I know most of you are probably thinking I'm preaching to the choir, but I just had to add this bit of advice. And it should not be taken lightly. I mean, consider what I've found lately at outlets:
- A Michael Kors bag at 135$ (and a really nice shoulder bag too; not just a tiny clutch!)
- A pair of black suede heels and fabulous leather stilleto ankle boots at Nine West for 122$ (total!)
- A pair of suede platform Prada heels at 150$! (ok, these were in Tuscany, but if ever you're there, right?)
I guess if you live in Europe or the US, you're probably thinking, "yeah, so?" Please understand that I'm from Canada, where there are no outlets - just power centers where everything costs the same as everywhere else. It's literally impossible to get a good deal in Canada - I mean, I have to cross the border to pay 50% less for something that was actually packaged in Mississauga, Ontario! And that lovely Michael Kors bag would have cost me at least 400$ (plus mind-numbing taxes.)
So, especially if you're from Canada like me, take advantage of your camping trip to the US, or whatever, and seek out the biggest outlet mall within driving distance.
Though you might want to focus on stocking up on stuff you actually need, as opposed to doing what I did: heading right for the accessories stores and splurging on shoes and a handbag.
Oh well.
Friday, July 25, 2014
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Take a walk in a field
Think about it: when do we ever see someone walking in a field? Wheat fields, corn fields, we drive by them all the time, and they seem to be just a long stretch of gold or green rippling waves in a late summer wind that is completely inaccessible except through a window.
People used to cut through fields, or walk alongside their borders, and children used to play in them, long ago. At least, that's what we read in books and see in period movies.
Try this: next time you're taking a walk on a country road, during a camping trip or a stay at a cottage, step off the path and walk into a field. When you get far from the road, crouch down and watch the tall stalks sway gently around you.
"But isn't the farmer going to come after me, yelling curses and brandishing his scythe, for daring to trespass on his property?" you may ask.
Probably not. Because he's most likely busy with things like running his farm and won't even notice you there. Anyway, it's not like you're going to ruin a field full of sturdy corn stalks. The worst thing that will probably happen is you'll get your shoes extremely wet and muddy.
Of course, if there's a sign that says "no trespassing," please respect it.
I was in Tuscany not long ago, and I loved to walk along the empty roads leading to the small, isolated hamlet where I was staying. These roads were bordered by miles of vineyards that were just too beautiful to resist. One evening, as the sun was setting and the clouds turned pink, I walked off the road and down a hill covered in rows of vines. When I got to the bottom, I closed my eyes, fought the unreasonable fear that someone would come and yell at me that I did not belong there, suburbanite that I am, and just listened to the sounds of nature around me. Tree branches of a nearby wood creaked in the wind, small animals scurried in the thicket, and night birds began to sing. I felt like I had traveled centuries back in time.
It didn't even matter to me that my shoes were caked in mud.
When is the last time you strayed off a paved road? Please leave a comment.
People used to cut through fields, or walk alongside their borders, and children used to play in them, long ago. At least, that's what we read in books and see in period movies.
Try this: next time you're taking a walk on a country road, during a camping trip or a stay at a cottage, step off the path and walk into a field. When you get far from the road, crouch down and watch the tall stalks sway gently around you.
"But isn't the farmer going to come after me, yelling curses and brandishing his scythe, for daring to trespass on his property?" you may ask.
Probably not. Because he's most likely busy with things like running his farm and won't even notice you there. Anyway, it's not like you're going to ruin a field full of sturdy corn stalks. The worst thing that will probably happen is you'll get your shoes extremely wet and muddy.
Of course, if there's a sign that says "no trespassing," please respect it.
I was in Tuscany not long ago, and I loved to walk along the empty roads leading to the small, isolated hamlet where I was staying. These roads were bordered by miles of vineyards that were just too beautiful to resist. One evening, as the sun was setting and the clouds turned pink, I walked off the road and down a hill covered in rows of vines. When I got to the bottom, I closed my eyes, fought the unreasonable fear that someone would come and yell at me that I did not belong there, suburbanite that I am, and just listened to the sounds of nature around me. Tree branches of a nearby wood creaked in the wind, small animals scurried in the thicket, and night birds began to sing. I felt like I had traveled centuries back in time.
It didn't even matter to me that my shoes were caked in mud.
When is the last time you strayed off a paved road? Please leave a comment.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Do Nothing.
I mean nothing. Absolutely nothing.
But what is this crazy person talking about? you may ask.
Have you ever tried sitting down, maybe on your couch, leaning against a comfy cushion, or outside on your front step, or even alone at a terrace, with a glass of wine in front of you, and doing nothing? Not watching TV, or reading a book, or tap-tap-tapping on your smartphone. Just sitting and thinking.
We see it all the time: people standing in line, bent over their phones because they can't possibly imagine standing there and looking at the world around them. People reading on the bus instead of admiring the view from the window. Even people texting as they wait impatiently for the red light to turn green, instead of actually being aware of their surroundings (inarguably very important when driving).
It's like we can't fathom not filling every second of our lives with some sort of activity, busy and stressed out as we are with work, studies, kids, projects, or whatever. Imagine what it must be like to take some of that time, and actually do nothing with it (yes, I said it.)
Here are some ways of doing nothing you might want to try:
1. Sit alone at a restaurant and resist the temptation to take out a book or your phone. Enjoy watching what other people around you are doing.
2. Go outside, sit on your front step and just look at the world going by.
3. The next time you take a bus, or a train, look out the window. Imagine what you could be missing if you don't:
When you sit and do nothing, that's when inspiration comes. A solution to a problem may magically present itself. You might remember something you've forgotten. A pleasant memory might surface, and make you happy just thinking about it. And you may even get an idea. Just sitting there in my living room, doing nothing, is how I got the idea for this blog. (And no, it didn't just pop into my head as a solution to boredom. Not at all.)
Have any ideas suddenly come to you while you were doing nothing? Please leave a comment.
But what is this crazy person talking about? you may ask.
Have you ever tried sitting down, maybe on your couch, leaning against a comfy cushion, or outside on your front step, or even alone at a terrace, with a glass of wine in front of you, and doing nothing? Not watching TV, or reading a book, or tap-tap-tapping on your smartphone. Just sitting and thinking.
We see it all the time: people standing in line, bent over their phones because they can't possibly imagine standing there and looking at the world around them. People reading on the bus instead of admiring the view from the window. Even people texting as they wait impatiently for the red light to turn green, instead of actually being aware of their surroundings (inarguably very important when driving).
It's like we can't fathom not filling every second of our lives with some sort of activity, busy and stressed out as we are with work, studies, kids, projects, or whatever. Imagine what it must be like to take some of that time, and actually do nothing with it (yes, I said it.)
Here are some ways of doing nothing you might want to try:
1. Sit alone at a restaurant and resist the temptation to take out a book or your phone. Enjoy watching what other people around you are doing.
2. Go outside, sit on your front step and just look at the world going by.
3. The next time you take a bus, or a train, look out the window. Imagine what you could be missing if you don't:
(View of the Tuscan countryside. Now that's worth looking at)
When you sit and do nothing, that's when inspiration comes. A solution to a problem may magically present itself. You might remember something you've forgotten. A pleasant memory might surface, and make you happy just thinking about it. And you may even get an idea. Just sitting there in my living room, doing nothing, is how I got the idea for this blog. (And no, it didn't just pop into my head as a solution to boredom. Not at all.)
Have any ideas suddenly come to you while you were doing nothing? Please leave a comment.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Read a Book - A Real One
I don't understand why books, that have existed in printed format since the 15th century, have suddenly become the subject of a mass debate surrounding their very existence.
Many people believe that e-readers will simply replace printed books, just as hand-copying of religious texts by monks centuries ago was superseded by the printing press.
Still, with the advent of the printing machine, handwriting wasn't exactly annihilated, was it?
Books aren't just words organized into sentences, paragraphs and chapters. They're objects. I love having the feel of a book between my hands; I even love the smell of it, and the memories it evokes. Try to smell your Kobo, and I guarantee you'll get strange looks.
Most of all, I can't imagine reading without turning the pages. That's just not a book, in my opinion. And is there anything better than sitting with a great book and a glass of wine on a chilly winter's night?
I have a friend who reads e-books almost exclusively. One time we decided to read A Game of Thrones and share our reactions as we progressed through the story. About halfway through the book, she said, "I have a hard time keeping up with the characters - there are so many of them, I get mixed up!"
"I know," I said. "Why don't you check the Appendix? They're all listed there."
There was a pause.
"What appendix?" she asked.
"Well, just flip to the back of the book …" I broke off. "Oh. You're reading the electronic version, aren't you?" I will confess I chortled; I couldn't help it.
After a bit of tip-tap-tapping, she found it.
I asked her later why she preferred the e-book option. "It's more practical," she said. "I can take it anywhere."
I would argue that I have no problem carrying the latest 1000+ pages-long George R.R. Martin novel in my bag, but I usually get the one-eyebrow-lift reaction when I say that.
I can't deny that e-books are practical and easy to carry. But I will always stick with a paper book. And if you're a Kobo fan, I suggest you read a paper book too, at least from time to time, just to remember what it was like.
With that in mind, I also suggest we keep both options open. Why should one mean the death of the other?
But for now, why don't we let these two fight it out?
Which do you prefer: e-book or paper book? Please leave a comment.
Many people believe that e-readers will simply replace printed books, just as hand-copying of religious texts by monks centuries ago was superseded by the printing press.
Still, with the advent of the printing machine, handwriting wasn't exactly annihilated, was it?
Books aren't just words organized into sentences, paragraphs and chapters. They're objects. I love having the feel of a book between my hands; I even love the smell of it, and the memories it evokes. Try to smell your Kobo, and I guarantee you'll get strange looks.
Most of all, I can't imagine reading without turning the pages. That's just not a book, in my opinion. And is there anything better than sitting with a great book and a glass of wine on a chilly winter's night?
I have a friend who reads e-books almost exclusively. One time we decided to read A Game of Thrones and share our reactions as we progressed through the story. About halfway through the book, she said, "I have a hard time keeping up with the characters - there are so many of them, I get mixed up!"
"I know," I said. "Why don't you check the Appendix? They're all listed there."
There was a pause.
"What appendix?" she asked.
"Well, just flip to the back of the book …" I broke off. "Oh. You're reading the electronic version, aren't you?" I will confess I chortled; I couldn't help it.
After a bit of tip-tap-tapping, she found it.
I asked her later why she preferred the e-book option. "It's more practical," she said. "I can take it anywhere."
I would argue that I have no problem carrying the latest 1000+ pages-long George R.R. Martin novel in my bag, but I usually get the one-eyebrow-lift reaction when I say that.
I can't deny that e-books are practical and easy to carry. But I will always stick with a paper book. And if you're a Kobo fan, I suggest you read a paper book too, at least from time to time, just to remember what it was like.
With that in mind, I also suggest we keep both options open. Why should one mean the death of the other?
But for now, why don't we let these two fight it out?
Which do you prefer: e-book or paper book? Please leave a comment.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Make strawberry freezer jam
There's nothing that says old-fashioned and traditional like making your own strawberry jam. And since we're in the middle of strawberry season, I figured it would be the best time for this bit of advice.
I make my jam as my mother taught me: I simply follow the recipe and instructions in the Certo package. I use light Certo because it asks for a little bit less sugar. And less sugar, of course, means more strawberries.
I also choose to make the no-cook, freezer jam, because the strawberries, unlike with cooked jams, keep their nutrients. Plus, you don't need to sterilize the jars.
You will need:
- 4 cups fresh strawberries
- 3 1/4 cups sugar
- 1 package Certo light
Clean and hull strawberries. Crush them using a potato masher.
Measure 4 cups of strawberries into a bowl. Mix the Certo with 1/4 cup of the sugar. Add to strawberries. Let rest, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.
Add the remaining 3 cups of sugar, and stir for 3 minutes. Put in jars, and seal with lid. Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours, or until set.
Here's why I love making my own:
- At about 2$ a jar for great quality jam, with no preservatives and no artificial colouring, why not? (Oh, and here's a little note: can you believe that manufactured jam actually has food colouring added in it? I mean, why? It's berries!)
- It's one of the few things I can make in the kitchen without using any electricity. When I made jam last summer, the power actually went out, and I remember feeling really excited, thinking, "This is great! It'll be just like when my grandmother was young, and people were actually making things with their own hands, being completely self-sufficient!" Then I realized I didn't have enough sugar, and as the grocery store nearby was closed (obviously unable to function without electricity), I had to get in the car and drive to another one.
- I get a whole day to myself to just putter around the kitchen. My husband takes the kids to his parents' house, as I cannot imagine being able to work the three stations of cleaning, crushing, and mixing strawberries with an eighteen-month-old running around. "Just picture her pulling one of the bowls off the table and getting five cups of crushed strawberries with pectin on her head!" I told him. This morning he packed the kids up and left just as soon as they were dressed.
- Finally, I just love the end result:
Happy strawberry season!
Oh, and p.s. For all my Québec city friends, I went and picked the strawberries myself, at La Ferme Genest . It's a wonderful place for families. Also, they make the best loaves of whole wheat bread I have ever eaten. The flavour reminds me of old-fashioned flour grinding mills. If you ever go, do try one.
Do you have a special recipe you make with strawberries this time of year? Please leave a comment below.
I make my jam as my mother taught me: I simply follow the recipe and instructions in the Certo package. I use light Certo because it asks for a little bit less sugar. And less sugar, of course, means more strawberries.
I also choose to make the no-cook, freezer jam, because the strawberries, unlike with cooked jams, keep their nutrients. Plus, you don't need to sterilize the jars.
You will need:
- 4 cups fresh strawberries
- 3 1/4 cups sugar
- 1 package Certo light
Clean and hull strawberries. Crush them using a potato masher.
Measure 4 cups of strawberries into a bowl. Mix the Certo with 1/4 cup of the sugar. Add to strawberries. Let rest, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.
Add the remaining 3 cups of sugar, and stir for 3 minutes. Put in jars, and seal with lid. Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours, or until set.
Here's why I love making my own:
- At about 2$ a jar for great quality jam, with no preservatives and no artificial colouring, why not? (Oh, and here's a little note: can you believe that manufactured jam actually has food colouring added in it? I mean, why? It's berries!)
- It's one of the few things I can make in the kitchen without using any electricity. When I made jam last summer, the power actually went out, and I remember feeling really excited, thinking, "This is great! It'll be just like when my grandmother was young, and people were actually making things with their own hands, being completely self-sufficient!" Then I realized I didn't have enough sugar, and as the grocery store nearby was closed (obviously unable to function without electricity), I had to get in the car and drive to another one.
- I get a whole day to myself to just putter around the kitchen. My husband takes the kids to his parents' house, as I cannot imagine being able to work the three stations of cleaning, crushing, and mixing strawberries with an eighteen-month-old running around. "Just picture her pulling one of the bowls off the table and getting five cups of crushed strawberries with pectin on her head!" I told him. This morning he packed the kids up and left just as soon as they were dressed.
- Finally, I just love the end result:
Happy strawberry season!
Oh, and p.s. For all my Québec city friends, I went and picked the strawberries myself, at La Ferme Genest . It's a wonderful place for families. Also, they make the best loaves of whole wheat bread I have ever eaten. The flavour reminds me of old-fashioned flour grinding mills. If you ever go, do try one.
Do you have a special recipe you make with strawberries this time of year? Please leave a comment below.
Friday, July 4, 2014
Put Down the Smartphone!
This is my first bit of advice: put down the smartphone.
I once saw a young woman, her arm interlaced with her boyfriend's as they were waiting in line somewhere, looking up lovingly into his face, while he stared at his phone. He didn't even see her looking at him.
Then there are the couples sitting facing each-other at a restaurant, each bent over their phones, furiously typing away. Honestly. Save your money. Stay at home and text each-other while watching TV with a bowl of chips.
There was also that time that a woman was texting while she was in labour, up to twenty minutes before the baby came. I'm not making this up.
Here's a story I love: my mother's best friend very nearly got into a car accident when this guy missed his light, swerved violently and came within inches of hitting her. Shaken up, she stepped out of her car just as he came out of his. He was holding his phone to his ear. "I'll have to call you back," he said to the person on the other end, "I have to deal with something here." My mother's friend couldn't believe it. "You were on your phone?!?" she yelled, incredulous. Then she tore the phone out of his hands and threw it in the middle of the street, where it shattered into a thousand pieces.
So like I said. Put down the smartphone. Put it down especially when you're driving. In fact, hide it in a place where you won't be tempted to grab for it. Like at the very bottom of your extra-large tote bag. Or, you could do what my husband does, and accidentally drop it between the driver's seat and the door.
Seriously though. Have we really collectively come to the conclusion that it's a good idea to drive and text? There is currently an epidemic of drivers idling at green lights, infuriating those lining up behind them, because they're studiously bent over their smartphones. And that's the least of our problems.
The SAAQ published the following video. If that doesn't make people feel ridiculous about texting and driving, nothing will:
The translation is: "In the past, we didn't write messages while driving. There was probably a good reason for that." I especially love the guy writing with a pen and ink while driving his horse and buggy.
Do you have any interesting or funny smartphone related stories? Please leave a comment below.
I once saw a young woman, her arm interlaced with her boyfriend's as they were waiting in line somewhere, looking up lovingly into his face, while he stared at his phone. He didn't even see her looking at him.
Then there are the couples sitting facing each-other at a restaurant, each bent over their phones, furiously typing away. Honestly. Save your money. Stay at home and text each-other while watching TV with a bowl of chips.
There was also that time that a woman was texting while she was in labour, up to twenty minutes before the baby came. I'm not making this up.
Here's a story I love: my mother's best friend very nearly got into a car accident when this guy missed his light, swerved violently and came within inches of hitting her. Shaken up, she stepped out of her car just as he came out of his. He was holding his phone to his ear. "I'll have to call you back," he said to the person on the other end, "I have to deal with something here." My mother's friend couldn't believe it. "You were on your phone?!?" she yelled, incredulous. Then she tore the phone out of his hands and threw it in the middle of the street, where it shattered into a thousand pieces.
So like I said. Put down the smartphone. Put it down especially when you're driving. In fact, hide it in a place where you won't be tempted to grab for it. Like at the very bottom of your extra-large tote bag. Or, you could do what my husband does, and accidentally drop it between the driver's seat and the door.
Seriously though. Have we really collectively come to the conclusion that it's a good idea to drive and text? There is currently an epidemic of drivers idling at green lights, infuriating those lining up behind them, because they're studiously bent over their smartphones. And that's the least of our problems.
The SAAQ published the following video. If that doesn't make people feel ridiculous about texting and driving, nothing will:
The translation is: "In the past, we didn't write messages while driving. There was probably a good reason for that." I especially love the guy writing with a pen and ink while driving his horse and buggy.
Do you have any interesting or funny smartphone related stories? Please leave a comment below.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)