Alforno Bakery & Cafe | Eat Calgary


As you probably already know, Calgary has a very impressive coffee scene! Alforno is one of many craft coffee shops stationed in the city - it has both a bakery and cafe. It is a refreshing space with crisp, yet inviting design! The sitting area is on a raised platform, giving it a cozy, slightly private feel. All in all, the space is welcoming and easily accessible. 



Alforno is situated in Eau Claire, a section of Downtown Calgary. It is easy to get to and has street parking! Win! 

I have been to Alforno a few times, and while I haven't tried their lunch or dinner menu, the bakery treats and cafe are amazing! On my most recent visit, I shared the Chocolate mousse with a friend. It was super creamy with a distinct dark chocolate flavor, my favorite! 


We each ordered a drink, I had the chai latte and Diana had a matcha latte - they were both very good with cute latte art. Unlike some chai lattes, this one was very creamy rather than watery. This is my favorite way to have chai! 




The interior of Alforno is so beautiful - its challenging to describe, so here are some pictures!





This is the type of place where you can sit for hours sipping on a latte with your favorite book without even realizing how much time has gone by. 

If you are looking for a place to enjoy coffee in Calgary, this is definitely a good option.

Thanks for reading! xx

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Dunnottar Castle | what to see in Scotland


I have decided to start a series about "what to see in Scotland." I have been to Scotland 3 times in my life, however the first time I was a newborn, so I definitely don't remember any of that trip. My moms side of the family mostly all live in and around Angus, a county on the east side of the country. My Grandma grew up in Montrose, and my Grandpa grew up around Newtyle, so I know a fair few stories about the area. Although I may be biased, I do really love Scotland a lot and I want to share some of that love with the internet! So, i've decided to start this series where I share some of my favorite places in Scotland - recommendations for travel!

In this post I will be discussing Dunnottar Castle, a rugged beauty established in 1392 on the east coast of Scotland - 3km south of Stonehaven.


Its up on a stand alone cliff, several meters above the sea. A sort of tiny peninsula if you will. This means that the hike to the castle is quite something! It isn't all that long: it starts up on the mainland cliff - you then take several stairs down to sea level where you have the option to explore a beautiful rocky beach, after walking to the base of the peninsula you begin to climb up hill on a windy path up the cliff. It doesn't seem all that daunting until you are half way up the cliff and it seems although it is never ending! I visited the castle with my Grandpa along with several other family members, and for a 76 year old, it was definitely a struggle. However if you deem yourself an averagely fit person, it should be no problem. 😊

(Stairs down from mainland to beach)

(Stone beach)

(Entrance to the Castle)

There is a small fee to enter the castle grounds, but let me tell you, it is worth it! The view of the ocean and cliffs from the castle are phenomenal. The castle itself, is beautiful as well. There are several stone buildings surrounding a lovely grass courtyard. There is even a cemetery, if you are into that kind of thing.

(Castle Grounds)

(View from Second Floor)

(Restored Room)

(Corridors)

The castle is fully accessible - you can climb towers, see the dungeon, and enter the cellars. There is a restored room which depicts how the castle would have looked in its prime. Otherwise, most of it is in ruin. In my opinion, this is what makes it so beautiful. I have always had a love for ruins.

(Pathways)

If you are headed to north eastern Scotland, I highly recommend visiting Dunnottar Castle, as it is extremely beautiful, and the location is even better. 

Stay tuned for more of "what to see in Scotland". 

Thanks for reading! xx



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Elizabeth Suzann | Review


If you've seen any of Elizabeth Suzann's collections, you know that her pieces are absolutely dreamy. They are made of linen, silk, and various other materials - all with the utmost care and quality.

I had my eye on the "Maxine crop" for a while, but because of the exchange rate between CAD and USD, I was hesitant. It cost 125$ USD (163$ cad) - I know, its a lot for one shirt.

(Image from Elizabeth Suzann)

When I finally decided to go ahead and order it, it was on back-order and told it would take 6-8 weeks to produce. Since Elizabeth Suzann is a small, handmade company based in Nashville, this was totally understandable. Much to my surprise, the package arrived quicker than expected! Win.


Can we take a moment to appreciate this packaging? Wow. I was totally shocked by how beautiful everything was wrapped. The attention to detail was amazing. There was a hand written card enclosed in the package thanking me for my order. Like who does that? It was so nice to receive and made me feel so special - I think this is such a nice element for a business to have. 

The shirt itself was absolutely beautiful - that 160$ price tag went from 'ouch' to 'worth it'!! I opted for the "raw silk" material, it is so comfortable to wear. It is reversible, you can chose to tie in the front and have a deep V neck, or tie it in the back like the image above. I have worn it both ways - they both work. However, when its tied in the back it is much more wearable. 

My only wish is that it could be worn with a bra. Because the tie in the back is so low, any bra clasps in the back are fully visible. I have tried to go bra-less, but it is better to wear 'stickies' so you have at least some coverage and support, if you know what I mean. 😀

It fits true to size,
the material is high quality,
customer service is great,
& the attention to detail is impeccable. 

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