Friday Five: White

This week's Friday Five:

1. What's the best white food? Mashed potatoes! And Harvati cheese.
2. What's your favourite white article of clothing? A pair of Aerie pajama pants. They're white with a cute bicycle print on them. Other than that, I actually don't have any white clothes...
3. What are your thoughts on telling little white lies? I think they're fine as long as they're harmless, and used to make something better or make someone feel better. I use them all the time.
4. What's an impressive white animal? Polar bears!
5. What are some songs in your iTunes (or other media player) whose title contains the word 'white'? These are actually all of the songs on my iTunes containing the word 'white':
• Alexisonfire - White Devil
• Thursday - Arc-Lamps, Signal Flares, A Shower of White (The Light)
• Foo Fighters - White Rabbit
• Glassjaw - Motel of the White Locust
• The Killers - A White Demon Love Song
• Minus the Bear - White Mystery
• Lorde - White Teeth Teens
• Goldfrapp - Ride a White Horse
• Cibo Matto - White Pepper Ice Cream

Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer in Inky Six

Last month, Butter London had a promotion for free shipping when you spent over $50, and you'd also get a free bottle of their Powder Room nail polish remover plus a bonus nail file. I used to order from Butter London all the time before it was carried everywhere (I think it was exclusive to Holt Renfrew for the longest time), but more recently, I'd order my Butter London from Nail Polish Canada if I didn't want to find it in-store because it's always free shipping within Canada for orders over $25. But there were a few shades that are exclusive to the Butter London website that I really wanted, so I took the opportunity to grab them, including Inky Six. However, this one is now available everywhere, so you don't have to grab it from their web store.

Inky Six is a medium-dark cerulean blue jelly base with cerulean blue, indigo blue, purple, and emerald green micro-glitter, shimmer, and micro-shimmer. It has a slightly thicker consistency that is common with glitter polishes, but it doesn't hinder the application. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It has high pigmentation and will go opaque in two medium coats. The only dupe I can think of is China Glaze's Water You Waiting For, though this one has smaller glitter pieces and a much bluer, more pigmented base, so it appears deeper and more blue. However, Water You Waiting For was a limited edition shade from China Glaze's Cirque du Soleil collection in January and is no longer available, so if you missed out on that and you want something very similar, Inky Six is a great option. Either way, it's a serious stunner and a must-have for fans of blues and glitters.

Pick-Ups & Deliveries: November 2013 — Sephora VIB Sale Haul

I had already anticipated that November was going to be an expensive month, but what I hadn't anticipated was getting so many damn things that I needed to split my hauls into three separate posts. (In case you missed them, the other two are here and here.) So... the Sephora VIB sale. It was during the same weekend as IMATS, so I basically blew half a month's pay cheques in two days. Yup. And I don't regret it at all. I mean, I'm not a VIB Rouge member for nothin'. I would've done this post earlier, actually, but I bought half of my purchases in store and half online, so I was waiting for my order to arrive (which it did on Friday). 
Sephora VIB tote bag
I know there was a lot of controversy over NARS' collaboration with Guy Bourdin, but I personally think it got a little out of hand. Guy Bourdin was a photographer and an artist, and while some might think his photography is offensive, his work, like all art, is up for interpretation. Ultimately, Guy Bourdin's work is an inspiration to many, not just in the subject matter, but in the placement and juxtaposition of the subjects, the way his photos were shot, and the different combinations of colours, textures, people, and environments. NARS was inspired by Guy Bourdin, and the reason behind it is not what concerns me, but how NARS interpreted Bourdin's artwork to create a make-up colour collection. And the colours are what is important to me here. I honestly couldn't care less who the collaboration was made with, but the colour story and the quality of the products are what concern me. So, that having been said, I picked up the four items that I fell in love with:
NARS x Guy Bourdin
NARS x Guy Bourdin Powder Blush in Day Dream and Coeur Battant
NARS x Guy Bourdin Cinematic Lipstick in Goodbye Emmanuelle and Full Frontal
Of course, I had to pick up the one thing that I've been lemming for over two months now: Urban Decay's Vice 2 Eyeshadow Palette. No, I certainly do not need another eyeshadow palette, but when Urban Decay releases a new one, my interest gets piqued. And when they release one that's limited edition with completely brand new shades, I feel that I must have it, because Urban Decay has never disappointed me with their eyeshadows in terms of quality and colours. I was super-impressed with the first Vice palette, so when I saw the swatches of the second one, it was love at first sight. And while I was at it, I picked up two more shades of Revolution Lipstick (one of my Top 5 favourite lipstick formulas of all time) in a MLBB shade and a nude (I had bought some of the brighter shades a couple months ago and wanted some of the more neutral shades this time around).
Urban Decay Vice 2 Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Vice 2 Eyeshadow Palette (inside)
Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Liar and Naked2
And then I looked up Tarte for the sole purpose of getting a bottle of their Pure Maracuja Oil. I have been curious about face oils for a while now and just couldn't seem to make up my mind on one. Honestly, it was between this and Josie Maran's Argan Oil. I'm not really sure why I went for this one instead, but they both have rave reviews, so perhaps if the Tarte one doesn't work out for me, I'll try out Josie Maran's. While I was looking at the Tarte stuff, I also saw that they released their new Amazonian Butter Lipsticks. As I am a sucker for packaging, I was immediately drawn to them. Plus, the colour range is nice, the formula is rich and moisturizing, and the price is just right. So I picked up three shades that most interested me right now (I think I would've been more inclined to grab the brighter or lighter shades if it was spring or summer). Do I need anymore lipsticks? Oh, god, no. (If you'll notice, this haul alone includes seven goddamn lipsticks.) But there's no better time to try a new lipstick than when it's on sale, right?!

Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil
Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipsticks in Plummy Rose, Poppy, and Tulip

Then, some essentials. Or, "essentials," as I am a general cosmetics hoarder and nothing I buy right now is technically essential. I needed a new face primer because my beloved MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50 is on long-term out of stock and I just ran out, so I took the opportunity to try the much-hyped (and ridiculously expensive) Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15. I also picked up a new Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, which I still think is the best in the industry and is a staple tool for me (they actually write on the box that you should replace your curler every six months but I truly think that's ridiculous, so I replace it every three years instead...). And, finally, some Deborah Lippmann polishes, which is not essential at all (like, at all), but were too pretty to resist (especially for 20% off!). Plus, let's be honest, what kind of Sephora haul could I make that doesn't include nail polish? One that doesn't make sense, obviously.
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in Some Enchanted Evening, Good Girl Gone Bad, Lady Sings the Blues, and Today was a Fairytale
Finally, to end my haul, some free goodies! Firstly, because it was my birthday, I got my free Beauty Insider birthday gift. They were offering some Benefit mini set this year that I was so completely uninterested in, so I opted for the Jack Black Supreme Cream Triple Cushion Shave Lather instead. I haven't decided whether to keep it or to give it to the boyfriend yet, but at least it'll be opened and used either way (that Benefit set would undoubtedly be sitting in the corner of my room gathering dust). And then, because I had a ridiculous amount of VIB points, I redeemed them on some 500 point perk sets. I'm not usually interested in the point perks that they offer, but Sephora's hitting it out of the park for me this month, so I ended up choosing four of them. Although it kind of worries me that I had enough points to redeem for four 500 point perks and still have over 1,000 points left... (Uh, for those who aren't familiar with Sephora's VIB program, you get one point for every $1 you spend. Which means I have spent way too many dollars there.)
Beauty Insider Birthday Gift: Jack Black Supreme Cream Triple Cushion Shave Lather
VIB 500 Point Perk: Caudalie Brighten & Renew Skincare Set (with Make-up Remover Cleansing Water, Vinoperfect Radiance Serum, and Vinoperfect Day Perfecting Fluid)
VIB 500 Point Perk: Kate Somerville Skincare Set (with Oil Free Moisturizer, ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliator, and DTX Daily Cleanser)
VIB 500 Point Perk: Tarte Amazonian Treasures Collection (with Pure Maracuja Oil, Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder, Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Exposed, Lights, Camera, Lashes! 4-in-1 Mascara, and EmphasEYES Waterproof Amazonian Clay Cream Eyeshadow in Moss)
VIB 500 Point Perk: Tocca Cleopatra Fragrance Viaggio Set (with Cleopatra Eau de Parfum Rollerball and Cleopatra Mini Candelina)
So, did you take part in Sephora's VIB sale this month? If so, what'd you pick up? 

Paramore: Live at Air Canada Centre — Still Into You

This is the video I filmed of Paramore at Air Canada Centre on November 20, performing "Still Into You," from their self-titled album. I filmed them playing this song earlier this year at Sound Academy as well, but I had to include it here again because it's their biggest, most poppy, dance-y song, and was such a great contrast to "Part II," which was the other song they played during the encore. Also, balloons! And confetti! Truly, the perfect ending to a great concert.

Paramore: Live at Air Canada Centre — Part II

This is the video I filmed of Paramore at Air Canada Centre on November 20, performing "Part II," from their self-titled album. I'm really glad they chose to play this during their encore (this is the first time I've heard them playing this live), because it's probably one of the less popular songs from their self-titled record, but it's my favourite song off of it. It's named "Part II" because it's a sequel to their song, "When the Flames Begin" from 2007's Riot! album. This is by far their hardest, least "pop" song on the self-titled record, and it's almost like a throwback to their old sound. A lot of their songs from this album are very anthemic, but to me, this is the most powerful.

Paramore: Live at Air Canada Centre — Now

This is the video I filmed of Paramore at Air Canada Centre on November 20, performing "Now," from their self-titled album. To me, this song is what marked Paramore's comeback, not just because it's the first single that was released from their self-titled album, but because of the message of the song. It's all about starting over and new beginnings, when you're at the bottom and get the courage to get back up again. An anthem for those who thought they lost it all but have hope again.

Paramore: Live at Air Canada Centre — In the Mourning

This is the video I filmed of Paramore at Air Canada Centre on November 20, performing "In the Mourning," from their Singles Club EP. As the title of the song implies, it is literally about mourning the loss of two of Paramore's founding members (the Farro brothers). Many of Paramore's songs after Brand New Eyes (e.g. Singles Club EP and their self-titled record) act as a sort of defiance against the Farro brothers, filled with "screw you, we're so much better off without you" kinds of messages, but "In the Mourning" might actually be the only song that hints at Hayley being sorry for how things went down ("You were the greatest thing and now you're just a memory to let go of"). Anyway, the best part of this performance, which they always do when they're performing this live, is the cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" that they squeeze in at the end. Love.

Paramore: Live at Air Canada Centre — That's What You Get

This is the video I filmed of Paramore at Air Canada Centre on November 20, performing "That's What You Get," from their 2007 album, Riot!. For some reason, I associate this song as their main single from Riot!, even though "Misery Business" is technically the most popular single that was released from it (I think this may have more to do with the fact that I continually played it on Rock Band 2… but either way, I like this song more than "Misery Business"). This is the only song from Riot! that I filmed and it also makes me nostalgic (the album came out when I was in third year university), so I thought I'd share it here.

Paramore: Live at Air Canada Centre — Fast in My Car

This is the video I filmed of Paramore at Air Canada Centre on November 20, performing "Fast in My Car," from their self-titled album. I have actually filmed them playing this song before, but it gets me so pumped, I couldn't not film it this time around. It's the first track on their self-titled album, and I feel like it starts off the record so well, so I always associate this song with that feeling of excitement I got when I first previewed the album. Also, I like driving fast in my car. Okay, I'm done.

Paramore: Live at Air Canada Centre

Went to see Paramore last night at the Air Canada Centre. It was my fifth time seeing them overall, second time seeing them this year, and first time seeing them play at an arena. (I took way too many photos, so there's more for your viewing pleasure after the jump.)

What surprised me about this concert was the attendees, actually. I guess I'm used to a lot of Paramore shows having mostly young teenage girls. Don't get me wrong, there were still plenty of young kids (some with parents) there, but the majority of the people at the show were well into their 20s, clearly people that have followed them for years (after all, I was only 19 when I started listening to Paramore and I'm still going to their concerts now at 27). Not only that, but the male-female ratio was pretty equal. So it's only fitting that their setlist was full of new favourites and old classics, which aimed to please both new and old fans alike.
Setlist:

1. Grow Up 2. Fast in My Car 3. That's What You Get 4. Decode 5. Ignorance 6. Interlude: I'm Not Angry Anymore 7. Now 8. Daydreaming 9. When It Rains 10. Last Hope 11. Brick by Boring Brick 12. Interlude: Holiday 13. Crushcrushcrush 14. Ain't It Fun 15. The Only Exception 16. In the Mourning 17. Pressure 18. Misery Business

Encore:

19. Part II 20. Interlude: Moving On 21. Still Into You

I have mixed feelings about this show. On the one hand, Paramore has amazing stage presence and always puts on a really fun, interactive show. It seems that Hayley Williams has boundless energy, and it's infectious. I like that she takes the time to talk to the audience and to encourage audience participation — in fact, she hand-picked a fan to go up on stage from the floor to sing the bridge of "Misery Business" (the girl she picked actually did a fantastic job, too; she sang really well and even knew all of Hayley's "stage moves"). This particular show was also full of different lighting schemes and theatrics, which made it more memorable and visually pleasing. On the other hand, Paramore is not a band that is best enjoyed at arenas. Hayley Williams herself brought this up during the concert, when she pointed out that people should be up and dancing, not sitting down, because that's not how one should enjoy a Paramore show. But they have reached a point in their eight-year career where they've become too popular for the biggest of club venues, so they have to sacrifice that bit of punk-rock integrity. 

As someone who has followed them from the beginning of their career, I'm proud of them for making it this big, this successful, through sheer talent, hard work, and perseverance. Their career has been "a bit of a soap opera," as Hayley admits, and yet, they're as popular as ever. At the same time, though, I do miss the old days when they played at tiny hole-in-the-wall venues where the only option was standing and the stage was the size of my bathroom, sold their records outside of suitcases, and opened for bands that no longer exist today. There's something about that intimacy that I miss. On that note, though, as they continue to hone their craft and play around with different genres of music, I do truly think they get better with age. And I can't wait to see them again.

Pick-Ups & Deliveries: November 2013 — Birthday Haul!

Last week was a particularly busy week for me, because my birthday was last Friday (and as we all know, birthday celebrations never just last the one day — you go out with your friends on one day, your family takes you out for dinner on another day... it's more like birthday week, and it's the best thing, ever). Now, my closest friends know that I love birthday cards. No one takes the time to buy them, write in them, or send them anymore. I miss the art of penmanship, you know? Let me just say, my friends did not disappoint this year. They know that I like cute, colourful, and/or sparkly designs, so my friend Suzie got me one with a colourful sparkly tea cup illustration, Steph got me one with an awesome sandwich (!) made out of felt (that girl knows me well), and Edward gave me the most glittery Hello Kitty card I have ever seen in my life (Hello Kitty is encrusted with crystals!) along with a ridiculously cute tote bag from the Wong Fu Productions store (they are known for their awesome short story videos on YouTube).

My friend, Steph, had originally gifted me a super-soft dark grey jersey Talula Greenwich tee from Aritzia, but it was too small when I tried it on at home. She had included a gift receipt for this very reason, so I went to Aritzia to try to find a bigger size. I went to three locations, and none of them had a bigger size (one store didn't even carry the style), so I decided to exchange it for the black silk and jersey Babaton Phillip tee that'd I'd been eyeing since the end of summer (I figured that I could dress it up or down, so it would be more versatile in my wardrobe). Steph also included a few pairs of fun socks from Forever 21 because she knows that I only wear ones with crazy prints (or as I like to call them, "party socks"). I wear an all-black wardrobe so I like my socks to be a little on the wild side, you know? Some people might think socks are the worst thing ever to receive on their birthday... but, goddamn, I love them.
"Look! Mustache socks for Movember!"
Edward and I went to Yorkdale on Friday because he asked me what I wanted to do on my birthday and I said, "Shopping." My mom had given me a gift card from The Bay along with some birthday money, so I made a beeline for the Topshop section of The Bay at Yorkdale (I only go to Yorkdale like, once a year, so I try to make the most of it by going into stores that I don't frequent often or aren't found in other malls). Nothing really caught my eye there, but I did manage to pick up three more pairs of party socks (two with bear prints and one with hedgehogs) that were on sale at 3 for $16. And then I walked through the cosmetics department at The Bay and noticed the newly opened Illamasqua boutique. Gasp! I totally didn't know they opened one at Yorkdale, and while I wasn't actually planning on buying any make-up that day (especially given all that I bought at IMATS and the massive Sephora order I made), I ended up spending the rest of that gift card at Illamasqua. 
Topshop animal print socks!
Illamasqua Powder Blushers in Sophie and Morale, and Nail Varnishes in Harem and Facet
Finally, my friend F., who works at Lush, made a massive Retro order for me for my birthday. (I like a lot of Lush's Retro products, but they're online-exclusive and shipping is expensive, so F. always offers to make the Retro orders for me.) Actually, F. and I share the same birthday, so we do a gift exchange every year (I get her make-up, she gets me Lush goodies). I requested Rose Jam Shower Gel and Slammer Shower Gel (my favourite Lush scent of all time), so she got me the massive 500ml bottles of each, plus a tub of Party On Shower Jelly which I've been wanting to try for a while. And then she added a small bottle of Back for Breakfast Shower Gel and Lush Lime Smoothie Shower Smoothie on top of that just because she knows I love the citrus scents from Lush. Then, I was telling her that I'm super into taking baths right now and how I was very tempted to buy all of the new Christmas bath stuff that just came out, and she surprised me the next day with a bagful of their Christmas collection bath bombs and bubble bars. 
Lush Rose Jam Shower Gel, Slammer Shower Gel, Back for Breakfast Shower Gel, Party On Shower Jelly, and Lush Lime Smoothie Shower Smoothie
Lush Secret Santa, Bombardino, and Golden Wonder Bath Bombs
Lush So White, Father Christmas, and Lord of Misrule Bath Bombs
Lush Christmas Eve, The Christmas Penguin, Dorothy, and Amandopondo Bubble Bars
Do you appreciate receiving birthday cards? Do you like giving them? What do your "party socks" look like? And what are some of your favourite Lush products for this time of year? 

Pick-Ups & Deliveries: November 2013 — IMATS Haul

So, I typically do haul posts at the end of the month, but I did way too much shopping, and thusly, I am splitting it into two haul posts (the other one will feature my Sephora VIB sale purchases, half of which I ordered online so I'm actually waiting for the stuff to arrive). This post will feature my haul from IMATS. So, as many of you will know, IMATS Toronto was a couple weekends ago at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, and I went on the Sunday with Steph. Knowing that the Sephora VIB sale was the same weekend, I had to budget what I was going to buy at IMATS and what I was going to get at Sephora. I decided to focus more on tools at IMATS, and knew that I wanted to get some Hakuhodo brushes, so I made a beeline for their booth. 
Hakuhodo J527G Goat Hair Powder Brush and J110 Goat Hair Blush Brush
Crown Brush Syntho SS014 Deluxe Flat Brush, Studio C222 Round Contour Brush x 2, Studio Pro C411 Pointed Blender Brush x 2, and Studio Pro C413 Brow Duo Brush
As most of my IMATS budget was blown at Hakuhodo ($150 USD for two brushes!), I picked up a few more essential brushes at Crown Brush (at a much more affordable $40 for six brushes), and then mellowed out on tools for the rest of the visit. I stopped by the Naked Cosmetics booth to take a look at their pigment stacks, when a huge sign for their Advanced Skin Cream caught our attention. This cream is all-natural, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal, and apparently "stimulates the body's own immune system which results in faster injury repair by the accelerated growth of new cells." The sign said it's great for people who have eczema, rashes, psoriasis, extreme dry/cracked skin, sores, etc. Basically, it's magic. That weekend, I was suffering from a bout of rashes from an allergic reaction to another body lotion I had used the night before, so this product especially appealing to me. Each 200ml jar typically retails for $60, but for IMATS, they were offering a deal where if you bought two, you would receive two extra full-size jars of the cream, plus two small travel-size jars. So, basically, four full-size jars and two travel-size jars of the cream for $120. Steph and I didn't even have to think twice about getting it. We decided to split it, so we each got two full-size jars and a travel-size jar of the stuff for $60. 
Naked Advanced Skin Cream by Naked Advanced Skin Solutions
As hard as I tried, though, I couldn't completely bypass make-up. It's IMATS, after all. But I do think I really controlled myself. We stopped by the MAC PRO booth, where all I bought was a Chromagraphic Pencil in NC15/NW20 (great for use in the waterline to brighten up the eyes instead of using white eyeliner), and then I stopped by the Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics booth to pick up some Lip Tars for a couple of friends. Of course, once I saw the shades that my friends had requested, I was like, "Oooh, I want these, too!" OCC was selling them for $12.50 each as an IMATS special, and I figured it would be silly not to take advantage of it. So I picked up three shades:
OCC Lip Tar in Black Dahlia, Vintage, and NSFW
Did you go to IMATS this year? If so, what'd you end up getting?

Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in Stronger

As you may know, judging by my most recent nail polish reviews and haul posts, I am in something of a glitter phase right now. After trying and being obsessed with Deborah Lippmann's Shake Your Money Maker, I knew the next polish I had to try was Stronger (her collaboration with Kelly Clarkson), which I bought at the same time. As I mentioned in my last nail post, I was obsessed with Lippmann's previous glitter polishes like Across the Universe and Happy Birthday because they were so revolutionary at the time. But as the market got saturated with glitters and dupes of many of Lippmann's original shades, I got bored of the majority of her glitter releases in the past couple years because none of the colour combinations were intriguing me. But the fangirl in me came out again this year when I saw Lippmann's latest offerings hitting the shelves. 

Stronger is a sheer royal blue jelly base with large opalescent silver, red, and gold hexagonal and medium-sized glitter. It has a thicker consistency that is common with glitter polishes, but it doesn't hinder the application. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. The glitter goes on evenly dispersed, and I had no problems getting the glitter to stay put, either. The base is very sheer, so while the glitter covers the nail well within three coats, I recommend using a base colour (I used Butter London's Blagger as it seemed the most similar to what the jelly base looks like in the bottle) so the glitter stands out more. I cannot think of any dupes for this. What makes this a real stunner is that the glitter almost has a holographic effect that makes it appear as if the particles are moving. I was afraid that this polish was going to be a little too "Star Spangled Banner" for me, but it ended up being way less tacky than I thought it was going to be. I got a ton of compliments on this when I was wearing it and many were comparing it to outer space or cosmos, but to me, it's more akin to being in an ocean full of iridescent fish.

JOEY Markville

Birthday weekend continues! My mom wanted to take me out for dinner as per tradition, and asked me where I'd want to eat. My mom doesn't like to travel too far from home, so I decided on the newly-opened JOEY Markville since I went there a couple weeks ago and knew both the food and the service would be great.
Rainbow Roll
My mom and I wanted to share an appetizer to start. We bypassed all the options from their starters section and decided on the Rainbow Roll instead. Most people probably don't think of going to JOEY for sushi, but it's surprisingly good here considering that it's not a Japanese restaurant. JOEY's version is topped with ahi tuna, salmon, crab, avocado, and sriracha aioli. And instead of using the typical imitation crab, they use crab salad inside the roll, which I think compliments the roll better and gives it a unique twist (in the best way possible). The rice was perfectly cooked, the fish was super-fresh, the sriracha aioli adds a nice spicy kick, the portion is really generous, and the whole thing is beautifully presented. Would definitely order this again.
Steak & Prawns
I was originally deciding between a Japanese restaurant or a steakhouse for this dinner because I was craving both sushi and steak, and as my sushi craving had been satisfied, I decided on Steak & Prawns for my main course. The steak itself was perfectly cooked to a very juicy, very tender, very slightly bloody medium rare. It was seasoned just enough to add dimension to the flavour of the meat, but it is such a good cut that you don't need any sauces or gravies to dip it in. I read some reviews that commented that the steaks were tough and stringy and low grade, but I am glad to report that they could not be more wrong, because my steak was the complete and total opposite. Likewise, the grilled freshwater prawns were plump and juicy and flavourful, and butterflied so that the shell comes off completely in one piece with ease. I really like that they let the natural flavours of both the beef and the shrimp shine through. This is a great example of where the "Keep It Simple" principle works really well. 
And let's not forget the sides, sitting quietly underneath the glorious surf and turf. Fresh grilled zucchini, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes satisfied the vegetable serving of the dinner, but it's the other side that was truly intriguing. Two spring rolls, super crispy and beautifully golden on the outside, stuffed with smooth buttery mashed potatoes, then topped with real chopped bacon bits, cheese, sour cream, and onions. Um, what?! It's like every delightful side dish rolled into one! Can't decide between mashed potatoes and a baked potato? No worries, because not only can you get both, but you can get it in a goddamn deep-fried spring roll. Every fatty's dream! Whoever is the genius behind this baked potato/mashed potato spring roll — serious props to you. If I ever got hungover, this would be like, the only food I would ever need. 
Baked to Order Apple Pie
And what would be a birthday meal without dessert, am I right? My mom and I decided to share the apple pie, which is baked fresh to order. If you ask any of the servers, they'll tell you that the apple pie is the best dessert on the menu — and for a damn good reason. JOEY's version looks more like a danish, but let's not get technical here because it's the best apple-based dessert I have ever had the pleasure of eating. And from a chain restaurant. Who would have thought? The round hand-folded pastry is golden and flaky on the outside, but soft and buttery on the inside, somewhere between a croissant and a Kouign-amann. When you cut into it, you see big, generous slices of apple that is caramelized but somehow still retains that crisp texture. No soggy, runny apple pie filling here. This is legit. It is topped with toasted almonds which gives an amazing nutty flavour and crunchy texture. It is then drizzled with caramel and dusted with icing sugar. And to top it all off, maple ice cream. No, not vanilla. Maple. They give you the option of either, but the maple is what really sends it over the edge into orgasmic territory. 
Like all the JOEY Restaurants, it gives off a trendy vibe a super-sleek and modern interior, but given that it's right smack dab in the middle of the suburbs, it totally lacks all the snobbery and pretentiousness of all the other locations in Toronto. The clientele spans a wide variety of people, too: young and old, couples and families, groups of friends and business associates, you name it. I always felt that the other JOEY locations were for the trendier folk, yuppies and hipsters, etc. But this one makes you feel right at home because the service is out of this world. I don't think I've ever said that about any chain restaurant, ever. But the girls here, despite being dressed to the nines in sleek dresses and high heels (I don't know how they do it), are all so, so, so nice and helpful and informative. First of all, when you're waiting for a table (and as it's a new restaurant, there is always a wait for a table), they go around offering glasses of house wine and gyoza appetizers to everyone to make the waiting just a little less painful. And when you're actually seated, they all stop by the table to ask how the food is, how everything's going, if you need anything else — even the girls that aren't your assigned server. But they do it in a way that's genuine, and they never hover. Seriously amazing. Even my mother, who is usually really critical at restaurants, had nothing to complain about. Will visit again and again and again.

JOEY Markville 1247-5000 Highway 7 East Markham, ON L3R 4M9 (905) 604-5639

YSL Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick in 19 Fuchsia in Rage

When YSL initially came out with their Rouge Volupté Shine Lipsticks, I was truly uninterested and had written them off has boring because they seemed too similar to many lipstick/lip gloss/lip balm hybrid formulas already out there (e.g. Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine, MAC's Sheen Supreme, Dior's Dior Addict, etc.). But this past summer, I found myself at a Sephora in Buffalo and 19 Fuchsia in Rage totally caught my eye. So I swatched it on my hand, and it was game over — I was completely smitten. Of course, I was all set to buy it, but that particular Sephora was sold out. Which only made me want to buy it more. I came back to Toronto and walked into several Sephora locations and couldn't find that shade anywhere. Like, it wasn't even being carried here. It's available online, but I didn't want to put in an order for the sake of buying one lipstick (before I was a VIB Rouge member, it was only free shipping with a purchase of $75 or more). Then I went to Pennsylvania last month and with renewed vigour, I was on the hunt yet again for this lipstick. And, just my luck, the store I went to (at Ross Park Mall in Pittsburgh) had one left. It was meant to be. And, thusly, I ate my words and bought a Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick. They are packaged in a weighty gold metal tube with the YSL logo surrounding the centre of the tube, and a small mirror at the top of the cap. Each Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick contains 4.5 grams of product, and retails for $39.
19 Fuchsia in Rage 19 Fuchsia in Rage

19 Fuchsia in Rage is a medium-dark vibrant purple-toned magenta pink with a glossy finish. This is a permanent shade (possibly only available online and in the US). It has a light tropical fruit scent and flavour. The texture is lightweight and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and more purple than MAC Girl About Town, darker and much more pink than MAC Up the Amp, slightly more purple than MAC Love Forever! Pro Longwear Lipcreme, lighter than MAC Zen Rose Sheen Supreme Lipstick, similar though sheerer and glossier than Shiseido RS 320 Fuchsia, darker and more purple than NARS Schiap, and darker than NARS Full Frontal.

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! YSL describes the Rouge Volupté Shine as "an innovative and comforting lipstick enhanced with fruit extracts rich in vitamins and antioxidants that leave lips visibly softer and smoother with up to eight hours of hydration... The luscious, hydrating texture glides on your lips leaving a lightweight aqua shine effect." I definitely agree that these feel really smooth and lightweight going on, and the finish has that almost-wet glossy look (especially great when I am too lazy to apply gloss on top). The semi-opaque colour pay-off gives an almost jelly-like effect, which makes lips look fuller and plumper, too. They do feel hydrating when worn, though I can't say it had any lingering or long-lasting hydration after it wore off. For such a lightweight, glossy lipstick, though, these do wear really well — about four hours before starting to wear off — and this particular colour leaves a stain, too, which makes the wear-time appear longer. As someone who owns nearly 400 lipsticks, though, that's not what makes this particular lipstick special. Yes, the packaging is nice and screams "luxury" (it is $39, after all), but this colour is just stunning. I was actually wearing this yesterday (my birthday!), and I got compliments on it nearly everywhere I went. Fans of fuchsia, magenta, and purple — this is a definite must-have, and worth every damn penny.