Hello September

I know, I know, it's still officially summer for several more weeks and, trust me, I fully intend to take advantage of the last vestiges of seasonal warmth, patio opportunities and skirt wearing before I break out the tights and boots. But September has arrived (insert squeal here)! I'm sure you summer lovers are cursing my name but look at the photo above~ how can you not love that? 

June, July, August~ see you next year! xo

(Photos via Paper Tissue)

My Summer To Do List

Today is misty and grey and though it's only early August I can't help but feel we are going to be sliding into fall fairly quickly. The thing is I feel like my summer just started! Where did the weeks go? I've barely had time to enjoy anything quintessentially "summery" or do those things I say I will do every summer (before I know it, it's always October again and I'm wearing turtlenecks). Le sigh. It's time to embrace my free days and start checking off some of the items on my summer to-do list! Here are a few things I'd love to do in the next few weeks....

1. Have a picnic on the beach. I'm not a great "cook" so I would instead opt for lots of yummy things from Whole Foods, hide some white wine in a thermos, pack my book and a blanket and go enjoy living so close to the water. I haven't spent one minute at the beach yet this summer and while this isn't unusual (try to remember I'm a pale redhead here!) a seaside picnic is a definite must. As for my company? Well, that is up for grabs! 

2. Hike the Pacific Spirit trails out at UBC. I've always wanted to do this and I think it would make an awesome, adventurous date. Plus, being in the woods alone is uber romantic! 

3. See an outdoor concert. Last spring I was lucky enough to see REM at Deer Lake Park and I've been head over heels in love with that venue ever since. Radiohead at Thunderbird Stadium was also fantastic (although the pouring rain was less than lovely). Outdoor concerts are wonderfully summery and always feel so much more magical than regular shows. I'm hoping to fit one in before the cool weather descends. 

4. Go see a play at Bard on the Beach. Last year was the first year I'd ever attended this acclaimed festival and the production of King Lear was incredible, especially with Creative Director Christopher Gaze as the titled king. This year I'm instead looking forward to seeing a comedy~ I think I'll go for A Comedy of Errors. There is nothing like Shakespearean mishaps for a good laugh! (I'm a geek, I know)

5. Discover my inner child at Playland (and maybe even visit the PNE). I haven't done this in many, many years but there is something so summery about overpaying to go screech on some rickety rides, try to win a stuffed animal at the games and gorge on hot dogs and mini donuts (mmmmm). Sign me up! 

6. My favourite thing to do at any time of year is hop in the car and drive up to Whistler. I adore everything about Whistler, especially its fusion of earthiness and glamour. My perfect summer day would be to pack a day bag, collect my date and hit the highway. An hour and a half later we could park the car, have an afternoon cocktail in the village at Araxi, swim the afternoon away at Lost Lake, followed by a casual dinner. Staying overnight at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler or the Four Seasons would be the ultimate indulgence. One day.....

These are just a few of the highlights on my summer to-do list. Others include patios, mojitos and sandal shopping! What do you want to do with the rest of your summer? Share! 

(Photos via Paper Tissue)

My Ode to AC

Dear whomever invented air conditioning,

Be it if you invented the monstrously wonderful unit in my icy little car or the machine hanging in my living room window at the moment (newly and lovingly installed) that is as loud as an airplane landing and as ugly as sin, I thank you from the bottom of my cold heart. I would gladly make love to you today. Here's to me actually sleeping tonight! 

Kisses, Ally xo

Update: Yesterday was the hottest day EVER on record in Vancouver at 32.9! I'm not super fond of that record breaker. Bring on fall! 

A Fireball Sky

On Saturday afternoon I got dressed for work as usual, grabbed my handbag and headed downtown. It was an impossibly muggy day and I clutched onto my iced coffee (or rather iced soy toffee nut latte, thank you very much) for dear life. The afternoon could be summed up in two words (as my friend Nicole likes to succinctly say): mustache sweat. Yeah. I know. The sky was clear as a bell and being in the restaurant was like working in a sauna. Powder was my new best friend. 

Around 7pm, from seemingly nowhere, the sky appeared dark. Clouds had rolled into the city in what seemed like minutes. Before I could even see a drop of rain there was the ominous growl of thunder in the distance. Not exactly what 100,000 or so people had counted on for a night of fireworks in English Bay, but hey, it's billed as rain or shine for a reason. After all, this is Vancouver, where the weather changes as quickly as Lindsay Lohan's relationship status. I'm not exactly sure when monsoon season here commenced but on Saturday it was in full force. The streets (and our poor little terrace) were awash in a matter of seconds. Lightening and thunder were nature's rock band~ noisy and rhythmic. To my delight the air temperature plummeted dramatically~ I was comfortable again! 

And then it happened. I suddenly noticed several co-workers lingering on the terrace, leaning over the balcony and staring at the sky. Puzzled, I wondered what the big deal was. Anyone who had gone out to peek seemed to come back inside with eyes that were slightly....googly. Amazed and pleasantly glazed over, silly smiles on their faces. Never one to ignore my curiousity I waded through the puddles, stuck my head into the rain and looked. Wet bangs be damned, it certainly was a sight to behold~ one I'd never seen before and yet one I fervently hope to see again. The sky was a fireball of orange. Not just a streak of orange sunset in the distance. I'm talking the entire sky itself was the colour of flame. We may as well have been on Mars. It was breathtaking, intense and magical~ and yet these words don't do it justice. 

Only pictures can capture what the night was like (enjoy these~ stolen shamelessly by various friends on Facebook). I can't look at them without getting goose bumps. It was a night not soon forgotten as I once again bow down to the beauty of nature and everything our world gives us. And if you ask me it was a far better show than any display of fireworks could ever hope to be!

(Photo 2 courtesy of Tiffany Fournier, Photo 3 courtesy of Chris Norwood, Photo 4 courtesy of Kai Wong~ thank you!)

Lulu's Park Day!

Today I did one of my first genuinely summery things this season~ I grabbed my book, iPod, a blanket, put Lulu in her carrier bag (with her leash) and went to the park! Lulu is an indoor cat so I wasn't sure how this was going to "go over" but she was fascinated! All the birds and unfamiliar noises had her entranced! It was so adorable to watch her discovering all sorts of new things!

Ooh! Birds!

Pretty leafy tree canopy. Dreamy light. I loved it.

Chillin'.

Happiness

A perfect summer's day today. This week I can't wait to spend afternoons reading on the beach, grocery shopping on Granville Island, lazy lunches and puppy walking with friends, sleeping late, seeing Harry Potter and work on getting some of those freckles back! I feel like I haven't been outside in ages and I fully intend on making up for lost time in the upcoming days! Life seems so sweet right now and I don't want to jinx it, but it's wonderful to feel so fully happy. It makes me want to jump around!

Style Inspiration~ Reese Witherspoon

I absolutely love casual yet feminine clothes and Reese Witherspoon completely nails that here. I adore this outfit she was photographed in last week~ swingy printed skirt, utterly simple navy tank and still the hottest shoe for the second summer in a row, the gladiator sandal. Obviously her perfect accessories (luxe oversized bag, glamourous sunglasses) and effortlessly pretty hair complete the look. America's sweetheart indeed~ move over, Julia Roberts! I wish I could look this simple yet pulled together everyday!  

And hey, if you were dating Jake Gyllenhaal and had an Oscar you would be beaming like Reese too! The girl has reason to smile! 

Moving On

Today was soooo hot and lovely. Sadly I was trapped indoors for all of it, only savouring the warmth as I walked to get a coffee while on a break and home to my apartment at the end of my work day. Only this week I have decided to leave one of my jobs and to move on to different things. What, I'm not exactly sure yet, but I have faith that all will work out in the end. I have been craving change, something new and exciting. I have enjoyed the last year of my life but it was never meant to be a forever thing for me. Still, I will miss the job but mostly, and more importantly, the people I have gotten to know and care for. 

Change is important. It prevents life from being stagnant. It keeps us on our toes, challenged and learning new things. I'm looking forward to having a few days free while I'm on the hunt for something new..... if only so I can lay about, enjoy my summer and gaze at the sky one lazy afternoon. 

xo Ally 

(Photo via Paper Tissue) 

Happy First Day of Summer!

Today is officially the longest day of the year and I intend to enjoy the light late into the evening celebrating Father's Day with my family. Summer is officially here and this time of year always stirs in me the lust to have an escape from the city, a secluded cabin or lakefront cottage to head to on the weekends, where one can ignore the bustle of normal, weekday life. I've been fortunate enough to have friends with this kind of retreat, where I am occasionally invited to relax, swim, eat and drink weekends away during the blissful summer months, but it is a dream to one day have an escape of my own. Cottage life is the antithesis to city life. 

Cabin rules: Leave the heels at home and live in your flip flops and bikini, hair wet and tangled (I can practically feel the sunburn on my shoulders and see the freckles on my nose). Abandon work and lose yourself in a good book, mojito in hand. Dinner should be a lazy barbeque, stretching late into the evening with wine and friends and (of course!) yummy dessert. Go to bed late and sleep in late. The most strenuous thing you should do all weekend is go for a walk. Get off the rollercoaster, breathe and enjoy life. 

The above summer homes represent the very best of life away from the city~ casual, relaxed, beachy, serene, quiet, soothing. If your family happens  to own a cabin, let me tell you~ enjoy it! And if like most of us you don't you can still bring a little summer into your own home. Pale blue pillows, a sisal area rug, candles and seashells scattered about are good ways to introduce the cottage feel into your city dwelling. No matter what, summer is here so get outside and enjoy the sunshine! 

(Photos courtesy of Canadian House & Home)

Time to Show Some Skin, Girls

My stomach clenches. I suddenly feel nauseous and break into a cold sweat. My heart is pounding with nervous dread. Every summer this happens at least once. One hot and glorious day when I decide to be brave (ha) and go in search of a new bikini for the season. Swimsuit season. Can there be two more dreaded words for a large amount of the female population? I thought not. Every girl I know has some issue once bikini season rolls around~ I am very pale 365 days of the year and would strikingly resemble Caspar (the ghost, thank you very much) if I were to ever hit the beach (which I don't). Still, it doesn't have to be such an ordeal. Find what works for your body, embrace what you have, be brave and let go. Nobody, and I mean nobody, is perfect. A few years ago I stumbled upon J.Crew bikinis while on a trip in the States. I am now a faithful devotee and have bought several others since. Their fabrics are beautiful and come in a truly beautiful array of colours and patterns. They have a wealth of options so you can choose a top you like and a completely different bottom style to suit your own personality and in your appropriate size. Best of all, they are chic and fashionable without being too skimpy or trendy, so you don't have to feel like Gisele Bundchen to pull them off. 

Jersey Lemollina Kauai Halter Top ($58US) and Foldover Bottom ($56US) in Soft Pine (my personal fave!)

Regal Paisley Twist Bandeau Top ($46US) and Paisley Bottom ($44US)

Solid Twist-Front Bandeau Top ($44US) and Twist Bottom ($40US) in Bistro Orange

Visit J.Crew here. Happy shopping! 

Date Night in the Summer

Summer is almost here... when the sunshine stretches late into the evening and the best dates are the laziest, most relaxed ones. I've been on some lovely dates in my time, in and around Vancouver, and my favourite ones of memory are always during the sultry summer months. My advice? Grab your guy and head out for one of these outings. None of them will break the bank and perhaps they will be as magical for you as they were for me.

1. Choose a clear summer Saturday. Have a late dinner in Kits (perhaps Hapa Izakaya at Cornwall and Yew or Watermark overlooking the beach). Following dinner head towards the Planetarium and instead of visiting the bigger attraction opt for the smaller Observatory, where a trained professional will direct a massive telescope to the night sky and show you any number of incredible visions. When I was there I got to see Saturn, a collapsed star and a meteorite, among other amazing things. Admission is by donation (open only Saturdays) and the experience (in the dark, tiny room) is both romantic and entertaining. Afterwards, hold your honey's hand while strolling around Vanier Park and smooch along the shore. 

2. Pick any warm evening, pack a blanket into your car and put your bathing suits on under your clothes. Make sure to grab your passports or birth certificates. Head to Highway 99 and then divert towards the Ferry terminals. Bypass the boats and instead cross the border into Point Roberts, Washington (the border line up shouldn't take more than a few minutes). Once you're in the great, excited States make a pit stop at the Market Place to stock up on everything you need for a yummy picnic~ the deli has yummy and greasy fried chicken, spicy wedge potatoes and (best of all) corndogs (there is also healthier fare, if you insist) and a shockingly decent wine selection. Don't forget to bring me back Red Vines, I beg you! Take your picnic down to the beach, spread out your blanket, eat and splash in the cool ocean. If you're lucky (I was, once or twice) you may see whales going by. The beach is normally fairly deserted and private so you may not see anyone else around. Completely magical, inexpensive and romantic. 

3. Splurge on tickets to Bard on the Beach (this year's offerings include Othello and The Comedy of Errors). Watch the magnificent theatre, perhaps munching on the sweet and salty mixture popcorn (yum, best snack ever). Afterwards (if you passed on the popcorn or even if you're just still hungry) head over the bridge to downtown and indulge in a sweet treat at Marble Slab Creamery on Denman at Davie. You will fall in love with this gourmet ice cream, guaranteed. Quote lovey Shakespeare lines to each other as you get your sugar high. 

More fun summer dates to come! Enjoy, lovebirds!