Top Centre - Clockwise: Striped Dress | Banana Republic, Lover Sweater | Poppy & Olive, Loose stripped T-Shirt | The Gap, Blue Bikini | La Vie En Rose, Grey Romper | RW&Co, Starfish Keds | Softmoc, Coral T-Shirt Sweater | The Gap, Brown Purse | Modcloth, Malibu Rising | Chapters, Tkees Flip Flops | The Bay, Jean Shorts | The Gap, Pink / Cream Camis | Ambercrombie & Fitch, Perscription Sunglasses | All About Eyeware, Bridgerton | Amazon

Although this summer started out slow for us after a third lockdown pushing various spring events, our August was everything we needed it to be. Having time for a family vacation, celebrating 10 years married along with friends visiting and beach days, we are alight with what that rest that sank into our bones.

New to Me

Lover Sweater

This sweater is extremely thick, high quality and just altogether beautiful. I have always loved the word ‘lover’. I think it captures something I hold deeply inside myself and it has a way of propelling me forward.

Bikini Swimsuit

After 6 years of beach and pool days my tankini swimsuit bit the dust this summer and I was forced to do the dreaded task of finding another suit that I would like. I loved how my other set hugged my body in all the right spots. This Bikini gives me the coverage I want while also adding more style to my summers.

Flip Flops

I have been in desperate need of a pair of flipflops and was thankful for my moms birthday gift in these.

Coral Sweater T-Shirt

I am a bit lacking in clear ‘shirt’ options for the summer outings and this coral sweater t-shirt adds a fun option for beach days, or just around the house on a cool summer morning.

Still Going Strong

Blue/White Striped Dress

This stunning dress keeps giving me life. It feels like it captures all of me.

Starfish Keds

This pair has that worn appearance yet still holding shape.

Purse

I adore this purse I invested in a couple years ago. It is easy to bring on shopping days or just out and about on the weekends.

Time to Go

Jean Shorts

Not pictured here is a pair of jean shorts I bought and used exclusively as my ‘jean shorts’ for the summers. They were quite honestly falling apart. Off they go.

Blue Second Hand tank

Not pictured here is a second hand tank top I have been wearing for 4-5 years in summer and autumn months. It was never 100% me, but it did the trick when doing life with a toddler in tow. I am not wearing it anymore, so it’s time to donate it. Someone will appreciate it more than I am right now.

White Point Beach Resort on a foggy morning.

To celebrate our 10th anniversary and to create memories, we spent the majority of a week at White Point Resort this summer. It was everything we needed and more.

The time as a couple to connect intentionally and romantically outside of the life we have been working hard for was healing and I am not unaware of what a huge privilege it is that we could set aside the time to make that happen.

It’s easy to think that we are capable of this endless wheel of meeting the needs of our jobs, our friends and family without those margin moments but it’s simply not true. If anything the pandemic has taught us, is that having ‘pause’ can create space for something altogether different.

Pause is scary.

Being alone, without the people, the hustle, the bustle is sometimes nerve wracking.

We have our lives so perfectly ordered to create the background noise just the way we like to hear it, but eventually that background noise becomes undelt with trauma, over worked, over wrought and simply a lack of peace soul with the way things are as they are.

This vacation felt like the rope I was so clearly trying to grasp and articulate.

I

CAN’T

DO

IT

ALL.

I

CAN’T

BE

THE

SOLUTION

TO

ANY

ONE

PERSONS

NEEDS.

I

WASN’T

MADE

TO

LIVE

OFF

OF

NOTHING

BUT

EXPECTATIONS

AND

SCHEDULES.

I

WAS

MADE

TO

FLY

AND

LAUGH.

*spoiler alert: this is no new news.

No one was made to fully fulfill another person.
We are individually born as whole and solo beings.

We can be blessings to each other.
We can be the refreshing rain on the soil of another spirit.

We cannot be the sun.
We cannot be expected to exist simply to glorify anything but the One who made us.

What does this mean?

It means we do our best to honour and work to hone the life we are called into.

If you are privileged enough to carve out time and space for you to exhale somewhere quiet, I hope you find yourself a little corner of a moment to sit and listen to the lifeline rope you are holding on to and listen to what it is saying.

These are the things we hear loud and clear, yet need the time to fully see what it is we have been aching over.

Have you ever considered that the best of you has yet to be discovered?

We like to think that we can dress ourselves up with our experiences, education and accolades.

That who we are is the sum of our success and ability to dust ourselves off after a string of errors and mischief.

That we possibly can just forge ahead and put the mess of our past behind us.

No burial service, no atonement, no rectification.

Just walking away from the mess and letting the scabs form where they are as we stagger on.

If this is you dear one, then I must urge you… sit down. You are leaving bodies in your wake, and the next one might be yours.

Here’s the thing,

We humans have so much to learn from the digging into our failures, our past and our wounds.

We will repeat what we don’t heal and we will find a new way to ripple affect the damage we haven’t dealt with.

Success is not how many times you are able to walk away from failure and press on.

Success is found within the healing process. How deep you go to find the cause of the wounds of your past and how you carve out time and space for new and more healing ways to continue on.

We like to act like we are above brokenness. That our ability to damage ourselves and others along the way by our own inability to see the next bump in the road is just a simple accident, but the truth is,

without your own self reflection, healing and ability to see that you are just as faulty as the next broken and lonely soul…

you will always pass judgement and assume to know the depths of another person’s pain.

You will continue to walk away from the messes you make, shrug your shoulders and suggest that there is nothing more you can do.

But there is.

Always.

More healing to be found in the cracks of you.

And maybe,

just maybe,

working on healing your own broken pieces will create the safe place for new healing somewhere else instead of the shards you leave in your wake that people will walk on.

Malibu Rising | Taylor Jenkins Reid

A captivating and descriptive tale of a family that grew up in Malibu. Spanning the timeline of two generations we get to see the beginnings and the fall out of a family. This novel delivers the beautiful landscape of Malibu, while also revealing the destructive nature of what it means to put all your hopes and dreams into one solitary ‘element’. Be that a person, a place or a thing.
The perfect summer read.

Bridgerton | The Duke & I | Julia Quinn

I picked this up out of interest of wanting to read the novel before watching the Shonda Rhimes series. With adaptations I am always interested in what was chosen to be included or not. This novel although slightly different than its television series which is more ‘based on the characters of’ gives its own beautiful and romantic punch. I adore the society columnist giving her take at the beginning of each chapter (which Julie Andrews does such a great job at in the series with her voice over), and I love the strong female characters who are very much within the restraints of their era but yet remain three dimensional within their roles.
Beautifully done.
It’s safe to say I will be continuing on with this series both on Netflix and in books.

Peter Pan and Wendy | J.M. Berry

J.M Berry’s writing has always been an inspiration to me. I believe I first read Peter Pan as a late teen and re-fell in love with the tale. Of course, some of the depictions are outdated, but when you move past that dated stereotypes and focus on everything else, you can see how perfectly wonderful a storyteller the man was. He breathed creative genius in so many ways. Words weaving in and out of the narrative, giving the reader something to hold on to. It’s no surprise that Peter Pan was first a play before a book. It’s words depict a fully visual and beautiful world.

The Next Right Thing | Emily P. Freeman

Emily has been a writer I have followed for years. Her podcast ‘The Next Right Thing’ a comfort during many a time, especially during the pandemic. That being said, it seemed sad that I had not yet read The Next Right Thing Book yet, so I have finally rectified that. If you are looking for a read that will give you permission to mindfully and intentionally process through your life and decisions, this is a perfect read.

In Film / Television

Dirty Dancing | because while in our cottage during vacation at night with our daughter asleep, this seemed like the perfect summer watch. It was. For me, summer air & dancing is the most delicious thing.
Bridgerton | because adaptations are my jam and this is no exception.

The Crucible | Arthur Miller

Written during the early 1950’s to mirror image the anti-communist era by rewinding the clock and looking at the 1700’s Salem Witch trials, this read is a huge reminder that history does repeat itself. We are so fickle to think there is not a repetitive nature to the human existence. The only true thing that can help curb history repeating itself is awareness. An awareness of ourselves and the world around us. So much of history is built on the foundations of fear, misunderstandings and lack of grace. This book couldn’t be more relevant today for all of the polarized societal shifts we are seeing.

Glad to have read the play, but even more interested in seeing it live.

A Whole New World | Liz Braswell

A retelling of Disneys ‘Aladdin’. I have been following this series slowly where commissioned authors retell these classics / Disney tales in new and twisted ways. This adaption is no exception. If you like this sort of thing, these books are a fun read.

On Greif & Grieving | Elisabeth Kübler-Ross & David Kessler

I have been reading this book for research on the grieving process. Especially now that David has expanded on this in a second book, it’s easy to see why this is a book that many recommend. It’s a staple for understanding what a person goes through in any sort of grief.

Films & TV Series of Note

Toy Story 3 - for the family film night & because it is the best of the series.
The Handmaids Tale S04 - for the reminder that we are only ever one step away from becoming a society that would spiral out of control.
Back to the Future - for the summer nostalgia

I say this a lot.

Grace.

We need to pass grace.

But sometimes, I say it with pain in my heart.

If anything has taught me more about grace… it's becoming a parent.

I'm not sure that I genuinely understood forgiveness and its complete process until working through the parenting journey.

I still am.

It's hard.

Hard to see that there are things I will need to be forgiven for. I will need to create healing space in my child's life and understand that there is no end to that cycle of needing to create space for a person and the grace to exist in the air between us.

Grace is a path I am walking and stumbling in again and again.

Sometimes it's a beautiful journey, and other times it becomes dark and full of thorns.

I can feel weary in the journey of forgiveness.

Yet, the idea of turning back, of not continuing on and finding that next part of healing, albeit alluring, is not a place I want to go.

We get frozen in time without the path.

We need the path.

It's just… hard.

Painful and not always a fun feeling.

And sometimes, I want to stamp my foot and decide to stay where I am.

I don't need to go any further.

But then…

I am raising this little spirit and the path is for her to learn as much as I.

If I can't pass grace for the pain within myself and exist with it, I can't give grace for the pain within others.

It's hard to look at.

It's not fun.

Yet,

it's a path.

A journey.

And thus far, the path has provided me more grace, more healing and more compassion than not being on the path.

So onwards we go.

Here is the playlist for this summer 2021

Summer of Now - James Blake

Around 1:22 this song picks up in a way that gets me in my inner core. There is something about a nostalgic song regarding summertime that adds to those reflective moments. Roll down the windows and turn up the volume on this baby.

Cigarettes and Coffee - Otis Redding

This tune makes me think of every good feeling that a couple could experience rolled up into one tune. Bare feet, two mugs, sitting on countertops late at night while cooking, deep talks and the sounds of good music in the background.

This Will Be - Natalie Cole

Blame it on the 98’ remake of The Parent Trap, but this song for me says summer. I would binge this film during my childhood summers. The end credits rolled to this track. The opening chords get me every time.

Gratitude - Brandon Lake

I love this thankful prayer. Sometimes words are best said heavenwards.

Drums of Autumn | Diana Gabaldon

Rereading any Outlander book is a treat. This remained no exception. Leave it to Diana Gabaldon to give us even more epic story development that crosses time, eras, generations, genres and cultures. This is my second time sitting down with Drums of Autumn. #noregrets

Many Ways to Say I Love You: Wisdom for Parents and Children from Mister Rogers | Fred Rogers

Words of Wisdom from Fred Rogers on the various forms of love. There is nothing more healing than that.
(note, I read this through my ‘iBooks’ app,.

The Paragon Hotel | Lyndsay Faye

Not yet finished, but a riveting historical mystery set in the 1920’s during prohibition Oregan and New York City. With a character who refers to herself as ‘Nobody’, it’s a constant page turn to discover where she came from, where she plans to go next and what is keeping her at the Paragon Hotel.

FILMS /TV SHOWS of Note

Ted Lasso S01 - because it might be the best comedy that hit TV ever. Exposing mental health, real life and comedic life all in one.
Q Into the Storm - because although Q-anon was something I knew about, the deconstruction of where it all began and the ways it spread is something next level scary and worth taking in for the broader awareness of how conspiracy theories can either make or break you.

Pothos

As we wait for our music / reading room couch to arrive I thought a new plant for the bookshelf would be a great idea. After research, I thought we’d start with a Pothos. So far, so good.

Spring Soy Candles

I sprung for the Spring set from Okanagan Candle Co. I have been sad to wait for my favourite local soy candle maker to start production again, but supporting another Canadian business, despite the distance seemed like a smart idea. I love that this pack lets you try all the candles to decide which one is your favourite.

Secret Garden

A secret, yet not so secret if you know me well, is that I ADORE a good Korean Drama. No matter how kitchy they can be, there is something so sweet and lovely about sinking into a limited series that attempts to embrace the ‘love story’ concept in the format of a KD. This series remains the best I have ever watched. Originally I watched this in 2011 and this would be my third rewatch of the series.

Origins Toner

I finally have landed on a toner that fits my skin type and current needs.

The Ordinary Cleanser

A gift on my birthday, and let’s just say “I see the light” in regards to ‘The Ordinary’.

String of Pearls

A pick up from Bloom on a whim. Another lovely music / reading room additive.

On Grief and Grieving

A book I am studying for a project.

Checks and Balances Exfoliant

Another back to the basics product that I am highly in love with. Simple is best with me.

Top Centre - Clockwise : Canadian Currency Tray | Amazon, Jewlery Box | Birthday Gift from Auntie Nicole, Lounge Set | H&M, Kiwi Co Crate Puppet | Kiwi Co Box from Tai Ma, Rainbow Ribbon | Gift from Auntie Heidi, Sketcher Sneakers | Soft Moc, Pyjamas | Gift from Mimi & Yeye, Disney T’s | H&M, Yellow Dress | Zara, Brave Hoodie | H&M, Star Pants | Gift from Mimi & Yeye, Heart patch Jeans | Old Navy, Short Overalls | Old Navy, Winnie the Pooh | Chapters, Welcome to Pawston! | Chapters, Bike Helmet | Canadian Tire, Readers | Chapters

Spring is always an exciting season for us as parents and for our little, as a birthday marks the beginning of a new year in her life. Turning six feels big to us. In truth, every age thus far has brought major milestones. This year her main birthday gift was a blue bike. Complete with a bell and no training wheels. A huge step for her, since due to various life circumstances she hadn’t had a bike since her pink tricycle.
That along with various other milestones we have had and eventful spring, to say the least.

New to Her

Yellow Dress

A beautiful dress from Zara for her 6th Birthday. A little family tradition. Every birthday deserves a new dress.

Brave Hoodie

Although she takes forever to get used to new clothes, especially anything that is outer / extra layers, she took to this new hoodie eventually and it has become her favourite. I wish I had one for myself to be honest.

Sketcher Sneakers

Although she was voting for the light-up sneakers, we needed to put money aside for her bike and stuck with the non light up pair. We will meet that desire on the next go around, which will probably be sooner than later. She’s growing like a weed.

Still Going Strong

Readers

Although she has had readers in level 1 and level 2 for awhile, adding new ones to her collection is making her a ravenous reader. No complaints about that.

Disney T’s

Graphic T’s that have a sweet nostalgic quality to them are my fav. I love it how these haven’t worn with weekly washes.

Star Pants

Thankfully these have been a great fit during Winter and Spring. She is a weed these days.

Time to Go

Pyjamas

Over the Spring she has actively grown out of her sleep-ware. Very doubtful any of these warmer pairs will fit come Autumn.

Various shirts / pants

Not pictured here are various pants and shirts we have had to pass along due to her growing arms and legs.

Top Centre - Clockwise: Graphic T Femme | Dynamite, Graphic T Music Notes | Mod Cloth, Cream Scarf | Indigo, Romper | RW&Co, Origins Exfoliant | Sephora, Origins Toner | Sephora, Monarch Butterfly Sweater | Winners, Loose Black Pants | RW&Co, Karl Lagerfeld Flats | The Bay, Pleather Pants | Zara, Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon | Indigo, Girlfriend Jeans | The Gap, Black Cami | H&M, Long Sleeve Shirt | RW&Co, Oversized White Button Shirt | Aritzia, Ordinary Face cleanser | The Ordinary, Ordinary PM Toner | The Ordinary, Cream Oversized Hoodie | Aerie, Tan Turtleneck | RW&Co

Spring saw us in Nova Scotia in the third wave of the COVID pandemic.

This being the hardest wave we have seen yet due to variants. For the first time we were parents of an ‘at home learning’ child and had to navigate our own careers alongside her education.

Thankfully, our Province is opening back up as case numbers drop and the number of vaccinated people go up.

This has meant a more curated approach to my spring capsule this year. More ‘at home working’ outfits and weekend cozy vibes.

New To Me

White / Grey Romper

I adore this romper. Relaxed, light and playful, it adds a lot to my spring / summer capsule.

Beige Hoodie

Although the softest fabric inside and out, this hoodie began buzzing after the first wear. It does not hold up well to look the way it was marketed as from the get go. It does however remain in tact and as warm and as cozy soft as ever. Unfortunately I wouldn’t suggest this for anyone due to it’s lack of ability to hold it’s smooth appearance.

Taupe Long Sleeve

A purchase early spring that was to help with my lack of long sleeves that are not ‘turtle necks’. It is a season fav.

White Oversized Button Shirt

I hunted all Spring for this and am not disappointed with this expensive purchase. The material is high quality, it’s loose yet shapely at the same time. I expect this to be in my wardrobe until it’s threadbare.

Still Going Strong

Tan Turtle Neck

Great for those early spring days in March when a turtle neck is still the best option.

Butterfly Sweater

Though not the most expensive sweater find with the highest quality, the graphic decal is holding up well after multiple washes and it symbolizes a change in my mindset that began during the pandemic. Always a sucker for symbolic capsule items.

Girlfriend Jeans

They do the job. No complaints.

Time to Go

Grey Bridesmaids Dress

Purchased for the besties Wedding in 2017, this dress has seen a handful of wears. I am feeling that it is time to put this baby up for sale. (Not pictured here.)

Ankle Socks

About every pair of my ankle socks had holes in them by mid spring. I ordered another batch of under armer ankle socks to replace them.

Monogamy | Sue Miller

A beautiful and at times heartbreaking novel on the complexities of a marriage. Be this something you can relate to or not, it is written with a meditative pace and flows in a rhythm that reminds me of a rainy day curled up under a blanket.

The Huntress | Kate Quinn

A post WWII story of three main characters and the worlds that intertwine them. I have not fully completed this novel but the intrigue has me fully committed. What would you do if you found out your new step mother was a Nazi / German spy right as your father ties the knot? I am all the way down this rabbit hole.

Television Series & Films of Note:

Mouthpiece - for it’s physicality of the journey of grief,
Fleabag S02 - for it’s arresting commentary on what it means to overcome the crutches that you have created for yourself.
The Queens Gambit - for the chess world and beautiful acting of Anya Taylor-Joy.

There was a time when a nightly review routine was avidly at play in my life.

While being a student, an interpreter, a teacher. There is an element of preparedness that goes beyond getting to bed on time.

Pack the lunch, review the weather, pick the outfit, review the schedule etc.
Somewhere along the lines, I stopped doing it.

Maybe because I equated it with teaching or being a student?
Maybe because when you create from your own home office, you are used to staying accountable in the moment and reviewing tomorrow's task doesn't seem necessary.

Recently, I have begun doing it again, although this time with a different goal in mind.

Reviewing the day I have had and lightly reviewing the one to come.

Look over the tasks accomplished (both personal and professional) through journaling, document thoughts, record what is being tracked (habits, etc.), review the next day and its already scheduled meetings, appointments, tasks etc., check the weather.

This simple nighttime task, although not always done, changes the day ahead.
It seems like a small thing to do, but it shifts the energy and creates space for what is to come in my own mind.

A clearing of the clutter, a vacuum of the dust bunnies, a spray of lavender to lay down, close one's eyes and truly relax until they open again, and it's time to take on a new day in that new headspace of mine.

Another year in lockdown during my birthday.

In many ways, it was discouraging to be changing plans, yet again.

In other ways, it was a delicious opportunity to go inward and truly reflect on what another year of my life has meant and what another year of life to live could mean.

If I was to put my finger on something,

it would be those moments of quiet questions that have led and continue to lead towards the deeper and more important questions.

What are you called to do, now, with others?

This can be difficult to look at within the confines of a pandemic.

I would like to think that my world is vast, my connections and work is large, and that in fact I am called to create space for many, many people.

This is not untrue.

I also think that a habit of mine, and any of us in a world of so much access, is get caught up in the dizzying ‘much-ness’ of the world.

What came with the pandemic restrictions has been a grappling, and a true reality check to make us rethink what access and connection means.

We still scroll and listen and have our ties in places that far outreach us.

Yet,

How do we show up to those in front of us?

How do we show up for those far away?

There is a movement I have noticed.

What are you going to do when the pandemic is over?
When life is back to normal, what are your goals?

I am sensing in my deep spirit not to go back to that type of thinking.

I am called to go back to that guttural core of me and create that space in the here and now with the way things are today.

So a declaration that is happening in my thirty-second year is to continue the work with those who are in my space today. To honour the project ideas and work to adapt to the confines of any given moment.

Going back to what was, is to say that all that once was, was good and healthy.

I think we all know that 24/7 life was not a healthy route we all were taking.
I think we all have seen what baking bread, time to reassess our values, raise our kids, muddle in the quiet, struggle with the heartbreak of a world still so broken, and the senseless inhuman treatment of so many …

We need to humanize ourselves and our callings again.
To humanize ourselves means we are one step closer to humanizing ‘the others’.

Strip it back and see what we all have left to work on, cultivate and create.

So much potential in the human life if we but give ourselves the chance and space to sort, muse, ponder, wonder, and be moved into action.

Big.

Small.

or simply.

the one thing we can do today for ourselves and those who inhabit our space.

In the end,

it’s all a ripple affect.

Onwards to 32.

Six.

Her vibrancy has shone through like a ray of light the past year of her life.

Although in yet another lockdown for her birthday it is very evident that Zoë has changed so much in the past year.

Becoming more and more the person she is on the inside on the outside.

This year she has taught me to love, celebrate and feel more.

It’s been difficult to have to walk her through so many changes and upheaval that we never would have planned but her settling into the changes has been a reminder of how adaptable our spirits can be when surrounded by those we love.

For her sixth year we pray for opportunities to connect with good friends, a free spirit, sharp mind and a growing in her inner self and the One that made her.

Everything Is Spiritual | Rob Bell

I have followed Rob Bell’s writing for decades now. He continues to stay anchored in core truths while also exploring the depth in what people today are aching for. His stream of consciousness style has always spoken to me, and here we get to let it sink into our bones. In many ways, maybe it’s his leaning to stream of consciousness that has allowed him to explore so much in thought, theology and open discourse with others.

We know those waters. Loss and pain and grief and wounds and not knowing what to do or where to go or how to deal with the agony of life. We know those waters. There’s spirit in there, hovering, waiting to bring something new out of it. This is why people who inspire us the most always have been through those waters. They’ve expierence that hovering. They’ve seen that new creation. - Rob Bell'

Sex & Vanity | Kevin Kwan

This book was highly disappointing for a myriad of reasons. It’s hard to truly finish a book I dislike but it is more difficult to write about why I dislike it so much. It’s art. All art is subjective. I write more freely here because I am a huge fan of Kevin’s ‘Crazy Rich Asian’ series which I believe broke barriers, was written with a beautiful wink to both the reader and all those who may relate.
Sex and Vanity is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen with a Chinese culture slant. Some elements work and most do not.
My biggest issue is that this reads exactly what it is: a man writing a female lead. Our protagonist comes off not only a fabrication of a man’s mind, but hallow. Her thoughts, her mannerisms all described were exactly why we have problems for young women. When men write us to be that hollow, that flimsy of character, all we get reflected back to us are the shallow and flimsy filters of ourselves.
Many women have these elements about their personality and character, but ALL these women have dynamic range to many degrees.
Case and point: Sophie Kinsella’s character Rebecca Bloomwood in the shopaholic series is outrageous. Completely out of this world shallow and airy. But we believe her. We laugh at her and with her. We find ourselves in her and we may know her. Why?
Because women written by women will always come from a different place than men writing women.
Men can do it, I believe they can, I have read books that are enrapturing and feel true to soul, but this…this was not it.

Films / Television Series of Note:

The Crown S04 - for the beauty of historical adaptations that give room for the complexities of people, a construct and an institution.
Fleabag S01 - for the raw honesty of a woman processing through trauma on multiple levels of her life. Cringe worthy and yet also insightful if you can sit through it to fully understand the various broken characters.
Before Midnight - Utter realness. Capturing the realities of a relationship, the good, the precious and the ugly and not discounting any of them as more or less important to the total sum of what it means to love another.

Where are your spaces where creativity exists?

A kitchen?
An office?
A patio?
A studio?

In our new home we are blessed by the previous influence of an artist. She left a space that breathes creativity.
And slowly but surely we found ways to adapt it for our daughter where she can putter, draw, write, paint… it’s massive.

Thankfully creativity doesn’t require big or small spaces.
It will be happy to join you at play in whatever size space you choose to meet.

It fills every crevice.

Over the course of this year I have been taking more seriously the spaces of creativity in our home.

My office / writing space was clearly defined early on in our move in last year.

Now I focus on our music / reading room.
Her creative room.
Our kitchen.
His office.

Spaces where our minds will wonder, ponder and sink into something entirely different.
Where our hands can move, play, explore and create.

Where is your creative space?
How do you cultivate it?

Spring has arrived and it has teased us with sprinkles of snow before settling into the purely Nova Scotian winds and rains that we are all used to.

The overlap of winter and spring.

With a new season,

a new playlist.

Highlights from the list:

Everyday People - Sly & The Family Stone

I first heard this song sung by Nicole C. Mullen and have always found a certain amount of joy, revelation, inspiration and insight in it. A song that seems to resurface over and over again through the generations.

It’s You I like - Fred Rogers

This song is a comfort. As a family we have been sinking into Fred Rogers words since the early days of the pandemic. There is a deeper message in his songs and episodes that translates even to the youngest of hearts. His songs make me a better person, parent and better to even my inner self.

Manhattanite - Frook

Gives that pep to my step. I have loved hearing it when starting a drive or my day.

I Know Things Now - Lilla Crawford

I wasn’t aware of Into the Woods as a musical until my early twenties. The entirety to of it speaks to me deeply. In part, because I think we all can relate to being in a season of confusion at one point in our lives or another. The awareness this character sings about although from a child’s perspective is a beautiful window into what it means to become self-aware and the revelation it can bring.

I hit a lot of duds this month which you won’t see here.
I do my best to let myself off the hook if by 50-100 pages in I am finding it rough to continue.
One in particular this month, I read 75% of it before I admitted it to myself and a few fellow book friends that it was a terrible read. Not worth finishing.

Two re-reads are in this month. No complaints.

The Hobbit | J.R.R. Tolkien

My Uncle gave me this for my 9th birthday. His inscription has always made me smile. I thought I’d pick it up again after all these years and see what I thought. To date, the opening line and proceeding paragraph is my favourite in all of the literature I have read.

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort”

It pulls you in and welcomes you into the space that J.R.R Tolkien wants you to know about on a deeper level.
Although I have never been enthralled by all the scenes of battle, chase etc, I do utterly still love this book for it’s narrative, descriptions and overall wizardry of words that makes the reader feel as if this world is alive in their heads.

Voyager | Diana Gabaldon

A re-read. Voyager still stands as a great third instalment of the Outlander series. Bringing Claire back into the 1700’s to Jamie in a create and innovative way. Love how some modern references make their way into their relationship as Claire tries to relay the daughter they share she raised ahead in the 1950s/60s. If you havn’t read this book, be prepared at how much adventure and spins there are in the last quarter.

The Princess Saves Herself in This One | Amanda Lovelace

The second book from Amanda Lovelace I have read.
I noticed a lot of critique over how Amanda portrays her poetry. I find it beautiful and relatable. All women and young women deserve a space to place their words out to dissect them, open their wounds and realize that their wounds although their own and unique, are something we can visit and understand, find the pain and healing in from her simple yet well articulated thoughts.

Winter was a season of a lot of sinking into the moments. Taking time to rest on snow days, working hard at the desk on paper work and pitches and staying connected with loved ones.

Air Pods | Apple

I was beyond thrilled to be given these from Jeremy for Christmas. If you know me, you would know that the amount of time I spend attached to headphones is a bit ludacris. Zoom meetings, researching, writing, working with background music, listening to podcasts as I do chores (not all appropriate to have on while a little is present), talking to friends and family while I fold laundry or whatever… headphones are a thing for me.
Needless to say…I use these at minimum 3 hours per day. At most, 6-7 hours.
Worth it.

Cozy Love Candle | Blooming Studio

I do my best to buy soy candles with safe products in them. This Etsy store was a great find and I have a small amount left I will be able to burn next winter.

Word Magnets | Indigo

I couldn’t find it on there website, but years ago I found a box at Indigo of magnetic poetry and recently found another set that was focused on more wellness inspiring words. Putting my old set and new set together I have found a renewed love for using words on my fridge.
I’m sure my friends and family are rolling their eyes heavenward at this quirk of mine. I adore this small but meaningful habit.

Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Face Cream | Fresh / Sephora

A pricy night cream. The one thing I will say…I ADORE the smell and I am a huge fan of ‘fresh’ as a company.

Sail Necklace | Dana Grund

A Christmas gift From Jeremy and our five year old. This necklace is a tribute to our first home. Where we could hear the sail boats make ‘ting ting ting’ sounds in the wind.

Cement planter with Evergreen branches | Winners

A small find this winter at Winners. I am not one for an overly decorated home. But I do love bringing a seasonal nature atmosphere into the home. These little cement planters encompassed that for us.

The Home Edit Life | Indigo

A Christmas gift from the ‘sis in law’. She knows my weaknesses.