Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads! But especially mine, because he's AWESOME!

Feeling hot Hot HOT

So perhaps you've noticed, but it's starting to get hot in Toronto. Like HOT hot. Like sweat your face off HOT. Now I normally do not do well with HOT weather. Don't get me wrong, I like warmth and sunshine. But I don't like walking outside and feeling like you've stepped into the bowels of Hades. Not cute. But for some reason I'm not minding it as much this year. (I say this now, after we've only had to deal with it for a couple of weeks) I'm really trying to embrace the heat this year. Sleeveless shirts are great - especially now that I'm starting to get a tan. I am discovering a multitude of new ways to wear my heavy hair up (bobby pins and headbands are my new best friend). And nothing looks as hot in HOT weather as a HOT colour like HOT pink on your nails. Seriously, this colour from Essie (Punchy Pink) looks like I cracked open a pink highligher and went to town! Perfect, and just in time for Summer! If this pop of colour is a little too intense for your finger nails, it's the perfect shade for your tooties!

I give up(do)

As someone with thick heavy long-ish hair, the hot summer months are not easy. While I'd love to wear it down and either poker straight or with loose waves, once the humidity sets in, my hair has other ideas. I can not count the number of hours I have spent in the mornings, coaxing it into perfection to have it frizz and go bananas the second I step out side. The other problem with having my hair down is that, gosh darn it - it's hot! Not hot like Gisele hot. But like "oh dear lord I'm sweltering" hot. Not good. So this year I've decide not to fight it. I'm wearing my hair up as much as possible. But I don't want to get stuck in a ponytail everyday rut (not that there's anything wrong with that). I just want to spice it up a little. So here are a couple of websites I've can across with cute (and they sound easy) updo styles to help get you through the summer:

Real Simple

Elle

Also, you can't go wrong with a fun headband or handful of black bobby pins. I actually really like when you can see the bobby pins all over - very Carrie Bradshaw circa Season 5. The best bobby pins EVER are called Lady Ellen and can be found at The Beauty Supply store. I get them at the Yonge and Heath St. location. I also prefer when my updos look a little on the rough and messy side. It keeps you from looking like you should be at a wedding or prom. Bumble and Bumble's Surf spray is great for this as it gives your hair a fantastic beachy texture.

Accessory DIY

I have a love for big bold accessories. The only problem with big bold accessories is that they can have a big bold price tag to go along with them. I love walking the around the beautiful glass display cases at Holt Renfrew, admiring the bright and beautiful pieces that would cost me half a months rent. Clearly, I am NOT about to spend half a months rent on a couple of bracelets. Especially not when I can make a couple for about $20. The other week I was at The Paper Place on my lunch break and picked up a couple of plan wood bracelets. They have samples there with Japanese paper Mod Podged on to them. Really pretty. But even prettier were the strips of hand dyed ribbon. All the I needed to do was glue one end of the ribbon to the inside of the bracelet and carefully wrap the ribbon around, finally securing the end with a little more glue inside. Presto! Instant big bold accessory! And I can still afford to pay my rent!

Protect your fruit!

Nothing makes me sadder then a bruised piece of fruit. Ok... That may be a slight exaggeration. But bottom line, I love fruit, hate when it's bruised. And it happens without you even realizing it. You pop a perfect banana into your bag in the morning. Then when you take it out in the afternoon, it's not so perfect anymore. For a while, I thought this was just a problem I had. Perhaps my bag was just somehow REALLY hard on fruit. Something I was just going to have to accept and deal with. That was until I discovered fruit guards. Fantastic plastic containers, shaped like the particular fruit in question, designed to protect your produce from getting banged up with travelling. I have one for bananas and one for pears/apples. Now WARNING. While I love these things, they do not look "cool". In fact they look anything but cool. The banana cover in particular looks quite ridiculous - and depending who you ask, possibly sexual (guys I've worked with have teased me endlessly about the banana guard). But I promise you, if you can get past the nerdiness (which I can), these little babies are awesome!

The Last Supper

One of my best friends (Lindsay) and her husband (David) have moved to Montreal. This makes me very sad. But for one evening we decided not to be sad about it, but celebrate. So the other week Linds, David, Sibs, Steve and I decided to have our version of the Last Supper, and send our beloved friends off in style.

We are all BIG fans of Terroni, and Steve and Sibs had been raving about Terroni's sister restaurant Osteria for a while now, so we decided to check it out. Good call! There is MUCH to rave about! This tiny little gem is would be great for groups of any size. The menu changes daily. You start with 5 antipasti - small in size but BIG in flavour. The night we went the items were: white bean and potato soup, lentil and calamari salad, goat stew, focaccia and ham sandwich and (the best ever) meat ball in tomato sauce. The best part of this is that you get to try many different options and flavours. We practically licked the little dishes clean. You can then choose a Primi (pasta) or Secondi (meat). Lindsay and I decided to share one of each, opting for a fantastic seafood pasta and the most incredibly tender beef tenderlion. The food is brought out slowly, allowing you to relax and enjoy each course. There is no rushing through this eating experience. You are really encouraged to linger. Enjoy your food (of which we had a lot). Enjoy your wine (of which we had a lot). And enjoy your company (we love our friends). Our meal ended with the most amazing flourless dark chocolate cake. Don't even try to share this with someone. You will want your own!

All in all, the evening was fantastic! But I will miss L + D.

Aperol hearts

(Osteria is located at 106 Victoria St. in Toronto. They take reservations! Click here for their website)