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Lily Ellis

@hello.lilyellis

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Inspiration is everywhere | On the hunt for beautiful moments in the everyday | Co-owner of Spruce Collective | Abbotsford BC | Fraser Valley + Beyond

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Latest project for @sprucecollective A pleasure as always to work together! by @hello.lilyellis

September things 🍂

Lifetime friends, a magical wedding and witnessing new beginnings. As much time outside and with my kiddos as possible. Flowers from my neighbour, just because. A solo concert, dating myself and not mad about it! So much work behind the scenes…’tis the damn season! Beyond grateful for my incredible team this year. A sun-filled weekend in Whistler with the perfect mix of bears, beers, laughter and downtime. Realizations, self reflection and life lessons thrown in for good measure. Changing seasons, inside and out. 🍂 by @hello.lilyellis

Dear, August 💫

This Summer felt even more fleeting than those before and I could hear the reverbs and voices of elders past, saying “Hold on to these moments, it all goes by so fast”. It truly does. The push and the pull of all the empty-nesting feelings and the sudden understanding of how much different and, at times, quieter this next chapter will be.

• Sadie up in Revy living the mountain dream - the longest time we’ve been apart.
• Moving Lilah into her and Sadie’s new place in North Van - seeing her spread her wings and fly into Uni life
• Extra time with Gabe with more city visits plus an impromptu crossing of paths on the Sunshine Coast
• Bears (every time I dream about one, I see one the next day…what is that?!); putting my creativity into action in free time not just at work; dinners with friends; river dips; a whole lot of behind-the-scenes renovations and holiday prepping at the shop; loving on my people, reading so many books; a new car; and a stunning solo getaway to Secret Cove.

Soaking it all in. Loving it all out.
And ever so grateful.
Because I’ve Got A Lot You Know ❤️ by @hello.lilyellis

Lasqueti Island 💫

Eleventh trek to this magical place and the friendships & memories built here, salt air, and sunsets-that-just-don’t-quit never wear off 💫

Lilah and I joined the Enns crew (plus bonus friends) for a week at their cabin and we all got cozy with the first few days of rain and windy seas. Rotating through all the records, reading, sauna-ing, board gaming, windy walking and coffee/wine/charcuterie-ing kept us going until the sun made its appearance and we soaked every last drop in!

Jarrett was a trooper with 8 gals (+Margs) and, as usual, was the best sport and captain. Boat explorations, beach walks, ocean dips, blackberry picks, a debatable pub night,kitchen sing-alongs turned dance parties, so many laughs and so much love. Huge thanks to the Enns family for sharing this amazing place with us once again. ❤️ by @hello.lilyellis

Early Summer Things 💫

Capped off June by road tripping up to Revelstoke with Sadie to get her settled in for her Summer co-op on the mountain. We had a short but very sweet time exploring Revy before she moved into staff housing and got to work leading outdoor kids camps ⛰️

Tied in a quick visit with my in-laws at their cabin in the Kootneys and it was so special to see Valhalla after so many years. So grateful to still call them family. 🤍

Back home to get caught up at work and soak in as much Valley Summer as possible. River dips, Lilah hangs, navigating piles of camping gear and moving boxes, pet cuddles and as much time outside as possible. 🌞

Felt like a month of beginnings, changes and so many in-betweens with all of the feelings watching my brood spread their wings. 🪶 Grateful for it all. by @hello.lilyellis

They were not kidding when they said “it goes by so fast” when the kids were little and it’s hard to believe it’s already been over a month since Lilah graduated!

Could not be prouder of my baby boo and the effort and dedication she put into her studies the past couple of years. Watching her grow into herself, find her people, climb mountains, be the life of the party, take adventures and continue being her wild self has been such a joy and I’m so excited to watch her spread her wings! Lilah, you are such a light my darling girl!

So many special moments throughout her grad and prom festivities: Celebrating with friends and family, promming it up with her best adventure pals and wearing my (now vintage ;) grad gown, and the most poignant moment being chosen by counsellors to be awarded the first Nathan Bulat memorial scholarship. He was her favourite teacher, a friend, and words cannot express what it meant having Kelly and their girls present it to Lilah at convocation ❤️

Now we’re packing up to move her to University this weekend and off she goes to climb more mountains and learn new things! So proud of you, Beans.

Photos 1-11 @kelenaswaanphotography 💫 by @hello.lilyellis

While I definitely go through seasons of reading more than others, I shared a book in my stories yesterday and loved chatting with so many people in my DM’s about what they thought about it! Made me realize that I never did get around to making a roundup of books I read last year - think I’ve already read as many this year so I’ll share those next!

Some aren’t included in the first pic as they were borrowed or I’ve leant them out but I try to always snap a photo after I’m finished so included those as well as my faves of 2025.

Circe- Greek mythology, a goddess heroine, desire, betrayal, oh my! Absolutely loved it. 10/10.

Remarkably Bright Creatures- An octopus, humans navigating grief and fresh chapters, heartstrings pulled. 10/10

Beautyland- could not wrap my head around this one and felt like I was missing the plot &/or intention. 3/10

Watching You- juicy murder mystery with plenty of plot twists. 6/10

The Sirens- Tidbits of history mixed with murder, mystery, family secrets & intrigue. Loved it. 9/10

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women-inspired by a female doctor in 15th century Ming Dynasty. Women’s health, fighting patriarchal society, say less. 8/10

Heart the Lover- A decades long love triangle. Messy, beautiful, full of longing, wrong timing & humanity. 9/10

The Housemaid- A sexy, wild ride of a murder mystery with plenty of plot twists. Book > Movie 8/10

The Life That’s Waiting- Meditations for life’s challenges & seasons. 10/10

Don’t Let Him In- Another juicy murder mystery that kept me guessing 6/10

The Women- Surprised myself by not finishing this one. Wanted to love it but just didn’t. 3/10

Tell Me Everything- Love this author and how her books all connect small-town characters without being a series. Everyday conversations & poignant connections between friends and neighbours. 8/10

Tofino- A sexy romance/thriller set in one of my fave towns. Wild plot twist of an ending. Loved it! 10/10

Isola-Inspired by true woman rescued off a remote island. Survival, love, greed, what a book! 10/10

God of the Woods-A missing child, wealth & privilege, dark secrets, summer camp. Couldn’t put it down. 8/10 by @hello.lilyellis

47 trips around the sun 🌞

Feeling so very grateful and privileged to share this day with my baby girls’s graduation, surrounded by family and friends. What a day!

In this season of endings and new beginnings, I can’t help but acknowledge that, as the granddaughter of 2 women who lived well into their 90’s, I may only be at the halfway mark…if I get to be so lucky 🤞🏼
And the thought of that possibility is so incredibly freeing. We all get the chance to choose our own adventure and flip the script on this thing called life. I don’t know what lies ahead every corner but I do know a few things-

I continue to be:
• happiest by the sea
• enthralled by my kids
• intentional in my friendships
• tilting my head in 98% of photos
• curious & inquisitive (which is NOT the same as argumentative, per childhood labels-stay curious kids!)

I’m no longer:
• ignoring my instincts
• depriving myself of rest
• chasing what is not meant for me

I’m working on:
• my eldest daughter tendencies
• stepping out of old patterns
• figuring out how to live closer to the sea

Cheers to the next chapter ✌🏼 by @hello.lilyellis

June things 💫

We all know I like to pack it in and this month may have pushed it…a lot…but hey, all work and no play make Lily a dull gal!

Started the month with a delightful Island trip - some work but mostly catching up with friends, old and new. Sunset driving, cool eats vibing, sea glass hunting, and wine tasting. With another dreamy stay at Mike & Jul’s cottage by the sea ⚓️

Navigating a new season with all adult kids- how did that happen?! Grad & prom prepping, university house hunting, birthday-ing, city lunching, home base-ing, river hanging, patio lounging. Trying to keep up with all of the changes while soaking in these in-between moments.

Friends - a fun night in the city for Mumford & Sons, celebrating lifes’s big moments, being there for the harder ones. Naturally squeezed in a Whistler girls trip full of all of the biking, belly laughing, dancing (!), deep chatting, wining & dining that we all needed.

Lots of work (not shown but this is the highlight reel, after all)- brainstorming, behind-the-scene-ing, styling, planning, training and growing. Oh, and pigeon relocating got added to my resume 🪶

This week is packed with another birthday, hosting a crowd, grad convocation, PROM and a big move for Sadie up to Revy for the summer. Wish me luck! ✌🏼

Thank goodness for my incredible kids, friends and team who help keep my head above water. by @hello.lilyellis

Lilah Green is 18!!! Happy birthday to you, my charming, darling, Gemini girl! You light up every room you walk into, are curious and kind, have a heart full of whimsy, are my forever sidekick cuddle bug and always keep us laughing with your unexpected “Lilah-isms”. I couldn’t be prouder of the young woman you’ve grown into and I’m so excited to see where this big year ahead takes you. Love you, Beans ❤️ by @hello.lilyellis

My sweet Grandma Lil passed on yesterday, at the age of 97. She lived a full life with more than a few challenges but left this world in the most peaceful way possible…during a nap, on the way home from a fun “mystery tour” with her care home friends.

Grandma loved her family well, always spoke her mind and I’m pretty sure she accidentally taught me my first curse word. We were different in a lot of ways but she shared with me her name, her smile, her love of water not to mention a few solid years of the Young & the Restless and Days of our Lives commentaries. I definitely let her down when I lost track of the Victor/Nikki and Marlena/Stefano plots but she didn’t hold it against me!

Road trips to visit my grandparents and mom’s family in California were a highlight of my childhood (before they moved to Missouri) and I feel so lucky to have had her there for so many key moments in my life and the lives of my kids. Rest in Peace, Grandma ❤️ by @hello.lilyellis

April & May things 💫

Soaking in whatever time I can with my kiddos • Man, they are such amazing humans • River days (and nights) haven’t changed much over the years (although dear pets have ❤️) • Sunsets, flowers & trees • Seasons of change • Kids moving out, and about, and home…for a minute • A well needed city getaway filled with biking, laughter and live music • Patio mornings • So much love. by @hello.lilyellis