Weekly Vlog | Gigs, A Snowstorm, Skiing & Eating

I hope you enjoy watching this fantastic week as much as I loved living it. Apologies for the lack of posts this month - I have been mad busy working and then spending my weekends enjoying life. I might write a little post about it all and I should be much freer from April so please bear with me!

Izzie x

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New York Vlog

Izzie x
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Five Free Things To Do In New York City

You do not need me to tell you that New York City is one of the most expensive cities in the world. It is also (IMO) one of the greatest cities in the world and as with all amazing cities, there are of course loads of free things to do so you do not have to worry about a trip to The Big Apple breaking the bank - especially if the bank is already broken after having bought all your Christmas presents.

Lewis and I headed to NYC last weekend to see Bon Iver (which certainly was not free or cheap) and as we had both already done the major tourist stuff before, our agenda was simply to discover some new areas, soak up the Christmas spirit and have a jolly good time (all the while not spending too much money). So here are my top five free things to do in New York City that we did during a whirlwind 48 hours in the city. My New York vlog is coming this Sunday to my YOUTUBE CHANNEL so watch out for that!

1. The High Line & Greenwich Village

In the quest of finding the alternative sights of Manhattan, on Saturday morning we took ourselves to W34th St where begins The High Line - a 2.5km stretch of old railway tracks which have been converted into a green (in the summer) walkway above the gorgeous area of Chelsea. It was amazing to get a different view of the city, being slightly raised up, and there are lots of interesting buildings to see, both old and new. We strolled until W16th St where we gave into our cold toes and went to Chelsea Market to warm up and grab a bagel.

From Chelsea Market we headed to the neighbouring Greenwich Village which has fast become my favourite area of Manhattan so far. Although it is still full of people, it feels less intense than further uptown thanks to the smaller buildings and neighbourhood vibe. If you are a Friends fan you have to stop off at Grove and Bedford to see the building where they supposedly lived, although once you walk about the area you will see how unrealistic that actually was! It was a lovely weekend activity and if you are tired after all that walking, I would recommend John's of Bleecker Street pizza which we had on the Friday night and it was delicious!

2. Central Park

Ok I know that Central Park is a very obvious must-do in New York City but as strolling through a beautiful park is one of my favourite free things to do on holiday, I just had to include it. We were both so excited to see that ice rink that has been in so many films and it is just such a stunning setting with the backdrop of skyscrapers. There are lots of other things to see and do in the park if you are not there during the festive season such as visiting Strawberry Fields, strolling through Bethesda Terrace and boating on the lake!

3. See the lights

There is no doubt about it that New York is made so special by its lights and being there just before Christmas, we were treated to even more lights. As dusk fell on Central Park, we headed south on Fifth Avenue towards to famous Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center. On our way we got distracted by the endless but beautiful shop window displays and an impressive light show on the front of Saks Fifth Avenue. It is all about the tree though - it is seriously surreal standing in front of that iconic tree, watching the ice skaters below and getting that inevitable feeling of being in a film.

If you are in New York at any other time of year, never fear - head to Times Square after nightfall for your fix of lights. I know Times Square is a super obvious "travel tip" but as a girl who finds more beauty in raw, bustling cities than serene countryside, the lights of Times Square are simply unmissable.

4. Views from Brooklyn

It is always so tempting to spend all the time in Manhattan because it is staggering, breathtaking and iconic, however the other boroughs of New York City should not be forgotten. Although I still feel that I have only scratched the surface in my exploration of Brooklyn, we made sure to give this quirky part of NYC the time it deserves. We were actually staying in Kensington, Brooklyn right next to Greenwood Cemetery and just south of Prospect Park, which are another two amazing free things to visit that go under the radar. On our last day, we went up to the ever-so-hip Williamsburg which boasts not only some cracking brunch places (check out EGG) and shops but also an incredible view of Manhattan. I would also recommend walking over Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan at dusk to get a great view of the city lighting up for the night.

5. Friday evenings at MoMA

Thanks to stumbling into Uniqlo to check out their thermals - glamourous, I know - we found out that MoMA (The Museum of Modern Art), in collaboration with Uniqlo, is free on Friday evenings between 4pm and 8pm. I remember going to MoMA on my first trip to New York when I was sixteen and loving it so I was excited to spontaneously go again, while avoiding the usual 25$ admission fee. We only had time to do one floor so we headed straight for the 1960s where I had expected to see a lot more Andy Warhol than there actually was. It was still amazing though and backs up what I already knew - that the sixties was just simply the best for all things art, fashion and music. So if you are in New York on a Friday evening, I highly recommend catching a bit of culture at Uniqlo's free Friday evenings at MoMA before heading for dinner and/or drinks elsewhere in the city.

Izzie x
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Battling The Elements

Skirt - ZARA, Top - vintage, Coat - vintage, (SIMILAR), Boots - DR MARTENS

Location: Mile End, Montreal

We all know that fashion blogging in winter is tough - it gets dark much earlier, the weather is worse and outfits are dominated by coats and boots. But winter in Montreal is going to challenge outfit photo shoots to another level and although I have been mentally preparing for this since I moved here, evidently I am still refusing to let a bit of cold get in the way.

So today's outfit is clearly not weather appropriate but as I had planned to shoot it on Monday morning, I bloody well did! The second big snow fall of this winter so far was not going to stop me getting my content - I was instantly up for the challenge to try shooting while it was actually snowing and I love the result.

This look featured in my recent ALTERNATIVE PARTY OUTFITS LOOKBOOK but I wanted to share it because this might just be the perfect party outfit for Montreal, for four reasons. Firstly, thanks to the snow, I am currently living in my Dr Martens boots so being able to rock them to a party and not having to take a change of shoes is a win in my eyes. Secondly, I have given up on wearing tights and mini skirts for the foreseeable few months so a midi skirt with leggings hidden underneath is a great way of keeping cosy and looking fab at the same time. Thirdly, until I find a proper nice winter coat (good luck Iz), I will refuse to stop rocking the faux fur, which is fine because faux fur coats keep you damn warm and look so elegant for the festive season. And finally, if you were not sold on the previous three practical reasons, this outfit is super on trend with the metallic pleated midi skirt and mesh/goth top, which happen to go perfectly together.

I am sure that soon I will have to give into the cold and start shooting in the underground city, in my apartment or in the metro but I will keep sharing snowy Montreal outfit posts as long as I can brave it!

What are your tips for surviving fashion blogging in winter? Are you loving the Dr Martens as part of an evening/party look?

Izzie x
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Christmas Gift Guide | The Traveller

FJALLRAVEN KANKEN BACKPACK, LONELY PLANET BOOK, BOHNANZA TRAVEL CARD GAME, POLAROID CAMERA, IMPOSSIBLE FILMS FOR POLAROID

Hello and welcome back to day four of my Christmas gift guide! We have already covered FASHION, BEAUTY and the HOME so today it is all about presents for those with the travel bug, those who have endless wanderlust or simply those who have an upcoming trip. 

Having been fortunate enough to do quite a lot of travelling in recent years and I never go anywhere without my super durable, comfortable and great looking FJALLRAVEN KANKEN backpack. It is the perfect size day bag for carrying around a camera or two, a guide book and some snacks, leaving plenty of room to spare for any souvenirs.

It is inevitable that travelling requires at least some waiting around and the need to pass the time. The bean trading card game BOHNANZA provides the perfect entertainment on long train journeys, in airport departure lounges and when stuck in the only hostel without wifi in the whole village. I cannot recommend this game enough so crack it open on Christmas Day and get practising with the whole family!

Travelling is all about experiencing, seeing and tasting things that you would not normally and LONELY PLANET's guide to budget travel proves that it does not have to cost the Earth. Having lived in Paris and Barcelona, I checked out what this guide recommends to do for cheap or free in these cities, from strolling through Le Marais on Sundays in Paris to climbing Montjuic in Barcelona, it has got you covered. We all love to capture these memories camera so why not give a old school POLAROID for your jetsetter to try on their next trip!

And finally, if your loved one is so well travelled that they already have all the gear, find out what their next destination is and I am sure they would appreciate some dollar.

See you tomorrow for the fifth and final part of this Christmas gift guide series!

Izzie x
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Lola Rosa Vegetarian Restaurant Review

Montreal has so many restaurants that even if you ate each of your three meals a day at a different one, it would take you over four years to eat in every restaurant in the city. With that crazy tidbit in mind, the fact that vegetarian (and vegan friendly) restaurant, Lola Rosa, is ranked in the top 20 on Trip Advisor is a pretty telling sign of how good the food is. 

Originally I wanted to save this review for a 'Top 5 Vegetarian Eateries In Montreal' post or something similar but a) that could take an age to test and compile and b) I just wanted to share it already. I may still do the aforementioned post but a bit of repetition never hurt anyone - am I right? OK, back to the review - Lewis and I actually visited Lola Rosa twice in the space of six days back in October because we had already planned to take my mum and stepdad there when they were visiting and then decided we should "test it out" a few days before and treat ourselves to a "pat on the back" meal for having painted and decorated our new flat. Anyway, it was certainly good enough to eat at twice in six days is basically what I'm saying so let's get on and review our second visit as A LOT more food was consumed that time round. 

Lola Rosa's menu is mexican influenced so to start, the four of us shared what was almost quite literally a mountain of nachos. I mean, just look at the size of it! Piled on top of homemade nachos and melted cheese (vegan option also available) were the usual lashings of refried beans, sour cream and guacamole as well as chopped tomato, sweetcorn and a deliciously warm tomato sauce. This is actually a main course which we ordered as a starter and there is no way that you would want to share this between just two people, let alone have it, well, alone! Definitely up there with the best nachos I have ever had so grab your mates and head down to Lola Rosa.

The first time Lewis and I went to Lola Rosa we shared two different main meals. Normally I bloody hate agreeing to share meals or even puddings because I get the fear that I will like one more than the other and then begrudgingly have to trade. I agreed that time because I could tell Lewis also wanted the grilled tempeh and vegetable green curry that I had chosen but we thought it was silly to order two of the same thing from such an excellent menu. So we ordered that and the black bean, mozzarella and 5 veg burrito and this is exactly what we did on our second visit.  

The black bean burrito is a delicious take on a classic, jam packed with vegetables, mushed sweet potato and black beans. I warn you now that it is quite spicy but if Lewis (AKA biggest spice wimp) can handle it then I am sure you can too! The burrito is served with the same warm tomato sauce that was on the nachos, some wild rice and a side salad drizzled with an amazing strawberry dressing! So if you like flavours, I would highly recommend this taste explosion - it's got everything going on.

The vegetable green curry is a nice, mild compliment to the spicy black bean burrito which is why sharing these two dishes worked so well for us. The Thai-style curry comes with a bed of wild rice and it topped with two pieces of tempeh. As a Quorn lover through and through, I am not mad about tempeh but Lola Rosa do it the best I have ever had it - marinated in a rich maple and tamari sauce, which goes perfectly with the curry. 

Having post-nachos binge guilt and growing food babies, we decided to just order two puddings. Lewis and I shared a gooey chocolate brownie topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce - a classic but for good reason, it was delicious. Mum ordered a ginger and basil crème brûlée, which gave me serious food envy because ginger and basil are both my ultimate smells and tastes. Luckily she let me have some as she's generous like that and also the food coma was imminent. 

Lola Rosa prides itself on being "the favourite vegetarian restaurant for non vegetarians" so I would definitely recommend trying it out even if you are a meat eater! What "lacks" in meat is made up for in the gorgeous flavours, which is something vegetarian food should be recognised for so thank you Lola Rosa for leading the way! I cannot wait to go back and try something new - although I am a creature of habit so no promises there! Happy eating!

LOLA ROSA | 4581 Avenue du Parc, Montreal

Other location | 545 rue Milton, Montreal

Izzie x
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Youtube: A Trip To Boston Vlog

Izzie x
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How To Spend 36 Hours In Boston

Last weekend, Lewis and I rented a car and drove down through beautiful New England to Boston. Our main motivation for going was for a long-awaited opportunity to see one of favourite musicians play who we kept missing in Europe due to our constant relocating this year. Of course, I also could not wait to get back to Boston, a beautiful city with lots of history and European feel that we had visited almost exactly four years ago. After a long (but worth it) drive, we arrived in Boston on Friday evening and we spent a whirlwind 36 hours in Boston before heading back at midday on Sunday. It is totally worth taking quick weekend trips because you can get a lot done in a short space of time so here's how to spend 36 hours in Boston.

EAT PIZZA AND CANNOLI IN THE NORTH END

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After a 7 hour drive with just car snacks and a stop off at the Ben & Jerry's factory (more on that another time), we headed straight to The North End, which is like the Little Italy area of Boston, for pizza, of course! We stumbled across a rather large queue for a pizzeria off the main strip and after checking out other options on Salem Street, I persuaded Lewis that we should go back to the first one - a queue is always a good sign right?! And right we were! We waited about half an hour for a table at Regina before we were seated in a cute wooden booth right next to the kitchen. We ordered a 16 inch margarita with extra ricotta to share for 20 bucks, which we enjoyed amongst the bustle and noise of this charming Italian restaurant. The queue was definitely worth the wait and it was the perfect start to our weekend in Boston.

From Regina, we strolled though the lively North End to Mike's Pastry on Hanover Street - the best place to get cannoli in town. If you don't know what a cannoli is, it's crispy tube of pastry stuffed with a creamy filling of which there are many flavours. We chose a plain cream filling with chocolate chips and went to heaven while eating these watching the Boston skyline at night. We also picked up another cannoli each on Saturday afternoon because if you can't indulge on holiday, when can you?!

TAKE A STROLL THROUGH BEACON HILL

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Located just west of the centre of Boston, Beacon Hill is an affluent, residential and beautiful area of town that is great for a calm weekend stroll admiring the gorgeous red brick buildings so this is exactly where we headed on Saturday morning. We were particularly taken by Louisberg Square and while taking some photos, an American couple pointed out John Kerry's house. As well as being home to important men of power, Beacon Hill also has lots of cute independent shops and cafes along Charles Street and although they can be pricy, it is always nice to have a little look.

VISIT BOSTON COMMON

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From Beacon Hill, just cross over Beacon Street and you are in Boston Common, a vast and diverse park smack bang in the middle of the city. The weather was stunning for our whole weekend in Boston so we took the opportunity to wander through this lovely park, taking some time to reflect whilst sitting on the bench that features in the film Good Will Hunting. The bench has a great view of the lagoon and is just perfect for people watching.

SAMPLE CULINARY DELIGHTS AT QUINCY MARKET

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Last time we were in Boston, we spent a lot of time around Quincy Market (and taking full advantage of the free Mac n Cheese samples) so we knew this was the place to head to to fill our stomachs before the gig. Quincy Market is in a beautiful old building that sits next to the equally stunning Faneuil Hall (where the Freedom Trail starts, which I highly recommend too) and is a lovely bustling retreat from the skyscrapers that surround it. Quincy Market offers lots of hot and cold meals including seafood, pizza and asian but we were there for one thing only - the cheesiest and most moorish Mac n Cheese. We certainly did not feel too healthy eating it and we definitely ate too much but it was the perfect way to get energised for the evening entertainment.

GO TO A GIG

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I often plan city breaks around going to a particular event and although your dates might not always match up with your favourite artist, going to a gig, musical or show is great way to make a trip extra special. I had been dying to see Brian Fallon (lead singer of the Gaslight Anthem) play all year so this has to be the highlight of my weekend. He played at the gorgeous Royale venue on Tremont Street, right in the heart of theatre district, and he was amazing! We had such a magical night and we even managed to meet him afterwards by hanging around the tour bus after the show - I'm a fan girl and proud ok?! 

GET AN ALL AMERICAN BREAKFAST

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On Sunday morning, having rinsed our money on cannoli and other deliciously unhealthy food, we wanted to stock up on a hearty American breakfast before hitting the road. Our Bostonian friend Bella, recommended the Trident Booksellers Cafe in the Back Bay area, which was great as we got to see another lovely area of town and the breakfast was just insane! We had to wait about 20 minutes for a table in this cafe located within a bookshop but it was so worth it. I went all out and chose the lemon ricotta stuffed French toast topped with blueberry coulis and maple syrup - and trust me it was a much as a mouthful to eat as it is to say! The portion was absolutely enormous - probably double the amount that I really needed - but Lewis was happy to help me out once he had finished his scrambled eggs and home fries. Great recommendation Bella!

So there you have it - how to spend 36 hours in Boston! If you have the time or it is your first visit to the city, it is worth spending a good four or five days there, which is what we did when we went four years ago. Thankfully we managed to squeeze in our top favourite things to do in Boston in just 36 hours - of course the only other must-do is see the Red Sox at Fenway Park but they were unfortunately playing away last weekend.

I hope you have enjoyed this post and watch out for the vlog coming on Sunday. I will certainly be doing more of these posts as I explore Canada and the USA so let me know if you have any recommendations. Next stop...New York in December!

Izzie x
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An Afternoon At The Market

Lewis and I love a good market. The boy even gets excited going into new supermarkets so imagine our joy at spending an afternoon exploring the Marché Jean-Talon in the Little Italy area of Montreal. I simply could not resist photographing - and sharing with you - this beautifully presented and vibrant market, which is without a doubt the best food market I have ever been to. It is full of fresh and local produce with free samples everywhere, which Lewis took full advantage of, and it was such a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

We were so impressed at the quality and price that we spontaneously decided to pick up some ingredients to make a vegetarian bolognese that evening. A basket of tomatoes, a large bunch of basil and some vegetables cost under 10$ between us and we still have loads of basil left over so we are going to make pesto tonight!

I had never made a tomato sauce from scratch before but it was super easy and tasted so much fresher and healthier than having it out of a jar. We simply fried some onion and garlic before adding lots of diced tomatoes and letting it simmer down while roasting sweet potato, courgette, aubergine and pepper in the oven. Once a sauce had formed, we added the roasted vegetables and vegetarian mince to finish off the bolognese. I would definitely recommend taking the time to source good, local produce and spending some time in the kitchen because then you know exactly what you are eating and the taste is so worth the extra effort.

The market also sells sweet treats including lots of maple syrup - of course - and pateis de nata, much to our delight. We missed out on trying the chocolate one so we shared a classic vanilla and a maple syrup - only in Canada eh? They were absolutely delicious, therefore vindicating our point of never passing up on a pateis de nata if we get the chance.

Izzie x
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