As the world digests a new challenge, a collection of favourite things never hurt anybody….Take pleasure in the little things around you in all this uncertainty.

Succession Sheet Music

If you haven’t heard the theme music for the Television Series Succession, one quick listen will tell you why I have been working away this season at this piece.

Radiance Perfecting Serum - Pearlessence

A Christmas gift. I love it for it’s packaging and how it makes me feel after I apply it.

Grey Notes Pillow | Indigo

I’ve had these pillows for a while and due to our home Reno last year and issues I had to pack them away. I since replaced the inserts with non-down inserts and am happy to have them back on our couches and chairs.

Sand & Fog Candle | Cinnamon Noel

I couldn’t get my hands on a local soy candle maker for the holiday season, so I went off my usual resolve and bought this one. I am still trying to mostly buy Soy / natural candles.

The Fiery Cross | Diana Gabaldon

While reading the fifth instalment of the Outlander Series, I am also watching the fifth season of the hit Starz television series in order to study how books to television series adaptations occur.

Light Foot & Wolfville 2014 Sparkling Wine

We adore not just the wine but also the business of Lightfoot & Wolfville. They honour the history of the land they occupy, the culture of farming and winemaking and also those who consume their product are able to see and be apart of honouring that culture by becoming more aware of the natural rhythms of each season. Saving this for a special time.

Winter | An Anthology

Another book in the season anthology series collective by Melissa Harrison. Love reading the little poems and excerpts as the season progresses.

Brown Purse | Modcloth

For one solid year, I searched for a proper replacement for my last favourite brown purse which bit the dust early 2019. Finally found this and it is filling the hole for me.

Reading Light |

Top centre - Clockwise: Pink Winter Jacket | Old Navy, Ukulele | Christmas Gift from Auntie Jasmine & Uncle Tyler, Claw craft | Kiwi Craft (subscription christmas gift from Tai Ma, Marie Blue Striped Long sleeve | H&M Christmas Gift from Auntie Heidi, Cheeta Sweater | Christmas Gift from Mimi & Yeye, Hedgehog family | Indigo, Dance ribbon | Melissa & Doug, Skate graphic Shirt | Old Navy, Red Plaid Pyjamas | Old Navy, Black Pants | Old Navy, Flower embroidered Jeans | Old Navy, Socks "| Old Navy, Graphic Shirts | Old Navy, Graphic Pants | Old Navy, All About Feelings | Usborne Book, Valentines | SuperStore, Magentic Book | Christmas Gift from Auntie Nicole, Skates | Second Hand, Early Concepts / Pre School Books | Amazon, Pink Ombre Pants | Old Navy, Magnetic Friends | Melissa & Doug Gift from Grandma & Grandpa, Markers & Crayons | Home collection, 90’s Polly Pockets | From my childhood

So much growth has happened for our little since Autumn 2019.

Being so close to turning five has developed her into a deeply creative, bookish, imaginative and social being. We love seeing these changes and part of those changes are captured here in adding a few of the activities that she has been learning and enjoying.

New To Her

Pink Winter Jacket | Found at Old Navy and has served us well in the cold months.

Blue Striped Marie the Cat shirt | A gift from Auntie Heidi who has indulged zoë in her love for all things Disney & Aristocats.

Hedgehog Family | Our Valentine gift to Zoë this year. She loves imagining with anything small and creating stories with them.

Magnetic Book | A gift from Auntie Nicole that literally is played with almost daily.

Ombre Pink Pants | An old navy find that has become her favourite.

Ukelele | Christmas gift from Auntie Jasmine & Uncle Tyler. A learning curve for her that she picks up and explores.

Still Going Strong

Crayons / Markers | The hours that she uses these is endless.

Skates | Although we will need to replace them for the next Autumn due to her feet growing, these figure skates have held up perfectly for Zoe to learn with.

Time to Go

Pants | Unseen here there are countless pairs over the winter have worn out in the knees. The grey graphic pair as an example. A typical thing for young kids, but something to keep on top of none the less.

*Not pictured here: last year’s snow gear, a few extra pyjamas & the various worn pants that have either been tossed due to inability to repair or kept for spares.

Top centre - Clockwise: Grey Dress | From the bestie Jasmine, Brown Satchel Bag | Modcloth, Brown oversized turtleneck sweater | H&M, Brown Silk Long Sleeve | Suzy Shier, Serum | Christmas present from Jasmine, Blue Sweater Dress | La Vie En Rose, Winter Anthology Book | Amazon, Black turtle neck | RW&co, Blue Silk Pyjamas shirt | La Vie En Rose, Roots Joggers | Roots, Star Sweater | Aerie, Best Dressed Nail Polish | OPI, Blue Jeans | The Gap, Black Long pants | RW&Co, Licorice Nail Polish | Essie, Mixed Media Black Pleather Pants | RW&co, Black and White Plaid Long Sleeve Shirt | RW&co, Candle | Winners

This Winter went by incredibly fast.

We had a brilliant Christmas break which allowed us to feel comforted and reminded us of the good times when life got tough this winter with the hard process of losing a family member. This winter I was able to curate a few more cozy items to comfort and warm me on the coldest days…

New to Me

Black & White Plaid Long Sleeve | A great relaxed weekday wear that can also be dressed down. Glad to finally have plaid back in the wardrobe that feels more like me.

Brown Pleather Purse | A long-awaited replacement for a favourite purse that fell apart (5 years of solid use) and I had to get rid of last year. This isn’t an exact replica but it just as nice and I am glad to finally have replaced it.

Blue Silk Pyjama Shirt | My mom keeps me equipped in the cozies. It’s this thing we do, so this Christmas when I expressed a love for that pyjama shirt it made it’s way to me on Christmas day. Love that she still finds joy in pyjama gift giving. It’s a fun thing to look forward to.

Blue sweater dress | Bought the burgundy dress before Christmas. I have worn it like crazy. When the blue one was still in-store and on sale, I grabbed it. Love the shape, love the blue, love the pockets. A perfect simple item for dress up or dress down.

Still Going Strong

Grey Dress | Second hand from my bestie Jasmine, this gray dress continues to be a lovely little piece to add for a date night, meeting or just any winter event.

Roots Joggers | Nothing is nicer than slipping on joggers at the end of a workday. Love them.

Black Pants | My city long black pants from RW&co Along with the pleather black are my go-to. Always an easy grab.

Time to go

A White Sweater | Not pictured here, was a cheap white sweater that my mom and I bought last year as a filler in my wardrobe. Underlining the concept that cheap sweaters have no place in the wardrobe unless you already realize it’s just for a month or two. It didn’t stand up at all. I loved the cut, but cleaning it ruined it and it just didn’t hold up at all.

This week marks a year if running Brilliansea.

A year of seeking to create space for the voices of women. Women who are charting their paths, finding creativity in the corners of their lives, starting new ideas and businesses and creating brilliance where ever they go. 

A year of Brilliansea existing and telling us what it wants to be.

WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED SO FAR…

We work best when we honour the core values of Brilliansea. Creating space and a platform for the voices of women locally and beyond. It has been a year of many changes and events in our personal and professional lives. Learning to honour each other through these stages, while also running Brilliansea together has grown us and brought us back to the values of Brilliansea.

WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON NOW

Entering into this new year, Claire and I will be focusing on continuing to curate and craft the spotlight interviews. We are working on making the group of women we gather for each interview filming session to be diverse, varied in age, mediums and life experience. We want to work on reflecting the immense sea of women we know to be out there. We are also honing in on the right next steps for creating our documentary project based on our short documentary. Along with those two big projects, we are excited to continue connecting with local creative and innovative women by hosting and creating space for socials.

With clarity and a reminder of everything that has created Brilliansea into being, we move onward.

Winter is one of my favorite seasons to curate a playlist for.

It could be the way that snow lingers, leaving the world covered in something mystical and wonder like. It could be the way the wind bites at you as you leave the house and tries to lick your lips with frost. It could be that mix between romantic ambiance and barren land.

Winter 2020 Playlist

Stand Outs

Dreams | The Cranberries

This is a marker song for me. I remember it playing when I started finding new purpose through figure skating as a teenager. I remember skating in the early morning on empty ice and this song made it all feel possible. Now, this song seems to find it’s way back to me to remind me of those free-flying moments and remind me of that sense of hope and elation.

Always Good | The McClures

I fell into this song by accident recently and fell in love with it. I think we can all struggle with feeling at peace and at rest in what is going on in our lives. I find peace in believing and trusting in that which is bigger than me.

Miss You So Much | Miley Cyrus

Miley is brilliant. I don’t love everything she has done. I think some of it has been produced and created out of rebellion of her own self-hatred and that in and of itself creates some very worn and tired material. But this new side of her that is coming out (while she still remains her completely edgy self) is filled with brilliant musical choices.