Lemon

Blouse: J.Crew | Necklace: J.Crew | Jeans: The Gap | Shoes: J.Crew

I am so thrilled to be featured on Style Me Pretty Living's "Best Dressed Blogger" series today. Ever since my all time favourite wedding blog launched their lifestyle extension, it has been one of my daily reads. Some seriously stylish ladies have been featured on this series so as you can imagine I am beyond flattered. Make sure you head on over to take a peak! 

Fall Neutrals

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Although it's still feeling like summer in Vancouver, I'm quite aware of how close the cold weather is. Fall always seems to sneak up on me, so I thought I'd start planning my fall wardrobe now. I like to start with a few neutral pieces that are super versatile. Although a few crazy prints (okay stripes aren't that crazy) may not seem neutral, in a neutral palette they really can be paired with anything. Fingers crossed I will be able to cross all of these goodies off my shopping list!

Wedding Things

Dress: Club Monaco | Wedges: Tory Burch | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Bracelet: J.Crew

This past weekend my fiancé and I had the pleasure of attending my good friend Tasshia's wedding. The day was absolute perfection, filled with beautiful handmade details and a stunning mountain backdrop. Can you believe the bride did it all herself? Such talent. I love a good wedding, don't you?

Creamy Roasted Tomato Soup

The Vancouver rain seems to be creeping back this week and with it brings a fall chill that causes me to crave a big bowl of soup. I picked up a pile of heirloom tomatoes at the farmers market over the weekend and decided tomato soup had to be made. This recipe is seriously tasty especially when paired with a grilled cheese sandwich (drool). Enjoy!

Ingredients:

5 large tomatoes chopped
3 cloves of garlic smashed
1 yellow onion chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
a few sprigs of fresh thyme
salt and pepper
2 cups vegetable broth
2 tbsp butter
a handful of fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup whipping cream

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375f. Spread the tomatoes, onion and garlic onto a rimed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle with fresh thyme and salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil. Roast in the oven for 40 minutes stirring a few times. Pour tomatoes etc into a soup pot. Add the vegetable broth and butter. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 15-30 minutes. Pour soup and fresh basil into a blender and puree. Stir in cream and enjoy!

Diner En Blanc

Dress: Anthropologie | Shoes: Jcrew | Flower Crown: All and Sundry 

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the incredible Diner En Blanc. A sort of flashmob picnic in all white that began in Paris and is now celebrated all over the world. Each guest brings their own table, chairs, dinnerware, etc and of course everything must be white. It was such a memorable experience that we almost didn't capture due to a forgotten camera battery, oops! Luckily we found a spare and were able to capture a few of our favourite moments. I'm already looking forward to next year! 

Weekend Snapshots

{ celebrating a bachelorette at the horse races }

{ the view at the Hastings race track }

{ enjoying the best ice cream in Vancouver }

{ two scoops of heaven }

{ beer flights at 33 Acres }

{ heirloom tomato season }

This past weekend was filled with celebrations, indulging in guilty pleasures and exploring this lovely city, Vancouver. My dear friend Tasshia is getting married in less than two weeks (as I squeal with excitement) and so my Friday evening was spent celebrating her last few days as a single lady. For the rest of the weekend Andrew and I took advantage of the sunshine and our city, checking out a few new local ice cream shops and breweries and of course the Sunday farmer's market. How did you spend your weekend? 

Weekend Snapshots

{ lovely lavender at the farmer's market }

{ so many varieties of cabbage }

{ maple syrup on a stick...so good....so Canadian }

{ my current favourite eyeshadow } 

{ Andrew sneaking in some snuggles with this little one } 

Happy Monday! I hope you all enjoyed the weekend. Mine seemed to fly by much too quickly, a Saturday morning (okay, afternoon) trip to the farmer's market, sunbathing at a friend's pool,  marathoning Orange Is The New Black (I'm totally obsessed you must watch it) and a Sunday baby shower. Why can't weekends be just a little longer?

Mood Board: Floral Shop

floral studio | saylor lane | flowers on chair | samantha photography | mimosis logo | tinge floral | vase of flowers | vintage botanicals | your darling blog | wreath | aprile elcich website | water colour | prairie fair website

For one of my final school projects this term I am designing a logo and website for a floral studio. To begin the project, as I begin most projects, I created a mood board filled with images that inspire the topic. Vintage botanical drawings, floral workspaces and some stunning logos and websites that already exist. I find putting together a collection of images can really help you narrow down your concept and colour story. Plus I love making them!

Tabbouleh Salad

While in Toronto I ate at Tabülè, a delicious Middle Eastern restaurant where I enjoyed the best tabbouleh salad I had ever had. Ever since I have not been able to stop thinking about it. Such a delicious and fresh salad, perfect for summer. So I of course had to recreate it at home. The best part about this salad is that it actually tastes better the next day!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup bulgur
2 - 3 cups chopped fresh parsley (stems removed)
1/2 mint chopped
2 tomatoes or 1 cup cherry tomatoes diced
1/2 an english cucumber diced
3 scallions thinly sliced
juice of 1 lemon and zest
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Cook bulgur according to package directions. Cool. Add parsley, mint, tomatoes, cucumber and scallions and toss. Whisk together lemon, zest, olive oil and salt and pepper. Stir the dressing into the salad (you may feel you don't need full amount of dressing) until combined. Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart.

90 Days With Bicyclette Boutique

My lovely friend Paige, who owns the darling Bicyclette Boutique in Toronto, recently teamed up with Kolab Cinema to create a short film showcasing her summer line. The film, entitled 90 Days, celebrates love, summer style and life in Toronto (which of course makes me miss the city like crazy!) Paige describes the concept as street style meets fairy tale, which is exactly what you feel when you're in Bicyclette. I hope you enjoy the film as much as I do! 

Scalloped

shirt: anthropologie (similar) | shorts: club monaco | shoes: j.crew (on sale) | bracelets: bfrend

One of many things that I love about this time of year is all of the great sales that go on. Typically (especially in Vancouver) the weather is only just warming up enough to even wear our summer clothes now and everything has already gone on sale, perfect! I had been eyeing these J.Crew sandals for some time now and lucked out finding them in my size on sale and an additional 40% off. I really couldn't pass them up! 

I'm also loving these bfrend bracelets that I recently picked up. I'm all about the dainty jewelry lately and these bracelets fit my taste perfectly right now. What are some favourite pieces in your closet lately?

Weekend Snapshots

{ anniversary celebrations }

{ lovely invitations for a friend's upcoming wedding }

{ taking in the beautiful views in Whistler }

{ patio brunch }

This past weekend Andrew and I celebrated our four year anniversary. It seems crazy how quickly four years have flown by. Especially when I think about all of the cities we have lived in both separately and  together, the moves we have made for each other and how much has changed in just four years. When we first met I lived in Toronto and Andrew in Vancouver, then somehow for a little over two years we did long distance between Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. Finally we now both live in Vancouver together. We often have people ask us for advice on surviving a long distance relationship, which I usually am not sure how to answer. The whole experience was exciting for us, of course it wasn't easy, and in the end one of us had to pick up and move permanently, but it allowed our relationship to grow slowly. We built trust, learned to communicate and really appreciated the time we had together. 

So I guess my advice would be to enjoy the late night phone calls and surprise visits, cherish the time you get to spend together even if it's short, and know that eventually there's an end to the distance. 

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are one of my favourite sweet snacks. So classic yet so many different ways to make them. This recipe is one of the best I've tried so far, with a few slight adjustments and the addition of walnuts, I have a hard time not finishing them all in one sitting! If you are a chocolate chip cookie fan (and who isn't?) then you must give this recipe a try!

You can find the recipe here. I used milk chocolate chip cookies instead of semisweet and butter instead of shortening. 

Silk Pants

top: j.crew | pants: club monaco | clutch: club monaco (old) | sandals: sam edelman

I've been searching for the perfect silk pants all season and was so glad to find these at Club Monaco with the arrival of their July collection. They are so comfortable and versatile, I've already worn them a few times since buying them!