With the nights getting cooler there is no denying that Fall is just around the corner. I'm holding out for an Indian summer, but given that this summer in Edmonton has hardly felt like one I might be out of luck.

Ever since purchasing our first home this year, my boyfriend and I have spent a lot of time hosting friends and family at our house. From dinner parties and outdoor barbeques to CFL football nights, it's been such a great summer entertaining guests. To get us through the last days of summer we received a 'Summer Survival Kit' from Pinnacle Vodka last week to take the stress out of last minute party plans.


So what exactly does Pinnacle Vodka consider the essentials for summer entertaining?

• A bottle of of Pinnacle Vodka Classic - for those yummy summer cocktails
• A cocktail guide - different recipes ensure a drink for everyone
• Gourmet popcorn - everyone needs a snack!
• Gourmet marshmallows - for those classic s'mores around the fire
• Glassware - to hold those cocktails

The Pinnacle summer survival kit has some great ingredients for a guaranteed fun night entertaining guests. I can't believe that another summer is fast coming to an end. It's time to take this kit and make the most of what's left!

What are some of your summer party essentials?

*Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Pinnacle Vodka. Views expressed in this post are solely mine. This post is 100% my opinion, and as always, my priority is to you, the reader, to present an unbiased, thorough review.

If there's one accessory that is a must-have for me in the summer, it's sunglasses. They come in so many shapes, sizes, and colours and instantly change up the feel of an outfit. I will confess that I personally own 10 too many pairs of sunglasses, but I just can't help it!

One of the most iconic sunglasses out there is the Ray-Ban Wayfarer. Donned by hipsters far and wide, you can easily spot a pair out of a crowd of people. I've never purchased the style for myself but I loved the casual laid back feel of the frames. I recently received a pair from Smartbuy Glasses to bring along on my summer adventures, and I've been loving them ever since!

Summer may be half over, but that doesn't mean there won't be more adventures to come. Smartbuy Glasses & I want to send a reader a pair of Marc by Marc Jacobs aviators to take on adventures for the remainder of the summer! Follow the rules below to enter.
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THE GIVEAWAY

ONE pair of Marc by Marc Jacobs Sunglasses ($167 value)

DETAILS

To enter you must like my Facebook page & Smartbuy Glasses' Facebook page. Easy peasy!

For an additional entry, tweet about the giveaway mentioning me @littlmissandrea & including a link to this post!

This giveaway is open to readers in Canada & the USA. All entrants must be 18+ years of age or have guardian permission to enter. You have until August 28th to enter, and the winner will be selected by random and contacted via email. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


*Disclosure: 1 pair of sunglasses was provided to me by Smart Buy Glasses for consideration of a review. 1 pair of sunglasses will be provided by Smart Buy Glasses to a winner chosen by random draw. All opinions are my own.

Congratulations to Jessica C for winning the sunglasses! Thanks to everyone else who entered.

Berries... and potato salad... mixed together?! Yeah, the same thoughts ran through my mind when I was asked to test run a recipe created for the Dairy Farmers of Canada by Chef Michael Allemeier of SAIT. The 2014 Real Cream program brought four Canadian chefs together to reinvent eight classic recipes with a seasonal cream & berry twist. It would seem to be an easy task given that cream and berries pair so well, but savoury berries and cream would pose a bit of a challenge.

Chef Allemeier rose to the occasion and came up with his Berry Delicious Potato Salad. I personally enjoy potato salads, but the only fruit I've ever put in mine is apples for a bit of crunch and sweetness. I was up for the test to see if the berries really could be combined in a tangy potato salad. My boyfriend even went so far as to say I would ruin the salad with the berries, but in the end he loved it!

What I love about this recipe is how readily available the ingredients are in the summer months. Practically every ingredient required for the recipe is always stocked in my kitchen or growing in my garden in the summer so I could theoretically whip this potato salad up whenever I please. The recipe is simple and straightforward, so easy to put together, and the berries really make the dish pop both in aesthetic and flavour. This side dish served cold is perfect for summer picnics and BBQs, and will definitely be the talk of the party.

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BERRY DELICIOUS POTATO SALAD
(by Chef Michael Allemeier)

Classic summer yellow fleshed potato salad, bound with a creamy hard-boiled egg dressing, elevated with the addition of assorted berries and arugula for an unexpected twist.

RECIPE

5 medium yellow-fleshed potatoes (about 2 lbs/1 kg)
2 hard cooked eggs, peeled
½ cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup 35% whipping cream
¼ cup sour cream
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
4 green onions, green parts only, thinly sliced
¼ cup loosely packed, thinly sliced fresh mint
Salt to taste
2 cups (500 mL) mixed berries
1 cup (250 mL) firmly packed baby arugula leaves, stems removed
1 tbsp (15 mL) balsamic vinegar

1. Scrub potatoes and dice into ¾-inch (2 cm) pieces. Cook in large pot of salted water until tender. Drain well; let cool slightly.

2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mash eggs with a fork. Whisk in mayonnaise, whipping cream, sour cream, mustard, lemon juice, onions, and mint, until creamy. Add warm potatoes to dressing; season to taste with salt. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

3. To serve, in a medium bowl toss berries, arugula and balsamic vinegar; reserve some of the berries and arugula. Fold berry mixture into potato salad. Serve in a bowl or on a platter; garnish with reserved berries and arugula.

Chef’s Tip: There are many varieties of yellow-fleshed potatoes. They have a wonderful flavour and texture, perfect for potato salad. Look for Yukon Golds, Agria and Kennebec potatoes – all of these are perfect for this salad.

For prep/cooking time and nutritional information, please click here. Happy cooking!
Disclosure: All ingredients were provided by the Dairy Farmers of Canada for creation of this recipe, but all opinions are my own

Back in September, the bf and I were invited to celebrate one of his friends' 22nd birthday. Makes me feel a little old. Just the other day, I thought I was 19. Umm.. right. I'm only turning 21 in a matter of weeks. It's unreal how fast life seems to go by once you hit post-secondary.

Joey Mayfield - 130 Mayfield Common NW - Edmonton AB

Anyway, I had been to this location once before, but I never knew they had a hidden gem of a dining area located in the back of the restaurant. It's like a twist on a patio! Took my breath away.

One of my favourite past times is with my girlfriends back when we were in High School. We thought Joey's was the coolest restaurant and frequented the place whenever we had the chance. There was one thing we always ordered, since we couldn't order real drinks! Haha, enter: Joey's Bursts



Bursts disappeared from the menu for a short period of time (yet were still orderable), and now they are back! Even though they're non alcoholic, I still love ordering them - it really brings back some fond memories for me.

I hadn't been to Joeys for over a year, and it was nice to see that they changed up their menu. Most of the classics remain the same, while some have some tweaks, and other dishes completely disappeared, making room for new ones.



My favourite appetizer, crab & artichoke dip, was replaced by the Warm Crab & Goat Cheese Dip - the dip is much smoother than before, sans all the lumps contributed by the artichoke pieces. The chips have been baked slightly, giving them a crispier texture, and they taste fantastic with the dip. The dip is topped with Joeys own pico de gallo (fresh salsa), and has a very nice aged, cheese taste to it. The dip does tend to be a little stringy, so eat with caution if you're dressed nicely. Anyone a little adverse to cheese might want to stay away from this one.


Earth & Surf Calamari

Does anyone know the difference between regular yam fries and truffle yam fries? I really couldn't tell - but the price difference between the two will beg to differ! Regular yam fries at Joeys are priced at $1.49 for a substitution to their skinny fries, but Vince misheard the waitress and ordered the truffle yam fries for $8.49!



The difference is actually in the sauce. The so called "truffle fries" are actually served with a truffle lemon aioli. Nothing too special if you ask for my honest opinion, I prefer regular garlic aoili that many places serve with their yam fries :)



For mains, he had the baja fish tacs: fish & shrimp, white corn tortillas, guacamole & very Mexican hot sauce. The tacos are actually very yummy, but definitely on the messy side with the flimsy tortilla as a base. Also, I still don't understand why they wouldn't serve this with fries. Maybe due to clashing cuisine types? I would totally eat fries if the tacos came with them.



For me, I ordered something new off the menu - the chicken souvlaki: Greek tzatziki & tomatoes, grilled pita. Nothing out of the ordinary, and don't ask me why I ordered Greek food at this place. The chicken was a little on the dry side, and the tzatziki soaked into the pita over time, to the point that I had to ask for more. The first half was really delicious though! What I liked about it most was how it was wrapped nicely in paper so that I wouldn't get the mess everywhere. Cause I really need to work on that hole that is developing under my chin. I have gotten so much food on my clothes lately :(

All in all, it was a great night and nice to be able to catch up! Joeys is always a nice place to go when you don't have a particular craving.. I find that there's always something on the menu that will call my name.