broken english

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.