Nova Scotia's Community Haul ~ July 2021

I received my July Nova Scotia's Community Haul subscription box today.

Weddings and school concerts, charity bake sales and chase-the-ace - our community halls are where Nova Scotians have come together for generations to celebrate and support one another. Since we’re together apart for the foreseeable future, we’ve transformed the community hall into a Community Haul. 

Community Haul, partnered with Symplicity Designs set out to create a safe and fun way to help the small business community through the next year. Our product forges connection, creates community, and offers you the opportunity to explore Nova Scotia - all from the safety of your home. 

We've launched a local subscription box to celebrate Nova Scotia business owners and help reboot the regional economy. By pledging your community support with a subscription, you can help keep the lights on for dozen of small businesses during these economically stressful times. What's more, every box sold will support the IWK Foundation to provide care for the women and children in the Maritimes.  

I'm originally from Nova Scotia and have been enjoying receiving stuff from "back home" and helping support their economy.

The Lunenburg Makery -
Prickly Pear Cactus Felt Hand Sewing Kit 

Inkwell Originals East Coaster Six Pack

Chen Chen’s Nashville Hot Chicken, Toronto, ON

Chen Chen’s Nashville Hot Chicken recently moved into our ‘hood (just east of Gladstone/Queen W) and I’ve been wanting to check it out … and that’s where I headed today to pick up lunch.

I ordered Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders (3 juicy white meat buttermilk fried chicken tenders served on a piece of white bread with sweet pickles and house aioli) with the lowest heat level which is Southern (a tiny kick heat) along with a side of mac ‘n cheese.  The heat level was perfect … just a hint. The mac ‘n cheese was hot and thick.  I'd get this again.

College Falafel, Toronto, ON

I've been thinking about a donair the last couple of weeks and picked one up for lunch today at my usual spot, College Falafel (at Ossington Avenue and College Street).  

The owners, Oljana and Bard, are very nice and friendly and they make good donairs.

There are a wide variety of condiments but traditionally a donair has meat, tomatoes, onions and sauce.  I got just tomatoes and donair sauce (I'm not a fan of onions) and Gord got onions (he's not a fan of tomatoes).  The donair is served in a pita pocket.  The meat was good and tender and the sauce was tasty.

Nature's Wellness Box - July 2021

I received my fourth Nature's Wellness Box today.

Aromatherapy-focused, lifestyle & wellness subscription & gift boxes all non-toxic, natural, vegan and cruelty-free.

What is in the Box?
The box features 5-6 full-size, natural, vegan and cruelty-free products worth $80+! We designed our boxes to feature practical and fun products you can use every day.

What is Not in the Box?
You’ll find no toxic chemicals in your box. We select all of our products carefully, with love, so that you can relax knowing they are eco-friendly. You can always count on that.

Here's what I received ...

Munday Hand Sanitizer Spritz - $10 value

Munday Replenishing Hand Lotion - $10 value

Book ~ "The Woman on the Beach" (2021) Julia Roberts

From Goodreads ~ I was so sure I saw Sophie on the beach that day. But it couldn’t be her. Sophie’s dead.

Ever since we locked fingers and swore to be best friends at school, Sophie was there for me. When she married my brother, we became family. We laughed together and cried together. We never kept secrets from each other.

At least, that was what I thought.

And then she was gone. The terrible accident that took her life devastated me. Without her I had no one to turn to, and I had to take a break.

Now I’m standing on the beach we visited when we were younger and there’s a woman with long blond hair a few metres away, playing with a dog in the sunshine. She turns and I see Sophie. Heart racing, I struggle to my feet but before I can reach her she’s vanished, leaving only footprints in the sand.

It can’t be Sophie ... but if it is, why did she disappear? What was she running from? And if the answers change everything I believe about the people I love, will I ever be able to forgive her?

Liv had been best friends with Grace and Sophie since they were children.  Sophie ended up marrying Liv's brother, Tom, and Liv then married Tom's best friend, Jamie.  Three years ago Sophie was killed in a train accident while visiting Grace and Grace, believing it was her fault, disappeared.

Liv had a lot of sorrow in her life all of a sudden with the death of Sophie, Grace disappearing, a miscarriage and the sudden death of her father.  When she and Jamie have a trial separation, Liv heads to Tulum, Mexico, for a week.  There she thinks she sees Sophie at the beach ... but how can that be since Sophie is dead?  When Liv arrives home, she receives a letter that will explain everything but it makes Liv eventually deal with unresolved issues from the past and present.

I thought this was an interesting premise.  I liked the writing style.  There are lots of twists and turns that had me wondering what was going on.  It all comes together in the end, perhaps a bit too neatly and I wasn't really buying it.  The chapters jump back and forth in time and are from Liv and Sophie perspective (they are labeled).

Black Sheep, Toronto, ON

I got my first haircut in almost a year in Liberty Village this afternoon.  I wanted to have supper on a patio afterwards and was thinking about the upper patio of the Brazen Head (I'd been there before) and that's where I headed.

I got settled in with a beer and Gord joined me. 

When I looked at the menu, I realized that this was no longer the Brazen Head but was now the Black Sheep.  The menu is a lot smaller and there's none of the pub grub I was expecting and looking forward to.  But we were comfy and stayed put.

Gord ordered a Vietnamese Shrimp Cocktail and I ordered a Margherita pizza and asked to have pepperoni added.  Both were really good and we'd get them again.

Alltrue, Summer 2021

My summer Alltrue box (formerly called CAUSEBOX) arrived today.

Alltrue is a membership uniting a community that stands for good, seeks truth, and takes action - connecting socially conscious individuals everywhere who are out to build a better world. Best known for our flagship seasonal subscription box, we’re adding new features every season to help you find your people, explore your values, and discover the brands and products that are making a difference.

What does our name mean?

All: A fundamentally inclusive word. All are welcome, bring your full self. The Alltrue community is here for you at home, with work, in life. All of it.

True: Truth is at the heart of everything we do. As product curators and community leaders, we find the facts and share them with you.

Altruism: A selfless concern for the wellbeing of others. We are a community of altruists.

Small changes add up when we come together, and Alltrue believes that the community we build – one of shared values and conscious choices – can benefit everyone. By being a source of encouragement, inspiration, and just plain good, the everyday choices we make together have the power to change the future of global consumption.

Here's what I received ...

Book ~ "Not a Happy Family" (2021) Shari Lapena

From Goodreads ~ In this family, everyone is keeping secrets - especially the dead. Brecken Hill in upstate New York is an expensive place to live. You have to be rich to have a house there. And they don't come much richer than Fred and Sheila Mercer. But even all their money can't protect them when a killer comes to call. The Mercers are brutally murdered the night after an Easter Dinner with their three adult kids. Who, of course, are devastated.

Or are they? They each stand to inherit millions. They were never a happy family, thanks to their capricious father and neglectful mother but perhaps one of them is more disturbed than anyone knew. Did one of them snap after that dreadful evening? Or was it someone else that night who crept in with the worst of intentions? It must be. After all, if one of your siblings was a psychopath, you'd know.

Wouldn't you?

It's Easter Sunday at Fred and Sheila's.  They are very rich and have Catherine, Dan and Jenna (their adult children), their children's spouses and Irena, their former nanny/now cleaning lady, for supper.  Fred is not a nice man and has always pitted his Catherine, Dan and Jenna against each other and belittled them.  Sheila retreats into herself when things get too stressful.  Sunday dinner, as usual, isn't pleasant and the children leave before dessert is served.

A couple days later, Irena finds Fred and Sheila murdered in their house.  It looks like it could have been a robbery gone wrong.  But the police look at Catherine, Dan and Jenna because they had the most to gain financially from their parents' deaths.  They aren't sad that their parents are now dead and look forward to spending their inheritances.

I've read a few other books by this author and liked the writing style.  It's written in third person perspective with a focus on wherever the action is.  As a head's up, there is swearing.  I thought the story was intriguing because so anyone could have killed Fred and Sheila since Fred had given many people reason to.  And as the book progressed, more and more information is revealed as to why someone would murder Fred.  I thought the "whodunnit" was a bit of a letdown, though, and the ending would have been more exciting.  All of  sudden it was revealed and the book was done.

Dog & Bear Pub, Toronto, ON

I mentioned to Gord this afternoon that even though I had taken something out for supper, it felt like a supper on a patio kind of night.  He immediately agreed and we headed to the Dog & Bear (Queen W/Dovercourt), which is in our 'hood.  

The City has let restaurants and bars build patios onto the street and we sat at one of the picnic tables.

We both ordered chicken fingers and fries with honey garlic sauce on the side.  I had them the last time I was there and they were good.  Lots of food and I ended up taken some of the chicken fingers home for lunch tomorrow.

Pancho Y Emiliano, Toronto, ON

Gord and I walked to Kensington Market this afternoon and had supper on the patio of Pancho Y Emiliano in Kensington Market.  Neither of us had been there before.

They did a good job in keeping everyone socially distanced.

It was warm and sunny and a glass of sangria seemed like a good idea (and it was).

We shared Choriqueso (melted cheese with chorizo; served with four flour tortillas). It wasn't what I was expecting and it was really good.  I’d get it again as a meal. 

Gord ordered Sopes (three thick handmade corn tortillas topped with refried beans and pulled chicken and garnished with fresh lettuce, sour cream, tasty cheese and pico de gallo). He said they were good and took one home for lunch tomorrow. 

I ordered Tacos de Carne Asada (three double corn tortillas filled with lemon and black pepper marinated grilled beefsteak and topped with pico de gallo) … they were good and I took two home for lunch tomorrow.  The steak was surprisingly cold and I'll heat them up tomorrow.

It was a busy spot and our servers were friendly and took good care of us.  We'll be back!

Book ~ "Airtight" (2013) David Rosenfelt

From Goodreads ~ Judge Daniel Brennan is only days away from achieving a seat on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals bench when he's brutally stabbed to death in his garage. An army of media and law enforcement descend on the case and thousands of tips pour in from the public. When one tip leads New Jersey policeman Luke Somers to Steven Gallagher, things quickly go wrong but Luke is instantly glorified for solving the case. 

But to one man, Luke is no hero. Chris Gallagher raised his brother, Steven, almost single-handedly and, certain that Steven is innocent, he won't rest until he sets the record straight. Thanks to Luke's newfound fame, he's an easy man to find, and Chris quickly makes it clear that Luke's own brother will die if Luke refuses to help clear Steven's name. So begins Luke's desperate attempt to find another suspect - any other suspect - in Judge Brennan's death. But Luke's investigation might open the door to powerful forces even more dangerous than Chris Gallagher.

Luke is a police officer in New Jersey.  When a judge is murdered, an anonymous tip leads Luke to Steven Gallagher's.  When Luke goes to investigate, Steven pulls a gun on Luke and Luke defends himself and shoots Luke.  Evidence is found in Steven's apartment confirming that he did indeed murder the judge.

When Chris, Steven's military brother finds out that his brother had been suspected of killing the judge, he doesn't believe it.  And he's not too happy to find out that a police officer had killed his brother.  Chris kidnaps Bryan, Luke's brother, and imprisons him in a room that only has enough air for seven days.  He then tells Luke that he has seven days to find the real killer of the judge or his brother will die.

Luke feels bad about shooting Steven but feels justified in doing it and believes Steven was guilty.  In order to free his brother, he has to come up with a couple other possibilities ... and as he does so, he comes to believe that Steven didn't kill the judge after all.  Then it becomes a race of time to find out who did so he brother will live.

I've read many books by this author, mostly his Andy Carpenter series which I enjoy, and this is a stand alone.  I like the writing style and it is written in first person perspective in Luke's voice and third person perspective when the focus is on others.  I liked this story and there was any number of people who could have been the real killer.

New Scotland Candle Co., Kentville, Nova Scotia

New Scotland Candle Co. of Kentville, Nova Scotia, caught my eye on Instagram because I love love love scented candles and I’m originally from Nova Scotia.

I recently ordered some candles from them and they arrived today.

From their Herbs & Botanicals Collection, I ordered Bergamot and Wintergreen.

From their Nova Scotia Collection, I ordered Annapolis Apple Pie, Balsam Fir, Beachcomber, Island Pineapple, Lilac Blossoms, Lunen-Berries, “Steve French” Vanilla, Valley Mac and What the Beep?  I also ordered Island Pineapple from their Spring/Summer 2021 Limited Editions.

Book ~ "On Borrowed Time" (2011) David Rosenfelt

From Goodreads ~ Richard Kilmer is head over heels in love with Jennifer Ryan, who takes him home to meet her parents, where she accepts his marriage proposal. 

While visiting, they set out on a nostalgic drive up to Kendrick Falls. On their way there, a freak storm rolls in, Richard loses control of his car, and it rolls. When the storm clears in a matter of seconds, Jen is gone. Richard can't find her and neither can the police who respond to the scene. 

More horrifying is that no one in Richard's life will even confirm Jen's existence, and all traces of her have disappeared. Where could she be? Has Richard lost his mind, or has something far worse happened?

Richard is a freelance journalist.  He meets Jennifer at a rally and they fall in love and move in together.  When they visit her parents, he proposes and she accepts.  One day before they head home they go for a drive and a sudden storm comes up.  They get in an accident and Jennifer ends up missing.  Richard heads back to her parents' house to see if she went there but her mother has no idea who Richard is, Jennifer's father has been dead for 20 years and Jennifer apparently passed away when she was a young child.  When Richard goes home, none of his friends who he and Jennifer had spent time with have any recollection of Jennifer.  Huh?

Richard isn't sure what's going on but is determined to figure it out.  After he writes about his experience, he gets a call from Allie, whose identical twin, Julie, is missing and Richard and Allie somehow assume that Julie is Jennifer.  Together they start investigating to see what happened to Julie and/or Jennifer.

I've read many books by this author, mostly his Andy Carpenter series, and this is a stand alone.  I like the writing style and it is written in first person perspective in Richard's voice and third person perspective when the focus is on others.  As a head's up, there is swearing.

I really like the Andy Carpenter series and thought this storyline was intriguing.  I found the ending a bit convoluted and confusing, though.