What I've Been Up To Lately - April 2024

We are watching a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse, eating more veggies, enjoying funky wine and salty olives, drinking cold beers at the Jays games, buying more flowers, drinking super coffee with strong strawberry jam undertones and spending 24-hours in London, Ontario with my niece and nephew.

It’s been a great intro to spring.

What I ate

More salads and veggies are on the menu as the cold weather (finally) changes. That means I'm bringing out my favourite recipes, including my copycat Impact Kitchen warrior bowls and spicy chicken lettuce wraps, for a super fast and delicious dinner or lunch.

This month, I also visited the East End with some friends and checked out Maru Bistro - a very cozy Japanese restaurant at Queen and Greenwood. We got the miso soup, a couple of the nori canapé (which were DELICIOUS btw), the Albacore Tuna Roll and Hokkaido Scallop Roll. If you find yourself in the deep east end, book a reservation and check it out!

We have finally checked out Masa Deli, a cute spot specializing in breakfast sandwiches. They have a small menu (which I always love) and have a rotating special that they feature daily. Plus it's a short walk

Speaking of breakfast, my local coffee shop, Buno, has a featured "super coffee" bean roasted by Donna Huang with very strong strawberry jam vibes – like when you take your first sip, it is DEFINITELY strawberry jam. I have loved the bean so much I bought it to make it home too. If you're in the hood you have to stop by and have them make you a special cup to try it for yourself.

And finally, there is nothing I love more than a crisp glass of wine with some salty olives and truffle chips. Paradise Grapevine is THE place for me. Plus, their outdoor grapevine patio at the back of their Bloor Street location is probably my favourite patio in the city. I feel like I've mentioned this before 😜

What I did

First, I enjoyed every second of some birthday flowers that were sent to me from one of my favourite florists, The Wild Pansy.

Then we watched the once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse from my balcony. Sadly there were some clouds that covered the sun during the peak, but it was still an amazing sight to see!

I went to my first Jays game of the 2023-24 season in April to cheer on the Blue Birds behind home plate (the best view IMO). I'm pretty sure my favourite date of the week to go to a Jays game is on a Friday night - the afterwork/pre-weekend vibes always make for a good vibe at the Dome. Stay tuned while I try all of the new cocktails this season and let you know which ones are the best.

I went to London (Ontario) to babysit my niece and nephew for 1 night, which is always a super fun/exhausting time. JK 😉 They are 2 great kids and I love hanging out with them and seeing their interests grow as they grow up. They are currently very into gymnastics and Lego!

And finally, the Spring market is here and that means lots of Open Houses for our beautiful listings and showings for my buyer clients. You can definitely tell there is something in the air in Toronto and the numbers will start to reflect that soon.

What I read

The Cut's Where to Buy Cool Artwork - It's true that finding cool and interesting artwork can truly tie a space together, but finding the art can take some time. The Cut has pulled some of their favourite sources. Plus they talk to art experts who know everything you need to know about wall art — from finding it to hanging it.

Toronto Life's Making an Entrance - Featuring a peek into Toronto's swankiest condo lobbies. Some of Toronto's condos are making a big push to stand out from the crowd with lobbies that are lounges, bars, cafes and co-working spaces all rolled into one. Did your condo make the list?

Architecture Digest's This 900-Square-Foot Prewar Apartment Has a Personal Element in Every Room shows you what you can do with 900 sqft, including how to lean into the character of the home that you bought and how to utilize multi-purpose rooms to maximize your space.

That's it for this month - see you in May 👋