Big News...

To my loyal fan Lindsey - I promise this will not become a wedding blog.

Mastering the Art of French Cooking

On Saturday the Dr and I went to see Julie and Julia. I wasn't sure what to expect but it was awesome and I left the theatre feeling so inspired that I went out the very next day and found a hardcover edition of Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child. First up is Julia's famous Boeuf Bourguignon!

Significant Objects

I spotted this over at ApartmentTherapy this afternoon and couldn’t resist sharing.

“For Rob Walker and Joshua Glenn’s latest project, Significant Objects, they find inexpensive collectibles at thrift stores and garage sales and match them with writers who write a fictional story about each object. The item and the story are then posted on eBay for anyone to bid on, sometimes fetching 10 times what was originally paid… The story about the spotted dogs above by Curtis Sittenfeld actually made our heart skip a beat”

The part of the story about Larry and Bernadette reminds me of myself and the Dr – minus 40 years, alfalfa sprout pantyhose and said hefty-ness. We are those people who hold hands when we walk down the street, kiss goodbye in the elevator every morning, and can’t wait to see each other at the end of the day. I like to believe that 40 years down the road, like Larry and Bernadette, we will still be as smitten as the day we met.

Kitty's first Prada shoes

On Friday the Dr surprised me with these gorgeous Prada shoes and I haven’t taken them off since!

Here’s the story about how they came to be. Friday afternoon we were browsing through the shop and I spotted them. They were absolutely perfect, they fit like a dream, but they were out of my price range. I didn’t have long to mew about them because the Dr had to go back to work, and I was desperately in need of coffee. {lapse one hour and one cup of coffee} As we were driving home, the Dr (playing it all smooth) asked me to get his phone out of his bag. After a teensy bit of playful grumbling about having to reach down for it, I opened the bag and there were the shoes! It turns out he had waited until we were apart just long enough that I wouldn't see him run back to the store to get them before anyone else had the chance to buy the very last size 36.5.

The shoes are absolutely perfect, but it is the gesture that makes me swoon. Prada shoes or no Prada shoes, I feel like the luckiest lady ever.

Happy Canada Day!

Today we are celebrating Canada's 142 birthday. July 1 marks the day that Canada became a confederation under the British North America Act, which came into force on July 1, 1867. The Dr and I are spending our day with friends and family and just relaxing at home. I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate.

Dressing the Man

As Reachel so eloquently stated "One cannot fashion an empire without outfitting all its constituents, especially one's partner in power." After a recent shopping trip with the Dr, it didn't take me long to assess what works and what doesn't work when dressing your man for summer. Here are a few of my tips -

1. Khakis & Linen - done properly these can be your man's best friend. I prefer the wrinkle resistant variety [less work for me - better look for him]. To ensure a crisp appearance, make sure they break properly and fit snuggly in the hip/thigh/butt region. Avoid all regular or relaxed cuts and opt instead for a slim fit. Dockers makes a fantastic wrinkle resistant khaki and I can confirm that after sitting/standing/walking for an entire day, the pants were wrinkle free!

2. Shirts - Please avoid the short sleeve dress shirt and tie look. All dress shirts, even summer versions, should have proper sleeves (men, you can roll them if necessary). In this case, the Dr chose Gingham for it's versatility. While it is commonly considered casual, when paired properly it can work as well in an office environment as it does left open on the weekends. To avoid the down-home country feel, ensure the gingham print is tiny and the collar / cuffs of the shirt are properly pressed.

3. The polo - Stay away from darks or neutrals. Choose a bright colour that brings out the colour of your man's eyes, or defines his dark features (the Dr. opted for pink - yay!). Again the fitted polo is versatile and works well for the office, the golf course and on weekends. Steer clear of anything baggy or too long, and opt for something slim through the trunk and bicep region.

4. Socks - Leave the sweat socks at home and choose something funky like Paul Smith or Duchamp. The right socks can add that extra punch to any outfit!

5. The ribbon belt - To avoid the frat-boy appearance, ensure the belt has a touch of leather on the buckle, the loop, and the ends - preferably brown.

6. Shoes - Brown Leather Driving Loafer. Enough said.

7. Accessorize - Aviators and proper brown leather sandals are classics and will last your man through many a summer season to come.

Splurge Friday

Today my sweet sweet man is enjoying a much deserved mini-vacation with his friends at the cottage. To say I'm jealous is a mild understatement but I've decided to think of my time at home as a stay-cation. This morning I thrifted and enjoyed a nice hot coffee on the patio of a local cafe, spent some time downtown browsing the uber-chic and uber-expensive stores, ate lunch in a courtyard beside a beautiful old fountain, witnessed a man dressed up as a seal {adorable!} carrying a sign that said "Please don't club me", and tonite I'm going to curl up and watch some chick-flicks - like PS - I love you and Sex and The City without feeling even a teensy-bit guilty. Yay!

Splurge Friday - #2

If you are reading this, I want my stuff back!

I’d like to start this by apologizing to everyone who reads here on a regular basis. I know that the posts have been thin recently, and I’m sad to report they will probably continue to be thin for the next little while. My desire to look at pretty things has up and left since someone broke into our house earlier this week.

We have a lot to be thankful for; the dog was fine, there was no visible vandalism, most of our most personal effects stayed put, but at some point in time I lost my joie du vivre. I try so hard to always remember that there is good in everyone, but after being robbed, I’m finding it hard to smile, to be polite and not to suspect everyone I see on the street of stealing my security.

On top of it all, the thief (thieves?) stole my computer, and with it, all of my pictures and all of my favourite things. The police are doing their best and we’re happy with the measures and steps that have been taken so far, but I can’t help but to feel a little sorry for myself and wonder, why us? Of all the 20 houses on the street, why ours? The Dr. tells me everything happens for a reason and something good will come of this, but I’m having trouble believing this was in our plan.

Tonite I am planning to throw myself a small pity party and then start to pick up the pieces.

Big Splurge

I’m so excited I can’t wait till Friday to share. After meowing about this dress since I first saw it in Real Simple, I finally bit the bullet and did it... Or I should say the Dr did it for me. It’s ordered and I expect it to arrive via my lovely Aunt in West Palm Beach sometime in the very near future. Some people might say it looks like a couch, I think it looks like heaven.

{via}

Little Red Wagon

When my brother and I were wee, my mother would pull us around our local garden centre/petting zoo/bird sanctuary/play centre in a red metal Radio Flyer wagon. I hadn’t thought about our adventures in the little red wagon for years until Saturday, as we were walking around our neighbourhood community street sale and we spotted the exact same Red Radio flyer wagon for sale. We bought it immediately and despite the fact that people could hear us coming for a mile, I couldn’t have been prouder of our purchase. For the time being we’re using it as a plant stand in our backyard, but I can just imagine the adventures we will have with it in the future.
{via}

Victoria Day!

It's Victoria Day in Canada and what an absolutely lovely day it was. Today we cleaned the garage, looked at a few homes we'd love to live in, did some work around the garden and went to the movies to see Angels and Demons. The movie seems to be getting mixed reviews but both the Dr. and I thought it was fantastic.

Yesterday our beloved dog turned 4. We celebrated with BBQ, beer and ice cream cake, and yes, he had a wee bit of cake. Before anyone comments and tells me dairy is not recommended for dogs, I will just say you've never met this dog. He has a history of pouting and acting out if he doesn't get what he wants, and he really wanted some cake. This picture was taken when he was still just 3 but it makes me smile everytime!

Decor Great :: Home Improvements

If you've been reading here for a while, you will remember this post and my inspiration board for the backyard. I am happy to report that less than two months later, our inspiration has become reality and I am very happy to share our backyard oasis with you all...

As you can see many of my original inspirations have taken shape and we managed to pull off an eclectic backyard setting. For our main seating arrangement we incorporated picnic benches {made by the Dr} for a relaxed feel + maximum seating, and a folding table which will make storage easy come Fall/Winter. Originally I had planned to incorporate our two vintage fiberglass Eames chairs at each end of the table but instead we decided to repurpose to leftover chairs we had kicking around for an all-weather option. We opted for the Weber Genesis grill {just barely shown on the right edge of the photo} and we couldn't be happier - it's stylish, it's hot, it's fast and it makes outdoor cooking fun again! The plant boxes and lattice {built by the Dr} were a bit of a change however we decided they worked much better in the space than galvanized tubs, and it gave the Dr a project to complete during the nasty month of April.

The plants in the boxes and around the garden are mostly perrenials {lillies, iris, sedum, hostas, ferns and hens &chicks} but we plan to add in some marigolds and impatients once the weather cooperates. Our herb garden will be housed on the bakers rack we managed to score for a song. Our intention is to paint the rack antique white to better suit the space, but the weather hasn't cooperated to date.

We decided againt a second seating area and opted instead to make the boxes a bit larger and more of a focal point for the space. That however did not discourage me from picking up a lifeless iron chair and updating it with a coat of bright turquoise paint and the following oilcloth for the pad.

It took some time to really come together, but we couldn't be happier with the outcome. With a few final decorate touches, and some sun, we'll be able to entertain in style.

Scone-tastic

Since moving into our new home last December, the Dr and I have been buying scones at our little neighbourhood bakery. Our habit was getting to be quite expensive so last weekend I bought a bag of white chocolate chips and decided to try and make some of my own.

These little gems are perfectly flaky and full of white-chocolate and cranberry goodness. If you are fan of scones, or just want to try something new, here's the recipe -

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips or pieces
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 5 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons half-and-half or light cream

Preparation

• 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• 2. Mix together butter, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
• 3. Add cranberries, white chocolate chips, beaten egg and cream. Mix until dough forms.
• 4. Knead dough for 2 minutes on a lightly floured surface.
• 5. Roll into a log (desired thickness) and cut 8 rounds with a sharp knife
• 6. Transfer the rounds to gently oiled (cooking spray works best) baking sheet
• 7. Bake 14-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Recipe makes 8 scones - 271 calories, 13g fat, and 1g fibre each.

Isaac for Liz

I giggle every time I see this ad from the new Liz Claiborne collection. I love that Isaac Mizrahi has a sense of humour when it comes to fashion.

It is inching closer and closer to spring here in the capital and I can barely contain my excitement. This weekend we painted our backyard benches and the Dr worked on building planter boxes to hide the retaining wall around the patio. It won’t be long until our backyard is complete and we can properly entertain. I can’t wait! When it is all complete I will take photos to share.

Blog Break

Today I'm at home getting ready for the weekend. The Dr and I are off to visit our families and devour all the homemade deliciousness they can throw at us. I had planned to start packing last night but our friends invited us out for a delicious Vietnamese dinner. We both had the vermicelli with chicken and beef (note to self: get pork and beef next time!) peanuts and a springroll, and bubbletea for dessert. We all lead busy lives but isn't it wonderful to have the kind of friends who will call you up at a moments notice to hang out?! It just feels so genuine to receive a spur of the moment invitation.

I'm going to be taking a bit of a blog break while we are gone but I promise to be back by Tuesday with more lovelies to share!

Here are some of my favorites from the past week or so-

• I must get a bike after reading Alicia's blog this morning
• Easily one of the most touching journals I've ever read - thank you for sharing Phillip!
• She makes me want to take a sewing class!
• The houseguest has returned
• Fashion + Weather = Feather - Brilliant!
• I am sensing a road trip - Montreal Design Guide
• If it were up to me this one and this one would win
• I'm going to have to clean my purse so I can participate

Happy Easter! - Happy Passover!

Monday Madness & Weekend Recap

I have a busy week coming up at the office but I will be posting between assignments and meetings so make sure to keep checking. We had a lovely weekend full of BBQ meats, wonderful friends and open houses. The Dr and I saw two houses that fit our criteria; the first was recently remodelled but had a substantial amount of water damage in the basement so we quickly crossed that one off our list. The other was the sweetest 50’s style bungalow in an established neighbourhood that needed a few updates but nothing a hammer and a few cans of paint couldn’t fix. It will be a few more months (read: 6-12) until we are ready to commit to signing our lives on the dotted line but it never hurts to scout out new neighbourhoods and see what is available.

Mother Nature is threatening to unleash more of the dreaded white stuff on our nation’s capital so we’re trying to make the best of a winter that just won’t quit. I’ve been meaning to post this picture {but never got around to it} so the threat of more snow makes today the perfect day to share.

I hope your Monday and your weather is turning out to be warm and sunny!

{via Beau Bergeron}

Hump Day

A pretty picture to help brighten your day! Recently I’ve been seeing old card catalogues everywhere. I love how this one has been repurposed to hold books and plants, and the vignette on top with the antique birdcage and fan is just my style. It’s the perfect addition to that empty corner every home seems to have.

It’s been an absolutely dreadful day at the office. It doesn’t help that it is hump day and it’s terribly dark and wet outside. I’m planning to go home and make a nice warm dinner, hit the gym and cuddle up in bed beside the Dr and the dog just in time to watch LOST.

via: Poetic Home

500 Days of Summer

I just watched the sneak peak for 500 days of Summer staring Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt and it looks fantastic! It's being called an "anti-love story" with a tagline that reads "Boy meets girl. Boy falls in love. Girl doesn't." The film received rave reviews at Sundance and it's set to debute at your local theatre on either July 17th or July 24. You can bet that yours truly will be standing in line with her box of kleenex and a pocket full of penny candy.

Just look at how cute these two look together...

On the 'exciting personal news' front, Dr and I went for a drive after work in two very different neighbourhoods {one features a cupcake shop, the other boasts to die for Italian sandwiches and pubs} and saw two great houses. If everything goes as expected, we're looking to purchase our first home together sometime in the next year and we are over the moon excited. We are renting a great place now, but the idea of real permanency has me long-term dreaming...

Get Growing!

We had fantastic weather last weekend and the Dr was able to design and build two 6 ft. benches for the backyard patio set. They are absolutely perfect and I am so proud of him {it was his first attempt at planning and building his own product}. To further coax the Spring fairy, we planted seeds for a small kitchen herb garden. The seeds are currently germinating on top of our refrigerator in a makeshift greenhouse but soon enough, after the last frost of the season, we’ll have an outdoor herb-erie. This is our first attempt at growing a kitchen garden and if all goes well, I’d also like to try growing lettuce, carrots, onions, tomatoes and peppers… Oh my.

There is only one thing holding us back…. It is currently -12° Celsius.

{ current blog crush: The City Sage }