family day

I have a fascination with the Tim Horton’s brand.  I’m not sure if the coffee is that great (I swear there most be something in it that makes people go crazy…), or if people go to Tim Horton’s because it has become synonymous with being Canadian.

Tim Hortons Coffee

I think the branding has worked.  After dropping off TheG at a classmate’s birthday party, I spent my time waiting  (and writing) at a local Tim Hortons.  For three hours, I saw the inflow of people coming in and out for a coffee.  Long line-ups at the drive through were continuous, and lineups inside were equally long.  People on a weekend grabbing something warm before they go outside (or inside a cold hockey rink) with the kids.

I know the line ups will be equally long this weekend.  This Monday is a government created holiday…Family Day.  (it coincides with President’s Day in the US).  It was created because the government felt that the public didn’t have enough “breaks” in between Christmas and March Break, so a statutory holiday was created to honour time with the family.  I’m not sure if it is something that is celebrated worldwide (or if any other country calls that particular day “Family Day”), but it speaks volumes for what kind of society I think (or hope) we Canadians represent.

It’s about coming back to our roots (a national clothing brand, ROOTS, has also been synonymous with Canada and caters to the cottage-bound set, with flannel, leather and sportswear).  It’s about family.  Maybe that’s what Tim Horton’s coffee evokes in people ….the warm comforting feeling of a hot coffee in our hands, after spending time together ice skating or skiing in the cold Canadian weather.


I love what it represents.  And although I think it’s sad that the government had to sanction a holiday to “force” people to spend time together as a family, it’s a message that I fully support.  So...taking a break from cooking, here’s a very easy recipe that cooks itself, so you can spend time together, as a Canadian family.

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

Ingredients

• 3 pieces of chicken breast
• 1 jar of organic tomato sauce
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp. butter
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella 
• 1/2 cup parmesan
• 500g box of spaghetti noodles.

Directions

• Put all (but the cheese and noodles) in the slow cooker.
• Set on low for 8 hours.  
• When done, stir in parmesan.  
• Cook noodles, toss with chicken and sauce, then top with mozzarella.

Enjoy time with your family.

soy good for you

After learning that Martha Stewart's show was cancelled (I wrote about it here), I was curious to know what was on in her place.  I guess there was a point, where daytime television was all about soap operas or gossip shock-talk shows.  And in the evening, television was saturated with celebrity reality show/soaps, so I ended up only watching TV for morning news/weather, and anything on AMC after 10pm.  

So for the sake of "research", I blocked off some time (I had laundry), and watched television in the afternoon.  What I discovered were two back to back shows about personal health (and both are on the ABC network).  

The first one was called "The Chew", which is more like a food network show with a daytime talk show platform.  Two of the five hosts are Chef Mario Batali (Food Network star and Gwyneth Paltrow's pal) and Dr. Oz's offspring Daphne Oz.   This show seemed to focus on the "inside self"...mostly what you put in your body.

The second one was "The Revolution", which is self-described as a show about "Body, Mind, Health and Style".  Two of the five hosts are Ty Pennington (of "Extreme Makeover" fame), and Tim Gunn (of "Project Runway" fame).  It seems to focus on the outside self...fashion, design, fitness.

With the over-saturation of celebrity obsessed reality shows, it's nice to see that programming is starting to swing in a good direction. The types of programs on television are indicative of the social environment...we're just sick and tired of watching the corrupt get richer as we try to be better human beings, in a time crunched, financially restrictive world.  And we want to learn how to better ourselves, as simply as possible.

I'm not quite sure yet if these shows will provide the answer, but at least it shows as a society, we're making an effort.  I hope programming will continue to evolve to the positive again, so we can all get healthier, inside and out. 

Soy Smoothie

(Inspired from the Soy Strawberry Smoothie from "The Planet Organic" cookbook)

Ingredients

10.5 oz (300g) Silken tofu, soft
1 cup juice (of your choice)
1 cup black/blue/strawberries, frozen (instead of ice cubes)
1 banana
1 tbsp. pure honey

Directions

Place all ingredients in blender and process until smooth (approx. 1-2 minutes).  


Serve immediately.  Yields 2 servings.

the cheesiest valentine's day present

For Valentines Day, I was thinking of a few things to write in my Valentine's Day card to "TheM".   Here's a few ideas I was tossing around:

• I love you with all my heart...you make me feel complete. (insert *eye roll*...and a wink to those who like Tom Cruise movies...you know who you are).
• You had me at "hello" (or maybe it was the honking diamond ring???...geez, another reference to Tom Cruise again...what's going on here???). 
• I love you very much, even if you're an atrocious speller and watch too much golf.

Okay, so maybe I'm not being the most romantic (or suffering from writer's block, yea that's it!) but I do think this "holiday" can sometimes get a little cheesy.  So, in honour of Valentine's Day tomorrow...here's two cheesy presents from me to you, to celebrate the occasion.  

Love and Romance Movie Tribute

Mini Cheesecakes

Mini cheesecakes are simple to make. Although there is an art to making full sized cheesecakes (involving bathwaters, aerating the cheese, etc.), these mini versions aren’t as labour intensive…primarily because they bake faster and don’t crack as easily.  Any little cracks can also be covered with a simple fruit spread!  And no crushing cookies (i.e. making a mess) to make cookie crumbs...oreo cookies fit perfectly at the bottom of a regular/large muffin liner.

Makes 12 mini cheesecakes


INGREDIENTS:

• 6 oreo cookies, split apart (so you have 12 wafers), cream removed.
• 1 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese (softened in the microwave for about 15 seconds)
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup of raspberry jam (or jam of choice), warmed in the microwave for 25 seconds.
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips, melted.

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line muffin tins with liners.
• Place 1 oreo cookie/wafer into each muffin liner.
• In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs and vanilla until light and fluffy. Fill each muffin liner with this mixture, approx. half way.
• Bake for 15 minutes. Cool. Top with a teaspoonful of warmed jam or drizzle with chocolate and top with berries.

Enjoy, and say cheese.

worth a thousand

Morning

Late Afternoon

Evening

{sources from top to bottom:  Soneva Gili, Shangri-La Villingili, Soneva Fushi}

at the heart of valentine's day

{source: frugaldad.com}

As much as I don't like the commercialization of Valentines Day, I like the idea that there's positive benefits of giving to someone you love.  And to me, that's the heart of Valentines.

in vogue

Givenchy sketches of Madonna's Super Bowl costumes {source}

A lot was said this past week, about Madonna's halt time performance at The Super Bowl.  Twitter went off the charts during her performance (it apparently was the second highest twitter traffic that night, second to the end of the game).

I hate to admit this, but I've seen almost all the Madonna concerts (pre-Guy Ritchie) so for me, I wasn't as impressed as my friends were with her show (although I was impressed with the gorgeous Givenchy costumes and Philip Treacy hats...I loved that!).  Although the dramatics of the show was the best one I've seen for a football game, it seemed like she needed Nicky Minaj and LMFAO to help her appear relevant.

Photo courtesy of Vogue

However, one thing that is typical Madonna is her ability to be on the pulse of trends.  She might not be the trail blazing trend setter she was in the 80's and 90's, but she still knows when to spot it and flaunt it.  During her performance, she wore black and gold, the au courant colours that harken back to the era of opulence.  Her choice of Givenchy were also a throw back to an era that also heralded old world wealth and power.  A time when, the famed interior designer, Dorothy Draper was the doyenne of good taste and design.

This is the Greenbrier Hotel's Victoria Room, designed by
Dorothy Draper, one of the most photographed hotel rooms in history.

This "España Bunching Chest" is one of the hottest pieces of furniture to acquire (or DIY copy)
in the home decor industry right now.  Dorothy Draper was commissioned by the Spanish government
 to design this to raise the profile of Spanish design internationally.

You can see how modern interior designers are using this aesthetic right now, with plenty of gold and dramatic black.

{source}

Designed by David Jimenez

So although the economy is still going through difficult times, as Clint Eastwood said in Chrysler's Super Bowl ad (you can see it here), "our 2nd half is about to begin"...and we just might see more gold in our future.

And even if we only see the gold in aesthetic terms, like in fashion or furniture...Madonna, I tip my (Philip Treacy) hat to you, for still being, in vogue.

the art in life

As I seek balance and quiet simplicity in our lives, I sometimes just sit and take in the beauty of nature and the simple things that surround us.  Clouds.  Flowers.  Fruit on the counter.  Especially in the winter light where the sunlight is crisp, my surroundings seem very still, and I can focus and take that perfect photograph.  Capturing all the intricate details and textures.  When I look back at the photographs I've taken, it evokes a type of sensory memory (the way you'd smell freshly baked cookies and think of Mom) or a sense of calm.  

I love how nature can be inspiration for how we can recreate those feelings in our homes.  For me, it's the colour of a room that sets the tone for how it should make you feel, and hopefully evokes a wonderful childhood memory or create a sense of calm.  I don't necessarily follow the latest design trends, but instead use a simple approach, using nature as inspiration to  create a classic home as a backdrop for creating beautiful memories. Here's how I've used nature to inspire our current home, and some samples of how colour in a room can evoke emotions.


White roses (or roses in general) are always classically beautiful. Taking a cue from the various shades inspired by this rose photo, you can see how white with platinum/mink, silver and grey tones were used in our home, making it elegant and classic. (The paint shown are from the Sherwin Williams "Chip It" app).

Every time I see the vibrant pink in this photo (a dahlia flower from last year's garden), it evokes a playful memory...pretty in pink tea parties when I was a little girl.  When you take the pink to inspire colour into a room, you can see how the colour makes a room feel vibrant and playful.  

This is the $1000/night Eloise suite at The Plaza,
designed by whimsical fashion designer, Betsey Johnson

Some of our our most beautiful family moments happened near white sand and turquoise water, and this photo represents that relaxed, vacation feeling.  When using beach inspired colours, you can see how it makes a room feel calm.  A place where a family can relax.

This was photographed during our visit to Turks & Caicos

Room designed by Victoria Hagan

I particularly love this last inspirational photo...I hope that the art of nature will translate into our own future (dream) recreational residence, a place where we will always feel calm and relaxed.


And I hope you too, discover the art in life.

worth a thousand

The Nam Hai Hoi An Resort, Vietnam

Stunning...I want to wake up to this!

pass the tissue

Earlier this year, I read in the Hollywood Reporter that Martha Stewart's Living Show has been cancelled on The Hallmark Network.  

I guess I didn't realize she still HAD a show on TV (I'm mostly an online kinda girl!).  It's been awhile since the overall culture has been Martha obsessed, and I think with a plethora of HGTV programs, Food Network celebrity shows, and thousands of blogs that write about food, DIY, design, and all things considered "domesticated arts"...I think it's safe to say she has been replaced on television.

While it seems Martha has lost her special touch of enticing us to make "homemade marshmallows" or "Faberge-worthy easter eggs", I don't know if I'd shed a tear for her just yet.   It is reported that she is considering a "web-only TV show" (source here), and I think that's a clever new path for her to take.  She has been a pioneer in bringing "domesticated arts" to the mainstream, and has created online superstars out of those who worked with her (Eddie Ross comes to mind), and inspired "Martha Stewart for the Millennials" type online publications (like Design Sponge).  

I hope she really embraces where the industry is going, and tries to pass the baton (sort of speak) and create a venue, much like Oprah did with Nate Berkus, and showcase upcoming talent.

And while there are so many new "stars" like her that have shown us that we too, can make our own hemp curtains, grow our own organic vegetables and throw fabulously stylish environmentally-conscious children's birthday parties, I think she started what no other one person has done yet...made us feel like we too, can achieve that impossible dream, of being Martha.

No Sew Tissue Box Cover

(inspired by Martha Stewart's tissue box cover, and my own Hippo Costume)

Saw this oldie but goodie project on Martha's website...but didn't feel like sewing, really.  So, using the same technique I did when I created my daughter's school project  {here}, as well as using left over felt fabric from that same project, I created this.  Turns an ugly tissue box into something that can coordinate in a room.

1.  Place tissue box on felt fabric, and cut one side to cover, to measure.

2.  Cut along all four sides.

3.  Your fabric should look like this.

4.  Fold fabric over.

5.  Cut a hole on the top of the overlap.

6.  With remnant fabric, cut long thin strips.

7.  Tie with thin strips.

8.  If you wish, cut holes on the side edges of the boxes and tie with thin strips.


You're covered.

{Attending these beautiful  parties...Coastal Charm}

white is warm

I think with design shows like on HGTV, we've become more attuned to great interior design.  There are so many more options that have the high end designer look, but can be attained for a fraction of the price with some ingenuity and vision.  However, we are inundated with so many beautiful designs and options.  And that can be overwhelming.

Before Pinterest, I used to cut out pictures out of magazines and put them in an "inspiration" folder.  When it came time to renovate our bathroom, I had inspirational photos to reference.  I began to look at how to change our bathroom from "builder model boring" to "beautiful and personal".

BATHROOM (BEFORE):
When we first moved in, we made temporary solutions to make this bathroom usable.
Tan walls.  Linoleum floors.  We painted the cabinets white.  (and clearly needed to replace the toilet!)

It doesn't take much.  You just need to know what rooms you like, and understand what makes it beautiful to you. What's great about Pinterest, is you see the common thread between all your "inspiration" photos.  Do you like classic?  Do you like modern?  Do you gravitate towards dark or light colours?  For me, it was a colour scheme and one material element that was consistent in many of the photos.  I love white.  And I love the look of marble.  

This was our bathroom inspiration photo. Julie Charbonneau hails from Montreal, Quebec
(Canada), and her aesthetic is sophisticated classic with a hint of French.

It's funny how our perception of what we like, and seeing an actual visual of what that is, can be so different.  My house used to be mostly taupe and brown, which I thought represented balance (neutral) and warmth.  But no matter what I did, it never seemed quite...right.  But after reviewing all my photos, the meaning of neutral and warm was re-defined for me.  I realized it's white.  It evokes a nostalgic feeling of warmth to me.  It reminds me summer whites (hot, lazy family days spent together) or snowy whites (winter nights spent inside by the fire).

I guess that's the key for me.  Not only do we want our homes to reflect our style, we want it to be a place for memories, those nostalgic feelings.  To create a house with warmth that you can call home.

BATHROOM (AFTER)

Sources

Vanity:  Lumberland North (I've seen similar ones at Lowes)

Mirror:  HomeSense (owned by Marshalls/TJMaxx in US)

Floors:  White, marble-look tiles, Home Depot

Towels, Counter accessories:  HomeSense (owned by Marshalls/TJMaxx in US)

Toilet:  American Standard Cadet, Home Depot

{Attending these beautiful  parties...Coastal Charm}