Love is a wonderful thing....

Today I got a message from my friend Leah. 

Her and her fiance George are getting married this year and they have entered a contest to win a free wedding! 

These are two of my very favorite people! I met George, a chef, and Leah, a designer, while working at Wolfgang Puck in Oakville (when it was still there) many years ago. They are both such genuine and caring people. If two people were ever destined to be with each other, it's them. I was soo excited to hear they were engaged, and with a wonderfully romantic proposal to boot!

They are also probably two of the hardest working people I know and they deserve an absolutely beautiful wedding. Winning this contest would make their special day even sweeter. 

Leah and George were chosen from a long list of couples and are now among the final eight couples in this contest. 

If you can spare two minutes (that's really all it takes) please, PLEASE visit this site and vote for George and Leah. 

http://www.thenotwedding.blogspot.com/

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Sweet Treats

Thomas Haas

If you have a sweet tooth… this is a place you have to visit.

When I was in Vancouver someone recommended this place to me for a sweet treat. I went in search of a birthday treat for my friend, and I hit the jackpot. I left with miniature cakes and tarts, which was an excellent idea. We all got to taste a variety of deserts.

The store, located in North Vancouver, is no more than a few hundred square feet but filled with delectable treats. I went on a Saturday afternoon and there was a line up out the door. As soon as I saw that, I knew it must be worth the wait. It was.  I couldn’t get over how many people were stuffed into such a small space. Most people were in line to purchase, but some were crowded around the four small tables and tiny counter area having coffee and treats.

Thomas Haas is not only a talented in pastry but is an accomplished chef. He has worked across the world in Michelin star restaurants

in Europe and was executive pastry chef at the Four Seasons Vancouver. 

Winner of many competitions awards and accolades, Haas has been featured in many food magazines and appeared on Martha Stewart Living. In 2000, he and his wife opened their own store and have been booming in business ever since. They pride themselves on what they 

produce, handmade chocolates and pastries made with only the best quality, and most often, local ingredients.

Another testament to the notion… great things come in small packages, or in this case, small spaces.

https://thomashaas.com/

Good Eats

I have a new favorite restaurant... unfortunately its a 4.5 hr flight from Toronto. Yes, you guessed it, it's in Vancouver. Italian Kitchen is located downtown Vancouver and, since opening, has quickly become a hot spot. 

The two level restaurant has a 60ft white marble bar which splits between a serving station for 

 and an open kitchen so you can watch all the chef's in action! There is a glassed wall cellar that holds a huge variety of old and new Italian wines. We tried a couple different ones that night.. all great!

The menu has a variety of multi national italian dishes, all prepared with fresh seasonal ingredients. We had the pasta platter; spaghetti and spicy meatballs with truffle cream, agnollotti stuffed with squash and mascarpone pappardelle with lamb sausage, cabbage and potatoes, and penne pomodoro. FANTASTIC! 

This place is definitely worth a visit when out west! 

Visit their website: www. theitaliankitchen.ca

Coffee Art

Don't get me wrong, Starbucks is great, but there is a coffee shop in Vancouver that puts the mundane Starbucks to shame! 

Caffe Artigiano is my favorite coffee place (which just happens to be located in my favorite city). They turn your ordinary cup of coffee into an extraordinary treat. The baristas specialize in coffee art, creating a unique rosetta, tulip or heart on top of your cappuccino or latte. 

Not only a delicious cup of coffee but a beautiful one... almost too beautiful to drink. 

If you ever find yourself in Vancouver and wanting a little boost, Caffe Artigiano has six locations around the city. 

http://caffeartigiano.com

Beautiful, Beautiful British Columbia

So, for anyone who does not know, Vancouver is one of my favorite places! Partly because I have so many fond memories from growing up there, but also because there is something about Vancouver that is indescribably relaxing and tranquil. 

For reading week I decided to go back for a visit and to celebrate my very good friends birthday. It reminded me how much I love it, and how many of my 'favorite things' are there. 

It took one minor fire on-board my flight and one soothing adivan to get there but it was all worth it. 

This is the view from my hotel..... 

This is the Vancouver Rowing Club, where I used to row in high school. Behind it is Stanley Park, which has a great seawall to walk around with fabulous views, like these.....

I hope to be living there again one day. There is nothing like going for a walk and hearing the sounds of the ocean and the sights of mountains in the distance. Ahhhh the west coast, for anyone that hasn't been, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!

Lash Attack

Well... as you can see blogging is not one of my favorite thing to do, and thus there will be NO post highlighting it as one of my favorite things! But I figured I would blog about some of the things I have found or experienced in my life that I do have a fondness for. 

I apologize in advance to any men who will read this... you probably won't find this of any interest. 

To me, mascara is one of my essential elements of my make-up application. Like some with their American Express, I never leave home without it. Several years ago I found a mascara that, in my opinion, is second to none. It is called 'State of the Art Mascara' by Borghese, and it is FABULOUS!! It thickens lashes, while separating them and lengthening. It makes your lashes look twice as long, twice as think and doesn't clump them together. 

It used to be sold in Costco, one of my favorite places but that is for another entry, but they no longer cary it. So I have resorted to purchasing it online, directly through Borghese's website. It is a little pricey, but well worth every penny!

Mac vs. PC

I am computer illiterate. I literally repel technology. 

Just to give you an example, at the beginning of this program I was TERRIFIED to use a mac. It took me 4 years to learn how to use my then current HP laptop. 

Fate had a mac induced plan for me though... 

In October my lap top screen stopped working, for the second time since I bought it. When I took it in for repairs the warranty had expired so I decided I would just use my dad's laptop for the rest of the school year. Then fate stepped in again.... his lap top spontaneously combusted one week later. Explaining the two broken computers in two weeks was difficult. 

Alas, I gave in and purchased my first Mac Book. I can say now, after using it for six months, that I would NEVER again purchase a pc. Mac's are soo smart! They make even the most technologically incompetent person like me, a computer lover!

Mac vs. PC.... no contest.