Armed Jewelry is a Canadian, female-owned company whose mission is to create affordable jewelry that doesn’t tarnish. Yes, that means you can wear it in the water and not worry about it fading. Their snake chains are very of the moment and are one of my favourite pieces from the brand.

Marina De Buchi is a jewelry designer from London, England. Her brand’s mission is to fight human trafficking, and as part of that, they donate 10% of every purchase to the A21 campaign that works to fight human trafficking and abolish slavery everywhere.

The brand’s pieces are dainty and feminine. I have the ‘Little Things’ necklace, and it has quickly become one of my favourite pieces of jewelry (pictured).

Jenny Bird is another Canadian costume jewelry brand. I am obsessed with their statement hoops – they no longer sell the pair I own (pictured, the “Love” hoops), but they always have tons of fabulous pieces – earrings, bracelets, necklaces and more.

Check out some of my favourite products:

• Quinn hoop earrings
• Carter chain necklace
• Yaya choker necklace
• Walter Bracelet Chain

Le Goût de RAF is based out of Vancouver, and their motto is “simple yet classic, chic but elegant”. Their designs are unique, but understated and are the perfect addition for dressing up an outfit. Since their pieces are plated, their price range is more affordable than some other Canadian brands. Not to mention, their packaging and box designs are very cute – great for gift giving, even if you want to send the gift directly to someone (no need to even wrap it)!

Pieces that I own and love:

• Chained dual pearl earring
• Handmade pearl wreath ring

Lovers Tempo focuses on creating delicate pieces that you can wear every day. They are timeless and the designers have a unique attention to detail that makes a piece feel truly unique.  I have their Dot Pearl Lariat necklace and it is the perfect accent for a v-neck top or dress. Lovers Tempo is another Canadian brand.

I am beyond obsessed with Knix. Coming across the leakproof period underwear was a total game changer. To be completely honest, I originally thought the concept was kind of odd – what do you do with the underwear once you’ve worn it and you aren’t ready to do laundry yet? They thoughtfully include a mesh wash bag with your order. The have different styles – thong, cheeky, bikini, high-rise, boyshort, and more, each with their own level of absorbency. I have never been big on tampons, and this underwear has not only helped me to be environmentally friendly, but eliminating pads from my cycle has made for a much more comfortable experience.

Still Here Denim makes the coolest jeans. Designed in NYC and produced in LA, each pair of vintage-inspired jeans has signature hand-painted stripes down the back. They’re all about creating a timeless fit with a creative flair. Check them out here.

Photographer: Shana Jade.

Montréal-based Ellesmere Lingerie creates stunning, delicate pieces made for contemporary women. The designer, Julia, grew up in the Yukon and has an education in sculpture. Each piece is sewn in Montréal, with designs inspired from both the Arctic North and city life. The resutling pieces are unique and beautiful.

I swear by Uniqlo Seamless underwear. I wear a lot of flowy pants, and the fabric has a tendency to cling to me (or my underwear). I tried many brands of ‘seamless’ underwear over the years – some wore too quickly whilst others were not actually seamless. Uniqlo’s Airism Ultra Seamless underwear is truly seamless and I highly recommend them. They come in a variety of colours. 

I have loved Province of Canada for a long time; their products are all made in Canada and their designs play a nice homage to Canada without feeling too ‘Canadiana’.

I purchased the ‘dad’ sweatshirt for my dad for Father’s Day. Given his rave reviews, I subsequently decided to treat myself with the Everyday Leggings, the Everyday Bike Shorts and the Monday Crop Top. The fabrics are a nice thickness (not see through!!), are soft and super comfortable. And look, I can no longer wear a crop top like I used to and I’m also tall, with a long torso, so a crop top is usually even shorter on me than most people. But I’ve been eyeing Province of Canada’s crop for some time as they described it as: “unlike your average crop top, we’ve added a little extra length so you don’t have to show off your belly button”. The length is perfect – if I raise my arms, you’ll catch a glimpse of skin, but when I move around normally, it sits right at the top of the high waisted leggings and shorts. It’s short enough to look more tailored, without being too cropped! Hallelujah!

I live in these Kit & Ace high waisted shorts. They are super high waisted, which I love, and the fabric is unbelievably soft.  I’ve since purchased a few similar shorts from other companies, but none have been as amazing as these.

Although they no longer have the olive colour that I bought, you can find other colours here. And, the Uniqlo seamless underwear is perfect for underneath.

This Toronto-based brand describes themselves as “comfortable workwear for women” with “recycled [pieces] that feel like pyjamas”. Not only that, but their garments are sweat-free, offer super stretch and don’t require any dry cleaning (hooray!). The fabrics are also made from coffee waste, plastic and used fishing nets – keeping items out of landfills.

Shop here.

Toronto-based Silk Labs has taken the world by storm with their 100% silk scrunchies. I personally own multiple, and can attest that they do wonders in ensuring my hair stays smooth and crease-free. They also sell beautiful headbands and combs.

Matt & Nat is a Canadian brand and the name came from Mat(t)erial and Nature. They do not use animal materials in any part of their production but instead have experimented with a variety of other materials, including recycled nylons, cardboard, rubber and cork. Since 2007, their linings are made out of 100% recycled plastic bottles. 

I particularly love the Beverly Belt Bag, but Matt & Nat has plenty of beautiful products to choose from. Some other favourites include:

• Canci – Dewll laptop bag
• Gessi Mini – Satchel
• Grace – Bucket Bag

West Von is a female-owned, Canadian brand that makes gorgeous hats using 100% pure Australian wool and natural s. West Von is thoughtful about their production process and are certified in Fair Wages, Environmental and Quality management. They also have environmentally friendly, recyclable packaging.

The Sport Scrunchies are the smallest scrunchie that A Bronze Age has made to date. These mini scrunchies are made for activity whilst remaining 100% silk. A Bronze Age makes all of their products in Vancouver and also creates luxurious, oversized scrunchies that add quite a statement. Take a peek here.

Raw Nails is a Canadian company that was established in 2019. Their polishes are non-toxic, vegan and cruelty-free.

The brand introduced me to the concept of 10-free, which means the nail polish was created without 10 of the most common chemicals found in polishes. Nail polish is one of the most harmful products that we put on our bodies, so I was thrilled to see the introduction of these beautifully coloured, non-toxic products.

19/99 is an incredible beauty brand launched by Camille Katona and Stephanie Spence. They are challenging the idea of appropriateness in beauty and are focused on “narrowing the generational beauty gap”.

Not to mention, their products are fantastic. I am a lipstick fanatic – you’ll find a lipstick in every crevice of my home and at a handful at the bottom of every purse – and I absolutely love their precision pencil.

Read here for an interview with the founders.

I use hand lotion multiple times per day (probably upwards of 5X), and I’ve tried my fair share over the years. One of my favourites is, perhaps shockingly, Bath & Body Works lavender vanilla lotion. It is moisturizing without being greasy, and has a relaxing scent.

Malu is a facial day cream with SPF 30 from a brand out of Hawaii called Honua. Malu is the Hawaiian word for protection, and that’s exactly what it does. Moreover, it is completely palm-free, cruelty-free, vegan and free of synthetic fragrances, and leaves your skin feeling nourished, without the streaky white cast that typically comes with sunscreen. I’ve been on the hunt for a moisturizing face sunscreen for some time, and am thrilled I came across Malu. There’s a reason it’s frequently sold out.

They also come with the cutest laundry mesh bag!

Check out a Canadian alternative here: Boho & Hobo (handmade in Canada)

I am a night owl, but sometimes it isn’t by choice.

Using thisworks pillow spray before bed helps to relax my busy mind. Their body cocoon lotion is equally as great. Check out the over 2,000 reviews on Amazon and you’ll see what I’m talking about!

The Aquis Hair Towel is a lightweight microfiber towel, perfect for wrapping your hair after a shower. It dries your hair faster and reduces the risk of split ends. 

The Saje Pocket Farmacy kit is comprised of five roll-on essential oils meant to be natural remidies for headaches, pains, cold, indigestion and stress. I bring this with me when I travel and keep it in my nightstand when at home. The peppermint halo has soothed many headaches.

Stila Liquid Eyeshadow is incredible – it is high-shine and all you have to do is swipe the applicator across your eyelid and dab it with your finger (it’s applicator is like a lip gloss). And voilà! That’s it!

I’ve been testing out a lot of face moisturizers, and the Tarte Drink of H2O is my latest favourite. It is deeply moisturizing – leaves your face feeling a bit damp at first, but I love using it after I wash my face in the shower as it feels extra nourishing.

Three Ships is a Canadian beauty company (formerly Niu Body) that focuses on creating natural and affordable products.  The brand was launched in 2017 by Laura – a chemical engineer – and Connie – a business graduate. The brand was born out of a frustration for how expensive high-quality skincare is. Every product is made with 100% natural ingredients and is certified cruelty-free. Nothing goes to market unless it has been scientifically proven to work. And, all products are under $40 USD. I absolutely love their vanilla lip scrub – it is excellent any time of year but particularly useful in the dry winter months.

I recently purchased a rose quartz facial roller. I’m not sure if I am completely bought into the benefits – they’re supposed to help reduce puffiness, wrinkles and provide sinus pressure relief – but it feels so refreshing and has become a mainstay on my vanity.

I have a rose quartz version, which remains naturally cooler than it’s jade counterpart (even without putting it in the fridge). I roll it on my freshly washed and moisturized face and the cooling sensation leaves me happily relaxed.

Purchase the same one that I have from Montreal brand, BKIND here.

The LUNA uses T-Sonic pulsations to cleanse deep below the skin’s surface. It has 8 adjustable intensities and 3 different bristle thicknesses, allowing you to clean all areas of your face. The LUNA is now part of my daily routine and I love using it with my face wash in the shower.

The Wet Brush was a game-changer for me. I am no longer ripping through the ends of my hair or spending ages trying to detangle. The Wet Brush is gentle and the soft, flexible bristles reduce breakage. The handle is also made from all-natural biodegradable plant starch that breaks down in a landfill faster than other typical materials. I used to have a drawer full of different styles of hair brushes, but now I won’t use anything else.

Sunday’s Company is a Canadian brand that was built based on the concept of celebrating slow living and slow beauty. The brand offers a beautiful selection of botanical and herb-based body care products created using the whole plant. Many of the products are harvested from the founder’s own land and all are handmade. The Under Eye Remedy is perfect for someone who is now spending a lot of time on video calls.

Sunday’s Company also sells their products at one of my favourite shops in Prince Edward County called Field Made Goods.

If you’re looking to spruce up your wine and cocktail glass game, look no further. Estelle Colored Glass offers hand-blown stemware and stemless glasses in the most stunning jewel tone and pastel shades. You’ll also find coloured decanters and cake stands.

The pieces are vintage-inspired and commissioned from glass artisans in Poland. The brand is inspired by the founders grandmother, Estelle, who ‘loved antiquing and had a special day of the week where she visited her favourite shops looking for new treasures in small neighbouring South Carolina towns”. She sounds like my kind of gal. Read more about the brand’s story here.

Lot 8’s Linen Bread Bag is described as “a bread bag for bread lovers”. Hailing from French tradition, storing preservative-free, crusty bread in breathable linen keeps your bread fresher than storing it in plastic (which typically makes the bread moist, causing it to lose it’s crust) or paper (which typically dries out the bread quickly). The bags are handmade in Canada, and are available In three sizes and two colours.

How to Drink Wine: The Easiest Way to Learn What You Like was co-written by Chris Stang, the writer and founder of The Infatuation. The Infatuation is a New York-based restaurant recommendation website. As soon as I started spending a lot of time in New York, the Infatuation quickly became my trusted advisor when it came to selecting a restaurant. I literally cross-referenced every choice with their reviews for two reasons: 1) they were always spot on, meaning I completely trusted them and 2) the write-ups were so good that I would genuinely read them for pleasure. So, safe to say, I knew I would probably like this wine book, so I ordered it as soon as it came out. It’s the only drink book that I’ve read cover-to-cover. It was great & I highly recommend it if you are looking to get comfortable enough with wine so that you no longer feel completely stressed when asked to pick a bottle at dinner.

This glass number from Yield has to be the most beautiful French Press I’ve ever laid my eyes on. I don’t even drink coffee, but I am longing for one of these in my kitchen.

It comes in three colours and is made by Yield, an independent design studio based out of St. Augustine, Florida.

Shop Here from Toronto-based Merchant of York.

This Georg Jensen champagne / wine cooler is a bit of a splurge, but it is absolutely stunning. A great statement piece to add to your dining table set up the next time you are hosting. It also works as a wonderful luxurious wedding gift.

I came across Georg Jensen when travelling in Oslo. The luxury brand began in 1904 Copenhagen. They focus on the highest quality craftsmanship and timeless design. The brand offers products from housewares to jewellery and watches.

Shop Here from Toronto-based Merchant of York.

Mrkt Gallery is an online gallery founded in 2019. It is dedicated to works by female artists, with an objective of filling a major gap in the market (What’s the gap? Read our interview with the founder to find out! You’ll find some pretty shocking statistics that may encourage you to shop for art a little differently. Mrkt Gallery is the perfect place to shop if all of this time at home has prompted you to redecorate.

Art pictured is by Toronto artist, Shelina Pachai.

Alternatively, you can purchase a Vitruvi diffuser and the associated essential oils and blends off of Amazon. It is also a Canadian brand.

I love a great coffee table book, but it’s a challenge to find one that I would actually flip through. Introduce: Escape by Gray Malin. It is filled with his stunning beach and water photography, and I find myself perusing through it quite frequently. As someone who loves escaping to the Middle of Somewhere, there couldn’t be a more perfect coffee table book.

He also has two other coffee table books: Beaches and Italy 

Secondly, Mōglea is a letterpress studio that handmakes each piece. Many of their products are hand painted or dip dyed, which means you’ll end up with a one-of-a-kind piece. The hand-painted journals are all done by their team in their Audubon, Iowa studio.

Watch this mesmerizing Instagram video to understand their process.

I came across the Swedish brand kikki.K when I was working in Hong Kong. Their leather notebook holders are a great way to add sophistication to your work notes. The brand has plenty of other items to browse – from journals and cards to books and candles. Spoil yourself or buy the perfect gift for someone else.

Read more about the pen here.

Alternatively, check out Detroit-based brand, Shinola, for other beautiful pens (and watches!).

These stunning scalloped cylinder planters are made by Hudson + Oak, out of Vancouver. All planters are sourced from their Vancouver supplier and then hand painted in their Vancouver studio. They are often refining their colour palette and introducing new, beautiful shades. Each planter is offered in an extensive array of colours and are suitable for indoors or out (you can request a drainage hole to be drilled!).

With a keen eye for design, the founder Sarah, is always creating something beautiful. Check out their website for more designs.

If you’re looking for a planter with a pop of colour, Common House Studio is your spot! Their modern planters are hand painted in Welland, Ontario (near Niagara) and each planter is available in a variety of sizes.

They offer pickup and delivery, and have a great FAQ section on their website to help answer all of your indoor plant questions.

I was also gifted a plant mister and I absolutely love it. It’s perfect for small indoor plants that require a more humid environment and don’t necessarily need to be watered each day. The mister is quite beautiful and can be left out as décor. Having it out serves as a great reminder to mist your plants!

Buy it here.

I searched far and wide for the perfect planter box. I finally found and purchased 5 of these Midori Planter boxes for my condo balcony. They’re a great height to hide the railing without blocking the view and I love how I’ve been able to transform the balcony into a plant oasis. They are a bit expensive, but really great quality.

I lined the planters with plant insulation (like this) and for the last 3 years, my plants and bulbs have survived through the winter.

I was gifted this gardening set which is perfect for both indoors and out. The design is from a wallpaper print from J.H. Dearle. They’re both useful and stylish which means you don’t have to store them in the back of a cupboard.

W&P’s beautiful ice molds are perfect for a celebratory drink!

The Peak Collection molds are easy to use – just make sure you fully seal the halves before filling. There is an ice mold for every style of cocktail. I personally own a set of these and love them!

Shop Here

KVAS FBC is run by husband-and-wife team Amy and Zac Kvas. Their last name, Kvas, literally means yeast, so you could say their knack for making great cocktails runs in their blood.

Their mission is to provide bar-quality syrups and garnishes that are simple to use, all-natural and full of flavour. You can use their syrups in cocktails or in cooking – sauces, glazes, baked goods, etc. 

Shop Here

Shop Mix Here  & Rim Here

Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. is based in Charleston and their handcrafted cocktail cherries are highly sought after. They combined Bourbon from their home state of Kentucky with Oregon cherries to create the perfect cocktail companion.

You can pick some up at the store for all things cocktails in Toronto – The Cocktail Emporium.

Smoke Show is a Canadian-made, small batch jalepeño-based hot sauce that is described as “equal parts smoky, spicy, and sweet”. It’s not going to burn your mouth off (in fact, you likely won’t find it spicy at all), but instead, it adds nice smoky flavour to your food.

Shop here.

The Terroni essentials package includes their house olive oil, famous peperoncini piccanti (which has been one of our house staples for a long time! We stock up on the next jar before we are finished our current one), and pomodori pelati. The bundle is available in three different sizes and is the perfect way to bring Terroni home.

Order here!

I love a great flavoured mayo to add to burgers, sandwiches, crab cakes and so on. I came across the Neal Brothers Sriracha Mayo in Sobey’s and had to get it. It was a nice change from a typical chipotle mayo – I find it packs a nice amount of heat (not overpowering, but you can definitely taste a little punch). Also available at Loblaws. Neil Brothers has been around for over 30 years and they’re best known for making ‘better for you’ snacks with high quality ingredients. Worth nothing that they also make some of the best salsas out there.

The cacio e pepe puck from Stock T.C. may have been the best food product I’ve purchased in 2020. Simply add to a pan from frozen and once melted, add your cooked pasta and mix. Perfect for easy and delicious cacio e pepe at home.

Psst – you can now shop for some groceries from Stock T.C. online (via their website) and read a behind the scenes post here!

Cumbrae’s is an excellent Toronto butcher with multiple locations. Cumbrae’s has many perfect stocking stuffers for the foodie in your life. Their spices are a staple in my house and have become a go-to housewarming gift. They also carry many other house-made products as well as other popular Canadian food brands (like Pinch Hot Sauce).

If you don’t live near a Cumbrae’s, pop into your local butcher shop. They’ll often have their own house-made line of spices and sauces.

I am loving this cooler from business & pleasure! It’s great for a picnic in the park, keeping drinks cool on a boat, or wherever adventure your summer brings you (Indigo).

Note: As an Affilitate of Indigo, I may receive a commission for your purchase. It will not impact the price you pay.

Montreal-based Kanel created this set of all-natural finishing salts to elevate weeknight dinners to everyday luxuries.

This set includes: Fiery Sea Salt, Holy Grail Garlic Salt, Summer Black Truffle Salt, and Cold Smoked Sea Salt.

Shop Here from Toronto-based Labour of Love (Note that you can shop directly from the brand, or purchase Kanel from one of many local retailers).

Sequence is a mix of a card and board game, and involves both strategy and a little bit of luck. It’s great for family get-togethers.

Codenames is always a party favourite. It involves some creative thinking, as you have to give one-word clues to your team. Great for a little competition amongst friends or family.

There’s good reason why you’ve seen an abundance of Spikeball sets pop up across parks and beaches over the last couple of years. Meant for four players, it’s a perfect excuse to have some fun and get active. Even my least athletic friends love playing!

As we were planning to bring home our pup, @leonardthedood, we were on the hunt for reasonably good looking dog bowls and toys. We knew that his toys would end up strewn across our living room floor, and thought it might be nice to invest in something more stylish than the standard pet store brands. We also wanted to find a collar that was poly coated (versus fabric) so that it would be easy to keep clean.

Let me tell you – modern dog accessories sure are hard to find! But eventually we came across Wild One – a brand out of the US that focuses on simply designed products with a function-first mindset. We ended up getting the walk kit, toy kit and bowls. We love all of the items and definitely recommend checking them out. The only downside was that we got dinged with customs charges as the products were shipped to Canada. However, many months later and the toys are still in tact and Leonard hasn’t gotten tired of them!

We spent some time searching for dog boots that would protect Leonard’s paws from salt and protect our house from his muddy paws. We landed on Canada Pooch’s soft shield boots and are very happy so far. They are super easy to put on and stay on his big paws during long walks (the boots are tall which helps, and have a cord pull at the top and velcro strap to keep them snug). The sizing is a bit confusing – I suggest emailing them ahead of making a purchase should you have any questions!