Amour de Beaute

That's a hopefully French way of declaring at this Valentine's week - my love of beauty of all kinds and especially beauty products - in particular those that are kind to your body, animals  and the planet.

I've recently discovered the Andalou line which has a variety of skin care, hair care and body care products with delightfully fresh scents. I have starting using their hair conditioner (Argan and orange) - it also says for curly hair on the bottle and their Mandarin and Vanilla shower gel..can't wait to try more. Another beautiful thing about the products - the price point - very reasonable and available in many health food stores.




Number two - a local line called "Clinical Luxury by Nature" - I have yet to actually sample the wares - I will need to either take the leap of faith and order online or seek them out at Eco Existence up on St. Clair..which would be a worthy excursion. Again - many delicious sounding ingredients, all natural, local company and largely vegan - except for a bit of manuka honey. One of their products even has broccoli seeds in it and their Serum a variety of fruit - raspberry, blueberry etc. - I love when the ingredients are edible - as they say if you can't eat it why would you put it on your body?

www.clinicalluxurybynature.com


I highly recommend the book I'm reading "The Street of A Thousand Blossoms" by Gail Tsukiyama - I now have a screen saver with an image of a Japanese garden in winter - so that is on my dream list - a trip to Japan. I have become a big fan of her writing - she is an amazing storyteller. This tale is about two brothers growing up in pre and post war Tokyo and being brought up by their grandparents. One is an aspiring sumo wrestler and the other an aspiring mask maker and artisan. It's all here - triumph and tragedy, love and loss, joy and sadness. I also advise you to check out "Women of the Silk" by this fabulous author. Can't wait to read more of her books.




I sometimes think I had a past lifetime in Japan.

On a last foodie note - please know that a number of veg restaurants have menus for you and your sweetie or even your best friend - Veg Haven, Sadie's, Rawlicious, Hogtown...visit as always that fount of veg knowledge - www.veg.ca

And for those chocolate fanatics, a visit to Ten Thousand Villages this morning revealed a yummy Divine Dark Chocolate Bar with Raspberries and in anticipation Easter - Dark Chocolate Eggs - which are scrumptious! So eat something wonderful and feel wonderful about the source and where your funds are going..I also couldn't resist purchasing some earrings - I find the artistry and affordability astounding.

Wallowing in melodrama

Yes, the glamourous Lana Turner - as legend has it discovered in a drug store...I happened to catch her in "Imitation of Life" - which is where this photo is taken from - one of the many gorgeous dresses and outfits she models in the film. Of course it's from the master of that genre -  Douglas Sirk - lots of over the top melodrama in saturated Technicolour. Lana's character Lora Meredith is an ambitious actress who somewhat neglects her relationship with her daughter Susie  and her longtime friend and maid Annie. The maid's daughter is light skinned and "passing" for white - which brings its own complications.

Oh sometimes you want to descend into that fantasy world and indulge a little. So what if it's not realistic - I guess they were trying to bring attention to racism in their own way.  Lana's daughter is played by 50's good girl icon, Sandra Dee: Yep, I couldn't help thinking of that tune from "Grease"....

The previous film of the double bill was "All That Heaven Allows" another Sirk gem. If you have seen "Far From Heaven" with Julianne Moore - an homage to those flicks then you know what I'm talking about.






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Ava

I've always been a fan of this sultry beauty but had never seen "The Barefoot Contessa" with Humphrey Bogart and beautiful Italian scenery and gorgeous gowns. It's the story of a movie star told from the viewpoints of three men who knew her best - including her director and husband.

One of the rare gifts of Miss Gardner is that not only is she a divine glamourpuss but that underlying vulnerability. I advise you to check out this flick sometime if you can. A wonderful escape. She has no equivalent today. Also for a double dose of steaminess - watch her in "The Killers" - a great film noir that also has the wonderful Burt Lancaster - double eye candy.

Did you know that when she was filming "Showboat" the studio stupidly decided to dub her wonderful husky voice? Check it out.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxHYLJVnsrs&feature=share&list=PLLjNW9qjiVMZF5tbSb8y1eSX13H7thdGs

Nostalgia Jukebox

I was in my favourite neighbourhood coffee shop yesterday and what came on the radio but this Beatles classic. In no time I was singing along sotto voce and tapping my foot. What is it about this tune that makes one so happy? Is it the comforting feeling of a neighbourhood its' people and routine? Say what you want about Paul McCartney - he does write a fine pop tune.

By the way - we did seek out this spot while in Liverpool.

I'm not one of the negative nellies who feel he doesn't have the depth of John Lennon. So what? What is so wrong about being happy and feeling good? I'll answer that..nothing! Shortly thereafter another blast from the past came over the stereo system - Elton John's "Bennie and the Jets" and I was transported back to my teenage self singing into a hairbrush in front of the mirror listening to Casey Kasem's "American Top 40"...yes I certainly am dating myself!

I guess that's why I love music so much - it can lift you up, comfort you, inspire you and transport you.

Later on today as a respite from the chilly weather I'm headed to an aromatherapy class to be transported by another sense  - the nose.

A Glimpse of Spring

As I write this the temperatures are in the minus territory and there is a light dusting of snow on the ground here in Toronto. So you might forgive me for a little fantasy as I received a hint of warmer days to come this morning in my inbox - an email from Yves St. Laurent Beauty featuring the gorgeous spring colours...I am posting them down below so you can start salivating too.

I realize perhaps this company is not politically correct - not sure where their stance is on animal testing so 40 lashes with a wet noodle for me - thank you Dear Abby. However,what cannot be denied is the innate style sense of the French - their cosmetic companies also produce such gorgeous palettes and to die for packaging. These days who doesn't want a bit of affordable luxury, to purchase a little je ne sais quoi? I particularly love the nail polish colour and GREEN mascara! Green is apparently the new "it" colour, particularly in emerald shades for spring. I have found the Faux Cils mascara quite frankly to be the best mascara I've used and I've tried many, many mascaras high and low end. There are lovely shades of peach and rose in lipsticks and blushes as well.

Enjoy. Dreaming is free as Blondie said.
 

I am currently on the Joyous 10 Day detox - created by the lovely Joy McCarthy - check out her website www.joyoushealth.ca to join and get delicious recipes, hints, coaching and much valuable nutrition information courtesy of this sparkly nutritionist - she really is a great advertisement for her services and comes from a place of dealing with her own digestive issues. I have taken a couple of workshops of hers as well at 889 Yoga.  You can catch her on the Global Morning Show on occasion too.

And now I will slip back into World War II era Britain while reading "Princess Elizabeth's Spy" - the second in a mystery series featuring the intrepid Maggie Hope of "Mr. Churchill's Secretary" - I can't tell you how exciting it was to visit the Churchill War Rooms that Susan Elia Macneal was writing about in London itself.

Evolve and Resolve

Ah yes, the New Year's "To Do" list or is that to be or not to be, the time to exercise every day, eat healthy, put bad relationships behind you, stop smoking, drinking, complaining etc etc.

I confess I am guilty of making my own list of "intentions"...but as my pilates instructor said last night - it's all well and good to make resolutions you have to follow them up with ACTIONS. So true, and there in lies the rub...

For myself one of my endeavours is to write every day and hopefully that means this blog. The eating healthy and exercising are also in there of course as well as meditation, singing, de-cluttering and more daunting - think of learning to drive and to get some meaningful employment - well, if not meaningful initially at least somewhat lucrative - so I can pay for things like singing lessons, driving lessons and whatever else strikes my fancy. With the time left over - read inspiring books and do some more volunteer work.

One of the major tasks ahead is not to be too hard on myself - or for you to be too hard on yourself. I understand some 50 per cent or so of people who start out with great guns in January...fall off the wagon by February...thus why this month is so lucrative for gyms and organizations like Weight Watchers.

I will keep you up to date on my progress of course - tonight I'm off to a Law of Attraction evening which hopefully will newly inspire me as I certainly seem to need that of late...could be SAD or just being 50ish. I'm looking for something hopeful on the horizon. Happy New Year everyone.

Samsara

I won't begin to try and describe this film - an incredible documentary covering everything from Buddhist monasteries and the pilgrimage to Mecca to sex dolls to sand dunes to food factories to African tribes and lots of gorgeous cinematography with a haunting soundtrack. It made for an interesting afternoon viewing that's for sure and for cause to reflect on how privileged or over-privilieged we are in this part of the world. The Sanskrit word means "the ever changing wheel of life" and so it is...like the tarot card, the Wheel of Fortune can be at the top or bottom.

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In a weird way it had me check out "Samsara" perfume again at Shoppers Drug Mart..a weird non sequitur I know...I also have this strange dream or fantasy or walking through those beautiful windswept sand dunes - "Tea in the Sahara" anyone?

From the sublime to the very ridiculous as in ridiculously funny I went to the Second City Christmas show on Boxing Day - kudos to the cast for a fast paced and hilarious show. The sketch about the young Christmas tree being harvested - as a horror film reference while the clueless family sung "O Christmas Tree" was great. No worries - her "dad" got his revenge later in the show. Oops..did I spoil it? The battling snow shovellers a la Matrix was also great. I can't really separate out any cast member since it was a great ensemble effort as it  should be - witness the numerous re-tellings of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" - or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa. Of course our secret fear is always being chosen from the audience as a "volunteer" ..whew, escaped that!

As New Year's Eve approaches we have plans to dine at Fressen. The venerable high end veg spot on Queen is closing for a few months for a drastic re-vamp - can't wait to see what Mr. Gardiner was in store for us.