sunshine? i'll need the afternoon off

Tomorrow is going to be SUPER awesome, I'm talking like 18 degrees and 100% sunshine. For this reason, I have appropriately taken the afternoon off. Tonight is going to be a busy one. I'm heading to meet Miss Kingi Carpenter at Peach Beserk on Queen then to the Redwire launch party. Peach Beserk is having a launch party for their new Online Dress Designer. Yahooo! I've loved this shop forever and am yet to own anything. Kingi said to bring along something to print and I've carefully packed this little red number from AA. It's washed & ready to become something new!

I had a lovely lunch outside today. I wasn't sure what to eat and I recalled a time back in Bondi when I was really struggling for money. I used to go to the deli and get a bun and piece of meat and that was lunch for just a couple bux.

subway loud talkers #002

I posted my first Subway Loud Talker video last month. I spotted another. This guy went on for SO long it was awkward and embarrassing. I didn't show all of it because is was just too much.

subway loud talkers #002 from me on Vimeo.
I hope none of you know him. I'm sure he would be kinda pissed, but whatever, I was kinda pissed that he found it appropriate to yell on the street car and into my ear. So there.

can i get a book please?

Today is a sunny day. I like that.

Mum sends us clothes here and there and she has great style. I pulled this guy out of the closet today and rushed out the door. One of the boys in the office said would "come by my desk to check out a book". haha. I get it. I like this dress, it has pockets. I had to cut head off here, face was wrinkled up.

I'm loving the new neon units. They are SO VIBRANT. I feel like if I was a pastel, I would be neon, electric yellow or pink or purple...or one of those multicolored swirl ones. Yes, for sure.

rainy sunday windy raindrops

Last night was really, really windy. I was woken by the fierce raindrops on my window. Yesterday went to the art shop and then I can home and made art with these guys.

Mum is in the city today as we are going to see sister dance at the Raptors game. I took her for a tour of my office this morning and to the Old York. I never go to the office on weekends and I accidentally set off the alarm and all the sirens were going off and I just looked at mum & laughed. I saved the day by calling a lifeline and getting him on the phone before the alarm company did. Phew. Was a close one. No cops showed up. #thankyouverymuch

today at lunch: a story in pictures

Today at lunch I...

the brightest light in my life

On the weekend I spent a lovely day with Mum. She has just returned from New Zealand and brought back some treats. I feel quite lucky because she managed to find and bring back some of her old clothes for us. I got a great dress she made (yes, made) when she was about 15 as well as a gorgeous leather belt. She brought my sister back a pair of her old boots that are totally rad. Mum found some old photos of herself, she is so cool and has always been a stylish young lady!One of the things I really miss about NZ are the treats. There are so many wonderful things to enjoy! Mum packed up a goodie bag for us each! Yum yum!We stopped into Lahore Tikka House for lunch. The food was fantastic as usual. However, they are using Styrofoam plates and cups which I find to be wasteful and horrible for the environment. Maybe they will change this behavior? I did see the following things that I found to be amusing:Note the handwritten sign stating that you can have a "piece of history" by purchasing an Obama t-shirt. Nice.

This needs no explanation except for "ha ha". Have a great day!

This Pho-tastic one is for Inna!

I changed my status to 'Casie is having pho for lunch today.' I love, love, love pho. I have it AT LEAST one a week.

My friend Inna asked if I was making it myself and to share recipe. I've never made pho. I'm sure it's complicated and for $4.99 at the pho place by my work, I'd rather just order it. However, I may decide to make a pho so I browsed online for a recipe and found one. This is for you Inna!!

Prep time is 15 minutes and cook time is 45 minutes.

What you need:

• Beef Broth:
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 2-inch stick ginger
• 2 pounds beef bones
• 12 cups water
• 6 star anise
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 pound lean, tender beef
• Noodles:
• 1 16-ounce package dry, flat rice noodles (pho)
• Garnish:
• 3 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 10 cilantro sprigs, finely chopped
• 1 cup bean sprouts
• 10 sprigs basil
• 10 sprigs fresh cilantro (ngo gai)
• fresh red or green Chile pepper, thinly sliced
• Accompaniments
• lime or lemon quarters
• fish sauce
• hoisin sauce
• hot chili sauce

Prep:
Broil onion and ginger until they look burned. Using back of cleaver, smash the ginger and set aside.
Wash beef bones, place in a large soup pot and add water to cover. Bring to a boil and immediately pour off this "first boiling" water and discard. Add another 12 cups of fresh water and again bring to a boil. Skim off foam. Add the broiled onion and ginger, star anise, salt and sugar. Over medium-low heat, simmer for 30 minutes. Slice raw beef into thin strips and set aside.
Remove bones from broth and strain out vegetables and seasonings. Soak noodles in cold water for 10 minutes. Drain. In a soup pot bring two quarts fresh water to a boil. Add drained noodles and cook seven minutes at a rolling boil, stirring occasionally until noodles are tender.
Rinse noodles under cold running water and set aside.
Return the broth to a boil over high heat.

To serve: Divide noodles among 4 to 6 large individual serving bowls. Arrange thinly sliced raw beef, scallions, onion, and cilantro on top. Pour boiling hot broth to cover noodles and serve immediately. The boiling broth will cook the thin slices of beef. Pho is always accompanied by bean sprouts, basil leaves, cilantro and chili pepper. Serve with lime and lemon quarters, fish sauce, hoisin sauce and hot chili sauce. Serves 4 to 6.

Thanks to The Vietnamese Cookbook, by Diana My Tran and for more details check here.