B&W18.

part 1.

"Portia, we're wannabe foodies," my friend said to me halfway between slurping a long strand of pasta.

I looked up at her and realized that this is indeed true. My fashion dreams aren't dead, but the thrill I used to get from writing about fashion daily has dwindled a little in the past couple of months. Don't get me wrong, I'm still obsessed and have every "It" blog on my Google Reader, but something just hasn't been clicking right.

However, I would never call myself a foodie - but maybe there are different types of them. Mostly, I want to continue exploring and try lots of interesting restaurants. I get my thrills by dressing up to attend places like this.

Consider this post one of the staycation. I'm exploring my backyard as much as I can.

Candlelight, high bar tables, rustic bread and the menu scrawled across the chalkboard wall - 7 Numbers on the Danforth is was my kind of place.

After sitting down, our waiter slid an iPad menu in front of us (!!!) and we salivated over the choices. We settled on Carciofi fritti (artichokes in tomato sauce), Panzanella (bread salad with tomato, cucumber, roasted peppers, fennel and cheese) and Linguine con gamberi (linguine with Spicy Shrimp) to share. The first two were served while our drinks were still cold, and shortly after our linguine arrived. Bon bon bon.

We have found the secret. Order what you really want and savour slowly. Yes, you can have it all.

I've notoriously been told that tapas/Italian food on the Danforth is horribly expensive, but my friend and I split our bill and paid about $20 each. Of course, on a student budget this isn't attainable every weekend, but my friends are the kinda girls who throw all caution to the wind (and a frying pan out the window nearly once, that may have been me...) and say "let's just go out!"

We did. We feasted, mused and talked about blogs, relationships and wine glasses.

Very la vita e bella.

Be sure to check out 7 Numbers, they have both a Danforth and Eglinton location.

sparkling.

Rule No. 131
Champagne is great for any and every occasion because everything in life should be celebrated. Champagne can be especially lovely with pizza and your best girlfriends.

I believe in this wholeheartedly. Check out more of The Rules.

savasana.

1. Song of the day - "No Cars Go (Arcade Fire Cover)", Maxence Cyrin.

I've never cried during yoga.

Thank goodness it wasn't weeping and sniffles. That would have been bad.

I don't cry readily in to begin with. When Eddie my fish died, injuries, bad news about friends and family - there was shock yes, but tears just aren't me.

However, when I feel something, perhaps and emotion or moment that I know is connected to something so much bigger than my world or me, that watery tear peeks her head out.

This has really, really happened once, when I was dancing my modern dance solo in 2006. I remember the way the lights shown on me, the dress I wore, looking to the audience and realizing that I wasn't going blind, but my eyes were glazed over. For me, that was a moment of pure rawness as an artist and human being, and I have strived for that tool to help elude that emotion creatively since then.

However, it's not all fun. Crying never is, unless it's because of laughter.

o'brien.