Ali de Bold
Member Since: August 31, 2006Reviews
A Serving of Scandal by Prue Leith
Ok - so the name might be a bit cheesy, but I was sent this book for review and once I started reading it, I thoroughly enjoyed it! Largely because the main character is a chef and the food sounded so delicious I couldn't read it without eating... +
Ok - so the name might be a bit cheesy, but I was sent this book for review and once I started reading it, I thoroughly enjoyed it! Largely because the main character is a chef and the food sounded so delicious I couldn't read it without eating at the same time (don't you love books about food?), but also because it's a cute story and well written.
Small catering company owner, Kate is accused of having an affair with a government official and the media circus that ensues pretty much ruins her business and her reputation. But is it true?
If like me you enjoy light beachy reads, it's cute and I think you'll enjoy it!
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Kiehl's Amino Acid Conditioner
I absolutely adore the Amino Acid line. The shampoo is hands down my favourite and I recently bought the accompanying conditioner. The women at the store were telling me the new sunflower line is better for colour treated hair but my hair is... +
I absolutely adore the Amino Acid line. The shampoo is hands down my favourite and I recently bought the accompanying conditioner. The women at the store were telling me the new sunflower line is better for colour treated hair but my hair is incredibly soft and healthy looking with the amino acid line.
This is the first time I've purchased the conditioner ($25 for the small bottle - eek!) but it smells so good and as I said my hair is so soft I will continue to purchase.
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Gibson's Cleaners - Bloor West Village
This is the first time in life I can honestly say I'm excited about my dry cleaner. I dropped off a boatload of stuff to their bloor west village location a week ago on a recommendation. I've had so many items ruined in the past by other... +
This is the first time in life I can honestly say I'm excited about my dry cleaner. I dropped off a boatload of stuff to their bloor west village location a week ago on a recommendation. I've had so many items ruined in the past by other drycleaners or - almost worse - suit jackets that still smell sweaty since all they were doing was pressing and not actually cleaning them.
Gibson's cleaned everything pristinely, was able to bump up my order when I realized I needed it sooner than I thought, and they even provided a box for recycling the drycleaning hangers.
Another huge bonus is that they are a green dry cleaner so everything is done with the environment in mind.
In the end, we spent less than we used to at the Preeners (where I have had several items of clothing ruined).
They also offer free drop off and pick up service. I will definitely take them up on that next time!
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Aveeno Fresh Essentials Pore Purifying Facial Wash
Fresh Essentials is the latest line to launch from Aveeno. I love the smell of this stuff. I'm very picky about fragrance in anything that goes on my face because too often that results in hives. This however is great for sensitive skin. It... +
Fresh Essentials is the latest line to launch from Aveeno. I love the smell of this stuff. I'm very picky about fragrance in anything that goes on my face because too often that results in hives. This however is great for sensitive skin. It is quite effective at removing all makeup and leaving skin clean and refreshed. I love that it is in a pump format, which is less messy than fiddling with a cap.
I received this product for review compliments of the brand but it is something I would buy.
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Inception (2010)
I also loved this movie. The story, acting, soundtrack. All of it. I was surprised it wasn't an Oscar contender actually. Especially the fine performance of my Leo. It's a great flick. Highly recommended.
I also loved this movie. The story, acting, soundtrack. All of it. I was surprised it wasn't an Oscar contender actually. Especially the fine performance of my Leo.
It's a great flick. Highly recommended.
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Sabon Patchouli Lavendar Vanilla Body Lotion
Though this body lotion is considerably more expensive (at least 50%) in Canada than the USA I can't get enough of it. The lotion is a bit lighter than a body butter but quite moisturizing. The ingredients are almost entirely natural, which is... +
Though this body lotion is considerably more expensive (at least 50%) in Canada than the USA I can't get enough of it. The lotion is a bit lighter than a body butter but quite moisturizing. The ingredients are almost entirely natural, which is important to me especially during pregnancy. What I love the most about this lotion is the fragrance. I also have the scrub in this fragrance. It smells heavenly. Even my husband commented. If you like muskier scents, you will love this. It's not to heavy and it won't clash with your fragrances. When I use the scrub and the lotion together, that is my perfume for the day. My skin smells so good all day long.
The only thing is the price. The price kills me. I purchased this, the scrub and a home fragrance oil with diffuser sticks and it came out to over $100. For me, this is an indulgence and next time I'm in NYC I will stock up since the prices are much more reasonable there.
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Biotherm Skin Ergetic Serum
I'm a big believer in serums. The concentrated doses pack more punch than what you'll find in a moisturizer. This product is called energy up complex and it's designed to relieve the signs of fatigue by making skin look more vibrant... +
I'm a big believer in serums. The concentrated doses pack more punch than what you'll find in a moisturizer. This product is called energy up complex and it's designed to relieve the signs of fatigue by making skin look more vibrant. Sort of a wake-up call for your skin. I have sensitive skin and this product feels great on. You can pair it with a moisturizer or use it on it's own. I have been using it every day for 2 weeks and what I've noticed is that my skin has more of a glow to it. It looks well nourished and moisturized. Because I'm not sleeping through the nights due to a baby dancing on my bladder, I love having something like this to perk up my skin every morning.
The other thing I like about this is that 99% of the ingredients are of natural origin, 100% of the fragrance (which smells delightful) is of natural origins and this is paraben and mineral oil free.
The only downside is you need to use it within 3 months of opening and it is a bit pricey at $58. I received mine for review compliments of the brand but this is exactly the sort of product I would purchase again.
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EvyMama Nursing & Maternity Boutique
I first noticed this sweet little store several months ago when house hunting in the area. I spotted this great dress in the window that I thought would be perfect for an upcoming summer wedding I'm attending. Some pregnant friends had noticed... +
I first noticed this sweet little store several months ago when house hunting in the area. I spotted this great dress in the window that I thought would be perfect for an upcoming summer wedding I'm attending. Some pregnant friends had noticed it too and we were all curious what the clothes would be like. They really do have great window displays.
I finally had the chance to pop in a few weeks ago and unfortunately I was a little disappointed. The service was fantastic. The owner is really sweet and will go out of her way to find things for you even if certain items aren't on the floor yet. The decor is cute! The change room area has pretty chandeliers and there is a little sitting area with tea. Really she thought of everything for making this place look great. What disappointed me was the quality of the clothes for the price. The fabrics are for the most part are quite cheap and poorly made, yet the prices don't reflect that. Many items are in the $100 range but are made with 100% polyester or the cheaper stretchy cotton that you find at stores like H&M;or other places where they are charging $20 - $30 for similar (or better) quality.
As I was trying on several dresses, I could hear the little threads snapping just pulling the garment over my head. These weren't items that were too small for me, they were just quite cheaply made. I'd never pay $100 for something like that when I know I can get the same quality elsewhere for a fraction of the price.
What I'd love to see from this store is better quality items. I'm sure it's much harder for a small independents to sell for the low prices we see at chains like H&M;and the Gap, but if they provided superior quality merchandise, I wouldn't have any problem paying more for it. It's the cheap disposable clothing sold for considerably more than it is elsewhere that I can't bring myself to do - even though I love to support local businesses and I love the fact that they have nursing clothes as well - which are NOT easy to find!
I'll keep an eye on the store and hope eventually they bring in better quality items or reduce their prices to be a bit more competitive. I haven't written it off so I'm still going to say "You Betcha", but it's with the above warning.
Has anyone else been here? I'd love to know what you think.
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Bill Cunningham New York (2011)
Who hasn't seen legendary New York Photographer Bill Cunningham's gorgeous spreads in New York Magazine or listened to his gravelly voiced podcasts played over sideshows of colourful street fashion photos taken that week? If you... +
Who hasn't seen legendary New York Photographer Bill Cunningham's gorgeous spreads in New York Magazine or listened to his gravelly voiced podcasts played over sideshows of colourful street fashion photos taken that week? If you haven't, you must because this 82 year old legend is the true definition of an artist and you will probably fall in love with him.
I was lucky to attend a screening held by the Flist to see this documentary, which was 10 years in the making. The doc follows introvert Bill Cunningham as he peddles around on his bicycle on the streets of New York, obsessively snapping shots of outfits he finds stylish or out of the ordinary. The subjects are generally not models, they are regular fashionable folk who break the conventional cookie cutter mold of 'sameness'.
Anna Wintour appears to gush about the man who has been photographing her for over 20 years. As she put it, if Bill doesn't try to take a photo of you, it is "death".
You will be fascinated by his story and in particular, his lack of materialism - especially given the his chosen subject matter which brings him so much joy. Here is a man who wears the same cheap blue shirt every day as worn by city of New York workers. "I like the pockets". He tapes together a plastic rain poncho that has fallen apart ("why replace it when you can repair it?") and literally has 3 hangers hanging in his closet. He has refused large payouts because he doesn't want anyone to "own" him, and refuses to eat or even drink water at events he is invited to photograph at because "I eat with my eyes".
All in all, it is a profoundly interesting documentary. Not only will you fall in love with Bill, you will be enchanted by the eclectic mix of characters he socializes with and photographs. Highly recommended.
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Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15
I've been reviewing this tinted moisturizer over the past week or so and I quite like it! When it first came into the office I didn't plan to review it personally since my skin is sensitive and I have to be really careful about what I use on... +
I've been reviewing this tinted moisturizer over the past week or so and I quite like it! When it first came into the office I didn't plan to review it personally since my skin is sensitive and I have to be really careful about what I use on my face but this is great! The texture is quite different from what I was expecting. Though it is called 'moisture surge', it feels dryer than a foundation or a moisturizer. When applied you need to blend it right away so it doesn't dry. That being said I find it blends well and even though the particular shade I received is slightly darker than my winter pale skin, it will be perfect for summer.
In terms of coverage, it is slightly less than a foundation as it is a tinted moisturizer, but it gives my skin a nice even look. I really appreciate this now more than ever as I have a lot of pigmentation on my face and chest thanks to my pregnancy. I'm quite the blotchy freckle face! I love that the SPF is built in so in summer I can skip the extra step.
I quite like this and will continue to use it!
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