What to Do and What to Pack: London England
I’ve been to London five times now, and every trip feels like a new adventure. This city has layers—history, culture, food, and character around every corner. Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, here’s a guide to making the most of London anytime of year: what to do, where to go, how to get around, and what to pack.
Lessons Learned from DIY-ing Our Wedding Decor
When we first started planning our wedding, I knew I wanted it to feel personal. Not just “pretty venue, pretty flowers” personal – but a wedding where you could see us in every single detail.
We dove in headfirst. And when I say “headfirst,” I mean our list was long. We stained own table runners, built a ceremony/reception backdrop, created a seating chart with custom limewash columns, put together a folding coffee bar, made signage, embossed napkins, designed menus, and even did custom name tags for our guests.
Looking back, it was a mix of wins, pivots, stressful late-night painting sessions, and so much pride when I finally saw it all come together. Here’s what I learned from DIY-ing our wedding decor — the highs, the lows, and the advice I wish I’d had when we started.
What to Do and What to Pack: Cascais, Portugal in the Fall
I spent a few days in Cascais a couple October’s ago, and it turned out to be exactly the break I needed. I went mainly for a yoga retreat but made time to explore the town and slow down. Here’s what I loved, what I’d do again, and some tips if you’re planning a trip including what to do, what to pack and a couple of hidden gems.
Bringing the World Home – How to Infuse Travel Aesthetics Into Your Space
For me, home is more than a physical space. It’s a reflection of where I’ve been and how I want to feel. And some of my favourite design moments have been inspired by my travels (Italy, Portugal, Palm Springs, Greece). Whether it’s a colour palette, a texture, or a small piece of pottery, these details carry stories and anchor me in intention.
6 Intentional Weekend Getaways from Calgary
One of the best parts about living in Calgary? Within just a few hours, you can shift from bustling city life to total stillness. Whether you’re craving mountains, meadows, or a cozy café in a small town, Alberta (and nearby B.C.) is packed with soul-nourishing escapes.
Here are six weekend getaway ideas—each offering its own kind of magic.
The 90 Day Wedding Checklist
If your brain is spinning trying to keep track of all the small wedding details — you’re not alone. This list helped me lay everything out and calm the chaos a little, and I hope it helps you too. Whether you’re DIYing your signage, sorting out songs for your first dance, or remembering things like packing a cake knife (so easy to forget!) — this checklist has your back.
Planning a Bachelorette: As the Bride in Palm Springs
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 we had the best time. We ended up spending a few more days in Joshua Tree after the weekend and went on hikes, day-tripped into Palm Springs again, hung out by the pool and had such a good time relaxing. Let’s be honest, the trip was go go go, but we certainly built in a lot of time to connect with nature.
Keeping in mind my bach weekend trip was all planned out by my MOH, here are a few other things that you can do when you’re in PS for your bachelorette if you’re more inclined for outdoors, going for drinks or just relaxing.
Wedding Planning: Packing for a Bachelorette
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.
How friendships change as you get older.
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.
How to Refresh Your Home Decor on a Budget
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.
Choosing our Wedding Theme
Choosing the theme and colors for our wedding was one of the first big steps in making our vision come to life. For us, it wasn’t just about picking pretty colors; it was about finding inspiration that emulated the wedding we wanted. It’s no secret we love Italy, and we would have loved to get married there as well. Even though it would have been cheaper for us to get married in Italy, it would have limited us in people and we would have had a very small guest list. We decided to get married in Alberta to make sure that as many of our friends and family were able to attend.
5 Interior Design Trends to Watch in 2025
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.
Decor Inspiration: Greece
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.
Going from Engagement to Planning
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.
DIY Decor Ideas for Hosting a Cozy Winter Dinner Party
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.
Top 10 Travel Essentials for European Travel in 2025
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.
A January Weekend in Paris
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.
New Year, New Vision Board
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.
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.
