What I've been up to lately - January 2023

Well, we made it to 2023. It's been an absolutely wild couple of years and last year definitely had it's own set of challenges for buyers, sellers, investors, renters and landlords. I always try to finish my year off on a high note and December 2022 did just that.

Food I Ate

The winter season always has me craving soup and comfort food. So this month I stopped at Famiglia Baldassarre for their tortellini in brodo, The Federal for their Eggs Federal, and I made a Cranberry Rum Punch from Bon Appetit for our Christmas Eve cocktail.

Places I Visited

Our friends invited us for a weekend getaway to Prince Edward County this winter. We've only been in the summer time so it was really nice to visit in the winter when it's not so busy and we can fully enjoy everything the county has to offer. A major bonus was that we got to check out the custom home that they are building on West Lake. You can follow their process of their home on Instagram.

We also stopped by a few local favourites, including Bloomfield Public House for a family-style dinner, Slate Brewing for a couple of crisp beers at sunset, Russ and Co for some late-night cocktails, Creekside cafe for a delicious brunch, and Wander The Resort for a very cute and snowy Christmas Market, complete with snowy Lamas!

Things I Read

1. Toronto Life's “Apartment hunting was like a part-time job. We couldn’t book a showing anywhere”: True tales from the rental crisis

The Toronto rental market heated up beyond what many were expecting in 2022. As someone who lived through it, I can say that it definitely hit a peak in September when the students started to come back to the city for in-person learning for the first time in years. It put pressure on everyone. This is why more than ever, it's essential to have a trusted real estate agent to help you secure the apartment you love.

2.TVO's Home prices are falling, but don’t get your hopes up

Prices went down 4.6% in the GTA last year. But the dip isn’t expected to last — and Ontario still isn’t taking aggressive action to get enough new homes built. But many in the industry don't think that the modest price decline will last much longer, especially now that interest rates have stabilized and consumers have adapted to the new normal. Buyers will be back sooner than many think, and the market will be heating up once again. Have you missed your opportunity to get in while the market has cooled?

3. Wirecutter's 9 Tools to Organize Your Kitchen Like a Pro

I find that I am always trying to organize myself in the new year, and as someone who loves to cook and bake, having my tools and ingredients in order is always top of mind. Simple solutions like drawer organizers and statement hooks can help anyone, especially if you're short on extra storage space.

What did you do this December? Hopefully, you're holidays are back on track, and you spent lots of time with friends and family while also getting some good old-fashioned rest.

See you next month!