Girly Stuff

Capital C-O-O-L

13/03/10 09:32

When I went to university in Ottawa a number of years ago (a digit that shall not be disclosed), there were essentially two options for shopping:
1. Pricey “MP’s Wife” designer boutiques, a.k.a. SHOULDER PAD CENTRAL.
2. Musty vintage stores.
So you can imagine the combination of shock/delight that I felt when I visited Ottawa this week and found some top-notch shopping and eats. I’m talking about stuff that even us stuck-up Torontonians would call cool. Furthermore, many of them are masterminded by hip, young girls.

Political finger puppets at Workshop in Ottawa

First of all, I was instantly smitten with Victoire, a pretty boutique that exudes a “rock n’ roll tea party” vibe. Lots of frocks and reconstructed vintage jewellery going on. I picked up a sweet Dionne Quints t-shirt that they had made especially for Victoire. They have two locations now - one on Dalhousie Street and the other in up-and-coming Hintonburg.
Another awesome pick is Workshop, a funky store that specializes in goods that are handmade by Canadian (and mostly local) women. Looking for an edgy Canadian souvenir - check out these political finger puppets, featuring Olivia Chow, Stephen Harper and the gang!

Finally, I sampled the BEST ICE CREAM of my life at Pascale’s All Natural Ice Cream. Pascale, a jovial 30-year-old entrepreneur, churns her creamy confections in a corner of The Piggy Market. Flavours include Peanut Butter Salted Caramel, Dark Chocolate Bacon, Avocado Honey & Lime, and some more normal stuff as well. She also produces a line of goat cheese ice cream and sheep sherbets, for all you freaky foodies who don’t like to favour the cow!

Tags: Ottawa , Victoire, Boutique, Workshop, Shopping, Pascale, All Natural, Ice Cream, Local, Ontario, Hintonburg, Capital, Dalhousie, Reb, Stevenson

Sweet n' Salty in Victoria

15/12/09 19:54

Howdy do, readers? Last week, I arrived in Victoria, B.C. for the lead-up to the holidays and I paid a visit to my friend Gina. Let me just tell you three things about Gina:

1. She always, ALWAYS lives in a cute “character house.”
2. When she says “want a snack?” she doesn’t rip open a bag of finger-staining Cheetos. She whips out a frying pan and cooks up something like homemade warm artichoke dip.
3. Everything she touches turns to Martha Stewart home style perfection. Even her kitty litter looks like it could be on the cover of a magazine, I bet.

Therefore, it was only natural to ask Gina to demonstrate a cheap Christmas craft for this blog. Since she was already making bath salts (she would be), she let me in on the action, which I will now share with you!
First things first: INGREDIENTS and SUPPLIES!

-A large bowl
-Mixing spoon
-Poinsettia (to look cool in the background)
-Bottles (dollar store ones will suffice)
-Ribbon
-Epsom Salts (find these at the drugstore)
-Essential oils (Gina used Neroli and Jasmine)
-Dried lavender
-Fresh Rosemary sprigs

As for the execution, it’s brain-dead easy.
1. Pour Epsom Salts into the bowl.
2. Drip in the essential oils.
3. Mix in lavender.
4. Stuff a sprig of rosemary into each bottle, then carefully fill with your salty concoction.
5. Decorate with ribbon (don’t forget to curl it!), and finish it off with a gratuitous piece of rosemary on the exterior.
VOILA!

6. Last but not least, don’t forget to test out your product....

rebginatub
Keep checking back here throughout the holidays for more Christmas frivolity!
And if you haven’t seen my latest video yet, you can still do so HERE!

Tags: Bath, Salts, Homemade, Craft, Gift, Holiday, Present, Cheap, Easy, Spa , Victoria, British Columbia, Home , Gina Seiersen, Reb, Stevenson

Gear: Tress SOS

20/11/09 09:13

You’re not high maintenance or anything, but arriving at a hotel only to discover a sachet of dish soap masquerading as “conditioning

shampoo” makes your hair want to throw a hissy fit. To assuage angry locks, these days you have to bring your own products. With carry-on liquid restrictions in effect, a solid shampoo bar is a cunning choice. LUSH, that fragrant oasis of handmade cosmetics, makes compact bars that are equivalent to 750 ml of regular shampoo – roughly 50 to 80 washes, depending on your hair. Some offer conditioning properties, which is crucial for long tresses on long trips. The yummy smelling Godiva Bar (pictured here), for instance, is packed with macadamia nut oil, shea butter and coconut oil. Eco-maniacs should also note that the bars produce far less waste than plastic mini bottles.
$10.50 at LUSH

From my travel gear column in

Tags: Solid, Shampoo, Bar , Lush, Conditioning, Godiva, Fragrant, Travel , Dry, Hair, Hotel , Carry-On, Restrictions, Reb, Stevenson

Let Them Eat Macaroons!

08/11/09 13:04

Versailles Atelier Patricia Macarons Macaroons Cooking French Reb Stevenson

Intrigued by French cooking but can’t stand Julia Child (or Meryl Streep’s impression thereof)? Allow me to introduce Patricia Boussaroque. With her blonde hair and trim physique, she looks nothing like Child. In fact, she’s so healthy she might convince you that eating cream at every meal is reasonable...

At least I hope so, because I had my fair share of heavy dairy products today when I dropped by L’Atelier Cuisine de Patricia, her brand new cooking school in Versailles, France.

Atelier Patricia Versailles France Cooking French Reb Stevenson

Patricia runs several classes out of a stylish little kitchen that is situated right in the heart of Versailles. The one that is best suited to tourists starts with a guided visit to the old market followed by a traditional french cooking class.
The market definitely delivered in the culture shock department: apart from the expected baguettes and cheeses, I saw chickens with their heads still attached, furry rabbits strung up and a whole arsenal of gamey terrines, mousses and other scary blended meats.

However, I am thrilled to report that I didn’t have to eat anything from the organ family in the name of journalism. Patricia cooked up a delectable chicken/mushroom/asparagus dish and...(la piece de resistance) a batch of yummy pink macaroons. If you’ve seen Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette (a neat flick, you really should),

then you know what I’m talking about - those colourful, tres Francais pastries that look like bloated cookies. Since The Palace of Versailles is just a macaroon’s throw from Patricia’s atelier, they seemed a fitting choice. Patricia’s instruction was unpretentious and easy to follow, and I’m a big fan of interactive travel so if you’re in her ‘hood, you should swing by.
Unfortunately, the macaroons were a multi-step process that took well over an hour so I doubt I’ll be making them anytime soon in Canada. Besides, Marie Antoinette’s openly verbalized passion for desserts certainly didn’t help her get ahead (pun intended).

Tags: Macarons, Macaroons, France, French, Cooking, School, Class, Patricia Boussaroque, Versailles, L'atelier cuisine de patricia, Pastry, Reb, Stevenson