Haus of Hybrid

Summer Photoblog

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Love my Native Shoes

Burgoo Brunch

Lunch from Vij's food truck

John Olerud at the Vancouver Canadians games

Miss Birthday Girl

From the Bibo Brunch tasting

Beer float! Peroni & lemon sorbet

Brunch at Market by Jean-Georges

Canada Day outfit #1

Canada Day outfit #2

Phyllo pizza

From the VFT Craft Beer 'n' Bites Tour

Wangs

Fishbowl Fridays

Brunch at Falconettis

So much this.

One of my favourite mascara's is Buxom Lash Mascara. However, because it's not a waterproof formula, it smudges all the time, leaving me looking like a raccoon with no mascara left on.

When I heard about Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Genius, I knew I could ditch the waterproof mascara I was currently using and go back to my beloved Buxom Lash (I was actually still wearing my Buxom Lash, but was putting a waterproof mascara on top).

The Anastasia Lash Genius is a clear waterproof coating that you put over your mascara. It's lightweight and doesn't clump.

I find that the Lash Genius is much more effective than my regular waterproof mascara because my lashes are still long and full at the end of the day. Lash Genius actually even holds up through work outs - which is one area I find waterproof mascara's fail me.

Since it's wedding season, I'd recommend picking some up to ensure that your mascara isn't running down your face (Lauren Conrad, anyone?) for those heartfelt moments.

You can find Lash Genius at Sephora and Nordstrom - $21

Images via The Confluence.

Vancouver Food Tour - Craft Beer 'n' Bites Tour

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Last week, the Vancouver Food Tour hosted some bloggers on their Craft Beer 'n' Bites Tour. Since we know that the craft beer scene is booming in Vancouver, I was really stoked to learn about some different (new and/or local) beers and have some good eats.

While I can't say where we stopped on the tour, I can tell you the different beers and food we tried - and fortunately the beers at the different stops change, so you may never get the same tour twice!

Stop #1

The beers (L-R): Phillip's Phoenix Gold Lager (Victoria, BC), Parallel 49 Seedspitter Watermelon Wit (Vancouver, BC), Driftwood Fat Tug IPA (Victoria, BC)

The bites (paired) (L-R): Lobster Mac 'n' Cheese, Vietnamese Taco, Award Winning Chili (won the Gastown Chili Cookoff a couple years ago)

Notes: I prefer the Phillip's Blue Buck over the Gold Lager, but this one is still good. I'm not into super hoppy beers, so I don't typically drink IPAs, but this one was a nice middle ground for me. The Seedspitter was amazing - like, I would go back to just drink this beer...and lots of it.

Stop #2

The beers (L-R): Lost Coast Brewery Great White (Eureka, CA), Driftwood White Bark Wheat Ale (Victoria, BC), Crannog Ales Back Hand of God Organic Stout (Sorrento, BC).

The bites (L-R): Scotch egg, Devils on Horseback (prunes stuffed with gruyere, wrapped in bacon)

Notes: Driftwood's White Bark is a staple craft wheat in my life. The Lost Coast was also great - it was really interesting to juxtapose the two wheat ales. I'm not a big stout drinker, but the Back Hand of God is always enjoyable.

Stop #3

The beers (L-R): Lighthouse Brewery Switchback IPA (Victoria, BC), 2012 VCBW Collaboration Beer (a Cascadia Brown), R&B Brewing Stumpy (Vancouver, BC) *note: The Stumpy is exclusive to this location

The bites: Flourless chocolate cake with raspberry and hazelnut

Notes: By this time, I was so full of food and beer. The cake was delish and the beers were too. I found this IPA too hoppy for me, but the others, for dark, stout-type beers, I enjoyed them. The flavour profiles were so different - which is why I love beer/wine/coffee flights.

The VFT Craft Beer 'n' Bites Tour is $69 plus tax and gratuity. It's a great way to spend an evening whether you're a local or tourist, a great way to learn more about beer, and a great way to go home with a food coma.

Check out my posts on the VFT blog.

VCBW: Sisters of the Tap

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Vancouver Craft Beer Week has come and gone and I'm really looking forward to it next year.

It was my first time attending any of the events and I was pleasantly surprised. I attended the Sisters of the Tap dinner, which is one of the marquee events of the week and was blown away. Sure, there were growing pains, and yes, I was extremely out of my element, but the food! The beer! Great.

I loved seeing the women who are part of this very masculine industry - particularly female brewers who work in BC breweries.

I chatted briefly with Claire Connolly (you may know her from the VCBW posters that were around town), who is from the UK, and she said she loves being a Brewmaster in Canada because it's a very progressive industry. The UK is still very traditional in their views on beer, so that would that stifle her creativity.

Well, we're lucky to have her, and all these fabulous women!