If you’re like me, you’re having a hard time grasping the fact that September is already upon us. West Coast summers have a knack for passing us by in the blink of an eye, but to be honest, I’m really ready for fall. It’s most definitely my favourite season of the year, so I’m ready to embrace cozy sweaters, knit scarves and toasty boots.

After an exhausting week at work, a long weekend is just what I need. My plans include brunch and a matinee with a good friend and (fingers-crossed) ample time in the sunshine at an off-leash park with Jordy. I may even throw a photo-walk into the mix if my laziness will permit.

Whatever you end up doing this weekend, stay safe and have fun! If you’re looking for something exciting to explore, re-visit my round-up of end-of-summer events on Vancouver Island. I’ll be back first thing on Tuesday morning with a special edition of Island Profile.

Talk to me: What are your plans for the Labour Day long weekend?

The air is starting to get cooler, the days shorter and leaves are beginning to turn. The final days of August are winding down, ready to usher in the autumn and all the beauty that season holds. However, we’re not finished with our sun-drenched days quite yet and there’s still a lot of summer to pack in before Labour Day. Here’s a brief round-up of activities to keep you (or your family) smiling until the first school bell rings.

Rumble on the Runway

August 28-29, 2010 – Port McNeill Airport – Drag racing enthusiasts won’t want to miss the North Island Timing Association’s premiere summer event that promises to provide a million thrills a minute. Time trials will be held on Saturday with the elimination round on Sunday. [website]

Big River… Almost Johnny Cash

September 5, 2010 – Spirit Square, Campbell River – This tribute to the Man in Black will rock the afternoon from noon until 2:00 p.m. at the Spirit Square at Tyee Plaza; admission is free for the whole family. [website]

Alpine Food Festival

September 3-5, 2010 – Mount Washington Alpine Resort – Challenge your culinary skill set with cooking classes, wine pairings, a gala dinner, “foodie” marketplace and special appearance from Anthony Sedlak of the Food Network. [website]

Comox Valley Exhibition

August 27-29, 2010 – Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds – Featuring crafters, artisans, zucchini races, chainsaw carving, lumberjack show and so much more! [website]

10th Annual Tofino Lantern Festival

August 29, 2010 – Tofino Botanical Gardens – This unique event is a fantasy land full of handcrafted lanterns gracing Tofino’s famed botanical jewel. Lantern-making workshops are being held August 24-28, 2010 with the grande finale on Sunday night. The event is car-free, so please walk or bicycle to the gardens. All proceeds will benefit the Raincoast Education Society. [website]

Lighthouse Country Fall Fair

September 4, 2010 – Qualicum Bay – Welcome a new season and celebrate the vibrant oceanside communities of Parksville, Qualicum and beyond with this event designed to entertain and educate. The fair features a bouncy castle, kids’ games, “freaky” vegetables, dancers, musicians and so much more. This year’s theme will highlight local farms and produce with its “Heritage Breeds and Seeds” theme. Admission is $5 for adults; children 12 and under are free. [website]

The Little Woodstock West Street Festival

September 3-4, 2010 – Nanaimo – Maffeo Sutton Park welcomes the community’s most notable and talented buskers in this whimsically delightful celebration of music and entertainment. Admission is free but please bring a donation for the Loaves and Fishes Food Bank. [website]

Ladysmith Arts On The Avenue

August 29, 2010 – First Avenue, Ladysmith – The stretch of First Avenue between Roberts Street and White Street is home to everything from pottery and jewelry to handmade food and entertainment. The fun gets underway at 10 a.m. and winds down by 4 p.m. [website]

Cobble Hill Fair

August 27-29, 2010 – Cobble Hill Fairgrounds – Celebrating 101 years, the fair includes a pancake breakfast, parade, kids’ games and even a Johnny Cash tribute band! [website]

Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival

August 26 – September 5, 2010 – Various locations in Victoria – More than 65 highly talented performing companies from around the globe will each be performing a handful of shows throughout the capital region – some of which are free! Attendees over the age of 13 must purchase a Visa button to access any and all shows. [website]

If you have an event you’d like featured here, send me an e-mail or feel free to leave a comment below!

If there’s one thing that would make Etsy better it would be the ability to see, smell, feel and admire all the fine finds in person. That’s precisely the beauty in the annual Filberg Festival at Filberg Lodge and Park in Comox, British Columbia.

Opening its gates every BC Day long weekend, this year’s event was flooded with lots of sunshine and warmth. I spent a day wandering the flora and fauna with my mom, admiring everything from handmade soaps and organic cotton skirts to one-of-a-kind paintings and covet-worthy collections of pottery.

One particular vendor that caught my eye at this year’s event was Gord Langston. This Sidney-based sculptor works with almost anything he can get his hands on – particularly scrap metals.

His recycled metal art boasts cow bells made from fire extinguishers, garden decor crafted from once-loved eating utensils and drawer pulls shaped from junkyard scraps. The showstopper of his collection was undoubtedly this reflective eagle, cast in deep tones with exquisite detail.

The incredible crafts on hand aren’t the only thing awe-inspiring. Filberg Park is situated directly on the water, enhanced by spectacular views of Vancouver Island’s mountain range and the Comox Glacier.

It’s impossible not to indulge yourself in one or three things, but with my bank account still recovering from New York City, I showed some restraint. I’ve long marveled at Sarah Jane’s StixNStones, envying girls who can toss their hair up with a Bic pen in the flick of a wrist. My hair’s incredibly slippery, so I was convinced that the hair sticks weren’t for me. With just 30 seconds of instruction, Sarah Jane showed me how to twist and roll like the best of ‘em and I’m now inseparable with my hair stick. I only wish I’d bought a few.

(The website is currently being built, but you can still click over there for photos of her creations. Send a quick e-mail if you want to order a few of your own – something I’d highly suggest, ladies.)

A large roster of talented musicians was also on hand to keep everyone entertained, but we unfortunately didn’t have the time to check out any of the listed acts. However, sipping cherry lemonade is the perfect excuse to make a quick stop and smell the flowers.

Each year the Filberg Festival shines the spotlight on a guest artist. This year Canadian artist MONK shared her stunning West Coast paintings with the crowd, pieces that dance in dreamy watercolours.

2010 marked the first year that a guest artist encouraged attendees to create art of their own. The lush greens of Cathedral Grove were open for embellishment in a collaborative tribute to fallen Olympic athlete, Nodar Kumaritashvili of Georgia. Budding artists could add a personal touch to the painting which will be presented as a gift to the people of Nodar’s home country.

For more information on the annual Filberg Festival, and to stay in the loop for tickets prior to next year’s extravaganza, visit the Filberg Festival’s official website.

At the end of a brief doctor’s appointment yesterday, the conversation between my doctor and I turned to my epidermis. After a quick examination of my face, she commented that my skin was looking very healthy and asked if I use sunblock each day. “Yep, SPF 50 every day,” I answered. She laughed and I added that “I make a point of nagging my friends into using it too!”

Her smile disappeared and she said “well, you should probably share with them that they wouldn’t believe how many of my patients I’ve been seeing and diagnosing with skin cancer these days.”

In all seriousness, our skin’s wellness isn’t something we should be taking lightly. We eat right to stay healthy, exercise to stay fit and firm, take vitamins to ensure we’re getting out daily fill and wash our hands to avoid the flu at all costs. So why won’t we do the same for our skin?

I can’t deny that in my early 20s I would visit a tanning booth once in a while or ditch sunscreen for tanning oil. But that was then and this is now and I have come to the obvious conclusion that the health of my skin is important. Beyond the risk of skin cancer, damage to the skin is not reversible and once the sags and spots appear, there’s no turning back. And besides, what I look like in a bikini at age 50 is largely dependent on how I treat myself and my skin in a bikini today. I can be Helen Mirren or I can be Donatella Versace. It’s a no-brainer.

I get it. Sometimes a little bit of tone does look a bit better than the Casper the Ghost-like skin I’m usually rocking. Self tanning products have come a long, long way, my friends, and provide a deep and natural glow – often with a coconut kick. My personal favourite is Clinique’s Self Sun Body Daily Moisturizer for yummy colour. That said, you’re all out of excuses, so take care of yourself and your skin. Every day.

You’re worth it.

With the August long weekend only two sleeps away and temperatures maintaining skyrocketed levels, now is a better time than any to stay protected. While you’re at it, don’t forget to stay hydrated, stay cool and leave your pets at home. Temperatures inside your vehicle can reach 45+ degrees in only minutes and your canine companion can sustain permanent brain damage in as little as 20 minutes. For more tips on how to keep your fur baby cool during these hot, hot days, refer back to my summary from last year.

Truth be told, I was never much of a fan of dressing for the hot months. Jeans, boots and cozy sweaters have always been more my thing, but lately I’ve been embracing Summer-savvy style. The vibrancy of sunshine and blue skies is the perfect excuse to unleash splashy colour, while wearing less clothing leaves room for more accessories.

While I’m holding tight to a budget and saving most of my clothing cash for Fall and Winter, I could help but add a few essentials to my warm weather wardrobe on my recent trip to New York City.

The one must-have item that I didn’t want to be without was a romper and it was instant love when I found this silk-blend one-piece at Diane von Furstenberg’s studio flagship. The psychedelic tribal design caught me – hook, line and sinker. I wasted no time in wearing it while out and about in the city that never sleeps.

Sunglasses are a no-brainer and in more ways than one. Often times I’m mindless when it comes to sunnies and end up losing them in no time, so it’s one accessory that I don’t invest a lot of money in. $10 aviators from H&M do the trick and are essential for the beach. Swimwear is easy to stock up on without damaging my wallet, so when I found this nearly neon ruffled bikini at Victoria’s Secret for the price of a couple deluxe cocktails, I couldn’t refuse.

Canada’s best-kept fashion secret isn’t so secret anymore because Joe Fresh is graduating from Superstore and moving into it’s very own department store in downtown Vancouver this September [source]. These cork-soled sandals set me back $9 last summer, so stocking up on two pairs made the most sense. I’m a big fan of the gladiator sandal trend, but simple will go much further than elaborate in terms of design and versatility.

Jewelry is another accessory element that can’t be overlooked. I snagged this ring, also from H&M, for $3.95. Frappuccinos cost more.

I’m starting to sense a colour theme here…

I’m a big bag girl. Yes, I’m big on bags generally, but what I really mean is that I need room to play. Small handbags and clutches have their time and place, but I need the ability and space to toss some extras in when the occasion calls for it. This Summer I’ll be switching between this berry-coloured Marc by Marc Jacobs hobo that I found in Arizona with its price slashed by 90%. Yup, 90%. My other go-to carry-all is also brought to you by the fine folks at Joe Fresh for a whopping $5.

Just because it’s the off season doesn’t mean I can’t and shouldn’t represent. I was blown away by the two-storey NBA Store on 5th Avenue and picked up this vintage Phoenix Suns tee for me and a Steve Nash toddler tee for my niece. That little girl’s got too much Canucks gear.

My plans for the coming weekend included a mani/pedi until I weighed out the options. Shell out $50 for a once-in-a-while luxury or spend a fraction of that for new colours that will last all season long? The answer is obvious. From left to right I’d like you to meet Brisk Blue, Mango-Get-Em and Lickity Split.

Crown braids started to trend last summer and they haven’t lost any steam. It’s an easy way to keep my hair off my face while showing a little attention to detail. The same attention to detail can be said for this sweet, strappy and silky Quiksilver Women slip dress. The neck tie-up slays me.

Always one of the last and never one of the least is my pièce de résistance. I stalked it online, admired it from afar and gazed longingly at photos of it for months. The maxi dress is as crucial as they come for easy and effortless style while remaining entirely comfortable in the heat of July.

The Vertias maxi dress, also from DvF, is charged with romantic details and thoughtful design. The slight hem lift in the front allows the gown to bustle and flow rather than create the billowing effect that most maxi dresses fall victim to.

I bit my lip while trying to decide between the maxi dress and the romper, even though I knew they’d both be practical and that I’d wear each item a lot over the coming months. However, it was Rebecca who tipped the scales for me.

“How often are you in New York City, in the Meatpacking District, at your favourite designer’s studio?” she asked. Good point.

No matter what you find yourself wearing – or not wearing – over the coming months, there’s one item no one should be without. Sunblock is your best friend. Practice safe sun because, though her designs are legendary, no one actually wants to look like Donatella Versace when they’re 55.

You tell me: what are your summer must-haves? Wish list items? Which items will you be stocking up on for Summertime?

Hugged by the mighty ocean on all sides, it’s not difficult to find a Vancouver Island shoreline worthy of stealing your breath. Though the salt water is the same no matter where you find yourself on the Island, the contrasting and varied landscapes are a testament to just how creative Mother Nature can be.

With the bright rays of Summer on the horizon, I’ve got beaches on my mind. There are few things I enjoy as much as spending a sun-drenched afternoon by the sea before winding down the day with yummy cocktails on a patio while shaking sand out of my hair and from in between my toes. That said, this week’s Island Profile is dedicated to just a few of the countless beaches that reach around Vancouver Island, working north to south.

The Alders, Cape Scott Provincial Park

Photo: nrtphotos on Flickr

Campbell River

Photo: Counteract. on Flickr

Stories Beach

Photo: max8989 on Flickr

Miracle Beach

Photo: WindyWinters on Flickr

Kye Bay

Photo: ianredan on Flickr

Goose Spit Park

Tribune Bay Beach

Qualicum Beach

Photo: Van Felt on Flickr

Parksville Beach

Photo: Steven Hart on Flickr

Rathtrevor Beach

Photo: 9-lives on Flickr

Long Beach, Tofino

Photo: justthisguyyouknow on Flickr

Roberts Memorial Beach

Photo: maplemusketeer on Flickr

Shell Beach, Galiano Island

Photo: stephengg on Flickr

Sombrio Beach

Photo: BinoCanada on Flickr

French Beach

Photo: p.m.graham on Flickr

Botany Bay

Photo: tibchris on Flickr

Oak Bay, Victoria

Photo: turbulentflow on Flickr

Dallas Road shoreline, Strait of Juan de Fuca

For more information on beaches and parks across Vancouver Island, visit the BC Parks official website.

One of my best camping memories from childhood involved wandering the beach at Whaling Station Bay on Hornby Island, collecting oysters and bringing them back to the campsite. My family and I would cook them over the campfire and smother the succulence from the sea in garlic butter. For the fourth year in a row the Comox Valley Shellfish Festival is gearing up to celebrate our abundant ocean with a unique event.

Photo: wallyg on Flickr

The festivities start simmering on Saturday, June 19th with a gala soiree on the shoreline of Baynes Sound as diners’ palates will be tempted and teased with a nine-course shellfish feast. Prepared by some of the Comox Valley’s top chefs – as well as Rick Bowman of Monk McQueen’s Restaurant & Patio and Scott Practico of Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House fame, both from Vancouver – attendees will wine and dine their way through some of the coast’s best offerings.

Accompanied by exclusively-provided wines from Beaufort Vineyard & Estate Winery (a personal favourite of mine), this evening promises to be a foodie’s delight. Only 200 tickets are available and can be purchased for $120 each with all proceeds going to the Y.A.N.A. organization, helping local children get the medical treatment they need.

Sunday, June 20th is a day for everyone at Comox Marina Park with a number of sampling booths, desserts, a beer garden, live music and an oyster shucking competition under the sun. Activities start at 11 a.m. and run until 5 p.m.

For more information on the event, and to find out how you can purchase tickets for the gala dinner, please visit the Comox Valley Shellfish Festival’s official website.

Cute shoes, right?

They’re comfortable too…

You’ll never guess where I got them from.

When I was recently invited by Mark’s Work Wearhouse to get acquainted with their new Spring and Summer collection, I was intrigued. I’ve always associated MWW with industrial wear for men and women – and socks. Lots of socks.

Clearly I was wrong, as I soon discovered that MWW has emerged as a supplier of clothing for everything from the construction site to the office to summer evenings on the beach. A key component to their designs is functional fashion. Easy to wear, relaxed structure, soft fabrics and – most surprisingly to me – great style. In addition to these fun cork wedges, I picked up a light-weight cardigan, a breezy summer top and a camisole with a built-in bra in a tasty shade of melon.

The awesome people at Mark’s Work Wearhouse want to give one lucky reader the chance to pick up some Spring and Summer wear for themselves. I have one gift card worth $100 that can be used at any Mark’s Work Wearhouse store across Canada for men’s or women’s clothing, shoes and accessories. Winning is easy. Simply leave a comment below or Tweet the following on your Twitter account:

Everyone who both comments and Tweets has their name in the draw for two entries. The contest is open until midnight on Saturday, May 29, 2010 – I’ll be drawing the winner on Sunday, May 30. Good luck!

*Disclaimer: I was not paid or asked to write this post or hold this contest. However, I received the clothing and the $100 gift card at no expense to me.

I know we’re barely half-way through Spring, but with my closet quickly filling up with breezy dresses and my snowboard delegated to dust collecting duty, it’s safe to say that Summer can’t come quickly enough. Most mountains around BC are keeping their fingers crossed that this season’s snow will melt in time for the sunny months, though no mountain more than Mount Washington Alpine Resort. With a base of more than 600cm (yes, even to this minute), mountain bikers could be in for a surprise come June.

Here’s hoping the white stuff takes a hike sooner than later because this girl’s favourite mountain has a whole pile of exciting events planned for those sunny days that never end, with the extensive mountain bike terrain park and scenic lifts set to re-open on Saturday, June 19, 2010. Here’s a quick run-down of what you need to mark on your calendar:

Father’s Day

Sunday, June 20th
Take in a view to a thrill and bring the whole family – dads ride the mile-high lift to the top for free!