Headquartered in Ville St. Laurent, Montreal, Quebec, Opus bikes are Canadian designed, and since establishment in 2000, there have been over 86 various bicycles built for every kind of terrain. The great thing about Opus bicycles is that they have a bicycle for riders at every level. In particular, the urban line of Opus bicycles provides cool and stylish options for those of us who are not focused on speed, performance or hardcore bike gear, but instead are more aligned with global movements – whether we know it or not – like “slow bike” or “chic cycle”. The philosophy behind these trends is simply to enjoy your bike ride, no matter how long or short the route or how fast or slow you travel. And most importantly: look good while on your bike of course!

After a couple of weeks, I got a good feel and gained a new found appreciation for urban cycling. Think of the Classico it as a 50’s or 60’s bike with a trendy upgrade. It has elements of what you would see on a classic vintage bicycle (minus the baguette in a basket!): a rear rack, raised handle bars, fenders and thick chain covers. At the same time, its sleek and lightweight black aluminum frame with brown leather detailing, and its long slender shape take it to the next level in terms of form and functionality. The Classico, putting aside its stylish and classy looks, proved to be practical and easy to handle during my rides. Travelling uphill required minimal effort because the bike itself was light (not to mention the wheels had the perfect amount of pressure, which is so crucial for any uphills), and going downhill was a breeze because I had steady control of its steering, stopping and pedaling.

With the many notable environmental, health and social benefits of riding a bicycle versus driving a car, it is becoming more common to see urban cyclists commuting to and from work, creating a greater demand for bicycles like the Classico. While it may not be the best bicycle to take off-roading or enter in a grand fondo sporting event, I would definitely recommend the Classico, or any bicycles in the Opus Urbanista line for recreational cycling, or commuting to and from work. I will be the first person to tell you that I’m no avid cyclist, but I can appreciate that Opus has made it a priority to design, build and make available first-class urban bicycles. With the Classico, my commutes to work were smooth, relaxing and because I am an advocate of the “bike slow” movement, very scenic! I have to admit, it’s been difficult to transition back to riding my current bicycle which has a steel frame, heavy tires and a seat that is not as comfortable as the one on the Classico!

Price points range for Urbanista bicycles, but here are some of the more affordable styles that you can find on the Opus website.

Zermatt (men’s & women’s) – $728
Cervin (men’s & women’s) – $640
Classico (men’s & women’s) – $592
Porto (Men’s) – $608
Lisboa (Women’s) – $608
Topolino (Men’s & women’s) – $560

If you are looking for a bicycle to ride leisurely and/or get you from home to work on a daily basis, AND if you appreciate a retro and throwback style, you will definitely want to check out the Urbanista collection ifyou are in the market for a new bicycle!

xoxo
eudorable

1. Trail mix – Yes, some trail mix is full of plain and natural flax, grains, fibre, oats, unsweetened fruit and good fats from nuts, and that’s the stuff to choose. But there are some trail mixes loaded with sweet stuff like sweetened fruit, white, dark, milk chocolate and clusters of oats rolled in sugar and/or honey. Those will too easily add to your calorie intake.
2. Granola bars – These types of grains are the best to put into your body. The main reason lays in the amount of sugary stuff (mainly corn syrup) they put in these bars. Think about it – how else would oats and grains taste that good??
3. Yogurt covered raisins – These pop-into-your-mouth snacks would be harmless if they were just unsweetened raisins on their own. But they’re not. The raisins themselves are sweetened, and there’s a coating of creamy and sweet yogurt on top.
4. Dole fruit gel bowls or pudding snack packs- I have to admit, I used to love eating these, until I realized how much freaking sugar syrup and carbs there are in one little pack/bowl. One pudding pack can be up to as much as 120 calories!
5. Kellogs and Vector cereals – The main peeve I have about these cereals is that there’s so much sugar and carbs and preservatives. And not that much good nutrients, come on. Vector is actually supposed to be a meal replacement!

Rather than  these sugary snacks, try having something more wholesome and nutritious like:

1. Homemade popcorn – Instead of grabing a handful of trail mix, a healthier alternative is to take a scoop of kernels - control the amount of course – and microwave it yourself. That way you can put a reasonable amount of butter or salt on, rather than having it slathered on, like most popcorn in grocery stores.
2. Yogurt – As long as they’re not the drinkable yogurts full of sugar (or something with crazy cartoon packaging really), yogurt can be healthy and a great source of calcium, protein, potassium, iodine and other essential vitamins. If you want to eat a truly healthy yogurt, opt for one with less fat, sugar and additional fillings.
3. Fresh fruit – How can you go wrong with fresh fruit – sure there’s sugar, but it’s the good type that your body can turn into energy. And if you’re like me, fruit gets you full so you don’t crave more foods!
4. Cheesestring – Maybe I’m being biased here because I love Cheesestrings, but I am quite certain these fun cheesy snacks are low in calories and will keep you satisfied after one! You could also opt for the infamous cottage cheese with honey snack… or something along those lines.
5. Edamame beans – Full of both protein and fibre, you can purchase frozen edamame beans from your grocery store and store them in your freezer for a LONG period of time. Boil some and pack yourself a small container if you want to bring a snack to work!

I’m in no way claiming that I don’t consume a couple of the aforementioned “bad” foods – because I do – but I don’t like to make it a habit to snack on them either. Whereas I might have reached for them in the past, I am more conscious of what I put into my body now, and by eating the healthier alternatives, I don’t feel like I’m missing or craving anything! I hope you’re able to take something away from reading this, and consider some healthier alternatives before you grab a handful of that…!

xoxo
eudorable

source: eudorable.com

Since I’ll be going to Vegas in about a week’s time (hell yes I’m excited!), I’ve been thinking about swimwear a lot and wanting to get myself a new bikini or two!  Bikini shopping is the perfect way to get you into that summer vacation mode. But how do you choose the perfect bikini best suited for your body? Here are some VERY simple bikini buying-tips to keep in mind:

source: http://www.caribbeanswimsuit.com

Wired or halter bikini top with thick straps- if you have larger chests
Pushup or padded bikini tops - if you don’t have larger chests
Triangle bikini tops -  if you are not too busty, as these type of tops don’t offer too much support.
Boy shorts - to show off long and lean legs and that great behind, but also offers more coverage.
Tankinis - to cover a mid-section
Monokinis - these one piece swimsuits are best suited for more curvy bodies like an apple or hour glass shape. This swimsuit isn’t too flattering on bodies without curves or athletic built bodies.
Side-tie bottoms - if you have wider hips, these bottoms make it easy to adjust to what’s comfortable. These bottoms are also great for drawing attention to hips for skinnier girls without curves.
Strapless bandeau tops - ideal for triangle-shaped bodies with smaller chests
Printed vs. solid colors – bright colored busy patterns tend to draw more attention while dark sold colors do the opposite. Be wise in which you select for your bikini.
Ruffles, lacy details, bow ties - These embellishments to bikinis add more interest and volume, therefore adding curves to a boxy figure.
Mix and match tops and bottoms -  Be bold and mix and match prints with solids! If you are heavier on top, go for a solid color top and printed bottoms. If you are heavier on bottom, you don’t want to attract too much attention to this area so opt for solid bottoms and a floral or decorative top.

source: eudorable.com

source: eudorable.com

Remember, the most important thing about buying and wearing a bikini is to have the right attitude and not be ashamed or afraid to flaunt what you have. All body types are beautiful, so be proud of yours and use these tips to find that perfect bikini for your body.  Good luck!

xoxo
eudorable

Quick style tips: You can’t go wrong with a solid black dress because you can change your look easily just by layering, wearing leggings or what footwear you wear with it. I love the bit of ruching by the hip area of this Joe Fresh dress, because it adds more depth/shape and is more flattering on my not-so curvy body. Because it was nice out today, I wore the dress without stockings or leggings and paired it with my brown Aldo boots. Finally, to add some color and pop to the outfit, I wore my newest red Izzy & Ali bag that my sister gave me for my Birthday. I adore it so much!

xoxo
eudorable

1. Minimal foundation – I don’t wear powder, but I like – more like need – to wear a bit of concealer under my eyes and around my nose. As you girls know, it helps to hide blemishes and smooth out the skin.
2. Eyebrows – I didn’t start filling in my eyebrows until last year, and since then I’ve been through the ups and downs of brows. At one point, I liked thicker brows, but then I started to fill them in less and less, and at one point they were fairly thin (I think it’s because of the eyebrow pencil I was using…never go too light!), but now I’m satisfied with the thickness and shade of my brows. A key hint that I wish I knew back then: Don’t draw your eyebrows in too dark!!
3. Highlighter – the reason I apply highlighter on before my primer is because I like to apply blush or bronzer on top of the highlighter…so I put it on first to give it time to dry! Weird eh? Some people apply with their fingers and blend, but I prefer using a dedicated highlighter brush. I think I go highlighter, blush/bronzer then highlighter because it gives my cheeks more of a glow.
4. Eye shadow/liner primer – Since I discovered primer, I almost always apply it on my lids before any eye liner or eye shadow…and it definitely makes eye shadows more vibrant and saturated and helps ensure that my liner doesn’t smudge.
5. Mascara – I always apply a generous amount, but I try to avoid too many re-coating because that causes clumping.
6. Bottom liner – Using the other side of my pencil liner which is a smudging tool, I smudge along my bottom liner, making sure the line isn’t too defined or dark. Usually I use it to help angle my top liner first, so there is already some colour on the smudge tip. The key for me is not to get my bottom liner too dark otherwise I look scary…
7. Blush or bronzer – depending on what I’m wearing that day!
8. Lastly, I like to take whatever is left on my highlighter blush and sweep it across my cheeks again, for a both dewy and glowing look.

After reading all 8 steps I’ve outlined,  it sounds like my makeup routine is quite a timely process, even though it doesn’t seem that way in the morning! Regardless, I thought it’d be fun to write out how I primp and prime my face to get it ready for the world everyday! If you’re anything like me, you’re curious as to how long girls take to put their face on, and what exactly they go through during the process. There’s your not-so-exclusive inside scoop – hope you enjoyed it! :p

xoxo
eudorabe

As they do every year, Pantone.com has released the official colour of the year and if you pay any attention to fashion, you wouldn’t be shocked to know that it is Emerald Green. If you look back at the previous colours of the years, they are all more or less reflective of the hues and tones seen on the runway and that are popular in retail stores. Vibrant colours have been very trendy the last year or two- red, yellow, purple, blue, orange – so it was only a  matter of time for green to become an official colour of the year.

source: http://www.pantone.com

Nearing the end of 2012, I started noticing green making more of an appearance in stores, from denim and trousers to blazers, coats and dresses. Don’t expect it to go away anytime soon either. In fact, I just bought two green tops last week – one sleeveless top from Forever 21 and one forest green low back long-sleeve from Zara!

But the colour of the year isn’t only depicted in clothing; it’s seen in accessories, jewellery, stationary, interior decoration and household equipment.

Source: http://www.pantone.com

So whether it is in around your home, an item of clothing or a piece of furniture, make sure to get yourself something in the shade of Emerald Green this year!

xoxo
eudorable

1. Taking the bus or skytrain to work instead of driving – all that walking really does wonders over a period of time
2. Drinking water instead of coffee/juice/pop at work – that sugar adds to unwanted calories, and it does add up
3. Eat breakfast to keep your metabolism running higher (not in starvation mode) and so you don’t binge during lunch
4. Snack on nuts and fruits which have good protein fats and sugars that will keep you full until your next meal
5. When you’re opting for a salad instead of fries, ask for a lighter dressing because restaurant salads may be soaked in creamy dressing which is pretty much equivalent to having those fries.
6. Pack a lunch for work, so you can control how much you are eating and so you know exactly what you are putting into your body. A good idea is a homemade sandwich with some yogurt and/or fruits as your dessert. This will keep you full, which is a good thing so that you don’t snack on small things here and there in the afternoon and leading to dinner. Small snacks are the worst! You don’t think they’re a lot, but they creep up on you.
7. Take up a fun activity or hobby you can do at least three times a week: yoga, pilates, spin class, dance class, rock climbing, dodgeball or volleyball leagues, aerobics class – all of these are the trendy activities popular among today’s young professionals. Personally, I enjoy going for runs with Elroy as much as I can; exercise is guaranteed to make my day so much better.

Try bringing quinoa for lunch – it’s nutritious and high in fibre, protein and minerals.

Fruit salads are a great snack

My stress-reliever and method to staying in shape: running with Elroy!

I’ve shared these tips because I plan on following them myself this year, mainly the part about not snacking too much during the day… (as they say, practice what you preach)! Rather than just wanting to lose weight, I think a more tangible goal is to become healthier overall and become more active on a daily basis. Have fun! Not only will it make your goal easier to achieve, you’re guaranteed to have more energy and feel better about yourself.

Good luck with those New Year’s resolutions and goals!

xoxo
eudorable

I’ve been running regularly for about five years now. From experience as well as learning the hard way, I am confident that what you wear when you go for a run or partake in any exercise does make a difference in your performance and workout. However, I’m not implying that my running gear is top of the line or the most ergonomically designed nor am I endorsing just one athletic brand. I’m just saying that there are a few essential items I wear that I think contribute to a more comfortable run and as a result, allow me to run faster and for a longer period of time.

I used to wear baggy clothing to run because I didn’t really care how I looked and I wanted to wear “uglier” clothes because I knew I’d be sweaty after my run any way. But – apart from the baggy clothing being uncomfortable and not ideal for running – looking good for a workout or run makes you feel good. And when you feel good, you feel motivated and pumped. I do wear sweat pants and hoodies for some runs, but they’re not overly large or heavy.

Like I said, the baggy non dri-fit clothing I wore back in the day was NOT ideal for running: it was heavy, I’d sweat through it so easily and I’d feel so hot and uncomfortable half way through my run. As a result, I found value in investing in some decent running gear – and at decent prices of course. Here are my running essentials (not necessarily worn altogether):

• A comfy sports bra - I can’t stand running or doing any exercise in a regular bra… talk about discomfort
• Running full-length or cropped tights – feels like you’re wearing nothing at all!
• Ankle socks – I wear these in case I want to roll up my sweats during the run! :p
• Light weight sweater, t-shirt, tank top – I don’t necessarily always wear dri-fit shirts, but I make sure that any shirt or sweater I do wear for a run isn’t too baggy and won’t make me feel like I’m running with extra weight
• Vest – I always wear a vest during winter running – it’s so cold and it’s a great way to layer up
• Hat - helpful for those rainy days! I hate running with the rain on my face! Pet peeve I guess…
• Running gloves – Just discovered my love for these over the winter! Cold hands and fingers are no fun during a run
• Comfy runners – this is SO important. It doesn’t matter how pretty your shoes look, if they are uncomfy or hurt your feet during your run, I guarantee you won’t wear them. Sadly I have a couple of these type of runners, and though I love them (they’re so pretty), I notice my feet always hurt after awhile, so I will probably have to retire them soon
• And although I didn’t include a photo above, an essential that pumps me up and keeps me going during my run is music!

And I wasn’t bluffing about getting these for decent prices. I purchased my Nike and Adidas runners for $50-$60 US from the outlets in the states, my sports bras and shorts from Nordstrom Rack for $20 and my tights and my Helly Hansen base layer from Winners – $22 for the Reebok tights and $60 for the base layer, which retails at $130!

I recommend investing in few essential items for running, working out or playing sports – it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune – and you will see and feel a difference. “Sweat everyday.”

xoxo
eudorable

I chatted with owner Patricia and Chocolateer Greg Hook, who both told me a bit more about the success that Chocolate Arts has received since it was first in business 20 years ago, and how excited they are to be taking part in the hot chocolate festival this year! Greg suggested that I try a premium hot chocolate shot made from madirofolo chocolate, which is made from around 65% cocoa.  I wasn’t sure if I would like it, but turns out I LOVED it. It wasn’t too sweet, and was so rich in dark chocolate flavour and its fruity yet slightly bitter taste lingered in your mouth. The only reason they call it a shot is because it’s in a smaller cup – not because there’s any alcohol in it. The two types of hot chocolate that Chocolate Arts is serving during the festival are not your typical cup of cocoa. “When Pigs Fly” is served with bacon marshmallows and a peanut butter cookie, and “Armoury Amour” is served with a mini lemon ice cream sandwich.

If you’re in for giving yourself or someone else a fancy treat, I’d recommend visiting Chocolate Arts. There is something to be said about fine chocolate, for which I recently found a new appreciation for. Plus, now I really want to check out the hot chocolate festival, happening now until February 14!

To view their entire selection of chocolates, treats, ice creams and more, visit Chocolate Arts online at: http://www.chocolatearts.com/. They even hold seasonal classes, where you can sign up and create your own chocolate art!

Check out Vancouver’s 3rd Annual hot chocolate festival here on City Food magazine.

And my full article is featured here on Modern Mix Vancouver.

xoxo
eudorable

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to attend the official launch of The Parlour Restaurant in Yaletown – the newest addition to Yaletown’s neighborhood of restaurants and is on Hamilton, beside Cactus and Hapa.

The Parlour Restaruant has been set up like a true historical parlour – which was the best room in a home to display fine items – adorned with collectibles, antique furnishings and custom artwork. The name is also appropriate, as it is a space in which guests can sit, talk and relax in addition to enjoying comfort food and a variety of drinks. And speaking of food and drinks, you can find everything from pizzas, deli sandwiches, soups, salads and shared dishes. The kitchen is very much open concept in The Parlour, meaning you can see cooks and chefs making your pizzas fresh, and pulling them from the gargantuan authentic woodstone pizza oven. I was very impressed by the signature pizzas, especially how soft the crust was (I usually hate crusts). I didn’t get to try all of their drinks, but from the menu, they serve a variety of craft beers and wines on tap.

A very important factor that either keeps me coming back or staying away from any restaurant is the vibe I get from walking into the environment. And when I walked into The Parlour, I felt comfortable and “chill”, a feeling I think other guests would appreciate as well. The Parlour has managed to cultivate a modern social environment that still has a rustic feel like when you see red bricks or raw wooden tables or benches. Or a framed piece of artwork by the washroom consisting of gold bras (yes, it’s true!). I love old-fashion vintage decor, and am a big fan of how it has been incorporated into The Parlour, helping to make it more down to earth and not “hoity toity”, in my opinion. I’d definitely go back to The Parlour for both dining and lounging.

Check out their full food and drinks menu on The Parlour Restaurant’s website.

Read my full article about The Parlour Restaurant on Modern Mix Vancouver.