
When we got engaged last September, I was excited to start planning the wedding and celebrations I had dreamed of years and years ago. As we sat down to make a list of all the people we wanted to invite, I realized that my large guestlist wedding no longer made sense, but most of all because I felt I had turned around and all of a sudden close friendships had changed.
I had spent the last 10 years taking off for foreign lands, and long term trips and left my groups back in my hometown to continue on with their life.
I was no longer easy to get a hold of to hang out, I wasn’t always there for birthdays, I was gone and I had prioritized meeting new people, seeing new places and in essence, leaving them.
Here is what I have experienced in planning our next steps in life and how things have changed as I’ve grown up and made the choices I’ve made.
Transforming your home doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. With a little creativity and some smart planning, you can refresh your living space while staying within budget. After renting for 8 years, I’ve tried every tip i the book to make a space feel more like home, but here are some practical tips and ideas to breathe new life into your home without breaking the bank.
Interior design trends evolve year after year, but some styles emerge as timeless classics while others capture the moment. As we progress through 2025, several home design trends are gaining prominence, reflecting shifts in aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability. Here are five notable trends coming up.
Alan and I took off to Greece after we got engaged in the Fall and spent a few days in Oia on Santorini and then another few days on Milos before our last couple days in Athens. When I travel nowadays, I now like to look at the design styles that are prominent in the area and see how we can incorporate some of that design style into our home. Our master bathroom has been needing some TLC since I moved in, and its one room that still has traces of the builder-grade-grey, but also has been low priority. I’ve been wanting to center the room around Greek inspirations and having a few photos of our favourite spots in Greece.
When my partner and I got engaged, after the shellshock wore off (it’s real) I was incredibly happy to get to move into the next stage of our journey. I’ll never forget the proposal in Italy —the joy, the nerves, and the love that surrounded us when we told people. For us, this was the beginning of a journey not just to plan a wedding, but to celebrate our story.
Winter is the perfect season to host an intimate dinner party, filled with warmth, good food, and great company. The decor sets the mood for such gatherings, transforming your dining area into a cozy and magical space. Here are some DIY decor ideas to inspire your winter dinner party, along with tips for creating a welcoming ambiance.
Traveling to Europe in 2025 comes with its own set of must-haves, balancing classic needs with modern conveniences. Whether you’re exploring cities, countryside, or coastal areas, this updated list ensures you’re prepared, comfortable, and connected.
Paris in January offers a quieter, more romantic side of the city. With festive decorations lingering post-New Year, cozy cafes, and iconic landmarks glowing in the winter light, it’s the perfect destination for a long weekend escape. We spent a few cosy days after our 10 days in Ireland and here’s how to make the most of your Parisian adventure, including must-visit spots and seasonal highlights.
Living the life of your dreams starts with a clear vision, intentional actions, and a mindset rooted in possibility. Achieving your dream life isn’t about instant transformations but about cultivating habits, setting goals, and consistently working toward them. I love to create a vision board for the year ahead, and when I put one together in 2024 I really felt like it all happened. This year I updated mine and came up with a few more ideas as well as tangible goals for 2025.
Ireland in December offers a magical mix of festive cheer, cozy winter vibes, and stunning landscapes. From bustling Christmas markets to warm pubs with live music and hearty meals, it’s the perfect destination to soak up the holiday spirit. My fiance is Irish, and entire family lives in Ireland (theres a few scattered in various parts of Europe too), so we’re headed for our first Christmas together with his family.
This past summer, I was lucky enough to travel to Europe with my dad and brother. We managed to take two weeks off and explore Italy—more on that later—and visited all the must-see spots. Toward the end of our trip, my partner Alan flew out to meet us in Rome so that him and I could start a trip just the two of us. After a few hints had been dropped, little did I know that Alan had planned a surprise for us.
It is absolutely no secret that I am obsessed with Italy. I have been there three times, twice in the last 12 months, and am in love with everything, the culture, the design, the food (despite being gluten free). I’ve been hesitant to put together a how-to travel guide for Italy, because I wouldn’t even know where to start and how much I love it would only translate to scattered thoughts, but one thing that I am am to do is talk about Italy as a design and decor inspiration. I have been slowly but surely adding in touches of Italy into my home since I moved in.
Arches have been a cornerstone of architectural beauty for centuries, from the grand Roman aqueducts to intricate Moorish designs. In modern home design, arches can bring elegance, softness, and timeless appeal to interiors and exteriors alike. Whether you're renovating, building, or simply looking to refresh your space, incorporating arches into your home design can enhance both aesthetics and functionality.
My best friend and I hopped on a quick RyanAir flight last November to go check out Valencia for the weekend. We started off by Googling the warmest cities in November as we both wanted a warmer break from the day to day cold of Canada and the UK. I loved Spain when I went there back in 2014, and I was happy to be back and eating all the tapas and paella we could find. With such a quick trip though, we had a lot to squeeze in and we wanted to still have a rather laid back weekend.
Growing up in Canada, and actually being born in Ontario, the fact I had never been to Ottawa was crazy to me. So when my friend’s partner suggested skating on the Rideau Canal, I was in. I’m not the best skater, but I love to be on skates and feel a great sense of freedom in the fresh air. Since I’ve been trying to keep my trips to long weekends, and since it’s the dead of winter, I hopped on a plane on a Thursday morning and headed for Ottawa to meet up with friends.
2021 and 2022 I spent more time in Eastern Canada than I have since I lived there from Age 1-7. I managed to find cheap flights constantly, and was able to go out and see friends and family for DIY projects, concerts, road trips and surprises. One of the road trips that we took was to Sauble Beach in late September. Although beautiful, it was a little bit colder than we initially anticipated and our adventure included less pool time and more time exploring. I would go back in a heartbeat in a warmer month, but September wasn’t a bad time to explore the town while it was sleepy, and get to know The June Motel.
This is my third Palm Springs post, and it’s just because I love it so much. I’ve gone there with family, with a partner, myself and soon to be a couples trip, and still find a way to still have the best time. Whether it be hiking, biking, walking around, shopping or golfing, there is something for everyone, no matter what the season. I was there last year with my parents before hip surgery, and it was about 4 years since I was there with people other than family. I can’t wait to get back down there with our friends to show them all the things to love about PS.
Keep up to date.
Fourth and Ivy is a collection of lifestyle, design and travel content to inspire and encourage creativity and exploration of the world around you. I’m here to make is easy, from making and creating, to picking up and traveling around the world. I have lots of experience and I wanted to share it with you to help you on your own journey.
xo.
Check out my most popular posts and get inspired

Welcome to Fourth and Ivy.
I’ve been using this platform since I was 21 years old and fresh out of university. It became my outlet for sharing travel tips with friends, and has since grown into sharing my design inspirations, brand development work and my favourite places to go with the world. I have loved creating these guides and tips for readers that are looking for something to inspire them, because this is the type of content I always wanted to find. I wanted to know what to pack for a trip to NYC, or how to bring home my favourite Palm Springs aesthetic to my apartment in Canada. I wanted to know how to get from Thailand into Laos safely, and where to find the best backpacks for long term travel.
I hope you find something here that inspires you to get out and try something new; at home or out in the world, and a place you can use as a resource for the next time you need inspiration.
About Me

Palm Springs is the perfect spot for a bachelorette party with its mix of relaxation, adventure, and nightlife. My MOH planned out a weekend of fun for a few of my girlfriends and I am so excited to head for California this weekend. Palm Springs is a dream destination for a bachelorette party, combining relaxation, adventure, and nightlife into one unforgettable getaway. I’ve put together all the fun bride things I’m packing for the trip and the variety of weather we are going to experience down there between LA, Palm Springs and Joshua Tree.