Long Exposures at Esquimalt Lagoon

Hey guys! Last weekend I got to play with my new Big Stopper filter at the lagoon. It is absolutely amazing and soooo much fun! I have a lot to learn about this lens and how to master it, but I'm excited at that journey. There's lots of urban and nature landscapes I'm thinking of taking.

I know the quality isn't the best, I was playing around with the long exposure noise reduction and not using it obviously makes a difference. I hope you all have a great weekend! I've got homework to do already, but I'm excited about being back in class. I'm also starting my training to become a shift supervisor at work, so lots of things on my plate, but it should be fun!

Recent Purchases

Hey all! How is everyone on this rainy Thursday? I love days like this, where it's cloudy, slightly cold, and heavy rain. It just makes the atmosphere perfect for getting things done inside. Which I can now do after having a delicious cup of tea in my new mug!

Hello everyone! It's been an eternity since I last wrote here. And my new years resolution is to start blogging back again. So hopefully I can keep on top of that! Lots have happened since I moved home from Ottawa. I've got a lovely person in my life now, his name is Ayden. Work has been going wonderfully. I'm a Barista Trainer, and I am also currently halfway through my coffee master training. I'll be moving in the spring with my dad into his girlfriends place in Sidney.

Life is pretty fantastic right now and I can't wait to share it with you guys!

Steak & Guinness Pie

I just finished making and eating my homemade Steak and Guinness pie for my dad for Father's day! I know it's a day late for father's day, but he wasn't home last night. I didn't think it was going to turn out, but it was amazing! My dad had three helpings, which I think says something about it, haha! I'm going to have to make some more next sunday and freeze them. I used Jamie Oliver's recipe, and he didn't let me down!

Not the greatest quality picture because I used my phone.

Here's the recipe!

• olive oil

• 3 medium red onions, peeled and chopped

• 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped

• 30g butter, plus extra for greasing

• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped

• 2 sticks of celery, trimmed and chopped

• 4 field mushrooms, peeled and sliced

• 1kg brisket of beef or stewing beef, cut into 2cm cubes

• a few sprigs of fresh rosemary, leaves picked and chopped

• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 1 x 440ml can of Guinness (no lager, please!)

• 2 heaped tablespoons plain flour

• 200g freshly grated Cheddar cheese

• 500g best-quality ready-made all-butter puff pastry

• 1 large free-range or organic egg, beaten

Preheat the oven to 190ºC/375ºF/gas 5. In a large ovenproof pan, heat a glug of olive oil on a low heat. Add the onions and fry gently for about 10 minutes – try not to color them too much. Turn the heat up, add the garlic, butter, carrots and celery and scatter in the mushrooms. Mix everything together before stirring in the beef, rosemary, a pinch of salt and a level teaspoon of pepper.

Fry fast for 3 or 4 minutes, then pour in the Guinness, stir in the flour and add just enough water to cover. Bring to a simmer, cover the pan with a lid and place in the preheated oven for about 1½ hours. Remove the pan from the oven and give the stew a stir. Put it back into the oven and continue to cook it for another hour, or until the meat is very tender and the stew is rich, dark and thick. A perfect pie filling needs to be robust, so if it’s still quite liquidy, place the pan on the hob and reduce until the sauce thickens. Remove from the heat and stir in half the cheese, then season carefully and leave to cool slightly.

Cut about a third of the pastry off the block. Dust a clean work surface with flour and roll both pieces of pastry out evenly with a floured rolling pin to the thickness of a pound coin. Butter a deep pie dish, then line with the larger sheet, leaving the edges dangling over the side. Tip the stew into your lined dish and even it out before sprinkling over the remaining cheese. Brush the edges of the pastry with a little beaten egg.

Cut the other rolled sheet of pastry to fit the top of the pie dish and criss-cross it lightly with a sharp knife. Place it over the top of the pie and fold the overhanging pastry on to the pastry lid to make it look nice and rustic. Brush the top with beaten egg, then bake the pie directly on the bottom of the oven for 45 minutes, until the pastry is cooked, puffed and golden. Delicious served simply with peas.

Steak, Guinness, and Cheese Pie with Puff Pastry Lid 

Enjoy!

Update

Hey guys! Lots have happened since I last posted, so here's a low down!

I've officially graduated from the University of Ottawa! Even though convocation was long (and half in french), it was exciting! Michealle Jean was our new Chancellor and she's so nice! I have much respect for her now and when she was Governor General.

I have moved back to Victoria, and although I do miss Ottawa, it's wonderful! Including the rain and the cold, haha. It feels great to have the freedom of a car and soon my own income again. I've been rehired at Starbucks! The store is barely a year old, so that will be nice. I've also decided that instead of going to law school I'm going to try Software Engineering. I'll be doing upgrading this year since I didn't get into law school, so if I can do the math I'll be enrolling into UVICs BSeng program. I'll still rewrite my LSAT this fall incase it isn't something for me, but I wanted to do engineering in highschool, just not the math, haha. But at this point in my life it seems more exciting and challenging than law, which is something I'm looking for. Both are 4/5 year programs and salary pay afterwards is comparable, so either decision is okay.

Living at home is fantastic! No rent to pay, no food to buy! I love it! I just have to clear out my dad's stuff in my room so I can get into my closet to unpack my suitcases and my boxes. Hopefully in October I can get over to the mainland and IKEA to buy some furniture.

I have a bunch of photos to post from Maui, a sunrise from here in Victoria, and my friends new kitty! I'm also doing that friends engagement photos! I'm really excited!

I'm off to catch up on the Real Housewives of Vancouver and Don't be Tardy for the Wedding :P

Maui!

I'm sitting in Vancouver airport right now, gate E86, trying to waste an hour of time until boarding. I am so exhausted. Note to self: get more than three hours of sleep when doing 12 hours of flying time the next day. Not to mention the 6 hour layover. I had a nice lunch, coffee, and a wander around Chapters with my aunt and uncle here in Vancouver! The flight to Vancouver wasn't that bad, but it could've been better. Like involving a nap. Or a tv that didn't have distorted sound and HGTV, Food, and W channels that worked. Because that's all I wanted to watch.

Vacations are the best, but travelling there is a pain! Screw needing a vacation from school/work, you need a vacation from the flying!

I had to buy a new ipod yesterday, as my old one decided to crap out. But the new ones come with cameras! So guess who downloaded instagram?! I did! That means I'll be doing "My Week in Photos" each week! yay! Thanks to Philippa for suggesting it!

I was sweating so badly after I got through customs I had to buy a new shirt. I think it was also just feeling gross after having spent a day travelling in it, and having pretty much another "travel" day equivalent to go.

I was worried about customs because when I went to Florida last summer I was taken into "detention" because someone with my first initial and last name was doing bad things. The customs officer was really nice and cheerful, which seemed out of the ordinary! But it was quick and painless, and boom, I am technically sitting in the US right now!

I feel really dizzy writing this, I think it just me being really tired. I might go and try to walk around, see whats around here. Or I might not. I don't really want to have a quick nap as I know it'll make it harder to fall asleep on the plane. Here's to hoping I sleep for the full 6 hours! I'll probably post today in pictures tomorrow, I was having fun with my new camera :D Pictures of orange juice, napkins, boarding boards, planes, terminals. Yeah, boring, but not. Sorry if this post was completely incoherent. I know it's structure is horrible, hopping from one place to another. I think I'm going to get ready to go find a washroom. Bye! Talk to you guys once I'm in MAUI!

Favourite Songs of the Moment

These are the songs I have on repeat right now!

You and I - Ingrid Michaelson

It such a beautiful and fun song. It makes me want to go frolic in a field of flowers, or relax on a swing. It also makes me want to buy a house in the south of France for my dad.

Sun in an Empty Room - The Weakerthans

I can't wait to get home, get in the car, and put on this tune. It's the perfect summer driving song! And they're Canadian!

Drive By - Train

Another song that is perfect for driving with the windows down, with the ocean breeze flowing in your hair. Specifically, driving down Sooke Road. It's upbeat and catchy. What more could you ask for?

Beach in Hawaii - Ziggy Marley

I'll be playing this next week. CAN'T WAIT. Maui here I come!