New Year's Eve

See you in the new year!

Friday Five

This week's Friday Five:

1. When dining out, do you usually save room for dessert? It totally depends on what the cuisine is and what restaurant I'm at. If I know the desserts suck (e.g. The Pickle Barrel), then I won't bother, but if I'm going to a place where I know the desserts are phenomenal (e.g. The Keg), then I will totally save room.
2. How do you feel about saving places in line or saving seats in theatres? I'm okay with it. I'd be a hypocrite if I said I didn't agree with it. I mean, first come, first served, right? But budding in line is a totally different story.
3. What's one thing you did to save money this past year? Well, I do try to purchase things when there's a promotion (e.g. Shoppers 20x Optimum points) so I end up saving on things I need (e.g. redeeming points) at a later date. And I usually bring food to work instead of buying lunch. And I always brew Starbucks coffee first thing when I wake up so I save at least two cups' worth of money when I'm out (because I am a coffee addict and there is no way that I will go through a day without at least one cup).
4. Besides money, what's something you’re saving for later? I'm trying to save up for a new Apple MacBook, because my PC laptop is a piece of shit.
5. In what way did you recently save the best for last? I can't really think of anything.

McDonald's Banana Chocolate Pie

Okay, so today, I discovered that McDonald's is offering a new flavour of pie: banana chocolate. And anyone that knows me knows that I love pie, so of course, I had to try it. It wasn't too bad, but it definitely wasn't great. I personally would've liked it better without the chocolate, and the banana flavour is super artificial. I don't know why, but no other flavour at McDonald's can beat the original apple pie. But at a price of 2 for $1.39, I guess I shouldn't complain. I just won't order it again.

MAC Stylishly Yours

The second collection that was released by MAC on Boxing Day is called Stylishly Yours. This collection is the total opposite of Cham Pale: it's bright and colour-packed. There are four main shades in this collection (red, orange, pink, and purple) that have been executed into several different types of products, so each product corresponds with another type of product. It was initially more intriguing to me than Cham Pale as a whole, and there are a lot of products in this collection that I would use, but a lot of it is re-promoted or permanent at PRO.

For example, the Cream Colour Bases that were released with Stylishly Yours are gorgeous, but Madly Magenta and Virgin Isle are both permanent. I'm still considering grabbing Movie Star Red, but it's easily dupeable. Moreover, all of the Cream Colour Bases in this collection cannot be used on the eye area, so it's limited to cheeks and lips (for me, just lips because I don't like cream blushes). The Pigments that were released with this collection are also gorgeous, but I have too many eyeshadow dupes of those shades. And I find that I rarely ever use Pigments in actual execution; I prefer pressed eyeshadows. If you like the shades, though, I would totally pick one up. They go on beautifully and look stunning on skin, regardless of tone. When it comes to buying Pigments, I always recommend splitting one with someone else because you will never be able to use up an entire jar on your own (unless you spill it or something).

Thusly, I only grabbed the two limited edition lipsticks in Something New and Style Curve (while the other two, Cockney and Neon Orange, are permanent at PRO). Something New is an opaque, cool-toned medium pink in an Amplified finish (like a cooler, lighter, more neon version of Girl About Town). Style Curve is a semi-opaque fuchsia-based violet in a Cremesheen finish, but is made surprisingly wearable because it's more sheer and glossy than most of MAC's other purple shades. Both shades tend to look better for those who are more cool-toned just because of the cool undertones in both of them, but those with warm undertones will find them easy enough to wear since they're not strongly blue-based. This collection is not for the faint-hearted. It's for those who love colour and love wearing it.

MAC Cham Pale

MAC released two collections on Boxing Day, one of which is called Cham Pale. It is, as the name implies, inspired by champagne, so it's quite fitting for the upcoming New Year's festivities. It was a fairly big launch, with a total of 26 products, 22 of which are make-up and four of which are skincare. After much decision-making, I only ended up picking up three items.

Two of the three products are the limited edition Special Reserve Highlight Powders in Rosé Olé and Chez Chez Lamé. Both of the powders look gorgeous on the skin. Rosé Olé looks especially gorgeous on top of a darker blush (it sort of makes any blush look softer and more diffused), though it still looks phenomenal as a blush on its own (it's a subtle rosy coppery beige with golden sheen) as well as a highlighter when used lightly. Chez Chez Lamé is a softened white gold with a subtle white gold sheen, and is beautiful as a highlighter more than a blush. It's not a must-have by any means (I do like Rosé Olé more because it's more functional) but it does give cheeks that lovely glow that so many covet during the winter months. Both powders have a gorgeous crinkled paper kind of look.

After some debate, I also grabbed the limited edition Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15 + Lavender in Calm Mode. Again, not a must-have, but I love MAC's Lip Condtioner (the consistency is just perfect, not too creamy but not too waxy, and absorbs beautifully - it's a tie for my favourite lip balm against Eve Lom's Kiss Mix), and this shade is a nice neutral pink shade that is subtle, easy to wear, and makes lips look slightly milkier (my lips are particularly red, though). I also love it as a base for lipstick and lip gloss. The only complaint here is the scent, which isn't bad but isn't my favourite. The original Lip Conditioners have a subtle vanilla scent, whereas this one is kind of... herbal-y. I'm not sure how to describe it, but it's not the most pleasing to me. Still, I'm a sucker for all of MAC's Lip Conditioners, so I had to get it.

Overall, this collection is very light, shimmery, and pale. It'll please anyone who wants to add shimmer and gleam but not much colour. Personally, the lipsticks and Lipgelées were too frosty and glittery for my taste, but I imagine the latter would look gorgeous on top of a matte or cream-finish lip colour. Cham Pale as a whole is better used with products from other collections rather than exclusively with products from this launch itself to prevent shimmer overload.

Family Dinner

My brother and I decided to get together with some of our cousins tonight for a dinner since my brother's only in town once a year. We headed over to Vivian's house instead of going out to keep it more casual and mellow. My cousin Noelle brought some awesome spicy potato salad and Min (Noelle's husband) made these epic puff pastries topped with sauteed beef and onions as an starter of sorts. Vivian and Fred (her husband) also ordered a ton of pizza, chicken wings, and potato wedges (it has been a long time since I've had pizza delivered), and Janetta made an apple galette for dessert. We actually had a really good time; it's been too long since we've all been together, especially without the parents and grandparents (we occasionally have these big family dinners that include everyone, but none of us really get to talk about anything). It's hard to believe these are the same people we used to play hide-and-seek with, and now some of them are married (and Vivian with a kid!).

Queen's Head

After an insane day at work (Boxing Day + malls = mayhem), I met up with Shawn, Vito, and Benton at Queen's Head for dinner (me) and drinks (them). If there's one thing to order there, it's the Royale Burger with cheese and bacon. It is just so effing good. I like the food in general at Willie Stouts way more as far as bar food goes, but the burger at Queen's Head is phenomenal. And it's huge. You can barely fit it into your mouth. (That's what she said...?) A definite re-order.

Maxim Bakery & Restaurant

My family doesn't do Christmas dinner at home (no, I have never had turkey dinner before), so my mom made a reservation for us at Maxim's this year. You can always rely on Asian restaurants on Christmas Day (though Maxim's is not an Asian restaurant in the sense that they don't serve Asian cuisines). They had a five-course Christmas menu with your choice of entree, so my dinner consisted of:

Mushroom bruschetta with white truffle oil, tiger shrimp with tomato salsa, Alaskan crab cake with balsamic glaze on a bed of seaweed salad

Bacon-wrapped boneless quail stuffed with shitake mushrooms on a mushroom-stuffed ravioli

Lobster bisque au Cognac

Filet mignon in a merlot reduction with sauteed snow peas, roasted tomato, garlic mashed potatoes, and mushroom medley

Cake buffet (featuring mini versions of their famous desserts): mango cheesecake, hazelnut mocha cake, strawberry almond meringue, and mango almond meringue

All of that, plus coffee, for $39. Seriously, you can't get a better deal than that. Especially on Christmas Day. You'd think for such a low price that they would be stingy on the quantity and the quality, but there really wasn't a single course that I didn't enjoy. The soup was creamy and flavourful, and you could actually taste the lobster with a hint of cognac. My filet mignon was perfectly cooked, super tender and juicy. And their cake buffet! Totally epic. Oh, man, what a great dinner.

Now, I'm off to the casino with Edward and my brother. Hope everyone had a great Christmas!

Gift Exchange

I didn't exchange Christmas presents with many people this year, but I did with Edward and Shawn. Shopping for Edward was easy because we actually just went to the mall together and picked out what we wanted, so he had given me those MAC & Marcel Wanders lipsticks earlier this month, and I had given him a zip-up hoodie and a Kenneth Cole leather belt. But I spent a lot of time thinking about what I would give Shawn, and I think I did a pretty decent job in the end, including three mixed CDs (with handmade cover art!), a Perry Ellis leather belt, a Ben Sherman leather wallet, a bottle of Ralph Lauren Big Pony Collection #1 Body Spray, a box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates, and lots of Blu-ray: Seasons 1 and 2 of Breaking Bad, A Clockwork Orange, Labyrinth, Dark Crystal, and Ponyo.

In return, Shawn gave me the three MAC Viva Glam lipsticks (that he gave me early), a bottle of my favourite Fresh Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum, Californication: Season 3 on DVD, the Diamond Edition of Beauty and the Beast on Blu-ray/DVD, and... a huge totoro plush toy! My Neighbor Totoro was the first movie I ever watched (I think I was maybe two or three), and I always wanted a totoro doll when I was a kid, but my parents wouldn't get me one because they were too expensive. So after checking three different Asian malls, Shawn finally found a store that carried them and bought me the biggest one they had (go big or go home, right?). So epic. It's totally sitting on my drawer chest, taking up the entire space. Love!

It's been a good Christmas.

Christmas

So, this is the first Christmas in five years that I haven't had to go to work. That means today will be spent painting my nails, doing some laundry, perhaps doing some baking, and watching a DVD or two. My brother is visiting from New York City so we're going out for dinner, and then maybe a casino run (as per tradition). Anyhow, have a merry Christmas... or at least an incredibly awesome lazy day!

Shortbread Cookies

I'm working a double-shift today so I won't be home until midnight (which epicly sucks, because it's not even time-and-a-half!), but my co-worker made these epic Christmas cookies for us: shortbread with Skor pieces and chocolate chips, dusted in icing sugar. I totally ate five of these in a row. They're not much to look at, but I think these have got to be the best cookies I've ever had. (And I have eaten a lot of cookies in my life.) Someone needs to mass-produce these, for real.

Friday Five

This week's Friday Five:

1. What's something that demands ketchup? I don't know if they demand them, but I do enjoy ketchup on hot dogs and hamburgers. But I always add other condiments to them along with the ketchup, like mustard, relish, mayo, etc. And I would say I like ketchup on my fries most of the time. I'm not one of those weird people who add ketchup to their eggs or grilled cheese, though.
2. What's the best thing to do with the leftover packets of cheese and red-pepper flakes you get with pizza delivery? I don't think I've ever received packets of cheese and red-pepper flakes with pizza delivery, but I reckon that I'd use them on pasta dishes.
3. What’s something (besides salad) that's good with salad dressing? Fries and pizza crusts, and sometimes chicken wings.
4. What's a condiment you’re especially brand-loyal to? Heinz ketchup, Hellman's mayonnaise, Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce, Kikkoman soy sauce, Huy Fong Sriracha hot sauce, Lee Kum Kee hoisin sauce...
5. What's the weirdest use of condiments you’ve seen by other people? I honestly haven't really seen weird uses of condiments. I'm probably the weird one. I actually like dipping my fries into ice cream or milkshakes if I have them around... It does, however, bother me when people dip their grilled cheese into ketchup. Why would you ruin a classic like that?

The Pickle Barrel

I've never had a Reuben sandwich before, so when Shawn and I went for dinner at The Pickle Barrel, I decided to try one. The sandwich consists of warm pastrami, melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing on grilled dark rye bread. I don't know how authentic The Pickle Barrel's version is, but I don't really care because the sandwich is awesome. Like, why have I not tried this before? I feel like need to try more of the sandwich items on their menu, because that's apparently what The Pickle Barrel is really known for. But I may just keep going back to the Reuben.

Markham Station

Shawn, Jesse, and I went for a late dinner at Markham Station. I decided to try the chopped steak, which is essentially a hamburger except using chopped steak instead of ground beef. Maybe it was because I was super hungry, but the chopped steak was surprisingly quite delicious. It came with a sort of gravy that reminds me of Swiss Chalet's "Chalet Sauce," but I found that it tasted better with tzatziki sauce (okay, yes, I know it's supposed to be used for souvlaki and gyros and whatnot, but it was damn good on that chopped steak). It also comes with Caesar salad, fries, garlic bread, and a dessert, all for $10.99. I mean, you just can't get better than that. So, conclusion: It was tasty and filling, and I would order it again.

Cupcake Surprise

Shawn decided to come by my work today while I was on break, except he spent 20 minutes finding parking because the mall was insanely busy (like, insanely - for serious, do not go to malls during Christmas week). So by the time we met up, I could only spend about one minute with him before I had to head back to work. And all of that hassle? Was so he could give me a cupcake (a chocolate cupcake with strawberry frosting!). It was the cutest thing, ever, and totally made my day.

Swiss Chalet

I was craving chicken pot pie after work today, so Shawn and I went for dinner at Swiss Chalet, which is the only chain restaurant I can think of that serves chicken pot pie. It's certainly not the greatest chicken pot pie, but it's satisfying; full of chicken (actually, a little too much, 'cause there's just gigantic chunks of chicken in there, like they just ripped the chicken off the bone and shoved it in there without bothering to cut it up) mixed with veggies in a cream sauce and a lovely flaky crust sitting on top. And for dessert, we decided to try the coconut cream pie. Ironically, I really liked it... once I took off the cream. I just don't like whipped cream on my pies. Just like how I love lemon meringue pie without the meringue. Anyhow, it was a satisfying dinner, and for whatever reason, super awesome on a cold, winter night.

Duke of York

Shawn and I went down to the Duke of York to celebrate Vito's birthday tonight. It was my first time going there, and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed the place. It has an "old England" feel in terms of the decor, but it's clean, well-lit, and rather charming, and our waiter was awesome. There was beer (it was my first time trying Cracked Canoe beer, and I have to say, it's probably my new favourite light beer), there were shots (and perhaps an Irish Car Bomb or two), and there was food: Chris Brothers' Famous Deep-Fried Pepperoni, spicy calamari, and the Duke's Ultimate Nachos.

The biggest disappointment was probably the pepperoni, which tasted like slightly burned, slightly hardened pizza pepperoni. I'm not really sure what makes it "famous." The calamari was okay, but nothing special. The pieces of squid are tiny and it's very thinly battered (which some people like). I like the calamari at Willie Stouts way more. The stand out was definitely the nachos. We ordered ours with chili and it was awesome. Like, this is how all nachos should be. Perfectly layered, too, so there was cheese, tomatoes, peppers, and chili all the way to the bottom of the chip pile. Would I go there again? Definitely. But I think we'll leave the pepperoni and calamari next time.

Yummy Vietnamese Cuisine

Shawn and I went for dinner after work at Yummy. After much raving from Edward about the noodle soup, I decided to try it for myself. And, I've gotta say, it has definitely become my new favourite place for pho. You can pick from a list of different ingredients as to what you want with your noodles, but I picked the classics: rare beef and cooked brisket. The noodles are soft and tender and you get a really good portion (e.g. huge - I barely finished it). But it's the broth that makes it my new favourite. It actually tastes like authentic pho noodle soup, not like super-salty MSG. I'm not sure how else to describe it, but it's freakin' delicious, and I'll be going there again (hopefully soon).

Also, I did a little bit of shopping today: a tube of MAC Viva Glam II Lipstick, a new compact of MAC Studio Fix Powder+ Foundation in C35, a new Shu Uemura eyelash curler (my old one broke), and a Ben Sherman leather wallet for Shawn. Oh, and while I was at Sephora, I redeemed my Beauty Insider points and got a free set of Philosophy holiday goodies, including a full-size tube of their Peppermint Bark lip shine, and mini sizes of their bubble bath and shower gels in Vanilla Birthday Cake, Candy Cane, Peppermint Bark, and The Gingerbread Man. It kind of made my day.

Friday Five

This week's Friday Five:

1. Of excursions you remember taking in elementary school, which was your favorite? To be honest, I don't remember many of my elementary school trips, though I do remember really enjoying my Grade 4 trip to Black Creek Pioneer Village... My favourite excursion in middle school was a 3-day trip to Ottawa in Grade 8. But my favourite excursion, by far, was in Grade 12, when my senior art class took a 4-day trip to New York City. I know it's not elementary school, but it was better than all my school trips combined.
2. Of excursions you remember taking in elementary school, which was your least favorite? I really hated our Grade 6 trip to Sudbury. I just remember it being really boring.
3. What seems like a really good school excursion destination that nobody seems to take? Hands down, a chocolate factory, like in Willy Wonka.
4. Which of your recent activities might pass for an educational excursion? My road trip to Boston with Shawn was relatively educational. We walked around a lot of the city, including a lot of the historical sites (e.g. Freedom Trail), and got lost quite a bit, so we learned from that... And we went to Harvard! I mean, can you get more educational than that? Really, now.
5. When a sack lunch was needed for a field trip, what was most likely in your brown paper bag? How about now? Back then, it was probably a sandwich, a fruit of some sort, a granola bar, maybe some crackers, and a juice box. And, honestly, it'd probably be really similar now, just 'cause they're so easy to pack and I'm really lazy.

Alexisonfire @ The Sound Academy

Shawn and I went to see Alexisonfire tonight at the Sound Academy. I can't believe it's been nine years since I first saw them live. Tonight must've been my 16th or 17th time seeing them, and I still had a really fun time. A lot has changed in the past nine years, of course: set lists, band members (well, just the drummer), venues, audiences. But they still put on a great live show, and I never get bored seeing them. Highlights for me include: "Boiled Frogs," "Rough Hands," "Happiness by the Kilowatt," "Control," "We Are the Sound," "Midnight Regulations," "Young Cardinals," their cover of Midnight Oil's "The Dead Heart," and, of course, "Pulmonary Archery" (throwback!).
I do wish they had played some more songs from their self-titled album, but I guess they have to cater to their current fans, and I know that a lot of people didn't appreciate their first album as much as their other efforts. It would've also been nice to hear "Get Fighted," just 'cause crowds usually go apeshit during that song. But, still, I had a good fuckin' time.

St. Louis Bar & Grill

Shawn and Vito came to visit me after work this evening, so we went over to St. Louis for a late dinner. For once, I wasn't in the mood for wings (gasp!), so I opted for the Ancho Chipotle Club Wrap, which includes grilled chicken breast, jalapeno bacon, sauteed onions, Monterey Jack cheese, a spring mix lettuce blend, tomatoes, and ancho chipotle mayo, all wrapped in a grilled flour tortilla. Now, I'm always one of those people that order what the restaurant is known for (e.g. steak from a steakhouse), so I had my doubts about this wrap, since St. Louis is known for wings and ribs. But, I digress, because the wrap? Was surprisingly tasty. So I've decided that I'm going to try out some of the other non-wing, non-rib items on the menu (perhaps the fish tacos or the BBQ pulled pork sandwich). I'm ready to be pleasantly surprised.

Hipstamatic

Lens: Helga Viking

Flash: Dreampop

Film: Ina's 1969

Lens: John S

Flash: Dreampop

Film: Ina's 1969

Lens: Helga Viking

Flash: Dreampop

Film: Ina's 1969

Taken with the Hipstamatic app for iPhone.

Willie Stouts

I was hungry after the movie, so Shawn and I went over to Willie Stouts. They were only serving the late-night menu when we got there (thusly, no grilled cheese), so I opted for the halibut and chips. It's not the best fish and chips I've had (not even close, really), but at midnight, one can't really complain. The fish could be more tender and perhaps flakier, but it's not bad for frozen fish. Add some salt and pepper, a squeeze of lemon juice, and a pile of tartar sauce, and it's pretty damn tasty. And it's really filling, 'cause I barely got through the fries (they weren't waffle fries, though, so I don't feel so bad).

Tangled

Shawn and I went to watch Disney's Tangled in 3D tonight. Everyone already knows the story of Rapunzel, so I won't re-hash it here, but this film is really a return to Disney's roots. I like that they took away some of that "damsel in distress" theme that is in most of Disney's fairy tales, 'cause this Rapunzel is pretty bad ass. It's visually stunning with bright imagery and colours; I also thought the 3D was used well here - it was smooth and polished, not rushed (hello, Alice in Wonderland). The voice talents were great as well, with Mandy Moore as Rapunzel and Donna Murphy as Mother Gothel. This rendition of Rapunzel makes you feel nostalgic but also has a few modern tweaks, and ends up being witty without the use of unnecessary pop culture references (hello, Shrek). It's certainly not the best Disney animated film, and it doesn't compare to Pixar's works, but it does stand on its own as a fun, clever, heartwarming, and just plain cute animated movie. It's not mind-blowing, but at least you'll come out of the theatre with a smile on your face.

Rating: 4/5

MAC Viva Glam

For those who don't already know, MAC has a program called the MAC Aids Fund that benefits men, women, and children whose lives are infected or affected by AIDS/HIV. The entire selling price of any of MAC's Viva Glam lipsticks (you can tell which ones they are because they're in red tubes instead of the regular silver ones) goes to this fund. That's not just the proceeds, or a portion of. That's the entire selling price. So every time you spend $17.50 on one tube of Viva Glam lipstick, every single penny of that amount goes to the MAC Aids Fund. MAC is actually spending money out of their own pocket for this cause. I think this is, hands down, the best charity program any cosmetic company has ever offered.

Thusly, I bought not one, but three new Viva Glam lipsticks. I got Viva Glam I (matte opaque warm red), Viva Glam V (sheer neutral brown-pink with pearl), as well as Viva Glam Gaga (semi-opaque cool-toned bubblegum pink). I got Viva Glam Cyndi (semi-opaque muted coral-red) and the Viva Glam Cyndi gloss (coral with subtle white micro-shimmer) over the summer, and they became my must-have summer shades. I think Cyndi will only be available until next February, so if you saw swatches online or in-store and you like it, pick one up soon. There are currently nine shades of Viva Glam available, so there really is something for everyone (I'm also going to get Viva Glam II, IV, and VI SE). All of them are gorgeous and create very different looks. The holiday season is just another reason to get yourself or someone else a Viva Glam lipstick or lip gloss. Do good, feel good, look good.

Pixel 8

It's been a while since I've been to Pixel 8, a.k.a. my favourite place for Japanese noodles, so Shawn and I went there for dinner. I had the House Ramen, which includes BBQ pork, fish balls, slices of fish cake, a deep-fried jumbo shrimp, and the usual seaweed, corn, and mushrooms, all sitting atop delicious Japanese ramen. Aside from the MC Ramen, in which you actually pick out the items you want in your noodles, I'd have to say the House Ramen is probably my new favourite. Beautiful, isn't it?

Tonight's plans? UFC 124: Georges St-Pierre vs. Josh Koscheck. I've been waiting for this for nine months.

Black Swan

Shawn and I went to watch Black Swan tonight. It was intense. Insane. Incredible. Darren Aronofsky's style is very distinct; it was similar to Requiem for a Dream, which is a favourite of mine. He somehow manages to blur the lines between reality and an almost psychotic dream-like state, leaving you anxious and confused and asking, "What the fuck just happened?" You'd think a film about ballet would be kind of ethereal and light-hearted, but Black Swan is anything but. It's horrifying and exhilarating, and yet strangely majestic. Natalie Portman playing Nina is a revelation. The transition from naive, goody-goody, perfectionist into lustful, raging, masochist is so smooth, you can't even pin-point the moment when she really starts to lose her identity and her sanity. It's scary and dark, but you can't stop watching. It's definitely Oscar-worthy, for direction, acting, cinematography. It's a film that you need to watch a second time to really grasp what's going on, but it's worth it.

Rating: 5/5

Boston Pizza

Shawn and I went for dinner at Boston Pizza. They're currently offering a "Festive Favourites Menu," which is available until January 3rd, so I decided to try the Jumbo Butternut Squash Ravioli. I actually really enjoyed the dish, not just because I love ravioli to begin with, but because it was surprisingly not a heavy dish. I mean, considering that it's stuffed pasta and drenched in cream sauce. Moreover, it's vegetarian-friendly (this is not an important aspect to me, really, but it's a great option for those who don't eat meat). I was full, but it's not necessarily filling. It left me feeling good, and I definitely could've ordered dessert afterwards. They should really consider adding this dish to their permanent menu.

Friday Five

This week's Friday Five:

1. What's the worst thing about really bad rainstorms? Driving in it. Because people around here do not know how to drive in the rain.
2. What's the best thing about really bad rainstorms? I love the sound of rain hitting against the pavement, or the roof, or the windows. There's something really soothing about that sound, even if it's violent. I also love the smell of the earth after it rains.
3. What's your favourite (be honest!) way to pass the time when the power's out? If I'm by myself, I love taking a nap when the power's out, especially if it's raining. Taking a nap when it's raining outside is the best. If I'm not tired enough for a nap, I like reading a book or a magazine... or playing on my iPhone. If I'm with my boyfriend, then... you know.
4. In what ways are you always prepared for a bad storm? If I know it's going to rain, I always carry an umbrella around with me and keep one in the car. But other than that, I'm not very prepared for a bad storm.
5. What’s your favourite song with the word "rain" in the title? The one that comes to mind right now is "Running from the Rain" by Thursday.

The Sugar

So Edward and I wanted some bubble tea this evening, 'cause we're Asian like that, and decided to try out The Sugar at Finch and Leslie. I will mention right now that this place serves Asian desserts only, so if you're looking for pie or cake or whatever, you won't find it here (much to my dismay). Anyhow, we got our bubble tea and... it's decent, but nothing special, and the tapioca tastes a little off. I personally like the bubble tea better at Go For Tea or Ten Ren's. We also decided to try the black sesame rice balls, which were pretty good but again, nothing special and nothing I haven't tried before.

The dealbreaker, though? The lack of service. Seriously, we had to seat ourselves because no one was paying attention to the front entrance. It then took at least ten minutes for a waiter to actually take our order, and that was only because we yelled for attention. What kills me, though, is that it wasn't even that busy! I would understand if the place was packed, but there were maybe six or seven tables, all of whom had already ordered. And the waiter that did serve us made it seem like he was doing us a favour by serving us. Conclusion: I am never going there again.

Fantastic Curry House

I had dinner with my mom this evening at Fantastic Curry House. We ordered the curry beef with roti, and the vermicelli noodles with spring rolls, BBQ chicken, and shrimp on sugar cane skewers. Ironically, while the restaurant is called Fantastic Curry House, they offer a lot of other non-curry dishes which are also really good. Don't get me wrong, the curry beef was delicious (just spicy enough with a good curry flavour and lots of beef and potatoes) and their roti is better than the ones offered at most other places I've been to (fluffy, flaky, and almost buttery). But their vermicelli noodles are definitely worth trying. My mom often gets me take-out from this place, and I always ask for the vermicelli noodles because no matter if they've been in the fridge and re-heated in the microwave or fresh from the kitchen, they're always delicious. Nom, nom, nom.

Congee Queen

Shawn and I went to Congee Queen for dinner, and ordered the chili turnip patties and Cantonese chow mein. I like Congee Queen because they have all the classic Chinese dishes and rarely ever screw them up. I mean, those turnip patties were really addictive. I was so full and was still like, "Must. Eat. More." It was out of control. Though, to be fair, they are delightful pockets of spicy pan-fried starchy goodness. Who can resist, really? And the Cantonese chow mein was really quite good. There was a decent crispy-to-soft noodle ratio, and a good amount of meat, seafood, and veggies on top. And it wasn't overly salty, but still flavourful... Yep, it's always good times at Congee Queen.

MAC & Marcel Wanders

Edward and I did some shopping at Yorkdale this evening, and he ended up buying me two lipsticks from the MAC & Marcel Wanders collaboration collection for Christmas! I got Gesina, an opaque bright pink-based red, and Digna, which is a semi-opaque blackened berry red. They're both cream finishes and they seem be creamier and go on more smoothly than regular MAC lipsticks. All the lipsticks in this collection are exclusive to MAC stores (not at The Bay locations) and limited edition. They're $26 a pop but they also contain more product, so they end up being proportional in price to permanent MAC lipsticks.

The only negative thing about this collection is that all the shades are easily dupeable, so the special packaging (which remind me of pawn chess pieces) and creamier formula would be the main reasons to get these lipsticks. Even still, the shades themselves are gorgeous. The other two lipstick shades in the collection are Catharina (bright medium fuchsia pink) and Martha (peachy nude with soft champagne shimmer), which are both also really nice, though Martha was sold out at the Yorkdale location. I'm considering picking them up next week, though, if they're not completely sold out.

Grilled Cheese with Old Cheddar

I had eight hours of training for MAC today on three hours of sleep, so naturally I was way too lazy to make anything that required more than three ingredients and ten minutes for dinner. Thusly, I made grilled cheese with rye bread and old cheddar. Seriously, though. It was ridiculously good.

Hipstamatic

Lens: Roboto Glitter

Flash: Off

Film: Ina's 1969

Lens: Roboto Glitter

Flash: Off

Film: Ina's 1969

Lens: Roboto Glitter

Flash: Dreampop

Film: Ina's 1969

Taken with the Hipstamatic app for iPhone.