Category: Hide The Credit Cards

American Retail Invasion

The Americans are coming!  (in the form of more retail stores, that is).

We already have homewares shop Crate & Barrel at Yorkdale Mall, but their hipper, more modern spinoff CB2 is coming to the corner of Queen and Bathurst in downtown Toronto.  They’re taking over the space that was formerly the Big Bop concert hall.

You’ve probably already heard that J. Crew is coming to Toronto.

And move over Winners… discount fashion shop Marshalls is on its way.  One will open near King and Richmond, where the nightclub Circa used to be.

Now if only those rumours about Target coming to Canada were confirmed…

Update!  Target IS coming to Canada!  Read all about it here.

[kind of related – you can now shop Gap and Banana Republic online from Canada.  They’re doing free shipping for orders over $50, or if under that it’s $8 flat rate shipping, with no duty or handling fees.]

Baby Wishlist: Rabbit Lamp

The more I read about all-things-baby, and how to decorate a baby’s room, I have learned that having lots of different lighting is key.  Table lighting, overhead lighting, night lights, etc.  Right now all we have is a garish overhead light in the soon-to-be-baby’s-room, and that just won’t do.  Imagine turning that on at 3am for a diaper change or feeding?  No thank you.

On my baby wish list is this adorable rabbit lamp from Anthropologie.  It looks cute on its own, and when you turn it on, it provides a soft glow.  Adorable, no?

PS – would you consider a teapot as a pendant light?  Crazy.

Gourmet Cookie Book

Yesterday Ian and I were watching CBS Sunday Morning (yep, we watch Sunday Morning and 60 Minutes every week – we’re quite the old married couple), and we saw this story on Gourmet Magazine’s new Cookie Book.  The editors of Gourmet have gone through their archives and selected one cookie recipe per year from 1941-2009.  Of course, the book is great for bakers looking to expand their repertoire, but it also offers an interesting look at social history, as it features “headnotes describing their cultural context, the recipes present a fascinating bite-by-bite history of how our appetites evolved.”

The Gourmet Cookie Book would be a great last-minute gift idea for the baker or cookie historian in your life…

In the ‘Hood: Bobette & Belle

A new cake/treat/coffee shop has opened a few blocks from me – Bobette & Belle.  This is their first retail store, but they’ve been around for a while… turns out the owners (cake decorator Allyson Meredith Bobbitt and former Canoe pastry chef and Soma chocolatier Sarah Bell) are quite celebrated in the wedding industry for their spectacular cakes and beautiful treats and macaroons.

Pop in to their gorgeous shop for a cup of Balzac’s coffee, sit on a comfy sofa, and enjoy a sandwich, tart or scone (with clotted cream – yum).  A perfect way to spend a winter afternoon.

[image from the Eye Weekly writeup of Bobette & Belle]

Jonathan Adler Pipe Match Strike

I know this is ridiculous.  Even though it has a function, I can totally live without it.  But I can’t help loving this Pipe Match Strike.  It would look so good on my mantelpiece!

This is my favourite Jonathan Adler product since the Giraffe Lamp.  And it’s a lot cheaper.  That’s it, I’ve decided, if I see one of these, I’m picking it up.

PS – did you see this photo gallery of Adler’s work over at House and Home?  Swoon.

On My Christmas List: Classic Movies

There are a few classic movies that I just love, and will watch over and over again.  And now that we have a Blu-Ray player (it’s part of how Ian talked me into getting a PlayStation 3 game system), I’d like to have these films in my home collection.  Both North by Northwest and Dr. Zhivago have special anniversary editions available on Blu-Ray.  These are definitely on my Christmas List this year – I have a feeling we’ll be spending many evenings watching movies this winter (as I get bigger and bigger).  And there’s nothing like curling up with Dr. Zhivago on a cold winter night!

My faves from the One of a Kind Show

Kinnon and I hit up the One of a Kind show on Sunday.  I was very very good – I didn’t buy anything!  But I did collect a handful of business cards for online shopping later.

Here were my five favourite artisans from the show:

Ceramik B: gorgeous handmade ceramics by Basma Osama.  When we walked by, both Kinnon and I went “ooooooh”.  We just had to pick up some of the bowls and mugs… the organic shapes were calling to us.  The interlocking shaker set (pictured above) was amazing.

Flakes Paperie had a tiny booth set up, and were mostly selling Holiday cards and 2011 calendars.  I’m okay in those departments, but I always love me some pretty paper.  Flakes has an Etsy shop, but there’s only one product there… I hope they add more soon!

Mizzonk has a few different products, but their paper art is amazing.  Wouldn’t you love to have this art print (above) hanging on your wall?  Watch the video on the product page of their website and see the piece in its 3D glory.

And of course, I fell for some of the baby clothing and accessories at the show.  My favourites were the 100% natural, soft, simple sleep sacks by Poids Plume, and the baby kimono onesies from Redfish Kids Clothing.

If you’re heading to the One of a Kind show, check these out, and let me know what your favourites are!

Update: Many of my faves from the show were also favoured by House and Home magazine.  Check out their blog post on the show here.