It's Wednesday!

FOOD

Is it too soon to be thinking about baked foods? I mean, it’s still summer… I can’t help it. The planner in me is already looking for new recipes for the colder months. I often love one pot dishes and my photo montage this week is an ode to the skillet!

cheeseburger bake

mexican tempeh bake

tuna bake

All hail the skillet meal! I would love to get some of your recipes in the comments! Commenting not your thing? Fell free to drop your recipe in our inbox at salon@freshsirboutique.ca. Happy eating!

✌🏾

The fresh perspective...

Host the Ultimate BBQ

Summertime brings on one of my favorite activities, hosting! Most people find it a hassle and prefer to never have people over. Yes. It is a hassle! You gotta clean BEFORE your guests arrive and again AFTER they leave. You gotta make sure that there’s going to be enough of everything for everyone (regardless of diet) and you gotta have enough space to house it all!

Hosting a get-together can be a daunting task but I am here to reassure you that it can be easy, and quite fun if you organize yourself and follow a few tips. First of all, A BBQ is the best idea because it’s outside! This minimizes the amount of people in your home, which equals less cleaning! You will need to make sure guests know where the bathroom is ahead of time, as this will be the only reason anyone (except for you) goes into the house.

You need a space with enough seating for your guests. We have a large tables and a few smaller cocktail tables on our deck to keep snacks or spark smaller conversations. The large dining table is where everyone comes to eat, while the smaller ones allow for more mixing and mingling. If your BBQ is an evening one, make sure there is enough lighting in your ‘seating area’ to keep the party going.

It never hurts to have a few games kicking around on a table or two. It gives folks a chance to interact in a different way. Along with games, don’t forget the music. Now days you can find playlists that suit any type of party you are hosting. you can even have a few different ones to guide the evening along. Maybe play some music that is fun and fast as guests arrive, then slow it down while people are dining.

That brings me to the food. It’s very important to make sure that everyone can eat and there will be more than enough food. I usually aim to make more than needed and in the case if there are a lot of leftovers, i am prepared with cute takeaway boxes for my guests to use. this keeps my fridge space, which is already at a premium, free for my real ‘everyday life’ food. Make sure you find out everyone’s preference before hand and then throw it on an open flame. Grilled anything is the best! Make a few salads and prepare the appetizers ahead of time as well. That way, all you need to worry about is the food you’ll be grilling. Dessert can be real fun too. Watermelons are a crowdpleaser, but if you really want to make this ULTIMATE, try throwing some fruit on the grill and serve with some french vanilla ice cream! Pineapple and peaches are my favorite. And just like that, BOOM! You ‘don did it!

-that’s the fresh perspective…

Wordless Wednesday

Picnic season is here & we LOVE it.

Monday Blog

Dating ain’t easy, but this could help!

Hit up a patio and relax

• There are some great patios around the city! To name a few, Cibo on Waterfront, Infernos, and The Roost rooftop patio… (Also, looking for more suggestions always)

• Rumor’s Comedy Club

  • Hear me out - I know stand up comedy is not everybody’s jam but seriously… What’s a better way to loosen up a little bit than laughing your brains out to start out the night? Scope out their calendar to see who’s coming up in the near future, I’ve never had a bad time. I guess just double check your date is into it, as sometimes people get real uncomfortable.

• Go for a bike ride

  • Even bike ride to a patio! Even better!

• A romantic stroll through Leo Mol Garden

  • So cute. Casual stroll on a warm summer evening. Can’t go wrong! Even smarter? Start the walk off at Sargent Sundae and grab a treat for the walk.

• Deluca’s cooking class

  • I personally have not done this, but have only heard great things. Good food, great company, perfect combo.

Hit up your fun friends for a double date

• This is perfect at any stage of your relationship. If it’s early on it’s a great way to feel comfortable immediately since you’re paired with some of your close friends for the evening. And, they could also pump your tires a little bit which is a win.

• Goldeyes Baseball Game

  • These games are so affordable and always a good time! Could be fun to go with a group of friends as well.

• Movie in the park

  • A smart piece of advice is to check out the mosquito situation prior to committing to this. The last scenario you want to be in is getting really irritated to the point of crying because the bugs just won’t quit. (Maybe a little extreme, but hey, we all have our days).

That is my go to list for dates here in the city. I hope it helps! If you have suggestions or other go to creative ideas, leave a comment! Whether it’s a first date or a 50th date, we all need to spend some time with the ones we love…or just like ;).

-Freshair

Wordless Wednesday

Grilled Cheeeeeeeese!

Wordless Wednesday

It's our birthday this month!  These cakes!