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How to Read 30 Books in a Year: A New Year’s Resolution
Late December is the time that people start thinking of their resolutions or their goals for the next year, and among the usual suspects of “lose weight” and “eat better” is the ever-present “read more.” But how do you do that? It’s fine to say, to want it, but how do you actually go about reading more than a book or two a year? I’m here to help you. I finished university in April of 2014. I spent four years in courses pertaining to my degree — English Literature. That means that I was either writing essays or reading books. In third year I had five English courses and had…
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How to Dress Business-Casual on a Budget
Is an internship looming and you find you only have jeans and plaid shirts to see you through? Are you also broke from student loans and have no money to invest in quality pieces for the workplace? Never fear! Your business-casual budget guide is here! I worked in an office environment for a year and never spent obscene amounts of money on work-appropriate clothing (I just bought a lot of them). I am here to guide you to pieces that can last you through an internship until you land the position, or to buying the work clothes you need. Blazer A blazer can make any outfit look business appropriate. Pair…
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Review: Edge of Seventeen
If you’re going into this movie thinking you will hear Stevie Nicks’ 1982 song of the same title, be informed that the song, sadly, was not part of the (surprisingly good) soundtrack. They do, however, follow very similar storylines. A tragic death, the intensity of dealing with that loss, and the changes that follow. First things first: this is a story that we have all heard before, if we haven’t lived it ourselves. Truly, it’s not a movie you trek through the snow to pay $13 to see. It’s the kind of film you curl up on the couch on a cold winters day to watch. It’s the typical coming…
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Paper Trails In Her Wake: Talking Calligraphy & Entrepreneurship with Priyanka Rego
On a crisp, late-September afternoon, Priyanka Rego is at the heart of Etsy Made in Canada: one of Toronto’s most anticipated events showcasing handmade goods from local vendors. As hoards of attendees stroll through the venue clutching onto coffee cups and reusable totes, Rego chats with a young couple whose attention was captured by her beautifully curated display of paper goods. Raised in Dubai and based in Toronto, Rego moved to Canada with her family at the age of 15. In the years since, she has earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto and built a career working in finance. On the side, she dabbled in…
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Our Favourite Christmas Recipes: Part Two
Part two of our holiday baking series will be sure to get your creative juices flowing. “White Cherry Chip Cookies” I love this recipe because my family loves eating them. I adapted it from another recipe one year around Christmas when I had finally finished writing exams. That the cookies came out in Christmas colours was a happy coincidence. -Vicky 2 cups of all-purpose flour 2 tsps of baking powder ½ tsp of salt ½ cup of shortening ¼ cup of milk 1 egg 1 cup of white sugar 2-3 tbsp of vanilla extract A handful of maraschino cherries, cut into quarters In large bowl, cream shortening, sugar, egg, milk,…
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Our Favourite Christmas Recipes: Part One
Christmas is a time of creating fond memories, celebrating family traditions, and giving to others. In our homes, baking is an integral part of the Christmas celebration. There hasn’t been a Christmas that has gone by without someone pulling out the old recipe books and creating some tasty treats. With three days left till Christmas, we’ve decided to include some of our favourite recipes for the Christmas season, hopefully they can provide some inspiration for your own holiday baking! “Squished Reindeer” This is a recipe I started making a few years back and it has quickly turned into a baking tradition. My family fell in love with these tasty sweets…
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Don’t Forget, It’s a War Movie!: A Rogue One Review
Although all of the Star Wars films are about, well, war, Gareth Edwards’ installment into the franchise structurally lays itself out as such. While the other films are science-fiction, fantasy, action, adventure, and western films, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a flat out war movie and it wants you to know that. The premise of the film is simple: the Death Star has been created, but there’s a flaw in the system forged by Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen), a rebel taken hostage by the Empire. Our main characters must then fight their way into Imperial territory and retrieve the plans before all hope is lost. If you have…
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5 Movies to Watch This Holiday Season
Who doesn’t love a good Christmas movie? Come on, the snow, the romance, the deep lessons of morality? All wrapped up with a bow. Christmas movies have become an integral part of how many of us celebrate the holiday season. From providing comfort, to challenging our perceptions, to reminding us the true meaning of the season, movies help us connect to, understand, and appreciate all we have to be thankful for this time of year. While everyone has their favourites, the ones embedded in personal traditions, I thought I would share a few of my favourites with you. So get cozy, sit back, and enjoy! The Classic: It’s a Wonderful…
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8 Beauty Product Stocking Stuffers
With only 8 days left till Christmas, you feel like you’re on top of your shopping, you have all your gifts purchased but then you look over to the fireplace to see the stockings empty! Little gifts to fill up a stocking are usually the last thing on your mind during Christmas shopping as the big purchases take up so much of your time. Stocking stuffers are all about the quick, easy, and inexpensive. Here’s a list of stocking stuffers for those beauty addicts on your list: 1. Burt bee’s Lip Gift Set $9.97 These are great natural lip balms that are very moisturizing. They also come in 4 different varieties…
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An Introvert’s Guide to a Group Outing in Downtown Toronto
We’ve all experienced it: that sense of relief when a friend cancels your plans, releasing you to veg quietly on the couch while you binge-watch your favourite Netflix series. It’s a fine line that we introverts walk; we all want to be social but dread the moment when that opportunity actually comes up. As an introvert, the closer it gets to the actual act of socializing, the more panicky I feel. Situate that socialization in a group setting and the panic is even worse. It’s taken a few years, but I’ve finally come up with a formula that allows for a fun and memorable social experience while also securing me…