happiness is…

colourful meringuesbowls of hot chocolate
neon-pink kitchen accessorieschandeliers made from velcro stripsand this collection of Ladurée “L’Art de Recevoir” books

Happy weekend poptarts!

tasty treats: vegan coconut cake.

Can I be honest? Up until recently, I’ve had negative connotations towards desserts that claim to be vegan (or gluten free). I know it’s narrow-minded but it was difficult to wrap my mind around a cake void of eggs (or cream cheese frosting! Blasphemy!) Having a few good friends who’ve recently switched to veganism for various reasons has opened my eyes to a whole new world.

I originally tried a piece of this cake* in Montreal and had nobody told me it was vegan I would have been none the wiser. The results were moist and flavourful and it took virtually all of my willpower to not devour it entirely in one sitting. In celebration of a friend’s birthday this past weekend, I quickly relished in the opportunity to recreate it. It was a huge hit and, much to my dismay, we were left with one measly piece for me to enjoy the next day. (Click read more at the bottom of the post for the recipe)

*cute story: my friends boyfriend made her this cake as a surprise on Valentines day. The original recipe called for cocoa in both the batter and the glaze. He sweetly mistook cocoa for coconut and made the switch without realizing. The results were so delicious that I decided to officially alter the recipe and it will hereby be referred to as a coconut cake. I love happy accidents.

bits and pieces of Rachel.

Rachel, from Elephantine, is one blogger that I’m particularly partial to. Her posts are always eloquently written, and absolutely stunning to gawk at. Her photography skills are unparalleled by many, and her Fiction Friday series has  quickly become a favourite of mine. Not only has she created what I would consider a miniature online sanctuary, but she also runs the sweetest kitchen shop and posts the most delicious recipes (many of which I have made in abundance myself). I feel confident when I say that you’ll adore her as much as I do. Without further ado, here are some bits & pieces of Rachel…

guest post:

In addition to my post this morning, I’m over on Buckets & Bunches while Chelsea prepares for her upcoming nuptials (congrats Chelsea!) There I’m showcasing a few classic pieces I currently have my eye on – you may want to go take a gander.

house envy:

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While this home is stunning on its own, what I find particularly appealing is the fact that it doesn’t try to compete with its surroundings. Each room seems to be designed to embrace and enhance the beauty beyond its walls, capitalizing on the stunning views (could you imagine waking up to that!?) The use of natural materials and a simple colour palette is always something I’m drawn to, but this place in particular is exceptionally well executed. I cannot deny my house envy.

scenes from my weekend.

tulips at the market | french baguettes
olive oil & balsamic vinegar samplers | crêpe fixins’ | brunch with the girls

With Justin away at a hockey tournament, my girlfriends and I took it upon ourselves to take over the condo for a mini-dinner party, followed by a slumber party (and brunch the next day). Together, we spent Saturday evening attempting to make buckwheat pasta* and digging into my stash of olive oil and balsamic vinegar samplers. Naturally, we paired both with a bottle (or two) of prosecco and made sure to follow with dessert.

After a crêpe brunch on Sunday, we finished off with pedicures and a long afternoon nap**. Now adorning fuschia-pink toes (ready for an early spring!) we definitely tipped the scales towards an indulgent few days. I’m so glad I have such a great group of ladies to keep me company while Justin isn’t able. They make wonderful substitutes, though, I must admit, I am glad to have him home.

How was your weekend? I’d love to know!

*it only kind of worked
**Sundays should always be conducted in this fashion 

ps. I started painting as per my February resolution. I’ll be sure to show you the results once it’s complete (which could be months from now – time is at a premium at the moment). I forgot how much I enjoyed this process

get the look:

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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.