Mad Hot Wonderland Gala

This past Tuesday was the National Ballet of Canada's annual fundraising event held at the Four Seasons Performing Centre for the Arts. This year, Mad Hot Wonderland was themed after their highly successful production of Alice in Wonderland with the England's Royal Ballet.

Although the Alice has been sold out completely at the box office, guests were able to watch an excerpt of it, as well as dance pieces including Passacaglia, No. 24 and The Dying Swan.

Personally, I'm not a dancer, but I appreciate it so much. I have always loved ballet. So to me, the performance was incredible. The first two were more lyrical and interpretive, which was nice. The Dying Swan and Alice were more classical ballet, which was done beautifully.

After the performance was finished, we all went back outside where hor d'oeuvres, cocktails, and wine were being served in the completely transformed building. No longer did you feel like you were at the Four Seasons, but instead, a rather large tea party. There were long tables with hot pink tablecloths, brightly coloured teacups, and a display of the large caterpillar smoking hookah.

Guests themselves also contributed to the whole Madhatter's tea party feel as well. Many (including yours truly) donned beautiful headpiece, no two alike, and bold coloured attire was spotted everywhere.

What was even cuter, were the girls dressed up as Alice playing croquet on Osgoode Lawn.

Needless to say, I was very glad that I wasn't late for this very important date.

Did I mention that I made my own fascinator for the night? It's pretty nice. I love DIYs.

Like it? I'm going to give it away soon! Keep checking for details.

Baking Spell

Since I've come home, I've been hit with a cooking bug. All I ever want to do right now is cook. Sort of true. Maybe because I was missing my sewing machine.. regardless, I've taking on cooking right now, and it's fantastic!

Meringues, are so fluffy and yummy. I never knew that they're actually super simple and easy to make! I always thought they're supposed to be so difficult and challenging, but no. So simple! To me, they fall into a category that macarons also fall into. They're both light, crunchy, and uses egg whites.

Anyway, baking is such a time buster. It's good for a boring day, it makes it, well, less boring.

Meringues
- 3 egg whites
- 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar (which is basically regular sugar)
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 spoons
- electrical mixer

First, preheat your oven to 200 F.

Take your eggs and put it into a large bowl. Use your electric mixer and whisk it on low speed until it becomes frothy. (Frothy meaning extremely bubbly and foam-like)

Then, you add your cream of tartar and continue to whisk. Whisk until it makes soft peaks (What do you mean soft peaks? Well, until it doesn't quite look like egg whites anymore).

Add some sugar (not all of it) and mix. Add more sugar and mix. And continue to do so until all the sugar is gone.

Now you turn your mixer on higher and whisk and whisk and whisk. Until they hold hard peaks. (Soft peaks and now hard peaks? Hard peaks meaning they look like little mountains if you try to make little mountains. Soft peaks are kind of like little mountains that can't stand still) and if you take some of the mix and rub between your index and thumb, it's smooth and you can't feel the sugar bits.

Got your hard peaks? Time to take your two spoons and put it on your cookie sheet. But wait! Before you do that, line your sheet with parchment paper. Now, take one spoon and make a little lump on your sheet. Use the other spoon to help get it off the spoon. You might want to take a chopstick (or something like that) and make a swirl on the lump to make it look pretty.

As soon as you're done that, put it in the oven for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Rotate halfway through to ensure even baking.

Finished

Sugary happiness.

Still not bad for another first time try right?

What's In Store for Galliano?

In headlines today, John Galliano's trial was held in Paris courthouse. Prosecutors had asked to fine him at least 10,000 euros ($14,000) for his actions. He was being prosecuted for the anti-Semitic comments he made at a Paris bar.

A friend of his took her cellphone and caught this all on video. Once it surfaced, he lost his position as Creative Director for Christian Dior - even after working there for fifteen years.

During his testimony, he said that he had no recollection of what had happened, and blamed his "triple addiction" of alcohol, sleeping pills and barbiturates. The designer is charged with public insults based on origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity" and could face up to six months in prison and $32,175 in fines. The verdict is expected at a later date.

Oh Galliano, why oh why would you do this to yourself? He is actually such a creative genius and had brought Dior to new heights - obviously without him, Dior wouldn't be what it is today, am I right? 

Fall/Winter'11/12

Even though he no longer is with Dior, he's still has his John Galliano line. I feel like his line isn't as flamboyant as his Dior collections, but it's still unique. It feels more ready to wear as oppose to the extravagant pieces that are strutted down the runways. Maybe that will all change now.

With his whole trial and court situation, I think people would still continue to support his designs. Don't get me wrong, his words were completely inappropriate and disrespectful, but at the same time, art is art right? When you see something that you like, and it's beautiful, it's hard to unlike it. Like the famous painter Picasso who was a complete womanizing and has been called a woman destroyer, but, I still appreciate his art very much (despite his reputation). 

"After every creative high, I would crash and the alcohol helped me," he said, adding that his creativity "helped make Dior a billion-dollar business."

That makes sense - I mean look at artists throughout the ages, so many create their best work when they're intoxicated. I guess it takes you to a whole new level and you observe things differently. 

Is this going to hurt his career? Probably a little bit. But I'm sure he'll be able to bounce back in no time. 

Remember when Kate Moss had that whole debacle with her cocaine scandal? Look at her now. She designed several collections for Topshop, continued to do spreads and be in campaigns, and recently announced, she's to team up with Rimmel for her own range of makeup.

What should he learn from this? If he's going to be drunk or high or involves himself in some sort of non-sober activity, he should stay somewhere where he isn't able to talk to strangers. 

Well, controlling his addictions will help too I suppose. 

A.L.C Resort 2012 Collection

A.L.C. is so far my favourite collection from the Resort 2012 season. Designer Andrea Lieberman includes nice tailored pieces as well as really relaxed pieces as well. I absolutely love the colour palette she chose - a lot of neutral colours, but then there's the mustard yellow, lime green, pastel blue and a feather print that was really unexpected. It's so chic and sophisticated, yet so effortless.

I actually can't wait to get my hands on some of these!

Versace for H&M

This morning, H&M had released the name of their next special designer collaboration. Ready? Versace! The Italian design powerhouse is going to be creating not one but two collections for the Swedish brand. 

The collection will reflect on Versace's heritage full with leathers, vibrant colours and exuberance at H&M prices! 

Women's collection will be dominated by dresses featuring studded leather and colourful prints, and accessories including heels and costume jewellery. The menswear collection will focus of sharp tailoring, including the perfect tuxedo, and accessories such as belts and jewellery for him as well. 

“Versace is one of the most important brands of recent times, and their collection for H&M will be glamorous and flamboyant – everything Versace stands for. Donatella Versace is sharing with us iconic designs from the archives. This is such a celebratory collaboration and is perfect for the party season,” says Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor at H&M.

        

The Fall Collection is available November 17th in 300 stores as well as online for the Fall Collection. January 19th is when her Pre-Spring Collection is available exclusively online for countries with H&M. 

Mark your calendars! 

The Annual MMVAs

Unless you were living under a rock in Toronto the past weekend, you probably know that The 22nd Annual Much Music Video Awards happened on Sunday. I was on passing by the Much Music building a lot this week, and so much barricading and building and road blocking happened right at that little corner. It's hard to miss.

Regardless, I didn't head downtown for the awards this year (something about screaming girls and squishiness that didn't seem too appealing). I watched it at home like most of the people did across Canada.

And what's an award show without the red carpet fashions? 

Hits: 

To be completely honest, I am not a Selena Gomez fan. I think she's pretty, but I think that it's something about her not looking her age. She's 18 or so now, but she looks really young. Sometimes it seems as if she's a little girl playing dress up. This ensemble, however, changes my view on her (just a bit). It makes her look really sophisticated and chic. Not to mention, how well she mixed the two hottest trends of the summer - a nude and a bright. The dress itself has such an interesting texture to it, very different to all the nude dresses I've been seeing this season (as in mostly chiffon or silky). I absolutely love this number. 

Kreesha Turner's look is so simple, yet edgy and modern. Even though she is quite risqué with the top selection, the conservative navy and black colour choice balanced it out. It's a sexiness that doesn't go overboard. She's showing just enough that doesn't make her look too office-lady or too hoochie. The lace up booties are an added plus. 

Miss: 

Not too long ago, Avril Lavigne donned frilly frocks and long floor length gowns. Why did she rewind back to her punky teenage self? She's wearing a t-shirt that I'm sure she cut herself, and what's up with the leggings? This is a clear example of how lace is soon probably going to be a dying trend - the use of it here is just plain wrong. And those shoes! They look like sluggish monsters attached to her feet! Oh Avril, you have so much potential to be on everyone's best dressed lists, so why don't you? 

Kat Graham, looking good. But wait! Why are there so many random silver things? Oh, I get it, a buckle dress. Seriously, if this dress didn't have the buckles and the extra straps hanging off, this would've been a killer outfit. But look. The buckles are placed ever so awkwardly! Note the crotch buckle circle. And buckles on your chest can't be that comfortable either. She gets brownie points for trying something different, and most definitely, those gorgeous shoes. 

The colour of this dress on is really complementing on Alyssa Reid. It's a nude that doesn't wash her out. Now if only those black lines would disappear. Those outlines are creating a really unflattering illusion of her figure. They run sideways, so it makes her seem bigger than she actually is. So close, so close. 

To be honest, this year, I wasn't really wow-ed by the celebs choices (of course, with a few exceptions). Well, there's always next year?

The Feeling of Hectic

I don't know why, but when I have nothing planned out, I feel so restless. Don't get me wrong, I love a day of R&R, but if it was an unintentional one (as in I had nothing planned for the day) I feel like I'm wasting my day, and it becomes a really unproductive day.

For some reason, I love packed schedules - shuffling from one place to another, there's some kind of a rush. I don't know what it is. The feeling of not wanting to be late, the hurrying and trying to walk fast but still calm. It's weird, I can't explain it.

Sitting at home on my laptop right now, all my clothes are staring at me. My whole room is staring at me. It's begging to get a reno, if not, at least a makeover of some sort.

I'm going to make breakfast instead.

Très Français, Non?

Ok, so what's very french? Me? I wish. But, I'll be faux French just for a bit. How am I possibly going to achieve that? By attempting to make the very delicious Parisian Macarons.

As promised, I'm providing a step-by-step with pictures that I did to make my very first ever batch of macarons. I've always heard that they're hard and has a high failure rate, but I did it, and boy, are they ever yummy!

Macarons

- 4 egg whites
- 200 grams cup icing sugar
- 110 grams ground almond
- 2 tbs granulated sugar (aka regular sugar)

Before you do anything, take your egg whites and 'age' them overnight. Then, go to sleep.

Next day, begin by preheating your oven to 300F. Take your egg whites and whisk them on low speed with your electric mixer until foamy. Then add your 2 tbs of sugar slowly. 

Until your mixture looks like that. Kind of meringue-like and whipped cream-like. Can you believe that's from egg whites and sugar?

Take your ground almond out, and measure 110 grams on a scale. Put it in a bowl. Then measure 200 grams of icing sugar and put it in the bowl with the ground almonds. 

Get a spoon and mix it together, and make sure it's nicely powdery and loose. No chunks of ground almond sticking together. Done? 

Then, you add it to your whipped cream-like egg whites and fold with a spatula. It should look evenly mixed and kind of grainy and sandy-ish (because of the ground almonds)

Take out a cookie sheet and parchment paper, and measure your parchment paper to fit perfectly to your sheet. Get a pastry bag and tip and squeeze small circles on your sheet. (I didn't have the right tip, so mine were a little big)

Set your oven to 300F and bake for 20 minutes. Let it cool for a white. Then, you put filling in the middle on one shell and place another on top... like a sandwich! 

And voilà! Your macarons are ready! I used blackberry jam, strawberry jam and nutella as filling. My macarons came out a bit nutty, so I personally prefer the nutella filling, but the jams make it more dessert-like. 

Success to me! I was actually very scared that it wouldn't work, but considering this was my first time, I quite like the results. I didn't get to make my own filling because I was running out of eggs (I made meringues the night before). But throughout the summer, I will be experimenting with these tasty treats and tweaking them a little bit, and trying different flavours.. exciting right? 

Try them yourself. It's really fun. 

And super yummy! 

Enjoy and bonne chance!