Shake your booty!

With Summer fast approaching ask yourself "am I ready for Summer?". Are you really? Weather wise YES, but when its time to slip on that bikini all of a sudden your not ready. So, its been close to six months since your New Year's resolution and I bet that one of those resolutions was to join a gym. Confess...did you actually go? And how long did you last? OK so I'm guilty too. First, I did not join the gym. I admit I had received a free 3-month membership to join but I also admit that I'm just lazy. Yup, lazy! Second, I bought excercise DVD's. Again lazy and collecting dust near the television. OK, next step try to find a bikini that's going to add an extra cup size, minimize the booty, and distract the eye from the mid section. Impossible? Maybe, possible if the bikini is cute enough to distract from everything else. NB: I rarely wear a one-piece I find bikini's more flattering. With that said here are a few of my fave's!

And by the way, its not the extra pounds that should discourage you from going to the beach because it's really about how you wear it and your confidence. So shake that booty!

In no particuliar order:

From Urban Outfitters this is one of my top choices. Made by Lacoste. TOP $52.00usd & BOTTOM $52.00usd in Rubine Red colour only.

From Urban Outfitters. Made by Lux. TOP $48.00usd & BOTTOM $58.00usd available in Navy and Yellow.


From La Vie en Rose. TOP $34.95cdn & BOTTOM $29.95. Available in Red, Brown, Khaki, Navy, & Yellow. You can mix & match different tops & bottoms. I've seen these in real life & they are so much prettier. These are a really good option because tops available have padding or no padding & different style bottom.


From La Vie en Rose. With this style there are different cuts available in the same pattern. Great for different body types! TOP $34.95cdn & BOTTOM $29.95


From Urban Outfitters. Made by Foxy & availble ONLINE only! on SALE $59.99usd. As mentioned I'm not a fan of one-pieces but this is a great suit. Also, great as a top.


From Urban Outfitter. Made by Lux. $98.00usd. Great as a top! Available only in Navy.

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/

http://www.lavieenrose.com/

Other great stores for swim wear:

http://www.bikinivillage.com/

http://www.hm.com/

http://www.oldnavy.com/

http://www.sandpipers.ca/

Luminato

http://www.luminato.com/

From June 6-15 come join Toronto in its Festival of Arts and Creativity. Luminato's three key principles are; collaboration, accessibility, and diversity. And Toronto is the best place to find all three, with events being FREE (atleast more than 70% of events) there's no excuse not to come out and enjoy the festival.

A few events I want to check out are:

Toronto's Mille Femmes (presented by Lancome) by Pierre Maraval

at Allen Lambert Galleria, Brookfield Place161-181 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5J 2T3

-featuring a collection of 1,000 portraits of women from the Toronto area who share common characteristics and passions.

THE LUMINATO AND ARMANI OPENING NIGHT PARTY

at the Royal Ontario Museum on Friday, June 6

For more events check out the website!

I'm ready for shopping, are you?

Finally, the weather seems to be warming up this weekend. There's nothing better than street shopping on a sunny weekend and I'm set to check out the ICE sale as well as Queen street. Above are a few inspirational items I'll be looking out for.

Have a great weekend!

a little Kitson for a weekend

The one-stop in Los Angeles where you’ll be sure to bump into celebrities is the popular Kitson store on Robertson Boulevard. However, Kitson’s roots are actually Canadian. Owner Fraser Kitson Ross originally opened Ice Boutique (613 Cumberland Avenue) in Toronto’s trendy Yorkville area near the Four Season’s hotel in 1989. As I remember, Ice was a small store overflowing with the latest accessories, clothing, and cosmetics. Whenever I was searching for the most unique gifts Ice never failed in its selection. Therefore, in 2004 when Ice closed its doors and Ross decided to concentrate on Kitson I was a bit sad to say the least. Gone were their bright pink shopping bags with black writing and instead replaced with their signature blue bags (however only available in L.A at Kitson). Obviously, Ross’ decision to move south proved to be a success. Kitson is available online (http://www.shopkitson.com/) and has recently expanded its LA location to include Kitson Kids (across the street), Kitson Men (down the street), and luxury stocked Kitson Studio (next door).

"People come to us now expecting us to have the hottest new things," he says over lunch at Chaya Brasserie, another "it" restaurant for film and TV types, just around the corner from his store. "See this," he says, picking up the rather ordinary white plate from the table. "If I sold it, it would be trendy just because it's from Kitson. You're either a leader or a follower when it comes to setting style. I guess I'm a leader." (May 2005 issue of Canadian Business magazine)
Ross is not only a smart business owner but he has also developed customer relationships with his high profile celebrities. Alas, if ever in the Los Angeles area and want to run into a celebrity, Kitson is a good place to check out. But, for those less interested in star gazing and want a taste of Kitson, a few times a year they head back to Hollywood North and have a liquidation sale.

ICE Boutique Sale at The Church of the Redeemer
162 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON

(Avenue Road & Bloor St W)

MAY 23 & JUNE 13
2pm-7pm

MAY 24 & JUNE 14

10am-5pm

Don't leave your in-flight items at airport security! Only bring the essentials.

As a frequent flyer, I have mastered the art of what to carry in my beautifully tailored ziploc baggie. So, the little clear bag we thought we had gotten rid of once we left elementary school is back! And no we won't be filling it with Wonder Bread peanutbutter & jam sandwiches. Instead, our carry on liquids will have to be squeezed into the little clear baggie. This includes everything from lipglosses to mascara. However, when it comes to travel K.I.S.S is the way to go! (K.I.S.S meaning Keep It Simple Sister, no offence boys. No worries my travel essential tips are unisex friendly!)

First, let's get the serious stuff out of the way. According to Canadian Air Transport Security Authority the following security measures are in effect:

Passengers are permitted to bring liquids, gels and aerosols through security screening at Canadian airports provided that the items are packaged in containers with a capacity of 100 ml / 100 grams (3.4 oz) or less, and that the containers fit comfortably in one clear, closed and resealable plastic bag with a capacity of no more than 1 litre (1 quart). The approximate dimensions of a one litre/quart bag are 15.24 cm by 22.86 cm (6 in. by 9 in.) or 20 cm by 17.5 cm (8 in. by 7 in.). One bag per passenger is permitted.
http://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/english/travel_voyage/notice_avis/index.shtml

Check out the website for a list of Makeup & Toiletry items permitted & non-permitted!

With that being said here is what I believe can make your travel experience much simplier. As I mentioned before K.I.S.S is the way to go & this also applies to your face. Leave the heavy makeup for a night on the town & go simple & "almost" barefaced.

Item checklist (my faves are listed below)

• clear baggie-check the CATSA site above for exact measurements
• hand moisturizer (L'Occitane-Shea Butter)
• multi-purpose item that moisturizes (Elizabeth Arden 8 hour skin protectant-I use this for my lips, cuticles, & for a long flight I dab underneath the nostrils to add moisture)
• eye-balm/gel (Vichy Oligo 25 eyes Anti-fatigue)
• Multi-purpose makeup (Nars Multiples which can be used as a blush, lipstick, eyeshadow, & its exempt from your carry on because its a solid)
• tinted moisturizer (Stila, Elizabeth Arden, Clinique CityBlocks are a few faves)
• water spray for face (Evian...however there are a few others that are great)
• essential oil (here's a little tip for long over night flights: ask the Flight Attendant for a cup of hot water-1/2 full, a napkin-perferably a kitchen type that you can bring from home. Now, put the napkin in the hot water cup - so that the napkin soaks up the water, drop in a couple drops of your choice of an essential oil - my fave is lavender. Not only does this lift your spirit but acts as a humidifer if placed underneath your face on the tray table)
• mascara (nothing but mascara will add that awake look...or else try sunglasses)

Also, splurge on a 1 litre bottle of water after going thru security (it costs alot more but you'll thank me later). Asking the Flight Attendant for water only gets you a glass at a time & you should be drinking alot more than that, keeping yourself hydrated is the way to fly! By hydrated I don't mean wine ladies & gents (one glass of alcohol=two in the air).

What else vibrates in your purse these days besides your cell phone?

I was reading the June'08 issue of Chatelaine magazine when a picture of a lipstick in the health section caught my eye. A lipstick in the health section? What health benefits can we get from a lipstick. Upon further inspection and a bit of reading I realized this was not your ordinary lipstick. I imagine this would be an item that Samantha Jones from Sex in the City would carry in her purse. Perhaps the perfect bridal shower gag gift or even an item in a bridesmaid loot bag. Actually, any female party loot bag. The lipstick in question is actually a vibrator, "Incognito Lipstick Vibe" created by Grrl Toyz, the female line of "love toys" by the company Topco Sales. There are two shades available, Magenta and Hot Pink. However, they are not actual lipsticks they are just good replicas. Retails for about $35.00. So, cell phones are not the only item that will be vibrating in your purse these days....batteries not included!

http://www.grrltoyz.com/

http://en.chatelaine.com/english/index.jsp