new blog look. same positive vibes

//  T  H  U  R  S  D  A  Y

You may notice my blog got a little makeover! H O O R A Y! Nothing drastic, but a little refresh because to be honest, it just felt like the time was right.

For a while I was exploring other blogs and websites to get inspiration and try and find ideas for what I should do next, what types of layouts are hot right now and make the most sense for me. Buuuut, something really resignated with me from The Goal Digger Podcast - they talked about when you're looking to update your blog/website, how you shouldn't look to others for inspiration, but rather think of other ways to find what inspires you and what will feel right for your blog. It's so true!

And you know what? I am a very simple girl when it comes to this kinda stuff. My blog has had the same layout since I started blogging, and it's actually my favourite type of blog to read. Everything you're looking for is right in front of you. Obviously the evolution of blogs has given us all the fancy widgets, suggested posts, requests for info for email lists and so on. But the truth is, I don't need all those things right now.

I'm a full time workin' gal who is absolutely LOVING her career, I've got a side hustle, a husband, and a fun life with lots on the go, and this blog is just something I do for fun! I hope to inspire people in some way, spread some happiness and positivity online, share things I love and think you will too, and post about things that are truly me. I promise you that what you see on here, the way I write and share on this blog are totally, authentically Jules!

I will say this, I am looking forward to this new little face lift and hoping it will inspire me to post on here more regularly! I was checking out how many blog posts I did in 2017, and it was only 40! I'd love to get close to doubling that number this year, and I hope you'll follow along!

Hope you're having a great week, we're almost there! ♥

my weekend in prince edward county

o h    h e l l o    t h e r e  ,   g o r g e o u s!

Life is good, and busy and the blog posts are rolling in slower and less often than planned. But, here I am & here we are and if you're reading this - thank you for sticking around and checking back here for updates.

In August I went on a lovely weekend trip to Prince Edward County with my favourite person ever - my Mom! ♥ Pete was in Nashville for a bachelor party so we headed to do the opposite really. Relax, shop, eat, drink & explore a new (and beautiful) little part of Ontario.

We stayed at an adorable little Bed & Breakfast that was located on a Lavender Farm ♥ Sadly, the lavender was no longer in bloom but we still got to see the fields, smell the glorious smell and shop in the gift shop for magical goodies.

1. Explore the adorable towns - There are so many lovely towns in Prince Edward County to roll through. Each one has lots of little places to eat, drink and shop. Every town is a bit different but has something great to offer.

2. Take in the gorgeous views - The views in PEC are honestly beautiful. Take a look at these sweet photos to know what I am talking about! I was in awe at the gorgeous blue water and bright blue skies.

3. Eat & drink - There's lots of great little places to eat, drink and be merry. We had dinner and a drink on the patio at The Drake Devonshire, had a drink at Courage Bar and a delicious and adorable breakfast at our B&B.

4. Go antiquing - PEC has SO many really cool antique shops, and I love antiquing! They've all got so much character and feel less picked over than the ones in the city. I think my favourite one was Dead People's Stuff (esp cause I find the name pretty funny, haha!)

5. Relax in the countryside - One of my favourite parts about our time in PEC was just taking it all in and relaxing. Trying to unplug, read, spend time with my Mom and just enjoy the little moments. Being away from the city has that effect for sure.

I brought my DSLR to snap some pics to share with y'all. I am trying to make more time to bring my camera out because I am always thankful when I do.

Also, how cute is my mama? 

hello summer! + to-do list!

Oh hello there strangers! Happy Sunday (+ Happy Prideeeeee!)

So I just realized it's been 20 days since my last blog post, oh my! Well I guess I don't need to explain that the past few months have been insanely busy (but just wonderful) and it's finally Summer. Feels like it's taking forever in Toronto this year. So here we are, a few days into Summer and it's already been justtttt amazing. I've been putting this list together for a few months and will probably keep adding to it, I've actually already done a few of them but wanted to share!

Hopefully I can squeeze in some more blogging this Summer too! 

The Hey Jules Summer To-Do List!:

• bike to sugar beach
• revamp our patio
• go to the leslieville flea
• host an awesome canada 150 bash
• get a new cute bike
• learn to bbq delicious food
• go to cherry beach
• celebrate toronto pride
• try out a new spot for patio drinks
• bike rides & baseball at christie pits
• read 3 books
• make delicious sangria
• try a new fitness class
• have a picnic in the park
• re-watch stranger things (probs on rainy days)
• get fresh goodies from a farmer's market
• go to the toronto flower market
• go to a outdoor concert
• try meditating outside
• do a diy project for our house
• go to a new fitness class
• make a delicious fruit based dessert

parabo press + 25 FREE prints!

h  a  p  p  y    t  u  e  s  d  a  y

I wanted to share some photo's of the beautiful prints I recently got from Parabo Press -- they are beyond wonderful. And I've got to say, I am so glad that places like this exist because I am personally a lover of printing my photo's, no matter how old school this may be.

I've always been one to take (and print) photo's and I love the evolution of prints and what they've become over the past few years. There's so much room to get creative and create some really special keepsakes, gifts and ways to commemorate special moments.

I've been especially excited about ordering prints since the wedding (of course!) and I've ordered so many for us, family & friends! 

Today I am sharing some prints I recently ordered from such an amazing company - Parabo Press! I absolutely love what they create and was beyond thrilled with how my prints turned out. Not to mention they literally have the most beautiful packaging EVER(!!!) Also, I made a 2017 calendar all of my FLOWER photo's *swoon*

& since I love y'all so much I am offering you 25 FREE prints if you use the code JULES at check out! Now for my next adventure? Finding a way to organize & display all of these cute prints!

life, lately!

Oh hello there + Happy Sunday!

I realized I haven't blogged in nine days, and it feels even longer. I thought it'd be nice to give a little life update with some fun snaps from the last little while.

I've got to say, life has been really really great! It's a long week here in Canada (Family Day!) which has been so lovely so far. We're relaxing right now and then later today we'll be going to celebrate my Grandpa's 95th birthday! ♥

H O M E ; We've been in our new house for about a month and a half now! And although we're not 100% where we want to be, we are definitely getting there. It's starting to feel a lot more like home and we're pretty much all unpacked. Now, it's just putting the final touches on everything and hanging some prints and photo's as well as coming up with some sweet gallery walls. We're having a little housewarming next weekend.

W O R K ; It's been a challenging few months for me. I left my job in November that I was at for five and a half years to pursue a new opportunity. Long story short it ended up not being the best fit for me, but was a learning experience and helped me discover what I am looking for. I'm so excited to say I started this past week at an amazing Tech company as their Culture Specialist, In a nut shell, it's my job to make sure people are happy, excited and engaged (best...job...ever!)

E V E R Y T H I N G    E L S E ;  Been keeping busy hanging with lots of friends and family, going out and about in Toronto, and finally spending time at home again + making delicious dinners. I hosted a fun giveaway recently on my Instagram and have another one coming up soon!, got the most amazing surprise package from thimblepress filled with the best goodies, recently got tickets to see three concerts this Summer (!!!) Jack Johnson, Kings of Leon & Chance the Rapper. To top everything off, next weekend I get to be a model with some other fellow creatives in Toronto for the Spring photoshoot for Smithery Style

The moral of the story is - all is wonderful and I hope everyone is doing amazinggggg! More updates coming soon, promise.

Finally Fall - An Outfit Post!

h  a  p  p  y     s  u  n  d  a  y

// Ok, so this has been the most awesome weekend! For realz. Yesterday I got to hang out with my besties and host them over for a girls night and then we headed out to the streets of Toronto for Nuit Blanche ♥ So after catching up, drinking, dancing and lots of giggling, we bundled up and hit the town! Got home at 4am, so was feeling quite lazy today!

Pete and I had our John & Yoko day, AKA do nothing! Heck yes! (crossed that off of my autumn goals list) We got Pumpkin Spice Lattes and went for a walk in our hood, but otherwise spent the day straight chillin'

I am SO glad that Fall weather is finally here in Toronto and I've been loving every minute of it. Been busting out the toques and sweaters and getting really cosy. Thursday night Pete and I walked to my brother and his boyfriend Mikey's place which is about 15 minutes up the street from us. I love going for walks in our hood and seeing the leaves changing and drooling over giant Toronto houses we'll never own (lol) - Pete snapped some photo's of me along the way.

Outfit Details:

• Toque // Public Butter
• Dress // Forever 21
• Sweater // Marshalls
• Purse // Boohou
• Necklaces // Anice
• Canvas Tote // Sea & Lake

10 Jules Facts! (jules-isms)

Oh Hello there, gorgeous! & Happy Thursday! I was tagged by the lovely Morgan of The Flame Dame for 10 things you don't know about me (or perhaps maybe you know some!) I tried to think of some fun facts about me, and here are the 10 I came up with! Enjoy! ♥

1. I love Christmas - If you've followed my blog for a while, you know that Christmas is one of my hugest loves. Since I was a little kiddie, Christmas has always been my favourite time of year. Not that I think I need to justify why, but I will tell you anyway. My Dad Passed away just before I turned 18, and some of my most special cherished memories of him are around Christmas time, he always made it so special and fun, so that definitely plays a big part. Other than that, it's the obvious things, people giving and spreading love and joy, spending time with friends and family and those you love most, and the overall theme of life being really positive and jolly. AH, so excited just thinking about it. (also, to add to that, my Instagram name: @julierosschristmas)

2. Jimmy Fallon follows me on twitter - I am not too sure how it happened or exactly when it happened, but it makes me SO HAPPY! He is one of my favourite people of all time and I have loved him since back in the day when he was in Fever Pitch and on SNL. The odd time I do tweet at him and send him some love and I guess I did it on the right day! I am one of the 6,437 people Jimmy follows! He's got over 26 million followers too!

• FOLLOWING6,437
• FOLLOWERS26.2M

3. I'm a Leo -Well, I can tell you I don't know too much about Astrology but I know well enough to know I am a Leo, and that people always say things like "Omg, you're such a Leo"

"The great strengths of the Leo-born are their creativity, idealism and leadership. Lions don't lack for ambition, either, so they're likely to accomplish a lot -- and have fun while they're at it. Their warmth and loyalty ensures that others will enjoy the ride as well."

4. I Love SNL! - I've always loved watching SNL and a few years ago my love grew even more after a friend of ours that we met while working on the cruise ship landed a spot on the show! Say what? Yep, it's true. Pete and I worked with Vanessa Bayer on the Norwegian Dawn. Vanessa was a part of the Second City cast on the ship, and ended up auditioning for SNL and becoming part of the cast (obvs) Pete and I were lucky enough to see SNL and Vanessa live in New York and it was one of the coolest experiences of our lives! We also got to go backstage, and the the SNL cast after party and meet  fellow cast members (dying) It's a story we love to tell until this day!

5. My job is to make people happy - Well, kinda! When I am not being a badass blogger babe, I am working my full time job at a student travel company as a "Culture Coordinator" - I do all kinds of things in this role, but to name a few ; on boarding new staff, office tours, planning events and activities, helping out with company conferences, executing parties, theme days, and doing little things to make the staff happy, proud and excited about where they work. It's the little things!

6. I used to work on a Cruise Ship - Yep, it's true! The first Summer I ever did it, I was on a ship that sailed from Seattle to Alaska! So cool. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I worked as a Youth Counsellor and went by the name Cupcake! I met so many incredible people from all over the world, and got to travel to some amazing places. Best of all? Meeting my future husband on board what I like to call The Love Boat AKA The Norwegian Dawn, sailing from New York City to Bermuda every week. Tough life, eh?

7. I was on the Improv team in High School - My older brother Joe did Improv in High School and I used to go watch them live when I was a teenager, I knew when I had the chance I would want to get involved. I was (some how) funny and witty enough to make the Improv team and was a part of the team all my high school years. The guys I spent the majority of my time with became some of my absolute best friends, and made me laugh every single day. Our team competed in the Canadian Improv Games and travelled all around doing live Improv. Definitely some of the best times in my life, and sometimes I think about taking some classes and getting involved again!

8. I went to 7 proms, and have been a Bridesmaid 7 times - In High School I was a professional prom date! Haha, a few of them I went with boyfriends, a few with friends, and then a few as a female date for my gay friends who weren't out of the closet yet. No matter who I went with, I had the best time (and I never wore the same dress!) And when it comes to being a bridesmaid, I am also a pro! I have been lucky enough to stand up for 7 of my bestest pals, which is just such a special thing. I love weddings and celebrations and playing such a huge part in someones wedding day is a true honour.

9. I am a city girl - You've probably seen me post on here and on my Instagram about Toronto. I absolutely love this city and going on adventures here. A lot of my friends have settled down in the suburbs, which I totally see the appeal. However, Pete and I are such city people and we know that Toronto is where we want to be, where we will be happiest, and where we'll start a family. The city is definitely not for everyone, but there is so much to do and see here and I continue to love this place every single day.

10. Travel is one of my biggest loves - I can't pin point the exact moment I fell in love with travel, but I think it was the trip I took with My Mom and brothers to San Fransisco. I fell in love with the city and exploring a new place and from there my passion for travel began. I consider myself so lucky to of travelled where I have in my 30 years of existence. Some places I've travelled to? Florida, Cuba, San Fransisco, Chicago, Seattle, New York, New Orleans, Cleveland, Thailand (twice!), Mexico, Banff, England, Belgium, Holland, Bahamas, Bermuda, Dominican, Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, Alaska, Paris, Ireland, and Scotland. We're excited to plan our next big adventure : The Honeymoon!

quick bonus facts:
- I love scary movies!
- I used to work at a Pirate Themed Resort in Florida!
- I've always wanted to travel to Hawaii
- I only wear dresses, no actually though
- I LOVE 90's sitcoms, like. so. much.

Celebrate Every Day - DIY Confetti Packets!

Well, Happy Sunday Beautiful! I hope your day was absolutely magical. I definitely had an awesome day (and weekend.) Over the past week I've realized a few things, and one of them is that every single day is a celebration. When it really comes down to it, not everything is ever going to be perfect, and maybe we don't always get everything that we want - but if you're healthy, and you've got a home, and a job, and people to love and people who love you...then you're truly lucky. Sometimes things need to happen for us to realize this, and it is always a good reminder.

Now, I am sure you've noticed that I really like celebrations! I like sparkles, and paper straws, pretty napkins, confetti, party hats, treats bags and any added touch to make a party special. I recently got a giant bag of sparkly confetti, and thought I really ought to make some confetti packets!

What you'll need:

• a giant bag of confetti
• mini clear goodie bags
• a stapler
• plain brown labels
• felt tip pen
• the will to cover your home in confetti

// took my giant bag of confetti, and stuffed each about three quarters full

// shake em off to get the confetti packed down and looking cute as can be

// fold bag in half and staple both sides down

// write a cute word or phrase on a label and stick it on!

// i usually add some washii tape over the top in the end too!