Yummy Healthy Pizza.

Tried this recipe, which I got from Jen Loves Kev, a couple of weeks ago. I actually made it myself. Jimmy usually cooks in our place. Even though I enjoy cooking, I just don't have the time! Plus, I'd say that he enjoys it more. And I'm the baker, yep. Anyway, this recipe is delicious. I wanted to find a recipe that used a leafy green other than spinach because I like incorporating new/different iron-packed ingredients into our diets (though we haven't had any since, ha!).  And, double bonus: it uses sweet potato, which contains high amounts of beta-carotene (don't ask me what this is, I just hear it's "nutritious"). Well, enough delay. Here is the recipe: 

Sweet Potato and Kale Pizza

Ingredients:

- 1 large sweet potato

- Olive oil

- 1 Onion, thinly sliced

- 1 cup chopped kale

- Milk or soymilk (I used milk)

- 1 tbsp. fresh sage, chopped

- 1 prepared whole wheat pizza crust 

- 1 cup shredded Fontina cheese (this is important!)

- salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Stab sweet potato several times with fork and roast in oven for about 45 minutes, or until soft. Cool until potato is warm. Leave oven on.While potato is baking, heat oil in pan over low heat. Add onion and a pinch of salt, and cook, stirring occasionally for 30-40 minutes. Add kale to pan and cook until tender and wilted. Remove from heat and add salt and pepper to taste. Scoop insides of potato into medium bowl and mash; add milk, sage, and salt and mix until smooth. Spread mixture onto pizza crust. Top with kale and onion mixture, and then add cheese on top. Bake pizza in oven at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until kale begins to crisp and cheese melts.

Happy Weekend! xo Caroline

Pasta Necklaces Aren't Just for Kids...

I made this Chevron penne necklace with Katherine on Monday, and I'm really happy with the way it turned out! She found the DIY project on Design Sponge. I want to say it was easy, because minimal materials were needed and the steps were basic, but we did encounter a few problems. It was difficult to get the penne on to the braided jersey fabric, but I did manage! Well, not without first breaking a few pieces of painted penne.

I've been working on my thesis project here and there, in between my class, readings, a love life, a social life, and "me-time" (it's important to me!), so I'm feeling pretty good today! Plus, I'm excited for tonight and this weekend. On Sunday Jimmy and I are heading to a Canadian classic: a Sugar Bush!! We'll have a traditional pancake buffet breakfast and taffy on snow, and we'll enjoy being outside at Sugar Moon farm. Tonight me and Angi are heading out for wine, snacks, and shopping at a local store's customer appreication night. Hopefully I'll be able to snap some pics! Have a lovely day! xo Caroline

Recently.

Here's what I've been up to lately: enjoying the warm sun (when it's been around); baking and eating chocolate chip cookies; drinking chocolate soy milk (can you tell I like chocolate?); planning my trip to Eastern Europe; enjoying hummus and crackers; noticing spring in all sorts of places; drinking green tea and eating sushi with my lovely mother; reading outside; feeling blue now and then; watching TV in bed and letting my toenails dry; and snapping photos all over the place of all kinds of things. xo Caroline

Oh, and here's what I've been listening to lately. I'm in love with this Swedish band. 

DIY Canvas Bird Art

I made this DIY Bird Wall Art (or Canvas Bird Art, as I call it) around Christmas time for myself and as a gift for one of my good friends. It's SO easy and inexpensive to make and it's great as an added decoration anywhere in your home! I didn't make mine as a wall art, I used a canvas and stand I bought from Dollarama (only $2!), so it is much smaller. I also used vintage dictionary pages that I bought from the Kraft Outlet, but you could use newspaper or even scrapbook paper, which is also pretty inexpensive. So go on, make it yourself!  

Has anyone seen or read The Hunger Games? I'm currently obsessing over Katniss Everdeen. How cool is she? 

Also, check out The Feminista Journals on Facebook to see a photo of me reciting a poem that I wrote at the Body Monologues on Saturday night! And don't forget to Like me while you're at it! xo Caroline

A Little Mix of Spring and Fall

H&M pants//Converse sneakers//Danier leather jacket//Jacob sweater//Mellie Bianco purse//Michael Kors sunglasses

These were taken last weekend before the heat hit (which has since subsided). I chose to whip out my hot pink pants (love them) and a mustard sweater that I thrifted in the Fall (see here). I wanted to slowly bring in the Spring colours by mixing it with something a little more neutral and "earthy". I have been living in these converse shoes. They're my first pair but I'm obsessed. And the jacket was a gift from Jimmy for Christmas. Also my first time owning a leather jacket! My wardrobe comes together ever so slowly! Happy Friday! xo Caroline

Target Women

Do you feel like laughing your ass off AND being critical of the media? Then you should most definitely take a few minutes and watch these videos. If you're like me, you'll immediately become addicted! Though these were made a couple of years back, they are still so relevant. They use satire to simultaneously laugh at, point out, and challenge very gendered, as well as heterosexist, racist, and classist ideas about what it means to be a woman and a girl in our contemporary Western (North American?) society. They also point out the degree to which the ideas embedded in much advertising, TV, movies, and other forms of popular culture are socially constructed. Here are three of my favourites:

God, I f*ing love Sarah Haskins. She may just be may new idol. I really have this overwhelming desire to share her brilliance with others... so let me know what you think! xo Caroline

Vacation, Baby

That's right. I'm going on vacation! I hate to brag, I really do, but I'm just so darn excited! Jimmy and I are travelling to the following places in the following countries this July:

Bratislava, Slovakia (these are photos I took last time I was there, visiting my lovely family)

Budapest, Hungary

Plitvice National Park, Croatia (with a Busabout bus tour from Budapest!)

Split, Croatia

Zagreb, Croatia

Mikulov, Czech Republic (Moravian wine country, and we're biking it up!)

This might be irrational, reckless, and irresponsible. But we're young and want to enjoy life and we're doing it. We've never done a trip before (with the exception of very small overnight stays) and after five years together, we need it. We deserve it. And, seriously, when will we have the opportunity to do it again? I have no idea. I hope you like my justifications. Have you been to any of these places and do you have any recommendations? If so, I'd love to hear them! xo Caroline

Budapest photos from here, here, and here;  Plitvice National Park photos from here; Split photos from here, here, here, here, and here; Zagreb here, here, and here, and here; Mikulov here, here, and here.

Unimpressive Night Out

Jimmy and I were so excited to check out the restaurant The Bicycle Thief but were sadly disappointed. Although the atmosphere was lovely, the food was only mediocre, which is definitely not okay given the high prices. But worse, I was totally unimpressed with the service! Though our waiter was nice, the rest of the staff were not. As soon as we walked in the door there was a bunch of white men standing around watching us--as if judging who was worthy of coming in (to such a prestigious spot), and who was not. Furthermore, when my dad went to pay (thanks, dad!), they would not let him use his Visa gift card, which he'd had his heart set on using. In addition, they made no apology for the inconvenience and no effort to try to redeem the issue. They just don't take it. AND!! We'd made a reservation asking for a seat by the window. When we arrived we got a seat right by the bar and kitchen, despite that there was an empty table by the window! UGH!!! Though I've been waiting to eat here for over a year, I will not be going back. It's not worth the money, if you ask me!

Anyway, I hope you all have a lovely week! It's going to be a busy one for me, but I will keep you posted! xo Caroline

Crimson & Clover

Visited a lovely consignment boutique in Halifax called Crimson & Clover with my mom this week. This store is by far one of my favourites in Halifax. It's well organized and super easy (and fun!) to browse through their clothing. They also have beautiful pieces. In fact, the shoes I'm wearing above are from their store! If you're in Halifax, you definitely need to check it out! Oh, and happy Friday!!! I work tonight but tomorrow night I plan to celebrate St. Patrick's day. YAY. Do you celebrate? xo Caroline 

I was wearing:

Thrifted boots//thrifted shorts (from Indie Boutique Collective)//Joe Fresh button-up//Aerie sweater//thrifted necklace//Jacob belt//Change tights//Melle Bianco purse

GIRLS 2012

Thought I would post some photos from the GIRLS 2012 conference I attended last Thursday and Friday at Mount Saint Vincent University. It was really fun. On Thursday, the day I was presenting, I ran around all day flustered and scatterbrained because of my nerves. My presentation ended up going well, I think, despite that I kind of screwed it up a bit (I read the wrong page at one point and ran out of time!). But the feedback I got was good and it was such good practice. (I'm so not used to speaking in public!) Friday was more low-key but I had an opportunity to chair a presentation/session, which was also quite interesting and very good experience. The first two photos are from Friday at the registration desk, where I was volunteering for the morning. The second two are from Thursday, also at the registration area (but in another building). xo Caroline

Fast Food & Waves

Checked out a local hotspot eatery yesterday, The Chicken Burger, and boy was it good! Although their chicken burgers are quite plains (really plain, actually....just chicken on a bun), it was delicious! After indulging in fries and chicken we headed to a local beach to check out the waves. It was SO windy and SO cold but SO much fun! I wore two huge sweaters underneath my coat so it definitely wasn't a fashion-forward day. But fun it was. We also stopped at a local tourist attraction called Fisherman's Cove, which is very quaint and quiet with its little board-walk and salty fresh air.

Tonight we are headed to a wine bar (seen in this post) and today we soaked in the warm air and sunny sky after lunch with lovely Katherine. And tomorrow's a new day with my parents! Shopping and dinner for my Mom's Birthday. And then...it's...back...to...school. xo Caroline