Category: Lifestyle

Five Faves

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Hi Everyone!

It is finally March! The days will be getting longer and the weather will be warming up and I cannot wait! The time between the holidays and spring are always a little challenging as the weather is often cold and grey. Thankfully I have found a few things that I am loving that have helped my days feel a little less grey. Here are my Five Faves for Jan/Feb 2024:

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Try – Salt & Stone Hand Cream

I have been a Salt & Stone fan for a few years now. It started when I read about their clean deodorant. I soon graduated to their body wash and I have been devoted to both ever since. Recently I picked up their hand cream and now I can’t imagine not having a tube with me at all times. My favourite scent is Santal Vetiver but I intend to try out the Rose Oud scent very soon.

Watch – Kin

One of my favourite things about visiting my parents in England (aside from the obvious) is an opportunity to discover tv shows that I may not have known about otherwise. I love binge watching a series with copious mugs of tea and a snack or two. On a recent visit I discovered a few tv series that I enjoyed but Kin is the one that I really got into. Based in Dublin, this Irish series is about a drug dealing family that goes after a cartel when their son is killed. While it starts out a bit slow, things pick up and I was hooked until the end (there are two seasons and I am now hoping for a third). If you are looking for a new show to watch, I highly recommend this one.

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Read – The Murder After The Night Before

I used to read a lot when I was younger but over the years my reading habit slowed down to a snail’s pace as I let other things in my life take priority. After making a half hearted effort and failing to get back to my love of reading, I decided to set a reading goal for 2023 of 16 books. I knew that it would be challenging but I was determined to achieve it. I finished 2023 having read 24 books and have set a similar goal for 2024. Passing thru Heathrow while travelling is a great opportunity to discover new books and my most recent visit was no exception. The Murder After The Night Before by Katy Brent was a spur of the moment pick up that turned out to be a really enjoyable read. It’s about a woman who unwillingly becomes infamous on social media during a night of drinking. The next morning she discovers that she is trending everywhere and shortly after discovers her best friend has drowned in the bathtub. Convinced her friend was murdered she sets out to discover the truth. If you are looking for a good beach read (or something lighthearted) this is a great option.

Listen – The Mel Robbins Podcast, The 51% Rule (and 3 more Strategies to Think Like a Millionaire)

I love listening to podcasts especially the ones that are focused on self development. The Mel Robbins Podcast and The Diary of a CEO are two of my favourites so when Steven Bartlett (the host of Diary of a CEO) was on The Mel Robbins podcast I was thrilled. This was such a good episode and one that I will referring back to again and again. The past couple of years I have kept myself small, trying to avoid any attention and just feeling miserable due to a challenging work environment. I spent a lot of time feeling like I wasn’t good enough and down playing my intelligence. I was clearly in the wrong environment. Thankfully I am no longer there, and I am working on rebuilding my confidence, finding my voice again and reassessing what I really want my future to look like. This episode got me excited to try to re-evaluate, to jump before I feel 100% ready. It also reminded me that life is short and I don’t want to have regrets. If you are feeling like you are at a crossroads in life or you just need a reminder to seize the day, then this episode is a worthwhile listen.

Try – Threads

Another day and another new social media app to try out. I never got into Twitter (now known as X) as I always preferred more visual apps such as Instagram. After listening to the podcast episode that I mentioned above, I decided to try Threads. It’s a text based conversation app similar to X but it is from Meta. I make an effort to post almost everyday, normally just random thoughts and feelings that I am feeling in the moment. It may not seem like a lot for some, but for me it requires courage to randomly put my thoughts out to the world. As I am getting more comfortable, I am really enjoying Threads. I only follow accounts that I resonate with and I often feel inspired by the words of wisdom that have appeared on my feed. If you are looking for a place to practice your writing without commitment, I highly recommend Threads as a good place to start.

I hope that your March is off to a wonderful start. What are you loving lately? Let me know in the comments below!

I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS

Dreamy Design – the Liminal House

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Hi Everyone!

Located in West Vancouver, the Liminal House is a three storey residence that boasts a roof garden, inner courtyards and a swimming pool. Made of materials such as glass, concrete, aluminum plate and Accoya wood blends beautifully into its surroundings. 

Taking four years to complete, this gorgeous home was designed by McLeod Bovell for a couple that was soon to become empty nesters. The name Liminal reflected the changes in both the owners lives and the area to where to home is located. 

The home inspires a sense of tranquility and grounding. The affect of the sharp angles, combination of materials and breathtaking views is almost meditative. 

I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS

All images via http://www.coolhunter.net

Stylishly Solo – The Cefalu Travel Guide

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Hi Everyone!

Planning my trip thru Sicily took a bit of research as I wasn’t familiar with many of its towns and cities. Taormina was the one destination that had been previously recommended but I was persuaded by a colleague to visit Cefalu instead, as Taormina may be beautiful but it was also quite overrun with tourists (aka my travel nightmare). It was great advice and my stay in Cefalu was one of the many highlights of my trip to Sicily.

A coastal city in Northern Sicily, in my opinion Cefalu should be at the top of every Sicily travel list. The buildings are beautiful, the beaches breathtaking and the foods is incredible. I spent three nights in this memorable city and enjoyed every moment of it.

Where to Stay

I stayed at the Hotel Kalura which is located just outside of Cefalu. Full disclosure – the service at this hotel leaves a lot to be desired especially when you are a solo traveller, but the location is perfect so I was willing to overlook it. It’s about a 20 minute walk into town from the hotel but I would only recommend walking during the day. At night I would suggest taking a taxi (10- 15 Euro) as part of the walk is along the highway and it’s quite dark. The reason that I loved this hotel as it has it’s own private beach. The views are stunning, the water is heavenly and the beach is not too crowded. If you are looking for a fabulous beach the Hotel Kalura is not to be missed.

What to do

Aside from enjoying the beach, the city of Cefalu is gorgeous! Walk along the cobblestones, visit the duomo and people watch while enjoying a spritz in the town centre. There are so many gorgeous options for ceramics so spend some time walking into different shops admiring the talented artists, and wander down to the beach and take in the gorgeous sights. It looks straight out of the pages of Conde Naste Traveller!


Where to Eat

Qualia – I had a reservation booked here a month before I landed in Sicily. It is typical Sicilian fare with an artistic twist. The restaurant is gorgeous, designed to look like a wine cave and you can see all of the magic happening in the kitchen from your table. The food was delicious and the service was friendly. If you are looking to treat yourself to a high end meal during your stay in Sicily, Qualia is the place to go.

Al Faro – this restaurant was recommend by my hotel and it did not disappoint. With an intimate outdoor terrace overlooking the sea, this is the perfect restaurant to enjoy the beauty of Cefalu. The vongle pasta was the best that I had in Sicily (and I tried a lot of them). They don’t take reservations and get quite busy so getting a table can be challenging. I recommend stopping by during the day and asking to book a table for that evening. They are really friendly and happy to accommodate as best they can.

In my opinion Cefalu is magic. I left feeling lighter and more relaxed then I arrived. It has earned its place at the top of my Sicily travel list.

I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS

Welcome to 2024!

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Hi Everyone and Happy New Year!

I am just going to say it – 2023 was not my best year. I had so many goals and dreams and yet I frequently found myself exhausted, frustrated and not living my best life. That is not to say that I didn’t achieve some of my goals but overall I am feeling like I let myself down both professionally and personally. Thankfully though, I have been consistent in working towards some of my goals over the past few months and I plan to be even more disciplined in 2024. One goal that I haven’t been giving any energy to in 2023 was blogging – despite loving to write, I only blogged twice last year!  I have no excuses, you will be hearing from me a lot more in 2024! I already have a few posts lined up and I can’t wait to share them with you.

I hope that your 2024 is off to a wonderful start and I can’t wait to reconnect! XXS

Commercial Crush: Blueness Restaurant by Space Copenhagen

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Hi Everyone!

There are many architecture and design firms around the world whose work I greatly admire. Within the many there are a few whose work continues to stop me in my tracks as I attempt to absorb every aspect of their gorgeous projects – Space Copenhagen is firmly within that group. Co-founders Singe Bindslev Heriksen and Peter Bundgaard Ruitzou admirably infuse each project that they complete with their oh so cool Scandinavian flare and I am hooked. Last year Space Copenhagen completed the design of a new upscale restaurant in Antwerp and it is gorgeous! Located in the heart of the city, Blueness restaurant occupies the ground floor of a 17th century Renaissance building in Antwerp’s fashion district. The result is an incredible fusion of classic interior architecture and modern Scandinavian design.

A Japanese French eatery, Blueness is a mosaic of identities. Minimalist touches beautifully contrast with the classic architecture of the space including the solid aluminum waiters station that stands in sharp contrast to the marble and sandstone columns. Space Copenhagen set out to create a “tension between past and future”, the result is unexpected, elegant and timeless. Candles suspended overhead on brass chandelier disks give the space a warm, welcoming glow. The result is just the right amount of wow factor in a stunning space.

What do you think of the Blueness Restaurant design? Let me know in the comments below.

I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS

All images from http://www.azuremagazine.com