Antiquing Weekend at Fieldhouse- Oct 19-21

Hello my O'Valleyers!

Just a quick heads up that the bi-annual Antique show is on next weekend! Here is the message from Catherine Knoll, show manager. Please contact her to be added to the email list.

Hope to see you there. Let me know what you end up getting in the comments section below.

Antiquing at The Fieldhouse is coming on October 19-21, 2013

Print this page only (or simply show the ticket taker on your smartphone).

Hello Everyone:

It's a lot! Country pine, Deco, Manhattan glass, reclaimed antique lumber furniture, gorgeous art, designer handbags (typically including Gucci, Fendi & Ferragamo), fun fleas, vintage watches, Persian carpets, haute couture, Maritime carvings, cottage quilts, fine furniture, book & paper conservation, silver accents, vintage clothing, fashion jewellery and fabulous fine jewellery (typically including Tiffany, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels), plus more (much more)! Retro. Vintage. Antique.

The Fall Ottawa Antiques Show has everything from decorator finds to one-of-a-kinds, from designer stock to just plain fun. For you, your home, condo, or cottage- 40,000 square feet of fabulous awaits you!

Hope to see you there.

Catherine Knoll
Show Manager

Antiquing at The Fieldhouse

Carleton University, Bronson Ave. & Sunnyside Ave., Ottawa K1S 5B6

Friday October 19, 5pm-9pm Saturday October 20, 10am-5pm, Sunday October 21, 10am-4pm

Regular admission $10 Free re-admission Under 18 free (613) 521-1970

Lots of parking available, but no longer free. Please check directly with the venue for rates.

Old Ottawa South Porch Sale- Sept 8 2012

If you are like me and love digging in people's junk, the Old Ottawa South Porch Sale is where it's at!

Similar to it's sister "Glebe Garage Sale", I personally enjoy this event a whole lot more. In the spirit of making lists - here's why:

1. September 8th is cooler weather than May 28th, so you can go farther and longer!
2. Less people around, less crowded so you can take your time a look
3. Less people means you can bargain more ;)
4. Less people means you have access to parking
5. Access to parking means you can bring your car around with you and buy huge things like furniture
6. Less garage sales per capita means you increase the number of garage sales attended (sorry this is my science brain talking! hahaha)
7. The demographic is...older. Which means you have better items for sale (if you like antiques and more interesting things)

So, as much as I want to support this event and invite people to come, I may be shooting myself in the foot by increasing attendance! Just kidding, it's for a great cause! Sellers are asked to donate a portion of their proceeds to OSCA (the guideline is 10%) to help cover costs of various community initiatives.

Don't forget to take advantage of the street sale on Bank street too! Last year Taylor's was serving delicious take-out pulled pork sandwiches for $5! Wonder what they will be serving this year!

Hope you can make it!
Here are some treasures I found last year.

Jumbo mason jar! Great for punches or lemonade.

Copper pots worth big buck$!! Paid $5 for both! Great for even cooking (like making sauce and melting chocolate)

Cute antique storage box for beauty products.

It's Antique Show time again!

People always ask me where I get my antiques and why I didn't tell them about it! I want to ask them why they don't read my blog!!

There will be lots to see and buy at the Ottawa's Antiquing Event. Bring your cash and your imagination! This three day event come twice a year and will definately keep you coming back for more. Make sure you book October 21, 22, 23 2011!

Loads of parking (No Longer Free, sorry!!) available at the Carleton University Fieldhouse.
Print this coupon to save on your admission fee.

Contact Catherine Knoll (show manager) to be added to their email list.

There's a new salon in town...

And it's here to stay!

I'm talking about Hair Republic, on Bank Street at Sunnyside Ave. It has an edgy and clean look to it. It reminds me of Mad Factory in Toronto (p.s. they give free hand massages there!!). Everything white, with modern art hanging on the walls... my favourite part is the chandelier that greets you at reception! That's like saying "Hello, how can I make your day shine today?" I. love. shiny. things.

I had the pleasure of meeting Michelle, owner and senior stylist at her new salon.

She is such a kind, warm hearted and friendly person. I walked in, the first day the salon was open to get more information about the place, the type of product lines they sell and to find out what their hair philosophy is. Plus, let's face it, I am the most curious person on arth! Also, I've been finding it difficult to stay faithful to a stylist :S I just haven't found the one!

Michelle explained her salon's unique business model; green, healthy and beautiful! They recycle everything, all the way down to composting the hair! They sell shampoo that doesn't contain harsh chemicals, it's based from natural oils and ingredients. They also offer a rewards program where you collect HR dollars when returning empty shampoo containers to redeem against other products.

I am always looking for good shampoo, because my hair can get really dry. I got my hair washed to test the products before I commit to buying it and got my bangs trimmed too. I can't wait to get my hair done soon!

They haven't even been open for a week yet and they are almost fully booked! I'd say, if you are going to cheat on your stylist, do it with class and go treat yourself at Hair Republic!

Goodbye to the grace and cheese

Sad. Day.
Grace and the Kitchen and Serious Cheese are moving to Kanata.
442 Hazeldean Rd
OPEN SEPTEMBER 2011

They call it 5400 sqft of foodie pleasure. I call it a disaster for old Ottawa South.
Rumour has it that they will be expanding their cooking school, which sounds great, but not worth the drive out there, in my opinion.

Take advantage of their moving sale. They've got 10-30% off most things in the store.

On the other hand, I can't wait to see what replaces them!

Spring into The Ottawa Antiques Show

This has to be one of my favorite events in Ottawa! I've posted lots of posts in the past about this event. I have even shared pics of some of the furniture I bought in the past.

Finally it's here, the Spring Ottawa Antiques Show! Print this coupon and save $2 off your entry fee. Admission is $8 for adults over 18.

Friday March 25: 5 pm-9 pm
Saturday March 26: 10 am-5 pm
Sunday March 27: 10 am- 4 pm

Location: The Fieldhouse at Carleton University, at Bronson and Sunnyside Ave. Free parking!!

For more information or to get on the mailing list, email the event here. The event manager is Catherine Knoll. Check out their website.

Sunnyside Village Sale!

Just in time for the holoidays!

THE BUCK SHOPS HERE!

Thursday November 25th from 5:00pm to 9:00 pm.

Visit the Sunnyside Village (Bank street at Sunnyside) merchants for great deals and special rates!

Store include:

Ottawa Folklore Centre

Seize the Moment Photography

The Clothes Secret

Grace in the Kitchen

Framed!

Cyclery

Life of Pie

Mother tongue books

Global Pet Foods

Boomerang Kids

Mud Oven

Wag

Out with the old and in with the used!

Hello my O'valliers,

Just a quick reminder that this weekend is the "Ottawa Antiquing Event". October 22-24 2010.

Here is a $2 coupon!

You can also subscribe to get this email at antiques.show@sympatico.ca

Here is a past post about the things I bought at this show:
Antique shops in Ottawa
Things I bought


Hope to see you there!

tom-mac and cheese!

This week has been one of those weeks that are just sooooo busy at work... you need to eat at your desk and stuff your face in about 2 minutes. And so I did :(

But since my week has been busy I had no time to do groceries, and so I bought my lunch! I swung by at Serious cheese... but I had no idea what to get.

The gentleman behind the counter was very helpful. As I was aimlessly gazing at the menu board, he was making a few suggestions. "How about Tomato Soup with a grilled cheese?" I said I am not a bread dipper. Then he says "What about drizzling tomato soup on your grilled cheese?" I said I hate mushy bread and things like hot chicken sandwiches.

THEN HE SAID... "What if I pour some tomato soup in your mac and cheese!!!!" I said... "Now you're talkin' ". (not exactly in those words, but you get my point!)

Here it is folks! He called it bloody mac n' cheese, I called it delicious. It was like a twist on a rose sauce. Delish!

Boy did it hit the spot!

Bon appetit!

For more info about Serious Cheese check out an older post of mine.

Be a social butterfly...

Whatever you wanna call them, they are beautiful!

Carleton University is featuring their yearly Butterfly Show from October 2 to October 11 2010, from 9 am to 4 pm.

It's amazing to see the different size, shapes and colours these wonderful creatures come in.

I might make it out there this weekend... get some fresh air and make room for all the turkey that belongs in my belly!

"You can enjoy the magic as butterflies emerge from their chrysalises and watch hundreds of exotic tropical butterflies fly free in the two display greenhouses at Carleton’s Nesbitt Biology Building located at the corner of University Drive and Raven Road." For more information please email biology@carleton.ca

Hope to see you there!

Happy Thanksgiving my O'valleyers.

"...bake me a pie as fast as you can.."

Life of pie is their name. Baking is their game.

Finally a place where I can grab a coffee and a breakfast treat in the morning before I make my way to work.
I didn't have my coffee at home this morning, a ritual that I have been doing for a while now to save a few pennies. As I hopped out of the bus, I said to myself "I deserve a little treat, what a great way to try the new little bakery that just opened up around the corner!"

I have had their scones and cookies here before... stick with what you know! I grabbed a delicious tripple berry scone and a coffee. The coffee is excellent and the scone was still warm and moist inside. You don't need butter or jam, it has a great flavour and it's not too sweet, which is what i like most about the scones.

It's so refreshing to get a fresh local treat and coffee that doesn't have the green circle on it :)

Have a great morning!

A little history lesson:
Life of pie was originally located in the residential area of sunnyside and Bank in a mud room type enterence of a home. It was the size of a closet! Obviously this didn't stop "the pie lady" to grow her business and open her store on hustling and bustling Bank Street! Congratulations on the growth of your local business!

Check their website for the dynamic menu of freshly baked goods :)

sale: children's book store!

I don't know what you are up to this weekend, but if you are getting a head start on your xmas shopping (:S Oh brother is it almost that time again) you might want to take advantage of this!

Kaleidoscope is a fantastic local kids book store, and this Saturday they are offering 20%off everything in the store!

Personally, I love books... children's books that is. I think they make perfect gifts and they are so much fun to collect. I also love shopping in quainte books stores, the atmosphere is so different then large chains like Chapters. Don't get me wrong though, I LOVE Chapters too!!

I know that they have recently moved (for the fifth time to their fourth location!) and maybe they want to show off their new diggs. They are located right infront of Lansdowne Park, North of the bridge on Bank street bordering the Glebe and the Old Ottawa South.

Have fun shopping!! I hope to stop by and get my neice a little something for her birthday... which happen's to be on Saturday too:)

this film festival is not in cannes!

So much to do, so little time.

We welcome the Ottawa International Film Festival (OIFF)this weekend from August 20-22 2010!

They will be featuring music videos, Canadian, and International Films. Locations are primarily the Mayfair mobie theatre and local pubs.

You can check the OIFF website for all the detailed schedule.

I don't think I will have a chance to go this weekend, but if you do, please share your exeperience and feel free to send me your comments!

Ready, Set.... Action!

mmm... Indian mush!

Tonight I had some "Indian food in a diaper" as me and my sister like to call it. (Reference from movie Anchor Man).

The one thing I like about Indian food is how cozy it can be. There are all sorts of great combinations of "mush" (as me and my sister like to call it) to try.

It's a great way to have loads of vegetables, but I am not sure how "low fat" the dishes are with all that butter and coconutty goodness!

There is a new place on Bank street that recently opened Namaste, and I wanted to check it out.

We had a great time with the girls, laughing our heads off in this intimate, yet tacky place. We got great service and stuffed our faces! And the entire bill was $67 for 4 people. What a great deal!

Here are some pictures of what we ordered. I can't remember the names, I should have written them down.

Today was definitely a sharing day! We ordered a bunch of dishes and had a bit of everything. That's really the best way to try all the "mushes".

We were brought some of these lentil chips, they were very light, tasty and crispy.

The waiter also brought us complementary appetizers, "they are basically veggie burgers" one of the gals said at our table. Some kind of curry fried onion cabbage ball! There was a nice sweet sauce that came with it too.

We ordered rice, NAN bread (mmmm so fresh), curried vegetables, eggplant, butter chicken, and a spicy shrimp dish.

To finish our meal, we were served a lovely cup of fresh fruits in a bowl.. complementary!

I have to say, it's really nice going somewhere and being given free stuff. It just makes your experience that much more enjoyable. I wonder if this was his strategy... am I that obvious when taking pictures?

I should mention that you have to be in great company when you are blogging about your meal in a restaurant... not everyone will wait for you to take a picture before you dig in!

No one is going to want to eat out with me anymore, if I keep this up.

"Wait- don't touch it, let me take a picture... for my blog!"- Me

kitchen stores oh my!

If you are at all like me, you LOVE spending your time and money in kitchen stores! Browsing the latest and gratest gadget that only has one single use. Or the other gadget that slices, dices, minces and makes your bed... ALL IN ONE!
Whatever it is, I want it!

I want the expensive knives that cut your nails... everytime! I want that lemon zester I will never use, because I hate lemon zest! I want that cupcake tower incase I throw a fancy tea party and need to display cute cupcakes. I also want that decorative Kitchenaid Stand Mixer that deoesn't fit on my counter.

What if I told you that Bank street had loads of kitchen stores just for you and I!
I will start from the very south end of Bank street (almost at Riverside and Bank) until the Glebe and some in the market too!

1. C.A. Paradis- Old Ottawa South
2. Grace in the Kitchen- Old Ottawa South
3. Glebe Emporium- Glebe
4. J.D. Adams Kitchen and Home Accessories- Glebe
5. Domus- Market
6. Ma Cuisine- Market
7. ZONE- Market

If I missed any, please help me complete my list!

Where do you go to buy your fancy kitchen stuff?

out with the old, in with the used

What if I told you that there are stores that sell great stuff at sale prices, ALL THE TIME. What if I told you that this same place allows you to get rid of unwanted stuff and get some money for it!

You guessed it my prittis, CONSIGNMENT shops... and what an art this has become!

Here are some of the more popular consignment shops that are in Ottawa. I haven't had a chance to visit them all, but here is my to do list:

1. The Clothes Secret (I buy/sell from this store regularly because it's close to my work!)
2. Hush
3. Heathers
4. Consignment World
5. Clothes Tree
6. Your Choice
7. Pret-a-reporter
8. Clothes encounters

When I get a chance to visit these stores, I will make sure to give you a brief review! Help me make my list complete, let me know if there are any stores that I missed!

Happy hunting!

SALE ALLERT:

Clothes Secret
Now until October 2nd 2010- 10% off for all students. Specializing in job interview outfits or simply getting ready for the fall. Free personal styling advice is always available to put it all together for you!

oh, that, it's an antique...

According to Wikipedia, "Antiquing" is the act of shopping, identifying, negotiating or barganing for antiques. Items can be bought for personal use, gifts and in the case of brokers dealers, profit. Antiquing is performed at garage sales, estate sales and resort towns, antique districs, collectives and international auction houses.

According to me, it's a lovely Sunday afternoon treasure hunt to decorate your house with one of a kind items that hold a certain value. Antiquing is not for everyone. You must have imagination, desire to be unique and be capable of creating a story behind each peice that you own.

Lucky for me, I work right by an antiquing strip in the Old Ottawa South, on Bank Street. As you can guess, I like to go to these shops once in a while on my lunch break!

Here are a few pics of my journey to " The Ottawa Antique Market". I have only recently discovered this gem. It's kinda hidden, but it's an underground maze capable of travelling back in time. From retro teak furniture to old smelly books, there is something for eveeryone!


There is something about old linnens and quilts that just resonates cozy. I love the colours and the softness of natural materials.

I think old lady hats are so decorative, I would never wear them, I just love to look at them.

I have my eye on the blue cabinet ($1,575) and the copper bucket hanging on top ($65). Wish I could afford it!

I like this book shelf if I was decorating a baby's room... not for a long time!

I don't have any use or space for this bench, but.... I WANT IT!!!!!!! $300 thought? Is it worth it?

There are a few more antique shops walking distance to this market:

- Yardley's Antiques

- Upper Canadian Antique Mart

- Find Design (Lots of retro and teak furniture)

- Champagne dit Lambert Antiques Ltd

I may be missing some... please feel free to complete my list!


Ottawa Antique Show October 22-24 2010

Carleton University- Click here for contact information

gluten free, sugar free, dairy free, are these cookies free?

This is the Trillium Bakery on Belmont and Bank street, located in the Old Ottawa South. It's tucked away in the corner next to a laundry mat.
This is a great little hole in the wall that bakes fresh bread, cookies, cakes, pies, you name it! It's not just your ordinary bakery... they offer loads of different varieties for food allergies or illnesses like "siliac, diabetes, etc".
They bake everything on site.
What I like most about this place is that you can explore such different ingredients if you are tired of your same old bread. It also helps cut back on the calories!!

If you are ever in the area, treat yourself to a "something free "cookie... or just go nibble on their free samples :P