Dressing for the office can be quite difficult in the summer. It can be hard to find the right combination of clothing to feel warm enough while sitting in an air conditioned office and cool enough while commuting in sweltering afternoon temperatures. Summer is the time for bright, colourful fabrics, the time for soft, delicate dresses and the time for freeing your legs from the tyranny of pants! No one should have to wear their dreary wool all summer long just to feel warm and conservative at work. Here are some delightful summer duds that are neither too heavy and drab, nor too light and quixotic for the workplace. Continue reading
Summer
Exotic Condiments to Try at Your Next Barbecue
I love barbecue parties. Combining friends, food and the outdoors, they are quite possibly my favourite summer time activity. But by the time July rolls around, the same hamburgers, hot dogs and the occasional sausage with nothing to jazz them up but ketchup, mustard and relish start to feel a bit boring. As a host, it becomes difficult to plan a menu that will surprise and excite your friends and as a guest it becomes difficult to find new ways to compliment the same meal. The best way I have found to get around this barbecue party stimulation degradation is to prepare miniature versions of the classic fare and offer a vast array of novel, unusual or exotic toppings. This ensures that everyone can try out a few different combinations of new condiments. Continue reading
Cottage Country Menu Planning II
This year we’ve got a professional chef coming with us on the annual summer cottage trip, but the menu hasn’t changed much because when asked what we should bring to the cottage, this friend of 18 years replied, “meat and fire”. I was also told that I did not bring enough bacon last year, so I’ve doubled it for this year because, hey, double the bacon, double the fun. As always, I’ve also tried to sneak as many seasonal fruits and vegetables into my friends as possible. Continue reading
How to Run in the Heat
When the first heat advisories of the summer start being released, it can be hard, and even dangerous, to maintain an active lifestyle. Peering out the window at the baking grass from the comfort of your air conditioned home doesn’t exactly make you want to go outside and run around the block, but deep down, you know that all of those sugary, frozen treats you’ve been enjoying won’t stay off your hips forever. Fortunately, there are ways to exercise around the heat, without sweating yourself to the brink of dehydration. It is possible to cool off with a sweet, indulgent daiquiri by the pool and look great while doing so! Continue reading