ItsAMonkey
Member Since: September 17, 2006Reviews
Domistyle Aprons
Who says you have to look like your grandmother in the kitchen? Domistyle aprons are not only functional, but damn fashionable as well. What better way to protect your designer outfit as you host a dinner party then with something equally stylish?... +
Who says you have to look like your grandmother in the kitchen? Domistyle aprons are not only functional, but damn fashionable as well. What better way to protect your designer outfit as you host a dinner party then with something equally stylish? And, lets face it, on those days when it's just you working at the stove, it's nice to have something pretty to put on just to please yourself.
Last Christmas, I purchased two Domistyle aprons for ladies that I knew spent an inordinate amount of time in the kitchen - a dear friend who had recently graduated from pastry school and is now an apprentice chocolatier, and my mom, who volunteers in a very public, open kitchen in a residential end-of-life hospice. And both have received a mountain of compliments whenever they wear them, from other pastry chefs and family members of hospice residents alike.
These aprons hold up to both everyday and professional use, and smile, saucily, while doing it. In fact, my mom has asked for two more this Christmas so she can match her outfits with every shift she spends at the hospice!
Yes, they're a little expensive, but worth it for the pretty, no? The current line for women includes nineteen different designs and styles, priced $28 - $55 CDN. Aprons for children also available, with a menswear line to be introduced in the near future. Shipping time, in my experience, has been a mere 48 hours from online order to mailbox.
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Stylefly.ca
Stylefly.ca is a Toronto-based online boutique, and is one of the few Canadian-based sites that sells clothing by designers like Ella Moss, Rachel Pally, Splendid and Sweetees. I recently purchased a Saint Grace "April" dress from the site; in... +
Stylefly.ca is a Toronto-based online boutique, and is one of the few Canadian-based sites that sells clothing by designers like Ella Moss, Rachel Pally, Splendid and Sweetees.
I recently purchased a Saint Grace "April" dress from the site; in comparison to US-based online boutiques, Stylefly's pricing, even before currency exchange, was up to $20 cheaper for the same item. What really impressed me, however, was that the dress? She was in my hands a mere 48 hours after placing my order.
The only downside to my experience with the site is the lack of selection and stock. I reckon that will only increase when consumer demand does. So go buy something from them so they can sell a more varied line!
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Brass Octopus Necklace
Day Lab, located in Baton Rouge, LA, is run by artist Amy Shutt. In addition to her own pieces, she sells jewellery, housewares, paper goods and accessories by other independent designers. These brass animal necklaces are made to order, and cost... +
Day Lab, located in Baton Rouge, LA, is run by artist Amy Shutt. In addition to her own pieces, she sells jewellery, housewares, paper goods and accessories by other independent designers.
These brass animal necklaces are made to order, and cost only $10US. My octopus necklace arrived earlier this week, and I never want to take it off my neck.
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Lululemon
Lululemon gear is pretty damn great - for comparably priced clothing and accessories, the LL line is much better made. I'm also fond of the fact that they don't vanity size like so many other clothing lines. Complimentary hemming with purchase is... +
Lululemon gear is pretty damn great - for comparably priced clothing and accessories, the LL line is much better made. I'm also fond of the fact that they don't vanity size like so many other clothing lines. Complimentary hemming with purchase is also a plus for wee lassies like me. -
Moksha Yoga Oakville
I've been doing yoga for a bargazillion years, but gave it up because, physically, it just wasn't challenging me the way that I wanted it to. Which is completely not the point of yoga, but I digress. Last year, a co-worker introduced me to moksha... +
I've been doing yoga for a bargazillion years, but gave it up because, physically, it just wasn't challenging me the way that I wanted it to. Which is completely not the point of yoga, but I digress.
Last year, a co-worker introduced me to moksha yoga, a practice similar to Bikram - yoga performed in a room heated to 40C plus.
Although I am naturally bendy, like monkey, moksha yoga allows me to get even deeper into positions, and is the one type of yoga that actually allows me to clear my head of any thought but what my body is doing.
Moksha Yoga Oakville is a good studio. The staff is very well trained, and though I find that some of their instructors to teach in a style that is very hands-off, a number are actually very hands-on, and ask (to which I gladly agree!) to physically help you improve your posture and placement when in position.
The facility is always immaculate, and the air circulation system works incredibly well, keeping even a room filled with 30 people sweating like pigs completely stench-free.
Big ups to Colin - my favourite instructor and studio director.
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Susur
Sometimes, you just need to get yourself a meal at a fancy-pants restaurant. And my fancy-pants establishment of choice is Susur, which pretty much knocks the socks off my ass every time I'm there. As a vegetarian, it's sometimes a little... +
Sometimes, you just need to get yourself a meal at a fancy-pants restaurant. And my fancy-pants establishment of choice is Susur, which pretty much knocks the socks off my ass every time I'm there.
As a vegetarian, it's sometimes a little difficult to find a fine dining establishment that will cater to my dietary needs. Which, beside the food being like what I imagine heaven to taste like, is why I seem to keep returning to Susur instead of branching out and trying other places in town.
Susur specializes in a tasting menu, either five or seven courses, and takes into account any dietary or allergy restriction that its patrons have. Served backwards, with the biggest and heaviest dish being the first to be brought to the table, and the others being progressively smaller and lighter, each meal is topped with an excellent dessert tray, filled with a number of two bite wonders, meant for sharing with your dining companions. Additionally, if you love the wine, consider opting in for a wine pairing service as well.
For the quality of both food and service, their prices are more then reasonable.
Vegetarian five course tasting menu: $75 (food only)
Regular five course tasting menu: $110 (food only)
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Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
Love it for all the reasons previously listed, but want to add that it also works better then any shave lotion out there. Yup, it's a double duty product - cleanser and shave lotion. I will never shave my legs with anything else from hereonout
Love it for all the reasons previously listed, but want to add that it also works better then any shave lotion out there. Yup, it's a double duty product - cleanser and shave lotion. I will never shave my legs with anything else from hereonout -
Shiseido Pureness Oil Blotting Paper
Shiseido's Pureness oil blotting papers are my new best friend. They take away the need to touch-up with pressed or loose powder throughout the day, as they are miraculous shine and oil reducers. Unlike other blot papers that make your skin look... +
Shiseido's Pureness oil blotting papers are my new best friend. They take away the need to touch-up with pressed or loose powder throughout the day, as they are miraculous shine and oil reducers.
Unlike other blot papers that make your skin look like an overly made-up octogenarian, these have only the thinest coating of transluscent podwer, leaving behind only a finished and fresh facade.
Unfortunately, they're only available at larger Shoppers with an attached Beauty Boutique, and are a little pricey, but they're worth searching out and slapping the cash down on.
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Queen Mother Cafe
I love the Queen Mother. It has excellent vegetarian options, and a lovely, comfortable feel that's excellent for hanging out with friends in. I sometimes have dreams about their spicy peanut sauce.
I love the Queen Mother. It has excellent vegetarian options, and a lovely, comfortable feel that's excellent for hanging out with friends in. I sometimes have dreams about their spicy peanut sauce. -
Odette New York Merric necklace collection
Oh, monkeys...is there anything better? No, no, I don't think so, unless it's a monkey that you can wear around your neck. I'm holding off on placing an order for this necklace from Odette NY, but I am seeing it making a home, resting on my... +
Oh, monkeys...is there anything better? No, no, I don't think so, unless it's a monkey that you can wear around your neck.
I'm holding off on placing an order for this necklace from Odette NY, but I am seeing it making a home, resting on my clavicle, in the not too near future.
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