Weekend Musings** | Thoughts on Fashion

Nope, no photos yet :p we just got our modem ("router?") in the mail and wi-fi soon to follow, keeping my fingers crossed it's today.

I've been binge reading To Universe with Love because it's amazingly epic, full of good insight, delicious writing and dreamy photographs. It's currently instructing my approach to de-cluttering, minimising my closet, and leveraging online for selling clothes that I clear out.

AND, I'll admit, I'm selling clothes online that were never really mine to begin with....

Review | Energy Yoga in London

You may remember my less-than-perfect experience with yoga in the past.

But a girl's got to move, and I've given up running - for now.

I'm all about seeing my friends, and keeping good connections going with lots of face time, so when my good pal expressed interest in yoga and asked if I was down - of course I immediately said yes! And in all honesty, I've been feeling more stressed, sleep is not as quality as it has been, and giving myself the space and time to relax seemed really important.

We checked out a new studio, Energy Yoga, last week after a random Google search listed the studio in its results.

Weekday Inspiration | Not a Halloween Post

Ola!

Such poor form, yet oddly fitting: October has had just two posts, but at least they were timed on the first and last day of the month.

Life has been a busy blur and I'm so behind on lovely posts for you people. Deep apologies, and a truly confused feeling of how October has already flown by. How was it that a whole month has gone by since my haircut? Or that the weather is still a balmy 17 degrees in London? Or that it's literally Halloween today - something of a big marker for me that the end of the year is coming close.

There are Christmas light festivals starting next weekend. My (completely unoriginal) cat costume is back in it's hiding place. I've officially experienced and survived the mandatory change of seasons cold (despite the weather still being pretty exceptional for London). And loved ones in Canada are experiencing the cold and snow of every Canadian winter. Soon, I'll be on the other side of my first winter away from the homeland, a fact that still surprises me.

Housing changes and life administrative stuff has put me in the position of no wi-fi for another week - and it's already been one week! Surprisingly, I hardly miss the wi-fi. I've been digging into my library books with a vengeance, and am so into the latest book: Kazuo Ishiguro's Hidden Giant. Ok, I'll admit, I haven't read that review I linked to. I'm too paranoid about spoilers or having a reviewer's opinion impact mine or colour my own experience of the book.

I've gone on some trips, and taken hundreds of photos (many of the same thing, in true fashion), and I'm so looking forward to sharing these with you.

I've missed this practice of writing whatever, posting my favourites, and just feeling somewhat connected with the kind strangers who give me their time and attention.

With the end of the year comes a renewed commitment to all the things I love. Work is busy as ever, but there's always a bit more downtime in the winter, largely due to more holidays and poor weather that makes staying indoors even more appealing. And with indoor downtime comes more opportunity for posting and having fun on the Internet.

So please know this: you are cherished, I am grateful, and words can't express my happiness that you're reading this and giving me a little bit of your time.

I'm sorry for the lapse in communication, but so excited for some new things on the way.

Happy Halloween!

Weekend Musings | Autumn Feels

Hi there!

It's October 1, and starting to officially feel like autumn in London. Leaves are on the ground, evenings and mornings are cool. I have yet to smell that warm, fire-y smoke from chimneys yet, but perhaps Londoners burn less fires than Torontonians? There was that big fire, after all...

I'm back from a bunch of traveling, fun and festivities with friends, and can't wait to share them with you! This season is the start of something wonderful, and the recent new moon has me feeling all sorts of good vibes.On the topic of fresh starts, a haircut last weekend has me feeling brand new. I'll admit, it took me the full week to get used to it, haircuts are so weird like that, huh? But now I love it!

There's also been a lingering cold in my body for the last week (another sure sign that autumn is upon us!) and I'm taking it very easy this weekend. I've recently become addicted to Dinner Date, after hearing about it from our trivia presenter last week where we failed horribly despite our unfailing confidence. That is on my agenda for the evening, the perfect combo of cooking shows vs. blind dates.

Many more posts to come, with lots of photos - I promise!

xx

What I Ate | Baba Boom

Whenever a new restaurant opens nearby my home, I feel a sense of optimism like no other. Especially when it's a new place offering brunch.

We stumbled into Baba Boom for a Sunday brunch, after learning that food was 50% off for their opening week - mind you, this was a few weeks ago. Good brunch has been hard to come by in London, and being spoiled with Insomnia benedicts for the better part of 6 years has not made the transition easy. However, I am proud to announce, I think I've found my new favourite spot for brunch in London!

The decor is enough to draw me in, and though simple, the menu certainly caught my eye as I walked by Baba Boom during construction. I ordered their veg breakfast option, a toss up of avocado, eggplant (or aubergine as the Brits say), fried eggs, halloumi and a little spice. Their sauces are delightful and the food was cooked perfectly. I was completely satisfied with the portion size, and even without a discount I would completely agree the food was worth every last pence. Next step is trying their dinner menu - a task I will relish...

Click through for more pics!

  

Photography | Walking to Kentish Town

Fun Things | Drinking in our Neighbourhood

London is a mega city, knitting together many different boroughs/neighbourhoods/sections into a beautiful collection of fun things and cool people. I love my neighbourhood, but am always keen to explore a new 'neck of the woods' as they say (well, as I say...).

When we first arrived, it was a weekly goal of ours to spend at least one weekend day transiting to a new neighbourhood and walking around, soaking in the sights, trying a new restaurant, or having some drinks on our wander. New neighbourhoods like Chelsea, Angel, Putney, Greenwich, and Shoreditch are fun and full of new adventures. However, there are still some places close by us that we can't help but visit on a regular basis.

Pop Brixton lasts all summer and consists of bars, food spots, and some retail, operating out of shipping containers. (All the rumors are true - Londoners love their shipping containers). If you get there early you just may be lucky enough to score a seat and get your food / drink in under 5 minute waiting time.

We Brought Beer is an amazing find, nestled on the high street close to us, and not more than a 7 minute walk from ours. We stumbled upon it, and have been going back ever since for their eclectic collection of craft beers from all over, and their back patio. Sort of a hybrid bar/retailer, this place will sell you beer and then let you drink it in their 'garden'. They also have a rotating selection of draught beers to drink, or fill your growler with. Oh yeah - and they sell chocolate!

Click on for more pictures from our recent neighbourhood adventures!

Weekday Inspiration | Cool Toilets

Toilets can be cool.

I never liked the wold 'toilet' but have learned to use it quite regularly in my lingo, now that I'm living in London. And, perhaps because of this (not really) I've grown a next level of appreciation for cool toilets (or 'washrooms') since.

Here are some pics of my favourite toilets from these last few weeks. One at the ultra adorable Middle Eastern eatery Baba Boom, and one at the infamous Indian restaurant Dishoom. Delicious food, pretty cute toilets too...

Photography | King's Cross & Canal Walk

What I Ate | A Saturday in Soho

You know those days when you're just a bottom-less pit of hunger, and you spend all your time exploring and looking for good food?

That's how one Saturday started, as I made my way through Soho to have ice cream and ramen, both from new places, both with a certain Japanese twist, and both eaten probably in the wrong order - ice cream and then ramen muahahahah. Both were completely unexpected but very welcome.

First stop, Milk Train, tucked away on a side street in Covent Garden / theatre district area. We stumbled upon this, and after seeing happy customers walking out and photographing their beautiful works of ice cream art, we knew this was one opportunity we just couldn't pass up. I got the matcha and I have to admit it just wasn't really my thing. We didn't get the cotton candy halo, maybe that's where we went wrong?

Second stop, Shoryu Ramen, another completely random choice that we thought of when we saw it's exterior. And that we fully ran into once we noticed the 50% off deal in the window. The ramen was delicious, and any spot that gives you a half peeled head of garlic cloves as a topping will obviously rank highly in my books. I chose the Dracula Tonkutsu and was not disappointed.

Click through for me pictures

Photography | Mosaic in Tottenham Court Road

I've started commuting via tube twice a day, minimum, and am feeling more and more British as a result. When I think back to all the space we Torontonians took for granted, 8:30am at Bloor/Yonge ain't got nothing on the tube lines here! Despite the sheer vastness of lines, stations and trains running through London, any tube you ride between 8am - 10am, or 5pm - 7pm (or, as they would say here, 17:00 to 19:00) is positively massacred. Armpits in my face, Head curved into whatever corner will fit it, jostling with strangers who are all trying their best to ignore each other and immerse themselves in books, music, papers, or Candy Crush (in my case).

Though I don't go through Tottenham Court Road on my commute, I happened to be in that station last week after some Soho adventures. And I was struck by the beauty and aesthetic of the station. Mind you, when most stations are 3 - 5 stories submerged under ground, consisting solely of soulless concrete tunnels jam packed with humans, it doesn't take much to switch up the pattern.

Here are some photos of the beautiful mosaic featured at TCR station.

Weekend Musings | Selfridge's

Oxford Circus is a mess of mayhem. The combination of tourists, shoppers, noise, lights, action, and oddities can be a little overwhelming. Fun, though, and many exciting, world renowned attractions. Selfridge's flagship store is one such attraction that's earned worldwide notoriety.

I was breezing through this are a little while ago and, despite being in a hurry and feeling anxious to get away from the throngs of people, I was struck still by the window displays in Selfridge's. So. Beautiful. Inspired by Shakespeare, windows were emblazoned with quotes from his greatest works, and the fashion featured was decidedly sumptuous, regal and luxurious.

Truthfully, it reminded me of Holt Renfrew on Bloor Street in Toronto, and the incredible displays they strike up - particularly around Christmas. Which led me to do a little research and discover that, lo and behold, the Weston family owns Selfridge's flagship store. And they own Holt Renfrew. And they own Loblaws. They are retail royalty.

If you're interested in learning more, here's a link to a really interesting interview with Galen and his daughter, Alannah, who lead the Selfridge's team.

In the meantime, here are some shots (albeit blurry) that I managed to snap inbetween the groups of people walking back and forth.

Weekday Inspiration | Evening Stroll through City Centre

I was enjoying some extra balmy London summer weather, temperature was mid 20s, sun was shining bright. I wasn't ready to go home right away so there I was, strolling through the street, shades on my face and sick tunes blasting through my ears. So many beautiful sights in London!

Photography | Flower Power

Here are some shots from a recent evening walk through my neighbourhood. I love all the green thumbs that seem to live near me. Mid August, peak time for flower blooms?

Fun Things | Saturday Adventures

Last Saturday I went on an adventure to pick up some DJ equipment from a 'Gumtree' ad (like Kijiji). It was weird. 

We followed the address to a street that is full of hotels. A lot of the beautiful, old Victorian row houses in the city centre have been converted to boutique hotels to truly capitalize on their charm and location. This street was no different. Nestled right in the heart of Marylebone, we stumbled into a rather odd little hotel.

It had obviously seen better days, and it was not an intuitive entrance. The front doors weren't even unlocked and it was 1pm! The lobby was pretty dank and dark, but the front desk reception was friendly and helpful. She led us to the person from the ad, a man who was mounted ontop of a pile of nightclub equipment. Turns out he's gutted a nightclub and is selling all the used lights, sound system, DJ equipment, and a lot of other really random stuff.

The incongruity of a gorgeous chandelier, soaring ceilings, high reaching windows and a room full of clutter was certainly odd. So odd that I knew I had to take a photo. Or maybe a few....

Read on for more random-ness captured in photographs.

What I Ate | Polpo

Last week, the beau and I tried a new restaurant. He found it, I was 20 minutes late, he had some pints, I was heavily apologetic. He had been holding a table for us but it came and went before I arrived so we were faced with a 40 minute wait, or seating at the bar. We were HUNGRY, so bar it was. And a nice, roomy bar space at that. It turned out to be the perfect choice as the entrance filled with even more people than were there when I arrived.

The place, you ask? Polpo, a charming and atmospheric spot in Soho. I stuck with their homemade iced tea - I think it was called Bombay Ice Tea? My better half got a Manhattan and raved about it. We ordered a few small plates to share, probably 6 in total. Prices got a little steep, and the food was really mediocre.

Their fennel salad was heavily vinegar and, otherwise, quite plain. We shared the fried, stuffed olives but they weren't even stuffed, just battered and fried :( The grilled focaccia was nothing to write home about. Oh, but here I am writing home. Haha, phrasing fail!

Would we go back? Maybe. But probably not for food. There was a great little 'Campari Bar' downstairs, and the environment is nice.

More and more I'm understanding why that stereotype about British food exists...

Click through for more food shots - if you dare!