Image courtesy of  Keven Law

Our amazing global ambassador, Chris Chavez, is in London this week. (No, he didn't work the runway - he's teaching workshops at The Life Centre in Islington and evolve wellness centre this weekend.) With the buzz of Fashion Week still ringing in our ears and the 2012 Olympics on the way, we thought we'd share our London loves with you before the workshops.

Everyone has goals to travel. If you're heading to London soon, be sure to pack your faithful umbrella in your yoga tote, ‘cause one of the London stereotypes is definitely true: it can rain any time, any where.

do yoga

Make it out of bed before the city’s awake and start with a morning yoga class at The Life Centre in North London. Their light, modern studio is tucked away down a little lane away from the hustle and bustle of Islington’s high street. (They also have a beautiful location in Notting Hill.)

Find your center before you hit the streets of London
Image courtesy of The Life Centre

eat

After one of their anusara-inspired classes, your hips will feel over the moon and you’ll be in prime position for brunch. If you took your class in Islington, enjoy one of the city’s best artisanal lattes at Caravan on nearby Exmouth Market. If you chose Notting Hill, grab brunch at Raoul's Gourmet. (Did someone say delicious fruit smoothies? Raoul's has those too.)

see

Refueled and ready to go, it’s an easy ride on the tube down to the south of the city, with its amazing river views.

St. Paul's Cathedral and the Millenium Bridge in all their glory

drink

If it’s sunny, the perfect place for a refined cup of afternoon tea is at the Orangery at Kensington Palace, where you can sit out on their terrace and enjoy the views of the palace gardens and park. Their jasmine tea is to die for.

do more yoga

For a time-out from the hustle and bustle of the Palace, amble over to evolve wellness centre, where you can take a dynamic flow class while getting a great view of the cobbled streets of South Kensington. Chris is teaching there this Sunday.

eat more

If you need a post-class sugar rush, the famous Hummingbird Bakery is right across the street, and you’ll think you’ve died and gone to frosting heaven. (Editor's note: Lesia used to call London home too and she highly recommends the red velvet cupcake. "You won't be disappointed." We trust her.)

shop

Next, take it out east, to London’s most vibrant quarter. During the week, this part of the city is home to all things business, but on the weekends it buzzes with the golden combination of the Sunday Upmarket and Spitalfields Market, where all kinds of vintage and handmade treasures can be found (safely under a roof, for those rainy spells.)

dance

It’s not all shopping, either. East London is home to London’s hippest yoga, pilates and dance studio, Frame, where you can take a Black Swan-inspired ballet class (complete with makeup!) or a retro 80s aerobic session with nods to Jane Fonda.

Give Natalie Portman a run for her money at the Frame's Black Swan ballet-barre workshop
Image courtesy of Frame's blog

see more

And if you’re up for more action, you can be on the beach before dinner with a train from Victoria station to Brighton, a seaside town that’s as popular with surfers as it is with foodies.

The people in London have a good thing coming...
Image courtesy of Chris Chavez's Facebook page

Whatever you do, make sure you get in some yoga along the way. You'll want to be in good shape for your upcoming activities - especially if you're taking a workshop with Chris this weekend. Have fun on our behalf!

Special thanks to Stephanie and Lesia for their insider's picks. Did we miss any of your favourites? Let us know. In the meantime, we'll put the kettle on for tea.

We eat a lot of birthday cake at the office. Almost daily, songs break out, people flock, and a decadent dessert is devoured in record time.  This week was Lesia's turn. Nothing says "it's that time of year again already?" like a homemade treat and a song.

Pavlova is the other birthday cake in my house. (I married an Australian.) It's a really simple dessert that you can do in advance. It's light, delicious, and versatile - practically perfect (like marrying an Australian). Consider it the dessert equivalent of a pair of Groove Pants.

If channeling your inner domestic goddess is on your list of things to do this year (or you're hosting an Oscar party in the not-too-distant future), I recommend mastering this simple recipe. I modified this one from Gourmet magazine, courtesy of my favourite and yours, epicurious.com. Follow it to the letter and achieve amazing results.

before you begin

There are tricks to making it the best it can be. Remember these simple yet important things.

• Meringue and humidity don't get along. I'll spare you the scientific explanation. Bottom line is you won't get great results. If it's humid where you are, pick another dessert.
• Room temperature is best. Your egg whites will whip up better if they're at room temperature. (Don't have time to wait? Put those chilly eggs in a bowl with lukewarm water to speed up the process.)
• Keep it clean. Egg whites have a reputation for being high maintenance. Make sure there is zero egg yolk mingling with the whites and ensure your egg beaters and bowl are squeaky clean.
• Look but don't touch. It's best to keep the oven door closed as much as possible. Spy on your masterpiece through that handy window.

Try making single servings. Portion control never looked so good.

tools of the trade

Besides the obvious (oven, electric mixer, baking sheet, parchment paper and your fearless self), here are some things that are nice to have when making pavlova.

• A piping bag and large open star tip. You can simply spoon the meringue onto parchment to create a carefully disheveled nest or you can pipe your meringue for extra glamour and appeal. Both are lovely. (It's like lip gloss versus lipstick.)
• A long offset spatula. It has a million uses, one being getting that beautiful meringue off the parchment in one easy swipe.
• A Microplane zester. It's my favourite gift for my soon-to-be-foodie friends. It makes zesting lemons (and grating hard cheeses, chocolate and spices) a breeze.

So beautiful and so simple

one more thing

Need more reasons to quickly make pavlova for a special occasion?

• It's easy to make. If you have a standing mixer like this sexy one, you'll be laughing. 
• It's easy to dress up. Pipe single serving nests or bite-sized ones for a fete. Watch this video at the 2:00 mark to see it done.
• It's easy to fix mistakes. It didn't work? Grab a martini glass, crumble the meringue, layer on some lemon curd and berries and voila! You're a genius.
• It's easy to sweat off. OK, there's a bit of whipping cream, but life is about balance and it's really light compared to many desserts. (Training for a marathon? You've probably earned an extra slice anyways.)

Share your pavlova success stories. We're excited to hear how it goes.

Portrait radness courtesy of Camerabag

If something cool is on the rise, Lesia knows about it. She's the resident maven on the Digital team and the one for info on just about anything. Naturally, we wanted her list of favourite iPhone apps. Get out your phone and get ready for her list of must-haves.

lesia's favourite iphone apps

Outside of the standard must-have apps like Twitter, Facebook, foursquare, WeatherEye (way better then the weather app that comes with iPhone), IMDB, Angry Birds, Cut the Rope, Cover Orange, Flashlight, Groupon & Tumblr, there are a few others I couldn’t live without. I've categorized them by price. Enjoy!

(free) - Just download and have fun!
($) - Minimum investment for maximum enjoyment. Expect to pay around $2.
($$) - Pricier but worth every penny. Expect to pay $5 or more.

fitness essentials

If you have goals to run a marathon, do a yoga challenge or reach your personal best, these apps will quickly become your best friends.

MindBody Yoga (free)  I can quickly and easily find the closest yoga class no matter where I am, Vancouver or abroad.

Run Keeper (free)  I just downloaded this one and it looks like amazing. I’ll keep you posted once I hit the pavement with the No Excuses Run Club.

ifitness ($) Stay motivated and get fit with this app. It's currently not available on the Canadian store but it's so good, I'd hate to leave it out.

Loseit (free) This calorie-counting app keeps you accountable. Set a goal and it will help you make it happen. (My husband lost 15 pounds with the baby. What more could you ask for?)

smile! (my favourite picture apps)

Pick some of these up before you pack your bags for that hot-spot vacation or yoga retreat. It’s impossible to choose one!

Hipstamatic ($) Their slogan says it all: digital never looked so analog.

Instagram (free) My newest download. I love how easy it is to share and add filters to Instagram snaps!

Camerabag ($) My first love, if you only have one photo app, this will treat you well.

Pano ($) Hello, PANORAMIC!

8mm ($) This is where all my spare time goes lately. This video app is brilliant. Add vintage effects to everyday iPhone video. It brings new meaning to way-back play-back.

Lesia + Instagram = happiness

edible apps

Jamie Oliver’s 20-Minute Meals ($$) Hands down the most thoughtful foodie app around, especially for a newbie cook.

How to Cook Everything ($$) Featuring the NYTimes Minimalist himself, Mark Bittman.

Epicurious (free) Get healthy recipes from SELF magazine or indulge your inner foodie with a treat from Gourmet or Bon Appetit. You can search by ingredients and get complete shopping lists. If only it made dinner...

Whole Foods (free) Not only can you find amazing healthy recipes, you can also search their database by dietary preferance. Low-fat, gluten-free and vegan? No problem.

current events

For staying in the know on current events, I check out Globe & Mail, NY Times, Mashable, Huffington Post, and Pop Sugar. Best of all? They're all free.

deep thoughts

Apps aren’t all about food and fitness. I know I can always check into these apps when I need a little bit of inspiration.

TED Mobile (free) You'll never be bored or uninspired again. A few faves: Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish, Ken Robinson’s talk on creativity, Sheryl Sandberg's (COO of Facebook) "Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders".

Seth Godin (free) I love to pop into this app to hear what Seth has to say about marketing & ideas. I’m never disappointed.

just because

Period Tracker ($) My good friend got me onto this one and I share it with every girl with an iPhone. They always thank me – ‘nuff said.

fab fashion apps

Wait! There’s more. In writing this, I’ve realized how many apps I’ve come to depend on and love. Last but not least, the beloved fashion apps I drool over. Again, all are free. ebay and Who What Wear are keepers. Style.com gives you the whole gorgeous site in the palm of your hand. Chic Feed aggregates amazing fashion blogs, most notably, the Sartorialist. Finally, Net-A-Porter. I love its wish-list function. 

Well there you have it. If I'm missing any of your must-haves, I'd love to know!

Lesia's BHAG (big hairy audacious goal) is to one day create an amazing lululemon app for you all to enjoy! Fingers crossed.

My name is Lesia (say it 'Lasha') and I'm the email specialist here at the lululemon Store Support Centre. I'm from Toronto, ON originally and have lived in London, UK, Santa Monica CA and now call Vancouver BC my home. I have 4 younger sisters, 1 daughter, and I'm married to a cool dude who is an 3D animator and fast runner. Here are a few of the things I love:

Yoga move: Tie between pigeon and dancer’s pose (love the stretch)

Workout accessory: The Mat – best yoga mat ever!

Magazine(s): Elle Collections, Lula, Dwell & I just downloaded the Vogue UK for the iPad, I’ll let you know how that plays out…

Clothes to sweat in: I’m equally in love with our always flattering, ever functional Wunder Unders + The Everywhere Yoga Jacket. They both rule and I could not live without them.

Activity: Hot yoga!

Tech gadget: Hands down my iPhone. I’m not sure how I ever lived without it.

Favourite app.: Luxe City Guides (the ultimate travel guides now on your iPhone - yes!) and How to Cook Everything (A girl’s got to eat and this is the best foodie app I’ve come across – Jamie Oliver has a pretty good one too.)

Place to run: Holland Park, London UK {when I lived in London, I loved running through Holland Park, it’s romantic and peaceful (in the heart of London – this is huge) and has wicked mix of rustic trails, gardens and architecture. If you’re ever in London, run Holland Park.

Current obsession: Tie between Broken Social Scene’s ‘Anthem’s for a Seventeen Year Old Girl’ and watching the Ted.com talks. I am equally obsessed with both at the moment.

Font: American Typewriter (runners up: Courier & Helvetica) *important note: that Helvetica movie is really good. Watch it.

Websites/blogs: This is always evolving as I’m always on the look out for inspiration but here are a few of my long standing go-to sites and a few newbies thrown in to keep it exciting.
www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com/
www.downtownfrombehind.tumblr.com/
www.fashionista.com/
www.kissssing.blogspot.com/
www.fifi-lapin.blogspot.com/
www.apartmenttherapy.com/
www.pinterest.com/
www.43things.com/
www.coolhunting.com/
www.smittenkitchen.com
www.fastcompany.com

Restaurant: In Vancouver: Vij’s (Organic + Indian = Happiness)

Way to get motivated: Nothing motivates me more than my super cute, super fun, super hilarious 2.5 year old daughter.

Place to unroll your yoga mat: YYoga, Flow, Vancouver

Way to celebrate: Veuve Cliquot & hugs

Book: I haven’t been the same since I read The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini & Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.

Stay tuned for more love lists, from lululemon employees all across the company!

Lesia's gonna shake things up, one email at a time!

what is your favourite way to sweat?

Oh, that’s easy, yoga and running. I am really loving hot yoga right now especially. I love the good sweat you get from hot yoga. I always feel so much better after a class, cleansed, relaxed and alive! I used to run a lot as well and I’m working towards running again, I just have to get my iPod updated with some good tunes and hit the pavement.

Lesia yoga-ing at the beach recently

what gets you up in the morning?

My two and a half year old daughter Taylor! I’m convinced that child is part rooster! She’s up early and ready to party! Sometimes we do a little yoga in the morning (tree pose and downward dog are her faves) and sometimes it’s all about cuddles on the couch while we watch Yo Gabba Gabba (and I caffeinate!).

The best alarm clock ever.

what is the best place you've travelled to?

I’ve been really fortunate over the past four years to have lived in London, England and Santa Monica, California. While living in London especially, my husband and I took full advantage of the opportunity to explore Europe while we were there – Barcelona, Spain for the long weekend? Yes, please! I really love London for so many reasons from the architecture and history to the fashion and culture, that city is so alive! But California stole my heart! There is something about those endless summer nights, the laid back vibe and the smell of Banana Boat sun block in the air! I love SoCal and I can’t get over it.

Lesia and her family!

what do you love about lululemon?

What I love about lululemon is hard to put into words. It’s more of a feeling really. I’m sure you’ve felt it. It’s that vibe you get when you walk into a lululemon store, take an in-store yoga class or get in on a conversation on Facebook, it’s the feeling of being a part of a like-minded, inspiring community.

how does your role elevate lululemon?

My role elevates lululemon because it allows me the incredible opportunity to share this amazing brand with the online universe. If you can’t get to one of our stores we can still keep you in the loop (and inspired) via our email newsletters and our website. I see the Email Specialist role as a huge opportunity to deliver this great brand and all things luon straight to your inbox! (If you’re reading this and you don’t get our weekly email newsletter you’re missing out! Sign up here for our online shopping emails and I’ll make sure you’re kept up-to-date on the latest and greatest at lululemon.com!)

Interested in possibilities with lululemon? Check out our careers page here.