California Coast-ing :: Honeymoon Count Down is On!

If you follow me on instagram you may have seen the announcement today - the countdown is officially ON!!! In ONE month, Jack and I will be heading to California for a two week honeymoon!

Confused? Don't be. Jack and I did, in fact, get married last summer. Instead of a honeymoon though, we opted to pack all of our worldly possessions into a u-haul, hook our swift to the back and move ourselves to Montreal. It was super fun. ...actually, it kind of was BUT there was no time, or budget, for a honeymoon after that.

We decided that being able to relax and enjoy ourselves was more important than the traditional, immediate post-wedding honeymoon so we hit pause and we saved. Saving was hard. We were in a new city. Everything cost so much. Moving your car to a new province costs SO MUCH. We needed to find work. We wanted to do all of the things and eat all of the food. We only did some of the things and ate most of the food.

And now, now we're ready. We have lovely friends in San Francisco and Los Angeles. We are hoping to take a day or two and drive along the coast. We are planning, scheming and strategizing but haven't nailed down anything final so suggestions are welcome - especially for sweet little inns, or lovely hotels with breathtaking views midway between the two cities. I can't wait to share more details as they come - this month is sure to better fly by!

hello, summer?

robbi & nikki dress - last year | etnies bomber - old [similar] | chucks | RUDSAK clutch [similar]
Stella & Dot necklace with derng bracelet attached

Ugh you guys. Seriously. Just... ugh. This past week we had a cold snap. I'm talking post-summer, pre-midterms, bundle-up-'cause-winter-is-coming cold. It's awful. I even saw someone wearing a puffer vest. A PUFFER VEST IN JULY. I don't even know what else to say except that my first Montreal winter may have scarred me. It seems that unless I am breathing a thick, humid air and am walking at a quarter of my usual pace so as to not become a puddle I will fear winter is around the corner. this is not healthy. 

In other news, I'm obsessed with my chucks and refuse to wear other footwear unless forced*... hope you like them too because they are on. re.peat!

*see workplace dress code 

festival bjorked!

 west 36th maxi [similar] | RUDSAK clutch [similar]

I purchased "pick 3" bracelets so Jack and I made the drive up the following Saturday to see Bjork! She was everything I dreamed and more. Completely amazing and definitely the highlight of Ottawa Blues Fest. GO SEE HER IMMEDIATELY!!!

I successfully avoided maxis for the past couple summers however this year I caught the bug. I went through a horrible month of trying on the wrong ones - too short, too hippie, too hippy, too fancy, too confusing - and then I found MILK, a small boutique in Ottawa, and fell in love. As happens with that which you want the most, there was a snag - my size was sold out. Savvy person that I am, I bought it anyway knowing I could have it altered. This has yet to happen as I refuse to part with it but I know one, cold day in October, the timing will be right and this dress will fit me perfectly just in time for summer 2014.

Life Lately :: Dinner by Food Truck...s

It doesn't get much better than endless days and warm nights... except when those nights are weeknights. There are few things I love more than stretching my lazy, hazy summer weekend in through the week. Sure I'm a little sleepier at the office each morning but that's what coffee and headphones are for.

 deep fried mac&cheese sticks // classic meatballs // lamb curry taco with apple // classic smoked grilled cheese
smoked meat sandwich on savoury donut, foie gras poutine, strawberry & cream donut // lemon ginger cotton candy

Jack and I usually hit up cheap movies on Tuesdays but this week we were lured away by the sweet smell of Buffoons Montreal... which is essentially just a congregation of Montreal Food Trucks at the Quartier des spectacles during Just for Laughs. After this Saturday, the trucks will disperse and it will be so. much. harder. to gorge myself so we took full advantage and then rode bixis home. An alternate title for this post could be "why I eat salad for lunch".

This week I'm linking up to Wild & Precious. Stop by and check out everyone else's life, lately!

festival style numero dos!

GAP vest | tiger graphic tee [similar] | black camisole [similar] | chucks | RUDSAK clutch [similar] | lifetime festival aviators

Cards on the table? This is practically the same outfit as my first festival ensemble. The vest, the chucks, the clutch - perfect festival go-tos and I shamelessly went with them. 

I wore this on our second day at the Ottawa Blues Fest when we saw the Joy Formidable, Wu-Tang Clan and Fun. Although it ended up raining for most of the evening, the summer heat kept us warm and the RBC Party Central seating kept us dry - gotta love random Avion perks! shout out to urbanebloc for hooking us up :) 

festival ready

GAP vest | H&M tank [similar] | Billabong skirt [similar] c/o West49 | RUDSAK clutch [similar] | chucks

I finally got to partake in this season's festival fashion over the last couple weekends when we attended the Ottawa Blues Fest for Jack's 30th birthday! As a 9-5 gal who leans more towards the classic than trendy I couldn't help get swept up in the excitement of festival style. It's the perfect chance to indulge my edgy, trendy side and take risks.

I wore this Day 1, when we saw Neko Case. It was perfect. The skirt and tank were perfect for taking advantage of the sun, the chucks kept me comfy and the vest, well the vest became a staple in my festival wear. It sheltered my shoulders when the sun became too much, was an extra layer to keep me warm at night and doubled as a seat for the grass - it's basically my new best friend.

Life Lately

Sometimes you just need a little break. Unplanned, unrehearsed and a complete disappearing act. I didn't even know it was needed until it happened. I should have seen it coming though; the last couple weeks have been kah-ray-zee.

I launched two new clients at work, helped my sister pack up her life to move to FINLAND, enjoyed our last couple weeks with her, planned and pulled off Jack's 30th birthday which included a surprise trip to the Ottawa Blues Fest for Neko Case and Wu-Tang Clan, and a SURPRISE visit from his amazing sister, Ruby (now coined the best thing ruby and sorren ever managed to do) and will wrap it all up this weekend with a Blues Fest repeat to see Bjork. 

I made the most of the warm festival days so once I make some time I'll share my festival-wear with you - a hint? I'm a big fan of chucks and my new denim vest.

Effortlessly Office

GAP sweater | Joe Fresh printed pants | Kenneth Cole wedges [similar] | Longchamps bag

As much as I love dresses [and the internet knows I do] sometimes I just need to switch it up. I actually own quite a few pairs of slacks but they just don't feel the way a dress does. A dress makes you feel effortlessly pretty, put together and comfortable. Slacks, well, choose the wrong top and you go from sharp to frump in under 2 seconds. and honestly, I have enough trouble pushing myself out the door to throw styling tops & bottoms into the mix.

These pants though... these pants make me feel like a dress does. AND because they're doing all the heavy lifting with that killer pattern all I have to do is grab one of my many black or white tops and toss it on. easy. peasy. 

oh! and, of course.....

* * * * * *

H a p p y   4 t h   o f   J u l y

(or as known in my house... the day before Jack's birthday :P)

to all my friends to the south.

Hope you have a lovely, relaxing, fun day filled with family, friends and tasty treats!

* * * * * *

red, white & maple

that's right folks, today was Canada Day. It was our first Canada Day in our new city and we celebrated with our best red & whites! Each year I rack my brain trying to put together a red and white outfit [I'm cool like that], this year I was so excited to rediscover this Sugarlips dress in my closet - nothing like a little sartorial patriotism. 

Today also happens to be Jack's and my date-iversary! We had a delicious anniversary brunch at Le Gros Jambon [sah good] and then wandered around the Old Port for the afternoon before meeting up with my sister to see White House Down - what better way to celebrate a cloudy Canada Day, eh? Top it off with burgers, drinks and a surprise Guinness man-cake [baked by my sister] to kick off Jack's birthday week and I'd call this day wrapped.