Rule of Three

There are two types of people in the world today - those that watched the Royal Wedding, and those that did not. I fall into the former category and thankfully, so do my fabulous friends.

Starting at 5:30am we snuggled up on the couch with tea in one hand and crumpets (okay, more like coconut-almond muffins) in the other. We watched the entire spectacular affair, from the arrival of guests at the grand entrance of Westminster Abbey, to Catherine Middleton’s walk down the aisle among the trees; from her STUNNING Alexander McQueen lace dress, to William’s sweet blush during their kiss on the balcony. Pure perfection.

My senses are completely overwhelmed and my mind is racing so quickly, remembering all the amazing details, that it hardly seems feasible to shortlist down to three things (it could also have something to do with sleep deprivation and the intense desire to crawl back into bed and watch highlight reels for the rest of the day, from under my covers).

For today, forgive my attention to the numbers and let’s chalk it up to wedding fever and being totally enamoured by the new royal couple. Here is a selection of my favourite wedding-related articles, sites, photos and quotes…

Royal Weddingpalooza: Well Played, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge – top marks for Catherine’s dress from the clever ladies of Go Fug Yourself.

Catherine Middleton Wears Something Borrowed, Something Blue – an article in People covering Kate’s borrowed crown and her beautiful earrings, a gift from her parents on her wedding day.

The Royal Wedding Slideshow – pics of all the fabulous frocks and fascinators from New York magazine.

Bon Appetit – a look at the menu from the Queen’s Wedding Luncheon. Roulade of Goats Cheese with Caramelised Walnuts, yum!

Hats Off To You! – the best hats from the wedding from People.

The Royal Wedding Program – download the official wedding program. 

The Royal Wedding seems to be on everyone’s lips, pages and screens these days, to the point where no other stories are making the news. Crazy? Perhaps, but it’s a great excuse to get excited about some outrageous fashion and shameless celebrity spotting. In my Easter-weekend chocolate-induced sugar coma, I even fell so far as to watch William & Kate, a made-for-tv movie that aired on Slice Network last night (that should give you a hint about the quality of this cinematic masterpiece).

With only four sleeps to go until the big event, here are a few recent finds that will get you in the mood for the WEDDING OF THE DECADE!!

People magazine’s 25 picks for Kate’s dress
My mom and I have a bet about whether or not Kate’s dress will be covered up with long sleeves and a demure neckline. I’m hoping she’ll be as daring on her wedding day as she’s been with some of her past sartorial choices - plunging vee neck from Issa anyone? Loving page 8 in this People spread, a fitted lace number by Bruce Oldfield.

InStyle lets you style Kate for the big day
This interactive setup from InStyle lets you style every detail of Kate’s outfit, from her dress and shoes, to her jewels and of course, a princess tiara. It would be more fun if they actually put the items on the virtual “Kate,” but I guess commoners can’t be choosers.

Twitter updates from CTV
Having only recently joined the rest of the 21^st century on Twitter, I’m going through my honeymoon phase and can’t get enough. Here is the link to CTV’s feed for The Royal Wedding, covering serious and important news items (like whether or not Britain’s PM will wear tails to the event ;).

Three questions:

1. What is a dashiki?
2. Exactly what percentage of the population would this look good on?
3. Where is the appropriate venue to wear a neon pink garbage bag with x-rated slits?

Check this out on Madewell here.

As most of you know, I have a particular love-on for all thing J.Crew, so when I heard that Fox News wrote an article, slamming a recent J.Crew feature on Creative Director Jenna Lyons, I was ready to jump into this playground fight like an elementary school big mouth with a scrappy will and dogged determination.

At the heart of the debate? Whether or not Jenna’s post about painting her toddler son, Beckett’s, toe nails in hot pink promotes gender confusion.  Seriously? Are there not more important things to be covering in the news? Can Fox spend their time concentrating on actual globally-relevant stories, or at the very least, the smut and gossip they’re usually known for?

Besides, Jenna Lyons is The style guru du jour for the hip and casual crowd. If she says bright pink toes are in for kiddies this spring, who is Fox News to argue? Let the kid have his bubble gum piggies and let me get back to browsing the latest J.Crew looks. If you have a problem with that Fox News, I’ll meet you on the playground at 3pm and we’ll settle this like real kids - with a skipping rope, Keds and a handball playoff. Look for me, I’ll be the one with the hot pink toes.

Read the Fox News article here, as well as coverage in New York magazine (here) and Huffington Post (here). 

As both a gluten-free eater and a sugar-fiend with a daily craving for a sweet treat, I often find myself facing an impossible dilemma - ditch my gluten-free lifestyle for an indulgent treat and then pay for it with a terrible tummy ache for the rest of the day, or deny myself the pleasure of baked goodies in an effort to keep my system on track. It’s my daily episode of Sophie’s Choice. 

Thankfully, there is a perfect solution to this conundrum. Enter the macaron. This deliciously delicate gluten-free treat is made with almond flour, egg white and sugar, and tastes like a little cloud of heaven in my mouth.

If you’re a regular Rule of Three reader, you’ll know my obsession with macarons began earlier this year during a trip to Ladurée in London. I’ve been on the hunt ever since, to find an acceptable substitute in Toronto. While I have yet to find something that rivals the Parisian pâtisserie, there are a few good contenders. Check them out and decide for yourself who wins this battle.

1. Nadège Pâtisserie
   This Queen West boutique bakery has a large selection of flavours and packages their macarons in beautiful clear cello bags. 
   780 Queen Street West // www.nadege-patisserie.com
2. Cake Opera Co.
   This luxurious bakery is perhaps better known for their wedding cakes, but their macarons are definitely worth a second look - and are easier to pick up for a weekend treat. Try ordering a wedding cake just for fun - it usually garners some funny looks.  
   1136 Eglinton Avenue West // www.cakeoperaco.com 
3. Frangipane
   This unassuming bakery is tucked away on the corner of Madison and Dupont, but it would be a shame to miss out on their Lavender Honey and Fresh Mint macarons.
   215 Madison Avenue // www.frangipane.ca/feature.html