Tuesday 25 February 2014

Crack open a cold one


Here we have a very handsome and very expensive bottle opener. $60, but so pretty. I just can't justify it, considering that all of my bottle openers were free...either from novelty packs of beer or my parents house. This would look so cute in photo shoots and hanging on a nail on the wall, and it's brass plated. 

Sunday 23 February 2014

Your Favorite Ginger: Making a Cocktail for my Coworkers

I've been blabbing on about cocktails to my coworkers at Idea Couture for months now, so when we had a potluck at the office, I knew that I'd bring my cocktail A game. I can't begin to tell you how nice it was to hear them say, "This is really good!". I recently wrote an article about cocktails for Idea Couture's magazine MISC so I'll let you know when that comes out. For the potluck, I chose a cocktail that I could make in large batches and doesn't require a delicate balance of ingredients like a Manhattan.

Large Batch "Your Favorite Ginger" Cocktail
4 oz whiskey
4 oz of ginger simple syrup
top the shaker with cider
add a generous amount of fee brothers black walnut bitters (5 shakes)
garnish with candied ginger

Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until its totally cold. Pour into small tasting cups and garnish with candied ginger.




5 things that are going on...

1) My nose is still swollen from a few months ago when I was vacuuming and the spout got caught under something and went flying into my face. My mom said it's because I was "cleaning angry". haha!

2) I'm seriously so excited for spring, but who isn't, right?? 

3) I'm going to start playing volleyball! I used to play in high school and now I just want to spike and serve and be stronger. 

4) I'm going to purchase a nice DSLR camera off of craigslist so I can really learn the camera inside and out and take great photos. Especially now that I want to get into doing restaurant and bar reviews. My iphone just isn't gonna cut it! 

5) This is definitely a time for change. I'm waiting to hear back for a serving job in Banff...I really want it, but I also know that so many people are being interviewed. Hopefully I'm what they are looking for! Either way, I'm moving out of my apartment in April or May...the question is, will I get another place here or pick up and go somewhere else? My heart is telling me it's time to explore. 



Sunday 16 February 2014

Valentines Day and Getting Through the Winter


Hey guys! I'm super happy about how this Valentines cocktail for She Does the City worked out! (Post HERE). Michael photographed the pictures and as usual, many of the items are available at BYOB Cocktail Emporium. 

Valentines Day was really nice. I had a galentines dinner with Jess and Claire at Rock Lobster on Ossington. The food and cocktails BLEW me away...lobster mac and cheese literally made me speechless. I could eat it every day.

I am so happy we're at the halfway point in February. I've been feeling really stuck the past two months but have also been working really hard every day to push through, trying to set up new opportunities and  get myself in a position to accomplish some major goals...so far, things are still kind of stagnant but I have a feeling that in the next few weeks life is going to accelerate big time and get really exciting. Just in time for Spring. 

Sunday 9 February 2014

Sharpie on the Walls

Wallpaper is grossly expensive but I love it. That's why I get so excited whenever I see a DIY alternative. I think this gold sharpie wall that I saw on Design Sponge (link here)  is so cute and modern, not to mention affordable. Could be risky though. Would you try it?


Wednesday 5 February 2014

Printing Photos and Feeling Grateful





Heavy flakes of snow are falling out my window right now and it's actually pretty beautiful. Today I'm going to go for a long walk with The Staves on my Ipod.  This winter has been pretty brutal weather wise but today I'm not complaining. 

In the first week of January I was on a mission to print out my photos. I spent three days compiling hundreds of pictures on a USB stick, somehow knowing I couldn't look forward until I had a chance to look back. And I'm so glad, because I got a lot out of it and its something I hope to keep forever.


The pictures made me feel really grateful. When I look at them I feel so lucky for my nice apartments over the years, all the trouble I got up to in Montreal, and the snapshots of my family and friends. I look happy. It's been an overwhelmingly happy life. It reminds me to be grateful now because even when things feel shitty, I'll look back at my photos in a few years and see how lucky I am.

Over the album, I can see my star players, the people who show up again and again. The people who are in color. The pictures reminded me to reach out and be grateful and loving towards them. It's okay that we're busier than we used to be as long as they know and I know, that we're still around.

My parents have moved away, I'm not in Montreal anymore, I work more than I play, I've developed new interests and passions, friendships and skills. Sure, I could have seen this evolution on the computer screen. But somehow, it just feel so much better to hold it in my hands, right in front of me.

I have 50 empty slots for new photos, waiting to be filled. I'm excited! What does the future hold? xx











Sunday 2 February 2014

Walter Caesar Mix

My third post for She Does the City is up! This time it's all about Walter Caesar Mix. I kept the recipe really simple on this one, because I think the mix is so good it does all the work for you. Get a glass, add ice, pour in some vodka and top with Walter. Easy as pie. CLICK HERE to read the post :) 




Did I mention how much fun I'm having with this? I want to find ways to do more. I'm really inspired by the cocktail videos and photos designlovefest makes. Maybe one day...