I am turning 46 next week. Wow, when I say that out loud, it stops me in my tracks. I remember thinking 46 was SOOOO old lol! Like, I’m probably halfway to death lol. To be honest, my MS diagnosis has aged me far faster than the actual days of my life. This year my family asked me, “what do you want for your birthday?” I hate that question. I hate asking for gifts and to be honest, I hate receiving gifts lol. Opening gifts in front of people gives me major anxiety! I always want to make sure that the person giving me the gift knows how much I like it and the fact that you went out and got it for me or made it or put any time or effort into it at all, humbles me. I always want you to feel that same love when I open it. That’s a lot of pressure lol. This year to help ease the pressure of gift giving, I have created a wonderful gift guide for anybody that may be turning 46 this year lol. You could love these items even if you’re 16 though and I know because HBear and SBean borrow everything of mine these days! Lol.
Check out my 46th Birthday All Canadian Gift Guide for that special lady in your life!
When I was a teenager, I was introduced to satin underwear. I loved wearing soft, silky, and daring underwear under my jeans or sweatpants. But man, I used to get so many yeast infections lol. My Mom always said those ridiculous underwear aren’t good for your vagina! Lol Now that I’m almost 46, I know this to be true! I still love beautiful underwear but nowadays, my go to are Huha mineral underwear. I especially like the boxers because they are comfortable, keep me feeling fresh and they are sexy too!
We are living in weird times. One of my absolute favourite books is written by a Canadian author Margaret Atwood. A Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is one of those books that serve as a warning or guide and the alarm bells in my head have been going off like crazy every time I look at the news these days. This is a fantastic book to read, cherish, and have on your bookshelf for reference. Did you know that nothing in this book was made up? Every atrocious act committed against women has happened in our world throughout history, and Margaret Atwood reminded us of those acts through this harrowing tale. Such a fantastic book and the last season of the TV series starts soon too, so catch up now!
I was never a bag girl, I like shoes lol. I carried a purse or a book bag for so many years until I switched to a diaper bag. Diaper bags turned into backpacks, basically to carry all the freaking snacks my Kids used to eat, lol. Now it’s just me, and I am finally down to a crossbody bag! My Sis, however, has always been a bag girl! That is her accessory of choice lol actually, she even bought me my go to crossbody bag! However, even though I don’t crush on bags like she does, I can recognize quality when I see it and my Sis has 2 Poppy and Peonies crossbody bags that are to die for! I especially love the variety of colours and the size of these Canadian made bags!
I never thought that I was a jumper kind of gal until I tried one on. Holy shnikies! An all one romper is ideal for traveling, casual jaunts to the grocery store or dressed up for a fancy outing… Like Taylor Swift night 5 in Toronto! Lol Smash + Tess makes the ultimate romper for every body shape and size! I love my romper so much! It is my go to outfit for everything! HBear has a sleeveless romper and SBean has a long sleeve all in one and they truly are, the best!
I love coffee. I was at the hairdressers the other day and she asked me if I would like a cup and I said yes and she asked me if I wanted cream and sugar and I laughed. Nope! Give it to me, black baby lol. Believe me that is crazy to think about because in my 20’s, I couldn’t drink a cup of coffee without a ton of French vanilla International Delight in it, lol. As I’ve gotten older, I have grown to appreciate the taste of a good cup of coffee. My favourite comes out of Summerland, BC! Backyard Beans Coffee Co. Produces coffee beans that are roasted to perfection. Throughout the year Ninja or my Dad will give me small bags of different beans to try and the small roasting company never disappoints! Check around and find a roaster near you for some delicious local coffee.
I’m a teenager of the 90’s, candles and incense were my thing. In our early days of dating, Ninja used to buy me candles from The Bay in downtown Winnipeg. The Bay is gone and so are those days lol. However, Ninja bought me the most beautiful smelling candle ever from Citrus and Sage Co. I don’t burn it very often, but it inspired me to also buy their wax melts for my Scentsy burner and they also smell as amazing as my campfire candle! SBean steals it all the time for her self-care bubble bath lol.
When I was first diagnosed with MS, Ninja went crazy and bought me a ton of soft T-shirts that didn’t rub up against my skin. You see, seams and texture really affect my senses now. That’s when we found, Tentree. A Canadian company that sells the most luxurious and comfortably casual clothing. I rotate between my two favourite T-shirts all the time. Their brand feels so good and the cut for a women’s shirt, is perfect! If you are looking for a go to T-shirt, this is the brand for you!
I like to think of myself as someone that doesn’t get jealous. I truly feel happiness when my friends and family have something amazing happen to them. Except for this one time when my Sis bought the most amazing waterproof shoes ever from Vessi! Lol Nowadays, I have trouble putting on shoes and laces absolutely sucks lol but, if my hands worked properly, these are the runners I would want! Completely waterproof, super comfortable, and man, are they stylish!
You know what every Mom wants? Her own stash of chocolate. It’s true, lol when Ninja spoils me and gets me my favourite Purdy’s Chocolates, I love knowing that there are fancy chocolates beside my bed that only I have access to. Popping one piece of chocolate in my mouth in the evening is the ultimate luxury, lol and Purdy’s makes amazing chocolate! I personally love the pink salted caramels, of course lol, the vegan chocolate caramels, and the Sweet Georgia Browns… Yummmmmm.
I can’t believe it’s almost Easter! It feels like the snow just melted and the buds just started blooming, how is it Easter already? But, it is! Every year we split the big holidays up between the whole family and my Sis gets Easter! However, we love ham, so we always pre-Easter! Lol This year we mixed some tried and true Easter recipes with some new ones and it turned out amazing!
Ninja is in charge of cooking the meat on special occasion dinners. Who am I kidding, recently Ninja is the cooker of all the food in our house lol. When he chose to make a Fig and Rosemary Ham I was elated! I love figs! This ham was purchased from a new local company called Kettle Valley Ranch to Table, that is offering farm to table meat from local ranches. Our ham was absolutely delicious!
I have been seeing this recipe for French Grated Carrot Salad with Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette everywhere lately! So we tested out and now I know why, it is so freaking good! This is a crazy easy salad to make, it is a fresh new way to incorporate carrots into your special dinner, and the Kids begged for it in their lunches the next day, making this dish and all around winner!
Ham & scalloped potatoes was my go to birthday dinner for the majority of my childhood. Mom always let us pick what we wanted and I always picked ham and scalloped potatoes. The more creamy and the more cheesy the better lol. Ninja is the complete opposite! No cream or cheese for him, so this dish was a perfect balance. These savoury Roasted Garlic Potatoes au Gratin are filled with roasted garlic yumminess and just the perfect amount of cheesy, creamy deliciousness. This was a winner for both Mom AND Dad!
When Ninja and I went out for dinner for Valentine’s Day, both of our meals came with in season locally roasted vegetables. It’s spring here in the valley, so there weren’t a lot of in season vegetables except for some last of the winter, squash and the first of the spring, radishes. I love a fresh radish in my salad or wrap, but roasted? Yes! Who knew? Garlic Roasted Radishes are sweet and savory, and surprisingly the perfect side dish for your next special occasion!
Fig and Rosemary Ham
4-6
servings15
minutes90
minutes15
minutesIngredients
4.5 lb bone in ham
1/2 cup fig preserves
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey, warmed
1 tablespoon rosemary, chopped
salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
Preheat your oven (or BBQ) to 325°F.
Place the ham in a roasting pan, cut side down. Score the outside of the ham with a knife, going one way, then alternate to form a diamond pattern.
In a bowl, mix fig preserves, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, chopped rosemary, salt, and pepper until well combined.
Brush the glaze generously over the ham, ensuring it seeps into the slices.
Cover the ham loosely with aluminum foil and bake for about 1.5 hours, basting every 30 minutes with the glaze.
Remove the foil for the last 30 minutes to allow the glaze to caramelize and enhance the flavors. Internal temperature should reach 160 F.
Let the ham rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
French Grated Carrot Salad with Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette
4-6
servings15
minutesIngredients
1 lb carrots, peeled
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1½ tablespoons vegetable oil
1½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1-2 teaspoons honey, to taste
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
2 green onions, finely sliced
Directions
Shred the carrots in a food processor. Set aside.
In a bowl, combine the dijon mustard, lemon juice, honey, vegetable oil, olive oil, salt and pepper.
Add the carrots to a salad bowl and toss with dressing. Garnish with parsley and green onions.
Roasted Garlic Potatoes au Gratin
4-6
servings30
minutes70
minutesIngredients
8-9 medium starchy potatoes, thinly sliced
1 head garlic, cut the top off
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon thyme, chopped
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated & divided
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
Preheat your oven to 375°F.
Cut the top off the head of garlic to expose the cloves. Place the garlic head on a piece of aluminium foil, drizzle with olive oil and season with a pinch of salt. Wrap the foil around the garlic and roast it in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until the cloves are soft and golden. Once roasted, allow the garlic to cool slightly before handling.
While the garlic is roasting, grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
Peel and thinly slice the potatoes. Take a stack of potatoes and arrange them upright in layers within the dish. Continue layering until all potatoes are used.
In a saucepan, combine heavy cream, milk, butter, half of the grated parmesan cheese, thyme, nutmeg, pinch of salt and pepper. Heat over medium heat until butter is melted and the ingredients are well combined. Do not let it boil.
Once garlic is roasted, squeeze the garlic cloves out of their skins and mash them into a paste. Stir the roasted garlic paste into the cream mixture until well combined.
Pour the creamy mixture over the potatoes in the baking dish, ensuring they are evenly coated. Cover the dish tightly with foil.
Bake the potatoes au gratin in the preheated oven for 40 minutes.
Remove the foil and top the potatoes with the shredded mozzarella cheese and the remaining 1/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese.
Return the dish to the oven, uncovered, and bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown and potatoes are fork tender. Once done, remove the potato au gratin from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley or green onions.
Ingredients
1 pound radishes, about 2 bunches
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
pepper, to taste
Garnish: parsley, chopped
Directions
Preheat your oven to 425℉.
Wash radishes well, pat dry, trim the tops off of them and slice them in half top-to-bottom. If they are on the large side, quarter them.
Place radishes in a large bowl. Drizzle with the oil, season with salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Toss to evenly coat.
Arrange radishes in a single layer, cut-side down in a large, edged baking dish or baking sheet.
Roast radishes for 15 minutes. Toss and roast for another 10-15 minutes or until radishes are starting to turn a golden brown and are slightly tender. Top with a sprinkling of fresh chopped parsley.
Check out How Was Your Week, Honey? Episode #422 You F*cked Up. This week, we get together to discuss: Canadian IPA, getting in trouble, responsibility differences, Conservative rally, City Council Election, SOW, & too long at the party.
It was a slow week. The Kids went back to school, I got a much needed hair update and finished one on my reading challenges as the crap gap pulls me under. Ninja took the Kids to The Cannery for some yummy treats, SBean had her musical theatre competition which was a giant success, scoring a whopping 96 points!
2 thoughts on “Birthday Gift Guide & Easter Dinner”
Love reading a good gift guide & dinner looks delicious. Have a great day.
Thanks for stopping by!