I was so happy to realize that this is my one year anniversary of writing these monthly recaps! I think I shall continue to do so. My friend Kathleen told me she loves reading them (Hi Katy!), and I like looking back at my month and seeing what I was up to. Now that I’ve been doing this for a year, I can also see what my 2013 self had going on. I love that last July I met up with Heather, Jenny, Meg and Rhonda for dinner for the first time, and now that happens pretty much on a monthly basis. Case in point, my first entry for this month:

• Heather, Jenny, Meg and I took a mini-road trip to Dundas, Ontario. Who knew Dundas has a cute little main street with all kinds of foodie-friendly shoppes? (Note: It’s way more posh when you say shoppes, instead of just shops). We went to a chocolate shop, cheese shop, British shop and a few cute little kitchenware stores (will fill in the actual names later). We kicked the whole thing off with brunch at Taylor’s Tea Room, where I had the most refreshing black current iced tea (unsweetened, which I love), French toast, and a gigantic raisin scone with clotted cream and raspberry jam. It was so cute – I felt like I was in Gilmore Girls or something.
• I met my Those Girls co-chairs at Caren’s Wine & Cheese Bar in Yorkville. Never heard of it? To quote Libby on my Instagram from the night: “Best Hidden Gem”. You can basically create your own cheese board, or order one off the menu and then add on whatever little accompaniments you like i.e. olives, chorizo, grapes, dates etc. Lydia are you reading this? YOU WOULD LOVE THIS! There’s a cozy little patio at the back with these twinkle-y lanterns, and it’s just so cute.
• The lovely Kelly was in town to attend/shoot a wedding, so a bunch of FBCers met up with her for brunch at Origin. Based on Heather’s “so nice I ate it twice” advice, I had the Tostada Ranchero, which is basically crispy corn tortillas stacked up alternately with black beans, guacamole and bacon, and topped with a sunny side up egg. (pictured above). Holy geez. I needed to be alone with this thing. We also had complementary scones and jam, and Jenny ordered us french toast with rhubarb and strawberries to share. We then brought Kelly over to Momofuku Milk Bar for some Cereal Milk soft serve and cookies. It was so nice to meet you Kelly!
• One of my friends from my old department was in town from Calgary so we all went over to the Mill Street Beer Hall to wish her well as she moves on to a new job. I’ve been wanting to visit this patio since November when we went on the tour of the brewery and I was daydreaming of hot, sunny days. I tried the Lemon Tea Beer, and it while I didn’t find it overly citrusy or over tea-y, it was perfect for a summery day.
• I met up with Those Girls again to bid a fond farewell to our co-chair, and we went to Salt Wine Bar on Ossington. We had some amazing red wine and shared a bunch of dishes: charcuterie and cheese, baby kale salad, patatas bravas, grilled calamari (I did not eat this), shellfish paella and lamb sausage. I liked everything we tried, and would like to go back and eat it all again.

Other non-foodie things I was obsessed with this month:

• Beyonce. Jay Z. On The Run. I could honestly write 5,000 words on the experience of having a VIP seat to this concert, and getting Alexis & Kristine SPONTANEOUSLY UPGRADED TO SIT WITH ME, but let’s just say it was mind-blowing, and that when I made eye contact with Beyonce, I felt it in my soul.
• I read an awesome book at the beginning of the month that I feel you need to know about: Astonish Me by Maggie Shipstead. It’s set in the world of ballet, and that’s all you need to know. I also read The One & Only by Emily Giffin and All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner.
• BIG NEWS: I’m starting a new Book Club with my friends from Those Girls. We’re so excited. The other Book Club I was in has been dying a slow, painful death for the past year, so the organizer finally put it out of it’s misery. Our first pick is Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, and I just bought a copy today. We’re all going to read it in August and meet to dish about it in September.