Shop Update: A 2017 Thank You

First off, we would like to thank you for such an amazing year. 2017 was the first time that we traveled to another city for a handmade market, and we were welcomed with open arms.

It was also the first year that we took part in multiple markets -- including an online market -- and we were very excited to meet so many new people, and see some familiar faces.

We also expanded beyond paper this year, and, for the first time, we made t-shirts. Later on, we added enamel pins with the same image on it to the roster. It was unbelievable to be able to see our work on a t-shirt and a pin!

It was an incredible year for Little Shop of ElleSee, and we know that it would have been impossible without you. We wish you all the best in 2018, and can't wait to share with you everything that we are, and will be, up to. See you next year! 

0

An ElleSee Christmas Music Playlist

My family's tradition is to wait until my Grandad's birthday (November 19) before we start listening to Christmas music. When he passed away 22 years ago, it became a moment for us to also remember him. A salute to Grandad. I'll have to admit that there were a few times this year that I listened to Christmas music before that day, but I was pretty close to sticking to tradition. 

I grew up listening to my parents collection of Christmas music on vinyl. My personal favourite was to put on some Bing -- I'm also a huge fan of the White Christmas film -- and as tapes and CDs were added to our collection, I loved listening to Amy Grant and Celine Dion. I also loved listening to the music in Christmas movies like Home Alone and A Charlie Brown Christmas. 

YouTube, and Google Play have since opened up many more doors to music, and now I have a massive collection of Christmas music that I didn't know about before -- plus there's all the music that has been added to the genre since I was younger.

Christmas music gives me a warm fuzzy feeling like no other type of music, and it really helps me get into the holiday spirit -- and sometimes mellow out -- so I made a list of some of my favourites to share with you. What are some of yours?

Oldies (The Classics)

White Christmas - The Drifters

The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas - Bing Crosby 

Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee

The Chipmunk Song - The Chipmunks

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Ella Fitzgerald

From the Movies

Somewhere in My Memory - John Williams (Home Alone Soundtrack)

Christmastime is Here (Instrumental) - Vince Guaraldi Trio 

You're a Mean One, Mr Grinch - Boris Karloff

From Before

This Christmas - Donny Hathaway

Wonderful Christmas Time - Paul McCartney 

Last Christmas - Wham

Christmas in Hollis - Run DMC
Petit Papa Noel - Raffi

From Now

Christmas Lights - Coldplay 

Christmastime to Me - Jordin Sparks

Little Drummer Boy - Pentatonix

Bring on the Holidays - TobyMac

Candy Cane Lane - Sia

Maybe this Christmas - The Lower Lights

Carol of the Meows - Guster

0

What We Love: Fall 2017

source

I recently picked up a new pair of Sugoi running pants that has an inner fleece layer for colder weather, and they have become more than just my running pants...I wear them as my comfy pants too. I cannot get enough of these pants. They are so cozy, and the tighter feel -- being leggins -- makes my legs think they are getting a warm hug. (bonus: these pants are made in Canada!)

The guitar in this song got me. It got me real good. I have been a fan of Lights' music for a long time now -- I even saw her perform live while 4 months pregnant -- and this has got to be one of my favourites since she released Banner while I was on maternity leave.

I honestly couldn't pick one pin that I liked best from the shop Just Duet, so I picked three of my favourite foods to share with you (pizza cat, taco cat, burger cat). I highly recommend that you check out more of the adorable cat food pins in the shop.

0

Shop Update: Free Shipping Within Canada Until Christmas

It may seem a bit early to start thinking about Christmas shopping, but when you're online it's good to start looking before it's too late to get what you need. 

We just wanted to let you know that you can get free shipping in Canada on orders over $25 from now until Christmas by following the link https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/LittleShopofElleSee?coupon=XMASSHIPPING, or using the coupon code XMASSHOPPING when you go through the checkout section in the shop.

Happy shopping!

0

Forget Her Not: World Alzheimer's Month 2017

My grandparents lived in Australia for most of my life. They were ex-pats in search of adventures that took them around the world with their family, but life brought them back home as they began to age and wanted to be near family. Not too long after they moved back, my Grandma was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and she moved into a wonderful care home where my Grandpa would go and visit her every day.

If I'm being honest, I never really knew my Grandma. Having lived in Australia and only visiting a couple of times until I was in high school, the opportunity to get to know her before the disease took over was never there. Most of what I do know comes from the stories my Grandpa and my Dad have told about her, as most of the time that I spent with her she didn't talk to me. She sounds like she was an amazingly strong woman with a fantastic sense of style. I love looking at old photographs of her as her posture suggests that she was sassy, fun and full of life.

What I do remember are little moments that I had with her, and parts of her personality that she used to conceal what was happening to her. I remember her laugh that she had when someone asked her a question she didn't know the answer to, and she would look to my Grandpa for help. Or that time I looked after her while my Dad took my Grandpa to the symphony, and she answered the phone upside-down and didn't remember that she had to say "hello".

The one thing that I know she had no difficulties with, until she lost her voice, was singing songs from yesteryear while my Grandpa sat at the piano accompanying her. They would be there for hours making music together, and I know this was a very special time for them because he would visit her at the care home and continue to play music for her to listen to -- even after she had passed, my Grandpa would continue to play music for the other residents, until he could no longer go.

It is this life. It is this memory of the most pure joy, the most pure love, that brings me back year after year for the month of September to donate 15% of the shops profits to the Alzheimer Society of Canada to provide support to those who are suffering from the disease and their families, and to promote research. Help support the cause and give a voice to those affected by Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Forget them not.

1

Read It: Go Set A Watchman

I started reading Go Set A Watchman last summer, and, as much as I enjoyed reading the memories that Scout shared from her childhood -- believe me, there was a hilarious story she shared with Jem and Dill that I still think about -- it was was one of those books that I easily put down in distraction of other books. But, I picked it up again this past winter and learned a few life lessons as I continued reading:

I found that there were some startling parallels between a book that was written in the late 1950s and what was going on at the time that I was reading it. It blew my mind that the world has not changed much in the 60 years since Go Set A Watchman was written, and that the things that has been sitting under the surface are still there. Harper Lee was acutely aware of things that a lot of people kept, and still keep, hidden in society.

One thing that a lot of people were upset over was the fact that our dear Atticus Finch is portrayed as racist in this novel. But, what some people are not remembering is that this book was written before To Kill A Mockingbird, which means he always was racist, it just wasn't evident when we first met him. To assume that there is not an ounce of racism in him simply because of his actions and words in To Kill A Mockingbird is unfair, and Go Set A Watchman shows us that we truly do not know the inner workings of the minds of others. To have put Atticus on a pedestal was a big mistake on our part, and Go Set A Watchman sets all of us straight, including Jean Louise.

I thought a lot of my childhood and the moment that I grew into my own person while reading the conversation that Jean Louise has with Dr. Finch, her uncle. That moment when you no longer hang on to the thoughts and ideals of your parents and realise that you have created your own. When you become your own person. It was when he called her a bigot that it really got to me, and I realised that I am the exact same way:

"Dr. Finch bit his under lip and let it go. 'Um hum. A bigot. Not a big one, just an ordinary turnip-sized bigot.'

Jean Louise rose and went to the bookshelves. She pulled down a dictionary and leafed through it. '"Bigot,"' she read. '"Noun. One obstinatly or intolerably devoted to his own church, party, belief, or opinion."...'

'...What does a bigot do when he meets someone who challenges his opinions? He doesn't give. He stays rigid. Doesn't even try to listen, just lashes out...You have a tendency not to give anybody elbow room in your mind for their ideas, no matter how silly you think they are." (p.267)

Reading that passage was a real "a-ha" moment for me, and reminded me of this article that I had previously read about false-consensus bias, people that believe in a different point of view than you, and the fact that our opinion might just be wrong. I am one of those people that does not give in easily when fighting about an opinion that I believe is right, and it is something that I am truly working on. -- "This is not to say the Other Side is “right” but that they likely have real reasons to feel that way. And only after understanding those reasons can a real discussion take place...And you won’t convince anyone to feel the way you do if you don’t respect their position and opinions."

Go Set A Watchman was more than just the "sequel" to a good book, for me. It surprised me by being incredibly relevant. It also taught me that I still have a lot to learn, and made me question if I have truly set my own watchman.

0

All About Food: The Valuable Lesson I Learned From My Visit To Cuba

 source

When it came to what we were going to eat in Cuba, I didn't know what to expect -- see my vacation here. The reviews of our resort were mixed between saying that the food was bland, or that there was nothing wrong with it at all. I knew that we wouldn't be getting French cuisine while we were there, and I'm not much of a sauce person so bland food doesn't bother me anyway. 

What I discovered while we were there was a buffet full of fresh fruits, meats, and some vegetables. I am assuming that over time the resorts have figured out the kind of expectations that we have when it comes to food, and have tried their best to provide us all with food that it similar to what we eat at home as there were definitely foods that were imported -- like the jams and jellies that I liked to put on my crepe-like pancake as there was no syrup.

But this is beside the point. The food that I ate in Cuba was fresh and -- mostly -- local, and I lived my days eating foods that I wouldn't normally be eating at home. I ate very little meat and focused more on the fruits and salads, breads and rice that were available to me -- because there was no junk food for me to gobble up, except for colas.

What I didn't notice then, that I figured out once I was back in Canada, was that my body was detoxing from all the foods back at home, and, as soon as I started back into my old habits at home, I got sick. 

While I was laying at home sick on the sofa, I watched a couple of documentaries on Netflix -- I loooove documentaries on Netflix. One of them was a show about food and the effects that it has on our body called Hungry for Change. 

As I was laying there exhausted from the illness that I had developed from the food that I had eaten when I came home, and realised that I had been exposed to such fresh food -- and nothing else -- while I was away, I knew that I had to go back to what I was eating like in Cuba.

I'm not going to lie to you, I still eat chips, drink pop, and go out for supper to places that we really shouldn't be going, but my main focus is on vegetables and fruits. I eat salads and fresh cut veggies every day, and I eat fruit and nuts on my porridge instead of brown sugar. I have made little adjustments here and there in my diet that have made a huuuuuge difference to my body that I would have never figured out had I not gone to Cuba.

Most of you that have been following along for a while know that I have been going through a weight loss period for about five years now -- read the history here. While I haven't done a "Weight Update" in quite a while, you can consider this my newest one. 

Around this time last year I decided I wanted to lose a couple more pounds -- the last of my weight loss goal -- and I did it by counting calories, etc. It was difficult, and took me a long time to achieve my goal. Some days I felt like I was practically starving myself, but I never felt good, healthy. My asthma became a serious issue again during my pregnancy seven years ago, and I was still relying on my steroid inhaler a lot -- which is something I don't like to do.

Since I began making vegetables and fruits my main focus, I am so proud to be able to tell you that I have not used my inhalers -- steroid or Ventolin -- once since my visit to Cuba back in January. I do not remember the last time that I became seriously ill, and as soon as I feel myself becoming sick, I do a mental check and realise that I have been eating really junky and get back on track again and the sickness goes away. I have lost the last couple of pounds for good, and even a couple more that I was surprised about.

It's so hard to explain, and not sound super preachy about it. Just know that I learned a valuable lesson that I know has done my body good.

0

What We Love: Summer 2017

source

This romper has been one of my main go-to outfits so far this summer. I tried it on on a whim thinking that it wasn't quite my style, but ended up loving it. It feels like a dress, fits nicely in all the right areas -- I especially like how snug it is in the torso -- and is not so short that it reveals too much when you bend over. Plus, it is a romper that my husband actually likes.

I honestly couldn't tell you where I first hear this song, but I absolutely love it and think that it is a perfect song for summer. It's got a sweet beat that you have no problem dancing to. In fact, as soon as the song comes on, my body starts to move involuntarily.

 source

I have always loved the water. I lived in the next door neighbour's pool while growing up, and enjoy taking my son to our local outdoor pool -- and the lake -- every summer. It wouldn't feel like summer if you didn't spend a little bit of time in an outdoor pool. This art print from Helo Birdie take me back to my summers at the pool every time I look at it -- it also makes me wish I was on a tropical vacation! 

0

Shop Update: Three Prints and Malala Fund

I am so excited to be able to share with you that not only are there three new art prints available in the shop, but $1 from every purchase of those three prints (Malala, Frida, and Nasty Woman) will be donated to Malala Fund which advocates — at local, national and international levels — for resources and policy changes needed to ensure all girls complete 12 years of school.

As you know, I am a big fan of Malala Yousafzai (Read It and Inspire Me), and, as I was trying to figure out which organization to donate proceeds from the Nasty Woman art print to, I came up with the idea to create a couple more art prints with quotations from the two woman that have inspired me recently and donate proceeds from all three to support education -- which is something that is near and dear to my heart as an Early Childhood Educator.

0

Waskesiu Day Trip 2017: The Hike

We went on a hike through the forest of Prince Albert National Park on a trail called Boundary Bog -- read more about our day trip here. It was a longer hike for my son, but he prevailed and we were rewarded with a lovely view of the eye of the bog.

I am always humbled by a hike in the Boreal forest. I love the feeling of walking among the trees that have stretched as high as they could towards the sun, and, as you can see, I am a big fan of taking photos of fungi -- including my son. The things that grow, are capable of growing, and the things that happen in the forest are absolutely fascinating. You could almost say it's magical, and it's transformational for the spirit as well.

0

Read It: Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions

I bought this book straight off the shelf in the bookstore. I had never heard of it, or the author, before, but I was intrigued by the content and possibilities of learning that would come with it. I was not disapointed. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie wrote a beautiful letter to a good friend and her newborn daughter, and was kind enough to share it with the world. And for that, I am grateful.

Let me start off by saying that I like how she wrote the book in the form of "suggestions" and not "rules" on how to be a feminist. There is nothing pushy, or rude about the way that she approaches the subject, and you can take what you want from what she shares. How I grew up, my own life experiences, my self-assessments all play a large part in how I view myself as a woman, and how I view other women -- this is true of everyone.

As the mother of a young boy, I read this book as a way to raise my son as a feminist without any changes to the suggestions -- as if they were only meant for girls. Obviously there are some things I will have to alter slightly as he will grow up with society teaching him that he is better in every respect simply because he is a boy. But, the changes I mean are subtle, like respecting women that want to be a full person; keeping a household and raising children together with his spouse; supporting his spouse in all of the choices that she makes and not "allowing" her to do them -- assuming he will marry a woman. These are all suggestions written in the book, but the way they are written is for a woman fighting to make these a reality, not for a man that is going to help her.

I believe he sees a lot of this in the marriage that my husband and I have, and we have surrounded ourselves with strong people that show him a positive influence, but we all slip up sometimes. This book is a good reminder of which direction I want to go myself, and which direction I want to raise my son.

The book also made me realise how fortunate I was to grow up in the household that I did. I was never told that I couldn't play ball, play rough, show an interest in woodworking, or even learn how to fix things that were broken. I was never pushed in a certain direction that was considered more feminine. I was never told I couldn't do something or wear something because it was "for boys". I was allowed to discover and explore the world in which ever way that I wanted, and for that I am truly grateful. My parents probably never realised that they were raising me to be a feminist, but I appreciate that they fostered my interests and this book helped me to see that.

0

Shop Update: Paris of the Prairies T-Shirts

We are so excited to announce that Paris of the Prairies t-shirts are now available at one of the shops where our cards are stocked in Saskatoon, Soul Paper. It is available in two styles: women's crew-neck and unisex v-neck in sizes small-large -- for now.

This has been a project a long time in the making, and it feels good to finally be able to reveal what we have been working on. We also have a few other ideas up our sleeves -- pun intended -- that we can't wait to share with you!

0

Exploring Elk Ridge: Focusing on the Positive

A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege to listen to Darci Lang and Darren Lang speak at a conference for my day job. I didn't know what to expect going into it, but I came out of that weekend with a different perspective, not just of my job, but of my life.

We went for a walk through Elk Ridge in Waskesiu after the first day, and it was incredibly uplifting. I couldn't have gone on such a walk with anyone but the wonderful and talented women that I work with and am proud to call my friends. 

Darren Lang was the first speaker, and he was fantastic. He spoke about stress in your life and how you can cope with it. As someone that has gone through mental health issues himself, he was really good at guiding us through ways to reduce stress -- the concept of "chill and choose" was a big take-away from his session. 

Darci Lang spoke on the final day of the conference, and I wish we would have been able to see her all day. She really knocked it out of the park. Darci had a way of speaking that is incredibly hard to explain, but she instantly connected with everyone in the room in a way that you would have to experience to understand -- she travels around the country doing public workshops, so it is possible to see her if you're interested.

Darci talked a lot about seeing the positive things in your life -- the 90% -- and focusing on those instead of the negative things in your life -- the things that take up the other 10%. Easier said than done, right? But Darci doesn't make you feel that way. She has such a positive upbeat attitude and demeanor -- that in no way feels fake -- that you come out of her session with a renewed perspective on life that really makes you question what makes you happy, and how you can look at it differently so that it does make you happy.

I love my day job. I get to work with children every day and see how they change and evolve as human beings that love to explore and engage with their world. I love how each day is different and the children are always doing something new -- sharing a new story, a new skill. Darci asks you if you love your job, and, if you do but you are unhappy, how you can look at the positive aspects of what you love about your job instead of the negatives. The only person you can change is yourself.

That is the jumping off point. There are so many other places and aspects of life to explore with the 90%.

0

What We Love: Spring 2017

source

I may have just snapped up a pair of these Birkenstocks recently in hopes that they will become a new favourite sandal -- especially with a serious walking holiday coming up this summer. What I didn't know, until I went to purchase the sandals, is that Birkenstock sandals can be rebuilt, making them a solid investment that will last a lifetime. Given my promise to myself to become more ethically and environmentally responsible (see here and here) when it comes to clothing, Birkenstocks seem to be a step in the right direction -- pun intended.

That voice. It's what drew my in to this song when I heard it on the radio recently. It's so strong and powerful.

source

I am in love with this beautiful Big Dipper and Little Dipper constellation set from Sargasso Shop. With thoughts of summer, it makes me think about fun times camping with my family, and it also makes me think about my son -- mama bear and baby bear.

0

Read It: The Woman I Wanted To Be

I started reading The Woman I Wanted To Be by Diane von Furstenburg -- the woman who invented the wrap dress, and has become so much more -- while on vacation in Cuba. It was my beach reading, but the weather was too windy so I ended up reading most of it on the plane ride home. 

While I found her life absolutely fascinating, I initially had a difficult time getting past the fact that it felt so much like a fairy tale. She is one of those people that seems to meet the right people, and to be in the right place at the right time, but she doesn't take advantage of it, or use people in a hurtful way. She is a self-made business woman that cares deeply about the people in her life, and was fortunate enough to have been given a lot of opportunities and people that care just as deeply about her.

While she seemed to live an extravagant life while trying to figure out what kind of person she wanted to be in her early years -- believe me, she has had her struggles as well -- I liked that she never pushed herself down, and used every opportunity as a point of learning. She has learned so many lessons in her life, and she talks freely about them, but it was when she talked about her business(es) that I really perked up.

As a business woman myself, I saw a lot of what she went through in what I am struggling with right now in my shop. She seemed to float through everything, and do really well, but it wasn't until a few years ago that she really discovered her vision for herself and her company. This is something that I have been thinking about a lot lately.

Without delving into too much information into business things, or into something that you could really care nothing about, I want you to know how wonderful it was to read about a woman that is two and a half times my age that was still trying to figure everything out. That it's okay to struggle, as long as you don't become someone, or something, that you don't want to be, and that nothing will stop you from becoming the woman you want to be.

0

Shop Update: Spring Handmade Markets 2017

April and May are going to be a busy month for us. We have 3 Spring handmade markets lined up that we are really excited about:

The first one is the Etsy SK Spring Pop-up in Saskatoon.We will have a selection of Easter cards and Mother's Day card (May 14!) to choose from among our cards for babies, weddings, birthdays, etc. All of which can be found in the shop.

The second one is at the end of April in Regina -- our first market away from home. We are really happy to be attending The Wren's Spring Handmade Market. We will have all of our regular goodies there, plus, if you are among the first 25 people through the door, we will have something extra special in the swag bags.

The final handmade market that we are doing this Spring is The Handmade Pop-up which will be an online market starting May 1 and running until May 15. We will provide more information and some links as it becomes available. We are currently in the beginning stages of getting everything set up for our shop, and we are excited about the concept and possibilities behind this global market.

Have a great Spring enjoying the weather with family and friends. We hope you will take the time to come out and visit with us at one of our markets!

0

The Shop: 6th Birthday Giveaway

Right now, until Friday March 31 @ 8pm CST, we are having a giveaway in celebration of the shop's birthday, and as a thank you for all of the love and support that you have given us over the years. You can enter to win a beautiful pair of earrings from the shop Riel Creations, an adorable little plum from Boolah Baguette, and a birthday card from yours truly. Head on over to our Facebook page, and our Instagram account for 2 chances to enter. The winner will be announced on Friday after 8pm CST.

0

Listen Here: Our Favourite Song Covers

source

I heard this amazing cover of Drake's Hotline Bling when Lights shared it on her Twitter feed. I was immediately hooked, and listened to it on repeat for a couple of days. It is probably my most favourite cover of a song.

source

Another cover that is an absolute favourite is Call Your Girlfriend by Lucy Wainwright Roche -- originally performed by Robyn. I shared it a few years ago in the July Listen, Look, Love series. I had heard it on CBC Radio 2, and fell in love with it right away. As I said in the post where I first shared this song, I like when an artist can take a song and make it their own, which is exactly what Lights and Lucy have done with these two songs.

source

I heard Rufus Wainwright's cover of Across the Universe on CBC Radio 2 -- as seems to be the trend for most of the good music that I hear lately. Like the other covers mentioned in this post, I fell in love with it immediately. The simplicity of the guitar, and his voice work so perfectly together.

source

I remember discovering this gem of a cover -- of Cyndi Lauper's True Colors -- from Marina and the Diamonds while listening to some of her new music last year. After that, I listened to it non-stop for a couple of weeks. I love the power of her voice and the simplicity of the piano. There's already a strong, and beautiful message behind this song, but Marina makes it that much better.

What are some of your favourite covers of songs?

0

Inspire Me: Malala & Frida

There are two women that have inspired me in my life recently. Both of them are strong women that have overcome many obstacles that were thrown in their way -- especially the fact that they are women.

I have admired Malala Yousafzai since the day that she was shot. I started reading her book over two years ago, and am still inspired by her courage to this day. Her need to put others before herself, to forgive those that have wronged her, and her yearning to educate the children of the world -- especially girls -- are reasons why I think of her on a regular basis to remind myself of what is important in my life, and why I should strive for something greater, letting the negative things in life roll off my back -- learn more about Malala and her work here.

Frida Kahlo is a woman by whom I have only recently been inspired. I know that she had a zest for life, and that she treated others as equals, and that she fought her way through life despite many hardships and physical injuries. I thought of her as I contemplated what to do about my lady-mustache and remembered that she rocked that shit, and I can do it to. Upon reading more about her, I found a fascinating woman that made a name for herself by herself.

And so, here we are, on International Women's Day 2017, celebrating the women that inspire us; the women that have raised us, and continue to support us; the women that our children will some day become. There is a strength in all of us, especially combined, that will someday overcome all of the obstacles that have been thrown in our way, and we will make a name for ourselves, by ourselves, and we will rock that shit.

0

Little Shop of ElleSee is 6!

Today Little Shop of ElleSee turns six years old! It's so hard to believe that it's been six years since the shop opened -- especially because our son was born a month afterwards and I'm not ready for him to grow up. 

So much has happened and changed in the shop during this journey that we have all been on, and I couldn't have asked for better people to experience it with. Some of you have been with us since the beginning stages of the shop, and others have just joined us on our continuing travels -- welcome! -- we are so grateful for the love and support that you have given us over the years. Everything that we do makes us so happy, and we hope that you feel the same way too. 

Cheers!

*Keep your eyes open for little ways to help us celebrate during the month of March -- including some giveaways.

0

What We Love: Winter 2017

This sweater from Rebecca King Fashion is a staple in our wardrobe this winter. It is perfect for wearing underneath your wool duffle coat this winter -- the neck acts as a scarf, and the bottom keeps your legs warm. It also transfers nicely to your Spring/Fall wardrobes as a cozy sweater. We love the work of Rebecca King -- see previous purchase here -- and are already plotting which sweaters to buy next.

This song from The Overcoats has been playing on the radio a lot lately. We love the vibe of the music, and the harmonies of the voices singing. Beautiful.

We are in love with brooches and handmade pins. This cute little pigeon pin from Jolly Awesome Art caught our eye recently. The shop is currently on a little break, but be sure that we're going to snap it up when it opens again.

0

Unique Last Minute Valentine Gifts

source 

Write a love letter on a typewriter to give along with one of the books from this list -- Pride & Prejudice is one of my personal favourites. If you don't have access to a typewriter, there's nothing wrong with writing a note with pen and paper.

source 

Grab a sassy valentine card from one of Julie Ann Art's stockists -- it's too late to order one. There's even a shop in Saskatchewan that has her cards available. This would be a nice addition to a bouquet a flowers.

source

If you like to do embroidery -- or have dabbled in it recently -- then one of these simple designs would be quick and easy to make. You just might have all of the items you need to make it laying around the house, and would go nicely with some chocolates.

If your loved one loves flowers, but can't handle the smell, a beautiful botanical print -- that can be found on Google -- printed off and framed would make a lovely gift. This would pair well with a bottle of wine.

0

Cuba 2017: Sancti Spiritus & Trinidad

While we were in Cuba, my friend and I took an excursion from Cayo Santa Maria to Trinidad via Sancti Spiritus -- which was a short stop to get a sangria and explore the streets and churches. Our first stop in Trinidad was a lovely pottery house called Casa Chichi. We were able to watch the items being made, and explore the shop -- which was open-air and so wonderful to be in. I picked out a cute, green teapot to take home with me.

After lunch, where we were serenaded by a local band, we were taken on a tour of some of the main roads in Trinidad, and then we were told to go shop and explore and meet back at La Canchancara -- where we could get some canchanchara served in small glasses that were made by Casa Chichi. 

We visited two different markets, and found a few art galleries to explore. The art in Trinidad was amazing. It seemed like such a creative city where, again, the Cuban people were so warm and welcoming. I also found some beautiful leather sandals that I can't wait to wear this summer. Trinidad is definitely worth a visit while in Cuba.

0