Impromptu.
A short trip. A must trip.
The mountains.
...because feeling this small reminds me of how big it all really is.
love.
jodi renée

Labels: blackberry, Calgary, canmore, gypsy, landscape, mountains

This became more of a chunky veggie salad (as I didn't have the vegetable peeler to make the zucchini into thin noodles)! Doesn't mean it's NOT pad thai - just my own variation!
Start here:
*2 zucchini's (I used one green and one yellow here) - peel into thin noodles - OR just slice them as thin as you can like I did above
*handful or two of bean sprouts
*thinly sliced yellow pepper
*1/4 of a red cabbage - thinly sliced
*2-4 green onions - chopped
*handful of chopped cilantro (or to taste!)
*1 lime
*1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
*cashews, almonds are any kind of nut really! I substituted and used one heaping tablespoon of almond butter
*sea salt
Chop and slice, throw everything into one bowl...squeeze the whole lime with the olive oil and mix it all up...
The almond butter isn't as challenging as you'd think to mix in, just make sure to toss it around, stir it up a few times to coat it evenly...
Super simple. Great for lunch, dinner or snack...jam packed with water, nutrients, and fibre.
Let me know how it goes!
xo
jodi renée

Labels: blackberry, food, health, raw food, recipe

So grateful for an amazing weekend!
Starts with a sneak-peek of Tanya + Michael's celebration of LOVE! ...
(These sessions aren't for the faint of heart either...a lot of laughter, and often a few tears. I got to see how Michael moves through the eyes of Tanya! And there was even talk of ingrown hairs...?) Yes. It gets downright dirty on set.
And not 'set' as much as SETTING...
I was in heaven with the light! And these wonderful, inspiring people that opened their hearts...
To market to market...ode to my Blackberry camera for these snaps.
I'm happy I have a market buddy now that gets as stoked as I do! Up early ...it's uh...fresh and local annnnnd CHEAP food people!!!! I'm full of gratitude for the farmers and the work that they do to fill our homes and belly's with such GOOD food. How does your family express their gratitude for the food you eat? It's a great tradition that I feel is forgotten...'grace'. And yet so powerful. Children need to know what they're eating and where it comes from...most importantly how hard some families are working for 'us'...
mmmm summer fresh and local peaches.
And I stocked up on tomatoes instead.
Next time I'll have to pick up the fuzzy navel's to brew up something peachy...

I love simplicity in the flavours of food and nothing is better than home-made tomato sauce.
It's as easy as...
*as many plum (aka Romas!) tomatoes as you like, you need and will fit in your pan
*garlic to your taste
*olive oil
*basil -- and I forgot fresh basil so I improvised here for more garnish and aesthetics than taste because...The basil makes the sauce!
Olive oil + garlic will dance in the fiery pan...when the lic's are lovely brown, throw in the chopped up Roma's. You'll get a feel for when they are done by watching them wither (the good and yummy wither!) ...toss in freshly chopped basil
And then throw in your cooked your noodles.
(I used brown rice spaghetti noodles to keep it light and gluten free)
happy Monday! Buon Appetito!
Sea salt...
always a little sea salt...
love xo
jodi renée

Labels: blackberry, food, Kitchener, life, lifestyle, love, Market, recipe

Labels: blackberry, inspiration, morning, morning light, nature, quotes

I absolutely love BC and it felt amazing to be back in Victoria. My unbelievable hosts (I'll write more about that in the next post) and SO many authentic restaurants, cafes, boutiques etc. Not to mention...nature.
Revitalizes the mind and nourishes the soul.
Inspiration overfloweth when walking the streets of downtown Victoria. Each business no matter what they're selling exudes the personality and authenticity of the owner. There's a confidence, passion and story that every person shares while working. A belief in the 'work' they do. I want a little part of that...
I want a lot of that. Made me reflect on how conservative we are here out East.
If we boldly step into who we are and what we believe in then...THAT sells.
We can incorporate ALL that we are in ALL that we do.
Cuz that's real...
That's magnetic.

Here's some gems I came across...
Pagliacci's Italian Restaurant -- this restaurant has been around forever and is still packed ALL THE TIME! amazing energy and ambiance. GREAT food!
(admittedly I indulged in the white bread -- highly addictive)
Skanda -- hello amazing jewelry and metal making, bead threading goddesses! my only concern was walking out over-adorned ...is that even possible?
Outsite Indesign -- Modern organic design for the home. I LOVED this store...and the philosophies behind it all. Design in it's natural, simple form is ...beautiful.

...this is just some quick pics I took with my Blackberry.

Stumbled upon Rebar Modern Food ...
You can pick up their fabulous cookbook on Amazon.
Because the food is not only unbelievably rock-star healthy for you...it's AMAZING!
I know when I travel it's challenging for me to keep up with the same eating routine. Staying with other people or not being able to access my lovely dependable green goods, I'm usually at a lack for ...well...Green! The kale, beet, carrot and celery elixir was just what I needed to re-fuel and the quinoa was...decadent! (can you tell I'm a lover of all green godly things for my God Pod? ...that would be my body...thanks Crazy, Sexy Kriss Carr!) Yep. That book is a bible you also need pick up!
...pretty much sums it up?

We toured to the beautiful Chinese cemetery at Harling Point. The Chinese believing that even Feng shui can apply to burial sites and this particular site is a privileged site combining natural elements while capturing the vital forces (good luck for the deceased and their descendants!) Luck while you're dead?!! It's tough enough getting it while you're alive!
Walking towards the water we came upon this algae infested tide-pool. Me loves me some cool green algae! I think it's amazing when kids can become curious about so much that lives 'with' us and around us. The west has no shortage of of things to explore that's for sure.
At first when I looked into the water, all I saw was this face!
Kinda ghostly...very creepy. So bizarre to think a whole other world lives beneath the surface. I now wish I had of kept the first photo I took of him. Too creeped out even having it on my phone I deleted it.

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G wind down the day with The Show! A breath of fresh air wine that's a lil on the adventurous side. Very tasty...
And often hard to find the delicious wines I sample out West here in Ontario. If you pick this one up, let me know where you found it! (or you can just send me a bottle...or 3. Ok. A case works too!)
xo
jodi renée

Labels: blackberry, British Columbia, travel, victoria

Labels: blackberry, inspiration, landscapes, Oakville, ontario, water

...so much to say
Sweet South Carolina you took my breath away...
more to come...xo
jodi renée

Labels: blackberry, inspiration, isle of palms, landscapes, south caroline, sunrise

...I don't care for your bitterness (and my cracking, dry 80 year old hands that no moisturizer can seem to replenish!)
But you certainly take my breath away...

Off to somewhere warmer for a birthday 'break'...and a LOT of inspiration...
xo
jodi renée

Labels: blackberry, inspiration, Kitchener, landscapes, winter

I pass by this daily. Watching this barn-like structure once just a frame...fill in.
I kinda liked that you could see right through it.
That was what drew me to it.
Beautiful in all it's empty nakedness.
We hide so much from the world, from the people around us...from life.
(now obviously you're not going to stand naked, by this barn here, in front of the cold. Cuz I'll mention that it was like minus 7...that's like minus 50 with the windshield and I was pulled over on the side of the road ...just rewind for a second and make note that I spelled 'windchill' like 'windshield' ...hmmm..) Now I've completely lost my train of thought.
Tangent. Windshield...don't shield! In fact, stand naked if you dare! or maybe just allow some of your 'stuff'...to unravel...
We are perfect. The STUFF is what WE add...to hide
Remove the layers.
The shit and messy so-called imperfections are what make us beautiful, vulnerable.
When I can see through you...we connect
Cuz it's real.

This barn-like structure will never have the same allure for me as it did when I could see right through it...I feel sad that it's covered and smile knowing that I saw it naked ...

stay warm! ...xo
jodi renée

*pictures takin with my Blackberry Torch

Labels: blackberry, family art, inspiration, Kitchener, landscapes, mobile, personal, winter

I was deciding what to do -- I had some time to kill. Could see the blue of the lake as I drove towards Lakeshore. So I kept driving...the water was calling...
There was no one at the park, by the lake. A little on the cold side however everywhere I turned I was in awe. Crystal wonderland of white and blue...sparkly sun and sexy shadows. I can't believe I didn't bring my eff'n camera!!!!
sooooo...I pull out the ol' Blackberry! can you believe I took these with my Blackberry Torch!?
I was honestly like a 4 year old watching all the ducks in the water. Everything seemed so perfect...quiet...magic. This IS 'winter'...exactly how we always picture it...
It's funny because I need these moments by myself to really soak in everything, and yet I want to share it with someone. This kind of beauty in it's stark, simple, nakedness ...
Feeds me.
As an artist, as people...it's important to step out, and away...into nature.
Tapping into the beauty that's around, gives us the tools to draw back inward...to the beauty that's inside of. As long as I have *this* ...I create.

...and perhaps why 'where I am right now' ...is not feeding my spirit.
Give me mountains...give me ocean...even a lake...
Decisions, decisions...

winter love,
jodi renée

Labels: blackberry, inspiration, landscapes, Oakville, winter