It was my birthday not too long ago, and here are the freebies I found. The ones that are actually free, not buy 1 get 1 free or buy an entree and get dessert free, etc. Those are scams. I want to get something actually free because it's my birthday, dangit!
1) SEPHORA- every girl's dream- free makeup from Sephora! Just sign up for the FREE Beauty Insider club and recieve a free gift. It's different every year, but this year I recieved a make up trio- eye liner, eye shadow and mascara. Fun!
2) DENNY'S- hey, everyone loves a greasy brekkie, and I'm no different! The free meal is still valide and I finally got to realize my dream after 29 years of living. The awesome thing was, about 5 of my coworkers joined me so I could have it! And they paid for my coffee too. Sniff!!
3) BASKIN ROBBINS- FREE ice cream scoop! Just sign up for their birthday club for free and get a free coupon! I wonder how many times I could have printed out this coupon and gotten more free ice cream! But I didn't, because I'm honest.
4) STARBUCKS- if you ever got a starbucks gift card, register it online. You will get a FREE drink of your choice for your bday! They'll send you a postcard. My fave drink? A Double Muffin Top Venti Frap. What does that mean? It means two Venti Fraps with a Muffin on top.
5) MEMPHIS BLUES- ok, this is hearsay, but my uncle told me you get a free rack of ribs on your birthday. Is this true? I'll let you know next year, July 8th!!!
Happy Birthday to you!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Things To Do in San Francisco, CA
I recently went to San Francisco for my birthday. I had a great time, but all the things we did required planning, in order to get the best deals.
Check out this link for discount coupons. I used some for a boat ride, and would have loved to have used the Sonoma Wine tour coupons, had we more time: http://www.baycityguide.com/coupons.html
1) Adventure Cat Sailing- sail around the Wharf, under Golden Gate bridge, around Alcatraz whilst listening to music and enjoying a relaxing ride. Make sure to bring layers upon layers of clothing, as it really does get super windy and cold!
2) Gary Danko's or Boulevard restaurants- wait reservations are MONTHS in advance, so make sure you make your resos ASAP! I never made Gary Danko's, but Boulevard was chic, tasty and beautiful. Atmosphere was lively, eclectic and service was superb. Dress code ranged from casual (tourists) to trendy chic (me, of course!).
3) Theatre- I finally got to see "Wicked"! It was witty, captivating and the talent was great. What may have ruined it for me a little was the fact that I read the book prior to seeing it. NEVER, EVER read the book. It really sucks and even if the musical never existed, I would have still hated the book.
4) Foreign Cinema- a chic bistro that serves charcuterie, wine, tapas. A great outdoor space with a movie projected on the white walls of the building next door. You can't hear or really watch the movie, but the ambience is very nice.
5) Dottie's True Blue Cafe- we waited one hour and 10 minutes to eat here. It is a legendary breakfast (brunch/lunch by the time you get to the front of the line!), but worth the experience. Food is nice and homey, with large portions. The neighborhood is definitely interesting (many tranny's, brightly colour individuals coming in and out of the motel next door), but it makes the experience that much more delightful.
6) Union Square- SHOPPING.
7) And of course, you can't go to San Fran without riding the street cable cars. Totally fun.
8) Hey, using public transit to get to and fro isn't so bad. We used BART to get from the airport to and from our hotel- which was only 2 blocks away. Just make sure you plan your route ahead of time.
Cheers! I left my heart in San Francisco.
Check out this link for discount coupons. I used some for a boat ride, and would have loved to have used the Sonoma Wine tour coupons, had we more time: http://www.baycityguide.com/coupons.html
1) Adventure Cat Sailing- sail around the Wharf, under Golden Gate bridge, around Alcatraz whilst listening to music and enjoying a relaxing ride. Make sure to bring layers upon layers of clothing, as it really does get super windy and cold!
2) Gary Danko's or Boulevard restaurants- wait reservations are MONTHS in advance, so make sure you make your resos ASAP! I never made Gary Danko's, but Boulevard was chic, tasty and beautiful. Atmosphere was lively, eclectic and service was superb. Dress code ranged from casual (tourists) to trendy chic (me, of course!).
3) Theatre- I finally got to see "Wicked"! It was witty, captivating and the talent was great. What may have ruined it for me a little was the fact that I read the book prior to seeing it. NEVER, EVER read the book. It really sucks and even if the musical never existed, I would have still hated the book.
4) Foreign Cinema- a chic bistro that serves charcuterie, wine, tapas. A great outdoor space with a movie projected on the white walls of the building next door. You can't hear or really watch the movie, but the ambience is very nice.
5) Dottie's True Blue Cafe- we waited one hour and 10 minutes to eat here. It is a legendary breakfast (brunch/lunch by the time you get to the front of the line!), but worth the experience. Food is nice and homey, with large portions. The neighborhood is definitely interesting (many tranny's, brightly colour individuals coming in and out of the motel next door), but it makes the experience that much more delightful.
6) Union Square- SHOPPING.
7) And of course, you can't go to San Fran without riding the street cable cars. Totally fun.
8) Hey, using public transit to get to and fro isn't so bad. We used BART to get from the airport to and from our hotel- which was only 2 blocks away. Just make sure you plan your route ahead of time.
Cheers! I left my heart in San Francisco.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Things to do in Kelowna, BC
Things to in Kelowna, BC:
My girlfriends and I decided to do a cheap girl's weekend getaway- somewhere where we wouldn't have to wait in border line ups, so we headed to the BC Interior. The 4 hour drive there was really fun because we had the tunes cranked up, and it was a relatively quick drive, due to no traffic (mind you, we left at 6:30am!!).
We ended up at Summerhill winery at about 11:30 and sat on the patio. Too bad the weather was looking stormy- they had beautiful wedding decor set up and it was really looking picturesque. We enjoyed our mimosas, but I have to say, the food was very mediocre. Plus, they got 3 or our orders wrong.
We did stay for a wine tasting, though. I tried all their sparkling wines plus a rosee. No one bought anything.
Next, we headed to a Goat Cheese Factory, which was definitely the highlight of our stay! We tried about a dozen cheezes... yogurt, cammembert, cheddar, blue cheese... and a myriad of others! yum! We ended that tour with some goat's milk gelato.... YYYUUUUMMMMM!!! and a visit to the goat barn. There were some cute baby goats (calf?).
Next stop: our cheap motel, Econolodge. Hey, it really wasn't bad! We had a big room with 2 queen beds and a pull out sofa. We had a corner balcony as well, and a strip mall with grocery store (and pharmacy, which, as you will see, was very fortunate) across the street. We actually like motels. We stayed at the Flamingo Motel in Penticton last year.. and we're hoping to get the same place this summer!
We headed downtown to the Irish pub and had a few beer and I ate shephered's pie. It was really yummy. After that, we got ready to hit up the club- Flashbacks! It was a lot of fun- old tunes that really brought the good ol days back... plus some Top 40. A lot of young kids there, though... well, or we're just getting old! But hey, we've still got it! The 20 year olds were still hitting on us hotties. haha. um, not sure if that's something to be proud of. Maybe if the rich 40 year olds that were apparently missing from this town hit on us, it would be more flattering.
Anyway, it just went downhill from there. At 3 am, we stepped out of the club. At 3:01am we came upon a hot dog stand. My girls each got a smokie. I requested a hot dog.
The next day, all three of my friends were SICK AS DOGS. They were in the room, getting sick every 5 mins. I was the "lucky" survivor, hence the fortuity of having a grocery store and pharmacy across the way, since I didn't know how to drive the standard transmission truck we brought up.
Oh, before 2 of them got sick, we went to Rose's pub, which is really a happening place. This is where we should have been the entire time. So, if you are heading up to Kelowna, and you're between the ages of 25-54, this is the place to be. Good music, sports TV, beer, dancing, good looking peeps.
This is the end of my story. Thanks for listening.
My girlfriends and I decided to do a cheap girl's weekend getaway- somewhere where we wouldn't have to wait in border line ups, so we headed to the BC Interior. The 4 hour drive there was really fun because we had the tunes cranked up, and it was a relatively quick drive, due to no traffic (mind you, we left at 6:30am!!).
We ended up at Summerhill winery at about 11:30 and sat on the patio. Too bad the weather was looking stormy- they had beautiful wedding decor set up and it was really looking picturesque. We enjoyed our mimosas, but I have to say, the food was very mediocre. Plus, they got 3 or our orders wrong.
We did stay for a wine tasting, though. I tried all their sparkling wines plus a rosee. No one bought anything.
Next, we headed to a Goat Cheese Factory, which was definitely the highlight of our stay! We tried about a dozen cheezes... yogurt, cammembert, cheddar, blue cheese... and a myriad of others! yum! We ended that tour with some goat's milk gelato.... YYYUUUUMMMMM!!! and a visit to the goat barn. There were some cute baby goats (calf?).
Next stop: our cheap motel, Econolodge. Hey, it really wasn't bad! We had a big room with 2 queen beds and a pull out sofa. We had a corner balcony as well, and a strip mall with grocery store (and pharmacy, which, as you will see, was very fortunate) across the street. We actually like motels. We stayed at the Flamingo Motel in Penticton last year.. and we're hoping to get the same place this summer!
We headed downtown to the Irish pub and had a few beer and I ate shephered's pie. It was really yummy. After that, we got ready to hit up the club- Flashbacks! It was a lot of fun- old tunes that really brought the good ol days back... plus some Top 40. A lot of young kids there, though... well, or we're just getting old! But hey, we've still got it! The 20 year olds were still hitting on us hotties. haha. um, not sure if that's something to be proud of. Maybe if the rich 40 year olds that were apparently missing from this town hit on us, it would be more flattering.
Anyway, it just went downhill from there. At 3 am, we stepped out of the club. At 3:01am we came upon a hot dog stand. My girls each got a smokie. I requested a hot dog.
The next day, all three of my friends were SICK AS DOGS. They were in the room, getting sick every 5 mins. I was the "lucky" survivor, hence the fortuity of having a grocery store and pharmacy across the way, since I didn't know how to drive the standard transmission truck we brought up.
Oh, before 2 of them got sick, we went to Rose's pub, which is really a happening place. This is where we should have been the entire time. So, if you are heading up to Kelowna, and you're between the ages of 25-54, this is the place to be. Good music, sports TV, beer, dancing, good looking peeps.
This is the end of my story. Thanks for listening.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Things To Do on Saltspring Island, BC
I just came back from a fun-filled weekend in Saltspring. Typically, this is not some place I would go to, being a young hipster from the city, but as I have a few friends there, my boyfriend was away, and one of the other girlfriends from the same group wanted to do something on an island, I decided to venture a try. Boy, I'm glad I did!
First, we lucked out because we got to stay at my friend's place, which is gorgeous. Large property with apple orchard, fig trees, flowers, ferns and a warm fire pit to top it off. If you're not lucky enough to have a friend to stay with, there are multiple B&Bs on the island. I would choose somewhere near the one downtown they have on the island- in the Ganges area.
We went biking, boating, crabbing, fed swans, visited the market (every Saturday in the summer), ate at this quaint restaurant with a tree in the middle of it (lamb stew was RAD), walked down the beach, visited Chocolate beach on one of the nearby smaller islands, and ate freshly trapped crab.
There are a lot of cute shops around town- nothing like city shopping, but if you're in the right state of mind, you will appreciate all the things this small town has to offer.
Honestly, though, the best part of the trip was the great company of great friends. I would do it again in a heartbeat. In fact, I think we are probably going to head back with our boyfriends the next time when the weather is hotter- there are many lakes, 4x4 opportunities and boating excursions to be had!
First, we lucked out because we got to stay at my friend's place, which is gorgeous. Large property with apple orchard, fig trees, flowers, ferns and a warm fire pit to top it off. If you're not lucky enough to have a friend to stay with, there are multiple B&Bs on the island. I would choose somewhere near the one downtown they have on the island- in the Ganges area.
We went biking, boating, crabbing, fed swans, visited the market (every Saturday in the summer), ate at this quaint restaurant with a tree in the middle of it (lamb stew was RAD), walked down the beach, visited Chocolate beach on one of the nearby smaller islands, and ate freshly trapped crab.
There are a lot of cute shops around town- nothing like city shopping, but if you're in the right state of mind, you will appreciate all the things this small town has to offer.
Honestly, though, the best part of the trip was the great company of great friends. I would do it again in a heartbeat. In fact, I think we are probably going to head back with our boyfriends the next time when the weather is hotter- there are many lakes, 4x4 opportunities and boating excursions to be had!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Best Top 10 Restaurants in Vancouver, BC
The Top 10 Restaurants in Vancouver, BC go to... (not in any particular order, as my taste and cravings change daily)...
1) Banana Leaf Malaysian Restaurant on Broadway (820 W Broadway)
This location is the original and most authentic. The caramalized black cod and sambal green beans are my fave items, as is the pineapple fried rice... seafood lovers, enjoy this twist on your fave underwater foods!
2) Guu with Garlic on Robson (1968 Robson St)
Izakaya lovers, you cannot miss this one! Now world-renowned, you cannot pass through Vancouver, or live here, without tasting the delicious Ebi Mayo, tuna tataki, rice stone bowls and rice-salmon miso soup!
3) Fraiche Restaurant (2240 Chippendale Rd, West Vancouver)
Set up high in the British Properties, this fancy fine-dining restaurant is worth the price! It is romantic, sophisticated, and intimate. I reco the slow-roast duck breast. Usually not my favourite "white man's" dish (typically duck breast asian-style is best), I could easily say this tops my list of duck plates. Cocktails are yummy, too.
4) Phnom Pehn, Chinatown (244 East Georgia)
Not in the fanciest part of town, but definitely a must-go. Dine or lunch with the locals with cheap, delectable eats! Best chicken wings around, and not the kind you are thinking of! Noodle bowls with a side of soup are also delish, and make sure you try one of the fruit smoothies! You will not be disappointed... although... if you're expecting a clean, good service type place, you're in for a surprise. Then again, it IS clean and has good service if you're talking asian service.
5) Raglan's Bistro, North Vancouver (15 Lonsdale)
Just up the street from the harbour, Raglan's is a totally cool, caribbean- style cafe. Saturday morning cartoons with free coffee, or late night fishbowl-size drinks at night with hockey on the wide screens, Raglan's is a place to chill and hang with the best of them. I love the weekend brunches there, and I always get the hippie hash, which is filled with baby spinach, peppers, potato squares and poached eggs. Also try the poutine.... it will be the BIGGEST POUTINE YOU'VE EVER SEEN OR EATEN. Currently, I'm the mayor of this place on FourSquare, but nobody knows it. And I keep plugging this place!
6) Global Restaurant, Yaletown (1079 Mainland)
This is a hip, cool place to be. The brunch is amazing. I always leave happy and stuffed, and have a great sense of trendy satisfaction when I've been here. mmm... angel food cake pancakes.... I know, I've already blogged of this place once before. But it's also a great place to hang at night on the other side, After Glow, for drinks and chillin' after you've slept off your food coma.
7) Quattro or Q4 (1 Lonsdale Ave or 2611 West 4th Ave)
Best Italian food. I've had the pasta and the lamb and I absolutely die everytime I do. When they have their pasta specials for $10, I make my resos straight away (twice in one week this year!).
8) Riddim' 'n Spice (1945 Commerical Dr)
My fave hole in the wall!! actually, they redecorated recently, and I have to say, verrrryy niiice! I HEART ROTIS!!!!!!!!!!!! stewed potatoes and meat.... yuuummmmmm.............
9) l'Altro Buca, West End (1906 Haro St)
Even though the valet boy was carrying a text book and looked like he was going to steal my car instead of park it, the food and wine were delicious and I almost died! I think I had lamb again... but then again, I think all four girls shared all our plates because we had to try everything! yum yum yum!!!!!! do it!!!
10) Burgoo Bistro (3096 Main St)
For a hearty home-cooked meal, try Burgoo. It always makes things better. Try the soups- they are soooo warm and cozy and velvety and soft. The grilled cheese sandwiches are like nothing you've had before. Melt away in this homey setting and feel good.
So now that I've listed my top 10 that I could think of at the top of my head at this very moment, I am going to eat something cuz I have talked myself to hunger!!! I can't believe I'm not fat.
1) Banana Leaf Malaysian Restaurant on Broadway (820 W Broadway)
This location is the original and most authentic. The caramalized black cod and sambal green beans are my fave items, as is the pineapple fried rice... seafood lovers, enjoy this twist on your fave underwater foods!
2) Guu with Garlic on Robson (1968 Robson St)
Izakaya lovers, you cannot miss this one! Now world-renowned, you cannot pass through Vancouver, or live here, without tasting the delicious Ebi Mayo, tuna tataki, rice stone bowls and rice-salmon miso soup!
3) Fraiche Restaurant (2240 Chippendale Rd, West Vancouver)
Set up high in the British Properties, this fancy fine-dining restaurant is worth the price! It is romantic, sophisticated, and intimate. I reco the slow-roast duck breast. Usually not my favourite "white man's" dish (typically duck breast asian-style is best), I could easily say this tops my list of duck plates. Cocktails are yummy, too.
4) Phnom Pehn, Chinatown (244 East Georgia)
Not in the fanciest part of town, but definitely a must-go. Dine or lunch with the locals with cheap, delectable eats! Best chicken wings around, and not the kind you are thinking of! Noodle bowls with a side of soup are also delish, and make sure you try one of the fruit smoothies! You will not be disappointed... although... if you're expecting a clean, good service type place, you're in for a surprise. Then again, it IS clean and has good service if you're talking asian service.
5) Raglan's Bistro, North Vancouver (15 Lonsdale)
Just up the street from the harbour, Raglan's is a totally cool, caribbean- style cafe. Saturday morning cartoons with free coffee, or late night fishbowl-size drinks at night with hockey on the wide screens, Raglan's is a place to chill and hang with the best of them. I love the weekend brunches there, and I always get the hippie hash, which is filled with baby spinach, peppers, potato squares and poached eggs. Also try the poutine.... it will be the BIGGEST POUTINE YOU'VE EVER SEEN OR EATEN. Currently, I'm the mayor of this place on FourSquare, but nobody knows it. And I keep plugging this place!
6) Global Restaurant, Yaletown (1079 Mainland)
This is a hip, cool place to be. The brunch is amazing. I always leave happy and stuffed, and have a great sense of trendy satisfaction when I've been here. mmm... angel food cake pancakes.... I know, I've already blogged of this place once before. But it's also a great place to hang at night on the other side, After Glow, for drinks and chillin' after you've slept off your food coma.
7) Quattro or Q4 (1 Lonsdale Ave or 2611 West 4th Ave)
Best Italian food. I've had the pasta and the lamb and I absolutely die everytime I do. When they have their pasta specials for $10, I make my resos straight away (twice in one week this year!).
8) Riddim' 'n Spice (1945 Commerical Dr)
My fave hole in the wall!! actually, they redecorated recently, and I have to say, verrrryy niiice! I HEART ROTIS!!!!!!!!!!!! stewed potatoes and meat.... yuuummmmmm.............
9) l'Altro Buca, West End (1906 Haro St)
Even though the valet boy was carrying a text book and looked like he was going to steal my car instead of park it, the food and wine were delicious and I almost died! I think I had lamb again... but then again, I think all four girls shared all our plates because we had to try everything! yum yum yum!!!!!! do it!!!
10) Burgoo Bistro (3096 Main St)
For a hearty home-cooked meal, try Burgoo. It always makes things better. Try the soups- they are soooo warm and cozy and velvety and soft. The grilled cheese sandwiches are like nothing you've had before. Melt away in this homey setting and feel good.
So now that I've listed my top 10 that I could think of at the top of my head at this very moment, I am going to eat something cuz I have talked myself to hunger!!! I can't believe I'm not fat.
Funny thing that Google does
The funny thing is, I've got "Dominican's Hottest Girls" ads on my blog.
I just started this blog not long ago, created a Twitter and Foursquare account, and have been on LinkedIn and Facebook for a few years now. I've begun using Google Adwords and have been checking out the latest social media advertising venues as of late.
The latest thing I've tried is Google AdSense, on this very blog. Google searches the content on this blog and finds what they think are the most relevant ads to post on my blog. If anyone clicks on it, bam! I've got money in my pocket.
So, it was funny to see that I recieved this "Domincan's Hottest Girls" ad on my blog! do you see it? I guess it's because I've been to the Dominican and posted about it. I don't know where I've ever talked about hot girls in my blog... but I guess now that I've posted about this, I am going to get a lot of ads about hot girls. Maybe I should try talking about HOT MEN. with MUSCULAR ABS.... hot men with muscular abs. we like those.
But really, I'm just curious about all this "online stuff" and am excited to see what comes next!
I just started this blog not long ago, created a Twitter and Foursquare account, and have been on LinkedIn and Facebook for a few years now. I've begun using Google Adwords and have been checking out the latest social media advertising venues as of late.
The latest thing I've tried is Google AdSense, on this very blog. Google searches the content on this blog and finds what they think are the most relevant ads to post on my blog. If anyone clicks on it, bam! I've got money in my pocket.
So, it was funny to see that I recieved this "Domincan's Hottest Girls" ad on my blog! do you see it? I guess it's because I've been to the Dominican and posted about it. I don't know where I've ever talked about hot girls in my blog... but I guess now that I've posted about this, I am going to get a lot of ads about hot girls. Maybe I should try talking about HOT MEN. with MUSCULAR ABS.... hot men with muscular abs. we like those.
But really, I'm just curious about all this "online stuff" and am excited to see what comes next!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Where are the best fashion deals near Vancouver, BC?
I will tell you.
Last weekend, I went to Seattle with my girlfriends. We always stop at the main malls along the way: Alderwood, Northgate, Seattle City Centre and SouthCentre. I've also heard great things about Bellevue mall but I've not been yet. The best cheap buys in these malls are of course Forever 21aka XXI and Love Culture. We also love the Forever 21 accessories store. Nordstrom and Victoria's Secret are not to be missed, though you will hardly find a deal here (however, VS has an awesome new cleavage bra!!!).
Where I found my best deals, though, were near Alderwood mall, just down the road, at Nordstrom Rack.
Check this out: I found Paige jeans for $79 and JBrand for $99! There were also True Religions for $99 and 7 For All Mankind (but i don't like those; they make my butt look flat).
My BFF found a Skye shirt for only $50- normally priced at around$250!! There were also a lot of BCBG dresses for under $100. The only problem with this place was having to sift through a lot of crap clothes. It is kind of like a Century 21 in New York, but with less stuff. However, the stop was definitely worth it, as I found some great deals, and I'm sure I would have found more had we had more time.
The Premium Outlets at Tulalip on Quil de Ceda is a good place to stop if you're not looking for high style name brands. There is Burberry, but that's about it. For a cheap work purse, you can check out Coach. They usually have purses between $50-$150. Nine West is great for work shoes, too. I find this outlet is better for the men- they can find runners and sport wear at adidas, puma and nike. Also of note are the children's stores- Carter's & Osh Gosh have some amazing deals.
If you're only shopping in Vancouver, I think the cheap deals are in Metrotown- you get the XXI and Zara. Another good but hit-or-miss place is Winners. I've found items I love there- tall boots from Chinese Laundry, Soia & Kyo jackets, cute polka dot luggage and bikinis. Of late, I've been noticing really cute home decor items, but that is another topic entirely!
What I have my eye out for is a discount makeup mall... not likely to see discounts on Urban Decay or Bobbi Brown anytime soon, eh?
I do subscribe to online discount stores like Hautelook, Rue lala and Beyond the Rack. Sometimes they have some good makeup deals, but I usually find I only want one item and it is not worth the shipping price.
Last weekend, I went to Seattle with my girlfriends. We always stop at the main malls along the way: Alderwood, Northgate, Seattle City Centre and SouthCentre. I've also heard great things about Bellevue mall but I've not been yet. The best cheap buys in these malls are of course Forever 21aka XXI and Love Culture. We also love the Forever 21 accessories store. Nordstrom and Victoria's Secret are not to be missed, though you will hardly find a deal here (however, VS has an awesome new cleavage bra!!!).
Where I found my best deals, though, were near Alderwood mall, just down the road, at Nordstrom Rack.
Check this out: I found Paige jeans for $79 and JBrand for $99! There were also True Religions for $99 and 7 For All Mankind (but i don't like those; they make my butt look flat).
My BFF found a Skye shirt for only $50- normally priced at around$250!! There were also a lot of BCBG dresses for under $100. The only problem with this place was having to sift through a lot of crap clothes. It is kind of like a Century 21 in New York, but with less stuff. However, the stop was definitely worth it, as I found some great deals, and I'm sure I would have found more had we had more time.
The Premium Outlets at Tulalip on Quil de Ceda is a good place to stop if you're not looking for high style name brands. There is Burberry, but that's about it. For a cheap work purse, you can check out Coach. They usually have purses between $50-$150. Nine West is great for work shoes, too. I find this outlet is better for the men- they can find runners and sport wear at adidas, puma and nike. Also of note are the children's stores- Carter's & Osh Gosh have some amazing deals.
If you're only shopping in Vancouver, I think the cheap deals are in Metrotown- you get the XXI and Zara. Another good but hit-or-miss place is Winners. I've found items I love there- tall boots from Chinese Laundry, Soia & Kyo jackets, cute polka dot luggage and bikinis. Of late, I've been noticing really cute home decor items, but that is another topic entirely!
What I have my eye out for is a discount makeup mall... not likely to see discounts on Urban Decay or Bobbi Brown anytime soon, eh?
I do subscribe to online discount stores like Hautelook, Rue lala and Beyond the Rack. Sometimes they have some good makeup deals, but I usually find I only want one item and it is not worth the shipping price.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Travel Deals and tips
Just thought I'd update this blog a bit with some travel deals I've found throughout my travel research.
One site that's great for flights between Canada- National and Canada- US is http://www.westjet.com/. For instance, right now they have some great seat sales (guess who's going to san fran?) for $72 one way... must book by April 8! They have sales regularly, though, so it's good to subscribe to their newsletters.
I also recommend checking out Cathay Pacific and Philippine Airlines when going to the US, becuase you can usually find a cheap rate on a nice aircraft while it's enroute to another country.
For flight travel to Europe, I always check http://www.canadian-affair.ca/ and www.redtag.ca/flights. You can find flights to London for under $700, and from there, inter-euro flights are dirt cheap! check out RyanAir.com, BMIbaby.com, tuifly.com. There are more airlines that provide cheap flights, too. I would recommend picking up a lonely planet guidebook as they are great for pointing out cheap travel, accommodations and ways to get around tourist traps & tricks (for instance, skip the long line at the Coliseum in Rome by bypassing the huge line and going to the ticket window that sells the audio guide- you get an audio guide AND entry... and you won't have to wait an hour!).
For cheap tropical vacationing, I reco selloffvacations.com- I found the best deals there.
Does anyone else have any tips and tricks for cheap travel?
One site that's great for flights between Canada- National and Canada- US is http://www.westjet.com/. For instance, right now they have some great seat sales (guess who's going to san fran?) for $72 one way... must book by April 8! They have sales regularly, though, so it's good to subscribe to their newsletters.
I also recommend checking out Cathay Pacific and Philippine Airlines when going to the US, becuase you can usually find a cheap rate on a nice aircraft while it's enroute to another country.
For flight travel to Europe, I always check http://www.canadian-affair.ca/ and www.redtag.ca/flights. You can find flights to London for under $700, and from there, inter-euro flights are dirt cheap! check out RyanAir.com, BMIbaby.com, tuifly.com. There are more airlines that provide cheap flights, too. I would recommend picking up a lonely planet guidebook as they are great for pointing out cheap travel, accommodations and ways to get around tourist traps & tricks (for instance, skip the long line at the Coliseum in Rome by bypassing the huge line and going to the ticket window that sells the audio guide- you get an audio guide AND entry... and you won't have to wait an hour!).
For cheap tropical vacationing, I reco selloffvacations.com- I found the best deals there.
Does anyone else have any tips and tricks for cheap travel?
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Props to The Keg- Yaletown, Vancouver
Hey, have you been to the new Keg in Yaletown, Vancouver? The restaurant is very nice, especially the rooftop patio. My boyfriend and I sat out there, under cover, under the warmth of the fireplaces and heat lamps, watching the rain beat against the windows. Some parts of the patio were open to the rain, but the rain drops never came near us.
The restaurant is 3 floors, all accessible by elevator or stairs. The service is friendly and the food was really good. I always get the same thing at The Keg- the classic Prime Rib dinner- medium rare, with garlic mashed potatoes and veggies. The reason for this is because I don't like steak. I don't like sirloin. I don't really like red-neck meat. But I will eat a fancy meat at Hy's or Gotham's. I also ate a nice steak at Morton's, but did I hear correctly that it's closed down in Vancouver?
Back to the Keg. It's a great place for a romantic dinner (we went on a Sunday night, so it was quiet and intimate) or lively drinks with friends. The theme of the restaurant (FIRE) is encapsulated on each floor via fireplaces, warm air, dark wood and simulated fancy fire pits.
Great job, people! Pass on the gift certificates!
The restaurant is 3 floors, all accessible by elevator or stairs. The service is friendly and the food was really good. I always get the same thing at The Keg- the classic Prime Rib dinner- medium rare, with garlic mashed potatoes and veggies. The reason for this is because I don't like steak. I don't like sirloin. I don't really like red-neck meat. But I will eat a fancy meat at Hy's or Gotham's. I also ate a nice steak at Morton's, but did I hear correctly that it's closed down in Vancouver?
Back to the Keg. It's a great place for a romantic dinner (we went on a Sunday night, so it was quiet and intimate) or lively drinks with friends. The theme of the restaurant (FIRE) is encapsulated on each floor via fireplaces, warm air, dark wood and simulated fancy fire pits.
Great job, people! Pass on the gift certificates!
Jake, the hunky Bachelor
I loved Jake in The Bachelorette. Some people don't, I guess because he's 'too perfect.' Wow, those people get a thrill from deprivation, huh? "No, I can't like him... he's too PERFECT." Um, that sounds like total crap to me!! What that says to me is, "I'm not good enough to be with him." Perhaps a form of self-loathing, no?
I could be wrong. I mean, I suppose I'm on the other side... you know, the perfect side. OK, I'm just KIDDING! Get over it.
ANYWAY. Jake is super cute and so are a few of the girls. Definitely not Rozlyn, Miss Most Embarrasing Reality TV Figure of 2010 (and it's only January!). Lol, I'm glad there are girls out there that make us other girls look good. For instance, girls who are shameless, rude, an embarrassment to themselves and hit on other girls' boyfriends, even though they have been SHUT DOWN many times... you know, the nasty whoorish ones. I didn't say this is from personal experience, did I?
ANYWAY. Back to the girls I like on the Bachelor. They would be: Tenley and Ali. They're the cutest (Tenley being more pretty than Ali) and well-dressed. I had started out liking Elizabeth until she pulled that fake 'no kissing' crap. Lady, I can see through you games and fake hair colour (but I do admit it's a good colour on you- maybe just natural-ize it a bit more with softer tones).
Sometimes, I can't believe how dumb boys are. Even though Jake is a total catch, he still thinks with his other head. For example, "wow Rozlyn is brushing her boobs against my arm!! I think she really likes me and is here for me!" Dude... ...at least it was figured out for him in the end, even though it did leave him to sad and disappointed... but man does he look yummy!
Who are your fave girls and what do you think of Jake?
I could be wrong. I mean, I suppose I'm on the other side... you know, the perfect side. OK, I'm just KIDDING! Get over it.
ANYWAY. Jake is super cute and so are a few of the girls. Definitely not Rozlyn, Miss Most Embarrasing Reality TV Figure of 2010 (and it's only January!). Lol, I'm glad there are girls out there that make us other girls look good. For instance, girls who are shameless, rude, an embarrassment to themselves and hit on other girls' boyfriends, even though they have been SHUT DOWN many times... you know, the nasty whoorish ones. I didn't say this is from personal experience, did I?
ANYWAY. Back to the girls I like on the Bachelor. They would be: Tenley and Ali. They're the cutest (Tenley being more pretty than Ali) and well-dressed. I had started out liking Elizabeth until she pulled that fake 'no kissing' crap. Lady, I can see through you games and fake hair colour (but I do admit it's a good colour on you- maybe just natural-ize it a bit more with softer tones).
Sometimes, I can't believe how dumb boys are. Even though Jake is a total catch, he still thinks with his other head. For example, "wow Rozlyn is brushing her boobs against my arm!! I think she really likes me and is here for me!" Dude... ...at least it was figured out for him in the end, even though it did leave him to sad and disappointed... but man does he look yummy!
Who are your fave girls and what do you think of Jake?
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
First off, Punta Cana is strictly a tourist town. Don't expect any sort of cultural revelation. Although, I did trek off-path once, and ended up in a sketchy alley way, where there were only men selling things, groups of men, and a crippled man limping towards me slowly. I was in my bikini.
I was just looking for my boyfriend! I didn't know the luscious beach would end and turn into razor-sharp sand! Anyway, I quickly turned back from there, realizing I was only heading out of the resort area.
The resort, Grand Palladium Palace, is huge. The reviews weren't lying. It took us over an hour to walk around the inside perimeter of the resort. There is a trolley that comes around every "10 minutes" or so to cart tourists around. The only negative part about this, is it gives the dirty old men more time to look you up and down.
There were about 17 restaurants to choose from at the resort. My favourite place to eat was the buffet. Not the Italian place, not the seafood place (ech!), not the Brazilian place. The buffet. And the buffet's ice cream machine. I actually snuck in after-hours to hit up that machine. Too bad they took out the ice cream.
The beach, as you can expect, is gorgeous. The sand is off-white, but clean and soft. The waters are, of course, blue and beautiful. I did swim with the sharks (they are a species with no teeth) and stingrays (they did de-sting them). I loved snorkeling in the deep sea- I even got to hold a little fish in the palm of my hand!
It was a great time, but as I always say, 7 days of all-inclusive is one day too many.
On to the next adventure! (Sun Peaks next weekend, Egypt in 35 days!).
I was just looking for my boyfriend! I didn't know the luscious beach would end and turn into razor-sharp sand! Anyway, I quickly turned back from there, realizing I was only heading out of the resort area.
The resort, Grand Palladium Palace, is huge. The reviews weren't lying. It took us over an hour to walk around the inside perimeter of the resort. There is a trolley that comes around every "10 minutes" or so to cart tourists around. The only negative part about this, is it gives the dirty old men more time to look you up and down.
There were about 17 restaurants to choose from at the resort. My favourite place to eat was the buffet. Not the Italian place, not the seafood place (ech!), not the Brazilian place. The buffet. And the buffet's ice cream machine. I actually snuck in after-hours to hit up that machine. Too bad they took out the ice cream.
The beach, as you can expect, is gorgeous. The sand is off-white, but clean and soft. The waters are, of course, blue and beautiful. I did swim with the sharks (they are a species with no teeth) and stingrays (they did de-sting them). I loved snorkeling in the deep sea- I even got to hold a little fish in the palm of my hand!
It was a great time, but as I always say, 7 days of all-inclusive is one day too many.
On to the next adventure! (Sun Peaks next weekend, Egypt in 35 days!).
SHERLOCK HOLMES
Ok, since when, or has ever, Sherlock Holmes been a sexy man? Um, hello??? Robert Downey Jr. is too sexy to be a Sherlock. Reading about Sherlock Holmes as a child, I always thought he was an older man, a very wise man, with greying hair. And what about Watson? Um, HELLO!! JUDE LAW?? He is definitely way too sexy.
I don't think their roles played out to their full sexy factor.
Not only this, but I found the movie to be incredibly boring. I fell asleep the first 15 minutes, only to awaken and have no idea what was going on. Which turned out to be OK, since I could follow along the simple plot, anyhow.
There was good character development for the main villain, Lord Blackwood (I think that's his character name)... but I wish Holmes wasn't played out to be such a goof.
And despite the fact that I LOVE Rachel McAdams, I don't think her role as a vampy criminal did her justice, either.
Hey, I didn't hate the movie... I just didn't love it. Shoulda watched Alvin and the Chipmunks- the Squeakquel, instead!
I don't think their roles played out to their full sexy factor.
Not only this, but I found the movie to be incredibly boring. I fell asleep the first 15 minutes, only to awaken and have no idea what was going on. Which turned out to be OK, since I could follow along the simple plot, anyhow.
There was good character development for the main villain, Lord Blackwood (I think that's his character name)... but I wish Holmes wasn't played out to be such a goof.
And despite the fact that I LOVE Rachel McAdams, I don't think her role as a vampy criminal did her justice, either.
Hey, I didn't hate the movie... I just didn't love it. Shoulda watched Alvin and the Chipmunks- the Squeakquel, instead!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)