living in a downtown world

Y'all my week has been nutty in the best possible way!
First on Monday.
As I figured I got a message from the first date fail the previous day.

Which is just weird.  I mean first you say you aren't that into me.
Then he basically questions/makes an accusatory statement about it.
I'm always perfectly nice and polite.
And I just re-iterated what our conversation was on Sunday.
I don't just go on first date sparks...it sometimes takes me a bit.
Anywho so at least that's done.

Monday night was the start of our winter book club with the girls.
We did this last year and had a great time.
This month's book selection, The Mountains Echoed by 

Pic from here

A lovely night of chicken curry and bubbly champagne.
These girls are awesome and it is fun to get together and discuss things other than just gossip lol.

Tuesday night I headed to the movies with Kai.
So awesome that there is a theatre less than a block from where we now live.
And it's great to have Kai living in the same building.
We of course went to go see my guilty pleasure of Catching Fire.

Pic from here

Loved it and a definite improvement over the first movie.
It more closely followed the book and the recast the cat.  I'm someone who is detail oriented and insanely bothered by the black and white cat in the first movie when the book clearly describes the cat as a ginger one!

Wednesday night was date number two with someone (read here if you missed it).
I'm a little hesitant because it has been two and a half weeks since our first date.
I was wondering if he actually was interested but on the actual date I find myself pleasantly surprised.
Time seems to fly by and I find myself really simply just enjoying myself.
He picked a fabulous place one of my new favs in the city Patria.

Pic from here

It is a Spanish Tapas styled restaurant and my favourite way to eat.
I love trying little bits of everything.
Not to mention here I was on a date with a smart and handsome man.

He always dresses really well which I find super attractive.
Wednesday night he was wearing a blue and white checked button up shirt with a navy blue cardigan with light blue pipping also buttoned up.
Such great style.
After our date he offered to drive me home (now that I'm a public transit taking kind of girl).
As he drove me up I only made things slightly awkward with the hug and no kiss yet.
We do have date three on the agenda for Sunday so fingers crossed.

Thursday night Val and I headed out for our traditional birthday dinner.
We picked The Grove which was also amazing!
I'm seriously having great luck with restaurants lately.

Pic from blogto

We opted to each do the five course tasting menu but actually split it so we ended up with a ten course tasting menu.  So we tried everything except two items on the menu.
And it was delicious!
Definitely on my list of new favs. 

Pic from here

Finally Friday was upon us and it was our second annual American Thanksgiving potluck at Laurel and her husband's place.
And we ate and laughed and gave thanks and just spent time together.
And it was the perfect end to a busy and fun week.

Pic from here

It is kind of funny us all living in a big city but still pulling together to celebrate.
Some of us are from here, some of us are from other cities in Toronto and some are from across the world.
Such a great group of friends I've made here.
I'm absolutely loving living downtown.

Pleasantly Surprised on a Monday Night

After a Fifth Date Bail more than a week ago, I still have not heard a peep from MrTrader.
What is with these boys?!
Even a lack lustre text is better than just straight up falling off the face of this earth.
So annoying.

So I thought my best bet was to move on.
Especially when I got to the point of seriously contemplating contact MrAttorney.
Anywho so back to dating I went.

Last night I went on a fun date with a potential Mr.
We went to a Terroni location I hadn't been before in uptown.



It was great we shared a bottle of wine.
And ordered appetizers.
I went with the cheese/charcuterie board which may be one of my favourite kinds of snacks.
It was super cute inside as well.
Especially as this cooler weather is coming into Toronto.



We had a surprising amount in common.
He lives downtown and doesn't like the suburbs at all.
We even have randomly stayed in the same exact hotel in Seoul before.
We met at 7:15 and before I knew it the clock was striking 11.
I suppose that's a good sign.

The end of the date was only awkward as I make things.
He seemed a little stand offish.
I think he is a little shy (well that or he simply isn't that into me).
I initiated a hug.
Guess we'll see what happens.
But I found myself pleasantly surprised on this random Monday night.

Busy Fall

This week was good and just super busy I felt like I've been go go going.

Tuesday was super fun.
Laurel, her husband, B and I went on another Burger Club Mission.
We have 54 Toronto Burger Joints on our list and this was #8.
Burger's Priest it was for some Tuesday night fun.
The model themselves after the "classic American cheeseburger joint".
There are whispers that they are trying to do InNOut/ShakeShack kind of things.

Often the scene here.  It was jam packed from when we got there until after we left.  And we went on a cold random Thursday night at 7pm.  Pic from here.

Wednesday I had to rush from work to a meeting.
For that opportunity I keep writing about which is a TON more work for me that I don't know quite how to fit into my jam packed schedule (umm like I move in 2 weeks!)

Thursday was Halloween.
So I went to Kai's place.
We had a girly night of wine, butternut squash soup, grilled cheese sandwhichs and cupcakes.
And we watched my favourite Halloween movie of all time Hocus Pocus.

Pic from here

Friday I did laundry and started the task of packing.
I watched Blackfish (how sad!) and The Internship (to try and cheer myself up!).
Today I'm helping my friend S move (from a third floor walk up to a third floor walk up).
Then I have to rush home and get ready for Laurel's husband's birthday dinner.
And tomorrow date five with MrTrader...who did message me this week....just not sure where that is going...guess we'll see but I seriously cannot add anything more to my calendar at this point!

Girly Birthday

I hadn't seen Val since August.
So we had planned on catching up over dinner.
Since her birthday was Tuesday I thought I would take her out for dinner on Thursday.

She wanted French so I looked up a cute place we had both been meaning to try.
It is in the Bay/Bloor area (coincidentally the area that I'm moving to) called La Societe.
Their tagline is  "The soul of Paris in the heart of Toronto. "
I mean what could be more perfect for us two girls?

Things I loved about it...
The gorgeous doors...

Pic from here

The customized tile work...

So pretty! Pic from here

The round booths and the gorgeous stained glass windows...

Pic from their website.

Loved their kitchen towel-esque napkins.

Pic from here

I think they describe it perfectly on their website...
A marriage of Canada’s most cosmopolitan city and Parisian bistro style and cuisine, La Société is a dining destination unlike any other in Toronto. Step inside and your senses will be flooded with the sights, scents, and flavours that your Parisian dreams are made of. Gloriously appointed with luxurious furnishings and a breathtaking stained-glass ceiling, a meal, a meeting, even a moment at La Société will transport you to another time and place. 

It was great to catch up with Val.
Hopefully now that I'm moving downtown we get to see each other more often.
What a lovely girly place in the city.
It's one of my new favs!

a second date fail and a second date pass

Pic from here

This seemed to be the weekend of second dates.
Well two of them at least lol.
So Saturday night I met up with the guy from this first date.

I met him downtown and we headed out for dinner and a movie.
There were again the same awkward stops in conversation.
I found myself searching for topics to chat about.
And he kept leaning to the side (there was a TV behind me that happened to have a hockey game on)...which I found extremely rude.
Heck if he wanted to watch the game he could have suggested wings and drinks and I would have happily watched the game.

And then the bill came and he asked if I wanted to split it.
And I did (though I didn't want to because the restaurant was his pick and he invited me).
It just was weird and I found myself in a little bit of a panic at the end of the date.
Like hoping he wouldn't kiss me or suggest to get together again.
I think I was sufficiently awkward and standing away that he only asked to get together again.
I let him know that I didn't think we were a match romantically.

I met up with Kai at her place after (soon to also be my apartment building too!)
And we both hoped for a better second date the next morning.
So this morning I the guy from this first date for brunch at The Rebel House.

Pic from here

He was on time this time lol.
And with him there is more just "click".
I found myself giggling and really enjoying myself.
Our brunch lasted three hours that seemed to fly by.

And we made plans for Friday night for a third date.
My last night in Toronto before I head to Dallas!
We walked a little down the road before we said goodbye with a quick kiss.
And it was good and totally made up for the not so good second date the night before.

Good for Me

Pic from here

On Thursday I had a first date with another guy.
A Lawyer that runs marathons.
At first I was a little perplexed.
Maybe he was nervous...I definitely couldn't quite gauge how I felt.

We had dinner at this really cute French restaurant.
Only a few minor pauses in conversation.
And he seems actually quite nice.

Here's the thing.
There wasn't that zing of chemistry.
Or that instant "click".
But I'm wondering if perhaps all that "click" and "chemistry" I have with certain people doesn't really matter in the end.

Maybe I just need nice and kind.
Maybe I should just be paying better attention to only how someone treats me.
Attraction can grow right?
Is there really someone that has it "all"...will there ever really be that relationship where there is click and chemistry and laughter and kindness and someone that would like to be with me as much as I would like to be with them?
I pretty much thought (a few times during the date) that it probably wasn't "there".
But maybe I should give it a chance.
He just might be good for me.

it's been a long weekend

So I've been trying to keep myself distracted.
Friday night I headed out to see B's new place with the rest of the Canada Crew.
We headed over to a pub for some drinks and food.
I'm going to pretend I wasn't totally distracted and thinking about MrAttorney especially when he texted and called.
I may have texted him back that night.

Then Saturday I woke up early to help my friend Kay move downtown.
What a bitter pill jealousy is to swallow.
I wish I was moving downtown.
And again the volley of texts back and forth between MrAttorney and myself is almost comical.

Moving is never this fun!

It is the second time I helped someone move in the last two months.
The first time was MrAttorney.
It always blows my mind because the last 15% of stuff out of a place is the WORST to move.
And both MrAttorney and Kay kind of aren't the most organized people.

Anywho I ended up calling B in for re-enforcement due to Kay's miscalculation of only 3 boxes and a rack of clothes became my SUV filled to the max.
After we moved her in she took us for DimSum.

One of my fav places in the city for dim sum...totally ornate and so fun!  Also going to ignore that I found out about this place from going with MrAttorney.  But it literally is across the street from Kay's new apartment.

And then made to order cookies...at The Red Bench.
Kind of like the Marble Slab Ice cream place where you pick the base and then the mix ins.
Only they make hot yummy mini cookies!!!
My new fav place for dessert.



And I'm trying to be upbeat and my usual self but I know I'm just kind of sad.
And my friends see it.
Kay told me "you need to go no contact on his ass!" 
I know this is the right thing to do but boy am I struggling.

Here I go to trying to make the second half of this long weekend a bit better than the first half.
Or at least try to distract myself...

Kitchen Nightmares

It's a week in Canada where we recognize Nurses and all the hard work that they do.
So I decided to do something I always swear I won't...bake.
I'm no Taylor or SoMidwestern
They are basically Martha Stewart but cooler, younger and prettier.

Every time I bake I usually always wonder why.
It always costs a ton by the time I pick up ingredients.
It always takes a ton of time where I'm generally frustrated or burn myself etc.
It always makes a huge mess.

Seriously look at this ridiculousness of a mess (also this is basically my entire counter space...because my condo is teeny!)

One of my nurses loves Nutella and I had come across this recipe here.
This is what I was trying to make.

Pic from here

4.5 hours later.
And I had exactly 5 out of 48 cookies that weren't completely atrocious.
Seriously all that work to make 5 cookies.

So annoyed.
I followed the recipe to the letter.
I even browned butter for the first time in my life!
And I didn't even get a chance to eat one.

Next time I'm buying a dessert from Nadege.
Like I did for January bookclub.

Nadege's Salted Caramel Tart...aka AMAZINGNESS

Sigh

PS the post was basically a forced distraction ...I haven't heard from MrAttorney since Monday and I can't help but think of the movie He's Just Not That Into You

the sixth

Tuesday night after a stressful day at work 
I had to pick up a package at our Brampton office location
Which is a HUGE pain in the butt seeing as I was in the downtown location.

This meant fighting horrific traffic during peak times
And as I texted over lunch this to MrAttorney 
He actually offered to keep me company

So instead of battling it on my own cursing the overcrowed Toronto roads.
We had some laughs
And got to chat

After we headed back to his place (downtown where all the cool people ie. my friends also live).
Decided to head to Gusto101 for dinner.
One of my favs since they also on Trattoria Nervosa (which you may remember as the last food stop from when Taylor last visited Toronto).

Pic from here

And we had wine and shared food and just laughed.
From there we headed to SpiritHouse Toronto.
Which I've always wanted to go to but haven't had a chance.

Pic from here

A very cool vibe.
Actually the more I think about it the more I liked it.
For a drink 
(me a Kir Royale (my fav) and a Bramble for him (he teased me that I ordered him a girly drink but had no problem with how good it tasted)

Pic from here

We were having so much fun that we walked to BarChef to share a molecular cocktail.

Pic from here

I always like going to barchef because it is dark and romantic.
And let's be real the molecular cocktails blow my mind!

Pic from here

Just one of those nights where time flies by much too quickly.
I'm just waiting for him to get sick of me lol

the fifth

so MrAttorney was between firms for about a week 
so he spent it in Miami where his younger brother lives.
Now we just started hanging out so I didn't expect to hear from him much

To my surprise he did message me on a few occasions and even took up my suggestion to go see the parking garage at 1111 Lincoln Road which I'm currently obsessed with
Parking garage by day...

Pic from here

Cool venue space by night...

Pic from here

I must see this the next time I'm in Miami!
So after my sorority meeting downtown this past Monday night he asked for me to stop by
because he had a gift for me 

He brought me back macarons from Miami.
Which I thought was so sweet and kind.
After all anyone who knows me at all know my obsession with these perfect little desserts

Pic from here

I was impressed that he would cart these delicate little desserts back just for me.
I'll keep you posted on how things go
I have to admit I don't want to jinx it
because we all know it only takes 17 dates before things tend to crumble apart
guess I'll just have to enjoy the next possible 12

third date

So does a third date warrant a Mr title?
Anywho so on Sunday I had a meeting with a potential business partner.
And after I was downtown so I called him.
He suggested we grab a late brunch at a super cute place called School in the Liberty Village area of Toronto.

Pic from here

So we parked at his place and headed over.
And I can just yap away.
He makes me laugh, he's intelligent and he's handsome (though not exactly my type...you know me I usually love the big huge guys lol...maybe this is the type of change I need.).
After we decided to walk down Queen Street West area of Toronto.

Pic from here

Stopping at Nadege for my fav macarons.

Pic from here

He agreed they were amazing!
So after walking around he suggested that he come up to my place (because I live way far out of the city).
I was a little nervous because I'm not sure how I feel about having people in my place.

So he came over and we had chinese food and martinis (I know kind of a weird combination).
Since he just finished up a job and is switching firms he had the week off.
So he ended up sleeping over.
Only I cooled things off before they went too far.

And it was nice.
Especially waking up to him and his rumpled hair.
And I find myself trying not to get too excited because let's me real...three dates in means nothing.
Heck the furthest things have gone since Spencer is 17 dates.
So I feel myself trying to hold back a bit.

Another fab girl's night

Had another fantastic girl's night out last Wednesday.
It involved 7 of us girls from the Canada Crew and Ethiopian food.
Have you ever had it?

Pic from link below

Besides being delicious and a TON of food...our bill for 7 of us (plus 1-2 beers/wines each) came to $94.73!
We will definitely being doing this again.
We went to a place called Nazareth.

Pic from here

We already have put on the calendar an Ethiopian night in May!
And it is super great that I am finally feeling like I have a great group of girlfriends here in Toronto...and that my fellow bloggers is BLISS!