The annual Canadian National Exhibition took place this year from August 20 to September 6, 2010. It is usually on every year and signals the end of summer. Everyone tells me “you know it’s the end of Summer when The Ex starts!” which was really true, because on the first day it commenced it was the first day it was breezy cold! I had to borrow a jacket from Kaori!

The great thing about The Ex is  it’s proximity to Downtown. Just take the 509 Streetcar from Union Station and it will take you right to Exhibition Place (very close to Lake Ontario).

The Ex is similar to the Royal Melbourne Show which I only recently discovered that I had quite a liking for. The Ex is full of typical fair rides and games. I love that fair feel – everything and everyone is lighted up and having so much fun. It’s so joyous and full of laughter and joy.

Here’s the Ferris Wheel which you can take and see really gorgeous views of the exhibition and the city!

Kaori and I

View from the Ferris Wheel!

The Swing Tower

About to ride the “Swing Tower”!

This is the “Crazy Mouse”. We didn’t manage to have enough time to ride this one.

Kaori and I on the “Crazy Surf”

Upclose and ready to ride!

Here’s me and Kaori’s husband, Jose on the where you feel like you’re flying.

Here is us in motion! It was so fast & circling, it made me feel nauseous after.

Here are some of the games you can play to win some prizes!

WIN WIN WIN

Hoop Shots. Can you shoot the ball through the hoop and win?

Can you pick the right duckie to win?

The Prizes!

Will you win some big money?

Here’s Kaori trying to shoot the star. You have to shoot the entire star before all your bullets run out to win!

Here’s Jose trying to give it a go

Here’s how they went! Unfortunately – no win :(

The Ex also features various shows from Ice Skating to Acrobatics to Dog Shows. Here’s some photos of the ice skating show featuring the Canadian olympic gold medalist duo! I have to admit that they were really good. The others weren’t so much… Haha.

The Ex also features various exhibitions such as the Home exhibition, and also showcases crazy things like Sand sculptures and rock balancing. It had quite the variety of things to look at!

It was a good thing we went on the first day because there were all sorts of specials. Adult Admission tickets were only $8 and you could pay $10 for 5 rides. Pretty awesome! Normally tickets are $16 and 5 rides would probably cost you about $25.

Last Thursday evening I was taken to Ashbridges Bay (The Beaches of Toronto) to celebrate Canada Day by watching the fireworks show. There were a lot of people who came to see this event, it took us one hour just to drive out of the street where we parked and we parked fairly far away (up near Dundas)!

There were a lot of people who carried Canadian flags, and dressed in red and white. We left when they started singing the Canadian anthem which made me cringe. Haha.

Anyway – enjoy the snaps I took :)

On March 22, 2010, Fuze hosted a smashing fashion party to kick off the Spring Fashion Week in Toronto. I was lucky enough to be one of the Fuze twitter girls at the event and was very honoured to have be invited to this party let alone have this role!

Us Fuze girls had to make sure we came looking our hottest, here’s me (below) getting ready for the party with pink lips. Hehe!

Here are the Fuze girls before the event!

Our FUZE dresses!

 Here’s Tanya (my fellow Fuze Twitter-er) and I

FUZE! Love this flavour!

Above is the fashion runway with the seats reserved for the V.I.Ps!

Here are the dresses marked up and ready to go for the show! LOVE that green floral dress!

Here are the models backstage getting ready for the show.

Accessory showcases getting ready for the party.

Above are some of the models at the accessory showcase. Hot!

Here’s the bar, serving the special Fuze-tinis (Fuze martinis, so cute!) 

Fuze-tini! Love it!

Another accessories showcase. Amazing jewellery!

Upclose! Beautiful!

In all, I really enjoyed attending this event. There were so many fashionable guests and the fashion show was fabulous. The accessory showcases were just fantastic, with a wide range of items available to purchase. I also have to say that the music was banging! But best of all the Fuze was tasty and I am not paid to say that at all!

Well done to the organizers of this event – Shannae (http://whatwomenwant.com/) and Yvonne (http://heydoyou.com/), two very well known and respectable fashion bloggers in Toronto. You girls are awesome!

Last Friday, Kaori and I made our way up to High Park to see the Cherry Blossoms for Spring 2010! These Cherry Blossoms (Sakura trees) are such a wonderful celebration to see and experience in Toronto as they mark the end of winter! It is an old Japanese tradition of Sakura Hanami which is roughly translated as “cherry blossom flower viewing” and typically occurs in late April – early May. Toronto’s winter is just too harsh and cold, even for these most cold tolerant flowering cherry tree species! I’ve been told that these flowers don’t last very long as they fall very quickly and if you want to catch a glimpse of these photos, you only have about a 1-2 week window to go! Sakura blossoms are seen as a metaphor for life itself, luminous and beautiful, yet fleeting and ephemeral.

History of High Park’s Sakura Trees

In 1959, the Japanese ambassador to Canada, Toru-Hagiwara, presented 2000 Japanese Somei-Yoshino Sakura trees to the citizens of Toronto on behalf of the citizens of Tokyo. The trees were planted in appreciation of Toronto accepting re-located Japanese-Canadians following the Second World War. Many of these trees were planted on the hillside overlooking Grenadier Pond (immediately southwest of the Grenadier Café) and around the west shore of the pond.

In 1984, a grove of Japanese cherry trees were planted along a pathway west of the Children’s Adventure Playground in High Park. The trees were donated by Yoriki and Midori Iwasaki as a special gift to the people of Toronto and “a joyful symbol of life”.

Through the Consulate General of Japan in Toronto’s “Sakura Project”, 34 Yoshino ‘Akebono’ and Kwanzan ‘Fugenzo’ Sakura trees were donated toHigh Park in 2001 on the west shore of Grenadier Pond near the Maple Leaf garden.  In 2006, 16 additional Yoshino Sakura trees were planted near the original 1959 planting site.

Plaques commemorating each of the plantings can be found under the cherry trees in High Park.

Source: High Park’s Cherry Blossom Website

Image Source: High Park’s Cherry Blossom Website

There are two walks that you can take at High Park to see these trees. Walk 1 involves a 30-45 minute walk along the paved trails which can also be quite steep in some places. This walk is definitely worth it as you’ll see the most beautiful views of High Park’s Sakura trees as well as Grenadier Pond and Hillside Gardens. Also watch for Baltimore Orioles that have just migrated back to the park feeding on nectar from the Sakura blossoms! I didn’t manage to see any while I was there though..

I didn’t do Walk 2 but this walk features the grove of Sakura trees donated by the Iwasaki family in 1984 as well as the Children’s Adventure Playground and the Lower Duck Pond. While there are fewer Sakura trees on this 20 minute walk, this walk will be good for your little ones :)

Below are photos I took while I was on Walk 1. You will get a little viewing of some of these truly beautiful flowers! It of course is not the same to viewing them up close with your own eyes.

High Park becomes a photographer’s heaven at this time of year. From amateur to professional photographers, this is where they gather to capture this beautiful moment in Toronto. I didn’t see one group of people without a camera!

As mentioned a little bit earlier, there are some beautiful wildlife that come to stay at High Park.

These birds aren’t the only birds who come to enjoy High Park, but so do “Love Birds”.

And so do families and friends..

High Park also has other beautiful flowers such as this pretty pink one below.

Location & How To Get There
View Larger Map

The most convenient and easy way I find is to take the TTC to High Park station (on the Bloor line) and just as you cross Bloor Street, you’ll see High Park. It’s too big to miss!

If you prefer to drive, there’s free parking available at the Grenadier Restaurant (enter the park from the intersection of Bloor Street and High Park Avenue and follow the one-way loop to the Grenadier Restaurant in the centre of the park) and the lot immediately east of the Zoo (enter the park from the intersection of High Park Blvd and Parkside Drive).

So we’re just one month away until the Youth Festival: “Your Victory is My Victory”, which is taking place on May 15, 2010 at Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto, Canada. SGI Canada youth members from all over Canada will be performing at this event.

The SGI youth in Toronto will be performing the following:

• Hip-hop
• Latin
• Youth Chorus
• Youth Band

I know that the SGI youth in Vancouver will be dancing alongside with us Toronto-nians in the hip-hop dance, but I am unsure what else may be in store! I’m excited to find out! I’m sure it all will be amazing.

So I’m part of the hip-hop dance group for this event. This is our second last practice until the dress rehearsal! I took a couple of snaps for all of you to take a sneak peak to this much anticipated event.

By the way, if you’re interested in coming – make sure you get your tickets quick! You can purchase tickets at Roy Thomson Hall online or you can simply purchase tickets at the box office. Please make sure you also visit the Youth Festival official website for more information!

Have you got your ticket yet? Come party with us for LG Fashion Week! I’ll be there and so should you!

I got hired to be the ‘social media’ at the following fashion event for LG Fashion Week in Toronto. It’s hosted by the Coca Cola juice drink FUZE. I’ll be there from 7 to midnight tweeting on via the account http://www.twitter.com/fuzemuze/. Please follow @fuzemuze or @littleladylove for up to date news! I will be tweeting which celebrities turn up, who’s wearing what, and more! I’m very excited about this!

Below are details of the event:

THE EVENT

FUZE Presents A Canadian Designer Accessory Showcase culminating with a Fashion show by The Red Carpet Room, Canada’s exclusive style showroom. The Accessary Showcase will consist of some of Canada’s newest and most impressive designers from the West to the East and the Runway Show will reveal the hottest spring trends from it’s impressive roster of designers. The Show, appealing to both womenswear and menswear fans, will feature mini capsule collections from eleven vastly different clothing and accessory designers. From floral-inspired looks to eco-chic, brush up on the latest trends in Canadian design during this ultra-glam evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, celebs and of course, FASHION!

RUNWAY SHOW DESIGNERS

Jessica Biffi, Mulcair, Brazen Hussy, Coccolily, Paris Li, Lizares, Hillberg & Berk, Psalms 91:1, MICALLA, Blair Nadeau, Miss Niya

ACCESSORY SHOWCASE

Jenny Grecco Jewelry, Oh Dina Hair Fascinations, Ola Finesse Jewelry, MEYA’TEYES AUTHENTIKS, John James, Roxx Jewels, Damn Heels and much more…

THE RED CARPET ROOM

The Red Carpet Room is Canada’s most comprehensive and unique style showroom. Founder Amanda Brugel allows Actors, Musicians, TV Hosts and High-Profile Personalities access to a mind-blowing selection of entirely Womenswear, Menswear and accessories, within a spacious showroom located at the Toronto Fashion Incubator. Featuring designer garments from Vancouver to Montreal, the showroom invites guests to borrow items ideal for any public appearance, luxe event or editorial shoot. Roll out the red carpet! A cost-efficient, styling service has finally arrived!

www.theredcarpetroom.com

FUZE – “Love Your Shape”

http://www.drinkfuze.ca/

RAFFLE, VENDOR AND TICKET PROCEEDS TO BE DONATED TO LOOK GOOD FEEL BETTER:

Look Good Feel Better – “Helping Women With Cancer”

https://www.lgfb.ca/

Ticket Purchase:

In order to get yourself into the event, you need to purchase your tickets online at http://trendreport.eventbrite.com/

See you guys at the event! :D

As you may know, I have been rehearsing for an event that is coming up in May. It’s been a long expected event and a lot of organization has gone into getting this altogether. The youth of SGI Canada in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal are getting together to perform original pieces of hip hop and latin dances, and choruses.

Further information about the event is below. There are 2,500 tickets up for grabs – get your tickets quickly!

“Me to We”, the social enterprise that supports Free the Children, and SGI Canada present “Your Victory is My Victory” a journey of youth empowerment through music and dance.  More than 400 youth performers from across Canada.

The co-founder of Free the Children, the world’s largest organization of children helping children through education, Marc Kielburger will be the guest speaker at the event. (Source: Roy Thomson Hall)

• Venue: Roy Thomson Hall
• Price: $35 – $25
• Purchase tickets: Click here

On the Eve of New Year 2010, I went to Nathan Phillips Square to see the fireworks. It doesn’t compare at all to the fireworks we get in Australia, but it was still pretty.

And I kinda got to see Kardinal Offishall perform. Hahaha

Anyway – here’s a photo of Toronto City Hall.

This is me waiting for the countdown. I look all rugged up, but it wasn’t too cold. It was about 2 degrees and there were light flurries.

Here’s some photos of the fireworks at City Hall.

I wanted to get a photo of the skating rink and as I approached it, I was too excited. I kept walking towards it until I stepped onto the ice without realising and fell straight on my ass! My initial and only thoughts was “PROTECT CAMERA” and as I was holding my camera with my right hand, I fell towards my left side and hurt my elbow… It still hurts 11 days later! Hahaha…

Here are some photos of the ice when most people had left.

On Saturday October 3, 2009, I went to Toronto’s fourth annual arts event – Nuit Blanche. it’s a massive celebration of contemporary art and is featured all over Toronto.

It goes throughout the whole night until sunrise! I didn’t stay out that late, as we walked around a great deal and was extremely exhausted already by about 12:30am. But it was really fun and interesting!

Even though I didn’t have a tripod (as you would normally need one for night photography), I got a few decent shots. Please see below!

My favourite was when they had carnival rides on Bay St! Bay St is Toronto’s version of Wall St – the heart of the Financial District and it represented the ups and downs of the market and the horrific fall into the current recession. It had a very creepy feel to it.

In November 2007, I was in NYC for the Thanksgiving Parade and loved the silver bunny that was paraded around. It was so big and shiney! I was so excited to see it inside the Toronto Eaton Centre! What a massive bunny.

This display was really interesting. It’s called the “Four Letter Word Machine” and everyone huddled at the Toronto City Hall to see the next word. Above is supposed to show “FEAR” but I got impatient and just took the snap. It was freezing cold!!!!

I took this shot at Toronto City Hall. October 3, 2009 is actually the same day as the Chinese Moon Festival – when the moon can be seen at its fullest. Really beautiful reflection on the water along with the pretty lights.

This is me at the BCE Building having a rest. Was so exhausted!

This is at Union Station. The lights were all dimmed and there was fog everywhere. There were voices of commuters being played in a loop. Was a very interesting atmosphere to experience.

More photos:

Nuit Blanche 2009 Flickr Set
60 Photos

So on Sunday afternoon I decided it was about time to head up to Chinatown to grab some groceries. I’ve been wanting to cook a proper Asian dish for some time now and let’s all face it – Chinese grocers are typically much cheaper than the fancy supermarket chains.

Chinatown ain’t too far from where I live. In fact it’s about 15 minute walk away and I pulled my shopper with me. But as I got to Spadina/Dundas, two blocks of Spadina Ave were closed off to traffic (From Dundas to up past College). There were so many stalls set up with various items (mostly food) and hundreds of people. I thought to myself: what the hell is going on?

I quickly realised (from a banner) that it was a Chinatown Festival. I’m not sure how often they have these things but I felt lucky that I was in the right place at the right time. There was so much lovely food! Japanese Squid Balls, Fish Balls, Beef Balls, Kashmiri BBQ, and much more!

I thought I would cruise past it all, but then I saw there was MALAYSIAN FOOD and decided I really needed my camera so I could show my parents back home. Suddenly feeling very hungry for food, I ran all the way home for my camera and ran all the way back.

I ate Murtabak which is like a Roti, but filled with curry. Delicious. Then I had my favourite dim sum dish – Radish Cakes. Then to accompany it all with Bubble Tea, of course.

There was lots of music and plenty of things (very Asian things) to buy. You definitely felt like you were in the middle of China but nope, you’re right in the heart of Toronto.

Some photos are below, but for more photos check out my Toronto Chinatown Festival Set at Flickr.