While searching for the Coco Avant Chanel trailer for my last post, results came up that included the new Chanel No. 5 film starring Audrey Tautou, who looks absolutely stunning in it. Now I'm girl-crushing and wanting to splash on some Chanel No. 5 myself!
And since we're talking Chanel commericals, the 2005 spot with Nicole Kidman is another fav, but more for the hottie, Rodrigo Santoro who first caught my eye in Love Actually:
Saturday, October 31, 2009
A Perfect Saturday Afternoon
After getting to bed last night after 3am I was pleasantly surprised to be woken up by wL this morning around 10:40 - the first time in a while that I've been able to sleep in past 9. We made plans to meet for brunch and caught up over the last couple months before parting ways around 2.
And rather than giving in to my lazy-ass cocooning instincts of late, I headed back out for a little shopping. My first stop - Lululemon to check out their jackets and hoodies. I wasn't particularly keen on the brand before since it was sort of up there with Nike for me as athletic gear, and I never saw myself as athletic. For the longest time, the only thing I owned was a hoodie and a yoga mat bag - but I've since come around. I had my eye on the Gratitude Wrap (below), which they didn't have at the Queen West store, so off I headed to the Eaton Centre where, yay!, they did. It's super-comfy and cozy, so, I bought it.
Next stop - Sephora, where I had to pick up a new bottle of Aloe Toning Complex and ended up leaving with a jar of Korres Lip Butter in Plum and a lip brush. Ooh, and because I had 300 Beauty Insider points, I also got a free 30ml tube of Fresh Brown Sugar Body Cream.
Last stop for the afternoon was the AMC for the 4 o'clock showing of Coco Avant Chanel, a film I've been meaning to watch since it opened but have been too lazy-assed to get out to see because of the aforementioned tendency towards cocooning. It was another good film - certainly different from yesterday's selection - but inspiring nonetheless as it's led me to flip through the catalog from the Met's 2005 Chanel exhibit for another look of her simply elegant styles.
And rather than giving in to my lazy-ass cocooning instincts of late, I headed back out for a little shopping. My first stop - Lululemon to check out their jackets and hoodies. I wasn't particularly keen on the brand before since it was sort of up there with Nike for me as athletic gear, and I never saw myself as athletic. For the longest time, the only thing I owned was a hoodie and a yoga mat bag - but I've since come around. I had my eye on the Gratitude Wrap (below), which they didn't have at the Queen West store, so off I headed to the Eaton Centre where, yay!, they did. It's super-comfy and cozy, so, I bought it.
Next stop - Sephora, where I had to pick up a new bottle of Aloe Toning Complex and ended up leaving with a jar of Korres Lip Butter in Plum and a lip brush. Ooh, and because I had 300 Beauty Insider points, I also got a free 30ml tube of Fresh Brown Sugar Body Cream.Last stop for the afternoon was the AMC for the 4 o'clock showing of Coco Avant Chanel, a film I've been meaning to watch since it opened but have been too lazy-assed to get out to see because of the aforementioned tendency towards cocooning. It was another good film - certainly different from yesterday's selection - but inspiring nonetheless as it's led me to flip through the catalog from the Met's 2005 Chanel exhibit for another look of her simply elegant styles.
A Wild and Live Friday
After spending last weekend holed up at home watching the complete first and last season of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip - I'm still sad it was cancelled - I decided I should get out this weekend and, you know, be social.
So last night, N and I watched the last showing of Where The Wild Things Are. I don't remember reading the book as a child so I had no expectations about the story, but this was one of the sweetest and most charming films I've watched in recent memory.
Afterwards, we headed over to The Horseshoe Tavern to catch KC Roberts & the Live Revolution perform. I've never been to The Horseshoe because frankly, my tastes run more to wine bars than dive bars, but I made the exception last night because I really enjoyed their performance when I first saw them at the Beaches Jazz Festival in July. They were just as good last night and they got me all nostalgic with their unexpected, yet funky rendition of the Thundercats theme song. Incidentally, there's a movie in development according to imdb.
I picked up their latest disc, Parkdale Funk I, at the show and am actually a bit disappointed that their ode to Toronto, City by the Lake, isn't on it. Ah well.
So last night, N and I watched the last showing of Where The Wild Things Are. I don't remember reading the book as a child so I had no expectations about the story, but this was one of the sweetest and most charming films I've watched in recent memory.
Afterwards, we headed over to The Horseshoe Tavern to catch KC Roberts & the Live Revolution perform. I've never been to The Horseshoe because frankly, my tastes run more to wine bars than dive bars, but I made the exception last night because I really enjoyed their performance when I first saw them at the Beaches Jazz Festival in July. They were just as good last night and they got me all nostalgic with their unexpected, yet funky rendition of the Thundercats theme song. Incidentally, there's a movie in development according to imdb.
I picked up their latest disc, Parkdale Funk I, at the show and am actually a bit disappointed that their ode to Toronto, City by the Lake, isn't on it. Ah well.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
On Personal Training
Instead of an LV handbag, Chanel sunglasses or 500 pencil crayons, I got myself a personal trainer for turning 33 this year. I figured it was about time I got serious about whipping my own ass into shape since my metabolism has slowed and my tendency towards excuses has resulted in gaining about 10lbs of weight in the last year - no joke.
The harbinger for me came in February, when I had difficulty pulling up the zip of my dressy knee-high boots. I thought for sure I'd break the zipper tab and cut off circulation because my calves were bigger than they were the year before. As time progressed, the mornings when I'd stand in front of my closet at a loss for what to wear because things weren't fitting right multiplied. I felt helpless with frustration and angry at myself for letting this happen.
I made half-hearted attempts to get fit on my own - I ordered exercise books and DVDs but I'm just not motivated enough to do it on my own. It wasn't until I was trying on some dresses in my closet for a friend's wedding and finding that I couldn't fit into them anymore that I finally bit the bullet and took a page out of my cousin A's book to hire a personal trainer.
I always used to think a personal trainer was self-indulgent and superficial. But I've been working with K now for about 2 months and I must say that this is one of the best investments I've ever made - and it is an investment because our sessions are not cheap.
I train 3x a week and am still surprised by how strong I am having never pushed myself to the limit. I wasn't athletic growing up, preferring music and band to varsity team sports, so I was never particularly into health and fitness. Getting into running was a bit of a revelation for me because I never imagined that I would really enjoy it, but enjoy it I did in working up to my first 10K last year. For various reasons, I wasn't nearly as motivated this year so I ended up bailing on the 10 Mile run I'd signed up for.
Back to training though - I'm nearing the end of my "foundational" phase, the first in a 3-phase program which follows the periodization philosophy of training. I'm definitely seeing results in my arms which is to be expected as I'm your classic pear shape so the muscles in my lower body are hiding beneath the fat which hasn't been burned off yet. I'll be progressing to the "build" phase soon, which, according to K, means heavier weights, lower reps and less creative exercises as we work to focus the muscle development. The final phase, "burn," is the one I'm most looking forward to as that's when the fat is burned off and we "shrink wrap" the muscles leaving a toned, fit physique behind.
Aside from being a qualified personal trainer, K is also a nutritionist - which I'm sure he studied in order to give himself an edge as a bodybuilder - so he's also giving me diet advice which I've heeded. I'm making more conscious decisions about what I eat like trying to have protein at every meal and choosing complex carbohydrates over simple ones. I've even started drinking whey protein shakes post-workout which have really helped in my recovery because I'm not as sore for as long. I used to think they were only for muscleheads but if it makes me hurt less, I'm all for it.
I kept a food diary for a week which K reviewed and critiqued based on my intake of protein, carbs, fat and water. I'll have more on my diet in blogs to come.
The harbinger for me came in February, when I had difficulty pulling up the zip of my dressy knee-high boots. I thought for sure I'd break the zipper tab and cut off circulation because my calves were bigger than they were the year before. As time progressed, the mornings when I'd stand in front of my closet at a loss for what to wear because things weren't fitting right multiplied. I felt helpless with frustration and angry at myself for letting this happen.
I made half-hearted attempts to get fit on my own - I ordered exercise books and DVDs but I'm just not motivated enough to do it on my own. It wasn't until I was trying on some dresses in my closet for a friend's wedding and finding that I couldn't fit into them anymore that I finally bit the bullet and took a page out of my cousin A's book to hire a personal trainer.
I always used to think a personal trainer was self-indulgent and superficial. But I've been working with K now for about 2 months and I must say that this is one of the best investments I've ever made - and it is an investment because our sessions are not cheap.
I train 3x a week and am still surprised by how strong I am having never pushed myself to the limit. I wasn't athletic growing up, preferring music and band to varsity team sports, so I was never particularly into health and fitness. Getting into running was a bit of a revelation for me because I never imagined that I would really enjoy it, but enjoy it I did in working up to my first 10K last year. For various reasons, I wasn't nearly as motivated this year so I ended up bailing on the 10 Mile run I'd signed up for.
Back to training though - I'm nearing the end of my "foundational" phase, the first in a 3-phase program which follows the periodization philosophy of training. I'm definitely seeing results in my arms which is to be expected as I'm your classic pear shape so the muscles in my lower body are hiding beneath the fat which hasn't been burned off yet. I'll be progressing to the "build" phase soon, which, according to K, means heavier weights, lower reps and less creative exercises as we work to focus the muscle development. The final phase, "burn," is the one I'm most looking forward to as that's when the fat is burned off and we "shrink wrap" the muscles leaving a toned, fit physique behind.
Aside from being a qualified personal trainer, K is also a nutritionist - which I'm sure he studied in order to give himself an edge as a bodybuilder - so he's also giving me diet advice which I've heeded. I'm making more conscious decisions about what I eat like trying to have protein at every meal and choosing complex carbohydrates over simple ones. I've even started drinking whey protein shakes post-workout which have really helped in my recovery because I'm not as sore for as long. I used to think they were only for muscleheads but if it makes me hurt less, I'm all for it.
I kept a food diary for a week which K reviewed and critiqued based on my intake of protein, carbs, fat and water. I'll have more on my diet in blogs to come.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
PUNCTUATE!!!
I have a profile on an online dating site which I do nothing about. I get messages from guys that I'm not particularly interested in. I suppose I should be more proactive about it and take it more seriously but I find dating tedious. All this to say that I received this opening salvo tonight and I'm irked:
wow i think we would get along great do u like to laugh...do u like to cuddle im a part time magician as in abracadabra lol fulltime <insert profession> but u will have to be able to laugh together .......at me.....at u......and each other i sure hope to hear from you would love to talk more do u have msn aswel xxxxxxx@hotmail.com we could talk there too hope u are interested in having fun cant waiT
It was written by a 35 year old man(!!!) who is obviously seriously challenged when it comes to written communication. My grammar is by no means perfect - I still don't know when to use "whom" in a sentence - but I do my best to ensure proper punctuation. I simply can not take anyone seriously who isn't friends with a period, let alone a comma and doesn't capitalize. It offends me, it truly does.
This is one part-time magician - as in abracadabra, LOL - that won't be hearing from me.
That's all.
wow i think we would get along great do u like to laugh...do u like to cuddle im a part time magician as in abracadabra lol fulltime <insert profession> but u will have to be able to laugh together .......at me.....at u......and each other i sure hope to hear from you would love to talk more do u have msn aswel xxxxxxx@hotmail.com we could talk there too hope u are interested in having fun cant waiT
It was written by a 35 year old man(!!!) who is obviously seriously challenged when it comes to written communication. My grammar is by no means perfect - I still don't know when to use "whom" in a sentence - but I do my best to ensure proper punctuation. I simply can not take anyone seriously who isn't friends with a period, let alone a comma and doesn't capitalize. It offends me, it truly does.
This is one part-time magician - as in abracadabra, LOL - that won't be hearing from me.
That's all.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Brrr!
My walk home from Yuk Yuks took me through the crowd of clubbers in the Entertainment District tonight and I'm amazed at how little clothing the girls wore as I shivered in my coat. There were girls in halter tops and short skirts tottering about in to high heels. Like, seriously! The club scene has certainly changed since the days I used to go out.
p.s. Yuk Yuks was funny. I'm pretty certain Steve Patterson, tonight's headliner, was drunk.
p.s. Yuk Yuks was funny. I'm pretty certain Steve Patterson, tonight's headliner, was drunk.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Zappos Rocks
You know the Reebok Easytones I blogged about last weekend? I tried looking for them in Toronto this week and came up empty-handed. They're sold out in all the stores I've checked and there are apparently no plans for replenishment until the summer.
So I hopped online again and found them on Zappos. I've read great things about Zappos and their awesome customer service and I can now attest to that fact.
I tried ordering my shoes online and ran into trouble entering my billing information because I don't live in the U.S. Luckily, my friend JL will be in town from Philly next weekend and can bring them back for me if I have them shipped to him. I called their 1-800 number and spoke to an agent named Lyle. He stayed on the phone with me and walked me through placing the order online and then upgraded my account to VIP status because I called in to make my first order. Customer service agents typically aren't so nice - understandable, really, since they're at the front lines when it comes to dealing with customer complaints. Anyway, thanks to my new VIP status, my order will be expedited for delivery in 1 business day, so they'll arrive Tuesday at JL's place. Awesome, right?!
So I hopped online again and found them on Zappos. I've read great things about Zappos and their awesome customer service and I can now attest to that fact.
I tried ordering my shoes online and ran into trouble entering my billing information because I don't live in the U.S. Luckily, my friend JL will be in town from Philly next weekend and can bring them back for me if I have them shipped to him. I called their 1-800 number and spoke to an agent named Lyle. He stayed on the phone with me and walked me through placing the order online and then upgraded my account to VIP status because I called in to make my first order. Customer service agents typically aren't so nice - understandable, really, since they're at the front lines when it comes to dealing with customer complaints. Anyway, thanks to my new VIP status, my order will be expedited for delivery in 1 business day, so they'll arrive Tuesday at JL's place. Awesome, right?!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Autobiography of a Wardrobe
I actually finished Elizabeth Kendall's Autobiography of a Wardrobe a few weeks ago. The book is as described in its title and I found I couldn't muster up much empathy for a wardrobe, so it was a slow read for me.
Reebok EasyTone
I usually skip the ads in magazine but as I was flipping through my back issues of Glamour I stumbled upon an ad for Reebok's EasyTone shoes which piqued my curiosity. So I hopped on the net to do some research. They seem to work similarly to MBTs which unfortunately, are ugly and orthopeadic looking. These actually look good...and I'd even wear them to work!
Now I just have to find them in Toronto for a try-on...
Now I just have to find them in Toronto for a try-on...
Blue Crystal Snowflake
I've never been into collecting coins but this $20 silver coin in the Royal Canadian Mint's current holiday gift guide has me re-considering numismatics.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Whew.
Just got home from a dinner date, at the end of which the boy told me he didn't feel the spark and he didn't like to play games. And I must say that was a relief.
Now, as a dyed in the wool introvert, I'm not the most sparkling of conversationalists - but I tried my best and I swear, while it wasn't the worst dinner date ever, it certainly wasn't fun because I felt like I was carrying the conversation.
So glad that's over with.
Now, as a dyed in the wool introvert, I'm not the most sparkling of conversationalists - but I tried my best and I swear, while it wasn't the worst dinner date ever, it certainly wasn't fun because I felt like I was carrying the conversation.
So glad that's over with.
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