Modalu Pippa Grab

I want to preface this post by declaring that I love all things British. I have a fascination with the royal family (specifically Kate), enjoy my afternoon cup of tea and have an appreciation for British designers and architecture. I also enjoy the diversity, energy and the central location of London. My grandmother, father, aunts and uncles all studied in London and I may or may not have convinced myself that I would currently be living in London if I had grown up in Nigeria. Anyways, the point of this post is to inform you about another wonderful thing that has come straight out of the UK... the Modalu Pippa Grab.

This past summer the Modalu Pippa Grab became the next "it" bag immediately after Pippa Middleton was photographed carrying it the day after the royal wedding. The shark colour has since become a favorite and Pippa has been known to carry the bag in various colours. I love the style and look of the bag. An added bonus is that it has three main zip compartments which is great for organization and using it for work. I have inspected the bag in person and it looks well-crafted. It is also not very heavy which is a big plus.

Until recently the bag was not available in Canada but luckily Town Shoes has started carrying the line. The Pippa Grab is now available while qualtities last. The bag is also available online at Modalu London.

What do you think of the Pippa Grab and which colour is your favourite?

D.I.Y.: Chalkboard Labelled Mason Jars

I love chalkboard paint simply because it's so practical. It can be used on almost any surface and is great for organization. Over the past few months I have become increasingly frustrated by the lack of organization in my kitchen, specifically my spice cupboard. I hate having bags of spices piled on top of one another. Even more frustrating is when I don't know what a spice is because I haven't labelled it! I have seen chalkboard labelled mason jars on several blogs and thought I'd give it a try. I know you may be thinking that chalkboard labels/stickers may be easier but they usually don't adhere that well. Below is my step by step process:

 Use painter's tape to outine a rectangle on each jar. Paint the inside of the rectangle in one direction. In my experience three coats is optimal. Do each coat in a different direction. I suggest not using spray paint for this project since you can get more precision with a brush. Don't forget that you can be as creative as you want with the shape of the labels!

 I took the painter's tape off after the first coat to prevent ripping off paint with the tape. I did the second and third coats freehand and used a damp cloth to correct any mistakes.

Here's an after shot of my chalkbaord labelled mason jars. I usually use Bistro Chalk Markers since chalk dust creates a mess. For this D.I.Y. I have decided to stick to regular chalk. The chalk markers can leave a shadow of what you've previously written. Since I can't simply spray paint over the labels every month or so regular chalk will do.

What do you think? 

Saturday Brunch Obsession: Morning Glory Cafe

 I am obsessed with brunch and like to try different spots in the city. There's nothing better than sleeping in on Saturday and catching up with friends over brunch. Needless to say I am going to be posting about brunch quite often. Today's pick was Morning Glory Cafe located in Corktown. Morning Glory is one of my fave brunch spots. It's one of those small, quaint spots where I can always count on seeing the same elderly man sipping his coffee while he reads the Saturday paper.  

waffles with sausage and apple/plum compote

Another plus is that the food does not disappoint. It's consistently good and there's a great variety of brunch items, everything from omelettes to french toast and sandwiches. The prices are also good but beware they only take cash. Trust me there are no ATM machines/blanks close by! The spot is also small with little seating but in my opinion the food is worth waiting in line for. 

A Glimpse of My Week

 Reading The Girl Who Played With Fire on my Kobo

 Indulging in a nacho poutine at Smoke's Poutinerie 

 Street art in Kensington Market 

 Doubles!

Jason Wu or Target. Check out my previous post. 

City view from my new office. 

My Jason Wu for Target Pop-Up Shop Experience

Today Target opened it's first ever pop-up shop in Toronto, which is pretty exciting since the first Target store will not be opening in Canada until 2013. I am a huge fan of Jason Wu and was very excited to check out the shop. 

 I was unable to visit the shop until after 4pm and there was not much left when I arrived. Below is a pic of my limited choices. 

 I ended up going home with this sweet sheer/flower tank for only $20. The pink polka dot blouse was also a strong contender.

Overall, I had a great shopping experience. This was also my first time shopping at Target! Did any of you indulge in Jason Wu for Target? What are your favourite pieces?

Dowdy or Chic? Citizens for Humanity Mandy Floral Roll Up Jeans

Loving these Citizens for Humanity Mandy Floral Roll Up Jeans. I am not usually a floral kinda girl but for some odd reason am drawn to these. Toronto has been dull and rainy this "winter" and I'm ready for spring! I can imagine wearing these with wedge heels and a chambray shirt layered over a white tee. What do you think? Dowdy or Chic?

This Week in Nails: Deborah Lippmann Across The Universe

Before I say anything about Deborah Lippmann I want to point out that my cousins Isabel from Walk of Fashion and Maria from Orchard Bloom introduced me to this line. The colours are fun to wear and it's hard to get bored of them. I especially enjoy layering the silver sparkles over other nail polishes.  I think you can say I quite enjoy them and am near the point of obsession. Check out my collection:

Across The Universe, Today Was a Fairytale, Money Now Sleep Later and Good Girl Gone Bad 

This week's colour is "Across the Universe." It's fun and can be worn day or night. It's a mix of blue and green sparkles and works best when worn over a dark blue polish. I used O.P.I.'s Yoga-Ta Get This Blue. What do you think?

Farmer's Market Baskets

Loving these farmer's market baskets from Anthropologie that come in various colours and sizes. They are perfect for the upcoming spring and summer months and are great for entertaining.  What do you think?

Cozy Hot Chocolate

On a cold winter day nothing seems more comforting than a big mug of hot chocolate. My first choice is always SOMA chocolatemaker located in Toronto's Distillery District. I can never decide between the classic dark hot chocolate and the spicy Mayan hot chocolate (made with chillies). Today I chose the dark.

 SOMA also offers a great selection of chocolates that are made in an on-site "chocolate laboratory." I tried the dark chocolate laced with pepper and salt. It was divine!