This past weekend I celebrated my 35th birthday. To celebrate, my husband planned a mini-staycation for us. It’s been almost 3 years since we’ve had a little getaway just the 2 of us. He surprised me by booking us a hotel at the Fairmont at YVR (Vancouver airport). We went to Seattle for the day to do some shopping and then we spent the next 2 nights at the Fairmont. We spent Saturday in Downtown Vancouver, going to my favourite shops and eating at my favourite restaurants. We skytrained it from our hotel and it was great. No worries about parking.

In Bellingham, we found a cute sandwich shop called Gandolfo’s. They have a store in New York and it’s decorated to celebrate and honour the men and women who protect us everyday. The service was amazing and the food was absolutely delicious. Everything is home made and they have an huge selections of sandwiches. Next time we head down to Seattle we will definitely be stopping by :).

The menu

I was a bit worried at first about staying at the airport, as in planes are very noisy!!!! I’m here to say that if you ever want a quiet hotel, stay at the airport. It is sooooo sound proof that I didn’t hear anything. I only could hear our adjacent neighbours leave and that’s it. It was so quiet it was unbelievable. Friday night we laid in bed watching a movie and the planes take off. It was surreal!! I really felt like we were on vacation.

The view from our room

We enjoyed ourselves so much at the Fairmont YVR that we are thinking of making this into a yearly thing. It was so relaxing and much needed!!!

On the skytrain on our way Downtown

Like I said earlier, on Saturday we took the Skytrain from the airport to Downtown Vancouver. It was a lot of fun to ride it and we felt like tourists. One of our first stops was to Holt Renfrew. I’ve been talking about these heels forever and my husband humoured me and accompanied me while I tried them on. They are not in this Mama’s budget, yet!!! This is something that I would and will have to save for. I tried on 2 pairs: a black patent one and a nude/pink studded one. They were both absolutely stunning! I had a hard time leaving the nude/pink one behind, but once I’ve saved for it, it’s going to make buying them and wearing them all the more better!!!!!

In heaven at Holt Renfrew trying on Valentino heels

Aren’t they absolutely stunning?!?!?!?!?!? Even my husband agreed that they are gorgeous :). Now to win the lottery!!!!!!!

Our next stop was lunch. We decided to go to Reflections, since I’ve now been there twice and my husband hasn’t been. The food was delicious as always and my husband loved the food.

Our next stop was to get me some birthday cupcakes and then we headed to my favourite bakery, Thierry’s for coffee. Funny thing happened once we got to the bakery, we couldn’t resist sharing dessert. Funny how that happens!!!

My husband surprised me with a rose Saturday morning

For dinner, we headed to one of my absolute favourite restaurants, Vij’s. It’s an amazing Indian restaurant that leaves you not only full, but wanting to lick off your plate.

Thank you to my amazing husband for this wonderful weekend. It wasn’t really about my birthday, it was about us and having some much needed time for ourselves. I really do hope that we make this into a yearly thing!!!!

It’s that time of the week for my link up. Thank you to all 125 of you fabulous ladies that linked up last week!!! Not just a great turnout, but the best turnout yet. Thank you guys so much for all your support!!!!!!!!! I love it!!!!! If you are interested in co-hosting please email me at vodkainfusedlemonade@gmail.com. If you’ve already co-hosted and would like to again, don’t hesitate to email me.

This week’s fabulous co-hosts are:

Amber from Avec Amber

&

Angele from The European Malteser

Here are my favourite looks from last week:

Rachel from Rachel the Hat

Niki from Glossy Blonde

Iris from Love, Iris

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An InLinkz Link-up

Happy Post Mother’s Day. I had a fabulous weekend, how was yours? Before I get to it, this is what I am wearing today: a pink Tippi sweater, printed cropped pants, ballet flats and my jean jacket. The weather can’t decide on what it wants to do. One minute it’s raining, the next it’s sunny. Perfect outfit for running errands in unpredictable weather.

Jean Jacket & Pants (Gap). Sweater (J Crew). Flats (Aldo). Necklace (Joe Fresh). Bracelet (The Bay). Watch (Michael Kors).

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day started a bit early for me. I am a VIB member of Sephora, which means that I get emails about different promotions. They sent me a free makeover voucher and I was finally able to use it. Thursday night before heading out to my girl’s night, a friend and I headed over to Sephora for a free makeover. My make up artist, Athena, was the same one who did my face at Christmas time. She did an amazing job. I love the colours she used. I couldn’t stop staring at my eye makeup. Love it!!!! Check it out.

Sephora Makeover

On Sunday the boys let me sleep in until just after 8 and then my son could no longer hold in his excitement and with the most enthusiasm I have ever seen, woke me up with a “Happy Mother’s Day”. The kid was so excited that he jumped right onto me in bed. They brought me a latte, a home made card and some flowers my son picked out. Once downstairs, my husband showed me the rest of my present. He made me a collage of our son’s 4th Birthday. Well that just put me right into the ugly cry.

Aiden’s home made card for me

I was then made home made french toast, topped with whipped cream and strawberries. That was the beginning of my gastronomic feast.

French Toast

My son fell asleep on our way to Granville Island

We took a detour on the way to parking for the water taxi, so I could get my “pain au chocolate” from my favorite French bakery. Then since we were in the neighbourhood, I stopped at the Tea Merchant for my favorite Early Grey tea.

Waiting for the Water Taxi to take us to Granville Island

For lunch we went to this amazing restaurant on Granville Island called “Edible Canada“, where everything is local. The food was absolutely amazing and the portions were huge. Definitely a family friendly establishment.

My son took the next 2 pictures. He did a good job!!!

Our Brunch, AMAZING!!!! What I ordered

My husband’s order

Aiden’s order

What trip to Granville Island is complete without visiting the kids market!!!?? Aiden had the time of his little life.

Headed back to our car via the water taxi

A little FYI, next time you want to go to Granville Island park under the Burrard Street Bridge and take the water taxi over. The ride is only 3 mins long and you don’t have to fight for parking. You have to pay for both parking and the water taxi, but the time you save in not fighting for parking is so worth it. Plus it’s fun taking the water taxi.

We finished off our evening with take out Thai.

Thank you to my boys for such an amazing and special Mama’s Day. I had a blast and I am so blessed to have you monkeys in my life.

May this blog inspire you to try taking the water taxi to Granville Island next time and to try out Edible Canada.