Ipsy Glam Bag - December 2018

My December Ipsy Glam Bag arrived today.

• 4 to 5 beauty products in a collectible makeup bag 
• Monthly videos showing you how to get the Look 
• Win free products in contests and giveaways

Subscriptions are $10US a month or $110US for a year.  Shipping is free in the U.S. and $4.95US per month to Canada.

Here's what I received ...

Make-up bag

SUGAR COSMETICS Contour de Force Mini Bronzer in Woody Wonder

HEY HONEY Relax! Propolis & Honey Soothing Cream - 15ml 

CAKE BEAUTY Heavy Cream Intensive Body Balm - 1oz 

LOTTIE LONDON AM to PM Kohl Eyeliner Pencil in Black 

BANG BEAUTY Blush in Smoked Peach

F.A.R.A.H BRUSHES Tapered Blending Brush 35E

"Die Hard - 30th Anniversary Screening", Revue Cinema, Toronto, ON

It has become a holiday to tradition for Gord and I to see his favourite Christmas movie, Die Hard, around this time of year.  Tonight was our fourth year seeing it.

The last three years we have seen it at as a "quote-along" at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema but this year they didn't seem to be showing it.  The Revue Theatre scheduled it so we got tickets to see it there (Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema had since added it to their schedule but it's a different group putting it on).  It ended up selling out and they added a few more viewings.

40 Stories. 12 Terrorists. 1 Cop. 230 drinking game attendees. The odds are against John McClane ... that's just the way he likes it.

HO! HO! HO! Drunken Cinema is hosting a special “X-Mas” themed movie drinking game to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the action-packed holiday cult classic, DIE HARD!

For our very first theatrical holiday installment in Toronto, we will take you on a drunken sleigh ride to Nakatomi Tower (A.K.A. Revue Cinema) to celebrate with John McClane and Hans Gruber!

Come and enjoy one of the most beloved Christmas films out there with your friends at Drunken Cinema!

There will be popcorn, a holiday themed pre-show mini drinking game, a themed cocktail and prizes to be given away!

Customized drinking game card and a glowstick is included in the price of admission.

Doors at 9:00PM, event starts at 9:30PM.  Licensed. Probably going to sell out so don't miss out!

We went shortly before 9pm and there was a line-up to the corner.  Once they opened the doors, the line-up moved pretty quickly.

There was a huge line-up to get to the concession stand, which is in the lobby.  To ease this, they should have someone selling drinks and popcorn at the front of the theatre also.

Before the movie started, there were old and new commercials shown along with a 22 minute Tales From the Crypt Christmas episode from 1989 starring Mary Ellen Trainer, who was a reporter in Die Hard.  The movie started about 10:15pm, with four prizes awarded to people in the audience.

We were given a glow stick to wave whenever something Christmasy was happening on the screen.  I waved my stick for a while but then dropped it on the floor and left it there.  Eventually the enthusiasm in the audience waned and not many were waving theirs toward the end.  We were also given a drinking card and ours advised us to take a drink when glass was smashed (not much of a "holiday themed pre-show mini drinking game" in my opinion).

Though this wasn't a quote-along, Gord and I occasionally yelled out things from our experiences in past viewings.  At the end of the movie when Vaughn Monroe is singing Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!, everyone at the quote-alongs sings along enthusiastically.  Tonight people were standing up and getting reading to leave ... Gord and I stayed seated and sang.  We both agree that the quote-along concept is more fun so will be looking for it next year.

Cider House, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper this evening at Cider House (on Roncesvalles Avenue/Howard Park Avenue).

Gord started with an order of Cod Cakes.  He wasn't crazy about them.  He said they were dry and flavourless so he loaded them with tartar sauce.

He also order fish and chips (it was cod).  He said it was good and he'd get it again.  The mushy peas weren't all that "mushy" ... they were fresh frozen and still fairly whole.

Cat Shelter Building Workshop, Toronto Street Cats, Toronto, ON

From 10am to 2:30pm, I was at a cat shelter building workshop organized by Toronto Street Cats ... this is the third time I've done one (they are held every two weeks).  It's so nice helping the kitties in Toronto keep warm and dry during the cold winter.  My friend, Darlene, is a "lead" (so instructs everyone on what to do).

Our mission: improve the lives of Toronto’s homeless cats by offering spay/neuter services, free for feral cats, and building overwintering shelters. We are also working to increase public awareness about Toronto’s homeless cat population and the importance of spay/neuter and trap/neuter/return (TNR). 

We are part of the Toronto Feral Cat Coalition, working together to implement strategic TNR programs to sterilize Toronto’s feral cats, decrease shelter intake and reduce euthanasia rates.

The workshops are held throughout the fall and winter season in the garage of the Toronto Humane Society  The shelters built are then made available to caretakers and colonies in need for $15.

Today we were focused on cleaning up and refurbishing previously used shelters.  The plastic outer of these shelters are still structurally sound but they’ve been lovingly used and needed to be cleaned up.  When folks bring used shelters, they can get a new one for $5.  We cleaned out the used one, re-line it with new Durofoam and have a perfectly good shelter that can be used again! They are referred  as “refurbs” and sold for $5.  We were able to make 32 of these “refurbs” and 48 new ones.

SinglesSwag - December 2018

My December SinglesSwag box arrived today.

Every month, enjoy full-sized, hand-selected products exclusively for fun and fabulous single women. 

• Organic beauty fun
• Trending fashion accessories
• Delicious snacks and treats
• Best selling books
• Other surprises

You can get the SinglesSwag (receive 6-7 full-sized products every month for $224.99US for six months) or the SinglesSwag Petite (receive 3-4 full-sized products every month for $139.99US for six months) ... I ordered the SinglesSwag.  Shipping is free in the U.S. but there is a shipping cost for them to send it outside the U.S.  The link I went through gave me a discount and it ended up costing me $261.50CN for six months ($43.58CN per month).

Here's what I received ...

Book ~ "Hello, Friends!: Stories from My Life and Blue Jays Baseball" (2019) Jerry Howarth

From Goodreads ~ For 36 years, Jerry Howarth ushered in eternal hope each spring and thrived in the drive of each fall as the voice of the Toronto Blue Jays. In 1982, the lifelong avid sports fan joined Tom Cheek as full-time play-by-play radio announcer for the Blue Jays, and for the next 23 years, "Tom and Jerry" were the voices of the franchise. 

Jerry became part of the fabric of a nation and a team, covering historic moments like the rise of the Blue Jays through the 1980s that culminated in back-to-back World Series Championships in 1992 and 1993. His Hall of Fame-worthy broadcasting career has been nothing short of legendary. When Jerry retired in February 2018, the tributes poured in and made one thing perfectly clear: Toronto baseball would never be the same. 

Jerry Howarth is a former sportscaster.  He was born in the U.S. and became a Canadian citizen in 1994.  He is best known as the radio play-by-play voice of the Toronto Blue Jays from 1981 through the 2017 season.

Howarth started his career in Toronto where he worked part of the 1981 Blue Jays season as a commentator.  In 1982, he joined Tom Cheek as his full-time play-by-play partner.  For the next 23 years, "Tom and Jerry" would be the radio voices of the Blue Jays (Cheek passed away in 2005).

Howarth had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016 and had surgery to remove a small tumor.  He retired from broadcasting in February 2018 due to health reasons.

This book is Howarth's story of his life.  He starts off by telling us about his childhood and education.  It was interesting to learn that he had gone to university to study law but his love of sports was so great that he quit school to give broadcasting a try.  Obviously it has worked out for him!

He shares stories of the Toronto Blue Jays and managers who have been on the team over the years right up to today's line-up including Dave Stieb, Jack Morris, Duane Ward, Roberto Alomar, Joe Carter, John Gibbons, Edwin Encarnacion, Josh Donaldson and the late Roy Halladay.  He also shares stories about players and managers from other teams.

If you are a baseball fan, you'll like this book.  If you are a big-time Blue Jays fan, you'll probably love it.  I liked it as it was interesting and nice to hear about the various players from Howarth's personal experience and friendships.

Topbox - December 2018

My December Topbox arrived today.

For only $12 a month, you will receive a Topbox with 4 carefully selected, indulgent, beauty products. Then test the products in the comfort of your own home.

Here's what received ...

• Pretty Woman Nail Polish (All the Jingle Ladies) - $8.99 value
• Luna by Luna Highlighter (Crescent) - $23 value
• Delia Organics Lip Nectar - $19.99 value
• Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick (Bawse) - $24 value

Value:  $75.98

Island Foods, Toronto, ON (King Street W)

I had supper this evening at Island Foods (Dufferin Street/King Street W), which is in my 'hood.   I've been a fan of theirs since I moved to Toronto over 30 years ago and have been many many times.

I usually go about 11:45am to get a jump on the lunch crowd (and there's still always a line-up).  I went today about 1:30pm figuring it would be too busy and there was still a line-up (it's a popular spot).

I got what I always get ... a boneless chicken roti.  I don't think I've ever ordered anything else from them as I love their rotis!  And it was delicious as usual.

The Inn On The Harbour, Port Stanley, ON

I spent the last two nights at The Inn On the Harbour in Port Stanley.

The reception area is locked at night and the receptionist goes home

There was a sitting area on my floor (the second floor).

The Kettle Creek Inn, Port Stanley, ON

I had supper this evening with Lorraine and Joe at the Kettle Creek Inn.

We had a drink in the "pub"

For supper, we moved to a dining room

That Breakfast Place, Port Stanley, ON

I had breakfast this morning at That Breakfast Place.  It is attached to a pizza take-out and what looks to be a bar.  It's an open concept so I don't know if the three spill into each other at any time ... the breakfast part was the only one open this morning.

I ordered the Traditional Breakfast with fried eggs over easy, ham and white toast and a large milk.  The breakfast was okay ... nothing outstanding.

The server wasn't friendly or attentive, though she did perk up a bit when it came time to pay.  As a head's up, they only take debit or cash which seems strange in today's world.