Introducing Harry Hogan!

Introducing Harry Hogan! Our bouncing baby bunny weighing in at just under two pounds! Isn't he the cutest lil' doodle you've ever seen? Well, maybe I'm a tad biased because he's my baby but holy moly he's a petuter! Tyler and I have been desperate to give our love to an animal and as much as we would have loved to get a dog our lifestyles can't really accommodate one. The other day we went to pet the animals at the mall, normally I would buy from a breeder but on this day, we couldn't walk away from this little doodle. He was doing his very best to show us all of his moves, as if he was saying, "Pick me pick me!" As we were walking in, I said, "We aren't leaving here with an animal." After twenty minutes of me holding this little puff of love, Tyler looked at me and said, "I guess we're leaving here with a bunny."
He's a mini Rex and apparently they can be litter trained and are as smart as dogs! They also love to lay around like cats. Yay for rabbits!


The thing I love about having Harry in our lives is that during the time I share with him, I'm not worrying about the business. All the stress of my day completely melts away when I look at Tyler and the bun. We nicknamed him "Bug" and obviously he's "doodle". We called him George Clooney when we first brought him home but ended up going with Harry because it just felt right.
We're so happy to welcome this little sweet heart into our lives. I'll keep you posted on how he grows. Surprise mom!



The shop is so busy these days, and it's all thanks to H and H and Our Neighborhood. Gone are the days of wondering what to do next. I have a list of fifty things and they all need doing right this minute. Blogging is still at the top thanks to all of you!
Have a wonderful night dear friends!
Alison xo

A real day off!?

Still counting my blessings and thanking my lucky stars. I don't have rabbits feet but on occasion I gently rub the pussy willows that sit in the shop window. A friend of mine was getting a wax and while taking a washroom break, she looked down at the counter to see my little face staring back at her. How bizarre and wildly fun. I've had such an incredible response from these publications and I just can't express enough, clearly because I'm still talking about it, my sheer gratitude for these wonderful opportunities. It's wedding season and I'm so excited about the number of couples who have expressed interest in my work. I just did my first wedding of 2010 this week end and I'm thrilled with the final results. The bouquets were bright candy colors and slightly more structured than I'm used to but I seriously dug the end result. Thank you to Kerri for being my right hand on this one. I call her Master Yoshi. Yes, from the Ninja Turtles. Congrats to Jane and Jim, we wish you the most glorious life together!





And tomorrow I sleep and sleep and sleep. Hopefully until 8 am. The construction starts around then and it's pretty much game over. Poop. I need a good nine hours to get back on track but I'll settle for seven. Yay, a real day off! Espresso on a nice patio day! And then 8 hours of tax prep! Roof raising up in here.
We need a good dance! Who's with me?!!
Click it!
I'll have you know I just danced around the apartment like a mad fool, I may have had 2 Fruli's.
xo Alison

The Merrill Inn

I am seriously over the moon on this one! Coriander Girl is pleased to introduce, coming to you live from the highly acclaimed Merrill Inn in Prince Edward County, Michael Sullivan's own fine foods and 'Catherine's Own' delicious preserves. Now you can make a meal that tastes as incredible, as long as you don't over steam the veg or burn the toast, as the dinner you would enjoy at the beautiful Merrill Inn restaurant.


If you can't make it to the county, it's okay cuz I've brought the county to you! The Spiced Pear and Tomato Chutney is beckoning me from across the room to open a jar and dig in, the Roasted Garlic and Rosemary Oil is taunting me to drizzle it over everything, the package of 2 County Wine Jellies are screaming to be slathered on a steamy buttery tea biscuit, while the Waupoos Cider Salad Dressing yearns to be poured over a bed of crisp greens with crunchy caramelized pecans. Oh man, that's just the beginning!


My darling Tyler once worked in the restaurant for Edward and Amy Shubert, proud owners of the Merrill Inn and the kindest, most sincere people you'll ever meet. It was there, that Tyler learned the importance of quality food service and has maintained that standard for himself. Edward and Amy are highly regarded in the hospitality industry with over twenty years experience and Michael Sullivan their chef remains one of the top chefs in the country. So, the fact that you can now bring some of that decadence home, well doesn't it just rock your socks off!?


Some amazing finds this week end while visiting our folks. My favorite score is a tin that reads, 'Beef minute steaks.' Beef in a tin, sure. We took a drive north with Bill and Penny and had quite the time sifting through barns and people's front yards and back yards and their sheds too. I love to dig! They know I'm crazy and they support me every step of the way. The Hogans just bought a pizzeria, I know! And man can they make a mean pie! Bill's burger is one of the best I've ever had! Go visit them at Vito's in Foxboro next time you're passing through. Tell them Cori G sent you and you're sure to be greeted with a giant hug and probably one when you leave too. Love you guys!
And Coriander Girl officially bought her parents car. It's a vibe, yeah I'm hip. They treat their cars like children and it's basically brand spanking new. Thanks mum and pop. The license plate isn't my favorite but my two options were, BJFW 462 or BJFU 242. Wow.
xo Alison

Celebrating Toronto's Dreamers

Our Neighbourhood magazine is hot of the press and I'm so excited to have been a part of this very important and exciting publication. Our Neighbourhood is a free, independently owned community based magazine devoted to supporting small businesses in Toronto. I was introduced to the magazine by Andrew John Virtue Dobson, a writer for the publication and food critic extraordinaire. He sold me an ad in the market place section and not long after, they informed me that they wanted to include me in their business profile section. This was all great news and I felt really fortunate for the way things were progressing. It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I learned I would be gracing this issues cover! Holy moly!
I'm telling you, joy breeds success. I am losing my mind with glee and humbled by my good fortune. Be sure to read the profiles of all the exciting new businesses popping up in Toronto. Way to go dreamers!
If you're interested in getting involved in the next issue of Our Neighbourhood you should contact Andrew Dobson for more information. Congratulations to Roger Tumminiera, founder and publisher of Our Neighbourhood, for taking his own leap of faith and pursuing his dream of starting a magazine!
My endless thanks to both Andrew and Roger for including Coriander Girl in Our Neighbourhood.
It's a good day.
Check back tomorrow to see pics of all the great vintage finds from our road trip when we went to see the parents this past week end. And, Coriander Girl will be introducing a new food product that you are going to die for!
Big squeeze Coriander G's!
Peace out.
xoxo

Oh Honey!

The sun is shining but the air is crisp. The shop is cool, the flowers prefer it and I'm glad they're content but me, I like being warm in the bones.
It's been a good week end. Lovely people popping in through out the day and now it's time to scrub the buckets, sweep the floor and turn the lights out. We're out of town tomorrow and doing some much needed antiquing for the shop. I hope to bring back a trunk load of treasures!
The shop is bursting with more delicious soaps, teas and candles by Honey Pie Hives and Herbals. And, honey!!! They brought honey and it won't last long! I swear they must have little Buddha bees. The lavender honey makes me want to throw open the doors and sing "the hills are alive!"



Good night dear darlings.
Alison xo

Pass me a fig leaf

I've suddenly become aware of myself in this very odd way. Like when Eve realized she was, in fact, naked. This blog isn't just for me to offend my parents anymore with vintage porn, people are out there and their reading! You! Are you new to this blog, do you like rap? Because occasionally, in and amongst soft and pretty floral arrangements I throw down some gangsta rap beats. You don't have to be okay with it, in fact, you don't have to click on the link at all, but you need to know that it's out there. Lately I'm more inclined to post a link to a lovely french song but this might just be a phase I'm going through. Either way, like it or not, I'm gonna keep on writing the way I do because it's me and I have to be me. And we want real this days, yes?
How lucky am I to have such love in my life though, no matter how big a fool I can be. When all is said and done my relationships will have been the greatest achievements of my life. Tyler Hogan, the man behind Coriander Girl, is my rock solid gorgeous hunk of man and continues to amaze me on a daily basis. He is making incredible strides in his life and deserves an award for being so completely awesome! Hands are raising some serious roof right now.
Who do you love more than bacon or tofurky? Kiss em' right now and hug em' and hold em' extra long. It feels so good to love somebody and to be loved right back.
Also, huge love today for my Muma and Papa and Coriander Dad and my brother Josh and Mama Penny and Big ball Billy Hogan and friends and loved ones and customers and your babies and your doodle pets too!
Don't worry, I'm okay just needing everyone to know that although I don't have the time to spend with you these days, you're in my heart. Werd.
Alison xo

Pots and Plants

Frank Trotz, potter extraordinaire is coming to Coriander Girl! We're collaborating to bring you Pots and Plants. His beautiful pottery will be filled with Coriander Girl's fresh and dried flowers and displayed throughout the shop for the entire month of May! I'll be posting more info about this in the coming weeks. Below is an example of the work.



Is everyone enjoying the beautiful weather today? I say, throw open the patio doors or balcony door, or fire escape door, or small apartment window and shout at the top of your lungs, "hello spring, oh how I've missed you!"
And have a glass of wine or two!
Alison xo

House and Home! For real?

I bought a stack of H & H magazines this morning and just can't seem to stop smiling! I hope I'm not being obnoxious but this kind of thing doesn't happen to me everyday. I've been an actress for almost ten years and haven't received this kind of press. Okay once but nothing this grand, for a fringe play that I did with my good friends but you know why I was successful? Because I was overjoyed by what I was doing. I see now the correlation between the joy of something and the success that is sure to follow. Now more than ever, I am a believer in pursuing your hearts desire. Not what your ego wants but the thing that makes you feel most at peace in the world. Obviously, acting in film and television did not create the zen I so longed for. Maybe I didn't achieve success because it didn't make me happy. I was it knots most of the time and secretly wishing I could disappear in the middle of an audition. When you're standing in front of a table of guys, auditioning for a beer commercial and all they need from you is to spin, yeah that's right, "do a 360 but slower this time," that's when you discover whether or not you're cut out for the industry. Props to every actor out there who has endured those greasy auditions and for sticking it out. I knew early on that it didn't fit, but I kept trying to convince myself. I believed it was something I was born to do but my real connection is to the theatre and I never have to give that up. Wow, what a relief! What a realization! I never have to audition for Shasta Lutz again! God love her, but she broke my spirit every chance she got. She smelled blood and went for the jugular. I don't think I made it through one of her casting sessions where I wasn't in tears after. She's good at what she does, she separates the weak from, well, the less weak? I've always believed you get more out of an actor when you're kind and encouraging. But who am I? If I do T.V again it will be as myself Coriander G! Or as my friend Tanya likes to say, Cori G (and make sure to roll the r in Cori).
Thank you to everyone who stopped in this week end after reading the article. I enjoyed meeting each and every single one of you. And I look forward to meeting many more of you out there!


Oh Muscari! How lovely and delicate you are.


A posy of thistle and lacy limonium.


And guess who came back for a visit?! She's not far away when I need a quick fix! Nicole said I could have her anytime! Little doodle.


Well, I'm off tomorrow and plan to find a sun filled patio somewhere to enjoy an expresso with my love. Accounting and laundry are sure to follow.
Wellness to you all dear hearts.
Alison xo

Showers = Flowers

Wasn't the weather last week dreamy?! Don't worry, it's coming back for good! It's drizzly and cool out side but the shop is particularly cozy today and full of fresh beautiful blooms. If you're at home I recommend brewing a pot of Earl Grey de la creme and curling up on the couch with a soft blanket and a good book. Perfection. We need days like these to be still and contemplative.


The end of Ranunculus season is near. Aren't they just spectacular?



This photo, taken by John Cullen, is from the House and Home shoot. Coriander Dad wasn't featured in the magazine but he is on the cover page of my heart! And he deserves a special shout out. Introducing Paul Westlake, renovator extraordinaire and my right hand! Breaking news, I'm excited to report that the magazines are starting to circulate. A woman just came all the way from the East end after receiving her magazine in the mail today. "I just had to come." She proclaimed. Yipeee! Thanks to everyone for your endless love and support. My darling Tyler, "you complete me."

It might be raining but the sun found a little crack and is shining bright on Coriander Girl. The rain has inspired this old favorite. Click here and sing a long.

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Easter!

What a lovely week end! Everyone was out enjoying the sun. Pretty girls in their summer dresses, couples walking their dogs and riding bikes, there was no shortage of wonderful people coming in to visit Coriander Girl.



Shauna(here) and Arlene(top photo) leaving with their arrangements and big beautiful smiles. What a pleasure it is to arrange flowers for people who are so encouraging.





After a very busy week I'm finally off to enjoy Easter dinner with the Westlake's. Tyler and I send our love to Penny and Bill(Tyler's parents) and to my mama and pop who are currently out west, love you guys so much!
Happy Easter little darlings!
Alison : >