Day 23 Living Abroad: Shopping & Steakhouse Vibes in Toronto

What a dream day! I got to shop and get paid for it—honestly, does it get any better than that? Okay, story time! Back in the States, I had a campaign with Simon Malls, and they assigned me to the Fashion Mall in Indianapolis. This was back in early July. It’s about an hour and 45-minute drive from Cincinnati, so I made the trip to shoot my content. Since I was already there, I hit up my friend who’s a photographer to snag some shots at the mall and help me create more content. When you’re there, you might as well maximize the moment, right?


One of the things I love about the Fashion Mall is that they have a Saks Fifth Avenue. We lost our Saks in Cincinnati a few years ago, and I was heartbroken! Growing up, my mom and I would shop there, even before I fully understood just how glorious Saks really is. Later on, I lived downtown, right down the street from Saks, and I used to love window shopping, checking out all the beautiful bags, shoes, and clothes. Unfortunately, our store started to go downhill with fewer and fewer options. And when I heard Chanel was leaving, I knew it was over.


So, after I shot and submitted my content, they came back with some edit requests. By that time, though, I was already preparing to travel for Essence Fest and then to Toronto for five weeks. So I asked if I could shoot at the Toronto Premium Outlet instead (which is still Simon Malls' property). They said yes! Girl, I love that outlet, and the best part is that with my U.S. dollar being worth more here, I felt like I was getting designer deals for even less—hello, girl math!


After spending way too much time at the outlet (no regrets!), I headed back to my hotel to get ready for dinner. Shoutout to Tameika, a Toronto-based publicist who’s been putting me onto all the best things to do here. She connected me with Chambers Steakhouse, who wanted to host us in exchange for a review and content. When it comes to food, you don’t have to ask me twice!


The steakhouse was AMAZING. We didn’t even order off the menu—they gave us a full tasting menu, bringing out dish after dish. Everything from octopus, steak, bread, sides, and desserts was on point. If you’re ever in Toronto, this place is a must! The whole vibe is aesthetically pleasing, perfect for pictures. Whether you’re solo, with your girls, or on a romantic date, Chambers won’t disappoint.


After all that, I was DONE for the day. I went back to the hotel, rubbed my feet together, and called it a night.


Stay tuned for more adventures!