Pretend Outfits

April 16, 2013November 11, 2014Leave a comment

The weather is…warm?! Rainy, but relatively warm, and this got my brain dreaming up outfits that were jacket-less and sweater-less and ignorant of the reality that is my wallet. I go through phases of obsessing over certain types of clothing (sleepwear!!!), and right now I’m obsessing over items to go on me noggin (no, not you beret, goodbye, I don’t want to see you again for a long time!). Having long hair makes wearing things on your head fun! When I had short hair, everything felt overwhelming on my skull, but no more!

1. Free People vintage printed kaftan dress…2. 1940’s velvet bow headband…3. vintage pendant…4. J. Crew farmer’s market tote…5. Madewell buckle sandal

1. Rachel Antonoff mccormick blouse…2. vintage rose hair comb…3. Karen Walker sunglasses…4. Madewell transport tote…5. Orla Kiely skirt…6. Mod Cloth wedges

1. Samantha Pleet artisan tunic…2. vintage straw hat…3. Karen Walker sunglasses…4. Madewell hole punch sandals

Posted by Alex

Allan Gardens Conservatory

April 14, 2013November 11, 2014Leave a comment

This endless Winter is starting to feel like a cruel joke to most of us, and Alex and I (and Lindsay) spent Saturday afternoon faking Spring the only way we know how – Allan Gardens Conservatory. Wandering around coveting all the succulents, and being surrounded by green did a lot to improve our moods.

Lindsay and I spent most of the weekend together, baking snickerdoodles, cooking quinoa dishes, going to really intense Pilates classes, browsing the Junction Flea and hiking with our dogs. By Sunday evening it was hard for me to feel anything but perfectly content with the weekend.

Now it’s back to the old day job. Last week’s listings will be up late tonight. Sorry for all the tardiness.

Hope everyone had equally cheerful weekends !

Lavender and Honey Cupcakes

April 10, 2013November 11, 20142 Comments

As I had mentioned in my previous post, I baked cupcakes for Matt’s birthday, and thought it would be nice to share them with you guys! I have the most amazing cupcake recipe book – 500 Cupcakes by Fergal Connolly, that was gifted to me from Taylor on my birthday a few years back. If I am ever at a loss for what fun cupcakes I could bake, this is my go-to. It has everything – plain ol’ cupcakes, fancy cupcakes, holiday cupcakes, savoury muffins…I could go on. This time I opted to make lavender and honey cupcakes. Sounds delicious, right?!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

For cupcakes:
1 cup (1 stick) sweet butter, softened – i used salted…woops! I blame No Frills, the name is no joke.
1 cup superfine sugar
2 cups self-rising flour
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract.

For frosting:
1 cup cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar, sifted
1/3 cup honey
blue food coloring
2 tbsp dried lavender flowers – you can get these at an herb and spice shop, or sometimes heath food/herbalist stores will have them.

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C), and place your cupcake papers (I used fun polka dot ones) in your cupcake tray (why thank you Alex, a totally new concept to cupcake baking) . This recipe makes about 1 1/2 dozen cupcakes.

For the cupcakes, with an electric mixer (if you have one), beat together in a large bowl the butter, sugar, flour, eggs and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth and pale. To be honest, I didn’t love the actual cake part of my cupcakes. It wasn’t very sweet, and I’m not totally sold on self-rising flour. Next time I would probably opt for a little more vanilla extract, sugar and maybe just regular old flour, salt and baking powder. Once your batter is ready, pour into your tray and bake for 20 mins. After they are done, leave them on a cooling rack or whatever you have that acts as a cooling rack.

For the frosting, beat confectioner’s sugar and cream cheese in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until light and creamy. Beat in honey and a few drops of blue food coloring and stir in half of your yummy smelling dried lavender flowers.

Once your frosting is all delicious looking, spread the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes and sprinkle them with the remainder of the lavender flowers, if you want, no pressure.

These cupcakes can be stored without frosting in an air tight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

And voila, you have created a lovely looking and delicious cupcake!

Posted by Alex

Desert Warrior

April 9, 2013November 11, 2014Leave a comment

Well, this does it – if I don’t make it to some desert somewhere in the next year or two, I’ll roll over and cry or something (Kira – Palm Springs bachelorette, seriously). This lookbook from Portland based, Yo Vintage (which I stumbled upon while perusing Refinery29 the other day) has me feeling serious lookbook envy. Not to mention how good all the whites and pastels are in this collection. Oh Oregon, I will visit you one day, and be inspired by all the awesome people and things that seem to come out of you!

Posted by Meaghan

Plaid, Polka Dot, Sunglasses and Flowers

April 8, 2013November 11, 20141 Comment

Could Spring actually be here? Sunday really did make us hopeful! The sun was shining and I actually felt over dressed when Meg and I took a stroll over to the corner store by our home. I quickly shed my scarf and even felt warm enough to take off my coat. Things are looking up!

It was Matt’s birthday this weekend. Unfortunately he had to work the majority of the day, so I snuck up to his place to leave some gifts, cupcakes(which ended top down on the floor and in Gus’ belly after he got his greedy little paws on them) and balloons for him. After setting up my sneaky surprise I headed over to the Salvation Army right across the street. I did a little thrifting for the shop, found some pretty awesome items to hang on my walls, and of course I could not stop myself from buying yet another vintage robe/nightie. At this point I am buying more sleepwear than actual day clothes, but I am okay with this, it’s nice to feel lovely even while lying on the couch watching Skins and being pretty much not a human.

Matt finished work a bit earlier than we expected, so I was able to take him out for a late dinner at Big Ragu, a nice little Italian restaurant at Lansdowne and St. Clair. We each ordered a pasta, although I kept snagging bites of his because it was so much better than mine! Matt and I tend to order the same meal any time we go out somewhere (which embarrasses me you guys!!), and I could not let it happen this time around…it was a mistake.