How to plan a Christmas party

This year, I have the wonderful task of planning our Christmas party amongst friends. It's not easy but I figured I would give you some inspiring tips on how to be merry and sparkly for your get-together.

Tip 1: Set a date that WORKS

If you're a student, you know that finals are a stressful time. Like it or not, it puts a damper on the weeks leading up to Christmas so try and plan your party when everyone is exam-free! Make sure it's a weekend night so no one has to go into work the next day! This way, everyone will be in a good mood and you can start your holiday season on the right foot!

Tip 2: Build an appropriate menu; who brings what?

It's always a good idea to do a potluck! Or at least make sure that everyone brings something! This will save you a whole lot of a time in preparation and its more fun to cook all together! Figure out your menu so it resembles a Christmas one! Now, I know that we don't have time to cook a turkey or bake truck loads of pies but something like a fondue is nice! It can last hours and you can spend the time talking and not preparing!

Tip 3: Organize fun games

A Chinese gift exchange is the best bet! Everyone brings a neutral present and you get to steal it from each other before unwrapping it! Always good fun! If its a smaller group of friends, a secret santa is probably best! It's much more personal! Afterwards you could play a board game! Its super nerdy but how else do you expect to appreciate your friends other than staying up super late and having a good time doing something different! Monopoly would do nicely.

Tip 4: Ultimate Christmas Playlists

Pick the good ones! The typical Christmas songs! Im talking Mariah Carey, Britney Spears and Nsync 90's Christmas music! I can't imagine listening to anything else! Make a playlist on your Ipod and let it play! It'll set the mood and after long hours of studying, it will finaly start to feel like Christmas.

Tip 5: Decorations & Themes

Make sure you have a general theme for your evening. Whether its an ugly sweater, christmas pyjama or fancy pants party, make sure its clear. Because there is bound to be some one taking pictures and you dont want anyone to look out of place. For their sake at least. I know it sucks when you come from hot yoga to a gathering and everyone is purdy and wants to take pics when you look like trash. -_- not cool!
As for decoration, look at the room your going to host the party and try and pick colors that will match. Lets say your kitchen is where you're hosting and theres a lot of light blue accents, then decorate with snowflakes! If theres red or green accents.. well you know where im going with this! There are amazing ideas on Pinterest for DIY decorations! Individualize your party!

Tip 6: HAVE FUN! That is all! :)

This is the time to enjoy good company, eat good food, and laugh a whole lot!

How to be green this Christmas

Tip 1: No need for paper cards
It's always nice to receive Holiday cards in the mail but this year you can save money and the environment by opting out. Sending an e-card via email could do the trick. If you absolutely need to send out a card, maybe look for eco-friendly cards. Maybe you can reuse paper or old cards that you currently have. People will be grateful no matter what.

Tip 2: Reuse last years wrapping
This year, look through your old gift bags and wrapping paper to reuse it. You could even go as far as wrapping it in newspaper with a cute ribbon for your vintage-loving friends (I can think of one!). If you must buy some, make a mental note to keep for next year or recycle the paper that cannot be reused.

Tip 3: Setting the mood
Turning off the lights is a big money saver. It will set the mood if you use candles, the fireplace or your Christmas tree light to keep things bright. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with CFL's. Those are 75% more efficient! You can't go wrong.

Tip 4: Check the list twice
Stick to your list! Don't go out and buy more than you need. It's so easy to get caught up in the madness at the mall so make sure to review your list constantly. You could even check out local second hand shops for fun and unique gifts. Look out for eco-friendly gifts that contain recycled packaging. As for those difficult friends who seem to have everything, maybe make a donation in their name to a charity?

Tip 5: Shop locally
Shopping locally can give you creative ideas that you wont find in the typical stores. Plus, you saved emission because you didn't need to have it shipped across the world. Its from right here!

Tip 6: The gift of giving
Giving a gift doesn't have to be concrete. Volunteering in the community will give you a sense of happiness. You could even look through your closet and gather some items to donate to those who are less fortunate. Warm items are the best!

Tip 7: A must have this winter
Mark this bad boy on your list: a travel mug. You could even buy it for a friend. It will save the environment! Think of how many cups of coffee or tea you have during the winter! Wonder where they are now? Probably in a landfill. This is an ongoing issue in the world and this is where it starts.

everyone loves bullies... think about it.

While I was at the gym, I saw an interesting segment on CTV about bullying. It is a hot topic these days and we address a lot of concerns from teen bullying but I think we all need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. We love bullies. We buy into so easily. We thrive on it and it's pure entertainment. Some of us could watch people being bullied for hours with a popcorn and drink. 

Don't know where I'm going with this? Well look at it this way: Chef Ramsay, Donald Trump, Simon Cowell, Sue Sylvester. I'm convinced that you know at least one of these famous figures. Well, sorry to break it to you, but they are HUGE bullies. And we just eat it up! Countless time I've sat on my couch and giggled because I KNEW that Simon was going to just rip them apart for that audition. It's a sad truth. It glorifies a behavior that is unacceptable in our society. What? Because they're adults it's ok? 

Now, I know that the majority of it is a facade. I'm sure that in real life they are nowhere near that mean to people. However, as a child, you have a hard time telling the difference between what is real and what is not real. Even as a teenager, when you have a greater sense of awareness, it is human nature to see something on TV and what to replicate it. That's the twist with advertising, marketing and public relations; you don't know what is real (it can be good or bad). With that being said, we are inevitably bombarded with hundreds of things through media every day. So sitting there watching Glee, for instance, and see how they treat some of the characters, we're not sitting there thinking ''Man, that's mean. Is that bullying?’’ No. We let it go in ear and out the other and that's when it becomes a problem.

I realize that the kind of bullying that is happening in schools lately is much more severe and have unfortunately resulted in deaths, but you have to wonder where the idea comes from. You can't point the finger at a teacher or a parent alone, its a combination of what is being portrayed in the media and what they are being told is right or is wrong. It's interesting to look at the flip side and wonder if these famous names need to tone it down a notch. Or two. Or three. If we all want to stop bullying and make a change in this world, we need to start with the one thing that is defused on a daily basis. They have the control.

This is obviously a tricky subject and there are many opinions out there. Knowing people who have been bullied, I do not stand for it for a second. Though it is interesting to argue the other side of the story (while still remaining against it entirely). The one that is not obvious. The whole media monitoring is much more complex and debatable on its own but its unfortunate that we have these kinds of behavior right before our eyes and not much is being said.

DD

fondest halloween memory - the only one at that

I’ve always had mixed feelings towards Halloween. It is a simply terrifying time of the year but, if you push through the fear, you get candy. Really? It’s a twisted mind game but I always played along to get the goods. However, there is one great moment from my childhood that I recall every year. I was 6 years old and the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast had just been released. Oh, I cannot tell you the countless hours I spent daydreaming of being Belle. I was born to be her, I continuously told myself. All that wishing and hoping finally paid off the day my mother took me shopping for a Halloween costume. I was on a simple mission: find that yellow dress from the ballroom scene. From the moment I walked in Walmart on that fateful day, it didn’t take too long to find it. I was in heaven. It felt like pure bliss. I even remember purposely playing the movie the night we bought the dress and running upstairs to change into my costume when the scene appeared. Of course, the scene ended by the time my mother did my hair to match the outfit but I was Belle. There was a rush of joy that came over me; it felt so right. This all sounds a tad melo-dramatic but you can’t expect anything less from a kid, now can you?

It was one of the best Halloween’s I’ve ever had! Although, the fact that my parents forced me to put a winter jacket underneath the costume was beyond humiliating. Not exactly the slimming look a 6 year old aims for but I rocked it nonetheless.

 

Hope everyone has a good Halloween this weekend! Be safe!

RIP diet

 

DD

autumn nail colors & peplum galore

My favorite nail colors for the fall would have to be the following:

RED

Always a good one. Its dark and sort of introduces the fact that Christmas is just around the corner. What's so great about red is that it is dark enough to fall worthy, but it adds a pop of color. When its vibrant colors, I always see nails as an accessory. It's as good as a colorful necklace or bracelet. It's a statement!

GRAY/PURPLE

This is an unexpected one! For summer, neutrals are in! For fall, neutrals are acceptable but you want to go a bit deeper and richer. This has the darkness I like but adds a gentle purple which works nicely. I call it my fall neutral!

BLACK

Black nails is the definition of class. You cannot go wrong with black. It goes with everything that it just looks clean and slick! The only problem is that when it chips, it is obvious. But when you're wanting to look professional, black never goes out of style!

I will post more colors as I explore! I've never been much for nail polish, but now it is my mission to find the perfect colors for every season!

PEPLUM!!!

OK, so I am in love. This new trend has got me going bananas! I have decided that this style can work for anyone! It is flattering from every angle (yes, I tested it!). The black on is simple but elegant! Perfect for work. The pattern one is actually a lace with gray underneath. Get this, its a lace print mixed in with butterflies! I could not resist! I highly recommend that every one at least tries one on! Forever 21 has a whole bunch, you just need to have the time to look around for it!

I also bought a super cute peplum wine color dress that I will wear for an upcoming gala! Stay tuned! :)

DD

why you should visit... PARIS!

PARIS!!!

I think that the reasons to visit Paris are very obvious. It seems that no matter who you are or where you've been already, you still feel the need to go to France. It might be extremely cliché but I've dreamt of going to Paris ever since I was a little girl. It's the city of love and what girl doesn't want to be swept off her feet time and time again while visiting this beautiful city? Here's why you should go! (there's so much more to do then what I will explain but, you get the point!)

The Eiffel Tower is an obvious sight to see. There is no clear way to describe the feeling you get when you catch the first glimpse of the tower. For me, we were turning a street corner on our way from Les Invalides. Which is an amazing museum to visit, by the way. I caught sight of it through the tree branches. It is almost essential that you go visit the tower at lunchtime because it gives you an excuse to have a picnic beneath it. Grabbing a baguette sandwich from a local café would do nicely. It is much bigger than you would expect it to be. Standing in the Champs de Mars you can notice the symmetrical efforts. Everything leads up to the towers in a square fashion; even the trees are trimmed. It's almost as though they want to accentuate the towers curve. It works beautifully.

I wouldn't say that it is necessary to go to the top, especially on a student budget. Its interesting but observing it from underneath can be just as intriguing. I thought so anyway. The parks that surround the tower are breathtaking. With ice cream trollies, blossoming flowers and huge sculptures, you can't ask for better.

Taking a stroll down La Seine is probably the most serene thing you can do. In the middle of a busy city, you find yourself below the action and everything is silent. Although the water isn't exactly sanitary, it’s still romantic. Stopping at Notre Dame is also amazing. The thing that is so great about it is that you can go up the towers and see the most amazing view of Paris. You really feel like you've gone back in time and wish you were Esmeralda or something. Just a few minutes away you will come accross Pont Neuf. It is a bridge where tourists leave their locks on the bridge. For some it allows them to show that they were there and for others it is a sign of love. You see, if you bring a lock that has a keys, as we did, you can lock it on the bridge and drop the key in The Seine. It symbolizes eternal love and that's exactly what we did.

Heading down the streets of Paris, you will notice the unique architecture. The arches and big windows, it's the definition of romance. You will need to visit the Louvre. Heading there 30 minutes before it opens is the best idea because there will already be a line. Everyone has the same goal: to see the Mona Lisa. I'm convinced that they made a point of placing it on the other side of the museum. The staff definitely watches the surveillance cameras and laugh at the silly tourists breathless and wandering on a egg hunt for the painting. It’s pretty funny because you are speed walking and you know that you look ridiculous. It's all worth it though. Some people find themselves disappointed that the painting itself is smaller than they thought. To those people I say: ''but it's perfect''. So don't hate, Da Vinci is ma man! What surprised me is that the Louvre is much more than just art. It's as if the museum of civilization, the war museum and the national art museum was one. It's really interesting, especially Napoleons apartment. That is just unfair.

My last piece of advice is to take the trip to Versailles. It is the castle where French Monarchy used to reside. It is one of the richest castles in Europe and it is so clear why. The outside look like it was painted in gold and the inside is pure elegance. Every detail was executed with such care that it seems like it should be considered a work of art. The gardens in the back are the selling point. With Georgian Era music echoing throughout, the fountains and paths are something of a dream. Eating macaroons is necessary while over looking the spectacular view. Yet again, it is a place that allows you to time travel. You feel overwhelmed with the history that surrounds you that it feels as though it never was. It's a mind game that I wouldn't mind experiencing every day.

The thing about Paris is that it's not only there for the hopeless romantics, it's for anyone who is willing to take a chance. To put themselves into a city full of history and are willing to explore its dept. Staying in a cute apartment allows you to take long walks to the sights, do some groceries and live the true Parisian life. It's a simple one, but worth every penny.

Oh and make it a point to visit l'Arc de Triomphe, Champ d'Élyser leads up to it and that’s where all the shopping is at! (Yes, even affordable shopping! Just avoid Louis Vuitton and Cartier at all costs!)

DD

eating healthy during the holidays? no problem!

Isn't it frustrating when you work so hard on eating healthy and working out for months and months and then a holiday just swoops in full of temptation? Well this past thanksgiving, I told myself that I would do it the right way.

STEP 1 (most important step)

Prepare yourself mentally

Do not over eat! If you look at the meal in front of you, there’s only a couple of things that are really bad for you. The mistake we make is taking HUGE portions and that’s what gets us full. In consequence, we feel really horrible about ourselves and roll around on the floor undoing our pants. So make sure to take a small plate! What usually happens, is that people take out their ''dinner plates’’, which are the biggest ones! Just grab the smaller one and that way you won't feel so snooty for saying ''not too much'' at everything they made! It could be seen as insulting! They might fill your plate, but its inevitably smaller portions.

STEP 2

Veggies Veggies Veggies

Make sure to load up your plate with veggies! It's usually a typical side dish. Even before hand, there’s often a cold plate of veggies and dip. Just make sure to eat a bunch before dinner and that way you know you will be somewhat full on the good! 

STEP 3

Turkey galore!

Take lots of slices of turkey! They say that being on a diet like paleo, turkey is perfect if you're rich! It is the more expensive version of chicken and its super good for you! Here's the downfall: that darn gravy! We all love it! Just take one thin row of it over top of you turkey! Don't drown it!

STEP 4

Avoid the carbs and drink water

Do not take a piece of bread. That will ruin it all! Those little buggers fill you up so much before you even start eating! So instead, just take a little scoop of mashed potatoes because, if you're going to do some carbs, do the good kind! Try not to put any gravy on it either. I know, I know! It's not easy but it’s my advice! Drink a lot of water throughout the meal to fill you up! So you won't be hungry for much more!

STEP 5

The dreaded dessert -_-

This one is hard. It is rare to see a fruit salad on the table for a Thanksgiving of Christmas meal. What it is, take a little slice of it. Smaller than what you would normally take. More importantly, stand up before eating it. Standing up will give you a sense of how full you actually are. If you don’t feel like you can take it, then don't! Most common mistake is eating because it looks good. I'm sure there will be left overs and pick at it the next day if you want! Just so you don't over do it!

Hopefully these tips have helped you a bit. When Christmas rolls around, you will know how to pace yourself! Especially since there are so many occasions to eat a lot! 

DD