While we’re getting into the swing of the weekend and other wonderful things, I thought I’d share a lovely post that girlontheave shared with me this AM. Come peek into This is Glamorous‘ make up collection and check out what’s on her vanity and in her kit.

Happy weekend friends!

Original post here: On the Vanity and in the Makeup Kit
Photos: This is Glamorous

Where I go:

Anthony Bourdain said something along the lines of “you can’t throw a fish in Vancouver and not hit a Japanese restaurant.” My motherland is known for several things: moose, maple syrup, and mountains, who knew we could add sushi to the list? But I guess that’s the great thing about Vancity – it really is a melting pot of many influences and you’ll find just about everything you need in the 114.67 km² of downtown Vancouver. It’s really a very agreeable place, there’s big city bustle and small town charm all wrapped into one breathtaking package, the people are kind and even nature tries its best to accommodate your ever need – you can go from sea to sky in under 2 hours (this means you can water ski in the AM and snow ski in the PM) with a highway that takes you straight to the heart of Whistler (arguably the best ski resort in North America). There really isn’t anything quite like it in the whole wide world

Wearing: Lots of layers. It gets cold in this coastal city during the winter (0-7°c) so you’ll want to break out the winter wear and bundle up! Scarves are an amazing addition to any outfit and have the added benefit of being able to keep you nice and toasty if you know how to tie them right (if you need some education check out the amazing tutorial on Wendy’s Lookbook: 25 ways to tie a scarf in just 4.5minutes)

Watching: Some people, but mostly the adorable dogs that populate this place. Vancouver is an extremely dog-friendly city, and its citizens have every breed of cute pooch you can possibly imagine. Park yourself at any of the dozens of coffee shops that dot this city, or by the waterfront if you want a great view of the marina, soak up some winter sun, and watch the world (and their four-legged friends) go by.

Eating: Sushi, sashimi and every form of seafood. Vancouver’s a great place to get some seafood – it’s so fresh, and the chefs in this town really know what they’re doing with it. Check out Blue Water Café for sushi, sashimi and succulent oysters fresh off the Pacific coast. It also boasts great décor (exposed brick walls and an open kitchen), and is located right in the heart of Yaletown so you can bar hop before or after dinner. Another great on their menu – the maple pecan panna cotta which had me humming Oh Canada! in my head.For manly man food, head to aptly named Meat&Bread in Gastown, where all they will serve you is a whole lot of meat only moderately covered by some bread. This is not a place for vegans or vegetarians, in fact, there should be a sign at the door that says “Vegans and Veggie lovers NOT WELCOME.” We had the Wednesday Special (layers and layers of oh so tender beef chuck roll that was braised? Brisket? Smoked? Slow roasted? To succulent perfection and served with jalapeno slaw and lime sour cream), and the Porcheta (this my friends, is bacon’s better looking and tasting cousin). The Porcheta – this is a sandwich that will bring bacon lovers to their knees, and tears to the eyes of meat fans everywhere. Juicy tender layers of porcheta are interspersed with generous chunks of crispy crackling that’s jam packed with flavour, housed between two ciabatta buns. Personally, this thing was a religious experience for me and I can’t wait to make my next pilgrimage back. Great, now I’m salivating on my keyboard and desperately hating my upcoming salad lunch date. Just a sidenote folks, I generally don’t do sandwiches, I don’t like them and they aren’t satisfying. I suppose the problem is that I just wasn’t eating the right ones. Meat&Bread, Y U NO COME TO SINGAPORE?

Blue Water Café & Raw Bar: 1095 Hamilton Street, Yaletown
Meat&Bread: 370 Cambie Street (x Hastings), Gastown

Drinking: Gimlets at Glowbal. Now this town has a whole host of watering holes, but we picked this one because it’s got delicious finger food on the side (satays and the like aren’t easy to find in Vancouver), a relatively creative drink list, super friendly service and it was right by our dinner place (Blue Water Café).

Toting: Shopping bags. While Vancouver isn’t known for its shopping, there are a couple of streets (and some very large malls) that will keep the retail fanatics among us satisfied for about a week or so. Robson Street is usually high up on everyone’s list of places for a little retail therapy, Metrotown in Burnaby is a gargantuan suburban mall that you could possibly get lost in for days, and the slightly less touristy stretch of Gastown has quite a few hidden gems, such as Old Faithful Shop which is stocked with all sorts of fabulous curiosities from rustic chairs, old school soap and shave kits, to proper leather and rope leashes for dogs. Don’t forget to hit up Aritzia, a homegrown favourite among the fashionable ladies. This store (born and bred in Vancouver) has a well curated selection of clothing from charming delicate tops to edgy little leather jackets.

Trotting: Furry boots! Suede boots! And little feathered booties! To keep ‘em tiny toes warm and toasty. Boots are a great investment, so long as you make the effort to keep them in good condition, especially in our wretched weather. Also, if they’re leather, please get some of that protective spray on them ASAP, it rains a hell lot in Vancouver and you wouldn’t want soggy toes in the wintertime.

Loving: The view. The scenery is just so incredibly spectacular. No matter where you turn, there’s always something stunning in your line of sight. You’ve got the water on one side and those majestic mountains on the other. Spend an afternoon in Stanley Park, hang out with the fat squirrels and take in the incredible panoramas all around you. Alternatively, take a drive up to Whistler and hit the slopes – it’s got one of the best ranges in all of North America. Plus you’ll love the view up on the sea to sky highway. Also loving? The epic corned beef hash at Paul’s Place Resaurant & Omelettery. You have to understand, I’m a corned beef hash fanatic. Chances are, if it’s on the menu, I’m definitely having it for breakfast or brunch. They use real corned beef (it’s so hard to find the real stuff!), topped with hashbrown, onions, tomatoes, cheddar cheese and a whole poached egg. It’s delicious, it’s incredible, it’s breakfast food at its best and it’s one of the things I love most about Vancouver. 

Odds & Ends: For every kind of bit and bauble, head to Granville Island Market. The food is fresh (and makes for amazing pictures), the views are gorgeous, the cupcakes and candy are so colourful and delicious, and there are so many shops specializing in so many different things! Really, there’s even a broom shop, where they make brooms! A trip to Vancity isn’t complete if I don’t stop into Paper Ya to check out its beautiful selection of paper products and fabulous stationery. And if you’re up for a mid-afternoon tipple, head to Artisan Sake Maker where Masa Shiroki brews his own sake to suit west coast foods.

Granville Island Public Market: 1689 Johnston Street

What I bring (back): The usual tourist favourites such as maple syrup and a canucks hockey jersey, but also, salmon candy (maple soaked smoked salmon, it is so so good, and you can get it packed for air travel at Granville Island Market), David’s Tea (from Montreal), and not surprisingly, puppy treats! The multitude of canines in Vancity means there’s a whole lot of stores that cater to your four-legged friend from doggy-bakeries to spas! Pebbles gets lots of cute and delicious treats, and usually a new leash, whenever I’m in Vancouver.

Three Dog Bakery: Point Grey Village, Vancouver

Other awesome things: If you’re into the Great Outdoors, then you’ll love Vancouver, because the outdoors don’t get greater than this (at least not in such close proximity to a major urban city). There are a ton of hiking and biking trails in and around the city, you can take a day pass to ski and ride at some of the surrounding mountains like Cypress or Grouse (or do a longer trip up at Whistler/Blackcomb), or enjoy the tree tops at the Capilano suspension bridge and tree top walk.

Catch a concert. Vancouver is a key stop on a lot of tours for big performers and chances are someone (like Aerosmith, or MGMT, or Bon Jovi, or Lady Antebellum) will be playing while you’re in town. On my last trip, Jay Z and Kanye were wrapping up the last leg of their tour in Vancity – too bad I wasn’t fast enough on my feet to score tix. So do check ticketmaster while you’re booking flights.

And that brings me to the end of my ramble on Vancity, I’m pretty sure I’ve hardly scratched the surface of all the things there are to do in the “most liveable city” on Earth. So if any of ya’ll have things to share, please do! They’re always welcome here :)

x ash

This little rave is a little late in coming, but I do firmly believe in the old adage that it’s better late than never, especially when it comes to doing and sharing something good (it is never too late to write that thank you note, or write that email you were supposed to send three months ago). So the same applies to this morello cherry pie by the good bakers and brothers, Jonathan and Sean Gwee.

While their pies are admittedly pricey, they are chock full of honest to goodness ingredients, and top of the line produce, as is expected of this young, entrepreneurial and extremely passionate duo. I am a huge fan of the pumpkin (which Nabs brought for Thanksgiving dinner), the morello cherry pie (sweet and sour cherries encased in a savoury shell), and the pecan pie – the filling really is quite addictive.

And if you’re looking for something different this Chinese New Year, they’ve got a Pineapple Upside Down Tart in store especially for the festive season. Told you it wasn’t too late to share the goodness.

Windowsill Pies
#01-206, 2 Pandan Valley,
Pandan Valley Condominium (S)597626

It’s best to place your order by phone, you have the option to collect in store or they can deliver for a small fee.

All of this (and an invitation to a Dapper Flapper party) got me thinking. It’s really such a waste to see all that makeup lay idle, and who doesn’t love learning new tricks for a quick fix? Plus, we all know how quick fixes can really work some magic.

So the girl friends and I are arranging a little MakeUp Matinee – mostly because we would like a girly-afternoon of boy-free entertainment, but also because we would like to exploit J (the walking beauty bible) who’s got an entire arsenal of tips and tricks stored in her brain, and finally, any excuse is a good excuse to break out the bubbly! Agreed?

Some of you probably had an inkling of where I was headed with this, seeing as how I polled the girls over twitter regarding their must-have makeup and products they simply couldn’t live without. Some of you even chimed in on your favourites! (THANK YOU! For all your contributions and affirmations) All of these items have landed up on a hit list I’ve compiled, and we’re super excited to get to try them. Clear leaders are l’occitane in the handcream race, CDP correcteur visage (6 votes and counting in a pool of 12!), and fairydrops mascara for major curl. I’m curious to see what else comes up top.

Things I’m excited to share with the girls: The amazingness that is CDP correcteur visage (this super creamy concealer glides on effortlessly, doesn’t cake or crumble or dry out all through the day, you can also mix it in with sunscreen and moisturizer to create a tinted moisturizer perfect for your skin tone), the wonders of the Urban Decay Naked Palette (though I’m not entirely sure how maximize its potential – which is where J comes in), and the universally flattering for fair skin blush Orgasm by Nars.

What I would like to learn to do/use: Urban Decay’s Dangerous Palette (darker colours, definitely more party makeup), Chanel quad reflets d’ombre (green, gold, brown shadows), Lorac’s Old Hollywood look for the Dapper Flapper party, and smudge-proof eyeliner!

I will attempt to take some pictures of the revelry – though I’m not entirely sure the girls will allow it given the very experimental nature of the afternoon, not to mention the fact that bubbly and attempting eyeliner on someone else probably isn’t that great of an idea! But I will try my best, failing that, you will definitely get a shortlist of J’s tips and tricks.

Speaking of which, care to share your favourite _____________ ?

Face chart adapted from Bobbi Brown cosmetics

This place gets mad props from lovers and fanatics of fresh, artisanal, small batch, made-to-order, locally sourced (and other buzz words often found in San Francisco area) products. Smitten boasts made to order ice cream in 60 seconds flat. It’s fresh, it’s delicious, and it’s delightful to watch them make it. 

Shacked up on a corner of Hayles Valley, in what used to be a parking lot, Smitten serves up some seriously amazing ice cream – one that even I was willing to get a bite of in the dead of winter (in spite of cold toes and nose) – right out of a little wood and glass box. That one bite obviously led to an entire cup of meyer lemon ice cream with cookie bits which is the ice cream cousin of Drea’s incredible lemon meringue pie.

The farm fresh ingredients are flash frozen with liquid nitrogen in a machine they call “Kelvin” (sounds so friendly huh) while you wait (about 60 seconds) and each batch (a single scoop) is made specially for you. You can order on or off the menu, though I highly doubt you’ll be able to top their selection as they create the most unique flavour combinations (maple brown sugar butternut squash and candied pecans; banana chocolate chunk; strawberry and white balsamic).

Smitten Ice Cream
432 Octavia St
(between Fell St & Linden St)

And Oh LORDIE was it ever a good decision. A big thank you to J who pointed me in the direction of this beeeoootiful sun-washed space, filled with good people and greater food.

First up, I am such a fan of the decor. If I ever have the pleasure of owning my own restaurant, I hope it looks just like this! It’s all warm and wood, and bright and light, the copper accents add a rustic feel, and the service is first class. Floor-to-(2-story high)-ceiling windows let in a lot of light, which is great for food photography and makes everything that lands on the table look incredible (the first sighting of a salad had me salivating as it waltzed by in a waiter’s hands). You’re greeted by the hostess and a view of the long bar that runs the length of the first room: They’ve got an excellent selection of drinks, get one, and if you do, may I suggest the St. Germain & champagne cocktail?

It’s made up of all my favourite things: gin, elderflower liquor, champagne and a splash of lemon juice. It’s refreshing, zesty, and bright, this is the holy grail of champagne cocktails for me and I can’t wait to make it at my next house party (if I can secure some liquor).

Next up, order the oysters, I beseech thee. The list is extensive, they are very fresh, they are very very delicious, and they come from all along the Pacific coast. If you’ve never had an oyster tasting, Zuni’s actually a great place to try it out because their staff actually know what they’re talking about (vs. the crap waitstaff normally try to pull when you ask them to recommend an oyster). Trust them when they say it’s sweet/salty/refreshing/crisp/
creamy/meaty/mineral. Between us, we had the Effingham inlets, Marin miyagis, Sand isle kumamotos, Hog island atlantics, Chelsea gems and Drake’s bays; and we could taste the distinct differences in each oyster, based on where it was from! Having eaten oysters for years and never truly appreciated the differences, this was a refreshing change. I also have a theory, and I would like for someone to tell me if its true or not, but little oysters tend to pack more of a flavour punch yes? The flavours get lost in the big meaty ones? Yay? Nay?

Oh, backtrack a wee bit, before you order the oysters, in fact, before you’re even seated, please let the hostess know you’ll be having the roast chicken! It takes an hour to prepare but let me assure you, it’s well worth the wait. Though to be honest you won’t even realize you’re waiting as there will be lots of delicious distractions to keep you occupied.

Okay so now, the chicken. Let me start with this, I have decently high standards for roasted poultry and I consider myself quite the accomplished roaster of birds – my annual thanksgiving and Christmas turkeys are well loved by all, and I’ve got my roast chicken recipe down and dusted. So as you can imagine, I view the humble chicken as neither a challenge nor a particularly interesting item on a menu. I would never order roast chicken in a restaurant because it’s like, been there done that, can’t you entice me with something more sophisticated?

Well, I was wrong. I ate humble pie in the form of magnificent chicken that day.

This chicken of theirs, it’s really splendid. It’s juicy, it’s plump, it’s crisp, it’s jam packed with flavour and there’s not a dry piece of white meat in sight. The skin is a beautiful warm mahogany colour and lightly crisp, the meat is tender and every bite has your tastebuds singing hallelujah. Still not convinced?

Let’s put it this way, you never eat chicken for the meat, it’s always all about the skin. You’ll never find someone raving about how good the chicken meat is, in fact, chicken without the skin is boring, healthy food. Not so at Zuni. At Zuni, even the meat of the chicken has praises sung about it, and the skin? The skin probably has entire anthologies waxing lyrical about it’s amazingness.

What I’m trying to say is this: it’s a damn good chicken.

Zuni Cafe
1658 Market Street
between Page St & 12th St
(415) 552-2522

Reservations via OpenTable

For those of you like me who just love peeking into the beautifully appointed homes of others (I mean let’s be honest here, who doesn’t like to sneak a peek of delightfully done up living quarters?), let me give you a gentle nudge in the general direction of this fabulous website: Apartment Therapy. 

In this particular episode of Apartment Therapy, Sarah takes us on a tour of her gorgeous West Side apartment. Done up in bold prints and accented with bright hues, it’s a classic modern abode with a good dose of preppy chic thrown in for good measure. I’d love to be able to live in such a cheery place with vibrant splashes of colour all over the place. I’m sure the very act of coming home everyday would put a hugeass smile on my face.

I love the canary yellow highlights on the curtains and reupholstered chairs, and the charcoal gray chevron in her entry way! Her delightful table setting has me hankering for a ladies luncheon of sorts, with tea sandwiches and scones and colourful little cupcakes, accompanied by good conversation and greater company. It would be the perfect opportunity to get Beauty Bible J to share her make up tricks and beauty tips.

The most inspiring thing about Sarah’s cheerful home? It didn’t cost her an arm and a leg and her future potential new born child to do up. Now that’s an even bigger reason to smile! Check out her tips on sourcing and decorating within a budget in the original article.

Happy Tuesday!

All images courtesy of Apartment Therapy
Original article here: Sarah’s Supremely Stylish West Village Home

The pictures from Thanksgiving are a little late in coming, but sometimes that’s a good thing. When I’m looking through them so many months later, I’m always reminded of what a wonderful thing it is to be able to wine and dine in the company of loved ones and friends. It’s a privilege we often take for granted – the simple ability to share a meal with your nearest and dearest, to laugh and to love and share sweet conversations.

I am even more thankful to have friends and loved ones who put in time, effort, and love, into cooking up such sumptuous dishes to be shared at the table – Charm’s thinly sliced slivers of potato made an incredible gratin, Rach’s sweet potato casserole which took 3 tries to get perfect, Ling’s delicious warm artichoke dip was a riot of flavours, Rui’s decadent homemade flourless chocolate cake, Drea’s ever amazing lemon meringue pie has become a staple at my table, Dawn’s PSOC never fails to impress, Xun’s buttermilk biscuits and quiche lorraine from scratch, Jamie’s secret recipe made greenbeans amazing, Mig’s crazy Hello Kitty shaped sandwiches, Hayl’s blueberry+lemon trifle, Charmian’s light and fluffy tiramisu, and who could forget Navin’s take on an old classic – Sangria, and so many more!

But beyond all that good food and fine wine, it’s the company that makes the meal amazing. I’m thankful that in 2011, I had the pleasure of sharing a meal with so many of you, many times over.

Here’s to many more meals together in 2012.

All these amazing pictures were captured by the incredibly talented DGT.

I was amazed that so many people managed to make it to the dinner, since they’re studying in so many different places. My sister is surrounded by so many wonderful people – quite a number of whom I’ve watched grow up from awkward teen hood into these gorgeous young ladies and men (making myself sound about a million years old now…) Anyhoos, it’s just a warm fuzzy feeling when I see all these “kids” get together, even though it’s been years and in spite of the fact that they’re scattered all over the globe these days, they’re still great friends.

Of the many things I’ve been so blessed to have in my life, I think my sister takes first place ♥ Having siblings is the best thing parents can do for their children, there’s really no greater gift than having someone to share all those growing up years with! Even the fighting is fun because at the end of the day, you know they’ll always be there for you.

And guess what? No more babies in this household! I bet my father heaved a huge sigh of relief. A BIG THANK YOU! to everyone who made it out and made it such an amazing evening for her!!!