Three Good Discoveries

Update: I'm still jobless, but somehow the weeks keep slipping by—how is Christmas next Thursday? I must say, though, that not all my days have been wasted. Portions of them have been very well spent doing Christmas-y things (mostly eating and drinking), visiting people, and sleeping a blissful amount. And I've discovered some good stuff along the way. Here goes a rundown:

1. Christmas trees from Fiesta Farms

I love buying my groceries from this store because of its great product selection and manageable size (this ain't no Loblaws Superstore). Their outdoor garden centre with Christmas trees is also an example of excellent organization—the trees are hung in rows with little descriptors (e.g. fragrant, sturdy branches), ripe for the picking. We chose a Douglas Fir for the second year in a row and it's a looker. Pictures TK! 

2. Haircut at Shampoo Hair Studio

I don't have a problem cutting back on most luxuries during these tough economic times. But haircuts? That's a toughie. I desperately needed to see a hairdresser last week, and I knew it would be very non-prudent to go for my usual $70 chop at Coupe Bizarre. When I half-joked about going to TopCuts on Facebook I got a stern warning from a friend who had a nightmare experience. So I scouted Shampoo in Kensington as a slightly cheaper alternative. The service was friendly, the cut looks great, so some pennies were pinched...or maybe just gently squeezed. (p.s. Do under-$35 quality cuts exist in Toronto, not counting those hair schools? If so, do tell.) 

3. Great Lakes Winter Ale

The colder the weather, the more I crave richer, darker beers. This one's a seasonal treat, tasting sweet and spicy with hints of cinnamon and orange peel. In other words, Christmas in a pint glass. I've said it before on this blog and I'll say it again: forget eggnog. Do this. Yum!

Honourable mentions: I also give kudos to amazon.ca for helping me do almost all my Christmas shopping on a slashed budget and shipping so quickly. And my last props go to those PC Blue Menu two-bite brownies, which I didn't realize were low-fat when I bought them in a mad rush, but which still tasted delicious. Keep up the good work, Galen!