Pillow Talk

I've been keeping my eye out for new throw pillows for my apartment. Etsy is so full of amazing artists and there are literally thousands of gorgeous pillows to choose from. 

So far I've just skimmed the surface, but here are a few that I absolutely fell in love with...

A pair of pear pillows by pillowhappy... these are simply too cute for words!

I adore the detail in these unique pillows from Little Whimsy Hollow. So sweet!

and I love these silkscreen printed cotton pillows by Joom

These fabulous patchwork pillows by a stitch in dye are so sweet. They remind me of growing up in the country. 

I love and want them all!

A bit of light and color for you Monday morning

The whole world, as we experience it visually, comes to us through the mystic realm of color.

~ Hans Hofmann

I hope you had a gorgeous weekend.

Happy Monday to you.

oxo

Simple Mornings, Simple Breakfasts

A ray of sunlight

a warm cup of tea

a wholesome breakfast of seeds & fruit.

I love simple mornings.

These breakfast granola bars are so yummy and so full of goodness & vitality. All that seed power will get you through the even craziest of work mornings.

Read on for the recipe...

Love and Memories

Today is our first year wedding anniversary. I can't believe how fast this year has gone by. 

I feel so lucky to have married such a caring, loving, beautiful man, who has also become my best friend in the entire world.  I am forever grateful. 

It is such an incredible feeling to know that you have someone beside you to go through life with. 

Today I am filled with love & memories.

photos by At First Sight Photography (Now Davina + Daniel)

Serenity and Calm and then some fun

Serenity & Calm
i am humbled by the lavender buds 
in my garden
...refreshing

my day was mayhem

but now it's the weekend

and i can breathe again

... breathe in serenity & calm

and I wish you all a peaceful evening.

And now that I'm feeling refreshed again... here are some fun links for your weekend!

oxo

• this just may be the cutest way to drink tea ever! Or should I say tee?
• Hoverboards finally exist!!!
• seedbomb vending machines
• Macaron heaven... I've been dreaming about a place like this all my life!
• I've mentioned over & over how much I love Taken by Trees.... here's a free download of the song Anna, remixed. 
• Speaking of music... I'm very excited for this album!
• ipad + velcro = brilliance....Creative ways to use the new ipad

Good morning, today is going to be a good day!

"How cunningly nature hides every wrinkle of her inconceivable antiquity under roses and violets and morning dew"

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

If I was a bird, this is where I'd live

Gorgeous handmade birdhouses from J Hannah, made from rustic recycled wood.

Montreal's own: Advika Ethical Clothing

Advika is a gorgeous ethical clothing line made here in Montreal.  

The fabrics are so soft and comfortable, and each piece can be worn in multiple ways. I have an Advika drawstring skirt that also works as a dress or a top. It is seriously one of my favourite clothing items that I own! 

The best part about Advika is that it is ethically produced and designed with sustainability as it's focus. Advika Clothing is made entirely from soy, bamboo, organic cotton & hemp.

Meet Jamie, the artist behind Advika. She is a beautiful soul, and a very old friend of mine. Jamie is one of the most charismatic and fun-loving people I have ever met. 

She puts so much love into all of her designs.... and you feel it when you wear one of her pieces.

I hope you check out her Etsy store, there is plenty more to see!

Re-use Design: Inhabitat's Spring Greening Contest

Inhabitat's annual Spring Greening Contest is going on right now and I'm completely blown away by the incredibly crafty homemade "re-use design" products that people have come up with.... they are just so darn creative & cool!

A burnt out light bulb turned plant pot/vase

A colourful shelf made of recycled National Geographic magazines

A pen holder/organizer made from paper rolls

A sandal made from cork board, chopsticks & dental floss 

...now tell me that's not unbelievably cool!?!

I heart Montreal's new bike path signs

Aren't they cute?!

There are so many cyclists in Montreal in the summer that it's sometimes harder to cross the bike path than it is the busy street!

My only pet peeve is that not enough people wear helmets. We have this incredible bike sharing program here (bixie bikes) but for obvious hygienic reasons, they don't provide helmets when you borrow a bicycle. Someone should definitely come up with a solution for this!

Another dinner on the balcony with my friend Jamie Oliver

Ok so Jamie O wasn't actually present on my balcony.... but his recipes were!
I had some day old baguette left over so I decided to try making Jamie Oliver's Italian Bread & Tomato Soup Recipe. That and a simple mache salad.... It was deeee-licious!

Shoe Crush: I'm in love with Seychelles Footwear

I bought my first pair of Seychelles sandals this weekend, and I am so happy that I did. They are incredibly well-designed and sooooo comfortable (not to mention, gorgeous too!)... and after just a few steps it becomes instantly evident that they are made with care and attention to detail. No blisters after wearing them constantly for 2 days!

The Promise of a New Day

Every moment is so full of potential.

We tend to underestimate our capacity for change.

Very Popular Fruit

Did you know that this is one of the most downloaded Shutterstock images of all time? I just read in a magazine that it has been downloaded over 10 million times... and that might have just been in the last 6 months! 

I find it interesting that millions of people can fall in love with the same image. 

What does this say about us?

At least it is a happy, vibrant image. 

I quite like it too, actually. 

Weekend Moments

It feels as though summer officially arrived in Montreal this weekend. The city was filled with tourists, everyone wore their flip flops and shorts and carried their iced caps... and by the look of things, you'd never guess this city suffered from 6 months of winter. Oh how we adjust to the warm weather so naturally.
Here are a few moments from my weekend...

I went out for a delicious brunch at one of my favourite breakfast restaurants, Cafe Souvenir

they bring your omelette over to your table in a mini frying pan and then slip it onto your plate. I always order their omelettes just for this reason.

I spent some time admiring the flowers, and I decided that yellow was my new favourite colour

... and later I changed my mind and decided it was pink.

I hosted a baby shower at my apartment for this girl

I had intense chocolate cravings, so I made mini chocolate macarons... and then I ate a bazillion of 'em

My husband was out of town for the weekend, and in the evenings I started to feel a bit lonely... but then I did some yoga and began to appreciate my alone time. I so easily forget how important this is.

Then I read a book, and called my mother, 

and I didn't feel alone anymore : )

I hope you have a wonderful start to your week.