HAPPY WEEKEND!

It is the first weekend of December. Are you in the festive spirit yet? We're heading home to Waterloo for our first holiday party with friends. I'm stoked. The One of a Kind Show ends this weekend so check it out if you're in Toronto and on the hunt for a unique gift. Monkey and I went this week and we found this cute stocking for him and an adorable bonnet that I couldn't resist.

Here's a song to start your weekend. It's Homecoming by Kayne West, featuring Chris Martin. It's one of my favourites.

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BRILLIANT BALLOONS

These balloon lights by Estiluz are brilliant. Available as a flush mount ceiling light or a wall sconce, I consider these to be a stroke of design genius. I know one little Monkey who would be amused and delighted every time the lights were turned on.

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RECIPE: KITCHEN SINK COOKIES

My friend Maggie has taught me a lot about baking and cooking over the years. In university, my kitchen skills were very limited (my go-to for lunch and dinner was toasted tomato and cheese sandwiches) and so out of despair she bought me Cooking for Dummies and started giving me instructional lessons. The first recipe she taught me was banana muffins, which is still in heavy rotation in our house. Fast forward a few years (and maybe a few more) and I'm still getting recipes from her. These cookies are packed with a whole lot of ingredients to make for one tasty -- and healthy -- cookie, which are Monkey approved!

Wet ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup agave nectar

1 egg

Dry ingredients:

1 3/4 cup spelt flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/4 cup whole flake organic oats

1/2 cup cranberries

1/2 cup dark chocolate chunks

1 tablespoon poppy seeds

1 tablespoon hemp seeds

1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Preheat oven to 350◦F. Mix wet ingredients together. Mix dry ingredients together. Mix all ingredients together.

Form batter into 2-inch balls and flatten on a baking sheet (I line mine with parchment paper). Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Enjoy!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2012: HOST

Festive displays adorn shop windows, strings of lights and wreaths decorate houses along our street, and radio stations are now mixing in Christmas tunes. The Holiday season is officially here and it's time to get merry. For the next two weeks, I'm going to post gift guides to help you with some gift-giving inspiration. And since the holiday parties are already in full swing, let's start with gifts that would make any host/hostess feel very much appreciated ... 

1. Bespoke Uprising tea towel ($17, also available at Kid Icarus)

2. Moustache bottle stopper by Jonathan Adler ($20)
3. Savon de Marseilles ($20, also available at Anthropologie)
4. Scrabble coasters ($23)
5. Balsam and cedar scented candle ($16)

RECIPE: PARMESAN CRUSTED CHICKEN

I rarely make chicken breasts for dinner. Whole chickens are flavourful, chicken thighs are juicy, but I find chicken breasts often have little flavour and turn out incredibly dry. At least that's what I thought until this recipe came along via my mom. It is super easy with few ingredients and minimal cooking time. I promise you these chicken breasts do not turn to sawdust.

Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup real mayonnaise
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 teaspoons Italian seasoned bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 425°F. Combine mayonnaise and cheese in a medium bowl.

Using a rolling pin or mallet, pound the chicken breasts to just under one inch thick (you can do this between two pieces of parchment paper or in a Ziplock bag).

Arrange chicken on a baking sheet or casserole dish. Spread the mayonnaise and cheese mixture evenly and sprinkle with the bread crumbs.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.

Enjoy!

STREET STYLE INSPIRATION: LAYERING

This is a perfect outfit for cooler temperatures since the layering makes it such a practical choice. And, the skirt adds a bit of shimmer that is so very pretty and irresistible. I love it.

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GENIUS: THE BIBLIO-MAT

I often find myself wandering bookstore shelves unable to make up my mind. Too many choices leads to indecision. Enter the Biblio-Mat. It's a custom-made vending machine that randomly dispenses books for just $2. You can find it at The Monkey's Paw, a secondhand bookshop that specializes in old and unusual books and curiosities right here in Toronto. What a genius invention!

Check out this video to see how it works ...

And, what a remarkable PR stunt for this little bookshop.

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GOODBYE BANGS, GOODBYE

It's time to grow out my bangs. I should have done it sooner because I really can't imagine another winter with crazy, uncontrollable hat head. How perfect is this hairstyle for that period when your bangs are just too short to tuck behind an ear? The best part is that it looks so simple to do, which is an absolute must for me and my lack of hair styling skills.

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DESIGN INSPIRATION: HERRINGBONE FLOORS

I find that wood floors in a herringbone (sometimes called chevron) pattern gives any space a sense of old world charm -- think of a grand apartment along the Seine in Paris, or an old manor in the English countryside. The pattern could also be used with tiles to create visual interest in an entryway, mudroom or bathroom. This is definitely going into my design inspiration file since it's perfectly suited to our old Victorian row house.

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FALL TREND: LEATHER

Leather is everywhere this season from full skirts and leggings to biker jackets, shorts and relaxed trousers. Take a look at these three outfits from Shopbop ... the flirty skirt is definitely on my covet list.   

RECIPE: ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND BACON CASSEROLE

For me, casseroles are the ultimate in comfort food -- especially during the cooler months. This recipe for roasted butternut squash and bacon casserole is one of my favourites (and it's originally from Cooking Light). The butternut squash is a bit sweet, the bacon is a bit salty and the cheese makes for a most delicious combination! I modified the original recipe slightly since we're partial to the sharper taste of old cheddar cheese.

Ingredients:
1 butternut squash, peeled and cubed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon dried rosemary
Salt
Pepper
1 box pasta of choice (I use macaroni or penne for Monkey's fingers to grab)
7 slices bacon, cut in one inch pieces
1 cup shallots, diced
1/4 cup flour
2 cups milk (1%)
1 cup old cheddar cheese, shredded
1/3 cup grated fresh Parmesan

Preheat to 425◦F. Toss squash in olive oil, rosemary, salt and pepper. Roast for 45 minutes until squash is tender.

While the squash is roasting, fry the bacon. When the bacon is done, pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the drippings. Set aside bacon, and cook the shallots 7 minutes or until translucent in the leftover drippings. Set aside shallots.

Cook pasta according to box directions. When the squash is done roasting, mix in the bacon and shallots (set aside) and turn the oven up to 450◦F.

Put flour in a heavy-bottomed sauce pan over medium-high heat and slowly whisk in the milk. Bring to a boil for 1 minute or until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheese.

Combine pasta and the squash mixture in a 9×13 casserole dish, and pour the milk and cheese mixture over the top. Stir to coat. Top with grated Parmesan and put it back in the oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese starts to brown.

Enjoy! It makes for very tasty leftovers the next day too.

(Serves 4 to 6)

HAPPY WEEKEND!

The weekend is upon us! We're having a big family gathering this weekend with my (in-law) brothers and sisters and nephews. My husband is from a family of four kids so you're bound to have a bit of chaos, constant teasing and good laughs when the whole clan gets together. I'm an only child, can you tell?!

Now in honour of my new book club book, here's a song to get your weekend started. It's Bukowski by Modest Mouse.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend.

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BOOK CLUB: POST OFFICE

The next book on my book club's reading list is Post Office, the first novel by the infamous Charles Bukowski.

Our last book, Illustrado by Miguel Syjuco was an okay read. It was an ambitious novel set in both New York City and the Philippines. It felt a bit disjointed, and at times I felt at a loss as to how the various story lines fit together. It turns out I was missing a lot of the cultural references. My friend and fellow book clubber, who is originally from the Philippines, had a different take on the novel. He told us that a number of Filipino folk tales were used to weave together seemingly random stories.

Dear editor, I think a footnote or two would be helpful for the book's next edition.

NOé & ZOë

Noé & Zoë is a Berlin-based kids' clothing line. How sweet are the prints from the Autumn Winter 2013 collection? I love the neon pink and fluorescent yellow mixed with standard black. You can find this super cute line at Advice for a Caterpillar, one of my favourite kids' clothing shops in Toronto.

FILM: WAG THE DOG

Four years ago (almost to the day) we bought our house. It was a memorable day for it was our very first house and it was also the day Barack Obama won the U.S. Presidential race. We signed on the dotted line during Obama's victory speech. I wonder what excitement today will bring.

Coincidentally, the political bug has infiltrated our house and so we're slowly making our way through the required viewing. Not too long ago we revisited Wag the Dog; a good movie about media manipulation. Here's a quick synopsis: Weeks before a U.S. Presidential election the President is caught in a sex scandal. A 'spin doctor' and a Hollywood movie producer create a fictitious war to divert voter attention away from the real issue at hand.

Part of me cringed as I watched because it so boldly addresses the negative stereotypes associated with public relations. Many people believe (and unfortunately my mother is one of them) that public relations is spin and how best to manipulate the facts to avoid telling the truth. Smart communications is about telling the truth, and telling it in a way that is clearly understood by all. Isn't honesty supposed to be the best policy?

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HAPPY WEEKEND!

The weekend is here! I'm excited to report that The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair starts today in Toronto. Monkey and I went this morning. We saw horses jumping, cows bathing, enormous squash and pigs sleeping. I see many more visits in our near future.

Here's a song to help you get started on your weekend. It's Lovely Day by Bill Withers. After a long week of wind and rain I'm looking forward to seeing the sunshine again this weekend.  

Happy weekend!

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