Gone for a Week...

I'm off to Halifax, Nova Scotia with the boy for a week. I hope you enjoy the first few days of July and I'll be back next Tuesday!!!

IT'S MINE!!!

I've been calling myself "crankypants" as the reno creeps under my skin and wears down my patience and usual good nature. Last week when the shelves fell out of the wall I officially lost it -- my poor mother relived shades of my legendary toddler fits of the late 1980s, but this time with expletives

Friday afternoon made that all disappear, however, as when I went up to my room dreading the mess of boxes and plaster I saw this beauty tucked into my desk:

I lost it again, but this time in a good way, as I've continually lusted after this chair and now I finally have one to call my own!!I'm not sure where I'll place it but for now I'm using it at my desk.

Isn't it positively lovely?

Happy Canada Day!

Snuggle up in your Hudson's Bay blanket, put on some Neil Young, roast some marshmallows at a campfire by the lake and enjoy some fresh northern air -- happy long weekend my fellow Canucks!

PS- check out my playlist in the sidebar for an all-Canadian musical selection!

Weekend Cocktail #11: Spiked Lemonade

This long weekend for Canada Day I am going to go for lazy simplicity.

Rather than throw out exotic juices and obscure liqueurs, I'm going to make this easy for you:

vodka + lemonade = always delicious

Mix up your favourite lemonade in a pitcher (whether that means squeezing the juice yourself or pouring a jar of snapple, I won't judge you), dump in vodka, lemon wheels and a little mint if you're feeling fancy and pour. Done.

(photo via LCBO)

Rainbow Brite

In honour of gay pride week, here is a rainbow of rooms:

(photos via everywhere, including teen vogue, wshome, domino, desire to inspire, style at home, apartment therapy, in style, monasette etc.)

Feeling Sentimental

Who knew when I started this blog out of boredom in the office that it would still be going strong months later...

Thanks to all my readers who give me such positive feedback and I hope you stick around for 200 more posts!

Rawr

The fucking shelves that the workmen finally reinstalled in my room since the rewiring two months ago have just fallen out of the old plaster wall.

I am nearing my breaking point...

Turned Out

I have no clue where I found this shot, but this room is tuuuurned out! It has not 1, not 2 but 3 unexpected elements that I die for:

1. the pink headboard with greek key design in contrasting hue with a matching window treatment
2. an array of out-there decorative pillows (you can tell from my room that I have a thing for them)
3. the black patent love seat...I can't really say much except FIERCE

The elements could seem overwhelming to some but it's okay, because it's got it like that!

Hervé Léger, Or The Dress That Never Was

When hitting a super upscale clothing boutique, I immediately prepare myself to deal with slim pickings. Most of the clientele resemble the pin-thin models donning the couture they're looking to purchase for themselves -- and I definitely am not of the wire hanger variety.

But last weekend when I paid my first visit to Hazel, the latest luxury boutique to open in Toronto, I was skimming the sale rack when a cream Hervé Léger dress caught my eye and a lightbulb went off in my head.

For those not in the fashion know, Hervé Léger was a fashion icon in the '80s. He pioneered the skin-tight bandage dresses that were all the rage and oh so Blade Runner. The label was relaunched in 2007 with BCBG designer Max Azria at the helm. His designs are a modern interpretation of Léger's simple yet sexy creations, and are already a hit with young starlets, such as Ri-Ri and Mandy.

In bright colours the dresses are look at me loud, but in basic black, they are killer LBD's suiting to a variety of occasions. The elastic material hugs your curves, pushing in and propping up in all the right places. It's like the outerwear version of spanx - genius much?

So back to my epiphany... when I picked up the cream Léger it occurred to me that skin tight body hugging lycra doesn't look so good on the straight and narrow - you need curves to pull off the skin tight silhouette and make it sing (as Rose McGowan demonstrates so well below in a sea of washboards)

I tried on a stunning number that featured an unexpected halter strap (see left but in basic black). It went very low in the back but was still classy and would be perfect for some upcoming parties.

Apparently it wasn't meant to be though because 3 days of specialty bra shopping didn't result in any do-able undergarment solutions (going bra-less is not an option!)

I've been in mourning for my fashion loss ever since.

I know there will be others and I'll be keeping my eye out for other Léger creations to contemplate, but i'm still pissed it didn't work out...

(Hazel photo via Ian Milne)

Smitten With Potato Salad

I love potatoes -- you can prepare them in so many different ways and each one is more delicious than the next. Inspired by a recipe I saw on smitten kitchen (which I'm obsessed with), I made a delectable potato salad last night that is perfect to serve at a BBQ or summer potluck. With crisp bacon, fresh herbs and a tangy mustard dressing, it's tough to not ask for seconds.

Potato Salad with Bacon and Sherry-Mustard Vinaigrette

• 1 carton new potatoes
• 3 1/4-inch-thick slices smoked bacon, diced
• 2 small shallots, thinly sliced
• 2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled, chopped
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoon Sherry wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Fine sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

1. Wash potatoes and cut into halves.
2. Fill large saucepan with water and add halved potatoes and a few pinches of kosher salt.
3. Boil potatoes until tender (a fork should pierce the skin easily - approx 20 mins)
4. While potatoes cook, sauté diced bacon in a frying pan until crisp. Drain on a paper towel.
5. Once potatoes are ready, drain and run under cold water to cool.
6. Combine mustard and vinegar in a small bowl. Whisk in oil, sea salt and pepper to make the vinaigrette.
7. Toss warm potatoes, diced bacon, chopped egg, chopped shallots, chopped green onions, chopped parsley and vinaigrette.
8. Serve at room temperature.
9. Eat with no abandon.

Toronto Vintage Hunt: Old Times Antiques

If the taxidermy goose doesn't get you than the hodge podge of random china and chandeleirs will draw you into Old Times Antiques. Located at Queen and Portland, Old Times is jam packed with odds and ends. On a strip offering mostly modern designs for the young hipster crowd, this store sticks out for its weathered random offerings.

Like most estate/antique stores, some items are striking enough to call out for a wandering decor freak to purchase them and give them a home, while others remain other people's junk no matter which way you look at them.

The lovely array of tea cups and saucers caught my eye, but my personal favourite  is the black globe ($95)

The 'grow with love' pillow was majorly hippie dippy yet strangely endearing and I enjoyed the scalloped wore chair it sat on as well (the hideous blankets not so much)

I have to say the array of lighting fixtures offered was thoroughly delightful of not totally bizarre. I loved the red glass chandelier, but sadly it was missing one of the funny looking bulbs.

If you look beyond the scary dead birds, you can see the mini spoon and fork placecard holders. So juvenile but charming!

To check out these wacky yet potentially wonderful treasures yourself, head over to Old Times Antiques at 607B Queen St West.

Welcome to the Bunker

So as I've mentioned before, my house is going through a major reno. Thankfully I have my room back and my own bed to sleep in, but the worst has hit us now with the complete demolition of our beloved kitchen.

What was once this:

a place of many infamous predrinks, birthdays, family dinners, spontaneous shenanigans and permanent grazing  is now this:

 

So what is a Jewish family to do when you remove the centre of the universe - the kitchen - from the home?   Why, make up a new one of course!

Enter the bunker: our laundry room/makeshift kitchen in the basement that resembles a mildewed bomb shelter.

The barred window above the sink really lends the room a welcoming ambiance, as does the wire hanger booby trap keeping the freezer door shut.

Hats off to my mom who crammed our essentials into the tiny room that will feed my parentals, myself and the animals for 3 painful months. She organized it so everything we need has a place and will tide us over until September when our brand new fancy kitchen will make its debut.

Although we all agree that killing ourselves did enter our minds, we're making do.  We have an oven, a microwave and a toaster, but I can tell you that it feels weird washing tomatoes in a laundry tub and boiling pasta next to the dryer.

Most of all I hate that I can't really entertain unless the weather cooperates, which it totally isn't (rude!), plus baking is fairly impossible, slash way too much of a hassle. Despite the shitty circumstances, I'm trying to suck it up and embrace the bunker --much like my mom who sits contently eating a lola while watching the food network at our new teensy IKEA dining table.

I know it's a means to an end but I really just wish it would end now....