I'll Have a Glass of Red with my Blow Dry

When I went to bed last night, I was already not looking forward to waking up...As this week treks on, I too have to trek on with the amount of work I need to have finished in due time.

I thought that if I just didn't get out of bed this morning it would further postpone my homework...but then reality hit and I realized that sleeping is another form of procrastinating so I forced myself out of the confines of my sheets.

After getting ready, I had a piece of toast with AB and jam and a banana for some extra added energgg.

I also had a cup of coffee.

I headed to my lecture after breaky...Just what I needed, a lecture reminding me of the things I need to accomplish in one week.

After lecture, I went to the "library" with my dear friend Jeremy...I put the library in quotations because this is what he referred to it as in first year in order to get me to go to it during class --- Little did I know it was actually a pub.

However, the pub's atmosphere is much like a library as it wreaks of old text books and body odour...Mmmm.

While we did some much needed work, we had a little lunch...

For lunch I had the tomato soup (which was most definately Campbell's) and a grilled cheese sandwich.

You know you're in for a darn good meal when it comes equipped with a basket...Heck, they should have thrown the soup in there bowless...


After lunch and work, I decided to pamper myself...What better way to pamper oneself than a few hours in the salon...

I must say that after some serious searching, I found one hell of a salon. It's called Flaunt and is conveniently quite close to me.

Not to take away from the hairstylists' amazing talents (he made my dead and gone hair look somewhat rejuvinated,) but the place really knows how to get a customer to return: serve them wine.

I can't tell you how nice it was to get my hair done AND sip on a glass of vino...I feel like that will be my new hangout --- but not actually, because I can't afford it and it really damaged my hair confidence. Remind me never go into hair modelling...

My New Found Fam

Sometimes living in the city can be lonely with no family...so thank god I have finally found an aunt and uncle who I am more than happy to visit. Yesterday, I returned to my dear Aunties and Uncles for a second visit within the time span of one week. That's quite good for family acknowledgment, no?

Okay, so they serve food..and I mean like reallly good food...and well, they aren't really family at all; in fact, I can't say that they even know me. But that will change soon if I keep up with my weekly brunch affairs.

This time I stayed away from the egg dishes as I wanted to try something new. That was quite difficult as I get set in my ways once I find something I like. However, last week I was torn between the french toast and omelette, so I thought why not go for the french toast this time!

I was all ready to order--- that was until the server informed me that oatmeal banana walnut pancakes were the daily special. Really?! He clearly didn't know me as he wasn't aware of my weakness for oats.

Instead of switching my order all together, I "eenie-minie-mowed"...but that never solves anything now, does it? So I told the server to surprise me...

The anticipation killed me...so I chugged my coffee.

I guess it was a sign when the french toast arrived; I have to go with my gut! And baby, did I ever go in with my gut...The french toast was incredible. Three pieces of challa toast: perfectly squared. They were lightly dusted with powdered sugar and melted butter was oozing off of the edges. With a drizzle of maple syrup and a piece of cinnamon poached pear (which were laid out on the side,) I took my first bite.




I think I died and went to heaven...the first bite was definately the best as it was the one smothered the most in butter!

My brunch date chose the daily omelette --- I guess I was one step ahead of him as I can check that menu off the list of "already tried." But I convinced him to get the Dijon dill potato salad (something I wish I had tried last time) which I snagged a little sampy of...They were darrnn good.

After brunch I headed on home to do some work and shower before class.

I had a spinach salad just before I headed out the door as I was still pretty stuffed from breaky...but I needed somethin' to tide me over.

When I got back from class, I was most definately ready for dinner!

For dinner I had a lemon and herb breaded fish fillet, an array of sauted beans and carrots, and some spinach.

I topped my fish with some salsa for an extra kick.

For a little something sweet later on, I had a mixture of apple sauce, bananas, nuts, raisins, and All-Bran...I really just threw anything I could find into the mix...

Ladies' Lunch

I think we would all agree if I said Thursday night was the best sleep all week...we were so exhausted Wednesday night that we were in a coma as soon as our heads hit the pillow!

For breakfast we had toast and fruit as I didn't want to waste the delicious ciabatta bread from the night before.

After breakfast we used all of Little India's water to shower and prettify ourselves for lunch out with family friends.

We were meeting up with them in the Distillery District --- I most definately live there --- at around 2 pm. But after getting ready and leaving the house we were informed that they were running a little late so we decided to grab a coffee at Starbucks and stroll down Queen East.

I dragged the girls into the Leslieville Cheese Market as I always pass it but I never have a chance to go in!

Nothing is better than a sexy cheese salesman...I couldn't turn down anything he tried selling me. We left with their entire cheese stock and day old crackers...

Okay no, but we did buy some lovely Gruyere, green cracked olives, and crackers made on site.

With our purchase in hand, we headed down to the Distillery for lunch.

We met at a place I hadn't been too yet but have always wanted to go: Archeo. It being a Friday late afternoon in the Distillery, it wasn't very busy...but the building was beautiful --- complete with wood rafters.

Six ladies can make an empty restaurant seem full. Our voices and laughter echoed throughout the place... It was such a good lunch.

Along with a pint of Okanagan Spring Ale, I had a smoked salmon bagel and a carrot soup. Smoked salmon is my weakness; however, I wish the bagel wasn't white and stale.

Mariel had a Cobb Salad which she wasn't impressed with --- "The cheese still had it's rind on!"

Chloaye had a Thai Chicken Salad --- she shared feelings similar to that of Mare's.

Even though our meals weren't incredible, the time together was so good.

After lunch I showed everyone around the distillery and then we split ways. The three of us rushed over to Steam Whistle brewery before it closed. We got there five minutes before it closes---perfect amount of time to throw back a free sample of pilsner.

We headed home at around 6:30 pm to get ready for the evening.

Mare Does Dinner

Good thing my guests were family as it's hard for me to be courteous all of the time...The girls were treated to a lovely bowl of oats again on Thursday morning. At least they are easy to please as I really think they enjoyed them nonetheless.

After breakfast, Chloaye and I went to St. Lawrence Market to meet up with one of Chloaye's old roommates, Brianna. I hadn't seen her for years even though we both live in the same city.

We all caught up while strolling around the market sampling the different goodies...I could spend hours at St. Lawrence as I love a place with an array of samples --- it's like Costco but gourmet.

I don't think the girls were as impressed with the place so we headed down to the Distillery District for a little lunch. I brought them to the Brick Street Bakery for their famous sandwiches. Chlo and I shared a tuna sandwich because I warned her of their size... The bread is made on site at the bakery so it is so fresh and packed with tuna!

After lunch, I brought Brianna and Chlo to Mill Street to show them where I work. We stayed for a pint of Wit beer so that they could really take in the whole experience.

We parted from Bri after the pub and went to the mall to do a little shopping.

Chlo and I headed home when our tummys told us it was dinner time. We picked up a loaf of ciabatta bread to have with the meal Mariel was making for us!

Mariel made a delicious dinner: halibut with butter and lemon, mixed beans, spinach salad, hummus and carrot sticks, and warm crusty bread.



The hummus was so yummy...and quite inventive as Mariel couldn't find the tahini so she opted for a sesame dressing and sriracha sauce --- She really knows to impress the Flanagan sisters!