Female Fabulousness

Don’t pretend you haven’t done it. Like you haven’t grabbed your hairbrush and belted out “Independent Women” at the top of your lungs in the confines of your own bedroom. Been there done that. There’s no denying the power of a good ol’ woman’s anthem and there’s no denying that fabulous women who know and work together with other fabulous women can do anything they set their mind to. I have seen it, experienced it and encourage you all to be a part of it!

You’ve got the the upwardly mobile 9-5, company blackberry, one bedroom plus den, Pilates class pass and a weak spot for VIP sample sales. Everything is good on paper, but you’re searching for something more…and that’s not code for “boyfriend”. Call it meaning, passion or joie de vivre: You wants to be Diva-fied!

Divas in the City is Toronto’s first forum for female fabulousness and its taking place in only a FEW WEEKS!

- Are you living it large with fabulous Coach bags but worried about making mortgage payments?
- Does grandma bug you about when you’ll “settle down?”
- Are some men intimidated by your success?
- Do you play “nice” at work because you fear being called a bitch?
- Are lifestyle differences (friends in the burbs) making friendships harder to maintain?
- Have you hit a plateau in your fitness regime?

If this all sounds familiar then Divas in the City is for YOU! This event is an opportunity to join forces with other women who revel in their strengths and stay true to their values. Divas in the City is a socially driven, goal-directed event that will feature seven experts in areas that are essential to the urban woman’s lifestyle:

- Säbeen F. Haque. Toronto Director, Ladies Who Launch
Standing on the Heels of Success- Divas & Purpose

- Safina Khimani. Style Coach & Owner, Faith Style
Honouring Your Style- Divas & Style

- Jessica O'Reilly. Sexologist, Celebrate Sex Inc.
Sex & the Diva- Divas & Relationships

- Tara U. Dawood Esq. CEO, Dawood Capital Management Ltd. LADIESFUND™
Flirting with Finances: Get Your Sexy Out- Divas & Money

- Dr. Kristin Heins. Naturopathic Doctor, Current Health and Wellness
The Diva's Guide to Health and Happiness with Food- Divas & Nutrition

- Jane Clapp. Published Author & Fitness Expert, Urbanfitt
Mastering Your Mojo The Sweaty Way- Divas & Fitness

- Krista Laugalys. Stylist & Owner, Sugar ‘n’ Spice Studios
What A Girl’s Made Of- Divas & Beauty


Event Details
Date: Thursday June 3, 2010 @ 6-10:30PM
Location: THE SPOKE CLUB, Gallery, 600 King St W, Toronto, ON
**WIN TICKETS TO THE MOVIE RELEASE OF SEX IN THE CITY 2!**

$55/ticket; $60/ticket (after May 21st); groups of 4+ Divas: $45/ticket. Each Diva receives a gift bag.
Purchase tickets online at http://divasinthecity.eventsbot.com/
For more information, please visit http://divagirlfitness.com/divagirls-talk/divasinthecity

Are we having fun yet?

Bar Hopping Yorkville Style

Stomachs full and two bottles of wine into the game, the three Samantha's and Carrie ventured off to continue their night of debauchery! Nobody ever wants to be Miranda!

Our first stop was Roof Lounge at the Park Hyatt. Boasting beautiful views of the city and a cozy, regal atmosphere, it also made the list of Toronto.com's Patio Awards (http://www.toronto.com/bars_clubs/article/652426) Yes, I am aiming to hit the majority of the places on this list.

The lounge was packed with people both tourists and locals but was not really the venue for a pack of twenty-somethings to get their drink on. Crowd was a little older and the vibe was definitely more on the chill side of what we were looking for. We walked around for a bit and took a touristy picture with the city as our backdrop and then made our way to the next venue.

After a few blocks of walking (aka strutting) and being cat-called at we found ourselves at the doorstep of Lobby. The three impeccably dressed door men welcomed us in with open arms (literally) and gave us comp tickets for the "party" inside. If this was a party then I'm glad I wasn't invited. There was nobody inside. But of course being the girls that bring the party wherever we go we lined up a round of Mango Martini's and proceeded to make the party ours. We overtook a booth and the dance party went on until the shoes started to come off and mini naps were required on the couches. Regardless of being empty the music was totally on point and the DJ had us busting out our best moves. The complimentary shots weren't a bad touch either ;) I've always enjoyed Lobby as a venue, the size is perfect, crowd is great and the music has never disappointed. When it does get packed though the narrowness of the layout can get a little hard to navigate. I definitely remember having my $14 martini spilled all over me the last time I was there.

The fuzziness was now in full effect which was a clear sign that it was time to call it a night. Until next time...

The French Do It Better!

Hair done, make up done - on to dinner and drinks!

Sassafraz in the heart of Yorkville has been around for what seems like decades and has become a true staple in the repertoire of fine dining in Toronto. Also a place I have never ventured to although heard of and driven by - you guessed it - 100 times! There's no denying that Sassafraz oozes with an air of high class and exclusivity and you can sense it from the second you are greeted by the pretentious hostess. Luckily this attitude seemed to start and end with her. We were seated at a table right in front of the wine cellar in a beautiful open spaced area of the restaurant (see picture). The air and ambiance is very relaxing, almost spa-like, with the waterfall and the walls of greenery. Very cozy and intimate whether you're with someone special or a group of people.

Amuse-Bouche aka "mouth amuser" - don't worry, my mind went there too, but in this case it was a bite-sized appetizer of tuna and creamy sauce which is meant to prepare us for the decadence ahead. Dinner can be summed up in three words - Best Risotto Ever! But before the risotto came into my life we started with a Crab Cake - blue crab cake with smoked tomato coulis and radish salad. Not usually a big seafood fan but this crab cake just melted in my mouth. Then came the risotto - the Lobster Risotto - double smoked bacon and corn risotto with butter poached lobster. For a girl who doesn't like seafood much, I definitely ordered alot of it! There are no words to describe this meal except that it was perfect. Cooked to perfection, blended with preciseness and presented like a piece of art. Like a clandestine affair, I just couldn't get enough. There was no room for dessert (shocking I know) since the two bottles of Valpolicella were setting in and making all future decison making rather difficult and fuzzy.

The 3 Samantha's and one Carrie are off to get their drink on!

Address: 100 Cumberland Street
Parking: Two underground parking garages on Cumberland/Street parking if you’re lucky
Dress: Dress your Best
Price: Pricey
Ratings:
Ambience – 9/10 - beautiful from the inside and out
Service – 8/10
Food – 9/10 menu does lack some selection but absolutely delicious

Doing Good Feels Good!

There's no better feeling then being able to give back and support a cause that's that has affected you and those dearest to you. I am so blessed to have great friends, a loving family and all the basic needs in life and not be fighting against a life threatening disease. So many of my loved ones including my own family have been touched by cancer in one way or another so supporting on-going research is very near and dear to my heart.

The best part about recent fundraising efforts is that they combine things that we love to do on a regular basis and raise money at the same time. So whether you're partying for a cause, getting your "yoga in motion" or getting your make-up and hair did, you're having fun and doing good!

I took part at an event called Girls Night In which is supported by the Canadian Cancer Society and allows the host to put together an event that girlfriends would regularly do together but donate funds towards cancer research. The event I took part in was at Lift Beauty Boutique in Yorkville and for a small donation of $25 we indulged in cupcakes and wine, got our hair and make up done and took part in some fabulous raffles. Not a bad deal in my opinion! The ladies at Lift Beauty were so hospitable and made every girl feel beautiful from the inside and out. Best part is that we were primped and pampered and ready for a night out on the town!

Big thanks to Anjali, Aanchal and Farah!

"There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life -- happiness, freedom, and peace of mind -- are always attained by giving them to someone else."

Say Ciao to Ciao

I get so excited when a new restaurant opens up and the menu looks tantalizing, the venue looks appealing and welcoming. But I don’t get excited when I get let down by the place due primarily to poor hiring choice in their staff. Off I ventured to Ciao Restaurant and Wine Bar on Saturday night to experience what seemed like chic, classy Italian dining in the heart of Yorkville. My bad for not making a reservation. The place was packed and there wasn’t even an option for waiting for a table to free up since they were booked up until 10. The actual venue was very trendy with lounge music playing, a dark dim lighting and dark hard wood furniture and décor. Very romantic setting and the potential for a lounge like atmosphere in the later hours of the night.

Luckily there was spot available on their somewhat narrow but cozy outdoor terrace/patio. We sat down and started to look over the wine options and menu. The waitress arrived at our table and we asked her for suggestions on wine selection. Could she have BEEN more uninterested? She couldn’t have even bothered to look us in the eye when speaking to us. We decided on the bottle of our choice and then proceeded to place our dinner menu. Then came the look. The look that said “that’s it?”. I could have smacked her. Being that we were outside and it was only about 15 degrees and windy, we politely asked if we could have the high standing heater turned on. After a failed attempt to work the heater the waitress said she would get someone else. No one came. We asked another waitress. She did nothing. Our bottle of wine came out upon which we asked our waitress “so is this a popular bottle of wine?” which she replied “no not really” as she continued to open the bottle. Why suggest it to us, begin opening it and then say it’s not popular? Seriously? Seriously.

Our food started to arrive. The appetizer (which was probably the best part of the meal) was the Pomodori (Mozarella di bufala, seasonal tomatoes, basil, EVOO and balsamic vinegar. Very light and refreshing made with fresh ingredients. Back to the heat issue. The manager eventually came out and as he put the heater on looked at us and said “are you serious?” As if HE has any say as to how hot or cold I’m feeling. You’re in a god dam suit jacket and jeans and I’m in a summer dress. Just do your job and do what your customers are asking of you. Our main meals arrived – Fusilli with chicken and mushrooms in a light cream sauce and Orecchiette with rapini, spicy Italian sausage, fontina, parmigiano, garlic and EVOO. Sheer disappointment. The fusilli was bland and tasteless and the sauce seemed like it came out of a can. Worst of all I have been officially let down by Italian sausage. There was NOTHING spicy about that sausage. Just a mixture of ingredients blended together with no taste of garlic anywhere. For dessert we shared a Dark Chocolate Baci Bomb which mildly made up for the disappointment of dinner.
Needless to say having the Liberty Group backing up your venue doesn’t necessarily garner success. They should bring back Flo.


Address: 133 Yorkville Ave
Parking: Street Parking/Underground parking
Dress: not your jeans/flips flops kinda place
Price: $$-$$$
Ratings:
Ambience - 7/10 - besides the heat fiasco the place is actually really nice
Service - 5/10
Food - 6/10

Happy Feet

What would a summer be without pretty feet and open-toe shoes? It truly is the definition of summer from a girl’s perspective! Since the upkeep of our pretty hands and feet seems to take up so much of our time and bank accounts over the hot months, I figured that blogging about the different spas/nail boutiques would be a welcomed inclusion.

On a beautiful sunny and mildly humid Saturday I headed out to Yorkville with two of my besties for some good girl bonding and to indulge in the first pedicure of the season. I usually opt for the cheap and cheerful nail boutiques but figured why not up the ante a little for the first one. So we enter NOVO SPA (http://www.novospa.ca/) on Avenue Road which is 5000 square feet of blissful, sheer relaxation. They’re also open till 8 every day of the week which makes scheduling your appointment much easier. We got their 60 minute Spa Pedicure and it was by far the best 60 minutes I have ever spent on my feet.

I was started off with the standard soak, scrubbing and cleaning up of my toes and feet which was then followed but a 10 minute exfoliating scrub. The scrub was washed off and my feet were dried upon which a chocolate scented mint masque was applied to the surface of my feet. A treat for my feet and my senses!! They were then wrapped in a towel for another 10-15 minutes while the masque dried and additional work was done on my cuticles and nail beds including an essential oil treatment. During that time a cooling sensation from the mint in the masque was starting which felt like my feet were being tickled with ice cubes! So exhilarating. The towel was removed and then a hot steamed towel was used wipe off the masque and to wrap my feet again. I could hear my feet thanking me in delight. Once my feet were dry a moisturizing lotion was applied followed with a 10-15 minute massage. She then applied my nail polish in a very detailed and precise manner and when I was finished we were taken to a dim relaxing room to lounge on reclining chairs while our feet completely dried. Best part? My feet continued to tingle with the cooling tingling sensation for at least another 20 minutes after we left. For the record, I’m still rubbing my heels together because of how soft they are!

Overall experience – 8/10
Atmosphere – 8/10
Service 9/10

Next Time:
Therapeutic Massage (1 hour)
Organic Cranberry Pomegranate Sugar Glow Body Scrub (45 minutes)

66 Avenue Road
Toronto
416-926-9303

The Soundtrack to my Summer

For those who know me they know that music is my life. The amount of hours I can spend sitting downloading and discovering new music is borderline frightening. What can I say? It’s in my blood. On any given day the only time I’m not listening to music is when I’m asleep. There are more than a handful of unsuspecting strangers who have witnessed my “performances” in the car while sitting in traffic. It’s my own personal (and more importantly private) sanctuary where I’m singing away all the sorrow, stress and most of the time dancing and belting out choruses out of sheer joy. Music just has a way of saying the things you don't know how to and vocalizing those feelings you can't describe or even sometimes understand. Undeniably therapeutic.

So as I embark on this journey of discovering my city there is no doubt a soundtrack that accompanies me and will be capturing all the memories, each in a small span of 4 minutes. It’s still early to make the call on what will be the big “summer jams” of 2010 but there’s a few that are already bringing a smile to my face and making my heels itch to get out on the dance floor. By no means am I a music expert or a veteran critique – I know what I like and I don’t apologize for it. Even if it includes a country song here and there. Judgement will be allowed if Justin Beiber ever makes the cut.

Jamie Foxx feat. Justin Tiberlake - Winner
Edward Maya - Stereo Love
Inna - Hot (any and all of the remixes)
Drake - Find Your Love (the softer side of hip-hop gets me everytime!)
B.o.B feat Hayley Williams & Eminem - Airplanes Part 2
The Game feat. Justin Timberlake & Pharell - Ain't No Doubt
Robin Thicke feat. Estelle - Rollacoasta
Estelle - Freak
Usher feat. Will.I.Am - OMG
Kesha - Take It Off
Leighton Meester - Your Love is My Drug
The Script - Breakeven (cuz' when a heart breaks no it don't break even...)
Christina Aguilera - Not Myself Tonight (my own personal theme song ;)
Lady Gaga - Reloaded
Rihanna - Rockstar 101