Blow your mind BBQ Potatoes.

BBQ season is here! I am getting lots of requests to make my BBQ potatoes. I'm a little tired of making them, but the requests don't stop. My friend's sister made them at a cottage 4 years ago, and I regret asking her how, because now that I make them, people don't stop asking. They're that good.

Here's the recipe.

Now stop bugging me and make them your damn-self!

Micki's BBQ Potatoes

Yukon Gold Potatoes
Dijon Mustard
Vegetable Oil
Minced Garlic

Wash the potatoes and slice them into 3rds. (Do not peel) Put them on a plate and microwave them until soft (8-10 mins). Let cool for 10 mins. In a small bowl, mix the dijon, oil and garlic. You don't really have to measure. Coat the potato slices in the mustard mixture. BBQ on medium heat until crispy on the outside.

Rockin' the Dollar Store Bling

If I won the lottery tomorrow I would quit my day job and spend the rest of my life doing crafts (and cooking). Until that day comes, I spend what little free time I have making my safety pin bracelets. Seed beads are very in this season, and I'm thrilled because it gives me a reason to make and wear these funky accessories.

These are fun and super easy to make. I got the idea 7 years ago, when Stef bought one of these for $15 in Wasaga beach - and I thought - I could make this for way less, and I do.

You need:

• 2 different colours of seed beads. It works best when 1 of the colours of beads has a glossy/shiny/sparkly finish and the other colour has a matte finish.


• 1 pkg safety pins, all the same size (silver or gold, whatever you prefer)


• 2 pieces of elastic - the kind you can buy to wrap gifts (usually silver or gold in colour) usually works best. Ensure that the 2 pieces are the same length, and are a little longer than your wrist circumfrence.
  

Here's what you do:

1. Thread 1 pin with beads from colour A. String the head of the pin through 1 of the elastic pieces. String the tail of the pin through the other elastic.

2. Take a naked pin (no beads) and thread it the opposite direction. So thread the tail of the pin through the other elastic, with the head on the opposide side of what you did in step one.

3. Thread 1 pin with beads from colour B. String as you did in step one.

4. Repeat step 2.

Repeat these four steps until you've filled both elastics. When it fits all the way around your wrist, tie the two elastic pieces together, and thread any excess thread through the back.

This is the back.

Stinking sinking ship

Although not technically part of Passport to Prana, I did have an opportunity to sample the Yoga offered at the Yorkville Club Uptown. For all the hype, I have been thoroughly unimpressed with the gym. I was excited by the number of classes offered there, but after a spin class which was attended by me and one other person, and the bootcamp class - again, me and one person, I started thinking this place was a joke! A fancy expensive joke, but a joke.

What caught my attention was that the Yoga was presented by a well known Yoga studio. Today, I gave the Hot Ashatanga class a try. First, the gym has been experiencing a sewer issue all week, so the place has been stinky. Hardly a serene feeling for practicing yoga.

The studio itself was small, had a basement/spacecave feel to it. It reminded me of the boozecans I used to frequent after clubs - minus the cocaine and prostitutes.

I was generally impressed with the class. Johnny was a good instructor - offering five minutes of explanation before we started the exercises. He answered questions in my mind like...why? what's the point? etc.....He went into the benefits of breathing into different postures and why he follows the traditional Ashtanga series, as it is taught in India. Johnny was great in assisting classmates. Those who were close to perfect headstands and binding with opposite elbows. Those who were 95% in the pose and just needed that extra push. It wasn't a surprise that he skipped right over me. I wasn't offended, we know I suck at yoga.

Although definitely challenging, the class moved quickly and was interesting. The good Yoga just may save this gym, but I doubt it.