Your 3 day weekend guide to Palm Springs →

Palm Springs has always been a go-to destination for me. With the help of Coachella and Kris Jenner’s weekend home there, it has redefined itself as not only for snowbirds and golfers but an ideal weekend for lovers, pals or a family vacation (a pool in the backyard is never a bad idea).

Why I love Palm Springs; it is a quick 2.5 hour flight from Vancouver (or usually has a direct flight from most major cities), can be visited year round (depending how how much heat you like), offers a plethora of restaurant choices, great accommodations and could be walked or cruised through on a bike.

This last trip was birthday motivated and I knew I wanted to eat and drink well, soak up plenty of pool time and take in a show (more on that later). I challenged myself to go to all new places, an old soul needs to get out of her comfort zone from time to time. Naturally I turned to my go-to eater.com for inspiration as a starting point. It ended up being a great weekend in the heart of Palm Springs with no rental car necessary and a light enough itinerary to enjoy a siesta and a few games of ping pong.

Where to stay:

We went to a boutique hotel for this trip and stayed at the Avalon Hotel and couldn’t be more impressed. Only an 8 minute drive from the airport and you were welcomed by bright yellow doors into a mid modern space and the most helpful staff. We were greeted with a glass of bubs and happy birthday from the manager who was genuinely excited we were spending our celebrations with them. The multiple pools, complimentary cruiser bikes, poolside restaurant (Chi Chi), room views and central location made it the perfect place to spend the weekend.

Where to eat:

A 3 day weekend means you don’t have the luxury of wasting a bad meal - I’m usually a fan of the brunch and dinner only sprinkled in with poolside snacks and a happy hour to tide you over. Excited to share my new go to spots in Palm Springs (but still appreciate the OG’s from this post a few years ago).

Del Rey : a sexy spot with small tables and small plates. Nestled in the Villa Royale hotel you find this tapas bar past the pool behind a few unsuspecting doors and are met with low lighting and iconic art from past patrons (think Marilyn, Dean, Frank and Lauren (Bacall not me)). Ask what the specials are but don’t miss out on the steak, cauliflower and beet salad.

King’s Highway Diner: found in the ever trendy Ace hotel, you are transported back with the retro aesthetic almost feeling like the diner in Pulp Fiction. The portions are hearty and offers an all day menu so you don’t need to worry about an early wake up call to get your breakfast burrito fix. Fun fact: tater tots in burritos are thing in Palm Springs and we weren’t mad about it.

Workshop Kitchen + Bar: i loved this restaurant. A juxtaposition to the rest of Palm Springs mid modern vibe; in this space you walk into a concrete forward space with industrial lighting and a long shared table. The staff is outstanding and truly love what they do. There wasn’t a dish we didn’t like but a few standouts were: the melon & burrata salad, duck fried rice, goat cheese pierogi and the steak. Go here!

1501 Uptown Gastropub: found a bit outside of downtown, this spot was ideal for Sunday brunch and a hair of the dog. Ranked as a diner’s choice, I would describe this place as solid and consistent (she says after going there once). Something for everyone and a cute outdoor space.

Melyvn’s: located in the Avalon’s sister hotel, the Ingleside Inn, Melyvn’s offers both bar and restaurant dining that will suit whatever you’re looking for. We opted for the bar to enjoy the live music and ambiance. You could wear a black revenge dress or a baseball hat here and not feel out of place - definitely my vibe. Order a dirty martini and the burger.

Where to go for the best night out:

More Kardashian inspiration, I was influenced by a recent trip they took to Toucans Tiki Lounge & Cabaret where it looked like it might have been the greatest night of their lives. Tickets are cheap and cheerful and there are no shortages of $1 bills at the bar. I’d recommend booking a reservation in advance to secure the best seating (aka the splash zone). We lucked out the night we went as it was Disney Drag and the energy Cruella, Ariel and the rest of the cast brought had you throwing up dollar bills like you just didn’t care. The light roasting of the crowd kept the audience in constant laughter and even included photo ops after the show. It was my first time here but will be added to the roster of must do places to visit when I go back to Palm Springs.

Needless to say, trying all new places to stay, eat and do paid off. I had the best weekend with the girls and hope I’ve inspired you to try some new places or experiences.

Would love to know if I’ve missed any of your favourite spots?! Leave me a comment, I’ll do the hard leg work and go back to research.

Until next time,

xx

LC

A Time In Turin; the Paris of Italy

When my client said their office was in Turin, Italy and that they’d need me to come onsite, I smiled and nodded in the video conference and immediately had to look up where this place was! It sounded familiar and the reason being was the Winter Olympics were hosted there in 2006 before Vancouver - IT WAS ALL COMING TOGETHER. Not really but upon further research I found this place is the capital of Piedmont: famous for its cuisine, architecture and some neighbouring delicious wine regions (Barolo and Barbaresco to name a few.) I have loved all the other places I’ve traveled in Italy so I was excited to knock another place off my list and see what really made this place Paris-like.

The office we were visiting was outside of the city center which required a car rental, which meant I got to drive in Europe and the void in my life of driving stick would be filled - what can I say, put me behind a wheel in the small side streets in Europe and I turn into Jason Bourne. In all honestly though, I drive aggressive and fast (I’m told) but I quickly learned the way to get by driving in Italy is being confident and to only loosely follow the street signs.

I wanted to be in the city so we could enjoy our non working hours as much as possible - we stayed in an adorable Air BnB central to great restaurants, a market across the street and short jaunt to the nearest river and row of bridges - it’s Europe after all, that’s a staple in every city.

What we did

Arriving on Sundays in Europe is always good and bad - primarily because very little is open. But we made sure to have a plan to fight the jet leg when we arrived and that was the The National Museum of Cinema. I immediately fell in love. It’s housed inside the Mole Antonelliana tower - a famous landmark Turin is known for (so checking two things off the list!). The museum was started in 2008 and has quickly become one of the most popular museums in Turin. It showcases the history and evolution of film through cinematographic devices, light boxes, movie posters, artwork, film reels and movie books. In the center there are loungers you can watch movies on a big screen (Breakfast at Tiffany’s was playing - for me, I imagine) and walk the circumference of 5 levels looking at film from movies, to music videos to live concerts and short films. My love of film made this such a special memory - I’d highly recommend it!

We also visited the Museo Egizio which interestingly enough is the oldest museum that is devoted entirely to ancient Egyptian culture. Found in the city center, it was probably one of the most beautiful museums I’ve ever been to. There is A LOT to get through, not Louvre level but we opted for the 1.5 self guided tour and I felt it captured just the right amount of history in between my coffee stops. The level of detail that went into the design of the tombs was incredible; we learned how the tombs were buried with food, wine and water to help them through their travels into the after life. I would definitely visit again given the opportunity.

Turin is also home to a plethora of piazzos. A piazza: defined as a central plaza or marketplace and most commonly found in small Italian towns. I dragged my colleague to the Piazzo San Carlo which was 30 minutes in the wrong direction we were going, while also ruining a new pair of heels - stilettos are not friendly to the cobblestone streets. Regardless, we both appreciated the illuminated piazzo that was filled with surrounding shops (30% gelato), kids running around and a few photo ops. 

Where we ate

Eataly (derived from the words EAT and ITALY): Our Air BnB hosts recommendation, I was surprised to learn you can find Eataly’s all over the world including New York, Boston, LA, Chicago etc. Eataly started with the idea of one place for people to eat, shop and learn about delicious food. You could pick out your food fresh to be cooked and then wander the store sampling all the cheese, cannelloni, and then visit the wine cellar to get a bit tipsy.

Laleo: A great option for brunch on the weekends but we enjoyed a lovely lunch on their patio. Found in a quiet neighbourhood with surrounding businesses, but you can immediately tell it’s a local favourite and the food is prepared from scratch with love. The women walked us through the menu making recommendations and genuinely wanted us to enjoy the meal - we went with a few items but the stand out choice was definitely the “Golden One” which was kind of like a rissotto rice ball? That’s probably butchering the description but just order it.

Il Camaleonte Piola: Another small, warm and welcoming spot with a limited Italian menu featuring only what’s fresh for the season. The anti pasto misto as a starter was delicious and I couldn’t tell you the rest of what we ordered because we were told what ‘Nonna’ had made that day and trusted our server to deliver - probably some of the freshest pasta I’ve ever eaten. (Note: these small hole in the wall places typically only take cash so be prepared!).

Other notable food restaurants to try is Tre Galline: almost every blog mentioned this place and my plan of rolling in with no reservation did not get us anywhere. Book ahead! I’ll be back.

THE COFFEE

Caffe Al Bicerin: Last but certainly not least is this cafe. It is an integral part of Turin’s history and has been around for 256 years - YES, 256 YEARS. Known for their large selection of chocolates, coffees and the infamous Bicerin drink which is served in a tall glass made up of coffee, chocolate, milk and syrup (see photo below). This cafe can be found across from the Sanctuary of the Consolata which meant that Al Bicerin was the place to be after church let out. Another fun fact I learned about this cafe was that while it was owned by a man it was actually managed by women during a time when cafes were intended to be exclusive for men and not “suitable” for women. Under this female leadership it allowed for women to feel comfortable and safe which is admirable, not to mention the ladies of Al Bicerin were known in the community for caring for homeless - pretty bad ass women if you as me. We couldn’t take the coffee home but we took all the biscotti.

The Views

Santa Maria del Monte: One of the most famous spots in Turin to get a great view of the Mole Antonelliana and mountains on a clear day. You’re able to drive up to this look out (I’d recommend strong skills in navigating first gear in a car at a steep incline), otherwise you can walk up. You can walk through the church as well as admire the statua della madonna over looking the city.

While we didn’t see all the things Turin (Torino to the locals), it still spoke to my soul as most European cities do. It’s quiet but still has a genuine energy to it - markets filled with locals and few tourists, buildings thousands of years old still cared for like new and businesses run with the integrity of the generations before they could have inherited from their family.

I’ll be back Turin, and I think maybe, just like Paris - you will always be a good idea.

Where is your favourite place to travel in Italy? I don’t think I’ll ever tire of that country!

xx

LC

How I Found my Start Up Style

In honour of Vancouver recently hosting start up week, it got me thinking about my career in the start up world over the last 2.5 years with Procurify. That led me to begin thinking about how I’ve evolved, not only with my experience and skill set, but truly understanding what it’s like to be invested so whole heartedly into a company’s future and having a hand in help building it.

A common theme among the start up world is that “the people make the company” - and I’m going to jump on the bandwagon and completely agree. I think the most unique thing about the community is that people can come from all different backgrounds and contribute in individual, imaginative and collaborative ways.

When I first started in the start up world, I wasn’t sure or confident how I’d fit in. If you’ve read any of my other posts, I’m constantly talking about how I’m an old soul; you won’t be surprised that I’ve coined the nickname ‘Mama’ since almost day 1 at Procurify. My team promises it’s not because they think I’m ancient - it could be just my maternal instincts or occasional baking? Regardless, my past jobs were far from the open concept, Silicon Valley sitcom, dog friendly office setting and this was completely new to me.

I’ve always felt more comfortable and confident in work attire: as the Elizabeth Taylor quote goes, “Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick and pull yourself together”. Ok, I’m not having a scotch with breakfast or anything, but when I put on my uniform of a pencil skirt, pumps or blazer, it gives me the boost I need to tackle the day, lead the meeting or deal with the angry customer. I was worried I’d have to forgo that uniform in the start up, casual-trendy world and that made me a bit nervous.

However, what I quickly learned is that the beauty of no dress code allowed every person to express themselves in their own individual way on any particular day. Some adopted a “full tuck Friday” look, some prefer to opt for athlesiure and slippers and some in 5 inch heels. The beauty of this is that not only is your own style encouraged, but it’s accepted and embraced without judgement and usually with a compliment down the hall.

The thing I love about fashion is that it is an expression or extension of that person, and it doesn’t have to be a commitment to a particular style but can evolve with age, surroundings, your city and most importantly what makes you feel your very best on that day. While I may opt for a more professional look on most days, I have embraced mixing up my style with denim, baseball hats and leopard in the office, which hopefully makes my team think of me like a hip, cool mom?

I’ll leave you with a quote I just read, “Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life.”

So, what’s your armor today? I’d love to know your favourite look!

xx

LC

What does a wedding day-of coordinator actually do?

I've been a freelance wedding day-of coordinator for almost 5 years now and, while some have heard of this title, I often get the question, "So what do you actually do? Are you a wedding planner?" And even though I'd dreamed of becoming Jennifer Lopez from the movie 'The Wedding Planner' and marrying Matthew McConaughey - the answer is no, I'm not a wedding planner (nor have I found my Matthew McConaughey). 

A day-of coordinator is the person who ensures the vision of your wedding is executed - leaving you and your loved ones with no stress on your actual wedding day, which enables you to enjoy the months (or years) you spent planning it! Most commonly, as a day of coordinator, I will work with couples a few months in advance of their wedding to outline a detailed timeline of the day itself, understand the wedding theme and the vibe you're going for and establish myself as the point of contact for the venue and vendors on the actual day.

A DOC is more than decor set up and take down: it's the person that will shoulder the stresses of the day as well as deal with any uncontrollable surprises that may come up. I pride myself on the mantra of "figure it out" and work to earn the trust of the couple to make sure they feel confident with handing me that power and responsibility. We all know that regardless of all the planning you can do, unforeseen things can happen and, even if you have the most helpful aunts in the world, the last thing you want them to be doing on your wedding day is a late night ice or booze run, clearing plates when the servers go MIA or dealing the catering team on the shortage of bacon at brunch. 

I work with every couple to determine how I can be of most value on the day or leading up to it. I love bouncing ideas about flowers, decor, when the parents should give their toast or the general timeline for the day. I come equipped to my weddings with a full "emergency kit": think sewing supplies, tide to go, clothes pins, a glue gun and more often than not my parents, who act as my lovely assistants. I will be the first on site at the venue and can help with take down if you need. Every wedding is unique and special in its own way and that's how I cater my services. 

I truly love weddings and I love actually giving a couple the ability to enjoy their day to the fullest and have the best memories of their day. I hope I've given you some more insight into what a day-of coordinator actually does but if you have any more questions please get in touch! You can also read more from the amazing couples I've worked with in the past here.
 

And to quote the movie 'The Wedding Planner': "Love can't always be perfect, love is just love". This quote also applies to weddings: rain may pour, the cake may melt or the power may go out, but at the end of the day you're married to your person and you got to do it in front of your favourite people (I know, I'm making myself roll my eyes). 

xx

LC

How I Raised the Barre in my Fitness Routine

I have been in a huge fitness rut for the last 5 years. I grew up playing sports and have been going to the gym for years, but I found it boring. I'd go through the motions and sure, I'd feel better after I was done, but I wasn't getting the return on the hours I logged at the gym. It felt like huge waste of time (and $$!) and I knew I needed a change - not only in my day to day but in my overall mindset. 

Barre workouts have been gaining momentum over the last few years with lots of studios popping up around town, but I'd never thought much of it. I've done ballet growing up and learned and executed: excellent posture, how to do a perfect bun and a fear of tripping and falling into a wall (resulting in a goose egg bump (true story)). As an adult, ballet never seemed to fit into my schedule.

I've driven by The Dailey Method so many times, always looking up at the window that proudly states: 'LONGER, LEANER, STRONGER'.  I decided my fitness rut needed to end and took up their new client unlimited month promotion - because why not! The schedule had both barre and cycle classes which I liked but I was concerned barre classes wasn't going to be enough to get my calorie burn in. I was very wrong.

Often when I'm at the gym - sometimes at boutique studios - I feel so uncomfortable from the second I walk in, paranoid everyone can tell I'm new. I don't know what I'm doing and I'm tempted to turn and walk out. I'm also not the girl with the cutest workout outfits and far from a "perfect" body and, in a city like Vancouver, where there are beautiful women at every corner, it's so intimidating I'd almost rather stay home. 

The Daily Method was different. I felt completely comfortable as soon as I walked in, the rooms are bright and calming; the teachers greet the regulars by name and are sure to seek out anyone new to make sure they're set up for their practice and feel comfortable. It's these humanized touches that put me at ease. There are all ages and sizes in the classes which make it a great and welcoming dynamic.  

During the class, the teachers make it a point to use everyone's name and provide encouragement throughout class. Not only does it motivate you but it also builds your confidence to continue to challenge yourself outside your comfort zone. They recite: "listen to your body first and the teacher's voice second." When the teacher tells you the plank you're holding is working 650 muscles (!!) you think to yourself, "I'm pretty impressed with myself" and tough it out for the last 30 seconds. I'm also guilty of staring at clocks during gym classes or on the treadmill, curious how time could feel like it's actually moving backwards... In The Dailey Method classes there is no clock to even distract you. 

One of the biggest things I took away from going to the Dailey Method (almost everyday for the first month!), was the fact that I wanted to go everyday - not because I was obsessed with burning X amount of calories -  but because I craved the way I felt when I was done. Every class I left feeling a little bit stronger; I could feel my body responding to this new routine: I held the plank for longer and I could complete the push up sequence without using my knees! Don't get me wrong, I also left with shaky legs, incredibly sore muscles and dripping sweat. But I was completely hooked. I kept coming back for the mental break from the world. It's my favourite way to start or end my day.

I think I've found the cure for my fitness rut - and I'm addicted. This is one barre that never gets old.

Go outside your comfort zone, try something new! 

xx

LC

All photos taken by the talented @thehappyjess 

Monday to Friday Meals That Won't Break The Bank

The New Year, it comes along with so much optimism but it also comes along with that Christmas Visa bill and perhaps increased property taxes. Regardless of the reason, you may be looking to save a few pennies this time of year. I've found the biggest cost saver to be home cooking.  Not only do you save money, you likely eat healthier and get into the habit of always having groceries in your house. Those days of opening an empty fridge and hoping the condiments make some sort of edible meal... 

Preparation is the first step; it's inevitable and annoying. Really, I get it. Spending an hour at the grocery store is less than ideal way to spend the weekend but I've found that if you go in with a list you can be in and out way quicker than every other day pop in (which I used to do!). Living alone I usually didn't like to make huge meals and eat the same thing for 5 days but I've mastered ways to stretch my groceries and get creative. 

Some tips I find helpful with meal planning:

• Pinterest: Get creative with some dishes and try something new, chances are if you're excited to eat the dish, you'll be more motivated to stay on track. If there is an ingredient you like to cook with, search and go from there (example, ground turkey). If something has been pinned 30,000 times, you've likely got a winner. Next, look at the ingredient list. If you're starting off and don't have a stocked pantry, I wouldn't jump into Jaime Oliver's 40 ingredient curry right away... look at what you already have and what you need.
• After The Recipes, Comes The List: All of the groceries you need to make for your recipes, make sure you're thinking for the whole week not just Monday and Tuesday. By Wednesday you'll be out of groceries, hangry, and find yourself at the nearest Subway. 
• Shop in Season: I love fresh berries as much as the next person but I'm not going to be buying $10 worth of blueberries in the dead of winter. Winter means time for warms salads, soup, chili, roasted veggies, and etc. Squash is one of my favourite foods and I love to cook with them, you can try so many different flavours with fresh herbs. 
• Multi-use Ingredients: Chicken is an easy and great example. Buying chicken breasts and cooking them in a batch on a Sunday means you'll have them ready to go at a moments notice! Chicken Fajita Salad or a Curry is a quick and easy meal at the end of the day. Another favourite everyone knows about me is my love of tacos, I'll often do taco's on Tuesday and then a Zoodle (Zoodles = Zucchini Noodles, a spiralizer changed my life) Bolognese later in the week! 
• Variety Is Key: you can't eat the same thing everyday. Last time, I did a Whole 30, I think I ate eggs for breakfast for 18 days in a row... not good. Breakfast sets your tone for the day and is one of my favourite meals. I love to mix it up between more savoury and sweet and I'll alternate between overnight steel cut oats with fruit and a nut butter, chia seeds, or a new favourite is a baked egg in an avocado! This one is best to not make ahead - it takes 14 minutes in the oven, so pop it in before the shower and you'll be good to go. 

To give you some ideas, here's a list of my groceries for this past week. As some are more of the aesthetically pleasing dishes I made:

• Babybel Cheese
• Apples
• Parsley
• Bulk Nut Mix (I'm loving bulk sections!)
• Sockeye Salmon Fillets
• Zucchini
• Tomatoes
• Ground Beef
• Coconut Milk
• Peppers
• Hummus

• Yams 
• Eggs
• Brussel Sprouts
• Butternut Squash
• Celery Sticks
• Greek Yogurt
• Spinach
• Green Beans
• Ground Turkey
• Mango
• Onions

Find this recipe here!

Find this recipe here!

Find this recipe here

You'll also note from my title of this blog that this is my ideal Monday to Friday. I'm not perfect  and while it's ok to eat alone in life, it's important to go out, enjoy meals, socialize, and all that fun stuff! It just means that if I go out on the weekend and have a delicious meal (I tried Minami for the first time this weekend and it completely upped my sushi game), I enjoy it and I don't feel bad splurging because I've been conscious of my spending the whole week. 

To give you guys some context, that grocery list cost me $72.31. I made 5 lunches, 5 dinners and satisfied my grazing cravings with at least 2 snacks a day - broken down that equals $3.62 per meal (and mini meal). I polled my colleagues and the cheapest lunch they could get near our office would be a minimum of $6. Almost double!!! 

The hour prep and shopping is annoying but after it's done you're set up for success for the week which means more time to watch The Bachelor! Meal prepping is the gift of time saved having to cook and shop during the week and its the gift of more money in the bank. Need more motivation? The bento box craze is what all the kids are talking about and you'll definitely be the coolest one in the office with this upgraded lunch box from Takenaka.

I'm completely open to any other money saving tips so let me know what you do to save. 

Happy Cooking! 

xx

LC

Baseball, Breweries, and Bubbles

Well! It has been a busy week for this girl, but a great one. I celebrated my day of birth and for all you Virgos out there you can attest to the fact that we are very stubborn people and I personally would rather fuss over others than others fuss over me. This week turned out to be a series of wonderful events that allowed me to spend my time with some of my favourite people. Overall, it made for a very memorable and enjoyable birthday week - a week that may take me another week to recover from.

My friends and I have been going down to the watch the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners play for 5 years now. This year the series landed on my birthday, so to keep up with the tradition 10 of us headed down to Seattle (along with the rest of Vancouver and any Blue Jay fan in the tri-state area), to cheer on what would hopefully be the turning point of the recent subpar Blue Jays' performance (and, of course, to heckle some Mariners along the way.) The Jays put on an epic performance and had all of Safeco field erupting in excitement with their 10-2 win. I love Safeco field: the roof was open, the structure is simple and airy, and I also think there isn't a bad seat in the place. Another selling feature of the stadium is the garlic fries - who doesn't love to eat chunks of garlic?? Well, some people I'm sure have a garlic aversion, so I'd recommend it to be an all or nothing decision in the group because the smell is STRONG. With the buzzing energy of the game, the after party led us to the infamous Cowgirls. Think Coyote Ugly meets Urban Cowboy: girls in leather chaps and a mechanical bull. The Blue Jays even made an appearance, they must have heard it was my birthday...

This weekend I was also gifted a Brewery Tour from my sister! A first for me and definitely on my Vancouver to-do list. I'd highly recommend Vancouver Brewery Tours - our guide Rachel was awesome and very knowledgable! Vancouver is now home to 50+ breweries and that number is only growing. We visited 3 breweries: Brassneck, Strange Fellow and Storm. My preference of beer is not as extensive as my preference of coffee by any means, so I was excited to learn more about the art of craft beer. My lovely mother (an avid wine drinker) joined me so it was a fun new experience for the both of us. I've summarized each brewery along with my favourite brew and some facts I learned along the way: 

• Brassneck:
  • What I learned: 
    • The 4 ingredients to Beer: Yeast, Hops, Water and Barley.
    • There are actually only TWO types of beer: Ale and Lager.
  • What I drank: No Brainer, Hibiscus Wit, Old Money Mild, Passive Aggressive.
  • Favourite: No Brainer! 

• Strange Fellows:
  • What I learned:
    • A brewery known for it's sour beer selection and aged beers - that's right: like wine, beer can be aged for years! On average, most beers age 6-8 weeks but some can be up to 15 years.
    • Oak Barreling: Offers a different depth of flavours and aromas that are absorbed by the beer over time.
  • What I drank: Sour, Saison, Dunkel, White IPA.
  • Favourite: Saison or the Sour - it almost tasted like a cider.

• Storm Brewery:
  • What I learned:
    • Vancouver's oldest brewery! (In operation for 22 years).
    • When drinking a sour beer you are supposed to take 3 sips to appreciate the taste.
    • The owner does NOT like pumpkin beer but brewed an 'Apple Pie' Lager which was delicious for fall! 
  • What I drank: Vanilla Whiskey Stout and Apple Pie Ale
  • My Favourite: BOTH!! 

My birthday celebrations concluded with a girls' night out for dinner at Hapa Izakaya for some sake and sushi, followed by bubbles and live music at the The Lobby Lounge in the Fairmont Pacific Rim. A great spot for live music and even better people watching. 

So there you have my birthday round up. It was a great week and I'm so lucky to have all the amazing people in my life that I do (insert sappy emoji here). 

xx

LC

Expiring Days of Summer

I was confused and alarmed this weekend when I was walking through my neighbourhood to hear crunching of leaves at my feet. How was this happening? I was just settling into summer weather and sleeping in front of my fan. This season always seems to take the longest to arrive and the quickest to leave. I'm hoping for a beautiful September to ease back into scarves and boots, but in the mean time I'm going to hit summer hard this week - I need material for my back to school report on "how did you spend your summer?" Check out what's on my to-do list: 

• The Vancouver Mural Festival happened on August 20th and over 35 pieces of street art have been added to the city! It's a wonderful addition to so many different communities and buildings; I'm so lucky that so many are in my 'hood' of Mount Pleasant. If you reside in Vancouver, what a perfect way to spend an afternoon by grabbing a coffee, taking a stroll and checking out the new and old murals the city has to offer (see the map of all the murals here). I personally really enjoyed the one pictured below, the giraffe clearly stole the show - and apparently I'm as tall as a dumpster. 

• Eating in season! Everyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I appreciate a big salad, I'm basically Elaine from Seinfeld, I just want all the things in one big bowl - is that too much to ask?

http://www.rantlifestyle.com/2014/02/17/greatest-seinfeld-food-moments/

THIS is why when summer rolls around I know that my usual salad staples are going to be completely dressed up with the fruits of the season! I love experimenting with new recipes (thanks, Pinterest), and can usually not go wrong with a leafy base plus a fruit, nut and type of cheese. This watermelon salad was the perfect combination of sweet and salty. Lastly, presentation is everything for convincing the skeptics that salads are anything but boring - so make it pretty and it'll be irresistible. Exhibit A and B below: 

• VAG (aka the Vancouver Art Gallery) is in the heart of downtown Vancouver, and I'm embarrassed to admit it took me far too long into my Vancouver life to visit this gallery. It's weird because whenever I visit a new place or city, museums and art galleries are always on the top of my list; I guess I just took for granted the VAG would always be there. Anyways! I went to a FUSE event this year and it was fantastic (go see Smashup before September 5th!) I loved the lay out and the architecture: it felt like there were hidden rooms and then all of sudden you're on a roof top and a dance party is going on. The Picasso exhibit currently on right now is on my to-do list for this week, followed by a beverage on their adorable patio. 

• Another Vancouver summer highlight is Playland at the PNE, home to the famous wooden roller coaster and deep fried ... everything? Mars bars I've heard are a particular highlight. I think it's high time I saw what this event is all about - I will report back! 
• Lastly I will be soaking up all the patio weather I can and trading in my usual vodka soda for a Paloma - I was even inspired to pop the Patron at home and make my own version. 

I hope my to-do list has motivated you to give summer loving one more kick at the can and enjoy whatever your city has to offer! I know my to-do list will keep me busy, if anything it will be a distraction to the fact that I have no Drake in my life to buy me a billboard and express his years of love to me on national TV... ah well, can't win 'em all. 

xx

LC

Stressful Long Summer Days?

Summer Solstice has finally come and gone and we can embrace summer in all its glory. Depending on which hemisphere you live in, you might have already been treated with summer-like temperatures; or you live in Vancouver and you wake up to January pissing rain and end your day in 25 degrees. HOW DO YOU DRESS FOR THAT?! 

But really, summer: what's not to love? You wake up with the sun shining, the days are longer, patios stay lit 'til 9pm, weekends are spent lounging at the beach or at a park reading a book and working on your summer glow. All sounds great, right? In theory, yes. But for some, longer days can make one feel the need to take on MORE and add to her daily routine. Why? Because it's light out for more hours so you should fill those hours with summer-y events and things, right? Lest the guilt for not enjoying "summer" seeps in. I should be going on nightly bike rides or picnicking with ocean views! 

As much as I consider planning to be a strength of mine, balance is something I struggle with. I have a habit of saying yes to too much and wearing myself out. June has been a big month and it's not even over! My June can be summarized in several bullet points:

• New Job: Is going well! A welcomed change of pace and new challenge. I personally struggle with the feeling of being new and useless but I'm dealing. An amazing team helps! My new Monday to Friday is apart of the Customer Success team at a start up company that makes purchasing ridiculously easy... 
• Whole 30: In January I attempted a Whole 30 that lasted 5 days; I figured June should be the month of redemption. I'm on day 20 and I should feel like Bey walking down the street having an epic hair day... but I don't.  I promise to report on day 31 when I'm reacquainted with a cold beer!
• Kayla Itsines: I'm on week 10 of her "Bikini Body Guide". First off, this girl is a genius and a machine; these 28 minute workouts are killer. I can't say I'm ready to streak the quad with my bikini body just yet, but it's a good sweat. 
• Wedding Season: It's begun and and my day-of duties have begun! Read what I do as a day-of coordinator is here! 
• SLEEP: I can't remember the last time I slept through the night. I've always been a sleep walker but it's been particularly bad as of late. I've tried lots of things: sleep routines, meditation, BONE BROTH.... you name it. Next to try: Sleep Podcasts. My eye bags and sanity really hope it works.
• Homemade EVERYTHING. I'm trying to not eat out at all this month (partially because of Whole 30, partially because of the wallet). Homemade is great but I feel like all I do is grocery shop and I'm not feeling flush in the bank account just yet.

So you can see, I have a few things going on in my life. Thank goodness I gave up dating. 

Remember that episode of Sex and the City when Aidan moves in with Carrie and she worries about being exposed for her "secret single behaviour"?? Well, we all have them. At the end of my work day I like to come home and, like Carrie, have an hour. I don't want to talk to anyone. I want a snack and watch the Young and the Restless. It's my thing: I grew up watching with my mom and it's just a way to mindlessly unwind. I think that an hour a day is something that everyone needs to take: you do you, but make sure it's not an errand or a chore - those are a whole different ball game.

I've come up with with 5 things I'm going to try to help create stressLESS long summer days:

1. Morning workouts instead of night workouts: get the endorphins flowing early and enjoy the calmness and quiet before the rest of the neighbourhood starts their day! 

2. Shift my language: evaluate what is genuinely a priority versus the rehearsed response of "I don't have time".

3. Say no, and actually mean it. Not because you have plans but maybe you've had a stupid long day and you're exhausted and you need to go to bed at 8pm. Say it with me, "I'm sorry I can't tonight, but let's make plans soon!" Full stop.

4. Patience. I take on all these new tasks and want results yesterday. I will work on patience and have decided to do 1 yoga class per week. Namaste. 

5. Live by John Lennon's words: "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans". Again, shift my perception from long stressful days to you never know where they day will take you. Spontaneity is a wonderful thing. 

So yeah, I'm going back on my original resolution of the year of yes, but sometimes no is something that allows you to enjoy the "yes" things more.

xx

LC

Say YES... then Netflix and Chill.

As we near the end of January, I find it crazy how people’s emotions are a pendulum from the beginning of the month - the promise of new resolutions and optimism for the new year ahead - and then mid month hits and the pendulum hits a giant boulder and you almost feel stuck. You realize you go to work when it's dark, come home when it's dark and, for Vancouver, the winter rain has set in and that can be a bit of a downer.

I've been deemed a bit of a "planner" among my friends, I love organizing group events, hosting dinner parties, volunteering and getting involved in different events in the city - I want to admit that part of my motivation is that I am single and live alone and if I DIDN'T reach out and organize things I would lead a sad life sitting in my apartment binge watching Netflix, alone. That's why I have a rule: say YES to as many invitations as possible - especially if it's outside of your normal routine! It's always hard getting there but usually 95% of the time you're happy you went or it's an experience to talk about.

A few things I said YES to this week:

• A visit to Grouse Mountain! I usually just visit the mountain after doing the traitorous 3km hike up. This time we went up to see the snow!! Crazy this mountain is just 20 minutes outside of downtown and it transports you to a winter wonderland with activities like skating, sleigh rides, skiing and some epic photo ops in the twinkling lit forest walk. See exhibit A: My loud cackle captured on film.

• Another fun (and NEW!) thing I participated in this week was volunteering for the Vancouver Symphony Ball! It was a black tie, "Singing in the Rain" themed event and all to support a good cause - what better way to spend your Thursday night? I'd also recently purchased some black tuxedo pants that I needed to debut at the perfect event...  on a white carpet. 

• I joined one of the many "new" online dating apps, "Bumble", yes ladies, there are bee's out there waiting for you to talk to them! And by Bee's I mean men. This site is a bit different than the other ones because the woman needs to make the first move within 24hours of being matched - I'm a fan of the concept, but I won't lie, my rate of return on responses was about 5% (Insert defeated emoji here.) HOWEVER, I did connect with a guy and am proud to say I am going on a date this weekend!

So you can see the theme here: say YES...JUST DO IT. You won't regret it! Well maybe you will, but then you'll have a story to tell over a bottle of wine with the girls and you'll always have your sweats and Netflix to go home to ...

Happy Weekend!

xx

LC

New Year. New Me. Cliché, I know.

So 2016 has finally arrived, whether we were prepared or not, people start to naturally outpour all of their New Year resolutions and mantras, including my favourite: NEW YEAR, NEW ME (said it a boisterous Oprah voice). 

I’ll admit this year I was a full on textbook example of someone aspiring to make this year the BEST ONE YET. These plans didn’t so much include resolutions, but rather:

1. Complete a WHOLE 30 (www.whole30.com). The “cleanse” that includes no sugar, dairy, grains, legumes… oh and Prosecco and other fun boozes.

2. START A BLOG, this one was a long time coming. I actually signed up in October but it finally came to fruition in January. The New Year: time to get shit done. (Thanks for tuning in to blog #1!)

3. See a psychic! I admittedly spend a large percentage of my days worrying about past, present  and future life so, any sort of insight I could get – spiritual or otherwise, was welcomed for my sanity but also to spare my friends the ramblings of over analyzing yet another year of Lauren.

A check-in on progress…

1. I lasted 5 days on the Whole 30, and a few series of events (and Vodka) have lead me back to Day 1. Life happens and sometimes plans change – but I’m back on the horse…

2. Blog #1 published = SUCCESS! 

3. I really enjoyed the psychic experience. I left feeling optimistic about life, appreciating the things I have to be grateful for and worrying less - a little, at least. I’ll chalk it up for the win and, if anything, I am excited to see how the year unfolds!

So whether you’ve gone all or nothing on the resolution front, a few things to keep in mind: it’s not the end of the world if plans change, that’s life. Tomorrow is going to happen either way, and like the music legend that was David Bowie said, “You could be a hero/ Just for one day / We can be us / Just for one day” So just be you, everyday. 

XX

LC (FYI: a nickname I go by, in a world with many Laurens)

Said goodbye to 2015 in my hometown, Edmonton, Alberta. Photo Cred: Elizabeth Marie