She Got Her Looks From Her Father...

"She got her looks from her father...he is a plastic surgeon."-Groucho Marx
 
Did you know that average woman may spend 200,000 hard earned dollars on beauty products in their lifetime. That is just a little under the cost of my house! The beauty industry is currently a nine BILLION dollar industry, and I am sure that number will continue to grow.

That said, make-up can be a quick pick-me-up at a small price. I have mentioned before how lipstick sales sky-rocket during a recession. It's inexpensive, ranges from $3 to $40 and can instantly pick up your mood. I LOVE lipstick for this reason and it can change an entire look. A little black dress can instantly go glam with an application of red lipstick, whether it is an expensive frock or a jersey knit you have had in your wardrobe rotation for years. Plus there is just something fabulous and very 50's about a bright pop of color on your lips! I am not recommending you spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on makeup...less is more but for the mid-winter blues, I think everyone deserves a pick me up once and awhile.

So here are my go-to's and lusts from MAC, happy lipstick-ing!
-m

My everyday color:

Modesty

 My coral hit (one of my favorite go to's):

See Sheer

 My berry tint:

Capricious (less red in real life!)

 One I LOVE but am nervous to try:

Girl About Town

 Always a classic:

Ruby Woo

 Could be the perfect neutral: 

Twig

 

Cinnamon....

"Cinnamon, it bites and kisses simultaneously."- Vanna Bonta

My mother knows me well. She knew I would be positively thrilled with some exotic spices to add to my spice rack and ordered me up some wonderful delicacies for Christmas. Vietnamese cinnamon, pure Mexican vanilla and an aromatic Madagascar bourbon vanilla, mmm. They are beautifully packaged, the vanilla came in vintage apothecary glass bottles and I can not wait to display them in my new open concept cabinets (if I ever finish painting and sanding....painting and sanding...painting and sanding).

Vietnamese cinnamon is potent, in my opinion it makes all other cinnamon I have ever met seem dull and scentless in comparison. I have added some of the cinnamon to my fresh ground coffee for a mid winter pick me up (just a pinch will do). The smell of fresh hot coffee with just a hint of cinnamon could possibly be the best smell in the entire world. Maybe I could bottle it and become a rich entrepreneur?

Spices, olive oils and vanillas make for unique unexpected gifts. I was thrilled to receive them as would any person who enjoys puttering around in the kitchen. Just a friendly suggestion for house warmings or unexpected birthdays!
-m

 You can find these beauties at  http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/ingredients, as well as a variety of kitchen tools, baking additives and recipes. How did I not know this web site existed??

An Intelligent Man...

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools"
 - Ernest Hemmingway

"Work is the curse of the drinking class"
- Oscar Wilde

I know what you are thinking...a post about how I drink too much wine followed up by an impromptu "home bar" post, this young lady drinks waaaaay too much. Truth be told I am not a heavy drinker...more of a wine enthusiast who likes to entertain. So here is what I (as in just little old me) think every at home entertainer should acquire to have a well stocked bar, capable of throwing out the odd martini or signature cocktail. My bar is petite. Fits on top of my hutch, is not cluttered and all the fixins' are tucked away from plain sight.

My bar...

Let us start with the basics.

Stemware -wine glasses, rocks glasses, martini glasses, champagne flutes and aperitif glasses. Simple enough, mine are collected from winners, antique stores and some are even hand-me-downs (aka bright blue champagne flutes from UJ). These are basics, nothing fancy, and remember lots of these can double as dessert bowls.  My little antique aperitif glasses are short, fat and wide...beautiful for a sorbet! Champagne flutes make wonderful single serving trifle vessels. Think outside the box!

Vintage brandy sniffer! A house warming gift from Ang!

Fun Details from Chantal!

Tools- One must have a decent wine corker...this is very valuable in my house (HA). A simple no fuss shot glass, mortar and pestle (or a muddler, you can make do with a glass and wooden spoon if you have to), a martini shaker and a cute wine corker (not a must have.. but fun!).

Beautiful granite m and p from Sinead!

Tools tucked away...

Liquor-  It is smart to have a bottle of red or white (or both) on hand, one never knows when they will have company, or have a last minute invite to dinner at a friends place (never arrive empty handed!). Then basics, vermouth, bitters and a liquor or two. I always have cassis on hand. Then baileys, rum, gin, vodka and a scotch. Not a lot but the basics for many different drinks (your company will be amazed!).

Garnish- Lemons and limes generally reside in my fridge anyway as do green olives. Fun straws can also serve as a garnish. Don't forget about ice cubes. Tip: Boil the water to make your ice, you will have crystal clear ice cubes. Freeze berries in cubes for summer drinks or slice blood oranges, grapefruits and lemons, freeze on cookie sheet and you have an ice cube substitute that works as a garnish without watering down your drink, think sangria!

 Mixes- Soda water ,clamato, cranberry juice and lime cordial are what I keep on hand (sometimes ginger ale!). They can be mixed and matched into a frenzy.

Now here are some simple recipes. I bar tended for years but no one wants to have forty types of liquors they may use once a year. I don't know about you, but I don't have the time or the storage space, I would be running under my bed to find stupid things like southern comfort (small house no space!).

Dirty Martini
In a martini shaker, combine ice, two ounces of gin or vodka, one tablespoon of dry vermouth, two tablespoons of olive juice. Shake, shake, shake, strain into glass and toss in a few olives. Good to go, my personal, all-time favorite martini!

Kir
A french cocktail that has only two ingredients but it sounds so fancy! Have chilled white wine (preferably dry) or chilled champagne. Add one ounce of cassis liquor to the bottom of your wine glass or champagne flute. Top with the chilled wine/champagne and garnish with a raspberry or blackberry!  Deliciously simple!

Mojitio
This recipe I have posted before but it is the perfect summer bevy and makes use of that beautiful mortar and pestle you have just hanging around. Skip the soda and simple syrup and opt for a less convoluted and lazy summer mojito that is equally as refreshing . Beat the snot out of your mint (a few good sized fresh leaves) in a mortar and pestle (or in the bottom of the drinking glass with a wooden spoon). Add a wedge of lime and continue to beat. Pour contents into tall rocks glass. Add one or two ounces of white rum. Squeeze in more lime, smother with ice and then drown with g.ale. Mix well and serve, preferably on a deck in the sun!

Basic Cosmo
Ice, two ounces of vodka, a squeeze of lime, an ounce or two of cranberry juice and a cap full (or 1/2 ounce) of triple sec if you have it (but it is not crucial). Slap all in your trusty martini shaker and shake, shake, shake. Strain into martini glass and garnish with what you have on hand.

Happy mixing!
-m

I Cook With Wine...

"I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food!"- W.C. Fields

Before Christmas, I received this cute little flyer in my mail box from the Boy Scouts. It announced there was to be a bottle drive in early January and if we had any donations to leave them on the front step. Somehow I managed (a miracle) to remember the date and lumbered down to my basement to wrangle up a few bottles. While I went down naively thinking I would have a few, I suddenly came face to face with the degree in which I enjoy wine. Red wine specifically....

Four trips and four large boxes later, I had forty-two empty bottles of red and ten empty whites.  I was both shocked and mildly amused.

Wine is a wonderful thing. I love to sip on it in the evenings, drink it with dinner on the weekends, and LOVE to indulge in a good bottle with good friends. Everyone should have at least a mild appreciation for a decent bottle of wine. I personally prefer a dry red and these are my current favorites under $20.00, trust me there were many multiples of all the following wines in my bottle stash. Enjoy indulging !
-m

mmmmm...an all time fav!

I lied..this one is around $22, but worth every penny!

Line 'em up, rack 'em up....embarrassing.

Life Begins....

"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone."- Neale Walsch

Happy New year! I hope 2013 brings you all happiness, new challenges, crazy adventures and luck in love (do I sound as much like a corny horoscope as I hope?!). 2012 was a good year for me. I bought a house and made lots of new friends! Sadly it was also the final year of my all time favorite restaurant, Janes On The Common. A beautiful place that will be sorely missed by everyone in the lovely metropolis of Halifax.

2013 brings me a new career opportunity, which I am crazy nervous to start but just as pumped for all of the new learning experiences! This year I hope to become a little more healthy, a little more adventurous and  I want to spend more time with the important people in my life. Should be a piece of cake right?  So far 2013 is looking pretty bight! What are your new years resolutions?
-m

A souvenir!

Lemon pavlova a la Janes OTC

A little inspiration