Are you afraid of the dark?

I don't know what you crazy kids got up to this weekend but I literally went on the blindest blind (group) date of my life. Apparently its better in the dark and thats exactly what we got at the recently opened O Noir on Church Street. Dining experience slash scary nightmare this concepty restaurant came to TO this summer, by way of Montreal, giving restaurant goers the opportunity to enjoy (or not) a three course meal in the darkest of dark rooms. Patrons are forced to stash away all cell phones, watches and other light making devices in order to have a true dining in dark experience. Adding to the interesting factor the wait staff at O Noir are all legally blind although many of us speculated that their dark glasses were actually night vision goggles as navigating around the restaurant seemed like it would be impossible at best.

While the experience was very different from any of my normal weekend dining dates, I can't say it was something i'll be repeating in the near future. Perhaps i'm still haunted by the scary happenings in Blindness but I found myself growing increasingly anxious throughout the meal. The blackened dining room resulted in our hungry and frustrated group fumbling for cutlery, spilling beverages, losing earrings and, for unknown reasons, impromptu decisions from some restaurant goers to enjoy their entrees in the nude (you know who you are).

If I haven't scared you off entirely from trying this truly unique dining experience I wouldn't recommend watching this episode of CSI in which someone is murdered while enjoying a similar dine in the dark experience. Yikes. Okay....now something more uplifting but still keeping with the Blind theme, one hit wonder Funkstar Deluxe's "Blinded by the Light" - Enjoy!...

Girl Crush: Audrey Tautou

How adorable is Audrey Tautou? I first fell in love with this French darling in Amelie (if you haven't seen it, you must watch it immediately... I mean it... go to Blockbuster this minute).

More recently, she has starred in Priceless, which is quite a fine rom-com, and is perfect for a date with your mom (unless she, like my mother, is not fond of subtitles).

Deciding I must further explore Ms. Tautou's charming career, I rented Venus Beaute Institut, which is less quirky than Amelie, but has a similar, happily-ever-after, fairy tale ending (with less magical bits, of course).

What I have yet to see is Audrey as Coco Chanel in Coco Before Chanel, but I'm sure she will do the style icon justice.

Has anyone seen this? (Also, how much do you love watching films in French? So romantic!)

under my umbrella

I am in desperate need of a new umbrella (hopefully a clear one a la Lost in Translation).

(tiny) girl crush: Tavi

Tiny 13 year old dork that sits inside all day wearing awkward jackets and pretty hats. Scatters black petals on Rei Kawakubo's doorsteps and serenades her in rap. Rather cynical and cute as a drained rat. In a sewer. Farting. And spitting out guts.

So reads the 'about me' portion of thirteen-year-old Tavi's unbelievable fashion blog, Style Rookie. But don't be fooled by her name - this girl is certainly no 'rookie', fashion or otherwise. When I was thirteen, I was obsessed with GapKids and TigerBeat, certainly not Balenciaga and Vogue. I was CERTAINLY not on my way to becoming a style icon, with fashion spreads in cool UK magazines. Tavi's blog is (very) random, cute, and brimming with wise 13-year-old insight and way-above average tastes. How badly do I love/covet the cut of the pink teddy sweater? I never thought I'd be jealous of a thirteen year old's wardrobe. Style on, Tavi.

Where my girls at

Being a working woman again really makes me appreciate when the weekend rolls around. I only wish I wasn't halfway around the world from my friends! Aren't girlfriends the best? Miss you all xo

Biiiicycle, Biiiiicyle.

I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike.

After a week of hunting for the perfect bicycle I finally picked up my sweet wheels this afternoon, a birthday present from Mom and Dad. Yeah apparently i am an eight year old, but I'd like to think that the move from four wheels to two is not only a nostalgic reaction to my quarter life crisis but rather a solid effort to make my life a little more eco friendly. Unfortunately no one will be coughing up the $200 it would cost to paint this beauty Tiffany blue so i'm thinking of getting crafty and doing something like this to jazz it up a little. And you better believe i will be pimping this ride out with a wicker basket, some tassels on the handle, and maybe even an outrageous bell.

I can't wait to peddle my pretty little bicyclette around the neighbourhood. And before you start making fun of my latest hobby just ask Mary Kate (a not so Fat Bottomed Girl) how sweet life on two wheels really is. Get on your bikes and ride!

passion. ambition. butter

Things I love: cooking, food blogs, and Meryl Streep. Especially, Meryl Streep. When I first saw the trailer for Julie and Julia, a movie that combines all three, I immediately wished that I was Julia Child, living in 1940's Paris and mastering the art of French cooking. Furthermore, the film HAS to be amazing, since the director is Nora Ephron, who already has Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally, and You've Got Mail under her belt. Not to mention she was the producer of possibly one of the best sleepover movies of my youth, Strike! (remember the Daughters of American Ravioli?).
Jessica and I both love seeing the insides of other people's living spaces and Architectural Digest visited the real Julia Child's home in Cambridge Massachusetts:

I'm having some serious kitchen envy right now. You can watch the rest of the slide show and read up on Julia's home here.
Sadly, as far as I can tell, Julie and Julia hasn't come over to South Korea yet (I'm noticing a trend, here), so I will have to settle for tracking down the book. The New York Times wrote a lovely review of the movie, which you can read here (particulary amusing is the bit about Meryl Streep eating young actresses for breakfast).
Have any of you seen Julie and Julia? Does it make you want to abandon your current career plans in favour of cooking school?

pump, pump, pump it up

I've always loved big hair and am constantly tempted to tease my own locks into oblivion.

So, go ahead - grab some hairspray, a comb, and turn up the volume.

the breakfast club

I don't understand when people coolly remark that they 'don't eat breakfast', or when they think that just a black coffee is a good substitute for the quintessential morning meal. Growing up, my mother made sure we ate the meal religiously and always had something delicious on the table to wake up to (photo 5 is from her kitchen!). My sister always says breakfast is her only motivation to get up in the morning. I couldn't agree more. Now excuse me, I'm off to go poach an egg.

p.s. If you aren't very good at poaching (which I feel is the best way to enjoy eggs), head over to Smitten Kitchen for some excellent tips.

Mad about Plaid

The new Burberry store opened at Yorkdale this earlier this month (the first of its kind in TO).

I went, I saw, I wanted things, I left empty handed. sigh.

But at least Hermione (aka: Emma Watson) is looking super gorgeous in the Fall Campaign photos.

these are a few of my favourite things...

1. white rooms filled with frames

2. sequined blazers

3. books, books, and more books

4. long hair and carefree days

5. chanel no. 5

6. girls in round glasses

7. annie hall

grey scale

Love these grey pieces from the MTWTFSS Weekday Lookbook for fall.