Here are the things that women can look forward to in 2018 when it comes to gender equality, equity, fairness and justice. Read further here...
]]>Lady Gaga calls Emily Anne- Rigal as ‘her hero’ and Newsweek ranks her as one of the 150 most fearless women in the world. Find out why …
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]]>Even though women empowerment is gaining momentum in today’s corporate and political landscape, there is still an area that we need to think about and act on. Read more here….
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]]>Looking to read more on women leadership, tips on how to thrive in corporate world? Here are some blogs you should read and ponder upon. Click here to read further...
]]>Even women are getting confused about the notion of women empowerment and what it actually stands for. Read more on women empowerment here..
]]>It’s a new year and a perfect time get a few skincare habits in place to get that flawless skin for years to come. Having good skin takes on a bunch of different things combined, but you would be surprise how a few habits can work in your favor. Not to mention, taking good care of your skin when you are young will go a long way down the road too.
1) The first habit to follow is to wear sunscreen. I am guilty of sun tanning and staying out in the sun just to get a glowing skin. I recently learned that sun damage is super harsh on skin aging. This includes freckles, wrinkles, and spots. I highly recommend wearing products that have SPF 40 or higher underneath your foundation. This does not necessary have to be sunscreen. There are many different day serum, skin primer that state SPF on it. In addition to that, many liquid foundations also have SPF. Using both is the way to go.
2) Consider adding a day and night serum to your skincare routine. If you have never used serum before, I guarantee you are missing out. I have actually only started religiously use day and night serum a few months ago and notice a huge difference in terms of getting rid of redness and dark spots. Essentially, serum provide a concentrated dose of active ingredients that will help treat you skin (depending on what your skin needs). This includes: hydration, pigment lightening, dark spots, anti-aging, etc.
3) Choosing the right products for your skin type is also very important. In the past, I would just use whatever that is convenient or I may already have around. I learned the hard way that the skin cleanser I use was in fact making my face even more dry than it already was. Considering consulting with a dermatologist or even the skincare counter sales associate, they will have a better understanding or diagnostic of your skin type. Keep this in mind for the weather as well, it’s totally normal to have a different skin products for the summer versus winter.
4) Watching your diet is also another skincare habit to follow for the new year. You may ask how food that is being intake with your mouth can relate to your skin? The answer is the toxins put in your body will somehow reflect on your skin. Food such as alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, deep fried food, etc. are food to avoid as much as possible. Food that will clear and glow your skin includes chia seed, sweet potatoes, almonds, sunflower seeds, orange juice and oily fish such as salmon. I also did a cucumber water detox for a week and found it quite helpful in terms of reducing redness on my skin.
5) The last thing to add is to do a mask once a week. I am the laziest person and also tell myself that I will put a mask on before bed tonight but never end up doing so. A mask however does have restore moisture in your skin, as well as deep cleanse, so I highly recommend it. This is definitely one of my own skincare habit to follow this year too!
]]>But what if I told you it didn’t have to be that way? No access to a gym or you have a gym membership collecting dust? No problem! Here are three holiday exercises to help you maintain your physique while enjoying all the treats this holiday season has to offer!
1. Side Planks With Leg Raises
What I absolutely love about this exercise is that it’s a lot less boring than your average planks. Don’t get me wrong, planks work wonders for your abs, but we often tend to forget our obliques need a little love too. With the side planks, you’re working out your obliques and abs, and when you add the leg raises, you’re also incorporating a workout for your glutes and abductors.
2. Lunges
Lunges are, surprisingly, a new addition to my workout routine. They’re completely versatile because you don’t really need to go to a gym for this – just find a hallway and lunge, girl! Need weights and don’t own any dumbbells? Just find the heaviest present under the Christmas tree and that should do the trick ;)
3. Bicycle crunches
A small modification to your average crunches can actually work wonders for your body! Specifically targeting the lower abdominal area to get rid of that stubborn belly fat, but also puts a variety of other muscles at work too – from glutes to thighs. So technically, you’re toning your legs too!
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Brownie Trees
I made these last year for a secret santa filler (I’m one of those that can’t just give one gift, it doesn’t feel like enough’ and I’d never been so excited to make brownies before! I found the idea on Pinterest originally and it was pretty simple to recreate. Seeing as it’s only really the decoration that’s holiday-themed you can use any old brownie recipe (or a good old Betty Crocker mix if you’re lazy like me) and all you need to decorate is white chocolate (or icing) and sprinkles! You simply bake the brownies (preferably in a square tin and cut them into triangles when they’ve cooled down, melt the chocolate and drizzle it over the ‘trees’ lightly and stick some sprinkles on before the chocolate hardens – easy! I do prefer the look of star shaped sprinkles, but it’s all up to personal choice, and if you want an extra festive touch you can stick a candy cane or chocolate stick in the bottom to look like the leg of the tree!
Gingerbread
What is the holiday season without gingerbread? It’s a snack that I definitely gravitate towards at this time of year and it always feels a little strange to eat in summer, so it’s definitely a solid holiday bake! There are a ton of recipes out there and so far I haven’t come across any with ingredients that you can’t find locally (unless you live in the middle of nowhere I guess) but I do occasionally struggle with getting my gingerbread just right so I always look out for a ‘fail safe’ recipe (a quick Google will find you a ton) which make life a whole lot less frustrating! The beauty of gingerbread is that whilst it’s a great snack, or feast if you’re feeling adventurous, it’s also a great activity to keep kids or easily pleased adults distracted with icing duties. Just don’t forget your cookie cutters!
Apple Cinnamon Crumble
Let’s be honest, an apple crumble is great any time of year but it’s just so much more comforting during the holiday season. Plus, the cinnamon just screams holidays, so I guess it has more of an edge here. Most people know how to make a crumble (and those that don’t should have access to the internet) so you know how simple it is to whip up. Whether you’ve completely forgotten a dessert for Christmas day or you’re off to your neighbors holiday party empty handed, it’s a perfect quick fix that gives the impression you’ve made a big effort (those deceptive gestures are always my favourite)! You can use pretty much any kind of apples you can get your hands on, and the crumble itself is pretty basic – just don’t forget the cinnamon!
Diesel – Fuel for Life Unlimited
I’ve had this perfume for a good 3 or 4 years now and it’s what I call my ‘special occasions’ scent! I don’t like to use it too often because I’m well aware of the price (it’s not the most expensive in the world but it’s definitely more than I’d be willing to spend myself) and I don’t want to run out too quickly and be left using a back-up! This is probably the fragrance on this list that I’d say is the least ‘sweet’ but it’s actually described as a ‘Floral fruity fragrance’ with notes of lemon, mandarin, licorice, anise and white floral.
Lacoste – L.12.12 Pour Elle Sparkling
I can have a few spritz’ without taking over the room and it’s still noticeable on my skin a few hours later. It’s described as a ‘floral woody fragrance that sparkles’ and it’s a heady blend of juicy red apple, mandarin and blackberries, which sweetens into a delicious heart of French macaroon and a cotton candy accord. In the drydown, a contrasting woody base of vetyver, patchouli and cashmere wood balance the scent. It’s definitely one that I like to keep in my purse for a quick spray ever so often!
DKNY – Be Delicious
DKNY’s apple fragrance is definitely a bit of a throwback scent but I still love it occasionally. As I said, I’m big on sweet fragrances and this one definitely fits the bill! I’m pretty sure my parents bought me this way back in the 2000s but I do still see it in stores and I can’t help but to stop and have a spray half the time! It’s just so refreshing and brings back so many memories (for me anyway) that I just had to include it here! It’s described as a fruity aroma of apple with a refined blend of exotic flowers and sensuous woods making it ‘innocent, seductive and provocative’.
Marc Jacobs - Daisy Eau So Fresh
Every time I step into a store with a perfume section this is the fragrance that I make a b-line for and if you’ve ever smelt it you’ll know why! When Marc Jacobs first came out with Daisy everyone went a bit mental for it but Eau So Fresh is a whole new level! It’s a fruity and floral fragrance (noticing a pattern here?) and it’s top notes are ruby red grapefruit, raspberry, green leaves and pear!
Kat Von D – Saint
One of my latest discoveries, but also one of my favourites! I’d noticed all of the hype around the release of Kat Von D’s Saint and Sinner fragrances back a while ago but this was before my sudden new-found interest in perfumes so I wasn’t all that bothered by them.I did get a choice between the Saint or Sinner scents and with Saint being described as ‘lighter’ I figure it’d be the best choice for me – boy was I right! To me, this is the perfect fragrance. It’s sweet enough to be feminine but subtle enough to still be quite mature – not quite the smell the get in the school locker rooms! I’m still working my way through the sample (it didn’t come with a spray pump so it’s a pain to apply) but I have no doubt that I’ll be splashing out on a regular size bottle when I’m finished! The description of Saint on the website is this: ‘This gourmand perfume fuses jasmine and Tiaré flower top notes with a delicious heart of mandarin, caramel, and sparkling Mirabelle plum. Vanilla, sandalwood, and creamy musk build to the romance of the fragrance, imparting a warmth that reminds Kat of falling in love for the very first time.
Anyways, in today’s blog post I will be introducing you to the top five best reads for young women. I am really into lifestyle & self-help books. I love learning different perspective on how to better the way I live my life. I also think this is so important, when you are living in your twenties, there is no better time to learn.
My number one top pick is “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” by Mark Manson – a counter intuitive approach to living a good life. This book focuses on how finding important and meaningful things in life takes up the most time and energy of an individual. Thus, the key to a good life is simply not caring (or “not giving a f*ck). A few key points from the book that really sparked for me is convention self-help advice for when you visualize success and reinforce the idea that you aren’t reaching who you want to become. Another part of the book that I really relate to is the material crisis. As someone who loves to shop for resources such as, clothes, makeup, electronics, etc. According to the book, the problem we face is existential and spiritual. “You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.”
My second pick is “How to Win Friends & Influence People” by Dale Carnegie. I found this book really helpful with networking. I went to my first networking event earlier last year and I freaked out. I didn’t know what to say to people, how to act without being awkward. After reading this book, I felt I had a better sense of communicating with other strangers. A few lessons that you will get out of from this read is praising other’s, empathetic, smile, encourage others, less complaining, and a few others. Although based off of this, it seems so simple, the book goes into more details from another perspective on each type of lesson. Carnegie refers to a quote by Henry Ford: "If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other
Changing up the self-help field to something a bit more hands on, yet practical is the book called “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art. Call me a neat-freak, and even though I thought I knew how to clean up, I really picked up a few new tricks along the way of reading this book. No to mention that this is a #1 New York Times best-selling guide. Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo will take you through step-by-step through her revolutionary KonMari Method for simplifying, organizing, and storing. I highly recommend this to both, people who struggle with organizing and those who love cleaning up!
Switching it up from self-help, one of the most unforgettable book I’ve read is The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan. Think for a second, what is the word for opposite of lonliness? This book is a collection of essays and stories written by the young Yale graduate. Marina graduated in May 2012 and was heading to work at the New Yorker, but tragically after graduating, she died in a car crash. This book went viral and has received more than 1.4 million hits. She definitely left behind a rich, expansive trove of prose that captures hope, uncertainty and possibility of her generation.
Ending this blog post off with a fun book is “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)” by Mindy Kaling. I LOVE “The Mindy Project” and of course, when I found out she wrote a book, I was so excited. She also has another book called “Why Not Me?” which is on my list of to-reads. This is a fun, light, easy read. I guarantee you will laugh, and by laugh I mean laugh out loud, in the middle of the subway. Her book reminds me of some of Tina Fey’s book.
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One great tip for camping is to stay as organized as possible! There is so much going on during the trip, and if you are with friends, chances are everyone is setting up something. With different stuff laying around it's really easy to lose important items. So if you have a system together it will keep the trip enjoyable and less stressful. Once it gets dark, trust me when I say - it's SUPER hard to find anything let alone something important such as a pocket knife. A good way to stay organized is with clear storage containers to hold all the gear, separate belongings by per category and you have one successful camping trip!
A good light source as tacky as it sounds is a head torch. You might think that you would look super weird with one on your head but if you are going to the washroom with no light, in the middle of the night can get messy when you go a flashlight in one hand. With these like tacky things, you got both hands free!
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Having trouble starting a fire? Well, bring cotton balls and petroleum jelly. You might think these two items together may be random and crazy, but in fact they make an AMAZING fire starter. Cotton balls can be easily stored in a Ziploc bag prior to the trip. Another option is to use the cardboard found under toilet paper rolls, this allows you to waste less. Mix that with dryer lint and you have a fire. In fact, dryer lint recognized to be so effective in starting fires. If you are planning on starting multiple fires, you can stuff dryer lint into an egg carton and then cut it per egg placeholder, In other words, you have a fire to last you all weekend long!
Sometimes at night time it can get pretty chilly even though it’s SUPER hot during the day. There are tricks to keeping warm while you are sleeping. This trick will help you the most when you are choosing your sleeping bag, there are different bags on the market for different types of weather. Check accordingly to find the perfect type for you. In addition to that, check out this awesome few tips below on how to stay warm while camping!
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The Beauty Front! Keep your makeup lightweight and avoid any super dewy foundations! The last thing you want is to feel sticky outdoors, keep your makeup breezy and dry. Most importantly don't forget your SPF, now is the time to bust out SPF foundations and sunscreen.
Finally, in order to ensure you have a good time on your trip, plan on bringing A LOT of insect repellent or bug spray! Do your homework before your camping trip and do research on the place you will be visiting. Some parks will tell you what type of insects, plants or animals they have in their surrounding areas, this can be helpful information to avoid a dangerous situation. One of the things that’s bound to occur are mosquitoes and other kinds of bugs. There are so many different options to get avoid bugs, or at least minimize them. There are torches, lanterns, and other solutions that you can place in your camp site that will help!
Remember, camping is about having fun, and enjoying the outdoors! Leave your electronics somewhere safe, and just embrace the experience!
]]>First thing first, a lot of bride and groom actually set up a registry and noted it on their invitation. Alternatively, some might even emphasize on the idea of cash-only gift as well. This really depends on how the couple is or what they have decided on. If they do then lucky you, because you get the easy way out. Trust me, it's not always this easy.
So, in today's blog post I pulled together a few wedding gift ideas within an array of budget. I would say the budget of the gift really depends on how close you are with the bride or groom. Do keep in mind, that dinner per guest at weddings are not cheap, especially if you are invited to a fancy banquet.
One great idea I’ve been inspired via Pintrest home décor is Mr & Mrs bedding. I just love how sweet and simple the white pillow cases are! I found a large range of similar designs on Etsy. They can be fairly expensive but they are unique and handmade. My sister actually got a set for one of her friend and they are super high quality. I especially love this set because it comes with an adorable mini date pillow as well. There are other similar sets, such as "Monsieur and Madam" or "Senor and Senora". I highly recommend checking these out!
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If you know the couple is foodie, I got the most perfect gift idea. If you haven't heard subscription boxes as gifts are totally in these days. The Chef Box from Foodiepages.ca pretty much delivers monthly dose of kitchen goodies to their doorstep. I believe, at the moment, this is a Canadian thing only, but I am sure there are similar companies worldwide. In this particular one, they collaborate with Style at Home, Toronto Life. Chatelain to curate a top batch of Canadian edibles, and some recipes and cooking tip. You can choose from different length of subscription, a 6- month gift subscription is $300, and can deliver across Canada. This is also great if you can’t attend a friend wedding because they are across the country, but still want to leave a gift!
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I am a huge fan of Kate Spade and so when I found out they have a home, kitchen, and bed line, of course, I was so excited. And thus, I think they would make perfect wedding gifts. Some items aren’t too expensive, making it a perfect mix and match gift as well. Not going to lie, their home décor (although sooo cute) they are overpriced, and often times I probably wouldn’t splurge on it, and that is why it would make perfect wedding gifts! Can we take a second and gush over the chopping boards?!
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@TheBlondeAbroad
I have no idea how she does it, but every single photo in Kiersten’s feed is incredible. This is definitely the kind of account that makes me jealous for numerous reasons. Not only is she travelling around the world, seeing beautiful places and taking advantage of her insane photography skills, she also quite a stunner. If I ever get just one photo like this, I’ll be pretty chuffed! (Also, that inflatable swan is something I definitely need in my life).
Ok so this is pretty incredible. This account is basically one guy exploring the world, but working a 9 to 5?! I need to know how this is even possible because if this is legit I’m going need a sign up sheet! These aren’t always your typical beach photos but there’s one guarantee – they’re always beautiful.
@muradosmann
I’ll be honest, as cheesy as those ‘follow me’ photos can be, I’m a bit of a sucker for them. This account is 95% follow me photos so if you’re not a fan, this won’t be for you, but you do still get to see all of the beautiful places the world has to offer! A perk to these too is that it shows you how tourists in different cultures tend to dress as they do tend to adjust outfits depending on where they are!
Just wow. I feel like Lee just seems to stumble upon places around the world that I’d never even think of, so that definitely makes him a great account for inspiration! My next holiday will definitely be taken from this account as I love hidden gems and a good pink sunset! Now just to decide which one to go for…
I love a good Instagram theme but I have no idea how Elise manages to maintain one on a travel account! Every photo in this account is stunning and it’s a nice bonus that there are a few more action shots than the others mentioned in this list. It’s lovely to get a sneak peek at different places around the world, but it’s the cherry on the cake when you get to see what you can get up to there too!
This is definitely one of my favourites of the bunch, and that’s mainly because of the food. If I were to create a travel account (in another universe where I actually have spare cash) this would definitely be my kind of style. I love that you get a peak of the scenery and some sort of snack from each destination. I have no idea how she manages to find such photogenic food but I’m in awe of every photo!
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I just celebrated Canada 150’s birthday this weekend, and although there is so much country love going around, and excitement, a long weekend or special occasion also means great sales at the mall. To be honest, before the weekend even started, I already blew a few hundred dollars doing some online shopping! And then over the weekend, I went to the Niagara Outlet mall and holy sales. Kate Spade was 70% off the entire store, many other designer brands also had some great deals going on. There was so much lining up and so many people, it was so exciting!
As fun as a topic shopping is, today’s blog post is actually kind of the opposite. As a student on a budget, shopping is pretty deadly if you don’t know how to control yourself. I remember when I got my first paycheque and boy, was it easy to spend it all. I am hitting my 20’s and things like moving out, and getting a car comes in the play, and it’s important to start saving money! To save money, it’s a lot simpler than people say, all you have to do is stop shopping. Stop shopping, however, is not as simple as you’d think, so in today’s blog post, I am going to share some tips to save money while shopping, or what I would like to call it – smart shopping.
There is this site called “Ebates” one of my best friend told me about a year ago. And at first I was skeptical, like what is this? Is it real/legit? And I have been using it for a year and it’s literally the best thing ever. Essentially, you get paid to shop! It’s super simple, you make an account, and you browse their site for “cash back stores”, then there is a button that says, “shop now” and it will direct you to the company’s page. You do all your regular shopping, put in any promo codes you would normally, then checkout. A few days later, check your ebates account, and ta-da you will see some extra cash in your account. The amount of cash back depends on the current percentage. They often have double cashbacks for stores too. Sephora is one of addiction, they always have up to 8% off, which means if I spend $50, I can use a promo code to get extra sample, and also get $4 off. It might not sound much now, but it sure does add up! I started this a year ago, and have earned $200+ from my daily shopping trips. If you use my referral like, we will both get $10 bonus cash - https://www.ebates.ca/referrer?referrerid=yiw2mfOAE%2FM%3D%0D%0A
Another tip to shopping is always checking for extra discount codes! I use RetailMeNot, and sometimes I am lucky, but sometimes not so much. Another hunt for promo codes, is to browse a bit through the store, sometimes a pop up might appear giving you a discount code to push the sale. Or even when you first land on the page, you might not notice it, but a lot of times they would encourage you to sign up for their newsletter for “additional 10% off your purchase”. If you do end up wanting to buy something but already closed it, you can always go back on their site via incognito mode to get that pop up. You can always unsubscribe later on, although if it’s a store you do shop at often, chances are additional promo codes might come rolling in!
I’ve recently found this “deal” forum on RedFlagDeals and it’s a pretty awesome community. I’ve pretty new, but I believe that it is Canada based. Pretty much how it works is when someone finds a great deal or they know some great sales going on, they post it and other people contribute with comments! I actually found a 20% off sales item at Designer Shoe Warehouse this past weekend, and got a few pairs of shoes – also got $5 back through ebates! It was a great deal. This forum site also have other threads such as freebies, contests, etc. I haven’t looked through it all, but highly recommend checking out!
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If you are looking for an adrenaline rush some outdoor activities that are most definitely for you is Whitewater rafting, zip lining, treetop treks. There are some great treetop treks that have a bit of everything. A lot of them have a rope course, swinging bridges, swings, nets that are great for friend and family. This is the ultimate all-day summer outdoor activity.
If you are looking for something a bit more into the wilderness, try going to a bike tour, plan a canoe trip or even go fishing. A great long weekend or even a weekend trip is to go camping. Before you get all grossed out, camping is actually A WHOLE LOT OF FUN!!! During camping, you get to explore the area through hiking or if you want, rent a boat to tour around. The air there is completely different than the air in the city. Similarly, you will also find that the surrounding and sky is SO MUCH CLEARER! If you are lucky you might even catch some stars in the sky!!!
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Other things that’s exciting within a camping trip is the meals you get the prepare. Nothing beats starting a camp fire in the middle of the camp ground, have everyone surround the fire while you bbq a nice big dinner. The best part?! The smores making right after dinner. If you go with friends, it gets super exciting, once everyone sits around and starts telling stories. In movies they tell horror stories… but in real life, if you get a few beers around, it’s more the funny stories than horror.
If you are not into too much of the wilderness or the thrill, try touring around your city. You would be surprised what you will find! Summer time is the best for exploring because everyone’s free to go out, the weather is so nice, and there are also festivals and events going on. If you check your local calendar, often times you will find great local events happening. You will catch some excellent and mouth watering street food and shows. If there isn’t anything going on, it never hurts to grab a bike and start touring!!! You might even find that hidden local dessert gem or a perfect closed-off vintage store!
Horseback riding is also a great outdoor activity, often times there are nearby horseback trails you can join. Many are no experience needed! It’s super easy, hop on a horse and they guide you through some hidden trials. Or if you are a beginner, the not-so hidden trails are also available!
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If you are looking for more of a classic vibrant color for your lips, try a red glossy finish. The M.A.C. Cosmetics Lipstick in Ruby Woo is one of many favorites. If you are looking for your first red lipstick, this is the one! It is a basic and easy to go with color. If you are looking for a bit cleaner look or want a more define lip shape, check out the matching lip liner for this too.
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What’s all the MUA must have lipstick this summer?! That’s obviously the Bite line lipstick that is HOT, HOT and HOT this summer! If you haven’t heard of the Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick you are missing out on so much. There are currently 54 shades available and they are so fab for summer. What’s so special about these lipsticks!? Based on MUA reviews, Bite’s line of lipsticks are bold and creamy colors. They stand out because these are made small batch, low heat process to preserves a balance blend of lip-quenching nutrients, vitamins, and omega oils. This means that these are great for maintaining your healthy-looking lips.
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Dare to stand out?! If you are, then why not try ORANGE!!! Don't freak out, orange actually looks really nice on the lips. Not to mention, it is making a HUGE comeback. And although it's not a classic or a super safe choose, it sure does make a great statement. So when you are hesitant or not sure what color to choose, go with a super pigmented color ~ you won't regret it!
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BeneFit Cosmetics They're Real Double the Lip Lipstick is also great for this season. this product came out a few months ago and it comes with a few different shades. this is the KEY to lazy people lip makeup. sometimes it can be difficult to do a lip-liner and a lipstick. this is ideal because it's a two in one. It helps add depth to your lip color while get your color on the lip as well.
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So then, that got me thinking, what about if I sell all the things I hoard around in the house or if I never use it?! I can liquidate that into cash! For the past few weeks, I looked into this as bit more and actually found some other platforms that make selling and buying things easy. I am so excited to say that I’ve already sold $500 worth of my stuff that’s just sitting in my room collecting dust! In today’s blog post I will be sharing a few of my findings and tips to selling your things.
An app I live off of is called Carousell. This app is actually originated in Singapore but has made its way to Canada. There’s a pretty big user pool in the app. I would say the users using this app is younger (age 17-25) – a guess. However, I find that the products I sell and/or buy are trendier and instyle. This is a perfect app to sell your clothes. You can join groups within your school or your area, which really helps with meeting up with people. The design of this app also allows you to mark products as sold, reserved or available. Another great thing about this is that you can leave reviews on each other’s account. This helps with creditability and knowing your seller or buyer is legit.
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Although I did start selling my items on Kijiji, I have been using this less and less. Compared to Carousell, I feel like Kijiji isn’t as safe of an environment. You can’t really see the seller’s profile or how their past transactions went. I also find that Kijiji has a way larger user pool including a lot more adults, thus making finding products are bit harder to filter. https://www.kijiji.ca/
I found another app called Varagesale. This app is similar to Carousell but from what I’ve been seeing, it seems to be more targeted towards mom’s or new parents. This is great for posting home products, furniture and of course baby products. https://www.varagesale.com/
Lastly, I started joining groups on Facebook. This varies between your community and city, but if you are in Toronto, there are so many different ones based on your niche that you can join. I am in a few fashion and beauty focused ones and aside from selling my own items, I often find some great deals on there too!
Ending this post off with some tips if you haven’t buy/sell within the community before. It’s so important to meet up in a public area where there are other people around you. I try avoiding inviting people to meet up at my house because it’s best to not disclose personal information. In Toronto, there are designated areas outside a police station where you can exchange items with buyers. This is great for more expensive transactions.
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Mini Cheesecakes
I think it’s pretty standard that anything mini is classed as cute, so although these may only really just be normal cheesecakes, making them mini adds some cuteness to them. Cheesecake is a good all-rounder in my eyes as you can have it pretty much any time of year and enjoy it just as much. The varieties are endless too so you can cater them to anybody. New York, strawberry, vanilla – so even if you’re not a massive sweet tooth, you can still have a cheesecake!
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Rose Ice Cream
Ice cream is definitely a firm favorite for most people in summer so it’s only right that there’s an ice cream creation out there that’s a little more Instagram worthy! Rose ice creams are becoming pretty common on my ‘recommended’ column (it says a lot about me that my ‘based on photos you like’ are mainly food) and they’re so so pretty. It seems to be that you can get a variety of flavors to give different hues to the rose, or even just use the one flavor if you want it to be a bit more classic. Either way, I want one but I know I’d 100% feel guilty devouring it!
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Marshmallow Penguins
How cute are these?! To me, they look like they’d be even better accompanying in winter but food is food and I’d eat them all year round! They’re super simple to make too as it just basically a marshmallow with a bit of icing, which gives you even more reason to give them a go. They’re definitely perfect for Pinterest, it’ll only take you 10 minutes to make yourself look like a pro!
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Berry Eton Mess Dessert Shots
These are so sweet – both in flavor and cuteness! I’m pretty sure everyone has some shot glasses laying around (bonus points if you have those gorgeous little mason jar ones) and they’re not hard to make at all so these would be a go to for a little sweet treat at a barbecue! They seem pretty inexpensive too so that’s all the more reason to give them a go – I think the only problem would be that there isn’t enough of them!
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Unicorn Fudge
I’ve definitely saved one of the best for last here. Unicorn themed food and drink has been pretty big so far this year and I definitely think this Unicorn Fudge is my favourite! You can make pretty much anything ‘unicorn’ if you add a few sprinkles, some food coloring and maybe some edible glitter but it’s cute regardless. I love fudge already, but anything with a pink or purple hue and some sparkling things and I’m automatically game. They’re definitely not for the faint hearted as I imagine these are packed full of sugar and E numbers and they’re more than likely to put a dent in your summer body goals, but you can’t deny that they definitely look worth it!
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Roasted Banana and Almond Smoothie
You will NEVER believe it’s not a milkshake… AND it’s also vegan and dairy free! This one is called the Roasted Banana and Almond Smoothie and the key ingredient to this one is (dun dun dun) roasted banana. The banana keeps the smooth thick, sweet, and frosty just like any other milkshake would taste.
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Make the almond milk ice cubes. Using about 1 cup of the almond milk, fill the wells of an ice cube tray (you’ll only need about 4-6 ice cubes for this recipe). Freeze until solid.
Roast the bananas. Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees. Place the peeled bananas on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, then sprinkle with the brown sugar and a pinch of salt. Roast the bananas in your pre-heated oven for 20 minutes. Remove and set aside until they are completely cooled.
Meanwhile, add the chia seeds, chopped dates and 1 cup of the almond milk to your blender. Let this sit for about 10 minutes. Then add the almond butter, cooled bananas (making sure to scrape in any of the brown sugar) and 4-6 ice cubes. Blend on high until smooth.
Pour into a glass. Garnish with fresh banana slices and sliced almonds, if desired. Enjoy immediately.
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Green Power Smoothie
Another way to keep the smoothie thick is with yogurt, it is also better with geek yogurt due to its texture. A lot of people actually like to use yogurt in their smoothies because it is another substitute for milk. The yogurt will provide a consistent creamy and rich texture PLUS there isn’t any extra sugar or saturated fat added to it. This recipe is not your typical green smoothie, this is a 5 ingredient smoothie and only one ingredient is green. The ingredients are: spinach, banana, mango, cherries and Greek yogurt.
Ingredients
Instructions:
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Red Velvet Green Smoothie
Don’t like food that’s too green? No worries, because there is the red velvet green smoothie! Just like the classic red velvet cake but a whole lot healthier and there is NO CAKE IN IT!!! Whu is it red?? It’s because of the beets and antioxidant rich cacao. And believei t or not, this is THE HEALTHIEST smoothie of all! Beets is high in immune-boosting vitamin C, fiber, potassium, manganese and B vitamin folate – like how healthy does this sound?!
Cover-ups
Cover-ups are pretty much the staple of any beach outfit in my eyes. Whether you opt for a kaftan, a light dress or a sarong, your day at the beach won’t be fully complete without one. They’re perfect for a trip to the bar or a stroll down the streets when you’re on the hunt for lunch because you can keep on your swimwear without sticking out like a sore thumb (because does anyone ever really see the locals parading around in a bikini?)! It’s usually only a light floaty fabric too so even if you have enough to cover one a day for two weeks, it’s not going to be taking up much luggage space!
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Beach Bag
What’s a beach outfit without a key accessory? Everyone, man or woman, needs a good old beach bag. There are so many options out there that are beach-specific but that doesn’t mean to say you can’t find a cute little purse that would do the job just as well! You just need something that will hold all of your holiday essentials: phone, wallet, sun lotion, towel, water and a snack. I personally prefer to use a small backpack so it’s easier to take along on adventures; the last thing you want is an aching arm every day!
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Bikinis/Swimsuits
I’m pretty sure this is a given but if not, you’re going to need some swimwear! I know not everybody likes to take a dip in the sea but even if you’re only sunbathing, the lines from a bikini or swimsuit are going to be a lot more discrete than ones from shorts and a tank top! There are so many cute swimwear pieces out at the minute and I’m obsessed with about 90% of them – bikinis are definitely where most of my holiday shopping fund goes!
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Sandals
As with any kind of outfit for any season, you’re going to need some shoes. Of course you don’t want to walking the streets of Spain or Italy barefoot but you also won’t want to be tie up laces every time you want to walk over to the beach bar, so something you can easily slip on is essential. The best for a beach and sandals and flip flops because they tend to be the easiest slip-on shoes, plus you can avoid coming home with half of the beach left in your shoes!
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Sunglasses
Sunglasses are always an essential for me day-to-day but even more so when I hope on a plane and jet off somewhere hot! Of course you need them to protect your vision from harmful rays but that doesn’t mean they can’t complete your whole look! I can never take just one pair away with me, I like to have a good range (plus a backup never hurts, just in case you break a pair). I tend to take a black, pastel/white and a tortoise shell pair with me so I have a matching pair for every outfit! I love a good pair of sunglasses to add that final bit of sass to a look and I’m aiming to keep away crow’s feet lines for as long as possible!
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There are so many different types of sunglasses and sometimes It can be so overwhelming deciding on which one is best to define your face shape.
If you have an oval face, you are definitely a lucky one because oval face is known to work with any type of frames. So, let that unique frames shine, go with something that is confident looking and play with different colors, pattern and shapes. The BOLDER the better for this, it will also allow you to make a choice within your personal style. For better eye protection, choose something that covers your eyebrows and cheekbones.
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If you have a round face shape the roundness of your face can be contrast out by a more geometric shape frames. If you look for something a bit more rectangular and thinner it will help add length to your face. Instead of the contour palette you can ditch that and put a pair of sunglasses that can instantly give you cheekbone. And before you think that rectangular sunglasses are boring, there are some super fashionable choices out there. Check the below ones out for some inspiration! Also, AVOID round frames at all cost because that will just mimic your face shape and make your face appear even more round.
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A heart-shape face means that you have high cheekbones and well defined narrow chin so with that said if you choose something that is a bit bolder on the bottom will help balance out the pointed chin. You want to think MIMIC AND NOT CONTRAST if you have a heart shaped face.
And lastly if you have a square face try something that complement and soften your shape by going with round of oval frames. If you seek rounder and thinner frames it will help overall soften angular features of your face shape. Going with a frame that’s a bit wider will help define the cheekbones as well. At the same time with a square face do make sure your sunglasses are proportionate, for example if your face is large your frames should be a bit larger as well.
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Step out of your comfort zone and be a bit daring with a bodysuit. This one in particular has a elegant wrap front detail halter neckline. One thing that is great about bodysuit is that you don’t have to worry a bit about rumpled or tucked in tops again! This type of silk tops usually wrinkles a bit when you tuck it in, but a bodysuit like this help solving this problem! This can be easily matched up with a pair of dress pants or high waist pencil skirt.
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Dare to take on two trend at once? Try this Topshop ruffle off the shoulder bodysuit. The off-shoulder is the go-to summer trend and the flounce details on the bodysuit neckline certainly give it some flair. If you match it with something black this will make your jewellery or any accessories pop!
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A vanity girl Hollywood broadway lighted make up mirror is every girl’s dream for their makeup booth. This mirror is extremely impressive of making you feel like a celebrity. The LED white lights has a great ability to create clarity including up close pores that remind you to cover-up. No more trying to get the right lighting for your mirror before applying your makeup and doing your hair because this mirror is a one step to making your life a whole lot easier.
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Get that one piece bikini on and hit the beach! TREND ALERT!!! Black one piece suit are SO in again for the summer. So suit up this season! Make waves and turn head with this hot one piece cut out suit with mesh details.
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Straight out of the runway is the new arm cuff trend that will soon be hitting the streets. There is a new way to statement jewellery and that’s with your arm. There were some interstingly shaped cuff presented on runway from Loewe and Louis Vuitton. Hopefully similar reps will be hitting more affordable boutiques soon.
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Another great goody for this month is the bed of rose gourmet soap from Ro’s Argan. Once you tried this you can’t go back to another type. This was also featured on the Lush site too. It will not only make your body and face feel clean and fresh, the extra gentle soap is crafter with an elegant rose scent. The perfume scent from this is one of a kind not to mention so nice to look at too!
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Who doesn’t love a long day out in the sun? When the weather is nice and it’s super sunny out I try to do everything on the patio. Whether it’s laying on the lounge chair, or writing a blog post, I do I under the sun. Of course, the power of the sun not only brings my mood up but it can also leave some marks, or should I say painful marks?
Before I head out I always try to get my SPF on (especially on the face) but on my body as well. Tarte’s sunscreen is actually one of my favorite products. It doesn’t leave your body sticky nor does it smell like sunscreen. The smell of sunscreen just brings back too many memories of summer kids day camp. But, the thing is sunscreen doesn’t always keep the sunburns away. Bet you didn’t know that sunscreen has to be reapplied every few hours either. And even though I know, sometimes I am just a tad too lazy to reapply. So in today’s blog post I will be talking about some sunburn remedies that can help relief that pain.
One of the best thing I like to try is at-home remedies. I like mixing things around home because I know it’s more natural and I know what’s being applied to my skin. So there are actually a few food remedies that you can place on top of your skin to sooth the pain. One of the most famous one is oatmeal. In the past, my mom always wrap dry oatmeal in like a gauze like material wrap. She would run it through cold weather, remove the oatmeal and then soak compresses in the liquid. It helps for a few hours, and once the pain kind of comes back, just re-do the process.
Another thing I saw my mom did to my sister once was using cornstarch. I wonder if it works with flour too (next experiment?). All you have to do is mix it with water. It’s more of a trail and error type to make it into a paste, so keep adding water or cornstarch until its pasty, and then just apply it right on to the sunburn.
Similarly, yogurt also work but that’s a bit costlier remedy (don’t know if it would sacrifice my yogurt for my sunburn). I also heard that tea bags work with swelling and relieving pain because of its tannic acid, so that would essentially work with sunburns as well! And one last food remedy are cucumbers! Cucumber has natural antioxidant, so if you chill it then smash it to make it into a paste, then apply it to the sunburn it will help with soothing for peeling skin – highly recommend once your sunburn starts peeling.
Make sure within the few days you keep hydrated! Drink lots, and lots of water! Aside from water, juice, sports drink can also help. The sunburn takes away a lot of water, so if you drink more to replace the lost body fluid, it will help with skin healing more quickly!
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To pack the perfect beach bag begins with a large tote that can fit everything. The best kind of beach bags are light weight and colorful. Straw beach totes are super in style and high recommendable. This one from Macy is very stylish.
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Now for the stuff to go into your beach bag. The first thing is a pair of flip flops. Everyone needs a pair during the summer but to the beach specifically is because sometimes you will have to head to the doc or the restaurant for an ice cream cone, so having these will make it a little more easy to walk on the hot cemented floors. It doesn’t even have to be an expensive pair, a cheap pick up would be at old navy!
A beach towel also belongs in your beach bag. This summer try spicing it up with interesting pattern and shape beach towels instead of the boring ol’ long rectangular soild color ones. There are some super cute looking ones spotted on the beach these days. One of the most popular ones are the round boho style. They are also found cheap via Amazon.
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Keep your skin clean and fresh with sunscreen and tanning oil if you desire that gorgeous tan! For other beauty products get that SPF going for everything. In the morning if you are going out with a makeup face, your primer and foundation should both have SPF. Other items to consider having SPF are you lips. Lips are sensitive and can easily burnt, so to prevent blister and chapping grab that chap stick or tinted balm with SPF. There are also products you can add to your hair that helps with sun-blocking. Believe it or not, your hair NEEDS PROTECTION too!!! There are beach sprays where it gives you fabulous beachy waves AND have ingredients to have with UV rays. This will 100% help with serious drying out of your strands. Check out Alterna Bamboo Beach Summer Ocean Waves Tousled Texture spray.
And a pair of sunnies never hurt anyone. UV damage to the eyes can cause some pretty huge damage. The bigger the better protection you will get! To match the straw beach tote you can pick up a straw floppy hat. Those aren’t lame anymore because a fun message on them makes it SO much cooler!
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DON’T FORGET!!! ENTERTAINMENT IS MUST NEED! You may want to sleep and jump into the water but sitting on the beach with a book, ipod, or a magazine makes it so much more fun. You can also bring some yummy snacks and drinks for a picture-perfect day at the beach!!
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