VIRGINIA JOHNSON SHAWLS

Virginia Johnson's spring collection is now available online. Virbrant, beautiful colour is her trademark. I live in black, navy and grey so I love the collection's shawls, which add a punch of colour to my rather monotone outfits.

The new Toronto location is not yet open, but look for it this spring at 970 College Street, just west of Dovercourt.

POLAROID POSTCARDS

How cool would it be to send postcards from your own travel photos? Photojojo lets you create the iconic Polaroid snapshots by fitting your photo inside a white sleeve to mail as a postcard. Very clever. 

(via swissmiss)

THE GAP JEANS REVISTED

Monkey is small. More often than not I'm crawling around on my hands and knees when it's playtime, which is not a jean-friendly activity. My (expensive) jeans are suffering dearly. So, I recently set out to find good, comfortable, stylish jeans that are budget- and kid-friendly.
Here is my find at Gap...

How cute would they look with this blazer and these ballet flats...

Or, with this sweater and these espadrilles for a playground trip...

OUR LIBRARIES

This essay from The Walrus (April 2012) is an interesting read about the future of our libraries. It is especially timely in Toronto where our library workers are on strike.

If we can now find the latest bestseller, classic tale or academic study through a simple search online, what purpose does the library serve?

The premise of the essay is that libraries are changing, and changing for the better. Libraries are focusing more and more on becoming "an anchor of community life." Instead of housing stacks upon stacks of books, libraries are gathering places for people to work, relax and play.

It is like a cultural and more serene community centre that is open and welcoming to all. It will be interesting to see just how libraries adjust to this new changing landscape.

(Photo via Flickr)

CURRENTLY LOVING: THESE BOOTS

These boots from Shabbies Amsterdam were made for walking. So comfortable with a simple style. Just pull them on and off you go. And the best part? The dust and dirt from Toronto's streets wipes away easily.

P.S. I found my boots at Get Outside in Toronto. You can  also find them online here.

PRETTY & FUN SHOWER CURTAINS

More often than not I stumble into the shower sleepy and bleary-eyed. These pretty and fun shower curtains would definitely be a welcome sight each morning.

(West Elm)

(Thomas Paul)

(Izola Shower)

(Garnet Hill)

And for the literary sort, author Dave Eggers published a short story on -- you guessed it -- a shower curtain.

SHE & HIM VOLUME 2

She & Him Volume 2 is currently the soundtrack of our lives. It's become our go-to dinner music and I just can't get enough of the sweet melodies. Check out the She & Him website -- you can listen to one of my favourite songs off the home page.

This leads me to a confession . I adore CDs. I love getting one out of its case, putting it in the player and pressing play. I'm a luddite in this respect. It took me forever to give up my tape cassettes and embrace CDs, and I imagine that it'll take some time for me to fully appreciate our iPod. Sure, it's great to have an iPod while on-the-go or traveling, but there's just something about having a physical album to touch and a CD sleeve to read.

RECIPE: KALE CHIPS

I'm always on the hunt for how to make super greens, super tasty. Enter baked kale chips! I found this incredibly easy recipe at Smitten Kitchen.

Ingredients:
1 bunch of kale
2 tablespoons of olive oil
A pinch of sea salt

Preheat oven to 300°F.
Wash and dry kale.
Remove hard middle stem and cut into large pieces -- I take my knife down either side of the stem.
Toss with olive oil, add a bit of sea salt and spread on a baking sheet.
Bake for 20 minutes.

These chips makes a very healthy and tasty snack. Monkey loves them!

(Photo of Kale via The Daily Green)

LITTLE SHOES

I found the perfect spring/summer shoe for Monkey today -- Native Jefferson shoes. These are "washable, waterproof, beast free, shock absorbent and odour resistant." Need I say more? The playground dirt will be no match for Monkey's new shoes!

You can find them online or at mini mioche on Queen Street West.

RECIPE: APPLE CHEESE TOAST

I found this receipe in the River Cottage Baby & Toddler Cookbook. It's so easy and Monkey gobbles it up for lunch.

Ingredients:
Shredded apple - makes it easy for little mouths to chew
Shredded cheese - Monkey likes the sharp cheddar variety
A slice of whole wheat or multigrain bread

It's as simple as spreading the apple on the bread, adding the cheese and then baking it in the oven until the cheese melts. I cut it up into little cubes for Monkey to shove in his mouth. Serve with cherry tomatoes on the side and yoghurt for dessert and you've got a tasty and healthy lunch.

THE WISDOM OF FRENCH PARENTING

I just got my copy of Bringing Up Bébé by Pamela Druckerman and I'm very excited to read about the supposed wisdom of French parenting. Druckerman, a former reporter for the The Wall Street Journal, moves to Paris and finds that French children eat gourmet meals, are extremely well-behaved and that their parents are relaxed with an 'easy, calm authority' with their children.

I think my parenting philosophy is similar. I want to have a strong relationship with my little monkey -- one that is based on trust and mutual respect.

When my husband and I became parents, we decided we would include our baby in the things that we enjoy like eating out and traveling. We don't want to feel restricted by having a little baby in tow. Our thinking is that if we expose Monkey to new experiences and environments, he will be adaptable and will be eager to take on new experiences of his own. So far, so good. Monkey is an amazing traveling companion and we've come to appreciate dining with the other early birds.

(Photo via HiP Paris Blog)

TODAY IS A LUCKY DAY

Today is a lucky day for monkey and me. According to Toronto urban folklore, you will have good luck if you spot a white squirrel. Well, we saw one during our afternoon stroll and the photo evidence is above.

The white squirrel is a curious little animal and it is most often seen in Trinity Bellwoods Park. I wonder if the squirrel we saw was in fact the infamous Whitey McRedeyes?

EMERSON FRY NEW YORK -- SPRING COLLECTION

I have some fashion news for you today. I'm a fan of Emerson Fry New York and I'm happy to report that the Spring collection is now available online. Very chic and yet very comfortable. Perfect mom attire! These pieces are already on my wish list...

Navy Pinstripe Jacket and Raglan Pullover (Emerson Fry New York)

Braid Trim Mod (Emerson Fry New York)

Paulo Loafers (Emerson Fry New York)

CLASSIC LITERATURE FOR BABY

I came across these BabyLit board books at Valhalla, a local card and gift shop along Queen Street West. What a fun way to share the love of reading with your little one.

DESIGN INSPIRATION: POP OF COLOUR

Photo from Sweet Home Style

Photo from Domino Magazine

Photo by Anne Kern

What a fun way to add a pop of colour to your house! I'm so reluctant to paint my house in anything other than neutrals. Is that boring? I love colour -- especially robin's egg blue. I'm now inspired to spruce up my kitchen with an inside paint job on our door this spring.

BOOK CLUB: THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA

I'm in a book club with two of my guy friends. We used to work together and it started out that we'd meet up every month to chat aimlessly over beer. Our conversations always went back to what books we'd read and what movies we'd seen. So, we started a little book club.

This month we read The Night of the Iguana by Tennessee Williams and we're going to see the play tonight at the Hart House. I had a hard time connecting with, and believing in, the characters so I'm eager to see if seeing the play unfold on stage will change that.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Happy International Women's Day. Today is a day to celebrate the amazing achievements of women. In Canada, let's remember Nellie McClung, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Emily Murphy, Louise McKinney and Irene Parlby who fought to recognize women as 'persons' under the British North America Act 1867.

A QUOTE FOR TODAY

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.”

~ Dr. Seuss

This quote made me smile today. I had to share it with all of the caregivers, parents and teachers of wee little ones. 

RECIPE: HEALTHY BLUEBERRY BANANA MUFFINS

My friend Maggie taught me how to bake. She started me off with a really simple recipe for banana muffins. I’ve modified the recipe to create a healthier version with lots of oats and no sugar. Try them out and let me know what you think.

If you're feeling decadent, substitute the blueberries for semi-sweet chocolate chips. My husband is a big fan.

Ingredients:
3 very ripe bananas
1/4 cup agave nectar
1/4 cup real maple syrup
1 egg
1/3 cup olive oil
1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1 cup oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder

Preheat oven to 350◦F.
Mix bananas, agave nectar, maple syrup, egg and olive oil.
Mix in blueberries.
Mix in oats, flour and baking powder.
Bake for 25 minutes. Check the middle with a knife to make sure the knife comes out clean.

Enjoy with a cup of coffee in the morning or tea in the evening!

THE WORLD OF ART

I have a new friend who is a painter. Her name is Lindsay Chambers. She’s a new mom too and we instantly bonded over sleep schedules, feeding and all things baby. Lindsay has introduced me to the word of art and this past weekend we went to The Artist Project Toronto – an event that showcases independent artists from Canada and around the world. If I had a million dollars I would become an art collector.

I must admit that I’m a huge fan of Lindsay’s work. Here are just some of her pieces:

WHO, WHAT & WHY

I call downtown Toronto my home. I live in the city's west end where there are unique shops, yummy bakeries and wide open green space called Trinity Bellwoods Park.

My maternity leave has just ended and I've (gulp!) made the huge decision to stay at home with my sweet and marvellous little boy. Writing was a big part of my job and it is something that I have come to miss doing on a regular basis over this past year. So, enter Monkey's Muse! This is my spot for writing and sharing in a shall we say grown up way what I do, what I see and what I like. 

My work used to give me a great sense of accomplishment. Now, I share daily accomplishments with my monkey. He can hoot like an owl and touch his nose -- a feat that took days and days to master.

Published originally in The Times-Picayune, New Orleans