J'adore Paris

Paris... the city of cafes, wine, baguettes, more baguettes, walking and beautiful architecture. If the french aren't enjoying life, I don't know what they're doing. A dream city for romance, inspiration and practicing your french. Surprisingly, I am learning a little. 

Weekend trips to Rome and Portugal are almost as cheap as the wine... pictures of those two fabulous excursions coming soon. For now, I have to get out of the flat and visit Musee D'Orsay. Hi Manet!

Bags are Packed

Ready to go...

 This bag will take me through the next 4 months of my life... don't tell anyone but its a tad over 50 pounds!

First stop: Paris for 3 weeks! 

Did I mention I speak zero french? The pocket dictionary and me are getting quite acquainted on the 12 hour plane ride. 

It wouldn't be spring in Paris without beautiful blooms! 

My new adorable Zara oxfords.

Will be posting from France- stay tuned!!

xoxo Shopahallic

City of Dreams

I left my house in a panic just after dark, suitcase, backpack and purse dragging behind my trench, scarf and hat shielding me from being disturbed on the bus. 

It was pouring rain as I left Toronto, watching the dark streets and lights of the city I have come to know disappear behind me as the double decker bus pulled onto the highway. With 10 hours ahead of me, I pulled down my hat, fluffed my scarf and rest my eyes while listening to a New York themed playlist. 

City of Dreams here I come. 

The ride was rocky, uncomfortable and less than solid. When I finally peeled my eyes open it was after our arrival time of 7 a.m. and we were no longer on the highway. We were pulling into Manhattan. 

The New Yorker hotel's bright red sign sparked a beat in my chest. I swallowed, sat up and prepared myself for the wrath of the city. 

But over the next few days... what did I find instead?

A favorite bakery I first found while in L.A. (Le Pain Quotidien) right across the street from a park, where old men were playing chess. Just as I stepped inside it began to pour with rain. A perfect place to eat my almond nut loaf, drink my tea and gaze out the window.

Famous streets, cool neighborhoods and exhilarating buildings. I had breakfast in the Dean and Deluca in the New York times building, while reading the paper.

Familiar faces: A good friend from Winnipeg gave me the grand tour- Times Square, Magnolia Bakery and Rockefeller Center.

Hung out alone on the Upper West side- crab cakes for lunch, shopping, starbucks, pretending to be interested in real estate, shopping and more fantasizing about buying the second one in from the right. 

More things I love about New York: the people who are surprisingly so helpful and friendly, the excitement, the neighborhoods, the attitude, the food, the cabs, the subways, the grid street system, the trees, the opportunities.

And... my last NY picture... taken from inside the bus, it rained as I left. The bus driver made sure to give me one last glimpse of my New Yorker sign and I smiled with more than 10 hours worth of memories and thoughts to keep me going. 

I truly do <3 NY.

See you in Greenwhich Village!

Guest Blogger: A Winnipeg Tradition

 I love baking blogs, I love cookies and I love tea parties. However, I cannot bake. That's where my sister comes in. Today I bring you: a guest post by my lovely sister. Enjoy! xxx, Shopahallic.

imperial cookies. enough said. 

Spring is in the air. Even in Winnipeg where there is still snow on the ground, the days are longer and the sun is brighter signaling the onset of a new season. One can't help but be inspired to incorporate a fresh, spring-like approach to everything - fashion, home design, and my personal favorite, baking. 

To me, there is nothing more delicious than imperial cookies. These buttery, icing-laden, jam-filled treats are well-known to Winnipeggers as they tease us from the shelves of every local bakery and coffee shop. I was always scared to bake them myself, perhaps worrying that I wouldn't be able to re-create the perfection of my favorite haunts, like High Tea Bakery. But with a lazy Saturday stretching in front of me, I realized it was the perfect day to try. 

One problem? It was next to impossible to find a recipe. It truly seems like imperial cookies are unique to Winnipeg. So I settled on using a shortbread recipe and experimented for the rest.  

To my surprise and delight, they worked out perfectly! 

enjoy.

1 cup unsalted butter

1 cup white sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon pure almond extract

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 tablespoons milk

1 cup raspberry jam 

2 cups icing sugar

1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 tablespoons hot water

• Pre-set oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cream butter. Add sugar, cream well. Beat in eggs, vanilla and almond extract. 
• In separate bowl, combine flour and baking powder. 
• Gradually add flour to the creamed mixture, add milk towards the end. 
• Divide the dough into four parts. Roll each part to 1/8 inch thickness. (I rolled the dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper because the dough was quite crumbly at first). Cut out dough into 2 inch rounds and place on parchment paper-lined cookie sheets.
• Bake for 10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Allow to cool for 15 minutes. 
• Spread jam onto half of the cookies (the thicker the better!)and top with remaining cookies. 
• Mix icing sugar with vanilla and almond extracts. Add the hot water as needed until you have a thin, spreadable icing. Frost cookies with icing.

 

The Color of March

While it seems to be the color of march for many reasons - the cover of Vogue, my sisters new living room color, my new dress, and now my new ring, I think this color has longevity far beyond just March. It is my new favorite hue that seems to be more like a glow. How convenient that it looks fabulous against all of my caramels and cognacs, especially for spring and summer. 

I have been lusting after various items in this shade for a long while and recently started swiping my card. On a gray, boring Monday, I couldn't help but buy myself a glowing little treat to sparkle on my finger and make me feel a little bit better and a lot more excited for my later spring travels.

This ring will look lovely in Paris. 

Good Girl Gone Green

So for the past few weeks I have been trying to eat healthier and exercise. I have kept up with the exercising, but not so much with the eating healthy. Despite me reading a few amazing healthy food blogs, I make these great recipes and the next day discount it all with a plate of french fries. So, I decided to look to the pro's. Tracey Anderson is Gwenyth Paltrow's trainer and nutrition coach, many of her recipes and tips have been posted on Gwen's blog GOOP, which I read frequently. So today I decided to try a few of her healthy smoothies, since I am obsessed with my new magic bullet. One being - kale juice. 

I have always been frightened of kale, as it looks strange, smells weird and has a very odd texture. But in a quest for health and fitness, one must be adventurous! So, here it is- apple, kale and water for a lighter texture. 

Blended together to make a very interesting "smoothie". My rating? B. I will drink it for the healthy benefits but it is definitely not something I will ever crave. 

Creme Caramel

Can you tell I like the colour cognac?

It works for every season. So far, it has lasted me through fall and winter and now I cannot wait to wear it for spring. Perfect with the whites and creams, laces and eyelets of the spring/summer season.

Old Wishes and New Beginnings

Welcome to the new Shop-a-hall-ic. 

        While I still love clothes, fashion, trends, vogue and everything else beautiful to look at, wear and play with, fashion is not the only part of my life. In fact recently (as I am sure you can tell due to the lack of posts), it is a small part of my life. Over the past 6 months since living in the big city, I have become less obsessed with what to wear each morning, and more obsessed with getting my body through the hectic schedules I have created. 

         I have become even more determined to pursue my dreams than ever before, and those dreams don't completely involve fashion. 

         Moving to the media center of Canada and the biggest city in the country was about living up to the standards I have set for myself since I was a child. And finally in this past semester, I am feeling in touch with where I want to be and where I am going. 

        My brother inspired me to believe that I am allowed to have more than one dream and that I can try to make more than one thing happen at once - he is the master of this. So, for the past little while and the in the next long while, everything I do is working towards the things I want. But along the way, I am going to be continue to live the fabulous life I've always tried to create. 

       This new chapter to my blog will be the documentation of my quest and pursuit of being stylish, fit, hardworking and of course - always shopping.  

Allow me to bore or entertain you with the next few months of my life.

The best is yet to come. 

Right now...

Right now I am dreaming of spring time and trying to think of all of the ways I can brighten up my life... spring must-have post coming soon. 

But my usual spring excitement has turned from more than just the clothes. Living in my own place has made me start craving for ways to brighten the 600 sq ft up. Art is just the way to do it.

So right now, I can't stop browsing the Etsy store of an American artist I discovered on the Harpers Bazaar blog. 

Leigh Viner, a denver based artist- painter, drawer, photographer. From beautiful fashion icons in colorful palettes, to clean lined women, to stunning street scenes from all of our favorite cities. 

The best part -- inexpensive and easy to order prints in almost any size. Thank you Leigh Viner for solving our huge white wall problem. Now, how will we ever choose?

http://www.etsy.com/people/jkldesign

Winterpeg, Christmas and My New Camera

While I would like to make a triumphant return to the blogging world with the latest fashion advice or my fabulous holiday outfits, I must admit I have really been curled up next to the fireplace reading book after book over the winter break... So while I catch up on the fashion world myself I may as well give you a teaser of the fun I have been having with my new baby- the best christmas present ever - the Canon Rebel EOS DSLR.

I stopped by the sparkling Assiniboine park one night around witching hour. My favorite time of day wherever I am -- before and after sunset when the sky is colorful but the air that surrounds you casts grey shadows. The perfect lighting for my new camera to get broken in...