Saskatoon Berry Picking

Saskatoon Berry Picking


On a warm July day, I was driving along the highway and noticed a large "U-Pick Saskatoons" sign on the side of the road and immediately I knew I had to pick some. Once home, I asked my mom and sister if they wanted to pick berries with me, and we decided to go to a Saskatoon berry farm close by.

We went to the Hillberry Saskatoon farm and picked a 1 gallon pail full of saskatoons. We may have snuck a few to snack on too 😉.



The farm was very beautiful with rows on rows of berry bushes. This is a great time in the season to pick berries as they are perfectly ripe and juicy! Though it was a warm day, the smoke from all of the forest fires muted the sun and we were able to enjoy ourselves without worrying too much about getting a sun burn or sun/heat stroke! 



It is located at the top of the east side of the Gwynne valley on highway 13. It's a small scale, family owned and operated farm, which gives it a very nice small town feel. It is great to know where your money is going! 




One of the best parts is just how affordable saskatoon berry picking is! We live in a society where a half a pint of berries can cost you up to $5. That is a very steep price to pay for a hand full of berries. Although saskatoons aren't available all year round, they are extremely affordable in the summer. For a one gallon pail of saskatoons at the Hillberry farm, it was $10! To put that into perspective, there are approximately 8 pints (16 half pints) in a gallon. Blueberries at $10 per pint ($5 per half pint), times by 8 to make a gallon, would be $80! In other words, Saskatoon berries (at approx. $.80 per pint) are extremely affordable - and delicious!!!




I had a great time at Hillberry Saskatoon farm, and I can't recommend berry picking enough! 

Thanks so much for reading,
Madison xx


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Emily & Justin | Nose Hill, Calgary

Emily & Justin | Nose Hill, Calgary


Emily and Justin have such a strong bond - just by looking at them, you can tell that they are connected on a deeper level. The way that they look at each other says it all! They are a couple which I admire and their love constantly inspires me! Emily and I have been best friends since we were around 5 years old - how amazing! I met Justin in high school after noticing all the girls swoon over him in the hallways (😉). Their love story began shortly afterwards and has been going strong ever since! I am so proud to call these incredible people my friends and I am so honored to have been able to capture their love. 



























Subjects: Emily Gibson & Justin Ward
Date: July 16, 2017
Location: Nose Hill Park, Calgary Alberta
Lens: NIKKOR 35mm 1.4

Thanks for taking a peak at the photos! You can find the entire set HERE.
Stay tuned for future photography posts,
Madison xx




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Sustainable Beach Wear

Sustainable Beach Wear


'Slow living' is a lifestyle which I am currently pursuing. One of the most important aspects of slow living, is slow fashion! We live in a world full of fast fashion, and while I am not quite ready to permanently give it up forever, I have been slowly taking more interest in slow fashion and building up a garment repertoire.



Beach wear is something which I have found extremely challenging at times. I struggle finding a way to look fashionable yet, remain cool enough for the hot weather. The most recent outfit I have been wearing to the beach has broken those barriers and allows practicality and fashion to meld together.

The best thing about this outfit is that it is comprised of 100% slow, sustainable items!



The floppy beach hat is a second hand find. This instantly grants the piece 'slow fashion' status, as thrifted items are a more conscious and sustainable choice.



This is my beloved Elizabeth Suzann top! It is made of raw silk and has been designed to last for many years. I have a full review/discussion post about this top HERE.



These pants are another thrifted item! I purchased them a few weeks ago and hadn't had the chance to wear them until I was in a more beachy setting. They are very wide legged and "flowy," perfect for the beach! I hope to hem them in the future as they are a bit long for me! For now, I simply roll the waist band once or twice to get them in the right position. Another major plus is that they have POCKETS!



The watch I am wearing is my Grandmas, thus, I am unfamiliar with its brand or history. It is vintage and therefore, sustainable! Win!



Birkenstock's are known for their extremely long lasting quality! I recently retired my 7 year old pair and upgraded to these beauties. I expect them to last me another 7 years, or longer. For this reason, I find Birkenstock's to be a very valuable and sustainable shoe! They are also very easy to style and can be worn with many outfits in spring, summer, and fall. 



This is my go-to outfit for those extra warm evenings by the lake. Sustainable fashion is so important to me and I am excited to continue to challenge myself throughout this journey. 

Thanks so much for reading,
Madison xx



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