samuraiya
Member Since: August 14, 2007Reviews
Maybelline New York Lash Stiletto Mascara
Also received this from Chick Advisor. I think this is a good day-wear product. It gives you similar results as Lancome's Definicil mascara - long and individually separated lashes. I've been using it over the holidays and enjoyed the... +
Also received this from Chick Advisor. I think this is a good day-wear product. It gives you similar results as Lancome's Definicil mascara - long and individually separated lashes. I've been using it over the holidays and enjoyed the 'enhanced' natural look it gives. There's no clumping so far. And the product doesn't weigh my lashes down, so the curls stay put after application. I was pretty impressed by that since my lashes always droops after putting on mascara. For $8 at the drug store, I'd recommend this. One thing that bothers me a little is the scent. I found it a bit too pungent for a mascara. It's not an unpleasant smell, but I'm just not into overly scented products. -
Pure+simple Collagen Elastin Plus Serum
I got this after a facial at the Yorkville Pure and Simple. I was told that it'd be fine for both the eye area and my oily t-zone. How wrong was the esthetician! After I put it on my entire face, I became an oil slick in less than half an hour... +
I got this after a facial at the Yorkville Pure and Simple. I was told that it'd be fine for both the eye area and my oily t-zone. How wrong was the esthetician! After I put it on my entire face, I became an oil slick in less than half an hour. On top of that this stuff smells weird. And so, it sat in my room for half a year before I thought, maybe I'll give it another try. At that point, the whole $80 bottle of collagen had gone bad and smelled horrible. So, I had to dump it. The only saving grace about this product, for me anyway, was the nice frosted glass bottle it comes in. -
Studio Kim
I was very happy with the alterations Kim did on my cocktail dress, which required some serious hand stitching ($24 for hemming). Although I've only sent one thing her way, she has definitely won me over with her cool (read: zen-like)... +
I was very happy with the alterations Kim did on my cocktail dress, which required some serious hand stitching ($24 for hemming). Although I've only sent one thing her way, she has definitely won me over with her cool (read: zen-like) professionalism - not one extra word is uttered if unnecessary. I also like that she falls into her own category, nothing as extreme as the clothing reconstruction stylist/designer from "renovate my wardrobe", but just a subdued and efficient craftsman. There's none of the 'i-know-it-all' attitude, or worse, the wide-eyed 'what-impossible-thing-do-you-want-me-to-do-with-this-dress-again?' look that one often finds in an old seamstress. Kim is young, probably in her 30s, and you get a sense that she understands and appreciates the cut and fit of more modern garments, which is important if you need alterations done on a contemporary designer piece. My ultimate test for her would be this coat I bought several years ago that is in desperate need of alterations. It's been hard for me to leave it in the hands of anyone since the piece is a bit complicated, avant-garde, and has some sentimental value attached. I'll report back on progress. -
Downtown Marriott Hotel
I stayed here on a trip to Calgary and was very impressed with the room and service. First, the location is right in downtown Calgary, conveniently steps away from Stephen Ave. which is a pedestrian shopping and restaurant street. At the front... +
I stayed here on a trip to Calgary and was very impressed with the room and service. First, the location is right in downtown Calgary, conveniently steps away from Stephen Ave. which is a pedestrian shopping and restaurant street. At the front entrance, there's always someone opening your cab door and welcoming you to the hotel (a nice touch...made me feel rather important!) The room itself is amazing. Huge floor to ceiling windows let you take in the view of downtown. There are also operable panels so you can get some fresh air if desired. The decor is contemporary and elegant. There is sooo much space in the room at 300 sq ft. and it includes: huge LG flat screen tv, internet (at a cost), coffee & tea service, bath & body works toiletry, hair dryer, iron, sofa with ottoman, huge desk, huge closet, full length mirror. And this is just their regular guest room (pictured above). And the bed! It is the most comfortable hotel bed I've ever slept in. Really lovely duvet too! I'll definitely stay here if I ever do visit Calgary again. -
Terroni on Adelaide
This is a great option for meeting up with a larger group of friends for dinner and drinks. It combines a casual chic atmosphere with an affordable price point and a menu that's varied enough to please different palettes. The charcouterie platters... +
This is a great option for meeting up with a larger group of friends for dinner and drinks. It combines a casual chic atmosphere with an affordable price point and a menu that's varied enough to please different palettes. The charcouterie platters are perfect appetizers for sharing. Slices of cured meat and chunks of cheese are served on rustic olivewood boards. I would not recommend the bruschettas for lack of value and so-so flavour - $15 for 3 small pieces of bruschetta is just wrong when for the same price I can get a plate of niagara cured beef w/ parmigiana cheese. As for mains, my friend raved about their gnocchi. I usually like to order the thin crust pizzas (beware though, Terroni never cut their pizzas into slices, so, your fingers will get a somewhat torturous workout from cutting. I think the crunchy crust and house made tomato sauce are worth the trouble. It's not so bad if you're among friends, but it could become problematic/distracting if you want to impress your dinner companion.) For dessert, I highly recommend the flourless chocolate cake with white chocolate ganache sauce. The cake had a luxuriously rich texture, but somehow, it's not heavy at all.
The service was excellent. The hostess and our waitress were both really accommodating of an extra guest in our party, giving us an extra table to fit everyone even though the house was packed and people were waiting to get seated. We were never pressured by the waitress to turn the table. She was helpful and friendly, not intrusive, but shows up at exactly the right time to check if we need something - more water, bread, wine etc.
Overall, the food was pretty good. The atmosphere and service are excellent. And I look forward to going there for another dinner with friends or a casual date. The no reservations policy means that you need to get to the restaurant early to wait for a table. Dinner for 5 was $190 (including tax & tip; 2 shared appetizers, 1L house wine, 1 bottle of water, pizza/pasta per person, 1 dessert, 2 coffees)
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Differin XP
This gel is prescribed by my dermatologist for getting rid of whiteheads & blackheads. It contains 0.3% adapalene, which is a retinoid. It clears pores of dead skin cells that accumulate over time, therefore preventing new pimples from forming... +
This gel is prescribed by my dermatologist for getting rid of whiteheads & blackheads. It contains 0.3% adapalene, which is a retinoid. It clears pores of dead skin cells that accumulate over time, therefore preventing new pimples from forming. The 0.3% gel is a stronger formula, so it works faster to clear up the skin. It's been about 1 month since I started using it, and I still experience dryness. It had worked wonders on my skin in that whiteheads have really disappeared and the blackheads are slowly going away. Just like the clindoxyl, this also requires diligence. My skincare regimen had been: washing my face morning & night with a gentle cleanser (lancome cleansing gel), then using a toner (neostrata toning solution), clindoxyl in the morning, and differin xp at night. I've used this for 2.5 months, and my complexion is normal again!!! As in all CLEAR!!! So, I'd highly recommend that you speak with a dermatologist if your skin condition is really bothering you. Most of the time, your health insurance will cover at least 80% of the cost. -
Clindoxyl Gel
My dermatologist prescribed this as an acne treatment for my face which broke out like crazy over the holidays, mainly in the chin area. It's pretty expensive, but with health insurance, I only had to pay $9. One tube lasts about 2 months. This... +
My dermatologist prescribed this as an acne treatment for my face which broke out like crazy over the holidays, mainly in the chin area. It's pretty expensive, but with health insurance, I only had to pay $9. One tube lasts about 2 months. This is a topical antibiotic cream that you apply to pimples and their surrounding areas. It's been really effective, but requires some patience. It took almost two months for my face to completely clear up. It also requires diligence - must be applied everyday day for it to work. It feels a bit like putting white glue on your face, but after it dries, it's not so bad. And I got used to it after a while. Like all skincare regimens, one cream can't do everything. This particular gel targets the bacteria that forms acne. So, it helps to get rid of the larger, deeper pimples, but does nothing for acne scars. -
NeoStrata Toning Solution
This is a toner that helps to reduce the appearance of acne scarring... you know, those dark or reddish spots on your face that just seems to take forever to clear away even if you aren't breaking out anymore. I've been using it for about 3 weeks... +
This is a toner that helps to reduce the appearance of acne scarring... you know, those dark or reddish spots on your face that just seems to take forever to clear away even if you aren't breaking out anymore. I've been using it for about 3 weeks now, and there has been a significant improvement to my complexion even after 2 weeks! Believe me I've used many products and this one is by far the most impressive at getting rid of the scars. The active ingredient is 8% glycolic acid, which might be a bit harsh for people with sensitive skin. If there's any open wounds on your face, even from flaky, dry skin, you will feel the stinging. But, for the results, I'll gladly tolerate the pain! There's also an adjustment period for the skin, so I experienced dryness for the first few weeks of use, but the problem is slowly going away. I think it's around $15 - $20 CAN. Yes, pricey, but worth every cent for how well it's worked. A good way to stretch the use of one bottle is to apply with clean hands instead of a cotton pad... that way, less will be wasted on the cotton itself. Since this product is so strong, you only need a little each time. -
Fran's Restaurant
This had been the brunch destination of choice for my boyfriend and I. Parking is readily available on College Street. He gets his greasy bacon & eggs and I get to go shopping at Winners across the street afterwards! I do enjoy the relaxed and... +
This had been the brunch destination of choice for my boyfriend and I. Parking is readily available on College Street. He gets his greasy bacon & eggs and I get to go shopping at Winners across the street afterwards! I do enjoy the relaxed and easy-going atmosphere at Fran's. The servers are always courteous and we've never had to flag anyone down for coffee refills. Food wise, I'd say this is middle of the road - a safe place to have the classic diner breakfast. Although I was underwhelmed by their eggs benedict, their steak & eggs was fine. This is a keeper for its easily accessible location, simple food, and a good compromise if you have a boyfriend who's not too adventurous in the food department. -
Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar
I had a great time here with my girlfriends on boxing 'night'. The vibe was casual chic. The server was very helpful, kind, friendly, but not patronizing. Reservations are recommended. If it's a last minute plan, then I suggest you get there... +
I had a great time here with my girlfriends on boxing 'night'. The vibe was casual chic. The server was very helpful, kind, friendly, but not patronizing. Reservations are recommended. If it's a last minute plan, then I suggest you get there before 6:30pm to ensure you get a table without much waiting. The best part about this restaurant, for a curious oeno-newb like meself, is their forever changing winelist. You can order many by the glass in 3oz or 6oz pours. And the casual atmosphere made it less intimidating trying to pronounce the crazier names. The food comes in small plates meant to be shared. The cuisine is based on fresh locally sourced ingredients, so the menu changes often. I enjoyed everything especially the braised beef & duck confit. It'll cost around $60 - $75 per person if you anticipate 3 glasses of wine & enough to get full for dinner. But, if you plan on spending less, it's also a great place for a late evening snack over a couple of glasses of vino. This is a fun dining experience... And excuse me, but, did I mention the wine? -
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