There Is Something To Be Said For The Pure Joy Of Dressing Up And Going Out, Of Being Young And Alive In The City

Oh Canada, how I have missed you! It was so good to be home: “you really don’t know what you got till its gone” and that’s what I realized more and more as the time passed when I was gone. I made a long list of places, food and experiences I wanted to go to, taste, smell and see. I had the overpowering desire to jut stand in the middle of the beautiful city, the place where I found my back bone, Toronto and just look up: where all you see is a glimpse of sky and skyscrapers around just hugging you. I wanted to go to Starbucks and stand in line to order my non-fat caramel macchiato with an extra shot of espresso and have them miss spell my name on that iconic cup. I wanted to wake up and sit at the breakfast table with my family. I wanted to sit on the patio and girl talk with my friends. Or have sing along musicals with my best friend Trevor. Or taste the foods of the world that are only a dial away. These are all things and more that you realize you are so used to but will miss so much, when they are no longer available to you.  So trust me: I made sure upon setting foot in Canada to get going on conquering this list of things to do.

First things first: a Starbucks coffee… and why not get dressed up for your errands. I never miss an opportunity of creating a cute new outfit to wear. Like this one here: just high-waisted jeans, cable knit crop top sweater with nautical accessories to make it more summery.

        

I also had to go downtown right away for brunch since Italians believe that one espresso or three is a good enough breakfast for anyone, when they don’t know what they’re missing: an amazing breakfast lunch special that will start any day  off with a smile. So I took my sister to Insomnia on Bloor, where they have the best homefries around and did I mention the French toast, which is to “die for”, where you will find heaven in just one bite Then we proceeded to walk the shops of Bloor and Yorkville to parooze the vintage shops and buy those delicious macaroons from Morocco! And what better way to celebrate a girls’ day out on he town with a fun patterned pair of pants (which I sewed myself) with big accessories to match.

 I also took the time to catch up with my oldest and  “bestest” friends and my family, whom I had missed so much. I took every opportunity there was, when I wasn’t busy cooking, helping around the house, or exercising at hot yoga to spend a nice lunch or dinner with them. Here you can see some fun pictures from a pool party with Bbq that I hosted at my parents’ house.  I made my own guacamole, salsa, mango chutney, quinoa burgers and hamburgers for everyone to enjoy! It just tastes better when it’s homemade.

I then met my friend Jenn for lunch at Gusto, where we got to catch up and take her adorable little Morkie Monty for a walk. Where I took the opportunity to wear a wrap dress I had sewn many years ago but still great for a nice lunch pairing it with nice earrings or just to throw it on to go to the beach.

  

         

But best of all was the patio at el Catrin (in the Distillery District), which is amazing (the best in the city), I have to say, not to mention the Mexican food and pitcher of Mojitos and Kathleen’s company: all in all a fabulous experience! But to top it off, just before I left for Cuba I spent a night with Jenn and Trevor and Kathleen at a Spice Girl cover band concert. You can’t go wrong with that! It was soo much fun dancing to all the classics as Trevor twirled me threw me around the dance floor. I had such a good time! …and of course I had to wear my self -made jeans with leather details to this event, because what else could be better to wear on a night out dancing on the town.

Well, that pretty much concludes the first part of my Canadian adventure! 

Now I’m headed to Cuba ….Ciao till then! 

xo Nicola 

PS. All pants and dress were created and designed by me #shameless 

Drinking Good Wine With Good Food in Good Company Is One of Life’s Most Civilized Pleasures --Michael Broadbent

Nothing like a Thursday night under the stars barbecuing some seafood. While drinking wine, dancing and laughing the night away. We decided on an uneventful Thursday evening to have an impromptu barbecue at a friends country home where here in Italy it is like a cottage which is only a 10 minute drive away instead of that 3 hour traffic filled drive up north to the lake. We got dressed up in our best country looks which for Nicola consists of one of her only pairs of jeans (similar style click here) adding hooped earrings and a head scarf some how creating a 70’s country chic look. Where as Stephanie opted for her cute denim jumpsuit and semi western black ankle booties (similar style click here) to create that casual denim yet trendy country outfit.

The girls prepared the octopus and shrimp salad in the kitchen where as the men built the fire as there ancestors the cave men had done many many years before, oh how history repeats itself. The wine was flowing, the music was playing and the fish was barbecuing. It was a perfect Sicilian dining style evening. When all of a sudden Spice Girls came on the radio, which naturally lead to a full on karaoke sing-along musical production. Resulting in the end of six bottles of white wine leading us to the demise of four bottles of prosecco. However, traditionally you sip prosecco in champagne flutes, where as our friend Davide opted in showering us with prosecco creating the great 'Prosecco War of Ispica.' Of course, boys will be boys!

All in all we had a sizzlin' eventful drunken and tasty evening!

xo Nicola & Stephanie 

Enjoy our little dance off of 'Wannabe - Spice Girls'