Blue Mountain

 Canadian winters are loooong and cold, and even though the first snowfall is always beautiful, the initial excitement never lasts long.  The ice and slush gets old fast, and soon people start complaining, myself included.  In an effort to embrace the season instead of despising it, Ad and I planned a road trip to Blue Mountain with another couple for some skiing and sightseeing.  What a great idea that turned out to be! It's impossible not to enjoy winter after visiting the Scandinave Spa, strolling through the ski village, and hitting the slopes.  Needless to say, the four of us returned home after our mini-vacay feeling relaxed and happy. Here are some pics of our short and sweet adventure!

V-day Love

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

As I wait for my valentine to arrive back in the city after spending a week in NYC for business, I thought I'd share my latest vegan experience. Sooo, yesterday I decided to be ambitious and re-create my favourite vegan pizza from Magic Oven.  I trekked to the nearby health food store and stocked up on all the ingredients to make spelt dough and fresh pesto that substitutes nutritional yeast for parmesan cheese.  Feeling confident, I get to work on my creation, listening to my favourite music as I stir the dough and wait for it to rise.  Yes....this is going to be even more delicious than the original. I'm a natural!  A few hours later, I get to work on the pesto.  The recipe is super easy, so I blend everything together (in the coffee grinder) and tell myself that I'm well on my way to becoming an expert.  I stretch the dough onto the pizza tray and pop it into the oven for five minutes.  Excellent! I can't wait to make this again tomorrow for Addy when he gets home!  The five minutes pass, and it's time to check the dough, and add the sauce and toppings.  Something with the dough seems a little off, but whatever.  No worries, the dough just needs to be cooked for a little longer. Into the oven it goes, and I set the timer for 10 more minutes.  I won't lie...for about 7 of those minutes I sat in front of the oven admiring my masterpiece.  I emailed a pic of it to Ad, to which he replied, "wow I'm impressed." What can I say? I'm talented.  I don't need to worry about keeping an eye on the pizza, because I'm laying right in front of the oven, watching the Daiya cheese melt minute by minute.  My intuition tells me it's ready, and that it's perfect.  I cut my first slice, send Ad a text, and dig in. YUMMMMMM.....omg this is.....alright....what the heck is wrong with this dough.....the pesto tastes a bit off......this is naaaasty! I spit out my bite before I start to gag.  Major fail. Ad asks me what went  wrong and tells me not to worry, that these things take practice. I won't be practicing for awhile, that's all I can say. 

And that is the story of how Adam and I ended up at Magic Oven on Valentine's Day.

French Pharmacy Top Picks: Review #2

As a continuation to the first review I posted, here is the second product on my french favourites list. It's called Homeoplasmine, and it's a multi-use homeopathic ointment loved my many top make-up artists. According to Gwyneth Paltrow: "Meant for skin irritations, it's also a life-saver when it comes to dry, winter-ravaged skin."   I don't know about you, but my skin takes a beating during the harsh Canadian winters, and is as dry as sandpaper if I don't care for it properly.  Other reviews sounded convincing, so I added to my growing list of things to pick up on my Parisian vacation.  I figured that at about 6 euros a pop, I couldn't afford not to try the stuff that everyone was talking about. 

I'm glad I picked up the extra large tube, and the only regret I have is not grabbing a few more. Formulated with plant extracts and emollients, Homeoplasmine delivers on its promise to moisturize and hydrate. The ingredients are gentle enough for sensitive skin, and in fact, Parisians swear by it to help heal diaper rash. Lately, I've been applying this to my face in the mornings and it really protects my skin against the blowing wind and sub-zero temperatures.  I also really like that it mattifies and gives my skin a smooth appearance, without making it look greasy. It absorbs quickly, and the results last for hours - no more flaky, dry skin, which is amazing. 

But it doesn't end there.  The ointment also makes an excellent lip primer, so I usually slather it on before I leave the house, and then reapply my Ciafine balm as necessary when I'm out (I prefer the glossiness and transportable size of the Ciafine for daytime). Since Homeoplasmine is also mildy antiseptic, it may be used to treat irritations like mild burns and acne.  From what I understand, it's the equivalent of our Polysporin over here.

Similar to Avibon, Homesplasmine is impossible to find in Toronto, at least that's what I've found so far.  It sells for around $30 on Amazon for a 40g tube, which is expensive when you compare that to how much it sells for in Paris.  However, if it came down to either running out or paying extra online, I would definitely suck it up and order it.  Would not want to be without this product, that is for sure!

If you have ever used or heard of this product, I would love to hear your comments :). Until next time! xo

French Pharmacy Top Picks: Review #1

If you've ever been to Paris, maybe you were like me and stared at the French women in awe. My first trip there, I admired their natural beauty and promised myself that I would discover their beauty secrets. Luckily, my friend lives over there, and she's a wonderful source of information.  After talking to her, and reading other people's blogs, I found some wonderful products that no woman should be without! During my most recent visit to the City of Light, I stocked up on all the essentials.  Now that I have tried them for myself, I am ready to reveal what I believe are the best french beauty products ever.  This is the first post in a series of detailed reviews....here we go!

This first product is definitely at the top of the list. It's called Avibon, and to say I'm impressed at its effectiveness would be the biggest understatement ever. Although it's widely available at any French pharmacy, you'll have to ask the pharmacist to grab it for you since they don't stock it over-the-counter. I'm just guessing, but the reason could be that Avibon has a high Vitamin A, or retinoic acid, content. Vitamin A, as you may already know, is used for anti-aging, fighting wrinkles, erasing scars, and clearing acne. It looks and feels a lot like vaseline, but the similarities end there. Massage a pea-sized amount on your face before you go to bed (you can warm it up in your hands first to soften it), and you'll wake up with incredibly soft and glowing skin.  I have suffered from hormonal acne for years, mostly around my chin and jawline, and after about two months of regular use my skin has never looked and felt this good. Even after using it once, I noticed a difference in my scars. It's safe to say that my search for that one magical elixir is over, and that I can bid farewell to my harsh prescription acne medications forever.

Avibon sells for around 7 euros in France (holy, affordable), and like I said before, you can find it at any French pharmacy. On the other hand, it's almost impossible to find in Canada and the States. Amazon and Ebay sell it occasionally, but it's awfully expensive, and that's not including the shipping charges.  There's also a pharmacy in NYC that carries it, but other than that, I can't seem to find it anywhere.  Luckily, you only need to use this product sparingly, so a tube should last about six months or so, or maybe even longer.  I've used mine daily since I returned from Paris in January, and I am not even halfway through.

So, if you ever have the opportunity to visit Paris, do yourself a favour and stock up on this amazing pommade. Trust me, you won't regret it! :)

I'm Vegan! Day 3

I have never officially seen "Food, Inc.," but heard about it through my soul sister (who is also a veg-head); after discussing the film with her, it was enough to convert me to vegetarianism forever. That was one year ago, and my pescatarian ways are still going strong. Fast forward to now, and this is my story...

Tuesday, February 5, 2013 started out like an other ordinary morning. That is, until I decided to watch the documentary "Vegecated" on Netflix. The movie resonated with me like no other, and I just knew I was born to be a vegan. The images brought tears to my eyes and the descriptions of factory farming horrified me. I was overcome with clarity and purpose. My favourite quote from the movie is, "If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would become a vegetarian." As someone who adores animals, I can't even bear the thought of them being harmed in any way. Over-fed chickens falling over from being unable to support their body weight and forced into overcrowded pens, pigs and cattle subjected to medical procedures without anesthesia or antibiotics, and of course the methods in which the animals are slaughtered....I was overcome with sadness. And so at 11:34am on a cold, winter day, I made the life-changing decision to become a vegan.

I have spent the last couple of days downloading vegan books on my iPad and reading about the benefits of this type of lifestyle. I've never been one who enjoys cooking, so my google searches are "simple vegan meals" and "easiest vegan desserts." In just a couple of days, I've learned a ton and can't wait to share it all with you, over time :). Two nights ago, I made my first vegan meal, vegan slowcooker chile. It was so delish, even Addy gobbled up his bowl and came back for seconds. Today I ran out to No Frills and collected the ingredients to made the quickest dessert ever. In minutes, I had created raw and vegan chocolate and coconut macaroons, all on my own! I'll be honest, one of my biggest trepidations was how I was going to satisfy my sweet tooth, and I'm so relieved to have found a treat I love.

Hope you enjoyed reading this...I'll leave you with a pic of my sinful macaroons. Have a great night!

Ideal sunday in the ideal city

I love Sunday's for so many reasons, but mostly because it's the one day that's always set aside for Addy and I to spend time together. This Sunday was extra special, and deserved an entry of its own. Like most Sundays, or fun-days, today started off with staying up late the night before so that we have an excuse to sleep in. The website, Damn You Auto-Correct, is making me sleep-deprived, but the hilariousness of the site is totally worth it. Anyway, after our morning ritual of general laziness, I suggested brunch at Okay Okay Diner. This idea very well-received by Mr. Hard-to-Please, so we wasted no time getting ready and headed off to Leslieville's most popular breakfast spot. Feeling stuffed and excited about the summer-like weather, Ad and I both agreed that we should hop on our bikes, with our first stop being Mountain Equipment Co-op. Lucky for me, x-small bike helmets for peaheads were on clearance - score!!

A number of factors led us to the movie theatre at Richmond and Queen to catch the matinee showing of "The Raid Redemption," then to the giant chapters next door to pick-up tickets to Gotye's sold-out show this Saturday. So very excited about that! Stay tuned for my not-so-professional review.

My cousin texted me saying she was in the city for the day at Kensington Market, a neighbourhood known for its hippy feel and impressive variety of restaurants and markets. No luck finding them there, but fortunately Ad and I were able to meet up with them later at the distillery district. What a day!

Best Thai in the dot

Khao San Road - the ultimate experience for thai-lovers like myself. My girl friends excitedly told me about the restaurant after they had dropped in for lunch one Saturday, so of course I was dying to go there myself. Sure enough, this small establishment did not disappoint. Khao San Road is the perfect meal to satisfy my Thai food cravings!

Reviewers on urbanspoon and yelp can't enough of this place either, hence the through-the-roof ratings:

"Totally worth the hype."

"Well Run, well designed, well executed, wonderful restaurant."

"I didn't know thai food could taste this good. True story."

Everyone loves it! Why bother attempting to make thai at home when you know Khao San will get it perfect every time :)?