Bonjour Paris.

I do: barn wedding

For more wedding ideas and services contact Montreal's best Maddy K.

Just wing it.

Alright, so all the Christmas, Hanukkah and NYE parties are slowly creeping up on us. Glitzy dresses, shiny sky high heels and feathery clutches are gonna make their ways everywhere around town. There's something else I see coming back on those nights... and coming back strong. The winged eyeliner... whether it's a la Sophia Loren or Brigitte Bardot, the cat eye look is everywhere and I couldn't be happier. I've always been inspired by the late 50's and early 60's fashion my whole life. My mood boards have always included Brigitte, Sophia, Audrey, Grace and Jade (Jagger that is. Although she's much more a 70's gal). The thick black liner, nude pout and babe hair: Oh so hot. 

What's cooking good lookin': black rice.

So for dinner tonight, we're having omega3-packed salmon with a side of black rice. Not wild rice, but black rice. Then I started thinking... what is black rice anyways?! Like, why would I cook us black instead or brown rice? Of course, I just had to research on the subject and this is what I found.

Black rice is actually more purplish in color than black; although when uncooked it is very dark in appearance. This type of rice is usually sold "un-milled", with the husk intact. Up until modern times, black rice was not easy to come by; it had been highly treasured and protected in Asia for many centuries. It is also commonly used as a condiment, dressing or as a decoration for different types of desserts in many countries around the world. High in nutritional value, black rice is rich in iron and high in fibre. 

Health Benefits:

-prevention of cancer

-prevention of diabetes

-prevention of heart disease

-prevention of Alzheimer's disease

-prevention of heart attacks

Not bad huh?

Enjoy 

xx

Beauty passport: aesop - australia

My trip to Paris, last September, had many highlights. The nice walks with Boyfriend, the fantastic falafels in the late evenings, the Jardin du Luxembourg and the store that gives back, Merci. Another thing I remember was the intoxicating (in a good way!) scents of the Aesop products. 

Since 1987, when the company launched in Melbourne, Aesop has not wavered from their intention to create a range of superlative products for skin, hair and body. They are committed to using the finest plant-based ingredients and non-botanical elements such as anti-oxidants, once they are confident that research has proven them effective. The exquisite aromas for which Aesop is renowned are an incidental treat.

Aesop values all human endeavours undertaken with intellectual rigour, vision, and a nod to the whimsical. They make every product with the same attention to detail that they believe should be applied to life at large.

They advocate the use of their products as part of a balanced life that includes a healthy diet, sensible exercise, a moderate intake of red wine, and a regular dose of good books.

Aesop counter at Merci store, Paris

Tis the season: quirky gift.

Looking for a fun, quirky, weird, conversation starting gift under $30? How about photo-pillows? Check out Pillowmob! Ok, fine, it's not necessarily the most "design" item you'll be offering but it will definitely bring up a smile every time he or she looks at it... 

Enjoy 

xx

Cabin fever.

Cookbook: spicy lentil soup.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound spicy chicken sausage, uncased

1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
3 celery stalks, finely diced
2 carrots, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons dried ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
2 cups uncooked French lentils, rinsed
8 cups chicken stock
salt and pepper to taste
parmesan cheese, olive oil, and bread to serve

In a large saucepan over medium heat, warm olive oil.  Add the uncased chicken sausage and cook, breaking up with a spatula as it cooks.  Sausage should finish cooking in small chunks.  Remove from the pan.

Add a touch more olive oil if necessary.  Add onions, celery, and carrots.  Cook until the onions are transluscent, about 5 to seven minutes.  Stir occasionally.  Add the garlic, cumin, and chili flakes, and cook for one minute more.

Add the sausage back to the pan.  Stir to incorporate.  Add the lentils and chicken stock.  Reduce the heat to low and simmer the soup, uncovered, until the lentils are tender, about 45 minutes.

Serve soup with a generous sprinkling of parmesan cheese, a drizzle of olive oil, and good crusty bread.  Soup will last, in an airtight container in the fridge, for up to 5 days.  Soup also freezes well.

Breakfast at holly's.

The Breakfast At Tiffany's famous Manhattan townhouse is up for sale! Yes, it is. I'm dying just a little inside... Why is it that Ms. Holly Golightly had such expensive taste? If you have $5.85 million to spare, go right ahead! Oh, and please invite me to your housewarming party?!

Tis the season: peppermint... vodka?

• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint oil OR 2 teaspoons peppermint extract (For stronger mint taste, add 3/4 teaspoon of peppermint oil or 3 teaspoons of peppermint extract)
• 3 cups Vodka
• 4-6 drops red or green food coloring (optional)

-Make sugar syrup: in small saucepan,  combine water and sugar; over medium heat, cook until sugar is dissolved and liquid is clear--approx. 5 min. Let cool completely.

-Into a sterile quart jar with tight fitting  lid, pour vodka, sugar syrup, and peppermint oil or extract. Stir well. Store in cool, dark place, allowing it to steep for 2 weeks. Turn jar upside down every 2-3 days to mix, or remove lid and stir. Transfer to smaller sterile bottles, if desired.

NOTE: For a sweeter, thicker liqueur, add more sugar syrup.

Beauty passport: baume de dalmatie - france.

Baume de Dalmatie is the latest cute and cool hand-cream from Miss Ferling, a French brand. The packaging, a fun-looking tartan-decorated cardboard tube containing a slim and petite 15 ml metallic tube, is attractive although the cream tube looks a bit reduced and makes you think that the cream better be ultra-concentrated to justify the down-size.

Described as a "spotted hand cream for velvety paws" the Baume is cool-looking because it indeed contains black spots on a white background. Those spots are actually miniature liquorice and lily pearls meant to be squished as you rub your hands together, releasing super moisturizing agents. 

What's up doc: worst habits to damage your immune system.

Isolation

Friendship may be Miracle-Gro for your  immune system. Research shows that the fewer human connections we have at home, at work, and in the community, the likelier we are to get sick, flood our brains with anxiety-causing chemicals, and live shorter lives than our more sociable peers. In one study, researchers who monitored 276 people between the ages of 18 and 55 found that those who had six or more connections were four times better at fighting off the viruses that cause colds than those with fewer friends.

Quick Fix:

Don't let a jam-packed workday or hectic schedule get in the way of your friendships. Stop by a co-worker's office for a quick Monday morning catch-up, or e-mail/text your friends at night to stay in touch when you're too busy for phone calls.

Short trips to Dreamland

Scrimping on sleep has a powerfully detrimental effect on immunity. The perfect example: college students who get sick after pulling all-nighters cramming for exams. Poor sleep is associated with lower immune system function and reduced numbers of killer cells that fight germs. In fact, University of Chicago researchers found that men who had slept only four hours a night for one week produced half the amount of flu-fighting antibodies in their blood (jump-started by a flu shot) compared with those who slept 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 hours.

Quick Fix:

Turn off the TV half an hour before your usual "curfew" and give yourself some silent time; no music, no commercials, no talking. Spray lavender-scented mist over your pillows and bed sheets. Drink a chamomile tea after dinner.  Sometimes, getting quality sleep is worth more than that extra 30 mns you need.

You're a Debbie Downer

Studies show that glass-half-empty types don't live as long as those who look on the bright side. When pessimists put a more positive spin on the calamities in their lives, they have less stress and better health. A classic UCLA study found that law students who began their first semester optimistic about the experience had more helper T cells mid semester, which can amplify the immune response, and more powerful natural killer cells, than students who had a more pessimistic perspective. One reason could be that optimists take better care of themselves. It could also be due to less stress-related damage to the immune system, such as killer cells that suddenly become pacifists.

Quick Fix:

Personality is tough to change, look for reasons — however small — to feel lucky every day. Sounds hokey, but try striking up a dinner table conversation with your family where you all share a couple of good things that happened every day.

You bottle up emotions

A constructive argument with your spouse can actually increase immunity, say UCLA researchers. They asked 41 happy couples to discuss a problem in their marriage for 15 minutes. The researchers detected surges in blood pressure, heart rate, and immune-related white blood cells, all of which were similar to the benefits seen with moderate exercise. But you still have to play nice: Couples who frequently use sarcasm, insults, and put-downs have fewer virus-fighting natural killer cells, have higher levels of stress hormones, and take up to 40 percent longer to recover from injuries than those who manage to stay positive and affectionate during their quarrels.

Quick Fix:

Keep a journal even if it's a drawing one. Give your couple at least 30 minutes a week to discuss (not shout) things that have bothered you, as well as the great things that you shared together,  the past few days. Don't be afraid of therapy; think of it as someone who is there only to listen about your venting without any judgement. After all, there is no better investment than your body and mind.