KHAN KHAN + BBQ -or- WHY I DIDN'T GET OUT OF BED ON FRIDAY

There is such a thing as too much fun, trust me, I'm a master of too much fun. That's partly why I'm only now posting these photos from the King Khan & BBQ show last Thursday night -- RB and I stayed out till 4am and, understandably as we're both too old for that anymore, were useless the next day. It was certainly fun at the time though.

Nobody's Darlin' and The Sub-Linguals opened.

PERSIMMON PROCRASTINATION

A thousand things to do and I'm busy constructing still-lifes.

CRAVINGS: HOLIDAY ROUND ONE

Okay so I guess it's time to do some real shopping. As usual Christmas has managed to sneak up on me and is now less than one month away. There's still plenty of time to find gifts for all my loved ones, write and send out Christmas cards, mail presents, bake cookies, decorate a house, plan festive meals, including an enormous Christmas morning brunch, and find quality time, right? Well sort of, except for the fact that as of now (or rather two days ago) I have a total of two (TWO) days off before the 25th.

Luckily there is no need to panic as Persuasion has been scouting out the best gifts to give to everyone on my (and hopefully your) lists.

Round One: some great ideas for the romantic city woman in your life.

{Clockwise from top left: Cheap Monday scarf via Vincent Park; Clinique City Block Sheer with SPF 25; Foley & Corinna bag via Vincent Park; Strasbourg Birds scarf, by Paupervoile on Etsy; Black Bird Fly Twin Reflex Camera (I am obsessed with this camera - it shoots in 35mm!) via All the Mountains; and Garden Anywhere, by Alys Fowler}

WE EAT TOGETHER

Last night RB and I went to the launch of Julianna Mimande and Gabe Wong's new cookbook/ode to local eating, "We Eat Together". The book features recipes, stories from local farmers & food suppliers as well as a fair amount 'sexy humor' and eater's wisdom. The room (D'lish on High Street) was packed (great turnout!) and we decided to give Gabe and Julianna brief congratulations, down a glass of Alberta wine from en Sante Winery (which I'm obsessed with by the way) and head out to 'eat together' ourselves, at the Blue Plate.

I'm excited to buy a copy of the book at the Royal Bison this weekend (hopefully they still have plenty) and then make RB cook me something delish.

HAPPY PLACE

Happy, sure, but I've been lazy as heck this week (and last week as well, my goodness). For the next three days I'm all work and no play. Well, except for this, and this, and this, and this. Ok, so lots of playing too, actually.

FIRST SNOW

Friday night was first snow in Edmonton: those quiet, heavy flakes that fall when the world is asleep. And the next morning everything was bright and new.

SHARING IN THE LOVE OF PEARS

Another beautifully seasonal and delicious looking pear recipe by cannelle et vanille -- Elizabeth you have started a trend.

LEATHER BABY, PART I

For months now I have been fiercely, impatiently, hungrily awaiting the arrival of the one piece of clothing I can't live without. Ever since looking at F/W '09 catalogues with Jessica last February (was it really that long ago?) I've been obsessing over The Jacket.

Let's talk about The Jacket. The Jacket is a handcrafted, hand dyed, knockout leather coat from Vancouver line MONO or, as my friend John put it, "the best line to come out of Vancouver in 10 years". I can't help but agree. I love The Jacket. I love how it makes me feel ferocious yet still girly as all get-out. I love the shoulder detailing reminiscent of feathers or petals but also touch-me-not barbed armor. I love that the shoulder detail can be zipped off for a more streamlined look. I love the zippers at the wrists for easy cuffing. Most of all I love that I am the only person in the city who owns The Jacket. This may change, of course, but for today, and for a little while, I'm going to revel in my one-of-a-kind showstopper. I feel like I've been waiting for this coat my whole life.

I need to make a little adjustment on one of the front seams, otherwise . . . perfection.

MONDAY MORNINGS AT THE END OF THE WORLD

Ok, I officially love being unemployed. I'm over the shock of not knowing what to do with myself and am simply enjoying life again. Case in point, cake and coffee for breakfast and a morning walk through the rivervalley to the end of the world. The weather is mild, the morning light off the trees is quiet and beautiful and ice on the river reminds me of spring rather than the coming winter.
Now, an afternoon of sewing and later dinner with my baby and somehow, surprisingly, all's well in e-town.

CHRISTMAS TREE

There so many baby cypress trees just like these ones lying around at work waiting to be made beautiful and festive in some way. I think these brilliant birch stands by Studio Choo are just the right thing.... now if I only had some birch.

SWEETEST CANDY

COASTAL CITY CLICHÉ

GARY FISHER

BOWERY LANE

MASI

ABICI

SOGRENI

Owning and riding a bicycle. Such a thing seems perfectly normal, advisable even, as well as convenient, economical, fun, environmentally conscious, innately European and therefore also stylish. My bf encourages me at least on a weekly basis to invest in a bike so that I could enjoy the practicality and freedom that comes with owning my own personal mode of transportation, other than my feet. Romantic bike rides along the seawall are also being mentioned. In a city such as Vancouver, with moderate weather, self-sustaining neighbourhoods, and relatively compact city limits, owning a bicycle seems to be entirely logical.
All these things and yet still I am not running off to one of the many bike shops all over the city. Truthfully, and I am embarrassed to share this, I am a closet bicycle-phobe. I love to hear the bf talk of all these outings and experiences we could share together on our bikes, but in these imaginings I am not (as is actual fact) a person who has not rode a bike in over 10 years. I don't doubt the saying to be true: surely I could pick up the skill again once I only try -- if I only try. In the meantime I think I will just continue to fantasize about my superior bike riding skills, while looking at these beautiful and fully functional, vintage inspired bikes that I dream of owning. (I almost always prefer the style of the men's models -- alas if only I were taller.)

Oh and for a real special treat, check out Electra's brand new Ticino line of bikes. I'm dying to own the Ticino 20D (it is gold for goodness sake) but I'm afraid that it is just a wee bit more than I would like to spend, especially considering that I would rather look at it than ride it.

THOSE WE LOVE THE MOST

Warrant Officer John Hudson, Belgium, 1950's. (On the right) A career man, always missed and loved; we think of you often. 1927-2007.

Able Seaman Redmond Elliott. (Age 17) Beloved Patriarch to this day, you are our light.

Howard Elliott, this photo appears to be during WWII, where he served as second in command at the military training school in Camrose, Alberta. Howard survived Passchendaele in the First World War with relatively minor injuries that did, however, lead to him losing an eye and eventually going blind.

PEAR BROWN BUTTER CAKE

I've never cared much for fruit. Oranges always seemed like work, bananas were mush dressed up in pretty packages. Berries were a tart and unwanted distraction from what I considered the 'main event': ice cream, shortcake and the like. Plums, peaches and nectarines weren't even on my radar. Of the few fruits I did like, apples, grapes, watermelon etc., my favorite was always the moist & messily delicious pear.

I like pears, I can relate to them. I feel they're the underdog of fruit, at their best when they look their worst, and that's something I can get behind.

Last night I was craving all things naughty and good and so made a pear & brown butter cake. I even added some of the dark chocolate-colored butter solids to the batter for a little added sin. That's just how I roll. It was simple and delicious.

Pear Brown Butter Cake, makes one 9 x 5 inch loaf

1 1/4 cups butter
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4 eggs
1/4 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp almond flavoring
2 ripe pears, cut up as large or small as you please (mine were about 1/2 - 1 cm dice)

Preheat oven to 325ºF and butter a 9 x 5" loaf pan.
Heat butter in a saucepan over low/medium heat until it has a nutty aroma and turns amber brown & the butter solids at the bottom of the pot are a deep chocolate colour. Pour off liquid (leaving solids in the bottom of the pot) and chill brown butter liquid in the freezer till it firms up, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt and set aside. When the butter is solid, beat it together with the two sugars until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs, mixing after each, then the vanilla and almond flavoring. Add the flour mixture to the butter/sugar/eggs and lightly combine. Now, if you're me, you'll add a spoonful of dark butter solids, but you probably shouldn't, ok? Finally, fold in the chopped pear and pour batter into your prepared pan. Smooth the top and bake for 1 - 1 1/4 hours until cake is set and an inserted toothpick comes out clean (I probably baked mine for more like an hour and 20 minutes). Cool for 30 minutes, turn out onto rack and let cool fully.

Eat. And if you want to be extra bad (which I usually do) sprinkle some Riox Chocolade Hagel Puur on a slice.

LAST LOOK

I already miss you Vancouver (and you too Little Edmonton).

FUNCTIONALITY

I know that the work of Natalia Ortega Gamez was already highlighted on Design*Sponge back in the spring, but I have to showcase it again. I love these bonsai planters; their practicality is matched perfectly by their beauty. Just think of how grateful your plants would be should you fill the side compartment with water to provide a little extra humidity to the surrounding air.

Natalia's work is simplistic, and organic, and appeals to me greatly as winter keeps knocking on my door. With one of these in my home my mind could always escape to some quiet grove just off the Gulf of Mexico, with roosters strutting in the yard, fruit ripening on the trees and my (also imaginary) bonsai collection thriving all over the porch in these very bowls.