weekly wrap-up: snapshots of Korea

As most of you know, I've been traveling and adventuring South Korea with my hubby for the past two weeks! While I'm not fully over jetlag (I only just got home late last night!), I couldn't wait to share some snapshots of our trip.

And I had to include this last photo of Caleb, because it's got a hilarious story behind it. The men he's surrounded by are actually guards for S. Korea's President. Caleb was seriously itching to get a photo with these guys, so we asked, not thinking they would say yes, but they were totally down and so excited to pose with Cay! They told us that while they're normally not allowed to interact with people if it doesn't concern security, because the President happened to be in the US, that they'd let this pass once. So here's my favourite photo of Cay, posing with the President's security guards :) 

p.s.  ♥ clara

outfit post: flowers and a frock

Sometimes I have a Hermione kind of hair day.

My hair is naturally wavy, so I usually just touch up the curls around my face and that's it!  But....when it rains, or is super humid, my poor hair tends to frizz and puff up a bit.  haha.  That's what's happening in these photos, oh well!

Now this is basically my Summer uniform when I'm not working on the farm.  A dress and a denim jacket!  So easy, but still cute.

dress + jacket: aeo // purse: one fated knight (this is the one I won in a fb contest! score.) // shoes: shine

I am so excited for this upcoming Summer.  My mom is an avid gardener, and has been working hard planting and tending to her flower beds in the past couple weeks!  We have the prettiest backyard, and I can't wait to share more photos of it in the coming months.  It feels good to be home.

p.s.  ♥ kelsey

diy: rose rings

Today I'm bringing you yet another ridiculously simple jewelry diy!  I'm just a huge fan of gluing things together, and being done with it.  Not everything has to be fussy!

{In case you missed them....here are the diys for my rose earrings and dahlia earrings!}

I found my filigree rings with a flat round setting (perfect for gluing things to) on etsy, and I picked up these sweet 15mm rose cabachons from the plaid barn.  In case you're wondering, these roses are quite a bit bigger than the ones I used for my earrings, which were only 10mm in diameter!

Materials:

-rings with a flat round setting

-15mm rose cabachon (although this can vary depending on the size of your ring setting!)

-E-6000 glue

-q-tip (for clean-up!)

Directions:

1)  First, make sure that you have all your materials lined up and ready to go.  The glue starts setting fairly quickly, so you don't want to dawdle too much once it's on your rose!

2)  Squeeze your glue very gently until a tiny amount starts coming out, and spread a bit on a rose.  Press firmly onto your ring setting, twisting a bit to ensure your glue gets everywhere.  You don't need very much, but a tiny bit should come out as you press down.  Use the q-tip to clean it up!

3)  Let the rings set for at least 24 hours before wearing!

 I love how delicate and vintagey these rings are!  So easy to make, and are such unique gifts.  I've seen similar ones at craft fairs, but I love making my own jewelry...especially when I can save money!

p.s.  ♥ kelsey

tasty tuesday: mocha coconut frappuccinos

You know it is summer when Starbucks breaks out the mocha coconut frappucinos!!!

Wait, what?  Starbucks isn't offering them anymore?

Well we will have to do something about that.

This recipe is not exactly like Starbucks', with real coconut milk and melted dark chocolate, it is more like Starbucks' older, cooler brother.  And did I mention the homemade coconut whipped whipped cream?  

Mocha Coconut Frappuccino

Mocha Coconut Frappuccino (3-4 servings)
14 coffee ice cubes (just frozen coffee)
1 can coconut milk (We used Trader Joe's light coconut milk)
1 shot espresso
75 grams of melted dark chocolate (about 1/3 of a cup of chocolate chips)
1/4 cup of chocolate sauce (We used regular ice cream topping type sauce)

Throw all of this in a blender and mix until all the ice is blended! You can add extra ice/milk/coffee/chocolate! This is one of those recipes that you can easily adjust to your own taste. They do not taste exactly like Starbucks' version. You can definitely taste the real coconut and chocolate, and it is extremely rich! We garnished ours with toasted coconut, extra chocolate sauce, and coconut whipped cream of course!


Coconut Whipped Cream
1 can coconut cream (chilled overnight)
1 Tbsp icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Chill your can of coconut cream overnight. When you are ready, carefully flip the can over. The coconut solids will stay at the bottom of the can, while the coconut "water" will be at the top. Pour out the liquids, (you can save this and use it for a smoothie the next day! I did and it was delicious) and scoop the solids into a bowl. Use your beaters to whip the coconut solids into whipped coconut cream! It won't be quite as fluffy as regular whipped cream, and if you let it sit out too long it will get a bit droopy. Add the icing sugar and vanilla and beat again.


*Just a warning: this is not coconut flavoured whipped cream, which we were kind of expecting. The first bite is a bit surprising, but the flavour definitely grows on you! 

{If you want a more detailed tutorial click here to visit oh she glows! It has pictures and everything!}

This treat will make the perfect addition to the warm summer nights we are looking forward to!  

p.s.  ♥ jordyn (& kelsey)

weekly-wrap-up: getting back into routine

So, the past week has been an interesting one.  My poor body is still trying to get used to manual labor, and every morning I wake up with muscles I forgot I had aching like crazy.  It does feel good to be back on the farm though, and there's nothing like putting in a solid day of work!  The weather has also been quite confused, and thought that it was July for a bit....and I have the tanlines to prove it!  Unfortunately, it seems to have remembered that it is actually May, and we have rain forecasted for the next week. Oh well!

Since I've been working in the fields all day (usually covered in dirt), I haven't had too much time to take any pictures.  So here's a quick summary of what Jordyn and I were up to in Vancouver when she came out to visit for the last time before helping me move home!

We picked up the free Tegan and Sara tickets that Jordyn won.  Yahoo!!!

And we just had to indulge in Babylon Cafe one last time.  Man, that place is just so good!

 Totally hilarious photobomb by the guy behind me, no?

I also had bought a groupon for high tea at a fondue place downtown....and their only reservation that we were able to take was at 10:15pm!!  We laughed about it, and said that it would be a night to remember...and it definitely was!  Our deal came with a specialty tea drink, as well as a double decker fondue platter, complete with cheese and chocolate for dipping.  It was heaven!

Of course we just had to stop at the beach on our last night there.  It was a gorgeous combo of dark clouds rolling in, and a brilliantly bright setting sun which lit up the skyline. 

outfit post: introducing jorica

Now if you've been reading our blog for a while, you've probably seen my lovely friend Jorica before!  She was my main adventure-seeking partner while I lived in Van, and I miss her to pieces!

We met in 5 years ago while we were both first years at UBC, and quickly bonded over our love of books and our mutual dislike of physics labs.  Since then, we get together to craft, try new restaurants, explore Vancouver, or simply talk and talk and talk.  

Jorica is so sweet and encouraging, and I would be so lost without her.   

While we were visiting the quaint little town of Steveston a couple of weeks ago, I asked Jorica if I could do some portraits of her, and she said yes!  I'm not sure why I never did this before...silly me.  She's gorgeous, and has such cute style!

dress: urban outfitters // lace shirt: express // jacket: fairweather // necklace: a gift from me (from a craft fair) // boots: h&m // wrap bracelet: handmade by jorica herself!

Now that was an epic post!  I just had too many favorites, I couldn't leave any out!

p.s.  ♥ kelsey