Tag Archives: Special event
Remembrance Day 2013 – A Tribute
As a little girl, I distinctly remember honouring Remembrance Day at school, as we observed 1 entire minute of silence at exactly 11:00 am (the 11th hour of the 11th day on the 11th month), and while I understood it had to do with events that happened long before I was born, this commemoration was still somewhat bewildering to me.
Many years later, and while I’m not at school any longer, I still continue the same yearly tradition of observing that 1 minute of silence, but now I have a deeper grasp of what it’s all about, and on this day in particular, my heart is both heavy with the knowledge of all the sacrifices made by these fallen heros, and so incredibly grateful for the privileges I now enjoy. It’s ALL because of their sacrifices — lest we forget.
The brave and honourable men and women who fought in these wars, believed in a greater cause: freedom. It’s so easy to lose sight of everything you have, until you stop for just 1 minute and think of everything you might have never known. Because of their sacrifices.
Lest we forget – I remember, and honour.
WMCFW 2013 – A Cinderella experience …
This past March 21st, I was privileged to receive a day of fashion and beauty pampering at one of Canada’s most prestigious events of its kind, World MasterCard Fashion Week Toronto (WMCFW). This story began with a coach limo ride to the airport, a quick flight to the heart of Toronto, then another coach limo ride to the WMCFW tents – massive, heated & chandeliered structures. From the minute I arrived, I was treated like visiting royalty, being personally met & escorted at the door to be then whisked off towards the inner sanctum: backstage.
The heart and soul of these types of events, “backstage” is where the magic happens: hair, nails, makeup and finally, the shows – experiencing just a day of the chaos & madness that takes place before a show, gave me new-found respect for the incredible effort and teamwork I witnessed from all involved, most notably the various PR whose job it is to ensure that figurative fires are put out, all needs met, and that everything runs smoothly and on time. Hats off to you guys – seriously!
My first stop was at the Redken hair station (the official hair sponsor of WMCFW), where my usually straight hair was given beach-y waves – I totally loved it, and the style seemed to only get better as the day progressed. PS: Thank you Rose, Adam & Tracy; a picture I took of us seems to have gone AWOL …
I was then taken to the Essie station (the official nail sponsor of WMCFW) , where it was my personal thrill to meet Essie’s lead nail stylist, Rita Remark – talented, gracious, funny, eloquent and drop-dead gorgeous – who then proceeded to give ME a manicure, recreating one of the looks she developed for an earlier show. Oh. My God.
But it gets better; Rita then asked me to unveil the nail look she created for Rudsak, a show I was to attend later on. Honoured (and dying) to rip the paper off the nail board, was a “moment” – made me feel personally connected to it all. Thank you so much, Rita! ♥
Once my nails were done, it was off to makeup, where one of the Maybelline artists (the official makeup sponsor of WMCFW) added some dramatically thicker liner to my upper lids. Actually, she mentioned that she wasn’t sure if I needed anything done, as she thought I looked “perfect” — words a beauty lover such as myself, never gets tired of … lol!
Fangirl moment #2 came when I was given the opportunity to meet Grace Lee, Maybelline’s Lead Makeup Artist, and watch her in action as she gave a step-by-step demonstration of the look she created for the Rudsak show. An incredibly talented lady with a unique vision, and just so rocker-chic!
Time for the show …
How fitting is it that I, a beauty blogger from Montréal, attended a fashion show by a Montréal designer? Meant to be, right? Rudsak, the line created by Evik Asatoorian featured edgy outerwear that exemplified function, form, and beauty; suffice it to say that apart from the men’s pieces, I lusted after every single item I saw come down that runway.
Ending my day on a high note, I was then ushered into the private Sponsor’s Lounge for a celebratory glass of bubbly, accompanied by Carly (from NKPR) and Rita – and thus, my evening was complete.
A huge THANK YOU to Natasha Koifman’s team at NKPR – you guys totally rock! A special mention to Bunmi, who I did not get to meet (this time around) but has always been so incredibly supportive (and funny as hell), Katie – gorgeous, warm & so totally welcoming (we need to do lunch!), and Carly for not only “babysitting” me the entire time, but for being my show buddy! Thank you to Micah as well, for all your efforts in the planning stages.
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Also, my deepest gratitude goes out to ROI Relations, Redken, Maybelline, and of course, Essie for being a part of my Cinderella experience!
a coach for a modern-day Cinderella
Team Redken hard at work transforming my hair – loved the beach-y waves!
top 2 photos: rows upon rows of Maybelline cosmetics at the makeup stations
bottom left: a view of the hair stations, sponsored by Redken
bottom right: Essie lead nail stylist Rita Remark’s kit – be still my lacquer-beating heart!
I was so honoured to be asked by Rita to be the one to unveil the nail board, showing the look she created for the Rudsak show (in case you’re wondering: 2 layers of Essie’s Mink Muffs with a layer of Matte About You on top)
Having a total fangirl moment as Rita applied the look on my nails that she created for the Line Knitwear show: Essie’s Armed and Ready as a base which served to outline one coat of Penny Talk, with a layer of Matte About You to finish – so edgy and avant-garde!
PS: check out Rita’s jewelry – to die for!
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with Rita Remark
Holding court at her own personal station, Maybelline lead makeup artist Grace Lee explains the look she created for Rudsak upon on of the models for the upcoming show
Check out the nails the model is wearing in the bottom left photo – Rita’s creation!
Bottom middle photo: a soon-to-be released new dual-brush mascara by Maybelline
bottom right: the simple, clean & flawless finished look
with Grace Lee (unplanned motorcycle jacket twins …)
Getting all primped out, thanks to my makeup artist, Kat
top left photo showcases some brand new & some upcoming Maybelline releases
the Rudsak show
bottom left photo: Take a look at the hordes of media!
bottom right photo: media work stations – getting the word out ASAP!
Two of my fabulous “fairy Godmothers” – with Katie (left), and Carly (right) of NKPR
So totally could not resist my own moment against “the wall”!
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The Essie gift bag, filled with upcoming collections & amazing goodies, all in signature purple neon
The Maybelline gift bag
2 new ColorSensational Vivids from Maybelline: Vibrant Manadarin and Vivid Rose, as well as the new Master Smoky pencil (to be released in June)
Capping off the day with a glass of bubbly at the Sponsor’s Lounge
Some of the gorgeous gowns on display for the 4th annual ‘Dare to Wear Love Fashion Gala’ that closed Fashion Week – creations made from African fabric by 25 top Canadian designers, and modelled by influencers, celebrities and performers alike, in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation to help eradicate the AIDS pandemic in Africa
Goodbye, Toronto …
A tired, but so very happy beauty blogger!
Last word: What an adventure! It was totally amazing to watch how a fashion show comes together, and seeing firsthand how the various departments – hair, makeup & nails, all work in tandem to ensure that no detail is overlooked, was eye-opening, to say the least. My first time seeing a live fashion show (the ones I participated in as a model when I was younger, don’t count!) was an extraordinary sensory experience: music, clothing, beauty, flashbulbs! Before I knew it, I was on a plane headed back home and left wondering if I had dreamed it all – but I have the pictures to prove I didn’t. The only problem? I want to do this again!
Once again, thank you to everyone involved for making this happen – giant panda hugs!
… hello, Montréal!
*Disclosure: Product samples provided by the company/PR for my unbiased consideration
Korres – a special event!
On Wednesday, January 23, 2013, I was invited to attend an extraordinary press event hosted by the Zoï Agency in honour of Greek Cosmetics brand Korres who celebrates their 15th anniversary this year, and where it was my extreme privilege to meet co-founder Lena Korres. This event was held at Montréal’s Canadian Centre for Architecture, a museum of architecture and research housed in the Shaughnessy Mansion originally built in 1874, with many of its impressive architectural details now restored to their original state by the Centre.
EDIT: I wanted to add that Korres will actually be celebrating their 17th anniversary this year, and not their 15th as originally stated.
We were greeted by Lena Korres herself, who subsequently took the podium and entertained us with interesting details of the Korres brand’s history, beginning with the dream of “making creams” that founder George Korres originally wished for at 8 years of age. Fast forward 15 years later, and not only has that dream been realized, but this brand is quickly becoming a worldwide force to be reckoned with, as their reputation for providing organic & effective products, spreads. They’ve certainly come a long way from the production of their first product, a naturopathic cough syrup (see opening image).
Following the presentation, we then served a buffet-style luncheon consisting of traditional Greek fare with modern touches: moussaka, kebab skewers, salad with feta cheese, and several more dishes besides. The tables of the beautiful dining area, located in rooms of the original mansion with all details lovingly restored, were decorated with simple & elegant vases of vibrant red amaryllis blossoms. Finally, we were treated to desserts in the same traditional Greek style, with an assortment of mini baklava, loukoumia – powdered & jellied Greek delicacies, and cups of fresh Greek yogurt sprinkled with Greek honey, pomegranate seeds & walnuts.
I was fortunate enough to be able to spend some quality time with Lena Korres, and it was an absolute pleasure to be able to converse with her in our native Greek – it somehow made the entire event so much more personal for me, and it felt like ‘home’. As the brand’s spokesperson, they could not have chosen a better representative: eloquent, gracious and brimming with positive energy are just some of her attributes, but it is her flawless complexion that literally keeps you riveted: I want my skin to look like that! A few quick questions revealed that the only products she does use are Korres, naturally, with an emphasis on the Wild Rose daytime moisturizer, the Yoghurt range, and the Quercetin & Oak anti-aging regimen.
All too soon, the event wrapped up and saying goodbye with hugs & kisses (we are Greek – that’s what we do!), I gave Ms. Korres my word that I would definitely look her up on my next visit to Greece for that personal tour of the plant we spoke of. As a final token of appreciation, we were presented with fabulous gift bags containing an assortment of Korres products as well as a lovely glass container with a porcelain cover, which I have already put to good use on my vanity. It’s a given that I’ve already made inroads on the products we were gifted with, which happen to be some of my personal favourites.
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I hope you enjoy the following photos showing some of the highlights of the day!
Canadian Centre for Architecture
Guest of honour: Lena Korres at the podium
founder George Korres at eight years old
George Korres (center) and members of his creative/development team
original pharmaceuticals/botanicals at the Korres archives
still image of upcoming 2013 product launches
fireplace with original scrolled detail mantle, luncheon anti-chamber
a view of the spectacular architecture in the dining area
original sculpted ceiling medallion in the dining area
stacks of coffee/tea cups!
artful display of mini baklava treats
Greek yogurt cups sprinkled with Greek honey, pomegranate seeds, and walnuts
A Greek delicacy: Loukoumia – jellied dessert cubes
Korres products vignette – Wild Rose
Korres products vignette – Yoghurt
Korres products vignette – Quercetin & Oak
Korres Products vignette – assorted best sellers
invited guests enjoying the atmosphere & delicious lunch
… with my after-lunch coffee!
the simple & elegant amaryllis blossoms decorating the tables
with the charming Lena Korres – a woman of substance AND beauty
the contents of the generous gift bag – already putting everything to use!
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Final thoughts: I want to say a heartfelt thank you to Maria and Denis at Zoï Agency for including me in this event, as well as extend my delight in meeting an admirable woman such as Lena Korres. It was also wonderful getting to meet a few other bloggers from my home town and spending some time getting to know each other. This was a truly special & memorable occasion that I will cherish forever!
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Korres boutique in London, England
A very royal wedding … Greek style!
Two weeks ago today, my nephew Costa married the woman of his dreams, Jessica (who also happens to be the über-chic author of the fashion blog Westmount Fashionista). This was a wedding that took a little over a year in the planning, with no detail left overlooked and believe me, when it comes to Greeks, there are a lot of details!
- The date: Saturday, September 29th, 2012
- The venue: The Montréal Science Centre
- The church: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
My nephew Costa – the eldest of my brother’s 2 sons – has always been my “unofficial first born”, as he also happens to be the first of the new generation in our family and we all went a little nuts when he burst onto the scene; there was a lot of spoiling going on, but somehow he managed to rise above that and grow not only into the handsome young man you see here, but also one of the smartest (he’s a lawyer) and nicest people I know. He also happens to be my late father’s namesake, and they always shared the most closest bond. In honour of that relationship, my mom had a special keepsake for Costa’s wedding day: the boutonnière my father wore on his own wedding day, which my mom had split into 3 segments – one for my brother, one for Costa, and the other for Angelo, his brother and Best Man. A truly special and poignant touch!
As to the the bride’s details, I’ll leave that for Jessica to fill you in when she prepares her post on this special day. My part was limited to doing my own nails, hair and makeup, along with my mom’s manicure and makeup, and finally my sister-in-law’s makeup – and may I say that we all still looked as good at 3 am as we did at 1 pm! Not bad at all for a day full of emotions and major partying!
*I need to add here that I wound up changing my shoes 3 times that day: I began with a pair of 5 1/2″ Louboutin heels, changed into 5″ Valentino heels for the reception, and had my Sam Edelman gunmetal silver flats on by the time the meal was over – and not a moment too soon! My outfit was a Ralph Lauren Couture deep eggplant velvet halter evening gown which I dressed with a fur shrug for the church (and thank God as it wound up being a little chilly that day), and I also carried a vintage silver clutch given to me by my mother years ago. As to makeup, I test-drove many looks before finally deciding on what you see here; I will be posting a breakdown of some of items I used in a future review.
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Both Jessica and Costa decided from the very first that they were to have a traditional Greek wedding, which also included the groom walking to the church accompanied by his groomsmen, grandparents, and some close family members – good thing the church was close by! The bride and bridesmaids came by limousine, as long gowns and high heels were made for more impressive entrances!
The church, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, also holds special meaning for our family; it happens to be where Costa was baptized and where his parents got married, and the church my father – his grandfather – helped to build and devoted so much of himself to. Yet another beautiful touch falling into place …
Our family is huge – we’re Greek … enough said … and both Jessica and Costa opted to include the cousins in the wedding party; my daughter (who happens to also be Costa’s eldest first cousin) was one of the six bridesmaids – and a more stunning group of girls, I’ve yet to see. Nope…no bias here!
The venue was The Montréal Science Centre located by the port in Old Montréal, which overlooks the downtown area as well as the St. Lawrence River, and from the tastefully decorated hall, to the breathtaking flower arrangements, elegant chairs and table settings, the absolutely mouth-watering catered meal (and free-flowing alcohol – plus the traditional “moonshine” Costa’s grandfather brought … not to be discussed here!), as well as all the beautifully dressed guests in attendance, it was an evening no one will quickly forget. And the speeches; my younger nephew, Angelo, had me crying (both sad & happy tears) with his touching words. Then, there was the party … oh yes, we Greeks definitely know how to do THAT very, very well!
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I wanted to share this incredibly special moment in my family’s life with you all, and give you a glimpse as to what a traditional Greek wedding REALLY looks like – a definitively more sophisticated version of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”!
Enjoy and may this fabulous young couple be always happy, healthy and blessed! I love you both so very, very much! ♥
With the groom, my nephew Costa
With my brother and mom
Siblings: my husband & I with my brother and sister-in-law
My two handsome nephews: Costa and Angelo
A detail view of Costa’s boutonnière
At the church, awaiting the arrival of the wedding party
Costa with Angelo, his Best Man (and brother!) coming down the aisle
Finally! The bride and her parents coming down the aisle
The wedding party assembled before the altar
At the altar, joined by the “wedding crowns”
The “Dance of Isaiah” which symbolizes the couple’s first steps in Holy Matrimony
Before the priest for the final blessing (crowns still on!)
The newly wedded couple! How royal do they look, I ask you?
The newlyweds leaving the church!
Presenting: Costa & Jessica, newlyweds!
The four stunning cousins (of 6 bridesmaids) – my daughter Anna, is on the far right
Me, with the bride!
With my loves, Jessica & Costa!
Mother and daughter: gowned & ready!
With my total knock-out of a daughter, Anna
My family!
Love this one – with my amazing & HOT husband!
My gown!
The table setting – just look at those flowers! And the chairs!
Costa & Jessica’s first dance as newlyweds
The Twirl!
… and dip!
Party – Greek style! That’s me grooving on the left with my daughter on the right!
The groom doing his best Gagnam Style moves!
The Kiss
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L’Occitane en Provence new boutique … and a gift!
Attention all Montréal area beautistas: L’Occitane en Provence just opened up a free-standing boutique at Carrefour Laval, and apart from the obvious (fabulous products that smell, look and feel great), the first 100 customers at today’s grand opening, will receive a lovely gift (with a $30.00 purchase), valued at $60.00 and consisting of a woven shopping bag filled with some L’Occitane goodies:
- Verbena Shower Gel – 75 ml/2.5 fl.oz
- Verbena Body Lotion – 75 ml/2.5 fl.oz
- Cherry Blossom Soap – 50 g
- Milk Concentrate Firming & Smoothing Body Cream sample – 8 ml/0.28 fl.oz
- Precious Eye Balm sample (love this!) – 1 ml/0.03 oz
- Immortelle Precious Cream – 15 ml/0.5 oz
- Lavande Hand Cream travel size – 30 ml/1 0z
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I don’t know about you, but I’d go just for the hand cream, if nothing else — but be prepared to be seduced by everything!
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This new boutique (located across from Crate & Barrel in the mall), can be found at Carrefour Laval, 3035 boul. Le Carrefour – I really wanted to pass this along! buy tenormin online cialisnextdaydeliveryusa.com/tenormin.html no prescription
