what i wore

Outfit Details
Denim jacket - H&M (similar)
Sweater - Club Monaco
Necklace - my Etsy shop
Dress - c/o Ali & Kris
Booties - Old Navy

So far this fall, there are two types of outfits you'll find me in. Dresses with booties, or skinnies paired with booties. I'm not sure what it is about this particular look/silhouette but I'm kind of crazy about it. I have several booties on my wishlist, most of which are very budget friendly (we're trying to get pregnant and saving for a bigger home), so yes, budget friendly it is... I'm loving these & these. If you have any recommendations, let me know. Cheers!

Fall, let's take a moment to discuss this topic, yeah?! We've been buried in rain, rain and more rain. I'm dreaming of apple orchards, golden hour, and long fall walks with my honey. But, the west coast has different plans for us. I'm trying to be a champ and find other lovely ways to enjoy these grey & cold days. Haha, so far? I got nothin, but I'm working on it! ;)

On a completely different note, I've just started uploading my photos to Flickr... they're uploading a little slow for me. Is that the case for you guys? Let me know, I'd hate to switch over if it's making the blog slow! xo

bits of happiness...

When it comes to finding daily happiness, I believe it's important to celebrate the big & small... each day I take the time (even just a few minutes) and quietly acknowledge my gratitude for all that I have. Be it my health, a roof over my head, enough money to clothe & feed myself, my family, a loving husband, and the greatest of friends.

With that said, today I'm grateful for...

Morning walks with Scout

Toast and strawberry jam

My pedicured feet

Spontaneous day trips

Long conversations with my mom

Hot chocolate with marshmallows

Amazing girlfriends

Cozy sweaters

Morning kisses from my pooch + hub

an evening in the forest

I've been a bit slow to blog this week. Quite honestly, I've needed a wee computer/internet break. I tend to burn the midnight oil on mine way too often, and so, stepping back + getting back to the real world, feels, well, pretty awesome. I'm also working on my fall collection for my Etsy shop, Shore. I'm feeling inspired by a new aesthetic and can't wait to share it with you... I'm working with black (whisper thin) cable chain, brass, geometric shapes, chevron pendants, raw crystal, and adding a few hand-painted pendants too. It'll be a really fun collection and quite different from my previous summer pieces. Fun, right?! For me, creativity is all about moving forward and trying new things.

Next week-ish, I'm also working on a fantastic fashion feature with Emma magazine. I'll be styling and shooting an outfit for their December issue. I'm beyond excited about that!!  

And then, ah October, I'm very excited for the upcoming month. I'm hosting a vegetarian (Canadian) thanksgiving dinner at our home. Plus, planning a Halloween potluck... hopefully with costumes (ahem, if my friends are reading this!), caramel apples and a yummy fall stew. What's your October looking like?... 

what i wore

Outfit Details:
Scarf - H&M
Jacket - H&M (similar)
Top - Forever 21
Jeans - Citizen of Humanity
Shoes - Jeffrey Campbell

After sharing several "dressed-up" what i wore posts, today I thought I'd share a more relaxed look. Generally, this is what I wear when I'm hanging out with Martin on the weekend or grabbing lunch with friends. When it comes to my fall shopping?... I've been hoarding tunic style tops and love pairing them with skinnies as well as layering them with my motto jacket, denim jacket (as worn here) or a preppy tweed blazer.

Did everyone have a great weekend? We did some major deep cleaning of our condo. Then had my parents over for a fabulous dinner on Saturday and I made the yummiest coleslaw recipe which I can't wait to share with you this week. On Sunday, we went to church where we're attending a seven part series called "Radical Marriage"... if you're interested, you can peek at the online sermons here: Radical Marriage, Village Church. Oh yes, and there was lots of lazing around with the pets on Sunday too; our favourite!!

etsy shop update + end of summer sale

Hello! I'm excited to be popping in today and sharing this sweet vintage inspired sailboat necklace, which I just made for the shop. I love them! Plus, I'm also kicking off fall with an end of summer sale. Yay. Psst, prices have been reduced so no code necessary. But hurry, it's quantities while supplies last...

Joy necklace: was $25, reduced to $19 // Lucky Bracelet: was $21, reduced to $19

Wish necklace: was $27, reduced to $20 // Breeze necklace: was $25, reduced to $21

Orchid bracelet: was $23, reduced to $19 // Flutter earrings (genuine fresh water pearls): were $25, reduced to $17

Happy shopping!!

in good company

My brain is a little creaky on this fine Tuesday morning. But regardless, I wanted to pop in and share some photos from this past weekend. I meet up with Cee of "Coco and Vera" and Lynn of "Hearted Girl" for an afternoon of Stella & Dot jewelry, sparkling refreshments, and cream puffs. I adore both these ladies and feel sooooo lucky to call them the dearest of friends. We gabbed for hours, and of course, fawned over all the pretty jewelery too. I was definitley in good company! ;)

I wore my new Forever 21 dress for the occasion. I've been adding bits of leopard here & there to my fall wardrobe and absolutely loving the print (outfit post, coming soon). It's the perfect print for adding a bit of fun to an everyday look but still looks very timeless. Perfect for building a more classic wardrobe, which is something I'm trying to do!

PS - That cutie pie doggy in the photos is Coco. I was doggy sitting for my girlfriend all last week. Sigh, it was not easy giving her back!

5 things i love

It's hard to believe it's time for another "5 things i love" post. Wow, where did the days go?! Even though I recently hurt my back, ouch, I've been working hard at keeping my workout resolutions going... I'm currently doing yoga 4 x a week & trying to run at least 3 x a week, and feeling really good as a result. Plus, I just picked up my bike from my parent's house and I've been biking on our nearby trails after work. Kind of the perfect way to end off summer if you ask me. Anywho, here's this week's crush-worthy items!...

1). I've been eying this necklace like crazy for the past few months, and I FINALLY nabbed one. I absolutely love, love Merl's jewelry of Clydes Rebirth. I swear, every piece is absolutely stunning. Plus, all the pieces are made from vintage & pre-loved materials... great for eco-conscious gals!

2). Just add tights & booties. Say hello to my fall uniform. How adorable is this dress?!... And what's more, the price is unbelievably fantastic. I just discovered Ark Fashion and can't wait to give them a try!

3). I recently pinned this photo because I'm kind of obsessed with Maggie's beautiful hair. I'd love to try lightening my tips for fall. We'll see, for now I'll just pretend this is my hair, k?!... 

4). Animal print ballet flats... swoon, these are the most perfect shoes for fall. Can't wait to rock these with my skinnies and retro inspired dresses. Just bought em'!

5). I love sprucing up our home with cute kitchen towels and these one's are too adorable. Love the black & white aesthetic + they're the perfect blend of modern/retro.

roasted green beans and tomatoes

When it comes to cooking, I've noticed there's a theme with me... easy & healthy! I had this super yummy dish for lunch yesterday and it was great. The green beans were bought from a local farmers market and the cherry tomatoes are from my in-laws garden. I decided to throw mine over some fried rice, however, I can imagine it going wonderfully with some mashed potatoes and grilled fish. Or if you're a vegetarian like me, you could easily add some grilled tofu to this side dish. Here's one of my absolute favourite recipes: Hoisin Grilled Tofu Recipe. Yum!

You'll need:

1 pound trimmed green beans
1 pint cherry tomatoes
Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Salt + freshly ground black pepper

Heat your oven to 450 degrees. You'll want to place an empty baking sheet on an upper rack. Coat beans and tomatoes with olive oil and season with salt & pepper. Now add your veggies to the hot baking sheet and let roast for about 20 - 25 minutes until caramelized. Serve as a side.

I found this recipe via the Food Network. Here's the original recipe: Roasted Beans and Tomatoes. 

what i wore

Outfit Details:

Sweater - Club Monaco

Skirt - c/o Cori Lynn

Bracelets - c/o Bauble Bar / Stella & Dot

Clutch & Heels - Aldo Shoes

Here & there we are starting to get a taste of fall... slightly cooler temperatures + we're enjoying that deliciously cool breeze. Perhaps it's the new season or the fact that I'm re-watching Mad Men, but I've been very drawn to more classic silhouettes and looks. This skirt which I received just over a week ago from Cori Lynn, has turned into such a lovely wardrobe addition. Like most new & beloved things, I've worn it non-stop. I've been pairing it with my favourite patterned silk blouses, denim jacket and my light knit sweaters.

Are you guys familiar with Cori Lynn's shop? You must stop by. This is my second skirt and I have to say the quality & craftsmanship are absolutely impeccable. What's more, all the clothes are made in the USA and support factories that employ ethical work practices. Really now, how fabulous is that?! xo

a late summer ocean-side date

This week has been undoubtedly clunky.

I say clunky because after having a week off, and having Martin home all summer (he's a teacher), I'm feeling, well, clunky. Getting back into my work routine hasn't been easy. Especially when everyday somehow ends up feeling like a Monday. Cruel, isn't it? And let me point out, the rain hasn't helped my predicament, at all!

But you know, I'm just going with it. There's no reason to fight such things. I'm finding comfort in my slightly longer lunch breaks. Usually, my nose is buried in a good book and I'm chowing down on my favourite curry, yam & tofu soup. Soup and books. Magically, they lift my tired spirits everytime. So, thank goodness for that.

On one of our days off, we took a lovely stroll to our favourite beach. Hence the photos. We were itching for sand, waves and some sun on our faces. Scout, the quirky guy that he is, ran into the water only a few times. He mostly prefers to stand at the foot of the ocean and bark at the dogs that are in fact brave enough to swim. Swimming envy? Who knows. We have yet to see our dog swim on his own accord. One day, one day, I'm sure.

Oh summer, I know we are all thinking it, but you will be greatly missed!

The only thing keeping me strong these days is the promise of fall shopping. My J.Crew and Zara online carts are well stocked. Bursting, really. But I know once the beauty of fall appears, I'll be swept away in all the season has to offer. I'm fickle that way. A girl of the moment, if you will. Winter though, winter I could do without. 

hello september

So, wow, it's September 3rd. Summer is flying by unbearably fast! Martin's back at work today (he's a teacher) but man oh man, did we ever have the most glorious week off. I think we went out almost every night: drove into the city, sampled new restaurants and finally checked out the Fairmont Pacific Rim + sat down for cocktails. We also visited with Gaby & her husband from This Little Port and I got to meet her daughter Clementine. Talk about baby fever, she's so precious!

While in the city, Martin & I had a moment and entertained moving back. I don't know, we're thinking about it. But honestly, I think we'd miss our vast green space, forested trails and ocean wayyyy too much. We'll see. If we do it, then we'd keep our current condo and just rent something for a year or two. Just cause, you know, sometimes it's fun to mix things up a bit.

This week there's also the promise of exercise. I've commit myself to: two runs, one yoga class, and one trip to the gym. Pray for me! Because usually my gym plans fall flat and I somehow end up watching another Netflix marathon and stuffing my face with cookies. It's bad, and I need to stop! At least they are vegan & gluten free. That must count for something, right?!... Haha, probably no.