A spring in her step

I cannot believe that we are the middle of March! Time really does fly these Days!

St Paddy's Day parade was an amazing experience. I was invited to be on a Float and had the time of my life.
But in her true tempest way, my excitement and joy were ripped away with the new of an unfortunate and senseless death of a 19 year old who jumped off another float in the parade and was crushed by the rig that carried him.

Poignant since I feel spring is all about death and rebirth. Obviously there is the budding of trees and plants pushing through the snow, and the grass is starting to grow! But it is entrenched in our culture as well. You only have to consider the two major holidays that take place at this time, Passover and Easter (forgive me if I am omitting any other religious or cultural holidays) which hold extreme importance in their Faiths. And what are they about? Endings and new beginnings to put it simply.

This year marks a fresh start for me. The end of old Familiar things and the homecoming of my true self. While the last few months have covered a myriad of emotions, I find that I am filled with a certain positive energy as I continue on re-discovering the things that are important to me and make me strive to live a better life.

Spring and all of its transformations are clearly in the air as there is a real mixture of excited nervousness and anticipation for what is to come!

I just wanted to take a moment to wish you all a GREAT spring! I hope you all are able to enjoy this season and the vibrancy that comes with it!

Hopefully we will be in great shape for an amazing summer!

xoxo

All you need is...

LOVE, that's the theme today, and I feel it's a good one.

I think the most important thing about Love, and all it's varying degrees, is that it has to come from you First. We spend so much time tying to fill material and, emotional voids, that we forget to look at what we already have.
I would argue that 90% of the time, we already have within us what we seek in another person or those objects we seek comfort in. The other 10% just needs a bit of cultivating.

You have to go out and discover these things for yourself.
Being in a healthy relationship (any type of relationship), means that you are bringing something to the table, not just taking from it. Wouldn't you want to present the BEST possible you to that or those other people?


So my challenge to you dear reader is the following:

Figure out what lights you up inside, what brings you joy and utter happiness. When you know what is important then cultivate it, and that small light will become a beacon to others that share the same values, and interests. If you do this, I know You'll find yourself basking in the warm glow of Love.

Here are a few things that I love, I hope you will share some of your ideas with me and other readers.
XOXO
Happy Valentines Day, from the top, middle and bottom of my heart!

1- Food, I love preparing it, eating it and yes, even occasionally sharing it! Comfort food, gourmand or fast, Food makes me a happy girl!

2-Laughter, whether it's at myself, (which I do often, trust me), by myself or in the company of someone else, It is the quintessential cure for just about anything.

3-Music, god how it can change my mood in an instant! Live music, on my iPod, in a movie, it doesn't matter,the effect takes my breath away! I seem to be transported so effortlessly to another place, and my imagination can really set loose!

4-Dance- obviously goes hand in had with music. I am deeply affected by rhythm and beat, and a good song that gets you wanting to rip up the dance floor is an amazing thing! In another time I think being a choreographer would have been an amazing career choice!

5-Companionship, I am extremely social and thrive off of being around people. Here's the caveat, I am EXTREMELY timid! I suppose that will be something I will work on in 2010! But I am extremely fortunate to have amazing Family and Friends in my life! xoxo

last but not least
6-Affection, I grew up with an abundance of affection, and boy can it make a person feel good! I highly recommend, that the next time you see someone that you make those hello and goodbye hugs last just a few second longer. If that won't warm someones heart then, well ...... maybe food will :)

Winter Shenanigans

Winter and I have a long withstanding Love/Hate relationship. You would think that growing up in Winnipeg(what i am convinced is the coldest place on earth in winter), with -55 degree weather, and 30 second frostbite warnings, that I would be pretty tough skinned when it came to a little cold weather. Well as I recently explained to a friend Canadians -and this Winnipegger in particular-, are afraid of the cold because we remember how much it hurts!

I do have to admit though,that moving to Montreal has really helped to change my perspective on winter. Dare I say that one day we may be in healthy and loving relationship?.. who knows, but the horizon looks bright and clear of sundogs!

This winter I mustered up the courage to attend Igloofest on Jan 30th! It was very cold, but with the help of long johns, snow pants and a few shots of port followed by absinthe, I was ready to take on the challenge!

I am so incredibly happy that I did, this was seriously one of the most amazing winter experiences I have had in a long time! The place was packed and there was very little chance of getting cold. The music was great and the energy that flowed over and through the crowd was infectious.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gI4R0GvkHU
This is the same group that organizes Picnik Electronic, so I am really excited to check that out this summer!

That same Sunday to warm things up, I was treated to a belated Australia day Feast! I am now officially a fan of fairy Bread, and have had my mind blown away with a beautiful little creation called Poutine Jenga! a truly interactive culinary experience! Seriously! what more could a girl need in life!

Life is good!

Pintx me, I must be dreaming.

I was first exposed to Pintxo's in Valencia Spain when I went I met up with my cousin in 2006.

The idea of being able to try such a huge variety of food all in one seating really get's me excited. I was quick to jump at the opportunity to try out Pintxo's tonight, upon a friends suggestion, and I am so glad that I did!

Tapas and Pintxo's are really similar to one another and quite frankly I have treid to do some research on what the difference is but am coming up a bit empty handed as i have found contradictory definitions.

Suffice it to say, they are small portioned dishes appropriate for a small snack when ordered individually, or good for sharing and orchestrating a richly expressive meal when ordered and shared between a group of people! Either way, they are tasty, and just thinking about it is making me hungry all over again!

Pintxo's, is located on Roy between Laval and Henri-Julien, and I have to say that this is a wonderful dinning experience!

When you are ordering it is usually suggested to order 5 to 7 dishes. If you decide it share with others you are sure to have a wonderful variety of Dishes! I highly recommend that you do share, because honestly, the only issue that I encountered was on trying to limit my choices to 5!

The service and ambiance are warm and charmingly comfortable, and the presentations simple but delectable.

Pintxo's are generally more expensive but it is a splurge that is worth every penny!
There is also a menu degustation so you can experience their wonderful Plat Principals as well as the Pintxo's!
No matter which way you chose to engage in this culinary voyage to Spain it's an amazing trip!

Restaurant El Pintxo
256 Roy E
Montreal, QC H2W 1M6
(514) 844-0222
Map
$$$
4 / 5

Tiny Beautiful Things

Yesterday I entered into a world that I have not been to in a very long time.

Jewelry making!

I first started making small bracelets out of string and hemp and bead when I was a tween, but never really got into more complex pieces or working with metal and chains. It had been a very long time before I had even looked at doing this, so when a good friend of mine suggested that we try it out, I said sure! At first I was a bit overwhelmed there so many things to chose from! i was immediately drawn to the Swaroski crystals, and got inspired, and we spent a good three hours there! We could have spent another three I am sure, but I was still very happy with the end results.


The staff at this place were really amazing and patient and we were shown some basic techniques. I have to admit that I was pretty sleepy after! I guess it was a good mental exercise!


Here are a couple of my creations, although they were unfinished when I left, I was so inspired that I could not sleep when I got home and stayed up to the wee hours of the morning to finish them off! It's was a truly satisfying endeavor! Check out Bidz on St Denis, if you are feeling that creative bug itching! Happy creating!

Happy New Years Everyone! I hope that everyone enjoyed their nights and welcomed in 2010 with great Food, Laughter and Company! I know I sure did! We celebrated with great Food and friends and brought the new year in with laughter and joy! I guess the bubbly helped!

Our Hosts graciously served us a meal to die for! Ham that melted in your mouth, deviled eggs, Cheese bread with a surprise, salads and Gravlax which is a cured Salmon. This sure set the pace for welcoming in 2010, and the night was a true success!


2009 was an interesting year to say the least, and I am really looking forward to what 2010 will bring.

After the last Post we made our way to Winnipeg to celebrate Christmas with my very large family! I tell you, it sure is nice now that my parents live in the same area! What a treat to be able to get from one house to the next within 15 minutes as opposed to 40!

My parents have been divorced since I was very young so Christmas has always been a bit hectic, going from one house to the next! Usually there are dinners, lunches etc covering three days! I am always amazed at how we make it through each year with all the food and celebrating! I came out a bit rough for wear this year with another nasty cold, but it was well worth it!

Before anything can really start there is of course the decorating of the tree. When I was growing up this was a huge deal for my Nanny and Grandpa on my Dad's side and it was rare that I was not there to help decorate! My Mom has carried on this tradition and waits for me to decorate when she knows I am coming home.

One of my fondest memories growing up was going to my aunty Irene's and seeing the whole family in her modest basement and enjoying some amazing food! Although we don't all gather on this night as we once did, the food and company are just as amazing!

The Polish Tradition is to start things off on the 24th with a meatless dinner, but before we start any eating and celebrating we take a moment to give thanks for all that we have gained throughout the year and pay respect to those we have lost.
Then we each get a piece of "Oplatek", a thin wafer that symbolizes the body of Christ. Quebecers, you know this Osti and in English this is the Host you take at church at communion.

We take this wafer and go around the room wishing health, happiness and prosperity, to all our family members and friends present. With each exchange you break a piece off of the other persons wafer and eat it, and of course seal the deal with lots of hugs and kisses. Although I am not Religious, this has always been a special part of the night for me and it sets the tone for the rest of the night! I suppose this may explain why I am such touchy feely girl! Gotta get those hugs in whenever I can!


So what's on the menu?

Fish cakes made from Pickerel, wild mushroom pirogies and the more traditional potato and cheese perogies, pickled hering (which I have yet to acquire a taste for) homemade crepes (Naleśniki) filled with a dry cheese and cinnamon mix and slathered in strawberry sauce. Breaded shrimp and Kutia, a poppy seed, wheat and honey mixture. An what table is complete without homemade pickles! Mmm I am salivating just thinking about it! Then there is Desert! Honey cookies, Short bread cookies, sweets and this year Trifle! Nope not polish but it sure was good! I even tried a a honey and clove liquor from Poland called Krupnik. I was sure that it had medicinal powers due to the honey, so I had a few shots to keep my cold at bay.

Christmas Day is a whole other ball game, this is for the serious eater! We had a huge buffet set out and the amount of food was not for the faint at hart! Can you believe my mother actually thought we may not have enough for our 30something guests! Two turkeys, one freshly cooked and the second smoked, cabbage rolls, Bigos which is a baked sourckrout and meat dish, ribs, meatballs, pirogies, salads, ham, potatoes, veggies.... and that is not even starting to look at the deserts! I think I have gained 5 pounds just writing about all of this!

Desert was just as crazy! Butter tarts cookies, Puffed pastry filled with cream, blueberry cheesecake Nanaimo slices, and of course the Chocolate fountain! Luckily they only weigh your bags and not you on the return flight! I actually had one carry on filled with leftovers! I am so Polish!

I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday season. For those of you that are away, travel safe and see you when you get back!
I wish Everyone Happiness, Laughter and Health in 2010!

December Kick start!

December has certainly been eventful! And we are only half way through! Within the first week we had 4 nights filled, and let me tell you, they were all quite different from one another!
As a precursor to the month I had a wonderful surprise from some great friends. Sunday Dinner turned into a Homecoming Dinner that had me jumping for joy!(thanks BRJ). I was treated to a delish Butter chicken and Garlic Naan Bread feast, Great wine and awesome company!

Tuesday marked the 1st official event of the month. I was invited and attended a Ladies entrepreneur gathering at Rouge Nail Bar. This place is great! Great staff, Great environment and Great manicures! Did I mention that they play Sex in the City all day long? They also sell a great range of natural products. One i walked away with was Poo-Pourri,
I can't live without it now!

That very same week, I attended a Strip Spelling Bee at the Main Line Theater. Yes you read that correctly.
Nudity is not my forte. I have to admit, I get awkward and a bit squeamish, but it was an entertaining challenge to help me break through this mental block and enjoy the evening. There were two opposing arguments that swam in my head the days following; the seduction and mystery of subtly and careful showcasing of certain body parts vs the blatant freedom of letting it all hang out! I am extremely intrigued by the second but sorry everyone, will not be signing up for the next competition! For me, modesty is the best policy!

Saturday was the Work party and then out for some after party drinks with friends at Helm on Bernard.
Sunday was a wonderful housewarming out in Hudson. Thank you very much to our Host and Hostess, your interactive art has still captured my imagination! And your home is as amazing as the Family that fills it! Yes you know who you are!

With all of these events in the first week I still have to admit that this year I have not been feeling the Christmas cheer as much as I have in the past. There have plenty of distractions during the past few months, what with unwanted guests and all, and a nasty cold (No it's not H1N1). But maybe it was just because something was missing?....Oh yes, Snow! and boy did we get some!

So now that I am in the mood to get the holiday season started, (and my Christmas gift shopping) so I would love to hear from you about how you and your loved ones Celebrate!

What kind of food do you eat?
What are some of the Family traditions?
Stockings or no stockings?
Singing competition or eating competition?
Please post in the comments or send me an email so I can share these with other readers!

So what's next? Well for this world traveler it's off to the 'Peg....as if it wasn't cold enough here! I'll be sure to give you a breakdown of my family traditions foods and picts.
Happy Holidays Everyone!