Anthropologie Toronto.

Squee!

One of the things I was bummed about before moving to Toronto was learning that my favorite store (Anthropologie) wasn't really here. There was one location... But it was in a part of the city where I would have to drive or take a car to get to.

Boo!

So I figured I would be Anthro-less.

Then I moved here. And I saw that there was a lot of construction of high-rise condos in my neighborhood. One building was going up across the street. And about two weeks ago, the bottom of the building finally had a sign in the windows...



You can't see it well. But it reads that an Anthropologie would be opening soon. And this week, it finally opened.



YAY!!!!

Since I discovered the store nine years ago, while living in NYC, I have gone to it at least weekly. I don't buy anything. I go, look around, and make mental lists of what I think would work in my wardrobe.

Here is what I looked at yesterday...

Summerweight Cardigan



Carambola Shift




A fabulous combo. Perfect for work... And then to transition out to drinks.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 47/60.

Woah. I didn't realize I was at class 47.

I mean, I knew. But when someone asked me earlier today what class I was on, I said, "This was class 46!"

But no, it was not.

Obviously, I am suffering from confusion - likely due to too many classes in the span of less than 24 hours. It's what we yogis/yoginis call "yoga stoned." And I am about to get even more yoga stoned tomorrow... Because I have another set of doubles to do tomorrow.

Eek!

Yep. I missed three days in a row last weekend. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. So I have to pull doubles tomorrow. Only I won't be doing them back-to-back like yesterday. I am going to put a good few hours between the two.

Hopefully they will both be as good as today's class was. The Saturday early AM class's teacher is always fabulous. Everyone who takes her class loves the energy she brings. And we always learn a little more about the proper execution of the poses when we take her class.

It was an excellent way to start the day.

Only 13 classes left. (Unless I decide to do 100. Then it's 53 classes left.)

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 45/60 & 46/60.

I can't recall when I had a shittier class.

I did back-to-back sessions this evening. I had to make up for missing last Sunday's class while in Niagara. And despite hydrating pretty well before the classes, the second one ended up being just awful.

How awful?

I had to sit out a lot of sets. And I haven't had to do that in a really, really long time.

What was the problem? Not quite sure. But the first class was really hot for me. But I powered through and did well. But by the time we got to Half Moon in the second class, my body decided it was "done."

DONE!

At least until 9am tomorrow, when I go to class 44. Which means I will have done three classes in the span of 18 hours.

I really should have planned this better.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 44/60.

"Stand up on your toes... Maximum... Like a ballerina."

I never took dance lessons. Well, there were about two weeks of Jazz Dance lessons when I was nine and on holiday at my grandparents house in Phoenix. But they shortly ended when I moved back to West Germany with Dad and older brother... While Mum and my younger siblings stayed to take care of my sick grandfather.

But other than those two weeks, I never took dance lessons growing up. So I don't know what it's like to train to be a ballerina, and dance "en pointe." Having been a ballerina might come in handy in my Bikram practice. Specifically in the second part of Awkward pose.

This is the one area of the practice I have not ever progressed in... First part, third part - I kick ass at those. Second part? It's shit. I can come up way high on my tippy toes. But then comes the part where you have to sit down... And I just can not sit.

At least, not with my toes up high and my back straight against the "imaginary wall."

Today's practice was great. The temperature, dialogue, focus... It was all great. The only thing that wasn't great was the second part of Awkward pose.

Perhaps I should extend my challenge to 100 days, in hopes of making additional progress in Awkward's second part?

If I don't extend it... There's only 14 classes left. (Tomorrow, I do another back-to-back.)

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 43/60.

"Where did this balance and focus come from?"

That was what I wondered all throughout today's Bikram class. For I, the one who never fails to fidget and fall out of poses, had incredible balance and determined focus in today's 90 minutes of hot yoga.

I was able to hold Bow Pulling pose nearly the entire time. Only once did I fall out. Normally. I fall out on both sides during both sets. I kick really high and come down low. And then when I try to straighten my held leg more, it slips out of my hand. And then I fall forward. Or to the side.

One time, I fell on my face. That was a few years ago though. I've learned how to fall since then.

But today, Bow pose was great. As were all of my poses. Especially Eagle.

Yep... The "Sleeping Eagle" pose is really helping me master class Eagle.

Only 17 classes left!!!

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 42/60.

I haven't been back to Bikram since Friday's double session. I know, I know...

"BAD MISSUS!"

I was away for the weekend, and intended to get back in yesterday. But I got caught up with something and ended up not being up to going in yesterday.

I thought today's class would be really painful. But surprisingly, it went very well. Sure, my balance was off a little... As usual. But my Eagle pose kicked ASS!

I was able to wrap my leg on BOTH sides!

This is excellent progress. I was able to wrap and then drop down deeply into a seated position. SQUEE!!!

It must be all the practice I am getting in my sleep.

I have two days worth of doubles to do this week. Looking like double-day may be Friday and Sunday. But I now have 18 classes left.

Garurasana While Sleeping.

It must be all the Bikram I have been doing. But I find myself waking up in odd positions while laying in bed at night.

Sounds scandalous... But it's not. I assure you.

In the past week, I have woken up to find myself wrapped up in full Garurasana pose (also known as "Eagle"). And when I write, "Full Garurasana pose," I mean it. I am laying on my right side, with my left leg wrapped around my right leg. And my arms? Yep, they are twisted up, with the palms in "prayer" and tucked under my right cheek.

Does this happen to anyone else? Does their body practice Bikram poses while sleeping?

Jimmy Choo Hunter Wellies - SOLD OUT?!?!

Boo!!!

I guess this gets chalked up to another instance where if I wait too long to decide on something, and I miss out, it is just not meant to be.

Yesterday, the Jimmy Choo Hunter Wellies became available on Net-A-Porter. And then they promptly became sold out.



It just wasn't meant to be for me. Besides, I love my original Hunters I scored earlier this year for super cheap. So I don't need new fancy designer ones.

Even though, I do want them.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 39/60, 40/60 & 41/60.

I have done a shit load of Bikram in the past 48 hours. It culminated this afternoon with my very first back-to-back session.

Yep. That's right. I not only did I pill a double today... But I did the back-to-back. One right after the other. The first ran from 4pm to 5:35pm. The second ran from 6pm to 7:35pm. Between classes I chugged a coconut water, re-filled my bottle with Emergen-C and water, showered, cleaned off my mat, changed into clean practice clothes and grabbed a fresh towel.

Even though I hydrated well before the sessions, drank electrolytes through both of them and had coconut water... I still felt knocked out after Pranayama in the second class.

"Oh my God!" I thought to myself. "My arms are about to fall the fuck off."

But a I continued to focus on my breathing. And I pulled off a better set of Standing Bow in the second class than I had in the first class. Overall, the second class was just as good as the first one. But it was painful in places. And I drank through my water much more quickly the second time around. By the time we were in Fixed Firm, I had none left.

Note: For future back-to-back sessions, bring an extra bottle of water to the second one.

Only 19 classes left! I had to double-up today because I will be in Niagara-On-the-Lake this weekend. I will have to double-up sometime next week to make up for the other class I will miss this weekend.

I don't know that I will be doing a back-to-back though.

Emma Watson: HP & Half-Blood Prince Premiere.

Oh Emma... You put the rest of us to shame with your style!



This was taken at the NYC premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Why does it look so effortless on her? She is wearing the clothes (instead of them wearing her) and she looks fantastic!

If I tried to wear something even remotely similar, it would look too contrived.

I guess it's all in the attitude, yes? If you think you're comfortable and stylish, you will be.

Healthy Dish For The Week: Guacamole.

I don't understand. How the hell is it possible that I have never posted the recipe for kick-ass guacamole on this blog?

Well, as one reader pointed out today, I have not. Shame on me!

This reader asked for my recipe (through Twitter) because they had tried to make guacamole using a mix recently, and it tasted badly. My reaction to that was...

"They make a mix for guacamole???? EWW!!!!"

How does that even work? Wait, I don't want to know! But I feel awful if people out there think guacamole is so exotic to make that you can short-cut by doing it with a mix.

So here's the scoop people: Guacamole is RIDICULOUSLY easy to make. And it will take you five minutes to make it. Here is my recipe for two servings worth of guacamole.

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe avocado, peeled and chopped into 1/2-inch chunks
• 1 lemon wedge (or lime wedge, your preference)
• 1 plum tomato (plum tomatoes are smaller and oval shaped, sometimes called "Roma Tomatoes"), diced
• 2 tablespoons chopped red onion, minced
• 5 dashes of Tobasco sauce (you could use a whole jalapeno, though, if you are making a batch for more than two people)
• Dash of salt to taste
• Dash of pepper to taste

You dump the avocado in a big bowl and take either a masher or a fork to get it down to a creamy-but very chunky consistency. Next, you mix in all the rest of the ingredients. And you have your guacamole.



I like to eat mine with tortilla chips that I toast in the oven (because nothing is better with guacamole than warmed tortilla chips) at 375 degree for 3 to 5 minutes.

All of this will take you less than 10 minutes to bring together. No fancy equipment is required. And if you get yourself some organic blue corn tortilla chips (the cholesterol-free kind), you have a pretty healthy snack on your hands here. Avocados are a good fat, and you shouldn't hesitate to eat them.

Now, if only tequila was good for you...

Fall Must-Have: Tory Burch Buckle Boots.

Don't you hate it when designers send you emails announcing their "Pre-Fall Previews"... And then leave you with no information about the pieces you see?

Well, maybe you have no idea what I am talking about... But I expect this kind of behavior from fashion magazines. You see an item styled on a model or in a storyboard within the pages of the mag, and often you only have information telling you who it is by. Sometimes you get pricing info, but often you don't. You then have to go and research, research, research... Till you get the info you are looking for and realize whether or not you can afford the piece.

But designer websites are a whole different story. They should have all the info you need, even if it is just "a preview" of an item that will be coming out later in the season. I should be able to know when it will be available and how much it will cost.

But apparently Tory Burch feels differently. I received an email today regarding their "Fall Preview" collection. And I spotted these...





Gorgeous, gorgeous licorice black buckled calf-high boots. But, no price info.

I don't want to get my heart set on these and then find out (in a few months) that they are priced way beyond my comfortable spending limit.