1. I had my best run yet on Thursday – the longest and fastest one I’ve had so far. A fresh mindset and new music set the tone for it and I kicked that slump in the butt.  A BIG thank you to all of you who offered advice and music options for me. I owe you big xx
2. And on that note – I signed for another run clinic starting in October!
3. I threw out half my wardrobe. yes, half. I’m in a crazy cleansing mode (happens about 4 times a year!) and donated everything I hadn’t worn in over 6 months. Even the stuff with tags still on them – I won’t miss them and it’ll make room for a small selection of quality, curated pieces for fall and winter.
4. We’re going to a wedding this weekend. I should mention we aren’t going to the actual ceremony (which is closed off to close family – smart!) but the reception festivities will be crazy fun.
5. My Ole Henriksen regime is working like a dream – my skin is the nicest it has ever been and I can’t be happier with the results. I’ve had the same little jars for two months now and they’re still going strong – what a value!  (Thank you Catherine for the recommendation!)

As for my finds?

And then there’s this beautiful leather plant hanger by Make Smith.

I’ve been going through a ceramic kick these days, and I’m mildly obsessed with these glaze sample shots.

Happy Friday loves! How is everyone!?  This week flew by like nobody’s business and I’m really pumped about this weekend.  I’m planning on getting loads of things done and I can’t wait.

Here are a few awesome happenings of my week, so far.

1.  I was featured on Rachel’s amazing blog In Spaces Between on Wednesday (as a sponsor).  Check it out!
2. I received this print in the mail! Can’t wait to find it a home on my walls.
3. The succulent plants I took apart have already started to root, some are even makin’ babies!  Heck yes to plant propagation!
4. I’m looking for a 10k or 5k clinic in Toronto.  I’d like to get a couple of little runs out by end of year. I’m thinking the Running Room but there’s nothing until October!
5. I’m having supper with my visiting niece tonight! Any suggestions on where to go ? (Downtown Toronto please!)

And as for my finds?

I’ll start with the amazing photography of Schorlemädchen - I’m in love with her day to day photos.

Loving the new Kate Miss Jewelry lookbook and branding.  Kate can do no wrong!

These American landscapes are truly stunning. Check out all of them on Dangerous Dan’s Flickr.

The branding work for Island Creek Oyster Bar is just gorgeous. Check it all out here.

This gorgeous ensemble over on the Sartorialist… Talk about casual elegence.

The following photos for the Turkish label Uttu are pretty perfect.

And a few fun links too!

• This Calendar Girls editorial is amazing – Love this idea for a bridal shoot.
• I’m in love with this girl’s work. She’s a superstar Graphic Designer guys.
• These balloons crack me up.
• This blog just keeps getting better and better.
• I too, love the colours on these fun accessories.

Happy Friday!

I’ve been bad and skipping my Friday Posts, hope you all haven’t been too disapointed!  This week has been ok – some have been better but I’m getting closer to getting so many good ideas into action.  Other great things about this week?

1. I had one of my best runs on Monday.
2. Jason made one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time – steak, rice, and salad. Simple but everything was so dang tasty.
3. I’m this close to finishing a really fun project for a good friend of mine. Can’t wait to share reallly soon!
4. Max has been doing this thing lately, where he’ll come to bed with the both of us, and promptly flop over next to me. Nothing like being sandwiched between your man and your fat cat to put you to sleep.
5. I tried greek yogurt (I know, like a bajillion years later…) and well, it’s pretty darn good (if not the thickest substance known to man!)

And as for my finds?

Kirsten Hermann’s home shot by Freunde von Freunden. Perfect amount of sunshine, big windows, wood flooring, and art.

These beautiful shots by Teresa match the mood I’ve been in for the past few weeks.  A little off, yes.

These stunning photos from Patricia‘s hike on The Quarry Trail in Peru are killing me – I need to go climb these mountains asap!

I’m obsessed with this DIY shelving unit from the Brick House. Looks easy to some degree, no?  Too bad my walls are made of crumbly plaster :(

I love Sayaka’s plant collection. 

More stunning shots of this beautiful world we live in by Andrew and Carissa.  They also make beautiful videos – check out the their Ode to Summer for Kinfolk (I’m partial to the bike scene)

I’ll be trying this easy updo this weekend.

And a few links I loved:

• This looks so much better than hot dogs over fire.
• I haven’t really been watching the Olympics, but this is very true. 
• Apparently, this is the only steak sauce you’ll ever need, ever.  Will be trying it out soon.
• I need a change in hair, and think I’ll be trying something like this out in a few weeks.
• I’m a little bit in love with this journal, with it’s beautiful food styling.

Oops! It’s Saturday!  Things happen!  This week hasn’t been the best in recent memory.  I’ve had better, but on the other hand I have all these ideas – nearly bursting with them, so things are looking up.  The top happenings of my week, in no particular order:

1. I’m running regularly again. It feels so great, especially since I’ve been running in the mornings. My days are so much nicer.
2. Wednesday was crazy – and by crazy I mean crazy hot. I went and bought all this fruit to make popsicles with. I can’t seem to find any good popsicle molds anywhere and had to get these cheap jelly belly themed ones just to have something. Does anyone have any tips on good molds and sticks?  (I want something like this, but without the 6 week wait.)
3. I made another lasagna last night, but with a tomato sauce base. It was crazy good. Fresh pasta sheets make the job so much easier, and much faster.
4. I was told a few times that my skin is glowing this week. I guess those Ole Henriksen products I purchased over last weekend are doing a great job. Yeah!
5. I was featured on Katie Tower’s blog in her Best Of Lifestyle series.  I’m really flattered, especially considering the company I’m with.  Thanks Katie!

And then of course there’s Crystal Meers on Closet visit with her adorable bangs and bright red lipstick.

Emma’s mood boards are so beautiful.

I’m crazy about these wall hangings that I found on the Brick House. Holy moley they are amazing – and she has more! Check ‘em out here, and here.

And finally,

This outfit and those bangs on the Sweet Thing blog. Love ‘em both.

xox!

Friends! What a week. I don’t quite know how to describe it, but long would be a good word for it.  Then again, it was peppered with good things like good weather and better ideas of what I’d like to accomplish in the near future.  More on what made this a good week:

• I started running in the morning, before work. It’s a revelation really. Why haven’t I done this before? Although, to be honest it hasn’t become a routine yet, so there’s a lot of huffing and puffing just to get out of bed. The bonus bits? The early morning sun, fresh cool air, birds chirping their wake up calls, empty streets, and a glow that usually lasts until the early afternoon.
• We got an A/C unit as a gift last week, and goodness has it been an amazing little machine. We’ve been troopers for the past who-knows-how-long, and kept putting it off but it’s made home so much more welcoming after a long day of work.
• My good friend Emily sent us a wedding present in the mail which included a beautiful mortar and pestle that I’ve used as many times as days that I’ve had it. There’s something special about fresh spices you’ve ground yourself. Thank you Emily!
• Sunshine sunshine sunshine. It’s been so gorgeous lately.
• I’ve been thinking long and hard on what I’d like to have happen in the near future, and although it’ll require lots of work I’m pumped. The majority of it requires a total redesign of this blog so it should be interesting to say the least. I’m really excited.

I’m such a dan of good food and people gathering over good food.  These shots taken by Olivia Rae James are some of my favourite to date.  I’m also pretty smitten by her Charleston series.  I’d like to do something like that for Toronto.

I’m obsessed with ceramic beads and big statement peices like these from Object & Totem.  They don’t have much in their shop, but that’s how I like it;

Object & Totem is a small objects and jewelry studio based in Philadelphia, PA.  Inspired by the nuances of artistic rituals and meditative processes such as cording and turning, each product is created with a focus on individualized production to maintain its novelty, craft and memory.

All pieces are made using local suppliers and accessible materials for the customer who admires the handmade and intimate quality of both fine art and designed objects.

Another great shop that focuses on small runs of quality, locally produced wares is Ship and Shape. I’ve mentioned them before on this post, but they are always a good source of inspiration.  Check out this beautiful scarf below!Of a Kind never disapoints with it’s great finds that bring attention to amazing designers who most wouldn’t know or have access to.  I’ve already swooned over the June 29th edition featured the Earhart Carry Case by Materials and Process:

With this little bag, you can get a handle on that iPad fast. Built to hold the newest model (3!), or a paperback—in case you’re not ready to transition your reading to a touch screen just yet. This made-by-hand, nude-and-black carrier also stores your other workaday essentials in the exterior pockets, like reading glasses and a notebook.

(And fyi guys, it’s only $88 and there were only 45 made.)

And finally, Kate‘s living room via the Glitter Guide. It’s so simple, and realistic as well.   I love the neutral hues with pops various pops of graphic prints.

Have a great weekend!!

xox

Hey folks!  Happy Friday!  Hope you’ve had a great week – mine labored on until wednesday and then wham, it’s Friday! I love that.  Care to see what else made my week great?

1. My flowers from the weekend are lookin’ lovely, even 5 days later (although perhaps a little tired).  I won’t be going in the same direction for my wedding but it’s nice to have them all over the apartment :)
2. I’ll be making bread and these chocolate chip cookies over the weekend. The cookie dough is currently “aging” in the fridge – Yes the dough needs to stay in the fridge for 36 hours before I get to bake it.
3. I bought these shoes on Sunday from shopbop and they arrived 2 days later. I love the crazy thick heels – now I just need to learn how to walk in them!
4. I had my hair “trial” on Tuesday – And ps: apparently no one actually gets their hair done at a trial. There’s something new I learn everyday about this wedding business.  This whole thing about calling something a trial when it’s just a consultation was kinda confusing.  Anyhoo, we talked about the inspiration and it looks like it’s gonna look stellar.
5. I have loads planned for this weekend – all wedding related but should be fun :) (mostly DIY projects!)

I’m so enthralled by Dabito’s apartment. It’s no suprise though, he obviously has style – as you can see from his amazing blog Old Brand New.  The below photos were taken bu Dabito himself for a house tour on The Veda House. If you love his space as much as I do, you can find more photos of his apartment in a House Tour on Apartment Therapy.

It looks like we’ll be staying in our current home a bit longer than we’d hoped for. We’ve been looking at moving soon because while we love the space we live in, the building isn’t great.   We’ve had the ugliest coffee table for the longest time, and I think it’s about time to get the place looking a little nicer.  I’ve been thinking about making this coffee table for the longest time and there are loads of DIY posts about it too.

In the meantime, here’s some inspiration I’ve picked up:  Firdt up, the amazing DIY table from For Me, For You.

This DIY hairpin coffee table looks nice too, via Elise Blaha.

I need to get my hands on the March issue of L’Officiel. These shots taken from Katie of Thank You, Ok are making me mighty envious.Marie Hochhaus shoots beautiful photos – Her website and Flickr are chock-full of goodness and I urge your to check them out :)And talking about photographs, check out the amazing work of Alexandra Valenti – my eyes literally popped out of my head when I saw these (I nearly posted all of them… please go check out the rest of her work!) (via Design*Sponge)And finally, because I love the look of these shots (darker, grainy, slightly yellow) and because the hair is pretty much what I want for my wedding (minus the headbands and side-glued bangs) here are some lovely photos from Backstage at the Tory Birch show shot by Vanessa Jackman

xx!

Oh what a week (and weekend!) Seems that I didn’t even have a moment to finish my Friday post, and had so much going on this weekend that I didn’t even get to really get on the computer. Oh weekends when will you ever be long enough for me to get anything done?

1. We had our engagement shoot on Thursday – not usually my thing but I’m sure my 75 year old self will thank me for it (right?)  Hope they turn out!
2. And speaking of the shoot, it went up to a sunny 24 degrees on Thursday, what a treat!  And seriously lucky considering we hadn’t gotten nice weather like that in weeks. Friday was pretty wonderful too.
3. I received my wedding band in the mail on Wednesday… Can’t wait until I can actually wear it.
4. Had ethiopian food at Nazareth on Friday  - Not sure how they can afford to make such lovely food at such incredible prices (we ate like kings and the food came to $12 each and that included a beer, tax, and tip. yup) but I won’t question it.
5. My second dress fitting was on Saturday. I gotta say, it looks mighty good so far. I’m still weirded out that I’ll actually be wearing an actual wedding dress soon, though. yeesh!
6. I put together a few more floral arrangements. I went a bit crazy on the colours (thought I picked out a nice coral colour for some roses and they’re actually orange, eep) but I like that I managed to get 4 arrangements done in an hour and on the cheap.

Here are a few bits from my weekend.  I was able to grab breakfast at Ezra’s with Elizabeth on Saturday after not seeing her for 3 weeks.  She’s my Saturday strolling partner (do you have one of those?) and it was weird not having her around!  Anyways, the Ezra’s on Dundas is really nice, and usually way more relaxed than the one in the annex (there are no seats available past 11am on the weekends :/ )  She had a croissant and I had the continental which included eggs, cheese, and preserve.

I put a few arrangements together on Sunday as well – I’m not really into them. I think it’s the combination of colours… they’re too pink and red and look like valentine’s day or mother’s day arrangements. Oh well – I’m learning!And lets talk about these orange roses… what was I thinking.  They look especially festive with those red berry things.

I actually like this one the best – the milk glass vase and the softer flowers are a winning combo ;)

And I suppose I should share a few nice things I’ve found over the week.  Yes?

I love this simple kitchen, featured on Keke, a website that features people, recipes and the beautiful interiors they are created in.

The Sophisticated Gourmet has some amazing looking food on his blog. And did I mention he is only 19??

I can’t believe I didn’t know about Industry of One until I read about their interview with Amy Merrick on Miss Moss.  Sometimes the internet really delivers right?  Diana has one heck of a blog, I’ve got a ridiculous girl crush on Amy Merrick, and woah, Industry of One has some of the nicest photography I’ve seen in a while. WIN WIN WIN.

Here and now [Industry of One] will explore the style trappings of various industries + professions and document the relationship between one’s line of work + walk of life.

I’m pretty smitten with this Puppy Kitty Love Tote by Leah Goren.  That kitten is just so cute!

Oh, and will you look at this space? Those windows? Photo by Pieter Estersohn.

Hope you’ve all had a great weekend!

xox

I hope you’ve all had a great week – it’s gone by fast enough, that’s for sure.  I’ve started booking loads of appointments for The Wedding – hair, makeup, fittings… all that fun stuff that goes along with weddings. And to think all I wanted was city hall and some traveling!

Otherwise,  here are a few of the things that have been making me smile lately;

1. The flowers I put together last friday have all gone away to flower heaven, all except for one arrangement who’s flowers have held on a little longer.  Ranunculi are a strong breed I see.
2. I found out that Nicolette and Sarah host floral arrangement classes. I’m obsessed and vow to make it to one of their classes.
3. I’ve gone from having a sore throat to a really stuffy nose and crazy bouts of sneezing – perhaps an allergy, but in the meantime it’s forced me to forget about my computer and to just go to bed at reasonable times this week.
4. Speaking of Nicolette, I just purchased this book. I’m so so so excited to get it. Yes Flowers!
5. Jason sent me a link to a collection of “25 outstanding Kitty-Themed Tumblrs“ (via mashable) (yes I love him for it). I may have already wasted spent a lot of time going through them, and my favourites so far are Dream Cats and Contortion Cats!

And as for my Finds?

These blooms by Kate Scott are stunning.  There is so much goodness on that site.

Magnus Reed and his amazing 500sqm flat in Schöneberg are blowing my mind. The possibilities in that space are endless – those floors, the high ceilings, the windows! (photos by Freunde Von freunden)

Margaret Howell’s home in Suffolk is equally mesmerizing.

This cat, because he looks so damn happy just rolling around like a silly goose.

This older photo of this beautiful woman (who btw reminds me a bit of my mom!) with braided buns in her hair… Kinda makes me want to grow my hair all long and hippie-like this summer (Hippie being a positive description here folks)

This 1939 Midcentury Modern Den is all sorts of right. How modern is it now!

And finally, for those of you who are also dealing with the stress of weddings, or perhaps any other stressful thing, here is an illustrative interpretation of The First Date (from the very talented Laura Callaghan).

Have a great weekend lovelies,

xx!

1. The invites are done! Once they’ve been addressed properly and stamped, they’ll be off on their ways (Finally)
2. I have my first dress fitting tomorrow, wish me luck!
3. It’s Friday, but it’s suppose to snow. I’m definitely having a love hate thing going right now.
4. Have you watched the season premier of Mad Men? I watched it on wednesday and loved it.  Zou Bisou Bisou!
5. This tumblr has been making the rounds on twitter lately… I laugh out loud every time a new post comes up.

And my finds?

Chad Kouri and Margo Harrington have the closest thing to what my grown up apartment would look like.  (sneak peak via Design Sponge)

Love the new Spring 2012 Lookbook from Summerland.  It was photographed by Anja Verdugo and is so so lovely (as every other blogger will attest!)

I’ve been pinning flower arrangements for The Wedding like crazy. But really, when it comes down to it, I’d be happy with any arrangement that reminds me of Rachel Ruysch‘s Paintings from the Dutch Golden Age.

Rachel Ruysch [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Johanna Burke’s brooklyn live-in studio is, well, majestic. Imagine being surrounded by that much beautiful natural light every day?!  Photos and Interview from Freunde Von Freunden.

I love these two necklaces by The Vamoose

The collaboration between SUTURNO and ID02 is stellar (I’m actually quite partial to the photography/lookbook.)

And finally? Garance Doré in pink pants. what can I say? She’s wonderful.

Have a great weekend lovelies!!

xx!

{ Well hello there, happy Sunday to you my dears!  This post was obviously suppose to go up on Friday but my hosting decided to flunk out and my site was down for over 14 hours. Awesome.  I’m now looking for another hosting company, any advice/recommendations? }

This week felt a little bit, oh… I don’t know. Did it feel off to you too? The weather was gooorgeous, and I managed to get as much sunlight as possible. But, I’m still tortured 9 hours a day inside an old ugly warehouse turned office thing – there are no windows, so that’s how my days go now. I wore flats for the first time since winter hit and a coworker remarked how white my feet were. Time for more sun!

As for the delightful things this week?

1. It was 26 degrees on Wednesday and 27 degrees on Thursday. Seriously? I love it, but should we be having humidex in March??
2. I’ve had ice cream every day this week, and had cold beers and tacos at Grand Electric on Wednesday. YUM.
3. It actually smells nice out. Fresh even? I usually love the smell of earth thawing, but did it ever get cold enough for the ground to freeze?
4. I had a trench made when I lived in Shanghai, and it’s still holding up and looks just as great as the first time I wore it. I love that.
5. I picked up my wedding invites from the printers on Tuesday. They look amazing!

How about these awesome business cards from Mind Design. Love the multicolour!

I’m also loving the identity of The Good Luck Club, designed by Nicholas Christowitz

I love the idea of these dipped cooking utensils – especially in pastel shades! (via The Vault Files)  These, by Kate, are also amazing.

I was in Anthropologie on Monday while waiting for an estimate from the printers, and saw this hunk of a bag. I wanna.

These balloons by Bonbon Balloons are amazing. (via The Vault Files) 

I’m really into these green Dieppa shoes from Maryam Nassir Zadeh

and finally, a few links for you:

• The bride and her bridesmaids are so adorable in this wedding (the bride even sports a ‘do with bangs!)
• Schorle Maedchen is a blog I’m pretty smitten with.  Her photos are beautiful.
• Rachel of In Spaces Between has just posted her first video and she spoke about Priority, and knowing where and when to draw the line of how your time is spent. I feel as though sometimes I am constantly being pushed to create, to do, to be… and agreeing with Rachel, it means that I’m diluting the quality of my time spent on things and instead just getting by. I’m getting married very soon (it was 3 months on the 23rd!) so I’ve decided to spend more time on that project and a little less on my blog. This of course doesn’t mean I’ll be stopping completely, but perhaps just a few posts a week instead of daily.