Given that I live about 9 hours (driving distance) away from my parents (and most family), I don't get to see them very often anymore. We speak on the phone daily, Skype, Facebook and MSN but no technological means of communication is quite the same as being with them in person. I may be bias but I must admit that I have the most amazing family. We always have so much fun together!
This weekend we all travelled to my parents' house down south to surprise my Mom for her 69th (she will probably kick my ass for posting her age online LOL) birthday! at 7pm on Saturday evening when she finally found out that we (her family), along with about 60 of her dearest friends were all there to celebrate an early birthday for her, she was in absolute shock, flashed her beautiful smile and broke down in tears.
My cousin Ashley is a chef and made 140 of the most amazing chocolate cupcakes that you could ever imagine, with five different types of buttercream icing - Vanilla bean, fresh raspberry, cocoa, coconut and caramel. Not only were they beautifully decorated with sparkles and sprinkles but they were a tastebud heaven as well. We had a great dinner, live entertainment, games, drinks, beautiful company and a very happy birthday girl!
One of my favourite things to do is to sit with my family and talk. We literally talk and laugh for hours. Some of my fondest family memories are of all of us gathered around my parents long kitchen table laughing and talking over dinner or a game of some sort. It is too sad that our weekend couldn't have gone on longer. The next time we will all be together is at Christmas time - which is one reason why we had an early birthday for Mom this year.
Although I am happy to be back in The Twa, I miss everyone so much already!!
I will post some pictures from our weekend later on :)
As a side note - As you all know, I have been raving about Macadamia Natural Oil hair products. My Mom had been aching to try them so for her birthday, one of the gifts that we all gave her was the shampoo, conditioner, hair mask and oil treatment. Well, she is now in love with these products as much as I am. After we did her hair yesterday, she spent the rest of the afternoon running her fingers through her hair and having everyone touch her pretty locks! Her hair went from its "straw" state to soft, silky and full of life - in just one use! Unbelievable! Mom was stoked!
I wish you all a beautiful week! Be sure to spend time with those that you love. And don't forget to laugh. A lot.
xTx
Monday, August 29, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
The Parkdale Market
By mid July, our Canadian summers are always extremely hot and muggy - the type of weather that I have a love/hate relationship with and the type of weather that my hair just hates. Humidity+My Hair=Frizz. Not pretty. Fortunately this summer I found a way to tame that craziness!!
Come mid August, the weather always begins to settle down - It's still hot but the stickiness begins to dwindle. You can walk outside with no worries that your clothing is going to stick to you and your hair is going to take on a personality of its own. You don't have to worry so much about pumping the air conditioning on sonic blast the second you get to your car. Better yet, you don't have to be concerned that the air blowing sonic blast out of your car vents for the first 30 seconds isn't the temperature of 500 degrees. Those first 30 seconds are always so raunchy!
Regardless of how hot and muggly the weather, there are so many things to see and do here in The Twa. Everything from cultural festivals, boat cruises down the Rideau, camping and fishing, historical museums, beautiful parks and beaches, wine tastings, fleamarket's, sidewalk sales, live music and patio gatherings.
Since I was a little girl my favourite summertime dinner has been BBQ steak, baby potatoes (with butter and sour cream), fresh green beans, corn on the cob and cucumbers soaked in vinegar. This is why my favourite part of the summer is the abundance of roadside stands and farmer's markets that sell fresh fruits and vegetables. Coming from a country background, I have had the opportunity to visit some of the most amazing markets and stands that Ontario has to offer; which is what brings me to my excitement of the day.
Yesterday afternoon babygirl and I went to the Parkdale Market in Wellington West's area of The Twa. The air that surrounds the market is so fresh and sweet from all of the tables lined with produce straight from our local farmer's fields and gardens.
You can find the Parkdale Market at Exit 122 off of the 417. Parking is plentiful, however if you don't drive I believe that the OC Transport has a stop directly in front of the market as well. One way or another, I suggest that you find your way to this lovely piece of open air heaven.
Come mid August, the weather always begins to settle down - It's still hot but the stickiness begins to dwindle. You can walk outside with no worries that your clothing is going to stick to you and your hair is going to take on a personality of its own. You don't have to worry so much about pumping the air conditioning on sonic blast the second you get to your car. Better yet, you don't have to be concerned that the air blowing sonic blast out of your car vents for the first 30 seconds isn't the temperature of 500 degrees. Those first 30 seconds are always so raunchy!
Regardless of how hot and muggly the weather, there are so many things to see and do here in The Twa. Everything from cultural festivals, boat cruises down the Rideau, camping and fishing, historical museums, beautiful parks and beaches, wine tastings, fleamarket's, sidewalk sales, live music and patio gatherings.
Since I was a little girl my favourite summertime dinner has been BBQ steak, baby potatoes (with butter and sour cream), fresh green beans, corn on the cob and cucumbers soaked in vinegar. This is why my favourite part of the summer is the abundance of roadside stands and farmer's markets that sell fresh fruits and vegetables. Coming from a country background, I have had the opportunity to visit some of the most amazing markets and stands that Ontario has to offer; which is what brings me to my excitement of the day.
Yesterday afternoon babygirl and I went to the Parkdale Market in Wellington West's area of The Twa. The air that surrounds the market is so fresh and sweet from all of the tables lined with produce straight from our local farmer's fields and gardens.
Cutest eggplant head ever :)
I love fresh garlic so much! These rows of garlic bulbs make me smile :)
I don't know any grocery store that has produce this perfect!
So pretty! Some of the yummiest berries to be had come off of the Indian Reserves in Quebec.
Even if the prices are a tad higher that most grocers, you can bet your pretty penny that you are purchasing the best of the best from some of the friendliest farmers you will ever meet.
Bouquets of fresh flowers are available as well.
And bananas!!!!!!!!
We met some of the nicest people in the market yesterday. One farmer that we met named Francois was happy to stop and chat with us for a couple minutes, offering up a raw cob of corn for babygirl to snack on (which as you can see from the picture above was taken down to bare cob because it was so delish). We purchased a bakers dozen of sweet (caramel) corn from Farmer Francois for $6.00. It will take presidence at our Sunday dinner this evening. We can't wait to boil it up!
Aside from the corn on the cob that we purchased, we also bought a quart of strawberries for $5, red (my fav) baby potatoes for $4 and a quart of ground cherries for $5. I've tried some crazy things before, but this was my introduction to ground cherries. As you can see they come wrapped in their own tiny little leaf lantern, which when opened, reveals a beautiful amber coloured fruit. Ground cherries are pitless and (in my opinion) have the taste and texture of a sweet plum minus the tartness of the plum skin. They were of course founded by our Native ancestors; will last up to 6 months in their hull and can be packaged and frozen, baked into pies, breads, jams and muffins. Apparently these little marble sized balls of sweetness are hard to find, so my suggestion is that if you come across any being sold, be sure to scoop some up and give them a try. They are so yum!!
The Parkdale Market is open 7 days a week from 7am to 6pm. It opens up for the season in April and shuts down again until the Spring on December 24th. Located directly behind the market is a beautiful park with a splash pad for the kids! These areas of the city make me so happy because you forget how close you are to the hustle and bustle of the downtown core.
If you are in the area, be sure to stop by for a fresh purchase, or to simply take in all of the sweet, sweet smells and vivid colours that represent our beautiful province in the summertime.
xTx
All photos © Copyright Tawny Gelinas, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
It pays to be anal...
Nice!!
:D
Monday, August 15, 2011
Lina loves M.N.O. <3
After 6 long, long weeks of visiting her Grammy and Papa during her summer vacation, Lina finally came home this weekend!!
She has heard me talk about my new hair products for a month and was super excited to try them out tonight.
Just as suspected, her pretty long locks are so shiny and silky smooth. She was stoked that we were able to comb through her hair without and tangling at all. Much like I, that's also a
plus in her books!
I really can't say enough about these products!! You have to try them out!!
xTx
Sent from my iPhone
She has heard me talk about my new hair products for a month and was super excited to try them out tonight.
Just as suspected, her pretty long locks are so shiny and silky smooth. She was stoked that we were able to comb through her hair without and tangling at all. Much like I, that's also a
plus in her books!
I really can't say enough about these products!! You have to try them out!!
xTx
Sent from my iPhone
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Just call me Webster.
So, I received notice yesterday, or the day before, maybe Wednesday. I don't know, this week has been a blur. Anyway, I recieved notice one day this week, I'm pretty sure it was yesterday (but really, who knows) that the editors over at Urban Dictionary have decided to publish my definition of "plankable" (LOL).
You can just call me Webster, thank you very much. I have defined "plankable" as follows:
P.S. According to my editing pals, "plankable" will be found here sometime in the near future. Again, LOL.
Above photo © Copyright to one of my cousin's friends, 2011. My cousin's planking technique in the above photo is a fail. Arms are to be at your side while planking. It is called planking for a reason. It is not called diving.
You can just call me Webster, thank you very much. I have defined "plankable" as follows:Sound it out: Plank-a-ble
Defined as: An object that can be planked.
Used in a sentence: "Oh wow, check out that helicopter chopper thingy! It's totally plankable!"
Defined as: An object that can be planked.
Used in a sentence: "Oh wow, check out that helicopter chopper thingy! It's totally plankable!"
Remarkable? I know.
xTx
P.S. According to my editing pals, "plankable" will be found here sometime in the near future. Again, LOL.
Above photo © Copyright to one of my cousin's friends, 2011. My cousin's planking technique in the above photo is a fail. Arms are to be at your side while planking. It is called planking for a reason. It is not called diving.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Planking? WTF?
I didn't realize that planking was the new thing to do until I saw a picture of my cousin planking a park bench in Niagara Falls. Yeah you know I'm talking about you, girl :P I thought that it was just something silly that she and her boyfriend created but I was sadly mistaken.
According to Wikipedia, planking can also be referred to as "the lying down game"; but why call it the "lying down game" when you can just call it "planking"? There are rules to this "game" - Only three rules, but rules none-the-less. Please note the following:
Rule #1: The hands must touch the sides of the body.
Clearly planking is not planking unless you form your body into the shape of a plank. Aye-Matey.
Rule numero deux (in case you are not from Canada, France or Africa, that means #2): A photograph of the person planking must be taken.
Lack of pictures result in an epic fail. You might as well consider yourself a planking loser and journey onto a new game like Monopoly. Monopoly is hardcore. Pick the boot and kick some ass.
Rule number tree ("tree" is "three" when spoken with a French accent. Cute, I know): The photo of the planker must be posted on the Internet.
Why, you ask? Simply because it's an integral part of the game. Wikipedia said so.
This new craze (although new to most, Tom Green claims that he invented it back in 1994 - Chyeah, whatevs) is taking off like wild fire. If you're not planking, you don't know what you're missing!
Did you know that seven doctors and nurses were suspended from work at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon, England for planking while on duty? Eff health care. Just plank!
And did you know that Hugh Hefner was captured on camera planking a table at the Playboy Mansion on August 2, 2011? Face down, ass up. Hugh's the man.
Since the planking craze has taken off on it's journey of fun, a new "game" has been created called "Owling". Owling is simply a variation of planking and is played by squatting (yes, you guessed it) like an owl (I didn't even know that owls squatted). I'm not sure how squatting is anything like planking but regardless, Owling sounds like super duper fun. The next time you're working out and you squat into position, ask your trainer to snap a picture of you so that you can post it for the world to see. Fun!
So the next time you come across an object that looks plankable (I just created that word. The Urban Dictionary didn't even know the word "plankable" so I sent the definition through. It is currently being reviewed. I'm brilliant like that), don't be a loser and hesitate, my friend. Plank it! If you want to get crazy and rebel out, bust the owl. Just remember to take pictures and post them, cool guy.
Happy Planking!!
xTx
According to Wikipedia, planking can also be referred to as "the lying down game"; but why call it the "lying down game" when you can just call it "planking"? There are rules to this "game" - Only three rules, but rules none-the-less. Please note the following:
Rule #1: The hands must touch the sides of the body.
Clearly planking is not planking unless you form your body into the shape of a plank. Aye-Matey.
Rule numero deux (in case you are not from Canada, France or Africa, that means #2): A photograph of the person planking must be taken.
Lack of pictures result in an epic fail. You might as well consider yourself a planking loser and journey onto a new game like Monopoly. Monopoly is hardcore. Pick the boot and kick some ass.
Rule number tree ("tree" is "three" when spoken with a French accent. Cute, I know): The photo of the planker must be posted on the Internet.
Why, you ask? Simply because it's an integral part of the game. Wikipedia said so.
This new craze (although new to most, Tom Green claims that he invented it back in 1994 - Chyeah, whatevs) is taking off like wild fire. If you're not planking, you don't know what you're missing!
Did you know that seven doctors and nurses were suspended from work at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon, England for planking while on duty? Eff health care. Just plank!
And did you know that Hugh Hefner was captured on camera planking a table at the Playboy Mansion on August 2, 2011? Face down, ass up. Hugh's the man.
Since the planking craze has taken off on it's journey of fun, a new "game" has been created called "Owling". Owling is simply a variation of planking and is played by squatting (yes, you guessed it) like an owl (I didn't even know that owls squatted). I'm not sure how squatting is anything like planking but regardless, Owling sounds like super duper fun. The next time you're working out and you squat into position, ask your trainer to snap a picture of you so that you can post it for the world to see. Fun!
So the next time you come across an object that looks plankable (I just created that word. The Urban Dictionary didn't even know the word "plankable" so I sent the definition through. It is currently being reviewed. I'm brilliant like that), don't be a loser and hesitate, my friend. Plank it! If you want to get crazy and rebel out, bust the owl. Just remember to take pictures and post them, cool guy.
Happy Planking!!
xTx
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Macadamia Natural Oil
This I must share with you because if you know me, you know how I baby and love my hair...
For the last month I have been using a line of products on my hair called Macadamia Natural Oil. I was in desperate need to find a new product that would bring my hair back to life after a mishap that I had with a drugstore hair dye.
Rarely do I dye my hair, I mean rarely. My hair is about 3/4 of the way down my back, so it's pretty long. Ever since I had my daughter I no longer have curls, my hair is almost bone straight and it has thinned out a lot. I pamper my hair and have literally done everything that I can to care for it the past 7 years since my pregnancy. This is why I do not dye it.
I don't know what the hell I was thinking but about 4 or 5 months ago I had a sudden urge to dye my hair black. It's naturally a blackish-brown colour, but I wanted to go really dark. So off I went to Shopper's Drugmart to see what kind of black dye I could score. I purchased two (because like I said, my hair is pretty long) boxes of black dye and went to town on my head.
Immediately after rinsing the dye out my hair turned really dry and brittle. The dye that I used completely ruined my hair. So much so that I was terrified to brush it out, not only because I could hardly get a brush through it but because every time I did my hair would break off.
I started researching hair products that would help to nurture my hair and bring it back to life all while trying all sorts of different types of shampoo's and conditioners. Nothing at all was working and my hair was getting worse - possibly because I had gone wild spinning a product wheel trying to find something decent to use on my hair. I was losing my mind and was terrified that amidst losing my mind I would lose all of my hair as well. After a couple more weeks of late night researching on youtube and reading up on any hair article I could find, I discovered a product called Macadamia Natural Oil. I knew that macadamia nut oil was excellent for hair but this was the only product that I could find that used it as a main ingredient. Not only did it house Macadamia nut oil but argan seed oil as well. Argan seed oil is another of Mother Nature's beautiful gems.
The only store in Ottawa that I found to sell Macadamia Natural Oil was Trade Secrets - they carry the entire line! I purchased the Healing Oil Treatment, Rejuvenating Shampoo, Moisturizing Rinse, and the Deep Repair Masque for less than $100. As a side note, I received a free nail polish for spending over $50 - Fun!
I drove home like a crazy person so that I could jump into the shower to try my new products out.
I washed my hair two times using only a small amount of shampoo - literally about the size of a quarter each time. Normally I use a whole handful, clearly I am an over-doer! Once I was done thoroughly washing my hair two times over and because it was my first time using the products I decided to try the masque; rather than the rinse (conditioner). Note that before I applied the masque I was already feeling a difference. I applied the masque - about the size of a loonie - and starting at the roots ran it through my hair really well. I gathered a bit more of the masque from the jar and applied more of it, focusing strictly on my ends. I got out of the shower and wrapped my head for 30 minutes. You can leave this masque on your hair over night if you'd like but all of the intensity is in the first 30 minutes - there is really nothing more to the product after that.
All joking aside, this is when I began to cry...
I got back into the shower to rinse my hair. It was literally like silk. Literally. It was almost scary how soft my hair was. Once I was out of the shower I towel dried my hair and applied a quarter size amount of Healing Oil to the lower half of my hair before attempting to comb it out. This, my friends, was going to be the real test. If I was able to comb my hair without squeezing my eyes shut and scrunching my face I would be happy. Well, my comb didn't comb through my hair, my comb slid through my hair. No face scrunchies at all!
I dried my hair with a blow dryer and straightened it with my flat iron (after spritzing on my favourite heat protectant) and the final product was brilliant. My hair was beautiful, silky smooth and ultra shiney. It has never been so gorgeous!
These products do not weight my hair down at all and leave it feeling wonderful. It no longer breaks off, I have no split ends, my hair feels like silk and it glows with health.
Over the past month I have suggested these products to every single woman that I speak to and every one that has taken my advice to purchase the line is forever thankful that they did. I will be bringing the entire line to my Mom when I go to visit her next weekend as well. My poor Mom has hair that she claims to be like "straw" but I'm coming to the rescue with my little bottles of lovely! I can't wait to use it on Lina's hair as well! LOL Hair is seriously way too exciting.
Simply Heaven. Trust me, you will not be sorry - You will love it!
Photo courtesy of macadamiahair.com
Snappity, Snap, Snap
I hope that everyone is having a fantatic summer! I haven't had much time to blog this summer but my cousin Kelsey inspired my to start writing again. Kelsey likes to nose around through my blog entries to see what I am up to and note the things that I am randomly loving. I generally try to live by the "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" rule, so you won't really find me writing about things that I dislike. The world has enough haters - I'd rather not waste my time being one of them.
Being an Artist, I love photography. A lot. I love how a camera can bring the beauty out of anything that it captures; if captured in just the right light, on just the right angle, with just the right lense, by just the right photographer. I've never been good behind a camera for some reason but photography is something that I adore.
Kelsey, my little flame of inspiration, is a beautiful photographer. Everytime she posts a new set of pictures I get so excited to see them - She manages to capture shots that amaze me and I adore her work; maybe because of the simplicity. I like simplicity.
Below are a few of my Kelsey favourites! Enjoy!
Being an Artist, I love photography. A lot. I love how a camera can bring the beauty out of anything that it captures; if captured in just the right light, on just the right angle, with just the right lense, by just the right photographer. I've never been good behind a camera for some reason but photography is something that I adore.
Kelsey, my little flame of inspiration, is a beautiful photographer. Everytime she posts a new set of pictures I get so excited to see them - She manages to capture shots that amaze me and I adore her work; maybe because of the simplicity. I like simplicity.
Below are a few of my Kelsey favourites! Enjoy!
© Copyright, Kelsey L., 2011
© Copyright, Kelsey L., 2011
© Copyright, Kelsey L., 2011
© Copyright, Kelsey L., 2011
And my #1 favourite of all time...
© Copyright, Kelsey L., 2011
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