A Mini Break

I am going to take a step back from Toronto Mama for a few weeks. I am returning to work, and between getting my lessons organized, figuring out how to be a working mom, and managing a household, something's got to give. This is not the end for Toronto Mama. Once I have all my ducks in a row, and I'm managing effectively, I'll be right back at it. In the mean time, I will be posting Lili's birthday pictures as soon as I get some!

Take care! 

What We Wore Wednesday and a Giveaway!

This week's WWWW comes to you from the beautiful conservatory at Allan Gardens. We spent an afternoon there on Monday with friends, and I have to say, it's so impressive! The flowers are gorgeous (and the turtles...eeee!) and there is a general ethereal beauty about the place...it's like stepping into another place in another era. It's hard for me to explain, so I highly suggest stopping by yourself to really see what I mean. 

My blogging partner, C at A Life From Scratch is hosting a giveaway tied to this edition of WWWW. Its a $50 Crewcuts (aka JCrew!) gift card! Enter your WWWW below or on her Facebook page and you are eligible to WIN! Good luck!!

L and I are both wearing maxi dresses from H and M. Her colour blocked little number makes me smile every time I see it!

Here's where I'm Linking Up:

Monday: Sumo's Sweet Stuff, The Oliver's Mad House, Flour Me With Love, C.R.A.F.T, Say Not Sweet Anne Tuesday: Crafty Confessions, Him & Her, Ladybug Blessings, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Sugar Bee Crafts, Hope Studios, Bebetsy Wednesday: A Life From Scratch, The Pleated Poppy, Walking in Memphis in High Heels, Because Shanna Said So, Get Your Pretty On, One Little Momma, That Suburban Momma Thursday: My Fashion Forward, House of Hepworths, A Glimpse Inside, Chocolate, Chocolate and More, Rhinestone Beagle Katherine's Corner Friday: Rattlebridge Farm, Shabby Nest, My Romantic Home, Thirty Handmade Days, Finding Fabulous for Less, While He Was Napping, Young and Crafty, Simply Designing, Serenity Now, The Best Blog Recipes Saturday: A Vision to Remember, Be Different, Act Normal, Angel's Homestead Sunday: Super Sunday

Week(s) in Review

It's officially "birthday week" here on Toronto Mama! Check back every day this week for tutorials leading up to Lili's beautiful ombre pink and gold birthday bash this Saturday. The party reveal will be next week's weekend review! I'm so excited/sad (have I mentioned that?) that my baby girl is turning the big 0-1!

This week in review is actually "two weeks in review" because I was a lazy bum last week and didn't post a thing. There have been days at the splash pad, zoo, ROM Exhibits, tons of party planning and prep (one week! eeeep!) as well as lots of yummy food and (obv.) a Magnum bar or two...

^^From our zoo day. Lili and I love the pandas and polar bears best. After dragons, obv.^^

^^Splashpad baby! Love those little toes in her Sea Wees!^^

^^Bebe at work and play^^

^^Party prep galore! Cake and tassel banner tutorial to come!^^

^^Uh oh, baby! Don't look now...^^

^^New shirt made from daddy's old shirt. Pattern link coming up!^^

Here's where I'm Linking Up:

Monday: Sumo's Sweet Stuff, The Oliver's Mad House, Flour Me With Love, C.R.A.F.T, Say Not Sweet Anne Tuesday: Crafty Confessions, Him & Her, Ladybug Blessings, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Sugar Bee Crafts, Hope Studios, Bebetsy Wednesday: A Life From Scratch, The Pleated Poppy, Walking in Memphis in High Heels, Because Shanna Said So, Get Your Pretty On, One Little Momma, That Suburban Momma Thursday: My Fashion Forward, House of Hepworths, A Glimpse Inside, Chocolate, Chocolate and More, Rhinestone Beagle Katherine's Corner Friday: Rattlebridge Farm, Shabby Nest, My Romantic Home, Thirty Handmade Days, Finding Fabulous for Less, While He Was Napping, Young and Crafty, Simply Designing, Serenity Now, The Best Blog Recipes Saturday: A Vision to Remember, Be Different, Act Normal, Angel's Homestead Sunday: Super Sunday

What We Wore Wednesday

This week's WWWW features the outfit I wore on my (first since Lili was born!!) Girl's Night Out. My friends and I went to Momofuku Daishō in the lovely Shangri-La hotel downtown. We ate a boatload of fried chicken (loved the spicy Korean style!) and had some much- needed, non-baby-related grown up conversation. 

Lili's outfit is from our day at the Royal Ontario Museum yesterday. We spent the afternoon checking out the Mesopotamia exhibit. It's so amazing to see the connections between civilizations, even those thousands of years apart. If you're in the city, and you get a chance...go! Check out Groupon first, though...they always have ROM deals. 

As always I'm linking up with ALFS, as well as those listed below. I hope you'll join us!

Here's where I'm Linking Up:

Monday: Sumo's Sweet Stuff, The Oliver's Mad House, Flour Me With Love, C.R.A.F.T, Say Not Sweet Anne Tuesday: Crafty Confessions, Him & Her, Ladybug Blessings, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Sugar Bee Crafts, Hope Studios, Bebetsy Wednesday: A Life From Scratch, The Pleated Poppy, Walking in Memphis in High Heels, Because Shanna Said So, Get Your Pretty On, One Little Momma, That Suburban Momma Thursday: My Fashion Forward, House of Hepworths, A Glimpse Inside, Chocolate, Chocolate and More, Rhinestone Beagle Katherine's Corner Friday: Rattlebridge Farm, Shabby Nest, My Romantic Home, Thirty Handmade Days, Finding Fabulous for Less, While He Was Napping, Young and Crafty, Simply Designing, Serenity Now, The Best Blog Recipes Saturday: A Vision to Remember, Be Different, Act Normal, Angel's Homestead Sunday: Super Sunday

What We Wore Wednesday

We now (finally) have a crawling baby around Casa Burtch. She is positively zipping around...it's so thrilling to see! The weather continues to be mercifully cooler. This outfit is perfect for our fall-like summer days. It's one I wear pretty often...As always I'm linking up with ALFS as well as the bloggers listed below. We hope you'll join our linky party!

Here's where I'm Linking Up:

Monday: Sumo's Sweet Stuff, The Oliver's Mad House, Flour Me With Love, C.R.A.F.T, Say Not Sweet Anne Tuesday: Crafty Confessions, Him & Her, Ladybug Blessings, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Sugar Bee Crafts, Hope Studios, Bebetsy Wednesday: A Life From Scratch, The Pleated Poppy, Walking in Memphis in High Heels, Because Shanna Said So, Get Your Pretty On, One Little Momma, That Suburban Momma Thursday: My Fashion Forward, House of Hepworths, A Glimpse Inside, Chocolate, Chocolate and More, Rhinestone Beagle Katherine's Corner Friday: Rattlebridge Farm, Shabby Nest, My Romantic Home, Thirty Handmade Days, Finding Fabulous for Less, While He Was Napping, Young and Crafty, Simply Designing, Serenity Now, The Best Blog Recipes Saturday: A Vision to Remember, Be Different, Act Normal, Angel's Homestead Sunday: Super Sunday

A Week in Review

Since we are on summer holiday, our week days have gotten a lot more interesting. I have decided, therefore, to replace the usual "Weekend Review" with "A Week in Review." This week was (as usual) a lot of eating, a lot of sewing and a lot of shopping. 

We spent a few days in Niagara visiting my parents, and bidding adieu to their house (and the house I grew up in!) as we know it. They're gearing up for a huge gut job and I am absolutely dyyyying to show you guys pictures. It's going to be stunning!! Stay tuned for one of the most outrageous "before and after" posts to date. I'm not exaggerating. I'm jumping out of my skin with excitement!

SPEAKING OF JUMPING OUT OF MY SKIN!!! Baby girl pulled up for this first time this week! She is growing up so fast, it's literally shocking! I'm still planning away in terms of her birthday party, and her gifts have been ordered. I won't lie...I have shed a few tears over the impending "Big 0-1." It's bittersweet...she's still my baby, but I get the feeling I'll always think this way. Even when she's 35 with babies of her own. 

^^Started off the week in beautiful Parkdale. Vistas included the histroric Gladstone Hotel and lunch included delicious beers at Bellwoods Brewery^^ 

^^We had coffee at the Mascot Cafe. This place is incredible! The art is beautiful, as is all the vintage furniture. It's totally kid friendly, and the vibe is so welcoming. The coffee is pretty good too! Had to buy little Baby Dragon some Dragon shoes while at Gravity Pope for mama (as usual, I left empty handed.) Spending a mint on baby shoes compelled me to see if her snowsuit from last year still fits...so far, so good!^^

^^No week is complete without a trip to the Magnum pop-up shop. This time around I had chocolate ice cream with dark chocolate dip, toasted coconut, macadamia nuts, dried strawberries and crumbled macarons (of course). Topped off, as always with the golden touch for a free nail polish! Not sure what S had, exactly, but it looks yummy! I think next week I'm going experimental..."

 ^^Made tons of stuff this week (mostly for baby girl) and did a lot of sewing! This is a tiny sample of what I've been working on. I'm so obsessed with making these kimonos...I may need an intervention. Also made my sister some shower invites! So excited for her big day...it's coming so fast!^^

Here's where I'm Linking Up:

Monday: Sumo's Sweet Stuff, The Oliver's Mad House, Flour Me With Love, C.R.A.F.T, Say Not Sweet Anne Tuesday: Crafty Confessions, Him & Her, Ladybug Blessings, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Sugar Bee Crafts, Hope Studios, Bebetsy Wednesday: A Life From Scratch, The Pleated Poppy, Walking in Memphis in High Heels, Because Shanna Said So, Get Your Pretty On, One Little Momma, That Suburban Momma Thursday: My Fashion Forward, House of Hepworths, A Glimpse Inside, Chocolate, Chocolate and More, Rhinestone Beagle Katherine's Corner Friday: Rattlebridge Farm, Shabby Nest, My Romantic Home, Thirty Handmade Days, Finding Fabulous for Less, While He Was Napping, Young and Crafty, Simply Designing, Serenity Now, The Best Blog Recipes Saturday: A Vision to Remember, Be Different, Act Normal, Angel's Homestead Sunday: Super Sunday

Top Ten {free!} Dress Pattern Round Up!

I am effectively obsessed with sewing for Liliana. Her fall wardrobe is well underway, and I have about 250 projects up in the air right now. There are literally hundreds of amazing dress patterns available online. Below are a few of my favourites.  

^^Little Geranium Dress | Made by Rae^^

^^Blackbird Tunic | Schwin & Schwin^^

^^Ruffled Pillowcase Dress | Simply Modern Mom^^

^^Embroidered Denim Jumper | The Purl Bee^^

^^Ruffle Clover Dress | No Big Dill^^

^^Infant Peasant Dress | Sew Much Ado^^

^^Ice Cream Social Dress | Craftiness is Not Optional^^

^^Reversible Wrap Dress | The Crafty Cupboard^^

^^Kimono Dress | Sew Mama Sew^^

Crossover Pinafore | Smashed Peas and Carrots

It was so hard to narrow my favourites down for this feature, that you can expect Part Two of this series next week! Get stitching!

Here's where I'm Linking Up:

Monday: Sumo's Sweet Stuff, The Oliver's Mad House, Flour Me With Love, C.R.A.F.T, Say Not Sweet Anne Tuesday: Crafty Confessions, Him & Her, Ladybug Blessings, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Sugar Bee Crafts, Hope Studios, Bebetsy Wednesday: A Life From Scratch, The Pleated Poppy, Walking in Memphis in High Heels, Because Shanna Said So, Get Your Pretty On, One Little Momma, That Suburban Momma Thursday: My Fashion Forward, House of Hepworths, A Glimpse Inside, Chocolate, Chocolate and More, Rhinestone Beagle Katherine's Corner Friday: Rattlebridge Farm, Shabby Nest, My Romantic Home, Thirty Handmade Days, Finding Fabulous for Less, While He Was Napping, Young and Crafty, Simply Designing, Serenity Now, The Best Blog Recipes Saturday: A Vision to Remember, Be Different, Act Normal, Angel's Homestead Sunday: Super Sunday