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Wine & Cocktails

Beauty, Dwell, Living Room, Makeup, Music, Occasions, Wine & Cocktails, Winter

DECEMBER 2020 SOUNDTRACK + BONUS 2020 SOUNDTRACK

As 2020 draws to a close, I’m sharing two fresh playlists for all your NYE listening needs! First up, my December 2020 Soundtrack — a short n’ sweet playlist featuring 37 of my favourite tracks from the month! As usual, you can expect an eclectic melange of genres, artists and sounds airing on the instrumental side that helped me through the pre-holiday hustle in this MONTHLY SOUNDTRACK. I discovered Spotify’s Focus Music playlist in December, which is where many of my inclusions are gleaned from! A handful of my favourite tracks include Orange Stick’s stripped down rendition of Kayne’s Runaway, That’s Cool’s Believe, Franco Robert’s Hola, Andrew Gialanella’s Remainder, Rhian Sheenan’s Little Sines, Attom’s Oasis, Christopher Willitis’s remix of Tycho’s Into The Woods, Brother Tiger’s Sunset District, Sonalis’s Flux, Young Lungs I Want My Life To Change, Lil Skate’s Living, Satin Jacket’s A Higher Place, Joey Pecoraro’s Movie Night and Digital Farm Animals remix of You’re The One For Me.

If you’re in need of even more fresh tunes, check out my Spotify Wrapped 2020 Soundtrack, featuring my 100 most played songs from 2020! I really look forward to these automatically compiled, year-in-review playlists — they bring back the best memories. If you’re looking for some easy listening, feel good, inspirational music to enjoy as we wind down 2020 at home with a bottle of bubbly, this is your playlist. No matter what you’re up to this New Years Eve in quarantine, I hope you all have a peaceful, joyful and safe evening! Thank you for spending the final day of 2020 with me and for your continued support. I’ll no longer be publishing monthly soundtracks here at JustineCelina in 2021 in an effort to optimize my time, refine my content and pursue my larger goals (more on that coming soon!). That said, you can always come join me on Spotify, where I’ll continue to share what I’m listening to each month. Happy New Year and cheers to brighter days ahead in 2021!

December 31, 2020 by Justine

Entertain, Giveaways, Local Love, Occasions, Wine & Cocktails, Winter

GILDED VANILLA PEAR SPARKLER

Happy New Years Eve Eve, craft COCKTAIL lovers! After a restful holiday vacation, I’m back today with a fresh cocktail recipe (and a fun giveaway) to help you send 2020 off in style! My Gilded Vanilla Pear Sparkler is a glitzy, French 75 inspired sparkling cocktail nuanced with an elegant seasonal flavour profile and premium ingredients (including Eau Claire Distillery’s 24 karat gold infused Christmas Gin!). Although this NYE in quarantine is unlike the celebrations of years past we’ve become accustomed to, that doesn’t mean it has to be any less glamorous or memorable — and if you’re looking for an NYE inspired sip to celebrate the end of a challenging year, I have just the recipe. I invite you to put your best suit or dress on, dust off your crystal and toast 2020’s departure (good riddance!) with me in the comfort of your own homes, JustineCelina style!

Inspired by all things glittering and gold, Eau Claire Distillery‘s Limited Edition Christmas Gin combines with Brut Prosecco, Italian vanilla liqueur, bright lemon juice and a stunning Honeyed Vanilla Pear Syrup where Bosc pears are poached in decadent Canadian honey alongside Tahitian vanilla extract. The result is an opulent, gold infused winter cocktail that’s equal parts creamy, crisp and refreshing — and it couldn’t be easier to mix up at home! To help spread some holiday cheer, I’ve partnered with Eau Claire Distillery to give away a full sized bottle of Christmas Gin and 2 coupe glasses to one of my Canadian friends — you’ll find details on how to enter near the bottom of the post (this giveaway has now closed). Cheers to a brighter 2021!

December 30, 2020 by Justine

November 2020 Soundtrack | A cozy November evening in front of the fireplace with a bottle of Pinot Noir, Rattan Serving Tray and Pampas Grass and Bleached ruscus arrangement on a white lacquered coffee table | modern marble fireplace decorated with driftwood and vases with pampas grass with a rattan serving | Marble Fireplace | Bohemian, Mid Century Modern Fall Decor | Bohemian Holiday Home Tour 2020 | Structube Caramel KINSEY Living Room // JustineCelina.com

Dwell, Fall, Flowers, Living Room, Music, Wine & Cocktails

NOVEMBER 2O2O SOUNDTRACK

In need of some relaxing tunes for your next cozy evening in? Well friends, I have just the playlist! Indulge your ears in my November 2020 Soundtrack — featuring 3 hours of easy listening, ultra chill, electronic, jazzy, ambient, indie and alternative grooves to perfectly compliment a bottle of Pinot Noir in front of the fireplace. This familiar scene from our Living Room is what almost every single weekend evening has looked like since March — and although I do miss a lot of things about our life pre-COVID, I’m so grateful for this little piece of serenity amidst a chaotic world. I’ve come to treasure our quarantine Friday evenings when we put the fire on, open a bottle of wine and get lost in the world of music! MUSIC has always been an integral part of my life — and I hope my MONTHLY SOUNTRACKS bring you a bit of extra peace and joy to help ease these difficult times. These 56 tracks have been my musical therapy through a tumultuous month!

November’s standout tracks include Downtown Owl’s Okay, Made in M’s Wonderloop, Ganzo’s Happy Feet, TABAL’s Floating Hammock, Psalm Tree’s Lisbon Penthouse, Norabel’s Pigments, Noé Solange’s Nocturnal Lady, Blue Wednesday’s Seafoam, Macleny’s Doors of Time, Satin Jacket’s rendition of Tycho’s Japan, Sofasound’s Life Is So Beautiful, C4C’s Flower Pillow, West & Zander’s Autumn Haze, Ash Walker’s remix of Kennebec’s Departure, Toby Schay’s moonkiss and Daithi’s How to Fall in Love in a Pandemic. Thanks for listening, friends!

November 30, 2020 by Justine

Dairy Free, Entertain, Fall, Inspiration, Local Love, Vegan, Vegetarian, Wine & Cocktails

ROSEMARY FIG JAPANESE WHISKY SOUR

Fig season is upon us — and I’m back today with a fresh, summer meets autumn sip to celebrate! My Rosemary Fig Japanese Whisky Sour was actually conceived at the height of quarantine back in April (when we were encouraged to limit our grocery runs as much as possible) — another exercise in using what we had on hand to to whip up a comforting COCKTAIL at home. Despite this recipe using fig preserves (rather than fresh figs you see photographed), I waited patiently for fig season to bring this inventive cocktail to life — simply so I could make it as beautiful as possible! And while I never thought I’d be incorporating Japanese whisky or egg whites into a cocktail — here we are. 2020 has been full of curveballs, but one thing is has been good for is nurturing my mixology skills and pushing me to create more resourceful, experimental recipes! There have been many a Rosemary Fig Japanese Whisky Sour consumed this year as this recipe underwent an intensive testing process to ensure it was shaken to perfection — and I’m elated to finally bring it to JustineCelina this fall!

My Rosemary Fig Japanese Whisky Sour is a deliciously luxurious juxtaposition of fall flavours and textures that you can shake up at home. This creative cocktail is creamy, smoky, sweet and sour — enveloping your tastebuds in early autumn inspired warmth! Premium Japanese whisky (thanks to Adam’s latest spirit obsession!) combines with egg whites (with a vegan option), fig syrup, bitters, fresh lemon juice and a sprig of rosemary, shaken into a comforting sip that celebrates quintessential fall flavours in cocktail form. If your looking to satisfy your cocktail lounge cravings at home this autumn, look no further! Dust off your shaker, slip on your fuzzy slippers, light a fire and learn how to shake up this sumptuous, seasonally inspired Japanese whisky sour in the comfort of your own kitchen. Cheers to breaking out of our cocktail comfort zones with beautiful, seasonally inspired ingredients!

October 3, 2020 by Justine

Dairy Free, Entertain, Fashion, Summer, Travel, Vegan, Vegetarian, Wine & Cocktails

CREAMY COCONUT MANGO MEZCALRITAS

Friends, it feels absolutely incredible to be back today with a fresh COCKTAIL recipe! It’s been quite awhile since my last blog post — between a wonderful, 3 week workcation in the country, to making the most of some business-related travel in Edmonton (where we enjoyed a little weekend getaway!), I’ve been (safely) bouncing around all over the province like a true digital nomad this month. Although I’ve had my camera and laptop in tow and have still been creating content, keeping my socials updated (have you stopped by Instagram lately to see what I’ve been up to?) and working on some exciting projects, I couldn’t find the time to actually sit down, process and edit imagery, write long-form content and publish a blog post! Instead, I had some long overdue development tasks taken care of behind the scenes here at JustineCelina to get the site back in pristine working order (hopefully you haven’t even noticed!). Overall it’s been a very lucrative and productive month, although blog content took a back seat — so thank you for your patience and understanding! I’m thrilled to be back with this clean slate, feeling refreshed and ready to bring you tons of summer content — commencing with these Creamy Coconut Mango Mezcalritas!

I’ve been sipping away on these jubilant, Oaxacan-inspired cocktails since Cinco de Mayo when I whipped them up for a festive night in, simply using what we had on hand — and the results were absolutely delicious! My Creamy Coconut Mango Mezcalritas are a perfectly balanced libation that are equal parts smoky, citrusy, creamy, spicy and sweet — and are (as always!) free of dairy, gluten and refined sugar. A healthy dose of hand-crafted mezcal and creamy coconut milk combine with fresh mango and lime juices, along with a splash of Cointreau, agave nectar and just a hint of red chilli before they’re shaken over ice and strained into a Himalayan pink salt and Tajín rimmed glass. Make the most of this very welcome heatwave with an inspired seasonal sip that will virtually transport you to a tranquil ocean shore from the comfort of your own home, backyard or patio! Cheers to finding new ways to bring TRAVEL into our lives this year!

July 29, 2020 by Justine

June 2020 Soundtrack | Chill Summer Playlist | Inspiring Summer Playlist Spotify | Laughing brunette woman enjoying a glass of rosé wine in a sunlit prairie wheat field at sunset | JustineCelina’s childhood home in Wheatland County, Alberta | Summer 2020 Bohemian Style Ideas | Boho Casual Summer Dresses | Summer 2020 Fashion | Best H&M Dresses Summer 2020 | How to Style a Frayed Brim Straw Hat | Calgary, Alberta, Canada Creative Lifestyle Blogger and Entrepreneur// JustineCelina.com

Beauty, Fashion, Life, Music, Summer, Travel, Wellness, Wine & Cocktails

JUNE 2020 SOUNDTRACK + SUMMER FASHION FAVS

The first month of summer is drawing to a close — and that means it’s time for my June 2020 Soundtrack! June was an intense month as we moved into Phase 2 of our economic reopening in Calgary and also collectively experienced the largest civil rights movement in history. Amidst it all, we also decided to form a cohort with my family in rural Alberta and have been spending as much time enjoying the tranquility of the prairies as possible! We finally planted that Country Garden I’ve been dreaming about for years (posts to follow!) and it’s been quite a reflective, but healing, month. Over the years, these rolling hills and sunlit fields have always been where I come to feel grounded, creative and free. I’m so grateful for this magical, restorative place — now more than ever. Although COVID has brought with it many challenges, it’s also brought many gifts. In a time when the whole world feels like it’s on pause, I’m making the most of every last second by living and working intentionally, authentically and in alignment with my true self.

My June 2020 Soundtrack features just over 2 hours of ultra chill, easy-listening, instrumental tunes spanning genres — and also, a track from my nephew, DJBThomson, who’s foraying into the music world! A handful of my favourite tracks include Random Forests I Don’t Trust That Bird of Prey, Vladimir Martynov’s The Beautitudes, Headphone Activist’s Lazy, Shook & Ian Urbina’s Isolation, AK & Liam Thomas’s Peace of Mind, Late June’s Burning Slow, Dye O’s Uprising, iamlex’s Aurora, Tōth’s Copilot, Tom Kalani’s Target, Evin Iris’s Collapse Into The Light, Jose Mehlin’s Adjustments, Ghost of Summer’s Woodland Heart, UTAH’s Thirty Two, TOKiMONSTA’s Love That Never, Stan Forebee’s Skyshades, Wolf’s Play It Safe, Teen Daze’s Comfort and DJBThomson’s N!GHT SK¥ (Bass Version). Happy listening!

June 29, 2020 by Justine

Baking, Bar, Create, Dessert & Treats, Dining Room, Dwell, Entertain, Fashion, Flowers, Food, Gluten Free, Inspiration, Local Love, Occasions, Spring, Vegan, Wine & Cocktails

A SIMPLE EASTER DINNER FOR TWO

Remember when I mentioned over the holidays that I wanted to bring more ENTERTAIN content to JustineCelina this year? Although these weren’t quite the circumstances I envisioned (now that’s an understatement!), I’m thrilled to share A Simple Easter Dinner For Two with you today! While Easter certainly looked a lot different for everyone this year given the current global situation, we decided to make the most of it and celebrate here in our home in Calgary — just the two of us. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine we’d spend an Easter without the large family gatherings in the country we’ve become accustomed to over the years — but rather than mourning the loss of our cherished traditions, we resolved to stay home and create a few of our own!

In over a decade together, this was the first Easter dinner we’ve celebrated in our home — and I wanted to mark the occasion by capturing these memories to look back on. I put on a dress, ordered flowers, made some nostalgic family recipes along with my first ever carrot cake — then we popped some Prosecco and enjoyed A Simple Easter Dinner For Two (Adam was actually peeling potatoes in the kitchen to my left as I snapped these photos from my tripod!). I was reminded of my ability to find beauty in uncertainty and create amongst chaos — these are things I find very cathartic and truly bring me joy. While it wasn’t a traditional Easter, it was still a lovely weekend — gifting us with lessons in resiliency, enjoying life’s simple pleasures and doing the best you can with what you have, where you are! Whether you’ve stopped by today for details on our Easter in quarantine, are planning a more intimate Easter gathering of your own, or are visiting years in the future once this is all behind us in search of some easy Easter entertaining ideas, I’ve got you covered!

April 18, 2020 by Justine

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