Current Fashion Wishlist - July 31st, 2013 (Coach Factory Outlet SALE up to 75% off)

I'm not one to post the same category of posts consecutively however, I thought I'd better alert my readers ASAP of the Coach Factory Outlet sale! Coach Factory is offering up to 75% off site wide. Although Coach Factory online has made these sales a regular thing, I find that it's usually exclusive to the clearance or just their handbags - not on everything. The sale started on Wednesday, July 31st, 2013 and it will end on Friday, August 2nd, 2013. Here is my Current COACH FACTORY Fashion Wishlist:

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1) GEMMA wedge sandal in Gin for $149.00 - I thought this was a super cute summer sandal and I adore the combination of navy blue and red. The colour combination reminds me of something Tommy Hilfiger would have in his spring/summer collection.

2) Embossed Liquid Gloss Lanyard ID Case in Silver/Moonlight Blue for $16.00 - I am a huge fan of lanyards. Being a university student, I carry a pretty hefty bag pack and therefore, I don't want to carry a purse on top of that. Instead, I throw all of my most important cards as well as my keys onto my lanyard and I'm good to go!

3) Heritage Web Leather Map Bag in Silver/Saddle for $174.00 - I know this is marketed as a man's bag however, I absolutely love it! It's a timeless piece in my opinion and it has that old look to it which always draws me in. I feel that a bag like this will only get better with age. Just for the record, I would use this as a book bag not my regular purse - it seems a bit too bulky for that.

PS - If you are Canadian, make sure you tack on an extra $20 (approx.) on top of everything else (item price + applicable taxes) for duty & customs. I know this sucks but in all honesty, even with the $20, it ends up being cheaper than if we were to buy it in Canada (most of the time). 

Are you planning on shopping the Coach Factory Outlet sale? If so, what are you planning on buying? Let me know in the comments below!

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Current Fashion Wishlist - July 30th, 2013

I've decided to start a new thread of blog posts named Current Fashion Wishlist. In these posts, I will share with you my current wants in terms of clothing, footwear and accessories. If I end up purchasing any of these items in the near future, I'll make sure to showcase it in a fashion haul or some sorts. Here are some current fashion pieces that I am absolutely lusting over:

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1) Danier Dark Teal Textured Jacket (Style # 104060033) on sale for $99.99

2) Danier Black Leather Jacket (Style # 103020118) on sale for $129.99 

3) Fossil 'Georgia' Crystal Index Leather Strap Watch for $68.64 

4) Naturalizer Norton Wedge Sandals for $29.99 

5) Stella & Dot Kahlo Bib Necklace for $228 (also comes in blue/magenta/mint)

As you probably noticed, most of these pieces are fall ready. I don't know why but I'm just an absolutely sucker for fall attire. Although I love the spring/summer weather, nothing can beat fall fashion - in my eyes at least!

Have any of my fashion finds made it onto your wishlist? What are you currently lusting over? Make sure to share in the comments below!

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Saturday Night BBQ ft. Licks Nature Burgers - July 27th, 2013

Tonight, we headed over my uncle's place for a late night BBQ. As I've mentioned in a previous food blog, my family adores their meat however, the Lick's Nature Burger is the one veggie burger that they all seem to LOVE - as much as their actual meat burgers! The Lick's Nature Burgers come in the following packaging:

Click here to see if your local retailer sells these amazing burgers (can also be purchased at Licks stores)!

Here is a photo of our food on the BBQ. Here we have 2 Nature Burgers and some golden delicious apples which we'll be eating for dessert! Throwing the apples on the BBQ really brings out the sweetness. This is a healthy yet delicious dessert that's bound to satisfy your sweet tooth!

Finally, here are some photos of the final product:

This my burger and I decided to top it with everything: ketchup, mustard, relish, pickles, tomatoes and onions! I figure if I'm going to treat myself to a burger, I want it to be a darn good burger! 

Here is the finished BBQ apple. Typically, my uncle would throw a dollop of ice-cream in the middle and then finish off with some whip cream however since I'm on this health kick, I opted for the plain ol' apple. Still super sweet and super delicious! 

Have you tried the Licks burgers before? Which one is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below!

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Lemon Butter Bread (ONLY 5 Ingredients?!?)

I was initially going to post a recipe for my homemade garlic butter bread however, after experimenting with several different butters, I realized that I enjoyed my lemon butter bread the most. I wasn't going to dedicate a whole blog post to this because it is SO simple to make however, this deliciousness just had to be shared. Here's what you'll need:

Ingredients:
1) 1 Lemon
2) 1 tbsp. Butter
3) Salt
4) Pepper
5) French Crusty Bread

Preparation:
1) Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon into a bowl
2) Add 1 tbsp. butter, salt & pepper to bowl
3) Heat mixture in microwave for 40 seconds or until melted
4) Cut French crusty bread into slices 
and using pastry brush, apply butter glaze onto bread
5) Place glazed bread into oven at 350 degrees until golden brown (2-5 min)

Voila, you are all done! You should now have some delicious lemon butter bread; ready to devour. The bread literally acts like a sponge; soaking in all of that lemony goodness! Here's a quick tip: when I'm pressed for time, I skip the whole oven business and pop the glazed bread into a toaster!

Try out this super quick and easy lemon butter bread and let me know what you think of this recipe in the comments below!

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Niagara Falls & Niagara On The Lake - July 20th, 2013

No plans had been made for this weekend. I thought it was going to be one of those days where I just sulked around the house; watch TV, check my e-mail, eat and then sleep (I just wanted to get through the day without dying of utter boredom). My sister, bless her soul, decided we head up to Niagara On The Lake and then Niagara Falls. We had made plans to go several weeks ago but unfortunately things just did not work out. I was extremely upset at the time and to make it up to me, she suggested we go today (even though she has absolutely no interest in exploring the quaint little shops that the area has to offer). Below are some images of our exertion:

Shaw Cafe & Wine Bar has to be the most beautiful eatery on the street!

We had some mango ice-cream here and it was absolutely delicious! There are several ice-cream/gelato places on the street so you'll absolutely find something you love!

Here's the inside of Taylor's.

Ten Thousand Villages is a store you MUST visit if you go to Niagara On The Lake. They have different items from all over the world; home decor, jewellery and more. 

Inside Ten Thousand Villages.

I picked up this handmade elephant piggybank from Ten Thousand Villages.

After we finished walking Niagara On The Lake we headed towards Niagara Falls. On the way however we stopped by the following locations:

We decided to pick up some peaches from Parkway Orchard Country Market. They offered fresh peaches, cherries and plums! We didn't have time to actually pick our own so we opted to just pick up a basket at the front check-out. They also have a souvenir shop attached and a small selection of ice-cream.

Here's an image of the inside of Parkway Orchard Country Market. 

Here is what we bought from Parkway Orchard Country Market - fresh plums!

Next, we stopped by McFarland House - isn't it beautiful?

The Whirlpool - they have a small aero car that can take you across for about $13.50.

Finally, we arrived at Niagara Falls! It was an absolutely beautiful evening. The area was crowded with people. The Falls are just an excellent location for picnics and outdoor activities. My mother told me that when I was younger, we would always head to The Falls for picnics on the weekends. 

Here is a photo I took of The Falls. Having been here a million and one times, we took a few pictures and left towards the shops!

There are many touristy shops and activities right near the falls. Here's a photo of the SkyWheel - one of the more popular attractions on the street! I wanted to take some photos in front of the wax figurines at the Wax Museum however, there were way too people crowding the area (it was hard just getting past). They had an amazing sculpture of The Joker (R.I.P Heath Ledger) and if I ever go back again, I will definitely get a picture with it!

After we finished checking out the shops, we headed to the Fallsview Casino (unfortunately my camera ran out of batteries so I was unable to take any photos). We decided to eat at Shoeless Joe's, located in the far corner of the building just besides Sirens. I wasn't going to mention this restaurant because, in all honesty, the experience was HORRIBLE, but I thought I'd better advise any readers to NOT go there if you're going to The Falls. Although our server was excellent, the food was absolutely disgusting. My sister ordered a chicken quesadilla and she said that the ones at Taco Bell were infinitely better (I think that speaks volumes about the taste and quality of their food). The margarita pizza I ordered was pretty much a plain cheese pizza; there were little to no toppings per slice. Also, it took them literally an hour to bring out the food. Dessert took them 30 minutes and it was pretty much a boxed cake with ice-cream and whip cream (seriously - how long does it take to open up a box and cut a slice of cake?)! I'm going to stop rambling about this horrid experience now because just thinking about the food makes my stomach churn. 

If you decide to actually eat inside the Casino (click the hyperlink to view all dining options) complex (as opposed to eating at one of the restaurants on the street) then I would recommend the The Grand Buffet in the actual playing area (their food isn't superb but they have a LOT of variety and tons of great desserts - being a vegetarian, I find their selection lacking however I run into that problem where ever I go). If you're actually eating in the Casino playing area, you need to be 19+ so make sure you don't have any kids with you. I also noticed a new Chinese buffet called Golden Lotus (not located in the playing area so feel free to bring your kids) that was crowded with people (must be good) and they had an excellent selection of food. Unfortunately, they had a grand total of 2 vegetarian options so we didn't go there. Both buffets cost around $20 for dinner (make sure you have a PAC [Player's Advantage Card] otherwise the cost goes up $2 - you can make it for free inside the Casino at the service desk). If you want to skip the whole restaurant experience and just eat some fast food then head over to the food court on their lower level. Last time we went, we ate burgers & fries at Johnny Rocket's and they were absolutely delicious. I wanted to eat there again this time around however due to differing opinions, we opted for Shoeless Joe's (money down the drain). 

Have you ever been to Niagara On The Lake or Niagara Falls? How was your experience? Let me know in the comments below! If you know of any good places to eat, please do share!

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"HUGE Makeup Mark Downs @ RCSS" Haul - ACT QUICK!

I'm posting this ASAP so you guys get these amazing deals as well. I randomly went into The Real Canadian Superstore (RCSS) and they had a TON of makeup that was significantly marked down. This is what I picked up:

Click on the picture to enlarge.

L'oreal Voluminous Power Volume, Black Brown, 0.33 fl oz ($2.74 @ RCSS)

Maybelline New York Lash Stiletto Voluptuous Washable Mascara, Very Black, 0.22 fl oz ($2.44 @ RCSS)

Maybelline Master Drama Cream Pencil Liners, Moonlight & Vibrant Violet, 0.01 Ounce ($2.44 @ RCSS)

They also had a LOT of other products marked down such as the Maybelline Fit Me foundations and setting powder (select colours) for only $2.44. The L'oreal One-Swipe eyeshadows were marked down to $2.73. Covergirl also had some mark-downs although not as significant.

If you're in the market for some new drugstore makeup, I would suggest hitting up RCSS!

PS - If you're in Canada, here is a link to some Maybelline coupons that will score you some even better deals at RCSS: http://www.maybelline.ca/Special-Offers.aspx

Happy shopping,

MaquillaGINA

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Marilyn Monroe Cafe - July 18th, 2013

Today one of my good friends and I decided to head over to the Marilyn Monroe Cafe. To be honest, I was planning on meeting up at the typical coffee spot (i.e. Williams or Starbucks) however, she suggested we check it out and I thought why not. Let me just say that I am so glad that we decided to go because this place is absolutely adorable! Don't believe me? Well, I took some pictures to prove just how exquisite this cafe really is (because I knew that words simply would not do it any justice):

Outside Marilyn Monroe Cafe - there is a cute wrap around patio!

The front counter and display at Marilyn Monroe Cafe - so many cute desserts!

The seating situation on the main level of Marilyn Monroe Cafe. The have some really comfortable booths with cushions and pillows as well as some stand-alone tables. I appreciated the fact that they had electrical outlets so you could bring your laptop to the cafe and get some work done! 

Stairs leading to the upper level of the cafe (pictures below).

Upper level of Marilyn Monroe Cafe - nice, large sofa, individual tables and a great view of the counter from above.

I ordered a double chocolate cupcake and an iced white tea sweet pomegranate (they freshly brew your tea as soon as you order!)

Since this cafe seemed so posh, I was under the impression that prices were going to be ridiculously high however they were very reasonable and a whole lot cheaper than the cult-favourite Starbucks. Marilyn Monroe Cafe also seemed to provide a LOT more variety in both beverages and food! Below are some images from their menu:

Overall, I am extremely impressed by this little establishment. Not only were the drinks and food great, but the staff was so kind and friendly. If it were closer to where I lived, it would definitely become my new go-to coffee spot!

Location:

350 Lakeshore Road East

Oakville, Ontario, Canada

L6J 1J6

Phone Number:

(905) 844-5800

Hours of Operation:

Sunday 7 am-10 pm

Monday 6 am-10 pm

Tuesday 6 am-10 pm

Wednesday 6 am-10 pm

Thursday 6 am-10 pm

Friday 6 am-11 pm

Saturday 7 am-11 pm

What do you think of Marilyn Monroe Cafe? Let me know in the comments below!

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Healthy Sunday Family Dinner - July 14th, 2013

This was an impromptu dinner. I wasn't expecting anyone to come over on Sunday night but seeing as no one had any plans, we all decided to get together at my place! Given I only had about an hour and 1/2 before everyone arrived, I had to whip up something super fast. As many of you may not know, I am a vegetarian and therefore everything I make is vegetarian. If you're coming to my place and I'm cooking, you probably won't be getting any meat option (unless I decide to buy a take-out meat dish which I HATE doing because I figure that if someone is coming over to my place, I really ought to spend some time and effort into making a nice nutritious meal). 

Since this was a last minute get-together and it was quite late into the evening (around 7-8 PM), I opted to make some healthier and lighter dishes (plus I'm on this health-kick right now and I want everyone to get in on it). So this is what I made:

Oven-roasted sweet potatoes, garden salad, garlic bread and peppers & paneer

Since most of my family is NOT vegetarian, I was expecting a few moans and groans about the 100% vegetarian dinner however, it was a HUGE success. My uncle even went as far to say that this had been the best vegetarian meal he has ever had and that even though it was super healthy and light, he still found it filling. He also mentioned that if he ate like this every day, he wouldn't need to exercise anymore (I do not recommend this but you get what he meant). 

Had this dinner been earlier in the evening, I would have also created some sort of pasta option but since we were all going to head off to bed soon after, it didn't make sense to eat a load of unnecessary carbs. 

With everything said and done, I feel pretty content with my performance for the night. After all, if these dishes were able impress a group of diehard meat-eaters, who wouldn't feel great :)

MaquillaGINA

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Shopper's Drug Mart Lipstick Haul

Hello Everyone!

I just recently paid a visit to SDM and I've been meaning to post a mini-haul on my lipstick purchases. SDM was having a huge sale on their Revlon lipsticks; they were selling them for only $3.99! I picked up 3 lipsticks from
their Superlustrous line:

I went back about a week later and the SDM had a lot of the Elizabeth Arden products on clearance. The facial masks and certain creams were marked down from around $50-$75 to only $16. Of course, they were all sold out! I managed to pick up 2 lipsticks however for only $6.50 each (reg. price $24.50):

The Wine Cream (07) is a part of the Elizabeth Arden Color Intrigue Effects line whereas Breathless (17) is part of the Exceptional line.

Don't you just love it when you score some awesome deals on makeup!?! We all know I don't need any more lipsticks but it's hard for me to pass up such amazing prices. 

Have a great day and happy shopping,
MaquillaGINA

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World's Best Guacamole (trust me!)

I've never been a fan of avocados. For some reason, I always thought they tasted quite eggy. It wasn't until I perfected my guacamole recipe that I started to eat avocados religiously. Granted this isn't the fanciest guacamole out there but it's super simple, easy to make and absolutely delicious. Here's what you'll need:

Ingredients:
- 1 Medium Avocado (soft)
- 1/2 Small White Onion (optional - you can always substitute with a different type of onion [ex. shallots, green, red])
- 1/2 Lime
- 2 tbsp. Heinz Ketchup
- 1 tsp. Crushed Cumin
- Salt
- Black Pepper


Preparation:
1) Create the sauce by combining 1/2 lime juice, 2 tablespoons Heinz Ketchup, 1 teaspoon crushed cumin with salt and pepper to taste in a bowl
3) Finely chop 1/2 small white onion
2) Add the chopped onion and 1 medium-sized soft avocado to the bowl and crush with fork whilst mixing in the sauce (if you enjoy a more smooth guac, then throw all of these ingredients into a blender).

Voilà, you are done! One World's Best Guacamole ready for you to devour. When I'm trying to be extra healthy, I take a couple tortilla chips and crush them into my guac (as opposed to eating a whole bag of chips). You still get that amazing crunch from the chips without eating a bunch! 

TRY OUT THIS RECIPE AND LET ME KNOW IF IT REALLY IS THE WORLD'S BEST GUACAMOLE!

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Richtree Natural Markets Restaurant - July 13th, 2013

I always pass by Richtree Natural Markets Restaurants (click on the hyperlink to visit their webpage) and I never bother to order anything spectacular. I usually get the regular penne pasta with marinara sauce (something I could easily make at home). This time, my friends and I decided to hit up the crêpe/waffle bar. I never thought of Richtree as much of a dessert place but I can safely say that their desserts are INFINITELY better than their real food (in fact, I could probably make the food better at home so it's always somewhat of a disappointment eating there). Here are some images of the masterpieces:

Mixed berries waffles with French vanilla icecream, whipping cream and chocolate sauce with a side of berry lemonade (add $2.49).

Mixed berries crêpes with  plain vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. 

There is actual a crêpe/waffle artisan that makes the scrumptiousness right on the spot. If you've never seen anyone make a crêpe before (not so much the waffle because that goes straight into a waffle maker so it isn't as fun to watch), I think it's worth stopping by and taking in the experience.

The only downside to this whole situation was the ridiculous price! Granted you get a HUGE portion but the total came to around $15 with taxes. I think that's a little pricey for a bistro type restaurant. Here's the total breakdown: about $9 for crêpes or waffles with mixed berries (I think if you get a singular fruit like banana or mango, it's a $1 cheaper), about $3 for 1 scoop ice-cream and an additional $1 for whipping cream (chocolate sauce is free of charge). 

To be perfectly honest, we were going to hit up a stand alone crêpe place which would have been 1/2 the price and just as delicious however, it was no where to be found (guess it went out of business - sigh). However, we decided Richtree was worth the splurge as you don't eat these things every day and what's better than to enjoy some high-fat, high calorie and high in deliciousness crêpes/waffles with some of your dearest friends! 

PS - Here's a little secret (that I feel most people already may know). If you hit up Richtree a half-hour before closing time, all of their packaged food goes on sale for 50% off. This excludes the crepes and drinks (as these are not packaged goods) however, most of their baked items like muffins, quiches, cookies and cakes are all 50% off including their pastas and sandwiches.

Let me know, what is your perfect crêpe or waffle combination? 

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Hard Candy Glamoflague Concealer in Tan

After hearing rave reviews about the Hard Candy Glamoflague Concealer, I decided to finally pick it up from my local Walmart. I bought it for around $7 and with Walmart's easy return policy, you can bring this product back if you don't end up enjoying it. 

I bought the colour Tan which ended up being the best match for my skin however this colour was far too yellow (and I have a yellow-based skin tone). Long-story short, I kind of hate this concealer and these are the reasons why:

1) There are only 4 available shades available
2) The undertones of the concealer are far too yellow
3) Caused major breakouts when used on the face (I used this as a spot concealer and I tried mixing it in with a moisturizer to make my own foundation, both leading to serious breakouts!)
4) Tends to settle into fine lines 
5) Extremely oily/emollient product 
6) Takes a long to set (and even when it does set, it tends to leave a greasy film on my skin)
7) Product separates horribly and because it is in a tube, you cannot mix the product without cutting open the packaging and removing the product (clearly a case of poor design)
8) Very off-putting mouldy vegetable mixed with herbal smell (hard to describe but it smells awful - trust me!) 

Now it seems as though I've totally bashed this product however, I think think it would be excellent for someone given they fit both of these criteria: (1) dry under-eye and (2) skin colour/tone match concealer shade (good luck finding a match with their extensive range of 4 colours) and (3) do not have acne prone skin. Also, it would be important to mention that this concealer provides medium to buildable full coverage however, I thought that the finish was quite heavy and cakey regardless of how much I applied. 

The only redeeming quality of this concealer, for myself, was that it came with a small concealer pencil which was convenient for facial touch-ups (the pencil didn't make me break out) however, nothing to write home about - it was very average. To be honest, I haven't reached for it since the first week of purchasing when I was testing out this product. 

OVERALL RATING: 4/10

Let me know if you've tried this concealer and how you liked it in the comments below!

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Peppers and Paneer

Peppers & Paneer is one of my go-to recipes that everyone absolutely adores. I could literally eat this every single day and GUESS WHAT; it's actually quite healthy for you!

• Sweet peppers (red, yellow, orange)
• Brar Paneer (1/2 pack)
• Yogurt (1 cup) [thicker the consistency, the better the marinade will adhere]
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (2 tbsp)
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• Turmeric
• Paprika

Preparation:

1) De-core and slice your peppers (and other vegetables)
2) Cut your paneer into even cubes

3) Prepare your marinade by mixing 1 cup yogurt with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch each of the following: salt, black pepper, tumeric and paprika (if you can't tell by now, i'm not a big fan of precise measurements)
4) Add the peppers and paneer to the marinade and evenly distribute 

5) Apply plastic wrap over mixing bowl and place in fridge over-night (this is an optional step; when I'm pressed for time, I start cooking right away)

Cooking:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit 

2) Place peppers and paneer into a large baking dish and place in oven on bake for 20 minutes

3) After 20 minutes, broil for additional 10 minutes

Voilà, you are done! Finish it off with a squirt of lemon or lime juice if you want a nice tang. Your peppers and paneer should be crisp on top with some nice charring due to the 10 minute broil. The beauty of this dish is that you can throw in other vegetables to make it uber healthy (I opted to add some mushrooms, zucchini and eggplant this time around). 

TRY OUT THIS RECIPE AND LET ME KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVED IT IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!

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