tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42378034587264904272012-01-16T20:24:28.023-05:00Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.comBlogger301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-54568712817629707182012-01-10T21:36:00.013-05:002012-01-10T22:28:49.771-05:00

My commitment to Gwyneth Paltrow's blog (Goop.com) has faltered. I've strayed and have found a new source of emotional support. A new love.Oh, Oprah. Yes, the one and only Oprah Winfrey. I always watched her show as a child growing up and I stumbled upon one of her LifeClass episodes recently. The engaging Oprah Winfrey Show has ended but now she's spreading the wisdom and positivity with her OWN

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-39418731664994020322012-01-08T21:27:00.013-05:002012-01-16T20:24:28.031-05:00

Dear Reader,Growing up in a westernized society has its blessings and its bummers. Do you ever wonder what kind of lives we would be leading if we lived in our respective motherlands?We are free people. We go to work, we go to school, we're social, we're somebody's somebody, we're active, we're family-oriented, we're supermen and women. We're told we can have it all, and we definitely want it all

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-73432039680783962932011-11-14T22:34:00.016-05:002012-01-10T22:39:49.437-05:00

I've travelled past many villages in my life. I never ventured into them to see what they had to offer a passerby like me because from the outside these villages looked dull and unimpressive. With so many other places to visit, why would I stop by there? On a fateful day I was brought into one of these villages and I realized that they were like oysters of society... really unappealing on the

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-84999660924830521682011-05-24T00:15:00.016-04:002011-11-09T00:01:42.375-05:00

As I checked my hotmail today (yes, I am still using hotmail with the same e-mail name derived from a playstation game back in middle school, but if it redeems me at all I also have an infrequently used Gmail account) I noticed that I had 4,000+ dusty messages piling up in the inbox. Now how the heck did that happen? It made me feel crowded and unorganized so I faithfully spent an hour 'sweeping'

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-12428856059074268552011-04-08T00:36:00.013-04:002011-11-09T00:04:00.328-05:00

Have you heard of the expression 'biting off more than you can chew'? It often happens in the workplace. We hear stories of eager beavers who continually take on more workload in order to assert themselves as valuable assets to the company. You know, the Ugly Bettys of the working world. They sometimes bite off more than they can chew. I did a similar thing at work. I bit into my lunch - a

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-7021171542989876752011-03-01T22:56:00.014-05:002011-03-02T00:21:24.687-05:00

I've fielded many questions at work lately."When is the shackle arriving?""Where is the crinkler?""Is my black spackler in?""Can you show me the black cracker?"And most famously... "Do you have Katy Perry's crack?"That was the most accurate description so far. The true name is Black Shatter, by O.P.I. Pop Powerhouse + partnership with O.P.I brand + heavy advertising = consumer frenzy. I can spot

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-44865597363953962252011-02-25T00:33:00.025-05:002011-11-09T00:07:40.215-05:00

That's Kermit's famous line in his Sesame Street song.One hour ago, I was innocently browsing my home page (www.InStyle.com) and came across a pretty picture of Jessica Alba and her husband. I clicked to see more and - BAM! - it awakened me to an eco-friendly consciousness, catapulting me down a very lush and green hill, finally arriving at my final destination: you. Don't think of me as a

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-17693481959349319502011-02-02T01:36:00.006-05:002011-11-09T00:09:07.136-05:00

When I was very young I said something that was, apparently, not very nice. My sister and I were in a spat and I vehemently declared, "I AIN'T give a care!" It was exhilarating; a defining moment in my character. As the words flew out of my mouth I felt defiant and liberated...until she told on me and I was left pondering my choice of words for an eternity while my knees ached and my forehead

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-16770563378629614832011-01-24T00:13:00.010-05:002011-11-15T20:50:08.434-05:00

A moment, s'il vous plait.I'm experiencing a temporarily heightened awareness of my mortality and it's causing me to think about big topics. These big thoughts are filling up the spaces of my mind and I need to address them before my head overflows. Are you aware that you are not guaranteed life tomorrow? Neither am I. Neither is your neighbour, your pet, your professor, your best friend, or your

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-45624424634917435232011-01-05T22:32:00.013-05:002011-11-09T00:11:03.692-05:00

A cash diet.I obtained my first credit card when I was 18 and was delighted when the bank let me have a Visa with a $500 limit even though I didn't have a job. I was more thrilled when they steadily increased my limit to $3,000 over the years even though I still didn't have a job. I thought it was very nice and trusting of them. To me, a credit card was money. My money. It was my companion

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-90987208869407913742010-12-27T01:00:00.010-05:002011-01-10T23:03:36.270-05:00

At the salon I met a cute guy. I had a crush on him instantly. He looked so much like the actor from Slumdog Millionaire. He stared at my appointment book and lingered around the reception desk, I think he liked me too.I asked him his name and he said it was Siddarth.He was no taller than a meter stick so I asked him his age. It turns out he was a little too young for me. We confirmed that he was

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-38957206412266456172010-12-20T23:32:00.003-05:002010-12-20T23:46:54.470-05:00

Tell the truth. It'll set you free.

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-81916082137938585452010-12-17T10:49:00.008-05:002011-01-10T23:09:53.556-05:00

Do you know what season it is?If you answered Winter, I envy you. It's Christmas season boys and girls. And for a Shop Girl it translates to The most important season of your life. Being part of a family business has its ups and downs. Ups: free products and services, friendly work environment, knowing your hard work goes directly towards supporting the family. Downs: Wanting to prove to everyone

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-13868744841756080882010-11-05T04:18:00.016-04:002011-01-12T23:56:53.932-05:00

On September 25, 2008 I received my first letter from Gwyneth Paltrow. She shared with me her passions in life and told me that I should be expecting more letters from her about things to make, see, get, do, and be. I savoured her letters and anticipated their weekly arrival. Each one was refreshing in its own way. Sometimes she would tell me about her favourite dishes to cook, sometimes it was

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-31157533009472999572010-11-01T03:38:00.023-04:002010-11-04T06:45:10.346-04:00

I never dreamed of being a serial dater. I grew up with idealistic notions in love and life. I thought Sailormoon had taught me well. Monogamy, loyalty, and trust were in my vocabulary. Serial dating was not.However, at the end of a relationship you learn things about yourself, about others, and those idealistic beliefs are improved with more realistic ones. You approach the dating scene with new

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-62292863479429045542010-10-20T23:38:00.026-04:002010-11-04T06:30:02.314-04:00

Wiktionary says:Nounforeign tongue (plural foreign tongues)Any language not native to particular person or place.Monica says: Nounforeign tongue (plural foreign tongues [and ill-advised])When you find a stranger's tongue in your mouth.When you don't understand the words coming out of someone's mouth.A good way to get herpes. On your mouth.I've had some experience with #1 and #2, and thankfully

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-54176542319684663372010-09-23T11:11:00.006-04:002010-09-23T13:14:36.677-04:00

If you've ever taken an introductory psychology course you know what the title means. It describes a biological response that occurs when creatures perceive that they are being threatened. Some will attack, some will flee, some will play dead.We humans face stressors in our daily lives that are manageable but in situations of acute stress the fight or flight response will take over. If I ever

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-15837727816530566132010-09-13T01:53:00.010-04:002010-10-14T23:28:39.425-04:00

I could really start a website on the adventures of being a shop girl in the retail world. You encounter every shade of wonderful and crazy people. It really opens your eyes to different personalities and how quickly things can turn sour if you read a person wrong. I'll recount one 're-tale' that happened recently.I arrive at work and occupy myself with morning duties. Young man enters. I glance

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-31700525568814402282010-08-13T00:41:00.008-04:002010-10-14T23:32:08.181-04:00

Imagine that we were living in a world where designers were doctors and clothes became patients. A material world. In this world, clothes get old. They become dated, less desirable. Wrinkles form...areas start to sag... and they wind up spending more time hanging out at home than going out for a night on the town. Sound familiar? Designers respond to the aging crisis by developing new anti-aging

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-44352554418162218052010-07-23T15:51:00.011-04:002010-11-04T06:13:49.888-04:00

After graduating from university a few friends and I decided to check off 'Europe Backpacking Trip' from our list of "Things to do Before We're Too Old and Have Too Many Responsibilities like Mortagages, Families, and Crying Babies". I'd like to clarify that when I say backpacking, I mean luggag-ing. None of us could actually live out of a backpack for 2 weeks; we were going to the fashion

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-7452689278040657662010-07-23T13:42:00.022-04:002010-11-04T06:10:40.408-04:00

One day I would like to be front row. Not way back in the bleachers where the general public sit. But alas, I'm publicly general. A couple of years ago I started attending shows when I discovered that such shows were available to my kind. Here are my highlights from the ELLE, LG, and F.A.T. fashion shows. I try not to blink too often in fear of missing something exciting. The attendees are all so

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-7327554945396651472010-06-21T18:31:00.007-04:002010-07-21T20:31:16.824-04:00

The imagination is a wondrous thing. It can generate powerful solutions, inspire new beliefs, and create new worlds. It can pander to the fantastical, accommodate escapism, but most amazingly it has the power to transform ordinary into extraordinary.The average girl has friends, family, a job, an education, hobbies, talents and interests. One of my greatest interests is fashion so I have

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-38828720816214250682010-06-14T23:29:00.007-04:002010-11-05T02:44:55.533-04:00

This is my new beauty interest (obsession is too strong of a word). There are plenty of special interest websites out there that will review new products by buying and trying all of the different brands.Let me assure you that I am not crazy. Or rich enough to do that. I was enjoying my bi-weekly magazine fix and happened upon a stunning advertisement of Drew Barrymore (below). Call it great

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-33480105882167585082010-06-07T01:02:00.006-04:002010-07-25T01:28:49.522-04:00

As a child I would play hide and seek in the racks of clothes in Winners. Fast forward a few years and I started taking interest in the clothes that once engulfed me. I grew up in a salon environment and consequently, was raised by hairstylists. At 16 years old I observed my mom reading an InStyle magazine. At 16 years old I started paying more attention to said magazines than I did to textbooks.

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-60689712835639335052010-05-04T00:40:00.009-04:002010-07-25T01:31:50.043-04:00

Hair is such an important part of a person's image and self-esteem.A hairy man is perceived to be masculine, whereas a hairy woman is... something else entirely. Modern innovation allows us to shave, wax, tweeze, thread, and laser all of that hair off. I recently became aware of Veet hair-removal products that are just cream based.On the other spectrum of hair issues is the need for hair

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-18651240683474225182010-03-15T01:00:00.001-04:002010-07-23T18:22:56.585-04:00

Cue: Kylie Minogue's Love At First Sight.You stop dead in your tracks and do a double, sometimes triple take.The attraction is immediate, the pull is irresistible...like someone's playing at your heart strings. Post lovestruck sighting, your mind is filled with nonsense and an obsession is born.I'm not talking about a Hottie McTottie sighting, as fun as those are. I am talking about something

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-75457898065775031112010-01-08T19:37:00.001-05:002010-07-23T12:15:48.131-04:00

The most marketable new products are ones that are based on convenience. Sure, we could take the time to pour the eye make-up remover onto the Q-tip, but now there are Q-tips that contain the solution within (they function like a glowstick, snap it and watch the magic unfold). We were taught to use brushes to apply eye shadows but now you can plop the colours on with a sticker. We used to shampoo

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-72612364828198044422009-12-13T01:10:00.001-05:002010-07-23T15:50:40.249-04:00

There's a much anticipated movie - and I mostly mean anticpated by me - that just came out on December 9, 2010. The premiere date coincides with the movie title - NINE. I saw the seductive trailer advertised in theatre and my heart started racing as I saw each leading lady debut on screen. Kate Hudson!Penelope Cruz!Nicole Kidman!Sophia Loren!Marion Cotillard!Judi Dench!Fergie?My heart faltered

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-76153490935488853942009-03-23T17:03:00.003-04:002010-07-23T15:49:51.877-04:00

Dear clueless male,I'm here to help you. With your wardrobe.I've always approached fashion in a simple way - by asking myself "Would that look good on me?" I could try it on, or I could imagine the clothes on me. Now, when I look at men's fashion I wouldn't imagine it on myself but I picture it on an imaginary man. An imaginary, stylish, good-looking man. If you lack that talent, don't worry

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237803458726490427.post-10605867144780663622009-03-11T02:29:00.002-04:002011-11-09T00:21:20.537-05:00

Dear reader, welcome to my personal blog!This space was created to reflect who I am, what I'm doing now, what I aspire to be, and where I'm headed for the future.I am a born-and-raised Canadian fashionista. As cliche as this sounds, the fact of the matter is, my passion is fashion. This obsession was cultivated at a very young age. I was raised in a conservative household but I essentially grew

Monica D Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11867856774055441059noreply@blogger.com1