Category Archives: Reviewed

Review: CND’s Shellac Manicure at Tips Nail Bar

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Just last week I was invited by Canadian Nail Design for my first ever shellac manicure at Tips Nail Bar. Now I am not sure if you have heard of Tips but they are one of the top nail bars in Toronto with  nationally recognized nail artists including Leanne Colley and Melissa Forrest of Page One Management. I was lucky enough to have my nails done by my lovely friend Melissa who I have worked with before for several editorial stories and she did an amazing shellac manicure.

Now before I spill about what my mani  looked like, let me tell you about shellac. Shellac is a polish designed to not budge from your nails as each  coat of polish applied is cured under a UV dryer.  Nails can stay fresh looking for up to three weeks. Yes, it’s worth it, I’ve had my manicure for about a week and  they still look in tip-top shape.

So here are the pics:

Melissa did a manicure inspired by the floral print of my blouse mixed with four shellac colours from the fall collection.

Some of the colours in my manicure are  from the new winter collection Winter Wonderful, which features  rich tones accented with shimmering metallic, which are great to accent all the  prints such as floral, and chromatic finishes of the fall and winter runways. The base colour was a rose-pink topped with spec of white, and then sponging done with seran wrap in  midnight swim, a dark navy blue shimmer and  vexed violette, a silvery lilac shimmer.

Here is a picture of myself in the floral blouse that inspired Melissa to do the manicure:

Reviewed: Blyss Hair Salon

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Recently I was offered the pleasure to  visit  Blyss hair salon for a complimentary treatment. Blyss hair salon in Yorkville at  25 Bellair Street was just joined by  Exit Hair salon, together the two businesses bring together  over  25 years of experience and an amazing team. I got the pleasure to  have my cut done by the lovely Carla who convinced me to do a little something different to my hair to bring out its natural wave. Here is the before:

Here is the after:


So what do you think? I love it because my hair is lighter and I learned to bring out the natural wave with simply my fingers, a  little oil and a round brush. Carla was careful to teach me new tricks and ways to make my hair be something I would love and I am  so happy with the transformation. Blyss is a sure place to visit, just ask for Carla and you’ll be taken care of!

Inspired: Exploring the Self with LUSH’s Emotional Brilliance

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When putting on makeup, what do you think about? Maybe you think about how the look you will create will complement your outfit, or perhaps you want to play up a feature that channels the season.  But with LUSH’s new Emotional Brilliance makeup collection its more than just matching and playing up features,  creating a makeup look is about channeling the inner self.

Creators of LUSH’s line  Rowena Bird  with colour psychologist Lady Kennedy and  Strategic Behavioural Therapist to  devise the concept of line.  Each colour in the line is associated with a word that channels a quality of one’s inner self when chosen at the colour wheel. Users of the line choose colours based on how they are feeling, reaching deep inside after doing a colour reading that shows their current state of mind.

I paid a visit to Square One’s LUSH story to experience the line first hand.

LUSH’s David Owen (pictured below) allowed me to  experience the colour reading first hand:

Now you may ask yourself what is a colour reading? Well that’s what these two are doing here. You get a personal consultation with a LUSH consultant who  asks you to sit at the LUSH colour wheel, which is a wooden wheel that feature the line’s complete colour variety; and  drain out your mind of everything, close your eyes and concentrate solely on  how you are feeling just that moment.

The attendant spins the colour wheel for you  (seen below) and when it stops spinning you open your eyes and select the three colours you are drawn to most. I was drawn to these three, a bright green, a deep maroon and an iridescent bronze:

The first colour you pick represents your strength, since I chose the green also called “Healthy” I was told my lifestyle is healthy in terms of taking care of myself and the strong personal relationships I have in my life, which is something others admire in me.

The second colour representative of something one needs to grasp on to and is a subconscious need was “Confidence.” David mentioned that it doesn’t mean I am not confident, but that its something I need to work on fully embodying to realise my full potential with all the changes in my life at the moment, quite insightful.

Finally, the third colour is the quality in yourself you need to channel in order to fully embody your subconscious need to put one’s best sense of self forward. My third colour was called “Happiness,” so to show through my full confident self I need to channel my happiness. Based on how I was feeling that particular day and all of the life changes I am going through now in my personal and professional life the reading was right on the mark.

But most of all the line also looks good when put on, the picture above with myself and David shows me wearing “Healthy” as liner on my eyes and  ”Happiness” on my cheeks, on my lips I played around with a refresh summer fushcia called “Believe.”

The collection’s concept is not the only thing that makes it special, since its created by LUSH, Emotional Brilliance is 100% Vegan line, great for those who make conscientious choices with their makeup. Plus the line’s packaging is environmentally friendly with each colour being encased in a glass bottle, one of the most enviro-friendly materials. Finally the tops that hold the applicators are made of recycled LUSH containers from the makeup line’s  recycling program (for every 5 empty LUSH pots you bring into the  store you get a free product).

Finally when I applied the makeup the applicators were very simple to use and precise (I’m not the best with liquid liner and I didn’t struggle here). The pigments encourage you to play around with colour as they are easily blendable and are infused with ingredients that make your skin healthier including the essential oil Jojoba, candelita wax and rose wax, both natural botanical  extracts from plants. In my opinion what isn’t there to like about this line, it’s so much fun to wear and a great experience as you get a window into your  inner thoughts of the day.

Here’s the refreshing look I created at home with my three colours, beautiful shades! The lip colour is definitely one I love as bold lips are a personal favourite and although the brightness of the green seems daunting it looks quite stunning, but subtle when applied to the lips. Here “Happiness” was used as a shadow all over the lid.

Feeling like you want to have your own colour reading, check out the colour wheel on the Emotional Brilliance feature page on LUSH’s  website!

Do you think you’d like to try the Emotional Brilliance line?

Reviewed: Asian Influenced Cuisine at Kultura

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This past winter  I was invited to Kultura right outside of  Toronto’s financial district on 161 King Street East.  A gathering of food bloggers and  experts, I was happy to be invited since it was my first food event to attend. The party of  30 of us was  invited to taste the new revamped menu by the Chef Bernadette Calpito, which has a mix of Asian influences  she gathers from her childhood and heritage.

The Chef and Visionary Behind the Food: Chef Bernadette comes from an Asian background, her background is her roots and her mom, everyone thinks of their culinary background differently. The cusuines that influence the menu  at Kultura and her  gourmet style are Korean, Asian and Hawaiian.  In terms of the style of the plating, it’s a mix of  contemporary including elements of the  80’s such as the dots made of some of the sauces and  more modern plating.  “How you cook and your influences are  determined by how you think of food,” says Calpito, “I come to work to play. The dessert at Kultura has a French influence,” she shares. Prior to her  stint at Kultura, she was a sous chef for three years  and an executive chef at  Papillon.  Calpito has been Chef at Kultura since December 2011 now.  Her personal  favourite on the menu is the lamb chops and the  beef tartar.

Ambiance: With 350 people  capacity the restaurant has three floors, four rooms, two bars and one dining hall. Upstairs the high ceiling includes a private dining space for   8 to  40 people for parties. Dimly lit, the décor has modern but organic feel with Asian elements. Distressed  brick walls and wooden elements complement the rooms and show the heritage of the building which is hundreds of years old.

The Food: Brought out in tapas style my husband and I nibbled on the medley of flavours presented in creative and colourful plating styles. Here are the dishes I  chose to highlight:

Palak Paneer Naan: Drizzled with a sweet honey flavour the palak was cooked into the  naan bread, a fluffy bread from East Indian cuisine that is traditionally made of leavened flour and cooked in a clay oven known as a tandoor. The  bread was great to snack on, but I don’t think I’d order it myself, although the honey was a unique touch.

Mushroom Oriochette:  Very rich tasting made of aged cheddar and cherry tomato; this was one of my vegetarian favs of the evening.

Beef Tartar: Made with a tender beef, thai green chilli and scallions in a corn shell these are delicious, the picture clearly tells this story here.

B52 Espressotini: What’s a review of an eatery without a hint on what their cocktails are like. I tried the  B52 Espressotini, completely  divine, basically an  alcoholic version of Starbuck’s  Caramel Frappuchino (code for PERFECT)! So if your into milky sweet cocktails this one is for you. The cocktail is made with  Baileys, Kalhua, Frangelico, a shot of Espresso, a Caramel Swirl and Toffee.

Price Range and the Verdict: The food on the menu ranges from  $6 for the naan to up to $30 for the Beef Tenderloin, all in tapa share plates, bite size odeurves so to speak. I’ll admit I haven’t been back yet but when I think of the assortment of flavours I tried on that evening my taste buds hearken back to  the pork belly tacos and beef tartar,  hands down my favourite.  Since I come from an South Asian  background, cuisine outside inspired from this area usually doesn’t compel me, so I was more  compelled by the other Asian  influences whether they were Thai, Japanese or Hawaiian. If you have an adventureous palette and are looking for a  place to eat that is modern and unique Kultura may be your answer for your next drinks and quick bites with friends.

Reviewed: Spring Skincare from Philosophy

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Recently I was invited to celebrate Philosophy skin care’s 16th Birthday.

Yes there were mini vanilla cupcakes from the  oh-so-yummy Bobbette and Belle, so delicious.

If  aren’t familiar with this skin care brand, then really you are  missing out. As a woman with sensitive skin, I always shy away from dipping into new skin care lines. For the longest time I refused to buy anything but Shisheido because I was convinced anything else would make me break out. That’s until I found Philosophy.

For this spring they’ve launched some amazing new goodies. Here are some pics:

This is the Limited Edition 16th Birthday Cinnamon that acts as a body wash, shampoo and  bubble bath ($21 CDN at Sephora), so it limits the products you need. Great for family travels and the sweet smell will make your shower decadent!

The Limited Edition Cinnamon Bun body wash and shampoo. I swear you’ll want to eat it!

The full-out Philosophy skin care lineup including the new gel cleanser of the ever Purity cleanser and the infamous Hope in a Jar face cream (to point out a few of the goodies) was in my reach the whole time. But the most exciting is Hope in a Jar for Body that has been out since April. It’s a new part of my daily skin care regimen. Imagine having the moisture power of the familiar face cream for your legs and arms! ($33 CDN at Sephora) – GO GET IT!

Skincare heaven, the full Philosophy lineup.

Plus if you like the Amazing Grace perfume then brace yourself, Philosophy is launching several new fragrances, out since this April including Falling  in Love,  Love Sweet Love, and Summer Grace (approximately $52 CDN at Sephora) all new scented notes inspired from the original fragrance we all love.

The new spring fragrances. Are you a fan of Amazing Grace? Well, then you’ll love these new perfumes!

As always Philosophy never fails to disappoint with their fragrant bath and body collection in the cutest packaging. Look out for the newest scent Mangos and Cream which is available in a body wash, lip gloss and even a moisturizer:

The infamous body collection, my favourite new spring body wash scent Mango and Cream

Reviewed: Lise Watier HAUTE COUTURE and Twitter Love

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Back in February as I went through my familiar mid-morning team of Facebook, Twitter and checking my Gmail, I saw Lise Watier hosting an online contest for their newest lip gloss. Yes, I know, as a former Beauty Editor and now a freelance beauty writer I really don’t need to win any more makeup, but when it comes to Twitter, I love to play!

So sure enough as instructed I tweeted: @LiseWatier I want #HAUTECOULEUR

And since I was one of the first  5 to tweet  this, guess what they sent me this in the mail:

It felt like Christmas morning. Thank you Lise Watier and Twitter.

Since I get  a lot of lip products sent to me, its easy for me to  just chuck it in a box or pass a lip gloss on to a friend, BUT this one is like no other. Here are three reasons why I LOVE my new Lise Watier gloss:

  1. It’s a perfectly pristine lavender colour that  adds a lot of brightness to my face. The shade looks so beautiful when on, plus I can almost wear it with anything. (OK this turned into two reasons, I know!)
  2. The gloss formula provides the coverage of lipstick, but the moisture of a gloss.  Perfect because I prefer gloss over lipstick any day. Here’s a pic of me wearing the gloss on a morning before I went to Fashion Week (excuse the closeup, I took it with my iPad):

    Me wearing Haute Couture

  3. Finally, the applicator brush has a trusty LED light that turns on whenever you unscrew the cap  and a small rectangular mirror on the side of the gloss tube. So its easy to do touch ups even when you are out late, or for when you are in the back of a taxi late for a beauty event (of course that never happens to me, but I am just sayin’).

So what are you waiting for go out and grab your own Lise Watier High Coverage Lip Lacquer in  HAUTE COUTURE, at $22 it’s a lip gloss worth every penny. Not into purple? The collection includes 1o runway inspired shades from a sexy nude to a rich red, choose your favourite.

Oh and make sure you follow  Lise Watier  on Twitter  @LiseWatier, you never know when you could be the next winner!

Reviewed: Good Eats at Stoney’s Bread Company

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Recently amidst a day of writing deadlines I decided to take an afternoon off and  go out for a mid-day meal with my husband. We headed over to one of our favourite spots in Oakville called Stoney’s Bread Company, know for its  in-house baked bread and impeccably fresh foods. All items are made from local ingredients an d taste oh so delicious! The feel is quite casual, almost cafeteria style so you order your meal at the cash and then take a seat in the warm dining space. The wooden tables and quaint black and white photography that graces the walls makes it a comforting spot for a friendly lunch or dinner.

Here’s what we ate:

Blackened Atlantic Salmon Sandwich

This open-faced salmon sandwich is what I order every time I go to Stoney’s, the creamy and tangy mango salsa on top of the salmon (which is on top of a thick slice of the fresh in-house bread) creates a palette of so many of my favourite flavours all in one mouthful. The mixed green salad is a perfect complement to this hardy sandwich. And what better yet to  pair the sandwich with then a Mill Street Organic beer!

Raj, my husband ate the daily special sandwich, the Nove.  The roast chicken breast is paired with bacon, tomatoes, field greens,  provolone and chipotle alioli on a ciabatta bun. Now that’s a sandwich to  remember. Plus, the balsamic reduction that dresses this plate is a nice touch and something the restaurant is known for. Stoney’s sells their balsamic reduction in a bottle for you to take home, it’s that good!

To finish off the meal, we split a decadent chocolate chip brownie, so simple yet one of the best brownies I’ve had because it had just the right amount of richness, not too overwhelming.

Sweet endings at Stoney's, a decadent brownie.

And finally, you can always judge an eatery by the quality of their house coffee. This time I skipped out on the coffee, although I’ve had it before, but judging from the size of the cup and the smile on my husband’s face it’s worth the cost.

Always judge an eatery by their size of their house cup of java!

So what are you waiting for, head out to Oakville for Stoney’s for wholesome, fresh  foods. They also have delicious pastas, pizzas and soups so there’s many items to choose from.  ENJOY!

The dining area at Stoney's, casual but inviting.