First attempt at vegan baking

I've been looking for a new recipe for banana bread muffins that's healthier than my current go-to one... and I stumbled upon this recipe. 

It looked simple enough - only 6 ingredients are required - also, it doesn't require butter. I picked up some coconut oil and maple syrup at Trader Joe's this weekend (the only two ingredients I didn't already have), pulled out 4 frozen bananas that have been waiting to be baked for weeks, and got down to work.

I substituted the whole wheat flour for white flour (I don't have whole wheat flour), and also himalayan pink salt for sea salt (also don't have himalayan pink salt - but memo to self, must try because it sounds amazing!). I added walnuts as well as about a tablespoon and a half of finely ground espresso (Parallel 49 grounds of course!).

I didn't take more pics because I didn't want to mess this up ;)

While these were baking, my apartment was filled with the yummy smell of banana bread, espresso and coconut!! A good sign that this is an awesome recipe ;)

Just pulled these out of the oven and my first bite impression: very yummy!!!

Portland haulage!

So we went to Portland (with a one night layover in Seattle) for Oregon's Brew Festival 2014. The beer fest was pretty organized. We got there right when it opened at noon (before actually), but we got in at a good time - it got really busy (and really HOT) by 3pm.

While in Portland (and en route at the Seattle Premium Outlets), we did a little haulage:

First stop was at the outlets, Bobby got two pairs of jeans and some shorts (all for under 100$! That shit is cray!). I got a hat to wear to the brew fest since I knew it would be 30 degrees that day.

In Portland, I hit up Victoria's Secret for undies (a woman can never have too much), and some moisturizer (I finally used the giftcard Aleks gave me for my birthday). The moisturizer I picked up was Origin's A Perfect World moisturizer, which I picked up at Sephora.

Floppy hat from Roxy at the Outlets, Victoria's Secret and Sephora in downtown Portland (tax free!!)

I hit up Ulta for the first time and its seriously such an awesome beauty store! I got the two giant bottles of shampoo and conditioner... and I also had to pick up the two smaller bottles because they were soooo cuuuuute (impractical reason) and because they would be awesome for traveling (practical reason). Aaand, I got a face mask (I've been dying to buy a face mask but Sephora's cheapest option I would consider buying is a single use mask for 8$!!). Anyway, I hauled all of this shampoo and mask for just under 22$. Seriously, Canada, go home, you are too expensive!!!

Lastly, I got some wellies at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale. I actually bought these online and picked them up at the Nordstrom in downtown Portland. These boots are awesome!!! Plus they were on sale, and tax free. I got the Hunter "Tall Moto" boots. I seriously can't wait for the rain to come.

The Nordstrom anniversary sale is awesome! I was good though and only bought the wellies (I had to really restrain myself from buying a new purse too... next year ;) )

Hello boots!

Here's some Bobby haulage: beer, beer and more beer. The peach beer is for me.

Beer from a super awesome liquor store called "Belmont Station" and a few from Trader Joes as well

We also hit up not one, but two Trader Joes to get everything we needed. We were smart and hit up the ones in Portland - they were less busy than the ones in Bellingham and plus we were able to drive straight from Portland (minus a lunch break, coffee break and gas break).

The border line up home was surprisingly quick (it was an hour wait, but it went by really fast because we kept moving). We got home just before 10:30pm... and today I have the day off so I am cleaning and unpacking and playing with my Kiwi-Keys, who was deprived of unwanted human attention for two days!

One last thing the mailman just dropped off this morning: I bought the Kate Spade Rain Check umbrella. I have been wanting this umbrella and it was finally in stock at Chapters. I bought the umbrella and rain boots online last week when it was pouring rain and cold in Vancouver. I decided to be proactive and be ready for fall ;)

Rainy day Saturday

As I write this blog, the rain has finally stopped! But this morning, it was pouring rain... but humid (making getting dressed awkwardly difficult).

I had a dentist appointment this morning... here was my morning view.

Rain, rain, go away

After getting my gums scrubbed to death, I went to Winners to return something, and then Save On to pick up some things for my lunch and for dinner, and then Costco for gas.

Bobby has to work today, so it was just me and my Kiwi-Keys today:

In between cleaning up the apartment, I painted my nails. I am loving this new nail polish I just bought this week. It's "Love's a Beach" by China Glaze. It's a neon pink with just a hint of shimmer - perfect for the summer. You can buy this polish here.

PMS blues

Yesterday,  I spilled tea all over my keyboard (luckily, its still functional!)

Today, I spilled tea on my label maker.

Soooo ... I decided it was time to sneak into someone's candy stash and help myself to a kitkat.

Kiwi's resting bitch face

Kiwi's got a serious case of resting bitch face - especially when she's next to her fluffly friend Prickles.

However, she also has the cuuuuutest face ever when she's sleeping... How can you not love Kiwi!?!?

Happy birthday Bobby!!!

A recap of Bobby's birthday festivities/Khatsalano Fest 2014

Bobby celebrated his big 2-8 last Thursday. I haven't bought his actual present yet (he needs a new watch, but the one he wants will not be available until the end of the summer). However, I wanted him to be able to open a present. Now if you know Bobby, you would know that nutella is his favorite food group (in Bobby's personalised food group chart) - he is constantly sticking his face in nutella... so I decided to buy him a tub that's actually big enough from him to stick his face in! I bought this 3kg tub at Ninja Bubble Tea for 40$ with tax. I told Bobby to be sure to keep note of when he opens this tub (July 12/14) and when he finishes it (likely two weeks or so away from that date ;) )

I also wanted Bobby to be able to blow out some birthday candles! Cake is a slice of the "chocolate explosion" cake from Whole Foods. I also picked up some super awesome candles (the flame is the same colour as the candle, which unfortunately is not obvious in this picture) from Michael's.

And then in true Bobby fashion, he celebrated his birthday with some Scotch - he finally opened up the bottle of Laphroig I bought him for our anniversary months ago! And that wraps up Thursday night's festivities.

We have a whiteboard on our door where we can write notes (usually along the lines of "Bobby, don't forget your lunch"). Bobby is constantly writing himself "notes from me" though. 

Friday night: I planned to take Bobby to the Keg for his actual birthday dinner. Our friends Brad, Janice and their adorable son recently moved about 10 minutes away from us, so I invited them along. The Keg never disappoints! Steak is always awesome! :)

Whenever I go the Keg, I get a Kiwi-tini. Sorry Kiwi!!

How cute is the kid's menu?! Tinier steaks for tinier people :)

What I like about the Keg (in Coquitlam!) is that they always ask if you are celebrating an event once seated. The first time we visited this restaurant, it was our anniversary. When they find out we were celebrating our anniversary, they gave us dessert! Totally unexpected, but such a sweet gesture! This time, they asked us again, so we mentioned it was for Bobby's birthday. They were so kind, they brought our dessert a good 30 minutes after we finished eating because our server saw how we were all ready to explode!

Warm brownies with ice cream = best dessert idea ever!

Yesterday (Saturday): Bobby opened his tub of nutella. Here's the ceremonial first dip.

We hit up Khatsalano Fest 2014 in the afternoon. I went mainly for the food ;) It was soooo hot and there were lots and lots of people... but we managed to find some square footage in the sidelines where we got to enjoy our poutine, and beaverstails (and chips courtesy of Brad/Ja). We hit up a liquor store afterward to get some refreshing adult beverages... I picked up the Stiegl Radler Grapefruit (the zitrone one is better). We all settled into a park with this awesome view... and we took turns entertaining Luca while he entertained all of us. 

We all had dinner at "Topanga's" after. The food was amazing! We were pretty much sunned out at that point and went home.

Happy birthday Bobby! I love youuuu! Hope you got to enjoy your weekend of festivities :)

Serious wedding planning starts... Now

I bought an agenda from Chapters so that I can write down and track of all our appointments to view venues (etc) and also so that I can have a keepsake of planning.

Over the weekend, we made a rough guest list... And tonight, I finally wrote down our very first serious venue viewing appointment.

I can't wait to fill this agenda (and notebook!) up with appointments and ideas :)

The True North Strong and Free

Happy birthday, Canada!!!

I had a great time celebrating Canada Day at Buntzen Lake yesterday. I hadn't been to Buntzen Lake in years but we are like 15 minutes or so away from it now and it's a great lake! You can rent canoes or kayaks, there are hiking trails and there's even an enclosed dog beach area! Lots of picnic tables for bbqs (but you have to get there early!) and the lake is huuuge.

So we bbq'd with my family. Bobby and I also went canoeing and hiking. My body is a little sore, but a good kind of sore. It's the "I didn't sit around all day and I feel very accomplished kind of sore". It was really hot though. It was about 30 degrees, but it probably felt like 32/33 degrees. We were at the lake though, so we got the occasional breeze. Bobby and I went to the fireworks at Lafarge Lake at night, and wow, I am impressed with the soiree the City of Coquitlam put together. The fireworks were pretty impressive. Plus we were able to walk home.

Now, a little side note on why I love this country:

I moved to Canada as a 4 year old. My parents left our somewhat comfortable life (my dad had a job he loved, and my mom worked part time - she spent most of her time taking care of my brother and I, but she also worked part time with friends who my parents still keep in touch with today) in the Philippines and moved to Canada, this wonderful free country where dreams really do come true. We left pretty much everything behind. Everything. I remember being told I could not bring my tambourine on our move because it would not fit in any of our luggage. We moved to a country where I did not speak the language at all (my parents and my brother spoke English but not perfectly). My parents both had to start over career-wise, and they both took on whatever job they could to help provide for our family.

I never truly realized how lucky I was to live in this country until I went back to the Philippines in 2009. It was a real eye opener for me because when you grow up in a country where education is free, and the opportunities are seemingly endless, you tend to take things for granted. I am forever grateful that my parents made the decision to relocate our family. They seriously gave up so much for my brother and me that I am seriously getting teary eyed just writing this blog.

Happy 147th birthday, Canada!