Fall Fridays Vol. 10

That is not my tree above. Showing you my Christmas tree seems… too intimate (says the person that gives away any and every detail of daily life). I really just posted that one above because it’s one from a midtown hotel and I’m really starting to hate the picture perfect ones. They’re very pretty, but so boring. A perfect Christmas tree is like that Instagram face you can’t get away from: it’s become mundane. Anyway, here’s what happened this week.

BAKING/COOKING

I made Ina Garten’s weeknight bolognese and was blown away at how good it was. Really can’t believe that you can get that sort of deep flavour in a thirty minute recipe. Absolutely keeping this one in the dinner rotation now.

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Read the full post over here.

All of this post can be read on my Substack.

Fall Fridays Vol. 9

Last week of November! Kind of the best time of the year. Anticipation is almost always better than the actual thing you’re anticipating. Tell me I’m wrong. Here’s what went down this past week.

BAKING/COOKING

I made a new stuffing (sausage gravy stuffing) for (fake) Thanksgiving and I’m so happy with how it turned out. I’m gonna make it again at Christmas to see if my family likes it, but I can’t see how I don’t make this every year from now on. I’ve loved Chef John’s recipes for such a long time and it’s wild that he’s been this consistently great for years now.

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Sausage Gravy Stuffing

CRAVING

A phone-free holiday season. Is it even possible? Will everyone hate this idea? I’m gonna try my best to see if my family can get onboard with this idea next month at Christmas but it might be an uphill battle.

DRINKING

Candy cane cocoa in iced coffee. What can I say, Merry Christmas.

EATING

The Thanksgiving turkey dip sandwich from Deux Luxe in NYC. It’s a “turkey burger with cranberry onion jam aioli and mozzarella, ready to dunk into a house-made gravy sauce and topped off with a stuffing cranberry crunch on the side for dunking”. So good. I love a seasonal sandwich. And I’d never thought of a sandwich having a crunchy dip, but stuffing is such a genius idea.

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Turkey Dip from Deux Luxe, NYC

You can read the rest of this week’s Fall Fridays over here!

Fall Fridays Vol. 8

This is the earliest that I’ve ever decorated for Christmas and I can’t decide if it was a good idea or not. That first snowfall two weeks ago really tricked me into thinking I could justify a wreath here and a Christmas village there, but I think I messed up. There’s something special about December and decorations. Lesson learned for next year. Here are the highlights of the week!

BAKING/COOKING

I cannot wait to make this sausage gravy stuffing from Chef John. I love that man and I love everything he creates so I’m convinced this might change my life, stuffing-wise. (My favourite recipe of his that I make each Christmas is this spinach & artichoke dip.)

Also, I really want to try this with the kids this weekend.

CRAVING

With fake Thanksgiving next week, I’m making this s’mores pie that I make every year and it’s honestly the easiest/best pie I think I’ve ever made. Anyone can do it and it hits every time. I know the s’mores trend is long dead, but absolutely no one says no to a slice of this pie.

DRINKING

Silk’s Festive Nog and wow it was the worst. It was thick in all the wrong ways. Stay far away.

You can read the rest of this week’s Fall Fridays over here!

Fall Fridays Vol. 7

Earlier this week, it snowed for the first time this season in Ontario and it felt strange to have it this early. Usually I love a snowfall, but this one just felt like that guest who comes to the party too early. Like, settle down. We’re not ready yet. I also think I might not be mentally prepared for the holidays yet. Usually I’m all in, but this will be the first Christmas without Baby Dog and I don’t entirely know how to handle that. I know there are gonna be hard moments, but I’m also weary of any of the especially nice parts too. Almost like I don’t want to be happy about any of the moments that she doesn’t get to be here. I find myself constantly thinking about that quote about grief that says something like, “Life really does go on, but it’s just never the same.” (This probably should’ve just been a journal entry, but apparently Substack won’t let you use the backspace button when you’re being sincere, so that’s weird??) Onto what went on this past week.

You can read the rest of this week’s Fall Fridays over here!

Fall Fridays Vol. 5

Happy Halloween!

BAKING/COOKING

I made this apple cider braised pork tenderloin and it was really good.

CRAVING

Homemade Halloween decorations! So I watched a YouTube tutorial on how to make a lifesized Georgie from It and it turned out pretty great!

DRINKING

I have all this extra apple cider and I don’t know what to do with it, but I really don’t want to drink it. Maybe apple cider coffee cake? Air fried apple fritters? Or maybe I’ll just boil it on the stove so the house smells amazing.

EATING

I made quesadillas with the leftover apple cider pork and yikes was it good. Added sauteed jalapenos and onions to it to oomph it up and it was an incredible lunch.

EXPERIENCING

Took a fall drive with Nathan because Ontario is exploding with colour right now.

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LISTENING

To all of the hype around Scream 7. I am IN.

LOVING

We went to the Skydome to see the Blue Jays in a WORLD SERIES GAME and Joe Carter threw the first pitch. How is this real life.

SHOPPING

If you give out candy on Halloween, it should be law to also have a fog machine. Also, the Band-Aids that come with Polysporin on them? Life changing.

WATCHING

I saw the latest Halloween episode of Bob’s Burgers, which was just all right. Have to start the newest season of English Teacher soon.

WEARING

You can read Fall Fridays Volume 4 over here, I’m doing an autumn highlights reel on Instagram and you can see more posts like this on my latest newsletter.

Fall Fridays Vol. 4

BAKING/COOKING

I made this sweet potato kale salad with hot ginger dressing and it was great. I added feta and I’d definitely make it again. Perfect autumn meal.

CRAVING

If I don’t buy these new STAMPS OF DELIVERING STAMPS soon I might explode.

DRINKING

I had a chai latte for the first time and it was so good. I never, ever drink chai tea so I thought for sure that I’d hate it but here we are. I don’t know when I adopted this ideology that I think I know everything, but I absolutely do not. What a miserable trait, I really hope it leaves me entirely someday.

EATING

Forever love a Hillstone salad. That almost-shaved grilled chicken they add to their caesars? Ungodly.

Hillsone caesar salad

EXPERIENCING

I made a batch of pumpkin coffee syrup and I think one of the best feelings in the world is sitting on my couch on a Sunday morning, drinking an iced pumpkin coffee in front of my Halloween village. I DON’T ASK FOR MUCH.

This Halloween village + me against the world

LISTENING

Officially a week until the 31st, so my Halloween playlist has started playing.

LOVING

All things baseball. The great tweets. The Tim Hortons Blue Jays cups!!

Tim Hortons Blue Jays cup, 2025

SHOPPING

I just bought these brass spiderweb coasters because 1) they look like they’ll last years, 2) I deserve to have nice things and 3) the world is burning but I still don’t want cup rings on my coffee table.

WATCHING

Old CSI episodes. It’s been so long since I’ve seen this show that I don’t remember any of the plot lines, so it’s like watching it for the first time again. Love Grissom.

WEARING

My new ivory Blue Jays crew sweater from Peace Collective. Deeply considering these shorts, too (below).

Peace Collective Blue Jays shorts

You can read Fall Fridays Volume 3 over here, I’m doing an autumn highlights reel on Instagram and you can see more posts like this on my latest newsletter.

Fall Fridays Vol. 2

BAKING/COOKING

I made the Milk Bar pumpkin salted caramel pie and it turned out wonderfully! Incredible rich, but good. Also made this easy bacon pasta that was more than satisfying.

CRAVING

All things cranberry. The best homemade cranberry sauce of all time: a cup of white sugar, a cup of apple juice, a bag of fresh cranberries and the zest of an orange.

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DRINKING

This oat maple brown sugar creamer is great in iced coffee.

EATING

We did Thanksgiving a week early, so leftover sandwiches were back and better than ever.

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EXPERIENCING

The joys of October. Weather has finally shifted to chilly, the leaves are on their way out and the pumpkins have been bought. Look at this incredible soap my friend bought me!

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Soap made my Royal Toronto

LISTENING

A week later, this is still me at the moment:

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A post shared by Pop Culture Memes (@bopsandbits)

LOVING

The Blue Jays.

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A post shared by Liz Heather (@lizheather)

SHOPPING

I have my eyes on so many things: this NYPL ornament, this too-expensive Aritzia sweater in brown, this Roots vest in hazelnut brown and these mouse ornaments. And I know I don’t need another pair of brown boots, but these are gorgeous.

WATCHING

I saw the first couple of Paranormal Activities for the first time and they were pretty fun. Also watched the Summerween episode of Gravity Falls with the kids and it was unexpectedly great!

WEARING

Living in this new Zara sweater.

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You can read Fall Fridays Volume 1 over here, I’m doing an autumn highlights reel on Instagram and you can see more posts like this on my latest newsletter.

Fall Fridays Vol. 1

Fall Fridays have returned! Once a week I’ll post about whatever seasonal stuff I did that week so here we go!

BAKING/COOKING

I accidentally overcooked some jalapeno-popper stuffed mushrooms and they became incredible. I didn’t realize that when you overcook a mushroom, it completely loses its shape and becomes almost flattened. It was ridiculously good and I want to do it again and then use it as a burger topping maybe.

CRAVING

The breakfast sandwich from Gud Daae is an unholy amount of delicious.

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Gluten free breakfast sandwich from Gud Daae in Etobicoke, Ontario

DRINKING

President’s Choice French Vanilla iced coffee.

EATING

The Thanksgiving sandwich from Firehouse Subs is phenomenal.

EXPERIENCING

I went to see the salmon run in Etobicoke on Sunday and then went again to show Nathan yesterday because it’s kind of magical to see?

LISTENING

You know the answer to this.

LOVING

The Swiss Chalet Sauce potato chips are back and they remain fantastic.

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SHOPPING

The home decorations from Spirit Halloween really do get better each year. Absolutely love the Bates Motel sign. Even their mugs are pretty great.

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WATCHING

So many Jays games last week.

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WEARING

My first pair of thrifted Guess jeans (thank you Marla) that I had tailored and they. are. wild.

I’m also doing an autumn highlights reel on Instagram if you have any interest and you can see more posts like this on my latest newsletter.

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Navigating November 2023

I truly love autumn weather, there’s just so much vest action. I couldn’t be happier. Here’s what went down last month!

• The best tweets of the month can be found over here.

• I finished up the Fall Fridays series because autumn ends in my brain November 1st.

• I have friends who are kind of a big deal and I make appearances on their TikToks.

@thingsmyhusbandlikes These are so fun and easy to make! #holidaycocktail #holidayhostingtips #gincocktailrecipes ♬ original sound - Paul + Richard

• Finally bought new nonstick pots and pans and IS THIS HOW EVERYONE IS LIVING? Had no idea this kind of kitchen ease was possible. My eggs are gliding in these babies, it’s almost sensual.

• Loved Kaia Wine Bar on the Upper East Side. $8 martinis in 2023 is so unbelievable, I really should shut my mouth about it. I also tried birria tacos for the first time and lord almighty. Who wouldn’t want to dunk something delicious in something else delicious? Duck tacos were incredible, too.

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I think these took off in popularity because someone smart decided not to call them “wet tacos”

• I heard a great baking tip: make whipped cream fast in a food processor. So smart.

• Experienced the awfulness that is Rolf’s German (Christmas) restaurant in the city. DO NOT GO. I let loose on a Google review and maybe that’s cold, but I had to, man.

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A place this pretty has to be absolute trash.

• Nathan was featured again in the New York Times recommending his Gramercy show (which he’s going to tape on February 5th), so that was huge. I’m becoming a regular at the framing place near my house and it’s wonderful.

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Nathan! Succeeding!

• So in love with the new Wegman’s in the city. I wish I could go back in time and tell kid Liz how much time she’d spend in grocery stores as an adult - she’d lose her little mind. There are just too many good deals at different grocers! I’ll never be above a good deal.

• Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you already know how much I loved The Shark is Broken on Broadway. Best play I’ve seen in years. The Times critic Jesse Green is absolutely out of his mind for his review of it. (A deep dive of this man showed that he loved Shucked, so now I know he’s not the brightest.)

• I made a pumpkin pie rice krispies fake pie because my dear friend Casey wanted one for Thanksgiving and it was cute as hell.

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Rice Krispies Pumpkin Pie

• Vowing to get the Baskin-Robbins ice cream turkey cake next fake Thanksgiving. I did sample their Turkey Day Fixin’s flavour of the month and you know what? I respect it.

• I saw too many outfit reels on Instagram and it altered my brain in thinking that I needed that one boring black, basic, long, “evening” coat that every white woman under 40 owns for every winter outfit so I bought the $50 one at Zara and returned it within two days. I’M NOT THAT WOMAN! Also that coat has the worst material, every single piece of lint in the air is attracted to it. Remember when Zara was good quality?

• If you’ve ever used a Half Baked Harvest recipe, you might find this article interesting. The blogger apparently responded to the piece on Martha Stewart’s podcast, but I haven’t heard it yet.

• Absolutely gutted that Duck Season is permanently closed! It had the only good poutine in this entire country. I’m not being dramatic.

• So I’ve been doing this morning routine for about three weeks now and it’s wild how much happier it has made me. I wake up, make a spinach smoothie, walk Baby Dog, come home and eat an omelet and then open my email/look at my phone, etc. It’s been incredible. Also, not to overshare but I’ve also been drinking three liters of water each day and I don’t necessarily see a difference yet, but I do have an underlying better-than-you vibe that has been hard to shake off.

• I don’t want to get you too excited but I am in possession of THE GLOOM ROOM. My overly generous friend Yassir got it for us and my life might now be complete? Words can’t express the beauty of this piece. (I couldn’t stop saying how “coveted” it is in the “miniature community” at fake Thanksgiving and I think it might have ended the party early?)

• My wonderful friend Richard made stuffing as a main entree for a dinner at home and CAN WE MAKE THIS A THING? Genius idea.

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STUFFING FOR DINNER

• You’re already Christmas shopping so just a gentle reminder: get the gift receipt.

• The snow is coming and you will slip and possibly fall. Act accordingly.

• I saw Priscilla in theatres and loved it. It was a little slow, but still great. I also bought the book it was based on, so that review is coming soon.

Some things I’m looking forward to this month: of course I’ll be lighting my bayberry candles on Christmas Eve as well as New Year’s Eve, December is always the most expensive month but it doesn’t have to be, don’t forget to buy your mistletoe, I’ll definitely watch some of these, I’ll absolutely watch The Snowman yet again and once again I’m begging you not to give lottery tickets as gifts.

If you’ve got any interest in reading last month’s roundup, you can see what went on in October over here and you can see more posts like this on my latest newsletter. Also my autumn highlights on Instagram can be found here.

Fall Fridays Vol. 9

Welcome to the final Fall Fridays! I know that autumn technically ends on December 20th, but I refuse to acknowledge that. If I see a Santa display then that means it’s Christmas. The seasons (as I know them) are: spring, hell, autumn, Christmas, winter - I don’t make the rules.

BAKING/COOKING

I made a rice krispies pumpkin pie for American Thanksgiving and it turned out pretty well! Kind of a perfect dessert for a kids table.

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Rice krispies pumpkin pie

CRAVING

The duck confit poutine from Duck Season at the Union Square Holiday Market that reopened this week.

DRINKING

Spinach smoothies in the morning as soon as I wake up. I never thought I’d get into it, but it’s annoying how good it makes me feel.

EATING

I’ve started making omelets with caramelized onions and goat cheese daily and I have to tell you: it really makes you think you’re better than other people. It’s so fast and easy and delicious that I’m a little mad I didn’t start doing this sooner.

EXPERIENCING

I went to see the miniature train exhibit at the New York Transit Museum (in Grand Central Station). I don’t know when my passion for miniatures began, but it’s deepening at an alarming pace.

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Miniature trains display at Grand Central Station, NYC

LISTENING

It’s Black Friday, so the Christmas playlist is officially playing.

LOVING

Family Matters Christmas episodes. I should probably do a post on other sitcom Christmas episodes, I can sense how much you want that.

SHOPPING

Got some gingerbread whipped cream from Target for the rice krispies and whoa. It would be heavenly in a mug of hot chocolate.

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Gingerbread whipped cream at Target

WATCHING

I watched the new episodes of The Crown and this show is just sick. Showing conversations between two dead people that no one can corroborate? Get a life.

WEARING

Sometimes I wear all one colour and it tricks me into thinking I’m stylish. Sometimes it works and then sometimes I look like a farmer.

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“She could be a farmer in those clothes.”

These weekly roundups have been really fun to do, so don’t be surprised if Winter Wednesdays turn up in a few weeks…

And you can see more posts like this on my latest newsletter.