Rootbeer Float

I don't need to go to A&W for rootbeer float. I make them at home. I have made them for friends, too. It's an all time favourite. And mine is a lesser evil. Oh come on!

Ingredients: low-fat vanilla ice cream, A&W diet rootbeer

Winter in Spring

From my window

Through my windshield

Getting home

Ice formation in our front porch.

Veggie Platter

I always have raw and frozen vegetables in case I don't have time to make a vegetable dish for dinner. Mini Shabu Shabu snacks on the leftovers the next day in school...

IF there's even some left.

Ingredients: English cucumber, Baby carrots and grape tomatoes with PC's spinach dip

Cucumber Juice

Cucumber juice out of my handy dandy Breville Compact Juicer. Cleansing and refreshing.

Cucumbers, among many other vegetables and fruits, have a wide range of health benefits, from promoting healthy skin and hair to fighting high blood pressure, constipation and cancer. There's a reason why slices of cucumbers go with the eyes in the world of skincare. Cucumber will now always be on my grocery list.

Ingredients: cucumbers, apples, lime, basil

Jambalaya

For me

and for Mini Shabu's lunch in school

Ingrdients: Sausage, tomatoes, bacon, broth, bay leaves, thyme, oregano, saffron, green onions and calrose rice

Crocs Kaela

I know... I'm too silly to take photo of the shoes with my legs up in the air, while the tags are dangling. Mr. Hotpot gave me Crocs Kaela for Valentines. Walked in them today at work, even broke them in on 8 flight of stairs. As not all Crocs are comfy, this one certainly is. I love that this colour easily matches jeans.  And it is the perfect pair for a rainy day.

A Place for Everything. Everything in its Place

This is my mantra. It makes life so much easier when things are where they should be. It's also pleasing to the eyes. I love home organization... if I haven't said so yet.


The Fridge


Noodles and tea bags

Lunch boxes

First Attempt at Bento

My Mini Shabu is not so mini anymore. He started Grade 1 this school year, and it's his first year in big school. It's also my first time to pack lunches and snacks for him. Inspired by http://www.lunchinabox.net/, I geared towards bento making. In the absence of bento gadgets, I just work with what I have. Here's 2 weeks' worth.

Kitchen: Before & After

As our goal was an inexpensive renovation, we kept the existing layout of our kitchen, and just updated the cabinet doors, countertop and backsplash. The appliances were last thing on our mind, but there was a promotion we couldn't pass, they became the first things we changed. It wasn't grand. It's basic, easy to use, and low maintenance.

Before:

After:

Backsplash - http://www.x-tile.net/

Granite countertop - http://www.artinite.ca/

Faucet - Rona collection

Lights - Rona

GE Appliances - Lowe's

Cabinet doors - Lowe's

Door & drawer handles - Ikea

Bathroom: Before & After

We have a tiny master bathroom and it was the builders-kind of bathroom, so we had it updated. It was not an expensive renovation. Most of the items were sourced from big box stores like RONA and Home Depot, even IKEA.

Before:


After:

Lilangen sink & vanity - Ikea
Uberhaus faucet - Rona
Godmorgon mirror cabinet - Ikea
Uberhaus toilet - Rona
Lights - Home Depot


Uberhaus shower head - Rona
Oyster bamboo porcelain tiles - The Tile Shoppe
Glass mosaic tiles - The Tile Shoppe