Waiheke is a beautiful island in the Hauraki Gulf, and in my humble opinion, one of the best day trips you can take, when visiting Auckland. This activity was repeatedly suggested and highly recommended. By everyone. Not one to miss out on anything labeled “a must do” I made plans to go in the first few days. It had to happen. FOMO (fear of missing out) is a real thing my friends. LOL I’m so glad that Waiheke lived up to the hype and did not disappoint. By now you’re surely wondering what’s so special about this island that sets it apart from the other 45+ islands in the gulf. This is New Zeal ..read more

Calling all chickpea fans… Cook those little gems yourself and stop buying those inferior cans! Oh, I know what you’re thinking, it’s so easy to pop open a can of cooked and ready to use chickpeas. You don’t want to give up that kind of convenience. And preparing them from dried, in the Instant Pot, will take you about an hour and  a half. I can’t dispute those facts. However, like many of the best things in life, faster is not always better. This is definitely true when it comes to chickpeas. What are the benefits of cooking your own chickpeas instead of using canned ones?   Le ..read more

Are you planning a trip to Lake Louise and wondering what time of year you should go? Most people will tell you that summer is ideal, and it certainly can be. But I want you to consider another option…Fall. There are some good reasons for visiting in the autumn months that can make for a really great experience. Smaller crowds and a completely different view of the Lake are two big ones. I finally got the opportunity to return to beautiful Lake Louise. It was long overdue. My last visit was over 20 years ago, and as you can imagine, a lot can change in that span of time. In fact, as we approac ..read more

Start your day the right way, with a Strawberry Pina Colada Smoothie. Yes, I know, it kinda sounds like a cocktail, but I promise you it’s a breakfast drink. I mean, I do love, love, love those delightful cocktails, so it should come as no surprise that this smoothie is a favourite of mine. Who are we kidding, I’m sure that’s where the inspiration came from. LOL However, this is in fact a nutritious and good for you, meal in a glass. It’s also delicious. And, this winning combo of flavours really does work just as beautifully in a smoothie as it does in a cocktail. I always make my morning smo ..read more

We made it through another week my friends and I hope yours was enjoyable. I’ve spent a lot of time in the garden in the last few days trying to get things in order, before it gets too hot out there. Doing a little bit every day, squeezing it in before I head to work, and being careful not to strain my back again. It’s a slow process, but I’m getting it done. Take a look through my finds for the week and here’s hoping your weekend is filled with sunshine and laughter. What are Friday Favourites? Every Friday many blogs and websites share a post about their “Favourite” finds for the week ..read more

Morocco is a culturally rich and vibrant country, and not surprisingly, their food is a reflection of that. Traditional dishes were influenced by several cultures and their cuisines, such as Arabic, Berber, Andalusian and Mediterranean. The great thing about this is that you, the visitor, will be treated to a delicious and unique fusion of flavours. Spices and herbs are used freely to give dishes very distinct tastes.  And, the slow cooking method that is very prevalent here, using the tagine, helps to create some very delicious dishes. I know from my own travel experiences with friends a ..read more

TGIF… And the sun is shining. Finally. That ongoing gloomy weather was killing my happy vibe. This week, for my second run at “Friday Favourites” I’m sharing some great new ideas with you. Take a peek and perhaps you will find something that captures your eye also. What are Friday Favourites? Every Friday many blogs and websites share a post about their “Favourite” finds for the week. These finds might include a newfound recipe, home gadgets, interesting Amazon finds, a personal experience, a song, book or TV show, a useful app or maybe a newly discovered neighbourhood restaurant. The possibil ..read more

I’ve decided to jump on the bandwagon and join in on this online posting trend called Friday Favourites. This means that on Fridays you can expect a new post, where I will be sharing with you a few things that have impressed me over the course of the week. I hope you enjoy it and perhaps even find something useful. What are Friday Favourites? Every Friday many blogs and websites share a post about their “Favourite” finds for the week. These finds might include a newfound recipe, home gadgets, a personal experience, a song, book or TV show, a useful app or maybe a newly discovered neighbourhood ..read more

Did you know that there are over 180 vineyards in the Okanagan Valley. You might be surprised at that number. I sure was! I had no idea there were so many until I started reading up on the area. What makes this part of the world so appealing to wine makers? The reason is this: unique  climate and geological conditions make this region ideal for grape growing and high quality wine making. The best news, for wine lovers like myself, is that where there are so many vineyards, there’s sure to be a lot of wine tastings experiences offered. And there sure are! But how does one decide where to g ..read more

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