Dear Starbucks,

Today I was on twitter and read a tweet from @SteveatGoodLife that I could pay for my Starbucks coffee using my iPhone. I was ecstatic. This news made my day. (thanks Steve)

I am one of those people who carry around 4 different cards with 4 different balances and this app is really going to make my life SO much easier.  I am truly in love with those companies who embrace technology. I sincerely  think you “get it”. I follow you on twitter (and hope you follow me back…hint hint) and hope that other retailers will follow your lead and embrace this type of technology too.

Last week, I was at an independent coffee shop who asked me if I wanted a “loyalty card” – you know, the type where they punch a hole, every time you visit. I declined, just the way I decline when given coupons. If you want my business – for heaven sakes – go hi tech! I can’t believe coupons or those types of loyalty cards even exist.

Starbucks, you really know what you are doing and I’m impressed. Even though I can’t find a table (don’t ask – my neighborhood Starbucks is busy ALL THE TIME), I will still get my tall pike from you on a regular basis.

My daughter is also a  fan of your hot chocolate (with peppermint), and I’m sure she will be downloading the app on her phone soon too. (She is 12). She once sent me a text on her way home from school that said “can i stop off at Starbucks and get a cookie”. How could I say no?

Congratulations once again for developing this amazing feature for your customers. I hope the news spreads quickly and more and more customers will be flashing their iPhones to pay for their lattes, cookies, coffees etc.

I am one happy customer! (can you tell?)

Cheers,

Vicky – @momwhoruns

What a great week…I scored not only an invite to a TIFF movie (see previous post) but I scored an invite to a TIFF Party too.

Both invites were a result of twitter. So if you arent on twitter – what are you waiting for?? I mean really!!

OK back to the party. Here’s what my afternoon looked like on Tuesday:

4: 30 – 5:45 p.m. – watched the US Open Mens Finals at a friends house. It was an epic match between Nadal and Jokovic.

6:00 – 6:30 pm – hair straightened.

6:40 p.m – 7 pm. – shower and dress to impress!!

7:00 – 7: 45 p.m – make up gets done at Shoppers Drug Mart by the nicest make up artist (Andrew) who does magic with his brushes and powders.

Then I went downtown to The Hoxton (69 Bathurst S) for the Diet Coke TIFF Gala!! What can I say? The party rocked. …the music, the people, the drinks, the food and the overall atmosphere. I met some of old twitter friends and met some new twitter friends too (@wedding_crasher, @laurenjacobs @danjacobs).

Congratulations to Diet Coke!! You sure do know how to throw a TIFF party…right down to the napkins.

P.S a huge thank you to @MDee14 for the invite.

I was motivated on Monday to spend some time in the kitchen. Here’s what motivated me.

• cooler temperatures: this was a huge incentive. HUGE.
• a tweet from @SarahMphoto on Sunday nite with a photo of her apple crisp that just came out of the oven. When I replied back “recipe”? she kindly tweeted me back the recipe.
• the recipe was less than 140 characters…how could I NOT make it.
• the fact that Bruno’s was open and I could pick up two varieties of apples for the recipe..Ginger Gold and Paula Red.

So here’s what the tweet like:

@momwhoruns: 4-6 apples, topping: 3/4 cup rolled oats, 3/4 brown sugar, 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 tsp cinnamon, bake 350 35-40 minutes.

Could it get any simpler? I mean really!!

I chopped up my apples and made my topping:

I put the apples in a pie plate, put the topping on top and voila… .this was on my plate 40 minutes later. Sadly no ice cream was available but Im sure it would be even more amazing with ice cream!!  I should note that I added more rolled oats than the original recipe.

I continued to make tomato sauce and a brocoli crunch salad. Stay tuned later this week for more recipes K?

PS many thanks to Sara for motivating me to get into the kitchen and make this apple crisp!! I can’t wait to go to Chudleighs to pick more varieties of apples and to try this recipe again (and again..and again).

Happy Baking!!

This is how I prepare to go to Toronto’s Festival of Beer (pay attention, there is some good advice here):

a) I wear Beer Glasses.

b) I arrive at 4 p.m. on Friday Aug, 5th.

I’m not fond of crowds. Simple as that.

c) I go to the bathroom BEFORE I get there.

Sorry..not interested in using porta- potties if I don’t have to.

d) I bring cash – it’s just easier

e) I take the TTC- its just smarter!!

On Friday I will be giving away  TWO pairs of beer glasses!! (goggles?)  Make sure you read my tweets on Friday…just follow me on twitter: @momwhoruns.

PS this is going to be a great weekend. I’m going to Toronto’s Festival of Beer on Friday and the Rogers Cup on Sunday at York University. What more could I ask for?

I ran the GoodLife Toronto Half Marathon in the rain today and I have a lot of people to thank!! I am normally a pretty decisive person but when it comes to “races” ..I procrastinate. I’m always signing up for them at the LAST MINUTE.

Case and point this past Friday which was the last day to sign up and pick up your race kit.

After studying weather patterns like a mad woman, I realized the weather was going to be lousy. I called up a buddy who said “think positive”. I replied “I cant”. I then asked him if he ever ran a race in the rain. He replied “I raced a half ironman in the rain for 7 full hours”. That answer certainly put things in perspective for me.

Then I tweeted “looks like rain on Sunday…cant decide if I should register. So nervous”! The words of encouragement came pouring in:

@aurorameyer…a half marathon in the rain means no sweat stinging in your eyes. It also means investing in more Body Glide, wet clothes rub.

@karmasdogma….I did a 20km training run in rain. Wear a hat to keep rain off face. Use good (not cotton) running socks. Good luck.

@Ontario Culinary…it’s refreshing. You’ll do great.

@Botdenlrma….go Vicky. It smells great outside when its raining maybe that keeps you going

@KiddingAround…Perhaps the rain will be refreshing. Best of luck

@MichaelNus..the rain will cool you down

@CookTrainEatRce rain or no rain, it’s still 13.1 miles and you have trained for it. You will be golden.

@HorriblePeanut..Ive done a 32 k training run in the pouring rain. Just concentrate on the the feeling of WIN you will get and a hot shower

@HorriblePeanut..YOU CAN DO IT

After all those great tweets…I went down to the CNE grounds and registered!!

So how did it go? I had a terrible sleep (which is what happens every time before a race)..woke up at 7 a.m., got dressed, make an egg white omlette and a piece of toast and at 7:20 a.m. I was picked up by my buddy’s friend. We got to Mel Lastman Square and before we knew it, it was 8:00 a.m

By 5 km…I didnt notice the weather anymore!! I put one foot infront of the other and kept going. The last few kilometres up University were brutal. I was stopping more then I wanted to.

Finally after 2 hours and 16 minutes I crossed the finish line. I felt great!! I walked to grab a taxi and treated my muscles to the best spa ever…Body Blitz!

I dipped into the sea salt pool, the green tea pool, the cold plunge pool, and also took advantage of the infrared sauna and the eucalyptus sauna. I rested. I drank an ice tea and left feeling AWESOME.

I will actually be able to climb down the stairs tomorrow AND sit in a chair thanks to the water therapy at Body Blitz.

I really had a great day. Thanks again to everyone for all the words of encouragement. It really made a difference.

As you know, I drink beer and I drink scotch. But several times a year, I crave a cocktail and there is only one place I go – that place is – BarChef.

The first time I went there, I tweeted “I’m @barcheftoronto staring at the menu. What should I order? Can’t decide”. I had a reply from @charisegarcia that said “try the sailors mojito”. So I did. I was blown over. I had never had a drink that appealed to all my senses, like this drink did.

So what is it? Beach essence, Sailor Jerry rum, mint, fresh lime, vanilla syrup, and mojito ravioli.

The menu is divided into Punch Bowls, Sweet and Sour (think Strawberry&Lavender, Basil Daiquiri and more), Sipping (like, Balsamic Lavender) and Molecular. I happen to like being adventuous but don’t worry the menu is diverse and would appeal to everyone.

Generally, I hang out in the Molecular Section!! When I saw that they had a Black Truffle cocktail on the menu, I knew I HAD to try it. I love truffles and was curious how it would work in a cocktail.

Here’s the ingredients: Black truffle snow, smoked salt, coconut foam, fresh lime rind, gin, coconut liqueur, and elderflower liqueur. One word: BRILLIANT!

Besides the interesting, unique cocktails that Frankie Solarik (the owner) makes – I happen to also love the space. Its dark, classy, and well laid out.

I hope you get a chance to visit this awesome bar soon.

BarChef  472 Queen St. West,  Toronto.

OK everyone, set your PVR’s and tape CityLine on Tuesday March 29th at 9:00 a.m or at 2p.m. Why? Coz CityLine is airing a segment on “bloggers” and you might even see me in the audience clapping and smiling!!  They invited  beauty bloggers, food bloggers, mommy bloggers and decor bloggers to be part of the studio audience and then did a segment on each topic. I truly love when companies “get” social media..

The beauty blogger: talked about her favorite beauty products. I used one of the products already for the last 20 years (Voluminous mascara by L’Oreal”) and now Im in love with the lipstick she recommended.

The food blogger: made an amazing banana bread with a secret ingredient that I would have never guessed in a million years.

The decor blogger: talked about Canadian furniture, and demonstrated a DIY project.

The mommy blogger; talked about why mommys have embraced twitter and blogging.

It was lots of fun to be part of the audience and lots of fun to meet other bloggers.  Infact, I sat beside a food blogger (foodjunkiechronicles) that I have been following on twitter (@foodieyu) for the past year so it was great to meet her IRL (in real life).

I loved how they told the audience NOT to put away their iPhones and Blackberries as they knew we would want to be tweeting and taking photos. I wish my mom would be so understanding. (she hates when I tweet).

After the taping, we were all treated to a lovely lunch at the new Ritz Carlton. A perfect ending to a perfect event.

Congratulations to Kate Moore (the producer for CityLine) for putting this Bloggers Segment together and for embracing the blogging community.

ps. thank you to @foodieyu and @YYZdesign for the photos.

It wasn’t suppose to become a cookie challenge, however after I posted “My Fav. Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe” on twitter, I received a tweet from @livwu that said the following:

@momwhoruns Anna Olson’s Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie is my fave http://bit.ly/9GU6Wc try it!

So I clicked on the link and said “hmm…I think I might try this recipe. Why not?”.

Here’s the recipe in the event you don’t feel like clicking on the link:

Anna Olson’s Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie:

3/4 cup butter

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 egg

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp corn starch

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups flour

8 oz bittersweet chocolate cut into chunks

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.

2. Cream butter and sugars together untill smooth. Add egg and vanilla extract and blend in.

3. Stir in, flour, cornstarch, baking soda and chocolate chunks

4. Drop by tablespoons on to a greased baking sheet and bake 8 to 10 minutes and golden around the edges

5. Let cool

I gave one chocolate chip cookie from Recipe #1 and one chocolate chip cookie from recipe #2 – to my daughter, her friend and her friends dad (he picked up his daughter at exactly the right time). Everyone was happy – both cookies were delicious but indeed recipe #2 has a slight edge.

Thanks to my twitter friend for sharing this recipe for me. I hope I meet her IRL (in real life) one day soon.

Happy Baking – once again.

PS… Are there any other chocolate chip cookie recipes I should try. I’m ready for the challenge.

News Flash:  I am going to be in the Toronto Star on Wed. Feb. 2nd, and I’m so excited about it that I’m blogging about it before the paper arrives!!

Here’s how it happend:

10:00 a.m. I receive a text from @savvari asking me if I am working from home due to the snow and to email her contact at the Toronto Star if I’m interested in being interviewed.

10:14 a.m. I send an email to her contact explaining that I’m a food sales rep who drives thru the GTA to visit accounts. I also write “clearly won’t be on the roads tomorrow” and leave  my name and phone number

10:17 a.m. My phone rings and it’s Francine Kopun from the Toronto Star!. She asks me a few questions and even though we have never met ,we get along famously over the phone. She also asks me if I would be interested in being photographed for the article. I reply “no problem” (as I said this I realize that I have no make up on and my hair is in a pony tail).

I then visit some accounts and while I’m at Shoppers Drug Mart on Dufferin, I ask beg the clerk at the make up counter,  if she would kindly put some make up on. Thankfully she agrees!! (phewww).

12:51 p.m I received a phone call from Rene Johnston, who is a photo journalist at the Toronto Star. We agree to meet at Leslie/Eglinton as he wants to take some shots of me in Sunnybrook park

1:30 p.m. Rene and I meet at the designated location.  He is so charming that I immediately forget that I am about to be photographed for a major newspaper.

He takes photos of me inside the car, outside the car, while I’m driving, while I’m parking etc. While he is busy clicking away he says “sex and chocolate” and of course I immediatlely smile and laugh. He’s a true professional.

2: 31 p.m. I send an email to Francine to tell her that Rene was awesome and that both of them make my day brighter!!

2:32 p.m. I send an email to @savvari (Sandy) thanking her for putting me in contact with Francine.

3:20 p.m. I received an email from Francine with the copy she has written for the article. (you will have to read the Toronto Star…I’m so mean, eh?)

I’m now blogging about this at 10:00 p.m .and there is STILL no snow on the ground.  But I know it’s on the way….right?

Once again, many thanks to Sandy, Francine and Rene (and twitter too)!!

My luck, I had two events in the same building on the same evening. How awesome is that?

Originally I had planned on just going to the Gourmet Food and Wine Expo. But then, I found out I had won a ticket to go see Jamie Oliver!! How sweet is that? I was a happy camper. (thanks to @mybindi)

I have attended the Gourmet Food and Wine Expo for YEARS. (this doesn’t come as a surprise to you, does it?). Every year, I promise myself that Im going to try try new wines and every year I end up drinking beer!!  This year, was a little different. I had THREE  samples of beers and ONE  sample of wine. (I’m a big time drinker, can you tell?).

I discovered a gluten free beer from Nickelbrook brewery, that will soon be on the shelves of your local LCBO. This is exciting news.

I also stopped by to say hi (and to drink beer)  at the Creemore booth and the Beaus booth.

As for the wine: I did infact have a glass at the Muskoka Lakes Winery booth. That was the only glass of wine that I sampled. What is wrong with me?…(don’t answer that question).

As for the food: I had a wonderful cheese platter from Taste of Cheese. It was  a perfect combination and I was happy that I found them. What’s a gourmet food show, without a cheese platter?

All in all it was a great night. I enjoyed beer, wine, cheese AND meeting lots of twitter friends. Here’s the list: @pronosher @foodie411 @zoltanszabo @SaraBHood @M3Foods @CdnFoodieGirl @JenniferBlylok @kalaofagas @MirandaAK @strub_pickleman @sweetescapes.

NEXT EVENT: Jamie Oliver.

I must admit, I only went for about 45 minutes. I missed the introduction and only went for the question and answer period and watched his cooking demonstration.

The hall was packed with 3,000 people. Clearly Jamie Oliver is a celebrity chef!!!

He is definitely entertaining, passionate about food, committed to local food, and charming too!!

But I was still hungry and thirsty, so I returned back to the Gourmet Food and Wine Expo. Me Bad.!!!

Four hours flew by!!! A fun evening – that’s for sure.