A Quinoa Burger Worth Writing About

This is just a quick blog that I felt compelled to post about an amazing burger I ate recently in my Kitsilano neighborhood.

To set the scene, I was out running some errands when suddenly it began to rain... and then POUR. I was caught without an umbrella, several blocks from home, with a what-feels-sorta-like-leather handbag. I HAD NO CHOICE but to declare 4pm a totally acceptable time for an early dinner and duck into the first restaurant I happened upon. It was Romer's Burger Bar, a place that, incidentally, I'd been wanting to go to for awhile anyway. Its location is just far enough down 4th Ave that we rarely walk that far for dinner or lunch, but here I was on that suddenly rainy afternoon - presented with the option of either dining there or running home in the downpour. I chose the former, obvi. That's what this blog is about. You know that.

Anyway. It didn't take me long AT ALL to figure out what was goin' in my belly that day:  their quinoa burger and their watermelon salad. Nom. Nom.

The details:

Keen-Wa Burger: A hand-crafted quinoa patty, skinny bun, avocado aioli, local goat cheese (which I skipped because EW GOAT CHEESE), tomatoes, greens, mustard vinaigrette, and what appeared to be julienned apples. I don't know why the apples weren't listed on the menu, but they was alright with me.

Watermelon Salad:  With watercress, watermelon chunks, feta cheese, and some sort of citrusy vinaigrette for dressing.

The damn things:

I MEAN. Good lord. Lookin good, quinoa burger! LOOKIN REAL GOOD. Tastin' real gewd, tew. Mmm... The orangey-citrus dressing on the watermelon salad was really bright and delightful as well. The quinoa burger fell apart a good deal, as most veggie burgers do. But look at those gorgeous little quinoa beads up there in that picture! LOOK AT THEM! For a golden burger to be made out of something so exquisitely natural and healthy... it's perfectly fine with me if I have to eat some of it with my fingers after it falls apart onto my plate. Still tastes delish.

So that's all I needed to say/show you from Romer's. Probably not the best review of the entire place, since it's a burger joint and all, and you'd probably be going there for the meat and the beefy burgers. But if you're a fan of veggie burgers and looking for a good one in Kitsilano... now you know that Romer's has you covered, brah.

Romer's Burger Bar
1873 West 4th Ave
Vancouver, BC

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This post isn't sponsored. I just love food.

Sophie's Cosmic Cafe in Vancouver

Just a few blocks up the hill from my apartment, there's a very popular 4th Ave diner called Sophie's Cosmic Cafe. Since moving to Vancouver, Sophie's has become one of our top picks for breakfast places... in part due to its close proximity to our home, but also because of their tasty food and fun atmosphere. You've probably even heard me mention it here on my blog multiple times, if you're any sort of a regular reader.

See, Sophie's doesn't just serve up food (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) - they also serve up a trip down memory lane. Every inch of the entire building is decorated - covered, I should say  - in old, classic toys and nostalgic memorabilia.

Even the building's facade has character - "Sophie's Cosmic Cafe" is spelled out above the door in leopard print letters, and the entrance is flanked by a 4-foot-tall fork and knife set...

.  source  .

 Here's a peek inside the place, though keep in mind that I took these photos months ago, during the holiday season (hence the Christmas decorations you may notice in some of the pics)...

.  obviously these particular pictures were snapped back during the holiday season  .

.  this is a shot looking UP a wall!  .

They have cute hand-drawn placemats too...

Onto the food though!

There is a massive menu, so be forewarned. However, my favorite section of their breakfast menu is called the Light and Low Cholesterol Breakfasts, which is where I always order from.

Actually, I always order the same thing - 2 poached (medium) eggs, wheat toast, bacon, and a side of fruit. It's called the Light Breakfast and it comes with a choice of bacon or sausage and fruit or salad. I love how thick the toast is and the slightly vinegary taste of the poached eggs.

The fruit bowl at Sophie's is also one of the best in Kitsilano, as far as breakfast places go. They give you banana, kiwi, strawberry, melon, pear, orange, grapes and grapefruit!

If you're in the Vancouver area and are into yummy breakfasts AND pop culture relics/vintage toys, you should probably head to Sophie's. There is always something to look at, and they even have a great patio that's open during the warmer months.

http://www.sophiescosmiccafe.com/
2095 West 4th ave, Vancouver, BC
(604) 732 6810

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This post isn't sponsored. I just love breakfast food.

Recent Thrifting Scores

Ooooh hey, Monday. You came back. YOU ALWAYS DO.

Did you guys watch the Oscars last night? I had it on in the background as I was writing this very blog, so I saw a bit of the broadcast. Ellen is so funny - she really had me cracking up. That was a nice way to cap off the weekend.

I mentioned in a blog last week that a recent post-gym stop into the 4th Ave Salvation Army yielded some decent results for me. I wanted to share with you the three pieces that came home with me that day!

Grey American Eagle corduroys - $5.99

I've been looking for a pair of corduroy pants for a looooong time now, but it's been really hard for me to find a pair that isn't too baggy or too tight. These American Eagle cords looked too "THOSE COULD BE THE ONES" for me to pass up.

I don't reeeeally like trying on clothes (such a hassle, #AMIRIGHT?), so I kind of just eye-balled these cords in the store and decided that they would fit me well enough. Salvation Army has a return policy anyway, so no real gamble on my part. The pants did end up fitting pretty well, although they are quite low-rise. Can't go belt-free in these bad boys.

These material of these pants leans on the thinner side, so I'm also looking forward to wearing them in the spring and summer, when I can roll them up a bit and wear them with sandals and flip flops.

Taupe Razzle Dazzle sweater - $7.99

I LOVE this sweater. I kind of have a thing for big buttons (there may even be an upcoming post totally dedicated to them actually), and this light brown cap-sleeve sweater has two of them front and center.

I love the cozy high collar...

... and the two cute mini pockets in the front. 

I've worn this sweater a ton already - there are endless options for what kind of shirt you can wear beneath it, so you can dress it up or keep it casual.

Belvedere Vodka tree t-shirt - $3.99

I barely even drink alcohol, so I'm not tryna be a walking advertisement for vodka or anything, but I am a sucker for a nice tree graphic. The Belvedere logo was actually quite hidden on the shirt, so I didn't notice it on the sleeve till I was taking these pictures days later:

This tee is pretty big, so my plan is to rip the sleeves off Jersey-Shore style and turn it into a sleeveless workout shirt, since I like my workout shirts long enough to cover my bum.

All in all, this was another successful trip to the local thrift shop!

I've said it before and I'll say it again... the Salvation Army on 4th Ave in Vancouver is the bee's knees. The dog's tuxedo. The cat's meow. The bear's aviator glasses. (I made that last one up, but maybe it'll catch on?) Clothes, purses, books (including some great coffee table books), 90s music, furniture, shoes, tons of glassware and dish sets, clocks, knick-knacks, DVDs... and all well-organized and reasonably clean. Some Salvays or thrift shops can have sort of a dirty/unclean/stinky feel to them, but this particular one is quite a decently pleasant one to be in. I mean... I still wash my hands upon my return home from there. But I don't have to take a whole shower.

Do you have a great thrift shop near your home?

I'm not the only one who hates trying on clothes right?

I hope your Monday doesn't suck! Cheers :)

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Holiday 2013 LUSH Goodies!

If there's one thing that puts me into a good mood, it's walking by a Lush store. Am I right, ladies? These stores smell so yummy, and you can smell them a mile away. Not only the smell, but the stores themselves are so bright and cheerful that they make me want to eat them. Eat the store. Because they just look and smell that good. #EatinYaStore. #Done.

Lush stores look especially inviting during the holiday season, because they come out with all types of freaking adorable holiday products that they then use in their window displays. So when I saw that the stores around Vancouver had been putting out their Christmas-themed goodies, it was just inevitable that I'd go in and get a thing or two. Here's what I picked up from the 4th Ave Lush store last week:

Snowman Bath Bomb - $5.95

This little guy is actually the popular year-round Lush bath bomb Butterball turned into a festive snowman for the holidays! His little orange nose is even a tiny bath bar.

Here's what Lush says about Snowman:

Our year round best-selling Bath Bomb, Butterball, has been transformed into a dashing Snowman with a festive red scarf and a delicate carrot nose- just for the holidays! We know luxuriously long soaks in hot baths are a favorite winter pastime, but they can leave skin feeling a little dry. Snowman’s generous helping of cocoa butter ensures skin stays soft and hydrated, regardless of how long you spend soaking. The comforting, blissful vanilla aroma lingers softly on the skin long after the bath.

Luxury Lush Pud - $6.96

The other item I purchased that day was actually the very first item that caught my eye when I walked into the store because it was part of their storefront window display- the Luxury Lush Pud bath bomb, which is apparently a reference to figgy pudding. So Euro.

I've never had figgy pudding, but damn is this bath bomb cute! It has the same scent as their Twilight bath bomb, which just happens to be my favorite Lush bath bomb!

Here's what Lush says about Luxury Lush Pud:

This year we have completely transformed the traditional LUSH Pud. The first thing you'll notice is the deep purple color of the base, studded with polka dots of color that float to the surface making pastel islands in the water. Then you'll inhale the magnificent aroma of lavender oil, sweet benzoin and comforting tonka absolute. You may recognize the scent from our best-selling year-round bomb Twilight. Sink in for a fluffy, frothy end-of-day soak, relax, release your worries and emerge for a restful slumber.

Sounds maaagical. I can't wait to try this one! Sounds like it'd be a great thing to try on a chilly evening right before bed, no?

Sometimes it takes me awhile to get through my bath bombs, so I'm not sure when I'll get around to actually using these products. But in the meantime, the Lush bag that's holding these bath bombs is right next to my desk and I've kept it there on purpose because the smell of them wafts up at me throughout the day and I LOVE IT.

Speaking of things smelling awesome, another holiday Lush product that I saw (but didn't buy) was their new Secret Santa bath bomb. Its shape is modeled after their first-ever Lush store in Poole, England and they've captured the quintessential "Lush store" smell and put it into this bath bomb! So cool. I might go back and get that one...

Check out all of Lush's seasonal Christmas stuff here - browse now before they're all gone!!

Do you have Lush stores near you? Do you love or hate the smell of these stores?

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{Linking up with Miscellany Monday} 

New Beauty Products I'm Loving

Life has been VERY busy in the last month since I picked up a side job of making newsletters for a psychology website. It seems like I spend the majority of every weekday in my office chair in front of my laptop. I'm spending more time working than doing much of anything else, which has made for a suddenly boring blog. Not much time to do cool things and then take pictures of/write about said cool things. Hopefully I'll get the hang of this soon and find a better balance between working/living/blogging.

In the meantime, I have had time to make the occasional trip to London Drugs or 4th Ave for a random beauty product or two. Here are a few products I've gotten recently that I'm super pleased with:

Davines Melu Conditioner
I received a sample of this anti-breakage hair conditioner the last time I went into Canvas Salon for a haircut at the beginning of the summer. [As an aside, I've seen Quyen for haircuts at Canvas twice now and have been happy with the results each time.] The conditioner made my hair feel fan-freaking-tastic. I don't normally ever splurge on expensive hair products (or any products, really), but my hair has really been feeling like crap lately - dry, unhealthy, and breaking like crazy. So I headed up the hill to 4th Ave to scoop up a full sized version of this miracle conditioner for about $33 from Canvas.

This conditioner makes my hair feel completely quenched - and SO much stronger and healthier. After shampooing, I just work a 4-finger-scoop of this Melu conditioner into the ends of my hair and then work it upwards, so that I end up using the least amount of product on the roots of my hair. Since our scalps are naturally oily, there's less need to use conditioner up there. I keep massaging the conditioner into my strands for a few minutes, then comb through it with a wide-toothed comb before rinsing it all out. And bam - instant hair model shit. I would definitely say this conditioner is worth the cost - I feel I've done my hair a huge fave.  

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Gloss in Sunbaked
I got this lip gloss in my #blogvancity swag bag and it's one of my favorite items from the bag. It's a beautiful sunbaked berry color that is perfect for my skin tone for fall. This gloss has a really nice color pay off, though I do have to reapply every couple of hours - or after sipping on something.

I like the doe-foot applicator because you can adjust its width by rotating it, 

which makes application easier and more precise:

I love pairing Sunbaked with this other Revlon lip product I already owned - 

a Super Lustrous Lipstick in the color Blushing Mauve: 

eos Pomegranate Raspberry Lip Balm
My eyes are always drawn to the eos lip balm displays in stores because there always seems to be a new flavor that I haven't seen before. After standing in front of the display at London Drugs for a few minutes, trying to decide between the Pomegranate Raspberry balm and the Blueberry Acai balm, I decided that the raspberry one would be the flavor I'd probably use the most.

So glad I chose this one! It tastes yummy, yeah - but it FEELS awesome! It makes my lips feel soooo buttery smooth. It might be replacing the Sweet Mint as my favorite of all the eos lip balms I own.

Have you picked up any new beauty products lately that are really working for you? Have you tried any of the ones I've listed here?

{Disclaimer: I received the Revlon Color Burst lip gloss for free as part of a swag bag 

from a blogger event, but all opinions are MINE - ALL MIIIINE!!!!! MUAHAHAHA!!!}

Inexpensive Vancouver Thrifting

While I was away in Massachusetts, I tortured myself by reading all sorts of really fabulous thrifting blogs. By the time I finally made it back to Vancouver, it was only a very short matter of time before I was back in the Salvation Army store on 4th Ave in Kitsilano! (My obsesh with this store has been well-documented here on aka Bailey. If you don't know, you better get with the program!)

As usual, I was not disappointed and did not leave empty handed. Here's what I found!

My favorite find:

It's an Adrienne Vittadini handbag that I picked up for $12.99.  I don't know anything about handbags or designer names, but I could tell it was a quality bag just by its weight. I can't find this exact bag online but other Adrienne Vittadini handbags of this size appear to be selling for about $180-$220, soooo it seems I got a good deal. I love the brown tone - it will be perfect for autumn!

I'm a sucker for cardigans of all styles, and this loose-knit, grey-taupe Kersh cardy had me at "BIG ASS BUTTONS."

.  $7.99  .

Speaking of cardigans, this sleeveless Joe top  - heather grey with light grey stripes - will be good to wear with cardigans during the fall.

.  $3.99  .

I own so few items of red clothing that it usually leaves my wardrobe feeling totally inadequate around the holiday season. While I'm aware that it's not even officially fall yet, let alone winter holiday time, I still felt like this bright, royal looking red Request shirt needed to come home with me and be my holiday buddy. Not only is it a nice vibrant color, it also features a bejeweled keyhole cutout in the back with pretty ruby-looking buttons up the mock turtleneck. #EatYourHeartOutSanta.

.  $4.99  .

This small blue purse has no brand name or tags on it, but isn't it adorbs? For size reference, it's about 5" long (at the bottom) and 3" tall. I probably couldn't even fit my cell phone in it... but damn, it's precious.

.  $3.99  .

Thennn just last week, I was inspired to go find some great "coffee table books" (thanks a lot, home decor bloggers), so it was back to Salvay I went. The fact that I don't even have a coffee table is of no consequence here, so shut up.

It was my lucky day because they had exactly what I was looking for in their books section:  A book about Boston and a book about K2. Ok, so I wasn't looking specifically for a K2 book, but I was looking for a good mountain book... Um, I'd say K2 will suffice. Both books have really great photos inside of them, which is precisely what I was hoping to find. They were each $2.

And naturally while I was there, I had to check out the tops. 

This black short-sleeved Gap shirt looks like it's never been worn, and will look great with a pair of dark skinny jeans this fall:

.  $3.99  .

This sparkly (cough) Wet Seal (cough) shirt was another premature holiday-inspired purchase. 

I mean, come on. The sequins.

.  $4.99  .

Here's one more random thing - I bought this clutch a few days before I left for Massachusetts in late July because I wanted something gold/champagne-colored to use for the wedding. After scouring a few different shops on 4th Ave, I popped into In Again Clothing (a consignment shop) for the first time ever and immediately spotted this clutch beneath the counter display. It was perfect!

And as a bonus...

It's got crystals on the closures and it's lined with leopard! Holla!

Well that concludes my recent thrifting finds, but you know #BitchesBeShoppin and that I'll be finding more goodies soon enough. Stick around!

Want to read more thrifting blogs? Click away:

Thrifting Finds Lately
Second-Hand Rock Climbing Shoes
$20 Thrifted Chair
TONS of Thrifting Finds
Vancouver Thrifting Haul - Great Finds!
Poppin' Some Tags: Thrift Shop Challenge
Went Shoppinnnn': 4th Ave Salvation Army
Thrifting in Vancouver

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{Linking up with Miscellany Monday, Funday Monday, Tell Us Tuesday, What I Learned Wednesday, Show & Share, and Give Me the Goods}