There’s No Place Like Home

Well, here we are, safe and sound and back in Toronto. It was a great, albeit very fast paced, trip.  Nathan got to experience wondrous things like IHOP, Dennys and other amazing examples of American cuisine. We ate at Panera far too many times and definitely smuggled a dozen New York bagels across the border.  Besides culinary adventures, we walked around Boston and Providence, experienced a real New York State fall (the colors are spectacular) and got to see Ellis Island and the New York tenement museum (I would HIGHLY recommend both).

As for work stuff, I think both Nate and I realized how many amazing options we have available to us, which is a pretty good feeling, but so is the comfort of your own bed.

Reminisce

Remember when the weather used to look like this and I didn’t have to wear four sweaters inside my house to keep warm?

Also, we can now add “apple picking” to the “new Canadian experiences” list. I’ve never heard of anyone doing it in California! We have apples, but we don’t pick them? Maybe I’ve just been deprived.

Photo by Leah

Good Day Sir!

So normally I don’t post on Saturday because I have things to do and I’m sure you lovely people have things to do besides sit on the internet all day (maybe not, no judgment), but yesterday was a little bit crazy. I always spend Canadian Thanksgiving with Nate’s family who live in a mid-sized city outside of Toronto. After my class I had to rush to the bus station to catch a bus out, which conveniently put me right in the middle of rush hour (which should really be called rush-three-hour because that’s how long I was on this bus).

But I’m here now and the scones I made were delicious! Plus, Nate’s parents have cable, a rare luxury in the life of a poor university student.

 

In the spirit of thanksgiving, falling leaves and pumpkin pie, here are 5 Fabulous Fall Boots (all of which I would be most thankful to receive!).

1. b.o.c by Born Leighton Boot

I want these the most, I think they’re SO lovely. Ugh I would wear them always.

2. Kamlik Rain Boots

I actually own a pair of these babies in that green color above and I LOVE them. They are unbeliavably comfortable and great quality for a pretty reasonable price (made in Canada too!). They come in a lovely array of colors and run a bit small (order a size larger), so they aren’t great if you have big calves, but I would highly recommend them.

3. Beatrice Riding Boots by Jessica Simpson

Nothing beats a great riding boot.

4. Feather by BC Footwear

 

5. Michael Antonio Solange

I’ve been thinking about these boots a lot. I think they would be a pretty good alternative to the ones at the top, but is the heel too high? I think the heel might be too high…

 

Have a lovely weekend! and happy thanksgiving to all :)

Good Tidings

Happy first day of fall!

I hope there is way less rain wherever you are than there is were I am. But even though the spring in my umbrella decided to pop out of them umbrella — it’s complicated — it also stopped raining right as my class ended so I avoided getting soaked. Not all bad.

I also just had one of those grocery store experiences where I went to buy one thing and instead bought six things (they were on sale!) and am now totally spoiling my dinner with fudge cookies.

Tonight, Nate and I are seeing The Great American Trailer Park Musical at Hart House Theater so I can review it for the student newspaper, The Varsity (psst, I also interviewed the director last week, and you can read that here). It sounds like it could be really funny, plus Nate and I rarely get to do fun stuff like this. We’re much more the “sit at home and watch dvd’s of Mad Men” kind of couple.

For now, I’m going to leave you with 4 fall recipes I’m itching to try and 1 that I recommend.

1. Blueberry Yogurt Multigrain Pancakes (Smitten Kitchen)

2.  Gingerbread Apple Up-side Cake (Smitten Kitchen)

3. Handmade Soft Pretzels (Ginger Cook)

4. Fall Fruit Crumble (Gourmet)

5. Plum Cobbler (eat thisssss, it’s delicious).

Have a good, and delicious, weekend!

Something Sparkly

Even though the first day of fall isn’t until Friday, Toronto seems to have gotten a jump on things with a cozy, gray day of rain.  And oddly enough, I’m kinda itching for things to get moving weather-wise. What is this summer/fall limbo?! Where are my piles of leaves, dusky afternoons and streets smelling of wood-fire?! I want to wear all my cozy sweaters, thick socks and one of the bajillion cowl scarves my grandma has knit me over the past six weeks (I literally now have about thirty).  I am happily anticipating Thanksgiving and alllll things delicious.  Last night, I made whole-wheat apple muffins and tomorrow I’m making a plum cobbler and right now a lovely cup of perfectly brewed tea is sitting by my side.

In a weird way, all the things that come with Toronto fall make me anticipate California Christmas. Does that make sense? I’ve never had a “White Christmas” so Christmas-time in California is like fall in Toronto. All this weather makes something inside me  jump up and down and yelp, “Christmas is coming, Christmas is coming!”, even though there are about two-and-a-half months between now and Christmas. It’s kinda cruel, don’t you think? But, when Christmas comes, I get to go home.

In the spirit of Christmas, let’s oogle these gorgeous flats from ModCloth (because I really am in truly, madly, deeply, in love with them and wish I had 40 dollars to spare *cough Christmas present mom, cough*). They’re like the grown-up version of the ruby slipper-esque flats I used to wear ALL THE TIME as a six year old. I believe I also had them in pink and silver.

Some things never change.