Small & Quaint Living

I spotted this lovely little Toronto bungalow on a walk this morning. I love the beautiful soft green wood shutters, flower box, and harvest wreath. It goes to prove you don't need much, but you must love what you have!

Eat More Cake.

What's your idea of the perfect fall day? 

Shop View of Dufflet Pastries Toronto

I have an idea...take a walk through the neighborhood, or maybe a new neighborhood, and stop into that place you've meant to always to stop at....

Dufflet's Bakery Toronto, Queen West Location

Cupcakes, strong Earl Grey tea, and a view of city people walking by...it's the perfect way to kick back on a fall day! Dufflet's pastries is a landmark in the Toronto area having been on the uber hip Queen Street West since the early eighties. I was introduced to Dufflet's via one of the opera singers at the Royal Canadian Opera last may and I didn't make it into this shop until yesterday. The texture of my vanilla cupcake icing was heavenly....

Want some inspiring ideas for new cupcakes or cakes? Download a copy of their menu from the Dufflet website. 

Oh my! That was cupcake went away too quick! No worries. A quick walk around the block and then I'll be back, maybe to only look again in the window

Around Town: Neighborhood Style

Sparkle with Dac Jac Jewelry & Show Off Fresh Flowers from Burst.
198 Walnut Avenue, Toronto 

Queen Street West in Toronto is a hip and eclectic neighborhood that can feed you well, dress you in custom designed jewelry, restore your faith in small independent bookstores, and get you feeling crafty. Let's go shopping! My first shop was a store named Burst. It has been in the neighborhood for 6 years and is a gem of spot. The owner,  Dayle Crawford, has the ingenuis idea to combine both of his passion, which  happen to be flower arrangements and jewelry design. He is literally bursting with style!

Inside Burst with Owner Dayle Crawford

I adore Dayle's jewelry line, sold at Burst, which is called Dac Jac. I was completely smitten with his crystal jewelry pieces. The crystal cuts are fantastic and reminded me of my sister and I playing with my grandmother's chandelier. We used to remove crystals and wear them like earrings or hang them on our shirts like necklaces. Of course, we always got in big trouble, but it was so worth it everytime. Now, I can wear crystals properly, feel like a princess, and not get in trouble!! These crystals are one of a kind. This necklace is called Parfum Champagne Silk Necklace....so lovely!

Check out Dac Jac for a complete selection of his amazing jewerly!

Around the corner, I discovered two very sweet shops. Type Bookstore and The Paper Place. Preloved was another awesome store, but I was a bit short on time to check it out. I believe that Preloved upcycled clothes. There were great designs in their window.

I headed to The Paper Place. Who doesn't love gorgeous handmade papers to get the creative juice flowing?

The Paper Place 887 Queen St. West

Unlike The Paper Source of the States, The Paper Place seemed to have a specific focus on caligraphy tools and papers, and chiyogami. Of course, there is no limit to the use of paper except for the imagination. If you can't make it in, then check out their blog, it is awesome and filled with fabulous tips and news. 

The Paper Place Blog-ideas on using eco-luxe baker's twine.

They also had an amazing wedding dress made out of, yep, you guessed it, paper. I wanted to touch it so badly, but didn't!

Paper Wedding Dress at The Paper Place

It was time for me to head next door to Type Bookstore. I love the aprons!

Type Bookstore 883 Queen Street, Toronto

Inside I found so many unusual titles that I wish I had a huge shopping cart to fill with books.  I am a sucker for chandeliers....can you see why I like this place so much?

Books on the table featured local food guides, cookbooks, and gardening.

The back room is filled with magical books for children and there is another chandelier, too!! Sweet!

There are tons of surprising!

Time to go, but I had to take a few last snaps before leaving the neighborhood. Aren't these home fabulous? I like the wood accents. These homes remind me of  home in Venice Beach.

Narrow entrances, but grand windows.

Okay, I would have added more windows on this angle of the building. As it is it looks too much like the side of a prison. What do you think?

Shopping Around Town: Hotel Gelato and other Random shots of Toronto

Today I did it...I downloaded photos from my camera phone. I have tons of images...so think of this post as eye candy or a quick shopping spree around town. Leave the credit cards at home and let's shop! 

 

I love Lush and their displays are so yummy. Don't they look like cupcakes?

Another hip Toronto window display on Queen Street. I love the volume of the blue dress in contrast to the yellow cocktail dress.

Everyone wants to feel red carpet, even when shopping. The disco ball on the red velvet ropes makes me laugh!

Vespa, bird houses, and street cars...only in Toronto!

This is a window display that may have been used at malls across North America, but I still love the luggage and the pictures of travel. Toronto is filled with lots of fun architectural contrasts...

Modern versus Tradition. Which do you like better?

I love the contrast in architecture of old row-like buildings with the new condos that are exploding everywhere. I hope that Toronto retains some of its character instead of bulldozing down all of its old buildings. What about cars? Do you like vintage or new?

I took this picture of a new-ish Lambo because I loved the license plate..perfect for a cold weather city!

Back to shopping....I'm more about frocks!

This shot was taken in front of Ginger's Closet in Port Credit. It's a shop filled with cocktail dresses and beautiful frocks for bridesmaid that want to look hip. Isn't that blue royal?

Speaking of weddings..this wedding gown steals the cake! All this shopping I need a break. Thanks to one of the gals I did the Opera with she took me to one of the best secrets in Uptown Toronto..HOTEL GELATO!!

A little blurry because I can't get over how awesome the decor is for a Toronto gelato shop. I'm almost starting to think I'm in Italy! What a beautiful espresso machine, perhaps the loveliest I've ever seen!

Iced espresso and cold gelato...a perfect summer hit! The mojito gelato was a stunning flavor.

At the end of all the camera pics, nothing beats the images of this...

A couple hand in hand waiting to cross a street together...ah...that's what summer is about!