Aritzia Sale Wishlist...

I'm holding out for more price slashes and once they do, ima be on it!

Ainsley Blouse in Black

Sabine dress in Red

Readers have you found any pieces from the sale?

In Action...Coral and White

What I wore for a recent shopping trip...

Forever 21 sweater (old, similar)

Forever 21 dress (old, similar)

TKEES Foundations flip flops in Cocoa Butter

Gucci bag (old, similar)

Meatball's...Asian Style

Here's another recipe I don't have exact measurements for but I do have the ingredient list...

Another fave from my Mom...

Meatball subs...

Pork

Red Onion

Salt

Pepper

Sugar

Soy Sauce

I love to dip the bread in the sauce or make a sub and add cucumbers and hot sauce.

In a large bowl, add pork, salt, pepper, a little sugar and chopped onions. Mixing the ingredients together slowly adding soy sauce. Roll into balls and placing in a bowl (we made our own double broiler), in a separate bowl add water and soy sauce mixing together and slowly drench each pork ball.

Cook for an hour, and serve with French bread(we toasted ours).

Pork Congee...Vietnamese Style

I wasn't feel well after returning home from my trip, so I called my Mom to come over and she kindly made me some congee. Nothing like some home cooked food to get me feeling better...

I apologize I don't have exact measurements but I can tell you what the ingredients are...

My mother just throws things in to taste...

White rice

Green Onions

Ground Pork

Garlic

Sugar

Salt

Pepper

Fish Sauce

In a large pot cook rice with plenty of water on med-high heat. In a pan add olive oil and garlic. Add pork with salt and pepper and a little bit of sugar. Cook until no longer pink. Add pork mixture to the rice. Stirring occasionally. Once pork is fully cooked add green onions and fish sauce. Season to taste, adding more salt and pepper or fish sauce as needed.

I added hot sauce, lettuce and squeezed some lime to mine...

In Action...Matchy Matchy in Beige and Black

What I wore while on vaca...

Wilfred Sabine Dress (purchased here)

Chanel Purse

TKEES flip flops

Favorite Foods from Europe trip...

Breakfast from our hotel in Milan...

Gelato from a random vendor in Milan

Bruschetta from a restaurant in Florence

A chicken appy from Bvlgari Hotel in Milan

Pizza and desserts from Princi in Milan

* also check out my Instagram @kngap for videos of Europe and other pics 

Europe 2013...

If you follow me on Instagram you may have already noticed some pics from different parts of Europe...

Since this was going to be one of the last long haul trips we decided on Paris, Vienna, Florence and Milan...

Some highlights below...

Laduree desserts...

Hall of Mirrors in Versailles (we booked a tour for a friday 2pm, highly recommend going in the afternoon and booking with a guide.)

photo from potolkimaker.com

The Rosewood room in Schonbrunn Palace (many of the centre panels we being restored when we visited)

Wonderful musical in Vienna...Elisabeth (highly recommend, still humming the tunes...)

Hoher Markt Clock... (played music but the figures were broken...hopefully they will be fixed sooner than later)

Favorite place in the world...Ponte Vecchio in Florence

(sadly couldn't find what I was looking for...)

The best ice-cream!!! Hazelnut with chocolate centre (that's the chocolate oozing out from the centre)

Comfortable ride on the train from Florence to Milan

The Duomo in Milan (wasn't allowed in, was wearing a skirt :( )

Side note: This trip I relied heavily on trip advisor, from what to do, places to stay and where to eat. All I can say is you pay for what you get. So my advice is research, triple check and get feedback from your travel agent, and lastly cross check with the actual website. 

Update...Q-Tips and storage

Recent purchase from Winners...

New Precision Tips Q-Tips found at Superstore

Q-Tips

My Verdict: Praiseworthy. After several months of using the Joe fresh cotton buds I purchased at Superstore, I needed to re-stock my dwindling supply. Unfortunately they were sold out or no longer carried them. I did find a replacement from Q-Tips, which I'm excited to try. I'm favouring these for the pointed tip as they are perfect for cleaning under eye make-up or tidying any globs of mascara accidentally swiped on the lid. The Joe fresh ones were more convenient as the other end, shaped like a round flat paddle is perfect if you're in a pinch for eyeshadow application.

Update...Beauty Blender and Superstore

Superstore and Beauty Blender

My Verdict: Pass on the Joe Fresh sponge from Superstore. After using this sponge for several months and washing it with hand soap, maybe too vigorously because now there's a tear in it. The price sounded great but for the length of time I was able to use it I would pass(I didn't use it everyday, more sporadically). Paying $16 more would get me the original, so why not. 

I've just started to use the Beauty Blender and it preforms great. I found when squeezing out the excess water it was still nice and soft, where as Joe fresh was more dense. On the skin both performed excellently. They blended the makeup in flawlessly. I can only speak for tinted moisturizer and concealer though. I haven't tried either with foundation.

Not sure if you can tell but this is before I washed the BB, this is after 2x of use

I purchased the solid cleanser, as I found hand soap still left the Joe fresh stained. At $22 the cleanser was not cheap, but it does do a great job. No stains left on my beauty blender and it's great for travel. *side note, during the first wash the Beauty Blender did bleed a little pink, however after a good rinse it was fine. To avoid this possibly purchase the white or black instead...

Beauty Blender

* wish list the Beauty Blender Air port PRO

Recent Finds...Velour Lashes

Strike a Pose

I first found out about these from Jaclyn on YouTube(thanks Jaclyn!). I have a trip and a wedding coming up and am excited to try these. Another style that caught my eye was Oops Naughty Me. The store I went to was a mess and the boxes with the names were mixed up so I'll be back in the future with more time to browse.

Jaclyn Hill's Velour Lash Giveaway

Find out more about Velour lashes here...(they're Canadian! Yay! :) )

TKEES...

Safe delivery...I purchased mine from Shopbop

Thought they would come in boxes but dust bags are perfect for travel!

Cocoa Butter

Mixed Palette Flip Flops

I first found out about TKEES from Ingrid and since I had a trip that needed comfy and stylish slippers I decided to order them to try. I had 2 days before the weekend and my trip. I was literally pressing refresh every minute to see the status of the order. Very pleased with Shopbop, not so much with UPS. I chose the option to pay duties and taxes up front and still they required me to phone in for verbal confirmation.(never happened with my previous orders) When they finally arrived on Friday at 6pm, I ripped open the package and tried them immediately. While they're not comfy as my beloved Crocs( I know, I know shame on me, lol can't help it I STILL love Crocs :D ) they look way better :). I also compared them to my Havaianas, which I was going to bring incase the order didn't arrive. The Havaianas are more cushy on the footbed but it rubs between my toes after long hours of wear. Hopefully the TKEES will be just right.

Ingrid from The Bag Hag Diaries
TKEES

Loving Now...No Heat Curls

While recently browsing Youtube I stubbled upon a video for no heat curls, and I have to say it works and looks great!

Heatless Curls By CarlyCristman

I first heard of it here

My Verdict: Praiseworthy. I've tried this twice already since finding it, and love it! This will be perfect for travel, as the curling irons can get cumbersome not to mention electrical outlet compatibility in different countries. (I hate carrying adapters! I mean luggage is heavy as it is...)

I LOVE...Groupon

6 Course tasting menu at Brock House

L to R-Scallop and Bacon on Toast

Crab Cake with Thai Sauce

Mushroom Soup

(Super well done:( ) Steak, veggies and poutine

Butternut Squash Ravioli and Veggies

Chocolate Mousse

"Old man" usually is the one to peruse Groupon, and sometimes the restaurants he picks I'm left thinking no wonder they're on Groupon. '_' 

This time I'm happy to report, was not the case. I've heard of Brock House before from someone's wedding, but have never been. While we were there, there were countless wedding tours. I can see why brides and grooms to be would pick Brock House for their wedding, it's beautiful! (the view is stunning) But very small...imo

Anywho back to the food...
Normally I would never eat 6 courses, but the sizes were just right and I left with a happy belly:)
My faves were the mushroom soup, scallop and bacon on toast, and crab cake. I could do without the steak and squash ravioli. They kinda ruined the first delicious courses...O well...

So thanks to Groupon I was able to try something I normally wouldn't at a fraction of the price:) Tres pleased with that!

Groupon
Brock House

Rookie in the Kitch...Peach and Blueberry Crumbles

Prepping ingredients...

I cut the recipe to make two...

Close up shop, check out the oozing goodness...

My Verdict: Praiseworthy. I made this one night for dessert and thought I'd try something different than the usual boxed cake(love you Betty Crocker!). I was always daunted by making anything from scratch and heavily depended on premade mixed/boxed. This however was fairly easy and it came out perfect! You can substitute the fruit for whatever you like. In this case I love peaches, and "old man" loves blueberries. Best of both worlds:) I will say it's quite filling, I was only able to eat a quarter of it and saved the rest for the next day. This is great for a cozy night in and served with a lighter main course.

Ina Garten recipe - found in Barefoot Contessa at Home pg 197

Readers if you try this would love to see pics :D feel free to leave them as a comment here or @kngap on Instagram!

Happy baking!!!