Planning a Trip: Ireland at Christmas
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.
Our Engagement Story
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.
Decor Inspiration: Italy
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.
Decor Inspirations: Archways
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.
What to Do and What to Pack: Valencia, Spain in November
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.
Planning a Trip: Weekend in Ottawa in Winter
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.
Planning a Trip: Sauble Beach
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.
What to Do: Palm Springs in 2024
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.
Hosting: Galentine’s
Ladies, it's that time of year again! Valentine's Day is just around the corner, but who says it's only for couples? Galentine's Day, made popular by the beloved TV show Parks and Recreation, is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the love and friendship among your fellow gal pals. Hosting a Galentine's Day party can be a fun and memorable event that brings your girlfriends together for a night of laughter, bonding, and appreciation. Here are some tips on how to host a fabulous Galentine's Day party for the girls in your life.
January 2024 Inspirations
I don’t know about you, but I started off my year with my partner in Banff, and we did all the winter-y things while also making sure to be slow and intentional with our time. I also spent a couple hours putting together my vision for 2024, putting together a monthly look and then a year-long look at what I wanted to bring into my life and what I wanted to channel. I created one for January to start, with my inspo board here.
7 Spooky Things to do this October
Calgary, known for its stunning Rocky Mountain backdrop and vibrant cultural scene, transforms into a haven for all things spooky and spectacular come Halloween. I love Halloween. There is something about the season of Fall that invokes cozy vibes, and I love going to a pumpkin patch, cooking with pumpkins, watching Halloweentown (no scary movies for me this year), and doing all the cute fall things with friends and a significant other.
This year’s patio Gardening Setup
I love gardening. I’ve had a passion for keeping plants and tending to a garden on my patio or in a backyard for the last few years, and it only increased during the first year of the pandemic when I had not much to do, but tend to what I could.
I live in a hardiness zone 3b, which isn’t the greatest for growing, and you need to be more specific when planning to make sure things are successful and here are some tips on how to set up a garden in Zone 3b.
June Inspirations
June is the season of warm weather, growing plants, outdoor movies, outdoor markets and more. I’ve put together a few things that I love about June and a few things that are inspiring me.
Decor Inspirations: Paris Modern
I’ve been working with a friend of mine on redesigning her apartment and we’ve been going back and forth on Milanote. If you're looking to create a modern Parisian decor scheme, you can draw inspiration from the chic and sophisticated style that is synonymous with the City of Light. It’s a little difficult to accomplish in a small space, but here are some ways to incorporate that style into your space.
10 DIY’s to try this Weekend
It’s coming up a long weekend here, and if you are getting excited about new projects this spring and summer season, I have put together a few new DIY projects that you can try this weekend that range from an hour or two to a full weekend project.
10 Tips for First Time Buyers
I bought my first home last year, and its been an adventure on top of my health issues. It was a rough time to buy a home personally, but the market was pretty good and I made sure to educate myself ahead of time so that my experience was better. I’ve put together a few things that I found helpful and I’m glad I learned, but some I wish I had learned before starting the process.
2023 Decor Trends to try this Spring.
As we move into 2023, there are several exciting home decor trends to look out for. From bold colours to natural materials, these trends are sure to transform your home into a comfortable and stylish haven. Here are some of the top home decor trends for 2023.
What I learned in 2022
I’ve taken to skipping resolutions for the new year. I choose to look back at my year and think about all that happened and all that I learned. I also take a look at what I want to move forward with and release from my habits in the year ahead, and build new habits that become regular occurrence. Here are a few things that I learned in 2023 about myself.
Decor Inspirations: Scandi
Although my favourite style right now is Japandi, the origin of this style is Scandinavian. IKEA is the best example of this design style, and there is a reason people are drawn to clean lines, warm textiles and cozy accents.
Here are a five things that I use and how you can apply it to your space easily without needing to invest too much, and using what you already may have.
September Inspirations
September is one of my favourite times of the year. It tends to be a great balance of Summer weather and cooler nights. It also means that it’s the last chance to be on patios, get out on the water, harvest summer’s vegetables gardens and soak up the last bits of sunshine.
I always treat Sept 1 as more of a start to the new year, rather than January 31. I have a few things that I always do below that helps me start what I view as my new year on the right foot:
