Huaraches

These sandals seem like the perfect solution to the problem of slightly swollen feet and hot days. Image via Old Baltimore Vintage.

Burger

Wow. What a delicious-looking burger to enjoy this holiday weekend! Recipe available at Design*Sponge.

Ice Cream

Next summer, I want to host an ice cream party to put the ice cream maker that my mother-in-law gifted me to good use. I'll make colourful paper jackets for the ice cream cones (to help keep melting cone drips at bay) and serve scoops of ice cream on top of cupcakes in lieu of icing (what's better than ice cream and cupcakes?). The menu will also include gourmet ice cream sundaes, with toppings like candied violets and pistachios, and layered chocolate and vanilla milkshakes. Though summer now seems a long way off, I'm excited! Inspiration via Amy Atlas. Image via Garrett Kern.

Ferryland

Yesterday, Greg and I drank the sea salt air, watched the fog roll in and out of the bay, and enjoyed a delicious picnic lunch at the Ferryland lighthouse. It was blissful. I highly recommend spending an afternoon there.

Picnic

As a token of appreciation for registering with the store for our wedding, Home on Water gave us a gift certificate for Lighthouse Picnics and we plan to make good use of it this coming Labour Day weekend. I'm excited to munch on a seafood club sandwich with smoked salmon and cold water shrimp, rhubarb upside down cake and an orzo, pepper and fresh mint salad while gazing out over the rugged north Atlantic! All images via Lighthouse Picnics.

Umbrella

Just stopping by to share my love of these umbrellas, which would be perfectly complemented by many of these picnic must-haves. Image via Pret a Voyager.

Regatta

Here's to hoping that the Royal St. John's Regatta goes ahead tomorrow. I love that my hometown has a floating statutory holiday! So quirky and fun! Image via Planet Smasher.

P.S. Update at 8:00 am August 4, it's off to the races, folks!

Sea

Given there's talk of a sea kayaking adventure in our future, this article on teaching English aboard a tall ship caught my eye on my morning Globe and Mail scan (I have to admit, I would have thought such a life would have been glamourous as well). Speaking of the sea and glamour, aren't these chandeliers gorgeous? Image via this is glamorous.

Beach

When I saw this photo on SF Girl By Bay, I thought to myself - someone else finally understands what it is like to live in Newfoundland in summer! Image via Dances with Voices.

Shorts

Last summer over many hot summer days and nights, I befriended two glorious pairs of sailor shorts (one bright blue, one black). They're fantastic and flattering and slimming and stylish - all things it seems near impossible for the average short to accomplish - but alas, this cut fulfilled all said criteria. Naturally, they were purchased at my beloved Club Monaco.

The Sartorialist agrees with my assessment of this garment! Joy! After much web-viewing-induced envy, I'm happy to once again find myself 'reflected' on that stylish site.

Solair

On the occasion of Canada Day, a day I associate with backyard BBQ and potlucks, I'm excited to note, after writing about them a year ago, that two turquoise Solair chairs are on there way to our humble abode and we're ever so please to adopt them. Our newly stocked cocktail bar, complete with Hpnotiq, Chambord Liquor and Luxardo Limoncello, is sure to solidify many leisurely evenings spent laughing together on our stone patio. Thanks to Studio Pazo for shipping them to our far away island. Image via Apartment Therapy.

Skirt

These skirts epitomize summer, to me. Pucci skirts spotted on SMP. I adore full bright skirts with simple white cotton t-shirts for summer.

Jars

Arrangements similar to those of this surprise picnic wedding must make an appearance at a to-be-determined backyard soiree at our home this summer. Summer bbqs and backyard parties, complete with fruity punch, blue cheese hamburgers and Italian smokies topped high with honey mustard and basil ketchup, make me excited! Images via 100 Layer Cake.

Boxes

I love window boxes and I've really enjoyed improving the back garden at our new home. Fifty seven paving stones, forty bags of weeds, fifteen plants purchased on the cheap from summer's end sales and more than ten full days of work later, the garden looks presentable. I'm saving my pennies for a bbq, table and chairs, and solar lanterns to make the site an entertaining destination next summer. Friends near and far, please pencil in our event on Regatta evening 2010; we're looking forward to hosting a cook up, complete with mojitos, smokies and a viewing of the championship race at the lake. Here's to planning ahead!

This fall's edition of Canadian Gardening arrived in our mail box late last week and has tempted me with the most festive, autumnal window box. Complete with tiger striped miniature pumpkins, small flowering cabbages (which I've also used in planters in our backyard), tasmin tiger spurge, sprayed black branches and black scallop bugleweed, these window dressings look spooky and are a perfect 'welcome mat' for fall breezes. These window boxes expand my thinking on fall planting beyond mustard and pink mums, orange cotoneaster berries and red burning bushes.

As our street is framed with towering maples and chestnuts, the falling red, yellow and orange leaves would be nicely accessorized with this window box. For more fall container planting inspiration, see here.

Dress

If this blog were a wedding dress, it would look like this Ouma confection.

Attached is a song for your listening pleasure that combines the whimsy of this dress' skirt with the southern Alberta country roots that Greg and I soaked up on the bookends of our road trip (I would like to take this opportunity to note I am not normally a fan of modern country, but living in Edmonton is bound to rub off on a girl). Please expect a full road trip update, complete with tonnes of neon photos, later in the week.

Guten Tag Edmonton. Wie geht's? Your rain showers have kept you lush in our absence. This fact is appreciated.

Vancouver

Last weekend, Greg and I, along with our mothers, explored Vancouver. We soaked up  the sunny days by strolling the Sea Wall, munching on a yummy breakfasts at the hotel, browsing Granville Island, hiking in Lynn Canyon, and strolling the pier in Steveston. Everyone had a wonderful time. We also enjoyed getting caught up with my aunts and cousin. They had some interesting tidbits on what impact the Olympics is going to have on daily living in the city and in Whistler. All in all, it was a truly delightful way to kick off summer with some of my favourite people. I think I speak for everyone in saying that. 

Road Trip

This week Greg and I have decided to plunge head first into planning our summer vacation. Our plan is to take a road trip from Edmonton to Vancouver Island. Greg grew up in Qualicum Beach and Victoria, so I am looking forward to checking out the places where he spent his early years.

As for specifics, we know the dates (June 26-July 12), definite pit stops (Calgary, Radium Hot Springs, Vancouver) and must-have meal locations (Shima on Denman in Vancouver for sushi and Bibo in Nelson to check out Culina's BC sister). We're mixing camping with hotels like the Empress in Victoria and on-the-beach hospitality suites like The Captain's Inn in Qualicum. I'm hoping to take in some hiking and campfires, the Calgary Stampede and Canada Day in Vancouver with the Robson Street festival and fireworks in Burrard Inlet. I'd also like to head to Seattle for a day trip if possible. Beyond these broad strokes, we're still in the planning phase.

Image via Sasuke GR.

Anthropologie

Anthropologie is opening its second Canadian store in Edmonton soon. The retailer carries some of the items I'm still hoping to buy for summer - a portable bbq for evening cookouts at Government House Park, a new bathing suit to wear on a weekend trip to Sylvan Lake and coloured flats to punch up my black skirt wardrobe. I think this suit is fantastic.