Fashion

Mustard Midi Dress

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Hi everyone! I’m back after a small blogging hiatus. I’ve been so busy with South Asian Fest that I haven’t kept up with blogging, although I’ve been consistent on Instagram 🙂 Can you believe we’re almost in to mid-August?! Like it or not Fall is around the corner and one must-have trend I’ve noticed this year is the colour mustard! Traditionally yellow is more of a Summer colour  but the rich tones in a mustard yellow are perfect for Summer to Fall transition pieces. I was thrilled to find this adorable midi dress that’s a great transition piece.

This shirt dress is on trend with it’s deep yellow colour and bold floral print. The reds in the print make it great for Summer or Fall. The longer length is also great as midi length dresses and skirts are very popular at the moment. This dress is so comfortable and easy to wear. The belted waist gives it some definition as well.

I paired this dress with some nude Sam Edelman sandals and a basket bag I picked up on my travels. I also added a pair of bauble drop earrings in various shades of red and pink. To take this dress in to Fall you can add a pair of nude closed toe shoes and a perhaps a red cardigan. I would also swap out the basked bag for a nude or tan purse.

What do you think about mustards for Fall?

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Lifestyle

South Asian Fest 2018

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It’s Summer and with Summer comes . . . Festivals! Ottawa may be a smaller Canadian city compared to Toronto and Montreal but it sure has its fair share of festivals and events to keep you entertained all Summer long. Those of you that know me personally are aware that I’ve been involved with one festival in particular for the past three years. South Asian Fest is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and is officially Canada’s largest South Asian festival, offering 10 days of events!

My Experience

I first heard about the festival at a business event where Mirch Masala Radio was present. After a bit of coaxing and a few texts and emails I decided to check out a committee meeting and the rest is history. I’ve always believed in giving back to community and have volunteered in many different capacities; as professional on non-profit boards and as an individual engaged in community events. I have to say that being part of the South Asian Fest committee is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences. I’ve gained and improved upon so many different skills and made close friendships that I truly treasure. It’s also been a great outlet for me to get back in touch with my South Asian Roots.

Growing up in Ottawa I didn’t have a lot of friends from the same ethnic background and  being part of South Asian Fest has put me back in touch with the South Asian community.

You’re probably wondering what I do on the committee right? Well I’ve been fortunate to handle a myriad of different tasks from community outreach, artist management and filling in as a M.C. on stage. I’ve also learned a lot about event management in the process.

The Festival

This year is special for South Asian Fest as we celebrate a decade of family friendly fun and entertainment. The 2018 Festival will consist of 10 days of events starting August 10th. There’s a broad range of events this year ranging from a Boat Cruise, Desi Nite with the Ottawa Redblacks, Cricket and Cooking Demos, an Art Exhibition and culminating in a Mega Mela from August 17th-19th.

We’ve got a great lineup of artists this year comprised of headliners like Mickey Singh and Tasha Tah along with homegrown talent from Ottawa. The festival offers a great platform for performers from the South Asian community to showcase their talent.

A full schedule of events, dates and locations can be found on the festival website.

Get Involved

If you never heard about the festival before there’s no time like the present to get involved. There’s something for everyone at this year’s event whether you’re a foodie, dancer, singer or just want to sit back and watch the show, everyone is welcome at South Asian Fest.

If you’re looking to showcase your art or photography there’s an opportunity for local artists to participate in the Art Exhibition – taking place on August 16th. Love to sing, dance or play music? Check out the performance page.

Not sure about taking centre stage but still want to participate? Volunteering at the festival is a great way to gain new skills and experiences, make new friends and get involved with the festival.

Spectators and audience members are also welcome! If you’re going to be in or around the Ottawa area between August 10th and 19th come out to one of the events. Don’t forget to come by and say Hi if you see me at any of the events 🙂

See you at the Festival!

Praveeni

Noticing something different with my photos on this post? Photo credit goes to Amar Studios – official photographers for South Asian Fest.

 

Fashion

Chiffon Overlay Cocktail Dress

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I recently decided to do a quick audit of my current wardrobe and noticed one glaring gap! I had next to no cocktail dresses. It’s easy to get caught up with the Summer weather and splurge on pretty sun dresses (totally guilty here) but cocktail dresses are a wardrobe staple and should never be ignored. I found this floral chiffon overlay cocktail dress in store at Suzy Shier and I simply had to have it. I was surprised by how affordable this dress is, it retails for under $50, a fraction of the price of some cocktail dresses.

I like the poncho style overlay on this dress as it gives the piece a more formal look. Although this dress is black the floral print gives it a summery flair. The overlay hangs down toward the back of the dress as well, giving it long sleek lines.

The bottom part of the dress is made from a scuba type stretchy fabric that is also figure flattering. The overlay hangs down about 3/4 of the way over the front of the dress; so this is a dress you can eat to your hearts content it. What’s a cocktail reception without the hors d’oeuvres right?!

I went for a more formal look with my outfit and added a pair of red ombre bauble earrings. I wanted to pick up on the red in the floral print. For shoes I kept it simple with some Sam Edelman sandals that I picked up at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale last week.

Have you done a wardrobe audit lately? If so what parts of your wardrobe need replenishing?

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Fashion

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks

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It’s finally here! Public access to the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is now open! I’ve done all the research for you and come up with some top picks to look for online and in-store. Here are my favourite pieces from the sale this year:

Sweaters and Cardigans

There’s so many cute and comfy sweaters on sale this year. Some of my favourites trends are colour block sweaters and dusters.

Pants, Skirts and Jeggings
I love Fall as I find so many people bring their A game when it comes to Fall fashion. I noticed some dressy and casual bottoms on sale this year, ranging from suede skirts, plaid skorts to moto jeggings.

Dresses

I try to wear skirts and dresses well in to Winter. I find it’s sometimes easier to wear a dress and tights than pants to work. Here are some of my fave dresses from the sale.

Shoes and Boots

Now for the fun part! If you know me personally, you’d know that I’m a shoe-a-holic. I must confess I picked  up 5 pairs of shoes at the sale this year. Some of my fave categories were pumps with feminine flair, functional flats and Fall boots, and Summer-Fall transition pieces.

Handbags and Accessories
I noticed a lot of gorgeous handbags on sale this weekend. I’m thinking of upgrading my everyday bag and theses are a few of my top choices.

If you’re looking for  some great deals to get a head start on your Fall wardrobe then the Nordstrom Anniversary sale is definitely the place for you. Word of advice for Canadian shoppers – the sale is only available in-store however you can order items from the store which will be delivered to your home.

Happy Shopping!

Note: This post contains affiliate links

Fashion

Yellow Lace Midi Dress

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Yellow from the other side . . . okay I’ll stop with the Adele puns. Yellow is one of my favourite colours, it’s so bright and cheerful and so appropriate for Summer. I was thrilled when I came across this lace midi dress at the Nordstrom Anniversay pre-sale today. I was able to get access to the pre-sale at Nordstrom Ottawa today as I had applied for a Nordstrom Credit card. P.S. Nordstrom credit card holders and approved applicants get  early access to their Anniversary Sale. The sale will be open to the public from July 20 to August 5.

While shopping the sale this morning I spotted this dress and I simply had to try it on, and ofcourse it fit like a glove. I’m wearing a size XS which fits true to size. The dress fits a bit snug as it’s a bandage style piece. I have a similar dress in white by Astr which comes in eight other colours 🙂

What initially attracted me to this dress was the colour. I’ve always loved the colour yellow, especially a pale yellow. When I was a child my grandfather worked for the parliament in Sri Lanka and traveled quite a bit for work. Whenever he’d be away on business he’d always bring me some clothes from the countries he’d visited. As a result I had somewhat of an international wardrobe growing up, comprised of items such as silk pyjamas from China, a safari suit from Kenya, a sailor suit from England and a frilly yellow dress from Cyprus to name a few.

The yellow dress from Cyprus was one of my favourite pieces and seeing this lace dress today reminded me of the dress I’d owned as a little girl.  I remember one time I was running around wearing my dress from Cyprus when I tripped and fell, I was so upset and in tears, not because of my scraped and bloody knees but because I was so concerned I’d ruined my yellow dress. Sounds silly but even as a child I was very particular about my clothes 😉

This particular midi dress is by a brand called Soprano and retails for under $100 CAD including tax. I think it’s perfect for Summer cocktails out on the patio or attending a Summer wedding. I especially like the lace detailing as it gives it a feminine feel. The dress is figure flattering and comes with adjustable straps so you can control how conservative or daring the neckline can be. I opted for a more conservative option.

I paired this dress with a straw clutch and some white wedges with a bow detail. In keeping with the white accessory theme I added a pair of white bauble earrings.

What do you think of the colour yellow for Summer?

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Fashion, Weekend Style

Front Twist Top

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Feeling knotty? Pardon the pun, I just couldn’t resist! If you’ve been following me on instagram you’d know that I’ve recently started introducing puns in to my captions. It keeps me on my toes having to come up with something witty and I enjoy it as well 🙂 Speaking of puns . . . let’s twist again with this cute and comfy front twist top from Suzy Shier. Knotted or front twist tops have been a major trend this Spring and Summer so I was thrilled to find this top in store.

I like the casual look and feel of this top. It’s made from a rayon blend fabric and super comfortable to wear. I wore it out this past Saturday as I thought it was perfect for a relaxed weekend look. I paired the top with some cropped white jeans that I had picked up last year and some mules that I saw in store at Suzy Shier. The mules give this outfit a bit of an edgy look and these shoes just happen to be a great dupe of some Steve Madden flats, for a fraction of the price ofcourse 😉 To accessorize I added my go to Michael Kors cross body, perfect for running errands on the weekends 🙂

What do you think of the knotted t-shirt trend this Summer – are you ready to do the twist?

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Lifestyle

Polo in the Park 2018

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Have you heard about the city’s most fashionable fundraiser? If not you’re missing out. I finally made it out to Polo in the Park this year and the event did not disappoint. The 2018 edition of this fundraiser which benefits Wounded Warriors Canada and the Rotary Club of Ottawa South was held on Saturday July 7th.

The Venue
I spent a lovely day outside at Wesley Clover parks. The event was so well organized and provided attendees with a relaxing and fun filled day in the park. There was visible signage as you approached the park entrance and a triage desk to direct drivers to the appropriate parking spots. The organizers even had golf carts to drive people from the parking area to the main event area.

The Experience
Tickets went on sale earlier this Spring and I just had to take advantage of the early bird pricing. The event offers many different ticket packages and options. I chose the VIP experience as I was taking advantage of the early bird discount. I must say it was well worth the extra cash. VIP guests had their own parking area closer to the event and golf carts to drive you up to the VIP tent. Inside the tent there were tables and chairs with goodie bags ready and waiting for us. Guests were presented with lunch and a tea service catered by the Brookstreet Hotel. The VIP tent also had the best views of the fashion show, hat contest and the polo match.

In addition to the polo there were also some vendors and stalls, a silent auction and a photo booth. This was a family and pet friendly event.

The Clothes
All guests were encouraged to put on their best hat and come out for a day in the park. There were so many people sporting stylish outfits and fascinators, it was a treat to see them all. The hat contest was a truly inclusive event which had many different categories including; DIY hat, Colts and Fillies (for kids), Dapper Dan, Too Hot to Trot and Hattitude. As I had opted for a more conservative look that day I did not enter the hat contest, although admission was included with my VIP ticket.

The Match
The main event was a battle of the sexes polo match between the ladies from Three Wild Women and the gents from the Ottawa Business Journal. This was a riveting experience for me as I’d never seen a live polo match before. The gents prevailed over the ladies in the end but the match was full of drama and excitement with some gents falling off their horses and some close calls where the score was concerned.

My Outfit
I opted for a more mainstream look for the event as this was my first year attending. I decided to wear my favourite polka dot dress from Suzy Shier which I paired with white wedges and a white fascinator. I brought along my picnic basket bag which I picked up on my latest trip to Sri Lanka as I thought it went well with the event and the venue 🙂

The Verdict
I loved attending Polo in the Park this year and I’m looking forward to the event in 2019. The event chair Monique and her team did a fantastic job putting this event together. Polo in the Park is something that’s definitely worth checking out if you live in Ottawa or are planning on visiting next Summer. What’s more fun than dressing up, enjoying some time outside, watching a polo match and supporting some great charities?!

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Fashion, Weekend Style

Floral Print Maxi

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Summer is finally here and it’s going to stay a while. We’ve had some really warm weather in Ottawa this week with temperatures remaining steady in the mid thirties, but trust me I’m not complaining :)With so much heat and humidity this Summer it’s a challenge to stay cool and stylish at the same time. I found this chic and comfy floral print maxi at Forever 21 when I was shopping for my trip to Sri Lanka last month. I’ve been gravitating towards maxi dresses a lot this Summer. I find they have an element of formality with the added length and they’re comfortable to wear.

I like the contrast of the tropical floral pattern against the dark background of this particular dress. The weather in Colombo is a bit cooler than what we experienced last week but the humidity is about the same and this dress held up well. The bright colours in the dress make it a great choice for a day or evening outfit. I’ve worn it out to lunch during the day and to a show in the evening.

This maxi is so comfortable and sits well on the body when worn. I was a bit apprehensive in picking it up when I saw it on the rack but I’m glad I did. If you’ve ever owned a piece that looks better on you than it does on the hanger, well this dress is one of those pieces. It has a zip that fastens on the side and adjustable straps so you can have the neckline to your liking.

I paired the dress with some bright coloured tassel earrings from Forever 21. I also found another pair of bauble drop earrings that would go well with the dress. The dress does run a little longer than other maxis I’ve tried on so I opted for a pair of block heel sandals.

What do you think about maxi dresses for Summer – hot or not?

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Lifestyle, Wine & Dine

Sunday Brunch at Cinnamon Grand Colombo

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I haven’t done a brunch post in a while so I’m happy to be able to share an amazing brunch experience I had recently. As you probably know I was visiting Sri Lanka earlier this month.

I’ve been going back to Colombo quite consistently since about 2008. I’ve stayed at different places during my trips back home but the Cinnamon Grand Hotel is probably my favourite hotel in Colombo. I’ve frequented this hotel on many occasions as an in-house guest and restaurant goer but I’d never tried out their Sunday Brunch.

Clearly I had no idea what I was missing! I decided to try out the Sunday Brunch on June 17th which just happened to be Father’s Day. I was truly impressed by the whole event. I can honestly say I’ve never seen such a large spread for brunch in my life! This Sunday Brunch definitely beat every other brunch I’d been to.

The Food

From the appetizers – which included lobster tails, shrimp, oysters and a selection of sushi, to the carving stations, main dishes and deserts this brunch was a hands down winner for me. I was a little overwhelmed by the selection of dishes and options. This is definitely one event you need to prepare for ahead of time, i.e. don’t eat breakfast and bring your eating pants!

If you know me personally, you’d know that I eat a lot! This brunch was no exception. I happily helped myself to 2 rounds of appetizers, the main course and 2 rounds of dessert.

There was so much to choose from I wish I had prepared better to try every single dish. I did a quick  count of the main dishes and I counted over 35 which is quite impressive for any buffet let alone a brunch.

The dessert selection was to die for and included a chocolate fountain which was the highlight for me. There was also an ice cream and flambé station.

The Place

Cinnamon Grand’s Sunday Brunch is held at the Taprobane restaurant. This space is one of the main restaurants at the hotel and is also home to their daily breakfast and lunch buffets. The restaurant is spacious and offers table top and sofa style seating.

The brunch takes place between 11am and 3pm every Sunday. I was informed that there are 2 sittings for brunch; one from 11:30 am-1 pm and another from 1:30-3 pm. I recommend going early so you can spend the afternoon walking off the meal 😉 Reservations are a must as this brunch is quite popular among locals and tourists alike.

The Price

There are 3 different pricing options for brunch depending on what type of an experience you’re looking for. The basic brunch buffet sans alcohol is Rs 3517 nett which is around $35 Canadian (I’m using a conservative conversion rate of Rs 100 to $1 CAD however the daily rates may be higher).

If you’d like to add some alcohol to your experience Taprobane offers 2 other pricing options:

The Beer Brunch for Rs 4172 ~ $42CAD

The Bubbly Brunch for Rs 5400 ~ $54 CAD

I chose the bubbly brunch and it did not disappoint! I was able to enjoy unlimited glasses of champagne with my meal 😉 Where else can you get that for $54?! All these packages are great depending on what you’d like and I think the pricing is quite reasonable for the amount of food and beverages you get.

The Verdict

I highly recommend this brunch experience to anyone who visits Colombo. This was definitely the best brunch I’ve been to and I really enjoyed it. It’s a must-do in Colombo.

I’m hoping to be home again for Christmas and I’m already making plans to check out the Holiday edition of Cinnamon Grand’s Sunday Brunch 🙂

Fashion

Palm Print Midi Dress

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In case you haven’t been keeping up with me on instagram, I recently took a trip home to Sri Lanka. I was so happy to be able to make the trip back so I stocked up on a tonne of new Summer clothes to wear while I was there. One of my fave finds was this off-the-shoulder palm print midi dress from Old Navy.

This dress is so versatile and stylish combining 3 trends that are in for Summer. Can you guess what they are? Well this dress has a tropical flare to it with the palm print pattern; the tropics were everywhere this Spring and the trend continues on in to the Summer. Off-the-shoulder necklines are also trending this Summer and this dress doesn’t disappoint. Modesty is  making a comeback this year with midi dresses being back in style and replacing the high-waisted shorts and mini-skirts we usually see in the Summer.

I especially like the black print on the white fabric in this dress as it gives it an air of sophistication and is a nice reprieve from the traditional green palm prints I’ve seen this Summer. The cotton lining makes this dress light and comfortable to wear, perfect for a warm Summer day.

Sri Lanka is a tropical country and can get quite hot and humid during the monsoon season. I found this dress incredibly comfortable to wear amidst the tropical heat. To accessorize I paired this dress with my favourite bamboo bag from Cult Gaia. I had a pair of black block heels that I picked up from the Bay earlier this year. They just happened to have a palm leaf pattern on them as well 😉 These shoes were really affordable and I picked them up for under $50. If you look closely you’ll notice that they’re a dupe of a Schutz design from last year. I added a pair of palm leaf earrings in keeping with the tropical theme to finish off this outfit

What do you think about the midi trend this Summer, do you prefer modesty or the traditional mini?

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