Design Runway

Beckery.ca

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 15:06:00 +0000

Design Runway, it's been a blast, but this was a long time coming.
I've started a new blog. Please come join me here: Beckery.ca
xoxo

Windsor Arms.

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:48:00 +0000

First entry in the past two months? That's inexcusable! To all my readers and sponsors, I apologize greatly for the lack of posts lately. Wrapping up my final semester of University has been extremely busy and eventful, but excuses aside, I really hope to write more frequently now that I'm done school!

Last month, I finally had the afternoon tea at The Windsor Arms Hotel that I had been lusting after for months! Accompanied by my lovely friend Joanne (a little shameless plug for her food blog - Foodie Roll!), we enjoyed a cute afternoon full of tea, scones, bite-sized delights, and lots of laughter. I enjoyed a pot of Chai Arms loose leaf tea, which I would highly recommend to all you chai lovers. While all the food was delightful, we especially enjoyed the smoked salmon and wasabi sour cream sandwiches topped with salmon caviar, and the fluffy raisin scones paired with their selection of preserves and devon cream. Afternoon tea is generally on the pricier side at $30/person on weekdays and $38/person on weekends, but it's one of those things that you have to try for the experience. Are there any other afternoon tea rooms in Toronto that you would highly recommend?

Missing the summer.

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:12:00 +0000

So either my life is so ~~boring~~ busy right now that I have no exciting new content, or I'm just terribly missing the summer so much that I have to do a reminiscent entry. Let's go with the latter. I miss… 1. Sporadic outlet shopping trips to the States. 2. Funnel cake at Canada's Wonderland. 3. Week-long relaxing road trip to Myrtle Beach, North Carolina. 4. Blue Jays games. 5. Endless nights of apps, drinks, and laughs with girlfriends. 6. The Femme Fatale tour with my cousin to see Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj, and a special appearance from Drake.

What do you miss most about the summer? Only a couple more months to go!

Alphabet Soup: Letter A

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:04:00 +0000

I'm going to do something new and try a new series of posts that I'd like to call "Alphabet Soup". I thought it'd be a fun way to share and highlight some of my favourite things from A-Z. So without hesitation, here is A: apples, Alice+Olivia, animal print, and so much more! What are your favourite things that start with A?

Marc by Marc Jacobs | Pave Apple Ring from Zappos Couture - $138 on sale for $88
Alexander Wang | Prisma Leather Pouch from Net-A-Porter - $235
Topshop | Scottish Fine Soaps in Green Apple - $8
Aritzia, A Moveable Feast | Neil Jacket - $225
Tiffany & Co. | Apple Charm in Sterling Silver - $175
Aritzia, T.Babaton | Abstract Animal Tinsley Blouse - $110
Topshop | Animal Print Zip Bralet - $55
Kenneth Jay Lane | Apple Charm Necklace from The Outnet - $75 on sale for $34
Topshop | Asymetric Cut Out Dress by Rare - $55
Alice + Olivia | Dorothy Sequin Dolman Top - $396 on sale for $158
LUSH | Amandopondo Bubble Bar - $7.95
Aritzia, TNA | Army Scarf - $50

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 01:40:00 +0000

First and foremost, HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my friends, readers, and followers! Hope you all made great memories last year and are ready to make some more! I rang in the new year while on a short trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with my friend Livia. Due to the nature of the trip, we didn't end up taking too many pictures, but the weekend was full of eating, shopping, and gambling at the new Sands Resorts & Casino in Bethlehem. We surely lacked sleep over the three days, but it was well worth it.

The start of a new year is always exciting to me as the symbolization of a new beginning, new opportunities, and more good times! I have really high hopes for 2012 and I'm excited to see it all unfold. I am currently in the process of starting a new joint business venture that is set to launch in February, and along with vice chairing the TEDxUWO conference this year, I'm hoping both initiatives run smoothly and successfully! But even more importantly, 2012 is the year of my graduation. It's crazy to believe that four years of undergrad have flew by so quickly, but I am extremely excited and eager to start the next chapter of my life in "the real world". I couldn't be more ready and I welcome the future with open arms. Bring it. :)

MoRoCo Chocolat

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 02:02:00 +0000

Chocolate. Macarons. Luxury. Check, check, and check. Tack on a pricey bill at the end, and you've got MoRoCo Chocolat. Known as one of best chocolate boutiques in Toronto, I finally had the opportunity to try out MoRoCo on a whim one afternoon when Joey and I were hiding out from the rain. Serving everything from actual three-course meals to dessert fondue and afternoon tea, we eventually decided on trying out their famous 'sipping chocolate' and a couple macarons for a sweet afternoon snack.

Joey decided on a small pot of 66% dark chocolate while I tried the white chocolate with orange and vanilla. Don't let the wording mislead you, though. An individual "pot" of sipping chocolate is really only 3.5 ounces, and at the premium price of $12, we were expecting something orgasmic. We also had lavender, vanilla, and salted caramel macarons. While everything was extremely sweet and satisfied our sweet tooth cravings, nothing was especially unique or overly delicious and memorable. The decor was gorgeous and charming, but it's one of those places where you pay for the sake of enjoying the environment and "status" of being able to afford such luxuries. With an end bill of over $60 for simply dessert for two and a mandatory gratuity fee charged at 18.5%, we concluded that it was an interesting experience and we probably won't be returning unless for a special occasion.

Wish in Toronto.

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 20:48:00 +0000

My friend Joanne (who recently started a food blog-- check out Foodie Roll!) and I are both so indecisive that we took over two hours the night before deciding where we wanted to go for lunch the next day. With so many interesting options downtown Toronto, it was nearly impossible for us to pick. We eventually settled on trying something new at Wish in Toronto at Yonge and Bloor.

From the get go, we admired the cute little covered patio outside, which would have been perfect for a Summer's day. Wish, both a cafe and bar, is quite small, but has a quaint and unique atmosphere with really interesting artifacts and decor scattered across the dining area. From the menu, both Joey and I were drawn to the burgers and tried out the turkey avocado and lamb and goat cheese burgers. While they were definitely not the most enticing or unique items on the menu, we were quite satisfied with our meal that was filling and delicious. I've heard great things about weekend brunch at Wish, so I definitely have intentions of making another visit there, especially in the Summer so I can also enjoy the lovely patio!

Twenty one candles.

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:45:00 +0000

Yesterday, I turned twenty one. Between the small party I had last week, multiple birthday dinners and cakes, a surplus of balloons, and an endless night of beer pong and poker, I couldn't have felt more loved this year. Besides the first time being "caked" (which, by the way, is not fun), I had a great birthday spending time with those I love the most. I blew out birthday candles FOUR times this year and wished for the same thing every time; does that mean my chances have multiplied? Partially kidding.

Point G macarons.

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:23:00 +0000

It's been a while since I last blogged, as I've been constantly reminded by several of my dear friends. Today I was thinking that I should start blogging at least once a week in the new year. But on second thought, why wait? Not that I'm against New Year resolutions, I just think that any day of the year is the perfect day for setting goals and there doesn't need to be a reason for it. So here we go... a blog entry a week, starting now. :)

The other day I tried some macarons made by Point G in Montreal, QC and they were quite possibly the most delicious macarons I've ever had! Other than the usual school and work, there hasn't been anything overly exciting going on. Exams and my birthday are around the corner, and then Christmas! It's crazy how time flies. December, already? About this time last year, our cars were snowed in, transit stopped running, and the University closed down because of the snow. This year, it's still green and mildly warm... not that I'm complaining. Has everyone started Christmas shopping yet?

Club Monaco Fall 1 Lookbook

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:47:00 +0000

Lately I've constantly been in a shopping mood (wait, when am I not?), but have been trying increasingly hard to hold back. This semester I'm taking a "Consumer Economics and Resource Management" course (aka Personal Finance 101) as an elective and it has really opened my eyes to learning more about saving. For the last four years I have worked year-round, whether it may be full-time jobs in the summer, part-time during school, and freelance gigs on the side-- but what I'm trying to get at, is the realization that I would have a whack load of money had I been more wise with my spendings. That being said, I'm going to put an effort into saving and investing my money (no, not investing in shoes and purses) without having it put a huge damper on my usual lifestyle. I guess we'll see how this goes. Being a complete hypocrite, I did recently make one huge purchase though, and that's the iPhone 4s that I pre-ordered last week. I'm just going to let that be an exception... (cough, a thousand dollar exception...)

But while I'm going to try and hold back on spending on clothes and accessories mostly, there's nothing wrong with a little eye candy. These are shots from Club Monaco's Fall 1 Lookbook; both the women's and men's collections were so pretty, I just had to share. What are you lusting for this Fall?

Holding onto Summer at Grand Bend.

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:42:00 +0000

In honour of the last week of Summer, my friends and I decided to brave it up and enjoy one last day at the beach. Regardless of being one of the few people at Grand Bend this past weekend, we endured the semi-cold winds and still had a blast. Granted, the water was too cold to swim in (going in knee-deep was enough to make me shiver), but sharing light hearted conversation, laughter, junk food, and building sandcastles like little kids was all we needed to get us through the day. After a stroll along the boardwalk, indulging in way too many salt water taffies, and a cute little dinner at The Sunset House, we headed back to London and waved bye bye to Summer. Now it's really time to focus on school and recruiting.

So long sweet summer.

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 18:29:00 +0000

This Summer flew by just like any other, but I'm walking away from it with a plethora of invaluable experience and memories that will last a lifetime. I've been a huge David Ogilvy fan for several years, and have always dreamed of getting my hands dirty in the advertising industry, of course, none other than the best, at Ogilvy. Little did I know this silly dream of mine would become a reality. This Summer, I worked in account management at OgilvyOne Toronto and what an amazing experience it has been. Let me first say that the advertising industry is much different than I had imagined (or that's depicted on Mad Men); there are glamorous days, but most of the time it's super busy, fast-moving, and full of surprises. Most nights are long (really, long), but what makes the ad industry different and bearable, is the people and the passion that comes along with these individuals. I was lucky enough to have the most fun, supportive, and amazing team anyone could've ever asked for. On my last day, I was unexpectedly given a giant card, and the most practical gift ever: an iPad work station/bluetooth keyboard-- something I've wanted to get for a while now. To my team, other co-workers that I had the chance to meet and spend time with, clients, and of course, fellow batcave boardroom ladies, thank you for making this Summer so memorable. It has been such a blast!

One chapter closes, and another one begins. I'm moving back to London this weekend to start my last year of undergrad and I've already got a checklist of things I want to do and achieve. For all those also headed back to school, I wish you the best of luck, but most of all, remember to have fun!

The customer is always right.

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 03:05:00 +0000

For a while now I've been doing a lot of research on some quality in-ear headphones and finally decided on the Klipsch S4i. Did a little scouring around local flyers and Future Shop was coincidentally having a $20 off sale on those exact headphones. Perfecto. Off I went to Future Shop late one evening after work, just in time before closing, and left a happy camper excited to try out my new babies. The first thing I did when I got home was test them out. But hey... these don't look like Klipsch earphones?! Actually, they're APPLE earphones, AND they're broken! Believe me, I was livid. And the first logical thing for me to do? Tweet, of course.

Within ten minutes, @FS_Connect responds to my tweet with an apology and a resolution. Amazing. As a huge believer in social media and good customer service, I was very pleased with the exceptionally speedy reply. Today, I took it back to a store and when explaining to them the issue, the two CS reps looked at me with great skepticism. They eventually told me to go back to the store I purchased them from as they'll be able to help me. FINE. My friend and I were already annoyed with the attitude they had towards us (absolutely no apologies, sympathy, or friendliness even), but we de-railed our afternoon plans and made yet another pitstop. The Heartland Centre, Mississauga location was even worse. Again, a series of judging looks, questioning, and ultimately, no dice. On their end, I do understand that they have no way of proving that I wasn't the headphone-switching culprit, but shit. How frustrating is it on my end, to firstly receive the wrong product, and secondly, be accused of switching the product?!

These headphones cost a little over $100. To me, it's a good chunk to pay for headphones, but tacking on the hassle of dealing with this situation, the gas money accumulated from driving from location to location, and not to mention TIME, it should be a lot less significant of an issue for Future Shop. What's a bill to them? To a company that sells big ticket items on a daily basis? Here's a thought; let the customer exchange the headphones to the proper pair, let me be on my merry way, and deal with it internally afterwards. But nope. Now I'm awaiting a reply from the head office before being able to proceed with further steps. Time is precious and with this situation, time is well wasted. Have you had negative experiences with Future Shop before? I'd like to hear them. And being completely objective, if you think I'm being unreasonable, I'd also like to hear your reasoning.

On an entirely irrelevant note, I recently bought this super fun and bright maxi dress from BCBG. :) Too bad summer's ending soon.

Korean grill house.

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 23:37:00 +0000

Nothing better than spending a late night with the boys alongside beers, meat, and more meat. Added to the experience of driving and parking downtown Toronto (never again), blasting music with the moonroof open, and ending the night with a very unique and surprisingly potent vodka-infused watermelon, it was nonetheless a good night.

In other news, I won a pair of Femme Fatale concert tickets from FLARE Magazine to see Britney Spears, and opening acts Nicki Minaj, Jessie and the Toy Boys, and Nervo! I saw Britney Spears two years ago on her Circus tour, but our seats were quite far back, which definitely took away from the experience. Some friends encouraged me to sell the tickets and treat myself to something more "tangible", but I figured I would never spend this much money on concert tickets for seats this close up and I might as well take advantage of this opportunity and enjoy it. So needless to say, I'm super excited. I'm expecting one hell of a night, Miss Britney.

Classic cupcakes.

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:53:00 +0000

Practically everyone knows I'm a cupcake enthusiast, but when it comes to baking them myself, I'm embarrassingly horrible. From setting a toaster on fire, to melting a spatula while making grilled cheese, I'm notorious for screwing things up in the kitchen. I'm trying to change that, though! So here is my first attempt at baking cupcakes on my own, with absolutely no help or guidance. The vanilla cake recipe I used was from Martha Stewart and the chocolate frosting, well, I owe that to my friend Duncan Hines. They turned out better than I expected and for once, I was happy to eat something I baked myself. We all have to start somewhere, right? And sticking to my little cupcake theme, I wanted to share these cute little earrings I picked up at Forever 21. I don't see myself wearing them much, if at all, but I just had to add them to my collection. For less than a toonie, I can't go wrong.

The little things.

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 20:39:00 +0000

For a couple days, my boss wasn't able to come into work for personal reasons, and unintentionally left a high profile project in my hands. Was I confused at first? Definitely. Worried? A little. But with the help of another supervisor, we were able to pull it together and kept things rolling until she returned. And when she did come back to work, she brought me a gerber daisy as a thank you. So unnecessary, but I really did appreciate it. And that's not to say that I need to be bribed with flowers to get work done; I think I'm pretty hardworking by nature, but to know that someone appreciates what you do... that's invaluable.

On a completely irrelevant note, while my family is in Vancouver for the week, I've been eating out way too frequently. Last week, I had a Summerlicious lunch at 259 Host with my friends Aaron and Cydon, half-priced wings at Gabby's with Joey, after work drinks and dinner at Elephant and Castle with Rach... to name a few. To say the least, I miss my parents, my brother, and home cooked meals! Not to mention that I'm extremely jealous they're enjoying a scenic vacation in the West coast while I'm melting in the Toronto heat.

Old Spaghetti Factory.

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:55:00 +0000

Nothing beats meeting up for drinks and dinner after a long day of work with some lovely girlfriends. Last week, we caught up over some delicious pasta on the patio of The Old Spaghetti Factory.

I've been blogging really infrequently lately, but I've just been so busy with work that it has become lowest on my priority list. I'm trying to catch up with e-mails and questions, but I've found the most common thing readers have been asking me, is what kind of camera I'm using. I find it hilarious because I don't own, nor have I ever owned, a DSLR. As much as I've been eyeing them for years and I plan to pick one up by the end of the summer, I've been using my trusty little Canon Powershot SD1200. I'm not a photographer so I don't have many tips on that regard, but what I've found with point-and-shoots, is that they are capable of doing much more than most people realize. It's all about experimentation. Read the manual, but experiment on your own - it's all trial-and-error! When you get familiar with your own camera, you'll be surprised at the improvement in quality. You too can trick people into thinking you're rockin' a swanky fancy camera!

Oh, Canada.

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 18:13:00 +0000

Sometimes I forget how beautiful Toronto really is. Sure, the city is no New York and the beaches don't have white sand and clearwater, but how much more can we ask for? Spending Canada Day on the island made me realize how much I love Toronto and how I wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the world. Happy birthday, Canada.

On an unrelated note, I want to start writing more again. This blog has turned into a photolog, and I mean, I'm neither a photographer or a writer, but if anything, the latter is what I enjoy doing and should do more of. We'll see how that goes.

Toronto Topshop opening.

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:33:00 +0000

Last week, my coworker (yes, Mike, I'm talking about you!) was telling me about the grand opening of a Topshop location in Toronto. Score! Although I have yet to get a chance to visit the store in person, I've been scouring the online store, already picking and choosing things I want (aka should not) buy. The above: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. I'm clearly very predictable. Floral prints and peachy pinks, nudes, and neutrals... should be no surprise?

I have tons of backdated entries ready to be posted later on this week. And yes, to those who have been inquiring, I haven't forgotten about the MJ reveal-- but don't get your hopes up, it's not a stam bag as many of you have guessed (I wish). Oh, and isn't my car a beauty? Okay, my dad's car, but it might as well be mine! Three hundred and sixty five horsepower of pure beast! Ready for another week that lies ahead; let's dooo this.

Father's day.

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:35:00 +0000

Spent the entire weekend with both sides of my family jam packed with father's day events, including a visit to my grandpa at the cemetery. When people ask, "If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?" I automatically think of my grandpa. I've never had the chance to meet him as he passed away before I was even born, but from what I've heard and read about him, he was a really honourable journalist, advertising man, and newspaper editor-in-chief, but first and foremost-- father. I almost feel like I'm subconsciously following in his footsteps, going down a similar career route, and I only wish he was around to walk and guide me through it. As for my dad, words cannot begin to express how much I love and appreciate him. Even as a child, he's always pushed me to be hardworking and successful, and although I didn't quite understand it back then, I am very appreciative of it now. I'm forever a daddy's girl. I know this is days late as I've been extremely busy, but to all the fathers and father-figures out there, I hope you had a fantastic father's day, because you absolutely deserve it.

Indefatigability.

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:15:00 +0000

Spoon & Fork. Spider rolls. Silly faces. Cosmic bowling.
Between work, closing the deal with a client, and personal life, the past couple weeks have been ridiculously "stressful". And I use the word "stress" lightly, because I've always believed that it can be handled and managed, and should never be used as an excuse. My word of the summer? Indefatigability: tireless determination - and I finally believe that it has paid off. Lots more exciting news to come. Hopefully as things settle down, I'll start blogging more frequently again.

Marc Jacobs: new buy & QR technology.

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:21:00 +0000

What could possibly be inside the dust bag... REVEAL SOON!
Has anyone seen this hand drawn QR code for Marc Jacobs? For those who aren't familiar, QR codes can be scanned with barcode readers on smartphones and typically lead to text information or a redirect to a mobile-optimized site. I for one am a huge advocate of QR technology and see the practice becoming more popular once businesses see the value in them and learn how to use them effectively. This QR code for Marc Jacobs is absolutely adorable and extremely unusual in design, so I doubted if a scanner would even be able to read the code. I was wrong. The scanner on my Blackberry picked it up instantly, but it unfortunately didn't lead to anything. Huge disappointment! Marc Jacobs definitely has the potential to launch a unique interactive campaign, or at the least, a mobile site, alongside this creative QR code. Hopefully that's something they're working on. I'm curious: Are QR codes used in your area? Do you have a QR scanner on your phone? Do you think this technology will last, or is it merely a passing trend?

If I could be anywhere...

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Tue, 31 May 2011 22:10:00 +0000

As humans, we make mistakes, some more significant than others. And naturally, you suffer consequences. But what happens when this mistake continues to follow you? What do you do when you can't get away from the past because it always catches up to you? When will it go away? Will it ever?
- - - - -
As much as the weather in Toronto is as hot as it would be in Cabo, if I could be anywhere in the world right now, that's where I'd be. These photos are from my trip to Cabo, Mexico a couple years ago, but I still clearly remember how beautiful the scenery was. Not to mention the infinity pool bars and the pure relaxation of the entire trip-- no deadlines, no technology (gasp, I know), no restrictions. Really though, I wish I lived closer to a beach (no, the dirty beaches in Toronto don't count). I envy those of you who do! If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?

House & home inspiration.

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Sun, 29 May 2011 18:50:00 +0000

(Image source: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
I've always been a sucker for home-improvement/decorating shows and magazines. I finally joined Pinterest a couple days ago, and I've since been constantly pinning and awing at pretty pictures, especially in the House & Home section. As a student who lives two hours away from home during the school year, I've been constantly packing up and moving from place to place for the last couple years. I can't wait until I graduate, settle down, and can finally stay stationary at a place I can call my own. I really love the minimalistic and white/clean style when it comes to interior design, but I figure I have way too much stuff to ever live a minimalistic lifestyle. Clearly, I need to learn how to get rid of things-- purge, purge, purge. I'm also a huge fan of chandeliers, floor-to-ceiling windows, shiny lights, and decorative pillows that add a pop of colour to an otherwise boring room. When it comes to interior design, what are you in favor of? What don't you like?

Nordie's half-yearly sale.

noreply@blogger.com (Becky) — Thu, 26 May 2011 14:02:00 +0000

So Nordstrom's Half-Yearly sale is back on and I've spent the last couple hours browsing through the pages upon pages of on-sale goodness. Although I really shouldn't be splurging on anything materialistic right now, these accessories would've definitely been on my shopping list. I've had my eye on this Michael Kors watch for a while and I especially like this one because it's white with a hint of rose gold surrounding the watch face! Too bad Nordstrom's shipping to Canada costs an arm and a leg (as I found out while purchasing my MBMJ totally turnlock shifty satchel last Fall). Otherwise I really would've considered placing an order. But for those of you in the States, or international buyers willing to bare the high costs of shipping, what have you bought from the sale? Or what are you planning to buy and have your eye on?