shop talk: canada is on target!

Many of the fashion bloggers I follow regularly wear items purchased from the ubiquitous Target (over 1,700 stores in the US!).  I’ve often wished I was able to purchase those same affordably stylish items.

Wish no more! My northern ladyfriends and I will soon have the opportunity to shop our little red bulls eye hearts out, as the 109-year-old retailer recently unveiled its Canadian store locations.



via msn

In Edmonton, Target stores will be found at Kingsway Garden Mall, Bonnie Doon & Mill Woods Town Centre. There'll also be a store at St. Albert Centre and the Sherwood Park Mall. Calgary will see six Target stores open, including one in Chinook Centre and Market Mall.

I, for one, am quite excited for Target's arrival – especially the designer clothing & home goods collections. 

Is one of the above locations near you? 'My' store is only a 5 minute drive from my house. Super!

Happy Friday friends! Hope you have a lovely weekend!

Dajana  :)



still smitten... after ten years!

The boyfriend and I met ten years ago today. And we’re still laughing. And calling each other dude.

He’s my oak tree. Solid, dependable and unwavering in his love.

We met at Ceili’s (an Irish pub) but I told my parents we met at the library (; He was there for a friend’s bachelor party and I came to meet some girlfriends for a drink.

He was sitting in my chair, so I asked him, politely, to move it. Four hours later, the bachelor party and girlfriends were forgotten. We were deep in conversation and already smitten.

He lived in Calgary so our first date didn’t take place until 2 weeks later… which gave us heaps of time to get to know each other over the phone. There’s something to be said for that kind of start to a courtship.

There were definite challenges because we lived in different cities. Every weekend, for 18 months, we took turns travelling back and forth between Calgary and Edmonton.  I remember driving white knuckled through many a crazy Alberta snowstorm.

We were engaged a year after dating. And married a year after that.

We've been through a lot together. Our parents, my dad & Scotty’s mom, were both diagnosed with cancer just months before our wedding. It was a year of highs and lows.

Thankfully, they both won their battles and were able to see us get married. For this, we are eternally grateful.

Now here we are.  Ten years, countless travel adventures, a house, a dog and a marriage later. 

He is the greatest. And will always have my heart.

Can’t wait to see where the next ten years take us.

my new favourite place: enjoy centre

My backyard garden was calling for some hostas, salvia and lavender plants so, Scotty and I made our way to the Hole family's Enjoy Centre, a stunning new greenhouse complex built on Riel Drive in St. Albert.

And let me tell you peeps, once we got there... enjoy we did.

EC is a gorgeous space with cathedral-sized greenhouses, vaulted-glass ceilings and a fresh, airy contemporary feel. It's beyond impressive. I could have spent hours lingering over the countless planters, vases, flowers, greenery, books and art. Yes, art. And heaps of it.

This is much more than just a place to buy plants and gardening tools. Take a look-see.



There's a café on-site devoted to local food, the Prairie Bistro, where we ate the most delish pulled lamb panini with grilled leeks & mint marmalade... yum.

In addition to the 140 seats inside, there are 90 seats on the patio (overlooking Big Lake), as well as an ultra chic lounge perfect for drinks, tapas and girl talk. Cocktails with botanical ingredients anyone?

A bakery, deli, spa (!), wine store and gift shop are set to open as well.

Edmonton ladyfriends: we can meet for lunch, shop and then head to the spa. Whaddya say?



While we were walking around this sublime green thumb emporium, Scotty said to me, "I'm not even a gardener and I think this place is amazing."

Yessiree! Ah-mazing. And it's going to be a wonderful place to escape the long, dreary cold of our Prairie winters. Although, I know I shouldn't speak of such things in May. :)



I hope you have an opportunity to check it out for yourself. It's truly a sight to behold.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

Dajana

eat: smoked salmon spread

My friend Patrycia has introduced me to three things I can’t live without: Clinique’s Lash Doubling Mascara, baked grapefruit with brown sugar and this delish smoked salmon spread.

If you like smoked salmon, you’re going to fall in complete culinary lust with this tasty vittle. It’s easy to make and a great dish to bring to a friend’s BBQ or baby shower.

I like eating it slathered on a piece of crusty French bread, standing in my kitchen. But you may want to share it. And sit down. (;




Ingredients

• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup of mayonnaise
• 3 green onions + additional for garnish, chopped
• 1 (4 1/2-ounce) package smoked BBQ salmon tips, skin removed & chopped
  (Safeway tends to carry it on a regular basis)
• Juice of a whole lemon
• A dash or two of Worcestershire sauce

Directions
In a bowl, blend cream cheese, mayonnaise and Worcestershire sauce until completely smooth. Add chopped onions and then gently stir in smoked salmon until well blended. Once the salmon is incorporated, squeeze the juice of a whole fresh lemon into the spread and mix.

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until mixture is completely chilled. When ready, sprinkle with chopped green onions and serve with crackers, baguette slices, endive spears or cucumber slices.  

(Make-ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days)

***

Happy weekending peeps! And a happy Victoria Day long weekend to my Canadian friends!

Over the next few days, I'm going to do my best to make a dent in my Adirondack chair project, plant some dahlias and visit Anthro. I love long weekends!

Dajana 

eat: fancy peanut butter

Yes, please! That was my response after my friend Cathy asked if I wanted to try some gourmet peanut butter. She had ordered the fancy pb from Spread, a restaurant in San Diego, after it was featured on the Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate. 

Spread uses all locally grown, organic ingredients and also makes it’s own brand of flavoured peanut & almond butters. Over 50 different kinds including: Rose Salted Basil, Dark Chocolate Espresso, White Chocolate Blueberry and Ode to Elvis (smooth pb swirled with dried bananas, organic soy bacon bits & sweet floral honey). Whoa.

You can see the full list of seriously intriguing flavours here.

I've always had an affinity for peanut butter but clearly had no idea what kind of taste sensation I was in for. Egad. This stuff was scrumptious. My fav flavour was No.73 - White Chocolate Pretzel. Deliciousness all over the place. I don't think I'll ever look at peanut butter the same way again.

This one’s best enjoyed straight out of the jar. It’s the only way to do it.

Wouldn't this make a super gift for the pb lover and/or foodie in your life? Indeed. You can buy Spread in individual jars or in a variety of themed gift boxes, including: “Gentlemen’s Travel Kit,” "Sex and Candy" and the "Munchies".

And please, for the love of Mary, don't try to google Spread without adding the words 'peanut butter' somewhere in your search. Especially if your grandma or five-year-old nephew are hanging around your computer. Ya feel me? ;) Now go and spread the love. Ha!

Happy Sunday! Here's to a lovely week ahead.

Dajana

at home: adirondack chairs

via Design Within Reach

via Pottery Barn

 via PC Home

Iconic chairs. I like 'em but most are much too rich for my blood. Yes, I'm talking about you Eames.
Enter the Adirondack (a.k.a Muskoka and Bear) chair. The quintessential chair for summer relaxation.

Classic. Stylish. Comfortable. And affordable.

And doesn't the Adirondack harken back to those lazy summer afternoons at the cottage?

Now, I don't have a cottage but since I'm never one to forgo a lazy summer afternoon, I bought five of the suckers pictured below from Costco in January. They were just $50 a pop and solid wood. The caveat? ALL assembly required. And it's me who'll be doing this assembling business. Yup, all by my lonesome. The boyfriend has left it up to me to tackle this monumental task. Yipes. He thinks I'm up for the job. I think he's gone completely loco.

I'm starting this project this weekend. Wish me luck or better yet pray for me! I'll post pics as soon as I'm done. Hopefully sometime this year.

Before I vamos, this is the image that inspired me to start building Adirondack chairs. Lovely, isn't it?

And yes, once I'm done, you're all invited over to roast marshmallows, drink Crabbies and tell stories.

Happy weekend!

Dajana 

anthropologie: take action dress

Disclaimer: I haven't worn any of the outfits pictured below (featuring Anthro's Take Action Dress) other than the 5 minutes it took for my partner-in-crime/photog to snap these shots. Why? Because our city is still engulfed in what I like to call 'sprinter' - a weather phenomenon characterized by a beautiful yet deceiving sunny sky and a chilly razor-like edge in the air. It's still flippin' cold peeps and it's May. Welcome to Alberta.

What up Mother Nature? Why you do us wrong?

Moving away from my digressionary beef with the weather, I wanted to see how versatile this dotted frock could be, so I styled three outfits suitable for a weekend brunch, a 9-5'er and a night on the town. Here's what I came up with (hopefully you're not blinded by my lily-white legs):


WEEKEND BRUNCH OUTFIT: Take Action dress, Joe Fresh jean jacket, H&M scarf & Roberto Vianni gladiators
WORKING 9 TO 5 OUTFIT: Take Action dress, Anthro Rain Shine Anorak, Mandarina Duck bag, Gravity Pope Tsubo heels & BR sunnies
NIGHT ON THE TOWN OUFIT: Take Action dress, H&M clutch & Spring animal print heels

The cute greige anorak was something I found this winter in Anthro's sales room (although in Edmonton, it's an itty-bitty sales 'closet'). Originally priced at $138, I found it for just $40. Score! I think it's quite charming and will be a great topper for when I want to cover my arms at work. Pesky air conditioning.

Happy Wednesday friends! Hope you're getting to wear ALL of your spring finds! Lucky bums. ;)

xoxo Dajana

p.s. Sorry for the scant postings this past week. I was in a car accident, suffered some whiplash and needed some attending to by my friendly neighbourhood chiropractor, acupuncturist and massage therapist.  They're fixin' me up and I'm bound to be as good as new once they've done all of their adjusting, needling and massaging.  I truly heart alternative therapies and solid practioners.

p.s.s. Will soon be responding to all of you who commented on my pillow post. I haven't forgotten you!