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Creative Process

Creative Process, Dairy Free, Food, Gluten Free, Life, Lunch, Paleo, Pantone, Soups, Spring, Vegan, Vegetarian

SPICED STRAWBERRY WATERMELON GAZPACHO

The grass is green, the trees are blossoming (finally!) and I think that’s cause for celebration! If you’re looking to treat your taste buds to something refreshing after what was quite possibly the longest winter in Canadian history, embrace spring’s bountiful produce with my Spiced Strawberry Watermelon Gazpacho. This pretty, pink (yep, still riding that Spring 2017 Pantone Fashion Color Report wave), chilled soup is the perfect menu addition for your next spring soirée, baby or bridal shower, or anytime you’re hosting your girlfriends and want something fuss free, fresh and festive!

My Spiced Strawberry Watermelon Gazpacho is so simple, I almost can’t call it a recipe — but I’ve been meaning to publish this one since last summer! I popped over to Blushlane (a new organic market that just opened in my neighbourhood) on Friday and was so inspired by the beautiful strawberries, basil (I picked up a gorgeous basil plant… let’s hope I don’t kill it!) and mini watermelon that I knew I had to channel them into this recipe. With just 10 ingredients (seasonings and garnish included!) this fruity spin on traditional gazpacho comes together in just 10 minutes! So grab a delicious glass of rosé (I’m enjoying a Spanish Rioja!) and kick back with me tonight for the details on this modern, seasonal spin on a classic Spanish dish while I catch you up on a few cool things that have been happening the scenes lately — I can’t share a lot right now, but if you followed along with my Insta Stories last week, you may have an idea!

May 15, 2017 by Justine

Business, Create, Creative Process, Dwell, Goals, Inspiration, Life, Occasions, Wellness, Wine & Cocktails

MY 2ND BLOGIVERSARY + 10 THINGS I LEARNED IN MY SECOND YEAR OF BLOGGING

Today’s post has literally been 1 year in the making! March 2, 2017 marked my 2nd Blogiversary. Can you believe it? So here we are — just over 2 years, 218 blog posts, 400 000 views, 100 000 images and 2 000 comments later, I’m sharing my My 2nd Blogiversary + 10 Things I Learned in my Second Year of Blogging!

Part of the reason I love blogging is that I have bookmarks into specific time periods of my life (albeit, a small portion of it). It’s so interesting to look back and reflect on where I was 1 year ago versus where I am now. Today’s post is different than last years Blogiversary celebration — because I’m different. This is a quite an introspective, raw post set to the theme of growth and change, which is also my overarching theme for March to welcome spring. This year, I wanted my Blogiversary to feel exactly how it would if we just hanging out as friends, sharing a glass of wine and having a conversation about the last year of this crazy journey of mine. It’s not the shiny production that last year’s post was — and it feels just right. Relaxed, casual, and simply more me at this specific moment (just as last year’s post felt like me at that specific moment). I hope you enjoy my Pantone Greenery inspired 2nd Blogiversary + 10 Things I Learned in my Second Year of Blogging post, in collaboration with my friend Rebecca Dawn Design!

March 21, 2017 by Justine

Business, Creative Process, Goals, Inspiration, Life, Planning, Wellness

NEW YEAR, NEW GOALS: CULTIVATING A BALANCED 2017

So we’re half way into the first month of a fresh new year — how’s everyone doing? Did you set new goals, intentions and resolutions for 2017, or are you not really into that whole thing? Each year, I take the beginning of January as an opportunity to reflect on the year prior and evaluate how I can continue to grow and better myself in the upcoming year (if you’ve been with me since last year, you may remember my New Year, New Goals: Planning for a Successful 2016 post). I truly embrace the inherent fresh start that a new year provides and while I make it a priority to check in with myself often, a major overhaul was needed this year! I think the start of a new year is just as good a time as any to reflect, evaluate and set fresh intentions.

Today I’m sharing 5 goals and plans I’ve created for myself with then intention of cultivating more balance in my life in 2017 (and beyond!), plus what I’ve already done to work towards them. I’m also sharing some of my favourite planning, scheduling and creative tools to help me maximize my time, get organized, grow creatively and stay inspired! If you’re still in 2017 planning mode or want to learn more about my goals and plans for 2017 (and there are some big ones!), pour yourself a cup of coffee and get comfy — let’s get ready to make 2017 our best year yet! UPDATE: Check in on my progress 7 months later!

January 19, 2017 by Justine

Apple Pie Steel Oats with Candied Maple Pecans // JustineCelina.com

Breakfast, Creative Process, Dairy Free, Fall, Food, Gluten Free, Life, Pantone, Vegan, Vegetarian

APPLE PIE STEEL CUT OATS WITH CANDIED MAPLE PECANS

I’m back with some beautiful, orchard-fresh Ambrosia apples, a new recipe and a grateful, renewed mindset! Happy belated Thanksgiving to my Canadian readers, I hope you all enjoyed a weekend full of family, friends, delicious food and a few good drinks. It’s been a week since my last post because I decided to take this weekend off from blogging. It was a combination of events that led me to decide another unplugged weekend was exactly what I needed (nothing serious, but I definitely needed the time away!). I’ll get more into that later in this post — but for now, let’s get to chatting about this recipe!

My Apple Pie Steel Cut Oats with Candied Maple Pecans is inspired by comfort food, holiday flavours and warming, autumnal spices. They’re a simple, delicious way to celebrate fall’s freshly harvested apples and they can be on your table in less than 45 minutes. Who says you can’t indulge an apple pie craving to start your day? This powerhouse breakfast bowl is free of dairy, gluten and refined sugar — and bursting with natural sweetness, spices and wholesome nutrition. And yes, it really does taste just like apple pie! Throw on your coziest sweater and let’s make an apple pie inspired dish that you can eat for breakfast — all week long!

October 13, 2016 by Justine

Create, Creative Process, DIY, Dwell, Entertain, Food, Inspiration, Occasions, Summer

AL FRESCO SUMMER DINING INSPIRATION

One of my favourite things about summer is spending time in the serenity of country and getting outside. I welcome any chance to dine al fresco (meaning: in the open air) and today I’m walking you through how I pulled together this unique outdoor dinner party on a budget. This earthy, upscale celebration is inspired by the Easy Vegan White Mushroom Pizzas on the Grill I created for The Food Bloggers of Canada to celebrate outdoor summer entertaining!

Tonight I’m sharing my insider tips for creating and styling memorable gatherings — from my favourite sources for inexpensive entertaining essentials, to foraging for unique pieces in the prairies, to a simple copper-themed DIY. I also chat about the gorgeous (but budget friendly) Rebecca Dawn Design florals, inspired by the wild beauty of our Canadian summers. In the true spirit of al fresco dining I invite you to bring the inside out and join me for a glass of Sauvignon Blanc on a gorgeous summer evening among the swaying grass and tall trees!

July 28, 2016 by Justine

Creative Process, Goals, Life, Travel, Wellness

UNPLUGGED

I took this weekend off from blogging. That almost never happens. If you read My 1st Blogiversary + 10 Things I Learned in my First Year of Blogging post, you’ll know that I’m pretty diligent about my twice weekly blogging schedule, which usually includes a post mid-week and one on the weekend. Well this weekend, despite my best efforts, I simply couldn’t get a post up before we left on Friday for a wedding in Saskatoon. As I ploughed through a very busy week and the weekend drew closer, I decided that what I really needed — more than rushing to get prewritten content ready to publish for a weekend that I was going to be out of town, was to completely unplug.

April 18, 2016 by Justine

Business, Create, Creative Process, Dessert & Treats, DIY, Entertain, Flowers, Goals, Inspiration, Life, Occasions, Pantone, Planning, Wellness, Wine & Cocktails

MY 1ST BLOGIVERSARY + 10 THINGS I LEARNED IN MY FIRST YEAR OF BLOGGING

Imagine a place where you could go to totally unleash your creativity. That’s what this blog has been for me for almost exactly 1 year. JustineCelina is my ultimate creative outlet and my happy place. I started my blog 1 year ago with an iPhone and an idea — and never could have imagined that it would grow and evolve into what it is today. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to every single one of you reading this post. Your support in the largest creative endeavor of my life truly means the world to me!

I wasn’t going to make it a big deal, but I decided to throw JustineCelina a birthday party to celebrate this milestone! Today’s post is a very special 1st Blogiversary Party and collaborative shoot that I’ve invited some of Calgary’s very best makers, artists and creative professionals to be a part of — including Milton Photography, Rebecca Dawn Design, and Crave Cookies & Cupcakes. I’m also sharing ten things I learned during my first year of blogging. This is a very long post — so grab a cupcake and a glass of bubbly (or whatever you’re toasting with), get comfy and let’s celebrate! Cheers to going your own way and making your own magic!

March 18, 2016 by Justine

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