cusp of winter beauty picks

Alright folks, the air is starting to get dry just as our social calendars are starting to fill up for the seasons. 'Tis the season to slough off the dead skin, breathe some life into our dry hair, and put some rouge on our cheeks. I've been doing all sorts of testing (and online trolling) to bring you my beauty picks to whip you into tip top condition.

First up, Satin Sugar by Cake Beauty. If you're like me, cold weather and busy days see you waiting a little longer between hair washes. This sweetly scented powder (for both light and dark shades) soaks up oil, and leaves hair clean and fluffy. Toss it in your purse for a post-work touch up to your bangs before heading out.



On the subject of hair, I've been using this amazing Lush bestseller, BIG shampoo. It smells incredible, and it pumps an amazing amount of volume into your locks.



This amazing Ultimate Blockbuster palette by Sephora is fantastic. I was lucky enough to receive one from my friend Kate last year, and I have used the awesome array of colours for my own daily beauty routine, as well as for countless photo shoots. I tend to be skeptical about the quality of cosmetics in large sets, but all of the products in this set perform really well. At under $50, it's an amazing deal that will give you a lot of mileage.

More beauty picks to come soon.

like grandmother like granddaughter

This Sunday I had a really fun shoot with Vanessa, a CBC listener who won a Bouquet gift basket (and a photo session with me) a few months ago. For her portrait, she decided to bring her grandmother* along to pose with her.

* The elegant lady pictured above, who insisted on exploring my apartment and commenting on all the photos and decor (only speaking Hungarian) before being ready for her close up. She was awesome!

dallascurow.com: launched!

After many months of work, collaboration, and anticipation, my very first real website has launched!

Please visit Dallas Curow Photography and take a look around. You can also check out my Flickr photostream for more photos or become a fan of my work on Facebook. I'm open for business, so if you're looking for photography services, you know who to contact!

A special thanks to Farah Khan from house9 Design and Pierre Côté for their respective (and fabulous) design and programming work.

macarons

Have you ever tried a macaron? They're feathery light cookies: satiny smooth and crispy on the outside, moist and chewy within, with a hint of smooth filling in the centre. They come in a spectrum of pastel shades, and an amazing array of flavour combinations.

Until living in Montreal, I'd never had the chance to feast on one of these cookie gems.Here, you can spot them basking in bakery windows, in all their pastel-coloured glory. Once the aroma of vanilla and toasted almonds wafts out the bakery door reaches out to you, you'll be following your nose to where food ectasy marks the spot.

The first time I tasted them, it was at Boutique Point G on Avenue Mont Royal. I had been marveling at a model of the Eiffel tower that has been formed out of their smooth surfaces. Macarons. Delicious, decadent, and delicate.

I walked into the patisserie-café under the premise of taking a closer look at the presumably tasty, brightly coloured tower, and was greeted by the head pastry chef himself. “Did you see the tower?” he asks. I nod, while staring at the glass case that displays Point G's macarons like jewels.

"It is made of our newest flavours: coconut with salted caramel, pistachio, and crème brulée.”

Within 30 seconds I was back out on the street again, now clutching a paper bag of the aforementioned cookies. I gingerly lifted one out of the bag and took a bite. Right inside crunchy outermost shell, the airy centre is gently scented with coconut, and sandwiched in between the two layers is an amazing caramel coulis that achieves the perfect balance of salt and sugar.

Sweet, sugary bliss.

So again, have you tried macarons? If so, what flavours have you tasted?

fall fantasy

Autumn in Montreal is pretty spectacular this year, even if it has been punctuated with unseasonable icy breezes.

I'm fresh back from a weekend in the mountains, about a third of which was spent steaming in a hot tub while the cool wind and occasional drops of rain hit my shoulders.

bridal triptych

angelique part III

My last two faves. Isn't she a beauty?