It's not Botox, but at least you'll be able to move your face...

Aging. Urgh. It's not that I mind the whole getting older thing. With it comes wisdom right? And character. However, why must wisdom also come with wrinkles? Not to say that I'm a crinkled old lady (Not yet anyway!). For goodness sakes I'm only 27. Which is why I'm all about prevention. And while I'd love to be able to slather my face with Creme de la Mer (a celebrity favourite), at approximately $250.00 (U.S) for 2.0 oz, it's definitely not in my price range. Thankfully there are cheaper alternatives. Shoppers Drug Mart offers great Life Brand individual application facials (I'm wearing one as I type this...). My favourite is the Microdermabrasion facial. It's a two part process. First the scrub/facial then a moisturizer. Are they cheap? You bet. Under $3.00. Do they work. I sure think so. The first time I tried the Micro dermabrasion facial it was because I was fretting over what I believed to be a gigantic forehead wrinkle. I used it before going to bed and when I woke up I saw a noticeable difference. Now, is it possible that the wrinkle was exaggerated in my mind? Sure. But for under $3.00, I'm willing to let myself believe that it worked!

After all, I don't want to have to go the Botox route. Because while I don't want to see wrinkles on my forehead, I'd still like the ability to move it!

You look a little flushed!

I would love to say that I have candy apple cheeks. Perfectly flushed like I've just been out on a winters day, or out for a run. Not really the case. I'm not willing to be stand outside all winter to get some colour in my cheeks. And as for that post-workout look, my cheeks definitely look flushed, as does my entire face. Luckily there are lip and cheek stains. Now I can fake a natural flush!

I tend to switch up which products I buy. Here are my top three:

1) Pomegranate Crush Lip and Cheek Stain by Stila. This gives a beautiful rich wine colour. Lightly pomegranate scented. Find it at Sephora. It also comes in Cherry and Mango.

2) Benetint by Benefit. This is the grand dame of lip and cheek stain. It was originally designed to "highlight" certain areas of strippers. Now, I'm not sure what it does from you lady parts, but it provides a great sheer rosy colour to your face. Pick it up at Sephora and Shoppers Drug Mart.

3) Stainiac by TheBalm. This is the cheapest of the three. Applies with a wand instead of a brush. Fantastic colour. It doesn't stay in your lips as long as the others, but for the price it's a great way to try a stain. Available at Sephora.

Application of these products is a snap. Just be sure to build the colour slowly, start light and blend blend blend. An accidental heavy hand can result in you looking like a drunken clown. Not a good look.

Grazie!

So last night I added to the list of my favourite restaurants. I had been hearing about Pizzeria Libretto for awhile. Claims of the best pizza in the city. Well my cousins and I eagerly decided we'd be the judges of that! The large line and nearly hour wait for a table (they don't take reservations) was our first clue that this place had to be good. Fortunately for us, Ossington Ave. had many bars for us pass the time in. We settled on Sweaty Betty's. The restaurant was kind enough to call our cell number when our table was ready. By the time we sat down the four of us were starving. Warm marinated olives were ordered while we decided on our pizzas. Words can not describe how good these olives were! As Jason would say later on, they didn't stand a chance! We each decided to get a different pizza and share. Definitely the best way to try Pizzeria Libretto. All of the pizzas are on a super thin crust - slighty crisp around the edges, softer in the centre. Crazy fresh/high quality ingredients. Sarah got the Pingue Prosciutto:

Jason went with the Rapini, while Holly had the Margherita. All three of these were light and super flavourful.

I opted for the most savoury, Duck Confit with Pear. Really interesting combination and rich. Was glad I had samples of the others to help balance it out. But VERY delicious!!

We all had a fantastic time. Even if the very attractive waiter seemed more interested in Jason then us girls...

Off to the races!

As I've mentioned, I'm a runner. I love running in races. This coming weekend is the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. I'll be running in the 5km event (injury forced me out of the half marathon). In the days leading up to a race it's important to eat well. Load up on stuff that's good for you. Carbs are good for runners. (One of the many reasons I LOVE running!) So in honour of my fellow runners, I thought I'd share with you my favourite "carb load" dinner. It comes courtesy of chef Michael Smith the "Chef at Home". Click here to get the recipe.

Now, he says the pancetta is optional. I would argue that it's absolutely mandatory. I would also recommend drizzling a little balsamic vinegar (or glaze if you have it) over the finished roasted tomatoes. Gives them a little zing! You can also play with the seasonings. Feel like something a little French - throw in some herbs de provence. Care for something more spicy - try red pepper flakes. Accompanied with a lovely green salad this is winning pre-race dinner. (I also like to enjoy a glass of red wine with this when not in race day prep mode)

Now that you've got your carb fix, go kick some asphalt!!

Pinky's up!

One of my best friends is getting married soon. 3 weeks soon actually! So we decided to throw her a little Bachelorette party. Now this friend is not one for hard partying. She's much more low key. So we decided a Sunday afternoon high tea would be perfect. Oh, and it was a surprise. Plenty of scheming with the fiancee was required, but it worked perfectly. She was certainly surprised. Stunned would best describe it. After the shock wore off we were all able to enjoy an absolutely gorgeous high tea service at the Four Seasons Lobby Bar. I LOVE having high tea there. Unbelievably delicious. And you feel tres sophisticated.

And incredibly full. Who would have thought that sandwiches so perfect and tiny could be so filling...

And then of course there are the exquisite little pasteries... yummmmmm

My other favourite place for high tea is The Red Tea Box. It's a tiny little shop on Queen St. West. Ultra girly and very quaint. Instead of the traditional tiered tray of treats, they do individual bento boxes. Each bite is more delicious then the next.

But wherever you go, be sure to drink your tea with your pinky's up!!

A cut above

I've been in a fantastic relationship for the last 3 years. It's great. Easy and stress free. I'm so happy. I'm speaking of course of me and my hairstylist. She is the BEST. Love her. Credit for the discovery of Anelise at the John Steinberg salon actually goes to my sister. We had been going to a stylist in Yorkville. The place was good, but rather pricey. So when she saw an ad in a magazine for the John Steinberg salon she decided to give them a try. Foolishly I questioned her decision. I thought she was nuts to try someone new. Then I saw her hair. She looked amazing, and paid half of what it was costing me. I was immediately sold. I wanted to try this new place too. I booked an appointment with the same person she saw (Anelise) and within 5 minutes was in love. She's delightful. Loads of personality, unbelievably friendly and boy-oh-boy can she cut hair! She is a styling genius. The best is that she listens to her clients, takes their comments in and offers her own input. I always bring in photos with me of hair styles I want. We review and discuss in depth. (she actually keeps all the images I bring in. There is a stack of them in her drawer!) Also amazingly, is that her cuts grow out really really well. I only need to see her maybe 3 or 4 times a year. Her goal is to make you leave looking and feeling fantastic. And you do! My friend and I went to see her today and spent the rest of the afternoon gushing over how much we loved our hair, while vainly seeking out reflective surfaces to check ourselves out in. I have recommended her to all of my friends. In fact, I think all of my friends go to her. And they all have amazing looking hair. The only problem... now I can't get appointments right away!

Girl on the run

I love running. LOVE running to music. I actually can't run without my iPod (well, technically I can, but I really don't like to). Great care and time is spent making these running playlists. I am the first to admit, my taste in music is sometimes lame. Okay, often lame. But I thought I would share them with you anyway. They tend to fall into categories:

1) Sassy, Diva Pop-star Bitch: These are for runs when I need a little pep in my step. A little attitude. I do choreographed dance moves in my head. Sometimes I've been known to dance on corners while waiting for the lights to change. Like Beyonce in runners:

Pussycat Dolls - Top of the World

Beyonce - Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)

Britney Spears - Womanizer

Christina Aguilera - Keeps Gettin' Better

Dragonette - I Get Around

The Backstreet Boys - The Call

Madonna - Jump

2) Angry Bitter Woman: Sometimes, I really don't want to go running. But I know I have to. And this pisses me off. I may even swear! I use this "anger" (I'm really a very happy person) as fuel. Give'r:

Alanis Morissette - You Oughta Know

Hole - Violet

Saul Williams - List of Demands (Reparations)

Dido - Don't Think Of Me

Eminem - Lose Yourself

The Bravery - Believe

Garbage - Push It

Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet With Butterfly Wings

3) Mellow Yellow: These are for the long runs. Something uplifting. But slightly slower so I don't burn out too soon:

Arcade Fire - Wake Up

James Morrison - Broken Strings

Bedouin Soundclash - When the Night Feels My Song

Lily Allen - Not Fair

Blue Rodeo - Hasn't Hit Me Yet

Coldplay - Fix You

Feist - Mushaboom

Lenka - The Show

4) Rock Star Runner: Fun and fist pumping. I've actually caught myself pumping my fists and punching the air to these:

Duran Duran - Sunshine

Fall Out Boy - I Don't Care

Elton John - Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)

Foo Fighters - Learn to Fly

Kevin Rudolf - Let It Rock

Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine

Kings of Leon - Sex Is On Fire

New Pornographers - Mass Romantic

Sarah Slean - Pilgrim

Lame though they may be, they work for me! Give'em a try, maybe they'll work for you too!

Decisions, decisions...

I distinctly remember the first time I got to meet my good friend Lindsay's new boyfriend David (now finacee, very soon to be husband!). It was this time of year, and couple of years ago. We had plans to go for dinner and then a concert. When they arrived at my apartment he presented me with a little gift. He'd been traveling in the U.S. for business and staying at a hotel that used Bliss spa products in the rooms. He had brought back tons of mini bottles of shampoo, body wash, etc. and gave me some of these samples. Gentlemen take note: if you want to get in the good books of your new lady-loves friend, this is the way to do it! I was smitten! With David and the Bliss products. The best item of the bunch was the Lemon + Sage Body Butter. The best smell EVER!! Lemony but not artificial. Completely addictive. Lindsay I became obsessed with this stuff. We've been known to go into Sephora, grab the tester bottles and slather this stuff all over our hands (Yup, we're cheap and ghetto). We then spend the next few hours compulsively sniffing our hands like crazy people. I thought that it could not get any better then the Lemon + Sage.

Well it turns out I was wrong. Bliss came out with a new scent - Blood Orange + White Pepper. Like its predecessor the smell is gorgeous, never fake or too sweet. But now I have a problem... Which one to buy?!

Oh how Precious

There are many things that I love about TIFF. There's a buzz in the city. An energy. Yorkville has been insane the last few days. Over the weekend they had to close part of the street. Crowds gather outside restaurants and hotels at the mere mention that a celebrity is inside. The best is when you approach such a crowd asking who everyone is waiting for and the excited response you get is "We don't know!!!!"

Waiting in line for a screening can also be very entertaining. At last nights screening of Precious I was waiting in behind a hilarious TIFF volunteer and his friend. The volunteer delighted us with tales of first hand celebrity behind the scenes gossip. For example, apparently Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones had a tiff at TIFF. There was also a gut-busting story about volunteers miscommunicating the arrival of Matt Damon. You had to be there, but I assure you, it was hilarious.

And of course, there are the movies themselves. It's rather fun getting to see a movie weeks (sometimes even months) before they are scheduled to be released. It's also fun to watch movies in beautiful theatres like the Elgin and Roy Thompson Hall. If you're lucky, you get to see a really great movie. If you're really lucky you get tickets to the Gala premiere. (Which means the big stars of the film will be in attendance). Last night I was uber lucky. I was at the Gala premiere for Precious. Almost all the stars were there - Sherri Shepherd, Mariah Carey, Paula Patton. But the most highly anticipated star was the executive producer. OPRAH!! The crowd at Roy Thompson went BANANAS when she took the stage. Staging ovation before she spoke a single word. 

With all the build up, star power, and Oscar talk surrounding this movie expectations were extremely high. Precious did not disappoint. I thought it was amazing. Dark, yes. Often disturbing. Several times it seemed the air had been sucked out of the theatre. But it was deeply moving. The performances were unbelievable. (Mariah Carey redeemed herself from the disaster that was Glitter, and newer comer Gabby Sidibe will blow your socks off). I think this movie will do very well come award season - especially with the support of Oprah. The movie is scheduled to be released November 12. Go see it!

Long live the Queen B

My favourite guilty pleasure is back! Season three of Gossip Girl premieres Monday night. I can't get enough of this show. A gorgeous cast, great witty writing and the clothes! Oh the clothes. No ones wardrobe is better the Blair Waldorf. The Queen B. My favourite bitch. The most noticeable trend to come out of Gossip Girl is the headband. The headband is all Blair. It's the Queen B's version of a crown. I love headbands. They can look preppy, girly, elegant - you name it! My favourite places for headbands are Club Monaco and Anthropologie. Both stores offer styles that range from simple (see above) to daring (big flowers, jewels and bows - very Blair). You now you love them XOXO.

A nice little Saturday

So today I got to see some TIFF movies. In between screenings I had a few hours to kill. All I wanted was to find a patio to sit on, where I could have a sandwich and read my book. I walked around Yorkville and quickly realized that this would be impossible. The place was bananas! Everyone was out looking for George Clooney or Oprah. Craziness. So I walked up Yonge a little and decided to try out the Black Camel. This is a little sandwich shop across the street from Rosedale subway station. I'd been meaning to try this place for a while as I've heard it's fantastic. Well I heard right! I got a seared steak sandwich and side of coleslaw to go. The sandwich was amazing. Super fresh bun, paper thin slices of rare steak and the perfect amount of dijon and horseradish (you can pick from several sauces/condiments). The coleslaw was crisp and crunchy with a light creamy dressing that had a fantastically healthy dose of fresh pepper. And hello... is that apple I see in the coleslaw? Why I believe it is! I love apple in coleslaw. My mom does this too. If you've never tried it, you should. It's GOOD. I took my tasty little lunch and walked over to the park across the street, sat under a tree, read my book and enjoyed a spectularily relaxed Saturday!

Today I went swimming with turtles and saw a ballet in Paris...

Well not actually, but it sure felt like it! Today I got to see two TIFF documentaries courtesy of my friend from work. (she had tickets she couldn't use). The first film was Turtle: The Incredible Journey. An incredible journey indeed. This little movie about a little loggerhead turtle (who eventually grows to be quite large) was delightful. It had everything. Drama, suspense, sadness, and joy. The movie itself is beautifully filmed. Like beyond gorgeous. The story was also fantastic. And while it becomes clear that they are not following around the same turtle for the entire film, they make it seem like she is the same. And you want to believe she is. I even gave her a name - Murtle. Yup, Murtle the Turtle. I know, I am super creative and original! Parents take note, this is a great movie to see with your kids. There were tons of kids at the screening I was at. The four year old sitting beside me really seemed to enjoy it, and he was only temporarily traumatized when the just hatched turtles were being attacked by crabs. (Five minutes later he was totally over it)

The second documentary was La Danse. This film offers a behind the scenes look at the Paris Opera Ballet. It too is beautiful. Especially if you like ballet. The dancing is absolutely stunning. My only complaint - the length. It was over 2.5 hours long. After an hour and a half my butt was numb, my legs needed stretching and I had a rather full bladder. And while the dancing was great, with no narrator or plot, it did seem to drag a little. It could have benefited from an intermission.

Get a little lippy

No one likes having dry lips. I know I certainly don't. Definitely not cute. So of course, lip balm is a necessary item. My favourite lip balm is Kiehl's Lip Balm #1. This name is very appropriate. It's #1 for a reason. It's the best Best BEST! Super moisturizing with a silky smooth texture but not sticky or goopy. And best of all, it doesn't leave that weird white stuff on your lips. (Don't know what that stuff is, but it's gross!!)

But the best thing about Kiehl's is the free samples! It's virtually impossible to walk out of that store without free samples. (This suits me just fine!). And if you can get up to the Yonge and Eglington store on Friday September 11 do it. You'll get a full size Lip Balm #1 and other deluxe samples FREE!! Good stuff free. What could be better?

Happy as a clam v.2.0

So I was visiting my folks again this past weekend. Naturally it was decided that we would have something on the grill. We're big BBQ people, and in the summer we like everything done on the grill. Dad and I had enjoyed the doing clams so much the first time, that we decided to have them again. But to quote Dad, they needed to be "kicked up a notch". So we put them on the grill and patiently waited for those little babies to open up. Once they were done, I placed a small piece of Prosciutto inside and drizzled on a little vinaigrette (dijon mustard, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, fresh chives and parsley). The results were AMAZING!! Seriously, seriously good. Dad and I demolished them. I definitely recommend trying these while it's still warm enough to BBQ. You will not be disappointed.

(I bought the clams from Pisces Seafood and the Prosciutto from Olliffe. Both on Yonge, just North of Price street. Both fantastic!)

Lets hear it for the boys!

Well, lets hear it for their clothes any way. If you've opened a magazine lately you've likely noticed that boyfriend inspired clothes are IN! If you have a boyfriend or husband, you should definitely start invading his closet. Luckily for single gals like me, almost every clothing store has "boyfriend" clothes in the ladies section. Jeans, t-shirts, button up shirts, cardigans, and jackets. Everything has gone "boyfriend". I have to say, I'm loving this trend. The looks are loose and comfy. And the more distressed they get from regular wear, the more authentic they look. But one thing to keep in mind is not to wear all these items together. Pair them with something girly. I once tried matching boyfriend jeans with a boyfriend shirt and ended up looking like I should be painting houses for a living. I've bought a great pair of cropped boyfriend jeans at American Eagle. Club Monaco has beautiful cashmere boyfriend cardigans in both the men's and women's sections. I bought mine on sale earlier this year (sales there are great). I love this sweater. It's long and crazy cozy. Aritzia has great boyfriend dress shirts and t-shirts (super soft and well priced). 

But my favourite "boyfriend" item is my men's Invicta watch. It's manly and GIANT. I wear it everyday. I get many compliments on this watch. There's a barista at Starbucks who only recognizes me because of this watch. And it's size is actually a bit of a public service. I often see people on the subway (like 10 feet away from me) looking at my wrist to see what time it is. You're welcome!

I'm Mr. Bright Eyes

In an ideal world I would wake up every morning like a princess in a Disney movie - lightly rub the sleep from my eyes, stretch my arms, and look perfectly awake and refreshed. Unfortunately, I am not animated royalty. Most mornings I wake up silently cursing my alarm and looking like a tired mess. And while refreshing showers and strong coffee can help with this, it doesn't completely do the trick. Luckily, I've found something that does do the trick. It's Eye Bright from Benefit. It's a soft, light pink concealing pencil. You draw a few lines along the inner and outer corners of your eyes and Voila! You look instantly wide awake! Honestly, this stuff works miracles. Awhile back I had run out of it one morning. I thought "oh well, no biggie. I'll just use regular concealer". Later that morning I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror and nearly scared myself to death! Needless to say I went right out after work and picked some up. You can buy this little magic pencil at Sephora and larger Shoppers Drug Marts. 

A very adult pizza party

Last night I was treated to a lovely little weeknight dinner party. It was a thank you dinner for helping friends move. And thank me they did! I love having dinner parties. And I think the best kind of dinner parties are super casual. Everyone is much more relaxed and stress free. But that doesn't mean the food can't still be gourmet. Last nights meal was definitely relaxed gourmet. For a starter (to be enjoyed in the kitchen while prepping dinner) we snacked on a couple of delicious cheeses. (I could have eaten just the cheese for dinner and been thrilled!). The three of us happily sat in the kitchen, chatting away while he made beautiful flat bread pizzas and she made a lovely salad and peach crisp. Dinner was gorgeous! Hearty, rustic and simple. To me these are the BEST kinds of meals. And I must give credit to the chefs, those pizzas had some fantastically fancy toppings: roasted egg plant and peppers, carmalized onions, pancetta, artichoke hearts, and goat cheese... oh the goat cheese... Whoever first thought to put goat cheese on pizza is a genius! Everything we ate was incredible.

My only job for the dinner was to bring the wine. Now I definitely LOVE wine. But I'm by NO means an expert. I have a vague understanding/knowledge of what wines to pair with what foods. Since I knew we'd be having fancy pizza for dinner, I decided on red. My cousin had introduced me to the wonderful world of California Zinfandels earlier in this year. Sadly, the LCBO I went to did not have the one I usually buy. It's called Fetzer. And at $14.95 its a great wine (at least in my humble opinion). So I instead opted for one called De Loach. It too was only $14.95, and was also really good. I would definitely recommend either one.

But the BEST part of the whole evening, was getting to spend time with my lovely charming friends while enjoying this great meal together. At one point I had a headache from laughing so much (I promise, it wasn't from all the wine!) And being the fantastic hosts that they are, they even sent me home with leftovers, which I am now eating! Cold pizza with goat cheese - Mmmmm! Could life get any better......

Fun display for fun items

So, as I've stated below, I love jewelry. But not all my stuff is fancy. In fact most of it is fun and silly. And I think fun stuff should be stored in a fun way. Regular jewelry boxes just don't do it for me. Either it's old school and opens to some weird lullaby and slow spinning ballerina, or it's a boring box that sits on your dresser. Well not on my dresser baby! My fun stuff gets put in candy dishes, dessert bowls and tea cups! Now that's my kinda treat!

If you like it then you should put a ring on it

I love jewelry. This is not a shocking statement. Really, what girl doesn't. I think I get this from my Mom. This is a woman who loves her some bling! Some much so that she has a "guy" in the Bahamas who emails her items to check out. But that is a story for another day...

Like my Mommy, rings are probably my favourite. But as anyone who knows me will tell you, I'm VERY particular about what I like. Not just any old ring will do. For me, it's about having pieces that are unique. Something that not everyone and their grandma has. I love when someone compliments one of my rings, asking where I bought in the hopes that they can get one too. I can then very nicely (although in my head slightly smugly) say "Why thank you. It's one of a kind" or "They only had one left and I bought it". The best way of ensuring this happens is to buy jewelry from smaller stores and boutiques, or to get one of a kind pieces made. My favourite such store is owned by my friends brother - Leif Benner. This place is a little "gem" (some jewelry humour for you) in the Distillery District. I'm lucky enough to have two of his pieces. The one pictured on the left is one Leif designed. The one on the right I designed and my friend made. But the best thing about knowing someone who makes jewelry is that when I go to visit I get to try on all the pieces! You haven't lived until you've had several diamond engagement rings on at once!