Things I'm working on this year

It's that time of the year to make a fresh start. I'm going to try to work on a few things myself. Putting it on paper makes me more accountable. So here goes:


1. I will try to simplify things whenever possible.

2. I will try to eat brighter coloured, more nutritious food. Things like raspberries and blackberries, dark leafy greens etc. The more NATURAL colour the better.

3. Sleep more

4. Stress less

5. Take better care of my skin.

5 Things to throw out TODAY

'Tis the season to purge the cupboards and closets and start fresh.

You really should throw out these 5 things, and never look back.

1. Spices that are older than THE Spice Girls comeback album. Ok, that's any herbs or spices more than 2 years old... they gotta go.

2. Makeup. If  it's more than 6 months old it has to go, especially mascara and anything that goes near your precious eyes.

3. Sauces. If you used it to BBQ last summer and not since, time to toss. Check your expiry dates on everything in your fridge, if it says 2013, it's done.

4. Pillows. If you've been breathing into it and drooling on it for more than a year, buh bye.

5. Toothbrush and toothpaste. If it's 60 days old, or you've recently had a cold, you need a new one.

Why... why are these things on the New Year's Hit List? 

One word. BACTERIA. 

It's a new year, start fresh. Please.

Bleach. It's a good thing!

What? This isn't about travel?

Boring $3 chlorine bleach... Cathie... what's going on?

Well, I own a restaurant. And I am unbelievably motivated by fresh starts. Mondays... New Years... that kind of thing. So, today, since I didn't have a hang over (designated driver syndrome) I started cleaning and purging the house.

Purging clothes. Gosh there's a lot of things my kids have grown out of! And why do I harbour fancy clothes that I never wear? Time to be realistic. Time to make more room in the closet for things we all actually wear.

So, where does the bleach fit in? Nearly everywhere! Chorine bleach is the restaurant owner's best friend. By law, we are required to soak our wash rags in a chlorine bleach solution at all times. As a homeowner, if I see a j-cloth or kitchen sponge sitting next to a sink with obvious usage... an odour perhaps, I grab the bleach! Bleach, then run through the wash. Gosh... spreading bacteria is just gross.

Where else can you use the $3 jug of bleach?

1) Drains. A 1/4 cup followed by 2 litres of boiling water.

2) Toilets. 1/2 a cup, scrub brush, wait and flush.

3) Socks and underwear. Soak in a bleach & hot water solution, then wash.

4) Dishwasher. A quick rince cycle will flush away accumulated bacteria.

5) Pillow cases and face clothes. Soak in a bleach & hot water solution, then wash.

These things don't have to be done all the time. Once a month. Can you add it to your list?

I take a lot of pride in my restaurant and its constant A+ rating.  My house tends to get cluttered because most of the year I focus on the restaurant. In my down time, I try to tackle the projects at home.  While no Martha Stewart, I try to keep things clean and healthy.  Bleach is just one of those easy-peasy things that we should all have. Lots of fancy cleaning products on the market... but not much more efficient than bleach and water for tackling germs and killing household bacteria.

And if you're working with raw chicken... bleach is very effective in the fight against salmonella. Make sure you clean your tools and cutting board with bleach and water, every time.

Lecture over!! :)

Best of 2012

Glass of wine in hand. Reflection goggles on! So, here goes! In no particular order. With no particular thought to the categories.

Best Vacation:  Atlantis hotel, Bahamas  October 2012.  Because... I feel at home there. I breathe deeply, rest thoroughly and am happy. And it's super fun and awesome and amazing! (Photo at left. That's my favourite pool.)

Best Day at Work:  The day my Uncle Baldur walked in to say hello. (September ?) Because... I was exhausted, it was about 8PM, I was sitting in a corner and finally eating my dinner. I was in a zombie state, reading the newspaper... then I heard a familiar voice at the counter. I jumped up and squealed like a cheerleader at the championships. So happy!!! He's one of my favourite people on this earth and I hadn't seen him in years. What a great surprise!

Best Meal:  (August) Dinner at Bacio. It's an italian restaurant at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas. Twice I've eaten there. Two of the best meals of my entire life. It's not very expensive. The food is beyond delicious. The setting is intimate. The staff is fantastic. The celebrity chef, Carla Pellegrino has been in the kitchen (her restaurant) both visits. She's amazing. Seriously, I would go to Vegas just to eat there again! (@chefcarlapelleg) She has recently opened another restaurant @meatballspot which is also in Vegas. I think I better try it out in 2013!

Best Kiss:  (November 18th, 2012) We were looking at puppies. We were there to see a pup named Rookie and this other little black and white scamp flew past me and slurped my hand. She got my attention. Then she sat and captivated with her "pick me" eyes. I lifted her up and she kissed my cheek. My girl.... Bella. I've been getting puppy kisses 6 weeks now. I'm pleased to report that Rookie also found her right people and also has a forever home.

Best News: (March) My mom was strong enough to leave the hospital and head home. Home is always the best place to be.

Best Wine:  This year I found that I really like Apothic Red. Full bodied and holds its own with any meal. I like it with lasagna. It's good with dark chocolate and sea salt Ghiradelli chocolates too. Mmmm.

Best Photo: (November) I like this one. My friend Karen and I were being tourists in her home town. I loved our days together. This photo reminds me of her. I like to think the future holds Blue Skies for both of us.

Best Kid Time: (May) I took my older son on a hockey road trip of nearly 700 miles. We laughed and got to really know each other. It was just the two of us and I'll never forget it. I believe the Under Armour outlet at the shopping centre will remember us too!! We nearly bought the place out! (February) My younger boy and I played hours of shinny together on our ice rink. We took iphone videos of our antics. He says I play like a first year novice (that's not exactly a compliment!) Boy did we laugh hard that day! It was one of his favourite days too.

Best Sleep: (October) Sheraton Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia.  We were on a layover, sponsored by Delta Airlines. They comp'd us 2 rooms adjoining. Each of us had our own queen-sized, sweet sleeper bed. We had had the greatest adventure that day, were well fed and were completely exhausted from the day. All four of us slept like kings!

Best Chance Meeting:  (November) I was shopping at a market in North Vancouver, in a little boutique. I was admiring the purses for sale when the "clerk" let me know that she was indeed the purse designer and just minding the store that day for a friend. We got to talking and she was one of the most lovely people I've ever met. She makes the purses by hand, using reclaimed leather. She is an immigrant to Canada and just loves life. Each creation has so much thought to the design and clever craftmanship it was impossible not to fall in love with her work. (Yes! That's my purse!)  Of course I bought two purses for myself as my un-birthday, birthday gift! Jola and I have kept in touch and I expect she will be a huge designer once the magazines discover her.

Best Prayer Answered: (April) The lump that I was so scared of, was nothing. It was months of ignoring it. Then weeks of waiting for tests and results. I kept it pretty much to myself. Finally, the test results came in and I sunk to the floor and bawled. I texted the ones who worried along side me, and hugged the girls at work. That was a relief, big time.

Best Advice Received:  You need to make your own happiness. Live life without regrets.

Best Advice to Give: Eat ice cream. Forgive yourself. Tomorrow is a new day. Be open to new adventures!

With that, I toast 2012! Thanks for the memories! Here's hoping 2013 has blue skies, good health and much happiness ahead for all of us!