so long sweet summer (+ some sweet memories made)

Well, Summer has officially come and gone and what an amazing one it has been. Even though I am literally over the moon excited that Fall is here, I am still sad to see Summer go.

This Summer was extra special because it started with Pete and I getting married! We got married, and then went on our fabbbbulous honeymoon to Valencia, Barcelona & London. These were followed by so many fun plans scattered throughout the Summer

SO many cottage weekends, trips to the cabin with the fam and with friends, a road trip to Pittsburgh, lots of time by the pool, patios, in the sunshine, hanging out in Trinity Bellwoods, exploring Toronto, going to great movies, exploring the EX, Bachelorettes, Pride, Blog Events, Toronto Flower Market, work trip to Summer Camp, Beer Fest, and countless sweet memories with my new hubby, our friends and our family.

We're ending Summer/welcoming Fall with a bang as this weekend will ne wonderfully busy. I'm heading to a work friends wedding tonight! then tomorrow Pete and I get to be MC's for two of our bestest friends at their wedding, and Sunday I am going to a baby shower for one of my fave gals.

I did pretty good on my Summer goals but I am so excited to get going on my Autumn ones!

Here are some of my FAVOURITE Summer Snaps! ♥ :

design your summer(!!!)

So, we're home! We're married and it's SUMMER time. Best Ever.

Lately I've been listening to the "Happier" podcast with Gretchen Rueben, who wrote The Happiness Project which I read a few years ago. It's been really fun and interesting to learn more about happiness and tips and tricks for little things we can do to live a happy life. I am really loving it.

One podcast was all about Designing Your Summer! I've done Summer Bucket Lists in the past but I am even more excited about this Summer for some reason. It's so true that you have the ability to design your life (and Summer!) so let's do this.

(  d e s i g n   y o u r    s u m m e r  )

I just took a look at our calendar for the Summer and realized quickly that we're booked up with fun plans for almost every weekend. We've got a bunch of cottage weekends (yay!), some bachelor & bachelorette parties, some Toronto adventures and celebrations and lots of good vibes. 

I always love to make plans and fill up our Summer because it gives me so much to look forward to. Summer is great because while we may be really busy and away on weekends, there's always lots going on through the week in the city so we make time for friends & family then too. 

Here's my summer to-do list (I will probably add some more to this too!)
- make our own sangria!

- go on an adventure with my DSLR camera

- re-vamp our patio

- go to the toronto flower market!

- go to a toronto FC game
- get ice cream from bang bang 

- make our own iced coffees
- host friends over for a delicious meal
- go visit chantal & steve's new house!
- go up to a cottage!
- sing by the fire
- buy goodies at a local farmers market
- have a family cabin weekend of fun

- spend LOTS of time at the park (bellwoods)

- go on a coffee shop tour of toronto with pete (& blog about it!)

- go to the ex!
- hangout in sarah & jay's backyard (& drink sangria)
- make homemade lemonade
- go rollerskating!
- try 3 new summer recipes

- spend as much time outside as possible!

- eat, drink & be merry on our patio more often

- read 3 books!

- go to toronto island
- get a new helmet & ride my bike in the city
- visit the toronto waterfront for the day
- make a fresh fruit salad
- go for after dinner walks in our neighbourhood

Cute Toronto - Toronto Flower Market

On Saturday I crossed a big one off of my Summer Bucket List! I finally had the opportunity to go to the Toronto Flower Market - some how I am always away, at a wedding or out of the city but Saturday was THE day! Now, I've currently crossed off 11 out of 20 things on my Summer Bucket List, I am slowly getting there.

The market is made of up local florists in the Toronto area, and I was literally smitten over the beautiful flowers available. It was hard to choose but I picked up one bouquet for our place and one for my Mom because she hosted an engagement party for us on Sunday! (so much love!)

My personal favourite vendor was floralora, a small flower farm in Prince Edward County. The girls were sweet and adorable, and helped me pick my own bouquet (see flowers in the bottom 3 photo's) Not only were they beautiful, but home grown and smelled absolutely devine!

Here are some photo's from my first visit to the Toronto Flower Market. It most definitely won't be my last! : 

Summer Bucket List!

It's almost SUMMER, and I thought it would be fun to create my very own Summer Bucket List this year! There's so much I want to do, and of course as per usual, so little time. But, you know me! I like squeezing as much fun to my life as possible, which is why I will try to complete all 20 things on my bucket list. I had so much fun putting this together, and this weekend I will write it out in my token Cute by Jules font, and it will be official. 

Here is my official SUMMER BUCKET LIST, OF FUN!:

1. Make some Homemade Caesars!
2. Do the CN Tower Edge Walk!
3. Go to Canada's Wonderland!
4. Make Vodka Lemonades!
5. Have a Pool Party!
6. Go to Toronto Island!
7. Have an unplugged day!
8. Go to The Toronto Flower Market!
9. Make Homemade Icecream!
10. Have a backyard BBQ!
11. Go on a sweet Bike Ride!
12. Host a Friendship Cabin Weekend!
13. Go the Ex!
14. Go to a Farmers Market!
15. Have a picnic day at Bellwoods!
16. Have a Crafternoon!
17. Do a "Toronto City Bus Tour"!
18. Go to a Blue Jays Game!
19. Go see my niece Ivy play soccer!
20. Make Tye Dye T-Shirts!

Are you making a Summer Bucket List?