Bon Bon - The Ultra-mod Japanese-French Girl

Cuteness

2006-10-14T06:53:00.000-07:00

Do ya love these socks I picked up at a Chinese market a while back? There are a couple of LV knock offs, a pair of Coach knock offs, a pair of Paul Frank (knock offs, of course) and my favourite, the pair I'm wearing. I adored Doraemon when I was a kid. I watched to show religiously - I even remember the Japanese lyrics to this day!

Speaking of cuteness, my Pez collection is growing. Sanrio Pez!

And if this just isn't enough cute stuff, you can always visit Cute Overload. Enjoy.

I Heart Ugly Betty

2006-10-13T18:40:00.000-07:00

After a marathon viewing session, I've finally caught up and watched all three episodes of Ugly Betty. I love the quirkiness of this show. Vanessa Williams is perfect as the villain. And America is adorable.

I was so looking forward to a makeover episode and it happened last night. Unforuntaely, it wasn't the makeover I was hoping for. It was the predictable bad makeover that only Betty Suarez could end up having. Someday...

I know the show is very old school formula - bad guy tries to sabotage the good guy, good guy thinks it's over, then the hero saves the day. But it's so intentionally cheesy that you can't help but love it.

Apparently America was on Ellen on October 11th. If I had tickets to the Ellen Show for October 10th, would I have been at that taping? Drat! Tiger Woods was there too. And so was this guy.

All I Can Think About is Food!

2006-10-12T21:07:00.000-07:00

Inspired by all of the delicious looking meals on this blog, I decided to make a VERY simple Japanese supper. I was so hungry when I got home that I wanted something really fast and easy so I made: instant miso soup, rice, cucumber and tomato salad, sauteed button and oyster mushrooms in soy soy sauce and a fried egg. When I went shopping yesterday, I saw some chanterelle mushrooms, but for $20 a pound, they didn't look so good. They seemed old and shrivelly so I passed on them. It's too bad because this is usually the peak of mushroom season here. I guess we haven't been having enough rain (but I should be careful what I wish for because it's supposed to be a lousy weekend).

After supper, I had a taste of this "ice cream" that I first heard mentioned on this blog. Although it tasted ok (like chai), I have to say, I'm not a big fan of the rice dream texture. Now that I'm somewhat of an ice cream connaisseur (with my own ice cream maker and all), this stuff just doesn't have that same je ne sais quoi that true ice cream has. I won't be rushing back to the market to get more.

I have another meeting tomorrow. So what does that mean? Another cake of course! But after so much bad luck with cakes, I decided that I would just buy a mix. Last night we went to Whole Foods and I picked up this Dr. Oetker Organics Brownie Mix. Tomorrow will be the taste test - but should I tell them that I made it from scratch???

Finally, while I'm on the topic of food, have you ever tried these pretzel buns? Apparently Swiss Bakery has been in Vancouver for over ten years!! How could I have never known about this place. These pretzel buns and so beyond!!!

Childhood Dream Come True?

2006-10-11T21:38:00.000-07:00

Okay, okay - go ahead and stick a big fat "L" on my forehead for I am a Loser. But ever since I was a kid dragging my parents to Ikea (because they 'had no use for cheap Swedish furniture'), I wanted this mini greenhouse. Of course, I had no use for it then so I never bought it. Then when I got a place of my own, I looked for it and they didn't carry it anymore. Well, when I spotted one on the weekend, I grabbed it. But I'm not sure I have a use for it now! Now that I actually have it, I don't think it looks that great. I'm really not liking how the bottom tray doesn't sit flat. Maybe I'll buy some herbs and see how they last in this thing.

Wacky Wheels

2006-10-10T18:41:00.000-07:00

I went shopping downtown with my mom on Saturday. We checked out Book-Off - they had a decent selection of Japanese craft books and a huge array of Japanese cookbooks. We then stopped at Sophia Books (where I picked up some Blythe postcards to decorate my office with) and Dressew (great place for Halloween costumes). On the way to lunch, I saw this...

People stopped in their tracks to gawk at this thing. It was crazy - it even had a water fountain inside! Here's the deal.

Thanks Dad!

2006-10-05T19:47:00.000-07:00

It's great to have a dad who's really handy around the house. Earlier this week, he came to my place and installed this nifty holder for my shower head. Now I don't have to kill myself trying to reach up for the darn thing.

I am certain that my next bathroom installation will be a Washlet. A washlet is basically a Japanese invention - an electronic bidet if you will. I can totally appreciate how some of you balk at the idea of a bidet, but I promise you, what they say is true: once you go bidet, you never go back!

And just in time for the cooler temps, my fireplace has been fixed! The flames look pretty pathetic in the picture, but take my word for it, it works and I love it!

Evolution of a Cake

2006-10-04T20:13:00.000-07:00

Unbelievable -- this is the second time this week that I purchased/made a cake for no reason. On Saturday, I bought a huge slab tuxedo cake from Save-on-Foods as part of a post-group-skydive celebratory feast. Well, the weather sucked so the skydive never happened, therefore, I got stuck with the cake!

Then last night, I made this cake in preparation for a post-mortem meeting I was supposed to be hosting at work tomorrow. I project managed a big event last week and made the cake as a 'thank you' to my team. Unfortunately, a couple of key players had to cancel so I had to postpone the meeting. So once again, I'm stuck with a cake. Oh well, this one's really good...

With fall comes an abundance of apples and for me, a craving for spices (last weekend, I went to one of those big box shopping centres and the aromas that wafted out of Linens 'n Things and Michaels just got to me). This cake is perfect for this time of year and it's a great way to use up all those apples!

Terrific Toes

2006-07-18T11:51:00.000-07:00

Yippeeee!!! Someone cancelled their appointment at Bloom Essentials so I got in! I love these tiny blossoms.

A so-called friend told me I should get a mini extreme makeover during my week off between jobs...the wheels are in motion...

Parting Gift

2006-07-17T10:42:00.000-07:00

One of my ultra-talented friends put together this super cool gift basket that has everything I'll need when I start my new job next week. She even made the card and cute gift tag. I'm so lucky :)

Back on Track

2006-07-15T07:16:00.000-07:00

Pan seared red snapper and brown rice. Not bad.

Yummmm

2006-07-10T07:07:00.000-07:00

Rhubarb crunch. Okay, NOW I will start eating healthier.

Dining Out

2006-07-09T20:10:00.000-07:00

I have been eating out a lot this week and my macrobiotic eating habits have been suffering as a result. That's why, when we went to Saltlik, I had the ginger glazed salmon with brown rice and a side of beets (despite the fact that it's a steakhouse!). The meal was delish and I don't regret choosing it over the steak at all. But now, I have to get serious about eating healthy again.

Vegas Baby!

2006-07-05T23:31:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures from a trip I took to Las Vegas three weeks ago. I relaxed by the pool, shopped, ate, played and even took a little side trip to California.

The last picture features two items on my must-try list. Coca-Cola Blak was as disgusting as I thought it would be. I made sure I drank it early in the day ;)

The Cheetos Flamin' Hot were also gross and made my hands red just like they said on NPR!

Recent Flicks

2006-07-04T19:13:00.000-07:00

I must have a thing for men in tights!! Nacho was hilarious and I highly recommend it. Jared and Jerusha Hess, who also wrote Napoleon Dynamite (another fave) have done it again. And they couldn't go wrong with Jack Black. You can't take your eyes off of the screen for a moment or you'll miss one of his trademark facial expressions. And that accent. I saw this over a week ago and I still giggle when I recall certain lines from the movie.

Let me start off by saying that I am not a comic book/fantasy/sci-fi fan by any means and I wasn't expecting much going into this movie. Honestly, I didn't even remember the Superman movie from my childhood (with Christopher Reeve). Brandon Routh was incredible and the special effects - it's amazing to think how far special effects have come. Sometimes I watch old movies like Jaws and think, how could we have been scared by that??? It's so unrealistic. It's hard to imagine what more they can do. I thought Kevin Spacey did a respectable job as Lex Luthor. All in all, a great summer blockbuster must-see.

Aloha Shower Curtain

2006-07-04T07:02:00.000-07:00

I really want to install a sliding tub door, but in the meantime, cute shower curtains will have to do. Urban Barn sells the best ones around. So it's so long to the grungy hula dancers and hello to the "Krazy Kids Food" (that's what it's called). I love it and I'm sure it'll put me in a great mood every morning!

Canada Day Dinner

2006-07-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

It's a couple of days late, but I had what I would consider a perfect Canada Day dinner at my parents' place. A summer feast - BBQ ribs, corn on the cob, new potatoes and garden fresh veg.

Since their garden has been in rhubarb overload for the last couple of months, I decided to make a rhubarb cheesecake. The photo doesn't do it justice - it tastes great. NB: I didn't include the sour cream topping that is called for in the recipe (still yummy).

Daiso Haul

2006-07-02T20:20:00.000-07:00

I made another trip to Daiso today and bought too many unnecessary things as usual. For those who don't know, Daiso is a Japanese 100 yen store (like a dollar store, only better). I believe the Richmond location is the only one in North America and every item on its two floors costs $2. They have everything you could (and couldn't) imagine.

While in Aberdeen Centre, I discovered a Blythe emporium. The store is called Beans and I'll be making another trip soon so I can take some time to get a better look. From what I saw, they carry both the regular and petite Blythes, as well as posters, bags, clothes and books. Must go soon!!!

Our last stop in Richmond was the relatively new Kintaro Ramen - a branch of the original Denman Street location. I had the cold ramen since it's only around in the summer and I have to have it when I can. It's pretty good, but I hear that the cheese ramen is where it's at so I'll have to see if I'm brave enough to try it the next time I stop by. Kintaro Ramen is 8291 Westminster Hwy.

Lovely

2006-04-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd share these pretty quince blossoms before they're no more. I snapped them up from my brother's backyard. Shhhh.

Vol. 2

2006-04-21T08:48:00.000-07:00

So I finally saw Kill Bill Volume 2. What I really liked was the storyline as it tied up all of the loose ends from Volume 1 and explained the history leading up to everything. I also really enjoyed the scene with the Bride and Elle in the trailer (I'm talking about the eyeball) - I know, I'm sick.

What I liked more about Volume 1 were the scenes with O-Ren Ishii and the Crazy 88s. Too cool.

The summer blockbuster season is quickly approaching, but I'm not really looking forward to M:i:III or Superman; I really want to see The Da Vinci Code and, believe it or not, Nacho Libre. The trailers look ridiculous! Oh, and after enjoying a green tea latte with melon at Starbucks last night (they're giving Blenz and run for their money), I really want to see Akeelah and the Bee. What is our fascination with spelling bee movies? First it was Spellbound, then Bee Season, now this.

Easter's Almost Here

2006-04-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

Easter is my favourite holiday. I love all of the pastel colours - Peeps, foil wrapped chocolate eggs, decorated hard-boiled eggs. I love it all!

I made these little treats filled with goodies as a thank you to my co-workers who helped me out with an event I was organizing for work. I can't wait til the Easter Bunny comes!

Lucky Me

2006-04-14T08:16:00.000-07:00

Last night, as part of a networking event, I got to cook with Chef Katsuhito Inoue. We made so much food - a dish featuring teriyaki chicken, spinach, carrots and shitake mushroom, and another one with matcha rice and all kinds of seafood tempura. We started at 6:00 but didn't get to the eating part until 9:00! I was famished by then (luckily everything was delicious). The event was held at the gorgeous Miele showroom in Yaletown.

Move Over Bon Bon

2006-04-08T15:19:00.000-07:00

After watching Kill Bill (finally), I realized that I have a new alter-ego -- Sophie Fatale, the half-Japanese/half-French best friend of O-Ren Ishii, Lucy Liu's character. Sophie is played by French actress, Julie Dreyfus, who happens to be fluent in Japanese, but is in fact, not half-Japanese. Got it?

Though I don't normally go for movies with spurting blood in pretty much every other scene, I really, really liked this movie. I'm dying to see Vol. 2. And I must, must, must get me a pair of Onitsuka Tigers.

Aaaahhh, Spring

2006-04-06T19:04:00.000-07:00

The last few days have really started to feel like spring in these here parts. The air is warmer and the flowers are blooming. This evening, we went for a walk in my hood and I took a few photos. Even the smells are springy - freshly cut lawn, barbeques, cherry blossoms in full bloom... I love it!

Ever since I've been living macrobiotically (more or less), I can't believe how much energy I have. This walk tonight was the most chilled out thing I've done in the last while. Usually, I get home from work and race off somewhere - karate, for a run, yoga, to a class or social event. I feel like I can go on forever. I'm sure I'll crash at some point, but for now, I'm enjoying it.

And eating sugar doesn't appeal to me as much as it used to. I know how good I feel without it and I know how awful I feel after I have some.

If you're interested in learning more about macrobiotics, The Macrobiotic Way and The Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics are two sources that I constantly refer to.

Since I've been eating this way, I've been doing the bulk of my grocery shopping at my local Choices Market (Whole Foods is too much of a trek for me to make on a weekly basis). Though I don't eat much meat (not part of a macrobiotic diet), when I do buy it, I buy organic. I can't get over the difference in flavour between organic and non-organic meat. Even ground beef tastes completely different. Makes me wonder what I've been eating all these years. Hmmmm.

Okonomiyaki

2006-03-27T17:58:00.000-08:00

Tonight, I made okonomiyaki for dinner. It turned out pretty good if I do say so myself. I made some alterations to this recipe. Eating these takes me right back to Japan. Try making some - it's delicious.

Successful Launch!

2006-03-26T21:43:00.000-08:00

In honour of Will finally buying a place of his own and moving out of my parents' house, mom and I saw Failure to Launch. This movie was hi-frikkin-larious. I knew the storyline ahead of time, but there was a lot more slapstick comedy than I had expected. SJP was adorable and Matthew McConaughey was as good looking as ever. I'm looking forward to this one coming out on DVD.

As for the house, it's coming along. There's still tons of work to be done (so much wood panelling!!!). I'll post updates as they become available.

2006-03-18T07:02:00.000-08:00

Last night, after a huge meal and an obligatory pint of green beer, I decided to stop at the video store and rent a couple of movies - Thumbsucker and Proof. For me, Vince Vaughn (in Thumbsucker) and Jake Gyllenhaal (in Proof) were to 2005 what Jude Law was to 2004. These two were/are everywhere. I've seen them in so many movies lately - Be Cool/Mr and Mrs Smith/Wedding Crashers and Brokeback Mountain/Jarhead respectively. I liked Thumbsucker (but not as much as similar movies despite the somewhat famous cast) and I really (surprisingly) liked Proof. I really am pure nerd.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

2006-03-17T06:58:00.000-08:00

Oh No!

2006-03-10T06:54:00.000-08:00

Well, so much for those cherry blossoms :(

Toasty Toes

2006-03-08T22:32:00.000-08:00

Oy vay...we are experiencing some wacky weather here today. It's been wet and windy for most of the day, then the clouds parted and it was sunny for a while, then it started raining when I headed for Stitch 'n Bitch, then I came outside and my car was dusted with snow, and now I can hear the wind howling and the wet snow pelting my windows.

Pictured are the slippers I finished tonight. What a perfectly chilly day to wear these! I followed the pattern in Knitting Pretty. Easy peasy lemon squeezy :)

L'Arc en Ciel

2006-03-06T17:13:00.000-08:00

This is the current view from my window. Ooooh...Aaaaah...

In Bloom

2006-03-04T19:11:00.000-08:00

Exactly four years ago, I was in Japan for a month and I had the priviledge of experiencing the original home of the cherry blossom festival (or sakura matsuri). It was amazing. People were taking off from work and picnicing in all of the parks. Oh, happy days.

I've been noticing that the cherry blossom trees here are struggling to bloom. Just when you think they're about to, we get a really cold day and it seems like they crawl right back into their buds. Much to my delight, I recently discovered that Vancouver is also hosting a cherry blossom festival this month. I'm most looking forward to the plein-air blossom painting classes. Hurry up warm weather.

What I'm Listening To

2006-03-03T07:02:00.000-08:00

Right now, these two CDs are on heavy rotation in my car. Funny that one has explicit lyrics and the other is made up of children's lullubies.

James Blunt's debut is fantastic. You're Beautiful is addictive. I saw him on Ellen a couple of weeks ago and I'd heard the song before, but it just hit me that I really liked it. Then when I started listening to the CD, I realized there were other songs I knew. I just didn't know the name of the singer!

I've adored Jack Johnson ever since I saw Ben Stiller in the Taylor video a few years ago. Who wouldn't love a surfer turned musician? Well, except those L-O-S-E-R-S on the Amazing Race! But they're not musicians as far as I know.

I've also been listening to a lot of baroque music ;-)

Latest Project

2006-03-02T17:28:00.000-08:00

I finished the hat last week and it turned out to be much easier to knit than I had aniticipated. I had some help, so I'll have to try to replicate it on my own.

I've now started on a pair of slippers; you know, the type your grandma used to make for you. I got this easy-to-knit-with purple Shetland Chunky from the Lewiscraft bankruptcy sale. So far, it looks like they'll be pretty easy to knit. Look out - if you're a friend of mine, chances are you'll be seeing a pair of these in your future! Oh, and I had to take these pictures in the bathroom because it has the best lighting (and that's the sink, not the toilet!).

Dorayaki

2006-02-25T06:43:00.000-08:00

In my first foray into Japanese pastries, I made these dorayaki using this recipe for the pancakes and this one for the filling. I used one of those rings for making perfect fried eggs to get a consistent shape to the pancakes. Hmmm, not bad if I do say so myself.

Dishcloths Galore

2006-02-15T05:58:00.000-08:00

Well, I've mastered the dishcloth. I've knitted a few in different patterns, and tonight at Stitch 'n Bitch, I will start on a hat. I'll keep you updated on my progress.

Mac 'n Cheese Updated

2006-02-14T06:24:00.000-08:00

Currently, on newsstands, there is a special cookbook issue of Canadian Living from which I got this delicious recipe for one-pot macaroni with beef and tomatoes. Mmmm mmmm. And the best part - leftovers for lunch for the rest of the week :)

Oh Lordy

2006-02-13T17:55:00.000-08:00

We just saw this ridiculously awesome video on The Hour. Apparently, David Hasselhoff is the new Bill Shatner. Who knew?

Knit Two, Purl Two

2006-02-06T18:40:00.000-08:00

Sinced I learned to purl, I've been whipping out scarves for anyone who'll take them. Please mind the mistakes that you're sure to see in the close-up!

I'd really like to try the toque with the kitty ears from Stitch 'N Bitch next, but I think I see these much simpler dish towels from Knitting Pretty in my near future.

Pez Collection

2006-02-05T10:37:00.000-08:00

I'm starting a Pez collection. Now if I could only remember what I did with all of the dispensers I had when I was a kid! They definitely seem harder to come by these days.

More Movies

2006-02-04T07:22:00.000-08:00

In my quest to see all of this year's Oscar nominees, I saw a couple more films over the past few days...

Crash - best motion picture, original screenplay, achievement in film editing, achievement in directing, and performance by an actor in a supporting role (Matt Dillon). The movie was good. It featured an all-star emsemble cast and several, easy-to-follow, interrelated storylines. Don Cheadle was definitely the highlight for me. Why didn't he get a nomination this year?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - achievement in costume design. What can I say? Johnny Depp and chocolate... But really, I enjoyed this movie immensely. I'm now craving Gobstoppers, Nerds and Runts! I'm a big fan of Tim Burton and I think my next movie pics to see will be in the best animated feature film category; Howl's Moving Castle, Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit, and yes, Tim Burton's Corpse Bride.

What is Gravity Pope?

2006-02-03T16:50:00.000-08:00

The other night when we were strolling down West 4th I saw Gravity Pope in person! I had been reading about/hearing about this shoe store for several months and I've been wanting to check it out. The shoe selection is ALMOST overwhelming. I found a pair of Puma trainers that I am in love with. Now I can't decide whether to get these or the customizable Nike barefoot sneaks.

Cinnamonny Sweet

2006-02-02T05:09:00.000-08:00

Last night, all through Stitch 'n' Bitch, I had been craving something sweet - more specifically, cinnamonny and sweet. I've been nutty about cinnamon lately. Ever since I was offered a stick of Dentyne Fire Spicy Cinnamon gum after a particularly, shall we say, perfumy lunch at Saffron last week, I can't get enough of it.

I decided to try the new Cinnamon Dolce Latte at Starbucks on my way home. It was divine; however, now that it's 5:00 am and I'm wide awake, I'm thinking decaf would have been the better way to go. Uggghh - the moral of the story is, don't drink coffee at 10:30 at night. At least it went well with one of the leftover health nut blueberry muffins I made for yesterday's staff meeting.

Nara Prints

2006-02-01T16:45:00.000-08:00

I finally got my Yoshitomo Nara prints into frames and I think they look great. Plus, I got a wicked deal on the frames at Paboom on West 4th. One more project complete. Aaaaahhhh.

Dinner at Diva

2006-02-01T07:10:00.000-08:00

Last night, we took advantage of the great Dine Out Vancouver deal and had a three course meal at Diva at the Met for $35.

For my appetizer, I had the organic green salad with crisp Asian pear, roasted walnuts, goat gouda cheese and a caramelized honey vinaigrette. For my entree...braised and glazed aromatic veal cheek, warm, creamy onion tart and thyme-scented jus. And the piece de resistance - dessert! I tried the sweet spiced beignets with hot milk chocolate and vanilla foam (well, actually I tried all of the desserts, but mine was the best ;-)) I'm glad our waiter explained the technique of how to eat the beignets. I think it made them even better than they would have been had I just dug in.

All in all, a delicious meal. And dine out only runs until tomorrow so make a reservation fast!

Totoro

2006-01-19T23:51:00.000-08:00

After watching Napoleon Dynamite, I started channel surfing and I realized that Turner Classic Movies was featuring the movies of Hayao Miyazaki (on Thursday nights throughout the month of January, I think). I happened to catch it when they were about to show my favourite, My Neighbor Totoro in it's original Japanese. I love how Mei screams everything she says - she is sooooo cute. Plus, the intro commentary was by Miyazaki's friend and colleague, John Lasseter! Very cool.

Decoded

2006-01-18T21:27:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I'm the last person on Earth to read the Da Vinci Code. I consider myself someone who is in touch with current trends, pop culture, all that stuff, but how this book escaped me is a mystery.

I just finished it last night and it was a page turner right from the start. I kept forgetting that this was fiction! I love the concept of short chapters. Just one more chapter then I'll cook dinner. Okay, one more chapter, then really, I'll start cooking. Well, maybe one more...

At least I could envision Tom Hanks in the role of Langdon while I was reading it. Ooh, I can't wait for the movie!

Krispy Kreme

2006-01-17T06:41:00.000-08:00

Lately, I've been having a renewed interest in Krispy Kreme. I'm not sure why, but I felt the need to have some Krispy Kreme this past weekend...so we trudged out to Delta just to satify my craving.

Well, let me tell you -- the Krispy Kreme bandwagon left a long time ago. I couldn't believe it. The place was deserted. A far cry from when it first opened and there were police directing traffic. Has this happened to Krispy Kremes all over North America? I walked in and was served immediately.

Oh well, more doughnuts for me. But I don't like 'em. Really, they're too sweet. I don't like them. *chew, smack, smack* Err, really, I'm just eating them because they're here...

Tablecloth

2006-01-16T07:02:00.000-08:00

Ever since I inherited one of my mom's old sewing machines, I've been whipping out cushions, cards (yes, you can sew on paper) and tablecloths like crazy.

I love this Japanese print and I'm planning to make tablecloths for every season and holiday. Crazy, I know. But I'm currently obsessed with Fabricana Imports so I'll use any excuse to go there. This particular tablecloth goes perfectly with a sushi dinner. I bought the dishes at Utsuwa-No-Yakata and the sushi is from Sushi House. I might have blogged about Sushi House before, but it's worth another mention - borderline grotesquely HUGE pieces of sushi for a very reasonable price. Unfortunately, I took this picture after I had starting clearing the table so you can't get the full effect of the HUGE pieces of sushi. Trust me, they're HUGE.

Sushi House
7060 Kingsway
Burnaby
604-521-3131

Realistic Resolution

2006-01-15T21:51:00.000-08:00

I don't normally make new year's resolutions. They're usually unrealistic and boring. You know, the same old lose weight, eat healthier, quit smoking (not that I smoke (ewwwww); it's just a typical resolution)...

But this year, it seemed like everyone around me was making resolutions and I didn't want to be left out. I decided that I would watch all of the Oscar nominated movies - at least all of the best picture, best actor/actress, supporting actor/actress, costume design and soundtrack nominees. Okay, this list is already scaring me.

Since we don't even know who the nominees are at this point (they will be announced on January 31st), I've been basing my movie choices on hype. Over the last week, I've seen several films.

Memoirs of a Geisha - Beau-tee-ful. I thought the casting was perfect and even though it's been years since I read the book, it seemed to stay true to the original story. And it didn't bother me in the least that the lead female roles were portrayed by Chinese actresses. I'd be surprised if this movie didn't win for best costume design. I really want to go to Japan again.

(Update: I just spoke with my mom who recently saw the movie and the whole costume thing was a disappointment to her. Apparently the way the obis were tied over the kimonos was technically not correct. Oh well, I'm pretty sure the academy is not composed of kimono experts.)

Walk the Line - I've been a Joaquin Phoenix fan since he was River's little brother, Leaf. I could not believe how well he portrayed Johnny Cash. His singing was so bang on (and I know from years of my dad listening to WX 1130 when it used to be a country music station - back when, as he says, 'country music was still country music, not like today's so-called country music which isn't country music at all'). I know Jamie Foxx won best actor for portraying Ray Charles last year, but I'd be surprised if Joaquin doesn't win this time around. Now I must make pouffy skirts. What do you think of this one?

Brokeback Mountain - I really had no desire to see this movie. Gay cowboys??? Believe me, I am not a homophobe and I have nothing against cowboys, but seriously. Despite the facts that Ang Lee was the director, Heath and Jake are easy on the eyes, and Anne Hathaway played a divergent role, I wasn't really impressed with this film. I heard some good things from friends who had seen it and I wanted to like it, but it just didn't do anything for me. Plus I think there were things that just weren't believable to me. For example, the movie spans 20 years and Heath and Jake don't really seem to age. And I swear they are wearing the same pairs of jeans throughout the whole movie! Watch it and tell me those aren't the same jeans! I think I will read Annie Proulx' short story and see if I still feel the same way.

I'm also very excited that Jon Stewart will be hosting the awards. Yay!

Green Thumb

2006-01-14T07:41:00.000-08:00

Maybe there's hope for me after all. I received this orchid over two years ago as a housewarming gift and it always amazes me when it blooms. Not only has this orchid been blooming on a regular basis, it has grown two completely new shoots!

But there is a lot of pressure on me to be a successful gardener you know. My parents have been growing fruits, vegetables and flowers for as long as I can remember. I have many childhood memories of shucking peas, yanking fruits off of trees, and pulling out "weeds". But honestly, I can hardly wait for the day when I can sell this apartment and buy a house with a yard.

I think I will go to the nursury today to buy some more window plants and gush over all of the things I can't have.

Thought for the Day

2006-01-14T07:23:00.000-08:00

If it's true that French Women Don't Get Fat and that Japanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat, what does this mean for me??? At this rate, I should look like an anorexic 4th grader. Hmmmm.

Hello Waffles

2006-01-13T17:02:00.000-08:00

must...have...this. Drool, drool.

Ooey Gooey Goodness

2006-01-13T16:51:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid, my mom used to make us snacks before bedtime. In retrospect, snacks before bedtime might not have been such a good idea, but every night at around 7:30 we'd yell, "snack time! snack time!" and without fail a snack would appear before us. Bedtime snack usually consisted of a glass of ginger ale, corn chips and, don't ask me why, but a couple of marshmallows. Maybe it was a '70s thing. I love j-e-l-l-o too, but that's another story.

I LOOOOOVE marshmallows. I've often wondered why we don't have Marshmallow Fluff in Canada (or at least I've never seen it in the stores). So imagine my excitement when I saw a dessert item that had a homemade marshmallow in it! You can MAKE these things???

Leave it to those clever engineers to come up with the recipe.
I must say I was a little grossed out by the smell of the gelatin - a mild dog foodish aroma. But I guess that was to be expected being made of animal hooves and all.

I tried one in my dark chocolate Cocoa Camino that I got at my beloved Whole Foods and it was quite authentic tasting. No hoofy flavour. Next, I'll toast 'em, make smores, whip up rice crispy squares...

Emergency Card

2005-12-16T18:05:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting use these Prima Flowers that I bought a while back and the need for an emergency anniversary
card presented the perfect opportunity. The flowers I used came in cute glass milk bottle - there's even a sticker on it that says, "Got flowers?" I secured the flowers to the card using colourful brads from Doodlebug Design Inc. Easy as pie!

How Christmassy is This?

2005-12-14T21:02:00.000-08:00

I have been meaning to make these red and green biscotti for quite some time and only now got around to actually baking them. How appropriate are these for Christmas?

First, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Then, in a large bowl, mix together 1/4 cup light olive oil and 3/4 cup sugar until well blended. Mix in 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, then beat in two eggs. Combine 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon baking powder; gradually stir into egg mixture. Mix in 1/2 cup dried cranberries and 1 1/2 cups pistachio nuts by hand.

Divide dough in half. Form two logs (12 x 2 inches) on a cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper (or a Silpat). Bake for 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until logs are light brown. Remove from oven and set aside to cool for 10 minutes. Reduce oven heat to 275 degrees F.

Cut logs on diagonal into 3/4 inch thick slices. Lay on sides on parchment covered cookie sheet.

Bake approximately 8 to 10 minutes or until dry; cool.

Day of Intrigue 2005

2005-12-11T22:32:00.000-08:00

Well, the Day of Intrigue (as the best friends a girl could ever have labelled it) is officially over :(

As an early birthday present, I was kidnapped, blindfolded, carted around the city and treated to a day of fun.

First stop - Feenie's. Here, I indulged in a "Sweetheart" cocktail and a Feenie Burger.

To top it off, I had a dessert called "Only if You're Good" which had all of the flavours and treats I remember from my childhood (peanut butter, rice crispy squares and the most gourmet hot chocolate I ever had - it even had a "homemade" marshmallow in it!).

Next, we performed some karaoke where I channeled my inner William Hung and sang "She Bangs"!!! But singing those classic '80s songs was my favourite part - Material Girl, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Wake Me Up Before You Go Go...).

After stopping for some tea (we were parched after all that singing; well, maybe it was more like shouting!), we toured the Trinity Street Christmas Light Competition. It's amazing how an entire neighborhood (at least four or five blocks) can band together and create a beautiful display. This house was one of my favourites. I can't wait for the Day of Intrigue 2006!

As Luck Would Have it...

2005-11-30T18:31:00.000-08:00

I was walking through one of the buildings at work when I came across a bounty of good fortune - a table displaying all sorts of St. Tropez Essentials - you know, those bags toted by the likes of Paris and Nicky Hilton, Renee Zellweger and Sarah Jessica Parker.

I stopped to see what it was all about. Proceeds from the sale of these bags were going to the student association, even more reason to make a few purchases. And the price...I went online and saw the makeup bags (the I [Heart] Spas and No Carbs are examples) selling for USD $34. I bought mine for CDN $5 and no tax! Can you believe it?

Gettin' Ready for '06

2005-11-29T20:47:00.000-08:00

For those of you in the Vancouver area trying to track down a 2006 Moleskine Day Planner, I found mine (among many other things) at Paper-Ya (a very dangerous place to let me loose). I believe you can also purchase them at Paperhaus on Granville. I can hardly wait for next year to arrive!

Oh What a Beautiful Morning

2005-11-26T07:23:00.000-08:00

Aren't I so lucky to be living in this gorgeous city? This is the view from my balcony (these photos don't do it justice, though). I'm so glad that depressing fog has lifted. Tomorrow, I will be swooshing down them there hills. I can't wait!

Not Quite Done Yet

2005-11-26T06:49:00.000-08:00

Well, 10 hours have passed and the resulting yogurt looks ultra rich and creamy. However, must wait a few more hours while it chills before I can taste it :-(

First Attempt

2005-11-25T21:02:00.000-08:00

I finally purchased the Donvier Yogurt Maker at Ming Wo. This is my first attempt at making a batch.

First, I got a litre of 2% organic Avalon milk and a small container of 3.9% milk fat plain Olympic yogurt.

Next, I heated the milk in a sauce pan until small bubbles started to form around the edges and steam started to rise.

After removing the milk from the heat, I waited for it to cool to the point where it was ok to add the starter (i.e., a tablespoon of yogurt or some other yogurt starter).

Once the yogurt starter was added to the warm milk, I filled the jars up with the mixutre.

I put the lids on the jars and placed them in the unit. In ten hours, I should have some yummy yogurt. If this experiment doesn't go totally awry, I will post the results in the morning.

Cute Card

2005-11-22T20:51:00.000-08:00

I had to share this cute little thank you card I made for my mechanic who organized the purchase of my new Yaris (which, BTW, looks just like the car on the card :-D)

Movie of the Week

2005-11-18T06:08:00.000-08:00

The other night, we previewed a new movie called Just Friends starring Ryan Reynolds (aka soon-to-be Mr. Morissette), Chris Klein (aka ex Mr. Holmes) and Fred Ewanuik (a former colleague of mine who is currrently starring on Corner Gas, can you believe it???). How does Fred get away with playing a high school senior? He's older than me!

The movie is hi-la-ri-ous! When I saw the hockey scene, I practically choked on my popcorn. I wasn't expecting much going into this movie, so that's probably part of the reason I loved it so much. It's ridiculous humour, so if you're in one of those moods, see this flick.

Hair be Gone

2005-11-17T06:27:00.000-08:00

Ever since I "dumped" Brandon and started "seeing" Donald this past summer, my hair has never looked better. Not that Brandon didn't do a great job; I just couldn't justify spending $80 for a haircut that no one noticed. Plus, I've never received so many complements on my hair in my life since I switched. I've even been stopped by someone in the street asking who cuts my hair!!!

The only problem with bangs and colour is the upkeep. Last night, I was once again at the salon getting a touch up. I guess we really do have to suffer for beauty. It's a tough life.

For a good cut, call 604-439-0910.

Smells So Good I Could Eat It!

2005-11-16T06:22:00.000-08:00

Last night, while I was in Kits, I stopped by Beautybar and treated myself to a new scent. This Demeter fragrance makes me smell like coconuts and pineapples; two of my favourite foods. It makes me very happy :-D

Next time though, I'm not going to cheap out and go for the really good stuff. The Comptoir Sud Pacifique line is to die for.

A Roaring Success

2005-11-16T06:14:00.000-08:00

For those of you who were wondering (all two of you - ha ha), my dinner party this past weekend turned out great. Thanks for asking.

I learned the fancy napkin folding techniques from this site.

Found at Last!

2005-11-15T06:11:00.000-08:00

I have been looking for some fun rings for a while now. I even checked out Circle Craft this past weekend with no success. Then it suddenly occured to me that I should visit G's store - I know I had seen jewelry there in the past. I got a great deal on these two rings - one is a cameo of Helen of Troy on abalone shell and the other is called a Labrador stone. Very funky and I love how these chunky rings look on my stubby fingers ;-D

What a Wonderful Day

2005-11-14T19:34:00.000-08:00

We decided that we couldn't pass up the opportunity to be outside on such a gorgeous day, so we went for a hike and what a surprise - we saw the last of the spawning salmon.

If this doesn't make you appreciate what they have to go through, I don't know what will. It was amazing to watch them conserve their energy and then suddenly bolt upstream. Some of the sections of river were so rocky that I can't imagine them jumping above water to get by, but I know they must be doing that. And look at the size of them. Incredible.

For Your Reading Pleasure...

2005-11-09T06:16:00.000-08:00

I've been taping Martha everyday and she's made mention of her Holiday Cookies magazines, so when I went to do some late night grocery shopping yesterday, I knew I had to make a point of stopping by the magazine section. The special issue looks great and I can't wait to make the cherry almond biscotti and the lemon squares. Yum-o.

And on the topic of "yum-o", I was surprised to see the first edition of Everyday with Rachael Ray on the newsstand. I know that, like Dr. Phil, Rachael Ray has signed a deal with Oprah to host her own syndicated daytime talk show. And the cover and format of Everyday looks suspiciously like O. I have so many magazines to catch up on! At least the weather is making staying in and reading very easy to do.

Derailed

2005-11-07T22:05:00.000-08:00

I just got back from a preview screening of Derailed and I haven't quite decided whether I like it or hate it. I definitely didn't look at my watch during the movie which means that it held my attention, but there were so many plot twists, it was almost humourous. In fact, I did catch myself giggling several times - I'm sure I annoyed some of the other moviegoers, but I couldn't help myself. It just seemed to be getting a little too ridiculous. Just when you think you've got things figured out, something else happens. This movie wouldn't fool a hardcore suspense fan, but for the average movie watcher like me, it was fairly entertaining.

As far as action thrillers go, I have to admit that I did jump out of my seat and cover my face a couple of times. And watching Jennifer Aniston and Clive Owen for a couple of hours is not hard on the eyes. It was free and I can't complain about that!

Gourmet Feast

2005-11-06T20:49:00.000-08:00

I went to my parents' place for dinner and because there were so many of us there, she prepared a meal fit for an empress!

From left to right, top to bottom:
- my mom's new rice cooker (you can even cook brown rice and porridge in it)
- daikon oroshi (grated daikon (radish) for tempura dipping sauce)
- mabo tofu (tofu in spicy sauce with veggies)
- spinach and beansprout salad
- prawn tempura
- kakiage (tempura with mixed vegetables and shrimp)
- tendashi (dipping sauce for tempura)
- my [very full] plate
- brownies - these brownies are so easy to make so here's the foolproof recipe...

1/2 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees; grease and flour an 8" square pan.
In a saucepan, melt butter; remove from heat and stir in sugar, eggs and vanilla. Beat in cocoa, flour, salt and baking powder. Spread batter into prepared pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes.

Shame on Me

2005-11-04T06:25:00.000-08:00

Last night, I skipped out on going to the gym and I played hookey from karate class so that I could join my friend in a jewelry making workshop at Country Beads. Despite the fact that the instruction was less than stellar, I had a good time and I made this bracelet and earrings set. After wandering around all of the jars of beads and trying to decide on a colour scheme, I decided to opt for basic black. Can't go wrong with that.

I must have subconsciously known that black was the right choice because, until I had been reminded, I had completely forgotten about this necklace that I had bought a while back at Jacob. What a coincidence!

Sneak Peak

2005-11-03T06:22:00.000-08:00

Here's a little preview of the Christmas cards I've been busily working on.

And how fabulous is this? They open up to hold a little sumpin sumpin.

Books I'm Reading

2005-11-03T06:07:00.000-08:00

Amigurumi is Japanese for crocheting. I didn't realize how popular Japanese crafts were until I started reading some of those amazing blogs out there (one of my favourites for amigurumi is Amigurumi-Along). I picked up this great beginners book the other day at Alpha Crafts in the Yaohan Centre in Richmond.

These two books, Hooked on Crochet and Cozy Crochet have been invaluable resources in helping me remember how to crochet in the first place! There are also some great patterns in these books. I'm hoping to become diligent enough at crocheting soft toys to be able to sell them at a craft sale this time next year. We'll see how that goes.

Since I've become crazy about cardmaking, Creating Cards with Scrapbook Embellishments has provided me with tons of inspiration. This book introduces the reader to using items that you wouldn't normally think about including on cards (think buttons, bottlecaps, belt buckles...).

And how could I, the ultimate francophile fashion freak resist a book called Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding her Inner French Girl? C'etait pas possible.

Interactive Cards

2005-10-31T06:21:00.000-08:00

Yesterday afternoon I took another class with Debbie and Lisa - this time, it was to make these cool interactive cards. Here's a sampling of some of the projects I completed:

The best way I can describe this one is to think of a Jacob's ladder. The card mysteriously opens two ways. Things that make you go hmmm.

This is a simple, sweet card - it's just an object (in this case, a purse) that gets pulled along by a ribbon. BTW, I understand that purses are ultra hot in scrapbooking right now ;-D

This is the most complicated card we made. You can't see it in these photos, but there's a ribbon at the bottom of the card. When you pull it, a piece of cardstock comes out at the top and another comes out at the bottom. You can write your special message here.

What did I tell you about purses? This one required some origami skills to make the money holding pouch. Otherwise, it was pretty straightforward.

This is an adorable card. The flower disc is set on pennies and it rolls across from one end of the card to the other. I can't wait to get started on my Christmas cards!

Freakin' Sweet

2005-10-30T20:27:00.000-08:00

I wasn't sure if I'd like a feature length Family Guy, but I thoroughly enjoyed this 88 minute film. It had all the usual humour (sick, sick and really sick), but it was done in such a way that it seemed like three shorter episodes put together. There is a LOT of sexual connotation and a LOT of blood, guts and death. I'm pretty sure that if you're a fan of the TV series, you'll really like the movie.

And while I'm on the topic of sick humour, I was doing some research a while back on what to dress up for on Halloween when I came across this.

I Dream of Homemade Yogurt

2005-10-29T07:14:00.000-07:00

Now that I've finished reading French Women Don't Get Fat, I'm convinced that I need a Donvier Yogurt Maker. I'm definitely adding this to my Christmas Wish List. To top it off, the woman at the kitchen gadget store told me that it is so easy to use.

For the last several months, I've been eating non-flavoured yogurt exclusively (I mean in terms of yogurt; I am still eating things besides yogurt - that would be a very sad diet). I can't believe I used to like those sweet tasting ones! Now I can just imagine the taste of my favourite organic Avalon milk converted into a silky tart yogurt - how divine!

Fab Finds

2005-10-26T21:46:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, while at the Fort Langley Antiques Mall, I purchased these beautiful English bone china tea cups. I got a great deal on them and they are in superb condition.

If you haven't been to Fort Langley lately, you should check it out. I couldn't believe how hopping it was on a beautiful fall weekend afternoon. There are lots of cute little shops and sidewalk cafes to visit. And while you're in Fort Langley, don't forget to stop at the Aldor Acres Pumpkin Patch and get your Halloween pumpkin for carving.

A Little Bite of Heaven

2005-10-26T21:40:00.000-07:00

I just got back from an expedition out to West Van and we had to stop at my favourite haunt. We went cuckoo at Whole Foods. I, in particular, went gaga over the piles of chocolate again. Since I've been reading French Women Don't Get Fat, I thought I'd take Mireille Guiliano's advice and buy small bites of exceptional quality chocolate - according to her, one tiny piece is supposed to be better and more satisfying than several Snickers Bars. Well, I think I've already eaten six of these Valrhona Guanaja 70% dark chocolate morsels!!!

So Chic

2005-10-25T20:29:00.000-07:00

I happened to be at American Apparel when I came across this tres magnifique scarf. What's so special? Well, I'm glad you asked. This scarf can be transformed into headwear, tube tops, halter tops... If you visit this site, you can watch videos that show several ways to wear it. And at the actual store, they show an even longer video that I got completely transfixed by (and hence, had to buy a scarf of my own). And there are so many fabulous colours to choose from.

Now I must go finish my maple latte (which I am not loving by the way) and read the new Vancouver Eating a Drinking Guide. Ta.

My Very Own Whiskie

2005-10-22T06:20:00.000-07:00

I found this cute little Whiskie just like on the cover of Julie and Julia at Ming Wo the other day.

I couldn't wait to try him out, so I made a cup of my favourite chocolat chaud - perfect for a chilly morning.

Take some milk, a shot of water and some sugar. In a heavy saucepan, bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add some dark (at least 70%) chocolate that's been shaved with a serated knife and a little cocoa powder. Ideally, you should use a blender to get a nice froth, but I used Whiskie. It just takes a little more elbow grease to get the job done.

OMG!!!!!!!!

2005-10-20T20:41:00.000-07:00

Oh, the horror! In the past, I've been told that I resembled Blythe due to my freakishly large eyes. I always took it as a complement, but upon closer inspection of the doll, I'm not quite sure that it was always intended that way.

Anyway, the reason why I bring up Blythe is because I've just tried out the Perception Laboratory's Face Transformer. You simply load up a digital image of your face and prest-o change-o, you too can be converted into a person of a different race/sex, a drunk, an ape man, an old person, a Botticelli painting, etc., etc. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), I'm not able to save the images of my transformed face due to a firewall restriction that the University of St. Andrews is working to resolve. But I can tell you that it really seems to play up on the size of my eyes and makes them even more huge (particularly when I see myself as a baby and a manga cartoon). I must admit, I did like the Modigliani me :-D The most frightening thing for me though, was the fact that the masculine me didn't look very different from the real me :-( What's up with that???

After revisiting Blythe after many years, I've discovered that she has a huge cult following. I, myself, have ordered This is Blythe and I'm looking forward to the release of Blythe Style. I know they'll think I'm insane, but I'm going to ask my relatives in Japan to send me some dolls too!

Mmmmmm, Chocolate

2005-10-19T19:51:00.000-07:00

After paying almost $5.00 for a box of Milk Duds (shocking, I know) at the movies a couple of weeks ago, I made sure to be prepared when we went to see Elizabethtown this past weekend. I stocked up on my new favourite chocolate bars; I don't know why I wasn't really into Cadbury chocolate before. I'm realizing that I love the traditional Fruit & Nut Bar. And the Peanut Butter Bar! Wow! The chocolate is so creamy and quite good for a grocery store brand.

On the topic of chocolate, I just received the Purdy's catalogue for our group purchase at work. I can't wait until my order arrives because I'm so looking forward to their new Origins Box. Inside are dark chocolate squares from all over the world, including Cuba, Sao Thome, Tanzania and Saint Dominique. Uh, yum.

Another Fall Treat

2005-10-18T20:34:00.000-07:00

4:30 - Finish work
4:35 - Go to gym for a workout
6:30 - Bake Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
8:15 - Eat Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

What else am I working out for? The more calories I burn, the more I can consume. It's a beautiful thing.

Here's the (huge) recipe (not to worry; I'll be taking some to work tomorrow for my lucky co-workers) And I KNOW it looks like meatloaf!

3 cups white sugar
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree
1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup water
4 eggs
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp ground nutmeg
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 9 x 5 inch loaf pans (or one large one like I did).
In a large bowl, combine sugar, pumpkin, oil, water and eggs. Beat until smooth. Blend in flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and salt. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts. Fill pan(s).
Bake for one hour or until an inserted knife comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack before removing from pan(s).
So simple :-D

Strictly Ballroom

2005-10-17T17:10:00.000-07:00

On Saturday evening, I was fortunate enough to be invited to the "Shall We Dance" event at the Nikkei Heritage Centre in Burnaby. With the recent popularity of shows like, Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance and Ballroom Bootcamp, the show was a sellout.

We were treated to the fancy footwork of BC's 2005 amateur champions Zillion Wong and Sarah Liang, as well as, professional dancers Barbara Ferchuk and Brent Smith, and Geraldine Desmarais and Peter Ferreira. Roger Chen and his partner performed a spicy salsa number. The whole event was very inspiring and I can see why so many people have jumped on the ballroom bandwagon.

Saturday Stroll

2005-10-15T15:37:00.000-07:00

I wasn't planning on really going anywhere this morning, but the weather turned out so nice that I couldn't resist.

My plan of action was to head downtown, do a bit of window shopping, then check out the new Picasso exhibit at the VAG.

Well, I didn't quite make it to the art gallery because I spent so much time in some of my favourite downtown shops. Oh well, another time.

My first stop - Dressew (337 West Hastings) - a Vancouver institution for all sewing and crafting aficionados. And if you haven't made your Halloween costume yet, let me tell you, this is the place to go. They have everything you could ever imagine and then some. You can get a wig in any colour and style combination you want, any type of moustache to get the look you're going for, and the hats, oh so many...

I went crazy in the button section (I didn't feel like making the trek out to Button Button (422 West Cordova) today, but Dressew has a decent selection). And some of the trims I picked out were adorable. One features poodles and the other has blue and pink chickens! I haven't quite figured out what I'll use them for, but I will think of something.

Since I was in the Dressew neighbourhood, I hit Sophia Books. This has to be a Bon Bon favourite because they specialize in French and Japanese language publications - everything from books to magazines to calendars and so on... All of the staff speak either of the two languages too! I bought a beautifully illustrated book of Japanese children's stories for L's Christmas present. Yes, the Christmas shopping has officially begun; but now I'm wishing I had bought it on Amazon because it's so much cheaper :(

I was in a bookstore kind of mood this morning, so I went to a few more. I bought Rob Feenie's newest book, Feenie's: Brunch Lunch Dinner (again, sadly cheaper on Amazon - why don't I have more patience???). Unfortunately, it doesn't feature his sticky date pudding recipe, but it does include a recipe for sticky pear pudding which I'm definitely going to try making at some future date.

On my way to lunch, I noticed that the Vancouver Public Library was having a huge book sale so I had to make a detour. I bought a couple of vintage books (one a cook book, the other called "Birds of La Plata" - I just like the pictures) and a book on one of my style idols, Audrey Hepburn (finally, I got something cheaper than Amazon sells it for - yay!).

I had a hot bowl of ramen for lunch - specifically wonton shoyu ramen - at Ezogiku. I was so sweaty while I was eating it, I was wishing that I was in one of the Swedish steam rooms where they run out into the snow after! It definitely clears the sinuses. But seriously, the noodles here are so good. The restaurant has even been featured in the Zagat Survey.

BTW, sorry about all these sucky photos. I must have changed one the settings on my camera, but I haven't taken the time to figure it out yet.

C'est La Vie

2005-10-15T07:37:00.000-07:00

I didn't do quite as well as I was hoping in the Turkey Trot. The race results and photos have been posted.

DIY Easy Birthday Card

2005-10-14T20:01:00.000-07:00

Create a simple birthday card following these steps (I've got to get better at this photography thing):

Cut a strip of coloured cardstock and adhere it to the bottom of the card.

Cut a piece of patterned paper so that it will overlap the cut strip of cardstock, then tear it along one of the long edges and adhere it to the top part of the card.

Next, cut a small strip of cardstock in a coordinating colour and use a rub on transfer to apply your greeting.

Using an eyelet setter, place an eyelet on each of the top corners of the card.

Finally, thread a piece of ribbon through the eyelets and tie a bow in the front. Et voila. Give it to your appreciative recipient.

And I Thought I was an Worldly Traveller

2005-10-14T19:08:00.000-07:00

Well, this website puts into perspective how little of the world I've really seen. Good thing I've been planning that trip to South America next year. And I know I'll visit Africa someday. But there is a huge blank in Eastern Europe and Asia. This gives me something to look forward to!

My Favourite Blogs

2005-10-14T18:58:00.000-07:00

There are so many blogs I love checking out - so many talented, creative people out there. I've just created a list on the sidebar that links to some of my favourites. Oh, how depressing...I feel like I really need to put some more effort into my own blog! Well, I'd better get moving.

Autumn Cheesecake

2005-10-13T07:33:00.000-07:00

Last night, I made this awesome cake for my little get-together. It's so yummy because it tastes like a combination of cheesecake and apple pie. Here's the recipe:

1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
3 tbsp white sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
4 cups apples - peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs, 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans, 3 tbsp sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon and melted butter; press into the bottom on a 9 inch springform pan. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar. Mix at medium speed until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in vanilla; pour filling into the baked crust.
In a small bowl, stir together 1/3 cup sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Toss the cinnamon-sugar with the apples to coat. Spoon apple mixture over cream cheese layer and sprinkle with 1/4 chopped pecans.
Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 70 minutes. With a knife, loosen cake from rin of pan. Let cool, then remove the rim of pan. Chill cake before serving.

Yeeeee-haw!!!

2005-10-10T21:14:00.000-07:00

I did it! I ran an entire 10K. Never have I earned a Thanksgiving dinnner like I did today. The weather was lousy, but that didn't deter me, nor about 1200 other people, from hitting the pavement in this year's Turkey Trot. The course was an unsanctioned distance due to construction - it was actually a bit longer than 10K. We wore microchips so I will have an exact time based on when I left the start line to when I crossed the finish line. Results will be posted after October 24th.

An Addiction is Born

2005-10-05T18:45:00.000-07:00

After spending countless hours at numerous scrapbooking and craft stores - namely, Making Memories, Clipper Street, Michael's and the Scrapbook Warehouse - and countless dollars on everything from a paper cutter to an eyelet setter to loads of beautiful paper and cardstock, this better become an addiction!!!

My focus is on cardmaking (I haven't gotten hooked on scrapbooking yet!) and there are so many sites you can get inspiration from, but my favourites are Two Peas in a Bucket and Impress. Take a look at Two Peas' Peanut Gallery. Enjoy...

We're # 1!

2005-10-04T08:30:00.000-07:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4306936.stm

Inspiring Read

2005-10-03T16:48:00.000-07:00

In honour of the new season of the Amazing Race, I just finished reading Phil Keoghan's book, No Opportunity Wasted (based on the television show of the same name).

It's a motivational read that will make you want to get on with your life and ask yourself, "what am I waiting for???" I thoroughly enjoyed the book - and who knew Phil Keoghan was such an adventurer?

Warm and Cozy

2005-09-19T16:51:00.000-07:00

I used a Bernat yarn made out of 100% polyamide to make this scarf. Whatever it is, it is oh-so-soft. I just did a basic knit stitch, 12 stiches across using size 5.0 mm needles. Quick and easy and just in time for the cooler whether we're experiencing.

Taste of the City

2005-09-18T15:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the highly anticipated (well, at least by yours truly) Citytv Taste of the City. The event was fantastic, the weather held up (even though we were protected by the shelter of the Plaza of Nations) and the food was dee-licious. Some of the highlights for me were (of course) Feenie's Alsatian Pizza, the Kiwi Pie Company's sausage rolls, Dockside's crabcakes and mango chutney, and the Thai House's lettuce wraps. If you didn't make it this year, try to get to the fourth annual Taste of the City next September.

Biscotti, Biscotti

2005-09-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

Inspired by my newly painted walls (in Benjamin Moore's "Biscotti" CC-48 eggshell finish), I decided to bake some biscotti using a fairly traditional recipe incorporating the flavour of almonds. Here's the recipe for d'Amaretti Biscotti:

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp lemon zest
1 tsp almond extract
1/2 cup toasted almonds, finely chopped
1 egg white

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease baking sheet or use a Silpat. Combine flour and baking powder; set aside. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in lemon zest and almond extract. Stir in the flour mixture until smooth, then stir in the chopped almonds. Divide dough in two. Shape each portion into a loaf about 12 inches long and 2 inches wide. Place loaves onto the cookie sheet about 4 inches apart, and flatten slightly. Beat egg white until foamy, and brush over tops of loaves. Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for about an hour. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cut baked loaves diagonally into 1/2 inch thick slices. Lay slices cut side down on the baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes or until crisp. Cool on wire rack.

Cards for all Occasions

2005-08-26T16:52:00.000-07:00

Here's a sampling of some of the projects I completed in my card making class last night. And just in time for a birthday party next week. I'm even impressed with myself ;)

Ooey Gooey Good!

2005-08-25T16:56:00.000-07:00

There aren't a lot of places to go for lunch near my office; at least within walking distance. Most of the time, we have to hop in the car and drive at least 10 minutes away. Today we went to Boston Pizza and I had a Mediterranean Stromboli Pizza - spicy chicken breast, fresh spinach, feta, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, mozzarella and pizza sauce. Yummy. It was too much for me to finish so I took half home. Leftovers are great.