Marshmallows Roasting on an Open Fire (kind of)

by Jenny on March 7, 2013 in for the home, lifestyle with No comments

We all remember summer nights sitting by a campfire telling stories and roasting our marshmellows to perfection. Unfortunately it has been far to long since I have engaged in this pastime. The business of adulthood coupled with life as a downtown urbanite leaves little time for and access to a roaring open fire. When I came across this little gadget, The Indoor Flameless Marshmallow Roaster, I couldn’t help but smile. The product manufacturers claim that this indoor roaster will be able to to produce campfire-worthy toasted marshmallows without the need for an open flame. All of your marshmallows will be toasted over a stainless steel electric heater, which means it is safe and easy to use even with children around. There is also a divided tray which will hold a ready supply of chocolate, graham crackers, or candies to go along with your marshmallow recipes. A quartet of stainless steel forks have been thrown into the mix to hold your marshmallows securely over the roaster.

Wouldn’t this be the perfect way to end a dinner party. A DIY dessert that will have all your guests waxing nostalgia about their childhood campfire memories.

Are You a Morning Person?

by Jenny on March 5, 2013 in lifestyle with No comments

I am definitely not a morning person. I can snooze with the best of them and I thoroughly enjoy spending the majority of Saturday morning horizontal. However, I feel like there is this whole “before breakfast” world out there waiting to be explored. With these helpful tips from SaavySugar I believe I am well on the way to conquering the morning. Are you morning people? If so what do accomplish before breakfast? Or What is your morning routine.

Sleep earlier. It’s hard to stop surfing the web late at night if you’re a night owl, but just keep in mind that everything you’re doing can be done the next day. Make yourself go to bed earlier, and you’ll be able to wake up earlier the next day.
Wake up a little earlier every day. It might be hard to suddenly get up hours earlier, but if you set your alarm 10 minutes earlier every day, it’s going to be less of a shock to your body.
Eat a healthy breakfast. Energize yourself in the morning with a hearty and healthy breakfast. You’ll be less fatigued during the day and will be more cheerful in the mornings. If you’ve been living on just black coffee in the mornings, then is it any wonder that you’re a grump early in the day?
Work up a sweat. Doing a bit of exercise in the morning can rev you up for the day. You’ll feel better after your workout, and you’ll be able to attack your work with gusto throughout the day.
Keep the same sleep schedule on the weekends. Don’t mess up your body clock by sleeping in on the weekends. Try to keep the same sleeping schedule you have on workdays to keep the momentum going. Imagine all the things you can do on a day off when you’re up a few hours earlier!
Relax before bed. Don’t watch TV or fiddle around with laptops or gadgets right before you go to bed, because they are shining light into your eyes and maybe even tricking your brain into thinking that it’s earlier than it really is. Make sure the light around you is not too bright when it’s close to your bedtime. Try not to do anything too stimulating before bed, and instead focus on relaxing activities, like taking a bath or listening to soothing music.
Reward yourself. You’ll have an easier time of getting out of bed if there’s something to look forward to. Whether it’s an exciting chapter in a book or a delicious cup of coffee already brewed.

Mad About This Collection: Mad Men for Banana Republic

by Jenny on February 27, 2013 in fashion with No comments

The Mad Men for Banana Republic line is available in stores and online today. Co-designed by the show’s costume designer, Janie Bryant, the collection is a modern take on the lively graphics and form flattering silhouettes of the 1960s style. You will also find some pieces taken directly from the show. “The green and blue shift minidress (below) is a dress that Megan actually wore in the promotions from last season. To view the full collection click here.

All That Glitter

by Jenny on February 25, 2013 in fashion with No comments

The Oscar red carpet was a sea of metallics last night. Stars in gold and silver hues shone the brightest at the 85the Academy Awards.

It’s Finally Cool to be Lazy.

by Jenny on February 19, 2013 in fashion with No comments

Canadian made La zy Pants are the new craze. I’m not often one to jump on the trend band wagon but I couldn’t resist when it came to these pants. I have always loved a good pair of sweatpants – they are a staple in my life. I believe in being dressed up and stylish when I leave the house but once I get home it is straight into comfort wear. With my extensive experience in sweat pant wearing I can easily say Lazy Pants are my new fav. They are comfortable and stylish and the best part – they have pockets! I bought two pairs this week. One of their heavier weight pairs and one their new waffle-y pants that are capri and lighter weight for spring and summer. It’s been a couple days and I can honestly say that I am living in them.

A Modern Take on the Valentines Manicure

by Jenny on February 5, 2013 in Beauty, Manicure with No comments

I was going to go with the standard red for my annual valentines manicure but I was feeling very meh about it and took to the interwebs for inspiration. Pinterest is a mecca for all things beauty and a simple search for valentines manicure came up with hundreds of items of visual inspiration.

My fav is this modern black look from Hysteria of Decay. This sleek look is simple to achieve. Essence Back to black, Matte topcoat, some clear polish and a dotting tool for hearts and dots.

WaySpa Correspondent Report from VidaSpa Fairmont Chateau Whistler

by Jenny on January 30, 2013 in WaySpa Correspondent with No comments

Author: Elisa

VidaSpa is an incredibly inviting and welcoming place, providing a thoroughly luxurious, personal and restorative spa experience. The spa, located inside of the Chateau Whistler, is nestled at the base of the Blackcomb Mountain: an idyllic setting for relaxation.

The staff is kind, discreet and competent. From the moment you walk though their doors until your departure, you will be well accompanied, pampered and cared for.

VidaSpa does indeed tailor its treatments to the needs of each guest. I tried their signature Ayervedic Massage, intended to nourish and revitalize, while my sister and niece, both avid skiers, opted for the Deep Tissue Massage. My elder niece, who prides herself on her flawless skin, enjoyed a Teen Facial. We were all delighted with the reception, service and attention we received.

We arrived a bit in advance and were warmly greeted. The staff provided thick lush bathrobes and guided us toward the facilities of the Chateau Whistler (access to the Chateau Whistler’s training room, showers, changing rooms, indoor and outdoor hot tubs, as well as their eucalyptus steam room is an added bonus for all guests of VidaSpa). We all elected to luxuriate in a soothing steam prior to our spa treatments. Then we crossed the lobby to return to VidaSpa for our treatments.

Upon our return, we were guided to the comfortable VidaSpa waiting area. One by one, our professionals came to collect us. My masseuse, Fanny, had a calming voice and nature. I was reclining on a soft leather couch enjoying a beverage when she came to get me. She led me to a treatment room decorated in tranquil earth tones; soothing instrumental music was playing and lulled me into an immediate sense of calm and well-being. Fanny invited me to lie down on the heated massage table. She explained that Ayervedic Massage entailed generous amounts of heated oil and that it was a whole body treatment. She reiterated that my head would also be massaged with oil and ensured that I was at ease with it. When I confirmed, she explained a simple process for getting the oil out of my hair after the massage (By the way, her technique worked extremely well).

I’ve had the pleasure of numerous massages of all sorts during my lifetime but this one was certainly unique. Although I was a bit skeptical at first, wondering about the abundance of oil, the massage was utterly delightful. The heated oil was remarkably soothing as Fanny’s skilled and strong hands worked their way over my legs, back, arms, neck and head; even my hands and feet were given special attention. The hour passed leisurely as I luxuriated in total relaxation. All my cumulative work stress disappeared, as did the muscle aches following five consecutive days of skiing.

My entire VidaSpa experience was extremely enjoyable! After my hour long Ayurvedic Massage I was thoroughly relaxed. The feeling of intense calm continued in the hot tubs outside the Chateau Whistler whilst I gazed upon the snowy peaks. Heavenly! My profound relaxation and sense of well-being lasted for days. I would strongly recommend VidaSpa to anyone searching for rejuvenation, calm and relaxation.

Super Meal for The Big Game

by Jenny on January 23, 2013 in recipes with No comments

Get into the cajun spirit for the XLVII Super Bowl in New Orleans. This Spicy Cajun Seafood Stew from the Foodnetwork is the perfect thing to get you into game mode!

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
8 ounces smoked andouille sausage, diced (1 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 bell peppers, red and/or green, chopped (about 2 1/2 cups)
1 onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
One 8-ounce bottle clam juice
One 15-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 pound firm white fish, such as halibut, grouper or black sea bass, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp (21 to 25 shrimp)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
Kosher salt
Cooked white rice, for serving

Directions

1. Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large pot or Dutch oven. Cook the sausage until browned, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the sausage and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted and the meat is well coated, about 2 minutes. Add the Cajun seasoning, garlic, peppers and onions and continue to cook until the vegetables are softened, 5 minutes. Add the clam juice, tomatoes and 4 cups water, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot, and increase the heat to bring to a simmer.

2. Lower the heat slightly and simmer until the stew is thickened and the flavors are melded, about 30 minutes. Gently stir in the fish and shrimp. Cook, making sure the stew is not bubbling vigorously, stirring once or twice, until the shrimp and fish have just turned opaque, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the parsley. Season with salt and serve over rice.

A Moment of Happiness with Nicole Boily, at Dermalounge Montreal.

by Jenny on January 21, 2013 in WaySpa Correspondent with No comments

I had the chance to go test facial treatments with Nicole Boily, aka “the beautician of the stars”, at the Dermalounge, rue Laurier, in Montreal. Nicole has performed treatments on, among others, actress Karine Vanasse, numerous TV hosts in Quebec, and many American stars when filming in Montreal. When I first met Nicole the first thing I noticed was her soft and gentle voice. I was immediately relaxed and excited to try a microdermabrasion treatment and Skin Bella.

Nicole works with multiple devices, and after closely examining my skin, she decided which ones to use on me. Her prescription for my skin was microdermabrasion and two Skin Bella. Despite these barbarous names these devices operate very smoothly, you will not feel any pain, nor will their be redness after treatment. Microdermabrasion is performed with a small device that has a diamond tip head. The device is applied on your skin very gently line by line, and literally sucks up all your impurities. Skin Bella is a device that looks like a blade that vibrates with ultrasonic sound. This treatment is extremely gentle but nonetheless incredibly efficient. Nicole uses it first for an initial phase of exfoliation, and then to help your skin absorb the different products she applies on your face. Skin Bella is also a very effective procedure to reduce dark spots. Nicole prepares mixtures of products and serums that are best suited to my skin. On me she used a Canadian brand Aquafolia, which contains no oil, and was perfect for my skin. The best time during the treatment was the gentle face and neck massage. Thrills guaranteed to the toes!

In short, an hour and a half of pure joy! And a result that lasts much longer than a classic facial, easily up to a month I would say!

Nicole Boily et ses doigts de fées, moment de bonheur au Dermalounge Montréal.

J’ai eu la chance d’aller tester les soins de Nicole Boily, celle que l’on nomme aussi « l’esthéticienne des stars », au Dermalounge, rue Laurier à Montréal. Nicole s’occupe entre autres de l’actrice Karine Vanasse, de la présentatrice télé Virginie Coosa qui parlait d’elle d’ailleurs récemment dans un célèbre hebdomadaire québécois, mais aussi de nombreuses stars américaines lorsqu’elles sont en tournage à Montréal. Ce qui frappe immédiatement, c’est la voix douce et agréable de Nicole, dès qu’elle vous reçoit. Vous entrez alors dans le meilleur état possible pour recevoir les soins. J’ai choisi ce jour là d’essayer la micro-dermabrasion, que je connaissais déjà, mais également un autre appareil appelé Skin Bella…

Nicole m’explique qu’elle travaille avec plusieurs appareils, et qu’après avoir examiné votre peau, c’est elle qui jugera de quels appareils sont les mieux appropriés. Pour moi, ce sera donc un passage de micro-dermabrasion, et deux de Skin Bella. Malgré ces noms barbares – surtout « micro-dermabrasion » ! -, il faut savoir que depuis longtemps ces appareils opèrent maintenant tout en douceur, et que vous ne ressentirez aucune douleur, ni ne présenterez aucune rougeur après le traitement. Bien au contraire ! La micro-dermabrasion se fait maintenant avec un petit appareil équipé d’une tête en pointes de diamant, que l’on vous passe doucement sur le visage ligne par ligne et qui aspire toutes vos impuretés. Efficacité garantie ! Place maintenant au Skin Bella ! Le Skin Bella est un appareil que je ne connaissais pas, qui ressemble à une fine lame vibrant aux ultra-sons. Ce soin est extrêmement doux, et Nicole s’en sert d’abord pour une phase d’exfoliation, puis pour aider à faire absorber les différents produits qu’elle applique ensuite sur votre visage. Celui-ci est apparemment également très efficace pour réduire les petites taches de pigmentation que présentent certaines personnes. En experte confirmée, Nicole prépare elle-même les mélanges de produits et sérums les plus adaptés à votre peau. Ce jour là, elle utilise sur moi les produits québécois Aquafolia, pour la plupart dénués de corps gras, parfait pour ma peau. Le meilleur moment est sans doute celui ou Nicole, toujours présente à vos côtés (je déteste quand l’esthéticienne vous laisse seul un quart d’heure avec votre masque !), vous masse délicatement le visage et le cou. Frissons garantis jusqu’aux orteils !

Bref, une heure et demi de bonheur ! Et un résultat qui dure bien plus longtemps qu’un soin du visage classique, jusqu’à un mois facilement je dirais.