Wanderlust: Hawaii Holiday

 Hawaii was magical and unforgettable.

The beautiful landscape, the inviting beaches, the towering palm trees and the smell of the salt ocean air draws you into another world - this is truly paradise. Hawaii is a place to experience with all the senses and it's is so picturesque that it's hard to take a bad photo.

There was only one week to fit all of our excursions in and the island is quite large, so make do with the time that you have. Here are my top 5 places that I’ve enjoyed and I hope you will find helpful too:

 1. Snorkel at Hanuama Bay – This was a local’s recommendation and I highly suggest you make this one of your top spots. Make sure you get here early because the crowds swarm in at 9am and scare away the fishes. Go further out and you might see a turtle. We bought an underwater camera with film (they still make these things!), but I recommend renting a go-pro for better quality photos and video.

2. Sushi - Eat sushi to your heart's content. I had sushi almost every day but I'm a fanatic. I recommend Suntory for traditional Japanese meals (it reminded me of the meals I would have in Japan) but I also enjoyed Doraku Sushi and Island Vintage Coffee for their Ahi Poke Bowl. The Poke bowl is made up of raw fish, seasonings,  and rice and feature the freshest fish in Hawaii. I have cravings for them ever since I've been back.

3.  Luau – I really enjoyed myself at a Luau. We went to the Chief's Luau and it's full of narrative, jokes, fire throwers and Hula dancers set against a beautiful backdrop. We had a feast of pit roasted pig, purple taro bread and local Hawaiian cuisine.

4. Diamond Head Crater - We got up early in the morning to hike all the way up the crater. Once the sun is overhead, it makes it harder to climb to the top and the trail gets overcrowded with people. The hike is worth it once you reach the top, and the reward is the spectacular views of the island.

5. Pali Lookout – We took a day excursion around Honolulu and we stopped at Pali lookout. This is such a beautiful lookout point, with panoramic views of O’ahu. This is quite breathtaking and the photos do not capture the natural beauty. Also, ladies, you’ll need to hold onto your skirts as it's extremely windy here.

Wanderlust: Santa Barbara and my Top 5

Last year I was lucky to get in some time to travel to the beautiful beaches of Santa Barbara. It's still cold and wintery in Toronto, so what better way to look back at my California trip than today.

Here are my top 5 things to do in Santa Barbara:

1. Butterfly Beach- this beach is away from the main downtown area so you can enjoy your time away from the crowd. Sometimes you might run into tourists with their cameras if you decide to photo shoot on this beach. While I was messing around with this billowy scarf, 2 Japanese tourists started taking my photo. Erm, kind of embarrassing.

2. Rent a Bike Cruiser- The best possible way to cover ground and see all of the beaches on foot would be to rent a bike cruiser for a few hours. Its fun and you get great exercise, especially if you can make it up the peak for the great view of the harbor. I recommend taking some sandwiches and snacks for the rest stops.

3. Pool hopping- Hands down, the Bacara resort has the most beautiful pool to dip your toes in. You won’t be disappointed with their picturesque pool especially when the sun starts to set.

1. High Tea at the Four Seasons Biltmore- A beautiful view of the ocean from the patio and sweeping fabric from the indoor courtyard remind me a Moroccan villa. I recommend the High Tea just so you spend a few hours soaking up the beauty of this place and the excellent service. You definitely need to spoil yourself here.

 5. Farmer’s market- Sunday’s are not complete without checking out the market for the colorful fruit and vegetables, picking up a bundle of Gerber flowers, and fresh herbs for homemade tea.

A few other places that didn’t quite make the cut, but are still worthy to check out:
• walking down State Street, the heart of the city
• the new public market for fresh and organic meals
• getting Mexican food at Playa Azul or Superica

For my most recent adventures and studio happenings, please follow me on instagram @loveatfirstblush.

Craft Show

November flew by too quickly for me to write up a blog post. I just wrapped up a quick trip out west to Vancouver for the Make It! Craft show. It was our first time planning and setting up for a large 10 x 5 feet booth and it wasn't as daunting as I had imagined it to be.

I kept everything quite minimal and simple so it would be an easy set up and take down, with a black and white theme to match our branding. We also got access to electricity so I used this to our advantage, adding some vintage looking globe lights to make it look romantic, like an outside patio or garden dripping with lights.

It was nice to be back in Vancouver for a few days, you Vancouverites are so chill and sweet. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table for the 4 days we were there. The other side of my job that I love, (besides designing and creating), is meeting and talking to all of the people that support local crafters and Canadian makers. You are the kindest and sweetest people that I have ever had a chance to meet and it makes my job so much more fulfilling, and the reason why I love to do these shows.

xoxo,
Sabrina

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Road Trip

Taking some downtime this past long August weekend with friends at the cottage to explore the beautiful countryside. We took a fun road trip into Collingwood and made a stop at Blue Mountain village to hike up some trails. We managed to make it up to the top of the mountain to some spectacular views.

The sunsets and fields of wildflowers in the country side are so picturesque. I think road trips should be a monthly essential.
 

Travel Plans: Buying Trip

We're headed to Los Angeles this week to check out the markets and gather inspiration for our 2015 collection. A buying trip usually involves researching upcoming trends, buying product samples and taking photos for inspiration. I like to find most of my inspiration from vintage stores and flea markets as these places have the most unique pieces and details that I can incorporate in my sketches and designs.

I've been wanting to check out the Rose Bowl Flea Market for the longest time. It falls on every second Sunday and we just missed it last August when we traveled to Las Vegas for the MAGIC trade show.

I'll be posting more photos from our instagram feed. Follow us if you want an inside look at our finds from our travel diary: @loveatfirstblush

San Bernadino mountains

Seascapes

Visiting the Aquarium for a few hours is a nice getaway from the city. Underwater landscapes make me wish for warm weather and tropical beaches. Beautiful colors of coral and tropical fish at the Toronto Aquarium inspire new ideas and organic shapes. It's nice to step inside here and marvel at the sheer size of the sharks or be hypnotized by the tiniest jelly fish beating their bell shaped bodies into the water.

It's like journeying to a new world.

View from Here

2013 finished with a frenzy of wholesale and holidays orders I could barely keep up with. Christmas is hands down the busiest time but I managed to escape for a much needed break to Vancouver; a good time to relax and be inspired. Every time I fly into the YVR airport, I am reminded of how beautiful Vancouver really is. The ocean, the mountains and the sun just dipping behind the horizon, takes my breath away.

I was lucky to travel at sunset and we were chasing the sun all the way from Toronto to Vancouver. The sun was painting the sky a beautiful changing palette of colors.

California Sun

Playing on Butterfly Beach with this fringed cape I bought in Las Vegas. I styled them with my favorite turquoise feather earrings from my online shop.  It felt very Bohemian with feather earrings and flowers in our hair.

The drive through Malibu up to Santa Barbara was beautiful and picturesque. Every beach has a different vibe, a different feeling.

Postcards from Los Angeles

There's nothing like a California sunset to breathe new inspiration into our next collection. The warmth of the city and the relaxed atmosphere has been greatly welcomed these past few days.

I love California beach culture- the grungy rock influence of Venice beach or the fun ambiance of Santa Monica pier.

Eating fish tacos, Thai iced tea on the beach, feeling the sand between our toes while the sun sets, or catching a midnight rickshaw ride with friends are these unforgettable moments.

Wanderlust: Las Vegas, Nevada

Missing my early flight in the morning, I almost didn't make it to Vegas.

Fortunately I was booked on a later flight and I arrived in Vegas to the sound of chiming bells from the slot machines. It was hot and humid, but the excitement of this place made me forget the weather. After all, its one of the cities that never sleeps. This year, I decided it would be the perfect opportunity to walk the trade show and check out the Sourcing section at Magic.

Every morning, I would get up early to watch the sunrise from our Wynn hotel room and watch the golden light spill over the mountains. The view is nothing short of beautiful. And you know that saying, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? Yes it rings true.