Torito Tapas

Tonight I was graced with the lovely arrival of my sister in Toronto. I had planned on taking her out for a meal downtown, but she ended up having some pasta at my work - she hadn't eaten the entire five hour flight from Vancouver to Toronto! After we dropped her stuff off at my apartment, we pondered where we should go for a late dinner. She was still hungry, but not for a huge meal since the fettuccine she ate filled her up a decent amount. I had heard a few people mention a tapas bar in Kensington Market recently, and I realized that munching on a few share plates would be perfect for the evening.

I love the mix of bright red colouring and candle lit tables that can be found at Torito. The waitstaff was friendly and like many restaurants throughout the market, there was quite a homey, comfortable atmosphere. They mixed up our first dish, but let us keep the olives they accidentally placed at our table. At the moment the only animal products I have been eating have been a bit of seafood and I'm still off sugar; however, I was still left with plenty of items on the menu to try.

Including the olives we tried six different tapas. I enjoyed them all, and my only complaint was that I wish that the scallops tapas was a bigger portion (you only get two). Torito is definitely ideal if you want to have a casual drink while snacking with friends. I also think it would make a laid back  yet romantic dinner spot. The dishes we're what you would expect for tapas size plates, and range from $8-14. It's definitely affordable while giving you the opportunity to try a variety of things.

Shrimps al Ajillo

Wild Mushrooms with White Wine Butter Sauce

Seared Scallops

White Bass Ceviche with Corn, Fresh Chili Peppers and Cilantro

We also ordered the avocado fries with roasted tomato salsa but we were so hungry we scarfed most of them down before I realized I hadn't taken a picture.

Torito was a wonderful start to my Toronto adventures with my sister.

Get your stomachs ready readers - May is going to be the most delicious of months!

With love,

Ciara

A Week of Mantras Inspired by Songs from Musicals

I have a book of full of mantras for every day of the year that I try to read every morning. While I was on a run the other day, I got a sudden burst of motivation from my "Inner Rachel Berry" playlist (yes, I do make cheesy titles for all of my playlists), and it reminded me that those mantras and little bits of inspiration can be found almost anywhere throughout the day. In high school I was obsessed with musicals. Though I've still listened to my favourite soundtracks over the past few years, it wasn't until this weekend that I was reminded just how good some of those songs made me feel. After several musical dance parties within the past 48 hours, I can confidently say that upbeat showtunes are my foolproof way to brighten up my day and provide myself with bursts of energy. I understand that not everybody is into musicals, but if you're open to exploring that world then hopefully you can draw some meaningful messages and inspiration from the following list.

I made this list with a song and message for each day of the week. Read it all at once, or come back and play the songs on the days that you want a message to carry around and pass along. If you like the idea let me know and I will make this a regular part of my blog with different genres and themes each time I do so.

 

 

 

Monday

Mantra - No day but today

I've talked about my love for the book The Power of Now on here before. This song embodies some of the main themes that can be found throughout that book. Living in the moment, being fearless and being grateful for the current novelties in your life are little things that make a big difference throughout your day.

There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last.

Tuesday

Mantra and Song - You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile from Annie

No matter how many bracelets or jewels you incorporate into your outfits, the only accessory that really matters is your smile. A genuine smile has the power to light up a room even more so than a Neil Lane necklace. Smiling is one of the easiest ways to brighten the lives of others, and everyone has the ability to do so. The question isn't why don't you smile, it's why wouldn't you want to smile?

It's what you wear from ear to ear

And not from head to toe that matters

 

Wednesday

Mantra - We can't win if we don't follow through

Chip On My Shoulder from Legally Blonde - The Musical

This song is all about the importance of working hard in order to succeed. For those of you who are familiar with Legally Blonde but not the musical, picture this song playing right after Elle leaves that Harvard party in her Playboy bunny costume. It's symbolic of the transitions and the challenges we must overcome before we get to the finish line.

 

There's a chip on my shoulder

And it's big as a boulder

With the chance I've been given,

I'm gonna be driven as hell.

 

I'm so close I can taste it,

So I'm not gonna waste it!

Yeah, there's a chip on my shoulder,

You might wanna get one as well.

 

Thursday

Mantra - Nobody told you the best way to steer when the wind starts to blow

The New World from Songs for a New World

One of my friends in high school introduced me to this song, and a group of us ended up singing it at our graduation. To me it symbolizes stepping out of your comfort zone and entering the unknown. Since many of my friends are going to be graduating from university this year, I thought the messages in this song were especially relevant and important. The "real world", as we sometimes call it, is something to be excited about instead of being afraid. It will be full of things that are new, suprising, challenging, different - and this song explains it all.

And you're suddenly a stranger

In some completely different land

And you thought you knew

But you didn't have a clue

That the surface sometimes cracks

To reveal the tracks

To a new world

 

Friday

Mantra and Song - Without Love from Hairspray

This song actually makes me want to give hugs to everyone I'm around. It's full of funny comparisons of what life would be like without love, and simply put, it basically says that kind of life would suck. No matter how many times I hear it, I can't help but jump around and sing along.

Like a week that's only Mondays

Only ice cream, never sundaes

Like a circle with no center

Like a door marked "do not enter!"

Darlin' I'll be yours forever

'Cause I never wanna be

Without love

 

Saturday

Mantra - Measure your life in love

Seasons of Love from Rent

 

I contemplated whether or not I should put two Rent songs in the same list. I also contemplated whether or not I should put two mantras about the importance of love back to back. But who am I kidding? The theme of my blog is all about spreading love, and this song fits it perfectly. It would be going against my instincts to exclude it from this post. I know most people have heard this song hundreds of times, but I think this is one with a message that never gets old.

It's time now, to sing out

Though the story never ends

Let's celebrate

Remember a year in the life of friends

Sunday

Mantra and Song - For Good from Wicked

*Spoiler Alert*

This isn't the best quality, but I prefer to post the scenes from the actual show for context. This is the final number from Wicked. The song itself begins around 2:40.

Whether it's a good or a bad effect, though in this case good, people who enter our lives have the ability to shape them and the paths we take. This song reminds me of the people who have come and gone in my life throughout the years. Even if things ended badly, it's important to know that you can always learn something from those situations. Did someone treat you poorly? If so, it probably taught you how not to treat people, and made you more conscious about being respectful and kind towards others. Think about the people in your life, and how your life would be different without them. Cherish them all, good and bad, for they all had some part in shaping the person you are today.

The following verse never fails to give me the feels...

It well may be that we will never meet again

In this lifetime

So let me say before we part

So much of me

Is made of what I learned from you

You'll be with me

Like a handprint on my heart

And now whatever way our stories end

I know you have re-written mine

By being my friend

I hope some of these songs helped brighten your week and made you think about things you wouldn't have thought about otherwise :)

With love,

Ciara <3

 

 

 

 

 

fly

Lately I've found myself doing every Buzzfeed quiz that comes my way. Though I do think the way these quizzes decide which Spice Girl you are or which city you should live in is ridiculous, I do believe the answers you choose can say a lot about your personality. Sometimes, one of the questions is "If you could have a super power what would it be?" If flying is an option, I pick it without any hesitation. Being that I hate going on airplanes, this may seem a bit odd. What I like about the idea of flight; however, is the ability to be open and free amongst the unknown. I've always considered myself a very open minded person, and I think that ties into my infatuation with flying.

Flying doesn't have to be restricted to a fictional power found in fairytales and comic books. It is something we can aspire to in our minds and in our hearts. To open your heart and to open your mind is just like opening your wings to soar throughout the sky. To be open is to be living an adventure. Taking risks and making the impossible possible - that's what flying is to me.

Being the musical obsessed geek that I am, I naturally just assume that everyone has heard of the Broadway hit "Wicked." Last week I was shocked to find out that some friends of mine didn't know what I was talking about when I name dropped Idina Menzel and "Defying Gravity." I know many people reading this probably are familiar with it, but for those of you who aren't, the musical is essentially a prequel to The Wizard of Oz. It tells the backstories of Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West, hence the title of the show. The song "Defying Gravity" talks about how Elphaba (the Wicked Witch) wants to live life without limitations. I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't seen it, but I will leave you with the song.

In my mind, defying gravity is stepping outside of your comfort zone or social restraints. It's trusting your intuitions and making the decisions that are best for you. If you listen to the lyrics, you'll find that they match those same ideas. I think it's easy to become trapped inside of a bubble or social circle without realizing how narrow our thoughts and lives have become. Every so often I think it's important to take a step back, get out of that bubble, and to open our hearts to something new.

With love,

Ciara

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