shy{noise}

Phosphorescent is back! As a ukulele player, i fell in love with...

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:12:00 -0500

Phosphorescent is back! As a ukulele player, i fell in love with the haunting “Wolves”, and while the uke is absent on this first single, Matthew Houck’s sorrowful croon on “Song for Zula” is still as lovely as ever. Their new record Muchacho is out in March.

Little Comets- One Night in October, In Search of Elusive Little...

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 15:31:00 -0400

Little Comets- One Night in October, In Search of Elusive Little Comets, 2012

You can’t argue with the charm of Little Comets. They’re fresh and fun with lots of jangly bits and shouting. Oh, and they’re British.

The Wilderness of Manitoba- Morning Sun, Island of Echoes,...

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 15:18:11 -0400

The Wilderness of Manitoba- Morning Sun, Island of Echoes, 2012

Canadian Folk friends The Wilderness of Manitoba take us off into the sunset with this track that sounds like an anthem to the changing leaves.

The Jungle Giants- She’s a Riot She’s a Riot EP,...

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 15:09:48 -0400

The Jungle Giants- She’s a Riot She’s a Riot EP, 2012

Compiling a new playlist for October led me to this gem of an EP. They sound a bit like Phoenix, but with more handclaps. And you can never have enough handclaps in indie rock.

I made this when I was still sick with a cough. Sorry for the...

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 19:25:03 -0400

I made this when I was still sick with a cough. Sorry for the quality, filmed in my shower.

My humble little bedroom. And cat, Milo.

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 16:16:00 -0400

My humble little bedroom. And cat, Milo.

{what’s for dinner} I made my omnivore boyfriend his...

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 22:36:00 -0400

{what’s for dinner} I made my omnivore boyfriend his favourite lamb chops with quinoa, chickpeas, eggplant and olives with a Muskoka Dark Ale sauce.

As a vegetarian, I don’t mind cooking meat as long as it is free-range and organic. The hard part is estimating the right temperature and seasoning of the meat but over time I have learned how to estimate the temperature by gently pressing on the flesh. When medium it should feel moderately firm with only a little give when pressed on the thickest part. To prepare, I rubbed the meat with garlic, rosemary and thyme. I seared it brown on both sides on medium-high heat and finished in a 400 degree oven for 10 minutes. Always prepare meat by searing and finishing in the oven, otherwise it will be burned on the outside or it will be cooked at too low a temperature and will not be properly browned.

The quinoa was simply steamed, and the vegetables cooked down in olive oil, white wine vinegar and dill. The sauce was composed of pan drippings, beer, salt, pepper and flour to thicken. If you have 25 minutes to prepare dinner, and want to try a new spin on Mediterranean lamb, give this informal recipe a try!

The view from my apartment tonight. Toronto is a beautiful...

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 20:53:00 -0400

The view from my apartment tonight. Toronto is a beautiful place.

Ruler of the Night is the just-released album from Magic Trick,...

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 14:18:00 -0400

Ruler of the Night is the just-released album from Magic Trick, San Francisco artist and musician Tim Cohen’s latest incarnation. If acoustic strumming, hand-clapping and chorus shouting are your kind of thing, give “Invisible at Midnight” a listen.

I was lucky enough to see Youth Lagoon at Lee’s Palace...

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 03:29:28 -0400

I was lucky enough to see Youth Lagoon at Lee’s Palace back in March. It was a beautiful, intimate show and I walked away glowing. His music builds and grows until it comes crashing down like a tidal wave. This is “Montana” from The Year of Hibernation (2011).

A dining room on a budget can still be a pretty, functional...

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 03:16:00 -0400

A dining room on a budget can still be a pretty, functional space.

{summer}

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 11:02:00 -0400

{summer}:

This is my early summer playlist. Even on a rainy day it brings out the sunshine.

{DIY} VINTAGE WILDLIFE WALL-ART

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 00:04:00 -0400

I have collected old ornate frames from thrift stores and yard sales for years. I have a stash of about ten different shapes and sizes and desperately needed a project to put them to use. My mother found these pretty wildlife prints at a yard sale for a quarter and brought them over this week. I have seen similar prints at Urban Outfitters sell for $25 and up and I thought I could make something even better.

I used spray adhesive to bind the prints to a cardboard backing I cut out of the week’s recycling. Then I used my boyfriend’s white glue to stick the prints to the frames.

I plan on hanging them behind my bed as soon as I can get the supplies to hang them.

{Beach House- Lazuli} This is my Friday afternoon on the balcony...

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:27:41 -0400

{Beach House- Lazuli}

This is my Friday afternoon on the balcony looking over Toronto.

{what’s for dinner} kale and quinoa salad with wild rice...

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 23:32:00 -0400

{what’s for dinner} kale and quinoa salad with wild rice and vegetables, beet and potato soup and brie.

I served the soup cold because the apartment was really hot that evening. Went down easy with a beer.

{Wild Nothing- Chinatown} Perfectly breezy and down-to-earth.

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 23:20:00 -0400

{Wild Nothing- Chinatown}

Perfectly breezy and down-to-earth.