FESTIVAL FAVES & COACHELLA TIPS

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So Coachella starts today and a little bit of my heart is crying right now.  I attended Coachella on the infamous CADTOOL (Coachella and Disney trip of our lives) trip back in 2011 with Rachel, Courtney and Thea. And then last year I attended again with James on our Oregon/Cali Road Trip. Both times were amazing and both times I learned more about surviving Coachella. Let me be straight up with you, Coachella is very intense. I went in thinking it was a frilly dilly hippie festival but no. You need things to survive. And here my friends is my survival gear…aka festival faves. :)

1. Asos Kimono - Ok if you're going to a festival you need some cute trendy clothing. I'd be all up on kimonos because they serve not only as a beautiful covering when the sun goes down but also has a blanket to sit on when you want to sit back and enjoy the music from a distance. 

2. Redoxon Vitamin Tablets - With being around so many people (and so many germs) it's best to be safe and pump up your vitamin c intake. 

3. Marc by Marc Jacobs Bag - FYI you do not want to be carrying around a massive bag at a music festival. First of all, it's very annoying to be squished up near the front watching your fave band perform all the while getting bashed by the person's backpack in front of you. Secondly, you can't bring food or any cameras with detachable lenses into Coachella (the music part, not the camping part) so you don't really need a massive bag. I brought this bag last year and it was just perfect.

4. Gold Birkenstocks - You do A LOT of walking around and standing around so make sure you have super comfy sandals. I didn't wear the comfiest sandals, and it sucks. So if I ever go again, I'll be sure to bring some good quality sandals. 

5. Clinique SPF 40 - It gets insanely hot in the desert so be sure to pack a good sunscreen!!

6. Cult Gaia Flower Crown - Your outfit isn't complete without a flower crown. (P.S. this one is on made sale!!!)

7. Baggu Fold Up Bag - Because it's boiling hot, you're obviously going to want to drink a lot of water. You can't bring any water bottles into the music part of the festival so you're forced to buy some (and then refill at their warm-ish water fountains). But to save money and avoid drinking the lukewarm fountain water, take advantage of the recycling program! For every 10 empty water bottles you collect you can exchange for one ICE COLD water bottle! And last year they introduced a whole lot more incentives (ferris wheel rides, posters, draws for VIP passes). It's actually super easy to collect empties because after every set people just leave their garbage everywhere. That is why a fold-up bag like this one comes in handy. Get your bag lady bottle collector on.

8. Bando Mobile Charger - Obvs you want to be tweeting, instagramming and facebooking all over Coachella. If that's the case, your battery is sure to run out at some point. They do have charging stations all over but who wants to sit around lots of sweaty people and wait for your phone to charge? Not me. Plug this bad boy into your phone and then instagram away.

9. Ray-Ban Sunnies - Self explanatory.

Extra Coachella tips-

Read the festival map VERY well and check out every exhibition. H & M has a magical tent where you get to drink water, charge your phone and freshen up at their beauty stations. I'm talking dry shampoo, wipes, sunscreen, the real deal. Also last year Fruttare had a tent where they just gave away free popsicles...ALL DAY. James and I didn't discover it until the second day, so be sure to read your map VERY WELL.

Plan your meals if you're camping! We ate amazing food because we planned out our meals and brought a camping stove. Festival food is amazing but very expensive so if you don't want to break the bank, plan some meals!

If you're camping onsite, bring a canopy with walls! The first year we went, we didn't bring a canopy and we were smoking hot by 7am. Last year James and I brought a canopy but only had mesh walls. It was better but could have been way better with solid walls. See you're VERY CLOSE to your neighbours and it can be a bit overwhelming. If you're like me and appreciate a bit of alone time then bring a canopy with solid walls or a tarp!


Ok, I could go on and on here. Coachella is incredibly fun but if you want to survive and get the most out of it, then plan well!! 


Happy Friday!!!

-s.s.♥.

P.S. Coachella is live streaming both this weekend and next!

WARDROBE // 4

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I'm all about kimonos this spring. They have the power to carry an elegant yet boho-chic kinda vibe and I so dig that. They're also a great transitional piece. Take away the kimono in this outfit and you're left with black on black on black aka fall/winter but add the kimono and you're half way to spring. I'm pretty sure this kimono paired with jean cut-offs is going to be a summer staple for me. Heck, if I were headed to Coachella this weekend (boohooo), I'd live in this kimono.

These photos were taken in Beacon Hill Park. It's a gorgeous park near the downtown core of my city. All over the park there are wild daffodils and cherry blossoms. I always came to this park as a kid. My dad even taught me to ride a bike here and I remember so clearly driving over that stone bridge in his old green ford pick-up (they closed the bridge to cars years ago)!!

^^ turtles!!!! ^^

Her- Kimono - Forever 21  //  Top - Forever 21  //  Pants - Forever 21  //   Shoes - Steve Madden   //   Key Necklace - Tiffany & Co   //   Watch - Kate Spade

Him- Button Up - Vintage   //   T-Shirt - Nice Collective //  Tank - Wesc   //   Pants- Wesc   //   Boots- Shoe The Bear

 

|   SHOP OUR LOOK   |

What's your favourite transitional piece that takes your outfits from winter to spring? I'd love to know! Happy Monday!

xo,

s.s.♥.

 

oh and p.s. I made a cute little gif for you! It so reminds me of those moving pictures in Harry Potter..haha.

 
 
 

MY FAVES // HAIR

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It's FRIIIDAAAAY...yay! Last night I had a wild night of watching The Mindy Project and washing my hair. Love me them wild nights. So speaking of hair, I have a few hair faves for you! I'm not the most knowledgeable in this department but here are a few of my favourite products...

1. Kevin Murphy Round Brush- A couple years ago I won this amazing gift basket from Lab Salon with a bajillion Kevin Murphy products. This brush was included in it. I usually try to blow out my hair after I wash it, so this brush MAKES IT HAPPEN.

2. Kevin Murphy Body Builder- I use this mousse before every blow out. It helps give my hair some nice volume AND I've had it for over a year and it hasn't run out yet!!

3. Moroccanoil- I've used this puppy for years. When I was a damaged bleached blonde it did wonders. Now that my hair is au natural and a lot healthier, I only use it on the ends. 

4. Bando hair clips- I don't own these (BECAUSE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING IS $45!!!!!) but if I lived in the states, I so would.

5. Batiste Dry Shampoo- Ah, dry shampoo. I should do a whole post just on this magical product. I try to only wash my hair once a week. So most days between washes, I spray this miracle worker on and voila, grease is gone and my hair is fresh! I've tried MANY dry shampoos and this is the greatest one I've found (I even like it better than the Kevin Murphy one!!)

 

So there are my fave hair products. I'd love to hear yours because I ain't no expert in this area so I need all the help I can get!

 

Happy Friday!!!

xo,

s.s.♥. 

CARAMEL POPCORN

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As you probably know by now, I have a ridiculous sweet tooth. I like cookies and chocolate and cupcakes. It's a good thing I like running and salads too I guess.

My sweet tooth comes calling often, sometimes I ignore the cravings and other times (most of the times) I just head to the kitchen and bake something beautiful. And this caramel popcorn my friends, is something beautiful. 

Crunchy. Perfect amount of salty-sweet. Just dang delicious. 

Popcorn is popped. Caramel is made. 

Now there is a trick to making caramel. The trick is DON'T BURN IT...which I did the first time. Oh, and another trick is, don't put your finger in and burn that...which James did. :p

Popcorn is stirred into the sweet, sweet caramel then baked in the oven to perfection.

After cooled, place it in a pretty bowl and devour it.

mmmmmm mmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmm

| CARAMEL POPCORN |

Ingredients needed:

1/2 cup of salted butter

1 cup of light brown sugar

1/4 cup of light corn syrup

1 tsp of salt

1/4 tsp of baking soda

1/2 tsp of vanilla extract

10 cups of popped pocorn

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and then lightly grease parchment paper with butter.

2. Place butter in a big pot over medium-high heat. Once melted, add brown sugar and corn syrup. Stir together and then let sit until it reaches a boil. (Watch the mixture very carefully as it can burn very quickly!!!) Once boiling, reduce heat to low and let sit for five minutes.

3. Stir then continue to cook another five minutes while continuing to stir every 30 seconds until the mixture is a deep golden colour.

4. Turn off heat then whisk in salt, baking soda and vanilla extract.

5. Stir in popcorn and toss until it's covered evenly in caramel.

6. Spread the coated popcorn on the baking sheet and bake in oven for 15 minutes. Toss the popcorn on the baking sheet every five minutes or so.

7. Remove the popcorn from the oven then place on a surface covered in parchment paper. Once cooled, break up big chunks and place in bowl and then devour. :)

Recipe slightly adapted from Gimme Some Oven

Happy Wednesday!

xo,

s.s.♥.

MARCH FAVOURITES

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Today is the last day of March....HOW INSANE IS THAT? It's been a very full month (I'm slowly starting to realize that all my months are very full, ha). 

Work has been full as we all worked hard and waited for God's will to be done in choosing our next senior pastor. But as of yesterday afternoon a 95% vote decided that Andy & Lisa Moore will be our LEAD PASTORS (insert praise hands emoticon 5x). I am thrilled. I've had the privilege of working for Andy for the past 7 years (!!!!) and I so look forward to serving with Andy & Lisa as my leaders for a looong time!

I did something crazy this month and purchased my ticket to Alt Summit. 

Last Saturday night we celebrated my incredible mum's birthday and tonight we're celebrating my father in law's! Hoooray! 

March was a fun month on ssheart. I kept up with my regular posting and readership has grown! I want to thank you all who read this. Your support and encouragement honestly mean so much to me :) That being said here are YOUR favourite posts from March...!

 

| MARCH FAVOURITES |

1. WARDROBE // 3 came out as the most viewed post this month! These ones are my faves to make because I get to take pictures with my handsome hubby. We're shooting our next one on my lunch break tomorrow, so get ready for another one soon!

2. DIY PARTY CROWNS was your second choice. This was an incredibly simple DIY but creates an incredible outcome! My friends and I so enjoyed wearing these while we celebrated our friend, Cristina's birthday.

3. ONE WORD TIFFANY / DANAE / MICAELA were your third choice. This is where my beautiful friends shared their beautiful hearts and explained the words that God has given them for 2014. I love seeing other people take the stage and share what's on their hearts!!

4. EYEBROW TUTORIAL was your fourth fave. I thoroughly enjoyed making this post and plan on making another beauty tutorial in the near future!!

5. THAI PEANUT CHICKEN RICE BOWLS were your fifth favourite. This is an incredibly easy AND delicious dinner that I make at least 3x per month. If you're searching for a new weeknight dinner, search no more and go make this. You'll love it. I guarantee!

 

Again, thank you for reading this space!! I'd love to know what are your favourite types of posts. I'm building my April blog calendar today, so any input you have would be greatly appreciated!!!

xo,

s.s.♥.