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Must-Have Items for New Homeowners

When Michael and I had our move-in date set for our house, we immediately started planning what we wanted to do with each room for decor, and discussing what kind of furniture we’d want to get – you know, the big, exciting things that everyone looks forward to when getting their own place. We quickly realized that it’s easy to forget about all the other essential, non-furniture and non-decor items that you need as a homeowner. It can be really overwhelming to try and sit down and make a list of everything you’ll need to buy, so I thought I’d help out anyone else who might be close to moving into their first home! I went around the house and made a list of what I think are some essential items for new homeowners, and this is what I’ve come up with…

Pantry

I was actually really excited about doing the first big grocery shop for the new house! I found this list to be helpful in making sure I covered my bases with getting pantry basics to get me started. Obviously, it’s not a bad idea to just walk up and down the aisles at the grocery store and see what else you might need or want as well!

Kitchen Items

I’m not going to list every single kitchen item you need, because then this list will be insanely long! Instead, I wanted to give a piece of advice when it comes to buying kitchen items: start collecting early. And I mean years before you ever even plan to move out.
I started a “hope chest”, which is where I collected items for my future home, after my mom told me about the one she had when she was younger. I started mine in my teens, I think around 16 years old, which ended up being a full nine years before I actually moved out!
There aren’t really any rules about a hope chest, other than the fact that the items you put in are meant to go towards your future home. But you can add whatever items you want – drinking glasses, measuring cups, pots and pans, a vegetable peeler, etc. I personally focused mostly on kitchen items because they would be easy to store without taking up too much space.
I really am so grateful to my past self that I started collecting these items early, because as I was purchasing them it didn’t feel like I was spending very much money at the time. Every now and again I’d just go to a home store and pick up a couple items, and it would be maybe $20-$30 here and there, which felt so doable. And then for birthday’s or Christmas, I’d just ask for some bigger ticket items, like a bread machine. When we moved into our house, I don’t think we had to buy anything for our kitchen other than a microwave. And as we began purchasing other homeware items, it felt like such a relief that we weren’t having to worry about also buying kitchen essentials. It would have felt like such a huge expense buying pots and pans, utensils, glasses, measuring cups, dish towels, etc. all in one go. But because I spent that money over the course of 9 years, it didn’t feel expensive or overwhelming. Instead, it was actually fun and exciting to dream about having my own space some day!

Buy it before you need it

This list consists of items that you want to make sure you have on hand before you find yourself in a situation where you’re requiring it. If you wait until you need it, it’s too late – either because things could get messy, or dangerous.

Snow shovel or snow blower
Plunger (seriously. Just go buy this right now instead of waiting until you’re in a situation where you need one)
First aid kit (bandaids, aspirin, Polysporin, gauze, etc.)
Toilet paper (this may seem like a no-brainer, but when you’re caught up in thinking about everything you need to buy, things slip your mind. Don’t let this be one of them)
Smoke detectors
Carbon monoxide detectors
Fire extinguisher

Necessities

These items are definitely necessities for a new home, and you’ll be better off buying them as you’re moving in or within a few days of moving in (depending on the season)

Yard tools (lawn mower, weed whacker, garden hose, and lawn sprinkler)
Curtains (hanging a blanket in front of your window will work as a temporary solution, but you don’t want to rely on that forever)
Bathroom and kitchen towels
Soap (Tip: buy some soap dispensers from Superstore, and then go to Costco and get the big jugs of liquid soap to fill them. You won’t be needing to repurchase soap for a while!)
Clothes hangers (you can’t steal all of them from your parent’s house)
Vacuum and/or broom (you’ll need it after moving everything in)
Extension cords (this one actually caught me by surprise!)
Power tools, hammer and nails
Mop or Swiffer (you’ll also want this to clean your floors after moving everything in)
Tape measure
Ladder or a step ladder (unless you’re really tall and don’t need that assistance while putting up your curtains. I wouldn’t know what that’s like.)
Garbage cans, recycling bins (plus garbage bags and recycling bags to put in them)
A scrub brush or sponge for washing dishes (give dishes a quick wash after you unpack before putting them away)

Nice to have, but you don’t need it immediately

These are items that will improve your quality of life, but depending who you ask they aren’t things you absolutely need to have.

Leaf blower
Tupperware (or other similar containers for organizing things in your pantry like flour, sugar, oats, etc.)
Outdoor furniture/patio set (You can still enjoy the weather in your yard without this, but it’s always nicer to sit outside on some furniture rather than the ground)
TV (I got so used to watching shows on my laptop over the past few years that I would’ve been fine without a TV in our house for a while. But it’s still nice to have especially when you have friends over)
Air fresheners
Lightbulbs (the ones left from previous homeowners might be burnt out or they might all be different. If you’re okay with that, cool. But if you like continuity in your surroundings, just get yourself some new lightbulbs that match)
Microwave (You can live without one, definitely. But it just makes so many things so much easier and quicker if you have one)
Safe (I debated whether this should go in this section or the next one, but I think it’s definitely good to have so you’ve got a safe place to keep anything important, like your passport or SIN)
Artwork (Your house will feel like a home once you start to decorate it with your style of artwork or other decor)
Coffee machine or kettle (You can always go to Tim Hortons or Starbucks to buy coffee, but that gets expensive. And honestly, wouldn’t you rather just have a coffee while sitting in your PJs instead of having to leave the house to get one?)
Fan (or an air conditioner if you can afford it, ESPECIALLY if you move during the summer)

Non-essentials

These are items that you really don’t need, and I’m sure many people go years without. But they’re nice to have.

Fire pit
Slow cooker (it’s just really nice to throw some food in a slow cooker, turn it on, and then walk away from it for a few hours until it’s supper time, okay? It’s the easiest kind of meal to make and, honestly, usually the tastiest)
Barbecue
Cookbooks (There’s endless recipes online, but sometimes it’s just nice to look through a cookbook for inspiration)
A furry friend (not everyone loves animals, but getting a dog really did help transform our house into a home!)

I know there are probably plenty of items that I missed, or there are items I’ve listed that people may not see a need for. Let me know in the comments if you think I missed anything that you think is a MUST, or if I listed something that you think is completely unnecessary!

Until next time,
Nadine

Scotland 2018

I had planned for this travel section of my blog to be for current travel stories, but since that won’t be happening any time soon, I figured I’d use it to share memories of trips I’ve already been on!

My boyfriend grew up in a town called Peterhead, in the Northeast of Scotland. Back in 2018, I was invited to go with him when he went back home for Christmas. This is a little bit of a photo recap of that trip!

These were my first meals in Scotland. On the left we have Zanres fish and chips – it isn’t uncommon for Michael to announce “I wish I could have a Zanres right now!” And that beautiful disaster on the right is called a Munchy Box, which is basically a random assortment of foods thrown together into a pizza box. It’s actually quite a delicious treat to have at the end of a night out.

Oh, what are these? Just some photos we took while casually exploring a deteriorated castle that’s only a fifteen minute drive from where Michael grew up. You know what’s a fifteen minute drive from our house here in Canada? A shopping centre.
Anyways, this castle is called Slain’s castle, and it sits on the edge of a very windy cliff. Seriously, the wind was so strong I was a bit worried that I would get blown into the sea if I stood too close to the edge. But, it did make for some beautiful scenery! I never thought I’d be able to say I’ve explored castle ruins, but I can! And yes, it’s just as cool as you’d think it would be.

We went to a Celtic game in Glasgow, and it was such a cool experience. The atmosphere at a soccer game in Scotland felt so different to any hockey game or CFL game I’ve attended here. There was an area with superfans called the Green Brigade. They apparently attend all the games with drums and big flags, and they sing different chants throughout the game. I’ll admit, I spent a lot of the game watching these fans rather than the players haha, I was so intrigued! The fans there also felt a lot more invested in the outcome of the game, almost as if they were depending on the team to win. I know there are fans here who are just as invested in the success of their favourite team, but it feels like less of a big deal here if a team wins or loses. Or maybe I just don’t care as much as everyone else haha.

We were only in Glasgow for a day to attend the soccer game, but we got there early enough to do a bit of walking around and sight-seeing before the game. While walking around, I got to see Glasgow’s infamous Duke of Wellington Statue. Apparently when the traffic cone was first put on his head, they kept trying to remove it. But every time they did, someone would replace it. So now he just always wears a traffic cone hat.

After Glasgow, Michael and I took the train to Edinburgh for a few days. I absolutely loved the Christmas Markets – we went at least once per day (I think one of the days we actually even went twice!) It was the most festive place I’ve ever been to, and even though there were plenty of people there, I didn’t feel overcrowded at any point. There were stalls selling such a large variety of items, plus a section of food stalls – the halloumi fries were a hit with us! It felt so festive and cheery, I wish I could go back every year.

We got up early this morning, and on our way to breakfast the streets of Edinburgh were nearly empty. I actually managed to get some photos that weren’t crowded with fellow tourists! One of my favourite things to do when visiting another country is to just take photos of random streets – not of anything in particular, just the architecture. I like to try and capture each city’s general ambience so I can remember what it’s like to be there when I flip through photos later.

Our full Scottish breakfast – haggis, baked beans, mushrooms, tomato, sausages, back bacon, fried egg, toast, and a coffee with a Biscoff (AKA the best biscuit in the world).

Another day, another castle. If you’re going to Edinburgh and plan to visit Edinburgh Castle, I’d recommend preparing to spend at least half the day there! The actual guided tour itself isn’t very long, and then you get to just wander around on your own. But if you’re like me and want to really take your time checking out every aspect of the castle and read all the plaques, it’ll take you a solid few hours. They have a cafe there as well, so you can stop for a break partway through! We got some hot chocolates to warm ourselves up, and Michael got a scone while I got a millionaire shortbread (one of my favourite treats in Scotland).

After Edinburgh Castle we wandered on our way to see Greyfriars Bobby. This little dog has his very own statue because he is known for guarding the grave of his owner for 14 years. Dogs are seriously the best thing the world has to offer, we don’t deserve their kindness. After we visited Greyfriars Bobby’s statue, we went into the Greyfriars Bobby pub for some food and drinks – there was a lot of stopping in pubs for a drink and a snack, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

After Edinburgh we were back to Peterhead for Christmas, and then headed home to Canada a couple days later.

We were sad to leave Scotland, but lucky for us, we had made plans to return the following August before we even left…so stay tuned for another Scotland trip recap!

Until next time,
Nadine

Best Knotted Buns

For today’s blog post, I wanted to share the recipe for the tastiest buns I’ve ever eaten. My grandma used to make these occasionally when we went over for a Sunday supper, and every time I saw them being brought to the table I would get so excited. I thought they would be quite complicated to make, but they’re actually super easy!

I know how annoying it can be having to scroll through endless paragraphs just to see what ingredients you’ll need for the recipe, or what the steps are. So instead of inserting a million photos before you get to the ingredient list and directions, I decided to put those first! Then, if you want to see some reference photos while you give this recipe a go, you can just keep scrolling to see what the process looks like at each step.

Ingredients

Makes 1 lb. of dough (8-10 rolls)

Garlic, chopped ————————————–2 cloves
Italian herb seasoning blend ————————2 teaspoons
Water ————————————————-3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons
Olive oil, divided ————————————–1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon
Salt —————————————————-3/4 teaspoon
Bread flour* ——————————————-2&1/4 cups
Dry Powdered Milk ————————————2 tablespoons
Potato Flakes** —————————————-1&1/2 tablespoons
Asiago cheese, grated ———————————2 tablespoons
Yeast, active dry, instant, or bread machine ———-1&3/4 teaspoons
*I just use regular flour
**If you’re unsure what potato flakes are, it’s the mix from a packet of instant mashed potatoes

Directions

In a small bowl combine the chopped garlic, Italian herbs, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil and mix well. Cover with plastic and reserve.

Place the remaining ingredients, in the order listed, in your bread maker’s bread pan fitted with the kneading paddle. Place the bread pan in the bread maker. Select Dough/Pizza Dough. Select dough size (if you can. My machine just has a default size for dough so I couldn’t select 1 lb.) Press Start to mix, knead, and rise.

When cycle is completed, remove dough from machine and transfer to a lightly floured surface. Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Divide the dough into 8 or 10 pieces (your choice, I did 10). Roll each into a 10-inch (20cm) rope and shape into a knot. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover lightly with plastic wrap (I just covered mine with a thin dish towel) and allow to rest for approximately 30 minutes. Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes until lightly browned. Brush hot knots lightly with reserved herb/olive oil mixture; let cool 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Note: I usually give myself about 3 hours to make these. So, if you’re wanting them to be ready at the same time as the rest of your meal, be prepared to start extra early!

Photo Guides

This is my sauce combination – yours may look slightly different because I always add extra garlic.

Place all the other ingredients into your bread machine in the order listed:

Dough ingredients — This looks like a disgusting mess I am honestly in awe of the magic of bread machines

When it’s done, it should go from looking like that to looking like this:

Before I divide up my dough into 10 pieces, I like to roll it out into a log. It just makes it easier to measure out the pieces evenly (even though I still always end up with different sizes)!

Now cut.

Take each dough piece and roll it into a rope, and then shape into a knot. Cute!

Now put all your lil knots on a parchment lined baking sheet. This is where you cover it with saran wrap, or a dish towel if you don’t hate the environment (I’m kidding please don’t be offended). Let them rise for 30 minutes.

Go ahead and preheat your oven to 350F (180C) during this time. After they have risen, pop your lil babies into the oven for 15-18 minutes. This is what they should look like fresh out of the oven:

Baked knot buns — Idk why the one on the lower right looks all crusty please ignore it

While they’re still hot, take your herb and oil mixture from earlier and brush it all over the buns!

And voila! Enjoy your fresh baked beauties.

As you can see these were super simple to make! But they look fancy enough to trick people into thinking you’re an artisan baker. So next time you want to impress your dinner guests (or just try something new in the kitchen) give these a go!

Until next time,
Nadine

What’s Bringing Me Joy In 2020 (so far)

2020 has been a rough year. Nobody can deny that. However, it doesn’t have to be all bad. It’s important to look for the joys in our lives right now, even if they’re small joys. So I wanted to share some of the things I’ve been loving so far this year. I hope this inspires you to recognize the joys in your life, too!

Candles

Rain scented candle — Temper and Lace Rain candle

I was always that person who would go out and buy candles because I loved the idea of burning candles, but I never actually burned them regularly. So I ended up with a large collection of candles that had been burned anywhere between 0 and 3 times. This year I’ve been really enjoying actually burning my candles, and that’s thanks to the brand Temper and Lace. I first discovered Temper and Lace when I received their Memory Lane candle as a gift. Memory Lane is such a comforting smell, it didn’t take me long to work my way through that candle. After that one, I was obsessed. When my boyfriend and I moved into our new home, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to treat myself to a new candle! Temper and Lace has unique, refreshing, and comforting scents. The design of their candles is simple and classy, so they’ll match with whatever style you’ve decorated your home in. Temper and Lace is a small business in Alberta, which is a bonus because it allows me to shop for products I love while also supporting local during this unpredictable time.

Nespresso

Our Nespresso. A coffee machine I’ve been lusting after for years. I could never justify buying one when I still lived at home with my parents, but as soon as we confirmed we were getting our house I jumped online and ordered one right away. And I’m so glad I did! I always feel so sophisticated when I’m making my ~latte~ every morning, but it’s so easy and takes no skill at all. And it’s a great money saver if you’re like me and you get sucked into spending $6 on a latte whenever you head into work. Now I just get my fancy coffee fix at home! (There are probably so many coffee aficionado’s out there who would be ROLLING their eyes at me for acting like a Nespresso is a luxurious cup of coffee lmao) Nespresso also has a great recycling program, in case you’re worried that it’s harmful for the environment! They send you a recycling bag with a prepaid delivery label so you can send your pods to a depot free of charge. There, they separate the coffee granules from the pods, and the granules get used for compost while the pods are recycled!

Popcorn Maker

I freakin’ love popcorn. I’ve always loved popcorn. I always will love popcorn. When I lived at home with my parents, I’d always ask my dad to make popcorn on the stovetop. I was very annoying and persistent about it. Then they gave me the greatest gift for Christmas last year: a microwavable popcorn maker. Revolutionary. Changed my life.
I know, I know. You can just get microwavable popcorn bags. But it’s not the same. This little contraption makes it so quick and easy for me to make my own popcorn, and then I can add whatever seasonings I want! I honestly eat popcorn almost every night now that it’s so easy. I also tell myself it’s fine to eat it every night because it’s a healthy(ish) snack. Don’t convince me otherwise.

Manic

Manic is still my go-to album when I’m looking for something to listen to, even though it came out at the beginning of the year. I’ve been a fan of Halsey for a long time, but this album of hers feels exceptional compared to her previous ones. I love the diversity of it – whatever you’re in the mood for, you’ll find it on this album. My favourite songs are Clementine, Graveyard, You Should Be Sad, I Hate Everybody, 3AM, Finally//Beautiful Stranger, Alanis’ Interlude, Killing Boys (particularly the line climb up to the window and I’m breaking the glass, then I stop ’cause I don’t wanna Uma Thurman your ass) Still Learning, and 929. So practically all of them haha!

Leather Backpack of Dreams

Last summer I was on the hunt for a small leather backpack to bring with me on our trip to Scotland. When we were in London I was still looking for one. I desperately wanted one because I was tired of fussing with a purse on our jam-packed days. I know I could’ve worn any old backpack, but I wanted a cute one that wouldn’t clash with my outfits while on our travels. Alas, I could never seem to find the perfect backpack. For Christmas, my boyfriend’s mom gifted me this holy grail of backpacks. It’s seriously the perfect backpack! I’ve loved using it daily, especially when I’m going to work and want to bring a book, or if I was going shopping (pre-covid) and wanted to browse without my purse getting in my way. It’s also got a dedicated pocket for my laptop and iPad, so when we do go on a trip again some day, it’ll be the perfect little carry-on bag!

Bubly and Robinsons

Blackberry Bubbly and Apple & Blackcurrant Robinsons

These drinks have been crucial in helping me kick my habit of reaching for sugary drinks. Just like I fricken’ love popcorn, I also fricken’ love Coca-Cola. If it’s in the house, I’ll drink it non-stop until it’s gone. Even when it’s not in the house, I often find myself desperately craving it. I’m aware it’s really, really bad for you and has way too much sugar in it. Has that ever stopped me? Of course not. Even if I was on a health kick, I couldn’t resist having at least one can a day. I was ready to resign to the fact that this was just going to be my lifelong unhealthy habit (some people smoke cigarettes, I guzzle copious amounts of Cola). But then Bubly and Robinsons saved the day!
Blackberry Bubly is perfect for curbing my craving for a carbonated beverage during the day. I’ve tried flavoured carbonated waters before, but they always seemed to taste a bit…off. I can testify that the Blackberry flavour of Bubly is delicious and does not taste like dusty, stale water! And the Robinsons Apple & Blackcurrant juice, introduced to me by my boyfriend, is a really delicious, refreshing, and sweet drink that has very little calories and no added sugar! Having these two drinks in the house as an option has honestly made me stop craving Coca-Cola, and I don’t really miss it (for now).

Baxter!

Small white dog — Taking Baxter for a walk. He sits down a lot during them.

An activity that has been bringing me a lot of joy lately has been taking Baxter for walks, as well as just training him in general. I’ll admit that training can be a bit frustrating sometimes, but for the most part it is so rewarding. It has made my heart ache in the best way to watch him grow close to me and trust me so deeply during our time together. Getting to witness him make progress as he picks up on new commands, watching the gears in his head turning as he makes the connection between doing a command and getting rewarded, is so exciting and so much fun. Honestly nothing feels better than working with him and being successful together in his journey of learning and growth. Taking him for walks is endearing because I get to watch as he explores the world around him, reacting to new sounds, smells, experiences, and beings as we go out. To me, it’s just a simple stroll around the neighbourhood, but I know that for him it’s an exciting journey into a new part of the world he’s never explored before. He just really makes my heart happy.

Baking

Another activity I’ve been really enjoying this year is baking! I’ve always enjoyed baking, but I never really get into it unless I’ve got a lot of time off. I think whenever I was busy with work or school I just felt like I was too busy or couldn’t justify spending the time baking when I had other things needing my attention. But these past few months I’ve been able to spend more time in the kitchen baking, as well as experimenting with cooking new meals, and I’ve really been enjoying it! For me, baking is a very therapeutic activity with a delicious reward at the end. I’ve currently got some sourdough in the oven (my first attempt) and some salsa cooking away on the stove as I’m typing this!

Nintendo Switch/Animal Crossing: New Horizons

My Nintendo Switch, and in particular Animal Crossing: New Horizons, has been bringing me a lot of joy this year. Especially these past few months with everything going on in the world, Animal Crossing has provided a really great escape for me. I was talking with some friends about it and we agreed that it’s probably because while everything in the world seems to be spiralling out of control, we feel helpless and unable to control anything around us. But this game provides us with an island that we can have complete control over, and can turn into a happy little utopia. I’m sure it may seem silly that a video game like this could be so important to people, but right now I think for a lot of us it’s a source of joy and escape from the chaos of our reality.

Those are a few of the things that have been bringing me joy so far this year! What has been bringing you joy?

I hope that everyone is able to find sources of happiness in these scary times, and that everyone continues looking for joys in their life no matter how small they may be. Some days will be harder than others, and it will feel impossible to see anything good in the world, but as long as we keep getting up and trying our best that’s all that matters.

Stay safe and do your best to embrace the goodness of the world.

Until next time,
Nadine

Black Lives Matter – Resources

At this time, a lot of people have gone back to sharing their regular content on their social media, and are sharing information and support for the Black Lives Matter movement less. I know this doesn’t necessarily mean that people have stopped caring. I also know that a lot of people are taking this time to continue educating themselves on the topic of systemic racism, as well as continuing to have these important conversations offline. So, I wanted to share some resources that I’ve seen recommended by others in order for everyone to be able to continue to educate themselves. Whether you prefer listening to podcasts, watching TV, or reading, you should be able to find a helpful resource in this list.

TV Programs/Films

Explained: The Racial Wealth Gap
Time: The Kalief Browder Story
When They See Us
Oprah Winfrey Presents: When They See Us Now
13th
Who Killed Malcolm X?
Seven Seconds
12 Years a Slave
Detroit
Strong Island
#BlackAF

Books

Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race – Reni Eddo-Lodge
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard For White People To Talk About Racism – Robin DiAngelo
Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches – Audre Lorde
From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime: The Making of Mass Incarceration in America – Elizabeth Hinton
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness – Austin Channing Brown
How to be an Antiracist – Ibram X. Kendi
The Skin We’re In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power – Desmond Cole
Policing Black Lives: State Violence in Canada from Slavery to the Present – Robyn Maynard

Podcasts

1619
The Nod
Still Processing
About Race
Cape Up: Voices of the Movement
Witness History: Witness Black History

This is obviously not an exhaustive list. There are so many resources out there, so if you have any others that you’d recommend, please let us know in the comments below.

Thank you.
-Nadine

Scrapbooking with Sprocket

A couple years ago my boyfriend got me the HP Sprocket Plus photo printer for Christmas. I’m really sentimental, and I love putting together photo albums, so this was such a thoughtful gift!

After I printed my first photo, I knew I wanted to put together a scrapbook of some kind using this printer. I wanted to keep it simple, though. When I was younger my mom was into scrapbooking, and I would put together my own pages. I would do fancy things with cutting out photos, sticking on little stickers or other decals. I really enjoyed that at the time, but what I didn’t realize when I was younger is how expensive scrapbooking can be! Not only that, but I decided that all that extra decorating wasn’t really my style anymore. I just wanted a nice, simple album that focused on the pictures inside of it, not the extra accessories surrounding them.

I decided to do an album that’s dedicated to all my trips I’ve taken so far. I figured I could do an album that was kind of like a snapshot, or “highlight reel” of my trips. By doing this I can reflect on my adventures easily by looking through one album. I don’t have to always pull out multiple albums and flip through hundreds of photos!

I really love the simplicity of my scrapbook album, and it honestly doesn’t take much to put it together! In this post I’m going to list the supplies I use, where to find them, and explain how I format my scrapbook.

Now, you don’t technically need an HP Sprocket printer to create a scrapbook. You can just print your photos from your home printer, or take them somewhere like Costco to be printed. But I find with the Sprocket it just makes it so much easier, and less time consuming. If I take photos somewhere to be printed, I usually have to wait a couple days to pick them up. But with the Sprocket, I can just print photos whenever I’m in the mood to scrapbook. And it prints right from your phone, so you can print photos anywhere! I usually like to put on a tv show or movie while I’m working on it. I love the photo paper as well. It’s got a peel and stick backside to it, so you don’t have to worry about going out and buying glue or messing around with taping your photos into your album. Plus, the Sprocket doesn’t require ink to print photos. You don’t have to worry about going out and investing in more ink for your printer and more photo paper. Overall, I think this photo printer is a worthwhile investment and will save you money in the long run!

I only needed to purchase two other items to start scrapbooking: the scrapbook itself, and some markers for writing descriptions! I purchased both on Amazon. I really like this scrapbook because it’s plain and simple. It has sturdy paper inside, so I can write descriptions without worrying about the markers bleeding through to the other side of the page. This allows me to use both sides of each page, allowing for more room for photos. It’s also small enough that I can slide it into a bookcase or onto a shelf without worrying about it taking up too much room. These markers are great as well, because they show up so vibrantly on the black paper of the photo album. They dry really quickly, so you don’t have to worry about smudging your writing as you work, or having to sit for five minutes waiting for it to dry. They’ve got a precise enough tip as well that your letters won’t come out all fat and difficult to read.

My scrapbook format is really simple. To organize my photos, I like to put a fresh title page for each country or city I’ve been to. On these pages, I just write the name of the country or city, and I don’t add any extra photos. Then, throughout that section, I try to fit as many photos as I can on a page while still allowing for written descriptions where necessary. I like to add a description for notable buildings/locations, to explain a scene, or if I just happen to think of a good caption for a photo!

And that’s it! It’s really simple, doesn’t take up too much time, and is so much fun. I love being able to print off my photos from previous trips and reminisce about how much fun I had.

Do you scrapbook? Let me know what kind of scrapbooking you enjoy doing, or what kind of photos you include in your scrapbooks!

Until next time,
Nadine

Meet Baxter

On May 1st, 2020, my boyfriend and I moved into our first house. Then, on the evening of May 18, 2020, we brought home a new friend. Meet Baxter, our fluffy little puppy!

His mom is a Sheepadoodle, and his dad is a cross between a Great Pyrenees and a Maremma Sheepdog. It’ll be interesting to see which breed he looks the most like, but so far I think the Great Pyrenees breed is dominating.

My boyfriend had to fly back up to work the day after we brought Baxter home, so it’s just been the two of us for the past few days. For the most part, it’s been so chill – I forgot how much puppies sleep at this age! There are a few moments where I feel overwhelmed and I worry that I might not be doing a good enough job raising him. But then I realize how well he’s doing already and how happy he is, and I figure I must be doing alright.

He started to show interest in chewing anything hard and sturdy in the house, so I went out and bought him some more toys to help with his teething. He loves his rope toy.

He also loves his crate, which is a huge relief! In past experience, my family’s dogs hated being in their crate. When we would put them in their crates at bed time, they’d cry through the night. But with Baxter, he hasn’t had any issue with it. In fact, after he wakes up, he wants to just stay and hang out in his crate! He doesn’t make a peep when he goes in it at night. Whenever I put him in his crate for crate training, he doesn’t mind at all! He’s always perfectly happy, minimal whining. He just takes a nap whenever I put him in there!

He’s seriously such a chill, easygoing dog. I feel like we got very lucky. He’s already used to going to the bathroom outside, and he has started to whine at the door to let me know he needs to go out! He loves being outside, but yesterday was a cold and rainy day, so he was a bit more restless than normal as a result of being inside all day.

He doesn’t seem to be sensitive to noise so far – the garbage disposal, vacuum, and doorbell don’t seem to bother him at all. However, when he hears the neighbour’s German Shepherd bark while we’re outside, he immediately bolts into the house.

He loves to cuddle, and he’s starting to test out his bark when he’s playing with his toys. He’s such a happy little puppy, and I can already tell he’s the perfect addition to our little family!

Until next time,
Nadine

My Favourite Jewelry Pieces

I struggled for a long time to find a style of jewelry that I liked, and that I felt I could wear every day without feeling too dressed up or gaudy. So, I used to just avoid wearing jewelry altogether. However, I’ve recently found myself drawn to dainty pieces of jewelry that are subtle and feminine. I’ve started to feel more comfortable wearing jewelry casually, and have amassed a small collection of my own pieces that I love.

When I’m looking for jewelry now, I like to look for smaller companies that are more affordable and unique.

I’m going to share some of my favourite pieces of jewelry with you, and I’d love to know some of yours too. Comment down below and let me know what your favourite brands are!

Tiffany & Co

These are the Tiffany & Co Mini Heart Tag Earrings. I had been wanting these earrings for years, but I could never bring myself to spend the money on them. They’re pricier, but compared to how much jewelry can cost (especially Tiffany’s), they’re really not that expensive. But, when I was in University I could never justify spending that kind of money on jewelry when I knew I had tuition fees coming up. When I graduated from my Bachelor’s program, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to reward myself with the earrings I’d been wanting for so long. I’m so glad I finally bought them, and I know I’ll always cherish them. I love that these earrings are slightly more casual, but because they’re Tiffany & Co, I always feel so fancy whenever I wear them.

Lisa Gozlan

These are the E000 and the E007 hoops by Lisa Gozlan. I used to always shy away from hoops for some reason, but I’ve become really drawn to them as they’ve become trendier. I love wearing the larger hoops to add a bit of oomph to an otherwise casual outfit. I feel like they go well with anything from jeans and a t-shirt, to a cute bodysuit and trousers. They’re like the white t-shirt of earrings – they go well with everything!
I prefer pairing the smaller hoops with a bit more of a dressed up outfit. I might wear these ones with a nice dress, or a nice blouse and trousers for a date night or special occasion.
I really like Lisa Gozlan’s jewelry – I find it’s a nice mix of timeless and unique, and all the pieces are pretty affordable. I’ve currently got my eye on the E001, I love the chunkier style of the classic hoop earrings!

Ted Baker

I received these Ted Baker bracelets as gifts, and I absolutely adore them. I love how dainty they are. The fit is really nice as well – not tight enough to feel restrictive, but also not loose enough to be sliding around or at risk of slipping off. The sparkle is just enough glitziness for my comfort level. It isn’t overly sparkly to the point of being in-your-face, but just the right amount so it adds a bit of dazzle when the light hits it. I like to wear these as a nice accessory with a casual outfit, or for a dressier outfit for a special occasion – they’re incredibly versatile!

En Route/BestDressed

These are the safety pin earrings from the BestDressed x En Route jewelry collection. I’ve been a fan of Ashley (BestDressed) for a little while now. I love her fashion and interior design YouTube videos, and I find her to be very relatable. Her entire jewelry line is beautiful. It feels very much her style and personality, and you can tell she put a lot of effort and care into the pieces. And she’s clearly passionate about it – she wears her own pieces all the time! You wouldn’t do that unless it was something that you really loved. I love that the pieces from her collection have a vintage, antique feel to them, and are very wearable pieces that are fashionable in the present time. These safety pin earrings are feminine without feeling overly girly, and they are so unique. I get compliments on them every time I wear them! And on top of it all, her jewelry line is so affordable while still being good quality, it shouldn’t even be real.

So, those are some of my favourite pieces of jewelry that I wear most regularly! Do you own any of these ones as well, or will you be planning to purchase any? Let me know in the comments below! And I’d love it if you left me links to some of your favourite pieces of jewelry so I can find more to add to my collection 🙂

Until next time,
Nadine

The Ultimate Pamper Night

I used to do pamper nights quite frequently, but over the years I stopped prioritizing them. At the beginning of 2020, I realized that I couldn’t remember the last time I had done a pamper night. So, I decided to try and dedicate at least one evening a week to it. It doesn’t always happen, because sometimes other things come up, or some weeks it’s not as in-depth as others. But I think it’s important to prioritize a pamper evening – whatever that means to you – at least once a week. It’s important to prioritize your happiness and well-being, and make sure you take care of yourself!

So, this is what an ideal pamper night looks like for me…

Part one: The Face

Pluck stray eyebrow hairs. I really mean just getting those stray ones – this isn’t the time to attempt to completely reshape your eyebrows!
Seek out and pluck any other stray hairs on the face. I’m talking those pesky random hairs that you don’t notice until they’ve had a chance to grow out, and then you’re stuck wondering how long has it been there? How many people have seen it? Take this time to seek them out and remove them before they get a chance to sneak up on you!
Wash your face. Exfoliate too, if you have a good exfoliator. To see what products I like to use, check out my skincare routine here!
Apply a face mask. If you’re a bath person, I’d recommend heading over to part two after this step. If you’re not, continue to this next bit.
Rinse/Remove your face mask. After I use a face mask, I like to apply a thicker layer of a really hydrating moisturizer. I find my skin really appreciates it, and it helps it look so glowy and healthy.

Part 2: The Body

Run a nice, warm bath. Treat yourself here – use some bubble bath, epsom salts, a bath bomb, etc. Make this bath as relaxing as possible. My mom recently gave me this bath soak, and I highly recommend it if you want to leave the bath with your skin feeling so smooth and hydrated.
Create ambience. Light some candles if that helps you relax, pop on some chill music, light some incense. What I like to do is put a favourite show or YouTuber on my laptop to watch while I’m in the bath.
Hydrate! If you’re like me, you like your baths hot. The downside to that is, you’ll probably end up having to leave the bath prematurely because the heat is making you feel so parched! Prepare for this by having a tall glass of ice-cold water with you, or treat yourself to your favourite drink (maybe a Coke? A glass of wine? An ice cold beer?)
Shave your legs if you’re into that. If you do choose to shave your legs, I’d recommend having a freshly washed set of sheets on your bed that night. The combination of freshly shaved legs + freshly washed sheets, ooh! It does not get better than that.
Exfoliate. Exfoliate your whole body if you’ve got a good body scrub, and if you happen to have a pumice stone handy then you can also scrub any dead skin off your feet after they’ve had a chance to soak.
Lay back and relax. Whether you choose to shave and exfoliate in the bath or not, don’t forget to lay back and relax!
Moisturize. When you get out of the bath, make sure to apply a thick, deliciously scented body lotion to your skin. This is a step I tend to forget on the daily, so I like to make sure to do it on my pamper nights. I personally really like the coconut body butter from The Body Shop – it smells amazing, and it keeps my skin moisturized for a long time! Their hemp lotion also does miracles for the feet.
Get cozy. While I let my body lotion soak in, I like to wrap myself up in my housecoat. This way, the lotion doesn’t rub off onto any clothing, and I feel super cozy!
Don’t forget your lips! I like to also apply a nice lip oil at this point. I recommend the Clarins Lip Oil – don’t worry about the colour, it applies clear!

Part 3: Just Relax!

Some people might find relaxation through more active hobbies, such a yoga, drawing, playing an instrument, etc. While I find these activities to be quite relaxing as well, I like to reserve my pamper nights for activities that can be viewed as “time-wasters”. So, while I find drawing to be quite a relaxing activity, I find it also makes me feel productive as well, so I don’t feel bad if I dedicate a couple hours to it. But there are other activities that I also enjoy doing, and find to be relaxing, that I tend to feel guilty spending too much time on. During this pamper evening, I can do these things 100% guilt-free because I’ve specifically carved this time out for it! Some of the things I like to do are…

Watch a movie/binge-watch a TV series (and sometimes paint my nails during it!)
Play Animal Crossing
Read a book I’m hooked on
Enjoy my favourite snacks (popcorn, chocolates, Miss. Vickie’s, Hawkins Cheezies, freshly baked cookies…I could go on and on.)

There’s a lot more you could do in a pamper night, but for me it’s all about having an evening to rest, relax, and invest time in taking care of myself. If I have too many things on my list to do, it starts to feel like work and I’ll start viewing it as a chore, as opposed to something to look forward to. Plus, it’s not meant to take a lot of your energy! So just do whatever you need to do to feel rested and restored.

Happy pampering!

Until next time,
Nadine

Supporting Local

I’ll admit, I don’t know all the ins and outs of what goes on behind the scenes when we do or don’t support local. But what I do know is that when we support local, we keep our community businesses alive. And when we do that, we’re also helping to provide jobs for people in our communities, as well as keeping our hard earned money in our economy, which benefits us all in the end.
During this pandemic, it’s especially important to keep supporting local wherever we can. Everyone is hurting from this pandemic, but if we continue to support local businesses, then these businesses will be able to continue employing and paying their workers, which will help lower the number of people who have to get laid off. At least, this is my understanding of it all.

I know a lot of people may not be in a very secure place financially right now, so you may not be able to spend a lot of money in general. And supporting local doesn’t mean having to go out of your way to spend loads of cash on Canadian-made products that you don’t really want or need. But there are things we need to buy right now, or maybe that we want to buy to keep ourselves entertained during this quarantine. So, when you find yourself shopping online, see if you can purchase the same items from a local business.

One way I’ve supported a local business recently is when I purchased new glasses. I’ve been wanting a pair of prescription sunglasses for a while now, and I had been toying with the idea of purchasing a second pair of regular prescription glasses for myself as well. I chose to purchase my new glasses from a company called Bonlook. Bonlook is a Canadian company, and they have really cute styles that are also really inexpensive. It was a win-win!

Like most couples, my boyfriend and I enjoyed going out for meals as a date night activity pre-pandemic. Now we aren’t able to, but it doesn’t mean we have to completely cancel this date night treat! A lot of restaurants are offering delivery or curbside pickup options. We recently ordered from Joey, which is a favourite of ours, and the food was just as delicious as it would have been if we were able to dine in the restaurant. I highly recommend their lettuce wraps, they were so good and surprisingly filling, too!

A really cool thing that Joey restaurants are doing right now is allowing you to “shop their pantry”. If you need pantry staples such as flour or sugar, or even vegetables or meats, you can put in an order with them and get it delivered! They’re also offering meal kits as a substitute for some of their dishes from their menu. I haven’t ordered one, but I imagine they’re a similar concept as the whole “Hello Fresh” thing!

Remember, you don’t have to break the bank to support local. Just try to be more aware of the fact that there are local options for your needs! I know a lot of people are wanting to take advantage of this time to get a bit crafty and try some DIYs at home. I think a lot of us have the instinct to gravitate towards Amazon for any supplies that we might need, but consider if there are local options available. Michaels Craft Stores are offering curbside pickup for online orders. Choosing this option allows you to support local, and it’ll get your products to you sooner than having to wait for them to be delivered.

And remember, when you support local, it really means a lot to the businesses you’re directly helping keep afloat.

Stay safe, stay healthy, and take care of yourselves!

Until next time,
Nadine