Author: Lila

Categories
Travel

Packing For A Girl’s Trip

Prior to the pandemic my bestie and I try to see each other at least once a month and we also try to plan a longer girls’ trip to a far away locale as often as we can. We have our packing down to a fine science. Since I am taking off to be reunited with my bestie in Calgary soon I thought I would share my staple suitcase items. I always adhere to the packing “+1 rule”  for bras, undies and socks…just in case. Sometimes, I am accused by my husband of over packing; but I am always prepared and my packing choices allow me flexibility.

-Toiletries
I have been following a strict Kate Somerville acne treatment regime and it has been working; I don’t want to have a skin backslide so I pack it all! Along with my make-up of course! I have a permanent make-up case  at the ready. Packed with travel-sized deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, body, shampoo and conditioner in addition to a hairbrush, extra hair ties, a razor, Advil and spare feminine products.

*Also, I don’t like counting on the hotel or B&B having toiletries (if we happen to be lodging at one).

-Bras & Undies
-Socks
-Pajamas

-Shoes
We put on A LOT of miles usually whenever we get together so I always pack a pair of…

Runners

Flip Flops (for those hot days and they also double as shower shoes if I find the hotel/B&B bathroom sketchy; Crocs have been my go to brand!)
-dress shoes (depending on the season or activity these may be wedges or pumps)

-“Everyday” Outfits
These are meticulously coordinated with the planned itinerary. More often than not they include a pair or jeans, Lululemon studio pants and a pair of two of leggings With a variety of tops: tanks, t-shirts and long-sleeves.

-Fancy-Wear
Without fail we ALWAYS do one fancy thing on our trips; whether that is a vineyard tour, dinner at a nice restaurant or a show; so it is important that I pack a “fancy outfit” this is usually a wrinkle-resistant dress.

-Workout Clothes
Sometimes we plan on doing a workout; whether yoga or spending an hour at the gym or going for a walk with the pups. Having a workout outfit at the ready is great. Leggings, sports bra, tank and lightweight pullover.

-Outerwear
A lightweight rain jacket and hoodie

-Accessories
These are tailored to the weekend we have planned just like the “everyday outfits” but always include…

-a clutch purse (to switch to from a larger purse)
-jewellery: necklace, earrings & cocktail ring
-sunglasses

-Electronics
Phone charger, earbuds and Chromebook or iPad

-Amusement Item
This is usually a book but can be a magazine, an updated playlist on Spotify, Sudoku or a new iphone game.

-Travelfolio (for international travel)
This contains all my essential travel documents; tickets, passport, itinerary, booking receipts, etc. However; a lot of those things come in e-versions so all you really need is your phone

Categories
Food & Drink

Breakfast Hacks For People On The Go

Like many people my husband and I have full time jobs and run a business on top of them. Skipping meals unfortunately comes with the territory. Sometimes lunch lands on the chopping block but, more often than not it’s breakfast that gets the axe. Skipping breakfast allows for a little more time for much needed sleep. We have all heard the adage that, “BREAKFAST IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY!” I thought perhaps I should re-frame our habits and find some breakfast hacks that will allow us to start our days on the right foot…with something other than smoothies.

Overnight Oats
I am not a vegan and to be honest, I was super skeptical about trying this. But, I was pleasantly surprised. It takes no time at all to whip up a bowl before going to bed and the variations are endless. It’s interesting that something so healthy and light seems so decadent. My favourite recipe comes from Angela at Oh She Glows.

Freezer Pancakes
Pancakes are super yummy and you can add chocolate chips and/or fruit to the batter BUT they take time to make and can be messy… in our house they are relegated to the weekends. If you want to enjoy them Monday-Friday you can pre-cook, freeze and then reheat them easily in the microwave or toaster. The best advice I got for this was to freeze them for at least an hour on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and then transfer them to a Ziploc for longer term freezing.

Muffin Pan Frittatas
Plan on two eggs per muffin cup; add whatever you like…chopped onions, peppers, mushrooms, ham, etc. Mix it all together and pour it into your greased muffin pan and bake at 350F until they’re set and cooked through. Wrap them up and store in the fridge, reheating throughout the week.

Cottage Cheese Pudding
This is a super healthy breakfast option! Cottage cheese is high in protein and filling so you won’t be tempted to snack on doughnuts in the break room. Flaxseeds are noted for their weight loss benefits and helpful for blood sugar control. Cinnamon helps improve gut health. Half a cup of cottage cheese, one tablespoon of flaxseeds and half a teaspoon of cinnamon. Mix and enjoy!

Morning Glory Muffins
These delicious muffins are made with a little bit of literally everything — whole wheat flour, carrots, apples, raisins, walnuts, orange juice, coconut and spices. They are easy to make; lately I make a batch on a Sunday and have them throughout the week. They are perfect to eat in the car on the way to work or to have with my coffee when I get to work. My favourite recipe comes from Jaclyn at Cooking Classy.

Categories
Entertainment

Best Boardgames

Board games have been around forever; they are played by most cultures and societies. For example the Ancient Egyptians played Senet also known as “the passing game.” Senet is possibly the oldest board game in existence but the instructions were lost long ago.

In addition to a rich and varied history; board games also have many benefits. They allow you to have fun and feel good AND enjoy time with family and friends most obviously. But did you know there are some pretty important health benefits too?!? Board game play reduces both stress and risks for mental diseases (since the brain is active) and lowers blood pressure. Depending on the design or objective of the game, players can improve their memory formation and cognitive skills, speed up response time and are great tools for child development in terms of logic, reasoning and critical thinking. It is frequently said that laughter is the best medicine; lots of laughs are shared when playing games that is for sure; chemicals are released which boost immunity. For those in rehabilitation programs board games are very helpful; because they allow the opportunity to work on fine motor skills, coordination and dexterity.

“My Top Ten Board Games:

1. Trivial Pursuit
2. Scattergories
3. Yahtzee
4. Snakes & Ladder
5. Scrabble
6. Cranium
7. Trouble
8. Kerplunk
9. Life
10. Pay Day

What are your favourite board games? Leave me a comment!

Categories
Food & Drink

Flashback Friday: Grandma’s Honey Cookies

My maternal grandma was an incredible lady; she fled Hungary and spent six months in a refugee camp in Austria before immigrating to Canada. She gave up everything, including a job as a kindergarten teacher, so my mom and aunt could have a better life. She battled diabetes, lymphoma with immense courage and survived a triple bypass.

I remember spending summers with her and learning about my Hungarian roots from her; one way she exposed it to me was through cooking and baking. One treat I love and remember fondly is, mézeskalács or honey cookies. We always had them at Christmas and gobbled them up. I tried many times to make this recipe successfully, but I failed –I either burned them or they were too dense or the flavour just wasn’t there.

My grandma cooked mainly from memory; what she was taught by her foremothers and by touch and taste. This summer though, as my travel plans were put on hold; I challenged myself to successfully make one of her recipes…and this time I succeeded.

Ingredients…
7 Tbsp honey
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
3/4 cup sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp gingerbread spice

Directions…
-Preheat oven to 390 F 
-Combine honey, oil, egg and sugar
-In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda and spices.
-Add dry ingredients to the honey mixture and blend together to make a dough
-Take 1 teaspoon of dough and roll into a ball
-Place honey cookie on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper
-Bake for about 8 minutes, or until the bottom of honey cookies become slightly brown
-Cool completely

*You can glaze these cookies; however, in our household that wasn’t done.

Categories
Fashion

‘Tis The Season… to be MARRIED!

Despite the pandemic, it is still wedding season because although many things have been cancelled; LOVE IS NEVER CANCELLED! I couldn’t be more excited to see my family and friends get their happily ever after! Check out my suggestion on what to wear to a lovely spring/summer wedding.

Dress: Cross Back Flower Print Vintage Dress
Shoes (Outdoor Option): Fleur Espadrille Wedge Heel (Monsoon)
            (Indoor Option): Nude Contrast Sole Low Heel (Missguided)
Purse: Benvela Clutch in Camel (Dune)
Jewellery: Lemmi Rose Gold Drop Earrings in Teal Quartzite (Kendra Scott)

Categories
Food & Drink

Summer Drink Recipe: Sangria

Four years ago, my best friend hosted the most perfect country stagette for me at my house. The ladies sat around the fire and enjoyed great food and great drinks; we relaxed and shared a lot of laughs. Everyone who attended brought their favourite recipes to add to my collection, since I love to cook and bake. I figured I would share one of those with you! This delicious recipe for Sangria is perfect for a hot summer day and super easy to concoct. Even after FOUR years it is my go to summer drink recipe!

Ingredients…
-1 bottle Merlot OR Cabernet OR Zinfandel
-1 Lemon (cut into wedges)
-1 Orange (cut into wedges)
-2-3 Tbsp Sugar
-2 oz Rum
-2 cups Club Soda
*Ice cubes (for serving only)

Directions…
-Combine all the ingredients EXCEPT for the club soda into a pitcher; stir to dissolve the sugar
-Refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight
-Just before serving stir in club soda
-Serve over ice

**For a non-alcoholic version; sub in Welch’s Concord Grape Juice for wine and Tropicana Orange Juice for the rum.

Categories
Reflections & Lifestyle

What Makes YOU Come Alive?

Taking a nod from Joanna Goddard over at A Cup Of Jo; because I love love love her writing. I put together lists of, “what makes me come alive.” It is especially important especially in today’s political, economic and social climate that we practice gratitude; without it, can we ever truly be happy??

1. Standing in a chilly mountain creek/river
2. Watching cake/cookie decorating videos on Instagram
3. Purdy’s Himalayan Pink Salt Caramels
4. Writing
5. Trying out a new restaurant or cuisine
6. Driving with the windows down; wind blowing through my hair
7. Gardening
8. Touring a museum, gallery or going to a historical landmark
9. Catching a fish 
10. Laughing my ass off at a comedy show
11. Having an acupuncture/massage session
12. Devouring a good book
13. Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116

What would you put on your own list??

Categories
Food & Drink

Pulled Pork Recipe

The late great chef Anthony Bourdain once said that, “[b]arbeque may not be the road to world peace but it’s a start.” Barbeque has the uncanny ability to tickle the taste buds of pretty much everyone. It brings people together, especially in the summer; relaxing with family and friends, sharing food and making memories. Barbequing in our household is left to my husband; he is a total grill master. I came across this recipe a little over two years ago and it allows me to capture all the barbecue flavour goodness when I am on my own and during the fall and winter without having to fire up the grill. Add buns, corn on the cob and a side of coleslaw for an epic feast!

Ingredients
Pork Shoulder
1 can of Root Beer
1 bottle of Cattleman’s Hickory BBQ Sauce

Directions
Place the pork shoulder in the slow cooker.
Pour root beer on top.
Cook on low for 6 hours (or on high for 3 hours).
Shred the pork using two forks.
Cover with BBQ sauce.
Simmer on low for about 15-20 minutes so the pork can absorb the sauce.

Suggestion: This recipe tastes even better the second day; you may want to make it the night before and then reheat before serving.

Categories
Fashion

Just Fab Shoes: My Personalized Boutique

Most you all are familiar with JustFab; for those of you who don’t or were late to the starting gate like myself, it is an online subscription fashion retailer that carries selections of shoes, handbags, jewelry, and denim. It offers a personalized shopping experience based on members’ indicated fashion preferences; you take a quiz and the site emails you suggested items. There is a monthly fee and VIP members get 30% of their purchases. This is a great site for those who LOVE shoes! Each summer, I go on a major decluttering mission in my house. This summer I ended up  deep-sixing a lot of shoes. I figured it was time to rebuild that aspect of my wardrobe,

According to my quiz results, I am a: Modern Classic

Sandals
–Dress + Ankle Strap: Trae Heeled Sandal (Black)
-Gladiator: Slyvee Flat Sandal (Cognac)
-Mule: Juliet Mule (Blush)
-Shootie: Boardwalk Babe Open Toe Cutout Heeled Sandal (Cherry Red)
-Slide: Tia Double Strap Slide Sandal (Electric Blue)
-Thong + Flip Flop: Margarete Embellished Flat Sandal (Rose Gold)
-Wedge: Maddison Wedge (Black)

Pumps
-Ankle Strap: Lousana Pump (Cabaret)
-D’Orsay: Katniss Embellished Heel (Black)
-Classic: Lyssa Classic Pump (Leopard)
-Platform: Kissa Pump (Snake)
-Mary Jane/Slingback: Sophie Peep Toe Pump (Natural)

Flats
-Ballet: Maya D’orsay Flat (Black Gingham)
-Loafer: Karin Pointed Toe Flat (Black)
-Moccasin: Study Session Driving Moccasin (Taupe)
-Slip On: Bryn Espadrille Flat (Blue/White Stripe)

Boots
-Booties: Western Wild Block Heeled Bootie (Black)
-Cowboy/Western: Sandryne Cowgirl Boot (Cognac)
-Fuzzies: Lyn Fuzzie (Cognac)
-Heeled: Romi Heeled Boot (Black)

Categories
Travel

Flashback Friday: Fishing @ Leland Lake

Last summer my husband, four of our closest friends and myself set off on an adventure to South Leland Lake which is located in the northeast corner of Alberta for six glorious days of (un-guided) fishing…totally unplugged! These trips had been a yearly event. Between the six of us we had done a lot of fishing in northern Alberta;  North Charles, Cornwall, Colin and Wylie lakes. It had been just a little over three years since we had done a fly-in fishing trip together, so we were ecstatic to say the least.

With the trailer loaded with fishing gear, we kicked off the five hour drive to Fort McMurray with a stop at Wal-Mart to stock up on boat snacks and supplies for our communal meals (every couple cooks once). We offloaded the gear and weighed-in at the airport and spent a sleepless night in the Mac eagerly waiting for our flight in the morning. After a quick refueling stop in Fort Chipewyan, which happens to be one of the oldest European settlements in Alberta (1788) we headed off to the lake.

At South Leland, we had the opportunity to fish for Northern Pike, Walleye and Lake Trout from our 15 foot Lund boats. We caught so many fish, a few of us remarked that we were “tired of it” because it seemed like everytime we casted, there was a fish on the line. The biggest fish (pike) caught were 23 lbs, 21.5 lbs and 19.9 lbs (none of them were caught by husband or myself, unfortunately). It was my first time downrigging on the lake; I had done it on our honeymoon when we went salmon fishing near Port Hardy, B.C. Our boat caught 10 Lake Trout, my largest being just shy of 6 lbs (a personal best). And, we were able to fry up and bring home some yummy Walleye to enjoy with our family.

To make things interesting we always have a little friendly competition…complete with prize money and a trophy. Our boat took home a bit of cash but sadly, no trophy… Perhaps one day it will sit proudly on our coffee table.

The weather was really good for the most part; we had a few windy and rainy days but overall we were able to spend HOURS and HOURS and HOURS of our days on the water. I currently am sporting quite the impressive ‘raccoon eyes’ courtesy of the sun/wind and large sunglasses.

To spice things up a little bit on day two; we ventured through a narrow creek and spent some time fishing in North Leland Lake. It took some manvoerving on the part of the captains but we managed. We got to see some black bears, beavers building their homes, loons (and their adorable little babies), eagles and even a cow moose with her calf.

Although I like to think that we were “roughing it” we really weren’t. We had two barbeques, generator, lights, fridge, freezer, propane cooktop, wood burning stoves, stocked cooking equipment and a shower house. Even the bunks were comfortable!

Personally, I wouldn’t mind trying out the rest of the lakes that are part of the Andrew Lake Lodge & Camps network; Boquene, Andrew, North Leland, and Lynx Tundra in the years to come. If you are looking for an Alberta fishing adventure I highly recommend this! I was impressed with the camp and the treatment we received from the owner –he takes a lot of pride in his facilities, boats and other supplies and goes above and beyond to meet the needs of his guests.