Gratittude

First off, I really want to thank you guys for reading this blog. It's been nearly a year since I first started writing and your responses have been beyond anything I imagined. Your comments rock and I look forward to reading them everyday. Along the way, it's been fun connecting with some of you who also have wonderful blogs. And I'm about to honour some of you below.

A big note of thanks to my good friend Kelsey at The Anthology, a daily must read. She gave me this award below, and now I'm passing the love around. To you, wonderful writers, bloggers, fashionistas, divas and human beings, I pass this onto you:

La Couturier
La Mode Du Jour
La Flore Et La Faune
Someday New Yorker
Senses and Style
Fashion Bananas
Natalie Off Duty

When I started It's a Beautiful Life, my hope was to share something in the daily life that was beautiful to me. I have gained so much more than that, and once again thank you!!

2 Postcards and Said the Whale

This is long overdue - I received postcards from two very lovely, wonderful people a few weeks ago and now I've finally gotten around to posting the pictures. Firstly, I took part in the cool Postcard Exchange that Deanne from Dream Sequins so kindly organized. For sending a postcard each these two awesome bloggers, I in return got two cards in the mail. And here's what I got:

The top card is of course New York, from Deanne. I absolutely love her blog - she had awesome coverage of NYFW and love her profiles of hot designers and bloggers.

The second card I got was super cute - it is from Alicia from Crossing Over to the Dark Side. Great collection of inspiring photos and images.

I know i haven't had too many posts lately - but I will do some outfit posts over the weekend and in the upcoming week. Things have just been crazy with the teaching gig and I'm really looking forward to this weekend!

Totally unrelated is what's playing alot in my iPhone/Pod/Tunes these days - Said the Whale. They're a great little band from Vancouver, and their tunes are keeping me upbeat and in good company for those long nights working away. My faves right now are Howe Sound and Camilo (The Magician).

Quick Hello

This past week has been a bit hectic so just a quick outfit post to show off my new brown studded boots. I love them! Last week I had lunch with Kelly from Option 8 and Teresa at Senses and Style where we chatted about boys and celebrity crushes, the Canucks (hockey is starting again and my crush is looking good with some new muscle mass according to my friend Alix at Canucks Hockey Blog), and geeky design stuff. Afterwards, we took some snaps by the train station.

This week, my mom and dad arrive from Hong Kong, and we're going to Whistler for the weekend to chill at one of my fave hotels, The Four Seasons. Mom and Dad will hit the golf course while hubby and I go mountain biking. Hope I come back in one piece!

I'm also super excited to hang out with Kelsey at The Anthology next week at BC Fashion Week. It's going to be fun but busy couple of weeks.

Wearing:
"Don't Call Me a Cowgirl Till You've Seen Me Ride" tee from Abercrombie&Fitch
Dark denim by Minedrd Jeanmaker from Vincent Park
Cream cropped jacket by Grace & Cello from Fine Finds
Brown leather studded boots, from Hong Kong

Virtual Hugs and Kisses

I love the circle of friends I've made through It's a Beautiful Life, and it's always fun discovering new people and their perspectives on style. I received the Stylish Blogger Award from my good friend at The Anthology (who had in turn received it from two of my other fave blogs, Dream Sequins and Haute World) and I'd like to share the love by passing it onto some of these wonderful, stylish peeps.

Option8 - Quelle I love your quirky, edgy style, your funky makeup, and of course your hard-ass commentary. Keep it up, and please come to Yaletown for lunch soon for some hockey boys action.

Room907 - Room907 and his recently expanded team open my horizons everytime I visit. Be it style, travel, gourmet, or culture, it's got me covered "Head to Toe" in all matters cool.

Being High Maintenance, Not Bitchy -MizzJ doles out style and beauty tips with a sassy 'tude that makes me smile.

Style Quotient - Vancouver's newest street style blog which shows the rest of the world we know how to rock our style as hard as anyone in Paris, New York or Tokyo.

I've Got a Lust for Life - Olivia aka Wildcat has the most wild rocker-i-don't-give-a-shite-look I've seen anywhere, and I can't help but fall in love with her mix of eclectic mix of vintage wear. Her photos, some of which are for vintage shop Spanish Moss, are incredible.

Happy blogging - you all really inspire me.

The Little Sweet Things of Life

Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life.

I love that phrase, and right now I feel more inspired than ever to make positive changes in my life. My mood is pensive, and I've been doing a lot of inward searching. And I think I'm well on my way to some answers. I've been inspired by friends, many of which are going on to follow their hearts and dreams. I'm also inspired by a recent book that I've been reading, a true story about a climber-turned-school-builder in Pakistan.

This post about happiness, from one of my fave blogs, Vancity Allie, made me think about the little things in life that I treasure (in no particular order):

-sipping a cup of steaming tea, staring out the window.
-yoga, deep breathing, finding stillness.
-puttering around my garden amongst the flowers and herbs. Sniffing fresh cut flowers.
-sipping really lovely wine in the company of fine friends.
-weekend strolls with hubby.
-lounging around in bed on a late Sunday morning, listening to rain.
-being with my horse, whether it's galloping on a beach, flying over jumps, grass walks.
- traveling the world with my best friend (hubby), getting lost, getting found, laughing and crying.
-riding smooth waves
-anything chocolate
-whizzing around on my bicycle

Speaking of inspiration, the below is a list of wonderful blogs and I'd like to share the love and pass on this blog award, which I received from Haute World.

The Stylish Wanderer - beautiful, sweet photos
the Clothist - gorgeous, sexy street style
Noshwell - Written by a couple of peeps that I respect so much. I'm very lucky to have such witty, kick-ass friends. Also makes me hungry.
VancityAllie - covers all the things I love like travel, surfing, Canucks, and gourmet food in an earnest, genuine style.
Olsens Anonymous - best place to get my Olsen twins fix.

PS - I drafted this post last night before the news today about Michael Jackson. RIP - and another reminder to live life to the fullest potential day.

I'm Stealing You: Head to Toe

On Monday night, I had the pleasure of downing a few at the Kingston Taphouse with the well-heeled Patrick Conn of Room 907. Patrick is a connoisseur of all things dapper, from fashion to art and design to travel. He's recently come back from a stint in Shanghai, and is off to lovely Ireland by the fall. He's also got a dream internship this summer - at Vancouver's fab one-stop boutique Aritzia. While we chowed down on wings and nachos, and swore our socks off over the horrible officiating of the hockey game (elimination for my darling Vancouver Canucks - so sad!), he remained remarkably civilized looking at the end of the night. Always a gent, I present to you Head to Toe, PConn style.

Shirt: Brooks Brothers Country Club
Jacket: Ransom
Pants: Stussy Custom
Bag: Mulberry
Shoes: To the Point Wingtips

Just realized I'm missing one vital piece of information - his outstanding blue-green woven belt. Will follow up with him ASAP!

Totally Obsessed

There are so many amazing people out there with wonderful blogs, and one that I've been following quite religiously is Obsession Du Jour. The fiercely stylish red-head from Albany, Australia (she calls it the "most unfashionable city on the planet") strikes quirky poses in hand-picked vintage pieces and accessories she peddles at her EBay store.

Besides digging her pixie rocker style, I have total girl envy for her wild, red locks.