finding our Christmas tree

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is going out to find and cut down a tree with my dad.  Unfortunately for me, attending university for the last 5 years in a different city usually meant that I couldn't go with him!  So this year I was pretty excited to be around to go with him, and hunt down the perfect tree.

The tree farm we went to is about 2 minutes from our farm, and we've been going there for years.  We love walking around several times, examining each tree before we make a final decision.  

It's serious business, tree hunting.

But for real, we probably take way too much time picking one out!

This year our tree was a funny one, and we actually had to cut it several feet off the ground!  We were hoping our estimating skills were spot on, and that it wasn't going to be super short or too tall.  Thankfully, it was just right.

There really is nothing like the lovely smell of a real tree!

p.s. ♥ kelsey

Favorite Movember projects from 2012

It's November first, which means....Movember time!  Soon you'll notice that some of the men in your life are looking a little sketchy, or, in some cases, more manly.

We thought we'd share a few of our Movember/moustache projects from last year!

Clara made these incredible movember sharpie mugs last year.  I am seriously so jealous of her handwriting.  Man, that girl has skills!

Jordyn and I made sugar cookies....twice.

Once with butter cream icing, and once with royal icing.

We made these super easy cupcake toppers.

And finally, we showed you how to throw a moustache party (which was actually Jordyn's 20th birthday party!).

We're already brainstorming more Movember-inspired ideas for the next month, so stay tuned!

p.s. ♥ kelsey

Happy Halloween! {and a nerdy pumpkin carving affair}

Jordyn and I hosted a pumpkin carving party on Saturday, and it was one giant nerdfest.  The resulting pumpkins were absolutely hilarious, and I'm so proud of us.  Haha.  The above two pumpkins are Loki (on the left) and Thor and his exploding hammer (on the right), and are Jordyn's and my pumpkins respectively.

It was a fun night complete with hot apple cider, popcorn, and apple cider donuts.  So good.

Please take note of my awesome photoshop job in the above photo.  So corny, but I love it.

(hint: I'm not really holding Thor's hammer!)

Happy Halloween!

p.s. ♥ kelsey 

good morning saturday

good morning, lovely saturday. 

here in Edmonton, fall is definitely here. we've got crisp, fresh mornings, cuddles under warm blankets, hot cups of tea, and pumpkin pancakes with maple syrup. mmm... now that I'm done bragging about my wonderful morning, I think I'm going to go laze around in bed again.

happy fall weekend, dears!

p.s.  ♥ clara

summertime sadness

Doing my very best to soak up every day of summer we have left, even as I eagerly await the upcoming season of pumpkin flavored everything, sweaters, crunchy leaves, foggy mornings, toques, crisp air, and cozy nights.  I will miss long, warm summer evenings, tanned skin, sun dresses, and eating/making ice cream all the time.  

But for now, I will savour each moment, and continue to listen to this song on repeat.

p.s.  ♥ kelsey

weekly wrap-up: a farmers market and a free concert

This weekly wrap-up is an odd assortment of photos from the past couple of weeks, starting with a farmer's market we visited while we were in Kelowna!  It was a wonderful mix of delicious fruits and veggies from local farmers, as well as tons of quirky crafts.

We also hiked up the Kettle Valley Railway Trail, which gave us a gorgeous view of Kelowna from above, and it was so interesting to walk over the old trestles and through the tunnels!

My dad and I both have geography degrees...so naturally we were geeking out over all of the cool rocks we were finding!  Let's just say my mom and Jordyn were not quite as enthusiastic...

Finally, yesterday Jordyn and I drove into Vancouver to see Tegan and Sara (as well as FUN) with the free tickets that Jordyn won on the radio several months ago!!  The concert was outside, and was so wonderful.  Everyone was so nice and relaxed, all of the acts were amazing, and the weather was beautiful!

The above photo is my attempt at a french braid bun!  It's looking a bit sad and frizzy at this point, but I may just have to do a hair tutorial for it in the future!

I hope all of your weeks were swell, and that your long weekends were/are relaxing!

p.s.  ♥ kelsey

weekly wrap-up: old friends and a countdown!

This week started off brilliantly with a mini reunion of old friends!  We grabbed lunch at Granville Island, and went for a walk around the ocean.  We talked and laughed and talked some more...but our time together was still much too short!

I was thoroughly enthralled by the incredible number of wintery/Christmas-y plants that different vendors had out.  So gorgeous!

And the chocolates below are basically the best thing I've ever eaten in my life.  My friend Byron bought us girls chocolate for dessert...and these were to die for!  Salted caramel and dark chocolate, and the other was filled with peanut butter!  Totally feeding my addictions....

This past semester, I've been volunteering at a cute little cafe on campus, which seeks to provide cheap, healthy food from local farmers to students!  It's been a blast, and the people there are all so wonderful.  The pictures below are from my last day this semester!

(Yes, we're all a bit insane...please don't judge.)

And finally, I also attended a Christmas banquet!  It was so much fun to get all gussied up with my roomie, and take a break from schoolwork!

(last 2 photos courtesy of: Tim Blonk)

This coming week is definitely going to be an adventure for me!  I have 2 exams, and then will be packing up my stuff and heading home...only to fly out to Edmonton the very next morning!  Yep, I'm getting incredibly excited to be visiting Clara (and my dear friend Jenna) in just a few short days!  Get ready for lots of shenanigans, baking and crafts coming from the TWO of us!

p.s. ♥ kelsey