TORONTO GIRL CHRONICLES

According to Beyonce girls run the world. We run this motha! Endless power, she claims. And while I cannot argue that women run the world, every day I come across scenarios that prove that women, in fact, do not rule it. We might have won the right to vote, and we have plenty of choices, but when it comes to power we are still fighting.

Women in North America have the option of acquiring higher education and we can buy real state. Lest we forget, credit card companies and mass market producers are more than encouraging when it comes to spending those hard earned dollars. Women’s make up 47% of the Canadian labour force and 35% of the self-employed workers (Statistics Canada, Women in Canada 2005). Never mind that some statistic claim our male counter parts still take home a bigger pay cheque for the same positions. I guess this inequality is just one of the few kinks we have yet to work out.

Now, if you compare our situation with the struggles of women in developing countries, we have it easy. While we go to school, and have access to food and health care, our fellow girls in developing countries are the last ones to access these necessities. Yet, in both patriarchal developing countries and the so-called First World, women still run the world where it all begins: In our families. By making endless sacrifices, women take care of their families and keep them united.

So women already run the world, but will women ever gain this "endless power"? I don't think we want power, but we do yearn for equality. And by women, I mean ALL women. We have gained “person” status and we have a voice, don’t we? Perhaps the next stage in our fight is to use our voices to demand rights and provide opportunities for women in developing nations.
Please watch the following video, and learn how you can provide said opportunities:

Did you head outside today? It was beautiful!

I've been absent because I have been working on a really special project. I can not tell you what it is until it's done and ready, but what I can tell you is that it's going to be amazing! In this project I am combining my love of "cooking," my adoration of natural products, and my need to be pampered. It will be good for you and harmless to the planet. Everybody wins and the world is a better place.

I might have said to much already, but please allow me to tease you further with the following images:

This past weekend's weather was a reassurance that spring is just around the corner. And with spring in my mind, I am starting to crave soft, silky pieces to go with the light and carefree mood of the season.



Enter Wilfred's line from Spring 2011, Le Fou -- A Victorian-inspired collection that juxtaposes draped silks with carefully structured blazers and lace shifts and blouses. The result is pieces that you can dress up for work and tweak with some accessories for after work fun.



Le Fou can be found at your local Aritzia.

I just wanted to share with you this fun little video on how to cook quinoa, courtesy of My New Roots. Quinoa is this miracle grain (a seed really) from South America that contains all nine essential amino acids (complete protein), as well as tons of fiber. Nothing wrong with that, eh?

It has a mild nutty flavour and it comes in an array of colours. I would even say that it's a great alternative to brown rice, when you want to mix things up a little bit.

A word of advice: don't buy it at the grocery store since it is rather expensive there. Buy it in bulk at Bulk Barn or one of the many health food stores in Kengsinton Market. And experiment with all the colours!

Without further ado...here's how to cook quinoa:

Sugar causes premature aging.

Sugar suppresses your immune system.

Sugar causes weight gain – because sugar excess in the body converts to fat.

Sugar makes your body more acidic. Did you know that cancer cells grow in an acidic environment?

(I got these facts from registered holistic nutritionist Joy McCarthy . You can watch her video on kicking the sugar habit here )

The truth is, I am not a health expert, or a certified health nut, but I do love food and I love to eat. A few years ago I came to the realization that food is a celebration of life, which is why I make an effort to be mindful about what I eat. You might not find the latest fashions in my closet, but my pantry will blow your mind.

As a result of my obsession with the cause-and-effect qualities of food, I am more aware of the impact certain foods have on my overall health. I know that anything with cow milk will give me gas (TMI?), but goat milk products are gentler on my tummy. And I don’t know what it is about Quinoa (other than the fact that it is a complete protein, and a great source of magnesium), but when I eat it I feel light and fantastic. Which brings me to refined sugar: highly addictive, highly dangerous. Aside from the aforementioned side effects of high sugar consumption, I know that sugar can’t be that good for me because when I eat sugar loaded foods I feel lethargic and start getting pimples.

So when a friend said “I rather eat cake than go to the gym,” I thought: “Really? Why?” Because it makes me happy, she said. Does it really? I guess for the moment it does. A sweet treat can bring memories of childhood birthday parties, or joyous Christmas gatherings with friends and family. I get it, I feel the same way from time to time. But I think that as you get older, you need to start making better choices, because, well, you are getting older! Ignorance is bliss, but I am not the first one to write about the negative effects of sugar, so we cannot claim ignorance. This is innate knowledge that we have --I know that I am not the first one to get indigestion after a sweet/fatty meal – it is up to us to pay attention and acknowledge how our body works, and honour it.

What are your thoughts on sugar addiction? do you subscribe to the "everything in moderation" school? do you have any tips on overcoming sugar-holism?

A word about Michelle...

I met Michelle while I was working in hell. She's quite the firecracker, brightening up every room she enters.
When I was stood up by a loser, she not only offered to pick me up on the other side of town (in the middle of a storm), but she also lent me her entire SATC collection. True story. That's Michelle -- the kindest, brightest, most beautiful human!
A couple of weeks ago she married her match, the love of her life, for whom she would do anything. They made this hilarious video for their vows. It makes me laugh and glow with happiness (hopeless romantic), and I hope it makes you feel the same way. Love is exhilarating!

Happy Friday!

- Coffee dates are the new dinner dates. Yesterday I had the greatest time with a friend, just grabbing a coffee at a local shop and going for a walk around the hood. I had as much fun, if not more, as I would’ve had at a sit down dinner.

- Raw cocoa powder is bitter! It’s best to throw in some raw honey, or maple syrup.



- The early bird gets the worm is not just a saying! You truly get more done when you get up early. And at a normal pace.

A couple of weeks ago I had a brilliant idea. Of course, like most of my brilliant ideas, this one was inspired by my mom. When we were kids, living in the city (Bogota), my mother had a vegetable garden. Each week we enjoyed fresh produce-- cabbage, lettuce, carrots, onions -- and that was even before organic became a pre-requisite in our grocery baskets. I thought: “what if I could grow my own food? Wouldn’t that be cool?” I have a backyard, my mom is a bit of an expert, and I have time. This way I would be able to have produce that is truly organic, fresh, and I would save a lot of money.

So I started out small. I thought herbs would be the right first step, since they can be started inside.




However, out of the eight (that’s right eight) pods that I planted; only one has started to sprout. And even now it seems to be drying out (after a reckless weekend away). I guess one thing that I will take away from this experiment is patience. Good things take care and time to grow, not to mention a tremendous amount of hope and persistence. Well, I am obsessive compulsive; I guess I could learn patience. In return, I will have veggies that are pesticide free, full of delicious nutrients, and without even thinking about it, I will get lots of outdoor time and reduce my carbon footprint!


Even if you don’t have a backyard, or an expert, or patience, you can still access locally grown food. The benefits are endless, and there is nothing like getting to know your farmers and learning about the miracle that food really is.

For a listing of Toronto farmers markets click here.
For an article on urban farming click here.
And to learn about farming in general (and maybe volunteer at a farm) visit the
Everdale Organic Farming and Learning Centre.

The last time I had the pleasure of attending a show was when I first moved to Toronto, many, many years ago. At the time, L’Oreal’s Fashion Week was set up at the Carlu (a Toronto hotel). It was a very small and intimate venue and event.


Fast forward to last week: The venue was bigger and the fashionistas more glamorous than I remember. A red carpet guided me to the entrance, where models with elaborate hairstyles greeted me as they handed me “the” ticket. Past the gates, I found what could only be described as eye-candy/fashion heaven. It seems like the order of the night was to be impeccably dressed, with hair perfectly coiffed. Never mind that it was freezing outside, the peep toe heels and sleeveless garments were there, all in every colour imaginable. And these beautifully manicured fashionistas were typing away on their smart phones, taking notes . Fashion week never felt so official.

I told you it was a Jay-Z type of retirement!

At the insistence of my lovely friends and family, I am back to blogging and writing.

This time around, my blog will be a little bit more personal. So allow me to re-introduce myself:

My name is Patricia, and I am a lover of literature, a writer-in-the-rough, a food aficionado, a "business, man," among many things. I started this blog last year to tell you about the things that I learned that I wish someone had been kind enough to tell me. It was also my excuse to speak to women that inspire me, and figure out the secret to having the guts to do what they loved. Because finding love (and not necessarily the romantic type), my friends, is the secret to life.

Since then, I have finished my pre-requisites for university and I've been accepted! So an even more exciting
journey is about to begin. In the mean time, I will continue learning about money matters, matters of the heart, food (oh, how I love food!) and, of course, this beautiful city in which I live!

So without further ado...

Oh, hey! follow me on twitter: @patriciaTO or like Toronto Girl Chronicles on facebook.

Hello Readers,

It is with a bittersweet tone that I write this post.

This blog was my chance to write and experiment with photography, and it was a beautiful experiment!
But now winter is upon us. And so is school.  Hence, I have decided to take a break from blogging. Anyways, this might just be a "Jay-Z" type of retirement. Maybe the blogging journey is to be continued...

Until the next time,

Patricia

Natalli Reznik loves to dance – that’s easy to see when you are watching her take on a hip hop routine or a breath-taking ballroom number. And although her ambition to master each routine is what drives her, it is her ability to adapt to each genre what has made her a sought-after dancer. So how did this Toronto Girl make it into the big stage? I had the chance to chat with Natalli about her love of dance, what has made her successful and of course, working with Janet Jackson.


Why did you become a dancer?

In my teenage years, I had a hard time finding my voice and dance was a means of expression for me. Every time I danced, it felt right. I felt like I could express myself better in movement than I did verbally, like people would understand me better when I danced. Now I do it because even though I enjoy being on stage, it is the process of getting there that excites me the most. The rehearsals and learning a new routine are more intense than being on stage. Sometimes, after endless hours of rehearsal, I get on stage and think “this is it?”, but I always want to do it again.



Dancing is both physically and mentally demanding, how do you keep yourself going?

I love "the chase" – the whole process of learning the choreography and getting it on point. I feel like I haven’t danced that much, I want to keep on going! I want to keep learning about dance. When I do different styles I try to really understand the cultural background of the dance. When I started dancing salsa I studied the culture, where it’s from, why it is danced the way it’s danced. It’s the same with hip hop and all the other genres that I’ve learnt. I just love going from one genre to the next. One day I will be feeling salsa and then the next I’ll want to dance hip-hop. I just listen to my heart, that’s what keeps me dancing.

What are the skills that have contributed to your success?


Stubbornness, my ability to hustle, and always thinking that I am a beginner. If you go in [to rehearsal or class] with hunger to learn, whatever it is, you have a better chance of actually learning. If you think you know already you’re in trouble because there is always something to learn.

How did living in Toronto contribute to your career? (Natalli currently resides in LA)

Toronto is a great place for dreaming, it is also a great place for training. There’s some great talent in Toronto.

Sarah Stevenson is truly a Fashion Artist. She creates her own hand crafted prints with a meticulous attention to detail and sustainability. All her textiles are produced locally and her dyes are eco-friendly.



On Thursday afternoon I attended her “Tea Party” Spring 2011 presentation. The simple and clean silhouettes left me yearning for those careless spring days were you can throw on a dress and be ready to go. I can also see this some of the pieces in this collection transitioning well into fall. The dresses are dresses that you buy and love forever.

Photos are courtesy of the Toronto Sun

WHAT TO EAT IN CHICAGO

My bf coolly said "Don't worry, I read that in Chicago there are restaurants in every corner." Half an hour of walking around, finding nothing, hope was running low and I was getting cranky (not cute, trust me).  Lucky for him, we found Heaven on Seven, a restaurant offering the best is cajun cuisine.



I had the Jambalaya and everything was okay with the world again.


On the opposite end of the spectrum: Y Bar. An upscale martini bar that is, pardon the cliche, a place to see and be seen. Nonetheless, it is fun and glamours, because lets face it, there's nothing wrong with being treated like a VIP. I felt like I was at one of those parties featured in The Hills. They even had scantaly-clad go go dancers on mini stages.

MILLENIUM PARK AND CENTRAL LOOP

The one thing that I truly loved about Chicago was their open art spaces. The art itself was very contemporary with an industrial feel, ranging from the Chicago Picasso by Pablo Picasso (duh!) to the random gigantic eyeball  The Eye: Chicago  by Toni Tassel. Of course, let’s not forget about the infamous Cloud Gate by Anish Kappor (found at the AT&T plaza at millennium park). More commonly known as “the bean,” a stainless steel sculpture that reflects the Chicago skyline and entertains tourist and locals alike, who photograph their reflections.





THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO


The Art institute of Chicago, outside of Paris, boasts one of the best collections of Impressionist and Post Impressionist works. If you adore Degas’ ballerinas and love rebellious Van Gogh, you must devote a couple of hours to this place. There's also a big section on American Art and a new site-specific installation by Jitish Kallat titled Public Notice 3 on the stairway going to the second floor.




If art spaces are the soul of the city, then Chicago has a lot of soul and you will be inspired at every corner you turn!

Tomorrow: What to Eat & Where to Party (I go off the beaten path)

I think it’s essential to get the feel of a city and where things are before you set out to really explore it. I can’t think of a better way of getting to know a city than by bicycle. Why bike? It’s faster than walking and more intimate than a Decker bus, and the tour guides will tell you funny stories along the way. For example, did you know what Chicago is know as the Windy City no because of the wind but because its politicians are full of "Hot Air". Ha ha ha.

That and the guides are always really good looking ...