May & June

May was such a busy month {mainly because I planned it that way} I needed to always be doing something to pre-occupy myself because Jeff's contract down in Bermuda kept getting extended. So many exciting things happened in May that I blogged about already...My 28th, my best friends 30th, I went to Bermuda for my Birthday and it was one of my good friend's bridal showers! Her wedding was this past July in British Columbia {I will get to that later}. She was in Toronto visiting for a wedding and one of her bridesmaids held a shower for her with all her friends from Ontario! It was so nice to get to see her if only for a short time!

the bride & I

{skirt: Top Shop  tank: Forever 21  jacket: Olive & Oak}

 

 

FINALLY May 31st arrived and it was off to the airport to pick him up! It's such a weird feeling waiting for someone you miss to come through those sliding doors....every time the door opens your heart skips a little! I was so nervous but so excited to have him home FINALLY after what seemed like the 4 longest months ever! There I was at the airport with a GIANT welcome home balloon! We headed straight from the airport to his cottage on Manitoulin Island for a little R&R :)

 

 

June was a lot of getting back into the swing of things...visiting friends and family Jeff hadn't seen in 4 months and just spending time together! A few birthday's, father's day and delicious meals out on the town! OH! And we took up tennis!

 

welcome to the 28 club Norah!

Effy baby catching some raise

Dad's Day Dinner at The Harbord Room

doubles anyone?

 

 

 

Our 1 year anniversary was back in June and Jeff had bought us Dave Matthews tickets! It was a must since the concert was the same day! Dave is one of my favorite artists and I see him every summer so it was a nice way to spend our 1 year together...despite the rain.... {womp womp}!

 

 

a surprise cheese bored and champ awaited me when I got home from work!

we fancy

another AMAZING Dave concert!

 



 

Back in February we had booked our camping spot at Pog Lake in Algonquin Park for Canada Day weekend! Despite the Tornado warnings and freak torrential downpours whenever we went canoeing it was a super fun weekend! The 6 of us had a awesome time cooking delicious meals over the fire, drinking wine and enjoying the black flies! Camping once a year is good enough for me....unless I have a trailer my tent days are over for the summer!

 

 

all loaded up and ready to go!

mandatory burger stop

home for the weekend! Cozy right?

hikers

don't slip!

so Canadian....so annoying

O' Canada....it's pouring rain again

total canoe trip failure

 



 

 

 July was just as crazy and jammed packed as June! Stay tuned..!*





 

Easter in paradise!

 

Who wouldn't want to wake up to this on a long weekend?! Amazing right? This post is a little late but I've been busy! Easter weekend in Bermuda was so fun! The weather was perfect {as usual}, the water was warm{ish} and the drinks were cold! Good Friday in Bermuda is always a big deal with a Kite Festival on Horseshoe Bay Beach! Endless dark and Stormys' and and fish sandwiches! We were able to cook a somewhat traditional Easter meal on Sunday and just enjoy having 4 full days together! Oh and we also stayed at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess for a night and had expensive martinis! Here are a few more snaps from the weekend!*

fun with hats at Mad Hatters

 Easter din din...yummy right?!

 

beach day...love it!

 

martini's at the Fairmont

 

Kite Fest at Horseshoe Bay!

Friday Favorites!*

FRIDAY!!!! I was unemployed for long enough that I almost forgot how great it is when Friday finally arrives! To kick off the weekend here are a few of my favorite things I found/saw/ate this week! Happy weekend!*

Black Givenchy Leather Shark Lock Wedge Boots. These are totally amazing and totally unaffordable. With a $1900 price tag I can proudly say I will never own these, but I will make it my winter mission to find a similar style! #swoon

I am so in LOVE with every single piece of art work created by artist Jen Ramos, however they are all sold out which is very upsetting.... but for now you can view the pieces {here}! This style and colouring is exactly what I've been looking for, for the past 3 years.... isn't it always the way?!

 

 



 This knockout round on the Voice this week was my favorite!

 

 

I'm STILL talking about this delicious fish waffle from the Korean market! I may need to go back this weekend and try another flavor!

 



 

 

 

This amazingly chic and feminine coat I found on Pinterest {here}. The pin says it's from Zara but I'm not able to find it on the site! If you can find it please let me know and forward me the link in the comments section I would LOVE to own this! 

 



 



weekend snaps

Monday. Possibly the worst day of the week! Hope everyone had a great weekend! It always goes by so quickly. This past weekend was pretty busy! Friday I wanted to go out....so we told the cab driver to take us to Bloor West and we would randomly choose a place to eat! We walked past a very highly talked about Japanese Sake Bar called Guu, there was no line so we went in! SO DELISH! If you love Japanese and you like to share little plates this is the place {also very inexpensive!}! The food is great, the drinks are great and the atmosphere is lively and energetic! Saturday my friends were heading out for Halloween. I'm not a fan so I helped them all get ready! They all looked AMAZING as mermaids! Sunday, we try to go an experience all the different markets Toronto has to offer! Last weekend was China town this weekend was Korean! We wanted to make sushi so we headed to an amazing market that had everything and anything you would need! I always go crazy in those markets buying things I have no idea what to do with!!! Here are some iPhone snaps from the weekend!*

casual Friday!

{Jeans: Joe Fresh $29, Blazer: RW&CO $89, Pumps: MK $120, T-Shirt: boyfriends...} 

 

Drinks @ Guu

 

amazing graffiti

 

creating a "fish face"

 

delish black bean filled waffle fish

homemade sushi Sunday!

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

YAY! Finally the long weekend! This week went by so slowly but it's finally Friday and Thanksgiving weekend! Tonight I am heading up to Manitoulin Island for the weekend! So excited to cottage this time of year, its so cold and you get to be so cuddly and warm....and eat lots of turkey! I love summer and dread the fall and winter but once the fall arrives I really enjoy it! All the awesome falls clothes, crisp air, beautiful colours and pumpkin spice lattes {pumpkin spice anything!} ...yummy! To get in the spirit of fall and Thanksgiving, I've shared some of favorite DIY's! Happy Thanksgiving!!*

Gilded Harvest Place Cards from {here}

Pumpkin Spice Biscotti from {here}

Glitter Pumpkin Candle Holders from {here}

Friday Favorites!

It's soooooo hot but at least it's the weekend! Find a pool, find a lake and drink lots of cold bevies!  Here are a few of my favorite things from this past week!*

Zesty Lime, Shrimp and Avocado Salad
{via}

 

Kate Spade Summer Cork Iphone Clutch
Nordstrom: $76.00

It's HOT!

{via}

 

New hair colour?!?!

{via}

Recipe Roundup!

I think it's fair to say that I'm obsessed with Pinterest {follow me here}, and I am one to attempt most of what I pin especially the recipes! Since I started hitting the gym harder then usual to get "Vegas Ready" I have been looking for quick and easy healthy meal ideas to switch up my everyday fish and steamed veggies {because lets be honest that gets boring quickly!}. This past weekend I found two delicious Quinoa recipe ideas, Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Bites and Quinoa Pizza Bites! The great thing about Quinoa is it's considered a grain and is closely related to beets and spinach which makes sense as to why it's packed with tons protein! Quinoa is a much healthier alternative to rice, pasta and even couscous. Below are the recipes and nutrition information for the bites I made this past weekend! {photos are not my own and are via Pinterest}!*

Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Bites

 

{via}

Ingredients:

1 Cup - cooked Quinoa
1 Cup - Quick Oats
1/2 teaspoon - cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon - nutmeg
3 tablespoons - brown sugar
1 tablespoon - granulated sugar
1 tablespoon - maple syrup {I substituted honey}
1 Cup - chopped apples
2 eggs, lightly beaten


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a large mixing bow, add cooked quinoa and quick oats (allow quinoa to cool first). In a seperate mixing bowl combine cinnamon, nutmeg and sugars - add spice mixture to the qunioa and quick oats. Add maple syrup (or honey), apples and eggs until mix is combined
3. Spray your muffin pan (minis work best) with non-stick cooking spray.
4. Fill each muffin slot with 1 tablespoon of the mixture and bake for 15 - 20 minutes
5. Let cool and enjoy!

Nutrition:
Per Bite (recipe yields about 26, tablespoon sized bites)

Calories - 38
Fat - 0.7 grams
Protein - 1.2 grams
Fiber - 0.6 grams
Carbs - 6.25 grams


Quinoa Pizza Bites

{via}

Ingredients:

1/2 - 1 Cup - cooked Quinoa

1 large egg and 1 egg yolk

1/2 Cup - chopped onion (small)

1/2 Cup - Fat Free shredded mozzarella cheese

1 tablespoon - minced garlic

1 tablespoon - dried basil

1 tablespoon - dried oregano

Pinch of Salt 

Pizza sauce for dipping

Directions :

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Combine all ingredients {except the pizza sauce} into a large mixing bowl until well mixed

3. Lightly spray the bottom of a mini-muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.

4. Fill each muffin slot with 1 tablespoon of mixture and bake for 15 - 20 minutes

5. Serve warm with pizza sauce to dip!

Nutrition:

Per 12 Bites (recipe yields about 26, tablespoon sized bites)

Calories - 265
Fat - 6 grams
Protein - 18 grams
Carbs - 33 grams

Spoiled*

I hope everyone had an amazing Valentine's Day! I got super spoiled this year! I woke up to fresh red flowers, breakfast, and was treated to an amazingly deslish 4 course meal at this great restaurant Q - Haute  As if that wasn't enough, I got an extra surprise....*

...the weekend in photos! {and my 26th!}

This past weekend was my 26th! Despite everything happening back home, we decided to head to Banff and try to have an amazing time ringing in my Birthday. The weather was perfect {as usual} we had a delicious meal at the Banff Grizzly House, which is a hilarious 70's swingers club turned fondue restaurant! {nothing has been changed since the 70's which adds to the experience}. We went hot tubing during the super moon, and stoked the fire! A very relaxing birthday weekend!  On my actual Birthday...{which was Monday} we made homemade sushi and ate way too many cupcakes!*

my birthday outfit 

we did not opt for the 'exotic dinner'

beef, lobster, buffalo, bison and elk...oh my!

sizzling away

delicious toblerone chocolate fondue

just in case you need to call your table from the washroom

beautiful Banff morning

one day we will live in the rockies

getting ready to roll!

delicious

confetti cupcakes! my favorite*

amazing nine west pumps from the boy

super chic wrapping paper