Jul
31
This clinical trial drug has knocked me right out. Differently to chemo I find I’m hit with side effects pretty much the day after treatment, rather than four or five days later, but if last week is anything to go by I should be feeling better by the end of the weekend. Unfortunately, for now, its all fatigue, raw mouth, nausea, and what is often referred to in my family as “the Trotskys” – not because you keep tilting to the left but because of the manner in which you rather frequently make your way to the toilet. Trit, trot, trit, trot…. You get the idea.
(Dear god I cannot believe I’m divulging that on the World Wide Web. Several generations of my incredibly WASP forebears just rolled over in their graves at my lack of discretion. Because you can get wireless internet access in your grave. Fact.)
Anyway, my dad is here from California for the weekend and has become chef de cuisine, nanny, personal shopper, and maid (in a word: me) which is helping enormously. I am being pampered, a little of the stress is alleviated from my husband, and my daughter is out of her mind with delight that her Grandpa is here. Tomorrow he has promised to make me potato & fish pie, exactly like the grandmother who just finished rolling over in her grave used to make.
And that’s enough typing from bed with one hand and one open eye for tonight. Tomorrow is a new day and one to which I shall no doubt awaken in horror when I recall the graphic personal content of this post.
Jul
31
It’s been a while since my last post. What’s been keeping me so busy these days? Christmas. Yep, you read it right – we’ve been busy working on our holiday issues. Now I don’t want to freak you out since Christmas is so far down the road, but I thought it might be fun to see a sneak peek of what we’ve been working on.
Cookies
We’ve probably done over 200 tests on a variety of cookies. We test each recipe until it’s perfect and foolproof. Then we do a make-ahead storage test to determine how long the cookies can be frozen before their taste and appearance are compromised. Here’s a shot of what’s in our freezer right now.
I never thought I’d say this but I’m sick of eating cookies. Our assistant food editor Lyn Chua has coined this phenomena “cookie fatigue.” She has a serious case of it since she’s in charge of this story, though I’m sure we’ll all be eating them again soon. It’s amazing how quickly I can find myself saying “Just one more bite” when there’s a full plate in front of me.
Next is beef
We’ve also been researching and testing a recipe for the ultimate roast beef dinner. No simple feat! There’s always debate about how to cook a roast dinner, and trust me, I have some firm opinions on this. But I can honestly say our recipe is the best I’ve ever tried. Stay tuned for its appearance in a fall issue.
Here’s a pic of a recent beef dinner I did at home. I made béarnaise instead of gravy for a more summery sauce. (But let’s face it, béarnaise may look lighter but it certainly isn’t from a caloric perspective.)
The big dinner
No Christmas feast is complete without yummy side dishes. We’ve been working on several easy ideas but there’s been a few mishaps along the way, including this microwave explosion. Lindsay Evans (one of our wonderful freelance testers) had to deal with the fall out. And this is why we test! Sometimes a short-cut seems like a great idea but then suddenly there’s spaghetti squash hanging from the ceiling of your microwave.
Stay tuned for my next post – easy crab frittata. It’s great for brunch or a cottage breakfast.
People are loyal to their favourites. Here are some more of the greatest picks!
Kiehl’s pineapple papaya facial scrub
“I tried many, many products before finding this one. It’s a little more pricey but it really works so I don’t mind spending the extra money on a product that feels great on my skin and leaves it soft and smooth. “
-Charlene, Toronto
Fresh Sugar Lemon bath & shower gel and the matching body lotion
“I happened to get hooked on these products after sampling them at a Whistler resort and am now slightly addicted to this line. The shower gel really wakes you up in the morning with the crisp lemon scent and the body lotion feels like you are lathering your body in lemony buttery goodness. I LOVE these products.”
-Charlene, Toronto
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara
This one was a favourite of many of you!
“I have tried many of the samples you receive with free gift packs but I always go back to my tried and true green and pink Maybelline Great Lash. Great price, great product, great looking lashes. Enough said.” – Charlene, Toronto
“My favorite beauty product is Maybelline Great Lash Mascara…It is the best mascara, and the only mascara I buy now. I flop back and forth between other beauty products, but not with my mascara. Why do I love this product….because it doesn’t turn me into something I am not, it is natural, and classy yet not overwhelming.”
-Robyn, Bayfield, Ontario
Thanks for all of your input… There are more to come!
–Kate Daley
Jul
30
Forget about the cutesy animals and Disney characters, Lavish Lamb baby bedding from Winnipeg creates a stylish nursery as sophisticated as your living room. With a great mix of graphics and prints, you can choose to layer in a coordinating blanket with crib bedding or make a statement with a contrasting print. Either way, this makes it easy to shop local.
Meet my brand-new, 2-day-old nephew! I have scooted to Edmonton to meet this little guy and help his tired mom and dad settle him into his new home. I’ll be cozying up the nursery and getting the last few things on the new baby checklist.
I have to admit that baby decor is new to me but, in trying to influence some decor decisions, I’ve found there are so many chic, cute and organic options out there I have no idea how sleep-deprived parents can choose! Over the next few days in Edmonton I’ll be showing you some choices from our excursions to feather the nest.
