Category Archives: Food & Drink

Birthday || This is 34! With a personal note.

As the years pass I feel less phased by the everyday stress and dramas. Part of it, I know has been dealing with loss and on the other side of the coin the birth of my two little ones in the past few years. Both of those life events, the passing of loved ones and the birth of a baby make you put everything into perspective… they are such profound experiences. It’s made me feel like a lot of life is just a numbers game that I don’t want to play. A monetary race to keep up with the Jones, a world of likes and followers. It can be hard to find balance and not let comparison rob you of joy. With that being said, I’m happy with 34; I feel better in my skin more then ever, I love my little family and live for the imperfect routine moments daily. Because my job is to live my life on the internet, I have at times found the online world not a positive one. Competitive, unsupportive and at times just plain mean. But I wouldn’t change my line of work, blogging has given me so many amazing experiences, connected me with beautifully creative people and allowed me to stay home with my little crew which is what matters most. So thank you for coming along with me, either a friend or a supporter I appreciate every single one of you.

I was so excited to receive a stackable ring set from PANDORA. The tiny hearts are so precious, and I’m loving that I can mix metals. The Rose™ Collection is truly stunning in person. In addition to the PANDORA Rose™ Collection, they have something for everyone including stackable rings and geometric shapes that sparkle with any outfit. I know that they have become known for their charm bracelets, which I love but they carry so much more! With prices starting at $20, PANDORA offers a wide range of high-quality, hand-made contemporary jewellery at affordable prices that make a perfect gift for the holidays or a birthday!

#DoSeeTheWonderful

Thanks to my sister for making this mazing butter cream frosting unicorn cake!

Continue reading →

Local Love || Why you should try The Rec Room || #YEG @TheRecRoomCa #partner

As you guys saw from my first ever youtube video in September, we hosted Alastair’s 4th birthday at The Rec Room in Edmonton. If you haven’t heard of The Rec Room yet, it’s over 60,000 sq. feet of games, amazing eateries and multiply forms of entertainment all packed under one roof! After my first visit I was hooked! And I’d only had the fast food take away, axe throwing and bowling to try. There are so many options in this massive complex.

For Alastair’s birthday we opted for family share pizzas, salads and drinks at The Loft. We reserved a private area where we brought in a few decorations, gifts and homemade dessert. Here’s the menu we enjoyed from one of my favourite restaurants in The Rec Room:

MARGARITA: fior di latte mozzarella, tomato sauce, extra virgin olive oil, fresh basil

SUMMER IN CALABRIA: salami calabrese, roasted tomato, calabrian chili, castelvetrano olives, fior di latte mozzarella, baby arugula

LITTLE ITALY: roasted garlic, ricotta cheese, parmesan sauce, arugula, lemon zest, sea salt

BUTCHER’S DAUGHTER: pepperoni, red onion, house ground fennel sausage, parmigiano reggiano, chili flakes

PEPPERONI: fresh mozzarella, parmigiano reggiano, tomato sauce

THE BOUNTY: roasted wild mushrooms, grilled potato, spinach, ricotta cheese, parmesan sauce, lemon zest, extra virgin olive oil

They also offer “Family Servings” to eat 4-6 per type of pizza ordered.

After pizza and cake, we let the kids run wild in The Yard where they had arcade wristbands. They loved it! So many games to try and varying skill levels, perfect for the kids attending and the adults too. Thinking of booking an event? Ask their party planner here for a quote and option ideas.

Disclaimer: This post WAS NOT paid by The Rec Room. But promotional services were provided for review.

Fall Dining with @TheBrick #AD || How to create the perfect fall tablescape

So excited to share with you one of my favourite dining sets from The Brick styled for fall! I love the Colby table’s natural wood grain detail and modern design. To create a fall tablescape can be a daunting task, there are so many colour palettes and place setting options. I found that adding florals is an easy way to add instant elegance to any table. I went with dark glass and flatware to transition from light summer colours to darker autumn hues. I love the pumpkin name plates, they are the perfect and easiest fall touch. Add wreaths throughout to room to carry on the fall theme, and you are set!

Dining Set: The Brick || Mirror: The Brick || Cabinet: The Brick

COLBODTL_L_022

Gather Mirror Decal: Justine Ma || Florals: Cory Christopher

See how I style this space for winter in a few weeks! Until then…

Happy Dining! Continue reading →

Fall Cocktail Recipe || The simplest apple cider you’ll ever make and tasty too!

Happy Friday! With thanksgiving just around the corner, I teamed up with my blogging bestie Diana of 204 Park to share a simple and easy apple cider recipe. Make it as a mocktail for everyone to enjoy and add a splash of alcohol for the adults. This mulled cider is a crowd pleaser and so easy to make. I love how it fills the house with those amazing fall smells, it’s the perfect addition to any gathering you may be hosting this season.

What you'll need...

4 litres of apple cider

3-4 tbsp Mulling Spices

1-2 apples

Optional – dark rum or brandy

What you'll need to do...

The simplest low maintenance way to make this cider is with a crock pot (although if you don’t have one, stove top will work if you’re at home to supervise a full day of low and slow heating).

Pour the cider, mulling spices and a few chopped apples (optional) into your crockpot and leave on low for about 4 hours. I found my mulling spices at Williams Sonoma but there are plenty of great options out there. I like to have a mason jar on hand to collection my mulling spices after, as they can be used several times if stored properly.

Once your cider has heated and mulled away serve it up just as is or add a bit of dark rum for those grown ups at the party.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends! I’m so grateful to have friends like Diana that support my blog, cheer on my life and are there for me no matter what. I’m grateful for my online community, my readers and my followers… without you I couldn’t do blogging as my career and be at home with my little ones. Thank you for that! Continue reading →

The “Grown Up” Bellini Recipe || Babes Who Brunch || Tips & Tricks with @204Park

I remember the days we used to get cheap pitchers of Bellini at our local Joey’s or Earls… packed full of sugar with that gross dyed grenadine. Well years later, my love for a good Bellini lives on but I want a more refined adult flavour. This may be the simplest recipe you’ve ever seen and if you’ve traveled to Italy you’ve probably seen one of these on a 4 o’clock aperitif menu.

Here’s one of my favourite Girls Brunch drinks with my blogging bestie Diane of 204 Park.

Pour peach purée into a glass (I like about 1 oz)

Top with prosecco (2-3 oz to taste preference)

Garish with a wedge of peach, ice optional.

Pro Tip: If fresh peaches are not in season to make your own fresh purèe, most grocery stores will carry glass jars of “peach nectar” in the juice isle. It’s a thicker, less processed versions of juice. It’s perfect for this recipe. If you are local to Edmonton, The Italian Market in Little Italy carries it and tons of bitters for other cocktail adventures.

Continue reading →