{the weekend...}

As a self-proclaimed chocoholic, I love stumbling on a good new dessert. After cheering on C's Dad at the Scotia Bank Marathon yesterday, we piled into the car and made our way to this bizarre icecream shop where garden gnomes, tobogans and enormous icecream cones decorate the walls - inside and out! At Dutch Dreams, the cones come with a heap of fruit, whipped cream and a waffle on top of your scoop! Or, like C's Dad, you can opt for a full litre shake. I went for the Heavenly Dutch chocolate icecream, obviously.

*photos via C's iphone.

{the many magnolias of nyc...}

Am I really seeing little snowflakes out my office window? To think just yesterday I was in warm and sunny NYC where Central Park's magnolia trees are in full bloom.

It was a packed 2 days but my event on Wednesday night at the Essex Hotel was a great success... phew!

I can't say that I would ever stay at the Hudson Hotel again. Funky outdoor bar, but the strobe lights in the lobby and the teeny tiny rooms just didn't do it for me.

I did however scout some amazing venues for my next visits, had a lovely dinner on the August patio, and finally got a taste of my first Magnolia Bakery cupcake. The icing was sensational!

I'll be spending the weekend in my wee art space working on wedding invitations for friends. With magnolias on my mind, I think I'll leave Jane's post open on my laptop for inspiration... aren't these photos gorgeous?!

photos: magnolia tree from my bberry and cupcake from here.