lucky penny has been getting her hands dirty, as of late, with all things #homereno. the 60-day countdown is quickly coming to an end (phew!), and she is in desperate need of a mani.

do cartwheels because lux spa recently opened their second location (formerly the nail shoppe)… just down the street from her soon-to-be ex-bachelorette pad, and right across from the eaton centre at 211 yonge street on the mezzanine level.

looking at paint chips or tile samples all day, and dreaming about them all night, has given her the super ability to scan a range of colours, and zone in on the best one. this *new* skill is incredibly effective since the nail bar has a plethora of colours… ranging from the palest of pinks, to the brightest of blues! opi and essie fans—welcome to your mecca.

finally recharged and with les hands et feet back in tiptop shape, it is back to the #homereno grind.

lucky penny is free as a bird now, and this bird you cannot change.

nearly five years ago at the london fashion week exhibition, she met local jewellery designer alex monroe, and immediately fell in love with his nature-inspired trinkets… like this birds and nest ring. the duo of swallows watch over their pearl egg in such delicate whimsy.

“meander through the british countryside to the sound of bird song. this lively collection brings together many of alex’s birdlife designs, featuring a flock of swallows, reed warblers, goldcrests, owls and more. the energy and spirit of our smallest native song birds are captured as the birds perch or fly among the branches and leaves of the summer meadows. keep an eye out for blue and pink topaz, sapphire and pearls in amongst the birdlife.”

how darling.

lucky penny is a hopeless romantic. she walks through life with a boom box hoisted above her head… blasting one ’80s power ballad after another, and “making love out of nothing at all“.

tucked away in her jewel box, she just found a lost treasure from years past… the reese ring by jeanine payer. hand-engraved onto mixed precious metals with poetry like “at one glance, i love you with a thousand hearts“. *swoon*

happy valentine’s day, lovers! xo

lucky penny rarely needs a good excuse to buy a *new* pair of shoes. a wedding, however, is reason enough to go all out.

for her lovely bride-to-be, wedding shoesies are just as important as the dress… and they can be worn more than once! like these dainty, metallic sandals by christian louboutin… from the church aisle to the reception dance floor.

the wedding is tomorrow… finally! bridal penny’s job is done and done.

lucky penny is on a high… a sugar high, that is… from accompanying her lovely bride-to-be and wedding planner, naomi serkin, to a dessert tasting at the incomparable bobbette & belle.

styled like a chic cottage, the shop in leslieville grew out of the perfect partnership between sarah bell (pastry chef and chocolatier extraordinaire) and allyson meredith bobbitt (award-winning cake designer).

the hungry trio were treated to the most magical parade of confections… almost too gorgeous to eat.

first up were cupcakes: chocolate hazelnut, vanilla with mango passionfruit buttercream, salted caramel and the bride’s kryptonite, red velvet.

followed by bite-sized lemon meringue, raspberry, blueberry tarts and lucky penny’s all-time favourite… you guessed it… butter tarts!

homemade marshmallows delicately flavoured with fruit juices or cocoa, and amuse bouche-sized caramels laced with crunchy crystals of fleur de sel delighted their palates.

yet still, after all this, one treat still puts a smile on lucky penny’s face…  les macarons, just like patisserie ladurée in paris and new york (which just opened). the crunchy exterior breaks and its airy filling melts in her mouth leaving whispered flavours of black currant, pistachio, salted caramel or hazelnut. magnifique!

with too much to choose from, the darlings decided not to decide…  on her bride’s wedding day, guests will be treated to a buffet of all these delectable sweets… unless our girl gets there first. *tummy grumbles*