I was on twitter (for a change) and noticed a tweet from @VerdigrisVie  if anyone was interested in going to a taping of the Steven and Chris Show.

I answered “yes” immediately. I hadnt been to a taping of a show in years and I thought it would be fun.

You know me…always interested in an adventure!!!

As much fun as it is to hang out with my foodie friends, it was really nice to hang out with design bloggers for a few hours.  I met, Vitania Liscio of Verdisgris Vie,

Dane Caldwell of 2-Hounds Design,  Susan Forint of Saf Affect, Jennifer Borgh of Jennifer Borgh Events and Andrea Mills and Jennifer Murray from Canadian House and Home.

From Left to Right: Susan Forint, Steve, Dane Caldwell, Jennifer Borgh, Vitania Liscio, and Chris

We clapped on cue, we hollered, we received gifts for attending, and we learned a few tips as well: i.e  how to decorate a room on a budget, setting a table for under $200 etc

So set your PVR’s to CBC on Tuesday Jan 4th at 2 p.m. and by all means visit Steven and Chris’s website too!!

I had a blast and can’t wait to see my new design blogger friends at the upcoming Interior Design Show (Jan. 27 – 30th).

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A few weeks ago, I was reading the Toronto Star and came across an article about a new skating trail that opened up in Etobicoke. I immediately cut out the article and pinned it on the fridge.

Source: City of Toronto, Jim Melvin, PMA Architects

I was kinda spoiled growing up, skating on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa.  However, an outdoor 250 metre figure eight loop, certainly piqued my interest.

So I told my daughter that on Saturday nite, we would be checking it out. She was thrilled!!

It took 20 minutes and 3 major roads (Hwy 401, Hwy 427, and the Gardiner)..but like I said, it was only 20 minutes and CERTAINLY WORTH IT. The skating trail is located at Colonel Sam Smith Park and can be found  south of Lakeshore Blvd, off of Kipling and is open daily from 9 a.m to 10 p.m

We loved the new skating trail.  The ice was perfect, the trail was well designed and it was great to be outside enjoying a winter activity. I kept asking the kids “is it time to leave?” and I kept hearing “no we are having fun”. So..we skated more.

Having a great time!!

There is lighting throughout the park and it’s got a state of the art sound system too. Plus there is  an indoor washroom and changing facilities.

We gave it a thumbs up and will be returning on another Saturday nite soon. The kids had a blast and even I was smiling as can be seen in the next photo.

Smiling on Skates...It can be done!!

Hope you get a chance to visit this new skating trail soon.

Happy Skating.

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Snakes and Lattes opened up a few months ago and received a TON of press.  All good.

It’s a genius concept: Hang out and play board games while drinking lattes!! Sounds good to me. They even have a liquor licence. (added bonus)

Notice there are no MacBooks in the picture. People are actually TALKING to each other. Just like in the old days.

When I received an email from LivingSocial for an opportunity to buy $30 for $15 of food and drink at Snakes and Lattes Board Game Cafe, I immediately  scooped up two certificates. One for my daughter (who is 11) and one for my son (who is 15).

What a great place for them to hang out with their friends on a Sunday!!  They have tons of board games to select from i.e 1,500 board games.

While the kids played, I had a chance to chat with the owner Ben. He told me this type of concept is popular in France and he thought that Toronto should have a similar place too. (smart guy). We even played boggle. Just Kidding!!

The concept is so popular that they are already expanding and adding more seats.

If you are looking for something to do over the holdiays, please visit Snakes and Lattes, 600 Bloor West. You will have a great time. Promise.

One more thing: sign up on their facebook page for lots of  inside information. (hours, special events, announcements, etc) They have 3,281 facebook fans which I think is pretty neat seeing as they just opened up.

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I was introduced to Body Pump at GoodLife Fitness several years ago. I immediately loved it. What’s not to love?

It’s an hour long class that has you lifting weights for each muscle group (tricep, back, bicep, legs, and abs). Of course, its all choreographed to music and of course, it’s fun. (probably because of the great music and the great instructors)

me strong!!

I started off with small weights and then gradually increased the weights. At the begininng, it was rough. (ie those muscles clearly hadn’t been used before). But I kept going back even though I was kinda stiff. The key is to keep stretching in between sets and to really start off with low weights.

For someone who doesnt like to get up before 7:45 a.m…I am now getting up at 6:00a.m. so I can be at the 6:15 a.m. body pump class at my local GoodLife Fitness.Everyone in my house is in shock that I am so committed to pumping weight three times a week.

I can see results (think biceps…think strong legs) and I know I love how pumping iron makes me feel.

It’s a great way to start off the day. Try it…you are going to love it. I promise.

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True story: I didn’t drink in high school nor did I drink in university. NOTHING. When I was 25 years old,  I started to go to synagogue and got introduced to scotch at the kiddush (kinda like an after-service reception). I tried it, and I liked it. Needless to say, I’m still drinking scotch 20 years later.

One year, we received 12 different bottles of scotch and that’s when my knowledge was really elevated. It was the best gift E-V-E-R. Seriously. We obviously made a few friends that year.

Even after the 12 bottles were finished up (which took a year, by the way) we continued to have scotch in our liquor cabinet. (we didn’t want to lose friends…Ha)

A few weeks ago, I was invited by Matchstick to attend a Macallan tasting. Actually, I missed the deadline  by an hour but thanks to @JonGauthier I was able to squeeze in. (Thanks to Twitter too)

It was held at the lovely event space at 99 Sudbury and the event was first class.

See how happy I am? this is before I had a drink...

The presentation was informative and entertaining and I adored all 5 types of scotch that were served (naturally). I learned a few things about Scotch that evening (how to smell it properly, drink it properly, the differerence between a scotch and a whiskey etc) and loved the presentation.

Several days later, while browsing at Dana Jordans in Bayview Village Shopping Centre, I came across this product (see photo). You pop these rocks into your freezer and when you serve the scotch, you will have SCOTCH ON THE ROCKS. You can now enjoy a cold scotch without the hassle of ice melting (big no no).

A perfect gift for a scotch lover

What I liked best about the evening was this business card. (I mean I loved the scotch too, don’t get me wrong) but I love that they knew that everyone (ok maybe not everyone) would be tweeting about the event and that they provided you with the twitter hashtag. HOW SMART. Clearly the publicist and Matchstick thought of everything.

What a great evening.

Must go now – my Macallan is waiting for me.

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zumba

I really wanted to blog about body pump, but then I went to a Zumba class at Goodlife Fitness and changed my mind after the Zumba class!!

This weeks post is about Zumba. Next week I will post about Body Pump. Promise.

Here is what I discovered:

ZUMBA ROCKS.

Why?

a) I was impressed that I  was sweating more that I do in a body pump class!!

b) the positive energy in the room was contagious…no joke, 60 people (including a dozen men) were working out and SMILING throughout the hour class

c) it was FUN. Really really fun. Not saying my body pump class isn’t fun, but this is SUPER fun. (do you know what I mean).

Apparentely this instructor has a real following. Not every instructor has 60 participants in their class, but guess who will going back to the Monday nite class at 7:30 p.m?

Oops, forgot to tell you what is Zumba all about? Silly me.

It’s kinda like a dance class but with purpose…ie my heart beat was up and EVERYONE was dripping. (including me). The music was fabulous and the dance moves are easy to learn if you follow the instructor. Some moves/steps are easier than others but I was still smiling!!

Hope you get a chance to check out a Zumba class as well.

(if you click on the word “zumba” – you will get the link to their website).

Happy Zumba!!

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Schwartz Family Photo

I met Ellen Schwartz years ago. I can’t even remember how many years ago but it was certainly over 5 years ago. Ellen spoke about her son Jacob, the foundation she established and more. Here’s the condensed version: Ellen has a son with a neurodegenerative disease called Canavan Disease and there is no cure.

I went to yet a second event where Ellen was teaching us how to make Challah (a Jewish braided type of bread served every Sabbath). I remember her telling us that every Friday morning she bakes challah. I was impressed.  She then told us that she bakes one challah for  her family and one to give away. I was floored.

I was touched by her thoughtfulness. Her strength. Her ability to think of OTHERS when her life was stressful. It spoke VOLUMES about what type of person she was.

Ellen and her husband Jeff, created a foundation called Jacob’s Ladder in 1998 that aims to benefit children like Jacob and reduce the occurence of neurodegenerative diseases.

This weekend, Jake’s Gigantic Give, will be taking place where children can feel the power of giving back, Nov. 27 and 28th, between 10 and 4, at the Giving Store, 150 Lesmills Road. It’s a truly unique concept and I hope you click on the link so you can read more details about the event.

I feel so lucky to know so many awesome women like Ellen and Stacy (see last weeks blog entry about Zareinu).

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Several weeks ago, I received an email inviting me to an event as Sarah Richardson would be launching a line of PARA Paints “Canadian Style”.

The reply went like this:  “Of course. I would be delighted to attend!!”

The event was held at the corporate headquarters for PARA Paints and the Canadian theme was integrated into all aspects of the evening: Canadian Wine/Beer was served, maple leaves were scattered on  the serving platters, and the gift bag was a bottle of Canadian Maple Syrup. Nice.

OK, enough about the food and decor, lets talk about Sarah Richardson.

She is lovely. But you know that from her TV show.

In front of a microphone, without a prepared speech, she is A PRO. She talks so passionately about paint, her summer jobs painting exerior/and interiors, her determination that a $50 can of paint can transform a room and your mood (I really do believe her).

I wasn’t able to spend time with her, however, I noticed her husband was at the event and I introduced myself. We chatted about their kids (2 and 4), how he ended up on the TV show, and how their life is busy but “weekends are golden”.

It was a pleasure to talk to him, but next time I’m going to see if I can get an interview with Sarah. I know my readers like her show as much as I do.

The General Manager, Dennis Duda of PARA Paints said in his opening remarks that it was a great strategy to partner with Sarah Richardson. I couldn’t agree more.

Happy Painting!!

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This is a blog entry about an amazing woman and her daughter, and an amazing school called Zareinu. Kinda like three-stories-in-one!!

Lets start off with the story about the amazing woman and her daughter: Stacy is the mother of Shayna who is now 15, and a set of twins who are 11.

When Shayna was born, it was soon determined that she had numerous physical and cognitive challenges.

But you can see from the photo below that Shayna is WALKING and SMILING.

How Awesome!!

Now lets talk about the amazing school that Shayna went to called Zareinu (zah ray nu).  It’s the only facility in North America that houses education and a treatment centre all under one roof. This means that Shayna received an education and all her physical, occupational, speech therapy and more at the same location.

Stacy was told by doctors that Shayna would probably never walk. But Shayna started going to Zareinu when she was less than a year old and due to the amazing therapists…Shayna is walking and even running. It’s truly a world class facility.

Back to Stacy: She is so passionate about this school that she has chaired an annual fundraising event for the last 7 years together with her devoted co-chair Renee Rosenzweig. It’s a major first class Fashion Show production with major personalities and fashions..(think Jeanne Beker, Senator Linda Frum, Royal Ontario Museum, High End Fashion). It’s taking place on Tuesday Nov 16^th, the vip cocktail reception begins at 7p.m. and the fashion show will start at 8 p.m..

Even though Shayna has graduated from Zareinu, Stacy still chairs this event and still sits on the board of directors.

How awesome is that?

I encourage everyone reading this blog to please click on Zareinu ,so you can read more about this awesome event and awesome school.

Hope to see you on November 16th!!

(PS..you can buy tickets for the Zareinu Fashion Show by clicking this link…https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/startup.aspx?eventid=58800)

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There are two sports I have always wanted to try: boxing and rowing. I didn’t get a chance to row this summer but last week I got the chance to box at Powerclub.

This AWESOME new gym in Forest Hill is owned by a school yard mom who I have known for several years. Rachelle, had extended a generous invitation to book an hour with one of their trainers and I accepted. I just had to find the HOUR. (easier said than done).

I walked into the beautiful space, proceeded to get changed and didn’t want to leave the change room coz I was in love with the red sink.

Now how cool is that for a bathroom sink at a gym?

Sorry, I just had to talk about the sink!!

Back to boxing.

I then met my trainer, Erez, who is beyond fit, beyond knowledgeable and made me feel completely at ease.

I warmed up and then..THE GLOVES WENT ON! (I was pumped the minute the gloves went on)

He put me thru a series of drills and I WAS LOVING IT.

Couldn't stop smiling (and sweating)!!

Erez had me boxing!! He also put me thru some other key exercises (core, abs, balance etc). Just like a good trainer!

Words that kept going thru my mind as I boxed: empowered, strong, capable, determined and more empowerment.

After the workout, Erez put me thru some stretches so I wouldn’t feel sore the next day. Guess what? NOT SORE THE NEXT DAY. Awesome.

Then, Rochelle and I chatted while I sipped a protein shake in their gorgeous fireside lounge.

Having Fun...Post Workout

There is nothing not to like about this gym: the atmosphere, the trainers, or the facilities. I urge you to click on this link for powerclub, so that you can learn more about this hot, new gym and all the wonderful services that they offer.

Happy Training!!

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