Changes

After watching the disturbing Food, Inc. documentary, I made a mental note to change the way I eat. Nope, I'm not turning Vegan or Vegetarian because that's just too much pressure on me. But I vow to make more informed choices, and I will elect to consume more wholesome and nutritionally-dense food whenever I can. Shocking as the movie was, I believe there is a grain of truth (pun intended) in the issues raised.

So I am saying bye-bye to purchasing artery-clogging items like this $20 luscious and creamy fresh-churned Beurre d'Isigny Ste-Mère butter from France that I slather on my refined-wheat baguette. Instead, I'll stick to olive oil or Vegan butter and whole grain bread.

Just in time for the switch, I recently added these titles to my cookbook collection, hoping to go through the recipes one by one.

Some of the recipes that I am eager to try starting today are:
From Tal Ronnen, the Conscious Cook

From Fresh Restaurant in Toronto
Dragon Bowl with Tofu Steak, Vegetables, and Miso Gravy on Brown Rice...

Vegetarian Burger with Spicy House Mayo...

And some fruit elixirs that can detox the body and combat harmful free-radicals.

Lung Lover Immune Elixir with ginger root, red apples, cayenne pepper and licorice root...

Supersonic Energy Elixir with mango juice, blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries...

Liver Flush Immune Elixir with ginger root, beets, lemon, and pink grapefruit...

It's going to be difficult cutting down or giving up my beloved pastries and favourite restaurant food. However, I concluded that, with the strength of my will and the courage of my heart, I can find a balance "in moderation". So, here's to good and clean living in the new year. No pressure.

A Little Afternoon Delight

Weekends are for relaxing at home. And this is my version of an afternoon delight!

It all started with a trip to my local gourmet shop. I went in for a loaf of fresh French baguette, but I surfaced with these chocolate goodies. Snack-perfect Chocolatour bars are a great prelude to imaginary trips around the cocoa-plantations of Tanzania, Dominican Republic, Grenada, and Ecuador.

Scharffen Berger natural cocoa powder and 99% dark chocolate bars were calling for a mid-day project.

So I dug through my old recipe files to come up with these Nutty Double Chocolate Cookies, replacing half of the unsweetened cocoa powder for grated chocolate.

Sprinkle, sprinkle, sprinkle with icing sugar...

After toiling in the kitchen, I felt like I deserved a break and made a beeline for my closet of goodies. The beauty stuff: Fresh Umbrian Clay mask, Benefit's Honey Scrub Out of It exfoliator, Guinot Biologique algae gel mask, Philosophy's Hope in a Jar face cream, and Palmer's Cocoa Butter Stretch Mark cream.

I sprinkled a handful of pink Himalayan sea salt crystals to a running bath. Warming, soothing, embracing, relaxing, and calming waters met my very tired body. I gave myself a luxurious facial and I closed my eyes to rest.

My secret obsession on a lazy afternoon? Glossy, international fashion magazines!

Then at night, I got ready for a friend's birthday dinner at lol resto lounge. Ahhh...a satisfying day altogether!

Maternity Wear Need Not Be Boring, Part 2

So, I've been quite depressed lately. And one of the reasons (out of many) is my having to come to terms with my body. I've had body issues for the last few years. In my late 20's and single days, I went from 89 pounds (truly unhealthy for a 5'1" gal) to a good 100 - 105 pounds by the time I was married at age 31. Within the 1 year we were trying for a baby - with a subsequent miscarriage somewhere in the middle - I gained about 8 - 10 pounds. By the time I squeezed out my daughter who is now almost 3-years-old, I was teetering around 118 pounds. And the problem is, I HATE working out. I also HATE dieting (I love butter, cheese, fat, sweets, carbs - you name it).

Above: Hiding my pregnant belly with a wool sweater by Vanessa Bruno; Leggings by C'est Moi. Too bad I have no Hermés Kelly bag to shield my bump!

Then one day, I realized that I HATE feeling out-of-control when it comes to body image, because I know I CAN control the way I look. As a result of this insecurity, my interest in fashion and beauty waned tremendously, although I am recently gaining confidence again even though I am pregnant with daughter number 2. During the last year or so, I gave away, altogether a total of 4 moving boxes of good quality "skinny" clothes. Let's just say the teenaged girl who got her hands on some of the items had tears of joy in her eyes.

Now, here's part 2 of maternity style. The items below are all purchased from "regular" stores / brands, and not maternity shops. And you know what? It makes me feel good to be able to have the option to fit in regularly-sized clothes. I refuse to be a victim of the shapeless maternity frock! Amen.

Above: Drape top by Central Park West; Leggings from C'est Moi; Necklace from Banana Republic; Pirate ankle boots from Brown's

Above: Cashmere wool sweater top by Wilfred; Moss cashmere-silk blend t-shirt by Talula; Necklace from Aldo; Leggings from Club Monaco; Pirate ankle boots from Brown's

Above: Wool sweater coat by Ines at Aritzia; Moss cashmere-silk blend t-shirt by Talula; Necklaces from Etsy; Leggings from Club Monaco; Pirate ankle boots from Brown's

Above: Asymmetrical wrap by Full Circle; Leggings from Club Monaco; Suede boots from Steve Madden

For part 1 of non-maternity maternity looks, scroll on below.

What about you? Do you have some tips on dressing a pregnant woman?

Maternity Wear Need Not Be Boring, Part 1

I'm not the one to shop at maternity stores. So, here are my picks for pregnancy wear this fall/winter '09-'10. I am currently 22 weeks and growing rapidly! Note to self: cut out all the sugar!

Above: Bright mustard halter top from Anthropologie; Black sweater from Comptoir des Cotonniers; Necklace from Anthropologie; Leggings from Anthropologie; Boots from Steve Madden

Above: Blush pink bat wing top from Wilfred; Necklace from Anthropologie; Leggings from Anthropologie; Boots from Steve Madden

Above: Pink cowl neck from Wilfred; Brown sweater from Aritzia; Leggings from TNA; Boots from Brown's

Above: Black asymmetrical swing top from Isabel Marant; Leggings from TNA; Boots from Brown's

I am truly lucky to be pregnant at this time when loose tops, leggings, and high boots are pretty easy to find. Whether you are in Paris, Milan, New York...or Toronto! More maternity wear ideas to follow.

P.S. Don't forget to be a Google Follower to join my Lubitel 166+ camera giveaway. The draw is on December 6, 2009! See post here.