waiting for the postman: online purchases

I scooped this leighton dress up during j.crew's 40% summer sale. I figure it's good to start collecting some pretty dresses for all of the wedding festivities over the next year. Can't wait to get this one in my mailbox!

I've been looking for the perfect, affordable, pair of cognac boots since last fall. I tried on the steve madden entyce boot, but I just couldn't do the side buckle. Nordstrom must have read my thoughts, because the BP 'Runway' boot was made FOR me. Can't wait for these to arrive too. I probably won't have to wait until fall to wear them either, if our summer keeps going the way it's going. 

Using what I have in my closet, I could probably put together some great looks for our engagement photos. However, I found this great flowy romantic top on forever 21 and couldn't resist. This will look great with some jeans and nude pumps for our 'woods' engagement shoot!

summer strawberry freezer jam

I have never made jam before, but have always wanted to try (especially with all the cute labels I have found on pinterest!). So with the help of my mom we made strawberry freezer jam and I think it turned out pretty good. 

Strawberry Freezer Jam

Crush strawberries with potato masher

Combine berries and sugar, mixing well until most sugar dissolves. Let stand for 10 minutes

Add pectin and lemon juice. Let stand for 3 minutes, or until most of the sugar is dissolved.

Pour into clean jar or plastic containers. Cover with tight fitting lids. Leave at room temperature for 24 hours or until set.  Freeze up to 1 year or refrigerate up to 3 weeks.

* something I’d like to try next time – adding 1 tbsp orange or lemon zest to crushed strawberries before mixing with sugar.  Seriously this recipe has endless possibilities, you could do it with pretty much any fruit. Strawberry-banana, blackberry-peach, raspberry-necatrine…the list goes on. 

I made a small batch of petite lemon scones to go with the jam (for everyone at work to enjoy). 

The labels that I used can be found here. I made the labels smaller for my 1 cup jars, and then printed them on label paper. Don't freeze the jars with the labels on them because they will get all soggy.

Can't wait to make more jam!

wishing

blazer/pink skinnies/watch/wellies/tiffany pearls

look I'm loving (and missing): shorts

Yes - just plain old shorts. What does a girl have to do to get some sun around here? I have a tiny sliver of a memory for the last time I wore shorts. Seriously it's been weeks - and we are right in the middle of July. Here is some summer outfit inspiration if the sun decides to show itself this weekend. 

paula deen's lemon bars

I made these delicious gooey lemon bars last week, and they were a hit. Lemon bars are the perfect, refreshing, summer treat!

Ingredients

Crust:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup confectioners' sugar, plus more for dusting

Pinch salt

2 sticks butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing

Filling:

4 eggs

2 cups granulated sugar

6 tablespoons all-purpose flour

6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9 by 13 by 2-inch pan.

Make the crust by combining the flour, confectioners' sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Cut in the butter to make a crumbly mixture. Press the mixture into the prepared pan. You may need to dip your fingers into a little flour or confectioners' sugar to keep the dough from sticking to your fingers. Bake for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, to make the filling, mix the eggs, granulated sugar, flour, and lemon juice. Pour this over the baked crust and bake for 25 minutes longer. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, if desired, when the bars are done.

sunday boating

There is nothing more relaxing than a sunday afternoon laying in the sun...on a big boat...in the pacific ocean. Last sunday we were so lucky to have the gorgeous vancouver coastline in the background, and the amazing gulf islands in the distance. We were also lucky to get a rare day of sun - so far this summer a sunny day has been few and far between. We are still waiting for two sunny days in a row!

arriving at the marina - marcus is excited for his first trip on my dad's boat!

captain andy prepping the boat for launch 

getting to our first destination - snug cove on bowen island. See what I mean about lucky? Look at those views!

 

the snug cove public dock, and some canadian geese looking for some generous boaters

we got off at bowen island for some wine & groceries - and kassie met the cutest cavalier spaniel named clarence. I wanted to take him home!

just because we are boating doesn't mean that we leave the wine, goat cheese & prosciutto at home. Gourmet boat lunches are the best!

 we threw a crab trap out while we floated around gambier island and ate lunch. We only caught a few crab and had to throw them back because they were too small or female - good thing because I probably couldn't have handled the killing of little crabs. I'm a wimp.  

A fun & relaxing day on the water, exactly what we needed! Can't wait to do it again!