[TNWS Feature] Vooray

Company: Vooray

Product Type: Fashionable and functional athletic gear and clothing

Website: www.vooray.ca

Review

Vooray was established in 2010 as a sport leisure apparel company. Last year they introduced their gym bags and backpacks, making it a new focus for their brand. I am reviewing their Rose Grey compact duffel from their Burner Gym Bag collection (first picture) for this post. The Burner Gym Bags are much more compact compared to standard-sized gym bags. They got gorgeous patterns and sleek design that appeal to both men and women. 

This bag is well thought out in regards to functionality and comfort. There is a shoe compartment that slips into the bag versus it hanging on the side. It maximizes the space within the bag if you choose not to store your shoes. There are several pockets on the inside of the bag for easy access and organization. The front is padded with faux fur walls to protect items such as your phone and other electronic devices. I personally keep my magnetic work fob in there so I don't have to take it out every time I enter my workplace. The straps are removable and the handles are magnetic. I want to keep this bag as pristine as possible, so I actually keep my gym clothes and toiletries in a reusable tote bag that I tuck within the Burner. 

I honestly cannot rave about this bag enough. I used to carry around a standard size Adidas gym bag for a couple of years whenever I went to the gym. It was quite big and awkward to lug around. I no longer use it and started carrying a separate bag for my workout clothes in addition to my regular handbag. That is until the Burner came into my life. The bag is quite comfortable and carries everything I require throughout the day. Instead of my usual handbag, I would throw in my lunch, wallet, makeup bag, etc., into the Burner along with things I need for yoga.

I highly recommend a Burner Bag for anyone who is a busy bee like me. They are made compact and fashionable so they can be carried around the clock. It's perfect for people who go straight to the gym after work. You can expect it last 2-3 years of daily usage. Though judging from the high quality production of the bag, you can probably make it last a lot longer if you don't abuse it.

Vooray also has different types of bags to fit other needs along with sporty apparel and accessories. Check out their products today to find the perfect holiday gift for that active person in your life! 

Kamasutra Indian Restaurant & Wine Bar

Restaurant: Kamasutra Indian Restaurant & Wine Bar
Address: 1522 Bayview Ave.
Phone: 416-489-4899
Operating Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM, 5-10 PM; Sat-Sun 12-3 PM, 5-10 PM
Website: www.kamasutrarestaurant.ca

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Menu

Review

I ventured into Davisville Village to try out Kamasutra Indian Restaurant & Wine Bar. I love Indian food so I was pretty excited for Kamasutra's tasting menu.

For the appetizer, I got the Onion Bhaji ($6.95) which were deep-fried onions with a spicy kick. This was the first time I ever had onion bhajis and quite enjoyed it! I started to fill up after having two of the three on my plate. This is a great dish if you love onion rings and spicy food.

The Kamasutra Butter Chicken ($15.95) was very tender and easy to eat. However, my favourite entree would be the Malai Kofta ($12.95). Malai Kofta are usually made with potatoes and gravy, but the ones from Kamasutra are made with cheese! I'm a huge cheese lover so I loved this dish for the first time I had it.

For the naan, I grabbed the Garlic Naan ($3.25). It had a strong garlic taste and I realized I should've gone for regular naan instead. Most of the dishes I had were with strong flavours, so plain naan was better suited. I also had one of the rice dishes along with Boondi Raita ($4.95), a yogurt dip that you have on the side. It reminded me a lot of tzatziki, which I liked. The Pulao Rice ($6.95) was okay. I would only get it if you are like me and would prefer to have your meat dishes with rice. However, naan would be completely fine as well.

Kamasutra is great if you love Indian food and want to find a restaurant that does communal dishes. If I had to choose the top dishes to get here, I would highly recommend the Malai Kofta and Onion Bhaji.

[TNWS Feature] Sudsatorium

Company: Sudsatorium

Product Type: Natural vegan body products

Website: www.sudsatorium.com

Review

As mentioned in The National Women's Show post I made last week, I am featuring some brands that were at the show with product reviews. The first one is Sudsatorium! I've seen this brand at several shows in the past. Sudsatorium is a Toronto-based skincare and cosmetic company. As of late, I have been interested in trying products from vegan and ethically-conscious companies. Not only does Sudsatorium produces with fair-trade ingredients, but for every purchase you make, 5% of the proceeds are donated to the grassroots charities. Each product label indicates which charity you would be contributing to when you buy the product. I decided to pick up two products: Royals and Back in Black.

Royals is a toner that contains lavender and rose. I recently ran out of a toner I was using from a Korean brand and this was the perfect opportunity to find a replacement. I was recommended to try Royals since I have acne-prone and oily skin. I saw some improvement in my skin after using it. It did not get rid of any pimples I had at the time, but I saw that my skin was more even and supple. I spray the toner 2-3 times after I have cleanse my face before I apply a daily moisturizer/night cream. 

My favourite product of the two would be Back in Black, a stick deodorant. Sudsatorium started the deodorant line about three months ago, bringing on stick and spray deodorant options. I stopped using store-bought deodorants about a couple of months ago because I realized that the aluminum have been causing my armpits to smell really bad. Which is the exact opposite of its job. I detoxed using apple cider vinegar and bentonite clay and stopped using deodorant for a bit. I wanted to find a deodorant from an organic and vegan brand that didn't contain any aluminum and were made of natural ingredients. When I saw the deodorant sticks at Sudsatorium, I knew I wanted to give one a shot.

Back in Black is a unisex deodorant stick which goes on clear and smells pretty good (it contains rosalina, honey myrtle, and rose). For Lush lovers who aren't a fan of using their deodorant powder or non-packaged bars, I highly recommend trying out Sudsatorium's deodorants instead!

Queen Margherita (Dundas West)

Restaurant: Queen Margherita
Address: 772 Dundas St. W
Phone: 647-748-4666
Operating Hours: Mon-Sun 12 PM - Close
Website: www.qmpizza.com

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Menu

Review

My Order: Margherita Pizza, $15

I received a couple of vouchers from Queen Margherita in October for #PizzaMonth. I have been following their social media for awhile but never had the opportunity to visit until last month.

Queen Margherita has three locations in Toronto, including one in Leslieville and another in Baby Point. I opted to visit their Dundas West location because it was most convenient for me. The first thing that struck out to me was the space of the restaurant. It has two floors. Above ground there are a decent number of seats, which you can see from the outside. But when you go to the lower level, it's massive. They have an open concept kitchen, which I thought was really cool because you could see the stone oven and their chefs working away. The restaurant has that urban posh feel, which I really liked.

Their menu consist of prix fixe appetizers and a variety of pizzas. My voucher only allowed for one margherita pizza so I didn't try anything else because it was already filling (I ended up taking half of it home). The pizza was good, though it wasn't something I was wowed by. I prefer to have a lot more toppings on my pizza but if you like the classic margherita pizza, you would definitely enjoy this signature dish.

Queen Margherita's Dundas West location makes for a great date or a place to host a birthday party due to size and a menu with a variety of pizzas to choose from.

[Event] The National Women's Show Toronto 2016

Event: The National Women's Show
Date: November 4-6, 2016
Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Website: www.nationalwomenshow.com/en/toronto/visitor/

I attended The National Women's Show (TNWS) last weekend, marking it the third year I have gone. As one of the official bloggers for TNWS, I was excited to attend the show again as it's one of the best shows in Toronto for amazing samples and freebies! When I arrived before the show started, the lineup wrapped around the entire place outside of the convention hall.

I will also be doing something a little different on my blog. I have paired up with three different brands that were at the show. I will be doing product reviews after trying them out and blogging my thoughts on them. This is an opportunity to show what sort of products could be purchased at TNWS for those who haven't been. Be sure to keep out an eye for those posts for the next couple of weeks!

[Event] Eat to the Beat 2016

Event: Eat to the Beat
Date: November 1, 2016
Location: Roy Thomson Hall
Website: www.eattothebeat.ca

I had the pleasure of attending Eat to the Beat this past Tuesday, marking the beginning of November. As expected, the charity event was completely packed with those supporting the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation with exceptional food made by 60 female chefs.

The DJ and violinist kept the music going on for this splendid evening. There was also a photobooth for attendees to take fun photos at. Along with all that, there were many things up for auction, including gift baskets that were perfect for the upcoming holidays.

It was a lovely event and for those who missed out, there will be another one for next year! If you would like to contribute to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, please visit www.cbcf.org to learn more.

Hot Black Coffee

Cafe: Hot Black Coffee
Address: 245 Queen St. W
Phone: 416-840-6141
Operating Hours: Mon-Fri 7 AM - 6 PM, Sat-Sun 9 AM - 6 PM
Website: www.hotblack-coffee.com

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Almond only
- Seasonal drinks available; including Green-Eye (mint-infused drink) and Kenyanade

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Yes to all

My Review

My Order: Coffee Popsicle, $0.50

Hot Black Coffee is a cute cafe located near Queen and University. It has a very simple and clean interior with a back patio that is perfect for the warmer weather. There aren't too many seats on the inside (enough for 10 people at most), but plenty in the back patio if you want to gather three or four friends to hang out with.

I didn't end up buying a drink because I was pretty caffeinated the day I dropped by. I saw the coffee popsicle on the menu and thought that was pretty neat. It was warm the day I went so the popsicle was perfect to cool down with. I love how Hot Black Coffee is situated in the midst of a busy fashion and food district. It serves as a sweet escape for those who want to unwind and get away from the city noise.