Target...Worth the hype?

As most of you have probably learned (by the smattering of advertisements from Facebook to the sides of TTC Streetcars), Target has opened in Canada.  For those not familiar with the American retailer, think Walmart with style (at a similar price point!).  The excitement surrounding this move to the Great White North has been palpable the past few months.  Having made the trip to Target each time I've been in the States, I was ready to welcome the chain with open arms. The only hesitation surrounding the big reveal was...would the Canadian version live up to its American counterpart?  As Canadians, we are used to getting our hopes up about chains moving up North, then being let down when we see lesser quality, higher pricetags, or both.

 I made the trip on opening day to the Danforth location with hopes high and expectations low. What I found?  The Target that we know, love, and hoped for is HERE! From the clothing to the cosmetics to the home decor, everything was as I remembered from my visits in the States, and...brace yourself...the same price! (I even price checked on the American website following my trip...yeah, I'm that girl).  After spending 2 hours wandering the wonderland that is the Danforth Target, I can definitely say that the trip was a success (although my wallet would beg to differ).

                  
The verdict? If you get the chance, go check out your nearest Target (see link below to find yours!). Target, I have a feeling this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Welcome to Canada!

The final haul...Spring wardrobe complete? Probably not.

Find your nearest target here
Logo pic via target.ca

Meet Moose!

After years of fawning over puppy pictures, countless hours on petfinder, and a lifetime of planning, my dreams of being a dog owner came true last Saturday at 9am.  Col and I drove the 2 hours to pick up the new family addition, a cairn terrier named MOOSE!

Always the obsessive planner, I made sure to read Cesar's "How to raise the perfect dog", bought every dog accessory imaginable, and tried my very best to puppy proof our place. Turns out Moose would really rather lie on our couch/in our bed/at our feet...and sleep. Collin and I are so enamored with our new furry friend that all we want to do is parade him around but we are trying our best to let him get his beauty sleep.  We chose him because of his calm demeaner and he's really living up to his reputation.  He loves everyone he meets and comes running when he hears his name (that is, if he's not getting into trouble somewhere else).

But things aren't all roses and candy floss with a new puppy. Housetraining has become my arch nemesis currently.  Reading all the articles and watching endless tutorials on the internet cannot save me completely from this daunting task.  The busy street we live on (that, in the beginning, scared Moose half to death) doesn't help either. He's beginning to get it but I have a feeling it will be a few weeks before we conquer this beast. Any tricks of the trade would be appreciated all you dog owners!

All in all, we are so grateful for a healthy and happy puppy! Feel free to pop by to meet the little one :)

Hollywood's Biggest Night

Last night was the night that every movie (and fashion) enthusiast waits for, The 2013 Academy Awards.  As a Family Guy fan, I loved what Seth McFarlane did with the show.  With witty comments and full out shock value moments (aka the song "We saw your boobs"), these Oscars I found far more entertaining than usual.  I was also pleased with the Best Supporting Actor (Christoph Waltz for Django Unchained) and Best Actress (Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook), both of whom I raved about on this very blog for these performances (Woohoo!).

But lets get down to the important stuff, yes...THE FASHION!
Overall I found the night to be a slight let down in the WOW department that we've come to expect from the Oscars but there were a few honourable mentions.

JENNIFER LAWRENCE in Dior Haute Couture (even if she fell accepting her award because of it)

ZOE SALDANA in Alexis Mabille

AMY ADAMS in Oscar de la Renta

Wonder if Joan will agree or disagree with my faves. Happy Monday!

pics via justjared

Silver Linings Playbook

Trying ever so hard to make my way through the Oscar Nominees, Col and I decided to check out Silver Linings Playbook following the DUMPING of snow we received on Friday.  Collin had never heard of it, I had been dying to see it...the verdict: we BOTH loved it!

If you haven't seen David O. Russell's much buzzed about film, the story centers around Pat (Bradley Cooper), following a stay in a mental institution and his quest to win back the love of his life.  Sounds like a chick flick right? Wrong. The majority of the movie revolved around Pat's illness and how it impacted his relationships with everyone in his life.  Pat's lack of filter was as refreshing as it was startling, which made me reflect on what the world would be like if everyone behaved in such a way.  Although I think there is a definite time and place for thinking before you speak, saying whatever comes to mind allows for a type of honesty that is rarely seen in a world were political correctness is the rule.  The charm of this movie lies in the authenticity and realness in it's portrayal of mental illness and how it can affect someone's life so greatly.

Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper practicing the big number

The simple story line is driven by the fantastic and genuine acting by Cooper and Lawrence (who totally stole the show for me).  If it's even possible, this film made me love the actress even more (if you don't love her, just watch her interviews, she's wickedly funny).  Her role as a young widow dealing with her new reality is gritty, comical, and heartwarming. Honourable mention goes out to De Niro, who perfectly played Pat's OCD, football maniac father.   

If I say anything more, I've said too much.  All in all, if you're on the fence about seeing this movie, go check it out. You won't be disappointed.

pic via screencrush.com

Television at it's finest

During the past decade, there has seemed to be a real resurgence of QUALITY television programming.  With the premium cable networks like HBO, FX, and AMC being able to push the boundaries like never before; the shows that are airing have such a high production value, they rival what is being done on the silver screen.  With so many amazing choices out there, I find it difficult to choose what I should spend my time (and bandwidth) on.  With the mid-season premieres beginning, I wanted to write about my current top 3 shows that are either airing now or returning soon.

1. GIRLS on HBO
I recently began watching this show after Lena Dunham (the show's writer and lead actress) won the Golden Globe for best actress.  I watched the entire first season in 2 days (it's that good).  Often referred to as the "new" Sex in the City, both HBO shows follow 4 young women living in New York City. The similarities end there.  This show is so raw and honest about the issues that girls in the 20s face in their day to day lives.  It's laugh out loud funny without trying too hard.  I highly recommend anyone (yes, even guys) to watch this well-written, addictive drama.  It's only 30 minutes, you can definitely find time for this gem. It airs Sunday night at 9:00pm on HBO Canada.

Marnie, Jessa,Hannah, and Shoshanna

2. American Horror Story (Season 1 and Asylum) on FX
Not for the squeamish, this program is the perfect mix of creepy, gorey, and twisted.  Each season contains its own unique storyline, the first being set in a Haunted House, the current taking place in an Insane Asylum.  Although the stories vary, the show keeps the same cast each season, which makes for a very unique experience for the viewer.  The cast is extremely talented and the writing is incredible (in the most frightening way possible).  For those of you who have sworn off of horror movies because they keep you up at night (RIGHT HERE!), the show is so well written that it's worth checking under the bed (and every closet in the house) before you go to sleep. Trust me. The show airs at 10pm Wednesday nights on FX.

Creeptastic!

3.Game of Thrones on HBO
Any best of TV list needs to include the ever popular fantasy series chronicling several houses' quest for the Iron Throne.  Believe the hype! The complicated plot interweaves story lines following a vast array of characters (making names sometimes difficult to remember).  Based on the book series by George R. R. Martin, the show does a good job of simplifying the story enough to be very watchable.  In contrast to my first pick (GIRLS), GOT can appear to be geared towards the male gender. Ladies, please just watch ONE episode to realize that this is not the case.  The gorgeous scenery and effects, phenomenal acting, and Khaleesi (everyone's favourite character), make Game of Thrones the show for everyone. Season 3 premieres March 31st on HBO.

Khaleesi and her Dragon Child

Honourable mentions: Downton Abbey on PBS, Breaking Bad on AMC, and Revenge on CityTV.

Happy watching!

photos via Hellogiggles.com FX Canada CNN.com

Who Wore What...

It's awards season! By which I mean, it's time to see what everyone is wearing to the awards!! I really could not care less about which film/actress/actor wins what, but I DO care about the fashion successes and face plants that are sure to arise during this time of year. Ever since I was a little girl, I have been a big fan of E's Fashion Police with Joan Rivers and her gaggle of fashion critics. This awards season will be no different. So here we go...

GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS:
Hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, the award show went off without a hitch (and surprisingly quickly with the exception of some of the speeches...not naming any names).  The ladies (two of my faves I might add) did a terrific job hosting, keeping the awards show fresh and fun, which really is quite a feat if you ask me.

Now for the important stuff: THE FASHION! We saw an abundance of RED or any variation of red, along with a lot of neutrals.  In addition to the similarities in colour, the style of the night appeared to be the mermaid or trumpet shape, seen on Jessica Alba, Amy Adams, and Hayden Panettiere. Do all the stylists of these ladies get together and decide they will dress their clients identical? Oh well.

Jennifer Lawrence, Emily Blunt, Jessica Alba

 My vote for best dressed goes to : Jessica Alba wearing a coral Oscar de la Renta trumpet gown. Alba looked radiant and fresh while channeling classic hollywood beauty.

Honourable mentions: Jennifer Lawrence wearing yet another coral dress,this time by Christian Dior Haute Couture.  The actress also took home Best Actress for the film Silver Linings Playbook. Still have to check out this flick, definitely on my list before the Oscars air.

 Emily Blunt in a golden cut-out Michael Kors dress, accessorized with John Krasinski.

Sienna Miller Fashion Mis-step

The actress that I think earned a "Needs Improvement" would be: Sienna Miller in a custom Erdem top and skirt. The usually flawless actress looked like she had popped out of a 1997 Seventeen magazine prom ad.  I know the 90's are back but let's keep it flattering, shall we?

That's my two cents! Looking forward to seeing if Joan agrees! 

Happy Monday!

photos via Us Magazine and  just jared

Tarantino does it again.

By now it seems that everyone and their mom has seen Django Unchained, the new Tarantino film released on Christmas Day.  Being a Tarantino fan (I love myself a quirky gorefest), I felt compelled to check this one out at the theatre. For the few that have yet to see this film (and still plan to), I won't go into details but I do want to say that it did not disappoint. A little less bizarre than some of his other films (think Death Proof and Kill Bill), Django posed itself as an old time Western dealing with issues of racism and slavery.  As always, the film's soundtrack was quintessential Tarantino, with motown, country and western, and  90's hip hop scores lending as much to the film as the visual effects.  The music, in fact, was my favourite part of the movie, as it altered and enhanced the viewer's experience of the events happening on screen.  This film is not for the squeamish, then again, what Taratino film is?  We have to expect a certain amount of blood and gore from this man, and Django certainly holds true to this motif.  Knowing full well that he can get away with it; Quentin Taratino plays around with very strong language to an almost comical level.

Dr. Shultz, played by the genius Christopher Waltz, was by far my favourite in the film.

 Overall, the film was thoroughly entertaining.  I decide if I like a film by judging on how well it held my attention and if I was ready for it to end.  By these criteria, Django had me glued to the screen from beginning to end and, after 180 minutes, left me wanting more.