Jasper, Maligne Canyon and Athabasca Falls

For the last few years, Tom and I have taken a short get-away trip after Christmas. Usually we don't stray far from the city and stay in Banff, but this year we decided to trek a little further and try Jasper. Ashley and Andrew were both back in town for the holidays, and they decided that they would join us.

Tom and I outside the Jasper Park Lodge.

We stayed at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. I really wanted to love this hotel, but if I were to review it, I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars. Like all Fairmonts, the Jasper Park Lodge had friendly, helpful staff and impeccable service. However, the rooms (which were fairly expensive) left something to be desired. The walls were paper thin, and we could hear our neighbours (Ashley and Andrew) having conversations, as well as the shower running on the other side of us. Although there was a thermostat in our room, it did not work, and the room felt like a sweltering 24 degrees all the time! I've never been able to sleep well in a hot room.

However, the hotel offered a games room with a pool table, ping pong table, shuffleboard and foosball table. We also discovered an XBox Kinect that was plenty of fun. The pool and its facilities had been newly renovated, and although it was outdoors, it was heated!

We also took advantage of the skate rentals in the main lobby. It was my first time using men's skates. I have always used women's skates, and have taught myself to skate improperly using toe picks. I think I caught on pretty well with the hockey skates. I was still a bit slow and wobbly.

Ashley and Andrew on skates. Note their identical jackets!

Our main reason for going to Jasper was to check out the Maligne Canyon Ice Walk. During the winter, the Maligne River freezes over and tourists can walk down the canyon and explore the icefalls along the canyon walls. Much to our dismay, we were unable to walk up the canyon because the warm winter has not encouraged freezing! There was still plenty of running water throughout the canyon.

"The Queen" Icefall - Maligne Canyon.

An ice climber on "The Queen."

Running water in Maligne Canyon.

Despite the minimal ice, the canyon was still a beautiful walk. We went with a guide named Wes who said he'd spent over 30 years working as a park ranger. Wes seemed like a pretty stereotypical park ranger, but he was full of knowledge and interesting facts about the plant life and surrounding area.

On our way back to Calgary we took a quick side tour off the highway to check out Athabasca Falls. The falls are not completely frozen over and are still gushing frigid ice-blue water. Brrr!

Athabasca Falls, cold and partially frozen.

The weekend also included many wildlife sightings: coyotes, rabbits, deer and plenty of stupid, stupid elk wandering on the highway.

Now we're home, unpacked, and ready to ring in the New Year.

All the best for 2012!

Christmas Traditions

In the three and a half years that Tom and I have lived together, we have developed some Christmas traditions of our own.

On Christmas morning, we sleep in. Then we open presents in bed. And then we make some elaborate crepes for breakfast.

Sometimes we do a combination of sweet and savory crepes, but this year they were mostly savory. Ham and cheese, mushroom and spinach, and I tried a little goat cheese and pear.

Crepe toppings.

Crepe collage.

We spent Christmas Eve with my family. I'm pretty sure my niece and nephew are quickly becoming the most spoiled kids in the history of our family. They were showered with gifts from grandma and grandpa, and their aunties and uncles from both sides of their family. Dinner included turkey, stuffing, carrots, corn, potatoes and creme brule. We also contributed proscuitto wrapped asparagus!

Dylan and Madelynn playing at home.

We spent Christmas Day with Tom's family. Dinner was similar, yet at the same time, completely different. We had turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, carrots and turnip, and a wonderful selection of sweets (and Coconut Delight!) from Tom's aunt June.

Tom charms the camera.

Dave deconstructs the turkey.

Our favourite gift of the year was the Calgary Fire Department "Hot Stuff" calendar that we got for Tom's grandma. Apparently Andrew went to High School with the guy on the front cover!

Photo Credit

Ho Ho Ho Helpers.

This is the first time in years that I haven't braved the mall for Boxing Day. It's possible I am in shopping withdrawl. Never fear! I'll get my fix later in the week.

Merry Christmas, 2011!

December Favourites

You may have noticed that it's been a slow news month.

I haven't finished my Christmas shopping, but hopefully I can wrap it up tomorrow.

For now, I'll share some of my new favourites.

1) Fruits & Passion Blueberry Body Butter and Shower Cream

I would pick Fruits & Passion products over Body Shop or Bath & Body Works products any day of the week. In particular, I love the Blueberry products by Fruits & Passion. They just smell so good. SO GOOD! Sometimes, I find myself excited to shower in the morning because I know I get to break out the blueberry shower cream.

If you're looking to try a new bath product, I suggest these!

Photo Credit

2) Clinique 3-Step Skin Care

I have been using Clinique products for almost ten years now, but I never quite got all the way on board with their 3-step skin care line. I used the face wash, and I used the face cream, but I never bothered with the step 2 "clarifying lotion." Part of the problem was that I had no idea what it was, and the other part was that I had no idea what it did.

Photo Credit

A few weeks ago on a whim, I decided to try the full 3-step program. I had a bottle of the clarifying lotion stuffed away in a cupboard from a gift-with-purchase earlier in the year.

I gotta tell you, the results are amazing! My skin is smoother, the tone is more even, and it retains moisture better. I wish I had tried the full 3-step program earlier!

3) Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

In August, I saw this book when Tom's cousin it for their grandmother's birthday. I read the synopsis and was surprised by the overwhelmingly positive reviews it got on Amazon.com. Finally, after weeks on the hold list, I got "Unbroken," by Laura Hillenbrand out of the library.

I think this may have been one of the best books I've ever read.

Photo Credit

Laura Hillenbrand is a talented author, and spent seven years researching and writing this book. The results were amazing, and I poured through this book in a matter of days. I was never tempted to read her previous best seller, "Seabiscuit," but having read "Unbroken," I will have to find myself a copy.

"Unbroken" is the biography of Louis Zamperini. A man who competed in the 5000m track event in the 1936 Olympics at age 19. He was expected to be the first individual to run a 4-minute mile, and was expected to medal in the 1940 Olympics. When the Olympics were cancelled when World War II began, Louis trained as a bombardier in the air force. Subsequently, his plane crashed in the Pacific Ocean, where he was lost at sea for over 40 days on a life raft. Eventually he drifted into Japanese controlled waters and became a prisoner of war.

The story of Louis' life was engrossing, fascinating and at times, horrifying. The strength of human spirit and the resilience of the individuals in this book is truly amazing. I have found myself recommending this book to anyone who will listen!

4) Spiced Pepitas and Pecans

I came across this recipe in a Glamour magazine (of all places) and I've started making it every holiday season. I've modified the recipe to also include almonds, but I love this tangy mixture! It is festive, yet a nice change from traditional holiday baking.

Photo Credit

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• pinch of cayenne pepper
• 2 large egg whites
• 1 tablespoon watter
• 1 1/2 cups raw pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds)
• 3/4 cup almonds
• 3/4 cup shelled pecan halves

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees (F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a small bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, allspice, cumin, salt and cayenne. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat the egg whites and water until frothy. Stir in the pepitas, almonds and pecans, then add sugar mixture. Toss until nuts are completely coated.

Evenly spread nuts on the prepared baking sheet. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until crispy. Let cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

Someone described this treat to me as a "nutty explosion of deliciousness." I couldn't agree more.

I hope you are ready for the holidays!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I Love You, Paul!

December 10th - Paul Brandt.

Those of you who have known me a long time are aware that I love Paul Brandt.

I am a huge fan.

I have all seven of his CD's; eight if you include his Christmas compilation. I buy his CD's the first day they are released into stores. I have seen him in concert three previous times, the first being in 2002 when I was only 18. This December 10th concert makes it my fourth Paul Brandt concert, and hopefully not my last.

The last time Paul toured, four years ago, I bought a water filter for "Turn on the Tap," a program through World Vision that provides water filters for clean drinking water in third world countries. After the concert, I waited in line for two hours so that I could meet Paul Brandt, get his autograph and photo. It. Was. Awesome.

This time around was the "Now" Tour.

This performance was no exception. Paul played new and old songs, mixed in a little Christmas, and even had a number from Canadian Juno winner, Greg Sczebel. Paul recognized members of the armed forces and their families by asking them to stand before one of his songs, and he continued his promotion for World Vision.

Paul and Liz Brandy, plus band.

The only downside was that Paul didn't play "Leavin" or "That's the Truth," which are mine and Jill's favorite songs. Nonetheless, we fully enjoyed the concert.

Paul Brandt does a rendition of Garth Brook's "Friends in Low Places."

Hopefully it won't be four years until his next tour. Can't wait!

Baking With EGGs

Baking with Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists. Baking with EGGs.

I'm telling you, one day we'll get our own baking show on the Food Network. Doesn't everyone want to bake with us?

Ladies hard at work truffling.

Last year we made sugar cookies and gingerbread. This year, we couldn't possibly make the same kinds of cookies. The only option was to up the ante to seven delicious cookie recipes.

1) Ginger Molasses Cookies

2) Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

3) Caramel Chocolate Shortbread Squares

4) Sugar Cookies

5) Chocolate Truffles

6) Lemon Ricotta Cookies

7) Chocolate Caramel Thumbprint Cookies

Baking with us means variety.

Multi-coloured truffles rolled and ready for consumption.

Baking with us is interactive. In addition to rolling and shaping cookies, we also got to make thumb prints in the cookies. Deep little wells that will hold the chocolatey goodness of melted chocolate and caramel.

Filled with ooey gooey goodness.

Baking with us means we won't forget the classics. Who doesn't love a good ginger molasses cookie?

Ginger molasses cookies.

Baking with us means bringing out the festive cookie cutters. You may note that there are multiple versions of sugarmen and sugarwomen. Some are skinnier and more emaciated looking than others.

Can you find the not-so-festive shark?

Baking with us means you'll be everyone's favorite person. You'll have plenty of cookies to dole out to friends and family. Might as well share the joy!

Six out of seven cookies.

Baking with us means decorating. Get your creative juices flowing with multiple frostings, sprinkles and coloured sugars.

Now, I admit... If we ever want to make it in the big leagues on the Food Network, we are probably going to have to work on our decorating techniques... This year's batch of sugar cookies may be the most hideous creations known to man.

And these are the "good" ones...

If you're nice, maybe next year you can bake with us too!

So Long, Mo!

For some, November, aka "Movember" is the most anticipated time of the year. For a full month, it becomes socially acceptable for men of all ages to grow handlebars, goatees, ratstaches and any other pervy combination of facial hair imaginable. Instead of being ostracized or labelled a creepo, people celebrate ridiculous moustaches.

Let me be clear... I think Movember is a fantastic concept and a fantastic cause. I think it's amazing that such a simple idea could raise such a loyal following. This year more than ever, participation in Movember has spread like wildfire! I heard on the news that Canadian men have raised over 32 million dollars for cancer and prostate cancer awareness this year! Way to go participants, and way to go donators!

But...

That doesn't mean that I'm not gleefully celebrating the end of November.

Good-bye, Mo! I won't miss you.

I bow to you, Gilette!

Until next year, let's leave it to the gentlemen of a certain age and dignity to truly pull of the moustaches.

I leave you with... Tom Selleck.

Photo Credit

And honourable mention to David Spence!

Photo Credit

Artists in the Art Market

Every year the Telus Convention Center hosts an Art Market. I've attended for the last three or four years, and every year I end up oggling the artwork of Jim Nodge. I haven't been able to find much information about Jim, but a quick bio explains he is a farmer who has spent his life working with machines and metal parts. He says, "With my welder, my twisted imagination, and a bit of humor, I create creatures from familiar pieces." (Saskatchewan Craft Council)

Here are some examples of his work:

Photo Credit: Circle Craft Flickr

After all these years of oggling I decided that this was the year I was going to bring some of his artwork home! I thought this might be a problem because we are running out of wall space in our condo for artwork, but I made it work. This guy is the newest addition to our household!

A fish made ENTIRELY of utensils! It's so delightful I can barely stand it!

I did my yearly stock-up of Ultimate Gourmet hot chocolate-- we're trying raspeberry, dark chocolate orange, gingerbread and Belgian chocolate flavours this year.

I also picked up a new luggage tag since we broke our previous one coming back from Paris earlier in the fall. Mally Designs also makes the cutest leather bibs! It made me wish my niece and nephew were little again so I could buy them one.

Mally Designs

I'm a big fan of the Art Market! Every year you are bound to find something unique or tasty.

Now I need to get cracking on sampling that hot chocolate...

Keep warm!

Norway Revisited

This afternoon I picked Tom up from the airport. He spent the last week in Stavanger, Norway, for some business meetings.

Last time Tom went to Norway, he brought me back a toque as a souvenir. It really was a lovely toque, but Tom forgot that I have an abnormally large head, and the toque isn't quite large enough. If I don't keep the chin strings tired, the toque won't stay on.

Take 1: Too small Norwegian toque.

This time Tom brought me back a new toque. He got it extra large so there was no chance it wouldn't fit me! Moods of Norway is a Norwegian clothing line. It should be very warm for the fast-approaching winter.

Take 2: Extra large Norwegian toque.

Tom didn't take many photos of his trip, but here are a few from Stavanger.

Stavanger- November 2011

Stavanger- November 2011.

I really have no frame of reference, but this is how I imagine the Maritime provinces in Canada look. These shots are from Tom's last trip to Norway in February 2010.

Stavanger- February 2010

Stavanger- February 2010

Bergen- February 2010

Bergen- February 2010

Oslo- February 2010.

And now Tom is home-- jet lagged, but safe and sound! I think this concludes our international travels for 2011. More to come in 2012!