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.♥.

THAT F WORD

fear.

yep, i’m talking about that f word…fear. 

i hate fear. i hate it. i hate it.

i hate it because it has held me back in many areas of my life. and i’m sure it has held you back in areas as well.

i read somewhere there are 365 Bible verses on telling you not to fear: enough for every single day that you face in a year. (i’m pretty sure rick warren tweeted it, so it must be true)

when andy asked me to speak at adore, i was extremely fearful. every time i would think about it, i would get anxious and let fear rule over me. i believed lies that the enemy was telling me. i was freaaaakkkiiiinnngg ouuuuut. big time. so to counter attack this fearfulness i started seeking God about it. first i started praying silent prayers about fear. He answered. He spoke to me through many sermons, & many friends including c.s. lewis. as you know from a previous post, james & i listened to chronicles of narnia audio books while we were road tripping. i remember hearing this part during prince caspian and wanting to rewind and listen to the treasure again and again…

then after an awful pause, the deep voice said, “susan.” susan made no answer but the others thought she was crying. “you have listened to your fears, child,” said Aslan. “come, let me breathe on you. forget them. are you brave again?” -prince caspian

beautiful.

i knew that was what i needed. i needed Jesus to breathe on me. i needed Him to grant me courage, to make me bold, to give me strength. i needed Him to make me forget my fears and make me brave again. 

and that’s what He did. most of the mornings after that when i would feel that f word rising up in me, i would close my eyes and ask Jesus to breathe on me. anxiousness and fear seemed to blow away as courage and strength took over.

i eventually had the honour of preaching at adore (you can listen to the sermon here) sure it scared me but knowing that Christ was there, knowing His Holy Spirit was inside me making me brave was all that i needed.

i’m not letting that stupid f word rule over me. and you shouldn’t either. next time it starts creeping up, close your eyes and let Jesus breathe on you and blow it away with His breath. soon enough, courage will take over.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind - 2 timothy 1:7

The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? - psalm 27:1

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. -deut 31:6

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. -isaiah 41:6

be brave, He is with you!

-s.s.♥.