I LOVE organizing too!!!

I love organizing so much that it is one of the fields I have seriously considered embarking upon if this medicine thing ever grows dull.

It gives me a tremendous sense of calm when I manage to transform any corner of minor or major chaos into a neatly organized oasis. I realize that some of you might think I'm a bit sick, but in reality it isn't something I obsess about, it is something I enjoy when I have the time to make it happen. Being able to share this passion with others who don't necessarily have the same inclination towards organization, but are nonetheless able to appreciate the final product just as much as I can, would be a blast. Organization is much more than a pretty space, it is finding functionality for the life you live. Sigh...

 

Now there is organizing for the rich and famous, California Closets style. Where every little drawer and basket sets you back several hundreds, and the finished product, well you can do the math... There stuff IS gorgeous, but generally unattainable for the non-personal assistant employing portion of the population.

Then there is organization for regular people done right. This is what a new blog I recently discovered is all about: http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com . I definitely identify with her. She offers very practical information, and super duper cool she offers some fun free printable organization stuff to get you started (at the top of the blog under the heading "free printables"). Everyone loves a freebie! Check it out, I think you will enjoy it.

I was happy about my over 1000 page views since September (woohooooo!!!!), but she has over 7 million (holy moly, golly gee whiz).

Profound

The courage to speak 

must be matched by 

the wisdom to listen.

Something I'm not the best at remembering when I need to remember it most, but I keep trying to do better because even though I don't know who to attribute this quote to, I agree with them in a profound way.

Heading into the holiday season, this may not be a bad idea for all of us to try to remember :)

Happy holidays to everyone!

St. Germain Liqueur

Love this stuff, in a crazy way!

I don't really drink much alcohol at all, but when I do decide to partake, it needs to a flavourful experience. I am partial to drinks that are refreshing and slightly sweet, and that aren't too strong.

This summer a lovely new friend introduced me to St. Germain liqueur, and I have been head over heels ever since. It is my new go-to drink to sip for the pleasure of the way it dances in my mouth. Total yum!

The website www.stgermain.fr/story.php gives you an idea of how unique this liqueur is (hand picked elderflowers, seriously gorgeous limited edition numbered bottles, etc), and if have read my blog before, by now you know how enthralled I am with good stories :)

The website also provides you with an impressive compendium of recipes. While I appreciate adventurous mixology, my current favourite way to savour this delectable drink is cold and on the rocks.

In the US it is available everywhere, and it is even available in Ontario and the rest of Canada. Sadly, despite being a French liqueur, it is not as yet available in Quebec. Hopefully one day (soon)!

Cheers!

GOOP

People either love her or the opposite. I'm most definitely among the former. She has proven herself as an actress, though chosen to undertake more minor roles since becoming a mom to two little muffins (kudos), has demonstrated her prowess as both a singer and dancer of late, can cook (hence the cookbook), and looks entirely smashing all the while.

Yes, even a regular gal like me has learned a ton from my good friend Gwyn over the years. Years ago I was one of the firstest followers of her online blog at www.goop.com I LOVE it! Not everything on it is for mere mortals (her clothing budget is NOT the same as mine, etc), but she does offer a variety of informative posts, including travel finds and thought provoking philosophical pieces from gurus in those fields, and I have honestly learned something from the vast majority of them. You can sign up to get the newsletters sent to your inbox every time there is a new one.

Now moving on to the cookbook, called My Father's Daughter. I love the reason she cooks, and I love the ethos of this cookbook, which is geared to all the moms out there who want simple delicious food for their beloved families. I get that, and I would recommend you get her book. Genuinely good stuff. 

Finally, the personal tidbit:

I was once 1 degree of separation away from Gwyneth. This past fall I was walking to yoga in my neighbourhood, and her hubby, none other than Chris Martin of Coldplay, walked past me on the sidewalk. I saw him, recognized him, he saw me and I chickened out of saying anything to him.

So hard to find pictures of them together (they try hard not to be photographed together in public).

I have been kicking myself ever since! Shoulda, woulda, coulda....
Next time - there better be a next time :)

Otto

This one is a fun find for your next visit to the big city.

Family dining that is flavourful enough for the parents while still appealing to the kids and your wallet can be a challenge to find in any city. On a trip to NYC at the end of the summer, we had the pleasure of discovering one such rare gem.

Otto www.ottopizzeria.com. This is a high-end totally scrumptious pizza restaurant (check out the pictures on the website, you will get a hint of what I'm raving about), they also serve other Italian fare such as delectable pastas, while also being a lively entoteca (a wine tasting bar). The cool part is that this is a Mario Batali restaurant without the hefty price tag associated with his fancier establishments. This place is entirely casual, low key, and fun. The food and wines are outstanding, exactly as you would expect from one of his restaurants. The service is accommodating to the family ambiance, while still being very professional and knowledgable, especially when it comes to the vast array of regional private import Italian wines.

A delicious and hassle free dining experience helps you enjoy the amazing company you get to share it with. Imagine family meals as they were intended to be, priceless.

Love this place, and so did the rest of my family!
It is hopping, so reservations are a must, and can be made easily on the internet via open table: www.opentable.com

Montreal bagels

Are an institution, period.

If you have never tasted one you are definitely missing out on one of life's unique pleasures. As everyone who has ever tasted one will tell you, there truly are no other bagels in the world that compare. The interesting catch is that even using the same recipe elsewhere in the world, they don't turn out the same. There are many theories as to why this might be, but the one I find perhaps the most plausible is that the the water (yes, good old municipal Montreal water), is the secret ingredient.

There are two main traditional bagel shops in Montreal, St. Viateur and Fairmont, both on their eponymous streets in the Plateua/Mile End area of the city. While bagels from both are delicious, my favorite is St. Viateur, and I can't explain why. The shop on St. Viateur is open 24 hours a day, and you can stop in for a piping fresh bagel literally whenever your heart desires. There are also other outlets all over the city. Thankfully, even if you don't live in Montreal you can order them online to ship anywhere in Canada or the USA, www.stviateurbagel.com

My personal favorite is to custom order the whole wheat bagel at the Monkland location (5629 Monkland, 514-487-8051), and they can be ready for pick up in about 20-30 minutes. You might be thinking whole wheat bagels!? Yes,  I dare say they might even be tastier than the traditional ones, and certainly retain all the fluffy chewiness these little gems are notorious for.

Enjoy!

Aveda awesomeness

I have been a borderline cultish Aveda fan for a long while. Aveda makeup was the first non-pharmacy brand I splurged on when I started making my own money, and the brand continues to regularly surprise me with the quality of their products.

I know, I know, pretty much every make-up brand is now ultimately owned by Estee Lauder. However, while the "own all your competition" is surely a solid business model, I believe they have remarkably also managed to uphold the principals this brand was founded upon. It's all good!

While there are some products I have moved on from over the years, there are others I still swear by, and new ones I have only recently discovered. It is hard to know where to begin, so I will focus on some of favourites and encourage you to explore further to your sheer delight!

Probably my all-time favourite never-fail Aveda product is the Hand Relief. This is a decadent non-greasy cream that envelopes your hands in the loving they need and deserve. I for one am very hard on my hands as I wash them innumerable times every day, and then when I slather this cream on before I hit the hay it delivers much needed moisture rejuvenation while I sleep. I have tried too many other creams mainly out of pure exploration, and I keep coming back to this one. They also have a Foot Relief, but both because I like the Hand Relief better, and because the simpler the 'beauty' routine the better, I use the Hand Relief on my feet as well.

My second favourite product was a recent discovery when I visited the Aveda Institute in Soho this past summer (will be a future blog), and the stylist used Dry Remedy shampoo and moisturizing treatment masque on me. The entire experience was amazingness, and discovering this shampoo and bringing a bit of that day home with me was the cherry on top! This shampoo gives my thick course hair great manageable body and a lovely smooth texture. The added bonus is that unlike every other shampoo where I have to wash rinse and repeat, with this one lathering well once gets my hair clean and shiny. No repeat. Cool stuff. I don't use a conditioner regularly, but when my stressed out ends need extra pampering I indulge in the Dry Remedy treatment mask for 5 minutes after shampooing, and ahhhhh dryness solved!

A few other fantastic products are the the Mosscara (mascara that will nurture rather than dry out your lashes, trust me, you'll love it and so will your lashes), both the Calming and Energizing body cleanser (shower gel packed with aromatherapy that magically does precisely what the bottle promises), and last but not least, Aveda Comfort Tea is heaven-sent. Just wander into any boutique and they'll offer you a cup (totally yum).

Sadly Aveda is not available online in Canada, but in the US it is at www.aveda.com

While there are many Aveda salons, the best place to truly experience what the brand has to offer is to go to one of the stand-alone stores. In Montreal they are on St. Catherine's Street at the Corner of McGill College and at the Carrefour Laval shopping mall technically in Laval. The Aveda Spa at 3613 St. Laurent Blvd is the next best place to explore the offerings and possibly some pampering?

Because you definitely ARE worth it!!!