new blog coming soon!

Ummmmm hello for the first time in two months (omg, as if!) Happy first day of October, I love this month so much (even though it happened to be scorching hot today)

I just wanted to pop in and give you all an update, you know - in case you were wondering where on earth I've been/what is going on with this blog etc!

I have wanted to revamp the blog for a while, and really incorporate the rest of my brand, my podcast, work etc into one cute-as-can-be place on the internet for you all. After thinking about it for a few months and not knowing where to start or what to do. I decided to just go for it!

I am beyond pumped to say I've purchased squarespace as my new hosting site and have been working hard (whenever I have an extra spare hour or two) on bringing my dreams to life for this little blog that I've grown to love so much over the years.

I figured no better time than now to work on this, since once the baby arrives my spare time for creative ventures will be few and far between. A big part of why I want to update this and give it a refresh, is to inspire me to share more content during my mat leave too!

I hope you'll check back for updates and thanks for reading. I am really exciting about the new site and am in love with how it's looking so far. Stay tuned and can't wait to share with you all

XO,

Jules

six month pregnancy update!

Wow, I can't believe it! Today I'm 24 weeks pregnant. SIX months! The first trimester went by so slowly of course, as it's also a really emotional one as you're waiting to hit that 12 week milestone.

The past few months have been flying by, it's like I blink and another week has gone by and it's a Tuesday and I'm another week further along. I've been feeling really great. People weren't lying when they said how awesome the second trimester is. I've been trying to take advantage of the fact I'm still feeling so good and mobile! Pete and I are always out and about, going for walks, making plans and getting things done around the house.

All things considered, I feel very lucky (knock on wood) to of had a good pregnancy so far. I am just navigating my way through each week, symptom, feeling and milestone and being positive as best I can.

A few special things to share on pregnancy so far:

• The babe is due the day before my Dad's birthday (yes I cried when I heard that)
• We're having a BOY, in case you missed that announcement on my instagram
• He's been kicking + moving soooo much lately - it's so exciting!
• I have to admit I am feeling so good and feel lovely, the female body is magical

I wanted to share a few resources/things I've enjoyed during my pregnancy so far

// Babylist - Legit the best invention! It's a (cute af) sit you can use to register for your shower(s) and you can literally pull links from any website - brilliant!

// The Bump App - There are tons of different apps for this, but it's an awesome week by week update on you and your baby. How you're feeling, the way your body changes etc.

// The Flo App - This app is also great and I used it for about 5-6 months before we got pregnant. It's great if you're looking to get pregnant, it keeps track of your period, fertility etc.

// The Mother Of All Pregnancy Books - My pal recommended this and it's been awesome. There is some kinda scary stuff in there but all educational whether good or bad - great stuff to know.

// Rebel Mamas - This is just a really cool site that is a collection of badass mamas and cool content! A book, blogs, and a really kickass book I hope to read soon!

// Minimalist Baby Registry Blog Post - This was one of my favourite blog posts I found about baby registries (which can be so very stressful) a lot of good suggestions and advice.

// The Magic Of Motherhood - This book is a collection of love, loss, heart ache and everything in between from all different mamas from around their world and their stories. So lovely

// Bio Oil - This is good to rub on the belly. Who knows if this works or not but it's been known to be a good thing for stretch marks as your bump grows!

// Coffee + Crumbs Podcast - A great motherhood podcast hosted by the many awesome mamas from Coffee + Crumbs. I've only listened to a few but loved them so far.

// Loeppsky's Life - Delilah is so cute. A mama of two (and Canadian!) I love her simple little videos about pregnancy, motherhood, decor and more! Positive and lighthearted and a nice treat.

// Happiest Baby On The Block - I haven't started reading this yet but it was recommended by a few different people! I've ordered it and it will arrive tomorrow. Looking forward to it!

tell me something good

Well, it's been a while (such is life) but all is really great! Feeling v. pregnant these days (especially with these "feels like 40" type of Summer days!) I'm now 23 weeks - almost 6 months! How nuts is that?! Time is flying by and we are slowly sure getting ready for our baby boy to arrive this November!

I thought I'd do a little wrap up of things I am loving lately.

stranger things season 3 // I've been a huge fan of Strangers Things since season 1 and was so pumped for this season. I hoped it would still be as amazing as I remember, and they definitely nailed it. I love the kids (now teens - *tear*) and it was so fun seeing how much they nailed the 1980's vibe! We crushed this season, and if you haven;t

confetti culture episode 14 // I finally recorded a new episode of my podcast and this one was all about our exciting news about having a baby! So much happiness, and a few minutes of heart break when I talk about losing my Uncle and Grandpa within a few months of each other.

booksmart // I am obsessed with this movie. Olivia Wilde is incredible and my girl crush for life. She crushed directorial debut and the cast is out of this world. A strong female made film and one I will watch many many more times over the years. I can't wait to watch it again!

joyful // I've been reading this book for a while but I am just loving it so far. Mental note to make more time to read (esp since I won't have much of that come this fall!) Ingrid Fetell Lee is so magical and helps you see the world through colourful, glittery eyes.

squarespace // I've been thinking for a while that I really want to switch my blog over to a new hosting site. It's time to retire from the bloggert days (lol, I know right?) The goal will be to host my blog, podcast + more all on heyjules.ca -- stay tuned, friends! It's going to be magic.

lizzo, all day err day // I am in love with Lizzo. Her music is incredible, it makes me so happy and want to dance. It also makes me feel like a boss. If you don't already love this incredible woman, get on it and starting rocking out to her amazing tunes. You won't regret it!

the bird's papaya // Last month I got to meet the sweet, beautiful, real af dream girl Sarah Nicole. She was as real, funny and gorgeous in person as I ever imagined. I love her instagram, she has the ability to make women of all shapes and sizes love their bodies no matter what, and it's f*cking awesome. She is a dream.

we're going to NYC (!!!) // Pete and I just booked a trip to NYC this August! We are so excited. We haven't been in forever and are staying in Brooklyn for the first time ever, and staying in a super badass hotel. This will be one last special trip for just the two of us before baby Whish arrives!

everything you can imagine is real

A few weeks ago I got to experience something really amazing! I got to attend The Atelier conference here in Toronto at Evergreen Brickworks, and it was *magical*

My wonderful friend Ericka from work and I attended together and it was such a special, inspiring day that I felt I really needed. The past three months of work have been non stop as I was planning my biggest event of the year, a charity event in support of SickKids. The event was a huge hit and after a last minute date change (due to the crazy rainy weather we'd be having) this conference ended up taking place the day before!

Thankfully, I was still able to enjoy the event regardless of everything else that was going on during that time. Since getting pregnant, I really wasn't feeling myself and letting my usual creative juices flow to the extent they usually do. Now that I am into the second trimester and HALF way there (omg!) I have more energy to focus on these things.

I find that going to events like these, where people you admire talk about their struggles and successes is always good for the soul. Hearing from so many wonderful people really made me excited for some things to come!

I have so many special moments to highlight but the main two for me would be:
1) Meeting and getting to chat with Sarah Nicole of The Birds Papaya (omg, I can't even)
+ 2) When Jillian Harris WAVED TO ME and said MY DRESS WAS CUTE (!!!) zero chill.

The theme of the event was LIMITLESS which I loved.

lim·it·less

/ˈlimitləs/

Learn to pronounce

adjective

1. without end, limit, or boundary.

Honestly, the conference was so well done. Everything was beautiful, just perfect. The food and drinks were awesome, you could get your hair and makeup done, there were flowers everywhere, everyone who was attending looked soooo pretty (and lots of other moms to be) there were amazing brands and small businesses there. I would definitely recommend this conference, it was just lovely. ♥

1. 
   

1. I took lots of notes during the conference, a lot of which were things I probably already knew but loved hearing again. Lots of amazing quotes and words of affirmation from great people. I thought it would be fun to share these with you all!
2. 
   
3. + All that is possible is possible for you
4. + Have continuous quality time with yourself // self check-ins
5. + Everyone deserves to feel - loved - respected - heard
6. + Own who you are, live authentically
7. + Come as you are
8. +Your body is the least interesting part about you
9. + Every single day you make decisions for yourself
10. + Strength is getting back up
11. + Know who your people are
12. + Comparison is the thief of joy
13. + Everyones success looks different than yours
14. + Honour each other, be happy for one another
15. + BLESS EM AND BLOCK EM
16. + Lead with love (cc: Coach Carey, who is so amazing!)
    + Find success in your failures
17. + Just ask, you've got nothing to lose
18. + Spend time with people who are uplifting
19. + Happy people make people happy
20. + No one can be you
    + No ones got their shit together
21. + Fake it 'till you make it
22. + Find the balance
23. + Don't be afraid to fail

3 years since #whishwedding + toronto vendors i love!

I can't believe it! Three years ago today Pete and I got married, and I may be biased but it was the best day ever! #whishwedding was everything I'd dreamed it would be and more :) It's tough doing blog posts and round ups because I feel like I have hundreds of pictures that I love and want to share.

We lucked out with such a gorgeous day, it was perfectly sunny in every day and hot! Considering it's 10 degrees and rainy in Toronto today, it makes me realize even more how lucky we were to get the day we had (especially since a lot of our wedding was outdoors)

I loved wedding planning. I am just a natural planner type who thrives off of bringing people together, especially when it involves flowers, colours and confetti. I loved planning our wedding so much that afterwards I started doing day of coordinating in Toronto. I've planned over ten weddings in the past three years since ours and have learned a lot. Although it's something I am taking a break from right now (it's too much in addition to my full time job and now the bebe!) I am still very much in love with and excited about weddings.

I am sure they will continue to be part of my life in some capacity and I may continue doing some weddings in the future too! One thing I learned while planning is that these days with social media, it can be tough to find vendors because there are just SO many out there, it's overwhelming. Toronto is a booming wedding city with so many talented people, there are a lot I know and even more that I don't. 

I've really wanted to do a round up of some of my favourite Toronto wedding vendors for a while now. Some are ones we used, and others are ones I just adore, or have learned about since we got married. Check out the links below to learn more resources if you're planning a wedding in Toronto (the best city ever)

vendors we used + loved:

Venue: Caffino

Photographer - Jessica Silva Photography

Flowers - Blush + Bloom 

Wedding Dress - Sash + Bustle

Jules' Shoes - ASOS

Pete's Suit - Surmesur

Menus - Minted

Bridesmaid Dresses: David's Bridal

Groomsmen Get Ups - Zara Man

Flower Girl + Ring Bearer Get Ups - H&M

// flower vendors :

blush + bloom // I am sure it's very clear how much I love flowers and how many we had at our wedding. Becky and the team literally made my dreams come true! Normally florists will do a mock up of your bouquets etc but we decide to made it a surprise, and let's just say that I cried when they got delivered to the hotel room. Flowers make me so happy and I still cannot get over how perfect our wedding day blooms were thanks to the best in the biz! I cannot say enough about Becky and her team. I am forever their #1 hype girl.

• periwinkle flowers // Jess is awesome! We have done a bunch of weddings together now and my brides are always so happy with the end result. She is just so calm and chill to work with and always does a great job.
• primose + willow // Cecilia and I have been following each other on insta for a few years now and I've loved watching her grow her floral brand - she creates beautiful bouquets and I love her vibe.
• hilary adele - Hilary and I have worked together at a few jobs before and have also done a few weddings together! This firecracker will crush your wedding day set up and make sure everything is looking lovely and put together.
• wildwood floristry - Hilary is so darn sweet. We've done a few weddings together now and I love what she creates and how much she cares for her clients. Def would recommend!

wedding planners //

• lexington + co // Lexi is a friend of mine and someone I admire so much. She is a beautiful soul inside and out and has so much positive energy. She is definitely one of the best, most consistent planners in Toronto as far as I am concerned and she constantly blows me away. I love bumping into her in our hood but even more so love seeing the incredible events and weddings she plans on the regular.
• love by lynzie // I've been a fan of Lynzie's for years and a few years ago we met and hit it off as we are both happy, fun-lovin' confetti queens. Lynzie and her team are definitely known around the city as really fun, colourful and exciting planners! Their weddings are always so full of life and character and I am constantly in awe of what they bring to life.
• blush + bowties // These folks I don't know personally but from what I've seen at wedding shows and online, I really love what they're doing and think they are worth checking out!

print // 

• minted // I've been a huge fan of minted for years now and their stuff is so beautiful. We partnered together on our save the dates, thank you's and menus (photo below) and they have so many incredible designers hosted on the site, so you're sure to find one you love that matches you theme.
• zazzle // A great/inexpensive option for table settings, menu's, save the dates, etc
• social print audio // My favourite spot to get prints done (got a lot of wedding shots printed here) they also do cute thank you cards and such that you could use!
• parabo press // Another great and easy to use site for prints, calendars, greeting cards etc. I've always been so happy with my orders from here too!

// other cool places/vendors for wedding-type things + inspo:

• balloonery // I didn't have this contact when we got married, but Shawn and his wife are awesome and I use them allllll the time for work events. Very affordable, reliable and a great selection of balloons. Highly recommend.
• the paper place // Love this shop (right across from bellwoods) and got some of my nice pens, washii tapes, and little decor pieces from here. Great selection and variety!
• majestic chair boutique // If you're looking to rent classic chivari chairs, Majestic is awesome and a lot cheaper than chairman mills. Check em' out
• robbie + matthew  // If you're looking for an amazing, talented, cute af musical duo for your wedding then Robbie and Matthew are your guys. Awesome covers and vibe and they are pros when it comes to the wedding scene.
• bobette + belle // Since wedding cakes can be legit a ridiculous amount, I always suggest just ordering a classic cake and jazzing it up yourself with toppers, flowers etc. Most people don't even eat the cake these days but if you want one just to have something, this is a perfect, affordable choice

// wedding dress shops

sash + bustle // I cannot say enough about Sash + Bustle! Owned by two wonderful sisters, and do they ever make it a great experience. It was recommended to me by a few people and it's a much more intimate experience than a lot of other places. It felt really nice to be there with my Mom and bridesbabes trying on dresses. They had an incredible selection of dresses and I fell in love with this one. I had a really really lovely experience there and think every Toronto pride should check it out.

• loversland // A really cool boho boutique on Ossington. They have great accessories and such too! They don't have a huge selection, and it's not the most inclusive as far as body types go, but they've got some beautiful pieces and it's a really cool space worth checking out
• felichia bridal // I had a great experience here and actually almost got my dress! The gals there were so friendly and helpful and there was a great selection of dresses
• becker's // One of the oldest dress shops in Toronto and the first place I went to try on gowns. My Mom and many other people I know got their dresses here!

photographers //

jessica silva photography // We could not be happier with the outcome of our wedding photos. Jess is not only an amazing photographer but a good friend of ours. Her and her husband Jose are legit a dream team and did an incredible job. They made everyone feel so good and comfortable and you honestly didn't even realize they were there. We have SO many photos that we absolutely love and are so grateful we got to have our pals shoot our day. Jess will not disappoint! Absolutely crushes it.

• hilary spencer // Hilary and I met years ago at BlogPodium and have always followed each other on social. I love her photos and think she does an amazing job, she is very lovely and you should def check her out.
• jess imrie // Jess is so talented. We've been following each other on insta for a while now and I love seeing what she's up to. Tons of experience with weddings of all types and always has beautiful outcomes
• jennifer see studios // I met Jen years ago (I don't even remember how at this point) but I love her style of photography. Very moody and intimate and just gorgeous. I love seeing what she's shooting and she's just a beautiful soul inside and to
• mango studios // Mango is filled with some of the best in the biz. I worked there for a very brief period a few years ago, but could see first hand just how good these guys were! So many incredible, talented photographers who definitely know their sh*t.