Touring Texas



Mission San José

A week off work means a week down south, and a very warm one at that. Texas in the summer is hot hot hot, and also not very crowded. (Bonus!) I've been explaining the experience to people as "it's like you just opened the pre-heated oven door, except that's the door to the street." Fortunately, the A/C is blasting all day every day, so a cool escape is always near.

Let's start off with the San José Mission in San Antonio. There are five Spanish Missions of Old San Antonio scattered along the San Antonio River. These establishments were built by Spanish Catholic religious orders who trained the native peoples to cultivate the land and adopt new culture, in order to live sustainably and prosper. These sites were built in 1720 (The Alamo) and 1731 (San José, San Juan, Concepcion and Espada). The missions are free UNESCO World Heritage Sites which still run as active parishes. When it isn't 100°F I'd totally do a bike tour of the four latter missions.



Baby Foot Review

I love a good at-home mani/pedi, but my routine is pretty time consuming so I’m lucky if I get two in a month. Even in the summer my feet are in good shape, so when I was offered a package of "Baby Foot" to write about, I enlisted the help of my hard-working mom to see just how powerful this popular product really is.

Merlocola - A Fun Twist On Classic Red

I'd say that I'm a pretty casual drinker, as I often prefer a glass of ice water over a martini. But after a busy day, I must admit that a crisp glass of wine starts to sound good once 6pm rolls around.

I was recently introduced to Merlocola which is a new red wine available at the LCBO just in time for the heat of summer.

ELLE Canada VIP Event Recap

I’ve been an avid reader of ELLE Canada for ages. I find that this particular Canadian magazine has very professional articles that span a wide range of topics, suitable for all ages. Living in Toronto means that we're right in the centre of all the action, especially where fashion and beauty are concerned. I signed up to be an ELLE VIP events member at least a year ago, which put’s you on the list for invites to their fun-filled evenings happening a few times each year.

Taste Of Toronto Event Recap

"Fort York hosted upwards of 20,000 visitors across four days from 2 – 5 July 2015. Featuring world class chefs, Toronto’s top restaurants and over 70 exhibitors, this is foodie heaven." -tasteoftoronto.com

For me, summertime means outdoor festivities. With only a few weeks left before things start to crank up for la rentrée, I'm making it a top priority to get out and about, whenever possible.

I first heard about Taste of Toronto back in January, and it has been on my list of "things to do" ever since. I’m a big fan of any kind of themed festival, especially since the energy is always so upbeat. With many events being free in the downtown core, it can be extra exciting to pay a small ticket price for entry into the more exclusive outings.

What To Do In Barcelona

After an especially arduous year and two degrees under my belt, I felt more than ready for a springtime vacation. I’ve had the pleasure of travelling to Europe a few times with my family, so for this trip I wanted to check out some new cities in addition to my favourites. The difference this time is that I went on the adventure with one of my girlfriends (hello, nightlife!).

First stop: Barcelona

Top 10 Things To Do

1. Visit Park Güell for a great view & explore Gaudi's masterpieces
2. Rent a rowboat, picnic and people-watch in Parc de la Ciutadella (kind of like the Central Park of Barcelona)
3. Marvel at the details of La Sagrada Familia
4. Tour the grounds of the Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau
5. Stroll through the Picasso museum (free on Sundays after 3pm)
6. See the Gothic Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia (there's a great view of the city from the roof)
7. Get a snack at Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria
8. Soak up some sun on the beach & see a flamenco show
9. Trek up to Montjuïc & the Olympic park
10. Walk along Las Ramblas, eat lots of tapas, and take as many exciting shots possible (more on that to follow)

I have heard only positive things about Barcelona from friends and family, so my hopes were extra high for the first week of the trip. After an overnight flight, we hopped off the plane, subwayed up to our hotel in the Guinardo area and hurried over to Camp Nou to watch the FC Barcelona vs. Real Sociedad football match.

FC Barcelona vs. Real Sociedad at Camp Nou

Football Match

My friend Tara and I have played soccer together for over 10 years (I’m still getting used to calling it football) so seeing some of the world’s greatest players in person was a bucket-list worthy event. The energy in the stadium was like nothing I’d ever experienced. There was no jumbotron, no instant replays and no loud speakers, just 100,000 dedicated fans singing, cheering and enjoying the game. Tickets weren’t cheap (90 euros a piece to sit close to the top) and it wasn’t until three days before the match that we found two decent seats side by side, but having a clear view of two amazing goals right below us made it worth every penny.

L'OCCITANE Verveine Agrumes Shampoo & Body Lotion

"Welcome, the Citrus Verbena fragrance. A blend of organic Verbena from Provence, grapefruit and lemon from the Mediterranean crushed with lemony leaves, which come together in an exhilarating zesty accord to offer both a comforting, gentle sensation and an invigorating breath of vitality for the summer." -L'OCCITANE

No matter how many times I try to skip a day between washes, I don't think I'll ever stray from my daily shampooing. There's something so revitalizing about a good scalp massage either before bed, or first thing in the morning.

Wedding Sari

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending my best friend Akkila's sister's wedding. It was a beautiful afternoon ceremony, held in a Hindu temple. As someone who's used to Italian weddings, this was an opportunity that I couldn't pass up.

Natural Skincare From Toronto: Ella's Botanicals

To continue with the Canadian love, I wanted to share my favourite products from Ella's Botanicals. I have been seeing the brand all over social media for a while, and actually had the chance to meet with Ella at a beauty event earlier this year (details here). Since then I have been absolutely loving everything I picked up from the brand.

Natural Skincare From Toronto: Pelle Beauty

Happy Canada Day!

As someone who loves all things handmade, I take every opportunity I get to try out local Canadian brands.

I have been following Marnie Cipriani, the creator of Pelle Beauty for quite some time after discovering the Toronto-based brand on Instagram. After expressing my love for quality skincare and rich oils, she graciously sent over a sampling of their best sellers.