I'm Going Back to Cali, Cali, Cali....

Let me clarify a few things right off the bat here....we are indeed returning to a place. That place in not Cali though. I just couldn't find a better song than LL Cool J's amazing masterpiece to fully sum up how excited we are.

Dan and I made the decision to return to Toronto starting in December. There really isn't a song where anyone- much less someone of the lyrical genius level of LL Cool J or Biggy- sings "Going back to Canada." But you get my point.

We've booked our tickets and signed our lease! It is actually official that December 3rd will be our first official day as second-time-around Canadians! We are even going to be in the same apartment for the first six months! It will be one year from when we left....we are like the prodigal son returning to the place that treated us best. A homecoming of sorts.

Our decision is two fold- first, out of all of the places we have visited or lived in the last 18 months we enjoyed and felt most comfortable in Canada. Not only will we be closer to home and family and friends, but we see Toronto as a place where we can build a normal life until we can finally be back in the US.

Secondly, moving back to a familiar place and renting the same apartment are so that Dan can immediately get to work in his last month of work for the year. We need to be able to get acclimated with little to no disruption for him, and Toronto provides that for us. Once 2012 is over and Dan has more work freedom we will begin an extensive search for the perfect apartment with more space and more long term. Mike and Laura are back in Toronto now too, and they had a very tough time looking at more than 15 places and getting in bidding wars for a place. They have been such a big help learning all about the new Toronto renting market! We want to give ourselves enough time to be able to do that when Dan isn't in the middle of such a big work goal/deadline.

For me being back in Canada is the best scenario short of being able to move back to Raleigh. I loved our life there and our experience. Toronto, and this apartment, was our first place on our big journey of living abroad for Dan's work. It was a new beginning where we were going to have an exciting few years to explore. 2012 was difficult, challenging, exciting, and a great experience, but we are more than thrilled to go back to a new beginning in a place we love.

So start planning your trips to come visit! We will be making many more trips to visit friends and family now that we won't be but a simple border away from y'all! It makes a big difference than being an ocean apart! We also won't be ignoring anymore how important it is to us to keep close to our family and friends who have been so loving and supportive in this crazy journey we've been traveling. Being away from y'all is definitely the hardest part of this whole situation.

So Toronto or bust in December. I can't wait to blog more about all of the delish foods and meals we will be trying (especially with the St. Lawrence Market!), new winter activities we will be learning, and all of the things we missed in Canada our first time around!

Snow!

It doesn't look like much...and it wasn't more than a hour of flurries...but we had our first snowfall today! I was so excited when I looked out the window and saw those tiny white flakes falling from the sky. I mean its Canada...isn't it supposed to be snowing here all of the time?

The snow in this picture melted after about an hour and the weather looks to be warm-ish the rest of the week, but it was real snow! Even this little bit of snow put me in the holiday spirit and made me excited for this last month here in Toronto.

We have less than one month left. I can NOT believe that this stay is almost over. We are on the downhill slide and packing seems to be an activity that is quickly creeping up on me. There is still no decision on our plans after the holidays...we still have time :)

Things are busy here with Dan. His test for the CFA is on Saturday morning so he is studying and working. I have been spending time with Laura- we went and saw Twilight yesterday and got coffee. It will be weird not having her in January to hang out with. Hopefully we will be close or at least on the same continent so we can maybe fit in a fun trip.

Hope everyone is having a great week! Only 25 days until Christmas!

xox

"We were goin' to Canada for some French fries and gravy, sir."

This weekend we did a few Canadian things we had on our list. On Saturday, we wanted to cross one to-do off the list so Dan and I walked to Smoke's Poutinerie. It's the best rated poutine restaurant in the city and very popular with the locals.

Canada's food claim to fame is poutine- fries, cheese curds and gravy. It's an interesting combination, and can be ordered with an assortment of toppings like pulled pork or chicken or chili or you can get it plain.

We ordered two small poutines with different toppings and shared them. One was topped with pulled pork, cheese curds and gravy. The other was a nachos type of poutine with chili, salsa, guacamole and jalapenos with cheese curds and gravy.

I mean I guess it was just what we expected- fries with cheese and gravy and toppings. But it was a fun thing to try and an experience none the less.

I can't really come up with one thing America is known for food wise. If a person from Canada came to America, what would you tell them is the one thing they have to try that is quintessentially American?

So now poutine is off of our list. Been there, done that. We are quickly crossing off all of the things we hoped to do while living in Toronto. With only one month left in Canada we are down to the last few stay items. I will keep you updated as we complete our tasks.

xo

Niagara Falls Visit

 So we obviously went to the Falls on Thursday as planned. It was a really fun day trip actually. We left a little late into the morning and drove the 90 miles to Niagara Falls, Ontario. There are apparently two Niagara Falls- one in Canada and one across the border in New York. I guess a lot of people know this, but I did not. Shocking, I know. I guess I just skipped the New York course in college... or maybe just geography.

When we got there we walked around for a bit and looked at the Falls...as boring as that sounds, it's actually pretty cool. After hanging out a bit we had lunch at a restaurant on the Falls overlooking the water.

View from lunch

It was a rainy-ish day so after lunch and a little more walking around we headed back to Toronto. I am really glad we took this day trip and that I got to see the Falls. Definitely worth it.

Later that night we headed over to Aaron and Chewy's house. They are both poker players who we know from our time out in Vegas at the World Series of Poker. Aaron has been over to our place a few times and saw my menu posted on the fridge. He found it extremely entertaining, so now on Mondays I send him the menu and he occasionally joins us for dinner. Chewy is allergic to cats so I took dinner over to their place.

Aaron has been in Europe for the EWSOP and we haven't seen either of the guys in a while so it was great to hear about the trip and catch up. Again, hard to believe that the next time we see them will be the last during our Toronto experience. Most of the guys are headed home for the holidays and when they return we will be gone.

Anyways.....here are a few more pics from the Falls. I promise another blog soon. Enjoy the weekend. Time to get off the computer and watch ND beat Wake Forest and the Alabama/LSU National Championship game.

The Canadians version of Southern Comfort? Maple Syrup?!

Until tomorrow...or Monday :)

Real Sports Bar Sunday

The group at the Real Sports Bar

Well, this may have been the worst weekend in sports for the Myers. We lost a tough game in the Notre Dame vs. Michigan on Saturday night. It got ugly. Then yesterday, the Steelers were crushed by the Ravens. Booo football this weekend. Hopefully it will get better for both teams or it could be a very loonnngggg season.

About a month ago, we thought it would be fun to watch the Steelers first game at the Real Sports Bar. It is apparently the largest sports bar in North America. Laura and Mike had been there before and really liked it for game watching, so we all thought it would be fun.

Real Sports Bar

So yesterday, we all went down to the Real Sports Bar and two other poker players joined us. It was a great time- minus the game- with good food, beers, and friends. Canada is funny in that the bar was packed yesterday for all of the NFL games, but Saturday was strange with no one at home watching college football. Just a very different atmosphere up here regarding college football.

Mike, Laura & Dan

We also were able to hang out with some friends from The World Series of Poker last summer that have just moved up to Toronto. I am super excited that there are more people here that we know and hopefully will mean some fun nights out and about with everyone! Things are definitely looking up in Toronto!

Hope everyone had a great weekend and that your team won! xoxo

TIFF: The Ides of March

On Friday night, Dan and I went down to the Entertainment District to see the Red Carpet for the premier of The Ides of March. I really want to see this movie when it hits theaters, and since it has an amazing cast of actors, this red carpet seemed like a good one to check out.

The whole area was a crowded crazy mess. There were obviously barricades to block off the carpet and drop off area. There were people pressed up against the metal wall and back 12-15 deep. Of course, the paparazzi makes so much money off one great picture that they made up a huge part of the crowd. They brought their own step ladders and blocks to stand on. It was pretty difficult to see anything.

The atmosphere was incredible though. Every time a dark suburban would drive up, the crowd would start screaming in anticipation of which big star would emerge. The Moneyball premier was at 6:30 that night so people had been lined up since about noon staking out their spot to see the two premiers that night. Everyone was so excited and the city made it like one big party for people there just to see the carpet.

Since we had a really hard time seeing much, the Canadian E! news set up two big screens and had two reporters inside the gates. We were able to watch there and still be in the mix of all of the excitement. We did catch a glimpse of George Clooney, but the pictures are hard to see. All in all we had a great time. It was a cool thing to see, but not something we are lining up to do again for a while :)

Here are some pics from the Red Carpet (some are from the big screen):

Paparazzi

The Crowd

Under the tent is the Red Carpet

Evan Rachel Wood

George Clooney signing autographs

Ryan Gossling and his mom

George on the Red Carpet

It was a fun Toronto thing to do on a Friday night for sure. We enjoyed seeing the whole production, but are definitely more excited to see the movie. The TIFF lasts until the 18th, so there may still be more celeb sightings...but not any more red carpets :)

Celebrity Sighting: Sports Edition

So it seems like most of our celeb sightings involve athletes...which I find kind of amusing since it's Toronto, home of the Raptors and all things hockey. Not exactly a great top-notch sports city as far as good teams go.

Last night we went to Mike & Laura's for dinner and to watch the Packers/Saints game. We came home about 11:30, and as we were driving past Yorkville (a small side street where all the celeb watching is going on this week) we noticed it was packed.

Since the TIFF is here, we decided why not take a walk around the two popular streets, Yorkville and Cumberland and see what was going on. Luckily we did because we ran into Jerome Bettis. Pretty good spot for late at night on a Thursday, we'd say.

My dad recruited the Bus to Notre Dame and they catch up with each other every so often. Last year when we were out at the World Series of Poker, Jerome was playing in the celeb tournament, but we didn't get a chance to talk to him...so I clearly was not going to let the opportunity pass me by again.

He was sitting at a table with about 6 gentleman on the outside large patio of Restaurant One. He was at the first table in a prime seat so everyone could see him. I stuck my hand out, introduced myself and we had a quick chat. He was super nice and seemed glad to talk. Only problem is....guess who gets worst wife ever. Yep, I didn't introduce Dan to the Notre Dame & Pittsburgh Steelers great. In my defense, it was really crowded and he had stepped back away from where I was standing, but still. I felt terrible! I probably asked him a million times on the walk home if he was mad at me and then made him promise he won't hold this against me down the line :)

Either way, great spot for the first night of TIFF. Still have no idea why the Bus is/was here, but he was not watching the Pack take on the Saints in opening night of the NFL. Maybe he's waiting to cheer on the Irish in Ann Arbor this weekend...

Tonight we are thinking about heading down to the Roy Thompson Theater to see the red carpet event for the premier of The Ides of March- George Clooney's new movie that has a ton of stars in it. I really want to see the movie when it's released, and the great cast will be fun to watch walk the carpet. I'll see if I can't get some pics to post.

This afternoon I did take a walk around town to see what was going on today, and boy are the streets packed! Even more than yesterday. I saw crowds of people waiting outside a few hotels and found out what star was staying where. Bono and Brad Pitt are around the corner from us at the Hazleton Hotel. Ryan Gosling is at the Windsor Arms hotel right off of the busy shopping street. George Clooney and his new gal pal Stacy Keibler are at the Ritz Carleton across town.

Holt Renfrew, the big fancy schmancy department store has all of the salon windows covered as well as the high end boutique windows. There were quite a few assistants to celebs running around between Prada and Chanel and other places carrying large garment bags and shoe boxed. Quite the sight. I ran into an assistant today (a male) purchasing thong underwear for his boss for her outing tonight. She apparently left hers at home. He wouldn't give away who he worked for, but said he loves his job...minus buying women's underwear. :)

The town is buzzing, and the excitement is a much needed change and pick-me-up. I am loving the constant flurry of activity...although, not loving the helicopters overhead as much. Hopefully the weekend will bring more spottings and good movies!

Have a great weekend! Enjoy the games on Saturday...and Go Irish!

Blue Jays vs. Red Sox

Last night, Dan suggested a little impromptu date night to the Blue Jays game. Going to a baseball game has been on our to-do list since we got here, and we finally were able to go and enjoy a great night out at the ball park.

The Jays were playing the Boston Red Sox so we weren't expecting too much...but we turned out to be wrong! The night before, the Jays lost to the Sox 13-1 or something crazy, but last night they ended up pulling out a win in the bottom of the 8th inning.

We originally went to the stadium and bought cheap tickets in the upper deck from scalpers and sat above home plate. They were good seats and it was a great night. Well in the end of the 7th inning we walked down to the main concourse since the Jays were losing 6-8. There really wasn't a win in sight so we were going to head home.

When we got to the bottom of the ramp to the main level, the guards were gone so we walked into the lower concourse seats for a look at the score before we left. The top of the 8th inning came to an end and we stopped to watch a few pitches. It turned into an amazing 5 run inning and the Jays ended up winning! We were so happy we stayed and saw such a great end to the game. Great date night!

Today, the housekeeper was here this afternoon so we had to head out for a while. We went to get lunch around the corner and happened upon a large group of people staring at a parking garage. Apparently, Bono is staying at the hotel Hazelton Residence around the corner and all of the paparazzi were waiting to catch a picture of him leaving the hotel.

The foot traffic in our neighborhood has tripled easily. There are 4 times the cars on the road slowly driving past the Whole Foods to try to catch a glimpse of someone famous walking in or out. Film Fest starts tonight and the city is going crazy. We will definitely be out and about a lot this weekend to see if we can see anyone. Exciting!

Until tomorrow...hopefully with some celeb sightings....xo

Toronto International Film Festival

September is here. Fall weather is here...well, in Toronto. College football is here. And most importantly, the Toronto International Film Festival is here!

When we decided to move to Toronto I immediately began googling fun things to do in the city. At the top of all of the lists was the TIFF. It starts Thursday and lasts until the 18th of September. The TIFF has tons of movies showing- 50/50, The Ides of March, Friends with Kids, The Descendants, Moneyball, Winnie, and so so so much more.

Starting tomorrow, all kinds of stars/actors/actresses will invade the city preparing to show off their movie during the festival. Rumor has it, most of them stay in our neighborhood or right next to us at The Four Seasons. Hopefully, this means I will see many of them away from the red carpet.

We didn't purchase tickets to any movies yet. Its a crazy process to get tickets to a movie we'd actually want to see, but we are going to check it out at the premiers get closer. I am going to try to head to the Entertainment District this weekend and next week to see the red carpets for a few of the big movies. Should be exciting! This also means I'll be moving from the couch in our comfy living room to spend the days working on my computer at the Whole Foods Market or the Starbucks around the corner :)

We are headed to a Blue Jays game tonight to see them play the Boston Red Sox at 7pm. We're checking all kinds of things off our 'list' this week.

Hope everyone had a great Wednesday! Check back this week for some TIFF updates and neighborhood spottings!

Until tomorrow....xo

Holiday Weekend!

So my blogging vacation is officially over. We had a great weekend with Dan's parents, and now it's back to work for us.

Sweet Lou and Momo came in town on Friday night for a fun filled weekend in Toronto. On Saturday we enjoyed breakfast together and made plans for the day. We headed down to the St. Lawrence Market to show them one of my favorite spots in the city. Since it was Saturday, the Farmers Market was set up too so that was a fun thing to explore. I shop on Tuesday's, so it was a new thing for me to see too!

Sweet Lou loved the market- seeing all of the stands, taste testing, taking pictures :) We had a great time. Afterwards, we walked down to see the lake at Sugar Beach. It was a really warm and sunny afternoon so a great day to walk and explore the city.

We eventually worked up a hunger and headed home to grab the car and drive down to the Distillery District for lunch at one of our favorite places Mill St. Brewpub. Dan and I have only ever been there for Wing Night, so wings are all we have ever eaten there. We decided to branch out and try new tings and were pleasantly surprised to have a great lunch too! Plus, a pitcher of ice cold fresh brewed Mill St. beer was exactly what we needed after our long walk around the city.

The Notre Dame game was on Saturday afternoon, so we came back to the house and watched the game. Terrible decision. Luckily we had a card game to distract us from the amazing play on the field :)
Since there were 3 weather delays, the game lasted until almost 9 pm, so we stayed in for the night and hung out watching the games on TV/computer.

On Sunday, we started the day with breakfast at The Avenue Diner. The weather was very cloudy/rainy/gross, so we tried to plan our day around the weather. We decided to go to High Park- a huge park in the middle of the city- kind of Central Park-ish. There is a lake, tons of flowers and gardens, a zoo, a restaurant, etc. We spent an hour or two wandering around the park and looking at everything before it started raining.

Afterwards we came home for naps and cards during the storm. I ended up sleeping too long, so Momo and Sweet Lou went for a walk around the block. They saw Lebron James at a restaurant right around the corner from our house. Great celebrity sighting!

That night we went to Greek Town for dinner. We chose Messini- the best Greek restaurant on the street. It was so good and definitely too much food! All in all we had a great time!

They headed back to Pittsburgh Monday morning, so we had time for a quick final game of hand and foot. The North American Hand and Foot tournament was officially decided on Monday. Dan & I won. Big win for Team Awesome. :)

It is definitely the most difficult time when company leaves after a great weekend. I feel like that home connection is gone :( But we are getting back into the swing of things today and before we know it we will  be in the States!

Hope everyone had a great long weekend! Short week this week...Enjoy!

Labour Day

Apparently, I was misled when I was told Canada doesn't have Labor Day this weekend/Monday. They, in fact, do. It is still called Labor Day but spelled Labour Day. Way to keep things British, Canada.

This weekend is also our first visit from Americans...and my in-laws. We are so so excited for them to come and see the city and to have company!

I have been trying to find restaurants and sights to see so we can sort of plan out our weekend, but this has proven to be a little more challenging than I first thought. It seems that not only are grocery stores, banks, and post offices closed on Monday, but a fair share of restaurants close for the weekend as well.

True, it is also their holiday. However, I can't think of a time when we have had this problem in the States. Again, we are accustomed to the usual closings, but at Toll Brothers we had to work & sell homes on almost every holiday- excluding Christmas Day and New Years Day. But all other days are game. Bizarre.

We have successfully found a good brunch place for Sunday morning, but I am still shocked at how many top rated eateries close up shop for the entire weekend. Oh Canada. Some things here never cease to amaze me.

Enjoy the long no-work weekend Canadians...and those of you in the States. Hope everyone has plans to head somewhere warm and sunny and soak up some of the last of summer!

On a great high note, college football season is here. Kick off is tonight for many teams and games are throughout the weekend! I cannot be more excited to have football back...even if we don't get ESPN here. Luckily, NBC will be carrying the Notre Dame game, so that has clearly made our weekend agenda.

Until tomorrow...Go Irish!

Casa Loma

On Thursday, Dan and I headed out on a Canadian sightseeing adventure of sorts. The housekeeper was here in the afternoon so we needed to escape for a few hours. We decided to take a walk to see Casa Loma. The walk was further than we expected, but it was a fun trip and a good thing to see.

Casa Loma is the former home of Canadian financier Sir Henry Pellatt. It's literally a castle in the middle of the city. There are supposedly 98 rooms in the castle, an 800 foot underground tunnel, beautiful gardens and more. Sir Pellatt was forced to move out of the castle when he lost a large portion of his money on bad business deals.

Casa Loma, or "house on the hill" is now property of the City of Toronto and it is open for self guided tours to the public. In 1911, this home cost $3.5 million to build, took 3 years and 300 men to complete. It was the largest and most grand private home in all of North America during Sir Pellatt's time.

We had a great time seeing this touristy spot and getting outside for the afternoon. We thought it was in the book 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, which we bought before we even knew we had to move out of the States. Now that book is our guide for places to live and things to do. Unfortunately, it is not on the list of items. For Toronto, the Four Season Hotel is the place. Well, if the book insists :)

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Stay safe from Hurricane Irene! We are keeping our fingers crossed there isn't too much rain or bad weather to our house in NC.

Only one more weekend til football kickoff!

Until tomorrow...xo

Spicy Voodoo Kabobs

Summer is almost over. I said it. I hate that it's true, but I wanted to remind you of this reality so that you can get your fill of the grill before it's too late.

This past week Dan and I were craving some kabobs on the grill. I decided to make beef kabobs since we've been eating a lot of chicken lately. It was so super easy and delish. This recipe is definitely a keeper, not only for the summer, but it would be great for those tailgate parties that are starting sooooon!

Since the beef is spicy, we paired ours with brown rice and a tomato, onion and cucumber salad with a little fresh feta.

Here is a link to the recipe if you want to make it for a larger group, etc. We made it for 4 and had some amazing leftovers for a 2nd nights dinner.   Spicy Voodoo Kabobs

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons beef bouillon granules
• 2 tablespoons water
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 1/2 pounds beef sirloin, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 10 wooden skewers, soaked in water for 1 hour
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions

1. Dissolve bouillon in water. Stir in the garlic, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Toss the meat in the marinade, cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
2. Preheat a grill for high heat.
3. Skewer the beef cubes, using 6 to 8 pieces per skewer. Pour the oil onto a plate, and roll the skewers in it to coat them on all sides.
4. Grill the skewers, turning frequently, until the beef has turned light pink, 12 to 15 minutes.

This recipe can also be made in the oven if you can't or don't want to grill. Such a great marinade and you can definitely alter the cayenne for desired spiciness. I omitted the salt since there was so much with the beef bouillon already. Your choice. You can also add veggies to the kabobs or leave it beef only. The next time we make them this will include some pita and tzatziki sauce for a killer sandwich the next day. SO many options! :)

Enjoy!!!

Lessons

After spending so much time last week thinking about challenges, both good and bad, I have found myself focusing on the lessons I am or should be learning from these challenges and experiences.

Each challenge that we face, or even good experience we have, teaches us a lesson. Sometimes we realize it during the moment, but most often it's not until after that moment has passed that we are able to see the meaning behind the moment. Again, like the challenges can be good or bad, so can the lesson.

Since Dan and I were faced with our big decision in April, I have been struggling to find the lesson in our challenge. I found a positive spin on the challenge- we get to see the world if we want. I have definitely found the negatives in this challenge...those are easy. But it seems like there is a lesson or two from this I should be seeing and taking in. Hmmm. Not really seeing them that often.

There is a book that a two of my most favorite yoga teachers have been using and reading from. I have found the passages they read very helpful at odd times. Sometimes a passage would stick with me for a while and I couldn't get it out of my head. So recently I broke down and bought the book. It is called Journey to the Heart and has daily thoughts or meditations. I am not a huge meditation person at all, but I have to admit it has been nice to read the passage each day and think about how it applies to me.

The point of the book is that yesterday the reading was about lessons. How appropriate :) It talks about how the lesson is ours to learn and that we need to stop focusing on what the lesson is and just let it reveal itself to us in time.

Lately Dan and I have been taught a few lessons and faced a few challenges. I am trying to keep/find the positive in these challenges or at least find a positive lesson. It is definitely easier said than done sometimes. But it's worth a try. So today or this week as you face challenges, remember that there is a lesson there. Sometimes they are meant to make us stronger, more appreciative, or to humble us or remind us of something.

Our lesson this week with our challenge is that life and work may not always be easy, rewarding, or as fun as we want it to be, but being able to do the job you love or life the life you want is a decision you made. Enjoy the good and rewarding times because you will be able to better appreciate the hard times. The balance in life is better in the long run.

We're definitely still a work in progress :) Hopefully we can continue to find the lessons in our challenges and move forward.

Birthday Monday

Today is Dan's birthday so this is all about celebrating his big day! He is 27 today- officially on his way to 30 and being o-l-d :) I can just say that because he is older than me.

On Saturday night, we went over to Mike and Laura's for a mexican fiesta night/birthday celebration. We made homemade margaritas (best recipe ever with only fruit, tequila, ice, and a little sugar) homemade chicken taco soup, cornbread, and cheesecake cupcakes (made by me).

Dan loves cheesecake so I decided to make these individual cheesecake cupcakes with chocolate chips. They were good- a great small way to have cheesecake without making the whole pie. Plus, I didn't have a spring form pan here so this was a great option.

Here is the easy recipe: Cheesecake Cupcakes

The few changes I would make are these: omit the salt for the crust all together- it isn't necessary. Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream- possibly a vanilla Greek Yogurt for a sweeter taste. These would be great with or without chocolate chips. I made a few with some mini peanut butter cups and some plain just topped with extra crust crumbles. Best to eat once they are cooled down and refrigerated.

Before Cheesecake Filling

Finished Product

Birthday Boy!

Gift time!

 

Birthday Happies

Hope everyone had a great weekend. The Bachelor Pad 2 is on tonight...it may or may not involve Kasey serenading Vienna. Prepare yourself! The recap should be interesting!

Pool Day Friday

Today was the perfect summer Friday. It is a beautiful day here in Toronto- temps is the mid 80's, sun shining, not a cloud in the sky, and a nice little warm breeze.

Laura and I took total advantage of the great weather and the looming end of summer and headed down to the beach this morning. We started out by taking a nice run along Lake Ontario. The only reason we were so motivated to do this is because we had big plans to go to the nice public pool right after and spend some quality time in the sun.

So the pool didn't look quite like the one above, but it's close :) We did go to a pool on/right next to the beach.

The boardwalk where we ran along the lake

Since the end of summer is officially September 5th here in Toronto, everything outdoorsy like the pools all close for the winter. Laura and I are trying to fit in as much outside & pool time possible before it all goes away and we have snow. We are even planning on dragging the boys to the pool mid-week for a necessary day in the sun!

Hope everyone had a great Friday. Enjoy the weekend doing something fun & summer-y!

Border Agents and Crab Cakes

At first glance, those two items- Border Agents and Crab cakes- have very little to nothing in common. However, my experience yesterday on my day trip to Buffalo, NY made me think twice.

Let me first put this out there, when we moved to Canada we knew there was a risk of sorts crossing the borders. It seems that other countries don't really like non-citizens moving there and residing for any period of time. Since we are not with a company, and Dan's job is a little taboo for some, this posed some extra hurdles for us in our moving process.

Dan did his research before we came up and brought supporting documents with us illustrating we have the funds to support ourselves while living in Canada and that we own a home in the US, so there is something for us to go back to and we won't stay in Canada forever. Once you prepare as much as possible, you have to leave the rest up to luck/fate/chance that you get the right border agent that understands. Luckily, we didn't have a real issue getting into Canada in July, and the agents were very helpful and friendly. Some other poker players have faced a worse fate and have been formally refused entrance at the border.

Yesterday, as I prepared for my day trip, I made sure I had all of the necessary documents I would need to plead my case of reentering Canada if necessary. I was mostly worried about coming back to Toronto. It never crossed my mind to worry about getting into the United States. Ironically enough, that was the hardest part- getting back into the States as a US citizen.

As I pulled up to the agents booth at the border, I smiled politely and handed him my passport. I quickly realized I drew the short straw of agents and this would not be a pleasant experience. I am terrified in situations like these where someone has all of the authority and can arbitrarily decide your fate. To be fair, these border agents are supposed to be firm and business like to protect our country, but this guy took it a bit too far at 10 in the morning.

The minute he started asking his rapid fire questions, he didn't like my answers. His response to almost all of them was, "That doesn't make sense." I about lost my mind wanting to know if he just wasn't listening since I was clearly speaking English. Long story short(er), he informed me that as a US citizen, I could never be denied getting back into my country, but if he were in charge he would refuse me since my husband and I are clearly on the run doing illegal things.

Wow. Ok. Big fighting words. I was so upset, but I had to sit there and take it until he let me in. He then went on for about 5 minutes asking me how we got into Canada in the first place. His reasoning is that we lied about Dan's job. He also informed me that I would "probably be spending the night in Buffalo, since I had no chance of getting back into Canada."

I mean, I get it. I do. He has to be strict. But at 10 am on a Wednesday, am I- a single, young lady doing nothing wrong- his biggest concern? Really?

Early in the summer, a poll was done ranking the friendliest countries in the world. For the second year in a row, Canada has been ranked #1. After yesterday, I am convinced that the poll is obviously conducted at the borders. The Canadian agent I spoke with on my way back- nicest person, no questions or accusations, very professional. A great 'welcoming committee' for the country. The US agent- not surprising we didn't crack the top 10 on the list.

Sooooooo, in honor of my crabby border agent, here is a crab cake recipe we tested this week. It will be called the Crabby Border Agent Patty from here on out. :) I have also included the homemade remoulade sauce I made to go with it. Enjoy!

Crabby 'Border Agent' Patties
The changes I made are as follows: I used 8 oz of fresh lump crab and 8 oz can of crab lumps to make the quality and taste better. I also only used about 10 ritz crackers instead of 20. I let the formed cakes sit in the fridge for about 30 minutes before I baked them in the oven for 30 minutes on 350 degrees. 15 mins on each side. It was just an easy way to avoid frying dinner.

Remoulade Sauce
I left out the olives, parsley & capers. No food processor here, and those are things we could easily not use in this recipe. It is a great sauce, but makes a lot. I cut everything in half so we didn't have too much. It is also a great sauce to use on a shrimp po'boy or light fish meal.

Definitely a meal we will rotate in every once in a while. Easy to make, out of the ordinary for us, and delish.

Until tomorrow...xo

Travel Essentials

Today, I drove to Buffalo, NY for the day to run some errands- refill medicines, mail a package, shop at Target :) The 90 minute drive each way gave me plenty of time to think. As I was roaming the aisles of Target, I started to pick up things I knew would be essential to our stay here and abroad, and it got me thinking....what do I classify as a travel essential?

Whether you are headed out of state or out of the country, here is a list of items I think are important or have found to be useful in our travels:

• Neosporin- I read an article before we moved naming Neosporin as the single most important travel item to have. I found this particularly odd until I read the reasoning. It is an antibotic ointment that can cure almost anything- burns, bites, rashes, scrapes, large gashes, the list goes on. Since medical facilities are different in every location, being able to treat things from minor weird bug bites to slicing your finger while cooking, is crucial! Neosporin can keep you relatively safe, infection free & healthy.

• Skype- Can NOT live without this amazing program. We can video chat with all of our friends and family back home or we can make phone calls from our computer for very cheap rates- cheaper than cell phone plans anywhere. We not only used Skype on our travels- as well as since we've moved here- but we also used it every week when we were in the States to talk with Dan's parents! Weekly Skype dates to check in are always a great taste of home and family! 

• A Blanket and/or Pillow- I am someone who needs the familiar around when I am away from home. My pillow is a personal thing that comforts me and makes any bed feel better. Sometimes there is not a feasible way to take your personal pillow on a trip with you. Planes make it difficult unless you pack it or lug it around all of the airports getting your pillow case dirty :( For a quick fix to the pillow issue, and a better item for a myriad of situations, I suggest a blanket. When I graduated from high school, a family friend gave me a fleece like blanket with my initials on it. It has become my bit-of-home. It has been on every trip with me since the day I left for college. It's not like a baby blanket- a security thing I can't sleep without. It is more the cure-all. I have used this blanket as a pillow for 10 days in Greece, a bed on a wood floor in Chicago, and now in Toronto it is my comforter during the summer (the one here is too heavy for the heat). I literally don't know what I would have done in a lot of situations if we hadn't had this blanket as an option. It also helps that it is familiar and reminds me of my home(s).

• A Family Picture- very rarely will you find me without a picture of my family, Dan, or Finnegan. Since we are living in a furnished apartment here there was nothing of ours to make it feel like 'our home.' When we moved, I decided to pack a few framed pictures to set around the house so we could have a personal touch so far from home. Even if I am traveling, I will keep a photo or pictures on my phone to remind me of the people I love. Again, another warm & fuzzy for comfort. 

• Tennis Shoes- not a lot of explanation necessary. I think sneakers or running shoes can fix anything. You can tour, walk the city, run/workout some emotions all in these shoes. You never know when the moment will call for it, but it's best to have your tennies on hand. 

I am sure these items are nothing new- except for maybe the Neosporin- that you didn't already use or think of. This list could be pages long after my experience here, but as traveling becomes more frequent for us and the rules get stricter, essentials are really the only thing that makes the suitcase anymore. In each country, you will probably run out of a product or item you love and not be able to find the exact thing on the shelves, so my last essential is patience. Adapting is half the fun. (I am clearly not so great at it yet. I drove to Buffalo, NY to go to a Target! It's the little things sometimes!)

Hopefully this list will come in handy for you on one of your travels- maybe even when you come visit us! Everything around you may be different when you leave the States, but it's best if you keep a little bit of the familiar around :)

This post was clearly a product of my little trip today, but more so for days like today when I miss a lot about the States and my family that I remember I have those "home" items here for comfort.

Homemade Bread: UPDATE

Just an update for those of you thinking about making the homemade bread that I posted over the weekend.

I know I said I used the pastry whole wheat flour for a softer texture, but I wouldn't recommend that. It isn't great for sandwiches that way. It makes it a tad too soft and crumbly.

And just remember, I was looking for a plain plain plain wheat bread to make. If you are looking for a sweeter wheat bread there are some great honey wheat recipes out there. Or you can add in honey to this mix/sub it in for the brown sugar. Please know this bread is plain...but great with peanut butter, a little butter and honey, or a blt. Versatile taste, but plain.

Here is the recipe one more time: Homemade Bread

Challenges

I really have no idea how I began thinking about challenges this past week, but the word has been floating around in my head for a few days now. With the quiet routine we have settled into, I have been trying to think through my challenges and the different sides to them.

These last 4 and 1/2 months have been challenging for Dan and I to say the least. Everyone is faced with a challenge of some sort daily. While our challenge has been trying at times, it has also been a very positive and rewarding challenge. Don't get me wrong, there have definitely been pits, but I am realizing the peaks are outweighing those pits if I think about it in the right way.

The first year of marriage is always a challenge. All of the combining of lives and living together and joint decisions to make. Who thought deciding where to celebrate Christmas could involve so much talking, planning and bargaining!? Moving obviously has its set of challenges. There are the different customs, logistics, language barriers, lifestyle changes, etc. Life has it's challenges. The hard part is getting through them and finding the silver lining.

Personally, I have enjoyed our move and this year-on-the-go we are planning, but I can't say that I haven't had moments (or days) where I find myself cursing our decision and longing for the life I/we gave up. It is very easy to sit inside and wallow, wishing you had something you don't. However, in the hardest of those times, I have had to remind myself that it is simply a challenge, it is not forever, and there is a plan.

It's during those moments...we try to keep the day-long moods to a minimum :)....that I have to remind myself to stay positive and find the good side of the challenge. Dan has always been a glass half full kind of guy, so it makes it easier to talk it out with him. But I do think trying to find that silver lining or spinning a negative situation around can make everything better.

I don't mean to be all Dr. Phil on y'all today, but with everything going on in the world and all of the challenges people face in their lives, maybe you can start finding the positive in your challenge too. It has definitely helped in the tough times while we are away from the ones we love. Staying on the positive side of the challenge is something I have to work on each day, but it has given me a task to think about and a new mindset to start my day.It is definitely a work in progress for me :)


With all of that out of the way....enjoy the Bachelor Pad 2 tonight! We are trying out a handful of new recipes this week so be on the lookout for some foodie posts and easy dinner ideas right here!