Frivolous Loot Fun

Here's some of the things that I got for Christmas...
Let's make this a little more fun and lighthearted around here.
AKA how I'm totally spoiled and should be grateful for all that I do have.
Like...

Owl Slippers

Owl Pajamas...hey at least when my parents find a theme they stick to it!

Owl cup and saucer...

An owl cereal mug...I told ya once they pick a theme they stick to it...

Some pretty party dresses! Y'all know how much I love dresses...

Pick from here

Finally a Kindle which is making my carry on so much more manageable now!!!

Pic from here

Couldn't get a Kindle without a case...I love how it looks like an old book...and the Fleur de Lis (clearly)...

Pic from here

The Clarisonic Aria for my less than happy skin...I've been using it for a week and I'm noticing a difference already.  So in love with this!

Pic from here

Sonia Kashuk Holiday 2012 Brush Set with clutch

Pic from here

Since I left my beauty blender at home I picked up this one from Target that I had read a little bit about...and I HATE it...it is so much stiffer and just absorbs product.  The application is so much worse than the beauty blender.  It is awful and not worth the money.  I should have just stuck with the beauty blender...world's better...worth every penny.  I repeat do NOT buy this one.

Pic from here   

Gloves for the gym here...I don't like calluses 

Pic from here

A tennis racket for the courts in Florida.

Pic from here

It must be the year of the Kate Spade for me! Lol...love!  Actually I think it is very similar to Taylor's bag which I loved.

From TOP left to bottom Right...those pink ones were actually the shoes I was going to wear on my almost wedding day and it seemed like a waste of perfectly good shoes so I brought them out, the Red ones are for Laurel's wedding, my first pair of Hunter's (Tall Original Gloss)...though I LOVED them in Red I went with the black because it would go with more of my coats (and with the sock inserts I can wear them as winter boots up here in Canada), My very first pair of Tory Burch Reva flats, and Michael Kors Flats for practical work reasons clearly lol!

Ummm I have a slight shoe issue (CLEARLY)...

 This find was Target on clearance and $14.  I loved the inside pattern and it is a fun blazer for work or casual wear.

Y'all I found the BEST designer consignment store ever there.
Though I was craving a GORGEOUS fur throw from Bendel's it was $1500 so I set my eyes on things only under $100 and came up with these two fabulous finds.

This LaRok dress...yes (very short mini) dress.  I can't wait to pair it up with tights, heels and perhaps look for a crop motorcycle jacket or a fur through like they had paired in the store.  My first LaRok!

This DVF skirt.  I LOVE DVF (not only because she was featured prominantly in the City lol love Whitney Port BUT because she invented the wrap dress and has fabulous print dresses that one day I will get my hands on but this fun skirt was a great find! and perfect for my shapely hips/thighs.

PS Yes these were all gifts...but a good majority were gifts to myself...Merry Christmas to me.

Last Weekend

Last week and weekend I worked hard at being busy so as not to think about MrKent.
It sort of worked.
So let me summarize.

Wednesday I had a sorority meeting at the house.
So that was great.
I'm currently VP of the Alum organization AND
just found out I'm being groomed to be Pres for 2013-2014.
Which has me excited yet super duper nervous.

Thursday I was supposed to grab drinks with Laurel but we decided to change the night.
Friday I headed to the SC (StoneyCreek) to visit Quinn.
Val ended up coming there too.

We had a fabulous dinner and drank some wine.
And cheered as Nik Wallenda walked across Niagara Falls!
Amazing and totally inspiring!
(Yes I'm a total cheeseball that loves to watch people succeed).

Pic from here

Saturday I woke up and Quinn, her husband and her baby went out for breakfast.
Then we came home to feed the baby.
Seriously how cute is she?!?!?!

Then I headed to my hometown.
When I got to my parents place it was a little too noticeable that Arlie was gone.
Then my parents made plans to go out for dinner at one of their friend's places.

So I called up Shelby (who lives in my hometown).
And invited her over for dinner.
She suggested we go out for drinks at a pub.

So I forced myself out.
It really wasn't that fun at all.
Reminding me that the icky hometown feeling may never pass.
But at least I forced myself out.

Sunday was a lazy Father's Day spent BBQing and hanging out.
And going to get my mum a new iPod and showing her how to use it.
(And yes we got my mum an iPod on Father's Day which is kind of funny in a way).
My little brother is in the Bahamas so he wasn't around.

And as I packed up my car (with a bunch of work done on it again).
I found myself returning to the TDot with entirely way too many things.
Does this happen to you to when you head home?
Or am I just totally spoiled???

Here is the loot in my front hall.
And the breakdown of the food!

Tons of stuff at my front hall!

My parent crack me up because they now remember to get me my healthy things I like (veggies and fruit)...I think it's a secret ploy to get me to try and take home the entire tray of rolls stuffed with chorizo (it worked!)

Close up of the totally unhealthy white buns stuffed with sliced up Chorizo bits (a Portuguese sausage).

Home made prefrozen(just have to be fried) Samosas.  Yum!

Individual portion sized chicken curry (we are Portuguese but my parents had some Indian friends when they first moved to Canada so I grew up eating this yummy stuff!)

Individually portioned ribs and Boerewors (a South African sausage that I love...both my parents families grew up in Rhodesia and Zimbabwe).

Another South African fav (that is stored in a paper sac and I've been snacking on all week...Biltong which is essentially beef jerky...my parents South African butcher makes it for our family!)

So yes it was a good weekend.
That had me unwinding but still thinking about things way too much.
But I came back to the TDot refueled for another week.

Coming up (sorry for the delay in posts)...
A first date post.
My crazy weekend coming up post.

Saturday Night Fever

After getting dropped off by MrKent.
I quickly got ready (ie. reapplied deodorant).
I headed to Laurel's place so we could head downtown.


We went to Czehoski's.
It is in the trendy Queen West/Ossington area.

Pic from here

I had the Palmerston Burger.
Laurel got the Blue Crab Mac and Cheese.
The boys got Perogies.
The service was terribly slow (not even close to a full restaurant either) 
and we all agreed it was just so so.
Which was super surprising for a diner's choice award winner on OpenTable.


After we headed to Sweaty Betty's.
Here's what Toronto Life says about it:


Absinthe is the beverage of choice for Trinity Bellwoods’ tortured literati, who rendezvous nightly at this small, bordello-inspired den. Flickering candles illuminate the deep crimson walls, marked with early-20th-century tattoo flash. Thick roped curtains, a faux crystal chandelier and shabby-chic (OK, more shabby than chic) second-hand furnishings contrast with the contemporary jukebox, which spews boisterous beats by Nick Cave, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bloc Party and Ray Charles.

Pic from here of Sweaty Betty's

Pic from here

Ugh I absolutely detest a name like that for a bar.
It was the appropriate dark and coolness factor for a bar.
Had a great time chatting with the group.
Though my stomach was starting to feel a little queasy.


After a drink we decided to hop places to TheOssington. 
It was just up the block a little bit.
It was INCREDIBLY loud when we walked in.
We weren't quite ready for aloud bar and I think we all wanted to chat a bit more.

Pic from here

So much so that we quickly decided to keep walking up to Levack Block.

Pretty cool bar on the corner.  Pic from here.

And it was actually super cool inside.

Pic from here.

And then I started feeling really queasy.
Mixed with the warmth of a bar and the spring night.
Laurel asked if I wanted to step outside.
And as I sucked in some cooler air outside...I knew I had to head home.
I felt so incredibly nauseous.
And it wasn't just because a limo bus pulled up with what was the THIRD bachelorette party headed into the place haha.


It was so disappointing.
I was totally craving a night out like this.
With some cool new friends cutting loose and enjoying the night.


Instead with my stomach doing loop de loops I was headed home.
Made it just inside my door before completely upchucking (sorry folks for the TMI).
But afterwards I actually did feel better.
Except for the feeling of disappointment at what fun that night could have been.


Later on Laurel and everyone even went to HawkerBar (I wrote about it here before).
What a bummer of a night it turned out to be.
BUT I'm so excited though because I was invited to a summer BBQ Laurel and her fiance are hosting in two weeks!
Yea for making friends.

Weekend Update

A busy but good weekend.
This week I had a crazy stressful week and was happy to see it fly by.
It has pretty much been non-stop and I wish I had taken more pictures.
Instead I just took a bunch right now to hopefully fill that void.
I need to get better about that because I find myself wishing I had more pics from earlier in the weekend.


On Friday Quinn drove up from the SC (it's like the OC only in southeastern Ontario haha) with her baby.
They were coming for a girl's sleepover.
Val and Eva joined us for drinks and snacks until the wee hours of the morning.


We just hung out listened to music and ate.
We had cheese, veggies, fruit (and of course wine!)
I wish I had taken pictures because I used my serving dishes.


Saturday morning Quinn and I brewed some yummy coffee.
And I made the same breakfast I made for Taylor when she came here in January.
(Read here if you missed it).


We hung out until midday when they left.
And my parents came into town.
They had made last minute plans to come here.
This was actually supposed to be the weekend I hung out with MissDentist (MrDentist's BFF) but she rescheduled for the 17th (well I she says she is rescheduling and I'm trying NOT to be paranoid that she just doesn't want to be my friend which I think would be just as bothersome as MrDentist disappearing...because I have this issue of wanting everyone to like me...AND the issue of making more cool girl friends ...I totally need to work on this in all aspects).


Anywho my parents came to Toronto with my dog.
We just had a low key night of pizza and a movie.
We rented Drive.
And y'all I didn't like it (and I love me some Ryan Gosling!)


It was one of those movies that I wasn't expecting to be like that.
I was expecting like The Italian Job or The Transporter kind of movie.
But it was SUPER graphic and violent.  
Think more like Kill Bill or a Quentin Territino (I cannot spell) flick.
And the trailer to me did not seem like this.
Here it is.

So we actually were all ready to go to sleep at 10.
So we did.
I air mattress-ed it up so my parents could have my room.
Haha the joys of a one bedroom apartment!


This morning we got up and had breakfast and headed out shopping 
(really what else are my parents and I going to do?)
I got these beauties from my FAVOURITE store Restoration Hardware.

I got this chair last week.
Awesome right?
I got it from my least favourite store...Wal-Mart.
But it does the job and at $148 for a slipper chair well worth it!

The pillow fits PERFECTLY I was so excited when I realized this...after I already bought it haha.

This little guy has been kicking it around on my desk I also got him last week.
I think the folks at YoungHouseLove got me on the craze of white ceramic animals.
Owls are near and dear to my heart though.

I want to share with you some amazing things from Taylor that she brought for me when she came to visit.
Seriously she is that amazing that she also brought a gift when her coming was a gift in itself.
Gorgeous right?
Now I just need not to procrastinate and get photos of us in them.
Tay I did attempt to umm mend the beautiful candleholder...
however everyone says they love my candlesticks (which works out great!)

My parent's have just returned from Portugal (for my grandfather's anniversary mass).
And they brought back this from his house.
My grandfather was in the military in Rhodesia.
It obviously is very special for me to have this.
I miss my grandfather very much.

Of course my parents don't leave here without fully stocking my fridge and bar.
i.e.

Seriously I am so spoiled!
I'm such a lucky girl.
My parents also got me this jewelry armoire from Bombay.
Which apparently was a brand managed out of Fort Worth Texas before closing all US chains.
It is still pretty popular and big here up in Canada though.
They had a sale today so instead of it being $676.87 it was on sale for total of $399. 

It actually reads a lot darker then this pic which is good for my other dark furniture.

It won't be in for 2 weeks but I will show you it when I'm done.
My parents did NOT like my current jewelry organization.

Then we stopped by Joe Fresh which is one of my FAV stores also.
And I got some of these basics.
This I can't wait to wear when I go to my parent's new home in Florida.

Did you catch that?
Yes my parents just bought a home in Florida.
Where Spencer lives...I get it Florida is a big state but umm its a little close for my panicky self...thoughts of running into him on the beach me feeling chunky him with his new fab girlfriend/fiancee/wife....ughhhhh!


My parents invited me there for Easter weekend.
And they actually invited Taylor to join us too.
Anyways let me move on before I start to panic about the whole thing.
Ughhhh...out of all the FREAKING states to live in...I need to move on.


I also got some basic Cardigans (I'm obsessed with cardigans I love how they look so preppy).
And at $16 each you really cannot beat that pricing (and JoeFresh is amazing quality!)

And this chambray dress $29.

Which I cannot wait to pair with a skinny belt and to get a pair of cowboy boots when I visit Dallas in a few months!
This dress is perfect to wear when I go to visit Taylor.


So did y'all have a great weekend?
Now I'm just getting all set for the work week to begin.
And I NEED to get on the ball for things like signing onto that dating account and get going on that again.
Because I know y'all are dying for more Mr_____ stories ...am I right?!
And in case you're wondering ...no I haven't heard a peep from MrDentist...but I'm trying not to think about that anymore.

Empire State of Mind

Okay so here is the long version of Monday/Tuesday.
After being very VERY ill all weekend (read here if you missed it).
My parent came to drop my brother off on Sunday afternoon.


The fam is headed to Portugal because this week is the first anniversary mass for my grandfather.
Which floors me that it was a year ago when that happened.
Remember? (here).
My parents called to tell me they were going last week.
So not really an option to go but that's not really my thing.
I know that seems kind of flippant and I don't mean it like that at all.
It's just I don't do well with that and then the added enclosed space with family is enough of a pressure cooker to add a lot of stress.


So my brother arrived on Sunday.
I planned on taking him to a really cool NFL super bowl party that was set to have NFL Cheerleaders there and everything and well that obviously was not happening.
I also have no cable.
So my brother walked to the hotel across the street from my place to watch it in their bar.
He wasn't too bothered by the idea because it allowed him to drink his face off and stay out until one.
Whereas I got to sleep a ton more (yea for sick me!)


So Monday morning I had to work.
I planned on leaving work at 1pm.
At 1:40pm I still hadn't left.
Though I had checked in to our 4pm international flight.

I rushed home all stressed about this and when I pulled up to my condo...it looked oddly dark.
And that was because there was no power.
So that required a 27 flight climb with all my work gear/laptop etc.
And then a 27 climb down with small luggage.
Its not the exercise that killed me.
It was the dizzying four directions per flight of the stairs.
Hurried.
And without eating all day.


Then we drove downtown (because that hour plus commute via public transit obviously didn't compare to just over 25 minute drive).
So we rushed to my downtown office and I had to drop something off there for Tuesday.


Then we took the subway to what I thought was going to be the stop to get to the airport.


Nope.


It was the spot to get to the shuttle that takes you to the ferry to get to the airport.


I couldn't MAKE this sh*t up.


We flew out of the Toronto Island Airport.


We were on the shuttle at 3pm.
Which was quick and the ferry was super fast.
In fact I don't understand why they don't just build a small covered bridge/human moving straight escalator thingy.  

Do you see the NARROWEST part there.
That is why you need to take a ferry.
Why do all these people look relaxed?!
I was in full on panic about to miss my flight mode...

I think the entire trip takes 10 minutes.
Just saying I've walked along airports that seemed to have longer people movers...just saying.

Kind of annoying.
Especially when you are panicking about missing a  flight.
Look how close it actually is!

Anywho we made it there.


And it was a blessing because unlike the Pearson Airport you actually clear customs once you are in the US.
Confused yet?
In Canada at the main international airport you clear US customs in Canada.
Which always made me wonder where the US customs officers lived?
I digress.


So I was a huge huge HUGE bundle of nerves.
But tried not to show it.
Here is the comfy lounge.
And yes I consider these my lucky shoes.
And yes I know it is in poor taste to put them on the coffee table...what can I say?  
I was nervous.

I did enjoy this airline immensely because you get drinks/snacks for free.
This gave me a teeny tiny taste of Tay's fabulous traveling adventures with fun food.
Obviously mine more of the cookie and chip variety than champagne and fancy first class meals but hey I can't complain.
And that was my lunch.
Chocolate chip cookies and water.
The least healthy ever.
Again at least I got something.

Like I said I actually really really enjoyed the airline and would absolutely fly them again.
Drinks are included (as in beer/wine/coffee/tea/soda/water) and so are snacks.
Before we knew it we landed in New York.

And my heart was pounding.
They asked where we were going.
We were pretty excited to let them know we were attending the Jay-Z benefit at Carnegie Hall.
The agent scanned our passports and said "have fun".


And that was it.
Well he did scan mine three times (seriously).
But then that was it.


I felt euphoric.
And so so SO excited to be in NYC.
The feeling  was actually oddly reminiscent of landing in Las Vegas that December in 2008.


So we hopped in a cab.
How amazing is New York?!

We had to swing by Carnegie Hall to pick up tickets.
Then rush to the hotel to get changed.
And in all the excitement I did not get one picture of my cute Taylor inspired outfit!
I know I'm so mad about that!


So we lined up outside Carnegie hall.
And waited to file in.

And when we walked in...
Simply Stunning!

I loved the little things.
The seats.

The fact that my little bro is SUCH a huge Jay-Z fan that the first celeb he spotted was Jay-Z's mom.
And he asked me to try and take a pic.
Here are my poor attempts.

The response in the almost full place when Liza Minnelli came in (shrieks/screams/applause) and how she walked down the aisle waving at EVERYONE.
What a New York legend!


The whole evening was INCREDIBLE.
And I got to cross something off my own personal bucket list.

It was incredible.
And after we were starving.
My brother suggested a burger place.


A secret burger place.
Hidden inside LeParkerMeridian.
Do y'all know about this place?

To the left of the sign in desk in the fancy hotel.
Think classical music.
Elegant and beautiful.

It looks like a curtained wall.
But if you actually walk towards it and glance down a narrow dark hall way you see this light.

And when you round the corner.
It's a small burger joint.
Cash only.
The only thing you can order (and you must do it correctly or get sent to the back of the line) are hamburgers/cheeseburgers/fries (one size only)/beer/pop.
There is writing all over the walls and it was PACKED.
My apologies for all my dark iPhone pics...it didn't seem cool to use a flash in there haha.

I was there in heels, a cocktail dress and a fascinator (I know always the spectacle).


Here is the sign of the hours I snapped.

And y'all the food.

After that we headed back to our hotel to have some drinks in the bar.

A lychee martini for me and a beer for my bro.

We had a pretty early flight in the morning so we headed to bed.
I enjoyed this hotel.
Great midtown location.
In the Thompson group.
And very cool retro 1960s decor but without feeling super dated.

I LOVED the tile in the bathroom.

So with that I went to bed.
And woke up to fly back home to Canada.
And now am so so sooooooooooooo super excited for my next trip!
Despite the hectic rush of the day.
It really could not have gone any better.