We stopped at the Hooters hotel on our first night there for a late dinner and drink.  Heading there with the hopes of chicken wings were dashed quite quickly.  There were no wings on the menu of the Mad Onion restaurant in the front doors of the casino.  We ordered the Nachos and a salad to split between us.  I will describe the nachos as follows:  I paid $10 for something that they placed on their plate and ran to the Chevron across the street for cheese and then placed some meat, hot peppers and olives on.  I was not impressed.  Where was the real cheese?  The salad was nice.  It was mixed greens with shrimp and veggies.  It was a nice balance for the nasty nachos.  I am gravely disappointed Hooters would allow that to be served in their casino restaurant.  Overall this was our only bad experience.  The rest of the restaurants and food we had were fantastic. 

Of course we did a ton of shopping.  There were so many great buys at the outlet mall.  How could you not buy.  I know I came home with a whole new wardrobe and lots of gifts for people.  It is so much less expensive to shop in the states but then bringing it all back can be a bit tricky.  I had to resort to stuffing things inside of other things just to get it all in my luggage. 

When I booked our room as well as did pricing research I used the website www.EarlyVegas.com as suggested by a friend who travels there often.  It is a great website for coupon codes, comparison pricing and all around finding out what is happening while you are there.  We didn’t book to see any shows just due to the fact that we were unsure where we would be at any given time.  It made for a nice care free trip with no timeline.  Next time though for sure- there are too many things to do in Vegas to not see a show.  The concierge in the Excaliber was a great resource for all this information.

Since I had the realization in february that I will be celebrating my first annual 29th birthday this year I thought why not have a party.  I decided on a fiesta theme with a signature drink.   For food I decided on a Taco Bar.  It was the easiest meal to feed 30 plus people and one of the cheapest.  A friend provided the meat: seasoned and kept warm in a slow cooker.  Another of my friends helped to cut up the lettuce, onions, tomatoes and cheese.  We served hard and soft shells with sour cream, salsa, guacamole, refried beans, olives and jalapeno peppers as extra toppings.  I had made a rice and bean side dish and my famous cheese dip while another friend gifted me a 9×13 Pyrex dish with a lid filled with 7 layer dip for the party (great gift idea by the way).  All the guests built their own tacos and some people taco salads as well.  It was a huge success.  There is always too much food at all my parties but I am a strong believer that the food makes a party.  The dessert was a dairy queen ice cream cake (the best of both worlds). 

The signature drink was no more than a mixture of margarita mix and cranberry juice.  We added a combined shot of coconut rum and tequila.  I tried it without the alcohol to start and it would make a great spritzer as well with some club soda or even ginger ale. 

Before we started our bonfire we broke open a pinata that I had purchased and filled with prizes (not candy).  There were sandal shaped post it notes, plastic tiki looking shot glasses, shell necklaces, maraca key chains, beach safe containers and tropical drink coasters.  The pinata was about $15 and the fillings were all on sale from the www.orientaltrading.com.  It was a great time had by all.  It was an easy Adult birthday party and I am pretty sure that I will do the Taco Bar again for sure.  It was one of the simplest buffet style feedings at a party.  Besides, everyone likes Tacos. 

Do you have a memory of the first time when you thought to yourself “I must be getting old and when did this all go bad?”  For the last ten years all music genres have been fighting to cope with this new generation of music.  A generalization of this is that Country is the new pop, Disco went to Dance music which now is all techno spliced remakes and using of other people’s music scores and they are calling it pop, Rock created Grunge which dissolved back into Rock which now has the feel of Heavy Metal and Alternative blended into the mix, etc.  There are very few defining lines anymore on where an artist or band should be placed.  I am happy to report from what I have been observing that world music is still mixed genres that are made from a cultural standpoint of each nation or area of this planet.  That never really seems to change too much even though the styles are modernizing as well. 

There are so many people who can relate to me when I say that there was no better feeling when you were growing up and you got your hands on that much desired album.  Whether it be an LP, cassette tape or CD (depending on your era) peeling away the new cellophane and opening up the booklet for the very first time.  The smell of the never touched before pages just waiting for their soulful lyrics to pour out in front of you while listening to your favourite songs on your bed singing along.  When you burn your songs from the internet and upload them to your mp3 player there is no satisfaction from it.  I don’t think any person born after 1990 will know anything different.  There are fewer and fewer artists writing music for themselves because the record companies know what sells.  There seems to be less and less songs that the heart and passion of a tortured soul has made to heal themselves.  It is all too hollywood coming into the first decade of the 21st century.  What I mean is if you can’t put them on a reality show when their career is washed up then there really is no point in making them famous and making them heard.

Of course there is no comparison to that raw edge sound that you find only in bars, garages and festival settings where all of these artists are planting seeds into us to grow something amazing and create a following.  I can’t remember the last time I went to see some unknown random band that I haven’t liked.  These artists have to work so much harder and be that much better to get recognized and become what they want to be.  When you follow a band from their first album to their second, then to their third and many more, you get to feel their crude passionate power turn into a flow of graceful harmony.  You see them at good and how they become great before your very eyes.  Nothing can compare to when you see them win an award that they so rightfully deserve and are so humble and grateful to even be nominated and be sincere.  You have supported them from the smallest of venues and pushed to fill stadiums.  I can’t even imagine what their parents, family and friends feel for them.  The sense of pride that must envelop them must be breath-taking.  It must be disheartening if they have to see them change for the ideals of the public. 

I am not even 30 years on this earth and I am wondering what happened to the music that meant something.  I am not saying that my choice in music is the best but I am welcoming of any sound once.  To each his own but I know what I like and I know what is created to feed the masses.  Someone needs to heard these uncontrolled sheep and the music industry has the hook and the dogs to bring them back.

While I wait I have started a spring cleaning crusade throughout my house.  I started in the basement bathroom and master bedroom.  The bedroom is still in process (mainly just the closet) but the bathroom was a smashing success.  I have filled a garbage bag with extra bath towels and rags to donate to the Edmonton SPCA.  I have rearranged the bathroom storage areas now so that we can find everything we need as well as my attached laundry room.  After all of the extras were removed it was such a cinch to clean.  I have already my life just that little bit easier and that makes so much of my stress float away.  I have also gone through every closet, cabinet, shelving unit and box on my main floor of my house and am donating 3 medium size boxes of knickknacks, candle holders, picture frames and other various items to our local branch of Goodwill.  I have now decided that I am a giver of gift certificates, food, drink or money.  This way I am not contributing to someone elses clutter  LOL. 

I am certain a trigger for this boost of spring cleaning could have came from the fact that we needed to buy a new fridge.  When we did this we had to throw out most of the contents of the old one and I was forced to go through the tens of hundreds of fridge magnets that we have accumulated throughout the years.  I picked certain ones from vacations and personal favourites and the rest I was going to throw out when it came to me.  I have hundreds of photos of family and friends that I just adore.  I then made a pile of my own photo fridge magnets.  I simply dug out six of my favourite pictures and selected six flat magnets and glued them to the back of each photo.  Now my fridge is decorated with good times and happy memories.  I guess I could have added flare to each picture by making frames with all of my scrapbook equipment but I like the photos there by themselves too.  They are simple and understated.  I could have done this with any pictures but family and friends in your kitchen is the only way to be.

Let us all get the spring in our step and get the relief that the season can bring.  Clear the cobwebs in our physical life, our mental lives and all that surrounds us.

Impossible Pie (Dalhousie, NB)

4 eggs

1/2 cup margarine

1 cup sugar

2 cups milk

1/2 cup flour

1 cup coconut

1 tsp. vanilla

Combine all ingredients in blender until well blended.  Pour into a 10″ greased pie plate.  Bake at 350 F for one hour.  The flour will settle to form the crust, the coconut forms a topping and the centre is a custard filling.

I added some frozen raspberries and saskatoon berries that I had picked over the summer with each serving.  It was simple, tasty, adaptable and anyone can make it with just regular household items.  That fits my criteria on a great pie recipe.

In our endless search for inexpensive marketing tools we stumbled upon Vistaprint.  They offer some great deals at excellent prices for business tools.  The small business owner can create their own business cards, brochures, signs, car magnets, clothing and so much more.  Sometimes there are promotions of free products if you use their designs.  Why not use their designs if you get 250 free business cards to start with.  After you build your business up to a comfortable level maybe then you can incorporate your own design for your business.  Of course uploading your own design is a bit expensive but it is a one time charge (according to the site).  I haven’t used this function yet but will be in the future.

It can use their services for personal use as well.  They offer calendars, flip books, cards, coffee mugs, apparel and accessories for anyone who likes to put their family photos or personalize an object and give it as gifts.  Their prices are reasonable and quality is fantastic. 

I am a dedicated vistaprint customer and will be for some time.  They offer a refer-a-friend link that gives the account person vistaprint dollars that can be used for their purchases on the account.  Check them out and give me your feed back on what you think of them.

Our refer-a-friend link is http://www.vistaprint.ca/frfca?frf=423500738617

• I recycle my pop and beer cans, liquor and wine bottles, tetra packs, and milk containers because I get money back for them.  I pay a deposit when I buy them so why should I not get that as a reward for making the landfills a little less congested. 
• I reuse a lot of containers in my home.  When I empty a glass jar,  plastic jar or tub, I wash them out and save them under my sink.  They have so many uses that I can’t bear to part with them.  They are great for the grease holders instead of pouring it down the drain.  They make Tupperware containers when your seemingly endless supply is all of a sudden short a lid for a bottom.  Planters and sorters for the many items we all have cluttering our lives. 
• I follow the recycling program in Edmonton by filling a blue bag with my paper, cardboard, cans, plastics and other recyclable products because they make it easy for me.  If I lived in an apartment where space would be an issue- that may go out the window.
• I compost because I am not paying the prices that get charged in a city for nutrient filled dirt.  It is dirt… Is it not everywhere I go?  I come from a very small town and no one pays for dirt and rocks there.  In a city of over a million, people pay for these things. 
• I go to garage sales, flea markets, swap meets and freecycle because I work very hard for my money and I don’t want to pay any more for books, furniture, appliances and other things than I absolutely need to.  There are some products in life that you need to buy new but a lot can be bought used and not ever know the difference.
• I drive a fuel-efficient vehicle because gas is too expensive.  I pay a bit more for my car but when you pay for a name and you take care of it- you have it for a great many years.  It is an investment compared to if you are to buy a “throw away vehicle” which too many of the companies make these days.  I don’t need a truck.  I live in a city and a hatch-back suits my needs just fine.  A truck is handy but how often does a woman haul things around that warrants having one.   
• I grow my garden because I love the taste of garden fresh vegetables.  The garden also keeps me busy through out the summer and gives me a lot of pride.  I preserve my vegetables because there are too many preservatives in packaged foods. 

Simplicity is the key to life, don’t complicate things.  I do these things to help myself, it is just a bonus that I am helping the environment too.  Like so many other people, I work very hard for my money and I want to utilize it anyway possible.  For example: Let’s say I am shopping for lawn furniture; one of the two sets is made from recycled materials, I will lean more toward the recycled one.  In all actuality I would probably get it from a garage sale and not buy brand new but that example is for arguments sake.  The price tag makes a huge weight on which new furniture set I would purchase.  If the non-recycled set is significantly less expensive but of equal quality- I would more than likely choose that one.  Generally though in this day and age, recycled products are less in price.  When I was growing up it seemed that when you bought recycled, there was a larger price tag attached to it.

I think I want to believe being a “tree hugger” over being cheap, thrifty or resourceful (however you want to say it) when it comes right down to it.  Maybe this is one lie that makes you feel better about yourself, hurts no one and actually helps this remarkable planet we call home.

3/4 cup Smooth PB

3/4 cup warm water

1/4 cup light brown sugar

2 tsp. soy sauce

Juice from 1 lime (or a splash or Real Lemon could be used)

Just mix all ingredients together until smooth and toss with your veggies, meat, noodle, etc. 

I found it to have an oriental taste but with all the ingredients from a western home.  Plus the price is right for all that is needed to make a change in the routine of dinner.

6 1/2 lbs (3 kg) pickling cucumbers

1 lb (454 g) onions, sliced 1/4″ thick  (0.5 cm)

1/3 cup (75 ml) pickling salt

5 cups (1250 ml) white vinegar

1 1/4 cups (300 ml) granulated sugar

1/2 cup (125 ml) pickling spice

2 tbsp (30 ml) celery seed

2 tsp (10 ml) ground ginger

1 tsp (5 ml) ground turmeric

Slice unpeeled washed cucumbers 1/4″ (0.5 cm) thick; discard ends.  In a large glass or stainless steel container, layer cucumbers and onions, lightly sprinkling with salt.  Cover and let stand 15 minutes.

Combine sugar, vinegar, pickling spice, celery seed, ground ginger and ground turmeric ina  large stainless steel saucepan.  Cover and bring to a boil; reduce heat and boil gently 15 minutes.

Drain vegetables; add to pickling liquid; mix well.  Return mixture to boil.

Sterilize jars and prepare lids.  Yields 9 x 500 ml jars or 7 x 500 ml jars.  Pack pickles into hot jars with 3/4″ (2 cm) head space.  Remove air bubbles with nonmetallic utensil and wipe jar rim for seal.  Put on prepared lids and screw band until finger tight resistance is met.  Put in canner, cover, boil filled jars for 10 minutes for altitudes up to 1000 ft (305 m).  Remove jars without tilting.  Cool upright, undisturbed 24 hours.  Check your seals, label and store jars in a cool, dark area.

I have been so crazy busy this past few months with getting as much sun time as humanly possible in Edmonton.  Our summers are so short that it is almost a sin to stay inside during any of it.  Not to mention just living my life as normal with work, gardening, friends, vacations, and family- there was no time left for posting.

My summer went as follows.  June was a bust for the weather but I finally got my new 15′ x 20′ garden bed weeded, de-rocked (as well as could be expected) and planted.  I had no intention of getting any kind of a yield from my tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and potatoes that were planted.  With them going into the ground so late and the soil not being the best, my expectations were extremely low.  I have to say that I have been pleasantly surprised with the outcome.  My tomatoes that were started from seed inside were sad at best when put in the ground.  Now they stand a at proud 3 1/2 feet with a bountiful feast of green fruit.  They have not shown any sign of changing their colours either but I have heard the same story from many an Edmonton inner-city farmer this 2009 growing season. 

The cucumbers are never a problem here.  I swear you could plant the seed on a rock with some dust on it and they will flourish.  Yesterday morning I had picked all of my largest grocery store size cukes and made out with about 13 lbs.  That was enough to can two batches (about 18- 500 ml jars)  of Zesty Bread ‘N Butter Pickles.  I would of had enough for another nine jars if I hadn’t had a thief in my midst.  Blaming rabbits or birds for most of the season- I had been in the wrong.  When I went to pick my cukes I had discovered someone else’s footprints in the bed that I thought was behaving this year around my veggies.  The Dog!  She had me fooled all summer but then she got greedy and decided to go for the mother of all cucumbers in the middle of the patch.  She had managed to trample a few tomato plants in the process so she didn’t do a good job at keeping her little secret hidden.

My onions are small but tasty.  I am just happy they are bigger than a pin-head.  The largest I have found is about the size of an egg.  They are the perfect size for making a salad for just the two of us that live here.

Since my potatoes were the major factor of why I built the garden, they were the most dominate in planting.  I planted forty-two plants and have gotten quite a feed so far.  They are all small and misshapen but they are bountiful.  My best way of looking at them in a more positive light is that people pay quite a pretty penny for a 2 lb bag of the small potatoes and I have already eaten about 20 lbs and haven’t paid a cent.  

In July I had my brother, sister in law, oldest niece and nephew come from the maritimes for a visit.  It was spectacular to see them.  I hadn’t been home in about a year before they came so it was so great to have them here and show them where I live.  We took them the West Edmonton Mall of course (the largest mall in the world) and the the Telus World of Science here in Edmonton.  Then we started a whirl wind of a tour around Alberta.  We went to Banff and took a gondola trip up to one of the majestic Rocky mountain peaks.  From there we spent a day in the Calgary Zoo.  Then after the long day there we ventured our way to Drumheller in the heart of Alberta’s Badlands.  They are an amazing feet of nature.  Alberta is a flat, farmland province.  The badlands are a canyon cut into the landscape that you don’t even know they are there until you plunge into them from the highway.  The walls of the valley are the years of sediment, clay and rock that forms the earth we walk on in fine, detailed layers that each have a story.  In Drumheller, we took a view of the Hoodoos that are carved into the natural landscape and then a day at the Royal Tyrell Museum to look at the Dinosaurs that once roamed the area.  It was a week that seemed so much shorter than seven days, but it was a blast.  I missed them as soon as we left the airport to send them home.  I am so glad they came and had such a great time while they were here.  I know those are the memories that will keep me smiling until I make the 5000 km trip back to New Brunswick again. 

August was filled with birthday parties, Blues Festivals, Trips to the race track, and trying to get the harvest of the gardens done. 

I can’t believe we are already into September and heading into the last days of summer.  Fall will be on us before we know it and then soon the snow will be flying.  I won’t complain about winter though because I love the snow.  It makes a normally dusty and drab city look clean and calm.  There is a beautiful silence that falls with every flake that makes me think of all the great winters we all have as children.  I always get a little homesick for yesteryear when we would slide down the biggest hill on a crazy carpet, ice skate until it was too dark to see, build snow forts, make snow angels or snowmen and so much more.  All to have the fun end because supper was on the table and hot chocolate was ready to warm any chill you had.

It’s kind of funny how when you are so small your summer was filled with racing bikes, playing hide and seek until it got dark, chasing butterflies and climbing trees.  We complained then that summer vacation was just not long enough before we had to go back to school.  Now as adults, we have different summer activities but we still have the same woes… summer just isn’t long enough.