At Home with Kim Vallee

DINING, EATING out | November 3, 2009

Tea Service at Windsor Arms Hotel

I went to Toronto for two days last week to research stories for my blog, to attend a social media event and to meet people. One thing on my list was having a formal tea service. When I saw that Windsor Arms starts serving their tea service at 1 pm, I jumped at the occasion. Some [...]

CAKES and baked goods, ENTERTAINING | October 29, 2009

3 Comments

My Branded Cupcakes by Sweet Things

When Juanita Koo saw on Twitter that I was going to Toronto, she decided to give me a sweet treat. She sent me 6 cupcakes that she decorated with the 2 logos of the KimVallee.com brand. It is fun to arrive after a day of meetings to your hotel room and see those waiting for [...]

HOME + GARDEN, MODERN architecture | October 22, 2009

0 Comments

40 Fabulous Things in Canada seen in Wallpaper

In case you missed it, the November 2009 issue of Wallpaper showcased forty of the best things from ten of their favorite global destinations. You will find the best from USA, Canada, UK, Scandinavia, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Brazil and Japan. From Canada, I discover a few names that I did not know. On the architecture [...]

KIDS + BABY, LIVING with kids | September 30, 2009

1 Comment

Kid-Friendly Cafes in Toronto and Montreal

Earlier this year, I told you about Maman, Bébé et Café, a coffee shop in Montreal that was more a community center for parents than a typical coffee shop. (October 4th, 2009 update: A friend told me that Maman, Bébé et Café has closed their door.) It seems that Toronto are catching up with two new [...]

ENTERTAINING, EVERYDAY entertaining | September 6, 2009

6 Comments

David Rocco Discussed His Laid-back Entertaining Philosophy

The October 2009 issue of Canadian House and Home let us see a glimpse of David Rocco’s house in Toronto. The decor translates a rustic, comfortable feeling. It seems that Nina and him listened to my advice on how to create a welcoming front door. What I found most interesting is how David described his laid-back [...]

GIFT IDEAS, HOSTESS gifts | June 11, 2009

2 Comments

Ninutik: The Modern Side of Maple Syrup

Canada is the premier producer of maple syrup. Although the number of producers is impressive, if there is a constant is the packaging. In fact, neither the producers or the distributors make an effort to distinguish their product through packaging. The maple leaf is used as much as possible. Some have even developed complex bottle like [...]

TRAVEL | June 9, 2009

1 Comment

Fairmont Hotels’ Bee Hives for my Eco-friendly Tuesday

Did you know that an hotel chain is fighting against the shortage of bees? In June 2008, the Royal York in Toronto installed three hives as a natural extension of their decade old rooftop herb garden. The rooftop apiary was established in partnership with the Toronto Beekeepers Cooperative and FoodShare. Both initiatives deliver fresh local [...]

CAKES and baked goods, ENTERTAINING | May 11, 2009

0 Comments

Lifestream Wedding Anniversary Cake

Decorator and stylist Lisa Canning from Toronto sent me a tweet about the adorable and original cake they did for her in-law’s 30th wedding anniversary. The cake acts as a retrospective of the couple life. The first tier was dedicated to the couple; the second depicted them and their kids. The final third row displays their [...]