prince edward county

Several weekends back we tagged along with friends on a trip out to Prince Edward County. We've visited the county several times and will always jump at any opportunity to return. The small towns have such an inviting vibe, there are lovely boutique shops and restaurants and we really love some of the vineyards and the wine. D and I have taken interest in wine - something we now have the space to slowly collect, so it was fun picking up some delicious Ontario wines to both enjoy and keep in the cellar for a couple of years. 

We visited a handful of wineries, some old favorites (Norman Hardie, Karlo Estates and Casa Dea) and some new ones that we hadn't been to before (Closson Chase, Old Third). The County is known for light but flavorful Pinot Noir and rich Chardonnays and we tried some tasty different varietals as well - including an orange wine and a Calcaire, a crisp white, the 'perfect with oysters' was the selling point.

We were a group of eight and spent the day biking around the county (hands down, the best way to explore), we stopped off at an alpaca farm (D bought me the wooliest socks!) and ended the day with a beer flight at County Road Beer Co. 

We had lunch at Norman Hardie on the patio. We enjoyed a glass of wine and ordered pizza from the on-site wood oven pizza. My pizza had creme fraiche, white onion, aged cheddar cheese and spec and it might have been the best pizza I've ever had! (I'm now in search of a Toronto pizza spot that will recreate it for me!) We got to have a chat with Norman, the winemaker, and had the nicest and most knowledgeable girl help us with our tastings. D and I ended up sneaking back in for a magnum of the Calcaire and plan on hosting an intimate oyster party with friends!

The group enjoyed breakfast together on Sunday morning then we all went our separate ways. D and I took the opportunity to drive out to Exultet Winery, who are known for their Chardonnay, but are off the beaten track. We typically don't have the luxury of exploring on our own before heading home, so we took full advantage. We got to chat with the husband and wife wine-making team and my favorite find from this spot was the white Pinot Noir, which will be enjoyed post Whole 30 :)

Happy to provide recommendations if you're planning an upcoming trip!

whole 30: round 2

{ pumpkin apple breakfast bake }

Today marks Day 15 of Whole 30, Round 2 - we're half way through our second time following the eating program. You might remember we did Whole 30 in June and it left us feeling great (leaner and no bloating), reinvigorated our love of cooking together and we both lost quite a bit of weight (double digits). We're off to Hawaii in less then a month, and figured it would be a great way to reset after weeks of celebrating in the new home, and leave us feeling a bit more confident in our beach bods. 

{ curried sweet potato soup with coconut milk }

It's been a different experience starting the program for a second time - we're more familiar with the rules of what we can and cannot eat, so we've been able to get a bit more creative with our cooking.

We also are aware of the preparation and grocery shopping that is required to help us succeed. Little tricks like boiling ten eggs and cutting up a cantaloupe on Sunday nights, makes weekday mornings easier and leaves us with convenient, satisfying foods throughout the week.

{ seared tuna salad }

In a typical month, we might order in a couple of times and eat out for a date night or with friends 2-3 times. Eating out is something we enjoy doing together, so cooking and eating at home for 30 days straight gets a little tedious - also... the amount of dishes you create is insane!! That being said, we've figured out a couple of ways to enjoy getting out of the house, we went for a movie date night and had Five Guys burgers in lettuce buns (their burgers are 100% beef with no preservatives) and this past weekend, I met up with girlfriends at Carmen, I checked the menu ahead of time and picked out the items I'd be able to eat (I had ceviche and grilled shrimp).

I've halfheartedly tried some other diets/cleanses in the past and have never been able to stick to it. However, Whole30 seems to be the exception. We have the guide book and the cookbook, and if you're planning on trying the program, I would suggest getting at least one. There's so much information and some great tips for basic must-haves (like home made mayo, and we love the chicken wing recipe!).

Worst cravings: Halloween candy (ugh, worst timing), cappuccino (I'm looking forward to a hot, creamy coffee) and a glass of wine (duh).

Favorite Snacks: apple with almond butter, organic pepperette sticks, coconut chia pudding

Tastiest Meals: buffalo chicken wings, roasted spaghetti squash with veal bolognese 

Only 15 more days to go! (and let's get real - I'm very much looking forward to enjoying a cold beer on the beach in Maui!)

it's all coming together

Henderson Armchair from Wayfair

We took possession of the new house on August 17th, so we're just over two months in, and considering that short amount of time that we've been in it (and the fact we're working full time) the house is looking pretty good. Slowly but surely, the rooms are coming together. We're waiting on a few pieces of furniture we've ordered and working at getting artwork placed and hung. 

We ordered our new sectional in between the purchase and closing, and luckily it was delivered the Saturday morning of our move. Having our main couch in the space has helped it feel put together from day one. We painted, got new bar stools and our gorgeous new dining table was delivered a few weeks back, which is a key piece in the open concept space. Our coffee table is on order and we're left hunting for two remaining pieces for the living space on the main floor - a rug and a chair. 

We've designed the space to feel bright and light, with warm wood tones throughout. The walls are a light blue-ish grey and our couch is a textured white/light grey fabric. The above floorplan gives you an idea of where the chair will sit - facing into the living area of the main floor, but the space is so open, it needs to be a good looking piece from all angles, because it is very much visible from the dining and kitchen space. 

Chiara Lounge Chair from EQ3

(this style and frame, but with natural canvas and white leather cushions)

Nola Swivel Glider from Oilo

(I actually found this in a baby store - it's a nursing chair, but 1) it's Gorgeous and 2) so friggin' comfortable!)

Gualtieri Armchair from Wayfair

It's obvious from my inspiration picks, that I'm leaning towards something with clean, modern lines in a more neutral color that will have character but blend into the space. I'd love to add bold pops of color (my dream would be to have a sofa/chair in a jewel tone velvet), but will aim to do that in a less permanent way, with artwork and accessories. 

I'll work at putting together a post to show where we're at with the house so far! We have photos from the original listing, so it provides for a pretty fun before and after comparison!