pretty preen

by definition PREEN means:

a. To smooth or clean (feathers) with the beak or bill. UM, NOT SO MUCH!
b. To trim or clean (fur) with the tongue, as cats do. PASS - WAIT FOR IT....
c. To dress or groom (oneself) with elaborate care; primp. MMM, HMMM AGREED!!!
d. To take pride or satisfaction in (oneself). YES AND MORE YES.

As designers, Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi have accomplished mounds full of beautiful notions and together formed Preen, one of London's acclaimed lines featuring cutting edge creations and totally coveted wears. Their star studded client roster grows long and so does their successful collection of clothing. Since debuting in 2001 Preen has been a solid highlight among the reigning champions of marketable wears. I personally take imagination breaks in order to invent visual stories within my own mind as a way of getting fashionably fixed up for a night on the town! ♥

images via trend hype

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a vase and its friends

I haven't exactly been on track with sending out a visual form of thanks to Lisa from a piece of Lisa. Yes friends, I'm ashamed to say I let time move along and haven't sung the definitely due praises because I won a giveaway a loooong while back. It was something I'd never expected but came as a complete jump for joy when she told me I'd won!!! I've been a staunch admirer of Lisa's blog for a long time and adore her art/illustration work. At 1st sight I thought this darling vase might have even been designed by her too but it was something her lovely Mum picked out while on travels (by boat!) in Sweden, it's designed and hand painted by Swedish artist Marika Beutler.

My eyes lit up like 100 watt styles when it actually arrived and I couldn't rep it any better than what I'd already written to Lisa and her Mum when I found out the news. "the coolest thing about this is that it was chosen by your mother, for me that's extra rad b/c when my mom picks things out for me they are always such special centerpieces in our home. to have an actual "piece of Lisa" & her wonderful mum is something i will always treasure and look at over and over again with much adoration."

So, all in all, this might be is late in coming but thank you again Lisa!   The vase is so unique and a grand accent piece in our home. xo ♥

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i heart something monumental

quite simply, internet shopping is the most convenient way to get my inner jubilee jump started. one such shop i visit on the regs is Something Monumental and friends...just so you know, i've written about my meaningful heart throbs for Mandy's various spaces before. she's got a lot going on, what with an Etsy shop, her blog and flickr all moving along simultaneously. how the girl keeps it all stacked full of stylistic breadth i'll never know but still can't help myself from forever peering into her world for photographic insp, creative insights and daily discoveries about what's fresh and new from her seriously sensational perspective.

for xmas i was trying to come up with the perfect gift for my gf, Christine, who is extremely tough to buy for. i remembered how C was raving about the feather rings i'd bought from Mandy a while back and decided to e-boutique another score via Something Monumental.  SUCCESS!  she loved them, i chose the grey and brown leather with corresponding metal feathers - nice and neutral.  then i saw IT!!!!!!!!!  little orange fox friend, irresistible and practically calling my name. a new Mandy original to keep forever plus some really awesome extras she sent along too. i ADORE this girl!!!!

but okay folks, you've seen nothing yet because Mandy is always coming up with new and completely darling creations....such as little matryoshka doll or a couple set for you and yours to make matchy-matchy with. then there's a plushy elephant toy that i'm ALL about. can't help bigging up "each and every" she produces, be sure to have a visit yourself  -  failsafe coolness ooze is what!  thanks for everything Mandy!!! xo ♥

my own version of the cool crafty speech bubble signs via Sarah (pronounced SAH-RAH) as seen on Martha Stewart

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encore

Cypress Mountain repeat performance - since it was so much fun the last time we decided to scoop Mom up and return once more for snow day surprises and some yummy nosh. funnily enough, my Mom had never even been up there before so it was extra thrilling to take her on a day trip. i honestly can't get over how gorgeous our city scape is from the various look-out points along the way, Vancouver is something to see...no wonder we have flocks of birds flying around all over the place, they really have the best view!

cheers to a weekend that takes you UP to new heights, wishing everyone all kinds of glimmery goodness!!! ♥

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x & o

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!!!!!!!!!  KASA and i have been rushing around so much lately and have some deadlines to meet so our card exchanges/intertwined arm toasts and sharing food with the same fork will have to wait a while longer.  we've okayed it with the bow and the arrow that our own V-day celebrations will just have to get postponed till the weekend - anyone else in the same boat?  i feel kinda traitor-ish but this couldn't be helped.  i'm even posting pics from last Valentines to try and save face ; )   conciliation prize: the BEST man i know loves me, for this i am eternally grateful and my love for him will be gushing all over the place once this week gets leapfrogged!!!!

i'd also like to send a BIG hug and kiss over to Ashlyn from Matchless Vision today because she graciously asked me to be a part of a project she's working on, a really meaningful arrangement in tribute to a great cause. 

i wasn't familiar with the term Mesothelioma and what it meant - thanks to Ashlyn and Jackie Clark of the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance, a leading web resource for people with mesothelioma cancer; i got educated and researched it further to find an array of awful ramifications people have had from exposure to asbestos.  the horror of 1st hand experience with various forms of other cancers lingers quite relevantly in my life; another reason why this invitation represents something close to my heart and why i took part without question.  i had a cervical surgery years ago because of abnormal cell growth they felt would be cause for cancer alarms and my mom has survived lung cancer while my dad passed away from leukemia.  the only response given to these great girls was "i'm on board 100% to support you & Jackie with this very little part i could play."

Ashlyn and Jackie have teamed up and in their words: "put together a blog post about women facing cancer and how it is important for them to still take the time to do what makes them feel beautiful, whatever that may be."  they asked me to write something about what makes me feel beautiful and loved.  i hope you'll have a visit and read more about this project, its goals and the inspirational shares from others too.

many blessings friends, this is a day of LOVE (even if it has been overplayed with cheese sometimes) and it still has a sentimental aura exposing inner workings of the heart.  may yours beat with extended play and a rhythm that exudes the happiest joy! ♥

images via (clockwise from top left) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
* apologies, i usually link back to every photo used but this was from a long ago save and now the link back to pinterest is inactive. if anyone knows who properly receives credit for the shadow hand image please let me know. i photo manipulated it some but you get the drift if you recognize it. thanks  *

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blowing kisses

in a lot of different but truly lovely directions! here's a few of my favorite glimpses recently, of course they are all inspired by Valentines Day and the impending arrival of Monsieur Cupido!!!! ♥

ideally i'd like to be twirling around in this lovely frock of delight! just barely clinging to KASA's finger as i continue to rotate...always coming back to his handsome face for little kiss breaks.

dress you up in my LOVE is what i believe was cake.'s idea behind this decadent and drool worthy shoot featuring metallic gold cupcake papers, handmade glittered flags and filigree lettering. you'll wanna save those recipes people, lickety split. // butterfly flounce robe via Toute la Nuit // giclee LOVE print via Jessie Ford Design // Typocolate is Gourmet Typographic, Dark & Milk Chocolate Slabs. yum delum!! and another discovery charm about Dynamo is, as they say: "We're a digital design studio located in a cool corner of Montréal where it's hard to find a parking spot." gotta love innovative designers seeking to serve up sweet confections too, right?

pink gradient brooch via bstudio // rose gold plated My Love Ring via melt'm design studio // funny Valentine via The Hungry Workshop // retro inspired, handmade pretties like the "Love" glasses case + pink polka dots coin purse via the zakka would be quite a lovely addition to anyone’s "what's in my bag?" post // “Love” Letters via Roll &Tumble Press - kinda just got inspired to print some of my own to tack up on the wall! so cute // Anthony Petrie created a couple Valentine's cards that any self-professed geek would be proud to hand out. get yours for FREE download here.

Pull & Bear added the JUST LOVE collection to their shop and it features six limited edition t-shirts celebrating Valentine's Day - touting that "some couples are inseparable". let the twinanigans begin.

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i didn't want to spend my life behind a desk...

UNTIL NOW!!!!!!

talk about one of the most innovative and flawlessly executed design interfaces around - DESK is seriously tricked out and very fun to navigate too!!! i discovered this slick space while hunting through iTunes for some cool apps to download and before i knew it i was on their website spending a whole lotta time exploring. Between the rad sound effects that are reminiscent of old school video games and the decorative graphic display of icons - i was reeled in to their online world.

"DESK is a project that shows desks of people who create. Find inspiration through their desks, no matter the occupation."

heads up - you can also take a picture of your desk and submit it to this collection. contribute away people! ♥

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health kick

brought to you by the girl and her ever-widening pants - or so it has seemed anyways! AHHRRRG people - why did i keep going back for 2nds over the holidays, more chocolate, more stuffing, more anything and everything; even after i actually was kinda full already. 3 cheers to a New Year and waking up to eating more "consciously".

this has been a challenge; breaking away from bread and sweets after i practically bathed in them sucks a bit but so far it seems to be working. i feel less puffed and have adapted a new (FREE) app on the ol' iPhone called My Fitness Pal which helps me monitor my calorie consumption. good gosh, i don't even want to think about how many calories i was taking in before. YIPES! so cutting back on the white stuff: bread, rice, sugar is making a difference and it also gives me more reason to cook at home. KASA is definitely diggin' that part of the new regime : )   that's a spicy black bean burger up above, just with some dollops of salsa, guac and a sprinkling of cheddar plus some hummus on the side. it's actually very filling and yummy.

some hot spots i've been frequenting for recipes and major amounts of drool worthy food inspirational assortments are Forgiving Martha (Jess learned her culinary mastery from her fams, total triumph in the kitchen because of it too!), Olives for Dinner (there's some Kale recipes there that'll get you all revved up to try), and Spoon Fork Bacon (food porn has never looked so good, i love Jenny & Teri's styling/photography. absolutely ace!) check out this awesome chicken lettuce wrap and tell me you don't wanna try it asap.

one recipe i also want to test drive real soon was from Jess's gluten free selections, which i saw on Camille Styles in this post. can't wait to give it a go. 

happy, healthy almost weekend everyone!!! ♥

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iphone app-solutely captured it all

lately, it seems, that i've been leaving big bulky camera at home and opting to use the iPhone for memory making. do a lot of you do the same thing? it really is a whole new world, what with technology advancing along, making practically every gadget you ever dreamed of as a child come to life in kidulthood. brillsville total.

so here's a sampling of the things we're ready to 'fess about: got sad news that our neighborhood H.R. MacMillan Space Centre's Planetarium was soon hosting their last laser light show after 3 decades. thank goodness we got in there before the final hoorah and were all starry eyed during the showing....yes, i am wearing a space suit - got a problem with it?!

we have spent an exorbitant amount of time loafing about, and as Mr. Bublé says - i was "Feeling Good"! bread and white rice are now the enemy, proving that their consumption resulted in major excess weight addition over the holidays. my non-bread embargo only gets lifted maybe once a week but i did live it up while i could with that pulled pork sandwich platter. huzzah intentional carb overdose!!

lovely Jane held a clothing swap for all her customers and friends. we got there really early and watched as the droves of people arrived. poor Sean, after a while i noticed he had disappeared from the scene. there was kinda an open dressing room policy in effect and ladies were whipping off their tops left, right and center. i think KASA got a few shocks of hot pink, leopard and chartreuse lacey underpinnings and ran for the hills the car but quick!

AND lastly, coconut ANYTHING is a beloved creation, nuff said. 

Happy mid-week bliss friends!! ♥

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double date

"Your day will go the way the corners of your mouth turn."

~ Unknown ~

and so it was for double date day!!! I love my friends so much but don't get to spend nearly enough time with them. Sometimes even resorting to twice as nice mode - aka bonus girlfriend hangouts. In the morn I met up with Rita at Finch's for some yummy latte's and blue brie, sliced pear, prosciutto + roasted walnut baguette. Possibly my most favorite sandwich in all the land! It was great to see her and catch up on life's goings on. We used to work together years ago; she's one of the pioneers of laser hair removal and laser skin care in Vancouver and has pursued that passion into her own clinic called Pure Light Laser. If you live in Van and have any type of question about your skin care then I recommend you visit her - she's fantastic, so very kind and offers a wide range of expertise.

After winding down from our eating/chatting sesh KASA came by to scoop us up and drop Rita back home because then it was off to Kitsilano for a meet up with my bestie Vivian!!! We have to nab any time we get since she lives in Toronto *sad tear*

I adore my moments with Vivian, she always instills a "life’s too short to fret my pet" mantra and makes me feel like I'm sitting under the happy tree no matter where we end up. This time it was Cafe Zen, Sean was starving so we kinda went with a place that could prepare him a hungry man meal ; )  Since I'd already stuffed myself silly it was another latte and a mini fruit bowl. All I cared about was visiting anyways and we had a fine time, even getting to take a little stroll after too.

Needless to say but the corners of my mouth were turned north and beamed with delight all day long! ♥

classic blog photo templates via pugly pixel

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set your sights on these

Happy Weekend Folks!!!! ♥

* Ashlyn from Matchless Vision created some pretty cute V-day or ANY-day mittens and i swooned all over the place when i spotted her wearing them! a diy without the need of a sewing machine is a yes-sir-eeeeee indeed. thanks for sharing the wealth Ashlyn!!!

* they'd go rather well with these sweet-hearted socks....

* i have a soft spot for any and all fur babies - we don't know where we'd be without ours. when i read part 1 + part 2 of the Shelter Dogs Project feature i was completely washed over with binding love and also sadness for what these pure, sweet animal friends have to go through.

photographer, Traer Scott, amassed quite extensive archives from her time taking pictures of the dogs in the animal shelter she volunteered at. she explains her process and how this project developed "I found it impossible to delete their photos, which often seemed like the only proof of their brief existence. Late one night, I became fixated on the idea of memorializing all of these beautiful, tragic lives in a permanent way which led to the series and then eventually the book, Shelter Dogs."

* kiddos usually get le crème de la crème when it comes to desserts, play toys and darling clothes - this is of course in my opinion as i'm a lover of major frosting complete with colorful sprinkles and maybz the odd jujube plus any outfits that look like i could wear them while in art class...marimekko is right on par with my vision with these 2 adorable multi-pocketed pieces. LOVE!

* whether it's the Superior Server series of stainless steel utensils with color polymer coated handles or the Chalk-it-to-Me Piggy Banks or anything else Ladies & Gentlemen carry in their online shop, i'm all about it. their wares are sublime indeed. SALT & PEPPER PAWZ IS WHAT! people please, the adorability is off the charts okay.

* memi the rainbow has some of the cutest things i've ever seen - stamps and felt bits to take you right into happy-land.

* they won't fly away on you but sure look pretty trying!

* Montreal goes à la Parisian thanks to online shop Clara de Paris; it may be just for kids but these cute items could transcend "age appropriate" perhaps.

* statement ring made using vintage china patterns and the tea cup handle is what wraps around your finger, pretty-pretty things from Hannah Zakari.

* so totally in LOVE with this darling silver fox!

* i'm a child of the 80's so anything slightly reminiscent of new wave or punk rock makes my insides light up immediately. how absolutely rad is this Black Flag Cat Flag tee? just to show the young folk what it's patterned after i've included the original version too.

* a lie goes a looooooooooooong way...............

* the UK's Zara Carpenter is truly a maker of beautiful things. heart flutters or what?

* Hay's color block bedding is swoon central.

* porcelain lace bowls via Hideminy. their tagline states: "love and peace in your kitchen!" well i do declare it would be a delight to serve something... anything in these lovelies.

* holy metaphoric hailstorm of sweet-sensational satisfaction by way of some mega marvelous Parisian-style!!!! Kitchening with Carly makes the best macarons in Vancouver by far and they're gluten-free, all-natural and originally-flavoured. love-fest initiated with attributes like Almond with Rosemary Salted Caramel and Vanilla Cream, Chai with Cardamom Butter Cream or Orange with Cranberry and Ice Wine Jam.

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