DIY Envelope Lining

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If you have a special event coming up in the near future, here is a perfect DIY to help you invite your guests with style! This tutorial will help you create unique and stylish invites for your wedding, thank you or birthday cards, or even just a handwritten note to a faraway friend.  Written by Jemma at freepeople.com, this envelope lining craft is fun and simple and will turn a simple envelope into a work of art!

Verve_DIYEnvelopeLining_May18th2013

Click here to see the full tutorial and try it for yourself!

Source:

http://blog.freepeople.com/2013/05/diy-personalized-envelope-lining/

Cumbrae’s (Church St.)

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If you’re the kind of person who is conscious about where they get their meat from, then Cumbrae’s is the butcher you should seek. Cumbrae’s is known for their hand selected meats, raised on small family farms. When it comes to breeding, feeding and care, Cumbrae’s has exacting standards, which is perhaps why they are one of Toronto’s most popular butchers and the supplier to some of the city’s better restaurants.

Verve_Cumbrae's_Apr132013

With a location, right by Verve at 481 Church Street, Cumbrae’s prides itself on supplying customers with organic meat working closely with farmers to ensure that every animal is naturally raised on the best feeds, without hormones, drugs or chemical enhancements.

Owner Stephen Alexander is often on the farm, working with breeders to produce the finest naturally raised meat that is sure to please exacting chefs and ethical carnivores. Aside from this, staff at this third generation butcher, are well equiped at guiding customers through the ins and outs of selecting the cut and preparation that is best, as they care about what you put on your table.

Overall, at Cumbrae’s it’s all about the relentless pursuit of producing and delivering the finest meats for the sake of a better and healthier tasting meal.

Hosting Easter dinner in your condo

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Easter is right around the corner and many of you will be hosting friends and family. There is definitely quite a bit of thought and preparation required in order to host a perfect Easter weekend. We have a few key tips to help you host an enjoyable evening, both for yourself and for your guests.

Verve_EasterParty_March20,2013

  1. Start with the menu. Think about the dishes you will serve in advance. Choose traditional Easter dishes to commemorate the occasion. Baked ham is a typical Easter dish and can be prepared with a variety of glazes, such as honey, maple, or brown sugar. It can be served with cherries and sliced pineapples. Lamb is also a great Easter dish; rack of lamb is often roasted, while lamb shanks are braised. Wine and herbs are used in preparation. Of course, you can’t have Easter without eggs. They can be served in their hard boiled decorative states or added to a variety of dishes.
  2.  Next, is décor. Make sure to have your table fully decorated with floral and spring patterns in different fabrics around the dining area. Try decorative items like bunny shaped napkins, which can be placed on the table. Additionally, add flowers like tulips and daffodils and decorated egg baskets to the surroundings.
  3.  If children are attending, think about activities for them. Easter egg hunt, an egg and spoon race, or egg decorating activities are great options to keep the little ones entertained.
  4.  When your guests do arrive, be sure to welcome them at the door and make them feel relaxed. Perhaps start the evening off with a few drinks and some mingling, before heading to the dinner table.

Sources:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2126787_host-easter-dinner.html

http://www.simplebites.net/entertaining-on-easter-simple-hosting-tips-and-three-sample-menus/

http://simplemom.net/taking-a-risk-by-hosting-an-easter-dinner-party/

Bumpkin’s

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If you feel like eating out yet would still prefer to feel like you’re eating at home, Bumpkins restaurant, near the Verve condominium on Parliament, just south of Wellesley Street, may be the perfect place for you. With its rustic French cuisine and specialization in quality meats and seafood, Bumpkins is sure to please most tastes. This charming restaurant is located in a two-storey Victorian home and decorated to exude a homey feel.

Verve_Bumpkins_Interior

Since its establishment in 1971, Bumpkins has been serving Toronto locals and building a strong, loyal clientele that returns for the restaurant’s famous escargots and friendly service. Recently, owners Min and Tim renovated the restaurant space and threw a special re-opening that was attended by local politicians, including Liberal MPP Glen Murray and interim federal Liberal Leader Bob Rae.

The interior has been redecorated with bamboo hardwood floors and new fireplaces, however the wall of celebrity portraits, familiar to any who have eaten there, is still situated in a place of prominence. Large framed mirrors reflect the hanging chandeliers and lighten up the dining area.

Bumpkin’s culinary offerings are reasonably priced considering the high quality of food. The most popular dishes include escargots, oysters, and the veal chop. Of particular note for wine fans, Bumpkin’s holds wine tastings each week.

During the summer months, Bumpkin’s opens their outdoor patio. Moreover, the restaurarnt’s central location with ample parking in its surroundings makes planning a trip here virtually stress free. A daily brunch menu as well as the ability to host catered lunches, meetings, and weddings also makes Bumpkin’s a convenient choice for many occasions outside the restaurant.

Bumpkins, 21 Gloucester Street, 416-922-8655, www.bumpkins.ca

Sources:

http://www.bumpkins.ca/

http://www.travelindustrytoday.com/web/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=14114:sometimes-facelifts-work-an-old-friend-gets-a-new-look&Itemid=14&tmpl=component&print=1

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/05/30/bumpkins-celebrates-40-years

http://www.toronto.com/article/726196–bar-of-the-week-bumpkins

DIY Jasperware Ornaments

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The winter season is now upon us, bringing with it cold weather, less sunlight, and more cold weather.  It isn’t all bad though!  The holidays are just around the corner, and there is no shortage of warm and welcoming holiday cheer in Toronto.  Not only are the streets adorned with holiday decorations and friendly holiday greetings, the inside of our homes can be the same.  If you haven’t already set up your family Christmas tree, what are you waiting for?  Christmas decorations can be the perfect way to warm up your condo this winter.

This year, keeping your home filled with Christmas cheer isn’t hard to do with DIY Jasperware ornaments.  Jasperware is an unglazed stoneware, originating all the way back to late 18th century England.  It was discovered and first produced by Josiah Wedgwood, an English potter.  Jasperware is very similar in appearance to porcelain, because of its matte finish.  It often has a coloured background with white décor.  This Jasperware tree ornament looks especially great with a winter theme.

jasperware

Want to learn how to do-it-yourself?  It isn’t hard, and here’s how:

What you’ll need:

  • Paperclay modeling material (1 pound of Paperclay makes about 5 medium-sized ornaments)
  • German springerle-cookie molds  (If you’d like to make it even easier, just buy paint store-bought architectural ornaments)
  • Acrylic paint
  • Non-stick baking sheet
  • Cookie cutter
  • Small paint brush
  • Patterned paper
  • 1 ½ inch length of grosgrain ribbon for each ornament
  • Pair of gloves
  • Sandpaper
  • White craft glue

Step-by-Step Tutorial:

  1. Mixing Clay: In order to create a background colour of your choice, mix the acrylic paint into the clay.  Try experimenting with different shades and colours, it’s more fun!  Don’t forget that as clay dries, the colour will lighten, so plan accordingly.  Next, pour the paint mixture onto a 1-pound block of clay and gently fold paint into the clay.  Make sure the colour is consistent throughout the whole block of clay by kneading it until desired.
  2. Pick Your Molding:  If you want to keep up with a winter and holiday theme, choose molds with similar motifs.  Great holiday ones include Christmas trees, candy canes, bells, or stars.  If you’d prefer your Jasperware ornament to stay throughout the year, pick motifs that go well with your condo’s décor.
  3. Mold Ornaments: On the baking sheet, cover springerle mold lightly with mold release.  This is available at any art-supply stores.  Then, compress the clay gently into the mold.  Try to make sure that all of the corners are filled.  Flip the mold over, and push on the clay until thickness is uniform.  Keep in mind that if your mold is too thin, the ornaments may buckle and crack as they dry.  Now, carefully peel away the clay, and cut excess clay using the cookie cutter.
    Jasperware Molding
  4. Dry and Smooth Ornaments: Dry your ornaments on a wire rack overnight, or at least until you’re sure they’re entirely dry.  Once they are, use sandpaper to smooth down the clay and the edges of the ornament.
  5. Painting!  Finally, it’s time to paint your ornaments!  Use your small brush to paint any designs with white acrylic paint.  If you bought your ornaments at a store, you can paint the entire ornament with 2 coats of white acrylic paint, let it dry, and then use a different color to paint your background.  The colour scheme is up to you.
    Jasperware painting
  6. Ribbon:  Trace your ornament onto a piece of patterned paper of your choice.  Again, for a holiday theme, gift wrapping paper is perfect.  After cutting the shape out, it will decorate the back of your ornament.  Next, cut a 1 1/2–inch length of grosgrain ribbon; loop and attach it to the top back of the ornament with white craft glue.  This enables you to hand your ornament on a tree branch.  Coat the back of your ornament with glue, and fasten the backing to it.  Finally, cut a length of grosgrain ribbon that is long enough to wrap around the ornament, glue it along the edges, beginning and ending at the top.

Jasperware backing

And voilà! Your ornament is complete!  You can now stand back and admire your craftsmanship.

Now that you’ve created a beautiful and unique holiday ornament for your condo, you can take on the upcoming winter season.  Team Axon wishes everyone a happy holiday!  See you in the New Year!

Sources:

http://www.marthastewart.com/908910/jasperware-ornaments?czone=holiday/workshop-christmas/tree-and-ornaments&center=307034&gallery=274467&slide=908910

 

Organizing your closet for fall

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Image c/o Apartment Therapy

Fall is an ideal time for cleaning out and organizing your home. People often forget about their closets in this process, but an organized closet can make life a whole lot simpler. Here are a few helpful tips to get you on your way to a fully organized and well-arranged closet space.

Clearing out
The first thing you should do when organizing your space is to go through your closet and separate items into piles and bags. Ask yourself whether you need or want each item. If you have not worn the item in the past year, or if it is worn out, get rid of it. If necessary, create an “unsure” pile and go back to it in a few days to re-sort everything. Find family or friends who may want to take your extra stuff, donate it to Goodwill, or just throw it out.

Sort
Once you’ve decided what you will keep, sort your clothing by season and item type. For instance, keep all your tank tops together, your pants together and your skirts together. It’s a good idea to hang items by length, from longest to shortest.

Layout
Once you have decided what to keep and have sorted everything into piles, it’s time to assess the layout of your closet. Make the most of the space you have by first measuring the space available and finding ways to make use of all interior walls and the backs of doors. Measurements are especially handy when shopping for storage and bins to ensure things will fit properly. Use shoe racks and hooks on the backs of doors.

Use every square inch of your closet. Hang shoe racks on the back of your closet door. Classic belt hangers with multiple hooks are also a good solution for hanging camisoles, bras, or scarves.

Getting Organized
Invest in good quality hangers that match and consider buying good storage containers, this will improve the aesthetic and flow of your closet space. Organize your closet, not only by type but by colour and style. This will save you time in the morning whether you have to get ready for a business meeting or for a casual get together with friends. If you have a smaller closet, it may be a good idea to only keep seasonal items there. Have your other clothing in storage boxes. Clear containers make it easier to see what’s inside and makes things more accessible.

Maintenance
Once things are in place and organized, there are a few rules to follow to make sure things stay the same. Firstly, put things back where they belong. Secondly, clean the floor monthly. Going through the closet floor with a broom or vacuum will force you to make sure things are not lying on the floors. Finally, if storage or items in your closet are giving you problems, don’t try to force it. For example, if you hang scarves but they keep falling off their hooks, find another way of storing them. Finally, assess your closet every season – don’t wait for that yearly spring cleanup to go through and sort things.

Start the fall off right – get organized!

Sources:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/5-tiny-tweaks-to-keep-your-closet-organized-176713

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/fall-closet-cleaning-advice-from-a-pro-176818

http://shine.yahoo.com/fall-style/8-tips-to-organize-your-fall-closet-2391674.html

http://articles.cnn.com/2009-01-05/living/mhi.organize.your.closets_1_hangers-sweaters-closet?_s=PM:LIVING

 

Visit Eddystone Meats for your meat, cheese, and pasta needs!

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Image c/o blogTO.

Eddystone Meats is a family-run butcher shop established in 1972. It originally started as a small butcher shop which catered to new immigrant families in the area. Today, Eddystone’s offers a large array of fresh or cooked meats, pastas, and cheeses. With a recently added hot table for a quick bite and grocery section, Eddystone’s is now a one-stop shop! 

Customers will find different types of beef, lamb, veal, chicken, and pork cuts all under one roof. Eddystone’s specialty is the porchetta ($8.99/lb). It is prepared using a special recipe fromItalyand is cooked for 6 hours.

North York is a budding neighbourhood, conveniently located just a subway ride away from the Torontocore. For more information of Verve or other North Yorkcondominiums, please feel free to contact us at (416) 929-1660 or email us at resupport@axoncapitalrealty.com. We would be happy to help you find that dream condo!

245 Eddystone Ave., (416) 743-56014. Monday – Wednesday 9a.m. – 7p.m., Thursday – Friday 9a.m. – 8p.m., Saturday 8a.m. – 5p.m., http://www.eddystonemeats.ca

Sources:

http://eddystonemeats.ca/site/

http://www.blogto.com/grocery/eddystone-meats-toronto

Visit Bakes & Goods to satisfy your sweet tooth!

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Image c/o blogTO.

Bakes & Goods is a quaint bakeshop located at 2523 Yonge Street, not far from Verve condos. All those with food allergies can breathe a sigh of relief: Bakes & Goods is a completely nut-free shop.

Each item is freshly made from scratch right on site. They have fancy cookies in the shape of things like basketballs and flowers. Their cupcakes come in a variety of flavours – try the cookie crumble, red velvet, or coffee expresso for just $2.50 for example.

For special occasions, send cookie grams, basquets or bouquets ranging in price from $35-$60.

Or, as a fun way to celebrate a child’s birthday, they offer a Party Package ($295), which involves staff showing the children how to decorate their own cupcakes or cookies. The package includes 5 cookies to decorate, 2 hours of party time, snack and drinks for each child (minimum of 8) and balloons for the party.

Your sweet tooth is sure to be satisfied at Bakes & Goods!

If you would like more information on Verve, feel free to contact us. Reach us at (416) 929-1660 or email us at resupport@axoncapitalrealty.com. We would be happy to help with your search!

Sources:

http://www.bakesandgoods.com/

http://www.blogto.com/bakery/bakes-goods-toronto

Ichiban Sushi is at the leading edge

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Image c/o ichibansushi.com

What started off in 1983, as the sole Ichiban Sushi House Restaurant on Bloor Street has now conquered Toronto, with over 31 locations at last count.

Ichiban means the best and leading, and that is precisely what it claims to be. Ichiban is a top notch sushi house and definitely sets the bar for its competitors in Toronto.

The food is always presented in an appealing manner and tastes delicious. The service is fast and efficient, making it the perfect place for a quick lunch.

Want to live near an Ichiban sushi? There’s one right by Verve. But, with 31 locations, our guess is good that we can find you a condo near your favourite Ichiban location. Contact us at (416) 929-1660 or via email at resupport@axoncapitalrealty.com. We’d be happy to assist you in finding your dream home!

Source:

http://www.ichibansushi.com/

Zaffron provides a delicious combination of Italian and Persian cuisine

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Image c/o http://www.zaffron.ca/main.htm

If you’ve ever wished for a restaurant to combine Italian and Persian cuisine, well, at Zaffron your wish is granted. Alright, so perhaps none of us have ever thought of that combination. Nevertheless, Zaffron offers the best of both worlds. At 6200 Yonge St., it’s located right in Verve’s neighbourhood!

The menu consists of pizzas and pastas on the one hand, as well as rice, grilled meat, and yogurt on the other.

Dishes include the Fusilli Saraceno ($13.95), the Tortellini Quattro Formaggio ($14.95), the Zaffron Kebob ($17.99), and the Shah Savan Kebob Combo ($22.99). End your meal with Persian tea and honey-based treats. You could also try a traditional Persian milky-white yogurt soda.

If you would like to move into the neighbourhood and would like more information about Verve, feel free to contact us at (416) 929-1660 or email us at resupport@axoncapitalrealty.com. We’re pretty good at helping people find their perfect condos!

Sources:

http://www.zaffron.ca/

http://www.torontolife.com/listings/restaurants/middle-eastern/zaffron/