DIARY // REAL TALK

first off, how beautiful was the sunset a few nights ago? cotton candy coloured skies always make this heart sparkle.

ok real talk time, i left my house in a hurry this morning. i was running late for coffee with my lovely friend courtney (!) and the reason why i was running late was because our weather kept changing. this morning it was cold and rainy, so i was dressed for cold and rainy but upon glancing out my bedroom blinds, i noticed the sun had come out a blazing. in a mad rush i changed into shorts and ran out the door. half way on my drive to starbucks i looked down at my knees and realized my legs were disgustingly hairy not shaved. i was tempted to turn around and run straight to the shower but instead i kept going. meh. i’d rather spend quality time with courtney than protect the world from seeing my not so smooth legs. real talk. (fyi don’t worry, i will still shave my legs and not embarrass you if we hang out this summer…)

anyways….while we’re on the subject of real talk. let me tell you something: real talk is important. i do not know how people go through life without talking about the trials & annoyances & crazy stuff & scary stuff (etc, etc) that happens to them. 

i do believe you have to be discerning. i’m not going to go all real talk and ask someone for advice, or tell them about an issue if i barely know them. be discerning in who you open up to! i know i’m rambling here but the point is…get some people in your life that you can go all real talk on. 

james & i are so blessed to have amazing pastors/mentors/friends/role models (aka andy & lisa) in our life. they had us over the other night and we told them honestly where we were at and they listened and loved and offered wisdom. we drove away refreshed and blessed. 

let’s face it…life can be cray. life can be a little cray. life can be very cray. get someone in your life who you can be real talk with.

newly engaged/newly weds…married life is hard (at times!), get a couple that you look up to that you can be real talk with. young girl, young man (do any guys even read this blog?) get someone in your life, a youth leader, an older person you respect, someone that you can be honest with,someone who will offer Godly wisdom, someone who will pray for you, someone who will keep you accountable, someone who will love you!

don’t hold everything in (that will make everything even more cray!), find an awesome mentor/friend/role model, be real with them & leave refreshed and blessed.

happy friday friends.

xoxo,

s.s.♥.

DIY // TERRACOTTA POTS

we have a sundeck right off our bedroom. it’s one of my favourite parts of our apartment. it’s always sunny and conveniently there are giant bushes infront of it (keeps creeper neighbours away). 

this year i decided to become a gardener plant a couple plants and not kill them. so before i could plant a plant, i’d need a cute looking pot. so lo and behold, a diy for you all!

fyi this is the easiest diy ever. 

supplies needed: terracotta pot, paint, brushes, tape

1. get a pot…i recommend scouring your grandma’s backyard (that’s where i found mine)

2. clean pot

3. use tape to protect the part where you don’t want to paint

4. paint away 

5. let dry and hurrrah, a cute little pot to plant your fave plant!

isn’t our avocado plant amazing? my friend becca grew it from a pit and then gifted it to us on nye..it’s grown so big and i haven’t managed to kill it yet (fingers crossed)

i’m planning on planting tomatoes in the other pot and then maybe i’ll attempt a little herb garden..

as a newbie gardener i’d love any tips you can offer!!

stay gold,

s.s.♥.

DIARY // MY SISTER'S WEDDING

weddings have been trending in my family the past three years. two years ago my brother married the lovely, emy. last year it was me. and this year it was catrina’s turn. 

(at catrina’s bachelorette!)

catrina married her sweetheart, mike this past saturday. they had the ceremony & reception in a beautiful suite at the victoria regent hotel. the suite has a beautiful deck that overlooks the inner harbour and can fit 40 people in it! it’s perfect for a small wedding. 

catrina was a stunning bride (no surprise there). and mike was looking dashing in his vera wang suit. their love was absolutely radiant. i am beyond the moon, so excited for them :) here are a few pics from the big day!

(sisters!! my dress is from topshop, incase you’re wondering!)

(they chatted through the door minutes before the ceremony…what a sweet moment!)

(pops giving catrina away to her groom, look at her gorgeous bouquet!!)

(mr. & mrs. hitchinson)

(the incredible wedding cake made by Rachel~Cakes)

(food baby from the incredible food, fyi we are NOT pregnant, ha)

(me and my handsome husband)

gosh i love weddings. i’m so happy for catrina. what’s pretty crazy is we both started dating our husbands within weeks of each other (we were both single for a long time before ha!!) hope you enjoyed the pics.

xoxo,

s.s.♥.

RECIPES // BUFFALO CHICKEN TACOS

i was never a fan of spicy food. never. i would order my spicy peanut noodlebox extra mild (which doesn’t even exist). i remember going to some thai restaurant and crying because it was soooo spicy. but i married a man who was also married to hot sauce. james loooooves spicy food. absolutely loves it. so with most meals i make, he hauls out the sriracha or franks. slowly but surely i would try a bit on my plate and soon enough, i kinda started loving the spice. not too extreme though, but for your information, i now order my spicy peanut noodlebox, mild-medium. :)

so on my day off i was trying to decide what to make for dinner…i wanted to make something that i had never made before because i had some extra time to prep. in my super long search i came across a recipe for super easy buffalo chicken tacos. growing up i never had buffalo sauce, so when i discovered it a few months ago…i was in looooove.

my favourite hot sauce!

the tacos were incredibly simple and took me a whole 30 minutes to prep & cook. i loved them and they weren’t too spicy (drizzle some buffalo sauce on them once made to up the spiciness!)

Directions:

serves 2

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into pieces

2 tablespoons corn starch

1/4 cup flour 

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

pinch of cayenne pepper

1/4 cup buffalo wing sauce (I used Frank’s Buffalo Wing)

3 tablespoons olive oil

4-6 4-inch tortillas

salt and pepper

for toppings: shredded cheddar cheese, tomatoes, avocado, shredded lettuce or cabbage, green onions, cilantro, ranch dressing and extra buffalo wing sauce for drizzling.

1. prep your toppings first. the chicken cooks quite quickly, and you’ll be drooling by the time you toss it in the sauce, so don’t waste time prepping at the end.

i used shredded lettuce, shredded marble cheese, tomatoes, green onions, ranch, & sour cream.

you can spread them out all pretty like this…

2. heat a skillet over medium-high heat.

3. in a bowl, combine corn starch, flour, cayenne and garlic powder.

4. season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper, then dredge in the flour mixture.

5. add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet and once it gets hot, add chicken and brown on both sides – about 3-4 minutes per side.

6. once the chicken is done, set it aside in a bowl and toss with 1/4 cup of buffalo wing sauce.

7. enjoy!!

-s.s.♥.

SASQUATCH

sasquatch is happening this weekend!

we’re not going (the line-up is amazing this year!) but if we were, here are a few of the things i’d like to bring along in my suitcase…

all items from topshop

1. overalls are always a good choice

2. i’d put this lace beauty crop top underneath the overalls

3. flowers in your hair are a must for every music festival

4. cute knit for the evening

5. your gams will stand out in these embroidered cutoffs

6. take a small backpack to store your sunscreen, water, & bubbles…but don’t fill it too full because nothing is more annoying than standing behind someone with a giant backpack that’s smushing into you

7. my go to for a summer evening, pair it over the overalls, sweater or a summery dress

8. it’s time to embrace the trend of round sunnies

xoxo,

s.s.♥.