Smells sooo nice

For me scented candles are one of life's special indulgences. There is something decadent about my surroundings being enveloped in a scent I enjoy. Scents can relax you, energize you, or simply feel inexplicably pleasing. Lovely.

That being said, I find it quite challenging to find scented candles that do what they are intended to do. I have tried many, and in a moment of desperation have even paid ridiculous amounts of money for a few in an attempt to get one that smelled, and I was unfortunately disappointed time and time again.

Hands down, my all time favorite scented candles are by a company called Archipelago Botanicals. Their smells are smooth and authentic, quite simply heavenly. I find the Mango Tangerine (my #1) and Pomegranate Citrus (my #2) are the most delicious. This company has many varied scents (even Bergamot Tobacco), so there is something for everyone.

The only place I know they sell them in Montreal is Arthur Quentin on St.Denis www.arthurquentin.com This is a store I love love love, and I have already proclaimed its praises in a separate post (suffice it to say that if you go, I would bet you walk out with more than the candles).

I haven't found a great Canadian website that sells them. They do sell them on-line at  the US Amazon www.amazon.com .

My second favorite scented candle company is one called Lucia. Unlike the other brand, I haven't found that every scent from these candles reliably emits the same concentration of scent. The best one is Olive Blossom & Laurel, which is a great crisp scent for the kitchen. I also find their scent diffusers work well. One of the definite bonuses of this brands is that they are a Montreal based company (rock on). They are very easily accessible through many retailers, including Chapters stores and on-line www.chapters.indigo.ca, and several of the scents are currently 50% off at Chapters.

I hope these little finds provide you with hours of relaxation and inspiration. Peace.

Gnocchi from heaven

One of my all time favorite Italian specialties (of which there are many), are gnocchi. When gnocchi are made well, and taste the way they are intended to taste, namely light and fluffy with only a touch of chewiness, they are utterly fabulous! I love the way these delectable little pillows from heaven melt in my mouth.

Recently The Montreal Gazette introduced me to the culinary genius of Luciano Lecas, who makes the gnocchi at Buona Notte restaurant in Montreal. Watch Luciano make them www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQI6cqOZ9Zc so you can understand where I'm coming from. Being a total sucker for a good story, I was seriously intrigued. Therefore this year for my birthday, my husband, my children and I had dinner there for me to savor Luciano's specialty. The rest is history. They were everything I had hoped they would be, and more! I regularly dream about the next time I will have them (and I have been back several times).

This dish is surprisingly reasonably priced for something this scrumptious ($19, if memory serves), and you can have it during either the lunch or dinner sitting. Luciano makes the gnocchi 6 days a week, so you may want to call ahead to make sure they have them on the menu that day (I went once when they didn't have them and I was very seriously disappointed).

The ultra ultra special treat is also having them for dessert. If you go for lunch Luciano will make them with butter and cinnamon (this isn't on the menu, you have to ask). Technically it isn't available for dinner at all, but if you happen to be lucky and Max is there (one of the owners, and Luciano's son), he has a soft spot for this Italian treat, and if you ask nicely, he will allow the chef to make it for you. If you are a gnocchi lover, as I am, definitely worth the begging!

Buon appetito

Marvelous method

I have been proclaiming my undying love for method cleaning products for years! I love their soap, their dishwashing liquid, dishwasher tablets, all purpose cleaner, window cleaner, bathroom scrub, toilet cleaner, room spray, stainless steel cleaner, wood cleaner, laundry detergent, and finally fabric softener. Yes, I'm a method girl.

You can check out more information about their philosophy, and browse through the full line of products on their website: www.methodhome.com

Why are they so great you ask? For starters and most importantly, because they work marvelously well. Then secondly, they are entirely non-toxic for humans and the environment. I LOVE that! I strongly believe there is something not OK about filling our lives with unnecessary potentially harmful chemicals. Did I mention they also smell entirely lovely?

Probably my all time favorite method product is their lemongrass kitchen soap. This stuff is downright magic! While I love the earthy smell of garlic on my finger tips after I have lovingly cooked dinner for my family, the next day the smell can be nauseating. They advertise this soap as "garlic has met its match". Darn right! A small spritz and wash with this delectable soap and all lingering food smells on your finger tips are a distant memory.

I have only seen it with a stainless steel colored bottle in Montreal, but on-line I was only able to find a picture of the clear bottle. Go figure. I imagine it comes in various packaging (maybe different in Canada vs. US).

Method products are sold at many retailers, including pharmacies and grocery stores, as well as on line at www.well.ca  (a previous post). In Montreal I find Canadian Tire has the widest selection, and the best prices (though not vastly different).

People against dirty, unite!

Macs are THE BOMB - all of them ;)

OK, Apple really does not need any help from me promoting any of their products. Being the second largest company on the planet, even after the untimely demise of their main creative force, they are fine all on their own...

I still can't help myself, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Apple products. LOVE them. Why do I love them them you ask? I love them because they do what they are supposed to do, and they keep on doing what they are supposed to do, and they can be figured out by the non-computer genius echelon of our society (i.e.. me). In short, they simply work, like magic on fire! xoxo

My love affair started in earnest about 3 years ago when I bought myself a MacBook Pro for the first time. It was an experience straight out of wonderland, filled with ease and surprise and pure awe. Everything worked better than the commercial promised. I was literally bewildered that I could turn a computer on, and it just worked. As simple as that, it did. And most impressively, 3 years later, it still worked as well as the day I turned it on out of the box, without a single glitch, or a moment of slowing down a degree the human mind could possibly perceive. Impressive to say the least.

Over time I have become a true Apple freak. I have since bought an iMac, several iTouches, an iPad, I had a iPod from long ago that still works perfectly, and I convinced my mom to get an iMac and she wonders why all computers aren't made this way... The only product I don't yet have is the iPhone, but after this crazy BB blackout sh*t this week, I will be switching over as soon as my finances and carrier will allow....

I just bought myself a new MacBook Pro today *sigh*. I have a very special bond with my old one, I LOVE it, but this one already has a special place in my heart. Apple seems to have a crazy way of knowing exactly what needs to be updated, always. For example, my new backlit keyboard. LOVE it! I always had trouble typing in the dark, but I never once considered a backlit keyboard. Now that I have one I think it is absolutely nothing short of BRILLIANT! This is just one example of the constant innovation that Apple is notorious for, and they keep on delivering.

Even if you aren't going to buy a new Apple computer product today, certainly do your research and consider one for the future. If you already have one, then please know that there is a new operating system called "Lion" that you need to upgrade to. While the computer easily prompts your for all updates, this is not an update, this an upgrade. If you are on "Snow Leopard" then you can easily upgrade to Lion online through the app store. If you have Leopard. you first need to upgrade to snow leopard, and then to lion. That is where I was. I was lucky, and I got a very cool person who helped me at the iStore on St. Catherine's in Mtl, and it turns out if you have leopard, and you need snow leopard to get to lion, rather than buying the software online, you can go to an iStore and they can do that part for you for free. Bring your laptop in and tell them "someone" said it could be done. I DID IT TODAY, saves you $30. Better in your pocket than theirs. If you go in Mtl, ask for Jonathan on the second floor (genius bar area), he was one of the managers, and a really great guy. Then you go home and you buy the Lion upgrade, which will cost you $30 (sorry, that is a brand new operating system they do not give out for free). Important for the future, for iCloud (cool iTunes stuff at the least), and more...

Enjoy computers, the internet, and the heavenly place Apple has created for us all *sigh*

Dualit Lite

OK, so this post is bit out there as it is about a toaster!? Well, more accurately it is about THE toaster.

Who hasn't swooned over the classic styling of those Dualit toasters that seem to grace every single designer kitchen in those dreamy decorating magazines? I know I have, right up until I googled the price... The swoon quickly switched to shock, as $400 for a toaster has always seemed more than a tad steep to me.

I did a little research on why exactly the Dualit toaster costs quite that much, and why consumers are willing to pay. It turns out that the $400 Dualit toaster was created for industrial use, yes, the restaurant market. Also, part of the high cost is that it is still only hand made in the UK, and the added bonus is the Dualit is apparently manufactured in such a simple way (yes, they claim simple), that your Dualit can last you a life-time because when it breaks it is meant to be quite easily repaired, rather than replaced. All very good.

Now I have something even better! They have come out with a line of Dualit toasters called the Dualit Lite. These are still handmade in the UK, and are also meant to last forever thanks to simple mechanics. The difference is they are not manufactured for industrial use, and hence come to you at a substantial savings! Therefore, unless you are making as much toast each morning as a breakfast joint, this line should suit your needs just fine.

They sell them on-line at many retailers as well as Costco.ca www.costco.ca . The ones at Costco seem to only come in black and cream. If you are looking for a funkier color browse the net for another retailer like www.greenbeanery.ca that carries a gorgeous blue version. Approximately $80 for the 2-slice variety, and $150 for the 4-slice, long or chunky version. I have a 4-slice long version in black, and I love everything about it. It looks stylish, it works very reliably, and even has nice features like the sneak a peak, the bagel setting and frozen functions.

Most importantly, aren't they super pretty?

Back to Black, Aphrodisiac

Even the name jumps out and grabs your attention doesn't it? I assure you, the scent most certainly will as well.

This post is about what I believe to be the most sensationally sultry personal fragrance out there, ever. It is the result of scrumptious combination of sublime scent and seductive marketing. The brain child of Kilian, the scion of the Hennessy Cognac empire no less (later the LVMH group). The sales lady shared with me after having met him on a promotional tour, that he is just as heavenly as his creation. His fragrance is definitely something other-worldly. I'm fortunate enough to have received a bottle as a gift from my hubby, and each time I wear it, I'm complimented on the intriguing fragrance I'm wearing. I think that is probably the best way to describe it, distinctly "mysterious".

Even if you have no need for a new fragrance, or any intention to buy this one, I strongly suggest you make your way to the store to infuse your senses, even just once. It's worth it (and so are you).

It is available for a little less than the down payment on a luxury car (no joke, it don't come cheap), at your local Holt Renfrew in Canada, at Sacks Fifth Avenue in the US.

Kusmi tea

This post is mainly because I think this product is fantastic, but it is also a nod to the people in Russia who are reading my blog, which I find incredibly enchanting. Thank you!

I must say, I do enjoy a flavorful cup of tea. It doesn't seem like it should be something complicated, yet often I find the flavor of many teas I have tried falls flat. I believe many people who dislike tea probably feel this way because they have never tasted a truly superb tasting tea. They are an all too rare breed...

This is where Kusmi tea comes in. While there is a dizzying array of teas to sample out there, I find this to be one of my most reliably delicious standbys. It absolutely never fails to delight my senses. The flavors are deep, delicious, and lasting. They never taste bitter, hollow or watered down. They are utterly splendid!

Kusmi tea comes in incredible varieties, including the classics like Earl Grey, mixes of their own invention like Prince Vladimir and Anastasia, and fun loving mixes like Be Cool (a relaxing mix of peppermint and liquorice, equally tasty hot or cold, my favorite). They also make a line of organic teas under the name LOV.

I'm starting to see their teas pop up all over the place, from little specialty food stores (such as fantastic Douceurs du Marche at Atwater market), to large "we now sell everything" chains like Chapters, and finally there is a stand alone Kusmi store on St. Denis at 3875 rue St. Denis (between Roy and Duluth). Check out their website for the full scoop www.kusmi.ca . If you read the entire background story you will understand the Russian connection (the origins of tea section).

Be adventurous, experiment, let them tantalize your senses. Treat yourself, you deserve it!

Cocodot

I have been a Cocodot fan from the very first day they opened for business. They are an on-line card making and sending site. They also coordinate invitation sending, RSVPs, etc for small and big events.

What makes them super special is how wow incredibly cool and versatile their designs are. They are fully customizable, and the website is easy peesie lemon squeezie (as my kids would say). And this is why the people who run this company rock : the deal was that for a mere $19.99 you could send out as many cards as you wanted in a year (they are substantially more chic than anything you can get on those free websites, so well worth that price), and then I guess business was going very well, and they decided to make the card section free (you still have to pay for invitations), and they refunded part of the amount I had paid for this year! When does that ever happen? Seriously sophisticated. Since they are now free too, there is absolutely no reason to send an even slightly mediocre card again.

Check them out: www.cocodot.com

Here are some examples:

Send someone special some love today.

Bare Minerals make-up changed my life

I have never been one of those people who enjoys playing around with make-up. For me make-up became a necessary part of life as I aged, as my skin texture and tone changed, and when much to my dismay I started to develop break-outs as an adult, something I never suffered from as a teenager, go figure.

It took some time, and when I finally found a quality make-up brand, I was very loyal, sticking with it for years and years. Eventually I was compelled to look around for something different because I simply didn't feel my old make-up was performing optimally for me any longer. What I discovered was a life changing revelation.

If you are the kind of person who has a lovely complexion, and are never tempted to wear foundation or cover-up, this probably isn't for you. I tend to need a base to even out my skin tone every day in order to feel comfortable with the way I look, and is cheaper than therapy for my self esteem.

Before you decide either way about whether mineral make-up is right for you I would recommend you watch their instructional video on-line, which can be found on their website www.bareescentuals.com .

What I love about these products is they are very quick and easy to apply even the first time, they provide excellent coverage without looking like you are wearing a cake of make-up, they seem to moisturize my skin, they wear well, even if I break a sweat, the make-up seems to stick in place, it doesn't cause break-outs for me, they come in numerous shades and therefore can be matched with a variety of ethnicities, they contain natural SPF, and the last little nifty bit is it is an all powder make-up product and does not count towards the liquids you are permitted to take as carry on luggage when you travel (nifty, eh?).

The bright thing they have done is to sell a starter package that contains everything you need (powders and special brushes) to give this product a try. The starter kit is available at many retailers including the larger Pharmaprix stores (eg. Plaza Alexis Nihon), and of course Sephora.

Yet another bonus for me is the containers last forever, which translates into fewer trips to the store to restock. Life simplified! Always a good thing.

Wonderful Wordle

OK, I was seriously tempted to keep this one to myself... Then, the compulsive sharer in me got the best of the situation, and here we are.

This wordle thing is SO COOL. It's crazy ....

It is a website where you enter in a bunch of words, any words you want, and then the website creates this fantastically cool piece of custom art work for you to display, or share with friends. Oh my, it is a tad difficult to explain ....

For me the story begins with Iva & Stephen's bedroom... Not as sordid as it sounds. They were gracious enough to let my family stay at their home while they were out of town and we were visiting NYC. They had a super funky piece of word art hanging on their wall. I recently remembered it and set out on the net to try to find out where they got this, and was beyond thrilled to find out it was generated by simple free program available to us all.

This is an example of what you can do:

I don't have any major tips to share as I'm entirely new to this, so we will all be fumbling through it together. However, in my preliminary perusal I have found most of the things are customizable (reshuffling, colors, fonts, size of fonts, etc), therefore be sure to play around. I found the FAQ quite helpful, as some of the functions are not intuitive.

www.wordle.net

For starters you could use words related to things you are grateful for. We all sometimes need some reminding. We all also need some fun and easy creativity in our lives.
Enjoy. I know I will.