Bon Chic Bon Genre

Here is a look of BCBG Max Azria’s Pre-Fall 2013 collection, it is devine. This sneak peak will help you understand how to transition from summer to fall when the weather gets cooler. I think the best advice I can give for selecting your wardrobe is to select pieces that are transferablle throughout various seasons. Sheer assemetric tops, blazers, leather jackets and skirts, belts, silk tops, booties, stiletto pumps…these are the things that become an investment. It is sometimes better to splurge more money on quality pieces that you can wear for years and throughout seasons rather than cheaper clothing that lasts 2 months max.

Check these looks out and let me know what you think. All clothing items shown are BCBG.

BCBG MAXAZRIA

It’s official I am officially the Manager at BCBG Max Azria Bloor St The Bay (Toronto), in the posh Yorkville district.

I am beyond excited and it is an amazing feeling to be doing something I love because it never feels like work. The days fly and everyday becomes more challenging yet very exciting. It is crazy how you work your entire life to find your ultimate career, you build your work experience, your education and than once you are done you hit the “real world”. It’s almost bitter sweet, you get that independence, financially of course but it also becomes an “adult” ritual that you might not escape until you retire…yikes! But I think that is what life is about, its about working hard and rewarding yourself by enjoying what life has to offer. I find the best thing I can do while working is having a positive attitude, it’s amazing how far it can take you.

As for now I am also planning on opening my own business on the side, it will consist of styling for wardrobe/ photoshoots etc and personal shopping. My hope is to inspire women to dress their best and feel their best, whether it is in a professional or personal matter. I am hoping to open up another website soon, or perhaps I can join my company to my blog. Thoughts??

Anyway, I am really excited for what is to come!

Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics

I have recently grown an obsession with organic “earthy” skin care products. I am so tired of buying drug mart cosmetics that exhaust my skin with harsh chemicals, not to mention buying expensive cosmetics at Holt Renfrew isn’t any better.

My boyfriend’s mother is a huge fan of this organic/vegan cosmetic line called LUSH. When she showed me their products I instantly fell in love, especially with the decadent containers the products come in. Lush cosmetics are handmade, it literally says on the back of each product the date it was made and who actually made the product.

Lush products are 100% vegetarian, 83% vegan, and 60% preservative-free (though these numbers fluctuate, as the product range changes frequently) and feature grapefruit juice, vanilla beans, avocado butter, rosemary oil, and fresh papaya and coconut. I mean…YUM! Every time I use their products I feel like I’m on a tropical island.

I highly recommend this fresh handmade cosmetic line. They have stores all over the world and you can also shop online. It’s a very SoCal product, people who try to survive harsh winters on their skin like me will love this, it gives your skin this softness as if you live on a beach in California!

Here is their website for Canadian’s http://www.lush.ca/

Interior Design

So lately I have been cheating on fashion with furniture! As Carrie Bradshaw would say!

My boyfriend and I are on the hunt to find our own perfect little place to live in, we are looking in the downtown Toronto area. Anyway, ever since we started looking I can’t help but think how I want to decorate it…this is all so exciting! My mom who is an excellent interior designer asked me what kind of style I am aiming for. I stalled for a while because I was really unsure, I have always grown up in a very modern home my entire life with contemporary or even future looking furniture pieces. But I also love the rustic look-wooden dining room tables etc. My mom luckily told me that you can easily combine modern with rustic interior design phew!! Here are some inspirational pictures. As you can tell I only like neutral colours. White is my ultimate favourite for furniture combined with neutral tones and grey. Of course wood needs to be added into the equation for my complete look!

I also included a link to one of my favourite furniture stores in Toronto (Liberty Village) called West Elm. They have fabulous modern and rustic furniture/home pieces. Here is the link http://www.westelm.com/shop/furniture/all-living-room/?cm_type=gnav

Deerhurst Resort

If you live in Ontario and are looking to get away for a weekend this resort is perfect for you. Especially if you are anything like me and have limited time and budget to go down south or Europe. This resort is located in Huntsville in the Muskoka region, about 2 hours away from Toronto. Immediately when you arrive it gives the impression of a well kept resort with several villas, golf courses and outdoor pools including amazing lake views.

We decided to book the summit lodge which is basically an apartment style hotel with a kitchen, living area and separate bedroom. May I add the apartment had 2 plasma TVs! This was a bonus since we kind of had rainy weather and it gave us something to do. Being a City Girl this was a great chance for me to escape the chaos and relax.

I highly recommend this resort, it also includes several on-site restaurants and breakfast is included.

Here are some pictures of what the resort looks like. Also http://www.priceline.com/ gives you great deals if your looking to book this resort with your friends, family or significant other. 

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Here is an excellent Quinoa recipe! I absolutely love it and it’s super healthy.

A protein packed salad with Mediterranean flavors – quinoa, cucumbers, tomatoes, kalamata olives, red onion, extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon and a little feta cheese combined makes a healthy salad with fresh  ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1/4 cup red onion, diced
• 1/2 – 3/4 lemon, squeezed
• 1/4 cup (about 10) kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cups cucumber, peeled and diced (from 1 English)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 1/3 cup crumbled feta
• salt and fresh pepper, to taste
• you can also add some spinach (optional)

Directions:

Rinse quinoa for about 2 minutes, using your hands to make sure all the saponins are removed.

Fill a medium pot with water, add quinoa and salt to taste and bring to a boil. When the water boils, reduce heat to low and cover; simmer covered 15 minutes. Removefrom heat and keep covered an additional 5 minutes without lifting the lid; then fluff with a fork and set aside in a large mixing bowl to cool.

While the quinoa cools, dice all the vegetables. Add the red onion, olives, cucumber, tomatoes to the cooled quinoa, and squeeze 1/2 lemon over it.

Drizzle the olive oil over the quinoa, then add feta, salt and pepper to taste and toss well. Taste for salt and adjust as needed, add more lemon juice if needed.

Makes over 6 1/4 cups.

Cabbage Soup 7 Day Diet Plan

Ok here it is, the 7 day plan to lose that extra budge! The steps are pretty standard but I like to switch them up   a bit according to my own taste.

Day One:

Fruit: Eat all of the fruit you want (except bananas). Eat only your soup and the fruit for the first day. For drinks- unsweetened teas, cranberry juice and water. I usually stick to regular coffee with a tiny splash of milk–no sugar of course.

Day Two:

Vegetables: Eat until you are stuffed will all fresh, raw or cooked vegetables of your choice. Try to eat leafy green vegetables and stay away from dry beans, peas and corn. Eat all the vegetables you want along with your soup. At dinner, reward yourself with a big baked potato with butter. Do not eat fruit today. I usually don’t eat the baked potato as I am not a fan. I do saute a lot of broccoli and carrots in a sweet low fat sauce.

Day Three:

Mix Days One and Two: Eat all the soup, fruits and vegetables you want. No Baked Potato. 

Day Four:

Bananas and Skim Milk: Eat as many as eight bananas and drink as many glasses of skim milk as you would like on this day, along with your soup. This day is supposed to lessen your desire for sweets. On this day I usually make a peanut butter banana smoothie. The idea of eating milk and bananas the whole day grosses me out so I try to make it fun by making a smoothie out of it. The cheating part is using peanut butter, however I use organic peanut butter that is healthy fat it’s also sweet and very filling for day 4 of the diet.

In the Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie I put:

Half or a full Banana

1 tablespoon of organic peanut butter

1 cup  or half a cup of soy milk or skim milk (its your choice depending whether you want the smoothie to be thicker or not)

Half a cup of ice

1 teaspoon of organic flax seeds

Put it all in a blender until it is one smooth drink! I usually have 2 of these this day plus the soup, I find it really satisfying.

Day Five:

Beef And Tomatoes: Ten to twenty ounces of beef and up to six fresh tomatoes. Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water this day to wash the uric acid from your body. Eat your soup at least once this day. You may eat broiled or baked chicken instead of beef (but absolutely no skin-on chicken). If you prefer, you can substitute broiled fish for beef on one of the beef days (but not both).

On this day I don’t eat any meat since I am a vegetarian. So instead I eat a veggie burger (with no bun or toppings), there are ones that are low in calories and full of protein (1 for 150- 170 calories). I also eat it with a side of tomatoes, along with the cabbage soup.

Day Six:

Beef and Vegetables: Eat to your heart’s content of beef and vegetables this day. You can even have 2 or 3 steaks if you like, with leafy green vegetables. No Baked Potato. Eat your soup at least once.

On this day I eat grilled shrimp with garlic on a spinach salad with balsamic dressing and with tomatoes and cucumbers. This is my substitution instead of meat. I also eat one bowl of the soup.

Day Seven:

Brown rice, unsweetened fruit juices and vegetables: Again stuff, stuff, stuff yourself. Be sure to eat your soup at least once this day.

I substitute quinoa instead of brown rice as it’s a healthier choice and I eat it with my soup!

By the end of this 7 day diet you should lose about 7-10 pounds, it’s worked for me and many other people I know. Some of it is “water” weight but a lot of it is actual fat you melt off your body. However, be cautious of the fact that if you do not keep a healthy lifestyle after the diet you will put the weight back on. I think of this diet as a kick start to eating healthy and keeping the weight off, obviously you cannot eat like this forever. But it gives you a lot of motivation doing this diet after you see results and want to maintain them.

Goodluck! I would love some feedback on whether or not you tried the diet and how you found it!

Cabbage Soup Diet Recipe

As I promised here is the cabbage soup diet recipe. You can find the recipe anywhere on the internet but I do substitute different things for my own taste buds and comfort! Some of the cabbage soup recipes online are really bland so feel free to play around with it and tailor it to your liking. But remember to stay away from anything high in calories or in fat as you don’t want to jeopordize your diet with a poor choice of ingredient.

What you need:

•  Large green onions (also called “spring” onions) I substitute garlic for onions, as I don’t like onions
• 2 green peppers (or red, your choice)
• 1 or 2 cans of tomatoes (diced or whole)
• 3 carrots
• 1 container (10 oz. or so) mushrooms (optional)
• 1 bunch of celery
• Half a head of cabbage
• 1 package spice only soup mix (In the US, Liptons is a good choice) this is also optional although it does give your soup a better taste and it can be healthy if you find one low in sodium and low in calories
• 1 or 2 cubes of bouillon (optional)
• 1 48oz can Low Sodium V8 juice (optional) I use 12 cups of water instead as I don’t like V8 juice
• Season to taste with pepper, parsley, curry, garlic, etc. (Little to NO SALT!)

Directions:

Slice green onions or garlic (as much as you feel necessary), put in a pot on medium heat and start to sauté with cooking spray, I use pam (extra virgin olive oil). Do this until the onions are whiter/clearer in color (about 4-6 minutes) and if your choosing garlic wait until they start to sizzle and turn darker.

Cut green pepper stem end off, then cut pepper in half to take out the seeds and membrane. Cut the green pepper into bite size pieces and add to pot or red pepper your choice.

Take the outer leafs layers off the cabbage, cut into bite size pieces, add to pot.

Clean carrots, mushrooms, and celery, cut into bite size pieces and toss them in. Add tomatoes now, too.

If you would like a spicy soup, add a small amount of curry or cayenne pepper now.

For seasonings, you can use a spice soup packet of your choice (no noodles!).  You can add any spices you like instead (make sure not to add much salt, if any at all).

Use about 12 cups of water (or 8 cups and the 48 oz of Low Sodium V8 juice), cover and put heat on low. Let soup simmer for a long time – about 2 hours or until vegetables are tender.

Enjoy!

My next post will be on how the diet works and it’s seven day plan to loosing weight!

Bikini Bod…Game On!

As summer is approaching every girl becomes nervous about ditching  our  puffy safe guard winter coats for teeny tiny bikinis. I am one of those girls!

Lately I have been feeling extremely lethargic and low on energy due to my lack of motivation to be health conscious. However, I can be honest and say that I do have my “healthy” days where I vow to myself to eat healthy. I also always substitute crappy food for healthier choices. I always stick to skim milk, I never add sugar or aspartame to my coffee, I rarely eat white-based carbs (bread, pasta) and if I do I always take the whole wheat  or gluten free option. I used to be a health nut, but lately I am just too tired and too busy to care.

But I do start to care when I have to lie down on my bed to squeeze into my jeans! Did I mention I refuse to buy a new pair? Forget it…my only option is LOOSE THE EXTRA BUDGE!

As I sit and write this blog post I can only think to myself…oh please Diana…give it a day and you will be back in your bed eating chips after a long day. BUT, I promise to try my best to not make my health a chore, rather a priority. I always find that the healthier I eat and the more I exercise..the better I feel to carry out my day without feeling exhausted. So here are some of the tips I will follow to get myself back on track. (None of these tips are to an extreme, they can be easily accomplished) With a kinesiology background..I think I know what I am talking about, however these tips have worked for me personally.

1. Drink a lot of Water

I know ugh everyone says that, but its true. I hate juice and all sugary drinks, especially things like ice caps or highly caloric frapps..so not worth it! Those calories go straight to your butt! Also its better to save the calories for a healthy balanced meal that will actually fill you up and replenish your body. So water it is! Another good thing about water is it helps you flush out a bunch of toxins! I notice that if you eat junk for a few days..your body is only going to crave it the next day and the day after. If you start eating healthy and drink lots of water it will help you kick the habit by flushing out the toxins you have built in your body that are dangerously triggering you to want more!

2. Stop eating after 6:30 pm/ Eat dinner earlier

Don’t eat late at night. It’s a no brainer. There is no point in eating a few hours before you go to bed. This way you can look forward to a healthy breakfast in the morning.

3. Do minimum of 30 mins cardio/ 5 days a week

Just move your butt. It’s a given. You can take 30 minutes out of your day..come on. We all do it to get our nails done or meet a girlfriend for a coffee or drink. Don’t you think having a fit body overrides a cute manicure that chips in like 2 days? Yeah..I think so! I usually stick to the elliptical for 30 to 40 minutes..its a great way to burn off anywhere from 200-400 calories and it really shows you how hard you have to work your body to burn off a meal (especially a high calorie “bad for you kind of meal”)

4. Stay away from bread, pasta, etc

Even if its “whole wheat” or “gluten free” ..you still feel like shit after you eat it. There is no point and there are many other healthy food options you can eat that are nourishing. The truth is..it may seem as though these pastas fill you up…but all they do is starve your body’s cells from what it actually needs…NUTRIENTS!

5. Eat your veggies and fruits

Do I really need to explain why?

6. Cabbage Soup

And I don’t mean just the cabbage soup diet, although those are great if you are trying to lose some weight quickly for an event or to kick start a more steady/moderate diet. Regardless, its always great to  incorporate a healthy soup into your diet that can flush toxins in your body just like water. Cabbage soup is a really low calorie soup with hardly any fat in it. Plus all the veggies in it are great for your metabolism.

7. Eat eggs! (Egg whites + one whole egg)

Eggs are a great source of protein, especially if you are a vegetarian such as myself (not vegan). However, whole eggs can be high in cholesterol and calories if you eat a lot of them. My go to trick with eggs is to only eat egg whites (egg without yolk) and add maybe one whole egg rather than 2 or three. Egg white omelettes with spinach are my favourite! Spinach also helps burn fat. It’s a great breakfast option, or if you are anything like me, you can eat it for dinner with a side of veggies.

8. QUINOA

It looks like tiny pasta or even like couscous. But its not, its super healthy and provides all nine essential amino acids. It also contains twice the fiber of other grains which helps with digestion and that feeling of being full and contained. It also adds great substance to your food much like rice but is a much better and healthier option. The best thing about quinoa is it has twice the calcium as whole wheat! Plus it tastes amazing! So please..do yourself a favour and substitute quinoa instead of rice or pasta. There are several recipes I will share in my next few posts that have quinoa.

9. Ditch the alcohol

Most alcoholic beverages are high in calories and they also make you crave junk food, especially if you have a hangover. Just stay away from binge drinking and you will be fine! One glass of red wine is okay..but try not to push it!

10. Be smart

Make a bigger effort at checking labels, looking at the amount of sugar, fat, calories. Making healthier choices. Avocado as a spread instead of mayo, raw almonds instead of chips, homemade hummus instead of salsa. The little things count!

In the next week I will be trying these various tips and will also be making my cabbage soup as a detox method and from then on will stick to a healthy lifestyle for the summer.

I hope to post some of these recipes sometime soon!

xoxo DB

Spring/Summer ’13 Hottest Trends

I was really excited to do a post about my favourite summer/spring 2013 trends. Most looks came straight off the runway but the most exciting part is that they are wearable for the everyday girl. Aka those of us, such as myself that are not models!

1) The Peek-A-Boo Effect

I love this look, it’s really simple yet chic. It also allows a woman to look sexy without exposing too much. It is a definite look I will be rocking this summer as an evening outfit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) Black and White

Another trend I adore. I hardly wear much colour, I love to stick to simplicity especially in my field of work, where I must look professional. I think black and white looks good on any girl especially if you have blonde hair it compliments it quite nicely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3) Crop Tops

I know…this seems a little bit risky! Most woman feel really uncomfortable wearing a short top, lets be honest not all of us even have the time to work out 24/7 to flaunt our abs, nor do we find it appropriate to wear on most occasions. However, I believe that any woman can pull it off with the right attitude and of course something high-waisted, either a high waisted long boho skirt, high waisted pants/shorts or a high waisted mini skirt. The idea is, you can wear a crop top without exposing your midriff as long as you are wearing something high waisted. Besides..is it just me or are the cutest shirts these days crop tops? So long to the overly long shirts! It’s a hot trend that came back from the good old Carrie Bradshaw days..try it!

4) Bold Sunnies

Love this Trend! I have literally picked up a bunch of different metallic sunglasses with crazy different shapes. Of course I still love to stick to my sophisticated black sunglasses, but in the summer it just seems like a lot of fun to play around with different sunnies to spice up any outfit. I also find the wide range of different sunnies out there today really give women the option to choose frames that suit their face. Forever 21 has amazing options for fun sunnies and they are cheap. If you are anything like me and loose your sunglasses or break them all the time, go for the cheap ones and maybe stick to just one expensive pair that is basic black! My fav expensive pair of sunnies are Celine..check them out!