Secret Supper Club Anyone?
Posted by Karen Bishop | Leave a Comment
Shhh! I’ve got a secret. Well, not exactly. Other than I had a great night out this past Saturday and dined at one of the Food Networks Top Secret Supperclubs in the world. How lucky am I? Very. I love a good meal, glass of wine and meeting new people. And besides that, for one night I can avoid an over-crowded restaurant and can actually take some time to get to know the person sitting next to me.
Have you ever attended a secret supper club? It’s a cross between a dinner party and a restaurant, at a secret location, enjoying a great meal with a small group of friends or strangers.
If you don’t know what to expect. Expect to be fed that’s for sure. But for the newbies (like myself), here’s a few tidbits on secret supper club etiquette that will guarantee everyone in attendance has a great time!
- Don’t panic: you will receive instructions a day or two before you attend your dinner.
- Dress: unless stated in the instructions, dress comfortably to eat, relax and mingle among the group.
- Drinks: supper clubs are not licensed to sell alcohol. But you can bring your own. Your host will often recommend what type of alcohol (often wine) you could bring to pair nicely with the meal.
- Service: it’s not a normal restaurant. Expect service but not the same type of service as a fully staffed restaurant.
- Seating: you will most likely be sitting with strangers but it makes for a fun atmosphere.
- Help: depending on your host, some supper clubs welcome any help when things get too busy.
- Be on time! but not too early. If you arrive a few minutes early, you may get your choice of seating.
Bon Appetit!
Read MoreWhen I Need To Unplug
Posted by Karen Bishop | Leave a Comment
The past few months have been hard as a community. Our timelines have been bombarded with racially motivated acts that make the online world a difficult place to be at times.
If you’re anything like me, I find the internet an excellent place to get inspired by positive information, but on the other hand, it can be emotionally draining too.
So what do you do when it’s time to take a step back from what’s going on in the world? You find ways to unplug, clear your thoughts and take care of yourself.
Many of us don’t know how to take care of ourselves because we’re too busy taking care of others. Personally, I struggle with keeping still and worrying about what I have to do next, so I try my best to log off and log out from my online world — even for one full day.
Not sure how to escape the online madness? I use these simple “unconventional ways to unplug, log off and log out”— even for just a little while:
PHONES OFF NOW! I know this seems obvious to all of us, but you’d be surprised how many people are unable to willingly turn off their phones and leave it off. What works for me? I don’t recharge my phone when my phone battery is low. I do my best to wait until the next day to charge my phone, and I make sure to give myself some “me time” since I’m not constantly charging my phone.
YOU BETTER DANCE, GIRL! Music is a huge part of my life. Different styles of music are important to my overall energy for different reasons. I’m not saying to go pay for a dance class, I mean get off of that phone, put some music on and dance! Whenever I need to relax, release and think, I’m often twirling in my living room all by myself. If dancing isn’t your thing, then listen to calm music while you rest your mind and your heart.
CREATE SOMETHING. I’m a crafty person, I like crafts and I dabble in a little painting now and then. Sitting and using your hands to do anything that will force you to be patient, is a beautiful way to detach yourself from distractions. Grab one of your child’s (if you have any) colouring books and try staying within the lines. You will find this quite relaxing.
WRITE! At this very moment, I’m writing as I’m sitting on a Greyhound bus from a mini vacation in Montreal. I’m in the most relaxed state right now. Journaling is a big part of releasing good and bad emotions. Get a notebook or a piece of paper and write down the first words that comes to mind and then wait a second and expand on it. Don’t stop your flow. For the perfectionist out there: don’t check for spelling errors and mistakes etc. Just write whatever comes to mind and then expand on it. Consider what you really want to get out of your system.
How do you log off, log out and unplug?
Read MoreWeekly Wisdom: Life
Posted by Karen Bishop | Leave a Comment
Often life forces you to go with the flow and have faith that everything will work out the right way, at just the right time. Unfortunately, we aren’t given a set of instructions to teach us how to maneuver through this crazy world. So, all we can do is learn as we go and give up a tiny bit of control to let life lead the way, even for a little while.
My Top 3 Blogs That Help Me Eat Clean
Posted by Karen Bishop | Leave a Comment
Photo courtesy @minimalistbaker
Good Monday Morning to you.
Well, it’s a new week with new goals and hopefully some new ideas. And what better way to get your week started off right by eating well. I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before but I’ve struggled between consistent healthy eating and wanting to devour anything dipped in batter and drowned in sugar. I’m much better at saying no to salt, sugar, fast foods etc. But I’m a sucker for rich foods.
My two biggest challenges in eating well: what to make that actually has taste and how to make it in less than 30 minutes. Luckily, I have really nice friends and they shared some of their favourite vegan bloggers who now make my healthy living choices a little bit easier.
Have a great morning folks!
Link Love:
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From Summer To Fall
Posted by Karen Bishop | Leave a Comment
Jumpsuit (Asos) // Shoes (BCBG Generation)
Fall is right around the corner and soon enough we will see a slew of sweaters, coats, boots and all the things that tell us old man winter is on his way. But we still have a few days until summer is officially over, so I plan to enjoy it!
I love fashion. I regret not pursuing fashion professionally. I actually thought I would be a fashion designer or a singer when I was little. But according to my friends and family, I shouldn’t quit my day job…apparently singing is not quite my forte. So, I’m grateful I can play dress up and have fun with style, colour and clothing right here on the blog.
I’m pretty simple with my style. I’m often told I’m conservative. I’m not quite sure to be honest. I just like what I like. One thing is for sure, simplicity and comfort are two key ingredients in anything I wear.
I picked up this ASOS jumper for an evening out with some friends. And I couldn’t help but notice the deep burgundy colour screams fall but the sexy side cutouts still say summer fun. Who doesn’t like an outfit you can wear from one season to the next?
Read MoreMajid Jordan At 2:00am
Posted by Karen Bishop | Leave a Comment
Don’t you hate when you fall asleep only to wake up at the crack of dawn – eyes wide open – looking at the ceiling, wondering why you’re awake? And all you can do is decide whether you should just lay there or make use of this early morning start.
Well, as my body tried to persuade me to go back to bed, my conscious decided against it. So, I powered up the trusty laptop to put in some work. Not before I found the perfect MOOD MUSIC to get my creative juices flowing.
Thanks to the mellow r&b sounds of OVO Sound artist Majid Jordan, singer Majid Al Maskati and producer Jordan Ullman helped me pass the time to create not just one but three blog posts for my fellow blog lovers.
Make it a great morning!
On repeat:
- Day & Night
- Small Talk
- Every Step, Every Way
Majid Jordan, for a late night drive or early morning writing vibe.
What gets your creative juices flowing?
photo courtesy: www.majidjordan.com
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Weekly Wisdom: Closure
Posted by Karen Bishop | Leave a Comment
Closure = Freedom
Relationships are hard, even when they do work. But when a friendship comes to an end (for whatever reason) having the proper closure is the last thing on your mind. Often, people tend to go their separate ways, move on and “get over it” over time. But there’s a FREEDOM in speaking your truth and clearing the air, when all is said and done.
It can change your life forever.
A Brand New Look & A T-shirt To Go With It
Posted by Karen Bishop | Leave a Comment
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome backkkk! I couldn’t find any other words to say “hello and welcome back” to the new and improved iamwhatshot brand. I’ve been hard at work with a number of mini projects but my IAWH digital home is and will always be my first love.
What’s new? Nothing much, other than a simple new website and endless lifestyle tidbits I can’t wait to share with you. But I’m most excited about our new merchandise. The IAWH online store is now open for business with classic t-shirts available in gray and black. I’m truly ecstatic! I know, you can’t really tell from the photo’s. But trust me I’m excited.
Of course, I couldn’t wait to flaunt the classic women’s t-shirt in the recent mini photo shoot.
Who says you can’t be comfy and casual with a little sass?
T-shirt // IAWH Women’s Classic Logo Tee (Medium)
Pencil Skirt // H&M (similar)
Black Wool Hat (when your hair isn’t cooperating) // H&M (similar)
Vintage Frames // Black Market
Chain Belt // Garage Sale
So read, comment, share and shop a little. And don’t forget to share your IAWH style with us.
Twitter // @iamwhatshot
Instagram // @iamwhatshot
Facebook // @iamwhatshot
Style Hashtag // #iamwhatshotSTYLE
Read MoreHer Name Is Sa-Roc
Posted by Karen Bishop | Leave a Comment
While scrolling through my Facebook news feed, this breath of fresh air – who goes by the name Sa-Roc the MC – appeared on my timeline. Quite honestly, I was intrigued enough to click the play button simply because she has a pretty dope style. Yes, I assumed she couldn’t rhyme, she was too pretty, too eccentric and the formula for female rappers is still very much about…sex sells. Well I guess, I was wrong.
Sa-Roc the MC collaborated with the likes of Jay Z, Kanye West, Jay Electronica and a long list of well know hip hop heavy weights. In my humble opinion, she’s the perfect blend of Rah Digga, Amil and Lady of Rage. I’m three songs into her Legends of Black Moses album and haven’t been disappointed yet.
I’m feeling good about this one.
courtesy: sarocthemc.com
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How I Stop Those Empty Calorie Urges
Posted by Karen Bishop | Leave a Comment
Making a conscious effort to snack in a good way isn’t always easy. That’s why I make it a habit to keep a few healthy snacks around to help minimize my cravings for junk food. My go to snacks tend to be nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans) berries (strawberries, blueberries) and apricots (dried or fresh).
Nuts: I often buy my nuts in bulk, raw, unsalted and eat a handful throughout the day. I’ll throw a few in my salad to make a heavier side salad. Recently, I started buying grounded nuts to sprinkle in my breakfast cereal (with almond milk and uncooked oatmeal) or over a bowl of fruit.
Berries are a simple solution for snacking. They’re another go to fruit in my breakfast cereal, shakes and salads.
Apricots: Is it just me or is apricot the less liked of the fruit bunch? It was never my go to fruit but I’ve taken a liking to them over the last little while, especially since they are really sweet and great for skin, hair and nails. I tend to eat dried apricots more so than the fresh fruit since a handful of dried apricots is the most filling. Eating them alone or with a little almond butter makes for a great afternoon snack.
What’s your favourite snack to stop those empty calorie urges?
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