Feel-good Friday: impromptu dinners

HAVE YOU EVER

had a friend come over to your home with groceries & wine and make you a nice dinner from scratch? This happens vary rarely if never because I usually don’t like anyone else interfering in the kitchen aside from maybe chopping an onion for me….so it was a very welcome change. To my credit I made an effort not to worry about which pot they used ~~kitchen control freak that I am~~ and was even nonchalant about a little spill here and there (meaning I did not jump up immediately to wipe it up) and didn’t even mind a bit of a mess. It was all part of the experience. What I learned was that it’s not only a nice change to shake up your routine once in a while but extremely pleasant to let someone take over and do something for you where you get to be the guest in your own home. And what’s more is that I think I can get used to it…should anyone else feel like stepping in. I highly recommend it.

Enjoy your weekend and the sunshine

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Style: sheer perfection

From Beach to Brunch and Beyond

A silk kimono with multiple uses is a perfect standout piece to go for coffee or cocktails.

This printed floral kimono is from LA-based label Helena Quinn and conceived exclusively for the summer Box of Style. The lovely silk robe is lightweight, versatile and so vibrant it’ll punch up any ensemble. From a pool cover-up to a light layer worn over a T-shirt and jeans, the styling possibilities are endless (valued at $120).

Pack Helena Quinn’s kimono in your beach bag, then belt it over your swimsuit for an unexpected layer.

Helena Quinn Kimono, The Zoe Report $99

Are you getting ready for summer?

Photos: Andy Noel

Website: https://www.helena-quinn.com/

Food + Drink, Girl Who Would be King

Food + Wine: Chef Meets BC Grape

One of my favourite food/wine events is taking place this Thursday in Vancouver. Highlighting all things grown, crushed, raised and produced in British Columbia. Taste creations prepared by top chefs from Vancouver’s hottest restaurants, all perfectly paired with BC VQA wines to enhance the flavours of each dish and wine.

Tell me more…

It’s only the largest tasting of BC VQA wines in Western Canada.
Sip from 350+ BC wines and savour small plates from 15 top chefs.
Visit Chef Ned Bell’s Ocean Wise Bubbles & Seafood station.

One ticket. One amazing evening!

Thursday, May 25
7:00 pm
Vancouver Convention Centre East
999 Canada Place

Link for participating wineries:

https://www.chefmeetsbcgrape.com/wineries-vancouver/

Link for participating restaurants and chefs:

https://www.chefmeetsbcgrape.com/restaurants-vancouver/

Purchase tickets ($90.00 per person) here:

https://www.chefmeetsbcgrape.com/tickets/

Meet you there!

Girl Who Would be King

Monday Mood Board #2

The Destination

UMBRIA, Italy

The Table Setting

Something bright for a Spring brunch

Ideal RideFoot Jewelry

Nostalgia

Admirable characters, clothing, cars.

**To Catch a Thief** (1955) starring Cary Grant + Grace Kelly

Him: What do you expect to get out of being so nice to me?

Her: Probably a lot more than you’re willing to offer

Girl Who Would be King

for Jacquie

I decided to post today because we must always find something to feel good about.

But I’m not in my usual feel-good Friday mode because a dear long-time friend of mine finally lost her battle with the big “C” yesterday after a lengthy fight. Because she was so resilient we all thought she’d keep on keeping on, especially with a big birthday coming up in only ten more days, but even the toughest cannot survive a ticking time bomb.

Friends and family are trying to make sense of it all and of course nothing makes sense so this is all to say:

With a very heavy heart, thank you for being the kind of caring friend you were. Thanks for your sharp wit, intelligence, all the adventures (fights included) and fun memories ~~even the crazy stuff we managed to pull off~~ and know that you were appreciated (like when you manage to put aside your own grief to make time for others) and will be greatly missed. And that there is NO ONE in the world quite like you.

Like the time we went to Israel 20 years ago and this baby camel followed you around and would not leave your side. Then you wrote a cute little poem called “**Camel Little Closer**“

Yeah; that’s what I’m talking about!

Soar high and don’t forget to keep your eyes on us. We’ll be waiting for a sign. But until then. ..we’ll have stories upon stories to keep us laughing and reminded for the rest of our lives. Your legacy lives on…

furthermore I’m not sure I’ll be able to sit on a deck in the summer with a margarita and not think of you.

XO RIP XO

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Style: Just Cruising

DIOR’S CRUISE 2018 SHOW IN LOS ANGELES

For her first Dior Cruise show Maria Grazia Chiuri showed off the undiscovered side of Los Angeles by taking the fashion set into the picturesque desert of California’s Santa Monica Mountains.

The runway unfolded against a scenic sunset and mountain view, complete with two floating Dior hot air balloons in the distance. Taking inspiration from Georgia O’Keeffe, the laid-back, Wild West-infused collection paired perfectly with its Californian backdrop. From the star-studded front row to the standout accessories, here are highlights from the show courtesy of Harpers Bazaar.

To reach the show’s location, guests went off-roading out to the Santa Monica Mountains via ATVs. The fashion pack was seated in safari-like tents featuring couches and cushions in lieu of a front row.

Two Dior Sauvage hot air balloons made for the ultimate Instagram bait. Throughout the show, the balloons served as an airy backdrop to the runway, but afterwards proved to be the Instagram gold of the night.

Rihanna, Demi Moore, Jaimie King, Charlize Theron and many more graced the front row. The star-studded show hosted a gathering of A-listers, all dressed in Dior.

Maria Grazia Chiuri’s inspiration from the show came from wall paintings in the Lascaux cave, which Monsieur Dior himself was also inspired by back in the early ’50s. The hand paintings could be seen reimagined atop wide-brimmed hats and embroidered into airy dresses on the runway.

Every look was topped with a wide-brimmed hat, setting the tone for the ultimate Western vibe. Following Dior’s Fall 2017 runway filled with leather berets, the hats of this season took a more laid-back vibe, many of which were adorned with turquoise beads and cave-like paintings.

Following suit, the collection itself featured dresses, jackets, cardigans and more taking influence from the Lascaux paintings along with Georgia O’Keeffe.

J’ADior!

Food + Drink, Girl Who Would be King

Recipe of the Week – Tuscan White Bean Dip

Party Pleaser

Here’s a foolproof simple, healthy happy hour dip. It’s a creamier and delicious alternative to hummus.

1 (14-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
roughly 1/3 cup olive oil, plus a little extra to drizzle over top
1/4 cup (loosely packed) fresh Italian parsley leaves
Course Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary (you can also use oregano – fresh or dried)
a little sprinkle of cayenne
*Zaatar (optional but worth it if you can find it)

Tip: if you want a thicker consistency you can always add some Tahini (sesame seed paste used for making hummus) or less olive oil. Play around with it. It will be great either way.

Place the beans, garlic, lemon juice, 1/3 cup olive oil, and parsley in the food processor or blender. Pulse until the mixture is coarsely chopped. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer the bean puree to a small bowl. Garnish with rosemary and/or other spice.

**ZAATAR (an exotic middle eastern spice mix made of sumac (from a flowering plant), thyme, roasted sesame seeds, marjoram, oregano, course salt. FYI: also great sprinkled over plain olive oil & balsamic for dipping.

Serve with pita, tortilla chips or fresh crusty french bread.

Sidenote: I have this thing for lazy susans. My fridge is full of them – it makes life easier if you have lots of jars, condiments + such. Now I bought a large round bamboo serving dish which I place overtop one of my lazy susans to place a variety of stuff on when company comes over. People don’t have to reach over you to get another slice of cheese or whatever…they can just rotate the tray towards them. I think it’s a better serving alternative.

Girl Who Would be King

Monday Mood Board #1

Worthy places to see, travel, eat, play, love. Things to do, wear, enjoy, laugh at + inspire. IDEAS of the moment…things to cheer you up on a MOODY MONDAY!

Scent of a Woman:

NEW Perfume Museum in Paris

As if Paris isn’t magical enough….

If Willy Wonka made perfume instead of chocolates, his factory would look just like the Grand Musée du Parfum, the new museum of perfume in Paris. Because of course there’s a perfume museum in Paris…and it’s absolutely dreamy. You will step into an unforgettable experience of sense, emotion, pleasure, and understanding.

Located in a stunning Parisian mansion previously owned by Christian Lacroix, the scent-driven exhibits encourage visitors to sniff their way through a far more fragrant culture and history lesson than you probably would have ever imagined—did you know Cleopatra and Louis XIV used scent to woo their lovers? Now you do.

ITHAA UNDERSEA RESTAURANT AT CONRAD MALDIVES RANGALI ISLAND: MALDIVES

Just in case you need yet another reason to add the Maldives to your list of swoon-worthy vacation destinations, check out this totally unique dining experience. Guests are taken 16 feet below the ocean’s surface to a glass-domed restaurant where they sample fresh Maldivian-Western fusion dishes—all while enjoying panoramic views of marine life. Just don’t look in Flounder’s eye before you take a bite. And hope the ceiling doesn’t cave in!

Chic Peek – Street Style

I like what she’s wearing. Classic white blouse with a dash of glitter & panache. Very pulled together in an elegant, effortless (so it appears) way. She looks interesting. And those shoes!

Inspiration: Pure Wow

Girl Who Would be King

It’s ALL about our Mothers!

Every Day should be Mothers Day because it’s not easy being a mom…so I was told!

My husband Don and his mom Jean who passed away 12 years ago. Taken from her condo in Kingston, Ont.

I remember her telling me with having had three sons the only way she was going to get a daughter was to get them to marry. She was a great knitter too. All I had to do was show her a photo in a magazine and presto…she’d make me a sweater just like the photo. Yes, of course I took advantage! I still wear a few of them.

That’s right! You’ve gotta listen to your momma. She knows best.

One of the first things my mom told me when I met my husband was to see how he treated his mother. That way I would get an idea of how he would treat me. Sound corny? Not really. He looked after her & treated her like gold. So there you have it….

You only have one mother. Treat her right.