Day 18 - A Corner of My Home

This isn't just a corner, this is the teeny-tiny dining area (for god's sake, don't call it a nook) where we eat our meals, decorate cupcakes, unload groceries, and about a million other random, domestic activities. For such a small space, it sees a huge amount of traffic.

It is also home to the "Wall(s) of Awesome", pictured below. We have art all over our home, but the stuff displayed on these two walls is some of our most-favourite (read: strangest) pieces in our collection. From original collage and pen & ink drawings, to framed vintage cookbook pages and matchbooks, to a very odd mounted twig animal head, it all adds to the colorful experience that is mealtime at our house.

Sweet Sunday

We're off to MAWA this afternoon to take part in the "Over the Top" art auction and cupcake party.

I am excited to visit with friends (and see what my piece sells for), but the mascot is all about the raffle and the cupcakes.

For our contribution to the treat tables, we made 2 kinds of cupcakes (4 dozen in total). It was a big job, but at least I had some help from the quality control department...

Day 17 - Green

Luck o' the Costco!

Day 16 - Sunglasses

I heart my Derek Cardigan cat eye sunglasses. They are tortoiseshell with a surprise hit of candy pink on the inside, but the best part is the math symbols on the temples. 

If Barbie didn't hate long-division so much, she would LOVE these.

Day 15 - Car

They say that in Winnipeg, spring is the great equalizer. No matter who you are of what you drive, at some point during the "big melt", your vehicle is going to look like this for a few days.

Make, model, and even colour become irrelevant; as far as any of us can tell, we're all just driving around in the same dirt-coloured car.

Day 14 - Clouds

One of the risks that you take going into a photo-a-day challenge like this one is that although you may have the best intentions to, say, take a photo of clouds on day 14, the occasions to do so just might not present themselves on that particular day*.

That's why I grabbed the opportunity to snap a picture of this wee band of clouds this morning at sunrise. If I had waited any longer, I would've lost my chance for good. The rest of the day was made up of completely grey skies and then totally clear skies. That's just how Winnipeg weather rolls.

 *Remember the sunset and rainbow debacles from last year's challenge? I still have nightmares.

Day 13 - A Sign

"Think left and think right and think low and think high. 

Oh, the thinks you can think if only you try!"

~ Dr Seuss

Day 12 - Fork

Cauliflower, Asparagus and Smoked Salmon Fritatta

1 cup cauliflower florets

10 thin spears asparagus, chopped

1/4 cup egg beaters (or 1 egg and 1 egg white, lightly beaten with 1 tbsp water)

3 thin slices smoked salmon, julienned

In a small, non stick pan, steam-braise cauliflower in lightly salted water until just tender. Add asparagus and continue to cook until tender-crisp. Drain. Spray pan with non-stick spray. Return vegetables to pan and toss over med-high heat until any excess water is removed. Evenly add 1/4 cup egg beaters (or lightly beaten egg). Allow to cook until bottom is set, about 1 minute. Scatter smoked salmon over the top, then place under the broiler until top is set and salmon is heated through. 

Serve with cucumber-yogurt sauce*, or tzatziki. Serves 1

*Cucumber yogurt sauce - stir together 1/8 cup plain yogurt, 1/8 cup finely chopped cucumber, pinch of dried dill, squeeze of fresh lemon, salt and pepper to taste.

Feeling the Dove Love

A few weeks ago, I came across the "Real Canadian Hair Challenge" contest on Dove's Facebook page. I just happened to have a recent photo of my oft-challenged hair on my iPod, so I whipped up a quick mini-essay and entered on a whim.

I had almost put it out of my head, until I received a call from Dove informing me that they loved my entry and I had been selected as a finalist for the grand prize! All I would have to do to make it through "the finals" was an interview via Skype, after which they would make their big decision.

Well, that interview was this morning and, despite some last-minute jitters, I am happy to report that I have emerged unscathed. Actually, better than that, I came out of it quite pleased. I think I answered the questions well, and I know that I was having a helluva good hair day, but above it all, the whole thing was  rather FUN. We talked about hair, the weather...and how the weather determines whether or not my hair will behave. (It is, after all, called the Real Canadian Hair Challenge.)

Even if I don't win the grand prize, it was kinda neat to get to this stage in the contest and see the process from the entrant's perspective. And, what is the prize? A session with stylist Mark Townsend that will air live on Breakfast Television, plus a stay at the Fort Garry for me and 3 friends on the night before. (The hair session will take place at 10 Spa starting at 5am, so they want to make sure that we're there bright and early.)

The grand prize is worth $3000, but I think the value is more intrinsic. If I can have fun, get my hair done by a "celebrity stylist", and be the poster child for curly-girls for a little while, then I will definitely feel like a winner. In fact, after this morning, I already do.


(And, if you are wondering how I got my curls to look like this today... I used Dove Nutritive Therapy shampoo and conditioner and let it dry naturally. Love!)

Day 11 - Someone I Talked To Today

I talk to my fella every day, but today we had a date to sit down and talk. Not matters of the heart, however; it was strictly business.  

I know it's hard to believe, but he's more than a pretty face. Behind those blue eyes, he has all sorts of mad smarts and was more than happy to share some of his knowledge and help me with some strategizing today. Details are still on the DL, but suffice to say, things are at a bit of a crossroads for me right now and I needed a little "directional assistance".

Going in to our little meeting, I'll admit that I was a teeny bit daunted, but in the time it took to drink a venti skinny mocha, my guy gave me some great advice. Between the two of us, we managed to break it all down into tangible, logical parts and I feel much more confident about reaching my goal. Yay us!

I know that I am all about being an independent girl, it's good to know that I have someone so savvy to call on for stuff like this. And, it doesn't hurt that he's darn cute, to boot.