sparkle and shine.

I cannot believe how fast 2010 has flown by. Every morning I wake up, one day closer to 2011 and am in awe of the people I have met this year, and the personal growth I have achieved academically, socially and emotionally. Although I have always been a firm believer that New Year’s Eve is overrated, I still always love the notion of dressing up and making some type of party plans. Champagne is a must, as are sexy stilettos, good friends and just enough sparkle to make sure you’re not forgotten as the clock strikes midnight.

Here are a few of my top fashion picks for starting the year off right:

happy new year. by nycbritt featuring crystal jewelry

1. Deborah Lippmann Nail Color in “Dark Side of the Moon”-$18
2. Janis Savitt “Snake Chain and Crystal Necklace”-$2165
3. Vince Sequined Crepe T-Shirt- $295
4. YSL Platform High Heeled Pump- $795
5. Alice + Olivia Sequined Embellished Silk Blend Top- $160
6. Gucci Skinny Leather Pant- $1990
7. Winter Kate “Adalia Bustier Top”- $155
8. Nars Sheer Lipstick in Metallic Raspberry- $22
9. Bobbi Brown “Sparkle Glamour” Eye Quad- $40

it's a nice day, for a white wedding.

I'm not going to lie. Ever since I was a little girl of probably five or six, I have been obsessed with weddings. Some of my favorite movies are Wedding Date, Wedding Planner, Bride Wars and My Best Friend's Wedding. I never miss an episode of TLC's show, "Say Yes to the Dress" and I waste far too much valuable study time searching through page after page of online wedding blogs.
Last week the girls and I had brunch in Yorkville, and while walking by Vera Wang's flagship store, my friend Charmaine and I almost seizured on the street.
Her bridal collection is truly a work of art. With the multiple layers of lace, chiffon and tulle, the dresses truly possess the ability to outshine an entire room. They make a statement without even trying, and the sheer beauty of them could make a bride out of even the harshest wedding critic. Every gown has the possibility to make even the least girliest of women feel like an absolute princess. The downside? The designer pricetag. These masterpieces do not come cheap, and usually not for less than $8-10,000.
You can imagine my delight this week, when I found out that the bridal goddess herself has paired with David's Bridal to create a more affordable line of her famous wedding gowns. The line, titled White by Vera Wang, will also include accessories and bridesmaids dresses, to help make the whole Wang wedding look more accessible to brides with a more modest budget. Each dress in the collection will range in price from $600 to $1400, and will be available in David's Bridal stores in February 2011.

the best things in the world are free.

Now that school is back in full swing, life can get pretty hectic somedays. It's so hard to balance homework, real work and social events while still trying to maintain my sanity. On days when things get really out of control, I need to reflect on the simple, ordinary things that always put me at ease and make me smile. I'm a true believer, that it is often the littlest things that go the longest way.

Here are some of my favourite, simple things:

* turning the radio on just as my favorite song starts playing.
* eating an entire bag of movie theatre popcorn, before the movie even starts.
* finding the perfect pair of shoes, on sale.
* watching a thunderstorm from a covered patio.
* holding hands with someone I love.
* long telephone calls with friends that know you better than anyone.
* road trips with girlfriends, singing at the top of our lungs to songs that we know every word to.
* not coming home until 4 in the morning, and not caring that you have to get up early because you never wanted the night to end.
* dance parties in kitchen with my roommates.

classic kitchens.

Lately, I have been obsessed with houses. Maybe it is because of lack of any real living space in downtown Toronto, or because I am soon moving out of my beautiful townhouse and into a smaller condo, but whatever the reason, I simply cannot get enough of interior design and architecture blogs. I am particularly fond of desiretoinspire.net, which posts gorgeous photographs of different colorschemes, elegant rooms and beautiful homes that I could only dream of owning. I love the way this blog sets up storyboards to create inspiration for designing your own living quarters. I have to say though, that the one room I love most is the kitchen. I think it has something to do with the commaraderie of breaking bread with the ones you love, or the simple art of preparing delcious meals from scratch, but the kitchen is always the first place I look at when walking into a house for the very first time. I can't wait until the day that I own my own home, and can design a kitchen that functions exactly the way I would like it to. With lots of cupboard space, huge windows, convection ovens, and an island countertop for preparing family dinners. I want it to be a place where the whole family can gather and talk about their day. Where I can enjoy an after work glass of wine and unwind, while starting dinner. Where Christmas baking can be done, and dance parties can be had. A place where you can achieve the satisfaction of creating something from nothing. My mom always made home cooking a priority and I hope to someday have the space to do the same for my own family.

Here are a few of the kitchens that inspire me, with photos taken from desiretoinspire.net.

concrete jungle where dreams are made of.

(the Prada flagship store in SoHo. 3 stories of retail heaven).

("If I could find a real-life place that made me feel like Tiffany's, well than I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name").

(The Plaza. I can't afford to stay there, but it reminds me of so many of my favorite movies).

(in front of Babycakes NYC bakery, my new favorite place in the whole world).

(cobblestone streets lined with pubs, perfect for mid-afternoon pick me ups).

I was lucky enough to spend a week in New York City at the end of August, and even after being back in Toronto for a couple of weeks I still cannot stop gushing about how truly alive and wonderful that city is. Every area, whether it be SoHo, Meatpacking District, Greenwich Village, or the Lower East Side, has it's own little sense of community, it's own hidden gems, it own 'locals' that know all the great drinking haunts, the best shops, the most popular restaurants, and where to buy the best cupcake.
This having been my second visit, I was able to forego a lot of the typical tourist attractions, and focus more on experiencing the exciting nightlife the city has to offer. I loved spending days and nights, walking down cobblestone streets, buying jewelry from street vendors, exploring Central Park, and dining al fresco with only the sounds of the city as your soundtrack. It's also so amazing to walk around and see sights from your favorite movies and television shows in person. It really makes New York feel like the most magical place in the world.
The highlight for me was definitely Babycakes NYC bakery in the Lower East Side, where I ate vegan, sugar-free and gluten-free cupcakes, cornbread and cookies without feeling the guilt, or inevitable stomach ache that would accompany baked goods from anywhere else. And of course, seeing the real life Tiffany's that made Audrey Hepburn a star was enough to keep me smiling for days. It's true what they say about New York, dreams can really come true there. It's hard not to love that city, and it's even harder to leave.

savour the flavour.

Now that I'm back to school full-time, I have very little time to prepare healthy meals for myself, and it's safe to say that York offers very little in terms of vegan or gluten-free options. Thursdays are particularly busy days with commuting back and forth between home and school, and attending four different classes, at 2 different campuses so to make it easier on myself, I spent this afternoon baking savoury vegan scones that I can throw in my bag for an easily accessible snack. The cheddar is a gluten-free rice based cheese, which by itself isn't great, but when melted, tastes so similar to regular cheese that you would never know the difference unless I told you. Mixed with the fresh dill, the cheddar gives these scones a sharp, savoury flavour, perfect for complimenting the fall season. I love being able to save myself time and money, without having to sacrifice my health concerns, or ethical beliefs.

Vegan/Gluten-Free Cheddar Dill Scones:

2 1/2 cups Bob's Red Mill All Purpose Gluten-Free Baking Flour
8 ounces (1 cup) vegan Rice cheddar flavoured cheese, shredded
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup chopped fresh dill
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup cold Earth Balance, vegan butter flavoured spread
1/2 cup Almond or Rice milk
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce.

Heat oven to 400°F. Combine all ingredients except Earth Balance, almond milk and applesauce in medium bowl; cut in Earth Balance with pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in almond milk and applesauce just until moistened.

Spoon batter into lightly greased muffin tins, or onto a lightly greased baking sheet.

Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until lightly browned.

*I adapted this recipe from grouprecipes.com, to make it vegan. Substitute 3/4 cup butter for Earth Balance, 1/2 Half & Half for almond/rice milk, and 2 eggs for applesauce, if you would prefer them not to be vegan.

uncover those ears.

Today I braved the heat, and headed down to Kensington Market to grab some groceries and a new pair of sunglasses. Along the way, I stopped in at this little vintage jewellery store and picked up 5 pairs of vintage earrings for $10. I had the hardest time narrowing it down to only 5 pairs, as there were so many possibilities to choose from, but carrying them home I was very happy about my final choices. I have already worn three out of the five pairs with various outfits and received many compliments on them. I love how something so inexpensive, and so simple can really play up an outfit and add that extra bit of style to an otherwise ordinary ensemble. I have always loved accessorizing, and for as long as I can remember, have loved experimenting with jewellery, especially earrings. I love how big, bright earrings really stand out against my hair, and help off-set my look in a fun way.

Here are the treasures I picked up the other day: