Looks we love: World MasterCard Fashion Week

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It’s the moment the Toronto fashion scene has been waiting for…Day One of World MasterCard Fashion Week set the stage for an incredible 5 days of F/W ’14 runway shows! One thing is certain: Less is more for Fall ’14. From the ‘no-makeup’ look at Mikhael Kale to the subtle ombre essie nails worn on the LINE Knitwear runway, we were left in awe after both Day One shows. Fuchsia pink is BIG for fall, as seen in the beautiful oversized shapes at LINE Knitwear and abundance of brights on the Mikhael Kale runway. We’re sharing our favourite looks and beauty trends spotted at WMCFW…enjoy!

DAY ONE

Mikhael Kale

Grommets, bold prints, unique textures & bright hues made for a stunning runway show.

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We loved the simplicity of Rita Remark’s essie manicures for the Mikhael Kale show…the Absolutely Shore shade worked perfectly with the designer’s collection.

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LINE Knitwear

LINE Knitwear’s collection wowed the crowd; the combination of luxurious fabrics, rich fuchsias and dynamic shapes channelled the epitome cozy chic!

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Rita Remark reflected the ombre look woven throughout the collection with a subtle ombre nail. The essie  ‘Bobbing for Baubles’ and ‘St. Tropez’ shades were a winning combo.

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DAY TWO

David Dixon

We loved the ethereal look at David Dixon; the lace, feminine fabrics and abundance of pearls created a unique, ‘Alternative Bride’ look!

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Rita Remark nails it again with essie Blanc, Limo-Scene and Fiji that perfectly compliments the abundance of white on the runway.

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DAY THREE

Pink Tartan

That fur! We loved the contemporary Canadian collection..plaids, winter whites and cozy turtlenecks dominated the runway.

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Such a classic look! Rita Remark opted for a winter-y, feminine nail to compliment Pink Tartan’s Canadian-Heritage inspired collection…we love that Vanity Fairest shade!

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Joe Fresh

We can always count on Joe Fresh to showcase cool, edgy yet elegant looks. What’s so great about these pieces is their ability to showcase runway style at an affordable price.

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DAY FOUR

Rudsak

The excitement over the Rudsak collection was palpable; the looks were edgy with the classic chic Rudsak touches – fur detailing, fantastic hats and signature leather pieces. One of the most memorable moments of the show was DJ/model Harley Viera-Newton closing the show!

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Rita Remark chose to reflect the 20th Anniversary celebrations with essie’s Go for Gold polish. Paired with the classic Licorice, it complimented the collection perfectly.

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What was your favourite #WMCFW show? Tweet us at @natashaNKPR!

NKPR ♥ LA

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Warm temperatures, palm trees, beautiful architecture…we can’t get enough of Los Angeles! With so many exciting happenings last week including the Artists for Peace and Justice Pre-Oscar Charity Soiree (and the Oscars themselves!) we’re sharing our favourite places to eat, sleep and shop in LA.

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From Left: The Beverly Wilshire Hotel, The Farm of Beverly Hills, Maxfield and The Soho House

Beverly Wilshire Hotel
Not only was this the hotel where Pretty Woman was filmed, it’s also one of the most beautiful hotels to visit in LA (the Mediterranean-inspired pool is a definite highlight). The service is absolutely incredible…and the bed is almost too comfortable (warning: you’ll be tempted to stay in bed all day!)

The Farm of Beverly Hills
The food here has a delicious home-cooked taste and the atmosphere is cozy with classic farm interiors. Also, the Chocolate Whoopie cookies are to die for.

Chateau Marmont
A must-see for the beautiful courtyard! This is a great place to stop by for some relaxation and retreat from the city bustle.

Melrose Place
Taking a stroll along Melrose Place is one of our favourite ways to spend an afternoon in LA; traffic is sparse, and the flowers and architecture makes for beautiful views! It’s known as LA’s ‘Luxury Destination,’ with shops that have an intimate, quaint vibe. Hint: it may one day become home to a NKPR office!

Soho House
We love it for its intimate, classic LA vibe and amazing drink selection (not to mention incredible patio bar views!)

Runyon Canyon
If you’re looking to get active and explore the more natural areas of LA, this offers the best hiking experience…stunning views!

Cecconi’s West Hollywood
Hands down the best Italian Pasta and Tuna dishes we’ve had in LA. The fare is fresh and authentic…order the cicchetti (Italian tapas) for a truly European dining experience!

Maxfield
A celebrity shopping destination, Maxfield boasts a unique modern interior that’s a work of art in itself, not to mention an incredible collection of designer pieces…truly iconic!

Love LA? Where are your favourite places to sleep, shop & dine? Tweet us at @natashankpr!

 

 

 

 

NKPR Joins the Evolve Functional Fitness Movement!

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Meet Evolve Functional Fitness – dubbed the “Netflix” of personal training, this amazing new fitness app is rooted in the principles of functional fitness and movement! Many of us consider ourselves fitness enthusiasts, so we were intrigued and keen to try this unique approach to fitness! So, what’s it all about?

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The program works as a monthly membership with 4 different trainers, each with a distinct style to help you master the building blocks of fitness. For the price of one luxury latte, you can join the movement with us! And don’t be intimidated — we love that all the workouts are accompanied by modifications and tutorials.

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As a bodyweight-only exercise program that can be accessed anywhere, anytime on any device, Evolve eliminates the need for fussy fitness gear. Used with wireless earphones, you can really take your workout wherever you want! You can even follow with a DJ-mixed set or with your own iTunes playlist!

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Evolve also makes up a community where users post photos, quotes, and feed off the inspirations of fellow members and trainers. The goal is to get people moving and having fun despite our modern stationary lives.

Join us and Evolve in a #BuiltToMove challenge every Friday at 3pm! This week we’re doing the isometric single-leg deadlift. Post your photos and results!

Show us what you’ve got! Tweet us at @natashankpr and @evolveanywhere!

 

Trends we ♥ this Award Season

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Who’s getting your vote? Tweet us at @natashankpr!

Things We Love: Valentine's Day

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Introducing Things We Love, a series of blog posts that feature what we’re coveting at the moment. In honour of Valentine’s Day, we’ve selected some love-inspired fashion, accessories, beauty products and gifts for him & her!

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1. RW&CO Crepe Lipstick Top

 

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2. This Thyme Maternity striped number for spring

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3. Stella & Dot Love Always Necklace in sterling silver and gold plating…too cute. 

 

 

 

 

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3. This essie French Valentine manicure…obsessed!

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4. This RW&CO Non-Iron Dress Shirt

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5. DAVIDsTEA Tea Lover Tea Stackable Tins (we love Red Velvet Cake – the Valentine’s Day Collection is sold out online but still available in-store!)ValentinesDay_TeaFilledGiftCard

…and DAVIDsTEA Tea Filled Greeting Cards

What are you gifting your Valentine? Tweet us at @natashaNKPR!

Things We Love: Valentine’s Day

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Introducing Things We Love, a series of blog posts that feature what we’re coveting at the moment. In honour of Valentine’s Day, we’ve selected some love-inspired fashion, accessories, beauty products and gifts for him & her!

Screen Shot 2014-02-12 at 11.41.24 AM

1. RW&CO Crepe Lipstick Top

 

Screen Shot 2014-02-10 at 5.24.49 PM

2. This Thyme Maternity striped number for spring

Love Always Necklace

3. Stella & Dot Love Always Necklace in sterling silver and gold plating…too cute. 

 

 

 

 

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3. This essie French Valentine manicure…obsessed!

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4. This RW&CO Non-Iron Dress Shirt

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5. DAVIDsTEA Tea Lover Tea Stackable Tins (we love Red Velvet Cake – the Valentine’s Day Collection is sold out online but still available in-store!)ValentinesDay_TeaFilledGiftCard

…and DAVIDsTEA Tea Filled Greeting Cards

What are you gifting your Valentine? Tweet us at @natashaNKPR!

Valentine’s Indulgences: STAUB Mini-Cocotte Brownies

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When we think of Valentine’s Day, love, roses and, most importantly, chocolate indulgences come to mind! Our perfect Valentine’s Day date? Opt for dinner out and come home to some sweet, gooey, hazelnut brownies. We decided to take a twist on the traditional pan brownie and opt for something a little more personal…STAUB Mini-Cocotte brownies! We turned to Chatelaine for their ‘Best-Ever Brownie‘ recipe and adjusted the time instructions for our Mini-Cocottes. The result? Chocolate-y perfection!

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Ingredients

1 cup (250 mL) whole hazelnuts
1 cup (250 mL) all-purpose flour
1/4 cup (50 mL) cocoa powder
1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
6 oz (168 g) semi-sweet chocolate, about 6 squares
1/2 cup (125 mL) unsalted butter
3  eggs
1 cup (250 mL) granulated sugar
2 tsp (10 mL) vanilla  
*We added in 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips…go big or go home, right?

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Cookware

STAUB La Cocotte cast iron cookware (4)

STAUB Ceramic Ramekins

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Preheat oven to 325F (160C). Spread nuts out on a baking sheet. Toast until lightly golden and fragrant, 8 to 12 min. Stir halfway through. Leave oven on. If using hazelnuts, wrap in a kitchen towel and let steam for 1 min. Then rub hazelnuts in towel to remove skins. When nuts are completely cool, coarsely chop.

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While hazelnuts are toasting coat or spray 4 STAUB mini-cocottes with oil. In a small bowl, using a fork, stir flour with cocoa and salt. Using a serrated knife – we like the scalloped edge of the  5” ZWILLING Pro knife – coarsely chop chocolate. Place in a medium-size bowl along with butter.

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Microwave chocolate and butter on medium until almost melted, about 3 min. Use a rubber spatula to stir chocolate halfway through microwaving. Then stir until smooth. Or place chocolate and butter in a medium saucepan and set over low heat. Stir constantly until melted. Set aside to cool.

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In a large bowl, whisk eggs, then sugar and vanilla. Using a spatula, scrape in cooled chocolate mixture, then stir until evenly mixed. Gradually stir in flour mixture, just until almost mixed. (Overmixing toughens brownies.) Stir in nuts (and chocolate chips!) until evenly distributed.

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Fill your 4 mini-cocottes to the rim; give an additional sprinkle of hazelnuts if you wish! Bake until edges are firm and middle is set, about 35 min.

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Cooking a romantic meal at home? Here are some aphrodisiac ingredients to spice up your meal…

A bountiful Lovers Salad to begin
Aphrodisiac Ingredients:
Asparagus: A great source of folic acid, which boosts histamine production which helps one achieve orgasm
Pine Nuts: Rich in zinc, a mineral necessary to maintain male potency and to stimulate libido
Avocado: Rich in folic acid, vitamin B6 and potassium, they are said to boost the immune system

One-Pot Chilli Chicken for the main course
Aphrodisiac: Chilli peppers stimulate endorphins and speed up heart rate, mimicking arousal

Brew your sweetie a Love Tea #7 from DAVIDsTEA
Aphrodisiac ingredients: Chocolate, strawberries, and romantic rose petals.

What are you making to indulge your special someone? Tweet us at @natashankpr with the hashtag #cookwithZWILLING!

Valentine's Indulgences: STAUB Mini-Cocotte Brownies

Posted on

When we think of Valentine’s Day, love, roses and, most importantly, chocolate indulgences come to mind! Our perfect Valentine’s Day date? Opt for dinner out and come home to some sweet, gooey, hazelnut brownies. We decided to take a twist on the traditional pan brownie and opt for something a little more personal…STAUB Mini-Cocotte brownies! We turned to Chatelaine for their ‘Best-Ever Brownie‘ recipe and adjusted the time instructions for our Mini-Cocottes. The result? Chocolate-y perfection!

photo-517

Ingredients

1 cup (250 mL) whole hazelnuts
1 cup (250 mL) all-purpose flour
1/4 cup (50 mL) cocoa powder
1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
6 oz (168 g) semi-sweet chocolate, about 6 squares
1/2 cup (125 mL) unsalted butter
3  eggs
1 cup (250 mL) granulated sugar
2 tsp (10 mL) vanilla  
*We added in 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips…go big or go home, right?

photo-532

photo-531

Cookware

STAUB La Cocotte cast iron cookware (4)

STAUB Ceramic Ramekins

photo-534

photo-533

Preheat oven to 325F (160C). Spread nuts out on a baking sheet. Toast until lightly golden and fragrant, 8 to 12 min. Stir halfway through. Leave oven on. If using hazelnuts, wrap in a kitchen towel and let steam for 1 min. Then rub hazelnuts in towel to remove skins. When nuts are completely cool, coarsely chop.

photo-530

photo-529

While hazelnuts are toasting coat or spray 4 STAUB mini-cocottes with oil. In a small bowl, using a fork, stir flour with cocoa and salt. Using a serrated knife – we like the scalloped edge of the  5” ZWILLING Pro knife – coarsely chop chocolate. Place in a medium-size bowl along with butter.

photo-528

photo-523

photo-527

photo-525

Microwave chocolate and butter on medium until almost melted, about 3 min. Use a rubber spatula to stir chocolate halfway through microwaving. Then stir until smooth. Or place chocolate and butter in a medium saucepan and set over low heat. Stir constantly until melted. Set aside to cool.

photo-524

In a large bowl, whisk eggs, then sugar and vanilla. Using a spatula, scrape in cooled chocolate mixture, then stir until evenly mixed. Gradually stir in flour mixture, just until almost mixed. (Overmixing toughens brownies.) Stir in nuts (and chocolate chips!) until evenly distributed.

photo-522

photo-535

photo-536

photo-537

Fill your 4 mini-cocottes to the rim; give an additional sprinkle of hazelnuts if you wish! Bake until edges are firm and middle is set, about 35 min.

photo-519

photo-518

photo-516

Cooking a romantic meal at home? Here are some aphrodisiac ingredients to spice up your meal…

A bountiful Lovers Salad to begin
Aphrodisiac Ingredients:
Asparagus: A great source of folic acid, which boosts histamine production which helps one achieve orgasm
Pine Nuts: Rich in zinc, a mineral necessary to maintain male potency and to stimulate libido
Avocado: Rich in folic acid, vitamin B6 and potassium, they are said to boost the immune system

One-Pot Chilli Chicken for the main course
Aphrodisiac: Chilli peppers stimulate endorphins and speed up heart rate, mimicking arousal

Brew your sweetie a Love Tea #7 from DAVIDsTEA
Aphrodisiac ingredients: Chocolate, strawberries, and romantic rose petals.

What are you making to indulge your special someone? Tweet us at @natashankpr with the hashtag #cookwithZWILLING!

NKPR Hearts Valentine’s Day!

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NKPR Hearts Valentine's Day!

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