As you may have noticed, I’ve been keeping my blogs short and sweet these days.

That’s because the combination of a new city, new job, apartment hunting, furniture hunting and getting life her going has been pretty time consuming.

But fear not, with all of these new beginnings I’m planning on some exciting new posts for the blog. This includes:

Detoxing for beauty. Stay tuned for my article in the upcoming issue of Delish about detoxing for beauty (inside and out) rather than weightloss. I will give a sneak peek into my 3 week health detox here.

Vegetarian food festival and blogger meet-up. Toronto is home of some of my favorite health bloggers and I plan on meeting one of my favorites next week. Stay tuned!

Cooking and baking videos. Follow me to the market as I pick out fresh ingredients to cook and bake simple, healthy meals and treats in my new apartment.

Eat Well Feel Well, a six-week nutrition and yoga course. I will be posting once a week about this course that I’ll be taking in the fall, and sharing tips on eating to feel and look your best.

New job, new city, how to dress the part.  I’ll be sharing fashion tips for looking proffesional but stylish to work and out on the town afterwards.  I’ll also be sharing my trip to this year’s Clothing Show, a must for any fashion lover.

Is there anything else you’d like to see more of?  Restaurant reviews?  Product reviews?  Travel tips?  Relationship advice?

I’m honored to be featured on Faces of Beauty today, a blog that features women in photos without make-up describing why they are beautiful.

As Heather describes it: Faces of Beauty is on a mission to celebrate the incredible and unique beauty in all of us.  It throws off the societal pressures to look a certain way and gives an opportunity to share what we love about ourselves.

It has taken me a long time to love myself the way I am, and this summer I posted a few photos on my blog of myself without make-up.  A small step for my blog, a big step for my self acceptance.

You can see my post here!

What is beautiful about you?

As you all probably know, I’m not an athlete. Not even close.

But I do like feeding people. So for a personal challenge I’ve decided to take part in the Scotiabank Marathon by running my first 5k on September 26th to raise money for Second Harvest.

Second Harvest is a charity that feeds thousands of people every day using surplus food from grocery stores and other food industry donors.

Food that was going to be thrown away going to people that need it? Sounds good to me.

Even the smallest donation is appreciated. I’m aiming to raise $200, but if I can multiply that number by ten I’d be feeling even better.

You can donate through my personal online fundraising page here.

If I haven’t cooked or baked for you in the past, I would love to do so at some point as a thank you. We all need to eat.

The last haul: Buffalo, Brampton and Toronto

After our beautiful day in Chicago, we hit the road for our last long haul to Buffalo.

This was our longest drive yet. It wasn’t our longest in time, but by this part of our journey we were both exhausted and wouldn’t be arriving until after 10 p.m.

But we pumped up the radio, John drank a red bull, and we drove until the sky was dark and our eyes were tired.

Not knowing to expect, we arrived at our hotel in Buffalo and I couldn’t stop laughing.

Maybe it was because I was tired, but mainly it was because this hotel off the highway had a giant fountain with fake flowers and looked like a mix of Disneyland, Las Vegas, a tacky Italian woman’s house and an acid trip all thrown together.

We walked into the front lobby and were greeted by a larger than life chandelier, glass cases holding stuffed animals and roses, a giant carpeted market street with tables, walls set up as buildings and tables and chairs all along.

Our room had a Jacuzzi inside, a mini bar from the sixties and a note from our cleaning lady introducing herself. In a funny way, we were smitten.

John was starving so we headed down the street for the first place that was open for a late night snack. We ended up at Friendly’s where I continued to laugh. The menu not only had a Fruit Loops sundae, but 12 scoops of ice cream served on six brownies, just in case someone was feeling a little extravagant.

The next morning we hit up our free buffet- deciding toast was the safest bet- and then the outlets for some bargain shopping.

After finding some great deals we made our way across the border for another sweet surprise. Crossing the bridge into Niagra Falls we were greeted by the falls themselves, splashing wildly across from the bridge.

Since neither of us had ever seen the Niagra Falls, we stopped for lunch, admired them from above, and then got back on the road to my family’s in Brampton.

We arrived at my aunt and uncle’s home exhausted, and were happy to indulge in some great conversation, wine and a home cooked meal. We had made it.

The next day we went apartment hunting in Toronto, the first step in making this city our new home.

Welcome to the lobby

A gift for your loved one?

Visiting Friendly’s…exhausted

Breakfast meets dessert, why not through some bacon in?

Going down to our eccentric lobby for breakfast


Modelling our indoor jacuzzi

The outside of our hotel in the morning

Shopping at the BCBG outlet

Lunch at Niagra Falls

With a view to remember

Minneapolis and Chicago

We left Winnipeg first thing in the morning and headed straight for the border.

After enjoying several days in our home and native land, we were ready for a little taste of America.

When we reached Fargo, John had his heart set on finding a perfect road side mom and pop’s diner.  As fate would have it, we turned down one of the main streets and came across Mom’s Diner, a hopping little place that looked just right.

In true American style, John got a burger and fries, and I got a steeped iced tea (the real deal) and hit up the country kitchen style salad bar.

This fuel took us all the way to Minneapolis, where we settled in our downtown hotel and hit the busy streets.

It was a definite change of energy, it was busy, lively, and had all the highs and lows of any big city.  I made a quick dash for Macy’s before we headed out to 112 Eatery for some supreme grub.

The restaurant was small and noisy, but we joined right in.  We sat up at the bar and ordered drinks and a few dishes to share.  The lemon drop martini, sweet and sour crab salad, cauliflower fritters and country style pork ribs went down easily.

The next day we set out for Chicago.  I’d heard the city was beautiful but had no idea what to expect.  First we were hit with heavy traffic, but next we were hit by the incredible architecture of the city.

John had found us a beautiful hotel, the Palomar, where we were greeted in a modern lobby and told to come downstairs for a wine reception in a couple of hours.  They had me at wine reception, but the rest of the hotel proved to be equally as charming.

The room was great, and I appreciated the small touch of the Occitane toiletries and the big windows looking out to the city.  We had fun exploring the hotel then went downstairs for the wine reception.

The wine was nothig special, but it was complimentary, and more importantly we had a lot of fun talking to a spunky couple celebrating their anniversary.

Next we strolled, bought some second hand books, and made our way to the well reputed Benny’s chophouse for the best steak we’ve ever eaten.

Chicago steak houses mean serious business.  We shared a filet mignon, mashed potatoes and green beans and decided to forego the wine.  The business was swift, the place was jumping, and the steak was cooked and seasoned to perfection.  We looked at each other after every bite with deep appreciation.

After dinner we strolled the streets, admired the buildings, and made it back to the hotel in time to catch the tail end of the show I just finished working on.  Seeing ‘Gillian Young, Writer’, in the credits was a huge moment for me.

The next day we decided to postpone our driving until the afternoon so we could see more of Chicago.

I have never seen a more beautifully designed city in my life.  It was like Paris and New York mixed together with a more polished finish.

Needless to say, we were enamored.  From the perfectly plotted flower beds, to the river running through the city to the towering, glistening buildings, it was a feast for the eyes.

We roamed for hours, I hit up Trader Joe’s and a few shops on the Magnificent Mile, and then we went to the top of the John Hancock Center to admire the city from up above.

We were sad to leave, but we had a long drive ahead of us, and one stay at a very unusual hotel in Buffalo before reaching our final destination…

First stop for American grub



Dinner in Minneapolis

Sweet and Sour Crab Salad
Chicago


Continental breakfast in the hotel’s joining restaurant





Enjoyed with plenty of whipped butter and strawberry jam

Exploring the city (Trader Joe loot in hand)



Checking out Chicago from above

Hi Everybody!  Things are a little crazy in Toronto right now (new job, apartment hunting and re-adjusting), but I have the pleasure of introducing you to Missy, my West Coast correspondant for all things delicious.  I worked with Missy at my last job and loved her immediately when she let me use her chipotle hot sauce on the first day.  The rest is history.  When I left she promised to write about Vancouver’s infamous Chinese night market in Richmond, and she came through…dig in!   

                                                                    
Richmond Night Market

Where can you buy hologram wolf wall art, watch an eating contest, listen to overplayed top 40 dance hits at high volume, see a live reptile exhibit, and watch the red sun go down over the industrial wonder of the Fraser River? Richmond Night Market Y’all!                                                                                                     
If you’ve never been- GO! My first time visiting the RNM was last year after an all-you-can eat Chinese Hot Pot dinner. This was a rookie mistake. Never go with a full stomach because even if you love cheap electronics, plastic fans, imitation crocs, purses, fans, tea pots, leggings, and various aasian beauty products ….. this market is all about THE FOOD!

After killing about an hour looking at the random assortment of merchandise and booths and building up some serious hunger, we veered into the edible area of the market in the south west section.
                                   
I knew what I wanted to try right away, and sure enough the stars aligned and within steps of entering the market I ran smack dab into a lively vendor yelling out the seductive siren song…. “Octopus balls!” I had tried my first octopus ball or (tak…) a few weeks ago while visiting the Chinatown night market. They were good, but I sensed they were essentially just from the frozen section at T and T- heated up and doused with Japanese mayo and bonito flakes….I wanted to try them again and had a feeling in Richmond, they would be superior. And I was right. $3 for 4 balls and they were a whole ‘nother type of ball- not hard and rubbery, but soft and crumbly with bits of real tentacles and scallops. The flavour was rich and buttery and melt in your mouth.

Heather’s first foray into the RNM food was a $1 fish cake. The only fishy thing about these waffles is their shape. Essentially, they are just a light and fluffy waffles with various fillings- H went for custard and was not disappointed. Light and airy, with a custard that was not too sweet or thick. All in all- a perfect little sweet (but not-too-sweet) start to the evening.

I had read about Sumo rice burgers and had heard from some friends who had visited the market and raved that this was their favourite stand. Essentially, there are 3 different versions of the rice burgers- 3 types are of meat with a lettuce leaf between two formed rice patties creating a bun. I tried the teriyaki beef burger. The beef was cooked to a perfect juicy medium and the sauce was rich and flavourful. It was a creative and delicious experience. Would’ve loved to try a brown rice version (they don’t have it…yet) and all of the varieties they do offer. I love spicy- and I would’ve loved to add some spicy chilli sauce to kick up the rice bun which although fun, was kinda flavourless.

I was on still on a savoury kick and working on my rice burger but Heather and Jen couldn’t resist and opportunity to try wheel cakes. Essentially, the same deal as the fish cake- a batter cake with either nutella, peanut butter, or custard filling. 1 buck each, both got nutella and loved their wheel cakes. It seems like light fluffy cake/waffle batter and nutella…guaranteed delicious-ness.

Next up- Jen pork bun from Top Wok dim sum stand- 2.50. These are pretty standard fare, but I’ve had my share of dry, partially frozen tasting pork buns before so I’m always a little hesitant. This pork bun was really nice. Hot, but not too hot, and good meat to bun ratio- this bun was a winner.

At the night market, the longest line and biggest crowd was at the Xi Jian Man BBQ- and for good reason. The “skewer master” tending the grill was a real show man yelling and working the flames. We went for a combo to share- 3 skewers for 6 bucks. Spicy lamb (cumin), beef, and garlic prawns. All three were delicious, tender, and rich in flavour. My favourite was the spicy lamb.


I was tempted by the $5 BBQ squid stand but my frugal instincts pushed me towards the $3 version at the Halal stand. It was good, but not great. Pretty chewy, with tonnes of tentacles. Next time, I’ll spend drop the extra twoonie.

Back to sweets and the Summer Breeze shaved ice stand. For $4 each Heather and I both got special combos with ice cream and 3 toppings. I got the variety with Banana, Red Bean, Tapioca Bubbles and Green Tea Ice Cream. It was pretty good- but I wanted something with more flavour. The best part of the dessert was the green tea ice cream. This made me wish I had followed Jen’s lead and picked up a cone of the green tea soft serve.

All in all- an amazing night of eating and there is so much more to try. Next time- I’m definitely getting a giant cob of corn, the $5 BBQ squid, spicy fish balls, pumpkin curry balls, the green tea soft serve and dragon beard candy.

We woke up in Calgary to empty streets.

It was an hour before I saw a bus drive down a lonely road in the dark morning hours, looking outside from the bright hotel gym.  It was a hint of what was to come.

We left the mountains behind us and drove into long stretched of prairie land.  It was the biggest sky we’d ever seen.  

It was soothing the way the landscape would change ever so slightly every few miles.  We could see towns and cities hours before we even reached them, and the clouds hung so low we felt as if we could reach up and grab them.

Bugs hit our windshield enough to blind us.  We stopped at every gas station to clear them off and regain our vision of the beautiful land.

We pulled into Regina in the early evening and were upgraded to a beautiful room fit for royalty.  We cleaned up and headed down the street to one of Regina’s best rated restaurants for Spanish tapas.

The streets were void of people.  I kept wondering where downtown was, and John and kept reminding me we were in it.

The meal was simple- you can’t set your expectations too high for seafood in the prairies- and satisfied our travel-worn bodies and hungry bellies.  The best part about driving all day is the meal and drink at the end of it.  Martinis never tasted so good.

The next day we took off to Winnipeg, knowing nothing other than the fact that it would be more populated than Regina.  Or so we thought.

After another long day on the road we arrived in Winnipeg, a big city with no people.  Apparently it was a long weekend and it seemed like everyone except for the one guy we asked for directions had gone away.

We walked the empty streets and admired the buildings desperate to find a bite to eat.  Every restaurant we came upon was closed.

Eventually we settled upon a hotel restaurant for lunch, and retired to our hotel’s restaurant for dinner.

I would love to see Winnipeg alive because what we saw was a sleepy town void of life.  I’m sure it has more to offer, but there’s only so much you can learn about a place in an afternoon.

The next morning, we set out again, this time to a new adventure in the USA…

Hitting the road


Never Ending prairie skies

Lunch break


Regina


Spanish tapas for dinner

Breakfast

Cleaning hundreds of bugs off our windshield, again


Lunch in Winnipeg at the only open restaurant

Hitting the road for the USA

Vancouver to Calgary

I woke up at 4:30 in the morning the day we left.

I breathed in the fresh B.C air, did some stretches, drank some coffee, and welcomed my gypsy life once again.

With a car full of winter clothes and kitchen equipment, it was time for John and I to hit the open road.

We had been debating whether to move to Toronto for months.

But when John got the phone call saying he got the job, the countdown began.  We realized we had one week to pack up all of our belongings and hit the road.  It was the only time we could do it.

And we did.  It seemed crazy at first.  My last week at work I was wrapping up as much as I could while packing up boxes, searching for a new apartment, planning farewell feasts and wrapping my head around a new life.

A new life with someone I love?  Even better.  No matter where we go it will be home.

We hit the road first thing Saturday morning with tired, wide eyes, our hearts as open as the sky.

We drove through the lush greenery of British Columbia and made our way into the Rockies, standing over us like giants, and blinked our eyes while sipping back gas station coffee.

We stopped at Lake Louise for a bite to eat and another feast for our eyes.  The bright, turquoise colored lake was as beautiful as I remembered from a class trip when I was around thirteen.  It still stood there like the background to a movie set, flawless, bright, and picture perfect.

We arrived late in Calgary and met John’s sister and husband for dinner, drank plenty of wine, and I fell asleep before everyone after a mosquito attack outside the hotel.

The next day we woke up, stretched our tired bodies and hit the road to Saskatchewan.

Stay tuned for Part Two, and tales of ghost towns and never ending skies…

Lake Louise




Taking a toe dip


A little too chilly to go in

I spent the next hour in the car suffering from an allergic reaction to this flower sniffing

We made it to Calgary thanks to my new best friend Suzy (aka our newly bought GPS)

Calgary

We are moving across the country.  With open hearts, an open road, big dreams and the love to support them.  I’ll catch up once I catch my breath, the road between Vancouver and Toronto awaits.

We came, we saw,

we swam, we hiked,

we cooked fresh fish and ate pancakes in the sun

and I never wanted to leave.

Sometimes life is challenging,

and sometimes it offers itself to you with a coastline that stretches itself into the sun,

a hike that climbs over lakes and the ocean and reveals the world to you

and the quiet moments you want to put in a jam jar and seal up forever.