tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36853313568823358272024-03-12T21:34:24.961-02:30The Elizabeth FilesA food and lifestyle blog based out of St. John's, NewfoundlandElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.comBlogger143125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-1881534387591827392016-11-08T11:23:00.000-03:302016-11-09T13:34:42.485-03:30America decidesToday, America votes for a new president. As a Canadian, I'm curious and nervous as to the outcome, but hopeful that it will be a positive one. Regardless, the tumultuous and chaotic manner in which this election has been run reminds me and re-enforces for me how lucky I am to be Canadian and live in this country. Good luck to the United States. No matter who wins, I think they're going to need it.<br />
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-79975817533588812802016-11-07T10:51:00.000-03:302016-11-07T10:51:51.595-03:30Midnight flight to HeathrowI love the app <a href="https://timehop.com/" target="_blank">Timehop</a>. For someone who has the memory of a goldfish like I do, it helps me remember life events and things I've done or seen in the past. Like this little gem from two years ago:<br />
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I was hopping on a plane to jet off to Europe for two weeks with a good friend of mine. I hadn't taken a real vacation like that in <i>years</i> and was so looking forward to getting back to Europe, with all its history and delicious food and fantastic sites. I think about the places I visited on that trip pretty often, and can't wait to get back there again soon.</div>
Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-53186042907509850692016-11-05T09:49:00.001-02:302016-11-05T09:49:17.560-02:30NaBloWriMo: whoops...Well, I started off NaBloWriMo with a bang, full of intent and determination, ready to go...and then I went on a trip. It's not that I forgot, I just ran out of time each day. But, that's changing now! I've been in Ottawa for the past few days, so to catch up, I'll be blogging about my mini-break with my mother and some of the great spots we've been since arriving!<div><br></div><div>Here's a little snap of some crazy-looking clouds from my flight Wednesday evening as I headed off west to chase the sunset. </div><div><br></div><div>Stay tuned!<br><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W-ineVnX-Cw/WB3ORPAcRRI/AAAAAAAABhE/iHRPSVOF8T4/s640/blogger-image--1614420375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W-ineVnX-Cw/WB3ORPAcRRI/AAAAAAAABhE/iHRPSVOF8T4/s640/blogger-image--1614420375.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-75401167847705984192016-11-01T11:39:00.001-02:302016-11-01T11:39:51.407-02:30It's that time of year again...NaBloWriMo time! National Blog Writing Month is the time of year when I put my blogging skills to the test. When I see if I can actually blog once a day, every day, for an entire month. I did it <a href="http://elizabethf1985.blogspot.ca/2015/11/nablowrimo-here-we-go.html" target="_blank">last year</a> and while it was a struggle at times, I made it. So, I want to try it again this year. Blogging is something I really enjoy but struggle with, due to work, personal, life in general. But, NaBloWriMo (based off of <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/en" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo</a>) forces me to dedicate myself to my writing and to the upkeep of my blog.<br />
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You can expect a lot of random entries about the oddest little thoughts that pop into my head, as well as some longer, more thought-out posts. Sometimes all I'll have time for is a quick musing over a photo I've taken and posted on <a href="http://instagram.com/elizabethfurey" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, and others might be a bit more in depth. It's going to be a mixed bag, but that's kind of the fun of NaBloWriMo!<br />
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So, here we go, off to the races. Entry #1 = DONE. Hope you enjoy this month-long journey with me!<br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-84472406241361704232016-10-14T11:30:00.000-02:302016-10-14T11:30:06.554-02:30The Foodie FilesI've been thinking for quite some time about what else I want to talk about on my blog. I've long discussed my love of travel and I've talked about my adventures in recipe testing, but something I've been playing around with in my mind is finally coming to fruition.<br />
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As someone who loves food and dining out, I've been lucky enough to try a number of restaurants in and around St. John's. With the Newfoundland food scene really having taken off over the past few years, there is a diverse selection of restaurants out there, offering all sorts of food. I thought it was time I added my thoughts on restaurants around town. Will anyone read them? Maybe. Will anyone care? Maybe not. Is it an excuse to dine out? ...Maybe again. But as someone who is curious about food and how flavours blend together, and as someone who is always looking to try out the next big thing in town, why not??<br />
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That's why I'm going to really launch the Foodie Files part of my blog. While I'll still talk about recipe successes or favourite cupcake shops, I'm going to begin writing about my experiences with restaurants around town - my favourite dishes, apps that are must-tries, desserts that are to die for and so on. As someone with food allergies and sensitivities, I also think I'll bring a bit of a fresh perspective when it come to dining out, and the must-ask questions that one should bring up when dining out with a food sensitivity.<br />
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So stay tuned, the first Foodie File is coming up soon. Watch this space!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-73607567173539559952016-10-05T09:30:00.000-02:302016-10-05T10:48:22.857-02:30Welcome, autumnSometimes I think autumn is my favourite of the seasons. Not just because the changing of the leaves makes it look so pretty, or because I finally get to pull my riding boots, cozy sweaters and scarves back on, or because drinking hot lattes on cool days makes them taste a little bit better.<br />
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To be honest, I think autumn is my favourite season because of the nostalgia it brings up. I always think about what I was doing this time of year in 2005, when I studied abroad in Harlow. I've talked about it a number of times before, but that's because it made such an impact on my life. Now, each time September rolls around, I'm reminded of the happiness I felt all those years ago, and let myself think back to what I was doing those days. It's always nice to be reminded of times in your past that were so positive for you.<br />
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It's also good though, to think of what's to come in life, and what could come. Sometimes, reflecting on the past has a way of making you excited for the future.<br />
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And so, here's to autumn: may you bring waves of pleasant nostalgia and the hope of new possibilities.<br />
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-66216973932846386562016-09-06T17:30:00.000-02:302016-10-04T20:58:23.959-02:30Remembering HarlowHow can it be 11 years since I went to <a href="http://www.mun.ca/harlow/" target="_blank">Harlow</a>? How can so much time have passed, when I can still smell the fresh laundry in the halls of The Maltings? Remember the feeling of the brick wall beside my bed that I would run my fingers along when trying to drift off to sleep? The taste of the potato salad the chef in the cafeteria would make for every single dinner meal? The feeling of joy and excitement and devastation bubbling up inside me while standing in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piccadilly_Circus" target="_blank">Piccadilly Circus</a> the night before I flew back to Newfoundland, trying to get as much of London into my veins as I could?<br />
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So many memories. So many sights and sounds and smells that bring me back to that place every autumn for the past 10 years. <a href="http://elizabethf1985.blogspot.ca/2012/11/harlow.html">My time in Harlow</a> changed me, changed my life, changed the way I see life and see people. I've told people it was the best four months of my life, and while I've had other amazing experiences and been fortunate to have had them, there's nothing that has compared to my time in England.</div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-41818172915411353852016-08-10T09:30:00.000-02:302016-08-12T10:08:57.259-02:30Stepping back into historyTravelling is something I've loved to do ever since I was young. I've been very fortunate that my parents insisted on going somewhere every summer while I was growing up, so I've been able to visit almost all of the provinces in Canada, a number of the states in the United States, and parts of Europe, Australia and Central America. Suffice it to say, I was definitely bitten by the travel bug at an early age.<br />
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Sometimes, though, it's nice to be a tourist in your own backyard. Which is why I took in a performance of <i>Fleming</i> at the <a href="http://thebasilica.ca/" target="_blank">Basilica of St. John the Baptist</a> here in St. John's.<br />
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The one-man play features local Newfoundland actor Paul Rowe as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Anthony_Fleming" target="_blank">Bishop Michael Anthony Fleming</a>, the man whose determination and vision brought the cathedral to life over 150 years ago.<br />
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I won't give too much away, but will say that the play spans a number of years, from the beginning of the construction up to the celebration of the first mass by Fleming. It's interactive too, moving you around inside and outside the church, learning the history visually and aurally. </div>
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Rowe does a fine job of portraying Fleming, using a mix of fact and humour throughout the play. His delivery is captivating, never allowing your mind to stray from the performance and keeping you interested at all times.</div>
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The play runs from July 5 to August 27, Tuesday through Saturday at noon. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students and seniors and can be bought day-of just before the performance. For more information, visit the <a href="http://basilicaheritagefoundation.ca/fleming-escorted-tour/" target="_blank">Basilica Heritage Foundation</a> website or check out their <a href="https://twitter.com/BasilicaTours" target="_blank">Twitter account.</a></div>
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<i>*Thank you to the Basilica Heritage Foundation for the complimentary tickets.</i></div>
Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-66050382070543819372016-08-01T15:16:00.002-02:302016-08-01T15:16:40.807-02:30Pink sky at night...I know the saying is technically "red sky at night, sailor's delight", but in this case, a pink sky was what we saw last night in St. John's. A sudden thunderstorm came over the city and <i>poured</i> for about 10 minutes. Shortly after, the sky brightened and cleared, and we were treated to this beautiful sight.<br />
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As I get older, I seem to be getting more and more of an appreciation for nature and the world around me. I just came back from a week out west in <a href="http://www2.gov.bc.ca/" target="_blank">British Columbia</a> and <a href="https://www.travelalberta.com/ca/?gclid=CjwKEAjw5vu8BRC8rIGNrqbPuSESJADG8RV0NMQMOyGxZwI7DYEFPeSYCFu6fOf9J7D01P2FmaqTzxoC707w_wcB&dclid=CNL2vsLaoM4CFclENwodqd0MCg" target="_blank">Alberta</a> for a family wedding. Driving through the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Rockies" target="_blank">Rocky Mountains</a>, I saw sprawling landscapes and natural beauty that really are a sight to behold.<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">The wedding ceremony was at a beautiful spot called </span><a href="https://www.crmr.com/emerald/" style="text-align: start;" target="_blank">Emerald Lake</a><span style="text-align: start;">, in B.C. It was stunning. Snow-capped mountains, lush green forests and a teal-blue lake...breath-taking. </span><br />
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If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend driving through the Rockies, as they'll give you a new appreciation for the vast land we call home.<br />
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-46755995147723172122016-01-25T14:27:00.000-03:302016-01-31T12:38:49.145-03:30JanuarySometimes I feel bad for the month of January. Everyone's coming down from the high of Christmas and New Years in December (and wishing we were still on holidays), and no one is giving any love to January. It's no surprise there's a day in the first month of the year that's called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Monday_(date)" target="_blank">Blue Monday</a>.<br />
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For some, January signals a "new year, new me, fresh start" sort of mantra, and I'm one of those people...most of the time. But, I too, feel the January blues - of missing the excitement of Christmas and parties and vacation and family time.<br />
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Sometimes though, on an afternoon in January when the sky is blue and the sunshine is beaming down through the window of my apartment, January doesn't seem quite so bad. Those blue skies remind me of new beginnings, a chance to try again, start fresh. The sunshine is like a beam of hope and encouragement. I'm going to hold on to that.<br />
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-77745022112853481552015-12-31T17:57:00.000-03:302015-12-31T17:57:36.751-03:302015: A Year in Review<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's that time of year again - my annual year in review. I've done this a few times since I started blogging and I like doing it because it forces me to reflect on the past 12 months and take in all that's changed in my life. So, let's go:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- I hit the big 3-0 this year and celebrated with family and friends in style with a fancy pink and gold sparkle party. The glitzy glam night was exactly how I wanted to enter into my next decade. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">- I spent some time in the hospital and had emergency gall bladder surgery! What a whirlwind three weeks that was. As painful as the experience was, I know I'm much better off now that the ordeal is finally over. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />- My wonderful brother married the love of his life and I finally gained a sister. <a href="http://elizabethf1985.blogspot.ca/2015/11/a-wedding-to-remember.html" target="_blank">The wedding was one of the most beautiful I've ever been to </a>and I was so honoured to be involved as a bridesmaid. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />- Some of my girlfriends and I began a monthly brunch club, where we tried different restaurants around the city. It was so good to have a regular date with friends, to catch up over delicious food and of course, obligatory mimosas. We love brunch club!!</span><div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DaUHMqmAWdg/VoWW958RgLI/AAAAAAAABXM/TMmUV3wYdJY/s640/blogger-image-1220307784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DaUHMqmAWdg/VoWW958RgLI/AAAAAAAABXM/TMmUV3wYdJY/s200/blogger-image-1220307784.jpg" width="195" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><br />- After a hectic first half of year with work and surgeries, I finally took a vacation in August and went back to my second home, <a href="http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=8e79f9be8db1c310VgnVCM1000006cd60f89RCRD" target="_blank">Toronto</a> for a week of friends, food and familiar haunts. It was so good to be back and to get the city into my blood again. </span></div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ry4DkE4AGRQ/VoWW_UzxDiI/AAAAAAAABXc/ACFLxLFHeqI/s640/blogger-image-1606611601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ry4DkE4AGRQ/VoWW_UzxDiI/AAAAAAAABXc/ACFLxLFHeqI/s200/blogger-image-1606611601.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />- I celebrated the ten year anniversary of the term that changed my life. <a href="http://elizabethf1985.blogspot.ca/2012/11/harlow.html" target="_blank">I've mentioned time and time again in the blog how my experience in Harlow changed my life. </a>During the autumn, I remembered where I'd been on a particular day or what I'd been doing during a certain period of time. It's hard to believe ten years has passed since I was with this group of people. </span></div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-niQLKq5737w/VoWXAAyyHbI/AAAAAAAABXk/B6IbFC1G2wA/s640/blogger-image--1996726607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-niQLKq5737w/VoWXAAyyHbI/AAAAAAAABXk/B6IbFC1G2wA/s200/blogger-image--1996726607.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><br />- I took another last minute trip to Toronto in December, this time meeting up with my folks and taking my mother to a taping of one of my favourite television shows, <a href="http://www.thesocial.ca/" target="_blank">The Social</a>. We had a great time! </span></div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qFA6ZTIAsaI/VoWW87TwWqI/AAAAAAAABXE/ivxDmTqHmWc/s640/blogger-image--1426999351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qFA6ZTIAsaI/VoWW87TwWqI/AAAAAAAABXE/ivxDmTqHmWc/s200/blogger-image--1426999351.jpg" width="199" /></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /><br /><br />- I also popped outside of Toronto and spent a weekend with two of my favourite gals, shopping and visiting wineries in the </span><a href="https://www.niagaraonthelake.com/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">Niagara-on-the-Lake</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> region. Lots of laughs were had those couple of days! </span></div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WvuCvNmy-KI/VoWW8ASyHSI/AAAAAAAABW8/DJ-sXik1xQA/s640/blogger-image-1377722477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WvuCvNmy-KI/VoWW8ASyHSI/AAAAAAAABW8/DJ-sXik1xQA/s200/blogger-image-1377722477.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><br />- I enjoyed a magical Christmas break packed with brunches, lunches, coffees and parties with friends from home and friends from away. It's always a whirlwind time of year, but it's always so good. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So there you have it. 2015 is in the books. It was a good year with me turning 30 and my brother's beautiful wedding, but I have a feeling there's big things to come next year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I usually like to come up with some kind of motto or quote to live by for the upcoming year. This year, the one I'm really feeling is one I've used before and even blogged about recently during my <a href="http://elizabethf1985.blogspot.ca/2015/11/nablowrimo-here-we-go.html" target="_blank">#NaBloWriMo challenge</a>. <a href="http://elizabethf1985.blogspot.ca/2015/11/more-fun-less-fear.html" target="_blank">"More fun, less fear"</a> is what's going to push me through into 2016 and stay with me throughout the next 12 months. Let's see how it goes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's to new beginnings, new experiences, fresh perspectives. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Welcome 2016: more fun, less fear!</span></div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-36529721250205097452015-12-22T13:04:00.001-03:302015-12-30T12:51:14.816-03:30Countdown to Christmas...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The countdown to Christmas is really on, with only a few days left to trim the tree, wrap the presents and get those gingerbread cookies baked. It's been pretty green the past few weeks, except for a snowstorm I missed while away in Toronto, but last night, we had a little snow, just in time for Christmas. I don't think it's supposed to last, but at least we had a little dusting of white at some point during the season.</span></div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-47003407790248990702015-11-30T12:30:00.000-03:302016-08-01T15:23:05.001-02:30More fun, less fearAs I wrap up my #NaBlowWriMo blogging challenge, I wanted my final entry to be a bit special. It's been a long November and there were days when I forgot to blog and had to write a couple of entries in a row, but I made it. So let's end off with something that I've been saving...<br />
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I've been using a hashtag over the past couple of years - #morefunlessfear. I didn't invent it myself but I can't remember where I originally saw it. What I do know is that I've been trying to apply it to my life ever since.<br />
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"More fun, less fear" seems like a pretty good motto for making sure you take the time to try new things, get out of your comfort zone and really <i>live.</i></div>
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#morefunlessfear has encouraged me to take steps towards living more in my life - both baby steps and giant leaps. It's been the final push over the edge of making decisions that have led to interesting experiences that I know I would've regretted not trying. It's made me more of a "I'm glad I did that" person instead of a "I wish I'd done that" person, and I'm grateful for that. </div>
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Regret is something that I try to avoid and as I get older, I'm more and more conscious of it. You only get one life, so don't live it on the sidelines. Take the trip, spend the money on that Kate Spade bag (no arguments here, I'll always spend the money on the Kate Spade bag) and rarely turn down an opportunity to try something new. You never know where it will lead you and how it will change your life. </div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-7276661556440135762015-11-29T12:38:00.000-03:302015-12-30T12:39:55.968-03:30NailsI have a few vices in life but one that's particularly noticeable is my love of nail art.<br />
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I've been getting regular gel manicures for over ten years now, trying different types of gel, various nail shapes and a number of nail techs. There's so much you can do with nail art and I've always felt that it's a neat way to show a little bit of your personality while having clean, presentable fingernails. </div>
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The girl I've been going to for the past number of years is the best nail tech I've come across. Her attention to detail and amazing artistic skills keep me coming back time and time again. </div>
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When I'm having a bad day or when I just want to relax and feel pampered, I go and get my nails done. It's one simple pleasure that always leaves me feeling happy!</div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-23626797802156232012015-11-28T12:52:00.000-03:302015-12-30T12:53:12.973-03:30DIY: Gallery wallsI've written before about my love for <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> and how I've found some great recipes, creative home decor ideas and beautiful clothes and accessories. When I moved into my new apartment last year, which is twice the size of my previous apartment, I didn't know what to do with the giant 25 foot wall that ran from the front door to the living room window. How do you fill a space like that?<br />
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After much investigating on Pinterest, I discovered a recent home decor trend: gallery walls. I knew it was the solution to my long living room wall problem! I collected a bunch of prints, paintings and photos and bought a couple of big letters to include on my wall. Some of the prints were of my favourite sayings, the paintings were by one of my favourite artists in Toronto, and the photos were of some of my favourite people and I.<br />
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Once I had all of them framed and ready to go, to organize the artwork, I laid everything out on the floor, to help me visualize how it would be arranged on the wall. This helped <i>a lot.</i> But when it came time to actually hang everything, it wasn't really a one person job. Luckily, I had the help of my best friend and her husband! They saved my wall from lots of teeny tiny nail holes and helped make the arrangement great.<br />
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If you have a blank wall and you're unsure of what to do with it, consider a gallery wall! It's a great way to personalize your space and brighten up you walls!</div>
Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-91374421770247362132015-11-27T09:00:00.000-03:302016-08-01T15:23:40.233-02:30This is 30This year, I turned the big 3-0. Eight months ago to the day, actually. I have to admit, I felt pretty anxious about it. There was something about leaving my twenties that made me feel uneasy. I think the start of a new decade always does that. When I turned 20, I thought about how much had changed from when I was a wee 10-year-old up to being <i>so old</i> at 20. Twenty saw lots of changes and lots of growing up for me. It was a year that held new experiences, new adventures, new relationships. It was a good year.<br />
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As I was approaching 30, I reflected on how much I had grown since I was 20. In 2005, I had the opportunity to participate in <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/7QOL5TiJPH/" target="_blank">a term abroad</a> that <a href="http://elizabethf1985.blogspot.ca/2012/11/harlow.html" target="_blank">I've blogged about before</a>. It really was a life-changing experience for me, one that I continue to cherish to this day.<br />
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I think about how my career path changed from what I thought I wanted to do with my life, to what I'm doing now. I think about how ten years ago, I didn't know some people existed, and now they're the closest friends I have. I think about the people who are no longer with us, who left unexpectedly, and wonder what they'd think of the world and the people in their lives now.<br />
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I even think about things like technology - being able to live-stream video chats from <span style="font-family: inherit;">my phone to loved ones thousands of miles away while standing in Piccadilly Circus or in front of <span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Cathedral" target="_blank">Il Duomo di Firenze</a>. I think about how fortunate I've been to travel to some amazing countries and see beautiful sites. All things that happened in the past 10 years.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #252525;"><span style="background-color: white;">As I turned 30 this year, I said goodbye to a decade that changed me so much. My twenties were pretty good, but I'm looking forward to seeing what my thirties have in store. </span></span>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-20650442434797947962015-11-26T23:15:00.001-03:302015-11-26T23:15:13.870-03:30Early morning musingsI'm not a morning person. Never have been, most likely never will be. On the days that I <i>do</i> have to wake up at the crack of dawn and I see how beautiful the world is at first light, I'll sometimes say to myself, "that sunrise is so lovely, maybe I should get up this early all the time."<div><br></div><div>And then my love of sleeping wins every time. Anyway, maybe a beautiful sunrise would get a bit boring after a while, if you saw it every single day. Maybe it would lose its specialness...that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it. </div><div><br></div><div>Though, on mornings like this morning, when the sky is brilliant hues of orange and gold with the sun beaming through my window, I'm not sure such beauty could ever be considered boring. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iPJPaklx-cU/VlfDuGWYojI/AAAAAAAABU0/musX46fpRE0/s640/blogger-image--1434545341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iPJPaklx-cU/VlfDuGWYojI/AAAAAAAABU0/musX46fpRE0/s640/blogger-image--1434545341.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-51642767049694544702015-11-25T21:38:00.000-03:302016-08-01T15:24:14.975-02:30In London, there is life<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
There's something about London that fills me with joy. The feel of the city seeps into me and races through my veins. I know I've said it repeatedly, especially over the past few weeks, but reliving last year's trip over the last little while brings up all those feelings and memories again, of how much I do love it there. I don't get that same feeling in any other place, even Toronto, where I lived for a few years and loved very much. I get a different feeling in Toronto; still very pleasant, but nothing like the hum of excitement that London fills me with.</div>
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I thrive in the hustle and bustle of a tube station - actually love the feeling of being swept up in the crowds. I enjoy weaving around fellow pedestrians on the side walk and feeling black cabs and double decker busses whoosh by me. I truly believe there's no better city in the world.</div>
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-85894159595073589022015-11-24T23:02:00.000-03:302015-11-25T22:23:24.255-03:30Last day in LondonI remember the final day of our trip last year pretty clearly. Knowing it was my last day in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London" target="_blank">London</a>, I woke up at the crack of dawn and was out the door of our hotel pretty quickly. I was determined to not waste a second of my time left in that wonderful city.<br />
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I had made a list of all the places I wanted to visit one last time, shops I'd wanted to pick up certain items from and special foods I'd wanted to eat before I said goodbye. I didn't stop the entire day, hopping on and off the tube, choosing to walk most places instead of taking a double-decker bus or a black cab, because I wanted to see everything I could, absorb everything I could about London. I felt that same hum of excitement and energy course through me that I'd felt the moment I'd stepped through customs at Heathrow.</div>
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I stayed out until almost midnight that day. Standing in Piccadilly Circus, I soaked up as much as I could, took one last look around and then said "see you soon" to the city I love.<br />
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-19026903157994182382015-11-23T12:52:00.000-03:302016-08-01T15:24:49.133-02:30Pizza making in FlorencePizza has to be one of my favourite foods. Sometimes I like a simple pepperoni and cheese pie, other times I want the works loaded on. While we were in Florence, we wanted to do some kind of Italian cooking class. What better than homemade pizza?!<br />
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The <a href="http://www.florencecookingclasses.com/" target="_blank">Food & Wine Academy Florence</a> offers numerous cooking classes, including the <a href="http://www.florencecookingclasses.com/tours_details.php?idtour=161" target="_blank">pizza and gelato class</a> we did. Our instructor, Andreas, taught us how to make our own pizza dough, including the recipe for the dough and making sure to let it rise for half an hour.<br />
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For something so simple, with basic and natural ingredients, it was absolutely delicious. I topped mine with homemade tomato sauce, salami, onion, oregano and fresh basil, and it turned out brilliantly. I've made it since and loved it every time!</div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-31909688619580386312015-11-22T22:37:00.000-03:302015-11-24T23:26:10.247-03:30O Mio Babbino CaroWhile on vacation in Florence this time last year, my good friend and I were walking along the Arno River and came across a violin player. I immediately stopped as my ears picked up the tune - it was one of my favourite classical pieces: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_mio_babbino_caro" target="_blank">O Mio Babbino Caro</a>, from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giacomo_Puccini" target="_blank">Puccini's</a> opera <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gianni_Schicchi" target="_blank">Gianni Schicchi</a></i>.<br />
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I've loved this piece for as long as I can remember, and walking by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arno" target="_blank">Arno</a>, listening to it being played on one of my favourite instruments filled me with such joy. I love the Italian version of the song, (everything sounds more romantic in a foreign language) which tells the story of a young woman pleading with her father that she loves a certain young man he has conflict with. In the piece, she sings <i>"if my love were in vain, I would go to the Ponte Vecchio, and throw myself in the Arno!"</i><br />
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Below is the beautiful piece played on the violin by the amazing musician, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Bell" target="_blank">Joshua Bell</a>. If you listen, you might recognize the tune as it's quite famous, and you might understand why I love it so much. :)<br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-72242733809753614622015-11-21T21:00:00.000-03:302015-11-25T10:41:53.243-03:30Ah, Florence!<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence" target="_blank">Florence</a>. An Italian city I'd wanted to visit for some time and finally got to
see last year. I can't put my finger on one specific thing I'd wanted to see in
Florence all this time, it was just something about the city itself that drew
me to it and made me want to visit.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Once I arrived though, and seeing how close our apartment was to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Cathedral" target="_blank">Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore</a>, I knew it was the architecture that drew me to Florence.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: 14.6667px;">Growing up in churches all my life and having an admiration for architecture, it's no wonder that I fell in love with the massive <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duomo" target="_blank">Duomo</a> as soon as I saw it. The exterior is unbelievably gorgeous and intricately detailed. It really is a spectacular site. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: 14.6667px;">We had the most incredible view of the beautiful Duomo from our <a href="https://www.airbnb.ca/" target="_blank">airbnb</a> apartment balcony - a view I never grew tired of.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: 14.6667px;">Other pieces of architecture around the city drew me in as well - from ornate buildings and palaces to Florence's own <a href="http://www.nlgeotourism.com/content/jellybean-row-houses/nflEC26BA27FE57F32E9" target="_blank">Jelly Bean Row</a> along the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arno" target="_blank">Arno River</a>, Florence almost made me feel at home. I know I have to go back again some day. We have a bond now, Florence and I.</span></div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-22642136991855878962015-11-20T12:30:00.000-03:302015-11-22T23:13:11.365-03:30Holidays are here againAs it's nearing the end of November, I'm already in the mood for Christmas. Decorations, music, shopping and food - the holidays are (almost) here again. While my apartment isn't decorated just yet, the lobby of my building sure is. I have to give the residence managers credit - they do an amazing job of decorating for every occasion and holiday in our building. Stopping in the lobby to pick up my mail, I can't help but smile at how festive it looks, especially around Christmas time. Doesn't it look like a magical Christmas market?<br />
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-48713704655055649152015-11-19T23:03:00.000-03:302015-11-22T23:03:33.595-03:30Whoops...So I know I said I'd blog every day this month, but sometimes, life just gets in the way. Let's see if I can get caught up again and get all 30 entries in before November 30!<br />
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685331356882335827.post-86695628377859473962015-11-18T15:55:00.000-03:302015-11-18T15:55:07.016-03:30La Dolce Vita<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy" target="_blank">Italy</a>. One of my favourite countries. The architecture, the people, the wine...the food. Ah, the food. Upon arriving in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence" target="_blank">Florence</a> this time last year, my dear friend and I headed out to a restaurant for some dinner. Being absolutely famished, we ordered appetizers AND mains AND dessert.<br />
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<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/prosciutto-wrapped-melon/7847/" target="_blank">Prosciutto and melon</a>. Or, in Italian, <i>prosciutto e melone. </i>Simple, yet so, so delicious. The sweetness of the cantaloupe paired with that tasty, salty meat is an interesting combination.<br />
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Spaghetti carbonara, or <i><a href="http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pasta-recipes/gennaro-s-classic-spaghetti-carbonara/" target="_blank">spaghetti alla carbonara</a></i>. Notice the colour of the pasta? The colour of egg yolks in Italy was such a beautiful, rich orange colour, it translated into their fresh, handmade pasta. We bought eggs that night and had them for breakfast the next morning, again seeing the bright orange yolks. Beautiful.<br />
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelato" target="_blank">Gelato</a>. I think we had gelato every single day we were in Italy. Because, why not? Where else would you eat gelato every single day but the place that made it famous? Out of all the flavours, I think my favourite is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stracciatella_(ice_cream)" target="_blank">stracciatella</a>. Or maybe mint chocolate chip. Or maybe hazelnut. I guess I'll have to go back to Italy and try them all again!<br />
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The food in Italy was incredible. Every meal, even if it was a simple sandwich or a classic <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caprese_salad" target="_blank">Caprese salad</a>, was delicious. I think I'd like to go back and do a food tour of Italy. I'm sure those exist, right?! If they don't, then they definitely should!!</div>
Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327569203933431736noreply@blogger.com0