lemon-lime

January

2012-01-25T09:20:00.000-08:00

My schedule changed this term, and while I used to linger in the mornings, I now have to get moving. This means I am STARVING by, oh, 9:30 am. This olive oil lemon loaf has been saving my life this week. I used 2/3 whole wheat flour and skipped the icing and it is delicious. As always happens in January in Vancouver, the rain, it is a falling. However, when the sun does come out, the dog

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-24T08:56:00.000-08:00

I made it! Through the term, through the marking (festive coffee helped here), and over the Strait of Georgia to my hometown on Vancouver Island. Ah, the Island, where everyone has backyards, no-one drives defensively, and six people can go out for beers and music trivia for a grand total of $39! My grandma, before she passed away, used to make Ukrainian cabbage rolls every Christmas Eve.

Apple Loaf

2011-12-07T09:03:00.001-08:00

I have found the perfect apple loaf! It's not photogenic, but it's delicious. Hopefully, I can now avoid the lure of the 3 o'clock Tim Hortons chocolate chip muffin. (It's really more of a personal cake than a muffin, let's be honest.) I used this recipe. Based partly on viewer suggestions, I used 1 tsp of cinnamon, 1 cup of grated apple & 1 cup of grated pear, and 1/3 cup of canola

Fall Food: Eggs and Soup

2011-11-30T14:18:00.001-08:00

Here in Vancouver, there's leaves on the ground and snow on the mountains. My boyfriend is out of town this week, so here's what I have been eating for lunch and dinner: First: poached eggs on toast with spinach and goat cheese. I have graduated from cracking the eggs into a big spoon to cracking them right into the water. Progress! The bread is from a local chain where I can stick my

Quel book: Fifth Avenue, 5 A. M.

2011-11-06T10:13:00.000-08:00

The subtitle of this book says it all: "Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the dawn of the modern woman." Author Sam Wasson charts arc of people and events that came together to create the movie: Truman Capote's late-night/early-morning trips to Tiffany's with one of his muses, to his novella based partly on his absent mother, the Givenchy-only clause in Audrey's contract, the

Vegetarian Split Pea Soup

2011-11-05T10:13:00.000-07:00

By the end of the summer, I was tired of grilling and salads. Now that Fall is here, I can start making soup! This soup is from the excellent cookbook of the apparently now defunct Tomato. It's filling and freezes well. I usually make a half recipe and just throw it in whatever I happen to have that day, like sweet potatoes and extra spices. Ingredients 1 large onion, chopped 2 tbsp

Becoming Queen by Kate Williams

2011-09-19T20:55:00.000-07:00

I watched the Royal Wedding, did you? Will there be a baby soon? Will Harry marry next? Try more than 10 royal princes and princesses with no legitimate heirs. Becoming Queen by Kate Williams follows the British monarchy from randy Georgian lows to the cusp of even-piano-legs-are-modestly-clothed Victorian highs. It does so by looking at the lives of two princesses. Charlotte died in

Make your own desktop calendar

2011-09-11T08:57:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge fan of Shanna Murray's desktop calendars, but you can also make your own here with your favourite photos. Here's a September calendar with a picture of Plaza de Espana from our trip to Spain last year.

Things my boyfriend and I have argued about: Interior decoration*

2011-09-06T20:24:00.000-07:00

My boyfriend's style is Asian/modern/huge pieces of dark wood furniture and mine is hand-me-down antiques/yellow walls/old European travel posters. He has ceded the den to me and I have ceded the living room to him, but the bedroom is ground zero. However, we are learning to compromise, and the Internet is helping. Recently, we bought Nichole's collection Paris in Black for the bedroom. (In

The best whole wheat pizza crust ever

2011-08-26T08:47:00.000-07:00

How have I never made pizza until now? This pizza crust rocks. Canadian celebrity chef (is that an oxymoron?) Rob Feenie even cooks his on the barbeque to impress his Italian friends. Because our barbeque wasn't big enough, our pizza wasn't this pretty, but it tasted delicious... and moderately healthy. Laura Leyshon for the Globe and Mail There's an error in the recipe and I changed a few

More Wine Tasting

2011-08-23T09:17:00.000-07:00

One my favourite parts of summer in British Columbia is our annual trip to the Okanagan for sun, lakes and wine. Here are some pictures from La Stella in Osoyoos. Our lovely tasting lady gave us many interesting details about the winery that I (shockingly) don't recall, but I do remember the beautiful scenery and the fact that these grapes at the bottom are Merlot. Although La Stella was

Cypress Falls

2011-07-21T17:22:00.000-07:00

I have a new hiking partner - a downhill mountain biker who must temporarily slow it down while pregnant. We've been hitting up some of the gentler hikes on Vancouver's North Shore. A few weeks ago, we went to Cypress Falls. It was stunning... ...and sunny. (We've been having a terrible summer here on the West Coast, unlike the rest of the continent. Send us your heat! We'll trade you.)

Amazing Things: June

2011-06-06T22:08:00.000-07:00

1. The computer industry creates as much carbon as the airline industry and concrete buildings create five times as much. In all honesty, I could be a bit more strategic about much of my internet use - from emailing coworkers who are in the same room to idle minutes hours online. 2. Baked Eggs Benny at Acme Cafe. Pesto and hollandaise together. It works. 3. McDonald's coffee is delicious! 4

Spring is in the air

2011-05-31T15:27:00.000-07:00

Lilacs are my favourite flower, for both their colours and their scent. Most of the year, I wait while Mozart sniffs the flowers (and the grass, trees, building corners, cigarette butts, etc.). In lilac season, he waits while I sniff lilac bushes. In honour of lilac season, I'm auditioning new perfumes. (Strangely, I don't like lilac perfume.) Yesterday, I tried Jo Malone's Nectarine Blossom and

Royal Wedding Tea Party

2011-04-30T19:33:00.000-07:00

The tea cups came out of storage. We watched the Royal Wedding on Saturday morning in a tea party, complete with egg salad sandwiches, pound cake and scones with jam and Devonshire cream. We made it from Thursday night to Saturday morning with varying degrees of discipline. I lost. I saw the dress on the news and I saw the kiss on the front cover of the newspaper. Emily, off whom Mozart is

The $340 Granola Recipe

2011-04-27T09:59:00.000-07:00

1. Make granola from a recipe loosely based on this recipe and your sister's version: 3 cups of oats, 1/4 cup peanut butter, 1/4 cup apple sauce, splash of maple syrup, splash of canola oil, handful of diced apples, teaspoon of cinnamon, and a handful of raisins. Bake for 30 minutes at 350. Cool. 2. Begin to transfer to a plastic container. While in complicated mid-pour, watch as a raisin falls

How I Made My First Wedding Cake

2011-04-22T08:37:00.000-07:00

32 eggs. 24 cups of grated carrot. 15 cups of icing sugar. Yes, I made my first (only?) amateur wedding cake last weekend. It's based on an Epicurious carrot cake that the groom remembered from a potluck long ago. The recipe is very forgiving. I made minimal adaptations, adding 1/2 cup of coconut and subbing 1/2 cup of apple sauce for some of the oil. I also had to bake the bigger cakes for an

Tofino

2011-03-05T09:12:00.000-08:00

Camp for adults. That's what we needed and that's what we got when we spent a long weekend at Long Beach Lodge on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Weather on the West Coast is strange at the best of times. As you can see, we got all possible weather variations in one day. Above, snow on the beach at breakfast. Above and below, sun at lunch, Chesterman Beach. Below, clouds and waves roll in

PET

2011-02-25T17:36:00.000-08:00

I love this scarf from local designer Smoking Lily because of its colour and because it's silkscreened with the face of Pierre Elliot Trudeau, awesome Canadian Prime Minister, human rights-protector and stylin' guy. Here he is at a football game in 1970. Swoon. Photo: CP Photo / Peter Bregg via CBC.ca

Meiji jingu

2011-02-20T08:46:00.000-08:00

While in Tokyo, I went to the Shinto shrine of Meiji-jingu. It reminded me a lot of Parc Mont-Royal in Montreal, where I lived for a year. Huge, beautiful, peaceful, well-used by local people, and holding its own next to the hectic city. A wedding party. Wishes.

Asakusa

2011-02-20T08:37:00.000-08:00

Last fall, I went to Asia for work with my fantastic Japanese-speaking Korean friend Jenna. Early in the morning on my last day in Tokyo, Jenna took me to Asakusa. Above, looking down the shopping street leading to the Buddhist temple. Classy lantern-billboards. Luck.(Note: shop in Korea. Especially at the Lotte department store. And tie your trenchcoat in the back like the Korean girls.

House Red

2010-11-28T10:03:00.000-08:00

I am in the liquor store, buying two bottles of my current House Red, Montalto Nero D'Avola Cab Sauv, which was on sale for a ridiculously low $10.99. For Canada, that is cheap. It is worth more. The cashier says, "Can I see two pieces of ID?" I think she has said "Are you going to a Christmas Party?" I say, "No, they're on sale!" She gives me a very, very blank stare and repeats herself. I

Up

2010-07-28T18:24:00.000-07:00

My BFF Angie: "Can we go for a hike?"Me: "Sure!"(Above: St. Marks Summit on the Howe Sound Trail)Angie: "Can it be a long one?"Me: "Sure."(Above: From the hilariously named Mt. Unnecessary)Angie: "Is seven hours too long?"Almost. But the views made up for it.

Grapes and Sun

2010-07-16T19:43:00.000-07:00

Just got back from our 2nd annual trip to BC's Okanagan. Perfect small town BC getaway: fabulous scenery, local wine, lots of Dairy Queen. (how had I never had a Peanut Buster Bar? I digress.) Above, Road 13. They have a castle! The view from the lake at La Frenz (used to be the Canadian $100 bill!). One Malbec for the wine rack. Seared Albacore Tuna Salad at Hillside Estate. Also had some

Ole!

2010-06-07T18:53:00.000-07:00

I would love to read away the day in one of these chairs. While an authentic Barcelona chair is not in my budget, should I go for the expensive copy in leather or the cheap one in pleather?Image

Sold!

2010-06-02T20:37:00.000-07:00

I'm now house poor. Yeah! Here's our new apartment living room. Balcony to the left, den to the right, boxes of wood floor front and centre. (If you look really close, you can see Mozart eyeing up the neighbourhood from the balcony.)

These rain clouds have a silver lining

2010-06-02T20:31:00.000-07:00

Why am I making stew in June? Because Vancouver is cold and rainy, my friends. Following the suggestions, I added garlic, lemon juice, and extra herbs. Delicious!I am now excited about lunch for the rest of the week.

Rosewall Creek

2010-05-26T20:42:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, I got to take one of my friends on my favourite hike on Vancouver Island. You park in Rosewall Creek Provincial Park and walk under both the "Old Highway" and the "New Highway." Then, you follow the creek for 45 minutes to a spectacular waterfall. And of course, you have to stop at Qualicum Foods for sandwiches for the trip. (I worked there in the late 90s right after high school. I

Improvisation

2010-05-20T17:24:00.000-07:00

Four-thirty is my grumpy, hungry hour. God bless the Internet. Old tortillas + some salt + 350 for 12 minutes = chips and salsa! Crisis averted.

Weekend (Food) Warrior

2010-05-17T16:43:00.000-07:00

I love weekends. It's amazing how much you can get done (read: eat) when you don't have to go to work!Friday evening: First BBQ of the season.Saturday: My first ever roast chicken. It was easy, especially with extra tips. I made stock with the bones, which gave my boyfriend a reason to stay up until 2:00 am playing online poker. Someone had to turn the stove off. Way to take one for the team,

Vegas, baby!

2010-05-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

Vegas: where everything is fake, fabulous and fun. While my favourite pics seem to be from New York, New York, we stayed at the Wynn, which can be summed up in the phrase: "Twelve dollar pool-side Pina Coladas that are worth every penny." Look at this sandwich! That's pastrami, corned beef, coldslaw and turkey. With a side of potato salad. And a pickle.

It's almost the weekend!

2010-04-16T07:08:00.001-07:00

Thank goodness

More dining chez the curb

2010-04-15T21:43:00.000-07:00

Last minute dinner before last puppy class.

Japadog

2010-04-06T22:33:00.000-07:00

L.A. has Korean taco trucks, Vancouver has Japanese hotdogs.Word is spreading, and rightly so. We had two of the "terimayo" before going to see Avatar: all-beef hotdog, teriyaki sauce, mayo and seaweed. (Mine is the one on the left; I couldn't even wait for the picture.)

Urban Family Easter

2010-04-03T20:20:00.000-07:00

I rarely go home for Easter. This year, like most, I have a lot of work to do, I'm tired, holiday ferry traffic is awful, and I was home two weekends ago for my god-daughter's first birthday (adorable!).My boyfriend took Mozart to his hometown this morning, and I am on my own. With the boys out of town, I am having some girly fun (in between conference books, marking and lesson planning. Sigh.)

Say what?

2010-03-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

Mind-blowing facts are seeking me out. Taking short showers to save water? Try one less mouthful. One pound of meat takes as much water as a year of showers. Vegetarian chili it is! When my lovely friend Angie gets into her new Mazda 3, the speakers play the music on her iPhone, even from her purse in the backseat. Apparently, I cannot combine my passion for collecting air miles and my passion

Cruising

2010-03-23T15:54:00.001-07:00

Mozart and I were outside obedience class last week when one of the pupils pulled up in this adorable wicker pet bike carrier. (Hers even had roll bars for added safety.) It looks more comfortable than the bus for everyone involved.

You know what they say...

2010-03-18T14:58:00.001-07:00

Are Mozart and I starting to look alike?

Looking for a date?

2010-03-03T17:29:00.000-08:00

Wine Gum belly is particularly unpleasant to wake up to. It's like having a sugar hang-over. To minimize my Wine Gum consumption, I sought out a sweet but healthy snack and rediscovered date squares. I combined two recipes (here and here) plus the reader comments to come up with this hybrid recipe.Combine 2 cups of chopped dates (I used a 375 g package) and 1 cup of water in a small pot. Boil,

This Tornado Loves You

2010-03-03T10:23:00.000-08:00

My boyfriend has the gift for Finding the Words. The first time we saw Neko Case, he said, "Her voice is a weapon." In addition to that voice, she is beautiful, funny, and she also has The Gift for Words.We all have our tornado days.

O, Hockeyland!

2010-03-02T09:40:00.000-08:00

We really do love hockey that much. I watched the Canada-US game downtown with friends on Sunday, and then we wandered down Granville St. There was much cheering and high-fiving. I even high-fived a policeman. Ah, the Olympics. The good: gold medalist freestyle skier Alexandre Bilodeau, inspired by his brother Frederic, who has cerebral palsy. Bronze medalist Joannie Rochette, whose mother died

You're Dead to Me

2010-03-02T09:37:00.001-08:00

The puppy class teacher thought we should put clothes on the dogs to get them used to being handled by vets and groomers. Mozart did not agree. Those socks were off a second later.

Parlez-vous?

2010-02-23T09:41:00.000-08:00

Hearing more French: definitely one of the many benefits of having the Olympics in Vancouver. Last night, I ordered a beer in French at Quebec House. Last week, I went to Men's Snowboard Cross on Cypress Mountain, and the commentary was done by three chill boarders, one of whom was from Quebec. Sometimes it was in English; sometimes it was in French. When the guy from Quebec said something

Sisters, sisters

2010-02-12T10:18:00.000-08:00

When I was a young, mean teenager, I had a grey hooded sweatshirt that I wouldn't let my sister borrow. Her solution was to, sensibly, buy her own. She was so happy with it, but I was so mad that she would copy my style... obviously grey hooded sweatshirts being the height of originality.Now, American Apparel's ads occasionally make me shake my head, but this circle scarf is beautiful, practical,

O, Canada!

2010-02-11T15:32:00.000-08:00

I went to the dress rehearsal for the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics last night. While they swore us to secrecy, I can tell you that it was very exciting without being a circus, beautiful without being tacky, and touching without being too sticky sweet or (most of the time) too overly patriotic.In the meantime, here is an almost profanity-free video to show you the fun side of Canada. For

Drive fast, eat slow

2010-02-02T08:19:00.001-08:00

Put a moped in a coffee shop and I will come. Not only does local chain Caffe Artigiano make excellent coffee, the one on West Hastings does a killer breakfast. Picture this: grilled cheese with poached eggs and tomato sauce on top and Italian sausage on the side. I also love the logo of Ottavio's in nearby Victoria: Drive fast, eat slow.

Can I ask you a favour?

2010-01-21T17:17:00.000-08:00

It takes a village to raise a puppy. I have been asking a lot of favours lately because 1) Mozart can't yet stay alone as long as we have to go to work and 2) I love the little dude, but I have no idea what I'm doing. My lovely neighbour checks in on Mozart at 10:00 am and walks him at noon. Because of this, he can happily last from 8:30 to about 3:30, and I can concentrate at work without

Books and Wine

2010-01-20T19:02:00.000-08:00

I've been invited to be in a real live book club. We also drink wine. Here's our first pick:

Floating Sushi Bar

2010-01-19T08:03:00.000-08:00

Tasty sushi. That floats towards you. Immediately upon sitting down. Close to shopping to avoid crashing. Brilliant.

Lock up your shoes!

2010-01-11T21:39:00.001-08:00

We have entered the team sport of puppy ownership. It is a collaborative effort that has us enlisting the direct assistance of friends, family and neighbours. I have used more paper towel in the last two weeks than I ever used in my entire life. I am too tired to shop for clothes, shoes or food, which makes the direct financial impact of the pup nil even considering the colossal amount of stuff

Festive Windows

2009-11-17T17:13:00.000-08:00

Please excuse the iPhone photo, but look who I found amongst the shiny party dresses in the window of Holt Renfrew. A frosty Anna Wintour. Appropriate, no? I saw the September Issue recently, and she doesn't come off that bad. She's just not a people person, which may make her a hard person to work with, and definitely makes her a hard documentary subject. Out of necessity, the film-maker drew a

I want a house in the English Countryside

2009-10-30T19:07:00.000-07:00

TV listings don't help when you've forgotten the name of a new favourite show. Luckily, I re-stumbled upon Relocation, Relocation. It's on HGTV in Canada and apparently Channel 4 in the UK. It's best watched with a laptop open to Google maps.Here's a photo from the episode I watched this evening.The hosts balance wish-lists, gut reactions, dithering and trigger-shyness. Why do I watch this show?

Shake it

2009-10-22T17:05:00.000-07:00

I'd seen some enchanting dark and bright photos here and there, but didn't know the secret until I stumbled across the iPhone ShakeItPhoto app. You can use it to make "fauxlaroids," as an iPhone review puts it, out of existing photos or new photos.Here's the Vancouver library late yesterday afternoon, and the original below.Somewhere there's a polaroid of me from elementary school with some high,

Fashion Binge

2009-10-20T19:02:00.000-07:00

I'm a little embarrassed. My boyfriend and I have watched eight episodes of Project Runway in three days. We are now experts at navigating buffering pauses. He thinks Nicholas is mean. I am reserving judgements on all points, except that guest judge Zanna Roberts, second from the left below, is fabulous. (Image: tv.com.)We also watched Valentino: The Last Emperor on Friday night. To me, the

Classy Canadiana

2009-09-29T19:58:00.000-07:00

I love these brooches from Touch the Dutch, which I found via Love It A Lot. They're definitely something you save up for, but how cute! The Stanley Cup one is bringing back memories of the arena half-coffee-half-hot chocolates of my youth. The Canadian mocha? Possibly.

Flora or Fauna?

2009-09-27T15:06:00.000-07:00

Here's some "Wonky Veg" from the Telegraph. Would this encourage kids to eat their veggies, or scare them off?

Down Time in the City

2009-09-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

Well, the weather has turned, the petunias are dead, and the barbecue and patio furniture have been abandoned to packing boxes and spider webs. What I really want is this lovely garden from Design*Sponge. I love the colourful outdoor rug and pillow, the mix of evergreens and annuals, the climbing vines and the candles. Hmm. Maybe there's hope for a winter garden after all.

Hip Recycling

2009-09-19T20:48:00.000-07:00

How many R's can you achieve with this bag from Vancouver-area designer Penelope Foo's Etsy store? Reduce (use of other handbags), check. Recycle(ed leather trench coat), check. Reuse, obviously.

The Original Pretty Woman

2009-09-03T17:17:00.000-07:00

I'm not alone in being inspired by Audrey Hepburn. This quote of hers suggests that women have always admired her style: "Women can look like Audrey Hepburn by flipping out their hair, buying the large glasses and the little sleeveless dresses." By popular acclaim, other necessities include ballet flats, men's white shirts, trench coats, pearls, black cigarette pants, little black dresses,

Did they eat the red ones last?

2009-09-02T21:46:00.001-07:00

What is Canadian food? Here's what astronaut Julie Payette served on the International Space Station, according to the Globe and Mail: Albertan beef jerky, BC salmon pâté, Ontario fruit bars, maple leaf cookies, and of course, that colourful Canadian chocolate that leaves coloured stains on your palms, Smarties. I suppose they couldn't bring anything perishable, but I can't decide: yummy or

Found!

2009-08-31T18:06:00.000-07:00

Felix's owner is one grateful, considerate person. Not only this sign but others as well were updated with the news of his reappearance. Adorable!

2-in-1 Tea

2009-08-28T09:11:00.000-07:00

I love the weather right now: it's still summer, but it's cool enough for normal activities, such as exercising, wearing real shoes, and drinking tea. Check out this tea kettle: Step 1, add water through the hole in the top and boil on the stove. Step 2, remove from the stove and add loose tea in a cone shaped infuser through the same hole. Steep. Step 3, use the handle to pour. Step 4, sit down

Travelzoo

2009-08-26T10:43:00.001-07:00

It's Wednesday, which means it's Travelzoo day!This web site sends you a weekly list of the best travel deals in your area. Flights, hotels, spas, vineyards, musicals, trips, etc. In April 2008, I went to the Dominican Republic for a week for less than $900 including tax and travel insurance. For real.

Bad carb, good carb

2009-08-26T09:36:00.000-07:00

Carbs are once again good for you. Apparently, a high-carb diet is better than a high-protein diet for long-term weight loss. Of course, we're talking good carbs, but interestingly, pasta, nuts, milk and yoghurt are on the good list, whereas instant oatmeal, ripe bananas and carrots are on the bad list. (However, let's keep some perspective: a carrot is not exactly a box of Junior Mints.) This

Je l'aime!

2009-08-24T11:27:00.000-07:00

I used to have a French tutor, but she dumped me for this glorious summer we are having. I think I will find a new one in September. In the meantime, this shirt from Forever 21 combines three of my favourite things: clothes, French and reading. (If she was somehow eating a cupcake, it would be perfect.)

Cook Me

2009-08-24T11:17:00.000-07:00

This has been my favourite cookbook for about 10 years, but I have never owned it until last Wednesday when two of my dear friends gave it to me for my birthday. It's published by the fabulous Rebar restaurant in Victoria, BC. How did I last without it for so long? I give it indiscriminately as gifts, and my roommates have always had it. I also stole it from friends and kept it for ages before

How do you say...

2009-08-18T11:12:00.000-07:00

Last month, I came back from our daily break, and my students had phonetically written my name on the board in their languages - Arabic, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese. I was impressed!

Fantastic Time-Lapse Video

2009-07-28T17:32:00.000-07:00

I actually rollerbladed over the bridge at about 2:30. That sunset and that electrical storm were crazy. It was like the apocalypse!

Community Gardens

2009-07-24T17:12:00.000-07:00

Background, glass towers; middle ground, 70s architecture; near ground, flowers! This first garden is in downtown Vancouver, where there used to be a gas station.Fence cozies! (Click here for more.)This second one is along an old railway track in a nearby neighbourhood.

Book Club

2009-07-24T17:02:00.000-07:00

I have shelves of mysteries by Agatha Christie; everything from 1920s capers to later, darker tales in sleepy villages. Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie reminds me of the latter. Decaying English country houses, reading 18th century novels aloud in the drawing room, poison, flying down shady lanes on bicycles, dead bodies in the cucumber patch.... Granted, the title is a little odd and the main

Freedom for your feet

2009-07-21T07:50:00.000-07:00

Genetics is a two-edged sword. As always, my feet were sore from my cheap sandals about a month into summer. After much searching, I had thought Birkenstocks were my only option until I found Born shoes. It took me about two weeks to break them in, but it's worth it. Mine are actually silver and flowerless, but I love all green shoes.

Beach Baby

2009-07-02T21:51:00.000-07:00

Beaches and food go together so well. Barbeque chicken skewers, roasted peppers, pasta salad, chocolate chip cookies. Mmm. Last Sunday was the birthday of one of my best friends. We celebrated in style at Jericho Beach, where this picture was taken. Another friend made the most disgustingly awesome birthday cake: a double layer of two-bite brownies cemented into a cake shape with chocolate

Goats on the Roof

2009-06-26T08:44:00.000-07:00

In addition to great ice cream, cheap summer dresses and amazing cheese bread, the Coombs Old Country Market (better known locally as Goats on the Roof) has some fairly unique summer tenants. In the winter, they adjourn to cozier quarters.

Ribbit, Ribbit

2009-06-18T20:21:00.000-07:00

There must be a frog in here somewhere.

Bianco e nero

2009-06-18T20:11:00.000-07:00

I am feeling a bit noir tonight, so here are some black and white photos that my boyfriend took on our recent trip to Italy.

iTunes U

2009-06-16T20:53:00.000-07:00

I am hooked on free first year Psychology lectures from iTunes U. I listen to them while I cook dinner and do the dishes. So far, I have learned that economic theory can explain which romantic relationships last and why. It might not be rocket science, folks, but it's keeping me entertained!Go to iTunes>Podcasts>iTunes U>MIT>Brain and Cognitive Sciences>Introduction to Psychology.

Greek Goddess

2009-06-15T16:04:00.000-07:00

I love this Mykonos dress from Anthropologie. I can feel hot air and smell olives and salt water. Because it's pricey, I will wear a blue dress from the closet and add that little something by snacking on hummus and dolmades - the canned kind from the International Foods section. Mmmm.

Weekend

2009-06-14T15:45:00.000-07:00

Friday evening, friend's deck. Eggs benedict for Saturday morning brunch. Also, as soon as we sat down, they gave us mini-donuts. No need to pre-breakfast here!Sunday afternoon atop the Chief with my sister.

Thinking Girl's Beach Book

2009-06-10T16:28:00.000-07:00

Don't be intimidated. You can take it to the beach. It's full of magic, sex, history, travel, fun and sadness, as Princess Angelica makes her way from India to Renaissance Florence. Also interesting is an appearance by a not-so-nasty Machiavelli. If you're a dork like me, you can also check out this interview with the author here.

Sea Wall

2009-06-09T07:17:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about my job as a college ESL teacher is the flexible schedule. Right now, I don't teach until the afternoon on Thursdays, which gives me plenty of time to rollerblade around the sea wall when it's not so crowded. Here are some pictures from last week.The Lion's Gate BridgeSiwash Rock above, Third Beach below with Kitsilano in the background.

Apple Crisp

2009-06-08T19:22:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, my boyfriend and I took the proletariat chariot out to the suburb of White Rock for dinner with one of my university friends and her boyfriend. They made fab cedar plank salmon and I brought apple crisp. I think the salmon marinade was something along the lines of dill, garlic, lemon rind, and olive oil... I'll have to ask for details. Here is a picture of the apple crisp (before it

Water, water

2009-06-02T18:44:00.000-07:00

I love a fountain in the heat. They're flirty during the day and seductive at night. I recently discovered, to my surprise, that Rome is full of fountains. Above, outside the Pantheon. Below, the Trevi Fountain. This chap is more morose than anything, but still charming.

Cheep Cheep

2009-05-29T16:27:00.000-07:00

Here's a little change purse I picked up at the Vancouver Art Gallery's gift shop not long ago for about $5. Much better for taking a stroll past the beach (and perhaps the gelato store) en route to the grocery store than a heavy leather shoulder bag.

Salad Rolls

2009-05-28T09:42:00.000-07:00

Miraculously, it has been sunny here in Vancouver for the past few weeks! That means I am not getting my veggies because 1) it’s too hot and beautiful too cook and 2) patios serving burgers and beer are beckoning. Here is an easy recipe for salad rolls that solves the first problem, at least. Serves 2. 8-10 circular sheets of rice paperAbout 150 grams (5 ounces) of rice