a jumpsuit I went back for

Funny story... So, about six weeks ago I purchased this Gap jumpsuit. I liked it but wasn't fully confident about the purchase. I put it to an IG poll and the results were split. After both my sister and mom asked if I was opening a painting company, I decided it needed to go back.

Ever since, I've been noticing jumpsuits popping up on my social media and they look so.darn.cool. I couldn't stop thinking about the jumpsuit and I regretted not sticking to my intuition, so I re-ordered it this week! The size I originally ordered was sold out, so I sized down, and I actually think the smaller fit it a bit more flattering.

I can appreciate that I resemble a mechanic or painter while wearing it, but I've decided that I'm okay with that. Here are some other, just-as-cute options in case you're on board with the trend too! 

{ 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 }

boots made for stompin'

{ Sorel Explorer Carnival Boots }

{ Sorel Explorer Joan Boots }

{ Sorel Kinetic Caribou Booties }

Winter is coming... And well, Birkenstock's aren't going to cut it anymore!

I'm loving these new Sorel styles that combine both style and utility. No one likes cold, wet toes on the commute home. 

easy on the earth

There's no escaping the current focus on climate change (especially after this speech) and the spotlight on ways to live in a more earth-friendly manner. And rightly so, I'm admittedly not as educated as I should be, but I know that it's important we start to pay more attention. I find it can sometimes feel overwhelming to know where to start, but I think small efforts will eventually lead to a more substantial shift in awareness. Here are a few products that can help kick start a more conscious lifestyle.

The Better Farm Co. - Mesh product bags

D and I recently ordered the shopping set, which includes two large canvas bags (with pockets inside to keep everything in place), two market totes (think those hole-y french-style tote bags), and ten of the above shown mesh produce bags. They're cream, cavas/cotton and so chic looking. My new routine when I get to the grocery store is to put my shopper in the top of the cart and lay out all my mesh bags, that way as I go through the product section I can select the best bag sizes. The cashier simply opens the draw string when you're checking out to see what's inside. It's super easy and convenient, and I've avoided using those horrid single use plastic bags for over a month now! We plan on gifting these mesh produce bags to family and friends for the upcoming holiday season :)

Stasher Silicone Bags

We have two of the sandwich sized bags at home and reach for them often. We always try to sub-out ziploc bags when possible and these are perfect for throwing fruit or nuts into your bag. They are dishwasher safe and they seal tightly. The sandwich bags were $17 each but I'm planning on purchasing more overtime. They've introduced some cut colors too, but I'm a fan of the clear!

Reusable Silicone Straws

I don't know about you, but I feel guilty every time I reach for a throw away plastic straw. We've done away with them at home - substituting in cute paper straws and metal straws but these silicone options are great for on-the-go. The carrying case keeps your purse-germs at bay and really leaves you without any excuse to avoid using plastic straws. 

Sadly, this brilliant straw kit by Food52 doesn't ship to Canada but you can bet I'll be ordering it once they introduce international shipping. 

resto review : viaggio

Restaurant: Viaggio (Dundas and Landsdowne)

Reservation: Suggested but probably not always necessary
Atmosphere: Lovely patio and casual but cool interior.
Service: Good - we had a waitress that had served us at another restaurant a few years ago. I recognized her and mentioned it and we got to chatting, which made our experience that much more enjoyable.
Food: Starters: Tartar and Burrata  // Mains: Snow crab tagliatelle  
Small menu but options that appeal to all types of eaters. The dishes weren't overly complicated but totally satisfying. I want to go back and try the Commodore pizza (we loved the shrimp at The Commodore - a restaurant that closed on Queen West)/

Would you go back? Definitely. It's a reliable, tasty spot for good food. It's a little bit off the beaten path, which helps with snagging a reservation too!

a new find

Zara has been a long time favorite of mine but it's only recently that Massimo Dutti (owned by the same parent company) popped onto my radar. I actually noticed it when we were in Italy and swooned over the mannequins clothed in chic monotone neutrals.
 

After browsing the website, I'd describe it as the mature, sophisticated older sister of Zara. Those timeless pieces, that will go with everything in your closet but require a bit of an investment.

I'd love to add these pieces to my wardrobe to transition from the last nights of summer into the start of early fall. 

dress with buckle 

tie-dye button down

pin stripe blazer 

resto review: dandylion

One of our favorite things to do is check out new restaurants in the city. Toronto has such an amazing food scene, there's always something new to check out. There's also too-many-to count, old favorites that we've been to too many times. I figured I would start sharing some of the spots we try... 
We recently checked out Dandylion as a treat to celebrate my completion of some school courses I've been working on.

Restaurant: Dandylion (Queen and Gladstone)
Reservation: Yes (although they did sit a walk in at the table beside us - there's only about 30 seats)
Atmosphere: Intimate and Simple - imagine exposed brick walls, open kitchen, plants hanging from every ledge available. There are no frills or distraction - the focus is on the food.
Service: Very good - attentive without over doing it. Our waitress was very personable and lovely.
Food: Starters: Squid + Beef tartar // Mains: Morels with rice + Cod with shrimp //Dessert: Custard with rhubarb
Small menu - three options in the three categories of starter, main and dessert. For the starter and main courses there was a veg, seafood and meat option. The dishes were beautifully presented, simple in ingredients and very fresh tasting.
Would you go back? Yes, but not in a rush. Not because the food wasn't good but because it's such a small menu. I would definitely recommend it to friends and save a return trip for a special occasion during another season when the menu might offer something new to try.

italian itinerary

With our Italy trip approaching in mid-May, we recently confirmed all of our accommodation bookings and firmed up our itinerary for the trip! I love exploring Europe more than anywhere else we've been and I'm bursting at the seams to start this next adventure.

We fly Toronto > Rome > Toronto and are in Italy for a total of ten nights. 

Here's what we have planned ::

Place: La Spezia (3 nights)

Hotel: The Poet Hotel
To Do: Hike & explore the nearby towns of Cinque Terre and
Enjoy a beach day at Monterosso (one of the five beach side towns)

Place: Montalcino / Tuscany countryside (3 nights)

Hotel: Foresteria Podere Brizio

To Do: Visit local vineyards, taste the delicious regional wines + relax

Place: Florence (2 nights)

Hotel: The Student Hotel

To Do: Lunch at Dario Cecchini's restaurant;

Explore (eat our way through) the city; Cocktails overlooking Ponte Vecchio 

Place: Rome (2 nights total - first and last night)

Hotel: Le Quattro Dame

To Do: Fast & furious tour of Rome's must-see attractions;

Enjoy a lovely dinner for the last night of our trip (I've already emailed the hotel to get local suggestions!)

{ photos sourced from hyperlinked websites }

wedding guest attire

{ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 }

My sisters Whistler wedding is coming up in June and I've recently started looking for a dress. While there's no wedding party I'm a part of, there will be lots of family photos and catching up with friends and family, so I'm excited to get dressed up!  I ordered these four dresses from Nordstrom and am looking forward to trying them. The wedding is at a time of the year when it could still get chilly at the wedding location, so whatever I wear will likely be styled with a blazer or leather jacket.

life updates

It's been a hot second. Life, in all it's goodness, took me away for a moment, but I'm back and wanted to share a few updates about what's been going on lately.

Wife Life. We celebrated our two year wedding anniversary on February 25th! As they say, time flies when you're having fun. We had a lovely dinner at a french restaurant across the street from where we got married which felt perfectly corny and opened a gifted bottle of wine that was from the year we started dating - 2005 (the most thoughtful wedding gift from my mom's best friend).

I'm off birth control. (holy crap!) A few weeks ago I took my last birth control pill. I didn't have any refill packs hiding in my bathroom drawer and when that first Sunday rolled around, for the first time in about fourteen years I didn't start a new pack.
We've traveled lots, bought a beautiful home and truly taken time to enjoy each other. It's a special time in that we're selfishly able to focus on our relationship and indulge in our wants but it's also been really exciting to realize that we're now ready to grow our family.
Don't get me wrong, we're not starting tomorrow...but I've met with my doctor, purchased some pre-natal vitamins and downloaded a period tracking app. After being on the pill for so long, I'd like a few months to flush it out of my system.
This whole next chapter feels private and part of me is scared that I will try to over plan getting pregnant or over share with too many people with the fear we might not be able to get pregnant right away. But in the same breath, reality is, I'm no good at keeping secrets and this is the start of such an exciting time in our lives and I want to share that and feel supported.

Drew got hurt. This is relatively new but significantly affecting. Drew tore his ACL last week playing frisbee. He's been patient, learning to hobble around with a brace on crutches and gracious for all the help I've been trying to give. The hospital has been great with booking us into the clinics and for tests and we're waiting for an appointment next week that will hopefully give us more answers.

Leaving on a jet plane. We have some exciting travel planned over the next several months. I can say with complete confidence, nothing makes me more excited then having trips booked to look forward to.
Orlando - I'm celebrating my younger sister's upcoming wedding with a bachelorette weekend at Disney. We don't get to see each other very often, so its extra special to get a few days just the two of us. She's also the funniest and most fun human I know - I can't imagine a better person to go to Disney with.
Italy - We agreed a last hurrah was appropriate before trying to start a family and so we're off to Italy for ten days in May. We're still working out the details of our trip but I am overthemoon pumped to be heading back to Europe. (I am working out these days exclusively for the ability to eat all the pizza and pasta I want.)
Whistler - Refer back to aforementioned sister's wedding... We'll be out in Whistler for a week in June to celebrate my sister and her fiance getting married. A bunch of friends and family will be reunited in town for the party and it's guaranteed to be a blast.
Delaware - While I likely would have never visited this state, a friend's family has a summer house on Bethany Beach and invited us down for a summer weekend. A group of friends are headed down for a long weekend in July to relax and soak up some sun.

those festive scents

One of my favorite parts of the holidays is filling our home with the smell of fresh evergreen. With the start of the cold weather, I swap out the fall scents for pine and cedar and our house instantly transforms into a cozy wooded forest. Candles are my go-to for scenting a space, which is great for your main living space where you spend most of your time but you need some options for unattended spaces as well. Here are a few of my favorites for getting you in the mood with festive, foresty scents.  

{ Hollow Tree candles }

Every. single. scent from this Canadian west coast candle company is amazing. Their scents are earthy and have a great depth - plus the jar and packaging is spot on. 

{ Illume reed diffuser }

This winter white is a really nice mellow, warm scent. It's not too sweet but still feels festive.
(Tip, switch around a few of the reeds every few days or so, it helps with throwing the scent)

{ Tree Scents diffuser blend }

The diffuser essential oil blends are great because they have the added therapeutic benefits and can be gently absorbed into the respiratory system. 

{ William Sonoma hand soap & lotion }

This is a beautiful set to keep beside the kitchen sink. The scent isn't too strong and the combination of soap and lotion keeps your hands moisturized through the dry winter. 

{ Thymes fraser fir candle }

A classic fir candle that immediately warms a room. If you have a faux tree, this is a necessity for that real-life smell.