AMAs Fashion Round-up

Just a quick entry to celebrate the fashion and music that made up the 2013 American Music Awards last night.  As always, it was a star-studded affair; chocked full of mega star performances. In my humble opinion, Lady Gaga, TLC (yes, singing Waterfalls) and the current princess of pop controversy, MILEY CYRUS, killed it.  This proves it:

Yes the lip-synching kitten is crying diamonds. Also, Happy 21st Miley!

Best Dressed awards go to:

Taylor Swift. Taylor always looks beautiful but can fair on the "safe" side of fashion. Last night she pushed out of her safe zone just enough in this Julien Macdonald dress to get my vote for best dressed of the evening.

Ciara. Not everyone could pull off this J Mendel dress...but she does so flawlessly.

Nicole Richie. In Emilio Pucci. This fashion genius can do no wrong in my opinion. Bravo.

Needs improvement: Emma Roberts. I love her. She's brilliant in AHS Coven. But she really could have done better than this baggy, unflattering Lanvin gown.

Have a great last week of November folks!

pics via justjared and perez hilton

Love is in the Air

My facebook newsfeed this summer read as follows: X got engaged! Y got married! Z had her bachelorette in Vegas!  Every weekend there are more engagment announcements than I can count. I'm bombarded by beautiful brides in stunning dresses running through meadows with their partners and wedding parties bounding behind them. It's to be expected. We're at that age (27...for another 2 weeks) when seemingly EVERYONE is getting hitched. And I'm okay with that. As long as the party is hopping and the drinks are flowing, I can get down with the wedding trend that is sweeping through my peers.

The Wedding Party

This summer I had the honour of being a bridesmaid for the first time for one of my dearest friends, Andrea.  Quite the opposite of a bridezilla, Di Seb picked out her gown quickly,  let us choose bridesmaid dresses we would ACTUALLY wear again, and was cool, calm and collected on her special day. Not that we would have expected anything less out of the PhD Neuroscientist we call our friend and her Neurosurgeon fiance, Mike.  They couldn't go on a honeymoon directly following their wedding due to the fact that he had to preform brain surgery the following week, NBD.  This brainy twosome had one of the most beautiful, laidback and fun weddings I have ever attended and I'm so lucky to have had my first wedding party experience on their special day.

Bride and Groom's First Boogy Down

Doing what we do best.

Two weeks later, in a little chapel in Ball's Falls, ON, my childhood friend Heather married her sweetheart Steve.  The venue was the epitome of rustic chic fitting Heather's personality to a tee.  I had a great night catching up with elementary and high school friends, which reminded me why keeping in touch with those who were there since the beginning is so important.  Having reconnected this year with a few individuals I had lost touch with since leaving high school, I find that I value these friendships more than ever.

The Gorgeous Barn at Ball's Falls

 

FRANDS!

With the Beauty of the night

Barnyard Boogie Down

Congrats to both of the beautiful couples I had the privilege of celebrating with this past month and to all the marriages that came to be this wedding season.

Keep Portland Weird

Portland. PDX. The City of Roses. Beervana.Whatever you want to call it, Portland is a seemingly odd vacation destination for those who haven't watched Portlandia (if you haven't, turn on Netflix now and begin your new obsession).  When I informed people that we were traveling to Portland for the final destination of our west coast road trip, I got one question: "Why Portland?".

Made in Oregon Sign that welcomed us on a stumble home

Here's why:

1. The Weirdness: Portland is known for it's "uniqueness", so much so that their motto is "Keep Portland Weird".  Across their 2 distinct sides of the city (connected by many bridges), the resounding theme is do what you can't do anywhere else.  We visited an old public school that has been turned into 6 bars, a movie theatre, a pool, and a concert hall (Kennedy School), we played in an old school arcade bar where each game was 25 cents (Ground Kontrol),  and we "biked" around the city on a Brewcycle (aka a 15 person bike that brings people to local breweries while playing polka). The characters one runs into while walking Portland are vast as well.  Everknown as being "Hipster", this city truly lives up to this stereotype in the most genuine way.  The people here are not "trying too hard", it's just the way they are.  Everyone and their grandma has a tattoo (or twelve), vintage shops outnumber boutiques 10:1, as do bikes to cars (and they have the nicest bikelines one has ever seen). There are many other interesting characters in Portland that are a little less inviting as the homeless population there is large.  I heard many reasons for this: that it was due to a potential huge homeless shelter that fell through, and that the services that city and community provide draw them in.  Regardless of the reason, the fact remains that the city caters to its homeless population in the best way possible. Community potlucks and free drycleaning for interviews for those who are unemployed were a couple of things we came across that made my heart smile.

Mortal Kombat Champion (even though he claims to have let me win)

Brewcycle Portland with our new crew

2. Perfect Summer Weather: Portland in the summer is absolutely gorgeous. Sunny and 28C every day we were there; Portland blew us away with its dry but bearable heat.  When speaking with local Portlanders, they informed me that this was the time to visit as they have almost perfect weather during the summer months. But don't be fooled, this summer oasis turns into a rainy, cloud-ridden city for the majority of the year (particularly Oct-April). 

3.The Food: Every establishment we ate at in Portland was FABULOUS.  Foodcarts are a major part of the culinary culture in this city (not to mention an affordable and delicious option) so we made sure to make good use of these portable kitchens.  I had probably the best falafels I have ever tasted at one of these carts for about $5.  Foodcarts are all over the city in large clusters so there is a lot to choose from when visiting these cart parks.  Other honourable mentions for eats are:

Tasty'n'Alder, a untraditional brunch place where one can order Bim Bop, schniztel, or egg pudding in breakfast form.  We ordered eggs and honey biscuits, blueberry-peach french toast and egg pudding, all of which were FANTASTIC.

East Burn, here one can eat dinner on SWINGS.  Yes, you read that right, on their patio hang individual swings suspended by wooden beams.  The place had us at SWINGS, but the food was delicious as well. I had the columbia river steelhead with the edamame salad which did not disappoint.  They also have a great darts area on the patio.

Acting like school children

Voodoo Donuts, this donut shop is world famous and for good reason.  With over 50 types of donuts, picking my donut of choice was excruciating.  Luckily there were 4 of us, so we chose 6 and called it a day.  The Bacon maple bar and the "old dirty bastard" (peanut butter chocolate oreo) would have to be my faves. The line up for this place can be long, but to make up for this fact, the shop stays open 24 hours a day.  We showed up at 10pm and waited only 15 min for our delicious treats which we decided were well worth the wait. 

Too excited about donuts

4. The Beer: Beer is as much a part of the Portand culture as the bohemian vibe that resonates through the city.  With the huge amount of breweries in the area, the beer is both delicious and relatively cheap (especially at happy hour, $3 pints, yes please).  We visited many of the local breweries Portland had to offer, my favourite being Green Dragon on the east side.  They have a huge patio and about 30 beers on tap, 7 of which they brew on site.

Tasting a few at Green Dragon

 Overall, Portland has everything one needs in a summer getaway: great outdoor spaces, fantastic food, good shopping, and beer a plenty.  The weather and the culture of the city alone made it my favourite stop on the trip.  If you find yourself on the Northwest coast, please make it in to this eclectic, friendly city.  Not convinced? Watch Portlandia, you won't be able to keep yourself away.

Portland gear, which I will continue to wear in Toronto.

Big trees and GIANT trees

Before this trip, when I thought of the California Redwoods, I pictured N64 Cruisin' USA Redwoods level, driving through tree trunks while trying not to hit oncoming traffic.  After this trip, I picture a much more impressive image.  The trees in this region of the coast are GIGANTIC.  One cannot fathom how large these beauties are until one is standing amongst them.

Collin sizing up Tall Tree

Our first hike to see these trees brought us to two famous specimens, aptly named Giant Tree and Tall tree, in Humboldt Redwood State Park.  Our quest to find these trees almost made us miss our hotel check in, but they were worth it.  Being surrounded by these giants makes our forests at home look like kindling.

Our next hike was through Stout Grove in Jedediah State Park.  These trees blew "Giant" and "Tall" tree out of the water. If ever you find yourself along the Northern California Coast, PLEASE stop  and take a hike around this picturesque forest.  I could not stop snapping photos during our hour long hike.

In Jedediah State Park

Jedediah Giants

Besides looking at trees, there really isn't anything else to do in this area (other than surfing and paddle boarding in the freezing waters which I wasn't really into at the time).  It gave us some to relax and recharge in preparation for our next stop: PORTLAND, OR.

More Wine Please!

Napa, where winos' dreams come true. Our troop spent the past 2 days in Napa Valley taking in the perfect weather and enjoying copious amounts of fermented grape juice. We went to 3 different wineries during our stay, Domain Chandon for sparkling wine, Robert Mondavi Wineries for a full tour, and Hagafen Cellars for a more intimate experience at a smaller winery. 

All were absolutely gorgeous, however, the tour at Robert Mondavi would have to be my favorite. Our tour guide was super knowledgable and the vineyard was picture perfect. When in Napa, make sure to check out a few different types of wineries. Although they are have similar products, each has it's own certain something that makes it special. Another reason to check out a few different vineyards? More Wine! 

Next stop: The Redwoods!

If you're going to San Francisco...

Although we didn't wear flowers in our hair, we made the most of our time in San Francisco. Having visited the city before, I had a better idea of what to see and do. This time around I really started to know the city. We stayed in Japantown which may not be the most happening area in the city but it was so central it was a great jumping off point for all of our excursions.

View of the City from Castro

San Francisco's weather was a bit nippy during our stay, averaging around 17 C, so be warned. Our weather was a tad colder than usual, however, if you are visiting SF, bring pants, scarves, and a jacket if you plan to explore this city comfortably.

We began our trip with the quintessential landmark of the bay city, the Golden Gate Bridge. I'd visited the bridge before but never made the trip across so we decided to rent bikes for the day.  This is definitely the way to cross this beauty. Although at times I felt like I may take out a pedestrian straying into the bike lane, the ride was enjoyable and allowed for the perfect amount of time spent on the bridge. Walking seemed as though it would take an inordinate amount of time and with the wind, biking kept us warm. Fisherman's Wharf is right by the bike rentals as well. Being the most touristy pocket of the city, I couldn't stay here for long, but when one must come check it out during a trip to SF. Great sea food and kitschy surroundings round out this area of the city.

Safety first kids!

Haight-Ashbury proved to be my favourite area of the city. Cute shops, cheap eats, and a bohemian feel make this legendary hippie area super fun to explore. We stumbled upon a bar with $3 beers and Cards Against Humanity which kept us busy for quite a few hours. 

Haight-Ashbury Intersection, complete with legs

We also made the trip to see the Painted Ladies, the Victorians seen during the opening of Fullhouse.

Although not an overwhelmingly interesting sight for the boys, Michelle and I turned into our 10 year old selves, fan-girling out over the nostalgic houses. Definitely a highlight of our trip so far and recommended if the Tanners were your second family.

Everywhere you look (everywhere), there's a heart, a hand to hold on to!

Alcatraz was another essential sight this time around as we did not get the chance to experience it last time we visited. If you are wanting to go, make sure to book this at least a month in advance!This is always sold out at least 2 weeks in advance so don't be let down and scrambling a few days before! the famed previously high security prison is worth the planning. We took in the super earie sights while listening to a fascinating audio tour that kept our attention the whole 45 min. It's a weird experience wandering around a prison with hundreds of people who are completely silent learning about what went down in the rock 50+ years ago. 

The Escape Route

Although we were sad to leave this spectacular city, we were ready for the warmth and the wine that awaited us in Napa. On the road we went! 

Gearing Up for the West Coast!

Tomorrow I leave for my second West Coast Roadtrip! This time we tackle San Francisco up to Portland, and this time with even more fantastic company.  Collin and I, as well as my friends Michelle and Troy, are setting off to experience and explore the Northern California/Oregon Coast and I could not be more excited!  We'll be hitting SF, Napa, The Redwoods, Coos Bay, and Portland over the  next 2 weeks.  My goal is to blog at each location so stay tuned for updates.

San Francisco, Alamo Square aka. the Full House houses

I believe that it's super important to choose your travel partners wisely, as different people like to vacation very differently.  I, myself, like to pack my days full of activities, wake up early, and go to bed late (I can sleep when I'm dead).  I am so looking forward to travelling with my childhood best pal Michelle as I KNOW we both have the same travel style (and we can leave the boys to sleep in if they must).  Get ready for a wild adventure crew! WEST COAST HERE WE COME!

pic via sanfrancisco.net

Nerding out for Andrea

What comes to mind when one hears the word BACHELORETTE? Lots of pink and zebra print, as many phallic objects as possible, and one hot mess adorned in a "Bride to be" sash? This past weekend, I was faced with helping to throw the ultimate bachelorette for my dear friend Andrea...and I knew that the stereotypical last fling before the ring cliches would just not do!

So how does one plan a super unique, personalized bachelorette for her soon to be wedded friend? My first step was choosing a theme that was both fun, unique, and appropriate for the bride-to-be.  My friend Andrea recently earned her PhD in Neurobiology.  She's kind of a smart cookie.  The theme SEXY SCIENTIST was the perfect mix of sassy and nerdy that summed up Andrea perfectly.  Once you have a theme, everything else comes SO EASILY!  Costumes, decor, and snacks can all be pulled from the theme, which gives the whole night a personal and fun touch.

Next, you must decide on a location. This can be the trickiest part as you need to take into account finances, guest list, and distance you are willing to travel.  There's always Vegas, Miami, or NYC if you have time, money, and group of girls that are willing to travel.  More often than not, more girls will be able to attend if it is somewhat local and they dont need to drop an overabundance of dough.  As the planner, one must weigh out whether destination or company is more important to the bride.  With Andrea, we knew that she valued having as many of her close friends there as possible so we decided to stay local.  As we all met while away at UWO, we decided a nostalgic night in London, ON was the way to go.

Nerdy BFFs

 Finally, one must decide on what activities would make up the ultimate bachelorette party according to the bride-to-be.  Some girls would prefer a quieter, cozy night in at a cottage while others would feel shafted without a WILD night on the dance floor.  It's a good idea to check in with your bachelorette about what type of night she is looking for.  The last ting you want is to end up at a male strip club with a bride-to-be that wanted to play Cranium in pajamas all night.  For Andrea, we knew she expected a party and a party we did plan! Also, you must decide whether the night will be a complete surprise or if you are going to let the bride in on the plans.  We decided to fully surprise the bride and simply send her a list of things she needed to bring.  Feel free to add in items to throw her off the scent of what you are actually doing.  For example, I asked Andrea to bring bug spray, her passport, and something to secure an animal.  She was RIGHT confused. Mission accomplished.

We began our day picking up our guest of honor from her condo.  She was promptly blindfolded and led into a vehicle.  From there, we drove to Aradia Fitness, a fitness studio specializing in pole-dancing and burlesque fitness.  Andrea was pleasantly surprised to find herself surrounded by friends and brass poles to start off her day.  It was also nice to add exercise to the day of fun, and trust me, EXCERCISE is what we got.  The upper arm and core strength needed for some of the moves we learned was insane!

Doing the CHOO-CHOO!

The Bridal Party on the Pole

 We then continued to a hotel suite in downtown London, where everyone changed into their Nerd gear and we dressed the bride-to-be in her sexy scientist outfit we had ready for her.  Following the costume change, we proceeded to eat dinner and play various bachelorette inspired games to allow for adequate alcohol consumption before heading out.  The pre-party was chocked full of nerdy props and snacks which were great for photo ops.

Nerds, Photo props, and The Periodic Table of Cupcakes

Props put to good use.

 A pub-crawl to our favourite undergrad haunts seemed like the only appropriate way to spend the rest of our evening.  We began our night at Barney's patio, followed by the frog, jim bobs, and joe kools.  The theme was a hit (even if it garnered a few stares), and we danced until our feet hurt and we couldn't see straight.
 

Nerding out over Andrea

What we do best.

 Overall, the NERDETTE was a huge success and we are super excited to celebrate again at the wedding :)

Love you Andrea!!

Improv, Waterfalls and Rainbows!

Happy Belated Canada Day Everyone! Hope you had a fantastic first long weekend of the summer! While many were lucky enough to go to a cottage this weekend (jealous*ahem), I opted for a staycation in our vibrant city.  One of my goals for 2013 is to take advantage of what Toronto has to offer.  We have so many festivals, restaurants, shows, and landmarks in and around the GTA, it seems a shame not to stick around some weekends and experience them.

Friday night my friends and I attended the Improv Competition  "Beerprov" at Comedy Bar on Bloor west.  Twelve improv comedians dueled it out in a "Who's Line is it Anyways" style brawl.  We went in with absolutely no expectations and were blown away by the talent we got to see! The highlight of the night was realizing that Colin Mockery was not only at the bar, but participating in the competition! In the end, he was (purposefully) defeated by a legitimately funny girl.  The atmostphere at Comedy bar was fantastic as well, as all the comedians hung out and had beers after the show. 

Mobbing Colin after the show

Saturday, we roadtripped out to exotic St Catharines to check out the waterfalls my friends go to annually.  It was my first time there and they did not disappoint.  The waterfalls are a sort of secret that one would never know were there had he/she not been looking for them. After a short treck through the forest, we hiked through the river toward three waterfalls.  Beside two near death experiences (climbing behind a waterfall, and up the side of a cliff), the trip was a success and I can't wait to go back next summer.

Somebody needs a tan.

 

Before I almost fell off

Lastly, it was Toronto PRIDE festival this week which culminated in the famed Pride Parade down Yonge st.  It was my 3rd pride parade I've attended, and I have to say, it did not have as much POW as the last 2 I've been to.  There seemed to be an overabundance of clubs and groups marching in the parade, which is fine, but if you're going to be in a PRIDE parade, please dress the part!  Many of these groups had unimaginative/no costumes (t-shirts) with little more than a lei to accessorize. When you can't tell who is a participant and who is an onlooker that merely jumped the fence, it can get a bit boring.  The floats and people who were dressed up were fantastic! More drag queens, half naked trojan models, and people covered in glitter please! The celebrations on church street after were super fun, celebrating love and equality in our beautiful city :)

Moose and I, Pride Styles

 

 

 

THIS is how you dress for Pride Parade

Hope everyone had a great long weekend!

A Pretty Rad Weekend

If you're like me, your facebook wall has been inundated with filthy runners covered in neon corn starch.  I was one of those colour-laden folks who participated in this past weekend's Color Me Rad run supporting Big Brothers and Sisters of Toronto. A definite trend in the race world is the emergence of theme inspired runs; let it be running from Zombies or running in your underwear (See The 21 Most Incredible Themed Races here).

Color Me Rad is one of the many "Color runs" that have emerged over the past years.  The basis of the race is runners dress in white then run the 5K race, where as they pass each kilometre, they get doused in a different colour.  The race culminates in a colour bomb party where each runner bursts their colour bomb on command and everyone dances in a big rainbow cloud. Sound cool? It was.  Although the weather was less than ideal (it was pouring rain during our heat in the race), the temperature was warm and the rain helped to keep us all comfortable while being covered in corn starch.  We then rode home on the subway attracting some very confused looks. Anyone can run this run, children and seniors alike, so I suggest you go out there and get your colour on! Next race in the GTA is in Kitchener/Waterloo in October, click here to sign up :)

The Before Shot

Running through the final colour zone

The After Shot of House of Pain(t)

And to end off our day, we celebrated Col's birthday in style...in neon and short shorts.

Happy Birthday Collin!

Hope you all had a fabulous first weekend of summer!

Confessions of a Concert Junkie

I have an addiction to waiting for the curtain to drop, dancing until my feet hurt, and the aftermath ear ringing.  I have an addiction to singing along with 50-50,000 other people, dodging the tall guy in the crowd, and being doused in confetti. My name is Alexis and I have an addiction to concerts.

It's summertime, the best time of the year for concert junkies. With the seemingly endless supply of musical acts flooding the city, it's possible to go to a show each and every night.  Let it be the NXNE festival last week, Jazzfest this upcoming week (click here for shows), or the many other festivals and tours; there's definitely a show for everyone this summer in Toronto. I have been known to check out my fair share of bands, and I mostly owe that to my concert gaurdian angel Mark :) After meeting this man some 7 years ago, I have seen countless shows in various venues around the city.  He is also the reason I can justify spending the extra cash for good seats (after experiencing a show up close, you can't go back to the nose bleeds).

I've been asked in the past how I manage to snag such good seats to some high profile shows.  Here are a few tips I've learned throughout the years:

1. Learn about presales: Presales are usually through online fanclubs or ticket sites like Livenation.  Get on as many lists as you can for the acts you really want to see.  If all else fails, email a local radio DJ and beg for the presale password.  Trust me, this can actually work.

2.Go on the ticketmaster (or other ticket vendor's) website 5 min before and continually reload the page until the seats go on sale.  Although tedious, this usually helps to snag some of the best available seats at the on sale time.

3. If you dont get the tickets you want at the presale or general on sale, TRY TRY AGAIN! Venues often release blocks of tickets closer to the date of the show, so keep checking back! They do this to thwart scalpers (my mortal enemies) from snapping up all the good seats.

4. If I've learned anything from my concert guru Mark, its that tweeting and getting involved with the artist's team matters.  If an artist's twitter account offers free pit tickets to a lucky winner, TWEET THEM! I've actually seen this work multiple times, and it takes 10 seconds to do.

My most recent indulgence in my concert addction was last night at Taylor Swift's RED tour. One of the most popular tours of the summer for sure; the songstress sold out two back to back shows of 45,000+ people at the SkyDome this past weekend (I refuse to call it Rogers Centre). In true concert gaurdian angel fashion, Mark secured us PIT tickets to see Miss Swift when additional tickets were released last Friday.

Taylor during RED showing off her guitar skills

Balancing during Treacherous

Miss Swift put on the show of the summer (in my opinion) last night. Insane choreography, endless costume changes, pyro galore, and most importantly, a fully LIVE performance during which she sounded spectacular.   There's nothing worse then seeing a lip synched show (unless its Britney, because really, what did you expect), so experiencing Swift singing all of her hits perfectly was a treat.  She's received criticism in the past from critics with regards to her live shows, but WOW has she shut them up now.  Not only was her vocal performance flawless, she also came across very genuine and greatful; interacting with the crowd frequently throughout the show.  Swift appeared to be enjoying herself as much as the crowd was which really added to the joy of the show. Overall, if you ever have the chance to go see her live, even if you are not the biggest fan, just go.  She will win you over, one bedazzled outfit at a time.

Out of focus dance break

 The rest of my summer concert line-up is TBD...any suggestions?