a short week

{ a lush green corner at Reunion Island Coffee on Roncy }

Happy Monday! Hope you all enjoyed your long weekend. D and I spent part of the weekend in Orangeville with a group of friends. We braved the freezing -30 weather on Saturday and went skiing and then cozied up with dinner and drinks after wards. 

On Sunday night D took me for a fancy Valentine's dinner at Buca Yorkville. We enjoyed a 14 course, seafood heavy that was delicious and creative and decadent. It was such a treat!

We spent the Family Day holiday sleeping in, binge eating pancakes and enjoying a dinner out with my parents. It was a lovely end to a wonderful weekend.

{ a cocktail glass that makes any drink more enjoyable }

{ valentine's treats for friends }

{ coffee ice cream with orange and almond biscotti }

{ personalizing my office with a new framed print }

{ our seafood salumi board from Buca Yorkville }

{ my forever valentine <3 }

top dog

My sister recently moved to Australia for a year with her boyfriend and dog Bentley. I couldn't help but laugh when she informed me that she was trying to make Bentley 'Insta-famous'. It seemed like a funny goal to work towards but there sure are lots of dog-crazy Instagrammers. Low and behold, a few weeks later her dog has surpassed the number of Instagram followers we have combined.

When D emailed me this article to me this week I couldn't believe the timing. The competitor in me just wants to go after that top spot!

Here are a few photos of my sisters adorable pup Bentley. Incase you want to follow him on Instagram, his handle is 'bentleythehuskyxcollie".

all in one piece

{ Raising Wild, $138 }

I might have mentioned it here on the blog, but mid April I'm headed to Vegas for a friends bachelorette party!! I'm leaving the planning to the other bridesmaids, some of who are Vegas-veterans and have been told to prepare for epic pool parties during the day. I would not in any way classify my wardrobe as Vegas-ready so I'm hoping to pick up a few pieces for the trip. In terms of a bathing suite, I'm looking for something that is worthy of a Vegas pool party (whatever that means) but also something that I feel comfortable and confident in (a seemingly impossible task when bathing suit shopping..). Last but not least, I want something that I can get a lot of wear out of lake side during the later summer months.

Here are a few different styles I've found that I'd love to try on! I could see accessorizing with a cool necklace and cover up too!

Any tips for a first-timer in Vegas?!

{ Gap, $64.95 }

{ Mara Hoffman, $252 }

{ Karla Corletto, $450 }

{ Abercrombie, $54 }

house crush

It's no surprise that Jacey of Damsel in Dior has newly designed digs that makes any home owner envious. I love how the clean modern lines are balanced with a  warm coziness. I'd move in with a moments notice! See more before and after photos here. 

{ photos via Domaine }

calligraphy starter kit

{ Laura Hooper Calligraphy Kit }

This calligraphy starter kit just shot to the top of my must-have wishlist. I will often reference Instagram posts when attempting calligraphy but I would love to learn the art in order to create fluent clean text. It would be such a fun hobby to learn and work at, maybe I can convince a friend to do it with me! Laura Hooper hosts calligraphy workshops too, sign up for her Toronto workshop on April 2nd here!

tgif

{ a gift for the sweet new baby }

It was a busy week between intramurals, dinner with friends and a work meeting and I am happy to welcome the weekend, even if it's a busy one. Tonight we're hosting friends to celebrate a birthday - we're cooking a roast and having chocolate cake for dessert! Then tomorrow is jam packed with a baby meet & greet and a birthday party for one of our closest friends. It will be nice to catch up with friends and celebrate a birth and birthdays. Whatever you have planned, enjoy your weekend. xx

{ my favorite doughnut from our favorite coffee shop }

{ valentines decorations at bulk barn }

(stocking up for this fun DIY)

{ downtown U of T architecture }

{ I can never resist the swings on lakeshore boulevard }

one month down

January has come and gone, and I'm feeling confident that I've started the year off in a healthy and active way. I started my ClassPass on January 4th and hit my one month mark on Wednesday. I was pleasantly surprised when I received an email informing me that my 16 classes added up to 800 active minutes!
For the monthly fee I pay, I'm averaging just under $5 a class, which compared to the $20+ per class that the studios would typically charge, the program really feels like a bargain.

I've found a group of studios nearby to my office that I'm really loving:

Moksha - yoga

Studio Lagree - pilates

Studio KO - boxing

Quad - spinning

CYKL - spinning

Barreworks - barre

My goal for February is to attend 20 classes and try out at least one new studio!.

valentines assistance

{ via Quince Flower's Instagram }

Valentine's has somehow snuck-up and is now just over a week away. Everyone celebrates the day differently, but I love the opportunity to do a little something for those special people in your life whether it be a boyfriend, best friend or sister.
This year D is taking me to Yorkville for dinner at a fancy restaurant and we're sitting at the chef's table. I can't wait to sip on a cocktail and watch the chefs at work!
I'm still on the lookout for a perfect gift and have been scouring the internet for ideas and inspiration. Here are some of my favorite Valentine's themed ideas that I've come across....

Here is a fun foodie gift guide for anyone you want to spoil on the 14th. I love the gin and edible cookie dough!

I love Joanna's Valentine's three ways - I'd recreate the day three times over just as an excuse to go on all three dates!

If you're planning on staying in, Camille Style's has planned out a fool-proof dinner menu that's sure to impress. I'm book marking the mussel recipe to try soon.

These candy filled test tubes would be a simple DIY and are sure to make any friend feel extra sweet!

If you're all about the classic handwritten love note, these printable valentines are perfect.

If all else fails - a bottle of real champagne is sure to impress (plus February 15th is a holiday for us Ontarians, so you can sleep off any grogginess!)

house crush

This NYC apartment is so effortlessly cool. It's the perfect blend of masculine and feminine and feels cozy yet had a loud personality with the massive penis on the wall! The owners account of dinner parties made me LOL.  

spicy honey

{ spicy honey }

Two of our close friends are crazy hot sauce enthusiasts. During our holiday shopping I came across small batch handmade hot sauces made in Brooklyn at the Old Faithful Shop. We picked up the Sriracha and Spicy Honey, both in the cutest squeeze bottles. Paired together in a box it made the best gift that was a huge hit. I can't say I'm the biggest hot sauce fan but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious to try the spicy honey. 

When we recently visited with them for dinner and they served cornbread, I immediately asked for the spicy honey! Drizzled over warm cornbread with melted butter, it was absolutely delicious. The honey is sweet with a warm heat and I really had to restrain myself from eating the entire skillet.  

{ truffle honey }

Also... this. It would be the ultimate addition to cheese plate. I can just taste it drizzled over pear and pecorino. Yum!