Health & Wellness: My Healthy Journey Begins!

First 5 Steps to Reach a Healthy Goal!

My New Years Resolution this year (and every year for the past ten years) was to get healthy. I know that's a very broad objective but it actually encompasses five goals that I wanted to accomplish. I'm not getting any younger and I really want to be able to enjoy my life to the fullest extent, so this is the year that I made some positive changes to my life to put me on the healthy path. My healthy journey begins with these first five steps:

Step 1: Quit Smoking!

This was the hardest and biggest step towards my Get Healthy Goal, which it's the first one. I quit smoking several times over the years and it has been a constant struggle for me. With the help from my family, friends, and coworkers, I finally quit for good, 43 days ago and I feel great about it. My body (and mind) are still recovering, but every day I feel a little bit better, which keeps be going. Another big help to say smoke-free my entry in The Canadian Cancer Society's The Driven to Quit Challenge. It's offers advice, encouragement, and prize incentives to quit smoking for the month for March. So fingers crossed!

Restaurant Review: A Little Piece of Japanese Cuisine Heaven!

EDO-Ko Food Menu Review

A few weeks ago I enjoyed the best meal I had in a long time. The restaurant was EDO-Ko and the meal was an assortment of some of their amazing Japanese cuisine dishes.

Lobster Tempura Maki

I have enjoyed Sushi thousands of times before, but apparently I have never really ate authentic Japanese cuisine until that night. Just one of the interesting things I learned that cold night in January.

Food & Drink Review: My At Home Café!

Keurig 2.0 Brewing System Review

I had an early Christmas surprise just before the holidays! I received a complimentary Keurig 2.0 K400 Brewing System and a sample of K-Cups from Influenster to sample and review. And I have been enjoying amazing coffee at home ever since.

When I first opened the box, I was a little daunted by it. It looked very confusing and hard to figure out. But it was so easy to set up and use.

Home Life: I Design My Dream Living Room from Modani!

Modani Living Room Designed & Styled

Last month I was among a group of bloggers that was approached by furniture company Modani modern furniture to design a room with their products that reflect our personal style. I always have fun decorating my apartment, and jumped at the chance of styling my dream apartment with a dream budget!

Modani is a furniture store that offers high quality designer furniture specializing in contemporary and modern pieces. Modani challenged me to design a living room setting infused with my personal style. As no surprise to my readers, my style is a little eclectic, which is represented in the room I designed.

Event: World Pride Has Come to Toronto!

Announcement of World Pride Toronto Event

In case you have been living under a rainbow coloured rock for the last few months in Toronto, let me inform you on the amazing 10 day event that started yesterday in Toronto: World Pride!  World Pride is an annual event celebrating and educating the history and culture of LGBTTIQQ2SA (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, two-spirited, and their allies), that has been held at different cities around the world for the past 3 years. World Pride Toronto is presented by Pride Toronto, and coincides with Toronto's annual Pride Celebration and Parade.

Lifestyle: Balancing Home + No Work Life!

Tips for Staying Motivated while Looking for a Job

I got laid on from my job a few months ago, and I have been trying to find full time employment ever since. I love blogging and all the events and exhibits I go to because of it, but it doesn't pay the bills. I've been finding it hard to stay motivated and keep up with every day errands and chores because of my lack of motivation due to my unemployment. And maybe because I had to schedule appointments, visits, and events around my job, but my life was much more organized when I was working.

Event: Taste of Toronto's Best!

This Saturday is the annual Toronto Taste event, one of the city's top food events that benefits the Second Harvest Food Rescue. Some of the city's top chefs from some of Toronto's best restaurants, including celebrity chef Mark McEwan, will be preparing a variety of food options at over 70 gourmet food and beverage stations.

Event: Doors Wide Open in Toronto!

The weekend before last was one of my favourite events in Toronto: Doors Open Toronto! I love this event. It's a fabulous opportunity to not only visit companies and buildings not usually open to the public, but to learn a little history about this great city. Unlike previous years, I took part both Saturday and Sunday (which my body felt on Monday), and visited about 10 different sites. It would take up too much time to list all that I learned and saw but here are my highlights from the weekend:

Event: The Long Journey To Buy Honest Ed's Signs!

Honest Ed's Giant Sign Sale Event Recap

Last Monday, I joined thousands of Torontonians and lined up for hours for a chance to buy a piece of Toronto Retail History. Yes that's right, I was one of the crazy people who lined up for hours to buy some of Honest Ed's unique hand painted signs. 

Honest Ed's Sign Sale: The end of the line at 5:30pm outside

Event: Getting Inspired At The Interior Design Show!

This past weekend was the Interior Design Show held in Toronto at The Metro Convention Centre. Designers, architects, Stores, and Trade Sales People all participated and showcased their talent and products. There was also some beautiful and avant garde pieces on display and for sale from various designers from across North America and beyond. 

Lifestyle: Winter Fresh + Steam Whistle Beer!

Heya! Last Sunday I visited The Steam Whistle Brewery. Not just to sample their fabulous beer but to shop at the new Winter Farmer's Market. 

Event: My Annual Date With My Favourite Woman!

Heya! One weekend in the fall, for over 10 years, I have a standing date with one of my favourite people.  Almost every year, my Mother and I, attend The National Women's Show at The Toronto Convention Centre. Some years, other friends and family have joined us, but this year it was just the two of us, like it was at our first visit several years ago. My Mom doesn't live in the city, so she makes the treacherous trek into a city she doesn't know, on the bus and train. She spends the weekend with me and it turns into a shopping/girl movie weekend. We both look forward to it every year.

My Mom and I at The National Women's Show

Waiting in line at The National Women's Show

Explore Toronto: Serenity Now!

  
Sometimes I find it hard to get some peace and feel grounded living downtown in North America's fourth largest city. I love Toronto and it is my favourite city in the world, but sometimes a girl has just got to get away! If I don't have the time or the means to leave the city for a weekend, I find myself walking the winding path of The Toronto Public Labyrinth downtown in the heart of Toronto. I walk the pathway towards the centre, just letting my mind empty of all the worries and questions that have been bothering me that week. Once I reach the centre, I just stand there and take deep breaths, feeling myself calm and content. Once I follow the path out and reach the end of the Labyrinth, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, more happy and able to see things with a better perspective.

Lifestyle: City Hall Transforms!

Heya! City Hall transforms into something Fresh and Tasty! Every Wednesday the concrete yard of City Hall turns into a fabulous farmer's market where Ontario grown fruits and vegetables, fresh flowers and home made baked goods are being sold to the sold to the beat of live music on stage! And then on Thursdays, food vendors serve up some international cuisine for $7 or less to some international music on stage! Fresh Wednesdays and Tasty Thursdays will run for the rest of the summer until 2pm!