RAZ Magazine

Interview : Finding The Right Wedding Photographer ft Kevin Fung

2013-04-17T06:02:00.001-07:00

Finding the Right Wedding Photographer amongst the sea of choices can be a daunting task. Here's a quick video interview ft Kevin Fung [Fungke Images] sharing some of his personal and professional tips on "How to Find the Right Wedding Photographer For You".

This is one of the first batch of video interviews we’ve done — please excuse the audio inconsistency and video editing — I’m a newbie when it comes to video! So hope you enjoy!

Guest : Kevin Fung // Fungke Images [http://fungke.com]
Host : Maggie Ng [http://www.maggieng.com]
Location : Markham, Ontario, Canada

Follow via :
Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/MaggieNgOnline
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/MaggieNgMakeupArtist
Youtube : http://www.youtube.com/MaggieNgOnline
Instagram : http://www.instagram.com/MaggieNgOnline

If you have any beauty or wedding questions, please don't hesitate to ask. If you're a vendor that would like to be featured, we'll be doing more videos like these in the future, so let me know!

E: maggie@maggieng.com

Beauty News : Sephora Beauty Insider 15% Off Sale [April 12-21, 2013]

2013-04-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

So for all you beauty peeps out there that LOVE shopping at Sephora, this is a reminder that you can get 15% off all beauty products at Sephora between April 12-21, 2013 if you have a Beauty Insider Card. If you don't have one, you can sign up for one -- which is totally FREE!

And please remember to shop responsibly!!!

Your RAZ Beauty Blogger,

Maggie Ng

WEDDING TIPS : Videography vs Cinematography ft Ramon [RC2 Films]

2013-04-10T11:13:00.000-07:00

For all those newly engaged couples out there who aren't too sure about what the differences are between a regular wedding video vs a cinematic wedding film, here's a quick interview from Toronto Event Cinematographer, Ramon [RC2 Films] sharing some of his insights and opinions!

This is one of the first batch of video interviews we’ve done — please excuse the audio inconsistency and video editing — I’m a newbie when it comes to video!

So hope you enjoy!

If you have any beauty or bridal questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. If you’re a vendor that would like to be featured, we’ll be doing more videos like these in the future, so let us know!

Stay tuned for the next video interview featuring Kevin Fung of Fungke Images — who will be sharing some tips on how to find the right wedding photographer for YOU!

Cheers,
Maggie Ng [maggie@maggieng.com]

CREDITS
Guest : Ramon Cespedes Jr [http://rc2films.com]
Host : Maggie Ng [http://www.maggieng.com]
Location : Markham, Ontario, Canada

Follow via :
Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/MaggieNgOnline
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/MaggieNgMakeupArtist
Youtube : http://www.youtube.com/MaggieNgOnline
Instagram : http://www.instagram.com/MaggieNgOnline

Health : Tula Wellness Week {Free Yoga Event}

2013-04-08T05:56:00.002-07:00

A week of FREE CLASSES, EVENTS and CLASS CARD SPECIALS
Monday April 8th to Sunday April 14th 2013
All are welcome! Open to members and non members. Pass this on.

BOOK NOW! YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE ALSO WELCOME.

FREE CLASSES ON OFFER:

TULA CENTRAL

30 Duncan St, Suite 102, Toronto, Ontario

Monday April 8th - 9pm Hot Hatha Flow with Relaxation (75 min)

Tuesday April 9th - 8:30pm Hot Power Flow (60 min)

Wednesday April 10th - 7:00am Hot Hatha Flow (60 min), 12pm Fusion (45 min)

Thursday April 11th - 7pm Vinyasa Core Flow (60 min)

Friday April 12th - 4:15pm Hot Fusion (50 min), 5:15pm Hot Hatha (60 min)

Saturday April 13th - 11am BodyTone (60 min), 12pm Hips, butt and legs (60 min)

Sunday April 14th - 8:30am Hot Power Flow (60 min), 1:30pm Hot BodyTone (60 min)

Maximum 2 free classes per person.

Pre-registration is required. Please email

info@tulahotyoga.com

If you are booking also for a friend/friends please ensure you leave their name as well!

TULA WEST

956 Bloor St West, Toronto, Ontario

Monday April 8th - 8:15pm Hot Fusion (60 min)

Tuesday April 9th - 5pm Hot BodyTone (60 min)

Wednesday April 10th - 5:30pm Stretch and Lengthen (60 min), 6:30pm Pilates level 1 (60 min)

Thursday April 11th - 7:00pm Pilates level 1-2 (60 min), 7:00pm Hot Gentle Hatha (60 min)

Friday April 12th - 9:30am Hot Hatha (60 min)

Saturday April 13th - 11am Hot Hatha (75 min), 2pm Hot Power Flow (60 min)

Sunday April 14th - 2:30pm Hot Fusion (60 min), 5:30pm Hot Power Flow (60 min)

Maximum 2 free classes per person.

Pre-registration is required. Please email

infowest@tulahotyoga.com

If you are booking also for a friend/friends please ensure you leave their name as well!

TULA SOUTH

47 Fraser Ave, Toronto, Ontario

Monday April 8th - 7pm Yin Yoga (60 min)

Tuesday April 9th - 12:15pm Hot Power Flow (45 min), 8:15pm Hot Ballet Sculpt (60 min)

Wednesday April 10th - 5:15pm Hot Pilates (60 min), 6pm Hatha Yoga (60 min)

Thursday April 11th - 6pm Pilates level 2 (60 min), 8pm Hot BodyTone (60 min)

Friday April 12th - 12 noon Pilates level 1-2 (50 min), 6:30pm Hot Power Flow (75 min)

Saturday April 13th - 10am Hot Hatha (75 min)

Sunday April 14th - 10am Hot Hatha (75 min), 1:30pm Hot Yin Yoga (60 min)

Maximum 2 free classes per person.

Pre-registration is required. Please email

infosouth@tulahotyoga.com

If you are booking also for a friend/friends please ensure you leave their name as well!

CLASS CARD SPECIALS:

20 classes $250 HST INCLUDED (reg $310)

$12.50 per class

40 classes $440 HST INCLUDED (reg $620)

$11 per class

6 months unlimited $650 HST INCLUDED (reg $800)

20 class card and 40 class card have 1 year expiry from activation date.

Already have an active class card? You can purchase a Wellness Week class card and activate it once your current pass is done!

Class cards can be used for all classes including Hot Yoga, Fusion, Hot Pilates, Hatha and Vinyasa Flow, Stretch and Lengthen, Pilates, Ballet Sculpt and Bodytone.

How to purchase: simply drop the studio of your choice, go online or call and purchase on the phone:

Tula Central

30 Duncan St. Suite 102 Toronto

416.599.8852

Tula West

956 Bloor St West Toronto

416.913.4181

Tula South

47 Fraser ave Liberty Village Toronto

416.538.8852

http://www.tulahotyoga.com/

Be sure to take advantage of this awesome offer, especially if you're new to yoga and want to try it out!

Cheers,
Maggie Ng [Blogger]

Hair Product Review : Hot Iron Holster

2013-04-04T09:28:00.000-07:00


Photo Courtesy of HotIronHolster.com

This is the Hot Iron Holster!!! I didn't realize it was being sold at the ABA Toronto Hair Show, but saw it featured on another website! It's supposed to be able to attach (and detach) to any non-porous surface (ie. sink, tile, wood, leather, laminate, granite, etc.) and it can withstand up to 500 degrees F.

Pretty interesting concept, I bet it'd be great for any mobile hairstylist since you never know where you'll end up for gigs. I usually just use a towel under my irons, but I think this would be a better alternative, since sometimes the high heat from curling irons can still melt through certain surfaces.

This would also work well for the regular beauty consumer too, because most bathrooms are generally small spaces to begin with, so this would totally help save counter space.

According to the website, this is available mostly in the States. I don't personally own one yet, but if I see it at another hair show or store, I think I'll give it a try. I'm just worried the material will lose it stickiness over time? It says on the website it will never lose its stickiness, but that you have to clean it every once in awhile. Does anyone out there own one that can give feedback in the comment section below?

Blogger : Maggie Ng
Product Feature : Hot Iron Holster

Follow via :
Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/MaggieNgOnline
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/MaggieNgMakeupArtist
Youtube : http://www.youtube.com/MaggieNgOnline
Instagram : http://www.instagram.com/MaggieNgOnline

Wedding Tips : Dealing with Wedding Stress ft Sandy Tam

2013-04-03T08:31:00.000-07:00

For all those Bride-To-Be's out there, here are some awesome tips from Toronto Wedding Photographer, Sandy Tam sharing some of her experiences of dealing with wedding stress from both perspectives as a photographer and as a bride!

This is one of the first video interviews we’ve done — please excuse the audio inconsistency and video editing — I’m a newbie when it comes to video!

So hope you enjoy!

Stay tuned for the next video interview featuring Ramon from RC2 Films — who will be talking about the differences between regular video vs cinematic style of filming.

Cheers,

Maggie Ng [maggie@maggieng.com]

CREDITS
Guest : Sandy Tam [http://www.sandytam.ca]
Host : Maggie Ng [http://www.maggieng.com]
Location : Markham, Ontario, Canada

Follow via :
Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/MaggieNgOnline
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/MaggieNgMakeupArtist
Youtube : http://www.youtube.com/MaggieNgOnline
Instagram : http://www.instagram.com/MaggieNgOnline

Event : ABA Toronto Hair Show 2013

2013-03-29T06:58:00.000-07:00

CREDITS

Event Host :: ABA Canada [http://www.abacanada.com]
Location :: Metro Toronto Convention Centre [http://www.mtccc.com]
Photos :: Tobin C Studio [http://www.tobincstudio.blogspot.com]

Beauty Reporter :: Maggie Ng [http://www.maggieng.com]

Follow via :
Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/MaggieNgOnline
Instagram : http://www.instagram.com/MaggieNgOnline
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/MaggieNgMakeupArtist

Event :: Sugar Tiers Cake Decorating Class

2013-03-21T13:56:00.004-07:00

Hey Everyone! I just wanted to share my experience doing a 2hr Cake Decorating Class with Sugar Tiers! I’m not really a baker, but thought this would be a fun experience. It’s great because all the materials are provided for you, all you have to do is show up! So we take a pre-baked cake base, cut it in half, slather buttercream inbetween and all around. Then we’re given fondant to cover the cake, then some yellow fondant for the decorations. Working with fondant can be a bit of a challenge because if you’re too slow, it dries/hardens and you’ll see some cracks and what not. At the end of the class, we get to bring home our creation and eat it! I thought I did not too shabby for a newbie!

Our instructor was Evalin Chong. She’s very friendly and knowledgeable re: pastries and cakes. If you go to Sugar Tiers, they have lots of baking products you can buy if you’re in the DIY kind of mood. The class is about 2 hours long. And Evalin also provides you with the cake and buttercream recipe, if you wanted to try making another cake at home. With the knowledge you learn from the class, I guess I’d be comfortable making a birthday cake of some sort. The fondant is actually available for purchase if you’re not comfortable making it yourself. If you’re into cake decorating and can’t commit to actual baking school, this is a perfect opportunity to just try it out. They also have a cupcake decorating class that I might be interested in trying out too. If you want more info re: classes or are looking for a cake for your upcoming wedding, here is Sugar Tier’s contact :

Sugar Tiers
735 Markland Street, Unit 4, Markham
Ontario, Canada, L6C 0G6
E : manager@sugartiers.ca
W : http://www.sugartiers.ca

Words+Photo : Maggie Ng

Event :: Wedding Dress Shopping {Tips and Advice}

2013-03-15T11:27:00.000-07:00

Going wedding dress shopping for my sister’s upcoming wedding was a unique experience. Because I’m heavily involved in the wedding industry, wedding gowns seemed like an obvious thing to me, but the process/choices can be overwhelming to the average person, especially when it’s all new to them. Here were some things/tips to keep in mind when shopping for a dress :

1) Weight
A wedding gown can be quite heavy, especially with all the beading, detail, or layers. Decide if you’d like something light and easy to wear throughout the day, or if you’re up for the challenge of wearing something heavy! However, you may have to train for it, so you’re not too tired on your wedding day!

2) Colour
White, Off-White, Diamond White, Ivory, Cream, Champagne…who knew there were so many colours variances of white to choose from for a gown?! Something diamond white has a more cool tone vs something cream may have a warm tone. See which flatters your skin tone when you try it on. Also keep these colours in mind when purchasing jewelry and your veil. Usually it should match in the tone. My sister was going to order a veil online and almost accidently bought an ivory veil, when her dress is diamond white. Also keep in mind jewelry — silver/crystals/diamonds vs pearls vs gold — make sure it goes well with your dress tone!

3) Shape
Finding a dress shape that flatters your body. My sister tried on probably over 10 dresses and found the A-line shaped dresses flattered her body best. Usually the dress consultant can help and make suggestions, since most dress fittings are by appointment only. Keep in mind that if you decide to get a Princess-Type of “poofy” dress, consider the ease of getting in and out of the limo and/or the ease of sitting to eat. Also, do you want the train of your dress dragging on the floor vs finishing right at your feet. Be sure to bring proper heels to your fitting, so you’re at the right height when trying on your dress. And wear a strapless bra and/or the undergarments you think you would wear on the day to be sure no garment lines are showing if you’re wearing a tight fitted dress. Also, keep in mind, most wedding gowns you have to go up one size. So if you’re normally a size 6, you may have to try on size 8. The type of dress is important too — strapless / sweetheart / asymmetric / spaghetti straps / short sleeves / halter — how comfortable are you showing off your shoulders and/or back?

4) Material Choice
Chiffon, lace, silk, organza, satin — everything drapes and hangs differently even if the style is the same. Consider the texture, look and feel. The material you choose may also affect the weight of the dress. Some may look more expensive and some may have a more vintage and/or modern feel. Some are flowy and romantic. Know the theme/feel of your wedding and look you’re going for.

5) Budget
Know your budget and your expectations. My sister was on a budget, so she chose a store that had a clearance section. If you’re someone with NO budget, perhaps getting a custom Vera Wang may be in order! Also, a lot of times if you fit a dress perfectly in the store and buy the one off the rack, you can often get a discount for it. If you have to order the correct size, you’ll be paying full price. If you need to make alterations, it can be quite costly. Some people like to order online, just be sure they give exact measurements before purchasing, because as mentioned before, sometimes your wedding gown can be one size up from what you’re used to wearing. Some people feel since they are only wearing the dress for one day, that it makes better sense to rent. Or even used dresses can be a good option.

Buying a wedding dress can be such a daunting task, just be patient and go in with an open mind. It’s best to just bring one person with you that you trust and have similar taste/style. If you bring too many people with opposing opinions, it could get quite confusing for the bride. You’ll eventually get that “ah-ha” moment once you try on the perfect one for you! And when you do, congratulations! Happy Dress Hunting everyone!

CREDITS
Photo+Words : Maggie // M Studio Life
Location : Windsor Bridal

Short Story : In One Moment [Page 12]

2013-03-14T10:39:00.001-07:00

In One Moment [Page 12] by Tobin Cheung

“I’m sorry?”

“That’s her name,” she says nodding her head at the girl on stage.

“Oh, thanks. Yeah, she’s…… fantastic,” I say, pronouncing fantastic as a hush.

“Yes she is. You can have this if you want,” she says handing me the program. “I’ve got another in my purse.”

“Thanks.”

I quickly thumb to the page Calina is mentioned, anxious to read what little information is printed. There is nothing, just the names and instruments corresponding to each band member. There isn’t even a website address. A one inch by one inch black and white portrait of her is the only thing that consoles my disappointment. I will treasure it. I will keep it with my collection of jazz CDs.

“She’s pretty. They really don’t say much about her do they?” the mommy smiles, trying to sympathize with me.

I must be as transparent as air.

“Her contact number is on the back page, though,” she says with a smirk.

I twist the pamphlet over to be greeted by a pizza ad and am stupid enough to check the second last page. I give the naughty mommy a sideways glare. She gives me a warm ear to ear grin.

“Let me see your hand, I’ll tell you if Calina is the one for you.” she says grabbing my arm. “I can read palms.”

I don’t believe in those things but I know better than to contradict a pregnant mommy. She unfolds my fingers and begins to study the creases of my skin.

“You can be rather technical. You work with numbers but have an inherent creative pursuit. You are shy but a great lover.”

Feeling embarrassed, I instinctively curl my fingers.

“Wait,” she purrs. “Don’t you want to know?”

“Not really, the dream is always better.”

She does not hear me. “The woman who falls in love with you admires you for your musical talent.”

“But I don’t have any musical talents,” I exclaim feeling confused.

Suddenly, out of know where, pushing her way down the isles of seats is Liz. And she looks mad. “I’ve been waiting over at that stupid hot dog stand for like ten minutes. I thought you said you would keep an eye on it.”

“Sshhh, Liz sit down, you’re blocking people’s view,” I beg her hoping she would not cause a scene. The trendy girls to my left are giving me a snooty glare while the pregnant woman is annoyed with my girlfriend for taking up space she can’t afford to give up.

“Didn’t you see me standing there?” she insists not even noticing the pregnant mommy.

“No, sorry, I,..I,....got too caught up with the performance.”

She arches her neck to take a gander at the stage. The third song is well on its way and I was missing it.

[To be continued...]

Travels :: Goa, INDIA {Part III}

2013-03-08T14:54:00.003-08:00

CREDITS

Photo : M Studio Life
Location : Goa, India

Beauty Event News : MUFE Mobile Experience “Make Up Bag Remix Tour” {coming soon…}

2013-02-28T16:02:00.001-08:00

FYI Beauty Peeps…I am thrilled to announce that MAKE UP FOR EVER’s Mobile Experience, the “Make Up Bag Remix Tour” is hitting Toronto on April 13th and 14th! The North American Mobile Experience is scheduled to hit 8 US cities and make one stop in Canada… Toronto!! The concept behind the “Make Up Bag Remix” Mobile Experience is to give consumers the opportunity to better understand how to use the beauty products they already own, regardless of the brand.

This is the first type of mobile event of this nature. MAKE UP FOR EVER experts will be offering complimentary 30-minute lessons to any consumer that signs up on our Micro site. They will also be offering quick 5 minute touch ups at the event for those on the go. Complimentary PRO Finish samples will also be given. Consumers will also be welcomed to shop directly on site should they be interested.

In celebration of the “Make Up Bag Remix” tour, MAKE UP FOR EVER partnered with actress Christina Ricci to create an edgy limited edition make up bag. The bag will be on sale on location and available on Sephora.ca. The “Make Up Bag Remix” experience is taking place at the Yorkdale Shopping Mall parking lot on Saturday April 13th (12:00pm-8:00pm) and Sunday April 14th (11:00am-7:00pm).

Here is the Microsite that includes all the necessary information and makeup lesson sign up link: http://makeupbagremix.com

The make up lessons are filling up fast, so sign up before the lessons are all booked up!

Cheers,

Maggie Ng (Toronto Beauty Blogger)

Beauty Event : MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Seminar ft Dany Sanz

2013-02-28T15:01:00.000-08:00

CREDITS Beauty Reporting : Maggie Ng
Photo/Video : M Studio Life
Event Host : MAKE UP FOR EVER
Location : Twist Gallery

Event : CIAS 2013

2013-02-20T07:54:00.000-08:00

Reporting : Maggie Ng
Photo/Video : M Studio Life
Event : Canadian International Auto Show 2013

Travel : Goa, India {Part II}

2013-02-19T20:30:00.000-08:00

This is a continuation of the last post for Goa, India — Grand Hyatt Goa. Every Thursday evenings they have a “Seafood Night Market”. So for an extra 800 rupees, you can enjoy some fresh seafood for dinner, such as lobster, shrimps, etc. There is also an outdoor market that sells jewelry, umbrellas, artwork, spices, etc. There are even drummers performing intermittingly — it’s quite festive!

Words + Photos : M Studio Life [info@mstudiolife.com]

Travel : Goa, India {Part I}

2013-02-19T18:00:00.001-08:00

This post features the Grand Hyatt Goa, a 5-Star hotel, which was our accommodations while staying in Goa, India. We mostly ate at the buffet restaurant, which had a nice selection of food. Some spicy and some non-spicy, which was perfect for me, since I’m a wimp and can’t handle the spice! They had tons of dessert too, YUM! I was trying to be good with my eating, since I totally pigged out on the cruise trip recently, but nope, I was tempted by all this delicious food again! Go figure! I really enjoyed our stay, as the suite we got was really luxurious. The bed was so comfy and they had complimentary slippers, shoe shine, and a rain spa shower head. We also had a spacious balcony, which overlooked the beautiful pool. And only a few minutes walk away, was a private beach. A really relaxing and serene place to be. After having traveled to New Delhi the year before and seeing how chaotic it can be there, you really appreciate the beauty of Goa.

CREDITS
Words + Photos : M Studio Life

Travel : Pointe-A-Pitre, Guadeloupe

2013-01-17T09:19:00.000-08:00

Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe was another interesting port of call via Royal Caribbean “Brilliance of the Seas”. It was highly recommended by the Cruise Director to book a tour via the cruise, as there wasn’t as much to do near the dock and not many local tours available. So we decided to book the Hindu Temple/Waterfall tour. I’m generally not that big of a fan of booking excursions through the cruise, as you’re usually packed into a big air conditioned bus with 40 other people. Usually if you book a local tour, it’s only 8-10 people and they let you take photos out the window and/or they stop more often at different sites. And usually the guide has more character and is typically really funny.

Never-the-less, we tried to make the most of it. Kind of disappointed, but when our cruise tour bus took us to the Hindu Temple, we were not allowed in because it was closed. So we could only take photos from the outside. Our 2nd stop was Carbet Falls, which was really nice. We trekked through the rainforest until we got to the end of the trail and saw one of the main waterfalls — although there was a big tree in the way…oh well. A cool thing about Gaudeloupe is the shape of the island — looks like a butterfly. After our tour, we walked around town to check out some of the local shops. Surprisingly, pharmacy drug prices were relatively cheap, you can get a 30 pk of ibuprofen for approx $3.50 USD. I guess we should’ve stocked up!

CREDITS

Article + Photos : M Studio Life [info@mstudiolife.com]

Travel : Basseterre, St. Kitts

2013-01-17T09:05:00.000-08:00

Basseterre, St. Kitts was another interesting port via Royal Caribbean “Brilliance of the Seas” Cruise. All the shops are pretty much at the port once you get off the ship. We were greeted by many locals with monkeys wearing diapers asking if we wanted to take a picture with it — we politely declined. We were tempted to rent a scooter and just ride around the island on our own, but thought it might be too tiring, so we opted to do a local bus tour.

There was a cool “Rum Tree”, where people could hang their empty rum bottles to the tree. Close by was an example of Carib Petroglyph Rock Drawings. On a side note : those that are interested in becoming doctors, there are many medical schools in St. Kitts ; people often fly in from India, US, etc to study here. Continuing with the tour, we stopped off at Romney Manor, where we saw the Saman Tree and Lipstick Plant. There were also demos of batik-making in the shop. Later we stopped off to see the volcanic black sand beach. To quench our thirst, we got some fresh coconut juice — which was sooo good!

CREDITS
Article + Photos : M Studio Life [info@mstudiolife.com]

Travel : Philipsburg, St. Maarten

2013-01-17T08:55:00.002-08:00

Philipsburg, St. Maarten was one of the beautiful ports via Royal Caribbean “Brilliance of the Seas” cruise. When you get off the ship, it’s a $3 USD pp taxi ride to the town of Philipsburg. You can opt to walk but it’s about 30 minutes. So depends how pressed for time you are and how much you’re carrying. Once you get there, there are a lot of shops. I find there are A LOT of jewelry stores. And when I say “a lot” is almost an understatement. There was a nice beach to relax at too.

We kept wandering around and eventually took a local bus ($2 USD pp) to Marigot (the capital of French St. Martin). This is where all the luxurious yachts are! We stopped by a bakery and bought the biggest French macaron we’ve ever seen! Yum! There were also some nice shops and street vendors. While heading back, there was a lot of traffic. You kind of have to be mindful of “Island Time”. Most people start work around 7:30am and finish early around 3:30pm. Sometimes tourists don’t realize this and are late getting back to the ship. If you take an excursion through the ship, then they’ll wait for you if you’re late. But do your own thing and come back late, the ship goes BUH-BYE!

CREDITS
Article + Photos : M Studio Life [info@mstudiolife.com]

Travel : Tortola {British Virgin Islands}

2013-01-17T08:47:00.000-08:00

Imagine the winter holidays with 28 degree celcius weather…well this was reality in Tortola, British Virgin Islands! One of the first port stops with Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, we got off the ship to wander the town for a bit. Because it was a Sunday, many shops weren’t going to be open until noon. So we opted for a local tour by Captain Friendly! LOL. His open-air safari bus wasn’t the fanciest, but his price was good and this guy had a lot of character, which made the tour fun.

We saw some dolphins along the way and stopped off at Cane Garden Bay to enjoy the beach. It was cool to watch the pelicans dive into the water to catch their food. After we got back, we wandered the town some more to take some photos, to buy some hot sauce souvenirs and enjoy some fresh passion fruit and sour sop juice. Sour sop is actually known to help fight cancer, an interesting fact I didn’t know.

CREDITS

Article + Photos : M Studio Life [info@mstudiolife.com]

Travel : Royal Caribbean Cruise "Brilliance of the Seas"

2013-01-17T08:38:00.000-08:00

This was my first time cruising. Glad I was able to find a good deal for Royal Caribbean International — it was for 7 nights and we got a balcony suite. We decided to fly to San Juan, Puerto Rico to take the “Brilliance of the Seas” ship because everyday the ship docked somewhere new except for one day at sea.

So we got a taste of different nearby islands such as : Tortola {British Virgin Island}, Philipsburg {St. Maarten}, Basseterre {St. Kitts}, Pointe-a-Pitre {Guadeloupe}, Bridgetown {Barbados}, and then back to San Juan {Puerto Rico}, where we stayed for an extra 3 days. “Brilliance of the Seas” was a probably a mid-sized ship, which was kept really clean and everyone was very friendly. I was worried about sea-sickness, but was ok for the duration of the trip. Every now and then you would feel the ship rock, but it was expected.

Evening entertainment was fun — some of the acts included “Happy Days” singer Bobby Avron, comedians Azeem and Jeff Bradley, “Brilliance of the Seas” singers and dancers, etc. Activities on the ship that we tried included : rock climbing, billiards, table tennis, etc. The food; hands down was spectacular — I’m pretty sure I gained a few pounds when I got back.

Some highlights of the evening dining at Minstrel included lobster tail, escargot, shrimp, cod fish, tiramisu, creme brulee, souffle, etc. Breakfast and lunch was usually buffet at the Windjammer, but occasionally we’d go to the Seaview Cafe for some yummy chicken fingers or fish and chips. Overall it was a great experience — it was nice spending part of the winter holidays in warm weather. You don’t get much time to explore on each island, but at least you get a taste of what each island is like, so if you really enjoyed it, you could go back another time.

CREDITS
Article + Photography : M Studio Life [info@mstudiolife.com]

Travel : San Juan {Puerto Rico}

2013-01-17T08:20:00.001-08:00

After we finished our cruise with Royal Caribbean “Brilliance of the Seas”, we decided to stay 3 days in San Juan, Puerto Rico, since we had already taken the time to fly there in the first place. The hotel we stayed at was called Casa Condado, which is in the tourist area of San Juan. It wasn’t anything fancy, but for the price, it served its main purpose : it was a clean place to sleep and shower. It was very conveniently located, just a few minutes walk from the beach. There is a Walgreen’s close by in case you needed any drinks or randomness. It was close to Ashford Avenue, which had some really nice ritzy stores.

We took a cab one day to the biggest Caribbean mall called Plaza Las Americas Shopping Centre. Also stopped by the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico. Our hotel was also close to a bus stop which took us to Old San Juan for $0.75 USD each way. While in Old San Juan, we enjoyed some of the restaurants and did a little bit of shopping. There were also two forts in Old San Juan : Castillo de San Cristobal and El Morro that are worth checking out. On our last day, we took the bus, then the train to the Rio Piedras Market, where you’ll find fruits, vegetables and lots of bargains for clothing, shoes, etc. If we had stayed an extra day, we would’ve made a trip to see the rainforest called El Yunque — heard it was beautiful. Maybe next time…

CREDITS

Article + Photography : M Studio Life [info@mstudiolife.com]

Beauty News : Smashbox 25% Off Limited Time!

2012-11-21T07:01:00.003-08:00

www.Smashbox.com

*Valid with any purchase of $50 or more. Offer ends Monday, November 26th, 2012 at 11:59PM ET. Not valid with any Smashbox PRO purchase. Not valid on Final Call items. Offer valid while supplies last. Offer cannot be applied to previously placed orders. Offer applies to authorized purchases only. Only authorized orders will be processed and shipped. Please note: We reserve the right to cancel any order due to unauthorized, altered, or ineligible use of offers and to modify or cancel promotions due to system error or unforeseen problems.

Enjoy,

M

Places : Canadian National Exhibition

2012-10-30T07:40:00.003-07:00

RAZ decided to drop by the CNE this year and enjoy a nice summer day! Mostly went to try the acclaimed food, it seemed like almost everything revolved around bacon! We tried the Bacon Explosion! Then there was the Krispy Kreme Burger and the Red Velvet Pancake Pulled Pork Sandwich. Let's not forget the infamous Deep Fried Mars Bar. Talk about calorie overload! Glad we walked it off and then stuck around till the nightlife picked up. Captured some awesome lighting shots via the Conklin rides. Really wanted a bubble gun, but figured...we have one already! LOL!

With the new Sky Ride, it's about a $5 ride each person if you don't have a Ride Day Pass. We opted out as it was a bit pricey, although there was a huge lineup. Was sad to see Ontario Place wasn't open. What are they going to build there anyway? The sand sculptures were really unique, we took our time to admire all the details and hard work that went into each one. Tobin says he forgot how cotton candy tastes like...but we didn't get one because there's no way we'd be able to finish it. Will probably go again next year...maybe we'll have the courage to go on one of those crazy rollercoasters.

Words : Maggie Ng
Photos : Tobin C

Giving Back : Thinking Forward

2012-10-18T08:28:00.000-07:00

An industry hairstylist friend of mine will be helping out a great cause for his upcoming Birthday. For every person that writes “Happy Birthday” on his Facebook wall (that he has personally invited to the event), he’s going to donate $1 to THINKING FORWARD for each person. What an awesome idea!

In good will, RAZ Magazine has decided to also make a small donation towards THINKING FORWARD. THINKING FORWARD seeks to bring together children, youth and adults with common values that resonate across cultures to impact Toronto for the greater good. They’re a great cause and if you want more information or would also like to help show some support via a donation, their website is : www.thinkingforward.ca