What The Italians Are Wearing This Summer

Why does this matter? Because there's a very strong chance it's what we'll be wearing next.

Last year I was in the south of Spain and Paris and observed the trends there only to have them follow me home. For example: the long peasant skirt. This item was literally being sold on the street outside of department stores like Le Printemps in a variety of colours. I noticed the fitted jackets that tied with a bow at Mango in Spain and a few months later, voila! It was everywhere. I also predicted that wedges and flats would be huge for a long time and that white would be THE colour (if you can call it that) this season. I stocked up in advance.

Now I've had a chance to scope out what our Italian sisters are wearing this summer and I'm anticipating we'll see those trends in our stores very soon. Here are the must-haves according to the Italians:

Flirty Fitted Summer Dresses:

The Italian women like their dresses colourful and tight with an emphasis on the bust.


Push-em Up Bras:
You won't find any flannel from Grandma here. The Italians are all about the pushup bra and nice undies. Every third store is a lingerie shop with gorgeous colourful bras with matching panties, ruffles, lace and barely-there bottoms to get your man's pulse racing.


Cute Strappy Tops: Available in every colour, pattern and fabric, these tops are everywhere. Of course we have them here too, but theirs are decidedly cuter.


Wedges:This has been a hot item for a while now. These make walking on cobblestone streets much easier than last year's strappy sandals. The Italians like the ones with ribbon that wraps around the ankles.


Aviator Shades: The fashion-conscious have already been wearing these for a while but in Italy EVERYONE is wearing them. In fact, it's hard to find someone who isn't.


Soft, Slouchy Cowboy Boots:

Ok. Here's where I dropped the ball. I saw these puppies everywhere, in cream, white, black and dark brown and never got around to taking a picture or trying on a pair. I realize this was a huge blunder on my part, but the temperature was 35-40 degrees Celsius the entire time we were there and Italians aren't too fond of air conditioning - even in their beloved shoe stores. I couldn't have put on a pair of boots if someone had paid me. It was just that hot. But watch for cowboy boots with a more rounded toe, made of soft leather that is either slightly slouchy or has cutout patterns at the top of the boot. The Italians wear these with mini skirts - another must have item.


Sparkly Tops:Any kind of sparkle will do. They like t-shirts with sparkly lettering, jackets with shiny detail and tops with sequins.


And finally, the biggest winner of all... Eyelet in White:White eyelet skirts, jackets, tops, blouses... this stuff was everywhere. It looks best as a trim and is a very feminine look.

Happy Shopping!

When Something Goes "Clomp" in the Night

We've just returned from our whirlwind trip to Italy and I finally have a chance to pass on a story or two from our visit.

Two of the hotels we stayed at in Tuscany were former Convents that had been converted into 5 star hotels. The first place had beautiful courtyards, gardens and lavish suites. Each window opened up to a view of the vineyards below and the sound of birds.

Our first night, we enjoyed a fabulous meal in the candelit courtyard and after several bottles of local Chianti - shared between the whole group, not just us - we headed off to bed.

Now I'm a picky pillow person. I can't sleep on just anything. I've often been teased about being the whole Princess and the Pea thingy, but the truth is I have a bad neck from some unthinking redneck in the Praries who side-swiped me when I was 16. My pillows have to be medium soft feather in order for me to sleep. None of those bumpy balled up cotton creations that try to pass themselves off as pillows. Anyway, my pillow was huge and hard and I tossed and turned all night on that thing with my head at a 90 degree angle.

At about 3am I heard a heavy clomping sound that sounded like someone walking slowly above us wearing wooden shoes on a hard wood floor and then opening a very creaky door. It spooked me a little because the steps were so slow, and the creaking door sounded so out of place in this well kept hotel. None of our doors were squeaky. I was also pretty sure there was no floor above us. I decided I must be wrong and that there must be something above our room or it didn't make sense. The noises continued for a bit and then stopped and I eventually fell asleep.

The next morning at breakfast our guides came over to our table to discuss the biking route for the day. I told them I hadn't slept well because someone was clomping around on the floor above us. I described the sound and the creaking door in great detail as they looked at me oddly, then at each other for a moment and said, "Ya weird, anyway, here's your route notes enjoy your breakfast."

We stayed there for one more night before heading to our second hotel but I didn't hear a thing.

Two days later, our guide, Marco told us that they didn't want to mention it at the time, but there was no floor above our room that night. The room we stayed in was supposedly haunted. By a Nun. When they scoped out the trip a while ago, the proprieters told them a few rooms were haunted but they had laughed it off because A: Who really believes in that stuff, and B:None of their travellers had ever mentioned anything about it before.

When I heard that it raised the hair on my arms.

I'm glad to be home.

Nighty night!

Cycling and Feasting Under The Tuscan Sun

Bella Tuscany! Gorgeous rolling hills with birds chirping, bees bumbling around, and the smell of flowers in the air. It is an incredibly beautiful place.

But I had no idea it was all hills or that I would be seeing it all from the seat of a hybrid bicycle going 30-60 km/day in the blazing heat. Not the sort of adventure for a girl who prefers wearing heels, lounging by the pool, shopping in the city and sitting at cafes. I have never sweat so much or worked so hard on vacation in my life. I had planned to make regular posts capturing our adventures, but found myself passed out in the hotel from fatigue or alcohol consumption from the inexhaustible supply of wine we were fed every night.

When my fellow travelers, (all very fit cyclists) agreed it was the most physically challenging trip they had been on, I felt much better about bailing on the biking and opting for the pool on day two. However, it was a great opportunity to push myself and see Tuscany in a way I never would have been able to before. I biked over 100km in 3 days!

I tried to capture the scenery but my camera couldn't do it justice.
Vineyard after vineyard peppered with gorgeous estates with incredible vistas. The never ending rows of cypress trees and quaint little villages with red and pink geraniums on the balcony. The hearty, "Buon Giorno" from a local as we passed by. All these things made me wish I never had to go home.

We visited a local cooking school where we made fresh pasta with incredible sauces followed by the most mouth watering tiramisu I've ever had. We also visited local wineries for tastings where we discovered delicious Chianti's and flavourful olive oils. The greener the oil, the better, apparently!

Though we stayed in incredibly lavish properties (one was a Relais & Chateaux), the most impressive part was the food. We ate until we couldn't move and then ate some more. Course after course of mouth-watering pastas, fish, lamb and t-bone steak. The best experiences were at local restaurants slightly off the tourist areas where the best chefs had us stuffing ourselves into delirium.

We are still here in Florence where we will remain for a few days. Since I haven't been able to shop yet, we'll definitely make some time for that, though Alex doesn't realize it yet (Mwahahaha!).

I'll try to control myself...

Bella Tuscany!

Something incredible has happened and I can hardly believe it. Yesterday afternoon my husband, Alex calls me up and says, “What would you think of going to Tuscany for a week because we’re leaving on Sunday.”

Alex works for a luxury travel company that specializes in active trips around the world. His boss (Chris, you’re my hero!) is sending us to Tuscany tomorrow for 7 days of biking through hills, visiting local vineyards, learning how to make fresh pasta, and eating the mouth-watering confections of Michelin Chefs. Oops! I forgot to mention we will be bedding down in 5 Star hotels. Nice.

Now, you probably all hate me and believe me, I feel just as badly about accepting this trip as you do reading about it. I wish I didn’t have to go, but it is my duty to accompany my husband on his very important business trip so he can fully appreciate the inner-workings of his company. With my moral support and guidance he will become a stronger team player who will gain a better understanding of the core of the luxury travel business. Sampling the local Chianti’s and learning about the different varieties of olives will empower us both with a deep knowledge that we can go out and share with the world. And I will share people. I will make it my um, philanthropic duty to help people learn about Tuscany. I may be asked to speak at conferences or become a motivational speaker: “It could happen to you!” Hmmm… I’ll try and set aside some time for that when I return.

Er,or not.

In the mean time, Ciao Bella!

P.S Pictures coming soon!

www.butterfield.com

Free Makeup! Contest on RedFlagDeals

Attention all ye makeup and perfume lovers. Chickadvisor.com has posted a contest together with our friends at RedFlagDeals for 5 lucky chicks (and/or gents) to win one of 5 $100 gift certificates to Sephora.com. That's right, a few minutes of your time for a chance at some retail glory.

I was thinking of entering myself, just to see what would happen but apparently that's illegal.

If you don't have a Sephora in your city (poor thing), or haven't heard of it, (we really must talk); don't worry, the certificates can be used on the phone so it really doesn't matter where you live.

For $100 you could easily get the new Bvlgari perfume I've been dying to try, or the new one from Prada, which is strong, but sexy. For that matter, I've always liked Lacoste. Whatever you choose, you will still have money left over for Smashbox lipstick or Sephora lip gloss... the possibilities are endless!

If you're wondering when chickadvisor will launch, I can't tell you or I would have to... well it's not important. Just check YES on the form for us to send you an email and we'll let you know!

Good luck!

Chocolate

We all have our weaknesses and mine is chocolate. I adore the stuff. I've been known to pass on any other kind of desert because if there's no chocolate in it, what's the point? If I'm going to get a huge derriere, it might as well be because of flourless chocolate cake or truffles from the local chocolatier.

However, I despise anything with artificial flavors or ingredients I can't pronounce. It has to be pure, unadulterated, rich cocoa-y goodness from a reputable source. I don't eat gas station sub-standard "candy bar" fare, and you'd never catch me scooping up bulk generic brand rosebuds at the grocery store. That's right, I am a chocolate snob... or maybe chocolate connoisseur would be a more appropriate title.

This pickiness stems from my refusal to knowingly eat chemicals, and the fact that pure chocolate just tastes so much better. If you don't believe me, try a bite of dark Lindt Chocolate followed by a bite of your favorite candy bar and taste the difference chemicals make! I don't like carob or fat free/sugar free chocolate. Chocolate is supposed to be fattening, which is why it is for desert. Fat is natural and your body can deal with it in reasonable doses. Chemicals on the other hand, should be reserved for, well, other things such as pepper spray.

Since most of us know that dark chocolate can actually be good for you, we should share tips with each other for, um, health purposes. Here are a few guilt free* chocolatey things I highly recommend:

1. President's Choice Organic Chocolate Ice cream - The creamiest, most delicious ice cream I've ever had. It's available at Loblaws and other stores that carry PC products.

2. Lindt Excellence 70% cocoa (and darker) chocolate. All it takes is a little bit of this super rich chocolate to satisfy the craving, then you save the rest for later!

3. Fauchon dark and milk chocolate almonds. My husband and I discovered Fauchon in Paris and bought some chocolates for our picnic in the park. Protein plus gourmet chocolate = perfection!

4. Chocolate Blackout Cake - Senses Bakery (Toronto and Vancouver) - My husband fed me this the night he proposed. You know the rest...

5. Oma's oatmeal chocolate chunk cookies. They are much healthier than any store bought variety and are made with oatmeal and whole wheat, which are good for you! I can't believe I'm sharing my Grandmother's secret cookie recipe, but it would be wrong to hoard it all to myself. She'll forgive me, she's very sweet!

2/3 C Brown Sugar
3/4 C Butter
1 Egg
2 C Oatmeal
2/3 C Whole-wheat flour
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
Pinch of Salt
2 tsp Pure Vanilla extract
Chunks of dark chocolate - to taste

Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes

*Guilt free when consumed in REASONABLE doses

Lovin' Elixir Spa

I have a confession to make: I've been eating loads of chocolate, skipping lunch, surviving off lattes, and the lowest blow of all; I've missed 5 of my 8 yoga classes in the last two months. Now I realize that is a recipe for bad skin, and all sorts of health and body issues, but I have a perfectly valid excuse, in that I've been building my own company and that takes a lot of time and effort. I've literally been hooked up to my laptop from 9am until 1am, although admittedly I do squeeze in Y&R and Oprah between 4 and 5:30.

My last physical was ten days ago. My doctor gasped when he saw me, asked if I was purposely trying to lose weight, and started scribbling away this and that on his notepad. Bless his heart. I must admit I didn't fill any of the prescriptions. Instead, I talked to my pharmacist who suggested I beef up the nutrition in my diet and try to cut down on stress. Since the stress comes with the job, I decided I would eat more greens, beens and blueberries and get more sleep. I'm doing great on the blueberries but that's about it. Making a decent lunch and sleeping long hours takes too much time, I'm sorry. So I've been looking rather haggard these days and I know it's all my fault.

Yesterday I was scanning my emails and came across a promotion from my favorite spa, Elixir, for a facial, pedicure and eyebrow wax for the price of a facial. READ: All 3 for $90! It was like the clouds parted and the sun came down. I read it twice to make sure I wasn't dreaming, then picked up the phone and called immediately to book an appointment. Turns out it was all true and this afternoon I spent 2 1/2 hours being pampered from head to toe; exactly the destressing me-time I needed. I chose the Manuka Honey facial since it is designed for acne-prone skin, which I suffer from in the chin area. Everything they use is 100% natural and organic, so if a little bit of your mask happens across your lips and you just happen to lick it just a little bit, it is yummy! They massaged my eyes, face neck, arms and hands to the point where I almost fell asleep.

My eyebrow wax was perfection. I'm always worried when someone new does my brows that I will end up looking over-plucked with an enormous forehead, but I was thrilled with the way they turned out. The pedicure was the best I've ever had. The esthetician really took her time buffing away my uber dry heels, and recommending the perfect polish and organic tropical tea to drink while she toiled.

If you are interested in taking advantage of this deal it's only on for this weekend. If you miss it, get on their mailing list and they will fill you in on these deals about once a month.

Happy pampering!

www.elixirspa.ca

Helpin' the Homeless

Truth be told, I'm a born and bred prairie girl who isn't used to seeing homeless on the streets. I grew up in the country where everyone had a car, a decent house and at least an acre of property.

When I first moved to Toronto I was appalled at the number of homeless on the streets. I knew that some of them had shelters or other living arrangments at night, but it broke my heart to see all of them huddled under shabby blankets on steam grates or toiling under the hot sun with their shopping cart full of discarded treasures in the summer. I used to give them some change here or there or buy them a sandwich if they would accept it, but then I moved downtown and found myself walking past at least ten homeless people on the way to school. If I gave generously to each person that asked, I would have to join them begging for change, but I knew I had to do something.

After many sleepless nights trying to come up with a plan, I suggested to my husband that we buy hundreds of blankets and distribute them; a sweet yet naive and very expensive plan that would have us on the street in record time. He had a much better suggestion. There are hundreds of units in our condominium complex, all of whom suffer from bulging closests and very little storage space. Why didn't I do a clothing drive in the building? Brilliant!

I enlisted a friend and fellow resident, Angela, and together we tackled the board of directors and local charities to make the necessary arrangments. In the end, the Salvation Army shelter, The Gateway, agreed to pick up and distribute the donations to their homeless and other shelters.

Our first clothing drive ran in December, and the most recent finished today. In total, over 100 large bins of donations were collected for the homeless, and it was much more than blankets. Every kind of clothing from designer jeans to shoes to underwear (eww!) made it into our bins. We didn't get to see the reaction of the recipients, but were told by the Salvation Army that people were thrilled.

If it made them smile even for a moment it was definitely worth it. Now imagine what would happen if everyone committed to do something small like that once a year. What would our world be like? All together now... awwww!

Giselle Cleans My Closet

A short while ago I talked about my image consultant friend Giselle, who thought I needed some help in the clothing department. She promised to take me shopping and unfortunately our plans were thwarted by Air Canada, who cancelled my flight home from North Carolina. Well I'm back now, and Giselle finally met my closet.

Now I realize I'm not super organized with my comes to my clothes. My winter and summer things are always meshed together and I could care less if my underwear, socks and t-shirts share the same drawer.

When Giselle came over to start the image consulting process with me, she was horrified. Well first she was pleased. She was horrified when she saw my closet, but she was thrilled when she saw what I was wearing, "Oh, you will be so perfect for the before picture, Aleee!!"

It's funny. I hadn't even thought of that. I was wearing a yellow tank top, jeans and my hubby's super soft black socks. My hair was pushed away from my face in a haphazard ponytail. I work from home and I need to be comfortable. I can't be walking around in heels and a pencil skirt with my hair in a chignon; it's just not going to happen. Giselle on the other hand looked immaculate with matching manicure and pedicure, ("I got them both for $30, Aleee!"), a ribbon-tied pink blazer and cute capris.

She began the consultation with a questionnaire, which I'm sure I failed. She was not impressed when I admitted I've been dressing mostly for comfort: "Oh Aleee, that is sooo bad!"

After a few embarrassing moments there, we moved on to my closet:

"Wow, I can't belieeve it! Your closet is disaster! Hahaha! How do you find anything in here? Hahaha. That's ok! I will fix it!" Giselle took off her jacket and began rooting through my closet. Everything came out and pretty soon I was in there with the Hoover vacuuming up dust bunnies.

Giselle started the discard pile. She was kind, but to the point,"What about this one? For me, it looks very, very old."

"This, I would not wear"

"Can we throw out this one?"

"My mother has this... do you still want to keep it?"

Surprisingly, by the time she was done I only had to throw out 4 things, which happened to be really old and admittedly, tacky - except for my purple boa. That one was a shame.

She then meticulously folded everything and put it back in the closet. I felt really bad that she was doing all the work but she wouldn't let me touch anything: "Don't worry, Aleee! For me, this is fun! I LOVE it!" I told her she was crazy and I could only imagine what her closet looked like. Her response: "It's like 'Sleeping with the Enemy'. Everything is perfect in a row."

Mmmkay....

After about an hour, I couldn't believe the transformation:

One of Giselle's trademarks, aside from freakishly organized clothes, is that she stickers each closet she visits. The stickers signify that she has madeover that closet and that she will be checking periodically to make sure I'm keeping it clean.

Note to self: Hang out at Giselle's place from now on.

The next phase of my image makeover is creating outfits out of the stuff I already own, and then on to shopping!

Apparently, my outfit is already picked out.