The A List: 5.27.16

Happy Memorial Day weekend and official kick-off to summer! I'm planning on lots of relaxing and lots of cocktials by the grill this weekend. 

In the meantime, here's a list of what I'm loving this week.

Bill Simmons Podcast with Charity Water

Bill Simmons returned to his podcast this week and instead of chatting sports with his buddies and other athletes, he instead dedicated his hour to an interview with Charity Water’s Scott Harrison. Charity Water has always been a dream charity of mine, they’re technologically advanced, operate like a startup and are so incredibly transparent. But what was the most fascinating during their chat was Scott’s story, his club origins and how he conceived the charity after some volunteer work. He’s proof that you can change your life’s purpose if you really want to, no matter how old you are.  

Captain America: Civil War

It’s rare that I pay to see a movie in theatres anymore but when I do, I usually go a few weeks after opening weekend so the crazy uncomfortable crowds die down. I’m so glad I waited to few weeks to see Civil War on the big screen, it’s truly an awesome spectacle to see. I’m with the critics, it’s one of the best in the entire marvel series because it’s the most emotional film they’ve released. Pitting family against family is never easy, but Cap’s family, especially his bestie Bucky, truly make for a captivating 2.5 hours. Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan and RDJ are spectacular in the film, as are the hilarious cameos from the other Avengers, and it you haven’t yet seen it, I encourage you to see it on the big screen before it’s too late.

Avocados

Now that I'm back to a pretty regular work week routine, I’m trying to find ways to not only stay  focused but also to not be ravenous during meetings and at my desk all day long. My current solution? Avocados. I’m like a pregnant woman with my cravings (without being pregnant) and have been putting them in everything from greens to quinoa, to even on bread for a breakfast of avocado toast. Leaving the pit in the half that I bring to work keeps them green until lunchtime, and keeps me full almost all afternoon. (image via)

Giada’s Italian Tweets

If Giada’s first season of Giada in Italy was pure Positano travel wanderlust, her second season looks to do the same with Florence. Her tweets are everything right now - they’re practically a live stream of her everyday Italian life (sorry, had to). From ordering coffee, to eating breakfast, to shopping for shoes, it’s addicting to follow her living like an Italian local. I can’t wait for season two!

The Toronto Raptors

This past week I’ve been glued to my television and social media for one thing: basketball. From the Cavs fandom in Columbus to the craziness that is the Western Conference finals, I can’t get enough of the NBA playoffs. And we haven’t even talked about my number one reason for watching: the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors have truly turned Toronto into a basketball city, from their team on the floor, to their graffiti-filled marketing, to their crazy t-shirts, to even their celebrity fans (I’m looking at you Drake and PK), but it’s the fans in the Air Canada Centre and outside in Jurassic Park that truly take the cake. And while The North won’t bring a championship to The 6ix this year, it’s been one seriously fun and amazing ride.

Snaps: Vol. 1

Snaps: Vol 1

As a mentioned in a previous A List, I love, love, loved Victoria’s behind-the-scenes snapshot of her life she posted earlier this month. And I couldn’t help correlating her “quick snap” to how much I’m loving snapchat at the moment, both are providing an authentic glimpse into what really goes on in our lives.

As I looked around my home, I realized there are certain pieces of it that make me, me - pieces that I use on a daily basis or sometimes more sparingly, but make up the person I am once I leave the house and enter the world.

So without further ado (in homage to Victoria’s post) - I present my Snaps, a deeper look into my life.

To kick off the series, I thought I’d start with one of the most fun and parts of my day and one the most creative, my makeup dresser.

Up until a few years ago, my approach to makeup was pretty much the same - how to subtly enhance my features without looking like a weirdo. My red hair and freckles were always a challenge growing up, i didn’t want to overpower them with a crazy lipstick and look like a clown (my lips are on the fuller side) but I also wanted to make sure people could tell that I had eyelashes (mine are SUPER fair).  Youtube videos (Estee, Smashbox and Pixiwoo) and a super helpful Sephora saleswoman that explained everything, really changed this thinking of mine and I haven’t looked back since.

Today my makeup is housed in a mini file drawer - I've come a long way from a clear plastic makeup bag. Each drawer holds a different feature, lips, eyes, and face - and the ones on the bottom hold sheet masks (my fave!), makeup remover, brush cleaner and even my sunglasses collection. The view above is the top of the dresser, which houses the things I grab the most and a few extras. Here’s how each of them plays a role in my morning:

Brushes: just as a painter would use them to paint, my brushes are the conduit to creating a different look and personality to wear each morning. My mineral powder brush got all of this painting started, and once I saw how magnificently it applied my HD Powder, I was hooked on trying more ways to play with color and texture. A few of my favorite brushes? My contour brush which when coupled with my bronzer helps to add dimension to my forehead and cheekbones, my angled eye brush which deposits colour perfectly in my crease to make my eyes pop, and my blush brush which lets me pinpoint where exactly i want a pop of colour on my cheeks (you can tell it’s one of my most well-loved brushes). Organized by eyes and face in simple Ikea plant pots, my brushes bring to life my creativity and I love this start to my day.

Bourjois Gel Serum Foundation: this Foundation has been such a game-changer for my skin. I first picked it up during my annual trip home to Canada (please come to the states Bourjois!!) after seeing reviews from bloggers overseas, and it really does live up to the hype. A light coverage - it hydrates and even outs my skin, and most importantly, lets my skin breathe while looking radiant. It’s my skin but better, and I leave the house feeling confident and ready to strut my stuff.

MAC Paint Pots: just like my Foundation is my skin but better, my MAC paint pots make my eye area look flawless. Whether I wear them on their own (depending on my lip colour and how late I'm running that day), or using them to layer underneath additional colour, these pots are almost applied on a daily basis.

VICHY idealia skin sleep: another drugstore find from Canada (but ULTA sells here in the states), VICHY ideal skin has transformed the texture of my skin. I use it every night on my face and neck, and I can feel the formula plumping up my skin from the wear and tear of my day. Its rich and carries a pretty strong scent, but the scent now triggers my brain to fall asleep, which coincidentally is when it works the best (it’s in its name!) A true skin saver.

Aveda Shampure Dry Shampoo: every six weeks my Saturday morning is a life-changer. Yes, I’m talking about my haircut with Kiley at Nutur. The last time I was in we started talking about dry shampoo and she asked me which one I was using. I mentioned I was using a spray brand from the drugstore and she stopped me and told me I should because my hair was dry. MY MIND WAS BLOWN. First, I had no idea my hair was dry and second, she mentioned my hair would react better to a dry shampoo powder. I’ll never doubt Kiley again. Aveda Shampure gives my hair volume, gets rid of the greasies and saves my scalp from wear and tear - it’s a lazy girl’s miracle. I put in on after the makeup, flip my head upside down, and am good to go. Love it.

Aesop Resurrection hand balm: between dishes and my new job, my hands are currently craving moisture at every moment. And that’s why this hand creme is front and center for both my morning and nightly routines. Aesop’s Resurrection hand creme has the hippest smell (it’s a mix of rosemary, mandarin and cedar) but more importantly it has a heavy dose of moisturizer that absorbs quickly and isn’t greasy. It’s the holy trifecta of hand cremes and the last thing I apply before heading to work and heading to bed.  

The A List: 5.20.16

You guys, this week.

It’s been a week of getting back into a routine, a week of serious brain usage and most of all, a week of new surroundings. I’m a little too excited that the forecast is a bit gloomy for Saturday, I can’t wait to get my bearings again.

But with all this newness also comes a giant boatload of inspiration (woo!) which I’m excited to share. In the meantime, here’s a look at what I’m loving this week.

Stella McCartney Lips iphone case

If school supplies are my ultimate way to nerd out (see below), phone cases probably come a close second. I love to dress up my iphone in crazy ways, it’s the one piece of my ensemble that doesn’t stick to my color uniform. Case in point, my latest case. I’ve been eyeing this lip case for weeks, trying to figure out if I should bite the bullet or not to spend the $$$. After seeing it in person at Neiman’s (and finding a gift card) I’m now the proud owner of the best selfie case around. Sure, the case is large, but my personality is larger. ;-)

Rebecca Minkoff Unlined Feed Bag

Rebecca Minkoff has always been one of my go-to handbag designers, but I think she’s completely one-upped herself with my latest purchase. The unlined feed bag is the PERFECT summer satchel. It’s a buttery leather toughened up just slightly with the addition of studs, which coupled with a square shape and wide strap, set it apart from your typical cross-body handbag. I carried mine with me everywhere on my last road trip, it not only holds your essentials but it’s also great for toteing around a blogging camera, your moleskin and even a bottle of water.  You can’t go wrong with this bag by your side all summer long.

Muji Gel Ink 0.5mm Pens

Confession time, I am a giant school supply nerd. From agendas to notebooks, folders to paper clips, I love school supplies. And after getting back into the swing of things this week (i.e. working) I think I’ve finally found my holy grail of pens. Seriously, these pens not only write consistently, they also don’t smear when this lefty advances across the page (ahhh!!!). Leave it to Muji to create the perfect writing specimen. I picked these up in store in NYC the last time I was there, but thankfully you can order them easily online now. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to geeking out over my school supplies.

Google’s Gboard App

GIFs. I’m still not quite sure how to pronounce them as a word but boy do I love to send them to friends via text or other medium. And for me, my friends timelines just got completely spammed thanks to my faves at Google. I have no clue if Google’s Gboard app for iphone is new, but after downloading it this week I’m hooked. Operating just like my beloved emoji app, you can scroll through google’s gif options by category or search for that specific gif that you know and love. So many puppy gifs, so little time.

DNCE Toothbrush Video

I originally had another fave slotted into this spot, but after watching DNCE’s Toothbrush video, I knew I had to include it. And can I just say one thing about this vid? Joe Jonas is a dreamboat. Even better though? Ashley Graham is a total fox. But the best part might be Joe’s follow-up interview with Glamour – saying he only had one girl for the role in mind (swoon!). DNCE knew they were making a statement with Ashley's casting, but the video is so beautiful you don’t even notice. 

Healthy Eats: Anti-Inflammation & Pan-Seared Mushrooms

Maybe I heard it via Gwyneth’s goop, or maybe it was via Ayesha Curry’s instagram, or maybe it was even via one of my many lifestyle blogs on my reader – but recently I came across the anti-inflammatory cooking movement and wanted to check it out.

Anti-Inflammation? Really?

But seriously, the thought that major diseases like cancer are caused by something as simple as inflammation just seemed too simple to me and I was baffled and curious to learn more. Enter Amanda Haas (aka @amandahaascooks to Ayesha’s followers) and her cookbook The Anti-Inflammation Cookbook. I picked up a copy of the cookbook from my local library to investigate more and to dive in and get started. Please note: while you can’t learn everything about a potential lifestyle change from a cookbook, you can learn about healthy choices and habits you can start to make in an effort to reduce inflammation in your body (and remember your doctor/physician is your best reference).  

The book and the diet haven’t really been a huge culinary overhaul for me, my diet already consisted of leafy greens, gluten free legumes and grains and fish (thanks Blue Apron!) and I eat relatively healthy when I do make an effort. But the book has forced me to look a little closer when I’m grocery shopping and to start making the smarter choice (versus the cheaper one). After all, the end goal is to reduce pain and diseases, and if it ends up helping some of the more vain traits of mine (cough skincare cough) well then that’s just gravy.

I will admit that I’ve used the reference pages of this cookbook more than I’ve used the actual recipes.  The section about prioritizing organics based on the pesticides used on fruits & veggies with skins is invaluable, as is the sections that continually reinforce the health benefits of avocados, citrus fruits, and eggs. And for those of us with a sweet tooth, Amanda shares just what kind of chocolate is actually good for you (!!!) and the best natural sweeteners for when you need some extra flavor.

As for the rest of the book, the recipes just aren’t all that appetizing and quite frankly, I’ve seen a bunch of them before (I just didn’t know they were anti-inflammatory). But there are some seriously great tips in here that are worth sharing (ex: dress your kale with dressing for at least 30 minutes) and a great meatless recipe for an easy weeknight dinner.

If you’re interested in Amanda’s book purchase it here or reserve from any of Columbus’ many libraries here.

PAN-SEARED MUSHROOMS with caramelized shallots and thyme

(via Amanda Haas)

The key to the flavour here is the sear of the mushrooms – it seriously makes all the difference.

Tip:  save some cash by purchasing your mushrooms from the bulk mushroom area of your produce section.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

4 cups sliced mushrooms (cremini, shiitake and other “meatier” varieties work best)

2 tbsp minced shallots (1 large)

1 tbsp lemon juice

2 tsp thyme leaves

Pinch red pepper flakes

Kosher salt

Freshly group black pepper

Directions:

1. Heat 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil of medium-high heat in a non-stick skillet. Once the oil starts to smoke, add the slides mushrooms and a generous pinch of kosher salt.
2. Sear the mushrooms until they've browned on one side (approximately one minute) then stir the uncooked mushrooms to the bottom of the pan.
3. Cook mushrooms about 3 to 4 minutes or until their liquid has started to evaporate. 
4. Add the shallots and cook for a minutes, then stir in the lemon juice, thyme and red pepper flakes. 
5. Allow the lemon juice to evaporate for the 30 seconds and then remove the pan from the heat.
6. Add 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil to the mushrooms and stir, then add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve immediately.

To keep the meal meatless these mushrooms pair well with a quinoa salad or even a hearty green salad. They'd also be a great side alongside a ribeye for an at-home steakhouse meal. 

Local Love: and Here We Are

One of the things I love most about Columbus is how the city supports its creative entrepreneurs. Every weekend there seems to be a new festival, craft fair, marketplace or market that is popping up and showcasing some of the best creatives this city has to offer.

The other great thing about all of these creatives – they’re all discoverable via instagram.  That’s where I found my latest local love: and Here We Are letterpress studio.

and Here We Are had me at the stroke of their pen. Seriously, I have such a huge crush on their handwriting, I want to emulate it and display it all at the same time. But even cooler than their pen is the Columbus story the two of them tell.

Founded in Brooklyn in 2012, Meghan and John Sokorai moved their stationary and print business to Columbus in 2015. Seriously, check out their about page and their video, it’s perfectly charming in that “I wish we could be brunch friends” kind of way.  

Their prints are simple, modern and bit cheeky (hello boobs!) and most are just a white piece of cardstock with their black stroke of the pen. I ordered this print for my office gallery wall, it’s a perfect addition to the local pieces I have hanging just beyond my workstation. The print’s arrival came with a small personal touch, a thank you from Meghan and John themselves. These little touches are what keep me coming back to shops like these, simple notes of gratitude that make me a customer for life.

Here’s a couple of my faves from this local shop – order them online or find them at an event around Columbus soon.