Summer Stroll

This outfit kind of reminds me like I’m attending the Kentucky Derby (minus the outrageously huge hat with an equally ginormous flower), but while I may not be watching a horse race, I was exploring the quaint areas of the boyfriend's hometown in Markham. This flirty floral dress is ideal for summer with it’s lightweight fabric, and the cute tiered ruffles at the hem make me want to spirl (spin + twirl) in it all day long. Plus it has pockets and I'm a sucker for any dress that has pockets.

Guess dress | Le Chateau hat | Aldo shoes | H&M bracelets | China Glaze 'Sun-Kissed' nails 

Tequila Shrimp Quinoa with Mango, Pineapple & Avocado Salsa

This tequila shrimp with mango, pineapple and avocado salsa recipe was originally intended for tacos, but is equally as good with quinoa, if not better. Although the boyfriend may disagree, he is a taco fanatic. No matter which way you make it, it’s so deliciously good, filled with succulent flavours that marry so well together, all rich and vibrant. We used a trio of white, black and red quinoa and added some lime zest after the quinoa was cooked for more colour and zing. We also opted to add two avocados instead of the bell pepper which gave it a nice creaminess. But the star ingredient is the tequila which we used to flambé the shrimp in -- the sauce soaks into the quinoa and creates a nice, luscious coating.

Sailor Stripes

Last weekend it was the boyfriend's grandmother's 80^th birthday and the entire family threw her a surprise party at her house that was truly a day to remember. It was an extravagant event filled with regal decor, an astonishing cake and heartfelt memories. Her quaint home and lush garden not only provided a homey elegance but a beautiful backdrop that made for a fun photo shoot.

Aritzia top | Forever 21 skirt | Zigi sandals | Bizou necklace | H&M bracelets | China Glaze 'Sun-kissed' nails

Hot for Leather Shorts

Wearing leather shorts in the summer may not seem the most ideal, but it’s a sexy summer style that will instantly rev up a basic tee or blouse. I love its versatility -- you can dress it up or down, and still look edgy and sophisticated. I don't own a pair (yet) but if I did, black wouldn't be my first choice. Black is my worst fashion enemy in the summer (I already sweat enough, thank you humidity), and especially with leather, it's not exactly the smartest thing to be wearing on your ass. So when I saw these gorgeous soft-like-butter pecan leather shorts here, I was instantly enamored. There's something about this tan/camel colour that elevates the rocker look to a whole new level of chic. 

1. Equipment Sleeveless Signature Shirt 2. Kenneth Jay Lane Cabochon Chandelier Earrings 3. Tory Burch Wood Spliced Resin Cuff 4. ASOS Metal Bar Detail Envelope Clutch 5. Vince Pecan Leather Shorts 6. Brian Atwood Maniac Pumps

Strawberry Banana Ice Cream

When I first made this ice cream, I couldn't believe how ridiculously healthy and easy it was to make. No cream, milk, or even an ice cream maker, this version is made using only frozen fruits and a food processor. Frozen bananas acts as the base and with a whirl in the processor produces soft ice cream that tastes exactly like the real deal. While it's amazing on its own, you can customize it to your liking with other kinds of frozen fruits, chocolate chips, almond or cashew butter, etc. We had some frozen strawberries from when we went strawberry picking so we decided to whip up some strawberry banana ice cream. The colour is incredible and I love that you can see the flecks of strawberries in them. Soft, creamy and full of juicy flavour, this decadently delicious treat is good by itself or as an accompaniment such as a topping for these mango, banana, and coconut pancakes we made here. 

Strawberry Banana Ice Cream

Serves 2

Ingredients:

2 frozen bananas

A handful of frozen strawberries

Blend the ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Top with fresh strawberries. We added some caramel chips based off this recipe here for an extra indulgence.

Paris Couture Fashion Week

It's the end to a weeklong whirl of crazy couture creations in the City of Light where designers unveiled their Fall/Winter 2012 couture collections. Some were strangely kooky and some were so stunningly fabulous, it was simply breathtaking. There are definitely some red carpet-worthy masterpieces that still leaves me drooling and wishing I could afford even the tiniest thread in one of these pieces. As hard as it was to narrow down, here are my top 10 favourite designs that I absolutely adore and can't wait to see some celebs strutting their stuff in.

Dior

Dior

Dior

Elie Saab

Elie Saab

Elie Saab

Valentino

Versace

Versace

Versace

All images via style.com

Happy 4th of July

Although I'm not American, I have a very close friend who is. Last year I spent this day (and Canada Day) in St. Louis to spend much needed quality time with my roommates from university. My two roommates and I took a road trip to visit our fourth roommate who lives there. We had plans to watch the fireworks over the famous Gateway Arch on Independence Day, but unfortunately it got cancelled due to a torrential downpour. So the next night our roommate's parents bought us fireworks so we could put on our own festive display (although we were more spectators than participants). I couldn't have thought of a more enjoyable way to not only celebrate the holiday, but our last night there.

Pretty in Pink

Floral and pink are quintessentially me: girly and graceful. As a result, this outfit left me feeling completely comfortable and confident. I literally bought this entire outfit in one day and I couldn't wait to show it off. Everything went so effortlessly together and each piece complimented one another perfectly. I felt pretty in pink and I love that it's so fun and flirty, yet refined at the same time. Coincidentally, I even happened to be wearing pink nail polish that day too, which aided to my pink theme and tied the whole outfit together.

 Aritzia top | H&M shorts | Zigi wedges | Tiffany & Co. necklace | H&M bracelets | Essie 'Off the Shoulder'