my city is featured on design*sponge

Seeing Edmonton featured on Design*Sponge's City Guides today made me giddy. 

You can check out the comments section for some extra suggestions from me. I love this city so damn much I just had to get my two cents in. 

Not familiar with the City Guides? They're a super starting off point when researching travel destinations. I found the Charleston guide really helpful while planning our anniversary trip back in June. Now I need one for my trip to the motherland next summer!

Once you've read the Edmonton guide, I hope you'll consider visiting. We can hang out! 

style: 10 fall fashion finds

   

                                                                                                                                                               
1. Tippi sweater by J.Crew, 2. Wilfred scarf from Aritzia, 3. Necklace by J.Crew, 4. Cardigan by H&M,
5. Sweater from Old Navy, 6. Madewell leather-trim dress, 7. Tshirt from Aritzia, 8. Gap pleated leather skirt,
6. Bootie from Nine West, 9. Necklace by J. Crew, 10. Lola wallet from Chapters/Indigo.

Have you heard of the term schlurging? I read it in the tome that is the September issue of InStyle (716 pages of fall fashion!). It means you still get the urge to splurge on back-to-school clothes even if you haven't cracked open a school book in years, haha.

Strangely enough, I haven't really schlurged... yet. I did get the Lola wallet and this Anthropologie necklace is now mine, but that's about it so far. If you follow me on instagram you'll know that I tried on this beauty of a dress recently. And I walked away! Frankly, I'm showing some crazy good restraint, peeps.

What about you? Have you schlurged yet?

P.S. Eleventh on my list is anything from these crazy talented Canadian gals who get it right every time.

Valentine is pleased to present

Paintings and Sculptures

by  

Charlotte Becket 

and

 Emmy Mikelson

Opening 

Friday September 13 from 6-9

with drawings by Robert Egert.

This exhibit will run through Sunday October 6.

The gallery hours are Friday - Sunday from 1-6 and by appointment.

Valentine is located at 464 Seneca Ave Ridgewood NY

The L line at the DeKalb station

or the M Line at the Seneca station

Letting go of the past and beginning again

?~"Letting go of the past and beginning again, isn't forgetting the pain that was caused. It simply forgiving, moving on, living and loving again. To hold onto the hurt is to deprive yourself and someone else of a beautiful relationship.~ ?

house refresh: new table & rug

When Scott and I first bought our 1950s semi-bungalow, it was meant to be a stop-gap until we found our forever home. Eight years later, we're still happy living here, but that doesn�t change the fact that some of our rooms are in need of a refresh (including our 60 year old kitchen which needs either a miracle or Scott McGillivray).

We had already done a lot to the house in our eight years of ownership, but when it comes to older homes there always seems to be something that warrants your attention.

I started with our main floor sitting room which had been missing a coffee table for a while. I had moved an animal print ottoman into the foyer for us to perch on while we put on our shoes which left a gap in the room (fantastic for spontaneous dance parties but challenging when you want to serve snacks and drinks to company).

I knew I wanted a glass table as soon as I spied some in the homes of Style at Home editor, Erin McLaughlin and Sarah Milne of daffodil design (both pictured above). Although, Sarah�s Urban Barn Thilde table is no longer available (it�s been replaced with this), I was able to find a similar one at Structube for quite a bit less.

I like that the table adds a modern edge to the room and helps to showcase the gorgeous patterned rug I found at Home Sense. I love that place. Who doesn't really?

Now that the table and rug are off the list, it's on to these to dos:

Sitting room

Purchase coffee table, side table,  rug (dog friendly!), drapes & sofa (this one's nice)

Front door
Paint door, mailbox & light fixture, switch out house numbers

Front entry

Find wallpaper & light fixture

Foyer
Find light fixture & assemble gallery wall

Kitchen
Entire redo including floors, cabinets, countertops & window

Main floor bathroom
Gut job!

Master bedroom and dressing room
New windows, drapes (ordered sample fabrics from Tonic Living) 

Dining room
Find vintage brass bar cart, new art

Basement
Paint guest room & add gallery wall to main area

I'm hoping that by posting this list I'll be kept accountable and actually get things done. Because having lots of ideas swimming in my head is not really working out for me.

Let me know what you think of the table and rug!

p.s. Trying to make out what books are on the table? It's Domino: The Book of Decorating, Design*Sponge at Home and Home by Novogratz. I got the latter two for a steal at Home Sense!

jasper bound!

We�re heading to Jasper today on an adventure weekend in the mountains with our friends Ryan and Angela (sans kids & dogs!). We�re doing this and this and making plenty of these so it should be a lot of fun.

I�ll be posting pics on instagram and facebook over the next few days, if you�d like to follow along on our travels.

Happy Friday, friends!

(Photo via.)

eat: mixed berry pavlova

If you invite me over for dinner, there's a good chance I'll arrive wearing an Anthro dress with a pavlova in hand.

Truthfully, I haven't met a pavlova I haven't liked yet. And the Barefoot Contessa�s Mixed Berry Pavlova is no exception. It's one of the easiest desserts to make yet it elicits the most oohhs and aahhs. I made it for my dad's birthday last week and for my appearance on Come Dine with Me Canada.

If you do give this recipe a go, make sure your egg whites are at room temperature and that your bowls/egg beaters are squeaky-clean. It also helps to sprinkle some cornstarch on the parchment paper to prevent the meringue from sticking (I found this out the hard way!). And don't fret if your meringue cracks, the whipped cream and fruit will cover it.

The first time I tasted pavlova was during a trip to Australia a few years back (pre-blog). I took my first bite of marshmallow'y soft meringue, rich cream, kiwi and passion fruit and was instantly hooked. Now it's your turn!

p.s. I'm tackling this dessert next. It's always been one of my favs to eat. Now it's time to make it (: