Le living and co.

A week in Montego Bay at the Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 02:00:00 +0000

There are certain milestones in life that you wait for impatiently. One thing I'd been looking forward to was our honeymoon (let's put the all-important wedding part aside for a moment). My husband and I had never traveled together further than where a car could bring us for many reasons but it never seemed right to splurge on vacation... until our honeymoon. Today, I'm glad we waited because our stay at the Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall in Jamaica was magical. It was my husband's first all inclusive and although being waited on hand and foot isn't really our style, we definitely appreciated the fact that everything was always taken care of for us. We basically never had the slightest worry in the world other than enjoy each other's company and enjoy what the resort had to offer. How about, cocktail hour by the piano signing Sweet Caroline? Yes, please.

One thing most people worry about is food. I think it's safe to say that I doubt I will ever eat so well elsewhere in the Caribbean. Every meal we had was just as good as any top restaurant in Montreal. Seared tuna, coquille St-Jacques, lobster tail... just to name a few of our favourites. As some of you may have read elsewhere, the Hyatt in Montego Bay is divided into two resorts: an adult only (Zilara) and a family friendly resort (Ziva). Some say that when you stay at the Ziva you aren't allowed to access the restaurants on the Zilara side, however after speaking with staff we were informed we could eat pretty much anywhere except for breakfast at Horizon which didn't really matter to us as we had plenty of other options. There are basically so many restaurants on this resort that you won't have time to try them all during your week's stay.

Other than eating our other favourite activity was to play bacon on the beach and run splashing into the sea (watch out for some rocky patches though!). I could have stayed on that beach forever just looking at the sea and hearing the waves crash into the rocks. Just absolutely breathtaking.

The Hyatt definitely nailed the all-inclusive experience. Just a fun fact, the Hyatt is actually the old Ritz Carleton. You can definitely feel the original elegance of the previous resort. I read they also opened a new resort in Cancun which I'm sure will not disappoint.

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 17:45:00 +0000

Photo by Grey Sparrow Studio, photographers : Jean-Michel Lacombe and Kim Hurley (website here)

Post wedding trip to Quebec City

Kygo concert at Osheaga 2015 in Parc Jean-Drapeau

Île-d'Orléans post wedding trip

2015 was filled with long term projects coming to a close which was extremely gratifying. After two years of working on our house, we finally have a home but best of all it is also the year where we said YES after 12 years of dating. It was a huge year and the bar is set quite high for 2016 but one thing that I did learn from the past twelve months is to be grateful for what you already have and to work hard for what you want.

Happy 2016!

Ps. In my sprinkle of favorite pictures of 2015, I included two pictures from our wedding photographed by Grey Sparrow Studio. They are simply the best. You can view their gallery on their website here.

Happy Holidays!

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 20:26:00 +0000

Happy holidays!

Wishing you a wonderful and magical Christmas!

ps. For the how-to holiday wreaths, check out the link here.

Holiday Table Setting (Name Cards)

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 02:10:00 +0000

The annual girls night gift-exchange supper was this weekend and I had the HUGE honour of hosting it this year. One thing I learned is that my friends make "hosting" look SO easy. It was my first bigger supper and even with help in the kitchen, it took me days to prepare (without counting the meal planning AND decorations). Glad it's done and think it was a solid success. This makes me excited to spend the next few days with family and friends. It really is the best part of any holiday (that AND the fact that it actually snowed last night).

Alright, now that I'm done with the cheesy intro, I really wanted to share this easy way of creating name cards for your holiday table. I'm know in my circle to "kill" my plants (especially orchids) so my mother keeps them with the hope of reviving them. What I see is beautiful leaves for my next DIY. Combine leaves and a gold (or silver) sharpie and there you have it.. the easiest name cards to make. I guarantee it.

Happy Holidays!! xo

Do It Yourself Holiday Wreath

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 03:58:00 +0000

I bought a pre-made wreath at my local craft store (Omer DeSerres)

Natural wreaths are everywhere this holiday season and this project couldn't be easier to make. All you need is a base for your wreath that you can make yourself or buy pre-made. Add branches from different trees and an element of color to add an interest point.

Camouflage the places where you secure the branches by strategically moving around the needles. Put as many branches as you want.

What you need:
- Buy or make your own wreath
- Scissors (and/or hand saw for those bigger branches)
- Branches of pine or other tree or your liking
- Decorative elements (I used fake red berry branches).
- clips, string or anything else to secure the branches to the wreath

Pictures of the final product on my door coming soon!

Apple Chutney Grilled Cheese

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 23:52:00 +0000

Apple Chutney from Preservation Society, a local preserving company (found here)

I remember as a kid, my mom working in the kitchen boiling a ton of beets, strawberries and all kinds of different fruits and vegetables to make jams, preserves and canned goods. The kitchen would be off limits for me as she handled jars and moved them around in boiling water. I also remember the sweet and pickled smells and tasting everything right before it would be sealed and sent to storage in the basement. Unfortunately (and understandably), my mom stopped canning and I never learned which makes me thankful for the Preservation Society.

The Preservation Society, a local preserving company from Montreal, brought back canning in a huge way. Take this apple chutney. The flavours are intense yet subtle and make a perfect spicy addition a grilled cheese. Forget the classic neon orange cheese and get creative with the following formula by changing up the variables :

choose your bread + choose your cheese + add a topping (marmalade/chutney/spicy sauce etc. AND/OR your choice of sliced fruit)

Make. Eat and Repeat.

*Link to the chutney can be found here

Pain D'épi Wreath (Wheat Stalk Bread) For Your Holiday Spread

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 21:03:00 +0000

Using classic Robin Hood bread flour for this recipe

I'm getting ready for entertaining friends and family during the holidays by planning meals. I've always wanted to bake bread at home but I've put it off because it's intimidating. So instead of jumping in at the last minute, I'm practicing ahead of time. Hopefully it will pay off and not turn into a stressful nightmare.

I have to say that for my first attempt, the bread was actually not bad at all. I lightly brushed the bread with olive oil before putting it in the oven. I followed this recipe from Baker Bettie. For the next round, I will invest in a digital scale to get the yeast amounts just right. The ultimate taste test will be the in-laws at dinner tonight.

I'm thinking this could be a great addition to any cold-cut, cheese, fruit spread with some nuts and marmalade... or a totally cool centerpiece for a holiday table. The fun part about this wreath is that everyone at the table can simply pull their piece instead of cutting it with a knife. Oh and how sprinkling some poppy seeds of sesame on the crust before baking?

What's your experience with baking bread?

Current Mood - Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 22:42:00 +0000

Aritzia Sweater - Givenchy Bag - Pandora Ring - Ted Baker Iphone Case

Feeling all sorts of cozy in this cold weather and the perfect sweater goes to Aritzia with this Sabline knit. This must be the most relaxing saturday afternoon in a long time, just browsing the internet. Here are some finds I am currently coveting.

I actually bought the Ted Baker iphone cover last Thursday and not only is it beautiful but it has a nice texture to the touch and a lovely message on the inside.. it's all about the small things.

Have a good weekend!

Fred's Burbon Lemonade Chicken

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 14:29:00 +0000

I've recently learned that Fred is pretty good at cooking and I don't mean just following recipes and planning but he's one of those people who will open the fridge, look around at what is already available and come up with fantastic combinations. This chicken recipe might not be revolutionary but it is easy, quick to make and truly delicious. Perfect for a laid back Saturday evening.

Ingredients: (Portion: 2 people)

4 chicken thighs
2 onions
one and a half lemon (extract juice)
4 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried basil
½ chili flakes
3 oz Jim Bean (or other burbon)
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
salt to season
pepper to season

Instructions:

1. Coarsely chop onions

2. In a small bowl combine olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, basil, chili flakes, jim Bean, garlic.

3. Salt and pepper chicken to your taste and cover the the pieces in the marinade previously prepared

4. Place marinated chicken in a dutch oven and pour the leftover marinade .

5. Bake for 3 hours (or until there is no more marinade and chicken is cooked) at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure to check the chicken and with a spoon, take some marinade and pour over chicken every 30 minutes.

We had this last night and I simply roasted a handful of asparagus in olive oil and balsamic vinegar with a pinch of salt and pepper. A nice way to start the weekend without all the fuss.

Bon appetit!

Happy Halloween - Decoration Ideas For Party

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 17:33:00 +0000

I'm not ready to jump into the winter/Christmas season yet, so let me share some Halloween pictures from yesterday. We had a ton of fun decorating, especially while drowning the plastic rats (so gory!). Thankfully, we stopped those who thought it was punch from drinking the colored water.

Have a wonderful "Halloween" weekend!

Weekend Treats

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 15:54:00 +0000

Since moving into our new house, we've put a ton of effort into enjoying our mornings together, especially on weekends. Sharing a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice is one of those moments. Special thanks to the husband for the elbow grease. Now we definitely need to look into juicers. There are so many models and brands out there that I find the whole thing a little bit intimidating. Do you have any favorites?

Québec City And Île d'Orléans Tourism

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 02:49:00 +0000

It's election day in Canada and as I'm watching the results unravel, I wanted to share pictures of my recent trip to our beautiful capital that is Québec city. We often travel far to find exactly what we have right in our backyards. Québec city must be one of the most romantic and exciting cities and its beauty changes along with the seasons.

Although we stayed home most of our honeymoon, I'm glad we made the trip. We enjoyed every second of everything that the city had to offer, especially the food, the fall decorations and the small boutiques.

Also on our way, we discovered for the first time the beauty of Île d'Orléans and it's many vineyards, orchards, maple goodies and local produce. I'll let the pictures speak for this one... just magical. #supportlocal #buylocal

Wedding Welcome Sign (DIY)

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 16:33:00 +0000

I got a little ambitious for my wedding and made a list of fun DIYs but when as we got closer to the wedding, a few fell off the list and I rolled up my sleeves for the rest. One project that I was putting off but that turned out to be quite easy was my welcome sign. I had seen a few on Pinterest and thought it would be the perfect way to direct our guests to the venue.

Unfortunately, I had so much fun at my wedding, I do not have a final picture of the sign propped up on a table easel BUT it did look great.

The steps are quite easy:

- Find a piece of wood (we used pine) and cut to desired size. We actually used three pieces of

leftover wood and glued them together after sanding them for a smooth finish.

- Apply two coats of wood stain in the color of your choice. We chose a stain which contains a coat of varnish which makes it easier to apply and has a semi-gloss look. You can find the Varathane (dark walnut) stain here.

- Lightly outline the words on the sign with a piece of chalk (the harder you press, the harder to

remove with linen and water)

- Use acrylic paint with a brush to go over chalk outline

- Let dry and remove any chalk outline with damp linen cloth

And you've got yourself a homemade welcome sign!!!

Any DIY projects you tried for your wedding?

Apple Pie On Cornmeal Pâte Brisée (Corn Crust)

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 02:57:00 +0000

A huge favorite of mine this summer was Martha Stewart's cornmeal pâte brisée recipe. I literally made this crust a hundred times over, with all different kinds of berries and stone fruits. Now that I'm trying to cook more vegetables and fruits that are in season, I wasn't quite ready to put this recipe back on the shelf until next year.

I have to say, the cornmeal crust works with pretty much any fruit, including your traditional apple crumble/apple pie filling with cinnamon and nutmeg. It was de-li-cious.

For the apple filling :

- 2-3 pounds of thinly sliced apples

- 3 tablespoons of lemon

- 1 and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

- 1 teaspoon of nutmeg

- sprinkle of salt

For the Cornmeal pâte brisée : see recipe here

P.s. My apologies for the prolonged absence. I've finally married the man of my life and the house is 100% complete. This girl is back to normal!

Refinishing Furniture with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 00:31:00 +0000

First Coat!

There are a ton of great do it yourself ideas on the internet and even more fantastic products to accomplish great results. Since we have little furniture of our own and have many expenses as first time homeowners, I planned to tackle a few do it yourself projects. With the help of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and my parents run down dinning set, I completed my first! We now have a little table for our dinette and it's fitting quite nicely with the rest of the house.

The whole project took two coats of paint and NO sanding! The product can be virtually be applied on any surface but be sure to check out their instructions online. The chairs are painted with chalk paint only and clear wax whereas top of the table has an additional layer of dark wax. For those who are impatient, each coat takes about 30 minutes to dry, which is just fantastic for those on a tight schedule. Perfect for a weekend project in other words.

Have you used these products?

Gold Tattoos

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 00:15:00 +0000

There are some childhood memories that we all share such as collecting insane amounts of stickers, writing on driveways with chalk and more importantly covering our entire bodies with temporary tattoos, including our foreheads (because why not!).

Although I'm not six years old, I had a pretty good reason to buy some temporary tattoos : OSHEAGA weekend (Montreal's annual 3 day outdoor music festival). Some may find these tacky but I'm head over heels for them. Without going overboard, they can be the perfect final touch to an outfit.

I'm glad I still have a few left for the rest of the summer. You can find these at any Sephora!

White and Colorful Rooms

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 13:05:00 +0000

Scandinavian Dining Room by Other Metro Media & Bloggers Jeanette Lunde

Traditional Living Room by Boston Interior Designers & Decorators Honey & Fitz

Eclectic Family Room by Boston Interior Designers & Decorators Hudson Interior Design

Transitional Kitchen by Long Island City General Contractors Best & Company

White rooms need not be bland and boring. An important decision I made while finishing our house is to paint every room white. It will take us years to decorate just how we want our home to be and to be honest, we aren't in a rush. That's why I think white will stand the test of time. That being said, it doesn't mean the decor necessarily needs to be sterile. Above are great examples of vibrant and inspiring rooms which scream out to you to take a seat and cozy up. I think bold furniture, creative decor ideas (see colorful books and dark bookcase panelling) and fun lighting make a bigger statement in a bare room.

What do you think of all white?

Bedding + Linens : Parachute's White Linen Launch

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 13:48:00 +0000

Midsummer is finally upon us and there’s nothing more satisfying than waking up to that warm and gentle summer morning light while stretching and rolling around in bed. I’m a crisp white linen kind of girl. I like the fresh look and feel that reminds me of when I wake up on vacation, whether it's in a cozy cabin deep in the woods or on the seaside with a gentle breeze and misty air.

That's why I'm excited to help announce Parachute's new White Linen Launch (link here). Their collection is available in white and fog (ps. great name for the shade!) and its fabric is natural, light and breathable; perfect for summer. To top it off, everything is dyed and washed for a softened look which only gets better over time.

I'm a believer that great linens set the tone for your bedroom and personally, I rather be serene. Luxurious bedding (which doesn't translate into expensive!) invites you to spend more time being confortable in the room you spend most of your day in.

The best part is that Parachute has partnered with Nothing But Nets, an organization that shares their interest in providing safe sleep to those in need. Parachute has committed to sending one life-saving bed net for every Venice set sold.

I truly hope this post encourages you to rethink your bedding!

Ps. Photos are courtesy of Parachute (big thank you). You can find the White Linen Launch here.

Peonies For Days

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 00:38:00 +0000

I am so pleased to see that my peonies have finally bloomed. I've never been happier about my decision to plan a row of these beautiful flowers along my entrance. Even after fanning, the full green leafy shrubs that are left are just as pretty. They grow back every year and you don't need a green thumb!

My dream would be to have freshly cut flowers at the house every week. Since that's just not an option, the next best thing is to have a little garden and pick flowers as they come. Perhaps, give a bouquet to a neighbour or a friend? Is there anything more beautiful?

I may just stay in my bathroom a little longer...

Happy Monday!

My little decorative trumpet I found at the market.

I have big plans for it! (a reef for christmas? displayed on a gallery wall?)

Summer Apricot-Blackberry Galette

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Tue, 19 May 2015 02:51:00 +0000

I found comfort this weekend and stayed cool during the heat wave with some good old iced sweet tea... and this amazingly sweet and tangy apricot-blackberry galette! It is seriously the easiest recipe ever an the filling can be pretty much any type of berry other summer fruit you love. Thank god the recipe makes two servings, because I pretty much ate the whole thing during my taste test (couldn't stop eating). No worries, if you're not ready for two pies, the second dough can be frozen for up to three weeks.

If you want to go all-out and really spoil yourself, add some whipped cream or ice cream.. or both because you know, summer is short!

You can find this easy-peasy recipe here.

Here is to a good start to the week. So long, long weekend! xo

Progress on the House

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Tue, 12 May 2015 00:36:00 +0000

My latest pictures of the house actually resemble a home! We're at the last stretch and every day we can see it coming together. First the paint color, then the stairs, moulding being put up, installing the kitchen floor... the satisfaction of seeing tangible progress can't be compared. The to-do list is still a mile long but there is still so much to look forward to.

I'm not the most organized person, however my fiancé and I have learned a "lazy" yet effective way of keeping track of our choices for the home. Whether we were picking out our brick or choosing ceramic for the showers, we take pictures of everything and I catalogue them on my computer. This way, we remember exactly what floor we ordered 6 months ago, or where our main air ducts run through the house.

Occasionally, you may find a lost selfie between the ceramic choices, but hey, it's just a tip!

Any tips/tricks you'd like to share?

Wedding Invitation Kits - How To DIY

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 02:06:00 +0000

The invitation on this picture is the sample that comes in the box. MY NAME IS NOT ELLA!

Gold glitter and foil dot invitations

It's no secret, everyone knows that weddings can get expensive... (quickly!) and sticking with a fixed budget is challenging (at the very least!). You want your day to be special and personal. One way of achieving this is to tackle a few DIYs. There are simple ways to start flexing your creative muscles such as favours, decorations, centrepieces but invitations? Personally, I felt like invitations were too big of a project to tackle.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE!

I looked at prices for online invitations and still felt like I was over my budget. I remembered that a few years ago, I helped create invitations for my friend's bridal shower and wondered if I could do the same for my wedding invitations. Don't get me wrong, I clearly remember how much swearing, sweat, time and wrestling (with the printer) was involved.

Michaels was having a promotion and I was pleasantly surprised at the selection of wedding invitation kits available. The company "Brides" (found here from Gartner Studios) have timeless options that are very affordable and best of all can be customized to your liking. Basically, these are blank cards which typically come with enveloppes (mine have glitter!), invitation, RSVP and another small blank card for whatever you want (I used it as a direction card). They have online templates which you simply fill out and save as pdf documents on your computer.

I had a lot of questions before and during the process. Although Gartner Studios offers a great FAQ section, I still had questions. Hopefully this post can help you achieve your perfect invitations!

What printer to use? :

How was I going to print the invitations? I was dreading smudges and the lines being crooked. Clearly my printer wasn't going to cut it. Desperately, I literally googled my questions (felt a little embarassed as I felt like I was having a conversation with google).

Read: "What printer to use to print wedding invitations"
Results: Only questions. No answers.

Before resorting to professionals (as I already had the invitations and felt it was besides the point to have someone else print them... did I mention my boxes of blank invitations were collecting dust for weeks at this point?), I checked out Costco and blindly (BUT LUCKILY) fell on the HP Officejet 5740 series.

What size paper and what settings do I choose? :

Invitation card:

This one was a 5 x 7 inches. You simply have to select it on both the printer and in your advance settings when you print your pdf.

Select "Matte presentation paper", again in your advance settings when you print your pdf and be sure to choose "color" rather than "grayscale".

Finally, I played around with "normal" and "draft" quality. I thought "best" would be the nicest but the ink was thicker and I personally obtained better results with "draft". Print a few pages to see what you like best.

Run a few test sheets on regular 8 x 11 paper. I marked an "x" on the top of the sheet before inserting it in the feeder to see which side the writing would appear. You'll avoid making a mistake before printing on the cards.

It's ok to scrap a few cards. It took me about 20 before I was satisfied with the final results. I can't solely blame the printer. I made a few typos, forgot to change the font on a few cards... but in the end, I saved a few dollars and I have a fabulous printer I get to keep.

For the other small cards:

Each 5 x 7 sheet has two cards. Print on a 5 x 7 setting. This time I used "normal" quality.

Enveloppes:

I didn't print directly on the enveloppes, I am planning on printing on clear labels, however the larger enveloppe is a standard size that can be found on your printer.

The smaller envelope, I chose the 4 x 6 option, although not exactly the correct size. I edited the text by positioning the text a little bit more to the left and a little higher, to compensate for my smaller enveloppe.

I hope this post can help you in making your own invitations. Unfortunately, you do need a good printer and this process will take you an entire day. However, the results are worth it and any budget conscious bride will appreciate the extra savings!

Good luck!

Fruit Pavlovas For Easter

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 20:31:00 +0000

Happy Easter to all those who celebrated this weekend. For those who didn't, I hope you had a fabulous long weekend and enjoyed the beautiful spring weather (or did some major spring cleaning... whatever makes you happy!).

I had to whip up a last minute desert as my fiance's family are throwing a dinner tonight. I wanted something easy to make, I had no energy or will to tackle a cake. As I was flipping my favorite desert cookbooks (ok, I lie. I only ever flip through Martha Stewart's desert cookbook), I was sold on those pretty individual bite-size Pavlovas.

They are the easiest desert to make and require practically no ingredients. I used whatever fruit I had leftover and added a layer of lemon whipped cream. Couldn't be happier with the result!

I have such fond memories of Pavlovas as a kid. We call them "besy" in polish and devouring them in large quantities helped me develop an acute tolerance for sweetness (I do not kid). Do not be fooled! You do NOT have to follow the sugar quantities to the nearest teaspoon. Cutting out a quarter cup will not be a compromise on taste Your Pavlovas will be FINE. I also didn't bother with the vanilla (again, I lie... I completely forgot) and they were still amazing.

You can find a similar recipe here, also from Martha Stewart.

ENJOY!

Kitchen : Choosing The Finishing Touches

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 00:19:00 +0000

Sturdy Faucet (can be found here)

Mesmerizing granite pattern. I'm in love with the shapes and the different shades.

Choosing knobs and handles from the Richelieu collection (found here)

The kitchen is to us the most important room in our house. We want it to be the gathering point for our family and friends. Happy stomach, happy life? No, there's no such saying but looks ARE important. Every little detail sets a mood and reflects our personalities.

In an ideal world I'd die for a space designed by Sarah Richardson or something out of Lynda Reeve's House & Home magazine. However, since we're taking on this massive project on our own, we have no choice but to research, be attentive and PLAN!

So far what I've learned:

White cabinets:

If there are fifty shades of grey, there must be at least a hundred shades of white. Every white will have a pigmentation of a different hue (yellow, grey, red etc.) and its intensity will increase depending on your lighting, flooring and counters. Keep in mind that your wall color is also an important factor as your cabinets could clash with the walls of adjacent rooms.

A good test is to take a sample of color and place a white sheet of paper with a small hole over the sample. You will really see the contrast in whites.

Also, decide on the materials used for your cabinets. I've been advised that white adheres better on MDF, however it can be a difficult decision to let go of the wooden cabinet dream especially since MDF cabinets are not that cheaper!

Countertops:

All white everywhere? As aesthetically appealing as it may sound, an all-white kitchen may not cater your needs. You will have to be more careful with stains and any imperfection will show. After much debate, we are still debating between a super white or a moon light granite.

Research the material you will use. Remember that some materials may be more porous than others (marble or wood) and require regular maintenance.

Knobs and handles:

They are the most (relatively) inexpensive way to dress up a kitchen and give it some spunk. Think outside your local hardware store. The internet is a huge source of inspiration and shipping can be inexpensive too (make sure to read thoroughly through shipping and duty fees).

Islands:

Bigger is not always better. Remember to leave a good amount of space to walk around and to open doors and appliances. Since our kitchen is in a "U" shape, we have 36 inches on each side and 39 inches from the island to our range.

Appliances and other hardware:

Shop around, look for sales but stick with quality! Never compromise. These are long term investments so you need to compare and do research. When shopping for bigger items, try to negotiate and throw in a freebie (or a discounted item). For example, ask if your countertop merchant would be interested to sell you a sink or a faucet for a discounted price.

Any valuable lessons you've learned or want to share?

I'm looking forward to the next steps and to see how each individual pick will look in the end. Wish us luck!

Have a lovely week, xo

Dates With Goat Cheese Wrapped In Prosciutto + Stuffed Mushrooms

noreply@blogger.com (Le living and co.) — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 01:12:00 +0000

Sweet and salty bite-size stuffed medjool dates. So delicious.

Little army of stuffed dates ready to impress guests

Savoury bread crumb and goat cheese stuffed mushrooms

Liberally sprinkling red pepper flakes. Spicy!

We all know dinner parties can be stressful to plan but there are ways to avoid panic. Put a twist on a classic (with these stuffed mushrooms) or try mixing flavours to wow guests (cue: dates with goat cheese). Both are quick and easy options!

Dates with Goat cheese wrapped in Prosciutto:

I've said this before on the blog: I'm not a fan of dry dates and I surely don't eat them as a snack. Although I can eat a ton of chocolate and feel absolutely great (all lies, I always feel guilty), dry dates are on a sweetness level of their own.

As it happens, this is the second time I share a recipe with dates and I can now say that I've learned to appreciate and balance their sweetness in baking (as seen here) and now while cooking!

The trick? Mixing sweet (dates) with salty (Prosciutto and goat cheese). Just add a basil leaf in between, broil the batch for a few minutes until golden brown and you just made yourself some delicious appetizers. Full recipe found here.

Stuffed Mushrooms:

A twist on a classic. This recipe from Martha Stewart (found here) is easy to make and a guaranteed home run.

Hope I made you a little hungry!