HAPPY WEEKEND!

It's the last long weekend of the summer, and even though the autumnal equinox is still weeks away, the start of September definitely feels like the beginning of Fall to me. I'm looking forward to hanging out this weekend with family and friends. Monkey is currently obsessed with planes way up in the sky, so I'm excited to take him to the Canadian International Air Show at the CNE this weekend. He will be amazed!

Here's a song to start your weekend. It's Monkey's pop favourite and our unofficial anthem of the summer. It's Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye. And yes, I realize it's been played and played on the radio, but I'm still loving it. Enjoy this last long weekend of the summer!

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DESIGN INSPIRATION: GALLERY WALL

I love taking pictures, and I love hanging our pictures around the house. I also like collecting antique picture frames and local artwork from our travels. Each and every piece has a story, whether it captures a sweet moment or reminds me of a fun adventure. My disjointed collection continues to grow, however the same cannot be said for my wall surfaces. I'm quickly running out of space. The solution? A gallery wall that mixes photos, art, frames, mirrors, etc. Here are a few pictures that are inspiring me ...

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IT'S DRESS-UP TIME!

These dress-up pieces from Oeuf are adorable. I know one little Monkey who would be in heaven with the mask and tail set. You can feel good about supporting this company. Handmade by women in Bolivia, each piece is Fair Trade and provides a sustainable living wage to the artisans while respecting cultural traditions.

Deer mask



Crown



Owl mask



RECIPE: SUPER-POWERED SMOOTHIES

It is my mission to make sure Monkey gets the necessary amount of fruits and veggies each day -- especially his super greens, which can be tricky for little ones to eat. Enter the super-powered smoothie! Here are two of our current favourite combinations ...

Throw the following ingredients in your blender and mix it up for what I like to call a Blueberry Bonanza smoothie:

A generous handful of spinach
1/2 cup blueberries (frozen or fresh)
1/2 cup raspberries (frozen or fresh)
1/3 cup blackberries (frozen or fresh)
1 banana
Squeeze juice from one lime
1/2 cup yogurt (plain or your favourite flavour)
1/3 cup water (or more depending on your preferred consistency)

Blend the following for a Sweet Strawberry smoothie:

2 carrots
1 cup strawberries
1/2 cup peaches
1 banana
Squeeze juice from one lemon
1/2 cup yogurt (plain or your favourite flavour)
1/3 cup water (or more depending on your preferred consistency)

J.CREW COVET LIST

The latest J.Crew catalogue arrived in the mail last week. Vibrant jewel tones, bold animal prints and whimsical polka dots -- so many pretty things that it's hard to choose just one favourite piece. The Schoolboy blazer (above) definitely makes my covet list as do the following ...


Shirt / Shorts / Earrings / Clutch / Wedges

Sweater / Popover / Jeans / Ballet flats



HAPPY WEEKEND!

With school starting in a few weeks, it feels like this is one of the last summer weekends. The start of September always feels like the start of Fall to me. I'm excited for the change of season as Fall is my most favourite season.

This weekend we're going to our local park for a Family Fun Festival and me and Monkey have a dinner date for pizza at Gusto, my new favourite restaurant. Here's a song to start your weekend -- it's Concrete Schoolyard by Jurassic 5. Happy weekend!

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DIY: BIG BOX TRANSFORMATION

This is a photo of Monkey's little house. It used to be a delivery box for a pool filter. Now, it's his special place where he smells the flowers, opens and closes the door and enjoys his afternoon smoothie.

The next time you have an appliance delivered, ask to keep the box. It's easy to transform an ordinary cardboard box into a magical playland with just a few colours of paint and an exacto knife (utility knife). You can make an ice cream shop, a bakery, a horse stable...whatever your little one likes best. 



DESIGN INSPIRATION: WHITE WALLS & BLACK TRIM

I like the industrial feel of white walls with black trim. It's unexpected and very sophisticated.

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CURRENTLY LOVING: PEPLUM

My friend Jacquie and I shared a decadent day this past Friday. Our husbands treated us to a spa visit (I think they're guilt-ridden after having so many out-of-town bachelor parties this summer) followed by a girls night out with appetizers at Lee and dinner at Gusto. It was a baby-free marathon! Jacquie's outfit for our night festivities was amazing. She looked very chic with this peplum top, grey skinny jeans and patent leather pumps.

Peplum, which is a ruffle attached to a top, skirt, blazer or dress, accentuates your natural waistline and is a flattering look for many. Here are a few of my favourite peplum pieces for Fall...

(Clockwise from top left: Alice + Olivia dress / ASOS jacket / Tory Burch sweater / Topshop top / Zara top / Stella McCartney dress)



NEIGHBOURHOOD BABIES

mini mioche is a clothing shop along Queen Street West that makes the best basics for babies, toddlers and young children using organic cotton. How cute are these new long sleeve tees and onesies that give a shout out to our local neighbourhood?

100 POSTS

I've reached a bit of a milestone today. This is my 100th post! Monkey's Muse came about when I made the decision to take a break from my career in corporate communications to stay at home with our little Monkey. This blog has come to be my creative outlet where I like to share what I do, what I see, what I like and of course, the antics of Monkey.

Thank you all for reading Monkey's Muse. Every comment and every email make me so happy -- I'm like a dog who's stolen a huge slab of the most tasty cheese and hasn't gotten caught yet. In honour of this 100th post, here's a song to start your weekend. It's What I'm Trying to Say by Stars, one of my very favourite bands. I wish you all a wonderfully happy weekend!

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A READING TIP

Do you ever find yourself struggling to get through a book? Sometimes, I feel compelled to finish a not-so-great book and it becomes a daunting task. My brother-in-law recently shared a genius tip with me. He compared starting a new book to starting a new relationship. He said you should set aside two hours to start the book to see if you have anything in common. If after 100 pages you're still engaged, then it's safe to commit to finishing the book. But, if it's a struggle after two hours, then it just isn't meant to be. Don't feel married to a certain book if you weren't even meant to date.

I wonder if my book club will accept this explanation the next time I'm unable to finish a book!

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CORONATION GRAPES

I'm happy to report that coronation grapes are now in season. They are like eating a natural, juicy sweet tart. This week Mama Earth, our organic food delivery service, came with a full basket of these tangy grapes. Delicious!

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PABLO PICASSO

 Monkey and I went to see Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris at the Art Gallery of Ontario this morning. The exhibit includes more than 150 paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings from the Musée's collection, many of which were kept by Picasso himself during his career. Here are two of our favourite pieces...can you guess which one Monkey liked best?

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COLOUR COMBINATION

Mustard yellow + pastel blue = a new favourite colour combination.

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BIG CITY VS SMALL TOWN LIFE

Downtown Toronto is the place we call home, and it has been my home for a decade now. I really couldn't imagine living anywhere else. When Monkey came along, our urban life easily adapted as we discovered so many family-focused activities, events and spaces. Then, the summer of violence erupted. I found myself questioning whether it is safe to raise a family in a dense urban centre. My unabashed love of this city faltered.

I was born and raised in Waterloo. Its suburban way of life is a definite contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city. It feels safe to me. I used to ride my bike down to the corner store when I was just seven years old. I shudder to think of Monkey riding his bike in downtown Toronto by himself at that age. Perhaps no parent would allow their child to roam free today as times do change.

The big city affords us new experiences and opportunities every day. Whether it's going to one of the many parks and playgrounds in our neighbourhood, taking in the giraffes at the zoo, cutting and pasting at the AGO, staring at gigantic dinosaurs at the ROM, or just going for a walk and seeing big red fire trucks, there is always something to do.

As the debate between big city versus small town continues in our home, I must remember that Toronto is still considered to be one of the safest urban environments. I love this city. I'm not ready to call the moving company just yet.

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HAPPY WEEKEND!

Rainy days lend themselves perfectly to making indoor forts, storytelling, reading and baking tasty treats. This weekend Monkey and I will be doing just that. Blueberry banana muffins are definitely on the agenda. We're also going to see the graffiti artists in action for the Ossington Lane Way Art Project, a community initiative to beautify the lane way and make art accessible to everyone.

Here's a song that fits with our rainy days of late.

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CURRENTLY LOVING: THIS COAT

This coat is super cute with amazing functionality. It zips up from the back so your little one just has to stick in their arms, get zipped up and go. Monkey is now ready for Fall!

J.CREW: HELLO, WORLD PART II

The J.Crew: Hello, World campaign is now complete. It's a collaboration with two of my favourite photographers -- Scott Schuman (The Sartorialist) and Garance Doré -- that documents the global appeal and style of J.Crew in eight cities around the world. You can find my original post here.

Now, let's take a look at how everyday people wear J.Crew in Paris, Milan, London and Sydney...



Paris

Milan

London

London

RECIPE: THE BEST GUACAMOLE

My mom sent me this simple recipe for guacamole (it is based on this recipe). It's easy, fresh and tastes so good. Monkey likes when I spread it on his crackers for an afternoon snack.

Ingredients:
3 avocados
1 ripe tomato, chopped
1 yellow onion (small), chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 lime, juiced

1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped (add more or less to taste)

Pinch of coarse salt

Pepper to taste

Peel and mash avocados in a medium serving bowl.

Stir in tomato, onion, garlic, lime juice, cilantro, salt and pepper.

THE PERFECT DRESS FOR A WEDDING

Isn't this a lovely dress to wear to a late summer wedding? The lace overlay and embellished neckline make a stunning combination.

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BOOK CLUB: ILLUSTRADO

The next book on my book club's reading list is Illustrado. It is the debut novel by Miguel Syjuco, and has earned high praise, including Winner of the Man Asian Literary Prize in 2008. Taking place primarily in the Philippines, it is a story that spans four generations, weaves in historical events and promises to be an enchanting read.

Our last book, The Receptionist: An Education at the New Yorker by Janet Groth, was an average read. The synopsis intrigued me, but unfortunately I was left with the one question that I hoped would be answered. Why did the young aspiring writer stay at the reception desk for more than two decades? Why didn't she fight harder to find a way to be published in a magazine she so admired?

HAPPY WEEKEND!

It's the long weekend! We're spending time with family and having friends over for a BBQ. Monkey will be surrounded by people all weekend long so he'll be a happy kid. What are you up too?

Here's a song for your weekend. My friend Ish reminded me of this 90s gem this past weekend. It is absolutely perfect if you ever find yourself in need of doing a little electric slide.


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OUR FIRST OVERNIGHT TRIP

We reached a milestone this past weekend. John and I went away for our first overnight trip sans Monkey. Friends of ours were married in Prince Edward County, and it was a beautiful day that turned into a very fun evening with cocktails and dancing. But, it was hard to leave home. I had never missed a goodnight kiss or an early morning wake up call in Monkey's short lifetime.

For our little Monkey, it was a different story. He was absolutely fine. He had a blast with an ice cream treat, blueberry pancakes and a lot of playtime with his Omie and Papa. We all survived.