My July Soundtrack is a 3.5 hour playlist of free spirited indie, upbeat alternative, tropical house and a healthy dose of hip hop! It’s a perfect soundtrack for long weekend adventures — whether you’re roadtripping, camping or enjoying the summer weather with friends over cocktails. A few standout tracks this month include Happy Now by Shapes in Calgary (who actually hails from Brooklyn!), Waking Up by Mr. Little Jeans, Kicks by Lauren Aquilina, American Fool by Work Drugs and Don’t Worry Bout What The Fuck I’m Doing (yep, that’s really the track title) from Negative Gemini. For you hip-hop lovers, Complex Garden’s Shinobi Gaiden, Bright’s Doing Things and Chance the Rapper’s Summer Friends sounded especially good to my ears this month. Tune in for 58 fresh tracks to jam out to this summer!
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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!
GOLDEN KIWI PIÑA COLADA POPSICLES
Happy Saturday! Today I’m sharing the recipe for my Golden Kiwi Piña Colada Popsicles — a nourishing summer treat made with freshly blended tropical fruit, nutritious greens and decadent coconut cream. These popsicles are all-natural, vegan and free of refined sugar and gluten. Although they taste like a tropical cocktail, they’re made with just 5 ingredients and they’re fun, quick and easy to prepare! They’re picky eater tested and kid approved, making them family friendly and a perfect sweet indulgence for hot summer days. I’ve said it many times here at JustineCelina, but I believe you can nourish and treat yourself at the same time. These cheerful summer popsicles are packed full of so many amazing vitamins and nutrients — largely in part to the gorgeous, golden kiwis used in this recipe. If you like piña coladas… well, then you’ll love this clean twist on a tropical classic!
It would be an understatement to say that I’ve been on a bit of a rosé kick lately. And if you know me at all, you’ll know I really love sangria. So this summer, I decided to create a refreshing rosé sangria with floral, fruity notes to unite my favourite beverages! My Rosé Lychee Elderflower Sangria is a flirty, feminine twist on traditional sangria where an effervescent, dry rosé takes center stage, complimented by flavours of lychee, elderflower, lemon, white peach and strawberry (with lots of bubbles!). These pretty wine cocktails are best enjoyed with friends — whether you’re dining al fresco, hosting a summer dinner party, attending a baby shower, or prepping drinks for girls night! Yes way, rosé!
And do you know who else loves fabulous summer cocktails? My super talented food blogger friends, who I’ve teamed up with on this Connecting Over Cocktails collaborative post to kick off patio season! If you’re looking to really shake things up this summer, we’ve got some serious cocktail inspiration in store for you today. Check out the bottom of this post for five fresh, seasonal cocktail recipes from fellow Food Bloggers of Canada members. Cheers to sharing the love and connecting over 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!
POMEGRANATE HIBISCUS SALMON SALAD + MY PHOTO STYLING PROCESS
Who else is sick of winter?! I know I’ve definitely been craving some colour in my life lately! So this week, I’ve teamed up with Litehouse Foods and The Food Bloggers of Canada to bring you a fresh, colourful entrée salad recipe that can be on your table is less than half an hour! My Pomegranate Hibiscus Salmon Salad combines mixed greens and peppery arugula with strawberries, yellow peppers, mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, almonds and red onions — topped with a fresh fillet of wild sockeye salmon. It’s created with Litehouses’s Pomegranate Hibiscus Dressing, from their new Green Garden line. I also give you a behind-the-scenes look into my creative process of shooting and styling imagery for photoshoots and blog posts!
2015 BEAUTY FAVOURITES
If you read any of my beauty posts, read this one! Today I’m rounding up all my 2015 beauty favourites in one post. If you’ve been with me for awhile, you know I absolutely love makeup, playing with beauty products, and experimenting with different looks. Over the years I’ve tried pretty much everything — and I’m definitely very particular when it comes to what I use and like. These are the absolute best, cream-of-the-crop products that I think can work for anyone! I continue to use and recommend these products again and again — not only for myself, but for family and friends of all ages, ethnicities and skintones.
My 2015 Beauty Favourites are a mixture of drugstore and high end items, so there’s really something for everyone. This is a very comprehensive post — so set aside an hour, grab a notepad and a cocktail, and let’s dive into my 2015 Beauty Favourites!