TV STYLE: Murder She Baked with Alison Sweeney

Have you watched the Hallmark movie channel's latest mystery series, Murder She Baked?

 I had the pleasure of providing jewelry for the latest in the series, A Plum Pudding Mystery, based on the novel series of the same name starring actress Alison Sweeney.

Actress Alison Sweeney wearing Brooklyn Designs Hanna stud earrings, 

and Clara Pink Amethyst earrings.

Actress Lisa Durupt wearing our Katia earrings, and actress Barbara Niven wearing our August swarovski crystal hoop earrings.

Murder She Baked is a really cute made for TV movie series which also stars actress Barbara Niven, and actor Cameron Mathison. The first film is A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery and the second is A Plum Pudding Mystery. I always love it when I watch something and know where it was filmed, recognizing the various locations and surroundings is always fun. Murder She Baked was filmed here in B.C., and I was lucky enough to go to set and meet Alison in person a few weeks ago in November. She was of course incredibly gracious, kind and had the most beautiful hair!! I definitely recommend watching the Murder She Baked series, they are serious chick flicks and I really enjoyed watching them. Can't wait to watch the latest in the series in 2016!

GET CRAFTY: DIY Glitter Christmas Houses

Christmas is coming and I'm so excited!

I love this time of year, it's so busy and cozy all at the same time.

One thing I love most about Christmas is being able to decorate my home with all of our favourite decorations. Some are old, some are new, some I've bought and some I've handmade. My absolute favourite decoration for this time of year are my beloved glitter houses.These adorably whimsical miniature houses make me feel so happy and I'm sharing with you how you can make your own glitter houses for your home or for a special gift to give.

The supplies you'll need for this project are:

- one Putz style cardboard house

I purchased these miniature pre-assembled houses from Little Village Houses on etsy

- assorted acrylic paints in your favourite colours.

- hot glue gun and glue

(find at Michael's or Walmart)

- beads and assorted decorations for your house & trees

- crafting glue

- miniature bristle brush trees

(I purchased the Celebrate It brand from Michael's) 

- Snow-Tex

- spray adhesive

- glitter

- transparent paper 

(I found some in the scrapbook paper section of Michael's)

Step 1: Paint your house. Make sure to paint the entire surface, including underneath the roof etc. so that none of the original cardboard colour shows. Paint your fencing and the base for your house as well. You shouldn't need more than 2 coats for this step and the paint will dry quickly on the cardboard.

Step 2: Take your transparent paper and measure the sizes you'll need to cut for your windows. Now you can cut and glue the paper to the inside of your house and cover all of the windows on your house with crafting glue. You can find the paper in the scrapbook section of any craft store. This will give a nice glow for your lights/battery operated candle (no real flames please!!).

Step 3: Take your glue gun and glue your house to the base. Make sure to place it properly onto the base and to leave room for your fence and any decorations like trees, etc. that you will be adding later on.

Step 4: Glue your fence to the base. Make sure to hold up the fence while the glue cools to make sure that it won't fall or lean. (approx 5- 10 seconds)

Step 5: Decorate!! This is where it gets even more fun! You can add all sorts of cute decorations to your house. Wreaths, trees, garland, a mailbox, presents, a snowman, an old fashioned car, a deer, and whatever you can imagine! I usually go to Michael's and shop from their Merry Minis collection from the Celebrate It brand. You can also look for anything in the miniature dollhouse sections of any craft or hobby shop. Use your hot glue gun to add all of these special elements to your house and please let your imagination go wild!

Step 6: Add snow to your house with some Snow-Tex. I like to take a seperate container, and mix some Snow-Tex with a small amount of water. This will make it easier to add the snow to your house. Take a rounded paint brush and dab the snow onto your house. Don't forget to add to the trees, fence and chimney!

Once you've finsihed decorating your house, you're ready for the final step. GLITTER!!

Step 7: Take your house, spray adhesive, glitter and some newspaper outside. Place your house onto the newspaper and spray your house in sections making sure to follow the directions of your spray ahesive. Spray one section and sprinkle glitter onto the area where you have applied the glue. I like to do it in 4 parts, front, back and each side. Make sure to cover every inch of your house with glitter and shake it around to get any loose glitter off of your house. 

That's it! So easy and so much fun to create, I absolutely adore these pretty, sparkly houses! You can create an entire village if you want like I do too. Here is a little look at some of the houses (and trees) that I've created. The larger purple and pink houses were made using Melissa Frances house kits. These are very labour intensive and take a lot of time and fine details to create. I really recommend these houses as well for a fun craft DIY to do. When making the Melissa Frances houses, make sure to paint each component first before gluing them together. 

I hope you had fun creating your DIY Glitter House, and I'd love to see your creations! 

Tag us on Instagram with #BrooklynDesigns #bdcrafty so we can see what you made.

Check out our other DIY projects here, here and here, and stay tuned for a cute DIY bottle brush project next week.

BROOKLYN STYLE: Long Cardigans & Labradorite

Fall has most definitely arrived, and I for one couldn't be happier!

This is probably my favourite season. I love the crisp fresh air, that slight scent of a bonfire and of course those gorgeous Autumn colour leaves.

But most of all I love Fall fashion.

One trend I'm loving right now is the return of the long cardigan. I found this cozy pumpkin spice coloured cardigan at Loft. This colour instantly drew me in and could easily become a great transition piece in the Spring as well. The warm tones of this sweater contrast nicely with the cool, earthiness of our Labradorite jewels. 

I dressed our model in my favourite Labradorite jewels from our collection including one of my faves, our Monica necklace. Monica is an easy necklace that you can wear everyday for a signature look, or layer up with your other Brooklyn faves like I've styled our model here.

 If you haven't seen a Labradorite gemstone before, it is a must see. Beautiful flashes of fire glow within these semi-precious gemstones, in a natural and imperfect way, and the earthy grey colour is make them perfect to wear year round.

We want to see your Brooklyn Designs fall style!
Take a pic of yourself wearing your faves & tag us on Instagram with #BrooklynDesigns and share your fall fashion with us.

GET CRAFTY: Halloween Glitter Skull

I'm not one to decorate for Halloween, but when Micaela and I were coming up with ideas for our crafting series we had to include this spooky night. What better way than with a chic and sparkly, creepy black skull!

The supplies you'll need for this project are:

- one skull for crafting ( we purchased ours at Michaels)

- one black acrylic paint 

- one dark grey acrylic paint

- sponge painting brush

- glitter, crystals, pearls, etc. for decoration

- crafting glue

 (try for one that is non-toxic so that the fumes don't both you) 

Step 1: Mix the black and dark grey acrylic paints together to create a very dark smoky grey. Paint the entire outside surface and inside surface of the skull, making sure to not leave any of the white showing. Let your skull dry completely before moving onto step 2.

Step 2: Take your glitter, crystals, pearls, etc. and start gluing them onto the surface of your skull. This is when it gets fun!! You can create whatever you like with your skull. You can choose an assortment of colours and textures to add to it. If you like a monocromatic look like I chose, make sure all of your adornments match before you start gluing. You might have to do the gluing in steps to allow for the crystals to properly dry and to create layers as well.

Here are some pics of Micaela's skull and mine as well. This was really fun! I love how Micaela has the gems dripping down it's face and inside the cracks in the skull. This is a great craft project for you to do for yourself (no kids if you don't want to!!) or even with your tweens and teens.

Once you've finished your skull you can place it on your mantel, or favourite reading corner for a spooky, yet chic Halloween treat.

We want to see your finished projects! Tag us on INSTAGRAM with #BrooklynDesigns #bdcrafty and show us your amazing creations! 

Want to get even more crafty with us? Check out our Botanical Wall Art project and look for more Get Crafty projects coming up.

BROOKLYN STYLE: The Updated Bar Necklace

The Bar necklace has become a style staple in our collection, and this season we've added a new twist (or bend!) with our Florence chevron necklaces. Made with hammered Chevron pendants, our Florence necklaces are available in 2 sizes and lengths that make for the perfect layering pieces.

 Whether you wear your Florence necklace alone, or layered with your other beloved necklaces, it's sure to quickly become a favourite to wear.

Don't forget to mix your shapes, textures and even metals for a modern personalized look. Are you more of a minimal dresser? Pair our large Florence necklace with your favourite button up and let it peek out just under your collar. 

BROOKLYN IN THE CITY: Halloween Edition

 {Guest blogger Micaela Armstrong}

Vancouver is experiencing the first hints of Fall - yellow leaves, crisp air and pumpkin spice lattes. Along with Thanksgiving here in Canada, October is (obviously) best known for the world's spookiest celebration - Halloween! The Lower Mainland has plenty to offer this month for those of you who enjoy prolonging the Halloween celebration. It doesn't all have to be solely about October 31st! From kid-friendly to not-so-kid-friendly, I've got a handful of places and events that you can check out for Halloween.

1.) Port Kells Pumpkin Patch: First step to celebrating Halloween - don't forget the pumpkin! Port Kells Nurseries in Surrey is a great place to go with the family this season. Admission is free, and so is access to hay rides, the haunted house and the hay maze (just to name a few!) Pick out the perfect pumpkin, get your face painted, and eat lunch at the cafe all in one afternoon. Open everyday until October 31st from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, check out their website for more details.

2.) Fright Nights at the PNE: This event may not be for everyone. Fright Nights are aptly named and are not for the faint of heart! Besides live entertainment, there are seven haunted houses and fifteen rides to enjoy. Experience the thrill for yourself! Admission starts at $22.00 and is available online, at 7-Eleven, or at the gate.

3.) Burnaby's Haunted Village: For something a little more kid-friendly, take the family to The Haunted Village at Burnaby Village Museum. It runs from 6:00-9:00 pm, October 28th to October 30th. The kiddos can trick-or-treat, show off their costumes, and take a ride on the carousel! Admission for adults is $14.00, and admission for kids is just $9.00. 

4.) Halloween Costume Ball: This event, held at Science World, is 19+ only. With two floors of music, licensed bars, and six performers and DJs, over 1000 people will be in attendance for the biggest Halloween bash of the year! You can buy your tickets online for $60.00 plus tax. Join the party from 9:00 pm - 2:00 am!

5.) Stanley Park Ghost Train: Not to be missed is one of Vancouver's most beloved and popular attractions - the Stanley Park Train! Every October, you can enjoy a different theme on the Halloween train - this year's theme being Horror Classics. Running now until November 1st, you can ride the train any day of the week! If you'd like a less scary experience for the kids, feel free to take them to a matinee ride Friday to Sunday afternoons. Tickets and ticket prices are available online. You can purchase them ahead of time online, or buy them at the gate!

With all that's happening for Halloween this year in the Lower Mainland, you can be sure to find an event you'll enjoy!

 

Micaela Armstrong is Executive Assistant at Brooklyn Designs and a part-time student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

SAMPLE SALE!

It's time of year again! 

Our annual sample sale is in full swing & you can shop our gorgeous jewels at amazing prices (wholesale or below!) until this Friday, October 2nd. We'll be replenishing our sale over the next 2 days with lots of beautiful gems, with many of them being the last of their kind.

Shop now until Friday, October 2nd.

Want to be the first to know about our sample sales, celebrity style & everything else new here?

Join our mailing list!

Sign up here. 

Sample Sale site: www.brooklyndesigns.bigcartel.comhttp://brooklyndesigns.bigcartel.com/

5 Beauty Favourites for Fall 2015

{Guest blogger Micaela Armstrong} 

           September is flying by, and with Fall fast approaching, it's time to put away the summer clothes and bust out the Fall fashion. Along with rocking autumnal clothing and accessories, don't forget to vamp up your beauty routine! If you're in need of some new products, fear not - I've got a quick list of my five Fall beauty must haves for you.

1) Broad Spectrum Sunscreen by Clinique ($23.00 USD): Just because the sun is starting to set earlier in the day doesn't meant that it's any less harmful to your unprotected skin! I think a lot of people forget that sunscreen isn't just for hot summer days. The sun's rays can cause damage every day of the year and it's important to cover up! This sunscreen by Clinique is non-greasy, oil free and great for sensitive skin.

2) Buxom Mascara - Sephora ($24.00): This mascara is a godsend! I use it daily and it's beautifully volumizing, giving my lashes - and my confidence - a huge boost. Use as little or as much as you want, depending on how dramatic your look is for the day. It layers very easily and is clump-resistant so there's no worry about developing clumpy spider lashes...

3) Moroccanoil Hair Treatment ($47.00): When the weather starts to get rainy and cold, it definitely takes its toll on my hair. In order to repair some of the damage, I use Moroccanoil before styling. A small amount applied to damp or dry hair has amazing effects - shine, strength and protection. Personally I use the light treatment because I have fine hair, but there are numerous other Moroccanoil products to choose from. Check out their website or go to a local salon because I can almost guarantee they carry Maroccanoil products!

4) Lipstick by Mac Cosmetics ($20.00): Lipstick is one of those things that takes a lot of confidence to wear. That being said, wearing lipstick actually gives me more confidence! I can have a totally average morning, getting ready for school or work, feeling so-so, then I throw on a bold lip shade and I can conquer the world! In my opinion, Fall makeup is incomplete without a warm autumnal lip shade so I chose "Spice It Up" by Mac. It's described as a "mulled brown berry" and can complement a smoky eye or stand out by itself for a simpler look. Don't be afraid! Mac lipsticks are amazing and worth a try, even if you're a lipstick newbie.

5) Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette ($64.00): For a bit more of a splurge, I included Urban Decay's NEW Naked Smoky Palette. The colours are super pigmented and are perfect for creating a dramatic smoky eye. You can also just stick to the neutrals for a more low-key look! Edgy or simple? You decide.

Fall is full of change, from adjusting to a back to school schedule or getting used to the changing temperature and fewer sunlight hours per day. It's also a great opportunity to shed your summer wardrobe and pick up a few new beauty products. Do you have any Fall beauty faves? Feel free to share them with us!

 

Micaela Armstrong is Executive Assistant at Brooklyn Designs and a part-time student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

3 Must Have Earring Styles For Fall 2015

{Guest blogger Micaela Armstrong}

Before I became immersed in the realm of jewelry, I was totally unaware of the many various styles that earrings come in. My two categories were 1.) Studs 2.) Everything Else. Are you in the same boat as I was? If so, read on and I'll introduce you to a couple more different styles - and some ideas of what you can wear with them!

1.) Studs: OK so you already know about studs, but they're on here because you always need at least one solid pair of stud earrings. My current favourites are the Cece Rainbow Moonstone studs. They're the perfect low-maintenance accessory and can add a touch of refinement to whatever you're wearing. Are you in your sweatpants? Throw on a pair of studs and you already have some semblance of put-togetherness. Easy! (I'm joking, of course. You should probably wear a cute jersey dress if you want to go for a flirty, feminine look.)

2.) Ear Crawlers: These are super trendy right now and are a great way to cover more area on your ear without the commitment of several more piercings. I wear our Anniston ear crawlers ALL of the time and they add such a cool, subtle touch to my outfits. They make me feel a little rebellious because they're nontraditional as far as earrings go. On that note, I would pair them with a stylish black lace top and some leggings.

3.) Threader Earrings: This style is a particularly interesting and unique way to wear an earring. A beautiful example of threader earrings would be our Margo Crystal Quartz threaders. I love that with the small teardrop pendant and the chain extending in the back, they look delicate and balanced. Keeping in mind a delicate and balanced appearance, I would pair our Margo threaders with a soft blouse and a pair of jeans.

Whether you want a simple, classic look or a more unique and glamorous one, there's an earring style to fit any outfit. The more you add to your collection, the more you can switch it up! 

 

Micaela Armstrong is Executive Assistant at Brooklyn Designs and a part-time student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

GET CRAFTY: DIY Botanical Wall Art

We LOVE to get crafty here at Brooklyn Designs and we're stoked about this new blog series that we're starting off today! There are so many great DIY craft ideas out there and Micaela and I wanted to share our faves that we've been crafting lately.

Today we're going to be making beautiful decorative botanical wall art.

The supplies you'll need for this project are:

- Canvas, or other painting surface

- Paint brush

- Acrylic paint, colour of your choice

- Spray adhesive

- Metallic gold or silver spray paint

- leaves or flowers (real)

The day before you start your project, go outside and choose the botanicals for your art piece. Keep in mind how you would like your end piece to look and choose healthy leaves and flowers as opposed to dry, brittle botanicals. Place all leaves and flowers between 2 sheets of waxed paper (parchment paper works well also) and place a heavy stack of books or object on top of the entire surface of paper. Leave these overnight to set in  place and become flattened for your project.

Step 1: Paint the surface of your canvas with the acrylic paint. You can choose to paint one or two layers, it will be dependent on how much pigment your paint has. Allow to dry completely.

{You don't need to paint the sides because you will be spray painting that later on.}

Step 2: Once you've allowed your canvas to dry completely, gather your leaves & flowers and decide on an arrangement for your art work. We chose to do 3 different styles for ours, using different amounts of space on the canvas for a different look each time. The botanicals you choose will also help to decide where they should be placed.

Step 3: Using the spray adhesive, spray the backside of your leaves with the spray. Place the leaves back onto your canvas and press down on all edges of the leaf and stem. This step and the next should be done outside if possible. Otherwise, please make sure to be in a well ventilated space.

Step 4: Using your metallic spray paint, spray the entire surface of your canvas making sure to spray evenly to prevent any running of the paint. Follow the instructions on the can and make sure to spray at a safe distance. Let the canvas dry for approx. 5 minutes and then carefully remove the leaves.

Allow your canvas to dry completely before you hang your new art piece. 

We had a lot of fun with these and the possibilities are endless on what you can create!

I love the look of the painted leaves as well and you can also add them back onto your canvas for a 3D affect and added texture to your final piece.

Make a one for yourself, and gift the others to your BFF.

Make sure to take a pic of your Botanical wall art and tag us on INSTAGRAM with #BrooklynDesigns #bdcrafty

Happy crafting!

BROOKLYN STYLE: Delicate Layering Necklaces

I love dainty layering necklaces, they're the pieces you'll find yourself wearing

every single day because they go with everything.

This is a must have item and we love creating new designs each season.

Here are some of my faves from our current collection.

Whether dressed up, or down, a delicate layering necklace is a need to own piece. 

Express your personal style with the necklace you wear. Choose our Florence small or Madden necklaces for a modern geometric look. Add a touch of whimsy with our dainty Desire heart necklace. Aqua Chalcedony is our top selling gemstone, and this Monica necklace is an easy way to wear this beauty everyday. Need a little protection? Our mini Hamsa necklace is delicate in style and makes for a thoughtful gift.

We love sharing style secrets, follow along with us on INSTAGRAM for your

daily style fix & more.

BROOKLYN STYLE: Fall Preview

Fall is my favourite time of year for fashion.

I love knits, denim, rich colours and lots of layers!

We're getting close to my beloved season, and here are a few of my current favourite

transition pieces for early Fall style.

Currently loving all things Amazonite! This gemstone has always been one of my faves, and this season we're incorporating Amazonite wherever we can. Look for new ring and earring designs in the coming weeks, as well as our present Fall collection featuring this aqua hued stone.

I love a layered necklace, and our NEW Margo double strand necklace fits perfectly with the neckline on this blouse from H&M. Add a couple bracelets from our latest collection like our Margo Amazonite and Pacific stretch gemstone bracelets with this cute denim jacket from AE. I love these earthy camel Talula pants and sexy BCBG cutout booties with our classic Megan and Calista rings, and top selling Cece Moonstone earrings to complete the look.

Want to know what else we're loving for Fall?

Pin with us on Pinterest and see what we're coveting this coming season.

TV STYLE: Love It Or List It Vancouver

Our favourite Bachelorette Jillian Harris was spotted wearing our jewels on the past few episodes of Love It Or List It Vancouver and we couldn't be more thrilled! Jillian is my favourite person to ever be on The Bachelor franchise, and when I was given an opportunity to send her some jewels for consideration I jumped at it! I love how down to earth Jillian is and think she is so adorable. Her blog is fantastic and full of info from decor, recipes and of course style. Jillian has a great sense of style and I love all of the outfits she puts together (I don't think I have ever not liked something Jillian has worn!).

 

Love It Or List It Vancouver is one of my faves to watch. I was hooked on the original east coast version (Love It Or List It) and when I found out that there was a Vancovuer edition being made a few years ago I was stoked. If you haven't watched LIOLIV, it's a must see just for the scenery and landscapes alone. Todd shows off some absolutely gorgeous homes and of course Jillian designs ridiculously stunning renovations with the help of her trusty contractor Kenny Gemmell.

 

 

Jillian Harris wearing her Brooklyn Designs Farah necklace & Bailey necklace.

 

 

I love how Jillian shorted her Bailey necklace and layered it with her Farah feather necklace. Jillian is also a fan of our Cece Rainbow Moonstone studs and we've spotted her wearing them on several occasions, check out her blog posts here and here.

 

Are you a fan of Love It Or List It Vancouver? What's been your favourite renovation so far? I'm in love with all of Jillian's redesigns and those white kitchens are amah-zing!!

BROOKLYN BEATS: Road Trip Favourites

{ GUEST BLOGGER } Micaela Armstrong

With summer in full swing, there's nothing I like more to do than to hop in the car with some friends, some good music, and no destination in mind. I love discovering new music and making playlists, so I thought I would share a few of my favourites to listen to these days.

1) Mac Demarco - Cookin' Up Something Good:

Mac Demarco will always remind me of summer, barbecues and copious amounts of sangria. If you've got a chance, listen to his album "Salad Days" all the way through. Born in Duncan, B.C. and raised in Edmonton, he's amassing more of an audience and doing quite well for a 25 year old!

2) Broken Teeth - Sam Roberts Band:

I'm a sucker for some Sam Roberts! I'm also happy to add a second Canadian to my list of favourites.  I find that his music is always suitable for a bit of cruising. Or working. Or whatever, really. He's just great.

3) Sylvan Esso - H.S.K.T:

I had a chance to see Sylvan Esso at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver on April 24th. It was one of the best concerts I've been to! The venue was perfect, and they were amazing entertainers. They released their self-titled debut album last May and their indie-electro sound is a lot of fun.

4) Giant - Django Django:

A friend recently introduced me to Django Django by showing me this song from their new album Born Under Saturn, released earlier this month. With its harmonies, this song has a bit of a fun Beach Boy's vibe (if the Beach Boys had an alternative/electronic twist...)

5) Sales - Renee:

Sales is a duo from Orlando, Florida, and they played at the Biltmore Cabaret in Vancouver recently. Their EP has five songs and one remix, and is perfect mellow driving music.

What's your favourite road tripping music? Upbeat, mellow, or mixed? Feel free to share some of your favourite driving tunes!

Micaela Armstrong is Executive Assistant at Brooklyn Designs and a part-time student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

Outdoor Weddings: A Feminine Casual Look For Any Budget

{ GUEST BLOGGER } Micaela Armstrong

Outdoor weddings are hugely popular, and being that we're in the thick of wedding season right now, I thought I would throw together a few outdoor wedding-friendly outfits. Being outdoors means being subjected to the weather, so it's important to dress comfortably (while still looking wedding appropriate!) With this in mind, I thought I would do three similarly casual feminine looks with three budgets ranging from $50.00 to $150.00.

The dress I've picked for the low end of my budget is from good old reliable H&M. At $12.99, this casual sleeveless dress is a steal! You can dress it up with a light shawl and a pair of heels, and still come out of it having spent less than a hundred dollars.

For the mid-range budget, I chose a super cute vintage floral dress for $67.00 at the Bay. I love this dress because it's floral and fun, but still subdued enough not to stand out too much at a wedding. Paired with a nude heel, you've got a casual, dainty summery look.

Lastly for the higher end of my budget I found this beautiful peach coloured beaded dress (also from the Bay). I love the contrast in textures with the the beaded bust and chiffon skirt. Accessorizing with a delicate clutch can ramp this outfit up and you'll be wedding-ready in no time.

I'm your typical struggling student. Juggling work, school and life doesn't leave room for a lot of extra expenditures, particularly when it comes to clothes shopping. That being said, it doesn't have to cost a lot to look good!





Micaela Armstrong is Executive Assistant at Brooklyn Designs and a part-time student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

BROOKLYN IN THE CITY: Surrey

{ GUEST BLOGGER } Micaela Armstrong

I spent most of my life growing up in Surrey, so I definitely have a soft spot for this city! According to the city of Surrey website, its population is around the half million mark and is expected to grow by several hundred thousand in the next few decades. Keeping this in mind, Surrey has done a great job of planning and executing a number of great cultural and musical events for those who reside there! This summer is no exception, so I compiled a few ideas for events happening in Surrey in July and August (and some that have already started!)

1.) Canada Day Celebration: Every city has a Canada Day celebratory event and Surrey is no exception. Seeing as the weather has been absolutely gorgeous, try to get outside this Canada Day and enjoy the festivities! This particular event has music, amusement rides, face painting and fireworks at the end of the night.
WHEN: Wednesday July 1st 2015, 10 am - 10:30 pm
WHERE: Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre, 176th St. and 64th Avenue in Surrey

Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre, Surrey, BC Canada
176 Street & 64th Avenue - See more at: http://www.surrey.ca/canadaday/72.aspx#sthash.3nc5Ss2y.dpuf

Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre, Surrey, BC Canada
176 Street & 64th Avenue - See more at: http://www.surrey.ca/canadaday/72.aspx#sthash.3nc5Ss2y.dpuf

2.) Surrey Urban Farmers Market: The Surrey Urban Farmers Market is a great place to shop for local food. Stop by and support local farmers and artisans! There are a number of vendors selling fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and baked goods.
WHEN: Wednesdays from 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm (Until October 7th 2015)
WHERE: Surrey City Hall Plaza, 13450 104th Avenue, Surrey

3.) Fusion Festival: This annual festival is an amazing way to experience dozens of different cultures at once. The entertainment includes artists representing various cultures through dance and music. Not only is there free entertainment, there are tons of cultural pavilions showcasing international food! Admission is free and food tickets are $1.00 each.
WHEN: Saturday July 18th and Sunday July 19th 2015, 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
WHERE: Holland Park, located at the corner of King George Blvd and Old Yale Road in Surrey

4.) Surrey Night Market: There's no need to drive out to Richmond to visit a night market this summer! There's one right in Surrey and admission is only $2.00. There are approximately 50 international food vendors varying from burgers andcurries to fresh juice and mini doughnuts. With 125 mechandise vendors and a nightly stage for local artists, the Surrey Night Market is not to be missed!
WHEN: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm (until September 20th 2015)
WHERE: Cloverdale Exhibition Grounds - 17726 62nd Avenue, Surrey

5.) Surrey Food Cart Festival: A food cart festival is something I've never experienced, but it's definitely on my to-do list for this summer. Surrey's food cart festival is happening this July and there will be 20 food trucks serving everything from grilled cheese to Vietnamese! There will be music and entertainment galore, and it's easily accessible by transit. Furthermore, it's a "zero waste" event, meaning that an average of 90% of the waste will be recycled or composted instead of going straight to the landfill. Kids under 13 get in free and adults pay only $2.00, so go check it out! 
WHEN: Saturday July 25th 2015, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
WHERE: City of  Surrey Plaza at City Hall - 13450 104th Avenue in Surrey

There's tons going on in the growing city of Surrey. It's so great for those residents who don't want to cross any bridges and endure traffic just for the sake of enjoying a sunny summer afternoon. Take advantage of what this city has to offer and explore Surrey this summer!





Micaela Armstrong is Executive Assistant at Brooklyn Designs and a part-time student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

TV STYLE: The Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe

Talk about DRAMA!!

What do you think of The Bachelorette season so far? These guys have to be the most dramatic bachelors yet! But on the plus side, some of them seem like really genuine guys with big hearts. What about Kaitlyn? I am a fan and am glad that she was chosen to be the Bachelorette this season. Loving all of her fashion too!! She's worn some great outfits so far during her quest to finding love.

Last week we spotted Kaitlyn wearing our new Easton necklace! This necklace features a large tusk pendant that has a hammered finish and is accented with a small faceted Turquoise bezel set charm. I designed this piece with Kaitlyn in mind and is one of many pieces that I specially designed for the show. Can't wait to see what other pieces Kaitlyn wears!

We also spotted Kaitlyn wearing our Easton long tusk necklace this week during her group date in Doublin. I really love how Kaitlyn layers all of her jewels and mix and matches different sizes and textures together. This top really caught my eye too, and you can get a similar look via Aritzia in their Babaton CAYDEN sleeveless blouse.

During Kaitlyn's date with Nick we spotted her wearing our new Ellis ring in Aqua Chalcedony. This ring is very similar to our popular Hamilton ring worn last season by Andi Dorfman. We added 2 textured bands to this gorgeous gemstone for an updated design and love how well it looked on Kaitlyn last night. This ring sold out quickly when we first introduced it, and we'll be restocking this in all sizes very soon! 

Want to know what I like best about Kaitlyn? She's Canadian!!! 

Who is your favourite guy for Kaitlyn? What fashion styles are you loving from Kaitlyn's closet so far? We want to know!! Comment below and tell us what you're thinking and connect with us on Instagram #BrooklynDesigns.