¿What Do You Think About the Revolution of the Sweet Potatoes?

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2010-04-07T17:57:00.001-07:00

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Izzy & Buds Jewelry Designs at Portobello West Calgary

2010-04-02T09:40:00.002-07:00

We're excited and looking forward to our trip to Calgary, Alberta for the Portobello West Market on next week from April 9th to 12th.

Come out and see us at Booth #41 (across from the DJ)...mention this blog post and receive a free pair of earrings (retail value $20.00) with a minimum purchase of $50.00.

Bon Appétit!

2010-02-14T21:24:00.001-08:00

It was long overdue...we finally started our collection of Le Creuset cookware when I gifted Jesee with a 5.2L Round French Oven at Christmas. Choosing the colour was a piece of cake, as Flame is the original colour from this longstanding product line and also happens to be Jesee's favourite colour.

We mulled over what should be the first dish cooked in this vibrant orange vessel, agreeing that it should be memorable since our children would be inheriting this culinary legacy. The choice was almost too obvious when we decided on Julia Child's Bœuf Bourguignon. I remember being amused by her kitchen blunders on her cooking shows, and watching Meryl Streep portray her so accurately in Julie & Julia, rekindled the love for some classic French cooking.

Not one to ever follow a recipe as written, Jesee added his own touches here and there. It resulted in all of us feeling as if we had died and gone to heaven; sadly there was barely enough for leftovers the next evening *oink*

We have since enjoyed numerous fragrant and flavourful stews in our beloved enameled cast iron pot including one of our all time favourites - Estafado de Pulpo (pictured below). I'm so glad I invested in our Le Creuset casserole, as it only encourages more lovin' in the kitchen.

2010-01-31T07:34:00.000-08:00

Enough said. Period.

Don't Try This at Home!

2010-01-28T22:02:00.001-08:00

I was absolutely dismayed when I saw the pile of ~~jewelry~~ rubbish Bridget gave to Jesee for "repair". What I saw were casualties of a jewelry cleaning mishap from using a harsh chemical cleaner specifically designed for silver...imagine that!

He did his best to restore the once shiny and lustrous jewelry (which incidentally was purchased just a short time ago), but sadly the results were not successful. The chemicals had eaten away and destroyed the silver. Jesee would need to re-create the pieces.

There is no need for this type of cruelty, please love your sparkly treasures and handle with care. Follow these quick, easy and safe instructions and your jewelry will stay shiny forever.

With Glowing Hearts

2010-01-26T21:37:00.002-08:00

In a mere seventeen days, Izzy and Buds Jewelry Designs will have our own "storefront" at the Qortezan Artisan Market, a showcase of handcrafted items from local vendors displayed specifically during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

The opportunity for local artisans to proudly present their craft to an international audience of this magnitude is crazy! Just imagine the exposure!

The market is ideally situated in the designated pedestrian corridor where we will be mingling with athletes and visitors from near and afar. Free entertainment for the whole family including nightly concerts will just be a stone's throw away at the David Lam Park. As each day passes, it's hard not to get swept up in the excitement and fun we are about to experience.

Go Canada Go!

A Tale of Two Restaurants

2010-01-23T23:37:00.000-08:00

One night during one of Vancouver's famous torrential downpours, we popped into La Taqueria for a quick bite to get out of the rain and warm up.

The countless online rave reviews prompted us to try this little hole in the wall. It was a fantastic finger-licking experience, as we devoured authentic tacos of Cochinita Pibil (pork in achiote and orange sauce), De Lengua (braised pemberton meadows beef tongue) and Rajas Con Crema (roasted poblano peppers with creamed corn, sour cream and mexican cheese).

Service was friendly, attentive and efficient and yes indeed, they are the best tacos in Vancouver!

Another hidden gem we need to give a shout out to is Pepe and Gringo's up in Squamish. On our way down from Whistler after a great weekend of Christmas sales, we met up with friends who recommended this because it had something for everyone - always a good thing when you're too tired to give much thought to what you really feel like eating.

The day seemed to never end, as we cautiously drove in the foggy winter conditions on the winding, unfinished highway of the Sea-to-Sky. We arrived cold and consumed. After reviewing the menu and reading that they served both Chicken Vindaloo and Butter Chicken accompanied with naan bread and rice, it was a no brainer...or was it?

Jesee and I had been listening to the eastern flavours of the Buddha Chillout Lounge which is what fostered our craving for Indian food in the first place, but who in their right mind orders Indian food from a restaurant called Pepe and Gringo's in Squamish, BC?

In short, our meals were incredibly flavourful, perfectly spiced and well presented. It far exceeded our expectations and I had to ask our server, "By any chance are the chefs in the kitchen Indian?". We had our "a-ha" moment and continued to lick our plates clean.

Once again, cheery, friendly service and honest food will surely bring us back for another go at this neighbourhood fave (tucked away behind the Chevron station).

Profundo

2010-01-20T05:55:00.000-08:00

When I first heard Maria Callas singing "Mon Coeur S'Ouvre A Ta Voix" it rendered me to near tears. Although, I didn't have a complete understanding of the lyrics, the emotions that she evoked from within completely caught me off guard.

Passion.

♫ ♫ ♫

During the tranquil and restful Christmas holidays, I stumbled upon this awesome video of Bebo and Cigala. Listen, watch and feel - soon you will understand my love affair with Spain.

Passion.

Places to Go, People to See

2009-11-22T14:47:00.028-08:00

Here's our fall/winter show schedule for the next two weeks with two new venues added to our repertoire.

Pre-Olympic madness, fresh powdery snow and the 21st annual Bizarre Bazaar holiday craft market makes now the most favourable time to visit Whistler. Stop in après-ski and be dazzled by over 100 participating artisans at this well-attended show.

We're also looking forward to our debut showing at Portobello West, where we'll be representing Next Door Style as one of their designers featured alongside Bloomfield Clothing.

Whistler Arts Council Bizarre Bazaar (Booth #312)
November 27th, 15h00 to 20h00 & November 28th, 10h00 to 18h00
Telus Whistler Conference Centre
4010 Whistler Way
Whistler, BC

Portobello West Fashion & Art Market (Booth #30)
November 29th, 12h00 to 18h00
Rocky Mountaineer Station
1755 Cottrell Street
Vancouver, BC

VGH 13th Annual Holiday Craft Market
December 3rd & 4th, 07h30 to 15h30
Vancouver General Hospital
Jim Pattison Pavilion
899 W. 12th Avenue
Vancouver, BC

Partial proceeds benefit the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation to help fund the latest, most sophisticated medical equipment, pioneering research and highly specialized care for patients.

BICS Christmas Craft Fair (Booth #5)

December 6th, 10h00 to 16h00
Bowen Island Community School
1041 Mt. Gardner Road
Bowen Island, BC

This 24th annual event is a community favourite for informal gatherings and holiday cheer, but completely accessible to off-islanders via water taxi from Granville Island and just a short 5-minute walk from the pier...

The Crawl

2009-11-15T20:38:00.004-08:00

One of my favourite annual ~~markets~~ events to attend is the East Side Cultural Crawl. Its format stands apart from the rest in that it is not held under one roof, but rather at the studios of the individual artists themselves.

Celebrating its 13th year, the number of participating artists has grown immensely since its inception. The Crawl kicks-off this Friday, November 20th for three days with 300+ participants - you'll want to split your route up in order to see it all!

Bundle up in your weather appropriate gear and prepare to see some of the grooviest works of art in Vancouver!

U2

2009-10-25T13:00:00.003-07:00

I had set my alarm for ~~01h55~~ 01h57 allowing me just minutes to wake up and jump online. The apple glowed in the darkness of the living room, my eyes still full of sleep were forced to stare at the screen while I stretched my nervous fingers like a ~~concert pianist~~ typing student anticipating the countdown of a test.

The frenzy of buyers vying for billetes at ticketmaster.es overloaded the circuits and repeatedly booted me out [insert choice words here], but perseverance paid off after nearly thirty minutes. Confirmation email received at 02h28...we were the lucky owners of three seats to see the opening night of U2's 360° Tour at Camp Nou in Barcelona. To satisfy my curiosity, I logged back on at 05h30...SOLD OUT. I later read that a new Spanish record was made when these concert tickets sold out in 54 minutes!

Woohoo...only three more months until the big night!

June 30, 2009

We had already been in Barcelona for six days when the day of the concert finally arrived. Average temperatures since our arrival were about 35°C + 75% humidity levels = más cerveza, por favor! The box office opened at noon and as you can see in the video, there were thousands of people already queued for the general admission seating and most likely turned up after the clubs closed in the early hours.

It took some time to reach the ticket office from the metro, as Camp Nou is HUGE! Once we walked around to the OTHER side of the stadium, I was most impressed with the efficient system of ticket retrieval - easy access, just enough friendly checkpoint staff, in and out in less than five. Once they were in our hands, it was extremely tempting to sell these tickets for ridiculous sums of money people were willing to pay...so much that we could have paid for our entire holiday with these three little tickets...

At a monetary investment of 34.50€ per ticket (¿why didn't I buy more?) - we were intrigued, but fatigued - the heat may have caused us to make a potentially unwise decision. A meeting of the minds over a tapas and caña was in order.

Supertramp Live in Paris (1979) - Jesee was at this concert and still remembers it vividly; I wanted our daughter to have U2 in Barcelona etched in her memory, so the jury voted...we go.

Bono did not disappoint. We sang, we danced, we screamed along, we drank and dialled and left incomprehensible voicemail messages to friends back home. Woohoo! I picked up the obligatory concert tee on our way out as we queued up for the train back to our flat. Soothed by the nicely chilled metro, we relived the moments of the evening with fellow concert goers. *shiver*

In just a few days, U2 will come to Vancouver for their last date of the 360° Tour in 2009. As I listen to the Camp Nou concert setlist on my iTunes, I ponder...would attending this concert lessen the memory of BCN for me? Clearly, BC Place Stadium is no Camp Nou. That experience was surreal. It was freakin' amazing. It was "Magnificent".

Is it possible to have too much of a good thing? Perhaps after watching the global live webcast of U2 in Pasadena tonight, we will have the answer.

Modern Amusement Design Challenge

2009-05-28T10:46:00.011-07:00

From now until June 12th, 2009 at 11:59PM EDST, you can cast your vote for the best T-shirt design of the Modern Amusement Design Challenge. Your vote counts as an entry to win 1 of 3 $500 Modern Amusement Wardrobes.

One of the thirty finalists include Vancouver artist, Adam Lupton, who's design was inspired by a passage in the Modern Amusement statement:

"... distinguished by the brand's attention to ironic detail, sophisticated ease, humor and graphic energy".

You can vote for Adam's design here.

I guess I don't mind crows, sometimes I even eat it, but when they expect me to part with my shiny objects of their desire, I have a problem with that.

MMV One Year Anniversary Party

2009-05-05T05:40:00.000-07:00

Izzy and Buds has just donated this très vert Swarovski crystal necklace and earring set for a raffle prize draw at the Modern Mix Vancouver One Year Anniversary and Reader Appreciation Party.

For your opportunity to win, be sure to RSVP for this social event on Tuesday, May 12th at Suki's Salon on South Granville, where you can mingle and mix it up with a little nosh from Cru and a sweet from Ganache.

Ciao bella!

Don't be a hater...let them eat pork!

2009-05-03T00:48:00.005-07:00

Poor little piggies. They have received such a bum rap with this H1N1 outbreak (formerly known as the Swine Influenza). I was most disturbed to hear about the over reaction of the Egyptian government ordering the slaughter of some 300,000 plus pigs as a result of this epidemic.

Pork is good. We love pork. We are not afraid and will pay homage to the almighty pig. To begin with, how about...

Philippine style lechón, stuffed crown roast of pork, salt-roasted pork tenderloin, chorizo with aioli, jamon and olives, sautéed green beans with pancetta, head cheese and salami or pulled-pork sandwiches, cassoulet with pork confit, rillette on a crispy French baguette, pigs feet stewed in Chinese vinegar, honey garlic spareribs, crispy pigs' ears, bratwurst and sauerkraut, split pea soup with smoked pork hock, bacon and eggs sunny side up and what started my love affair with pork...char sui sandwiches on lightly toasted, Miracle Whip smothered Wonderbread found weekly in my Charlie's Angels (I was Sabrina) lunchbox.

I love pork so much, I married a pig! *snort*

As I write this, I just now realize how much pork dominates our diet. Last night during dinner with friends, a few of us talked about how much we loved pork and how we could not understand how anyone could not love this versatile "other white" meat. I then proceeded to share the story of the time we roasted a 50 kilo swine so divine; it started off a little uncertain as we repeatedly rammed the steel rod into Wilbur's arse in order to cook it over the make-shift fire pit in an old bathtub. Surely all were tightly clenching their buttocks, as my visually and vocally descriptive account of this moment had just assured the few pork-haters at the table that they could never be converted. They have no idea what they're missing.

As much as we love pork, I'm not sure if we are even in the running against our fellow pork devotee, Rob Bailey, the beloved Duke of Pork, who recently posted about his faux pas whilst in India. I say to you Mr. Bailey, "I'm sure you were as popular as a pork chop in a synagogue."

Deserving Thyme Spring Warehouse Sale

2009-05-02T07:39:00.006-07:00

If you only need one reason to fly Air Canada, perhaps the Deserving Thyme Amenity Kit could sway you.

For those of us who prefer WestJet, there's the Deserving Thyme Warehouse Sale. Stock up and save!

VGH Spring Craft Market

2009-04-24T01:53:00.001-07:00

Hey Vancouver! If you're looking for some unique gifts for Mother's Day (May 10th), stop by the VGH Spring Craft Market for some inspiration. You know we'll be there!

13th Annual VGH Spring Craft Market
Jim Pattison Pavilion, 1st Floor Corridor
899 W. 12th Avenue
Vancouver, BC

Thursday, May 7th from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm

The Fix

2009-04-19T07:24:00.010-07:00

One thing led to another and now we're hooked. About six weeks ago I purchased a bar of Lindt Fleur de Sel chocolate from a promotional display. The first hit resulted in pure pleasure; unexpected crunches of delicate Fleur de Sel crystals enveloped in 47% dark chocolate excellence caused a frenzy in our mouths. It went so well with our bottle of Merlot and disappeared before one could say, "It's even better than sex!".

Not as readily available as some of the other varieties, it made for several weeks of some serious withdrawal symptoms. Desperate and determined, I was elated when I finally found a supply at the Lindt Boutique at Sears on Robson Street. Now the challenge remains on how to ration these fine pieces of chocolate goodness.

Recently, Jesee and I were both invited to be guest judges for a Mediterranean "throw-down" that included some tasty dishes of Chicken Marsala, Lamb Tagine and Greek Chicken Estofado to name a few. Since we were with a group of fellow foodies, we knew they would be worthy of one of our precious bars of chocolate. As expected - another addict, maybe even two were created.

As a young child, Jesee was taught to collect his own sea salt by filling a cotton handkerchief that was placed into the concave surface of a large rock with sea water. Choosing a rock with maximum sun exposure will speed up the evaporation process, leaving one with a glistening salty treasure upon their return at the end of the day.

Needless to say, Fleur de Sel is a staple in our kitchen, but we also stock Murray River and Maldon sea salts, as each has it's own place in Jesee's ever growing repertoire.

While surfing around for recipes that marry the flavours of sea salt and chocolate, I came across celebrity chef, Rob Feenie's recipe for Chocolate Fleur de Sel Meringues. This definitely tops the list for quick and easy desserts, but for something that requires a little more skill, you may want to try Thomas Haas' Chocolate Caramel with Fleur De Sel. Both are sure to feed the need for the next fix.

Give Me a Ring

2009-04-07T19:54:00.007-07:00

The trend of the week at Izzy and Buds appear to be our Swarovski crystal bling rings.

It all started at the Wired Woman Fashion Show last week, which was tons of fun meeting all these wonderful, intelligent women in the IT and new media industry. There's something so civilized about enjoying a glass of wine and groovin' to the tunes of DJ Leanne while shopping for shiny baubles. Several lucky ladies left with rings adorning their fingers that night and to our pleasant surprise...a couple more throughout the weekend.

It was also on that night, we sold our 3D chandeliers to a very special customer. Anita thought she recognized our jewelry from a show in West Vancouver a couple of years ago. She had purchased a pair of our brilliant Swarovski hoops for herself despite the fact she didn't have pierced ears. She admitted that she soon after went and had her ears pierced, just so that she could wear our earrings. *blush*

Unfortunately, Anita has since lost those earrings, so we were destined to meet again. When I held up these dangling pieces of architecture next to her face - I knew she would do them justice.

This still makes me crazy...

2009-04-01T21:37:00.007-07:00

The first time I saw this ad, I didn't know what it was for, as I couldn't see past the pah-ella debacle...enough said.

Wired Woman

2009-03-30T10:22:00.007-07:00

Are you interested in an evening get together with other like-minded women with a career in technology? Do you have a penchant for ultra-feminine, sparkly Swarovski jewelry?

This Thursday, April 2nd, Izzy and Buds Jewelry Designs will be participating in the Wired Woman Fashion Show & Networking Event. Come down for the show, meet some great women and treat yourself to a little something special.

I'm just saying...

2009-03-29T00:01:00.003-07:00

Whenever we go for an urban ride, I like to travel as light as possible and leave behind my cycling bag that stashes emergency repair kit paraphernalia in order to leave room for hair products and lip gloss.

I'm always queried by Jesee as to what I'm going to do if I get a flat and have no tools, tube or patch kit with me.

"Don't sweat it, I have BCBA, you know - a membership to the British Columbia Bicycling Association. I just dial 1-800-Jesee!", I chortled with a devilish smirk. The usual double-take to this wisecrack is a scrunched up forehead, followed with a rolling of the eyes and a slightly angled, shake of the head. It's times like this that I'm sure he's wondering why he ever married me!

My thoughts are that it would be a worse crime if I didn't have my emergency glam kit with me in case a handsome cyclist stops to help me out of my predicament.

You can imagine the chuckle I had when years later I read page 57 in the Spring issue of Westworld Magazine announcing a Bike Assist program designed to benefit members with roadside assistance for flats and mechanical breakdowns beginning in April 2009. Booyah!

¿Bulli, Gaudi y Jesee?

2009-03-28T19:53:00.007-07:00

Three eccentric Spaniards all with a common passion to create dramatically visual art which is subjective to the eye of the beholder.

Ferran Adrià, world renowned chef of El Bulli has created much controversy amongst food purists that describe his unparallelled dishes as molecular gastronomy. While this type of experimental fare doesn't really tickle our culinary appetite, there is a morbid curiosity within us to go just for the adventure. With limited reservations (open June to December) accepted only on one single day in October for the following year, I would hope that my U2 ticket buying experience rubs off ;)

In preparation for a recent photo shoot with Martin Krzywinski from Lumondo Photography, I directed Jesee to create some extraordinary pieces for himself and not just something uninspired for the mainstream market. One of the results was this pair of three-dimensional hematite and crystal earrings...a purely unconscious resemblance to Gaudi's avant-garde design of La Sagrada Familia...crazy minds think alike.

No Joe Mojo

2009-03-27T06:23:00.010-07:00

Sadly, even with the addition of a second show, we won't be able to catch Joe Jonas and his bros when they come to Vancouver this summer on June 30th. *smirk* Instead, we will be at the kick-off of the U2 360° Tour at Camp Nou in BARCELONA!

I had my alarm set for 1:57 a.m. (9:57 in Spain) Wednesday morning, so that I could log on to Ticketmaster and purchase the concert tickets. It was an exercise in frustration waiting for the system to process my request, much like online Boxing Day shopping at Future Shop. After being booted off the site twice *grrr* and some twenty-eight minutes later...said tickets secured!

I crept back into bed hoping to catch a couple more hours of sleep before facing the daily grind, but the excitement was too great to let my brain settle down. Drifting in and out of consciousness, I dreamt that I was rocking out at the show with Rafa.

Barely awake, I made myself a double espresso and checked for ticket availability again at 5:30 a.m. ...SOLD OUT. *happy dance*

Dining Out for Life

2009-03-08T17:00:00.008-07:00

This Thursday, March 12th is the annual Dining Out for Life event, where 25% of all food revenue sold from participating restaurants is donated to support local people living with AIDS/SIDA.

Every little bit helps...PLEASE dine out for life.

Bowen Goodness

2009-03-08T15:27:00.012-07:00

Body...and soul.

A weekend to recharge with good friends cures all woes. A scrumptious birthday dinner party, Sunday brunch at Artisan Eats and a bagful of my favourite soap from Naked's new store.

All is good and je suis bien dans ma peau.