Monday, May 12, 2014

Toronto Day 2

My second day in Toronto started off lazily. 

Heather and I slept in, made some breakky, and dilly dallied around her apartment while we got ready to start our day. 

All dressed and ready to go, we hit up Bloor Street W for some serious shappin'. I picked up two pairs of legging jeans that I am seriously OBSESSED with I want them in every colour!!! I'm not even just saying this, I literally hate wearing jeans they are neither comfy nor flattering and rarely fit my body, but these babies are magical!! If you're smaller at the waist and have a voluptuous bottom-half like myself, give them a try, they definitely surprised me!  

A few hours later, feeling tired and famished, we were in need of some re-fueling. So we did what any reasonable human being would do, we brunched! 




We went to Wish, one of Heather's favourite spots in Toronto. I've seen it on her Instagram a few times now and have been dying to go. 

Wish on Urbanspoon

Before even going inside, I had already fallen in love. LOOK. AT. THESE. WELLIES. They were lined up out front. How could you not fall in love???!!! 





God these booties are just so adorable I can't even stand it!!!!! 

But that wasn't the end of it. 

We slowly made our way inside through a couple of creaky, swinging doors, and what I saw next left me in complete awe. 






Guys, I've finally come home. 

I think this must be what heaven looks like.  

The decor inside Wish completely BLEW MY MIND!!! I don't think I've ever seen anything so perfect!!!! It was so shabby chic and rustic: clear trendy chairs paired with worn wooden tables, white everywhere with soft pastel hues, pillows galore and antique glass dangling from the ceiling. 

Wish restaurant is my spirit animal. 



We started off with some bubbles (boozy brunches are the best brunches!). 




Then ordered our mains. 

Heather got the arugula salad, and I the PLT (like a BLT, but with peameal bacon instead!). 



Everything was absolutely delicious.

We went in with the intention of having a "light" meal, but I ended up cleaning my plate!  

Service was a little slow, but I didn't mind! I was too busy basking in the glory of my surroundings. I can't wait to have a home/cottage/office/bathroom/life that looks like this one day.

Next, Heather was up to go grab some dessert. 

I, was not. 

"Heather, I caaaaan't. There's no more room...." 

After a little convincing, she talked me into it. After all, I AIN'T NO QUITTER! 

She took me to The Red Bench, a frozen yogurt and cookie bar.  

Red Bench on Urbanspoon


There's a real red bench outside and everything!




The Red Bench is a neat little place, where your cookies are custom baked right on the spot! Just pick your dough and two mixin's, and a few minutes later your cookies appear fresh from the oven! 

Let us all take a moment to imagine how delicious this little nook smells.... perfection. As soon as you walk in, the aroma of freshly baked cookies wafts in the air. Thankfully, this heavenly fragrance was enough to snap me out of my brunch coma and I was able to get my head back in the game. 

I ordered peanut butter cookies, with m&ms and toffee bits. 

The kind sir behind the counter mixed them all up.


Popped them in the oven. 


And shortly thereafter my cookies arrived piping hot in a brown paper bag! 




I'm glad Heather talked me into this one. 

We spent the rest of the afternoon shopping around downtown (we both picked up matching converse sneakers, hehe) and by the time we got home it was time to get ready for our dinner reservation. 

Our dinner destination was Weslodge, a "casually refined saloon".... hmmmm....  

Weslodge on Urbanspoon



The lighting inside wasn't great for photos (we ate in darkness) but the decor was very interesting! Weird portraits of medieval women holding pet ferrets and taxidermic animals dawned the walls.... creepy-cool. The crowd was young and buzzing, something I miss living in Ottawa! As weird as a "casually refined saloon" sounds, I can't think of another way to describe Weslodge!    






For a main we both ordered the orange cider braised short rib. Despite being a relatively small serving, the meat fell right off the bone and melted in your mouth. We both found that there wasn't at all a hint of orange, which we kind of expected, but it didn't really matter. We were pleased!


We finished the night with wine and dessert at another restaurant we accidentally discovered along the way (the giant wall of wine at Cibo Wine Bar lured us in like a coupla moths to a flame!), and then finally made our way home laughing and happy. 

What a great day of shopping and food. 

I love Toronto! 



Monday, May 5, 2014

Toronto Day One

It was a Steak and French Fries weekend!!!!!!!!! 

Last weekend, I headed on over to Toronto for a girls weekend with Heather. We didn't have anything planned, (or so I thought.......)just a weekend of catching up, eating, and shopping. We stick to what we're good at ;) 

Immediately upon my arrival, Heather asked me the age-old question: are you hungry? 

I replied "no, not really", and then we took a nap. 

......................................

JUST KIDDING! This happened:



LOOK. AT. THAT. SPREAD. 



In my opinion, a TRUE friend gives you snacks when you pop by for a visit.  

Heather had cut up veggies, lunch meat, and Kali Spera Feta Dip all prepped and ready to go, with a bottle of chilled Niagara Riesling to wash it all down. 

If that's not a true friend, then I don't know what is. 


 

We dug right in and chatted away. I opened my belated birthday presents (an art set and 3 beautiful mercury glass bud vases!), while we got caught up and I settled in for the weekend. I haven't seen Heather in months, but every time we get together it feels like she lives right around the corner.

Before we knew it, hours had gone by, and it was time to get ready for dinner! 

But that wasn't all. Little did I know Heather had planned a surprise (I LOVE SURPRISES!!!!!!!!). 

We were doing a painting workshop at Paintlounge!!!!!!!!! HOW EXCITING IS THAT????????!!!! 

I was real excited. 

But more on that later. 

First, dinner, at Prohibition Gastrohouse in Leslieville. 
PROHIBITION gastrohouse on Urbanspoon







The waitress literally presented us with a BUCKET of hot sauces to go along with our oysters.  
It was great! 

We had an early-ish dinner which happened to be during "Hooch Hour". It's from 4-7 and 10-midnight every day so our drinks were a bit cheaper. 

Considering how early we were there, the place was pretty full and booming with loud conversation. 

I ordered a couple of Sloppy Joe Tacos and washed it all down with a pint of Cracked Canoe. 







Sloppy those tacos were indeed. 



Happy bellies, happy ladies! 

And then we were off. To the Paintlounge!!! 


Paintlounge is all about the fun, social painting process.

Art shouldn't be boring!! You shouldn't have to whisper in a stiff, snobby art gallery and tip-toe around! It should be relaxed and interactive. It should be fun like how art class used to be in elementary school. Do you remember your eyes lighting up and your imagination running wild at the sight of freshly laid-out craft supplies? I want that feeling back. 

Paintlounge has captured it for me. 

You choose the level of difficulty (easy/moderate/challenge, but all levels are apparently catered to beginners)and they basically do the rest. They supply all of the materials, and the instructor walks you through what you will be painting (we did cherry blossoms) step-by-step. They'll even make you a drink! (Non-alcoholic options only however... something they should look into. I can only imagine how next-level my painting could have been, had I had a glass of sauvignon blanc in hand haha.) 













I can't even tell you how much fun I had. 

Sometimes, ya just gotta let dem creative juices get ta flowing! 

It's good for the soul. 

I am BY NO MEANS an experienced painter, yet SO PLEASED with my final masterpiece. Check it! 




We all painted the same thing with the same instruction, but everyone's piece turned out slightly different. It was neat.

One especially enthusiastic older gentleman went HOG WILD with the blossoms. It was a blossom EXPLOSION on his canvas. Too sweet. 

Here are mine and Heather's canvases side-by-side. 

I cannot wait to hang my bébé up on the wall back home!!