The catwalk: Styling away in seafoam green

Seafoam green is a colour that decorated fashion magazines and adorned clothing racks just a few months ago. I hadn't considered this colour to be fashionable until then, but I desperately wanted to find a way to incorporate it into my wardrobe.

After trying some billowy seafoam blouses and skirts, I felt that the colour wasn't quite right against my skintone (at least that's what I thought... it would take a second opinion to convince me otherwise.) Instead of going with a predominant standout piece I thought I'd try this sweet hue with some accessories. Success! I found a cute pair of floral studs at a Kate Spade outlet, and I wear them when I want to add a subtle pop of colour to an outfit! It's the perfect way for me to embrace this trend without swimming in a sea of green. 

Happy weekend! x

Photo by Sam Russell

Photo by Sam Russell

Sultry Salad Dressing Series: Balsamic Dressing

It's no secret: I am a lover of salad! So much so, I eat some form of salad with every meal. Well... maybe not breakfast because that would be weird, but you get the idea! Sometimes though, I struggle with store-bought dressings. Some of them are heavy, high in fat and contain lots of salt, and I would much rather a healthy option. Even though a variety of healthier dressings are available, I thought it would be fun to make my own instead! So for the next few weeks, I'll be doing a Sultry Salad Dressing Series that's all about how to make your own salad dressing.

First up in the series is one of my favourites: Balsamic Dressing. I should mention that I have a really great tool for making my own dressing, and it was passed on to me by my mom. She originally bought this salad dressing bottle a few years ago, and it's just perfect! As pictured below, I can actually make and store the dressing in the bottle until it's gone!

Back to the recipe. The trick to making your own dressing is adding the liquid ingredients first, and then adding the spices.

3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar
1 Clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp pepper

Mix the above ingredients together well, serve and enjoy! Refrigerate any left over dressing and you'll be able to enjoy it for weeks. If you try this recipe or if you have any feedback, leave a comment below!

Happy Monday! x

P.S. My endless summer salad is still flourishing! I'll post an update at the end of the summer.

The catwalk: perfectly printed halter dress

My style this week is back to bold in a perfectly printed halter! I found this dress at Kenneth Cole while outlet shopping last year, and I immediately fell in love with its flowy fabric and vibrant colours. My purchase decision took very little convincing once I tried it on! I knew this was going to be a piece I'd wear again and again.

Featuring overlapping colourful print patterns that meet in a knot at the bust, and two small metal rods on the straps, this dress is great for almost any occasion. Dress it up with a blazer and a pair of black slingbacks for work, or go for a more casual look by pairing it with a cropped denim jacket. It can be great for a wedding too when it's worn with heels and a black clutch! In fact, I wore this look just last weekend to a wedding with a black Kate Spade handbag.   

If you try this look or you have tried a look like this in the past, leave a comment below! 

Happy weekend! x

P.S. Photos this week are by my friend Sam. He does a fantastic job of making me look fabulous! Check out his amazing work at his Flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/samuelrussell/

Photo credit: Sam Russell

Photo credit: Sam Russell

Photo credit: Sam Russell

  

Fresh fruit salsa

It's the middle of summer. Nothing is better on a hot day than something nice, refreshing and cool. I'm not talking about ice cream, frozen yogurt or even beer. One of my favourite summer snacks is healthy, delicious and fun, and it's a real crowd-pleaser! It makes for a great dessert if you want to serve it at the end of a meal, too. What is it? Fresh fruit salsa and brown sugar pita chips.

Here's my take on how to make it. First, pick up some of your fav fresh fruits and berries. I'm usually sure to include lots of strawberries and some kiwi; they're not too sweet, and are a good base to layer other fruits with. The last time I made this, I chose strawberry, kiwi, pineapple, and honeydew melon. The amount you make is really dependent upon the amount of people you're serving. If you want to add a spicy kick to your fruit salsa, pick up a habanero pepper.

When you have your fruit, it's time to start chopping! Chop each fruit into fine pieces, adding to a bowl as you go. This is the most time consuming part! Once all the fruit is finely chopped and added to the bowl, mix it well together, cover and refrigerate.

Next? On to the pita chips. This is my favourite part. For this, you'll need whole wheat pita shells, extra virgin olive oil and brown sugar. Again, the amount you make is dependent upon the number of people you're serving. One pita shell will yield 16 chips. Start by pre-heating your oven to 350 C. First, cut the pita shell into 1/8s and then separate the top and bottom pieces of each one. Lay them on a baking sheet with the smooth side down and rough side facing you. Next, add some extra virgin olive oil to a small bowl and grab a cooking brush. Lightly paint each chip with some extra virgin olive oil. Then sprinkle some brown sugar over each chip. I've added my brown sugar to a spice shaker, which makes this an easy and even process. When everything's ready to go, put the baking sheet in the oven for 5-7 minutes, or until chips are crisp. Be sure to keep an eye on them, because they can go from crispy to overdone in a matter of seconds!

When the chips are nice and crisp, remove the sheet from the oven. Serve salsa in a small dish with 8 to 10 warm brown sugar pita chips on the side! If you give this recipe a try or if you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! x

The catwalk: flirty in floral

This week, my style's a little different from my usual attire. You've probably noticed that I usually choose bright and bold colours because of my skin tone; it's not often you'll see me dawning a neutral hue. This piece makes a statement and while it's a different look for me, I like the feeling I get when I wear it. It's got a 60s retro vibe, but when accessorized carefully it becomes retro with a modern twist!   

I found this dress about a year ago at another one of my fav stores: MNG by Mango. I was first attracted to its pretty floral print and light fabric, and when I tried it on I felt very pretty and feminine. It was originally priced at $90 and discounted to $20, and even though I wasn't sure where exactly I would wear it, I thought I'd get it anyway... even if I wore it once, I'd be sure to get my money's worth! 

This dress is light, breezy, fun and flirty and it's turned out to be great for almost any occasion! It can be dressed up for work with a pair of heels and a clutch; or it can be made casual when paired with a short denim jacket, sandals and bright handbag. But best of all, it's a great standout piece and it's fantastic for summer! 

Happy weekend! x

The summer blizzard

I've already declared my love of sweets. While I enjoy a healthy diet and lifestyle, I do like to indulge every now and again. Who doesn't? I'm not saying it's right or wrong, or if it's right for everyone, but it's definitely something I enjoy.

One of my favourite things to do is treat myself with ice cream in the summer. Anyone who follows me on Twitter is familiar with my view toward the cold sweet stuff: anytime is a good time for ice cream! Well maybe not all the time, but if you have it once a week it's not the end of the world. Since there's no Marble Slab or Cold Stone in this town, I usually head to DQ to get my fix. I do love Blizzards (the ice cream kind, not the winter storm kind). Although sometimes when I get a Blizzard, I feel like I could have better spent my $5. Sometimes Blizzards are awesome; the perfect proportion of cookie bits to soft serve. But more times I feel like all the cookie dough and Oreo bits are at the top and when I am halfway done I'm left with plain vanilla. No even distribution, and certainly not what I paid for. So I thought, maybe I can do it better!

Aside from my own curiosity to see if I could actually do something like this at home, my other inspiration to give this a try came from my husband. When you're allergic to chocolate and you go to DQ, there aren't many exciting options on the Blizzard menu to choose from. I wanted to share the joy of a mixed delicious ice cream treat with him so he, too could understand the pleasure I take in every spoonful of Blizzard I devour.

I picked up Oreos, Golden Oreos and vanilla ice cream all for the low price of just $7 at the grocery store. Next? It was time to try it out. The Magic Bullet was the perfect blender to use for this experiment, since it gave me more control over the blending process and it was also ideal for making two quick but different flavoured ice cream treats. I took 3 Golden Oreos and broke them apart, and put them into one of my party mug Magic Bullet cups. Then, I added about 2 big scoops of vanilla ice cream, and I threw in a handful of carob chips for good measure. Time to start blending! I used the pulsing technique to make the perfect blend of ice cream to cookie pieces. The result? Success! I repeated the same process for my own, only this time I used Oreos and chocolate.

It's now a staple treat for a hot summer day, and it's much more cost effective and tastier (in my opinion)! If you give this a try, feel free to leave a comment and share what your favourite flavour combinations are! Enjoy! x

beauty banter: pastel perfect

It's just around the corner, or depending on where you are, it's already here. Some refer to it as the dog days of summer, while I think of it as my favourite time of year. Hot summer days, and sultry summer nights. Dawning light and breezy outfits, sunshine, gelato and soft pastel hues are everything that this time of year is about and everything I dream of on cold winter days.

While pastels are synonymous with summer, they are also a trend this year. I have a naturally fair complexion and even if I tried to tan I wouldn't be much darker, anyway. Fair skin generally doesn't work well with pastel shades, at least in my experience. Layering a pastel top with a contrasting shade can often address this problem, but it still doesn't help the fact that I don't feel I can wear a pastel hue on its own against my fair skin tone.

Even though I don't feel I can wear pastels well, I decided to give them a chance this season the best way I know how: a pedicure! After being introduced to Essie's new summer collection I chose Cascade Cool, an adorable shade of pink, and purchased the polish with some skepticism. I should mention that while Cascade Cool is a pretty pastel shade, the other colours in Essie's summer collection are quite the opposite.

So, I tried it out. The result? I was pleasantly surprised with the first application! And after a second coat, I was in love. It was different from the bold, heavily pigmented colours I usually opt for, but it was nice; in a pretty, summery way! It's a very feminine shade, and it looks beautiful with peep-toe shoes or sandals this season!

Crazy for Greek: Chicken souvlaki recipe

I recently rediscovered my love for Greek. Sorry ladies, I'm not talking about John Stamos (although really, I still have a celebrity crush on Uncle Jesse). This one's a fav go-to that's quick and easy to prepare and cook when you don't have a lot of time, but it can be very impressive if you choose to serve it when you entertain. The chicken souvlaki can be served with a simple Greek salad, heated whole wheat pita bread, and tzatziki for dipping. The best part? It's healthy! Here's the recipe. If you try it out, please feel free to leave a comment!  

Ingredients
4 skewers
2 boneless skinless chicken, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 clove of garlic, minced (or 1/2 tsp garlic powder)
1 tsp pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 whole wheat pitas, cut into 1/8ths
Light tzatziki

1. Mix olive oil, lemon juice, pepper and garlic together to make marinade.
2. Place cubed chicken in a bowl, and pour the marinade over it. Cover and place in fridge for at least 20 minutes.
3. Soak the skewers in water while the chicken is marinading.
4. Pre-heat oven to 350 C.
5. Cover a baking sheet with tinfoil and then spray with cooking spray. When chicken is finished marinating, add the cubes of chicken to the skewers and then place them on the baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear. 
5. Serve with warm pita bread, tzatziki and a simple Greek Salad.

Enjoy!

  

The catwalk: striped vintage tee

Stripes are classic, and we already know that I love them! Sailor-inspired fashion trends and stripes are nothing new, but with a vintage twist they become something fresh that infuses a fun flavour on an old fashion favourite. My striped vintage tee is definitely already a staple in my wardrobe this summer for many reasons. Why do I like it so much? Besides the fact that it's cute, it's comfortable; it's budget-friendly; and it goes with just about anything!

I opted for a boat neck because it's the most flattering cut for me, but I've seen this vintage fav in crew and v neck styles too. Dress it up with a high-waisted pencil skirt and a blazer, or wear it with your favourite skinny jeans or denim shorts. If you're going for a real sailor girl vibe, tie a scarf around your neck and pair it with red skinny jeans, pants or shorts. However you choose to wear it, you can't go wrong adding this piece to your wardrobe this summer!

Happy weekend! x

Vintage tee, J. Crew

How to conquer a mall in 60 minutes

Large malls can be intimidating. Their sheer size and volume of high quality stores can make you feel like you're in a maze, not knowing where to go next. That’s fine if you have 5 days of your vacation allotted to shopping but I, for one, do not prefer to spend my vacay time indoors and if I’m travelling for work and I’m lucky enough to have time to get to a mall, it’s usually never for an extended period. It's more like a couple of hours at most. In fact, I did an outlet mall just last month in 60 minutes and left feeling like I conquered it. 

I used to be a ‘browser’ but now my shopping trips have turned into full-on time-sensitive missions. Here are a few tips to make your next shopping trip efficient, fun and (hopefully) a big success:

1. Do your research. Find out what stores are in the mall, and then decide what ones you want to visit.

2. Make a list. Take a look at your wardrobe. Read some of your fav fashion magazines. Then jot down what you’d like to find on your trip.

3. Be specific. Don’t say you want to find tops. The term 'tops' is too broad. Instead, say what kind of tops you’d like to have. That will make your life a lot easier when you’re at Bloomingdale’s or Macy’s and you’re surrounded by tops of all shapes, colours and styles.

4. Get a map and plan your route. Remember the list of stores you want to visit? Decide what order you'll visit them in.
5. Set a budget. Let's face it: most of us could probably do some serious damage to our bank accounts at our favourite stores in a matter of minutes. We could, but we shouldn't. Be sure to set a budget before you begin buying! 

6. Dress comfortably. Wear something that’s good for running, er, walking between stores. It’s nice to look good but 4-inch heels won’t cut it for this kind of trip. Unless you've mastered a skill that I haven't, I think you'll find something comfortable a little more efficient.

7. If you don’t love it, don’t buy it. Don’t spend a lot of time deciding on whether you like something. If your first reaction to trying something on is only okay, you’ll probably feel the same way later. No one likes buyer’s remorse! 

I hope this helps you on your next shopping excursion! If you have any more ideas, tips to add to the list, or thoughts, please leave a comment. Happy shopping!

Endless summer salad

Endless summer salad. Sounds amazing, doesn't it? Well, you can have endless summer salad, right in your own back yard (or back deck, to be more accurate!) No more romaine hearts in bags of three from the grocery store; no more spinach in bulk that wilts long before you've used it all. Who even knows what kind of pesticides that was even sprayed with! No more Farmer's Market to get my fresh salad greens either. This summer, I'm growing my own greens on my deck! Think you need a green thumb to do it? Think again. My thumb's anything but, and if it wasn't easy and low maintenance, I wouldn't be doing it. 

So here's how it works. Almost every garden center has a variety of different types of lettuce plants. Mine came from a local center just outside the city, but supermarkets usually carry them too. All you have to do is select the varieties of lettuce plants you would like. For example, I have three varieties of lettuce: Salad Bowl Red, Simpson Elite and Buttercrunch. Be careful what you choose! You could be eating this salad for awhile, so make sure it's something you like. After you buy the lettuce plants you'll need to transfer them to a larger pot, following the directions that come with each plant. Put them on your deck, make sure they are watered, and voila! Endless salad. Harvest the large leaves on the outside, wash, and enjoy. It's fast growing and fast yielding, and it's said to last through the end of the summer! You'll be surprised at how quickly it grows. I've had my plants for 2 weeks, and I've had a salad every day from them!

If you do want to try this out this season, I recommend calling ahead instead of making a special trip to your favourite local gardening center. I've heard these plants disappear quickly because of their growing popularity, so call ahead to make sure there's one there for you!   

I'll give you all an update late in August to let you know how my endless summer salad story concludes! Happy Monday! x

The catwalk: the skinny on white

I always wanted to own white jeans, but I was never daring enough to wear them. Honestly, maybe the reason was my illegitimate fear of someone seeing through them if they were walking behind me. What was I thinking? People don't have x-ray vision. And skinny jeans? I had to gradually work my way up to them. And I by gradual, I mean over a multi-year period starting with boot cut, then straight cut, and finally skinny. I took the plunge and tried on a pair of white skinny jeans last month at Guess. When I first tried them on, it took awhile to get used to the way they looked but after a few minutes in them I was surprised to discover that I was in love! I was even more surprised to find myself quite comfortable in them, too.

They're another fabulous look for summer and they work very well with contrast on top. Try pairing them with a dark or printed top, contrasting flats or heels and a clutch to round this look out.

Happy weekend!

Photo credit: Sam Russell

Photo credit: Sam Russell

Striped top, Michael Kors; Brittney ankle skinny jeans, Guess; Black flats, Nine West; Black wristlet, Coach.

Tangerine tango: colour of the year

Almost every fashion magazine I've picked up in the last couple of months has been full of snapshots, samples and articles about how this summer is all about colour. I, for one, was more than happy to welcome some bright, fun shades into my closet and I was surprised to learn that a purchase I made in February would turn out to be one of the biggest staples of my wardrobe this year.

While reading In Style (one of my fav fashion magazines) I learned that Tangerine Tango was selected by the Pantone Color Institute as the colour of the year for 2012. A red orange with a lot of depth, Tangerine Tango is an energetic shade that's seductive, full of personality, and irresistible! Coincidentally enough, my new Kate Spade handbag is everything that I believe Tangerine Tango represents. When I first saw it, I was attracted to its vibrancy and I knew I had to have it when I couldn't stop thinking about it. It's fun, playful, and when paired with the right outfit it's a great standout piece; the perfect way for me to wear the colour of this year!

Will you wear tangerine in 2012? Leave a comment and tell me how!

Happy Independence Day! x

Photo credit: Sam Russell

Photo credit: Sam Russell

Every day I'm trufflin': Truffle recipe

Since it's Canada Day, I decided to make my holiday truffles! It's definitely not the season I associate with truffles or 'holiday', but since they're fun and it's been a few months since I've made them I decided it was time to make them again! These are delicious, easy to make, and fantastic for any holiday or occasion since you can decorate them however you like. For the truffles pictured here, I used Canada Day decos, white sprinkles and carob powder. If you haven't heard of carob, I'm sure you're wondering what it is! It's a healthier substitute for chocolate (or so I'm told). It's said to be lower in fat therefore healthier than chocolate, but it's definitely much sweeter.

If I was making these for me I would choose to use semi-sweet chocolate chips, but I'm married to someone who has the unfortunate plague of being allergic to chocolate and has never tasted a chocolate truffle in his life (at least that what he tells me anyway!) Since chocolate is out of the question for him, I used the next best thing: carob. I have made these in the past using chocolate and another time using carob, and on each occasion they were a huge success. The recipe below makes about 20 truffles. 

If you do make these, post a comment below and let me know how your truffle-making experience went! Happy truffling!

 Ingredients

• 9 oz. chocolate or carob chips
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• Decorations

1. Melt chocolate or carob chips and butter in a double boiler. Add heavy cream and stir until satin-like and smooth. Cover and refrigerate until set (about 6 hours for chocolate; about 1.5 hours for carob). The mixture should be mouldable and not too hard.

2. Place decorations on separate plates, and set aside

3. When the mixture is set, scoop up by teaspoons. Form into balls and then roll into decorations. Store in an airtight container, refrigerate, and enjoy!

The catwalk: striped summer dress

Even though it's just begun, I can already see some themes developing in my summer wardrobe: colour (obviously), prints and stripes! One of my favourite summer dresses this season is a chic, striped dress I picked up just a few weeks ago.

Horizontal stripes have always been the subject of debate in the fashion world. I've heard it all, and I'm sure you have too. Everything from "horizontal stripes make you look fat", to "horizontal stripes make you look thin", and everything in between those polar opposite statements. Some may argue that stripes might even make you look like a prisoner. My opinion? Forget everything you've heard, and if you're comfortable in it and you love it, then wear it!

If you don't already have a striped dress, you should consider adding a piece like this one to your wardrobe. It features an asymmetrical neckline, pleated left shoulder detail, a bright blue removable belt and hits just above the knee. 

Whether you'd like to add a fashion-forward, polished look to your work wear or a classy piece for night, this dress really makes a statement whenever you choose to wear it. Want to add a little more colour? Pair it with a bright handbag or some coloured heels to round out the look. If you like this look but waistline is a concern for you, try it with a blazer or a cardigan and wear it with confidence! 

I almost forgot... the best part about this dress? The price. I paid a cool $50 at Winners, and I saw the same dress for $80 at Macy's, $88 at Nordstrom and $93 on Overstock.com. Now that's what I call a steal! 

Happy long weekend! x

Photo credit: Sam Russell

Photo credit: Sam Russell

Calvin Klein striped belted sheath dress.

Get on your neon!

It's back! One of the memories I suppressed from the '80s along with slouch socks and jelly shoes: neon. Really, neon never did go away for good. It just lost its mass appeal well before the Fresh Prince of Bel Air's series finale. While I don't envision myself wearing neon pink bicycle shorts anytime soon, I've found there are some great ways to incorporate this trend into your wardrobe this season. 

If you aren't already rocking something bright, try accessorizing in neon with a playful handbag, bracelet or necklace. Or if that's still a little too bold, try a neon mani or pedi (like me) to add a fun splash of colour to your style! Will you wear neon this summer? Leave a comment and tell me how you'll wear neon, or if you have any other ideas about how to add neon to your wardrobe! 

Neon pink (tour de finance) polish by Essie 

Banana nut chocolate protein muffins recipe

I thought I'd start this week off with a sweet and healthy recipe! Anyone who knows me knows how much I love sweets (especially chocolate). It's so hard for me to say no to sweets, especially mid-morning or mid-afternoon when I start to feel peckish. I try to graze throughout the day getting protein when I can; the only problem is, most protein snack sources aren't sweet and I still find myself still craving sweets at the end of the day.

Guess what? Problem solved! I found an awesome recipe and tweaked it to make banana nut chocolate protein muffins. Now for the good news: it's friend/husband tested, and approved! The recipe below makes 12 muffins, and ingredients can be found at Bulk Barn or your favourite local grocery store. Happy snacking!

Ingredients
1/2 cup whole wheat flour (pastry)
1/2 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup protein powder (natural or vanilla will work)
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts or almonds
1/4 cup chocolate chips (substitute carob for chocolate allergy)
3 overly ripe bananas
3 tbsp maple syrup or honey
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. Mix flour, oats, protein powder, cinnamon, baking powder, half the nuts, and salt together in a large bowl.
3. In a separate bowl, mash the bananas, then add syrup/honey, egg and vanilla extract. Stir wet ingredients into dry until just mixed. Add chocolate or carob chips and stir until evenly distributed in batter.
4. Grease muffin pan, and pour batter in until each tin is 3/4 full. Top the batter with crushed nuts. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes just out of the oven before removing from muffin pan to cool on a wire rack.

The catwalk: Summertime for colour

It's finally here! While I'm excited for ice cream, warm weather and all things summer, I am most excited about wearing colour this season. Since I'm usually safe and go with neutrals, I've decided to embrace colour and change. It's time to get bold.

During a recent trip to California, I embarked on shopping mission in search of red skinny jeans. That's right, red! I found my red denim and I love it! Pairing nicely with a printed top or classic black (if that's your thing), it's great for daytime or a night out!

Toothpick denim in Dark Poppy, J. Crew; Polka dot popover, J. Crew; Byrd handbag, kate spade; Black flats, Nine West; Wayfarer sunglasses, Ray-Ban