lucky penny killed an evergreen last summer. who knew that was even possible?

with a green thumbs down, she was determined to prove her skeptics wrong. armed with potted orchids and trusty iphone, her instagram besties advised that all she needed to do is water it with two to three ice cubes a week… and her fanciful fleurs will thrive.

a month later, she is pleased to report that the buds are blooming, and spring has definitely sprung in her living room. *high five*

***psst… the first ever toronto flower market starts this saturday from 10am to 3pm at 99 sudbury, and will continue once a month until september. happy early mother’s day!

lucky penny used to read the velveteen rabbit before bedtime as a wee one.

this may explain her fascination with this stupid soft throw cushion by kevin o’brien from elte. thin lines of silk are etched into lush painted velvet. beautiful, riiiiiiiiiiiight?

these pillows are meant to be decorative, but cooper jellybean keeps trying to curl up in a ball and nest on them. he, too, has a penchant for all things soft.

like mother, like son.

lucky penny was in miami a few weeks back… for a romantic rendez-vous with cute boyfriend.

with only 48 hours together, the lovebirds dined al fresco at cecconi’s under a twinkly-lit tree, boozy brunched at balans, and imbibed at sls hotel, delano (looooooove the giant chess board in the backyard) and shore club.

they held hands along lincoln road (go to madewell, allsaints and original penguin), sunbathed poolside at soho beach house, and watched the sunrise on the rooftop of the townhouse hotel.

as they were about to say goodbye, it started to rain… and a see you soon (as cute boyfriend phrased it) was sealed with a kiss. #longdistanceromance

while drowning her sorrows, er, window shopping at the bal harbour shops… she fell in love with this pretty piggy. designed by harry allen, it was cast from a pig that died of natural causes, and holds up to $10,000 in dollar bills.

this gilded cochon also comes in nine different colours, including a limited edition glow-in-the-dark one… having stars and comets on her bedroom ceiling was enough already. (admit it. you had them, too.)

retail therapy sesh complete.

lucky penny has been a *new* homeowner for a year… and only now, it is starting to feel like home.

on her wish luxe list is an avalon blanket by hermès. made of super soft cashmere and wool, this iconic h blanket also comes bite-sized for babies in a neutral hue as well as red and blue… and is much gentler on her bank account.

after searching high and low in hong kong and pretty darn close to giving up, her twenty minute delayed flight back to manila was a sign from the orange box gods. she ran across the terminal and found this gem sitting all by its lonesome on a shelf.

home sweet couch.

lucky penny used to work at a fashion magazine… and her days were filled with calling in merch for editorials.

fast forward a decade later, she is now the proud owner of an oval resin tray by martha sturdy… a vancouver-based artisan also known for her handcrafted jewellery. over the holidays, she decorated it with colourful glass ball ornaments… and at her next dinner party, imagine a bed of ice and raw oysters… or maybe some moss and fleurs.

“each resin design is exclusive to itself; having its own colourations, air bubbles, irregularities and textures. the unique quality of each handmade piece makes it a true original piece of functional art. resin furniture and accessories are created first by hand mixing one of over twenty different colour possibilities. it is then poured into a mould with a catalyst that works as an agent for the resin to harden. once extracted from the mould, pieces are hand-sanded and inspected for superior quality.”