Clever Ikea Commercial

Creative.  Simple.  Innovative.  Design focused.  I could easily be referring to Apple here but I"m not. I'm talking about Ikea; a brand whose commercials never cease to inspire.

Colourful Denim

I love that brightly coloured denim, generally reserved for Spring, is becoming the new "must-have" item for Fall! On a recent trip to the States, while browsing through Barney's, I was overjoyed by all the brightly coloured hues adorning the denim racks.  Fall is generally a time for deep purples, burgundy's, browns and colours that remind us of back to school. Why be boring when you can be vibrant? There's no point in letting the cold weather makes us grumpy. Instead, we should embrace the new season with brightly coloured legs!

My picks from top to bottom include:

* Ksubi - Super Spray On Jean $170

* J Brand - Bright Orange Jean $176

* Rag & Bone - Cobalt $169 (this was the pair I bought at Barney's and absolutely love!)

* The Gap - Island Palm $79.95 

Repurposed Furniture

While reading a recent issue of Conde Nast's Traveler Magazine and last Saturday's National Post Newspaper, I was impressed and inspired by creative ways that common household objects have been given new life as original pieces of furniture.

Instead of tripping over children's blocks, why not use them to create a colourful chair?

A chandelier comprised of coffee mugs? That sounds like a buzzworthy idea to me.  

But if it's not your cup of tea, try wine glasses with their stems removed for a classier effect.  And if you do actually try this, please send me a picture!

The top two photos feature the works of designers Nic Roex, Pepe Heykoop and Geke Lensink. The cup chandelier is by Sander Lucas.

The Courvoisier Collective

Have you noticed the silhouette of Napoleon incorporated into a scannable QR code around billboards in Downtown Toronto? For those of you oblivious to advertisements, please see the photo above (courtesy of Media in Canada).

While QR Codes are exciting at first, their novelty wears off pretty quickly. Wouldn't it be a lot more interesting to stare at a piece of art done by a local Torontonian, while stuck in traffic on Adelaide Street West?

I think it would and so do the masterminds behind The Courvoisier Collective, a contest for local artists to submit pieces that explore the theme of "renewal" in relation to the revolutionary role of art.

Artists can either explore the capacity of art to revolutionize its own content and form, or, they can express art's potential to challenge the status quo, something which Napoleon succeeded in.

Courvoisier, a cognac devoted to craftsmanship and innovation, has always prided itself on revolutionizing the art of making cognac without compromising its nature. You can bet that the judging panel expects to see the same passion and revolutionary spirit in the winning artwork.

Art can be submitted through http://www.courvoisiercollective.com/ and voted on to gain billboard or gallery status!

The public can vote online for their favourite pieces, begining on July 15th and ending on August 5th.

Here are some more important dates:

July 8th: Deadline for submissions in order to be considered for "Billboard showcase" and prizing.

July 15th: Deadline for "Gallery Award" submissions. Submissions chosen by the public and judging panel will be included in an exhibit at Gallery 1313

July 15th - August 5th: Online public voting for the "Gallery Award" submissions. Voting can be done by visiting http://www.courvoisiercollective.com/

August 1st - 26th: Three winning "Billboard showcase" submissions displayed on high traffic Toronto billboards

August 5th - 8th: "Gallery Award" winners selected for display at Gallery 1313 in Parkdale

August 11th - September 4th: "Gallery Award" Exhibition at Gallery 1313

Submitted artwork can use such media as photography, painting, mixed media and printmaking. Submissions can easily be made by uploading an image in digital JPG, GIF, TIF, or PNG format.

Below are a few of my favourite pieces so far.

Make sure to visit http://www.courvoisiercollective.com/ and vote for your favourites too!

Artwork by Rob Mclelland

Artwork by Justin Broadbent
Artwork by Lynn Soehner

Bicycle Wine Rack

The perfect gift for the eco-conscience oenophile is finally here and just in time for Summer! This handmade leather bicycle rack makes it easy to buy wine on your way home from work without worrying about it breaking in your basket or bag.

Perfect for a romantic ride to the park, followed by a picnic in the grass, watching the sunset with your unscathed bottle of wine. Just make sure that you're not wobbly when you get back on your bike for the journey home!

The Bicycle Wine Rack is made in Montreal from recycled oil-treated vegetable tanned leather that gets better with age; hopefully the same can be said about the wine its holding. Available to puchase on Etsy.com for $30.

French Colours at The French Open

Raphael Nadal (shown in blue) and Roger Federer (shown in red) were both clad in Nike tennis attire during the French Open Finals yesterday. Although red, blue and white are the colours of the French flag, I was surprised that Nike chose to dress Nadal in blue and Federer in red.

Nadal is outgrowing his wild and brutish personality and playing style, but is still not as calm or graceful as his rival, Federer. Thus, I would've have chosen red for Nadal, as red is a colour of aggression, while blue is a cooler colour, suitable for Federer's smooth persona.

Furthermore, Federer wore blue at the Internazionale BNL d'Italia, only three weeks prior. (See picture above). Sure it was a slightly darker hue than Nadal's blue outfit during the French Open, but it's still part of the same family. To confuse fans even more, he wore baby blue at last year's French Open, which was pretty much the same colour as Nadal's shirt this year.

Nike, what is going on with your colour choices? Why not use some consistancy and make it easier for fans to quickly recognize the players. This is especially important when they both happen to be tall, dark and handsome.

Jump into summer with the Jumper

The Jumper, more affectionately known as "The Romper" and commonly called the one-piece or onesie, is a casual summer option that has been gaining popularity over the years. It's a throwback to the '80's, to childhood, floral patterns, cinched waists, buttons, pockets and comfort. Perfect for the beach or a picnic in the park, the Jumper is my favourite summer staple of this season.

From top to bottom my picks include: Juicy Couture (first two), OBEY, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Beatrice Holloway and Levi's.

Button Power

I have an old black Theory blazer that I got on sale, about ten years ago, at Holt Renfrew. It came with the boring looking buttons pictured above. The blazer fits perfectly but I wasn't wearing it that often because the buttons were nothing special. I'm a firm believer that clothing should make you feel awesome and I just felt ordinary wearing my black blazer. At first I couldn't figure out why, thinking that maybe my tastes had changed over the years, until I realized that the greyish/light brown/black buttons were the culprit.

The buttons would have made more of an impact had they been one solid colour instead of three different ones trying to unsuccessfully mesh. Rather, they just looked dirty, as if they had originally been black but had faded overtime or picked up dirt which made their colour lighter in spots. Strange that Theory would use such ugly buttons, but hey, maybe that's why the blazer was on sale.

Regardless, I decided to love my blazer and buy cool buttons to make it pop! Hence, the photo at the top of this posting which shows the polished gold buttons that I picked up to replace the dull ones. It's hard to tell from the photo above, but my blazer looks a thousand times better. Friends and family members think it's a new purchase and I feel like gold when I wear it which just goes to show you the power and potential of buttons.

Boot Camp

Today marks the first day of June and the weather is finally heating up. Summer is around the corner which means it's time to get ready for bikini season! My friend and I attended our first boot camp class of the month this morning and can already feel the results, or shall I say, muscle soreness.

The one hour class was comprised of variuos short, intense, repetitive motions that targeted our arms, legs, tummy and butt. Squats, push-ups and boxing punches were just a few examples of the rigorous routines we were subjected to. Although there was a lot of pain, there was also a lot of gain!

I was surprised to learn how much of a workout I got without using weights. By simply using my own body's resistance and motivation from the drill sergeant instructor, I was dripping with sweat and getting toned pretty quickly!

I highly recommend boot camp for those that want to get in shape fast and don't mind being yelled at.

Image taken from www.workoutaustin.com

Basil Fawlty

In a recent post I talked about my adoration for summer beverages, specifically the Caesar, and my appreciation for inventive bartenders that add creative twists to classic concoctions. About a week after being smitten by the Caprese Caesar, I encountered the Basil Fawlty, which also left me utterly impressed, amused and a little bit buzzed...
The Basil Fawlty, named after John Cleese's character from the sitcom Fawlty Towers, may look like a minty mojito, but is actually comprised of gin instead of rum. It also contains orange blossom flower, lime juice and of course, plenty of fresh basil.

Drinking this beverage felt like frolicking in an English Garden and left me thirsty for more adventure. Fortunately, I was dining at Black Hoof, known for boundary pushing cuisine and deliciously daring drinks.

Another green summer drink worth sipping if you're not in the mood for alcohol, is Lemon & Green Tea from MangaJo, a company based out of the U.K.

I normally opt for water instead of flavoured beverages since the latter tend to be jam packed with sugar and artificial flavours. MangaJo's products however, have no added sugar and provide a refreshing way to quench your thirst on a hot summer's day.

Lemon & Green Tea are a delightful combo that provide antioxidants and caffeine to sharpen your mind when the sun casts its sluggish spell. Not to mention that the bottle is adorable and made out of glass instead of no good plastic. MangaJo also has other tasty flavours like Pomegranite & Green Tea, Acai- Berry & Green Tea and Goji-Berry and Green Tea. They're sold at Pusateri's in Toronto and retail for around $2.

The Best Jean Shorts for Summer

Like their older sibling Denim, Jean Shorts are cool and stylish. Some people wear them all year round (either they live in warm climates or they wear tights underneath). Others, wait till Coachella, which unofficially marks the beginning of jean short season!

Denim shorties go with everything and can be dressed up or down. Opt for ones with timeless tailoring and classic style. No need for dangling threads unless you're in high school or cut them yourself. Here are my top pics for this season:

1.) J Brand Dita High Rise Shorts - I absolutely love these shorts. The dark colour and high waist offers a flatering option for short legs (like mine!)

2. The Hudson Hampton - the sky blue colour of these shorts really pops and screams "let me outside!"


3. William Rast Scarlett Shorts - I love the big back pockets of these shorts. The contrast colour of the stiching and cuffs really makes them stand out.

Editor's Note: Top photo is courtesy of www.dustfactoryvintage.com and the one beneath (of Coachella) is from http://aviva.buzznet.com

It's Fiddlehead Season!

WooHoo! It's Fiddlehead season and to celebrate I made a salad based on a recipe from this month's LCBO Magazine. The recipe called for fresh fiddleheads (I got mine from the Sorauren Farmer's Market), feta and edamame. I added olives since they go so well with feta and offer a nice colour contrast to all the green. Pine Nuts would also act as a nice accompaniment.

Fiddleheads are an aquired taste (sort of like Asparagus) and to be frank they're not my #1 choice when it comes to green veggies but they look so cool and are really healthy so why not pick some up well they're in season? They also add a great hue to soups and pair well with leeks.

Customizable Golf Shoes

When spending the day at The Golf Club, it's important to look stylish and feel good. FootJoy is a brand that's known as having the #1 shoe and glove in golf so when I heard about MyJoys, their line of customizable golf shoes, I was pretty excited to create my own unique pair.

Golf, as most people know, has a history of being a conservative and preppy sport and most of the golf shoes that I looked at were pretty boring. My customized FootJoy's on the other hand, have bright green & yellow stripes, along with an adorable looking penguin, for those hot and sticky humid days, when you really wish you could take a short trip to the Arctic.

Note: Photo taken using the Instagram App for the iPhone

The Caprese Caesar

The Caprese Caesar, which I ordered at the bar on the 2nd floor of the Bell TIFF Lightbox, combines my favourite salad with my favourite drink, perfect for a pre-dinner meal (to wade off starvation) or any time you're craving cheese, as the drink is garnished with a bocconcini skewer, drizzled with balsamic and loaded with pieces of fresh basil!

Kudos to the barstaff at TIFF for extending the organization's mission of creativity to its beverages. The food at the bar was pretty good too.

If I come across anymore exciting variations of the classic caesar, I'll be sure to take some photos and keep you posted.









Photo taken using The Instagram app for the iPhone.

The Dark Chocolate Lover's Chocolate Bar

A friend of mine who understands my addition to dark chocolate, recently brought me back several bars from Trader Joe's when she was in New York. I happened to open this one first and haven't gotten around to trying the others yet because this one is just way too tasty to put down.

At first I was a bit reluctant to try an 85% cocoa since I'm used to bars with a 72% content, similar to how there's a huge difference between getting a B or an A in school, there's also a big difference between the 70's and 80's when it comes to cocoa percentages in chocolate bars.

But with just one small bite I was instantly hooked! The chocolate is dry at first with a mild nutty smell but quickly becomes this intense flavour, taking over your tatesbuds, reminiscent of a double chocolate fudge cupcake!

I love being able to have one square of chocolate and feel like I'm eating a sinfully decadent cupcake. What's even better is that the higher cocoa content means you're getting more flavonoids so you don't have to feel guilty about your addiction. In fact, you should be quite pleased, as flavanoids have been shown to lower your blood pressure? (FYI: I happen to have very low blood pressure)

What's even more remarkable is that there are two chocolate bars tucked away inside the package, each individually wrapped (in case your friends make your share) and the bar retails for only $1.49 (U.S.) which means it's even cheaper in Canada!

Now if only Trader Joe's would open up on this side of the border...

Back in the Hat

Well it's been about a year and a half since my last blog post and what a crazy past year and a half it's been! I fell in love, got a new roommate (my boyfriend), took up cooking, travelled extensively and played in two hockey leagues, all while working in the high demand industries of marketing and advertising.

I apologize to my loyal readers for my absense and hope that you'll continue to read my blog, be inspired and comment on my posts. The next several of which will aim to get you in the mood for summer, because I've had enough of all this rainy weather! Every day I think about sipping a caesar on a patio in the sunshine, wearing a cute summer dress, after having played a round of golf. Is that too much to ask for?