Holiday Must-Haves 3: Etsy Products I LOVE!

Posted on Dec 16, 2011 in Featured, Inspired | 5 comments

For part 3 of the Holiday Must-Have series, I wanted to share some of my favourite Etsy finds of the year that I’ve added to my MUST-HAVE list (and now you can too). Aside from rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens, these are a few of my favourite things this season:   (1)  EARRINGS FROM “OSTLUND CUSTOM WORKS”: Hammered aluminum and brass earrings. I have myself a... Read More

Hodge:Podge “So Canadian, Eh?” Series

Posted on Dec 14, 2011 in Featured, Inspired | 5 comments

Wow, time DOES fly! I don’t know how it happened, but for the first time in over a year, I ran out of time to feature two posts last week. *Tsk tsk tsk* I know, I’m a bad blogger! I blame it on all the fun I’ve been having during my visit back home in Toronto, and the fact that for 4 days, my mumsie and I took a fabulous trip together to the Big Apple! Myself and my beautiful... Read More

Holiday Must-Haves 2: Eco-Friendly SnapSac Totes

Posted on Dec 1, 2011 in Featured, Inspired | 0 comments

I have been waiting a long time to tell you about one of my favourite products, and guess what, friends? The time is now! I am absolutely loving the eco-friendly totes by SnapSac designed by Brand Hero designer, Lisa Vitale. I came across SnapSac while surfing the web and the first thing that caught my eye was the stylish pattern of a featured bag (the MegaTote in Neutral shown below), but after... Read More

Holiday Must-Haves: Plate Art

Posted on Nov 30, 2011 in Design Election, Featured | 6 comments

This year for the holidays, I find myself coveting many wonderful things…my list to Santa is going to be longer than ever, so I thought I’d share my “wants” with you so you can add to your holiday must-have list too.  (And if you’re looking to buy me a gift, you can check back here haha). I admit I am not the crafty type (DIY-ers, I applaud you and your efforts to... Read More

Photo Essay of My Visit to ROME

Posted on Nov 24, 2011 in Featured, Inspired | 3 comments

I love Rome for all the same cliched reasons that everyone else does – the great food, the stunning architecture, the easy-going way of life…but just because these reasons are cliched, doesn’t make them any less true! In fact, the resounding “ROME IS AWESOME!” from everyone who has had the pleasure of visiting this city will attest that Rome is just as special as its... Read More

Typography Pop-Art Inspired by Poetry at gallerywest

Posted on Nov 22, 2011 in Featured, Inspired | 6 comments

Art makes me smile. It always has, and it always will. You may have read about how I love to visit art galleries when I’m traveling (remember the quaint gallery in Positano in THIS POST? Or the cultural arts center in Granada from THIS POST?) but I also love to pop into as many galleries in my hometown of Toronto when I can. This week, I will be spending quite some time at one of my... Read More

Hotel Review: Gorgeous Colonial Hotel Dario

Posted on Nov 17, 2011 in Featured, Inspired | 1 comment

The moment I laid eyes on the chic Colonial facade of Hotel Dario in on Calle de la Calzada in Granada, Nicaragua, it was love at first sight. Mostly because of the unusual teal and white colour scheme that makes this nineteenth century building’s Colonial architectural details POP! Even though colourful architecture is the norm in Nicaragua (colour is vital in Latin culture), it always... Read More

Painted Signage in Small Town Nicaragua

Posted on Nov 15, 2011 in Featured, Inspired | 1 comment

The small town of Rivas in Nicaragua is such a wonderful place to visit to get a true sense of Nicaraguan culture. The low number of tourists in Rivas has resulted in the town’s ability to retain it’s authentic charm – low prices, great food stalls, friendly children and non-pushy vendors. There was a surprising number of hostels in the town, considering it isn’t the... Read More

Hotel (Design) Review: Punta Chame Villas in Panama

Posted on Nov 10, 2011 in Design Election, Featured | 3 comments

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing a night in the Punta Chame Villas – a small hotel with 15 rooms in the beautiful and remote town of Punta Chame in Panama – and I am pleased to report that I had a wonderful time. A view of Punta Chame Villas from the road - the beauty of staying in a remote hotel is that are very few tourists or other hotels in the area. Punta Chame is home... Read More

Black Baroque Giveaway WINNER Announcement

Posted on Nov 8, 2011 in Design Election, Featured | 4 comments

Thank you to everyone who participated in Passport To Design’s Awesome Giveaway sponsored by the fabulous Black Baroque – one of my favourite shops on Etsy. Today is the big day – the winners are announced! I decided to draw names from a hat – the old-school lottery method sounded much more attractive than a digital random-generator (especially because some of you had... Read More

Dream Retreat: Bali’s Amadea Resort & Villa

Posted on Nov 3, 2011 in Featured, Inspired | 3 comments

Today is a special day. 29 years ago on this very day, the man who would become my best friend and fiance was born…that’s right, it’s Jeff, the Passport-To-Design-Mascot‘s birthday :) Yipee! Happy Birthday, Jeff! You get more handsome with each passing year. xo   This is where we will celebrate this year: Amadea Balinese Resort Balinese architecture and design makes... Read More

Awesome GIVEAWAY from Black Baroque!

Posted on Nov 1, 2011 in Featured, Inspired | 23 comments

What’s better than FREE stuff? AWESOME FREE stuff, that’s what. I have some GREAT news for you, readers. The ever-so-lovely Alexandra (and puppy Poni) from one of my favourite Etsy shops, Black Baroque, have generously decided to give away TWO gorgeous WORKS OF ART to one of YOU…for free :) You might recognize Alexandra’s work – it has been featured in COASTAL LIVING... Read More