Punk Pearl Necklace

My style is not straight up classic. If I'm going to wear a pearl necklace I need it to be a little off, have a little edge to it, a little bit rockstar. So when I saw this necklace on Pinterest I wanted to make it instantly.

Bonus it cost me roughly $3.00 to pull it off. I simply took an old pearl necklace I already had but never wore and added gold safety pins from Dressew. Each box of safety pins was $1.25. I can wait to wear this necklace for my friend Bobbie's birthday dinner tomorrow night. What do you guys think?

Summer Vacation

I never really take vacation in the summer. Vancouver is beautiful at this time of year and I would rather go somewhere hot in the middle of the rainest parts of Vancouver. The summer I did a mini vacation. I spent a couple days at Keats Island with my friend, Emily and then drove up to Salmon Arm for four days with my friend, Robyn. It was a great mini vacation and it didn't really cost too much. 

 Keats Island has a beautiful view and it beyond relaxing! Also so much fun was had. We hit up a slip and slide, went for drinks and oysters at Smitty's Oyster House, had a Mexican themed dinner and slept like babies.

Salmon Arm let my inner water baby run wild! Spent two days on a boat, swimming, eating and having wine. I love water and this was just the best!

On my last day in Salmon Arm Robyn and I did a wine tour with her mom, lucky for us her dad offered to be our driver. It was a great way to end my vacation. Driving home the next day I felt so relaxed and ready to get back to life. Hope everyone is enjoying the dog days last of summer!

Breakfast

I love to cook! On the days when I have extra time and I'm not running out the door I love to cook breakfast! This morning was one of those days, no where to be till 1:30. I decided it was time to whip up one of my favourite breakfast items, Tomato and Pancetta Egg Cups. I found this recipe from Canadian Living. I am still trying to perfect it for one. What I really need to do is have a bunch of friends over for brunch and make a large batch of this things.

Its actually really simple to make. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Take a tomato and clean it out like you would a pumpkin before carving, salt it and set it upside down on a piece of paper towel. Leave it for 30mins. This takes out the extra moisture and sets the tomato up to be filled with awesomeness. I even blotted mine with a paper towel to get all of the moisture out.

Next place it in a muffin tin or like I did in an egg poacher, this will keep the tomato up right while baking.

Spread a little pesto in the inside of the tomato, you don't need a lot as the pesto will over power the other flavours if you load it in there.

Line the pesto tomato with a single slice of pancetta, making a little nest for the egg. 

Next up crack an egg into your little tomato nest and then top with salt and pepper and a tiny bit of butter. The butter keeps the egg from cracking and drying out while baking. Make sure that you put some water in the empty muffin spots so that they don't smoke and burn. Put in the oven and back for 18-20 mins, to where the white is set and the yolk is still runny.

Personally no breakfast is complete without coffee and I love my french press. So while the tomato awesomeness was cooking I made some coffee.

I also toasted up a piece of gluten free bread from Panne Rizo which is a wonderful gluten free bakery in Kitsilano, on Cornwall Ave. Tomato and toast, how could you go wrong?

Here is what the final product looks like up close. Now what are you waiting for? Go make one!!

Date a girl that read...

I found this on pinterest a few days ago and haven't been able to stop thinking about it, so I thought I would share it with you.

I am a girl who reads, always have been. I used to walk home from school with my nose in a book, good thing I grew up in a small town, or I might not have made it to adulthood in one piece. I devoured books over the summer through my libraries summer book reading program. I have a few books I have read so many times the covers have long since disintegrated and disappeared. I fully remember being in grade 3 and my elementary school librarian giving me the wrinkle copy of "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe", saying your the only one taking it out anyways. I still have that book! I have run out of space on my bookcase and had to take a box, or two to my parents place for safe keeping. I am the aunt who gives her nieces books, I want them to know that love of books. To feed their imaginations, and create future book lovers. So this article spoke right to my heart and I really suggest you take a minute to read the whole thing. It is worth it.

I totally plan on introducing my children to Asland and Cat in the Hat. I have stayed up many nights reading till 2am just to finish a book I can't put down. I have a book that my dad wrote just for me. Life to me just wouldn't be right without books. Sometimes all you need is a book and a comfy place to read and you are a happy happy girl....and someone to understand you can't hear them when you are in that books world:)

It may be raining today but it sure has been SUNNY!

I haven't been blogging lately because it has been sunny in Vancouver. This city gets about 10 months of rain and 2 of sun so when it shows up we do everything outside. I have been doing a lot of this...

Wine and cheese beach time with Karen

Mid week beach bathing with a great book

Walking other people's dogs:)

Watching sunsets at Sunset Beach aka my front yard

And a lot of eating.....

Gluten free pizza with the boys

Homemade gluten free meal by one of my favourite people

Brunch in the sunshine with Em

Cocktails before dancing

Grilling anything and everything!

To even out all the eating I've been going on epic bike rides...

The view from Prospect Point after the crazy Stanley Park loop hill

The view out at The Maritime Museum 

Hit up the race course for what won't be the only time this summer...

Race course with my brother from another mother, Dusty

GO HORSEY GO!

Did a little dancing....

Dress: H&M, Booties: Zara

And I've been hanging out with the coolest kids I know....

My momma and her grandgirls

Brooklyn and Aunty Tiff time!

So its raining today but who cares this summer is going to be AWESOME!

Bulldogs and Sunshine

For those of you keeping tabs on my posts I realize they have been few and far between. I'm sorry. Its been busy in the life of Riley. However I did get in a very fun night this Wednesday. I hit up the Boathouse in English Bay for a few cocktails and some great conversation on their sunny patio. Also finally got to have a bulldog but Tiffany style aka gluten free. It was delicious and potent, drink with caution!

Gluten free bulldog at the English Bay Boathouse 

Not the best picture but here is what I wore for drink.

Dress: Forever 21, Belt: Topshop, Shoes: Aldo

Hope everyone else is getting out and enjoying this awesome sunshine! I know I can't wait to do this again!

Mumford and Sons

This past Friday I headed out to Surrey's Holland Park to watch Mumford and Sons with a friend of mine. Here at the pictures I took. 

The show was AMAZING! I would highly recommend seeing them if you get the chance! Hope everyone enjoyed them at Sasquatch! All it all it was a fantastic night!

Weekend Wrap-up

I had a lot going on this weekend, which was a great way of staying busy.

Friday night my friend, Luke and I hit up Mosaic at the Hyatt on Burrard for dinner. Being celiac I have to say this was a great place for me to eat. They have a build your own entree section which allowed me to mixed together all the gluten free items and make a fully satisfying meal. You should try it even if you're not celiac.

It was also a chance to wear the amazing Rachel by Rachel Roy dress I scored at The Beggar's Banquet about a month ago. I got it for $20 which is a lot of thrifting but being designer and the fit being perfect, I felt the price was amazing.

Dress: Rachel by Rachel Roy, thrifted at The Beggar's Banquet, Clutch: Vintage, gift, Shoes: Aldo

Dinner at Mosaic at the Hyatt.

Saturday night I headed over to Yaletown to meet up with my friend Bobbie, who is a menswear stylist, at Goorin Bros Hat Company. Their were throwing a really fun event involving a cocktail competition  a jazz band and hat trying on. I could have bought 5 hats no problem but instead left only with the one I came with. Talk about self control!

Jacket: Artiza, Tank: H&M, Pants: Zara,
Shoes: Aldo, Hat & Ring: Le Chateau, Suspenders: American Apparel, Watch: Seiko,gift, Clutch: Vintage, thrifted 

Trying on hats at Goorin Bros in Yaletown. Love this one!

And finally Sunday I headed out to Cloverdale to hit up the rodeo with my two nieces and my sister-in-law. Neither of us had even been to the Rodeo and well we still haven't. It was sold out! We did get to hit up the Fair part of it and that was a lot of fun. Lots of food trucks, live music, face painting and rides, some for big kids and some for the little ones. I got to ride down a crazy slide with my older niece, Brooklyn, which was fun. After dinner at their place I headed home and finally watched Pitch Perfect. IT IS FUNNY! RENT IT!!

Trying her first Sno-Cone

Kelsey showing her how to eat one!

London looking happy!

Hope everyone had a great weekend! I'm off to watch the new Star Trek!