My May-December Romance

Like everyone else, I am awaiting the warmer weather. But my spring-summer style will always have a winter sensibility. Often when others are in short shorts and tanks, I’m in a blouse and jeans. I don’t know… I’m just more comfortable in that silhouette, and I like fabrics that conceal instead of hug. Makes me feel more chic. Spring colours are beautiful, but it’s just too soon for me to commit. Instead, I’ll build my seasonal wardrobe around black staples. All which will go nicely with the brights I buy later, when they go on sale.

Ciera Black Metallic Detail Chunky Heel Boot, $50.
My winter boots are worse for wear, but these cute booties are ready for my skinny jeans and cropped trousers. I love the silver heel and stacked heel.

Leather Link Necklace, $74.
Imagine this Banana Republic adornment on the inside of a white collared blouse. Swoon. I love the leather trim.

Single Post Belt, $130.
Slick. Simple. Beautifully designed. And it’s made in Canada by The Leather Atelier. ’Nuff said.

Pinstripe Trousers, $60.
Zara pants always fit me so well. I never have to try them on. I like the idea of a menswear-inspired pinstripe, which will look smart when I pair them with a floral blouse.

Liam Pocket Tee Bright White, $198.
I think this will pair nicely with a pair of printed jeans. After writing about the Equipment blouse and how many brands brought out their own version, I’ve been a fan of the brand. I even bought one for myself in NYC in January while on a press trip. It’s like a tattoo: Once you get one, you need another.

Tomas Maier Cutout Cross-back Swimsuit, $330.
Full confession: I have not worn a bathing suit in over 15 years! This one-piece with gunmetal details has made me take a double take… Would I? Could I? We’ll see, we’ll see. I might be converted into  a summer girl after all.

Quinoa-stuffed peppers.

Quinoa-stuffed peppers.

via Tumblr http://lisahannam.tumblr.com/post/46714058547

I think I can show some self control and just eat the ears. Ear...

I think I can show some self control and just eat the ears. Ear nutrition facts in April issue of @glowcanada

via Tumblr http://lisahannam.tumblr.com/post/46666168123

Craving: Breaded Potato Wedges I was actually craving chicken...

Craving: Breaded Potato Wedges

I was actually craving chicken fingers. But since it was Good Friday, all the grocery stories were closed. I had no chicken, and I had no car that day anyways. So I came up with this for lunch.

What I had in my fridge & pantry:

5 fingerling potatoes

1 egg

1 cup rice flour bread crumbs, aka panko (You can use regular breadcrumbs, but I just find that these make a crispier batter)

Seasonings, as desired (I used ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper and 1 ½ tsp red pepper flakes for a kick.)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Prepare the potatoes by scrubbing the skins coarsely with a vegetable brush. Cut out any eyes and bruises. Don’t worry about the appearance as the breading will hide any flaws. Cut in half lengthwise, and cut in half lengthwise again, so that potatoes are cut into quarter wedges. Rince with water.

Meanwhile, put breadcrumbs into a bowl that is wide enough for potatoes to lie flat. Add desired seasonings and blend well. In another bowl, crack egg and beat to blend yolk and white. Add a splash of water and whisk.

Add a handful of potatoes to egg, and coat wedges evenly. Then drop them into breading and coat evenly. Place on cookie sheet so they don’t touch each other. Do the same with remaining wedges.

Cook in oven for 10 minutes, or until brown. Turn over. Turn oven down to 300 degrees Fahrenheit, and let cook for 10 minutes. Potatoes should be crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

Serve with your favourite dipping sauce. I had it with barbecue sauce, but next time I would go for hot sauce.

via Tumblr http://lisahannam.tumblr.com/post/46665496820

Why having an untraditional wedding sucks
Getting married is much more about expectations than anything else. I want a wedding that will be fun, stylish and entertaining. But I don’t want the traditional white dress, a lineup of bridesmaids and the typical clichés you could expect from a reception.

But saying that instantly means I want an untraditional wedding. I didn’t even realize that until my mother said it to me the other day. I was like, yeah, I guess that’s what I want. Until…. I learned that meant tacky.

Just search “untraditional wedding” on Pinterest, and the usually stylish social media site becomes a source for purple tiered cakes, Pepto-Bismol gowns, groomsmen with their drawers dropped and anything else that will make you wince.  When I tweeted that I as having trouble finding anything thing “untraditional” that I liked, my writer friend Jowita Bydlowska (yes, that’s a name drop) tweeted me the above tiara-adorned bride.

So there I have it. Untraditional means tacky. And that sucks.

Heck, why not read more. Here are three published articles I wrote:
Evangeline Lilly in a dress that isn't bridal white.
What to wear to your engagement party.
Wedding dresses you can buy at the mall.

Everything you need to know about CrossFit

Want to try CrossFit? It’s easy to see why it would be intimidating. The hardcore workout mixes Olympic weight lifting, powerlifting, kettle bells, gymnastic and endurance exercises. The military-style of training is said to have heart-health and fat-burning benefits. Even Jessica Biel and Cameron Diaz have embraced the exercise trend. But if you’re still a bit nervous about stepping into a CrossFit gym, I interviewed John Vivian of crossfitto.com to find out what you need to know.

On Target

I was recently invited to a Hamilton Target store, 24 hours before the opening. There’s so much buzz about new location that I was stopped in the parking lot by an eager customer, wanting to know when she could shop.
The store is gorgeous, clean and seemingly easy to navigate. The style for decor and fashion is simple and classic. That should make it easy for customers to say yes to a purchase. Like many mass market stores of recent, the grocery aisles are impressive. If you think bigger is better, then you will like new Target at The Centre on Barton.
Many bloggers have been talking about the exclusive merchandising partnerships tagged as being local/Canadian, from Michael Bublé for his latest album, Foxy Originals for a jewelry line, and more. So imagine my surprise when I see Ti-Cat merch, including hats and jerseys. I was pretty excited for my hometown team (I’m a season ticket holder). That was until I contacted the Ti-Cats to ask about the partnership. Unfortunately, that’s a CFL deal, not a local one. (But I guess since the Canadian Football League is Canadian, that’s local for Target.) So I will continue to buy my gold and black garb from the Tigertown store on Jarvis Street in Hamilton.

Heck, why not read more: Here are three published articles I’ve written about shopping.
How to shop a high-end sale
Online shopping at Zara.com
Purrfect for the game