Events: Interior Design Show in Toronto This Week

The Interior Design Show (IDS) Toronto begins on Thursday and runs through the weekend at the Metro Convention Centre. I hope to be inspired by all that is new, beautiful, and functional in the world of design after having missed any iteration of IDS for several years.

With my own house in mind, I’ll be on the lookout for what’s new in lighting, countertops, bath fixtures, rugs, and furniture…and pretty much everything else!

Here is a small sneak into some of the IDS 2022 exhibitors.

Jacques & Anna – Studio North

I’ll share updates on social media and post-show, too, as I’m sure there’s much more I’ll learn and observe in person.

All images courtesy of IDS Toronto.

Personal: Crochet Progress

Just over a year ago, I started to crochet. I made quick work of pot holders, and then I was motivated to crochet a whole blanket. I predicted it would take me about 10 years. I got back into it in the last few weeks after a very long break. Here’s how it looks now.

I have 9 years to go.

Did you start any new hobbies during the pandemic that you’re still doing?

Personal: March Update of My 2022 Goals

It’s the end of the month, which means I get to share an update of my 2022 goals.

  1. Write with my fountain pen. Yes. I still use it daily. It’s so pretty.
  2. Complete house projects. Sort of. Our powder room refresh is nearly complete; I’m waiting for the shipment of a delayed towel bar/toilet roll holder. Our kitchen refresh is also on hold while we wait for a delayed sink. Delays have been common since the early days of the pandemic, so I’m not surprised. We have been scheming a refresh of another bathroom, too, so that might happen in April.
  3. Practice yoga. No. I wonder if I should take this off the list. I think I’ll change this to “stay active.”
  4. Host people. Yes. We’ve continued with our nearly monthly music night, which brings together a great group of people and fun music. We also hosted dinner with new friends (met via Facebook marketplace if you can believe it…story for another day).
  5. Travel. No travel in March, but something is in the works for April. Oui, oui!
  6. Read more. Yes. I’m flying through audio books on account of my commute, which has been great. I listened to The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (read by Tom Hanks), The Vintage Caper, by Peter Mayle, and The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris. All three were good, but I really enjoyed my time with Tom Hanks! I’ve also been reading a lot for work.
  7. Tame garbage. Reduce waste. Sort of. I’m making slight improvements, I think. It’s hard!
  8. Floss regularly. Yes. Daily. How have I never added daily flossing into my routine before? It just makes sense. Let’s see what my dentist has to say!
  9. Walk regularly. Yes. I feel like I’m doing okay with my walking. There’s room for improvement, and I anticipate better weather will motivate me to get outside more.
  10. Stop procrastinating. Sort of. Some days I just need a break from my computer.
  11. Have fun! Yes! March was a good month overall. And I hope the positive flavour continues into April, too!

Previous updates: January, February

Interiors: A Gorgeous Vacation Rental in the South of France

I’ve got my travel bug back, which means I’m dreaming and scheming, and coming across so many incredible places to stay. Wow. Jaw dropping interiors! Here’s a peek into a modern and elegant home in the South of France.

Apartment Georges Brassens, Hérault, France

All photos via Hometown France.

Marketplace: The Bentgo Lunch Box

When I learned I was going back to the office, one thing that I knew forsure was that I wanted to get rid of my massive lunch bag filled with individual Tupperware containers. I really dislike washing so many little containers by hand, and they never seem to stay upside down in the dishwasher (meaning they fill up with water!). With my return to work, I opted to upgrade my lunchbox, and I’m happy to share that my Bentgo is working out quite well.

I like that it is slim, and there are five compartments. There’s room for all of my lunch, and the food doesn’t move around. The lid is tight-fitting, and it’s dishwasher safe. Although the company claims that the Bentgo is leak-proof, I have not found this to be true, which means that things like salad dressing go in another container (unfortunately). The Bentgo is well-made overall, which means that it’s not cheap.

It’s also been kind of fun (kind of) to put my lunch together because it looks so organized. Here are a few “lunch inspiration” photos if you’d like to see.

Can you tell I’m in a cucumber phase? I can’t seem to get enough of them!