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.

GIVEAWAY: Where in the world is tee [going]? Clue#1

I must admit once I finally decided where I was going I got pretty excited, and am secretly enjoying the fact that I'm not telling a soul. Except perhaps my travel agents ;) Who thankfully also happen to be my aunt and uncle, so I've got my emergency contact covered too!

So where in the world am I going you wonder? Well, I'm not revealing that easily, but I am providing visual clues beginning with the one above. Click on the image for a larger view :D

In fact, I consulted über-tall lil bro, and I've decided I should incorporate this into my first ever little giveaway. Truth be told, post-ecojotting days, I didn't think I could afford to host one. Then I figured, why not? While I can't promise the prize to be of an enormous monetary value, I promise it to be as we Filipinos call a pasalubong.

Pasalubong. [Pah sah luh´bong] The practice of giving little tokens of friendship and affection to loved ones after one has gone on a trip. [As quoted from: Ano Yon? Ano Yan?]

Much more than just a souvenir... If you manage to guess where I was by the time I return, I shall present you with a special pasalubong that I will have picked up during my mini sojourn.

Bonne chance mes amis !

xo,

tee.

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.