05/6/13

Buon Giorno, Italia

This was my horoscope on Friday (yes, I read my horoscope and only believe it when it’s good, like this one):

Did somebody say vacation?! It looks like you are more than ready, Michelle, because you can barely keep your head in the here and now. A friend may talk your ear off and get your juices really flowing. Try to settle down, though, and get through a minimum of your chores or tasks. Later you can spend the time dreaming about the soft white beaches or white mountain peaks that await you.

In my case, it’s not soft white beaches or white mountain peaks that await me. This weekend, I’m heading for the rolling hills in Tuscany and following that up with three days and nights in Rome. I’ll spend five days in Tuscany at an Exclusive Resorts estate home with a small media crew from Toronto. On our uber-relaxed schedule: optional day trips to Siena and Florence, cruising around on Vespas, a winery tour, a pizza-making class and lots of lounging.

After that, I’ll jump on a train en route to Rome, where I’ll spend the May long weekend exploring. I’ll be staying at a couple of amazing boutique hotels, courtesy of this awesome booking site, and plan to eat, drink, shop and be merry.

After the trip, I’ll write about my Italian adventures for both the Calgary Herald and our blog, of course. Please stay tuned. Till then, I’ll leave you with a few new things I picked up for my trip. This fedora from Aritzia — mine is a darker straw with a black band — will be worn poolside, and while exploring the cities. I wasn’t sure about it until another girl in the change room told me she bought it a few years ago and it’s her most prized hat for travel. She wears it onto the plane and throws it into the overhead compartment, to avoid squashing it in her suitcase. That will be my strategy next weekend.

Talula Pelham Hat from Aritzia

All winter, I wore a long-sleeve t-shirt to bed. For Italy, I wanted something lighter and cuter. I found the perfect thing at Holt Renfrew: a Daniel Buchler tank top and slouchy sweater cover-up. So cute and sexy and soft. Soft soft soft. I will be in heaven. Unfortunately, I can’t find the set online, but the shape of it resembles this Daniel Buchler tank:

Daniel Buchler sleepwear

My last purchase was a new bright coral maxi dress from Guess by Marciano, which I had hemmed so I can wear it with flat sandals. It hangs perfectly, is simple in the front and has some spice in the back:

Guess Malibu Cutout Maxi

Hooray for vacation. I can’t wait.

One last thing. Remember when I mentioned I’d be interviewing Michael Achenbaum, the Gansevoort hotelier? I had a great chat with him and the Q&A is running this Thursday on AskMen.com.  I hope you enjoy it.

~Michelle

Photos via here, here and here, respectively.

05/3/13

Things We Like Fridays

Bonjour, amis. We have busy weekends planned. How exciting to have gorgeous weather ahead, too. Chris is off to Sylvan Lake to celebrate the engagement of two good friends and Michelle has blog posts and freelance stories to write, errands to run pre-Italy trip (more on this on Monday) and healthy muffins to bake. Speaking of food, if you’re up for a road trip on this lovely weekend, consider heading to Canmore for a dinner at The Trough. Michelle ate there last weekend and is already wondering when she can make it back to have the stuffed squid again.

Stuffed squid at The Trough

Aside from food, here’s what else we’ve been happy about this week:

  • Michelle’s been using Trudeau’s new colourful line of kitchen tools, like this knife, this cutting board and this colander. She swears it makes cooking more fun.
  • This conditioner smells good. Thumbs up.
  • Have you seen Rag & Bone’s amazing tanks and tees for spring? We’ll take one of everything, please and thank you.
  • And have you seen the Lenovo laptop? Michelle’s brother bought one recently and it is full-on amazing. Michelle has computer envy.
  • Chris has mentioned her love for The Lumineers before. Michelle finally downloaded their album and can’t stop listening, especially to this song.
  • Chris made these muffins again this week. Huge hit. Huge.
  • Love this intriguing read about what your body language says about you.

Have a wonderful weekend.

~The Toque Girls

05/1/13

Calgary Roughnecks

The Flames aren’t in the playoffs this year. Boo whatever hoo. There’s a different playoff team in town that you ought to care about.

The Calgary Roughnecks are going to battle it out against the Washington Stealth in the West Division Final of the National Lacrosse League this Saturday night at the ‘Dome. I went to my first Roughnecks game last weekend and, wow, consider me hooked.

Here are 10 reasons why you ought to go see the Roughnecks this Saturday:

10. They play lively music throughout the entire game, not just during breaks like hockey games. It’s physically impossible to be grumpy and morose with those tunes. Bonus benefit: you’ll get great ideas for workout songs.

9. You get to shout, “Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang — Vamonos, Vamanos!” ad nauseum. (It’s the Roughnecks goal song.) Oddly therapeutic. Try it.

8. With tickets that start at $27 a pop, you can afford to take little kids. All those little kids make for a far more likeable crowd than the corporate set that usually dominates at professional hockey games. Dancing toddlers > drunk suits any day.

7. They shoot sparkly streamers from the rafters every time the Roughnecks score. Even if you’re not a kid, sparkly streamers are good for the soul.

6. It’s an excuse to eat Twizzlers and pretzels for dinner.

5. Who doesn’t think it’s cool to watch someone sprint up the sides of the boards?

4. Because this guy is awesome.

3. And so is he.

2. The goalies look like giant overstuffed cartoon characters as they defend their tiny little nets. I know I should admire their athleticism but laughter is my first response.

1. Because it’s the playoffs and the winner of this game moves on to the finals. The Roughnecks thrive on a rowdy, packed house. Captain Andrew McBride describes it like this: “When the crowd gets rocking here, you can see the other team’s body language kind of sag down and we really need that for momentum.”

You can get your tickets here. See you Saturday!

Calgary Roughnecks

~Chris

Photo by Brad Watson
04/29/13

The new National on 10th

We like beer. We like good food. And we like rooms with good vibes. This is why Chris and I have been regulars at National on 17th — and will quickly become regulars at the new National on 10th, which just opened its doors. Last week, we were invited to join our Calgary media friends for an opening celebration that involved snacks such as corn dogs and fried pickles, not to mention beverages like pinot grigio and the infamous Hound Dog Hooch, made with wheat beer, lemonade and vodka. I obviously set aside my non-drinking ways for the evening. Bonus points for Stephen, Calgary’s top dog bartender, who handed me a Hound Dog Hooch made with gin instead of vodka. He knows the way to my heart.

The new National, which resides in the former Whiskey, is beautiful. We loved the high ceilings, strings of warm light, wooden barrels, secluded booths and long tables for making friends. What we liked even more? The ping pong tables and the soon-to-be-opened bourbon room — a sexy room with vintage nudes on the wall. And I can’t wait for the lower-level, 10-pin bowling alley to open. I may have been in a bowling league in elementary school. So cool. I know.

National on 10th

National's kitchen

Ping pong at National

Congratulations on the great new space, National friends.

~Michelle

04/26/13

Things We Like Fridays

Climbing

Hello weekend! Any fun plans ahead? We’re hoping for some sunshine and quality time outdoors. Fingers crossed for a beer (or two) on a patio!

Here’s what has us giddy this week:

  • We had a Toque Girls dinner date last night at OJ’s — one of our standing favourites. Great service and excellent fish tacos.
  • The spring issue of HERS magazine is up and, inside, you’ll find stories that we both contributed. Do check it out!
  • We’ve been using Cake Beauty products and have fallen in love with the brand’s Sweethearts collection for spring. Michelle uses the Hands Down, You’re Mine! hand cream every night before bed. 
  • With Mother’s Day around the corner, we have gifts on the brain. Kaviar Pearls, an appointment-only boutique on the lower level of Fashion Central, has beautiful jewelry, if your mama is into pearls.
  • Chris picked up these wild workout leggings from Nike a few weeks ago and can’t wear them enough. They’re always a hit at Saturday a.m. spin class. These ones are rad, too.
  • For years, make-up artists sang the praises of eye primer but Chris always ignored them. Dumb move, Chris. She finally caught on this month when she tried Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Wheat. It’s now an essential part of her daily routine.
  • On the slim chance you haven’t watched the hilarious Coachella video making the rounds on Facebook, here it is one more time. Watch it. It’ll put you in a good mood.
  • One more thing for you to check out. Michelle’s good friend, Sarah, is launching an exciting, awesome new business called Sugarnut, which will ship a pair of stylish, Canadian-made undies to your door every month. It’s in the early stages, so all she’s looking for right now is feedback. Please check her site out, sign up for the email updates so you’re in the loop and take two minutes to fill out her survey. It’s your chance to tell her what you love and hate about underwear. We can’t wait for Sugarnut to get going!

-The Toque Girls

Photo via here