{holiday sparkle... engaged!!!}

At the whirlwind of holiday-time, I am back with very exciting news: C and I are getting married!

He proposed in the beautiful lounge of the Soho Hotel before we walked to a delicious and cozy dinner at Marben. I was so suprised and so overwhelmed, it has taken me a week (and a work trip to Vegas!) to recover.

What better way to celebrate the magic and sparkle of Christmas!

* photo via flickr.

{the little things...}

I woke up on the wrooong side of the bed this morning. Hey, it happens right?

But all was turned right-side up again when I showed up to work to find that a colleague had brought in St-Viateur Montreal Bagels from a weekend in Quebec. An absolute Canadian indulgence, they are best eaten lightly toasted with whipped cream cheese.

Amazing how the little things can brighten a day, eh?

* photos from here and here.

{bonne fête à moi...}

I have so much to be thankful for on my 31st birthday! My older sis is in town from Vancouver (I made her a tiny little guest room out of my art studio) and we're all going to feast at Harbord Fish & Chips across the street from our house. The little picnic tables are perfect for today's 31 degree weather!

*cupcake

{snails and chicken in barcelona!...}

When C and I went to Barcelona a few years ago, we had an amazing dinner with my cousin at Los Caracoles (translation: snails) after a bike ride around the city.
In the heart of the Bari Gòtic, you're easily lured by the scrumptious smell of roast chicken pouring into the street. When you first step in, you stand with a cerveza in the busy front bar before your name is called and you're led through the open-fire kitchen and into an enormous, rustic underground taverna.
I've saved a post card on my desk in case we ever had the chance to go back, and now we have a reservation for our night in Barcelona after our week in Mallorca!



* photos from here, here and here.

{these lights will inspire you...}

I've been dying to get to this great little bistro in the West Village - August. I nearly had my next event on the back patio - can't you just see a private little cocktail party with appies made by the wood-fired oven, tea-light candles and hanging twinkly lights?

*photos from here.

{a few of my favourite things...}

Sushi. Hot Chocolate. Antiques.
I had an absolutely perfect weekend, starting with a Friday night date to the new Japanese mini tavern at the corner of our street - Akai Sushi. My expectations were beyond exceeded!

Saturday took me to my old Roncesvalles stomping grounds and all the little antique and coffee shops. It was so cold, I just had to taste the hot chocolate from both Mitzy's and Cherry Bomb... A little comparison: Cherry Bomb's is slightly more delicious ;)


Oh, and yesterday, C and I picked up our barn board to build a shelf for our living room and our dining room harvest table!

{the gorgeous greenwich..}

Here I am in sunny LA (the rains may return tomorrow, boo!). I had a spectacular time in NYC and am already busy planning my next trip in February. Oh, what I would do to stay at the gorgeous Greenwich Hotel in Tribeca. Wonder if I can secure myself a reso at its Locanda Verde restaurant... the handmade gelati is calling my name!

photos courtesy of the greenwich hotel.

{new york to do list...}

I've got just one more day to dot my "i's" and cross my "t's" for my work trip to New York where I get to host some great client events!
Left to do:
*speak to the sommelier at Bar Boulud about serving a bottle of non-alcoholic wine for one guest

*reconfirm reservation and guest list for lunch at Novita

*decide what to wear for dinner at Ouest!
*photos from here, here and here.