilty pleasures, an easy solution is Do-It-Yourself projects. Below are some pics of headbands and hair accessories I made - some for myself and friends and some for fundraising events. Ribbon, jewels, superglue and patience were all I needed - plus a few personal touches.

If you're still not convinces that D.I.Y is for Y.O.U check out www.etsy.com It's an amazing site with entirely homemade items... From furniture to jewellery, clothing to candles, this is a site you'll want to bookmark.

The Best Folk Around...

2010-07-27T20:17:00.000-07:00
Folk on the Rocks is an annual music fest in Yellowknife and absolutely the highlight of my summers. This year their 30th anniversary was no exception. My musical crushes, the indie rock group from Calgary, Alberta, THE DUDES came to serenade half-cut Yellowknifers at the folk fest. The guys were even cool enough to take a photo with me and another yk fan.

Below are some photos my talented friend Aryn took of the band. Enjoy!

Also make sure you check out: Mr. Someone Else, Girl Police & Mendoza Line (Whoa Caroline)

A Song to Break the Heart

2010-07-15T20:44:00.000-07:00
One of the best things about having friends with good taste is they share their music with you! (Thanks EC). Here's Mumford and Sons - Unfinished business (a White Lies cover). The quality isn't amazing but you'll love the song anyway.

Self-Sufficient: Why DIY Projects Rock

2010-07-15T19:46:00.000-07:00
Though I love just about anything with a vintage/antique vibe, the apartment I rent right now feels very mod. I would love to redecorate the whole place but I have a feeling my landlord would object, and living on a student budget can be very limiting. My solution is to add my personal style with little things here and there.

I love using giant coffee mugs as flower pots. They add something special and when your plants die (as mine ALWAYS seem to) you can go back to filling it with copious amounts of caffeine.

This is an old cigar box I found at a market in Belgium. It's perfect for holding tea and adds a lot of character to the kitchen. I doubt I’ll be in Belgium again anytime soon but it’s not difficult to find items like this in any city. Thrift stores, antique shops and garage sales have some amazing finds if you're patient enough to hunt for them!

Wine and Perrier bottles make great candle holders - they're cheap and beautiful with light shining on them. My favourite place to buy the long candle sticks is in China Town where they're only 30 a piece!

My apartment still has a long way to go but little tricks like this have already made it so much more comfortable.