Life Lately

Happy Monday!! Can you believe it's the last day of July! Only one month of summer to go!

This past month has been a good one. A visit from my husband's sister, quick trips to Quebec City and Ottawa, lots of salads (plus a few treats thrown into the mix!), many treks to the local splash park and swimming pool, and lots of exciting progress in terms of our new business. It's been a busy and productive month!

This past weekend was particularly nice as it was the first weekend in a while when neither my husband or I had to do any work. We were able to refresh and relax (well as much relaxing as you can do with a rambunctious 17-month old in tow!). We started off the weekend indulging in takeout from our favourite Chinese food restaurant, and ended it by savouring some of the last local strawberries over frozen Greek yogurt. In between we got lots of stuff done - housework and laundry, meal prep, errands (I finally have a new phone!!!) - and also had time to enjoy a few weekend activities - lots of iced coffee, CFL football games (for my hubby) and naps and a long run (for me). We also took a family trip down to the Old Port and mingled with the tourists, stopped in at Atwater Market, and spent some time at the splash park. A perfect summer weekend!



Hope you had a good one too! And here is to a good week ahead!

XOXO

Natural Beauty Products

In the past I was never much for natural beauty products. I used a lot of drugstore products, with a few splurge-worthy department store products mixed into my routine. Over the past little while though, I have been starting to use more and more natural products. I haven't totally tipped the scales towards natural products, but I find I've been adding a more and more into the mix, especially in terms of hair-care and body products.

I think it started when I was pregnant, and every night I would smear shea butter all over my big belly to prevent stretch marks. I know the scientific literature says that stretch marks are mostly genetic, and if you're going to get them, you're going to get them, but I thought at least trying to keep my skin nice and moist and supple could help mitigate them if I was going to get them. I'm happy to report that I didn't get any stretch marks (probably more down to lucky genes), but I did fall in love with shea butter along the way. I now use it as a hand and cuticle cream, and sometimes on my face as an under-eye cream, or to help an pesky dry spots clear up. My favourite shea butter is from L'Occitane but it is expensive! I've also had good luck with this that I ordered off of Well.ca. The packaging is not as pretty, but the texture and quality of the product is lovely.

I've also started using oils as body moisturizers. I started out with a jar of coconut oil, but wasn't really pleased with it. I find the texture of coconut oil too greasy and the smell, though nice, too over-powering. Now I use sweet almond oil. I buy a bottle from my local natural foods store, and I like that it absorbs quickly and leaves no real smell behind. I've also just bought my first bottle of pure argan oil. I've always been intrigued to try it, but the cost of the pure oil turned me off (and so many other products with it as an ingredient seemed to be full of silicones and other fillers). I discovered an amazing Canadian skincare line called The Ordinary and you can get a bottle of argan oil for $6.80. (More about this amazing company to come...) Now I use it mostly on my very dry hair, but I think I might start experimenting with oils as part of my facial skincare routine. I've always been reticent to use oil on my face as I have breakout-prone skin, but I know other people who have really seen an improvement in their skin using oils, so I think I might try.

Do you use any natural beauty products? Any good tips?

XOXO

P.S. I recently ordered this shampoo and this conditioner. And this leave-in conditioner too. I'm really happy with all three! (This post is not an ad for Well.ca, they are just one of my favourite sites for buying good quality beauty and skincare products.)

British Crime Dramas

My last TV post got me thinking about why I watch so many British TV shows. In that post I discussed my tendency to pick shorter, auteur-driven shows over network TV. And I guess that's why I'm drawn to so many British shows on Netflix - they tend to have shorter series, which I think makes for smarter, more tightly-plotted shows.

Lately I've been into British crime dramas. A couple to watch:

Happy Valley - Probably my favourite British crime series to date. Scripted by Sally Wainwright (who used to write for Coronation Street!), this show is a gripping police drama set in rural West Yorkshire. From the start of the show you know who committed the crime, but will the police be able to solve it in time? Not only is it a well-crafted crime drama, it also explores the lives of middle-aged women, a subject not often seen on TV. Starring the great Sarah Lancashire (also from Coronation Street) and Siobhan Finneran (Mrs. O'Brien from Downton Abbey).

Scott & Bailey - Another police drama from Sally Wainwright, this time following two female detectives on the (fictional) Manchester Metropolitan Police. This is a more traditional case of the week show, but I really enjoyed the complex relationship it set up between Scott (played by the fantastic Lesley Sharp) and Bailey (Coronation Street's own Karen (Suranne Jones)). DCI Gill Murray (played by Amelia Bullmore, who took over writing duties after Wainwright left the series) is also one of the greatest female characters on television. One of the things I like about Wainwright's writing is how she can have two characters, while speaking to each other, carry on two separate conversations. There is a realism to how her characters interact, and are driven by their own psyches. (You can skip the final series of this if you want - neither Wainwright or Bullmore were associated with the show anymore, and honestly it feels like a completely different series.)

Two to skip (I watched these so you don't have to. Really.):

Doctor Foster - Also starring Suranne Jones, this series had really good reviews, and an intriguing first episode that looked to be setting up a compelling plot. But the series majorly went down hill after episode one, and the plot resolutions were weak at best. Not worth your time.

Paranoid - Like Doctor Foster, at first this seemed like a really interesting detective show, filled with a number of talented, familiar faces. The first episode was quite gripping, but OH MY GOD does this show go off the rails!

Any good British crime show recommendations out there?

XOXO

(Photo by Sven Scheuermeier)

How to Make Perfect Cold Brew Coffee at Home

Cold brew coffee - the stuff summer is made of!

Like everyone on the planet I've had a major thing for cold brew coffee the last few summers. Iced coffee is one of the best parts of summer (total coffee-addict over here), and cold brew, as both me and the Internet will tell you, is the best way to make a rich and flavourful iced coffee. My husband, talented all-around maker of coffee, has mastered the art of cold brew at home. He usually makes a big batch on the weekends to last us through the week. And though I am not a morning person, mornings aren't so bad with an icy cold glass of cold brew in hand!

The beauty of cold brew is that it is easy to make at home, and all it really requires is time.
You can use either espresso or, our preferred coffee, Cafe Du Monde with chicory. (If anyone can tell me where to buy this in MTL it would be much appreciated. We currently "import" ours from the asian grocers in Regina. We filled our suitcase our last trip home to Saskatchewan, but our supply is running out, Aghhhh!!!)

Here's how to make a great batch of cold brew at home, courtesy of my all-star coffee- making husband:

The great thing about good cold brew is the coffee is less bitter than regular hot brewing methods. Espresso and darker roasts are naturally good fits for cold brew, so are beans with chocolatey notes. I'm not a big fan of fruity or floral beans as cold brew, but really flavour comes down to personal preference. Just know that cold brewing doesn't bring out the full flavour profile of the bean, so you don't need to spend the big bucks on beans.

Depending on your coffee (bean, roast, grind) you will have to experiment with the ratio, but the method works the same no matter the ratio.

In terms of grind there's a sweet spot somewhere between espresso and regular drip coffee that works really well. I've experimented with rough grinds all the way up to, and past, french press texture with waterier results the further you get away from the sweet spot. Really fine espresso grinds are tough to filter and can have a slightly muddy flavour. Not bad, but not great.

Ratio: 1 part coffee to 4 parts cold water is a good place to start. For really dark Italian espresso you can go as high as 1 to 6.

Method

1. First measure out your ground coffee. 1 cup of ground coffee at 1:4 gets you a little less than a litre of cold brew. It keeps well for 5-7 days.
2. Pour your ground coffee into a bowl or large mason jar. You'll need to pour cold brew out of this container later, so choose something that won't make a mess when you pour it.
3. Next pour your measured cold water over the grounds. 
4. Then give it a little stir to get all the grounds wet all over. 
5. Cover with plastic wrap (or a lid, or a towel) and let stand for about 18 hours at room temperature. How long you let it stand for moves around with your other variables, but I like 18-24. 12 hours gives you a weaker, less flavourful brew.
6. After 18 hours its straining and filtering time. For this you will need a second bowl, a fine mesh strainer and some decent quality coffee filters that fit well enough in your strainers (you don't need any fancy brewing devices or super special filters - cold brew is rustic like that). The finer your grind the more filters or patience you will need. 
7. This step is only for really fine grinds - skip it if you are using anything above espresso grind. Pour the brewed coffee slowly through your strainer without a filter into the second bowl. Do this once or twice, dumping out the strained grounds each time. This just saves you a bit of hassle and time later when you do the filtering. 
8. Filtering: Put a filter in the strainer and pour the coffee slowly through the filter into the second bowl. Repeat as necessary, changing filters two or three or four times if your grind is fine and slowing the process down. Or, if you have the patience of a saint, just pour it all through the same filter. 
9. Store it covered/sealed in the fridge for a week or so.

That's it - you know have a whole bunch of cold brew to enjoy how ever you like it - with chocolate milk over ice is the preferred mix at our house!

Enjoy!

XOXO

Weekend Links

How was your week? Mine was a little up and down — we made great strides with our new business, and had a fun, quick trip to Ottawa to see some old friends, but my iPhone was stolen yesterday, blech!

To match the up-and-down tone of my week here are a few disparate links form the web...

Have you been following the Salvador Dali exhumation story? It's a little crazy, no?

I haven't been sleeping well lately. Maybe I should follow some of this advice. I totally think what I eat impacts my sleep.

Prince George turns 4 today! What a cutie! And this photo from the recent royal tour of Poland and Germany is so cute!!

What a pretty kitchen remodel. I love all the books!!

I'm currently reading this book, one of my beach read picks. It's very suspenseful!!!

Have a good one!

XOXO

What sunscreen do you use?

For years I had the perfect sunscreen - Clarins UV Plus HP Day Screen. It was a 100% mineral sunscreen with a high SPF (40), but it was silky to apply, and was more like putting on moisturizer than sunscreen. It felt light on the skin, wasn't greasy, didn't leave the dreaded white-cast, and never broke me out. But recently they changed the formula and added a chemical sunscreen to it, which my skin just can't tolerate.

I've been on the hunt for a good all-mineral sunscreen replacement, but have come up short. I tried La Roche Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Ultra-Fluid Lotion, but found the tint too dark for my skin. I'm currently alternating between Clinique SPF50 Mineral Sunscreen Fluid for Face and Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Face Mineral Sunscreen but don't really like either. They're both thick, don't blend as easily, and, well, feel like sunscreen. I've heard good things about Beautycounter, but I don't think their sunscreens are available in Canada.

Any good recommendations out there?

XOXO

(Photo from our trip to Copenhagen)

What I'm Reading Now: Agatha Christie Edition

I love Agatha Christie, and, nerd alert, I keep a spreadsheet on my computer detailing all of Agatha Christie's books (title, year of publication, if it's a Marple or a Poirot...), and am slowly reading my way through everything she wrote. I am also a subscriber to the Official Agatha Christie Newsletter. She is the master of the whodunnit, a keen observer of human nature, and her books are always a delight to read. I especially love Miss Marple - she looks like your typical English granny, but has a hidden dark side...

I think my favourite Christie books are The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and A Murder is Announced (and of course And Then There Were None and Murder on the Orient Express).

Two I'm reading now:

After the Funeral - I just finished this one and it had me guessing until the end. The action unfolds as the title says, after the funeral. Wealthy, but elderly, Richard Abernathie dies suddenly, and his kooky sister Cora is overheard at the funeral saying it was murder. The next day Cora is found dead in her bed, brutally hacked to death by a hatchet. Who murdered Richard, was it his nephew George, who needs money to bail himself out of his shady business deals, or his cunning niece Susan? Poirot steps in to solve the case. I'm not always a Poirot fan, but I really enjoyed this one.

The Murder at the Vicarage - I'm reading this one now. It's Miss Marple's debut novel, and we are introduced to her sweet outward appearance behind which she hides a shrewd intelligence, a dim view of humanity, and the ability to outwit the local police force. In this book Colonel Protheroe's dead body is found at the vicarage, and, according to town gossip, many locals of St Mary Mead just might have a motive for murder. The story appears to hinge on a reset clock... Miss Marple is on the case.

Do you like Agatha Christie?

XOXO

P.S. Have you heard of this book? Agatha Christie herself is a character in this crime novel, based on her real-life 10-day disappearance. I just found out about this book and can't wait to read it!


(Photo by Eugenio Mazzone)

Quebec City

A couple weekends ago we popped up to Quebec City for a few days when my sister-in-law from Vancouver was in town. Quebec City is so pretty, especially in the summertime, that it almost seems pretend, like Disneyland. I don't think there is anywhere else in Canada, or North America for that matter, that rivals Quebec City for it's old-world European charm. I love the Old Port in Montreal, but I think that Old Quebec is much more quaint and picturesque.

We spent our days exploring the beautiful old town, wandering along the boardwalk, and popping into stores, old buildings, and the stunning Chateau Frotenac. It was a vacation devoid of an agenda, but sometimes relaxing and meandering is just what the doctor ordered.

One of the highlights of the trip was checking out the Maison de la littérature, an amazing library housed in a converted old church in the heart of Old Quebec. As a bibliophile (and a trained librarian outside of my blogging life) I have a special place in my heart for libraries, but the Maison de la littérature is a stunning piece of architecture that can be appreciated by all, library-nut or not.

Exploring the Maison de la littérature with my little guy!!

Another highlight of our trip was our meal at 1640 Bistro. We've had wonderful meals here in the past, and it certainly did not disappoint this time too. The food is delicious, and artfully presented, and the service is excellent. I would definitely recommend treating yourself to a meal here if you're in town. I had the roasted and peppered scallops pasta, my husband had the filet mignon with blueberry sauce, and my sister-in-law had the salmon, and all of us thought our meals were amazing. (Our son also enjoyed his grilled cheese and fries!!) If you're looking for a few other places to eat, check out Le Chic Shack for yummy burgers, fries, and milkshakes, or Paillard for tasty sandwiches. We also stopped in at Baguette & Chocolat for coffee, and the iced mocha was spot on!

This time we stayed at a lovely Airbnb in Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury just outside of the city which was a good place to let our little guy unwind and get away from the excitement of the city. In the past we have stayed at the very charming Hotel Sainte-Anne, in the heart of the old town, which I would also highly recommend.

For beautiful old-world charm Quebec City can't be beat!

Happy exploring!!

XOXO

Weekend Links

The lazy days of summer are upon us! At least that's how I feel. My to do list is a mile long these days but I have zero motivation to get things done. Hopefully after a relaxing weekend, I'll have more ambition to tackle things next week! What are you up to this weekend? If the weather cooperates we're hoping to check out the Quartier des spectacles. Other than that, maybe a dip in the local neighbourhood pool and not much else.

To kick off a (hopefully) relaxing weekend, here are a few fun links from around the web...

After a month of internet stalking, I finally pulled the trigger and ordered this dress. I opted for the coral over the white because I already have a cute white summer dress, how many does a girl need? Also, with my little munchkin, a white dress is not always so practical. I can't wait for it to arrive and I can try it on!

Speaking of online shopping, I'm still in need of a new swimsuit. Erin over at Reading My Tea Leaves has a great list of ethical swimwear options.

A reader left a comment on my salad post with a link to this salad. I think I know what I'm having for dinner tonight! Or if I'm feeling more ambitious, maybe I'll try this recipe from my blog.

Last week I posted about the story that Amelia Earhart survived her crash landing in the Marshall Islands. Turns out it's just a whole bunch of hooey!

And in case you live under a rock, Beyonce released a picture, and the names of her twins. They are adorable!! I like the name Rumi, but I'm not so sure about Sir...

Have a great one!

XOXO

What podcasts do you listen to?

Some people think it's weird, but I like to listen to podcasts when I run. For me, getting engrossed in a good story passes the time quickly, and I don't realize how tired or sore I am! (I'm just getting back into running after almost two years off. I didn't run during my pregnancy, and following the advice of my physiotherapist I took the year following my son's birth off to completely recover from my c-section. Running is hard for me these days!!)

Besides This American Life, and binging on S-Town, I'm at a bit of a loss for good podcasts. What do you recommend?

Two I do listen two are:

Criminal - this is a true crime podcast that covers a range of crime topics from grisly murders to the origins of the term 4:20. Phoebe Judge, the host of the show, guides you through ghastly tales with her soothing voice - somehow making the show seem not as sensational as it is. (The first episode of Criminal discusses the 'owl theory' from the Michael Peterson case - the subject of the insane (blowpoke!) documentary The Staircase.)

Something About The Beatles - I'm a huge Beatles fan, and if you can get through the clunky first episode, this podcast is worth a listen. Interesting and in-depth analysis of The Beatles and their songs.

If you have any good recommendations, I would love to hear them!

This post was brought to you by Blue Apron, for less than $10 per meal, Blue Apron delivers seasonal recipes along with pre-portioned ingredients to make delicious, home-cooked meals. (Just kidding - this post was NOT sponsored by Blue Apron. I wish I was getting Blue Apron-type money over here!)

XOXO

(Photo by Eric Nopanen)

Currently Craving: Clogs

For some reason I am craving a pair of clogs. I don't even think they are stylish, or cool, or in right now - when was the Swedish Hasbeens craze, like 2 or 3 years ago? But I keep dreaming about pairing a pretty pair of clogs with jeans or breezy summer dresses. (Wouldn't they look cute with this dress?)

I've never owned a pair of clogs before, are they even comfortable? What do you think, clogs - yay or nay?

Clogs by Bryr

XOXO

Easy Summer Salads

When the temperatures soar, one of our favourite summer meals is salad. But salad on repeat tends to get, well, a little boring. But as I'm still struggling to find some easy vegetarian summer dishes, salad is on repeat over here.

To try to perk up all the salads we've been eating, I've been trying to come up with a few creative combinations. Here's a few I've tried lately:

• Smoked salmon with a mustard-y dressing
• This beet and goat cheese salad — one of my favourites!
• Grilled salmon and fresh dill
• Chick peas, fresh summer green beans (yum!), and goat cheese
• Summer potato salad with salmon
• Asian noodle salad — romaine, carrots, sugar snap peas, and cherry tomatoes on a bed of rice vermicelli 
• Salad Niçoise

Any other ideas? I'd love to hear!

XOXO

Weekend Links

It's officially summer!! What are you up to this weekend? My sister-in-law is in town and we are off to Quebec City for the weekend! Should be a fun one!!

Here are a few fun links to start your weekend...

Now that it's summer, I pretty much wear my hair in a top knot every day. This is my favourite tutorial of all time for an easy and chic top knot.

Also on Cup of Jo, this old post about what to pack for the beach. Now that we have a little munchkin, packing for anything is more difficult. I love these tips!!

And this is my new go-to summer cocktail!! I love Prosecco!

Did you see this story about Amelia Earhart this week? Crazy! The documentary airs Sunday night on the History Channel.

And to end, a look back on the blog...five years ago we were in Tuscany! That was a wonderful trip!!

Have a fabulous weekend!!

XOXO

Beach Vacation

I guess it's beach week on Lykksalight this week!

I've never actually been on a proper beach vacation. No trips to Mexico, Hawaii, or other tropical vacation destinations, but now that we're getting older, and have a child, a beach vacation sounds more and more appealing. The closest we've come to a beach vacation is our trip to San Sebastian.

A couple of weeks ago I reminisced about our trip to the Dordogne. For the second half of that trip we went to Basque country and visited San Sebastian and Bilbao. Both were wonderful stops, and I definitely dream of going back to San Sebastian.

San Sebastian is kind of the perfect tourist destination, a beautiful beach to relax on, a charming old town to explore, and food, food, food to eat!

First up the beach! The main beach at San Sebastian, La Playa de la Concha, is in the heart of town, stretching in a half-moon shape around the bay. Fine sand and calm water make it a great spot to spend the day. We walked the entire stretch of the beach, lounged in the hot Spanish sun, and swam in the cool water.

San Sebastian also has a really pretty old town to explore, especially if you're hungry because it is full of tapas bars! Tapas (or pintxos in Basque) are a specialty of the region and you can make a fun and delicious night of going from bar to bar and trying amazing bites of food at each stop. San Sebastian also has many high-end restaurants, which do not disappoint. The highlight of the trip was our meal at Bodegon Alejandro - amazing Basque cuisine and my husband had to-die-for cheese ice cream for dessert! If we ever go back I would love to try Arzak.

To satisfy your sweet tooth, churros dipped in thick hot chocolate are also a must while visiting, with Santa Lucia in the old town being the place to try them.

We also took a day trip down from San Sebastian to Bilbao. We explored the old town, but the main reason for our visit was to see the Guggenheim Museum. The architecture of the museum was definitely worth the trip, and, I thought, more interesting than most of the art. I did like Jeff Koon's Puppy, and the Richard Serra maze. I also remember a fog sculpture, that was just fog? I didn't really get it.

I would love to go back to San Sebastian some day! Have you ever been on a beach vacation? Where is the best place to go?

XOXO

(Top photo by Pavel Kosov)

A Day at the Beach

I'm in desperate need of a new swimsuit! My pre-pregnancy bikini has almost disintegrated (and let's face it doesn't really fit - things shift after birthing and nursing a baby!) and the suit I use to take my son to swimming lessons, purchased at Costco, is a little lacking in the style department. In a dream world if I was spending the day at the beach...

A loose coverup to wear to and fro.

A cute high-waisted swimsuit for splashing in the waves. (This one is cute too!)

Sunscreen to protect my pale Irish/English/Norwegian skin.

A pair of my favourite flip flops.

A wide-brimmed hat (that's packable!) to keep the sun off my face.

The perfect beach read!

XOXO