Fact: This is the first year I have ever bought winter tires. (insert: applause)

It felt like the right thing to do seeing as I spend quite a bit of time on the roads as a sales rep. Plus I understand that I can save money on my insurance if I have winter tires. (note to self: call my insurance provider tomorrow).

I explored getting my winter tires from Costco or getting my tires from Canadian Tire.

Here’s what happened at Costco:

-I approached the friendly clerk who told me that I had to go online and book an appointment or come back at 6:30 am.

Here’s what happened at my local Canadian Tire (Lawrence and the Allen).

-I approached the friendly clerk who told me he could change my tires on the spot.

Guess who got my business? I left Canadian Tire in less than an hour with 4 new winter tires on my car.

YAY!!

Seeing as I’m writing about Canadian Tire, I want to mention that I’ve had several great experiences buying merchandise at this store. For example: During the summer, I bought camping equipment and a few things I needed from their kitchen department as well.

Thanks Canadian Tire for providing such great service. I’m seriously loving my new winter tires.

This is my definition of “The Perfect Saturday”:

a) 10:15 am – ATTEND A RESTAURANT SALE

Sadly I never ate at Splendido but now I own a piece of history! I got there 15 minutes after it opened so stuff I would have wanted was already taken however I did manage to walk away with some goodies. To be exact 6 chairs and some serving dishes. #SCORED

11:00 ENJOYED MY FIRST TURKISH BREAKFAST – ISTANBUL’S TULIP (1560 Yonge St)

Had no idea that I could enjoy a Turkish Meal at Yonge and St. Clair!!

12:30 CHECKED OUT A CUTE COFFEE SHOP – THE STRONG ONE (68 Wales Avenue – Kensington Market)

This adorable spot in Kensington Market won me over with their cute atmosphere and goodies made from scratch.

1:30 pm CHECKED OUT A NEW ECLAIR PATISSERIE – NUGATEAU  (717 Queen St. West)

This stunning eclair cafe is the first of it’s kind in Toronto. There was no shortage of interesting flavours to catch my attention. I had a lovely chat with one of the owners who clearly thought of all the details when opening this cafe. Last year I had a croissant party, and this year I’m thinking of having an eclair party. What do you think?

3:00 Return home to cook a bit (my favourite hobby)  and rest.

The only thing that was missing from making this day even more perfect, was a trip to the Farmers Market. Next time.

Hope you had a fabulous Saturday as well.

 

 

 

I’m a huge believer in purchasing items second hand. At one my point in my life, I even owned a children’s consignment store).

Recently I was introduced to Tradyo, which allows you to buy and sell locally, and communicate via in-app chat engine. I really think that this chat engine is a cool feature!!  Users can  also set alerts for the items they are looking for and set the distance they are will to travel to get the item.  #loveit.

Even better? Tradyo has one of the first VIDEO listings tool. Users can make 15-second video ads, demonstrating the usability and quality, of the items want to sell.

Seriously, Tradyo has thought of everything.

They even have an app for iPhone and Android users (that’s your cue to go download the app now).

I don’t know about you but I’ve got probably a dozen items that I could post at the moment. Stuff that’s just sitting around that I’m not using and just taking up space. Know what I mean?

For example, my Tassimo hasn’t been used in years.

This glass tea pot that I bought on the Shopping Channel a decade ago (total impulse buy) hasn’t been used in years either. In fact I’m pretty sure I only used it once.

NewsFlash: You will get a guaranteed $25 Starbucks gift card if you post 10 items or more with #momwhoruns. Just post your items on Tradyo and place the hashtag where indicated. (see image below)

Website: www.tradyo.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tradyo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tradyo

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tradyo/

Disclosure: I have been compensated for this post, however all opinions are my own.

It’s that time of year where we all attempt to eat healthier. Including me. I’m really trying hard to eliminate carbs and eat more protein. Therefore this Activia Challenge is perfect for me.

You see on Jan 1st at noon, I treated myself to Poutini’s and I haven’t had a carb since that special treat.

According to a recent survey by Leger and Activia, Canadian women have an overwhelming tendency to make New Year’s resolutions related to their health, including doing more physical activity (88%) and eating a healthier diet (87%).

The bad news? We’re setting ourselves up to fail. More than half (55%) of Canadian women will keep their healthy living resolutions for less than a year (and some for as little as 2 weeks!), with the most common reasons being a lack of motivation, a lack of lifestyle fit and a tendency to make resolutions that are overly ambitious.

Mid-January will mark the turning point for whether or not most Canadians will keep their resolutions. Guess what? It’s mid January and so far so good I’ve been pretty good with my attempt to incorporate less carbs in my life (yay for me).

Here’s my tricks:

-I’m incorporating more yogurt into my day. The Activia Challenge is currently encouraging women to eat 2 Activia yogurts a day for two weeks. (specifically Jan 11 to Jan 21). I’m in. Are you?

-I’m staying away from beer and wine. However Vodka is fine. Hello Martini.

-I’m eating more salads…specifically Kale salad which I find is SO filling.

Professional home economist, cookbook author and Cityline celebrity, Mairlyn Smith has a few suggestions as well. She’s actually serving as an Activia Ambassador! Here’s one of her easy recipes which is an easy way to transform Activia yogurt into a delicious trifle.

Raspberry Trifle (serves 4)

Ingredients:
• 4 lady finger cookies
• 1 cup (250 mL) frozen local raspberries, thawed
• 4 – 100 g 0% fat Greek Activia Vanilla yogurt

Directions
You’ll need four 1 cup/250 mL glass desert bowls or parfait dishes

1. Mash the thawed raspberries with a fork, set aside.
2. Break the lady finger in half and place in the bottom of each of the four bowls.
3. Spoon 1/4 cup (60 mL) of the mashed raspberries over top.
4. Open 1-100 g container of the Activia yogurt and spoon over top of the raspberries. Repeat with all four of the desserts. Place in the fridge. To soften the lady finger the dessert needs to set for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Each serving includes 127 Calories, 0.5 g Total Fat, 0 g Saturated Fat, 0 Trans Fat, 9.1 g Protein

I hope you join me in this Activia Challenge!

To follow along on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, please use the hashtag #ActiviaChallenge

Disclosure: I was compensated for this blog post, however all opinions are my own

Fact: I serve fish for dinner every week.

Fact: I have a rotation of about 4 different fish recipes, which in my opinion isn’t enough.

Fact: I have a new recipe that will now be added to my fish “recipe collection”. (insert – applause).

This recipe provided me with a COLOURFUL and TASTY dish that involved a few interesting steps. For example – the recipe asks  you to marinate the fish in buttermilk, which is not something I’ve seen before in a fish recipe. But trust me, this step is worth it

Baked Tilapia and Vegetable Casserole (adapted from Natasha’s Kitchen)

Ingredients:

Tilapia Ingredients:
2 lbs (about 6-10 count) Tilapia fillets, thawed
Olive Oil to saute
1 Tbsp ketchup (I used Chili Sauce for an added kick)
1 Tbsp mayo

Marinade Ingredients:
2 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp Salt and 1/8 tsp Pepper

Vegetable Ingredients:
2 medium bell peppers (red, orange, or yellow)
2 medium/large carrots, julienned or grated
1 medium onion

DIRECTIONS:

1. Whisk together the marinade ingredients. Place the tilapia in a large ziplock bag along with the marinade mixture and marinate in the fridge at least 1 1/2 hours. (simple enough, non?)

2. Slice onions into thin half circles, slice bell pepper into thin strips and julienne or grate carrots. (I forgot the carrots. Oops). In a large skillet over medium/high, heat 2-3 Tbsp oil and saute onions for 3 minutes or until softened. Add sliced bell peppers and carrots and saute another 4-5 min or until softened. Remove from pan and set veggies aside.

3. Whisk together the ingredients for the sauce.

3. Once  the fish is done marinating, drain and discard the marinade. In the same empty skillet over medium/high, add 2-3 Tbsp oil and saute fish lightly on the skillet just until golden on the outside (about 2 min per side). Be careful not to over cook the fish in fact it’s probably best that the fish isn’t entirely cooked.

4.  Layer the casserole dish with 1/2 of the vegetables on the bottom. Place fish over the vegetables. Brush the mixture of the ketchup/mayo on top of fish. Then add another layer of vegetables on top. Sprinkle the top with salt and pepper to taste then cover tightly with foil or lid and bake at 375˚F for 15 min.

FINAL PRODUCT

Just so you know, I only share recipes that I would make again!

Oh ya – served a few vegetables dishes along with this fish casserole. Specifically, a tomato soup, kale salad, tabouleh salad and a sweet potato dish. There were lots of satisfied tummies.

Happy Cooking!

 

I have talked about my love for my rice cooker before and I will talk about it again. Here’s what you really need to know: GO OUT AND GET ONE. STAT!! Sorry I’m yelling but I feel very strongly about this.

My first rice cooker was bought back in May 2010 after touring T & T in Ottawa with a group of twitter friends.

I bought a Tiger Rice Cooker and got hooked on the fact that I could press a button, go get a manicure and return to a bowl of perfectly cooked rice.

Although I loved my Tiger Rice Cooker, it wasn’t easy to clean. It had a hinged top and I could never clean it properly. I would take a photo to show you exactly what I mean but I can’t. It got that gross!

Therefore my beloved Tiger Rice Cooker went into the recycle bin. Bye Bye Tiger Rice Cooker.

Moving forward: I received a Breville Risotto Plus  to replace my beloved Tiger Rice Cooker and I’m happy, happy, happy.

Here’s what I love about my  new rice cooker.

-no hinged top

-I can steam vegetables at the same time (which I’ve done already)

-it’s easy to clean.

-I can even make risotto. Check out the left button on the photo below!

The other night, I made stuffed peppers with rice, corn, black beans and a touch of cheddar cheese. It was the perfect side dish.

Not to mention, I tested out the risotto button and made this amazing risotto dish with peas, using PC Arborio Rice.

Pretty side dish. Agreed? My Breville Rice Cooker did a perfect job of making the Risotto.

If you are looking for a rice cooker, I highly recommend the Breville Risotto Plus!. I hope to be using it for years and years!!

Happy Cooking.

Disclosure: The Breville Rice Cooker was provided to me, however all opinions are my own

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. My dinner at U-Feast at Campagnolo. I’m not kidding this restaurant had been on my bucket list for years. Thrilled that I was able to finally taste this dish.

2. ANYTHING at Bar Raval. However some of my favourites include the foie gras or this salad.

3. My job allows me to eat some amazing cheese so of course that’s a highlight! Specifically this 5 yr Old Cheddar Cheese, that was a Grand Prix winner in 2015.

4. The food at the CNE. This is one event I won’t ever miss.

5. Sweet Jesus! If you haven’t tried this soft serve then you really need to go there in 2016. Stat.

6. My trip to Italy. All I did was eat amazing food…everywhere. I had this particular charcuterie board for 5 EUROS, three times!!

7. My Trip to Israel. Again, all I did was eat.

8. The seafood tower at Harbour Sixty Steakhouse. It’s not cheap but definitely worth it. Sadly the dining room is  so dark that I have no photos of the seafood tower even though I’ve been twice this year.

9. The fish that I caught on JP Fishing Charter that was served to me just a few hours after I caught it at Molly & Oj’s Restaurant in Erieau, Ontario.  Nothing beats FRESH fish.

I hope to continue to eat fabulous food in 2016 and look forward to sharing my food adventures with you as well.

Happy New Year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I swear I left the resort to go to Playa Del Carmen for one reason only. That reason was to go to the Grocery Store. No…. I did not have a fever. LOL. I simply adore discovering new food products.

Here’s a few items that caught my attention:

Campbell’s Soup – Chile Poblano: Not very happy that I didn’t buy one of these! #arghhh

TANG – Tamarind Flavour: Bring it on. I bought a packet but haven’t tried it yet. Will keep you posted.

Motor Bikes: Ok it’s not a food item but I thought it was cool to see that one could buy a motor bike in a grocery store.

These Drinks.

THE CEVICHE BAR – you know how we have an Olive Bar? Well they have a Ceviche Bar with no fewer than 6 different styles of Ceviche.

When I walked thru customs I was asked what I bought: I replied a souvenir and some groceries. She asked me “what type of groceries”. I whipped out the bag of Tang and she smiled.

Walking thru a grocery store makes me happy! Go figure.

Speaking of grocery stores, looks like it’s time to visit Buffalo for a trip to Trader Joe’s and Wegmans. Haven’t been in a while. #roadtripforgroceries

 

 

 

 

My last blog post was called “My Bags Are Packed and I’m Ready to Go”. This blog post is called “A Week of Bliss” which means I had a SPECTACULAR vacation.

Here’s what I would like to share about Karisma Resorts and specifically El Dorado Maroma in  Mayan Riviera.

THE PROPERTY:

The words lush, manicured, and immaculate all come to my mind. The best thing about this property was the fact that there’s only 90 rooms so that means everything is close by. There is no such thing as a 10 minute walk to get to the pool or a restaurant or the lobby. It’s all just steps away from your room. Yes – I’m a sloth and I’m proud of it!!

THE ROOM:

The room was SPACIOUS, SPOTLESS and CONTEMPORARY. No outdated “Spanish” themed rooms! YAY.

THE FOOD:

I seriously never thought the word gourmet and all inclusive could be said in the same breath. Well, it’s possible. There were 6 restaurants to choose from and all of them were excellent. Presentation, quality of ingredients and freshness were evident in every dish. Plus each restaurant was tastefully decorated (modern and contemporary).

BOOZE:

Grey Goose Vodka was available EVERY DAY….ALL DAY. Do I need to say more? LOL. There was even a tequila tasting one afternoon by the pool. However I had this drink everyday (ok maybe twice a day). It’s called: MANGO JALAPENO, which included the following ingredients: Tequila anejo, lime, sugar, orange liquor, mango and jalapeno. OMG what a combo.

SERVICE:

I kept joking that there were more staff than guests! Every day our “Personal Concierge” found us by the pool to ensure we were satisfied guests and to answer any questions. Not to mention, the lobby has 4 desks where 4 agents SIT DOWN and check you in. (with a cool towel and a glass of bubbly as well). I was super impressed when a staff person called us the night before we were leaving to ask us if we wanted a wake up call and what time we needed assistance with our bags. They truly do anticipate your needs!!

CONCLUSION:

I would return to this property in a heart beat. However please note: There’s a solid line up of entertainment at at night but the week we were there it wasn’t well attended. Not sure if guests left the property (to visit Playa De Carmen) or just preferred to have dinner and relax in their rooms.

In the event you want to see some great photos, please head over to Instagram  and plug in the hashtag #KarismaExperience or #KarismaResorts

For more information:

Website: www.karismaresorts.com

Instagram: @karismaresorts @eldoradoresorts

Oh ya…I discovered one of my Instagram followers is a travel agent and has visited numerous Karisma Properties (and other properties in Mexico as well). Check out her photos as well: @lorirachelgold.

Hope you had a wonderful vacation as well. Already looking forward to my next vacation which will be either a cruise or another visit to El Dorado. Time will tell!!

 

I’m off to the Mayan Riviera and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve had enough of “grey” Toronto!

This trip involves a few “firsts for me”, that I thought I would share.

-It was my first time using Trip Central to book a trip and it won’t be my last time either. Many thanks to my vacation expert Lawrence Solomon, this trip was booked in a heart beat. Lawrence got my attention when he said: “I check out hotels, like you check out restaurants”.

-It’s my first “Air Transat” all inclusive package

-It’s my first time travelling to the Mayan Riviera.

-It’s my first time packing so “light”. I simply threw in a few dresses, bathing suits, and shoes. The second bag contains my computer, tablet and stuff for the plane!

So my bag is packed and of course it contains a few essentials:

-My Lululemon Vinyasa Scarf which I received on my 50th birthday gift and is the best gift-ever!! I wore it throughout my trip to Israel and Italy in April and will be travelling with it, once again.

-my Consonant travel size face wash and moisturizer. Love this brand so much that I must travel with it.

-My Samsung tablet which has a ton of books on it as well as I’ve downloaded all my favourite magazines on Texture (which is the re-branded: Next Issue). I will never buy a magazine every again and never have to carry one in my carry-on either.

Naturally I will be blogging about the property and the food, so make sure you come back and read my blog.

Happy Holidays!!