Get your mind out of the gutter! I’m talking about sleep.  When you go to sleep at night do you lose the socks or keep ’em on?  I generally wear socks to bed unless it’s really hot out. My tootsies get chilly very easily.  I’m also a blanket thief and end up uncovering my own feet all the time. I only ever wear ankle socks though, socks that are any higher annoy me.  My husband is the opposite. He cannot sleep with socks on at all.

Socks or no socks?

I love the versatility of this dish mostly because you can switch around the meat and vegetables to suit your needs and make use of whatever vegetable is lying around in your refrigerator. Use Napa cabbage, spinach, bean sprouts, green beans, peas or whatever else floats your boat.

It is filled with tons of fresh, colorful veggies, makes a giant bowlful and is great to take somewhere to share.

Asian-Style Beef and Veggie Noodles

1 lb or ½ kg lean ground beef (or chicken, turkey or any other meat)

4-5 tbsp soy sauce

2-3 tbsp sriracha chili sauce

2 tbsp white vinegar

1 tbsp sugar

2-3 tbsp oil

1 medium onion, sliced

2-3 large garlic cloves, chopped

1 tbsp ginger, chopped

½ head green (or red) cabbage, thinly sliced

2-3 carrots, shredded

2 whole bell peppers (red, yellow or green), thinly sliced

1 lb spaghetti or noodles, cooked, rinsed and cooled

3-4 scallions, chopped

Handful of chopped cilantro

• Marinade the ground beef for at least half an hour in soy sauce, sriracha, vinegar and sugar.
• In a wok or large pan on medium-high heat, sauté the onion in a tablespoon of oil and add ginger and garlic. Add in the ground beef and cook it through. Remove it in a bowl and set aside.
• In the same wok, add the rest of the oil and quickly sauté the cabbage, carrots, green beans, bell peppers until slightly softened but still crunchy. Remove from the heat and add in the ground beef and cooked spaghetti. Mix it and taste to see if it needs more soy sauce, vinegar or sriracha and adjust the seasoning accordingly. Top with the scallions and cilantro. Serve it warm on a large platter or chill it. It tastes just as good warm or cold.

Makes 8-10 servings.

For those of you who follow beauty trends, you might have noticed this one at your local cosmetics store: BB Cream.

I first heard about it when a friend of mine sent me a random text and told me to Google it! And according to Wiki, BB Cream is a foundation with additional bonuses such as being a primer, moisturiser, sunblock, pore minimiser, & skin food. So basically, it’s a product that makes your skin flawless! Not a new concept, might I add.

Being suspicious, I never ran out to the  beauty counter to buy a bottle of this skin perfecting serum. After all, how do I know what I’m putting on my skin if the label is not even written in English? Then again, even if I read the label of a well-known brand of foundation, I wouldn’t even know what half the ingredients are anyway! So maybe it doesn’t matter?

Since I was near the Asian beauty counter, I did manage to ask the cost of the BB Cream and it was definitely less than $40 for a decent sized tube!

Now, brands such as Smashbox, Clinique, Too Faced, etc. have jumped on the BB Cream bandwagon! They’ve rebranded this Asian makeup product, put them into smaller tubes, and slapped a HIGHER price tag on it!

Just click here to see all the brands that a store like Sephora has to offer. And note that even though we’ve been on par with the American dollar for a while now, these prices DO NOT reflect what’s in Canadian stores. For example, the bottle of Smashbox BB Cream is $50CAD, not $39USD, as stated on the website. 🙁

I’m curious to try it to see if this product lives up to their claim. However, I refuse to pay $50+HST since I know that I can get it elsewhere for a lot less.

It seems that a lot of other people are curious too and don’t mind paying the hefty price tag ’cause the creams are either sold out/low on stock whenever I pop in.

If you’ve heard of this product, have you purchased a tube of BB Cream? If so, is there any difference between this product and a high-quality foundation?

About a month ago, I read this article in the Huffington Post about some 200 000 Canadian households possibly cancelling their cable this year. This has led me to reexamine my own relationship with a certain Blue Company.

After my mom cancelled CNN, along went a bunch of other channels like CP24, TLC, and a few others. Apparently, Bell groups channels in “packages”, so you can’t just order/cancel 1 channel. So what I’m now left with is quite pathetic!

I honestly don’t know why cable companies offer soo many number of channels, when they literally show the same thing: CTV (I miss CP24!), crappy talk shows mid-day, and a bad movie of the week about killer wasps in the evening. 🙁 I wish that they would offer better quality programming as opposed to quantity of channels with nothing on.

Sadly enough, I’m held hostage by PVR and the Galaxie music channels. The majority of my entertainment can be found online.

What about your household, do you have cable, and if so, any plans to cut the cord in ’12?

While I don’t write much about the stars who can’t resist a little Betty White!  Tomorrow January 17th Betty White turns 90 years old!  She is such an amazing accomplished woman.  Her passion for animals shows what a class act this woman is. Betty’s been in so many movies and shows I can’t even begin to credit them all. Click here for Betty White’s list of credits.

What show/movie is your favourite (so far?)

Mine has to be Golden Girls. I even watched it as a young child and loved her wit, charm and class.

Happy Birthday Betty White! xoxo

It’s still a few years away from the December 31st, 2016 deadline before Air Miles will be no longer, but if like me, you don’t have enough points to even consider packing your bags, why not redeem existing points at the pumps? If you have at least 175 Air Miles, you can get $20 Shell gas certificate.

After going to the Air Miles website, it seems as though they are also starting another promo in March!

Click on the above link for more info & to check your balance.

One of the things I love doing is making bread. The wonders of bread-making never cease to amaze me. Granted, it does take some time and patience but the end result is more than worth the effort.

Without further ado, here is the recipe:

Homemade Bread

1½ cups warm water

1 tbsp active dry yeast

1 tbsp sugar

2 tbsp vegetable oil

2 tsp salt

3½ – 4 cups flour

 

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in the warm water and let it sit for about 10 minutes until frothy.
• Add in 1-2 cups of the flour along with the oil and salt. Mix and keep adding in the remaining flour in ½ cup increments until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Knead the dough for 10-15 minutes on a floured surface until it is soft and elastic.
• Put the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm place for approximately an hour until it has doubled in volume.
• Deflate the dough and shape it into two loaves. Place them at least 2 inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheet and cover with a damp cloth. Let it rise again in a warm place for about 30-45 minutes until it has doubled in size.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Rent to own stores, we’ve all heard of them, some of us have items from them, but are they a smart choice?  Recently I found an end table set that I liked on a site called Easy Home. I had never looked into one of these sites, and figured I could get a cash in hand price.  Boy was I wrong!  Easy Home deals in “weekly payments”  there are no base prices. Only how much the item will cost you weekly.  I had figured the pair of end tables should retail around $149.99 considering they were just press board and pretty simple.  With Easy Homes base (which they don’t disclose) and the 29.99% interest the pair would cost me $6 per week for 156 weeks costing me just under $940!  With a bit of searching I found a CBC Marketplace investigation where they calculated the base price triple or more of the normal price plus the 29.99% interest.  If you took the regular retail and recalculated the excessive base amount they were charging in the compound interest some items were over 500% interest.  The real kicker?  Some of these items are used! You end paying insane prices on used items.  The only good thing I found was you can return the items at any time with no penalty… but i’m sure theres a lot of fine print to that.

While I do understand some people have no credit or means of purchasing these items outright why not go second hand until you can afford a new couch, tv etc?  Theres no shame in saving up for a new couch.  Or maybe people don’t mind paying insane prices to have something new?   Have you purchased items from a rent to own store? What was your experience?

Marketplace video on CBC

Lots of people have been buying up Poms this year!  Stores have been selling out of this well known superfood  like crazy because of a $1 off coupon they had offered.  Never had a pomegranate? Don’t be intimidated, it’s very easy fruit to harvest without mess.

1. Cut in 4

2. Soak in water and remove the pith and separate the seeds (The water will keep the seeds from breaking everywhere and creating a mess.)

3. Enjoy them as a snack or juice them 🙂 (The actual seed is edible, but you can spit them out lol!)

When choosing a pom look for ones that are a nice red with not many brown spots.  If they have soft spots or look dehydrated they are past prime, do not purchase. You can eat the “pith” (the white inside) but it will have you running to the bathroom as it’s a natural and powerful diuretic.

Vitamin C

Pomegranates are extremely rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C is important in treating colds, helping wounds heal, helping skin maintain its elasticity, preventing cataracts and in sustaining overall health.

Vitamin B5

Pomegranates are plentiful in Vitamin B5, also called pantothenic acid. This essential vitamin is crucial in metabolizing carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

Beta Carotene

Pomegranates are a good source of beta carotene. Also referred to as Vitamin A, this vitamin has strong antioxidant features and is critical for good eyesight.

Other Vitamins

Pomegranates also contain thiamin, riboflavin, folate, folic acid, and vitamin E. These all play an important role in cell metabolism, enzyme function and general well being.

Minerals and Immunity

Pomegranates are abundant in potassium, an indispensable mineral and electrolyte. They also contain calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, and selenium. The pomegranate seeds are rich in antioxidants and may boost the immune system to help ward off infection.

Polyphenol and Fiber

Pomegrantes are rich in polyphenol, which helps protect cells in the body from free radicals. Polyphenol is beneficial in treating everything from high cholesterol levels to slowing down the aging process. Pomegranates are a good source of fiber and are also low in calories

 Source for vitamin information.

Recently, I’ve become bffs with my mechanic and Autotrader. Although he’s a nice (and honest guy), the former isn’t really a good thing on my bank account!

I’m driving a ’98 Honda Civic and within the past 2 months, I’ve easily put down $800 on maintenance things that go along with owning an older vehicle. And now, it may be time to move on, but to what?

I wish selecting a car was like ordering off the McDonald’s menu – with no surprises and you’re familiar with every item. However, one of the main problems when looking for a new car is that there are just too many options out there: new/used, if so what year, which make/model, has this car been in a wreck, etc. etc.

So after doing some research, here are some tips that I’ve compiled if you’re looking for a new (used) car:

1. Know your budget. When buying a car, new or used, there are lots of hidden fees involved, including taxes, registration, licensing fees, perhaps a dealership fee, etc. So consider all these additional cost when looking at the sticker price. If you’re planning to trade in your current vehicle, consider the value of your car;

2. Figure out the size of the vehicle that will fit your needs. I recently rode in my friend’s new Toyota Yaris and we were rubbing elbows! And personally, this is something that I know would bother me, i.e. rubbing elbows with my passenger, especially on longer trips, so I immediately ruled out sub-compact cars!;

3. What do you like? While driving ’round, keep your eyes peeled on the type of cars that you like and research whether or not these cars are in your price range. I quickly ruled out the Mini when I found out that they’re owned by BMW = expensive on repairs/maintenance!

4. Keep on open-mind when shopping. Perhaps consider a make/model car that you’ve heard good things about, through trusted friends/family members. It’s also a good idea to contact car enthusiast friends/family members to ask them for ideas…as if you need anymore options! 😉

5. Consider things like fuel economy and future repair/maintenance costs. (This is sort of related to Tip #1.) The car that I’m eyeing is European which translates into EXPENSIVE. So even though the sticker price is within my budget, I may have to toss my fantasy aside for something more practical.

6. Look beyond the dealerships. Cast your net wide. I don’t know about you, but personally, I *hate* visiting dealerships mainly because I’m a woman and I can literally feel the car salesman sizing me up! So I wouldn’t recommend the dealership route UNLESS you’ve narrowed down the field a bit. Instead, do some online research via sites like Craigslist, Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, Autotrader, etc.

7. Bring in the muscle/numbers person. Once you’ve narrowed down the choices and are serious to buy, bring along someone who KNOWS how to assess what’s going on under the hood &/or how to sift through all the fine print, financing crap to determine if you’re actually getting a deal. Remember, there is always room for negotiation, especially at this time of year or come September when the new models roll out!

8. Be prepared to walk away. If the car just doesn’t feel right, is beyond your means, be honest with yourself and walk away. There are tons of other options out there that will meet your needs! So be patient and don’t make any rash decisions.

Are there any cars that you’d advise against? Do you have any car shopping tips to share?

I don’t know about you but all I want to do in winter is to hibernate, eat hot comfort food and curl up with a good book. And although most of us make the New Year’s resolution to lose weight, it is kind of hard to achieve our goals when the cold, bleak winter practically demands us to eat those comfort foods. But, making small healthy changes to those foods will allow you to enjoy them and still keep your resolutions intact.

On that note, but certainly not to be mistaken with health food (all those potatoes!), here is a Spiced Potato and Ground Beef with Peas (“Aloo Keema” which literally means Potato Ground Beef) with warm and earthy Indian spices.

You’ll need onion, tomato, ginger and garlic.

And don’t forget the potatoes!

The Spices a.k.a the most important part.

Aloo Keema: Spiced Potato and Ground Beef with Peas

1-2tbsp olive oil

1kg or ½ kg lean ground beef

5-6 medium potatoes, cubed

1 medium onion, chopped

1 small tomato, chopped

3-4 minced or grated garlic cloves

1tsp minced or grated ginger

1 tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

1 tsp ground cumin

½ tsp turmeric

¼ tsp red chili powder

½ tsp cumin seeds

½ cup frozen peas

Handful of cilantro, chopped

2-3 green chilies, julienned, seeds removed (optional)

3 scallions, chopped (optional)

• In a large saucepan on medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. Add chopped onions and sauté them. As soon as the onions start to turn golden brown, add the tomato and minced ginger and garlic. Let it cook for a minute.

• Add in the ground beef, breaking any chunks, and cook it through. When the ground beef is brown, add in salt, pepper, ground cumin, turmeric, red chili powder and cumin seeds (if using). You should also taste it at this point to see if it requires more heat or salt and adjust the seasoning according to your preference. Add in the cubed potatoes and mix everything together.

• Lower the heat to medium-low. Add in about half a cup of water, cover the pan with a lid and allow it to cook for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, stir in the frozen peas.

• Once the potatoes are cooked, turn the heat off and stir in the cilantro, green chilies (if using) or scallions (if using). Serve with chapati/roti or naan, green chutney, and salad or just enjoy it as is.

So… did you brave the crowds today, or did you shop online? What deals did you score?  If you did brave the crowds was it worth the hassle? 

So far I bought a pair of Jessica Simpson Jeans. Tonight at Chapters.ca I got The Source Code Blu Ray, Lincoln Layers Blu Ray, Something Borrowed Dvd and Little Fockers with taxes all in for $26.  I didn’t have the energy to brave the crowds and veer away from angry people with shopping carts ready and willing to trample those who get in their way.

*Don’t forget theres a few hours left to enter our Walmart giftcard giveaway.*

It’s winter and all you want is comfort food and what better way to get that comfort but from this delicious garlic bread. Eat it alongside a piping hot bowl of chicken noodle soup and hopefully you’ll be all set to brave the crowds on Boxing Day.

So, without further ado, here is the recipe:

Cheesy Herb Garlic Bread

1 loaf of french bread or baguette

5-6 garlic cloves

½ cup softened unsalted butter

3-4 tbsp fresh herbs (basil, cilantro or parsley)

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

1 cup shredded cheese

• Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400.
• Mince or grate the garlic into a fine paste. Mix the garlic with softened butter, herbs, salt and pepper.
• Cut the bread lengthwise in half and spread the butter mixture on both sides. Sandwich the bread back together and wrap the loaf in foil. Place the wrapped loaf onto a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and turn the oven to the broil setting.
• Sprinkle both sides of the bread with the shredded cheese. Broil it for 1-2 minutes until the cheese has melted and bread is crisp.

While on my way to my mechanic, in rush hour traffic, my car seized up and it felt as though an anchor dropped down from the back! My car was not going anywhere.

(When I mentioned to a coworker that I was off to the mechanic, due to a precarious noise, he said, “Call me, I have CAA!” However, I never thought that I would take him up on his offer.)

Quickly, I called said coworker and he was able to pass on his CAA Membership number to me. (Enter Tow Trucker #1 in which I waved away, saying that I was already on the phone with CAA.) Immediately, I called CAA by dialing *222 on my cell phone, but the operator said that the member had to be WITH me. So that idea was nixed!

The CAA operator did mention that I can sign up and use the benefits right away, so I filed that information away.

(Enter Mysterious Motorist who asked if I was okay. He then pulled over, asked me if I needed a cell phone. When I said that I was fine, he gave me some religious reading material to peruse while the dinner traffic whizzed by me. Shortly after this kind motorist stopped, Tow Trucker #2 came by as well in which I again denied his assistance.)

Since I was getting desperate, I just called the phone number on a business card of a tow company I used a couple of years back when I had a flat. After providing the operator my coordinates, I asked how much a tow of approximately 10k would cost: $100 + HST. He added that if I decided to go with another Trucker to please call him to cancel.

At this point, Tow Trucker #3 stops, I waved him away as well. Do these people have an App that helps them to locate stranded motorists??

My coworker called back to check up. I tell him that it’s going to cost me $100 to get towed to my mechanic in which he responded, “That’s EXPENSIVE!” Duh. I asked him how much CAA was and he stated that it was under $100/year.

I had to think on my feet, but immediately after I got off the phone with my coworker, I sign up for CAA on the spot. As I needed a tow right away, there was some kind of additional fee, but I figured that $140+ was a much better value than a one-time, $100 tow…for less than 10k!

Granted, I never asked any of those Truckers their fee, but even though it may seem as though they wanted to help, most likely, they were there to gouge! So if you are driving an older vehicle, consider signing up for CAA or another tow company such as Canadian Tire. It’ll save you money and possibly your life in case of an emergency!

This dip recipe is delightfully refreshing, simple, and it’s also incredibly healthy, especially when you’re looking for a respite between all those Christmas cookies. It also requires only three ingredients:

Plain yogurt or thick Greek yogurt (Plain yogurt can usually be found on sale for $2 or less).

Fresh cilantro (regularly $1 per bunch) and sea salt (Aurora Sea Salt is on sale at Sobeys for only $0.88).

In a blender or food processor, puree the cilantro. Add the yogurt and sea salt to the emerald green cilantro puree.

Thoroughly mix and serve alongside those Baked Potato Wedges.

Cilantro-Yogurt Dip

1cup cilantro* puree

2-2½ cups plain yogurt

½ tsp sea salt

Puree the cilantro in a blender or food processor and you could also put in a few tablespoons of your yogurt to the puree if it needs some help in breaking down. Take a cup of the puree and mix with the rest of the yogurt and salt. Enjoy the delicious green goodness!

*Note: The cilantro  can be substituted with other herbs of your preference such as mint, basil or parsley.