The 2010 cocktail dress

Zoe Saldana, new superstar actress out at the 62nd Annual Directors Guild Of America Awards. This type of dress is coming onto the scene in a huge way. A great flirty length. A fun pattern. It works on a lot of different body types.

Christian Siriano for Payless

Christian’s newest collection for Payless. The collections consists of copies of McQueen’s Lobster Claw / Armadillo booties. Whatcha think?

Now thats fashion

Viktor + Rolf at it again. This spread is in the magazine Dazed & Confused February 2010. Shot by Josh Olins and styled by Katie Shillingford

Please donate

Haiti as all of you must know needs as much help as possible. At times like this all you want to do is help. Sometimes deciding where to give can be confusing. There are many charitable organizations providing aid in the form of food, and medicine. Some of the organizations collecting donations might not be using all of the funds towards relief. They may set an amount and keep the left overs for future disasters. Not everyone is comfortable with that idea. A couple of reputable places you can send your support:

OneXOne (Rogers/Fido customers)
Text “HELP” or “Donate” to 1291. Reply to confirmation request with 'yes.' You will receive a thank you message that confirms the donation and $5 will be added to your next Wireless invoice.

Rogers will forward 100 per cent of the SMS revenues to OneXOne. In addition, Rogers Communications and the Rogers family will donate $250,000 in funds and goods to Partners In Health: Haiti and other relief organizations in the country.

Canadian Red Cross
Toll free: 1-800-418-1111

The Red Cross will also be collecting at the following TTC stations Monday, Jan. 18 during the morning and evening rush:
Finch
Sheppard-Yonge
Bloor-Yonge
King
Kennedy

All LCBO stores are taking donations.

Doctors Without Borders

Salvation Army
1-800-725-2769

Rogers Wireless and Bell Mobility customers can make
$5 donations by texting "HAITI" to 45678.

Donations can be mailed to Army Territorial Headquarters, Canada and Bermuda, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, Ontario M4H 1P4.
Donations can also be dropped off at local Salvation Army units. Specify "Haiti Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund"

World Vision Canada
Toll-free: 1-800-268-5528

Winterlicious 2010

Winterlicious celebrates eight years with culinary events all over the city. Some of Toronto's top dining establishments offer prix fixe menus with starters, entrées and desserts. This fine-dining experience costs around $15 to $25 for lunch or $25 to $45for dinner per person, plus taxes and gratuity. There are 150 restaurants participating this year. More Details here!

A few of the participating restaurants:

5th Elementt
1033 Bay Street
416-923-8159

Amaya The Indian Room
1701 Bayview Avenue
416-322-3270

Beerbistro
18 King Street East
416-861-9872

Black Skirt
3 Charles Street East
416-935-0240

Noce
875 Queen Street West
416-504-3463

Riva Supper Lounge
584 College Street
416-588-7377

Sassafraz
100 Cumberland Street
416-964-2222

Tappo
Distillery District
55 Mill Street,
Building 3
647-430-1111

and more... I went a few years back and it was great! Trying a new restaurant is always a treat! Winterlicious definitely puts the fun back into dining out!! Enjoy!

Make your resolutions reality

When you try to change a bunch of stuff at once, it is overwhelming. And that's not just you. Research shows that we become depleted after exerting the self-regulation it takes to make a change. So this year, don't do it all at once. You can have multiple goals, but tackle them only one at a time. Here's how:

1. Identify a handful (3 - 6) of goals for the year.
In your case, you might choose to position yourself for a new career by pursuing new assignments at work that will expand your skills, or create a goal of being at a healthy weight (as determined by your doctor) by the summer, or to increase your income by a specific amount by December 31st.

2. Ask yourself, "What is the most important habit I need to develop (or eliminate) in order to reach my goal?"
When it comes to actually bringing your goal to fruition, it's about what you do every day. Rather than focusing on the goal, identify the most important habit that would lead to the goal. As Aristotle once said, "We are what we repeatedly do." If you want to lose 30 pounds, but you eat greasy take-out most nights at 9:30 pm, it's going to be hard. So create a new habit: Eat a light, healthy dinner at 6:30 pm every night. Focus on that as your one goal for the next month. Likewise, if you want to earn more and you have a part-time business, create a sales habit - like daily outreach to at least three customers.

3. As you conquer each habit, add a new one.
Once your new habit becomes an old one, focus on the next habit you want to develop in order to reach one of your goals. Continue this throughout the year.

4. Make yourself accountable.
Decide now which habit you'll be working on in March or May or October, and have a system to remind yourself. Mark your calendar now. And tell others about your plans! Research shows you are far more likely to accomplish something when you don't keep it to yourself (lest you be tempted to drop the goal and no one will know it was ever a goal!). Put yourself out there. Declare your goals! Tell the world. Then you'll have some pressure, which can give you the extra motivation to take action.

Patti Stanger, Millionaire Matchmaker

Oh Patti! You know Oprah knows how to go to the source, get the experts to find out the nitty gritty. When it comes to relationships, it's all about Ms. Stanger. She recently appeared on Oprah to discuss the pitfalls many women make when it comes to men. She has a tough love approach, but the confidence in which she speaks tells me she knows what she's talking about. If she looks familiar if you are home Saturday afternoons you can find this sassy lady setting up millionaire bachelors with women.

A few words from the author:

If you've ever found yourself picking off your nail polish, sitting in your sweats with an empty carton of Ben & Jerry's, wondering, "Where are all the good men, and why isn't a gorgeous one standing shirtless in my kitchen mixing me up a pomegranate mojito?" I hate to tell you this, but it's your own fault. Not to worry -- I'm here to help you make that fantasy a reality, with one major addition: you'll be sipping that mojito with a big, glittering diamond ring on your left hand.
Sounds too good to be true? It isn't. As a third-generation matchmaker and the president of one of the world's most elite dating services -- the Millionaire's Club -- I've put myself in the enviable position of being friend, confi dante, and relationship counselor to men and women the world over. I know what the good guys want in a wife, and what sends them screaming into the night. Now I'm sharing their secrets with you.

I've compiled my best tried-and-true advice and I'm going to tell you the things that even your best friend doesn't have the courage to break to you. If you follow my formula, the man of your dreams will appear in your life, and you can be in a committed, monogamous relationship with him in less than a year. Get ready -- I'm about to show you how to make all your relationship dreams come true.

2010 Golden Globes

Time to review the fashion stars of the evening..



Sandra Bullock in Bottega Veneta ** My pick for dress of the night **



Ginnifer Goodwin in Vionnet




Sofia Vergara in Carolina Herrera



Maggie Gyllenhaal in RM by Roland Mouret




Halle Berry in Kaufmanfranco

Funktion Gallery

The Best New Art Galleries in Toronto - 2009

Funktion Gallery was voted #3 out of the 12 new art galleries that opened in Toronto in 2009. Opened in January the gallery is making their way to the top. They are my neighbours from across the street located at 1244 Bloor St West. So proud of their accomplishments. Check out BlogTo for the review.

Funktion Gallery - 1244 Bloor St. West

According to Vogue Magazine..

The ten best dressed women this week were:

1. Michelle Obama, First Lady of the U.S.
2. Leighton Meester, actress & singer
3. Sessilee Lopez, model
4. Jessica Alba, actress
5. Marion Cotillard, actress
6. Diane Kruger, actress
7. Ginnifer Goodwin, actress
8. Kate Walsh, actress
9. Keira Knightley, actress & model
10. Claudia Schiffer, model

Lists are so subjective, but still kind of fun to see who really brought their A game to recent social events.

What's in a bag..

I love purses, the bigger the better.. I fell in love as soon as I put my eyes on this lovely purse.

Madison Kelly is the designer of this new Downtown bag. Constructed by hand, in gorgeous Italian leather, with a fully lined interior that includes a large inside pocket, it’s the perfect size for everyday use. Shown in Stone; also available in Red, Navy, Charcoal, and Forest Green.
The Downtown, $475

LAB POP-UP at 69 VINTAGE COLLECTIVE

69 Vintage is excited to be hosting LAB Consignment for a one-night only POP-UP PARTY on Saturday January 16th, from 6pm until 9pm, at 69 Vintage Collective (1207 Bloor St. W).

LAB Consignment is a new consignment service specializing in the resale of chic, gently used canadian and designer vintage ladies clothing, shoes and handbags. Winter vintage items will be featured for sale, with sweaters, boots, dresses, skirts, and purses galore, many items marked down!

DJ Stuberman will be playing all night.

69 Vintage Collective is Toronto's most amazing new vintage shopping paradise. On the main Floor, 69 Vintage is carrying vintage from Tomorrow Never Knows, Cozette, Muskoka Vintage, Anne Marie-Bergeron, and more!!! In the basement, The Make Den Craft Room will be offering on-the-spot alterations all night long, sew come early for a make-den make-over!
Ransack the Universe Collective will be selling silk-screened t-shirts, books, cards, crafts and knick-knacks of every colour and size...

On the top floor, Rozaneh Vintage is back with a selection of vintage that spans the last hundred years, from lacy victorian frocks to eighties couture, from silk slips to Afghani Rugs and more!!! Promise to Repeat giving you the best of the 80s, Lost and Found Vintage and Stacked will be open all night as well for your shopping shenanigans!!!

See you there...

Who What WEAR When Why Launch Party!‏

Come out on Thursday, January 28 for the debut of WhoWhatWEARWhenWhy, Frugal Fashion Week's series of fundraisers!

The party begins at 7pm and features 3 art-inspired fashion shows! Guest DJs will take to the turntables, spinning everything from hip hop to house! Mix, mingle and dance the night away in Nyood's new intimate, upstairs lounge. Each guest will receive a gift, custom-created for this stylish occassion.

Proceeds from WhoWhatWEARWhenWhy will benefit FFW 2010, a charitable initiative created to support local designers and retailers, and Windfall, Canada's only new clothing bank.

Visit http://www.frugalfashionweek.com/ for more info.

What to do this weekend?

I have been racking my brain all day..if you are like me weather is the decision maker of all plans. A couple of free, at home, indoor activities include:

Creating a vision/dream board..

To do so, you need:

a large piece of cardboard

glue

scissors

favourite magazines

your wild imagination

The key is for this board to represent anything that you can imagine that you want for yourself. Psychologically, when you post this board in a daily visible location ensures that you are abreast to your goals and a higher likelihood to reaching or getting closer to your goals. That could include: love, health, travel, weight loss, real estate, etc.

Go crazy and happy vision searching!

What 2010 means to me

I try to find inspiration or motivation from a variety of places. Everything Jay-Z says or does lately seems to trigger something extra within me. I look forward to 2010 with new experiences, leaving the old, and welcoming bigger and better in all aspects of life. He did it again with his latest music video 'On to the next one' featuring Swizz Beatz (Alicia Keys steady bf), the pep talk for motivated people everywhere.

Viola Frey (1933 - 2004)

The Gardiner Museum will present BIGGER, BETTER, MORE: THE ART OF VIOLA FREY until January 10, 2010, the first look at Frey’s career and legacy since her death in 2004.

She established her reputation in the late 1960s with a series of ceramic sculptures featuring quirky assemblages of images inspired by objects found in local flea markets. In the late 1970s, she began to move away from assemblage sculptures and concentrated on creating large-scale figures. These larger than life sculptures typically depict contemporary men and women in stiff, awkward poses that directly engage and involve viewers. The surfaces are usually painted in bold primary colours that further enhance their visual appeal and emotional impact.

Frey was a revolutionary who broke through the theoretical boundaries between art and craft. Although her monumental figures attracted national and international acclaim Frey also created a strong body of paintings and drawings and experimented with photography, bronze casting and glass sculpting.

According to Gardiner Museum Executive Director Alexandra Montgomery, “BIGGER, BETTER, MORE: THE ART OF VIOLA FREY offers a rare opportunity to see some of Viola Frey’s most extraordinary work. Frey has a wide appeal as her work provides a provocative commentary on life in 20th century American and engages those with an interest in modern art and/or figurative sculpture as well as ceramics.”

The Gardiner Museum is located at :111 Queen’s Park, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2C7

Admission $10 for the public.

Adam Lambert or Boy George?

Adam Lambert! This is a bit too much makeup for my liking!

Is he the next Boy George??

Please let me know....