Categories
Fashion

November Outfit from Ricki’s Shopping Spree

Top: Long Sleeve Cuffed V-Neck Top
Cost: $42.90
Why: I really like the floating dandelion print. The shirt looks great with everything; pair of dress pants or jeans and it goes from business to casual simply from tucking or un-tucking the top.

Bottoms: Black High Rise Jeggings
Cost: $59.90
Why: These are great for a casual Friday at work, going out for a fun night with the girls or on a date. They also create a slimming effect; much needed since I’m suffering from the “Quarantine 15.”

Coat: Teddy Bear Faux Fur Coat
Cost: $109.90
Why: It is a little bit of colour for this outfit and super comfy; it comes in a soft blush or camel. A lot of the time when I find something that I like and it fits well I will buy it in a bunch of different colours. I couldn’t resist this coat it is so soft and cozy!

Jewellery: Rainbow Crystal Dome Stud Earrings
Cost: $16.90
Why: With the beautiful detailing on this shirt I would probably skip the necklace and with the cuff sleeves I wouldn’t want a bracelet either. So I picked these beautiful earrings to finish off my look.

For shoes; I’d probably pair my favourite pair of grey or black “shooties”

Categories
Design & Decor

Kitchen Faves

Taking a nod from the INCREDIBLE Rachel Parcell over at the BRILLIANT blog,  Pink Peonies; I put together lists of, “my kitchen faves” Check them out below…

Mixing Bowl Set
These textured serving, storing and food prep bowls from Tupperware are fantastic; they have decorative rims for a comfortable gripping and allows you to pour easily. The store well and go from house to trailer

Cookie Sheet
I make a lot of “sheet pan suppers” and I do a lot of baking; so far this is the only cookie sheet from Wilton) that has held up to the continuous use…it hasn’t warped or stained.


Paper Towel Holder
From the Pioneer Woman collection; I just love the “stoneware flea market blue hen” paper towel holder. It looks perfect in our country kitchen.

Pot
Also from the Pioneer Woman collection; the “timeless beauty 5 quart dutch oven” this reminds me of the fancy Creuset pots that retail for hundreds of dollars. This however is very affordable and very pretty.

Glasses
What country kitchen isn’t complete without mason jar drinking glasses?!?! These sturdy mugs from Bernardin are great.

Hand Soap
J.R. Watkins makes a variety of soaps, creams, mists and scrubs with natural ingredients. Their lemon hand soap smells divine.

Cleanser
J.R. Watkins also makes and variety of freshners, candles, cleaners and wipes with natural ingredients. Their lemon all-purpose wipes have replaced my Lysol wipes.

Crochet Pot Holders
My husband’s aunt always makes the most awesome pot holders for us; we have a drawer full of them. They are a constant fixture in our kitchen.

Knife block
My husband got me the Sabatier Acacia Wood 13 piece knife set for Valentine’s Day one year and I love it; it has a built in knife sharpener as well. It was a major upgrade from my $40 Costco knife block from 7 years ago.

Planter Box
This sits on the window ledge above my sink adding peace, calm and serenity to the space.

Ipad holder
Many of the recipes I use come from online sources so my Ipad is always in the kitchen. To keep it upright so I can follow along and to keep it out of the way I have the Vivalla tablet stand from Ikea.

Categories
Food & Drink

Recipe: Sweet & Sour Chicken

This genius recipe comes courtesy of http://happymoneysaver.com; and I LOVE IT! It only has 5 ingredients, it is easy to make and is a great freezer meal option.

Ingredients
8 Chicken Breasts
475 ml Catalina Dressing
350 ml Apricot Jam
1 package of Dry Onion Soup Mix
*8 Servings of Rice (prepared)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350F
Combine the dressing, jam and soup mix together in a 9 X 13 casserole dish; make sure is it mixed well
Add chicken and stir until well coated
Bake for 45 minutes (or until chicken is cooked through)
*Serve over rice

Tip: If am sending this meal with my husband when he goes up north for work; I will portion it out into containers and send a few packages of microwavable Minute Rice with him so he warms both up and adds the rice to his meals the day of.

Categories
Food & Drink

Always In…My Pantry

Over the years we have honed in on our staple ingredients; those necessary to the majority of our recipes, those we love and  those that cut down on frequent trips to the grocery store.

1. Minute Rice
Why: I use my Kraft Kitchen’s Dinner On Hand cookbook A LOT and many of the dishes use rice; so that is why this has become a staple pantry item for me.

2. Canned Tomatoes
Why: These of course are essential for sauces and bases. They are perfect when fresh tomatoes aren’t in season (and therefore ridiculously expensive). And they are flavorful additions to many recipes.

3. Stock/Broth
Why: These come in handy for making soups for fall and winter.

4. Dry Pasta
Why: This is a go to side dish for me; especially alongside Chicken Parm. I also love making pasta salads and baked pastas for potlucks…and we have quite a few at work.

5. Black Olives
Why: I add them to pizza of course and I love taking Greek salads to work.

6. Canned Beans
Why: As a chilli lover; many of those recipes call for beans. Plus I have a killer recipe for a three bean salad that is to die for!

7. Nuts
Why: Most of my dessert recipes call for nuts and even when they don’t I add them. A handful of almonds for example make for a great, healthier snack instead of chips!

8. Tuna
Why: I grew up on tuna fish sandwiches and as I got older I moved on to tuna melts and I love eating it with mini-peppers from Costco.

9. Kraft Dinner Mac & Cheese
Why: I know, I know; this isn’t a healthy food choice but it is a guilty pleasure. I always have a boxes around for when Megan comes to town and we binge watch shows on Netflix.

10. Old El Paso Taco Kit
Why: It is great to have on hand for when my nieces and nephews stop by; it is a great way to get them involved in cooking and spend quality time in the kitchen and around the dinner table.

Categories
Entertainment Food & Drink

Guilty Pleasures

guilt·y pleas·ure

noun

Something, such as a film, a television program, piece of music or food that one enjoys despite feeling that it is not generally held in high regard, or is seen as unusual or weird.

Often it is these unusual or weird things that are the most scrumptious; today I am sharing mine. Feel free to tell me about your guilty pleasures in the comment section below!

1. Grilled cheese sandwich with chipotle aioli dipping sauce
Nothing more familiar or simply delicious than an ooey gooey grilled cheese; it reminds me of childhood lunches. No longer can I order these at restaurants –since they are relegated to the kids menu. I have traded the tomato soup or ketchup for the slight kick of heat from Culinary Treasure’s Chipotle Aioli. It may seem like an unusual combination but…don’t knock it till you try it.

2. Binge watching the Food Network
Nine times out of ten, if the television is on, the Food Network is on. If I was only allowed one channel; this one would be the one. I love watching marathons of Beat Bobby Flay, Pioneer Woman, Cutthroat Kitchen, Chopped and the various baking and cooking championships (both adult and kid versions). Sometimes my husband just shakes his head when he walks in the door to find the Food Network on yet again.

3. Staying in my pajamas all day on Sundays
Although this may seem lazy to some. I LOVE fuzzy pajamas. I love feeling comfy and cozy. So I relish being able to spend the day relaxing, reading, marking or puttering around the house in my PJs. It doesn’t matter if it is fall, winter, spring or summer; you can find me wearing fleece pants and a tank top.

4. Caramel Macchiatos from Starbucks
With a description such as this, “[f]reshly steamed milk with vanilla-flavored syrup marked with espresso and topped with caramel drizzle for an oh-so-sweet finish,“ it is easy to see how this is a guilty pleasure… such a delectable drink with 42 grams of sugar. I refer to it as my “fancy coffee,” which I only get a chance to have when I am in the city with my bestie.

5. Karuna Hydrating + Face Mask
I got this mask in a Fab Fit Fun box last year and I absolutely fell in love with it. Although I may look silly wearing them, they truly work! My skin looks brighter, radiant and smoother. It is like going to the spa in my own home. As, Aziz Ansari’s character on Parks and Recreation used to say: “Treat Yourself” and I most certainly do! A pack of four masks cost $28, and those who know me know that I can be a wee bit cheap when it comes to make-up and skincare products. 

Categories
Health & Beauty

Being Productive: Study Tips

Being effective is all about achieving what you want. Walk the aisles of any Chapters, you can see shelf after shelf devoted to self-help books. These books promise you the tricks to be the most productive, the most effective, the most “this”, the most “that.”’ It’s overwhelming when all you want is a simple answer to a simple question… How do I get it all done? Or, how do I achieve what I want?

In the classroom setting; I am often asked: How do I get the best grade possible? Ultimately, they are asking: How do I study effectively? I figured I would share with you the strategies I use when I study for tests.

1. Prioritize your study time
–You know you need to do it; so pencil it into your schedule. Make a standing appointment with yourself to review your materials. Be consistent, with the time you block off: every MWF from 4-5, for example.

2. Get organized
–Be organized ALL the time. Don’t just organize your binder or notes right before a big assessment. Being organized also extends to your study space. You need a clean, comfortable area with minimal distractions complete with all the materials you will need: books, paper, pens, highlighters, cue cards, etc.

3. Graphics
–It isn’t enough to simply memorize information, you have to know it, understand it and apply it. Take the information and break it down into pieces. Look at how it all fits together/works. Using graphic organizers helps us see similarities and differences as well. Tag concepts to images. It is easy to manipulate graphic organizers as well rather than large chunks of text from a book. 

4. Practice
–Use old exams, make flash cards, spend time explaining concepts to other people, have other people quiz you. You should be engaged and active in the studying process rather than passive; otherwise the transfer of knowledge from short term to long term just isn’t as strong. Study groups are a great tool; however you have to know yourself…for me I am pretty solitary creature so a VERY small study group works best for me.

5. Look After Yourself
–Eat good food; binging on sugary crap during the study period weighs you down. If you or your body feel gross…your brain probably does too. Put the right fuel in your body to improve performance. Drink lots of water as well.

Categories
Health & Beauty

Preventing Burnout

Do you ever feel like you are burning the candle at both ends??? You are not alone. When I feel like I am reaching the point of crashing and burning I have to step back, take a breath and look after myself. 

As proactive as I try to be; sometimes I just can’t avoid burning out or coming dangerously close to it. The things that help set me back on track include the following…

1. Reaching out to a friend/family
–I find there is a direct correlation to my level of burnout and the long distance charges on my phone bill. The more exhausted and stressed out I become the more frequently and the the longer I talk to my bestie. Even when we are both at that point we are able to commiserate with each other and provide some much needed advice and reassurance.

2. Exercise
–As much as I really do loathe exercising I know that I feel better and I sleep better afterwards. I don’t mean a full hour long strenuous workout; even ten minutes is enough to get those endorphins flowing and I feel more positive. I feel like I can tackle whatever obstacle I am up against. 

3. Sleep/Nap/Rest
–As tempting as it is to stay up all night and mark or write or work I have to consciously tell myself to GO TO SLEEP. I don’t know how I expect myself to be productive or get anything done when I am tired and dragging my butt.

4. Ditch the junk
–Less time with food prep = more time to get other things accomplished; is the mindset I get into when I am reaching the point of burning out. Which means I have to make the the effort to eat healthily when all I really want to do is eat convenience food. 

5. Sun/Go outside
–Sometimes the long winters (and therefore winter blues) exacerbate my trajectory toward burnout; but getting out in the yard for a bit with my dog helps me out immensely. We all know the benefits of vitamin D in our lives one of which includes improved brain function

Categories
Reflections & Lifestyle

Challenging Stereotypes

My best friend and I lightheartedly refer to each other as “Country Babe” and “City Babe.” I grew up in Vancouver and traded the city for country life in rural Alberta. She grew up in a very small town but relocated to the big city of Calgary. We both have traits that are a little country and little city.

There are a few stereotypes that go along with these identities of “Country Babe” and “City Babe,” however, we don’t always fit the mould.

Outdoors & Hobbies: Typically it is thought that country babes in general live for camping, fishing, quading, mudding and hunting. And while I love all of the above (except for mudding) I also enjoy going to the theatre to see musicals and ballet. I am also a HUGE Cirque du Soleil fan. Trips to the Art Gallery and museums are also on my to do list.

Lifestyle: Typically it is thought that country babes in general are sassy, “work hard & play hard” and love animals. True to fashion; this does describe me, however, my love of animals are limited to cats and dogs…Having never experienced farm life, I have NEVER ridden a horse, milked a cow or tended chickens.

Music: Typically it is thought that country babes in general rock out to the likes of Carrie Underwood, Reba MacIntire, Luke Bryan, Garth Brooks and many other talented country music artists. While I do appreciate this genre of music I also have 90s pop, rock and metal radio stations on my presets list.

Clothes: Typically it is thought that country babes in general don the following articles of clothing… cowgirl boots, jeans, flannel shirts, big belt buckles and camouflage. True to fashion; I do own A LOT of camo used for both hunting and for occasional day-wear BUT I spend most of my time in formal clothes for work. I enjoy getting all “gussied up” in “fancy clothes” to have a night on the town at a hot new restaurant in city with bestie. Also, this country babe doesn’t own boots and a big belt buckle.

Attraction: Typically it is thought that country babes in general fall for men who have strong family values, are fit, often have a farmer’s tan and drive a truck. Even though Mr. Country Babe does tick these boxes there are so many more wonderful qualities he possesses; and the previously mentioned traits were not the only reasons I fell in love with him in the first place.

Vehicles: Typically it is thought that country babes in general drive lifted vehicles like a truck with big tires. But, I have a plain jane SUV that is automatic…I can’t even drive a stick. And, I have only driven a truck a handful of times.

Nightlife: Typically it is thought that country babes in general like to party it up and chug beers and dance the night away. While I do enjoy sitting around the fire with friends having a few drinks (not limited to beer) I am not attending  (nor have ever attended) country dances in barns. Secret: I doesn’t even know how to two-step! However, I did enjoy square dancing lessons in high school gym class.

Categories
Gifts

Baby Shower Gifts

I don’t know about you but so many of my friends and coworkers have announced they are expecting; which is so wonderful but also kind of funny… *insert quarantine baby joke here*

Currently, I have four nieces and two nephews, so I know a few things about hosting and shopping for baby showers.

Most expectant moms (and couples) register for gifts however, you can’t always bank on that…so to help you out, we put together a list of items that will be happily received and won’t break the bank.

Qalo Teething Necklace
Halo Sleep Sack
Dock-A-Tot
WubbaNub Infant Pacifier
Hatch Baby Rest Sound Machine
New Baby Journal
Earth Mama Recovery Essentials
Bugaboo Smartphone Holder for stroller
Zoli Buzz B Gentle Nail Trimmer
ErgoBaby 360 All Positions Baby Carrier

Categories
Food & Drink

Always In My Fridge/Freezer

assorted bottles and cans in commercial coolers
Photo by junjie xu on Pexels.com

Over the years I’ve honed in on my staple ingredients; those necessary to the majority of my recipes, those that my husband and I love and those that cut down on frequent trips to the grocery store when we veer off plan.

1. Milk
Why: Got Milk?!? Yes, indeed!

2. Cheese
Why: The end all and be all of the toppings. Ooey gooey cheese! Yum! The uses are endless and cheese on sandwiches are a must!

3. Eggs
Why: My husband makes killer omelettes for me and I go through a lot of eggs when I get on a baking spree; plus occasionally I have a hankering for deviled eggs!

4. Bell Peppers
Why: Stuffed peppers are frequently made in our house, added to salads, put in soups and gobbled up with hummus, tzatziki and tuna.

5. Berries
Why: Fruit salads, baking, added to plain yogurt, berries are a healthy snack rich in antioxidants.

6. Salad Dressings
Why: I use my Kraft Kitchen’s Dinner On Hand cookbook A LOT and many of the dishes use a variety of Kraft dressings (Italian, Catalina, Ranch, etc); so that is why this has become a staple fridge item for me.

7. Chicken
Why: The only meat we don’t harvest; I love chicken; so I buy it in bulk from Costco; drumsticks, breasts and thighs.

8. Wild Game Meat
Why: We harvest most of our own meat and have it ground, made into pepperoni and/or sausage. We substitute it for beef all the time.

9. Garden Veggies
Why: Home grown, blanched and frozen for use throughout the year. This includes: green beans for casseroles and soups. Peas for side dishes. Zucchini for muffins, loaves  and crustless pie.

 10. Bread
Why: This way we always have it on hand. Since I don’t go through it fast enough when I am on my own; freezing it has cut down on food waste.