WHOA lansi

francophile, oenophile, logophile, turophile

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October in Instagram

Follow me on Instagram @whoalansi

I’ve seen this on a few blogs and thought it was a really cute idea since I love Instagram! Here’s a little recap of October in Instagram photos.

1) We went to three seperate thanksgiving dinners: one with friends, one with my family, and one with Nathan’s. I can do without turkey for a while now.
2) Accidental matching gloves after our attempt at hiking Squaw’s Tit. We’ll be back for you in June, Mountain!
3) I’ve been incorporating a lot more paleo into our lives. This is one of my favourite recipes from my Practical Paleo cookbook. Not only is it super easy, it’s also delicious. Try out Pumpkin Pancakes, you won’t regret it.
4) Finally had a housewarming and it went pretty well (beside my massive hangover the next day!). My parents even showed up!
5) Wine Fest with some good friends
6) Rewarding ourselves for not eating out much by eating out. Model Milk was both beautiful and delicious. Definitely worth it.
7) Getting back into CrossFit after a bit of a hiatus for running. Still happy with my WODs and my kipping pullups are coming. Stronger all time!
8) A Halloween kegger with awesome costumes.
9) Finished off the end of a very foggy and snowy month with a Feast in the East Food Truck Event. 

Vegas!

Today marks 1 month until Nathan, my dad, and I will be standing at the starting line of the Rock and Roll Half Marathon in Las Vegas. This will be my third half marathon and both mine and Nathan’s first time in Vegas. I’m looking to finally break the 2 hour mark (last time I missed it by sixteen seconds). I can’t wait to see Vegas AND cross this awesome race off my bucket list.

Heather, Nathan, and I after Calgary 2012

Calgary’s weather has been making training a little on the difficult side, but it’s still been going surprisingly well. A month seems simultaneously like a lot of time and very little. That’s only 3 more long runs, 3 interval runs, and a couple handfuls of shorter midweek runs. Somehow it always seems like training flies by and race day is suddenly here. I’m sure this next month will be no different.

Hoping I feel better this time than Calgary Half Marathon

Vegas, I am so ready for you!

Such A Girl

The boy utters those words countless times throughout the day. This mostly occurs after I’ve spent 5 minutes doing something he thinks is pointless or ridiculous (such as perousing pinterest).

Fall is here. Actually, this just means that winter is here because we’re not fooling anyone into thinking we actually have more than two seasons in Calgary. Although I haven’t looked at my cold weather wardrobe in months, I’m pretty sure I hate it all. I know last season it was perfectly fine. I even bought a few things I know that I love. But whenever I open my closet I see nothing but ugly (with a few pieces I’ve recently added thrown in).

My biggest issue is that I hate wearing pants when it rains. Who likes wet pants? I sure don’t. So I usually go with boots and skirts and dresses. Most of my dresses are too summery and most of my skirts go with silk tanktops though. My work-appropriate, long sleeve winter wear doesn’t exactly get me excited. (Too-big turtle necks, plain sweaters, boring boring boring!)

I have a long list of things I want:

  • a red cardigan
  • a big wool cardigan
  • more skinny dress pants (black, green, mustard!)
  • Long sleeve blouses
  • High socks for riding boots
  • Yellow chevron skirt
  • Ankle boots
  • Patterned blazer
  • Peplum
  • Fitted dress shirts (that actually fit)
  • Oversized mens-style watch
  • Geometric printed sweater
  • Denim shirt
  • Dresses (that can transition from fall to winter to spring)
  • Knee-length pleated skirt
  • Maxi skirt
  • Tweed skirt

I could probably go on forever. Not only do I love lists, but I also love clothing. This post is a win-win for me.

Moving forward

Outside our condo

I hung the first three pictures in our condo this week. After almost two months, I finally committed to three spots on the wall and hung my three little pictures from Paris. That’s more than I can say for my place in Montreal, so I’m taking this as progress. I really love the idea of decorating our place and making it ours, but I’m a bit of a perfectionist and putting holes in walls seems really permanent. What if I change my mind and want to move it? Obviously it’s possible to change things, and it’s really not a huge deal if things are not quite perfect, but I still have a hard time making a decision.

Decorating aside, I’m loving our place. It took us a long time to find it and I’m very glad we didn’t settle for something else. Our condo hunt began back in May and we looked at condo after condo online. It was hard to find much of anything in any of the neighbourhoods we wanted. When we did find somewhere we were interested in, we found out we were up against upwards of 25 other people for the place.

Mid-move mess

We finally got lucky and found this place and I’m pretty happy with it. It’s a two story walk up on a beautiful tree lined street in Crescent Heights. We’re a block from Rotary Park in one direction and a block from amazing brunch places in the other direction. I can walk to work easily. We can go running on the bike paths within a few minutes. 
Beautiful view from Rotary park 

 So far, we’re loving it. Between weddings, birthdays, and weekends away though, we’ve barely spent any time in our new place this summer. I’m definitely looking forward to winter, spending some time at home, and making our place our own.

New holes in the wall

The Paralympics

Seven years ago, my fellow coach – Karen – and I met an awesome twelve year old named Morgan Bird. Her parents had signed her up for a swimming bootcamp and we had the pleasure of being her coaches. At the end of the week it was obvious that Morgan was hooked. She signed up for Swim Club and started the following week.

That first year (and every year thereafter), Karen would say “Birdie, when you make it to the Paralympics, Coach Karen will be there to cheer you on.” Morgan would laugh, thinking Karen was ridiculous for saying that she’d qualify for the paralympics, but Karen was persistant in her belief that Morgan would one day make it.

I had the pleasure of coaching her that first year alongside Karen and then for another few years afterwards. I’ve still never met a happier or more positive swimmer in my entire coaching career. Morgan made my job easy by always being game for whatever was thrown at her and doing everything with the biggest smile.

Naturally, my plan was always to join Karen in the cheering section and now that day is officially here. Morgan made the London 2012 Paralympic Team this year and we’re off to London tonight. We’ll be in the stands for her 50 free on Sunday and you can bet we’ll be cheering our heads off. Let’s see those dash feet in action!

Absentee

The boy and I moved out! Hurrah!

It’s been a crazy week of moving, organizing, cleaning, organizing, cooking, shopping, and planning. We won’t have internet at home until the day before we leave for the wedding on Vancouver Island so I’ve been MIA with my blogging (excuses, excuses, I know). I don’t expect this to change until we get back from the wedding, unfortunately. It’s hard to update without an internet connection!


With so many exciting things happening this month, however, I expect to have lots to blog about once said internet connection is up and running. So don’t give up on me yet!

Until then, follow me on twitter (@whoalansi) if you’re really feeling the need for updates on my exhilarating life!

xo
A

apple love

So I just got a new mac. I’m typing on it as we speak. There are many reasons why I’m stoked about this (my old one was 5 years old & just wasn’t working any longer), but one is that it won’t take me 5 million hours to create a blog post. This means I may actually blog. Hurrah! Exciting, right?

As you can see, I’m totally playing it cool. Just hanging out in my shades, on my bed, and my macbook isn’t burning my legs. This is big, guys. My old mac was always burning my legs.

If you haven’t noticed, I’m a bit of a nerd. I’ve got a French keyboard, I wear sunglasses indoors (by myself, in my bed, when it’s dark), and I’m about to admit to everyone* that the most exciting part of my night was reorganizing all my bookmarks in Safari (*all 2 people who read this blog). But seriously, is there anything more exciting than all your stuff being organized? I really need to do this with my iPhoto…and the rest of my life.

I obviously need to update more often because that leads into the fact that Nathan and I finally found a place to live! After over 2 months of searching, we are moving to Crescent Heights on Aug 1. I am so excited.

I’m also slightly terrified of the 15 years worth of stuff I have to pack up from my parents house and move into a new place. Wish me luck. (Seriously, I’m going to need it!)

trois ans

Three years later. Still laughing my head off when I’m around this guy. 

Happy Anniversary, Babe! Next year we’ll be together for it! xx

bacon peanut butter banana bread

Let’s get a few things straight here. This is not a food blog. I am not a baker. Or a chef. Or even a photographer. I am obsessed with all of these things, however. & I have grand intentions of doing more of all of these things (sounds familiar doesn’t it…).

I’ve been eyeing this recipe for a couple of weeks & I finally had some time & the kitchen to myself. Anyone who knows me is probably laughing their head off that I made banana bread, (I hate bananas. The first time I ever peeled one was at my job at sbux) but I love Banana bread. & peanut butter. & especially bacon. How can you really go wrong?

I really don’t think you can with a recipe that starts by frying up some delicious bacon. I’m not gonna lie, when I had to put the mushy bananas into the batter, I thought about giving up on this recipe. There is nothing worse than the smell of bananas.

Thankfully, I pushed through and finished my banana bread. The only thing I’d change for next time is that I’d add a handful of peanut butter chips to the batter and I’d pay much more attention to my loaf once it hit 30 min. I’m not used to the fancy oven & I also forgot that altitude changes everything when it comes to baking and cooked it a little long (although I always thought you cooked things longer at altitude. Definite needs a re-try!)

I’m still really pleased with this loaf, despite the few hiccups. Mornings are a little bit better when I have a delicious piece of Bacon Peanut Butter Banana Bread waiting for me downstairs.

Thanks to How Sweet It is  for the recipe & paleOMG for pointing me towards it!

Get in my belly!

I think it’s time I got back to blogging and what better way to start than with a list (I love lists)? Not only do I love lists, but I love food. I spend most of my day either eating or thinking about eating, so it seems only natural to have a restaurant list. I’ve tried to be as thorough as possible (food is no joke, people!), but I’m sure I’ve missed a few and I’m definitely open to suggestions, so if you notice a great restaurant hasn’t made the cut, let me know!

 I realize this list is insane. I will potentially never actually complete it, but the goal is to one day say that I’ve checked all these places off.

I’ve crossed off the ones I’ve already been to. There are some that I went to a very long time ago (so long that I barely remember them except that they were delicious and I want to go back). I’ve decided to underline anything that I haven’t been to in the last five years (so anything I haven’t been to with le boy?). Honestly, what did I know five years ago? (nothing!)  There are also some places that I cannot reasonably afford (Blowfish, Il Sogno…) right now, but I want to go to someday. (And hey, maybe someone will treat me, hinthint). So, without further ado, here is my wish list:

Restaurant Wish List:

Charcut (Downtown)
Beatniq + Piqniq (Downtown) CLOSED

Craft Beer Market (Downtown)
Galaxie Diner (11th)
Buffalo Cafe (Downtown)
Red’s Diner (Beltline)
Double Zero Pizza (Stephen Avenue)

District (Downtown)
Bonterra Trattoria (Downtown)
Bumpy’s (Downtown)
Holy Grill (Downtown)

River Cafe (Eau Claire)
West (Downtown)
Taste (Downtown)

Raw Bar at Hotel Arts (Downtown)
Anju (Downtown)
La Chaumiere (Downtown)
Blowfish Sushi Lounge (Downtown)

Big Cheese Poutinerie (17th)
Una (17th)

Cibo (17th)
1410 Bier Haus (17th)
Ship + Anchor (17th)
Buttercream Bake Shoppe (17th)
Cafe Beano (17th)
Tubby Dog (17th)
The Coup (17th)
Farm (17th)
Cilantro (17th)

Model Milk (Fried Chicken Mondays?) (17th)
Brava Bistro (17th)

Ox and Angela (17th)
The Living Room (17th)

Without Papers (Inglewood)
Eat Eat (Inglewood)
Capo Restaurant (Inglewood)

Jacqueline Suzanne’s (Inglewood)
Sugo (Inglewood)

Rouge (Inglewood)

Wurst Restaurant + Beer Hall (Mission)
Vin Room (Mission)

Wurst Brunch (Mission)
Mercato (Mission)
Bistro 2210 (Mission)
Bistro 2210 Brunch (Mission)

Belmont Diner (Marda Loop)
Phil & Sebastian (Marda Loop)

Cassis (Casel Marche)

Chef’s Table at Kensington Riverside Inn (Kensington)
Dairy Lane (Kensington)
Crave Cupcakes (Kensington)
Kensington Wine Bar (Kensington)
Pucinella’s (Kensington)

Muse (Kensington)
Brasserie (Kensington)

Il Sogno (Bridgeland)
Tazza (Bridgeland)
The Main Dish (Bridgeland)

AKA Wine Bar (Bridgeland)
Diner Deluxe (Bridgeland)

OEB (Bridgeland)
Blue Star Diner (Bridgeland)
Peters’ Drive-In (16th)
JoJo’s BBQ (Edmonton Trail)

 NOtaBLE (Bowness)
Lazy Loaf + Kettle (Parkdale)
Green Beanery (Parkdale)

Wa’s Japanese Restaurant (NW)


Rocky’s Burger Bus (SE)
Alloy (SE)
Karma (SE)
Smoke House (Ogden)

Village Brewery (Ogden)

Wild Rose Brewery (Currie Barracks)

Caesars (SE/SW)
Nellie’s (various)

Food Trucks:

Alley Burger

Perogy Boyz
The Noodle Bus
The Might Skillet
The Naaco Truck
Cheezy Bizness
Red Wagon Diner
Braizen
Holy Crepe
Shogun Teppanyaki Grill
Steak Out Truck
Fiasco Gelato
Fries and Dolls
JoJos BBQ
Los Compadres
Pimento’s
Blamwich

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