The best consignment stores in Toronto bring Gucci to the H&M set and give a second life to frocks and footwear otherwise destined for the fashion graveyard.

I'm a thrifter. Growing up on garage sales and flea markets has taken its toll, I suppose. Oh sure, I believe in investment pieces, but they are purchased, typically, with a hesitant hand on my wallet. These out-of-my-league add-ons are the anchors in an otherwise budget-conscious wardrobe. I live for the thrill of the find (and a great deal) - the Runway at Winners, a church basement rummage sale, clothing swaps. But sometimes I might covet a Marc Jacobs handbag or a pair of Kate Spade flats, knowing that even the sale price is unattainable. Consignment shopping is my happy medium.

A new fitness centre billing itself as an un-gym opened in January upstairs from the Pizzaiolo near Queen and Broadview. With snacks like muffins and David's Tea, Aveda products in the washrooms and a rooftop patio (overlooking, uh, Jilly's?), this place really is much different from chains like Extreme and Goodlife.

Read my profile of energyXchange in the fitness section.

The best card, paper and stationery stores in Toronto keep snail-mail alive in a digital world. When a thank-you is just too big to be expressed on a Facebook wall, or the lyrics to the next masterpiece too profound to be penned on the back of a napkin, or an event too exclusive for fill-in invitations, the city's best paper purveyors have just the right card or journal or custom solution for the occasion.

Vegan and gluten-free baked goods don't have to be dense and cardboard-like. That's what a new Junction bakery aims to prove. And it does. Soft moist cupcakes, pretty iced cakes and hearty everything-but-the-kitchen-sink cookies join a menu of ethical, allergy-friendly and totally delicious treats.

Read my profile of Bunner's Bake Shop in the bakeries section.

A new interior design studio in Toronto brings do-it-yourself empowerment to power-tool-virgins and the hopelessly un-crafty. Design maven Andrea Ford helps clients revamp old furniture in her bright industrial studio, saving many an antique end table from landfill fate. Classes and private consults are on the menu, as well as a upcoming trash-to-treasure social events.

Read my profile of RE:Style Studio in the design section.

Hip Hop Yoga lured Toronto yogis to the Thompson Hotel last Thursday night for upward dogs and upbeat tunes. The free event, hosted by lululemon, is just your typical Friday night for Calgary's yoga set. Its popularity is no surprise - the unlikely combo of heavy-hitting tracks and graceful poses is a match befitting an eHarmony success story. So I wonder, what took Toronto so long to catch on?