Blog
Upcycling The Eiffel Tower
Rebecca L. Friday July 26, 2024 will bring around the 28th Summer Olympics, hosted in the beautiful capital of France. Ahead of Paris 2024, the highly recognisable Eiffel Tower will be receiving a long-overdue makeover that will enhance its appearance for the event. The Eiffel Tower was built between 1887 and 1889, and originally constructed as the entrance for the Exposition Universelle (1889), an open competition to design a magnificent focal point to the World’s Fair. At that time, it was the tallest structure in the world, until theChrysler Building was erected in New York in 1930. Fashioned from puddled iron, the tower weighs in at around 10,100 tons, and stands at 324 metres (1,063 ft) tall. I have personally climbed the 674 steps up to the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower and it’s not an easy task, especially during the windy season. This eye-catching structure gathers over 7 million visitors per year, and over 250 million sight-seers have took a trip to the tower since it originally opened. It takes 60 tonnes of paint to glam up the Eiffel Tower, and it has already been repainted 19 times and it was once painted yellow. This time, instead of the usual custom Eiffel Tower brown that was originally chosen in 1968, the tower will have a slight change of hue to a more yellowly golden-brown colour, in celebration of the Olympic games. Costing around $60 million, the Eiffel Tower is due to be revamped before the Olympic season. Are you excited for the reveal? Tell us in the comments what your favourite Olympic event is.
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Listen: Lous and the Yakuza
Matt C. This week I've been listening to the debut album Gore, by Belgian-Congolese-Rwandan songwriter/singer/rapper Lous and the Yakuza on repeat. The entire album is sung/rapped in French, and although je ne parle pas, her life story behind her short 24 years speaks as the back drop - not to mention the presence of her musical influences Whitney Houston and Mozart. Check out this profile from the New York Times outlining her inspiring upbringing, and her Instagram for some international cool-girl realness. Listen to the vibe-y Gore here, and again.. don’t forget your dancing shoes.
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Brooklyn: Greenpoint
Bethany S. Have you ever had a quick trip somewhere you wish you could’ve stayed a lot longer? That was Brooklyn for me. My husband and I stayed in Greenpoint which is the sweetest neighbourhood with all the good eats, shopping and beautiful parks. We were there for a small work celebration in the Spring of 2019 and were totally surprised by how friendly and inviting New York City and Brooklyn was - Since that’s definitely not the stereotype you hear of! Soon as things go back to normal I cant wait to plan another trip. Here is a list of things to do during a beautiful Spring day in Greenpoint. Crema BK – One of the best lattes I’ve ever had while watching dogs play at a nearby park Five Leaves – Get the Avocado toast! Awoke Vintage – Great clothes for your night out Joe’s Pizza – On Bedford Ave! Yum!
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‘Instant Hotel’ reco
Jasmine G. With AirBnb fast becoming a popular option for holiday accommodation, ‘Instant Hotel’ looks to find the best B&Bs in Australia. The show pits hosts against one other; staying at each other’s accommodation and rating the overall experience. On first look, it’s an entertaining competition show; but on a deeper level it showcases the variety and brilliance of Australia. From the rainforests in Queensland to the Martian-esque caves of Coober Pedy, the programme highlights the true vastness of the Aussie landscape. Check out the Trailer here...and you can find season 1 and 2 of ‘Instant Hotel’ on Netflix!
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How to Say HELLO Around the World
Rebecca L. Hiya! Are you looking for something new to learn? Since travelling might be on your mind, but not on your to-do list anytime soon, how about learning how to say hi in different languages? Check out this video from Lonely Planet! Let us know how you say hello in the comments below! TC!
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Afternoon Tea in London
Where to find your perfect afternoon tea experience in the English capital.
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Nook Pasta Room
Matt C. If I got anything good from this Pandemic, it is the Nook Pasta Room. Nook, is a local favourite Italian spot with 3 cozy locations peppered throughout the city. Due to COVID restrictions, they opened the Nook Pasta Room, where you can enjoy meal kits of the greatest hits from their menu (think handmade noodles, burrata and spreads galore) to make and enjoy in the comfort of your own home. You can check out their instagram here for some inspiration. My favourites include the spicy Pandemico Pomodoro, or Cacio Pepe, but this weekend I’m gonna swing by and pick up a Veggie Lasagna - lucky for me, it is only a block away from my apartment. Do any local hotspots near you have take home meal kits making staying home (as the Italians would say it) deliziosa?
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Sew Ready for Summer
Bethany S. I’m sure many of us in the Northern Hemisphere have a bit of the winter blues. In the Pacific Northwest it is especially grey and rainy this time of year and the sun seems like a distant memory that you’re not really sure exists anymore. But instead of stewing in the boredom of lockdown and sulking for summer, I’ve decided to sew my way through beginner friendly YouTube tutorials from The Essentials Club. The creator is a woman named Maddy Rawling from Australia where it is currently summer, so the tutorials she’s been releasing have definitely reflected that. Her whole philosophy is to create ethical clothing from natural fibres or repurposing fabrics. And if you can’t make it to ethically source it – like thrifting! The pieces I’ve made so far have me so excited and ready for the most anticipated season in Canada (for me anyway). If you have a sewing machine and a craving to create, I highly recommend Maddy’s easy to follow videos and blog posts! With her instruction I’ve been able to make crops from the dress tutorial, a babydoll dress from scratch, and tank tops! Summer, here I come!
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An Unconventional Honeymoon
Bethany S. After saying the I do’s and celebrating, a newlywed couple usually jets off to a tropical getaway - My husband and I chose to do something a little different. A week-long road trip going from Los Angeles to Arizona, then southern Utah and all the gorgeous in between. Not that we can travel to the States anytime soon, it might be fun to look for campervan rentals in your area and explore your own backyard! For an Arizona bound trip, we would highly suggest going with Boho Campervans. They are cozy, tastefully designed and have everything you need for an amazing getaway. Here are some photos that we captured using disposable film cameras and our iPhones: Monument Valley - Utah Joshua Tree - California The Petrified Forest - Arizona Goosenecks State Park - Utah Skull Rock - Arizona Blue Mesa Trail - Arizona Goosenecks State Park - Utah
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