Instapost: Joiy

Time To Mull

It's cold. So cold in fact, that conditions were ripe last night for snow. This seasonal shift has us switching the drinks menu and opting for something warmer. Mulled Wine. The red wine base and the eclectic spice mixture have a soul healing quality that only warm drinks embody. Here's the line-up from a recent night out. Three wines waiting for the mulling to commence.

Check out Jamie Oliver's Mulled Wine recipe.

Instapost: More Moët

The Three Moët

When prepping for parties, champagne is usually on the menu. Alcohol can be the death knell of any budget, but not if you shop smart. Moët is definitely on the menu for our upcoming celebration and we found it for a steeply discounted price. I always check champagne prices when I'm out and then stock up when the price is right. Three is the magic number so it was fitting for this particular purchase.

There is always a reason to celebrate, so never be without bubbles.

Chandon for Cocktail Hour

Duty-Free Friend With Gin

In addition to our immense love of having houseguests, is their propensity to stop at the duty-free shop on their way inland. This visitors haul included the beautiful clear spirit known as Gin.
Tanqueray in that noticeably larger bottle that's seemingly akin to all liquor that passes through duty-free shops around the world. I'm sure it has something to do with embargos and imports, but nonetheless, we'll drink to that.

Add some tonic to that and at 5 o'clock, have yourself a classy little cocktail hour.

Sucker For Labels

When it comes to buying wine, my better half says he is a sucker for labels. What is significant in our lives right now or an intriguing image may be the catalyst for a sometimes costly purchase. This time, award winning Taylor's and their darling seahorse were the winner for our tasting night.

Beautiful Bottles

A friend of mine recently posted this photo on Instagram. They prefer to remain anonymous but it's simply a beautiful bottle lineup.

Food Labels: Read Carefully!

This is clearly going to do a great job of "sliming" you down. Think they meant Slimming. I'm sure it'll do the job...

Instapost: Serious Citrus

Epicurious Asks...

This will come as a shocker to all you cocktails fans out there.
I kid.
According to Epicurious.com the  holiday dish people are most looking forward to this season is "creamy, boozy cups of eggnog"

Tis' the season.

Create your own eggnog treat with this all-natural recipe.
Click here. 

Rekorderlig Cider: A Summer Staple

This premium cider range is taking the drinking world by storm. Hailing from Sweden, Rekorderlig features fancy flavors like Elderflower & Lime or Pear as well as traditional Apple. Old world sturdy bottles serve as the perfect presentation for the full bodied beverages. With just the right touch of carbonation, Rekorderlig is a refreshing treat for the hot days ahead. As you can see, we are stocking up...

Sweet Stevia: Coke & Pepsi Go Green

The plant Stevia is the latest healthy trend taking over the food world. It is an all-natural source of sweetness that replaces sugar at a fraction of the calories. Coke Life is already being tested in several markets and Pepsi True will hit Amazon mid-October. Read more here.

Need to Chill Out? Enjoy An Afternoon With H&C

An Afternoon With H&C Ice Co. from Kindform on Vimeo.

Industrie Espresso Bar

There is a new shop literally around the corner. It is the latest venture from Switch Espresso owner Hamish Evans whose iconic Black Betty re-opened last week after 111 days of being shut down for earthquake repair. Organic coffee lovers are rejoicing as the Madras St. location was booming when I went in twice last week. Ok I missed it too and very happy they are back open. 

But what was the coffee connoisseur Evans doing on his 111 day break? Opening a new cafe, of course. Industrie Espresso Bar is the latest member of the Switch Espresso coffee brand located on 4/25 Birmingham Drive in the busy industrial complex where a proper coffee shop was much needed for the early-to-work set (Hours: 8am to 3pm M-F). The open setting with walk-up vending will appeal to those looking for a no nonsense coffee run where the organic coffee and gourmet pastries will meet the needs of all cafe cruisers. With room to stay for a bit to read the paper or a magazine, Industrie boasts natural elements that ground you to the very coffee you are sipping on. Polished floors, vibrant coffee plants, the aroma of freshly roasting beans and the presence of the mammoth Switch Espresso coffee roaster which resides in house at Industrie will all bring you back down to earth and enjoying a quick cup of coffee. The smell is intoxicating and may have you hanging around for another cuppa.

Lush coffee plants bring an authentic vibe to the industrial new location.

Coffee beans before the roasting.

Baked pretzels are sourced locally from Breads of Europe.

Switch Espresso coffee roaster is onsite at the new location.

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Fun With Fizzy

These gorgeous beverages were the hit of our latest morning tea and as much as the adults wanted to chug them down, they were strictly for the little ones. A little treat like this for children is a great and cost effective way to celebrate any occasion. Using recycled bottles with classic straws added that vintage appeal to the morning that the kids just drank up. Nothing elaborate but truly refreshing and delicious. They were gone fast, too. There is just something so fun about bubbles. Why don't you try your own today?

Simple Fun Fizzy

Large measuring cup
Large bowl
2 different flavours of fizzy, soda, or pop
100% fruit juice

Mix together 1 cup of each fizzy flavor in bowl.
Add 1 cup juice. 
Stir well.
Pour into kid friendly glasses & serve.

*This mixture does not need to be exact so adjust to your kid's taste buds.

Want to switch it up a little?
-Try adding fresh or frozen berries
- Use black currant flavoring to create a deep color & rich flavour
- For the adults, add a splash of champagne, vodka or gin to the mix
- For less sugar opt for club soda or a diet variety in place of one fizzy flavor

Food As A Healer: Airborne Honey

The Southern hemisphere is in the throws of Spring and with that comes major allergies and the end of cold season. Itchy eyes, coughing and the subsequent sore throat are just the beginning signs of the changing weather. The remedies abound but what actually works? Mother Nature serves up the transitional weather problem but also gives us the solution. The age old natural remedy of lemon and honey is alive and well in our home and it keeps us just the same. In fact, during Spring's full glory, that little remedy becomes an everyday ritual. We calm sore throats and warm the belly with a cup of hot water, a spoonful of Airborne creamed honey and a full squeeze of any whole organic citrus fruit. Yo. u can stir, let cool or add a tad bit of water for children to enjoy.  It is best served as warm as you can take it so try and sip very slowly. 

If you happen to be on the go and a dreaded coughing fit occurs, just take a look at what  convenient form honey comes in these days. Manuka & Honeydew lozenges are chemical free and are almost completely made from honey. They are made through a unique process of drying the honey which preserves the antioxidant properties and keeps it high in oligosaccharides making them a perfect antibacterial choice to build immune defense. The full range of Airborne products can be seen here. Other lozenge flavors include cherry, black currant, and lemon. The whole family is embracing the power and flavor of these luxe lozenges. How rampant are these sick symptoms? We took a couple lozenges around to a friend's this morning in order to share the goodness. The Honeydew variety is an AHA Honey and for the full range of benefits click here.

Lemons For Sharing

We are lucky enough to live across the street from a very bountiful lemon tree.  This was our latest taking.  Seem like a lot? Just think of all the uses for lemons: lemon meringue, lemonade, citrus slices, marinades and child's remedies. The list goes on so we always have a use for them. Having a harvest mid-winter is refreshing and a very welcomed suprise of the lemon tree amidst the dreary days of cold weather. How lucky are we? The owner of this tree has given us full access as he disdains the sun ripened fruit. We were dumbfounded upon hearing this. But his picky palette is to our delight. He shares with us and in turn we tend to the tree. We also share with friends when the tree seems to be dripping with lemons.
As of this writing, all of these lemons are gone. We are definitely going back for more.

Tip: want lemon access all year long? Squeeze and freeze for everyday usage no matter the season!