While I have already shared some sweet Valentine’s Day items recently, today’s love themed curation is from local shops. Even though we can’t visit the stores in person quite yet, these Ontario shops are offering easy delivery and curbside pickup options. Have a browse and buy what you love!
The Art of Home (Cambridge, ON)
Gifted (Waterloo, ON)
Wills and Prior (Stratford, ON)
Hue La La (Burlington, ON)
Lofthouse Living (London, ON)
Etsy has something for everyone and every occasion, doesn’t it? Even after all of these years, I’m still so impressed with the creativity of the artisans and sellers on Etsy. Today I’m featuring five things that I think might help kick-start back-to-school season – Etsystyle.
Enjoy a breakfast of champions – eggs and bacon – in style.
vintage egg cups, set of 6 with spoons, $18.00
Forget the Google glass – walk to school/walk your kids to school/walk to work in these futuristic shades.
Silhouette 80s shades, $175
Pack a healthy lunch into a stylish and reusable bag.
lunch bag, $32
Keep track of time with a sleek wall clock.
modern wall clock, $49
Call a friend like you did in the “olden days” – using a landline.
vintage Ferrari phone, $81.15
Have a wonderful long weekend!
*Affiliate links have been used.
A couple of weeks ago I was invited to style outfits and be part of a  fashion shoot with Jennifer at Saffron Road in London, Ontario. I had so much fun!
I browsed the amazing designer collections…
and tried to apply what I’ve learned from America’s Next Top Model in my own personal fashion shoot!
For my first ensemble I went for all-white. The Theory peplum shirt was so crisp and is a great match for a skirt or pants. I paired the shirt with a textured knee-length Theory skirt. I added a bit of gold and sparkle with House of Harlow’s starburst necklace. The House of Harlow shoes added more texture to the outfit, not to mention, a lot of height.
(worst smeyes ever)
such a great pair of heels!
For my second look I grabbed a gorgeous Lida Baday suit. I love the black and white pattern and the boxy modern jacket. Generally I’m a fan of a classic pencil skirt so this suit was a clear winner. I paired the suit with a beautiful silky transparent black Theory shirt. The outfit is complete with a beautiful black leather M0851 tote and nude-coloured strappy heels by Modern Vintage. I opted to wear my own stack of silver bracelets and bangles to go with this outfit.
And here’s one last photo of Saffron Road’s all-white fitting rooms…you can imagine how pleased I was to be in there. White is the perfect backdrop for the beautiful clothes in this London store!
I learned quite a bit from my photo shoot…
* I am becoming such a big fan of the brand Theory. The few pieces that I already own and the pieces I tried on at Saffron fit me well and are made of fabrics that feel so good.
* I love Lida Baday but the pieces that I picked didn’t fit me as well as I had wanted them too. They’d definitely need tailoring. The fabric was absolutely beautiful.
* Modelling is harder than it looks. Figuring out what to do with your face and your body is tricky. Note to self: watch more episodes of America’s Next Top Model.
* I tried to channel one of my favourite fashionistas Blair of Atlantic-Pacific when I was styling outfits but this, too, was harder than I thought it was going to be. I had the whole store to choose from so I’m not sure why I felt challenged. Maybe I was simply overwhelmed?
* Sometimes it’s just best to trust the salespeople. When they’re good, they’re good. They know the labels, the merchandise, and spend so much time with clothes and getting to know what works on different body types that it is worth drawing on their knowledge.
Update:Â Good news for shoppers – Â all Theory items are currently 50% off at Saffron Road. So if you’re in London, be sure to stop in! But don’t think you’re going to be able to buy the white shirt in the first photo because I went in about a week after my fashion shoot and bought it. I needed another white shirt.
Many thanks to Jennifer and the Saffron Road team for welcoming me in. Photos by Jennifer. I have previously written about Saffron Road here.
London, Ontario is home to this year’s ISU World Figure Skating Championships. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the transformation of the downtown core as the city has prepped for this big event. There’s excitement and energy downtown and I just love being surrounded by it all!
So – here we go, a figure skating-themed post to mark today’s start of World’s!
via Sweet Montana
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (Go Canada!)
via All the Beautiful Christmas
Welcome to all the skaters and visitors to London this week!
The World Figure Skating Championships are coming to London, Ontario next month. This is going to be a great event in the city and it’s sure to bring people downtown (which always makes me happy).
figure skater art download, $3.99, Tuesday Mourning
Last weekend I attended the Home County Folk Festival here in London. There’s a festival almost every weekend here in the city but I think Home County might just be my favourite. The music is great, the crowd is relaxed, and there are always some creative vendors. This year I was most attracted to the pretty jewelry and the lace and vintage window display at Fierce Deer, a Toronto-based shop owned by Kate Swan.
pretty white lace backdrops at Fierce Deer
the Fierce Deer earring collection displayed on lace-backed vintage windows
Fierce Deer necklace charms
pretty knobs (remember this post?) hold necklaces
silver-plated necklace
a cup full of charms that are used for custom design
a creative vintage display at Fierce Deer
it’s the details – like the consistent deer theme – that make this shop so charming
Kate’s white cat – brings the shop good luck!
what I walked away with – a tiny bear on a long chain necklace – a must for my menagerie
It was great to meet Kate and to explore her charming jewelry shop. If you’d like to see more – go on and visit Fierce Deer.
Photos by Jordana.
It always makes me happy to see bits of white wherever I go. Here in London over the last few weeks I have seen white in some of my favourite places to hang out.
white fire extinguisher at Saffron Road
white life buoy at Thames Pool
white cream and milk containers at The Bag Lady
white menu at The Morrissey House
white mug & table on my balcony
Any London readers out there? Where are your favourite places to go?
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!
Note: If you see something white, snap a photo and send it my way for our White Out series (whitecabana at gmail dot com).
Photos by Jordana.
Okay – it’s time to take a break from all these beauty–related posts I’ve been writing. Let’s get back to design and architecture! I’m taking you to London, Ontario today…
When I first moved from Toronto to London four years ago, I have to admit that I really didn’t like it. It’s not that I’m one of those “Toronto is the center of the universe” people but I didn’t really get a great vibe from the city and I found it really hard to meet people. Fast forward 4 years and I now find myself really enjoying my time here. I love that I live in the downtown core – close to independent shops and cafés, and there certainly are a lot of interesting things to see.
The architecture of the houses in my neighbourhood continue to surprise me. The houses that have obviously been well-taken care of have amazing details. Even the not so well-loved houses have great architectural details and I like to imagine who has lived in them and what stories each house might have to share.
Like I said in my last post about London architecture, many of the original houses in the city are made of yellow or red brick. I think they look equally striking in black and white.
houses in London, Ontario
Photos by me using my iPhone and the Camera+ app.
The arrival of the sunny warm weather in the last few weeks has meant that I have been spending a lot more time outside. On my walks around the neighbourhood I have begun to really notice the amazing architectural features of the buildings around me. I have started to bring along my camera and I have been snapping away. With all the traveling I have done these last couple of months, it feels really good to shine the spotlight on some local gems for a change.
architectural details in London, Ontario
Photos by Jordana.
One of my most favourite things to do in London is to have breakfast with friends at The Bag Lady. The colourful kitschy decor always entertains me, the servers are always smiling, and the food is delicious (try the peanut butter cookies – yum!). The plates at The Bag Lady are always mismatched but on one of my last visits I noticed that a collection of white serving pieces formed on our table. I couldn’t resist snapping a photo.
Breakfast at The Bag Lady, price varies but it’s always less than $20
So if you’re ever in London (Ontario), be sure to stop by for a bite to eat at The Bag Lady. Better yet – let me know you’re coming and I’ll meet you there!
A few weeks ago I gave my photographer friend Joel the following challenge – to take photos of white things in London, Ontario. Nothing so complicated, right?
Joel accepted the challenge (even though he admitted that he doesn’t love white as much as I do) and he recently sent along this photo and title:
Advertising: White Cabana Style
photo by Joel Lopata
Clever, Joel, clever.
Canadian photographer Tina Beynen of Joie de Vivre has really got an eye for beauty. Based in London, Ontario, Tina’s catalogue of photos includes everything from London landmarks and seasonal landscapes to architectural elements from her travels.
photo by Tina, Joie de Vivre
If you’re in the London area and would like to see Tina’s work in person, stop by The Met downtown.
I’ve been to the restaurant Braise in London a few times already but the service on my last visit was exceptional so I thought it was about time I actually post about it.
The food, while it may be more pricey than other London restaurants, is delicious and so beautifully presented. The space is hip – the main dining room is dark but the room by the front window is full of white. On this last visit, this is where my friend and I sat.
Braise, photos by Jordana
If you’re looking for a special London dining experience, then you may want to consider a visit to Braise.
Back in January I created five goals for myself and I have since posted two check-ups (first, second). Now it’s time for the third update of my progress.
1. Wear more rings. Lately I’ve been sporting this double ring that my sister sent me. I just love it!
2. Embrace the cold weather. Well, luckily it’s June and I don’t have to deal with this goal for a few more months. I am so happy about this!
3. Host more parties. Hmmm…I’ve sort of failed with this one. In the last few months I have done quite a bit of traveling which has left me little time for party planning. But – I did manage to squeeze in one party last month – a champagne party! Talk about fun!
Addison collection, Pottery Barn
4. Try new recipes. Yes! I made pinwheel cookies (recipe from my vintage Joy of Cooking cookbook). Easy and delicious. I burned a batch but that’s okay. The other batch turned out fine. Here they are ready to go into the oven:
photo by Jordana
I also made Smitten Kitchen’s cheese straws (a big hit!) and What Katie Ate’s delicious tomato and goat cheese canapés.
5. Learn more about London, Ontario. In the last little while I managed to get out to the East Village Coffeehouse for the first time (thanks Tonya for the introduction). What a lovely little spot. The food is yummy, the coffee is well-prepared and the music is perfect.
coffee with a twist, photo by Jordana
Other restaurants I’ve tried since my last update include Relish in Wortley Village and The Works on King. Both burger places and both delicious.
There are also lots of festivals in London during the summer so I’ve been trying to check them all out. Last weekend was the Car Free Festival, this week & weekend is London Fringe and soon SunFest is coming to town. Bring on the music!
There you have it – the third update of my goals.
I wish you all a wonderful weekend!
Back in January – oh so long ago – I created a list of 5 personal goals for 2011 (click here to read it). Near the end of the month, I posted an update here. I thought it’s now time for a second review of my progress.
1. Wear rings. Yes – I’m trying. For the past several weeks I have worn mainly this silver triple ring that I have had since highschool:
I bought this black sparkler from Banana Republic and wore it a few times:
Keeping my nails polished has been especially encouraging for my ring wear.
2. Embrace the cold weather. It’s still winter. It’s still cold. Darn. Although the sun has been peeking out more (in between the rain) which gives me hope that spring is in fact on its way, even if it’s on the slow train. I have basically been living in my UGGs and Hunter boots this winter. Thank goodness for warm and dry feet!
I have also been happily enjoying my Sunday afternoons of curling. There’s an energetic and lively bunch of people in the club and it’s such a social sport! I recently scored this vintage curling sweater which keeps me fully warm and I think it brings me some good luck too!
3. Host more parties. It’s been a decent month of hosting. In the past several weeks, I’ve hosted brunch, dinner and a weekend guest (Johanne!).
4. Try new recipes. I’ve tried to make progress with this goal. Honestly. For one dinner, I turned to David Rocco for some help. I made this oh-so-delicious lentil soup and rucola & pear salad.
I also made these sugar-free muffins for a meeting. Pretty darn good – they didn’t taste sugar-free. They were also super quick and easy to make.
5. Learn more about London, Ontario. I have quite a bit to report on for this goal. Near the beginning of February I attended a talk at London Museum. I’ve lived in this city for almost three years and I had yet to go inside this awesome building. I’m glad I finally did because white is everywhere!
staircase at Museum London
I also attended Ignite London at the Aeolian Hall. What an evening of creativity and inspiration. I’m already looking forward to the next event.
I went to see The Comos play at the Old Victorian Tavern. Sax + bass + old school tunes = an awesome night out! I’ve seen The Comos play a few times now but visiting the Old Vic was a new experience for me.
Another new place I visited was Call the Office to see Montreal band Plants & Animals perform. It was a friend’s birthday and so the night was full of fun!
Finally, I went to watch a curling game at the John Labatt Centre (JLC). Two firsts for me. The Brier (a.k.a. Canadian men’s curling championship) has been in London for the last week and being the amateur curler that I am, I had to go check it out. Watching professional curling for the first time was great! I had also never been to the JLC before and I thought this was the perfect occasion to see what it was all about Oh, the excitement! (And yes, of course I wore my curling sweater!)
The Brier at the JLC, London
Oh gosh – what a long post that was today. Lots of updates for everyone and maybe a new place or two to check out if you’re ever in London, Ontario!
by Johanne
This past weekend I had the pleasure of visiting my friend and White Cabana creator, Jordana, in London, Ont.
It’s easy to see why Jordana has made London her home over the past few years- there is an abundance of white here!
Jordana was very encouraging as I practiced seeing white everywhere.
Here are some of my favourite white moments from my white weekend with Jordana:
Branches of raw cotton at London’s charming Market
Jordana checking out beautiful water at the Market
White detailing on the packaging of Dry Soda water
A white portable ethanol fireplace, $758
Gorgeous white leather office chair, $302 on sale
Caffé latté art at Coffee Culture
Pouffy bridal dress in store window for London’s princesses
More bridal dresses with white poufs!
Even the cars are painted white and topped with fresh snow in London!
White and classic black made-by-Jordana art
at Jordana’s lovely home
Delicious sushi with white rice and creamy white napkin
Going for a (wh)nite on the town!
Jordana knows white: white t-shirt, plate, table, etc.
at the local diner for brunch
Me, I see white but I’m not fully white – yet!-. Wearing bright pink
but I did order a white wrap with sour cream for brunch!
A white snowman and snowcat greeted me home
in Toronto upon my return
Thank you so much Jordana for a fantastic weekend! I love being on this white adventure with you!
xoxo
Johanne
A couple of weeks ago I posted 5 goals for 2011. I thought I’d update you on my progress.
1. Wear rings. This has been a bit of a challenge for me, mostly because I’m not in the habit of wearing them and I forget to put them on when I’m getting ready in the morning. However, here are some that I have worn since I set this goal:
Jordana’s rings: Sparkle, sparkle!
(from Banana Republic & Forever21)
2. Embrace the cold weather. Second goal. Second challenge. I’m trying. My friend Kate knit me a gorgeous white scarf. I love it and it’s definitely helping to keep me warm (thanks Kate!).
scarf by Kate
Jordana with scarf
3. Host more parties. I’ve hosted one dinner party (for eight of my friends) since 2011 began. I think this is a decent start. I even managed to put together little flower arrangements for the occasion:
floral arrangements & photo by Jordana
4. Try new recipes. For said dinner party (see #3), I tried two new recipes: 1. Mushroom crostini (similar to this recipe) and 2. Pasta Alla Formiana (by Giada de Laurentiis). I kind of burnt the tomato topping. Oops.
5. Learn more about London, Ontario. I haven’t necessarily learned more but I have supported the arts community. I went to the Aeolian Hall to see (and listen to) performances by Julie Doiron, Sunbear and Castlemusic. Very entertaining. Great venue.
photo by Jordana
Well, there you have it, my first update on my 2011 goals. Goal number 6: to keep updated my progress.
