#BlogPodium15 - The Recap

Wednesday, November 25, 2015



Though when I look at the calendar, it’s perfectly clear that BlogPodium was nearly 2 months ago, in my mind, it feels like it was last weekend!


This was my third time attending the day long blogging conference that is geared towards lifestyle bloggers.  This year, the conference headed out West for the very first time and was welcomed with open arms.  Vancouver is a beautiful city.


My favourite thing about BlogPodium is the energy that you leave with.  It never fails.  I always leave the conference invigorated and ready to take on my blogging goals and to set new ones.


One thing that kept coming up in regards to social media channels was to only sign up for as many as you can manage well.  Let's face it, there are A LOT of apps now!  Snapchat came up a lot and I’d have to say that there were mixed opinions as to whether or not this app was worth your time.  Again, it’s not black and white.  Certain social media channels work better for some than others and some people are just better at using Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, etc, than others.  The beauty of these social channels is that they all allow you to offer something slightly different to your readers and fans.  That being said, there is no value to them if you aren't able to update them on a regular basis.  So take your time to test them out and really think abut how each one can help you with your blogging.  If you don’t feel that you have enough time to use each one well, then decide which you love the most and which you will benefit from the most and keep those apps going.



I think that’s one thing that is often overlooked, how much work it takes to have a successful blog as well as successful social media channels.  Most of the time, the numbers don’t rise in a week.  It takes time and patience and though this can be frustrating, it’s somewhat comforting to be surrounded by likeminded people who get that “struggle”.  You no longer feel as though you’re adrift on a ice flow and truly appreciate the fact that you are understood and what you're going through is the norm in the industry.  This is so encouraging, to know that everyone in the business feels the same way and that you aren’t doing anything wrong.  Reassurance.  It’s pretty priceless.



That for me, is the best part about BlogPodium.  Being surrounded by a wonderful group of amazing Bloggers who are driving down the same road as you.  I know there is talk about competition and though this is true, it’s no different than any other industry.  Singing, modeling, acting, the competition is there as well.  But the thing is that we all offer something different, we are all unique and when we put that forth, when we write in our own voices, we take shots that we love, it shows.  Authenticity is so very important and I truly believe that this is what will set you apart from the rest and make you successful.




I’m so thankful to have had the wonderful chance to work with such an amazing and inspiring team once again this year.  I’ve learned so much from these lovely ladies and can’t thank them enough for their patience, their words of encouragement and listening ears.  Heart you team!




A huge thank you to the keynote speaker, Jillian Harris.  Jillian, you inspired all of us more than you could possibly know!  Your honesty was so appreciated as was your advice and encouragement.  


And to Jen, I can't thank you enough.  You are a bundle of talent and I'm in awe of how you juggle everything that you have on the go with such grace.  Thank you for bringing us all together each year!  I truly believe that I wouldn't be where I am if it weren't for you!


all images courtesy of VancouverPhotobooth.com


So go for it.  Go for those dreams that you have jotted down or pinned on to your inspiration board.  You can do it.  Take those steps and don’t be discouraged by the hurdles that you hit on your way.  It’s not always easy, but with hardwork and persistance, you WILL get there.


Happy Wednesday, friends!

Cheers,


Walks Through the Forest

Monday, November 23, 2015






The other day we realized that we hadn't been for a hike through the forest for some time.  So we bundled up and headed for a walk after dropping the kids off at school.

I love the mornings that require cozy layers and bundling up.  Next time, we'll have to sip some hot chocolate along the way.

Have a lovely Monday!

Cheers,

Grey Coat & Stripes

Wednesday, November 18, 2015








coat // top // jeans // ring (c/o) // shoes

I absolutely love this time of year.  When there's enough of a chill in the air so that you need to layer, but not excessively so.  This coat caught my eye the minute I saw it.  I not only loved the light grey colour, but the high collar was what really reeled me in.

I'm so fond of this stunning ring by Leah Alexandra.  It's such a lovely piece that believe it or not, can be adjusted, so I can easily wear it on any finger.   The perfect accessory to any outfit!  If you haven't checked out her pieces, you must!  Her jewelry is just beautiful.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

Cheers,

Our Basement Makeover Reveal

Tuesday, November 17, 2015




Yes, it's true!  The basement makeover is done and you can see all of the pictures (including some before photos) and read all about it over on Leon's Hello Yellow blog!

Hope you love it!

Cheers,

Decorating with Silver for the Holidays!

Thursday, November 12, 2015


I can hardly believe that it's that time of year!  Yes, it's time to deck the halls, bake sweet treats and crank the holiday tunes!  Falalalala lala la la!

I'm thrilled to share that I had the wonderful chance to team up with Canadian Tire for a holiday collaboration!  I decorated a living room using silver holiday decor items from their CANVAS Christmas Collection!  This was a tough secret to keep because I had an absolute blast and well, Christmas!  The entire Canadian Tire team is a dream to work with, as is the wonderful crew who brings my vision to life!  If you've been following me here for a while you know that I absolutely love Christmas and that silver is one of my favourite colours, so this was most definitely a project that I was excited to take part in from the get go!

Silver is such a great colour to decorate with for the holidays because it pairs well with so many colours!  You can easily change your accent colour from year to year!  You can even go with an all silver colour palette and simply vary the textures and finishes of your ornaments and accessories to create visual interest.  



This living room truly has a special place in my heart.  I find it to be so soothing and welcoming with just the right amount of glitter and sparkle, perfect for holiday gatherings.  My inspiration for the space was just that!  A traditional room with lots of personality where you could sit and enjoy the festive season with family and friends!  You can see all of the inspiration for this room here on Pinterest!

What I love about the silver CANVAS Christmas Collection is the wide range of products that are available, which makes decorating for the holidays an absolute breeze.  There are decorative accessories, ornaments, wreaths, trees, lights and more, all ready for you to take home!  A large owl, silver plated penguins, metallic leaf tray and white candle holders, are just a few of the festive elements that help to bring a stunning dose of the holidays to the mantel. 




Glass cloches featuring a DIY wintery scene, holiday inspired pillows and a pinecone wreath help to fill the space with all things holiday.  And yup, they are most definitely all available at Canadian Tire!

The focal point on the coffee table is this absolutely stunning tiered stand.  Stunning.  What I love most about it is it's versatility.   I chose to place snowy silver pinecones and a variety of gorgeous silver ornaments on each tier.  Ornaments are certainly not just for the tree!  If you take a look around the room, you'll also find them in decorative vases, cloches and on the metallic tray.  You can really make an impact by selecting a variety of ornaments and displaying them in creative ways throughout your space!





Now, lets talk about that tree.  Ahhh…the tree.  Would you believe it's not real?  So good, I know.  Even better is that it's pre-lit!  Beautiful feather ornaments fill any gaps and a touch of softness.  Glass teardrop ornaments with mercury insets add a hint of glam and gorgeous flower painted glass ball ornaments sit perfectly next to lovely crown-wearing swans.  The ornaments all work so beautifully together!

If you like to have a little something under the tree prior to Santa's arrival, consider making this adorable DIY present trio!  You can find the tutorial here!




This space encompasses everything that I love about the holidays!  A little sparkle, a touch of shine, a hint of glamour and complete coziness!  You can find more style and decor tips as well as DIY's and my favourite holiday tunes and traditions right here!

Want more?!  Fabulous!  Be sure to take a peek at the other colours from the CANVAS Christmas Collection!  Teal, red, gold and green!  And of course, we can't forget about the brights!  Fun ways to add a cheerful dose of colour to your space during the holidays can be found here.

A huge thank you to Canadian Tire for this amazing opportunity!  

Cheers,
 

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