ItsAMonkey
Member Since: September 17, 2006Reviews
Soma Chocolatemaker Balsamic Vinegar Truffle
I am a chocolate snob. I knows whats I likes, and I demand a hell of a lot from my chocolate. I ordered a few pieces from Soma this week - some truffles, which are actually molded chocolate filled with ganache, a microbatch bar that they take from... +
I am a chocolate snob. I knows whats I likes, and I demand a hell of a lot from my chocolate. I ordered a few pieces from Soma this week - some truffles, which are actually molded chocolate filled with ganache, a microbatch bar that they take from bean to bar, and a package of hot chocolate mix - on the recommendation of a few friends. So far, I've sampled the molded chocolates only. The first three, Caramel Kiss, Single Origin Venezuelan, and Spicy Mayan Dome, were lovely but unremarkable. The fourth? The 8 year old age Balsamic Vinegar Truffle? That one was a revelation.
I had never thought about combining a dark chocolate (this one was Venezuelan with 70% cacao content) with balsamic vinegar before, but was mighty intrigued when I saw it on their price list. And, holy cow, am I happy that I ordered it. The bitterness of the chocolate was balanced with the tangy sweetness of the balsamic in a way that I had not thought possible. If I could marry a confection, I would be running down the aisle with this sucker RIGHT NOW.
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Keora Aveda Burlington
I've been a client of Keora Aveda going on four years. Like every other store in the chain, you can expect a high level of service and some sweet perks while you wait for your cut to start. What really sets them apart, however, is their style... +
I've been a client of Keora Aveda going on four years. Like every other store in the chain, you can expect a high level of service and some sweet perks while you wait for your cut to start. What really sets them apart, however, is their style team. I started out with a lovely stylist / colour specialist named Candace, who is still there, and specializes in longer styles and up-dos. She did lovely things to my noggin, but when I kept going shorter and shorter, she referred me to Tasha, another stylist who has a real gift with edgy, short styles and colour.
After my first appointment with Tasha, I felt comfortable enough with her skills, and trusted her impeccable taste enough to sit down in her chair and say, "Lady, do whatever the hell you want to it!", or, "I'm thinking short and soft and fun. What do you think?". Tasha's been the only person to touch my hair for the past three years. She's taken me through an endless amount of styles and colours, and I've always loved every single thing she's done. Every. Single. Thing. And no, I don't think I can be any more emphatic.
It's nice to know that there's a place, and an excellent stylist, out here in suburbia that can give me the same kind of cuts and colours that I fell in love with when I lived in downtown Toronto.
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Sonaggi Computer Repair
Yesterday morning, my computer died a quiet, unexceptional death. I had no idea where the problem was...CPU? Hard drive? Did it finally get fed up with my constant visits to Sephora.com? My brother recommended the service desk at the Burlington... +
Yesterday morning, my computer died a quiet, unexceptional death. I had no idea where the problem was...CPU? Hard drive? Did it finally get fed up with my constant visits to Sephora.com?
My brother recommended the service desk at the Burlington location of Sonaggi Computers. I brought it in late Friday afternoon, and they were able to run a full diagnostic a couple hours later. Problem? Dead hard drive. Solution? Install a new one, as well as all the related operating system and software crapola that goes along with it. I was able to pick up my fixed machine Saturday morning. Now that's turnaround.
Price-wise, Sonaggi has excellent prices on hard drives, and has comparable labour rates to other places.
Bonus: locally owned.
Three locations: Toronto, Mississauga, Burlington
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Astrosatchel
Astrosatchel is a line of vinyl bags from Janna Hurtzig, a Vancouver, BC - based designer, available online and in boutiques all around this here world. The bags themselves are incredibly well made, and, well, freaking adorable. I mean, check out... +
Astrosatchel is a line of vinyl bags from Janna Hurtzig, a Vancouver, BC - based designer, available online and in boutiques all around this here world. The bags themselves are incredibly well made, and, well, freaking adorable. I mean, check out that picture - I recently purchased the pink Bubble Tree bag pictured alongside this review for one of my reports that was being transfered to another department. She may have flapped her arms like a goon when she opened it up.
If you purchase directly from the Astrosatchel site, you'll find that customer service is quick to respond to any question, and ships out your order super-quickly.
I fear I may be plotting to make too many of these bags mine, but Hurtzig just released a number of new designs, and I am having a hard time resisting.
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GoodLife Fitness
I find Goodlife locations to be pretty hit or miss. I've been to a number that are absolutely tiny, lack equipment and have a horrible atmosphere, due to basement locations, and others, like my location in Burlington, that are airy, large and have... +
I find Goodlife locations to be pretty hit or miss. I've been to a number that are absolutely tiny, lack equipment and have a horrible atmosphere, due to basement locations, and others, like my location in Burlington, that are airy, large and have so many pieces of gear that you never have to wait to use a thing. As well, I find that how a place feels is generally dictated by the time of day that you show up; I'm a first thing in the morning kind of girl, and on the odd occasions when I've gone to train after work, I've found the free weight section to be flooded with a meat-market testosterone atmosphere.
As an aside, I'd like to recommend my trainer, Jeff Allen - although I only see him every 4 months or so for a couple of sessions each time to re-jig my weight training program, I adore the man. He knows exactly how to relate to his clients, and is a trove of muscle building knowledge. I was so proud when I found out that he had been nominated for trainer of the year at Goodlife's 2006 annual gathering.
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The King and I
Every couple of months, I have to head to Calgary for business. And every couple of months, I head on over to The King and I to take part in their amazing Thai cuisine. As a vegetarian, I'm always on the look out for a place that will give me a... +
Every couple of months, I have to head to Calgary for business. And every couple of months, I head on over to The King and I to take part in their amazing Thai cuisine. As a vegetarian, I'm always on the look out for a place that will give me a wide range of options, and I'm incredibly loyal to the places that I've visited in the past that continue to do so. And thinking about that, I have to say that The King and I is, hands-down, my favourite Thai restaurant in the entire country. The vegetarian dishes are really vegetarian - no secret fish-based ingredients snuck in. And they're freaking divine. I sometimes dream about their Pad Tofu Long Song, and then promptly book a series of meetings in the city. Added bonus: they offer brown rice as a base for when you're building up flavours on your plate. Also, they deliver, so when it's the dead of winter and just too damn cold to head out of your hotel, you can still have deliciousness in your belly. And if you need any more evidence of excellence, a meat eating co-worker who's been to Thailand a few times raves about the place as well. -
Mackage Fall/Winter Coats
I invested int a Mackage last year, and I still think it's the best and smartest clothing purchase I have ever made. It fits like a glove, has a brilliant fashion-forward cut, and is the warmest coat that I have ever owned. Also, in an ego-stoking... +
I invested int a Mackage last year, and I still think it's the best and smartest clothing purchase I have ever made. It fits like a glove, has a brilliant fashion-forward cut, and is the warmest coat that I have ever owned. Also, in an ego-stoking manner, I felt like my fashion-choice was completely justified when 24's Audrey Raines wore a white version of my coat in a number of episodes last season. I realize this makes me a dork. But a toasty warm, hot looking dork, at that. -
Classic Fit Alteration Services - Mapleview Mall, Burlington, ON
Classic Fit Alterations recently opened a location at Mapleview Mall in Burlington, ON. And, holy crap, thank God they did. As a wee lass, I have a need to get pretty much everything I buy shortened, and sometimes, made smaller. Some of these... +
Classic Fit Alterations recently opened a location at Mapleview Mall in Burlington, ON. And, holy crap, thank God they did. As a wee lass, I have a need to get pretty much everything I buy shortened, and sometimes, made smaller. Some of these things I can handle for myself, but when it comes to my more pricey, designer pieces, I leave the work to someone else.
From now on, that person is Tanya at Classic Fit. She was able to shorten and take in a skirt that had a beaded tulle overlay, partially by hand, for me this week, and the alterations? Completely invisible. I don't think I've ever been more impressed with the quality of alteration work in my entire life.
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NARS Blush
I don't know a single soul who doesn't look good in Orgasm. I recently succumbed to it myself while perusing a NARS counter at Saks. It's one of the few blushes that doesn't make me look like a 3-year-old playing with her mom's make-up.
I don't know a single soul who doesn't look good in Orgasm. I recently succumbed to it myself while perusing a NARS counter at Saks. It's one of the few blushes that doesn't make me look like a 3-year-old playing with her mom's make-up. -
Philosophy A Few Good Men Lipshine Trio
I'm a disaster when it comes to wearing lipstick, so I make do with lip balms and glosses. I'm also a sucker for Philosophy's baked goods scented 3-in-1s, so when I saw that they had a set of baked goods scented and flavoured lip shines, I about... +
I'm a disaster when it comes to wearing lipstick, so I make do with lip balms and glosses. I'm also a sucker for Philosophy's baked goods scented 3-in-1s, so when I saw that they had a set of baked goods scented and flavoured lip shines, I about flipped my lid.
A Few Good Men is a lip shine trio, flavoured like chocolate milk (The Milkman), ginger ale (The Gingerbread Man) and bubblegum ice cream (The Ice Cream Man). Though each lip shine does have a slight colour in-tube, when applied, all that is left is a lovely shine. Scent and flavour-wise, they're spot on.
Philosophy's lip shines leave a much stickier senstation on the lips then other glosses and shines that I've sampled. I like them enough, however, to have worked out my own solution - I apply them only after making use of a colourless lip balm, and I'm left with soft lips that shine without the stick.
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