Miu Miu Love

Looking for a Christmas gift for the stylish lady in your life? (Or a gift for yourself, you stylish lady you?) Loving the always ladylike Miu Miu's offerings. Fashion fades, but style is forever! Currently in Calgary and about to jump a plane to Vancouver. Have a good morning while I have a good flight.

Miu Mou Clay Grey Top Handle

Miu Miu Grey Hobo

Miu Miu Two-Tone Patent Leather Pump

New Shoes

My new J Crew flats. Love them! (Super comfy AND sparkly!)

Wedding Style: Vineyard Sweets

I'm having a sweets craving as I type! How delicious. Silverware for vases and lots of little sweet treats (including smores kits!)

Green Wedding Shoes

Kate Spade Flicker Melinda Purse

Kate Spade: Flicker Melinda (in Dark Spearmint)

Travel Memories: Montreal, Quebec (Travel Suggestions and Reviews!)

    So on a whim we decided to go to Montreal last weekend. I have probably been to Montreal 40+ times in my life, but that almost makes it more of a vacation! I don't NEED to do anything. I've done it all already! In turn that lead to visiting friends (from Coachella), drinking wine, eating deliciously rich food, and exploring stores, old favourites, and new notables. I took a few pictures of my trip to share.

 Crossing the bridge into Montreal

  Dinner for the first night was at Au Pied de Cochon. Also known as French food on steroids. Everything had foie gras on it. I'm not complaining! If you are in Montreal, you MUST go! You must also expect to gain 5 pounds from this meal alone.

St Hubert coleslaw. I pretty much lived on this stuff in undergrad. Every time I return to Montreal I make it a mission to find this chain restaurant (there are a ton of them, so it isn't that hard), and eat a lot of coleslaw. It's nice and tart, not too sweet! And it's unlimited with most meals. So basically I eat like 3 bowls. Classy.

 The SAQ (the Quebec liquor stores), have an IMPRESSIVE selection of bubbly. I wanted to buy it ALL!

 The Atwater Market (Marche Atwater) is another favourite stop in Montreal for me. It's an indoor/outdoor market, with lots of lovely fruits, veggies, jams, baked goods, Quebec cheeses and meats, and maple syrup. It's not big, but it's small (Vinyl Cafe reference anyone?) and cute (and is close to the metro/has free parking.) A must visit!

I also stayed at the Le Centre Sheraton Montreal. I got a pretty good price online through their website, especially considering I booked the day before I left. It was a nice hotel. Nothing too crazy, but a clean, quiet hotel, quite close to the metro, and the main streets. The downside? $24 a night for parking, and wireless internet is not included (really??)

Other restaurants I visited:

La Cantine:

A great brunch  spot. 

$46 for brunch for two with a coffee and a tea including tax and tip.

Bremner:

A very popular spot, we lucked out showing up at 6pm (right when they opened). It's got a bit of a following thanks to Chuck Hughes who was the first Canadian to beat Bobby Flay on Iron Chef, and also has his own Food Network Show. Chuck was in the house the night I was there (yes, he actually WORKS in his two restaurants), although I didn't see him. But then again I didn't go into the kitchen. The food was good. Really good. But not OMG-the-best-i've-ever-had. Which is too bad because it's been consistently getting 5 stars. Their homemade cocktails however, are probably worth the trip alone. Try the bourbon berry. YUM. 

(It is pricey though. We paid $220 for 4 cocktails, 6 oysters, 4 "sharing/tapas style" dishes, and one dessert.)

Pullman: 

A nice wine bar. However they force you to order food, which they didn't tell us until after we had finished our bottle of wine, and had asked for the bill. Unimpressed. Still, a good place to go on a date, as I saw lots of couples around

Hope you enjoy my suggestions!

Bon Appetit (Cheese!)

 

Wednesday night I prepared a lovely little feast. Braised beef short ribs, roasted asparagus, and a fancy little cheese platter to start things off. (Also because the short ribs cook for 2-3 hours and I needed a snacks since I didn't eat until after 8pm.) There is something so lovely and home-y about cooking a nice rich meaty meal with a glass of red wine and a platter of a few cheeses when the weather drops. (Is this why people pack on the pounds in winter? Probably!) 

I hope you all are enjoying the colder weather. (Assuming you live in the northern hemisphere.)

Mackage Winter Coats

I'm in the market for a new winter coat this year. My old faithful black one is so worn that I keep putting my arms through the lining instead of the sleeve. I've been searching, but have yet to find one that's just right. These coats from Canadian company Mackage are fantastic (although a bit pricey.)

Nola Wool Knit Collar Asymmetrical Button Coat

Ayumi Wool Asymmetrical Button Short Coat

Diana-e Wool Military Coat

Mackage

The above coats are available at Holt Renfrew in Canada

Magisso White Teacup

How beautiful are these loose leaf tea mugs? What a beautiful simple gift. Paired with a little bag of tea it would make a perfect holiday gift!

Magisso

Available through Finn Style

Whiskey Makes Me Frisky

There you go.

Get one for a friend.

$2 - a great deal!

Artlife

Turquoise Leather Pouch

Love this great turquiose pouch. What a great way to keep things handy in your purse and not floating around. I recieved a blue leather cosmetic case for Christmas last year, and I love it! It makes switching purses super easy, and keeps everything neat and tidy. And since I'm not a neat and tidy person that is a feat. This would make a great gift!

$35

Marketa New York

Sunday Home Tour: Washington Fun

I also featured Massucco Warner Miller on another post where they designed a georgeous San Fransico Home. Here is another piece of their work, this time in Washington DC. What a beautiful space! Great colour, great headboards, great patterns! Nice work once again. If I lived in L.A, San Fran, or Seattle, I would be checking these ladies out tout de suite.

massucco warner miller

Wedding Style: U of T Nuptials

Not one but THREE of my besties are getting married next summer. I am busily planning away on their behalf. Not offically. But in the back of my mind I am always looking for wedding themed things that I think they might like. I love the minimal wedding here. It's shot at the University of Toronto, where I did my masters degree, and where I worked, where I work, and where I am doing my marketing certificate currently. I have spent and spend a lot of time on this campus. But isn't it beautiful??? I love the vintage touches on this wedding. Perfection!

Nikki Mills found via Style Me Pretty

Weekend Update: Dancing

Hello all! I have had a lovely weekend so far. I took yesterday off work because I was exausted. Also because I had already surpassed my weekly work hours by about 10 hours, so I thought it best not to push past that if I didn't need to. (The good news is lots of days off in the future!) Yesterday I mostly slept. I also ran a few errands and went to a yoga class, but mostly, I was lazy. And it was nice. This weekend has consisted of a wicked movie at the Regent Park Film Festival (closing tonight!), Thai food, and will shortly consist of AYCE sushi, a dance party, shopping, brunch, and a dinner at home with my mommy! (And puppy and kid brother). Nice. I hope you all have a productive and relaxing weekend.

And dancing. I hope you all dance tonight. A weekend isn't a weekend without dancing.

image via Verabee