I hold onto summer as long as I can. Here in Canada is goes by so quickly and I am savouring every second in August because I know those crisp fall nights are approaching soon. I do love fall fashion; a cozy knit, a suede coat, fall boots, I love it all - but I also love to wear my summer clothes as long as I can and often will transition my favourite pieces into fall.

This month I am loving white cotton summer dresses, pretty summer knits, cotton white pants with sweet ruffle details, fun print head scarves, my white levi’s overalls, and any excuse to wear my hunter boots. My endless summer wardrobe right now feels very coastal grandmother meets lake house lover (I think I just made that one up and I kinda love it!)

Here is my endless summer edit, for dinner at the lake house, for strolling through coastal towns eating ice cream, and for days spent at the farmers market to find fresh ingredients for a peach pie and then having a glass of wine on the patio watching the sunset.

The Thea sun hat from Wyeth is everything! I cannot wait to wear this at the lake this month. They just restocked this beauty and you can use my code Ana15 for 15% off

I dream about this Doen dress, pair it with a icy blue cashmere sweater and its the perfect end of summer look.

How cute are these hair clips from ALV, the perfect coastal summer accessories.

I love these white ruffle pants from Kitteny, such an easy and effortless styling piece. Perfect for a beach day to drinks on the patio at night look.

I am not usually big on robes but I would definitely change my mind for this one! It is the perfect blue stripe and that has been my thing for a long time now. I found one similar from a brand called Tekla and now I am in love with everything that they make.

This beach set from h&m is so beautiful!

I am loving hair scarves this summer and this one from Wyeth is so beautiful.

The sweetest top from Doen. I would wear this with overalls and a sun hat.

I love this long sleeve striped shirt from Maggie Marilyn, an easy summer staple.

This cutie dress from La Maregold, I have so many in this style but they are such an easy instant outfit.

This dreamy pink cardigan from Sezane, is a perfect summer to fall transition piece.

How incredible is this sheer dress - I am loving the sheer trend this summer and this is such a cool look the Courtney Grow put together.

This Daily Drills workout set is so good, I am back to my running routine and really loving matching sets.

I hope you love my end of summer picks! Now I am off to a week away at the lake, a lake outfit roundup is coming soon…

xo Ana

I miss sharing my seasonal routines, the things I cherish doing to mark a season. This is something I talked about a lot on my old podcast and since I love sharing about these seasonal shifts here is my August guide. This is not a season shift per se as we are still in the midst of summer, but it is a time that I start to feel that fall chill in the evenings after a very hot day. A little glimpse of what is to come and what is around the corner. Now here me out, I am not the type of person who starts to talk about fall this early, I am a summer girl always! But I do want to share all the ways I will be soaking up these sweet summer days in August. Everything is in full bloom, my cosmo flowers that I planted in my flower box at the end of May are coming through now and even my tomatoes are almost ready to harvest!

Produce

This is an amazing time to frequent the farmers market. Right now you will find an abundance of peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, blackberries, raspberries, watermelon, honeydew, sweet corn, tomatoes, figs, eggplant, summer squash and much more.

Here are some of my favourite recipes featuring August produce:

Creamy vegan white pasta with summer vegetables from minimalist baker

Peach pie recipe from preppy kitchen

Sweet corn recipes from love and lemons

Lemon poppyseed loaf cake with lavender from preppy kitchen

Mustard greed cherry salad with nut cheese & tahini dressing from minimalist baker

Places

Since we are staying local this summer I wanted to share my favourite hidden gems in Ontario to visit in August. Also some honourable mentions if you are up for some traveling.

The 1000 islands

This is the area that my in-laws live and it’s really so beautiful anytime of year but especially in the peak summer. I love going to a little village on the St.Lawrence called Rockport. It’s a really charming place to walk around and grab a drink on the patio at the Boathouse Country Inn.

Give me a farmers market, a lake and beachy cabin and I am set for the summer! One of my favourite farmers market in the 1000 island area is Tincap Berry Farm. They have the best seasonal produce, local jams and flowers, farm fresh eggs and sourdough. It’s my happy place and I go anytime I am visiting the area.

I love historical museums and one that I have really wanted to visit is The Thousand Islands boat museum where you can learn about the river history. You can also take a boat tour which is the perfect summer activity.

And if you love charming Victorian b&b’s may I recommend The Woodview Inn in Gananoque. We went for dinner there on our honeymoon and not only was the restaurant gorgeous I also had my favourite pasta meal I have ever had there. This would be the perfect August night out!

Here are my honourable mentions of places I would love to visit and stay in the summer!

The Charlotte Inn in Martha’s Vineyard

The Widener Company’s guest cottage in Wiscasset, Maine

The Evangeline Hotel in Nova Scotia

Products

I like to keep things minimal in August and focus on spending my money on farmers market produce and the occasional glass of wine on a patio by the lake. But if I am treating myself then these are some gorgeous summer finds I would go for!

I have the Saia highlighter and it’s become a summer staple! I love using natural beauty and makeup products always.

The blush stick from Primaly Pure looks so dreamy and I love how natural the brand is and they have a great podcast too!

Lately I have been buying the Bask pinot grigio and its 0 grams of sugar which is amazing!

The Wyeth bandana is a summer must, looks so cute as a head scarf, neck tie or tied on a tote bag.

I love this Janessa Leone sun hat, higher price point but really amazing quality and a classic, makes me feel like taking a trip to Martha’s Vineyard.

Everything from Doen looks great in the summer!

The brightland olive oil pairs great with all your high summer meals and also has such pretty branding.

You can find a lot of my favourites links over on my shopmy! Which I update frequently.

I hope you enjoyed my guide to August! Let’s savour these summer nights and have the most beautiful and inspiring month.

xo Ana

I have been planning this shoot with my dear friend and photographer Rose for a while and we were just waiting on a perfect weather day and we finally found that day! I have been dreaming of this for so long, especially after doing maternity shoots, there is something just so sweet and special about taking photos with your baby - it’s so much more meaningful than any other shoot I have done. I loved the idea of a field with stunning golden hour light and Rose knew of the perfect farm location for this idea.

Here is my mood board:

For the styling I knew I wanted to wear Hunter boots and found the perfect pair on facebook marketplace (near Kingston when we were visiting family, always have the best facebook market finds). I also wanted to find some bloomers for the look I had in mind, leaning into a garden girl look. And of course I had to add a head scarf to complete the vision! For Caleb I ordered some cute pieces from Roobear Kids, I loved the blue gingham pants he wore, it ever so subtlety matched my bloomers.

The whole shoot very much felt like a shoot Pamela Anderson has done in her garden which was exactly the aesthetic we wanted to achieve. We really wanted the beauty of nature and the farm to come through and capture these sweet moments with Caleb. I will cherish these photos and love that it marks the first year of motherhood.

What we wore:

Hunter Boots from facebook marketplace, but you can find a new pair here.

These cute bloomers shorts from Revolve.

This Wyeth cashmere scarf.

This pretty floral satin dress from For Love & Lemons.

A white knit sweater and white cotton blouse from H&M.

The gingham pants from Roobear Kids and a t-shirt from The Gap for Caleb.

This year I am being intentional about checking-in on what I still want to accomplish by the end of the year. Usually I am distracted by my favourite season, planning summer shoots and dinner parties, travelling and spending time on the lake - the last two years it was two summer wedding celebrations and having a summer baby. But this year I am looking into the things I set out at the beginning of the year. Truthfully it has been hard to keep up with my goals, I have only recently stuck to a solid running routine even though I promised myself I would be consistently working out every week. Having a now toddler takes up 90% of my time during the day and I find myself trying to find glimmers of moments for working out, preparing bottles, teaching classes in the early mornings and keeping up with my creative work (auditions and costume design). It is the reason I still have not updated my etsy account with my new vintage brand. I know I know, it was ambitious to think I could easily add an online shop to my never ending to-do list. And the moments I do have some free time I feel overwhelmed with all the things that have piled up and then I sit on the couch, coffee in hand, and scroll away watching other people achieving their goals.

I naively thought that I would in fact be able to do it all when I had a baby, I thought I could be one of those cool mother entrepreneurs that seem to start and run multiple cool brands after having a baby. They do exist, I have listened to their tales on many a podcast episode while I take Caleb out for a walk. And I wonder if they have a nanny or maybe daycare to help with the day-to-day (the answer is yes). However it is done I know that I can work harder to better organize my time.

It is forcing me to be less of a perfectionist and also include Caleb in what I am doing. I go for a run and I bring him in the stroller, need to get an audition done so I prep during his naps (or should I say nap as he only does one which has been like this for months now haha) and when either of us (my husband and I) need to really focus we take turns. Checking-in has been more of a reflection on how we can work harder to create systems that will make things easier for us and for me working on creating more over consuming less! And when I really reflect I know I can work harder to streamline my life, I can find ways to work through my ADHD tendencies, and I can go out and be the villager so I can create that village.

I also want to give myself grace, taking care of a new baby is a full time job, it is the best job you can have, it is my greatest prayer come true, it is everything I wanted and it is still hard, and all so worth it.

So let’s check in!

Career

I don’t share all the details on what I am working on in my career, I have always been a show don’t tell kind of person when it comes to what I’m working towards. I am not a build in public kind of gal, I think that could be done right with the right person, but for me it wouldn’t be authentic. I wrote down a couple career goals at the beginning of the year and I have yet to realize them. This is not from lack of trying! This is mostly from timing and working in an industry that is so unpredictable and so much out of your own control. I will share an encouraging story, a little wink from God I received recently. I have been in the waiting phase for any big career moments and have been frustrated, in that frustration I asked God to show me what my purpose was. The only thing I got back was to pray more, so at least this I could do and have been trying to do more of. That same day I received two auditions, which was incredible because it has been a very slow month for me and this definitely felt like a confirmation. I did not book them haha but it was a great confirmation and I know how far I have come in this career and how amazing it is to even get to audition for amazing projects. I am leaving the rest up to God, his timing and for him to place me where I need to be.

Fitness and wellness

I also had a naive idea of getting back into shape postpartum. I knew it would take some work but I also thought it would be an easy road for me. I was so wrong! I developed diastasis recti in this pregnancy, basically my muscles splitting, and mine was quite extreme. Because of this it has been incredibly hard to get my waist back to what it was. I have tried the breathing exercises, the postpartum pilates, physiotherapy and even tried a personal trainer (so not for me!) and I am still struggling with it. I have always been a runner, even running track in high school, so I made a commitment to run at least 4-5 times a week. I know this won’t necessarily address my diastasis recti but it has put me back into a workout routine which is something I really needed!

Home

I have been dreaming of a country home for so long and I truly can’t believe we are still living in the city, but for some reason we are still here. While I dream and plan and search for our next move I am intentionally finding gratitude for the things I do like about where we are. We are in walking distance to my favourite farmers market and favourite community in Toronto, so we really try to spend time there and weekly go to the farmers market! There is a really amazing park right beside our home which has been amazing for Caleb, it has a water park for him and a track for me to use for running, we love it and it really is the best thing about where we live. I also just found the cutest market behind our home called Broadfolk Produce, it is so charming and artisanal, they have farm flowers, seasonal fruits and veggies, local jams and even a little coffee bar. It’s also so cute in there and really makes me feel like we are in a small town, I just love it!

Here are some things I have been implementing to help me achieve my goals for the next 6 months. Gamifying my to-do list. I have realized that with my ADHD I have to get creative in how I create pressure to finish tasks, creating specific environments and making it into a fun game has been really helpful. For example I downloaded the strava app to track my running, so when I am out for a run I set a goal of completing a 5k run and I can watch my progress in real time. I also pick an uplifting podcast episode to listen to instead of music, this helps me feel like I am learning things during my run or hearing an inspiring story - extra motivation to keep me going.

Another thing I did which sounds so simple but really helps me is buy a really beautiful planner. It had to be beautiful because I knew it would encourage me to use it, I just love and am inspired by beauty so knowing that I wanted to make my daily planning into a beautiful experience. I will have a morning coffee and pull out my planner and it has become a calming daily practice.

Another thing I want to try is designating certain days of the week to a specific goal. This would be like assigning Tuesdays to etsy listings for my vintage shop, or having certain days where I commit to releasing a substack article. I know that time blocking doesn’t work for me but breaking things up into days seems to make more sense for how I accomplish goals in the week. Along with that I want to create more and spend less time perfecting it. Perfectionism and worrying what others think of what I create has really slowed me down, and I want to work on creating more in the next 6 months and refining later.

Thank you for reading about my mid year check-in! For some extra motivation I will share some of the podcast episodes I have listened to recently during my runs!

Everything is the best podcast: How an ICU nurse built a million-dollar brand This episode was so inspiring for any new moms that want to start a brand and find the courage to go for it!

The Mother Daze podcast: The Great RV escape: the mayhem, the madness, the magic! This podcast is specifically inspiring to me because it shows what an adventurous life with kids can look like. Teresa Palmer is an actress and hosts this podcast with Sarah Wright Olsen, and they both have successful careers and happy homes with lots of kids. It is a great reminder to me that you can create the life you desire with a family and make it fun!

The Rich Roll podcast: The King of Moab, ultrarunner Max Jolliffe on winning Moab 240, recovering from heroin addiction and why suffering is his greatest teacher this episode was so inspiring to hear how you really can change your life no matter how difficult it was, and how running is something alot of people turn to to get through hard times.

Hope you find a little encouragement today, I am rooting for you!

xo Ana

I have been a lover and curator of vintage for so long and even sold pieces when I had my Topanga Moon shop. And being in the fashion space as a stylist and costume designer, with a deep knowledge and appreciation of antiques and vintage, it really feels so natural to be launching a vintage brand. This time I wanted to create something with more intention and a strong aesthetic world behind it, something that I hope will expand into a future category that I have been quietly working on behind the scenes. This vintage shop feels like an effortless extension of everything I already love and create, the style that I have been living in and the dreamy world that I already build. It’s elegant, romantic, coastal and Victorian - it’s finding the perfect antique cotton nightgown and wearing it as a beach cover-up on the Adriatic!

The name Margot Rose Vintage didn’t come to me right away. I wanted a name that evoked the muse I had in my mind, the woman I envisioned who collected these pieces and mixed them with her classics in her wardrobe. I have always loved and been inspired by the style of Sienna Miller, Brigitte Bardot and the french it-girls. That effortlessly cool and unique style that has the perfect balance of vintage and classic. Margot is a french feminine name with a Greek origin that translates to Pearl. Pearl is my birthstone representing the month of June, my favourite month as a summer girl. And pearl is an organic gem that represents femininity and rarity, this idea of a rare organic gem that you keep forever in your wardrobe. I have always loved roses and they also represent beauty and femininity, so the name Rose felt right to include. In my imagined world Margot Rose lives in the south of France at a gorgeous french farmhouse, has a stunning collection of vintage and antiques, vacations on an island in Croatia (of course) and loves hosting friends at her whimsical dinner parties.

For the launch campaign shoot of the vintage shop I was so lucky to work with my friend and brilliant photographer Katie Harrison and we shot the photos at my other dear friend Marissa’s (of Field Daisy Studio) gorgeous farmhouse! I am so in love with the photos, Katie captured the essence of the collection perfectly and we had such a fun time creating this shoot. Katie’s aesthetic was beyond perfection for showing a visual diary of Margot Rose, it’s everything I envisioned and more!!

I will be dropping different collections every couple weeks, with the first drop The French Farmhouse on Tuesday May 26th at 2:00pm est on @margotrosevintage The collection will then be added to Etsy.

I hope you love this shop as much as I do, I know it will be so hard to part with some of these pieces but I am so excited for them to find their forever closets.

xoxo Ana

Finally! We are in Spring. But if you know me you know that I would much rather skip straight to summer, I am a summer girl for life - born in the summer, got married in the summer and had my first baby in the summer. But I am trying to embrace this time and the rainy days in to really plant the seeds for everything I am working on for summer. I am finally re-launching my vintage shop in May! This is something I have wanted to do for a while now and have been collecting for so long, I cannot wait to share everything I have for the shop. I will also be selling some home goods like baskets, antique plates and tea cups, linens and vases. The shop will mostly focus on clothing and I am even going to be offering vintage bundles. I still haven’t pinned down a name for the shop, there is a name I am saving for a future endeavour so I am trying to come up with something that will go with that name and live in the same world - more to come on that!

I have another summer project in the works but will only start to share about it when it is more finalized. I love sharing snippets of my work but I always wait until plans are in motion and I am out of the idea phase. I want to find that balance of sharing the process while also keeping some things until the time is right. Maybe I am a little superstitious or maybe it is because I have so many ideas and change my mind, but I know I just need to follow what feels right for me.

This spring has also challenged me in many ways, trying to find the balance taking care of my now 10 month old while trying to build my career and audition at the same time. A creative life and freelance life is not for the faint of heart, especially when you are a new mom. Stability is something I now crave and can’t seem to acquire no matter how many work-from-home job applications I send out. This reality has actually forced me to follow more of my creative experience and create the structure within my own work. With all the job loss from AI and the current job market climate there is no other options than to pursue your dreams fully - no plan B in sight, so it’s time to make bold moves and carve out your own creative space.

My April Favourites

This spring I have been leaning into vintage, thrifting similar items I have saved for a while. An example that there may be a vintage version out there of the item you are craving!

I really wanted this white cotton eyelet dress from ASOS and I found a very similar version at an antique/vintage shop.

If I were to invest in some pieces right now this is what I would be buying! Right now I am loving the brand Hill House and very into the southern coastal or Nantucket style, feminine ruched dresses, linen sets, and charming prints and stripes with a big sun hat!

The brands I am loving for this style and in the mood board are: Hill House, Doen, Laneway the Label, Cyd Morris for Dillards, Gap and Lack of Color. You can find the items link in my ShopMy!

Interiors

I am on an old home design, interior design kick right now and love all things home! I am saving all the inspo for my future Victorian farmhouse that I have been praying for. Here are some creators I am loving right now in this space.

Widener Co. and Alexander Widener.

Alexander is one of my favourite creators right now, he is always sharing stories around antiques and his shop Widener. His story is so amazing, relocating to a charming coastal Maine town to open a shop and guest cottage. His tiktoks are so wonderful and full of tours through historic towns, antique knowledge and new shop goods. I love his classic Americana style and the darling baskets he sells in the shop.

Margo Roth

I just discovered this designer/creator and love her country/cottage whimsical style. I love a historic and collected home full of textures and prints. It is nice to see a more maximalist approach to interior style that has that charming English cottage feel. She also has great diy’s and links to affordable home decor and clothing.

True Tales from Old Houses

One of my favourite podcast’s on design and old houses is True Tales for Old Houses. The host Stacy lives in a charming old home that she has lovingly restored, teaches a course on window restoration and brings on guests in the old house world covering all kinds of topics for old house lovers. It’s a feel-good easy listen and if you love old homes has so much valuable information on restoration.

Labode

Labode is my favourite new Canadian shop I discovered that has the most beautiful collection of old and new home goods. Their branding is also gorgeous and I want everything they list in their shop. Their retail shop is located in Calgary but you can shop their selection online. They have such a good eye for timeless design and carefully curate the most divine pieces.

This is everything I am loving and dreaming about right now as I prepare for my favourite upcoming season. I will be launching my vintage shop in May, follow my instagram for the updates and a giveaway!

xo, Ana

Do you ever peruse realtor and find a perfect old home and then immediately start renovating it in your mind? Yes, me too! If you are anything like me, a lover of old homes and interior styling, then this would be a weekly occurrence. So I decided to start a series around this design love, “if this old home were mine…”

Old homes have a soul, an essence about them that are just not quite the same as the new builds today. The craftsmanship has changed, the materials, the uniqueness - everything that brings an old home to life. They are markers of time for me, a reminder of era’s past and all the life that was lived in those walls. Maintaining the integrity and sometimes bringing the old home closer to its original is so important to me. I want to preserve old windows and floors, bring in antiques that match the time while thoughtfully bringing in new elements like a fresh coat of paint and a brand new cozy white slip cover couch (because it’s so much cozier than antique ones ha).

The Home

Here is the old home I fell in love with this week, it’s located in Prince Edward County, 100 plus years old - and yes it is for sale!

The Design

It has some really good bones but for me personally it is a little too modern and needs a lived in, storied and intentionally designed look. I would love to bring that fire place back to more of a period appropriate look, take out the wood panel ceilings and add beams or expose the rafters, bring in some lighter elements in the kitchen, add design to the laundry room and re-design the bathroom. I would also love to bring in antiques, here is the aesthetic I think would work so well in this home.

Shopping list:

Here is a list of items I think would be perfect for this home and bring It back to a more classic and historic feel.

1. This gorgeous antique cabinet is from Olive Ateliers.

2. These gorgeous ruffled pillows are from Etsy.

3. I love these chairs from Olive Ateliers new collection.

4. How special are these hand painted tiles! From Malborough Tiles.

5. I love these hand woven baskets from the cutest shop in Maine called Widener Company.

6. How sweet is this lamp, perfect for the kitchen! From an Etsy shop.

7. I love this ottoman from Lulu and Georgia.

8. I found this vintage egg basket from the Beaumont Mill Antiques.

9. I love this cute farmhouse inspired bedsheets from American Charm.

10. This gorgeous antique piece is from Sylvie.

Now I really cannot wait to design my own home! Can’t wait to share more from this series, watch the full video on tik tok.

xoxo Ana

I know it says Sunday Saves and should be posted on a Sunday but alas that is new mom life. I truly do not know how some mom’s make it all look so easy, I can maybe get one thing extra done a day, maybe, and working out is not one of them - which I know should be on the list! It also is hard to keep up with the content game, we are asked to move so quickly and produce so much to be able to be seen and have momentum. I love creating but I find it hard to keep up with the demand and also difficult to see all the hours put into something and seeing very little growth from it all. Sometimes I think it’s because I am an old soul; I am better in long format, long conversations in person and with art that takes time to create. Maybe this is where my affinity for the Victorian era comes from, I was meant to be writing by candlelight wearing corsets and petticoats and longing by the windowsill.

Has content diluted our intellectual pursuits? Most likely… I cannot remember the last time I went to the library to gather information, probably in University. Now chatgpt has all the answers at our fingertips. This isn’t all bad, I use it quite frequently, especially when I am second guessing myself with new mom questions. But I do crave the days we spent more time connecting, learning from our village, experiencing life without the constant need for documentation.

Now how about we get to the good stuff, the reason you may be reading this in the first place…Sunday Saves.

These are all the things I am loving, coveting, and wanting to add to my wardrobe along with some cultural commentary.

Here is my list of everything I am craving for Spring:

This Doen shirt and dress

Gorgeous corset by handmade brand The Coult

This incredible Canadian designer Le Febour, this butter yellow bag is everything!

Just discovered this new influencer brand that is actually so intentional and cute (I don’t typically like influencer brands but this one seems thoughtful and has quality), I love their robes and they just launched, called weekend sleepover.

This trench coat from Lioness is high on my list.

I need a good summer hat and this one is called my name from Lack of Color.

I love this cotton dress from Laneway the label, it looks so Victorian.

I have been wanting one of these pleated Lorna Murray hats for so long, it’s so hard to pick out a favourite!

For Love and Lemons did a collab with Library Science and this book bag is so darling.

Find this full list of spring favourites on my Shopmy!

Wuthering Heights and thoughts on creativity

Ive realized something in art creation, often you have to be in a lane and deliver whats expected, sometimes there is little room for multi-passionates. For example I just did a pitch session for a script I wrote and the character in the story is a fashion styling assistant but also crosses mediums - I think of someone like Leanne Ford, she was a stylist turned interior designer turned magazine editor and so much more. But in this storytelling format the criticism was to keep the character in a box of one creative pursuit, which I think doesn’t represent the complexity of creative expression. And audiences will get it, we don’t need to simplify and hand things over on a spoon, even in the Hallmark world. I see this same idea for the new movie adaptation of Wuthering Heights. Some people loved the movie and some people hated it - they wanted the film to be closer to the source material, they wanted an expected outcome and couldn’t see all the nuance and complexity I could see watching it (or maybe they simply didn’t like it which is so valid). I saw one criticism of the film being that it was for an audience that wanted aesthetic, since when did aesthetics become a bad thing? I want to watch something beautiful in every frame, I want to be seduced into this gorgeous world while also recognizing the immense symbolism used in both the set design and the wardrobe. Even the choice to create somewhat of a movie soundstage like they had in early cinema was a symbolic choice. Safe to say I did love the film and thought it was hauntingly beautiful and dove into destructive love, longing and the lengths one will go to for it all - a very Victorian love.

Although my pitch wasn’t successful in moving to the next phase I appreciated the notes I was given and recognize that it wasn’t meant to go down this specific path. It is very hard to put yourself out there creatively and even harder when you are a new mom, so I am happy that I am still finding spaces to do so. This was also a lesson in surrender for me, to lean into God’s path and ask for his guidance for my career - even when I don’t understand it in the moment.

So if you are in the waiting season right now (for anything) I see you. It’s a season I am currently in with my career, with the success I desire and with the creative fulfilment I long for. The season that is testing me to be patient while I watch other’s realize dreams, the season that has me creating mood boards of my dream home until I can afford to move on it and the season I work through my vulnerability of trying more and failing faster.

It also reminds me how lucky I am to already have the majority of the desires of my heart - I am healthy, I am so happy being a new mother to the greatest boy that is beyond my dreams and I am married to my person. And it’s true that those are the things that really matter, I have my greatest dreams already and I thank God for them everyday.

Whatever season you are in - whether it be career or family, health or happiness, peace or passion - just know that whatever is on your heart is there for a reason, it is meant for you and the “unpredictable journey of our life can turn out better than we ever expected.” (that was actually the last line of my pitch, felt very fitting here!)

xo Ana

Hello 2026!

It’s interesting I usually have a feeling going into a year, like in the beginning of 2025 I had feeling that I would be changed because I knew it was the year I was going to have my baby. But for this year I don’t have a strong feeling towards what the year will bring, if anything it feels open like it could move in many different directions. The one thing I do know and I keep going back to is this desire to build my confidence and finally let go of worrying about what others think of me. I am a people pleaser and can have crippling self doubt and fear of being misunderstood. This has developed more strongly over time, over the years of putting myself out-there creatively and living an artistic life marked by rejection. In my early 20’s I had this innocent naiveté that anything was possible, I took more chances and wasn’t as afraid to look new. I want to get back to that version, the one that took those big leaps and made things happen. I want to feel CONFIDENT and really feel it not in a performative way but in an embodied way.

I don’t want to create what others want to see or what I think others expect from me, I want to create what I want to see. I don’t want to create for virality and to be liked, I want to create what I want to see.

I had this idea of a beautiful serene idyllic version of postpartum life. I thought that it would be how I became more confident and give less shits (really couldn’t think of another way to say it) what other people thought of me. I thought motherhood would immediately initiate me into the confidence club, like all the cool mothers I see and know - but instead I have felt less sure of myself, perhaps this comes from changing the focus on the self to another human - your own precious baby.

But I know the other side of the life I want for me and my family is the confident version of me. It’s in there, I have sat with her and dreamed with her, so now it’s time to really put this new confidence into practice. I have been praying for this change because I know that the career will follow, the abundance fill follow and the dream Victorian farmhouse will follow. The mothers I admire and look up to all have that thing, the self assured thing, the I gave birth so I know in my bones Im a powerful woman thing. It’s also the thing that leads to authenticity, when you are confident in who you are, what you like and what you came here to do then authenticity follows and so does your magnetism.

“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.” - Louisa May Alcott

The mood board I share here is my vision for 2026. Images that signify to me what I want to create, what I want to align with God on for my life and my family. I’ll share some of those dreams with you here:

• A Victorian farmhouse - to live in the country, to design a home in the style I love, and to create a home that inspires me.

• A short film - I have had an idea for a short for a little while now and I feel like this is the summer to make it.

• More design jobs and to really focus on branding of my portfolio and work.

• I want to book a role in a Hallmark movie. This has been on my list year after year and I have been auditioning for them, so maybe 2026 will be the year it happens?

• I want to ride horses, whether that’s lessons or more times going on trail rides. This is a childhood dream I have always had and I want to make it more a part of my life.

• More prayer and deepen my relationship with God.

• Continue to prioritize being a mom above all, creating my version of that which still cultivates beauty, creativity and travel.

I have a couple other creative ventures and things that have been in the works for a while that I am holding closer. I see so many people launching in real time and taking an audience along for the journey which is really cool but has never been my style. What’s authentic for me is to create behind the scenes and share when I am ready. I haven’t always done that but for these specific projects it feels more aligned and more of a marathon of longevity in the work I want to create.

I plan to share more on this substack this year as well!! I want it to be a digital diary of my work, my musings and the things I am inspired by.

I hope this new year challenges you to be your best version, inspires you to create a dreamy life and blesses you with your hearts desires.

xo Ana

When you hear Scandinavian style do you immediately think minimalism, simplicity, cozy and comfortable “hygge” aesthetics? Some of my favourite fashion influencers are from the nordic countries and they are anything but simple in their style. Think fashion with function, uniqueness and quality and dare I say some quirky elements that make up the scandi style. When I think of scandi style I think of the online it girls, the ones who are always effortlessly cool and can make the simplest pieces look so unique. I also love how they infuse sustainability in their wardrobe, it’s more than intentional - it represents the ethos of the countries they are from.

How to dress like a Scandi girl

1. Create a capsule wardrobe. Scandi style starts with an amazing base filled with quality pieces that last season after season. That perfect pair of jeans, crisp shirts, trousers and an amazing trench coat plus the perfect white tee, preferably boxy. Although these pieces are classic they are anything but simple, amazing tailoring and incredible fabrics make these pieces timeless yet chic and memorable. The scandi capsule wardrobe looks effortlessly cool and can be mix and matched with unique local designers.

2. Add colour and prints. The scandi style definitely leans into neutral tones but they are not afraid to add pops of colour and even some fun quirky prints. Take the popular scandi brand Ganni, they love prints and colours and are into bold style. The key is to make it look like it was thrown together, easy dressing, very in-the-moment and on the move.

3. Function and Sustainability. When it comes to dressing for function its mostly about how the outfits can move from day to night, how they can hop on a bike or brave those long winter days while still looking chic. Long wool coats with cashmere head scarves, comfy sneakers, trench coats and chunky knitwear - pieces that are fashionable but also have function. They also love quality and lean into sustainability by opting for brands using organic cotton, certified silk and brands that are transparent about the fabrics they use.

My favourite scandi influencers to follow!

I hope you enjoy this style series, xo - Ana

The last two months have felt like a turning point in my postpartum, and while I do want to share my journey into motherhood this summer I wanted to chat first about this transition. I am feeling more like myself, my hormones must have levelled out and I finally got my hair dyed and cut after a year of box dying my roots! A blissful feeling any woman can relate to, there truly is nothing like a fresh do. Beyond the hair pick-me-up I have been getting back to working on my creative pursuits - auditions, styled tablescape photoshoots, preparing for an upcoming costume design job etc. Slowly the balance is revealing itself day after day and my husband and I have found a good rhythm of taking care of our favourite little boy.

Amongst this transition I have noticed that I still hold this desire of achieving and a space of being unsatisfied with my work. I love being a new mom, I love my days watching my little baby grow (and grow too fast!) but I also miss parts of myself that was striving for a full creative career. While writing this substack post I read an incredible substack post by Emily Vermillion titled: Are you Achieving or Receiving. This is the kinda post that stops you in your tracks and for me it really helped ease my achieving mind. I am going to link it here if you want to have a read: The Bold Life

In her post she talks about how God calls us to live from a space of abundance, not exhaustion, and how our current culture is obsessed with measuring success by achievement instead of living in a state of receiving. She then goes on to talk about the bible verse 15:5 which is the exact verse that I was guided to when deciding to end my podcast and deepening my relationship with God and not to mention why I named this substack on the vine. Being on the vine means being connected to God’s timing and plans for you, it is abiding in Him and receiving. Reading this felt like a whisper to me, as if he is saying remember you are meant to be on the vine, you are meant to receive not strive. It was a nice reminder for me in this season where all I want to do is strive and push and hustle, yet I am meant to be receiving. Especially when we are nearing the end of the year and I have yet to “achieve” all the goals I have set out for myself this year - can you relate to this? Where in your life are you hustling when you can be trusting and receiving?

Now I want to switch gears and chat about my Sunday Saves, everything I have loved from this past month and what I plan to carry forward in November.

Fashion

I am loving trench coats right now and specifically in a creamy white/beige/butter yellow. I will aways look for vintage options but otherwise this one from the frankie shop is amazing!

Another fashion favourite right now is the Edwardian inspired petticoat skirt, specifically the one from Doen.

This month I have saved so many bridal looks, there is just so many cool girl bridal gowns now and I am loving them all (but I still LOVE my dress the most of course).

Home

As you know I love the art of the tablescape, collecting beautiful tableware and florals for the perfect styled festive table. Here are some items I would love to add to my next design or even add to my home.

This vase from Lulu and Georgia!

I have been looking for french antique planter vases and found some on Etsy.

Wellness/Beauty

Something that has been helping me with my postpartum stomach is red raspberry leaf tea. It helps to contract the uterus and has been an amazing nighttime ritual for me!

Another thing I am always loving is the Living Libations oils, my go-to right now is the rose oil and the sandalwood.

Another thing I am saving right now is anything from flamingo estates. It’s cozy season and their products make me want to stay in with an amazing home cooked meal and wine.

thanks for reading this week’s sunday saves, xo Ana

I am a summer girl through and through but I cannot help but get excited for fall fashion, the layers, the knits, the boots - I just love it. This fall I decided to challenge myself by creating a series on tik tok: 30 days of recreating outfits from Pinterest using my own current wardrobe. I wanted to find a way to look at my closet with fresh eyes, shop my own closet for fall instead of jumping at the current fall trends and buying pieces I don’t need. There is an impulse to buy new items when the seasons change but perhaps you already have everything you need in your wardrobe, and maybe just need some new ideas of freshen up your looks!

Here are some ways that I am shopping my own closet for fall:

1. Pulling out my hero fall pieces. I have a couple gems that are quintessential fall like my free people tan suede moto jacket, my oversized black blazer and a Doen dress. Compiling your favourite go-to fall pieces will help you find ways to re-style them with some of your summer pieces.

2. Using Pinterest to find inspiration. Sometimes it’s not about what you have and more about not knowing how to piece things together. With my challenge I am finding new ways to style pieces - like borrowing a jean shirt from my husband or layering a black long sleeve shirt with my summer white long skirt. It is giving me a new lens to view my wardrobe.

3. Accessories! I have found that I can create fresh takes on my outfits just by mixing up my accessories, like adding a great vintage belt to a silk slip dress or pairing new sunnies from amazon with a designer look. Adding white socks with my shoes or black sheer pantyhose with my oversized crewneck - so many ways to change up a look.

4. Thrifting over new! Fall is my favourite time to collect thrifted pieces, there are great jackets like a classic trench coat that can be thrifted and I always find amazing slip dresses at thrift stores that I love to pair with knits for fall.

If I were to shop and add some pieces into my fall wardrobe this is my dream wish list:

Lioness Bloom long sleeve

This sweater from Reformation

This whole look from Doen

A pair of white jeans from Aritzia

This suede coat from Etsy

These Dolce Vita loafers

This Sezane cardigan, I am loving blush pinks for fall

For more fall styling ideas follow along on my 30 days series of tik tok!

Summer is my favourite time, I was born in summer, got married in summer and had a baby in the summer! I am still recovering from having a baby just 3 weeks ago but I wanted to share all the fashion faves I cannot wait to wear this summer. We will also be travelling to The Thousand Islands at the end of July and that is when all of my lakeside looks will come out. Plus we are finally going to the Delta Fair, a fair that has been happening since 1830 is Jesse’s hometown and we get to bring baby Caleb with us, I cannot wait!!

Summer faves:

I am loving everything from Stone Cold Fox this summer, here are ones I am coveting:

I just got this hat from Zara and it’s the perfect woven bucket hat.

I need a new pair of sunnies for summer and these definitely made the list! Find them on Revolve.

Loving this blue mermaid dress from Bardot on Revolve.

I love these tops from Majorelle:

My favourites from For Love and Lemons:

These cute looks I got from the Gap!

Loving all of the looks from Doen for summer:

These bathing suits are so cute. From Oh Polly, Juillet and Vitamin Swim:

And so much more!! I will share a round up of lakeside looks later this month.

After cleaning out our small office, that boosts the best light in our whole place no less, we were able to create the cutest office/baby nursery! And of course because I am obsessed with all things interior design I wanted to find ways to design the space in my aesthetic while maximizing the smaller room. This is where design challenges meet creativity, so I am excited to share all the tips and tricks and cutest finds with you!

We have really high ceilings in this room so to best utilize the space we constructed a very tall cabinet from two (they had to send us a replacement cabinet because it came with the doors broken). So we added an extra drawer at the bottom and secured it to the wall. I am not going to link it because I don’t think it’s high quality and wouldn’t recommend, we made it work and at least it does look cute! We originally found the dreamiest antique french cabinet circa the 1800’s on facebook marketplace but the dimensions were just too big for the space and the price tag was out of budget. But when it comes to finding special pieces for your space marketplace is my go-to!

Speaking of marketplace, we were able to find the perfect mini crib that was only ever used for staging! It is the perfect style, in a simple white colour and brand new. We have lucked out on so many gems from marketplace.

Here are some of the pieces we found to go along with our coastal cowboy with a nod to the south of France vibe we are going for in the nursery!

This is the mini crib we found on marketplace, it’s the daVinci Dylan Mini Crib:

This charming print from etsy:

My mom sewed a new stool cover for my antique stool and it turned out so sweet! Here is a similar one from etsy:

The cabinet we are using:

We also found an incredible antique brass lamp that we need to switch out the lampshade for a more coastal vibe, something like this would be perfect, it’s from Pottery Barn:

I am ordering the sweetest pillow door hanger from this shop!:

The curtains we found definitely complete the room. I wanted a light blue linen looking set of curtains with sheer white curtains underneath. We actually found the best options on Amazon that look just as good as the ones from Pottery Barn.

To complete the room we needed the perfect rug and we found this one from Pottery Barn, a LoveShackFancy rug:

I also got several wicker storage baskets from Home Sense to store diapers and wipes for easy access, these ones from Zara home are so cute too!:

To bring in some more nautical elements we added an amazing antique sailor rope knot picture, here’s another version from Etsy:

If I had a little more space I would definitely add something like this over the crib, the coolest print from the salt air farmhouse:

Here is my moodboard for the space, I wanted to make sure it was an inspiring baby boy coastal nursery that could also double as an office with hints of my personal style!

Can’t wait to share the final result when all the little details come together soon.

Happy May! This is the time I start dreaming of summer outfits and curating my favourites. Right now I am looking at pieces I can wear in my final month or pregnancy but also transition to wearing after baby arrives :) Here is my list of May favourites with some added affordable dupe options.

The Doen x Gap collab is so amazing, I tried to get some pieces but they don’t ship to Canada. So this one if for the American girlies: Doen gingham crop top, Doen eyelet midi dress and Doen cotton pj set.

Another Doen piece because they are the epitome of chic summer staples is this Nera Top with the puffed sleeves. I could see this being in my closet forever, its so classic and versatile. But since I am on a baby budget I found this gorgeous dupe from H&M, this ruffle trimmed cotton blouse.

Another two amazing pieces I got from H&M for pre and post baby are these straight leg drawstring pants in light blue pinstripe and these super cute gingham shorts.

My new summer staple will be the Stone Cold Fox baby doll dress in blue that I wore to my baby shower, I cannot wait to wear this all summer long when I got for walks with baby!

I am loving this new gingham swim set from Juillet, they have amazing sets for summer.

I just found this cool beachy jewellery brand called Urth & Sea, makes me think of the Mediterranean and I am loving this 1940’s vintage pearl ring.

Above are some affordable looks I found perfect for early summer.

The white strapless cutout flower dress is from H&M and so is the pink stripped oversized linen shirt - which is a great dupe for the Doen one.

This pretty green floral dress is from Majorelle and I love it for a summer garden party. And the white maxi dress is from the Gap!

So many amazing looks for summer, I cannot wait!

Now that my wedding planning days are behind me I am excited to research and dive into all things fashion and weddings again. I only had 4 months to plan my wedding which was extremely stressful at the time and felt like a marathon. Now I can happily look back and say that I loved all of the dresses I found for my wedding! A big part of that was already knowing the designers I loved and really getting specific on the aesthetic and cohesive design I wanted for the whole wedding which I called: Coastal Victorian.

Here are three styling guides I used in order to find the perfect rehearsal dress for my wedding:

1. Location: Consider your location and wedding aesthetic. I love creating in a cohesive way that evokes a story. The design of my wedding was very influenced by the location, my family’s villa on the Adriatic in Croatia. I looked at the tones and textures of the space and this really guided me to my colour scheme and overall mood. I wanted my rehearsal look to fit within this story, something that felt effortless for the place. I found a romantic silk dress from the brand Selkie, the poet dress and it was truly perfect.

2. Moodboard: This is such a standard styling tip but it actually is the best thing to do when planning any styling for an event. The moodboard helps me visualize the story and how I want the overall look to feel like. I create several different moodboards and usually bring in unexpected elements. For my wedding the moodboard included coastal blue tones, Victorian inspired designs, photos of the Adriatic - infusing themes of romance, timelessness, classical music, antiques, seaside strolls, the essence of coastal villages with vessels and limestone, and weddings in Europe. I also knew I wanted to find a dress that complimented my wedding dress but in a different style - this was my chance to wear something in a different silhouette. The flowy silk dress was a contrast to my corset from my wedding dress, the billowy sleeves and bows felt like they came from the same world as my Victorian corset, lace and satin wedding dress.

3. Custom or Vintage: Because my wedding dress was a semi-custom design I wanted to find my other dresses from shops. But if you aren’t doing a custom wedding dress you could try getting a custom rehearsal dress made! This option gives you the opportunity to have something truly unique and created just for you. Another option is to go vintage or alter a vintage piece to fit your wedding theme. I have seen some brides altering their mother’s old wedding dress for the rehearsal dress and it can be such a cool and personal touch that is very meaningful. There are so many gorgeous vintage options that are amazing for the rehearsal looks and is something I really considered myself before finding the dress I wore. Vintage shops I love for unique wedding event options are: Farmers Daughter, Madly Vintage and Gossamer.

Here is a list of some of the brands featured in the photos for rehearsal dinner looks!

Selkie, Stone Cold Fox, Retrofete, V.Chapman, Show Me Your Mumu Weddings, Viktor and Rolf, and Ashlyn Paige.

If you are looking for a wedding styling session to really nail down your looks and elevate your wedding aesthetic you can book a virtual session with me on my website: anaalic.com

Happy Wedding Planning, xo

I feel like I have cracked the code to chic bump styling during my pregnancy. Long gone are the days of unflattering maternity wear, there are so many cool brands now specifically for pregnancy that are stylish and also grows with you and your bump. My favourite of course is Bumpsuit, I bought their Kate Maternity Unitard in white and have been able to wear it my entire pregnancy with so many different looks!

For my pregnancy styling I have come up with 3 key ideas that has helped me transition into bump styling and feeling confidant dressing up my bump!

1. Base layers are key! As I mentioned I live in my Kate Unitard and have paired it with an oversized blazer for a night out, a cozy chunky knit sweater in the winter, a sheer flowy dress, an oversized button up and so much more. When you have bump friendly base layers you can start to add in your own clothing to make an outfit.

2. Sticking to oversized basics that you can transition into your wardrobe after baby arrives. For this I didn’t look for maternity wear I just bought from the same brands I loved or even vintage pieces that are slightly oversized that I know will also work after pregnancy. Baggy denim, oversized t-shirts and blazers, oversized button ups are so key and babydoll dresses that will grow with you.

3. Don’t be afraid to wear the style you always loved. I really believe your personal style can transition with you through any season of life. What I have found that has helped is using pieces that I own that still fit and mixing them with oversized styles. I also like to purchase pieces that are a size or two larger than my usual but in styles that I know I can still wear after, like this SNDYS top from revolve in size medium.

Here are some examples I am loving right now for bump styling!

These examples include my go-to brands for bump styling: Doen, Stone Cold Fox, Bumpsuit, Gap, For Love and Lemons, Princess Polly, Zara denim and vintage.

Happy Bump Styling!

xo Ana

I have always seen the link between interior design and fashion styling. Impeccably designed spaces inspire our creativity and looks. I find the best interior designers also have the best wardrobes or come from a styling background. In the end its all design, designing spaces is very similar to designing your looks, the colours and tones that go well together, the textures that match, the placement and creativity of finding the right pieces.

I also believe that we are meant to be surrounded by beauty, that it is the conduit to our inspiration and elevated peaceful emotion. This is why I have an affinity to the Victorian era where all of the homes were meticulously adorned as well as the clothing. Craftsmanship and longevity mixed with beauty was the pillars of that time for design. Spaces can impact your mood in such a profound way which is why we are all meant to be surrounded by beauty and living amongst nature. A simple way we can incorporate this concept if we are still not living in the space of our dreams is to dress for the interiors you desire. Imagine the space you wish to be in and start to bring in elements of that space through wardrobe. It is like that saying “dress for the job you want” but in this case dress for the space you desire!

Here are a few links to the pieces shared in these interior style inspired moodboards:

The homebodii robe, so delicate and feminine.

The latest ffern perfume for spring, organic and made with natural ingredients that way all perfumes should be crafted, by timeless expertise!

Oak Essentials cloud foaming bath oil, the packaging and design is everything.

This pale pink Lioness dress is perfect for spring.

These Doen lace and silk shorts are so stunning and work with all of these spaces.

The Aureum Collective belts are so cool and classic.

These Jacquemus sunnies are so cool, I love the yellow colour.

I am obsessed with this sheer black trench from The Frankie Shop, another brand called evercado has something similar for an amazing price!

So in love with the Lorna Murray french villa hat, I may need to invest in this piece for summer.

This babydoll dress from Stone Cold Fox is also on my summer list, perfect for when baby arrives.

I got this white summer top from SDNYS on revovle and it was perfect for my pregnancy shoot, cannot wait to wear this one in Europe.

Next time you need some styling inspiration look to your favourite interiors and ask how you would dress in these spaces!

Oh how I love a good tablescape. Designing a table can elevate any gathering and really bring beauty and delight to your event. I love the process of designing a tablescape and have designed them for clients as well as my own wedding and bridal shower. Here is my step-by-step process to designing a gorgeous table you can use at your next gathering.

Inspiration

You can find inspiration anywhere. I love pinterest when I am in the mood board stage of planning but I actually first look for inspiration from locations, music, seasons - anywhere that has beauty. The first thing I do is consider the location, I designed my whole wedding based off of the location - the creamy old stones around the property, the turquoise coloured pool with shimmery gold tiles, the white oleander flowers and the rustic green shutters on the property. The location set the tone for the colours and the aesthetics which I called Coastal Victorian. Finding inspiration this way allows for a unique design that is cohesive and perfect for your gathering.

Mood Board

Once I have my inspiration and the aesthetic I am wanting to achieve I look for photos that embody the mood, the colours and the design. I usually create a variety of mood boards, one for the specific design elements and another for the overall vibe and feeling. For the design elements I try to find photos that showcase how I would like to style the table, what elements to bring in etc. For the overall vibe it’s more about the feeling I want the design to evoke, photography examples, colour palettes, anything that sparks the vision.

Here are two mood boards I made for my wedding design:

Sourcing

I first make a list of everything I would need for the tablescape based off of the mood boards. Once I have my list I go through my styling closet and see if I have any of the things on my list. For example I have a big linen tablecloth and napkins that are neutral in tone and work with many of my designs, several different vases, tons of candle holders and ribbons etc. I set aside the items in a collection and then I see what is missing from my list and off to sourcing I go. I love antique and vintage items so I will usually source those over new items by going to antique malls, flea markets, etsy, facebook marketplace and Value Village of course. I also love checking out local gift shops like The Good Neighbour and Euclid in Toronto, they often have unique decor items you can’t find anywhere else. I also use Amazon, the dollar store and Micheals for simple decor pieces like candle sticks and ribbons.

And of course I always go to the flower market to find fresh blooms that I arrange for the tables. I love creating my own arrangements because the process is so artistic and soothing for me as well as being able to create the exact colour scheme and design I desire based off of the vases I have. The floral arranging process is very intuitive and you can have fun trying different styles and arrangements. But if floral arranging is not your specialty you can always get arrangements made at your local flower shop and there are even some great pre-made ones at farmers markets.

DIY’s

I love creating unique styling pieces for tablescapes, it truly gives the design your own special touch. For my wedding I was looking everywhere in Croatia for antique pots like the ones from Olive Atelier, but the next best thing I could find was terracotta pots from the garden store. I really wanted that old world feel so I decided to white wash paint them!

Another diy that I loved creating for a client’s baby shower was hand embroidered bows. I purchased the ribbon and embroidery kit from the craft store and found a calligraphy print online and was able to trace the letters onto the ribbon and then embroider them. It was a long process and a labour of love haha but in the end they turned out so gorgeous and I can’t wait to bring this diy to my next tablescape.

Design

This is definitely my favourite part of the design process when it is time to set the table! For table styling I love when things are not totally perfect, the plates and silverware can all align but the decor should be more free flowing with different heights and placements. It is a process where you feel and see what looks best where and also comes with practice. Start designing tables at home by using examples you see and then you can expand on that and get into your own rhythm. Lately I have loved tablescape designs that look undone and also incorporate unexpected design choices like adding fruit and vegetables as decor pieces. I also love foraging and adding elements from the location of the table, for example I used olive branches from the Villa and found Queen Anne’s Lace around the home to add into my arrangements for my wedding.

Also remember that sometimes simple works best, a gorgeous meal, a lovely bottle of wine and a little jar of roses can make for a stunning tablescape!

I recently went on a little babymoon/honeymoon getaway to Lake Placid. After our Croatia wedding we had to come back to Canada to get ready for our Canadian party and there wasn’t enough time for a honeymoon, although we should have really planned a Croatian island trip right after! We decided on a babymoon and honeymoon combination, less champagne more sparkling water. Jesse’s mom suggested Lake Placid as they had visited a couple times and Jesse even went as a kid and got his prized stuffed bear Ozzy there - which is what inspired him to find another stuffed bear for our baby in Banff, aptly named Banffy Bear. Since it is a short drive over the border to Upstate New York we thought it was the perfect winter getaway for us.

Knowing that I wouldn’t be able to do many winter outdoor activities being pregnant and all, I knew I wanted to find the perfect hotel for our stay that had everything we needed for a relaxing getaway - the aesthetic was also very important of course. There are so many gorgeous lodges and spas in the area but I fell in love with Lake Placid Lodge. I loved how every room was designed differently but still maintained that lodge mountain feel, very Yellowstone vibes, and also had a real stone fireplace and large soaking tub in every room.

If you are also planning a getaway to Lake Placid here are all of my favourite places to stay/eat/experience and also a styled packing list!

Where to stay

I completely fell in love with Lake Placid Lodge and know that when we travel back again we will definitely be staying there again! Not only was the lodge gorgeously decorated in a classic Adirondack style, I personally love our room the most, but the service was impeccable. Lake Placid emerged as an idyllic getaway in the Gilded Age, designed in the style of great camps and infusing nature into the arts and crafts style of lodges. This lodge is gorgeously designed in the style with luxurious suites, hand-carved wooden beds, mountain and lake views from every room - it’s such a dream!

When we arrived the lodge was glistening in a blanket of snow and a stunning sunset ready to emerge over the mountain peaks. Walking into the lodge main foyer we were greeted with champagne, Jesse indulged for the both of us. They also had a wildlife expert there do a presentation with his prized owls - actually we followed him in after both our cars got stopped by a tow truck blocking one of the routes in!

Walking into our cozy cabin room I was amazed by all of the treats they had for us: a fruit plate and wine, chocolate covered caramels, a fridge stocked with fiji water and soda and of course a s’mores’ kit for our late night retreat by the fire. Oh and the views!! From our room we could see the mountain and lake, plus a beautiful pastel sunset all framed by snow covered trees. There is so much more I could say about our perfect stay at this lodge, but just know it is a 5 star bougie experience that I can totally see why it is ranked #4 top resort in the Mid-Atlantic by Conde Nast.

Other places to stay that are also charming and gorgeous:

Mirror Lake Inn - a luxurious, historic resort on the lake with a spa. We went to The Cottage restaurant at the Inn, which was a cozy lakeside historic pub with amazing views and food.

Whiteface Lodge - another gorgeous Adirondack style luxury resort and spa, which was close by the the lodge we stayed at.

The Stagecoach Inn - A charming boutique inn and the most historic building in Lake Placid, circa the late 1700’s. It is also known for an exceptional dinner menu, we tried to go there one night but it was closed that night.

Where to Eat

Maggie’s Pub in Lake Placid Lodge - we loved eating at the lodge, it was so nice to just walk down to the pub in the lodge and not have to travel into town. Although the lodge does have this amazing driver service where they will take you anywhere and pick you up so you can enjoy a night of drinks.

The Cottage - we ate there on our second night and it was great, a relaxed atmosphere in a cozy spot on the snow covered lake and it looked like a Victorian cottage, so quaint and perfect for a relaxing evening.

Stagecoach Inn - I really wanted to have dinner here but it wasn’t open when we were planning to go but I have read incredible things about the menu and chef.

Big Mountain Deli & Creperie - we ate here for lunch and it was perfect for a light and quick sandwich! They had endless options, no really every sandwich or wrap that you could possibly come up with - it was so hard to choose. Great spot for when you are shopping in town.

The View restaurant at Mirror Lake and Kanu at Whiteface Lodge - I have read amazing things about both of the restaurants, definitely premiere dining locations with exceptional chefs.

What to experience

There is no shortage of outdoor activities in Lake Placid. Obviously in the winter time its an incredible place to ski and skate. A lot of places had their own rinks on the lakes for guests who stay at their hotels/lodges.

Another amazing thing to experience in the winter or really any time is a day at the spa. Lake Placid has several spa options, Mirror Lake Inn and Whiteface being my top choices for the area.

Hiking/Snow Shoeing/Snowmobiling really any winter activity you can think of they have in Lake Placid.

I preferred a stroll in town to see the shops, getting dressed up for fancy dinners, and a cozy time in our lodge suite with a fire and the large soaking tub for a relaxing bath!

My fashion packing list

This is really depending on the season you visit Lake Placid, but I love to bring a mix of fancy outfits, cozy and cute outfits and athleisure.

For this trip I packed my now go-to bumpsuit Kate unitard, I wore this with a blazer for a night out and then with a chunky knit sweater for lunch and a stroll in town.

I also love wearing a vintage slip dress with a cozy knit or blazer in the winter. The blush pink one I wore is from The Wanderly and there are some amazing options on etsy.

A vintage fur coat is not only so chic in a mountain town but also so warm! I found mine at the Toronto Hippie Market, but you can find one at so many vintage shops or even Value Village. If you wanted to go with faux fur, this one from Revolve is so cute.

You are going to want several hats for a ski town getaway, my faves lately have been from Wyeth - you can also use my link www.wyethusa.com/ANAALIC with code ANAALIC for 15% off :)

I love these Loewe sunnies

This Khaite brown leather mini skirt is so chic for a winter getaway, paired with tights and a fitted think turtleneck and you have a perfect outfit.

And of course some crewnecks are ideal, here are some I love: Elwood, Abercrombie light blue crew, Urban Outfitters hoodie.

Enjoy your winter getaway, xo