The Mac Shack

I had a dream yesterday that I went to a restaurant and all they served were different kinds of Macaroni and Cheese. Oh wait— it wasn't a dream.

I ventured to the Mac Shack yesterday for dinner in Kerrisdale and was transported to what I can only imagine heaven must look like. They have a menu with all sorts of delicious sounding creations or a "build it yourself option." I went for the latter. White pasta, cream sauce, gruyere and mozzarella, caramelized onions and bell peppers. WHAT!

The place itself was a lot smaller than I was expecting but I think I enjoyed it more. You order at a counter and you can see the chefs preparing your food right there. The joint (I feel like Guy Fieri calling it a "joint") has a bar running around the perimeter, a few booths, and a couple of high tables. 

So instagrammable. So delicious.

It looks sort of gross when you look at it at first. And then you keep looking at it and realize you want it in your belly. Right. Now. 

I will definitely be seeing you soon! 

Christmas Countdown: 14 days! 

New developments

Trying to make a film joke there eh? Not my greatest, but I'll work on something better.

Busy busy studying for finals and got some old pictures developed. These encompass Thanksgiving, beautiful fall colours, and crisp winter days. I went on a scenery kick with these ones. 

 A backlit Public Market

 Post Alley 

 Pretty market food

 School. I should solicit this to UBC to be in a brochure or something

There's something I really like about this one. Not sure what it is.

 This building has been in more movies than Morgan Freeman

 Fall colours at UBC

It's like it's on fire (like these)

Granville Street (Vancouver, why are you so pretty? 

Granville Street at sunset

Christmas countdown: 16 days! 

The great pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

Fall baking means one thing to me: pumpkin. Whether it be in the form of muffin, cake, scone, pancakes, or bread it has to be there. It begins with an innocent pumpkin spice latte mid-September and ends in October with pumpkin worked in to every meal of every day. It's an obsession.

Here  is my latest round up of pumpkin goodness.

White Chocolate Cinnamon Pumpkin Truffles (yes please!)

How about some Pumpkin Pie White Hot Chocolate to warm up on a cold October night?

Don't Mind if I do— Pumpkin Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Buttercream

Pumpkin Soup- in a pumpkin! 

I'm off to the store at this moment to purchase gratuitous amounts of pumpkin. Next pictures will be of my creations! 

Change is afoot

January 1st has never been the time I make resolutions and set goals. September is the time I associate with new beginnings. Back to school, the transition to autumn (my favourite season), and the return of my favourite TV shows all trigger my impulse to make resolutions. I can't help it— it's a reflex. Even after I graduate from school, I think I will always reach for the "Academic" day planner over the "annual" planner at Chapters. September is my new year. I should count down on August 31st, maybe drink some champagne.

Starting with a new hair colour (I'm thinking Auburn-y this year) the resolutions flow from there. So here are a few of goals for this new year. (Sidenote: I'm writing them to myself so I can look back on this in November when I will obviously be failing at all of them and feel motivated.)

1. Write
- Write everything down. Scribble down ideas and musings. Doodle in margins. Update your blog. Write short stories. Just write more as a creative outlet. (Writing this blog post is a good start.)

2. Focus on the Positive 
- Stop fixating on the negative and the things that you cannot change. They will not make you any happier.

3. De-Clutter Your Life
Alternate name to this goal: Buy less pointless crap.
- Really think about where you are spending your money and the objects you are filling your life with.   If if doesn't have a purpose- why do you have it?


September Me is ready to kick November Me's ass when/if I start slacking on these. Don't make me do it, November Me.

Change is afoot (picture)

Rock the vote

The federal election is coming up here on May 2 and I have been giving a lot of thought as to who I want to vote for. I think I'm a little too excited to vote actually (this is the first one I will be legal for!)

I figured I would look at a few platforms, check out a few candidates badabing badaboom and vote. Apparently not. Apparently parties and candidates don't want voters to know exactly where they stand and what they do when they're elected— that would make too much sense. I have been voraciously devouring every newspaper article that crosses my doorstep (okay let's be serious my computer screen) about the election. Yet here I am, not anywhere closer to a decision as to whom I should vote for.



Although there is a silver lining, along my search I have found some hilarious pictures, videos, and websites about Stephen Harper— and what's more fun than making fun of Stephen Harper?

This website is golden http://thingsharperdoestoseemhuman.tumblr.com/. It's hilarious on two fronts. It's bi-hilarious. Firstly, the pictures themselves just warrant a good chuckle and secondly, the captions turn that chuckle into a full on laugh.

One of my favourites:

High-fiving the wife in full-body high-fiving gear. Safety first.

Another gem I have stumbled upon was this video of him and Maria Aragorn (the girl who became famous singing "Born this way" on youTube). When she says "no matter gay, straight, or bi, lesbian, transgender life" I thought he was going to have an aneurysm (his platform is anti-gay). You can almost see his thoughts saying " shit I really should have listened to the song before I signed up for this publicity stunt...."

Awk-ward

Dig Deeper

Today marks the end of week one of Insanity. I can fully attest to the fact that this workout is aptly named.

Insanity is a 60 day total workout program. You do 6 workouts a week and they are truly INSANE. I'm talking sweat pooling, water chugging, body burning insane.

Here's the infomercial for it:



Strange thing is that just within the first week of doing this workout I've come to kind of enjoy it (now THAT is insane.) I like that within 45-60 minutes (the length of the videos) I can get an entire full body workout and feel like I've actually WORKED. Plus its a nice break from studying. I'm doing this with a group of friends and we've mapped out a schedule to keep us on track.

On to week two and I say bring it on Shaun-T!

I love finals

I <3 finals

Classes ended on Thursday and I am now in full on finals mode. All my finals are really compact this year and I will be free Tuesday the 19th at 2pm (not that I'm counting down or anything...)

I can almost taste Summer! (and let me tell you it tastes gooooooood)

Back to the grind. I dislike the grind.

Reading break has come and gone and here I am Sunday night playing a little homework catchup. Back in my comfy (and newly reorganized) dorm room and it's amazing what a little feng shui can do— feels much more roomy.

All in all this was a lovely and much needed break and I can't believe there are only two months left in the school year. Crazy talk I tell 'ya.

I made these two days ago was quite impressed with them. (Sprouted kitchen is AMAZING. I want her life)

This is not my picture (I wish) but my camera charger is temporarily AWOL.
MIA.

gets me every time

Day Tripper

Yesterday took a day trip over to the island to visit a friend at the University there. It was a lovely but long day (left the house at 7:30am and returned at 11:30pm)

Day trips: All the adventure of a longer venture packed into one bite sized package. Who wouldn't love that?

Things that I love about day trips:

Fun modes of transportation (I love ferries!)

Seeing people you haven't seen in a long time (this is me attacking my friend. Our initial encounter was much more dramatic... and in public)

And best of all you get to return to the comfort of your own bed and dream about all the wonderful things that happened that day.

Vancouver is my valentine

Yes— it is all mine. Vancouver belongs to me and me alone because I don't want to share something this good.

The middle of February and THIS is what it looks like outside. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS!

I took this while out jogging on my phone and immediately sent it to every single person I know who is currently knee deep in snow and slush. I'm a good person, I swear.

Valentine's day was a few days ago and I spent the day with my one true love: food. Here are some shots of my creations:

Red Velvet Cupcakes filled with Chocolate Ganache and fresh strawberry buttercream (yum!)


Dinner of smoked gouda and apple calzones and coconut quinoa salad. Delicious! (Both recipes from here)

A little light for the dreary days

The rain has been coming down for the past few days, as is usual in Vancouver at this time of year. My mind has been filled with thoughts of warm nights, sidewalks hot to the touch, and the smoky smell of a good barbecue.

I think it's time for summer to arrive.

Reminds me of Summer: here

Reading week is just around the corner and it will be filled with me lying in my living room with the heat cranked on high, pretending I'm in Mexico. I'm stoked.

Gyms and scarves

This is legitimately me every time I go to the gym.





I've been seeing circle scarves EVERYWHERE this season, so I have decided to (attempt) to knit myself one.

Here is a similar link to the one I am making:
http://ginabrownsyarn.blogspot.com/p/circle-scarf-pattern-free.html

I'll post pictures of it when I'm done (so about a year from now)

À bientôt!

Bikram it-smells-like-feet- yoga.

After my first experience with Bikram (hot) yoga I have decided to rename it. The winner was the title of this post and some of the close runner-ups included:

a) Bikram I-want-to-die yoga
b) Bikram anyone-who-does-this-is-crazy yoga
c) Bikram I-have-never-wanted-to-shower-like-I-do-right-now yoga

Question: Who would put CARPET in a room that is used for people to get sweaty 10 times a day?
Answer: those who enjoy the smell of roadkill while they work out.


This was every one else doing it:


This was me...


I think I'll pass on this one

À bientôt!