I'm 23 and I finally learned how to ride a bike

I did it.

Took me 23 years, but I finally learned how to ride a bike. I'm not saying I'm an overnight pro, or that you'll see me weaving in and out of Toronto traffic, but I can go from point A to point B on a two wheeler!

I actually learned how to ride my bike at 21-years-old (still old), but I never got an opportunity to ride it for more than 10 minutes.

Also, before my trip to Europe, I practiced riding once with one of my trip mates in preparation for a bike tour in Amsterdam. Unfortunately (and probably in everyone's best interest) I got sick in Amsterdam and couldn't do the bike tour.

Lucky for me, Toronto has an amazing landscape that includes the Toronto Islands. In mid July, my friends Claire and Caroline took me on a 10-kilometre bike ride from one point of the Island, to the other and back.

I only fell once and caught it all on my GoPro.

How to Make This Year Better Than the Best Year of Your Life

My friends and I pose for 2014's corniest graduation photo.

Entering a new year is always a great time to reflect on what you’ve done in the past 365 days. As I lay in my bed thinking about the past year, it hit me that 2014 was the best year of my life.

I travelled, graduated, perfected “on fleek” eyebrows, finally got over an ex, left a crappy retail job, got an internship and then a job at my dream workplace, and paid off my student debt.

So I wondered is this the peak?
No. I won’t let it be.

I know there are things I purposely didn’t attempt last year in fear of failing. So be my witness and hold me to it, 2015 is a year I will not be scared to fail.

1. Learn to Drive

I’ve gone 22 years without a license because transportation in an urban hub is plentiful and cheap-ish, but also mainly because I think I’m scared of driving. The idea of driving looks easy and I’m sure with practice it becomes more natural but in fear of being judged by other drivers and avoiding deadly accidents, I think I’ve tricked myself into being scared of the wheel. In 2015, I promise to complete my driver’s education course.

2. Learn Italian

I love their food, I love their men, and I love listening to their song-like conversations. This past summer I tried learning the language — I even got an app! After two weeks my laziness and over-tired-self-from-working-retail kicked in and I said arrivederci to that. In 2015, I promise to learn Italian.

3. Explore New Places

Travelling is a given but how about discovering places at home? I love the city I’ve been born and raised in but outside the boundaries of my daily life, I know different neighbourhoods as much as someone who recently Googled it. Not only will this open up so many different possibilities but also I’m pretty sure I’ll look cool in front of my friends from out of town. In 2015, I will discover the full potential of Toronto.

4. Hike

Nature is a gift we truly need to appreciate. I’ve been on a couple of hikes and each time I can’t help but be overwhelmed by the beauty of nature. Ravines in the city leave me wanting more from the wild. I want to see what those Planet Earth documentaries are all about and I think hiking in small forests is a good starting point. In 2015, I will take a hike (or more).

5. Express Myself

No Diplo, already tried that and failed. I realized while writing this that the more I put my thoughts on paper — or a virtual document — I come closer to understanding myself. You need to be your own best friend. In 2015, I promise to publish more blog posts and keep my creativity flowing.  

Cranberry and Brie Melt

Lately I've been craving dishes with cranberry accents to them. I think it all started back in October when I visited a restaurant in Guelph called Atmosphere. I had their spinach and goat cheese pizza (on a gluten-free crust) which actually featured cranberries as one of the toppings. It was so good that as soon as I have a chance to visit Guelph again, that's my first stop.

Cranberries are a staple fruit for the winter months because somehow it makes its way into any dish and still tastes amazing; in salads, main courses, and deserts, cranberries are everywhere!

Today I made my own twist to the melted brie and honey dish, just to satisfy my cranberry and Canadian cravings.

What you'll need are:

-slivered almonds (used for texture)

-dried cranberries (to taste)

-brie cheese (for this recipe I used PC mini brie rolls)

-1 teaspoon of maple syrup (for the portion of my mini brie roll)

To prepare this snack, you need to place the brie in a microwave safe bowl. Then drizzle the maple syrup on top of it and add the dried cranberries. Depending on how powerful your microwave is, you may need to add some more time to the process but I kept it in the microwave for 15 seconds. The cheese should be at the stage where it is about to start melting. Once you remove the bowl from the microwave, top the melted brie off with a few pinches of slivered almonds. Now you can eat this as a dip for crackers or bread.

Instead of using mini brie rolls, use a regular sized brie roll as an appetizer for parties. Adjust the maple syrup portion to about 3 tablespoons. 

Enjoy!

Urban eats: Gourmet Gringos

It's finally here!

My favourite food truck, Gourmet Gringos, has opened their restaurant and it's relatively in my hood!
I've got love for food trucks but the one down side to them is that they're always in different places.

These guys just opened their location yesterday at 1384 Bathurst Street, just south of St.Clair West.

Apart from serving up my favourite veggie burrito, they sell quesadillas, tacos, empanadas, and many other delicious latin foods.

Check them out, your tummies will thank me later.

Childish Gambino Album Preview: Toronto edition.

Photo by Ashley Gaete

On Monday October 28th, rapper Childish Gambino surprised Toronto fans with a pop-up album listening session. Although it may have meant ditching class for us, we couldn't miss this opportunity to listen to his new work and see him in person. 

Yet another reason to love living in Toronto. 

Here is a quick video to share the raw experience we had with the hundreds of others who gathered at Trinity Bellwoods.



Gambino CD preview session. from Super Crew on Vimeo.