It is the Canada Day long weekend – yessssssss! I love living in this country. Normally I would be planning to watch the fireworks in my home city of Red Deer, Alberta, but we get to experience new things in BC this year. I've been doing some hunting around to see what the greater Vancouver area offers for festivities this weekend. Here are some of the great things I found. 

• Krause Berry Farm / annual pancake breakfast from 9 am - 12 pm - by donation / raspberry & strawberry u-picks open / Sky Helicopters offering passenger rides for $29.95 per person 
  
• Langley Canada Day / @ McLeod Athletic Park / 11 am - 11 pm / Family activities, rides, main-stage entertainment, a car show, an assortment of ethnic foods, dog show, pony rides, and much more / fireworks at 10:15 pm
• Domaine de Chaberton Estate Winery / 11 am - 4 pm / The Bacchus Bistro will be serving pulled pork, smoked bbq chicken and grilled fish tacos – $10 
• Backyard Vineyards / live music from 1 pm - 5 pm / lunch from 1pm - 4 pm, country fried chicken, potato salad, fresh herb green salad, rolls, dessert and a glass of wine – $20
• Canada Day in Fort Langley / @ For Langley National Historic Site / 11 am - 3 pm / multicultural music, cake, family activities – free admission
• Surrey Canada Day / @ Cloverdale Millennium Amphitheatre / gates open at 10 am / fireworks at 10:10 pm / music, exhibits, food – free admission
• Canada Place / Vancouver's largest waterfront party welcomes over 250,000 people / Parade at 7 pm / Fireworks show at 10:30 pm / music & dance performances, extreme sports, displays, a celebration of great Canadian inventions, a Citizenship ceremony, the Canadian Armed Forces and the Port Metro Vancouver Zone 
• Granville Island / free jazz performances (starts at noon), children's pavilion, pancake breakfast ($10), great Canadian bbq ($20), lobster man cookout, lobster festival ($30), Canada Day donut (Lee's Donuts) / parade from 1:30 - 2 pm

If you have any recommendations on how to celebrate July 1, please share! What are your plans for Canada Day? 

There comes a point in your life when you feel you're ready for the next big thing. You get married, you figure your life out a little bit, then... what next? Babies? Not yet. But working from a home office, the house seems awfully quiet and in need of some life during the day. I've been begging my husband Tylor for a dog for a few weeks now. It just seems like the next step – and a good one at that. Having a fuzzy bundle to accompany me on walks would be a joy. Having another life in the house would be awesome, and yes, I would probably talk to the dog like a human... don't judge me. 

Dog owners, is it worth the expense, poop pick-up, time, hassle, and chewed shoes? 

You have to agree, our family does look more complete with that fuzzy pup by our side... right? If you have reason to talk me out of this fantasy... do it now :)

Clam chowder delicious. It is rich, creamy and full of chewy sea clams. If you're familiar with Seattle, you've likely heard of or dined at Duke's Chowder House. Tylor and I enjoy chowder with an ocean view at their West Seattle location every chance we get. It is... ridiculously good. In attempt to satisfy our need for their legendary clam chowder, we decided to attempt to make a big steamy pot at home. It turned out well and even though we're lacking the ocean view, I'm as happy as a clam. Scroll down for the recipe :)

What inspires you?

I get asked this question a lot. I also ask myself this question every day. Designers are inspired in many different ways. I think that is just part of being (dare I say it...) a "creative." I am inspired by my surroundings, by where I am at in life and who I consider to be the great designers of our time. The great thing about it is, your brain gets to run wild until you reach a point where you have to gather your thoughts into something that you can represent visually. Bringing your lifestyle into your work offers something that nobody can really replicate. Tonight,  I was watching these two robins out my window on the fence. They looked as if they were having a deep conversation, so I rolled with it. Why not? 

Be current.

The internet has so much to offer. An afternoon spent browsing beautiful print design on the web will only do you good. Follow design blogs, read magazines. Soak up design work that you find attractive. Stop using the same two typefaces over and over, and experiment. Your style will be reflected even if you are current (hopefully...). Nobody wants to pay for design work that was trendy 10 years ago. Keep up. 

Be free.

I've been fortunate to have had a lot of creative freedom in my career so far – working alongside others who valued the creative process enough to acknowledge that the best work doesn't always come between 9 am and 5 pm. This is one work value that I hold very high. 

Think of Mad Men's Don Draper. Would he be as brilliant creatively if he was restrained? Imagine the quality of his work if he was asked to pump out creative copy 8 hours a day from a cubicle. Not good.

Some of my best ideas will come on a day when I'm not supposed to be working. The idea could have been triggered by finally getting out of the office and sitting at the beach. Answering emails, writing quotes and having client conversations aren't overly inspirational, even though they are part of the job. You need to move from your desk. Even if this means taking a stroll at lunch or walking to a cafe to finish those last few quotes. Go places, soak up culture, eat different food and experience the great things around you. This will be reflected in your work. 

Back to the robins. What do you get when you kiss a diseased bird?

Cherpies.

What a busy (but productive) week! 

All I have for you today is this...  viva la weekend – enjoy it!