Happy Leap Year, everyone!
Our last Leap Year was in 2020, and thinking about it now, how strange that time was, having an extra day just ahead of being locked down and going through a global pandemic. When I look at my blog from February 2020, it is all very cheerful and clearly I had no idea what was about to occur. I also, it seems, did not mark the leap day in any way at all.
Well, I shall not make that mistake this year! I have had a really lovely month filled with good things, so why not extend it a day?
Nicole’s Favourite Things: The Leap Year Edition
The E is for Environment
One of my favourite podcasts, Alison Rosen Is Your New Best Friend, has a new segment called Podcast Pals Product Picks, and as you can imagine, I am here for this kind of content. One of the guests talked about E Cloths, which to my mind means ELECTRONIC cloths, but the E in this case stands for Environment. Anyway, they are special microfibre cloths that use only water for cleaning, and by the time the podcast guest finished talking about the streak-free shines on all of his glass and stainless surfaces, I was scrambling to order them. Here, take my money. We have a lot of windows in this house, not to mention mirrors and my shiny lacquered Yamaha piano, and I am never able to get them really clean. I will THINK they are clean, and then the sunlight will come in a certain way, and I will feel the kind of despair that accompanies what one thinks is a job well done, but was actually wasted time and effort.
NO MORE!
Listen, I do not know what magic is involved here, but all I can say is that they really work. Apparently these cloths are somehow antibacterial and antimicrobial and require no extra cleaning supplies, but that is a bridge too far for me. I may use hippie cleaning products, but I still want to use cleaning products. I’m happy to shine my glass and stainless appliances with just water and E Cloths, but I’m not relying on them to, you know, wipe up food-related messes or clean the bathroom.
The Big Ass’k
I have been on a lifelong quest to be less dissatisfied with my hair, and I honestly don’t think I will ever actually love my hair. I have issues, is what I’m saying, for many reasons which I will not go into here so as to not bore and depress us all. Nora Ephron once said that not worrying about your hair anymore is the secret upside to being dead, and when I read that, I finally felt very seen in a way I never had before.
My lifelong quest means that I am always on the lookout for new hair products. I bought this Cake volumizing product on a whim, and also because it was called The Big Ass’k, and honestly, I feel that the name called to me. My anaconda don’t want none unless…
Anyway. I like this product a lot, it’s really great for non-shampoo days to add volume, and it smells fantastic.
Look at that shiny clean mirror!
Actual Cake
I think I bought Julie van Rosendaal’s cake cookbook back in January 2023, with the eventual resolution to make every recipe in the book. My younger son sternly reminded me of this resolution a couple of weeks ago, chastising me for falling down on my goals. To that end, I tried a recipe that I have been wanting to try since obtaining the book: the Jos Louis cake. I have never had a Jos Louis in my life, and neither had anyone in my family, so we could not compare this to the original. Mine was not as pretty as Julie’s, but wow, was it a delicious cake. It might be the best cake I’ve tried from that cookbook to date.
Now, I want to note that this is not a simple recipe. There are many steps and it takes a while to get assembled. Also, I have no idea how one would cover the cake in ganache without it spilling all over the sides of the platter, but no matter. As they say in Beauty and the Beast, true beauty is found within.
Let My Lust Open The Door
I have a new favourite podcast called Bad On Paper; the two lovely young hosts are authors who talk about their writing processes, as well as about books and life in general. This checks every box for me! For Valentine’s Day they had an episode about – wait for it – obscure erotica. One of the hosts talked about a book concerning a pansexual Abraham Lincoln who – again, wait for it – has a penis fight with the Emperor of Japan to see who will – wait for it – colonize the moon. I could not be less interested in such a storyline BUT the other author brought up a book called Unhinged: An Erotic Door Romance.
The host said, “If you’re wondering ‘Is this a book about a woman who fucks her door?’ well, you’d be right!” and at that moment, I knew I had to read it. After all, let’s never forget I read the Governor General Award-winning book Bear about a woman entering into a sexual relationship with a bear – and not, as my son asked, a big hairy gay guy, an actual bear. Upshot of that, for those of you who don’t remember, bears give great oral but are maybe not so good with intercourse. Or, as I like to say now, intercoursing. Anyhoo, back to the door. This little piece of door-related erotica was well worth the $1.30 on Kindle plus the 45 minutes it took to read. I mean, not to spoil anything, but this is no ordinary door. It was made from wood from a tree that – wait for it – Zeus, Greek god, fucked. You read that right! Zeus Harvey Weinsteined an oak tree and bam, we have a sentient – and, apparently sexy – door. More spoilers! The door can sometimes take on a human form! Sexiness ensues!
But wait, there’s more!
The host of the podcast mentioned that Squeak, erotica having to do with balloon animals, was her second choice in books, and, hilariously high off of the image of a doorknob wearing a condom, I bought it on Kindle for another $1.30. Sadly, this one was disappointing. I mean, it wasn’t really entertaining to read, it was just mostly confusing. There’s a three-way? And two of them are partially balloon animals? But they maybe also turned the woman into a balloon animal by having sex with her? But I’m not sure? In a different kind of universe? I really don’t know, but it only took me about 25 minutes to read so it wasn’t a huge investment or anything. Funny thing to note: the author is clearly using a pseudonym, but there is a real photo of her and a description that she lives with her husband, seven cats, and two dogs in North Carolina and you know what, I like this level of author detail. I also appreciate her level of creativity because doors and balloon animals are not items that I have ever thought of in a sexual way before, but now I’m looking at my doors for a little too long. They seem to be getting uncomfortable.
Girl, Put Your Snowshoes On
Let me tell you, the best thing about having a retired, active husband – other than afternoon delight wherein I pretend he is a door – is the willingness to do fun things any day of the week, and the best thing about having my specific retired, active husband is that he likes to buy accessories for us to do such things. In the fall he bought us snowshoes, which I frankly thought would be a waste of money. After all, we had just bought cross-country skis. This is probably why the snowfall has been so low this year, I’m sorry, everyone. Anyway, after kind of a hectic month of not doing anything winter sport related, we decided to give the snowshoes a whirl last week, and let me tell you, I am obsessed.
It’s hiking in the mountains, but with snow!
If it wasn’t a 45 minute drive to get to snow, I would snowshoe every single day, this is how much I love it.
Outfit of the Month
I had a real Ladies Who Lunch experience with my girlfriends a few weeks ago; we went for a nice lunch downtown and then poked around in various expensive boutiques in the area. When we walked into one store called, appropriately enough, The Little Boutique, I had no intention on purchasing anything. I was just along for the ride; the clothes all seemed pretty expensive and nothing seemed to call out to me. That is, of course, until I saw a soft, drapey black sweater on the sale rack.
One might argue that I needed another drapey black sweater like I needed another leg, but I felt the material and it was so incredibly soft. It was also originally priced at $509.
I mean, who would pay that? Not me, but it was marked down to $119, which is still a lot for a sweater I did not need. But then it was 25% off of that price, and you know what, I am not made of stone. $85 for a sweater that was originally $509? Who could say no to that? NOT ME.
Something has been happening to my body lately that is just out of my control. I am in great shape, I am strong and flexible and healthy, and I am also losing my waistline. It is just…disappearing. Where is it going? I don’t know. I am developing the menopausal woman’s waistline, which is to say no waistline at all. My torso is turning into a rectangle; this is a fact, and it’s one that I have come to accept, and so having a long, drapey sweater that skims that rectangle? Yes. I’ll take it.
I debuted The Expensive Sweater at my Galentine’s party, paired with my old faithful Lululemon City Sleek pants, which have been on the Favourite Things many times already; they are actual pants that feel like yoga pants. What could be better? Other than getting an expensive sweater for 16% of the original price, of course.
I hope you all had a wonderful February full of lovely things – if you’d like to tell me about them, I’m all ears. xo
I think I’m stuck on the weird erotica, Nicole. That door is helpfully #69–no surprises there. I can imagine the bear is good at oral… it’s the consent and communication part that confuses me. How do you do that with a bear?!
You look so awesome in that sweater! Good buy, I say!!
And I remember attending a tupperware party for those e-cloths at some point. They *were* impressive!!
Hmm, I guess it’s more of a non-verbal consent, the international language of love, so to speak? Or I guess interspecies? I was a little confused by the 69 since the door, um, lacked a mouth?
lol, Nicole.
Umm… the door has a keyhole and a peephole, so I can see some possibilities.
I LOVE that sweater!!!!! I think I would also have been forced to buy it at that price (I wonder why it was so discounted???? Usually things on clearance are weird colors or sizes.) It looks great on you, and you’ll wear it a lot so it was money well spent.
That cake looks delicious. On all the baking shows when they pour ganache on their cakes, the cakes are on a wire rack so the excess drips down and away. But I’m always thinking how they’re WASTING all that ganache! At least with your way, you could scoop it up and eat it.
Um… doors? Balloon animals? I like your adventurous attitude!
I did think of doing that (on top of a baking sheet so the ganache could still be scooped) but then I wondered if I’d have to cut it on the rack or move it to some other surface, and it all seemed overwhelming. So, drippiness ensued!
I love that sweater and am in complete agreement regarding cut of that sweater vs the square waistline. It looks great! However, where does the waist go when it disappears!? I need to find it again but I am struggling. I did think it funny that you (who I am pretty sure was in finance before) say that it was 16% of the original price instead of x times more than you would normally spend on a sweater; you are using framing! I have been warned of that! 🙂
I am not sure that I will read the door and/or balloon erotica, but it is fun hearing your stories about it! This is why we have friends in different places, so we can live vicariously through them! Thanks for keeping me entertained.
Hahaha yes I am an economist at heart! And by training!
I am not sure I’d recommend Unhinged, and I certainly wouldn’t recommend Squeak, but they were entertaining and very short!
I was a member of the club who didn’t understand what people were getting their panties up in a bunch about in early 2020. Meanwhile the Hubs made a trip to Costco and bought two huge packs of TP and I thought he had done lost his mind…
Your cake looks delicious, and the ganache reminds me of the German chocolate cake that I made for a friend’s birthday once. 100% pure and total mess but it got eaten.
$500 sweater for $85!!!! No one could pass that up. You NEEDED that sweater.
I am delighted by the bear-door-balloon animal trilogy.
Birchy, when you asked about a trilogy I was dying to tell you right then, but I had to hold out for the surprise. It was a super confusing surprise, but I am here but to serve!
That sweater is gorgeous and Italians know their fashion!
I really want snowshoes; maybe a Christmas gift for my husband next year. He loves to snowshoe and we live close to some great trails…BUT…we don’t get much snow now in the winters…
It’s so fun! I don’t even mind a bit of a drive, it’s so fun and easy to just snap them on and go!
Happy Leap Day!
That cake looks delish.
I am a little scared of those books.
Was it hard to learn to snowshoe?
Hahaha those books were RIDICULOUS.
Snowshoeing is super easy to learn, and I thought of you – Beth would LOVE it! It is just like hiking, but without worrying about slipping on the snow.
Wait, why would a doorknob need a condom?
LOVE your new sweater, which was such a STEAL. And I think I have said this already but I think my waistline is taking rectangular steps as well. Which is a bummer because my waist has always been the only thing I have, you know? Oh well.
That CAKE. Oh my goodness I want that cake so much.
And yay for snowshoeing!!!! I may ask for snowshoes next Christmas. I love snowshoeing.
I love this comment out of context, “Wait, why would a doorknob need a condom?” LOL. You never know what kind of conversations we’ll have in Nicole’s comment section!
This comment section is a roller coaster of fun!
SUZANNE I’M GLAD YOU ASKED! The doorknob needed a condom for safe sex, obviously. OBVIOUSLY.
I don’t think my waist was amazing or anything but it was a waist and now it’s not! It’s unsettling. WHERE DID IT GO.
THIS ONLY RAISES MORE QUESTIONS, NICOLE.
Happy Leap Day, Nicole! SNOWSHOEING LOOKS SO COOL! I have always dreamed of having a winter outside activity that isn’t skiing or tubing but would get me out in the woods. I may have to look into getting a pair next winter!
Oh, it is SO much fun. I love it so much! I’m going again tomorrow!
I loved seeing the gnome helping you with your cake! I’m sure it was extra delicious due to gnome magic! I think I need a kitchen gnome! And I also need those e-cloths! They sound amazing!
As usual, you had me howling with laughter. You’re so awesome!
Salvadore is the best little kitchen helper! I also have a permanent kitchen gnome, Gaston, but he is small and soft and unfortunately can’t hold a book open. Salvadore has plenty of girth to be of service!
A few winters ago my husband went on a snowshoeing/cross country skiing kick and we went to all these classes to learn about the gear and just the mere being in that room while men blathered on about what type to buy and the right boots to go with them and the upkeep and I found myself dreaming of jumping out of the window to avoid gear talk. And I think you have learned why my hobby is books. No gear needed! (I have been snowshoeing and it’s so much fun. But we rented those snowshoes and that is probably for the best.)
I do not care for non-human erotica. There. I said it. I do not judge others for their pleasure, but I do not need door intercoursing in my life. I don’t think I do. Now I’m doubting my non-human stance.
Hahaha ARE YOU SURE YOU DON’T? I mean, doors are everywhere. Maybe, like you look for hats, I should start looking for doors!
Gosh, I never thought about going to a class to learn about gear. I just wore my regular hiking boots! I did have to get fitted for skis and boots but I just did that at the outdoor store.
I am here to talk waistlines. I have always had a nice waist, and I still have it so far, but my weight is redistributing in that same region to include a much more visual tum than before, and I don’t understand it, except that I do understand it as a menopause-related thing, but I guess what I mean is that I don’t understand it happening TO ME. Why ME. Why not SKIP me.
Swistle, I understand completely this feeling. It’s not like I think I am immune to menopause-related body changes, but WHY. Why is it disappearing? WHERE IS IT GOING?
I heard about that door erotica book on another podcast and while I try to be very open-minded when it comes to my romance novels… something about having sex with inanimate EVERYDAY objects feels too far for me. But I appreciate your reviews!
I’m glad you got to enjoy a snowshoeing adventure! How fun!
OMG, I could not stop laughing at this book. I mean, Zeus. Zeus and a tree. A sentient sexy door. WHAT MORE COULD I WANT.
I love that sweater! who would know you don’t have waistline? hahaha… you look great! and that cake looks soooo luxurious! I don’t like frosting cakes as I always make a mess but I guess it can still be done for a special occasion.
Thank you so much, Coco! The cake was delicious. Wait, maybe that explains my waist!
At that price you HAD to buy that sweater! And it looks fabulous on you to boot.
Thanks so much Gigi, it was a steal!
That cake looks delicious, but the steps, gahhh. Still, I really like ganache.
You look great on snowshoes. It looks like a lovely thing to do up there. My friend lives in upstate New York and really loves snowshoeing.
I need a new dry shampoo, so I’ll try yours!
No no, Kari, it’s a volumizer not a dry shampoo! They do have a dry shampoo but I’ve never tried it, so I don’t know if it works well or not.
Snowshoeing is so much fun!
DUH. Sorry.🤣
‘Wherein I pretend he is a door . . .’ , well played, Nicole. Well played.
Love the sweater and I would have thought the same way. There is no way to pass this deal up!
I am in shock that it is March 1st today. February flew by. I credit constant basketball games. Things I loved in February? I would have to say following the FODMAP restrictions, because I have mostly been pain free and sleeping decent. I do miss green peppers, onions, blackberries, asparagus, beans, apples, etc. Maybe I can reintroduce at some point?
Your expensive sweater is pretty and looks like it fits you perfectly. That can be quite a trick to accomplish. The cake also looks perfect, with ganache how could it not be?
Thank you so much, Ally! I am definitely a fan of ganache!
I love your son nudging you along to to cake baking goal! I would love to have a goal like that but being empty nesters I do not need a cake in the house every week. I’d love it but I don’t think it would be best for that menopausal waistline. Speaking of which, I have always had a pretty straight up and down frame. I cannot complain as I don’t really gain weight, but used to look somewhat enviously at girls with these wee little waists. I guess there are worse things than being built like a 12 year old boy. Even at this I am still getting weird bulges around what would be my waistline. Snow shoeing is the best! Unfortunately (well maybe that’s the wrong word) spending 3 months in Mexico we miss most of the Ontario snow…those snowshoes have not been used since 2020! LOVE the sweater and yes that’s a deal you could not pass up on.
There are definitely worse things, as you say, but it’s still a humbling thing for sure!
Now I have Pete Townshend stuck in my head (Let my love open the door)
Oh, the waistline. Not cool, mother nature. My waist used to be so small, but those days are gone gone gone. I’m older than you, so mine is likely more gone than yours. I don’t think my Grandma ever weighed more than 110 lbs, and she lost her waist, and got a little tummy, and her boobs drooped. We are all doomed.
That sweater is LOVELY and I would NOT have spent $500+ for it, but absolutely would have paid $120 for it. I’m glad you bought it and got it for even less.
“We are all doomed” is exactly right, J! I think about the ladies I taught, all in great shape but all in similar circumstances! Ah well, I guess that’s just life and the more we accept it the better it will be.
I am here for a good bargain… and a bargain your sweater was for 84% off! LOL And it truly looks like a fantastic sweater (AND hides your disappearing waistline – I want prove).
Also, I’d like to taste that cake.
Hahaha I’m not sure if I’m brave enough to offer proof, San!
I feel like that was a good deal on erotica *and* sweater.
On dressing the rectangle… I hear you. I’m trying to find a dress for an upcoming event, and… all the options are for decidedly not rectangle-type bodies. I’m debating whether or not I’m old enough to wear a caftan to a cocktail attire type party.
I mean, caftans are pretty amazing! It’s true, the styles right now are all so waist-based, it seems. Waist based? I can’t think of the word I’m looking for!
That sweater looks like a great purchase although I cannot imagine spending over $500 on a sweater! Glad you got it for such a low price!
My stomach is already changing. It’s like I have a butt in front of my stomach/ladies parts now. It’s so lovely (rolls eyes). Le sigh.
That cake looks amazing! What a fun project to work through an entire cookbook of cakes!!
I keep trying to think “this is just a part of life” but ugh, yes, sighing indeed!
LOL– I read my leap day 2020 blog and I was excited because I copied an exam for 1200 students for march 25– WHAT A WASTE
Ahhhhh noooooo!!!!
Is there anything better than a great deal?? I think not!!! I’ve never tried snowshoeing or cross country skiing. I’m paranoid about falling these days (I have osteoporosis) and I hate snow, so I guess I’ll have to pass, but you do make it look fun!
Ooh yes, you wouldn’t want to cross-country ski with osteo for sure, because even a slight downhill gets you going fast! I often fall!