Short and sweet

This will be short and oh-so-sweet. Food-related weakness #2: Cold Stone Cake Batter ice cream with cookie dough.



There is just something about that artificial cake flavour that brings me back to my spatula licking days as a kid. And obviously I would add cookie dough. Duh.

Buyer beware…if you can’t take really sweet dessert, don’t even attempt to try this combo.

Wasabi is green...

St. Paddy’s day 2010! I spent this year’s St. Paddy’s at the Brazen Head in Liberty Village (TO). Besides an ill-timed decision to move onto the patio as the warm sun was about to set (it’s still freezing), I had a great time with friends.







As always, eating was my priority. In true Irish fashion I ordered the only corned beef item on the menu (I'm actually 1/4 Irish <3 Nana <3). I love love love corned beef, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that this Canadian pub variety was actually quite good. Unfortunately I do not have pictures for you as I was too excited and devoured it all in 4.5 minutes. Much later that day my friend Carmen and I ventured out to Sushi & Bento on King St. W (King W & Portland) for more authentically Irish fare…sushi. Sometimes I just need spicy salmon rolls (not want, need). Carmen had a sushi bento box. I, still full of Harp was in more of a snacking mood.



Carmen's meal

My spicy salmon rolls a.k.a "Kara's kryptonite"


My veggie tempura tower

I really liked what I had. My spicy salmon rolls were actually kind of spicy, and my tempura was good too (though how you could go wrong with fried anything is beyond me). Normally I don’t EVER venture into a sushi place without it having first been recommended to me by someone. Good sushi is good, bad sushi is inedible. I was relieved to find that their fish was fresh and their service was friendly. Our waitress even asked us why everyone was wearing green and drinking so early on a Wednesday.

Carmen did find her bento box a tad bit pricey though (around $15 if I remember correctly). I however did not find that, but hey, I ordered my "snacky" things. I would definitely return to Sushi & Bento.

Ellen saves Idol

At the beginning of the newest season of American Idol (I think we’re on the 139th now), the show’s producers added daytime talk show phenom Ellen DeGeneres to the judge’s table. From what I hear on the street (O.K. fine…from what my mom tells me), the comedienne has breathed new life into the FOX show. Though Idol still holds the top ratings spot, in recent seasons numbers have been consistently lower and lower. As someone who hadn’t watched Idol since Kelly Clarkson’s valiant triumph in 2002, Ellen’s addition to the show wasn’t exactly earth shattering. I like Ellen, she’s like Oprah (sans the depressing subject matter and preachyness), but her quirky personality alone wasn’t enough to get me watching Idol again.

I really like Ellen. I follow her on Twitter and Facebook and I also watch clips of her show on StumbleUpon and YouTube. I, like most Gen-Yers, watch much of my TV via short clips posted on social media sites. She is all over social media. Since the beginning of January she has tweeted non-stop about Idol, and anyone who watches her talk show has heard her lament about her rigorous taping schedule. When the producers at Idol signed Ellen, it seems they also gained access to her legions of loyal online followers. Through her online activity I was constantly hearing about her Idol experiences and upcoming must-see moments. I wanted to be in on this conversation and thus was motivated to start watching Idol again.

Long before her foray into the world of reality television, Ellen had already cultivated a following online by engaging with her fans. No previous Idol judge has been as active or as successful in the online world. Ratings are up this season, and there is little doubt that Ellen and her loyal followers have a lot to do with the hike.

Check out these awesome posts by Carmen, Zoya, Sayuri, Caitlin and Katie for more on Idol's social media efforts!

My Personal Brand Plan

I've blogged about the importance of writing your online story before someone else does... so here is how I plan to take control. This slide show details my plan to craft an authentic online identity that is uniquely me.

My Personal Brand Plan

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Feedback welcomed! If you're still in the planning stages like me, what stumbling blocks have you run into? If you've successfully implemented your plan, what advice do you have for the rest of us?


Check out this informative link for more about your personal brand