I was not blessed with naturally beautiful hair. Instead I inherited a coif that is more Sideshow Bob than supermodel, so I rely on the aid of hats and messy buns to get me through the day.
If this stunning chain-embellished fedora by Erik Javits, wasn't so darn pricey I would snap it up as a solution for my bad hair days (aka everyday). I love the hit of glamorous gold and the polished silhouette of the brim.
You’ve probably spotted the signature black and white checks at your nearest Neiman’s, and some of you may have been lucky enough to make it to a freestanding store, but for those of you new to MacKenzie-Child’s, it’s worth a visit to their website to explore the hundreds of handmade goods boasting feminine and whimsical designs.
Clearly not for everyone’s tastes, M-C’s fans are often diehards who make pilgrimages to their headquarters in Aurora, NY to watch the artisans in action (hi 2D!), but one of the most popular and enduring patterns most people can agree on no matter their tastes is the classic black and white courtly check. Being a black, white and gold person, I am all over it!
Here are some of my favourites:
Courtly Check Enamel Tea Kettle
Courtly Check Three Tier Sweet Stand
I swear sometimes I have the culinary tastes of a 60 year old woman. Most of my peers would cringe at the very notion of duck hash, yet as soon as I saw Daniel Boulud’s recipe in the new ELLE Decor, I conspired with my mother to try it out within the week.
Ever the sport and putting her professional culinary training to good use, my mother cooked up 2 individual servings in her adorable All-Clad’s. They not only looked divine, but they tasted delicious as well. A scheduling error on my part meant we didn’t sit down to eat it until well after 11p.m. but that just added to the bizarre element of our odd meal and made it all the more amusing.
I probably wouldn’t rush to make this meal again, but for a fancy shmancy brunch it definitely would fit the bill! Thanks mom!
When I worked in the burbs I had more chances to scope out big-box decor chains, but now that I’m employed in the heart of the city, I don’t make it out to those locales too often. While making a requisite stop at Michael’s for an assignment I decided to pop my head in to Pier 1 next door, and was totally drawn to this feminine area rug at the back of the store:
Resembling a contemporary design I’d likely find at a high-end boutique downtown, I have totally developed a crush on this red rose tufted wool rug. The 6 x 9 design only costs $749 CAD and although it’s not cheap - it is a good price for a floor covering with such vibrancy and dimension.
I also was tempted by these super cute frames in high gloss purple and clear resin:
Priced between $18-22 CAD, they are mod interpretations of classical forms and would look lovely as part of a vignette on a super traditional console.
Fall is here, which means my favourite tree in my neighbourhood has almost completely changed its leaves from the usual green to a vibrant reddish-orange hue.
As the green fades, so does the chance to wear open-toe shoes and the general presence of sunshine (yuck!), but it does bring on hat season (yay!), the chance to don leather jackets and boots and opportunities to walk Leya around the neighbourhood so she can crunch the fallen leaves.
One nearby tree has even sprouted apples, although they look fairly diseased as opposed to bright and juicy Chudleigh’s
These blustery days also mean Halloween is fast approaching. I’m currently taking orders for my homemade decorated sugar cookies so if you’re in Toronto and would like some delicious fall-themed treats, please e-mail me for more details!
