Just Dance...

So I have totally been neglecting my blogging duties for far too long. Instead of trying to update you all on what's been happening the last few months, I think I'll just start from last friday.

It was my best friend, Emily's, 23rd Birthday this weekend and to celebrate I decided to plan an entire evening of festivites. Our night started at Sneaky Dees one of my favourite restuarants in Toronto, and the only place to go if you want the best Nachos in the world! Sure it's a bit dungy inside and the bathrooms certainly aren't worth visiting but the food is out of this world, and cheap! After fighting for enough seats for everyone to eat we sat down for some Jalapeno Poppers and the Kings Crown Nachos.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/groups/sneakydees/

Soooo yummy, and messy... and of course nothing better to wash down Nachos than a couple Coronas.

After Sneakys we grabbed some cabs and headed to London Tap House. When we arrived we recieved some coronas on the house as well as a bottle of "Champagne" (fizzy cheap wine), and a cheese platter (although we did not need the food)! James the promoter was a huge help and definitely hooked us up. We spent the night dancing and drinking Greygoose Vodka, the Birthday Party was a huge success!

I decided to keep the outfit simple. I wanted to be comfortable but sassy at the same time. I wore some cheap patterned tights that I bought at Sirens a year ago, $10 cotton/spandex skirt and cotton v neck both from Forever 21 with a pair of black flats.

That's all for now. I will have to post soon about all the exciting things going on at the moment... Going back to school in JANUARY! Woo hoo!

It's been busy

It's been so long Mr.Blog... My deepest apologies...

I was feeling a little artistic today so I thought I would work on a couple self portraits. Not sure if I like my expression in this one. I'm kind of lazy eyed... but there's a bit of mystery behind it which I'm into.

I promise I will be updating soon with something a little bit more exciting.

Much love.

This weeks favourite outfits

One shirt 2 different looks.

Yesterday it was freezing out. I love fall for the layered style but I'm not ready for coats and runnynoses! I kept warm yesterday with my scarf Emily brought me back from Taiwan last December. It's huge, and definitely one of my favourite accessories.

Second outfit I wore for my interview today at Mendocino. Although I didn't get the job, due to lack of availability, I think my outfit was the perfect mix of class and trendiness.

Hope you're keeping warm. Throw on your favourite scarf and go grab a latte from Starbucks!

Headin to Starbucks

I decided to take a bit of a break today after hours of applying for work and editing resumes. I took the 10 minute walk down to Bloor west village and got myself an Iced coffee from Starbucks. I'm such a Starbucks junkie.

Here's the outfit I decided to wear. I bought the t-shirt dress from Costa Blanca for only $19.95 last week, and the necklace is from Forever 21.

Buskerfest '10

For years now, every August, I have seen posters plastered all over the subway and the streets for Buskerfest. I had a basic understanding that it was a bunch of street performers on Front performing crazy tricks, but I had no idea how much fun it could be, even alone! I was looking for something to do Friday afternoon and decided I would head downtown and check it out since it was free. My first impression when I walked threw the gates was a man balancing a lawnmower on his chin while people threw lettuce at him. How much better can you get?

Here are some of my favourites of the festival.

Saurus

from the Netherlands

Shoehorn

from the US

a one man show... tap dances while playing the sax!

And last but certainly not least my absolute favourite...

Kim Churchill

from Australia

An amazing singer and performer. I highly recommend checking out his next show in Toronto at the Horseshoe Tavern on Sept. 1. THAT'S THIS WEDNESDAY! Believe me if you go you will buy his CD! Plus he's cute.

I would highly recommend you check out the festival next year if you've never gone before. It's also a great opportunity to get some artsy photos. I don't have a decent camera or I might have snapped some up.

Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend.

Peace and Love.

galibardy.com

I have just discovered a jewelry genius!!! unfortunately they are situated in the UK, but they do international shipping! Definitely take a look at their website. I can guarantee you'll want one piece, minimum.

Here's some of my favourites...

Thanks GALI BARDY for making fantastic jewelry!

A Two Week Update...

BEACH DAY WITH ZOE & EMILY

For those who don't know, I have an amazingly beautiful niece. I love her to pieces and any chance I have to spend a little time with her I cherish. Last weekend I had the opportunity to take her to the park and the beach. Not just fun for her but fun for her aunty Maggie as well. Thankfully my best friend Emily came along for the ride.

We had a great day!!!

KARAOKE WEDNESDAYS

As I mentioned a couple posts ago, I've been really homesick lately. I've decided to start going back most Wednesdays to enjoy an old tradition... KARAOKE NIGHT at the Mansion House in Sutton. One of my closest friends, Beth, and I use to head to Sutton every Wednesday to listen to the same people sing the same songs week after week. It's where I learnt how to play pool and where I got the courage to sing in front of a crowded bar. Much to our surprise when we went back for the first time in awhile it had been changed. Instead of the old creepy guy controlling the music, and playing only songs before 1998, it has been tranformed into a major event! They have a company called VideoMeKaraoke, that records every performance and posts clips online. You can purchase the full lengths for $2.99. Great for the future when you want to show your children how you use to embarrass yourself infront of large groups of people.

This week I invited a bunch of old highschool friends to come out and enjoy the lovely music, and maybe even sing a song themselves! It was awesome to see some of the old crowd. Here's a few pictures of the big night, and a special video of a few of us singing a Spice Girls classic. Special thanks to Jesse who agreed to be Sporty spice!

SATURDAY NIGHT WITH GREAT FRIENDS & BARB WIRED

On Saturday we went to check out a friend's dad's band, Barb Wired, at AlleyCatz (Yonge & Eglington). Great venue, weird crowd, awesome music, and even better friends. Not much to say about the night, but that you shouldn't mix Rye with Vodka. The end.

Hope everyone is enjoying the last few weeks of summer. I AM!

Beerfest '10 Toronto

This weekend was the annual Beerfest in Toronto. This year it was held at the Ex. The location was great and although the weather wasn't perfect the rain held off for most of the day. My only disappointment with the event was that the lineup for the Steamwhistle box hats was far too long and I couldn't get my moose antlers! That's right... Moose Antlers made out of recycled beer boxes. Perfect accessory for the event if you ask me.

Anyways my favourite beer of the day was definitely Fruli. I have never had strawberry beer but this is definitely going to be in my fridge this upcoming weekend. So yummy.

Playing on my iTunes right now: Everyday is a winding road- Sheryl Crow

Favourite Summer Recipes

There is nothing better than great BBQ food. Matt and I haven't turned on our oven since the beginning of May. We BBQ almost every night, we've even cooked Indian Butter Chicken on the BBQ. We don't have air conditioning so the last thing we want to do is turn the oven on to heat our apartment more. It's been so hot this summer.

Anyways I thought I would share my favourite BBQ recipes. Nothing too fancy or complicated, but they are definitely staples in our house.

Stuffed Italian Tomatoes

1. Make sure the tomatoes are flat on the bottom if they aren't they'll roll about on the BBQ and it won't work. I sometimes cut a flat surface on the bottom

2. Cut the top of the tomato off. Cut it at a fairly wide part of the tomato

3. Cut the stem/ hard bit out of the centre of the tomato. Leave most of the guts of the tomato in.

4. Mix Italian bread crumbs, parmesan cheese (grated, powder or baby parm all work), Salt, Pepper and a little garlic salt

5. Spoon in bread crumb mixture into the tomato and on the top.

6. I will sometimes sprinkle some mozzarella cheese on top so it browns. Yummy

7. BBQ until crumbs are browned and tomato is soft. Sometimes it's tricky to get them off the bbq we usually cook them on the top rack or on a tray in the bbq just incase they fall apart.

Grilled Balsamic Portabello Mushrooms

1. take stems off out of the mushrooms and wipe clean with a damp paper towel

2. mix 1 part balsamic vinegar, 2 parts olive oil, some fresh garlic, salt & pepper, and sometimes I'll but a tiny tiny tiny bit of dijon mustard to keep it from seperating.

3. Marinate Mushrooms for an hour or so. You can just brush it on while grilling too but I think it's better when the mushroom soaks it all up.

4. Grill until they're cooked fully.

I thought I could give you my Famous Pasta Salad recipe as well. I hate Mayo and miracle whip so I came up with this recipe in College. I could of lived off this pasta salad.. sooooo goood.... soooo easy

1. chop any veggies. My usual mix is: Finely chopped carrots, tomatoes, cucumber, green & red peppers, baby spinach, red onion. Red onion is the key!

2. Mix with cooked pasta. I usually use fusilli.

3. Add as much feta cheese as u like.

4. Then smother the salad in sundried tomato & oregano Kraft dressing ( the roasted red pepper is good too)

5. It's yummy right a way but if you let it soak up the dressing over a couple hours it's even better. I make huge portions of it and matt and I eat it with everything haha. After I taught Matt's mum my secret pasta salad dressing recipe she started experimenting, by adding olives and using greek dressing instead. I hate olives so it's not for me.

Hope your are all inspired to get out there and BBQ dinner tonight. Why not invite some friends over drink some beer or wine and gossip around the BBQ?

Ahhhh Summer

Ahhhh Summer. Summer always makes me think of home. The hot sticky air, jumping off the pier into Lake Simcoe and IceCream at Skippers. Beaverton. That's my hometown. I moved around a lot as a kid. I don't feel emotionally distraught by it, but when we finally stayed in Beaverton for 10 years I finally had a place to call home. I hated it. I hated country music, and fat men drinking beer on their porches at 11am and the fact there was nothing to do, especially for an artistically driven girl. I couldn't wait to get out of high school and escaped this place I called home. I always thought I was bigger and better than it.

My parents since the summer of 2008 have moved and I no longer have that little stone home to call my own. Now that summer is in full swing I miss it. A lot of major events happened when I was living there. I walked to my grade 8 graduation with all the girls from my class dressed up feeling like movie stars, practiced dance on the front porch of our 200 year old house, and fell in love for the first time. These are just a few of the great memories I associate with Beaverton.

I came to Toronto to escape it all and what I'm starting to realize is that I will never be able to travel far enough, because it will always be apart of me. As much as I don't want to admit it, I'm a country girl at heart. I love the music, the smells (not cow manure haha), the sites and the summer air.

To all reading this, don't run away from who you were, because it's going to be who you are forever. It's a part of you. Don't forget your roots.

I heard this song while driving down a dirt road this morning and it sums it all up. I hope you enjoy this little piece of country.

The House That Built Me

by: Miranda Lambert

I know they say you cant go home again.
I just had to come back one last time.
Ma'am I know you don't know me from Adam.
But these handprints on the front steps are mine.
And up those stairs, in that little back bedroom
is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar.
And I bet you didn't know under that live oak
my favorite dog is buried in the yard.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself
if I could just come in I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.

Mama cut out pictures of houses for years.
From 'Better Homes and Garden' magazines.
Plans were drawn, concrete poured,
and nail by nail and board by board
Daddy gave life to mama's dream.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself.
If I could just come in I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.

You leave home, you move on and you do the best you can.
I got lost in this whole world and forgot who I am.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself.
If I could walk around I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.

Canada Day

I've been a bit distracted lately and that's why I haven't posted anything. Between the G20, heading up to the cottage and Canada Day I haven't had a chance to write anything up.

Where did last finish? Oh right my trip. Well I'll finish those series of posts by saying it was the most memorable birthday ever. I won't say the best because I have been very fortunate to have experienced loads of amazing birthdays, big and small, but it was certainly one that I won't forget.

Canada Day 2010. Not too shabby. I had never been to Rib Fest in Centennial Park in Etobicoke, and apparently it's the thing to do in the west end. So early afternoon Kyle and Aaron picked us up and we headed to the park. I thought it was going to be all about the meat, and I suppose if you eat ribs, it is. It was like a fair. Rides, games, cotton candy. All the great things you need to have a wonderful Canada Day. A few snuck in beers and some additional friends, and the day was perfect. Nothing too exciting but a true reflection of what it's like to be a Canadian. I hope you all enjoyed your day off!

Peace!

Insane activity in Toronto

I thought I would write a brief entry about the insane weather we had yesterday in Toronto.

Yesterday I was suffering with a migraine and lying on the couch when shortly after 1:40 in the after the couch started rocking back and forth. At first I thought I was just dizzy from the headache but then realized when I stood up it wasn't me it was the entire house. An Earthquake in Toronto? Really? I must admit I was a bit frightened. I had never felt an earthquake before, and although it caused no damage here in Toronto it was still a bit scary.

After I had calmed myself down I turned the TV on to watch the news coverage of the earthquake, when a weather alert popped on the screen. Tornado warnings. Although the GTA isn't a stranger to tornados the fact we had an earthquake and a tornado in the same day is a bit crazy. Mother earth is telling us something! Luckily Toronto wasn't hit by the tornado, although we had some heavy rain early morning today. Unfortunately cottage country just north of the GTA was hit. Poor Midland. The hardest hit was a trailer park in the small town. Here's some photos of the devastation.

photo credit to the Globe and Mail

Paris Day 2

Second day in Paris.

We started our morning by walking by Les Invalides. To think that Napeoleon is actually entombed there is remarkable. It's hard for me to imagine these historical figures as "real" people. When I stepped into many of the buildings in Paris my imagination took over and suddenly I could envision men in wigs and women in big dresses.

Next we continued walking towards the Eiffel Tower. Although a beautiful sight I was more impressed with the other buildings in the city. I've been to Paris once before so perhaps the shock and awe value was lost. However, Matt had never been and we need to head to the top to share a romantic moment. You can't be in paris and not share a kiss at the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Later in the evening we decided to take part in "happy hour" in the Latin Quater. Cheap drinks in Paris, you can't ask for anything better. Every drink I ordered was incredibly strong and three drinks later was a little tipsy trying to keep my balance on the cobblestone streets. We needed something to fill our bellies other than alcohol so we decided on a banana nutella crepe.

I have never been a fan of nutella until the moment I bit into that crepe. My god... who knew there was such a heavenly dessert out there. The crepe didn't last long. Drool over this photo.

Peace and Love.

Paris My 23rd Birthday

We arrived in at Gare du Nord in Paris late morning on my 23rd Birthday. The sun was shining and we were greeted by the unbelievable sights of the city of love. Our first stop was our hotel. Hotel de Sevres located in the heart of the left bank, Saint Germain offered a beautiful stay close to the Metro and walking distance to many of the historical sights that are the heart of Paris.

After dropping off our bags to the front desk we went straight to Monteparnasse Tower that allows you to travel to the rooftop (56 floor) to witness a 360 degree view of the city. It was a great opportunity to snap some scenic photos admire the city from above. I preferred the view from this tower than the Eiffel tower since we could get landscape photos with the Eiffel Tower in them.

After taking hundreds of photos at the top of Monteparnasse we went back down to street level to enjoy lunch at a vendor selling only sandwiches made out of the best french bread around. Both Matt and I enjoyed a chicken sandwich will sitting on some stools placed outside the bakery and people watched. Just looking at the photo gets me drooling.

After lunch we headed towards Notre Dame and the Louvre, both buildings offer a tremendous beauty with their detailed architecture and history. Matt and I decided not to venture into the Louvre, due to a tight budget while we were away, but I can promise you next time I am in Paris I will make an effort to visit.

The rest of our day consisted on lying on the grass behind the louvre (how romantic), drinking Kronenbourg on cafe patios and eating crepes. I couldn't of asked for a better way to spend my birthday. It was absolutely a dream come true.

St.Albans & London

For the next chapter in Matt and my trip we stopped in St.Albans for lunch with my Great Uncle John and his lovely wife Beryl. St.Albans is phenomenal. Winding village streets, trendy restaurants and beautiful old architecture. No complaints while we spent our afternoon here.

John took us to a Moroccan restaurant for lunch where I had a yummy salad and Matt had chicken and couscous. Joining for the luncheon was my parents, and my uncle Matthew with his doll of a girlfriend Tanja.

After lunch John marched us through the city to see the sites. My favourite being St.Albans Cathedral.

After our tour John and Matthew took us to the train station to see us off to London. I balled my eyes out at the station once they left. I don't have the opportunity to see my overseas family very often and I was already missing them.

A short train ride later we arrived at St.Pancras Station in London and walked to The Crestfield Hotel. Keep in mind, Matt and I were looking for a budget hotel near the train station and not luxury, but I would still not recommend this gross hole in the wall to anyone. But it was a place to sleep. See the photo below for the size of the room.

Matt and I didn't do much in London this night. We were still tired from the wedding the night before and had to wake up early for the EuroStar to Paris in the morning. We ordered a pizza, bought some mini bottles of wine and some sweets and called it a night.

Stay tuned for the next entry where I tell you about our three days in paradise, I mean Paris, for my 23rd Birthday.

Lots of love!

Okay so I couldn't wait to share this with you all.

TOPSHOP IS COMING TO TORONTO!!! Words can't describe how excited I am.

Here's the article

June Wedding

Welcome to my first blog post. I decided since I have been unemployed now for 9 months that I would share what I do on all my spare time.

Last Thursday I returned home from a week long trip to England and France. The first stop on the trip was to Deddington Oxfordshire in the UK. I was there for my Uncle David's wedding to the lovely Trina. The village was beautiful and we stayed in this gorgeous B&B called Earl's Farm.

The wedding was amazing. Everything I would want in a wedding for myself. It was a fairly small ceremony and reception, only 90 people, which was perfect since it was only family and close friends. It felt so personal and intimate. The ceremony was held at the Church of St.Peter and St.Paul, which was built in the 13th century. Everything about the church was old, in a good way. The smell, the lighting, the minister. It really felt like I was travelling back in time.

The reception was held a short drive away at a restaurant called the Mason Arms. It was an outdoor reception that looked out onto the english country during sunset. Breathtaking! When my family and I arrived it looked like a scene out of a movie. Women and men dressed to the nine's, barefooted drinking champagne and Pims (which I first discovered on this trip). If you haven't had the pleasure of drinking a glass of Pims you need to go out to the liquor and buy some. You prepare it with lemonade and fresh fruit, cucumber and mint. It's absolutely delicous and you could easily have too much without realizing it.

Now about what I wore. I was dressed in my mum's DVF wrap dress that I loooove with a pair of peep toe black shoes from Aldo. The other lovely lady in the photo is my mum, in her fabulous hat and Audrey Hepburn inspired dress.

Well that's the end of the Deddington chapter of our trip. Tomorrow I will share what went on in St.Albans and London.

Lots of love!