Mjölk

I have been a big fan of the Toronto shop Mjölk (owned by John Baker and Juli Daoust) and their blog Kitka for a long time (I've featured them in blog favourites posts many times in the past). Every so often I preuse their online shop to see what incredible new items they have in stock. If you dig Scandinavian, you'll certainly dig their shop. Here are my latest favourites. 

Holy sh*t

Back Lane Café - this time in person!

Back in November I blogged about a new restaurant that opened up here in Ottawa, a couple minute drive from my place in the 'hood of Hintonburg. It's called the Back Lane Café, and last night I finally got a chance to enjoy a meal there, with my husband and parents. It was FANTASTIC, and I think it's my new favourite restaurant in the city.

It's a fairly small restaurant and VERY busy so do make a reservation (which you can only do online which is convenient). Their online system goofed when I made our reservations so we were told we had to sit at the bar. This turned out to be a very much welcomed booboo as we quickly realized the best place to sit is at the bar. We were given the corner seats to facilitate conversation among the 4 of us which was perfect. Once settled we dug in. My mom wanted a diet coke, and to our shock we were told they did not carry pop, but they did have spritzers made from homemade syrups. My mom was in heaven. I had an incredible raspberry cosmo.

I was so hungry and so excited to eat I forgot to take photos of our appetizers, which of course were scrumptious. For the main course I chose a pizza with shrimp, fig and capicola. YUMMY! My husband chose steak (with to-die-for chips and cauliflower sides). My dad also chose a pizza and my mom had halibut. Each of us loved our choices. (We were a couple minutes into the dishes when I realized I need to snap some pics).

I was far too stuffed to select a dessert (which is highly unusual for me) but of course my dad and husband had room, choosing a pumpkin pudding and a chocolate bar. Again, both were heavenly.

This restaurant was awesome. The staff and owner were super friendly, the décor and ambiance is gorgeous and perfect, and the food was phenomenal. I am SO going back soon!

books

I felt the need to order some books on Amazon the other day. They arrived today. As usual, it included mostly decor books, including (finally!) Grace's book Design*Sponge at Home. And I know you're probably wondering why in the hell I would order Kat Von D's book. I have a mild obsession with tattoos. (I have an idea for my fifth....)

heaven

via Residence