Places to Eat (Breakfast): Jax

Over the weekend, Nick and I went out to grab lunch (with R in tow, of course). We ended up in Dundas (evidently I really like going there). As we wandered down the main street to find a place to eat we spotted this place that severed breakfast until 2, so we decided to try it out.

So ya, we had breakfast instead of lunch, but it was totally worth it. They've got everything you could want from a breakfast menu (French toast, waffles, various forms of bacon and eggs, even a bacon and egg sandwich on waffles) and they buy their meat from the local butcher across the street, which is a big plus, trust me. The staff were so sweet and friendly. When we asked them how long they'd be in business, they told us they opened two months ago doing the confectionery piece (baked goods and ice cream) and had been doing breakfast for two weeks. Well, in two weeks they've done a great job.

{When we arrived, it was packed. 

I took this pic after the rest of the crowd cleared out; it was 1pm after all}

{breakfast grilled cheese with bacon and a fried egg; 

doesn't look super interesting but trust me, it was so yummy} 

{Belgian waffles. It comes with eggs but Nick swapped them for fruit}

Jax: they're new to the scene, and our breaky was delicious. We'll be back and you should go.

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Weekend Bits

How does Monday get here so fast? Did you have a good weekend? We had a lovely one. Friday night was just a chill at home night. Somehow, Friday has just turned into that. We're both too exhausted from the week to make much of an effort to do anything but just have a drink and curl up.

Saturday morning little miss Ruby was up bright and early and ready for action so we were out for a walk by 8:30. The weather stayed clear enough to go apple picking in the afternoon with friends. Check one thing off my Fall To-Do list, plus, we got so many delicious, local apples.

{all smiles for our morning walk}

{two men and a baby...and a wagon full of apples}

{some of our haul}

After that, our friends treated us to what they referred to as a 'simple supper'. I am now going to start calling them the ultimate hosts because two homemade soups plus gourmet grilled cheeses wasn't what I would call simple (in the best way possible). For future grilled cheeses, allow me to recommend old white cheddar, bacon and apple or pear, brie and fig jam. Just go ahead and make it right now, you won't be sorry.

{there were six of us eating, so you don't think we're that bad}

Sunday, after being served coffee in bed, was a typical lazy day around the house, but when we went to family dinner at my parents' place, guess what they had decided to make? Poutine. Looooved it. Poutine with different choices for toppings (slow cooked beef or pulled pork). Does your mom make poutine? Just saying.

{coffee in bed} 

{family cuddles}

{pulled pork poutine}

This was a bit of a food-centric post...I swear I live for more than just eating (riiiight). Now here we are, another Monday. I hope you have a great week!

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Weekend Bits

How was your weekend? Mine was jam packed with celebrations. While we were away in England, friends of ours had a surprise wedding!! We were so sad that we missed it, but we had a lovely night catching up with them, hearing all about it and watching the video over pizza and drinks. We also may have dug in to the leftover ice cream from their sundae bar. Saturday, our friends' little guy turned one - that year certainly went by quickly! So we spent the afternoon celebrating him (and really, his mom and dad for making it through a year). Following that I was off to the city to my friend's wedding shower. Sadly, I couldn't continue on to the night out for her bachelorette (having a 3 month old will do that), but it was a lovely shower and it was so nice to see some of my Toronto friends. Sunday, we were off to a baby shower. Friends of ours had a baby at the end of July (he came much earlier than expected!) but the shower was set for September. As a special treat, we even got to meet the little dude at the very end. He's the teeniest, sweetest little man!

{individual ice cream jars}

 {finishing the sundae bar stuff from the surprise wedding}

{the cute set up and time capsule from the first birthday party}

{the beautiful bride-to-be} 

{cute jars for punch, oh and a baby on a blanket}

{the new momma opening up some gifts}

Needless to say, after all that celebrating, I was exhausted. Hope you had a weekend full of happy stuff too :)

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A Good Old Fashioned Slumber Party

It's January. January in Canada can be soooo blah. So what's a great way to beat the winter blues? A slumber party with your girlfriends!

My friend set up this girls night before Christmas so we would all have something to look forward to in January. We got ourselves some delicious snacks and all settled in for a night of catching up, gossiping and watching chick-flicks.

Our movie list included: Clueless, Mean Girls, and Now and Then. It helps to choose moves that everyone's seen so you can chat while watching (without totally ruining it). If you're like me, it's also great because you can recite the lines just before the actors/actresses say them. Because everybody loves that ;)

Have everyone come in their favourite lounging around clothes, armed with snacks/wine, a pillow and some fun games (Cards Against Humanity, anyone?) and have at 'er. Pillow fights optional.

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Weekend Bits

This felt like a real back to normal weekend after all the holiday hoopla. We took advantage of a free friday night to catch a movie. In an effort to see some of the biggies in time for award season, we went to see The Wolf of Wall Street. Overall it was a great film although it was quite long. Definitely worth seeing and honestly with all the hype I expected to be more aware of the f-bombs...it didn't even register to me which leads me to think I must use that word too often.

We also got to spend Saturday night with friends we hadn't seen in months. We caught up over apple pie dip (look for it on Pinterest), chilli and brownies.

Sunday morning Nick and I had a pancake date while we watched our football (soccer) team kick some ass.

We also had a great family dinner and came home in time for the Golden Globes. My picks for best dressed? Margot Robbie, Julie Bowen, Amy Adams and Lena Dunham.

Overall I give this weekend two thumbs up. Oh, hey...Monday.

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Ladies Who Lunch

This weekend I attended a bridal shower. But this wasn't your typical bridal shower. It was a beautifully planned luncheon, sans the usual games. If you’re planning a bridal shower, I encourage you to rethink the traditional, flip the shower on its head and really make it a reflection of the bride-to-be.

The bride and groom have a beautiful house with all the housewares they need, so rather than bringing them more of the same, it was a champagne shower (bride’s favourite). I've also been to a wine shower. It’s fun to help the couple stock their wine collection :).

I realize that I didn't take enough pictures (I was too busy chatting) but I managed to capture a few moments. We all sat around one large table adorned with champagne glasses filled with flowers and popcorn (obviously I was thrilled). After perusing the menu, I opted for the green salad to start and scallops for my main. I also happen to steal tastes of the lobster bisque from the MOH beside me. The MOH is quite the baker, so she took care of a beautiful sweets table, as well as the champagne flute cookie favours (seen in every picture).

It was a lovely way to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of someone I have known for my entire life. Congrats again! xo

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Weekend Bits

It felt like I really fit a lot into this weekend. There was plenty of time to catch up with friends we hadn't seen in awhile, visit our friends and their new little guy, and enjoy some serious lazy-Saturday action (while the hubs took part in some home improvement. I like to think I was supervising). That was followed by a Saturday date night to a movie; we saw The Butler - had me crying several times. Sunday brunch with friends, Sunday afternoon tea date with my girlfriend and Sunday dinner with the family. It was glorious. I tried to stay awake for the season premier of Homeland, but fell asleep halfway through.Whoops! How was your weekend?

{homemade potato and corn chowder} 

{brunch at Plank - I'll review later this week}

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Family Cottage Weekend

In high school, I lived next door to my best friend. We loved this because I didn't grow up there, we moved in when I started grade 9. Each summer, her parents would invite my parents up to their cottage for a weekend. When we were old enough to stay home alone, we always told them we had to work at our summer jobs that weekend. Lies. We wanted to stay home and have a double house party. Naturally.

So fast forward many years later, and we were dying to be able to get up to the cottage with both sets of parents. My how things change. Well, we finally coordinated it this weekend. Despite the fact that it was a pretty rainy day on Saturday, we had the best time. After all, a rainy day is a great excuse to cuddle up, drink mugs of coffee and just relax. Combined with homemade tomato soup (recipe from my mother-in-law) was just what we needed. Luckily, the sun came out on Sunday so that we could soak up some vitamin D, and go for a hike. The boys fished in the rain and the shine. Here are some pictures, if you'd like to see.

Warning: this weekend features me, sans make up, sans hairbrush, and re-wearing my moose leggings. A lot.

Weekend Bits

What a beauty of a long weekend. I truly took time out for myself this weekend and really relaxed. It was heavenly. Here are some snaps of what I was up to.

{this beer is so refreshing}

{my two main guys}

{typical morning}

 {blue sky for days}

{a trip to the garden center}

{project! detailed post to come}

{pretty}

{love me some bbq}

{love}

{spent some serious time in here}

{so much reading}

{dog sitting ziggy-man}

{morning walk}

{a lesson in wildflowers}

{celebrating my mom's birthday with my first victoria sponge}

How was your weekend?

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