Local Flavors

31
Aug
2010

Last week, a delightful beer and cheese tasting was organized by the graduating class of l’École du Show-Business as their final exam. Their challenge? To organize a green-friendly event that promotes local products. The result? A lovely 5 à 10 where parents and friends were invited to get together to celebrate Quebec’s cheese and beer. The welcoming and modern HELM, a local micro-brewery located on Bernard, was the host of the event and offered its lucky guests a tasting of its most popular beers. The night was a big success; how can a social gathering where food and beer amateurs (meaning, mostly everyone!) are served fresh local products not be? This is exactly what we crave here at Onze: eco-friendly, young, local (even the playlist was 100% from Montreal!) and delicious events. No wonder why half of the staff was attending, and that Onze sponsored the event! So this is what you will find at Onze this season: more local flavors!

                                                                                     Photo Credits Philippe Mélilo

Tiger’s local hot picks:

For their tasty Honey Cream Ale, but also for their extraordinary BBQ chicken wings with Jack Daniel’s!

HELM, Brasseur Gourmand, 273 Bernard West, Montreal

For her new unbelievably classy and feminine fall collection, as well as for her daring to reinvent the ”black dress”… Careful, you could become addicted!

Fall-Winter 2010 Collection by Ève Gravel, available at Onze!

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The Magic Show

26
Aug
2010

Twice a year, a trade show called Magic is held in Las Vegas.  We go there to discover new and creative designs whether it be clothing ,shoes,  jewelry or bags. With so many items to sift through, the long hours spent walking were well worth it. There were so many unique items that I literally could not see in front of me anymore, but honestly I loved the experience!  I felt like a kid in a candy store, not knowing which ones to buy.



Wish I had one of those wigs, don’t you

My favorite section of the show is called Pool.  Their theme says it best: Fashion Freedom Worldwide.   This is where all the small indie designers and artists are.  It feels less like business and more fun,  like this corner booth “Homage”, where the sales reps were real hustlers ;)    Didn’t have a clue to what they were selling when first looking at there booth.   Here you can find people playing ping pong to unwind, tasting the latest  mango/green tea/citrus/apple promo drink and this is also where all the great graphic tees are.  The designers/artists are right there and it is very interesting to talk to them face à face.   Also found a great jewelry booth, were they are two sisters who started recycling jewelry from old NY warehouses and reintroducing them back to us, over 20 some years later.   The jewelry is hand made in the USA and is the real McCoy, can’t wait to show you what is coming in…guess you will all just have to wait and see!


Finally after the third day of the show, this was the only dress I was dreaming of …ahhh I slept like a baby on that final night

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Am I A Big Kid Now?

23
Aug
2010

If I’m supposed to be all grown up now all of a sudden,

how come everything I crave is even more juvenile now then when I was a kid?

Something to ponder on a Monday evening…

xox

Robyn

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Purple Haze

18
Aug
2010

When the seasons change, so do my makeup cravings.

Summer is dwindling down and the nights are getting cooler making me opt for my leather jacket and wrap sweaters… and plum lips!  I don’t know what it is about deep purple makeup (other than how regal it always comes across), but it feels like a fresh take on the classic red lip right about now.

Perfect for matching with this seasons upcoming trends (faux furs, camel hues and neutral plaids laced with burnt oranges), plum lips are not as hard to pull off as you may think.  Paired with a liquid liner and eggshell inspired eye shadow, instead of looking like day of the living dead – you achieve a fresh and edgy polish.

As for purple eyes… well they never really go out of style…

Raspberry is a nice halfway point if you are too scared to take the full plum plunge.

Try it nonetheless – you may be pleasantly surprised ;)

xox

Robyn

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Best Breakfast Of LIFE!

16
Aug
2010

So this weekend I enjoyed a wonderful escape to Vermont with my beau… I must admit, this summer has been lots of fun and full of thrills, but I hadn’t really had the opportunity to really indulge in much sunshine or outings!

I was completely due for a getaway (and MAN did it feel great to be disconnected from everything)!

One of our favorite must-eat-at places when we go is Penny Cluse Cafe (seriously, Montreal has nothing like them), a beautifully restored old house in the heart of downtown Burlington that serves up a mean cuppa coffee, zucchini french toast, banana bread with walnut cream cheese and the best Huevos Rancheros I have yet to come across (I am seriously salivating just thinking about it)!  Wait times can definitely be long, but I assure you it is always very worth it!

Okay, now back to my fascination with Huevos Rancheros!

I don’t know what it is (or maybe I do… the fried eggs, the black beans, the salsa and the guacamole…) but my mouth goes into insta-drool mode when I think about this Spanish breakfast delight.  I know that sometimes the plates themselves end up looking a little gross when everything is mixed in together, but really the combination of flavors is unbeatable!!!

Best part?

It’s a totally healthy dish, giving you protein (eggs and beans), antioxidants (tomatoes), omega 3 (avocados), dairy (sour cream) and even grains (pita) for good measure.

I think I found one of the most perfectest foods – EVER!

Have you tried Huevos Rancheros before?

If so, any recommendations for kick-ass restaurants in Montreal that have perfected it?

xox

Robyn

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Back To School Graphic T’s

15
Aug
2010

That time of the year is only a week away for some of us (boooooo…)…

BACK TO SCHOOL KIDDO’S!!!

While I am very glad to have the school thing all said and done (the only time I would consider going back would be to enrich my business skills or take up some art classes), I do remember how exciting it used to be going back for a fresh new year (and also how incredibly morbid at the same time).

C’mon, beyond the hoards of work and not-so-fun electives, new friends and classmates are always worth the trife.  While you’re filling your mind with goodness, you gotta be comfortable.  Whether your school style is groovy and laid back or preppy and retro – t-shirts are your classic staple to get you through whatever comes your way.

Think about it.  Right now you have the time to put the extra effort in and straighten your hair/perfectly match your outfits… but come midterms, good luck finding the time to brush your teeth in the morning!  Every student needs simple essentials that will take them from studying at all hours of the morning, to well past midnight… and look good no matter how impaired you may be.  The best part about a graphic t?  It is impossible to mismatch with jeans.  Keep it simple and look good.

This is what being an A+ student is really all about… never showing that you are unprepared!

Of course the celebs could not agree more…

xox

Fashionista 514

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Adorn Your Life With Art!

12
Aug
2010

Today I am ecstatic to celebrate commissioning my first original piece of art by the astounding Jon Todd!

We don’t realize the strong influence great art can have on our lives until we experience something profound for the very first time… until the “right one” catches our eye and grabs a hold of our artistic attention.  This is exactly what happened when I first saw one of Todd’s peices.

Honestly, it was love at first sight.

Something just clicked, and every element of what I consider to be the perfect aesthetic aligned.  An artist who surpasses my personal tastes and awes me every single time.  I cannot wait to see what he comes up with, and to be able to gaze at my own slice of his mastery every day :) .

Adorning your living space is SO important – if your house/apartment does not feel like a home, you will not be as eager to spend time there and really indulge in it’s function of being your own private sanctuary.

You do not need original art pieces for this, sometimes even mounting an old record or box can become a beautiful addition to your bare walls.  In fact, you could even try your luck at painting and decorate your place with your own original work… sometimes though, an artists perspective and energy is exactly what you need to compliment your space.

Prints do a great job at this.

No matter who you artistically idolize you can mostly always find prints online in their shops and have them beautifully framed for a super luxe feel.  Just an amazing frame can transform a quick sketch into something noteworthy!

What I love most?

Creating a wall cluster of your favorite canvas prints and grouping them all together to create a mixed-up theme!  If there is one thing I singularly love about interior design, it’s walls embellished with dozens upon dozens of old photographs in mismatched frames.  There is something so personal about it that attracts my attention every time.

xox

Fashionista 514

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Journals – What’s Not To Love?

08
Aug
2010

Beyond being a creative way of tackling back to school (which scarily is right around the bend), journals are ultimate stress relievers and great record keepsakes for groundbreaking revelations!

I have had journals and diaries since I could write, and whenever I was worried, stressed, in a rut, or completely smitten with a crush it would all get jotted down in at least on of my little hidden books.

Not convinced?

Some of the world’s most influential people keep journals and recounts of their ideas, inspirations and learnings… Matisse, Madonna, Earnest Hemmingway, Socrates, Van Gogh and Benjamin Franklin (to name only a few)!  You should try writing (or blogging) on for size – you may just become as addicted as I ;) .

Have a beautiful start to the week lovelies!

xox

Fashionista 514

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