merry christmas!

We're off to Whistler today and I could literally burst with excitement! I cannot wait to be reunited with our entire families and enjoy a wonderful vacation together.

Thank you so much for all your love over the past year. This little blog satisfies such a creative need for me and I so appreciate your interest and support.

Have a most terrific Christmas and New Year celebrating with family & friends! 

See you in 2015! xx

have a lovely weekend

This week has flown by! Between dinners and lunches catching up with friends, and running around picking up last minute gifts before we leave on Wednesday, I'm doing my best to soak it all in. I love that the holidays bring everyone together to celebrate and it's a wonderful reminder of how lucky I am to have such amazing friends and family. 

What do you have planned this weekend? D and I relaxed with massages this morning, we have a big party with camp friends tonight and a dear friends engagement party tomorrow! 

Hope you enjoy a great, festive weekend!

{ this years holiday sweater }

{ a new bracelet, adds the perfect sparkle for holiday parties }

{ funky new socks I got D }

{ a new cookbook, coffee table book, and deliciously scented candle }

{ my favorite new tree ornament that will likely be hung elsewhere after the holidays }

{ festive red tulips }

{ a great party game from a friend }

pom poms

With the cold winter weather upon us, you've lost your noodle if you leave home without a hat and mittens! If you're looking for a fun last minute gift for a girlfriend, a pom pom hat is always a good idea! Here are a few options....

{ Save: Joe Fresh $5 } 

{ Treat Yourself: Club Monaco - $59 }

{ Splurge: Tuck Shop Trading Co - $200 }

festive party

{ the village }

This past weekend we had some university friends over to decorate gingerbread houses. We drank spiked cider, ordered in Thai food and shared quite a few laughs. While the idea might seem childish, we had so much fun each decorating our own little house and getting hopped up on sugar. I'm hoping it's the first year of a long lasting tradition with great friends. 

{ warmed cider with whiskey }

{ small gifts for our guests }

{ extra toppings from bulk barn }

{ one of my favorite candies - mint melties }

into the swing of things

With Christmas Eve only a week away, were officially right in the thick of the holiday season! I've been busy with dinners and love the excuse to get together with family and friends and catch up. We have a couple more gatherings leading up to Christmas and then fly out to B.C. on the 24th! I've managed to wrap my head around the fact that the holidays are going to be quite a bit different this year - but I think different in the best way possible. My entire family will be together and that's truly what the holiday celebrations are about. Plus, a hidden bonus, we're pretty much guaranteed a white Christmas in Whistler! 

What traditions do you look forward to every year?

happy second last weekend until christmas !!!

Do you have anything fun planned this weekend? We're hosting Uni friends for a gingerbread house decorating party tomorrow, and I can't wait to celebrate Christmas together and drink mulled wine. Then on Sunday, because we'll be away for Christmas, we're celebrating our traditional Christmas morning festivities early with friends - it includes mimosas, cheesy eggs and games, so I'm pretty pumped! This week really felt like I got in the swing of the holiday season, with my work holiday party, and a date night with D, shopping on Bloor Street in the snow.

The next two weeks are as busy as can be, so I'm hoping we get a minute to relax over the weekend.

What ever you have planned, I really hope you enjoy yourself! xx

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Here are a few fun links from around the web...

One of my favorite gifts to give (and receive!) are scented candles, here are some beautiful options.

A wardrobe staple that every woman should own. 

Do you have a secret santa left to buy for? Here's some help!

I'm thinking this might be my next beauty splurge, do you use one?

I just picked up another jar of this jelly - it's my favorite to serve with creamy brie.

How cool is this chef's approach to feeding his customers?

I can't stop dancing to this song!

gifts for your guy

He's the most special person on your shopping list, and you want to make sure you get him something he'll love. Here are some of my ideas (D - No peeking!)... 

{ Club Monaco sweater $140 }

Because he'd look like such a hunk in this cozy wool sweater.

{ Trois Quarts D'Once $25 per bottle }

Concentrate from Quebec so he can make his own tonic water and enjoy homemade gin & tonics. 

{ Roots leather bag $388 }

A for-forever leather bag for weekend getaways. 

{ Beard Oil, Pomade & a Comb $69 }

A cool hair kit for him to pamper himself in the morning. 

{ Jamie Oliver's Cookbook $24 }

To remind him of the first time you made risotto together and of your romantic dinner in London at Jamie Oliver's restaurant. 

{ Ben Sherman belt $40}

An everyday essential that he'll get tons of use out of. 

kale risotto with toasted pumpkin seeds

When it comes to warm, hearty winter dishes, risotto might be one of my favorites. D's parents were in town one last night, so we decided to make dinner for the parents and chose this Kale Risotto with Pumpkin Seeds. I add crisp pancetta for a smoky richness and some grated pecarino for an added saltiness. The kale keeps a nice texture and the pumpkin seeds are crunchy and nutty, it's a really great dish. I was intimidated by making risotto after a long-ago attempt, but really, if you commit to the cooking and stirring process, then you'll be fine (I'd suggest keeping a glass of wine nearby to stay hydrated :). This dish has become a new favorite and seems to really impress friends and family.

house crush

I've recently have been tuning into the HGTV show about Jennie Garth's renovation to her Hollywood Hills home. Jennie is animated, creative and truly a talented designer, it's fun getting to watch on as she goes through the full process of a renovation as a newly single mother of three little girls. The finished product is stunning, with feminine, sassy details scattered throughout.  

Tour her beautiful new pad here.

beautiful wreaths

{ myrtle & pine }

We've managed to get our decorations up around the house this weekend and it's amazing how festive the space feels now. One of my favorite decorations is a beautiful faux wreath that my mom made us for, it hangs on the front door and makes for such a lovely welcome home. It's great having it to put up year after year, but I would love a few of these real wreaths to hang on doors throughout the apartment. Plus one benefit of buying real, the house would be filled with the warm smell of pine. 

Take a look at all the other wreaths Terrain has on their website here.

{ fresh seeded magnolia & berry }

{ evergreen forest }

An alternative to the natural look, how fun is this bright bulb wreath - it would look beautiful glowing in a front window!

{ bright bulbs }

for the beauty queen

For any lady on your list, a beauty gift is sure to impress. Whether it's a rich hand cream or lush lip gloss, there's something that feels so decadent about high quality beauty items. Most women will buy themselves their daily essentials, but might hesitate to splurge on the luxury 'extras', so Christmas is the perfect opportunity to step in and spoil them rotten.  And if you're worried about a lipstick being the wrong shade, shopping tip: Sephora will take back anything they sell, regardless of it being used and even without a receipt, so not to worry! 

Here are a few beauty picks I'm giving this year, have given in years past and would love to receive...

{ coconut beach face scrub $28 }

An all-natural luxury item that will exfoliate and keep your skin soft and fresh. 

{ 1834 body lotion $22 }

It smells like rosemary + grapefruit, enough said. 

{ Baby Love by Deborah Lippmann $20 }

A beautiful sheer pink polish that has a lovely lasting shine.

{ Nars Heatwave Lipstick $32 }

A lipstick hue that looks good on all skin types.

{ Wood Sage & Sea Salt Joe Malone Cologne $60 }

A rich, warm woody scent for the winter months.

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In case I didn't quite hit the nail on the head, more great beauty gift ideas: HERE

happy weekend

{ close to having all my cards ready to mail }

What do you have planned for the weekend? One of my best friends is a bridesmaid in a Halifax wedding this summer, so we're going to try on dresses tomorrow! And with December 1st upon us next week, D has finally agreed that it's time to put up Christmas decorations(!!!!!!!!!!!!!) So other than dress shopping and brunch with a girlfriend, you'll find me in my happy place, at home, decking our halls, drinking spiked egg nog, and making our home as festive as can be! Hope you enjoy your weekend! xx

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Some fun links from the web...

A very cool house tour (I would love a steam room at home!)

For all you beer lovers, here's a list of the top 50 beers made in Toronto

How to fold super pretty napkins for your holiday dinner parties

A very cool gift guide packed full of great ideas

Now this is a sneaker collaboration I can get behind

The only thing on my Christmas wishlist 

A holiday must make, a rich, indulgent brunch dish 

This inspiring young girls story brought me to tears

A new piece of art I picked up last week to add to our holiday collection

house crush

I love all the bold, graphic artwork and the quirky details that really gives this house a fun, whimsical feel.

Take a look at the rest of the house here.