“Hey girl, can we cuddle yet?” Ryan Gosling notebook. He always knows what to say.

Did I ever tell you about the time, this random guy yelled at me on the street, “Do you like hip hop?” I pretended I didn’t hear him because I was wearing giant earmuffs.

This is kind of a continuation post of my Holiday Gift Guide 2013.  I reallyx3 put the brakes on my OOC tendency to buy “one for you, one for me” when Christmas shopping.  My Christmas tree and décor went up mid-November so I have been enjoying the lights, baking for friends, attending socials and wrapping gifts.  In an effort to share some delightful gift ideas and live cyber vicariously through my blog, here are more fun ideas to help you through your holiday shopping…

J.Crew Flower Latice Necklace: Sometimes I see girls around the office wearing the most amazing statement necklaces and I’m not gonna lie, I’m kind of jalouse (jealous in French).

And for the more decadent bon-vivants in your life, some gifts which are worth the splurge!

Lately, I’ve been sporting vibrant redlipstick to work and to parties. I love the creamy texture of NARS — the shades of Manhunt and Red Lizard make ‘em stop and stare. Trust.

My champagne of choice is Moet but Veuve makes some very nice holiday giftsets. Check out these mini champagne bottles that you can give out to friends with colourful straws for a NYE part-ay! Go socialite!

For the gourmands who could use a bite to go with their giant glass of wine…

Mmmm. I discovered Coach House Shortbread at The One of a Kind Show. They make the most delicious sweet and savoury flavours of shortbread and wrapped so beautifully. Image c/o BlogTO

Sad face, I can’t find my Anthropologie apron. This would be a perfect Secret Santa gift *wink-wink*

If you’ve been following the LC, you know I’ve been on this #juiceodyssey of late.  Quite simply, I’m feeling juicer’s remorse discarding all the leftover vegetable and fruit fibers.  Surely, my compost is another person’s treasure!  The easiest thing I could think of making was a carrot cake, which is a cozy Sunday afternoon baking session.  I asked my sister for a recipe because she is one of the best bakers I know and she referred me to an easy recipe in her Joy of Cooking.  I made some modifications because I’m on a health kick and if I’m going to feed my colleagues carbs, I’m going to sneak in some healthy ingredients because I care about them.  *wink*

Carrot Cake (via The Joy of Cooking)

Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 cups whole-wheat flour (originally all-purpose flour)
• 3/4 cup brown sugar (originally 1 cup)
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon all-spice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cup shredded carrots
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup shredded pineapple (original 1/2 cup canned pineapple)
• 1 teaspoon Chia seeds (say yes to Omega-3 goodness), flax seeds would be fun too (surprise!)
• optional 1 cup raisins (no thank you)

Preheat oven to 350F

Combine all the dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl.

Combine all dry ingredients.  Gradually fold in dry ingredients into wet.  Add in carrots, pineapple and chopped walnuts.

I used carrot fibers but didn’t have enough so I chopped up more. Call me crazy but I juiced a pineapple.

Thought “whoops, I should have borrowed my sister’s handmixer” but once I combined the carrots and pineapple, the batter was much smoother.

Use a 13×9″ round or square pan.  Line the bottom of the baking tin with parchment paper or aluminum foil.  Spray lightly with cooking oil to easily take it out when serving.

Smooth the top so that it bakes evenly…and so that it looks perfect.

Voila! Carrot Cake perfection. The house smells so delicious.

Bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out dry.  Let stand to cool and serve to your friends!

Inside Gio Rana’s — much funkier than you would expect from its non descript exterior.

My fashionistah bestie C was celebrating a milestone birthday and she requested that we venture east to her neck of the woods.  Being completely clueless on restos in this quadrant of the city, she suggested her fave Gio Rana’s Really Really Nice Restaurant (1220 Queen St. East).  This is a long standing hidden gem in Leslieville, marked by a giant nose housed in a former bank.  It was a wonderful choice for its eclectic décor, lively ambience (Lenny Kravitz, Biggie, oh yeah) and most of all its excellent Italian food.  We tried a number of appetizers to share - the risotto balls, brussel sprouts with prosciutto and crustini.  My entrée was a nicely prepared salmon with a side of rapini.  We finished with a birthday platter of chocolate molten cake, tiramisu and goat’s milk cheesecake.  Sooo delicious! 

No need for the address. Just stop when you see that massive paper mache nose on Queen East.

You can never go wrong with an Anthropologie statement necklace. My life!

I lovex3 buying birthday presents for my girlfriends, especially clothes.  I know it sounds really weird but I love dressing my friends.  They say that I’m the only person that still buys them clothes as gifts.  But I am pretty spot-on when it comes to making sure my gift choices match their styles.  Dress you up in my love.  Trust.

Dorothy Perkins is a London-based brand. Lovely damask and abstract lace prints in a fit and flare. Super flattering silhouette.

High fashion B so pretty in Vogue 2013

Hmm, not sure that I know anyone that isn’t kind of, sort of, obsessed with Beyoncé.  And if you told me otherwise, I would serve you some talk to the hand, “Girrl, you be craaazy.”  My Ticketmaster alert did not go off because, duh, I forgot to set her as one of my favourites.  Sometimes I can be such an imbecile *wink* but I didn’t waste any sad faces when I found out her shows were sold out.  With my sunny disposition, I had a profound belief that if there’s a will, there’s ALWAYS a way.  Trust. (the secret)

Beyoncé says Hipsters love Countdown. “Me and my boo and my boo boo riding…” obviously my favourite lyric

Mentioning my lack of Beyoncé tickets at the lunch table, my friend S was all about it.  Step 1 Find a concert partner in crime accomplished.  A few weeks later, in a follow up chat we decided we should probably be putting more effort into finding tickets.  Then as luck should have it, new tickets were released.  Step 2 Get tickets close enough to see B booty shake, hair flip, sweat, etcetera, etc.  A done deal.  Such are the spoils of fate.  Never give up!

Perhaps you want to brush up on your hip hop – See 47 of Beyoncé’s Absolute Best Dance Moves on Buzzfeed.

A month away until Beyoncé’s tour lands in Toronto. I am too excited. Are you going?

Les Twins – Kind of obsessed too with those zany French brothers Larry and Laurent who are reknown for their new-style hip hop

Last summer, the Carters were spotted at Café Nervosa in Yorkville. If you like Italian, this place is always good for a cozy chic atmosphere and delicious food.

Breaking news: I’m seeing more Yogi’s wearing printed leggings to yoga. There are some cute ones from Prana in tie-dye and Lululemon has a tone on tone paisley (obvi!).

They said, “You’re crazy going on a detox during the holidays!”  But alas, dear friends, as a lacto-ovo vegetarian, I really don’t partake in a huge turkey dinner.  The only vice I truly lament is a wheel of Brie paired with those delicious Raincoast Crisps…ok maybe I’ll indulge in the occasional chocolate molten cake for dessert.

Lorde playlist: It’s really a pity that the radio has overkilled ‘Royals’ by Lorde. The cd has excellent tracks like Tennis Court, Team, Swingin’ Party and Buzzcut Season.

Nothing is better than winding down on a Sunday afternoon with a yoga class, cutting fruits and veggies to indie-rock and juicing.  Yes, juice is a verb.  While it seems radical to some to go on a juice detox, I think that adding fresh juice to my current diet will have many health benefits.  Plus, it’s ridiculously fun to throw veggies down the chute.  Delicious and nutritious.

Breville Compact Juicer: It’s really not that compact but super easy to use. I had a step stool to be able to drop the apples and carrots in.

Here is an easy Detox Juice Recipe:

1. 2 apples
2. 2 carrots
3. 2 beets
4. 1 orange
5. 1/2 lemon
6. 1″ ginger

It’s recommended to drink juices immediately to get as much nutrients as possible.  Remember to store in an air tight glass container and refrigerate immediately.  For a fun game, get your friend to guess the ingredients.  Amazingly, my friend D named every single ingredient correctly.  I was super impressed.  Alas, she has a very refined tasting palette.  Enjoy!

If you don’t have a juicer, you can try a lovely organic juice or smoothie from Sunshine Wholesome Market (942 College St.) This is a family run business that uses organic and local ingredients as well as sells natural health food products.

My favourite genre of film is Documentary. Sub-genre: Food Documentaries. Fat Sick And Nearly Dead will make you wanna juice. Trust.

Remember the Paris episode where Carrie took a face plant in Dior? Then she was mortified and bought the entire store. Hrmm…unintentional poetry.

Little French cafés are so mignon (cute, dainty), non? Today, me and A went for petit déjeuner (breakfast) at the most darling patisserie housed in a Victoria row house.  The food was deliciously French and so were the waiters.  It’s the kind of place where they serve you lattes with the foam shaped in a heart.  And where you say no béchamel and you end up saying yes to brioche and crepes with nutella.  I can’t divulge its name for fear of it becoming too popular.  Sorry darlings.  Some secrets have to stay in my hair.  We had a very French afternoon punctuated by flirty girlish giggling.  Those are the days my friend!

The epitome of chic: the one, the only Catherine Deneuve

If you don’t know much about my French muse Catherine Deneuve, I insist you really must read on Parisian Bombshell Chic: Catherine Deneuve.  Trust. 

Perhaps you will order yourself a Croque Madame – a grilled ham and cheese with béchamel topped with a fried or poached egg

It’s rather chilly out, non? Tilt your C by Bloomingdales beret ever so slightly. Passerbys will admire your air of “je ne sais quoi”

Bonsoir and bonne chance young lovers! The Eiffel Tower lit up at night *le sigh*