This weekend I reconnected with my best friend for an evening of oh’s and ah’s at the Canada’s Bridal Show held at the Metro Toronto Convention Center in downtown.  I’ve been wanting to see this show for a while, I mean I am engaged, have been for a while now..Knuge Knudge

The show was great, I had a really good time, signed up for a ton of stuff which are probably raiding my inbox as we speak.  A lot of the prizes seemed worth it at the time, sue me; free wedding planner, photographers and venues.  These are all necessary things! The best thing I walked away with was definitely my new Bodum mug, already mixed a smoothie in it ready for tomorrow morning!

There were tons of gorgeous gowns, and beautiful head table arrangements on display.  They even had one of those monstrous limo buses. It was anything but cheesy, the decor was on point, had a wet bar and washroom. I’d live there if I could, even had a wide screen TV!

Highlight for me was taking those snap shots with my BFF Aaliyah and finally getting to taste one of those French Macaroons, I had the Chi green tea,  OMG… it was heaven!

Since attending the show my mind is buzzing with ideas; the free issue of Today’s Bride has me giddy over my future wedding, my TV is stuck on TLC, watching Say Yes to the Dress and Four Weddings like it’s nobody’s business!  Overall the show was great, I didn’t attend the fashion show and we weren’t allowed to take pictures which really surprised me but I’m still looking forward to next years show.

 

 

I’ve been talking a lot about the Beats by Dr. Dre headphones with friends since they’ve been on crazy sales during boxing week.  At regular price they can come in at about $350.  Already worth a pretty penny, Dre and Oscar de la Renta team up to bring us these; what I’m calling Beats Couture.  And how much do you ask does it cost to listen to music in high style; just under $700 at $695.

Worth a listen???

Images Nitrolicious

Image : Healthful Pursuit

 

I’ve always been into healthy alternative eating, especially because being a vegetarian, you gotta get a little creative to avoid the soggy salad blues. What I seem to have forgotten is how versitle vegetables really can be. I love broccoli but I’ve never really made it the foundation of an entire salad before.  For the holiday season I let myself indulge for once, but with the start of a new year I plan on getting back on my health and fitness grind.

I found this recipe on the healthful pursuit and seriously can’t stop salivating thinking of how tasty this salad looks!  There is a vegan alternative to the recipe as well,  so it is vegetarian friendly when you substitute those bacon bits.  To cut the fat content I would either completely omit the sunflower seeds and/or use less oil.

This is what I’m having for lunch today!

 

Recipe

• 6 cups fresh broccoli florets, steamed for 3 minutes
• 7 strips uncured beef bacon, cooked fully and then chopped
• 1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes, sliced thin
• 1/4 cup dried currants
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/4 cup of red onion, chopped

Dressing

• 1/2 cup canola, olive oil or egg-free mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp raw apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp gluten-free mustard
• 1 tbsp unpasteurized honey

Directions

1. Lightly steam the broccoli for 2-3 minutes, just until the florets are crisp tender. Place in a large bowl and set aside.
2. Fry bacon as per package instructions. Be sure to cook until crisp. Beef bacon is higher in protein, easier on digestion, a has less fat. Plus it tastes so good! Once cooked, set on a paper towel lined plate. Pat dry and break up into small pieces.
3. Add bacon, sun dried tomatoes, currants, sunflower seeds and red onion to the broccoli bowl.
4. In a separate small bowl, combine dressing ingredients and stir until incorporated. Pour over the broccoli mix and stir to coat.
5. Serve with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and enjoy!

Vegan alternative: Substitute with veggie bacon bits and egg-free mayonnaise

 

**This recipe has been modified a little so stop by the healthful pursuit here for the original.**

I love pictures and as I start the dreaded process of packing and sorting through a garage full of what is more than likely non-essential items, I’ve rediscovered one of my many first loves. When I finally secure a location to call home, I plan to have a wall devoted just to photographs, more than likely in black and white.  I love the idea of having frames similar in color to the wall; it makes the images almost appear to float. My mind is buzzing with ideas!

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Structure, strength and sex appeal.  Dsquared2′s pre fall 2012 collection plays with the blurred lines between being that rebellious maven and school girl innocence.  I can’t get over how perfect the styling is; argyle sweaters, trenches, distressed denim and satin mini dresses give plenty of options for mix and match.

Absolutely love the color combination of the argyle and red cropped trousers in pic #7 and the baby blue and brown ombre sweater in pic #9.  Mad Men (which I love, January Jones is beyond stunning) obviously made a huge dent last year.

 

2012 is here, so now what?  With the start of the year finally here, many of us including myself may be seeking to reinvent our tired individual wheels into something magical for a change.  Consulting your favourite magazine for what’s new on the runway or what’s hot on the shelf is where many of us will start.

Rihanna keeps it hot in a sexy red dress on the cover of Glamour Russia; color obviously still a major trend despite the cold.  I would have been shocked not to see Rihanna on the cover of some January 2012 issue; I mean she is a major fashion trail blazer, along with others like Nicki Minaj who left a huge imprint on fashion in 2011.  She may not conventional but I know I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t admit her wacky style is just a little more than intriguing.  It takes some serious balls to pull out some of the looks she’s worn on a regular day forget stage costumes.

Other major covers included the faces of Lady Gaga on Elle UK, Angelina Jolie, Kimora Lee Simmons and Lily Cole.

 

Lady Gaga for a double cover of Elle UK

 

Tayane Leao, Lais Ribeiro and Marcelia Freesz for Vogue Brazil January 2012 and Kimora Lee Simmons for Harper’s Bazaar Singapore

Rosie Huntington Whiteley for Harper’s Bazaar

Angelina Jolie for Marie Claire US and Xiao Meng Huang nude for Numero China January/February issue.

Lily Cole for Vogue Russia January 2012.