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

Cos (Collection of Style)

Keeping up with my impromptu series on my discoveries in Madrid, here is another gem that is taking the European fashion world by storm.  Cos, which stands for Collection of Style, is a chain of high fashion retail stores owned by Swedish, H&M which offers the best in minimalist, good quality, fashion at affordable (almost H&M) prices.  Currently you can find Cos stores in Spain, Sweden, Germany, UK, France, Ireland, Denmark, and Belgium.

When I first walked by Cos, I wasn’t sure what I was looking at, and didn’t seem to pay much attention as it looked like “just another retail store.”  However, upon entering this mecca of minimalist fashion, I was hooked!  If H&M is your go-to destination for the bohemian, trendy, hipster, party look, then Cos is for the sophisticated, stylish, business person on a budget.  The store concept was launched back in March of 2007 and currently has (approx) 35 stores across Europe selling clothes for both men and women. If you find yourself in Europe anytime soon, in a city that has a Cos, and you are looking for “grownup” work clothes, fashionable going out clothes, I would 100% recommend this brand.

via Paul Farrell

via Pentagram

via besnob.fr

via Boutdelu

via noggy 73

fun & basics

Let me take this opportunity to give you the low-down on a terrific accessory store in Madrid that I found (one of MANY!!), called Fun & Basics.  A team of four started designing functional fun and basic accessories back in 1994 that proved to be quite popular among family and friends.  They opened their first store in 1997 and haven’t looked back since.

Fun & Basics now has stores in most major cities in Spain and several in Italy as well, as distribution in other retailers.  When I was in Madrid, I visited their store on Fuencarral in the Chuecca district as well as their store in Salamanca.  I think I returned three times to check out their purses and shoes as I was inspired by their designs.  The stores in general are minimalist in their decor and are well stocked with purses, shoes, bags, and jewelry that are bursting with colour.  I think the appeal of Fun & Basics is the simplicity of their style and the diversity of the materials and styles produced.  By the way, Fun & Basics also has a blog here if you want to keep up to date on who is wearing their items and which fashion magazine they are being featured in next!

via fashionfromspain.com

photo via Rizi Mendes

via 11870

bimba & lola

I am in Madrid visiting my brother, along with my family, to attend his graduation later this week.  On my first day in the city, I was given a brief shopping tour by my brother’s girlfriend who introduced me to Spanish retailer, bimba & lola.  Bimba & Lola is a funky brand of stylish leather goods, jewelry, accessories and clothing.  Right now I am coveting a couple bags and some accessories that are currently on sale (apparently, July in Madrid = sales).  Still deliberating as to whether I am going to make the purchase but nevertheless, here ere are a couple shots of what I like from their summer 2011 line.

Photo Credits:

(1) The Groovini (2) Plussixfive Magazine (3) Bented (4,5,6,7) Bimba & Lola Store

A home in Denmark

Can this be my home?!?  I love the contrast between the black kitchen and fireplace against the natural wood beams and floor.

Photo Credit:

(1) Tim Bjorn via From Scandinavia with Love for Bo Bedre (an awesome interior design magazine)