GIVEAWAY: Where in the world is tee [going]? Clue#2 + This Week's OM: "free facial!"

I love this shot. I cropped and adjusted the contrast a bit. Nope I didn't take it. Along with yesterday's Clue#1, it's lovingly loaned from one of the major places of my destination. And yes, if you haven't guessed it, I am planning on seriously pampering myself throughout my weeklong getaway!

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So with Clue#2 out of the way, onto this week's OM, also pampering and beautifying related! I am thrilled to introduce local esthetician maggie of maggie&co, and share the background story on how I met her...

Sunny Tuesday afternoon, Big Brother G was at his new favorite caffeine-equipped joint/office: the Linux Caffe here in Toronto, and encouraged über-tall little brother and I to come say hello. He offered to treat us to frozen yogurt. How could we refuse?

Linux Caffe by leigheldridge.

A couple lemon frozen yogurts later, G went to Spanish class, and über-tall lil bro and I stuck around inside to warm up with some chai tea. Nothing like tasty contrasts, right?

By now, you're wondering where does maggie fall into this story? Well as it happens... Now! For the moment I sat down on the perfect people watching bar stool, and not more than two inches from where I placed my cuppa chai tea I stumbled upon this...

As you can guess, I took the card read it and placed it in my purse. A couple days later I serendipitously remembered to call maggie when I was in need of some beautifying for a special someone's big 3-0 extravaganza tonight! Happy Birthday Cee ;)

Not only was maggie super friendly and professional, her home set-up truly is a hidden gem.

Located on an assuming corner a couple blocks north of Little Italy's College Street, I couldn't help but grin when she explained why local celebs are regulars... The privacy! Truth be told, although it was a short appointment, she made me feel like a starlet all my own. A seasoned Stillwater Spa alumna, she knew exactly how I wanted my brows done before I said a peep... Natural and tee for tidy of course.

I have no pics of maggie&co. After all, we starlets need our privacy ;) However, if like me, you love supporting local small business owners with charm and would adore a free facial, drop me a line. I'll happily email you her digits.

I love how this One Moment of joining my brothers for frozen yogurt, resulted in another great One Moment of meeting maggie.

I'm returning for my complimentary facial when I land back in Toronto from my petit sojourn! Remember to stay tuned for more clues to win a pasalubong!

Bon weekend!

xo,

tee.

PS - Thanks again to À la Mode for creating such a neat and simple meet up! Wanna join? Click below.

My 'One Moment' of last week: Sibling Reminiscing.

Preface: You're probably wondering who the cuties are down below... Well up at the top is lil' sweet pea sis. The guy with the mustache in the Pampers box is my Michigan-to-Argentina motorcycling brother. And the third photo? Well that would me along with über-taller little brother and big brother G.

Know the song Sunscreen - Everybody's Free performed by Baz Luhrmann? Well there's this line:

"Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future."

And it's so true. Not to mention I feel so fortunate to have four links to my past and reinforcements in the future!

The thing is we five siblings are scattered across the globe. Yes, currently my Michigan-to-Argentina motorcycling brother is doing just that. In fact, he just wrapped up some volunteer work in Guatemala :) As you may know sweet pea lil sis is in Michigan. And über-tall little brother, well he just arrived in Toronto from the Philippines, and it's been nearly two years since G and I have seen him!

Excited therefore we were! So when one of us began unexpectedly recalling our oldest childhood memories over dinner one night, we just couldn't stop. After all we all had such great childhoods... You know, tattle-tales, fights (of the water and screaming variety) and all. Cue cheesy music and tearful thank you to mom and dad here. Yet, seriously that moment was definitely worth taking in and appreciating, hence... My One Moment of last week: Sibling Reminiscing.

While all five of us weren't together to remember:

• the lemonade stands turned lemonade franchises (we were entrepreneurs even back then);

• the make-believe games complete with make-believe Monopoly money customized with our faces on it (courtesy of mom's photocopier);

• and the grocery store trips that ended with two overflowing grocery carts and I don't know how many bags of milk (dad contemplated buying a jersey for the backyard);

To name a few... I certainly can't wait wait for the day when we are crying from laughing to hard at all our wonderful, memorable (mostly silly!) childhood stories!

Have any sibs? And/or just plain awesome childhood memories to share?

xo,

tee.

Not sure what all this One Moment mention is about, click on the button below to learn more about this great online meet up started by À la mode Stuff.

OM stands for One Moment. This week's: Odile Chocolat.

I was delighted to come across my first ever online meet up courtesy of À la mode Stuff via CandiedFabrics, especially because I am currently in a mindfulness meditation class that promotes taking things in "moment by moment."

This week's moment? Odile Chocolat. [Odile: pronounced oh-dee]

I've lived in my new 'hood now for over two months. Each time I'm on Dundas Street West, I've walked by a bright turquoise painted-brick boutique, telling myself I will pop in the next time to check it out. You know how that goes... Well on Wednesday, I finally did! And I was welcomed by Odile herself, a lovely French chocolatier clearly passionate about her trade. Not only did she tell me about her chocolates during my brief visit, but she insisted I have a taste!

How wise she was, for there's nothing like a sample to whet one's appetite for more... Yesterday, I returned, although this time not for me but for LeanandLuxe. After all, big brother G and I had to give her something worthy of her gourmet palette. Inspired by the meet up, and in an effort to fully enjoy the moment I asked Odile permission to photograph my visit and she happily obliged.

I ended up picking:

• The Chai Massala (the one I'd tried and adored);
• Romance: Champagne, black pepper, and rose petals (because everyone needs a bit of bubbly, spice and flowers on their birthday);
• Raspberry Vinegar (a best-seller); and
• Mushroom (wild Canadian black trumpet).

All hand-made...

Odile Chocolat: small simple pleasures one will want to enjoy slowly, appreciating the unique flavours fused with 54 percent Callebaut Belgium chocolate.

Taking the moment to blog about this has reminded me how much I love to connect with local retailers, and pick out the perfect gift for a friend. Can't wait to write a about a special moment next week!

Bon weekend !

xo,

tee.

My first ever Passover Seder.

So post-mini-Michigan-getaway Sweet Pea Sister came back with us to Toronto for a week-long visit. I have therefore been unintentionally kept away from Blogger, and have instead been gallivanting/showing off my new 'hood and covering my face with guck... a.k.a. spending quality time with my sis. To make it up to you, a photo of our gucky faces...

Hopefully, we haven't traumatized you 0;D Can you tell we're sisters?

Now for the promised photos of my first ever Passover Seder courtesy of the loveliest host family a high-school exchange student could have, Sweet Pea Sister's host family...

A few of the things I learned about Passover Seder:

1) It's the best holiday to be new to because it's all about asking questions...

2) Four questions asking why this night is different from all other nights to be exact:

• "Why is it that on all other nights during the year we eat either bread or matzoh, but on this night we eat only matzoh?"

• "Why is it that on all other nights we eat all kinds of herbs, but on this night we eat only bitter herbs?"

• "Why is it that on all other nights we do not dip our herbs even once, but on this night we dip them twice?" and

• "Why is it that on all other nights we eat either sitting or reclining, but on this night we eat in a reclining position?"

3) Along with four questions, we have four glasses of wine (mmm!)

4) Afikoman (Hebrew language: אפיקומן, based on Greek, epikomen or epikomion [επί Κομός], meaning "that which comes after" or "dessert") is a half-piece of matzo which is broken in the early stages of the Passover Seder and set aside (or in our case hidden) to be eaten as a dessert after the meal. Everyone at the table who doesn't yet have children searches for the hidden Akikoman and whoever finds it wins a prize!

After the consumption of the Afikoman, traditionally, no other food may be eaten for the rest of the night. Additionally, no intoxicating beverages may be consumed, with the exception of the remaining two cups of wine.

Now am off to a Good Friday Procession with big brother G and Sweet Pea Sister in my new 'hood... The weather (25C!) couldn't be more perfect out!

Happy Easter Triduum!

xo,

tee.

Motoring through Motown snapping photographs.

As mentioned my big brother G and I went on a mini road trip to Michigan this weekend. We came to visit our lil Sweet Pea sister and her host family. (She's on a year long high-school exchange). May I just say Sweet Pea sis has one of the most loveliest host families on earth? In fact, her host dad Greg took us on a little tour of Detroit.

Here a few photos from our 3-hour journey through "Motown." Turns out the "post-apocalyptic" American city still has some hidden gems and glitters of new inspiration...











From Bloomfield Township, driving south on Woodward Avenue (the first mile of paved road in the world!) catching a glimpse of a Frank Lloyd Wright original, popping our heads in to the magnificent interiors of Fisher Theatre and the Guardian Building, walking through The Conservatory on Belle Isle, to walking around the whimsical open-air art world of found objects (including abandoned homes) known as The Hidelberg Project by artist Tyree Guyton... It was an absolutely delightful afternoon! Thanks again Greg :)

More photos to be posted soon. Tomorrow all about my first Seder!

xo,

tee.