Paper or Plastic?

This year the City of London has declared that only special plastic bags with a recycle symbol on them and paper bags will be accepted at the curb side. The catch? The plastic bags are 10 times more expensive than the regular ones and the paper bags fall apart after 2 days sitting on your drive way waiting for pick up.

So my call to all the inventors out there: I would like to partake in the paper bag, however we (all gardeners out there) are in need of a hybrid paper/plastic bag option that will hold up until yard pick up (rain/bugs etc) yet not break the bank. Anyone? Anyone?

Side note: How cute are these?

Herbs!

I also got my herb planters going this weekend. I love adding fresh herbs to the meals I make. Rosemary is my favourite!

Let it grow!

This weekend Vic, Jinny and I planted our vegetable garden! This year we planted:

Cabbages

Lettuce

Carrots

Hot Peppers

Cucumbers

Zucchini

Pole beans

Tomatoes

We planted some from seeds and some from small starter plants and I just can't wait until they start growing! I even checked today to see if there was any change...excited much?

It begins

4 girls, 18 weeks, hot days, hills, bugs, clothes and early mornings; one goal.

It is officially started. We are rounding on week #2 of our half marathon clinic at the Running Room. The players: Victoria, Jinny, Jackie and me. Today we all woke up far too early for a Sunday morning and we were out running our 7KM run by 8:30AM. Believe me, when I woke up at 7:30-AM I thought I was crazy! However, I got up, ate and met up with group. And once I started running, I didn't look back! 21.5KM here we come!

17 weeks to go - Game day September 26th 2010 - Toronto Harbour Front marathon.

Mofongo what?

I would like to share the food I learned about on tonight's episode of Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. Yes, seriously. Mofongo! What the heck is Mofongo you ask? Well, according to Wikipidia Mofongo is a plantain-based dish from Puerto Rico. Mofongo is generally made from fried green plantains (although fried yuca or breadfruit are possible) which is mashed together with broth, garlic, olive oil, and pork cracklings or bits of bacon. It is often filled with vegetables, chicken, crab, shrimp, or beef and is often served with fried meat and chicken broth soup. Doesn't this sound delicious?? It is now my mission to find a place that serves this so I can try it. That or an excuse to go to Puerto Rico. I'm so hungry right now!

Looks so good!

It is official

It has officially happened. I am old. I had a moment of clarity while driving home from Brampton on Wednesday evening. I was stuck in traffic around Waterloo so I turned on the local radio station, 91.5 The Beat to see if they would comment on what the traffic hold up was on the 401. While waiting for a traffic update I listened to song after annoying song by artists I've never heard of and I'm actually not even sure they are deserve the title artist. What is wrong with music? Is is it me? I used to listen to 91.5 and enjoy the music, but I think I may have crossed that fine line between still young and in tune with current music and finding that "cool" music ridiculous like my parents thought of the music I listened to growing up.

I am all grown up? I like to think not. But.....

Eat Local, CSA Community Shared Agriculture

Recently I have become more and more conscious about what I am eating. Since my Naturalpath told me I have several food allergies I have been paying more attention to what is out there and what is in the food we eat. Further to that I have been reading more about how eating food that is grown locally to you not only helps the environment and your local economy but it is also better for you. Less pesticides and less additives in food can only make you a healthier person. I found this blog of a local girl who blogs about her quest to eat local and become more aware - very cool! Eat Local London.

While trying to find a local service that delivers food crates I found this neat place in England that does what I'm looking to do. Fresh fruit and veg get delivered to your door weekly depending on what is in season; great idea! Abel & Cole.

A good link for London area farms is Ontario Farm Directory. Happy eating!

To all the moms

but especially my own, Happy Mother's Day xo

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

In my struggle to find sleep over the past few weeks I have been reading more than usual. The last few nights I have tried to fill the wee hours with this book my sister introduced me to called The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I'm only about a quarter way in but so far it's an interesting series of intertwining plots, that I can't quite figure out how they jive together, but that's half the fun! It has several interesting characters, each with their own quirks that add to the plot line and keep your interest. It takes place in Sweden, so after you get over all the names you can't pronounce and all the places you've never heard of it's quite an interesting read. I will provide an update and a rating once I finish. Oh, and apparently this book is now a movie out in theatres; so, for all those who may be less inclined to spend the time, savor the pages, and use your own imagination there is the Hollywood version to do it for you.

Nothing better than diner food

Today I watched another episode of Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. I'm a little addicted to this show! I love diner food! And this show is all about diner food; the greasy, fatty, fully loaded completely terrible for you food. The food you want but shouldn't eat and mostly don't but sometimes cave and do. I honestly do not know how Guy eats all this food all the time and hasn't had a heart attack yet - knock on wood!! I really like the host (Guy Fieri) I think his humour and quick wit adds to the show. Anyway, this is one of my guilty pleasures. It would be much guiltier if I ate all the things that I see on the show that I want - but guilty non the less.

Dots and Pearls! What's not to love?

Love this dress! And outfit for that matter. Nice job Ashlee

Sometimes you just need to be pampered

Yesterday I went for the Mediterranean massage treatment at Shear Elegance, a spa in London. The treatment was great! Relaxing, mellow, and not long enough! For someone who does not relax easily, it was a really nice 45 minutes. What I didn't like so much were the snotty receptionists. I don't know how people who are not friendly, not welcoming and not nice get jobs in customer service, and at a reception desk at a spa no less! I just don't get it. Would it kill a girl to smile and not make the guest feel like they are imposing? Kind of ruined the spa experience a bit. While I loved the treatment and the woman who actually did the massage was wonderful; the whole Shear Elegance experience was not so great. Don't think I would go back. I think I would rather go to a spa where I feel wonderful the whole experience and not just in the middle.