This past weekend I joined Natalie for a sip & snack event called Feastie Food Festival at Henderson Brewery. It was such a beautiful day and we arrived just in time to catch the media tour. There was heaps of great food + we got to make our own cocktails & sample a few of others. Putting a spotlight on Local, BIPOC & Female-owned Small Businesses, while Pairing with Really Good Drinks… As the founder of Evelyn Chick Projects (ECP), Evelyn leads a premier hospitality agency offering beverage consultancy, event management, and custom cocktail experiences. She also runs Ahma, a pop-up event space, and Simpl Things, a day-to-night bar in Parkdale. Additionally, she recently authored and published ‘For The Love of Cocktails’. Had a feeling it was going to rain so we set up a perfect spot inside the brewery to watch the storm roll in. It was crazy windy! Thank you to the team at Bubblegum Canada for having us. Super fun! If you’d like to learn more about the vendors or other events, visit feastie.ca.

Can you believe it? It’s already mid-June! This year is flying by! It feels like we were setting our New Year’s resolutions just yesterday, and now we’re soaking up the sun, savouring long days, and making the most of every beautiful moment. Summer is in full swing, and I couldn’t be happier. There’s something magical about this time of year that brings out the best in all of us. My favorite thing to do is simply be outside. Whether it’s a long afternoon walk or an impromptu picnic with friends, being outdoors is my absolute favorite. There’s nothing like the feeling of the sun on your skin and a gentle breeze to remind you of the simple joys in life. Have been doing a lot of 5K+ walks lately. I love exploring new neighborhoods and rediscovering familiar ones. There’s always something new to see and appreciate! Walking is a great way to clear my mind and get some exercise. Parks are another perfect spot for summer, I like to bring a blanket, snacks, hydration, and lounge in the sun. Summer is all about creating memories with people you love. As we dive into the heart of 2024, let’s make the most of every sunny day and warm night. Embrace the spontaneity, cherish the laughter, and soak in all the summer goodness. Here’s to an amazing June and an even better summer!

Last week my two BFFs and I stopped by the new Awkward Portrait Studio by Awkward Family Photos to preview it before opening weekend. Lauren, Sarah, and I were joined by the lovely Greta (Lauren’s cat) for a super cute photoshoot. Scroll down for a link to my giveaway for your own session. 😁 Once you arrive at the pop-up you can pick your backgrounds and use any of their many props. It’s located at Richmond & Bathurst and each 30-minute studio session includes 2 backdrops and 10 digital photos. You can also buy printed photos, merch, or the official Awkward Family Photos book. I have posted a giveaway on my Instagram for a FREE portrait session. ENTER HERE! The winner will be announced Friday. You must be following me and @awkwardportraitstudio. The session is for 30 mins and you can bring up to 8 people! Pets are welcome. If I were to do it again I would plan much more awkward outfits and weird poses. They have iPads where you can view all the background choices and get inspired by awkward ways to pose. Some of them are seriously hilarious! I planned for us all to bring denim jackets at the last minute and I love these ones so much. Awkward Family Photos – How It All Started Childhood BFFs Mike and Doug started the website in May 2009 after Mike saw an awkward vacation photo hanging in his parents’ house. Thinking there were probably heaps of other people with their own awkward family images, they created a friendly place where everyone could share and celebrate their awkward family moments. Book your family or friends session here and see us on their website.

Today I’m featured on Allure Magazine in an article by Beth Sobol about peoples love for beauty products that are now discontinued. For YEARS my go-to face makeup was ‘Hello Flawless‘ by Benefit Cosmetics. I never left home without it, ever. In the article I called it ‘Photoshop for your face’, it really was THAT GOOD. A couple years ago, I found it at a liquidation pop-up in Muskoka after being discontinued for years. Read my story, and a few from some die-hard beauty product fans on allure.com. Thanks Beth!

This month started with the Solar Eclipse in Aries, right in the middle of Mercury Retrograde. I booked an astrology reading for the Aries Full and my fav astrologist, Kait Fowlie, gave me some things to think about and reminders that I’m on the right track. Toronto only had a partial eclipse but it was so wild to watch it happen! The sky went dark like nighttime but it was the middle of the day. I was outside for the whole event and did a cold plunge on the roof during the minutes of darkness. I’ve been focussed on my workouts lately, my weeks have been filled with yoga, pilates, running, weight training, and lots of long walks. I even started a tap class! I am very out of practise as it’s been 20+ years but it’s a super fun way to burn calories. I love it! My fav season (Taurus!) is just around the corner and my birthday is in a couple weeks. Here’s to seeing clearly and making my dreams come true!

In just a few days the sun will set at 7pm, and we’ll be one hour ahead. I can’t wait. Have been loving the sunshine and warmer temps lately. Spring isn’t far! Here’s a few things I’m Enjoying:

It feels like spring feels like it’s playing hide and seek, last week we had double digits temps and today we’re under a blanket of snow. There’s only 3 weeks before the time change and we’ll have brighter days. Good things come to those who wait, right? My workouts have become my go-to therapy. There’s nothing like a good sweat sesh to boost those endorphins and kick winter SAD to the curb. I’ve been hitting the gym, yoga & pilates classes, and lots of long walks outside. These moments of movement are like a burst of sunshine on a cloudy day. As I’m here hustling through the last stretch of winter, I’m to sending good vibes your way. Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, know that warmer days are just around the corner. Spring might be playing hard to get, but we’re not backing down. Stay warm, stay active, and remember – the flowers will bloom, and so will you. 🌷✨💖

If you’ve been following me on Instagram for a while, you’ll remember last year when I posted about my first venture into textile design. Using a piece of my art made on iPad Pro, I uploaded the image to Weaver & Loom‘s digital platform and the process of creating my first rug began. 🤗 Fast forward to 2023, and I’m heading to Miami with the Weaver & Loom team! The first image below is my design from iPad, the second is a rendering of my 18 x 18 sample, the third is a color strike rendering of my 31 different colours, and the last image is my hand-knotted sample. The day I received my sample I was SO excited I decided to have a photo shoot with it! I was blown away by the construction and how vibrant the colours were. Going through the rug-making process with Weaver & Loom was incredible, as my rug went through production, I received updates from the weavers in Kathmandu, Nepal. Here’s my rug on the loom!