Skip to main content

Summer 2020 Favorites

Given that the world is a complete train wreck right now, it's more important than ever to focus on all the things we have to be grateful for. For me, there is a lot. I have a wonderful husband and kids, loving family, job I adore (that is busier than ever) and financial stability. Really from a personal perspective I have to complaints. But being in a pandemic in a world that was already on it's way to destroying itself has left me very anxious about the future, particularly what things are going to look like for my children. It's heavy. I am sure we are all feeling it. So here are a few of the things I am enjoying right now.

First off, I am in love with the Armchair Expert Podcast!


It is hosted by Dax Shepard (husband of Kristen Bell) and Monica Padman. I didn't bother checking it out for a long time because I thought it was just interviews with actors and celebrities, which doesn't interest me, but I discovered they interview a lot of researchers, scientists and medical experts and that is totally my jam. They are funny, smart, thoughtful hosts and they have some amazingly interesting guests and fantastic discussions with them. I can't gush enough.

Since the pandemic started, I have also fallen in love with millet flour. As I am sure you know, for months a lot of baking ingredients were scarce. When I could not find any other flours, I was able to buy millet flour. 


I have been using it to make a lot of muffins. I like the texture it gives them though it is different from wheat flour.

I have also discovered a new favorite sunblock.


Adam picked up a few tubes at Costco. I was a bit worried because I frequently have allergic reactions to sunscreens and I had never tried this one, but I have had no adverse reactions to it. It also smells really good, is not as thick and gloppy as some sunscreens, and it doesn't get your clothes all white and messy.

Finally, I am loving my new Dyson fan.


As you probably know by now, I despise heat and it has been a super hot summer. I FUCKING HATE IT!

My home office is on the top floor of our house and I was finding that even with our air conditioning going and the ceiling fan on, I was literally dripping with sweat after a few hours of sitting there doing video sessions with my clients. I was also having difficulty sleeping because I was so hot. 

Since getting the Dyson fan, which I use during the day when I am working, and at night when I am sleeping, I am much more comfortable. My only complaint is that when you put it on the highest leve, it's a bit louder than I would like.




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Japanese 7-Spice Kelp Noodles

I love trying new spices and seasonings, so I am very excited that the President's Choice Black Label line now has a bunch of new spice blends available.  My most recent find: Shichimi Togarashi, or Japanese 7-Spice blend. It's a combination of crushed red chili flakes, sea salt, Szechiuan peppercorns, black and white sesame seeds, poppy seeds, orange zest, wasabi powder and nori seaweed flakes. I make Japanese-inspired dishes all the time, but resort to the same old flavours most of the time: miso, soy, sesame, ginger and garlic.  I was so excited to be able to liven things up a bit. This dish is easy and tasty, although be warned that this seasoning packs punch.  I used 1 tsp, which ended up being too spicy for me, and I have a high tolerance for heat!  I recommend 1/4-1/2 tsp, or, if you don't like heat at all, make your own at home and omit the red chili flakes.  You'll get all the flavour without the heat. I served these noodles with a mix of seafood (

Book Review: The A to Z of Children's Health

Hey there, welcome to Monday!  We had a delightful, relatively quiet weekend.  How was yours?  Hopefully no one in your home was sick...there is a lot of nasty stuff going around these days. If you're a parent, than you have probably spent far more time that you would like to desperately searching Google and/or parenting books trying to figure out if your child's rash, cough or fever warrants a trip to the doctor or if there is something that can be done to treat it.  It's hard not to worry that it could be something more ominous that just an every day infection and while you'd make yourself (and everyone around you) nuts if you panicked every time your kid has the sniffles, as a parent, you naturally want to do everything in your power to prevent your child from harm. Recently I was sent The A to Z of Children's Health , written by doctors Jeremy Friedman, Natasha Saunders, and Norman Saunders, of Toronto's very own Hospital for Sick Children .  One of th

How to Look Like a Celebrity

Okay, I know you're going to be interested in this post! I am sure virtually every woman in North America has wondered how Hollywood celebrities achieve such 'perfect' bodies.  Well, at CAN FIT PRO last week, one of Hollywood's top fitness trainers, Eric the Trainer , was there to tell us fitness professionals the secrets! Eric the Trainer, gave several presentations, and I caught the one on Celebrity Secrets, and it was most interesting!!!  I also found some of what he said rather disturbing. First off, he was very upfront about the fact that celebrities come to him for improve their appearance.  Not to improve their health or athletic performance.  To look their best.  He admitted that his approach then, is entirely dedicated to that end. Male and female celebrities are trained in completely different ways because Hollywood wants women to be lithe and thin and in his words, "look like they dropped out of heaven looking this way without every having ste