Scout

And of course, we can’t forget about the traditional thinking behind Valentine’s Day, a day to celebrate your love with a partner! We have loads of ideas to encourage connection or to just make your plus one feel spoiled with love. A book about us can be filled out ahead or do it together as a fun activity. Create your own story! We know how much you all are loving candles these days! Turn a normal evening into something special with a new scent from @sydneyhaleco Lockets ...from @lisbethjewelry are such a classic piece of jewelry. They are timeless! 52 lists for togetherness can be filled out alone or do it as a couple to connect on a deeper level with one another We have some beautiful cards in our love section online like this one from @riflepaperco Maybe you’re not in a traditional partnership or are looking to explore a non monogamous relationship. A Happy Life in an Open Relationship is a great book by @susanwenzelofficial to get that conversation going The Beard Box from @peregrinesupply is a nice set to help tame your partners new pandemic facial hair Truth or Dare questions can add a little extra something to your normal at home routine with your partner Jewels from @haileygerrits are made in Vancouver and we love her use of semi precious and pearls in her newest collection Emotional conversations from @theschooloflifelondon will help to reopen channels of emotional communication that have, very understandably, become clogged up over time . . . #valentinesday #love #giftideas See more

Family Day and Valentine’s Day are both perfect for connecting with loved ones! Surely you’ve spent more than enough time with your family if you haven’t left the nest.... but maybe some of these ideas will change up the routine this weekend: We have so many beautiful books on love and self love that are perfect for sharing time with your little ones Family Time after dinner amusements can create some new conversations with the people you’re spending so much time with we’v...e got new puzzles in for a range of ages! The less pieces the bigger the pieces for younger kids and the more pieces the smaller and more challenging Just Between Us is another perfect deck for encouraging new and interesting conversations with your family and it’s good for all ages Try out Board Games to create and play for inventing your own dream game! The Plant Lady is one of many colouring books we’ve got online The Family Game from @theschooloflifelondon will ask questions to kick start conversations of connection; this one is best played with ages 12+ Cat-tastic board game for the feline loving family teaches real life cat caring skills Perhaps the family needs a moment of gentle movement together. The Little Yogi deck by @cmccrearyyoga will help introduce mindfulness and cultivate emotional intelligence #familyday #valentinesday #love #selflove #familylove #giftideas #shoplocal See more

Get creative this month while getting aligned with your goals for the year! A January lockdown is the perfect time to create a vision board to inspire the year ahead. These kits are a great starting point! They include a blank board, fun stickers, photos and cut outs. Add your own images and cutouts to really personalize your vision and manifest what you want from 2021 . . . #visionboard #manifestation #getcreative #diy #january #stayhome

Shall we all take a collective inhale and let out a big siiiiiiiigh. A small moment of relief. Just a note to let everyone know nothing is changing on our end as far as the new regulations go. We’ve sadly had to reduce staff again so have minimal bodies in the shop prepping your orders for pick ups. Our curbside hours are at Roncy Wed-Sun and Leslieville Tuesdays and Fridays 11-6 (we always close for lunch 1:30-2:30). Send us an email or give us a call if those days/times d...on’t work and we’ll do our best to accommodate Remember to continue supporting your favourite small businesses, even if that means just engaging with them on social media to keep them from disappearing from the algorithm I know some people who have received vaccinations and it gives me hope that there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel. Hang in there . . . #shoplocal #supportsmallbusiness #shopsmall #supportlocal See more

If you're like us, you're probably craving human connection right now. Whether you're looking for a fun icebreaker at your team's next virtual happy hour, new ways of connecting with your partner, or a new idea for family game night, we've got a game for you!

Friends need love too! I always try to make a point of spending time with my pals around Valentine’s Day. It’s just a nice little nudge to remind us to connect with all of our loved ones, whether romantically or platonically. My friends and I are pretty touchy feely when there isn’t a pandemic, and I miss their affections so much right now Some ideas to celebrate Palentine’s Day: The Friendship Game from @theschooloflifelondon is designed to give us a better understanding ...of our friends and to form deeper connections through sincere, kindly self-disclosure. Play it virtually if your friends aren’t in your household Queeriosity is owned by two Toronto locals and encourages friends to have a little fun while sharing experiences, quizzing each other, and getting to know how your friends perceive you (are you ready for that?) with a focus on queerness On Friendship from @with.outpretend is a wonderful collection of stories on the complex relationships of our friendships Send your pal a just because card to remind them you’re thinking of them. This card from @yeppiepaperjen is pandemic approved The Friends colouring book from @partymountainpaper is a fun way to pass time together or apart Complete a puzzle together or race each other from your separate homes. This one from @fourpointpuzzles will test your skills! Better Together cards from @compendiumliveinspired feature 52 cards offering ways to connect to strangers, loved ones, or your communities. Draw a card from the deck each week and share the activity on that card with your friend (some may need some creative pandemic safety rethinking). Come together at the weeks end to share your experience The Literary Witches oracle is a beautiful deck with a guidebook that acts as an interpreter, helping you find meaning in the cards based on your specific intentions. Try it out with your friends over a zoom call #palentinesday #pals #galentinesday #friends #bestfriends #loveyourfriends #missmyfriends #virtualconnection See more

Hoops but make it fancySadie roped hoops from @wolf_circus come in two sizes in both sterling silver and gold. Putting earrings in makes me feel like I’m still making some effort, even if it’s just for me to see . . . #wolfcircus #hoops #ropedhoops

This year is off to a rocky start. There’s this weird pressure for the New Year to be a fresh start, like a restart button that will just forget all of the hard feelings and stress attached to the year prior. I definitely see the value in a fresh perspective, to take stock of what serves and what doesn’t. But sometimes we’re just stuck, and the new year doesn’t change that, that’s ok too. Feel It Out from @jordansondler is the perfect book for feeling seen. For celebrating where you are now, even if heartbreaks, career setbacks, growing pains, and preconceptions about where you should be by now are getting in your way. It’s approachable and empowering and we just added it to our sale section! It’s a nice book to snuggle up with in January . . . #feelitoutbook #iseeyou #mentalhealthawareness #januaryreads

Beautiful Frida calendars from @idlewildco are at the shops and online amongst some other calendar gems! A lot of you are eagerly looking ahead to 2021 as these are already selling fast. I feel you . . . #frida #2021 #bye2020 #idlewild

Just a reminder our online birthday sale ends at midnight tonight! 15% off with code GRATITUDE at checkout. We know this long weekend isn’t going to be full of the usual big gatherings with loved ones we’re used to, so we wanted to send some love your way. We’re truly so grateful that both of our stores are still standing and we have you to thank for sticking by us over all these years. Hoping everyone is finding some nice ways to connect with loved ones safely . . . #gratitude #thankful #bestcommunity #shoplocal #shopsmall #supportsmallbusiness

A fun little flashback photo to when Scout first became the tenant on Roncesvalles!! Let me tell you, cleaning the pigeon poop off the storefront was a dirty task, but I still remember how many people I met and spoke with that day when I was out there on a ladder. I remember how nervous I was doing anything outside, being afraid of hearing what people would think of my idea. To be honest I was nervous of people coming in and not liking what we were doing. To be opening a reta...il store and being scared of people coming in.... it’s funny to look back at that now, but I assure you EVERY business owner has had those same feelings. It’s a vulnerable thing opening a business. It was a little easier doing it the second time around in Leslieville, but those first months are still terrifying. I’m so grateful we’ve been accepted into the two neighbourhoods we chose and I’m so glad we redid that Roncy storefront Our 15% off birthday sale (online only with code GRATITUDE) expires at midnight tomorrow night! . . . #roncesvalles #smallbusinessowner #womanownedbusiness #shoplocal #leslieville #gratitude #thankful See more

What a year this has beenWe wanted to take these two days to send some love back to our community! Not only are we celebrating our store birthdays, we are also celebrating SURVIVING A PANDEMIC TOGETHER. We know these last many months haven’t been easy on anyone, and there are certainly more challenges to come. As a little show of our appreciation for your support all these years, and especially this past year, we are offering 15% off ONLINE only Oct 11/12 with code GRATITUDE... at checkout (domestic orders only, doesn’t apply to sale items). We decided to close up the shops and offer this sale online only to avoid too much love in our small spaces all at once (remember curbside pick up is still an option and appreciated over mailing out if you're comfortable and able to pop by either location) Health and safety first! You folks really do make all this craziness worth it. We hope to come out the other side stronger and with only a few new wrinkles https://www.iheartscout.com/ . . . #gratitude #givingback #community #weloveyou #thankyou #shopsmall #supportsmallbusiness #shoplocal #womanownedbusiness See more

Hi from the folks at Scout! We’ve gathered a little collection of our favourite card picks in the shops right now! 1. Leah here! A big fan of this timely new card release from @dearhancock! Trying to channel my inner chip eating peaceful sloth as we gear up for more time indoors 2. Next up is Erin, our store manager with a local pick from @joojoopaper (how’d I know they’d pick a card with a cat on it ) 3. Michelle’s half face might be familiar as she’s our most seasone...d employee! She’s a fan of instilling the possibility your new home might just be haunted with this pick from @thegoodtwinco 4. Doreyjean is a Roncy face that’s been with us for just over a year now! She’s loving this beautiful floral card from @hartlandbrooklyn 5. Pearl is sharing her true pandemic feelings of purhell with this recently restocked card from @partymountainpaper 6. And our newest team member at Leslieville is Francis, with a reminder from @eggpress that WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER Love this team, love these cards! We’ve got an amazing selection online but there’s always more to visit in store if you’re able to pop over. Sending a card is the perfect way to reach out to loved ones we’re missing (and we’re still writing out your messages for you) . . . #sendmoremail #handwrittennotes #greetingcards #bestcards #ststionery #writealetter See more

This art print from @thebalticclub fills me with so much joy! As I’m getting older I notice so much more of the simple things around me that have always been there, like trees! Learning what is what through the shape of their leaves, noticing which birds are drawn to which trees, and of course the change of colours at this perfect time of year This Arboretum print is available unframed at Roncy in 12 x 18 and it features some of Canada’s best Where are your favourite spots to view these big beauties in the Fall. Tell us your secret below so we can plan a day trip . . . #arboretum #trees #treesofcanada #falltrees #fallleaves #nature #mothernature

Ooooh it’s a happy day when @theschooloflifelondon arrives!! We’ve replenished some of your favourite games and prompt cards that encourage deeper connection and we have some new additions pictured!! The friendship game, family game and digital connections cards are just in time for a long weekend. Maybe we aren’t seeing our loved ones in the way we’re used to and honestly, it sucks, but it means we just need to get creative. Perhaps a zoom call with your family or friends - you’ll have to adapt some of these games to work virtually, but I promise you’ll walk away feeling reconnected. We’ve got some peeks inside the boxes in our stories! These are in both stores and online . . . #theschooloflife #connection #virtualconnection #familygame #digitalconnections

I see you all stocking up on candles making sure your homes are cozy and Fall ready. Big order of @sydneyhaleco has arrived at both shops with some new scents for you to explore! Aloeswood is lovely; a fragrant resinous wood with notes of vanilla, musk, cedar, incense + black pepper. Come on by or shop online . . . #sydneyhale #aloeswood #cozytime #fallvibes #homecomforts

We love these words from @jsuskin for @redcapcards as we head into the long weekend of Thanks. A little heads up that today and tomorrow are your last chance for Thanksgiving cards or goodies as we are closed Sun/Mon for a little Thanksgiving rest. Stay tuned as we’ll be offering a little treat to you during our closure sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know (link in comments) . . . #gratitude #thankful #thanksgiving #redcapcards #shoplocal

@keepwellkept razors are restocked with exciting news, they are now made in Canada! We love this switch to local manufacturing and know you will tooWe also stocked up on their shave kits as per request to get you started on a more sustainable, better shave routine! . . . #wellkept #wellkeptrazor #safetyrazor #sustainableliving #lesswaste #ecoliving #madeincanada

I have been SOOO excited for this order from @sticky.lemon to arrive from The Netherlands!! Sweet colourful backpacks and fanny packs (YES fanny packs) made from recycled water bottles. They are cute, they are functional, they are easy to clean, they are the colour we need in our day Online and at both stores (they’re making their way to Leslieville Thursday). . . . #stickylemon #fannypacks #backpacks #backtoschool #kidfashion #colour #leslieville #roncesvalles

Hello friends! It's that time of year where you vote for your Toronto favourites! We've been nominated under Best Unique Gift Store, and as usual, we're in good company :) Might we suggest you vote for all your favourite small and local businesses to get them the love and attention deserved during this trying year <3

It’s our favourite thing about Monday’s! Meet the maker! Get to know Leigh and her local jewelry line @notmagic_studio in today’s stories . . . #meetthemaker #meetthemakemonday #notmagicstudio #torontomaker #shoplocal #supportsmallbusiness

How are you spending these lovely warm Fall days? Have a peek at our link in bio for a little post on making use of your (or any) outdoor space before the temperatures drop. I’m certainly feeling anxious and getting in as many comfortable outdoor visits as I can with loved ones, and am so grateful for this little uptick of warm weather. Pictured are some of our favourites at the shop! Bamboo plates from @xeniataler add a little colour and style to your outdoor picnic, stocked online and at both shops . . . #outdoordining #xeniataler #picnic #fall #sustainableliving #bamboo #homedecor #inspiredliving

Say hello to our first non Canadian Maker Monday feature Lori of @little_truths_studio! We feel like we could all use a little reminder of the importance empathy, kindness and compassion have in understanding our deep connection to others and Lori’s work is rooted in those values. Check out our stories to learn more . . . #littletruthsstudio #empathy #compassion #watercolour #makermonday #meetthemaker #supportsmallbusiness

Where my Libra’s at?? Who relates closely to their Libra sun sign? I’m a sun Libra, moon Pisces and Capricorn rising! Now you know all my secrets -I’m a peace maker. This has its place in good but trying to make everyone happy definitely comes with its problems since that’s IMPOSSIBLE -Idealism makes it hard for me to live in the moment often comparing one moment or day to the next. But I try so hard! -living in my head as much as I do, self care is actually hard for me. T...he mind/body link, though so prevalent in my life these days, is often ignored -I keep loved ones near and dear to me -thanks to my moon in Pisces I have remarkable intuition. Do I always know how to tap into it? That’d be a no. -Lunar Pisceans are also empaths. Often able to put themselves in others shoes. I’m a sensitive soul. When I was younger I was told all my feelings are a gift. That helped me to accept that side of me. -Capricorn risings come across as hard working and often successful. What others don’t see is the constant questioning and wondering if we’re working hard enough or deserving of our accomplishments. That’s enough insight into the deep dark places of my astrology chartTell me about yours below . . . #libra #astrology #natalchart #moonsign #lunarsign #risingsign #horoscope See more

Some new ceramics have made their way into the shop by local maker @annikahoefsceramics! Welcome Annika These are at Roncy and we’ll work on getting them online next week! Hope everyone had a cozy Sunday. . . . #teatime #ceramics #pottery #handmademugs #handmade #shoplocal #supportsmallbusiness

Leah’s five picks for Fall! Time to get extra cozy and embrace the change of seasons 1. Beeswax candles have become my go to! I’m not a huge scent person (can you believe that?!) so the subtle honey scent is perfect for me. Candles from @thewaxstudioottawa are just as pretty sitting as they are burning and did you know beeswax purifies the air 2. Cribbage! My husband and I taught ourselves how to play this classic game last Summer. It’s a great game for two and we’re final...ly all stocked up again 3. My favourite bath salts from @northlore smell like sage, wintergreen and lavender. It’s heaven. I welcome bath season with open arms 4. We’ve got a plethora of puzzles for you as the nights cool off and we need to find ways to entertain ourselves inside again. This one from @galisongift is double sided for some 2-4-1 fun 5. How to not always be working by @marleegrace. Need I say more. This little workbook is a great reminder for all of us. Especially those of us that work for ourselves or are having a hard time separating the two as our homes have become our offices. All of these gems from the shop are a recipe for self care and a reminder to SLOW DOWN. It’s easier said than done these days, but also more important than ever for our mental well being. HAPPY FALL EQUINOX! . . . #fallequinox #equinox #fall #changeofseasons #fallpicks #shoplocal #selfcare #puzzles See more

Meet Robin! The Toronto maker behind leather accessories brand @fitzydesign! We’ve got some insight into how Robin found her way into leather crafting and some behind the scenes looks of her work in progress in today’s Meet the Maker story! . . . #meetthemaker #meetthemakermonday #fitzy #leathergoods #madelocally #madeintoronto #buylessbuywell

Anyone who knows me knows my skin care routine is.... not really a routine BUT I have been trying to bring more ritual into my life to help find calm during this time of stress and uncertainty and one thing I have been LOVING is my konjac sponge from @bkind.products. Did you know a konjac sponge is made from the root of a plant grown in Asia! It gently cleanses and exfoliates and at the end of its life (6-8 weeks) you can toss it in the compost where it will biodegrade We’ve got these online and at Leslieville! . . . #konjacsponge #cleanbeauty #zerowaste #wastefreeliving #bkind #supportcanadian

I see some warmer temperatures in the coming week! We've got to keep getting creative with how we can spend time outside, so we've created a little guide to help inspire you to make the most of your outdoor space!

So excited to welcome new local brand @givewrappr to the shop! Wrappr isn’t only a beautiful way to gift something but also a waste free wayEach Wrappr is designed by an artist who then receives a portion from every sale. Did you know that 540,000 thousand tonnes of waste from wrapping paper and gift bags goes into the landfill every holiday season?! Based on the traditional Japanese art of wrapping called Furoshiki, these prints are made out of organic cotton and printed with environmentally friendly water based inks so they are also completely biodegradable! We’ve got them at Roncy and online! . . . #wrappr #furoshiki #lesswaste #nowaste #reusablegiftwrap

Who likes games??? After identifying a lack of LGBTQ+ representation in existing party games Kai and Eli (the folx behind Queeriosity) decided to create their own! Queeriosity is a multiplayer social card game that taps into the wild parts of the queer experience. Set up a zoom party or find a comfy way to play in person and start connecting with other queer folx! Queeriosity is a local company, proudly Black and trans owned and operated. They exclusively hire queer folks for all creative extensions of the business directly supporting the gay agendaWe’ve got these at Roncy (Leslieville next week) and online! . . . #queeriosity #lgbtq #lgbtqgames #community #inclusivity #shoplocal #connect

Today we’re featuring Masa the maker behind beloved local soap brand @skippingstonesoap! Check out our stories to find out why Masa developed an interest in handmade soaps and learn a little bit about how they’re made . . . #mondaymeetthemaker #meetthemaker #skippingstonesoap #handmadesoap #madeincanada #supportlocal #shoplocal #coldprocesssoap

The team may have shrunk in size but we’re mighty in so many other ways, like handling all the punches thrown our way this year. These folks are keeping this train moving and I couldn’t be more grateful to them. To say it’s been a weird, confusing and stressful 6 months would be an understatement, but we’re still here! Took the afternoon to enjoy each other out in nature and outside of work. Much needed . . . #smallbusiness #shoplocal #womanownedbusiness

Dreamy notebook alert! We’ve been stocking up on so many new notebooks with back to school unrolling last week and next, because pretty school supplies just make the transition a little easier. So many new options from @studiooh are in both shops and online. Planners too! . . . #notebooks #schoolsupplies #backtoschool #studiooh #marble #prettypaper #paperaddict

Happy Friday! I’ve been wanting to share a little more about myself on here because this social media thing is all about connecting, right I’m Leah, the owner of Scout! I opened our first location in Roncesvalles in 2011 (Psst our anniversary is coming up) and our second location in Leslieville in 2018. We’ve got an online shop that launched in 2016 which has been THRIVING during this pandemic Here are a few fun little tidbits to help you get to know me better I’ve w...orked in retail since I was 18, that’s over 20 years (yup, the big 4-0 is coming up next month). From the Eaton Centre to indie shops, I had a real taste of retail life before branching out on my own My first job was at Burger King on the hwy 400 in King City where I grew up. Maybe I served you? I didn’t eat much meat when I worked there, so I don’t even know what a Whopper tastes like I dreamed about owning a shop for around two years before taking the leap. Maybe that’s the Libra in me. I’m a creature of habit and sometimes think things through to a fault. Some call it indecisive, I’ve decided to reframe that as thoughtful and intentional I don’t have any post secondary education, something I’ve often felt ashamed to share. I dabbled here and there but never graduated and have just worked my butt off since I was 16. Would some sort of business related degree have helped me? I think I’m doing ok without it and at 18, owning a business was far from mind. Shout out to all the brilliant entrepreneurs figuring it out as they go and making it work Our handwritten logo is my husband’s handwriting (shout-out @tober1)! We hadn’t been dating long when I opened the store. He went to school for graphic design and came up with a bunch of font options for me. He didn’t tell me one of them was handwritten until I picked it as my favourite. He’s a permanent part of Scout and it’s a good thing we still love each other That’s it for today! If you have any questions or curiosities about me ask below and I’ll share more another day . . . #meettheowner #smallbusiness #shopsmall #womanownedbusiness #womanentrepreneur See more

The hardest part is picking the colour We’re all stocked up on @kintojapan tumblers in both travel and day off styles in both stores and online! We love their simplistic designs and easy drinking spout which is designed to stop ice cubes or hot drinks from coming out vigorously. We’ve got some 500 ml travel tumblers in stock as well (not pictured) . . . #kinto #kintotumbler #japanesedesign #reuse #ecofriendly #lesswaste #leslieville #roncesvalles

Thinking of all the teachers out there and the parents sending their kids back to school today! If there’s one thing we’ve learned so far during this pandemic, it’s that we are resilient and adaptable! I know from my parent and teacher friends how challenging this last month has been trying to navigate back to school. We’re here, we’ve got this. Let’s all remember to allow ourselves patience and extra rest, and to be kind to each other as we’re all feeling this new adjustment in different ways. One day at a time, one foot in front of the other . . . #backtoschool #letshearitfortheteachers #teacherlove #parentlove #adapting #resilient #spreadkindness

Get to know Lichia, the founder and creator behind local stationery brand @go.tamago in today’s Meet the Maker Monday story! . . . #meetthemaker #meetthemakermonday #gotamago #shopsmall #toronto