L'Occitane en Provence and other pretty things

I have been enjoying trying out some of the "Imortelle Divine" line from L'Occitane as I always enjoy checking out new beauty and skincare. I had a mini facial with their cleansing foam, new lotion (pictured below) - kind of like a toner but creamier, the extract and cream. The products have been getting some rave reviews - I am really liking the eye cream the "regard divin". I find  many of their products delicious smelling - I have the Almond Oil Shower Oil and the Shea Ultra Rich Scrub - very creamy.


I also splurged on their Brightening lotion - which has an SPF of 40, is very light and does indeed brighten your complexion - you may not even want to put make up on or mix it with your foundation.


I also got a sample of their Repairing Conditioner which smells lovely and works wonderfully...can't wait to try out more products.. They are also generous with sampling - always a bonus for me as I do like to try things out before investing in them.

This week has been girly girl week it seems - I also got a couple of new lip colours for fall - one is from one my favourite lines - Guerlain. It's from the Fall collection of lipsticks - Madame Reve - a lovely bright pink.

The other shades are Madame Batifole - more intense fuchsia and a sheer reddish shade Madame Flirte. The glosses also look lovely as does the blush palette.
You can select from a section or sweep over the whole lot ..it goes on very sheer - not as frightening as you might expect - there is a brush included in the compact. As always - great colours and beautiful presentation. It helped that there was a 20% off promotion and my King and Peter Shoppers Drug Mart as well! Love that. I do love being able to use my points as well - probably the best reward program going...

I also visited Sephora and picked up a gloss in the new Marc Jacobs line...

A great grape-y/berry colour for fall - gorgeous looking products. The gloss is beautiful.

Also because I adore French cosmetics an Yves St. Laurent lipstick:

It's Rouge Volupte Sheer Candy - the shade is Sweet Fig - which is called red - but it's pretty neutral. I was also eyeing the Sheer Berry. I love the texture of these - very moisture rich.

Speaking of candy and specifically eye candy - I was just watching some of the latest version of the "Great Gatsby" . I say some of it because it is loud and cartoonish - using rap/ hip- hop and very little of the music of that era - not really my vision of what the movie version of this classic novel could and should be. For me I find the music really sets the mood  - I guess it's an attempt to connect with the young folks. Whatever. Nothing wrong with educating them as to how the era actually sounded.  I found it very over the top and grew quickly annoyed with the visuals - and that's saying something for a person who loves films like "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" and "Edward Scissorhands" - yes, I do love Tim Burton's work. There seemed to be this constant bombardment of "look how busy and colourful I can make this scene" - pay no attention to the characters, plot or dialogue. I also realize I'm not a Baz Luhrmann fan - I couldn't stand Moulin Rouge.  Closer to the mark for me - although still flawed was the 1970s era version with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow - better casting for Daisy as the unattainable object of desire. I believe Gatsby should be played much more enigmatic and mysterious - more of a Don Draper really than ex college frat boy.

I do have a couple of things PVR'd - "V for Vendetta" and some "Castle" plus some "Scott and Bailey" - a great British crime drama.

Looking forward to checking out the new vegan bakery on Bloor and Lansdowne tomorrow "Through Being Cool"....1277 Bloor Street West. There may be pictures....

Fika Cafe and Mamma's Pizza

You wouldn't think those things could be related and they aren't really other than  they are two new discoveries I have made. I am always on the look out for new cafes and especially ones that are comfortable places to enjoy a good read.

Fika Cafe is a charming Scandinavian themed place in Kensington Market. It has the usual clean lines you would expect - a front and back patio - and delicious coffee. I had a cardamom one - soooo yummy. They offer a variety of beverages, snacks and lunch items including treats and  salads. There are little ginger cookies in the shape of horse.
It's charming!

I do seem to have this thing for Scandinavian themed places as I love Thor Espresso Bar as well.

They are on 28 Kensington Avenue - www.fika.ca

As for Mamma's Pizza - in case you didn't know they now offer 3 vegan selections with Daiya Cheese. I picked up a couple of slices for the hubby and I last week - OMG!! I went with the Primavera - next time I will be more adventurous with the Spicy Vegan - they also offer Olive Press which has potatoes on it. I can't wait to try all three! Please support this bold decision. I also like that if you are ordering a pizza you can get whole wheat or gluten free (in the 12 inch size).One more sign that the new age of enlightenment is here...

Primavera

Olive Press

Spicy

I would really love to know what prompted them to make the change...any other chains out there taking notice?

A visit to the Farm

On Sunday a few of us ventured out to Ted Thorpe's Organic Farm - he is one of the farmers who come to Trinity Bellwoods Market - I'm sure you've seen Ted around town with his halo of curly white hair. I think he also supplies a number of stores and restaurants - I know I've seen him at 4 Life in Kensington and Feel Good Guru as well as at Dufferin Grove market.

It's a wonderful spot and on Sundays he has his own market - selling veggies and fruit, all kinds of delicious edibles and at 1 p.m. grab a hay bale or chair/couch and listen to some music.

Carolyn Wong our amazing TBFM organizer took the photos - amazing.

Amazing cabbage!

Going for a ride.
Here we are enjoying the music....

Dragonflies

A little creature just like this one was hanging around me while I was downstairs in our courtyard reading yesterday. It landed on the pink ballet shoes that I had set beside the lounge chair and even on the chair itself down near my feet.

Intrigued I looked up some meanings for dragonfly sightings and lore. Some say it is a sign of transformation and good luck or that it means to pay attention to the present moment as these insects themselves have such brief lives.  According to native mythology the dragonfly has shape shifting properties - hence back to transformation or a least some lovely magic. I do admire them and have for the longest time - it was great watching them in the skies at Folk Fest this August.

Another particularly charming interpretation is that dragonflies are connected to the faerie realm - and in fact may be fairies themselves if you look at them the right way. I also, of course, adore fairies.

I am most pleased with the transformation aspect as it is where I am on my journey - heck, it's even the name of my blog. Whatever the meaning, I can admire the beautiful, iridescent and elegant dragonfly for itself.

Book Recommendations

This is a gorgeously written novel - which spans a century or so including the Civil War in the U. S. and features aviators, a peace negotiator, Frederick Douglass and Northern Ireland. It is one of the most beautiful reads I've come across - mesmerizing - I can't wait to read more from this writer. It was also poignant for me as my dear departed mom was from Belfast.

Second up - "Paris" - a sweeping saga over centuries of the City of Light by that master storyteller of metropolises - Edward Rutherfurd. Again he tells the stories of a few families over generations in this epic novel. Great characters, storylines and a compelling history lesson. Fantastique!

Sometimes I want to live in a EQ3 Store

Or pick your favourite home furnishings place. I like this location - particularly the one in Liberty Village because of the aesthetic - simple, clean lines and some Marimekko thrown in for colour. It has most things
you would need - a bed, a desk, a couch, chair, dishes, lamps. etc etc or in this case multiples. You could just move from one space to another and don't worry about getting tired of the decor because it would change periodically anyway and with staff on hand you wouldn't have to worry about getting rid of anything.

Can you tell I am a little frustrated with clutter in my home? Yes, I do reside with a pack rat and we have been holding onto stuff for the seven odd years we have moved to the condo. Sheesh. How refreshing it would be sometimes to reside in the uncluttered fantasy that is EQ3. Plus, there would be many places to eat in the neighbourhood including now a new "Live"!! I guess you might have a problem keeping food cool as they don't sell refrigerators - unless you lived in a home furnishings store that did so, along with washers and dryers. But details, details - it is a fantasy right?

I keep saying that clearing out the old is good for the soul or feng shui or take your pick...just getting rid of crap period. Unburdening and breaking free!

Although things are stagnant in the home, they will be moving and grooving in the community garden plot - just planted all the seeds and tomato plants and with a nice sprinkling of rain they are already starting to make an appearance....barring interference from groundhogs.

I'm also planning on starting a cleanse - which I promise I will write about  - it is a promotional cleanse sent to me. 6 packets of dried fruit, probiotics, protein, vitamins and minerals. Yummy fruits like mango and pineapple, blueberry and banana...more to come. You are also advised to follow a raw vegan diet while on this program - that is 3 days worth but I'm thinking of continuing beyond that...

Is Glinda a Type 2?

Unless you follow Carol Tuttle's brilliant "Dressing Your Truth" you may not know what I'm talking about and if you don't all the more reason for you to check it out - there are 4 "types" in all which are more about your personal expression through movement, speech, behaviour and facial features than through what you wear - but you are given lots of great guidance on that too...dressing to express your true self.

I consider myself a Type 2 - soft, subtle, elegant, flowing. I myself dressed as Glinda the Good Witch for a Hallowe'en party in university - what does that tell me - was I trying to connect myself to her way back when? In the "Wizard of Oz" - Glinda as portrayed by Billie Burke was somewhat of a Type 1/2 mixture - she had lots of sparkle - including her bubbly laugh, glistening tall crown and floating diaphanous dress - maybe more Type 2 there.

It was no surprise then I found myself at a screening for "Oz - The Great and Powerful" today to see what Michelle Williams does with the same character. From her gentle, kind nature to her clothing (always a soft white, with delicate embellishment and embroidery - even feathers- flowing and in this picture notice the downward movement of the dress design as well as a gem which "drips" from her crown. Her magic is even expressed in a Type 2 manner - creating bubbles for people to float in and conjuring up the soft enveloping fog to stymie her enemies. She is ethereal, graceful lovely and her speaking voice is low and modulated. Even her wand is understated.  True to her nature she is also sentimental - she rules by benevolence and listening to those around her - especially her subjects. It seems initially she is no match for the evil sisters Eudora and Evanora. But she does have Oz - the "wizard" on her side.



Eudora and Evanora are also interesting to "typecast". SPOILER ALERT. Eudora - played by Mila Kunis is seen first as the rescuer of Oscar, seemingly sweet and naive, sporting a big red hat, coat, leather pants and white shirt...hints of her Type 3 character perhaps? Or perhaps being forced into that role by her sister - the regal and dominating Evanora played by Rachel Weisz. Eudora does seem spirited, vivid, glowing and adventurous when we first meet her - her sister turns those qualities along with her positive nature on their head for her own ends.  Evanora sweeps around in very bold, striking outfits with spiky accents - guess what her power is? Yep, electricity. I peg her as a Type 4 - she is confident, queenly, strong and decisive.  Notice there is even a "widows peak" created with her hair ornament. There is also high contrast with her hair colour and porcelain skin.

The downward spiral of Eudora into her grotesque form embodies the extremes of Type 3 - doing whatever it takes to get things done, impetuousness, dynamic and action oriented - in a word intense. What is her magic power? Fire of course! Her facial features even distort to pointed eyebrows and nose.

I never realized I enjoyed fantasy - but I guess I do. And hey, maybe I am talking out of my pointed hat but it sure has been fun writing about these characters from the Dressing Your Truth perspective. I would also say James Franco's character of "Oz" is a Type 1 - he is buoyant, lively, inventive, fun loving, a big flirt and always has a twinkle in his eye, after all he deals with the impossible - being a magician and something of a con man. He uses his charm and ingenuity to get him out of sticky situations including battling the wicked sisters.

Enjoy!