THEY SAY IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY

So this week was my birthday and for someone who doesn't LOVE celebrating her birthday I have to admit this year's festivities were pretty amazing. It started with a family get-together on Canada Day where my mother made the MOST amazing meal for everyone that she topped off with homemade ice-cream!!. My very sweet brother had a couple shelves made for a DIY I've been working on (more on that to come) and I was gifted an amazing shower curtain from Anthropologie that I've been eyeing for almost a year (not the same shower curtain but close; mom buys gifts months ahead and mine is no longer available). Matt also surprised me halfway through the day while I was swimming in my parents pool by walking through the backyard; he told me he had to work that day the sneaky bugger!

The day before my birthday one of my best friends Nikki had arranged to take me out for dinner. I met her at her office and we made our way through China Town at Queen St. and Spadina for some pre-dinner perusing! Dinner was at MILAGRO; it's a Mexican place I've been to a couple times and guys, this place is to die! If you haven't been yet you have to go - their Tacos Rosarito are too good to be true. My other bestie Julia surprised me there; these girls! Get outta town!!

Because every girl should have an ornate fan for daily commuting in this muggy Toronto heat!

This guy was amazing! Go hear him at Spadina and Queen and give him your money

Fast forward to my actual birthday... Matt took me to our new neighborhood for the day where we ate a late all day breakfast at the Beacher Cafe - I'm a sucker for breakfast food + old nostalgic diners.

We walked along our new beach (I use the word "our" like it ain't no thang, but I'm clearly THAT excited about our new hood!).

And then spent the rest of the time wandering Kew Gardens; where the lamp posts are stamped with the most adorable cat stamps, and the various side streets that branch off of Queen St. The houses there are stunning and everyone seems to take an abundance of pride in their filled-to-the-brim gardens.

We topped the day off with a movie-date to see Despicable Me 2; don't care who ya are, that movie is adorable and hilarious. We were laughing with tears. Do your inner child a favor and go see it!

Happy Weekend, Everybody!

Alison