Spoiler alert, it’s the Park & Fifth Fairfax Dress
I always have an eye out for no-fuss long sleeve midi dresses. I’ve found a few great ones at Zara over the years, but I am also trying to shop less fast fashion brands (a work in progress and a post for another time). When I saw Vancouver-based Park & Fifth come out with the Fairfax dress, I immediately added it to my wishlist. Love that these dresses have been made right here in Vancouver and that their pieces are produced with low textile waste in mind. You can read all about their sustainability efforts here.
I recently got to model for Park & Fifth’s Spring/Summer 2021 collection, which was such an amazing experience, especially after being cooped up for a year. Everyone on the shoot was so supportive and hyping me up, despite the fact that I’m not at all a professional model and have felt what I can only describe as ‘blah’ since having a baby and being in quarantine. All of their new dresses are fire, you can check them out on their Instagram and of course, their website.
This is a very roundabout way to say that since we were collaborating, they offered to gift me a few pieces and I just KNEW it was going to be my sweet Fairfax dress. She’s such a beaut that I ended up with the same dress in two fabrics. I love how I can wear this midi so many ways (even backwards for a v-neck), it just fits my lifestyle perfectly! The only piece that isn’t technically mom-friendly is that the python fabric is dry clean only and the delicate black polka dot fabric is hand wash, BUT I hadn’t planned for these to be everyday wear anyway, so it’s all good.
The Park & Fifth Fairfax dress is currently on sale right now and I definitely encourage you to go check it out! If you have any sizing questions let me know or book a virtual fitting with their awesome team to make sure you get the style and size that works for you!
OUTFIT DETAILS
ABOVE LOOK: Park & Fifth Fairfax Dress in Python – Wearing a size 10 and found it true to size. Vancouver-made! Leather Biker Jacket c/o Ted Baker – Wearing a Size 4 and have had this number for years, still holds up. It’s not this EXACT jacket, but it’s very very close. Joe Fresh Chelsea Rain Boots – Available online in grey or white. I am wearing a size 8 and they fit perfectly, I have a very wide foot. I have still seen the black colour in Superstore, so keep an eye out.
The Fairfax Python and Fairfax Betty dresses were generously gifted by Park & Fifth with no obligation to post. How could I not share these beauties with you, though?! Best to scoop one up before they’re gone!
Some Covid-friendly activity ideas to fill your wake windows with your little ones this fall and winter 2020/2021!
(Please note, I will be continually updating this list as new ideas come up and rules change, so please check back)
I’m a first-time mom with an almost 10-month-old baby and am absolutely terrified of lockdown during these shorter, colder days. Pretty stressed about my baby’s lack of in-person social interaction and you know what? I’m also sad that this wasn’t the maternity leave I’d imagined.
I know a lot of parents out there are feeling the same way, so I reached out to my amazing community on Instagram asking for some activity ideas to fill those wake windows and you really delivered! I wanted to share these suggestions because it takes a village and not having full access to that village has been HARD. We’re in this together (but apart) and I hope this list is helpful in some way!
Now, let’s all keep in mind that everyone has different comfort levels during this pandemic. I know we’re all keeping a close eye on case numbers and of course trying to keep our families safe. Most of the below suggestions are online, but a few are in-person, following health orders.
Though I say it’s Vancouver-based, with some of these offerings being online, you can really be anywhere in the world. In terms of age-range, I’d say most of these are for newborns (probably 3m+) to about 2 years.
Are all of these online classes creating way more screentime than I ever imagined for my baby? Absolutely. 2020 has thrown everything off though, so if this is how we learn, then this will be how we learn!
If you have anything to add to this list, please let me know in the comments below.
MUSIC CLASSES
It’s so sweet how much little ones love music. Often songs are the ONLY way to calm Lucy and it has been that way from the beginning. She doesn’t even mind Adam’s off-tune singing LOL.
I’m trying not to purchase from Amazon too much, but I ordered this little musical set for Lucy and she is obsessed! I keep half of it out and will add the other items slowly. Again, if you can find these locally, it’s the better option. I just left the musical instrument purchase until the last minute and we needed it for our classes. Alternatively, if money is tight or you’re wanting to repurpose things around the home, you can also make some instruments yourself. We have a few containers filled with rice that are great little shakers, and two wooden spoons are very similar to rhythm sticks. There are tons of other ideas online, I’m sure.
When I asked the audience on Instagram for ideas, there were a ton of music class mentions. These are some as suggested by you and a few that we’ve joined!
Jumpstart
I signed us up for a Saturday morning Jumpstart Music and Movement Zoom class in the fall. They came highly recommended by my friend who I taught dance with for many years, so I very much trust her suggestion. Cheri was great, I could tell she had a musical background, works well with little ones and her rhythm work was awesome. From her classes, Lucy will actually repeat shaker, drum, and stick rhythms back to us, it’s simply amazing. Cheri of Jumpstart will be releasing her 2021 virtual class schedule soon, so keep an eye on her Facebook page!
VSO Mini Music Makers
The VSO School of Music offers online and in-person class options for little ones. They were doing a covered outdoor music class at Trout Lake, which Lu and I were attending with our Mom Group. Sadly, when the latest provincial restrictions came into effect, the remainder of our sessions were cancelled. Hopefully, things can resume in the new year, it was great doing a music class in-person but outside.
Music Together
One of you mentioned Music Together and it looks like they’re also doing online classes! I haven’t attended their classes myself but have bookmarked to possibly try in the future.
Chorus and Clouds
Of course, Chorus and Clouds came up as well! Since it took me so long to write this post (ahh, sorry parenting and working during a pandemic is mission impossible), we’ve juuuuust missed their winter 2021 class registration. My friend Leslie and her daughter attended the in-person small and distanced fall baby music class and she said it was great. Sorry again for not getting this out in time to sign up for the winter classes, but follow @chorusandclouds on Instagram so that you don’t miss the next one!
FREE ACTIVITIES
Check The Library
A lot of libraries are doing virtual programs right now, so it’s definitely worth it to look into the public library in your area. The VPL has a Zoom Babytime with songs and stories for your baby, which we enjoy on Fridays. We also do a little Mom share time so it’s a nice way to feel connected to other local Mamas. We’re wrapping up the Vancouver Public Library Nov/Dec sessions and I’m sure they’ll soon be doing sign ups for the Jan/Feb groups!
Strong Start
The school districts here have a program called Strong Start, which is designed for early learning development at no cost to families. Though usually drop-in, they’ve opened their in-person classes again but do require you to pre-register and follow their Covid-19 safety protocols. They do have virtual experiences as well.
Postpartum Drop-in Group
The South Community Birth Program (where we went for our pre and postnatal midwife care) offers weekly drop-in postpartum classes that are so great for new Mamas! They have gone virtual, hosted on Zoom, and I believe now open to the public (you could always check with them). A variety of topics are covered and I really enjoyed the connection and learning some new things, especially in those wild early days with a newborn.
Community Centre Parent and Tot Gym
Some community centres have opened up their gyms again for Parent and Tot playtime. I’ve seen varying information about these and I’ve personally haven’t been yet, but if it’s not free, looks like it is under $5. Your local community centre likely has other activities as well, best to check in with them and see if any programs are running for your little one!
LEARN NEW SKILLS
BABY SIGN LANGUAGE
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a baby ASL class, but Lee Ann of @signingbabies is an absolute delight. We just completed her 6-class Beginner Baby Sign Language Virtual Course and loved it. We opted for her Facebook course because then we weren’t committed to a set time. It has been so useful having access to the videos any time we want, we’ve definitely gone back and re-watched a few already. Lee Ann teaches at a great pace, repeats songs so they’re easier to memorize, and includes the names of class attendees so that the little bbs feel included. Lucy lights up every time Lee Ann is on the screen, she simply adores her. We’ve already registered for the next level in the new year, you can check out her virtual class options here.
SWIMMING LESSONS
A TON of parents on Instagram suggested swimming lessons. The pools seem to have strict protocols that follow the latest health orders and some of the lessons are as small as 2 or 3 people. The two most popular suggestions were definitely Pedal Heads and Aquaventures Swim, so if you’re lucky enough to snag a spot, let me know how it is! Lucy loved our outdoor pool adventures in the summer, so I’d be keen to try lessons at some point. Public pools are still open, so that is always an option for some unstructured time in the water as well!
Mandarin And Cantonese Classes
My friend just sent me these awesome Rhythm ‘N’ Rhyme Musical Adventures classes! They offer baby sing-a-long, storytime, and song and conversation classes in both Mandarin and Cantonese for ages 0-8 years. Looks like there are paid classes as well as some free drop-in. They are offering virtual classes over Zoom that came recommended to my friend. I will definitely look into some of their intro classes for us, would love for Lucy to be in touch with her heritage and able to learn some Cantonese. Maybe I could learn a thing or two along the way as well!
ART CLASS
Collage Collage has some very affordable and fun online art classes for the toddler crowd! I simply love how each class is inspired by a book, I might actually gift a few of these classes to my friends this holiday season. Everyone needs activity ideas during lockdown!
We’ve also signed up for a small and distanced in-person Chorus and Clouds art class for January. They call it the Infant/Toddler Art Club and I cannot WAIT to see what kind of “art” my baby will create. They do specify that this particular class is best suited for kids 10 months-2 years.
BABY REFLEXOLOGY
Suzanne (an RCRT) of Foot Guru Reflexology has a few great online resources for parents! Her Baby and Me Reflexology Course covers relief for teething pain, digestive upset (gas, colic, constipation, etc), sleep struggles, cold and virus symptoms, as well as skin conditions such as eczema, baby acne and rashes). So helpful and would make a great gift to a new parent or even to yourself! She’s also added a simple Baby Snooze Button guide, you can follow @footgurureflexology on Instagram for more (bonus, she’s also running a huge baby giveaway right now)!
BABY FOOD CLASSES
I still don’t know what I’m doing with this whole solids thing. It’s actually been the ONE thing I feel least confident and relatively insecure about on this parenting journey. Everything else I’ve managed to remain fairly chill about, but when it comes to feeding Lucy, I find myself comparing a lot to other moms, anxious in the moment, and feeling a bit lost. Basically, it sounds like I’m selling myself on some baby food classes LOL. I’ve seen the Solid Starts guides recommended, as well as Feeding Littles classes. A few on IG were even enrolled to get certified to consult for pregnancy, postpartum and baby with Oh Baby. I know I’ll figure the food thing out, the journey just hasn’t been what I thought it would be, which is just so spot-on for 2020.
BABY AND MAMA YOGA
Brenlie of Nurture Natal Yoga is the best, I adored her prenatal classes as well as her Baby and Mama distanced outdoor classes at Dude Chilling Park in the summer. I really, really miss it. Brenlie has an online Baby & Me Musical Yoga package with 3 full-length classes that you can do from home. Do you have any baby and parent workouts that you love to do at home?
THE DAY TO DAY
Walks, Walks, Walks
Yes, of course, we all KNOW that fresh air helps us, but knowing and doing are two different things. On those days when it’s miserable out and you don’t feel like leaving the house, I promise that as long as it’s not so cold and stormy that it’s unsafe to do so, getting out for even just a short walk will be great for all. Honestly, I’ve even just opened the sliding door and stepped onto our patio for a few minutes for a little reset. Getting outside when you can is a must!
Lucy has always loved to watch the older kids play so we often take her to the park and she just watches them and babbles. We also do time on the baby swings if it’s nice enough out and have been using our handy Swing Thing insert which makes it a comfier seat for Lu. Now that it’s the holidays she also very much enjoys an evening light walk, which helps us with that last wake window.
Besides our usual neighbourhood stroll, my favourite local walks lately are Trout Lake (great for distancing as well), the Seawall (can get very crowded, I encourage wearing a mask), and Pacific Spirit Park (the perfect rainy day forest walk). Where do you love to go for your walks?
Step Up Your Home Play
The amount of creative Mamas out there is so wonderful! Y’all have the best ideas. There are a ton of posts on Pinterest with ideas for new at-home play and I started following some new accounts like Crafty Moms on TikTok (though, a lot of their stuff is bookmarked for when Lucy is a bit older).
There are apps with ideas as well, like BabySparks (someone on IG suggested it, I still need to give it a try) and Playfully. If your budget allows for it, a toy subscription, like Lovevery is an idea as well. We were lucky enough to receive one as a gift from my in-laws and it has been awesome. I don’t really buy much else and I love how all the toys were created with intention. It’s definitely made my life easier in terms of choosing toys.
If you have space in your home for it, there are cool options for older babies who are climbers. A friend on IG mentioned she was getting a pikler triangle for her little one and I also saw that Cushy Couch launched their play couch, which is made in Canada!
FaceTime Friends
I’m sure many are already doing this, but I definitely love to try to catch a grandparent, family member or friend on a video call if our wake window is dragging on. It’s sadly considered our social time these days, but a win-win for loved ones to get some Covid-friendly quality time with the baby and a moment for me to chat. Honestly, a lot of the time they just like to watch Lucy play. It’s extra fun for Lucy when we can FaceTime with other kids, she likes to watch them play and chat/laugh with them!
ANYTHING TO ADD?
Solidarity to all the other parents out there trying to make it work and keep your sanity (or at least some of it) while parenting during a worldwide health crisis. This is a hard year for everyone, but this gig is challenging in a unique way. Try not to let the guilt get ya, we’re all doing the best we can.
I hope this little list helped somehow and if you have any advice or ideas to add, please let me know!
From prenatal classes to massage and even yoga. These are the places in Vancouver that I went to during my pregnancy and postpartum.
They say it takes a village and I believe that starts even while you’re growing that little baby. There are so many ups and downs during pregnancy emotionally, but also physically. It’s important to take care of yourself as you grow a little human! I carried very low, which meant I faced a lot of pelvic pain and had to seek help to manage it. A happy tradeoff though, as I didn’t have much heartburn or kicks to the ribs with her settling so low for so long.
I had such great experiences throughout my pregnancy, I wanted to share where I went for a midwife, prenatal classes, massage, acupuncture, prenatal yoga, pelvic floor physio, and labour/delivery. In terms of postnatal care, please note that I am only a few weeks postpartum and will likely have more to add to this list as time goes on!
I live in East Vancouver, so I will say that most of the places mentioned are on this side of the city. I hope you still find this list helpful and if you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below or shoot me an email.
Midwife Group Care at South Community Birth Program
The South Community Birth Program came to us highly recommended by many friends. Adam and I already see a Doctor at South Hill Family Health Centre, which is attached to SCBP, so it was really a no-brainer for us. We loved how medical-based the Midwife group is and we opted for their group care option. That included attending a monthly (and later on, bi-weekly) prenatal group/checkup with other couples who were due within a few weeks of us from 20 weeks onward.
I’ll admit that I was skeptical as things began about the group and sometimes wondered what was “so great” about it. Now that I’ve had a baby in the program, I can honestly say that they are the best of the best. The care and attention we received during labour and the support they offered us afterward is incredible. I love that they always have a midwife on rotation at the hospital, I knew we were in good and familiar hands as soon as we arrived. There was a nurse from SCBP at our place the first morning we got home to check on Lucy and I, and we’ve since been to a handful of appointments, so I have confidence that Lucy is doing well. I also love that they have lactation consultants readily available and you can book in as much as you need to! I’ve felt completely supported by the SCBP from the moment we arrived at the hospital, which has helped my mental health immensely.
The prenatal classes were informative enough, learning the science behind childbirth helped ease some anxiety, but I see now that it’s the connection with those people in the room that is far more important. We started a What’s App group chat with everyone, as well as a separate one for just the Mamas and as babies began to arrive, the chat became so important. You realize that we’re all in this newborn haze together and people are asking great questions and/or sharing helpful advice. I love that we can all be breastfeeding in the middle of the night and messaging, you just feel less alone. I appreciate everyone in the group so much and I don’t know what I would do without them!
They also offer a Doula program, where they match you with an amazing local Doula and we honestly couldn’t have done it without our Doula Shania. She knew what I needed even when I didn’t and was a calming presence while I laboured. She was friendly but very professional and I absolutely have her to thank for coaching me through pushing and for being a large part of how I was able to have the birth experience I’d hoped for.
Acupuncture at Acumamas in Olympic Village
Acumamas came highly recommended by the local women on Instagram. I was nervous, having never tried acupuncture, but Renee made me feel very comfortable. She also did some cervical softening acupuncture points at my last appointment and that, combined with walking and my sweep is definitely what I think jumpstarted my labour!
Prenatal Yoga at Uphoria Yoga
The timing couldn’t have been better, with Uphoria Yoga opening so close to me while I was pregnant. They largely focus on yoga for the family, including pre/postnatal, childcare, kids yoga, etc. The prenatal yoga instructor, Brenlie, is simply amazing! Her classes are incredibly insightful and give you a real sense of community with fellow expecting women in the neighbourhood. It was the perfect place to meet up with fellow pregnant friends from our SCBP class and beyond as well!
I have to say, Brenlie of Nurture Natal was actually extremely influential in my birthing experience. She always weaves in lessons and topics to do with childbirth into her classes, as well as faux contraction work, pelvic floor exercises, and plenty of helpful yoga poses. While I was in the throes of contractions, her teachings and mantras were repeating on a loop in my head and I was desperately hanging onto them like a lifeline. Her words gave me hope and comfort while I survived contraction to contraction. She always says that her goal is for women to have an empowered birth and it was definitely the case for me!
RMT Massage at Healing Tree and Acumamas
I already went to Healing Tree for RMT treatments, so it was an easy transition for me to get some prenatal massages there as well. I went for a slew of appointments at the end of 2019 to use up my health benefits and it was a real treat. Unfortunately for me, I needed some more appointments at the very end of my pregnancy because I was so sore those last weeks and was kicking myself for not pre-booking a bunch of appointments in anticipation of that. Hot tip for any pregnant ladies out there, book massage appointments the month leading up to your due date. You can always cancel if baby arrives early!
Luckily, Acumamas, where I already went for my acupuncture, offers specialized prenatal massage therapy. I was able to put myself on a waitlist and got an appointment before it was go-time. I desperately needed that massage and Cassidy was a very talented RMT!
Pelvic Floor Physico at The Cheerful Pelvis
I am SO glad I began my pelvic floor work while I was pregnant and that I consulted with Rachelle at The Cheerful Pelvis. She assessed me (I didn’t do an internal assessment, we’ll see how my recovery goes over the next month and where I’m at 6 weeks pp) and gave me really helpful exercises to help minimize my pelvic pain. I only had a few appointments beforehand, but she did provide me with information and a helpful document about perineal massage and what to expect postpartum and I look forward to our follow up next month.
For additional pelvic floor and postpartum work I love following Kim the Vagina Coach on Instagram. She has lots of great exercises, pelvic floor and pp advice, as well as fun pelvic floor challenges!
Labour and Delivery at Women’s Hospital
I also have to give a shoutout to Women’s in general. Every single nurse and staff member we interacted with at BC Women’s Hospital was incredible. Even when they were short-staffed and the admitting nurse was scrambling, she made sure to stop by, provide me with a bouncy ball and heat pack, and reassured us that we’d get a room soon.
We opted to stay over for a night and all the nurses who checked on us throughout the night and into the next day were incredibly helpful. My friend advised me to enlist as much help with breastfeeding as possible while in their care and I’m so glad I did! Every time I would demonstrate a feeding, each nurse had different tips and tricks and combined, Lucy and I learned what a good latch was and got some really solid practice. She eats like such a champ now!
What do you think, any places I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments below if you have something to add!
Here’s everything you need to know about this incredible yoga bed and breakfast on Bowen Island, just an hour away from Vancouver!
This was a gifted stay with Nectar Yoga B&B, but as always, opinions and my obsession with Nectar, are my own.
I have such a special place in my heart for Nectar and the beautiful people who run it. Alex and I visited their original Bowen Island location back in September 2016 and had the most amazing few days away (I even made a vlog about it, you can watch that here). That had been my first yoga retreat and it was such a delight.
They’ve since moved to a larger piece of land and built a stunning upgraded Nectar 2.0. I swear you can feel the tension in your shoulders dissipate as soon as you turn down the gravel driveway. Their brand new location sits on 20 acres on beautiful Bowen Island and features various Instagram-worthy cottages, large Yoga Dome, a stunning main cabin/common area, walking trails, and an overall feeling of being in nature amongst the tall Pacific Northwest trees.
The Accommodations
The part that gets me, is how much love and time and energy went into building it by the owners themselves! I was blown away to learn how hands-on they were in building Nectar Yoga, talk about multi-talented. Pretty sure my marriage barely survived us building all our new IKEA furniture last month. We had to bring my brother in as a buffer LOL. The amount of thought and detail that has gone into the accommodation and overall experience is incredible. Even the email communication beforehand made packing for the retreat and getting to the island incredibly easy.
This time around, we stayed in the Quartz Cottage. It’s a gorgeous large A-Frame building closest to the Yoga Dome and had more than enough room for two of us. The beds were super comfortable, I swear I sleep better in a peaceful forest setting. The room was spectacular, it feels like a getaway, but with the comforts of home.
The Yoga
I cannot say enough great things about yoga at Nectar. Andrea is one of my favourite yoga instructors, and trust me, I’ve done a loooooot of yoga. She always seems to know exactly what you need in each class and provides the perfect mix of getting a sweat on, but also keeping you zen. The Yoga Dome also provides such a unique and memorable setting for your practice. If you stay for two nights as we did, you get 4 yoga classes total, along with morning and/or evening meditations. Andrea is also incredible at guided meditation, she revealed to us that she meditates for an hour nearly every single morning. Her calming energy and vast knowledge make your sessions with her extremely effective and restorative.
The Food + Main Lodge
We had the most delicious breakfasts! I am a vegetarian and allergic to eggs, so vegan food is ideal for me, which is exactly what Nectar offers. It was so lovely sitting down in the main lodge, getting to know the other guests over a drool-worthy vegan meal and fresh coffee. I’m still thinking about the grilled grapefruit with rosemary!
The main lodge is a new addition that the old location didn’t have and it’s such a perfect new feature. The lounge area is a great place to hang out in the afternoon if you’re not into exploring the rest of the island. We did our morning meditation there, as the dome was quite chilly that early, especially in January.
The overall experience was 10/10. If you’re into yoga or even the idea of a recharging local getaway, Nectar is a must. It’d be awesome as a reflective solo trip, bonding with a friend, partner, or small group, and if I worked at a company, I would absolutely suggest it as an option for a team retreat!
Also, I’m thinking of doing a guide to Bowen Island, would you be interested in that as well? Let me know in the comments below!
For locals or visitors alike, here are some fun things to do in Vancouver this summer!
All winter long and throughout our soggy spring, Vancouverites wait for the days with even the tiniest bit of sunshine to get out and enjoy the city! There’s still (at least) 2 months of summer ahead of us, and Adam and I have been on a mission to live this season to the fullest. Beyond the touristy things and obvious beach, pool, or patio hangs, I wanted to share some summertime activities that you might want to check out. Hope you enjoy!
A weeknight sunset beach picnic
After we’ve both been cooped up indoors on computers all day, Adam and I love to make a Hello Fresh meal or grab some take-out (depending on the kind of day we’ve had LOL) and head to the beach to watch the sunset. It really deters us from sitting in front of the television all night and getting out there to soak up the sun. Despite his expression in this photo, Reggie loves our evening picnics too, I swear!
P.S. If you want to try out Hello Fresh (because it’s so amazing), then sign up here with the Promo Code: HELLOALICIA for $40 off your first box!
Pixar Exhibit @ Telus World Of Science
I’d tell you this is just for kids, but it’s 100% for adults too. I absolutely loved checking out the Science Behind Pixar exhibit at the Telus World Of Science. It is an interactive, educational, and super interesting way to spend an afternoon. Would be a great way to escape the rain or heat and there’s plenty to do and see around the dome!
Science Behind Pixar runs until January 6th, 2019
Bard On The Beach
I have spent years saying that I wanted to check out Bard On The Beach and I am SO happy to report that I finally went and that it was a blast! It’s the perfect way to spend a summer evening. My brother and I saw their playful twist on Shakespeare’s As You Like It, that takes place in 1960’s Vancouver and includes all Beatles music. Sounds crazy, but it totally works and is really entertaining!
Bard On The Beach runs until September 22nd, 2018.
Nettle’s Tale named a bikini after yours truly and someone pinch me!
I first heard of Nettle’s Tale when they started on a crowdfunding site. The founder, Julia, was pitching a locally made swim line that was thoughtfully designed for women of all sorts of shapes and sizes. I remember watching the video and feeling an instant connection to this woman and her designs.
When the collection was launched, it was sold in a local store, and I was able to finally meet Julia in person and try on some of her suits. I ended up purchasing ‘The Julia’ because it had supportive underwire, and wore it on our honeymoon in Italy, which you can see it briefly at the beginning of this video. The bottoms I got to match are called The Magic Bottoms and they are literal bathing suit witchcraft. So comfy and perfect for mix and matching. I now own them in cranberry and black. They also go really well with my Heather Top. As you can tell, I have been a big fan of Nettle’s Tale since day one.
That’s why, when Julia reached out two years ago (yes, it has taken this long from concept to execution) and said she wanted to design a suit with me in mind, I was over the moon and slightly nervous. I mean, what a dream come true. I loved Nettle’s Tale and knew that she’d create something spectacular.
I’ve been in the throes of our bedroom makeover as we approach the big reveal day. As most room refreshes go, things had to get really chaotic before they could get better, which was tough. Our entire bedroom was in our living/dining room, and for a hot minute, we had double of all our bedroom furniture. Once we sold everything (to really great homes, loved how delightful everyone who bought stuff was) and were able to switch things around, everything is really coming together and it already feels like an entire new space.
When the dust settled and we cleared out living room clutter, my beautiful Lochside bike was calling my name (I love it so much that I don’t trust storing it in our building’s bike room, so it lives in our apartment rn lol). I’m so sad that I didn’t feature this beauty sooner, so please stick around while I give these guys some major love.
Lochside Cycles is a local company, started by two brothers based out of Victoria. They just love cycling and wanted to get more people out there on bikes! They’d always tinkered around with customizing their own wheels, and ended up creating what is now Lochside Cycles, names after the local bike trail they grew up riding. They saw room in the local market for minimal, stylish, yet functional bikes, and they’ve really created such a gorgeous collection. With attainability in mind, they also somehow keep the prices reasonable so that occasional riders, like myself, still find their offerings accessible.
What I ended up with was the Uptown Bike. It’s a 5-Speed with internal gears for easy shifting, and quite perfect for my city cruising. I was really great in July for going out for short rides to help build up my biking skills, but I really let that go this past month while I was in project mode. I am dedicating September to more rides! The final goal is to be able to cycle to the office in Gastown, and to nearby errands. I even bought a front basket with this goal in mind. I can’t wait to be a confident badass biker out there in those Vancouver bike lanes!
Heck yes, we took a group photo at every single stop on the tour!
Did you know that Langley has its own little wine country? Just a 45(ish) minute car ride from Vancouver. And you guys, it’s REALLY good!
We had the idea to do a self-guided Fraser Valley wine tour at one of our cousin hangouts in July of 2016. We locked in a date and a plan (we’d take 2 cars and have 2 designated drivers), as well as a loose itinerary. I’m sure the beautiful weather, delicious wine, and great company had a lot to do with it, but it was, hands down, one of my favourite days last summer.
If you are looking for an activity that takes you just out of the city, below is more info about the 3 wineries and 1 cidery we visited! If you are wanting to do a full day trip, I recommend heading to Fort Langley in the morning, getting brunch, exploring the cute little shops, walking the riverfront, and then setting out on a wine tour!
Pack your bags, we’re going to beautiful BC and beyond!
Vancouver is an absolutely stunning city that boasts it all: a bustling metropolis, impressive mountain ranges, Pacific coastline, and lush forests. So, it should come as no surprise, that the surrounding areas are just as Instagram-worthy! I adore a weekend trip, as a chance to get out of the city and explore. Below, I’ve compiled a list of 10 of my favourite nearby places to escape to, but truly, there could be at least a dozen more notable locations. There’s just so much to see!
Be sure to read on to find out where we love to travel to for a weekend getaway:
