we're heading to croatia...

Have you ever been to Croatia? We're hopping on a plane and heading there tomorrow!

We're crazy excited and cannot wait to spend a few weeks relaxing, island hopping and visiting with my extended family (it's been 5 years since we've seen them). I've been itching for this kind of vacation � the kind where you kick it all day at the beach, drink wine in the evening, and just straight chill. We may even throw in some meandering down cobblestone streets in search of bits of history or funky shops.

Our plan is to fly into Zagreb, visit my mom's side of the family in Bosnia for a few days and then head down to my birth island of Brac, where my dad's side lives, via the ferry in Split.  
We're going to spend a week on Brac (above) and then decide where else to go - maybe Dubrovnik, Hvar (below) or even Venice. We haven't entirely made up our minds, which is unusual and thrilling because I'm usually such a planner. 

Our ten-year-old niece Raissa is coming with us for part of the trip and we're also meeting up with my parents, who left for Bosnia last week. Should be fun as we've never travelled on a plane with a kid. Thankfully Rai's pretty awesome and we're looking forward to this bonding time with her (Scott's elated to have another English speaking person around since his Croatian is, um, a tad rusty).

I'll be sharing photos of our vacation on Instagram and Facebook, if you'd like to follow along. 

Have a wonderful three weeks, and see you at the end of August!

P.S. Can't wait to read this book on the plane and finally wear this dress. 

our secret to a happy marriage (that we've learned after 11 years)

Our 11th wedding anniversary was on June 21. 11 years! It feels longer, but in a good way. It probably comes as no surprise that I'm blogging about it a month later. Procrastination takes time (;

We celebrated with a chill "Dajo & Scott day." We visited the Old Strathcona Farmer's Market and picked up Frickin' Delights Donuts (a must! see picture below), took Lucy on a long walk in the river valley and strolled down Whyte Ave. window shopping. While on Whyte Ave. we passed by Meat, a bbq joint opened by the owners of the Next Act Pub. It looked like our kind of place so we immediately cancelled our reservations at our go-to fancy restaurant and went there instead. I'm so glad we did. The drinks were strong and the garlic fries, house-made pickles and fried chicken really hit the spot. Don't get me wrong, dressing up and having a night out on the town is great, but anniversaries don't have to include that to be wonderful. Better to let go of the notion of anniversary perfection and instead live in the moment. Spontaneity has a tendency to bring its friend "fun" along for the ride. Who doesn't love fun or pickles?!



Speaking of fun times, we visited Charleston for our anniversary last year and shared Our 10 for a Happy Marriage. It was a popular post (thanks for reading, kids!) so here's this year's marriage tip:

Scott and I have made it a habit to greet one another at the door after coming home from work (or running errands, etc). Those first few moments spent together set a positive tone for the evening. So if he's downstairs watching tv, he gets up and makes his way to the front door. And vice versa. It's one of the things I look most forward to at the end of a long day. Knowing that no matter what kind of day I've had, a friendly loving face is going to plant a big one on me and hug me as soon as I walk in the door (full disclosure: Lucy also plants big ones on me). This simple gesture also tells your partner you value them and they're more important than anything you might be doing at that moment (um, like scrolling through your IG or Facebook feed).

Just last week, I came home ragged and annoyed from my commute. It had taken me over an hour to get home (dang summer construction!) and I took my frustration out on Scott soon after he greeted me at the door. I quickly realized I was being a brat, so I left the house and closed the door behind me. I stood there for a few minutes and then knocked a couple of times. Scott opened the door and I asked, "Hi, can we start again?" And we did.

Try it. It's goofy and your partner may think you've lost your marbles, but I can guarantee from personal experience that it'll clear the air and probably make you both laugh.

I guess that's actually two tips. Let me know if you end up trying either of them! What little secrets and tips do you have for relationships? I'd love to hear.

Hope you're having a great week!

P.S. Yup, that's the outfit from my last post.

Fashion and a Guest

One doesn't need a petite cottage in the backyard to host a guest.  Just a comfy bed and a little space for some personal things.  My friend Karen is here for her yearly visit and I am over the moon.

We began exactly where we left off in conversation, we are so in sync.  But this year we also started with a bang and drove to Newport in fog as thick as mashed potatoes to hear a lecture on, what else?  Fashion.  Caroline Reynolds Milbank, author of "Resort Fashion" gave a marvelous talk about leisure fashion.  It was way too brief and although I loved the photographs on the screen, Karen and I both agreed Milbank's love of clothes was infectious and was worth the price of admission.

Later, we eschewed dinner out because of rain gusts and resumed our spots on the couch with tea and toast.  Naturally, the conversation turned to children who have left or are leaving, dreams and hopes for them and ourselves, and of course, what else?  Fashion.

I shyly told Karen that I've been admiring the style of Tricia Nixon Cox, who just saw her son off in marriage.  I described a pretty mother-of-the-bride dress based on Mrs. Cox's.  Within minutes Karen had it sketched out for me and I'm in awe - it's exactly what I was envisioning.  Right there.  On paper.

Today, Karen shyly asked me if she could stay another day.  We're just having so much fun, plotting, planning, dreaming and talking.  About what else?  Fashion!

~

Credit where credit is due:  This is a painting by the lovely Janet Hill...Janet, I love your artwork and if you want me to take it down, I will!  (http://janethillstudio.com/blog)

style: madewell from head to toe

I dig the laid-back chic of Madewell.

I discovered the retailer, J. Crew's affiliate, a few years ago but it wasn't until this year that I ordered a pair of leopard print flats (no breaking in needed), followed by a red dress from my spring wish list and then the Transport tote quickly followed. Yep, I'm wearing all three purchases above. If you didn't know I was a nerd before reading this post, you do now.

I've had my eye on this leather tote for over a year and finally decided to purchase it after seeing pictures of it all over Instagram recently when the hashtag #totewell took over my feed.

Like these ones...



My initials are discretely stamped on it (you can almost make them out in the first pic) and it fits everything I need and more including my lunch, books & umbrella. It's simple and neutral, goes well with all of my summer pieces and will transition well into the fall. I'm glad I finally took my own advice and invested a bit of money into a well made classic piece. I finally have a chic everyday bag I love!

Hope you're having a swell week! It's hot as heck in Edmonton and I'm loving every humid minute of it. It's a great excuse to make more of these.
_____________________
Denim jacket: J.Crew Factory 
Dress, shoes & bag: Madewell
Sunglasses: Joe Fresh
Necklace: wedding gift from my family in Bosnia
Ring & earrings: So Pretty Jewelry

this book kept me up all night...

I devoured Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn in one day (it kept me up until 3:35 a.m.). It was a bit dark and disturbing, but it was so engrossing I literally could not put it down. The suspenseful thriller tells the story of Nick and Amy Dunne, a pair of New Yorkers who relocate to his Midwest hometown after they both lose their writing jobs. On their 5th wedding anniversary, Amy mysteriously disappears and... cue the clever twists and turns! That morning, I couldn't stop telling Scott about it. Can't remember the last time I gushed that much about a book to him. Highly recommend! It's the perfect beach/plane/summer read. It was also number one on the NYTimes bestsellers list for eight weeks, so I might be the last person in the world to read it (have you?). 

Next, I'd like to read The History of Love by Nicole Krauss, Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, Wild by Cheryl Strayed and I�ve also heard great things about The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt - described as a "beautiful, stay-up-all-night and tell-all-your-friends triumph." Sounds intriguing!

Have you read anything good lately? Any recommendations? I'd love to hear...

P.S. Happily, I just stumbled upon these two websites, The Book Seer and What Should I Read Next?  You type in a book you like, and the site gives you recommendations for similar books.

(Photo of Audrey Hepburn via Awesome People Reading.)

There are Places I Remember

Of 356 students in my high school graduation class, over 100 attended our recent reunion, a milestone one.  I'm not sure of all the reasons why this class has stayed so tight but I suspect Facebook has something to do with it. Perhaps it was the special time and place we grew up too.  We had so much fun in school and at the reunion. The dedicated organizers rustled up plenty of enthusiasm online in the months before and it was quite a party which lasted all afternoon through nightfall, straight on to midnight.  We just seem to have so much to say to one another.

I'm amazed at how many times I was hugged and squeezed and how many times a classmate reached for my hand or draped an arm across my shoulders while we talked and moved in circles like an ever-changing human kaleidoscope.  I was deeply touched when a classmate sought me out to say that he had googled something related to our childhood and found my newspaper editorials about our collective experience.  Many of us had brought along school artifacts, newspaper clippings, and photographs.  I contributed my high school scrapbook which is filled with dried prom flowers, fabric scraps from dresses, notes passed in class by my best friend, and report cards.  It is an astonishing but warm rush to see an old photograph of oneself from long ago for the very first time.

I had a "moment" with more than one old friend.  I was able to tell a classmate some happy memories I had of her mother not knowing her mom had died recently.  With misty eyes she cupped my face in her hands and thanked me for giving her the precious gift of remembrance.  Another friend whose face I hadn't seen in forty years, met my eyes over the buffet table.  Our plates were quickly abandoned as we hugged and wept through smiles.  I was asked to guess the identity of one classmate.  As soon as he grinned and winked, I knew...our journeys had begun together, far beyond yesterday in a kindergarten classroom. Even the classmates who went before were honored with the quiet recitation of their names and it was truly heartrending. We never forget, this class.  

Not a single person was unkind or aloof - we were just so grateful to be able to spend some time with each other again. We talked about our children, grandchildren, careers, and places we've lived. Our memories overlapped and grew with each others' embellishments.  I was delighted when a friend remembered my grandparents.  Where else can one find such poignant familiarity, if not from a schoolday friend?

Someone who reads my Facebook posts jokingly told me that I need to get out of the 18th century.  I wouldn't mind doing 1974 again as long as they come too.  It was the best club I've ever known.  And in my life...I've loved them all.