What is Canada Philippine Fashion Week?

As a fashion idler, I have the privilege of being involved in the planning of Canada’s Philippine Fashion Week, in spreading awareness, to not miss out on this special celebration on June 9-14, 2014. There are tons of Toronto fashion events out there, but you don’t want to miss this one, as you will have a chance to preview designs from top global designers originating from the Philippines, who have been recognized internationally by their unique artistry and flare. This celebration will feature the “best of the best” in haute couture style and culture of the Philippines. All funds raised at this 2^nd annual event, will be to support World Vision and the Kol Hope Foundation for Children, a charity committed to helping kids in Canada and Philippines born with Trisomy-related disabilities and chromosomal disorders. Top designers featured at this event include:

Francis Libiran, an internationally recognized designer, known for his Hello Kitty-designs, featured on America’s Next Top Model: British Invasion, Cycle 18. Tyra Banks herself wore one of his designs at the 4th Annual Blossom Ball and was voted one of the “best dressed” attendees. Here is a glimpse of his spring/summer 2014 pieces:

Rajo Laurel, one of the top Filipino fashion designers who’s eye for fashion was enhanced through his training at the New York Fashion Institute of Technology and Central Saint Martin’s, in London. Rajo has received multiple awards and has been recognized internationally for his fashion pieces detailed with embroidery, beadwork and hand painted prints.

Renee Salud, known for designing costumes for beauty queens in the 1980s, is recognized for his labour-intensive pieces that demonstrate exotic and regional influences of indigenous tribes, along with rich accessorizing. His intricate combinations of beadwork and use of native textiles have been exhibited all over the world, including, New York, Paris, Tokyo and Milan, earning himself the title “Ambassador of Philippine Fashion.”

So if you love fashion, style, couture and want to be inspired by designers from across the globe, then this is an event you don’t want to miss! Who is your favourite international fashion designer?

Wake Up and Smell the Secrets to a Healthy Coffee

How do you take your coffee? (Fyi, this excludes specialty coffees.)
“triple, triple”
“double, double”
“2 milks, 2 sugars”
“2 sugars, 1 cream”
“1 cream, 1 sugar”
“2 sugars, 1 milk”
“1 sugar, 1 milk”
“1 sugar, 2 milks”
“black”
“3 creams”

…you get the idea.

I love coffee. In fact, one cup a day is necessary. According to the Coffee Association of Canada, research shows, from their 2013 Canadian Coffee Drinking Study, that approximately “two-thirds of adult Canadians (65%) consumed coffee in the past day” and coffee drinkers consume on average, “3.2 cups of coffee per day”. So where am I going with this? As a regular consumer, it is important to think about what you are putting in your coffee, as the condiments available are not always the healthiest, which are:

•       white sugar
•       creamers
•       2% milk
•       artificial sweeteners

So what are the alternatives?

You can substitute creamers and 2% milk with:

• soy milk: according to the Association of Dieticians of Canada, it helps with heart health, and breast cancer prevention.
• almond milk: is low in calories compared to other milk substitutes and contains some heart-healthy monounsaturated fat according to Dr. Weil.
• skim milk: contains lower calories than other milks.

You can substitute white sugar/artificial sweeteners with:

• cinnamon: which helps reduce inflammation, has antioxidant effects, and fights bacteria according to WebMD.
• stevia: can help with weight loss, high blood pressure and heartburn.
• nutmeg: has antioxidant properties according to Dr. Weil.

Optional, you can try adding a teaspoon of protein powder, such as Vega One Nutritional Shake, french vanilla flavour powder, which contains protein, fibre, omega-3, antioxidants and probiotics.

Next time you drink coffee, consider the condiment alternatives. Even though condiment portions are little, they add up, if you drink at least one cup a day! What coffee condiments do you use as an alternative?

Restaurant Review: La Palette (4 stars out of 5) and Worth Coming Back

My partner recently surprised me with an anniversary dinner at La Palette, which reminded me of our recent trip to Paris. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at this restaurant, from the cute table clothes, tiny tables, brick walls, music, and chitter-chatter atmosphere.

The overall character of the restaurant was pleasantly unforgettable, and I loved the handwritten wine menu item list, stuck inside an old French book.

From their menu, we started off with the Paté Grand-Mere, which consisted of a platter of “coarse duck liver paté, along with pickles, grainy mustard and crostini”. It was the perfect appetizer for cured meats, combined with a glass of house wine.

Next up, I had a Saumon Quinnat, which is a “pan-seared rare chinook salmon, smoke fried mussels, potato-leek purée, lemon caper cream, dill and fractal cauliflower”. The potato-leeks in this dish were to die for, I tried to savour each bite, which melted in my mouth with bursting flavours. And the salmon was also perfectly cooked and very soft.

And for dessert, we had the Crême Brulée – one mint chocolate and one vanilla flavour.

And the result…

We left nothing behind.

So, if you are looking for French cuisine and are open to trying out other meats, which I wasn’t yet ready to try (just yet), such as horse tenderloin, venison, and frog legs, then this place could be your next restaurant to try out in Toronto. I had a wonderful experience for my first time eating at a French restaurant in Toronto. What’s your favourite French restaurant in Toronto?

2 Makeup Essentials You Can’t Live Without

If you could pick two makeup items from home, what would it be? Eyeliner, lip gloss, lipstick, mascara, blush? If I had to choose, I would pick tarte cosmetics true love (sheer watermelon) cheek stain and CoverGirl’s LashBlast Volume Blasting Mascara in waterproof formula. There are many great things about these two products.

Firstly, tarte’s true love cheek stain doesn’t contain parabens which are preservatives used in cosmetics to help prevent buildup of fungus and or bacteria. And it also doesn’t contain phthalates, which are chemical plasticizers. This product has also lasted me a long time, hence, you’ll notice the packaging here looks different than the tarte products sold at Sephora.

Other benefits in its ingredients listed from Sephora, are that it contains:

• Maracuja: Rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs) and Vitamin C, this ingredient helps firm, brighten, and smooth skin.
• Açai berry: An antioxidant-rich superfruit with anti-inflammatory and skin- softening properties known to help fight free radicals and promote cell regeneration.
• Acerola: Provides vitamin C and antioxidants to aid in brightening skin; helps fight free radicals.
• Goji berry: A nutrient-rich superfruit known to soothe skin.
• Pomegranate: Provides high concentration of antioxidants and vitamin C.

What I love about the product is the natural colour it gives you, and can be used both as a cheek and lip stain.

How to apply tarte’s true love cheek stain?

Simply dabble the cheek stain directly onto your cheekbones, or for more control, smudge product with your fingertips onto your cheekbones. To add color to your pout, simply apply directly to your lips.

Lastly, you can’t go without CoverGirl’s LashBlast Volume Blasting Mascara. I love this product because it adds volume and length, and the brush shape gives you full control to access your lower lashes without smudging. It lasts all day, especially when the weather is hot. However, the biggest challenge with this mascara is removing it. Because it is waterproof and an all-day wear, you will have to use makeup remover, to wash the mascara from your eye lashes. So, if you are looking for an all-natural look, here are two must-haves that you cannot leave without for spring. What beauty products can you not live without?

3 Foam Roller Moves that can Remove Muscle Knots

Have you ever gone to the gym and seen one of these?

When you see people rolling around at the gym, do you have an idea of what this is used for?

First off, this is called a foam roller. So what can you do with it? Well, it has a lot of benefits; some people call it your “portable masseuse” because it can act like a cheap massage. It is great for stretching after running or a cardio workout, which in tandem can help reduce inflammation, scar tissue and joint stress. In addition, it can help with improved circulation and flexibility.

So where can you buy it? I got mine from Winners for $14, but you can also find them at your nearest Walmart, Target, or Shoppers Drug Mart store and they typically range from $12-$30 dollars.

So how do you use it? Here are three EASY moves you can incorporate in your workout regime, whether it’s after a workout or at work, to stretch out those muscles!

To help with stretching out your back, you can follow this video:

To help with loosening your quadriceps, follow this video:

I personally love this move, because you can really feel the difference, after 2-3 repetitions.

And lastly, a very common move, to help with your abductors or inner thighs, follow this video:

 

For each move, roll against your tight knots, on the targeted muscle, for 30-60 seconds. Repeat 3-4 times, and the slower you roll, the more you will feel the stretch.

There are a few things to remember when using your foam roller (Source from: Gypsy Fit)…

1. Avoid rolling over bony areas.
2. Take some extra time directly over any knots or do trigger point yourself on the area.
3. Always stretch the area following foam rolling.

If you use the foam roller, what are your favourite moves?