oclock: my new watch

I started getting into rubber/non-metal watches a couple years ago with the purchase of my Nooka watch (my first love).  Nooka had a good run and is now starting to disintegrate and look a bit tired, so I replaced Nooka with Oclock, from an Italian company named Full Spot. I purchased the hot looking red watch (bottom watch of first picture) and absolutely love it! I wear it casually and with suits.  It is super light and fun because when you get tired of one band, you can pop out the face and switch up the look with a new band.  The other fun thing about this watch is its packaging; it comes in a tuna-esque can 🙂  Hours of fun, right there.

via oclock-usa

via imtheitgirl.com

via 59diamonds.com

R Studio

A little more from R Studio, one of the stationery designers from Minted.com, whose design I liked.  Renee Stevens is the owner of R Studio and is based in Syracuse, NY.  Her experience and background in mixed media is a strength and really makes her simple, yet bold stationery appealing and standout.  More from Renee here.

via The R Studio

via The R Studio

Hot chocolate layer cake

I have been in serious baking mode lately. In the past two weeks, I’ve made three fruit pies (testing two different types of crusts), a loaf of bread and the piece de resistance, the Hot Chocolate Layer Cake with Marshmallows (no marshmallows on mine) from an issue of Fine Cooking.  I think this was the EASIEST chocolate cake I have ever made. Literally melt a bunch of stuff over a double boiler then combine with dry ingredients and bake.  I would say if you are going to test this out on your own, make it a double layer instead of a triple layer.  I thought the triple layers were a bit thin, but up to you. Also, I modified the chocolate icing recipe for something a bit simpler (butter, bitter-sweet chocolate, icing sugar and milk) which turned out great and omitted the marshmallows.   I love this cake because it is not overly sweet, but it is extremely moist.  Just ask my taste testers.  I think at least seven people tasted it and agreed how moist it was.

via Fine Cooking Magazine

Wedding Planning: Save the Dates

I am happy to report that wedding planning is now in full effect. My fiancée and I decided a couple of weeks ago to plan our wedding in Europe,  Summer 2012.  First thing’s first when planning a destination wedding:  Give your guests as much notice as humanly possible that you are abdicating tradition and fleeing Toronto in pursuit of a romantic, coastal/beach/vineyard/mountainous/palatial destination somewhere Europe.  Sounds more appealing to me!

Back to the save-the-dates.  Selecting save-the-date cards was a simple process, contrary to what I thought would ensue.  I thought I would spend hours browsing all my favourite stationery sites, unable to choose from all the magnificent designs, but I was under a bit of a time crunch to find something, see a proof, have it shipped to Toronto and mailed out before September, so I started with Minted.com and ordered a set without looking anywhere else.  We narrowed it down to four choices from four very talented designers:  The R Studio, Marabou Design, Please Reply Designs, and Ana Gonzalez (i can’t find her site).  I”m not going to spill the beans and tell you which invitation I chose, but…. stay tuned.

#1

via Minted.com by R Studio

#2

via Minted.com by Marabou Design

#3

via Minted.com by Please Reply Designs

#4

via Minted.com by Ana Gonzalez

The best lifestyle store: Isolee

There are few lifestyle stores that I’ve been to that truly execute on the “lifestyle” component well.  Isolee, in Madrid has to be one of the best, if not the best lifestyle store in the world. Isolee has two locations in Madrid and is part cosmetics, fragrances and candles, part accessories, part gadgets, part cafe, part grocery store, part mens/womens clothing and all cool.  It’s not the cheapest store, (lifestyle stores never are) but it is difficult not to walk out of there with something in hand.   They stock an impressive range of loose leaf teas (kusmi, twg tea, revolution, teapigs), chocolate (pancracio, xocoter, cudie) , pasta, sauces, oils, and beverages as well as every modern home/kitchen gadget that you could possibly desire (koziol, bodum, chilewich, lekue, menu, italesse).  Then you get to the clothing part which is amazing.  Pieces appear curated and selectively merchandised around the store.  Lots of fun and worth a stop whether you are in Chueca or in Salamanca.

via absolut madrid

photos via iclip 11870.com