link love

I wanted to post this last night, but wine and a desire to watch The Mindy Project made me reconsider. So to kick off the weekend only a little belatedly, a video is in order. You may have seen it and it's not very weekend-y, but sometimes a really good song by a great band is all you need.

You just know in the first 30 seconds that this song is JUST SO GOOD!

Ok, that's enough with the Mumford-gushing. 

Here are some interesting links I came across during my Internet wanderings this week.

Was I the only one who didn't know about the Montreal Zombie Walk!?

...which reminds me, there's a drug that turns people into zombies? WHAT? The zombie apocalypse has begun!*

Who says we have to wait for summer? Have summer in a glass with Pimm's, Britain's favourite summer drink. 

Anyone going planning on braving the cold and attending Montréal en lumière this year?

Mauritius: a veritable utopia

Looking for a fun appetizer to bring to your next dinner party? Try making a cheese ball (but, from personal experience, please half the recipe!)

*In no way has the zombie apocalypse has begun.

link love

 I am constantly dropping my phone. Rob thinks I'm not careful enough, but I am telling you, that bloody phone has a mind of it's own and it's got a death wish. The solution: get a case, right? Logical enough. But I hate the bulk. I like my sleek white iPhone naked and sexy, even if that means a few scars. 

Then I found this and everything changed. This iPhone cover is probably the COOLEST thing ever!Granted, it's huge! But the vintage camera look makes up for the added bulk. I want one!

So to bring this week to a close, here are some fun links:

10 ways to make traveling a little less stressful.

Anyone feeling nostalgic?

Still new to the world of blogging and lacking inspiration? If you're like me, you may sometimes have a hard time always finding interesting content to share.

Do any of you remember this? I just hear it, and I'm taken back to the time when I was that little girl sitting on the floor, 3 feet from the TV.

Kosher Jokes for the Halalidays: Only in Montreal. Love it!

{image: amazon}

the sense of grace evoked

A couple a weeks ago, I met Jane Heller at souk@sat. Jane is a Montreal-based photographer with a background in graphic design. I was drawn to her kiosk by her simple yet compelling photographs. Among the farm animals and the vintage-inspired scenes, I found some wonderful prints of unexpected Montreal landmarks. 

There were so many great options to choose from, it was an exercise in self-restraint to limit myself to just two items. A lovely print of a white horse that seemed to beckon and a magnet with a beautiful black mare set against a plain, weathered barn.

The Jane Heller etsy shop is definitely worth a look. The items can add an unexpected element to your home or make a great gift. You can also check out Jane Heller's blog and website.

{images: my own}

{jane heller's etsy shop}

yeah, but can you drink from it?

 I generally find most novelty mugs dull, but something about this one really puts a smile on my face. It makes a great stocking stuffer for the photographer in your life. Which is why Rob probably thought it the perfect extra little gift for me. 

But I beat him to the punch. 

Because shouldn't spoil ourselves a little at Christmas?

 And you know, it's true what they say. Everything does taste better in a camera lens.

white antler love

UK-based graphic designer Rowan Stocks-Moore minimalist Disney prints are a take on the darker side of the movies we came to know and love as children. Stocks-Moore cleverly manipulates negative space to create silhouettes framing scenes from our favorite Disney classics.

Guess which one is my favourite.

 

Notice the really cool optical illusion in this one?

{all images: rowan stocks-moore tumblr}

mark your calendar

I love finding original gifts for friends and family. With Christmas fast approaching, I'm very excited to check out souk @ sat, a bazaar in a loft setting where 60 Montreal artists and designers get together to sell their creations. 

You can find stylish and original gifts and encourage local artists all in one place! I love it!

souk @ sat will be held November 30 to December 2 at the Society for Arts and Technology (SAT) at 1201 boulevard Saint-Laurent. Check out their website for artists, hours and more.

{photo: souk @ sat}

loving...

Seafolly swimwear. I'm newly obsessed with this Australian brand. I don't know if this fashion-forward swimwear has been available in Canada for very long, but considering my eternal search for the bathing suit, I'd like to think not - I can't possibly be that oblivious.

Maybe it's this season's line, but a cute little red polka-dot bikini caught my attention from the back of the store. I knew before I had even walked in that I had stumbled upon something (beach) life altering! Seafolly - what a name, the name alone was enough - it brings to mind the feel of the sun, the sound of crashing waves, the smell of salt in the air and all the fun to be had on a scorching summer day at the beach!

Behind the name, there are fantastic bikinis and one-pieces to be found! Oh yes, I said one-piece. In my experience, most one-pieces are a little.. how to say... mom-ish? And I'm not talking about 30-something moms, I'm talking about your mom and my mom. (No offense, mom).

Finally, cute, modern one-pieces and comfortable bikinis for me!!! Bikini shopping has been a burden on my summer vacations that I haven't been able to avoid since I turned 12 and got boobs. Not only does Seafolly have an eclectic array of styles, bold patterns and saturated brights, but eye-catching style that even the coolest fashionista would covet.

Flattering and fashionable, Seafolly has sizes for fuller cups without sacrificing style. Tops and bottoms are sold separately, and tops are sized by cup and band size; so no matter your shape, you can find several comfy, cute options. At the prices they charge though, that's a bit of a curse! Swimwear for all tastes are offered, from leopard print for the sexy vixens to floral patterns for the more feminine or polka dots for the retro gals out there.

So yes, the prices are a little steep, but worth it if you have a hard time finding bathing suit. Go ahead, check out their website, I dare you not to find one you love! The pin-up, coquettish styles are right up my alley - I have my eye on this little striped number.

 

 

 

 

{click here for Seafolly site}

totally loving

...uranium jewelry. Original, urban and a little unrefined. It's made in Canada, and the company is based in Montreal - always a good thing. Beauty, Strength, Love and Creativity are the names of their four unique collections. I especially love the leather braided bracelet.

Click here to see more. 

bake or break

I found a great new baking site, Bake or Break. And I will, bake or break, that is. Everything pictured is mouthwatering, and puts an ache in my belly for lots and lots of sweets. First attempt will be the nutella swirl cheesecake bars. I mean, does it get any better than that? 

It might. At every post, I keep thinking I found the best new recipe ever.

 Ever.

weekend reads

 The weekend has arrived, and the weather forecast calls for sunshine, hot days and warm nights - just the way I love it. I have big plans of lounging in the sun, planting some flowers and catching up on my reading. I just treated myself to the Domino book, which I've been almost-buying since it came out a couple of years ago.

When I went to pick it up at the bookstore (I was planning on walking out of there with a magazine - oops), I took my time and browsed the home decor section.It was with extreme self-control that I limited my purchases to ONE book.

I just found out that the author of Romantic Style, Selina Lake, has her very own blog! Check out her great style here.

 The Selby has been out for quite some time. I love the eclectic homes featured. It's great to get the decor juices flowing making you think outside the box. It's another one of my almost-buys every time I go to the bookstore. One day...

This gem I discovered because of its fantastic title: a perfectly kept house is the sign of a misspent life. What a great thought! I'm a little tough on myself (and the fiance) when it comes to a messy house, so this title really got me thinking. Home decor is not about neat interiors, it's about a home you love, no matter the mess. A lot of home decor books and magazines do not take this in to account, and I think this is a refreshing change.

I'm putting that thought up on my wall.

 {photo credit: design*sponge}

{gillyflower}

{the city sage}

{habitat for hermanity}

penguin classics

I know they're pretty old news, but I felt the need to share Penguin's hardcover classics with you. I bought Little Women a while back and I really enjoyed the story. And now that I'm done reading it, I'm very happy about how nice it looks on a bookshelf. And the fact that these hardcovers are often on sale for less than $10 at Chapters makes me think that I could brighten my bookshelves with a few of these. George Eliot's Middlemarch is definitely next on the list. I love cameos! (And I'm sure it's a very compelling tale.)

Click here to see Penguins many different classics.

brie fondue

 Last Friday, I went to a tapas bar with a girlfriend to celebrate, well, the fact that it was Friday. Amid the orgy of food we ordered, we got a warmed wheel of brie with maple syrup and pecans. Delish!

This Friday, it's off to another tapas bar this time to celebrate a new house, a new job and the end of a wonderful pregnancy (not all the same person). And as a true food-lover, I have scoped out the menu to get a peek of all the yummies awaiting us. Among them, brie with honey this time and nuts. Can't wait!

When you get right down to it this appetizer, while seemingly fancy-shmancy, is so simple! I'm nothing if not a cheese lover, making this my new favourite thing.

cupcakes and cashmere

I know this blog has been around for a while but I never really took the time to really peruse the site. Until this morning, that is. Emily Schuman, the author of the blog, has got it all: style, taste and a serious knack for baking. Everything on her blog is either pretty or delicious-looking, sometimes both! Check it out:

While browsing, I found out that her home (which looks great) was featured on apartment therapy. Cupcakes and cashmere is definitely a great place for any kind of inspiration!

collected magazine

There's always something to find on sfgirlbybay. Latest discovery: collected magazine. Mucho inspiration to be found. And what could possibly be better than a great online (i.e., free) lifestyle mag when moving to a new place? 

I love this kitchen - the mix of the old and the new, the modern and the vintage. It's so painfully me! And I adore the black tiled splashback.

keep it simple, stupid

I need to learn to that less is more. I never think of painting a wall white - it's to easy. I have to complicate my life with several colours, a few patterns and a couple of themes. Cluttered is the word you're looking for.

I can learn a lot from Alvhem Mäkleri.

Go on - click the link, you know you want to.