Vacation Dreaming

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As soon January comes along I instantly long for spring. The winter seems like it may never end and all I want is to escape to a beach. Unfortunately, that is not in the cards for me this winter (sad face), so I am left with simply daydreaming and online shopping. Sigh. 

Above are a few of my must-haves (for my imaginary vacation) or at least for spring! Seriously though, vintage Levis and a scalloped blouse? Perfection.

A few online shops I'm loving right now include My Wardrobe and Burns Jewellers.

xo

Weekend Snapshots

- Brunch at one of my favourite spots The Flying Pig

- Spending the morning at the winter farmer's market with my dear friend Justine

- Coffee date with my love at Nelson The Seagull

Thank you so much for all of your lovely comments and great feedback on my New Year New Goals post. One thing that seemed to stand out on what you want to see more of (other than more outfit posts and recipes, which I'm working on!) was more lifestyle shots that include places to go in Vancouver. And since my weekend was filled with just that, I thought I'd share. 

You may have noticed by now that one of my favourite things to do is to go to the farmer's market. I was so thrilled to discover that the Vancouver Farmer's Market was continuing into the winter, and since it was finally sunny on Saturday I had to check it out. The rest of my weekend included brunches and a lovely triple dinner date, as well as dragging poor Andrew around shopping in Gastown.

xo

Lucky Magazine

So excited to be in the February 2013 issue of Lucky Magazine!

xo

Chickpea, Quinoa and Yam Salad

This salad has been my go-to when packing my lunch for work. I often find making a salad for lunch isn't filling enough, but this one is packed with so many ingredients I'm always satisfied after one bowl. I found the recipe in Whitewater Cooks With Friends, a cookbook I highly recommend.

 Dressing

- 3 tbsp white balsamic vinegar

- 1 tbsp dijon

- 1 tsp honey

- 1 clove garlic, crushed

- salt and pepper

- 1/2 cup olive oil

Whisk together and set aside.

Salad

- 1/2 cup quinoa

- 1 large yam, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes

- 1 tbsp olive oil

- salt and pepper

- 1 can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained

- 1 carrot, peeled and grated

- 1 red pepper, diced

- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds

- 1 cup spinach

- 1/2 cup parsley, chopped

- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled

Place quinoa and 3/4 cup cold water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce to low heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Turn heat off, leave lid on, an let stand for 5 minutes. Cool. Toss yams in olive oil, cracked pepper and salt and spread on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Roast in a 350f oven until just tenter, about 20 minutes. Toss all of the ingredients together in a large bowl. Pour dressing over and toss gently until mixed. Approximately three servings.

xo

Aritzia Online

1. Wilfred Free Sweater 2. Wilfred Camisole 3. Wilfred Scarf 4. T. Babaton Shirt 5. TNA Denim Blouse 6. Wilfred Dress

My favourite Canadian clothing brand, Aritzia, has finally launched their online shopping site and I couldn't be more excited. The site is easy to navigate and features inspiring lookbooks that have me craving their product more than ever (which makes me a little worried for my wallet). 

Above is my current favourite lookbook featuring actress Lili Simmons and a few of my favourite pieces from Aritzia at the moment. 

A few other online shops I love include Morgan Clare and Ernest Jones.

xo