New Years Edit

Sunday 4 December 2016

No comments

It's December, so naturally I'm already thinking about New Years. And parties. And decorations.

If you're hosting a New Years Eve party this year, try to think outside of the box! Confetti push-pops are a fun alternative to noise makers when the clock strikes midnight. Also a sparkly backdrop (only $10!), paper fans and photo booth props can brighten up the corner of a room and turn it into a fun little element of the night!

I'm helping host my best friend's New Years party this year and while she's taking care of the food, I will be handling the decorations soooooo.....

To shop all the products (and more!) in this post click here.
Read More

Autumn Outings in Paris & Amsterdam

Wednesday 16 November 2016

1 comment

I'm having a very busy November this year, having ventured off to Paris and The Netherlands. Here are a few of my photos from the trip, plus my "Top Five" favourite outings I've had lately!


1. Take a train trip. We actually managed to do Paris in a day! It's totally feasible and was a lot of fun! We took the Eurostar from London St. Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord (2 hours and 15 minutes) in the morning and then left late that evening.

After we arrived in Paris, we hopped on the subway and took it to the Luxembourg Gardens. From there we walked our way up to Notre Dame and the Louvre, and quickly Uber'd to the Eiffel Tower and Galleries Lafayette where we stocked up on wine, cheese and pastries from their Gourmet Hall. We finished the day with a drink at Le Compas! If you book in advance here tickets can be quite affordable.


Eurostar is also planning for a direct train to Amsterdam in late 2017. Since this isn't yet available, we took on a quick 45 minute flight from London to The Netherlands. Since the weather was rainy we spent a lot of time indoors in museums and cafes; the Rijksmuseum and Coffee and Coconuts are a must!


2. I celebrated my 26th birthday drinks at Barts; a secret speakeasy decked out in Mickey Mouse wallpaper that's tucked inside the Chelsea Cloisters. Bartenders eye you up and down through a peep-hole to decide whether or not you make the cut. It was lot's of fun and I'd highly recommend going if you're in London! Another favourite hidden bar of mine is Cahoots - they have live music some nights so be sure to book ahead.


3. Gordon's Wine Bar is so romantic and such a classic. Perfect for afternoon wine and cheese, especially if you have visitors in town as it's a quick walk to the London Eye and Big Ben.


4. It's a bit too far away to be called my "local", but The Spaniard's Inn will forever be my favourite pub in London. Their winter garden has heaters and twinkle lights and the food is always good. Plus, it's a stone's throw away from Hampstead Heath so you can go for a leisurely stroll as you digest your fish and chips!


5. I love the Christmas cheesy-ness that is Winter Wonderland... and Hyde Park looks stunning in the winter! Head to Piano Bar in Kensington after to warm up with drinks and enjoy some live music and dancing!
Read More

Top 50 Etsy Gifts

Thursday 3 November 2016

6 comments


I'm so guilty of being one of those people who get all of their holiday shopping done in November. Blame it on the OCD but I love the detail that goes into thoughtful gifts, and the feeling of having all of your Christmas shopping out of the way waaaaay before December even rolls around is amazing.

I'm also a huge fan of personalized, handmade gifts - I really don't think presents need to be expensive in general, but I do think it's important they hold a certain meaning for the giver and receiver.

I might be a little biased here but Etsy really is the perfect place to buy something with a personal touch for those special people in your life. I've made a round-up of my top 50 gifts on Etsy - from the foodie to the gym rat, I got you covered!





Foodies unite! These ones are for you...

16. Engraved reindeer napkin holders
17. Wine opener t-shirt
18. Handpainted ceramic spoons
19. Avocado spoon
20. Coffee and cardio water bottle
21. Tea-towel set
22. Personalized rolling pin
23. "We're Getting Tacos" t-shirt
24. Christmas cocktail sugar
25. "Him & Her" tea-towels
26. Cake topper
27. "Whisky is my Spirit Animal" t-shirt
28. Handmade copper pour-over
29. "What's For Dinner" dice
30. Personalized cutting board








Read More

Oktoberfest: O'zapft is!

Thursday 6 October 2016

No comments

I'm having a very German October this year, having just got back from Munich's Oktoberfest and then I am heading out to Berlin from London today. Here are a few of my photos from Oktoberfest, plus outfit details and some dirndl picks if you hit up the Wiesn next year!

You know what they say... "Nach der Wiesn ist vor der Wiesn..."


 Headband: ASOS



Bag: Chanel Shoes: Chanel

The dirndl I wore is vintage and is my mom's from when she was a teenager, but you can find an assortment of similar styles on Ludwig & Therese. Right now they are offering 20% off with the code WHOOP20 so you can get all geared up for next year. I personally love one, two and three below.

& after the tents close keep going at P1!

Read More

New York Minute

Monday 26 September 2016

1 comment

As I write this I'm currently en route back to the UK; a little dot flying somewhere over the Atlantic. I rarely sleep on planes so I figured this is the perfect way to pass the time.

Life has been quite hectic lately, having just come from a trip to Toronto, Philly and New York! I won't be back across the pond until Christmas, so I wanted to share a couple of highlights from this time around.          

The gorgeous Etsy office in Brooklyn

It's always amazing to catch up with family and I find myself so lucky to have been able to visit them both in May and August this summer, but one of the most difficult things is always saying goodbye. Goodbyes suck and anyone who lives abroad will agree! Luckily my parents have booked a little German/British trip in a few weeks so I'll see them soon.

In terms of places to eat in New York, the list is really endless, but my top 3 from this trip were Lure Fishbar, The Stanton Social and Eggloo for their amazing Hong Kong egg waffles!

Waffles from Eggloo

French onion soup dumplings from The Stanton Social

We enjoyed Frings (the Susur Lee/Drake collab) in Toronto but to be quite honest, it isn't as good as Susur's other restaurant, Lee's Lounge. Speaking of Drake... His concert in Philly was absolutely amazing!


I hope you enjoyed my little USA recap. Be on the lookout for a Munich Oktoberfest post next month... or get caught up on my experience from last year's Oktoberfest here!
Read More

15 Summer BBQ Essentials

Monday 15 August 2016

No comments

I'm back home in Canada for the week, and we decided to have a family BBQ with cute balloons, good food and better company!



1. Gin apron
2. Mini Cactus Piñatas
3. Champagne balloon
4. Champagne flute balloon
5. Pink party package
6. Agate coasters
7. Hamburger & hotdog balloon
8. Personalized chopping board
9. "Yay" balloon
10. Moroccan pom-pom throw
11. Party paper flowers
12. Watermelon Piñatas
13. Personalized drink swizzle sticks
14. Succulents
15. Personalized sparklers

Balloon: Champagne Flute

Balloons: Hamburger, Champagne Bottle & Flute - (20% off with the code TAKE20)






Read More

The Amalfi Coast

Friday 12 August 2016

No comments
Last summer we found ourselves travelling from Milan to Portofino - who would have thought that another Italy trip would come my way just one year later? I'm a very lucky girl! This time around we visited Capri, Positano, Ravello, Amalfi and Rome over the course of eight days.

We had so many incredible experiences - from swimming in the blue grotto (illegally, oops) to attending the Pope's blessing at the Vatican. Grab a cup of tea and a comfy spot cause this is gunna be a long one.


Read More

The Algarve

Saturday 2 July 2016

No comments
City-hopping the coastline of the western Algarve made for an unforgettable trip. We explored Lagos, Carvoeiro, Quarteira and Vale do Lobo. Standing on the cliffs watching the sun sink into the ocean is truly an experience like no other! The picture below was taken at Ponta da Piedade, the main lookout point in Lagos.




After flying into Faro, we pre-booked a bus to take us to our first destination, Lagos. The bus from Faro to Lagos took just over 2hs and cost €13. We planned our trip to hit the furthest city first, and gradually work our way back in the direction of the airport.

The mid-summer weather was perfect but watch out -- the Atlantic waters of the Algarve are freezing! Our two favourite beaches in Lagos were Praia Dona Ana and Praia Do Camilo. The photos below are both from Praia Do Camilo - looking back at them it's easy to understand why ancient mariners believed this place to be the end of the world. 

The main lookout point (Ponta da Piedade) is 10 minute walk from Praia Do Camilo, so I'd recommend doing both the same day.

 
 
Pink Bikini: Victoria's Secret (similar) / Black Bikini: Seafolly (on sale!)


The beaches have been carved out by the waters to expose  beautiful rock formations, grottoes and tunnels. We wanted to explore them and had heard of the Benagil Caves, which we checked out by boat on our next stop, Carvoeiro.


Boat tours head to the Benagil Caves from Carvoeiro Beach and are €20 per person. You can book this at the beach the day before you want to take the tour. Also, check out the restaurant Tia Ilda while you're there; the view is great and the local fish is even better.

Fringe Shirt: Similar


Bikini: Rip Curl (on sale!)

 Carvoeiro Beach

Carvoeiro is a charming town with many cute mom and pop hotels, restaurants and bars. We frequented Imprevisto Bar quite often which served up amazing cocktails and proved to be a great viewing point for some Eurocup games!

 Lunch at Tia Ilda 

From there we headed to Quarteira and Vale do Lobo, which are a 1.5h walking distance from one another. If you find yourself in Quarteira, keep one night open for dinner at Bem Bom, a destination for carnivores!


If you plan on heading to Vale do Lobo, I would highly recommend walking there from Quarteira as it's a beautiful beach walk, especially if you make a few sangria pit-stops on the way. Our favourite beach bars were Breeze (where you can actually use the pool) and Izzy's Beach Bar, who regularly host day parties.



Breeze in Vale do Lobo



Sunglasses: Ray Ban / Bikini: Seafolly
View from Izzy's in Vale do Lobo

And that's all! Stay tuned for an Italian adventure coming up next month...
Read More
Copyright © STEFDOLL.COM. Blog Design by SkyandStars.co