potato latkes

One of my most favorite childhood memories is going to Leafs games with my Dad and him taking me for potato rosti before. It's a relatively simple dish but I associate it with such happy nostalgia. I found this recipe and was excited to try to recreate the memories with the start of the Leafs season quickly approaching. It took a little bit of prep, peeling and grating the potatoes, but the crispy deliciousness of the final product was totally worth it. I substituted the grated onion for green onion and didn't use quite as much oil as suggested. And I personally enjoy the latkes with ketchup and sour cream! Enjoy!

{ Draining the potatoes is probably the most important step of the recipe. It's unbelievable how much water D squeezed out! We used a j-cloth to drain the shredded potatoes! }

{ Once you've drained the potatoes and added in the egg and flour, the mixture should be relatively thick and dry }

have a great weekend

{ Ending off 2012 with fireworks on the lake }

I was back at the job hunt this week and while it's tough I'm excited at the thought of starting a new job and getting into a routine again. It's a hard process but I know staying positive is the best way to approach it. We're having fondue (aka "fun"due) tonight for dinner and plan to relax and finally kick a holiday cough/cold that's been lingering. Looking forward to next week and some yummy food posts! Tune in Monday and have yourself a wonderful weekend. xo

PS. Always a shopaholic at heart, check out the sale at Shopbop - there are some great buys!

{ Starting off 2013 on a beautiful note }

christmas secrets

{ The beautiful water and rocks in San Sebastian }

{ The garden gate at the villa we stayed at in St. Tropez }

{ The golden fence at Palais de Versailles }

I was dying to share the gift I made for D for Christmas but I had to keep it top secret - which by the way, I did manage to do (I'm horrible at surprises!). Anyways, I wanted to show them off! I picked out four photos from our trip to Europe, bought some frames from Ikea and had some custom mats cut. I printed the trio in 8 by 10, and the large print is actually called an engineering blueprint - it's massive and only cost $5 to print! The final results turned out wonderfully and D was so pleasantly surprised on Christmas morning. We can't wait to hang them when we get our own place and be constantly reminded of our amazing adventure together! We took all the photos ourselves too :)

{ Sailboats moored off an island in the South of France }

 { Just had to share this photo from Christmas morning with our family friends and the doggy Friday sporting his new Jonathan Adler scarf! Christmas brunch is my most favorite holiday tradition :) }

roasted garlic fusilli

Have you ever tried roasting garlic? It's super simple and absolutely transforms the taste of raw garlic. I had never tried it before and was so pleased with the amazing flavor boost it added to our easy-peasy pasta dish last night. This is a quick and delicious dish, sure to impress everyone. The best part is, it'll take you about 10 minutes to put together!

Roasted Garlic:

To start, cut the top of a large bunch of garlic, put it on a pan, drizzle with olive oil and salt, and pop it in a 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes. Once done, squeeze the garlic out of the little pockets, it should be a mushy, creamy consistency after being roasted.  

I chose to use fusilli so that the flavors would get trapped and absorbed in the noodles' spirals.

Prep everything after you put your water onto boil. I chopped up some feta and spicy salami, used jarred sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach.

When you put your pasta in, it's time to start the sauce. Add your roasted garlic to a generous amount of olive oil (note: the roasted garlic doesn't have the same potency as raw garlic, so feel free to use lots!).

Let this heat up over medium heat, then add in the sun-dried tomatoes and salami. 

Next add in your spinach, be very generous as it cooks down to barely anything and it's the healthiest part of this dish. Finally, add in your pasta and feta cheese to the same large pan. Stir it all around to heat up the cheese. Serve & Enjoy!

out-crafted

D and I are expecting to move out in the coming months and we're going to be on a budget. So I was excited when this DIY project worked so well. The vases were a trio from Ikea for only $15, and the vanilla candles are my go-to favorite, also from Ikea. If you're needing something for a mantle or side table, this cheap and easy project will add a natural glow to any room. 

   

I taped off where the candle sat in the vase so that the rope would cover it.

Started off by glueing the rope to the vase right under the tape. 

Then I continued wrapping the rope around, adding small beads of glue to hold everything in place. 

Finished off by securing the rope at the base.

I have to admit that I was a little overzealous with the glue and it didn't end up looking too great inside. I would suggest using the hot glue sparingly and trying to put beads in the same spot each time around.

Then the camp kid came along and straight up outcrafted me! Without glue, he managed the exact same look that I had just spent twenty minutes trying to achieve. Google "how to wrap a paddle" and you'll get steps on how to achieve it sans glue too.

Regardless of the method, the final product gives a warm earthly look for our imaginary "to be" home. 

glory hole doughnuts

D and I had the epitome of a lazy Sunday. We slept in and then drove down to Parkdale to try some doughnuts from Glory Hole Doughnuts. We had driven past the shop before, and considering I'm the ultimate glutton when it comes to doughnuts, we knew we had to give them a try. And let me tell you, we were not disappointed. The dough was light and fluffy and the flavors were so fun and different. My favorites had to be the classic cinnamon sugar and maple! A suggested must try for sure. 

 { We didn't try them, but in addition to the doughnuts, they had 

doughnut fries and s'mores cinnamon buns! Definately a reason to return ;)}

{ The showcase made our mouths water instantly upon entering }

{ We decided to sit in the little window seat and 

share a doughnut before bringing some more home }

{ ...Right? Lemon Meringue was outa control }

{ Enjoying our first bites }

{ Flavors (top left clockwise): Elvis, Maple, Cinnamon Sugar, Kennsington Beer Brew, 

Chocolate Pudding, Cookies & Cream }

{ So happy to be starting off our Sunday with a box 

full of freshly made doughnuts! }

refresh & renew

It's time to treat yo body right. Afterall, getting all fancy for those holiday parties can take a toll! And let's get serious, none of us have money left to splurge on long spa days after deservedly spoiling those who deserved it at Christmas. I'm thinking more inexpensive ways to refresh yourself and start off the new year on the right foot! I bought all of these items at Shoppers and it cost me $25. 

1. Hair Mask- $4.99 - we all looked fab with our blowouts over the holidays but your hair needs a break. Try V05's hot oil to give your strands a moisture boost. 

2. Balea face mask - $1.99 - I can feel it in my skin after all parties and make-up. These masks are nothing fancy but it helps get rid of the dead skin and give you a refreshed look.

3. Essie Feed Me - $9.99 - I had a shellac manicure over the holidays and my nails desperately needed some lovin'. This polish hydrates your nails with the vitamins they need to strengthen and grow.

4. St. Ives Moisturizer - $8.99 - the winter weather brings dryness and wind. Keep your skin soft by moisturizing daily!

And treat yourself to some "you" time. Read a good book, watch a chick flick, relax in a bath lit by candlelight. Drink water, listen to good music and think of how GREAT 2013 is going to be!

happy new year

I hope you all enjoyed the happiest of holiday seasons and have started off 2013 on a positive note. I took a bit of time to reflect and focus my thoughts on the year ahead. I predict a lot of growth, change and happiness. I have a lot of memories to be thankful for from 2012 and I can't wait to fill my heart and mind with more in the coming twelve months!

Have you reflected on 2012 or set goals for yourself for 2013? I didn't want to set myself up for failure by making unrealistic goals, rather, just remind myself of the things that are important to me. I suggest you take a try at it, after doing so, I can honestly say I'm so excited for the year ahead :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Who isn't happy looking at puppies covered in snow? I mean really, too cute! My sister is practically living in heaven in Whistler right now - they have gotten so much snow and she's been skiing almost everyday! I'm just a little envious to say the least! My week has been filled with wrapping gifts, eating cookies, meeting with friends and indulging in the holidays with family! 

I'll be taking a little while off to enjoy the holidays but look forward to starting up Love Me Simply again in 2013! I've reached over 5,000 page views and I can't thank you all enough for your love and support! 

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

$25 gift giving

I met with three girlfriends from university this week to catch up over holiday drinks. They are three girls who are dear to me so I wanted to pick up something special to bring them. In previous years, I've picked up three of the same gift but this year I was inspired to be original. Two of the girls have moved into their own places, one is pursuing further education and it just felt like they needed more grown up gifts. I limited each person at $25 and each girl ended up with quite different gifts! I thought I'd share three different approaches for $25 gift giving...

For the sophisticated home owner. 

I chose a white serving platter from Home Sense. Square, clean lines - modern and classic - it will always be stylish and useful. Even better, after some scouring - I found one for $5.99! I paired a serving dish with beautiful paper coasters and name place cards from Kitchen Papers. Have you seen these - paper placemats, coasters, menu cards, seating cards? Absolutely adorably brilliant! Pretty to use when guests are over and easy to clean up- I'm obsessed.

For the downtown single girl.

My friend just moved into a condo and decorated her room in a vibrant teal color. I'm a big fan and this Kate Spade mug matched the color perfectly. With the inspiring "Seize the Day" printed on the inside, I feel it will help her start her days off on the right foot!  Priced at $22, It's a little steep for a mug - but who wouldn't want a designer mug?... and the color matched too well to leave behind!

For the chocolate loving ex-roommate.

I lived with one of the girls all four years of University. We developed a life-long friendship and spent many nights up late, chatting and snacking on chips and chocolate. One thing I know for sure, she LOVES chocolate. So I decided to spend the $25 on really great quality chocolate. Once I had my mind made up, I went straight to Soma Chocolate Maker and picked up some of my personal favorites, along with six seasonal truffles and pralines. The chocolates need to be consumed within a week and I knew this wouldn't be a problem with her!

I don't know if you'll be braving the mall this weekend, but if you are a procrastinator (I have been every year previous) - goodluck!