Saturn and I Are On A Mission

It's January 6th, 2015. It's the first day back at work after a nearly 2-week long vacation. I'm reading my horoscope for 2015 on Refinery 29 (you know, that website that we all get our news, advice, entertainment and of course, horoscopes from on the reg) and it tells me that 2015 marks Saturn's 3 year mission to get me healthy. So, as any intelligent and educated female would do, I take it immediately to heart and buy a 1-day "Standard Cleanse" from Greenhouse Juice Co. I feel healthier already. And $71 poorer. Here's what happened next...

The Day Of

Greenhouse recommends eating super clean and eliminating basically all of the food with the exception of fruits, veggies and water the days leading up to the cleanse. (Semi-exaggerating here but like, not really at all). Naturally, I decide to order my cleanse around 5pm the day before I want to do it and I have already eaten most of my meals for the day. Needless to say, I have consumed far more than the recommended fruits, veggies and water. In an attempt to redeem myself, I make a healthy dinner of raw kale salad with green onion zucchini avocado chick peas and pumpkin seeds massaged with a homemade dressing of olive oil, apple cider vinegar, grainy mustard, lemon juice and ground black pepper and served with a side of roasted yams and mushrooms. Sounds super clean and annoying as fuck right? See, I can totally do this! 

Cut to 3 Lindt chocolates later because I'm weak and cannot survive the day without sugar and/or a glass of sauv blanc. The harrowing effects of heavily over-indulging during the holidays, so what? Can I live?

My hope is this 1-day juice cleanse will give me the strength, mental clarity and motivation needed to get back into clean eating and help jumpstart Saturn's mission. The cleanse consists of 6 juices and 2 shots. Ready? Set? Go. See you at the finish line.

7:00am: The lovely Greenhouse driver Ben drops off my cleanse. The customer service is outstanding. After snoozing my alarm three times, I emailed Ben and asked when I could expect him (this would help determine whether or not I could afford an extra snooze or two). He responded within ten minutes advising he would be at my apartment in 30-45 minutes. I snoozed three more times. Thank God for Ben.

7:30am: First up: Clean Zing. A mix of alkaline water, lemon, maple syrup and liquid cayenne. I've tried most of Greenhouse's juices before but never this one. I'm running late so I drink the juice on the subway. It packs a serious punch. Though it's listed as the last ingredient, the cayenne does not go unnoticed. The first few sips leave my mouth on fire but once I get used to the taste, it goes down easily and is actually quite enjoyable.

8:00am: I stop at Starbucks and order a small black coffee, which is one of the foods they recommend eliminating during the cleanse but no coffee in the morning is just not something I'm down with so... c'est la vie. 

9:00am: East of Eden is one of my favourite juices from Greenhouse. It's a mix of romaine, kale, celery, apple and lemon. Most people I know turn up their nose at the thought of green juice but I'm one of those weirdos who actually likes the taste. I try to make my own green juice at home a few times a month but there's just something about having someone else make it for you and drop it off right at your doorstep in cute little glass bottles, you know? I plan to drink it at 9:00am but don't get around to cracking it open until closer to 10. East of Eden goes down easily and leaves me feeling pretty full. I'm a bit nervous for the E3 Live Booster...

11:00am: Okay. The E3 Live Booster comes in a small little glass jar (adorable) and is the colour of death - a blackish greenish hue (terrifying). I'm not going to say I'm a pro at taking shots, but I'm a pro at taking shots. The trick is to open up your throat and pour it straight down. I anticipated it tasting a lot worse than it did. It's basically a seaweed so it almost tastes like if you were to blend up those seaweed chips and drink the result. I realize that sounds awful but overall it really wasn't that bad.

2:30pm: I love lunch. It's what gets me through the morning because that means the work day is half over. Plus I like having my next meal to look forward to. Lunch today is not the same. It's The Good, another green juice consisting of romaine, spinach, cucumber, celery, lemon and himalayan salt. I'm sipping it among my co-workers who are eating everything from leftover dim sum to beef stew to chicken salad (and one poor soul who is eating a cabbage salad and surely feels my pain). I'm not feeling overly hungry at this point and am only slightly jealous of the plates of food around me.
I happily sip The Good, but god I really wish I could just CHEW something, you know? 

3:00pm: This is the part of my day I've been looking most forward to: the Choco-Almond Milk. It's made of Greenhouse's signature Almond Milk plus the addition of Cacao and Maca. Around 3:15 I head to the kitchen, feeling giddy and full of possibility to retrieve it. The first sip is heavenly. It's as if a chocolate milkshake and a bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream had a baby. I want to bathe in it. I don't ever want it to end. I sip it slowly, so as to extend it's longevity. ...about 30 minutes later I'm still drinking. This stuff is not a joke. I'm feeling extremely full and I still have a quarter of the bottle left. I power through it because it's just. that. good. When I'm finished, I feel ready for a nap. (I didn't take a picture because I was too busy consuming it. Sorrynotsorry). 

5:00pm: Ah, the Aloe Booster. Where do I even begin? It's awful. I'm sorry, but it is. The consistency is what gets me. I shoot it back and feel like I'm swallowing a raw egg white. The aftertaste is unpleasant and I desperately chug the bottle of water on my desk. Around 5:30 I leave the office and can still taste it. Never, ever, EVER again.

7:00pm: I stop at the health food store on my way home to pick up a few things for the next few days of "clean eating". Buckwheat cereal, organic coconut oil, raw cacao nibs, some shredded coconut, a bunch of purple and golden beets and some organic quinoa. I get home around 7:30pm and head straight for the fridge. I'm a bit behind schedule due to my pit stop. At this point I'm hungry, but not starving. I drink Deep Roots - a blend of beets, carrot, apple, celery and lemon - as I prepare food for the weekend. Because of the beets, its consistency is thicker than that of today's other juices. When I finish it, I feel full.  

8:15pm: I'm still full from the Deep Roots. But it's getting late and I need to drink the Chia Hydrator to officially complete the day. This consists of alkaline water, chia seeds, maple syrup and lemon. It's cold and refreshing and the chia seeds make me feel like I'm chewing something. Kind of. Not really. I finish it around 8:45pm, brush my teeth, and hit the pillow.  

Overall

I had a significantly higher amount of energy than I did the day prior. My head felt clear and throughout the day I started to feel a lot less bloated and puffy. I never felt starved or deprived and I thoroughly enjoyed the taste of each juice. That being said, if I never have to do a raw aloe shot again, I'm pretty okay with it. 

I would chalk the entire thing up as a win for Saturn and the next 3 years of healthy living. Let's see how long I can keep it up. 

Guilt-Free Farmer's Market Pasta

While I try and limit the amount of carbs I consume, sometimes a girl just needs a big bowl of pasta. Incorporating fresh vegetables into meals is important so when I came across this recipe, full of fresh farmer's market veggies, I decided to give it a whirl. 

I don't often cook with leeks but was eager to try a new ingredient. Leeks (an allium vegetable similar to garlic and onion) are full of vitamin K (also found in leafy greens) and folate (which helps protect your heart and blood vessels). Leeks are also a good antioxidant that help fight free radicals that contribute to disease and aging. 

I strayed from the original recipe a bit and left out the feta, capers and spices, but it still turned out to be insanely delicious and filling. Next time, I might include chicken breast or chick peas for added protein. 

Farmer's Market Pasta

Serves 2

Ingredients:

- 1 leek stalk 

- 4 small shallots 

- 1 medium zucchini

- 6 to 8 small mushrooms

- 6 to 8 kale leaves 

- 2 tsp olive oil 

- 1/4 cup chicken broth  

- 2 cups dry brown rice pasta

- fresh ground pepper 

Method: 

Bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Add 2 cups of dry brown rice pasta and cook according to package directions.

Using only the white and pale green part of the leek, thinly slice them. Peel the shallots and thinly slice them, as you did the leeks. Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a frying pan on medium heat and add the sliced leeks and shallots. Cook for 1 minute and then add 1/4 cup of chicken broth. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes, stirring often. 

While the onion mixture is cooking, slice the zucchini in half lengthwise, and thinly slice it. Add the zucchini to the pan, mixing it in with the onions. Season with fresh ground pepper to taste. (I like lots!)

Next, wash and dry the mushrooms and thinly slice them. Add them to the pan with the onions and zucchini and let cook for another 5 minutes, stirring often. 

De-stem, wash and dry the kale. roughly chop it and add it to the pan. Give it a quick stir and remove from heat. The kale will wilt from the heat of the vegetables. 

Place 1 cup of cooked brown rice pasta in a bowl. Top with a generous helping of the vegetable mixture. Drizzle with olive oil and serve. 

Enjoy! 

k.

#PFW A Word On Saint Laurent

 

 

 Photos via Studded Hearts

While the grunge aesthetic certainly isn't my own personal style, it is something that, as a fashion-obsessed twenty-something, I can certainly appreciate. Marc Jacobs, fashion industry legend, famously lost his job in an attempt to mix grunge with high fashion. He may have lost the job, but he arguably won the war. Grunge emerged as a genre of style all its own - one that is seen in collections and on the street - often since then.

But what does it mean when a legendary French fashion house's newly appointed creative director sends something down the runway that is more reminiscent of youth-listening-to-Nirvana-on-the-California-coast than youth-growing-up-in-90's-Paris. And yes, I get it. Fashion is about reinvention and change and evolution. Sometimes we need to try new things. But as Tim Blanks puts it, "almost nothing looked new".

So: has Hedi Slimane remained true to YSL Saint Laurent and what the fashion house stands for? Or is the collection simply an extension of Slimane's personal aesthetic? If it is the latter, are we OK with this? Part of me feels like we aren't. Or at least, that we shouldn't be.

Bonus: take this quiz to see whether you can tell the difference between reviews of Slimane's Saint Laurent and Rihanna's collection for River Island. 

New In: The Dainty Ring

My (and everyone's) latest obsession: dainty rings.

This one from Street Bauble.

New In

#what'sthatjacketmargiela

New In. These lucite-heeled beauties from the Margiela with H&M collection. 

Paired with Joe Fresh waxed denim.

Met Ball 2012: Details

 

via Studded Hearts

Some more Met Ball fabulousness. Still ogling over all of the photos. 

Who wants to watch the livestream again?

Met Ball 2012: Impossible Conversations

Valentino Pre-Fall

Valentino Pre-Fall. Always so pretty and delicate, with that added touch of rock and roll.

Golden Globes Round-Up: Best & Worst Dressed

 Alrighttt, let's just get right to it. If you watched the Golden Globes on
Sunday, you probably have your own best and worst dressed list. If you
didn't watch the Globes, let me break it down for you. The colours of the
evening were yellow, yellow, yellow and nude. Oddly enough, none of the
stars wearing yellow or nude made it onto my best dressed list.

Everyone else, for the most part, played it decidedly safe. It feels like every time
one of these events rolls around, there is really only a small handful of ladies who
really bring it. I mean, you have weeks to plan in advance, countless resources,
money and help available to you, and yet some people show up looking like shit.

Let's just move on to the dresses, shall we.

Golden Globes 2012 BEST DRESSED


Tilda Swinton in Haider Hackerman.

Tilda Swinton can really do no wrong. She shows up to these things completely
owning whatever she's wearing, which in large part contributes to just how
amazing she looks. Great colour on her.


Rooney Mara in Nina Ricci.

The Dragon Tattoo star has been making the rounds in many a black/grey/nude
dress and I think it's safe to say we were all hoping she'd show up to the Globes
in some colour. Seeing her in this Nina Ricci number, however, did not disappoint.
It's simple, it's black, but the details help bring it to life. Stunning.


Sofia Vergera in Vera Wang.

I've never been a huge fan of fishtail dresses. They seem to be the easy way out
of these award shows. Sofia seems to sport this silhouette quite often, but you
really cannot deny how fabulous this woman looks in a dress. It fits her like a
glove, and the colour and detailing is pretty great. I'll give it to her this time.


Emma Roberts in Zac Posen.

Emma didn't walk the red carpet at the awards, but she did show up at one of
the after-parties wearing this. Usually, the after-party calls for a more paired-down
look, but Emma went all out. The neckline is interesting, and while I don't think it
fits her that great in the chest, the colour makes up for it.


Julie Bowen in Reem Acra.

This dress is likely not at the top of anyone's best dressed lists, but there is
something about it that I love. The timelessness of the silhouette and the
delicate colour really just get me. The sleeves are pretty great too.


Madeleine Stowe in Vera Wang.

Madeleine is amazing on Revenge. (If you don't watch Revenge, you should
probably start). She is so gorgeous, and this dress goes great with her dark hair
and fair complexion. Totally fierce. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go
watch last night's episode.


Charlize Theron in Dior.

I have to admit, I was anxiously anticipating what Charlize would show up in, and
although this isn't what I was picturing, she looks amazing. The dress is perfection:
classic and chic with just the right amount of edge. Her makeup is delicate and
understated in keeping with the colour of the dress, and the jeweled headband really
just brings the entire look up a notch.


Madonna in Reem Acra.

Although she herself was thoroughly annoying throughout the evening, I can't say
the same about the dress. It's definitely interesting and eye catching. It's something
different, and it works. I could have done without the necklace and the gloves
though. Just annoying.


Emma Stone in Lanvin.

Girl crush. She can do no wrong. The dress is stunning. I especially love the
two-toned hues, paired with an unexpected belt. Great hair and accessories,
though the makeup is a tad heavy.


Malin Akerman in Etro.

Here is another dress that didn't walk the red carpet, but showed up to the after-party.
Frankly, this is my favourite look of the night. It's not a gown, so maybe I shouldn't
put it in the same category, but oh well. She looks AMAZING. I love the colours
together, I love the pleating, and her accessories complement the dress perfectly. Now
where the hell can I get this dress?

Golden Globes 2012: WORST DRESSED

I think the dresses speak for themselves.


Amanda Peet in Marc Jacobs.

How did you leave the house looking like this? And more importantly, how did Marc let her?

 
Jaime King in Valentino.

Terrible colour. Wrinkled mess.


Naya Rivera in Vera Wang.

Terrible colour. Terrible shape. Wrinkled mess along the front seam.


Lindsay Lohan in Prada.

Terrible colour. Terrible shape. HOT MESS.

Nina Ricci Pre-Fall

ph. studded hearts

I'm obsessing over these looks from Nina Ricci Pre-Fall. So girly and perfect.

a in paris

ashley in Paris. i love this.

#TFW

ph. me

It's that time of year again! Toronto's LG Fashion Week is only a few weeks away. This year, the venue is at David Picault Square (221 King Street West). I don't know about you, but I'm pretty happy I don't have to shlep myself all the way down to Heritage Court.

Full calendar is posted here.

Registration is now live, so go get your tickets before they're sold out!

LG Fashion Week
October 17-21, 2011
David Picaut Square
lgfashionweek.ca

gp for coach

We all know how I feel about Gwyneth Paltrow. She looks stunning in these new ads for Coach. I just bought her new cookbook, "My Father's Daughter" (yep, I'm that girl) and I'm eager to try out some of the recipes.



ph. vogue

Versace x H&M

So it's that time of year again. H&M revealed today who its latest designer collaboration is. I remember when I found out, this time last year, that it was Lanvin. I was driving home from the beach with my mom and sisters and read about it on Twitter. This year, I found out the same way, except it was 6AM and I was waking up to go to work. Needless to say, I'm very excited about the newest designer to be added to the H&M collabo roster. For Lanvin, I waited 11 hours in line. This November, based on the images I've seen so far, I'm thinking it will be something more like 12-15. Will you be waiting in line for Versace?!

Le Monde Est Vaste

Last week, I forced my sister out of bed at 5am to venture down to the Hermès A Special Silk and Accessories Sale at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. All of the proceeds from the sale go towards Multiple Sclerosis research at St. Michael's Hospital. Buying Hermès for the benefit of others? Yep, sign me up. The sale, which only happens once every two years, began at 8am so naturally, I thought it smart to get there early. Little did I know, "early" was not early enough. We arrived at 7am only to find 400 other people had arrived before us (some even at 5am!). Needless to say, we finally made it to the front of the line after waiting about 2 1/2 hours and consuming copious amounts of coffee and green tea. The inside of the sale was chaos, women pushing and elbowing others in order to grab what they wanted. I originally
hoped to go home with an enamel bracelet, but those were long gone once my turn came along. Instead, I took home a beautiful 90x90 silk twill scarf and an Hermes soap (that I basically only bought for the classic orange box it comes in).

The scarf is from the 2009 F/W "Le Monde Est Vaste" collection, designed by Cyrille Diatkine and I'm absolutely in love with it.

There were so many scarves to choose from I had a hard time narrowing it
down. I kept coming back to this one and, in the end, decided it should come
home with me. Now it can join my other two vintage 90x90's that were a gift
from my Aunt and must be about 20 years old.

I'm already anxiously awaiting the next sale, two years from now.

At The Room: When Tommy Met Anna

The amazing and inimitable Anna Della Russo was in town last week
for an appearance with Tommy Ton at The Room, which features a
retrospective called When Tommy Met Anna. The exhibit includes a
collection of stunning photographs of Anna shot by Tommy Ton over
the last four years. The pictures themselves are amazing, but the
true star is definitely Anna. With over ten (yes, 10!) wardrobe
changes in two (yes, 2!) days, Anna really kept Toronto on its toes.

Here a couple of pictures from the autograph signing.

Anna is beyond gorgeous in person and Tommy might be the nicest person I've ever met.











ph. me

What I Wore




(Trench and Shoes: Zara, Vest: Banana Republic, Blouse: H&M Trend, Pants: BCBGeneration, Watch: Michael Kors, Bag: Mango)