Cherry Blossom Magic in High Park

The High Park cherry blossoms are out in full force once again, and yesterday my friend Luke and I braved the crowds to pay them a visit armed with Bunner's treats and other refreshments.

I seriously can't believe it's taken me three years to get back to see them! They do have a short window when they're in full bloom, but they're pretty magnificent. 

It felt like everyone in the city of Toronto was there taking photos, sitting on blankets and basking in the glorious sunshine. We definitely weren't alone in deciding that it was the best way to spend a Sunday morning and based on my Facebook timeline and Instagram feeds, many of my friends were in agreement. 

I think this is the beginning of a pretty fantastic summer. Now I just need to stock up on some more SPF 60.

If you're in Toronto this week, take advantage of the beautiful weather and head to High Park to catch a glimpse of the cherry blossoms!

Friends take friends to Bunner's

As a gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian gal it brings me great joy that there are places in Toronto where I can go and get delicious treats and yummy bread that are Ashley-friendly. Like Bunner's.

Bunner's has taken the top spot as my favourite bakery in the city (now that LPK's Culinary Groove closed its doors). Tucked away in the Junction, I'm thankful that it involves a trip across the city to visit or else I may have to exhibit a lot of self control to keep myself from their shop every single day.

It also brings me great joy to share my love of Bunner's with others who are of the gluten free and/or vegan lifestyle, which is why it was awesome to take Alexandra to Bunner's on Monday.

We were both giddy on the subway ride from Bloor to Dundas West and Alexandra was pining for a cupcake. We arrived to this sign...

 

but luckily it wasn't long before we were able to take in all the sights and smells that this adorable little bakery has to offer! 

I was thrilled that there were two loaves of bread left - one for each of us! Bunner's bread is one of the only loaves I will splurge on. It's crusty and chewy and reminiscent of my non-gluten free days. I consider it such a treat and have to throw half of the loaf in the freezer as soon as it gets home because I become a bread monster when it's around.

 

The gypsy cookie is pretty divine, filled with chocolate chips and seedy goodness. A boy once sent a box of them to my work following a date. My friend Amanda stands by the fact that it was one of the best days at work ever.  They're definitely one of my favourite things. 

In addition to getting the last two loaves of bread, Alexandra also managed to score the very last cupcake. 

 

I wish I had take a photo or video of her eating it as I felt like I was witnessing a religious experience. She loved every last morsel.

I treated myself to a couple of delectable confections and said goodbye to Bunner's for another day. I've been enjoying toast with my breakfast all week. So delicious. Really happy I could take such a sweet friend there for the first time - I know she'll be back! My birthday is around the corner and I'm thinking a cake from Bunner's will be the perfect way to celebrate...

Bunner's is located at 3054 Dundas Street West in Toronto. You can also find them on Twitter and Facebook for more gluten free, vegan, drool-worthy goodness!

Before this and after this - Intention setting for 2013

We're drawing close to the end of 2012 and with that comes reflection on the year that has passed, and looking ahead to what is to come. Setting intentions has been a theme in my life over the last few days in things I've been reading (like Meghan's latest blog post) and in a big conversation I had with a group of my girlfriends over the weekend.

It's interesting to me because I've felt like for the last three years that around December I've looked back on the previous 12 months and attributed them to be intertwined with a whole lot of transition. At the beginning of 2012 I felt like I was in a really solid spot - in a job that I loved, a part time job that I felt passionate about, performing a lot, healthy, happy, surrounded by amazing people and about to take a life-changing trip. Now that I can reflect on the year, I can see how much transition I've experienced once again since leaving both of those jobs, having an entire summer off, bouncing around between Toronto, New York, Las Vegas and St. Lucia and having the pleasure (and sometimes pain) of having amazing people come in and out of my life.

Sometimes I feel as though my life should be a movie (hello, Truman Show?) and when I tell people about the things that happen to me they tend to draw that conclusion on their own. I think this has a lot to do with my say yes to life (even though it may devour you) mentality. I try to be incredibly open to whatever experience life throws my way and embrace it as best I can. Sometimes this is absolutely spectacular, and other times it can be really painful, but these collective experiences have made me the person that I am today.

When I was chatting with my girlfriends about what they wanted 2013 to be about for them, I encountered a wide variety of answers: travel, learning, stability. I joked that I wanted 2013 to be "the year that doesn't suck". While I really don't believe that any of my years on this planet have sucked, some have definitely had more challenges than others. Upon further reflection, I've decided to embrace the transition and immeasurable experiences life has thrown me in the last few years and make 2013 the year of Serendipity.

I am going to continue to laugh loudly, dream passionately and love completely, because these qualities have brought me so much joy, wonder, happiness and love into my life. Even the things that have brought me immense sadness have taught me something about life and myself. While embracing serendipity may sound like a passive approach to life, I think I will just continue to go forward with passion, ambition and drive, but really work to enjoy everything else that comes along the way. The year of serendipity will allow me to ease into whatever transition I may encounter and enjoy the happy accidents that come my way.

There is a big project that is already in the works for 2013 that is going to push me emotionally and creatively. I can't wait to share details with you and am already working hard behind the scenes to make it happen. There will be a blog and social media component alongside a performance component and I hope that it will raise awareness and help me to honor someone very special and the impact that they have had on my life. It's going to be amazing.

I saw a quote on Pinterest recently that said "There are moments in life when you realize nothing will ever be the same and time is divided into two parts, before this and after this". I look at the events of the last few years and all of the transition that has occurred and recognize how much that quote resonates with all of that. Everything has brought me to the place I am today and everything that has happened has been a catalyst for other things and people and moments. I have more reflecting to do on 2012, but I am ready for the serendipitous year 2013 is going to be.

What kind of intentions are you setting for 2013?

The Belleville Roadtrip

Remember that time I went to Ottawa for a bachelorette? This past weekend it was time for Laura to take the walk down the aisle to say "I do" in her hometown of Belleville, Ontario. And what does that mean for those of us who don't live in Belleville?

ROAD TRIP!

The awesome folks at Infiniti lent us a gorgeous 2013 Infiniti M37x sport to make the drive in (and spread the #infinitilove), which was pretty much all kinds of amazing. I brought Fab Detox friendly snacks, the car did lots of snazzy things, SiriusXM & Justin's iTunes provided the soundtrack and Justin took care of the driving business and we were off! 

The drive really made me realize that fall really is here. The trees along the road were definitely screaming AUTUMN. Speaking of trees, the 'forest air' setting in the car kept us incredibly comfortable over the course of our drive.

We were also really impressed with its fuel economy. The M is a pretty large car, but handled gas really well whilst rocking eco mode. 

We spent some time visiting with my Nan (grandmother), her husband, my uncle and cousins before heading off to the wedding. 

Laura was to be the third generation in her family who got married at this particular Anglican church in Belleville, which was really special. She looked STUNNING. 

I found myself getting teary as I watched her come down the aisle, thinking about how much has changed since we were 11 year olds in the 6th grade. I thought about how much my mum would have loved to know that Laura was getting married and how beautiful she looked. She and her new husband have been together for 10 years and their love is truly inspiring. I wish them nothing but happiness in this new chapter of life together!! It was such an honour to be a part of their special day. 

The reception was held at a local country club, and Justin and I had a blast with Laura and Jon's friends who we were sitting with. I think we were the loudest table and we fit right into that mix. It was also really great to see Laura's friend Kristy, who was part of the bridal party. She's so much fun too!

Thanks to the bride's taste in music, there was a lot of Backstreet Boys and Spice Girl dancing action amid the traditional wedding dances and a whole lotta country and top 40. It was a very fun evening!

On Sunday morning we spent some more time with my familia before heading back to Toronto. I managed to snap some pictures of the beautiful yellow roses that Nan has planted on her front lawn for my mum, as they were her favourite flowers. 

It was a sweet little visit to Belleville

but definitely always good to come home

I'm thrilled that we were able to be in Belleville for Laura's big day! Thanks again to the Infiniti team for lending us such a sweet ride. It made our trip that much more awesome, smooth and entertaining and I really appreciate it!! 

My new answers to "What have you been up to lately?"

It's been interesting to run into people lately and answer the question "what have you been up to lately?" Rather than be able to default to my usual answer of "working" or "doing a show", I've had a wider variety of answers... 

including playing in the sandbox that is now in my sunroom (true story), attending weddings and wedding related events, frolicking in parks, art journalling and having silly photo shoots with my little sister (in unplanned matching outfits no less). I've been singing and auditioning and seeing great theatre. Ash and I have started to talk about our next cabaret (October!!!). I've been doing hot yoga and rekindling my relationship with the gym. I find myself spending more time in the kitchen, making yummy things to bring to BBQ's, popsicles and treats for awesome people. I've had a lot of me time and time to reflect on what is important in my life.

This isn't what I had originally planned for my summer, but when life changed a whole lot at the end of May, this is what it became, and I'm pretty okay with that. I'm really thankful that I'm going to be able to look back  fondly on the summer of 2012.

Coming up....
This awesome fundraiser - tonight!
Seeing one of my very favourite bands
A weekend trip to Ottawa for a bachelorette
Singing in a vampire opera
Ashleyx2 cabaret planning
More popsicles
More sunshine (hopefully)
And so much more frolicking

Popsicles for Ashley

Ashley was coming over for a lunch date yesterday and I promised her popsicles. 

I posted the link to my Summer of Popsicles Pinterest board and asked her to weigh in on which she preferred. She gave me a few options and I decided on the mango-kiwi-raspberry ones. We had a super yummy lunch, and amid our epic chat enjoyed some delicious popsicles for dessert. We also discovered that popsicles make great fuel for cabaret discussions. Oh yes, the next one is coming. 

They were awesome. Ashley even quipped that they were like "an f-ing orgasm in [her] mouth" - I don't disagree. I tweaked the recipe a bit, subbing agave for the simple syrup and only using it in the kiwi and raspberry segments and didn't really wait as long as the recipe called for before pouring in the next fruit puree. Yes, I'm getting cocky with my popsicle making, but if these guys are any indication, I'm getting pretty freakin' good at it. 

We've both been busy and haven't had a lot of time to recharge together, so yesterday was really important to both of us. She's such a big part of my life, and when we don't see one another for a little while I feel a bit incomplete and off. She's someone I bounce ideas off of, a person who makes me laugh about the most ridiculous things, someone I can count on when I'm down and the person who goes off on tangents even worse than my own. (Yesterday it had to do with sperm whales and then sperm and whales). When she's not around I just feel disconnected and I really don't like that. 

We talked a bit about an article I had tweeted yesterday that discussed why it's harder to make friends as we grow older and it reinforced why I feel so lucky to have such an amazing group of friends like Ash, my Jessie and my Melly in my life. They've been with me through a lot, and know the back story to the back story and sometimes I feel like they know me better than I do myself. I feel so blessed to have them as a part of my life. This does not discredit the relationships that I've built and established more recently, as I am incredibly thankful for them as well (and they are awesome!), but there is something truly unique and special about those friends who have known you the longest. 

Sometimes life just calls for simple things - amazing friends (who sometimes share your name), popsicles and epic conversations in the sunroom. 

Thoughts on making friends as you grow older? What do you think the difference is (if any)? Do you feel differently about the friends that have known you for ages or the ones you've made more recently?

Sweetness To Leave The Not So Fun Stuff Behind

There’s been a lot of fun stuff happening lately… and some not so fun stuff too. I’ve really been lucky to have such amazing people in my life to help me through that not so awesome stuff.

Fun thing #1: Belmonte Raw with the ever fabulous Dani & Miranda. Those gals are just all kinds of awesometown. And Carol’s food is seriously some of my favourite fare in the city.

Fun thing #2: lying in parks reading books, a trip to the AGO for Picasso and gluten free vegan fare & mojitos on a patio in Kensington with someone who makes me smile.

Fun thing #3: a visit from my beautiful friend Rosie all the way from Chicago. That girl has been such a great source of support, laughter and encouragement and it was such a treat to have her here in the city. I can’t wait until she comes back and when I take a trip to Chicago to visit so we can talk more about the real meaning behind Moosehead…

Fun thing #4: new blog design by the amazing My Girl Thursday. Chantilly has been nothing but brilliant in this process. She’s creative, patient and thinks outside the box. I think what she’s come up with is absolutely beautiful and oh-so-me and I can’t wait for you to see it. New blog design also means a bit more direction on this blog and a whole lot more posting. I’ve been saving stuff for unofficial relaunch, so I guess that’s fun thing #4a.

Fun thing #5: discovering new music that makes me want to squeal with joy. I had planned to attend a show at the Drake a few weeks ago to support the oh-so-talented Paula Perri who was opening for a band called Pearl and the Beard, who I had never heard of. Paula just blew me away (as expected) and I decided to stick around and see what this trio was all about. They were wonderful!! Seriously sweet tunes, beautiful harmonies, interesting mix of instruments and fantastic banter and connection with the crowd. The whole night was stellar and I’m so happy I discovered some new music that I’ve been obsessed with ever since. They’re the best.

Fun thing #6: the lilacs are out. I love them.

Fun thing #7: singing my little heart out, learning new music, being inspired and meeting wonderful new people in Tracy Michailidis’ Songbook Lab. Tracy is a fantastic performer and a generous, warm, challenging teacher. It’s been a treat to be back in class with so many talented people and I can’t wait to take it again to keep working on my audition book.

Fun thing #8: by the time you read this, I’ll be on my way to NYC! (maybe I’ll find more men in uniform??) Last week when I got a notification that Jonathan Reid Gealt was hosting a master class along with people like Adam Guettel (responsible for brilliant musicals like Light in the Piazza and Floyd Collins) and Tituss Burgess (the man is incredible), I knew I had to be there. I emailed Jonathan right away and less than 10 minutes later I was planning a trip to New York. The weekend is going to kick my ass and frolicking in NYC is going to make my heart sing; I couldn’t be happier.

I’m not going to get into the less-than-fun stuff right now, and instead focus on all this sweetness and everything great that is to come as a result of some big changes. The always amazing Jessie helped me to write a list of good things to make me happy when we were together last week and a lot of things from this list were on there. I’ve been carrying the list around with me and glancing at it from time to time as a reminder of how many good/fun/awesome things I have to be thankful for right now. Big NYC post when I return!

Paint Fight–Art Of The Danforth

I’m kind of known for always being in a dress and wearing a flower in my hair. People have actually messaged me about seeing someone appearing to be my doppelganger, only to tell me that they knew it wasn’t me because they didn’t have one of the aforementioned articles of clothing. With my choice in attire being pretty clear, I’m probably not the first person you’d picture at a paint fight.

Or maybe I am and I’d just show up in a white Ashley-esque ensemble ready to get messy.

When I first got a text about this paint fight, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Wear white. Bring goggles. And we decided to wear bright lipstick so it would show up better in the after photos. There was to be over 100 people and a whole lot of paint. After checking out the website, the event sounded messy and hilarious and just happened to be in the east end, so how could I really say no?!

It was an exhilarating 6 minutes of throwing sponges, smearing paint on strangers, laughing, screaming, being occasionally groped, making art, being silly and posing for lots and lots of pictures.

I was even spotted in the National Post (above pictures by Kara Dillon), the Toronto Star, CityTV and apparently I’m on the cover of the East York Mirror

It was honestly way too much fun, especially since I had some awesome friends to share it with!

Gazalle, Sabrina and Sheldon definitely made it even more fun and we loved having other friends at the sidelines as our personal paparazzi and cheerleaders! The only thing more awesome than going to a paint fight with a great group of people was having brunch and mimosas on a patio covered in paint

Brilliant event. Awesome friends. Sunshine-filled day in the city – who could ask for anything more? Except maybe a pile of white clothing that just increased in awesomeness by at least 100

Can’t wait to do it again next year! And in the meantime be sure to check out the rest of the events over here on the east side for Art of the Danforth

A Very Happy Birthday Gal, Everywhere You Look

This weekend marked the beginning of another year in my 20's, and I feel so blessed to have spent it with some of my most favourite people, in some of the coolest places, doing some of my absolute favourite things!!

Saturday was just all around awesome. I started off with a great spin class and then spent the afternoon relaxing and blissing out with my little sister at Body Blitz. I. Love. That. Place! I always leave feeling 100x more relaxed and happy and joyous. I can't wait until they open their east end location!

Saturday night involved copious amounts of sushi, a great playlist, amazing cake from LPK'S Culinary Groove, beautiful friends and a Full House puzzle.

The Full House puzzle was an amazing gift from Ashley and after I dumped it out on the floor we had no choice but to spend the next hour putting it together.

When's the last time you did a puzzle without your grandma?!

You got it dude.

Other sweet gifts included fun sparkly things, hair bows and this perfect notebook

They know me too well… We followed up the house shenanigans with a trip to The Boat for Chronologic where we danced like no one was watchin’. They start off with music from the 1890’s and play songs all the way up to the present day, spending a whole lot of time in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. It was all sorts of amazing and I laughed, smiled and squealed the night away.

There were Ashley’s galore, my little sister, Charlie’s Angels, friends, roomates, my high school sweetheart and complete strangers who did things like sing happy birthday to me and/or buy me drinks.

My actual birthday was Sunday and I had a wonderful day with more people that I adore, wonderful food (including a stellar dinner at Hogtown Vegan), flowers, sweet gifts, sunshine and a birthday nap. The birthday goodness continued into Monday with beautiful flowers and cards from my awesometown team at work.

I am a very happy girl.

Thank you to everyone who was a part of such a wonderful weekend of joy including everyone’s awesome messages on the Twitter and Facebook! I am so very excited for the year ahead!

In the spirit of my birth week and fun outings… I’m giving away a pair of tickets to DefineTO happening this Thursday April 12 at the Fifth. DefineTO is encouraging people to “be the exception, not the rule” by being passionate, fearless and social and using social media to spread good and connect the awesome people of Toronto. The proceeds of the event will be going to The Remix Project.

In order to win, go follow DefineTO on the Twitter and then tweet “Hey @ashleydtl I wanna be the exception, not the rule and support @theremixproject @defineTO” I’ll be choosing one winner after 5pm today from all the twitter entries. Good luck!