Monday Morning Must Have: Whole Living Magazine

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
-Leonardo DaVinci

Is it just me, or is it ridiculously hard to find a magazine worth five dollars these days?

I feel like I am stuck somewhere between Cosmo and US Weekly or Redbook and Canadian Living. There just aren't very many magazines targeted to or relevant for the married twenty something crowd, so I am constantly on the lookout for a fun, hip magazine that writes about things my friends and I would be interested in.

My mother-in-law is actually the one who first introduced me to Whole Living: body + soul in balance. She was already a subscriber and bought me my own subscription for Christmas last year, and I'm hooked. I love that one issue of Whole Living features everything from under 225 calorie ice cream taste tests and eco-friendly wall coverings to creating an edible garden and the ultimate beach cover-ups. With a bit of a focus on environmental sustainability and personal well-being, it's fresh and modern take on a women's issue magazine.

Whole Living is available at Chapters Bookstore or online at Whole Living Subscriptions.

Tuesday Morning Must Have: Jack Johnson's To The Sea

"You and your heart, Shouldn’t feel so far apart"
-Jack Johnson

Today is a super exciting day!

After waiting over two years, Jack Johnson has finally come out with a new album! I can't even tell you how elated I am!

I'm a huge fan of Jack Johnson, and since I listen to his music on a daily basis, it will be nice to have a few new songs in the rotation!

I'm sure almost everyone is familiar Jack Johnson's surf inspired, beachy acoustic music, but if you haven't had a chance to check it out, I highly recommend you do! It really is the perfect summer soundtrack. It's laid back sound, chilled out lyrics and the occasional steel drum solo, make it the perfect choice for everything from a day at the beach to a backyard barbeque.

To The Sea definitely doesn't disappoint! It is Jack's fifth studio album, and was recorded in two of his very own solar powered studios. Did I mention that I love this guy? This album also happens to feature one of my other favorite singer/songwriter's Zach Gill on the piano.

Here is a list of the tracks on To The Sea:

You and Your Heart
To The Sea
No Good With Faces
At Or With Me
When I Look Up
From The Clouds
My Little Girl
Turn Your Love
The Upsetter
Red Wine, Mistakes, Mythology
Pictures Of People Taking Pictures
Anything But The Truth
Only The Ocean

You may have heard You and Your Heart on the radio over the last few weeks. It's such a great song!

Jack Johnson's To The Sea was released today, and is available for purchase from his website, for download at iTunes or online at Amazon.

Long Weekend Must Have: Urban Outfitters Straw Fedora

"Cock your hat - angles are attitudes."
-Frank Sinatra

Hats are the perfect summer long weekend accessory! Not only do they protect you from the sun and the heat, but they keep you looking cool at the same time!

There a a ton of awesome summer hats out there to choose from this year, so you'll have no problem finding one to perfectly suit your style. If you look for a lightweight hat in a classic style that can be packed easily, it will work for almost any occasion this season. Don't plan on spending a ton of money though... the last thing you want, is to be worried about sand and water damage. Besides, this way you can buy a new hat next year guilt free!

I have tried a few different styles of summer hats over the last couple of years... a perfectly broken down Shady Brady cowboy hat that I absolutely loved, a gorgeous floppy black wide-brimmed hat from Forever 21 that made me feel like Audrey Hepburn, a surfer-girl military inspired newsboy hat by Roxy with more style than function... But the one hat that I wore again and again was a cute little straw fedora with a simple black ribbon I picked up at Urban Outfitters.

To me it is the quintessential summer hat. It's made of woven lightweight straw and can bounce back after spending 10 hours in a suitcase. I love that it's casual enough to throw on with a bathing suit to hang by the pool, yet doesn't look even a little out of place with a dress and gladiators for dinner on a patio. It's hard to believe you can get all this chic and it's cheap too... I picked it up for under $40.

Although my hat is a few seasons old, the almost identical (although maybe even cuter) version pictured is available from Urban Outfitters for $48. I'm loving the menswear inspired checkered hatband!

Friday Morning Must Have: Hoola Bronzer by Benefit

“To be successful, keep looking tanned.”
-Aristotle

I'm pale.

Ultra pale.

And after spending all winter long, inside and under multiple layers of clothing... let's just say my skin needs all the help it can get!

I don't know what I would do without my daily dose of Bronzer. It gives me that radiant "home from holidays" glow I love so much, without the nasty wrinkles and age spots!

I have tried so many different bronzers over the years... with very different results! I've tried some that make you turn orange, some that make you look dirty and some that have so much sparkle in them I looked like I walked out of a teen-rom vampire novel... not good at all!

These days I swear by Hoola Bronzer by Benefit for an instant tropical glow. It's a bit pricey, but it is hands down the prettiest and most natural looking colour I have ever used!

If you want that sun-kissed goddess glow too, you can pick up Hoola Bronzer at Shoppers Drug Mart and Sephora for around $30!

Ps. The little bamboo brush it comes with is super cute and practical too!


Next on Truly, Madly, Deeply...

My friend J and I are heading down the DeVille Luxury Coffee & Pastries at Art Central... Morgan from Mon Petit Amour was raving about their Nutella Latte, so I can't wait to try one!

I'll let you know just how hip and delicious it is!

Happy Friday!

xoJana

Monday Morning Must Have: Echinacea Complete Care Tea

"If I had my way I'd make health catching instead of disease."
-Robert Ingersoll

I'm sick!

I've felt it coming for a few days now, but wasn't hit with its full force until early this afternoon. I hardly have a voice, my throat is on fire and I can't stop coughing... It's not fun at all!

I hate being sick. I hate missing out on things. I hate being confined to my house. The only thing remotely positive about being sick, is that my amazing husband takes such good care of me. He makes me vegetarian "chicken" noodle soup, comes up with delicious juice mocktails, goes to the store to pick up cough drops and best of all, makes sure my cup of tea is continually filled up and warm.

I don't think there is anything as soothing as warm herbal tea when you have a sore throat. Normally, my go to tea is Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime, but I recently discovered the new Wellness tea line by Celestial Seasonings, and they are even better when you're sick. These Wellness teas combine herbs and natural ingredients that are specially designed to support a healthy body, while still tasting great!

Celestial Seasonings Echinacea Complete Care Tea looks perfect for the endless colds and flus that seem to go around every season. A blend of echinacea, vitamin C, and zinc boost your bodies natural defenses and help you stay healthy naturally. It's like a warm delicious cup of cold FX! It's also completely natural and is caffeine and gluten free. Just make sure you steer clear of echinacea if you have an autoimmune disease!

Don't forget to take your vitamins... I'd hate for you to get sick too!

Have a great monday!

Wednesday Morning Must Have: Essie Nail Polish

"I love the smell of nail polish in the morning"
-Jason Stackhouse, True Blood

Is anyone else feeling a bit blah this week?

Calgary has had some horribly miserable weather lately, and I'm in desperate need of a pick me up! And what better to brighten up the day, than some fab nail polish in a sunny summer shade!

For a few year now, I have had an on going love affair with the super chic J. Crew. I love how effortlessly elegant their clothes are from season to season, and that their price point make them an affordable luxury. The creative force behind the brand, executive creative director Jenna Lyons, is brilliant... and has a wardrobe to die for! Last summer J. Crew announced that they have teamed up with the ultra cool Essie Nail Polish! Each season, they will select a few colours that reflect the vision of their collection, and will offer them in store and online at J. Crew for a limited time.

This spring/summer J. Crew is offering these fun, bright and glossy polishes, guaranteed to make you forget all about the snow, sleet and grey skies looming outside:

Russian Roulette



Punchy Pink



Van D Go



Peach Daiquiri



I am personally loving the Punchy Pink... and it's currently on route to my house from J. Crew as we speak!

Make your toes and fingers happy!
These are a must have in every colour!

Monday Morning Must Have: Penguin Classics

"She is too fond of books, and it has turned her brain."
-Louisa May Alcott

I have a bit of an obsession with books. I love not only to read, but also to surround myself with books. In my ideal world, I would have one of those amazing two story libraries with the rolling ladders, huge fire place, perfectly broken in chairs and so many books that I would never run out of new things to read!

Thankfully, my husband Chris feels the exact same way about books as I do. We are always on the lookout for new books to add to our collection, and just recently came across these amazing hardcover books. Each classic novel features designs by Coralie Bickford-Smith, a designer working for Penguin. They are only available for a limited time though, so get them while you can!

There are currently twenty books in the collection and include some of my all time favorites: Pride and Prejudice, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Wuthering Heights, Little Women and Alice in Wonderland.

Here are a few more pictures of the beautiful covers:





These books are just so pretty! I plan on getting all of them, and am well on my way with over 10 so far! They look great mixed in with all the other books on the bookshelves, adding their pop of colour, and I would love a stack on my bedside table!

To check out all of the covers available visit Penguin Flickr.

You can order these gorgeous books from Amazon.

Friday Morning Must Have: Keel's Simple Diary

"I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train."
- Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, Act 2

I first saw these amazingly cool diaries featured in the Rachel McAdams interview in the January 2010 Vogue . I'm one of those people who loves the idea of keeping a diary, but can't even begin to come up with anything remotely interesting to write in one! That is what is so great about the Keel's Simple Diary... Each page is filled with questions and fill in the blanks to get you started and then it's up to you to keep on going or just stick with the short answer. It makes introspection almost effortless... Now who doesn't love that!



And seriously, how off the wall are the questions?
I love it!

These would make a great gift for a shower or Mother's Day!
They are available for special order at Chapters or at Simple Diary