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?

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?

One-Day Travel Guide in Sacramento: Top “to do’s” and Eats

I recently made a quick trip to Sacramento, California for my cousins wedding. I had only ONE day to explore the city during my time there. So what are the top things you must do? Here are three of the top five things I did from Trip Advisor and in this particular order:

In the morning, I visited the California State Capitol Museum which is open from 8am to 5pm on weekdays. It shouldn’t take you more than an hour to go through the whole museum. You will see the state’s working seat of government and lawmaking process. You will even see portraits of past governors hanging on one of the walls, including Arnold Schwarzenegger . And what’s really amazing about visiting this museum is that admission is free!

You can then walk to Old Sacramento, which is about a seven to ten minute walk from the State Capitol. Here, you can peruse many locally-owned small shops, gift and candy stores.

Within the area, you will also see, the California State Railroad Museum, where admission is $10.

For lunch, I highly recommend Pizza Rock, it’s a great place for afternoon drinks, and you may also be tempted to open up a bottle of wine from their extensive collection of Italian and California wines sitting at each of the tables on the patio. As a neapolitan pizza fan, I ordered the Margherita and New Yorker 17 from the menu, which were both tasty for the hungry tummies, but not the best I’ve ever eaten. However, I enjoyed the casual atmosphere and décor of the restaurant.

And lastly, we made our way to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, which is where my cousin had his wedding rehearsal. It’s a beautiful church, also located in the heart of downtown.

Based on my little time in Sacramento and experience with Mexican food, for dinner, I recommend going to Zocalo Sacramento, a Mexican restaurant at the corner of 18th Street and Capitol Ave (mid-town Sacramento). It’s about a 20-minute walk from the cathedral. I thought the ambience, layout and décor, which was inspired by the majestic town square of Mexico City called Zocalo, was stunning. The restaurant itself was built in a renovated Arnold Brothers Building, developed  for a Hudson car dealership in the 1920′s. Here was the wedding rehearsal menu from Zocalo:

And the chicken tacos were delicious!

So there you have it! Hope you enjoyed it, and if you’ve already visited Sacramento, what places have you been to?

5-Minute Workouts, to Get You in Shape for Spring

Are you too busy to workout? With competing demands from work, school, housekeeping chores, visits with family, birthdays, spending quality time (if you can) with your significant other, the list goes on…so, where does “gym” fit into the picture? Everyday, I’m finding it harder and harder to make time, as my list of commitments continue to expand. So, I’ve decided to give myself the challenge, to devote FIVE minutes, everyday (Monday to Friday), to do some active conditioning and cardio. Here are five workout videos I have researched, that are high intensity workouts, that will help burn calories, improve your cardio and conditioning, in the shortest amount of time. I challenge YOU to join me in taking care of your physical health.

So your homework (and mine too!), to keep fit, starting NOW, is:

1. Favourite these videos, so they are ready to play on your mobile phone or ipad.
2. Schedule in your calendar (with an alarm) a set time you will do these workouts. Early mornings are best for killing calories; so 6:30am or 7:00am, it is! Put it in your calendar now.
3. When commuting to/from work, always choose to take the stairs. Unless you are on the 14th floor 😉
4. Walk more and use less cabs.
5. Refrain from eating sweets, and drinking juice or pop. If you crave it, try adding fruit to your water, such as pineapple, lemon or strawberries to add flavour to your water (it’s delicious!).
6. Take regular walks during the day. If you sit at a desk all day, get up every 30 minutes; a chiropractor told me this will help mitigate from lower back and neck pains.
7. And as always, drink 8 glasses of water every day.
8. To complete the videos, you will need; a pair of dumbbells, a resistance band and a 4 to 6 pound medicine ball.

Here are some top favourite videos I’ve tagged, and that I’ve allocated to each day of the week:

Monday: “Metabolism-Boosting Workout” by trainer Geralyn Coopersmith featured on Dr. Oz 
For this workout, you will need a pair of 2 to 3 pound dumbbells.

Tuesday: “All-Over Toning Workout” created by senior fitness editor Jen Ator with Women’s Health
For this workout, you will need a pair of dumbbells.

Wednesday: “High Intensity Interval Training Workouts (HIIT)” by Fitnessblender.com
No equipment required for this workout. I personally like this one, as it’s similar to Tabata, which are exercises that help burn calories, even after your workout.

Thursday: “The 5-Minute ‘Bata Burn Workout” by Jessica Smith with Shape
For this workout, you will need a resistance band.

Friday: “Crossfit” by Kelsey Lee, host with XHIT Daily
For this workout, you will need a 4 to 6 pound medicine ball and a yoga mat.

Note, all the videos listed above, are FIVE minutes. If you miss a video, don’t get discouraged, as you can always put your hands up in the air and dance your favourite dance move. Just get moving!

 

If you keep to this checklist, along with a healthy diet; choosing lots of fruits, veggies, proteins and omega-3 fats, you are on the right track to maintaining good health.

Good luck, and let me know how it goes. I challenge YOU with FIVE minutes to feeling fabulous inside and out.

7 Things You Should Do Right Now, to Fight PMS Pains

When your menstruation rolls around, do you ever have to call-in sick from work because you are in too much pain? Are some months more excruciating then others, and are you caught by surprise with immense pain? Don’t worry, you are not alone. Here are 7 ways to include in your monthly routine to help “wave” off the pain and that really works.

1.) Take Advil or Tylenol as soon as you sense you will be getting your menstruation. (Dr. Oz  suggests taking it the day before you think you will be getting your menstruation.)

2.) Use a hot pad, such as a magic bag or hot water bottle wrapped in a towel to place over your stomach.

3.) Drink raspberry leaf tea. I swear by its benefits, and drink at least three cups a day, before and during your menstruation.

4.) Take vitamin B6 daily. According to a Livestrong article, vitamin B6 “allows the uterine muscles to relax, helping cramps to become more manageable.”

5.) If you can, try these yoga poses; my favourite one is the bow and camel pose, which helps with lower back pains associated with your menstruation pains.

Here are also some workout poses that could work too; my favourite is the forward bend pose. 

6.) Keep a diary, such as Pink Pad, a free application that can be downloaded on your mobile or ipad. This application helps you keep track of your PMS symptoms and predicts your next date (especially if you are irregular).

7.) Optional, take evening primrose oil during the week before your menstruation, which, according to Dr.Weil contains sources of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) which helps “nourish the skin, hair, nails and even the joints.” This can also help with premenstrual syndrome symptoms.

What methods are you using, to help mitigate PMS pains?