Blog Podium

I don't even know where to start with this! it was SUCH  a fun time!

Carly came Friday night and we spend the night sipping wine and catching up over yummy greek food. Love that girl so much! One of those people that months can go by and its like no time has even passed.

Saturday morning we headed downtown to Blog Podium and I have to admit I was pretty nervous about meeting all of the amazing women behind the blogs I read every day. The event was beautiful, they gave us notebooks to write in and lots of good information. The topic was monetizing your blog, so there was a ton of good advice about sponsors, advertising, giveaways and everything in between.

The number one thing I took away from it was there is no formula or right or wrong way to do things. you have to just go with your gut. Some things might be okay for some blogs, but if they don't feel right for you, thats okay!

I feel like blogs are such a new form of 'advertising' that many companies know even less about what to expect then the bloggers themselves. Go out on a limb, approach a company or etsy shop, the worst they can say is no.

Its more likely a company will give you a free product instead of money in your account. which makes total sense, and has my wheels turning about things that could be a good partnership.

after that we got to meet the great sponsors of the event and had some fun with the smilebooth!

Interested to know who these ladies are?

holly of holly knitlightly 

elycia (& ivan!) from love elycia

rachel from the paper hearts blog

julie from the life of a cupcake

chantilly from my girl thursday

kait from miss kait online

ang from the sunshine memoir

mel from smiles from mel

and after that we had TONS of fun going out for dinner and drinks and more drinks and more drinks and MORE DRINKS....it was a late night! 

It was soo cool to meet these people in real life, talk about blog people like they were our best friends, and have so many laughs. I had a feeling these bloggin gals would be awesome but I was totally blown away, it was honestly like we had known each other for ages! which, in a silly way, we have..just never in person. 

I can't wait for our next toronto blogger meet up and I'm so happy to have these awesome girls as new friends. (and happy that now I can say 'my friend' instead of 'this girl who's blog I read') 

xox

Sparkling Cranberry Iced Tea Vodka Drink

Peter made me this drink the other day and it is just SO good and SO easy that I had to share it. yum yum yum


Sparkling Cranberry with Raspberry Iced Tea Vodka Drink

In a cup with ice add:

About a shot of Raspberry Ice Tea Vodka (or a little more, ya know)  (I LOVE this one in raspberry, available at the LCBO)
A good glug of Sprite or Gingerale (Glug is a precise measurement for more then a splash/less then half the glass)
Fill the rest with Cranberry Juice

Garnish with a lemon/lime/berry and a straw.

Side note: I love drinking with a straw. it makes any drink feel more special and they also look pretty sitting on the counter.

Okay I know this isn't a revolutionary drink but its amazing and so refreshing and I think you should try it!

First photo by me (follow my instagram @erynackerman and the pantone photo from here) 

ITS FRIDAY!

My most favorite day of the week!

and this friday is especially awesome because my amazing cousin Carly is coming to visit!!

We are going to Blog Podium tomorrow to meet up with a bunch of (legitimate) bloggers. This sort of scares the crap out of me (being more of a recreational blogger and all) but I'm super excited to meet these girls in real life that I know so much about from the blog world. I'm humbled by the amazing women that are going to be there and I can't wait to meet new people and hopefully learn a lot!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Gold Star

Today was a big day for me!


I created business cards for MYSELF. I've had a few work business cards, and I've designed a ton of cards for friends/work/family but this is the first time I've made my own cards to promote myself. EXCITING.

I bought redfoodcolouring.com  (I have no idea why I waited for so long, it took all of 15 minutes and cost $8)

I opened a tax free savings account and invested money in mutual funds. I was sort of hijacked by the bank teller today but she was really friendly ... I wasn't planning on doing either of those things but she made some really valid points and now I'm at least earning interest on my first house fund car downpayment.

I'm learning to express my point of view better and not to be persuaded by others so easily.

And I'm almost finished a huge project at work (our first magazine) that I will be really proud of when its finished.

new beginnings

I've wanted a new start to this blog for a while.

I don't want a whole new blog though. too much trouble really. you already have it bookmarked (mom) and I'm not against showing the process. 

but I've come to a realization about what kind of blogs I like and what I am excited to read and I haven't been putting that forward on here. I FINALLY have a version of illustrator and photoshop that isn't going to crap out on me in 30 days and I'm excited to use it to show you the best parts of my life.

I cant' promise posts every day. 

But I do want to be better. I want my content to be fresh. original. genuine. well photographed. honest. 

I'm excited. 

crack

Alright! This recipe is for 'crack' which is an extremely accurate name on account of this stuff being impossible to stop eating. its SO good.

I can't take any credit for the recipe...I found it on smitten kitchen but I will add in my two cents below and maybe it will help you out when you make this for anyone you love as soon as possible. because thats seriously what you need to do. right now.

Ingredients:
approximately 40 Saltine crackers or crackers of your choice

1 cup (2 sticks or 8 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into a few large pieces
1 cup packed light brown sugar
A big pinch of sea salt
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups semi- or bittersweet chocolate chips (or chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate)
1 cup toasted chopped almonds, pecans, walnuts or a nut of your choice (optional)(I used toasted coconut) 

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 11-by-17-inch baking sheet completely with foil, and then line the base of the foil with parchment paper, cut to fit.
(Note: I didn't use the parchment because I had run out but the tin foil alone is enough to make it not stick and for easy clean up.) 

Line the bottom of the baking sheet with crackers, covering all parts.

In a medium heavy-duty saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar together, and stir it over medium heat until it begins to boil. Once it has begun boiling, let it bubble for three more minutes, stirring it well. It will thicken a bit as it cooks. Remove from the heat and add the salt and vanilla, and then quickly pour it over the crackers. You’ll want to spread it quickly, as it will begin to set as soon as it is poured.

(Note: I would advise you to under cook the caramel slightly because in the next step the caramel goes into the oven for 15 minutes.)

Bake the caramel-covered crackers for 15 minutes, watching carefully as it will bubble and the corners might darken too quickly and/or burn. You can reduce the heat if you see this happening.
(Note: Watch it closely, my oven isn't very hot and it started to cook around the edges faster then I would have liked)

Remove from oven and immediately cover with chocolate chips. Let stand five minutes, and then spread them evenly across the caramel. A spatula works great here. If you’re using them, sprinkle the chocolate with toasted chopped nuts or whatever topping your using.

Once completely cool — I sometimes speed this process up in the fridge, impatient as should be expected in the face of caramel crack(ers) — break it into pieces and store it in a container. It should keep for a week but I’ve never seen it last that long.

(Note: I put mine in the fridge and it made pulling the tin foil off very easy.) 

this looks like much more work then it really is. you really only need to lay out the crackers, make the caramel, bake the caramel on the crackers and then melt the chocolate chips on the top once it comes out of the oven. easy peasy. 

oh and we didn't have any left after our party to try this but I can guarantee this would be ammmmmazing sprinkled over vanilla ice cream. 

recently pinned....

Hi hi hi.... so today is FRIDAY, which is awesome because its beautiful outside right now and I'm itching to get this weekend started. (3:01..tick tick tick)

In the meantime, here are some of the images I have pinned lately on my pinterest. 

This weekend is going to awesome because we actually have ZERO plans tonight (other then Peter just texted me that he is making my 'favorite meal' so I'm not too sure what to expect) and tomorrow I will spend baking and getting ready to host a mothers day brunch on sunday. Then sunday night we have tickets to see Edward Sharpe at the Kool Haus, which I am sure will be ammmmmmmazing. 

any new music your really into right now? or live music you know about that is coming up in toronto? 

middlechildcomplex.tumblr.com

 Home sweet home

 apartmenttherapy.com

mignonkitchenco.com

 Show to Friends

(Source: middlechildcomplex, via betterthanfine, via awelltraveledwoman)

Isn't this photo all kinds of dreamy and wonderful? I am actually quite in love with the idea of getting married in a cable knit sweater. okay maybe not, but maybe afterwards? and have a big bonfire?

I just love the colours and feeling of this photos. its no secret I'm in love with mountains, and water. add in boats and big wooden stumps? done and done.

++++++

I'm starting to plan my garden for the summer. I want low maintenance plants and ivy that will creep all over my fence. I'm not going to try vegetables again...its too hard to keep them well watered (roof top patio) and I have plenty of travel plans this summer that I won't be able to take care of them properly.

I'm limiting myself to small herb garden and some baby greens/spinach.

++++++

also, when is summer starting? like WTF right? its so rainy and cold and ugly out!

++++++

big week at work. (re) launching a development in Mississauga. publishing a magazine. moving our sales center to a new location. still working on the new website. kind of love being this busy though, honestly.

++++++

Peter and I went running on sunday (i know!!) and it wasn't actually that bad. he found a hill in high park (wow first time I typed that I said 'kill' instead of 'hill' ....which is pretty accurate) and its seriously soooooo steep and intense. we just jogged a bit to warm up in the way there and then took turns going up and down the hill. it drains you! this is not a tiny hill, this is more like a steep mountain trail with parts that are actually 90 degrees.
I am better at working out if its short bursts of energy that I can push myself through.

We've made a pact to run the hill every sunday for the next four weekends. wish us (me) luck.

Munchie party

Last weekend we threw an impromptu party in honour of munchies, good old fashion fun and great friends. 

To be very honest we put out the facebook invite about two days before the party and weren't sure even one of our friends would be able to make it. 

The final count was 13, which in our apartment is pretty cozy. 

meet your hosts:

side note:  peter is just the best. I could actually write a whole blog just on the amazing things he does for me.    

first important thing at a party. Drinks. 

I pinned this recipe for mint blueberry lemonade but switched it up for mixed berries and it was awesome. I just bought the frozen lemonade, chopped up mint and added frozen mixed berries, which added bonus - acted as mini ice cubes. 

I mixed mine with whiskey (obv) and after that ran out I mixed with white rum, but it would be good with vodka, gin or amaretto. 

(ps. there was way more at the start of the party haha)

almost everyone brought some kind of food and there was: 

-pumpernickle and spinach dip

-peanut butter rice crispy balls (under the clever disguise of meatballs..lol)

-dominos crazy bread and pizza

-chicken nuggets and spicy thai dip

-nacho dip

Peter made breaded chicken sliders with goat cheese and his own mayo blend. He coated the chicken in a mix of hot sauce and BBQ and they were awesome. 

He also made ammmmmmmmmazing ice cream sandwiches with real chocolate chip cookies, nutella, chunky peanut butter, vanilla icing, vanilla ice cream and ...wait for it...magic shell. These are pretty much the most amazing thing I've ever eaten. 

I also made this wicked stuff called 'crack' (actually so addictive) and I will be posting the recipe soon. 

we sort of left the food up to the person who brought it to decide when to serve it and it worked out well. we pretty much ate the whole night haha. 

played scattergories and there was a pretty intense game of life going on in the living room.

(told you the peanut butter rice crispy balls looked like meatballs haha)

played some MASHCO on the kitchen chalkboard. (FYI - mansion, apartment, shack, house, cottage, outhouse) 

Peters friend JP ended up with a cottage, no kids, married to Burt Reynolds with a sunfire. haha

some of my favorites :)

and any party isn't complete until I serve coffee and baileys the next morning. 

Grouplove

Want to hear a wicked band?

Even better want to come see them live on May 9th at Wrongbar?

WHAT WHAT! I just looked up tickets and it appears that their Toronto show is sold out.

Okay scratch that (maybe there is still tickets available on craigslist?)

but seriously, this band is amazing and a sold out show just proves it.

this is my all time favorite song of theirs:

and a kind of slower but amazing song:

and another goody: 

Any new music your really into lately?