get the look:

source | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 

Ever since stumbling upon the image of this foyer, I haven’t been able to get it off my mind. The gold and gilded elements mixed with trendy pieces (like the chevron rug) keeps the space feeling young, fresh and anything but stuffy. And just when I thought I was over chevron…

With a few key elements, you too could complete this look in a space of your own.

tasty treats: winter salads.

.blood orange over radish, micro greens with shallots,
white pine salt and meyer lemon walnut oil dressing.

.rainbow carrot, ginger salad with cilantro and a maple, lime dressing..asian pear and persimmon salad with celery leaf and blood orange dressing..sautéed hen of the woods with fermented black garlic over
chopped parsley, with a bergamot, lemon and olive oil dressing.

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I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but I’ve been on a serious sugar binge as of late (examples here, here & here). Each afternoon, I find myself craving something sweet and I almost always give in without a second thought. It’s high time I get my act together, if only for my health. While I generally lead a decently well-balanced lifestyle, I will admit that I do not eat (nearly) as many vegetables as I should. I often find salads to be lack-lustre, and almost always leave the table unsatisfied as a result. When I stumbled upon these winter salad ideas, my interest piqued immediately. I love the inventive flavour combinations, and can’t wait to introduce some greens back into my life (without leaving my taste buds in want).

house envy:

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Pair a carpenter with a talented interior designer and this is the result. This Finnish home combines all of the necessary ingredients: a touch of quirkiness (I spy birds), a little bit of edge, and just the right amount of wood detailing to bring some warmth to an otherwise crisp palette. And did you get a load of the kitchen backsplash? I simply cannot. As of this moment, there will be a painted mural backsplash in my future.

scenes from my weekend: montreal edition.

breakfast buddy | inspiring artwork | the old port | brunch at le cartet
the girls and I | an afternoon snack

In light of the Family day long-weekend, my girlfriend and I made the trek to Montreal to visit one of our best friends (and really take advantage of that extra day). It’s safe to say that our weekend revolved solely around food, and I have zero qualms about this. We more or less hopped from restaurant to restaurant, strolling through downtown and popping into random shops in order to waste time before our next big meal. It was so nice to spend the last few days with some of my very favourite people (whom I, unfortunately, don’t see nearly enough) and I’m counting down the moments until our next overly-indulgent girls weekend.

toronto in style.

one | two | three | four | five | six 

Head on over to Andrea’s blog here where I’ll teach you how to tackle Toronto in the most luxurious fashion – should money be no object of course. Hey, sometimes it’s nice to dream!

Happy weekend guys!

tasty treats: banana cream pie.

Justin and I have been together for just under six years and this is the very first time I’ve ever attempted to make his favourite dessert: banana cream pie. While I’m generally pretty confident in the kitchen, the idea of making my own custard filling always seemed intimidating. It turns out, it’s actually quite easy provided you follow the steps closely. The use of a real vanilla bean* in the custard and mashed bananas in the graham cracker base elevate the recipe to the next level. Justin even uttered the words “this is the best thing you’ve ever made”. It’s possible he’s biased considering it was made solely for him, but I nodded my head in agreement. It’s true. I may even reassess my commitment to any and all things chocolate (I can’t believe I just said that).

*I buy my vanilla beans online here. They’re shockingly less expensive than any place I’ve found in Toronto

bits & pieces of Leah.

One of my favourite parts about blogging is the incredible people that you come in contact with that you may not have otherwise. Leah is no exception and I’m so thrilled to have her here today. Her blog Freutcake is equal parts pretty as it is inspiring. It’s filled to the brim with mouth-watering recipes and sweet collages all curated by none other than herself. Let me just say that she has some serious skill (seriously – just look at her recipes – I dare you not to drool) and you’d be wise to hop on over to take a peak at just what I mean.

And here are some bits & pieces of Leah:

house envy:

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White on white with hints of coral. A sexy, sophisticated space fit for a design-savvy woman. I’m all over it.

ps Happy Valentines day lovies! I know that for some of us it’s not all fun and games – if you’re feeling blue today, take a quick gander at this post. She has the right attitude! 

xx

scenes from my weekend.

skating necessities: cashmere handwarmers & oversized scarves
my early valentines day date
skating at Samuel Smith Parkdinner at Grand Electric
tea and glitter manicures (a la Emily)

celebrate: valentines day.

I am far from what you would call a Valentines day enthusiast, but I do appreciate any reason to do something special for those whom I love. While I don’t partake in lavish gifts and over-the-top celebrations, I like to recognize the event in little ways. Whether it’s for your significant other, your best friend or that neighbour who simply needs a pick-me-up, here are a few great ways to celebrate in a simple fashion. Besides, everyone could use some additional love now and again:

one:: heart-shaped egg in a hole
two:: paint edible hearts and messages on your dishes at brunch
three:: heart-shaped sugar cookies
four:: diy sugar cube hearts (for their morning coffee)
five:: cupid’s arrow red velvet cupcakes
six:: diy glitter cards