Montana Spray Paint is the Bomb!!!
Who doesn’t love graffiti art when it’s not on their building? A good can of paint isn’t just for bringing life to a concrete wall or to somebody’s nerves — it’s also the perfect medium for expressing artistic notions through vivid colourations and swift, inspired gestures. I’ve always enjoyed dabbling in graffiti and stencil art on the side of my designer schemes, because there’s nothing like that gratifying sense of separation bridged by the push of a button and the motion of an arm to achieve something unexpected. I especially love the vibrancy, coverage and longevity of Montana Spray Paint, which even comes in various spray nozzles to suit your desired coverage application. I always feel like a kid in a candy store when I’m at Curry’s Art Store on Queen Street West in Toronto, where they’ve got two full walls of colours and a product setup that I would love to have at my home. I hope you like the artwork below!
Love at First Print
Printers are the brilliant counterpart to the photographic capture — copies of copies on top of a singular moment or intentional instant. With my Epson ET 16500, it was love at first print. Before I picked up this beauty, I was always the advocate of the cheap printer workhorse. But one morning, I ran out of ink and had a moment rather beside myself. I can’t imagine I was the first or last to indulge in the madness of printing blank pages when one expects vivid colours and well-defined lines to greet them fresh out of the mechanical oven. But that was that, and no longer would I ever run out of ink — and could now print to my heart’s desire. This printer’s EcoTank can print as many as 10,500 pages in black — and doesn’t require you to buy those silly cartridges for the cost of a new printer.
Bud’s Coffee in the Beaches
When you try to imagine the perfect espresso bar, what do you have in mind? Good coffee goes without saying, and a delicate-yet-possessive aroma is a must. But people also value distinct little features that win them over from the lighting and amiability to the decorations and—of course—not having to wait. Bud’s Coffee in Toronto has been my go-to cafe for a while. Because I do much of my creative work from the garret of my house, having a place to go and escape the occasional bout of isolation while also feeling inspired is a stroke of luck every time. Bud’s is a low-key and cosy home away from home for anybody that needs a reason to get dressed in the morning. Maybe I’ll see you there!
Vivienne Westwood Still Has It
Clothing is yet another implicit link between like-minded artists whose lives are not fulfilled until the barrier is broken. At the head of the trend is Vivienne Westwood, an embodiment of punk as it speaks through thread, button, colour, and style — with enough creative individuality to define an entire era. Vivienne Westwood is my favourite of British fashion designers, and her arrival on the scene was uncannily-timed to juxtapose with a revolution in music, art, and thought as natural as the history it belongs to. Over time, her style has evolved gracefully while always paying tribute to its punk roots and that carefree, surreal charm. I absolutely adore her unusual prints and mix-and-match coats and shoes that are each and every one perfect for each other. There’s simply no such thing as a miss-match with Vivienne Westwood, whose collections are always a priceless expression of ‘who gives a f**k’.
I Got the UBeesize
(Above Image: this is as much duck lip as I am willing to muster for the one-time-only purpose of this demo selfie. Enjoy!!!) Anyone familiar with the inner-workings of Instagram may have heard of the UBeesize tripod light ring for selfies. I felt a little off with the idea of taking a selfie when my marketing agent suggested that I bring forth the face behind the brand, as I’ve never been the type to take obnoxiously-close-up photos of my mug. But we are in the age of information sharing after all, and hiding behind your work simply won’t cut it anymore. I was honestly hoping for a pass what with having a 3-year-old and working day and night, but since this no longer qualifies as a reclusive lifestyle, I decided to exploit technology to its fullest. My solution-mode thinking prompted a late night purchase and experiment before bed without makeup, which encouraged a second round of testing with makeup in full. The results made me full of envy! (Disclaimer: If you see me in real life, I may not look this great.)
Hardcore Juicing with the Angel Juicer
Over the years, I’ve learned that the only way to eat healthy and still have time for anything else is by juicing. When you think about it, juicing is the ultimate solution to modern time management problems— allowing us to drink our food when simply eating it takes far too long. But really, juicing opens up a world of healthful possibilities. And the Angel Juicer is an all-in-one laboratory and accomplice to your madness, by which innocent fruits and vegetables are smashed, mashed, and brutalised only to be consumed for their life-force day after day. Its features include cold-press juicing with up to 72 hours of freshness when refrigerated along with flawless manufacturing durability. The only drawback is the price tag, but if you’re a true juicing enthusiast, you’ll know the investment more than pays for itself. My son (pictured below) will chug a concoction of kale, cucumber, carrot, apple and lemon any time of day but will absolutely refuse to eat them as solids. I believe this speaks for itself.
MAC Cosmetics Covers it All
From classic and natural to alternative, night club, glamour, and more, MAC has it in spades. Its motto “All Ages, All Races, All Gender” has an inclusive tone and appeal so fitting for our times, while its huge line of products proves that MAC isn’t all talk. On top of being a high-quality company, MAC gives a humanitarian touch to your purchasing power with fund-raising initiatives for HIV treatment around the world. They’re just so good at catering to everyone that I always end up buying more than I need when visiting their store, where I find myself hopping from one display to another and trying on as many products as I have time for — which have yet to irritate my overly-sensitive skin. To try it is to adopt it
Hypnotic Poison — I Love the Name!
People already know when I arrive on the scene thanks to my perfume — it’s Hypnotic Poison from Dior and it has a sweet but sensual accent that is easy to wear and always wins a compliment. Among my array of perfumes, I wear this one the most and find myself reaching for it instinctively whether I’m going on business, to do groceries or to the gym — because why shouldn’t I wear perfume for anyone but myself? And if you’re the type whose perfume is part of your personality but you’ve grown tired of yourself halfway through the bottle, try Hypnotic Poison and see if this scent can respect your sense of smell as much as your outward air. I’ve always found that what truly makes perfume valuable is its freshness and longevity, and Hypnotic Poison is yet to disappoint and ever feel worn out — and I wear it a lot!
Good Food for Good Ketchup
When you enjoy ketchup as much as I do, you’re always on the prowl for a new brand that captures its sweet, sour, and tangy flavour without those additives that take advantage of our unwitting taste buds. Years of searching for a replacement have sent me crawling back to Heinz, with its high-fructose corn syrup, MSG and other “natural flavourings” calling me back to the dark side. But after discovering Good Food for Good Ketchup, I may have found a glimmering ray of hope in the world of love apple sauce. Naturally-sweetened with dates and only 1 gram of sugar, this organic ketchup actually tastes like ketchup and doesn’t make you feel guilty about buying several bottles at a time. And handmade with all-natural ingredients right here in Toronto, this brand is a homegrown opportunity to stand up to old Big Ketchup, once-and-for-all!
Mini Mioche
I admit that I was never the type of mom to adorn her kid in little puppy and baby prints that make others giddy with delight, and instead sought my baby’s comfort—with a gentle touch of style—as my guide for baby apparel. This led me to mini mioche, a one-stop-shop for newborns to 12-year-olds, with a full line of clothing and other kid essentials. I love their minimalistic, no-print no-logo style that totally captures the essence of a well-dressed baby. All of their clothes are made right here in Canada from organic and sustainable cotton that is as gentle on your baby’s skin as it is on the environment, and the company’s ethos on low-impact and ethically-made products speaks volumes through simple and cosy designs that are perfect for kids of all ages.