Les Miserables

Last night was yet another first for me. My first theatre show! Les Miserable at the Queen's Theatre!

It was a date night with my hubby and our lovely friends. Thanks Blanchards and Schmakovs for a wonderful evening!

Another item crossed off my bucket list...
And Tim surprised me with red velvet cupcakes from Sweet Couture to eat afterwards. My favourite cupcake shop here. What an amazing man I have...

i'm a foodie

I love food. I mean, I really love food. I never understood girls during college who would order small, tasteless salads on a date. I mean, really? You better believe I ordered big meals and ate it all! I need a man who can satisfy me and my tummy too!
But what I really love is darn good, really good healthy food. Over the years I have really fallen in love with cooking and it has been a fun creative outlet/hobby for me. My cooking has slowly evolved over many, many years ago but has especially picked up in most recent years. Partly due to my many amazing OC foodie best friends.

Rachel made this dish I want to share with you all as a side dish for Thanksgiving and I melted when I first tried it. DE-LISH. I made it tonight to go along with my homemade spinach pizza. If only I had a bigger stomach. MMMmmm...

Spicy Squash Salad with Lentils and Goat Cheese

Adapted from Bon Appetit

Serves 6 as an appetizer, 3 as a main

3/4 cup black or green lentils

6 cups peeled, seeded and cubed butternut squash (about 1 medium sized butternut squash)

4 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

4 cups baby arugula (I skipped this)

1 cup crumbled goat cheese (I use a little more because I love goat cheese)

2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar (I use just a little more of this too)

Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss squas cubes with 3 Tablespoons of oil, cumin, paprika, chili powder and salt. Arrange in a single layer on baking sheet and roast 20 minutes. Flip pieces and roast for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until tender. Cool.

Meanwhile, soak lentils for 10 minutes in a small bowl, then drain. Cook lentils in boiling salted water until tender but firm, about 20 minutes. Rinse with cold water, then drain.

Combine lentils, butternut, any oil you can scrape from the baking sheet, goat cheese, vinegar, and 1 tablespoon oil. Season with salt and pepper and extra vinegar, if desired.

Bon Appetit!

Oxford St. shopping

One of the things on my bucket list is to go shopping down Oxford/Regent Street. One of the most famous streets for shopping. This morning I got to do just that ALL BY MYSELF. No kids. Just me and London shopping. Ahhh...

For some reason Oxford street became closed to cars so it was so pleasant to walk down the street with Christmas filling the air from lights and displays galore, and music playing from all the stores and small bands in the street. I really did have a smile on face walking down central London this morning. I live in a pretty cool place.

A Harrods Christmas

You will not believe what it takes to see Santa at Harrods. I had to pre-book him mid September! And only because I had to become a Harrods Rewards member in order to be able to book earlier than non-members. And even then those that are higher members than me get first dibs on time slots. But I figured it was worth it. Santa at Harrods is probably the ultimate London Santa experience, right?

With our tickets in hand and arriving at our specific time slot, we walked through sparkly gingerbread men and candy with no queue at all!

Santa gave each girl a Christmas book, a big chocolate coin, and a button during a private visit with him in a room secluding us from everyone coming to see Santa. No private pictures were allowed once we got to Santa. (Upscale Harrods wants you to buy their photos, of course.)

Truth be told, I think seeing Santa at Winter Wonderland was the best all around. But nothing beats the city lights at night. Especially, this time of year.

Dear Santa,

It is oh so cold outside! We really have to bundle up now!

Natalie and I skipped playgroup today to chill at the cafe, look out to the busy city streets, all nice and warm in snug at our cafe table, sharing a blackforest hot chocolate. It was actually her idea. She is addicted to hot chocolate.

Perfect morning. I love my hot chocolate morning buddy.

We sent off Marisa's letter to Santa Claus (or as they say here, Father Christmas) this afternoon. She was so cute skipping across the street to the post box. Oh the magic of Christmas.

This is what was in the letter.

I believe Santa thinks she was a very good girl this year.

Christmas Market at Southbank

Today we hit another Christmas Market at Southbank. The Big Ben (my most favourite monument in London) was my highlight for the day. Beautiful every time.

After an Ostrich burger and sweets at the market we took a leisurely stroll across Westminster Bridge to the Westminster Abby Shop to check out the Christmas tree ornaments that will soon grace my tree. (I'm a copy cat, Shannon.) I can't wait!

P.S. I love The City.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all our family and friends! As we reflect on our many blessings this season we feel overwhelmed with joy and gratitude by the special people we have in our lives. We are truly blessed and love you all. May God bless you all with peace, health, and happiness.

Life would not be as sweet as it is without our faith and knowledge of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. We treasure our testimonies of what we know to be true. That He lives, that He loves us, and that He is ever so real and evident in our lives today.
May we all reflect on His humble and miraculous birth and strive to be more like Him.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love,

The Hart Family

Tim, Tanya, Marisa, and Natalie

2011