Melissa Jovanoski

A favourite for kids and adults – here’s a quick, easy and convenient recipe that’ll have these sweet sensations from bits to lips in less than 15 minutes!

Ingredients:

• 1 box of vanilla or confetti cake mix
• 1/3 cup of canola oil
• 2 whole eggs
• 1 tsp of baking powder
• 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
• 1 cup of sprinkles (1/2 cup if you use confetti cake mix)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF
• Line cookie sheet with parchment paper or lightly coat with PAM or butter
• In a large bowl, combine cake mix and baking powder then set aside
• In a small bowl, whisk eggs, oil and vanilla extract
• Combine all ingredients in the large bowl and stir vigourously to form cookie dough
• Slowly add sprinkles and gently mix until evenly distributed
• Roll one-inch balls of cookie dough and drop on sheet at least two inches apart
• Bake for nine minutes
• Allow to cool down on cookie sheet for three minutes

Bon appétit,
MJ

*It’s a good thing Cheryl and I have Academy of Lions CrossFit at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning or this late night baking session could have been deadly! #SelfRestraint 

The Newest, Exclusively-Canadian Fashion Online Retailer

Get ready to immerse yourself in the latest local fashions from ready-to-wear garments to Canadian couture. Runway Crush, the newest online shopping mall experience exclusively retailing Canadian designers, is coming to a monitor near you – June 2013. Creating an amazing opportunity for designers, Runway Crush supports and promotes local talent with a new conduit to share their designs in a personalized boutique within the virtual shopping mall. Shoppers may have to wait until June, but designers can get in on the action now by visiting the pre-launch page at RunwayCrush.com to reserve a spot.

“Canadian designers have so much to offer – unique, intricate and exceptional designs,” says Julia Leitch-Church, founder of Runway Crush. “I started Runway Crush to create a fashion retail hub that benefits all designers – fresh out the gate or those who have been in the field for a while – who need an additional avenue to grow on a larger scale, while enabling further access for consumers to attain them.”

Runway Crush invites Canadian fashion, jewelry and accessory designers to create their own unique and fabulous boutique within its online mall. Designers have the ability to change or add products and manage their boutique at their leisure, allowing them to retail their own label on a larger scale in a quick, easy and convenient way. Fashion trendsetters, gurus and enthusiasts alike will now have a one-stop shop for local emerging and veteran talent from couture gowns and day-to-day outfits to swimwear and delicates.

“We want the designers to concentrate on doing what they love, while we do the rest,” says Leitch-Church. “Runway Crush began because of the support fashion graduates need when entering the business world. It not only acts as a great starting point but an added value for established designers seeking to increase brand awareness, so they can focus their time on their true passion – designing!”

From fashion, food and entertainment – Cheryl and I always support local! We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to browse Canada’s finest from coast to coast and uncover hidden gems that may have not had the platform to garner exposure until now.

Stay tuned for the designer lineup reveal and get your credit cards ready, Canada!
-MJ

Not long ago, Japanese restaurants were generally modest places defined by culture, petite waitresses and overflowing sake at each table. More recently, some newcomers have vaulted the traditional feel for much more elaborate designs. Kanji, Toronto’s newest Parkdale Japanese-fusion restaurant, has done just that. Unlike other new restaurants in the neighbourhood, Kanji is spacious, incorporates modern design and can accommodate any party size. It’s approachable and homey with an incredible music list and all-round great vibe.

The food presentation is intricate, colourful and fresh. Each bite graciously complements the next and provides a punch of flavours. The menu includes both traditional Japanese and fusion cuisine combining elements and techniques from different culinary traditions.

The ingredients are fresh and, when possible, local! When the Crazy Tuna Roll arrived on our table, it was immediately clear that the dish would be appetizing, but that is an understatement for sure. The combination of crunchy leeks, avocado and seared-pepper tuna steak surrounded by the perfect amount of wasabi mayo was orgasmic—and beautiful. Although talks of having a seasonal menu may be true, I doubt this dish will be going anywhere soon.

As a wine lover, I was surprised by the incredibly scarce selection of vino. Fortunately, the server encouraged us to try one of the many perfectly blended cocktails available on their list—it blew us away! I would have never thought of pairing sake or Japanese liqueurs with classic whiskey or tequila, but the combinations were subtle and delicious. We made our way through the majority of the list.

Kanji is owned by Rob Banton, a second-time restaurateur who believes a great experience is priceless and hires top talent who love what they do. The head chef is James Gao, who was previously at Nobu in NYC.

One key ingredient to success in this business is consistency, and I had the same great experience on my second and third visits.

Kanji is a great addition to Toronto’s culinary landscape. It delivers quality, fresh flavours throughout. Whether you are planning your next corporate event, a lively evening with close friends or looking to cozy up in a corner, this restaurant should not go unnoticed.

-CW
*Review as seen in TCHAD Quarterly

Le Dolci, Toronto’s newest boutique wedding cake shop, has compiled seven of the top wedding dessert trends for 2013. Le Dolci surveyed 300 visitors at Canada’s Bridal Show this past January to reveal what SWEET ideas and EDIBLE must-haves will make an appearance at wedding celebrations this year.

1. Edible Party Favours – Brides looking to thank their guests in a sweet way are buying edible mementos to hand out at their weddings.  Brownies, hand-crafted guimauve (marshmallows), pretty as pie meringues, or mason jars filled with wedding cake, crème brûlée, or a sinful chocolate mousse is what many brides will choose this year. These party favours can be personalized with the wedding date or couple’s initials. An edible keepsake got the thumbs up this year!

2. Parisian Macaron Towers– Many brides are opting for these colourful and delicious towers in 2013. The naturally gluten-free macaron made with almond flour is a craze that is starting to hit North America.  Already popular in England and France, these towers look stunning on any sweet table. Cake shops are also placing the macaron towers on top of cakes to create an even more unique wedding cake/tower.

3. A Centre of Sweetness – Instead of a grand wedding cake, brides are changing it up and creating extravagant displays with sweet tables. Elaborate and varied flavour combinations on a sweet table are a great option to satisfy every sweet tooth in attendance. The array of cakes, tarts, cookies and brownies, displayed properly with the right elevated plates, floral arrangements and trays can add a decadent feel to the reception and be a talking point for guests for weeks to come.

4. Wedding Cupcake Towers – A trend that is 
growing stronger each year is the cupcake tower, replacing the traditional wedding cake.  Brides are opting for this simple and elegant alternative, allowing each guest to have their own individually portioned dessert. Brides can select a combination of flavours to please many guests, and choose the variety of colours and creativity used on the cupcakes to make for a fun and delicious cake centrepiece. Top the tower off with a small cake for cutting, so brides can have the best of both worlds for a fraction of the cost. 

5. Hand-Painted Cakes – Cakes are one of the many focal points of weddings and should stand out as edible works of art. Hand-painted cakes with intricate designs on fondant are what many brides are looking for this year. Cake designers are now coming from fine art and sculpting backgrounds and can work their artistry on cakes. Skilled and in-demand cake designers can create a superbly high level of detail, unmatched by other decorating techniques.

6. Gluten-free Cake – Many brides this year are catering to guests who have special dietary needs. From cakes and cupcakes to desserts on the sweet table, gluten-free recipes have now been refined to taste delicious while looking great too.

7. Non-traditional Quirky Cakes – Cakes that tell a story have become another favourite for 2013 and can demonstrate the union at a wedding in a unique and delicious way. Couples who have met abroad or who have a special story to tell are asking for cakes that are non-traditional. Having fun with a wedding cake is a big trend and lots of fun for the bride and groom and guests in attendance.

Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, Le Dolci can work with any bride or groom to make their sweet dreams come true. Staffed with a Cordon Bleu trained chef creating custom flavours and fillings and a cake designer who is a trained artist and sculptor, their goal is to create custom dream cakes and delectable desserts to suit any bride’s wedding theme. I may not be getting married anytime soon, but the good news is – they create edible works of art for every occasion, too! Stop by the shop for a treat or check out one of their many DIY classes for some foodie fun!

Say goodbye to DIY only being known for home beauty treatments and renovation projects! Over one year ago, the DIY fad hit mainstream and has wiggled its way into anything that can be made from the comfort of your own home. Appealing to foodies, fashionistas and creative minds alike, everyone can play the role of the curator by creating something unique, individual and most importantly – made by you.

By innate nature, I’ve always been a right-side-of-the-brain kind of girl. Creativity is both my fuel and my outlet. Whether it’s writing a journal entry, blog post, article or news release; creating artwork, jewellery, decor pieces or trinkets; or even baking desserts, apps and attempting new recipes – something is created each day.  If you’re a creative soul like me, you find the process almost therapeutic, a way to take your mind off your troubles and even inspire new ideas. I just hit play to my ‘Easy Breezy’ song list and let the master get to work.

I find inspiration in the little things and allow my encounters with friends, songs, films, and almost any experience to trigger an idea or anecdote that inevitably trickles its way into being my next project. If you’re someone who needs that extra push, a great place to look is on Pinterest, Honestly WTF, Wit and Whistle, Craft Gawker, and The Crafty Procrastinator, to name a few.

Why spend money on your favourite nic-nacs when you can buy the materials at cost! Admitted or not we’re all divas on a dime, and rather than buying affordable labels just to have something new or settling for H&M when we really want BCBG, we can all be proud of fashions that came from our own blood, sweat and tears. Next time you’re taking a weekend stroll or out for brunch on Queen West, pop into one of the design shops in the heart of the Fashion District. Go in with open mind, and I guarantee you’ll feel inspired!

You stay creative, Toronto.
-MJ

Girl talk is famous for having no limits. Multiply that by a culture obsessed with reality, social media and tabloid gossip and nothing is off the table any more – whether it’s sex, addiction, or all the gory details of your cousin’s 26-hour labour. Nothing that is, except money. Talking about cold hard cash remains the last untouchable taboo, even among friends. How much do you make? Are you in debt? Did your parents help you buy your house? Do you pay all your own bills? Try asking any of the above. Or better yet, don’t. I learned the hard way when making the transition from school to interning abroad to starting my first career-oriented job, but in my mind – how else would I know what to expect. The idea of working when you’re in school is exciting because instead of earning grades, you’re rolling in dough. No one prepares you for the reality that once you’re done and ready to take on all the responsibility of your lifestyle choices, the dollar signs seem to wither away, and the lifestyle you thought you’d be able to maintain starts to seem a little out of reach… or at least that’s what should happen.

We currently live in a culture of affluent youth, where people in their 20s and early 30s are living the lifestyle their parents are only beginning to experience now – taking spur of the moment trips, dining at all the hottest restaurants, and shopping to stay fashioned in the latest trends… but can we afford it? No. According to a recent article in The Grid, we’ve seen a rise in premature affluence with the face of debt getting younger and younger.

It appears that all Canadian adults have a staggeringly high debt-to-income ratio: for every $100 we earn, we owe $150.60. For those in the 18 to 34-year-old demo, circumstances are a tad more daunting as we are notoriously bad at budgeting. Recent studies indicate that we want to retire before 60, but only 40 per cent actually have a financial plan… and 40 per cent of those planners say they have it “in their head” rather than on paper – that’ll get you far. And yet every time I take a friend up on an invitation for a casual drink or a mid-week dinner at a trendy restaurant in the West end, I stumble across the same young crowd, dressed fashionably casual with a rolling tab at the bar. I often catch myself wondering how each person occupies their time on the clock. Do they all have glamorous well-paid jobs, or are most indulging on daddy’s dime, dropping a chunk of change in the credit card well, or entertaining a significant other whose pockets run deeper than true, sincere feelings.

We live in a world where we seek instant gratification and are way too comfortable with debt. We want to relax, we book a trip – “we work so hard, we deserve a break”. We see a designer dress marked down from $300 to $150, we buy it – “we’re practically making money on that purchase”. We hear Chef X is launching his own Asian-fusion, we book a reso for opening night – “we hear there’ll be a waiting list for months”. I don’t know about you, but I’m guilty of D) all of the above. I’d like to buy my own house in the next two years which means it’s time to smarten up and say goodbye to overseas rendezvous, leave my window shopping for Christmas gifts, and trade my spontaneous dinners for entertaining guests in the comfort of my own home. It’s a good thing I make a mean brie pastry.

Happy Saving!
MJ

‘Tis the season for clementines and pomegranates, chestnuts roasting on an open fire with a warm cup of eggnog (sometimes with a dash of spiced rum), and President’s Choice® amazing lineup of holiday goodies! Cheryl and I are huge fans of PC year round, but as we near the holidays, the limited edition collection is released and filled with some of my favourite seasonal flavours: peppermint chocolate, cranberry and GINGERBREAD!

The latest President’s Choice® Insider’s Report® is packed with new products created to help make the most of the season in less time! From hors d’oeuvres to desserts and everything in-between, PC helps you get a PRetty & Palatable feast on the table – whether you’re entertaining a large crowd or hosting a small gathering. With a mandate to spend less time in the kitchen and more time mingling, Cheryl and I put the convenience factor to the test as we attempted PC’s Gingerbread Cookie Mix, armed with a bottle of local Merlot of course.

Quick, easy and convenient! With PC’s brilliant recipe in a box, all we needed to add was ½ cup of butter, one egg, and two tablespoons of water. Cheryl and I were able to make delectable cookies – though our decorating skills may be comparable to sixth-grade students – under 45 minutes per batch! Part of my favourite childhood memories were cookie cutting with my family, and now I’m able to enjoy the experience spending quality time with my best friend, filling the house with a delicious aroma while catching up over a bottle of wine.

Give it a try!
MJ

Today, men and women alike enjoy sex á la carte. With so many flavours to choose from, how you pick just one is beyond me. If you’re a woman in the driver’s seat – thriving career, have all the right friends, attend all the right parties, with a cherry of independence on top – what’s the rush to settle down? A relationship that depicts tether ball is far from desirable. That’s why women lust after the confident man: secure in his ways with his own thing going on.

There’s no surprise that the long awaited return of Mad Men’s Don Draper was welcomed and embraced by women all around the world, even after a two-year hiatus. Driven by sex, money and power, the series is a meditation on what it means to be a white middle-class man during a period of rapid social change. Jon Hamm’s character depicts the very thing a city girl craves – intelligence with a side of arrogance, wit and charm… and the dapper ensemble, pensive demeanor and strong jaw doesn’t hurt either. But most importantly, he knows how to put a woman in her place at the right time. Let’s just say I wouldn’t mind him pulling my hair the way he did in the season premiere.

Even when you compare the 60s working girl to the modern cosmopolitan gal – yes we now see women in a position of power, taking on senior roles and running various industries that were once considered part of the gentlemen’s-only club… but when it comes to the bedroom, women, then and now, willingly concede power.

The lure of a man who is bold yet private, classy yet unapologetic, commands the respect of his enterprise, and owns the room when he needs to with his own type of swagger, will always make a girl a little weak in the knees – the alpha male effect. The difference now is that the idea of an alpha male has adapted and doesn’t revolve around affluence or a career. He is now declared by a combination of behaviours and attitudes that make him irresistible to a woman who will always want what she can’t have: someone a bit against the grain and outside of her world. However, alpha males exist in different cliques and industries: from the suits, jocks and techs to the hipsters, musicians and artists, each with their very own unique appeal… how can a girl not dabble with her options. If a man wants to stay a bachelor and experience different types of women, there’s no reason a dame can’t do the same.

That’s why we see the trend going from Mr. Right to Mr. Right Now. Sure everyone wants to fall in love, but the countdown hasn’t begun and there’s no rush to do it right away – we’re younger for longer and can have it all later. So grab a spoon, ladies! They can have their cake, but we’re eating it too.

-MJ

It’s that time of the year again when your favourite stores fill the racks with spring apparel, teasing you with pretty pastels, delicate fabrics and shorter cuts while old man winter is still in full effect.  To bring you back to reality, though it’s more like a couture dream, this week top designers across Canada take the runway with their 2012 fall masterpieces. To kick off Toronto World MasterCard Fashion Week, I attended the pre-week show for Greta Constantine by Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong. Known for their bold colours, edgy style, and clean lines – each garment that hit the catwalk fit the profile. From draping floor lengths to minis, each design stayed true to the feminine silhouette with a cinched waist.

Although Pickersgill and Wong have always incorporated men’s-wear elements into their much-sought-after women’s line (carried by Holt Renfrew), this season marks the first time that Ezra Constantine, its two-year-old male counterpart,  will step out on its own during Fashion Week. Aside from the desire to check out the male models, the Ezra Constantine show is definitely on my hit list.

In addition to opening my fashion week line-up, Greta Constantine was also the debut event at the Arcadian Loft. From crystal chandeliers and view of the cityscape to the black, white and grey scale décor, the venue set the stage to compliment the allure of the line. As the new leading sponsor of Toronto Fashion Week would say…. though two hours late, the experience was priceless.

-MJ

Ryan Porter’s The New Chick Flick in Flare explores the audience’s introduction to the new generation of strong, gutsy women taking over a theatre near you.

RIP the formula behind the classic Hollywood chick flick. Known for cutesy meetings, elaborate complications, and predictable endings, it is survived by Drew Barrymore, Kate Hudson and Katherine Heigl. But don’t cry for the Miss Congenialities that will never be. These upcoming films feature a new style of leading lady, promising Hollywood’s future will be filled with heroines who can do more for themselves then wear a dozen dresses during a three-minute musical montage.

Last summer, the Kristen Wig comedy Bridesmaids became the most successful film produced by Judd Apatow, leap-frogging his boys’ club blockbusters – The 40 Year Old Virign, Superbad and Knocked Up – to become a $165-million-dollar-plus box office phenomenon in North America. Now every production company in Hollywood is on the hunt for a script that can duplicate the film’s mix of bawdy laughs and heartfelt insight into a modern women. The comedy cred on these upcoming flicks makes them worthy contenders to follow Bridesmaids down the aisle:

• Friends with Kids: The comedy finds friends (Adam Scott and writer-director Jennifer Westfeldt) attempting to raise a child together without romantic complications. Until there’s a Bridesmaids 2, this film reunites Kristen Wig, Maya Rudolph, Jon Hamm and Irish eye candy Chris O’Dowd, and is just one Wilson Phillips appearance short of being the next best thing.

• Wanderlust: Even Jennifer Aniston is tired of seeing herself fall in love. She’s following up her fiercely rude performance in Horrible Bosses by starring opposite Paul Rudd in this Judd Apatow produced comedy. And while the story is traditional fish-out-of-water fare – a tightly wound couple leave New York City for a hippie commune – expect to see Aniston embrace the outrageous situations (the commune is clothing optional) and deliver something refreshingly risqué.

Even with the new shift in cliché chick cinema, we will continue to see the oh-so-magical, great romance stories popping up on the silver screen – typically a scripted rendition from one of our favourite love stories, cast with the newest Hollywood versions of Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. So though the short, cute and funny chick flicks may have deviated from its original form, women everywhere will continue to “Notebook” their boyfriends with the latest over-the-top romance that has us leaving the theatre hopeful and enlightened, until we step outside, hit reality and are reminded that our boyfriends, husbands and men in general are nothing like that. “I bet Ryan Gosling would want to build me a house,” more like, “Ryan Gosling is a gentlemen; I bet he’d let me spend the night.”

-MJ

Looking to make plans for Valentine’s Day? Drag your lover or have a pity party with girlfriends over this next “great” love story…