First up, a really cool air plant and hanging pot that Toronto company Chive sent me. I've always loved air plants but never really had any (they seem to be hard to come by here in Ottawa, although I could have just ordered some online). Super low maintenance - although yes, they do need water occasionally. I hung my new plant up right next to my desk for a little added greenery that the cats can't reach and chew on. Oh - and the folks at Chive surprised me by also sending Larry (Mr. Gnome). CUTE!!!

(Dear gawd I need to paint my desk black....with fluro pink leg tips perhaps....)

On my way home from work the other day I stopped off at a few shops and picked up some things (one is on closet rivalry), including this art deco woman's head from The White Monkey. My husband said we should call her Grace, because she looks like Grace Jones. She's living on the marble table next to the sofa for now. I forgot to dust her off before snapping these, and she needs a new coat of matte black paint. P.S. They had 2 if anyone wants the other one.

I also picked up this funky little succulent. I need to find a suitable pot for it so for now I'm using a bowl I had on display in my kitchen, and it's sitting on my Normann Copenhagen Tablo table.

I'm not doing any gardening this summer as I don't really care what the yard looks like at this point, but I always buy hanging baskets for my ugly porch and I am a sucker for succulents and had this great pot I was dying to use...

Here are a couple of photos I snapped on my phone yesterday at the cottage. There is NOTHING like cottage season after a loooooong winter to rejuvenate you.

What a cute mini bar! And it doubles as a side table when not used and the 2 sides are up. Gorg solid European oak. 

Love this simple desk with clean lines that can also function as an entrance or dressing table. 

Cool angles on this desk that is also a classic and timeless. 

Check out this campaign chair - an updated version of Ron Thom's chair from several decades ago. (He's an architect who designed Trent University and alot its furniture). The maker of this updated version found one in the trash at Trent and re-created it. It's amazing, and MUCH better than my vintage one from Africa. Note: GLD is the only shop selling this chair. 

We have a new advertiser on the blog, and while we try to stay away from blogging products, I had to share this shop with you. Because I want every single item! Fossik is Laura's shop based in Sydney, Australia and she carries the most beautiful vintage Boucherouite rugs from Morocco and new and vintage Kantha quilts from India. These are TO DIE FOR. The colours and patterns are absolutely incredible. I am trying to go with a more neutral house but I would love a black/white/brown room and then have one of those gorg boucherouite rugs o nthe floor as the only source of colour. And the quilts come in bold and neutral colourways so perfect for anyone's taste. LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! WANT! WANT! WANT!

***** Thx Laura! 10% discount if you use the code desiretoinspire in the next 48 hours!!! *****

Last Friday my husband and I had a little dinner date at Absinthe, a restaurant in Hintonburg on Wellington St. I've driven or walked by it I don't know how many times and never had dinner there. So it was about damn time. And OMG what was I waiting for?!?! Dinner was phenomenal. Every single bit of it. Absinthe is now on my list of top 10 favourite restaurants. So without further ado, here is what we ate and drank...

a little amuse-bouche of...tiny cheese biscuits 

 ~ grapefruit gimlet = grapefruit vodka, fresh lime juice, agave nectar ~ 

~ bitter old mule = absinthe, the kraken spiced rum, domaine de canton, orange bitters, ginger ale ~ 
(my husband had a hard time getting this down)

~ beet salad = goat cheese & walnut & creme fraiche tart, apple fritter, smoked beets, pickled beets, walnut emulsion ~
( one of the best appetizers I have ever had )

 
 
~ absinthe steak frites = hangar steak served medium rare, frites, horseradish aïoli, sautéed green beans ~

~ stuffed chicken breast = goat cheese, granny smith apple and squash stuffing, succotash, yukon gnocchi, rosemary jus ~
( one of the best chicken dishes I've ever had ) 

~ warm dark chocolate fondant = dark chocolate, ice cream, chocolate sauce ~

~ crème brûlée = tahitian vanilla with gingerbread cookie ~