Summertime in the City

View Post

Kickoff to Summer – GrillzJam

This weekend, Shark|Ninja invited us to the incredible home of Toronto based artist Charles Pachter for a kickoff to summer. Panoramic views, great people, and the centrepiece of it all – a Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill. They were also giving away custom grillz onsite from Cappd. I didn’t win a custom grill but I would really like to have this outdoor grill on our patio. Especially Sean lol. Had a great chat with Charles about his career and beautiful home, both a private residence and gallery museum. He purchased the lot 1996 and there was a Jewish funeral home in the back, “I really took a chance with this place when no one else wanted to“. It was nice to see friends and eat snacks on the rooftop, just as the sun was setting. I had so many laughs my face legit hurt. Loved exploring the art, glass elevator, studio, and multiple patios. I first visited this house in 2010 (see below) and to quote myself, “Honestly, the place is stunning. If you ever get to go there, go. Actually, find a reason.” When I saw the theme was ’70’s mod/cool’, I knew my outfit right away. This silky jumpsuit has been sitting in my closet for months and I was waiting for the perfect moment to bring her out. Thank you Cappd, Ninja Kitchen Canada, DM Public for a great time & Charles Pachter for having us in your home. All photos by Nick, bestoftoronto.net. Show some love to this post on Instagram here! FROM THE ARCHIVES: SEPTEMBER 13, 2010 👩🏼‍💻 According to the archives, I first visited this same home in 2010 for a Toronto Film Fest party. Reading old blog posts is such a trip. It’s like an old diary, written by you at some point, yet you don’t remember writing…

View Post

Sweet Summertime Sets

In the winter I was really all about wearing jumpsuits. So much that my friend Raymi asked if I was a janitor bc I wore them so often. LOL! See Raymi’s blog here. In warm temps, one of my absolute fav things to wear is summertime sets. They’re the best! I have so many different ones and I can’t wait to wear them all. Posted this cute one in my Stories yesterday and it’s been ages since I got so many DMs about an outfit. If you want to match me you can buy it here. In other news, have been going to the gym and mixing up workouts with more yoga. Still running a few times a week. It’s almost getting too hot to run later than 8 am now! I love it. Today I walked High Park for an hour at 7 am. Got a delivery from my friends at Smartwater yesterday, roof top fridge is stocked! I feel this alkaline water is the best water and I will drink all of it in no time. TY Smartwater Canada! Do you use Slack for work? I thought this was quite cute. I love how Slack has a lil’ sense of humor. Remember you’ll never be younger than you are right now so make the most of it! Have a great day! Wear sunscreen.

View Post

Everlane Summer 2022

I know this is a little LATE as we’re approaching Labour Day but now is better than never! Earlier this summer I stopped by the Everlane Summer 2022 preview to see everything from the Vacation Shop and Linen Collection. I fell in LOVE this the oversized blazers, bags, and summer sandals. This summer I’ve been living in the bright yellow Fisherman Sandals in the first photo and going to work with my black Cactus Tote like you see below in brown. Here’s a gallery with some of my favourite items! Use this link to save 10% off your first order. I’ve been shopping at Everlane for years and went to their flagship shop in San Francisco a could years ago. They always have well-made items that will be staples in your wordrobe year after year. We were sent home this super cute white bucket bag that’s perfect for summer days, boat trips or putting in your bike basket for a picnic. Was my first time trying Darling Mimosa, a perfect summer drink in a can. ☀️ Thanks to the lovely ladies at The Mint Agency for having me and gifting me a few goodies! I’ve already got my eyes on a few Everlane items for fall!

View Post

Summer Vacation at Stoney Lake

Sean and I went to stay with our friend Jake at a cottage in Stoney Lake for a week and it was lovely. I honestly, can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t have to work on ‘vacation‘. A career in social means you are kinda ‘on’ 24-7′. I’ve never had a job like Funday/Hvr, where they actually value a break.👏 Grateful to work with such awesome people! This is the first time in my life my work was like ‘no, you’re on vacation‘ and didn’t reach out or ask me to do stuff. It was absolutely glorious! I took naps, read my book, listened to a whole novel on Audible and did next to nothing. Highly recommend Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister, get the audiobook, great story. My sister and I listened at the same time and texted about it non-stop. Sean also rented a sea doo (that he later purchased!) and we cruised the lake together in the sunshine. It was magical. I left the cottage feeling relaxed and refreshed. 😎

View Post

Day 563: So Long Sweet Summer

We had such a lovely time this weekend. I finally caught up on blog posts and took some time to relax. Sean had his last wakeboard rip of the season before we took the boat out. I finished my book and soaked up the sun on our new outdoor lounge set. It was so hot out! We watched a bunch of shows this weekend and finished Tell me Your Secrets on Prime, and on Netflix, we watched On the Verge, The Chair, Untold: Caitlyn Jenner, and Nine Perfect Strangers. Overall, pretty productive considering relaxation was my goal. ? Heading back to the city early tomorrow morning to vote and get to work. Feeling refreshed and gonna try and carry this vibe with me as long as I can! Watch my weekend recap video here! View this post on Instagram A post shared by CASIE STEWART (@casiestewart)

View Post

Day 493: Yacht Girl Summer

Spent some time on a friends’ boat this weekend. Left from the dock at The Boulevard Club and anchored down at Hanlon’s Point Beach. It was such a beautiful day! Soaked up the sun & laughed heaps with Sandy. So fun.

View Post

Day 487: Summer Rain

We decided to spend an extra day at the cottage to avoid long weekend traffic. Took sean out on the wakeboard at lunch and soaked up some sunshine. I find it a bit hard to work from the cottage so Sean let me usehis office setup and it made everything better. We know it was going to rain so took the boat out of the water in the evening and as we were getting back to the cottage it started POURING. We both got soaked but I didn’t mind, something magical about a warm summer downpour. Always loved this song, it this came out in 2000 when I graduted high school & started college, Summer Rain by Carl Thomas. Not sure when I’ll be back up north this month. Looking forward to being at the house, catching up on blog posts I’ve missed the last little while, and focusing on work. Will be nice to see friends and ride my bike around too. Sending sunshine your way. hope things are looking up!

View Post

Day 223: Summer in October

It was absolutely gorgeous today! The sun was shining and it was over 20 degrees. I spent most of the day working but got out for a run in the am and gazed out at the lake from my desk. The air was warm and it felt like summer. At 4 pm we got alerts about a tornado warning as the sky turned from bright blue to dark and grey. We got hit with some pretty insane hail that ranged from tiny bits to about the size of a quarter. Sean and Em went out to get a some stuff in town and the cottage power went out for a few minutes. They were in Bracebridge when the whole city turned black from a power outage. Crazy!

View Post

Day 129: Book Recommendations – Summer 2020

I’ve been reading a lot over the last few months. Since I haven’t been working as much I’ve tried to make the most of this time with workouts, clean eating, creative projects, and books. I’m registered as a Professional Reader on NetGalley, a media review site for writers to receive advance copies from publishers around the world. I mostly stick to the same types of books including suspense/thriller, or female focussed adult fiction. I finally got around to putting a few book recommendations a list, see my favs below! Here’s a list of a couple of books I’ve enjoyed over the last two months. They’re all linked on Amazon and listed on my Amazon Book List here. Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner This was a great book, perfect summer 2020 read! The characters were interesting and I loved the element of drama, talk about influencers, and how the author described the locations there were. It was easy to follow and I couldn’t put it down! You can find this book at your fav bookstore or on Amazon here. The Best of Friends by Lucinda Berry Highly recommend! I can’t imagine going through the tragedy that these families face and then all the other secrets, lies, and things they deal with on top of that. I was hooked from the first page and read this book every chance I had to finish in a couple of days. This book is out mid-August, 2020 and is available for pre-order. Spring Girls by Karen Katchur I didn’t realize this book was part of a series but it is definitely good as a stand-alone read. It follows a detective and the murder of three girls in the spring. As they try to finds the Spring Strangler they talk to one of the survivors and…

View Post

Day 63: A Slice of Summer | Hayley Elsaesser x Coors Slice

Different boats = social distancing!??☀️We didn’t actually hang out with anyone on another boat but I guess we could have?! Had a nice day hanging out around the house, it was warm and sunny. We had some work to do in the afternoon for a Tuesday deadline. It’s so nice to have the boat in the water. She’s running well! A box showed up at our door on Friday w/ this outfit and beer. Lol how did I get so lucky in this life?!?? I love the creativity of this summer collab w/ Hayley Elsaesser x Coors Slice. This print is tiny Corrs Light cans made by Hayley. The collection comes out Monday at 3pm here. They’ve got summer swimwear, bucket hats, button-ups, and my fav item, a fanny pack cooler. So good! ??? HOPE YOU ARE HAVING A GREAT LONG WEEKEND! PLS BE SAFE!

View Post

Summertime Weekend Vibe 2019

We had such a great time at the cottage this weekend. The weather called for rain and thunderstorms and it turned out to be perfect summer weather. Cory & Ish were up and we had great food, swam, floated, boated, and had heaps of laughs. I’d been a little nervous to get back up on the wakeboard after the whole broken collarbone of winter 2019 thing but I DID IT. I got up right away and did better than last summer! I’m so proud of myself bc I was scared for years to even try wakeboarding and I love it now.  Fun things to look forward to this week, Wednesday I’m speaking at a LinkedIn event about branding and Friday is the Canadian premiere of Astronaut Movie. Get tickets below if you wanna join! LinkedIn Event: Increasing Opportunity through Personal Branding (Use CASIESTEWART as code for a discount!) The Canadian premiere of Astronaut:  cineplex.com/Movie/astronaut Hugest sun hat ever. ☀️ pic.twitter.com/hjbnRVsiAf — CASIE STEWART ☀️ (@casiestewart) July 22, 2019 buy celexa online buy female viagra Amitriptyline No Prescription Metformin no prescription

View Post

Never-Ending Summer

I love this weather and the sunshine. It’s so nice to be out on the lake. Next week I’m going away for a few days and it feels like never-ending summer. ☀️?✌?

View Post

You Are My Sunshine, My Summertime, My Love

Hard to believe it’s already September! Where did the summer go? Remember back to March when we had the winter that felt like three years? It was so cold. We all rejoiced for those warm spring days and bright sunshine.  This summer was great and lucky for us it’s still feeling hot af outside so it’s not over just yet. There’s still a few weeks of warm days and cool nights. I love this weather. Enjoy these moments while we have them!  This week is TIFF and Toronto Fashion Week. I’ve got an appointment at Sassoon, I think it’s back to bleach blonde for me. After TIFF we’ll spend some time at the cottage. Hopefully Thanksgiving too. I’m booked for Cancun before October. Will be heading up to Blue Mountain, then Stratford, and Montreal in October.  Booked my ticket for New Orleans in November. It’s going to be the holidays before we know it! We were at Costco on Friday and they already have Christmas cards & decorations out.  I  took last week off from the blog to give myself some space and time. I’ve still been writing, I’ve got some fun stuff to share. The next few weeks are full of exciting events and great opportunities. I love documenting it all and sharing what I learn and experience with you. I’ve learned I need to give myself breaks to recharge my batteries. We are like a vessel and if we’re constantly putting energy out into the world and to other people, we need to do things that fill us back up so we don’t get depleted. For me, that’s taking cooking, reading, naps, snacks, and a good Netflix binge. This weekend I watched most of Sisters, an Aussie TV show on Netflix and there is a girl from New Zealand named Kasey. Ha! Sending you love from…

View Post

How I Keep My Summer Tan!☀️

I love summer, vacation, being outside, boating, the cottage, and heaps of sunshine.  I do not however like the idea of getting old leathery skin from sitting outside under UV and you could not pay me to use a tanning bed. (I did that heaps when I was a teenager, wtf was I thinking?) I wear sunblock on my face all year, my favs are Clinique and Laura Mercier but also love having a nice tan.  A couple years ago I went to Hammam Spa and got a body scrub + spray tan and I loved it but was pretty expensive and not something I can do all the time. A bit after that I went to a TIFF event where they had St. Tropez and I got a personalized tan sprayed on by their expert and totally kick-ass babe, Sophie Evans. She is super rad & has tanned heaps of celebs including Lady Gaga, Britney, and Kim K. At the start of summer 2018, I had the opportunity to be tanned my Sophie again!  I love the way St. Tropez looks, not orangey, streaky, or sticky, and you can do it at home by yourself. I’ve been using it religiously the last couple years before trips, after trips, winter, spring, all damn year. It’s THE BEST self-tan I’ve ever used.  St. Tropez Tan – My Picks The original foam is my favourite but the new Ultra Dark is great if you already have tanned skin. The Bronzing Water face spray is nice to use daily to maintain and give yourself a light glow. The Everyday Tinted Moisturizer + Primer is great for events if you want to give your face/legs/arms/body/decolletage a nice glow. Some great tips in this video from Sophie & St. Tropez about applying on yourself at home. …

View Post

Up North: Summertime Glamping at The New Farm

I went glamping on a farm and it was amazing. Chefs cooked all the food, we did yoga in a barn listening to Tragically Hip, I went in a greenhouse, there was a pond, the outdoor showers were glam, and there were 250 people. I knew this would be cool based on the invite, it was unique. ????? The glamping trip was hosted by Up Cannabis at The New Farm. The Tragically Hip are big investors in the company and the band was there the whole day and had dinner with the group. It was the first big cannabis event I have been to. There were plenty of edibles floating around as well. Like the edibles online that people regularly order. Seeing as I was new to it all when they kept referring to their business as a cannabusiness and at the time, I wasn’t too familiar with this term. But the more I spoke to some of the people there, the more of a better understanding I had. I should have read This CBDistillery Review before going then, I would have had so much more knowledge. There are so many things you have to think about when running a cannabusiness. For example, before this trip, I knew very little about the wide range of cannabis packaging options out there, but now I am something of an expert! It was also the nicest camping experience I have ever had and would 100% do that again. Up Cannabis can’t actually share their product with us but for the 50 media that stayed over to camp, they infused the same terpenes found in the product into the soaps, drinks, food, and everything around us. The event was really well done. The tents were like little apartments with electricity, real beds, furniture, lights,…

View Post

Sassoon Style: Summer Wedding Season

Last week I stopped by Sassoon Toronto for my regular trim. My hair is lower maintenance since I opted for highlights last month instead of full bleach & tone. I really like what’s going on with my two-tone hair, it’s still blonde, has some texture, and is my natural colour at the back. For my touch-up cuts in between colour, I’ve been seeing Tricia for a quick trim. She usually does a few snips while the hair is wet, then does scissor-over-comb (SOC) while my hair is dry to finish off the look. It’s amazing how a quick trim makes you feel so refreshed!  Summer Wedding Hair Tips from Sassoon Toronto I love summer and wedding season is the perfect chance to get all dolled up. I would wear this dress to every wedding this summer, it makes me feel great and always gets compliments. It’s my ‘feel good’ dress of Summer 2018! I chatted with Tricia about the perfect summer wedding hair and got a few tips from Sassoon Salon’s creative directors Lorraine McAndrew and Wesley Hanlon. Keep it fresh Tricia’s reco is to get a fresh haircut/trim/colour touch-up one week before the big day. If you have short hair like me, opt for a blow-dry on the day of. A professional just has the magic touch to give your hair some OOMPH. Hot Tip: For added shine ask for a personalized in-salon Kerastase Fusio-Dose treatment.  “Shine is key for ensuring your hair looks healthy from every angle,” – Lorraine McAndrew, Sassoon Salon senior creative director Styling Requirements If you’re going for a braid or pretty up-do, your hair should be clean, but DO NOT wash it the day of the event. Wash the night before to keep your hair’s natural oils intact, you’ll be able to count those curls, waves, or up-dos holding better and looking great…

View Post

Winter on the Outside, Summer on the Inside

Oh man, did you get a shock when you woke up this morning? I opened my curtains to see that the patio door had a layer of icy frost! Damn. It’s cold out there. Broke out the winter boots and warm jacket. Here we go guys, it’s winter. I’ve been a little off my game this week. Maybe I’m coming down with something? Slept in more than usual today and went to bed at 10 last night which is pretty early for me. I didn’t even make yoga once this week. I also ate so much crap I probably gained 5 damn pounds! We’re closing the cottage this weekend and I’m not looking forward to it. I wish we could keep it open all winter! I know I said I like the closing duties but once winter hits, it’s all bittersweet. I’m heading to have lunch with April and I always feel energized when we hang out.  Stay warm out there my friends! Keeping this quote in my thoughts today and sending sunshine in your general direction through the internet. In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. – Albert Camus  

View Post

So Long Sweet Summer 2017 ☀️

This weekend was so lovely. Spent a bunch of time sitting outside staring at the lake. Went out on my stand-up paddleboard. Had a great BBQ and family dinner. Pie and Kawartha Dairy vanilla ice cream. Slept in. Took naps. New book. Drank hot coffee & read magazines in the still morning sun. The weather was the best we’ve had all summer. Let’s hope we have a few more great days. Soak up that sunshine. Let it charge your batteries! Here’s to a great week!

View Post

Hot Fun in the Summertime! 

It was SOOOOO nice out yesterday. Biked down to the office. Put in some directors notes on a spot then packed up and met Lauren in the park. There were heaps of people hanging out and enjoying what’s left of summer. This weekend we’re up at the cottage for what is looking like the best weekend of the year. Got a cute mani yesterday. Can’t wait to take my SUP board out on the lake.  Here’s to a great weekend w/ lots of laughs, love, and sunshine! ☀️❤️✌?

View Post

Long Live Summer Chill Vibes

Sat out on my patio w/ some wine thinking about the last few months. It’s been nice to spend the last two weekends in the city but most my summer weekends were at the cottage. I’ve mentioned a whole bunch this year how I’ve been working hard to maintain balance. With social media and the life I’ve created surrounding it, it’s hard to keep balance. I’ve actually had to learn and discover what balance means for me. Part of that has been yoga, reading more books, and getting to bed earlier. At the start of August Sean, and I spent a glorious 11 days at the cottage. We had a few nice days and it rained for 5 days in a row. It didn’t even bother me because I watched 2 entire seasons (Ozark + OITNB5) and read three whole books (How to Murder Your Life, The Killing Circle,  The Currency of Love). Each was a different story that took me to another place or made me think about my own life in a new way. I’m looking forward to September, the change of seasons always brings a new energy, change of pace. Autumn is great for layering outfits. I ordered a few great items online that should *hopefully* all arrive in time for TIFF. Next week is going to be really busy with the film festival and Toronto Fashion Week. I’ve got tickets to a couple films and fashion shows along with a few gifting lounges. I will be documenting EVERYTHING. I live for/love this time of year. It’s a chance to see heaps of colleagues, friends, and media related people I don’t see in my day-to-day stuff the rest of the year. SUMMER FOREVER / LONG LIVE SUMMER Shoutout to Jacob’s Creek winery from Australia. They sent over a few of…

View Post

Summer Nights, Shining Lights, Pure Delight

New robe. Obsessed. I feel so fancy sauntering around the cottage in it. Find it here.  I was sent an item as a gift from SheIn a couple week ago and have since ordered so many things. I spend most days up here in a bathing suit or yoga pants. A robe is about as fancy as my cottage wear gets haha.  Will be spending a few hours this afternoon reading on the dock in the sunshine. I’m starting ‘The Currency of Love’ a memoir by Jill Dodd, founder and original designer of ROXY. I was intrigued after reading this in the press release: While working as a struggling model, she fell in love with Adnan Khashoggi, a Saudi businessman and one of the wealthiest people in the world. Caught up in a world of private jets, diamonds, and cocaine, she became one of Khashoggi’s “pleasure wives,” only to later learn that she’d been part of a carefully plotted scheme for a negotiated price. In other news, we just got a new hot tub up here and will be taking the first dip tonight! I love summer and vacation so much. I feel like we really needed this getaway. Hope you are having a great weekend. Take some time for yourself. Remember to put your phone down be in the moment. I’m taking my own advice, signing off, and grabbing my Kindle to sit outside!

View Post

LONG LIVE SUMMER!

I’ve been trying to make the most of my summer. Despite heaps of rain this year, I’ve really tried to be outside. I’ve gone on epic bike rides around the city with my bff, through the park, along the railpath.  Spent heaps of time up at the cottage. Caught some sun on the West Coast,  went to a friends cottage, mini golf, canoe rides, and last weekend we took Sean’s new family boat out for a spin. Just like summer, the new Bueno White won’t be around for long. It’s only avail over the summer so I suggest you pick up a couple if you see them. You’ll only find Bueno White in select locations of Dollarama, Loblaws, Sobeys, Metro, 7 Eleven (and a couple others). I found them at the corner store near my house and bought a whole box for the cottage. Honestly, I don’t eat that many chocolate bars but the Bueno White chocolate is so milky and creamy. It reminds me of chocolate from New Zealand I had as a kid. Melts in your mouth!  This Bueno is my fav Bueno, so good. The white chocolate reminds me of NZ chocolate. ? #treatyoself pic.twitter.com/sxBGK1bV8U — CASiE STEWART ☀️ (@casiestewart) July 20, 2017 I’ve been carrying these little treats around on my adventures all summer. In each package there’s two individually wrapped bars, so you can have a wee little snack when you’re looking for something sweet, or treat yourself to both bars. You probably deserve it!  ?  I recommend trying it with vanilla ice cream after dinner.? (Or whenever, do what you want! ?) Keep your eyes peeled for Bueno White and grab a couple before summer is over. Make the most of each day, soak up that sunshine!

View Post

My New Fav Summer Meal + WE SAW A REAL MOOSE!

In the last 24hours, Sean and I drove for nearly 12 hours. We were in Stoney Creek near Peterborough for the weekend, left there Monday morning to get to a meeting in Arnprior for 2, then across through Algonquin Park, up to Parry Sound, then back to Muskoka, and home to Toronto today. It was nice driving together and seeing the sights, but after all that time in the car, I couldn’t wait to get home, ride my bike, do laundry, and make something healthy. We’d been eating mostly roadside snacks (chipwagon, pizza, etc) so I was really craving vegetables.  Hopped on my bike when I got home and zipped over the new West Queen West Metro. Didn’t realise how hot it was out so I was pretty sweaty lol but it was so nice to be back on the road. ☀️??‍♀️ If you’ve seen my tweets you’ll know I got a spiralizer. I didn’t know I wanted one but now I am obsessed! I’ve been making zucchini noodles with avocado cream dressing topped with grilled chicken. It’s so light and delicious. I made it today when I got home scroll done for deets, it’s so easy! What You Need to Make Perfect Summer Zucchini Avocado Pasta Zucchini (for noodles) Chicken breast (optional) For Sauce Avocado ? Shallots Cherry tomatoes ? Garlic Olive oil Basil ? Cook chicken breast in the oven at 375 for 45 minutes/until cooked, or pop on a BBQ and grill to perfection. While the chicken is cooking, spiral those noodles. If you don’t have zucchini or a spiralizer, use regular noodles. The sauce is really the best part! Mix garlic, onion, avocado,? tomatoes, fresh basil, and olive oil in a Magic Bullet, Food Processor, or some other mixer thing. Set side for a minute. It’s time…

View Post

It’s Always Summer In My Heart

Last Week of Summer? Doesn’tFeel Like It! Today is SO HOT OMG. I’m wearing shorts and t-shirt and feeling so happy. We had a great weekend at the cottage. It was just Sean and I for a few days. Lots of relaxing, naps, great food, laughs. I love the VIEWS but something else I really love about the cottage is the drive up together and driving long, winding country roads. There’s something so magical about it, laughing together, singing old songs.  The leaves are just starting to change and I said ‘I LOVE IT THIS TIME OF YEAR’, his reply? YOU LOVE IT ALL TIMES OF THE YEAR! It’s true, I really do. Each season and type of weather has it’s beauty. Today I’ve got an afternoon with TELUS to meet with 2016/2017 Team TELUS Advocates. I wrote about that here. They sent a welcome package last week with the INSTAX printer! I love this thing so much. I’ve been carrying it around in my purse ever since. THANK YOU GUYS! On our way to the cottage we stopped at Rocket Fireworks, Sean loves fireworks so much. I got up each morning and went out on my stand up paddle board. I love this outfit, denim bathing suit, flannel. Perfect fall cottage attire. Finished reading ‘in a dark, dark wood’ this weekend. Good book. crazy story about old friends and one of them getting married, a hen party gone wrong. Received it at the Essentials Lounge by EGPR during TIFF. I have to admit, it was kinda weird picking up a book-book spending the summer w/ my Kobo. [See my list of summer favs here!] While out for a Sunday drive we discovered Wahta Reserve, aka the BEST PLACE TO BUY FIREWORKS. Look how happy this guys is! Spent the last night out for…

View Post

Summer of Turkey! Recipes to Try from Chef Sahir w/ Butterball.ca

A couple weeks ago I had Emily help me at the cottage with hosting hacks for summer (see that post here!). The other night I gave a few of the recipes by Chef Sahir for buterball.ca a whirl. I made a spinach salad, tacos, and burgers for our last night as a fam at the cottage before back to school. The directions weren’t hard to follow and the shopping list feature made it easy to see what things we needed/already had. Scroll down to compare my photos with the professional ones, we didn’t do too bad. ? I really got in the turkey mood and even found an extra recipe for a delicious grilled turkey sandwich! I’ll have to make it for work one day. Thanks to Sean for being an all star helper on this one! ILY! There’s plenty of time to bbq before ‘old man winter’ so fire it up and give one of these recipes a go! Recipe 1: Beet, Spinach and Apple Salad, w/ Pomegranate Vinaigrette I love beets and they’re so good in salad. Instead of peeling, cooking, and cooling them I picked up pre-cooked from the salad section at Loblaws. No shame! The almonds are a nice touch with pomegranate dressing. ?? How to Make the Beet, Spinach, Apple Salad ?? shopping list For dressing, place all ingredients except oil in blender container; cover. Blend well. With blender running, gradually add oil through opening at top of blender, blending well after each addition. Pour dressing into storage container and refrigerate until ready to use. For salad, combine all ingredients, except almonds. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Whisk dressing and toss with salad mixture just before serving. Sprinkle almonds on top. Recipe 2: Turkey Tacos These tacos were so good. I ended up making a…

View Post

5 Books to Read This Summer & The New RECO App

When I was a kid my summers were spent playing outside or at the library. Each year mum had us join the Summer Reading Club where we would read a bunch of books, play with the other kids, talk about books, and at the end of the summer, a Teddy Bear Picnic. ??? I have such fond memories of reading but over the last few years I hadn’t read many book, this year I set a goal to read more. A couple months ago I got an ereader a couple months ago and since then I’ve read 10 books. More than I’ve read in five years! Here’s my top 5 summer reads that will leave you wanting more. Download the new RECO app from Chapters Indigo and read reviews of all the books I’ve recently read. Reco is about inspiring your friends to read great books more often, so on that note, here’s my fav five I’ve read recently. 5 Books to Read This Summer This list is a mix of light summer reading and suspense drama. I like to switch it up! I love books that take me on an adventure and leave me thinking about the characters when I’m going about my day. Safe to say I loved each one! She’s Not There by Joy Fielding – This is my most recent read.  Darling daughter Samantha (2) is kidnapped from their hotel room in Mexico while Caroline Shipley and her husband are celebrating their 10 year anniversary. This book is a suspenseful thriller and has a few twists as the story unfolds. I couldn’t wait to finish this one,  was left wondering what would happen next every single time I put it down.  You by Carolyn Kepnes – I was sent a copy of this from Simon & Shuster and it was SO GOOD.…

View Post