Monthly Archives: April 2010

April 30, 2010 · 8:15 AM

Golden Turtle

It was such a beautiful day in Toronto so I took a walk through Trinity Bellwoods Park and made my way over to Golden Turtle Restaurant on Ossington. First can I tell you that I just LOVE Trinity Bellwoods Park. I’ve lived a stones throw from it for the past 5 years so I’m partial to think it’s the best park in the city. It’s great for people watching, throwing a frisbee, playing tennis, or just hanging out with your dog. I don’t have a dog, but if I did I would take him there everyday. Trinity Bellwoods definitely has some stylish, weird, and interesting people who hang around. I saw this rough and tough guy – shaved head, tattoos, mustache, riding a bike with a tiny delicate dog sitting in a pouch hanging from the handle bars wearing sunglasses!! yes, the DOG was wearing little doggy sunglasses. What a bizarre sighting. I wasn’t quick enough with my camera but I’m going to be on the look out for this guy because you won’t believe me until you see it.

 

Here I am comfy cozy in my Vince riding pants, Century 21 jazz shoes ($30), chambray shirt from Zara ($45), nautical knit from Joe Fresh ($12), belt from a clothing swap ($0), and my friendship purse from I Miss You Vintage ($8). My Vince pants are not budget but they were a gift!

Golden Turtle is known for having the most delicious Pho in the city. This place is one of those no frills divey places that has amazing food for next to nothing. This big bowl of pho was about $5…I think I’ll be back in a few days, I find Vietnamese food so addictive. What’s your favourite divey restaurant in the city? Do share! JD

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April 29, 2010 · 11:00 AM

Queen East Isle

Things were all fine and dandy at The Ceili Cottage until…the wind changed and the camp fire smoke blew right into my eyes!  And here we thought blogging was all fun and games – this is dangerous stuff!  Last weekend, while hanging out in the East end, I wore a Liz Claiborne blazer that was an old Christmas gift from my Mom; a striped turtle neck dress from Zara on Bloor for $20; belt, Costa Blanca on Bloor belt for $6; Silks stockings; Roots messenger and H&M on Bloor lace-up boots.

And you caught me without my nails painted.

Love detailing like this.  CM

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· 9:20 AM

Event: Strut for a Cure

Are you into Fashion, Music, and Entertainment? If so you should definitely come out to this…

Fashion magazine along with a great line-up of sponsors are hosting an amazing event called Strut for a Cure. The event is in support of a cure for children’s cancer and takes place at The Berkeley Church on Thursday, May 27th 2010.

The night promises:
* Awesome entertainment – Dragonette is headlining, along with great DJs (Jojoflores, Adrian Villanova, Derek Martinez, and Keidy)
* A great fashion show – supermodel Coco Rocha will be strutting her stuff in designer threads by Todd Lynn, a Ryerson grad who now designs for U2, Rolling Stones, and more.
* Open bar, Rimmel make-up lounge, fab food, and a rockin’ gift bag

Tickets are $95 which gets you the above plus a heart-felt donation to the cause which is the most important part.
For more information or to buy a ticket click here.

Hope to see you there! JD & CM

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April 28, 2010 · 11:45 AM

Spotted on Bloor street

Our favourite accordion player Tangi Ropars!

You might recognize Tangi from an earlier post when we talked about bumping into him in NYC. It’s always a good day when Tangi is playing his accordion at the corner of Bay & Bloor. He is an amazing musician who plays with a lot of passion and fantastic heart-shaped sunnies. We had not seen him since the fall so it was a great treat to hear the sounds of France on our lunch break. We were lucky to catch him just before he heads back to Europe to do more busking and shows. Au revoir, bonne chance! JD & CM

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· 8:30 AM

City Escape

It was a dreary and cold Sunday when we ventured East to meet Carly-Anne in the Beaches.  We knew we needed something hearty to warm up our insides and I jumped at the chance to introduce Julie to The Ceili Cottage in Leslieville at Queen and Laing street.  It was only my second time visiting the cottage but I am 100% in love.  Authenticity is it’s best-selling feature with great food to boot – you have to try it for yourself.

Expect to wait at the bar  for a table on weekends.

The dining room is more cottage like with low ceilings.

Julie ordered the mac and cheese and I had the white bean puree soup with braised rabbit and a side of thyme kettle chips.  All were fantastic and we were especially surprised with the chips.  They offer a different roast dish every day of the week.  My first taste of their menu was the cottage sheppards pie and I was disappointed that it wasn’t Saturday for me to try it again.

Wide selection of beers are on tap.  I had McAuslen’s oatmeal stout and Julie had the cider.

$30 later…enough said!   The smell of the camp fire burning on their front patio crept inside to make it extra cozy and we carried it with us when we left.

Fun fact:  The owner flooded the patio last winter creating a skating rink for the neighborhood.  I think I have to move to Leslieville now…CM

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April 27, 2010 · 8:30 AM

Rose Thorn

Roses on my desk

Rose belt

Le full outfit

I acquired these lovely roses from a recent work event and they’ve been sitting pretty on my desk for the past few days. It’s funny how colourful flowers just make you smile. I guess it’s a girl thing.
They inspired me to bust out my purple rose belt ($10) that I got from a random accessories store on Yonge street called Glamourous Place. My sea-foam coloured top is from Zara ($19), and polka dot skort ($5) is from a clothing yard sale I went to at Queen and Dovercourt on the weekend. They had ton of great vintage and brand new items all under $10. My charm necklace is from Spring shoes and it was on sale for $7. Lace-up booties are from Spring shoes as well for $29. I’m still not brave enough for bare legs so I wore my black fishnets. Have you ditched your tights yet? JD

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April 26, 2010 · 10:41 AM

A Fine Frenzy

How beautiful/fabulous/styling/fun/electric is she?!

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April 25, 2010 · 11:37 PM

Where The Wild Things Are

Knowing I was going to pack up all my Winter coats this weekend, I decided to rock this faux fur number in my concrete jungle one last time.  Julie refers to it as my “Wild Thing” jacket and I think she is dead on.  I found it last summer at a flea market in Owen Sound, Ontario and I just love the bulky sweater-like arms.  It was priced at $5 and I snatched it up before anyone around me heard the sellers price.  The only problem is that it had that flea market smell and was quite dusty. Dry cleaning charges are the same for faux fur as they are real fur.  I was dinged with a $55 bill.  Ouch!

My messenger bag was a purchase made at the start of my first year at Western.  It is from Roots and so far it has proven to be timeless.  The classic leather brown belt is also a University oldie and it is from American Eagle Outfitters.   Goorin hat is from their men’s collection but that suits me just fine.  Leggings are from Zara on Bloor and boots are from Aldo online.

Have you seen the movie yet?  I just loved it! CM

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April 23, 2010 · 8:00 AM

Paper Bag Principessa

Hanging with the tulips and lilies outside the Windsor Arms Hotel in Toronto


I’ve shown you this skirt before here. It’s my Joe Fresh paper bag princess skirt and is a fantastic basic that allows me to switch things up without looking like I’m wearing the same thing over. I paired it with this polka dot top and one of my favourite belts – both from MMC (my mom’s collection).


This is a great example of something ugly that I love. This belt buckle is downright hideous, but yet it just works wonderfully with so many outfits. One of my fave 80s belts!


I’m so not ready for bare legs just yet so I wore my nude fishnets instead. These are a good option when you’re sick of your wintery black and grey tights, but not brave enough to bare your gams. I also opted to wear my comfy flat jazz shoes from Century 21 because I couldn’t bring myself to wearing heels…my feet were happy. JD

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April 22, 2010 · 8:24 AM

I WEAR PANTS

I seem to always have problems finding pants which is probably why I never wear them.  Honestly, I wear no pants.  I wear skirts.  When I wear dress pants to work (approximately once every 2 months) my co-workers ask me, “what’s different?”.  IT’S PANTS!  They never seem to fit right but when I tried these on at Zara on Bloor Street I had to get them.  Do you envision outfits from one piece of clothing? Upon this purchase I knew what I wanted the perfect white blouse to pair with them.  After scouring the usual Bloor Street retailers, I hit up Value Village in Burlington and found this top for $3.99.  A match made in heaven.  Necklace is also from Value Village in Burlington at $6.99 and grey, suede pumps are from Nine West. 

Every year the summer rolls around I crave the middle part.

It was cool in areas without the sun so I threw on my Zara trench.  CM

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April 21, 2010 · 8:00 AM

Sugar High

Cupcakes sitting pretty

Hosts and bakers of the party – Betty Crocker and Martha Stewart :)

Friends of ours hosted a cupcakes and champagne party on the weekend and spent hours baking dozens of delicious cupcakes in hues of pink, sparkles, glitter, and chocolate of course. They added a prop element to the mix with fun hats, sunglasses, and wigs for taking pictures. (You know how girls love their photo shoots after a few glasses of bubbly). They live in the ultimate girl palace outfitted in adorable accents from stores like Target and Homesense. I like this Buddha in particular that they picked up from Urban Barn. Thanks for a fun afternoon ladies! xo

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April 20, 2010 · 7:51 AM

The Clinton’s Dance

Saturday night took me to Clinton’s at Bloor West and Clinton to celebrate my friend T’s birthday.  The bar is known for its music as it plays a collection of 60′s pop all night long.  Judging by how easy it was to get a drink at the bar throughout the entire night, Clinton’s patrons aren’t there to socialize, they are there to DANCE.  And DANCE they do.  The moves I was witness to Saturday were like nothing I have ever seen – better than anything I have viewed on MTV, BET or cult classic dance flick.  It was raw footwork conceived through vintage vinyl and 4+ cocktails.  The art of the Clinton’s dance is not staying on your feet or catching the eye of the prettiest girl in the room, it is not spilling your drink.  You may learn something from the video.

My only qualm with the bar was that there was always someone making out on the dance floor.  Major buzz kill.  CM

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April 19, 2010 · 8:00 AM

Hippity Hop

Dining room at Boehmer


The lounge at Boehmer

We did a little bar hopping recently on Ossington and Queen and discovered some great new places. We started at Our House which was a chic little place with nice decor and fun dance music. It was dead at 9:30 pm so we had a drink and moved on to Boehmer at 93 Ossington. This new to-die-for restaurant has an aura of coolness. It’s a rather wide space for this street and has a good buzzing vibe about it. We sat at the bar, drank gin cocktails, and sampled the tasty fries. They have a mix of communal and stand-alone tables for dinning and a little lounge for drinking. We found the lounge a little too well-lit and a bit lonerish because it’s tucked off to the side – I called it the loner lounge. Next time we’ll stick to the bar.

The Ossington

Our next few stops were The Ossington, Watusi, The Great Hall, and finally Saigon Flower for late night Chinese. You know I’m against late night eating, but I fell into the trap again! Gets me every time. It was delicious and was a great spot to cap off the night.  We love this city :) JD

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April 17, 2010 · 9:50 AM

Like The Flower Needs The Rain

Had lunch at Carole’s Cheesecake in Yorkville yesterday. My sandwich was average, the service was as slow as a turtle, but the staff were so sweet and offered us a complimentary slice of cheesecake – it was divine! My favourite part of the experience was the oldies radio station playing in the background. I am a sucker for old songs and this one in particular made my day…enjoy! JD

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April 16, 2010 · 6:42 PM

TGIF

Happy Friday!  Tonight my boyfriend’s new band, Lordy Lordy, is playing their first show at the El Mocombo.  They are set to hit the stage at 10pm so join Julie and I there if you don’t have any plans.

This is another band that I’ve been listening to :)  CM

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· 2:57 PM

The Brooklyn Way

A friend of ours just got back from NYC and was complaining that her 3 day excursion drained her bank account. Our advice for doing NYC on a dime is to do it the BROOKLYN way!

This past fall we had to find NYC accommodations in less than 24 hours and luckily we came across The New York Loft Hostel located in the neighbourhood of Bushwick in Brooklyn. Bushwick used to be an industrial part of Brooklyn with lots of factories that are now converted lofts. It’s really artsy fartsy – for example, we saw a guy in paint splattered pants, holding  a paint pallet, while walking bare foot outside! True story.

Christine was a bit shocked at how small our pint-sized room was and I fell over laughing at the look on her face when we opened the door. I had to tell her it was going to be okay. And guess what? it was!

We even went to a loft party in Bushwick a few streets over. We literally walked into someone’s loft and joined the party like locals. So random!

We were a little nervous at first being far from Manhattan but it couldn’t have turned out better. Our “loft” was right by Morgan subway station and the L train ran 24 hours. We used Hop Stop to get around and it was easy peasy – Hop Stop is a website that tells you exactly how to get from point A to B on the subway – it was our life line! We spent most of our time in Manhattan but we also explored Williamsburg and Dumbo in Brooklyn where you can find great vintage shops, cafes, and cute restos. If you’re dying to go to NYC but don’t want to break the bank, we recommend doing it the Brooklyn way! JD & CM

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· 8:00 AM

Purple Rain

Not gonna lie – I was hung over in these pictures so my Joe Fresh fedora was well worth the $10 to hide my eyes. This dress is also from Joe Fresh and feels a bit on the nurse/candy-striper side if not styled properly. I couldn’t resist buying it for $24 because it’s a perfect work dress or perfect to throw on when you don’t know what to wear. Paired with basic black leggings from Winners, a black belt, Joe Fresh gingham scarf, and my trusty jazz shoes, I think this look did the trick of making me appear put together when I was actually dying for my bed and cozy joggers. JD

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April 15, 2010 · 7:06 PM

Mr. Bojangles

 People think I’m cruel for not liking cats, but check out Mr. Bojangles giving me the death stare….

That’s evil. I get shivers just thinking about my encounters with him. Why do I think of Mr. Bojangles when I see a cat? Is that from a movie? Maybe I’m confusing it with Mr. Mistoffelees from Cats the musical.

Also spotted in my backyard…..beautiful flowers in bloom :)

Me staring out the window in velcro rollers….JD

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· 4:21 PM

The Dog Sitter

After work I’m going to pick up Jake the super-dog for a weekend of fun.  This pic was snapped of him in Burlington last summer.  CM

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· 9:11 AM

The Striped Blazer

I was finally able to make my way over to Hero Burger this week.  Since opening a new location on the corner of Church and Wellesley, the joint has been packed for weeks with lines stretching to the door.  In this pic I was talking about how crazy the $10 hamburger phenomenon has become in T.O.  Seriously though, they are everywhere.

A few weeks back I picked up this jacket at H&M, Eaton Centre location, when they had their sale on jackets and blazers. All were reduced by $15 so after the discount it came to $25.  Ah-mazing. T-shirt is from Zara on Bloor St. and jeans from Uniqlo.

Some boys have compared this jacket with Beetlejuice’s and I’m cool with that.  I actually like to think of it as a reverse mullet – long in the front and short in the back.

The wedge shoes were a good find at The Bay in Burlington.  They cost $12.

I can’t believe I’m actually sharing with you my dire need for a pedicure.

Hero burger was delish.  I got the onion rings and my date got fries.  Next time I will skip both (they were just meh) and get just the burger.  The toppings alone are like a side dish anyway.  CM

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April 14, 2010 · 11:45 AM

Mellow Yellow

For dinner the other night, I was in the mood to wear my yellow check shirt by HUGO (BOSS Red Label). I bought it at a sample sale for $45 and often call it my ugly-pretty shirt. It’s kind of boxy and ugly, but at the same time I like it. I think tucked in is the way to go with this one, otherwise it would just look like a square box.
My jeans are by Rich & Skinny (gift), and braided belt is from H&M ($19). I bought it a size too big so I could tie it like that. Necklace is a newbie from Forever 21 ($11). I love my ugly-pretty top. JD

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· 8:00 AM

Julie’s Cuban

A while back I stumbled upon a cute little place with a sign that read “Julie’s Snack Bar.” I was intrigued because it was part of an old house and tucked away on a residential side street. I knew at first sight, this was a Toronto gem.  I later found out this restaurant is actually called Julie’s Cuban and is known for amazing mojitos and one of Toronto’s best patios.


It took me forever to check this place out but I finally went last week and absolutely LOVED it. It’s a tiny room, filled with cluttered eccentric decor, friendly staff, interesting food, and great latin music.

The mojitos were delicious! Smooth, not too sweet, not too strong, and just the right amount of fresh mint – the way a mojito should be.


The menu is tapas style so we started with scrumptious guacamole dip and frituras de mais (peppery corn fritters and sour cream).

Plantains were a recurring theme on the menu so I thought I should try them out. Plantains are from the banana family, just not as sweet, and kind of have the texture of a potato. These were topped with beef in a tomato sauce, with red and green peppers. It looks a bit weird, like a meaty banana split, but it was good and very filling.

If you’re the type that digs one-off hidden gems, then I would definitely recommend Julie’s Cuban. Now I just need to go back to check out that patio – I hope the weather cooperates this summer (fingers crossed!). JD

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April 13, 2010 · 11:50 AM

We’ve Come A Long Way

It’s been four months since we started sevendollarpants and we’ve received a ton of positive feedback – it’s so warming hearing from friends, family, strangers, and people from across the globe say good things about our work. We have no plans to slow down so we thought it was a good move to buy our own domain! You no longer have to type in wordpress, it’s simply http://sevendollarpants.com
Thanks for being dedicated readers and for all your feedback – you are the fuel to our creative fire! JD & CM xo

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· 8:16 AM

Novelty for the Everyday

I picked up these heart-shaped sunglasses in Kensington last summer after being inspired by one of Garance Dore’s posts and French accordion player Tangi Ropars who would busk on the corner of Bay and Bloor last fall.  Some people (you know who you are) tell me that I can’t wear novelty sunglasses unless I am at a theme party but I decide not to listen to them because they are just too much fun.   I do receive some strange looks on the street but most reactions are smiles.  As expected I have lipstick to match; Nars semi-matte in Jungle Red.

Nail polish this weekend was O.PI.’s On The Same Paige.

I have been racing to get as much wear out of my boots before the real warm weather hits.  Once this happens my feet are in sandals and ballet flats until October – I stretch it out as long as possible.  On Saturday I wore my Nine West leather boots I purchased in Soho.  I hate to admit it because I am known for the “Shop Canadian!” speech but Nine West is so much cheaper in the US.  Speaking of, on our recent trip to NYC, Julie and I ran into Tangi.  He was the first person we saw when we arrived and he was busking on the streets.  He was happy to be recognized in the Big Apple  and dedicated a song to us.  A nice welcome if you ask me. CM

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April 12, 2010 · 12:38 PM

Winnebago Stylin Part 2 – The Party


This was my Sloane Peterson look for the 80s birthday bash in the Winnebago.  Incase you didn’t know, I love Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ! I remember so clearly the first time I watched that movie. I was at my grandma’s house when my cool aunt popped the VHS tape in and I was hooked. I was just 6 years old but knew it was a great movie.

I found this amazing leather jacket at The Brooklyn Flea in NYC back in the fall. I couldn’t believe I found almost an exact replica of Sloane’s jacket so I just had to buy it. I found the boots at Vintage 69 in Toronto – which is an amazing vintage store on Queen West, and my acid wash jeggings are from Forever 21.


Christine found this amazing dress at Value Village at Bloor and Lansdowne for $12.99 (the dry cleaning cost more!). Necklace from Value Village in Calgary, $1.99


These annoying sunglasses were a staple for the night and worn by everyone.  CM took them very seriously.


Julia – the other 80s birthday girl


Fab 80s girls!


Our drink of the night was Bacardi Dragon Berry and soda. It’s a blend of strawberry and dragonberry fruit and tastes really good, hence the empty bottle. I’m usually not a fan of flavoured liquor, but this one is legit – try it with ginger or soda.


Awesome turn table cake! JD

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