There’s nothing better than exploring your own home.

This weekend my boyfriend and I drove up the sea to sky highway to Whistler.  The drive always takes my breath away.  Mountains and deep valleys surround the road and the air gets cleaner and crisper with every winding turn.

The rain poured heavily when we got there so we spent less time exploring outside, and more time relaxing, cooking up some great meals, and enjoying some live music and drinks at an Irish pub in the village.

As I said to my boyfriend, “It is so nice just to be able to live in the moment.”

Now that I’m home I find I’m not always trying to look forward to what’s to come.  I’m savoring every simple moment.  Tasting my food again.  Enjoying the way red wine swirls in a glass.  My first cup of tea each morning. Feeling a warm hand wrapped with mine.

We drove home Sunday and stopped at one of my favorite shops, Gourmet Warehouse, an emporium of gourmet food and cooking and baking equipment.  I left with some fire roasted peppers, some honey dijon mustard and a fresh curry spice mixture.

The day continued with a stop at Ikea for kitchen equipment and a couple of nice things from the apartment, a stop in Little India for some spices and a final stop at Whole Foods to buy some fresh prawns and vegetables for dinner.

I love getting my hands dirty in the kitchen again, cooking and baking to my heart’s content.  I burnt my arm making a lemon tart this weekend, but it was so tart, light and flakey, that I am wearing my new baking scar with pride.

I am making myself at home for the first time in years.  It feels good.

I have a desk set up and am going to get going with my book,  I have another interview today, and I am planning on taking this blog in many new directions.  I want to explore Vancouver and what it has to offer, capture a taste of the Olympics and so some fun new video segments.

I feel like I have room to grow in this city, and even though I plan on staying still, I know I’m going places.

My first tarte au citron.  See recipe here.

Whistler mountain, home of the 2010 Olympic games!

Salad with candied walnuts and balsamic glaze

Serving up wild sockeye salmon

Gourmet Warehouse

What would you like to see in upcoming posts?  More recipes, beauty, health, videos or fashion?