Find out about the newest products, ideas and trends as they cross the Wish team's desk. Five days a week we'll be reporting on the hottest new items in beauty, fashion, home, food and beyond, so be sure to check in daily!
CATEGORIES: Fashion Fix, Beauty Bag, Home Design, Foodie Files, Lifestyle
POSTINGS: July, 2008, June, 2008, May, 2008, April, 2008, March, 2008, February, 2008, January, 2008, December, 2007, November, 2007, October, 2007, September, 2007, August, 2007
Sporty Scent
As a self-proclaimed gym buff, I log countless hours a week in the spin studio. Until recently, I found myself lugging around a rather cumbersome bottle of perfume in my filled-to-the-brim LeSportsac. Not anymore, thanks to this super slender bottle from Adidas that slips right into my bag. With four light scents to choose from (I’m partial to Floral Dream), you’ll smell crisp and clean whether on the tennis courts, golf greens or spinning your heart out at the gym (like me).
-Kyle Gordon, Assistant Beauty Editor
Adidas Emotions in Motion eau de toilette, in Floral Dream, $20, 50 ml, Wal-Mart, Shoppers Drug Mart.
Move Over, Mojito
The Basil 8 is so refreshing, you may have to start growing your own basil. (And making your own vodka!)
While sampling the culinary treats of Table 8 South Beach (little sister to L.A.’s hot Table 8), we came upon a hit. Kind of like a vodka version of Miami’s famous mojito, this new concoction is cool and light, perfect any time of the day. OK, maybe not with breakfast.
The Basil 8 | SERVES 1
4 large fresh basil leaves
4 green grapes
1 1/2 oz vodka
1 dash Angostura bitters
3/4 oz simple syrup
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz ginger ale
1. In a pint shaker glass, add basil and grapes, and crush with a muddler or wooden spoon. 2. Add vodka, bitters, simple syrup and lime juice, fill glass with ice, then shake for 6 seconds. 3. Strain over fresh ice into a tall glass, top with ginger ale, and garnish with a skewer of grapes and a large basil leaf.
Click here for our super-easy simple syrup recipe.
The restaurants are brainchildren of celebrity chef Govind Armstrong, an advocate for the increasingly popular fresh and local approach. Innovation is key; this is likely the only place in the world you can get a fried olive stuffed with minced lamb. No guff. Watch for a New York version of the place opening this fall. Visit table8southbeach.com.
-Doug Wallace, Deputy Editor
Silicone Valley
Ah, the colander. Essential but oh-so space consuming. For all your quick-rinse produce needs, choose this colander that collapses down for easy storage. And all the better that it’s dishwasher safe and comes in groovy colours.
- Tory Healy, Associate Food Editor
SleekStor Collapsible Silicone Scoop Colander by Chef’n, $23, chefn.com.
Vino 2.0
Recently, I was trying to source a rare bottle of Pinot from the exclusive Sine Qua Non winery in California as a special gift for my uncle, who’s a bit of an aficionado. The winery distributes by mailing list only, so I turned to the web for help and came across vinfolio.com. The site sells an impressive variety of hard-to-find wines (including some from Sine Qua Non), and even offers to source brands not listed – at a price, of course. It’s a must-visit for anyone looking to expand their private cellar, and a great resource for the rest of us looking for a special occasion splurge.
Note: All wine purchased must be shipped to a licensed distributor in Canada.
-Sarah Rogers, Online Editor
Sleeping with Swedes
Quality sleep is essential to our health and two Swedish companies are out to set us straight on the necessary equipment to achieve it. New to Toronto’s Distillery District is luxury bed maker Hästens, the family-owned company that still makes their signature blue-checked, horsehair mattresses by hand in Sweden and sells them for between $3,800 and $69,000 (Their biggest seller is about $30,000). If that’s not in your budget, Ikea has just launched a new sleep series that features pillows, comforters, duvets and Canadian Physiotherapy Association-approved mattresses. They’ve done their research on how people sleep and taken advantage of advances in foam and latex materials. As usual, they’ve come up with the smartest designs for the lowest prices. I haven’t decided which mattress is right for me yet, but I love the Mysa Ronn 1+3 quilt ($80): with a thin quilt that can be used on its own during the hot summer months; a thicker partner for fall; and the combination of the two for maximum winter warmth, it's a three-in-one quilt for all seasons.
- Andrea Mills, Home Associate
Gosa Syren standard pillow for back sleeper, $14; Ikea 365+ Mjuk ergonomically-shaped pillow, $25; Gosa Raps standard pillow for back sleeper, $40; all Ikea, ikea.ca.
Fit Footwear
Having a strong aversion to the gym, I’m always eager to find new ways to remain active without doing so much “activity.” Who would have guessed that a pair of summer flip-flops would be the answer to my workout worries? Already making it onto “Oprah’s Top Picks for Summer” episode, the Fit Flop, which emerged from the U.K., marries fashion and fitness in a cute summer sandal that tones your body while you walk. With a uniquely-designed sole that places varying densities of pressure under your feet, Fit Flops stimulate your muscles while you’re on a walk, running errands or even shopping (that’s right, now shopping can be considered an active sport!). Designed by biomedical experts Darren James and Dr. David Cook, the fitness shoe strengthens your core muscles while lessening joint strain, and even helps to improve posture. Here’s to toning your body just in time for swimsuit season – without having to hit the gym!
- Alyse Nahmias, Fashion Intern
Fit Flops, $70.00, thefitflop.com, littleburgundyshoes.com.
Yes to Carrots
Did you know that carrots not only make a great addition to a healthy diet but also to a rejuvenating beauty routine? We at Wish have thought so ever since we tried the Yes to Carrots skincare line. Using a combination of juices from organic fruits and vegetables high Beta-Carotene (known for its anti-oxidant and anti-aging properties), such as carrots, and Dead Sea minerals – it's designed to help the body naturally repair and protect skin from damage caused by UV rays and pollution. Bonus: It's also paraben-free. We especially liked the Hand and Elbow cream for its subtle scent and non-greasy feel.
- Sarah Rogers, Online Editor
Hand and Elbow Moisturizing Cream, $10, Yes to Carrots, yes-to-carrots.com, Shoppers Drug Mart.
Lovely Lavender
On a recent press trip to Kelowna, B.C., I had the pleasure of visiting the Okanagan Lavender Herb Farm. Owner, Andrea McFadden, gave me a warm welcome, seating me on her patio to take in the gorgeous view of the Okanagan Lake below and to enjoy some of her specialty treats, Lavender Lemonade and Lavender Lemon Cake. I must admit I had no idea you could eat this pretty flower and thought its only use was for aromatherapy purposes. As I sipped and nibbled, she explained there are more than 400 varieties of lavender (on her farm she grows more than 60) and that it can be used fresh, dried and distilled. Then Andrea took me on a tour of her fragrant, beautiful gardens and sent me on my way with a sampling of her Lavender Blueberry Ice Cream (incredible). It was the perfect way to end my afternoon.
- Sarah Rogers, Online Editor
Visit okanaganlavender.com to plan your own visit to the farm or to shop for organic lavender products.
Sharpening Up
There’s nothing worse than a big, dull knife bruising the heck out of great produce. I love Kuhn Rikon’s new paring knife. Made of carbon steel with a non-stick coating, the blade slices vegetables with ease, and it’s available in six sharp shades. This way, the knife you need (which comes sheathed) is easy to spot in a drawer full of utensils.
-Tory Healy, Associate Food Editor
Kuhn Rikon Non-Stick Paring Knife, $12 (plus shipping), available through City Chef, citychef.ca.
Time to Vent
Keep fruit and veggies fresh and crunchy in a vented container, like this one. It has a vent to allow air to circulate and a tray to separate the produce from any moisture that collects at the bottom. The result is crisper, longer-lasting produce – excellent.
- Tory Healy, Associate Food Editor
Rubbermaid Produce Saver, $5 (5 cup container), Wal-Mart; Loblaws; Canadian Tire; Zellers; Home Hardware, Rubbermaid.com.
Celebrity King Crab
On a weekend trip to Seattle last summer, I ate the most gigantic king crab one night and lived to tell about it. This summer, the one pictured here at Miami’s The Oceanaire Seafood Room took the cake (at about $130 per kilo!). The restaurant is part of a smallish U.S. chain with an eye out for fresh, sustainable seafood. Their Alaskan king crab is caught from the waters of the Bering Sea and featured on Discovery Channel’s hit show Deadliest Catch. The amiable and accommodating Oceanaire executive chef Sean Bernal will be on the boat, Time Bandit this October at the invitation of the crew. There are more than a dozen kinds of fresh fish on the ever-changing menu everyday at this 1930s ocean liner-like resto – everything from snapper to wolffish. And there’s also a bartender who’s a dead ringer for Bluto from Popeye. Saw it myself! Visit theoceanaire.com.
- Doug Wallace, Deputy Editor
Art-apalooza
It seems art exhibitions are quickly becoming the ‘in’ way for aficionados and first-timers alike to scope out the work of both established and up-and-coming artists. Starting today, Nathan Phillips Square, located in the heart of downtown Toronto, will be transformed into a canopied outdoor art fest. Inspired by an outdoor art fair in New York City, the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition has been going strong since 1961 and includes photography, painting, drawing, sculpture, wood and ceramics. I'm in love with this watercolour by Alison Baldock and I’ve been dreaming of starting my own collection lately. Lucky for me, the weekend weather forecast looks promising (I’ll go regardless – this is a rain or shine event). Maybe it doesn’t compare with a weekend at the cottage, but complete with roasted corn, ice cream and a beer tent, it’s like the CNE for adults (only here, entrance is free!).
- Andrea Mills, Home Associate
“She Watched as the Butterfly Softly Moved its Wings Back and Forth,” by Alison Baldock, 2008, watercolour paper on panel, alisonbaldock.com.
The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, torontooutdoorart.org
July 11-13, Nathan Phillips Square
Face Forward
I heart Max. Rather, I wear Max on my heart. I recently purchased an organic cotton t-shirt from Joy Apparel, with my friend Max's face hand drawn on it. The shirt is part of the Joy Project – an international social progress and equality initiative created by Canadian Jeff Woodrow. By wearing a friend's (or even a stranger's) face, you are encouraged to think about the connections between us and the world we live in. Plus, 5% of the profit from each shirt goes to a charity reflecting the project’s vision. And if you'd like to be the artist, visit T-Shirt Monster to create your own unique shirt. You can upload an image and easily design a men’s, women’s or baby’s t-shirt right on the site.
- Alison Lawler-Dean, Fashion Market Editor
Organic Cotton T-Shirt, $30 plus shipping, Joy Apparel, joytshirt.com.
Petite Palette
To be honest, packing is not my forte. I have a tendency to take way too much and only use about half. So you can understand my excitement when Pop Beauty revealed its compact makeup kit with everything you need to look great this summer. With three cheek shades, nine eyeshadows, three eye pencils and a duo brush (for blending and lining), travelling just became a whole lot lighter. Bonus: The kit comes with application tips for two completely different looks: London Bright Lights and California Smouldering Glow.
- Kyle Gordon, Assistant Beauty Editor
Pop Beauty Tan Popper, $42, Sephora, sephora.com.
Coming Up Roses
It’s sweet, it’s pretty, and it’s pink! This organically produced rose nectar (there are 45 grams of real rose petals in a 250 ml bottle!) can be served on its own or mixed with gin, vodka, sake or champagne for a refined and sophisticated summer cocktail. For the mocktail version, just mix with soda water and serve with a twist of lemon. It’s so refreshing and loaded with vitamin C. Fun fact: One of Leonardo da Vinci’s favourite beverages was rosewater from Kazanlak, the capital city of the famous Rose Valley in Bulgaria – the same place the roses in this nectar are harvested.
- Hannah Bank, Assistant Home & Food Editor
Rare European Rose Nectar, about $7 (250 ml), Sence, sencenectar.com.
