blush + beautiful

A pretty pink bouquet (pale-pink garden roses, jasmine, and succulents) on a sunny Wednesday morning.



Bouquet via Martha Stewart Weddings

wedding film perfection

Never have I seen a wedding film that documents the love between two people so brilliantly. What a perfect day and sweet, sweet story.


If you are wondering why the wedding was so amazing, it is because the bride is Kathryn of Snippet & Ink. When a wedding blogger of her stature gets married, the results are magical...




Kathryn + Ryan's Wedding Film from Sandbox Love
on Vimeo via Snippet & Ink.

To be French.

As of late, I've found myself daydreaming of France. The food, the culture, the language, the architecture... I could go on + on. Ben and I plan to visit Europe next summer and France is at the top of my list. Until then, I'd love to read a few playful books about French women. I've done a bit of research and have narrowed my list down to the following four books. Have you read any of them? Would you make any suggestions?



Clockwise from top left: Women, Work & the Art of Savoir Faire by Mireille Guiliano; Parisian Chic by Ines de la Fressange; Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding her Inner French Girl by Debra Ollivier; The Gospel According to Coco Chanel: Life Lessons from the World's Most Elegant Woman by Karen Karbo.

portraits.

This collection of photos becomes even more beautiful after hearing this family's tragic and touching story.

Eden Lang (with the help of Kate Kunz) did a lovely job with the portraits of her beautiful children; they look amazing blown up + framed over the sofa. Stunning.



Photos by Eden Lang via You Are My Fave.

Sunday Snapshots

I heart Spring flowers, lazy afternoon naps, and storms that blow away to reveal rainbows + blue sky. life is good.

Spring Street Style

messy side pony + oversized watch + wide leg dark denim + classic white tee + blazer = perfection.



Photo by The Daybook, via Wit + Delight + A Cup of Jo.

Earth Hour Activities

It was so nice to spend time with Matt + Jen this weekend. We caught up by candlelight with red wine and scrabble. It was a lovely evening.






Did you celebrate Earth Hour?

Bridesmaids.

Could this movie look any funnier? Alas, Judd Apatow has done it again. PS: I want to be friends with Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph. that's all.





May 13th, folks. Mark it on your calendars.

Sidebar: May 13 just so happens to be one week before I head to Vegas with a collection of hilarious & fabulous women to celebrate Jennifer... the ideas are a'flowin.


Photo and preview via Bridesmaids.

Earth Hour & Weekend Fun

Friends, what are you doing this weekend? I am overly excited for our house guests to arrive. We have a weekend full of catching up, invitation crafting, wining, dining, and earth houring. What are your plans for Earth Hour? (Our plan is to play board & card games by candle light).

Happy Earth Hour Day. Make sure you turn your lights out from 8:30 - 9:30 tonight. Find out why, here.



Photo via Earth Hour.

love + lace

This collection of editorial-worthy wedding photos has me swooning. I adore the bride's vintage style (complete with pin curls) and the groom's dapper grey suit.

Don't they look smitten with each other?







Wedding photography at its finest. Polly Alexandre, you are amazing. Check out the rest of the collection for more beautifully intimate shots.

Classy & fun, altogether lovely.



Photos by Polly Alexandre via Once Wed.

Jordan Lawhead, When She Goes

A sweet song for your Wednesday morning. This song is best enjoyed in the sunlight with a cup of coffee.



hugs, C.

Samantha French

I am enamoured with Samantha French's work.




Never have I seen water reproduced so beautifully; nor have I been so instantly attracted to a collection of paintings. I would love an original; however, a large print is more within my price range at this time. These three prints are just several of many offered in her etsy shop + at Poppytalk handmade.


Aren't these colours fantastic?


Prints by Samantha French via Poppytalk + etsy.

Spring Trenches

I am inspired by all of the spring images I see circulating the Internet. Yes, Spring has come to many parts of the world. It has not yet reached the Interior of BC. We're still in snow-melting-everything-gross mode. That being said, the sun is shining which gives me the energy burst I need to get through the rest of the week welcome Spring with open arms.

Today, I'm lusting over preppy, nautical style. And trench coats.


A sleek up 'do and chic sunnies are the perfect accessories to a well styled trench and perfectly tailored pants.
She wears it well (via chictopia).


This trench has been on my 'want' list for quite some time. (No one does a trench coat quite like Burberry). These white skinnies are also pretty fantastic.
Maegan does it again...


The combination of Khaki + White with pops of Blue + Red never fails to capture my attention. The overall look is both classic and cool; perfect for Spring.



Photos via Chictopia + ... love Maegan.

Japan.

I cannot get these sounds and images out of my head. This country - still very much in peril - needs help.



There is just over a week left in the For Japan with Love initiative. Please visit Shelter Box to contribute to the amazing efforts of bloggers all over the world. This community of wonderful people ceases to amaze me.






For Japan with Love.

Inspiration, etc.

I have been dreaming of creating myself an inspiration board as of late. The likes of this one, will do nicely.


I love this desk and everything on it.

Do you have an inspiration space/ place/ board? How is it organized? Where is it?


Photo by Sara Svenningsrud via Residence + Scandinavian Chic.

Puppy Love.

Happy third Birthday Bauer, you beautiful, loveable, cuddly, hilarious creature. You make us laugh every day and brighten our world. Thank you for being awesome.

Big Love to you, Bubba.

Press Here.

Confession: I love children's books. Especially clever ones.

As soon as I read about the concept of Hervé Tullet's PRESS HERE on Poppytalk, I was hooked. So hooked, in fact, I started a list of the kiddos I can buy this for. (It is available on Amazon.ca, in case you were wondering)


The story is interactive, asking the reader to press, blow, and shake the book before turning the pages. All one needs to do is watch the faces of the children in the video to understand...





Photo + Video via Poppytalk.

For Japan with Love

I will be taking tomorrow off from blogging along side the amazing ladies of ever ours and utterly engaged and the increasing list of bloggers who are supporting this cause.

Tomorrow is the bloggers day of silence. Join us & help by making a donation to Shelterbox.

For more information please contact the organizers:
info@utterlyengaged.com and/or lydia@ever-ours.com

Thank you for organizing such a fantastic initiative, ladies. Bit-by-bit, we can make a difference together.


Image via For Japan with Love.

Help Japan.

I have taken almost a week to blog about Japan. I think I was initially waiting for the right words to come to me to describe the images, news coverage, and devastation that has plagued this country. The words haven't come and I have since realized that I may not be able to find these words for some time. And that's OK.

What I can do is find ways to HELP. And so can you.

There is community of bloggers that has pulled together to do some amazing things. Besides contributing to the relief efforts of the Red Cross and World Vision, we can purchase such thoughtful pieces as this print, created to raise funds and awareness for the relief efforts in Japan.



There is a minimum donation of $25, although you have the ability to donate more. 100% of the profits are going to the Red Cross. (Click here to visit the donation page).


Have you made a donation to Japan, yet? If so, how?

Prints & Photos via W+K Studio.

Pink Kisses.

There is something about pink lipstick that is just fun. I am particularly fond of this Clarins shade; it pairs so perfectly with a fresh face and clean up 'do.





Image via In Style.

Glasses Required.

Fact: I need a new pair of glasses. This is something I have put off for a long time simply due to the fact that I haven't wanted to venture into an eyeglass store and try on 18,000 pairs.

The more I browse, the more I fall in love with thick, black frames. I don't know if I'll be able to pull these off (à la Brooke & Summer of the Girls with Glasses Show) but I love them.


Do you have glasses? What is your favourite style to wear?



Glasses via Kate Spade, Ray-Ban, + Warby Parker.

Friday. At Last.

It's been (another) long week. Heading to Vancouver this weekend with a heavy heart, I am reminded that life is a precious gift. I hope you all take a moment out of your busy weekend to enjoy the quiet moments and relish the company of loved ones.

Why don't you...

• Whip up a sweet or a savoury treat.


• Organize your workspace.


• Arrange a Spring bouquet.


• Order a pair of fabulous boots.


• Read a good book... or re-arrange your book shelves.


• Toast to the weekend.


• Deck yourself out in yellow. I promise it will make you smile.

Photo by Ellen Rowles via style milk.

Up, Up, and Away...

This bright + colourful baby shower is just.too.fun. It would be the perfect shower theme for Ryan and Angie, who are modelling their nursery after the Pixar movie Up.

Oh, how I love balloons.






Photos via Oh Happy Day.

Lemon Bars

In keeping with today's citrus theme, I needed to share this recipe for one of my favourite desserts: Lemon Bars. The best almost Spring treat.



Images & Recipe via Kate Spade.

Lemon, Lime + Tangerine

I have been drawn to Spring colour palettes lately; this citrus-infused combination makes me smile.


I think this duvet set would look fantastic against the charcoal walls in our master bedroom; this sweet little pineapple sits on the window sill above my kitchen sink and it smells amazing; these fun ballet flats pack the perfect amount of neon punch for any classic outfit; Kate Spade does colour like Martha does cookies. This wallet is the perfect example.


What colour combination are you inspired by these days?

little girl love

A certain couple we know is expecting their first child.

I can't wait for this baby, affectionately known as Delilah (short story: mama + papa bird are keeping the baby's name under wraps so I gave their unborn daughter a pretty name for the interim), to be born... particularly so I can dress her in outfits from The Measure's Midsummer Nights Dream collection.




Not only are these outfits adorable, they are also ecologically sustainable: many of the pieces are made with 100% upcycled, repurposed men’s button-up shirts. With that I have to ask, when did little girl's clothing become more fabulous than women's?


Photos courtesy of The Measure via The Senses Five.

yer spring, hey rosetta!

Sweet sounds for a happy Wednesday morning. Who can't help but smile, it's almost spring after all!



hey rosetta! is a fantastic Canadian band that you should most definitely check out.

Old World Circus Wedding

If you haven't seen this beautiful wedding floating around in blogland, you owe it to yourself to pop over to JL Designs. Perhaps, it stems from my anticipation of the film adaptation of one of my favourite books; perhaps, it is my sheer love for anything vintage. In either event, I'm over the moon for everything about this wedding.





le sigh.




Photos by Gabriel Ryan Photographers via JL Designs.