Laughing Matter

My new hero: Ja'ime King (pronounced ja mai) from Summer Heights High. Hilarious.

Wear White On Thursday

As an extra-curricular activity this Christmas, I remade two outdated and abandoned wedding dress into one fabulous show-stopper for the modern bride, and all this for charity too! The charity is called Windfall, they are a clothing bank providing new basics to needy people in Toronto, and if you have ever experienced a -30c Toronto winter, you know this service is much needed. So, to support, wear white this this Thursday and donate to Windfall charity. 13 other dresses redesigned by other students will be auctioned off, with the proceeds to Windfall charity.
The creations are on display at Bayview Village in the East Court until midday February 1st. For more information, visit http://www.ww4w.ca/.

Play With Your Food

So, I like videos with food and stop animation. Learn how to make spaghetti with everyday toys.

Grape Drank

I'm definitely getting one of these for my next house. Included in the $30,000 price tag is the installation of the temperature control system, ability to keep 1,600 bottles of wine, choice of different trapdoors, (glass for the exhibitionist, reinforced steel for the garage and wood for the aesthetes) and of course, bragging rights for being the most James Bondish wine connoisseur.

Before-Autumn

I think pre-fall is a bad idea, how can a designer be expected to pump out 4 collections a year, with that time crunch, it is nearly impossible to make something one can really feel proud of. For me, fashion is art, some designers use the medium of cloth to make create their masterpiece. And because of this logic, I think it is unfair and counter-productive to produce 2 full collections every year, and pre-fall and resort just add more clutter along the designing journey. With that being said, Alexander McQueen did manage to show a fabulous pre-fall collection this month, it was inspired by the wardrobe of a 19th century woman.

WWD.com

Where are we going?

My roommate Esther and I had a good talk on the subway last night, as we are both in our third year of university, the subject of relocating after school naturally arose. For the summer, we are both moving to the south of France this June to volunteer on an organic farm, and I am thinking of staying in hopes of landing an internship. But, after that, what's next? As much as I love fashion, I sometimes stop and think of avoiding the rat race that is the fashion industry, especially the spend-spend consumer culture that it breds. At the end of it, we realized we just have to do what we love. If we do what we love, we will be happy, and what is life worth without happiness.
Esther also raised a really good thought, something I never realized, as we looked around the subway car, she said she wished she could get to know all these people. This video is for all the people I will never meet.

Meat

Yammin'

I've been on a sweet potato kick lately, its so good in my curries, mashed with some butter, chilli sauce, salt and pepper, really, its good with anything spicy. Plus, they are really good for you, they are full of fiber, beta carotene/vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin B6. Me and my roommate Esther had the ubiquitous yam and sweet potatoes discussion the other night, and still I'm not 100% sure which is which.

While I unsure of their names doesn't mean I don't enjoy shoving three of these in my mouth at a time. My favourite method is making yam fries. I like them so much I cut up 4 of them (29 cents/pound) and flash freezed them in my fridge for later use.

1 cup of sweet potatoes/yams (cut into fries)
drizzle of olive oil
cumin
salt & pepper
Preheat oven to 375C. Give your pototo a good scrub and then lay them out on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, I have a hand pumped spray bottle, or you can cover the bottle of olive oil with your thumb and let it drip out slowly. Sprinkle cumin on fries, be generous, or not and then salt and freshly ground pepper.
Bake for about 30-45 minutes, I like to broil them for the last 3 minutes, they get nice and crunchy.

Frozen State:

Black Camel

While I don't enjoy the long trek on foot to Rosedale, I do enjoy the pulled pork sandwiches at Black Camel. They are tender and flavourful, having been marinated for three days and slow cooked for 13 hours. I had mine with chipotle maynonaise and horseradish (really delicious). Probably one of the best lunches I've had for $7.

4 Crescent Road (Opposite Rosedale Subway Station)
416-929-7518

Choo-codile

Tough times call for profit making collaborations, this time luxury shoe designer, Jimmy Choo has teamed up with well known wellies maker Hunters. While still rubber, the boots have been embossed with a crocodile print, featuring leopard print lining and gold buckle details. These rainy day friends will sent you back $395.

Mrs. Tilapia at the Citrus Spa

I made this snack for my friend Amy's NYE party, and along with a bowl of tortilla chips, these little guys were gone before the stroke of midnight. Good thing 'cuz they would have turned back into a pumpkin. Nigella's recipe. It can be found here. I had to cook mine for a half hour, I think I cut the chunks too thick and I was afraid of giving my friends salmonella.

Sea of Crepes

This is my first attempt at crepe making, I was always daunted at how difficult the task seems, but after seeing so many of them flipped at Cafe la Crepe on Queen street, I decided to give them a try myself. The batter is so simple, I had everything in the fridge already, except milk, so these crepes are made with water and therefore, lactose-free.
There is no need to be exact with the measurements, but here's my recipe:
1 cup flour (I used whole wheat)
1 egg
1/2 cup water (or more)
1 tsp oil/melted butter
2 pinches sugar
1 pinch salt

Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl with a pouring spout. Make a well in the mix and add egg, oil and slowly pour in water as you whisk the mixture. Continue adding water to the mixture until you get a milk consistency, really, its up to you, the more watery the liquid, the thinner your crepes.
Heat a large frying pan to medium heat and spray with oil. I found the trick was to pour the mixture from high above the pan, so get out that step ladder... Cook until golden brown, less if you like it soft, like me.
Some of my favourite easy fillings are:
Nutella et banane
Citron et sucre
thon et fromage
All of those ingredients are likely to be in your cupboard anyways, so give this recipe a try.

Make a Wish.

Fifty People, One Question: New York from Crush & Lovely on Vimeo.
Beautiful people on a gorgeous day in New York City answer what they wish would happen by the end of the day.