There's always one. That one person on your holiday list for whom finding the perfect gift is next to impossible. But at the end of the day, do we really need more stuff? As much as I would love a 60 inch 4K Ultra HD TV, I really don't need one. If there is one thing I do need, it would be more down time, some good ol' rest and relaxation. And that's not something you can easily wrap in a box. Thanks to Breakaway Experiences, we can think outside the gift box and treat our loved ones to unique experiences and fond memories to be treasured forever.

We were then invited into our private luxury suite where we revelled in a 60 minute holistic massage. Inside the suite, there was a colour therapy shower with a rainforest cascade, and a mini lounge area. It was the perfect place to escape the everyday chaos and relish the serene atmosphere of the spa.

Afterwards, we were invited to enjoy a complimentary tea in the luxurious tea room where gentle music played.

And before our experience ended, I was able to enjoy some quietude in the relaxing steam colour therapy sauna in the ladies' change room. (There is also one in the men's change room as well.) This is actually recommended before the treatment but I completely forgot and didn't want to pass up on the chance to check it out. It's not like any sauna I've been in. The ceiling is dotted with tiny lights that slowly change colour. So pretty!

This Luxury for 2 at Novo Spa experience is but one of many spa experiences available through Breakaway Experiences. But that's not all. They have flying experiences, hot air balloon rides, driving experiences, dog sledding, gourmet experiences, snowshoeing, horseback riding, dance classes, aerial adventures, segway tours, family fun experiences and... need I go on? And if you just can't choose, you can't go wrong with a Breakaway Experiences Gift Certificate. It's kind of like a gift that gives twice!

Speaking of gift certificates, Breakaway Experiences has offered up a $100 gift certificate to one lucky Toronto Teacher Mom reader! To be eligible to win, please complete the Rafflecopter form below. Open to residents of Canada, excluding Quebec.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a complimentary experience via Breakaway Experiences to help facilitate this review. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Last Thursday, approximately 4,000 people united together in peace as part of the Lolë White Tour, presented by PANDORA Jewellery, at Exhibition Place here in Toronto. It was the first time that I actually participated in the event and I am still pinching myself over how surreal, serene and strikingly beautiful it was to join in meditation and yoga under the stars with so many people.

As if the spectacular view of the Toronto skyline and the indigo blue skies weren't enough, we were so very fortunate to be lead in a 15 minute meditation by Marla Meenakshi Joy, co-founder of Toronto’s Downward Dog Yoga Centre, followed by an amazing yoga session with Colleen Saidman Yee and my yoga hero Rodney Yee.

When I was first introduced to yoga roughly 20 years ago thanks to a dear friend, we learned from an amazing instructor who lead sessions at our women's only club. But after about a year, she left the club and the classes just weren't the same. It wasn't until I discovered Rodney Yee's instructional yoga videos that I began to enjoy yoga again. So to be able to participate in a live yoga session under the stars with him and his amazing wife, I felt so blessed.

Since the first Lolë White Tour in 2012, over 50,000 participants all dressed in white have come together to practise as one. If you would like to learn more about an event near you, bookmark lolewhitetour.com. You can enjoy the Yogi Experience at a pre-sale cost of $44, which includes an evening yoga session, a free Lolë yoga mat, a gift bag and a $15 Lolë promo card. There is also a VIP Jewellery PANDORA Experience, which includes an evening yoga session, a free Lolë yoga mat, a gift bag, a $30 Lolë promo card, a PANDORA Essence signature bangle valued at $70, fast lane access to the event, a reserved section near the main stage, and free drinks and snacks, such as cheese, crackers, tapenade, olives, raw vegetables, iced tea, kombucha and more. The tour heads to Montreal on August 12 where they are extending it to a day-long event, which means you can choose a morning, afternoon or evening session, or a morning and evening combo. It makes me wish I lived closer to Montreal...

When it comes to pushing the limits of live entertainment, no one does it better than Cavalia's Odysseo. The show, which opened in Mississauga last month, features a magical blend of equestrian arts, stage arts and high-tech theatrical effects that will leave spectators in awe. Inspired by the beauty and harmony of the ancient relationship between horse and man, Odysseo features 65 horses and 50 artists from the world over. 

We are then taken on a great journey into various worlds that make you feel like you are a part of the voyage, thanks to spectacular visual effects and a larger-than-life, curved screen that serves as the backdrop for the show. There are several breathtaking scenes that include Les Fées, Fête du Village, Liberté, and Les Voyageurs (see above) before we make a stop at Carosello. This is where a full size merry-go-round descends from above and slowly rotates as acrobats perform gravity-defying acts and feats of sheer strength.

The journey continues as we watch Nomades, L'Odysée and a stormy Tempête before Appel d'Afrique in which performers teach audience members the "Call of Africa": O walu guere moufan! I love this scene not only for the interactive component but also for the simple message behind the call: No more war! We take a Paseo (Spanish for walk) and move on to a stunning scene called Les Anges. The aerial silk performers really do look like angels from heaven.

I was really looking forward to the final scene La Grande Aventure. It is during this scene that a lake appears on stage. It is created using a system of pumps with two water tanks that are hidden behind the scenes and fill the pool with 40,000 gallons of water. 

Watching the horses gallop through the lake is like nothing I've ever seen before. The water splashes about, beckoning audience members to join in the fun like a child plays in a puddle after a rainfall. The viewers in the front row, however, may experience some of the splashing first hand.

While I have seen Cavalia's Odysseo twice before (you can read my 2015 Odysseo review and 2013 Odysseo review), I am still in utter awe of the beauty that is Odysseo. The show features 65 horses of 12 different breeds including the Appaloosa, Arabian, Canadian Horse, Holsteiner, Lusitano, Paint Horse, Percheron Hanoverian Cross, Quarter Horse, Selle Français, Thoroughbred, Spanish Purebred (P.R.E.) and Warlander, which come from from Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, the United States and Canada. Among the 50 incredibly talented artists are riders, acrobats, aerialists, dancers and musicians who come from around the world including the United States, Canada, Brazil, France, Italy, Guinea, South Africa, Poland, Russia, Spain and Ukraine.

And, as if the show itself isn't incredible enough, the VIP experience will surely blow you away. Rendez-Vous VIP tickets grant you access to the private Rendez-Vous VIP Lounge and Patio 90 minutes before the show, during the intermission as well as after the show. You will also enjoy center-row seats, a full meal buffet before the show, various refreshments available at will, a dessert buffet, coffee and tea served during the intermission, an exclusive stable visit after the show and an Odysseo souvenir. Allow me to recommend the top sirloin steak and kale salad, which pairs quite nicely with a serving of cocktail shrimp. And for dessert, try the carrot cake! Also, keep your eyes peeled for celebrities while lounging in the VIP tent. This year, I spotted Clive Standen who plays Rollo on one of my all-time favourite shows Vikings. 

Cavalia's Odysseo has extended its matinee and evening performances through July 30, 2017. It is located under the White Big Top next to Hershey Centre in Mississauga. Tickets are priced from $39.50 to $139.50 for adults and from $39.50 to $124.50 for children, depending on their age, plus applicable taxes and fees. VIP tickets range from $139.50 up to $239.50. If you haven't bought your tickets yet, you can save 15% on select tickets by visiting cavalia.com/live and using promo code SOCIAL. This promotion is valid until July 23.

Disclosure: I received complimentary VIP access as part of Social Media Week. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own. Photos courtesy of Cavalia unless otherwise noted.

Bills, bills, bills.

They're like taxes. They aren't going anywhere. They can be overwhelming. And they need to be paid on time. They're also like dirty dishes. Who wants to fuss over them? Certainly not I. Nope. I needed an easy, time-saving solution, which is why I love my new dishwasher. And eBills. When we switched banks several years ago, I discovered the ability to receive electronic copies of my bills via online banking. It was the perfect solution to the mountains of bills that cluttered my desk. Plus, it was incredibly convenient to be able to access and pay my eBills from anywhere at any time. This included my Toronto Hydro Electric bill. 

If you're thinking of making the switch to eBills, now is the time. All Toronto Hydro customers who register for eBills at Torontohydro.com/signup will receive a free Cascade Platinum or Dawn Ultra while supplies last, 100 bonus points on Toronto Hydro’s new PowerLens portal plus the chance to win an ENERGY STAR® dishwasher. By making the switch to paperless billing, you will have secure, 24/7 access to your current bill, plus up to two years of past bills. You will also receive an email as soon as your eBill is ready for viewing and you can pay your bills online, through your financial institution's website, or using Toronto Hydro’s convenient Pre-Authorized Payment Plan. Did I mention you could also win a FREE dishwasher? 

It's time to simplify your billing.

Sign up for Toronto Hydro eBills today!

When you're in Toronto, look up. Look way up. It's kind of hard to miss what used to be the world's tallest tower. Regardless of how many times I see it, I can't help but admire the CN Tower every time I am in the downtown area. But I don't always look at it closely enough. While on our way to the Toronto FC soccer game last month. I snapped a photo of the CN Tower since it was such a beautiful day with gorgeous blue skies. It wasn't until I downloaded the photos onto my computer that I noticed something I hadn't before.

Do you see them? A group of brave souls leaning off the edge as part of the CN Tower Edge Walk. It looks pretty scary but I hope to try it one day. In the meantime, I will just enjoy the views from afar, thank you very much. I leave you with a view of the Toronto cityscape taken from the BMO Field.

Rest Nest Float Club, located at 21 Yorkville Avenue, opened earlier this year in a newly renovated space located just across from Toronto Fire Station 312 and the Yorkville Library. The multi-level unit features a relaxing waiting room on the main floor and a beautiful spiral staircase leading up to a mini bar area. 

To the right is a gorgeous open space basked in natural light thanks to the large windows that face Yorkville Avenue. The beautiful cork flooring was specifically selected as it provides warmth and quiet, and is highly suitable for yoga classes and their monthly Urban Retreats. Beyond the doorway, you will find three float rooms and a bathroom.  

Each room has a float pod and a shower. I booked Room 3, which happens to be their smallest room and I found it was a bit cramped for my taste. Before you begin your float, which is an hour in length, it is recommended you use the loo then use the shower. They provide soft wax ear plugs which they suggest using prior to your shower to create a water-proof seal around the outermost part of your ears. Once you're all set, you turn off the lights in the room and enter into the pod, which remains lit until you manually turn off the light. The pod itself is quite large and much more spacious than I had previously imagined. It is filled with ten inches of warm water and 850 pounds of dissolved magnesium salts. After you have entered the pod, you lower the hatch, which is suspended by hydraulics and does not lock, making it easy to open. If it's your first float, you could leave the light on as it adds a beautiful glow in Chakra colours. But I highly recommended turning it off by using the blue button on the right. You can always turn it back on whenever you feel the need. In the slight chance you get saltwater in your eyes, there is a spritz bottle of fresh water and a towelette inside the pod. Music plays to signal the end of your float and you have a few minutes before the water begins to filter. 

Lying weightless in your own private pod surrounded by complete silence and utter darkness is unlike anything I have ever felt before. I remained in Savasana or corpse pose for the entire hour and focused on breathing and relaxing my neck. I also had to adjust to the feeling of the ear plugs, which I've never worn before. Initially, lying in the pod was somewhat disorienting and it felt as though I was slowing spinning in a clockwise direction. I panicked slightly because I thought I wouldn't be able to locate the light button in the dark if I wasn't in my initial position but then I reached out to touch either side of the pod and was reassured. Logically so since the pod is oblong in shape. At one point, it felt like I was floating in space and kind of like I was disconnected from my limbs, as weird as that may sound. I imagine this is what it would feel like being suspended in jello. Once the music began to play, I started to wiggle my toes and fingers, and awaken my body. I turned the light back on, opened the pod and rinsed off in the shower, feeling completely relaxed. 

These photos were taken with the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3, which I am currently test-driving.

This weekend, Tonic Magazine invites you to celebrate the summer solstice at Om T.O., a full day of non-stop yoga classes held outdoors in the beautiful Distillery District. Led by dynamic and popular instructors from top yoga studios in Toronto, classes are free and open to yogis from across the GTA. You can choose from eight different 40-minute yoga classes that include hatha, vinyasa, moksha and more. Be sure to bring your yoga mat and your appetite. There will be food and snacks sponsors on site including Live Organic, SoLo Gi, and Lady York.

For those of you who are mythology enthusiasts, you are likely aware of the relevance of my name. In case you need a bit of a refresher, Diana was the Roman goddess of the moon and of hunting. My parents had originally named me after Princess Diana but I often wonder if there were other forces of nature at work when my name was given to me. You see, the moon has always fascinated me ever since I was a child. And the sport of hunting can be likened to my obsession for puzzle-solving, whether it be 3D puzzles, word puzzles or finding Waldo. A challenge that requires a keen eye and mathematical computations would be right up my alley. Hence, I did not need to think twice when I was invited to partake in a "She Who Hunts Finds" blogger shopping challenge hosted by Dixie Outlet Mall in Mississauga. This #DixieDeals challenge had my name written all over it.

Dixie Outlet Mall, one of Canada's largest enclosed outlet shopping centres, is located in Mississauga near Dixie Road and the QEW. A frequent traveler between Toronto and Hamilton, I have passed this mall hundreds of times and not once did I think of making it a shopping destination. You see, from the vantage point of the highway, it did not appear to be such a large mall. And the one store that stood out the most to me was Michael's, so I never gave the mall much thought since there's a Michael's location much closer to where I live. Little did I know that Dixie Outlet Mall is home to more than 130 stores, including some of my favourites: GUESS Factory Store, Nine West Shoe Studio, and Danier Leather, to name a few. Did I mention GUESS? Seriously, I could have spent all day in that store!

Having first delved into the world of yoga nearly 15 years ago, I have developed a fondness for and an appreciation of the discipline. I am by no means a true yogi but feel it plays an important role in my daily life, even if it only amounts to a greater awareness of my posture or my breathing. I joke that you can find me standing on my head because quite often a sirshasana (headstand) is as much yoga as I can fit into my daily schedule. I don't always make time for a full yoga class but I do enjoy squeezing in asanas (postures) whenever I can whether at work or at home. In the past, I have tried Pilates but didn't find it as relaxing as yoga. Quite frankly, I found it too strenuous for my liking. More recently, I have been intrigued by the idea of ballet barre fitness but it wasn't until I was invited to try out barre3 in Toronto that I had the unique experience that combines all three disciplines into one.

This first Canadian barre3 location is situated at 325 King St. West, Suite 201, and has been open for nearly a month. It is a ballet barre workout that is influenced by both yoga and Pilates and was created by fitness and wellness expert, Sadie Lincoln. With a whole-health approach to wellness, barre3 offers smart, balanced and effective ballet barre workouts as well as nutritional guidance based on sensible, whole foods. Barre3 has been around since 2008 but Toronto owner Aimee Ostrander only discovered it a couple of years ago and loved it so much, she decided to open her very own studio.

The special preview barre3 class was fun but intense at times, although I really enjoyed the ways in which the barre3 core ball was implemented into the workout. It was amazing to learn how squeezing the ball between your knees during a squat, for example, can really take that pose to the next level! I also loved using the ballet barre and the variations in movement that included stretching upwards while standing on your toes. The whole workout made me more aware of muscles that I have neglected for quite some time. Like, forever. Abs included. I sure felt the heat when holding certain postures and my legs would start to quiver. I managed to get through the first half of the class but once we got onto the mat for some Pilates style exercises, that's when I gave up. I needed short breaks in between and was happy to finish on two feet. The music was upbeat and our Master Trainer Catie Fahrner was excellent. 

The studio itself is pristine and cheerful. White walls, mirrors and full-length windows make it feel more spacious and inviting. Amenities include a locker room at the back with a filtered water fountain, bathrooms and a shower. You can also purchase fitness wear and workout gear in the reception area.

From now until March 29, 2015, neurons of all ages are invited to explore the amazing, ever-changing brain by embarking on an adventure of 'mass' proportions at the Ontario Science Centre with their newest exhibit BRAIN: The Inside Story. Learn about the bundle of neurons that form the human brain and how this control centre is connected to our thoughts, senses and feelings. As you enter the exhibit, you will walk through a forest of tangled wires and flashing lights that illustrate the numerous firing synapses inside the brain. 

Once inside you will be able to watch an introductory video projected on a giant brain model and learn about the various areas and functions of the brain. Test your knowledge of parts of the brain and reassemble a model at an interactive booth. 

You can view a side-by-side comparison of a healthy human brain versus a human brain with Alzheimer's Disease.

Dive deeper into the brain and explore how your brain processes emotion and stores memories.

  

Discover how the brain processes language, experience the Stroop Effect and challenge yourself with puzzles and games that probe neural connections and pathways.