Must-haves for the Summer

Ladies, it's summer time! Sun's out, the weather is too die for and it's finally time to show off that hard-earned beach body. Summer is by far my favorite time of year and I have been preparing all year round. These are the Top 3 Must Haves for Summer 2016.

TOP 3 MUST HAVES

1. Stila Stay All Day® Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

This eyeliner by Stila is to die for! It's smooth and silk-like texture makes it a staple for those pool parties everyone is raving about. Waterproof is right! After a test trial on my part, I found that the eyeliner is extremely resistant and doesn't wear out during the day. 

 

2. Anastasia Glow Kit

The Anastasia Glow Kit (especially in Sun Kissed) is the one thing that WILL be in my beauty bag this summer. This Glow Kit doesn't only act as a highlighter but also as an eyeshadow palette. I find that the highlighters are very careful pigmented and it's hard to go overboard with the product, as well as it very light. Even though it is a bit of a wallet pincher, it is more than what it's worth.

 

3. Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Acqua

Think of this as the diet version of Neroli Portofino, one of my all-time summer favorites—the sexy, warm amber and fresh citrus are still there, but now only you, and the one wrapped around you, will notice it.

 

Those are my top three of the week! Stay tuned!

Restaurant Review: Francesca's Bakery

Restaurant Review:

Francesca's Bakery

Francesca's Bakery is a staple Italian sit-down restaurant and café near McCowan and Sheppard. Just past Scarborough Town Centre, this restaurant is home to many different Italian delicacies. From arancinis to cannoli, Francesca's has it all.

From a young age, I remember Sunday afternoons after-church would start at our family favourite bakery: Francesca's. Always greeted with warm smiles and big hugs, the staff at this small Italian spot always made everyone feel welcomed. Still, ten years later, the restaurant carries out the same values.

Angelo Battaglia, the owner, named the bakery after his wife Francesca. It started as a 5 employee operation and has grown to over 3500 square feet of retail and bakery production with over 25 employees.

Angelo started his baking career in his father’s Italian bakery Palermo, Sicily where he learned the art of Italian bread making. He later learned the art of Sicilian pastries working in Palermo’s famous Bar Costa as a teenager. After immigrating to Canada and working in a Toronto bakery, he decided to open his own bakery in 1994. In the beginning it was tough for Angelo working 18 hour days 7 days a week, but as the business grew the work load lessened for Angelo as he was able to hire more employees. It was truly a labour of love for Angelo, as he still works full time in the bakery. Today, both sons both work at the restaurant.

With a lifetime of visiting of restaurant, I can assure you that the freshness and quality in their goods are undeniably good. The minute you step foot in the Italian café, you can smell fresh bread and pastries just coming out from the stove. For me, this place is a 9 out of 10.

Check in for more reviews!



 

Worst Eats in the GTA

We saw a few tasty restaurants in my most previous post. Now, here comes the worst.

To make this small list, I went scavenging into online forums like Reddit, Yellowpages and Zomato looking for different opinions and reviews on these restaurants. Due to the NUMEROUS opinions I found it was especially difficult to pick out the really ugly ones. The result of my inquiries are quite...untasteful.

 

  1.Ho-Lee-Chow

Located on the Danforth, this Chinese take-out has by far the WORST reviews I've ever seen on numerous platforms. One user comments:

"Absolutely the worst food -- not just Chinese food, but food in general -- I have ever had delivered in my entire life! Not to mention, incredibly expensive for small portion sizes! That said, I'm glad the portions were small because it was less for me to throw out in the garbage. "

Based on the reviews, the portions seem to be incredibly small, tasteless and almost in-edible. Another user states that "Manchu Wok at the mall is 5 Stars compared to this." Stay away people.

2.Thai One On 

Thai One On, has an average of 2-3 stars, but, their Avenue Rd. location has received some extreme criticism and an older location has been closed permanently.  With a lack of reviews, this place can be considered as a hit and miss. One user writes:

"We looked through the menu and i made a joke to my wife about them labelling the noodle dishes as Asian Pasta, i really should have started to worry at that point. 

The Spring rolls came out and they were ok.
Its is when the Pad Thai came out that the night took a turn for a nasty worse. The sauce tasted of tomatoes and vinegar, being really hungry I tried to ignore it but could not. Looking across the table at my wife who was also making a nasty face about the Pad Thai I tried to get the attention of the owner who rather then come over started to print our bill. 

When i brought him the two plates of Pad Thai and asked why it tastes like acidic he told me that was how they make it in Thailand. 

We still had to pay for the disgusting Pad Thai but he did give us a 15% discount. 

This is my last trip here."

The reviews only get worse. Someone even commented "How is this place still in business, especially considering the area it's in?  Horrible service!" Yet, this place doesn't look like it's going to change any time soon. 

These are my two for the week! Check in for future reviews. 

First Vlog!

I am super pleased to announce that A Little Lifestyle with Maria will soon have a Youtube channel! The content will vary from behind the scenes adventures, taste testings and trials.Stay tuned for further info on the channel!

 

Cheers,

Maria

Good Eats in the GTA (Part 1)

The Greater Toronto Area, otherwise known as the GTA, is home to thousands of dining experiences. From the French cuisine of Scaramouche to Johnny's famous burgers, the possibilities are endless. Yet, buried deep in Toronto, are culinary gems. Here are some of the best underrated restaurants in the GTA:

 Vi Pei Bistro

Since 2008, it has been a "go to" for all times of day. With a classic European Bistro menu, and a pledge to fresh healthy foods. Vi Pei is a hit. Although their locations are in the East end, Critics claim that it is "­worth the trip." My personal favourite has to be the Santa Fe omelette.

 Union Social Eatery

 Even though the Union Social Eatery is a chain restaurant and has locations spread all over North America, the Mississauga location is a must. With a good price range, and an upbeat urban environment, the Union Social Eatery really raises the bar for restaurants in Mississauga. Not only have they achieved a Certificate of Excellence, but they are amongst the top ten dining spots Mississauga.

'G' for Gelato and Espresso Bar

   Located on Jarvis, this restaurant is well known throughout the community. With over twenty different gelato flavors, scrumptious desserts and their rebound pizza, this gelato parlor has earned recognition from all over the world. Not only is the food great, but numerous reviews elaborate on the friendly and warm service they receive.

These are my top three of the week! Check in next week for more great restaurants located in the GTA!