Where to Go in T.O

What's a gal to do when she moves to a new city and doesn't know a soul who could give her advice on where to find essential women's services and the best shopping locations and deals?

That's the dilemma I faced when I first moved to Toronto from the Prairies 6 years ago. I did loads of discovery by trial and error. I got several bad haircuts, a sliced toe during a nightmare pedicure (where they had the nerve to charge me full price), an esthetician who waxed my eyebrows nearly bald, and a doctor who told me I had cancer based on simply hearing my symptoms without an examination while I sat there fully clothed in my winter jacket bawling my foolish eyes out. (I'm fine, the guy was just nuts!)

Eventually I found a few great places that I wish I'd heard about long ago. For those who are new to the city or looking for a change, here's my list of favorites so far...

Best Facial: Elixir Spa
They use organic products, my skin always looks amazing, no attitude.

Best Waxing: Roza's Esthetics (Bloor West Village)
It's cheap, quick and less painful than anywhere else I've ever been.

Best Haircut: TONI&GUY (Yorkville) & Civello (Queen Street)
My hair is more manageable after I get a cut from either of these salons. I always get compliments after a visit. Civello kicks in a shoulder and neck massage with every cut or color.

Best Doctor (Family): Dr. Christopher Pinto 416-767-2525
He's very kind and takes time to answer all of your questions.

Best Dentist: Dr. Horenfeld 416-364-2444
Incredibly nice guy. There's always Jazz music playing. Great location.

Best Cafes:
B Espresso (Queen Street E) - best lattes, cool Italian cafe
Le Gourmand - The best chocolate chip cookies I've ever had in my life.
Balzacs - Great location in the distillery district, cool ambiance, great coffee.

Favorite restaurants:
Blowfish (Sushi)
Very cool vibe, great presentation, and incredible food. Pricy but worth it.
The Boiler House
Amazing food, great ambiance, and live music on the weekend.
Le Select Bistro
Paris style bistro with cool decor, food and a great prix fixe menu.

I'm still scouring for the best boutiques, but recently visited Body Blue, which has great service and selection, and Montreal based swimwear designer Shan has opened a new store on Avenue Road that I'm dying to check out.

Does anyone out there in web land know of any other boutiques they recommend? My hunt continues...

My Hotlist

Ta-Da!!! I'm so excited to show off our new Hotlist blog integration tool we've been fiddling with. (That spinny thingy on the left).

It will be one of many cool features on ChickAdvisor when we go live! The melodious voice you hear when you click on an item is courtesy of one of our coders, Alex, a.k.a "The Voice" a.k.a Gerald (don't ask). The items on my hotlist are some favorites I chose from our first contest.

Watch in the next few days for another contest coming up, AND the countdown for the live site has begun!

The I Hate Crocs People

It's no secret that I hate Crocs passionately. I think they are the ugliest most unflattering clown shoes I've ever seen in my entire life. I'd originally made a post about it here when they first came out, then pulled it down because I didn't want to offend anyone. But given their increasing popularity it doesn't look like they'll be going away anytime soon and I can no longer keep silent. The visual pollution I am bombarded with every day, the sinking feeling that the rest of the world must be laughing at us all... This must be stopped!

I've felt somewhat alone with these feelings as I stepped on one rubber toe after the next when the subject came up at dinner parties and such. But today I found a website that truly understands how I feel. ihatecrocs.com is a must read for those who feel the same. Read the disagreement section for a good laugh.

I just wish I'd thought of it first...

What's Hot for Fall

Fall is just around the corner (sorry!) and though it's always hard to say good-bye to summer, it also means we're saying hello to gorgeous new clothes and makeup.

I attended Toronto Fashion week this spring and saw a bunch of the fall '06 collections. Though I wasn't able to see all of the shows because of exams, I did get a chance to catch some of my favorites including Andy Thê-Anh, Pink Tartan, Pat McDonagh and David Dixon.

The most popular trend was fur, especially when used as a trim. Skinny jeans, cinched waists, blouses with frill detail and long boots with pants tucked in were biggies as well, and of course tartan made it's usual appearance.

Other trends popping up on the streets and in magazines include patent leather pumps (gorgeous in cherry shades), footless tights, slouchy boots, big hobo bags with grommets like the Marc Jacobs one (eluxury) above, and cropped jackets. Old Navy has some adorable leather slouchy boots for about $40.

Fall makeup puts a heavy emphasis on long thick eyelashes and deep red lips. I recently tried BADgal Lash Mascara by Benefit, which gives the illusion of false eyelashes. The results are really quite dramatic. It made my lashes look about twice as thick and 3 times as long as normal - just like falsies! Since it applies the same as any other mascara you get gorgeous results without the fuss of two-step mascaras or lash glue.

All in all, lots of reasons to love fall this year.

I can't wait to see what's next for spring!

Kate Hudson and Chris Robinson Split!

I don't normally weigh in on celebrity gossip, because I generally like to mind my own beeswax, but today I'm making an exception because I'm so disturbed to hear that Kate Hudson, 27 and Chris Robinson, 39 have split after almost 6 years of marriage.

It's really a shame. I've always liked Kate. She's a great actress, she didn't sell out by getting the Hollywood prerequisite boob job, she married an average looking dude and she vacations in the Muskoka's (which speaks to her good taste by choosing Canada as her vacation destination). That plus I just hate seeing marriages split up - especially when there is a child involved. Their son, Ryder is 2 1/2.

The gossips are speculating monogamy (lack thereof) was the culprit.

The F-List: Your Ticket to Toronto Fashion Week

Think Toronto Fashion Week is just for media, celebrities and fashion insiders? Not anymore! The Fashion Design Council of Canada has recently announced they will allow the public to purchase memberships that will grant them access to Fashion Week, designer discounts and insider info.

All you have to do is sign up for The F-list and they’ll fill you in on the rest. Sweet!

Designer Denim Sale: Toronto

Body Blue Denim Lab is having a huge sale on designer denim including Seven, Citizens of Humanity, Diesel, Fly London, Fidelity, Free People, Mackage, Parasuco, and more. They have about 5 racks full of jeans at crazy low prices. The sale ends this Sunday when Taste of the Danforth is over, so grab a souvlaki and check it out!

201 Danforth Avenue (416-778-7601)


P.S I was there today and it is an adorable little boutique with really decent selection and super helpful staff! Of course I had to fall for something full price: A pair of gorgeous skinny jeans by Citizens of Humanity for $220. Grrr!

But there are plenty of cute options for about $40

ChickAdvisor is Almost Here!

After months of toiling and many late nights, not to mention dozens of batches of cookies for the coders later, ChickAdvisor is officially launching... very VERY soon. And I've got the bad skin and bags under my eyes to prove it. This is also my official excuse for not being able to come up with anything more interesting than disposable underwear for my blog. I'm simply exhausted, and as my 6-year-old niece says, I desperately need a "daycation".

That's why our launch party is going to be a pampering event. A select few fabulous chickies will be invited to our local launch party for an evening of primping and mingling with goodies and martinis.

Now how does one get invited to this fabulous event? We will be posting another contest on www.chickadvisor.com, similar to what we did with redflagdeals in June. By completing the contest, you will automatically be entered to receive an exclusive invite, and, oh ya, we'll be giving more makeup away too.

I'll keep you posted on exact dates...

Panties in a Pinch

What's a girl to do when her luggage gets lost, she forgets to restock her gym bag or, perish forbid, she has an *oopsie at the office during a certain T.O.T.M?

Say hello to these cute little throw away undies I spotted at Shoppers Drug Mart called Tagalongs. They are available in thong or bikini and are discrete enough to carry in your purse since they are individually wrapped and about the size of a tampon.

Not a bad idea.

Polyester is Not My Friend

Why is it so hard to find a decent dress shirt these days? I have a couple of cute ones from RW&Co, but for the longest time I've been looking for some good long and short sleeve options that look professional yet cute, and are made of good quality materials.

I can’t wear anything that doesn't breathe. It has to be at least 100% cotton in order for me to survive the day. Polyester is not my friend. Give me five minutes in a top with the slightest trace of Poly in it and I give you B.O. The same goes for most cheap synthetic fabrics.

This afternoon I had to run a few errands and found myself wandering around the mall (funny how that happens!) and thought I would once again take up the task of searching for my elusive perfect top. I must say I was very disappointed to see that William Shakespeare has taken over designing for Zara. What a load of hideous ruffley polyester creations they had. Woof! I tried one of them on thinking that maybe it was a case of the hanger rule (hideous on the hanger, beautiful on the body), but that was not the case. First my head got stuck halfway through trying to get the thing on. I fought and twisted and spun around and around in the change room like the headless horseman with my arms flailing about. Finally I got the bloody thing on and found the bow at the neck uncomfortably tight. The chest had a circular opening with several rows of ruffles that were most unflattering. I fought again to get the thing off and then decided right there and then that I was done for the day and gave up.

I expect to see some serious improvements over the next month or two as the fall collections are fully flushed out, or I really don't know what I'm going to wear this year!

Skin Tips for Humid Weather

Welcome to August; the stickiest, sweatiest most polluted month of the year. With extreme heat waves and record-breaking smog levels, summer can sometimes lose a bit of its appeal. Sweaty armpits are never attractive, and unfortunately are often accompanied by another sticky-sweaty-polluted-time-of-the-year dilemma: Bad skin, breakouts... Zits. Dun dun dunnn!!! The heat and humidity trap dirt and oil in your pores, which cause ugly breakouts, blackheads and shiny oily skin.

Luckily, I have found a couple of natural easy-peasy solutions that really work.

First of all, always splash your face with cold water whenever you get to your destination. I've found that a quick rinse in the bathroom after being out in the elements really helps keep my pores clean and my skin zit-free.

Second, do a honey and egg mask once a week. About a teaspoon of natural honey and 1 egg white mixed together make a great cleansing mask that makes my skin look amazing. Mix it together and apply on your face using circular motions. Let it dry for about 5 minutes then rinse thoroughly.

I realize this may sound disgusting to some, but it really works! Just resist the temptation to lick it if it gets on your lips (you know, the whole raw egg thing), and avoid getting it in your eyes.

If you have any other skin tips for humid weather, please pass them on!

Café Nervosa: Mediocre Food and a Resident Raccoon

For those of you who aren't from Toronto, Yorkville is a chi chi neighborhood full of designer boutiques, hair salons, plastic surgery clinics, and for some inexplicable reason, below average eats. It is a place people go to be seen and to spot celebrities and 6 figure cars trolling down the narrow streets. It is also, I recently learned, home to some very hungry raccoons.

Monday night Alex and I tried our luck at Café Nervosa. The food and service were very mediocre despite the impressive collection of awards littering the staircase wall on the way up to the patio where we ate. We started with a blasé spinach salad and overpriced table wine. We were in good spirits that night so we didn't really mind waiting over half an hour for our second course: a pizza they had forgotten to make.

After a few bites of pizza, I became aware that someone or something was watching me. I looked up and saw a raccoon sitting on the roof of the patio staring down at me baring its teeth and smacking it's lips hungrily while it looked around at the unsuspecting diners below. It kept moving around and shifting its position poking its head out here and there, as if deciding which table to pounce on. It really grossed me out and I could hardly eat because I was mentally preparing my exit strategy if it did jump on us. I would bolt down the stairs. Or I would jump over the bar. Other patrons started noticing, probably because I wasn't exactly quiet about it. One silly girl was like, awwww! It's so cute! But most diners looked anxious and I could see they were planning their exit strategy too.

It started sprinkling rain so the waiter came over to crank open the canopy that the coon happened to be sitting on. I asked him not to do that since I was afraid it would cause the hungry raccoon to fall onto the deck. He just laughed and said, "Oh ya, that's happened before. One time he went shooting down the stairs. It was hilarious!”

What?? This has happened before?? This raccoon is a regular? The waiter then proceeded to tell me that raccoons are around all the time and there is nothing they can do about it. He said they've called the city, but nothing has been done so far.

We immediately moved inside, paid our bill and left.

I think we'll save Yorkville for shopping from now on and leave the food to the raccoons.

Girls Night Out at Buff Nail Lounge

Every Thursday from 5-9pm, Buff Nail Lounge (Toronto) has girl's night out. They offer complimentary Chocolate Martini's, Cosmos and snacks to enjoy while you get your nails done. I've wanted to try this for a while, so yesterday I roped my friend Caroline into coming with me. She got a beautiful french manicure ($22) and I got a pedicure ($34)with green apple colored polish. My esthetician was a very sweet and friendly girl, and the staff are pleasant and laid back. It is a nice open concept space with hardwood floors and comfortable chairs. It's not quite as fancy as I'd anticipated from the website, but it's a fun thing to do with a girlfriend or two!

Retro-Sexuals

My sister Claire and I enjoy bashing hideous trends. We hated Uggs, trucker hats, mesh slippers and this summer we’ve targeted Crocs as the must NOT have item of the season. Primarily we take issue with people dressing dumpily for no good reason.

Claire recently came across an article on retro-sexuals. Transl: A paunch-sporting man with no fashion sense. This would be the dude with the ear and nose hair who wears his flannels and old runners to death. The uber male. The article lists Vince Vaughn and Ben Affleck as the poster boys of this look. Ya right. Sloppy isn’t exactly the first word that comes to mind when I picture either of those two.

So who would be the female equivalent? With every starlet in Tinseltown starving herself into skeletal proportions with her barely there Versace clinging to her bony frame, it’s hard to come up with an example of a retro-sexual celebrity chick. That’s because no self-respecting stylist would allow their female clients to dress that way, and dumpy clothing isn’t available in size -2.

No, no, ugly wear is reserved exclusively for the average north American woman whom marketers having been deceiving for years into believing that hideous equals cutting edge fashion. Remember adult overalls??

There are plenty of comfortable stylish things a gal could wear without looking foolish. Lululemon is a great place to start and if that’s too expensive, Old Navy and H&M can supply tights, skirts and denim that are fashionably cheap.

Chickies, let’s not be fooled. Put away the sweatpants with wording across the butt. Resist the temptation to delve back into blue eyeshadow. Do me a personal favor and stay away from Crocs!

We can do better. And we should.

Peek-A-Boob

So I embarrassed myself today. Big meeting. Important people. My boobs. Here's how it all went down:

Last week, I bought this cute top at RW&Co, $45.00, to wear to business meetings. It's 100% cotton, sleeveless, and perfect for a hot summer day. This morning I had to present to a boardroom full of people. I shook hands with them all one by one, introducing myself. Suddenly I became aware of a breeze on my chest and casually looked down to see that my shirt had opened more than it's supposed to, revealing my bra. It was like, "Ali, meet *Bob. Bob, meet Ali's boobies." I discretely adjusted my top and sat down.

Midway through the presentation I felt the same cool sensation and discovered that sitting down made my shirt open all the more. There I was exposing myself to everyone across the table. I kept adjusting and readjusting myself while trying to do my presentation and appear calm and collected. Thankfully I was not alone in the meeting and my partners did a great job deflecting attention by discussing important things like spreadsheets.

After the presentation as we were leaving, the men got handshakes and I got a wink.

At least my husband likes the top.

*Names have been changed to protect their identity.

Confessions of a Nerdtrepreneur

I'm ashamed to admit it, but Misschickie has become a full-on computer geek. I know the names of several programming languages and say boring things like, "Can you change this from tables to div's?” and "Oh the HTML looks all screwed up. I think I unzipped it!"

To anyone who knows anything about programming this is nothing impressive. But for someone like myself who spent my first year of Radio and Television Arts screaming, "I HATE computers!!!” this is huge. I went from having only basic computer skills 6 months ago to adding Adsense, Google Search and Analytics to my blog. By myself.

Building chickadvisor has been an extremely interesting and educational experience and I'm loving it, but I had no idea my inner nerd would unleash to this extent. I'm hopelessly addicted to Google Analytics. What the FCUK?

Probably the defining moment of my new-found nerdom was a couple of weeks ago when my sister and a couple of friends were trying to drag me out on a Saturday night and I said, "Sorry, I can't. I've got to rewrite the wording for this module and get it over to the flash guy so he can fix the CSS." They just stared at me in horror.

All I can say is, if being a geek helps me build a better business, I'm all for it. But don't worry, I still have my priorities straight. I'm getting a facial next week.

I Heart Bubbleshare

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There is only one thing I hate more than email forwards and that is email photo attachments with an endless list of jpegs that you have to download one by one. I think it is rude (Yes, rude!) and unnecessary when there are so many great photosharing options out there.

My favorite is Bubbleshare.com. It is a free photo sharing service that allows you to easily download and share your photos with text and audio captions as well as comments. It is a super easy way to see what your friends and family are up to!

My Peeps, My Feet and a Foot File

Summer is all about feet. We trade sock lint for bare tootsies and flaunt the cutest footwear of the season. Our feet got a lucky break this year because wedges flats and sturdier heels are in, which are uber comfortable and don't get caught in street grates or cobblestone. I'm loving Peep Toe Heels right now like my Franco Sarto's above (Feet First, $99.97 on sale!).

While shoe styles come and go, one thing that NEVER goes out of style is nice soft feet. Unfortunately genetics are not on my side here as I have very dry heels which are ugly to look at and dangerous under the sheets. Pedicures can be embarrassing for me; watching the esthetician huffing and puffing as she buffs madly away while suggesting I make a weekly recurring appointment in order to keep them smooth. Sorry but until pedicures become $5 a pop, no can do.

That is why I was so excited when I discovered the Crystal Foot File at a little booth on Toronto Harbour Front. It is made of Bohemian Crystal and is eco-friendly, hygienic, and does not wear down or break the skin.

My feet have never been smoother. I also use it as a nail file for my fingers and toes. www.crystalfiles.com

The Product Police Part II: Dove Energy Glow

I would like to thank the fine people at Dove for giving me that "Hollywood Glow" and the Dermatologists who tested the product before putting it to market. I used it once and the "subtle self-tanners" quickly turned my skin a fresh shade of pumpkin. The streaks on my legs and forearms reminded me of Tony the Tiger. Boy, I look Grrrrreeat! Then this morning I awakened with the fresh glow of hives all over my back and torso.

I took a long shower hoping to wash the chemicals from my orange body as I scratched like a monkey.

Next stop: The Pharmacy downstairs for an anti-itch cream so I can get on with my day.




P.S If this happens to you, try Cortate Lotion. It's a smelly hydrocortisone solution but it works and is available without a prescription.

Ralph Lauren Pulls Plug on Caban

My Dear Caban,

How could you leave me this way? I bought my very first dining table from you. And my 4 matching chairs. My beautiful buttery leather cream loveseats. Heck, I even bought my bar stools from you! Yet after loyalty such as this you are leaving me?

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw your going out of business signs. I rushed to the nearest salesperson and asked her with tears filling my eyes if it was true… that you were closing your doors forever.

"Yes, I'm afraid we are." The Caban Woman said.

"But why?" I asked.

"I don't know. We just are."

"But our whole apartment is Caban!!"

"I see." Caban Woman forces a smile.

"How did this all happen?!!?!"

"I don't know. I just work here. Listen is there something I can help you with?"

And that's pretty much how we found out that our beloved Caban, the home decor counterpart of Club Monaco by Ralph Lauren, is going out of business.

We tried to console ourselves with some retail therapy. Perhaps a funky chandelier at 20% off? Or those gorgeous thick bathrobes, we could get his and hers? But even the matching leather armchair for $459 couldn't ease the pain. Or the dinnerware at 40% off.

In the end we decided we would slowly stock up on Caban merchandise until the stores close forever in September.

*Sniff*

The Sweet Smell of Victory

So the person who stole my blog got busted for violating the terms and conditions. I just have one thing to say... thpppppppppp!

Missschickie.blogspot Has Been Hijacked

To clear up any confusion...

Some thoughtless wanker has taken it upon themselves to steal my misschickie.blogspot er, spot. I usually post here on chickadvisor, but since a number of people first got used to reading me on misschickie.blogspot I have been posting to both locations for the last month or so. Now someone has stolen my url and is redirecting the traffic from my misschickie.blogspot blog to their lame-o website. So if you come across this, please be assured it isn't me and look here for all future posts.

Love,
The REAL Misschickie

DC Sample Sale in Toronto!

Every now and then I receive something in my inbox that simply must be shared. If you would like an amazing deal on designer denim, check it out!

Go early for the best selection.

Sweet Roza

I have a little secret that I've been holding out on for quite a while and it's time I fessed up. Now I know boys find this subject disgusting yet fascinating at the same time, but we girls tend to talk about this a lot. I'm talking about hair removal; a hot topic among women especially in the summer when we find ourselves half naked most of the day. Anyhoo, in April I introduced you all to my little friend, the silk epil. While I swear by this product and continue to use it, I still visit the best waxer in town for the areas that are too dangerous to do on my own: Bikini and Eyebrows.

I discovered Roza about a year and a half ago when I was on my way to a waxing appointment at another spa. I noticed her little yellow sign on the side of the street on Bloor Street West and upon reading her prices, called and cancelled my appointment at the other spa on the spot. I headed up the stairs to Roza's Esthetics, a non-descript little spa tucked away on the second floor of a plaza in Bloor West Village. Her little shop is small and casual with no frills and fuss, but her prices are unbeatable and she is fast and efficient. A bikini wax costs approximately $11 and eyebrow threading is about $10. She took me in without an appointment and a few minutes later I emerged fuzz free with enough cash left over for a celebratory cappuccino down the street.

Roza is a very busy woman and it is not uncommon to wait a few minutes or have her thread your eyebrows while having a conversation on the phone. The first time this happened I was concerned however, upon inspecting my perfectly shaped brows I realized this woman is a pro and can multitask like nobody's business.

Roza's Esthetics
2323 Bloor St. W, Unit 205
Toronto
P: 416-767-7326

Pssst... tell her you heard it from chickadvisor!

And The Winners Are...

Thanks to everyone who entered our contest on Red Flag Deals! We received an overwhelming number of entries and you guys had some great recommendations!

Crocs were by far the biggest trend of the year according to you, followed very closely by wedges, gaucho pants and aviator sunglasses. Cetaphil and Clinique were the most popular facial moisturizers by far, and Donato, Fiorio and Tony and Guy were your favorite hair salons.

The following usernames were our winners: Redhoodie, Tangyal, Pangyal, Jenn and Loveprofusion. All winners have been contacted by email.

For those who didn't win, don't fret. We will have other contests in the future!

Bridesmaidzillas

I think brides get a bad rap these days. As soon as you announce your engagement, everyone is looking for a chance to label you a "bridezilla". It somehow makes people feel better about themselves when they have a scapegoat to blame in this very stressful time. But in all of the hullabaloo, everyone gets too distracted to see the real "bridezillas". The bridesmaids.

Now before I get myself in huge trouble with any of my gorgeous wonderful bridesmaids, let me preface this by saying I got off lucky. I chose 6 fabulous girls who treated me like a queen and were a great support. This bridesmaidzilla insight comes from my experience as a bridesmaid. I've been a flower girl twice, a candle lighter, a guest book attendant, a singer, a bride... and I've been a bridesmaid 4 times.
A friend of mine decided to keep things simple and just have one bridesmaid instead of choosing between her girlfriends. She asked a girl she had known since age 5 who, after agreeing to be her maid of honor, informed her that she would not be throwing her any showers or doing anything special for her. The cow stayed true to her word and I ended up being surrogate bridesmaid running errands, planning showers, taking my friend for spa treatments and getting my hair done with her on the morning of her wedding. I was honored to help her out but watching the thoughtless cow gliding smugly up the isle made me want to smack her for being such a lousy friend.

Another friend of mine, a very sweet girl, had one bridesmaid who couldn't be bothered to attend any of her showers, help her pick her dress or participate in any way aside from smiling her hypocritical face off in all of the wedding photos as she bragged to the rest of us how great she looked in her dress.

For anyone getting married, choose your bridesmaids wisely. Pick girls who are good at calming you down, who know what you need before you say it and are willing to get down on their hands and knees and wipe the dirt off your dress before you walk down the isle if need be.

Thank you Nancy, Mia, Claire, Alison, Pamela, and Julie!

P.S If any of you have any bridesmaidzilla stories you would like to share, please post them in comments!

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.