Being up here in Muskoka working at our pop up this July has me reflecting on how fortunate I am to be able to live this awesome Canadian cottage lifestyle each summer. This year so far it has been less lazy than usual with our STYLEARTIST shop open - but still, driving to work in cottage country traffic is nothing like the stop and go driving in Toronto!

My Cottage routine starts and ends in sheer bliss. Early morns with a delicious latte on the boathouse joined by my puppy (and my husband on weekends), staring out at the gorgeous lake. Occasionally I get a visit from my lovely neighbour Lisa – and coffee with special girlfriends makes it even more blissful. I try to squeeze in a quick workout early morn- so I’m off to my home gym for 30 minutes of exercise, or a quick game of tennis. That way I feel less guilty indulging during wine and cheese happy hour ;).

This July my days were spent running back and forth to our shop between 10-5pm. It was an amazing experience overall, from setting up the shop to working in it and meeting lots of lovely women as well visits from dear friends here in Port Carling.

Dressing for working in Muskoka is so chill!  These were my go to faves:

• White shirt with denim shorts – both from Bella Dahl,  work with Tkees suede mules

• White skull Zadig & Voltaire tee with Rabens camo joggers, ZCD slip on sneakers

• Grey tee shirt dress with Tkees rosegold flip flops and our packable straw hat that sold out 3X!

• Blue and white striped pull over blouse with white jeans and white ZCD Velcro sneakers

• Cream lace dress cover up over my bikini with black Tkees flip flops

• And of course my 100% cashmere blanket scarf that goes everywhere with me so I can wrap myself in it whether on a chilly eve or boat ride late evening!

4 o’clock is wine-o-clock- and this is when we hang on the boathouse. There is nothing more relaxing than coming home from work to a swim in the lake and then a nice cold glass of Rose on the dock. Ahhhh. Maybe a little nap or reading and then social time with friends and family till dinner. Dinner is late in July, as we get full sun in the evening and it is my favourite time to be on the water. Swimming, boating, kayaking, or just lounging on the dock- there is a gentle calm on the lake between 5-8pm. We eat a relaxed meal around 9pm- which usually ends up being meat or fish on the BBQ and then after a glass of red wine – ready for bed! I sleep deeply and well up here – with the windows open and a fresh breeze blowing through!

Enjoy your summer days everyone- they come and go too quickly.

Till the next time Catherine xoxo