Category Archives: shopping

The Mad Butcher

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As you know I want to make Arrachera for dinner on Saturday. Well Gregg had to go to a butcher and order it since its a cut of beef that most stores don’t carry. In the past, we have tried the Mad Butcher and we didn’t like it. Why? Well, the old building they were in was just that, old. Everything about the place screamed POISON!Its was dirty and dingy. The lighting was terrible and the freezers were rusty. We weren’t impressed. I guess that is why the meat that we did buy there turned out to not taste so good.

Anyways, Yesterday afternoon They called to let me know that the skirt steaks were in. So I walked up. Lucky for me its only a 10 minute walk. (It was nice to get out of my condo since if was filled with pot smoke from Dippy below). I got there and was surprised. They had moved to a new building on the other side of the parking lot form the old place. I got to the doors and they swooshed open. No need to touch, that was nice. I walked in and looked around. The first thing I noticed, the lighting, it was bright. THen the cashier, smiling at me and wanting to help me.

So I asked about my order and she walked me over to the butchering area and grabbed it for me. I quickly asked if it could get cut into strips and he said sure but it was already cut thinly.We agreed that I would use it as is and let him know how it turns out. So walked around a bit looking at prices and meats. They have a tiny coffee counter with sandwiches and such. There was also a section of breads and spices.

I was very pleased with everything I saw. I admit that I will go back. Now that the place looks like a real butcher shop. The floors and freezers were spotless. The whole place felt friendly. Plus I like to see the butcher area. If I can’t see the butcher working then I don’t trust the meat. I think thats why I only buy meat from Costco or Save-on Foods. You can see what they are doing.

I bought some marinated chicken while I was there and we will be having it for dinner this evening. Tomato and basil sauce, I hope its yummy!

What am I Doing? Arrachera

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Well I am cleaning. Doing the laundry and then do my workout and after that I will have a shower. Gregg went out yesterday to the local butcher up the road and ordered some skirt steaks that I have to pick up tomorrow. I am planning on making a Mexican meal for Valentine’s Day. Your probably wondering what I plan to make. Well let me tell you.

When we were in Mexico, we noticed a steak that was served almost at every restaurant. Its called “Arrachera” which means flank or skirt steak. Its actually a simple meal. I think its all about the spices and how long it marinates. Anyways, we really enjoyed it. So now I am going to make it for us. We drove into Vancouver on Saturday and stopped by a Mexican grocery store and found the spice we need.

The recipe is very easy, all you do is marinate the meat in the spices for 1 day. Then grill and serve.

Season both sides of meat with GOYA seasoning and lime juice. Cover entire meat with lime and season lightly.
Once the meat is limed up and seasoned you roll it up, like a sushi roll, nice and tight and place all of the meat all rolled up in rolls in a deep dish and pour beer on top making sure it gets all over. If you marinate your meat with beer and you don’t roll it up, you wash off all of your seasonings.
Cover the meat with plastic wrap and leave it in the fridge over night, but 2-3 hours works just as well.
Then just grill each side for like 5-6 min less if you like it medium. The meat will be tender, juicy and full of flavor. Enjoy

I’m really curious if this will taste the same. I hope so! I have been wanting it for a while now. Here is a picture of what we had in Mexico at H&C restaurant/butcher. You get the steak, a baked potato, half an avocado and lime and a hot green pepper. Gregg and Glen both gave me their avocados.

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And with steak you must have a tasty beer to wash it all down.

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The only problem with this, is that I can’t get Leon Beer here. It doesn’t get exported out of the Yucatan. So Gregg will have to have something else. A cold glass of diet coke with a twist of lime on ice sounds good.

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Ikea with Mom

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This past Saturday I woke up feeling really good. What I mean is, I felt normal for the first time in months. Usually when I wake up I sit on the edge of my bed and wait for my brain and eyes to settle and see what kind of day it will be. Well, turns out my brain and eyes were in sync for the first time in a very long time. It was a great feeling. For my new readers I have “vestibulopathy”.

My day started off great. Had coffee with Gregg and then went to shower and there I thought about what to do for the day. I do a lot of my thinking in the shower. I got out and told Gregg I would love to hang out with Mom. He said sure. So I called Mom and asked if she would like to go to Ikea. Yup, and the plan was made.

We picked her up at 1pm and headed out. Ikea is about a 30 minute drive from home. We got there and I could see that Mom was excited. She hadn’t been to this big new Ikea. We started in the showroom area and followed the big blue arrows on the floor. Mom got a bit confused a few times as to what direction were headed, but I kept telling her “follow the blue arrows”.

I think she was a bit overwhelemed. There was so much to look at. Plus 100′s of people. Normally it would be me getting confused and dizzy. We both saw a couple items we wanted. She even picked up a mirror for her new condo.

We stopped at the cafeteria for a drink and to rest our feet. We then headed down to the checkout. We paid and got out of there. The three of us decided it was dinner time and off we drove to the Cactus Club 2 blocks down the road. When we got there they told us we would have to wait about 15 minutes. Instead Gregg saw a table open in the bar. Off we went!Chicken Rice Bowl

The Burger

The Burger

It just so happened that it was Hockey night and the bar was very loud and full of people. It was a bit hard to talk. We each ordered a drink, yes, even Mom. and then ordered our food. It was all very good. We were there about an hour. Afterwards, we headed back to Mom’s place.

Once there, we relaxed and watched the DVD we brought over for her of all her slides we had scanned into my PC. I could see that it brought back a lot of memories for her and me too. Its not see to see Dad in them. It must be really hard for Mom to see her whole life with dad in those pictures. But she held it together and didn’t cry. We finally were ready to leave and had a group hug and said good night. It was just after 9pm when we got home. I was still feeling good. :)

I am so thankful that I had this day with Mom and Gregg. I don’t get many good days like that anymore.

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Sephora

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I have been searching all over the Internet for a few days now for “make-up Palettes”. When I do, I seem to always end up at Sephora. I have found some others but nothing that is as good as Sephora. So I think I have narrowed my choices down to a few items that I might be ordering soon.

First off, I am looking for a palette that is small enough to keep in my smallest purse but also easy for traveling. It needs the right colors, which it hard to find since I go for the purples. I want to have both eye shadows and blushes in the palette. Having lip gloss isn’t needed cause I have my favorite lipsticks that I am never with out. That also goes for my mascara and liners. I also have to make sure that the product is hypo-allergenic, fragrance free and oil free.

Another point to make here is that I am moving up in my make-up. I’m tired of trying drug store brands and hunting for the right product, but its more than that. I want a good brand. Not the cheap crap that high school girls wear. I need quality. I’m getting older and my skin has changed. No more buying crap. :)

Here is the list that I have made so far.

  1. Lorac CD2 I like this one for the size. The colors are ok too, but it does have lip gloss that I dont need.
  2. POP Beauty Now this old has all the colors that look good for me, but I would like brighter color.
  3. POP Beauty This one has all the bright colors but no blush.
  4. Sephora Brand This one has it all. I think I might buy this one.
  5. Tarte This looks like it might work.

Has anyone tried any of these? Or maybe you have a brand that you can suggest? I would love to have some feed back on different brands.

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