buy :: Band-Aid Friction Block Stick

We've been wearing flats and sandals for a few weeks now, so I hope it isn't too late to share a miracle product with you. Every Spring I have to re-aquaint my feet with all my flats and sandals which used to involve blisters or ugly bandaids that would fall off.

Band-Aid's Friction Block Stick will save your feet from blisters! Identify the spots on your feet that will be rubbed by your shoes, then apply some Friction Block Stick to that spot before you leave home. It's hard to explain - the stick is like a mini creamy/waxy deodorant stick. It doesn't feel sticky, and it doesn't leave residue on your shoes. It's mind boggling, really.

Another aspect of this magical product's mystery: where to find it. I look at London Drugs or Shopper's where the bandaids and foot insoles are sold. Sometimes they have it, sometimes they don't. When I find it, I usually grab a couple of them.

Two little notes:

• If you leave the Friction Block Stick in a warm place (beach bag, car parked in the sun), it will melt!
• If your shoes are so tight that they cut into your skin, this is not going to help. It only helps with shoes that chafe the skin.

*Tory Burch sandals found here. Band-Aid Friction Block Stick image found here.

go :: Nerd Nite #6

You don't need to be a nerd to enjoy Nerd Nite (but it's totally cool if you are one).

What is it, you ask? It's three twenty minute (-ish) talks where the presenters share nerdy expertise in their field while the audience laughs, drinks, and eats popcorn. If that doesn't convince you, their motto is "it's like discovery channel with beer." 

Next Thursday will be the 6th Nerd Nite in Edmonton and the line up is looking tantalizingly nerdy:

• #1 – The Walking (Nearly) Dead: Parasite Manipulation of Host Behaviour
  Kaylee Byers, a grad student at U of A, talks about parasites that can remarkably change the behaviour and appearance of their hosts.
• #2 – It’s About Time!
  Dean Albrecht, a retired cop turned watch collector, talks about the new wave of interest in vintage mechanical wrist and pocket watches.
• #3 – Glowing Animals: A Neuroscience Toolkit at the End of the Rainbow
  Robert Campbell, a U of A researcher, talks about fluorescent proteins (responsible for glowing animals) and the use of them to map brain activity with his team of protein engineers.

It's sure to be a fun and interesting night. Be there and be square.

What: Nerd Nite Edmonton #6
Where: Haven Social Club, 15120 Stony Plain Road
When: Thursday, May 23 at 7:30
Tickets: $10 in advance, $15 at the door (if there are any remaining). Includes a free drink! Buy them here.

*photo found here

Edmonton Weekend Guide :: May 2-5

Last chance to get tickets: Art Gallery of Alberta's silent auction and swanky party, Art on the Block is next weekend-get your tickets before they sell out!

The Royal Bison Craft and Art Fair is setting up shop from Friday to Sunday.  You can find the best and quirkiest art, crafts, and design the city has to offer just north of the Old Strathcona Farmer's Market (8426 Gateway Blvd). It's only $2 to get in!

The Breakfast Television Studio opens up for an after-hours party including performances by Jay Sparrow, GirlsClub, and more. Trip the Light 2 is on Friday night at 8pm. Tickets available here.

LogiCON 2013 will take over U of A's Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science on Saturday and Sunday. It's a FREE two day event with many speakers to choose from talking about everything from evolution, philosophy of science, biodiversity, and more. See the schedule of speakers here. RSVP here.

Dying for an outdoor farmers' market? The Callingwood Farmers' Market kicks off it's 29th season on Sunday from 10am-3pm. Peruse over 100 tables of fresh food and crafts at the Northeast corner of Marketplace at Callingwood (6655-178 Street).

Learn more about the neighbourhoods we live in through guided walking tours from Jane's Walk Edmonton. Started in Toronto in 2007, the walks began as an informative way to honour urbanist Jane Jacobs' vision of walkable neighbourhoods and people meeting others in their community. This weekend, there are 17 walks to join all over the city. Check out the schedule here.

*Image spotted here

Edmonton Weekend Guide :: April 25-28

Buy these tickets now: TEDxEdmonton - A day full of forward-thinking speakers presenting about "The Future of..." everything from health to money to growing up.
Or get an evening dose of TEDxEdmonton in Tuesday night's Salon Series about the future of food in Edmonton.

Eat: Cavern is a new cheese retail shop and cafe/bar on the 104 Street Promenade
Cheer: Last home game of the season, Edmonton Oilers vs. Vancouver Canucks (Saturday)

Whyte Avenue is hosting a Shop Hop on Thursday night (5-9pm). Participating shops will have a special deal for one night only. Check out the list of shops to hop through here.

Word Nation: Edmonton Poetry Festival 2013 continues til Sunday with workshops, featured poets, slam poetry, stand up poetry, and all things spoken word. Many events and locations to choose from - check the schedule here.

Edmonton International Beerfest takes over Shaw Conference Centre with over 200 beers to taste, entertainment, and all your favourite watering holes showing off their goods. Tickets start at $19, get them here.

*Image spotted here

Love to Lunch: Jason Halbauer

By day, Jason is a News Writer/Producer for Breakfast Television. By night, (or more likely afternoon as he's up incredibly early) he dabbles in photography, freelance writing and blogging. With encouragement from a certain someone (wink wink, nudge nudge) he's launched a website to merge all these projects together. 

This charming, witty and all around interesting guy is a vegan, and also going gluten free, so Noorish was the perfect spot to lunch and ask him foodie questions.

Brown bag or out: Brown bag most days because eating out all the time can be such a money-suck. I do love catching up with friends, but I try to limit it to once or twice a week for the sake of thrift. 

Spot to lunch: If I am going out, my spots are either Remedy Cafe (chana or sabji masala), Sequel Cafe (lentil soup or caesar salad) or the Fu Guang Tea House inside the downtown buddhist temple. All have great vegan fare for quite a reasonable price. 

Favored lunch vegetable: I was going to say chickpeas, but I guess that's a legume… I do love avocados. In a sandwich, in guacamole or in my favourite salad (hearts of palm, chickpeas, avocados, yellow peppers, green onions, lime juice and olive oil. Yum!)

Way to stay hydrated: I don't give myself a choice. I'm very compulsive with beverages and I know if I have water and tea next to me, I will drink it. So I have a 750ml water bottle next to me at all times and I usually drink two-to-three during my shift at work. I also tend to have one or two big cups of green tea each morning. It's my way of tricking myself into being somewhat healthy.

My lunch always… tends to have protein and starch, either rice and legumes or tofu and potatoes.

Today’s “lunch” is pad thai from Noorish. It's really quite a beautiful dish with tamari, lime juice and chill oil on a bed of rice noodles and veggies. 

Ever curious about people and food, I started the Love to Lunch series. It's a fun way to get to know Edmontonians through their lunch routines. To see previous lunches, click here.