Architectural Bake-Off in Fitzroy Square

There is so much going on in London!

I remember feeling that way about Toronto, too, it seemed that every single weekend there were at least 5 cool things to check out, new gallery exhibitions, concerts, trivia nights, film festivals, park parties. Other than a few die-hard extroverts, I think it's safe to say my friends and I fell into a content pattern of drinks, food, and movie nights with only the occasional out-of-the-ordinary Toronto experience.

As a newcomer to London, I'm focussed on keeping track of all the cool stuff and actually going to some of them! (Feeling very grateful for Time Out right about now!) Last weekend was the architectural bake-off in Fitzroy square, a competition that pitted 8 architecture firms against each other as they tackled the building of an iconic London structure using cake!!

Read on for all the delicious details and pics.....

Top 5 | Stores I Love in London

Today, I want to write to you about London retail!

As a retail specialist, obsessed with customer experience, there's a special spot in my heart for stores. Okay, and I really enjoy shopping, some could say it's a sport I've been perfecting for the past 20 years (yikes, I feel old!).

Since arriving, London has introduced me to many new stores. They are too delightful to keep to myself, and I can only hope some of them make the hop across the pond to Toronto by the time I move back.

5. Argos
Full disclaimer - I live above an Argos and the insane convenience factor is a big part of the charm - but not the only reason it's on this list, obviously. Argos offers the old school method of catalogue shopping, modernised for the way of the future. Walk into store and there is no merchandise. Seriously, it's a storefront full of anchored iPads that is always packed full of people buying random things that appear magically from behind the service desk as soon as the order is placed. Why don't we have one of those in Canada?!

What I Ate | Pie Minister

Hiya!

I have the blessing of working close to Leather Lane Market, a vibrant collection of epic street vendors, food stalls, random collections of clothing sold for questionable prices (as in, this must have been robbed off a truck, no?), and the odd arts/design shop.

On this overcast Monday, the British staple meal of 'pie' was beckoning to me.  Our very first day, catching a taxi from Farringdon station with all 6 of our suitcases, Henry and I received a great lecture from our taxi driver about pie. He waxed lyrical about the deliciousness, variety, hearty health benefits of this tried and true English fare. You can have it with chicken, steak, pork, lamb, veal, even some peas and mash for those who refuse to indulge in carnivorous delights (C'est moi!).

I've walked by Pie Minister many times, their adorable little yellow bird logo has always caught my eye. I noticed they have Meat Free Monday special on their vegetarian pies, and decided today was the day I officially become something of a British stereotype.

I ordered the 'Heidi' pie, with spinach, goat cheese and sweet potato, along with a side of mashed potatoes and red wine gravy. Wow, wow, WOW! Hot, flavourful, difficult to cut so I just removed the top and scooped out the insides hehe. It was delightful! I was especially obsessed with the red wine gravy, which added a hint of sour flavour to the ultra rich creaminess of everything else.

I give Pie Minister 8/10 - though it's a big too heavy for everyday eating. I should also note the whole meal cost £5.40, which is decent but not the best I've found in the neighbourhood.

Hope you're having a wonderful Monday!

British Advertising

I haven't had television service for many, many years. Netflix and streaming have made it way too easy to go without.

BUT, the flat we've moved into has TV service, hundreds of channels, maybe it's satellite? I suppose I'm not really up with the television lingo these days. And one thing that's blowing my mind a little is the commercials in the UK. Some are pretty funny, others are quite distasteful. And while many are boring, just like North American commercials, I'm noticing far more that fall onto either extremes of the spectrum.

My personal favourites are from Just Eat, here's the best:

Just Eat

I also like this one, for Money Super Market, it's a little cheeky but pretty funny. 

Money Super Market

Hope you enjoy!

Hiiii Ate us

I'm back from a couple months hiatus, and I'm incredibly excited to be writing this in my 'flat' in London!

Many apologies for the lapse! Moving countries, leaving a job, packing up, unpacking, packing up, unpacking, and getting settled are the things that have kept me from you. I've had 'write a blog post' on my to do list for the past 5 weeks and it's taken me that  long to sit down and focus - I've been distracted, to say the least.

Anywho! The move has gone smoothly, we've braved the rain, hail and even snow over the past few weeks in order to reach this beautiful London summer weather. Yesterday was shorts and Tshirt weather, last weekend I got a sunburn in the park, a couple nights in a row our room was too hot to sleep in and we have no air conditioning. I'm loving every moment of it!

There are a number of things I want to share with you about London but, since pictures are worth a thousand words, I will share some of my photos. More detailed stories to follow!

 I love the glass and brick on this random building in my neighborhood

 Quintessential British pic, tophat and all

Same day as the phone booth pic. Henry and I braved the crowds near Westminster and had a tourist-y Saturday 

 This is the bird watcher's cottage in a park near Big Ben

The day was so hot, and this diligent guard was suited up to the max, sitting silently and straight-faced atop this horse. There was a crowd of people waiting to take selfies. It was odd.

This graffiti is on the South Bank near Waterloo Bridge.

 Stumbled upon an outdoor flower market and lost my mind. Can I move in?!

Shot of Big Ben from the South Bank 

 This is a very old wall, and I think it's called something like Rose Glass Window (?)

Borough Market

Top 5 | Favourite Instagram Profiles Right Now

Instagram is great. I tried to give up social media on Sundays, as part of a long list of very aggressive New Year resolutions. Unfortunately, Instagram is so ingrained in my muscle memory that I found myself on it and scrolling before my mind caught up to scream "NOOOOOOOOOO" - and by then it was way too late to close the app (obviously.). Waiting for the streetcar, waiting for the elevator, waiting in the elevator, waiting for my boyfriend to tie his sneakers, my days are apparently full of waiting - and full of prime Instagram time.

So, I've given up my NYR (and all other resolutions, it should be noted), and I've also given more thought to Instagram recently. Here are my 5 favourite Instagram profiles right now:

Weekday Inspiration | Travels

Hi friends,

I've been traveling these past few weeks and couldn't stop taking photos of the beautiful space around me. In the absence of time for a long, text-heavy post, I'd like to share some of my photos with you.

Hope you enjoy!

Denver, CO