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How to Survive Post-Holiday Depression
All of December is spent preparing for the holidays. And let’s face it: it can be too much. Our efforts go towards planning and organizing holiday dinners and parties. We spend more than we can afford on gifts and decorations. We see family and friends day after day. But after all the hype and adrenaline has run out, what’s left? In a short few hours, all of that time, money and socialization is gone. If you’re anything like the 20% of Canadians who experience anxiety, then you’re struggling to get through the last few days before work or school resume. Here are some strategies to get you through until your…
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8 Shows to Binge Watch Over the Holidays
The winter break is coming and you finally have free time to catch up on TV shows. But what should you watch while your favourites are on their winter hiatus? The following shows are some of my top picks to dive into during this break: Shameless Each minute of every episode of Shameless contains its own bit of drama. This show focuses on Fiona and her siblings, showing how they make their lives work with questionable parents. It’s a quick series to catch up on, with only 12 episodes in each season. You’re going to want to catch up quickly since the US sixth season premieres on January 10th. The first…
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Winter Recipe: Cheeseball Snowman
Ingredients: 2 (250g) packages of cream cheese, room temperature 2 cups white cheddar cheese (or any other kind of white cheese), shredded 2 tablespoons minced shallot 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce ¼ teaspoon hot sauce (such as Tobasco) coarse salt and black pepper, to taste fresh rosemary sprigs 5 raisins pretzel sticks 1 baby carrot crackers (1 large Breton cracker for the base of the hat, and 3 regular Ritz crackers for the top of the hat) Mix the cream cheese in a bowl with 1 ½ cups of white cheddar cheese. Add the minced shallots, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Mix together and add…
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How To Pick the Right Spices for Your Food
We all know someone out there who’s a natural cook. Everything they make comes out tasting like heaven, and they never, EVER, burn a single baked veggie. Look into their freezer and instead of frozen pizza and instant meals you’ll find pre-prepared homemade dinners and oodles of ingredients. So how do they do it? Believe it or not, some of those amazing cooks started out just like you, confused and scared of the kitchen. The key to getting comfortable with cooking is knowing what goes with what, and learning that is as easy as pie. Buy Spices! A little salt and pepper can go a long way, but don’t be…
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Have Yourself a Merry, Stylish Christmas
The holidays are here and it’s time to give yourself a treat and find the perfect outfit for that amazing Christmas dinner. Have a walk down Danforth Avenue and find the top boutiques in Toronto that will have you dressing to the nines with their exclusive and stand-out designs. Share the joy! Boutique Lavilla, 766 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, ON (417)406-3444 Located on the very heart of Danforth Avenue, Lavilla is like an uncut diamond: once you pass through the roughness of its façade, you find an amazing variety of chic and modern outfits. But its most valuable treasure is the Spanish clothing brand Desigual, noted for its patchwork and asymmetrical…
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Help Get the Homeless Out of the Cold
Walking into the office of Heyworth House I am welcomed by the friendly smile of Haydar Shouly. He apologizes for the clutter and explains that with the start of Out of the Cold (OOTC) the space has turned into more of a storage unit. Shouly is a manager of housing and homelessness services for Dixon Hall, a community based not-for-profit that runs programs for all ages. More specifically, he manages Heyworth House, a homeless shelter located at 2714 Danforth Avenue. In my opinion, the office did not seem out of sorts at all–especially when I learned what a large undertaking OOTC has become. OOTC is an initiative that Dixon Hall…
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7 Practical Gift Ideas for Your Geeky Friends
What do you get for the geeky friends who are sure to have nearly every piece of paraphernalia associated with their favourite fandoms? Sure, figurines and posters are a safe bet, but after a while, they can get pretty boring and don’t add much value other than looking pretty on shelves and walls. So, here are a few gift ideas that bring together geek and practicality! Warning: a slew of seriously terrible puns are up ahead! Pikachu Coin Bank This adorable coin bank brings me back to the days of the Blue and Red versions on my Game Boy Colour. It’s the perfect gift for the friend who always…
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How to Eat In Style: Culinary Gems from the Past for the Present
On a recent summer excursion to France, I was fortunate to come across many different culinary hideaways. Though the trip had begun as a chance to get some good creative writing done and to marvel at the vast French landscapes, this trip quickly turned its focus onto food. The group I was travelling with was led by a native of the Bordeaux countryside. With his help, there was no shortage of fine dining to be found in the Côte-d’Or of France. With open minds and empty bellies, our group ventured to some of the local eateries which are famed for the food as well as documented historical ties to some…
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Last Minute Shoppers’ Survival Guide
Are the holidays sneaking up faster than you expected? Are you realizing that your free time is non-existent? Everyone is busy leading up to the holidays and you’ve probably chosen sleeping in and watching movies over braving the masses at the mall. Here are a few tips that will help you make it to your holiday parties unscathed, gifts in hand. Online Orders Though some may think it’s foolish to order online so late in the holiday shopping game, if you order from places with quick delivery times (like Amazon or Chapters) you can get your shopping done without even leaving your house. Have a Game Plan Browsing is not…
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Christmas Market Lights and Delights
It’s a brisk evening in downtown Toronto. A couple of friends and I decided December 15, a mid December day, was the time to go to the Toronto Christmas Market. The second we arrived and tried to find parking, is when I realized how well-loved the Toronto Christmas Market truly is. On a Tuesday evening, it took us three rounds around the parking lot to find a spot. I was really impressed with how much parking was available considering the downtown area. At a reasonable price of $15, you can park for the entire evening. Upon entering the Market, the first thing to catch your eyes are all the lights.…
