"Beckham's Toronto Welcome"

I had the pleasure of attending my first ever MLS (Major League Soccer) game this past Wednesday evening with some of my good friends. It was a wonderfully exciting evening. The game, TFC vs. LA Galaxy's, was a perfect match for my first ever game!

As I walked up to the gates of the Roger's Centre, which has been pointed out as a rather odd place for a game, instead of BMO field, all I saw was a parade of red and white TFC supporters. It was actually a magical sight. As a Toronto native, I was torn between cheering on my home team, the Toronto Football Club, or my personal preference David Beckham and the LA Galaxy's. Tough choice.

But it was hard not to support TFC once inside of the Stadium, which for the first time in my eyes had been transformed into a huge soccer field. The stadium was wall-to-wall red and by the chanting it was clear that TFC was the supported team at the venue. Over 47,000 spectators at the sold-out game!However, I still could not help myself but gush at even the slightest sight of the iconic 23 on the back of Beckham's jersey.

It may sound ridiculous, but it has always been a dream of mine to see him play, and him nearing 40 years of age, I am glad I got to while I had my chance. Playing soccer for over 17 years has had no affect on his good looks, if I may add!

Before the game started, we watched as Beckham warmed up with some young fans from the stands, even hi-fiving a young boy who held his hand in shock that he just help Beck's warm up! It was cute to say the least, and definitely made all of the women who were already drooling, gush with utter joy!

But besides the game itself, which I found quite intriguing as I tried to gain as much soccer knowledge from the friends I had with me, I was quite embarrassed at the "Greeting" that us Torontoians gave Beckham! David Beckham is nothing less than a Soccer Legend in my eyes, and as I watched Red and White streamers rain down on him every time he tried to corner-kick I couldn't help but feel bad for the guy.

But he pushed them off without complaint, even getting caught in some at one point. But it was the raining down of garbage: full beer cans, that really insulted him, as he picked up one of the cans and looked up at the "thrower" in disbelief. I was mortified at the thought that someone would have done that to anyone, let alone David Freaking Beckham!

But Beckham is a stand up guy. “Tonight was a great atmosphere,” he told Sportsnet as the players left the field, “The majority were here to enjoy the spectacle. It’s a shame some people spoiled it, but it was a great atmosphere.”

At least he seemed to have enjoyed his stay at the Roger's Centre, also stating that he loves playing to big stadiums such as this and was happy to see that Soccer, or rather football was finally catching on as a North American Sport. I know that I cannot wait to go to another game, and will never forget seeing his hot self play!

Here is some pictures from Wednesday's game! xx*courtney.

Roger's Centre Transformed!

Red & White all the way!

Even had fireworks!

Beck's getting caught in streamers!

Fab Friday: "I felt so powerless!"

Well, I am currently writing this at my favourite hang out spot downtown...obvi Starbucks at Bedford & Bloor. But unfortunately I failed to bring my laptop with me so I am updating on my iPhone. Forgive my mistakes for I am quite jittery and suffer from major "auto-correction"itis!

As I sit here, drinking a lovely upside-down grande caramel macchiato, surrounded by MacBooks, listening to the music that is playing, and sitting under a light source...all I can think of is how happy I am today.

But yesterday was a far different story. My Thursday, which can only be defined as if I was stuck in the past, plagued with a house full of unusable "future" appliances, was awful. That's right. I was without power all day.

And why was I at home all day on Thursday, since I have class from 9am until 4pm? Well, Having attended a TFC game the night prior, and drinking all afternoon, I woke up with a massive hangover. And with Logic class (defined by the University of Toronto as philosophical calculus) at 9 am Thursday mornings, I was in no condition to attend. And with a paper due in the near future, I thought a day off would serve me, and my headache, well.

About ten minutes after waking up, and nearly 5 minutes into what I can only imagine to be an amazing episode of Criminal Minds, the power goes out. At first I thought that I was simply without TV, and a little disappointed, I wandered over into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. And I was in dire need of said cup of coffee! But a coffee maker requires power, and I was powerless, literally.

Realizing the multitude of the situation I was facing, I looked around my kitchen at a small room full of completely useless appliances and complete uneatable food. I was without a car, and in no state to be wandering to the closest restaurant, which would be Amazing Teds, to enjoy breakfast.

But I could survive the next hour without food or coffee, right? I could just start working on my paper, right? Yeah, that would be a good use of my time, right? Wrong. So Wrong. Not only did the power out last much, I mean MUCH, longer than an hour, but I had failed to plug in my laptop to charge the night prior.

And it hit me. I had no food. No coffee. No TV. No Internet. No computer. And as the temperature dramatically dropped outside, only to make this day worse, realization that I had no fan to circulate the heat throughout my house. "I felt so powerless!"

My only hope was my phone, which was at half battery. I tracked the outage on an interactive power grid online. The outage caused by a fire nearby, left me and many other people stranded in a world in need of electricity. It is funny. We grow up surrounded by these simple items that end up becoming so necessary. And you never plan a way to get around needing them, because they are so basic in the retrospect of our lives.



It was a rough day to say the least!

Things such as the News, which one would access via the Internet or TV, is simply out of our reach. And even appliances like a coffee maker become useless. What we would do if something occurred that actually changed the way that we needed to live? What would happen if we simply stopped making electricity.

Well, I certainly hope to never find out! As the world becomes more and more dependent on having power at all times, we are losing the ability to live without it, even for a few hours...or eight, EIGHT HOURS!

Is it a bad thing that we have become dependant on electricity? No, not in my eyes. As I look around the room full of people, I couldn't even imagine a time without it. This is the evolutionary path that Humanity has chosen to take. To invent electricity. And to make nearly everything reliant on it.

Well, anyways. I curled up on the couch with my Nano under a blanket and slept all day. I finally gave myself a day off. And at around 5pm when the power came back on, I had a big breakfast...and finally that cup of coffee!

xx*courtney.

America's Next Top Model: "British Invasion"

There are two things that I love in life: Television and British Accents.

This show has both of them. Combine fashion, drama, and "continental" competition and I am hooked. I have always been a sucker for ANTM, but this season seems especially good. First things first, a round of applause for Tyra Banks who has managed to pound out 18 seasons of the show, although not all of them very interesting or noteworthy, such as last seasons All-Stars. It left me under-whelmed and disappointed. But a new season, new girls (sort of, as we find out that all the Brits have been on Britain's Next Top Model), and a new twist: Brits vs. Yanks.

**I also wanted to mention a great new change, at least in my opinion, in the panel of Judges. Kelly Cutrone. I feel as though I have always had a love-hate-relationship with this women, from seeing her in her natural domain on TV shows like The Hills, & The City. Always the evil b*tch, her attitude angered me at times. However, I feel as though ANTM really needed a judge who, isnt just famous in the business, but someone who works in fashion, and doesn't take anyones bullsh*t. She has already called out some girls for things they have done and I LOVE it! Keep it up Kelly!

My favourite moment of the entire premier episode was when Ashley, the Scottish bombshell, says "I am totally gonna be subtitled", which she was!

Without leading too much into the show itself as I would like to avoid releasing spoilers for those people who are even more behind on TV due to university (or rather as they say in Britain "uni"), I am definitely on team Union Jack. (aka Brits!)

We have been told time and time again that models do not have to be pretty (and on this show "pretty" normally doesn't cut it!) But nonetheless, I have to argue that I don't want to look at pictures of models that aren't pretty and I certainly haven't seen unpretty models pictured in campaign ads. So, as a consumer, I can only imagine that others agree with me, thus the argument that "models don't need to be pretty" is actually not true...but whatever. The main point is that the Brits are GORGEOUS! So naturally they have my vote, and my green-eyed envy.

(Not that the Yanks aren't lookers themselves...but they simply are not British)

I am also obsessed...I mean OBSESSED...with people from the UK. Their accents and their forward thinking, classy fashion has always intrigued me. One reason that this particular season really spiked my attention was the dynamic between British girls and American Girls. (a lot of other bloggers have noted that there is little dynamic to work with, but I disagree!) Women from Britain carry themselves differently and dress better. I also think that the Brits have an arguably better set of hair styles!

But that's just my quick take on things. I think this season is going to be interesting, so watch it!

Also, a side note: Tyra has announced that Cycle 19 will be a College Season, although I am not sure how different that will be from what we normally watch. A lot of girls drop out of school to be on this show, and obviously the younger you are the better in the fashion industry. But I thought I would let y'all know.

Survivor: "The reign of Queen Colton"

After watching 24 seasons of Survivor I would say that I am a fan. It's the challenges that strike my interest, and the camp drama that sucks me in to patiently waiting every week for the next episode. And 24 seasons later...well here I am watching another one.

But this season is different. And I have to say that the main twist (That both tribes are living on one beach) has been completely over-shadowed by the Guys vs. Girls competition.

Being a girl, I was sure that the "girl-drama" that normally consumes the lives of female highschoolers would cause the all-female tribe, Salani, turmoil, while leaving the door open for the Manono tribe to win each competition. The strength of men combined with the potentially drama free environment seemed like a winner to me!

Wow was I wrong! Although the girls are plagued by innocent quarrelling, it is almost forgotten once compared to the catastrophe that is facing the all-male tribe, well all-male and a Colton.



Queen Colton!

I certainly do not think I am overstepping by suggesting that Colton Cumbie, self-proclaimed Queen of the Manono tribe, is the biggest villain in Survivor history. But unlike watching the evil manipulating ways of Russell, we are stuck watching a stuck-up, eye-rolling "Queen" bark orders while he sits on his lazy butt.

Can somebody please take away his Scepter and remind him that everything he says is being played on National Television?!



4 episodes in and I honestly think that Colton has insulted every group there is - from Black people to Little People, who Colton calls Oompa Loompas. He has openly spoken of his hatred of poor people, people who don't have real jobs, and basically anyone who doesn't live in a mansion.

But Colton is far from racist, informing his camp-mates that he does have African American's in his life...his housekeeper for one. And his hatred for Bill wasn't because of his skin colour, but rather because he was poor. Right, that is a way better reason Colton.

Personally, I am tired of hearing that little devil's voice. He is beyond rude and inconsiderate. I really hope that every word that comes out of his obnoxious mouth will bite him in the butt once he returns into the real world. My 12-year-old cousin is more mature than him. Colton's favourite expression is suggesting that people go "kill themselves" and uses the fact that he is gay as his excuse for not doing work around camp. More concerned with having a relaxing vacation, Colton was happy to lose his first immunity challenge proclaiming: "I'm so excited to vote someone out. I dislike so many of these people."

As a fan of Survivor I am insulted by the way that Colton is treating this game. And as a human being I am insulted by his behaviour. People like that should go... "Kill themselves".

But one thing that is worse than Colton thinking he is "running the game" is that his tribe mates are actually letting him do so. Really boys? What Colton wants, Colton gets. And it is pathetic watching his tribe do whatever he wants them to do. Please guys, realize that you can vote him out.

But what is keeping Colton in power? Arguably it is a combination of his (not so) hidden immunity and the stupidity of his tribe. I really hope that we are witnessing some creative editing and that these lads aren’t really that stupid.



Jay!

Unfortunately the Salani tribe isn't that special, which leaves me rooting for Jay, who is conceivably the only player worth praise. Although even HE is following Queen Colton. But perhaps his good looks and adorable accent make up for it.

All I hope is that somebody knocks Colton off his high horse, and soon, before true Survivor fans (and anyone with a sense of pride) change the channel.

My Weekly Addiction: Revlon Scented Nail Polish

This week's addiction is up a different ally: beauty supplies. I have (not to brag) really nice & long nails. And this year I have really tried to paint them a different colour each week.

A few things you should know about me:
(a) I have absolutely no skill whatsoever at putting on nail polish.
(b) I am severely impatient.

These two problems affect my nail polish choices immensely. I have tried many different brands...even Revlon, and hadn't found a brand I liked. So at the drugstore with my little sister one day, She saw that this brand would dry with a scent...and she begged and begged me for it.

I eventually broke down -- and I am sure glad I did. I borrowed it and fell in love.

This Week's Addiction: Revlon's Scented Nail Enamel

Here are some of the fantastic colours!

The entire idea of a "scented-when-dry" nail polish seemed weird to me at first, but I was wrong. The delicate aroma that comes off of the nails is not too strong, and just a nice reminder when you...smell your hands?

In addition to the nice smell, the colour is bright and vibrant, is quite chip-resilient and is fast drying!

There are 16 different shades ranging is colour, (some even metallic!) and scent!

Not-so-Blueberry
Bubble Gum
Mad About Mango
Raspberry Rapture
Peach Smoothie
Mon Cherry
Coconut Crush
Grape Icy
Gum Drop
Ocean Breeze
Pretty in Papaya
Beach --- (this one smells like suntan lotion; much better than sand!)
Sublime Strawberry
Cotton Candy
Passion Fruit
Orange Pop

My favourite is Raspberry Rapture. The smell is fruity and the colour is bright pink!
The smell is apparent even under a top coat, and (if you put on two coats) the bright colour lasts 7-10 days!

They are available in most drugs stores and are reasonably priced for their quality.

Enjoy, xx*courtney.