App Review: Ritual

Milano Coffee: 266 Adelaide St. West, Toronto.

I'm not sure if I've ever shared this with you guys, but I'm a total app junkie.  Give me an app that makes my life easier, and I'll show you a happy girl. I was first turned onto the free app Ritual when complaining to a friend about the long wait time at my favourite lunch spot (#firstworldproblems, I know.) Convenience is key for me, so when I had the opportunity to try out Ritual for some cold-weather food options around Toronto I jumped at the chance. The beauty of Ritual is that you can preorder your food and drink, pay right from your phone, and it's ready for pick up when you arrive. The app even calculates your location relative to the restaurant, so it tells you exactly when to leave so that your food is hot and fresh - perfect for me who loves her lattes piping hot.

I'm super grateful to Ritual for helping me eat well and save time during my Fashion Week experience. Check out where I checked out that chilly week using my Ritual.

Evolution Food Co.: 12 Market Street, Toronto.

Portland Variety: 587 King Street West, Toronto.

Ichiban Sushi: 58 Wellington St. East, Toronto.

Caffè Artigiano: 67 Yonge Street, Toronto.

An app that keeps me fed, avoids a hanger-induced freakout in a lineup AND allows me enough time leftover to capture Instagram photos of my food?  I'm in.

If you're in Toronto, or planning on visiting soon, I highly recommend that you check out Ritual for yourself. Download the app and use code JOLLE1947 for $10 towards your first meal.

What app do you use to make your life easier?  Do you hate waiting for food as much as I do?  Let me know!

xo Joëlle

OOTD - Oversized Denim Jacket

Nothing seems more iconically 'cool' to me than a denim jacket - the more used and worn the better.  While I've been one to favour a cropped, more tailored version there is something so effortless about an oversized denim jacket.  Although labeled the boyfriend jacket, this particular one is actually my uncle's from the 70s and when he casually mentioned that he was thinking of gifting it to one of my brothers I was quick to put in my bid. Perfectly worn, oversized denim jackets don't come along every day and I'm happy to have given it a good home in my closet - sorry bros, you snooze you lose.

OOTD + My Fashion Week Survival Tips

Another World Master Card Fashion Week has come to Toronto, and I've been loving every minute of it.  The talent that comes from Canadian designers, the street style, the glitz and the glam; although totally overwhelming at times, it's not something to be missed!  Although this is only my second time participating in Fashion Week and I'm certainly not a front row blogger [this gal is just happy to get a seat], I've learned a lot from the experience; the good, the bad and the ugly. Now that I've got these valuable lessons and tips under my belt, I feel totally ready to throw myself into the chaos the next time Fashion Week rolls around in Toronto.

OOTD - Burnt Orange for Fall

A cool crispness is starting to linger in the air, and while I had no business wearing bare legs over the weekend I'm not quite ready to give up on fall just yet.  Thankfully this burnt orange shift dress made me look mildly season appropriate since this colour has been popping up everywhere for autumn. Never one for orange, I'm surprised by how much I've been enjoying the colour this season. Topped with my favourite leather bomber jacket and a cozy blanket scarf, at least the top half of my body was dressed for the weather! Winter be gone - I'm just starting to get into the fall state of mind and will be pushing the bare legs for as long as I can.

OOTD - Seventies Style for Fall

I'm a child of the seventies - in my head, anyways.  Give me Rolling Stones, shag rugs, platforms and hair scarves and I'll show you a happy girl. Imagine my delight when I was tipped off that seventies fashion and colour palette will be making a comeback for Fall '15 during last season's Toronto fashion week. This outfit definitely has got me in a retro state of mind, from the forest green skirt to the oatmeal polo neck.  Don't get me started on the hair scarf - swoon! I may not have come of age in the seventies, but I'm having a ton of fun dressing like it!

OOTD - 9 to 5 Office Style

As most of you already know, on top of blogging I also work a 9 to 5 day job in the Financial District of Toronto, Ontario. When I first moved into a more traditional office environment it was an adjustment to learn how to dress both office appropriate and stylish. After much trial and error, I have found my holy grail day-job clothing item that carries me through all seasons and allows me to be comfortable and confident: enter the shift dress. I love the simplicity that a shift dress brings to office attire, as well as the versatility - switch up your blazers, cardigans, sweaters and tights with the same dress and you have an entirely different outfit! For this particular day, I opted to pair my shift dress with a light trench coat and some classic black pumps.  Come the wintertime and this dress can easily transition with a pair of opaque tights and a thick cardigan. While most are working for the weekend, this girl is working to keep up her collection of shoes, handbags and shift dresses.

OOTD - Jewel Tones + Thigh Highs

Oh Canada - although I am glad that we get to experience all four seasons, I wish there was a bit of a buffer period between each.  Seriously, Toronto's temperatures dropped more than 10 degrees over the course of a day and my poor acclimatized body has been struggling to keep up!  Luckily I've already stocked up on two cooler weather essentials for Fall - over the knee boots and cozy blanket scarves. I'm pleasantly surprised by how great a thigh high boot is in the colder temperatures, and there's definitely no beating the cozy-factor of an oversized fleece scarf. With these two items I could afford to wear a shorter jewelled tone skirt and sweater sans jacket. The weather may be leaving no wiggle room between seasons, but that doesn't mean I can't have fun transitioning slowly with my wardrobe.