Category: Lifestyle

Roma Boots is Giving Poverty The Boot

Community Fashion Giving Lifestyle

Roma Boots is Giving Poverty The Boot

I love my new Roma Boots, perfect for this wet season and best of all, Roma Boots is a socially conscious  company, merging fashion with philanthropy by donating a new pair to impoverished children living in cold and wet climates for every pair sold. How great is that?

Their mission is to bring impoverished children throughout the world hope, love, and lasting change through aid and education. For every pair of boots sold, a new pair is donated to a child in need. Additionally, ten percent of all proceeds funds educational initiatives around the world. Roma was founded in 2010 by Samuel Bistrian, who wanted to combine his love of fashion and philanthropy to help children in his home country of Romania.

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Roma’s ultimate goal is not only to provide aid, but to educate. By doing so we will empower them to contribute their gifts & talents to society, eradicate poverty as a condition and a state of mind to make this world a better place.

Roma was founded by Romanian Samuel Bistrian in 2010 and is amor spelled backwards, which means love. It is also the proper term for the gypsy people, who are generally a poor, marginalized population that Roma initially provided most of their donations to.

Over the last five years, thousands of Roma Boots have been donated to children in need in 25 countries on 5 continents. Let’s help spread the word in Canada.

Roma Boots Canada has TWO collections

The Classic  Collection featuring 7 styles from a Chelsea Kale Lace to a whimiscal Short Turquoise Floral boot.

The Fashion Collection featuring 15 styles, with just the right boot for everyone from an Opinca Kale lace-up to a Classic Black Croc

My favourite is the Opinca Kale lace-up Roma Boot from their Fashion Collection, which go perfect with my (you got it) favourite jeans . I was thinking about purchasing another brand of boots, however when I read about how with every pair of Roma Boots sold, a brand new pair of Roma Boots is donated to street children and orphans around the world – Asia, Americas, Europe and Africa, I knew which boot brand I had to get. It’s important to me to support companies who are socially conscious and are making a difference in the world.

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I’ve had my boots for close to a week now, loving every minute of comfort and style they provide. And as I mentioned before, the best thing about my new boots is I can help to change the world, one pair of boots at a time. Thanks Roma Boots!

Roma Boots Canada Digital Footprint

 

Twitter Party

Celebrate Spring. We are #GivingPovertyTheBoot Twitter Party.

Date: Thursday, April 27, 2017
Time: 8:00pm ET
Hosts: @ShesConnected (asking questions) @RomaBootsCanada
Guests: @SamuelBistrian, @WorldVisionCan
Hashtag: #GivingPovertyTheBoot
Moderators: @SimplyLindaBlog, @InfluentialMama, @ShesInfluential@BloggerWomen, @SherrieMae23, @HomewithAneta, @OlderMommyStill
Prizes: 5 pairs of Roma Boots
No RSVP
Canada Only excluding the Province of Quebec

Anyone can participate in the Twitter Party but only Canadians excluding those in the province of Quebec can win prizes.

Twitter Party Newbies

New to twitter parties? Don’t worry – we’ve got your back. Just login to http://twubs.com/givingpovertytheboot with your twitter account and it will make it easier for you!

DISCLAIMER: I was compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.

Perrier-Jouët Champagne Pop-up Patio at Four Seasons Hotel Toronto

Lifestyle

Perrier-Jouët Champagne Pop-up Patio at Four Seasons Hotel Toronto

Who loves champagne and movies? For many of us girls, this is practically our Friday night ritual, am I right? Well, forget the ratty PJ’s, the worn sofa, and those cheap two-dollar bottles. How about getting a bit dressed up and lounging in a magical secret garden while sipping on some quality champagne for a change?

Going on now until September 18th, Corby Spirit and Wine has teamed up with Four Seasons Hotel Toronto to celebrate the 41st Toronto International Film Festival.

Smack in the heart of the historic village of Yorkville, the patio at d|bar has been transformed into an enchanting outdoor oasis. The film festival can get a little overwhelming, so this little space is specifically designed to offer a serene escape from the crowd. Teatro Verde has designed this little, hidden paradise with lush palms and florals – the perfect place to relax before or after a movie screening (and also sure to be a huge hit with the Instagrammers!).

The patio features custom Perrie-Jouët décor surrounded by lush palms and florals. This summer's most Instagrammable hidden terrace, L'Eden, is the ultimate spot to lounge all day or enjoy champagne before or after a movie screening. (CNW Group/Corby Spirit and Wine Communications)

L'Eden by Perrier-Jouët is an enchanting outdoor hideaway at Yorkville's d|bar patio that'-s the perfect setting to sip champagne and enjoy "bubbles and bites" inspired cuisine. (CNW Group/Corby Spirit and Wine Communications)

And oh yes, we mentioned champagne earlier. d|bar will be serving Perrier-Jouët’s iconic Belle Epoque 2007 vintage champagne. This iconic champagne has been one of the finest vintages in the past 20 years, with notes of “magnolia, honeysuckle and citrus, clothed in just-ripe pear and peach notes with a hint of minerality.” Enjoy it on its own or in one of the delicious bubbly champagne cocktails created by famed chef Daniel Boulud.

Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque 2007 is one of the world's most iconic champagnes. (CNW Group/Corby Spirit and Wine Communications)

To accompany the champagne, a new all-day summer “bubbles and bites” menu designed to complement the rich aromas of the vintage Belle Epoque will be available. These enticing bites include oysters with salmon roe, grilled octopus with lemon chutney, beef tartare, and goat cheese sachel.

This little pop-up oasis will be available until Sunday, September 18th. The patio is open daily from 11:00 am until closing time. No reservations required – it’s on a first come, first serve basis only.

Will you show up to drink some champagne? This is an event of the summer not to be missed!

Keep up to date: Follow @FSToronto on social media and the hashtag #PerrierJouet

Indigo Launches RECO, a Book Recommendation App

Lifestyle

Indigo Launches RECO, a Book Recommendation App

Indigo has launched  RECO, the first iOS mobile application that provides users with access to a  global community of friends and influencers to  discover, share, capture, and discuss books through an easy-to-use and beautifully designed mobile experience.  RECO’s book recommendations are curated and shared by a trusted community of friends and experts rather than through the impersonal suggestions of an algorithm, as is widely used by other services.… Continue reading

Be Inspired and Celebrate Summer with the #CTWOWGuide

Decor Lifestyle Shopping Twitter Party

Be Inspired and Celebrate Summer with the #CTWOWGuide

I love catalogues! Are you a catalogue addict like me? As a little girl, I loved when a new one would come into the house. They would always inspire me, and I would dream big while my mom shopped till she could drop. This year I was so excited when Canadian Tire brought back its catalogue. Now this a catalogue that keeps up with technology and gives me tips and tricks and so much inspiration!

CTWOWGuideCover

First of all, I love that the catalogue is back. I missed it.  I have been loving having the catalogue at home and flipping through the pages gaining inspiration and ideas page by page. I also love the fact that I can take it with me anywhere. Yes, I have even had a bath with my catalogue. It was great to relax and plan my new backyard patio!

 

Back in April Canadian Tire sent out a 200 page catalogue for the first time in 10 years. As I said, I have been loving having mine with me here at home. Did the Wow Guide arrive in your mailbox? It had over 1000 products that are perfect for spring and summer! These pages are different, though. It is not your typical catalogue! You can engage with your catalogue to learn more and do more!

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Canadian Tire brought the catalogue into this century age giving us so many exciting ways to engage with the catalogue!  I love my ability to ” hover and discover”. Did you know you can hover your phone over the catalogue and get digital content? Genius right!?  It matches up the image you are hovering over with all the content you need right at that moment. There are so many things for you to find when you hover! I love that all I have to do is hover, and I get so much amazing content. The app lets you find everything you may want to know! If you have not hovered with the Canadian Tire app, you are missing out! From videos that allow you to see a product in action, to inspiration pages to grilling tips and tricks Canadian Tire has thought about everything! They have brought the wow factor!

So you want to be wowed! Here is what will WOW you:

  • You will find even more products, Yes there are 1200 in the catalogue, but there are even more online. Make sure you check them all out!
  • You get amazing how-tos! There is so much you can learn about the products and even see them in action.
  • You can not only find out how much the product is but if it is in stock at your store and even which aisle it is in making shopping an easy trip.
  • You can check out the latest in designer trends.
  • Browse the galleries of photos and get inspired. This is one of my favourite things to do.

WOW-Guide-Digital-View-768x1008 (1)

The WOW Guide is an amazing way for Canadians to see the best of what a physical store has to offer, and with the amazing new technology, also gives us lots of great add-ons! We can now shop in a whole new way. This “phyigtal” world is new and exciting as it allows us easy access to our local Canadian Tire store straight from the comfort of home.

I love shopping from home!

 

With over 1000 items in the Wow Guide, we can easily find fantastic new products and classic favourites to help us prepare for summer.  Whether it’s the stylish new wick furniture for the patio, lanterns to light up the night to a new grill to a booce game they have it all. This summer my backyard will be the place to hang out!

What is on your list for summer?

You know where to go if you need some inspiration. Grab your WOW Guide.

Join us on Thursday, June 22nd for to celebrate Summer with Canadian Tire and the summer inspiration that comes from the Wow Guide!

#CTWOWGUIDE

 

Happy #Friyay – Here’s a #CincoDeMayo Cocktail

DIY Holidays Lifestyle Recipes

Happy #Friyay – Here’s a #CincoDeMayo Cocktail

I love any excuse to get together with friends! So this weekend, it’s time to celebrate Cinco de Mayo! Cinco de Mayo is held to celebrate Mexican army’s victory over the French army in the Battle of Puebla. Even though we’re a far ways away from the Mexican border, it’s a lovely excuse to sip margaritas, eat tacos, and listen to Mariachi.

No matter what kind of Margarita you’re making, here are some tips courtesy Bon Appetit for how to get the best Margarita EVER!

1. Squeeze it
The single most important ingredient is fresh lime juice. Use any gadget you like–just please don’t twist open a screw cap. For parties, juice the limes ahead and fill a squeeze bottle to keep at the ready.

2. Sweeten up
Notice there’s no triple sec in our recipe? That’s not a typo–and no, you won’t miss it. We prefer light agave syrup for its complementary flavors (and shared origin) with tequila.

3. Go for silver
Always drink tequila made from 100 percent blue agave. It just tastes better. In Margaritas, use only blanco (a.k.a. silver or white) tequilas, which have a peppery, vegetal kick that won’t get buried when mixed. Save your aged reposados for sipping.

4. Take it with a grain of…
Salt brings out the flavor in everything, but too much can be overwhelming. So we only salt halfway around the rim and are careful not to get any in the drink.

Espolon Tequila Blanco

This silver Espolon tequila from the LCBO has always been one of my favorites to make cocktails with. What’s yours? I would love to try some new ones but this is such an old classic I never branch out!

What kind of Margarita are you making? One of my favorite variations on the classic cocktail is to add a little pomegranate juice – it makes it less acidic and more refreshing. For the brave ones – jalapenos! The LCBO stocks some Jalapeno-infused tequila or you could put a pepper in at the end.

How are you celebrating Friday? Let me know how these tips go by commenting below or tweeting to me at @ShesInfluential

This Weekend in #Toronto

Lifestyle

This Weekend in #Toronto

 

Friday, April 29th

It’s the day everyone has been waiting for – Views from the 6 is being released! Drake’s newest project has been teased about for months- since he first dropped his ‘Hotline Bling’ track last October, and “Summer 6teen” in February, there’s been no concrete date for his newest albums drop! But this week, the Toronto rapper dropped the album artwork for his cover album which means – it’s time for the actual release! Expect Drake to be blasting EVERYWHERE this weekend!

The Drake Hotel (no relation to the rapper), is hosting a Views from the 6 listening party – and yoga session on May 1st! It’s taking place at the Drake Underground, and is $10 at the door. All proceeds go to the Raptors Kids Foundation

Also on Friday, it’s the annual Friday Night Live at the ROM! This late night event will celebrate tattoos – the culture behind them and some brand new exhibits at the ROM! DJs, delicious pop-up food stands, drinks, and art! What better way to spend a Friday night? You can buy your tickets here

 

Saturday, April 30th

Do you like ice cream cones made out of donuts? Do you like pulled duck tacos? Do you like fresh pasta? The food truck market at the Evergreen Brickworks Market is the place for you! In addition to the year round weekend farmers market, the Brickworks market is now offering FOOD TRUCKS! There’s about six food trucks offering up delicious grub, as well as fresh coffee and fresh lemonade!

The market is accessible by bus or by car (or by a BEAUTIFUL thirty minute hike from Davisville station!)

 

May 5th

Okay, this isn’t technically the weekend, but next Thursday is Cinco de Mayo! The city is celebrating the Day of the Dead with Mexican-themed events across the city.

At the Drake hotel, chef Donnie Masterson will be cooking up Mexican inspired burgers while tequila will be pouring.

King West patio (trust me – it’s the best patio in the city!) El Caballito will be hosting a whole weekend of activities!

On May 1st, they’ll host a Los Arrangos tasting. May 2nd and 3rd will have Margarita specials, May 4th will boast an all day Mexican brunch and May 5th? Tacos!

IKEA is partnering with the hottest fashion designers for new 2016 collections

Decor Lifestyle

IKEA is partnering with the hottest fashion designers for new 2016 collections

How much do you love IKEA? I first fell in love with IKEA when I was decorating my very first apartment. I loved the student-friendly prices! But the design? It didn’t look like student-priced pieces!

That’s why I got so excited when I found out about IKEA’s new collaboration with three European designers. I love going to IKEA – they always have the perfect additions to my home from picture frames to throw pillows.

This year, IKEA is collaborating with some groundbreaking  designers from across the globe. Menswear designer Katie Eary, fashion designer Walter Van Beirendonck, and textiles designer Martin Bergstrom.  This is the first time the retailer giant has merged high-fashion with IKEA’s minimalist interior design.

Lucy Frechette, PR Manager for IKEA Canada says  “The Limited Edition Collections allow us to explore the unknown, try new things with fashion experts bringing excitement to homes across Canada”.

Giltig is Katie Eary’s collection. The London streetwear designers is bringing soft furnishings and dinnerware with fish, cat, and eyeball prints. I think Katie Eary is my favorite – I love the watercolored fish plates. They would be such a wonderful addition to a summer tabletop.

Glodande is a collab with Walter Van Beirendonck plays with fabrics and ceramics. It’s adorable illustrations imprinted on ceramics and throws. High-voltage colours and robot design are some of my favorite – it’s so whimsical.

 

Svartan is the collab with Martin Bergstrom, merges modern Indan and Swedish design. I love the monochrome nature of the collection – it’s very arthouse. I’m definitely going to pick up the paint-drip and marbled pillows. How adorable are the hand-crafted ceramic bowls?

 

“We can learn a lot from how fashion designers work with colours, prints, patterns and shapes. They constantly have to re-invent themselves and what they do – and are used to working in the forefront of pattern and colour development,” says Henrik Most, Creative Leader, IKEA of Sweden.

GILTIG will be on sale in all IKEA stores across Canada in April, with GLÖDANDE following in June and SVÄRTAN in September.

Why are 84% of Women Missing Out On Sports?

Lifestyle

Why are 84% of Women Missing Out On Sports?

Did you grow up playing sports? Maybe it was a gymnastics class on a Thursday night? Or little league baseball on a Sunday afternoon? I grew up playing sports and I LOVED it. Even when we didn’t get the win, I had a blast spending the day with an incredibly team.

But having all these wonderful memories haven’t been an option for most Canadian women. In a study conducted by Canada’s Dairy Farmers and Canadian Association for Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS), entitled Women in Sport—Fuelling a Lifetime of Participation, they found that 84% of women are missing out on the benefits of sports.

“As champions of healthy living and playing an active role in their communities, Canada’s dairy farmers are addressing inequalities through the Fuelling Women Champions (FWC) initiative” says Caroline Emond, executive director, Dairy Farmers of Canada. “Launching this research publication is not only a significant stride for addressing pertinent social issues, but it is step in the right direction to propose actionable solutions and get people thinking about what they can do to change the situation.”

Among the study’s key findings:

  • 41 per cent of girls between the ages of 3-17 years do not participate in sport—and this jumps to 84 per cent in adult women;
  • Only 24 per cent of all Athletic Director positions and 17 per cent of all head coaching spots in the CIS are female;
  • Only 38 per cent of senior staff and 29 per cent of board members are female, among national and multi-sport organizations;
  • A review of programming data from Canada’s primary national sports networks, concluding that of approximately 35,000 hours in programming in 2014, only 4 per cent went towards the coverage of women’s sports, with over half of that percentage due to women’s professional tennis coverage and the Sochi Olympics;
  • Only 5 per cent of the total area of top national print media sports coverage researched was dedicated to women;
    • While only 24 per cent featured any coverage at all;
  • The representation of women in sport commonly centres around femininity, rather than highlighting their athletic accomplishments.

The Fuelling Women Champions movement is campaigning to make sports accessible to girls and women nationwide!