xo,

coco

BIA TheyAllHateUs purple.fr

I consider myself an electronics user but I’m far from being an expert. When my good friend Carl-Edwin, who is my go-to source for all things tech told me that he was going to be attending The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week, not only was I envious that he was going to Vegas but I was really excited to get the scoop on what’s hot in the world of electronics for 2012.

What are you excited about in the world of electronics for 2012? Bisous, Winy

Carl-Edwin Michel is a Toronto based freelance journalist and television personality. He is the host of a technology segment on TFO, writes a technology column for Branchez-vous and Future Shop. If you’ve been to Cineplex in Quebec, he is the host of the technology segment that appears right before the movie.

1)    Carl-Edwin what is the CES?

The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is a major technology-related trade show held in Las Vegas, every year in January. Not open to the public, the Consumer Electronics Association-sponsored show typically hosts previews of products and new product announcements in the Tech world.

As a freelance technology journalist, I need to stay current with all the different trends in the world of technology world thus; attending this conference every year is important. I also get a lot of information on a variety of electronic products that will be coming out during the year.

2)    In your opinion, what are the most exciting gadgets of 2012 and why?

The Nokia Lumia 900 phone is THE smartphone to look out for this year; the design of this phone is amazing! Since Microsoft has acquired Nokia not too long ago, this phone will be running on the Microsoft Operating Windows phone 7.

The Bloggie Live by Sony is a camera capable of shooting and sharing footage wireless, in real time.  It’s a really easy and fun tool – great for bloggers or anyone wanting to share instantly on Social Media sites. It has a built in Wi-Fi radio so you can upload photos and videos from the Bloggie Live without needing a computer at all.

The battle of televisions. The trend this year is thinner televisions (as thin as 4 mm) with fantastic image quality.

If there was a star product in the computer category this year at CES, it was the Ultrabook. The Ultrabook is a direct competition to the Macbook Air. The Ultrabook is thin, powerful and has a great battery life (up to 8 hours). More and more electronic companies will be coming up with very thin laptops this year.

pic sources: nokia bloggie

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
My idea of perfect happiness is good health and comfortable wealth for everyone I know. Friends and enemies alike.

2. What is your greatest fear?
My greatest fear is not using my talents and passions to my full potential and losing those closest to me – especially my parents.

3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Ha!  There’s a bunch!  I despise my insecurity in myself (if that makes any sense)

4. What is the trait you most deplore in others?
I absolutely deplore egotistical/self absorbed people in general

5. Which living person do you most admire?
I admire a lot of people.  Oprah, Barack Obama…. Those that have worked so incredibly hard for everything that they have in life with zero handouts.  Ivanka Trump, because she is the epitome of brains and beauty.  My mom and two aunts for always putting me and my siblings first in their lives.  Rachel Zoe, for being a fashion orb in my life and seeing how she’s curated some of the industry.

6. What is your greatest extravagance?
My (new) fur coat.  It’s vintage and it was a steal, but it’s still my greatest purchase.

7. What is your current state of mind?
Hopeful, anticipating what’s next in my life and ready to conquer my dreams.

8. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Hmmmm. Steadfastness, most definitely.

9. On what occasion do you lie?
You only lie when you fear, everyone, including me.

10. What do you most dislike about your appearance?
Hmmmm.  Stretch marks and height.  I wouldn’t argue if I suddenly became 5’9-5’10 overnight

11. Which living person do you most despise?
No one in particular but I guess anyone who feels okay to judge and hate others.  Those that look down on people instead of helping or accepting them as they are.

12. What is the quality you most like in a man?
Sincerity and compassion.

13. What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Humility and humour.

14. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“OMG”  ”Are you serious?” “Is this real life?”  ”WTF”

15. What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Fashion is the what.  I’m a bit young for the who.  lol

16. When and where were you happiest?
My 18th birthday

17. Which talent would you most like to have?
I wish I played a musical instrument, was  fluent in an exotic language or very tech-savvy (Photoshop, Illlustrator, InDesign, etc.)

18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I wish I was as confident in myself as I am in others.

19. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
All school graduations.

20. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
Hmmm. Maybe a place of worship like a church, or a really good book or journal.  Somewhere or something where people can relax, be themselves and feel comfortable releasing their feelings.

21. Where would you most like to live?
Somewhere warm and have properties on different continents.

22. What is your most treasured possession?
A sterling silver ring that my father gave me on my 16th birthday and a white sapphire bracelet that my grandmother gave to me this past christmas.

23. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Suicide, without a doubt.

24. What is your favourite occupation?
My ideal job is a brand ambassador, for my own brand.

25. What is your most marked characteristic?
My sassiness.

26. What do you most value in your friends?
Authenticity

27. Who are your favourite writers?
I don’t have any.

28. Who is your hero of fiction?
Wonder woman, Mulan.

29. Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Malcolm X, he used to put his foot in his mouth sometimes.

30. Who are your heroes in real life?
My mom, cliche, but so real.  Gandhi and Mother Teresa.

31. What are your favourite names?
Regal, French names

32. What is it that you most dislike?
Dishonesty and arrogance.

33. What is your greatest regret?
Not beginning post secondary right after high school

34. How would you like to die?
Peaceful, after a great night with family, friends and food – filled with laughter

35. What is your motto?
You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Being with the ones that I love and that love me as well.

2. What is your greatest fear?

Not enjoying everything that life has provided us.

3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

How I over analyze anything and some things really don’t need it.

4. What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Liars – not being completely honest.  I also have a really hard time with selfish individuals – in fact a selfish liar is dead in my books.

5. Which living person do you most admire?

My mother

6. What is your greatest extravagance?

My hair and shopping.

7. What is your current state of mind?

Tired, pensive and relaxed.

8. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Extroversion

9. On what occasion do you lie?

I try not to, at some point, the truth always comes out.

10. What do you most dislike about your appearance?

Flappy arms and thighs and back fat – annoying.

11. Which living person do you most despise?

Anyone who inflicts pain on others, especially to children and the elderly.

12. What is the quality you most like in a man?

Kindness, sense of humour, intelligence and consistency in his human nature.

13. What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Strength of character, intelligence and open-mindedness

14. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Guy, whatever, bisous, it is what it is

15. What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Hard question to answer, but the greatest love and most consistent love I’ve ever received has come in the form of three people; my mother, my sister and my brother.  They are my greatest loves.

16. When and where were you happiest?

Since happiness is a state of mind, I can’t pinpoint an exact moment when I was happiest.  That being said, I’ve felt more happiness than sadness in my life which I’m grateful for.

17. Which talent would you most like to have?

The talent to travel to the past and change my entire 20′s!

18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I would make peace with my imperfections and accept myself for who I am.

19. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

As of now, my greatest achievement does not lie in one moment but a series of decisions made every single day that allow me to learn and grow.

20. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

I’d come back as my grand-mother. I, unfortunately, never got to meet her and I have heard she was wise beyond her years.

21. Where would you most like to live?

That’s an easy one, in Paris of course!

22. What is your most treasured possession?

I have no attachment to things but pictures with my family don’t represent attachment to me, they represent memories.

23. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Not being able to take care of yourself; physically, mentally, financially and spiritually

24. What is your favourite occupation?

Sleeping.

25. What is your most marked characteristic?

I’ve been told I’m quite funny… It must be true.

26. What do you most value in your friends?

Honest, open mind and the ability to listen and to share.

27. Who are your favourite writers?

Varies with whatever I’m into at the moment, so I can’t really pinpoint

28. Who is your hero of fiction?

Miss Piggy.

29. Which historical figure do you most identify with?

I wouldn’t say identify, I would say, I have immense respect for; Toussaint Louventure, he is a Haitian hero

30. Who are your heroes in real life?

Anyone who cares for others, unselfishly without expecting anything in return but a simple thank you.

31. What are your favourite names?

Mayila, Aurelie, Pascale, Yanne, Olivier

32. What is it that you most dislike?

Bad food.

33. What is your greatest regret?

Not knowing any better and making regrettable choices in my 20’s.

There’s a street in Toronto called Elm.  365 nights of the year the trees that live on said street light up, inviting passersby to make a quick detour away from the brazen neon of Yonge and the cold bleakness of Bay.  It is this inviting feeling, a whimsical nod to romance that excites me about the holiday season.  The feeling that welcomes and loves, that’s warm and inviting, that’s well, festive!

It’s that reasoning that makes me desperate to decorate my home.  In a recent Twitter poll, I asked when was the earliest that I could start decorating and most of you replied that after American Thanksgiving, or roughly around the beginning of December, I was good to go.  So this weekend I’m going to get my decorating on!  Bring a little Elm Street to my home.

I’ve gathered a little inspiration in hopes that you might join in my excitement for the beauty of the holidays.  Forget about the mad rushes to buy things and having to spend time with that obnoxious Aunt; but remind yourself of all of the best parts of the holidays, being with loved ones, drinking egg nog, celebrating another year of life..

I’m officially the queen of cheese…

xo,

coco

photos via pinterest 

Last year this time Lowe and I were desperately looking for places to eat in NY, shamefully unaware that it was in fact American Thanksgiving (should have realized from the awesome deal we got on our hotel….)  Regardless, we had a beautiful time experiencing what it would be like if no one actually lived in the city that apparently DOES sleep – if only on special occasions.  Very I Am Legend, minus Will Smith, plus The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills marathons.

(We luckily -eventually- stumbled upon Balthazar. And Mimosas…)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING American lovers!!!  Hope you have a relaxing and delicious day.

xo,

coco & lowe

p.s. doesn’t that top image of a make-shift Thanksgiving picnic look fun and remarkably stress free!!