My. Daily. Randomness.

A Dream Breakfast in Bed with Chocolate Philly

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:36:00 +0000

I'm sooo looking forward to this long weekend. I'm going on work day #11 here... yes, that's almost two weeks straight. The fact of the matter is, I could use a little break. Maybe some time to sleep in. Maybe even breakfast in bed... Now that's an idea!

Of course my mind goes straight to chocolate and strawberries. I can't think of any other flavour combination I would want to wake up too... If you love chocolate, you're going to want to try new Chocolate Philly. It just might be what breakfast in bed dreams are made of...

With Chocolate Philly you get the dairy goodness of Philly plus the deliciousness of pure milk chocolate – with half the sugar and calories (per 1 tbsp. serving) of the other guys. Combine that with sweet and juicy strawberries, and you might just end up with this Strawberry & Chocolate Philly Stuffed French Toast...

Strawberry & Chocolate Philly Stuffed French Toast
This sweet, stuffed french toast comes together quickly on a early Saturday morning. Easy enough for the husband to pull together, and delicious enough to enjoy together... in bed.

Ingredients
3 eggs
1/4 cup milk
sprinkle of cinnamon
dash of vanilla extract
3-5 pieces of thick cut french bread
5-7 strawberries, sliced thin
3-4 tbsp of Chocolate Philly
Maple syrup

Method
1. Heat a large pan on medium heat. Spray with non-stick spray (if needed).
2. In a shallow-wide bowl beat together eggs, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla.
3. One by one, soak each piece of french bread, about 30 seconds on each side, in the egg/milk mixture.
4. Place egg bread in pan and cook on each side for approximately 2-3 minutes, or until the bread becomes toasty and browned. Remove and set aside.
5. Once all pieces of french toast are cooked, start assembling. With one piece of toast on the bottom, smear it with about 1 tbsp on Chocolate Philly followed by sliced strawberries. Repeat until you have 3-4 layers of french toast stuffed.
6. Top with strawberries and drizzle with real maple syrup. Enjoy in bed with your loved ones.

Feeling like you could get in on some Strawberry & Chocolate Philly Stuffed French Toast breakfast in bed action? Well, Chocolate Philly has come up with a simple yet highly effective way to convince your loved ones to serve you breakfast in bed. You work hard every day. So how about a delicious reward?

In just 3 quick and easy steps, your loved ones could be serving you Chocolate Philly in bed. C’mon – you deserve it! By using the power of social media and some friendly peer pressure, breakfast in bed with Chocolate Philly can be yours. Head on over to Philadelphia Cream Cheese Canada Facebook page to learn more about the "Breakfast in Bed" challenge.

Don't forget to "Like" Philly Canada on Facebook - they will be rolling out an exclusive Facebook coupon on May 21st. Now your loved ones will have no excuse not to include Chocolate Philly when they serve you breakfast in bed.

Have you ever been served breakfast in bed?

Disclosure: This is a paid post through SheBlogs Media. I purchased Chocolate Philly to try it personally before writing about it. All opinions are my own.
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My Top 7: Napa + CIA Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:09:00 +0000

1. Video at CIA // As mentioned before I left, my reason for travelling to Napa was to shoot some cooking videos at the Culinary Institute of America. I am happy to say, this was one of the most exciting experiences of my career to date! The Chef was knowledgeable and great on camera. The production crew was beyond professional.... and although the shoots were a grueling 10 hours, it was extremely fun.

2. Target // Call me crazy, but whenever I'm in the US I always stop at Target. After a quick 15 minute shopping trip, I walked out with this summer dress. Can't wait to wear it.

3. Saturday Night Dinner // Most people who visit Napa, or the CIA for that matter, don't know that the CIA has their own restaurant run by the students. Saturday evening, after a long day of shooting, we headed to the rustic patio to enjoy a gourmet meal. I had the ricotta filled ravioli, and of course the flourless chocolate cake for dessert.

4. BottleRock in Napa // Little did we know when we booked our video shoot three months ago, there would be a very large concert in town that weekend. With 60 incredible bands and a dedicated gourmet food garden, BottleRock was just what my colleague and I needed Sunday night. With beer + fish tacos in hand, we relaxed while taking in the last set of the night, the Zac Brown Band (who, by the way, did an incredible cover of Metallica).

5. Django Unchained // Can you believe there was not a single movie on the flight that I had not seen... expect for Django Unchained. So I watched it. It was pretty damn good.

6. On the Roof // Friday night we found ourselves at The Thomas - a rooftop patio restaurant that overlooks Napa. We sampled the Mushroom Mousse (which was delicious) and the Salmon Tartar with Tarro Chips... I then proceeded to eat a very large burger... which I finished, completely. #SoFull

7. Allergies // My allergies kicked my butt this trip. Sneezing, sniffling, watery eyes... the whole 9 yards. Not ideal when you are trying to be quiet on-set and all your body wants to do is let out a sneeze...
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Heading to the CIA

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:32:00 +0000

When I was in high school I had this crazy idea that I wanted to be a chef... and maybe an art teacher... but mostly a chef. I know, both highly competitive and difficult industries, but I felt I had the passion for it. Today, I am neither a chef or an art teacher, but I do have several clients in the food industry that allow me to be creative with food. Take this weekend for example. I am flying to Napa to spend the weekend shooting cooking videos at the Culinary Institute of America. Did my high school self ever think my career would take me down this path? Probably not. But I work hard and when the right opportunity comes along where I get to mix my passion for food and art, I jump on it.

That said, it's going to be a little quiet around here for the next few days, but I hope you all have a lovely Mother's Day weekend.
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Mother's Day: Gifts for Mom

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:09:00 +0000

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My Weekend According to My iPhone

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany S.) — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:29:00 +0000

1 // Finished the working week with a nice long run...
2 // We finally picked the brick for the garden retaining wall.
3 // Sunday was a gorgeous day to take in a Jays game!
4 // Headed for dinner at the top of the CN Tower!
5 // Seriously, the most delicious piece of salmon I have ever eaten...
6 // You can't eat at the CN Tower without enjoying a dessert by the same name.

It was a stunner of a weekend, and I hope you all had a chance to get out there to enjoy it!
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Bloggers & Brands: A Q&A With Heather Travis & Brittany Stager

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:55:00 +0000

As I mentioned last month, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to speak on a panel at the very first FBC2013 Conference. When I made my way up to the panel to my assigned seat, I found myself a little star-struck when I realized I would be sitting next to Heather Travis, Director of PR & Marketing Communications for Canada Beef Inc. & blogger at heatherinheels.com... or as the food blogger community likes to call her "the woman who is everywhere!" I've always admired Heather and the community she has built for Canada Beef, and although I have chatted with Heather for many years as "Mushrooms Canada" this was actually our first time meeting in person.

Our panel discussion was an hour and a half long, giving each panelist approximately 7 minutes to preach their piece. With 4 panelists, and a room full of food bloggers hungry for answers, this didn't leave much time to address some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to working with brands. Since I am all for sharing and helping out the community, Heather and I saw this as great opportunity to answer your burning questions about brand and bloggers... so here we go!

A Q&A With Heather Travis & Brittany Stager

Q: What is the best pitch to initiate working with a brand? What are brands looking for?
Heather: Ideally, the best pitch is from someone who I already know – what I mean is, you’ve already been engaging with our brand, you have already demonstrated loyalty to our product. So when you send a pitch, it could be as simple as, “Hey Heather, remember that recipe I posted a few weeks back? I’ve got an idea….”
Britt: A: The best way to start a pitch is to know exactly what you are looking for in a partnership. Be able to clearly articulate the benefits for both the brand you yourself. Let the brand know what exactly you are looking for (whether it’s product, funds, etc), and what exactly they will get by partnering with you (total number of blog posts, total number of tweets & Facebook posts, etc). Also include what you expect from the brand (ie: tell them you would like them to retweet your tweets or share your Facebook posts with their audience). Have your roles clearly defined. Statistics are also key. Let the brand know your blog traffic, and number of followers (Twitter & Facebook). Other criteria a brand might consider: style of writing, quality of photos, reach & frequency or posts, and topic authority. Keep your pitch short and to the point. Lastly, always follow up with a thank you.

Q: How do you know if a brand is looking to collaborate with a blogger? How do you find out about their blogger programs?
Heather: By regularly engaging with the brand and following up on what they do – do they post other bloggers’ posts on their Facebook? Have you seen a previous call for bloggers from the brand? If brands regularly work with bloggers this should be evident in their online spaces, if it isn’t and you are still unclear – use the relationship you’ve already built with the brand to reach out and see. As they say, the answer is always no if you don’t ask.
Britt: In most cases, bloggers wait to be approached by a brand or a representative from their agency. There is nothing wrong with this approach, you just need to be able to stand out in the crowd. If you, as a blogger, are looking to make the first move, don't be intimidated - brands are just as intimated by you, as you are of them (if not more!) - just reach out and ask!

Q: What does an ideal partnership between a blogger and a brand look like?
Heather: A true partnership is where both people feel like they are getting the better end of the deal ;)... It should be mutually beneficial and drive measurable results back to both partners. As the organization representing Canada’s beef farming & ranching families, I must be very clear on what value our work is bringing them – because I can guarantee you, as hard as we all work – farmers work harder.
Britt: An ideal partnership really depends on the brand. Some brands are simply looking for in-bound link building, while others are looking for long-term partnerships that may span over a couple of posts or a turn into a series. In all situations the end goal is always the same - content generation, amplification, and a long lasting relationship.

Q: I'm trying to position myself as a blogger who only works with specific types of organizations. Other than having a page that suggests this on my blog, how can I better position myself to become top-of-mind when brands are looking to do a brand/blogger project?
Heather: Again, engage with us. A huge number of agricultural organizations and farm groups are online, and doing a great job! Reach out to us/them, engage and get yourself known. Top of mind doesn't come through a google search, it comes through relationship building.
Britt: This should be clearly posted on both your sponsorship page and about page. Beyond that, the best way to get established is to introduce yourself. Send them an email, tell them who you are and what you do - get yourself top of mind.

Q: What catches a brand's eye?
H: Great content. This includes an honesty of voice, a consistency in your tone, themes, etc, as well as proper disclosure for other brand work.
Britt: Be active within the same community. Communicate with the brand you have an interest in. Also a visually appealing blog, with nice photography and great writing will also help catch a brands eye.

Q: Are brands reluctant to work with blogs that have ads (ie: sidebar advertising)?
Heather: The ads visible on the blog would need to align with the brand image – both the blogger’s and the company’s. If the ads don’t match the blogger, I would wonder if we (the brand) are also a good fit.
Britt: It depends - if the ads are for direct competition this may turn a brand off, but as far as ads in general - I have only been turned off when the ads are overwhelming and distract from the content of a blog.

Q: How do you choose bloggers for each campaign. Do you have a key things you look for, and what do you research on each blogger?
Heather: First is goes back to relationships. Have you regularly engaged with the brand and shown an interest? We absolutely do research on the bloggers we are hoping to work with. And we would hope you do the same on us – does this relationship fit? We look for positive brand mentions, negative brand mentions, other brands you’ve worked with, and your general online persona.
Britt: When choosing bloggers for a campaign I will always approach bloggers I have worked with in the past to gauge their interest in the project first. Beyond that I will reach out to bloggers that I have been highly engaged with, or have shown interest in the product. After I create a short-list I will weigh several factors, including blogging style, the quality of their photos, the frequency of their posts, topic authority, and reach. Ultimately the blogger who I feel will best represent the campaign will be approached.

Q: What kind of compensation can a blogger expect when asked to blog about a brand other than the "free product".
Heather: It depends on the company. I would also think larger than monetary terms – is the brand going to give you significantly more exposure? How will you gain from this? Be willing to negotiate differently with big brands versus smaller agricultural groups, not for profits, charities, etc.
Britt: This really depends on the brands budget and the scope of the project. Sometimes all a brand can afford is to send a blogger free product, while others do have a marketing budget allocated to blogger outreach. Some projects I have worked on ranged from free product to $350 for recipe development.

Q: What kind of statistics are brands looking for?
Heather: We look for quality over quantity. It’s more about how consistent you are online, and your relationship with the brand.
Britt: What Heather said! It also helps to know unique visitors, number of followers, frequency of posts, and if you have an engaged following.

I'd like to give a big virtual hug to Heather for taking the time to help me out with this post, as well as all you bloggers who submitted your questions! If you have other questions we didn't address, please feel free to leave them in the comments section and Heather and I will do our best to weigh in!
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My Life Needs More...

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:03:00 +0000

via 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

... statement necklaces
... dinner with friends
... smiles from my munchkin
... homemade burgers
... rustic decor
... trips to the beach & toes in the sand
... puppy kisses
... fresh flowers for no reason

inspired by this post by the talented Caitlin of Candyfloss & Persie
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Project Grow Our Own Food: Building Raised Garden Beds

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:50:00 +0000

I sit here typing with sore arms and swollen fingers after a weekend full of, what I would call, intense backyard labour. As temperatures crept back up to seasonal range, and the sun bathed our whole backyard in its warm golden rays, J and I decided it was time to kick our backyard project into high gear - it was time to build the raised garden beds. But oh how I wish it was that simple. Turns out this project was one of those you can't start until you start another. In this case, before we could start building the garden, we had to move some trees.

The Three Trees
As we worked on our rough sketches of the backyard, it became evident the shade from the trees and their proximity to the fence was going to be a problem... so unless we wanted this garden smack-dab in the middle of our yard, three of the trees would have to go.

After some heated debates, I suggested we simply move the trees over, thus creating a "tree wall" which would help make the soon-to-be patio area more private. J liked the idea. I liked the idea. And I'm sure the trees would like the idea as well.

So Saturday morning, with our new shovel in hand, we started to dig out the trees. To our surprise the trees were very easy to remove as their roots hadn't penetrated the surrounding soil. However, this was due to the fact that our soil is more like clay... so although the trees were very easy to remove, digging the new holes in the clay-like ground proved difficult. After 3 hours, we had all the trees moved, planted, and watered... with only one tree casualty.

The Raised Garden Bed
With the trees moved and lunch in our bellies, we began to tackle the larger mission at hand - the garden beds. We moved through our tasks one by one... first cutting all ten the large 12x16 boards to size, then the 2x4's, and lastly the 4x4. If I never have to hold another heavy 16ft piece of wood while J tries to square it up, I will be happy.

With everything in place, we started to assemble the structure. As the sides went up it became obvious just how large this garden bed was...

After all was in place, we stood back to marvel at our new best friend...

I can't tell you how happy I am with this investment. Sure, the upfront costs of building your own garden can be steep (and had we built this garden using cedar wood it would have double our costs!), but in all honesty, it's a price I am willing to pay for not only the experience of growing my own food, but the health benefits as well. No pesticides. No chemicals. Only real food.

And look what was delivered this morning... it's obvious the real fun begins tonight, when we get to fill the beds with 7 yards of soil. No rest for this "farmer!"
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6 Necklaces You Need This Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:02:00 +0000

via 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

I am a necklace hoarder. From big statement necklaces to long dainty chains... I guess you could say I own a lot of necklaces. But here comes the real kicker. I never wear them. Crazy right? I usually buy a necklace with an outfit in mind, but once I try it on with something else - forget about it!

These lovely necklaces however are ones I definitely need this spring... and I would wear them... I swear!

What type of jewelry do you hoard?

Although I love my big, flashy necklaces, there is one necklace I never take off, and that is my lucky horseshoe by Michelle Chang.
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Root Beer Braised Lamb Shoulder with Mashed Potatoes & Roasted Brussels Sprouts

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:04:00 +0000

As the weather teeters back and forth between winter and spring, so have my meal choices. These past two weeks my meals have gone from hearty comfort foods, to light salads & BBQ favourites, back to rich comfort foods again. As much as I love a hearty chunk of roast beef and spicy hot chili, I am ready for some grilled veggie kabobs and light flaky salmon.

Although that last blast of winter brought frigid cold and ice, it brought warmth and creativity to my kitchen. For the first time ever I prepared lamb at home. You see, lamb is one of those intimidating meats... it's a dish that I enjoy very much when prepared by a professional chef, but when it comes to replicating that at home, I tend to panic. After scouring the internet for hours educating myself on the perfect way to cook this cut of meet, I landed upon a very interesting recipe... Root Beer Braised Lamb Shoulder. Root beer? Yes. And let me tell you, it was delicious!

The lamb was so tender, it literally fell off the bone, while the braising liquid made a nice sweet sauce. Of course I served it along side one of my favourite roasted vegetables, brussels sprouts, and a roasted cauliflower and potato mash. So what's on my menu for the next few weeks? Probably lamb.

What is your favourite restaurant dish that you wish you could replicate at home?
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Will You "See the Light" this Earth Day?

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:22:00 +0000

"The cheapest energy is the energy you don't use in the first place" ~ Sheryl Crow

I like to think that I am energy and environmentally conscience. I turn the lights off when I leave a room. I do my laundry in cold water during off-peak hours. I'll go into a restaurant vs. idling in the drive-thru. I recycle and compost. I do these things on a daily basis not only to help the environment but to save a few bucks along the way. I'll also be the first to admit that sometimes it's not easy. Would I prefer to sit in the drive-thru on a cold winter day rather than get out of the car? Absolutely. Is it easier to do my laundry in the middle of the day rather than at 11 o'clock at night? Yes, I would imagine so. However, giving up these little luxuries is nothing compared to the cost of not giving them up.

When 'J' and I moved into our new house in October, I swear the first thing on 'J's' list was to replace all of the light bulbs in our house with energy efficient ones. We were quick to realize how expensive this was going to be seeing we have a whopping 48 light bulbs in our house. Not only that, I personally do not like the look of high efficiency bulbs, especially in sconces or fixtures where the bulb is exposed. Slowly this task made it's way to the bottom of our project list.

It wasn't until last week, when GE Lighting Canada approached me and asked if they could help make my house more energy efficient for Earth Day, did this project become priority. I talked it over with 'J' and his main concern was the fact that energy efficient light bulbs are notoriously slow. I mean, you flick the switch and it takes several minutes to power up to full brightness. Much to our surprise, GE Lighting actually makes a bulb that is "Bright from the Start," and it looks like a traditional bulb! I've never seen 'J' jump on a project so quickly!

Sunday afternoon we began swapping...

It's amazing how making these small changes with GE light bulbs will result in a big difference. After some calculations we figured we will be saving almost $20/month on our electrical bill just by swapping out old light bulbs. With just the flick of a switch, we can see our home (and wallets) in a whole new light!

To celebrate Earth Day, GE Lighting is giving away a coupon to help you "See the Light" in your home. Find the coupons here.

Other Ways to Save Money, Lower Your Energy Bills, and Be Green on Earth Day
Beyond swapping light bulbs, there are many other ways to conserve energy and save money in your home...

Find & Fix Leaks // Leaking water can increase your water bills significantly. Not only that, you are wasting water... something we can sometimes take for granted. Fix leaking pipes, faucets and shower heads.

New Water Heater // A new water heater can also help save energy. Tankless water heaters consume less energy compared to traditional heating tanks.

Slow the Flow // Low-flow faucets can help lower your utility bills significantly, and helps ensures you don’t waste water while washing utensils or bathing.

Ten is Old // While a 10+ year old furnace might still function, it's very likely that its efficiency is pretty low. A furnace older than 10 years is around 60 percent efficient, whereas new furnaces can be as high as 95% efficient.

DIY // Everyone loves to turn old junk into something new, not to mention it's a great way to recycle.

How are you going green this Earth Day? What are some of your best energy saving tips?

Disclosure: GE Lighting provided me with product in exchange for this post. I was not compensated in any other way. All opinions of their products are my own.
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Project Grow Our Own Food: A Trip to The Home Depot

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany S.) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:40:00 +0000

With our seeds planted, and soil & mulch ordered, 'J' and I have started to purchase some of the supplies we are going to need as we work on "project grow our own food." A quick trip to The Home Depot yesterday (in the snow) proved successful as we were able to stroke a shovel and a rake off the list. I may have mentioned before that our lawn is in pretty bad shape; it needs a good rolling and seeding, so grass seed also made its way into our cart.

Quite a few of the 150 seeds we started have begun to make an appearance... including our tomatoes, cucumbers, green onions, basil and parsley. With a plant date of May 4th, we hope to tackle building the raised garden beds next weekend - hopefully not in the snow!

Disclosure: I was graciously provided with a $50 gift card from Home Depot Canada which I used towards this purchase.
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My Top 7: Canadian Food Bloggers Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:06:00 +0000

While Monday I recaped the valuable information I learned while in the FBC sessions, I thought it might be nice for you to see what I loved about the overall FBC2013 experience...

1. The Cocktail Reception // After a pretty intense drive to Hockley Valley (literally through sleet, ice, and snow), Shannon and I set up our table of goodies, sampled our stuffed mushrooms, and made our rounds in the room full of bloggers. I can't tell you how excited I was to meet some of these bloggers in real life. After reading their blogs for years, they almost have a celebrity status in my eyes.

2. Dinner on Night One // What kind of food bloggers conference would this be without out-of-this-world-food! The first night we were treated to a gourmet dinner from Canadian Beef and Mushrooms Canada... When I saw the menu I couldn't wait to dig in! Starter: Poutine made with House Cut Fries, Rosemary, Chives, Rich Veal Jus, and Aged Canadian Cheddar Cheese. Main: Wellington Country Prime Rib with Yorkshire Pudding, Sautéed Mushrooms & Red Wine Jus. Dessert: Chocolate Trifle with Stewed Berries, Chocolate Genoise, Vanilla Custard and Chantilly Cream... soooo good!

3. We Are Friends // Heather of Canadian Beef could not have said it better, "I've built a relationship with these bloggers via social media, and a lot of them I consider my friends." I consider myself very lucky to have been in a room all weekend surrounded by my friends.

4. The Knowledge // I mentioned this in my previous post, but the wealth of knowledge and experience the speakers and panelists shared was incredible. Most sessions left the audience in awe, while others prompted furious note taking. One piece of advice that stuck with me was from David Leite who said, "Punctuation creates rhythm. It tells you when to stop or slow down. Use it properly, it adds to your voice." So. True.

5. Dinner on Night Two // Starter: Heirloom Beets with Best Baa Feta, Frisse, Shoots, Tamworth Bacon & Onion Jam. Main: Turkey Saltimbocca with Pingue Prosciutto, Monforte Toscano Cheese, Herbed Potato Cake and Market Vegetables. Dessert: Maple Creme Caramel with Vanilla and Maple Custard, Candied Orange.

6. Hockley Valley Resort // This was my first time to Hockley Valley, and I must say I was very impressed! The rooms were very large, the beds were phenomenal, and the food was delicious. One thing I would have loved to experience (but didn't get the chance to because of the horrendous weather) was the outdoor bonfire... we'll have to save that for next time!

7. Speaking // Little known fact about me... in grade six I won my schools public speaking contest for my speech called "Life as a Shoe"... embarrassing but true. Some might say I am a pretty confident speaker, and the whole speaking about bloggers and brands is not new to me. However, as soon as I sat down in front of my microphone and stared out at the room full of bloggers, I got pretty damn nervous. I could feel my brain turning to mush, the words on my cheatsheet started to become blurred, and everything started to move in super slow motion. As I stuttered through the first part of the discussion, I could feel my confidence building and eventually I gained my composure during the later half. After I felt comfortable enough, I felt like I could talk for hours... but alas, I only had a mere 7 minutes to preach my piece.

Again, I can't even begin to describe what a wonderful experience this was, and how appreciative the entire food bloggers community is to Ethan, Mardi, and Melissa at Food Bloggers of Canada for pulling this all together!

If you weren't able to attend the conference there are plenty of recap posts out there. Here are a few of my favourites:

Food Bloggers Of Canada 1st Conference ~ A Resounding Success by Sober Julie
I am on Fire by The Gouda Life
12 things to do at a food bloggers conference (that you can’t do at home) by Aimee of Simple Bites
Inspired & Ready: Food Bloggers of Canada Conference 2013 by Sweet Twist of Blogging
First Food Blogging Conference: A 19 Year Old’s Perspective by Living Lou

"If you are not utterly passionate about something, you will fail. You need to be in your bliss and in your passion." ~ David Leite

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Mushroom, Caramelized Onion, and Swiss Burger

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:51:00 +0000

This winter has been a long one, and I don't know a single person who would disagree. The uncalled for ice storms, and snow that doesn't want to melt, is evidence that winter has dug in its icy claws, and refuses to let go. But you remember that one nice day we had last week? Think hard, it's there. I did something that I haven't done in seven months... I made a homemade burger... on the BBQ! If this doesn't summon the gods of spring, I don't know what will.

I had managed to suppress my cravings for a thick, juicy, grilled, homemade burger during the winter months, and started to focus on comfort foods like chili and roast beef... but this past week the cravings hit. And they hit hard.

I needed "the ultimate burger" to kick off my burger season. First and foremost it had to be full of flavour. Secondly, it had to be fast. Lastly, it had to kick my burger cravings to the curb. Enter my Mushroom, Caramelized Onion, and Swiss Burger.

Lean ground beef mixed with perfect parts bread crumbs, eggs, and a sprinkle of Cajun seasoning made their way to the grill while I caramelized the onions and sautéed the mushrooms. To take your onions and mushrooms up a notch, add a splash of balsamic vinegar during the last few minutes of cooking. The onions come out nice and sweet, complementing the umami rich mushrooms and flavourful Swiss cheese.

After watching 'J' scarf down this burger in a mere 3 minutes, I would say he too was going through homemade burger withdrawals. It was definitely what I needed to help ride out the rest of this winter like spring.

Have you fired up your BBQ yet? What's the first thing you will grill once the weather smartens up?
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Key Learnings from the Food Bloggers of Canada Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:04:00 +0000

After a very fun weekend, I walked in the front door of my house last night and couldn't get all of the wonderful key messages I've learned this out of my head. My head is literally swimming with ideas, and overflowing with inspiration.

The sessions at FBC2013 were nothing short of amazing. The speakers and panelists were very knowledgeable experts, sharing information that awed the crowd. If you were following along with me on Twitter, you would have witnessed a flurry of tweets bearing the #FBC2013 hashtag; all too beneficial not to share with the my followers.

If at any point during the conference you came to talk to me, you would have quickly discovered that I love to share my knowledge and perspectives. In the spirit of sharing, I have summarized everything that I tweeted during this enlightening 3 day conference. I know a lot of you will find value in what was shared at #FBC2013.

Bloggers & Brands

with Mardi, Brittany, Heather & Mary Luz

Before choosing a blogger to work with I will take a look at their blog to see if they have ever worked with the product before.
Although number of followers is considered, I also look at how engaged your community is. Do they interact with your content?
Justify the ask. Explain to the brand why you should be paid (more). Show what you bring to the table (reach, # of posts, etc)
What does an ideal relationship look like? Depends. Some brands want long-term relationships. Others just want linking or recipes
If you want to work w/ a brand send them a pitch - don't wait for them to come to you. Be specific & justify your ask!
Be transparent and disclose if you have received payment. This should be done at the top of your post.
Be honest. If you did not like the product you received or the event you attended you can say so.
If you're going to an event with 50 other bloggers, how do you differentiate yourself to speak to your readers?

Keynote Speaker
David Leite

You need to love language. With or without echo. Knowing where to place your adjectives. It's all about the words.
It's all about the voice, it determines the choice of words.
Read your work out-loud. Find any structural errors. Make sure you hear your voice.
Punctuation creates rhythm. It tells you when to stop or slow down. Use it properly, it adds to your voice.
If you are not utterly passionate about something, you will fail. You need to be in your bliss and in your passion.
Start treating your blog like business right out of the gate. If you don't do it now, you won't in the future.
I think we should bring back the serial comma. You are allowed one exclamation point per post!

Tech for Your Blog - Getting Visitors and Keeping Them
with Dave and Melissa

Mobile web usage is doubling every year! By 2014 more people will use smartphones to get online than desktops!
What makes a site great? Fast to load, visible and accessible, simple to navigate.
Responsive design uses CSS and Javascript to change the website layout based on the browser. It can recognize if you are visiting from a phone or desktop.
Responsive Theme. Pro: One theme for all devices. Some beautiful options. Impressive if well done. Con: Can be difficult to maintain. More expensive to build. Can't keep existing desktop theme.
Is Responsive for Me? Yes if you are considering a redesign, and you have the budget and skill-set to maintain.
A Separate Mobile Theme: Works via plugin that detects the accessing device and directs them accordingly. Wordpress only. WPTouch for Wordpress is a plugin that easily converts a Wordpress blog to a mobile friendly site.
Separate Mobile Theme. Pro: Easy to implement. Highly customizable. Free. Works with desktop theme. Con: Customization may be desired.
Is a Separate Mobile Theme For You? Yes, if your theme is not responsive. If you prefer an app-like experience.
Be conscious of your image titles and names. You want to make sure they are descriptive to be included in search results.
Use the <h tag> to describe the hierarchy of your posts. Crawlers understand that h tags highlight importance.
Titles are given <h1> tag defining it as the most important piece of information about the post. All <h> tags thereafter are nested.
Alt & title tags are used to describe images & links. Easy to add when using a WYSIWYG editor. Allows images & links to be indexed.
When someone pins your images it pulls the information from your Alt & Image text. Very important to fill out!
Getting Indexed by Google. Use Google Webmaster Tools to submit an XML sitemap for google to index your pages. Blogger automatically generates a sitemap for you. Wordpress has several plugins you can use, one called GoogleXMLSitemap.
Google Authorship: A way of linking your content on any site to your Google+ profile. Your pic gets shown alongside your content.

Hey, Is Anybody Out There?
with Dianne Jacob

If someone takes the trouble to make a comment on your blog take the trouble to answer it.
Your reader should be able to feel your emotions. That's how they connect with you.
Know who you are writing to. Think about who is reading it, and what kind of relationship you want to have with them.
Get comments: Ask a question. Have a really strong opinion. Make a classic recipe. Make a recipe with in season produce.
Get Comments: Write about something trendy. Write about a foodie movie you saw. Recipes using inexpensive ingredients.
Get Comments: Make something difficult and triumph. Use familiar recipe ingredients in a new way. Become an expert.
Do you sound like you in every post? Are you identifiable in every post? Be you all the time.

Food Photography & Styling
with Adele and Robin

Photography Composition: Rule of thirds. Vertical image. Depth of field.
Photography Lighting: Side, front & back lighting. Most often side lighting is the best.
Food Photography Enhancements: Oil & water. Glycerin. Alter composition. Spray bottle, pipette, brush. Lighting.
Don't forget to pay attention to controlling your colour balance.
Invest in a grey card. It will help in with post-editing.

Booking for Canadian Bloggers
with Brian Kent-Baas

The food you purchase to develop a recipe can be claimed as an expense. Keep your receipts. Be able to justify your expense.
Keep your receipts. Take a picture or scan them. A copy/picture of a receipt is just as useful as a physical one.
Keep track of products companies sent you. They track it as an expense, so you must keep track of it as well.
Don't be afraid of taxes. If you are organized you'll be fine. As a business your filing date is June 15 for you and your spouse.
You don't have to start charging HST until you reach $30,000, but once you start remitting you must remit every year thereafter.
Open an account and aim to save 20% of your income to pay your taxes at the end of the year.
Income is any form of payment you receive - you must claim the "true market value" of the product as income on your taxes.
If you are unsure about the amount you can claim as expense the safe bet is to claim 10-20%.
When developing recipes keep track of everything. Dates you bought ingredients & dates you created & tested the recipes.
An expense you don't get back, it just decreases your taxable income.
Create an income statement for yourself. It documents your income and expenses. Keep everything organized in one file.
If you want to do your own taxes use SimpleTax.ca. It will give you all the forms to file your own taxes for free!

There was so much to learn from not only the talented panelists and speakers but from each other. The amount of face time I had with each blogger allowed me to learn many things... everything from their "secret" techniques for getting noticed, right down to how darn cute their kids are. I am always amazed by the support Canadian food bloggers have for each other.

Again, thank you to all the generous sponsors, and the hard working FBC crew (Melissa, Mardi and Ethan).

What did you learn while at FBC2013? If you wrote a recap post please feel free to leave the link in the comments section below!
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Food Bloggers of Canada Conference at Hockley Valley Resort

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:00:00 +0000

As you may have read in yesterday's post, I am off to Hockley Valley this weekend for the 1st EVER Food Blogger of Canada Conference. Yes, I'm pretty excited. The weekend looks to be an amazing one. Lots of gourmet food (à la Hockley Valley's famed Chefs), tons of extraordinary Canadian food bloggers, fun daily activities, eye-opening educational sessions, and what's even more exciting is that I am speaking on a panel about Bloggers & Brands!

That said, the next few days are going to be a whirlwind, which means little time for blogging... but I'll be in full social mode so make sure your following me on Twitter and Facebook so you don't miss any of the FBC2013 action.

One last exciting announcement before I disappear for a few days... the winner* of my SoftSoap Gift Basket Giveaway...

Ashley

Who said her favourite scent was Vanilla

Congrats Ashley, and a big thank you to everyone who entered! I'll see you all in a few days!

{photo via Hockley Valley}
*name was drawn using random.org
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Conference Attendee "To Do" Lists

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany S.) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:57:00 +0000

With the very 1st Food Bloggers of Canada conference kicking off this coming weekend, I am now in full "list making mode." There is a list for what to bring. What to wear. What not to forget. But most importantly is my list of "Things to Do: Pre, During, & Post Conference."

Attending a conference can be overwhelming, and I find a detailed list of goals you want to accomplish while at the conference can keep you organized, and on track. Everyone's list will be different, as we all hope to gain perspective into different areas, but I thought that I would share my list with you anyways to see if it sparks any ideas...

Pre-Conference
Business Cards // Most bloggers overlook this "old school" tool, and even though you may already know all the attendees, it's always fun to exchange cards!

Follow the Conference Attendees // A conference attendee list is usually pretty easy to find. Whether it be a list on the conference website, or a simple Twitter list, you should follow all the attendees and start conversing with them, get to know them, and build a relationship. It makes meeting in person that much more fun!

Blog About It // You're probably very excited about attending the first ever Food Bloggers of Canada Conference, so blog about it! Let your readers know - they should be excited about your experience too!

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At the Conference
Meet Up // Nervous about meeting all these people in person? Why not email a fellow attendee and offer to meet up beforehand, it will make walking into that big room full of bloggers a little bit easier. Everyone loves a conference buddy.

Snap Away // Take lots of pictures. These can be used as a part of a week long "conference recap" on your blog. Sharing photos in real-time on Facebook and Twitter allows you to give your readers a "behind the scenes" look at your experience.

Be Social, But Be Present // Yes, we are all bloggers, and it is almost expected that we will be glued to our phones during the conference, but make sure you also engage with the people who are there... face-to-face... in real time. Don't forget to be present.

Write It Down // Take notes during the sessions, this can be an educational experience for you as well. Use those notes to write informative blog posts which will allow you to capitalize on search traffic after the conference.

Take it Online // Live tweet while at the event. Use the show #hashtag to promote yourself as much as possible. Most shows have a designated tag, and when they see that being used, they will re-tweet you, giving you more reach. Make sure your spread your tweets 20-30 minutes apart, so you don't flood your followers' streams. And don't forget to share pictures!

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Post-Conference
Share What Your Experience // Attending a conference is a fun and exciting time, so share it! Write one, or several, blog posts about your experience. Include pictures you took, talk about the people you met, the food you ate, the lessons you learned... Your readers and other bloggers want to hear all about it!

Follow Up // Take out that stack of business cards and follow every single blogger you met on Twitter, Facebook and their blog. Meeting in person makes your relationship that much stronger. Visit their blog and comment on their conference post - let them know it was great to finally meet them.

Monitor & Respond // Chance are, after the conference there will be a flurry of blogging activity. Everyone will want to share their conference experience, just like you. Don't forget to monitor the blogs of the bloggers you met - if they mention you, you'll want to say thanks!

So who is ready to kick off this party at #FBC2013?

Are you a brand attending the upcoming FBC Conference? Then check out my Brands Conference "To Do" List on my GroupTalk blog.

{photo via Alt Summit}
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Project Grow Our Own Food

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:43:00 +0000

This past weekend marked the official start of our latest project... Project Grow Our Own Food.

'J' and I have always taken an interest in locally grown foods. I very much enjoying shopping at our farmer's market in the summer months to support our local farming community, and last year we even tried out a local, organic CSA program. This year however, we finally have a backyard big enough to accommodate a full scale vegetable garden.

'J' spent the past few weeks designing the gardens, plotting the layout, and making lists of the supplies we need to build it. Last week we received our organic, heirloom seeds from Hawthorn Farms, and after calculating the germination periods and growing times, 'J' determined we needed to get the seeds started this past weekend. So Sunday afternoon we tackled over 150 starters...

In the coming weeks we will be building the raised garden beds and planting the vegetables & herbs - so there will be lots of garden action to follow! And although I tend to kill most plants, I'm going to try very hard to tend to this garden. Growing my own food is something I have always wanted to do, and now that I've been given the opportunity to try, I am not going to squander it!

Do you have a vegetable garden? Do you have any advice to offer this vegetable garden newbie?
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My Weekend According to My iPhone

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:46:00 +0000

1 // Got my hair did!... finally

2 // 'J' and I took Jax to the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival, Saturday morning...

3 // Thousands showed up for the festival despite the cold weather.

4 // Jax couldn't get enough of the horses.

5 // Mammoth turkey legs...

6 // Sweet, sticky, maple syrup covered apple fritters are a must!

7 // Sunday was a productive day... We started our seeds!

8 // In the end we planted over 150 starters.

9 // We followed up our planting marathon with the first BBQ burger of the season!

10 // Yes, it's a Mushroom Swiss Burger... recipe to come shortly!

How was your weekend? Did you get out an enjoy the somewhat nice weather?
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Reveal: Living in My Living Room

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:49:00 +0000

Finally, the full reveal. You have seen glimpses of my living room in a few of my past posts, but I think it's time to give you the big tour....

I'll also have to acknowledge that, yes, that is wrapping paper in my picture frames. And yes, I know it is April... believe me, 'J' reminds me everyday...

Sources:
Paint: "Buried in Sand” Elite Suede in Flat by Para Paint // "Spring Run Off” Elite Suede in Flat by Para Paint
Leather Couches: Leons
Antique Hooiser: My Grandfather
Antique Rail Cart Coffee Table: Aberfoyle Mill
Mini Canon: Aberfoyle Mill
Wine Rack: MGS Metal and Wine Art Fixtures Inc
Antlers: My Dad
Shag Area Rug: Costco
Curtains: Zellers
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My Long Weekend in Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:24:00 +0000

I love going to my cottage in the summer, and rarely get a chance to head up there when snow is still covering the ground. It's amazing to see spring working its magic in these parts... puddles of mud everywhere, snow melting in spotty patches with blotchy dead grass peaking through... But what made it all bearable was the sunshine, the company, and the food... a very happy easter weekend.

How was your long weekend? Was the Easter Bunny good to you?
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SoftSoap Skin Is In + A Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:24:00 +0000

If you know me, you would know how much I love the smell of coconut. Coconut hand creams. Coconut bodywash. Coconut shampoo. If it's coconut, I'm using it. So you can imagine my excitement when I was asked to try out SoftSoap's New Fragrance & Body Butter line (oh yes, they have a coconut body scrub!).

Have you heard? SoftSoap skin is in! Its irresistible fragrances and ultra-rich formulas will transform your shower into an indulgent experience. Just pour a small amount onto a wash cloth or shower pouf and lather to your hearts desire. The thick, creamy formula helps moisturize and buff your skin for a super soft feel.

I am happy to say you other coconut lovers out there will also get the chance to try out SoftSoap's two new soap lines!

// SoftSoap Gift Basket Giveaway \\

I have teamed up with SoftSoap to offer you the chance to win an awesome SoftSoap gift basket, complete with all nine bottles from the new Frangrance & Body Butter Collections!

To Enter: Answer this question... What is your favourite scent?
Contact Deets: Don't forget to leave an email address!
Open To: Canada only.
Closes: Monday April 8th at Midnight. Winners will be announced shortly thereafter.
Bonus: Click here to download a $0.75 off coupon!

So go ahead, give your skin the moisture it deserves!

Disclosure: This is a paid post. I was provided with all 9 SoftSoaps to try + a gift basket through SheBlogs Media in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.
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Side Dishes Made Easy with New Kraft Fruit & Veg Dressings

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 13:16:00 +0000

I am itching for Spring to officially arrive. Sure, we celebrated the first day of Spring a few weeks ago, however, I don't consider it officially spring until we can bust out the BBQ.

Once the nice weather hits, it's very rare to see "J" and I enjoy a meal that wasn't cooked on the BBQ. From grilled chicken to pork chops, the grill is "J's" domain, so I'm often the one preparing the side dishes. The side dish can really make or break the meal, so it has to be tasty, healthy, and most importantly fast & easy to prepare.

The new Fruit & Veg Dressings from Kraft make preparing your favourite spring & summer side dishes easy. Made with real fruits and vegetables, low in fat and salt, no artificial flavours or colours, and with four fresh and bold flavours to choose from, you can see how the new Kraft dressings can make your dinner side dishes easy.

I'm usually pretty quick to throw dressings on a tossed salad, but these dressings are so versatile, they can be used in almost any dish. These side dishes, completely inspired by Kraft, are simple to prepare any day of the week!

Try the Berry Balsamic in a Blueberry & Goat Cheese Spinach Salad
Try the Roasted Yellow Pepper, Garlic & Lime in a Roasted Veggie Salad
Try the Fire Roasted Tomato with Basil in a Three Cheese Tortellini Pasta
Try the Garlic Parmesan with Roasted Cauliflower in a Cheesy Cauliflower Potato Mash

The sky is the limit! If you're looking for more creative salad ideas check out Kraft's New Salad Center.

Disclosure: This is a paid post. I was provided with all 4 Kraft Pourable Salad Dressings to try through SheBlogs Media in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.

Pulling Together the Living Room

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:06:00 +0000

Oh the beauty of having a completely finished house... you can literally paint, accessorize, and you're done. The fact I only had to paint the living room in this new house makes me feel kind-of spoiled. The living room in my townhouse took quite some time to get right - there was a lot of sweat & swearing that went into that reno... mostly due to the fact that I hated the carpet with a passion.

This living room, although it didn't need any work, was still a process. It is deceivingly large, so filling it up with furniture was a task. Almost all of the living room furniture from my townhouse was allocated to this room - including the new leather love seat we recently bought. What excited me the most about this space was we now had enough room to bring my antique hoosier out of the basement!

With the furniture decisions made, it was time to paint. Again, this room is very large, so it did take me a good amount of time to paint it. Luck for me this was a straight forward paint job; nothing as intricate as painting the stripes in the front entryway. I used Para's Elite Saude so I was able to get away with only painting 1 coat - a huge time saver! I struggled with the paint choices for a while, but like the office, I ended up painting a feature wall. I love the calming grey/blue tone...

After the paint dried and the dust settled, it was time to hang the curtains. The house came with gorgeous custom blinds, but something more was needed to frame up the windows. I bought these curtains way back in September (before we even moved in) hoping they would be long enough. Good thing they were!

As any home-decor-freak knows, the decorating is never really done. Although I have labeled this room "finished," I'm sure it's going to see a few adjustments here & there over the next few months. That said, here's a little sneak peek of the finished room... full reveal to come shortly!

What type of project do you prefer: big renos or paint-and-decorate?

Sources: Paint: "Buried in Sand” Elite Suede in Flat by Para Paint // "Spring Run Off” Elite Suede in Flat by Para Paint ...

I Could Live Here: In the Backyard

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:55:00 +0000

Almost one week into Spring and I am already thinking about my backyard. Having just moved into this new house in the Fall, our backyard is still pretty much a blank slate. We have a small deck, but nothing that could fit a patio set on. We have trees, but most were not maintained by the previous owners and will be pulled out. We have a patch a grass, but again it wasn't maintained, and will need some rolling and maybe a good seeding.

'J' and I have big plans for the backyard this summer, including our very own vegetable garden, a brand new shed (which will be designed & built by 'J'), and a brand new gas BBQ. Until the snow melts I can daydream right?

While searching for inspiration I came across this stunning backyard designed by Antonio Martins. I instantly fell in love with this small, calm, and simplistic space. From the woven chairs to the rustic wooden coffee table... I could totally live in this backyard.

Do you have any summer plans for your backyard?

photos via Antonio Martins
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