my weekend in summary

this weekend was hectic and nutty, but tons of fun. what i lacked in sleep, i made up for in laughing with friends (and horrendous food).

(and PLEASE excuse the horrible horrible quality of the majority of these photos... do you think i could get my camera to work for my friend's wedding, or for any important portion of this weekend?? no. didn't think so. thanks for nothing blackberry/point and shoot camera).

motley crue kills it; KISS reminds me of why i fell in love with them; a friday night in the neighbourhood; never too early for beer and lunch on a saturday; belate birthday surprises; (i don't handle attention well); thomas and i at a makeshift birthday brunch/lunch; jamie, matty and i - together again; jamie dates = the best dates ("i'm jamie"; "and I'M jamie"); wedding favours?; the bridal and grooms party; first dance; the high school crowd - reunion; and matty wins the big prize (have i mentioned this is MY kind of a wedding??); reunion of the crowd i used to camp with every summer for years as a kid - so so fun; the couple; play-doh hilarity; when you bring your wedding to a wing place, you get attention from the owner - drew gets a chat; white wine and curly fries - wedding of class; jays game sunday afternoon; what can i say - the game was boring until the 7th inning

thursday: though i don't usually start my weekends on thursdays, this was a special occasion. a friend and i went to see the motley crue and kiss concert which was awesome and amazing... don't worry though - a full post is coming shortly. was in bed FAR too late, but totally worth it.
friday: my plan was: eat dinner alone, read books, work on my website, and go to bed UBER early..... reality: eat dinner alone (loved it - vietnamese. 'cause i can). watched mad men (because i can), and worked on my website.... for hours. and hours. and hours. anddddd didn't get into bed until 2am. i have a major problem.
saturday: woke up late (ish - though not after a late night), and got ready for a lunch with friends - and when alex arrived to pick me up, we realized we were wearing the same outfit, in differing colours. it's always nice to have friends who you are duplicates of. we drove through the nightmare traffic that was downtown toronto on saturday, and took 3 times as long (as usual) to arrive at our destination. along the way, made sure to pick up some good falafal, etc. and then arrived for a fantastic lunch (albeit a surprise birthday celebration - again), with good friends. spent a few hours catching up, eating WAY too much, drinking beer, and enjoying birthday wishes with candles ("you only get this once a year, so make it worth it!" says susan), and made plans for a creative date in the near future. then, thomas and alex and i (third wheel) hopped back in the car, and made the infuriating trek back downtown. they stopped in briefly to pick up a computer (that i've been trying to get rid of FOREVA) to take to alex's office... for cash register working! then, once they went home, i showered and prepped myself to pick up jamie at the GO train. once she arrived, we had under 45 minutes to get ready for the wedding - hair, makeup, outfit, purse packing, shoes. everything. it was a feat of epic proportions. we arrived on time, and spent the evening hanging with old friends (and family friends from long ago), eating amazing food, drinking with everyone, and watching 2 good friends tie the knot in front of all of us... their friend ceremony, to compliment the family ceremony the weekend before. once the vows (in the style of music lyrics) were complete, everyone ate more, and danced... and then we all ventured out to a wing bar where the celebration continued in the form of an all night dance party, white house wine, and curly fries. to die for. jamie and i finally headed out, and went back to my place to reminisce and rehash the night.
sunday: woke up earlier than we hoped - as both of us could have spent the day in bed - and once we had made ourselves presentable to the world, we ventured downtown - jamie to the GO station, and me to chipotle for snacks, and then back to the GO station to meet jeff, and his brother and brother's gf, for the jays game. spent the afternoon with the whole family - brothers, sister, niece, nephews, mom and dad - and watched the jays finally pull of a good win, after a horrendously uneventful first 7 innings. we then headed back to my place for a nap, and then a trip to ancaster for dinner and relaxing - for the first time all weekend.
it was a crazy weekend - one i'm still recovering from - but i can sleep when i'm dead.

hope everyone had a great one - happy monday!

to doing the unimportant

i'm really looking forward to this weekend - and not simply because this week at work (and in life) was absolutely nutty. i am going to designdesigndesign my little butt off tonight (lots of big changes coming your way SO SOON) in the hopes of crossing some major things off my todo list. then, tomorrow, a catch up with old friends over vegan lunch, and then a wedding celebration with some fantastic high school friends (including a sleepover with my co-jamie!). then, jays game, some more design work, and date night sunday.
so, without further adieu (and because it seems appropriate, based on my adventures last night) i'm going to leave you this friday with a quote from paul stanley, and gene simmons. 

'shadowed figures' from flickr

'don't listen to advice, because advice is always tainted by the person who is saying it. so, you know, what worked for me won't necessarily work for somebody else. the only thing i can say that will work is follow your intuition and follow your gut feeling.'

- paul stanley

'when you really think about it, i'm not delusional enough to think that what i do is important to life as we know it on this planet. no. but neither is what you do.'

- gene simmons

happy weekend everyone!

my soulmate in a pizza place

this is an edit from my previous posting on my fave places in my hood. and i do this only because i didn't want to divert attention from the other fabulous places that i love.... that, and, PL deserves it's own post because i spend so much time (*cough*money*cough*) there. and love it. and the people. etc. love.

my soul mate - pizzeria libretto. 

you already clearly know everything about it because i talk about it so much. but can we please further delve into it's wonder? they will take your name for a waitlist, and CALL YOU WHEN YOUR TABLE IS READY. aka. i don't have to sit or stand, blocking their entry, waiting for an hour for a table. instead, i can drink $4 beer at the lakeview! win, win, win. their pizza cooks for 90 seconds - because, well, we be busy people! - at 900 DEGREES. i'm not sure if you understand the magnitude of what i'm explaining here. that means: burny crust bits; chewy inside; bubbly cheese; wonderous beauty in pizza form. 

wait... what's that, you say? did jamie say cheese? do those photos have meat in them? but i don't understand - i thought she was vegan? psych! i am. kind of (that's a whole other blog post). since i'm vegan for political and environmental reasons, i choose to consciously eat meat and cheese sparingly (think - once a month, if that), and only if i know where it comes from, and i'm comfortable that it is produced in a sustainable, and responsible manner. enter PL - local ingredients, from local farms, who farm responsibly (you can ask more when you get there). they know what they're doing, and they're doing it right. this is how they feel about it.

still not convinced? fine. they are certified. as in, they have VPN certification that their pizza is the real thing from naples. that's the real thing, ya know? they have a pizza oven made by a 3rd generation oen maker in naples, and they use the real ingredients - to be certified legit. too legit to quit. 

the atmosphere is the most fancy casual restaurant i've ever been to. want to take a date? no prob. want to impress someone fancy? you can absolutely do that. want to have lunch in jean shorts on a sunday afternoon? sure! (but only if it's a late, after 4 lunch). this place makes you feel like a million bucks - like a celeb - without making you feel like you need to know the creme de la creme of table manners. case study. i'm not a classy gal - i like to talk loud, i burp, i eat with my hands, and i don't really own nice shoes (they're all birkenstocks, blundstones, and moccasins). taking me to restaurants is a bit awful for some people. here? i am accepted. a table full of women who like to share pizza, and talk about likely totally inappropriate things? acceptable. honestly - you'll feel good here. 

and i can't go without saying that the people who work here are phenomenal. they remember you, they are funny, and sweet, and just plain good at their jobs. they know everything about everything, and they recommend things without hesitation. case study: my friend and i wanted to know which of the 2 cheapest bottles of wine on the menu was better - our server, without hesitation, told us. and made us feel normal for being cheapskates. love him. sitting at the bar, ordering food, drinks, various things of delectable nature, and chatting with the lovely people working the bar area - what other restaurant can you go into and integrate their service staff into your evening comfortably? these people are the perfect balance of professionalism and service and easy going (ness?), and fun. 

birthday celebrations for a babe at PL (photos from nicole and erin)

just go to this place. you will not regret it. sometimes i tell people about it, and i get all worked up and worried that they'll get there, and hate it. but that's ridiculous. nevernevernever has anyone not wanted to immediately go back. (sorry 'bout that double negative) 

tell them jamie sent you. it won't mean anything, but it'll be funny.

girl in da hood

i love where i live.
i can honestly say that for one of the first times in my life - despite my feelings of not belonging anywhere, or missing something that's not yet come - i love exactly where i am.
i live in the most wonderful neighbourhood in toronto. the people are hilarious and quirky and lovely and wonderful and talented and enagaging and perplexing. the streets are lined with trees, and they have space for familes and babies to walk down them, and kids to ride bikes, and hippies to wander and have front lawn picnics late into a friday night (yes - this happens frequently on my street). the stores are all perfect - they are mom and pops, they are independantly owned. they're old or just opening. they serve a purpose or they are just trying to fit in.

and always wanting to be somewhere else, is NO GOOD for being where you are. 

i've done a city guide tour of some favourite things in the world for seattle, but what the heck? i'm the worst torontonian ever. when my friend was moving into the hood, and asked about my faves, it occurred to me i haven't written in one place about my gems in toronto.

duh. 

so here you are friends. my neighbourhood guide for my fave hood (which also happens to be MY hood... coincidence??).

i should note - this is by NO MEANS an exhaustive listing of things to do in toronto.... the city is a big one. that would be a whole other listing of things to do. this is contained to the area that i live in, and spend most of my time in. i've definitely left some of my favourite toronto things out!

i live in little portugal. dundas west. parkdale. it's amazing and wonderful and filled with the majority of my favourite places in toronto. not only do i not go east of yonge (well.... on rare occasion, and only for the very bestest people in my life), i rarely have occasion to leave my hood, because i can find most of the best in one place. why bother!? so. here's what you do when in my area of town...

things you find when walking the streets in my hood

trinity bellwoods park. little can be said other than, you can literally do ANYTHING here. i paint. and drink. and bead. and talk. and read. and listen to music. and watch people do yoga. they have concerts, and really plain hip people to just stare at. it's our central park - but way better. go.

go for walks - lots of them. you'll find the best views of the city, lovely people, good secret quiet tree lined streets, and lots of perfect graffitti and art. some of my most favourite times in my neighbourhood have been just walking - up and down dufferin, brock, ossington. out westward to roncesvalle, and down queen street. there's something so so lovely about the cross section of people who interact and live together in these cramped quarters we call duwest/parkdale/little portugal.

i love every second of it. 

 the city from here

go see music - anywhere really. all of the bars up and down queen street and dundas almost always have bands. the gladstone, the drake. red light. cadillac lounge... basically just walk. you'll find music. and it's worth it.
then food and drink. my most favourite. so i'll spend some time here. enoteca sociale. sister restaurant to PL (see below). a true roman style pasta and wine bar... with again, local ingredients. this restaurant is a dream come true. the food comes in moderately sized (read: normal) portions, and is simple, basic, but so so intricate. my recommendation for two people, for example? order either a cheese plate, or an apitizer (or 2) to start, 2 pastas, and desert and coffee. and wine - oh don't forget wine. they also have custom beer on draught (like PL). and they're so good sometimes i go just for them.

pasta.... oh sweet delicious dreamy pasta.

the service at this restaurant, is.... unspeakable. they are attentive, knowledgeable. wonderful wonderful people. i would come to this restaurant if the only thing they served here was bread, simply for the service. these people deserve accolaides coming out the wazoo. anyone who has ever worked in the service industry? go visit. you'll appreciate it to the moon.

a latte and desert after dinner....... dream world.

OMG baked goods - easy as pie to choose as fave. they have the best foccocia in the city, a ton of gluten free baking (think - cheesecake and other amazing delectable dishes - including gluten free foccocia to order!), and vegan cupcakes. though i can likely blame them for single handedly contributing to my weight gain while i was off work, they're cupcakes are my heaven. think: neon icing. yea. i know. if nothing else, go for the cupcakes. also important fun facts: their signs are wonderful chalk drawings of fabulousness (i don't know who does them, but i constantly admire them when i walk by); they have a stupendous gingerbread house contest/auction in the winter (which is SO SO rad.... check it out when it comes); when i tweet them about things (i.e. putting aside gluten free schtuff for my visiting friend), they happily oblige. they are tha best.

fave bars in the area? easy. 1. my fave bar with no name (at 1602 dundas) - name changes nightly (as does the sign!). the bartenders are the best in the city, the place is not stuffy, but comfortable. and they have chips. i can eat CHIPS at this bar! 

1602 - and lovely elliot tending bar; elliott's wonderful chalk name signs (this one, inspired by us!)

2. lakeview - my go to for PL (see below) wait time. they have tons of good beer on tap (and a $4 beer special EVERY night - usually with 3 different beer every day!). they are open 24/7 (i'm a night owl), and they serve good food. tons of poutines. it's perfection. 3. reposado tequila bar. guys - they have blood orange margaritas, and a bajillion types of straight up tequila. once, for a friends birthday 5 of us went in and (because we're SUUUUUPER classy), asked for a shot that would taste better than puke, but didn't cost $15. they delivered. they are charming, lovely, and the space is so dark and mysterious. good date place. they have a secret back patio. in summation and i love it. 4. cocktail bar. for maximum fun, and for just plain good cocktails, made by people who know what they're doing (but aren't pretentious dicks about it). 

5. the rhino. i love because of a) they're HA-UGE patio, b) their amazing beer selection (and prices!), c) it's easy to be at (so relaxing, and not uppity, or too trendy/hipstery... essentially, even i feel moderately cool there), d) the huge rhino head. need i say more? then, in no particular order: the crooked star (great beer on tap, super relaxed and easy going); the grove (a VERY new find, and already one of my top faves - nicest owner i've met in a while, and a beautiful space. GREAT cocktails), churchill (funky, quiet, perfect for an unassuming, good drink), 

gin lemonade at the grove

and i save the best for last. because. well. a) it's my blog (deal with it), and b) it's my fave. not in my neighbourhood - in the whole city. people from LA know of this mythical place, and have been there purely because i rave about it. i would spend every day/night there if i could.... and i have standing dates with people who don't even bother asking where we're going anymore, because they know it'll be here. my soul mate - pizzeria libretto. 

i can't say enough good things about this place - so i tried to say as many as i could think of (but here... in its own entry).

it's amazing and wonderful - a dining experience you WILL NOT regret or forget about. but please - for your first time, don't just do lunch, and don't do time limit. go in, take your time, drink some wine (or prossecco, because.... uh.... it's amazing?), eat pizza and appetizers, and enjoy the company of the service staff. they are wonderful. it's a great place, with a great atmosphere. spend some time and really take it in. it'll be worth it. and if you want more (which you obvs do), here's more about my fave here.

ok.... moving on. just because i haven't said much about them, doesn't mean i don't love them... so don't forget to stop in/check out the brazilian bakery (for tarts, and lovely baked bread); multiple organics organic grocery shop - cause duh. they fed me when i was off work for 8 months; the henhouse, because even though you have to guess when they will be open, they make AMAZING food, have pretty cheap beer, good brunch, and they're just plain lovely to hang with; the common for coffee - amazing baristas, beautiful space, and they have WINE AND CHEESE AT NIGHT; birthia, for super awesome, unique, pieces of jewelry, clothing, accessories (bags, etc.) by local artists (and me!); 

re:claim jewelry on display at birthia

so if you're visiting, living here, wandering around the city... visit me. visit us. we're awesome. and you won't regret it.

we're a little rough around the edges, but we're friendly and we like new people!

colour boards - colour of the sea

i love aqua, green, blue - any shade of all of them... i love the way they look against a persons skin, against a wall, against the clouds and the sand. it reminds me of water, the sky, and so much of nature that i can't help but be drawn to it...

and a colour (a NATURALLY occurring colour, nevertheless) that can be found in so many shades? perfect.

pinterest colour board: aqua and blues

public restroom by erin leydon