"From now on our troubles will be miles away..."

Just a quick post to wish all of you a very merry christmas and all the best for 2012! We're so excited about all of our new adventures and celebrations in the next few weeks and especially in the upcoming year. Make sure to take time over the holidays to enjoy what matters most.

xox
Meg

Comfort food

We love using our slow cooker. We usually dump a bunch of ingredients into the pot in the morning, leave it on low, and then return after work to the delicious smells of home cooking.

The other day I forgot to do this, so at about 5PM I came home to the smell of, well, nothing. Luckily I found this recipe (Fine Cooking 63) and with a few minor adjustments and simplifications we were on our way to a quick, slow-cooked meal.

[Read more]

The art of sandwich making (or, how to make a sandwich that Meg will eat).

I wish I could describe something truly traumatic that caused me to have a phobia of sandwiches as a child. The reality of it is that I was probably spoiled with hot lunches, so a "normal" lunch at a friend's house was downright disgusting in comparison. One particular lunch I can remember vividly—white bread and cheese wiz—left me doomed to hate (and fear) sandwiches.

Over the years I have developed coping mechanisms when faced with a dreaded sandwich (read: temporary starvation), but I've also realized that with the right ingredients sandwiches are delicious! [Click for more]

Gift ideas for your (fill in the blank) friend/relative

Trudeau Slater Cheese Serving Set from the Bay - Nothing says party like a cheese platter. Write the names of the cheeses with chalk right onto the slate.

Bamboo Capture Pen Tablet from Amazon - The gadget lover on your list will enjoy being able to draw, write, and edit digital photos with ease.

Moose mittens from Simons - I gave a similar pair of these mittens to one of my friends a few years ago and she wears them all the time!

Portable photo album from Renault Bray - A few of my friends love keeping their photos close to them at all times. This is such a stylish, yet thoughtful idea.

Set of Lucia candles from Renault Bray - I've purchased the Lucia soaps before and I love the soft, elegant scents.

[See more]

Chocolate Amaretto Truffles

A friend of mine was feeling a bit like a combination of Scrooge and the Grinch, so we decided that the necessary antidote was baking and movies. We thought about making rum balls, but Ryan and I had a lot of Amaretto on hand.

This easy recipe was our pick because neither of us had made truffles before and we didn't want to spend hours in the kitchen. It was a lot of fun shaping the balls by hand. We used chunky chocolate bits and powdered sugar to coat. [See more]

Ideas and Inspiration - Decorations stage 3

We just need some finishing touches before our holiday transformation is complete. I've been on the hunt for inexpensive and classic items that can be reused year after year. Here are a couple of ideas:

1. Christmas candle napkins from Simons - I love these napkins, which add a touch of cheer to a table setting.

2. "Christmas Street" wreath from the Bay - This is one of the prettiest wreaths I've found and it has all of the elements I've been looking for; I love the rustic feel of the pine cones and different textures of leaves and needles. The pops of red from the berries and the plaid bow tie everything together.

3. Antique bronze lantern with flameless candle from Home Depot - When my parents first used a battery operated candle, my brother and I had a field day with the jokes and teasing. Now I realize how practical and elegant it can be.

4. Twig and Berry Garland from Canadian Tire - I like how the outdoorsy twine is updated with sparkly berries, yet remains understated in neutral tones.

Which do you like the best? Do you have any other ideas?

'Tis the season - Decorations stage 2

Visiting the holiday decoration section at our local department store (off-peak hours) was such a great idea. As we sipped our gingerbread lattes, we were really able to get into the holiday spirit and enjoyed selecting some new decorations.

[1] Christmas crackers are a big tradition at my parents' place. After pulling the cracker apart to the satisfying 'pop' sound, treasures abound inside, including a paper crown, a joke/riddle, and a toy.

[2] We found some beautiful new baubles for the tree. We are going to start a new tradition of picking two new tree decorations each year!

[3] We also found a set of 6 in a rustic theme that will help us fill out our tree a little further this year.

[4] Ryan artfully placed new garland above the cupboards in the kitchen (pictures soon).

The best part was that all of the items are already on sale (40-60% off) with lots of time to spare before we have to leave for the holidays.

[More after the jump]

Soup's on!

I can't be the only one who hasn't attempted to make soup, real soup. I'm not sure why it's never crossed my mind before. I love it. I've even dragged a few friends to SoupeSoup and I can still vividly remember the the lobster bisque at the Brewster Fish House in August 2009.

I've seen the signs—that disappointed feeling when I heat up generic canned soup. A friend of mine gave me a weird look when she realized I didn't have a bag of onions on hand, let alone one on standby (I guess you need onions for real cooking). I've always known something was wrong and that I was missing something important in my life. So, truth be told, I realized that I needed to learn how to make soup, real soup.

[Read more after the jump]

Decorations - stage 1

Since we are perpetual students, my fiancé and I usually work late into December and then jet home to visit our families. As a result, we rarely do little more to decorate than put a few baubles on our tiny 4' tree. We decided that we should make more of an attempt to make our place festive.

Stage 1 is now complete (thanks to a little Muppets inspiration) and I'll keep you posted on other inexpensive ways to "deck the halls."

Practice what you preach

Am I really the person who started a blog about treating oneself? This week I was drowning in a sea of regressions and frustration, wondering how it could be December already. I was even reacting to the sight of holiday decorations with bitterness. Why is everyone else so happy? If anything, the looming deadlines and anguish highlighted the need for a little downtime and laughter!

Last night a group of friends and I went to see the new Muppets movie and for beers and delicious fried deliciousness afterwards. Today, I feel back to my old self again. We might even put up our tree and decorations. Thank goodness for the Muppets!

5 ideas to help your creative spirit

Recently, I've hit a wall with my research and I've found that taking an active break has been really helpful. Rather than checking facebook, I've been trying to use my brain in other ways, such as solving a puzzle, drawing, playing a game, and tactile activities. Here are some ideas:

{1} Cubebot from Chapters/Indigo - Bend and shape cubebot in between your moments of inspiration.

{2} 24 colour pencils from DeSerres - I learn best when I underline and highlight with colours.

{3} Fingerstache Temporary Tattoo from Chapters/Indigo - (in honour of movember)

{4} Buckyballs - I love trying to create different shapes with these magnetic balls.

{5} X-750 Space Pen from Essence du Papier - Write your thoughts anywhere (-34C to 121C, through grease, underwater, and even upside down!)

sauce, noodles, cheese, repeat

On our most recent road trip, we tried to order the new "lasagna casserole" at three different Tim Hortons, but we were denied this culinary delight. I decided to whip up a real lasagna to satisfy this craving. [Recipe and more info after the jump.]

"It's a winter wonderland..."

Yesterday I was feeling a little down. I managed to go for a run, my first this year in subzero temperatures. Everything seemed so grey and bleak and the upcoming winter seemed to loom in the future without an end.

This morning we woke up to the first snowfall at our new place. I stayed in bed under the cozy duvet a little longer than normal watching the snowflakes fall. I felt the same excitement that I experienced each year growing up. There is nothing quite like the world transforming overnight.

It's amazing how something seemingly so small can change one's entire perspective. I'll try to capture some more shots today on my way to work. Happy winter everyone!

Shanks' pony

As the temperature plummets and the days get shorter and shorter, the last thing on your mind might be getting up close and personal with mother nature. I admit that I have been accused of being a fair-weather outdoorsman—only making an effort to be active when it's sunny and warm. The question is: do we want to let our muscles atrophy and to look back on our lives with bitterness and regret?

[more after the jump...]

6 ways to infuse colour into your grey, November work

1. Ljusas Uvas blue table lamp from Ikea
2. Retro pen set from Chapters/Indigo
3. Bella leather mousepads from See Jane Work
4. Red-Feather canvas pencil case from Chapters/Indigo
5. Gaiam Tree of Life printed water bottle from Chapters/Indigo
6. On the Wing sticky notes from Anthropologie

I have been known to be a little bit afraid of bright and colourful things. One of my friends actually made me promise to stop buying grey clothing because I had such a problem! Lately, I've been trying to include pops of colour and I'm loving turning the mundane into whimsical fun. There are so many ways to brighten your workspace and your life.

The lazy man's chocolate cake: good in a pinch

Have you heard of this mythical 5-minute chocolate cake? Yes, it does exist and it's not as bad as you might think. Last night I was having a particularly grueling time making graphs for an upcoming presentation. I turned to what has become one of my standard first-aid remedies for a chocolate craving: cake in a mug. Recipe and more info after the jump.

Photo credit

Brunch... need I say more?

Montrealers are serious about brunch.  I've witnessed people wait in line at a local diner for hours in the snow in the dead of winter. No joke!

Maybe you've had a friend ask if you want to go for brunch, but turned them down because you have too much to do, you're on a budget, or [insert excuse here]? Trust me, embrace the ritual. I promise you'll be even more productive afterwards and you won't have to take on another tutoring gig to pay for it.

My brunch buddy and I found out that a nearby cafe actually does a really decent brunch. The food was fantastic, quick, and reasonably priced. I felt rejuvenated from the socializing and great atmosphere. Check around to see if you have a hidden gem in your neighbourhood too!

Oatmeal with yogurt and cooked peaches

Poached eggs with jalapeno salsa and swiss cheese

6 practical (and chic) ideas for revamping your office

1. Gregor swivel chair from Ikea
2. Barometer work lamp from Ikea
3. Horn Oval Dish from Chapters/Indigo
4. Modern Geometry pencil holder from Sorting with Style
5. Grid small file base from EQ3
6. Lightening 7 Year Pen from Chapters/Indigo

No one said that your work zone had to be boring or that style couldn't also be functional. I work better with an uncluttered desk, especially when I'm surrounded by items that I love. Inspiration can come from anywhere!

You can win friends with salad!

I have fond memories of my mother serving salad Niçoise for dinner in the heat of summer. It was filling, full of flavour, and contained lots of colours and textures. I always wondered if salad was an acceptable main in the non-summer seasons (I'm reminded of classic Simpsons and Seinfeld references).

Recently, my partner and I were sick of our regular meals and we wanted something healthy and quick. Et voilà!

Make your bedroom your sanctuary

We moved, along with the rest of Montreal, on July 1.  We love almost everything about the new place, but the bedroom colour really started to get to me.

Bedroom July 1

As the days started to get shorter and shorter, the dark green became more intense. The colour, aptly named "bovine fecal green" or "the armpit of despair" (yes, those are exact quotes), started to take on a life of its own. It haunted me in my dreams. [Click to read more]

Upgrade your pizza

We all have those cravings. Yes, those delivery pizza cravings. For me, I have a history of ordering either Pizza Pizza hawaiian with garlic dipping sause or Domino's supreme with a side-order of cheesy bread whenever I'm having one of those weeks, you know what I mean. My better half loves to keep frozen pizzas on hand and I often give in to the ease of the Delissio.

But this decadence comes at a cost. You are reduced to a bloated whale-like zombie, laying on the couch in a food coma with grease emitting through your pores. Trust me, we all deserve better.

Enter the homemade creation. You've earned this after hours of grading, editing, and readings. Yes, you have! [More after the jump]