New York in December

There's nothing I love more than New York City,however, I've never been there during the holiday season. Right after finals my family and I headed down to the states to visit J, and my sister and I couldn't resist taking a trip into NYC for a night. Here are a few pictures of the city through my eyes.

Rockafeller Center

at restaurant Elan

Washington Square Park

H&M on 5th Avenue

Chelsea Market

Kale It What You Want

I'm sure you've all heard of kale, it's one of those new trendy vegetables. Some people are unsure of its benefits, and don't find big leafy greens very tasty. Kale is so nutritious and you can have it in many different ways without having that bitter taste. Before we get into recipes let's talk about its benefits:

Antioxidant Properties
Kale has high concentrations of Vitamin A,K and C, all of which are excellent antioxidants and have a variety of uses.
          Vitamin A- growth and development, maintenance of the immune system, and good vision
          Vitamin K- reduce risk of cancer, modifies proteins required for blood coagulation, and in the bone and other tissue
          Vitamin C- essential nutrient in all humans, required for many metabolic processes in the human body

Other Benefits
-Kale is rich in many minerals such as copper, potassium, manganese, phosphorus and iron.
-Lowers blood cholesterol levels which reduces risks of heart disease
       
 Don't forget though, too much of something isn't good for you either! People taking anticoagulants (blood thinners) like Warfarin should avoid eating kale because of the high levels of Vitamin K. It also contains naturally occurring substances that can cause an interference in calcium absorption, so avoid eating high amounts of dairy at the same time as Kale.

Despite the potential and rare toxicities of Kale, overall it is an extremely healthy vegetable that everyone should try and include in their diet! My favourite way to eat Kale is as Kale chips. It's very simple and takes about 15-20 mins. Here's my sister's recipe that I use!

recipe for one bundle of kale
Step 1: Chop up Kale (you can even use the ends)
Step 2: Coat kale in olive oil
Step 3: Add 2 tablespoons of lemon or lime juice
Step 4: Add salt and pepper
Step 5 (optional): add cayenne pepper, crushed chillie flakes or any other seasoning's you wish to add
Step 6: Bake in oven for 15-20 mins at 350 F

Voila!

They may not look the greatest but I promise they are delicious!

Other great ways to include kale into your diet:
-add them into fruit smoothies (you can't even taste the kale, because the fruits overpower it!)
-add into soup along with some swiss chard
-mix chopped pieces into ground meat when making home made meatballs or burgers (recipe soon to come)

We hope after reading this that you give kale a try and enjoy it! Let us know how you incorporated kale into your diet!

Melodies & Sound... [Part III]

So a while back J gave you some of her musical favorites, now it's my turn to bring you some of my favorite musical gems. Enjoy!! 

Blind Pilot- Half Moon

Born Ruffians- 6 5000

Broken Social Scene- 7/4

Coldplay- Ink

Hunter Hunted- Keep Together

Rooney- When Did Your Heart Go Missing

Local Natives- Sun Hands

Lord Huron- Ends of The Earth

The Lumineers- Submarines

The Sam Roberts Band- Bridge to Nowhere

The Weeknd- Wicked Games

Young the Giant- Anagram

Imagine Dragons- Rocks

Blind Pilot- We Are The Tide

Vampire Weekend- Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

Drake- Trophies

Matt & Kim- Daylight

Of Monsters And Men- Dirty Paws

John Mayer- Wildfire

Ben Howard- Keep Your Head Up

Don't fret I've got more coming! Stay tuned...   xoxo C

Festively Floral DIY

       It's that time of year when the weather is beautiful, and almost every weekend there seems to be a different festival; Whether it be for music, food, art, or a celebration of cultures- what's the cutest accessory to wear? Floral Crowns of course!

*Photos courtesy of the worldwide web*



     A perfect statement piece to an otherwise "normal" outfit, sadly, it's not easy to find a reasonably priced AND well-made floral crown. So we went to the dollar store and bought a bunch of cute artificial flowers to make some of our own.

     C embarked on a solo design mission, while J made it a group activity with two of her younger sisters (K & G). We used two different approaches, but centered around the same core materials. Check out our tutorials below...

C's Crown Tutorial

What you'll need:

Step 1:  Take one of the long stem flowers and wrap it around your head to get the perfect size for your crown (this will be the base of your crown)

Step 2:  Once you've decided on the size use a clear stretchy string to wrap around the two parts you are connecting. (you will need to wrap it around a couple times before you tie a knot)

Step 3:  Use a hot glue gun around the parts of the stem you joined together for added support

Step 4:  Wrap the excess flowers sticking out by going under and over the base of your crown

Step 5:  Glue gun the two branches together as you wrap it around so it stays

Step 6:  Cut off any branches sticking out

Step 7:  Stick any other remaining flowers (or pick off smaller flowers from other arrangements) and glue it onto any empty spaces

et Voila! A crown fit for a queen!

J's Crown Tutorial

What you'll need:

Step 1:  Wrap the brown artificial vine around your head once, to measure the length you'll need (ensuring your placement is where you'd want your headband to sit on your head).

Step 2:  Cut vine at the measurement that works for you.

Step 3:  Remove a small fabric leaf from one of the artificial flowers and place vine ends in the middle of the leaf.

Step 4:  Place a small drop of glue where the vine ends meet. Push together.

Step 5:  Now add a little more glue along the inside of the leaf, and wrap tightly around the vine ends, like a burrito.

Step 6:  Once the vine is securely glued together, choose your flowers (simply pull the flower off the plastic stem) and place around your headband to decide on your layout.

Step 7:  Carefully, glue the back of each flower to the headband. (add leaves as you see fit, they can be removed from the stem as well)

Step 8:  If you want to add a little green, you can wrap the extra plastic vine around your headband and cut off any excess.

Now you have a floral crown to bring out your natural beauty!

If you loved our tutorials, have questions/comments, or have floral-crowned yourself already... please tweet us @FashionTMH.
As always, we love to hear from you.

Blue Ombre Nails

DIY Lace Trim Shorts

Denim shorts will always be in style nowadays however, you won't just find plain denim shorts. There are tonnes of variation, printed denim shorts or denim shorts with printed pockets or lace pockets. I have yet to find a decently priced pair that I like so I decided to make my own. I used a pair of shorts that have gotten a little to short for me, and I haven't been able to wear recently. I thought I could add lace to the bottom, making it look longer, so I can wear them again. I actually had the lace lying around my house, but you can easily find some at your local fabric store.

Step 1: Measure & cut the amount of lace you will need to go around both legs, front and back

Step 2: Sew lace onto shorts (be sure to sew it from the inside out)

Home-made Pizza

Pizza is one of my favourite things to make. It's easy, quick and a lot tastier than frozen, and take out pizza! I buy ready made pizza dough from the grocery store, in order to reduce time.

Step 1: Roll out dough to desired size
Step 2: Drizzle olive oil (or marinara sauce)
Step 3: Load on toppings! On this pizza I put prosciutto, brie, mushrooms, arugula, marble cheese and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar on top.
Step 4: Put in oven for 400 F and bake for about 15mins
Step 5: Set to cool
Step 6: Enjoy!

ON THE RUN

On the night of Wednesday, July 9th many girls and guys could be seen walking the streets of downtown Toronto. The girls in shirts with phrases like "flawless" and "I woke up like this", headbands baring words "surfboard" and "bow down". The guys were seen in shirts saying "Tom Ford" and "99 Problems". So where were these people headed? They were making their way to the Rogers Center (formerly known as the Sky Dome) which is normally home to the Toronto Blue Jays. On July 9th, however, it was home to screaming fans bowing down to Queen Bey and Hova. Beyonce and Jay-Z have finally given the fans what they wanted and made Toronto the 6th stop on their 16 city, first-ever, tour together. 

The On The Run tour is a spin off of the song "Part II (On the Run)" by Jay-Z which features Beyonce. It also has origins from their first ever song together "03 Bonnie and Clyde". In May of this year the couple released a fake movie trailed titled "RUN" to give the fans a taste of what to expect for their concert. The trailer left fans dying to watch this movie, which starred several familiar faces. Fans even went to the extent of petitioning for it to be made into a movie. Even though this will not be happening, I must admit the concert was OUTSTANDING. Or should I say FLAWLESS. I was never a devoted fan to Beyonce, but I am a huge fan of Jay-Z. The couple did an amazing job, and I would go see it again and again. 

So here's a RUN-down. The couple finally came out on stage, about 45 mins late, to a stadium of anxious & screaming fans to the sound of Bonnie and Clyde. Behind them on the jumbo screen was a video compilation of clips filmed from their RUN trailer. In tune with the theme of their tour, there was a outlaw criminal aspect to the atmosphere and stage / lighting design.

The couple had a 42-song set list (for a full set list click here), with crowd favourites of each artist's solo songs, and collaborations they have made together. Both artists did a combination of both their older and newer hits; which didn't disappoint the fans. Beyonce with "Single Ladies" and "Partition" and Jay-Z with "Dirt Of Your Shoulder" and "Clique". Some of my favourite songs the two performed together were "Crazy In Love" and of course "Drunk In Love".

I loved the way they shared the stage, letting each have their turn in the center. Beyonce would sing a few of her songs with Jay-Z chiming in in the end, followed by the two singing a song together. Beyonce would exit and give the stage to her hubby where he would spit his rhymes that had me and my friends jamming out. This continued for the remainder of the 2 and a half hours, my only complaint being that there wasn't more. Queen Bey and Hova ended the concert singing Young Forever and Halo (with Jay mouthing the words). Mr & Mrs.Carter walked out center stage, hand in hand, all smiles with several video clips of the two and their beautiful daughter Blue Ivy. 

What I loved just as much as the music was the incredible wardrobe the two donned. Beyonce in several bodycons, leotards and even a beautiful ivory wedding dress! Like always- she showed us how flawless her body is. Jay-Z wore a number of T-shirts, gold chains, hats and a striking white suit in the end. 

So what did my friends & and I wear?

Left (Me, C)

Outfit: top- Forever 21, shorts- Forever 21, cardigan-express

Accessories: necklace- Forever 21, earrings- Heritage 1981, bracelets (not pictured)- various gold ones that I layered

Shoes (not pictured): black Michael Kors sandals

Center

Outfit: top-Urban Planet , shorts-Garage Clothing, cardigan- Aritzia

Accessories: silver hoop earrings, pandora bracelet (not pictured)

Shoes (not pictured): beige Archer sandals by Dolce Vita

Right

Outfit: navy blue and black leopard print romper from Top Shop

Accessories: earrings- tory burch, statement necklace, knuckle rings and black and gold clutch

Shoes (not pictured): orange/gold sandals- Spring

Beyonce may seem perfect ladies but just remember...

*we do not take credit for any of these photos

Purple Ombre Nails

Must Have Summer Pieces

Guate's Up?

Last month I (C) had the most amazing opportunity to go on a medical volunteer trip to Guatemala, with a charity called Vida Volunteer. Vida Volunteer is a non-profit organization that gives university students from all over North America the opportunity to volunteer in either Nicaragua, Guatemala or Costa Rica. Our job is to set up and work in clinics in local communities. It is a great learning experience for students like me who plan on pursuing a career in medicine. They also have trips that are geared towards dentistry and veterinary medicine!

This trip was hands down, the most amazing experience of my life. Guatemala is such a beautiful country with a rich culture, and not to mention a lot of tortillas and refried beans! We had 6 clinic days, and on our off days we had various activities planned out for us. We went ziplining and had a city tour of Antigua (the ancient city and former capital of Latin America). When we were living in the mountains with the Mayans (literally we were all split up and lived with Mayan families) we had a hot spring day which was extremely relaxing. Here are a few pictures from my trip!

Ancient city of Antigua

Me and one of the cuties who came to our clinic in Santo Tomas

outdoor market in Antigua

Convent in Antigua

View from the rooftop patio of one of the restaurants we went for lunch in Antigua

View from our clinic in Xebaj

Mayan children coming to our clinic in Xebaj

View from the hot springs at the top of the mountain

Hot Springs!

View from the place in Antigua where we went ziplining

Pork Tacos and some Guatemalan beer!

If you would like more information about Vida Volunteer visit http://www.vidavolunteertravel.org/ 

Music of the Moment:

This past March I (C) got the opportunity to go to the Imagine Dragons & the Young the Giant concerts. They were all in one week and it was a great way from me to de-stress from the 5 brutal midterms I had just had.

The Imagine Dragons was first, it took place at the Air Canada Centre in downtown Toronto. Imagine Dragons had The Naked and Famous opening for them. The Naked and Famous performed some of their most well known songs such as Young Blood and Punching In a Dream. Imagine Dragons played all the crowd favourites from their debut album such as Its Time, Demons, On Top of the World and of course Radioactive. They also did a cover of Tom Sawyer by Rush, Toronto natives. For their encore they did Bleeding Out and Nothing Left to Say. Overall their performances were amazing, and neither band disappointed. I left the Air Canada Centre in awe and with a new appreciation of one of my favourite bands.

A few days after the Imagine Dragons concert I attended the Young the Giant concert, another one of my all time favourite bands. Since Young the Giant isn't as mainstream as Imagine Dragons this concert was at a smaller venue, the Koolhaus, also downtown Toronto. Vance Joy opened the show, for those of you who've never heard of Vance, he's an amazing curly haired Aussie with one hell of a voice. I definitely recommend you check him out. He performed his most popular songs such as Emmylou, Snaggletooth and of course Riptide. Once the band came out the crowd roared as we heard the soothing voice of lead singer, Sameer Gadhia. Only one word can describe his stage presence, groovy. They started off with Anagram, one of the songs from their new album, Mind Over Matter. They performed other songs off the album like Crystallized and of course the self-title. Along with the newer songs they performed all the old favourites like Cough Syrup and for the encore, My Body.  They also performed a cover of Stromae's, Formidable. Both Vance Joy and Young the Giant were amazing and I look forward to their return to Toronto.

The Naked and Famous

Imagine Dragons

Vance Joy

Young the Giant