I had meant to post this days ago. But somehow summer gets in the way, or at least, trying to enjoy the last days of it. I'm not looking forward to summer leaving- I feel like I haven't even begun to enjoy it! On the few days that M and I were able to get out together, we made sure to make the most of every moment. Last weekend, we took a small trip to Iona Beach. It felt like a small getaway or escape. This summer has honestly been a test of patience for us. M is a teacher and because of the strike, we have no idea when he'll be going back to work. Also because of that, we've been forced to stay home...no vacations in the budget for us. It becomes taxing emotionally, especially in a city that doesn't take time to slow down. Fortunately, there are many little escapes nearby and Iona Beach is one of those. We spent the evening wandering the shores, collecting driftwood, and staring out into the vast, endless ocean. Somehow, whenever we go to the beach, I'm transported back to the prairies, where I can see for miles and my heart becomes content (even if just for a moment). I long for peaceful days of wandering and I love that I receive that when going to the ocean. Here's to more peaceful days for September! (If this strike ever ends).

It's hard to believe July is already over and we're already well into August! Summer is going quickly and I'm not ready to accept that it's half over... It truly is my favourite season and I think July has always been my favourite month. The moods of summer capture me- the slow, relaxed attitude that everything seems to hold, the intense sunbeams that wash over you, and the way everything is thriving, especially in nature. It inspires me to thrive and live more in every moment of each day. I often find that winter forces me to just get through day after day with a lot of struggle and while I still have internal struggle in the summer, those outside sunny influences help me to live a little better through them. So here's what's been keeping me busy this July:

From the top // 1. So many beach days. We try and find any reason to go. I'm going on my second year living in a place that has such quick access to a beach and I'm trying to take advantage of it as often as I can! // 2 + 3. Speaking of beach days, I started off July by celebrating my 25th birthday on the beach! And, while everyone is usually disappeared on vacation during my birthday, I did get to celebrate with a couple close friends. We ate cake and enjoyed the sunshine- it was all I needed. // 4 + 5. M and I have been trying to get as many date days in as we can. It's been a little harder than we initially had planned because of the whole teacher-on-strike situation. He had originally planned to teach summer school and have the afternoons off, but we've enjoyed a few good weekends together to go on dates. These model shots were from our date in North Van to celebrate our 1 year anniversary! It was simple and sweet. // 6. Also on our anniversary, we made sure to stop by our favourite dessert place ever, Sweet Revenge. This place is phenomenal and very special for us. We've been going there for tasty treats from the very beginnings of our relationship. // 7. I've been making lots of yummy treats, including this massive + delicious pancake (dutch baby) which I shared on TCC blog. // 8. Coffee drinking and recipe planning galore. // 9. Planning and painting so many new projects! Keep your eyes out for more on this in the coming month :)

 I love new challenges- I think that's part of why I love being an artist...there are always a variety of ideas being thrown my way and so many new beginnings to different projects. I was asked recently if I would consider doing a dog portrait. I actually had never considered this idea before, but after pondering it for a while, I started to get excited about the possibilities! She didn't give me many boundaries in design which is always my favourite kind of project. :)

 This specific pet portrait was to commemorate Felix, her dog, who passed away suddenly. From the pictures I saw, he seemed like such a sweet little thing. I got the sense that he was playful and fun. She told me that he loved playing outdoors with sticks, so I wanted to include elements of nature in the design.

 Halfway into painting, I was feeling so frustrated with how Felix was turning out. I was even considering just starting over. I just felt a bit of pressure to represent him well and wasn't sure that it was going to happen. And with watercolour, once it's painted, there's not much you can do to change things. Luckily, I pushed through and kept at it...and before I knew it, I was thrilled with how he was coming together. So, just goes to show, if you work hard at it, you never know what can happen! There. Cliche inspirational quotes are always a good way to end a post.