My Kanken Backpack

My soon to be sister-in-law got me this fjallraven kanken backpack for Christmas and so far it has been perfect for the West Coast.  Not only has it been my stylish companion in the city but it was especially great for this hike in the rainforest as it is lightweight, waterproof, and versatile!! I am sure that I am going to love my kanken for years to come!! So thanks again Lacy  - I love it!!

Kisses,

Karen

Therese Sennerholt

I am so in love with these prints by Swedish desiger Therese Sennerholt. I think they would look amazing in any home - especially mine. They are officially on my WANT list. 

Kisses,

Karen

Billy Frye Boots

I have been in love with the Isabel Marant Jenny boots for a while now. Since, they are a bit over my budget, I settled on these Billy Frye boots, which I think are also super cute and have a similar bohemian vibe!!  I think they will also be super versatile, as they will look great with a floral dress or worn with a pair skinny jeans! And since I am starting a new job, I think they will be perfect for being on my feet all day!I can't wait until they arrive!

Kisses,

Karen

Bridal Showers!!

My youngest brother is getting married this summer and his fiance and her bridesmaids are in the process of planning her bridal shower! Not only is this exciting but it inspired me to check out the current trends in bridal showers! And what I found out is that the bridal shower can be just as lovely and fun to plan as the wedding! 

I love the color combination of this delightful prairie inspired bridal shower. The vintage floral tablewares in combination with the fresh pink flowers and some french macaroons is just so romantic and would be a wonderful start to any marriage!

My mother-in-law held my bridal shower in her backyard. We had a wonderful assortment of horsd'oevres, baked goods and champagne. It was just a small little shower, but the most important people were there and it was perfect! What did you do for your bridal shower?

Photos via lefrufru

Kisses, 

Karen

J Crew coming to Vancouver

Following the success of their first ever Canadian store in Toronto, J. Crew announced that they will also be opening up 2 stores in Western Canada. There will be one in Vancouver and one in Edmonton. Despite the fact that they have raised the prices for the Canadian market, it will be nice nice to have the option to shop there!!  

Kisses,

Karen

DIY Crocheted Basket

It is always a great experience to go into a home that has  a  collection of handmade items. Not only does it give the home some character but it also gives you a small glimpse into who the  home owner really is. I have been searching for a nice magazine rack lately and  I love the idea of this home-made one. And although I don't know how to knit or crochet, I may recruit my mom to make one for me! Here are the DIY instructions if you feel like making one yourself!

Kisses,
Karen

Club Monaco Spring 2012

Have you seen Club Monaco's lovely new Spring/Summer 2012 Lookbook? I think the CM designers have perfected the sophisticated boho look. All of the outfits have a modern urban edge, making them perfect for a day in the city. Yet, they also have a twist of bohemian, alluding to the impression that you may go frolicking in the meadow after work  - perfection in my book! Plus, it looks like all of the items in the collection, could be mixed and matched for even more sophisticated boho bliss! What I love the most is that there are two Club Monacos here in Victoria!! Now I can't wait to update my spring wardrobe! 

P.S - Happy Birthday to my soon to be sister-in-law Lacy! Hope you have a wonderful day full of sunshine and lollipops! 

Hugs and Kisses,

Karen

Marc by Marc Jacobs Hillier Hobo Leather Shoulder Bag

Hope you had a lovely weekend. I have a few job interviews that I am looking forward to this week and I am thinking that I would love to carry this Boho Marc Jacobs bag with me. Not only does the bag embody the perfect combination of sophistication and bohemian chic, but I feel like it was designed specifically for me! I have already begun saving!! Which bag are you currently carrying? Do you have your eye on a specific bag? I would love to hear?

Marc by  Marc Jacobs Hillier Hobo Leather Shoulder Bag

Kisses,

Karen

Vegetarian Quinoa Patties

If your like us, you always make too much food and are stuck eating the left overs for a few days after. Since we don't like to waste food, we try to come up with other ways of using the let overs to make it taste different. A few days ago, Dominic and I made the most delicious meal with quinoa (which is also supposed to be a super food). And since the recipe called for 2 cups of quinoa, which was supposed to serve 4 people, that is what I made. However, when the dish was finished it was more suitable to serve about 14 people. So, we made these quinoa patties with our left over quinoa. And I must say they were a delightful vegetarian treat! Although Dominic made up the recipe for the ones we made, I found a similar recipe here that you can try out!

What are your plans for the weekend? We are heading out to a dinner party with some friends!

Love,

Karen

Romantic Wallpaper - Gothenburg Home

Although we left our little Swedish cottage back in Saskatchewan, we rented another cottage like house in Victoria. I have to say that this cottage is not as cute as our cottage at home, but I love it just the same. If I was allowed to hang wall paper in this house, I would love to do something a little like the this home in Gothenburg, Sweden. I think the pale pink color of the wall paper would add a bit of romance to your everyday life. Do you like the pink or do you think it would be too much for you?  

source and source

Kisses,

Karen

Spring's Top Trends: Floral Pants

I am absolutely smitten with all of these lovely floral pants. Don't they just scream summer?? And since the pants are enough of a statement, I think they would look wonderful paired with a monotone over sized sweater. Definitely my favorite Spring/Summer Trend so far!! Would you wear them?? Which ones are your favorite?

TOPSHOP



Citizens of Humanity

Isabel Marant

Kisses,

Karen

Happy Valentines Day!

I hope that you all had a deliciously sweet Valentines Day! Dominic and I met up downtown after work and went out for a romantic Italian meal! We shared a caprese salad, and a margarita pizza! I had the best intentions on baking some red velvet cupcakes for dessert but I just ran out of time! Luckily there is always tomorrow!

Hugs and Kisses,

Karen

Chevron Friendship Bracelets

What are your plans for the weekend? I have been feeling like doing something creative for the past little while,  so this weekend I am planning to teach myself how to make a chevron  friendship bracelet. 
Honestly WTF has a great step-by-step tutorial that I have been wanting to try for a long time. And since I bought all of the required supplies this week, I am ready to go. Hopefully I will have a finished product to show you by Monday!! Have a great weekend!

Photo from Honestly WTF

Kisses,

Karen

Happy Birthday Otto

Just wanted to wish the best little fisherman a happy 3rd birthday!! I hope you have a fun filled day!!

Love,
Aunty Karen and Uncle Dominic

v-day nail polish

If you haven't yet tried the deborah lippman sparkly nail polish line, I suggest you do. I had the pleasure of wearing 'some enchanted evening' and I liked it so much that I didn't want to take it off. The sparkles in the nail polish are subtle enough to not make you feel like a teeny bopper yet sparkly enough to make you feel completely glamorous! If you feel like treating yourself for Valentines Day, you should go out and buy one of these!!


P.S - There are only two more days left to vote for me to do Nico's Spring Ad Campaign. Don't forget to 'Like' my photo on Nico's Facebook Page!!!!!!

Some Enchanted Evening

Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?

Candy Shop

                   

xox,

karen

the maybebag

I first saw the mabebag at vosgesparis and thought to myself, "why didn't I think of that"? The maybebag is a stylish, lightweight, version of the extra bag that so many people now carry with them, in their main bag, for that maybe situation. I would love to replace  my worn out extra bag for s stylish maybebag. I would totally sport a maybebag, would you?

Love,

Karen

I Need Your Help!!

There is this fantastic store in Regina, Saskatchewan called Boutique Nico that opened last October. They are currently in the process of holding their first add campaign which also happens to be a model search. The great thing about this model search is that the models don't have to fit the mold of a typical model, but rather they are just normal people, like me that like to shop at Nico.

Contestants are required to upload a photo to Nico's facebook page and the top five people to get the most 'likes' and comments on their photo will be entered into a draw to decide who will get to do Nico's Spring Summer Ad Campaign. 

My sister has convinced to me enter the contest even though I will be entering a bit late. But now I need your help!!! It would be great if you could click on this link and either 'like' my picture or leave a comment!! But hurry because the contest ends on February 11th.

Love,

Karen

Ana Egge and Bad Blood

I hope you had a wonderful weekend. We went over to the mainland for the weekend. And although I intended to do some shopping, I didn't end up buying anything! I usually don't buy unless I really lot it and this weekend nothing really spoke to me! It was however, so nice to be in the hustle and bustle of the city and I just enjoyed checking out the west coast style which I must say is drastically different that the east coast!

Anyways, I thought I would start off the week by sharing a song from Ana Egge. I have only recently been introduced to this artist and her but I am totally smitten. Plus, she was born in Saskatchewan which is a big bonus in my books!! So, if you are looking for some new tunes, be sure to check this out! 

Love,

Karen

Ombre Hair Trend

A few years ago, I went into the salon to die my hair a bright red color. In order to do this, my stylist explained that I had to bleach my hair first so that the red would be the bright color we wanted it to be. As she proceeded to bleach my hair my scalp started to burn and it felt really uncomfortable. When I asked if this was normal, my stylist assured me that it was absolutely normal and everything would be ok. Despite me scalp still hurting when I walked out of the salon, my color did look fantastic.

It did however, take a few days for my scalp to get back to normal and I vowed that I would never die my hair lighter again. The experience also made me realize that if the harsh chemicals used to dye my hair were able to burn my scalp, than they are probably not that good for the rest of my body either and as a result I quit dyeing my hair. Now I have a urge to lighten up my hair and I am thinking that I may try out the ombre hair trend as the blondish color won't touch my scalp. Do you dye your hair? Why or why not? Do you have any hair horror stories? I would love to hear them?

What do you think about the trend? Do you like it or do you think it has had its time?

Love,

Karen

lauren moffat spring 2012

My little brother, well he is not so little as he is taller than me and is now 27 years old, but to me he will always be my little brother, is getting married this summer in the beautiful Canadian Rocky Mountains. And as such I am on the hunt for a dress to wear to the wedding. So, I will probably be posting a lot of pretty dresses that I find on my way. 

I am pretty sure that I need to get my hands on one of these lovely pieces from the Lauren Moffat Spring 2012 collection. I think the entire line has the perfect combination of florals and pastels which are both so hot this season! Need I say more!

Love,

Karen