TORONTO GIRL CHRONICLES

Like the SATC trailer says (have not seen the movie yet...gasp) sometimes, you just have to get away with the girls...because boys just don't understand some of the things we do...

Here's a list of cheap or money free girl-dates to strenghten the bond:

* Girls Just Want to Have Fun! Cindy Lauper performs on July 3 at Queen's Park as part of the Pride Week  festivities. (free!)
*  Want to see a Shakespeare play outdoors? Canadian Stage TD Dream in High Park 2010  presents Romeo and Juliet, a tale of star-crossed lovers and feuding families. I know it sounds romantic, but I dare you to try to get a boy there... (pwyc $20 suggested)
* Sample the best and most exquisite cuisine in the city for relatively moderate prices at Summerlicious. Perfect excuse to dress up and engage in some juicy girl talk over expensive wine. No clean up required. ( lunch menus from $15 - $25, dinner menus $25 - $45)
* Free chick-flicks at Harbourfront Centre. Longo's Free Flicks Series takes place from July 7 to August 11. Only a girl friend would understand the hilarity of Julie & Julia. (free!)

If you have any other ideas I would love to hear them!

I was walking on my way home from my interview with Aline Morales, when I decided to stop by and get a small cookie from my favourite bakery. I only go there once in a full moon, so this is a really cherished treat. On my way home again, as I am happily eating my cookie, this young “gentleman” approaches me and screams loudly “Oh my god! Oh my god! YOU HAVE A FAT ASS BUT I WOULD STILL HIT THAT!” I didn’t know whether to take it as a compliment (a fat ass is not necessarily a bad thing), or be humiliated. I walked in disbelief for about 5 minutes, experiencing a roller coaster of extreme emotions. Confused and shocked that someone would dare be so rude, until I came up with the following (super lame) come backs:


1 – Like I would let you hit that (kind of lame).

2- Well you have a skinny ass, so there’s no way I would let you hit that, m*f. (kind of bitter)

3 – How dare you be so rude? (I’m just not good at giving out insults...)

It was then that I decided to just let it roll. I was not going to let a 15 year old idiot tell me how to feel about my body. Just like I was not going to let a fashion magazine, or a movie star, or a diet product tell me who I was, or if I was worthy of my own acceptance. I decided right then and there that I love my gorgeous fat ass, and I would proudly sway it with every step I took, on my way back home.

And because its Monday and we all need a little laugh...

I am a cheater in the kitchen. I use brownie mix. Yes, I would love to get all Miss Betty Crocker but I don't have the time. That is why I use PC's Organics Chocolate Brownie Mix. I do like to spice things up by adding a little bit of cinnamon and a little bit of chili flakes. I call this creation (drum roll please): Mexican brownies. They are not really Mexican, but no one has to know...except for you.




INGREDIENTS

* 1 pkg of Chocolate Brownie Mix
* 2 eggs
* 1/4 cup of water (to replace butter) or more to moisten mix
* 1/4 cup of cinnamon
* 2 tbs of chili flakes (adjust if you want less or more bite)

1) Mix dry ingredients well, then add eggs and water until mix is moist and thick. Pour mixture into oiled baking pan.
2) set oven to 350 (degrees F) and let it bake for 30 minutes.
3) Insert knife to make sure its ready. if knife comes out dry then you're good to go. If knife comes out wet, leave it on for another 5 minutes and repeat knife test.

Serve with vanilla ice cream and strawberries if you want to be extra indulgent. Which you do, don't you?

MODERATE RISK (SPF 20-30 is recommended)

Why did you move to Toronto?
I was married to a Canadian guy, but part of the reason also was that I wanted to try something new.

What was your biggest challange and how did you overcome it?
 The language and the cultural aspect at the beginning was hard for me, but having to deal with issues like that made me grow so much as a person. I learnt to be patient and gave myself more time to fit in. Also, Toronto is used to newcomers and its very welcoming and understanding of this kind of situation.

How has living in Toronto contributed to your career?
Moving to Toronto was my biggest step as an artist. People here are very open and welcoming to different styles of art/music. So it really made my life here easier as an artist.

A year ago when I was laid off my friend gave me this book called Five, Where will you be five years from now? It is an amazing book with lots of quotes and goal setting exercises. This is one of my favorire quotes:


THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANOTHER YOU.  YOU ARE A ONCE-IN-ALL-HISTORY EVENT. YOU ARE NEW TO NATURE. YOU ARE ONE OF A KIND; THEREFORE NO ONE CAN REALLY PREDICT TO WHAT HEIGHTS YOU MIGHT SOAR.  EVEN YOU WILL NOT KNOW UNTIL YOU SPREAD YOUR WINGS.  YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE YOUR UNDER DEVELOPED POTENTIAL,  BUT IT IS THERE - AND ITS ENORMOUS!

Since the ice age, vast numbers of your ancestors have been smart enough, fast enough, strong enough and corageous enough to survive several thousand years of famine, plague, predators and the worst natural disasters. Though you may think yourself as merely "average", you are actually the latest in a long line of human success stories...and the hidden strenghts you've inherited are no doubt trying their best to emerge. Let them out!

HAPPY MONDAY!

A shout out to all my Fancy Toronto Girls, yeah, coz we be getting "our nails done, hair done, everything did," and going out tonight to enjoy this beautiful city of ours in the summah time. TGIF!


By the way, Drakes album came out this week. You can buy it here. Yes, that's right, this Toronto Girl is hopping on the Drake bandwagon...and no, I don't really talk like that, but right now I'm in the mood.

Its Wednesday night, I am sitting with a group of girlfriends, having a caramel macchiato at our local Starbucks. What are we talking about? Men. The ones we are dating, the ones we are not dating, the ones we want to date, you get the point. It really brought me back to the good ol’ days when I was single. Oh yes, I was out there, obsessing like the rest of my girlfriends…that is until my best friend and I made a pact to just go out to have fun. We embarked on a so-called "man diet."  We went dancing on Tuesdays and karaoke singing on Fridays. I got a second job, she joined a meet up group. She took a solo trip to Greece and later on I went to Paris for my birthday (solo). No strings attached, no expectations, no boys allowed. Just two single gals having adventures.

Think about it, how many hours do we spend, over analyzing matters “of the heart,” and how many hours do we actually dedicate to just living life? Does this make us any happier? Who is looking out for #1? So I say, stop obsessing. Create list of things that you want to do this summer for yourself, no one else.

Here’s my list:

• Take swing dance lessons
• Join a networking group for young professionals
• Have a picnic/ outdoors dinner party with my friends
• Eat at a fancy restaurant on the cheap
• Go on a road trip
• Take a class/lecture at one of the local universities
• Participate in a sports team
• Learn how to Rollerblade and experiment around the Beaches
• Rent a bike and bike around the Toronto Islands
• Go for long runs/ stairs around Casaloma every weekend
• Experience an Opera performance

…and yes,  I eventually got off the diet, because when I was at my best I met the best, and we still go on our separate adventures and have a blast reminiscing and exchanging stories when we get together.

P.S - Feel free to add on to the list, or better yet, share your own list.

 THANK YOU to all the girls who graciously allowed me to photograph them.

HAPPY MONDAY!

Melanie Fiona will be performing tonight at Yonge & Dundas Square as part of the Canadian Divas Concert.



Jully Black will also be on stage tonight (at Yonge & Dundas). This event starts at 7pm.



Arcade Fire will also be playing two last minute shows in Toronto this weekend at the Danforth Music Hall.
For details click here.



And La India, who has been crowned the princess of Salsa, will be performing on Saturday night at Yonge & Dundas as part of Luminato's Latin Divas Concert. I am so excited that I just can't hide it!

HAPPY FRIDAY :)

My sister is a brilliantly creative cook.  Leave it to a student to create something out of very little. This turned out to be THE BEST MEAL OF MY LIFE! every bite was full of flavour! We served it on top of wild rice, which really complemented the stir fry by adding a nutty flavour.

• 
  
  2 Chicken Breasts (you could replace with Herbed Tofu for a vegetarian version)
• 
  
  Random Vegetables (we used celery, green peppers, yellow peppers, zucchini, onions - I would also add crushed tomatoes)
• 
  
  1 can of chickpeas
• 
  
  2 pinches of lemon pepper
• 
  
  1 tea spoon of lemon juice
• 
  
  3 tbs Teriyaki sauce (as you see fit)
• 
  
  1 Splash of soy sauce or Liquid Braggs
• 
  
  2 tbs of chili infused oil

Last night at the "Invest +Power=ACHIEVE" event I had the pleasure of meeting Melanie Fiona and I have to say I was very very impressed. Not only is this Toronto Girl beautiful, but she has talent and drive to back her up. She's a woman that has always known what she wanted: to make music. She stuck to her guns, left no stone unturned and look at what she has accomplished! Proving once again, that if you do what you love, and you work hard, everything else falls into place.

She started off performing at Toronto night clubs, to writting songs for Rihanna, to being the opening act for the hottest stars in the business. Last summer after the release of the album The Bridge  she went on to open for Kanye West (Glow in the Dark Tour) and is currently opening for Alicia Keys (Freedom Tour). She has also earned a nomination for a Grammy in the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category. Watch out for this Toronto Girl because she's just getting started!



You know you love the song, you know you'll love the album. Buy it here.