Beautiful British Columbia

EVERYTHING B.C. + VANCOUVER
LAST OF SUMMER & THINGS LATELY

Summer days spent in British Columbia were memorable and magical. I felt so inspired and happy while I was there, even up to the very last moment. On the very last day of my vacation, grandma, dad and I went to explore West Vancouver and ended up at Ambleside Park at the Harmony Arts Festival.

Photo taken by dad

I re-visited the little secret community garden by the Pacific Ocean and I think, dad and I were both inspired to start painting again by watching this dad and daughter duo sit by the sea and paint.

At the art festival, I visited A Cagey Bee's booth and decided that I would buy some of her art prints. I first saw her work at Granville Island and was instantly taken by the Richie and Margot prints from The Royal Tenenbaums. I decided to get 'Ingrid and The Grey Bunny' and 'Beyond The Forest Edge' art prints for my kitchen. I ordered them online so they should be here in a week or so. I will find suitable whimsical frames for them and hang them up.

After the art festival, we decided to go to the Red Lion Bar & Grill before our bbq that evening. I had a salad and a quiche. Grandma had a salad and dad had apple pie.

Photos by dad

When we got home, we had a great feast of a bbq with trout and lot's of delicious salads that mum made and prepared.

Photos by dad

After dinner, Shaun and I embarked on a much needed walk.

It really was a perfect day

While I was in Vancouver, I also found the most adorable Herschel backpack with little woodland creatures on it and decided to get it for when we go on our hikes.

Currently inspired by taste of sara's beautiful photographs on her website and Instagram account.

 

I was actually so inspired that we ended up going to Whyte Cliff park after I saw her photographs.

My current projects consist of organizing fall outfits to sell at my local consignment stores and de-cluttering. I recommend this to anyone who has overflowing closets like me. Donating and selling your clothing, handbags and shoes is a great way to make extra room and a little bit of cash on the side. I plan to buy a new paint set with some of the extra money.

Things Lately

FRANCE. SOUTH OF FRANCE. PROVENCE.

It is no secret that I am, and as long as I could remember have been, a Francophile. I can never spend enough time in France and love returning. In the last year I have developed great interest in everything and anything to do with French cooking and the region of Provence in particular where I am planning on taking a culinary pilgrimage in the near future. This is in part to the many books I have read by Peter Mayle and of course, Julia Child. Some of my favourite books on the topic that I could read over & over have been these three...

 

THINGS I STILL PLAN TO DO THIS SUMMER...

• Watch movies under the stars & have a movie rooftop night
• Take the most scenic route home
• Expand our definition of getting out of town
• Museum hop on a hot day rainy day
• Sneak out early on more than one Friday

*Inspirations from the Kate Spade blog summer bucket list

PROJECTS. BOOKS. INSPIRATIONS.

I've been averaging at reading about three books per month lately (I love my Kindle and consider it a necessity on all the flights that I have been taking lately) but I am also inspired to take on many new projects. I have recently started painting again with watercolours and acrylics. I am also interested in mandala designs and healing crystals.

In The Heart of Bavaria

Being in Germany during the 2014 World Cup was simply amazing! I loved everything about my time in Munich, travelling the German countryside on the autobahn and visiting the different regions and cities. Of course we paid visits to the many beer halls and beer gardens, including the most popular & famous Hofbraeuhaus.

Olds meets modern

Intermission at the Munich Opera

The font on this building reminded me of Wes Anderson's style

 A true hidden treasure

 I loved the architecture 

This plaza reminded me of Brussels

Game day

In The Heart of Bohemia

Prague you did not disappoint. On our first night in the city, we were surrounded by some of my favourite things: books, music and wine. 

I wish to highlight two "secret" places that we came across during our time in Prague. The first one is ranked as one of the fifteen most spectacular hotel rooftop views in the world and the second one is a secret garden located in the heart of the city. The rooftop was recommended to us and it is located at the top of the five star Hotel U Prince. 

The secret garden of the Prague Senate is also written about on this blog with the exact location on how to find it and it is funny that without knowing that the blog existed when we found the garden, I took similar photographs and also saw the white peacock.

The first time I have ever seen a pure white peacock ~ simply gorgeous 

Two of my favourite things