Overwhelmed

Happy Monday, friends!

I am back from a weekend in Ottawa with family. As much as I would love to say that it was amazing, it really wasn't. From about dinner time on Friday to Sunday I felt so incredibly ill and basically ate nothing. I felt horrible and was trying to keep up with my family but really just couldn't. Most of my weekend was spent on the couch trying to drink liquids.

I am still off today but hope I'm on the mend.

A weekend away leads me to my topic today - I am overwhelmed!!!!

Do any of you take a day or two away from the blogging world and come back feeling like you have fallen so far behind? My poor reader had SO many unread posts and I just didn't even know where to begin.

I am constantly faced with this desire to keep up with everything and anything because, well, I love reading all the comments, responding to each one and keeping up with all of YOUR sweet happenings (ha, get it?), but I'm going to be real honest here - sometimes I just can't. I just can't do it. I know that I am sounding as if I have a million followers (clearly not even close), but I hope some of you understand if I go a little MIA for a few days on your blogs and on my own! I have an extremely busy week at work so I'm hoping I just make it out alive.

All that to say, I missed you all this weekend and hope you had a great weekend.

XOXO

Canadian Travel Wish List

If you missed my US travel wish list, check it out here!

I have a lot of US readers which I absolutely adore. Let's face it, blogging is much more prevalent in the US than in Canada - for whatever reason. That said, I've been getting many comments from all you lovely people saying that you hope to one day visit Canada, or that you've never been! You're missing out and I highly recommend visiting.

I've traveled to most of our provinces so I wouldn't consider this my "wish list" but below are a few places I loved so much I'd like to go back.

Prince Edward Island

PEI is beautiful. Charlottetown? Gorgeous. Who doesn't want to go see Anne of Green Gables House, walk along red sand shores and visit lighthouses on the coast? It's a must visit.

New Brunswick

I went to New Brunswick on the same PEI trip when I was younger and I'd absolutely love to go back as I don't remember much. From whale watching, kayaking in the Bay of Fundy, touring historical sites, it seems to be a province that has something for everyone.

Vancouver, BC (in the summer)

 I've been to Vancouver but only in the winter and I'd love to go back in the summer. It's such vibrant city with so much diversity!

2007

Banff, Alberta

Banff would be in my top 3 most favourite cities/areas I have ever visited - not just in Canada, but worldwide. I've been here multiple times and I just want to keep going back. Both the summers and winters are amazing. It's the most quaint little city tucked deep into the Canadian Rockies. There are waterfalls, snow capped mountains and wildlife galore.

A few summers ago I hiked Sulphur Mountain with Mr.C and the views were breathtaking. Note, I just laughed at the link to Sulphur Mountain as it rates the difficulty of the hike as "strenuous." Heck yes it was. It was a near death experience ha!

Skiing at Lake Louise (near Banff) is also another one of my most memorable vacations.

If I could go back there any time of the year, I would in a heart beat! Visit Banff friends!!!

Canadian Rockies

Hike up Sulphur Mountain

View from the top

Banff

Old Quebec City, Quebec

Old Quebec City reminds me of a European town. Cobblestone everywhere, narrow alleyways, coloured homes. It's such a romantic city to visit both in winter and summer.

There are obviously a ton of other areas that are amazing to explore - from Niagara on the Lake, Ottawa, Halifax, Whistler - ohhh the cities are endless. We have such a diverse landscape that it truly makes for a completely different experience in each city and province.

If you're from out of the country, have you visited any areas of Canada?

I'm off to Ottawa this weekend (another city I highly highly recommend visiting!) to visit my dad so there won't be a post tomorrow as I have a trillion things to do beforehand.

Have a great weekend!

Oven Roasted Squash, Apples & Onions {Recipe}

This is the perfect fall recipe and I think it would be great as a side for Thanksgiving dinner. It's another Kraft recipe. Gotta love Kraft.

Ingredients

1 acorn squash
1/4 cup Kraft Extra Virgin Olive Oil Fig Balsamic Dressing
2 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp dried rosemary leaves
2 apples, cut into wedges
1 red onion, cut into wedges

Directions

Preheat oven to 400.
Pierce squash with sharp knife. Place in microwave for 2 minutes and then let cool.
Mix dressing, sugar and rosemary together.
Cut squash lengthwise in half, remove seeds. Cut each half into 4 wedges and place in a large bowl.
Add apples and onions. Mix.
Add dressing mixture. Spread onto foil covered baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes or until squash is tender.

SO good and it ends up looking really pretty with all the fall colours too!

ENJOY!

Come Visit Me!

Happy Tuesday!

Today you can find me over on the Daybreak Bird guest posting while LaDawn is off on her honeymoon (jealous!). I won't give it away, but will say that not all vacations go according to plan.

Princess Margaret Hospital Dream Home - Decorated by Brian Gluckstein

Last Wednesday, I had the opportunity to attend a private showing of the Princess Margaret Hospital Dream home with some other fabulous bloggers and Brian Gluckstein, an incredibly talented interior designer who decorated this home from top to bottom. His line, Gluckstein Home is very popular in Canada and is sold at The Bay and Home Outfitters so it was VERY exciting that I got to hang out with him for the night!

The Princess Margaret Lottery is a annual lottery where all proceeds support the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. Prizes include everything from cars, cottages, condos and some brand new homes. Anyone can buy a ticket ($100.00) for their chance to be in the lottery draw!

This home was 7,000sq ft, $3.7 million and located in Oakville, Ontario.

I had the opportunity to chat with Brian for about 5 minutes before he started the tour. He is so easy to talk to and very genuine. He explained that the home took only 5 months from when the old house was torn down to when the new house was fully complete and decorated. 5 MONTHS!

I will let my photos do the talking but let me tell you, no detail was missed.

Brian Gluckstein and I

 

 Gluckstein used different flooring to define spaces within the home as illustrated in the photo below.

The below was a neat and well thought out area of the house. There was a gigantic photo on the wall and when you look in the mirror on the opposite wall, it places yourself in the hallway that's in the photo. So neat!

Glass floor looking into the wine cellar

I LOVED how the TV is a part of the gallery wall.

Upstairs hallway - stunning

Hello master closet that's bigger than my condo!

Sitting area of the master bedroom

The master bathroom was one of the most gorgeous rooms of the house. It had a really cool bathtub, by Kohler, that has a built in lighting and speaker system where the water moves to the rhythm of the music. 

 

Downstairs rec room

I definitely didn't even come close to photographing all the rooms in the house but the above gives you an idea of it's gorgeousness!

Thank you again to PMH for opening your doors and to Brian for spending the evening with us!

Sunday Social Dreamin'

1. What is your dream job? I'd love to be a talk show host..for like a week.

2. If you had just won the lottery and didn’t need to work for money, what would you do with your time?

I'd travel, build a new home, volunteer and visit my dad more often! 

3. What piece of career advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field?

I think this isn't specific to my field and more just a general statement. It takes time. A lot of grads nowadays think they are going to graduate, get an amazing paying job with a corner office, only work 9-5 and be well on their way to being CEO. Friends, it takes time. Don't expect a lot at the beginning but do expect to bust your butt off to prove yourself. 

4. What would be your ideal “just for fun” job?

Open a cake shop! Sadly, I suck at baking ha.

5. What was your first “real” job?

My first real job was with a large Canadian textbook publishing company. I started the job the summer of my 3rd year of university and ended up going back for about 9 months after I graduated from university. I really enjoyed it and it was definitely a nice taste into the real world. I also moved to Toronto (knowing no one!) for the summer and after university so it was a big step for that reason as well.

Prior to that and through high school I worked for Parks Canada at a historical site. I'll have to share my experiences there one day as it was some of the best summers I've had!

Happy Sunday!

Five on Friday

I'm feeling really tired and a little under the weather so this is going to be a quick Five on Friday as I need to lay back down.

One
Here is a sneak peak from the Princess Margaret Show Home Blogging Event I went to on Wednesday. The house was gorgeous (hello, it better be as it's worth $4 million!). I'm gong to do a full post next week as some from outside of Canada weren't familiar with it. It's a lottery for a great cause (cancer research!!) and this home is one of the prizes.

Also, meeting interior designer Brian Gluckstein? Amazing!

I think I was also interviewed for Gluckstein Home and it was a complete fail. HA! Hilarious.

Taken with my BB - surprisingly!

Not my photo! Still need to upload!Via

Two
I need to do a whole post on mosquitoes one day. I am REALLY allergic to them. My bites swell up huge and I get mass amounts of them. Last night at the event, I got bit 3 times on my forehead (never had that happen before) and now I look slightly crazy with my huge welts. I thought skitters would be gone this time of year, ugh! They ruin my life.

 

Three

My dad is so sweet. Over the past 2 years he's really gotten into texting so he'll send me a few a day. Every single text he will put "Love Dad" at the end. I keep telling him that I know that the message is from him, but I don't think he fully understands. I definitely don't mind though! :)

Four

I am obsessed with the YouTubers The Saccone Jolys. Obsessed. They do daily vlogs of their life. They have the happiest disposition and are such a fun couple with the most precious little baby girl. If you're looking for a good fall "show", check them out out YouTube. You will get addicted!

Five

How cute is this print? I am thinking of framing it and putting it in one of my halls. 

Via

Pumpkin Fluff Dip {Recipe}

I saw this recipe in my monthly "What's Cooking" magazine I get from Kraft. If you're in Canada, I highly recommend signing up to get this. They always have a ton of yummy recipes and it's free. Who doesn't like getting something in the mail that isn't bills?

That leads me to Pumpkin Fluff Dip aka the best fall dip ever.

Friends, all you need to do to is:

Mix 1 can (15oz) pumpkin, 1 package (4 serving size) Jell-O Vanilla Instant Pudding mix and 1tsp pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl with a whisk until blended.

Stir in 3 cups of thawed Cool Whip Whipped Topping.

Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Serve with crackers or gingersnap cookies. If wanting to get extra festive, hollow out a pumpkin and use that as your serving dish.

DELISH! HAPPY FALL!!

Home Tour with Brian Gluckstein & Other Randoms!

• I was invited by a sweet friend to attend a Blogging and Social Tour of Princess Margaret Hospital Welcome Home House worth $4million tonight! The best part is that the home was decorated by Brian Gluckstein and we are getting our own private tour by him!Woot!

          Here's the link with floor plans and a photo gallery. So nice and I am so excited to attend and 
          meet the lovely Mr. Gluckstein!

          http://www.princessmargaretlotto.com/two/oakville.php

• Can I just say that Bill Nye the Science Guy on Dancing with the Stars basically is the best thing to ever be on tv.

• I bought these chips on the weekend and I am wondering why. I really don't like jalapeno peppers. At all. I can deal with the spice but I hate the taste of jalapenos.

• It was 4 degrees Monday morning. That's near frost. Winters a coming, friends!

• Have I mentioned how much I appreciate all you who read my little blog? It's SO fun connecting with you all. One of the best decisions I've made in a while!

• I was in a crappy mood at work on Monday and Tuesday. All I wanted to do was sit at my desk and not talk to anyone. All day. I ended up booking a meeting room and hiding out all afternoon on Tuesday to work in silence. It was GLORIOUS.

• Come back tomorrow for a yummy fluff pumpkin dip recipe.

• I have some REALLY exciting news coming up soon that I'm dying to share with you all!!!

Elevator Etiquette

I ride my fair share of elevators given I live in a condo and work in a large office tower and have seen some really weird things happening on elevators. I thought I'd share with you some simple rules that if we'd all follow, elevator rides would be a lot more enjoyable and a lot less awkward.

Stand facing forward. If we all stand facing forward, we eliminate those awkward moments where we are crammed in there and are basically making out with the person beside us. I've never understood why people walk on and then continue to stand facing the back/people who are facing the doors. Face forward. Simple.

Stand still. Just the other day it was myself and another guy in the elevator and he paced back and forth the entire time. If you can't stand still, take the stairs.

Don't look at yourself in the mirrors. My condo building has mirrors in our elevators and it makes for really strange moments. There is no need to floss, comb your hair, look at your blemishes or do your make up. Save that for your bathroom mirror. Please.

If you are the last one on the elevator, push the close button. This one drives me insane. The doors in my condo are fairly slow to close. This works in your favour if you are trying to get on the elevator but when the elevator stops to pick someone up on a floor and the person just walks in, pushes where they want to go and doesn't hit close? So annoying. The majority of residents know to push it but there are still a few who are still learning.

Adjust where you are standing depending on when people get on and off. If you're the only one in the elevator, I don't care where you stand or what you do. If someone gets on, don't continue to stand right next to the door. Move in so the person can get on.

 Don't take the elevator one floor. I am guilty of this at work since we occupy two floors but I normally do it during non peak times. It drives me crazy when people take the elevator in my condo from ground floor to floor 2 where our exercise room, pool, billiards, golf simulator etc are. It's our fitness centre - walk up the stairs!!!

Do you ride an elevator or two a day? Any extra rules you want to add? :)