Cha...cha...changes!

So recently I've decided to do an over-haul of my life.  I need to stop living in the "I'm in university/poor student" mode and move on to adult mode.  The first part of this process is personal:  update my skincare and beauty regimen, revamp my fitness routines, overhaul our eating habits and really spend some time on our relationship as a couple and our relationships with family/friends.  The second part: financial, but we'll talk about that another time.

A few weeks ago I asked some friends for recommendations on skincare/beauty regimens.  While this may not seem like it should be the first step in my over-haul, I believe that the better you feel about yourself the more confident you will be and the more you will accomplish.  So I set off getting recommendations and trying new products.  It's only been about a week but my skin is already noticeably clearer and softer.  I have less pimples and find myself wearing less make-up.  Step one is in progress!

Step two is my fitness.  While I have been actively trying to lose weight/get fit/ be active for the past 5(ish) years I've never pushed this hard.  Before it was to the gym once or twice a week.  Now I've upped it.  Twice a week minimum( I try for 3x a week), swimming/yoga/biking/something stretchy/cardio at least twice a week and walking the dogs at least once a week.  I've only been on this new kick for 2 weeks but I'm already feeling better about myself and my body.  I'm feeling more active, more alert and better about myself.

Step three overhauling our menu.  Dan and I eat pretty well.  We limit the sweets/junk and fast food but we know when to treat ourselves.  What I've noticed recently, though, is that our portions are off.  We can't usually finish what we have and for the longest time I couldn't figure out why.  Now I understand.  I used to cook for three, when we had a room mate, now I'm only cooking for 2 but I haven't cut back any of my recipes or done much to modify portions.  So step three is scaling them back.  Oh, and adding more veggies.  You can never have too many veggies;)

So the final step, for today, is our relationship.  Dan and I have a wonderful relationship.  He's my best friend.  *insert girly sigh here* But it's because we work at it.  We recently agreed that work was stressing us both out so we've made our minds up that once a week will be date night.  During date night there is only us.  We can do whatever we want - go out, stay in, cook, sleep, play video games, BUT we must do it together.  We've also started taking more vacations.  I'm not talking to far away exotic lands but even just to the Valley for the weekend or the cottage.  It's been really great to get out and explore with him and it's given us lots of time to chat.

So there it is, the first half of my new life plan.

Made any big life changes lately?

Date of the deed...

So it's happening - the contract has been signed, the deposit has been paid, the venue has been booked and the date has been set. Sunday September 4, 2011 Dan and I will be getting married!!!


Please feel free to squee for me.

Okay, enough squeeing. Here's some pictures that our coordinator has sent.

This is what the ceremony set-up would be. Obviously not pink...I am not a pink wedding girl BUT the set-up is like this...

I love  that there`s that big chandiler in the center, where our vows will be said.  And the arch is lovely, although I don`t know if it`s the venue`s or not.  Something to look into...

Anyways, this would be the basic set up of the tables. We're thinking red table squares and napkins.

The centrepieces are tall square vases. The venue provides floating candles and tea lights so my BFF and I are going to go rock gathering around beaches in the area and use them in the bottom with a single  flower, water, a floating candle and maybe tea lights around. Similar to....

But with some rocks in the bottom and probably not so much a wispy flower. I almost picture a Gerber daisy or bright yellow (small) sunflower but I don't know if either of those would work.

Thoughts?

Crock-pot pulled pork

Dan got me a crock pot for Christmas 2008.  I thought it was a wonderful invention and while I was in school we used it several times a week.  Since getting a "real" job, moving and subsequently getting a car, we haven't used it much.  I decided to clean the kitchen last weekend and re-discovered my long lost crock pot.  So imagine my joy when I also came across a sale on pork at the grocery store! ZOMGKITCHENNERD!  I decided it was time to do some of my delicious pulled pork so, without further ado here is my recipe for crock pot pulled pork...

Crock Pot Pulled Pork
2 -4 pork chops
1 large onion, diced
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup sliced sweet red, orange or yellow pepper
1/2 cup Diana Sauce (the yellow label)
1/2 cup Bulls eye BBQ sauce (red label is the best for this)
1/4 cup ketchup
1 cup water
garlic, salt and pepper to taste

Throw it all in and cook in the crock pot on low for 8-10 hours.  Once you're done open it up and pull pork apart with a fork.  Yum yum!

Left overs!

So tonight Dan and I needed a quick supper.  I still had some Sun dried-Tomato Pasta Salad left so I decided to use that.  I took some skinless boneless chicken breast poured a bunch of garlic powder and some olive oil in a pan and cooked it up.  Then I added the rest of my leftover pasta salad.  Let it simmer for 5-10 mins on medium heat and VIOLA! Sun dried-Tomato Pasta.  It was fabulous - maybe even better than the pasta salad.  And we have some still left over.

nom nom nom

Sun dried-Tomato Pasta Salad

So I was heading to a BBQ this weekend and thought I should bring along a salad.  I wasn't sure what type to make until I stumbled across sun dried tomato pesto at the grocery store.  Once I saw that pesto I knew I had to make Sun dried-Tomato Pasta Salad.....YUM!

Sun dried-Tomato Pasta Salad

What you will need:

• 1 box of rotini noddles
• 1 container of sun-dried tomato pesto (I think I got Bertolli brand)
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 2 tbs of olive oil
• 1 small or medium onion, diced
• 1/2 cup of assorted olives, diced
• 3 vine tomatoes, in small chunks or a pint of cherry tomatoes, halved
• salt and pepper to taste
• grated cheddar or Parmesan cheese

What you do:

• Take the sun-dried tomato pesto, garlic, onion and olive oil and place it in your food processor.  Whirrrrrr it up.  Put this aside (preferably the day before) and let it rest.
• Cook rotini noodles and set aside to cool.
• Once noodles are cool take your pesto concoction, add tomatoes, olives and onions and mix together. 
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Place in a decorative bowl with serving spoons.  Sprinkle with cheese.
• Enjoy!!

Cupcake Fever!!

I blame this all on The Katie Chronicles, but lately I have an obsession with cupcakes!!!

Funny thing is - I don't like cupcakes that much!  I'll have one every once in a while but I just make them because they're fun and pretty.  This weekend I had a BBQ/bonfire to attend.  I decided I would bring some of Katie's delicious margarita cupcakes.

It was really hot, and my slime green icing started to melt BUT they turned out deliciously.  So good, in fact, that I made more!! I'm hoping to move on to pink lemonade cupcakes next.

nom nom nom

Happy Birthday Lunchbox!

Just wanted to wish my baby brudder, Bob, a happy 20th birthday!


Have a cold one for me, Lunchbox!!

Have a cold one for me, Lunchbox!!

Happy Canada Day!!!

I know, I know, I'm bad at updating.  Leave me alone - I'm a busy lady!

This weekend coming is my parents annual Keji Fest.  Now what, you might ask, is Keji Fest.  Well, my friends and loyal (or not to loyal) readers, this is an annual party that mom and dad have been throwing for over 30 years.  We all head to our farmhouse (located outside of Kijimkijik National Park), get a theme, get some friends, get lots of booze, set up the croquet tournament and head on out!  This is an event that is looked forward to all year! It's a blast!!!

This year our theme was Cuban.  Everyone brings something along so I decided that I would bring along that wonderful Cuban drink - a mojito.  So below is my recipe for a delicious Cuban mojito.  They were a hit, so try one for yourself!!

Paige's Cuban Mojitos

What you will need:

• A tall glass
• Ice
• A drink muddler (If you don't have this then the back of an ice cream scoop will work)
• White Rum (preferably Havana Club)
• Limes (lots of limes)
• Powdered white sugar
• Fresh mint
• Club Soda

What you should do:

• Put 1 tsp sugar, some mint and about 1 oz lime in the glass.
• Use the muddler (or ice cream scoop) to crush it all up together.  The sugar and lime should be kind of oozy, not too dry.
• Put 1.5 (or more!) oz of white rum in and give it a stir.
• Add ice
• Fill glass the rest of the way with club soda.
• Garnish with a lime
• Consume
• Repeat.