Workout: Bring Sexy Back!!

Dear Journal,

I want sexy back. Nothing new here. And okay I admit, it was a BIG fail the first time.

For those who doesn't know yet, I've been trying to loose weight for the last year. I actually started last summer, but somehow along the way I got lost and abandoned my quest to skinnyville.  Well, well, it's not too late, right? 

So yes, I subscribed to another gym (I know... it's like my 100000th subscription)!! But this time I've been going religiously for the whole month and I finally see a result. I started to workout on April 25th and yes, I kind of feel exhausted, but somehow I feel absolutely great and healthy. I workout 5 times/week, I go to my yoga classes, I see a nutritionist and most of all, I eat healthy. I lost 5 lbs!! woot woot.

I will tell you all in my next posts. But for now, here are some good exercises to include in your workout. I really thought I was going to die at first, but with good motivation and great music you can do it. Trust me you're going to see a difference soon. Girls, the perfect booty isn't a dream anymore!

Sleep, Work, Gym, Eat, Repeat!!

Okay folks, I'm sorry. I've been negligent with my blog.

Why? I've been going to the gym like crazy lately. I mean crazy mad. 5x a week!! I definitely want sexy back! I know... I can still give you some updates, right? My apologies.

 So what's new?

Well, like I said: sleep, work, gym, eat, and repeat!! I usually hit the gym right after work for about 1.5 hour. Then I go home and prepare my lunch for the next day (yes, that's the new me. wink. wink. Frugal Jules!) and by the time I finish eating, I'm so exhausted!! I will give you more updates, I promise. Just wanted to take few minutes to say hi and yes, I'm still alive.

in progress...

My lunches: salad in a jar

To All my Single Ladies (part 2)

Okay people. I get lots of requests for more postings about my 'personal life' (a.k.a my single life). I swear, I got emails asking for updates on my singleness and the next Single Ladies posts. I get it. You all want some juicy details, I know.

So what's new?

Humm... Dating is so exhausting. It's like a job hunt!! Have you ever thought about how similar dating and a job search are? Think about it... in both cases, you're trying to find your perfect match.

You only get one chance to make a first impression. You generally know right away... If you feel chemistry, there is a second date. No chemistry? Next!

Know what you want. It's important to narrow down your preferences. You know what? I think what annoyed me the most are the picky comments like 'J, maybe you're too picky?' What's wrong with wanting to meet someone that I have things in common and with whom I'm attracted to? Why would I want to go out with someone who does not meet the criteria? Telling me I'm too picky and that I should give him another try  tells me that you don't think I'm capable of knowing my gut instincts.

Get "out there" to meet people. It's hard to find Mr. Right when you're holed up in your apartment. If you want to date, you have to take some risks: go to happy hours and even complete an online dating profile. Had few bad dates or the happy hour was boring? So what! At least, you meet new people and it allows you to better know what you do and don't want. When you're job hunting, you also need to be "out there" - networking, updating LinkedIn, etc.

Google is your BFF. Admit it, you do a Google background check before going out on a date. No? well I certainly do. A little homework never hurts when dating men with no referrals.

He's just not that into you. Single ladies rule the world (Beyonce says so), while available men are seemingly few and far between. If weeks have gone by and your phone's not ringing,  there comes a point when you have to let it go.

When you are afraid he'll never contact you again, you will be more likely to call him and be more available.
When you are afraid he'll meet someone else, you will be more likely to tolerate bad treatment in order to keep him around.
And when you are afraid he'll lose interest, you will be more likely to change for him. 

You will become DESPERATE. You don't want to be desperate, right? So just let it go.

Girlfriend, you'll survive.

Quotes to Kick-Start your Week!

Happy Monday everyone!

I don't know about you, but sometimes I just need to read something in black and white to shake off my weekend and get mentally pumped up for the week ahead.

Take a deep breath and try to think positive, energizing thoughts.

Brunch in Montreal: Régine Café

Hello folks!

First off, let me start by saying that I'd been wanting to go to Régine Café  for a while - like forever - but never got the chance. I swear each time I'm on my way there, I receive a call from my girlfriends telling me 'the lineup is too long so let's go somewhere else'. Grrr... so on a winter morning - a Sunday to be more precise, I told my friend to meet up at 10:00 AM (so early I know, but I really wanted to try this place...) Her response? "Jules, are you nuts?!! It's freaking Sunday!! You're not asking for a brunch, but rather a breakfast!! Only old people go that early." I finally convinced her. To be honest, I was a bit skeptical as it had such hype around it, so I did wonder whether it would live up to expectations. 

THE PLACE

Located on Beaubien Street, Régine Café  is very charming.  I love the baroque décor and the big comfy chairs. The restaurant is spacious, perfect for special occasions. Even if we were just two, the waitress gave us a table of 4 by the window. Hmm... that was quite distracting because people in the lineup were looking at our window and therefore, at us while we were eating. 

Regine Cafe, 1840 Beaubien East, Montreal QC H2G 1L6

THE FOOD

To start, the waiter gave us the free smoothie shooter. What a pleasant way to start the morning! And then, the food! Wow, just awesomeness all around. I had the Champi: poached eggs, Le Mamirole cheese on rustic bread, mushrooms, pepper compote. AH-MAZING!!

VERDICT

I was quite eager to try this place after having heard many good things about it and was quite pleased when it lived up to my expectations. Ah! You know it must be good when there are people in line every day of the week especially if it's on Beaubien East (no offense to the Beaubien people, but you know..there's nothing in the area). A great new find and I will for sure be going back (Mish-Mash next time)!

Easy Recipe: Delicious Dessert in 2 minutes

So here's a great easy dessert recipe that make you seem like a pro!!

Ingredients:
Cool whip
Handful of strawberries, sliced
Chocolate chip cookies
Milk

Directions:

Dip cookies in the milk.

Make a layer of cookies.
Then a layer of cool whip.

Add the strawberries.

Repeat.
Sprinkle chocolate powder.

Voilà!

Confession of a Shopaholic

Dear Journal,

I'm a huge financial mess.

So it's been few months since my last shopping spree. And by shopping spree I mean serious shopping - shopping like there is no tomorrow. You know... blowing your money without blinking an eye.

Yeah, that happened to me last week. Sigh.

I'm so screwed. Remember my mini Korean Beauty products haul? Well...on the same week, there was a 15% off all purchases at Sephora and you can all guess that I couldn't let this go without buying anything, right? I mean come on! If you're a makeup junkie, you'll be waiting for this time of the year (VIB discount!). AH!! I bought all my favorite products: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer, Makeup For Ever Face & Body Liquid Makeup and Clarisonic Brush Head 4-Pack.

Guess what? I'm not done. It was only the beginning....

If you're going to spend your money, why not go all the way? (Yeah... great thinking Jules!) 

Right after my Sephora haul, I stopped at this new shoe shop in downtown. Opened last week, Chaussures de marque (located in the tunnel connecting Eaton Center and PVM) might look crappy at first glance but don't be discourage by the place, look around and you'll find great deals! They carry all the designer brands such as Calvin Klein, Nine West, Coach, Marc Fisher, Michael Kors... All shoes are from $50 to $80.

Hum... Do you really want to know what happened?

I bought not one, not two, not three, but four freaking pair of shoes!!!! Holy Moly. What on earth would I do with four pair of shoes?

Jules' logic:
- On the Calvin Klein's flats: When you find comfy flats that look stylish enough to go with your professional attire and casual enough to go with your weekend jeans, buy them. It's hard enough to find stylish comfy flats at a discount price ($69!), so why not buy two of them in different colors?
- On the Marc Fisher pumps: you always need sexy black pumps, right? Love the studs!! They give an edgy appeal to a girly piece.

- On the boots: I've always felt frustrated that the long leg boots in shoe shops are too narrow in the calf to fit my legs properly (hello, I'm not skinny). So when you find a pair of long boots that fit you like a glove, you have to buy them immediately!

Conclusion: Yup, I'm a financial loser. I'm a financial mess. Big. Time.

Today, I'm thankful for...

Today, I'm thankful for...

Baristas who have my extra hot soya chai latte order memorized.

Finding treasures in my spring jacket pocket.

Books that are so good you literally cry when they're over.

Inside jokes - the dumber, the better.

Mani/pedi

I want this mani!

What are you thankful for today?

Love: Korean Beauty Products

Okay folks. I did some shopping last weekend. A MINI haul. I swear.

As you all know, I'm totally obsessed with everything Korean. From k-pop to k-drama to Korean cosmetics. I swear I can go cray cray over Korean skincare products.

Things you should know...

When it comes to makeup and cosmetics, South Korean are the best. Yup, Korea is the land of beauty - the country with the highest per capita rate of plastic surgery in the world. They're about 12 years ahead of us in term of technology. In the skincare world, South Korea has become the new France.

BB creams anyone? Well, Korean women have been using it for the past decade (!!), and it's just starting to become more popular in North America.

Korean BB Cream have the reputation for being the absolute best.

Ever wondered why most Asians have beautiful skin? Well let's say that they - myself included - spend a great deal of time (and money) in nurturing their skin.

Have a skincare routine!
I don't know how many times I will say it but this is THE key, people. It's simple: Cleansing, Toning, Moisturizing. Remember to change your skincare routine every season (important!!). You should also have a different routine at night than the one in the morning (click here to see my morning routine or click here to see my night routine). Think it's a bit too much? Maybe. But I'd rather start taking care of my skin now than later.

Picture of me in Tokyo - where I got my first skincare products and became obsessed ever since.

Do you know that in Asia (especially in Korea & Japan), women prefer to spend their money on skin care products rather than makeup? The philosophy is that beauty begins with a great skin, and that healthy skin means you need less makeup.

So last weekend, I went to C&C Korean Cosmetics (1837B St-Catherine West, Montreal QC H3H 1M2). The store carries popular products, such as Étude House, Missha, Skin79, Skin Food, The Face Shop, and much more. Here what I bought.

But the one thing that I'm obsessed about is the face pack (sheet masks). They aren't as well known in North America, but they're a big beauty trend in Asia. I'm just addicted. Hello Hydration! Many of them include anti-aging ingredients, including some of the newest in skin-care technology, and there's one for every skin type. I swear I only go to this store to get those masks. It's pretty simple: take the mask out, unfold it, and very carefully place it on your face - the cloth is precut so that it matches the contours of your face. You leave it for 20 minutes and take it off but don't wash your face.

Celebrities like Bar Refaeli, Rita Ora, Demi Moore are into them too!

Okay, so the price varies from $10 to $30 for a pack of 10 masks at C&C. There are many different brands of facial masks out there, some are extremely cheap and some are very expensive. One day, I'd like to try the SK-II Facial Treatment Mask (from Japan). This is like the most decadent of the bunch. Yes, this is the Birkin, the Bugatti of facial masks. It's expensive: $131 for 10 masks. They are also the original (and the best). Getting married? SK-II recommends using them for 90 days prior to your wedding. I heard so much good things about this brand. 

I haven't tried my other products yet. I also bought the Banana Yogurt Mask from Skin Food and the
Tony Moly Blueberry Cleanser. My total purchase was around $30... it's not that bad, right?

............

I just received an email from Sephora and there's a 15% off all purchases on April 3rd.

Someone please shoot me.

Weekend snapshots

Did this weekend fly by for anyone else out there? My weekend was a perfect combination of fun and relaxing. Here are some snapshots.

Baseball. It's been 10 years since the Expos left town. Yup, we were reminded that we once had a brilliant baseball team. On Saturday, I went to my first ever baseball game and had a great time! Blue Jays vs Mets @the Olympic Stadium.

Sushi night out with Angie!

Mini Korean Cosmetics Haul. Yes, I bought some products. (Review in next post).

Coffee night. It's always good to catch up with your girlfriends even if it's in the middle of the night.  So thanks to my friend Cam for the coffee and brownies. 

I love Cap'n Crunch.

Happy Monday!

Hope you all are feeling refreshed and reenergized as you start your week!

Lazy Weekend Love

I love lazy weekends!

You know the kind of weekend you just wake up late, read the paper while sipping your coffee -- as if you didn't have a care in the world. And then you put on your favorite yoga outfit and listen to some happy songs and meet friends for brunch.

Me chilling.

 

Happy songs <3

Brunch. Okay, so brunch is serious business in Montreal. No kidding. 

I went to L'Avenue yesterday. I haven't been to this place for ages...

Restaurant L'Avenue: 922 Mont-Royal East, H2J 1X1

L'Avenue is located in the heart of Le Plateau (the "hippest" neighborhood in Montreal). This is one of the most popular breakfast destinations in town. Just look at the lineup outside in winter time and you'll understand that this is serious business. So we waited for maybe 20 minutes in the cold (this is actually not long -- the average time on weekend is around 45 min to 1 hour). People can wait 1 hour if not more just to have a freaking breakfast at this place. 

By the way I just found a picture of my friend and I. Back in college, we used to hang out at L'Avenue. Ah! Good old  times! Oh my goodness, I was so tanned, young & skinny ~ sigh...

Summer 2006 @L'Avenue

THE PLACE

The minute you walk in you feel the vibrant atmosphere. The place is always packed, loud, and colorful.  It is decorated with spray-painted walls and modern-like lamps - very funky & hip. The kitchen is at the very front. 

FOOD

The staff is very French and so is the menu (no English menu available). But don't worry, they are really friendly and can help you out. If you don't know what to take, try the eggs benedict which is the specialty of the house. I ordered the sucré-salé eggs benedict (sweet & salty). Very good. The guy next to me saw my plate and ordered the same thing. The menu is vast and offers an insane variety of choice for everyone's taste. I have a friend who always wants to go to L'Avenue when he is in Montreal. He is obsessed with the Huevos Rancheros (a tortilla with scramble eggs, cheddar, salsa & avocado). 

Moi

Conclusion: When in Montreal, L'Avenue is a must!