Fashion to Go

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London Day 2: Harry Potter Studios

Anyone who's a Potterhead needs to visit this studio.  Unlike the Harry Potter theme park in Universal Studios, this one located in London focuses on the production side of the hit movie series.  They take you behind the scenes to dive in the real magic.  Special effects, props, venues, sketches and more are revealed.  I personally really enjoyed the movies as I think the producers did a good job bringing the essence of the plot to life.  But after being enlightened on how much talent and attention to detail was invested in the series, it made me appreciate the film SO much more.   

I never really noticed the wands in the movie, each character's wand had its own personality and flare and beautifully crafted.

Diagon Alley!  Seeing the stores and the little details up close was pretty amazing.

Had to try the famous Butter Beer.  It tasted like liquid Whether's mixed with root beer.  This was more for picture purposes than anything else!

A real life model of the Hogwarts castle used to film shots that require arial views and wide angle views of the building.  Although only a fraction of the size of real castle, it was very striking and grand to look at. 

As an artist at heart, I was genuinely wowed by all the creative work.  One of my favorite parts of the tour was the special effects room.  Ever wonder how they make Hagrid look so tall?  How Buckbeak looks so real?  And Lupin's werewolf form was obviously all digitized right?  Think again.  

The production team made a mechanized model of Buckbeak.  All its feathers are pain stakingly hand glued to make it look as realistic and believable as possible.  The robotic model can move its eyes, beak, and wing so convincingly... 

Prior to filming the movie, miniature paper and wood models of buildings were used and the film crew would insert tiny cameras called lipstick cameras into these models to get a feel of what angle to shoot at before anything gets built or shot.  I thought that was just fascinating.  

Everything from the writing in the Daily Prophet to the Goblet of Fire was meticulously designed and hand crafted specifically for Harry Potter. 

Overall the tour was super awesome and I highly recommend it for Harry Potter fans :) A definite must visit! 

Location: Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, Aerodrome Way, Watford, Hertfordshire WD25 7LS, United Kingdom

Info: http://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk

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London Day 1

It's been about 4 weeks since my last update which is roughly the amount of time I have spent hopping around Europe.  The expectation was that I blog as I go from each city, but in reality backpacking is so exhausting that by the time I go back to my hostel I only have enough energy to shower then crawl into bed ready to repeat it all the next day. Now that things are starting to slow down I can finally sit down and recap my adventures.  

My first stop was London and although I landed at 6am, we didn't do much due to jet lag so this first post is going to be a little low key.  We decided to take it easy and hit up some major landmarks. First up was Buckingham Palace. Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the British Monarch.  I didn't go inside to see the interior of the house, but it is definitely a tourist hot spot and a British icon that is worth visiting.  Nearby, there are many other monuments to admire.  

   We then ventured into Hyde Park which is one of the largest parks in London and a popular place for joggers, picnic-ers, young lovers and obviously...tourists.  It was indeed a lovely park but as I was just about to pass out when I reached one of the lakes near the middle of the lush greens.

After finally giving in and collapsing back at my hostel for 4hrs, I figure it was a good time to hit up Piccadily Circus to see it light up at night like a London Time Square.  Indeed it had a similar look, but on a much smaller scale and it had that old English feel with some of their retail buildings. I actually quite like that.  I think the traditional buildings are very beautiful and has so much character.  

Another thing I love doing is picking out social norms and particulars that make a city distinct from another similar metropolitan.  Here's what I noticed in London.

- Locals are very respectful of the escalator.  There are no jerks who stand stagnant on the left hand side which is meant for people on the run.

- Boots is the Shoppers & Sephora of London

- Their subway system (The Tube) is very comprehensive and efficient

- Pret a Manger is bomb and a life saver

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Shopping in San Fran

Shopping wasn't too high on my bucket list for California, but if you're here, might as well take advantage of their 8.75% tax rate (a significant breather for Canadians).  The retail variety isn't amazing compared to the typical brands in Canada, so I dove right into the popular US discount giants: TJ Maxx, ROSS, and even Marshalls.  These stores are similar to Winners and I only shop there once in a blue moon because I usually don't find anything particularly worth the scavenger hunt.  The discount stores in San Fran are another story.  Much more variety and better share of brand name deals.  Here's just a fraction of my fashion haul.

Steve Madden Beige Crossbody bag - $68 marked down to $30.  

Nike golf shirt - $30 marked down to $10.  

Hollister white summer dress - $70 marked down to $10.  

Ralph Lauren embossed leather make up pouch - $78 marked down to $20. 

Approx savings: $166.  Not bad huh?

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So you wanna get into Google?

What does it feel like to be a Google employee for one day?  Well, for starters you are greeted by adorable giant sized Android figurines on your way to the building.

Each Android upgrade follows the alphabet and is named after a dessert.  Gingerbread.  Cannoli.  Ice cream sandwich.  

Jelly Bean...

When you reach inside, you are snapped back to reality by this monster.  "RAWR get back to work!"

You realize you have a meeting, but it's held in one of the many scattered campuses within the Google block.  You can't possibly get there on time by foot, so what do you do?  Take the Google bike obviously!  Main mode of transportation at the Googleplex.

You get there within minutes and enter yet another creatively designed building.

Oh, but of course you get distracted by the 180 degree Googlemap complete with a 3D joystick.  

It's lunch time.  You can choose to dine outdoors...

Or indoors.

Around late afternoon you decide it's time for a short break.  You head over to the playroom and conjure up your favorite cocktail.

Right before you hit up the NERF gun wall to ease off some of the work stress.

So there you have it.  It's a wonder anyone can focus in this building (kidding), but Google churns out some amazing stuff so it seems to be working out for them.  It was a lot of fun touring the different buildings and checking out the Googlelife.  The employees here are all so relaxed and seem to be mellowing in creative clouds all the time.  The culture at this company is said to be one that fosters collaboration and innovation and I definitely sensed that during my visits.  Hope you enjoyed the tour :) until next time!

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Zip Line - Mount Hermon

My first time zip lining everrr.  I was so stoked.  Not only that, but this was also my first time seeing a Redwood, tallest tree in the world, up close.  The forest was beautiful and the trees grew to insane heights.  In fact, you can see them swaying even in a slight breeze.

They seem to stretch on forever.  Fun fact: Redwood trees grow in places with dense fog because the leaves near the top rely on the air's moisture to photo synthesize.  Otherwise, the water soaked up through the tree's roots would never reach the top.  And that's how they grow so tall!  Neat huh?

The views from above were spectacular, especially when you're flying across the forest 150 feet in the air.

You don't get views from this altitude very often.  A little intimidating but totally awesome.

Woah.  One of the trees looks like it has an owl's face

Next up, the Sky Bridge!  I kept thinking adventure/action films while I was walking this thing. 

Reeling myself back to the last platform, James Bond style.  Of course.

Now that zip lining is crossed off my list, I think it's only fitting that Bungee jumping be next (closely followed by Sky diving).  I would actually recommend zip lining even for those that have a fear of heights. I sort of fit into that category, but once you start zipping, you'll get used to it and will be having a blast in no time :) For those of you who are interested in zip lining in Mount Hermon, I did it through Redwood Canopy Tours.  That said, I'm off to play Nerf guns in the Google rec room with my little cousins.  Toodles!

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The Cheesecake Factory Review

After hearing much rave about The Cheesecake Factory, I figure this was a prime time to give these monstrous desserts a try.  I love the variety of flavors, ranging from the Original to Caramel Pecan Turtle!  My aunt and I decided to bring home two slices for dessert and skip out on a full meal because let's be honest... unless you've got a pit-less stomach it's going to be hard to down a cheesecake after a giant portion of anything on their menu.  After much thought we opted for Vanilla Bean and Chocolate Raspberry.

You can clearly see all the beautiful specs of vanilla bean scattered across the rich layers of this cheesecake.  The top layer was a very soft, custard like texture while the filling was a smooth, dense vanilla heaven. The crust was the perfect crunch against the velvet texture of the top layers.  It was a lovely dessert, but it honestly just tasted like a creamy vanilla ice cream.  The tangy cream cheese flavor did not peak through at all which was disappointing for a cheesecake.

The Chocolate Raspberry slice did not pass the cream cheese flavor as well.  In fact, had I not known any better I would have thought this was just a chocolate fudge cake.  The filling was extremely dense and heavy.  I only had a few bites and it didn't rest well in my stomach.  The raspberry flavor could have been more pronounced as they only had a thin layer of raspberry jam sitting between the chocolate filling and crust.  Unlike the Vanilla Bean, this crust was soft like a pound cake.  Overall, was not too impressed by this slice mostly because it was not very "cheesecake" at all. 

There you have it, my thoughts on one of the most popular dessert chains in America.  I would suggest diving straight for dessert with an empty stomach if your main objective is to sample their sweets.  The restaurant itself also boasts a comfortable seating area and atmosphere.

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Backpacking 101

In about a week I will be departing the safe confines of my temporary San Francisco home and venturing across Europe.  Along with my travel partner, we've been preparing months in advance, making sure we hit every city on our bucket list and getting the most out of our month long journey.  I know a lot of you guys will be doing your fair share of travelling this summer so I thought I'd share some of the best tips I've come across in preparation.

Cell phones: Don't fall into the "international packages" trap.  Forget about your local service provider, you're WAY better off getting an unlocked phone and buying a SIM card and plan from one of the local carriers.  There is supposedly countless kiosks scattered across major European cities that will gladly sell you a cheap SIM card.  I've done some research and found that Vodafone offers the best service in terms of coverage and quality.  Bell Canada's best offer for a European plan was $50/month for 50 sent texts, 50 minutesm 25MB of data.  Vodafone beats them by a long shot.  See for yourself.

Use a watch.  This reduces the number of times you have to whip out your celll phone to check the time, which in turn reduces the likelihood of exposing your expensive device to the hoards of pickpockets ready to pounce at tourists.  Phones are also an amazing distraction and easy way to let your guard down.  Don't underestimate how fast pickpockets can work their magic. 

Disperse your important documents and belongings.  Don't store all your belongings in one place.  Too easy for pickpockets to rob you of everything in the blink of an eye.  Bring only what you need for the day and store the rest in a safe in your hotel.  Go ahead.  Be creative.  Shoes, jean pockets, concealed money belt are all open for stashing your cash and cards. 

Bring a first aid kit.  Self explanatory.  An essential for any traveler. 

Do some smart shopping for your backpack.  A consultant at MEC advised no more than a 60L backpack for my month long Europe tour.  If you're not a regular camper or backpacker (like me), you'll obviously want to limit the amount of money spent on a one-time backpack.  I went for this one.  What I love is that it opens like a suitcase, allowing me to store and retrieve items easily without having to do crazy re-arrangements to get something at the bottom of your pack.  At $79 CAD, I'd say it's not a bad deal at all.

Bring no more than 3 pairs of shoes.  Footwear takes up a lot of your precious luggage space and if you want to travel comfortably, 3 is more than enough. A pair of comfortable sneakers, black sandals, and maybe flats.  Sandals are a must if you are travelling in the summer, and choosing black will double up as a "dressy" shoe if you will be dining in fancy restaurants.

Bring long pants and long sleeves.  This is especially true for Europe travelers as you will undoubtedly be checking out the plethora of churches and other conservative sites that will not permit any exposure of knees or shoulders.  The last thing you want is to be turned down at the door AND be forced to buy (potentially) expensive attire while abroad. 

Hope these tips are helpful and bon voyage! :)

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Life in California

To say my stay in California is a vacation would be an understatement.  Relative to Toronto lifestyle, its like a paradise here.  The sun's always out, dry climate and wonderful breezes everyday.  I'm currently residing in San Francisco and so far here's what I've learned. 

1) There's mountains everywhere.  Hills are very common and it seems people love building their million dollar homes as high as possible.  Take a moment to stroll through some neighborhoods and you'd be impressed by some of the creative architecture.  The views of distant mountainous coasts are gorgeous, but admire them from the inside because locals think nothing of it and will find you amusing.

2) Be prepared to bike/walk/drive to places.  There is no reliable transportation system here so you'll have to opt for other conventional means to travel.  But honestly, who needs subways when you've got perfect weather outside.

3) People here are SO nice.  Seriously.  The sun has this effect on people and its called putting them in a good mood.  Whether it's people behind counters in the supermarket or strangers on the street, I find the locals here are genuinely more happy than the civilians in Toronto.  Back at home, I'd be happy if I don't get attitude from customer service.  

4) Living here is expensive.  Yup.  Just look at the housing prices.  Yikes.

5) People take the outdoors pretty seriously.  From BBQs to golfing, anything outdoorsy is super popular so if you're the type, you'll have no problems fitting in.

Check out my first burger visit at Five Guys.  So noms!  Free peanuts up for grabs with unlimited refills too :) Anyways, hope you guys are enjoying your summer!  Until my next update!

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Skincare and Makeup for the Beach

If you're planning to hit the beach or a resort at a tropical destination, the most important thing to keep in mind is protecting your skin.  Having just come back form 7 days of straight sun, I thought it would be good to share some of my favorite products for protecting your skin from the sun's harmful rays.  Sun damage is the leading cause of aging and there are a slew of other side effects that you definitely want to avoid including cancer and sun spots, so take care when it comes to having fun in the sun!

First and foremost is sunscreen, obviously.  For your body, the higher the SPF the better.  I went for SPF85 and it did a pretty good job.  If you're planning to hit the waters, the product is going to wash off and you'll need to re-apply.  If you're too lazy to dry off before re-application, I would suggest Neutrogena's Wet Skin spray which is specially formulated to cling on to damp skin.  I almost always opt for spray bottles over creams just because it's faster!  Make sure you massage the sunscreen into your skin after spraying.

Although some body sunscreens can be applied to the face, I prefer using another protectant formulated for the face.  This is a good idea for those with sensitive or acne prone skin.  Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Dry Touch facial sunscreen applies lightweight and does not clog the pores.  It will feel a little sticky when you squeeze out the product, but it does not feel heavy on the skin at all.  Apply this all over your face before make up.  You can also re-apply throughout the day over your make up.

Let's not neglect the lips.  If you have sensitive lips like me, you'll know that they can burn and get blistered as well.  I wasn't going to bother with splurging on an expensive lip balm.  This one was dirt cheap and available at your local drug store.  SPF 30, applies smoothly and does the job. 

Here comes the tricky part, make up.  I'm telling you now, you do NOT want to be wearing a mask of cosmetics to the beach.  Not only will the products just melt off your face but you will feel extremely uncomfortable.  So if you insistent on wearing make up, just go with bare essentials and keep a light hand.  Concealer is a must for me and I used Urban Decay's concealer stick every day just in the areas that I needed coverage (under eyes, corners of nose and mouth) Just blend away with your fingers.  It had amazing staying power against hours of sun, saltwater, and the occasional snorkeling gear smushed against my face.  Huge bonus that they are extremely travel friendly too.

If you decide to wear foundation and you don't have one that has SPF, there is no need to purposely buy one.  The protection from the built in SPF will not be as strong as applying a sunscreen underneath your make up.  SPF foundations tend to reflect light, so wearing it out on days where you know there will be photos taken will not be ideal.  

For the eyes, you definitely want to stick with something waterproof.  I just brought pencils and liquid liner with me so I can only vouch for how well these hold up in the sun and water.  I used Urban Decay's 24/7 Liquid Liner and found that although it had great staying power, it decinigrated in salt water.  I stopped using liquid and switched to Makeup Forever's Aqua Eyes pencils.  These have a rather waxy texture and I would suggest avoiding very dark colors so you don't end up look like a raccoon when it will inevitably smudge a bit throughout the day.  I used Light Brown 19L on the lower lash line just in the corners, and Burgundy 18L to line my eyes, winging it out just slightly.

That's all I did for my make up regime while in Cuba.  If you want to go an extra step, use waterproof mascara and cream blush/bronzers for a more natural look.  Matte lipsticks tend to be drying so I would suggest using tinted lip balms or creamy lipsticks (if they have built in SPF, even better).

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Cuba Part 2

Speed boating is something like a roller coaster on water except it's not your life that's on the line, it's all your non-waterproof belongings that's at stake and that's almost as terrifying.  We zipped in and out a beautiful course, skimming the clear waters and admiring the beautiful scenery.  It was pure adrenaline rush. 

Little pit stop to soak in the picture-esque views before heading to the City of Moron.

I was eager to see the real Cuba outside of our glamorized resort.  To see how life really has for the locals.  It's hard to translate my thoughts and feelings into words, but what struck me the most was how genuinely happy and simple these people were despite their living conditions.  There was an adorable school girl who waved at us as we were passing by with the most innocent smile.  Untainted.  And at that moment, I was reminded that life is very much what we make of it. 

Giant tree of sorts.  I swear every picture taken in Cuba just looks GOOD.

A souvenir shop owner making carvings into a wooden pipe.

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Cuba Pt 1

I think everyone needs to escape every once in a while.  To pack their bags and turn away from the day to day stresses of our fast paced lives.  To forget about deadlines and perhaps stale memories that need to be washed away.  For me, this was it.  A week long getaway with nothing but the sun and ocean.  

The view from my balcony.  Green and blue.  Clear as crystal.

There's something so gentle and calming about letting the subdued waves caress your skin while your toes mingle with the white sand

Obligatory outfit shot, of course.  Wearing Club Monaco Tee, DIY denim shorts, Pistol Panties bikini

Pilar Beach.  This place was gorgeous beyond words.  

Enjoying a piping hot bowl of seafood after a long snorkeling session.  Fish and coral may sound like a trivial thing.  Everyone has seen it on TV.  But when you dip your head underneath the surface of the water and actually see the tropical water creatures sneaking in and out of the depths of the ocean...suddenly it becomes sort of magical and you forget about all the things you left behind.  It was escape.

We stopped at a distant beach.  At first glance it was a rather unglamorous piece of land.  No where near as spectacular as Pilar.  However, you dig a little deeper and realize that there is still beauty to be found.  We salvaged these little gems along the shore.

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Versatility

Zara leather jacket, Club Monaco tank, Nine West ankle boots

I am in love with my latest outerwear addition I got on sale from Zara a little while ago.  I'm usually not a fan of man-made leathers as the fabric has a rather waxy and rubbery feel, but this one is actually quite pliable to the body.  The fact that you can detach the fur collar is definitely a bonus.  I wore it over a semi-sheer silky tank to soften the look.  Arguably this outfit is not very spring-like at all, but in my defense it was half snowing today (whaaattt... I know).  Anyways, hope you guys are having a lovely Wednesday and I'll see you again very soon!  xoxo

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Glimpse of Spring

(Zara Cardigan, Club Monaco leggings, Aldo heels)

I really must apologize for being MIA for so long.  I'm not quite sure what to use as an excuse this time except for the fact that I was purely lacking inspiration and all my outfits seem to be rather boring.  You see, I have put myself on a shopping ban in attempts to save up as much as possible for my summer Europe trip (yay!).  And so my outfits have pretty much been in rotation, but I am determined to make the most of my staple pieces and show you guys how to mix it up and prepare for the transition into Spring :) 

xoxo

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Nine West Burgundy/Oxblood Booties

This is the time to be scouring the sale racks for deals on Fall/Winter wear.  Sadly, I do not own a pair of comfortable water-resistant ankle boots so they were definitely on my radar.  Nine West's shoes fit me the best and they had these gorgeous pair of oxblood leather booties which were over 50% off that I just couldn't pass up.  I actually wanted a black pair but they were sold out (knew it), so I went for this color instead which I still think is very classic.

Heel height is about 3''?  They are extremely comfortable with a slightly pointed toe and gold toned hardware.  I know it's tempting to shop for your Spring wardrobe now, but don't forget all the amazing sales that are happening now.  Your wallet will thank you!

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FW13 Runway: Theysken's Theory, Pamella Roland, Belstaff

Thigh high boots are back.  Along with strong fur trims and intricate prints.

Belstaff.  Perfect length, and love the upfront fur.  Looks so soft and warm.

Theysken's Theory.  So easy, so effortless.  The whole collection could literally be my Fall wardrobe and I wouldn't mind. Baggy sweaters, skirts and boots are my fuss free go-to pieces. 

There's something so dark and sophisticated with Pamella Roland's collection.  In fact, I was a little surprised at how attracted I was to the looks that had a significantly more mature air to them.  

I fell in love with the artistic, slightly oriental fabric.

Fur collars are popping up everywhere on the runway.  Take note, long beautiful flowing dresses that sweep the floor in all its heavenly glory.

Photos from Style.com 

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Prabal Gurung Fall 2013 RTW

I was already impressed by Prabal Gurung for Target.  His FW13 runway collection solidified my love for his edgy, sort of fusion look.  The first few models were adorned with fur collars in a slightly military inspired palette finished with touches of leather accents.  It reminded me of Game of Thrones on runway.  

I'm trying to figure out how those gladiator-like boots hold up... fascinating is the construction of wearable art crafted by fashionable masterminds.  

I quite enjoy peek-a-boo cut outs that seem to randomly flaunt flashes of skin.  

I'm a hit or miss with prints.  They can either be done really well, or just an over-kill. Gurung does it WELL.  Perfectly patterned fabrics cleverly pieced into the outfit. 

Photos from Style.com.  You can check out the rest of the collection here. 

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Altuzarra 2013 Fall RTW

I have a bit of a problem.  It's called Blogger Inconsistency Syndrome.  Characterized by sporadic posting followed by periods of temporary hibernation.  I'm sorry guys, it's hard to post when exams and reports are biting at my heels.  I rarely publish two posts in a row but I just cannot contain my excitement for Altuzarra's FW13 collection.  

Leather, fur and layering perfection.  I love how, despite the thick and bulky volume of fur and leather, Altuzarra was still able to preserve femininity with curve hugging silhouettes.  A slit down the skirt is so subtle but bold at the same time.  Of course I cannot forget to mention those killer claw-like fur gloves!  I could've used a pair while shoveling Canadian snow yesterday...

What are your thoughts on this collection?  Check out the rest on Style.com