A nice Sunday spent in the kitchen…
- Sunday sustenance…straight up avocado on barley toast. Chilis and sea salt and (just a little) olive oil.
The Versatile Blogger award – a nice little shout out and a chance to talk about your favorite blogs!
(I really love awards, this is pretty fun – thanks to those who shared the love!).
Truthfully, I owe a shout-out to 3 bloggers who have so kindly nominated this blog for the Versatile Blogger award – it is now time I bestow the honor back or onward to others! For those about to be nominated, here are the rules:
The rules for the award are:
- Thank the person who nominated you and link back to them in your post.
- Share 7 things about yourself.
- Pass the award on to 15 more bloggers that you enjoy.
- Contact the bloggers that you have chosen to let them know that they have been nominated!
So here I go..ready?
IPOM thanks the following 3 bloggers for the nomination:
- Cognitive Dimension (in and out of your mind)
- Slotheatz (super positive high energy and fresh healthy awesomeness)(I would nominate her but alas she’s already been, but do check her out!)
- The Veggie Nook (totally super positive and healthy outlook on vegan food)(ditto same as slotheatz above)
And here I go with my 7 things..
- I live and work in beautiful Vancouver, BC, surrounded by majestic mountains and endless water.
- I don’t swim or ski despite the above (insert irony here).
- I am mother to two daughters. Thankfully only one of them is a lot like me (hehe).
- I am a runner (and occasional gym rat) but have also enjoyed stints with yoga, most notably Bikram’s. I get super grumpy without fresh air!
- I am a lifelong vegetarian (and I married someone who isn’t), but have always been drawn to raw foods and dairy free living (I just feel better). I like simple food made with few quality ingredients, and I love making and preparing food for others.
- IPOM was started so I could connect, share recipes, write, and generally have fun with food with a ‘less is more’ approach. Y’all are not disappointing (insert big thumbs up here) – and thanks for all the support so far!
- I started a non-profit organization called Not So Fast which aims at providing hunger relief through the premise of ‘going without so others don’t have to’. I make a conscious effort to take part once weekly by abstaining from something and donating a small amount of money to feed the hungry.
How was that? Okay here’s the good part..
15 bloggers I enjoy visiting often or have just discovered (and am excited about) are:
- Spaark – art inspiration from Whistler, BC, (also my best friend)
- While Chasing Kids – gorgeous, homemade, rustic food photographed splendidly!
- Just Homemade – inspiring, authentic Indian food, need I say more?
- An Unrefined Vegan – stylishly put together, super awesome vegan stuff – love it!
- Marina Chetner – wonderful travel photography from Brooklyn and elsewhere. Great insider looks into some cool parts of the world, most notably New York. My Favorite
- Cooking Spree – lovely homey foods photographed beautifully. I am a sucker for elegant simplicity, and this site delivers!
- Handmake My Life – super quirky and personal looks at crafting and links to DIY inspiration. Great style I really enjoy.
- Stay Flexi With Lexi – a super look into how to live a flexitarian lifestyle, with Alexa and her juice!
- This Sydney Life – Wonderful quirk and style are 2 of my favorite qualities, and this Sydney, Australia blog offers lots! Fun to make friends from across the world!
- Frugal Feeding – already a popular blog, I still have to mention that I love what this blog is all about: living well on littl(er) means.
- Vegetarian Epicurian – lovely vegetarian recipes featured by a fellow kale lover!
- she cooks, she gardens – inspired, clean eating lifestyle – lovely! I love all references to gardens..
- People, Places, and Bling – a look at how to shop (with savvy too!) and live like a local in Paris. Sign me up!
- Emmy Cooks – cooking in Seattle – she raises children, chickens, “and–occasionally–a ruckus”! Great!
- The Plum Palate – regional food simply and expertly prepared – love this concept!
Here are a few more: the already nominated and ever entertaining slotheatz and the veggie nook, Anna at The Guiltless Life (a fellow Vancouverite and inspiring blogger!), Fork and Beans, (Just a Litte Joy) – I fell in love at the name, never mind the lovely design and lastly, for inspiration krista and jess & shebicycles – the most newly discovered via Freshly Pressed!
I am sure I just broke a few rules there as there are still a lot of names I want to put down….there are just so many fantastic and enthusiastic bloggers out there!
“It is better to travel well than to arrive”
~ Buddha (recently snatched from the Home page of shebicycles)
So there we have it (I hope you guys are still with me) – I am now looking forward to next week..the next post (I promise) to feature the ridiculous kale pesto I keep talking about (I promise it exists).
Here is a little piece I like to call ‘a little fun with iphones’ – by none other than the ever creative young one in this house.
Thanks again to those who nominated IPOM, you guys are awesome! I am off now to enjoy the remaining hours of the weekend.
How did you enjoy your weekend?
We spent a fair bit of time dancing, as you can see.
Happy Sunday!
Yours in Less,
Thank you for this! Followed a few of your recommendations.
Wonderful! I hope you find some gems!
Super cool!! Thank you
Thank you Alexa! Have fun with it
Loved hearing a bit more about you!
I wish I had the gorgeous scenery you get to enjoy! Sooo jealous of where you live, and I don’t ski either
Haha – you too! I know, one day maybe I will ski..I always love when we are in Whistler and the house is empty. Quiet reading time looking out the window is my favorite way to enjoy the mountains here (while they are all out)
Perhaps a visit to Vancouver is in order for you, it’s lovely if you can handle all the rain..!
Wow! Congratulations to you, Shira on your blog award (so very well deserved) AND a big thanks to the Academy (that would be you!) for my wee nomination. How fabulous of you! It’s going to take me ages to check out all these new finds…
Couple of small things – I love avocado on toast, too (quite a lot, actually) but I would sub a little lemon juice for the EVOO and add a smidge of organic garlic. Also, I can’t believe you live in Vancouver and don’t ski. How can this be, Vancouver-girl?
Cheers again from down under!
Oh how I have come to look forward to your comments – I always get a smile! I know, blasphemous I do not hit the slopes – even more funny considering we spend copious amounts of time in Whistler (our bf’s are there)! Maybe one day for this born and bred West Coaster
Love the lemon juice suggestion, yes, and garlic would be smashing! This what how it was served at my fave NYC haunt (I mention it briefly in an earlier post too I was so happy)…ooh, I think great minds think alike and/or enjoy the same foods!
Have fun with the VB post! Cheers!
OK – ever so slightly slightly spooky… Just had a squizz at the original avo’ on toast post (ha – I’m a rhyming blogger!) We were in NY last October and our favourite breakfast spot, including the best coffee we found in NY, was , CAFE GITANE!!! How’s that for 6 degrees of separation, Girlfriend?
Um, OMG! Totally, cra-zay!!! I am telling you, it’s a tribe thing! Too too bizarre! I am actually speechless – we were just there a month after you
Isn’t it just the best?! Wow, I am blown away – I wonder what other same places we both hit in my favorite destination city ever (except Paris)…! Hail toast and avocado!
Shira,
Looks like we have similar minds
It seems like a cool co-incidence of sorts to bump into someone (virtually) who believes in “less is more”. I am in great realization of the same lately and it almost feels like ‘Deja vu’
Thank you for honoring Just Homemade
Humbled and happy at once..
BTW, a very ditto Avocado sandwich is what we are hooked onto lately! (including for breakfast this morning)
So many parallels here…just finding others who love my favorite sustenance brings me joy enough
Love that you share this realization, I am looking forward to your thoughts and sharing! Love, love your blog, it’s just beautiful in every way! Thank you Radhika!
congratulations on your award!! And thank you mentioning my blog – such a fun start my week! If you need any Bikram yoga tips, ask me!
Thanks so much Marina! I really enjoy your blog – it’s so inspiring and totally takes me away….:) Me and Bikram’s, it’s a tumultuous relationship, I could probably start an entire blog just on that topic! Do you practice regularly?
I am glad my blog does that! That’s a perfect compliment. I think you’ll find alot of Bikram dedicated blogs online
I do practice it regularly!
Yes, I fell in love too! (Like, really, it’s amazing!) – I had a really hard time as I wanted to practice 4-5 days a week but sorely missed my running – just couldn’t do it all! I am a runner 1st as it is my love, but man, if I had the time I would do it all!
Actually, there was a guy in class today, who said that max 3 times a week is good for him to take class as he’s a marathon runner. So maybe that’s a good aim?!
Totally tried it! You know too once you fall out of practice it’s a nightmare getting it back (that’s what I dread now)…one day! Love hearing about others who love it, Bikram’s book is a great read if you haven’t read it yet!
Thanks so much for the award, Shira. You’ve linked to some fab blogs that I wasn’t aware of, seems I need to get reading! I love Avocado on toast, it’s a regular mid-week lunch for me, I love mine with a splash of lime and black pepper.
Thanks Erin! Your blog is very inspiring…was looking through all your gardening posts and photos and feeling inspired! I love to garden too, something about soil makes my heart race..looking forward to spring! Thanks!
Cheers!
That is lovely and exactly why I wanted to get started on the blog. I envy you guys (in a good way!) heading into spring, we’ve had a hard summer here, lots of rain and colder days making gardening tough. I’m looking forward to planting out the winter crops though, hopefully they will be more succesful.
We had a similar growing season last year – I hope it’s much better here too! We had a glorious day here and looking forward to a string of them. It’s about time
Thanks for the comment, looking forward – good luck with the winter crops!
Shira, thank you so much for the kind words! Tickles me pink that you like my blog!
loved learning more about you! And am looking forward to visiting the peeps whose sites you like! Vancouver BC is one of my favorite cities – in my mind, a place that “has it all”! Thanks again Shira! And congratulations on your Versatility!
Thank you Spree! Vancouver is indeed gorgeous and having lived here all my life I am here to stay for sure
It’s my pleasure, I really enjoy what you are doing! 
Thanks so much for the compliment, I’m glad that you’re enjoying reading Emmy Cooks! And your picture up top is making me hungry–good thing it’s breakfast time and I have a ripe avocado handy!
My pleasure! I love to hear from fellow avocado lovers too
Thanks for the comment and your support! Cheers!
Dear Shira, Thank you!! And congratulations! As you know, I’m a big fan of your “In Pursuit of More” site. It’s consistently witty and very informative. And very pretty! I love your gorgeous photography, spiffy layouts, recipes (especially the avocado on barley toast–oh, my!). Bravo! (And thanks!!) Theadora
And yes, I’m mad, mad, mad about avocados. I’m off to the kitchen now. . .)
Oh thank you so much Theadora! That is so very kind and thoughtful of you – I am so happy you enjoy it!
Have fun with your nomination! I am so happy I found your blog too!
Love to hear passionate exclamations about my favorite food too
congratulations; your blog definitely deserves the award! that avocado on toast is simply mouthwatering. great picture and a great way to celebrate simple things!
Thanks so much! I thought it time for a shout out to my favorite meal of all time pretty much! Thanks again
Congratulations to you! And – - thank you, thank you! I’m honored! I’m so impressed with your blog and your story – and receiving this from you really is wonderful. Apologies for the delayed response, I’ve been traveling. Anyway, lovely surprise!
Totally my pleasure – and thank you for the most kind words! It means a lot
I hope your traveling is enjoyable (and hopefully for pleasure but either way – enjoy!)….looking forward, cheers! ~ S
This is a lovely group of blogs – I’m honored that you included us! Thank you! I’ve joined the In Pursuit of More fan club, too. Gorgeous all the way around. And I loved reading a little bit more about you, too. Glad to be part of celebrating simple, good food with you!
Thank you very much! I really appreciate your very kind words – I really love what you are doing as well!! Thank you for your support!
she’s a cutie!
congrats on your nomination.
Thanks so much! She’s a good little dancer too
Cheers!!
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