Perfect tea for fall

I started drinking Chai (tradition Indian Tea with spices) about 10 years ago during my 3rd year finals at the university (wow that makes me sound old!)..so anyway, I like the taste, it keeps me awake, it is healthy so why try something else right?! I always try to eat healthy and have often tried incorporation the morning ritual of lemon with warm water, but not being a morning person I found that very difficult! Waking up late and wanting a nice strong cup of my chai is what I needed to get my day started.
It was last month when I was at a conference when I tried some green tea with lemon and honey. Well folks I was hooked! It was light, refreshing, caffeinated and I could finally get on board with this lemon and honey business!
A friend of mine got me a gift box of Davids tea last year, so trying this new tea experience became a whole lot of fun with flavors ranging from chocolate to ginger! And I happened to have a sample of organic honey from The Rosewood Estate Winery (where they make honey wine too..and their Mead Noir is to die for!). And me being me I don't do boring tea for one..I bring out my fave tea cup, my fave green tea from Davids Tea and Pumpkin Macarons from Nadege Patisserie in Toronto...simply heaven!

DIY - OVENBAKED CLAY DISHES FOR THANKSGIVING

When The Society Co asked me to contribute a DIY for their fabulous lifestyle site, I was so excited to come up with something fun and festive. I decided to do a clay dish DIY, which I had seen a while ago but I wanted to add my own touch to it. Using metallic clay and creating leaf shaped dishes, it turned out even better than what I could have imagined! So enjoy!

Materials

1. Oven bake clay from Michael's

2. Cookie cutters

3. Rolling Pin

4. Sharp craft knife (optional)

5. Gold leaf pen or gold paint (optional)
6. Oven

1. Unwrap the clay and roll it with a rolling pin. It is a bit stiff the beginning but becomes easier to roller after a few seconds of rolling

2. Using your desired size cookie cutter, cut the shape out

3. With your fingers slowly bend the edges to make the dish shape

4. This is what the final product should look like

Now repeat with as many colors as you like.  As I was doing this project, I realized I had bits of clay scraps left over. Not wanting to waste any clay, I combined all the scraps and made it into a ball and repeated steps 1 to 4. 

Result - something even prettier than I could have imagined!



After making a few clay dishes, I decided to try something a little advanced (but not to worry if you mess up, roll up the clay and begin again!)

1. Roll out one large piece of clay
2. Using a sharp craft knife draw a leaf
3. Cut away the access - which can be used to make more color combinations
4. Using your fingers roll up the edges
5. Final product -Leaf dishes!

Once done, pre-heat the oven to 230 F (or as stated on  your clay packaging). Let cool for half an hour. Then embellish with the Gold leaf pen, or gold paint.

 
I love how the clay dishes from the different colors turned out. Beautiful gold and copper dishes mixed with orange and pink; they are great for displaying jewelry, party favors, candle holders or even simply as decor around the house. I hope you enjoyed this DIY, because it is easy and can be done in any color imaginable. (You can even get glittered clay for the kids!)

Review: Megan Hess Illustration

I recently purchased this stunning book called "The Fashion House" by Megan Hess.  I didn't know much about Megan Hess or her work.,but I did, however, followed her on Instagram without even realizing it! Her work is simply amazing. When I picked up this book in the store, I thought to myself..how fun! Beautiful illustrations, fashion inspired decor I thought I would make a great coffee table book. Little did I know I wasn't going to be able to put it down! I have it next to my bed now. It is almost like my bedtime read, or just a fun way to spend an hour flipping through it while sipping my Chai tea. If you love fashion, decor or art, this book is for you. Beautiful illustraions, rooms designed and dissected to make decor easy. I am already thinking holiday season, and this book would make a great present for any woman out there who has a fabulous taste. And if they don't, this book might just change that!

Happy Friday: Sunsets around the world

Happy Friday everyone..another busy week and even more hectic weekend coming ahead for me. Tomorrow is supposed to be a gorgeous day here in Toronto but I will be stuck indoors in a boring lecture.. But I hope everyone else gets to enjoy this lovely weather we are finally having!

Today I leave you with a little collection of my pictures capturing sunsets around the world. This is only a small collection but I do intend to share with you every stunning sunset I have ever captured. 

Enjoy the weekend!

TRAVEL DIARIES: : COLOUR-BLOCKED LISBON

As promised yesterday, nothing but colour! I took these pictures a while back during my trip to Lisbon, Portugal. I loved the famous tile facades but it was by luck I spotted these gorgeous buildings. It was in the area of Belem, famous for the Belem cafe, the University, museums, piers and of course the Belem Tower. We we walking along Av. India when I saw all these colours and as usual ran towards them with my camera. I couldn't believe the beauty and I love when people are daring enough to choose bold colours. Can you imagine blue, pink, purple, orange and mixed with natural greens..what a stunning view. I have to be honest though I never did find out what these buildings were but I did bring back a little part of Belem with me.

Pictures below are from a resting station from our bus ride from Lisbon to Seville. I couldn't believe this was a real place. Gorgeous spring sunlight, and crisp colours of the station, it seemed a like a movie set.

A lilac Hotel. Enough said. These pictures remind me of "The Grand Budapest Hotel". What a lovely thought that these stunning buildings do exist outside of  the Hollywood sets.

Well until spring finally decides to visit us this year I will simply admire these colourful beauties..hope you liked em too.