spring has sprung

Or currently springing, because it’s not fully here yet.

As a self-confessed winter lover, I will miss the snow and the sub-zero temperatures (I know, I know, this is not a popular opinion), and even wearing my parka.

Soïa & Kyo Delphie parka // glove.ly classic winter touchscreen gloves // Club Monaco tuque (a steal, marked down to $15 from $80) // Sorel kids boots

I have to retire my hot pink boots now because they’ve cracked and are no longer waterproof. I like the pop of colour on my feet (I was actually chased down at work once by a woman who wanted to know where I got them, and I had to admit that I have children’s-sized feet), so I’d like to find something similar to replace them, but it might be time to get adult boots.

I really will miss wearing my parka. Definitely a purchase I don’t regret; it’s like wearing a cozy sleeping bag outside. My sister calls it a sleeping bag with a waist. Nothing wrong with that!

Like Lorelai Gilmore, I think snow is magical and I think everything is prettier in the snow on it. The above two pictures were taken at Alexander Muir Gardens in north Toronto, one of my favourite spots in Toronto. It is pretty in spring and summer too, but I like it best covered with a blanket of snow.

Last week a friend and I made a short road trip up to Ottawa (my hometown), where we froze our asses off (the hotel room was so cold—couldn’t figure out how to turn up the heat or it was just so cold it was doing nothing—I had to put my parka over my legs to stay warm), but it was still so so pretty.

Back in Toronto, I caught Lake Ontario before all the snow melted.

It’s going to be 17C (63F) tomorrow, so all the snow will be gone and it’s be grey/brown/depressing until it starts to get green. This is possibly my least favourite part of the year. But it does open up new coat possibilities.

Soïa & Kyo jacket // Kit & Ace modal/cashmere scarf // glove.ly gloves // Kit & Ace Evans long-sleeve tee // lululemon wunder under leggings // eric michael motorcycle boots

I just realized that I’ve owned this jacket for almost nine years now. It was nine years this month that I moved to Toronto, and bought my first Soïa & Kyo coat at Girl Friday (now closed, sadly) on Queen St West, starting my love affair with S&K that’s lasted since then. Can’t believe I’ve lived in Toronto for nine years. It’s not very original to say, but time flies!

Leap year!

Well, I haven’t been so great at “making it happen” as per my last post, but the year is still young (even if more than 10% over). Unbridled optimism ahead!

Since it’s an extra day in the year for us to do what we want, why waste it on working? Instead, my friend and I decided to go to Toronto Zoo. Despite living in Toronto for 9 years, I’ve never been. Check that off as of today.

We saw the one panda hanging out eating bamboo:

Tiger:

Giraffes (hanging out inside, because it’s too cold for them to be outside):

Reindeer (who would have looked better in the snow, but that’s not coming until tomorrow):

I put my foot (in a Puma running shoe) in a big paw:

But the highlight was definitely Juno, the polar bear cub, who was completely adorable:

Hope everyone had as cute a Leap Day as I did!

Backlog

Aww, shucks. People still read my blog. I’m thrilled! Thank you.

I seem to be dressing a bit more casual lately, hence the cartoon dog T-shirts (I’ve also been wearing slogan tees as well, that’ll be coming up shortly), but I did take some photos of better outfits over the summer, so here are a few to catch up.

Anthopologie dress // J.Crew featherweight cotton cardigan // J.Crew necklace // Tory Burch Reva flats

Anthropologie dress // J.Crew Factory Clare Cardigan // Gap ballet flats

J.Crew watercolour Carrie cami // J.Crew Factory Clare cardigan // Gap knit skirt // J.Crew Cece ballet flats

Supermodel hair, before I cut a few inches off (achieved by taking my hair out of a bun)

I also have a huge backlog of scenic/skyline/from my balcony photos, so here are my favourites.

Lake Ontario back in March:

Coming home on Porter Airlines:

A summer storm rolling in:

Nathan Phillips Square:

Hello September…I mean goodbye September

I took an unplanned break for a couple of weeks there (I guess almost four now), work has been insane and in my spare time I’ve been trying to feel better. I have been sick/not feeling well for the good part of a month, the latest is some stomach problems (stomach hurts, but I’m still hungry so I eat, then my stomach hurts some more). I’m sure it’s stress-induced, so either I have to become more zen or just kill everyone who’s pissing me off (kidding! I’m not homicidal!).

But other than that, September hasn’t been so bad. We’ve had some lovely late-summer weather, but try telling that to the girls I’ve seen wearing wool coats, hats, scarves, and Uggs in 25C/75F weather. Just because the calendar says it’s fall doesn’t mean it actually feel like it out there.

So I’ve been enjoying some summer favourites before I pack them up until next year.

Gap Body tank // J.Crew lightweight cotton cardigan // Gap rugby stripe maxi // J.Crew flip flops

September just flew by, but October promises to be interesting. On the con side, Will is gone for most of it, on an epic trip to Delhi, Nepal (including a Himalayan trek up Gokyo Ri, he decided against Everest base camp because it’s too touristy), and Hong Kong, so I’ll be on my own for most of the month. On the pro side, I’ll be on my own for most of the month and I get to hog the bed. Also, I’m going to Boston to visit my sister, her husband, and their new puppy, and the four of us will drive to New York City for a weekend. I managed to get a reservation for the whole rotisserie duck at Momofuku ssäm bar (puppy not invited, but maybe we’ll bring him some leftovers). It’ll be an epic eating weekend (as it usually is when I get together with my sister and brother-in-law), so I hope my stomach behaves itself by then.

Also coming up in October: pants. Say what?

To make up for the blurry bathroom mirror pic, here are some old pics from my trip to Chicago in April, that Will took and he finally downloaded off his fancy schmancy camera.

J.Crew tissue tee (looking a little sheer under my left arm, I ditched this top soon after this trip) // Club Monaco scarf // lululemon wunder under leggings // Adidas kicks // trying to hide the massive stomach I acquired from Frontera Grill

And some gorgeous early morning sunrise pics taken from the roof of my building.

What I’ve been eating lately

I cope with stress with food. The more stress, the more food, and not necessarily the healthiest of food either (does anyone ever binge eat salad? If so, please let me know). Judging by the photos on my phone in the past little while, it's been a stressful month. But also a delicious one.

I keep saying this lately, I know I'll have to rein it in soon. If not for vanity (my clothes are tiiiiight), for my health; all this wheat and dairy and sugar is not good for me. When that happens, I can look at these pictures and live vicariously through former me. Or they'll make me fall off the wagon, either way.

(This is also a bit of a recommendation on where to eat in Toronto, with the exception of one Ottawa place. I recommend all these places.)

Wvrst sausage and beer hall is still one of our go-to places:

I like the chorizo sausage with peppers and sauerkraut.

Dessert is usually ice cream, like the gelato at Hollywood Gelato (my usual is key lime pie and Skor):

Golden Turtle has been another of our go-to places since we moved to Toronto, Will and I go there for lunch at least once every few months.

I get the beef ball and throw in tons of Thai basil. No beansprouts, Sriracha on the side to dip into.

Ossington St has changed a lot since we started going to Golden Turtle, now 200% more hipster with craft breweries and new restaurants, including Bang Bang Ice Cream and Bakery (an offshoot of Bakerbots, which got a mention on Buzzfeed's 25 Bakeries Around The World You Have To See Before You Die):

I got the everything cookie with burnt toffee ice cream. It was good, but I don’t know if it was worthy of the list of 25 bakeries you should go to before you die.

This dog didn’t care though, she just wanted me to share with her:

When I travel, I always need to know where the good places to eat are. I recently travelled to Ottawa on business, where I popped into my favourite Vietnamese restaurant to have the wonton soup (which is really more Chinese):

When I got back to Toronto, I attempted to be healthier with this green juice from Greenhouse Juice Co (my go-to for fresh cold-pressed juice):

But after that, I went back to my old habits.

For lunch before going to a Blue Jays game, Will and I tried Lucky Red, a new bao shop in Chinatown.

It’s Chinatown going more hipster/trendy/upscale, which I have mixed feelings about. But the food is pretty good.

The housemade yuzu lemonade is delicious.

The decor was a little freaky.

My reaction to the baked baos was a little “meh” (the steamed baos were better), but I really liked the lo mien.

Smoked meat with ballpark mustard, which is fine but you can get a better smoked meat sandwich elsewhere.

BBQ chicken, essentially a mini burger with a few Asian elements.

Rice balls and pork belly lo mien. I really liked the lo mien, the rice balls were like Asian arancini.

Work has been a major part of my stress, so this week I needed a lunchtime pick-me-up in the form of Purdy’s salty caramel truffle ice cream with dark chocolate sauce.

Going back to Chinatown, I tried the traditional banh mi sandwiches from Nguyen Huong (owned by the parents of the three brothers who opened Banh Mi Boys and Lucky Red). More traditional, cheap, and delicious.

On the other end of the city, I go to Moo Milk Bar for cookies and milk and ice cream sandwiches.

Cookies and Cream cookie with vanilla ice cream. I only had a half sandwich (one cookie), because I’m not that disgusting.

I also like going out to Moo Milk Bar because I can hang out on Lake Ontario for a bit.

Finally, Will and I had our 15th anniversary lunch yesterday at Playa Cabana. We have high standards for Mexican after eating at Rick Bayless’s restaurants in Chicago; happy to report that this place (while expensive) did come close (but just not quite).

Ancho-braised short rib brisket crispy tacos.

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Well, this was an embarrassment of riches this month and I definitely need to cut back. (After Will’s birthday dinner where we’ll probably end up going for pizza again.) When I do my monthly wrap-up at the end of August, I hope to not have this many food photos and to be back on the right track.