 Hello Everyone! Happy Fall! I don't know about you, but fall is easily my favorite season! Luckily in Edmonton the trees all change colors and the leaves drop. There is something special about walking through the leaves and hearing them crunch underneath you. This year, fall came especially early and the trees started changing in early September which was both exciting but it is also a reminder that winter is approaching sooner than I would like it to. I spent a few different days taking pictures of the changing season and want to share them with you! Hope you enjoy!!
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Hey Everyone!! Last month my boyfriend and I took a little trip to Victoria to celebrate his graduation and our one year anniversary. I took a bunch of pictures and thought that I would share them with you! There is quite a few so I figure that I would put them into two separate blog posts and to separate them into each individual day. Enjoy!! Day 1: On our first day we got in at around noon, got our rental car and made our way downtown to explore. We went to Green Cuisine for lunch, to Silk Road to pick up tea and to the Inner Harbor.
After the inner harbor, we met up with my Auntie G whom we stayed with and went to her and my Uncle's beautiful new condo which is right on Dallas Road overlooking the ocean. Kael and I felt very fortunate to spend time there especially on the deck where we spent most of our mornings eating breakfast and people watching. In the evening Kael and I took a walk along Dallas Road and caught the last of the sunset.
Dallas Road
Day 2: Our second day in Victoria was probably our busiest and also the day that we felt the most full! After breakfast, we headed out to the Cordova Bay area. We went to Matticks Farm and to Mount Doug. It was really special for me to show Kael these places because I have such fond memories of these places from when I was growing up. It was a beautiful day to go to the top of Mount Doug and enjoy the view.
After Mount Doug, we went to Glo for lunch and sat on the patio. We enjoyed sitting by the ocean and the food was delicious. After lunch we went back to my Aunt and Uncles, relaxed and then got ready to go out for dinner. For dinner we went to a place called Be Love which specializes in gluten free/dairy free food. We started with salsa and their homemade chips, I had a ZLT and curried cauliflower soup for my main course and then Kael and I split a few different cakes for desert. One of the many reasons I love Kael is that he is such a good sport when it comes to my dietary restrictions and is willing to try new things with me. I rather enjoyed my food (especially the desert) and will for sure go back the next time we are there.
Day 3: On Saturday we spent the morning with Auntie G at the Yates St. Farmers Market which was a lot of fun and then Kael and I went to Beacon Hill Park to the petting zoo so we could pet goats! I am slightly obsessed with them and would have one as a pet if I could so it was awesome to be around so many at once. We relaxed for the rest of the day and then Auntie G cooked awesome tacos for dinner which we thoroughly enjoyed.
I hope you enjoyed part 1 of our trip, be on the lookout for part 2 of our trip very soon! Have a Happy Weekend! xo.  Hello Everyone!
It has been a hot minute since the last time I posted so I thought I would catch you up on what has been going on in my life and what my plans are for this blog moving forward. Just over a year ago, I wrote about Not Settling and Non-Negotiable's and a lot has changed since then. I was at an interesting point in my life when I began to write that post. I was ready to let go of the negative people and situations I had been in and step forward with a positive outlook and an appreciation for the lessons that I had been taught, but truth be told I was scared shitless. I was so scared that I sat on that post for over a month and debated whether or not I would even publish it. I was not sure if I was ready to be that vulnerable or if I was comfortable potentially stepping on a few toes in the process. Once I got over that fear by doing a bit of soul searching and a few pep talks from some wonderful friends, I published it and I am very grateful that I did. I felt like a weight had been lifted and I was finally able to give myself the closure I needed and move on with my life; I have said it before but I strongly believe that what you put out into the world is projected back to you and almost immediately after I published that post I met my boyfriend. I am not the easiest person to get to know because I am naturally quiet and very shy but he very quickly put me at ease and shifted the way I viewed relationships. He pushed me out of my comfort zone and showed me that it was okay to be myself. He encourages and supports my goals and while we are very different people, he brings out the best in me. While that has been the biggest change in the year since writing that post, life has been good. I got a permanent position with the company I work for, I am planning to do some travelling in the next few months and most importantly I am the happiest I have ever been. With all that being said,life has been pretty busy and this blog has kind of taken a backseat; I am hoping to change that. I love that I have a space where I can voice my opinions on what is going on in my life to beauty products that I love or fashion. I have a few things planned for this blog and hope that you will join me by jumping back on the train so to speak and coming along for the ride. Thank you for the continued support and encouragement, it means a lot!!! xo Hi Everyone! Happy October! Fall is easily my favorite season with the leaves changing color, the fashion and the overload of pumpkin spice everything! It feels like it has been forever since I did a favorites post so today I thought that I would let you know what I have been loving. Enjoy!!  #1: Bath and Body Works-Autumn Candle $22.50 OR 2 for $24  I think I have said it enough times that if you have been reading my blog for a while, you know that I love candles more than is probably healthy. Fall/Winter is the BEST time for candles and it makes a room feel more cozy and smell great! So far this season, the Autumn candle is the one that I have been burning the most. I am terrible at describing smells so I cheated and checked on their website; this candle has notes of bright red apple, cedarwood & fresh balsam and it smells amazing! #2: Tea Squared- Roasted Apple Chai Tea $11.99  Also not a surprise to most, I love tea. While I do love a good pumpkin tea this time of the year, I saw this at Sobeys and thought that it sounded like a good seasonal tea to try. It tastes more like an apple cider to me than a chai tea, but it is still really good! I love apple flavored things and this is a great tea to sip on while curled up reading a book. #3: La Mer Jewelry- Rose Gold-Gunmetal Motor Wrap Watch  As you saw in my last blog post, I recently had a birthday. For my birthday I received this watch from my wonderful boyfriend and I love it. I love rose gold and think that this watch is really unique; it also suits my personality quite well. It also goes with just about everything and I have been wearing it non-stop since I got it! It Thanks again babe! 4: Urban Decay- Naked Smoky Palette $64  Now to be fair, I only got this palette a few days ago but I have had my eye on it since they announced it earlier this year. I have tried it out and am super happy with the shades and how it looks when applied. A little goes a long way with this eye shadow, you do not need a lot and it lasts a long time. Some of the reviews mention that the shadows are difficult to blend, but I disagree and found it quite easy. Makeup palettes are not cheap, but it is worth the investment; they keep for a long time and there are lots of different looks you can play with. I highly recommend this if you are looking for a good palette!!  A photo of me after trying out the palette for the first time. #5 Urban Outfitters-BDG Logan Button Down Shirt-Red Muti $49  Another thing I love about fall is flannel and this shirt is awesome! I like that it is a baggier fit but it also has deep slits along the side of the shirt making it a bit more feminine. I like to wear this shirt with my ripped black denim, but you could wear any denim with this and it would look great. It is a good staple piece to have in your closet. There is a variety of colors and it is has been reduced from $59 to $49 which is an added bonus!!
Those are my favorites for fall, what are some of the things that you have been loving this season? xo.  Hi Everyone! Tomorrow is my 26th birthday and while that is slightly daunting, I am excited to see what the next year has in store! In honor of this, I thought I would make a list of 25 things that I have learned in the quarter of a century I have been alive. Some of these are personal lessons and others are things I have learned from others. I hope that you enjoy! 1. It is not important to fit in. If others do not accept you for who you are, that is not a reflection on you; people that do accept you will come along eventually. 2. Magic erasers are not meant for your skin. 3. Motion sickness sucks, travelling and the experiences that come with it is worth it. 4. Your parents are people too, they also make mistakes and are not always right. 5. Not everyone is going to like you, accepting this and moving on is what is important. 6. Invest in one really good dress. 7. Say yes to opportunities that will allow you to have different experiences and meet new people. 8.  9. Surround yourself with like-minded and positive individuals that support, encourage and challenge you. 10. It is important to set goals with yourself, it keeps you inspired and moving forward. 11. Don't waste time on people that have no time for you. 12. When shopping online, especially on a site like ASOS put things into the save for later tab, chances are it will go on sale eventually. 13. Do not settle for less. It is difficult to let something or somebody go, but it will be worth it in the long run if it is holding you back or making you unhappy. 14. Do not cut your own hair unless you actually know what you are doing, trust a professional. 15.  Smile. Hold the door open. Pay it forward. You never know what kind of day someone is having and how doing something small can change it. 16. Fill in your eyebrows. 17. Reading does not make you a nerd, books can give you perspective and inspiration when you least expect it. 18. It is important to be prepared. 19. Everyone has gone through an awkward phase at some point in their lives. 20. In a relationship, it is good to have differences in the things you enjoy so you can bounce ideas off of each other and broaden your horizons. It is also important to have individual goals and dreams so that you can support one another through them. 21. There is no such thing as too many candles.  22. If you are uncomfortable in a situation, it is okay to leave or to say no. Do not stick around because you feel badly or because you are afraid to hurt someones feelings. 23.Dress for yourself and not for others; wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. 24. Do not let others make important decisions for you. Ask for advice from those that are close to you but do not let them manipulate your decisions. 25. Tell the people that you care about how much they mean to you as often as possible. You will not always have the opportunity to let them know. 26. (For good luck)  xo.  Confidence is not something that comes naturally to a lot of us, myself included. It has taken many years to get to where I am today with lots of ups and downs along the way. Some of the things that have helped me be more confident within myself are: 1. Surrounding myself with positive people that make me feel good about where I am in my life and where I want to be in the future. Having friends and family that support you unconditionally and that will have your back through not only the good but also the bad is something that has helped me tremendously. 2. Taking the time to be single after a long and unhealthy relationship. Being single for a few years was one of the best things that could have happened to me. It allowed me to pick up the pieces that I had lost along the way and make them stronger. It was a time in my life where I was able to reflect and learn who I was as an individual and be genuinely happy with the person that I am. It also allowed me to think about what I wanted in a relationship and not settle for less. I am so thankful for this time because it led me to who I am today and into a relationship that makes me happier than I have ever been. 3. Fake it till you make it. Now just to clarify, I do not mean become a fake version of yourself, that will get you nowhere. When I say this, I mean reassure yourself positively of something you may be unsure or nervous about even if you do not believe it in that moment. Going on a first date with somebody? You are an attractive, funny and smart individual that is going to blow their socks off. Have a job interview? You are qualified, extremely likable and have no reason to be nervous because you are going to kill it. Going to a party where you don't know that many people? You are easy going, make friends easily and have amazing party tricks if all else fails. You catch my drift. Something that inspired me into this mindset is a TED Talks video that explains how your body language and faking it till you make it affects how others view you. It is 20 minutes long, but if you have the time I highly recommend watching it. Those are just a few things that have made me a more confident person through the years. What are some things that you do (or have done in the past) that have made you a confident person? Let me know in the comments!
xo. If you have been following my blog for a while now, you will know that at the beginning of the year I wrote a post on some things that I would like to happen or accomplish in 2015 and one of those things was to travel somewhere that I have not been. Unfortunately it does not look at this point like I will get that opportunity, but can look forward to Hawaii again in the fall and hopefully I can plan on going somewhere new in 2016! Today I thought that I would make up a bucket list of the 5 places I would most like to visit. I hope you enjoy!! 1: New York  New York has been on the top of my list for many years and hope that I get to experience it one day. I am secretly a huge theater nerd and there are a few musicals and plays that I really want to see and think that there would be nothing like seeing an actual play on Broadway! Not so secretly, I also love to shop and in my opinion there is no better place to do so than in New York. There are also so many restaurants that I would love to try and it seems like there are many options for my dietary restrictions which is wonderful! 2: Mykonos  I have always wanted to go to Greece and to Mykonos specifically. I think that it would be fun to experience the culture and vibe of this island and seems like a really fun place to let loose. I also love a good beach and they look amazing here! I love that the city is all white and that the water is so blue, it is very beautiful and somewhere that I would like to see for myself one day. 3. Paris  I feel like Paris is on most people's bucket list and probably for good reasons. For me, it is somewhere with so much culture and history and I would love to immerse myself in it. It would be so much fun to people watch and learn about the city in a first person perspective. The fashion and architecture is something that inspires me and it would be exciting to explore and get lost in a city where everything has a story! Also, wine. 4.Mauritius  I learned about Mauritius a few years ago with a friend while searching some of the best hotels in the world and her and I proceeded to spend the next hour or so learning all about the island and how much it would cost to get there. It is known for its luxurious hotels and it is not a cheap place to stay or get to, but if I win the lottery, this is somewhere I am going to visit! It would be a great place to relax and enjoy the sunshine and beaches! 5. London  Like Paris, this is a city with so much history and is somewhere that I want to explore! The shopping alone is incentive enough for me to want to go, and there are also some really cool places to go for a drink or a meal. There is also so much to do and feel like it is somewhere that you could not be bored; there would be lots of fun things going on and it seems like you could easily find something unique to fill your time!
That is my travel bucket list! If you have been to any of these city's, I am curious what were your favorite things to do while you were there? I am also curious what your travelling bucket lists are. Where do you want to travel? Let me know!! xo. Hello Everyone! I have said it before, but I love Nasty Gal and the story behind how the company started is something that has been a source of inspiration to me; if you have not yet read #girlboss, you should! Here is my summer Nasty Gal Wishlist! 1. Rhiannon Lace Maxi Dress- $86.57  I really love this dress, it is unique and I could see myself wearing this often. I like that the overlay is lace and not mesh and that the back is partially open. This dress would be great to wear out with a pair of heels or with boots. 2.Finders Keepers (Smoke Trails Crepe Dress)- $213.90  This dress is not something that I would normally go for as I generally do not buy pieces with a round neck, but I actually really like this. Recently I have been enjoying wearing clothes with open backs and if done right I think it can look really sexy. I do not currently have anything in my closet that is similar to this dress and it is a great color for the summer! 3. Finders Keepers ( Way to Go Asymmetrical Dress)- $252.10  This is another really cool dress! Anyone that knows me or that has read my previous fashion posts will know that I am a sucker for floral print, I cannot help it! The fading out of the roses is something that I have not seen before and am fond of. I think this dress would look really good in a more formal setting like at a wedding or a cocktail party with a pair of heels, you will be sure to stand out! 4. Nasty Gal Veria Tank (Black)- $40.74  This is a pretty straight forward and simple tank top that I would wear with denim or a pair of high waisted shorts. I like that one of the straps goes around the neck and that it scoops lower around the arms. This is a good staple piece to have for summer. 5. Incognito Anorak- Olive- $73.85  This jacket is awesome, I have said it before but I have been really digging green lately.The hood and the cinched sleeves gives this jacket more aesthetic appeal and there are so many different outfit combinations that you could do whether it is with black skinny jeans and boots or a grey dress. I have a jacket that is somewhat similar from TOPSHOP but I like that this one is a bit shorter and darker, it would go with more in my closet. 6. So Vain Lace Romper- $87.56  This is another piece that could easily be worn casually during the day or dressed up to go out in; I like wearing things that could easily be turned into an outfit for a variety of different occasions. I like the lace on this romper and that the back is open as well. 7. NBD Move Over Layered Skort- $206.04  This skort is fabulous! I have not seen anything like this before and it excites me because there is lots of different ways that it could be worn. I have always preferred a skater skirt as it suits my body type best and would love to play with different outfit ideas around this piece!
I hope you enjoyed a look at my Nasty Gal Wishlist! What are some of your summer must-haves? All prices are in CAD. xo. Hello Everyone!! I hope you all are enjoying your summer so far! Today I thought that I would make a refreshing peach salsa that would go great on chicken, salmon or to snack on with tortilla chips. This is another easy recipe to make and is also free of gluten for people with an intolerance like myself!  For this salsa you will need:
 Combine All Ingredients:
 Cover it up and let it settle in the fridge for at least an hour. Serve and Enjoy!  xo.
 Today I am curious who or what inspires you to be a more creative or motivated individual. Is it someone in your life personally that you can bounce ideas off of? Is it reading a really good book? Is it going for a walk without your phone and having quality time to yourself to think and reflect?
For me personally, I am inspired by a lot of different things and people on a daily basis. Sometimes I am inspired by certain artists or music depending on my mood, fashion is something that inspires me daily to experiment with new looks and other times it's watching a makeup tutorial or a Ted Talk on YouTube. Other blogs and writers are also a constant source of inspiration for me whether it is an article on xojane, a lifestyle post on Oh, It's Lovely or a fashion post from LINABUGZ. Most importantly though, it is having friends and family in my life that are positive, smart and creative who encourage me to read books, to have an opinion that might be different than everyone else's and to write what is on my mind that motivates and inspires me to keep going daily. So let me know in the comments who or what keeps you inspired, I am looking forward to learning a bit more about you and what keeps you motivated! xo. |
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