Taste- A Birthday dinner

March 5th is coming up fast and that means I will be 33 years old! Holy crapoly how did that happen? Anyways. I get to pick a dinner spot and I have my eye on two possible restaurants.

1. The Hogtown Vegan is a kickass vegan place in the west end of town that serves comfort food such as unchicken and waffles and seitan rubens. They are hip, tasty and no animals were harmed, what more could you ask for.

Source

2. Campagnolo also does comfort food but in my other favourite manner which is southern Italian!  (just kicking myself here that it's not Burrata season). I've always loved modern/bistrot/minimalist Italian food and these guys apparently are awesome at it having just won a spot in the top ten list of enRoute's best new restaurants 2011.

Source

So what do you think, The Hog or The Italian? I am waiting for your informed opinions! 

Is there any other place in Toronto you have in mind? 

Love and Hugs 

Do-Take a bath

Holy man right now I am dreaming of this:

Source

But unfourtunately this is my reality:

Source

My feet are seriously sore! They are screaming on a minute to minute basis for me to sit the eff down. 

So this is it friends I need your help. What brand or even particular shoe do you reccomend to a person working on her feet all day?

I was so naive and really had no idea it would feel like this! I will pay any amount of money to work my eight hours not once thinking about this damn shooting pain. 

Thanks guys, I know you have my feet, errrr I mean back! 

Love and Hugs

Do- Start a new job!

Hey you guys I did it, I got the job! This morning is my first day at AVEDA and I am so excited!

Source

I'll be working on the front desk of the spa and the floor offering every guest a complementary wellness moment of hand massages and scalp massages! I am so excited to work within a company that connects beauty, environment and wellbeing! 

I'll tell you all more about it once I learn more but for now, please keep your loving fingers crossed for me and wish me luck! I am on my way to fufilling my dream of working in the wellness/natural/spirtual world one little step at a time.

Love and Hugs

Be- Worry free

Source

I want to be like this lady, footloose and fancy free dancing in the sunset feeling great and worry free.

Source

Unfortunately I'm going on week 3 without a job and getting a little freaked out. And to tell you the truth the task of not worrying has always been a big one for me. 

What about you? Do you worry or let it all slide off your back?

And do you have a job for me? ;)

Love and Hugs

Be- Fearless

Source

HAHA! Isn't this funny?! Aren't we all waiting for a sign? I know I am, at all times. I've applied to probably 12 jobs in the last week and a half and not one called me back. WTF! You know what I have to do right?! Get out there and pound the pavement and sell myself. I wish that excited my soul but to tell the truth I'm terrified.

But if there was ever a sign to get off my ass, THIS IS IT!

What about you guys? Do you need a sign? Will this one do?

Love and Hugs

Taste- Winterlicious

2012 is here and along with it comes the tenth year of Toronto's annual food festival Winterlicious. Torontonians love to complain and this is no exception but personally I think it's great! It runs over Mom's b-day (Feb 7th) and you can get a prix-fixe menu for 25 bucks. What can be bad about that?

 Source

This year Mom picked a locavore bistrot in Bloor West Village called Earth. Unfortunately the service has less than stellar reviews and we're hoping that was then and this year all the kinks will have been worked out. Either way the food sounds delicious and that's what it's all about. Check out the menu.

Source

$25 Dinner plus taxes and gratuity

Butternut Squash Consommé
Kohlrabi, sherry oil, fine herbs (vegetarian/local)
or
Romaine Hearts
Local Pecorino aioli, red fife smoked bacon crumb (vegetarian/local)
or
Ontario Game Country Pâté
Cranberry shallot chutney, baby lettuce, crostini (local)
or
Smoked Haddock Tart
Northern Orchards apple, grated hens egg, cornichon emulsion (local)


Wuxi Braised Wellington County Rib
Chili green bean salad, crispy sweet potato (local)
or
Seared Rainbow Trout
Braised chard, black cardamom carrots, Rosehall Run gastrique (local)
or
Spinach Maflada Pasta
Vidalia onion ragout, ricotta salata smoked cherry tomato oil (vegetarian/local)
or
Chicken Fried Mennonite Chicken
Maple yam purée, collard greens, buttermilk gravy (local)


Chocolate Flourless Torte
Cranberry peppercorn coulis (vegetarian)
or
Niagara Apple Crisp
Allspice infused cream (vegetarian/local)
or
Maple Walnut Tart
Smoked sultanas (vegetarian/local)
 

 Source

I'll tell you I'm all over that vidalia onion/ricotta salata pasta and chocolate flourless torte! I mean Come ON!

Can't wait for you birthday Mom!

Do you guys have any foodie events in your town? Anything that gets you through the long dark weeks of Winter?


Love and Hugs

Freeforall- All hail the Auld Spot!

Well today is Friday and also my last shift at the ROM so what's a girl to do? Grab your husband and head to the corner pub near your place for a pint, right?!

In this case it will be The Auld Spot on the Danforth. I've heard good things and can't wait to try it out. They have poutine! Can you belive I've been home for over a month and I haven't had poutine yet?! I know I know, I'm on it.

Source

So here's to a nice cozy plate of fries, gravy and cheese and a tall glass of clamato to celebrate the incredibly hectic and exciting end to my two week contract at the ROM.

What are you kids getting into this weekend? Anything decandent or naughty? You know I'm curious!

Love and Hugs

Wear- your first day at work

Okay I know this isn't the best picture of me but it was my first day and I had to be there for 10am! Can you imagine? I woke up every hour after 4am scared shitless that my alarm didn't go off. I haven't had somewhere to be in almost 4 years!

Yeah so my hair suffered a bit but the rest doesn't look bad right?! ;) I'm wearing a spiffy new ROM blue shirt with black slacks and cardigan from Alfread Sung. And don't forget the watch! My paranoid self was checking it every ten minutes to make sure I was still here!

What do you guys wear to work? A uniform or no? And if you do wear a uniform do you like not having to choose your outfit every morning or feel bummed you have to wear the same thing every day?

Love and Hugs

Wear- Downtown Toronto

I'm so excited to be in Toronto permanently and really get down to exploring the shops in and around the different neighbourhoods. Here is a small list of a few I can't wait to visit.

Source

1. Bicyclette Boutique on Queen West. I was introduced online to this fashion mecca by my new friend Renee from EatLiveShop. She's knows her stuff so naturally it's at the top of my list.

Source

2. I've got a few stylish kids on my list this year and it's nothing but the best for them. So off to Ella+Elliot I go.

Source

3. And to satisfy my Chanel gawking habit I will surley be stopping at Holts. Hell I may even throw caution to the wind and try on a few pairs!

Source

4. But to be completely honest Original is more in my price range and they've got so much cute stuff. I seriously can not resist the plethora of shoes if every colour and pattern imaginable, I just want to eat them!

Any other suggestions my friends? Where will you be shopping this season?

Love and Hugs