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!

Fashion Friday: Sail Away!

“Who is staring at the sea is already sailing a little.”
- Paul Carvel

I had such a great time last night! One of my really good girlfriend just got home from spending eight months in Europe. It's going to be so nice to have her back home, at least for a few months!

Of course, after spending all that time eating only eastern European food, we had a comfort food feast of hot wings, Pizza Hut cheese pizza and cupcakes, while she filled us in on life in Latvia and unpacked all of her cute European clothes and accessories!

I'm not going to lie... I was pretty jealous as she pulled out a pair of super cute jeans, a really hot turquoise leather bomber jacket and a gorgeous sheer red wrap, printed with white and navy anchors. I was loving the wrap! It was HUGE! So big that you could wrap it into a floor length maxi dress! How awesome is that! We were chatting and I wrapping my friend up in different experimental styles, and we ended up talking about my love of all things nautical this season. Apparently, the trend is huge in Europe right now as well!

Needless to say, as soon as I got home I grabbed my laptop, and started shopping for some cute sailor stuff! I just recently bought a pair of Earnest Sewn high waisted denim shorts to get me started. Now I just need to pick up a few more pieces and wait for some warm weather to try them out!

Are you up for some nautical influence this summer? Even us landlocked Calgarians can appreciate this cool, fresh look! Here are a few cute sailor inspired ideas you might like to try:





GILES & BROTHER
Gold-plated anchor necklace
$115



American Eagle
Striped Racer Back Tank
$10



Vineyard Vines
Anchors & Stars Headband
$30



Forever 21
Nautical Striped Cardigan
$22.80



Old Navy
Espadrille Wedges
$25



Vero Moda
Nautical Stripe Shift Dress
$59



Pierce Denim
Sailor Pants
$95



Kayce Hughes
Red Acrylic Anchor Necklace
$40



Forever 21
Seafarer Cardigan
$15.80



Oasis Naughty Cool
Resin Anchor Cuff Bracelet
$20


So even if the closest you'll get to the ocean this summer, is the beaches of Auburn Bay lake... You can still rock this breezy style. Just don't go over board...

Sorry, I couldn't resist!


Boat Photo Credit: Jana Elliott Hooper

Around Town: The Little Cupcake Shoppe

"Looks like you could use a cupcake!"
-Tracy Flick, Election

Cupcakes are magical! I haven't met very many people who don't fall under their spell! The adorable little cups, the perfect serving of soft delicious cake, the dollop of pretty whipped frosting... Everything about them draws you in! And the best part? They really serve no purpose other than pure enjoyment!

I absolutely love cupcakes, and if the number of cool new boutique cupcake shops in Calgary is any indication, I am not alone. A few years ago there was really only one place for gourmet cupcakes in the city, and it was not unusual for people (...ME!) to plan an entire day around cupcakes. Getting your hands on a few of the coveted cupcakes, involved driving all the way across the city first thing in the morning to avoid the devastating "SOLD OUT" sign.

Thankfully for me, times are changing. Gone are the days of suffering through a chocolate peanut butter cupcake, because all of the other flavours were sold out and I didn't want my trip to be a complete waste. These days there seems to be a cupcake shop within minutes of most people, all offering their own unique and tempting flavour combinations.

A few months ago, we were lucky enough to have The Little Cupcake Shoppe open a few blocks from our house. This family run shop is definitely worth checking out if you happen to be in south Calgary. The owners are passionate about the flavours of their cupcakes, and only use the best ingredients. Madagascar vanilla, bernard callebaut chocolate, fruit purees made right in the store and lots of real butter! YUM! Their menu includes 16 standard flavours as well as seasonal specials and are all available in regular and mini sizes. For a full list of their amazing flavours visit The Little Cupcake Shoppe Menu, but here are a few of my favorites to get your mouth watering:

Chocolate Chip Mint



- chocolate chip mint buttercream on chocolate cake
- topped with bittersweet chocolate
- the perfect balance of chocolate and mint

Raspberry Vanilla



- raspberry buttercream on vanilla cake
- made with real raspberry puree
- topped with dark chocolate curls

Pina Colada



- pineapple buttercream on coconut cake
- made with real pineapple puree
- topped with coconut flakes

Cocoa Rouge



- red velvet cake made with buttermilk and a hint of cocoa
- topped with rich cream cheese frosting
- sprinkled with callebaut cocoa

The Little Cupcake Shoppe is located at 230, 11 Mckenzie Towne Avenue, just a few doors down from brewsters, and next to pet planet. They are open tuesday - friday 10:00am to 6:00pm, saturday - sunday 10:00am to 4:00pm and are closed mondays and holidays.



Want to guarantee you get all of your favorites? Make sure you check out The little Cupcake Shoppe's Online Ordering that lets you place your order in advance, so your cupcakes will be waiting for you when you get there!

Treat yourself today! I promise you will be happy you did!

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!

The Simple Things: Spa Cucumber Water

“Water is the only drink for a wise man.”
-Henry David Thoreau

As part of my never ending quest to live a healthier lifestyle, I've been trying to drink more water lately. It's hard work to get the recommended two liters a day and I like water! I actually think a tall, cool glass of water is hard to beat. The problem is having to drink 8 of them when I'm constantly tempted by diet coke and pink lemonade! I find after a glass or two I just get bored... so I decided if I was ever going to make this whole water thing permanent, I would need to get creative!

The first thing I did was went out and bought some pretty glass water bottles to keep in my fridge. I really like having a constant supply of ice cold water, and to be honest, it just feels so much more special coming out of a bottle than a tap and sink over flowing with dishes!
I picked up four of these from IKEA for only $2.99 each!




Next I decided to recreate one of my favorite parts of going to the spa at the Banff Springs Hotel ... the cucumber water. This water is amazing! It is so refreshing, looks and smells fabulous and actually helps to improve the look of your skin! How great is that! Here's how its done:

Spa Cucumber Water

2 liters of water
1 cucumber, sliced and unpeeled
1 lemon sliced and unpeeled
fresh mint sprigs (optional)
Lots of ice

In a large pitcher (or a pretty glass bottle!) combine the water, cucumber (hold a handful for decoration), lemon and a few sprigs of mint.
Let it chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours, but preferably 24 hours. If you want instant gratification, and just can't wait 2 hours, squeeze the juice from the cucumbers into the water instead of stirring them in.
Before you enjoy, remove the original cucumber slices and add the ones you set aside, along with some mint, for decoration.
Stir in some ice and you're good to go!


I hope this helps you stay hydrated!


Photo Credit: www.apartmenttherapy.com

Four Weddings and a Fashion Fix

"After all there is something about a wedding-gown prettier than in any other gown in the world." -Douglas William Jerrold

Now don't get me wrong, I love weddings! I love going to the mail box and finding the beautiful invitations. I love getting teary eyed while holding Chris' hand during the ceremonies. I especially love celebrating with friends and family over great food and too much wine. The only thing that ever stresses me out as the wedding day approaches, it trying to figure out what I'm going to wear.

It seems like over the past five years everyone has been getting married, and this year is no exception. We have four weddings to attend this summer alone! Normally, I like to use weddings as an excuse to by a fabulous new outfit. I can usually justify this to myself, and more importantly to my husband, with a combination of "everyone who will be there has already seen me in that" and "I've had that dress forever, and it doesn't fill anymore"... The problem this year, is that the weddings are super close together (4 weddings over 3 months), a lot of the same people will be at each of them and I'm on a budget. So you see, although I'd love to buy dresses for each wedding, I think I've found a pretty innovative alternative... the Convertible Dress!

These dresses are awesome. With anywhere from 15-20 different ways to wrap them (yes, the same dress!) you get multiple looks for one price. How sweet is that! A dress like this, will not only carry me through the wedding season in style, but will no doubt become one of my summer staples. Now I just have to decide on the colour and the brand...

A lot of companies are offering versions of this dress, but here are a few I really love:

Twobirds



These dresses are beautiful! They come in a short and long length and are available in 18 colours. They are a bit on the pricey side at around $300, but if you're going to wear it a lot, it's probably worth the investment. You can order on line from Twobirds.

Butter by Nadia



Butter by Nadia is a favorite with celebs and offers not only their signature wrap dress, which is available in short or long, jersey or satin and a ton of colours and patterns, but also convertible wrap pant suits, multiple dresses and tops. These are about the same price as the Twobirds dress, at around $300 and are available online at Butter by Nadia.

Victoria's Secret



Victoria's secret offers three variations on the convertible dress, but my favorite it their ruched convertible dress. This body hugging dress can be worn at least 10 different ways, is available in 12 colours and with a price of under $100, you can afford to buy two. Available online at Victoria's Secret.

American Apparel



If you're looking for a more casual dress, American Apparel offers two styles featured in at least 21 colors that can be worn 15 different ways. I am personally coveting the Le Sac Dress... I just love the braided details! These dresses are also the most frugal friendly at under $50. You can order them online at American Apparel.



I can think of endless occasions when a dress like this would be perfect... for a vacation somewhere warm, for a bridal party, for a trip with limited luggage space, for a busy wedding season or just for increasing your spring/summer wardrobe by 15 dresses with one purchase. This summer, the convertible dress can become the perfect outfit for every occasion, making it not only the most versatile, but the most economical piece of clothing you can buy.

Happy shopping!

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.