The Chronicals of Campinggirl

This Week's Eats

2012-02-03T17:32:00.003-05:00

We decided to eat healthier this week... or at least pay attention to what we are putting in our mouths. I pulled up the Weight Watcher Canada website and chose a bunch of recipes to try. I am hoping to do this each week and use the blog as a way of tracking what we liked and what we will take a pass on.

Here is what we came up with...

Hot and sour soup for lunches

This soup was very tasty and really easy to make! I was worried that it wouldn't be filling but the mushrooms and tofu did the trick.

Store bought roasted chicken and bagged asian salad

Monday Bob and I don't eat together so we make a larger meal on Sunday that we can reheat on Monday. However the person in charge of cooking Sunday dinner (not me) was unable to cook because of a hangover. As back up I picked up a roasted chicken and salad from the grocery store and reused these on Monday.

Spaghetti topped with beef and tomatoes

This was Bob's fav meal of the week which isn't much of a surprise. He LOVES spaghetti... he did however not appreciate the addition of carrots. On top of the spaghetti is a combination of hamburger, carrots, onion, canned diced tomato and spices.


Chicken and broccoli in garlic sauce

This was not as tasty as I had hoped it would be. It needed a little tobasco sauce to liven it up, parm cheese would also have done the trick. This recipe was supposed to be on rice but we used rice noodles instead.

General Tsao chicken

This dish had a ton of flavour but no veggies!! I obviously didn't read through this recipe very well because if I had I would have had a salad or something else organized. We will definitely make this one again but with a salad on the side.

Sweet and sour pork

The last meal of the week was very tasty... but really everything with pineapple in it is yummy. This was a mix of onion, green pepper, pineapple and pork tenderloin cooked in a sauce and placed on rice. Bob suggested that the pork be marinated in the sauce to give it more flavour.

I think that we did pretty well for our first week.

A Quiet But Productive Day

2012-01-04T18:37:00.001-05:00

The dog went to Petsmart daycare so that I could work on the last assignment for my course. It was very quiet in the house.

I very quickly made myself comfortable at the kitchen table (why do I even have an office?) and got down to work. 4 hours later I had a good chunk of work done! I can't wait to have this course completed.

New Toys

2012-01-03T11:02:00.000-05:00

Since Gus ate the head off of his Christmas present we went back to the store to try again.

His favourite toy at the moment is this Ultimate Bone. We play fetch with it constantly and he also tries to tear it apart... as you can tell. This one has lasted about 3 months and he has just managed to break it open.

So Gus and I went to Pet Value today to get a new one. These toys have a rating system from 1 - 10 which helps us to choose toys that are best for him. The octopus was an 8 and didn't last long with our bulldog but the bone is a 9 and seems to be better. I felt that the 10's were a bit too heavy and big for him yet.

We also bought this one which very quickly became a favourite! I hope that they last a few months.

The face of a happy boy :)

A Christmas Gus

2012-01-03T10:50:00.000-05:00

We spent Christmas in Niagara Falls with my parents and my brothers and their families.

Gus was dressed up in his Jingle Bells collar... the bells helped us keep tabs on where he was and what he was doing.

Do you notice anything strange about my parents Christmas tree... other than no snow in the background? (We don't always have a white Christmas in southern Ontario)

Behind the tree was a favourite of Gus', he could see and hear everything while still having a private spot.

That was until he found this spot. He is not allowed on the furniture at our house but since the pugs can sit on my parents sofa's Gus thought that he could too. He chose this one in the solarium as his own, anyone else that tried to sit on it was pushed off.

This little octopus was Gus' Christmas present, it lasted a few days until he pulled the head off and ate the squeaker. Never fails!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-10-10T16:25:00.000-04:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my Canadian friends!!

Can't Get Any Sweeter :)

2011-10-05T19:50:00.001-04:00

Gus is going to be a dog sundae for Halloween!

It's A Special Day!

2011-09-30T19:34:00.000-04:00

It's a special day!!

Today is Gussie's 1st birthday!!!

Interview Results

2011-09-02T14:12:00.002-04:00

I am officially on the VP list, the next step is to meet with the S.O. to find out what I did well in the interview and what I need to work on.

Now it is time to figure out where the celebratory dinner will be :)

2011-08-31T11:15:00.000-04:00

That about says it. This week I am back in school setting up my room and meeting with parents of high needs students.

This is also the week that I find out if I made it into the vice principal pool. I know that the new vp's that will be taking on new positions were told yesterday and since I did not receive a call I am assuming that I am not being placed now. I am holding out hope that I will get good news on Tuesday.

If I could choose what would happen it would be that I get on the list and they place me in a job either after Christmas or the next school year. That would give me time to finish my practicum and the principal's course.

Fingers crossed.

2011-08-18T15:01:00.000-04:00

My inlaws visited earlier this month to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday. We were all going to see the Lion King.. but before the big event we had dinner at our house.

It is difficult to tell from this pic but this is chicken cacciatore. I browned chicken pieces and then added mushrooms, green peppers, onions and tomato sauce in the dutch oven. Along with this pot of goodness we had a choice regular pasta and a gluten free variety and salad.

Bob's mom has many allergies so I thought that this cake mix would be a good choice for a birthday cake. I must say that I expected it to taste like cardboard and I expected it to look even worse because I have never baked a cake in my life and because it is gluten free.... Boy was I wrong! I followed the instructions on the back of the bag to a T. I also found an icing recipe which was sweet but very good.

Isn't it pretty? And it tasted so good! Even the boys had more than one piece. Bob's mom loved it so much that we went back to the store to purchase more products for her to try.

Studying

2011-08-16T13:03:00.000-04:00

There is a lot of studying going on in this household right now. I have spent every morning at the kitchen table pouring over all of the info that my lovely friends have given me in regards to their vice-principal interviews. I have also been scouring my course notes for hints given by the S.O.s and principals when they visited our course in the spring.

I have received 2 emails over the last few days explaining what I need to bring to the interview, who my interview group will be (2 of the girls on my panel were in my study group during the course so I am thrilled!) and the times for all of the activities and interviews. The activities will be from 8-10am on Tues and my interview will be 12:30pm... the last one for my panel. Not sure how I feel about this... on the pro side I will be the last person they hear from so hopefully they will be left thinking of me later and I will have more time to gather my thoughts. On the con side they will be hungry and I will have tons of time to sit and stew while the others are being interviewed.

This week has been shaping up into a busy one... aside from studying I have had a dog with a belly and ear ache, a hair appointment, Shakespeare in the park, The Help at the theatre, early morning yogalates in the park 2x, the gym 2x, a quiz night for charity and a girls night. It's only Tuesday but I have something planned every day.

Next week I have a pedi/mani planned for Monday, THE interview on Tuesday and then off to Niagara to help with my brothers wedding which is Saturday. I have a feeling that going back to school the first week of September will be relaxing!

Break over... time to study and stress some more :)

Final Days: Portugal

2011-08-10T19:00:00.000-04:00

After Lagos we took a train back to Oporto so that we could catch a plane back to Canada. We were sad to see the trip come to an end but we were very excited to be reunited with Gus!
Here are a few final pic's of Oporto before our departure:

Week 3: Lagos

2011-08-10T10:54:00.001-04:00

Our final week in Portugal was glorious! Who doesn't love a few days on a white sandy beach?!

Fatima

2011-08-05T12:08:00.000-04:00

As mentioned in the last post, we had decided to take a day trip while in Lisbon. We went to Fatima which is a place where the Virgin Mary is said to be seen by 3 children. A beautiful church, chapel and square has been built on the site where many people now visit. Here are a few pics of what we saw:

Many people were crawling along this path.

You can purchase candles and put them in the inferno.

The square is larger than St. Peters in Rome.

Lisbon: An afternoon at the zoo.

2011-08-05T11:43:00.000-04:00

While in Lisbon we decided to take a trip to one of the surrounding areas, the day before this adventure we picked up our bus tickets at the station and noticed that there was a zoo across the street. It seemed only natural to spend a few sunny hours visiting all of the animals.

Sick Dog

2011-08-04T15:32:00.000-04:00

Gussy hasn't been feeling well over the last couple of days. :(

Week 2: Lisbon

2011-08-04T15:25:00.000-04:00

On thing that you need to know about Portugal (Oporto and Lisbon) is that there are a TON of hills! I mean a TON! Thankfully I brought sandals that were not flip flops because the one time that I wore flip flops I slid down the street on the slick smooth cobblestone sidewalks.

Both cities had these trolley's called Funiculars which helped with the climbs.

This is a fancier Funicular in the shopping district of Lisbon.

While in Lisbon we visited a few churches,

fountains,

castles,

monuments,

and more churches.

On our walk around the city we spotted some wildlife which inspired our next adventure...

Yogalates

2011-08-03T09:01:00.000-04:00

Admittedly I have been slacking at the gym.... not just slacking but totally not going. Yes I was away for 3 weeks and I have been using my days to prepare my portfolio to the VP interview and finishing the principal's course... but still.
I decided to kick myself in the butt which came in the form of a livingsocial voucher. A few days ago I received an ad for a survivor bootcamp. The deal was 8 Yogalates classes in a local part for $49 plus tax. This seems like a crazy good deal and a fantastic way to get motivated again!

Week 1: Oporto

2011-08-02T20:24:00.000-04:00

Our first week in Portugal was spent in Oporto. This beach was close to our apartment so we took a leisurely walk on our first day trying desperately not to let the jet lag get the best of us.

We rented apartments in each city and explored our surroundings on foot.

We crossed this bridge to get from Oporto to Gaia to taste Port. Bob was in heaven!

We took a tour and a taste test at Taylor Fladgate. I don't like Port very much but Bob loved it!

Graham's was the 2nd stop. We met a couple from the Netherlands, they were really sweet and fun to chat with.

The blue tiles that cover the walls of this old train station are made in Portugal. They make an everyday space so beautiful.

I love the old apartment buildings... and I especially have a thing for clotheslines!

We saw this old house that is for sale... it has an open floor plan and is very bright and breezy. I wonder how much it costs.

A little boat cruise wrapped up our week in Oporto. It was a great way to see the waterfront.

We are excited for our next city (Lisbon) but we will be back in Oporto at the end of our trip for a few days before we fly out.

Summer Vaca!!

2011-07-01T09:34:00.002-04:00

Another school year is done and did it every go quickly!
Gus is off to grandpa's today and we are off to Portugal tomorrow!!! This has the potential of being the best birthday ever!

And The Dress Is....

2011-06-03T17:12:00.000-04:00

The dress that I will be wearing to my brothers wedding is here, however it will be in clover green.
I ran to the bridal salon after school to order it because apparently we are dangerously close to the order deadline. The dress should be in early to mid August... the wedding is August 27th... fingers crossed that it will all work out.

Gus has just left for the puppy hotel. He is staying in a single dog suite for the weekend which has a private t.v., toys, a bed and soundproof windows. He will be partaking in a half day at the daycare tomorrow and a spa morning on Sunday where he will get his nails done, ears cleaned and have a refreshing bath before we pick him up. All of the employees are really excited to have him there since they all know him from our puppy classes. The started fighting over who was going to play with him months ago. I am afraid that he won't want to home!

While Gus is enjoying his weekend away we will be in Picton enjoying a fun filled wedding weekend! This wedding should be a riot, the festivities start tonight and I can't wait to get there. The groom says that the party around the bonfire the night before the wedding will be more fun than the actual wedding and the bride didn't disagree.

The cooler is filled with Keiths... the fancy clothes are packed... off we go!

Enjoy the weekend!

Bridesmaid Dress Help Needed

2011-05-27T21:07:00.002-04:00

I have been asked to be a bridesmaid in my brothers wedding so now the fun of finding a dress begins!
I have been told that the 3 of us will be wearing clover green but that we can choose our dresses.
Here are a few that I like... votes please. Click on the pics for the link.

Tulip Festival

2011-05-23T16:12:00.000-04:00

This weekend we decided to take Gus to the Tulip Festival. He was neutered on Monday but he has his energy back and is ready to go.

Gus was the star of the show. People kept stopping us to take pics and to pet him. He didn't mind one bit!

Dogs are not allowed on the paths by the flowers so I kept ducking away to take a few pics. I love flowers!

Arboretum

2011-05-23T15:50:00.000-04:00

We decided to have another adventure today with Gus since the rain was holding off. We had heard that the Arboretum at the Agriculture Museum was really nice and neither of us had been there so off we went.

There were lots of paths to wander on that took us past ponds and over bridges.

Some of the trees had beautiful buds on them, others have already begun to shed their petals.

There were a few people out canoeing. Bob says that there are canoes for rent on Dow's Lake... this sounds like a good date to me.

A few of the areas were really swampy due to the crazy amounts of rain that we have been getting. These ducks thought that they were in a pond!

After seeing all of that water, Gus needed a drink to help him cool down. My mom gave me the thing around his neck. It has crystal type things in it that swell when put in water and get cold when put in the fridge. We use it a lot!

I can't wait to explore all of the other paths that run through this park. I think that once school is finished Gus and I will spend a lot of time here.

A Quiet House

2011-05-16T20:55:00.000-04:00

Gus went to the vet this morning to get neutered. We actually didn't think that it would happen because he has had a sinus cold all weekend... think of a lethargic sick little 2 year old with a snotty nose and that is what Gus looked like. I dropped him at the vet this morning, called back a few hours later and his surgery had been done. He will be home tomorrow evening and will need antibiotics for the cold.

Since we had a "babysitter", Bob and I went out to dinner, ran a bunch of errands and I spent the rest of the evening making ice cream sandwiches. We are having a potluck on Friday at work and our theme is "our favorite things" as an homage to Oprah. I found a recipe online where you mix chocolate cake mix with eggs, vanilla, butter, chocolate chips and butterscotch chips. This mixture makes up the cookies and once baked you put a big scoop of ice cream between each. They are now in the freezer... we will see how they set. If it turns into a disaster I will go to DQ and pick up replacement bars :)

Graduation Day!

2011-05-08T18:13:00.000-04:00

Today Gus was very tired... so tired that he let Bob cuddle him. We went to a bbq yesterday where he played all day with a rottweiler. Gus was in heaven!

After he had a long morning nap we headed to our last dog class. It was exam day!

Gus had to sit and stay for 30 seconds with distractions, the trainer was bouncing a ball. If this was a video you would see his little bum twitching with anticipation.

Then he had to park it (sit in his bed) and wait for 30 seconds before eating the treat that you cannot see in the picture. Look at that focus!

We also did 2 tricks. Gus bowed for a treat and laid down on the floor which the trainer said is hard for bulldogs to do. He is advanced :)

Needless to say, he graduated! He is now in the same position that he was this morning... asleep.

Date Night: Burger & Shake

2011-05-01T12:16:00.000-04:00

Check out my post on the Local Tourist Ottawa site about our latest date night. Love the Burger & Shake!!

You Snooze You Lose

2011-04-25T13:48:00.000-04:00

I went inside for a few minutes and look what happened!!

Now I need two chairs... and probably drinks too!

After The Dog Park

2011-04-22T17:52:00.000-04:00

A Good Friday

2011-04-22T14:10:00.000-04:00

We have made some great meals lately but I have been far too lazy to take pics....

This morning I made a recipe from Pioneer Woman's cookbook, you put a piece of your fav lunch meat into a ramekin, top it with slices of tomatoes, crack an egg on top, add cheese, salt/pepper and broil until the egg is cooked to your liking. It was super easy and really good. We will definitely do this when we have guests over, everyone can add what they like.

We made breaded pork chops with a green bean and tomato salad for dinner one night ... the salad was awesome and really easy... cook green beans in water and toss with a box of cherry tomatoes, mix it all together with a bit of vinegar, oil and salt/pepper.

Today we went to an off leash dog park with Gus and he loved it! We were really reluctant to let him go and we had no idea what the etiquette is in such parks. Once we got up the nerve to cut him loose he ran around meeting the people and sniffing the dogs. He is so used to people at the dog store giving him treats that he expected everyone at the park to do the same. It was pretty funny to watch.

After the park we walked around downtown until Gus was barely able to move his little legs... now he is home searching for a sunny spot to crash.

Fearfully Waiting

2011-04-16T07:57:00.000-04:00

I am fearfully waiting for the flu to hit me... whenever one of us brings the nasty gastro bug into the house it gets spread to the other person within a few days.

I slept in the guest room last night in hopes of staying far away from the sicko and I am spending the day out doing groceries, doing homework (the principal's course has started) at a local coffee place and going out with friends tonight.... however as I do all of these things I am paying very close attention (maybe too much) to the twinges that may or may not be happening in my own belly.

Fingers crossed that my plan of staying away works... don't worry... I have set the sicko up with crackers, peppermint tea and food incase his belly feels better.

Sickness in My House!

2011-04-15T18:00:00.000-04:00

My husband and my dog have some sort of gastro bug and it is NOT pretty!
I think that I should go stay at a hotel until all of this blows over.

Doggie Class

2011-04-15T14:01:00.000-04:00

Gus in on to the intermediate dog classes now... he is a big boy!

Tank is in our class this time and he let up borrow his doggles! Gus's snout is too small so they wouldn't stay up.

Gus wasn't too keen on the doggles... he didn't think that they were as cool as we did.

Gus and Tank love class so much because of all of the attention that they get before and after the actual class.

Along with the attention comes tons of treats... and tons of farts!

Aren't they cute together?? I think that we need another one!

A few minutes after this picture Tank threw up all over the floor because he drank too much water.

Gussy is nearly 7 months now and 37 pounds!

2011-03-31T19:45:00.000-04:00

I am so excited for the weekend!

This weekend 6 of us are meeting in Toronto for a celebratory weekend... 2 girls are getting married and 1 is having a baby. I love girls weekends!

I Won A Yoplait Prize Pack!

2011-03-29T20:08:00.000-04:00

While I was in Florida during March Break I won my first giveaway!

I was so excited to receive an email from Megan at Megansmunchies saying that I had won a Yoplait prize pack.

Here is what I received in the mail today:

A food and fitness journal, a snazzy bag, a coupon for Yoplait frozen smoothies and a super fantastic water bottle.

Thanks Megan!

Intermediate Dog Class #1

2011-03-27T16:04:00.000-04:00

Today was Gus' first intermediate class. No more treats for sitting and looking pretty... this is hard core.

We started out the day with a few serious naps to ensure that we were totally rested up for what was to come.

We have a shar pei and another bulldog in our class this time. The bulldog is 2 weeks older than Gus.

We practiced heel and sitting/stay with distractions like treats and toys. Gus is pretty good at heel in the store because it is so loud, he likes to be close to us when he is unsure. Sit and stay with a treat on the floor in front of him is another story. We have our work cut out for us. :)

Quinoa Salad

2011-03-27T13:02:00.000-04:00

I have been hesitant to try quinoa because I am not a fan of grains but this week Alison brought me a taste of a salad that she made and it was really good.

I decided to jump in and try to make a quinoa salad for lunch this week. I found a recipe in the new Kraft Foods: What's Cooking magazine. I like the recipes in these magazine because they have few ingredients, are easy to make and are usually pretty tasty... not to mention that most of my Christmas cookies come from past issues.

This salad is called Mediterranean Quinoa Salad. It has a mix of quinao cooked in chicken broth, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, salad dressing (which I will omit because I am not a fan of dressings), romain lettuce (I have spring mix in the fridge) and feta cheese.

Basically you need to cook the quinoa and let it cool then add it to everything else. This mixture is placed on a bed of lettuce. Sounds like an easy, healthy and delicious lunch for the week.

How fresh does this look? I am so excited for lunch tomorrow!

Invincible Vinnie

2011-03-26T10:47:00.000-04:00

Meet Invincible Vinnie

The woman at the pet store told us that this snake is invincible... it even says so on the tag.

Unfortunately within 10 minutes of getting it home Gus had opened the tail and was chewing on the shaky thing. We had to cut off the rest of the tail.

Gus is still loving Vinnie even without the tail...

but I have a feeling that he will not be around for long.

This little guy has eaten the head off of a rubber squeaky duck, the foot off of a furry raccoon and now the tail off of a snake... all of which are dog toys... in the last week!

Highlights of Florida

2011-03-21T19:06:00.000-04:00

Today was the first day back at work which was made even ~~worse~~ better by snow... I am so ready for spring! Below are a few pics of our trip south to visit my parents for March Break... I need to hold on to these memories to get me through the snow.


The new house.


An evening trip to Miami for dinner and walking along the beach.

Jungle Queen tour to see the fancy houses and yachts.

Jungle Queen has its own island with alligators...

and cool birds.

I love the water roadways in Fort Lauderdale.

Gus was born in September so this is his first sneak peek at summer... he loved it!


Dinner at the Mai Kai... we have been going here since I was a kid and I still love it!


It was nice to be at the beach in March with warm temps and sand between my toes.

I thought that the drive would be a nightmare, especially with a dog but it was the opposite. The 24 hour drive flew with an awesome co-pilot who was easy to chat with and a dog who practically slept for the 2 days that we drove. I would totally do it again.... maybe Christmas or next March :)

Date Night: Nohkam

2011-03-16T18:42:00.000-04:00

Check out the link to our latest date night adventure at Nohkam which has been posted over at Local Tourist Ottawa. I am so excited to see that people have been commenting on this one!

A special shout out to Alison who was the suggester of Nohkam! Any other suggestions Alison??

New Books!

2011-03-15T17:26:00.000-04:00

Today started with a morning on the beach (I need to remind myself to bring my camera tomorrow!), a few hours at Borders and the afternoon by the pool at the condo... March Break is wonderful!

Borders is closing here in the States so we took the opportunity to shop for deals.
I bought "Cook Yourself Thin Faster", "The Pioneer Woman Cooks", "Dawn of the Dreadfuls" (The prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies), and "Wicked".

Time to make dinner plans!

Landed in Fort Lauderdale!

2011-03-14T17:26:00.000-04:00

The 2 day drive to Lauderdale was great. The weather was great, the dog slept the entire way and we hit warmer on the first day!

This morning was spent on the beach getting some sun and this afternoon was spent poolside at the new condo.

I could get used to this life!!

Florida Bound

2011-03-10T20:03:00.000-05:00

Gus and I leave for Fort Lauderdale in 2 days!! It will be a long drive but it will be fun to go on an adventure together!

I will be MIA for a bit but there will be lots of pics when I return.

Ear Update

2011-03-08T09:19:00.000-05:00

Gus and I went back to the vet yesterday to get heart worm meds (this dog will have a bigger piece of luggage going to Florida than I will!) and ask a few questions about the missing ear. Yes, the ear has still not made an appearance!

For those of you that have a pet who eats ANYTHING, this is info is for you... I was told that it takes up to 10 days for something to make its way through Gus' system. She also told me that because the item that he has eaten this time is soft (from a stuffed toy) chances are within that 10 day period it will be broken down in his system and will be unrecognizable at the exit point.

The good news is that Bob is off of "poop patrol" for now and Gus is good to go.

Maybe I should add a page to this blog with a list of everything that Gus has eaten... silly dog.

Graduation Day!

2011-03-06T15:43:00.000-05:00

We are the proud parents of a recent graduate!

He was able to sit and stay, leave a treat, come when called (not very well I should mention) and not jump on people that would like to pet him and walk on a loose leash.

We have registered Gus for the next session (intermediate) where he will refine his newly learned skills and practice new tricks.

Girls Night: Play

2011-03-05T15:42:00.001-05:00

As all of you ladies know, girls nights are essential for keeping us grounded and sane. Last night I met a couple of lovely ladies in the market for a catch up session, it has been AGES since we last saw each other so a tour around the Rideau Centre, drinks and dinner were a great way to reconnect.

I was excited when Play was chosen as our dinner location, I have been wanting to try this restaurant which is known for its small plates menu for a very long time. Bob is not very interested in this type of restaurant, he would rather have a larger meal to himself, so a girls night was the perfect time to try it.

We started our evening at the bar where I ordered a Beau's beer... yes this has been a habit lately (I really need to visit the brewery at some point). One of the girls had progressive wine tasting, the bartender suggested a light red wine to start and each glass after that had more body to it. I would love to have done that but alas I had my car downtown.

As I had hoped, we decided to order a bunch of little plates to share around the table. First off was peameal bacon/pineapple mostarda, these were thin slices of bacon that you topped with the pineapple/mustard mixture that was the texture of apple sauce. I liked the saltiness of the bacon but found the topping a bit underwhelming.

Next we had a roasted beet salad. I loved the greens in this salad, the goats cheese and the dressing but the beets seemed a bit bland.

I was seriously looking forward to the catfish taco's... I love fish tacos! The taco reminded me of the flavours that were in the tortillas that I have had in Mexico, I loved them. There was also a mixture of edamame, tomatillo salsa and shaved brussels that we were told is best placed on top of the taco. The edamame for me didn't quite fit but I loved the rest of the topping. The catfish on this dish was a bit bland but for me the topping helped to make this plate my fav.

The digby scallops was another one of the plates that I was looking forward to. These scallops were large and perfectly cooked. We also had a side of frites with an aioli sauce, I only had a few fries but they seemed nicely seasoned.

At this point in the evening there was a debate... do we order more small plates or do we go on to dessert. One more plate was ordered... gnocchi. I love gnoochi but don't make it often because I always seem to over or undercook it... I think that there is a science to it that I have not yet mastered. I absolutely loved the mushrooms in this dish, they had soaked up the butter that they had been cooked in, it was one of those so good and so bad for you flavours. The gnoochi's themselves were a bit doughy, I had a couple and then stuck to the mushrooms.

The conversation was still flowing so we decided to head into dessert. We ordered the chocolate pate which was like a really dense brownie with caramel sauce and toffee bits sticking out of it. It was so incredibly decadent and rich. Also ordered was apple pie napolean which was a deconstructed apple pie. It was layers of phyllo with apple pie filling between. There was a nice crunch from the phyllo and a wonderfully warm cinnamon flavour from the pie filling.

All in all the meal had highs and mediums but no serious lows. It was a fun place to go and chat away the night with good friends. I love that there is lots of choice on the menu for different tastes and that the servers/bartenders were knowledgable and willing to give advice and help make decisions.

We were told that the menu changes often so I would be willing to go again and try the new creations that the kitchen comes up with.

Gus Is On The Dog Blog!

2011-03-05T07:18:00.000-05:00

My Gussy was on the Dog Blog this week on Carrots 'N' Cake, follow the link to take a look!

The Missing Ear

2011-03-03T20:35:00.000-05:00

"Not Gus" is the toy that Gus is playing with in the pic. This was on the first day that we brought his new toy home. It was love at first bite.

This is what "Not Gus" looks like now... yes he is missing his ears. One we cut off because Gus had chewed it to bits and the other one is sitting in Gus' belly as I type. He ate it last night and so far it has not made a reappearance.

How long does it take an ear to make its way through the digestive system of a dog I wonder? We shall soon find out!

The Cycle of Life

2011-02-28T19:19:00.001-05:00

Gus and I made a trip to the vet this afternoon to get his rabies shot. Who knew that they only give bulldogs half the shot at a time... we have to go back in a week for the 2nd half.

Gus loves the vet because he gets to hop on and off of the big scale (30.6 lbs today) as much as he likes, he gets treats and he get lots of love from everyone that works there.

We were taken in nearly right away which was great. The vet said that Gus is in great health and to keep doing what we are doing. He was also pretty impressed with how much energy Gus has... what he doesn't know is that the dog was practically falling asleep in the car on the way home and has been passed out since we got home. :)

I am so happy that our vet is open until 6pm each night so that I can go after school and they are always happy (tolerate) to answer my lists of questions .

The sad part of going to the vet is that I always seem to cross paths with people that have just put their pets down... I don't know if this happens at the end of the day or if I have just been there at bad times but it is so sad to see people so distraught as they leave the vets empty handed. I almost cried today seeing a woman leave as I was trying to contain Gus who as trying to get her attention as she left.

I guess the vet's is one of those places where happy and sad moments are had... the cycle of life in one place.

Puppy Kindergarten: Day 4

2011-02-27T16:07:00.000-05:00

Today the focus was on sit and stay.

Gus was surprisingly good at this... probably because there were treats involved.

We also started to learn to shake a paw... that wasn't as easy :)

Our homework is to practice "come" in open spaces with treats and to practice "sit" without.

Next week will be our last week as Gus and I will be going to Florida to visit my parents for a week so we will have the test before everyone else. Yikes!

Is The House Really That Cold?!

2011-02-27T07:28:00.000-05:00

Date Night: Genji

2011-02-25T07:21:00.000-05:00

Check out Local Tourist Ottawa for our date night adventure to Genji!

It was the first time taking my big ass camera into a restaurant... I am still so self conscious about it. Luckily we were seating in a little area between dividers so others couldn't see what I was doing. I need to get over this... all of the cool kids are doing it :)

If you get a chance check out Genji, they have amazing Japanese food!!

March Break Is Coming!!

2011-02-22T09:46:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again... March Break is nearly here!

Every year I say I have no money and cannot travel (which is the truth), this usually keeps me away from dreaming about hot, sunny weather and beaches. I have only been away three times before, in university I went to Cancun, once I went to Florida to meet my parents and last year I went to the Mayan Riviera. Each time I go away I crave it every year until I am able to embrace my true financial situation which does not include a March Break trip. Now that my system has been compromised by last years trip I have the itch to travel.

This year my parents are in Florida and they keep dangling the carrot. I am thinking that I could drive which will cost barely anything because I drive a Mini and it is AMAZING on gas...Gus could come with me...accomodations would be free because my parents are renting a house...I have found a friend who would like to come along! What is the downside you may ask.... it is a 27 hour drive in a mini with a dog and a friend... a tight squeeze.

My adventurous side says... GO!!! My practical side says... Are you crazy!!??

Usually I listen to my adventurous side... I need to call my parents.

Puppy Kindergarten: Day 4

2011-02-21T17:46:00.000-05:00

He is practicing waiting for a treat.

Today we spent time showing off our new skills... there was sitting, leave it and take it. Gus did a great job!

Gus was sitting nice even though it was Cameron's turn.

We also spent some time walking around the store on a loose leash and stopping sometimes to sit.

We met 3 other bulldogs of all different sizes and ages! So nice to see familiar faces.

New Obsession

2011-02-20T07:50:00.000-05:00

Gus has a new obsession.

He sits on top of the heater vent! As soon as it turns on he goes running for the vent and sits there until it turns off. It is soo funny! Usually his face is really close to the vent and his ears are flapping :)

Masters vs Principal's Qualifications

2011-02-20T05:54:00.000-05:00

So I have been advised to take a Principal's Qualification before a Masters because elementary school principal's will be in high demand in my board within the next few years.

I have applied and paid for the Catholic Principal's Courses which will begin in May, the second section beginning in September. The decision has been made, the money has been paid and I am ready to go.

However, last night I received an acceptance to the Masters of Education program from Ottawa U. This has been my goal for so long that I am sad to have to decline the acceptance. I am really hoping that they allow me to defer for a year so that I can begin the program next September instead of this coming one.

I am so excited to be going back to school! I miss being a student so much.... I will need to refer back to these words over the next few years :)

Date Night: Wild Wood Steak and Chophouse

2011-02-20T05:23:00.000-05:00

This weeks date night was with another couple. We went to Wild Wood Steak and Chophouse which is located on a golf course in Stittsville. Bob and I rarely have other people join us for date night so it was a treat to have new conversation and catchup time with others.

We began our dinner with drinks, I was delighted to see that they had Beau's beer, although I had red wine! The app's at the table were onion soup which Bob loved, he felt that it needed a little more cheese and escargot which smelled delicious.

3 of us went with the nightly special which was 2 5oz filet mignons with bernaise sauce, mashed potatoes and green beans. For me the green beans were the best part, they were fresh, crisp and a beautifully green.... I wish that I could cook them like that! The 4th person at the table ordered the Wild Wood Classic Dinner which was soup or salad, mashed potato and angus new york strip with pepper corn sauce.

We ended our meal with dessert, we ordered a berry cheesecake. The cheesecake was very light and the perfect portion for 2 to enjoy after a heavy meal.

The prices of the meals were reasonable and the view of the golf course was lovely but the meal was just ok... luckily for us the company and conversation was nice.

My Rendition Of An Epicurious Tortellini Dish

2011-02-17T17:32:00.000-05:00

I made a wonderful dinner tonight, if I do say so myself.

It is called Tortellini with Italian Sausage, Fennel and Mushroom from Epicurious.

I made a few substitutions and omissions because my grocery store never has what I need, here is how it went down at my house but see the link for the actual recipe...

1. Heat 1 tbsp oil in skillet.
2. Add 1 pound of italian sausage without casings and 8 ounces sliced mushrooms... (we didn't have fennel so I left it out and I used baby portabello mushrooms) saute about 15 minutes.
3. Add 4 crushed garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute.
4. Stir in 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream and 1 cup broth (we had beef opened). Boil until liquid is reduced and slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.
5. Cook 16oz cheese tortellini. I drained it when it was a tad undercooked so that it would boil away in the sauce that was in the skillet, this gave the tortellini a chance to soak up the creamy sauce.
6. Add the tortellini to the skillet. Add 5 oz baby spinach and 1/2 cup parmesean cheese and toss gently.

I added a little pepper to mine and it was delicious!!

Groupon!

2011-02-17T07:17:00.000-05:00

I am no longer a Groupon virgin! I purchased a pedi this morning at a spa that I have not visited before.

Since I am not going away this March Break I think a pedi is in order. Yay!

Gym Woes

2011-02-16T12:45:00.000-05:00

Last night I finally went to the gym after a month of avoidance. I took a Body Flow class which I was really looking forward to, this class is a combo of Tai Chi, Pilates and Yoga.

I pushed myself throughout the class to really feel the stretches and enjoy the mello music. The last 10 minutes or so is the meditation which I was really looking forward to. My day had been particularly hectic and I was spending the evening at a board event so I knew that there would be no down time.

I was surprised to see that as the instructor was asking us to prepare for the meditation more than half of the class left. I was thinking "But this is the best part!". I settled down and waited for the soothing voice of the instructor to start ... instead I got people walking in around us setting up for Body Pump. The instructor asked them to leave but they just stood at the side of the class and chatted in normal voices.

Grrr.... how do you meditate with people talking no more than 10 feet away when you can hear every word of their conversation and no words from the instructor?

Sadly I too had to leave. I got up, picked up my stuff and left the room. Noone in the class even noticed that I had left because they couldn't hear anything anyway.

Happy Love Day!

2011-02-14T16:16:00.000-05:00

A gift from my Valentine!

Puppy Kindergarten: Day 3

2011-02-13T17:55:00.000-05:00

Puppy Kindergarten Day 3: Goals=walk on a loose leash and sit when the people stop, "leave it", "take it". Gus is not a fan of the "leave it", we had treats that he could see but not have. This will take some practice.


Practicing the skills


Playing with Marley

Gus and Marley meeting Hugo.

He stares down anyone with a treat!

Feeling Like An Adult

2011-02-13T09:21:00.000-05:00

I have just sent off my application and payment to start Part 1 of the Principal's Qualification Program!

There has been some major decision making going on around here over the last few days... I am going to defer the masters program at Ottawa U (assuming that I get in) and get the principal's qualifications first.

This is one of those decisions that makes you feel like an adult... I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Valentines Day = Winterlude

2011-02-13T08:18:00.000-05:00

We have a yearly Valentines Day tradition, Bob and I go for dinner downtown and hit up the ice sculptures at Confederation park on the way home. I love that Winterlude always falls on V Day weekend.

The dinner post will come later but here are a few pics of the ice sculptures and various other things around the park.

This is the DJ booth.


For those that are non-Canadians... these are made of dough. :)

Date Night: Mekong

2011-02-12T21:47:00.000-05:00

Check out my guest post on Local Tourist Ottawa about our date night last weekend at Mekong!

I ventured out of my comfort zone and ordered a few dishes that I have never tried before... I was not disappointed! The only problem now is that I have even more dishes that I love... how will I be able to decide next time!

ADD and Gussy Playtime

2011-02-12T10:12:00.000-05:00

It took me 45 minutes to get dressed this morning!
It was one of those mornings where you go to do one thing and end up being distracted by a bunch of other things.

My goal was to get dressed so that we could go to the grocery store... instead I stripped the bed, put a load of laundry in the washer, put away the clothes on the drying rack, remade the bed, wiped down the bathrooms and disinfected the kitchen, put more toilet paper in the bathrooms, brought a kleenex box downstairs.... then I remembered to get dressed. Maybe I should be tested for ADD!

After the grocery store we did this...

and this...

and some of this...

I love when Gus runs... his ears get all floppy and his body moves sideways. We went to the highschool across the way and let Gus go crazy. I think that he had a good time but it's hard to tell because his face always looks like this...

Girls Night: Whalesbone

2011-02-08T21:33:00.000-05:00

I finally went to Whalesbone!! Bob hates fish so I didn't think that I would ever get to this restaurant but thank God for girls... I was able to go!

The front is very unassuming... the window was covered by a thick curtain and the door is an old wooden door that makes if difficult to recognize as a restaurant unless you notice the sign above. I knew where the restaurant was but the girls commented on not noticing it at first.

I surprised to see that all of the tables were reserved on a Tuesday night. A man that came in just behind us was told that there were no opening until 9pm!

The restaurant is really small, loud and casual. It was a great place for us to kick back and enjoy the evening... except for the fact that I was sitting on a wooden bench which wasn't the most comfortable.

I started out the night with a Beau's... still one of my favs!

We split a sampler of oysters which were so fresh and cold. We were given a tray of sauces to try, I loved the hottest one but I also tried scotch (wasn't a fan) and a vinegrette (it was good).

As my main I got the caviar topped, butter poached lobster which was served on a bed of risotto. Along side this decadence was a brown apple butter. It was amazing! Sweet, creamy, and such a treat.

I would love to go back to the restaurant to sample something else off of the menu which is constantly changing... but if I do get a chance to go back the oysters will be a must.

Early Light

2011-02-08T07:03:00.000-05:00

It is 7am and there is light outside!!

I am such a summer lover that I savour these tiny signs of spring... I will try to ignore the fact that it is -28 outside at the moment.

Puppy Kindergarten: Day 2

2011-02-06T16:21:00.000-05:00

We arrived at the Pet store ready to go!

Rocky and Gus were reunited... they love playing together!

We practiced sitting.

We practiced walking on a loose leash...this is a hard one!

We also met Tank... they look like brothers!

After a long nap we will be practicing sitting and walking... hopefully we can do as well as we did in class.

Mom's Lasagna

2011-02-05T15:40:00.000-05:00

This week Bob and I are eating apart most nights. When I am not home to organize what we will be having for dinner he tends to eat less than healthy foods that come from a can or box. I decided to make a pot of my mom's pasta sauce and a lasagna so that he could have something healthyish for meals.

Gus got us up at 4:30am... this is in addition to the 11:00am and 1:30am wake up calls!

... since we were awake we went grocery shopping as soon as the store opened at 8:30am. I wanted to go as early as possible so that the sauce could cook for the required 4 hours before the lasagna was made.

Lasagna is labour intensive but I love that the meal will give us a ton of leftovers and perhaps a few freezer portions.

First boil up a 3/4 box of lasagna noodles... I precook these while I am finishing the sauce. Cook them just enough that they are pliable... mom says about 5 minutes. I stagger them in the pot because I find that it helps with sticking.

Mix together 3 containers of ricotta cheese, 2 eggs, some italian spices, and a handful of parmesean cheese. As a kid I used to love eating this out of the bowl... yum!

Brown a family pack of ground beef (or ground turkey/chicken), with an onion, garlic, salt, pepper and italian seasonings. If there is any meat leftover after the lasagna is built it can be added to the sauce.

Sauce is ready for layering onto the lasagna.

Put a layer of sauce on the bottom of the dish.

Next the noodles are laid out on top of the sauce, overlap these a bit to help keep everything together once it's cooked.

Add a layer of beef.

Ricotta cheese is next.

Mozzarella cheese is last. Keep layering in this way until your pan is full...

or overfull in my case. It is always a good idea to put a cookie tray underneath the lasagna pan incase there is any spilling over during cooking. This lasagna will be covered with tinfoil and placed in the fridge until cooking time on Monday evening. It will be cooking at 350 degrees for about an hour. You will know it is ready when you stick a knife in the middle and it is hot when pulled out.

It is now time to get ready for date night!

Cinnamon Sugar Muffins

2011-02-04T19:16:00.000-05:00

I have had a serious hankering this week for baked goods but we have nothing in the house that quite fit the bill. The best place to go is the blog world so I started scouring for something that looked interesting.

I stumbled upon Cinnamon Sugar Muffins at The Kitchen Minions and knew right away that this is what I had been wanting. I followed the recipe with only 2 small changes... I didn't have 1/2 cup of yogurt so I used sour cream instead and I used a mini muffin pan which meant that I got double the amount of muffins... too bad :)

Crazy Plates: The Wicked Sandwich of the West

2011-02-02T18:07:00.000-05:00

To make life easier for myself, if I decide to use a cookbook I use it all week, this way I am not searching for books and recipes all over the house/internet.

Tonight's dinner was another home run in the Bob books, however I couldn't take a picture because my camera was not available.

Here is the recipe anyway... with a few minor changes:

Put 1 thinly sliced steak into a freezer baggie with 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1/4 tsp garlic powder and 1 tbsp flour. Give the whole thing a good shake to ensure that all of the meat is covered with the spicy mixture.

In a pan cook the steak over medium heat until it has just a bit of pink left... don't fully cook it at this point.

Whisk 1 1/4 cups broth, 2 tbsp bbq sauce, 2 tsp brown sugar and 1/2 tsp thyme in a bowl and then add to the pan with the steak. Cook for about 10 minutes, covered on low.

Add 1 sliced green pepper, 1 sliced onion and 1/2 a package of mushrooms to the pan. Cook for an additional 10 minutes, covered on low.

I found the mixture a bit saucy so I took all of the meat and veg out of the pan and whisked in a tsp of flour to thicken the sauce.

Add the sauce back to the meat and veg combo, put this lovely mixture on a bun and you have a steak sandwich. Add a little side salad and you have a balanced meal and a happy husband. :)

Crazy Plates: Obi Wonton Kenobi

2011-01-31T19:11:00.000-05:00

Monday nights Bob curls so I rush home from school to let Gus out of his cage. I have been spending these Monday nights keeping the dog busy with as many dog games as I can think of but recently Gus has starting to play on his own. I decided to take this opportunity to tackle one of our fav recipes from the Crazy Plates cookbook, "Obi Wonton Kenobi". This is one of those recipes that I have made so often that the cookbook automatically opens to the page.

There are 2 parts to this recipe... first is the filling which I follow very closely to what the recipe recommends. In a bowl mix ground turkey or chicken, 1/4 cup minced green onions, 2 tsp soy sauce, 1 tsp ginger, 1 tsp sesame oil, 1 tsp cornstarch, 1 egg white and 1/4 tsp salt. I usually just smoosh the ingredients around with my hands until it is good and mixed.

Next prepare your workspace, I keep the book handy, the bowl of meat mixture, a teaspoon, wonton wrappers, a bowl of water and wet kitchen towels.

First lay out a wonton wrapper and wet the edges all the way around by dipping your finger in the bowl of water and trace around the outside of the wrapper.

I use the teaspoon to scoop out the meat mixture, otherwise my hands great really messy and it makes putting the water on the wonton's a disaster. Put a small amount of the mixture into the middle of the wonton.

Fold the wonton over and match up the edges, add a bit more water to the edges to seal them.

Put the finished wontons between damp kitchen towels to keep them moist... also make sure that the wontons are not touching each other or they will stick.

Some of the wontons end up in the soup pot which is a combination of wonton soup mix, green onions, soy sauce, sesame oil and a bit more ginger. I didn't follow the recipe book for this portion, I had wonton soup mix on hand and tasted the base as I went along.

The rest went into plain water and were boiled for about 5 minutes. These will be used later to pan fry.

Even though this recipe is a bit labour intensive it is so worth the time. The smell of the sesame oil in the house afterwards is heavenly and the soup makes for great lunches during a cold week.