Rhum Corner in Toronto

I swear to God they make drinks here like they do in the islands. I had a Dark & Stormy and you CANNOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE.

The last time I was in Toronto, Marla took me here and I loved everything about this place. It's been open for just over a year and I'm desperately hoping that it stays a long time. Look at this menu.

Not only were the drinks fantastically made, but the food is authentic beyond belief. Also, any place that boasts a homemade patty? Get the hell out of here. I couldn't even find that on the beach in Jamaica. Everything I tried here, I liked. And I think these opinions are especially notable because I'm not really big on Caribbean food since it was always around my house growing up. 

Go, go, go! I can't wait to eat here again.

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

This has been my go-to chili to make for the past year. I can't believe that I haven't posted it sooner, to be honest. Not only is it the easiest thing in the world to make, but it tastes crazy good.

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 1 pound lean ground turkey
•  1 (28 ounce) can of crushed tomatoes (and compare the different brands' sodium levels 'cause some of them are outrageous)
•  2 (15 ounce) cans low-sodium kidney beans, drained
•  1 (15 ounce) can low-sodium black beans, drained
•  1/2 medium onion, chopped
•  2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
•  1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
•  1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
•  1 pinch ground black pepper
•  1 pinch ground allspice
•  salt to taste

Instructions

1. Spray some cooking spray in a skillet over medium heat. Place the turkey in the skillet, and cook until evenly brown. Drain the fat from the pan as the turkey gets cooked.
2. Coat the inside of a slow cooker with cooking spray, and mix in turkey, crushed tomatoes, kidney beans, black beans and onion. Season with chili powder, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, cumin, black pepper, allspice and salt.
3. Cover, and cook 8 hours on Low or 4 hours on High.
4. When you serve it, you can top it with some non-fat Greek yogurt in place of sour cream if you're feeling fancy.

The original recipe can be found here, but my version is slightly adapted/better.

Downey's Farm in Caledon, Ontario

I've been going to this farm for twenty years and I doubt I'll ever stop. 

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Tianna & Layla

In recent years, they've added on a lot of things so there's an admission of $14 per person on weekends and $7 per person on weekdays, which isn't that crazy considering the farm's closed most of the colder months. 

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Yes, there are goats, too.

And there's an area where you can build your own scarecrow. And I don't know what kind of hay they use here, but I built one with my dad about fifteen years ago, so let's just say that it definitely holds up over time.

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Layla, after going to the face painting area.

But the main reason to go here? These pumpkin donuts.

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Pumpkin donut, dammit.

Even thought 100% of the people who I let have a bite of this said, "This doesn't taste like pumpkin" - I still maintain that it DOES. Also, it's one of the best donuts I've had. Maybe 'cause they make it at the farm? Maybe all the sugar on it? I don't know, I'm not a scientist. EAT THIS DONUT! They're seventy-five bloody cents, so I recommend getting a dozen.

This is the only place to be come October. Take your family!

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Gary & Camden

You can find more details here.

“Can we stop calling them “slutty costumes” and maybe say “sexy costumes” instead? Would that be progress at all?”

— #lizadvice

The Raven on The Simpsons

The main reasons this is one of my Simpsons Halloween favourites?

• It reminds me of being a kid. Since the show went into syndication so quickly after it first aired, I remember seeing all of these older episodes over and over again so they're burned into my memory in a way that I hope never gets lost.
• I remember actually being a little scared by this at the time. I think it might have been because of James Earl Jones' ascending voice at the end, but still. It felt weird and kind of cool to have a cartoon scare me briefly. 
• It's gorgeously drawn.

I always thought they got the name for the Halloween specials (Treehouse of Horror) from this specific short and loved that it was based on such a well done episode.

Men, Women & Children Trailer

I can't tell if this looks really good 'cause I'm often tricked by wordless trailers, I always think they look better than they actually are. But I don't know, I really feel like this could be something.

Sidenote: Happy Birthday to my beautiful, kind and original-as-hell nine year old niece, Layla. You make me happier than you'll ever realize and I'll love you forever, lady.

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Those are my dad's pajama pants. 

It's Finally October

YYYYYEEEEESSSSS.

“I would set myself on fire if you ever complained that your feet were cold.”

— Tyler Knott Gregson

Martha Stewart Bedding Collection

This is the autumn/winter bedspread I just bought for my bed from Macy's. I was going to show you a picture of how it looks on my bed, but I'm not sure I'd want you to see my bed since beds are so terribly personal. Instead here's what the gorgeous print looks like up close.

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It's a flannel duvet cover that was on sale for $70 that apparently I couldn't live without. And honestly, after having slept in it the past few days, it's one of my favourite things in this house now. It's more comfortable than anything I've ever slept in, it's weird - I feel like it's almost a hotel bed. 

I'm not a fan of how duvets feel (and I don't own one), so instead I bought this flannel duvet cover so that I could put my regular old comforter inside. That way I have a beautiful, warm new cover, but with the comfort of my old, I'm-sick-of-its-pattern comforter inside hiding. I swear to God it works just as well as with any duvet. I hate even writing "duvet" - such a stupid word. Almost like it knows it's expensive.

Anyhow, if you don't have a duvet or don't like them, then please try out this idea. Duvet covers can be costly, but if you look hard enough you can find a great one (or even better, a flannel one) for between $60 - $80.