Happy New Years eve everybody! As some of you may have noticed, I have changed my site url from dreamcreate.wordpress.com to www.dreamcreate.ca!

 A year ago when I started this blog I had no idea what it would turn into and the change to self hosted site allows me SO much freedom to make the site better! The layout has changed, and there will be a few more changes as I play with the code, but I only want to make it better for all you awesome people out there!

Everyone who subscribes by email will be automatically carried over to the new site!

To all my lovely wordpress reader subscribers:

You have all given me so much support and love over the last year and I couldn’t be more grateful! Waking up to comments and “likes” makes my mornings significantly better, thank you. As I have moved my blog to self hosted wordpress, it means the wordpress reader is no longer a native function.

If you would like to continue on this journey with me at the new URL you can either
sign up for email notification in the right sidebar
or
In your wordpress reader edit the “blogs I follow” and add my new url http://www.dreamcreate.ca (as seen below.) If needed, find further instructions here.

A big hug to everyone, I hope the transition will go smoothly and I love you all!

xo Alana

(jeans: Zara basics, shoes: Guess, parka: Sheinside, purse: Le Chateau)

I always breathe a big sigh of relief when Christmas is over, ever. It always feels as though a weight has been lifted and it’s time to look ahead to the new year.  2013 is shaping up to be a really exciting, really busy year, so I’m enjoying a little down and freedom!

Thank you to every single reader, those who stop by once or everyday, I love you all!!

Xo Alana

(vintage skirt: Shoppalu, last seen here)

It’s almost Christmas!! Last night I decided My mantel needed a little more Christmas decoration so I made a mini version of this DIY inspired by kelly Wearstler’s brass kaleidoscope! It took me 5 minutes to make, and about an hour to let the spray paint dry.

Tools Needed:

- Self drying clay
- tooth picks
- spray paint

1. Roll the clay into small balls, start placing tooth picks into the clay. 2. You can add as many or as little tooth picks as you want, for different looks.
3. Spray paint in a well ventilated space, wait an hour or two and you’re done!

I added these plus a few sparkly christmas balls to the candles on my mantel, perfect for Christmas tomorrow!

xox

Alana

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One of the most gloriously strange days of the year, it began to blizzard, then the sun rose up, warm and strong. My morning started with mittens and snow shovels, then became one of the  warmest, most beautiful days this winter.

Isn’t life beautiful!

I know most photographers would say I don’t have enough light on the subject, but I’ve never been one to stick to any sort of artistic or life conventions:
Backlight? GREAT! Washing a paintbrush when you switch colours? Pfffffttt!  Wearing the thinnest clothes while there is snow on the ground? OF COURSE!
I think it makes life more interesting!

In other news, I’m OBSESSED with this vintage pleated polka dot skirt from Shoppalu. It’s perfection and it’s going to be making regular appearances on this blog.

Cheers!

Alana

Cheers!
xo Alana

Confession time: I’m a total sucker for funny moustaches, but strictly not on people’s faces. I love moustache party favours, stickers, you name it!
I was going to make some moustaches to use as magnets and push-pins, but since it’s Christmas time and I’ve done absolutely no decorating, behold my Santa Beard  magnet/pushpin DIY!

Time: 15 minutes or less

Supplies:
-White and/or sparkly foam sheets found at my local dollar store
-Scissors, craft blade & a pen
-Self adhesive magnet roll or push pins

1. Draw out your santa beard on space paper and cut it out

2. Trace out the beard on the back side of your foam sheet.

3. Cut out beard with scissors and if use your craft blade to cut out the mouth piece.

4. Cut your magnet to size, peel off paper to expose adhesive and attach it to the back of your beard (or Rudolf nose!)

5. You can use the same method to create festive push-pins for your office corkboard or inspiration board. Simply use a little hot glue to attach a pushpin to the back of the beard.

This fun and fast DIY has made my refrigerator so jolly, and maybe it’ll remind me to decorate for Christmas ASAP!

Cheers,

Alana

It’s personal dilemma central over here!

Fresh from a shopping trip to the ubiquitously loved Zara, armed with a few new pars of shoes, I felt pretty good about my well-priced purchases.
For the last year I’ve been really trying to invest in quality over quantity, yet the draw of a quick fashion fix led me astray to Zara which is the world’s largest mass clothing manufacturer. I’ve read about how detrimental “fast fashion” waste is to the world, but today I read about all the toxic chemicals found in the clothing of several mass clothing companies.
Zara has committed to “detoxifying” their company by 2020, but think of all the poison we’ll be wearing until then, and all the chemical run-off polluting our water. As the daughter of a retired environmental education professor who cleans up rivers on weekends, I feel guilty.
I can’t promise that I will never buy from Zara again because their jeans fit me like a glove, but I’ve been thinking about ways to start helping the situation starting at home.

Ways to help:
1. Update your existing wardrobe. Tailor or alter your old pieces to fit better and give them new life.
2. Shop Vintage. You can find amazing pieces without adding to mass consumerism. If you’re too busy to scour your local shops, shop vintage online. Shoppalu is one of my favourite online Canadian vintage shops.
3. Educate yourself. These two articles changed my life (here & here), and read more about Zara and Greenpeace here.

The solution begins with us.

XO

Alana

Saturday night was my birthday, but I’m totally over celebrating with dinner then dancing. The day started with a birthday brunch for one of my oldest friend (whose birthday is the same day) then onto Style Night at Ma-Luxe studios. I’ll preface this by saying that no one asked me to write about this event, I just think it’s the greatest idea ever!
Ma-Luxe Style Nights offers professional hair/makeup/nails at amazing prices all under the same roof to help us ladies get ready for all the events during the holiday season. Saturday was the inaugural Style Night, and it was sooo sooo fun! Complete with champagne and dance music, it was like getting ready with girlfriends, if your girlfriends were a professional beauty team. Their menu lets you pick from an array of beauty options, from a classic red lip to a full face and up-do.
The sweetest thing, when the amazing ladies there found out it was my birthday they went above and beyond to make it special for me. When the owner of a company brings you a chocolate/peppermint cake pop…so sweet!

Anyhoo..for anyone fortunate enough to live in Victoria BC, there’s another Style Night next saturday Dec 14th! I highly recommend checking it out!

xo Alana

A Living Photo from this day, hanging with my Indian tikka!

xo Alana

From the red sand, to the cerulean ocean, and everywhere in between, my time spent in Kauai was saturated with inspiring colour.

xo

Alana