So I was sitting around my house about 20 minutes thinking, “damn, I wish I had a nice cold pop to wash down this pizza (which I had heated up for lunch)”. Then it hit me, I did! I completely forgot about the SodaStream machine that I had been given to try last week after attending an event that they held with Rob Stewart (you may know him from the documentary Sharkwater) so I decided to give it a try.

I had already tried making sparkling water with the machine when i first opened the box, but decided I would try out the pop feature to see how it tasted. The machine came with a cool pack of 9 different flavours to try, so my girlfriend and I opted to go for the Orange-Mango. After about 5 minutes of fiddling around for the instructions (though it turned out to be just as easy as I suspected) I had a nice cold glass of Orange-Mango pop in front of me. It was delicious! Basically like an Orange C-Plus with a hint of mango. (EDIT: I’ve since learned that after making this video, the syrup is supposed to go in after it is carbonated. Oops!)

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The following is a guest post by Amanda Blake. You can chat to her on twitter at @amandablake9.

Planning your perfect day can be overwhelming in more ways than one. The biggest issues related to planning often come down to money!  Stressing about money and getting yourself into debt is not how you want to start off your marriage, so here are some amazing money saving tips that will not only keep your wedding memorable and beautiful but budget savvy too.

NOTE: This article has nothing to do with sacrificing quality, but more to do with coming up with some ways to save money on the most common expenses related to planning a wedding. After all, your big day should be special, but it doesn’t mean you need to break the bank!

10 Tips For Planning A Cheap Wedding

1) Plan ahead.

Planning and organizing is not over rated when it comes to events, big or small. The key benefit to planning ahead is that it allows you time to brainstorm which will in fact save you a ton of money. Venues, catering, and transportation can add up to mind blowing proportions of money. Leaving things to the last minute can mean you’ll be paying double the cost then booking ahead. Putting off things like booking limos or hotels if required can be a very costly mistake so be sure to get these things booked shortly after you’ve secured your venue.  It is also important to consider your guest list well in advance so you can then decide how big of a venue you actually need Continue Reading »

It is the time of year where many people are looking for new patio furniture or to replace their existing patio set. If you don’t do your research, you can end up spending a lot of money for a decent looking set. Fortunately, you don’t have to as there are many places where you can find quality furniture for a good price. From outdoor sofas to table sets, this guide is meant to help you find great patio furniture for cheap.

While I am writing this guide from a Toronto perspective, much of this guide applies to all of Canada because most of the stores listed can be found in every province.

Here are some of my favorite places to find cheap patio furniture: Continue Reading »

Last Friday I was out for a night on the town with my friend Jo. We had started the night at No One Writes To The Colonel and enjoyed several cocktails but were looking for a new place to try. We wanted to continue drinking great cocktails but were also starting to get hungry when one of my favorite bartenders in Toronto, Robin Wynne (of Fynn’s of Temple Bar) suggested we check out Oddseoul on the Ossington strip. We had no idea what to expect, but he gave me a list of 4 different menu choices and said, “Thank me later”. Since I trust Robin’s opinion with the drinks I order, I figured he probably knew a thing or two about great food too, so on our way we went!

Oddseoul Toronto

At first we passed right by the restaurant, as the front is quite inconspicuous. Located at 90 Ossington Ave (tucked between Levack Block & Delux), Oddseoul is a combination bar with food that specializes in Korean-American cuisine. The restaurant was started by owners of the popular Korean restaurant Swish By Han. The menu consists mainly of extras which are basically snack type dishes that range from $5-$7 with some larger lettuce wrap type platters (ssam in Korean) meant for sharing that are $25. Continue Reading »

After spending last Saturday night at Khao San Road‘s annual Songkran event (more on what is probably the best event I’ve EVER been to in Toronto in a future post), I was surprised to see that I hadn’t done a review for them on this blog. Khao San Road is without a doubt one of my favourite restaurants in the city, and by far my favourite spot for thai food. So, why is it so good? Here is my review of Khao San Road from going there on many occasions:

THE RESTAURANT:

When visiting Khao San Road, one thing to know is this restaurant is POPULAR and that means they are BUSY! The restaurant is not particularly large, and holds maybe 30-40 people. I’ve waited up to 2hrs for a table before, and if you go on a Friday or Saturday night during prime time, expect a similar wait. If you don’t like waiting, you have a few options. Either get there right when they open, put your name down and head somewhere nearby for a drink, or order any of their items for takeout (assuming you can get through on the phone).

If you do manage to get a seat, the restaurant is very laid back and not stuffy whatsoever. Enjoy the old school hip hop tunes that play (some say a little too loud) throughout the restaurant while you are dining. Continue Reading »