Happy Canada Day!

With Canada Day fast approaching this long weekend, I am inspired by our country's national colours: red and white. Whether you're Canadian or not, there are many fabulous pieces in this colour combo and I can't help but pay fashion tribute to our great nation. No matter what your plans are for this holiday, celebrate in patriotic style. Drink some maple syrup cocktails here, wave that maple leaf flag and proudly wear red and white this long weekend.

Gabriella Rocha Wanda Strapless Dress

Forever 21 Striped Floppy Hat

American Apparel Rave Sunglasses

Forever 21 Picnic Plaid Skirt

Minnie Mouse anyone? Love this adorable Musee d'Art Moderne Skirt

Mango, Banana and Coconut Pancakes

Pancakes are an indulgent staple to our weekend. We used this recipe here as our standard pancake one, but when we were inspired to make a tropical kind filled with mangoes and shredded coconut, we knew we had stumbled upon something completely and utterly magical. It was hands down the best pancakes we've ever had. The secret? Mashing a banana and mango into the batter. The result is a ridiculously rich and fluffy pancake, by far the fluffiest pancakes we've ever made. Light and creamy, they are bursting with succulent flavour. And the best part (besides the obvious) is that they're surprisingly healthy.  Made with whole wheat flour, soy milk, no eggs and only a bit of melted butter, you can certainly feel good starting off your day with such nutritious goodness. This is definitely our go-to recipe when the mood strikes for some yummy pancakes. And as the icing on top -- a generous scoop of homemade, and healthy, banana ice cream (recipe to come!) Cold ice cream + hot pancakes = a tantalizing medley of mouth-watering lusciousness.

Alterations to the recipe:

Cut 2 mangoes into small cubes; set aside half. Mash the other half with 1 very ripe banana until you get a mush-like consistency. Stir the mash along with 1/4 cup shredded coconut into the flour batter (be careful to not over mix the batter as it will be less fluffy). Serve the finished pancakes with reserved mango cubes and maple syrup.

Blackberry, Banana, Mango & Dragon Fruit Smoothie

With the heat wave in full force in Toronto this week, I desperately needed something quick to cool me down and quench my thirst. This blackberry, banana, mango and dragon fruit smoothie did just that. The colour is simply amazing and the flavour is truly unique and unlike anything I've ever had -- you can really taste all the different fruits in there. This is the easiest and healthiest way to make a good smoothie -- pure fruit and nothing else! The trick is to use frozen bananas, it thickens it up nicely. As such, I always like to have a few frozen bananas on hand. When ripe, peel and cut up some bananas into large chunks, throw them in a Ziploc bag and toss in the freezer. It lasts for a while and is good for making smoothies and ice cream.

Blackberry, Banana, Mango and Dragon Fruit Smoothie

Serves 2

Ingredients:

2 frozen bananas

1 mango

½ cup of blackberries

½ dragon fruit

Lots of ice (about a tray full)

Optional: honey (if you find it's not sweet enough)

In a blender, blend all the chopped up ingredients together until you get a thick velvety smoothie and that's it! Consume immediately.

Summer List

After seeing Cupcakes and Cashmere’s post on Rules of Summer here, I was inspired to make one of my own. As today is officially the first day of summer, I thought it would be fitting to share what I want to learn and achieve this summer, and to embrace what this glorious season has to offer. Although this heat wave in Toronto seems to be getting a little carried away -- it is supposed to feel like 41 today!

My Summer List:

1.   Grow my hair out long enough to braid (before the end of summer, please!) 
2.   Go strawberry and cherry picking and then base our meals around them. 
3.   Make s’mores.   
4.   Play tennis and become good at it again (I used to take lessons when I was younger).  
5.   Take a weekend getaway. 
6.   Learn to do my own nail designs. 
7.   Take lots of walks/hikes. 
8.   Have a biscotti making party (the boyfriend's mom makes the best biscotti ever).
9.   Wake up super early and enjoy as many sunrises on the balcony. 
10. Create a Hawaii themed weekend (the boyfriend and I took our first trip to Kauai last year and are missing it desperately).

Mango, pineapple, guava, apple banana, and lilikoi (Hawaiian passion fruit) gelato

Tennis courts outside our condo (which we never used)

First sunset in Kauai

 All photos taken in Kauai, Hawaii.

Neon Nails

As a sucker for colour, I'm excited that the neon trend is in full force this season -- the brighter, the better! And especially on nails, it's a subtle sizzle to your overall look that is fresh, funky and just plain fun. As a kid, I remember painting my nails with really bright, fluorescent hues -- a highlighter yellow and hot pink -- and this cyclical trend brings me back to a more youthful time in my life. In warmer weather my nails are usually pretty bold, but this summer I can't wait to make an even bigger splash in these brilliantly vivid, candy-coated colours.

Tip: Apply one coat of white polish under your neon hue to make the colour pop even more. 

 

L to R: Zoya 'Myrta' (US; Canada), Butter London 'Disco Biscuit' (US; Canada), Essie 'Off the Shoulder' (US; Canada), Zoya 'Arizona' (US; Canada), Orly 'Glowstick' (US; Canada), China Glaze 'I'm With the Lifeguard' (US; Canada), Deborah Lippmann 'Mermaid's Dreams' (US; Canada), Butter London 'Slapper' (US; Canada), NARS Thakoon 'Kutki' (US; Canada), NARS Thakoon 'Koliary' (US; Canada), China Glaze 'Beach Cruise-R' (US; Canada).

Wild for Wedges

I adore a good wedge sandal, especially since you can wear it with a multitude of clothes. Causal or dressy, wedges are a versatile shoe that can take you effortlessly from day to night. It also gives you that height I love without compromising on comfort (for the most part). I think all women should have at least two three kinds of wedges (although really, who could stop at just a few?): a neutral one, a coloured one, and a pretty print one. With so many different styles to lust after this summer, my feet are simply demanding to look this good. 

 1. Diane von Furstenberg Opal Leather Architectural Wedge Sandals 2. Vogue Women's Angel in Egypt Wedge Sandal 3. Michael Kors Ruby Wedge 4. Kate Spade Vero Ocelot-Print Wedge 5. Miu Miu Cutout Slingback Wedge Sandal 6. ShoeMint Diane 7. Diane von Furstenberg Tchad (also comes in a gorgeous melon suede here)

1. Camilla Skovgaard Indochine Leather and Patent Wedge Sandals 2. Jimmy Choo Biel Patent Leather Wedges 3. TopShop Whamm Espadrille Leather Wedges 4. Bottega Veneta Contrast Wedge Leather Sandals 5. Sigerson Morrison Dali Leather and Lucite Wedge Sandal 6. Topshop Satellite Colour Block Wedges 7. Aldo Brindamour 8. DKNY Corinne Runway Weave Ankle Strap Print Wedge 9. alice + olivia Delilah Print Wedge Sandals 10. alice + olivia Juliet Platform Wedge Sandals

Figs with Honey, Balsamic, Goat Cheese & Pistachios

Yesterday I posted about this toasted barley salad we made as a main for some guests. For the appetizer? I came across this recipe for fresh figs with goat cheese, pistachios, and drizzled with a honey balsamic glaze and I was immediately sold. It's some of my favourite ingredients mixed into one ooey gooey package -- what's not to love? We opted to roast the figs instead and I'm so glad we did. The result was melt-in-your-mouth delectable with the right balance of sweet creaminess and salty crunch. It’s such an adorable bite sized dish that accomplished the toasted barley salad perfectly and is so simple yet beautifully elegant. It's like a party in your mouth -- one bite of this and your taste buds will be dancing with an explosion of lusciousness.