weekend.

highlights of the weekend:

*saturday morning rise n shine yoga pretty much got my weekend off to the best start.  I was so busy over the holidays that yoga was on the back burner but it feels so good to get back into it.  last nights yoga for athletes kicked my butt.  I can definitely tell this riding my bike to school is really taking a toll on my quads and the yoga and running that I do is that much more challenging.  I'm sure with time this will pass as the commute to school on my little bicycle gets easier and easier.  saturday after yoga and spending some time with abby at the library, I laced up my runners for a 6k jog around westwood with anthem.  we did intervals- 10min run, 1 min walk and I found that worked really well for me.  having that 1 min to look forward to was great motivation and always seemed to come at the perfect time.  saturday ended just as lovely as it started with a pizza party and great company.


*sunday was FAB! first stop... shine cafe!

D and I have been patiently waiting to try this restaurant in victoria.  we have heard so many awesome things about all the delicious variations of eggs benny they have and it did not disappoint! we got up bright and early sunday to head down to vic before the sunday brunch rush started at shine.  my benny was loaded with veggies- avocado, tomato, spinach, onion, pepper- and topped with a chipotle hollandaise.  YUM!! my taste buds were content.  unfortunately, the other restaurant we had planned for our venture was closed for lunch :( hopefully we can make another trip soon to try some more victoria restaurants on our list.

*shop shop shop.  our other purpose of the victoria trip was to hit up mec and lululemon for some gear.  I needed lots of biking gear/accessories and D needed a few things for mountain biking as well.  we got some awesome loot! these are my two favourite items that I picked up... the rain pants, shoe covers and fenders weren't overly exciting but very useful!

this headband/toque/earwarmer thing is so awesome!!! I used it for my past two days of riding and it kept my ears and head nice and toasty which is great for these chilly days.  I also used it for my run today- definitely worth picking one of these up if you are out in the elements on a regular basis.  love the purple too :)

these lululemon no show running socks are fantastic.  D and I each got some. they have a little cushion that you can see on the back to protect your heel.  marvellous!

this weekend was a good one. now I am looking forward to celebrating my moms birthday tomorrow- woop! happy tuesday everyone.

weekend.

the definite highlight of my weekend was the 5k santa shuffle that I ran with the girls.  our team C-BAM (minus the C- we missed you court) rocked it out and had a great time.  now onto the times colonist 10k in april.  we ran the whole race together and stopped to walk only for a couple minutes.  definitely a success. this morning anthem and I had a nice 4k run bright and early.

other highlights of the weekend included:
*nice visit with the best parents ever.
*delicious crockpot soup.  I love coming home to a nice warm meal after a day at work.
*thai dinner with friends. D and I both decided to try something new and were not disappointed in the slightest.  I had a thai red curry with tofu and it was to die for.  the best part was totally the sweet sticky rice and thai custard for dessert.
*visitors at work- sunday morning D brought me a starbucks to work and then my mom came by to do some shopping.  makes for a great day :)
* this "milkshake" sooooo yummy.  that lasted all of about 30 seconds. my new favourite smoothie for sure.

so far this week has been enjoyable and productive. I enjoyed two lovely coffee dates yesterday, made some progress in the christmas gift department and also in the studying department.  planning on spending the day in the library tomorrow before a candlelight flow yoga class.

now off to pull out the christmas decorations and drink a little hot chocolate!
have a good night friends.

back to reality.

this weekend I was back to work and back to homework.  these past few days just flew by.. and went undocumented.  I haven't been overly interested in taking photos lately but I did snap a couple on friday...

aren't these flowers GORGEOUS? my mom and I each got a bouquet like this at the farmers market. so beautiful.  I just stare at them whenever I am home.

I also picked up zucchini, red peppers and cherry tomatoes at the farmers market to make veggie kabobs for our friends friday night.  I also made prawn kabobs with a simple lemon garlic marinade.  delicious!  all this time spent in the kitchen went undocumented as I mentioned.  we had a great time catching up with friends though and celebrating ash's birthday.

on friday I also received this adorable package in the mail..

I ordered a watch on etsy and she wrapped it up in a super cute box.  I love getting parcels in the mail :)

other weekend highlights included:
*dads birthday dinner- I love mexican food! and a nice walk on the waterfront with the fam
*a couple episodes of joy the baker podcast while I peeled shrimp, chopped veggies and folded laundry.
*banana pancakes for dinner
*a movie night with D- we watched love actually.  obviously, it was my turn to pick the movie :)

this heat lately has also been getting to me.  I hope it cools off this week so my house no longer feels like a sauna and I can actually exercise outside without having to get up really early.  that being said, I have been enjoying my morning runs with the girls.

hope everyone had a lovely weekend.
--m

etsy lovin'

aisle to aloha studio

yes teacher

moxiemandie

Meadow Tea

meggieslove

friday fun.

I took the day off work because I was feeling exhausted from a busy weekend and week.  I needed some time to rest and to catch up on lots of errands.  I did just that. after a little bit of a sleep-in, I picked up a couple groceries and headed to yoga.  after my 75 min class I was feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the rest of my errands.  had the chance to squeeze in a short visit with my parents, drop off D a brownie at work, and visit with my co-workers from my previous job! I miss them so much.  AND the best part ever- one of them invited me to join a book club! I am over the moon excited about that- I have always wanted to join one so I can't wait to get started! can't beat good books and lovely friends.

in other news.. one of my friends introduced me to podcasts a while back.  I started listening and was hooked! it is a nice switch up from music and makes the time fly if you have episodes that really interest you.  I have discussed yoga podcasts before and I absolutely adore them.  other podcasts I love are radiolab and this american life.  okay- it gets better! if any of you read joy the baker, then you will know about her awesome blog and how her posts always manage to make you laugh.  so I just discovered HER podcasts! totally awesome. check it out! I instantly downloaded them all and uploaded them to my iPod. love love love it.

finally, just some other eats from the week. I made a huge pot of soup using the mix pictured below.  it is a spicy thai soup that is really delicious! I simply used veggie broth and added lots of tofu and mushrooms and a squeeze of lemon juice when served.  I would have also added zucchini and broccoli if I had some.

doesn't look overly appetizing- but it sure satisfies the taste buds.

finally, I have heard this idea several times before and again last weekend when I was hanging out with the girls.  it is fake ice cream in a sense- simple blend up frozen bananas and they become fluffy and creamy like ice cream.  I tried it out and was pleasantly surprised! I would love to add berries or cookies to jazz it up next time!

pseudo ice cream

that's all for now! wishing everyone a great weekend!
if you are looking for some weekend recipe ideas- check out brooke's blog for her latest ideas.
--m

mothers day.

what a busy week and weekend!! after I got home from sea last monday I feel like all I have done is socialize! which I absolutely LOVE! I have had the chance to visit with all my family and friends and it has been amazing. I will miss them all over the next couple weeks.

so mothers day- I love celebrating mothers and fathers day! I really enjoy getting the chance to show my beautiful parents how much I appreciate them. and today was no exception!

mom and I spent the day in cedar. we started at the barton and leier gallery and gardens which was awesome! we picked up a couple good finds after strolling through the funky gardens. I bought a necklace and bought mom 2 really cute bowls! and mom got a beautiful painting! their work is so amazing.

from there we went to the cedar farmers market which I haven't been to before. it was amazing- lots of vendors that I have never seen before. so much delicious stuff there! we sampled some fresh sweet waffles, shortbread and veggie antipasto. what a treat! after going through all the different booths we went back to make our purchases. we each got a coconut bar of soap which I can't wait to use. mom got a loaf of jalapeno and cheddar sourdough bread and we picked up a couple sweet treats to share with dad and derek. mmmmm!

we ended the day with lunch at one of moms favourite spots, the crow and gate. we shared some wine and crab cakes. we made sure to visit the black swans in the pond just outside the pub. such a gorgeous spot.

a fabulous day!! had a short visit with dad after I dropped mom off and then headed to nanoose with derek, meg, tye and rhys to celebrate mothers day with derek's mom. when derek and I got home we organized a quick dinner of burgers(veggie in my case) and sweet potato fries. quick and easy!

what a great weekend! now I'm off for coffee with steff. can't wait to hear about her mexican adventures.

--m

early birthday present..

YAY!! it is allllll mine!!!

I absolutely love it- derek was going to paint it a light purple colour for me but I just couldn't wait to use it so for now I am going to leave it white! isn't she cute? I found this one on craigslist for quite cheap and it was brand new in the box- score! derek and I drove down to vic to pick it up. so so excited to finally have one- now the baking really begins.. :)

we were going to spend the day in vic but decided to just head home since we weren't feeling like dealing with the victoria parking and traffic. we made a short stop in cowichan bay to stretch our legs and get a treat from the bakery!

my treat: cheese whirl

mmm so yummy! the bakery there is amazing and they have a specialty local cheese shop and an amazing ice cream store. I could just spend my afternoon there eating!

hope everyone has a lovely week!

--m

hoodies and hot chocolate.

I just received this hoodie in the mail and I love it to death!! it is so funky and amazingly comfortable. and even better- D bought it for me :) check out this shop on etsy- she has amazing products.

another treat- nutella hot chocolate. enough said- I heart nutella. can't wait to make some other nutella treats soon- I stocked up and bought a huge jar this weekend. I found several great recipes on other blogs due to last saturday being world nutella day! how fantastic. now I can make the treats just in time for valentines day.

hope everyone has a great week.

--m

a scarf's story

my outfit: tee- american apparel,
jean jacket- h&m, scarf- kiliwatch

all my scarves have a different story.  some i love because of their design, some keep my warm on -50 winter days, and some are so versatile i wear them every week.  this one in particular reminds me of how i spent the best month of my entire life, in one of my favorite cities in the whole world, paris.

last june, i moved to paris for 6 weeks to attend school at the paris fashion institute.  travelling accross the world, by myself, was the most life-changing experience i have ever been through.  i met so many amazing friends, learned so much and got to experience it all -in one of the most amazing cities in the world.

so back to the scarf's story, one hot hot day myself and 5 other girls were trying to complete our weekly shopping assignments.  every week we were given a list stores that we had to locate, go into, and then write up a paragraph on regarding the interior, salespeople, merchandising, product etc.  sounds fun & easy?  not so much, when you have 30 to do in one +30 degree day.  kiliwatch was the last store on our list, and i could not wait to arrive, walk around for about 2 minutes, find a starbucks and hop on the metro home.  well when i arrived at kiliwatch i was pleasently surprised.

for those who don't know what kiliwatch is, it is a large vintage clothing store, that is arguably known as one of the best in the world.  and there is only one location: paris.

this store is nothing short of amazing.  hands down, the most organized vintage clothing store i have ever been in,  with the most amazing selection.  the biggest scarf collection, boots selection, party dresses from every decade to no end, hundreds of bags and thousands of clutches, watches made by anyone at anytime...like i said nothing short of amazing.

although the 6 of us were exhausted (working 5am at a fashion show that morning), dehydrated, decaffeinated and probably next to starving we took a good look around and at all the store had to offer.  i didn't have the energy to think about shopping, let alone trying something on.  so in the end, this scarf was the only thing i bought in this store.  in some ways that kinda disappoints me, that i didn't take advantage of this place, but i feel like buying this scarf will not only remind me of this store and my amazing month in paris every time i wear it, but remind me that paris and kiliwatch will always be there and waiting for me when i return.

*cA

newest shoe affair

twice in one week! my luck for finding great shoes keeps continuing.  while shopping at a great vintage/used clothing store in regina yesterday, i found this adorable vintage pair of vera wang flats.  it just goes to show, there are some amazing pieces waiting to be discovered everywhere, even in small cities!  and the best part of all... i paid $15 for them : )

*cA

a scarf's story

this pale pink, knitted scarf is the newest addition to my collection and definitely one of my favorites!  it's light material, solid & subtle color, and perfect length make it great for anytime of year.  it has an elastic throughout the entire length, so it can be worn bunchy or long.  my mom is usually very hesitant about picking out christmas presents that that i'll like, but i got to hand it to her; she did a pretty good job on this one.

rest of my outfit: flower headband- f21, tee- american apparel, leggings- joe fresh and my boots (newest find- $35 on clearance at the bay!)

*cA

new year; new resolutions

over my long break from blogging, i have put some serious thought into my new year's resolutions.  i wanted to make some good resolutions this year that are not only going to make me a better person, but force me to try new things, get out of my comfort zone a little bit and of course pick resolutions that make me excited to actually do.  so, here are a few of my resolutions:

1.  shop smarter.  i openly and admittingly have a terrible shopping problem.  i spend money on clothes, shoes and accessories like the world is ending tomorrow.  the worst part is that since most of my purchases are done on a whim, i only end up liking them for a short period of time, and realize way too soon that i really didn't need them and don't especially love them anymore.  my goal for the new year is too really think about every item before i buy it.  check out the quality, and make sure the item is going to last more then three wearings and washings.  and lastly,  ESPECIALLY decide if i REALLY need the item.

2. read more blogs.  there are SO many great blogs out there, and if you have the time to search, you can find some great blogs that you will love and look forward to reading everyday.  here are some i am recently hooked on: whitney port's blog.  this one is great and she touches on everything: fashion, beauty, travelling, cooking...and more. and she updates it several times a day.  simple lovely blog.  this one is written by a trendy mom, who not only touches on her adorable little girl, but gives great fashion and lifestyle articles too.  and lastly, adventure in fashion.  this blog is 100% based on fashion, and this girl has got some amazing style.  she is big into vintage, with a very cutesy flare, and is amazing at putting together some great outfits!

3. convince my parents that if i got a tattoo, the chances of me ending up in jail for murder are still the same without a tattoo.  my parents are the epiphany of traditional/stuck in the moment/non considerate grown-ups.  my parents actually believe that if i was to get a tattoo i would be a coke-head by the end of the week, gang affiliate by the end of the month, and mass murderer within 6 months.  i have tried for forever to convince them otherwise, but they are too stuck in their ways.  my goal this year is to somehow convince them otherwise, and have a tattoo while living in their house, which i have been told since day one WOULD NEVER HAPPEN.

wish me luck, especially on the last one :)

*cA

4 days til christmas: last minute christmas shopping!

time is defintely starting to run out.  and if you haven't finished your christmas shopping, you'd better hurry!  stores this week are trying to help everyone out, extending there hours and staying open late every night.  if you are still having trouble trying to find the perfect gift for someone, refer back to our gift ideas post!

happy christmas shopping everyone!

only 4 sleeps left!

---c&m

7 days til christmas: downtown shopping trip

when it comes to setting the christmas spirit and decorating for the holidays no one out does themselves quite like downtown shopping areas.  from christmas lights on trees, to the higher volume of shoppers, billboard gift ideas to giant mall christmas trees; the second you step foot on the street, you know exactly what time of year it is.  personally, one of my favorite things to do is check out window displays.  here are some photos i recently took on a downtown van shopping trip:

in addition to their a-mazing window displays, holt renfrew also has some great in-store displays for the holidays too!

we also happened to pass a group caroling through the stores!

happy christmas shopping!

*cA

12 days til christmas: gift ideas.

while we count down the last 12 days until christmas we will share something everyday to help get everyone ready for christmas & in the holiday spirit!

to kick off, we are giving our top picks for some great christmas gift ideas:

what better to warm up the holidays then a cozy knitted scarf.  we're particularly fans of this knitted eternity scarf from urban outfitters in nude.

$28 from urban outfitters

magazine subscription.  this website is great, it has EVERY magazine and yearly subscriptions are up to 95% off cover price!

buying for someone that has everything?  why not make a charitable donation.  our favorite charity is the humane society, they are always in need, and nothing makes us feel better than making more tails wage.  click here to find a shelter in your city or go to http://www.humanesociety.com/

starbucks giftcard.  even though they will be late to try the new holiday lattes, they will still appreciate a week or two’s worth of coffee on you!

for a personal gift- create a calendar.  check your local michaels store or any craft store to get a calendar template.  add your favourite photos to each month to make a calendar anyone would love!

on a budget? do a variety of christmas baking for someone.  visit a craft store for some fancy wrapping and packaging ideas.  they will surely appreciate the hard work and details!

---c&m

find the perfect christmas dress.

to help everyone deal with the stress and chaos december brings, forever 21 has made finding dresses for every occasion easy.  canada.forever21.com allows customers to search holiday dresses for work parties, family affairs & new years.  all you have to spend is $60, and shipping is FREE. plus, don’t forget to check out their great accessories to complete your look!  here are some great pieces i found:

1) cap sleeve harringbone dress $27.80 2) braided chain and rhinestone necklace $12.80 3) glamour pearl clutch $17.80 4) chiffon embellished dress $33.80 5) dita suedette heels 27.80 6) floral bodycon dress $17.80

*cA