February is almost over and that means it’s time for another round of Favourite Things!
CUMIN
John and I went out for a lunch date at a local eatery and it exceeded all our expectations. If you come visit me in Nova Scotia, expect a meal at Cumin.
YOGA WITH ADRIENE
No one is more shocked than me that this is making it into my February favourites. If I had to pick a second (related) favourite, it would be Benji (her blue heeler dog.) #IfYouKnowYouKnow
I have absolutely loved daily yoga videos. I’m so much more flexible than I was two months ago and I also feel like I’ve learned to “turn off” outside distractions so much better after practicing daily. Yay!
- Favourite New Skill: Ujjayi breathing (I use this all the time – on and off the mat)
- Favourite Pose: Warrior 1 and 2
STICKER TRACKING
I have really enjoyed tracking yoga/exercise with stickers. I’ve blogged about this before, but it really is a favourite of February (and 2024 in general).
BLUEBERRY POMEGRANATE AHA
Aha is my favourite sparkling water brand, and I’m pretty sure the Blueberry Pomegranate is my favourite flavour though I’m currently also loving the Our Compliments (Sobey’s store brand) Blackberry.
CHICKPEA SALAD
Can’t stop, won’t stop. This stuff is amazing – as a dip, in a wrap, or by giant spoonful (ask me how I know).
ENGLISH CUCUMBERS
I think slices of English cucumber may be my favourite raw veggie. I especially like it when I leave some strips of peel so it has extra colour and texture.
SRIRACHA CARROT HUMMUS
This stuff is delicious. John spotted it and now we’re both smitten. (The only place I’ve seen it is Walmart.) That said, I still love the Summer Fresh Dill Pickle Hummus the most.
UNBRUSH
I’ve been using a knock-off Wet Brush brush for years and I loved it (more than actual Wet Brush branded brushes), but it was one of the type that had little plastic nubs at the end of the metal tines and they had all come off so now the brush snagged my hair which is pretty awful.
I was influenced to buy an Unbrush after reading about it on the Chris Loves Julia blog; I’ve only owned it a month but love it so far. It is incredibly light, it speeds up drying time because of the venting (though nowhere near as much as the box claims it can), and it’s all plastic so there are no nubs to come off. It feels like something that should cost about $3 because of the weight – it’s SO LIGHT – but so far I consider it worth the investment ($25).
And that’s a wrap on February favourites. Your turn – what have you been loving this month? Any other Benji fans? Favourite raw veggie? Favourite flavour of sparkling water (or, if you don’t like sparkling water, favourite flavour of pop/soda)?
J
I LOVE BENJI! For February, I went back and am doing her very first January 30 day yoga, which I am enjoying, but there’s no Benji. She got him as a gift for Christmas of 2014, about 8 months after her prior blue heeler, Blue Dog, died. So he’s a puppy at this point, and not on camera. I miss him! For March, I will be doing the 2016 series. He’ll be just over 1, and I’m wondering if he will be in the videos? I could check, of course, but I am waiting to see.
I also am a fan of English cucumbers. The skin is so thin, I don’t even bother to peel them. I made the chickpea salad, and I like to dip cucumbers in it. Yummy.
We drink a lot of seltzer water around here. My favorite is the generic grocery store brand, plain not flavored.
Elisabeth
Yoga without Benji? Perish the thought. I prefer her newer videos as I feel like she’s really found such an incredible rhythm. There is something so comforting and soothing about her voice and I like that the videos are’t “perfect” – like she’ll stumble over a word or a direction and it stays in the practice.
Please report back if Benji is in the 2016 videos!
I don’t always peel English cucumbers, but I prefer to peel a few strips off because I like what it does to the texture and it makes them look extra pretty 🙂
Melissa
These are great. I have still not made the chickpea salad but it’s going up the top of my list when I get home. I’m tempted to try the yoga too. I think I did do some of her routines a few years ago and enjoyed the shorter ones.
My favourite raw veggies are probably capsicum, but I also love them cooked. Cucumbers, I prefer the Lebanese with the skin on. I really only drink plain sparkling water usually. We have a zip tap at home that dispenses chilled sparkling water so that is what I have with dinner most nights.
Elisabeth
I really appreciate that her series are short (all under 30 minutes, but most are about 20 minutes – and that includes everything). It fits seamlessly into life and I love it. I don’t think I would have the patience to carve out an hour for a yoga practice!
I had to think for a minute about what capsicum are (bell peppers, right?)! What a snazzy tap!
Suzanne
Wait a second – are we supposed to be peeling cucumbers?!?! I had no idea!
With so many rave reviews from you and Birchie, I need to try this chickpea salad already!!!
February favorites: more sun than we had in January, all the yummy baking I’ve done, True Detective/Reservation Dogs/Fargo with my husband, and the remaining paper hearts on my walls.
Elisabeth
No need to peel cucumbers, I just prefer to peel off a few strips for the extra texture ummph (and I think it makes them look pretty).
Love all your Feb favourites – it is sunshiney out now and it makes me so happy! One of my Happy Things this week is receiving a Valentine’s from you, and we also have all our heart-themed items still up! Why not?
sarah
Oh yes! That salad! I like cocktail cucumbers the best– so perfect and I only have to wash them.
Elisabeth
I like the cocktail cucumbers, too! I find they tend to be pretty expensive (and seem to go bad more quickly than the full-size version), but when I have them – and if I consume them fast enough – I LOVE them. So crunchy and delicious.
Kyria @ Travel Spot
I do not peel cucumbers at all, unless I am serving them to someone who doesn’t like the peel. However, I personally don’t mind it at all. I also leave the peel on pretty much everything else when eating alone (carrots, potatoes etc.) although, again, may peel if I have guests. My favorite raw veggie is probably cucumber (I even eat it like an apple as a snack sometimes when on road or camping trips) or carrots. I used to love a lot of other ones, but they are starting to not love me – broccoli, cauliflower, peppers 🙁
I like sparkling water, and am good with the Costco brand, and generally go for lime or lemon or plain. I find that some of the La Croix (they sometimes have these at work) flavors are too elaborate and would go for the green on that brand too if offered one!
Elisabeth
Apparently, I’m a “peeler” – I always peel carrots and unless it’s a baked potato (or baby potatoes), I peel them!
I love roasted broccoli and raw cauliflower but they both – especially the latter – can upset my tummy.
Nicole MacPherson
At first I thought you meant the spice cumin, and thought – huh, that’s an interesting favourite thing. All of your faves are great! Yoga! Ujjayi breathing (where would I be without it, I would be dead or in prison)! Chickpeas and sparkling water! That hummus looks very interesting – I usually make my own but I might just give this a try!
My faves come out on Thursday this week – Leap Day!
Elisabeth
Oh goodness I laughed at this: Ujjayi breathing (where would I be without it, I would be dead or in prison).
And I am counting down to Thursday. Your favourite posts are one of my favourite things!
Beckett @ Birchwood Pie
I can vouch for the chickpea salad being good by the spoonful.
I’m Team Leave the Peel On for cukes.
Elisabeth
It is so good. Which reminds me…I really need to make another batch!
Jenny
Oh that’s so funny- we both wrote about the chickpea salad today! Well, between the two of us we should be convincing everyone to try it.
I love cucumbers- and I usually peel them. They’re probably more nutritious with the peel on, but I don’t like the texture. But my favorite raw vegetable is probably red bell peppers.
I looked at the menu for Cumin and it looks incredible! We’ll definitely eat there on my dream trip to Nova Scotia (I’ll be having the Hot Yogi Bowl.)
Elisabeth
Team Chickpea Salad! I think Suzanne is going to join the ranks soon, too. We’ll have a whole tribe of people addicted to curried chickpea salad?!
John got the Hot Yogi Bowl and loved it!
NGS
I talked about cucumbers today on my blog! Basically, they are too expensive for me at this point. I used to be able to buy 3 cucumbers for $1 and I would eat half a cucumber for lunch on four work days and a whole cucumber on the final work day. Then the price slowly went up to seventy-nine cents for a cucumber and I grudgingly paid it. Last week it was $1.19 per cucumber and my frugal brain exploded and I didn’t buy cucumbers.
I did a YWA video recently where Adriene sang to Benji at the start of the video and it was the cutest thing. I prefer to do yoga downstairs in our house because then Hannah can do yoga with me and I feel like I am channeling my inner-Adriene. Dogs love yoga mats.
Elisabeth
Okay – THREE FOR A DOLLAR? I need to move to where you live. The best I can get is 1 for $1, but this week I paid $1.99 for a single cucumber and thought that was an okay deal.
Also, picturing you doing yoga with Hannah is too cute. You should start your own YouTube channel. Does she ever bark at Benji?! That would be hilarious. I bet Hannah can do an impressive Downward Facing Dog!
Maria
Welcome back! Hope you had a good blogging break. You were missed! Like Nicole commented above, I thought you meant the spice cumin at first and I thought “ I love cumin too! Maybe I’m about to learn some cool new recipe ideas.” The restaurant sounds delicious!
Elisabeth
Ha! I have a handful of recipes in which I use cumin but, alas, none I thought worthy of sharing today!
San
It makes me so happy to read that daily yoga practice has become a favorite in your routine! I’ve been on a yoga (and pilates) streak for a few months now and I just feel it makes every day a little better. Even if it’s only 10 minutes.
I have bookmarked the curry chickpea salad but have yet to make it, but you really make me want to get up and make it right now. I usually don’t drink flavored sparkling water, but I love to mix it with apple juice for a refreshing drink in the summer.
I have a similar (Ninabella) brush and love it.
Elisabeth
The Ninabella brush looks AMAZING and half the price of the UnBrush. A is due for a new brush soon so I will be looking straight at the Ninabella. It has amazing reviews and seems very similar in style/function to the Unbrush.
I didn’t get around to my yoga yet today so a bedtime practice it is! Headed off to do that right now.
coco
I need to make that salad! If for warm lunch/dinner, a wrap grilled would be a good option. any other ideas?
I am liking short 10 min post run stretch videos. so I don’t need to think about what to do and it helps to mentally unwind as well.
favorite condiment… cinnamon may be one of them, i like to add to coffee, oatmeal.
Elisabeth
A grilled wrap is delicious, but it’s also wonderful inside nori (just wrap a bit up inside individual sheets), on top of crackers (GF beet crackers are my fav!), or even by the spoonful. You could also make a piece of toast and just spread a bit on top. Or blend it up more smoothly and dip raw veggies into it?
Elinoora
Paris is definitely a favourite thing this month. I loved getting to go again and sharing it with other people (my oldest son, and 2 friends with their respective kids). We walked a lot, ate lots of baguettes and cheese and other great food. Too bad we didn’t get to go on the Eiffel tower (there was a strike) but I guess that means we have to go again.
Also, kibbeling (a very Dutch thing I think? – basically fish in deep fried dough). Every last Wednesday of the month I go and get it fresh from the fish stand. So good.
I will so, your posts are starting to nudge a trip to Canada higher on the bucket list 😊
Elisabeth
Oh, Paris is just…*swoon*
Ironically, my husband is there today! Alas, I am not 🙁
I think there is literally always some form of strike in Paris? I think when we were there it had something to do with garbage collection?
Canada is pretty swell, especially the East Coast! A great pace of life and gorgeous scenery. Nova Scotia in particular is pretty awesome!
Joy
I must try that salad! Next grocery trip, I’m buying the stuff needed. Is the chutney better than apricot jam? I already have the jam in my cupboard, but if the chutney is better, I’ll find some. I don’t have a Trader Joe’s (sob), but Wegmans should have it.
Elisabeth
I’ve never made it with chutney (only with red pepper jelly because I don’t have chutney OR apricot jam in my cupboard)…so I would just go with the jam because I think it will taste fine with whatever.
Note that I have started using a food processor to pulse it all together and it’s SO easy. I don’t think I’ll ever hand mash it again…
Lisa’s Yarns
That carrot hummus looks good but I need to seek out the dill pickle one! I am the only one that would eat it but that is ok! I am glad you found a great restaurant!
Feb favorites…. Hmmm… I am drawing a blank. The month felt like such a whirlwind! But I am ending it on an excellent note – tomorow is a ‘shouldless day’. I am going to try very hard to not look at my email! Then I am off with Paul on Friday – it’s his bday and he doesn’t have school so we will have a fun day together!!
Elisabeth
The dill pickle one is so good. Like desert island good (to me).
You’ve had such a busy month and I hope that today is a nice compliment to that giving you a much-needed break. Enjoy the day off with Paul, too. What a special time for you to celebrate his birthday and have some one-on-one activities.
Michelle G.
The sparkling water sounds amazing! I love sparkling water!
Stephany
Engie turned me onto the Waterloo brand of sparkling water and it’s all I drink now. So delish!
I am Team Peel the Cucumber but I can also eat it with the skin on.
Favorite thing of February was getting my Keurig up and running. It’s single serve so it’s nice to just make a single cup of coffee for myself!
Elisabeth
Ohh. Never heard of it; feels like it might only be available in the US? I think I’ve tried all the brands here in Canada!
Single serve Keurig = the gift to yourself that keeps on giving. EVERY DAY!