Christmas dinner

There's just the two of us so rather than have a turkey, Gord and I had cornish hens for Christmas dinner.

Gord took care of making them ... Cornish Hens with a Grand Marnier Glaze.

½ lb butter cut into about 5 cubes
1 cup orange juice
1 tbsp honey
3/4 cup Grand Marnier
2 bay leaves
Salt and pepper

Combine orange juice, honey, and 1/4 cup of the Grand Marnier in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, uncovered, over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until the liquid is reduced to about a third of what you started with.

Turn off the heat and whisk in each cube of butter separately, only adding another cube when the first is completely melted in. Once this is completed, stir in the remaining 1/2 cup of Grand Marnier. Season the inside of each bird with some salt and pepper and put a bay leaf inside of each. Then spoon over some of the sauce.

Merry Christmas!

Animals sing "12 Days of Christmas"

Merry Christmas, Crumpet and Morgan!

Sister Sarah's cats, Sunny, Shadow and Charlie, gave Crumpet and Morgan a comfy pet bed for Christmas.

Crumpet likes to snooze in the hallway. We haven't seen much of her since we put the pet bed there last night.

Um ... I think Crumpet likes it.

Morgan hasn't really had a chance to enjoy it.

Animals sing "Deck the Halls"

Book ~ "GPS Your Best Life" (2012) Charmaine Hammond and Debra Kasowski

From Goodreads ~ Obstacles and roadblocks can detour us on the way to success, or even prevent us from getting there at all. GPS Your Best Life helps you determine exactly where you are now, and through practical strategies and assessments, helps you clarify what you want in your personal and career life. GPS Your Best Life will help you map your destination and put you on the road to personal fulfillment, happiness, and success.

Bestselling author and transformational speaker Charmaine Hammond teams up with fellow speaker and founder/CEO of the Millionaire Woman Club, Debra Kasowski, to bring you a unique method for getting clear and achieving what you want in your life, your career, your relationships.

GPS Your Best Life gives you simple, practical strategies, accompanied by down to earth assessment tools. This book will put you behind the wheel to guide you from figuring out what revs your engine and what’s blocking your view, and following your unique road map to your desired destination while learning to navigate the obstacles and road blocks along the way.

There are lots of books out there to help you figure out your goals and how reach them.  This one does the same but with a twist ... it puts you in the driver's seat and let's you "GPS your best life".

The first step is to do the GPS checkup questionnaire which helps you get clear about your values, attitudes and wants, as well as give you ideas for where to focus your energies at the start of your journey.  You score yourself using 1, 2, or 3 ... 1 means you are ready to go, 2 means it's an area of strength but something you still need to work on and 3 means it's an area you need to improve.  I scored mostly ones in the attitudes/mindset section and relationships section ... less in the personal growth section.

From there, the book takes you down to path to achieve your goals, what to do when you hit roadblocks and potholes, and staying on track.

There are stories throughout the book to help you relate to the lessons.



I received a copy of this book at no charge in exchange for my honest review. 

Book ~ "Hating Heidi Foster" (2012) Jeffrey Blount

From Goodreads ~ Mae McBride and Heidi Foster were the very best of friends. Tied at the hip from early elementary school, their relationship was the stuff of storybooks, legendary even, in the minds of their high school classmates.

Unshakable.

That is, until Mae's father died while saving Heidi's life. When Mae finds out, she blames Heidi. She blames her father for putting Heidi ahead of her. She blames her friends for taking Heidi’s side. She begins to unravel amid that blame and her uncontrollable and atypical anger.

At the same time Heidi is beset by guilt, falls into depression and stops eating properly; wasting away physically and emotionally while waiting for Mae to let her back into the friendship she misses so dearly.

Mae, consumed by her hatred of Heidi, the confusion regarding her father’s motives, the perceived desertion of her friends and her mother’s grief, loses more and more of herself.

What could possibly bring these two old friends back to each other? A miracle?

Hating Heidi Foster, is a young adult novel about the place of honor true friendships hold in our lives. It is about suffering and loss and the ethics of grief. It is about a deep and painful conflict, the bright light of selflessness and sacrifice and the love that rights the ship and carries us safely to port.

When the story begins, fourteen-year-old Mae McBride's father has just died in a fire saving Mae's best friend, Heidi.  As such, Mae can't help but feel anger and hatred towards Heidi.  In Mae's mind, it's Heidi's fault that her father is dead ... her father died choosing Heidi over his wife and daughter.

Topbox - December 2012

I got my December Topbox today.

For only $12 a month, you will receive a Topbox with 4 carefully selected, indulgent, beauty products. Then test the products in the comfort of your own home.

It comes in a round box.

Here's what was in it ...

Luxe Box - Winter 2012

I received my December Luxe Box in the mail today.  It is $25 a box.

Book ~ "Dinner at Deadman's" (2012) CJ West

From Goodreads ~ Lorado Martin has loved junk since his grandparents took him bottle digging in the backwoods of New England when he was a boy. The search for antiques and collectibles led him to a unique hobby: digging through the estates of the newly deceased, arranging the sale of goods for the heirs, and keeping the leftovers for himself. 

To make a living he builds and maintains housing for recovering addicts and along the way he's employed a number of his clients. The men wrestle with the siren call of drugs and teach Lorado about the difficult struggle to stay clean one day at a time. 

When these two worlds come together, Lorado learns that not every elderly person dies of natural causes and that some estates are sold to benefit a killer. His latest project hits close to home. A woman he's known since childhood haunts him from a fresh grave. Her grandson, an affable addict who has fallen off the wagon, stands to inherit a considerable sum whether he deserves it or not.

Lorado is a big man ... 320 pounds.  He lives with his girlfriend of 17 years, Roxie, and their teenage son, Jake, and his 100 pound dog, Beta.  His house, basement and storage unit are filled with junk, which drives Roxie crazy.

One of the ways he makes his living is organizing estate sales for heirs (he gets 30% of all sales).  That's what he's doing when the book starts ... Mary Newbury has just died. He also rebuilds and maintains housing for recovering addicts and hires some of of them.  One of his hires is Mrs. Newbury's grandson, Newb.

There is a lot going on in this book.  When a series of mysterious things happen to him (he gets poisoned, a brick smashes the window of his car, his son gets beat up), Lorado assumes it is the local drug dealer getting even with him for something he didn't do.  Plus he's got to deal with local punks breaking into one of the sites he is renovating and stealing his supplies to get money for drugs.  And finally he starts to suspect that Newb might have murdered his grandmother for drug money (he was her only beneficiary).  There is always something going on and it goes in lots of different directions (but it all makes sense).

This is the first book I've read by this author and I really enjoyed it.  I liked the writing style ... it was fast paced and kept me interested.  It is a bit sarcastic at times which was fun.  The actions and language is mature most of the time.

Family ring

I've been wanting to get a "family ring" to represent Gord and I.

I've kept my eye out for the right ring the last couple of years but nothing caught my eye ... until last week.

I saw one in a store and knew it was THE ONE.  I ordered it online and it arrived today.  Whoohoo!

Gord's birthday is in March and his stone is an aquamarine.  My birthday is in July and my stone is a ruby.  The stones are heart-shaped. Awwwww!

Gord's mom gave me money for Christmas ... I'm sure she'll be happy to know that I'll be putting her money towards the ring.

The Fox, Toronto, ON

Deb, Liz and I met for supper tonight at The Fox on Bay.

We've been friends since the mid 1990s (we used to worked together).  Alas, Franca was sick and couldn't make it.

I got there first and ordered a beer while I was waiting for them. Yum!

Book ~ "Five Years to Live" (2012) Frank Zaccari

From Goodreads ~ It is the phone call every person lives in fear of receiving. There has been an accident and your loved one is paralyzed. A spinal cord injury is the single most devastating and life altering event.

Based on a true story, Michael and Donna were young, successful, in love and planning their life together. That life was radically changed by a tragic car accident. Now a wheelchair user as a quadriplegic, with limited movement, constant infections and multiple surgeries, doctors projected Michael's best case life expectancy to be five years.

See how this young man battles through his injury and spends his five years making a lasting impact on hundreds of people. It will make you realize what can be accomplished when a person does not let circumstances dictate their life.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it.

It is 1985 and life is perfect for Donna and Michael, who are in the twenties ... they come from close loving families, they are in love and working in jobs they enjoy.  When Michael gets a job offer closer to his family (he's the youngest of five kids in an Italian family), he can't refuse it and this prompts he and Donna to make plans for their future ... marriage and children.

But before he can accept the job offer, Michael gets in an serious car accident and all his plans change.  After months of operations and rehab, it's clear that Michael is never going to walk again and the doctors give him just five years to live.  The author's own family survived this situation after his brother was paralyzed in an car accident.

This is the story of Michael's will to live and make the most of his life.

I enjoyed the writing style ... it kept me wanting to read more.  I liked the characters ... even before Michael's accident, it was obvious how close he was to his family.  Throughout the book, you can't help but cheer Michael on.

I recommend this book and look forward to reading others by this author.

Celebrating Christmas with Gord's family

Gord and I celebrated an early Christmas with his family today.  They live about 2.5 hours NE of Toronto.  Ken, Gord's son, came with us.

The festivities were held at Judy and Doug's place.  Judy is Gord's sister and is married to Doug.  They have two sons, Kyle and Jon.  Kyle lives near his parents and Jon lives in Alberta.  Kyle is married to Kerri and they have two kids, Madison and Colton.  Minnie, Gord and Judy's mom also lives nearby with her husband, Keith.  Minnie had broken her ankle on Monday evening and has a cast and is in wheelchair .. she's not happy with her lack on independence!

Judy and Doug's festive tree

Great granddaughter and great grandfather, Madison and Keith

Glymm Bag - December

My December Glymm Bag arrived today.

It came in a gold make-up bag and here's what was inside ...

Trius Wine Club - December 2012

I picked up our box from Trius at the post office today (we weren't home when they tried to deliver it a couple days ago).

Gord and I have been members of the Trius Wine Club (formerly the Hillebrand Wine Club) for about ten years.

Every month, 2 bottles of our best wine will be delivered to your door along with Winemaker Craig McDonald’s tasting notes and Chef Frank Dodd’s recipes.

The cost is about $40 a month and it's only available in Ontario.

Here's what we got this month:

• Artist Series Muscat 2011 ($11.95) ~ The recipe included that pairs with it is Celeriac and Scallop Soup
• Showcase East Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Clark Farm Vineyard ($40) - The recipe included that pairs with it is Dijon Crusted Beef Tenderloin with Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Book ~ "Winter's Magic" (2012) Cynthia Gail

From Goodreads ~ Owner of La Bella Vita, a five-star day spa nestled in the affluent suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee, Beth Sergeant knows her elite clientele first hand. She attended their private schools. She was even engaged, although briefly, to one of their most recognized bachelors. But she never fit in to their social-elite world.

After losing his parents to a car accident at a young age, Nick Chester was raised by his grandfather, the wealthiest man in Nashville. When he chooses to socialize, he has a never-ending list of exclusive events and beautiful women vying for his attention. Yet he never lets himself forget that everyone has an agenda.

Beth can’t resist Nick’s charm and accepts an invitation to dinner, despite her deep-seated insecurities. She proves she’s nothing like other women Nick's dated and learns to trust him in return. But just as the last of their resistance crumbles and true love is within reach, challenges from Nick's past threaten to destroy everything and force Beth to reveal her most guarded secret.

Rich boy meets girl, rich boy and girl fall in love within a couple weeks, a catastrophe occurs which break up the rich boy and girl, but in the end true love reigns.

I don't usually read contemporary romance novels but I've been reading heavier stuff lately so it was a nice change.  I enjoyed the writing style and it was a quick read.  I liked the characters and could feel the spark between them.

I didn't think the catastrophe was as big of a deal as it was ... but we needed some tension, right?

I'd recommend this book if you are looking for a romance with a happy ending.

Book ~ "No Time for Love" (2012) JB Miller

From Goodreads ~ Chatham Ross has no time – for anything, least of all love. She manages her three kid’s demanding schedules, exercises at crazy hours to preserve her less than perfect figure and writes catchy advertising jingles to pay for the mortgage. To the outside world, she seems to have it all - except for a husband. Who has time for that? Besides, hers died unexpectedly five years ago and she’s still not over it.

A chance occurrence with a particular jingle finds Chatham on a bi-coastal roller coaster that she can’t seem to put the breaks on. Will the man who has always secretly loved her finally have his chance to ride along? Or will the very handsome foreigner on the other side of the country claim her wounded heart? At some point she has to choose which path is for her - or has it been there all along?

Chatham has a lot on her plate ... she's a widow raising three young kids.  She and her partner, Tom, run an advertising agency. Between working and dropping the kids off at school and picking them up again and getting coerced into volunteer duties at the school, there's not a lot of time for Chatham.

On a whim, she joins a gym and is attracted to Palio, the cutie at the reception desk.  He also feels a spark for  her.  Palio, unbeknownst to Chatham, is actually the owner of the gym ... and a member of a rich Italian family from New York.

Trip, her husband's best friend, is in love with Chatham and has been waiting years for the right moment to let her know.  Needless to say, he's not pleased when it looks like Palio might be moving in on Chatham.

Palio wants to buy a painting for his dad from Georgina, an Italian vixen in New York with ties to the Mob who is trying to entice Palio into marrying her.

For various reasons, everyone ends up in New York ... and so begins a series of misunderstandings and coincidences.

I enjoyed the writing style ... it flowed well.  The language at times was mature but I was okay with that.  The ending wraps up pretty quickly with a couple of speedy immediate "I love you" pairings which I must say I found a bit too convenient.  Considering they were in New York, I found it odd they all kept running into the same cabbie ... but he was key to keeping some of the parts of the story together.

This is the first novel by this author and I'll keep an eye out for others by her.

Père Noël, Complexe Desjardins, Montreal, QC

We spent the day in meetings and we had a break before lunch.

I wandered to the Complexe Desjardins and watched Père Noël in his castle for a while.

It was quite busy ... kids were lined up to see the jolly fat man.

Le Fumoir Rubs Smokehouse, Montreal, QC

The company I work for has everyone in town for a couple days for meetings and our Christmas party (we all arrived late today).

This evening, Alice (from Calgary), Dorothy (from Vancouver), Imran (from Toronto), Trudy (from Halifax) and I had supper at Le Fumoir Rubs Smokehouse on rue Prince Arthur (recommended by Helene who is from Montreal but has been working in our Toronto office).