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#12 — Bisha Hotel Toronto: A Review

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A note from the staff at Bisha and a box of macarons on a table

I like to call myself a fake rich auntie. I love the rich auntie vibes, but I’m practical; I keep a spreadsheet, stick to my budget, and make sure to spend my money wisely. I work in public service, after all. Still, I have a soft spot for nice things, especially a fancy hotel or an Airbnb with all the comforts. That’s exactly why I enjoyed my recent stay at Bisha in Toronto.

Why Bisha?

I’ve built my credit card stack pretty intentionally, and one of my favourites is my Marriott Bonvoy card, which gives me 2x points in their “other” category, which I love. Additionally, it gives me a free night at one of their Bonvoy hotels each calendar year, which I like to use when I’m travelling internationally. However, I didn’t spend my free night in 2025, as I mostly used Airbnbs and had one night expiring before the end of February 2026.

I redeemed the night on Valentine’s Day weekend, thinking I could use it with my partner, but he got sick, so I got to enjoy the staycation alone.

Arrival

I arrived at Bisha a bit worn down, having worked overtime that week to finish my long to-do list because I had an upcoming surgery. I was worried about how the surgery was going to go and my recovery time. When I dragged my belongings across the threshold (I am an over-packer) into the entryway, I was greeted by Totchie’s most wonderful smile. She was the front office supervisor on duty and was so wonderful and welcoming. Checking in was super easy, and the conversation was kind. I was upgraded and handed a glass of champagne to get me started on my staycation. She also personally walked me up to my room and recommended some great dishes on the room service menu.

The Room

The room was inviting and well-appointed. I especially liked that the bathroom had heated floors and that the hand wash and shower gel were from Byredo. Heavenly. The room felt like the version of my life I’m working toward—calm, soft, and just a little indulgent.

  • Marble shower at Bisha hotel
    Lovely large shower at Bisha
  • Photo of black woman in bathroom at Bisha Hotel Toronto
    Byredo bath products!

I was instantly envious of this large blue armoire, which I wanted to take home.

Blue armoire in Bisha Hotel room
Isn’t this great?!

The bed was glorious and really comfortable, and I had a seating area to myself for reading and journaling.

Large bed in Bisha hotel room with small teddy bear on top
Coco enjoying the large and comfortable bed
Seating area with sofa ,chair, and table at Bisha Hotel, Toronto
Nice place to sit and journal

The Food

My secret ritual when staying in a hotel room with big, comfy beds is ordering room service, drinking wine, and watching HGTV. And I did. The cool thing about Bisha is that it’s home to 2 great restaurants you can order from – Akira Back, which serves creative Japanese cuisine and KŌST,  serving seasonal dishes inspired by Bajan cuisine. Room service is also available 24 hours a day, which I loved.

I knew I would soon be surviving on mashed potatoes and crackers, so I went to town. I had a delicious kale salad from Kōst and some crab fried rice from Akira. You know how I feel about crab, so I’m not even going to pretend. I ordered the fried rice twice. The wait staff member was great, attentive, and got me everything I needed, including another glass of champagne. I also sneaked in a bit of chocolate from the minibar.

Kale salad and crab fried rice at Bisha hotel Toronto
I’m always up for a good kale salad and crab fried rice
Mini bar at Bisha hotel Toronto with drinks and snacks
I had a cheeky chocolate from the minibar

After dinner and a bit of TV, I had the most glorious shower, the shower is huge (cries in small condo bathroom). I fell asleep, and it was so quiet and peaceful that I didn’t get up until 10 am the next day.

Photo of a TV showing HGTV show
Love watching HGTV in bed
Picture of black woman post shower holding a teddy bear
Giddy after having the most wonderful shower

I shuffled around for a bit and then had brunch at Kōst. I enjoyed the incredible views, and I was happy they accommodated my gluten allergy. Y’all, they had gluten-free toast!

Plate of gluten free eggs, sausage, toast and home fries from KOst Toronto
Lovely gluten-free breakfast at KŌST

I spent the rest of my time reading and journaling since I got late checkout.

Before my departure, I received this wonderful note from Totchie and her Team, with macarons, thanking me for staying. I didn’t eat the macarons and saved them for my partner. He said they were absolutely delicious.

I really enjoyed my stay at Bisha and would definitely consider returning. The hotel is great, but what I really liked was the service and the staff’s attentiveness. If you are considering a place for your time in Toronto, hello World Cup folks, yes…consider them. It was a well-spent heist, and honestly, I think we all deserve one.

Bisha At a Glance

  • Would I stay again? Yes, absolutely.
  • Best for: Solo resets, romantic staycations, or when you need a soft place to land
  • Standout: The service (shoutout to Totchie and team), the food, and the overall calm, indulgent vibe
  • Good to know: 24-hour room service and great gluten-free options

When was the last time you stole time just for yourself?

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In Lifestyle

#11 — Making Time For Myself

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Close up picture of a black woman showing off her makeup look

I have a confession to make: I’m a thief.

The reason I’ve never been caught is simple: I plan my heists solo. After years of practice, I’ve become so adept that no one has suspected a thing. At the start of each month, I meticulously craft my plans, delighting in anticipation for what’s to come. Today is a heist planning day. What mischief will I get up to? I’m not sure, but the thrill excites me. I can almost taste the freedom.

Stealing Time for Myself

You might wonder what I’ve been stealing, given that I’m not rich and still working a day job. The truth is, what I take isn’t for money; it’s for whimsy, joy, rest, and myself. What I’m stealing, my lovely friend, is time.

Time is precious, and we never seem to have enough of it. Think about all the adulting we do—work, cleaning, laundry, taxes, budgeting, groceries. The list goes on. A couple of years ago, I realized my schedule left no room to relax, zone out, or simply be. I was booking dinner plans two months in advance. When did we lose the ability to be spontaneous? We’re tied to our schedules and calendars; even my young nephews keep diaries like little CEOs. School, soccer, swimming, homework, reading time— where’s the space for joy? They’re not even ten yet. What happened to lazy afternoons, lying under the clouds, guessing their shapes?

Anyway, I digress. To get what I wanted, I realized I’d have to game the system, a small act of rebellion. So, at the start of every month, I review my calendar and find a spot where I can block at least four hours just for myself. It could be a weekday or a weekend, and I disguise it on my calendar with boring titles like ‘review paperwork’ or ‘x-ray appointment.’ If I have enough PTO, I’ll even take the whole day. The key is NOT to tell anyone you have this time off; protect it fiercely. I don’t even tell my partner. Sometimes he assumes I’m at work, leaving me free to enjoy my secret adventures.

Rules of a Time Heist:

  • Block the time
  • Disguise it (boring titles only)
  • Protect it fiercely
  • Do whatever you damn well please

What do I get up to?

I do whatever I damn well please. Sometimes I’ll have a lie-in, eat a PB&J and read a book. I’m currently deep into The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, and honestly, I couldn’t put it down. Other times, I’ll do tutorials, like this one by Aditya Madiraju, which I’m using to improve how I do my makeup. Other times, I’ll get my nails done, grab an iced chai, and a cupcake if I’m feeling extra cheeky, and walk around my neighbourhood, exploring the cute little shops. This gift shop is one of my favourites.

Close up picture of a black woman showing off her makeup look
Picture of me on Easter with my makeup looking somewhat better than it usually is

I’ve gotten into cookbooks lately, so I spent an hour the other day perusing the ones at Indigo.

Making time for myself. Perusing cookbooks on display at an Indigo bookstore in Toronto
Cookbooks at Indigo

I also love research and data, so I’ll complete random surveys as an act of community service or participate in studies. Last week, I participated in a research study that provided me with a free EEG. I learned that I do not like all high-pitched sounds, probably because they trigger migraines.

Black woman getting a free EEG during a research study
Getting an EEG

I’ve used my stolen time to go to the movies, attend meetups, browse stationery stores, and wander through Homesense and Marshalls. Sometimes, I simply use it for personal admin or to plan a trip. I’ve never regretted it. It feels wonderful to steal time for myself, unapologetically, and just breathe. Not being responsible for anything or anyone is a bonus; I can simply be. Reclaiming a bit of my humanity in this capitalist society is special, and I’m proud to steal this time for myself.

Steal Time for Yourself

Let my thefts inspire you: take your time back, unapologetically. Don’t wait! Block out a mental health day or PTO, and do something that fills you with joy, rest, or adventure. Start now; you deserve it.

If you can’t carve out four hours, steal small chunks of time when possible. Today, a meeting ended early, and I used the extra 30 minutes to watch planes fly by. Living on the YYZ flight path, I get to see dozens of planes starting at 4:30 pm. With a cup of tea in hand, I watch them and decompress.

Challenge yourself: plan and complete your own time heist this month, guilt-free. Then share what you did and how it made you feel.

Because the truth is, no one is going to give you this time, you have to take it. Take your time back. Start your heist today.

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#10 — Four Quarters, One Life

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Computer screen image and stationery course

It’s a celebration in fours.

Palm Sunday. The last Sunday of International Women’s Month. One month post-surgery. And the end of Quarter 1, 2026.

Four things worth marking. I am a numbers person at heart. I love data, spreadsheets, and weird outliers. I also live my life in quarters. I find it easier to chunk big dreams into 3-month sprints: those quiet, slightly terrifying things I’m afraid to say out loud get broken down into four attempts, four seasons of effort, four chances to try.

A quarter mile at a time gif

Quarter One Reflections

At the end of last year, my Quarter dream for this year was to get started on this blog. I didn’t have to be good at it. I didn’t have to be excellent. All I had to do was cobble together a simple website and start writing. And I did. I wasn’t sure I’d make it this far. There were moments I almost talked myself out of it. But 3 months later, I’m on blog 10. Genuinely, yay me!! I have a blogging friend, and I have received kind comments on my writing. I have put myself out there in a different way, and I’m so proud of myself. And the loveliest surprise? I’ve learned so much along the way. WordPress, lots of WordPress, Yoast, editing videos in Canva, TikTok — all the things my day job doesn’t give me to try. Parts of my brain I’d forgotten I had. I love it, genuinely.

Plans for Quarter Two

So, what next? Q2 has its own little list. In my therapy session last week, my therapist insisted that I should add more whimsy to my schedule. So here’s my list:

  • Start the Elizabeth Stuckey stationery course I signed up for – I am a stationery lover at heart, and one of my longer-term goals is to design and sell stationery. I feel like this course is a great place to start.
  • Take an etiquette class – I was inspired by this post, and I think it would be great to take an etiquette class and polish my skills. Somewhere along the line, I hope to get an executive-level role, and I feel like this would help me be more confident as I explore it.
  • Start working out again slowly – I miss my gym and would like to go back to lifting heavy, but I have a couple more weeks before I can do that, so I’ll stick to home workouts with Heather for now.
  • Sleep – I would like to keep dreaming, so I am committed to having better sleep hygiene this upcoming quarter.
  • Prioritizing rest when I can – and not feeling guilty when I wrap up at work on time or take time for myself.

Women That Inspire Me

Before I sign off, since it’s the end of International Women’s Month, I wanted to share some women who inspire me every day. Roses to every one of them, these wonderful and amazing women who make me believe that I, too, can keep growing into myself.

  • Hayet Rida – I took a business workshop with Hayet last year, and it was probably the best money I spent all year. Hayet has a great business mind as the founder of Khoi and Aiya, and she shares valuable advice on her page about her design process and business. I admire her so much!
  • Kelly Augustine – A stylist and creative. I’m really drawn to her work and the way she thinks about style and design. I started restructuring my wardrobe, and I’ve been inspired by her a lot. I’m buying a lot more Banana Republic plus-size pieces because of her, lol! She’s also wonderfully thoughtful about what she shares.
  • Candice Brathwaite – Candice is a force, and her energy is unmatched. Her videos are always motivating, and I love how she drops these “life gems” all the time. I also greatly enjoy her writing. I will never forget this haunting piece she wrote recently about loss.
  • Grace Beverly – Grace is a planner and a strategist, and that’s something I really admire about her. Her podcast is full of relevant and useful information for women, business, and health planning; she talks about it all. I really enjoyed this podcast episode featuring Olamide Olowe, the founder of Topicals. It was a wonderful conversation, and great information and advice.
  • Alex Elle – She’s an author, wellness educator, and Restorative Writing teacher with more than a decade of experience. She helps others cultivate self-discovery and expand their capacity for joy, clarity, and meaningful connection. Her writing stays with me, and her substack is wonderful.
  • And last but not least, Nap Ministry – may we always remember that rest is resistance.

How about you? Who are some of the women who inspire you? What are your goals for this year? Wishing you a gentle, hopeful start to April. See you in Q2. Softly, steadily.

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In Lifestyle

#5 — Rage

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I am not proud of myself.

At least not lately. I haven’t been the best version of myself, and I am struggling to get back to an older version of me who was calmer, more tactful, and less mouthy under stress and adversity. I woke up one day and, suddenly, I was in perimenopause. What they don’t tell you is that one of the symptoms is moodiness and, dare I say it, Game of Thrones, dragon-worthy rage.

Sometimes I look like I have it together. But just beneath the surface lives a vengeful chihuahua, ready to go feral at a moment’s notice.

Rage has me against the ropes

I am fighting to control this rabid urge almost every day.

The thing is, it’s mostly not my fault. And it’s surprisingly hard to explain why I’m no longer the upbeat, jolly version of myself I used to be. As a woman, it feels like you enter this phase of life and are dropped into a complex maze of symptoms and health issues, with no sherpa to help you navigate your way through.

It’s heartbreaking. Piercingly lonely. And you somehow feel like a failure for not handling it better.

Internally, it feels like some alien parasite has taken over my body. I have no control, and I’m constantly bracing for what comes next.

I am exhausted, in every sense of the word. Things I once had patience for now leave me hanging by a thread. Yesterday, I nearly had a breakdown at the grocery store because a woman was taking too long to decide which milk to buy, and I had to wait my turn. This is who I am right now, apparently.

Chihuahua.

Rage.

I fight so hard to keep it together during the day that by evening, I become the worst version of myself. Grumpy. Nitpicky. Short-fused. When I finally can’t take it anymore, I cry, and then I nap.

My enemies may not be suffering, but my partner is

I am the absolute worst version of a toddler: a mean one with big words who screams like a banshee.

Simmering rage.

I am not proud of myself.

The other day, my poor partner endured a twenty-minute monologue because he made a small mistake loading the dishwasher. It was as bad as you’re imagining. He had just stepped out of the shower, towel around his waist, still dripping wet, when I cornered him.

Somewhere in the middle of my tirade, my brain registered that what I was doing was completely unhinged. But I had short-circuited. My mouth had taken over, and I could not stop. My partner is the kindest, gentlest person I know. He has endured, and is still enduring, this strange, volatile version of me. He gives me grace. He makes me breakfast. He gives me pedicures and rubs my feet.

My partner’s feelings…

I am horrified. And I am deeply ashamed.

If you’re reading this, honey, I am so sorry.

Finding some peace during this rageful season

This week, my naturopath prescribed new supplements, and in two weeks, I’ll be speaking with my GP about medication. In the meantime, I’m leaning more into meditation and breathwork. I’m slowly learning to pace my workday so my body isn’t constantly in fight-or-flight mode. I’m trying not to overwork the way I used to. And I’m trying to give myself grace.

One of my colleagues, an adultier adult who has been through this, promises me that it gets better. The hardest part, she says, is the adjustment. Finding the right balance.

Today was a good day.

I slept in. I did Pilates. I sat quietly in the sauna and meditated. Less rage. More peace.

I hope for more days like this. I hope to return to the more joyful version of myself. I miss her.

And to anyone else going through this: I see you. I wish you well. I hope you, too, find your way back to yourself.

And if you have any survival tips, please share them with me. You don’t have to comment publicly; a quiet message counts too.

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