This weekend blew by again far too fast for my liking. I laid in bed for the greater part of Saturday, but at some point I decided to put some pants on and go outside. To the Common. Where there’s alcohol. It was great, except for the part where I had to drive to Calgary the next morning at what felt like the crack of dawn. (But it actually was because I watched the sun rise!)
Here are my insta-highlights from the past couple of days.
PS, breakkie with Amz at Bumpy’s in downtown YYC = the best.
Or erm.. Saturday in this week’s case since I’m late posting. This week isn’t really a mixtape. It’s more of a proclaimation of how much I L O V E The Lumineers. Their self titled album is absolutely wonderful and my favourites include Ho Hey, Stubborn Love and Big Parade. I reserve their album for days like today where there are large flurries flying around confirming that spring is definitely not around the corner. Warm mugs of tea and custard are on the menu, along with a good book and this album on repeat.
I have a confession to make. I’m crazy. If my eyes glaze over and get a little too wide, I suggest you run.I get into these moods sometimes where I turn into a bottle full of crazy sauce and I can’t be stopped. I’ve been told I need Ritalin, but I’m just going to blame it on the full moon instead.
I have this friend who’s been around for about half of my life now. I’m surprised he’s put up with my crazy for this long, because I think he’s one of the only people I unleash all my crazy on. From screaming like a banshee/cackling like a madwoman and jumping on his back, to waking him up with wet willys, he never gets a break. So a few weeks ago when he was distracted, and I thought I was being sneaky, I snuck up on him and grabbed his snack (which happened to be these bars) and started to merrily munch away. Obviously unhappy with me, he yelled, and I ran away snickering. Yeah, his yelling didn’t stop me from doing it a few more times.
A few days later this recipe popped up in my inbox. I guess getting his mother to send me her recipe was a subtle way of him telling me to get off his back (literally, and figuratively).
This recipe is so simple it doesn’t even seem like one, and the best part about it is how the condensed milk settles at the bottom and turns into this super gooey and delicious dulce de leche. These bars make the perfect on the go breakfast, and you’ll eat em so fast that you won’t even remember eating half the pan (oops).
Breakfast Bars
Adapted from Nigella Lawson
Makes 16
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk (10 oz)
2 1/2 cups Large flake oats
1 cup Unsweetened medium coconut
1 cup Mixed seeds (I used sunflower and pumpkin seeds)
1 cup Nuts (I used peanuts)
1 cup Dried fruit (I used dried cranberries)
Preheat oven to 250˚F. In a microwave safe bowl, heat the condensed milk in the microwave for one minute. Mix all the other ingredients together and then add the milk. Stir until well combined. Pour into a greased and parchment lined 9×13 pan, and even out the mixture with a spatula for a level surface. Pop into the oven, and bake for an hour, or until the edges are slightly golden. Cut the bars into 16 squares, and store in an airtight container.
So this week I spent one day at home. Three cities in one week makes for a lot of travel time: a lot of travel time to rediscover your iPod. The theme of this week is nostalgia: old friends, feeling like a kid again, doing things over a new, and that feeling you get when you rediscover an old song.
It’s the little things, you know?
My last day in Quebec was probably the best. And it was the best because it was ten degrees warmer and the sun was out. Waking up from my slumber on the softest down mattress in the Chateau was also great. I walked all the way up town, and all the way down town; by the end of the day I was dragging my feet, but the sights we visited made it totally worth it.
My favourite part of the entire day was the graffiti wall. I spent a total of five minutes standing in front of it, but five minutes was all I needed. I was grinning for ear to ear though because I love me some good graffiti.
Somber rainy days walking down Basse-Ville (or the Lower Town) make for grumpy boys and girls. Wet, cold and tired, we walked the streets wishing for a ray of sunshine. Nope. With no sun it sight, we tried to make the best of it. Yeah. That didn’t work. Meals became quick affairs, conversations fizzled out to comfortable silence; we counted down the minutes until we could be tucked into our beds dreaming for better days.
PS, check out how little and red this door is!!
This should really be titled as “what I ate in Quebec City and then some”, but that’s just a mouthful. From the gym, to the Farmer’s Market, to the Chateau and back, here are some snapshots of my almost week in Ville de Quebec…
PS, Thanks Tianna for taking the 6th photo.
I swear I need to make a graph showing the relationship between the distance from home vs. the amount of time spent listening to country music. The further I am from home, the more country I listen to. I’m weird like that.
Here are five songs that I listened to on the plane ride over to QC. Yes this combination is weird. And yes I mainly listen to rock and country. Give it a go.
Soo I’m in Quebec City right meow. I’m in Quebec City for Elite Canada aka a trampoline competition. Wooo. I’ve been to Montreal loads of times, but I’ve only been to Quebec City once as a child. And let me tell you, I did not have a good experience. So I’m back with a more open mind for round two.
We started off at Aquarium du Quebec because we have this thing for going to either a zoo/aquarium, castle, or cemetery every time we go on a gym trip. Weird right?
There were two polar bears at the aquarium! POLAR BEARS!!
And one super happy Ryan.
After we had our fill of animals, we drove down to Old Quebec for lunch and maple syrup.
Mmmm maple syrup.
And it looks way better than this attempt!
So far Quebec is better than I remember (thank god), and hopefully this weekend’s competition goes well! More sightseeing to be had as well!
PS, this made my day tres better as well…
Holy cow, where did my weekend go? I swear I blinked and it was Monday. I even had an extra day off!
I kicked off the weekend early with a birthday brunch on Friday. We went to Urban Diner and stuffed ourselves silly with eggs benny and french toast. I got super yummy french toast with marscapone.
After our feast, birthday boy Jeff opened his presents…
Which ended up being a pair of undies from Victoria’s Secret! Kidding, his real present was underneath.
New Eberle jersey, yay!
Next up, I drove out to the farm with the boys to get in some trampoline time.
They were more interested in jumping off the top of the building though…
Saturday night was party time, more birthdays to be celebrated! Super dark bar pictures, commence!
Sunday was reserved for Easter dinner with K’s Aunt and Uncle. Lots of delicious food, and even better company.
PS, look at this door! it’s an 8 ft solid cherrywood door. absolutely beautiful!!
I hope everyone had a great easter!
