Who says you need a Tilly hat and water wings to be dockside?!  If you’re anything like me, you get up in the morning and dress the way you FEEL – which can without a doubt lead so some interesting wardrobe choices!!... Like possibly this one, haha… but I have to say, this outfit still made me feel classy and ladylike regardless of being within 3 feet of swimming with the fish!

Obviously there are some tips to think about when fashion AND water are in the same sentence…

1.            Wear heels, but NOT stilettos… those small heels will get stuck between dock boards and you’ll catapult straight into the H20!

2.            If you’re going to wear your hair down… de-frizz.  Use heat? Make sure you use a product that protects your hair!

3.            Trench coats are not only sexy… they’re actually trendy and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion, perfectly ok for a dockside stroll;)

Ok so maybe I wouldn’t be prepared for sudden stormy weather, but at least that mane is under control… and I’m ready to take on the day – Rain or Shine!!!

What do you think?  

Jilly xoxo

Hi everyone! As you may well know, I've been sneaking around lately in preparation for a HUGE announcement.  "Huge" doesn't even do it justice... more like GARGANTUAN. With all the hints I've been dropping, how good have your CSI skills been?? It's time to put down your Nancy Drew kits - the big reveal has finally come!

I'd like to formally introduce you to my new project - a little friend I like to call Charlie Ford. Charlie Ford Vintage, that is. Have an affinity for antiques or a voracity for vintage? Then I have a feeling you might love Charlie Ford Vintage almost as much as me.  It is an online shop dedicated to bringing curated antiques from all over North America directly to your front door. That means you can buy that hand-cut crystal vase at 3am or that rustic 18th-century French armoire at 4am! All the pieces are genuine vintage, all are beautifully unique, and all will do wonders for making any space more warm & welcoming.

My cousin/bff Tori and my girlfriend Alyssa are my partners-in-crime on this venture, and I couldn't have two more incredible women to work with. The three of us have been searching high and low all across the continent for the most incredible pieces to bring you on our new site. With only a few minor setbacks, a.k.a. us wanting to keep everything for ourselves ;), the website is almost ready to launch! In the meantime, we're going to have tonnes of great blogs on our site to get you ready & excited for what's to come.

We're so thrilled to have posted our first blog today. Head on over to www.CharlieFord.com to check it out & let me know what you think!

Thank you so much for all your patience and support. I'm so incredibly happy to finally be able to share this news with you!

Jilly xo

I am a pillow-aholic!...You know how I LOVE pillows, right?!  Well here are a few of my fav’s for this season!  And I definitely encourage you to break all of the so-called “rules” that go with pillows… YES… go ahead and mix & match colours and patterns all you want!!

Here is what I’m loving right now and you can try it too…

FLORALS - think watercolor, grandma, & fresh summer colors

CREAM - pattern on pattern, mix and match for a cozy & fun look

STRIPES & CHEVRON - Yes, LOL, I’m still obsessing over this trend… try these bold looks in a space that you want to make pop

OMBRES – a great way to play with colours from subtle to sunny in one pillow… I’m going to feature a DIY Ombre next week!!! Get your dye ready!

DECO – Big and bold… Great Gatsby style!  Such a great way to make a statement!

ANCHORS – of course @scrubcaptain makes this list!  I’m definitely loving anchors…. Which perfectly leads me into:

HEARTS – You know I’m obsessed with hearts!  I’m trying to incorporate a heart into all of my designs from now on, almost like my unique signature!

The idea I’m getting at here is that you can never have too many pillows!  Try rotating them, and swapping them with other pillows throughout the house – you’ll never get bored!

Which one is your favourite?

Jilly xoxo

Photo Credits:  Sharla Pike

Happy Food Friday!  This is one you may have seen awhile back, but because this weekend is all about dad, I am re-posting my Jambalaya recipe because it’s his absolute fav dish that I make!  The only thing I’ve done differently this time around is added green peppers!  So make sure you change your recipe cards at home to add the peppers in there!!

Jilly's Fresh Jambalaya!
(serves 3-4)

In a skillet, on medium heat, brown:

6 slices of bacon, diced

Add:

1/2 cup of sausage (your choice, I used turkey kielbasa)

Remove both from pan, leaving 1/2 the drippings for good taste

In the pan, add:

Half white onion
1 garlic clove – diced
1 chicken breast

Once chicken breast is cooked add:

6-10 Raw Prawns (deveined & shelled)
2 tsp of Cayenne pepper
1 tsp of Oregano
Salt & Pepper to taste

Then add:

2 celery stalks, diced

After a minute or so turn heat to low and add:

Bacon / Sausage Mixture
1 can of diced tomatoes
1/2 cup of frozen or fresh corn niblets
1/2 can of black beans

Serve on top of 1 cup of wild or white rice.

Garnish with Jilly's Spicy Yogurt

1/4 of a cup of sour crème
1/4 of a cup of plain yogurt
2 tbsp of Miracle whip
1 garlic clove diced
1 tsp of cayenne pepper

Enjoy!

Make some time just for dad this weekend… he'll appreciate it more than any gift from the store;)

Jilly xo

What exactly am I talking about?!  I mean, shop for a cause!  There’s nothing better than satisfying the urge to shop and helping out a good cause at the same time… It’s something that truly benefits everyone involved and every time you wear that particular piece, whether it’s the FashionABLE scarf or Remy Bracelet, you’ll be reminded that YOU made a difference!

This fashion post is all about shopping with meaning… these are causes that I believe in and I’m proud to support… you can even click the links to learn more about each one!

1. Go Team Ghana! - designing with a purpose

2. FashionABLE scarfs – creating opportunities for vulnerable woman in Africa

3. Remy's Bracelet - in support of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation

4. TOMS shoes - One for One

5. WARBY PARKER glasses - Buy a Pair, Give a Pair

What’s your favorite cause and why?

Jilly xoxo

It can be hard to shop for dad. If he's anything like my dad, he's much too humble to even HINT at what he would like for a special gift. So that can sometimes leave us aimlessly wandering the mall or just buying another flathead screwdriver to add to his collection of other screwdrivers - all flatheads too of course, LOL...

Maybe these gift ideas will lead to the perfect gift! And if none of these things will excite him, you can't go wrong with the Star Wars DVD Collection or cooking him up his favorite meal!

Check out these cool gifts for dad...

1 Bose SoundDock 

2 Boat Cleaning with Scrub Captain

3 Jack Spade Embossed Anchor Billfold

4 U-boat, Uhr, CLASSICO AB 4, 53mm, leather, Schwarz, watch

5 TOMS Cordones

6 Whisky Stones®

7 Ray-Ban The Wayfarer Tortoise acetate

What are you waiting for?!  Head out for some shopping!

Jilly xoxo